removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
his grace and love towards her She lived much in Communion with God there was an unspeakable intercourse between God and her Soul every day She would do nothing till she had spread it before the Lord and knew his mind and in things not only small but weighty She had such intimations from the Lord of his will and his secret was so with her as she before hand knew the mind of God because God had told hereby his Spirit for she gave not over till he had signified by his â—pirit upon her Spirit what was his pleasure what he would do or what he would have done and God did marvelously herein condescend to her not once but frequently or from time to time she was far from Euthusiasme but had such intimacy with the Lord that she went daily to him for some word some manifestation of himself to bear up her Spirit that day and he gave in either a word of promise or let out something of his attributes to her discovered of his Wisdom Power Faithfulness Allsufficiency Unchangableness and the like wherewith her inward man was fed and strengthned and when her Family concerns were more she arose the earlier and though attended with the greatest weakness yet always began the day with God and would not omit the seasons for private Communion with the Lord neither indeed could she live without them they being the life of her Spirit She lived in an eminent exercise of many graces of the Spirit She was well instructed in the mystery of the life of Faith lived in a daily dependance upon God for all in her greatest fulness she lived not upon the creature but upon God and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer in every strait she had recourse to the Al-sufficiency of God and would often say the creature runs into emptiness and the streams they dried up but the Fountain was ever full and flowing and in all losses and changes blessed her self in God her portion who was a faithful Covenant keeping God for ever she went to the Wisdom of God to be directed and waited there for Counsel every day her faith advanced into assurance of the love of God which she enjoyed most part of her days and thence issued spiritual and unmixed comforts as she walked circumspectly being careful not to provoke the Lord so he witnessed his love to her and filled her Soul with strong Consolation that she had a Heaven out of it's place even hereupon Earth she was in the Banquetting house of Jesus Christ in his Wine Cellar where his Banner over her was Love In a Letter of her own she said I have not only heard that God is good but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulness to me in all my streights and Widdow-hood condition I may say the Life of Faith is the sweetest Life in the World as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God so much comfort to our selves How full of Love she was to Jesus Christ is already manifested in her carefulness to keep his Commandments and also in her love to the Members of Christ both that and also her Humility and self-denyal appeared in that in her highest actings and best frame she disowned her self and leaned only upon Jesus Christ trusted only in him gloried in nothing but in Christ in the Cross of Christ in the Righteousness of Christ in the Love of Christ not in what she did for Christ though she did much and delighted in so doing but she gloried in the Grace of Christ that did much for her he and his Righteousness were all her life and comfort she had an eye upon the Incense the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ in all her approaches to God being ashamed of the mixture of sin those weaknesses and imperfections that were in her best performances notwithstanding all her strictness and exactness she lay as low before the Lord in the sense of her own vileness emptiness nothingness as if there were nothing in her She was much in exalting of Jesus Christ his merits and grace admiring what he had done for sinners touching their reconciliation to God the remission of sin their standing and priviledges in grace here and the glory that is to be revealed relying on the freeness and fulness of his grace alone as if she had done or were able to do nothing she did set the Crown on his head in all always saw that in her self which kept her low and humble before the Lord and nothing in her own eyes She excelled in and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles her afflictions were many and long often at the very mouth of the Grave in the latter part of her time seldom enjoyed a well day yet never murmured thought her afflictions small bore them with a chearful Spirit was always submissive to the will of God always thought and spoke well of God and justified him in all her Tryals She was wonderfully melted into the will of God and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased and was greatly satisfied in what he chose for her she hath said the will of God is sweet to her in every condition and under much bodily weakness if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content yet latter ward was mostly tryed in the Fire of affliction when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in stead of repining she said she was glad they had such a house and accommodations to leave for Christ and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him She was sorely tryed in the loss of her dearest Relations and choicest comforts in this World but she was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be and that with all alacrity and cheerfulness of Spirit She had a lively hope of future mercy of the life to come shee said she scarce knew how to live out of Heaven from Jesus Christ always groaning in the body to be delivered from the body of sin and death and to be with Jesus As she set out at first so she continued in the vigorous and constant exercise of all grace not loosing the life nor abating or impairing the strength thereof in old age under the decays of nature but in the 73 of her age she slept or dyed in Jesus and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of just men made perfect FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth.
CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Wherein is shewed That Interest in Christ is a ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life and Terrors of death How they that have an Interest in Christ may retain the same Begun in A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Asty and since much enlarged By Owen Stockton late Minister of the Gospel at Colchester in Essex TOGETHER With the Life of the said Mrs. Ellen Asty Rom. 8. v. 38. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Rom. 8. v. 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. London Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1681. To the Worthily Honoured John Clark of Bury in Suffolk Esquire SIR IT is your seriousness in Religion together with your intimate Acquaintance with and respect for Reverend Mr. Owen Stockton that occasioneth the prefixing your name to the ensuing Treatise of which he was the Author He was one mighty in the Scriptures whose Life was much desired and his Death much lamented As you delighted to hear him Preach when he was alive So I doubt not but he being dead you are willing to hear him yet speaking especially in a word of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrours of Death I hope the Lord hath delivered your self from the Sting of Death but yet you may need some help against the fear of it Take a survey of your Mercy that you are not under the unhappiness of Christless Souls who through the fear of Death are all their life time subject to Bondage It is said that the Indians being alarum'd with the Approaches of Death by its Arrestment so as all hope of recovery is past then to behold and hear their throbbing sobs and deep-fetched sighs their grief-wrung hands and tear-bedewed cheeks their doleful cries would draw tears from Adamantine Eyes that be but Spectators of their mournful Obsequies Indeed it is unexpressibly sad to be under a Conviction as many are of the immortality of a never dying Soul and yet to be Strangers to the promise of Eternal Life Such must needs be Mourners without hope All the Cordials in the World in this case will not afford the least drop of refreshment to such disconsolate Souls nor will a Righteousness of our own be a sure bottom for Comfort against that last Enemy Death But behold here is a way deciphered whereby we may not only be helped to leave Riches Friends Wife Children Houses Lands and depart in peace but also with exceeding joy Interest in Christ will be a means to turn Death the King of Terrors into the King of Comforts it will make it of a bitter Enemy a familiar Friend an Out-let to Affliction and a Portal to Glory How that Interest conduceth to the fitting a Soul with Consolation is discovered here by this eminent Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton in a Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Mrs. Ellen Asty the Relict of that Reverend Mr. Asty late of Stratford in Suffolk which afterwards he much enlarged and so left it under his own hand It was intended that the said Mr. Stockton should have printed it together with her Life but Death arresting him before he had Accomplished that work Providence hath cast it upon my hands to draw her Portraiture out of the papers which were in his hands to that end which I have done accordingly and here present it to your self and to publick view I must say further that this is a Branch or part of a Treatise of his on the same Text entituled the best Interest which probably will follow speedily This and that together compleat the Subject yet either of them might have appeared to the Reader as a perfect and distinct Treatise had I not hinted thus much I shall only add that my ardent desire is that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may bless you with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ so prayeth September 1. 1681. Honoured Sir Your Servant in the Gospel Sam. Petto Errata PAge 3. l. 25. dele for p. 23. l. 26. r. there are p. 29. l. 12. r. grace p. 37. l. 29. dele should p. 42. l. 16. for ready r. really p. 44. l. 3. for upon r. yea p. 59. l. 10. for sight r. fight p. 60. l. 28. r. carried on p. 70. l. 13. r. trusting p. 88. l. 13 for here r. how p. 96. l. 17. for preserving r. preferring In Mrs. Astys Life Page 8. l. 26. dele never p. 9. l. 15. r. uprightness p. 10. l. 16. r. never seemed CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lilies THis Book containeth a Discourse concerning Jesus Christ and his Church Sometimes Christ is brought in speaking of his Church and sometimes to his Church And at other times the Church is brought in speaking of Christ and sometimes to Christ In this Text the Spouse of Christ is brought in speaking concerning Christ and expressing her grounds of Consolation that she had both under the troubles of Life and the danger of Death The troubles of the Church are set out Chap. 1.6 She was black because the Sun had looked upon her which signifieth the scorching persecutions that the Lord suffereth to come upon the Church to try the Faith and Patience of his Servants And she met with much anger and hard usage from her Mothers Children that is those that professed the same Faith with her self my Mothers Children were angry with me and made me the Keepers of their Vineyards and would not suffer her to keep her own Vineyard Her troubles are further set out Chap. 2. v. 2. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters that is compassed about on every side with sharp and sore troubles that did prick and grieve like Thorns or that her lot and habitation was in the midst of evil Men who were like Thornes in her side Her inward troubles are touched on which did proceed from her abundant love to Christ v. 5. I am sick of love Sickness makes a man restless such was her condition a restless condition Her troubles are also set out v. 15. There were Foxes abroad that made spoil of the Vines And these Foxes were of two sorts 1. False Teachers that did by false Doctrine corrupt and spoil the Vines Ezek. 13.4 Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes that is the false Prophets for the true Prophets support and cherish the Vines they are the false Prophets that spoil the Vines 2 Subtle and cruel Persecutors that seek after the lives of the Saints are these Foxes Luk. 13.31 32. Sect. 1. The Division of the Words with the Doctrines In the words
we have 1. The Title given to Christ my Beloved or as the Dutch my best Beloved or as one unicè dilectus my only Beloved Whatever apprehensions other men may have of Christ though they see no beauty or comliness why they should desire him though he be to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence though they make light of him and reject him yet gracious Souls love Christ yea he is their best Beloved they love him above all things and persons in the World 2. VVe have the claim that is laid to Christ My Beloved is mine I have a special and peculiar interest in him he is mine as much as any thing that I have is mine my Beloved is mine I can I do I will lay claim to him as my own Psal 67.6 God even our own God shall bless us 3. The Confidence the Spouse had of her special and peculiar interest in Christ It is not I hope he is mine or by way of desire O that he were mine but it is spoken with much confidence my Beloved is mine Isaiah 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father 4. Here is Christs Interest in his Church I am his I am not I will not be mine own but I am his I am not the Worlds but he hath chosen and called me out of the world I am his 5. Christs familiar converse with his Church he feedeth among the Lilies that is he affordeth his presence to them he converseth familiarly with them as persons do that feed together 6. The persons among whom Christ feeds they that are his those that love him those that resemble the Lilies that is humble Souls such as walk innocently such as are fruitful It 's Plinys Observation Lilio nihil faecundius such as are like Christ the lilie of the Valleys meek and lowly in heart 7. The Consolation the Church hath under all the troubles of this Life and the fears of Death and that ariseth from two Heads 1. Her interest in Christ my Beloved is mine 2. The enjoyment of Christs presence he feedeth among the Lilies Feeding implyeth 1. His presence and familiar converse with her 2. His delight in her feeding signifieth delight John 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me 3. His ministring inward and spiritual Comforts Judg. 19.5 Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread And inward supports Psal 104.15 Bread which strengthneth mans heart Observ 1. Jesus Christ and Gracious Souls have a mutual interest each in other Christ is theirs and they are his 2. Such as believe in Christ may come to a sure and certain Knowledge of their Interest in Christ they may be able to say with much confidence Christ is mine and I am his 3. Every true Believer hath a great love to Jesus Christ yea he loveth Christ above all things and persons in the whole world My beloved or as some render it my best beloved 4. It is the work and office of Faith to appropriate and apply Christ to a mans own Soul My beloved is mine 5. The Lord Jesus Christ feedeth among the Lilies that is converseth with them delighteth in them Communicates Spiritual comforts and supports to them 6. It is a great comfort to the Saints in an evil day when they are as a Lilie among Thorns that Christ feedeth among the Lilies The Observation insisted on is Doct. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and the dangers and approaches of Death When it was a time of persecution and there were Thorns on every side and the Foxes spoyling the Vines the Spouse could triumph in this My Beloved is mine and I am his Luk. 1.47 The Virgin Mary went through sore afflictions as sharp as if she had a Sword run through her Luk. 2.35 yet her Spirit could rejoyce in God her Saviour Paul when shut up in Prison could and did rejoyce in Christ Jesus Phil. 1.13 compared with Phil. 3.3 We rejoyce in Christ Jesus Cant. 8.5 The Wilderness a place of great troubles and a land of the shadow of Death that is where they walked almost continually in danger of death Jer. 2.6 yet under all the troubles of the wilderness and the shadow of death there was refreshment by leaning on Christ 2 Sam. 30.6 David was in great distress that he wept till he could weep no more and was in danger of death yet he could encourage himself in the Lord his God Cant. 2.2.3 As a Lilie among Thorns yet there I sat down under his shadow with great delight Psal 23.1.4 The Lord is my Shepherd and what then though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil Sect. 2. VVhat is meant by an Interest in Christ How Christ becomes ours how we become Christs For the farther clearing hereof that an Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the Fears and Terrors of Death it will be expedient to enquire what is meant by an Interest in Christ And how Christ becomes ours and how we become his To that end we may take notice of a three fold Interest in Christ 1. A general interest which is common to all men the evil as well as the good an interest by virtue of Creation and of Christs being Lord of all The Son as well as the Father was the Creatour of Mankind and all other creatures Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was And not only by Creation hath Christ a right to all Mankind but as Mediatour he is Lord of all and is made Judge of the quick and dead and hath power over all flesh Act. 10.36 Preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh This general interest in part as his creatures or as subjects of his Mediatory Kingdom is not that interest which is a ground of Consolation For he ruleth by his power in the midst of his Enemies Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies 2. There is a Titular Interest in Christ when men profess themselves to be Christs and profess and say that Christ is theirs but they are not his neither is he theirs in truth Joh. 1.11 He came to his own and his own recieved him not The Jews are called Christs own because they professed themselves to be the people of God but many of them were not his people Joh. 8.54 55. Ye say that he is your God yet ye have not known him Many lay claim to God as their God and to Christ as their Saviour that have no real interest in God and Christ 3. There is a special saving interest in Christ as our Redeemer which is when a man is made a partaker of Christ united to Christ and hath a real and
we make a covenant with the Lord that we will become his people and continue his for ever 2 King 11.17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords People Sect. 3. Several grounds of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrors of Death arising from an interest in Christ We have seen what is meant by an interest in Christ namely an actual right to and propriety in Christ himself as our Redeemer and a right to and propriety in all the saving benefits purchased by his Blood VVe have seen also how Christ becomes ours and how we become his Now let us consider what solid grounds of comfort we may have both against the fears and terrours of Death and the troubles of Life from our Redemption by Christ or from interest in Christ and those saving benefits which he hath purchased for us I. Jesus Christ hath fully perfectly and for ever reconciled unto God all that are his The elect as well as others were by nature the Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 But by the Death and sufferings of Christ they are redeemed from the wrath of God both for present and time to come Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Thes 1.10 Even Jesus which hath delivered us from wrath to come Our Lord Jesus Christ hath by his Death and sufferings fully reconciled all that are his unto God for ever Col. 1.19 20. Having made peace through the blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself c. All that are Christs whether they be such as are already in Heaven or such as are still upon the Earth were reconciled to God by that bloud that he shed upon the cross All that are Christs in all ages of the world and in all places of the world are reconciled to God by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself And as Christ hath reconciled all that are his unto God so he hath fully and perfectly reconciled them to God and that for ever by his offering up himself a Sacrifice to God for them Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified I shall open this fulness and perfection of this Reconciliation in three or four particulars 1. Jesus Christ by his Death hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he is pacified towards them notwithstanding all their offences whether original or actual and will not impute any one of their offences to them 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them The nature of reconciliation lyeth in pacifying God for the offence our sins have caused and this pacification Christ our High Priest hath wrought for us Heb. 2.17 That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people And this pacification is so full that it is a pacification for all offences Ezek. 16.63 I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 2. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that God hath laid aside all his wrath against them and retaineth no fury at all against them Psal 85.3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger Isa 27.4 Fury is not in me 3. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that the Lord hath sworn that he will be wroth with them no more Isa 54.9 17. This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so I have sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee This is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord. But some may say are not some of the Servants of Christ chastned very sorely and do they not complain that the wrath of God lyeth hard upon them as Heman Psal 88.7.16 How then is God true to his Oath that he will be wroth with them no more A. 1. The rebukes and chastnings of the Members of Christ do not come from wrath but love Rev. 3.19 Whom I love I rebuke and chasten 2. The people of God are subject to mistakes when they judge according to sence and not according to what is revealed in the word of God when they judge according to sence and feeling they may think many providences of God to be expressions of his wrath which they might understand to be all Mercy and to have no wrath in them if they did judge according to Faith and according to what they find in the word of God For there we read that All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Ps 25.10 3. When the Lord swears that he will not be wroth nor rebuke his Servants it is to be understood of Eternal wrath that he will not rebuke them so as to destroy for so rebuking is sometimes understood namely of eternal destruction Ps 9.5 Thou hast rebuked the Heathen thou hast destroyed the wicked thou hast put out their name for ever and ever For this is like the Oath of God concerning the waters that covered the Earth in Noah's time God hath sworn that the VVaters shall no more cover the Earth to destroy the Earth as it did in Noah's Floud yet notwithstanding this Oath God doth often chasten the Inhabitants of the Earth with unseasonable rain and flouds but not such as shall destroy the world So when the Lord swears that he will not be wrath with or rebuke his Servants it 's of eternal wrath of casting them away for ever yet he may and often doth chasten them with temporal chastisements 4. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he hath not only pacified his Fathers Anger but he hath restored and brought them into the love and favour of God Rom. 5.1 2. By whom also we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand By grace here is meant the love and favour of God and by Christ we have not only peace with God but access into and continuance in the grace and favour of God By Christ we are brought into an higher degree of the love and favour of God than Adam did enjoy while he was in innocency For we are under a better Covenant and have better promises than Adam had Adam was in the favour of God yet so as he was capable of losing the favour of God and being a child of wrath And by his fall he did lose the love of God But they that are Christs are so confirmed in the love of God that Gods loving kindness shall never depart from them Isa 54.10 The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ interceedeth with his Father on the behalf of all those that are given to him that they may be with him where he is that is in the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 17 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And what Christ asked of his Father shall assuredly be granted Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always 3. God for Christs sake hath promised eternal life to all that are Christs that is to all persons that do or shall believe on Christ to the end of the World Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son this whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us eternal life And the promise of God is a sure ground to hope for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath power over all flesh given to him by the Father that he may give eternal life to all that are given to him by the Father Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore they that are Christs may be assured that they shall have eternal life seeing Christ hath power to give eternal life to whom he will and this power over all flesh was given him purposely that he might give eternal life to all that were given him by the Father 5. God hath given us this record concerning his Son that eternal life is in his Son and that eternal life is his free gift and that he will give it to all that have his Son and if we do not believe this record that God hath given of his Son we should make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life Eternal Life is in Christ and therefore if we believe the record that God hath given of his Son namely that God hath given us eternal life and that this life is in his Son we must then conclude it as a certain truth that he that hath the Son hath Life Now seeing such as have an interest in Christ have sure grounds to hope for eternal life it followeth hence that they have good grounds of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and also against the fears and terrors of Death For hope of eternal life will help us to rejoyce greatly in the midst of all our troubles Rom. 5.2 3 VVe rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulations When we have good hope of the glory of God that is of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven which is a most glorious Kingdom we may rejoyce and glory in the midst of our greatest tribulations 1 Pet. 1.3 4 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heariness through manifold temptations Here is joy great joy in the midst of manifold temptations that did cause heaviness and whence did this joy proceed from a lively hope of an heavenly inheritance VVherein ye greatly rejoyce That is in which hope or in hope of which inheritance So Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and more enduring substance The spoyling of our goods for which we have laboured many years is wont to cause sorrow and lamentation Jer. 9.19 A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion how are we spoyled yet the hope of a reward in Heaven will help us to take the spoiling of our goods joyfully The hope of eternal life will take away the fears and terrors of Death when a man hath good hope of his Salvation it will be no trouble no terror to such a man to dye but he may dye in peace Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The hope of eternal life will so far take off the fear and terrors of death that it will make us desire and long for our dissolution that we may be with Christ in Heaven Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5.1 2. VVe know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven V. They that are Christs shall have the Lords presence with them under the troubles which they meet with while they live and also when they come to die Our sins made a separation between God and our Souls Isa 59.2 But the sufferings of Christ have made up this breach 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God One of the names given to Christ was Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Math. 1.23 Whereas by the fall of Adam God was against us and was separated from us through Christ he is reconciled to us and is become with us a God that will afford us his presence That such as are Christs shall have the presence of God and Christ with them under all their troubles yea at all times both while they live and when they dye See Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And what he hath said he will surely perform it If he will never leave nor forsake us then at no time of life nor at the hour of death Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the world Here is a note of attention set before this promise that the Members of Christ may take notice of it for their comfort and encouragement Lo I am with you I that have all power in Heaven and in Earth given to me I am with you how long always to the end of the world not only with his Apostles and Disciples that lived in those days but with all his Ministers and Members to the end of the world and at all times And more especially in times
my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my desire and all my Salvation although he make it not to grow See what was Davids comfort when he was speaking his last words it was his interest in the Everlasting Covenant He hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant and the assurance he had of his Salvation by virtue of this Covenant This is all my Salvation 7. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all sorts of troubles and against the terrours of Death because when Christ is ours all his saving benefits are ours As Ahab said to Benhadad 1 King 20.4 I am thine and all that I have So may I say If Christ be thine all that Christ hath is thine Hence such as are interested in Christ are said to be joynt heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 When Christ is ours all things are ours things present and things to come life and death this world and the world to come adversitie and prosperitie all things are ours ordained and designed for our good 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods And if this will not comfort us to hear that life and death things present and things to come the Kingdom of Heaven and all things are ours what else will VVhen Christ is ours his Righteousness is ours Phil. 3.9 His blood and all that he hath purchased with his blood all his merits are ours and his intercession is ours God is our Father the Spirit is our comforter Heaven is our Inheritance yea all good things are ours Obs How is this true that they are Christs have all things when as many that are Christs are ful of wants they want Riches Friends c. and in great straits and have suffered the loss of all things for Christ and can these be consistent together that a man should have all things and yet want many things A. 1. They that are Christs have all things vertually in that contentment and satisfaction which they have in Christ and from Christ They are or may be as well contented as if they had all the world Thus it was with the Apostle in his wants and straits when he was as poor to outward appearance as a man that hath nothing he was as well contented as if he had possessed the whole world 2 Cor. 6.10 As having nothing and yet possessing all things A man that hath a contented mind is as well satisfied as if he had all the world Gen. 33.11 Take I pray thee my blessing that is brought unto thee because God hath dealt graciously with me and I have enough The Hebrew is li chol I have all things Hence note that they have enough that have contented and satisfied minds they have all things 2. They that are Christs have all things in the providential care of God though they be poor and in straits and have suffered the loss of all things the providence of God takes care of them to supply them with all things that are needful with all things that are good for them 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you The providence of God taketh such care for us in all things that we need not trouble our selves with anxious thoughts or cares about any thing but may cast all our care upon the Lord. The Providence of God doth and will take care of us to supply us with all needful things and all things that are good for us Phil 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ 3. They have all things in the Covenant and Promise of God For in the Covenant there are all things promised that they do or can desire 2 Sam. 23.5 He hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant and this is all my Salvation and all my desire VVe can't desire more then Grace and Glory and all good things now these are all promised to us Ps 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly And what things are ours by promise are ours by a better and a more sure tenure then what is ours by actual possession without a promise because what we have in our possession may be lost may be taken from us but the promises no creature can take from us 4. They have all things eminently and transcendently in God and Christ in having God for their portion and Christ for their Saviour What Solomon saith of mony Eccl. 10.19 Mony answereth all things The same may be said as truly of God and Christ God answereth all things and Christ answereth all things When we enjoy God who is the fountain of all good in the enjoyment of him for our God we do inherit all things Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son They have all things in Christ their head what the head hath the head hath it for the good of the Members Now Christ our head hath all things for the good of his church Eph. 1.22 And gave him to be the head over all things in the Church 5. They have the good of all things though not the actual possession of all things Rom. 8.28 VVe know that all things work together for good to them that love God Yea their very wants are for their good for they put them upon living by Faith and stir up in them a Spirit of Prayer and keep them humble c. 6. They are heirs of all things though they are not come to the full enjoyment of their inheritance for they are joynt heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 If children then heirs heirs of God and joynt heirs with Christ And Christ is heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things The heir while a child is Lord of all though he hath not the actual possession of his inheritance Gal. 4.1 So it is with us we are heirs of all things by virtue of our Union with Christ though we have not the actual possession of our inheritance 8. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all troubles of life and terrors of death because all that are Christs are blessed in and by Christ and are so blessed as no troubles nor death it self can make them miserable but after their Union with Christ they are blessed and shall continue blessed for ever I shall open the blessedness of such as are Christs in these particulars 1. All that are Christs are in a most blessed and happy condition Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust
thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce 3. As Christ comforts his afflicted people by the gracious visits which he gives them so also by raising and strengthning their Faith in times of trouble and causing them to stay themselves upon God in an evil day For the staying the mind upon God is a means to keep the Soul in peace under the greatest dangers Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 4. Jesus Christ comforteth his afflicted people with the hope of Eternal Life which he promiseth to such as are in a suffering condition if they continue faithful to the death Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall also reign with him Rom. 5.2 And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Vse I. If an interest in Christ be such a ground of Consolation then here is reproof 1. For those that content themselves with a Worldly Interest and take no care no pains to get an interest in Christ but neglect Christ Such mens case is sad For 1. The world is a poor portion for all worldly enjoyments abstracted from God and Christ are nothing but vanity and vexation of Spirit 2. All the world will avail a man nothing when he comes to dye It will give no ease to a troubled Conscience no pardon of Sin no help to Heaven 1 Tim. 6.7 We can carry nothing of it away with us into another world 3. They that have neglected Christ and the Salvation purchased by Christ shall not escape the wrath of God in the other World Heb. 2.3 2. For those that have an interest in Christ and yet live very discontentedly either for want of some things which they desire as Parts Riches Friends a setled Condition or for the loss of some things which God hath taken away from them or because of some crosses or troubles that they meet with in the World Vse II. Of Examination Have we a true saving interest in Christ can we say Christ is ours and we are his Quest How may we know whither Christ be ours A. 1. If we love him Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and if our love to him exceed our love to all other things and persons in the World if he be our best Beloved Christ doth not own those as having an interest him that love any thing above him Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me That such as love God and Christ above all things have a saving interest in Christ is evident because eternal Life is promised to them Jam. 2.5 Heirs of the Kingdom which God hath promised to those that love him Quest How shall we know that we love Christ above all things A. 1. When we desire Christ above all things in the world Psal 73.25 So that if God should ask us as he did Solomon what shall I give thee we would say Lord give us thy self for our God and thy Son for our Saviour 2. When we esteem Christ above all things so as that we count them as dung in comparison of Christ and are willing to part with any thing so that we may win Christ Philip. 3.8 3. VVhen the love of God in Christ puts more joy and gladness into our hearts than the enjoyment of all the world or it would be a greater joy to us than the whole world if God would manifest his love to us Psal 4. 6 7. 2. If we are Christs then Christ is ours that 's another Character in the Text. Cant. 2. 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his Now we may know we are Christs 1. If we have solemnly given up our selves to Christ with a sincere heart without any secret reserves of any Lust resolving that by the help of his grace we will deny our selves take up our Cross and follow him 2 Cor. 8.5 Mark 8.34 2. If his interest will prevail with us beyond our own interest and his will above our own wills if his word be our rule and his glory our end that is a good evidence that we are Christs Isa 63.19 VVe are thine thou never bearest rule over them As much as to say they are the Lords over whom the Lord bears rule Psal 119.94 I am thine I have sought thy precepts When in doubtful Cases we seek out the will of Christ and follow the will of Christ that shews us to be his 3. When we are Christs Servants Act. 27. 23. VVhos 's I am and whom I serve And the great end why we desire to live is to do service for Christ Phil. 1.21 4. When we are tender and careful of Christs glory John 17.10 I am glorified in them that are mine and thine 3. The Spirit of Christ sent down into our Hearts is a certain Evidence of an interest in Christ 1 John 3.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit that he hath given us Rom. 8. v. 9. Q. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Christ A. 1. If we have an obediential frame of heart Ezek 36.27 compared with Rom. 8. 7. The carnal heart is enmity to the Law of God and therefore when we are caused to obey Gods Statutes that is from the Spirit put within us 2. We may know we have the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit which are Faith Love Peace Joy Long-suffering c. Gal. 5. 22 23 c. Vse III. Of Exhortation Exhort 1. To such as want an interest in Christ that they would above all things seek to get Christ What Solomon saith of Wisdom Prov. 4.7 The same may I say of Jesus Christ who is called the Wisdom of God Jesus Christ is the principal thing therefore above all things get Jesus Christ Exhort 2. To such as have an interest in Christ to labour for the knowledge of it that every one may be able to say Christ is mine and I am his Q. How shall we attain to the knowledge of our interest in Christ A. 1. Examine your selves by those Characters the Scripture gives of an interest in Christ and more particularly about your Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 And if you cannot make any clear work hereof at one time try what you can do at another 2. Pray earnestly to God to manifest your interest in Christ It is in his light that we see light Psal 36.9 Pray as David Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation And if you can't obtain the knowledge of your interest in Christ by much seeking to God yet follow on to seek him and then in Gods good time you shall know the Lord to be your God in Christ Hos 6.3 Isa 24.9 Zech. 13.9 3. Accustom your self to trust in God in all your straits fears dangers and temptations For the more you trust in God the
days to shew our love in our diligence in Ministring to the Saints as we have ability and as their necessity requireth Heb. 6.10 11. Another Grace that will much further our Assurance as trusting in God in all distresses and dangers and living by Faith on Gods promises Psal 31.14 I trusted in thee I said thou art my God The more we accustom our selves to trust in God the more confidently we shall be enabled to call God our God Another grace that will further our assurance is Uprightness when we walk in our Integrity that will scatter and dispel fears and bring in comfort Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness But I shall add no more upon this question Sect. 3. What they should do that can't make out their interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death Obj. It may be some will say it is true they that have an interest in Christ and know it may be of good chear under all the troubles of this Life and when they are to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death but what shall I do in an evil day and at the hour of Death that cannot to this day nor ever could make it out that I have a saving interest in Christ § Prayer a means to clear interest Encouragements to pray for this mercy A. 1. Pray to God to make clear to your Souls your interest in himself and his Son Jesus Christ Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation That which David asks is not be thou my Salvation but 't is the satisfying his Soul with the knowledge that God was his Saviour and would give him Salvation Say unto my Soul That is Lord perswade my Soul Lord give my Soul satisfaction in this great case that thou art my Saviour and wilt confer Salvation upon me And what David prayed for in this kind that may we pray for also And for our encouragement to pray for the knowledge of your interest in Christ consider these things 1. Prayer is a means of Gods own appointing not only for the obtaining of the favour of God but also for the obtaining of the comfortable apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Job 33.26 He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy Here is a double blessing promised unto the man that prayeth unto God he shall obtain the favour of God and he shall see his face with joy that is he shall obtain the knowledge of Gods love to his Soul which shall put great joy and gladness into his heart 2. The knowledge of our interest in God as our Father and in Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer is promised in the new Covenant and what the Lord hath promised we may pray in Faith and Hope that we shall attain it See promises to this purpose Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer That which is here promised is not I will be thy Saviour and thy Redeemer but the knowledge of our interest in Christ as our Saviour and our Redeemer It is not said thou shalt know that I am the Saviour of my people or the Saviour of those that trust in me Thon shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer Another promise of clearing our interest in Christ we have Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you At that day what day is here meant some understand it of the future life when we shall live with Christ in Glory spoken of in the foregoing verse because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know And doubtless the full accomplishment of this promise is the priviledge of the other life to have a perfect understanding of the mystical Union between the Father and the Son and between Christ and Believers But it hath also a respect to clearing our Union with Christ in this life at that day that is after I am risen from the dead and gone to the Father and at that day that you set your love upon me and keep my Commandments and I shall pray the Father and he shall send you another comforter even the Spirit of truth he shall make it known to you that I am in you and you in me It may also relate to ver 13 14. When you shall earnestly pray to the Father in my name to have your union cleared in that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me If any say I have prayed to God to clear my Union with and my Interest in Christ and still I am in the dark about this matter I answer You must continue to seek this mercy the knowledge of your interest in God and Christ and that is the way to obtain it Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord § Such as can't make out their Interest in Christ should close with Christ that they may have an Interest in him 2. If you cant nor ever could make out your Interest in Christ yea suppose it be so that you have no interest in him come in now and close with him The door of Hope still stands open to your Souls It is yet an accepted time and a day of Salvation God still continueth to offer Christ to your Souls and prays you to accept of him 2 Cor. 5.20 VVe pray you in Christs stead be you reconciled to God If at length after a long neglecting of Christ you will come in and close with him you shall be saved by him Heb. 4.7 To day after so long a time as it is said to day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts Those that had stood all the day idle even to the last hour were invited to go into the Vineyard and going upon the invitation had their reward Matth. 20.6 7 9. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard and whatever is right that shall ye receive And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny This penny is by the generality of Interpreters agreed to be eternal life and this eternal life shall be given to those that come into Christ at the last hour of the day though the former part of their time hath been spent in ideleness But some may say if a man hath reflected and lived without God in the day of his prosperity is there hope if such a man turn to God in the day of trouble that God will be found of him and be gracious unto him I answer There is hope for such as have neglected God along time if they turn to him in the day of their tròuble that he will be gracious unto them 2 Chron. 15.3 4.
easie both by Tho. Lye Aesops Fables with morals thereupon in English Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second part of the fulfilling of the Scripture The immortality of the Soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason to which is added Faiths-triumph over the fears of death by Tho. Wadsworth A Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word by George Swinnock M. A. A discourse of the original c. of the Cossacks The generation of Seekers or the right manner of the Saints addresses to the throne of Grace with an Exposition on the Lords-Prayer The administration of Cardinal Ximones An Essay to facilitate the Education of Youth by bringing down the rudiments of Grammar to the sense of seeing which ought to be improved by Syncrisis by Mr. Lewis of Totenham An Artificial Vestibulum wherein the sense of Janua Linguarum is contained compiled into plain and short sentences in English for the great ease of Masters and Expeditious progress of Scholars by M. Lewis Speculum Sherlockianum or a Looking glass in which the admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the man as to his Acuracy Judgment Orthodoxy A discourse of Sins of Omission wherein is discovered their Nature Causes and Cure by George Swinnock His Majesties Propriety in the British Seas vindicated Quakerism no Christianity or a through-Quaker no Christian proved by their Princrples and confirmed by Scripture by J. Faldo Differences about Water-baptism no bar to Communion by Jo. Bunian The Dutch-dispensatory shewing the virtues qualities and properties of Simples the vertue and use of Compounds whereto is added the Compleat Herbalist Judg Dodaridge's laws of Nobility and Peerage Dinglys Spiritual Feast Solitude improved by Divine Meditation by Matth. Ranew A Murderer punished and pardoned or Tho. Savage his life and death with his Funeral sermon Hurst Revival Grace Buryes Husbandmans Companion help to holy walking Hanmers view of Antiquity Nomenclaturas Wases Grammar Vincent of Conscience Gouges Principles of Christian Religion Christian Direction Word to Saints and Sinners Young mans guide Christian Housholder Perrots Englands duty The Nonconformists vindicated Wadsworths remains Shepherdy Spiritualized Calamys Art of divine Meditation Faldos Quakerism no Christianity vindication of 21 Divines Small 8vo A defence against the fear of death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by William Gearing The Godly mans Ark or a City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mrs. Moors evidences for Heaven by Edmund Calamy The Almost-Christian discovered or the false-Professor tried and cast by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian-freedom or a discourse shewing the extent and restraints of Christian-liberty by S. Bolton D. D. The sinfulness of Sin and fulness of Christ in two Sermons by Will. Bridg. A Plea for the godly or the Righteous mans Excellency The holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper A Treatise of self-denial All three by Tho. Watson The life and death of Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel VVinter A Covert from the Storm or the fearful encouraged in the day of Trouble Worthy-walking press'd upon all that have heard the Call of the Gospel The Spirit of Prayer All three by Nath. Vincent The inseparable union between Christ and a Believer by Tho. Peck A discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and vanity of them the sin and misery brought in by them by John Sheffield Invisible reality demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. J. Janeway The Saints encouragement to diligence in Christs service both by Mr. James Janeway A discourse concerning the Education of Children Convivium Caeleste a plain and familiar discourse concerning the Lords Supper both by R. Kidder The Saints perseverance asserted in its Positive-ground against Mr. Ives by Tho. Danson A Wedding-ring fit for the Finger by VVill. Secker An Explanation of the shorter-Catechism of the Assembly of Divines by Tho. Lye The life and death of Tho. Hall A Plea for the Non-Conformists tending to vindicate them from Schism by a Doctor in Divinity The flat opposition of Popery to Scripture by J. N. Chaplain to a Person of Honour The Weavers Pocket book or Weaving spiritualiz'd by J. C. D. D. Two disputations of Original sin by Richard Baxter The History of Moderation The welcome Communicant The little-peace-maker discovering foolish Pride the Make-bate Philadelphia or a Treatise of Brotherly love by Mr. Gearing Reformation or Ruine being certain Sermons on Levit. 26.23 â—3 by Tho. Hotchkis The Riches of Grace displayed to which is added the priviledge of Passive obedience and 52 proposals in order to help on Heart-humiliation by VVill. Bagshaw The parable of the great Supper opened in 17 Sermons by John Crump A present for Teeming-women by J. Oliver Non-conformity without Controversie by Benj. Baxter A Treatise of Closet-Prayer by Richard Mayo The Religious Family by Philip Lamb. A discourse of the prodigious Abstinence of Martha Taylor Index biblicus multi-jugus or a Table of the holy Scripture wherein each of its Books Chapters and particular matters are distinguished and Epitomized The day of Grace with the Conversion of a Sinner by Nathanael Vincent An easie and useful Grammer for the learning of the French Tongue by Mr. Gosthead Gentleman The Miners Monitor or advice to those that are employed about the Mines A Protestant Catechism for litte Children A Scripture Catechism by Samuel Petto A Catechism according to the Church of England Nero Tragidea Cornelianum dolium Wilsons Catechism Elenchuus motuum nuperorum in Anglia Cackaines Poems Croftons Foelix Scelus or prospering-profaneness provoking holy conference by Zach. Crofton Gramaticus Analyticus by the same Author Alexanders advice to his Son H. Excellency of Christ set forth Phelps Caveat against Drunkenness Lamentation for the loss of a good man Antidote against desperation Bury against Drunkenness Wadsworths last warning to Sinners Dr. Wilkinsons Counsels and Comforts to afflicted Consciences Cappello and Bianco a Romance Calys Glimpse of Eternity Period of humane Life Defence of Period of humane Life both written by the Author of the whole Duty of man c. An Answer to the period of humane Life Survey Quakerism Tho. Vincents Explication of the Assemblies Catechism Vincent on Prayer On Conversion and day of Grace Covert from storm Worthy Walking Parsons Letter to VVem Adams Catechism Lambs New Years Gift Perks way to mend the World Burys Antidote against the fear of Death Mr. Corbets Kingdom God among men with a Tract of Schism Self-imployment in Secret by John Corbet Solomons Proverbs Traughtons Popery the grand Apostacy Heywoods Christ displayed Bishop Reignolds Meditations Mr. Edward Wests Legacy Gerhard on Death Whole Duty of Youth Welcome Communicant Ames Marrow Diuinity Tho. Vincent against the Quakers being the sandy Foundation shaken A warning to young men or Brinkhursts Narrative Mr. Kidders help to smallest Children in their understanding of the Church-Catechism Thomas Vincents Himns Bartlet on the Sacrament Greens needful preparatory to the Lords Supper Dr. Collings of ordinary matter of Prayer Wilsons Childs Trade Scondrets Catechism Sheffiields Catechism Much in a little or an abstract of Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof for Infants Baptism Some brief Directions for the improvement of Infants Baptism Books Twelves Drexellius Repository Meads Spiritual Wisdom Nathanael Vincents little Childs Catechism The duty of Parents towards their Children A little book for little Children A method and instruction for the Art of divine Meditation All three by Tho. VVhite The considerations of Drexelius on Eternity The shadow of the Tree of Life by M. M. The Psalms of David newly translated more plain smooth and agreeable to the Text than any heretofore Mr. Henry Lukin's Life of Faith FINIS