hence we are said to be chosen in him before the fundation of the world that we should be holy c. Ephes. â—… 4. and aâ—… dying for themâ—… for He gave himself son the church that He might sanctiâ—…y cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious church that it should be holy Ephes. 5 25 26 27. He hath reconciled them in the body of his flesh through death to present them holy Col. 1 21 22. So that the noble 〈◊〉 of Redemption may found the 〈◊〉 hope and expectation of the beleever upon â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First upon the account of the Fathers faithfulnesse who promised a seed to Iesus Viz. such as should be his children and so be sanctified through Him and that the pleasure of the Lord which in pâ—…rt iâ—… thâ—… work of sanctification should prosper in his hand And next upon the account of Christs undertaking and engaging as is said to bâ—…ing his sonâ—… and daughters to glory which must be through sanctification for without holinesse no man shall see God And they must look like himself who is a holy Head a holy Husband a holy Captane and therefore they must be holy members a holy spouse holy souldiers So that He standeth engaged to sanctifie them by his Spirit and word and therefore is called the Sanctifier Heb. 2 11. for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one Yea their union with Christ layeth the foundation of this for being joyned to the Lord they become one Spirit 1 Cor. 6 17. and are animated and quickened by one the same Spirit of life and grace and therefore must be sanctified by that Spirit 10. The beleever likewise would act faith upon the promises of the new Covenant of grace strength life c whereby they shall walk in his wayes have Gods lawes put into their mindes and write into their hearts Heb. 8 10. Ier. 31 33. and of the new heart and new spirit and the heart of flesh and the Spirit within them to cause them walk in his wayes or statutes and keep his judgments and do them Ezech. 36 26 27. and the like wherewith the scripture aboundeth Because these are all given over to the beleever by way of Testament and legacy Christ becoming the mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 9 15. Noâ—… Christ by his death hath confirmed this Testament for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death ' of the testatour for a Testament is of force after men are dead vers 16 17. Christ then dying to make the Testament of force hath made the legacy of the promises sure unto the beleever so that now all the promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. He was made a minister of circumcision to confirme the promises made to the Fathers Rom. 15 8. That the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble meane to sanctification is cleare by what the Apostle sayeth 2 Cor. 7 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse ourselves perfecting holinesse in the feare of God And it is by faith that those promises must be received Heb. 11 33. So that the beleever that would grow in grace would eye Christ the fundamentall promise the Testatour establishing the Testament and the excutor or dispensator of the covenant and exspect the good things through Him and from Him through the conduite and channell of the promises 11. Yet further beleevers would eye Christ iâ—… his Resurrection as a publick person and so look on themselves and reckon themselves as riseing virtually in and with Him and take the resurrection of Christ as a certane paune and pledge of their sanctification for so reasoneth the Apostle Rom. 6 4 5 11 13. we are buryed sayâ—…s He with him by baptisme into death that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of life for we shall â—…e 〈◊〉 also in the likenesse of his resurrection and if we 〈◊〉 dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him therefore reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord and yeeld yourselves unto God as these that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God The right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage unto the student of holinesse for thence he might with strong confidence conclude that the work of sanctification should prosper in his hand for he may now look upon himself as quickened together with Christ Epes 2 5. Christ dying and riseing as a publick person and he by faith being now joyned with him and united to him 12. Moreover this Resurrection of Christ may yeeld us another ground of hope and confidence in this work for there is mention made of the power of his resurrection Phil. 3 10. So that by faith we may draw strength and vertue from Christ as an arisen and quickened Head whereby we also may live unto God and bring forth fruit unto him and serve no more in the oldnesse of the letter but in the newnesse of Spirit Rom. 7 4 6. He was quickened as an Head and when the head is quickened the members cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom and to live in the strength of the life of the head See Col. 3 1 2. 13. Faith may and should also look to Christ as an intercessor with the Father for this particular Iohn 17 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and this will adde to their confidence that the work shall go on for Christ was alwayes heard of the Father Iohn 11 41 42. and so will be in this prayer which was not put up for these few disciples alone The beleever then would eye Christ as engadging to the Father to begin and perfect this work aâ—… dying to purchase the good things promised and to confirme the same as quickened and riseing aâ—… head and a publick person to ensure this work and to bestow and actually conferre the graces requisite and as praying also for the Fathers concurrence and cast the burden of the work on Him by faith knowing that He standeth obliged by his place and relation to his people to beare all their burthens to work all their works in them to perfect his owne work that He hath begun in them to present them to himself at last a holy bride to give them the Spirit to dwel in them Rom 8 9 11 and â—…o quicken their mortall bodyes vers 11. and to lead them vers 14. till at length they be crowned and brought forward to glory This is to live by faith when Christ liveth acteth and worketh in us by his Spirit Gal. 2 20. Thus Christ dwelleth in the
a stout couragious Spirit and resolution of heart avail If He who is the Life breathâ—… not all that will melt away and evanish 4. Nor will the stock of habitual grace which remaineth in the soul be sufficient to quicken and revive the sick soul if the Life breath not on these habites and if new influences of life and strength flow not in upon the soul and new rayes come not down from this sun of righteousnesse to warme the frozen soul the habites will lye by as dead 5. Far lesse will their great gifts and enduements helpe them out of that dead condition all their light and knowledge without the influences of this Life will prove weak and insufficient for this end and purpose 6. Nor will sound pure and lively like ordinances work out this effect for till He look down all those ordinances may prove dead and deadning to them It were good if beleevers were living under the conviction of this daylie and by their practice and carriage declareing that they believe that Christ only is the Life and that they must live in Him and be quickened and revived through Him alone Thirdly We see hence That Christ is the Life that is one that sufficiently yea and abundantly can helpe the beleever while under those fits of deadnesse which have been mentioned and the like There is in him a rich supply of all things that tend to revive encourage strengthen and enliven soul under spiritual deadnesse and fainting Therefore is He called the Life as having in Him all that which is necessary for and answereable to souls under spiritual sicknesses distempers desertions fainting swooning fiâ—…es c. for with Him is the fountaine of life Psal. 36 9. and He itis that upholdeth the soul in life Psal. 66 9. and can command the blessing even life for evermore Psal. 13 3 vers 3. For further clearing of this we would consider those things 1. That He is God equal with the Father in power and glory and thereby hath life in himself Iohn 5 26. and can quicken whom He will vers 21. By this He proveth there his own godhead equality with the Father So Iohn 1 4. Itis said that in Him was life and that life was the light of men whereby also his Godhead is confirmed This should be firmly beleeved and rooted in our hearts as being the ground of all our hope comfort and life for were it not so that our Mediator were the true God all our hopes were gone our comforts could not be long lived and our life were extinct 2. As mediator God-man He is fully and througly fournished to quicken and enliven his members and followers first and last and all alongs their life must be hid with Christ in God for in Him dwelleth the fulnesse of the godhead bodyly Col. 2 9. as mediator he is called a tree of life Prov. 3 18. quickening and enlivening all that feed upon Him and the bread of life Iohn 6 35 48. Yea because of power and authoritie to commmand life to the dead soul He is called the Prince of life Act. 3 15. and as a living quickening stone he giveth life to all that are built upon Him 1 Pet. 2 4. Yea as being fully fitted and fournished for this work He calleth himself the resurrection and the life Iohn 11 25. This should be riveted in our hearts as a comfortable and encouraging truth 3. Of this stock of life and quickening and reviveing grace which He hath gote and is furnished withal as Mediator and Redeemer of his people He is communicative of his fulnesse do we receive and grace for grace Iohn 1 16. He gote it that He might give it out and that from Him as an head it might flow out unto his members and therefore He is the bread that came downe from heaven and giveth life to the world Iohn 6 35. Yea He giveth eternal life to all his sheep Ioh. 10 28. and He is come for this end that his sheep might have life Iohn 10 10 Therefore hath he taken on such relations as may give ground of confirmation of this as of an head of a stock or root and the like This consideration is strengthening and reviveing 4. He communicateth of this stock of life and of reviveing strength which He hath most sweetly and on most easie tearmes So that 1. Such as seek him shall finde life by Him Psal. 69 32. 2. Yea such as know Him shall not misse life Iohn 17 3. 1 Iohn 5 20. 3. If we will beleeve on Him and rest upon him we have life first and last Iohn 3 15 16 36. 6 40 47. 1 Tim. 1 16. 4. If we will come to Him Iohn 5 vers 40. and cast our dead soul upon him we shall live 5. If we will heare his voce Esai 55 3. and receive his instructions we shall live for they are the instructions of life 6. Nay if the soul be so dead that it can neither walk nor hear if it can but look to Him he will give life Esai 45 22. 7. And if the soul be so weak that it cannot look nor lift up its eyes yet if it be willing He will come with life Revel 22 17. Oh! if this were beleeved 5. As he is communicative of that life which he hath goten as Head and that upon easie tearmes so He giveth out of that life liberally largely abundantly yea more abundantly Iohn 10 10. The water of life which He giveth is a well of water springing up to everlasting life Iohn 4 14. Therefore he alloweth his friends to drink abundantly Cant. 5 1. 6. Yet it would be remembered that He is Lord and master thereof and Prince of this life and so may dispense it and give it out in what measure He seeth fit and He is wise to measure out best for his own glory and to their advantage 7. All this life is sure in Him none of his shall be disappointed thereof His offices which He hath taken on and his commission which he hath of the Father abundantly cleare this and love to his will not suffer him to keep up any thing that iâ—… for their advantage He is faithful in his house as a Son and will do all that was committed unto Him to do The whole transaction of the covenant of Redemption and Surety-shâ—…pe and all the promiseâ—… oâ—… the new Covenant of grace confirme this to be a sure truth so that they that have Him have life 1 Iohn 5 12. Prov. 8 35. 8. Yea all that is in Christ contributeth to this life and quickening His Words and Doctrine are the words of eternal life Iohn 6 63 68. Phil. 2 16. His Works and Wayes are the wayes of life Act 2 28 His Natures Offices Sufferings Actings and all He did as Mediator concurre to the quickening and enlivening of a poor dead soul. 9. This fulness of life which He hath is fully suited to the beleevers condition in all points as we shall
5 6. that as many of us as are Baptized into Iesus Christ were Baptized into his death and that therefore we are buryed with Him by baptisme into death and are planted together in the likenesse of his death yea and that our old man is crueified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that hence forth we should not serve sin whence beleevers are warranded commanded vers 11. to reckon themselvs to be dead indeed unto sin and therefore sin should not reigne in their mortall bodyes to fulfill the lusts thereof vers 12. This is a sure ground of hope comfort for beleevers that Christ dyed thus as a publick person and that by vertue thereof being now united to Christ by faith they are dead unto sin by law and sin cannot challenge a dominion over them as before their conversion it might have done and did for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth but no longer wherefore beleeving brethren becomeing dead to the law by the body of Christ are marryed to another even to Him who is raised from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 1 4. 3. Hence It followeth that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. So that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of God hath got his deaths wounds in the crucifixion of Christ shall never recover his former vigour activity to oppresse beare down the people of God as he did He is now virtually through the death of Iesus killed crucified being in Christ nailed to the crosse 4. His resurrection is a paune pledge of this sanctification for as He died as a publick person so He rose againe as a publick person we are buryed with Him by baptisme that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. and beleevers are said to be planted together with him in the likenesse of his resurrection vers 5. and they shall live with Him vers 8. and therefore they are to reckon themselvs alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord verse 11. we are raised up together Ephes. 2 6. 5. This sanctification is an article of the covenant of redemption betwixt the Father the Son Esa. 52 15. so shall he sprinkle many nations Cap. 53 10. He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Christ then having this promised to Him must see to the accomplishment thereof and will have it granted to him seing He hath fulfilled all that was engadged to by Him having made his soul an offering for sin 6. This sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace Ier. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity Ezech 37 23. and I will cleanse them So Chap. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse from all your idols will I cleanse you Now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed to us in the Mediator for in Him all the promises are yea amen 2. Cor. 1 20. 7. He hath also purchased made sure to his owne the new nature and the heart of flesh which is also promised Ezech. 36 26. 11. 19. Ier. 32. 39. This is the new lively principle of grace the spring of sanctification which cannot be idle in the soul but must be emitting vitall acts natively Yea through Him are beleevers made partakers of the divine nature which is a growing thing young glory in the soul. 2. Pet. 2 3 4. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine unto life godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature c. 8. The Spirit is promised to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 27. Now all these promises are made good to us in Christ who is the cautioner of the covenant yea He hath gotten now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the covenant committed unto Him so as He is the great Lord treasurer and administrator of the great glorious purchased blessings 9. There are new waterings breathings gailes of the Spirit given in Christ. Esai 27 3. He must water his garden or vinyaird every moment This is the north winde the south winde that bloweth upon the garden Cant. 4 16. He must be as the dew unto Israel Hos. 14 5. 10. Through Christ is the beleever brought into such a covenant state as giveth great ground of hope of certane victory He is not now under the law but under grace and hence inferreth the Apostle Rom. 6 14. That sin shall not have dominion over them Being now under that dispensation of grace whereby all their stock is in the Mediators hand at his disposall and not in their own hand power as under the covenant of works there is a sure ground laid down for constant supply furniture in all necessities 11. Christ hath prayed for this Iohn 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth where the Lord is praying that his disciples might be more more sanctified and so fitted qualified for the work of the ministrie they were to be imployed in And what He prayed for them was not for them alone but also for all the elect proportionably who are opposed to the world for which He did not pray v. 9. 12. He standeth in relation to beleevers of a Vine or a Root in which they grow as branches so that by abiding in Him living by faith in Him and drawing sap from him they bring forth fruit in Him Iohn 15 1 2 4 5. Their stock of grace is in Him the root and He communicateâ—…h sap and life unto his branches whereby they grow floorish and bring forth fruit to the glory of God 13. Christ hath taken on Him the office of a Prophet and Teacher to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to goe for He is that great Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up and who was to be heard and obeyed in all things Deut. â—…8 15. Act. â—… 2â—… and 7 37. He is given for a witnesse a leader Esai 55 4. and we are commanded to hear Him Mat. 17 5. Mark 10 7. 14. He hath also taken on Him the office of a King Psal. 2 6. Mat. 21 5. Esai 9 6 7. Phil. 2 8. 9 10 11. and thereby standeth engadged to lubdue all their spirituall enemies Satan corruption Psal. 110. He is given for a leader and commander Esai 55 4 and so can cause his people walk in his wayes 15. When we defile ourselves with new transgressions failings He hath provided a fountaine for us
Him in a day of tryall Confession of Him must be made with the mouth as with the heart we must beleeve Ro. 10 9. Let corruption speak against this what it will because it is alwayes desireous to keep the skinne whole yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable especially seing He hath said that whosoever confesseth Him before men He will confesse them before his Father which is in heaven Mat. 10. 32. And that if we suffer with Him we shall also reigne with Him 2 Tim. 2. 12. Is He our Lord and Master and should we not owne and avouch Him Should we be ashamed of him for any thing that can befall us upon that account What Master would not take that ill at his servants hands Hence then we see that there is nothing in all the conditions on which He offereth Himself to us that can give the least ground in reason why a poor soul should draw back and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer or think that the conditions are hard But there is one maine Objection which may trouble some and that is They cannot beleeve faith being the gift of God it must be wrought in them How then can they goe to God for this and make use of Christ for this end that their souls may be wrought up to a beleeving consenting to the bargan and hearty accepting of the offer To this I would say these things 1. It is true that faith is the gift of God Ephes. 2 8. and that it is He alone who worketh in us both to will to do Phil. 1 29 and none cometh to the son but whom the father draweth Iohn 6 44. and it is a great matter and no small advancement to win to the reall faith and through conviction of this our impotency for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation and of despaireing of salvation in it self which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved 2. Though faith be not in our power yet it is our duty Our impotency to performe our duty doth not loose our obligation to the duty so that our not beleeving is our sin and for this God may justly condemne us His wrath abideth on all who beleeve not in his Son Jesus and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified mediator And though faith as all other acts of grace be efficiently the work of the Spirit yet it is formally our work we do beleeve but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in us 3. The ordinary way of the Spirit 's working faith in us is by pressing home the duty upon us whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves and to a looking out to Him whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul for that necessary 〈◊〉 and breathing without which the soul will not come 4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the elect as other graces necessary to their salvation and it is promised and convenanted to Him that He shal see his seed and shall see of the travell of his soull Esai 53 10 11. and that by the knowledge of him that is the rationall and understanding act of the soul griping to and laying hold upon Him as he is offered in the gospell many shall be justified Ibid. Hence he sayeth that all whom the father hath given to Him shall come unto Him Ioh. 6 37. and the Apostle tels us that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him Ephes. 1 3. 5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect but God hath committed to Him the administration and actuall dispensation and outgiving of all those graces which the redeemed stand in need of Hence He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinns Act. 5 31. all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him Mat. 28 18 19. Hence He is called the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 v. 2. and He telleth his disciples Iohn 14 13. 14. That whatever they shall ask in his name He will do it He is made Prince and a Saviour having all judgment committed unto him Iohn 5 22. and He is Lord of all Act. 10 36. Rom. 14 9. 6. Hereupon the sinner being convinced of his lost condition through sin and misery of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death of Christ's alsufficiency and willingnesse to save all that will come to Him and of its owne inability to beleeve or come to Him for life and salvation or to lay hold on and leane to his merites and satisfaction and so despaireing in himself is to look out to Iesus the author of eternall salvation the foundation and chiefe corner stone the author and finisher of faith I say the sinner being thus convinced is thus to look out to Iesus not that that conviction is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary either to prepare dispose and fit for faith or far lesse to merite any manner of way or bring on faith But because this is Christ's methode to bring a soul to faith by this conviction to the glory of his grace The soul naturally being averse from Christ and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation must be redacted to that straite that it shal see that it must either accept of this offer or die as the whole needeth not a physitian so Christ is come to save only that which is lost and his method is to convince the world of sin in the first place and then of righteousnesse Iohn 16 8 9. 7. This looking out to Iesus for faith comprehendeth those things 1. The Souls acknowledgement of the necessitie of faith to the end it may partake of Christ and of his merites 2. The souls satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ by a closeing with Him and a resting upon Him by faith 3. A sense and conviction of the unbeleefe and stubbornnesse of the heart or a seeing of its own impotency yea and unwillingnesse to beleeve 4. A persuasion that Christ can overmaster the infidelity wickednesse of the heart and worke up the soul to a willing consent unto the bargane 5. A hope or a half hope to speak so that Christ who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to Him for salvation and hath said that He will put none away in any case that cometh will have pity upon him at length 6. A resolution to lye at his door till he come with life till He quicken till He unite the soul to Himself 7. A lying open to the breathings of his Spirit by guarding against every thing so far as they can that may grieve or provok Him and waiting on Him in all the ordinances He hath appointed for begetting of faith such as reading the scriptures hearing the word conference with godly persons and prayer
c. 8. A waiting with patience on Him who never said to the house of Iacob seek me in vaine Esai 45 19. still crying and looking to Him who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him and waiting for him who waiteth to be gracious Esai 30 18. remembering that they are all blessed that waite for him Ibid. and that there is much good prepared for them that waite for Him Esai 64 4. 8. The sinner would essay this beleeving and closeing with Christ and set about it as he can seriously heartily willingly yea and resolutely over the belly of much opposition and many discouragements looking to Him who must helpe yea and worke the whole work for God worketh in and with Man as a rationall creature The soul then would set the willingnesse it findeth on work waite for more and as the Lord is pleased to commend by his Spirit the way of grace more unto the soul and to warme the heart with love to it and a desire after it strick the yron while it is hote and looking to Him for help gripe to Christ in the covenant and so set to its seal though with a tembling hand and subscribe its name though with fear and much doubting remembring that He who worketh to will must work the deed also Phil. 2 13. and He that beginneth a good work will perfect it Phil. 1 6. 9. The soul essaying thus to beleeve in Christ's strength and to creep when it can not walk or run would hold fast what it hath attained and resolve never to recall any consent or half consent it hath given to the bargane but still look forward hold on wreastle against unbeleefe and unwillingnesse intertaine every good motion of the Spirit for this end and never admit of any thing that may quench its longings desires or exspectation Nay 10. If the sinner be come this length that with the bit willingnesse he hath he consenteth to the bargane is not satisfied with any thing in himself that draweth back or consenteth not with the little skill or strength he hath is writing downe his name and saying even so I take Him and is holding at this peremptorily resolving never to goe bake or unsay what he hath said but on the contrare is firmly purposed to adhere as he groweth in strength to grippe more firmly and adhere to Him he may conclude that the bargan is closed already and that he hath faith already for here ther is an accepting of Christ on his owne tearmes a reall consenting unto the covenant of grace though weak and not so discernable as the soul would wish The soul dar not say but it loveth the bargane and is satisfied with it and longeth for it and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof and enjoy Him whom it loveth hungereth for panteth after or breatheth as it is able that it may live in Him be saved through Him But Some will say If I had any evidence of God's approbation of this act of my soul any testimony of his Spirit I could then with confidence say that I had beleeved accepted of the covenant and of Christ offered therein but so long as I perceive nothing of this how can I suppose that any motion of this kinde in my soul is real faith For answere 1. We would know that our beleeving and God's sealing to our sense are two distinct acts and separable and oft separated our beleeving is one thing and God's sealing with the holy Spirit of promise to our sense is another thing and this followeth though not inseparably the other Eph. 1 13. In whom also after that yee beleeved yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise And so 2. We would know that Many a man may beleeve yet not know that he doth beleeve He may set to his seal that God is true in his offer of life through Iesus and accept of that offer as a truth and close with it and yet live under darknesse doubtings of his faith long many aday partly through not discerning the true nature of faith partly through the great sense and feeling of his owne corruption and unbeleefe partly through a mistake of the operations of the spirit within or the want of a clear distinct uptaking of the motions of his owne soul Partly because he findeth so much doubting and feare as if there could be no faith where there were doubting or fear contrare to Mark 9 24. Mat. 8 26. 14 31. Partly because he hath not that perswasion that others have had as if there were not various degrees of faith as there is of other graces the like Therefore 3. We would know that many may really beleeve and yet misse this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be at God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that lest they forget themselves and become too proud and to traine them up more to the life of faith whereby He may be glorified and for other holy ends He may suspend the giving of this for a time 4. Yet we would know that all that beleeve have the seal within them 1. Iohn 5 10. He that beleeveth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himself that is He hath that which really is a seal though he see it not nor perceive it not even the work of God's spirit in his soul inclining and determineing him unto the accepting of this bargan to a likeing of endeavouring after holinesse and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is is a seal confirmation of the businesse So that the matter is sealed and confirmed by the word though the soul want those sensible breathings of the Spirit sheding abroad his love in the heart and filling the soul with a full assurance by hushing all doubts and feares to the door yea though they should be a stranger unto the Spirits witnessing thus with their spirits that they are the children of God and clearning up distinctly the reall wotâ—… of grace within their soul and so saying in effect that they have in truth beleeved But enough of this seing all this and much more is abundantly held forth and explained inthat excellent usefull treatise of Mr. Guthries intituled The Christians great interest CHAP. V. How Christ is to be made use of as the VVay for Sanctification in generall HAving shown how a poor soul lying under the burden of sin wrath is to make use of Iesus Christ for righteousnesse justification and so to make use of Him goe out to Him and apply Him as He is made of God to us righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1 v. 30. and that but briefly this whole great businesse being more fully and satisfactoryly handled in thâ—…t fore mentioned great though small Treatise vix The Christians great Interest We shall now come and show how a beleever or a justified soul shall furder make use of Christ for Sanctification
Him who is the Truth 5. They have none to go to for help and light in the day of their darknesse confusion and perplexity for they are not reconciled unto the Truth which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day 6. They can do nothing to helpe themselves out of that state of darknesse and ignorance and whatever they do to helpe themselves shall but increase their darknesse and misery because there is no truth there and Truth even the Truth alone can dispell these clouds of errour mistakes ignorance c. Secondly Hence we see the happy and blessed condition of beleevers who have imbraced this Truth and gotten their souls opened to Him who is the Truth for 1. They are in part delivered from that masse of lies mistakes misapprehensions errours deceitfulnesse and ignorance under which they lay formerly and all the unregenerate do yet lye and though they be not fully delivered therefrom yet the day is comeing when that shall be and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a certane pledge thereof and at present they have ground to beleeve that that evil shall not againe have dominion over them they being now under grace and under the guidance of Truth 2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts doubts and feares of their state and condition and think many a time that they shall one day or other perish by the way and all their hopes and confidence shall evaniâ—…h yet having given up themselves to Truth and to the Truth they shall not be disappointed in end The Truth shall land them saife on the other side The Truth shall prove no lie 3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to in a day of darknesse clouds doubts when falshood and lies are like to prevail even the Truth who alone can help them in that day 4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God and of the mysteries of the gospell be but small yet that small measure being taught by Him who is the Truth and flowing from Truth shall prove sanctifying and saving 5. They have ground to hope for more freedome from errours and deceitfull lies than others for they have chosen the way of truth and given themselves up to the leading of Truth Object But do not even such drink-in and receive and plead for errours as well as others and is it not sometime found that they even live and die in some mistakes and errours Answere I grant the Lord may suffer even some of his own to fall into and to continue for some time in errors yea and it may be all their dayes as to some errours that hereby all may learne to tremble and feare and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling 2. Some may be tryed thereby Dan. 11 35. 3. Others may break their neck thereupon 4. To punish themselves for not making that use of Truth and of the Truth that they should have done yet we would consider these few things 1. That there are many moe unregenerat persons that fall into errour 2. If his people fall into errour at any time they do not alwayes continue therein to the end God for his own glory maketh some time or other truth shine in upon their soul which discovereth that mistake and presently the grace of God in their soul maketh them to abhore the same 3 Or if some continue in it to their dieing day yet they repent of it by an implicite repentance as they do of other unknown and unseen evils that lye in their soul so that that errour doth not destroy their soul. 4 There are some grosse errours which a regenerat soul cannot readyly imbrace or if through a mistake or the power of a temptation they do imbrace them yet they cannot heartyly close with them whatever for a time through corruption and pride they may seem outwardly to do and that because the very dayly exercise of grace will discover them and so they will be found to be against their dayly experience as some opinions of the Papists Arminians and Socinians together with the abominable Quakers which a gracious soul when not carryed away with the torrent of corruption and with the tempest of a temptation cannot but observe to contradict the dayly workings of grace in their soul and the motions of their sanctified soul in prayer and other holy dutyes and so such as they cannot but finde to be false by their own experience Thirdly Here is ground of a sharpe reproof of the wicked who continue in unbeleef and I Will not beleeve nor give any credite to his promises wherewith He seeketh to allure poor souls to come to Him for life 2 Nor will they beleeve His threatnings wherewith He useth to alarme souls and to pouse them forward to their duty 3 Nor will they beleeve and receive His offers as true 4 Nor will they beleeve that He is the true Prophet Priest and king that must save souls from hell and death and therefore they will not give Him imployment in his offices All which cannot but be an high provocation for in effect it is to say that He is not the Truth nor worthy to be beleeved Let them consider this and â—…ee how they think he shall take this off their hands No man will take it well that another should either call or account Him a liar and can they think that Christ shall take it well at their hands to be accounted by them a liar What will they think to be challenged for this in the great day Now the truth is all unbeleevers as they make God a liar o horrid and abominable crime Whose haire would not stand on end to hear this 1 Iohn 5 10 11 He that beleeveth not God hath made him a liar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son So do they make the Son of God a liar in all his sayings in all his Offices and in all his works And they make the holy ghost a liar in not beleeving that truth that He hath sealed as a firme truth They make the covenant of surtyshipe betwixt the Father and the Son a mere lie and a forgery o dreadfull They make the word of truth a lie and they make all the saints liars and all the officers of Iesus Christ who declare this truth and the saints who beleeve it and test upon it liars Fourthly Hence is there ground of reproof to the godly in that 1. They do not firmely enough beleeve his sayings neither his promises nor his threatnings as appeareth too oft upon the one hand by their faintings and feares and upon the other hand by their carelesnesse and loose walk 2. They make not use of Him in all cases as they ought his offices lye by and are not improven noâ—… is He gone to as the Truth in cases requireing his helpe as the Truth that is
rebelliousnesse in the will irregularity disorder in the affections whereby the soul is unfit for any thing that is good prone to every thing that is evil Rom. 3 10 20. Ephes. 2 1 2 3. Rom. 5 6. 8 7 8 whence proceedeth all our actual transgressions Iam 1 14 15. And moreover sometimes the soul is given up to a reprobat minde Rom. 1 28. to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2 2. to hardnesse of heart Rom. 2 5. horror of conscience Esa. 33 14. to vile affections Rom. 1 26 and the like spiritual plagues which though the Lord inflict on some only yet all are obnoxious to the same by nature can exspect no lesse if the Lord should enter with them into judgment And finally as to what is future of this kinde they are being fuel for Tophet obnoxious to that malignant sinful blasphemous and desperat rebellion against God in hell for ever more O how lamentable upon this consideration must the condition of such be as are yet in the state of nature Oh if it were but seen and felt But alas there is this addition to all that people know noâ—… this they consider it not they beleeve it not they feel it not they see it not and hence it cometh to passe that 1. They cannot bewail and lament their condition nor be humbled therefore 2. They cannot nor will not seek after a remedie for the whole will not trouble themselves to seek after a physician And sure upon this account their case calleth for pity and compassion from all that know what a dreadful thing it is to be in such a condition and should stirre up all to pray for them and to do all they can to helpe them out of that state of sin and misery which is dreadful to think upon Should not the thoughts and consideration of this put us all to try and search if we be yet translated from death to life and delivered out of that terrible and dreadful state and made partakers of the first resurrection It not being my purpose to handle this point at large I shall not here insist in giving marks whereby this may be known and which are obvious in Paul's Epistles to be found handled at large in several practical pieces chiefly in Mr. Guthries Great interest I shall only desire every one to consider and examine 1. Whether or not the voice of Christ which quickeneth the dead hath been heard and welcomed in their soul This is effectual calling 2. Whether or not there be a through change wrought in their soul a change in the whole Man so as all things are become new 2 Cor. 5 vers 17 3. Whether or not there be a Principle of life within And they be led by the Spirit 4. Whether or not there be a living to the glory of the Lord Redeemer And when by impartial tryal a discovery is made of the badness of our condition should we not be alarmed to look about us and to laboure by all meanes for an outgate considering 1. How doâ—…lful and lamentable this condition is 2. How sad and dreadful the consequents of it are 3. How happy a thing itis to be delivered from this miserable and sinful condition and. 4. How there is a possibility of outgate Finally It may break a heart of stone to think how people that are in such a condition are so unwilling to come out of it for 1. How unwilling are they once to suspect their condition or to suppose that it may be bad and that they may be yet unconverted 2. How unwilling are they to sit down seriously to try and 〈◊〉 the matter and to lay their case to the touch-stone of the word 3. Yea how unwilling are they to heare any thing that may tend to awaken them or to discover unto them the badness of their condition 4. How ready to stiffle challenges of conscience or any common motion of the Spirit which tendeth to alarme their soul 5. How great enemies are they to such ordinances as serve to awaken sleeping consciences 6. And how do they hate such ministers as preach such doctrine as may serve to rouz thâ—…m up and set them a work about their own salvation Secondly We learne hence That without Christ there is no imaginable way of delivery out of this natural state of death No other name is given under heaven whereby we can be saved Act. 4 12. and angels can make no help here nor can one of us deliver another the redemption of the soul is more precious then so Psal. 49 7 8. Not is there any thing we can do for ourselves that will availe here all our prayers teares whipeings fastings voâ—…es almes deeds purposes promises resolutions abstenance from some evils outward amendements good morality and civility outward religiousnesse yea and if it were possible our keeping of the whole law will not helpe us out of this pit And we may weary ourselves in such exercises in vaine for they will prove but bodylie exercises that profite little And when in this way we have spent all our time parts spirits and labour we shall at length see and say that we have spent our money for that which is not bread This should put all of us to try what itis which we leane to for life and what it is the consideration whereof giveth us peace and quietnesse when the thoughts of death judgment hell and the wrath of God come upon us and trouble us for if it be any thing beside Christ that our soul leaneth to and that we are comforted by and found all our hopes upon we will meet with a lamentable oh for ever lamentable disappointment Be sure then that our hearts renunce all other wayes and meanes of outgate out of this death beside Jesus the Resurrection and the Life else it will not be well with us Thirdly We see here That delivery out of this natural state of death is only had by Christ for He alone is the Life and the life that is in Him is suiteable and excellent Hence he is called the bread of life Iohn 6 35 48. The resurrection and the life Iohn 11 25. The water of life Revel 21 6. 22 17. The tree of life Revel 22 2 14. The Prince of life Act. 3 15. our life Col. 3 4. The word of life and life it self 1 Iohn 1 1 2. And as He is a suitable and excellent life so is He an alsufficient and perfect life able every way to helpe us and to deliver us from all the parts of our death For 1. He delivereth from the sentence of the law Rom. 5 17 18. undergoing the curse of the law and becomeing a curse for us 2 Cor. 5. last 2. He taketh away the curse and sting of all temporal plagues yea and of death it self causeing all work together for good to such as love Him Rom. 8 28. He hath killed Him that had the power of death that is the devil Heb. 2 14.
hear 10. This life is eminently and transcendently in Him and exclusively of all others Itis in Him and in Him alone and itis in Him in a most excellent manner So that He is the Life in the abstract not only a living head and an enlivening head but Life it self the Life the Resurrection and the Life CHAP. XX. Some general uses BEfore we come to speak of some particular cases of deadnesse wherein beleevers are to make use of Christ as the Life we shall first propose some useful consequences and deductions from what hath been spoken of this life and. First The faith of those things which have been mentioned would be of great use and advantage to beleevers and therefore they should study to have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts and a deep impression thereof on their spirits to the end that 1. Be their case and condition what it will they might be keeped from dispaire and despondency of spiâ—…it from giving over their case as hopless and from looking upon themselves as irremediably gone The faith of Christs being Life and the Life would keep up the soul in hope and cause it say how dead so ever my case be yet Life can help me and He who is the resurrection and the Life can recover me 2. Yea be their case and condition what it wil they would have here some ground of encouragement to goe to Him with their dead soul and to look to Him for helpe seing He is the Life as mediator to the end He might enliven and quicken his dead fainting swooning members and to recover them from their deadness 3. They might be freed from many scruples and objections that scar and discourage them This one truth beleeved would cleare up the way so as that such things as would have been impediments and objections before shall evanish and be rolled out of the way now such as are the objections taken from their own worthlesness their long continuance in that dead condition and the like 4. They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plagâ—…e and evil of jealousie whereby the soul is oft keeped aback from comeing to Christ for they feare He will not make them welcome they doubt of his love and tendernesse and questione his pity and compassion yea their jealousie maketh them to doubt of his faithfulnesse So that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousie and deliver the soul therefrom and open a way for the soul to come forward with boldnesse and confidence 5. They might also be hereby helped to waite with patience and to be still and quiet under the Lord 's various dispensations so as they would not frete nor repine against him knowing that He would prove himself to be Life even the Life in his own good time so that the soul would paitiently waite at his door till He were pleased to look out and with his look convey life in to their dead soul. 6. They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any help from any other arth knowing that He alone is the Life and so that help can no where else be had The faith of this truth would guaird from many sinistrous wayes which the soul in a time of straite is ready to run to for reliefe for hereby would it see that neither instruments nor meanes nor outward administrations nor any thing of that kinde can quicken their dead soul and that He and He alone must breathe in life into them as at first so now againe Secondly May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the goodnesse and rich bounty of God towards his people who hath found out and condescended upon such a sure saife and satisfying way whereby he becometh all things to his â—…ple which they stand in need of and that notwithstanding 1. That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his hands 2. That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts beside Him O How much corruption sin and death lodge we within our souls and how more desirous are we oftimes of death than of life 3 That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have granted unto us yea many a time we abuse them and this He did foresee and yet notwithstanding would condescend thus unto us 4. That we do little expresse our thankfulnesse for such mercies But not for our sakes hath He done this but for his owne names sake for noble and holy ends hath He resolved upon this course as 1. That He might be all and in all Col. 3 11. and they nothing That He alone might fill all in all Ephes. 1. ult and they be empty nothing without Him 2. That He might weare the glory of all for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things Rom. 11. last and that no man might share therein 3. That Man might be His everlasting debtor and cast downe in testimony thereof his crowne at His feet who sitteth on the throne as those did Revel 4 10. and might câ—…y out with these same elders vers 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power c. and with those Chap. 5 12. worthy is the lamb that was staine to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength honour and glory and blessing 4. That mans mouth might be stopped forever and all boasting excluded for man is a proud creature and ready to boast of that which is nothing and vanity Now God hath chosen this noble way of the covenant of grace that man might boast no more Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law by the law of works no but by the law of faith sayeth the Apostle Rom. 3 vers 24. 5. That all might be sure to the poor chosen beleever The Lord will not have the stock of life any longer to be in mans own hand for even Adam in the state of innocency could not use it well but made shipewrack thereof and turned a bankerupt much more would man now do so in this state of sin in which he lyeth at present therefore Hath God out of love and tendernesse to his chosen ones put all their stock in the hand of Christ who is better able to manage it to God's glory and mans advantage being faithful in all things and a trusty servant having the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodyly Therefore sayeth the Apostle Rom. 4 16. It is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promises might be sure to all the seed 6. That beleevers might have strong consolation notwithstanding of all the opposition of enemies without and within when they see that now their life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3 3. and that their life is in their Head they will not feare so much devils and men without nor their own dead and corrupt hearts within Thirdly How inexcuseable must all such be
That they should live in the faith of this That there is life enough in Him who is the Life to do their businesse They should be perswaded of His alsufficiency 3. That He is not only an alsufficient deliverer able to deliver a soul that is as it were rotting in the grave and to cause the dead to heare his voice and live but also most willing and ready to answere them in all their necessities according to wisdome and as He seeth it is for his glory and their souls advantage The faith of this is necessary and will be very encourageing 4. That they should go to Him how dead-like so ever their condition be and by faith roll their dead case upon Him who is the Life 5. That they should pray upon the promises of grace and influence even out of the belly of hell or of the grave with Ionah Cap. 2 2. for He is faithful and true and tender hearted and will heare and give a good answer at length 6. That in the exercise of faith and prayer they should waite with patience till He be pleased to come and breath upon the dry bones and till the â—…un of righteousnesse arise on their souls with healing 〈◊〉 his wings But of this more particularly in the following cases which now we come to speak a little unto of purpose to cleare up more fully how the beleever is to make use of Christ as the Life when he is under some one distemper or other that calleth foâ—… life and quickening from Christ the Life We cannot handle distinctly all the particular cases which may be brought under this head it will suffâ—… for clearing of this great duty to speak to some few CHAP. XXI How to make use of Christ as the Life whâ—… the beleever is so sitten-up in the wayes of God that he can do nothing SOmetimes the beleever is under such a distemper of weaknesse and deadnesse that there is almost no commanded duty that he can go about his heart and all is so dead that he cannot so much as groan under that deadnesse Yea he may be undâ—… such a decay that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet in nature and be not only unable to go actively and livelily about commanded duties yea or to 〈◊〉 astle from under that deadnesse but also be so dead that he shall scarce have any effectual desirâ—… or longing to be out of that condition Now in speaking to the use making of Christ foâ—… quickening in this dead case we shall do thoâ—… things 1. For clearing of the case we shall shew how probably it is brought on 2. How Christ is life to the soul in such a case as this 3. How the beleever is to make use of Christ for life in this case and 4. Further cleare the matter by answering a question or two As to the first Such a distemper as this may be brought upon the soul 1. Through some strong and violent temptation from without meeting with some evil disposition of the heart within and so surprizeing overpowering the poor soul as we see in David Peter 2. Through the cunning and slight of Satan stealing the beleever that is not watchful enough insensibly off his feet and singing him asleep by degrees 3. Through carelesnesse in not adverting at first to the beginnings and first degrees of this deadnesse and upsiting when the heart beginneth to grow formal and superficial in duties and to be satisfied with a perfunctorious performance without life and sense 4. Through thortureing of conscience in light â—…nd smaller matters for this may provock God to â—…et conscience fall a sleep so the soul shall become more untender and scruple little at length at greater matters and thus deadnesse may come to an hieght God ordering it so for a further punishment to them for their untendernesse and uncircumspectnesse 5. Through their not stirring up themselves and shaking off that Spirit of lazinesse and drousinesse when it first ceaseth upon them but with the sluggard yet another slumber another sleep and a folding of the hands to sleep 6. Continuing in some known sin and not repenting of it may bring on this distemper as may be observed in David As to the Second particular Christ is life to the soul in this case in that 1. He keepeth possession of the soul for the seed remaineth the root abideth fast in the ground there is life still at the heart though the man make no motion like one in a deep sleep or in a swoon yet life is not away 2ly He is due time awakeneth and rouzeth up the soul so recovereth it out of that condition by one meane or other either by some alarme of judgment and terror as He did David or dispensation of mercy and tenderness as He did Peter And usually He recovereth the soul 1. By discovering something of this condition by giving so much sense and knowledg and senâ—…ing so much light as will let the soul see that it 〈◊〉 not well and that it is under that distemper of lifelesness 2. By discovering the dreadfulness of such a condition and how hazardous it is to countinue therein 3. By puting the soul in minde that He 〈◊〉 the Life and the resurrection and through thâ—… stirring up of grace airting the soul to look to Him for quickening and outgate 4. By raseing up the soul at length out of that drouziness and sluggish folding of the hands to sleep and out of that deep security and putting it into a more lively vigilent and active frame As to the Third The beleever that would make use of Christ for a recovery out of this condition would minde those duties 1. He would look to Christ as the light of Men and the enlightner of the blinde to the end he may get a better and a more through discovery of of his condition for it is halfe health here to be sensible of this disease The soul that is once brought to sense is halfe recovered of this feaver and lethargie 2. He would eye Christ as God able to cause the dead and dry bones to live as Ezech. 37. and this will keep from despondency and despaire yea it will make the poor beleever conceive hope when he seeth that his physitian is God to whom nothing is impossible 3. He would look to Him also as Head and Husband an Life to the poor soul that adhereth to Him and this will strengthen his hope expectation for he will see that Christ is ingadged to speak so in point of honour to quicken a poor dead and lifeless member for the life in the head is for the good of the whole body and of every member of the body that is not quite cut off and the good that is in the husband is forthcoming foâ—… the reliefe of the poor wife that hath not yet gotten a bill of divorce And Christ being Life the Life he must be appointed for the
releife the quickening recovering from death of such as are given to Him that they may be finally raised up at the last day He must presente all his members lively in that day 4. He would by faith wrape himself up in the promises and lie before this Sun of righteousness till the heat of his beames thaw his frozen heart and bring warmth into his cold and dead soul and thus renew his grips of Him accepting of Him as the Life and as his Life Christ himself tells us Iohn 6 40. That this is the Fathers will that hath sent Him that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on Him might have everlasting life and He will raise him up at the last day Faith closeing with Him as it was the meane of life at first so will it be the mean of recovery out of a dead distemper afterward 5. He would mourne for such sins and provocations as he discovereth in himself to have caused and brought on this distemper Repentance and godly sorrow for such evils as have sinned Christ and life away is a way to bring life back againe 6. He would be sure to harboure no known sin in his soul but to set himself against every known evil as an enemie to the life and recovery which he is seeking 7. He must waite on Christ his Life in the appointed meanes for that is the will of the Lord that He should be waited upon there and sought for there There is little hopes of recovery for such as lay aside the ordinances Though the ordinances without him cannot revive or quicken a poor soul yet if He hath condescended so far as to come with life to his people in and through the ordinances and hath appointed us to waite for Him there we must be willing to accept of all his condescensions of love and seek him and waite for Him there where He hath said He will be found 8. In going about those ordinances of life He would beware of putting them in Christ's room that is He would beware of thinking that ordinances will do his business as some ignorantly do who think that by praying so often a day and reading so much and hearing so much they shall recover their lost lively frame when alas all the ordinances without Him signifie nothing They without Him are cold and lifeless and can never bring heat or warmth to a cold soul. It is He in the ordinances whom they are to seek and from whom alone life is to be expected and none else 9. Though life lyeth not in the ordinances as separated from Christ and life is to be expected from Him alone yet he would beware of going about the ordinances in a careless superficial and indifferent manner for this will argue little desire after life and will bring-on more deadness The ordinances than should be gone about seriously diligently and with great carefulness yea with such earnestness as if life were to be had in them and yet with such a single and pure dependence on Christ for life as if we were not about the ordinances at all This is the right way of going about ordinances 10. He must in all this waite with patience without freting or quarrelling with Him for his delaying to come He must waite with much humility It becometh not him who hath through his folly sinned life away to quarrel now with God because he restoreth him not againe to life at the first asking He may be glade if at length after long seeking waiting and much diligence He come and restore to him the joy of his salvation and if he be not made to lie as a bedrid all his dayes for a monument of folly in sinning away his life strength and legs as he did 11. He must beware of giving way to any thing that may increase or continue this deadnesse such as untendernesse in his walk unwatchfulnesse negligence and carelesnesse and especially he must beware to provock God by sinning against light 12. He would also beware of limiteing the Lord to any set measure of life and strength for it becometh not beggers to be carvers far lesse such beggers as through folly have sinned away a good portion It was not fit for the prodigal to seek â—… new patrimony after he had dilapidated the former it might suffice him to be made as a servant 13. He would use well any small measure of life he getteth for God and his glory getteth he but one talent he should use it that he may gaine thereby use we say limbs and have limbs use strength and have it This will be the way to get more 14. He would be taking on the vowes of the Lord and that in the Lord to walk more watchfully in time comeing charging all within and without not to stirre or provoke the Lord to depart further or to scarre Him from coming to the soul. As to the last particular If it be enquired 1. What can that soul do that is not sensible of this deadnesse and weaknesse Ans. Though there be not any reall sense or feeling of this condition yet there may be a suspicion that all is not right and if this be the soul must look out to Christ for the life of sense and for a sight of the provocations that have brought on that condition He that is the Life must recover the very beginnings of life and when the soul winneth to any real apprehension and sense of this deadnesse it must follow the course formerly prescribed for a recovery 2. But it will be asked How a soul can act faith in such a case And if it cannot act faith how can it come to Christ and make use of Him Answere It is true while the soul is in that case it cannot act a strong and a lively faith yet it can act a weak and a sickly faith and a weak and sickly faith can lay hold upon an enlivening Christ and so bring in more strength and life to the soul. If the soul be so weak as that it cannot grippe yet it can look to Him that can quicken the dead and hath helped many a poor soul before out of a dead condition Or if it cannot do so much as look yet it may give an half-look and lie before Him who waiteth to be gracious and sustaine it self if it can get no more with a may be He shall come 3. But further it will be asked what the soul can do when after all this it findeth no helpe or supply but deadnesse remaining yea and it may be growing Ans. The soul in that case must lye at his door waiting for his salvation and resolving if no better may be to die at his door and leave no approven mean or commanded duty unessayed that it may recover its former vigour activity and strength And while the beleever is waiting thus he is at his duty and this may yeeld him peace and he may besure that he shall never be ashamed Ps. 25 3.