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.
better is nor doe they desire and bread Isa 55. 2. Ashes is sutable to their natures judgements desires affections they know no danger in eating of ashes they thinke it is a happinesse to have them and that they shall have satisfaction from them Eaters of ashes are in a dangerous condition they must dye spiritually and eternally there be many that eat ashes they thinke and dreame they eat bread but they are deceived as Isai 29. 8. They follow vanitie Hab. 2. 3. The East winde Hos 12. 1. And lay out their money for that which is no bread Isai 55. 2. What doest thou eate and live upon bread or ashes when thou art empty 1. What doest thou eye whether doest thou goe goest thou to nothing but to Christ onely wee have hope in Christ 1 Cor. 15. 19. Is thy hope onely in Christ 2. In what doest thou find peace comfort contentment satisfaction in is it in nothing else but Christ Phil. 3. 8. 3. Where lyeth thy life and strength is it in nothing but in Christ without me yee can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. Col. 3. 11. Will no peace comfort praise of men duties ordinances joyes ravishments satisfie thee will nothing but Jesus Christ but Christ is all in all Col. 3. 11. If it be so it is well Comfort to all that eat this bread yee shall be satisfied yee doe live and shall live for ever Joh. 6. Oh you may well be thankfull for this so great mercy that yee have bread to eat which others have not nor know not of they famish and dye for want of bread yet thou hast enough and shalt ever have enough in my Fathers house there is bread enough and to spare Luk. 15. 17. 4. There is nothing in him that can helpe him if he follow his own heart he is misled his heart is deceived it turnes him aside and leads him to death if he follow his light his understanding he follows darknesse his light is darknesse Mat. 6. 33. man in himselfe is irrecoverably lost he that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whither he goeth Joh. 12. 35. We were sometimes darknesse Ephes 5. 8. 5. Consider mans heart is not to be hearkened unto because it turnes the soule aside from Christ what doest thou hearken unto and live upon thy owne heart c. or on Christ 1. Many in stead of living upon God live upon a deceived heart as Pro. 3. 5 6. 7. 2. Others live upon sense 3. Others live upon corrupt reason 4. Some build their hope of salvation upon other mens judgements who if they be godly may easily be mistaken in a close hypocrite 5. Many live upon the report of others which appears by this that if men speak not well of them they are greatly troubled are not able to beare it by which it appeares their life is in it it was no wonder Laban made such adoe in searching for his images because they were his gods 6. Many live upon their reformations they thanke God they are not so bad as they have been therefore they have hope it 's well when men grow better yet abstinence from evill is no evidence of grace for men may forbeare the acts of sinne for feare of hell or men c. 7. Others live upon duties and as they are increased their hope and confidence in God is increased but if their duties faile them their hope and comfort is gone by which it appeares they live upon what they doe and not upon God these count their duties which is their righteousnesse gaine but if they belong to God they must count againe as Paul did this their gaine to be losse for Christ Phil. 3. 8. 8. Some live upon their peace they thanke God they are quiet there is no terrors nor feare of hell in them therefore thinke they are in a good estate a most subtill delusion 9. Others live upon groundlesse hope because their sinnes are few or small as they thinke they have hope 10. Many live upon their inward comforts and joy which appeares by this that whilst they last they have much assurance of the love of God and are sure of salvation but as soone as their comfort joy which was sensibly felt leaves them their confidence went with their comfort and leaves them in a sad condition 11. Others upon ravishments and excasies of glory c. 12. Many live upon the ordinances of men and stand ready resolved to be of any Religion the Authority will impose upon them and the more easie it is for their persons and purses the more it shall have of their hearts 13. Yea and many there be that live upon the ordinances of God without God these so they may frequent the ordinances they are satisfied though they see not God in them and be never the better for them 14. Others live upon their confidence of salvation 15. And some live upon creature-comforts and conclude because they possesse them God loves them 16. And many live upon the Devill and his word that is when Satans suggestions are hearkened unto liked beleeved imbraced obeyed as if he should say their sinne shall never be pardoned nor subdued they beleeve him and are ruled by him this is to live upon the Devill as to hearken unto God as Isa 53. 3. To beleeve in him 1 Joh. 3. 23. and to submit themselves to God Jam. 4. 7. is to live upon God A false foundation and a false life goe together therefore whosoever they be that live upon any thing besides God in Christ as their foundation is unsound so certainly it will deceive them whatsoever their sparkes be they must and shall lie downe in sorrow as Isa 50. 10. they are all lying vanities and they that hearken unto them forsake their own mercies as Jonah 2. 8. A man is prone to follow the advise of his heart The reason is 1. Because he thinkes his heart knows 2. That his own heart will not deceive himselfe but who so trusteth in his owne heart is a foole Prov. 28. 26. Isai 10. 7. Jer. 23. 26. 3. He is ignorant of the desperate wickednesse of his heart The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. 4. He knows no better Counsellor happy is he who is so acquainted with his hearts deceitfulnesse that he will not trust to it nor hearken unto it 5. The heart is the â—aâ—se of all the errors and miscarriages of men for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Luk. 6. 45. Mat. 15. 19. What men thinke speake or doe is from the heart 6. A man by nature desires that his soule may be delivered because he apprehends his soule is in danger and that it is of great concernment unto him for his soule to be delivered 7. A naturall man doth indeavour to save and deliver himselfe men seeke deliverance for themselves from themselves Reasons 1. He judgeth it a reasonable thing that his soule be delivered
and upholds them The Saints are sure to persevere it is impossible they should fall finally or misse of glory because they are maintained by God 1. They shall never perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand and none are able to plucke them out of my Fathers hand Joh. 10. 28 29. 2. For they are in the love of God Eph. 2. 5. Joh. 17. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 1. 16. 4. 16. They shall unavoydably come unto mee Joh. 6. 36 37. 3. God hath promised to preserve them Heb. 13. 5. For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 4. God is faithfull 1 Cor. 1. 9. 1 Thes 5. 23 24. Jer. 31. 40. And immutable I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. 5. And onely wise he knows how to preserve them Rom. 16. 27. 6. He hath power enough to preserve them 1 Pet. 1. 5. 7. Because they are in Christ Ephe. 1. 4. who shall ever live Because I live yee shall live also Joh. 14. 19. 8. Because they are so united to God that God they are but one Jo. 17. 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Joh. 17. 23. Oh sweet and happy union that is so intire reall full and eternall 9. Because God dwells in them and they in him 1 Joh. 4. 13. Joh. 17. 23. Therefore they are secure and safe enough being out of the reach of all the Devils in earth or hell The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Christs lot and inheritance is his Saints who are delightfull and precious unto him Deut. 32. 9. I have a goodly heritage Christ is wonderfully taken with the Saints comelines it is a maine part of the excellency of Christs inheritance that it cannot be taken from him nor spent nor lost Goodly heritage Christ hath a high esteeme of his Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Song 4. 7. They are without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5. 25. to 28. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Psal 51. 5. Rev. 19. 8. My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my love and faire one and come away Song 2. 10. Oh happy Saint have thee a high esteem of Christ he is satisfied in thee and be thou satisfied in him rejoyce in nothing else but him Psal 33. 21. and sing praises to him THE SAINTS COMMUNION with God by Faith The life of Faith in effectuall calling Justification Sanctification infirmities in graces in means in time past in prosperity and adversity in glorification and to dye by Faith Wherein the life of Faith consists IT is in the communion the soule hath with God in Christ and the soules injoying of Christ in his promises both spirituall and temporall 1. Faith in effectuall calling It is the soules cleaving and depending upon Christ in his promise for pardon and life 1 Joh. 12. 1. Joh. 3. 23. Upon such places as these 2 Cor. 5. 20. Mat. 11. 28. Mat. 5. 2. The life of faith in Justification The Lord having spoken peace to the soule that Jesus Christ hath fully satisfied for all his sinnes so as they are all done away and shall be remembred no more Isa 53. 5 6. Jer. 31. 34. c. And that as the soule is happy so it injoyes the comfort of it and is filled with joy and peace in beleeving and now the soule lives a life of comfort chearfulnesse and holinesse 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 5. 1. So that no sinne nor Satan and if corruption increase and God hides himselfe or seemes an enemy not any thing can cause this soule to let goe the Lord and cast away its confidence Though he slay me saith Job yet will I trust in him Job 13. 15. Rom. 8. 38 39. Isa 54. 7 8. 63. 16 17. Some hold the act of faith is that which God accepts to Justification but this is a mistake because it makes Christ inferior to faith and in ascribing such an honour to faith they dishonour Christ for although they doe not exclude Christ wholly yet in the act of Justification it gives all to faith They say as the act of Adams sin condemned him so our act of faith justifieth us Answer Adams sinne was enough to condemne him and us but our faith cannot save others nor our selves They reply Wee are justified by faith Answ Christ is called faith Gal. 3. 23. Before faith came which must be understood of Christ Wee are justified before God in his sight onely by Christ Rom. 3. 20. 24. My righteous servant Christ shall justifie many Isai 53. 11. We are not justified before God by faith which is in us but by Christ by his bloud justified by his bloud Rom. 5. 9. That which saves us is the bloud of Christ Jesus Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his bloud Rev. 1. 5. Also wee are said to be justified by faith because it is the instrument whereby we apprehend and apply Christ our Righteousnesse by faith wee know our selves to be justified Rom. 5. 1. Though faith be a grace of God yet as it is an act it is a worke and to be justified by it is to be justified by a worke of our owne for with the heart man beleeveth Rom. 10. 9 10. That which justifieth us must be perfect and so it is no act of ours for all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags c. Isai 64. 6. Not of workes least any man should boast Ephes 2. 9. Before wee had faith it seemes wee were not in Christ or in him and not justified for wee were in him before the world was Ephes 1. 4. And that at one time God should be angry with us as he is with all unjustified persons who are out of Christ Heb. 12. 29. He hateth all the workers of iniquitie Psal 5. and that our beleeving should make him to be at peace with us this is to make God changeable like man which is contrary to the Word for with him is no variablenesse Jam. 1. 17. I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. Nothing can be charged upon Gods elect Rom. 8. 1. therefore they are justified 2 Cor. 5. 19. Those who have no sin upon them are justified but Christ hath taken away all the sinnes of the Elect Job 1. 29. with Isai 35. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 6. 6. And to say wee are not justified before God untill we beleeve is to say Jesus Christ hath not justified us which is contrary to the Scriptures which saith Wee are accepted in the beloved in whom we have redemption by his bloud Ep. 1. 6 7. We are justified by his bloud Rom. 5. 9. Jesus Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his own bloud Rev. 1. 5. Wee were reconciled by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 9 10. A full satisfaction Heb. 10 11 12 13 14. And in this God is well pleased before wee beleeve Mat.
24. Sight is higher then presence To be transformed into glory We are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. This shall be more full in glory Then shall wee appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. To have full communion with God Wee shall be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Union is higher then sight communion is higher then union as it flowes from it full communion is more we shall have as much as we shall desire wee shall be filled with it wee shall injoy the quintessence of all sweetnesse fulnesse goodnesse in God and shall be raised inflamed and ravished with him and be wholly taken up with admiring and praising him without any intermission or wearinesse this is our greatest good and blessednesse and the end of our being To be for ever with the Lord So shall wee be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. Eternall communion with God As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. It transcends the utmost expectation of the most inlarged heart Wherefore comfort one another with these words vers 18. Faith beleeves the promises of glory and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition when faith shall end in vision our eternall joyes draws on apace in the meane time lay hold on eternall life let faith beleeve it and hope expect it and patience waite for it to make this life tolerable bepatient indure all it will not be long ere glory come and continue for ever for this cause wee faint not 2 Cor. 4. He that lives by faith in glorification lives a sweet comfortable life in Christ his righteousnesse and is fruitfull sincere and content Lastly To dye by faith Which is to resigne up our soules to God beleeving death shall be a passage to glory When Christ who is my life shall appeare then shall I appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. These all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. The righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14. 32. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. When I awake I shall be satisfied in thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. Why should I feare that I would not escape what hurt will it be to me to enter into glory I cannot have my happinesse unlesse I goe unto it THE SAINTS DAILY DUTY AND DESIRE The severall Branches of the Saints daily duty and desire to walke with God every day 1. WHen I awake to thinke on GOD and to be thankfull to him for rest and sleepe and preservation from sin Satan and dangers satisfying my soule with the Lord craving his strength to walke with him all the day long reverently and seriously to minde him and obey him When I awake I am still with thee Ps 139. 18. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. see Act. 11. 23. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still Psal 4. 4. It is good to season strengthen and perfume our spirits if time will permit with some sweet thoughts of God as that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is not changed Here is strong consolation in this sweet meditation My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. It is good for me to draw neere to God Psal 73. 28. To make him the object and end of all my actions O that my understanding had a more full cleare and glorious sight of him and a more perfect inward eternall and full communion with him then should my will and affections be more satisfied and more inflamed with unwearied desires high and restlesse aspirations after fresh additions of intercourses and communion with him The sight of God to a Saint is glorious and the knowledge and often meditation of him will raise and inlarge the soule Every childe of God hath in him an earnest desire to have communion with him to injoy his blessed presence and to see his glory As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God when shall I come and appeare before him Psal 42. 1 2. Nor will a seldome communion satisfie them it must be frequent and full it is a contempt of God to be willing to live without him and so much he injoys God as he seriously minds him and so much as wee desire God we follow after God for desire is the soules following of God and as God draweth we follow Song 1. 4. Unlesse the Lord fix and fasten the heart upon himselfe it will be fixed on things below and wander after vanities and fill both head and heart with them he that knoweth what it is to injoy God is sensible of the want of him and thinkes he can never have enough of him his soule will faint for him because nothing lesse then God can content him Psal 119. 81 82. Jer. 14. 8. Psal 13. 1. Exod. 33. 13 14 15. 18. So the soule lives where it loves and where it loves it lives and there is nothing more active and stronger then love for love is as strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6 7. 2. Live by faith Every day to live by faith in all estates and conditions the communion the soule hath with God is by faith in justification in sanctification in infirmities in graces in meanes using in duties and for a supply of all wants every day to live the life of faith in glorification 3. Watch heart That every day I watch my heart to keepe it continually still cleane spirituall content and that I observe warily the first and secret motions of my heart least I be unawares catched and insnared in sinne and that I doe not receive any thing without it be warranted in the word of God Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Pro. 23. 17. Thy heart is deceitfull take heed of it consider Jer. 17. 9. Heb. 3. 12. Luk. 6. 45. If wee cease to watch our hearts they quickly become vaine Consider how it was with David 2 Sam. 12. 9. and Peter Mat. 26. 72. our experience might teach us that our hearts are worse then wee tooke them to be when wee are crossed or tempted wee shew what metall wee are made of the best have cause enough to looke to themselves if one sinfull thought be admitted concerning the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne the will is ready enough to accept the motion consent forecast the accomplishment the affections adde heat and strength the heart travels with iniquitie and in time by opportunitie sin is brought forth and delight and custome wraps a man up in sinne that he cannot get out such carelesnesse may cost
Christ according to the word of Christ We pray you be yee reconciled to God for he hath made him to be sin for us The way God takes to reconcile a sinner unto himselfe is the discovery of his free grace and love of God done to man through Christ The discovery of this to the soule expels ignorance and slayeth the soules enmity against God and by his love he draweth the soule to God in love again Gods way of saving man is onely in a way of love therefore he saith Behold I will allure her and speake comfortably unto her Hos 2. 14. His love is free full and eternall I will love them freely Hos 14. 4. I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Hos 11. 4. Be reconciled for he hath made him to be sin for us It appeares that the sense and guilt of sin doth hinder the soule from being reconciled sin causeth the soule to desire to be at a further distance from God as Luk. 5. 8. That before a sinner can be reconciled unto God he must understand and know the cause way and meanes of his salvation I say not before God loves him therefore as it is declared that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God c. Rom. 3. So he declares that Jesus Christ is made sin for us and that wee are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that he might be just and the justifier of him that beleeves in Jesus Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. see Rom. 5. 10 11. 13. 19. Rom. 6. 23. Titus 3. 5. He hath made him God the Father hath set apart the Lord Jesus to save man Heb. 9. 14. 22. Rev. 13. 8. There is no other name whereby we may be saved but by the name of Jesus Act. 4. 12. Which knew no sinne Christ knew no sin in himselfe personally Luk. 1. 35. nor inherently Heb. 14. 5. nor experimentally Joh. 8. 40. And seeing Christ is so holy a person and so qualified as he is Col. 2. 3. none ought to doubt of the sufficiency meritoriousnesse and effectualnesse of whatsoever he hath undertaken to doe for by once offering the sacrifice of himselfe he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified that is set apart Heb. 10. 10. 14. So that the sinfull soule ought to cast away all discouragements and to rest satisfied in this full perfect and infinite satisfaction and not suffer their foolish hearts to seeke after or desire any other for as there is none to be found elswhere so there needs none for be thy sinnes never so great or many this one satisfaction of the Lord Jesus is sufficient Made him to be sinne God hath imputed our sinnes unto Christ and so laid them upon him Esa 53. 5. that they are not ours no more but Christs who hath freed us from them who will disanull them and so free himselfe of them so that he shall appeare without sin Heb. 9. 28. The way and meanes God hath chosen to free a sinner from sin is onely by Jesus Christ that he might undergoe the penalty of sin or else no man could be saved as these Scriptures declare Joh. 1. 1. 7. Joh. 1. 29. Rom. 8. 2. Ephes 2. 14 15. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 9. 22. Col. 1. 20. Zach. 9. 11. For sin must be charged upon Christ or the sinner and our happinesse lyeth in this that our sinnes are not imputed unto us Psal 32. 1 2. Rom. 4. 8. Our sins cost Christ deare that they might cast us nothing Rom. 5. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. For us The word us and wee in this verse must be understood for them in the 19. verse to whom God doth not impute their trespasses So that they are blessed Psal 32. 1 2. Rom. 4. 7. for they shall not misse of glory because they have redemption by his bloud and remission of sinnes as Col. 1. 14. Rom. 5. 10. Therefore by the words us and wee cannot truly be understood every son and daughter of Adam For so large as the purpose of God is of saving men so large is the meanes of this salvation so large is the declaration to be so large is the particular application of salvation to be so large is the effect of salvation it selfe none of these are any larger then the other If any reply that Christ in the declaration is offered to all therefore the particular application of salvation is to be to all I answer That Christ is not offered to all nor to none at all true it is the Gospel is to be preached to every creature and that all persons whosoever will are called to come to Christ to drinke c. But what Scripture saith Christ is offered to any person much lesse to all the world God so loved the world that whosoever beleeves in him should not perish but have everlasting life This is a declaration of what persons God will save the word of God is a declaration of the will of God now for to declare a thing and to offer it is not one thing for one may declare to another the riches that he or another hath and yet not offer any of them nor it may be cannot and so a man may give that to another which he never offered him It 's safest to keep to the language of the Scriptures which forme of words are sound especially in this age in which men catch up expressions and by them abuse God and his truth and themselves for if one affirme that God offereth Christ to all men reply doth not God meane as he saith and if God offers Christ and man hath not a sufficient power to receive him they are mocked and God is unjust c. and that men have free-will and such like stuffe so that yee may see how one error draweth many after it and it 's oft grounded upon an unsound expression Made sin made the righteousnesse of God After what manner Christ became a sinner after the same manner wee are made just but he became a sinner not by any infusion of our corrupt qualities but by imputation onely Therefore wee are just before God not by infusion of any habituall grace into our corrupt natures but by imputation of his righteousnesse God imputeth righteousnesse without works Rom. 4. 6. If this were well minded it might answer and remove some temptations which are occasioned by apprehending the contrary The righteousnesse of God Christs righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of God That righteousnesse which freeth a sinner from the curse of the Law is a perfect righteousnesse Heb. 1. 8. Rom. 9. 5. Mat. 6. 33. Rom. 4. 6. Therefore prize it highly Mans righteousnesse is imperfect and could not justifie him before God Enter not into judgement with thy servant
the use of his meanes till he shall give thee faith that by it thou mayst know thy selfe to be elected Act. 13. 48. But I have used the meanes and yet I am no better but worser therefore God will never doe me good Are you sure you have used all Gods meanes doest thou know the number of them and have your ends been all good right placed and have you used them in a right manner measure time in sinceritie humilitie which I question and have you not rested in the use of means have you set God above his meanes and expected his blessing upon them without which they could doe no good If thou hast not used them all in faith say not thou hast used the meanes what are all meanes without faith they are as a shadow without the substance Heb. 11. 1. The word they heard profited them not for want of faith Heb. 4. 2. It is no good reason to say because God hath not answered me and supplied me therefore he never will consider Isa 64. 4. Isa 8. 17. They which had not obtained mercy did 1 Pet. 2. 10. They shall not be ashamed that wait for me Isa 49. 23. There be many that doe satisfie themselves with the meanes and their frequenting them and in what they doe that it is just with God yea a mercy to blast all to shew their emptinesse that we might look and long for Christ to blesse the meanes and be all in all unto us Men beleeve not that faith is the gift of God and the Spirits work Phil. 1. 29. so that they goe not to God in his promise for faith but endeavour to make a faith of their own to carry to God If thou hast a will that onely Christ should save thee God hath begun his work in thee and he will finish it Heb. 12. 2. and one day thou shalt know thy selfe to be pardoned and all thy sins shall be subdued Consider God may have mercy for thee though thou knowest it not for mens sinnes are first forgiven before they are to beleeve it or can be assured of it for if men should beleeve that their sins are forgiven before they be forgiven they should beleeve that which is false neither can any mans beleeving make that to be which had not a being before faith declares to us our pardon but our beleeving neither pardons nor procures the pardon of any sin if it could what need was there of the death of Christ I have waited a long time and many have received mercy since but not I. Even the Lords servants have waited a long time for God or at least they thought the time long David said I am weary of my crying my throat is dryed mine eyes faile while I waite for my God Psal 69. 3. If God have given thee a heart to wait upon him thou art blessed Blessed are all they that wait for him Isa 30. 18. Waiting implies perseverance patience long-suffering in holding out notwithstanding the tediousnesse of the time deferred courage in breaking through all difficulties that stand between waiting and to continue waiting though all things seem contrary till we enjoy what we waited for I wait for my God Psal 69. 3. I am now old in yeares and if God had intended to have done my soule good surely he would have done it before this time and now death is ready to take me away Yea though it be thus with thee yet mercy may be thy portion at last if mercy come at last it will be sweet and it may come at last The thiefe was saved upon the Crosse Mat. 20. Luk. 23. Oh how neere was he unto his end before mercy came unto him You may not set a time to God in which he shall shew mercy for he giveth what he will and when he will and will not be tyed to thy time it 's an exceeding great grace for God to shew mercy though it be at the last as he did to the thiefe upon the Crosse God hath all houres in the day to work the last houre God useth to call some as well as the third see Mat. 20. 1. to 10. for there is nothing too hard for God If I were filled with qualifications as humblenesse and brokennesse of heart and tooke delight to heare and pray as others I could have hope but now I cannot Alas poore soule thou art greatly deluded for these things can no way fit the soule for mercy Why doest thou seek the living among the dead Luk. 24. 5. Why doest thou look at and rest in such things as these for haddest thou these in the greatest measure they could not procure thy happinesse nor stand thee in any stead oh nothing but Christ can doe thy soule any good and truly comfort thee Consider what qualifications had they in Ezekiel 16. 3. to 9. of whom God was found Surely they had none except sinfull ones What saith God I was found of them that sought me not Isa 65. 1 2 3. Tell me what qualifications had they who were enemies yet Christ died for them Rom. 5. 9 10. All that are saved are saved by grace without any cause or condition in man 2 Tim. 1. 9. Under colour of devotion yee overthrow Christ can your duties c. procure Christ or what use is there of Christ if yee can have what yee need without him yee would have power abilitie and inlargements before yee dare believe in Christ Oh the greatnesse of thy pride and folly doth not Christ say true that without me yee can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. As in nature none can worke before they have life so none can doe any thing that is spirituall before they live spiritually Christ must be in thee before thou canst beleeve the soule must beleeve before it can finde any sanctification or workes at all in it selfe yea without any regard to workes in any measure whatsoever for there is nothing to be done by man to be a preparation to his sanctification see Rom. 4. 5. 5. 8. 10. Thou hungerest and thirstest after a righteousnesse of thine own and wouldst establish it but it must be renounced I confesse this self-deniall is very hard oh how hard is it for the soule to be taken off its own bottom of workes and of self-concurrence strip them of all that is their own and yee take away their lives they must and will have something some humblenesse and brokennesse of heart some teares some good workes or abilities or a good heart something they must have for they think it cannot be that they should be accepted pardoned and saved and they to doe nothing at all themselves for it therefore as soone as they begin to espie a flaw in what they doe for who can say his heart is cleane Job 25. 4. they betake themselves to breake their hearts to make God amends for all and thinke if they can
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
beleeve or no for some shall not be saved and if I be one of them if I should beleeve I should be saved by Christ I should beleeve a lye The Gospel declares that whosoever beleeves in Christ shall be saved Joh. 3. 16. therefore those who beleeve cannot be any of them that shall perish and the Word saith be that beleeveth not is condemned already Joh. 3. 18. and shall not see life What God saith is truth and truth ought to be beleeved and whatsoever is contrary to truth no man is bound to beleeve therefore no unregenerate man is commanded to beleeve the forgivenesse of his sinnes in any other way then Gods word holds forth forgivenesse of sinnes which is he that beleeves shall be saved and have everlasting life Men are commanded to beleeve they shall have benefit by Christ life and salvation by Christ if they beleeve Joh. 3. 16. And no man is commanded to beleeve he shall be saved by Christ whether he beleeves or no for this is contrary to the Word which saith He that beleeves not is condemned already Joh. 3. 18. No man is to beleeve that which is not true yet this hinders not but all that see an absolute necessitie of Christ shall enjoy him they ought not to distrust in him but to cast away all their doubts and feares and beleeve in him and rest upon him for ever as Simon Peter said to Christ Master to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Joh. 6. 67 68. But I have no love to Christ I am an enemie to Christ I am not fit for Christ The reason thou doest not love Christ is because thou seest not thy sinnes to be pardoned by Christ didst thou know he loves thee thou wouldst love him the love of Christ would constraine thee to love him 2 Cor. 5. 14. We love him because he first loved us 1 Joh. 4. 19. Doest thou apprehend thy selfe to be an enemy to God so were all those once that ever did beleeve Ephes 2. 12 13. While we were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 8. 10. Enemies cannot discerne Christ yet God gives Christ to such Thou canst not fit thy selfe for Christ if thou seest such a necessity of Christ as without him thou art undone thou desirest Christ and goest to Christ He that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. hearken what Christ saith you shall speed you have the promise of Christ which is security sufficient to satisfie thy soule for Christ is in you and no man can hunger and thirst after righteousnesse viz. Christ but such as are blessed Mat. 5. 6. and the Spirit of God dwels in you and Christ is in you and they that are led by the Spirit of God out of themselves to Christ for light and life and strength are the children of God Rom. 8. 9 10 11 14. Indeed there are many sweet promises in the Word but they are all for beleevers but I am none I grant none may apply a promise of life but onely such as beleeve yet the promises are for all the elect thou knowest not but thou art one of them when God shall please to give thee faith thou shalt know thy interest in them Act. 13. 48. In the meane time stay thy selfe with this that the Lord Jesus gave himselfe for enemies and justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. Whilest wee were yet sinners Christ dyed for us While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 8. 10. Therefore be not discouraged God may save thee also The Lord saith I will have mercy upon her that hath not obtained mercy and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say Thou art my God Hos 2. 23. Oh sweet place therefore by no meanes yeeld not to thy feares nourish no jealousies against God but resolve in Christs strength to cleave to his Word as Psal 119. 49. And here hold saying My beloved is mine and I am his Song 2. 16. I would gladly beleeve but I dare not Thou shouldst not admit nor give way to any discouragement to hinder thy going to Christ seeing Christ cryed saying If any man thirst let him come to mee and drinke Joh. 7. 37. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and whosoever will let him come Rev. 22. 17. The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal 147. 11. He will not quench the smoaking flax Mat. 12. 20. From whence is thy feare sure it is occasioned or much increased by them who bid persons beleeve forbid them againe by their saying Take heed what you doe you may be deceived it is not so easie a matter to beleeve you must first be so sensible of sin and so humbled for it c. before you may beleeve Now they conceit they are not so and so qualified therefore they dare not beleeve also they are scared with the many things hypocrites may doe how farre they may goe and so set them short of hypocrites which must needs discourage them yet the word of God requires no such teaching for men to learne before they may beleeve for when the soule seeth it selfe lost by reason of sinne and is at a stand not knowing what to doe the first thing they are to doe is to beleeve in Jesus Christ as appeares Acts 16. 31. The word requires nothing of them before they may beleeve therefore wee may not for none may presume above what is written If thou desirest to beleeve thy will is in part regenerated and thou doest in some measure beleeve though weakly as he did that said Lord I beleeve help my unbeliefe Mark 9. 24. Gods servants are described by a desire to feare his Name Nehe. 1. 11. Psal 145. 19. Psal 147. 11. There can be no desires without faith 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. a man cannot desire that which he beleeves not to be so Heb. 11. 6. Many give God their hearts and doe not know it and so are troubled because they do not know what is meant by the heart nor where it is seated I speak not of the heart of flesh Rom. 8. 5 6 7. there is a carnall minde and a spirituall minde in men I speake of the heart mystically and spiritually which is principally seated in the will so that what it wills or desires there is the heart and to that which the will most wills or desires to that is the bent of the heart unto Now if the soule were to have its choice of every thing that one thing that the soule should chuse would any question whether they loved it and that their hearts were not unto it for as no soule can be sensible of the want of Christ untill the soule be possessed of him Rom. 8. 10 11. so no soule
can desire Christ above all things in the world if they might have their choice unlesse Christ have their hearts and they dearly love him and beleeve in him for Christ is precious to them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 7. and to none else So the seat of faith is in the heart which is in the understanding and will but more principally in the will so that if our wills be renewed our hearts are renewed Rom. 8. 5 6. Paul saith To will is present with me good I would doe so then with my minde I serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 18 19. with 21. 25. it appeares that the will is one with the minde and the heart is one with them these three are one and alwayes goe together and are alike spirituall Christ saith Where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6. 21. that is the mind and affections and by affections in Eph. 3. 2. is meant the heart for the heart and affections are one thing There be them that beleeve and yet they know not whether they beleeve or no so that it is possible for them to call their faith unbeliefe as the blind man did Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbeliefe which must not be understood of unbeliefe for it is not a lawfull request to pray that sin may be increased for unbeliefe is a sin and the ground or cause of the soules departing from God as Heb. 3. 12. Many mistake faith some have thought comfort joy or ravishments of soule with God to be faith and so have concluded because they had not them they had no faith It is not mens beleeving but the object of faith that gives faith its denomination or name for there be divers kinds of faith there is a naturall faith as Luk. 8. 13. and a divine faith or the faith of Gods Elect Titus 1. 1. Faith and its object is not to be separated because faith and its object is one and the same it is too strict therefore to give a distinction or definition of faith without its object He that beleeveth that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God shall be saved All is included in this he that beleeves this must 1. Know Christ to be the anointed Luk. 23. the Saviour of his people from their sinnes Mat. 1. 21. 2. To beleeve in Christ to rest upon him to live or stay upon the Lord Pro. 3. 5. To beleeve in him Rom. 10. 9. 11. Psal 17. 6. To cleave to God Deut. 30. 20. Joh. 23. 6. Acts 11. 23. Psal 119. 30 31. to hope in him Psal 147. 11. 3. To own and confesse Christ Simon said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God Mat. 16. 16. Rom. 10. 9. Any man may say that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God yea the Devils confesse this I know thee who thou art Jesus Christ the Sonne of God therefore this cannot be the faith of Gods Elect and so not the faith of the Gospel 1. There are three things to be considered in the nature of faith first illumination secondly for the soule to trust in Christ for pardon and life and the third is the application of him The first is when a man consents to the Word that it is true and this is called faith and this the Devill doth Thou beleevest there is one God thou doest well the Devill doth so James 2. Mark 5. 8. Acts 16. 17. The second is to beleeve that Jesus is the Christ which implies a seeing and knowing all to be in Christ for life and salvation and so to rest upon him for it he that thus beleeves in Christ is brought by Christ over to Christ and so centred upon him that he will never goe from him Joh. 6. 58. My soule wait thou on God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. and this no Devill never did The third is to beleeve with an application of Christ as their own in particular therefore to beleeve in Christ is more then an illumination or a saying so or reformation for where faith comes old things are done away and they are new creatures there is a light set up in that soule now they know all is by Christ and that there is no way or meanes of life but by Christ and close with Christ and rest upon him Secondly the Scriptures cleerly prove that to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel for the Word of God is the ground of faith and the soules salvation depends upon the truth of what God saith and faith looks onely to what God saith and rests upon it and sets to its seale that God is true And that so to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel I prove by these Reasons 1. Because this is the faith which the Apostles preached and witnessed unto and the faith which is recorded unto us in the Scriptures Acts 18. 28. 1 Joh. 2. 22. 2. Because none can say knowingly that Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 3. 3. Because upon the profession of this faith Christ builds his Church Mat. 16. 16. 18. 4. Upon the profession of this faith the Baptisme of Christ is dispensed as Act. 8. 37. 5. They who have this faith dwell in God and God in them 1 Joh. 4. 15. 6. This faith flesh and bloud cannot reveale but God reveales it to the soule Mat. 16. 16 17. 7. Such are borne of God whosoever beleeves that Jesus is the Christ is borne of God 1 Joh. 5. 1. 8. This is the faith that overcommeth the world 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. 9. Because such as have this faith are pronounced blessed Mat. 16. 17. and shall never dye Joh. 11. 25 26. 10. Because he that hath this faith shall be saved If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life whosoever beleeveth in me shall never dye beleevest thou this shee said unto him yea Lord I beleeve that thou art the Christ the Sonne of God c. Joh. 11. 25 26 27. To beleeve this Record implies an assent that it is truth with a resting or hoping to have interest in it to be made one with it is faith though it be a lesser degree then a full and certain assurance of life by him for himselfe in particular see Isa 45. 21 22. Those in Mat. 5. 3 4 5. who mourne and hunger and thirst after Christ are blessed and shall be satisfied though they want the application of Christ therefore besides the illumination which wicked men and Devils may have as well as a beleever there is a two-fold act of faith the first is a direct act to beleeve Christ is in whom is life c. this is to beleeve the Record God hath given concerning his Sonne and that he
came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Look unto me and be saved Isai 45. 22. and so trust in Christ for life from a hope of mercy but this hope is without a certainty these are blessed as appeares Mat. 16. 17. Turne ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope Zach. 9. 12. Secondly the reflect act of faith which is to beleeve Christ came to save them from their sinnes as Mat. 1. 23. to know I beleeve he that hath this measure or degree of faith trusts in Christ from a knowledge of an interest in him we beleeve and are sure Joh. 6. 69. He that hath this act of faith hath the former but there be some which have the first act of faith but have not attained the second yet their hearts are turned unto Christ and fixed upon him and they long for him hope in him and rest upon him alone for life and salvation these have faith which causeth them to depend on Christ which none can doe but such as are possessed with Christ though at present they may not know it yet are they blessed Mat. 5. 6. and in his Name they doe trust Mat. 12. 21. The Apostle saith These things have I written unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that yee may beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God 1 Joh. 5. 13. So that these words declare they did but weakly beleeve and that they did not know that they were possessed with eternall life yet they were therefore they had not that particular knowledge or assurance of the love of God yet did beleeve in Christ Some conceive they have no grace because they never had so deep a measure of sorrow for sin as some others have c. The word of God declares that those that beleeved had not one and the same measure of sorrow the Scripture declares no sorrow in Lydia receiving the Word Act. 16. 14. but it is said that the Jaylor trembled being in feare Act. 16. 29. The word of God is to be our Rule Isa 8. 20. and not mens conceits The greatest measure of sorrow griefe feare terror for sinne that ever any had made them not to be loved of God nor to obtain mercy from God nor did sensiblenesse of sin ever drive the soule to Christ but ever from Christ as Peters sensiblenesse of his sin caused him to bid Christ to depart from him Lord depart from me for I am a sinfull man Luk. 5. 8. therefore a deep sensiblenesse of sin hinders the soule in beleeving of Christ and drives it further from Christ Thou hast no cause to complain if God deales more gently with thee then he doth with some others it's a great mistake to thinke that God delights in slavish feares or teares What is the greatest sensiblenesse of sin worth that proceeds not from faith and floweth not from the apprehension of pardon love in so evill requiting God look not to sensiblenesse of sinne but to Christ thy very sensiblenesse of sin is not free from sin and it deserves nothing but death but in Christ is life If thou wert ever fatherlesse which is for the soule to be stripped of all that none of thy workes nor means nor men nor Angels nor nothing besides Jesus Christ can stand thee in any stead nor satisfie thee being resolved to wait upon Christ untill he please to manifest his free love in pardoning thy sinnes this is the worke of God in thee yea this is a great and sweet work of the Gospel and such a work as never was in any but such as shall be saved If thou renouncest all thy own sufficiency so as thy best duties cannot satisfie thee certain it is there is a better sufficiency come in place I feare my faith is not the faith of Gods Elect because it is attended with so many doubtings Feares and doubtings are no fruits of faith but of unbeliefe and as feares and doubts increase the stronger is unbeliefe in the soule so the soule is ready to judge that where so great unbeliefe is there is no faith yet the Scriptures declare that in those who had true faith the faith of Gods Elect yet at the same time have had much unbeliefe also in them so as they have been filled with doubts and feares Joh. 13. 1. And from hence it was that he in Mark 9. 24. called his faith unbeliefe because he was sensible of his great unbeliefe and was not unbeliefe strong in Thomas when he said he would not beleeve Joh. 20. 24 25. And seeing that a child of God may have true faith notwithstanding they may also have many feares and doubtings thou knowest not but the cause may be so with thee therefore take heed that yee deny not your selves to have faith lest yee call weak faith no faith and light darknesse and grace sin for to doe so is very evill Woe unto them that call evill good and good evill that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5. 20. those that put faith for unbeliefe doe so pray to God to strengthen thy faith as he did Mark 9. 24. and use meanes to remove such things as strengthen unbeliefe and hinder the sight of thy faith as ignorance is one cause of doubting also an over-sensiblenesse of infirmities sleighting Gods meanes neglect of duty or a formall performance or nourishing sinne more or lesse pronenesse to sin harkening to Satan to sense to carnall reasonings nourishing feare and unbeliefe c. Also endeavour to doe that which is a means to strengthen thy faith know the perfection of the state of a beleever in Christ in which the weakest and most imperfect beleever is as perfect as much justified accepted and as happy as the best live upon Christ alone make choice of and mind the sutablest promises for thee to feed and strengthen thy faith walk with God pray in faith aske his Spirit and thou shalt have it Luk. 11. 23. this Spirit will revive and fill thy soule with joy and peace in beleeving and make thee so wise and strong in his time that thou shalt not cast away thy confidence any more Heb. 10. 34. And as Gods love which is perfect full free is discovered to thy soule in the same measure thy doubts and feares are cast out for perfect love casts out feare And although you are to use meanes yet meanes are but means not causes of increase of grace it 's the operation of the Spirit of God in the soule which is as God pleaseth therefore looke up to God for faith I feare my faith is but presumption I feare the ground of this is thy not knowing or not minding what faith is and what presumption is What faith is see objection 15. and concerning presumption this word may
be understood in a twofold consideration first for such a confidence as is without a ground or secondly against a ground For the first he that presumes he hath a confidence of pardon but it is without any ground he hath no word of God for his confidence and it may be he can give no reason at all for his confidence much lesse a good reason that this discouragement may be answered and removed consider wherein faith and presumption differs He that presumes he hath no ground no word of God for his confidence here confidence is fetched from their own conceits they seek no life in Christ his word and promise 1. But he that truly beleeves in Christ his confidence is from the Word Wee through the Scriptures have hope Rom. 15. 4. In his word doe I hope Psal 130. 5. But I hope in thy word Psal 119. 81. 2. He that truly beleeves in Christ doth not receive any promise of life but in and through Christ in the riches of his grace But he that presumes if he receives a promise he receives it upon his qualifications without respect to Christ and he gathers conclusions of life from what they are and can doe their own righteousnesse was never to them as drosse and dung as Phil. 3. 8. So they depend upon their faith and not upon Christ by faith the ground of their confidence is because they are so good or not so bad as others as the proud Pharisee but he was never fatherlesse Hos 14. 3. nor did they ever receive the sentence of death in themselves 2 Cor. 1. 9. So they were ever confident and it was ever very easie for them to beleeve 3. He that beleeves his hope and trust is onely in God and they hope in his mercy The eyes of the Lord are upon them that hope in his mercy Psal 33. 18. 21. 22. And this is the work of God to perswade the heart to rest upon the free mercy of God in Christ Psal 13. 5. Psal 33. 18. I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever Psal 52. 8. With the Lord there is mercy Psal 130. 7. God is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Presumption cannot doe so Joh. 12. 37. 1 Pet. 19. 20. Joh. 6. 28 29. For the second so the confidence of the presumer is contrary to the word of God the word approves of no such confidence but protests against them and their confidence as appeares Jer. 7. 9. 15. So their presumption hardens them and makes them bold to venture upon sinful practises as lying stealing drunkennesse uncleannesse cheating and the like as theirs was Jer. 7. 9. c. 4. He that truly beleeves abhorres that which is evill and cleaves to that which is good Rom. 12. 9. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe as he is pure 1 â—oh 3. 3. Purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15. 9. The grace of God teacheth us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 11 12. Christ is precious to them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 7. They count all things but losse for Christ and for him they will suffer the losse of all things as Phil. 3. 8. Yet many there be who say they are confident c. and yet they dare not speak for Jesus Christ his truth his servants c. these are far from suffering the losse of all things for him So others can hold Arminianisme and free-will setting themselves and their endeavours above God and his grace in affirming that notwithstanding all the grace God affords to any man yet unlesse man shall please to will and improve it well for as they say he may choose whether he will or no it shall never be effectuall to him if it be so they may thank God for his grace without which they can doe nothing but much more themselves for saving themselves for others had as much grace as they as they say Judas had shall be damned and they had been damned also if they had not willed well c. and it was in their power and choice whether they would will well or no which is so contrary to the Scriptures so then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. Surely all those who have tasted of Gods free grace cannot but admire it and be thankfull for it and loath with the greatest indignation whatsoever shall intrench upon it although it were but in the least degree I have no grace because I grow not in grace my life is not holy nor am I like unto others who are the Lords Doest thou know thy age or degree in grace what art thou a child or a yong man or a father 1 Joh. 2. 12 13. there is a great difference between a childe and a man in nature so great is the difference between a babe in Christ 1 Cor. 3. 1. and a man in Christ 1 Joh. 2. 13. Also confider if thou canst whether if thou beest a babe in the wombe or borne Heb. 5. 13. He is a babe as a childe is begotten and alive while it is in the wombe before it be borne so thou maist be begotten from above and alive before thou canst be borne Christ must first be formed in us before we can be new borne babes Gal. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. And when thou art delivered out of the state of bondage which is a place of darknesse of feares concerning thy soule thou art not borne and brought forth and as the wombe is a place of bondage so here and therefore canst not doe that service others doe if thou beest but new borne there cannot that be expected from thee as there is from a man in Christ as there is a difference between a childe and a man in nature so there is here learne to distinguish between the grace it selfe and the exercise of it it 's not the having of grace but the exercise of it which attaines to a holy conversation by the operation of the Spirit and when a soule is delivered from its enemies as Satan terrors wrath curse it 's borne being delivered we serve Luk. 1. 47. Deliverance is before working the time of doubting is a barren time men cannot fight and worke at the same time Regeneration consists in being begotten to the Lord to have union with him Joh. 17. 22. 23. 19. And for God to convey his power into the soule by which it is made conformable to the will of Christ and lives by faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2. 20. is another thing in some of the Lords the first is where the latter is not at least in the degrees of it beleevers are of severall growths and states as first babes children secondly young men thirdly fathers 1 Joh. 2.
the contrary and to follow after faith and to lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2. By beleeving we come to know our interest in Christ and of our salvation by him Whosoever beleeves in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne hath everlasting life vers 36. see Joh. 6. 40. 3. By beleeving we honour God He that receives his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Joh. 3. 33. Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too soone or too confidently or too constantly 4. If yee beleeve not surely yee shall not be established Isa 7. 9. There is no true quietnesse and settlement of soule without beleeving also thou standst by faith thou fallest into sinne by unbeliefe Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached is precious and powerfull yet it profited them not because it was not mixed with faith Heb. 4. 2. 5. It 's faith that rids the soule of all its distempers doubts feares discouragements Rom. 5. 1. we may not separate the Spirit from faith nor faith from the Spirit 6. By faith in Christ thou shalt be kept in perfect peace it will sweetly transcendently refresh thy soule Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Christ our justification the fruit of which is joy and peace 7. By unbeliefe we adde sin to sin in the highest nature if we beleeve not what God saith our act of unbeliefe accuseth God to speake falsly He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impossible for God to lye The strength of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any dishonour to God nor hurt to thy selfe to hope in his mercy and to beleeve in him therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe set before thee the evill of unbeliefe 8. As bad as thou canst be have been received to mercy Jesus Christ came to save sinners This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. When thou layst in thy bloud behold it was a time of love Ezek. 16. 8. He justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope Feare not but beleeve Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night Psal 42. 8. Hope thou in God vers 5. Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. 9. Unbeliefe straitens thy heart and stoppeth thy mouth hinders thy thankfulnesse and praising of God thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not Luk. 1. 20. 10. Unlesse we beleeve we can never glorifie God He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe but was strong in faith giving God the glory Rom. 4. 20. Quest From whence is it that many of the Lords children have so many doubts and feares Answ It ariseth from many severall causes as 1. From ignorance of the fulnesse and freenesse of the promise Isa 55. 2. or mindlesnesse and heedlesnesse of the promise Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart opposing grace Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies distemper with melancholy 5. or from the conscience being inlightened which sides with the Law against it selfe Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulnesse in the Word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe which takes the Law and applies it to it selfe which occasioneth feares and feares doubts 8. And from loose walking with God 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the soule the Spirit when it acts speakes peace and causeth faith to act more strongly Rom. 8. 16. Meanes to quiet and settle a troubled soule in assurance of the love of God God gives peace to his by meanes as appeares 2 Thes 3. 16. Commune with thy heart and make diligent search to find out what it is that troubleth thee Psal 77. 6. Aske a reason of thy soule why it is disquieted why it is cast downe Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted Psal 42. 5 6. Examine from whence all thy discouragements come they come not from God for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people he hath declared himselfe to be mercifull and gracious and slow to anger and plenteous in mercy He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities Psa 103. 3 4. 8. 10. c. His voyce is comfort Comfort yee my people speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned Isa 4. 1 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Christ he doth not trouble nor discourage any He binds up the broken-hearted he proclaimes peace liberty he comforts all that mourne he gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the Spirit of heavinesse c. Isa 61. 1 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and pitiâ—ull He will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed Isai 42. 3. His voyce is full of love tendernesse all his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Feare not it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Cast youâ— care upon me I will care for you Phil. 4. 6. Christs voyce is open to me My sister my love my dove my undefiled Song 5. 2. On sweet words of Christ to his Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God he is the greatest and most sweetest comforter he causeth no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying to the soule the love of God and carrieth the soule by faith from all discouragements to God who is love peace where the soule is to rest Psal 116. 7. and to be filled with his sweet peace Therefore all our discouragements do proceed 1. From the Devill who is an enemy to faith He taketh the word out of mens hearts lest they should beleeve Luk. 8. 12. 1 Thes 3. 5. 2. Our own hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. 3. Or the lying vanities we have chosen but they that harken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercy Jonah 2. 8. Give no way to any discouragement at all though it doe seeme never so just and reasonable c. This was Davids sin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to discourage him saying Will the Lord cast off for ever doth his promise fayle for evermore I said this is my infirmitie Psal 77. 7 8 9 10. As soone as he saw his infirmitie he had other thoughts of God saying Who is so
3. 17. Isai 53. 11. Also to say we are not justified before God or in his sight untill we beleeve is to say we must adde our work to Christ to make up our justification before God and if it be so then wee in part save our selves and if we doe joyne with Christ in this worke why may wee not joyne with him in the glory of it for that may be esteemed one of the greatest parts of our justification without which we cannot be justified But this derogates from Christ and all such tenets we are to hate with execration For saith Christ I have troden the wine-presse alone and of the people there was none with me Isai 63. 3. Wee rather say if wee beleeve not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2. 13. What the Lord Jesus Christ hath done for us is perfect and is by God imputed to us so as it is really ours though it be inherent in another and by beleeving it wee know it to be ours Rom. 4. 24. First Not any shall be saved by Christ but those who were predestinated in him according to his eternall purpose Eph. 1. 4 5. 3. 11. And that there was not any foreseene faith or works in any kinde why he chose these rather then others the will of God was the cause one was chosen and not another all was according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise and glory of his grace Ephes 1. 5 6. Are we better then they no in no wise c. Rom. 3. 9. It was from his great love wherewith he loved us Ephes 2. 4. This love of God was the cause of Gods sending Christ Joh. 3. 16. and the chiefe cause of mans election and salvation 1 Joh. 4. 10. Eph. 1. 4. Joh. 17. 23. And that it is impossible for this great love to decrease or increase because it is infinite as appeares by Psal 139. 17 18. Jam. 1. 17. God is perfect and infinite he knows and understands all things that ever were are or shall be at once So he is one pure act therefore when we were chosen in Christ wee were justified and compleat in him God looked upon the Elect to be in Christ before the world was Ephes 1. 4. and so he ever lookes upon the Elect So that they ever appeare to him perfect and righteous as Christ for they are one and are in him 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Christ Jesus and ever shall be in him being justified freely by his grace in his sight Rom. 3. 20. 24. God properly was never wroth with Christ nor the Elect and therefore Christ could not suffer Gods wrath see Heb. 2. 9. So that in respect of their justification God seeth no sinne in any of the Elect even before their calling and after And as it is Gods will so it should be ours to set his glory above our salvation that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us to the praise of the glory of his grace Ephes 1. 5 6. Ephes 2. 7. Secondly In time the Elect did breake a holy and just Law and so lay under the curse and wrath of it which was death Rom. 3. 21. 23. Christ in our nature for our persons suffered death Heb. 2. 9. the penalty to free all the Elect so that they are now actually justified by Justice That he might be just Rom. 6. 15. 3. 25 26. If God should have justified us without this propitiation after he had made this Law and we breaking it he could not have been just but having received this propitiation he could not be just if he did not justifie the Elect That he might be just and the justifier c. Rom. 3. 26. Thirdly The soule by faith doth apprehend and apply Christ and what he hath done to be for him by which it knoweth it selfe to be justified in the sight of God and in the Word and in his own conscience Whence flowes joy and peace in beleeving Rom. 5. 1. because all that beleeve are justified And as many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Act. 13. 39. 48. So that by beleeving I know I am ordained to eternall life because Gods word saith so and that wee are justified in his sight without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3. 20. 28. viz. by faith wee apprehend our selves to be freely and fully justified by Christ without any workes of our own Gal. 2. 16. without any addition of inherent goodnesse in us c. Fourthly by our workes in our outward subjection to Christ to his word we declare to men as farre as they can judge that we have the faith of Gods Elect 2 Pet. 1. 1. Thou O Lord knowest the hearts of all men but faith without workes is dead to men and buried also James 2. 18. 20. If there be no workes they can see nothing of it shew mee thy faith by thy workes Yee see then how by workes a man is justified 21. 24. In the 1. we are justified in respect of the knowledge and purpose of God in his sight Rom. 3. 20. In the 2. we are actually and vertually justified in Justice by the bloud of Christ which payd the debt now the full price the full debt being paid is it justice in law by God or man to require it againe surely no. In the 3. wee are justified in our Consciences by the holy Spirits manifestation and application of Christs righteousnesse unto us In the 4. and last we are justified before men or unto men Object If it be so that men are loved of God c. before they repent and beleeve then men may live as they list c. Answ We are to own and confesse the truth and not what men of corrupt minds and base spirits will say and will doe the Apostle saith If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. But what if one say it seemes the Apostle incourages men to sin to tell them there is an Advocate who is alwayes heard And the Apostle saith Where sinne hath abounded grace did abound much more Rom. 5. 20. By the Apostles answer it appeares some did say they might continue in sin that grace might abound what shall wee say then shall we continue in sinne that grace may abound God forbid how shall we that are dead in sin live any longer therein c. Rom. 6. 1 2. But this is an old cavill and slander cast upon those that teach the truth as the Apostle saith it was then in his dayes We be slanderously reported and as some affirme that we say let us doe evill that good may come whose damnation is just Rom. 3. 8. Their exception is against the truth of God and therfore we leave them to God to answer and satisfie them And though all the Elect are freed from the curse of the Law yet we establish the Law Rom. 3. 31.
him that our spirits may be composed and our whole man rightly disposed craving his strength to inable us to a right performing of this holy dutie In particular 1. For the person he must be accepted must be a Sonne Rom. 8. 15. Also all that pray ought to put away all wrath strife envie c. God esteems so highly of peace that he will have his service stay till it be accomplished Mark 11. 25. Mat. 5. 24. Therefore we should take heed that there be no such distempers found in us by him who knows our hearts for it will choake conscience and weaken our boldnesse with God If we regard iniquitie God will not heare our prayers Psal 66. 18. Such as love their sins God loatheth their prayers The prayer of the wicked is abomination to God God looks at the heart Christ saith When thou prayest forgive Such a forgive not others pray without life 2. Prize prayer have it in that esteeme which God puts upon it God hath honoured prayer so that every one that useth it is the better for it for every one that asketh receiveth Mat. 7. 8. 3. Set times apart for to pray and separate thy selfe to some place where thou maist be alone and out of the hearing of others if thou canst that so thou maist freely powre out thy soule to God without hypocrisie for a mans desire he will separate himselfe Pro. 18. 1. Christ chose a time before day early in the morning and one of the places he chose was a Wildernesse Mark 1. 35. Sometimes a mountaine and a garden and when that cannot be had he faith When thou prayest enter into thy Closet c. Wee should so pray and worship God as men set free from all other things So we need avoyd all occasions of hypocrisie Hypocrites stand in corners of the streets because they love to be seene of men 4. Before thou prayest spend a little time some thoughts concerning what God is and what may raise thy heart and incourage thee to draw neere to God Consider what be thy chiefe wants lets temptations corruptions also to consider the sutable promises of a supply fits the soule to pray also to consider what mercies we have received above others and what cause wee have to be thankfull to God 5. Prayer requires our ends to be holy and right placed as to injoy God and for grace to obey him and last and least of all for such things as chiefly concerne our selves as peace c. If the end be nought or good and not right placed we aske amisse Jam. 4. 6. Deny thy selfe and come empty headed hearted handed of all that is thy own that God and his grace may be all in all emptinesse raiseth our hearts in prayer 7. Mind thy own inabilitie to doe any thing that is spirituall and looke up to Christ by faith for strength eying his promise we are no more able to pray or doe any spirituall worke of our selves then to remove a mountaine at once 8. Consider God in his attributes that he is great gracious mercifull slow to anger c. and that he is so to thee and that he is neere thee yea present with thee all in God is ready to helpe his his ocean of grace cannot be exhausted spent his fountaine doth nothing decay though multitudes draw from it 9. When thou comest to God thinke thou canst not have too high thoughts of God nor too low ones of thy selfe Dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. a worme corruption so Job Thou canst not set God high enough nor thy selfe low enough if we could see our own filth we should stinke worse then the filthiest carrion in our own nostrils 10. Come to God with a heart that is large chearfull by faith in assurance of person and prayer accepted hate suspitions and jealousies of God see Ps 65. 2. 7. 7. 4. 7. aske chearfully such as goe not chearfully to God know not what a God they go to say to thy soule Come O soule rejoyce be chearfull for thou art a going to thy God 11. Be abased under thy pride formalitie coldnesse dulnesse deadnesse and breake through all impediments to goe to God in prayer 12. Empty thy selfe of all distractions cares and clogs of spirit that thou maist be free when thou comest to God hold thy heart close to God in love zeale meeknesse c. 13. Observe fit times and seasons to goe to God in yet prefer that season wherein God and thy own heart sends thee to prayer before a set time imbrace it gladly and quickly so sweet a motion of the Spirit put it not by till another time I prevented the dawning of the morning and cryed Psal 119. 147. with Mark 1. 35. 14. Be sensible of others wants especially for such as are the Lords that you may pray with a feeling of their necessities 15. Pray for grace to stirre thee up to pray and fit thee with sutable matter sutable to the occasion either for the Church thy selfe or others and to enliven us in all abhorre forme and fashion pray not in print they are deadly enemies to spiritualnesse pray from an inward feeling and sensiblenesse of thy wants book-prayers is such a crutch as it makes them that use it quite lame we are not so much to looke to a set order of words as to a well ordered heart weak expressions in uprightnesse of heart the Lord likes well but if there be nothing but well framed sentences God abhorres them 16. Above all come to God in faith Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him on whom they have not beleeved see Heb. 11. 6. Jam. 1. 6. Mark 11. 24. This is the most spirituall grace to come to God with above all other no other save this can fasten upon a promise thou canst not see God without faith whatsoever thou needst beleeve that promise Every one that asketh receiveth Mat. 7. 8. Christs incense and odors of his sacrifice Rev. 8. 4. is for him that beleeves Faith gives force and life to prayer it troubles not Satan to make a thousand prayers full of teares if they be without faith according to our faith so is our prayer Rom. 8. 38. Faint faith faith prayers prayer without faith is but beating the ayre according to thy faith be it unto thee Consider Mat. 21. 22. All things are possible to him that beleeves Mark 9. 22. Let him aske in faith saith James nothing wavering that is in a certain assurance to be heard and that his request shall be granted Jam. 1. 6. 17. Read and meditate before prayer if time will permit for the better preparing our hearts thereunto The graces of the Spirit uprightnesse purenesse thankfulnesse integritie soundnesse of heart and the like these will inable inliven and fit thee to pray These well observed and God blessing them will fill thee with heavenly affection and rid thee of thy own inventions manner and ends c. Oh all yee sonnes and daughters of the
delivering them over to Satan their lusts to be hardened God oft punisheth sin with sin Rom. 1. 74. Sundry interrogations in Scripture as Rom. 10. 14 15. have the force of a negative that is to say they cannot Some againe do so aske a question as they require have an expresse answer Psal 15. 1. Rom. 11. 1. 3. 12. It is to quicken attention or to urge more vehemently the affection or to prepare way for some weightie discourse 75. The title God is sometimes put absolutely and in the singular number then it notes the Creator or the essence Sometimes it is used with an addition as in Exodus I have made thee God of Pharaoh or in the plurall number Psal 84. I have said yee are Gods and vers 1. In the assembly of Gods then it belongs to the Creator see Rom. 1. 7. Sometimes essentially as Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit So the word Father is sometimes put essentially for the deity Mat. 6. Our Father Sometimes distinctly The Father is greater then I. Ignorance in these Rules causeth errors concerning God 76. Words of knowledge and sense doe signifie besides action and affections as God knoweth the wayes of the righteous Psal 1. 6. And that he knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Apoc. 2. 3. is meant he knowes them with love favour and approbation to reward and crown them Also it is said whom he foreknew Rom. 11. 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 2. is meant his eternall love imbraceth these as his owne for he knew barely before all reprobates and devils and their works too but not with favour and allowance Also the word Remember is a word of sense yet it often importeth care love delight 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me Gen. â—8 77. Legall and Evangelicall promises must not be distinguished by bookes but by the nature and condition of the promises for Legall promises may be found in bookes of the New Testament as Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 10 5 Gal. 3. 10. 12. And Evangelicall promises of grace are in the old Testament as Psal 132. 1 2. Jer. 32. 31 32. c. Observe them according to these two rules following 78. If promises of temporall or eternall things are propounded upon condition of workes they are Legall Christ onely hath kept the Law and they which beleeve are to claime them by this tide conveyed to them by faith in Christ 79. All promises for this life or a better which are made as one condition of beleeving repenting working for these are workes though imperfect are onely effects and fruits of faith and not conditions nor causes but are onely to declare what persons God will save Godlinesse hath the promises c. 1 Tim. 6. He that beleeveth c. Joh. 3. And to understand them in any other sense is Legall see Psal 1. 1 2 3 2 Cor. 7. 10. 80. Touching such places where morall duties are commended and commanded they must be understood according to these Rules following as 1. though no word be spoken oâ— Christ yet it must be understood that he alone is the whole cause of every part of our salvation Act. 4. 12. 81. All morall duties are then commended in any partie when the partie which doth them is first in Christ and his sinnes pardoned through his death as 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 6. Our best duties are imperfect if in Christ accepted if out of Christ mens best duties cannot cause them to be accepted 82. All good workes must have a pure heart Gods glory for the beginning and the end having a conscience to God in obedience to his Word unlesse the person be accepted the bare deed or action cannot please God 83. Where blessednesse is promised to morall duties doing those places are not to be considered as causes thereof for Christ is the cause of all out onely to declare what persons they are which God doth save and what the Saints dutie is to doe 84. These duties must not be understood in the strictnesse and rigour of the morall Law but of a continuall and unfained desire purpose and indeavour to doe them This rule prevents scruples and feares which weake ones have through the sense of their wants and failings 85. The Scriptures use to call them sonnes which by nature are no sonnes to them whose sonnes they are called but they are sonnes legally and by succession thus Salathiel being sonne of Neri naturally Luk. 3. 27. is legally and by succession made the son of Jechoniah whom he succeeded in the kingdome as Mat. 1. 12. 86. After this manner Zedekiah or Jehoiakim 1 Chron. 36. 10. and his sonne 1 Chron. 3. 16. His brother by generation his sonne by right of succession By this Rule the two Evangelists Matthew and Luke are reconciled in their Genealogie for Luke followeth the naturall order and Matthew the legall order 87. Many things are said in Scripture by anticipation and recapitulation 88. In Scripture some things are spokeÌ„ well when righteous things are taught rightly as Repent and beleeve c. Or secondly when evill things are taught evilly when wicked things are perswaded as To curse God and dye Or thirdly when good things are uttered evilly when some right thing is said with a perverse mind as Joh. 9. Be thou his Disciple Or fourthly evill things well spoken and dishonest things uttered in honest termes as David went in to Bathsheba and Rom. 1. 26. 89. The Scripture speaks many things in the person of the ungodly men whose crooked words it doth report unto us as well as their deeds 90. That word which seemeth to forbid goodnesse or to command wickednesse is a figurative speech as Vnlesse a man eate my flesh c. This is wickednesse because the word is pure it cannot allow any thing against honesty of manners or veritie of faith 91. Tropes and figures in Scriptures are not to be accounted lies as for Christ calling Herod a Fox and himselfe a Vine a Dore c. Because there is no purpose to deceive in them but by meet resemblance to expresse the truth 92. Similitudes are rather to make darke things plaine then to prove any doubtfull thing similitudes are not argumentative as Stewards in Joh. 15. 93. To make allegories and figures where none are in exposition is licentious dangerous and hurtfull 94. In things that be subordinate the affirming the one doth not sollow the denying of the other 95. All interpretations must be fit as well as true 96. It is a ready way to all error to interpret Scripture by prejudice in favour of some opinion of our owne 97. In Scripture a betrothed woman is called a wife Mat. 1. 20. and so of the man Deut. 22. 23. Because betrothing is an essentiall part of marriage yet the solemnization is necessary unto comelinesse and avoyding of offence 98. That interpretation is corrupt that builds not up in faith and love 99. A figurative speech in Scripture does more
condemne him and doth not Christ lose the end of his death to dye for their salvation who yet perish or is it justice to require the payment of one debt twice is there remission of sinnes in Christ for every man but no righteousnesse no everlasting life for them did Christ purchase salvation but not the application of salvation which is necessary to salvation how doth it appeare Christ purchased salvation or enough for salvation or is the death of Christ of an uncertain event is Christ appointed to death to purchase a possibilitie of salvation but not salvation it selfe with the application of it then Christ shed his bloud to save man and yet no man saved by it for if it depends upon mans beleeving of it why may not all of them perish as well as any of them And if it be so if man please Christ shall lose the end of his death but it clearly appeares that all those for whose sinnes Christ dyed are justified by his bloud and shall be saved from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 8 9 10. B. 3. 4. but this subject is handled at large by John Spilsbery in his book intituled Gods Ordinance if the Sonne shall make you free then are you free indeed Joh. 8. else not But upon second thoughts they affirme that Christ never dyed for the sinne of unbeliefe and that finall unbeliefe is the unpardonable sin Answ It cannot truly be denied but unbeliefe is a not beleeving Christ which sinne is most immediately and directly against Christ which sin is pardonable with all manner of sin and blasphemy which Christ saith shall be forgiven unto the sons of men as appeares Mat. 12. 31 32. therefore not beleeving in Christ is not the unpardonable sinne also Such as beleeve have been guiltie of unbeliefe which is pardoned in them and if the sin of unbeliefe which is none of the least sinnes is pardoned without the bloud of Christ to the Elect who beleeve why might not all other sinnes in like manner be so pardoned to them and then shall not the bloud of Jesus Christ be shed in vaine because by their reason their sinnes might have been pardoned without it as well as their unbeliefe And seeing without shedding of bloud there is no remission Heb. 9. 22. let them declare how unbeliefe can be remitted also if the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin then from unbeliefe also 1 Joh. 1. 7. Also if finall unbeliefe were the sin against the holy Spirit that is unpardonable then it could not be cōmitted before death There is a sin unto death if thou see thy brother sin c. But if a man could not commit this sin before he dye he could not be seen so to sin 1 Joh. 5. 16. which sin is described Heb. 10. 29. therefore finall unbeliefe is not this sin here spoken of To conclude Christ dyed not for the sinnes of all the world for Christ saith He layeth downe his life for his sheepe Joh. 10. 15. You beleeve not for yee are not of my sheepe vers 26. Yet as many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Acts 13. 48. see Joh. 17. 2. 19. 24. 29. The end of Redemption is application Phil. 1. 29. Joh. 6. 37. 39. The Scripture saith He tooke upon him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. and how Abrahams seed is considered appears Gal. 3. 16. 22. 29. Such as are Christs such as beleeve are Abrahams seed And seeing all Adams posteritie cannot be considered to be Abrahams seed in no sense therefore there is no ground to cōceive that Christ dyed for the sinnes of all the seed of Adam as they affirme That all men under the Gospel have not sufficient grace given them for conversion FOr the word sufficient grace how can we conceive that grace to be sufficient in power which is not sufficient in performance of the worke for seeing conversion follows not how is it sufficient to conversion is that sufficient to conversion that never attaines it is that medicine sufficient to cure such a disease which being taken doth not cure it Sufficient and effectuall is all one And seeing many were never converted it must of necessitie follow that sufficient grace was never given unto them for if sufficient strength be put to move the earth motion must needs follow The reason why they came not to Christ was because the Father did not draw them Joh. 6. 44. and inwardly teach them God must give a heart to perceive and eyes to see for miracles cannot doe it Deut. 29. 3 4. Joh. 12. 37 38. The arme of the Lord must be revealed They say it was because they would not beleeve Wee answer They neither would nor could the Lord saith they could not beleeve Joh. 12. 39. Therefore man cannot finally hinder his conversion for whom God will save no power of man can destroy Man in his first conversion is wholly passive we cannot worke it in our selves nor hinder Gods working of it because we are dead in sinnes Ephes 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. Ephes 5. 14. and spiritually blind Rev. 3. 18. Eph. 4. 17. 6. 8. Mat. 6. 23. Luk. 4. 18. Joh. 1. 5. Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Our hearts stony and destitute of goodnesse Ezek. 36. 26. 11. 19. Gods worke in converting us is a raising from the dead Eph. 2. 5. Col. 2. 12. Rev. 20. 6. Joh. 5. 21. 25. A restoring the sight to the blind Luk. 4. 18. A new birth Joh. 1. 13. 3. 3. Another creation of him Eph. 2. 10. Psal 51. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 15. The giving of a new heart Ezek. 9. 19. So that man cannot prepare himselfe to conversion God regenerateth man that he may beleeve The tree must first be good before it can bring forth good fruit How can they that are evill speake good things Mat. 12. 34. It 's an error therefore to thinke that mans conversion to God begins in some act man performes and not in a worke first wrought in us by God They alledge Isai 55. 11. to prove the word and the Spirit goeth together Ans Not to make it powerfull in the conversion in all They reply Act. 7. 51. Yee have alwayes resisted c. Ans True in resisting the outward means but it cannot be proved that they resisted in the inward work of God upon their hearts From Mat. 25. 29. they affirme that he that useth nature well shall have grace This text is to be understood of the gifts of the Ministery in the improvement of them the increase is in the same kinde nature and grace are not so Also it 's plaine grace hath not been bestowed upon such as used nature best as appeares by the rejection of the Sidonians and Capernaits who were better fitted for nature Therefore the well using of
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
3. 28. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. The bloud of Jesus Christ makes us cleane from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. To despaire of the mercy of God because our sinnes are great were to limit God in his mercy which is a greater sin and an adding sin to sin therefore for the greatest sinne a beleever can commit he ought not to moane without hope for no sin he can commit can never put him into a state of condemnation or under the curse Rom. 8. 1 2 3. And whilst we live in this world God healeth not our sinfull natures wholly nor takes it away quite the flesh lusteth Rom. 7. yet God ever esteemes his as they are in Christ and not simply as they are in themselves Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Paul saith I my selfe keep the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Sin doth the evill that beleevers doe see Rom. 7. 15. 17. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Consider Nehe. 9. 16 17 c. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 103. 14. God is never an enemy to his though they greatly sinne against him Psal 51. We are not beloved for our own sakes nor any thing in our selves but for Christ in whom God is well pleased Mat. 3. 17. Therefore nothing in us or that we doe can make us to be loved more or lesse God may well say of himselfe I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. His love is as himselfe ever the same and Christ in whom we are beloved ever the same Heb. 13. 8. therefore a beleevers hope joy and coÌ„fidence is to be ever the same in Christ Ps 23. 1. So we are commanded to Rejoyce alwayes Psal 5. 11. 32. 11. Let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 40. 16. Psal 68. 3. and to rejoyce evermore Againe I say rejoyce 1 Thes 1. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4. The joy of the Lord is our strength Neh. 8. 16. Oh there is enough in the Lord Jesus to satisfie thee at all times he is an unchangeable object of true joy in him onely is all our hope and happinesse whose bloud hath payd all the debt of all thy sinnes It 's Christ that died who now shall condemn surely none Rom. 8. 33. Therefore let not thy fall cause thee to question the love of God seeing thy salvation depends not upon thy repentance or holinesse but from Gods free grace Rom. 9. 15 16. Isa 43. 24 25. 57. 17. Ezek. 16. 1. to 9. My little children these things I write unto you that yee sin not 1 Joh. 2. 1. And for any to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse that is the sweet mercy and consolations of God to incourage them in their sinning they are led by the Spirit of the Devill he is their father and his works they do Joh. 8. I speak to you that regard iniquitie Psal 66. 18. that love sin and delight in it and are bold and venturous upon it and can drinke downe iniquitie like water Job 15. 16. You at present are in the gall of bitternesse and whiles it is so with them here is no consolation for them thâ—â—e may not be numbred with them who through weaknesse and temptation or want of watchfulnesse are overtaken and fall into sinne which they hate by not shunning the occasions of sinne c. Surely all the Lords have need to pray as David did to God Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Howsoever it be be not out of hope although thou didst persecute the truth as Paul did and them that professed it Act. 9. 1 2. yet afterwards he preached the faith Gal. 1. 23. thou knowest not but God may convert thee also The servant of God having fallen into sinne is to rise by faith for shall a man fall and not rise Jer. 8. 4. When I fall I shall arise Micah 7. 7. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth the iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the Remnant of his people Micah 7. 18 19 20. God subdues the corruption that is in his not all at once but by degrees therefore he saith I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. God hath nothing against those who are in Christ 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Christ But alas I feele my heart is hardened There is much hardnesse of heart in a childe of God and they feele it and complaine of it and mourne under it which is from the new heart in them To feele hardnesse is from softnesse and the condition of an experienced childe of God O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardened our hearts from thy feare doubtlesse thou art our father thou O Lord art our father Isa 63. 16 17. Their hearts were hardened yet they were the children of God Motives or incouragements to beleeve NOtwithstanding faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. it floweth from the Spirits operation in the heart therefore our beleeving is said to be the worke of God Joh. 6. 28. the operation of God Col. 2. 12. the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. The Spirit inlighteneth our understandings and boweth our hearts to beleeve So that without the Spirit of Christ we can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. Ephes 1. 19. It is through grace that men beleeve Act. 18. 27. yet men are to use the meanes for when in the preaching of the Word we bid persons to doe so and so we expect the holy Spirit of God to put power to the words spoken to make them effectuall to enable the creature to obey as He said unto me Sonne of man stand up upon thy feet and the Spirit entred into me when he had spoken unto me and set me upon my feet Ezek. 2. 1 2. And the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live Joh. 5. 25. Else it were in vaine to speak to dead men 1 Pet. 4. 6. To beleeve c. is a spirituall worke and all men by nature are spiritually dead Eph. 2. 1. 5. 14. onely they beleeve whose hearts God opens as Acts 16. 14. None can beleeve but they to whom it is given Phil. 1. 29. Therefore such words as these Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Act. 16. 30 31. in this sense are to be understood for it is not in him that willeth and him that runneth c. Rom. 9. 16. it is God that worketh both to will and to doe Incouragements to beleeve 1. Because the Gospel is to be preached to every creature he that beleeves shall be saved Act. 16. 16. There is no precept or command for any to doubt none are exempted or forbidden to beleeve see Act. 16. 30 31. 1 Joh. 3. 23. but men are commanded