to Christ beleeving in him for the teaching of the Father and faith goeth together every one that hath heard and learnt of the Father commeth unto me Joh. 6. So that to convince the soule of righteousnesse is to be convinced of Christ to reveale Jesus Christ to the soule that in him onely is helpe and in his righteousnesse is deliverance I have laid help upon one that is mightie Psal 89. 19. Isa 63. 1. So fix and settle the eye of the soule upon Christs righteousnesse onely at least putting the soule under the hope of it for as soone as God hath stripped the soule of all hope in and from it selfe he turnes the soule to Christ and puts it under hope Ezek. 16. 5 6. when the soule seeth nothing but death God saith Live Ezek. 16. 6. and when the soule is a going downe into the pit God saith stay hearken I have found a ransome for thee Job 34. 23 24. Christ calls Come to me and be saved and the power of God goeth along with this call workes faith carrieth the soule to Christ as his own having possession of him When this is manifested to the soul faith acts in the love of God in pardoning his sinne greatly wondering at the greatnesse of his goodnesse or astonished with the glory of his present condition the heart being taken up as Luk. 1. 41. 43. though for the measure of it it is not in all alike For the first to be convinced of sinne then is more then a bare notion that it hath sinned for this may be in one that rests in themselves and in something else besides Christ and perish in this condition for by the letter of the Law and the light of reason men may see and say they have sinned as Saul and Judas did but those the Spirit convinces of sinne they are convinced to purpose because it is thorowly The Spirit shall convince the world of sin Joh. 16. 8. The Spirit discovers to the soule that she hath chosen something else besides Christ upon which the soule resteth and satisfieth her selfe withall and expects mercy and comfort from by reason of them and that they are her best services and other lying vanities as groundles hopes peace joy comfort c. telling the soule that there is nothing but death and darknesse in them and that if the soule rest in any of them there is nothing but death and destruction for them and there is a secret power of God which goeth along with this teaching which turneth the soule from darknesse viz. selfe Satan and all lying vanities to light to Christ where life is the Spirit reveales to the soule a sufficiency of life in Christ and it needs seek life in nothing else also the Spirit of God perswades a soule that this life is for him therefore he is to look to Christ for it and wait upon him for pardon and life and that the soule shall not lose her waiting and so be deceived but shall certainly have it at last Isa 57. 13. These things must be wrought in truth and in a measure in every soule that hath grace though for the measure of this it is not in all alike for in some it is in a small measure as it was in those who are named to be carnall and not spirituall yet then they were babes in Christ therefore their state was happy safe 1 Cor. 3. 1. 3. But when this is wrought in any measure in the same time faith is wrought and as the measure of this worke is wrought in the soule more or lesse in the same measure faith is wrought in the soule and as it appeares to the soule so accordingly faith appeares to the soule and when the soule seeth it selfe to be lost by reason of sin and seeth all to be in Christ for life and is taken off from resting upō any thing else besides Christ and to expect all from Christ resting upon Christ though this be but in the smallest measure wrought in the soule now this instant time faith is wrought Jesus Christ is formed in the soule and the soule is converted for this teaching of the Father and faith are inseparable Joh. 6. 45. 47. I cannot beleeve It is not in the power of the creature to beleeve in Christ Phil. 1. 29. therefore look not upon faith as a worke of thine own nor is faith any condition of the Covenant required on thy part for as the Covenant of grace is not made with man but with Christ as appeares Psal 89. 27 28 29 30. nor is there any condition in the Covenant of grace required on mans part neither is there any thing to be done by man to cause him to have an interest in the Covenant of grace or to partake of it for the Covenant of grace and life by Christ is every way free and unconditionall on mans part else how doth it differ from a Covenant of works if there were any thing to be done by us to have interest in it and if faith were a condition required on our part to partake of the Covenant or else not I see not but we are now in as bad a condition as to be under the Covenant of works it being as hard and impossible for man of himselfe to beleeve in Christ as it is to keep the whole Law as the Scripture declares How hard it is to beleeve the experience of many can testifie to beleeve is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. We must be in Christ before wee can beare fruit Joh. 15. 4. therefore we must be in Christ before wee can beleeve he that hath the Spirit of Christ hath Christ wee have the Spirit of Christ before wee beleeve therefore we have Christ before we beleeve Rom. 8. 9 10 11. Men are ordained unto eternall life before they beleeve Acts 13. 48. Faith is a grace of the Covenant on Gods part to be given to those who are given to Christ faith is given to some that by it they may know their interest in Christ and by it live upon him faith is no condition of the Covenant therefore they mistake who conceive faith to be a condition of the Covenant either required on mans part to partake of the Covenant of grace or given to men and then required of them as a condition although the Scripture expresseth that he that beleeves shall be saved yet is not faith any condition of salvation but such expressions are to be considered as a declaration to us what persons shall be saved viz. such as beleeve it is an information to such as know not who shall be saved and if any desire to know who shall be saved the answer is he that beleeves shall be saved Joh. 3. 16. If faith did give us interest in Christ when faith did not appeare to act it would appeare to us that we had no interest in Christ and that wee were not justified by him I know not whether I am bidden to
thee and sent unto thee and put into thy hand even some of his rarest and choicest dainties from his banquetting house some flagons of his most excellent and richest wine which is full of spirit and life one taste is able to cheare and revive thy heart yea raise and ravish thy fainting soule with love into love yet drinke freely the more the better be filled with them there is enough Christs dainties are durable his fountain is bottomlesse and infinite it can never be exhausted or drawne dry therefore eate O friends and drinke abundantly and be drunke with them Here are means proposed with some Scriptures which tends to settle a troubled soule in the sweet enjoyment of the love of God if God please to blesse them they will be sweet and profitable to thee in stead of darknesse light shall shine clearly sweetly pleasantly it 's the Lord onely that can cause the soule to see this light and love so as to live in it being over-powered with it and to walke sutable unto it if the Lord shall please to blesse this to thy soule acknowledge his goodnesse with thankfulnesse and joy as some have done the Lord give thee wisdome to know the truth and to receive thy own portion without which nothing can doe thee good 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. Men may speake comfort but they cannot comfort it 's God that creates the fruit of the lips peace if he speake the word it 's done Gen. 1. 3. The Lord speake so to thee that thou maist profit by it and that thy joy may be full Also to you belong all the promises of this life and that to come Heb. 6. 17. Which rich treasure God hath imparted in severall parts that all the sonnes and daughters of truth might be comforted in and satisfied with the injoyment of God in them To this end here are comprized many principal promises that you may with more ease and speed finde them and suck sweetnesse from them our lives cannot be sweet without them in respect of the many miseries that attend us within and without but those that live by faith are not troubled in a world of troubles faith supplies all wants this life of faith is the highest therefore the best such as live it know it to be a sweet precious and powerfull life as appeares Heb. 11. Faith honours God most and God honours them most that live by faith by it the Saints wrought righteousnesse stopped the mouths of Lyons of weake were made strong By faith Jacob had power with God Hos 12. 3 4. By it Job could trust God though God should kill him Job 13. 15. By faith we live to God a life of joy in God our righteousnesse as if we had never sinned by faith we live above sin infirmities temptations desertions sense reason feares doubts c. It sweetens the sweetest mercies yea the bitterest miseries faith makes great afflictions to be as none it maintaines the soules strength and comfort Christ lives in our hearts by faith by it wee obey God faith makes Christs yoke easie and sweet the fruition of God is all the soule can desire faith helps the soule to this it puts the soule into possession of heaven while the body is on earth by it we view the glory of heaven to know its worth to enjoy the purchaser and purchase it selfe by faith we know our selves to be happie even then when to a carnall eye we seeme most miserable by faith we can part with the sweetest outward comforts and welcome death because wee know we leave the worst place and things and goe to better they that live by faith live upon God himselfe and are feasted in our Lord Jesus banquetting house where there is all the desirable dainties and enough Eate then O friends drinke yea drinke abundantly O beloved because it is the pleasure of our sweet Lord Jesus that his doe so it 's their portion duty and priviledge to digest refresh and make their soules merry with his dainties to enjoy himselfe in them that so their joy may be full And because it is the will of Christ that those who have found rest and peace in him should take his yoke upon them as appeares Mat. 11. 38 39. Here is added the Saints dutie and service to Christ and the rather for now is the time the love of many waxeth cold to God and man Religion is esteemed of many to be but a bare notion or a little speculation nothing of practise iniquitie abounds many depart from the faith to needlesse disputes and principles that destroy the foundation of Religion no law no transgression no sinne all alike as appeares Rom. 4. 15. So that many run the round began at nothing and end in nothing so that many in stead of submitting to the yoke of Christ cavill against it so that few will submit unto it notwithstanding it 's holy just light easie sweet and a law of love Call persons to obey Christ and men are apt to think it legall and slavish but if men were to worke for life it were so indeed we cannot doe any thing to procure the pardon of sinne we only desire such as have received mercy and life from Christ to act from the same life and power according to the word of Christ to Christ againe out of love and thankfulnesse surely such as have received mercy from him vehemently desire to obey him esteeming it a great priviledge to be imployed in his service also in keeping his cōmands there is great reward Psal 19. By nature we are prone to desire libertie and abuse it we need to be exhorted that we use not our libertie as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5. to sloath and ease c. Libertie to sinne is no libertie but the greatest bondage that can be to have a free heart to serve God and the lets outwardly removed is sweet libertie to enjoy God is libertie to be set free by Christ from sin Satan hell is to be freed indeed and though we have nothing to doe to be saved we have something to doe for his glory which is to be our meat and drinke therefore let no difficultie hinder thee in serving thy Lord say not it is impossible consider Luk. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 4. 13. 19. Presse after perfection the neerer the better watch and pray to prevent sinne to doe good make it thy businesse to keepe Christs commands Indeed all have not the like time to spend herein the necessitie of outward things hinders many that they cannot doe what otherwise they might and would one wants time another a heart another both we should consider whether we spare that time for these things we might we can and will spare time for what we list and love though they be things of lesse moment consider Song 8. 6 7. Were we so full of love wee could not but spare some time not onely from our recreation and idle visits but from our sleepe and callings wee would redeeme
We receive the Law from the hand of Jesus Christ to be a rule for us to walke by and herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8. And the Saints injoy sweet priviledges by walking close with God see 1 Pet. 4. 14. To him that orders his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. God sheddeth his love into the hearts of his in his time and measure which love so constraines them that they cannot choose but love God againe for his great love Rom. 5. 5. Ephes 4. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Which love as it is apprehended by them so it constraines them to obey him and there is no faith true but that which workes by love Gal. 5. 6. and to all that love God his commandements are not grievous Joh. 14. 15. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 3. And God hath chosen us that wee should be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes 1. 4. 2. 10. 4. 1. But this doctrine hath ever been slandred and opposed by Papists Arminians and such as they are but let those that can see judge whose lives are most according to the Word they that hold with it or against it 3. The life of faith in Sanctification This consists in two branches The first is the soules cleaving to God in Christ our Sanctification which is for my pardon and peace and assurance of glory 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who is made unto us sanctification The second is the soules cleaving to Christ in his promises to change my nature clense and renew my heart and life and to worke all our workes for us and be a quickning Spirit in us 1 Cor. 15. 45. I will heale their backslidings Hos 14. 5. He will subdue our iniquities Micah 7. 19. Sinne shall not have dominion over you c. Isa 57. 18 19. I have seene his wayes and will heale him and heale all thy diseases Psal 103. 8. This was Christs prayer Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth for their sakes sanctifie I my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Joh. 17. 17. 19. There is much unevennesse in us it should be a great griefe unto us that we cannot honour God no more in our conversation that our spirits are so much estranged from him as they are and unto holy and divine things which should be familiar and more delightfull unto us All that are the Lords have received great love from him which should greatly ingage their hearts to walke as becometh Saints in a holy course and conversation according to the Word of God every day and all the day long to injoy God and obey him according to his word Of infirmities An infirmitie is such a weaknesse as when the heart is upright yet by reason of some impediment it cannot doe the good it would and doth the evill it would not Infirmities are the imperfections of good actions There is an infirmitie which ariseth from some impediment which a man would faine remove but cannot There is an infirmitie that ariseth for want of growth in grace A sin of infirmitie is alwayes with griefe and sorrow and where there is no griefe for it it is no infirmitie It is a sin of infirmitie in him who desires to be informed of it and to be reproved for it and to know how to leave it when he is ashamed of it and will not plead for it but complaine to God against it and is grieved humbled for it and useth meanes against it There is no childe of God that is wholly free from infirmities therefore every beleever is to live by faith in all their infirmities 4. The life of faith in infirmities Which consists in two things First It is the soule cleaving to God in Christ that he will be to us according unto his promise a God of love and mercy unto us for ever notwithstanding all our omissions and commissions excesses and defects Secondly and that he will supply all our wants for soule or body as if we had never sinned according to his Covenant with Jesus Christ and us in him that it shall stand fast for ever with him Psal 89. 27 28 29. For the first If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities Psal 103. 3. Whom he loves once he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isai 53. 3. Which is confirmed by two immutable things Oath and Covenant c. That wee might have strong Consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. Through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. If his children forsake my Law and walke not in my Judgements if they breake my Statutes and keepe not my Commandements then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquitie with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse I will not take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile my Covenant will I not breake my mercy will I keep for him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him Psal 89. 30 31 32 33 34. They and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey c. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not Nehe. 9. 16 17 18 19 20. In our greatest falls when the soule is subject to doubt of pardon consider our God will abundantly pardon c. Isa 55. 7 8 9. I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. And am mighty to save Isa 63. 1. With the Lord is plenteous redemption Psal 130. 7 8 9. I have blotted out thy sins returne unto mee for I have redeemed thee Isa 44. 22. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that we are but dust Psal 103. 14. If thou shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand But there is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared Psal 130. 3 4. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Psal 103. 13. 17 18. Thou art a God ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee Psal 86. 5. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not though they dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey Neh. 9. 16 17. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Ps 103. 10. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was
upon him with his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 6. God hath in wisdome and love left sin in his to keepe them humble in the sense of sinne and that wee may know what we are and our strength that wee might exercise the graces of the Spirit faith for pardon wisdome watchfulnesse self-deniall c. which we could not doe if wee had no sinne and that we might long to be in heaven where we shall injoy a full freedome from all sinne and that wee might love and prise Christ more seeing we stand in such need of him to pardon and heale us and that wee might daily depend upon Christ against it and live upon the fulnesse of Christ which wee should have no need in this kinde if we could not sinne and that wee might not scorn nor insult over any and that Gods power may appeare in preserving a little grace in a soule so full of sinne and also the power of his grace in subduing so many and so strong sinnes and that wee might admire that rich grace that can love such as we are and pardon our so many and great sinnes The use of this is if it be so first expect not full freedome of sinne here as some dreame Secondly doe not sinne that grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2 3 8. but in obedience to God and love to him use all meanes against it all thy dayes strive against it in the strength of Christ the love of Christ will teach thee and cause thee to doe so Thirdly Be not over-pressed and sunk under it but live by faith in all infirmities say as Paul I glory in my infirmities not as they are sins but because by them Gods power and goodnesse is the more seene both in pardoning and healing see Rom. 5. 20. 6. 1 2. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Rom. 3. 7 8. c. What if I should say all the Lords are the more happy they were sinners else how could they have been capable of mercy and heaven and union with God c. If there were not evill it would not be knowne what is good justice and mercy had not been known therefore how could God be knowne his wisdome in drawing good out of evill nor his infinite love in sending Christ to dye could not have been known and man could not come to that full happinesse in Christ if there had not been sin Sin should not hinder our faith it is hard to beleeve the pardon of seventy seven sinnes in a day yet faith is able to beleeve it and also to keep a sinner from being perplexed in his spirits with any sinne or trouble so as to hinder the soule from rejoycing in God all the day long faith looks to Jesus Christ his bloud intercession and obedience who hath payd all our debts 1 Joh. 2. 1. and now wee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6. 15. So that the weakest beleever may say in the middest of all my imperfections have as much of the love or God and union with him acceptation reconciliation full and perfect righteousnesse in Christ to cover all my defects as the best Saint ever had and my state shall be as happie as any of theirs and were it not for Christ all their holinesse could not helpe them and they might cry they are unprofitable in all and had also perished in their sinnes Can a man be profitable to God Job 35. 7 Surely no and what shall hinder me of having as much happinesse and glory in heaven as the best Saint Oh who can expresse the sweetnesse that is in this doctrine of free grace to an humble soule and it is wonderfull sweet and it is a strong tie to God in all holinesse I know men of base spirits unbeleevers will catch at what I say but if they doe who can helpe it the children must have bread and if such dogs will snatch it to their perill be it as for you who love sin so as you are not willing to part with your sinnes that you desire to make Leagues and Covenants with sinners hell and death and the devill you take incouragement to sin because God is rich in grace c. Oh consider if yee have hearts yee are those who turne the grace of God into wantonnesse yee are still in your sinnes yee are the dogs touch it not it is not for you Christ saith It is not meet to cast the childrens bread to dogs Maâ— 7. 6. A childe of God is described by a desire to feare the Name of God Nehe. 1. 11. 1. Those that live the life of faith in infirmitie they eye Christs sanctification and injoy comfort in it 2. There is a harmony between that soule and Gods command Speake Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. 10. 3. He is not offended at Christ at any thing he requires Blessed is he that is not offended in me Mat. 11. 6. For this is the love of God that we keepe his Commandements and his commandements are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. 4. He lookes at the word of God for his rule and his desire is wholly to be ruled by it he will trust God and relie upon his word 5. He eyeth Christs strength in his promise for helpe and by faith makes it his own Psal 46. 6. Surely in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength Isa 45. 24. 6. He will with courage incounter against what ever opposeth God and contend earnestly for the faith once given to the Saints Jude vers 3. 7. He is sensible of good and evill and layeth to heart his own and others sins Acts 20. 31. 8. No sinne he commits doth so discourage him and sinke him but he can joy and rejoyce in Christ his joy and sorrow is not legall but evangelicall or spirituall and therefore may be in one Saint both at one and the same time 1 Thes 5. The second branch of this life of faith in infirmities it is to live upon Christ in his promise to helpe us against all our infirmities upon such places as these If thou beest in deadnesse of heart consider Behold my servant shall sing for joy of heart Isai 65. 14. In thy Name shall they rejoyce all the day Psal 89. 16. In dumbnesse consider The tongue of the dumbe shall sing c. Isa 35. 36. The mouth of the righteous shall speake wisdome and his tongue talkes of judgement Psal 37. 30. In forgetfulnesse The Spirit shall bring all things into your remembrance Joh. 14. 26. When thou art in feare of want consider There is no want to them that feare him Psal 34. 9. Trust in the Lord and doe good and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37. 3. Seeke yee first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all things else shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 34. Take no thought for to morrow shall take thought for it selfe sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Take no thought for your life what yee shall
23. For deliverance out of trouble c. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all Joh. 5. 19. Psal 19. 17 Psal 50. 15. For speedy deliverance My salvation shall not tarry Isa 46. 13. 9. Every day to live the life of faith concerning the time past Which is to consider and call to remembrance and to see God in his dealings to us ours and others both for soule and body I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. This is to injoy time past as present David made this a part of his meditation oh how sweet is it to muse of Gods mercies unto us from our birth that I should be borne of such as feared God and so injoy better education then others or else that I should be borne of haters of God and instead of good education had bad and was brought up in ignorance and prophanenesse and how I have been tempted to desperate sinnes or healed those breaches how strangely God brought us to better places unexpected or undeserved and how neere and often we have been to be cut off by death by sicknesse casualties desperate practices by others and by our selves and how great bondage we have been in by sinne being filled with despaire terror and wrath without hope of ever being pardoned Ephes 2. 12 13. and yet for God to fill my soule with joy peace in beleeving Rom. 5. 1. and in how great bondage I was unto sinne not able to restraine my selfe and out of hope of ever having strength against such strong lusts and yet God hath subdued them Oh great change and also how we were convinced of our state of death we are in by nature and by what meanes But if we had been borne in India or Turkey or Rome we should either have never heard of a Jesus or seene no light or to no purpose Also how God hath preserved us in Babylon and brought us out of it if thou beest so and preserved us from the errors of the wicked rotten tenets as Pelagianisme his free will and power by nature Arminianisme with his free will so by grace as he may choose whether he will be saved or no and so under pretence of inlarging Gods grace robs him of all to grace himselfe in his indeavours and sets the crowne upon his own head So some deny the Morall Law and word of God to be a Rule to them to walk by and so are lawlesse and where there is no Law there can be no transgression and now are the last times in which iniquitie and abominable errors doe abound and shall more abound that which God hath said shall be must be no man nor men can hinder it some denies Election and originall sinne c. the Lord in mercy open their eyes I was once wrapped up and sunke in Arminianisme and had so continued but the Lord in mercy pulled me out Oh how sweet should that love be to us which keepes us from these errors or brings us out of them and the Lord will in his time be full Redemption to all his Also consider how we have been freed from many sorrows and sicknesses which others indure having little or no rest day or night and what meanes we injoy for our soules which others want and it may be never heard of and blesseth them unto us Also in what straits wee have been in how the Lord hath helped us in them and delivered us from them and how God hath provided and doth provide for us meanes of living friends and comforts strangely and unexpected and how strangely God hath given us good wives or husbands or so orders it that bad ones sends us to God or weanes us from the world c. These mercies with a thousand more to us and ours requires our meditation to strengthen our faith and to endeare our hearts to God exceedingly and to be more inlarged in thankfulnesse and to sucke sweetnesse in the remembrance of such experiences Mercies forgot are as nothing to us and wee cannot be thankfull to God for them though they were never so many or great Who so is wise and will observe these things shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. 10. Every day to live the life of faith in Glorification Which is to behold the rest peace glory and happinesse c. in heaven which is provided for us and also to beleeve that God will give us after this life all these things with himselfe which he hath promised us in his word see Acts 20. 23. Acts 26. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 4. For the resurrection of my body He that beleeves in me I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 40. To have a spirituall body It is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body 1 Cor. 15. 44. Our bodies shall be more glorious then the Sun in the firmament because that is but a naturall body To have a powerfull body It is raised in power 1 Cor. 15. 43. To have a glorified body and like Christs It is raised in glory 1 Cor. 15 43 44. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. To have fulnesse of knowledge And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. And know even as I am known 1 Cor. 13. 12. To have fulnesse of joy and pleasures In thy presence is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Ps 16. 11. Joy inward pure spirituall full in heaven wee shall have no misery no hunger cold nakednesse paine griefe wearinesse but rest 2 Thes 1. 7. To have Rest I shall have rest 2 Thes 1. 7. without labour In this Rest tranquillity in this tranquillity contentment in this contentment joy in this joy varietie in this varietie securitie in this securitie eternitie To have life We shall also live with him 2 Tim. 2. 11. Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. When Christ who is our life shall appeare Col. 3. 4. To have everlasting life Who shall receive life everlasting in the world to come Luk. 18. 30. Mat. 19. 29. Joh. 4. 40. Then shall I never die nor end being for continuance eternall To injoy the presence of God with Saints and Angels When Christ our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Father I will that they which thou hast given me be with me where I am Joh. 17. 24. To see the Lord as he is Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not appeare what we shall be but we know when we shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3. 2. Then shall we see him face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. To behold his glory That they may behold my glory Joh. 17.
for it is bound by Gods decree so as not any thing can be done but what he hath determined yet nothing can satisfie some unlesse it be granted that they have power of will to crosse Gods decree 3. If the cause why God chooseth me and not another is because I will c. then it is not meerly from his will and then you deny the freedome of Gods will Also if a man hath libertie of will to resist Gods will and worke so as God shall not convert him it will follow that when we are converted we convert our selves which is contrary to the Scriptures as Psal 51. And doe not they give the Scriptures the lye that say the will of an unregenerate man may be free to righteousnesse will it and imbrace it when it is proposed But if a seeing eye were in darknesse it could not discern any thing how much lesse shall the blind see By nature we are blind Rev. 3. 17 18. Wee are darknesse till we be made light in the Lord Eph. 5. 8. Darknesse cannot comprehend the light Joh. 1. 5. The naturall man cannot receive the things of the Spirit for they are foolishnesse to him 1 Cor. 2. 14. Therefore the Saints pray to God to reveale to them the knowledge of Christ and to inlighten their eyes by the Spirit of wisdome and revelation Eph. 1. 17 18 Mans will being wholly inthralled into sinne as appeares Rom. 6. 20. 8. 6. The carnall mind is enmitie to God it is not subject to the Law of God nor can be how then can it will desire and receive grace by nature As God commanded Pharaob to let Israel goe yet he could not for God hardened his heart that he could not be willing Joh. 12. 39. with Rom. 11. 32. they confesse that unlesse God give faith it 's impossible for men to beleeve so then the reason men doe not beleeve is because God doth not give them faith Phil. 1. 29. But to what purpose is it for God to give Christ to dye for mens sinnes seeing as they confesse they shall have no benefit by him unlesse they beleeve and that they cannot doe without God and God doth not give them faith if he did they could not but beleeve what great love is this which is shewed to them The substance of those famous or rather infamous opinions of ours of such as hold free will and that Christ dyed for the sinnes of all Adams posteritie is that God wills the salvation of all men but he is disappointed of his will Those whom God will save by his antecedent will he will destroy by his consequent will that God doth seriously intend the salvation of all persons yet neverthelesse he calls men by a meanes and time that is not apt nor fit by reason whereof those who are so called doe not follow Gods calling That faith is partly from grace and partly from free will that God is bound to give all men power to beleeve They distinguish between the obtaining of salvation and the application of salvation The first they say is for all The second is onely for them that beleeve but the application of salvation is neither willed nor nilled to men That man may determine and open his own heart and receive the word of God That the reprobate may be saved That the number of the Elect is not certain That the decree of Reprobation is not peremptory And that a Reprobate may convert himselfe And that faith is not of-meere grace They bring in God speaking thus I decree to send my Sonne to save all who shall beleeve but who and how many they shall be I have not determined onely I will give to all men sufficient power to beleeve but he shall beleeve who will himselfe I will send Christ to dye for the sinnes of many whom I know it shall not be effectuall at all unto to whom I will never give faith and notwithstanding Christ hath satisfied for all their sinnes yet they shall suffer my wrath for them for ever That God did not elect for foreseene Faith VVEE grant God knew all that ever was is or shall be but we deny that God did elect to life any for any thing he did foresee in them for if God should looke out of himselfe to any thing in the creature upon which his will may be determined to elect were against his al sufficiency as if he should get knowledge from things we doe implies an imperfection of knowledge and of will if he should see some thing in us before he can determine as if God were in suspence saying I will choose this man if he will I will upon foresight of my condition absolutely choose him To say I will elect 〈◊〉 if they beleeve is a conditionall election and if they can doe this without God then God is not omnipotent if they say he will give them faith to beleeve then it is all one with an absolute will as I elect to life and I will give these faith Far whom he predestinateth them he calleth c. Rom. 8. It seemes God wills our salvation if we beleeve that is he wils the having a thing on a condition that he will not worke and then it is impossible unlesse the creature can doe something that is good which he will not doe in him or on a condition which he will worke and then he worketh all he willeth or on such a condition as he seeth the creature cannot performe nor himselfe will not make him performe and this were frivolous Also to say God decreed to send Christ to save all if they will beleeve I see they neither will nor can therefore I will condemne them Joh. 12. 39. God hath shut up all in unbeliefe as Rom. 11. 32. therefore they could not beleeve because he hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts and be converted Joh. 12. 39 40. Concerning Infants Baptisme SOme reasons why we dissent from it 1. Because we finde no command nor example in the word of God that any infants were baptized and wee are forbidden to presume above what is written And if we should admit of any one thing in the worship of God which we finde no warrant for in the Word we should be forced by the same reason to admit of many yea any invention of men 2. Because God requires that such as are baptized should first be made Disciples Beleeve and repent c. Mat. 28. 19. Acts 8. 12 13. 36 37 38. Acts 2. 38. 41. Mat. 3. 6. Mark 1. 4 5. Acts 10. 44. 47 48. 3. Because Christ in his Testament which is his last will the Legacies therein contained are given to such as beleeve and to none else Gal. 3. 6 7. 14. 23. 29. Rom. 8. 17. 14. 11 12. These are the heires of the kingdome of Christ with the priviledges thereof Jam. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 23. Joh. 1. 12 13. 1