his own heart Look as the holy Spirit is not always a teaching Spirit nor always a leading Spirit nor always a comforting Spirit nor alwayes a sealing Spirit nor alwayes a witnessing Spirit nor alwayes an assuring Spirit to any of the Saints so he is not alwayes a supplicating Spirit in any of the Saints When he is grieved vexed quenched provoked he may suspend his gracious influences and deny the soul his assistance and what can a Christian then say or do But Secondly I answer Thou canst not pray but canst thou not sigh nor groan neither there may be the spirit of Adoption in sighs and groans as well as in vocal prayer Rom. 8. 26. The force the vertue the efficacie the excellency of prayer doth not consist in the number and flourish of words but in the supernatural motions of the spirit in sighs and groans and pangs and strong affections of heart that are unspeakable and unutterable Certainly the very soul of prayer lyes in the pouring out of a mans soul before the Lord though it be but in sighs groans and tears 1 Sam. 1. 13 19. One sigh and groan from a broken heart is better pleasing to God than all humane eloquence But Thirdly I answer Beg of God to teach thee to pray O beg the holy spirit that is a spirit of prayer God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Ezek. 36. 26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will takeaway the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them Ezek. 11. 19. And I will give them one heart I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication Now Gracious promises are Gods bonds and he loves to see his people put them in suit God expects Isa 62. 6 7. Isa 42. 25 26. that we should be his Remembrancers and that we should pray over his promises When he had promised great things to his people concerning Justification Sanctification Preservation he subjoynes Yet I will for this be enquired of by Ezek. 36. 37. the house of Israel to doe it God looks that we should spread his gracious promises before him as Hezekiah Isa 37. 14. did Seanacheribs letter God is never better pleased than when his people importune him in his own words and urge him with arguments taken from his owne promises Though God be a very affectionate father and a very liberal father yet he is not a prodigal father for he will never throw away his mercies on such as will not stoutly and humbly plead out his promises with him God loves to take state upon him and will be sought unto both for his giving in of mercies and for his making good of precious promises Thou sayest thou can'st not pray why can'st thou not goe into a corner and spread the Promises last cited before the Lord and tell him how much it concernes his honour glory as well as thy own internal eternal good to make good those gracious promises that he hath made concerning his giving of his Spirit to them that ask him and his putting his Spirit within them and his pouring out a Spirit of grace and supplication upon them We read of Tamar that when Gen. 38. 18 25. Judah her father-in-law lay with her she took as a pledge his signet bracelets and staffe and afterwards when she was in great distress and ready to be burnt as an Harlot she then brought out her staff and signet and Bracelets and said by the man whose these are am I with child and thereby she saved her life The promises are as so many rich Mines they are as so many choice flowers of paradise they are the food life and strength of the soul They are as a staffe to support the soul and they are as a signet and Bracelets to adorne the soul and to enrich the soul and therefore poor sinners should bring them forth and lay them before the Lord and urge God with them there being no way on earth to save a mans soule and to prevent a burning in Hell like this Concerning precious promises let me give you these eight hints First that they are truly propounded stated by God Mark 10. 30. Secondly That they shall certainly be performed 2 Cor. 1. 20. they being all made in and thorow Christ they are made first to Christ and then to all that have union and communion with him Sirtorius saith Plutarch paid what he promised with fair words but so doth not God Men many times say and unsay they often eate their words as soon as they have spoken them but God will never eat the words that are gone out of his mouth Isa 46. 10 11. My counsel shall stand and I will doe all my pleasure yea I have spoken it I will also bring it to pass I have purposed it I will also doe it Thirdly That they all issue from free grace from special love Hos 14. 4. from divine goodness Fourthly That they are all as Jer. 31. 3. unchangable as he is that made them Fifthly That they are all bottomed and Mal. 3. 6. founded upon the truth faithfulness and all sufficiency of God Sixthly That they are pledges and pawnes of great things that Heb. 13. 5. God will doe for his people in time Seventhly That they are most Heb. 6. 12. sure and certain evidences of divine favour and a declaration of the Num. 23. 19. heart and good will of God to his poor people Eighthly That they are the price of Christs blood Now how should all these things encourage poor souls to be still a pressing of God with his promises But Fourthly You say you cannot pray c. O that you would leave off objecting and fall upon praying If you cannot pray as you would nor as you should pray as well as you can Josephs brethren stood so long dallying delaying and trifling out the time that having a Journey to goe to buy corn they might have bought and returned twice before they went and bought once When Eliah called Elizeus he goes about the bush 1 Kings 19. 20. and he must needs goe bid his father and mother farewel before he could follow the Prophet O friends take heed of dallying delaying trifling going about the bush when you should be a faling upon the work of prayer What though
The End which is twofold 1. Subordinate and that is the certainty of our salvation 2. Ultimate and that is the praise of his glory Sixthly The Time how long this seal and earnest shall thus assure us and that is till we have the compleat possession of what it is an earnest To prevent mistakes and disputes about the Sealings of the Spirit on the one hand and to support comfort and encourage the poor people of God on the other hand let me briefly hint at the Spirits â—pecial sealing times As First Conversion times are often the Spirits sealing times Luke 15. 22 23. Upon the Prodigals return the fatted Calf is killed and the best Robe is put upon his back and the Ring is put upon his hand and shooes on his feet Some by the Robe understand the Royalty of Adam others the Righteousness of Christ And by the Ring some understand the pledges of Gods love Rings being given as pledges of love and by the Ring others understand the seal of Gods holy Spirit men useing to seal with their Rings Among the Romans the Ring was an ensigne of vertue honour and nobility whereby they that wore them were distinguished from the common people I think the main thing intended by the Robe and the Ring is to shew us that God sometimes upon the sinners conversion and returning to him is graciously pleased to give him some choice manifestations of his gracious pleasure and good-will and to seal up to him his everlasting love and favour And hence it comes to pass that some that are but babes in Christ are 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. 1. John 2. 12 13 14. Acts 9. 3 4 5 6. so diligent and active in religious duties and so consciencious and dexterous in the exercise of their Graces At first conversion God helps some of his people to read their own names written in legible letters in the Book of Life No sooner are some converted but the Spirit stamps his seale upon them Secondly Beleeving times are sealing times Ephes 1. 13. When they were in the very exercise of their faith when they were acting Rom. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 8. of their faith for so much the Original imports the Spirit came and sealed them up to the day of redemption He that honours Christ by frequent actings of faith on him him will Christ honour by setting his seal and mark upon him Thirdly Humbling times mourning times are sealing times When a holy man was askt which were the joyfullest dayes the comfortablest dayes that ever he enjoyed he answered his mourning dayes His mourning dayes were his joyfullest dayes and therefore he cried out O give me my mourning dayes give me my mourning dayes for they were my joyfullest dayes Those were dayes wherein God sealed up his everlasting love to his soul Job 22. 29. Isa 29. 19. When the Prodigal had greatly humbled himself before his father then the best Robe and the Ring were put upon him Luke 15. 17 24. There are none that long for the sealings of the Spirit like humble souls nor none set so high a price upon the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls nor none make so choice an improvement of the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls And therefore when mens hearts are humble and low the Spirit comes and sets the privy seal of heaven upon them Fourthly Sin-killing sin-mortifying sin-subduing times are the Spirits sealing times Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written that no man knowes saving he that receiveth it God will give to the victorious Christian a secret love-token whereby his soul may rest assured of the unspeakable love of God and of its freedom from condemnation White stones were of very great use among the Romans and among the Athenians and served to acquit the accused in Courts of Justice When Malefactors were accused arraigned and condemned in their Courts they gave them a Black stone in token of condemnation but when they were acquitted they gave them White stones in token of absolution And to this practise the holy Ghost seems to allude He that is victorious over Isa 56. 5. his lusts shall have a new Name that is better than the names of sons and daughters and he shall have the pardon of his sins writ in fair letters upon the white stone so that he may run and read his absolution The victorious Christian shall 1 John 1. 7. have assurance of the full discharge of all his sins he shall have a clear evidence of his Justification and a blessed assurance of his eternal Election all which are hidden and mysterious things to all but those that have experienced and tasted what these sweet meats of Heaven mean Among the Romans there were solemn feasts held in honour of those that were victorious in their sacred Games Now those that were to be admitted to those Feasts were wont to have their names written on white shels and white stones and by these Tickets they were admitted Now some think the holy Ghost alludes to this practise and so would hint to us a privy mark whereby victorious Christians may be known and admitted as bidden guests to the heavenly banquet of the hidden Manna according to Rev. 19. 9. O sirs when predominate lusts are brought under when bosom sins lye slain in the soul then the Spirit comes and seals up love and life and glory to the soul Fifthly Suffering times are sealing times Act. 7. 55 56 59 60. Rev. 1. 9 10. 2 Cor. 4. 15 16 17. The primitive Christians found Acts 5. 40 41 42. Psal 71. 20 21. Psal 94. 19. Rev. 1. 9 10. them so and the suffering Saints in theÌ„ Marian dayes found them so When the Furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a mans pardon in his bosom and his peace with God and his title to heaven When the world frowns most then God smiles most when the world puts their iron chains upon the Saints legs then God puts his golden chains about the Saints necks when the world puts a bitter cup into one hand then the Lord puts a cup of consolation into the other hand when the world cries out Crucifiè them crucifie them then commonly they hear that sweet voice from heaven These are my beloved ones in whom I am well pleased Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was in the right way to heaven And saith Ignatius It is better for me to be a Martyr than to be a Monarch Sixthly Self-denying times are the Spirits sealing times Matth. 19. 27 28 29. First There is sinful self which takes in a mans lusts Secondly There is natural self which takes in a mans arts parts gifts with Reason Thirdly There is religious self which takes in all a mans religious duties and services whether ordinary or
down into your hearts nor you cannot have your hearts too frequently carried up to heaven and therefore you cannot be too frequent in Closet-prayer But Sixthly Consider that you are under frequent wants and frequent sins and frequent snares and frequent 1 Pet. 5. 8. Job 1. 7. temptations and frequent allurements and frequent tryals and frequent cares and frequent feares and frequent favours and therefore you had need be frequent with God in your Closets But Seventhly Consider you are the favourites of heaven you are greatly beloved you are highly honoured you are exceedingly esteemed and valued in the Court of the Most High and remember that the Petitions of many weak Christians and of many benighted Christians and of many tempted Christians and of many clouded Christians and of many staggering Christians and of many doubting Christians and of many bewildred Christians and of many fainting Christians c. are put into your hands for a quick and speedy dispatch to the Throne of Grace so that you had need be frequent in your Closets and improve your interest in heaven or else many of these poor hearts may be wronged betrayed and prejudiced by your neglect Such as are Favourites in Princes Courts if they are active diligent careful and watchful they may doe much good for others they may come as often as they please into their Princes presence and with Queen Esther have Esth 8. for asking what they please both for themselves and others Esth 7. O what a world of good may such doe for others that are Gods Favourites if they would be but frequent with God in their Closets O Sirs If you have not that love that regard that pitty that compassion to your own souls as you should have yet O let not others suffer by your neglect of private prayer O let not Zion suffer O let not any particular Saint suffer by your being found seldom in your Closets Certainly It might have gone better with the Churches of Christ and with the concernments of Christ and with many of the poor people of Christ if most Christians had been more frequent with God in their Closets But Eighthly and lastly Consider that this liberty to approach nigh Sanguis Christi clavis Coeli to God in your Closets cost Christ his dearest blood Ephes 2. 13. Heb. 10. 20. Now he that is not frequent with God in his Closet tells all about him that he sets no great value upon that liberty that Christ hath purchased with his blood The incomparable the unparalel'd 1 Pet. 1. 19. price which Christ hath paid down upon the nail above sixteen hundred years agoe that we might have liberty and free access to his Father in your Closets argues very strongly yea irrefragably the superlative excellency of that liberty O therefore let us improve to purpose this blessed purchase of our Lord Jesus by being frequent with God in our closets 'T is disputed by some whether one drop of Christs blood was sufficient for the pardon of our sins and redemption of our souls My intention is not to dispute but to offer a few things to your Consideration First It must be granted that One little drop of Christ's blood is more worth than heaven and earth Luther by reason of the hypostatical union a drop of Christ's blood was of an inestimable worth and excellency and the value of his passion is to be measured by the dignity of his person But Secondly a proportion was to be observed betwixt the punishment due to men and that which What is the blood of the Grape or the blood of a son an only son to the blood of a Saviour was suffered for man that his sufferings might be satisfactory two things were necessary Poenae gravitas as well as personae dignitas That the least drop of Christ's blood was not sufficient for the redemption of our souls may thus appear First If it were then the Circumcision of Christ was enough for there was a drop if not many drops of blood shed Secondly Then his being Crown'd with a crown of Thorns was sufficient for it is most probable that they drew blood-from him Thirdly Then all Christ's sufferings besides were superfluous and vain Fourthly Then God was unjust and unrighteous to take more than was due to his justice But for any man to affirm that God hath taken beyond what was his just due is high blasphemy Fifthly Then Christ was weak and imprudent to pay more than he needed for what need was there of his dearest heart blood if a drop from his hand would have saved our souls Let School-men fancie what they please 't is certain that not one dram of that bitter Cup that Christ drunk off could be abated in order to his Fathers full satisfaction and mans eternal redemption Christ hath given under his own hand that it was necessary that he should suffer many things Mark 8. 3. Luke 24. 26. O Sirs shall Christ shed not only a few drops of blood but his very heart blood to purchase you a freedom and liberty to be as often in your Closets with his Father as you please and will you only now and then give God a visit in private the Lord forbid My Second Advise and counsel is this Take the fittest seasons and opportunities that possibly you can for Closet-prayer Many take unfit seasons for private prayer which do more obstruct the importunity of the soul in prayer than all the suggestions and instigations of Satan As First When the body is drowsie Cant. 3. 1. and sleepy this is a very unfit season for closet-prayer Take heed of laying cushions of sloath under your knees or pillows of idlenesse under your elbows or of mixing nods with your petitions or of being drowsily devoted when you draw neer to God in your closets Secondly When a mans head and heart is filled with worldly 1 Cor. 7. 35. Ezek. 33. 31. cares and distractions this is a very unfit season for closet-prayer When Dinah must needs be gadding abroad to see fashions Shechem Prince of that country meets with her and forces her virginity So when our hearts Dinah-like must needs be a roving and gadding abroad after the things of the world then Satan the Prince of the air usually seizes upon us commits a rape upon our souls and either leads us off from prayer or else he doth so distract us in prayer that it were better not to have prayed at all than to have offered the sacrifice of foolish and distracted prayer I have read a story how that one offered to give his horse to his fellow upon condition he would but say the Lords Prayer and think upon nothing but God the proffer was accepted and he began Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name But I must have the bridle too said he no nor the Horse neither said the other for thou hast lost both already The application is easie Certainly the most free