of this death That our comforter against spiritual deadness is in Christ the following words shew I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Though there be cause of mourning when we look into our own dead hearts yet there is cause of thanksgiving and rejoycing when we look up to God in Christ And that on these grounds 1. The end of Christs assuming our nature and suffering death for our sins was to give us life not only eternal life hereafter but spiritual life here and that in a plentifull measure Joh. 10.10 I am come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly Joh. 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world 2. Though there be in us much deadness yet in Christ and with Christ there is a fountain of life Psal 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light As it is with Fountains of water there is water to be had at all times and for all comers in the Fountain So it is with the Fountain of life there is life to be had constanly freely a sufficiency of life for all comers at all times to be had from this Fountain of life 3. The Lord hath given us many gracious and comfortable promises to encourage us to hope in him for quickning grace at such times as we find our selves under deadness as Joh. 11.25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet he shall live Joh. 6.57 He that eateth me even he shall live by me Psal 69.32 Your heart shall live that seek God Psal 22. They shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Amos 5.4 Thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel seek ye me and ye shall live We see here that Spiritual and Eternal Life is promised to such as seek the Lord These promises may be a great comfort to us under our deadness 4. Jesus Christ hath provided us excellent helps against our deadness I will instance in two helps 1. His word that hath a quickning influence in it Psal 119.50 Thy word hath quickned me And ver 93. I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me And as the Precepts so the promises of the word have a quickning virtue in them We may say of the promises with Hezekiah Isa 38.16 O Lord by these things men live and in all these things is the life of my Spirit 2. His spirit is an excellent help against deadness Joh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickneth The spirit of Christ is the spirit of life and this quickning spirit shall be given to those that ask it of God Luk. 11.13 5. When Christ who is our life shall appear we shall appear with him in glory and when we appear with Christ in glory we shall ive with him for evermore and shall never any more be troubled with deadness but shall be freed from the body of sin and death for ever Col. 3.3 4. Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Your Life is hid with Christ in God It may be understood of the life of Grace here and the life of Glory hereafter Our life of Grace is hid not only from the eyes of the VVorld but at sometimes and in part from themselves As Davenant observs Ex parte quoad quos sanctos quippe qui vitam hanc sentiant in se esse valdè infirmam obscuram dubiam obtentationes diaeboli carnis Yet the weakness of our Spiritual Life the deadness that is mixed with the life of grace shall not hinder our appearing with Christ in and if we appear with him in glory all our deadness and imperfections shall be done away for ever Sect. 7. There is comfort in Christ for such as are troubled for the weakness and imperfections of their services Many Christians finding their service they do for God and their Generations attended with very great weakness and many imperfections are much troubled and discouraged thereby But to such as go under this burden there is comfort to be had in Christ and that in these respects 1. Our persons and services are accepted of God not for the worthyness that is either in our persons or services but for the sake and upon the account of Jesus Christ Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the beloved And as our persons are accepted in Christ so are our services also 1 Pet 2.5 To offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ If any say how can imperfect services that have sin mixed with them be accepted of God I answer by the merits of Christ the imperfections and sins that are mingled with those holy services which we perform to God are done away and the services rendered acceptable to God Exod. 28.38 And it shall be upon Aarons Forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things of the children of Israel which the children of Israel shall hollow in all their holy gifts and it shall be alwayes on his Forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. Aaron was a Type of Christ our great High Priest The Plate on his Forehead that had graven on it Holiness to the Lord was a Type of the merits of Christ who is the Lord our Righteousness As Aaron bare away the iniquities of the holy things Typically which being done they were accepted of God So Christ doth really and truly bear away the sins of all services and thereby they are accepted of God 2. Though our services have much weakness and many imperfections in them yet if they be performed with Upright hearts God will accept them 1 Chron. 29.17 I know also my God that thou tryest the heart and hast pleasure in Vprightness As little done by an Upright man is more acceptable to God than great services done by wicked men Pro. 15.8 The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the Vpright is his delight 3. VVould you serve God and your Generation in a better manner if you were able and is it your burden that you can serve God no better then know for your comfort that God through Christ will accept of your willing mind though you have not such abilities to serve him as others have or as you your selves desire to have 2 Cor. 8.12 If there he first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 4. It is a great comfort to those that mourn over their imperfections that how imperfect soever they are in themselves they are compleat in Christ Col.
THE BEST INTEREST Or a TREATISE Of a SAVING Interest in CHRIST Wherein is Shewed How a Man may know that he hath a saving Interest in Christ How they that have not yet an Interest in Christ may get a saving Interest in him How they that have an Interest in Christ may improve it for their Consolation under Personal and National Calamities and Persecutions of the Church How such as have an Interest in Christ may find Comfort in Christ under all Spiritual Troubles With several other Practical Cases By OWEN STOCKTON Late Minister of Jesus Christ at Colchester in Essex COR. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates London Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1682. The Epistle Dedicatory To the worthily Honoured John Clarke Of Bury in Suffolk Esquire SIR PRopriety in Enjoyments adds a great Excellency to them unto us and the more the better they be in themselves Jesus Christ is the best of Enjoyments he is the gift of God such as he cannot vouchsafe a greater an unspeakable gift and therefore Interest in him is the best Interest To obtain that to have God and Christ ours is to have the great the principal blessing of the New Covenant ours grounded assurance thereof is not unfitly called by some a Heaven upon Earth and to promote this having two heavens is the design of this ensuing Treatise of which that Laborious and faithful Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton is the Author The first part being directed to your self entituled Consolation in Life and Death I should offer an injury and not testifie my due Respects if I should not present this second and principal part also to you Entituled The Best Interest I here present it and doubt not but both will find favourable Acceptation with you If the Lord hath indulged clear Evidences of his Love and of your own Interest in Christ yet you will be glad to have this Confirmation thereof and that others even every Believer may have such a knowledge of it as to be able groundedly to say My Beloved is mine and I am his You know how disconsolate many real Christians are and how mournfully they walk every day under their unbelieving Doubtings and Questionings concerning it they are afraid to draw up that Conclusion and hereby they are greatly obstructed in their Duty towards God which is not hindred but promoted by a clear sight of propriety in him Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God what then early will I seek thee The most ardent seekings and thirstings after God issue and spring from a Soul 's being able to say my God Some in this particular are too like Scepticks though in other matters they are not alwayes doubting and complaining of their own Conditions ever enquiring how they may know their own estate and never determining or not duly Those that sit in such thick darkness that they can see no light they are concerned to trust in the Name of the Lord Isa 50.10 i. e. to trust in him as the Lord God Gracious and Merciful forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin Exod. 34.5 6 7 when they can draw up no Conclusion that Christ is theirs and they his and that their sins are pardoned yet they are to trust in that Name that he may be theirs and that their sins may be pardoned thus they may put the great question out of doubt by seeking more to get interest than to know it Others confidently yet ungroundedly conclude that Christ is theirs without seeking a real interest in him all which may be helped here That this Treatise may be blessed to your self and to all under whose eye it may come for its proper end shall be the prayer of Honoured Sir Your Servant in the Gospel Sam. Petto Nov. 2. 1681. Errata PAge 11. l. 30 dele at p. 20. l. 28. r. singing p. 23. l. 27. r. our p. 33 l 13 waters l. 17 dele is p 35. l. 14. after you add rest p. 46. l. 16. r. doubtful p. 52. l. 11. dele of p. 64. l. 1. r. to glorify p. 75. l. 19. dele he p. 92. l. 20. r. he delivers p. 106. l. 10. dele to p. 110. l 1. r national p. 117. l. 24. r. national p. 131. l. 20. r. As p. 135. l. 5. r. at p. 145 l. 10. dele â—ve p. 158. l. 12. read in the morning p. 176. l. 2. r. we p 200 l 16 r themselves p 214 l 14 dele and. p 215 l 12 r thou p 217 l 1 dele one p 225 l 17 r give p 242 l 8 r at all p 255 l 12 r World p 16â— l 4 r his life l biâ— l 15 r leave p 263 l 9 r Friends p 264 l 10 r my p 270 l 17 after saving add interest p 273 l 6 after but add they p 274 l 27 r upon p 289 l 2 r one p 29â— l â— 17 add down â—â— adds p 293 l 2 r this Ib. l 31 r as Ib l 31 r of Ib l 32 dele for â—â— r p 298 l 18 add vvould p 306 l 13 dele it p 309 l 24 dele the. p 322 l 12 r uncertain p 325 l 17 r it is a p 327 l â— r feasts p 333 l 32 r backslidden p 364 l 8. r. drought THE BEST INTEREST Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his CHAP. I. Containing the Doctrine and Evidences of saving Interest in Christ. IT is said of our Lord Jesus Christ Cant. 1.3 Thy name is as Oyntment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee Among the several names given to Christ to render him amiable and desireable to the Children of Men this is none of the meanest that he is stiled The Consolation of Israel Luk. 2.25 The hearing and believing that may cause us to love him and long after him on several accounts For 1. Comfort is greatly desired and sought after by all men we are all ready to pray with David Psal 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness Psal 86.4 Rejoyce the Soul of thy Servant We are so desirous of comfort that if it be with-held from us but a little while we scarce know how to bear the want of it but our Souls are ready to faint within us Psal 119.82 Mine eyes fail for thy word saying when wilt thou comfort me And if God grant us our desire in giving us comfort we rejoyce greatly and look upon our selves obliged to bless and praise God Act. 15.31 They rejoyced for the Consolation Isa 12.1 O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortedst me 2. And as all men desire so they have great need of comfort both in respect of the manifold troubles that they are exposed to while they live and the sorrows and terrors they are liable to when they dye The
Christs sake we are weak we are despised Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place we are made as the filth of the VVorld and are the off scouring of all things unto this day Now although the Apostle Paul met with abundance of afflictions and persecutions he was exceeding joyful in all his tribulations and as full of comfort as his heart could hold 2 Cor. 7.4 I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation And whence was it that the Apostle Paul had such exceeding joy in all his tribulations It was in Christ and from Christ as he himself tells us Phil. 3.3 VVe rejoyce in Christ Jesus Rom. 5.11 VVe joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ The Virgin Mary who was the Mother of Christ met with sore afflictions which pierced her as if she had a Sword run into her very Soul Luke 2.35 Yea a sword shall pierce through thine own Soul also Some understand this as a foretelling that she should suffer Death for Christ and be slain with the Sword others understood the words Metaphorically that she should be exposed to such sharp trials that should pierce her as if she had a Sword run into her for reproaches and many other afflictions are like the piercings of a Sword Psal 42.10 As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me while they say daily unto me where is thy God Prov. 12.18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a Sword And the Virgin Mary's Consolation under all her afflictions was her interest in Christ her interest in him not so much as he was the Son of her Womb as the Son of God and the Saviour of her Soul Luke 1.47 48. And Mary said my Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour David found great Consolation in his interest in Christ and in God under all his troubles and sorrows of which I might give many instances but shall only mention that distress he was in at Ziglag 1 Sam. 30.6 David was greatly distressed But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Observe here the greatness of Davids distress Ziglag his City of refuge was invaded by the Amalekites smitten and burnt with Fire ver 1. Davids Wives and the Wives and Children of the men that were with him were taken Captives and carried away by the enemies ver 2.3 All their Flocks also and their Herds were carried away in a Triumphing manner saying This is Davids spoil ver 20. Davids distress was so great That David and the People that were with him lift up their voice and wept till they had no more power to weep ver 4. And which added to his sorrows was this that he was now in danger of loosing and that by the hands of those that had fought for him to save his Life they were so enraged against David that they spake of stoning him to Death and that was an aggravation of his affliction that besides his other losses he was now like to loose his Life and that in a violent way and that by the hand of his Friends And David was greatly distressed for the People spake of stoning him ver 6. And what was his comfort and encouragement in this distress it was his interest in God But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God And how doth the Lord become our God it is in and through Jesus Christ that he becomes our God 2 Cor. 5.19 That we may not only Triumph over all the troubles of this Life but even over Death it self by virtue of our interest in Christ is evident from 1 Cor. 15.55 O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory the sting of Death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law but thuaks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ He speaks in a Triumphing manner as having no dread of Death but having overcome the fear of Death and the Grave O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory As if he should have said we are not afraid of thee O Death or thee O Grave thou hast lost thy sting O Death and thy victory O Grave And what is the ground of this Triumph over Death how came we by this victory this Triumph is grounded upon an interest in Christ this victory is given us of God through Christ as he is made ours Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Sect. 2. What is meant by an interest in Christ How Christ becomes ours How we become Christs 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 actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ How Christ becomes ours 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins Joh. 3.16 2. By an effectual calling 1 Cor. 1.9 3. By our recieving him Joh. 1.12 4. By our entring into Covenant with God Isa 55.3 How do we become Christs 1. By Donation of the Father Joh. 17.6 2. By Redemption 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 3. By the Spirits causing and enabling us to give our selves to him 2 Cor. 8.5 4. By virtue of the Covenant Ezek. 16.8 See the matters of this Section in a Book of this Author Entituled Consolation in Life and Death Sect. 3. Several grounds of Consolation against the troubles of Lsfe and the fears and terrors of Death arising from an interest in Christ 1. Jesus Christ hath fully perfectly and for ever reconciled unto God all that are his Col. 1.19 20. 2. Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins 1 Cor. 15.3 1 Joh. 3.5 Joh. 1.29 These and many other grounds may be seen largely handled in the said Treatise by this Author Entituled Consolation in Life and Death Motives to examine our selves whether we have a saving interest in Jesus Christ If it be so that interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this Life and against the fears and terrors of Death then let us examine our selves whether we have a saving interest in Jesus Christ whether we have an actual right to and a propriety in Christ and his saving benefits can we say that Christ is ours and that we are his and can we say this upon good grounds Have we Evidences satisfactory and sure evidences out of Gods word that Christ is ours and we are his I shall here propose some motives to stir us up to examine our selves about our interest in Christ And then mention some sure evidences of a saving interest in Christ by which we may examine and prove our selves whether we have a real saving
paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies 5. The Lord hath wise and holy ends in the changes and desolations that he makes in the earth And the consideration of the Holiness and Wisdom of God in all his works may be a stay to our minds when he over-turns Kingdoms and Nations Psal 30.4 Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his give thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Dan. 2.20.21 Blessed be the name of God for ever and for ever for wisdom and might are his and he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth Kings and he setteth up Kings 2. That special care which the Lord taketh of all his people at all times is a ground of great comfort in times of danger and Publick calamities The Lord taketh a special care of all his people at all times and this may quiet their minds and free them from perplexing fears and cares in times of greatest danger and distress 1 Pet 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you The persons to whom this Epistle was written were in great distress they were scattered abroad into several Countries Chap. 1.2 To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bythinia They were in heaviness through the manifold temptations they met with in their persecuted scattered condition ver 6. They were under great and sore afflictions not onely the hand but the mighty hand of God was upon them Ch. 5.6 yet in this scattered condition when they were in heaviness through manifold temptations when they were under the mighty hand of God the Apostle comforts them with this that they had a God that took care of them and therefore they needed not to perplex and disquiet their minds with any kind of cares but may cast them all upon God Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you That we may be the more comforted in time of danger by the care that the Lord taketh of us let us consider what manner of care it is wherewith the Lord careth for us 1. It is a special care which the Lord taketh of his people There is a common care which he taketh of all his creatures He feedeth the fowls of the Air he clotheth the grass of the field he satisfieth the desire of every living thing he preserveth man and beast But the care which God taketh of the children of men is far greater than what he takes of the beasts of the birds or any other creatures in this world The care that God hath of the sons of men so far exceeds his care of other creatures that it seems as no care compared with that care which he takes for mankind 1 Cor. 9.9 10. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn Doth God take care for oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written And as God takes care of men above all other creatures so he takes a more special care of his own people than he doth of all other men They are to him as the apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 Het hat toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye They are his jewels Mal. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him They are his peculiar treasure Exod. 19.5 Ye shall be unto me a peculiar treasure above all people for all the earth is mine They are his portion Deut. 32.9 The Lords portion is his people How careful are men of their portion their peculiar treasure their jewels the apple of their eye so and much more careful is the Lord of his people They are his children Gal. 3.26 And in times of danger men are very solicitous for their children The first question that David put to both those messengers that came with tydings from the battel was concerning the safety of his child Is the young man Absalom safe 2 Sam. 18.29 32. 2. It is a particular care The Lord doth not onely take care of his people in general but of every one of them in particular and of every thing that belongeth to them When God is destroying wicked men he taketh care for the preservation of every one of his people Psal 145.20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy In times of greatest calamity when he breaks a kingdom in pieces and scatters the inhabitants thereof into all parts of the world he will take care of every one of the members of Christ even the least and meanest and most shiftless of all his servants Amos 9.9 For lo I will command and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations like as corn is sifted in a sive yet shall not the least grain fall to the ground Say not in thy heart God hath so many to take care of he may forget me or I am such a mean creature he will not regard me For it is all one with God to take care of many as few and he takes care of the lowest as well as the highest Psal 138.6 Though the Lord be high yet he hath respect unto the lowly There are a great company of Sparrows and they are birds of but small value yet not one of the Sparrows is forgotten of God Luk. 12.6.7 Are not five Sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God Fear not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows In the 4th verse Christ saith to them Be not afraid of them that kill the body And gives two arguments to disswade them from fearing them that can only kill the body First that is the worst they can do after that they have no more that they can do And the other is they can't do this but by the permission of God for he that watcheth over every Sparrow doth much more watch over every man who is of more value than many Sparrows There are many devices to take away the lives of the Sparrows as Nets Snares Fowling-pieces c. besides the danger they are in by the greater birds who pray upon the lesser ones yet not one Sparrow is killed but by the providence of God Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father Though we have many that lye in wait to take away our lives and the instruments of Death are prepared for us yet not one man woman or child shall fall to the ground and be cut off from the land of the living without our Heavenly Fathers appointment And as the Lord taketh a particular care of every Member of Christ so also of all the affairs and concernments of all the Members of Christ He sets the hedge of his providence not only about their persons but about all that
bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone The angels have a charge to keep us in all our wayes whether soever we go in all the wayes of our general and particular calling they shall bear thee up in their hands as nurses carry their children having them alwayes in their eye lest thou dash thy foot against a stone They have a charge not onely to keep us from great but from lesser evils not onely from bruising our bodies breaking our necks or our bones but from dashing our feet against a stone Psal 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Suppose the times be very dangerous yet as long as we have a guard of Angels about us we need not be afraid One Angel is a better guard and security to us than an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men. Angels have greater power than the greatest and most valiant Armies of Armed men VVe read of a great Army an Hundred Fourscore and Five Thousand Men destroyed in a night by one Angel Isa 37.36 And therefore such as fear God are in a safe condition in dangerous times because the Angels of God encamp round about them to deliver them Obj. How is this true that the Lord taketh such a special continual exceeding great care of all his Peopole when many of the people of God fall into very great straits and troubles and though they cry to God he seemeth not to regard them but they think themselves forgotten and forsaken of God A. 1. Eminent dangers and great tribu lations accompanied with a long deferring of desired and expectd help have staggered the Faith of eminent Saints and made them ready to think that God did not regard them and took no care of them Job 30.20 I cry unto thee and thou dost not hear I stand up and thou regardest me not When the Disciples were in a great storm and ready to perish they were ready to think that Christ took no care of them Mark 4.38 Master carest thou not that we perish Isa 49.14 Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me 2. Sharp afflictions and long exercises of Faith and Patience are consistent with the Fatherly love of God and his tender care over us He may chide us for our faults speak against us write and act bitter things against us and yet have a dear love to us and a continual and affectionate remembrance of us Jer. 31.20 Ever since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him God spake against Ephraim God acted against Ephraim Thou hast chastised me Yet Ephraim was his dear Son his pleasant Child he had an earnest remembrance of him and his bowels were troubled for him Rev. 3.19 Whom I love I rebuke and chasten 3. If we consult Gods word and judge of Gods dealings with us by Faith and not by Sense Faith will teach us to say God is with us and takes care of us when Sense saith God hath forgotten and forsaken us Isa 49.14 15 16. Zion was graven upon the palms of Gods hands and her walls were continually before the Lord and God was more mindfull of her than any Mother of her sucking Child when she thought her self forgotten and forsaken of God Now this care which the Lord takes of his people is a ground of great comfort in all their troubles VVhen Paul was a Prisoner at Rome it was a great comfort to him in his Bonds when he understood the care that the Philippians took of him Phil 4.10 But I rejoyced in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me hath flourish'd again wherein you were carefull but ye lacked opportunity If the Apostle had great joy to see that the Philippians took care of him in his Bonds what joy may it be to us to hear of the care that the great God takes of us in all our troubles VVhat is the care of a man to the care of a God The Philippians care of the Apostle was unconstant one while they were mindfull of him and then they either forgot or neglected him as appears by that expression your care of me hath flourished again which implyeth a decay in their care and it was a good while before it flourished again as is intimated in those words now at last your care of me But God 's care is constant without intermission VVhen the Philippians were carefull of Paul they lackâ—d opportunity to do what they desired to do for him but God never lacketh opportunity of doing us good If Paul then rejoyced greatly of the care the Philippians took of him how ought we to rejoyce in that care which the great God taketh of us What the Apostle saith to the Colossians Col. 2.1 I wish you knew what great care so the word is expressed in the Margin I have for you And why was he so desirous that they might know the great care he had for them That their hearts might be comforted ver 2. So may I say to all you that belong to Christ I wish you knew what great care the Lord takes for you at all times it would wonderfully comfort your hearts in all your dangers and troubles 3. That God who ruleth and governeth the world by his providence and taketh such a great care of his is an infinitely wise God and the wisdom and knowledge of God is a ground of great comfort under all Personal and National Calamities Psal 31.7 I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble thou hast known my Soul in adversities It was a great comfort to David that God knew all his adversities and considered all his troubles VVhen Daniel foresaw the great changes God would make in the world in removing Kings and setting up Kings and changing the Monarchies and government of the Kingdoms of the earth the consideration of the wisdom of God manifested in those changes and revolutions made him break out into blessing and praising God Dan. 2.20 21. Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever for Wisdom and Might are his And he changeth the times and the seasors he removeth Kings and he setteth up Kings Yet Daniel who blessed God for changing times and seasons knew that sometimes when God makes changes in Kingdoms he sets up the basest of men to be Rulers Dan. 4.17 The most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth ever it the basest of men That we may see what comfort ariseth from the wisdom and knowledge of God in times of great distress let us consider these 4 or 5 things 1. The Lord knoweth who are his who they are that put their trust in him and make God their refuge he can call them every one by their names so that there is no danger that any of his should perish through a mistake in times of confusion
when he is sending his judgments upon wicked men 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Some of the Lords People walk in darkness and do not know that they are the Lords but there is no darkness with the Lord he knoweth them that are his Nah. 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him The Lord hath such perfect knowledge of all that are his that wheresoever they are dispersed or scattered into any parts of the world he can call them every one by name Joh. 10.3 14. He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep The Stars are so many that no man can number them yet the Lord calleth every one of them by their name Psal 147.4 He telleth the number of the Stars he calleth them all by their names And he that calleth the Stars by their names he knoweth and can call every one by his name Now this is a great comfort to us that God knoweth us by name Moses speaketh of it as a great favour that God knew him by name Exod. 33.12 Thou hast said I know thee by name and thou hast found grace in my sight 2. The Lord knoweth how to guide and direct his judgments that they shall fall upon and take hold of those only that are marked out and designed for destruction What is said of the Thunder and Lightning Job 37.3 He directeth it under the whole Heaven and his Lightnings unto the end of the earth The Thunder and Lightning touch no person do no damage to any man but at the direction of God The same is true of other judgments also VVhen a certain man drew a bow at a venture it was God guided the Arrow to the King of Israel and that directed it to go between the joynts of the Harness 1 King 22.34 When the Lord sent several plagues on the land of Egypt he so ordered and guided his judgments that they fell only on the Egyptians and did not touch the Israelites yea he did not only distinguish between the persons of the Israelites and the Egyptians but also between their Cattel Exod. 9.4 The Lord shall sever between the cattel of Israel and the cattel of Egypt there shall nothing dye of all that is the children of Israels 3. The Lord knoweth our conditions what dangers we are in what troubles and sorrows we meet with what straits and distresses are upon us Exod. 7. And the Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their Task-masters for I know their sorrows Psal 38.9 Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid rom thee When we are in great straits and have friends that are able to help us we are ready to say Oh that such a friend did but know how it is with me The Child is ready to say Oh that my Father knew how it was with me and the Wife is ready to say in distress Oh that my Husband knew how it was with me Our God who is our Friend our Father our Husband always knoweth how it is with us and may not this comfort us in our sorrows 4. The Lord knoweth all our adversaries their wrath and fury their plottings and contrivances against us Psal 69.19 Mine adversaries are all before thee When the Assyrian came with great rage against Jerusalem their doings and contrivances were not hid from the Lord Isa 37.28 I know thy abode and thy going out and thy coming in and thy rage against me 5. The Lord knoweth how to deliver us out of all our troubles when we our selves can't see or think which way we shall be delivered 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations 4. This God that governs the world and takes care of his people is acquainted with all their troubles is an Almighty God able to succour save and defend them from their greatest danger and distresses and this Almighty power of God is a ground of great comfort in times of greatest dangers and distresses Psal 2.1 The king shall joy in thy strength O Lord. David had many enemies and some of them very potent Princes were his persecutors and what was his comfort under all his dangers and troubles The power of God It rejoyced his heart when he considered what a strong God he had to be his helper The Lord himself proposeth his creating power as a ground of Comfort to his people against the fury and power of their adversaries Isa 51.11 12. I even I am he that comforeth thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye and of the Son of man which shall be made as grass And forgettest the Lord thy maker that hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth This power of God is a ground of comfort in times of greatest danger in several respects 1. The power of God is an Almighty power There is nothing so hard but the power of God is able to do it Jer. 32.17 He can do every thing that he pleaseth Job 42.2 I know that thou canst do every thing and that no thought can be with-holden from thee There are no dangers so great but God can deliver us out of them Daniel was in great danger when he was in a Den of Lyons yet God delivered him out of the Lions Den. David was in greater danger than Daniel when he was in the Lyons paw yet God delivered him out of the Lyons paw 1 Sam. 17.37 Paul was in greater danger than David who was in the Lyons mouth yet God delivered him out of the mouth of the Lyon 2 Tim. 4.17 I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion Jonah was in greater danger than Paul when he was in the fishes belly yet God delivered Jonah out of the fishes belly Jonah 3.1.10 God can deliver us out of the hands of the strongest and most enraged enemies Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest Monarch in the world all People Nations and Languages trembled before him Dan. 5.19 And he was greatly enraged against the 3 Children because they would not worship the golden image which he had set up and he threatned the same hour that they refused to worship his image they should be cast into a burning fiery furnace yet hear what they said to him Dan. 3.16 17. O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to answer thee in this matter If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King 2. This Almighty power of God is engaged for our defence to take the care of us and defend us all the days of our lives Job 23.25 Tea the Almighty shall be our defence Now this is
requireth hast When the Angels told the Shepherds that Christ was born in Bethlehem and that they should find him wrapped in swadling-cloths and lying in a Manger they made hast to get a sight of him Luk. 2.16 They came with hast and found the babe lying in a Manger To be made pertakers of Christ and all his saving benefits is of greater concernment than to have a sight of Christ lying in the Manger and if the Shepherds upon the invitation of an Angel made hast to see Christ when he was a little Babe lying in a Manger then how much more doth it concern us to make hast to be pertakers of Christ and all his saving benefits at the call and command of the great God II. We must seek an interest in Christ diligently and earnestly not remisly as if we did not much care whether we got Christ or no. We must say to God as Rachel did to Jacob. Gen. 30.1 Give me children or else I dye VVe must beg for Christ as for Life Lord give me Christ or I dye give me Christ or I am undone for ever The Apostle exhorts us to covet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet earnestly the best gifts Christ is the best of all the gifts that ever God gave to any of the Children of men and therefore we should covet earnestly the giving of Jesus Christ to our Souls They that labour in a hot and scorching day do earnestly desire to get into the shadow Job 7.2 The Servant earnestly desireth the shadow There is a hot and scorching day approaching Mal. 4.1 Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven Earnestly desire to get under Christs shadow before this scorching day and hot day comes To be under Christs shadow is more delightfull and refreshing in the hottest day of Gods vengeance under the most scorching persecutions than it is to a labouring man to set under the shadow in the hottest day and in the hottest climate of the world Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight VVicked men are very earnest and diligent in following after their sins Mich. 7.3 They do evil with both hands earnestly And shall not we be more earnest to get Christ and the Salvation of our Souls than wicked men are to commit sin and bring damnation upon themselves This is a sure way to find Christ to seek him diligently Jer. 29.13 And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your hearts Heb. 11.6 He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And what is the reward that God giveth to them that seek him diligently He gives them himself for their reward Gen. 15.1 I am thy exceeding great reward III. VVe must seek after Christ and Salvation by Christ above all things in this world Mat. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness First that is mainly chiefly make it your main care your chiefest business to get to Heaven The Apostle Pauls desire and endeavour above all things was that he might win Christ he was willing to do or suffer any thing so that he might win Christ and be found in him at the great day of judgment Phil. 3.8 9. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law Jesus Christ is far better than all things that are in this VVorld what Solomon saith of wisdom Prov. 8.11 Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared with her The same is true of Christ the wisdom of God Christ is better than Rubies and all things that we can desire are not to be compared with him and therefore to seek to get Christ above all things in the world VVith what eagerness do some men seek after the world they rise early they set up late there is no end of all their labour and they never think that they have enough of the world Eccl. 4.8 He hath neither child nor brother yet there is no end of all his labour neither is eye satisfied with riches And some men that are not willing to take much pains are exceedingly desirous of the world Prov. 21.25 26 His hands refuse to labour he coveteth greedily all the day long Oh that men would but take the like pains to get Christ that they do to get the world that they would covet Christ greedily all the day long that there were no end of their labour that they would never say they have enough of Christ but labour to get more and more of him IV. We must seek Christ constantly we must seek him till we have found him and got possession of him If we loose a piece of Silver we look diligently for it and we look till we find it Luk. 15.8 What woman having ten pieces of Silver if she loose one piece doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till he find it If there be such endeavours to seek a little piece of Silver that we will not give over looking and seeking till we have found it how much more should we seek after Christ till we have found him seeing he is better than all the Silver and Gold in the world Psal 105.4 Seek the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore We must not only seek the Lord for a time or for a long time but for evermore Hos 10.12 It is time to seek the Lord till he come and rain Righteousness upon you Though it should be very long before the Lord comes yet we must seek him till he come Now if we would continue seeking after an interest in Christ till we have obtained it we must take heed of these two things 1. Of resting satisfied in any condition in any gifts in any enjoyments till God hath given us Jesus Christ What Abraham said concerning his being childless Gen. 15.2 Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go childless So should we say concerning a Christless condition Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go Christless None of all Gods gifts should satisfie us unless he hath given us Christ Though he hath given us excellent gifts and parts though he hath given us comfortable yoak-fellows convenient habitations plentifull estates beneficial callings yet none of these nor any other gifts can make up the want of Christ and therefore we should say what wilt thou give me seeing go Christless VVhat is said of Booz in reference to Ruth Ruth 3.18 The man will not be in rest untill he have finished the thing this day The like should we do in reference to seeking an interest in Christ we should not be at rest in our minds till we have finished this thing namely the getting a saving interest in Christ 2. VVe must take heed of giving over seeking after Christ through discouragement
as were teachers of that Church and amongst these were some that had not their knowledge that they were poor miserable wretched and naked but thought themselves in a good estate to be rich increased in goods and to want nothing We see the deceit of a mans heart how he may be blinded how he may delude and flatter himself in thinking he needeth nothing when he wanteth all things If any say How may we get a sight and sence of our sinfull and miserable estate out of Christ A. 1. Hear and apply to your selves what the Scripture saith concerning the sinfulness of a mans heart and life as long as he remaineth in a Christless condition Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it The heart is not only wicked but desperately wicked so desperately wicked that it is above our understandings to know or conceive all that wickedness that is in our hearts The heart is as full of evil as it can hold yea of the worst sorts of sins that if God should let a man alone he would carry himself like a mad man regarding neither the Laws of God nor men Eccl. 9 3. The heart of the Sons of men is full of evil yea madness is in their hearts while they live and after that they go to the dead What worse sin then enmity against God and his holy Laws and Commandments yet this enmity against God is in the hearts of all men till God circumciseth our hearts to love and obey him Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be The heart is so vile and sinfull that it is continually sinning against God either by evil desires or evil thoughts and imaginations Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil and that continually It is enough to amaze a man when he heareth what God who knoweth the sinfulness of our hearts better than we our selves saith of the sinfulness of our hearts we may wonder that he lets us live upon the earth and doth not send us down to the Devils in Hell Oh what need have we of Christ to mediate for us and take away our sins Besides the sinfulness of our hearts let us hear what the Scripture saith of the sinfulness of our lives and conversations While a man remains in a Christless condition every thing that a man doth is defiled with sin Hag. 2.13 14. If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these shall it be unclean and the Priest answered and said it shall be unclean Then answered Haggai and said so is this people and so is this nation before me saith the Lord and so is every work of their hands and that which they offer there is unclean An unclean sinner defileth every thing he hath to do with every work of his hands is unclean and that which he offers to God is unclean Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only all men but all things of all men all their thoughts words and actions all are concluded under sin that is God in the holy Scriptures declareth all men and all things of all men before they come to Christ to be sinful Tit. 1.15 Vnto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled If one sin cast Adam out of Paradise if one sin cast the Angels out of Heaven and of Angels made them Divels what a woful condition are they in that have done nothing else since they were born and can do nothing else but sin against God When we consider our sinful and polluted estate we may set down and bemoan our selves and say as Job Behold I am vile Job 40.4 And to loath and abhor our selves in our own sight and in the sight of the Lord. 2. Hear and apply to thy self what the Scripture saith concerning the misery of all those that are in a Christless condition As 1. They are under the wrath and curse of God Eph. 2.3 And were by nature the children of wrath even as others All men by nature one as well as another are the children of wrath And as long as they abide in a natural unbelieving Christless condition they abide under the wrath of God Joh. 3.36 He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Now this is a most dreadful condition to be under the wrath of God The wrath of an earthly King is as a messenger of death Prov. 16.14 And a messenger of death will set a man weeping sorely Isa 38.1 2. Hezekiah wept sore when Isaiah came with a message of death to him It is like the roaring of a Lion Prov. 19.12 And when the Lion roars all the beasts of the Forrests tremble Amos 3.8 The Lion hath roared who will not fear If the wrath of an earthly King be so dreadfull how dreadfull is the wrath of the great God who is King of Kings Gods anger is unconceivable we cannot understand the power and dreadfull effects of his wrath Psal 90.11 And it is intolerable Nah. 1.6 Who can stand before his indignation 2. They are under a sentence of eternal condemnation Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one man judgment came upon all men to condemnation And this sentence of condemnation abideth upon a man as long as he abideth in unbelief Joh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already Now eternal condemnation is far more dreadfull than any troubles that any man ever met with in this world Job 10.1 2. When Job was in great bitterness of Spirit and was weary of his Life he dreaded condemnation more than all his sorrows I am weary of my Life I will speak in the bitterness of my Soul I will say unto God do not condemn me The thoughts and apprehensions of eternal misery make the hardest hearted sinners in the world to fear and tremble Of all sinners such as live under and resist the means of grace are the hardest hearted sinners and such as make a profession of Religion and are but Hypocrites have very hard hearts and seared Consciences yet the sinners in Zion and the hypocrites tremble at the thoughts of everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfullness hath surprized the hypocrites who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings 2. Understand and believe that there is Salvation from your sin and misery to be had in Jesus Christ and by no other way or means whatever but by Christ There is Salvation to be had in Christ for sinfull lost undone creatures yea even for the chiefest and most miserable sinners in the whole world 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy
poor and the lame and the blind and the halt were called to the Marriage Supper Persons of the lowest condition such as are in by-lanes high-ways and hedges and such as are most despicable in the eye of the world the maimed and the blind are to be called and entreated with all earnestness to come to Christ Luk. 14.21 23. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and compell them to come in We see here all sorts of sinners even such as are most despicable in their own eyes and the eyes of the world the poor the maimed the halt the blind sinners in all places the High-ways Hedges Streets Lanes all are called and that with such importunity as if they were compelled for this compelling is to be understood of earnest entreaties and using prevailing arguments As Luk. 24.29 3. Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ is offered freely to the greatest and chiefest of sinners if they will accept of him and repent of their sins 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth und forsaketh shall find Mercy Adam all circumstances considered was one of the chiefest of sinners for he was the cause of the death of all the men that ever lived 1 Cor. 15.22 In Adam all dye He brought sin into the World and death and by his disobedience made all men sinners and corrupted all Mankind Rom. 5. By one man sin entered into the World and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ver 19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners Yet Christ and Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam in that promise The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent's head Gen. 3.15 It may be some are in a despairing way because they have not only been sinners themselves but they have corrupted and made others sinners and have not only made others sinners but have been the occasion of the death of many persons Though this be a wofull case yet not desperate By Adam's disobedience many were made sinners Hundreds Thousands yea all Mankind Christ only excepted And Adam was the cause of the death of Hundreds Thousands Millions of Men Women and Children yea in Adam all dye yet Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam 4. Christ Jesus with his saving benefits is offered to children and old men bond and free male and female He is willing that little Children should come unto him for Life and Salvation Mar. 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God The giving of the Spirit which is one of the saving benefits of Christ is promised to all sorts of persons Young and Old Male and Female Bond and Free Men-servants and Maid-servants Joel 2.28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your Old Men shall dream Dreams your Young Men shall see Visions And also upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit By dreaming Dreams seeing Visions and Prophesying we may understand that God in the days of the Gospel would reveal his mind and will to all sorts of Persons by his Word and Spirit as he did in old times to some peculiar Persons by Dreams and Visions 5. Jesus Christ offers himself and all his saving benefits even to such as have for a long time neglected and rejected the offers of grace made to them in the Gospel and notwithstanding all former neglects and refusals if now they will come in they shall be accepted Rom. 10.21 But to Israel he saith all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a rebellious and gain-saying people The stretching forth the hands signifie the offers of grace made in the Gospel the offer of Pardon and Salvation upon their Faith and Repentance and this offer was made and continued from time to time to a rebellious and gain-saying people To the Jews that had refused Christ and preferred a Murderer before him yea and had not only refused but killed him that came to save their lives there is a promise of forgiveness of their sins upon their Repentance Acts 3.14 19. Ye denyed the holy one and the just and desired a Murderer to be granted to you and killed the Prince of Life Repent ye and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Another instance of Christ's offering himself and his saving benefits to such as have neglected former offers of grace We have Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he with me This is part of the Epistle sent to the Church of Laodicea where there were many luke-warm persons that deserved to be spued out of Christ's Mouth ver 15. And many self-conceited persons that thought their Estate good when they were in a most miserable condition ver 17. And notwithstanding their luke-warmness and self-conceitedness he makes a gracious offer of himself to them Behold I stand at the door and knock The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Praeter-perfect Tense which is used for the Present I have stood and I am not gone though neglected though the door be kept shut I stand there still and knock and call if any man hear my voice One paraphraseth thus on the words Siquis qualiscunque fuerit peccator hypocrita qui diu obstitit Evangelio c. What manner of man soever he hath been though he hath been a vile sinner though he hath been a hypocrite though one that hath long rejected the offers of grace in the Gospel If any man hear my voice and open the door that is accept of the offers of grace in the Gospel consent to receive me on the terms of the Gospel no former neglects or refusals of Christ shall hinder such a man's Salvation for it follows I will come into him and sup with him and he with me that is I will bestow my self and all my saving benefits upon any man that openeth unto me whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath formerly been or done against me 6. Remission of sins and Salvation are offered by Christ to backsliding revolting sinners upon their Repentance though they have beakslidden often and done very heinous things after their backsliding from God Jer. 3.1.5 22. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings But some may say I once had the offer of Salvation by Christ but I did not embrace it I fear now it is too late and
for there is comfort in Christ for lapsed Christians though the sins into which they have fallen be of an heinous nature and that on these grounds 1. Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father and pleads our cause for us that our sins may not be imputed to us but may upon our Repentance be forgiven us As Stephen interceeded for his Persecutors Act. 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to their charge So doth Christ interceed with his Father for all his Members VVhen they fall into any heinous sin Lord lay not this sin to their charge Christ's love to his Members is infinitely above Stephen's love to his Persecutors yet Stephen prayed for them when they had committed an heinous sin the shedding of blood the shedding innocent blood the blood of a Martyr of a man full of the Holy Ghost his own blood yet Stephen interceeded for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge And the love of Christ being infinitely above Stephens will not be much more interceeded for his members his Servants in their greatest falls though their sins be of an heinous nature Lord lay not this sin to their charge that our Lord Jesus doth interceed for us when we fall into sin that our sins may not be laid to our charge VVe may see 1 John 2.1 2. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World The children of God must be very carefull they do not sin against God But suppose they do sin must they despair No if any man sin we have an advocate 't is not said we had an advocate as if he ceased to be our advocate when we fall into sin but we have an advocate with the Father and he is a powerfull and prevalent advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous whom his Father never denyed any thing in the days of his Humiliation Joh. 11.22 42. much less will he deny him any thing in the days of his exaltation and the person with whom he interceeds is the Father who is the Father of mercies a God ready to forgive waiting to be gracious who is Christ's Father and our Father And he useth a prevailing argument when he pleads for us he presents his own blood which is the propitiation for our sins And he is advocate for all that do and shall believe on him in all places and all ages of the World 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Compared with 1 Joh. 5.12 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father These things write I unto you that believe As David interceeded with his Captains on the behalf of Absolom though an undutifull rebellious Son 2 Sam. 18.5 Deal gently for my sake with the young man even with Absolom Even so doth Christ interceed with his Father for his Rebellious and Disobedient Children deal graciously for my sake with such and such persons though they have rebelled against thee 2. The death of Christ hath obtained pardon for all our sins sins after as well as sins before Conversion great and heinous sins as well as lesser sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed The two Hebrew words used by the Prophet as Rivet observes all sorts even the worst kind of sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth superbam mandati transgressionem rebellionem defectionem A proud transgressing of the law of God rebellion and revolting from God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth perversitatem malitiam a sinning out of perverseness and malice For such sins as these was Christ wounded and bruised and by his stripes we are healed and obtain pardon for our greatest offences 3. There are mercies and forgivenesses with God upon Christ's account even for such as have rebelled against him Dan. 9.9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him To rebell against the Lord is more than to sin out of infirmity it speaks willfulness in sin it is the highest degree of sin likened to the sin of Witch-craft when men have to do with the Devil 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Witch-craft Yet there are mercies and forgivenesses with the Lord for such as have rebelled against him not only mercy and forgiveness but in the Plural number mercies and forgivenesses to signifie the abundance of mercies and pardons that are with God for such as have rebelled though they have not rebelled once or twice only but many times And therefore the Lord is styled a God of pardons who hath pardons in store for rebellious sinners upon their Repentance Ne. 9.16 17. But they and our Fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and refused to obey and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their bondage but thou art a God ready to pardon or as 't is in the Margent a God of pardons gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindness and forsookest them not 4. The Covenant of grace which is confirmed with Christs blood admits Repentance and promiseth pardon of sin to back-sliders upon their Repentance though they have deeply and grievously revolted from the Lord. The children of Israel were grievous revolters Jer. 6.28 They are all grievous revolters yet they are called to Repentance Isa 31.6 Turn ye unto him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted And have a promise of pardon upon their Repentance Jer. 3.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings If any say it may be these to whom the Lord speaks here and promiseth to heal their back-slidings on their return to him had not they back-slidden so often and in such an heinous manner To which I answer that they had back-slidden often is evident from ver 1. Thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers yet return unto me And besides he speaks of back-slidings in the Plural number He saith not I will heal your back-sliding as if they had back-slidden but once but I will heal your back-slidings intimating that though their back-slidings were many which they themselves acknowledge Jer. 14.7 Our back-slidings are many yet upon their returning he would heal them all And that they were guilty of very great and heinous sins as well as many back-slidings to whom God makes this promise Return O back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings is evident from ver 5. Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst 5. When the servants of Christ fall into heinous sins God will visit their Transgressions with his Rod and their sins with Stripes but for Christs sake he will not cast them out of his love nor break his
grace To be unprofitable under the means of grace is a very uncomfortable condition Such have cause to cry out my leanness my leanness wo unto me And especially it is matter of lamentation to be in a declining condition to decay in Grace to lose our first love and to grow weak in Faith and abate in our zeal and activity for God a decaying declining condition is a very uncomfortable condition yet there is comfort to be had in Christ for such as mourn over their unprofitableness and their decays in Grace And that on these accounts 1 The Lord Jesus is able to make the most barren Soul to become fruitfull 2 Cor. 9.8 God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye always having all-sufficiency in all things may abound in every good work These Corinthians before God wrought upon them were very Graceless vile persons As we may see 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you That is such vile sinners as were mentioned ver 9.10 Unrighteous Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers Effeminate abusers of themselves with Mankind c. Yet he tells them that God was able not only to work Grace but to make Grace all Grace abound towards them and to cause them to abound in every good work God can make Faith to abound in the most unbelieving Soul and brokenness of heart to abound in the hardest heart of sinners and love and zeal to abound in those that are lukewarm yea he can make all Grace to abound in the Graceless The Lord maketh the dry Tree to flourish Ezek. 17.24 I the Lord have dryed up the green Tree and have made the dry Tree to flourish And he maketh a barren Womb fruitfull Psal 113.9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyfull Mother of children Now he that doth this by the barren VVomb and dry Tree can't he do the like by our barren Hearts He that maketh the dry Tree to flourish can't he make our dry hearts flourish and he that maketh the barren VVomb fruitfull can't he make our barren hearts fruitfull also And as the Lord is able to make a barren Soul become fruitfull so also to recover such as are gone back and decayed in Gracâ— Psal 23.3 He restoreth my Soul VVhen our Souls are gone back and declined he can restore them again After Jerusalem had lain wast many years God caused her wast places to be built again Isa 61.4 They shall build the old wasts and raise up the former desolations That God that did this for Zion can do as much for the Sons and Daughters of Zion namely recover them from their inward decays and desolations 2. The Lord Jesus is appointed by God to carry on and finish the work of grace as well to begin grace in our Souls Heb. 12.2 Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and as the author and finisher of our Faith so of our other graces also Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ It is by Jesus Christ that we have the fruits of Righteousness and that we are filled with these fruits He is appointed to be as Rivers of water in a dry place Isa 32.2 A man shall be as Rivers of water in a dry place This man is none other but the man Christ Jesus as he is called 1 Tim. 2.5 who is God and Man in one person VVhat Rivers of water are to the dry ground that is Christ to our dry and barren souls The water will make the dry and barren ground fruitfull Job 38.26.27 To cause it to rain on the earth to satisfie the desolate and wast ground and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring out So doth Christ cause those that are dry and barren to bring forth the fruits of Righteousness by the dew of his grace VVater will recover those things that are withered and greatly decayed as we see in Trees of which Job speaks Job 14.8 9. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth and the stock thereof dye in the ground yet through the sent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a plant There is not less virtue in the grace of Christ for recovering withered and decayed Souls then there is in water to recover a withered decayed Tree Therefore when we feel our dimness and barrenness and decayed condition we should go to Christ that he would be to us as Rivers of water in a dry place that he would revive carry on and finish the work of grace in our Souls and that he would fill us with the fruits of Righteousness Isa 42.3 He shall not quench the smoking flax Ellychnium languescens fere extinctum Pisc quibus restat aliquid Pietatis sed paene extinctum calamitatibus Gro. Nutantes in Pietate confirmabit praeditos scintilla pietatis aliqua velut moribunda fovebit excitabit Jun. It refers to languishing Christians that where Grace is so declined and decayed that it is ready to dye 3. The Lord hath promised for Christ's sake to give us the dew of his Grace which shall cause us to grow in Grace Hos 14.5 I will be as the dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly Consider what condition Israel was in when God made this promise I will be as the dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly Israel was in a fallen declined backslidden condition ver 1.3 O Israel thou hast fallen by thine iniquity I will heal their back-sliding Ch. 4.16 Israel slideth back as a back-sliding heifer Ch. 8.3 Israel hath cast if the thing that is good Yea Israel was so far declined and in such a miserable condition that it is said of Israel Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Yet to this Israel that was fallen by iniquity back-slidden from God cast off that which was good destroyed themselves upon their Confession of their sin and prayer for Mercy God promiseth I will be as the dew unto Israel and he shall grow like the Lilly There are two things observable in the growth of the Lilly it groweth speedily Mat. 6.28 Consider the Lillies of the field how they grow It is Pliny's observation concerning the Lilly Lilio nihil foeâ—undius no Flower is more fruitfull than the Lilly It groweth also Gloriously Mat. 6.29 Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these See another promise of giving growth in Grace Hos 14.7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return they shall revive as the Corn they shall grow as the Vine They that dwell under his shadow it may be understood either of Israel's shadow and so is a promise to the Members of the Church of Christ joyning themselves to his Church or else of the shadow of Christ As Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight So the Caldee In umbra Christi sui under the shadow of Christ and then the sense is they that betake
2.10 Ye are compleat in him 5. Our imperfections shall not hinder us of the love of God here nor of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter Psal 73.22 23 24. Sect. 8. There is comfort in Christ for such as are under the hidings of Gods face and are troubled because they can't enjoy Communion with God It is the lot of some Christians to be under the hidings of God's face and to want Communion with God and that is a great trouble to them Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Now there is comfort for such in Christ and that in these respects 1. It was one great end of Christ's death to bring us to the enjoyment of God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God The great obstacle to our Communion with God is our sins For 't is sin that separates between God and us Isa 59.2 Behold your iniquities have sepparated between you and your God Now Christ's death hath taken away this obstacle of our Communion with God for whereas our sins had put us far from God and caused God to stand afar off from us by the blood of Christ we are made nigh to God Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself was under the hidings of Gods face and that in time of great distress when he was upon the Cross when nigh unto death he cryed out Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But how doth this make for the comfort of a Soul under the hidings of Gods face that our Lord Jesus Christ himself was in a deserted condition A. 1. Hence we learn that the hidings of God's face is consistent with a state of adoption and the special love of God For Christ was the beloved Son of God in whom he was well pleased yet he was in a deserted condition in a time of trouble in a dying hour and therefore we should not question the Fatherly love of God because of the hidings of his face Isa 64.7 8. Thou hast hid thy face from us But now O Lord thou art our Father 2. Seeing our Lord Jesus hath been under the hidings of God's face he knoweth how to pity and succour those that are in this condition Heb. 2.18 3. We have gracious promises which are all yea and Amen in Christ Jesus that though the Lord be withdrawn from us yet if we return he for Christ's sake will return unto us 2 Chron. 30.9 The Lord your God is gracious and mercifull and will not turn away his face from you if ye return unto him Mal. 3.7 Even from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of Hosts Jam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and God will draw nigh to you 4. Though you want sensible influences from God yet if you be one that hath closed with Christ upon the terms of the Gospel God hath Communicated himself to you for your God and Father in Christ by Covenant and hath given you the priviledge to be one of his Sons Joh. 1.12 and that is a higher degree of Communion with God than the giving insensible influences to that you ought not to say you have no Communion with God because there is a suspension of influences when as the Lord hath given himself for your God by Covenant and hath taken you for his children Sect. 9. There is comfort in Christ for such as are troubled with fears of falling away What David said concerning Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul the like some Christians who have accepted Christ on the terms of the Gospel and have given themselves to Christ are ready to say in their hearts I shall one day fall away from Christ and perish for ever My heart is so treacherous and indwelling corruption so strong and Satan's Temptations so prevalent and the oppositions from the world may be so great that I fear I shall not hold out to the end but shall fall away and this is a great trouble to me Now there is comfort to be had from Christ against these fears of falling away and that on these grounds 1. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort to such Believers on Christ as are troubled with fears of fallingaway For he prayeth for us that our Faith may not fail Luk. 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not And he that prayed for Peter that his Faith might not fail he hath prayed for all that do and shall believe in him Joh 17.20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one c. And what Christ prayed for was alwayes granted Joh. 11.41 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwayes 2. The Members of Christ may be comforted against their fears of falling away from God's Everlasting Covenant For God is entered into an Everlasting Covenant with them that he will not turn away from them and that he will keep them from departing from him Jer. 32.40 And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me See Isa 54.10 3. The unchangeableness of Gods love is a good ground of comfort against fears of falling away Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own that were in the World loved them unto the end It is not said having loved his own that are in glory but that are in the world where they are liable to temptations and corruptions and troubles he loved them to the end Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus God's love being unchangeable we may rest satisfied that the same love which called us to the knowledge and Faith of Christ will keep us from departing from Christ seeing the gifts and the callings of God are without Repentance The same love that quickned us when we were dead in sins and trespasses will also preserve us unto Eternal Life 4. The attributes of God may comfort weak Christians against their fears of falling away The name of the Lord is our strong Tower whether we may run and be safe against these fears as for instance 1. The power of God that is engaged to keep and preserve