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.
him to us we shall have Union and Communion with Christ We shall become one with Christ and he will dwell with us and his blood shall be ours to wash away our sins and every benefit that he hath purchased with his blood shall be ours only let us consent to have him as God offers him to us in the Gospel There may be a treaty about Marriage a proposal of terms a woing a long time but 't is a mutual consenting and engaging each to other that makes the Marriage Union So it is in our Union with Christ there may be frequent offers an earnest woing but it is consenting that makes the match between us and Christ When we consent to accept of him he will bestow himself and all his benefits upon us 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 Christ standing at the door and knocking signifieth the offers of grace that he makes to us in the Gospel He offereth himself to us to be our Saviour to save us from eternal misery and is very earnest with us to receive and embrace him when we accept of him for our Lord and Saviour and consent to the terms on which he offers Salvation to us then we hear his voice and open the door and then he will bestow himself and all his benefits upon us which is meant by his coming in and supping with us and taking us to sup with him But here some may say are not men willing to have Christ for their Lord and Saviour and to be saved by him in his own way Ans No all men are not willing to have Christ and Salvation by Christ on the terms of the Gospel There are very few that are willing to receive Christ on the terms of the Gospel Most men either neglect or reject him Isa 53.3 He is despised and rejected of men They are so few that regard the offers of grace in the Gospel that they seem as none at all compared to the multitude of those that neglect and reject thee Prov. 1.24 I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded Even among those that profess themselves the people of God and are accounted Gods Israel there are many that will not accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Psal 81.11 My people would not hearken to my voice Israel would none of me It had not been such matter of admiration to have heard the Lord say Moab would none of me or Egypt would none of me but here this charge brought in against Israel Israel would none of me that may startle us and make us look well to our selves that we be not found guilty of rejecting Christ as well as Israel Most men are so wedded to the world and to their lusts and own evil ways that though Christ offer them all the joys of Heaven if they will accept him for their Lord and Saviour yet they will not come to him though thereby they might have eternal life Joh. 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye might have life And though most men would be willing to be saved by Christ when they dye if they might have Salvation in their own way namely if they might live in their envy enjoy their hearts lusts and be saved from hell torments when they dye yet they are not willing to accept of Christ and Salvation by Christ in his way and upon his terms They are unwilling to have him for their Lord to rule over them They say in their hearts Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man to reign over us They are unwilling to forsake their sins and turn from their evil ways though thereby through Christ they might escape Eternal Death and obtain Eternal Life Ezek. 33.11 I shall therefore add some motives to accept of Christ upon the terms offered in the Gospel 1. Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ is worthy of all acceptation upon any terms whatsoever 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners This Salvation is worthy of all acceptation that is to be accepted by all men with all readiness of mind yea with all thankfulness without objecting against the terms on which this Salvation is offered to us How readily would a blind man accept of his sight a condemned man accept of a pardon a poor man accept of riches a dying man accept of life Christ is all these and more and yet shall we be unwilling to accept of Christ If we receive him he will open our blind eyes he will give unsearchable riches to those that are poor a pardon to them that are condemned life to them that are in a dying condition Salvation to them that are lost 2. The Lord thinks nothing to much nothing to great nothing to good to give to and do for those that accept of his Son If we will accept of his Son for our Lord and Saviour he will give us himself for our God and Father and will bestow this wonderfull priviledge upon us to be his Sons Joh. 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name And what a great what an amazing priviledge is this that such poor such worthless creatures such sinfull creatures as we are should be called the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God If we accept of his Son for our Lord and Saviour he will bestow his Kingdom upon us Our Lord Jesus speaking to his little Flock that did accept him for their Shepherd and yield up themselves to be led ruled and governed by him tells them it was their Fathers good pleasure to give them his Kingdom Luk. 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom And what a great unexpressible unconceivable gift is this that God should give us his Kingdom What greater what better things hath God to give than to give us Himself for our God and his Kingdom for our Inheritance If we will accept of Christ for our Lord and Saviour the Lord will with him give us all good things freely Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things are yours all are yours and ye are Christs 3. There is nothing in Christ but what is desireable and worthy of all acceptation Cant. 5.16 He is altogether lovely What the Apostle saith of every creature 1 Tim. 4.4 Every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with Thanks giving I may say of Christ Every thing of Christ is good
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
interest in Christ 1. All men have not a saving interest in Christ Some men are Christs 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye are Christs and Christ is theirs Joh. 20.28 Thomas said unto him my Lord and my God But some men are none of Christs and Christ is none of theirs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his There are multitudes that live under the hearing of the Gospel of Christ that have not the Spirit of Christ and whosoever he be that hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Some men have a part in Christ some have no part in him or with him Joh. 13.8 Jesus answered him if I wash thee not thou hast no part with me 2. Such as make a profession of the Christian Religion but are Hypocrits and have not sound and sincere hearts in the sight of God they have no part nor portion in Jesus Christ or his saving benefits Act. 8.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right in the sight of God Now there are multitudes that profess themselves to be the Disciples of Christ and are Baptized as Simon Magus was whose hearts are not right in the sight of God and so have no part in Christ and therefore we had need examine whether it be not so with us It is a reproach in the Christian World not to own Christ and therefore to take away the occasion of reproach many are content to give their names to Christ that deny him their hearts Many are desirous to be called Christians that will not walk in the ways of Christ Like those women spoken of Isa 4.1 We will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach So there are many that desire to be called Christians to take away their reproach but they will walk in the way of their own hearts and follow their own wills and will not walk in the ways of God and fulfill the will of Christ 3. A man may have recieved great gifts from Christ and do many great things in the name of Christ he may prophesie in the name of Christ be able to cast out Divels and do such works as may cause those that behold them to wonder at them and yet not have a saving interest in Christ He may be one that Christ doth not will not own for one of his Mat. 7.22 23. Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderfull works and then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Here are great pretences fair plea's and there are many that will expect to be owned by Christ having so much to say for themselves yet Christ will say unto them I never knew you that I never owned you for mine I never approved you I do not nor ever did own you for mine 4. There is nothing in this World of higher and greater concernment to every one of us than to get an interest in Christ and to get the knowledge and assurance that we have an interest in Christ Our Eternal Life dependeth upon our having or not having Jesus Christ If we have Christ we shall most certainly have Eternal Life but if we have not Christ all that he or we ever did or suffered will avail us nothing we shall not have Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life but he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life There is nothing of higher concernment than to get Eternal Life and this obtained only in Christ and through an interest in him He and he only that hath the Son hath Life And as the getting an interest in Christ is of the highest concernment in order to our Eternal Welfare so the knowledge of our interest in Christ is of singular advantage for our comfort and well-being in this World This was a great comfort to Job in his great afflictions to know that Christ was his Redeemer and that he should after Death and the Resurrection from the dead live with him for ever Job 19.23 I know that my Redeemer liveth To know our interest in Christ and in God through Christ is a ground of the highest joy and of everlasting joy and gladness Psal 89.1 26. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever He shall cry unto me thou art my Father my God and the Rock of my Salvation Sing is an expression of the highest joy when a man can't contain his joy within his heart but it breaks forth into singing Isa 65.14 Behold my Servants shall sing for joy of heart Now among those mercies which caused him to sing for joy and for which he was so filled with joy that he resolved to sing for evermore this was a choice one the clearing of his interest in Christ and in God through Christ that he was enabled to cry Thou art my Father my God and the rock of my Salvation 5. We may attain to sure and satisfying evidences of our interest in Christ We may attain to this knowledge that Christ is ours and we are his Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his It is not spoken by way of desire Oh that my Beloved were mine and I were his nor by way of probability it may be I have some hope that he is mine and I am his but by way of Confidence my Beloved is mine and I am his So David could with much confidence appeal unto the Lord that he was his Psal 119.94 I am thine save me So 1 Joh. 2.5 We know we are in him 1 Joh. 5.19.20 We know that we are of God We are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 6. Examining our selves by those Characters that are given in the Scriptures concerning such as have an interest in Christ is the ready way to come to the knowledge of our interest in Christ 2 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 The Apostle here pâ—ts a question Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you And gives them direction how they should attain this knowledge namely by examining themselves and tells what they should examine themselves about namely about their Faith because Faith is one evidence of an interest in Christ And it is observable when he puts this question know ye not how Jesus Christ is in you yea he addeth except ye be Reprobates that is except ye be blame-worthy they are justly blameable that neglect the making sure such a weighty point as this whether Christ be in them or not They that have Faith in their hearts have Christ dwelling in their hearts Eph. 3.17 Our Souls
when thus menaced by the King Be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor Worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up Neither the hope of the greatest gain nor fear of the greatest punishment should make us go against the word of Christ in things pertaining to the worship of God 3. The word of Christ is to be the rule of our Conversations We must not make our gain our rule our credit or the example of others but the word of Christ Ps 119.105 Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path In doubtless cases we must make Gods Testimonies our Counsellors And after we have consulted with the word what we find agreable to the mind of Christ that we must do though it be cross to our own interests and what is contrary to the word that we must avoid though it would be very beneficial to us Thus David Psal 119.24 Thy Testimonies also are my delight and my Counsellors Thus the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 13.7 VVe can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth It was an excellent speech of Balaam and worthy our imitation although he did not do what he said Numb 22.18 If Balak would give me his house full of Silver and Gold I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more We may know that we recieve Christ as our Priest these ways 1. If we look for remission of our sins and Eternal Life not by any works of Righteousness which we have done but from the mercy of God and the merits of Christ who offered up himself to God a Sacrifice for our sins Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Tit. 3.5 Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Act. 15.11 But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they See also Gal. 2.16 2. When we ground our Faith and Hope for audience and acceptance of our Prayers upon the intercession of Christ Heb. 10.21 22. And having an high Priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith Dan. 9.17 O our God! hear the Prayer of thy Servant and his Supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is desolate for the Lords sake We may know that we recieve Christ as our Lord these ways 1. If we are willing to be ruled and governed by Christ Many men are unwilling to recieve Christ for their Lord to rule them that would have him for their Saviour to save them from wrath to come They say in their hearts as they did Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man to Reign over us Then we are willing to be Ruled and Governed by Christ when we yield ready obedience to his word and the motions of his Spirit For Christ Rules us by his Word and Spirit What Pharaoh said to Joseph Gen. 42.14 According to thy word shall all my People be ruled So may I say here They that recieve Christ as Lord they are all Ruled according to his word Now we may know that we are willing to be Ruled by the word of Christ 1. When in doubtfull cases we consult the word of Christ and desire to know the mind of Christ VVhen we say with the Apostle Lord what wilt thou have me to do Act. 9.6 VVhen we say with David Ps 143.8 Make me to know the way wherein I should go Psal 86.11 Teach me thy way and I will walk in thy Truth And that we may find out the mind of Christ we make his Testimonies our Counsellors as was hinted before 2. Such as are willing to be ruled by Christ as soon as they understand this or the other thing to be the mind of Christ they yield obedience to it Psal 18.44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me Psal 119.60 I made hast I delayed not to keep thy Commandments 3. Such as embrace Christ for their Lord their hearts stand in awe of the word of Christ they are afraid of Transgressing his commands Prov. 13.13 He that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded Yea there is greater awe upon the word of Christ than the word of Princes If Princes command one thing and Christ another and Princes will persecute us because we are not obedient to them yet Christs Subjects stand in such awe of his word that they will not swerve from his word for avoiding troubles and persecutions from the greatest men on earth Psal 119.161 Princes have Persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word 2. As we may know we have received Christ for our Lord by our willingness to be governed by his word so also by our submiting our selves to all the disposals of Providence-relating to us or any of ours For it belongs to Christ as King to govern the world All power in Heaven and Earth is committed to him the Government is upon his should 〈◊〉 the Father hath committed all judgement into the hands of the Son Now such as receive Christ for their Lord submit themselves to 〈◊〉 the disposals of Providence without frâ—… or murmuring at their losses and crosses and that because it is the Lord that doth all that befalls them 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 2 Sam. 15.26 But if he thus say I have no delight in him Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2. We may know that 〈◊〉 recieve 〈◊〉 aright when we receive 〈…〉 heartily By receiving 〈…〉 mean when we understand on what terms Christ is willing to bestow himself upon us what he requires from those that will become his disciples and when we judge those terms to be equal to be good to be submitted to with chearfulness By receiving Christ heartily I mean a cordial and through complyance with those terms on which Christ will accept us for his disciples We must receive Christ judiciously that is understand the terms on which Christ will become ours and accept us for his and judge those terms worthy of all acceptation What these terms are on which he is willing to receive us for his disciples I will shew out of two or three Scriptures Mark 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me Luk. 14.33 So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my disciple And ver 26. If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple Hating is not to be understood absolutely but comparatively For it is not lawful to hate father or mother or brother He that hateth his brother is a murderer but hating is less
and conversing with Angels did not could not satisfie her as long as she wanted Christ 7. We may know that we are Christs when we make it our great care to live and dye to the Lord. For they are most certainly the Lords that live and dye to the Lord. Rom. 14.7 8. For none of us liveth to himself and no man dyeth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords But when may we be said to live unto the Lord and to dye unto the Lord. A. 1. VVhen we do not live according to our own minds and our own wills but we frame our lives by the will of God revealed in his word 1 Pet. 4.2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God They that live according to the will of God have no cause to doubt their interest in Christ For Christ owns loves and reckons upon them as his Brethren Mat. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Now we may discern that we live according to the will of God these ways 1. VVhen we are careful to know and find out the will of God They that live according to the will of God observe that command of Christ Eph. 5.17 Be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is And if they be in doubt which way to steer their course they are careful to find out the will of God they do not consult so much what will be for their profit what their own inclinations lead them to what others would have them to do but what God would have them to do Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do And they are unwilling to engage in any business of moment till they have consulted the mind of God and found out what is his will They say to God as the Apostle did to Philemon Phil. 2.14 VVithout thy mind I would do nothing 2. VVhen we can and do resign up our wills to the will of God in cases of greatest moment and highest concernment when we deny our own wills and prefer the will of God before our own then we live according to the will of God Luk. 22.42 Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done Our Lord Jesus was very earnest to have the cup removed and therefore prayed that if it were possible it might pass from him and it was a case of the greatest moment yet he resigned up his will to the will of God 3. Then we live according to the will of God when we make the will of God the rule and the ground of our actions By making the will of God the rule of our actions I mean this when we are carefull to do nothing but what is agreable to the will of God and shun those things that are contrary to his will By making the will of God the ground of our actions I mean this when we do this or that because it is the will of God We find David in all that service he did for his Generation had respect to the will of God Act. 13.36 David after he had served his own Generation by the will of God fell on sleep The Apostle Paul in the exercise of his Calling and Ministerial work as he was an Apostle had respect to the will of God 2 Tim. 1 1. Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God 2. Then we live unto the Lord when we do not live unto our selves and seek and carry on our own ends but seek the honour and pleasing and enjoying God 2 Cor. 5.15 He dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them They that live to the Lord do not in some one particular action seek the glory of God but they resolve by the help of Gods grace to shew forth his praise and seek his glory as long as they live Psal 146.2 VVhile I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises unto my God while I have any Being 3. Then we live to the Lord when the great end why we desire life and the main design that we drive on in the whole course of our lives is to service for Christ in our Generation and to be fitted to live with Christ in Heaven This was the end the Apostle desired to live and the great design he drove on to do service for Christ Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ And the main thing the Psalmist had in his eye Psal 118.17 I shall not dye but live and declare the works of God And Learned VVhitaker upon his death-bed when he was told that Death was approaching replyed Vitam non expeto nisi ad promovendum honorem Dei ecclesiae inserviendum I do not desire life but for the promoting the glory of God and to be serviceable to his Church 4. Then we live and dye to the Lord when we are willing to be at the disposal of God for Life and Death both for the time manner and all other circumstances both of life and death When we are willing to live any kind of life that God shall call us to though it be a poor afflicted distressed life and when we are contented to dye such a death and at such a time as God shall call us to dye though it be a violent a painful a shameful death When a man is willing to lay down his life for Christ that is a good evidence that he liveth and dyeth to the Lord. Joh. 13.37 I will lay down my Life for thy sake Act. 24.13 I am ready not to be bound only but to dye at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Doubts about a saving interest in Christ answered Having laid down several evidences of a saving interest in Christ I shall now resolve some doubts that hinder weaker Christians from being satisfied in their minds about their interest in Christ §. Imperfection in our obedience is consistent with a saving interst in Christ Obj. I hope Christ is mine and I am his but yet I have doubts and fears in this case because I come so short in my obedience to Christ May Christ be ours and yet the obedience that we yield be but imperfect obedience A. 1. Obeying Christ is a sure evidence of a saving interest in Christ for he is the Author not only of Temporal but Eternal Salvation not only to some but to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him 2. Though you come short in your obeying the Precepts of Christ yet can't you say you have sought his Precepts David concludes that he was the
Lords because he had sought his Precepts Psal 119.94 I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts Now when may we be said to have sought Gods Precepts A. 1. When we are desirous to know the Commandments of God in order to doing them and therefore when any doubtfull cases occurr we will do nothing rashly till we have considered whither it be agreeable to the Commandments of God and when we can't find out what the Lord hath commanded in this or the other thing we go to God to discover his will to us Psal 119.12 19. Teach me thy Statutes hide not thy Commandements from me When we thus seek to God to teach and reveal his will to us we may be said to seek his Precepts 2. We seek Gods Precepts when we seek to him for grace to keep his Precepts and say with David Psal 119.5 Oh that my ways were directed that I could keep thy Precepts Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will 3. It is an argument that we love Christ and so consequently that we have an interest in him when we set his Commandements before us as our rule and walk after them though we be not able to walk up to them 2 Ep. Joh. 6. And this is love that we walk after his Commandements 4. Though you can't obey Christ perfectly yet are you not willing and desirous to obey Christ better even to obey him in all things It is an argument that a man hath a good Conscience and is in a good estate when he is willing in all things to live Honestly Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly 5. If our obedience be sincere though it be imperfect obedience it is a sign that we have a saving interest in Christ and are his peculiar people Exod. 19.5 Now therefore if ye will obey my voice in deed then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people Grace that is the love of God and all those blessings which he is wont to give out of his love and free grace to the Children of men shall be unto all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity although they do not love him in perfection Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Grace be with all them that is shall be with them and continue with them for ever See more in the last Chapter of this Treatise CHAP. II. Of the Grounds of Consolation under natural troubles and desolations IF Interest in Christ be a ground of Consolation under all the troubles of this Life then let us seek comfort in Christ and from Christ under national troubles when ruin and desolation is coming upon the Nations either by Forreign Invasion or by Tumults Insurrections or Massacres at home when dreadful judgments as the Sword Pestilence or Famine are upon us in the worst times imaginable there is comfort to be had in Christ as you may see from such Scriptures as these Mich. 5.5 And this man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into the Land The man spoken of here is the man Christ Jesus who being the Son of God became man for our sakes That the Prophet is here treating of Christ who was to be born at Bethlehem is evident from ver 2. And because what is said of this man that he shall be the peace is applyed to Christ Eph. 2.14 For he is our peace Now it is said of our Lord Jesus that he shall be the peace when a Forreign Enemy should invade the Land namely when the Assyrian should come into the land And what manner of People were these Assyrians The Assyrians were Idolaters 2 Chron. 28.23 And Idolaters are bitter enemies to the Worshippers of the true God They were great enemies to Israel and came with open mouth to devour the Israelites Isa 9.12 The Assyrians were the rod of Gods anger and the staff of his indignation who was sent by God to tread down a sinful people like mire in the streets Isa 10.5 6. Yet Christ was the peace of his people in such a dismal and bloody day when the Assyrian was sent into the land to tread down all ranks and degrees of men like mire in the streets Another Scripture that shews us there is comfort to be had in Christ in times of greatest confusion when all places and persons are in an uproar and all things are turned upside down and there is no peace to be had either at sea or land We have Psal 46.4 There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God For opening this Scripture let us consider This River may signifie the Lord Jesus Christ For it is said of him Isa 32.2 He shall be as Rivers of water in a dry place Is is frequent with the Scriptures to set out Christ by a Fountain and Rivers of Waters As Isa 33.21 The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers Zach. 13.1 In that day there shall be a Fountain opened Jer. 2.14 They have forsaken me the Fountain of Living VVaters All the gladness of the City of God comes from this River namely from Christ the consolation of Israel The streams that issue from this River are the benefits that we have from Christ as pardon of sin reconciliation with God hope of eternal life and the like and all those good things which God for Christs sake giveth to us and doth for us The fruits and benefits which we have by the death and intercession of Christ are a great refreshing to the people of God in their greatest troubles When the Spouse of Christ was under the scorching heat of persecution She found great delight and sweetness in meditating on those benefits she had by Christ Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my tast The benefits we have by Christ comprehends all those great things which the Lord hath been wont to do for his People in all ages which puts great gladness into their hearts Psal 126.3 The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad The City of God which is made glad by the streams of this River are the people of God in all ages and all places of the world Now let us see what dismal times are pointed at what great calamities are mentioned in this Psalm under all which the City of God is made glad by the streams that issue from this River 1. He supposeth such times wherein the earth should be removed and carried into the midst of the Sea ver 2. which signifieth the utter and irrecoverable destruction of mighty Kingdoms for its usual with the Scripture to set out States and Kingdoms by Mountains and the destruction and desolation of Kingdoms by removing the earth and removing the mountains Isa 24.1 3 19 20. Jer. 51.25 The removing these mountains into the midst of the Sea may signifie their
how this is a ground of comfort in all Publick calamities as well as private and personal afflictions That there is nothing done in the world in any Kingdom in any City to any perticular person but by the providence of God is evident from such Scriptures as these Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Isa 45.7 I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Am. 3.6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Whatsoever evil comes upon a City or any person in the City whether Sword or Pestilence or Famine or Fire or any other evil it is the Lord that sends all those evils When any destroyers come against a Nation that lay it wast and make it desolate it is the Lord that raiseth up those wasters to destroy and furnisheth them with all their slaughter weapons and their instruments to carry on the designed destruction Isa 54.16 Behold I have created the Smith that bloweth the coals in the fire and that bringeth forth all instruments for his work and I have created the waster to destroy Such calamities as seem to be carried on in a confused disorderly way are governed and over-ruled by the providence of God so that there is no damage done to any mans person or estate but by the appointment of God Nahum 1.3 The Lord hath his way in the storm and in the whirlwind That is the Lord orders all things that are done by the storm and by the whirlwind and by all other judgments that come as suddenly as violently as confusedly as the storm or the whirlwind When the Sword or Pestilence come upon any place the Lord numbers all the persons that shall be slain by the Sword and that shall dye by the Pestilence Isa 65.12 Therefore will I number you to the Sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter Jer. 15.2 VVhen any man suffers by Fire Hail Snow or stormy VVinds he suffers nothing but what God hath appointed him to suffer for the Fire Snow Hail stormy Winds and all other creatures fulfill Gods word they do nothing to any man but what God hath appointed them to do Psal 148.8 Fire and Hail Snow and Vapour stor my wind fulfilling his word Mich. 6.7 Hear the rod and who hath appointed it Every rod hath its whole work appointed by God The Sea seems to be a very unruly creature especially when stormy winds causeth it to rage yet the Lord ruleth the raging of the Sea and suffers it to do nothing in its greatest rage but what he pleaseth Psal 89.9 Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the Waves thereof arise thou stillest them And he that ruleth the raging of the Sea ruleth and stilleth the tumults of the most unruly people Psal 65.7 Yea he ruleth over all persons and all actions that are done in any part of the world Psal 103.19 The Lords Throne is in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all Now this is a ground of comfort to the People of God in Tumults and Insurrections and Massacres and all other National judgments that there is nothing comes to pass nothing befalls any Kingdom City or particular Person but by the providence of God Psal 97.1 2 3. The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce Clouds and Darkness are round about him Righteousnes and Judgment are the habitation of his Throne A fire goeth before him and burneth his enemies round about His Lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw it and trembled The Hills melted like Wax When we are under cloudy and dark dispensations when we meet with fiery tryals and God is burning up his enemies round about when he sendeth such judgments as make the inhabitants of the earth to tremble and the hills to melt like wax that is men of the highest degree Kings and Princes their hearts faint through fear and grief yet then we may rejoyce when we consider 't is the Lord reigneth and that all things are done by his Providence The Providence of God which ruleth and disposeth all things that are done in the world is a ground of comfort to the people of God in publick calamities on several accounts As 1. That God who ruleth and disposeth of all things by his providence is our God and our Father in Christ Psal 146.10 The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Zion unto all generations praise ye the Lord. This is matter of praise and joy to Zion not only that God reigneth but that he which doth and shall reign for ever is Zions God Thy God O Zion Reigneth unto all generations praise ye the Lord. The consideration of our Fathers hand in ordering all our afflictions may sweeten the bitterest cup which he at any time puts into our hands Joh. 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it 2. Whatsoever the Lord doth is done in Righteousness when he breaks in pieces Kingdoms and Nations this is matter of comfort God will do nothing to any place or people but what is consistent with Righteousness Ps 48.10 11. Thy right hand is full of Righteousness let Mount Zion rejoyce let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgments 3. The Lord who ruleth the world by his providence is a mercifull and gracious God that will compass his own people with mercy at such a time as he is distributing sorrows in great abundance to wicked men Psal 32.10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about Even when he lets his own people fall into the hands of cruel enemies such as hate them he is mindfull of his mercy towards them Psal 106.42 43 45. 4. This God who ruleth and governeth the world and disposeth all things that are done therein by his providence is a God in Covenant with us that he will never turn away from doing us good Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good This was spoken to the Jews when they were under very dark providences the King of Babylons Army had Besieged Jerusalem and God told them by his Prophet that he would give Jerusalem into the King of Babylons hands ver 2 3. And besides the Sword of the enemy the City was visited with the Famine and Pestilence ver 24. Yet under these sad providences God comforts his people with his Everlasting Covenant wherein he assures them that though they were surrounded with all these evils the Sword the Famine and the Pestilence yet he would not turn away from doing them good Whatever aspect some of Gods providences may have upon the world and the Sinners in Zion yet they are all mercy and truth to the people of God even when they have the greatest appearance of severity Psal 25.10 All the
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
they have on every side Job 1.10 Hast thou not made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side His care extends even to the least of all their concernments to the very hairs of their heads Mat. 10.30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbred 3. It is a constant and continual care He takes care of them at all times both by night and by day and in all places when they go out and come in at home and abroad Isa 27.3 I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day This promise relates to the Lords Vineyard mentioned in the foregoing verse And by his Vineyard is meant all the members all that belong to Christ who is the true Vine Joh. 15.1 I am the vine Isa 5.7 The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel This vineyard being exposed to many adversaries if the hedge should be removed from the vineyard every one would be ready to pluck the vines Psal 80.12 13. Therefore the Lord himself doth and will keep it I the Lord do keep it I will keep it And see the extensiveness of Gods care for his vineyard both as to the persons and times he will keep it from being hurt by any person at any time Least any hurt it I will keep it night and day And consider the times to which this promise relates and they are times of greatest danger VVhen God is taking his sore and great and long Sword into his hand to punish his and his Churches Adversaries which are as subtle as Serpents as cruel as the Dragon as strong and potent as the Leviathan ver 1. It relates also to that day wherein God is rising out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquities Chap. 26. ver 21. In that day when he is punishing the inhabitants of the earth and sending sore judgments on such as are like the Serpents and Dragons he will keep his vineyard night and day least any hurt it Another Scripture that sets out the constancy of Gods care for his People's welfare VVe have Psal 121.5 6 7. Behold he that keepeth Israel will not slumber nor sleep The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The Sun shall not smite thee by day nor the Moon by night The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil How safe are they that have the Lord for their Keeper when we sleep and can take no care of our selves he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth He keepeth us from all evil by night and by day For that is the meaning of the Sun shall not smite thee by day nor the Moon by night For the Sun that ruleth the day and the Moon that ruleth the night Gen. 1.16 'T is as much as to say he will keep us from all harms he will keep us in safety day and night The care that the Lord taketh of his people is like the care that God took of the land of Canaan which was as Moses saith Deut. 11.12 A Land which the Lord thy God careth for the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year Such is the care that the Lord hath of his people his eyes are always upon them for good from the beginning of the year to the end of the year The Lord taketh care of all his people from the day of their birth yea from their being in the womb to their old age yea to the day of our death Isa 46.3 4. Psal 48. ult He will be our guide even untill death And as the Lord taketh the care of his people at all times both by night and by day so also in all places whithersoever they go he goeth with them to keep them in all places and to preserve their going out and their coming in Josh 1.9 The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Gen. 28.15 Behold I am with thee to keep thee in all places whither thou goest Psal 121.8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore What a comfort is this when the way we are to pass through is full of danger either by reason of the Sword or Pestilence or any other evil that we have a God that will go along with us whithersoever we go 4. That care which the Lord taketh of his people is a wonderfull great care the Lord Jesus is so carefull of all his Members that they are never out of his eye Job 36.7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous whether they go into any parts of the earth still his eyes are upon them for good 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him And the greater their dangers are the more the eye of God is upon them Psal 33.18 19. Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine The Lord would have us take notice for our comfort that when we are in danger of death by famine or other judgments his eye is upon us and therefore there is a note of attention prefixed Behold the eye of the Lord The Lord is so carefull of his people that they are never out of his thoughts Isa 442. O Israel thou shalt not be forgotten of me What the Lord said of Solomons temple 2 Chron. 7.16 Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually The same may be said of all true Christians who are the temple of God 2 Cor. 6.16 Gods eyes and his heart are upon them perpetually The Lord is so careful of his people that they are never out of his arms Deut. 33.3 27. All his Saints are in thy hand The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes He is so carefull of his people that he layes his lambs and carries them in his bosom Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather his lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom When the Wolves are abroad the lambs are safe as long as they are in the shepherds bosom 5. Ans The Lord is exceeding carefull of all his people himself so also he hath sent forth all his Angels to minister to their necessities and given them a great charge to keep them in all their wayes and to enca up round about them and deliver them out of all their dangers Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them whoshall be heirs of salvation Psal 91.11 12. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall
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
a great comfort under greatest troubles that we have the Almighty God for our defence Psal 94.19 22. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul And what were his comforts when he had many troubled thoughts Among other comforts this was none of the meanest that though he had mighty enemies that thirsted after his blood yet he had the Almighty God for his defence ver 22. But the Lord is my defence and my God the rock of my refuge Yea this is a ground of the highest joy and of everlasting joy under all the changes and revolutions that come upon the world that the Almighty God is a defence to all that put their trust in him Psal 5.11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoyce let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them Shouting for the joy is the highest expression of joy now they all they that put their trust in God have cause not only to rejoyce but to shout for joy and that for ever because God defendeth them 3. That Almighty power which is engaged for the defence of all that trust in God is an everlasting strength The Lords arm is not shortned that he cannot save he is able to do as great things for his people in these days as he did for our Fathers in former days And this may unite and strengthen our Faith to trust in the Lord at all times though the times be never so dangerous and troublesome that his power is everlasting Isa 26.4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 5. The gracious and precious promises of God are a ground of strong Consolation under all troubles both Personal and National distresses Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and they were unto me the joy and the rejoycing of my heart Observe Jeremiahs personal afflictions at this time when the word of God was the joy and the rejoycing of his heart He was a man of strife and contention to the whole earth and every one railed at him and cursed him which made him cry out of his wo and misery ver 10. The Lord had filled him with indignation and he looked upon his pain as perpetual and his wound incurable ver 17.18 Besides his personal afflictions there were great judgments coming upon the Nation the Sword and Famine and Pestilence and Captivity ver 2.3 4. Yet under National and Personal calamities the word of God was the joy and rejoycing of his heart So Psal 60.2.3 6. Thou hast made the earth to tremble thou hast broken it Thou hast shewen thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce Gods promises were a rejoycing to Davids heart when God sent such judgments as made the earth to tremble and broke Kingdoms in pieces yea when God shewed his own people hard things and made them stand astonished to see how he dealt with them God hath made several sorts of promises to comfort his peoples hearts in difficult and dangerous times when he is bringing ruine and desolation upon the places where they live I will instance in some of them 1. The Lord hath promised to be an hiding place and a refuge to his people when he sends his judgments upon the places where they live Isa 32.2 18 19. Psal 32.6 Psal 9.9 Deut. 33.12 Prov. 18.10 Zeph. 2.3 compared with Chap. 1.2 3 17 18. And not only to be a refuge to godly men themselves but to their children Prov. 14.26 See also Isa 8.7 8 13 14. When the Assyrian should invade the land and over-run all parts of the land the Lord promiseth to be a Sanctuary to such as did make him their sear and their dread Ezek. 11.16 2. The Lord hath promised to deal well wit his people in times of publick calamity even when he sends ruine and destruction upon the places where they live Isa 3.8 10. Jerusalem is ruined Judah is fallen Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him Eccl. 8.12 Jer. 15.11 As the same cloud which was dark and dreadfull to the Egyptians gave light to the Israelites Exod. 14.20 So God can make those providences which are dreadfull to wicked men to be refreshing to his own people 3. The Lord hath promised to bear up the Faith and Hope of his People that their hearts shall not sink and dye within them in evil days though very dismal and dark days Joel 3.15 16. The Prophet speaks of very dreadfull judgments under Metaphorical expressions yet saith God shall be the hope and strength of his people in such a day 4. The Lord hath promised to comfort his people in times of common calamity Isa 29.9 19. At that day when the Lord visited Jerusalem with Thunder and an Earthquake and a Storm and Tempest and devouring Fire he promiseth that the meek shall encrease their joy in the Lord and the poor among men rejoyce in the holy one of Israel Job 5.22 At Destruction and Famine thou shal laugh Mal. 4.1 2. 5. The Lord hath promised to moderate the afflictions which he layeth upon his people and what ever he layeth upon others he will lay upon them no more than he will enable them to bear Isa 27.8 The Prophet had given them warning that he was coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins Ch. 26. ver 21. And live for the comfort of the people of God he tells God would take a measure of his peoples strength and sufferings and that he would stay his rough wind in the day of his East wind Jer. 30.11 When the Lord is making a full end of all Nations he will correct them in measure 1 Cor. 10.13 He will not suffer us to be Tempted above what we are able to bear 6. The Lord hath promised to afford his gracious presence with his people under their greatest troubles not only at their entrance into but in their passage through the Fire and the Water Isa 42.1 2. Fear not thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee c. Psal 91.15 I will be with him in trouble 7. The Lord hath promised his people deliverance out of their greatest troubles Jer. 30.7 Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it is even the day of Jacobs trouble but he shall be saved out of it Psal 50.15 Psalm 71.20 Psalm 34.19 8. The Lord hath promised to Sanctifie National troubles to his people and to make them work together for their good Jer. 24.5 Zech. 13.9 Rom. 8.28 6. It is a ground of comfort under National troubles that God will by them bring glory to his own name advance the Kingdom of Christ and promote the good of his own people Isa 5.15 16. When God stains the glory of the world then our Lord Jesus Christ who is called the branch
of the Lord shall be beautifull and glorious Isa 4.2 compared with Isa 3.8 There were very great commotions in Judea before the coming of Christ God shook the Heavens and the Earth and shook all Nations and the Scepter departed from Judah and then Christ the desire of all Nations came Hag. 2.6 7. There were great overturnings both in Church and State before the coming of our Lord Jesus Ezek. 21.27 When God executed his judgments upon the Zidonians it was for his own glory Ezek. 28.22 When such judgments begin to come upon the earth as make mens hearts to fail for fear then the people of God are exhorted to lift up their heads because their Redemption draweth near Luk. 21.25 26 28. Obj. 1. These are comfortable considerations may some say but we see notwithstanding the providence and promises of God and the care that God takes of his people that all things come alike to all men the righteous perish as well as the wicked in times of common calamities A. 1. There are oft times very signal providences in delivering Righteous men in times of common calamity as Noah Gen. 7.1 and Lot Gen. 19.16 And those that sighed and cryed for the sins of Judah and Jerusalem Ezek. 9.4 6. 2. Sometimes Gods People pertake of the sins of the times and places where they live and then they pertake in temporal punishments though they be pardoned as to their eternal state Rev. 18.4 Psal 99.8 3. When the Lord doth not save his people with a temporal Salvation under publick calamities but lets them fall by the Sword and Pestilence and other judgments as well as other men he saves them with an eternal Salvation Isa 45.17 Heb. 5.9 4. When the people of God meet with the same sufferings that other men meet with and all things seem to come alike to them and others yet there is a vast difference between the sufferings of the people of God and other men For 1. All the afflictions of the righteous come in love Rev. 3.19 But the troubles of the wicked come in wrath Psal 2.5 2. Righteous men have God with them in their troubles Psal 91.15 But the Lord is far from the wicked Prov. 15.29 3. The troubles of Righteous men do them good Psal 119.71 But wicked wax worse and worse under their afflictions Isa 1.5 2 Chron. 28.22 2 Tim. 3.13 4. Righteous men have Gods blessing going along with their troubles Psal 2.9 12. Psal 94.12 But wicked men have Gods curse with their troubles Isa 34.5 Obj. 2. If I knew that I were one whom God would take care off and protect in a time of common calamity that would be a great stay and comfort to my mind but I do not know whither God will take care of me and preserve me And therfore what hath been said of the care of God of his people in an evil day is but of little use unto me A. 1. Dost thou love God If thou hast set thy love upon God thou mayst rest satisfied God will take care of thee and preserve thee in an evil day Psal 145 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him Psal 91.14 15. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him 2. Hast thou committed thy self to God desiring him to take the care of thee and dost thou trust in him and rely upon him to take the care of thee then thou mayest be satisfied in thy mind that he will watch over thee in an evil day Psal 10.14 The poor commiteth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless Psal 91.2 3. I will say of the Lord he is my Refuge and my Fortress my God in him will I trust surely he shall deliver thee Psal 5.11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoyce let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them 3. Dost thou lead a godly life If so know for thy comfort that God doth and will take a special care of thee in an evil day Psalm 41.3 But know that God hath set apart him that is godly for himself Psal 32.6 4. Is thy heart upright with God and dost thou walk in thine integrity then the Lord taketh a peculiar care of thee Psal 7.10 My defence is of God which saveth the upright in heart Prov. 2.7 He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 5. Dost thou mourn for the sins of the times and places in which thou livest Then thou art marked out for preservation in a time of common calamity Ezek. 9.4 6. Obj. 3. But I am such a poor simple shiftless creature that I am afraid God will not take care of me A. 1. Though thou art never so poor and shiftless and simple yet if thou committest thy self to God he will take the care of thee Psal 116.6 The Lord preserveth the simple Psal 10.14 The poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless 2. Though thou art never such a poor shistless simple creature thou art of more value than the birds of the air yet none of them no not the meanest of them not To much as a little Sparrow is forgotten or neglected 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 Obj. 4. But I am a sinfull creature and therefore I am afraid God will not take care of me in an evil day A. 1. If thou beest an impenitent Sinner then thou art in a wofull condition Isa 3.11 Psal 11.6 Psal 75.8 When he fleeth from one judgment another will overtake him Job 20.24 2. If thou hast repented of thy sins and humbled thy Soul for them and fled to the blood of Christ for the pardon of them thou hast good ground to hope that the Lord will take the care of thee in an evil day 2 Chron. 12.7 They have humbled themselves therefore I will not destroy them Job 22.23 25. If thou return to the Almighty The Almighty shall be thy defence And ver 29. When men are cast down then thou shalt say there is a lifting up and he shall save the humble person Such as have humbled their Souls for their sins and fled to Christ for the pardon of their sins may say with David Psal 49.5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about §. Grounds of Consolation in the hottest times of persecution The Spouse enquireth Cant. 1.7 where he maketh his flock to rest at noon Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon By noon understand aestus persecutionis as Mercer and others the heat of Persecution The Noon is the hottest time of the day By making the flock to rest at noon we may understand how thou comfortest how thou supportest thy people how and by what means thou givest rest to the
Souls of thy people in the hottest times of persecution And what the Spouse enquired after Christ discovered to her namely that her rest is in himself Mat. 11.28 Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest And having found rest and refreshment in Christ in the hottest day she tells others where she had her delights and comforts in the heat of the day and that was in Christ Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Upon these words I sat down under his shadow with great delight Piscator hath this interpretation Cum sentio vel arixietatem vel persecutionem ad Christum confugio ut is me per Spiritum sanctum verbum Dei consoletur When I feel any distress or persecution I flee to Christ that he would comfort me by his Word and Spirit The fruit which the Spouse saith was sweet are the benefits we have by Christ as remission of sins Eternal Life c. In the foregoing words Christ is likened to an Apple-tree and the benefits that we have by Christ are the Fruit of this Tree which yields much comfort and refreshing to the people of God And to this agreeth Piscator's note upon the place Consolationes Christi sunt dulces animis fidelium The comforts of Christ are sweet to the Souls of Believers There is comfort in Christ and from Christ under the hottest persecutions of the Church if any say how may we be enabled by the help of Christ to bear up chearfully in times of greatest persecution when we are called to resist unto blood and to undergo fiery tryals A. 1. Get a right understanding of persecutions for Christs and the Gospels sake look upon them not with an eye of Sense but an eye of Faith judge of them as they are represented in the Scripture and not as flesh and blood represents them to you For this will lay a Foundation for chearfullness under the forest persecutions if we have a right account of them To this end consider what account the Scripture gives of persecutions for Christs sake or which is all one for the Gospels sake or for Righteousness sake 1. Persecutions for Righteousness sake are Blessings real Blessings great Blessings for they confirm our title to a Kingdom a more glorious Kingdom than any is to be enjoyed in this World Mat. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven If a man consult with flesh and blood that will tell him it is a miserable thing to be under persecution to have our estates liberties and lives taken from us but if we consult the Scriptures they will tell us that 't is a blessed thing to be persecuted and that there are no men on earth more blessed than they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and none are so happy as they that shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven 2. Persecutions for Righteousness sake are matter of joy rather than sorrow 1 Pet. 4.13 But rejoyce in as much as ye are pertakers of the sufferings of Christ Yea they are a ground of exceeding great joy for they encrease our grace here and our glory hereafter They are a ground of great joy as they encrease our grace here Jam. 1.2 3. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh patience The Apostle writes to the twelve Tribes that were scattered abroad where being removed out of their own country was some degree of persecution and when abroad among Heathens and Idolaters they were continually liable to persecutions for Righteousness sake yet he bids them count it all joy when they fell into divers temptations because hereby their Faith should be tryed and Patience encreased Persecutions for Righteousness sake are a ground of exceeding great joy because they will encrease our glory in Heaven for ever Mat. 5.11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Observe here our Lord Jesus doth not say to his Servants when under persecution be not cast down but rejoyce and be glad and not only so but be exceeding glad and why because persecutions encrease our reward in the other World Great is your reward in Heaven Yea he would have us so exceeding joyfull as to leap for joy Luk. 6.23 Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in Heaven That day wherein Christ would have us leap for joy is the day of persecution spoken of in the foregoing verse 3. Persecutions for Christ are honours and favours and ought to be esteemed as such as by all true Christians Act. 5.41 And they departed from the presence of the counsel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name The Apostles counted it an honour to be beaten and reproached for Christ Phil. 1.29 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his name sake We see here that it is a gift a favour for a man to be called to suffer for Christ 4. Persecutions for Christ are not strange and unusual things but are the common lot of Christians and are to be counted upon by all that will live Godly in Christ from the first day we give our selves to Christ till we lay down these Earthly Tabernacles 2 Tim. 2.12 Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Sufferings for Christ are to be expected from the first day that we give our selves to Christ Mark 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him take up his cross And to the last day of our continuance in this World for we are liable to sufferings as long as we continue in the body Heb. 13.2 Remember them that suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Yea we must not think it a strange thing if we should meet with fiery tryals and be burnt for our Religion as well as others have been before us 1 Pet. 4 12. Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you That passage Heb. 12.4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood Intimateth that all Christians should count upon it that though they had not hitherto yet it may be their lot to have their blood shed for Christ They had suffered deeply in their names and estates and were eminent for grace and had attained assurance of their Salvation Ch. 10.32 33 34. Yet for all this though God had spared them as to life and they had not yet resisted unto blood they knew not but that might
the most dangerous most destructive temptations and containeth both inward lusts whereby the heart is as it were set on fire and fiery tryals which are sharpest to the outward man now these are all quenched by the shield of Faith Let me shew you how you should use this shield how you should exercise your Faith when you meet with fiery tryals 1. Have Faith in Gods presence believe that God is and will be with you according to his promise when you pass through the fire and through the waters Isa 43.2 For Faith in Gods presence will carry us comfortably through our greatest tryals Act. 2.25.26 I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is at my right hand that I should not be moved therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad To confirm your Faith that you shall have Gods presence with you in your persecutions see such Scriptures as these 2 Cor. 4.9 Persecuted but not forsaken Jer. 20.11 Joh. 16.32 2 Tim. 4.17 18. 2. Have Faith in Gods assistance Believe that God according to his promise for Christs sake will help strengthen and uphold you Isa 41.10 The believing that we shall have Gods help will put great courage into our Souls Isa 50.7 For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed 3. Have Faith in that glorious and unspeakable recompence of reward which God will give you if you continue faithfull unto the death in a suffering day Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.11 12. It is a faithfull saying If we suffer we shall also reign with him The believing and looking at our eternal glory which we shall have after we have suffered for Christ will keep us from fainting under the Cross 2 Cor. 4.16 18. For which cause we faint not while we look at the things which are not seen which are Eternal 2. As you should get and exercise Faith so you should exercise patience also For patience is a very usefull and necessary grace in times of persecution Heb. 10.32 36. Ye endured a great sight of afflictions ye have need of patience Luk. 21.12 19. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake In your patience possess ye your Souls If any say it is true Patience is needfull and usefull in a suffering day But how shall we attain to patience in times of great persecution A. 1. Consider the patience of our Lord Jesus Christ in all his sufferings that will learn us patience in all our distresses Heb. 12.1 2 3. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking to Jesus Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself least ye be wearied and faint in your minds The looking to Jesus and considering the dignity of his person the greatness of his sufferings and the patience with which he endured the pain and the shame of the Cross and the contradiction of sinners against himself will help us to run our race with Patience and keep us from being wearied and fainting in our minds An instance of the patience of Christ under his sufferings which all things considered were greater than the sufferings of any of the Martyrs We have Isa 53.7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth And as the example of Christ so also the example of the Prophets and other Saints and Servants of God may cause us to be patient under our persecutions It hath been the lot of the best men that ever lived even of the Prophets to be persecuted for Righteousness sake Mat. 5.12 So persecuted they the Prophets Luk. 13.34 O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee Jam. 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and patience 2. Consider the desert of sin They which suffer most in this Life suffer far less than their sins deserve How great were Jobs afflictions of all sorts yet they were less than his sins Job 11.6 Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth Ezra 9.14 compared with Lam. 1.12 No sorrows like what the Jews met with yet were they punished less than their sins deserved This should silence all complaints Lam. 3.39 Our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death The second as well as the first death Shall we not patiently suffer any Torments in this Life for Righteousness sake seeing our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell for ever 5. The blood of Christ and the word of God and preferring the glory of God above our lives are great helps to a chearfull bearing and overcoming all persecutions When the Dragon makes war with the Saints we may see by what means they overcome him Rev. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Here are 3 means by which they overcame the accuser of the brethren 1. By the blood of the Lamb that is by the blood of Christ who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Now the blood of Christ helps us to overcome 1. As it justifieth us and takes away all our guilt and reconciles us to God Rom. 5.9 10. Joh. 1.7 For when sin is pardoned there is comfort in the greatest sufferings Mat. 9.2 And when God is reconciled there is a Triumphing over all enemies Rom. 8.31 2. As it hath purchased for us victory over all the adversaries of our Salvation Col. 2.15 3. As it gives us solid grounds to hope with boldness to enter into Eternal Life Heb. 10.19 4. As he hath left us an example to suffer for him who suffered for us 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Pet. 4.1 2. By the word of their Testimony that is the word of God which they had owned professed gave Testimony unto in the worst of times Now the word helps us to overcome 1. As it comforts us in all our conflicts Psal 119.49 50 94 161 162. 2. As it reveals and promiseth glorious rewards to them that overcome Rev. Ch. 2. Ch. 3. Ch. 21.7 CHAP. III. An Exhortation to such as are in a Christless condition to seek after an interest in Christ Directions Motives and Helps in order to the getting an Interest in Christ Hinderances removed SEeing it is thus that an interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under
To such as are ready to give over seeking after Christ I shall give these two encouragements to continue seeking after Christ 1. If you continue seeking after Christ and do seek him with our whole hearts we shall assuredly enjoy him 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee Believe this promise of God that if thou dost seek him he will be found of thee and go on in the strength of this promise to seek in hope that thou shalt find the Lord. Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord By knowing here is meant such a knowledge as is accompanied with the enjoyment of God as the following words imply He will come unto us Jer. 29.13 And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your hearts 2. It will not be long before you find Christ if you go on to seek him Though you do not find him for the present yet you shall find him in a little while in his own due time Cant. 3 1 4. By night on my bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth and I found him not It was but a little and I found him whom my Soul loveth Isa 54.7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee § Motives to get a saving interest in Christ Most persons that live under the Gospel make light of Christ and neglect that great Salvation which he hath purchased with his blood and prefer their worldly concernments before seeking after Christ Mat. 22.5 They made light of it and went their way one to his farm another to his Merchandize Our Lord Jesus Christ offers Salvation to lost sinners he doth as it were stretch out his hands to them and offer them his help to save their Souls but scarce any man regards the offers of grace and mercy that he makes to them Prov. 1.24 I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded This stretching forth the hand implyeth the offers of Salvation that Christ maketh in the Gospel to perishing Sinners When Peter was in a boysterous Sea and was afraid of being drowned and began to sink he cryed out to Christ Lord save me And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him Mat. 14.30 31. Christless sinners are in a more dangerous condition than Peter was they are ready to sink down into Hell sentence is passed upon them by the great God The wicked shall be turned into Hell Psal 9.17 And Christ stretcheth forth his hand and offers to save them but most men are so stupified in their sins and so busied in this present world that they regard not the offers of Salvation made to them by Jesus Christ And therefore there is need of motives to stir men up to seek after an interest in Christ and to embrace that Salvation which is offered to them by Jesus Christ 1. Motive The excellency of Christ should stir us up to get an interest in him For we covet things that are excellent and there is nothing so excellent as Jesus Christ All the excellent things in the world are but loss and dross and dung compared with Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ Silver and Gold Jewels and Precious Stones and whatever a man can desire are not worthy to be compared with Christ Prov. 8.11 For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it And as Christ is more excellent than all things so than all persons in the world The wisest the holyest the best the greatest men that ever lived are not worthy to be compared with Christ Cant. 5.10 My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among Ten Thousand White and Red well mixed make a beautiful countenance white may signifie the holiness of his Life ruddy his bloody passion His holy life and his bloody death render him amiable to his people If Ten Thousand of the most excellent persons that ever lived were set by Christ he would be the chiefest of them all Among all the Angels of Heaven and all the Kings of the Earth there are none to be compared to our Lord Jesus Christ Psal 89.6 Who in Heaven can be compared unto the Lord who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto the Lord. There are all the excellencies of the Godhead in our Lord Jesus Christ Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And the excellencies that are in the Godhead are unspeakable and unconceivable Seeing then there is a greater excellency in Christ than in all the whole world we should labour more to get Christ than we did to get any thing in this world 2. Get Christ for yours and you shall get unsearchable Riches For there are unsearchable Riches in Christ Eph. 3.8 That I should preach among you the unsearchable Riches of Christ The Apostle had studied preached and enjoyed Christ many years and yet could not express or understand all the Riches that were treasured up in Christ but calls his Riches unsearchable Riches By these Riches of Christ which he calls unsearchable understand those benefits we have by Christ As Vatablus and others immensa Christi benefitia the incomprehensible benefits of Christ And though we can't search out all the Riches that are in Christ and that we have by Christ though we cannot fully comprehend in this life all the benefits we have by Christ I will briefly instance in some of these unspeakable benefits which we shall get if we get an interest in Christ 1. Get Christ and you shall get into the love and favour of God Prov. 8.35 Whoso findeth me findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. And the favour of God is an unspeakable blessing better than all things in this world For a man prefers his Life above all that he hath in the world Job 2.4 All that a man hath he will give for his Life But the favour of God is better than a mans Life Psal 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than Life 2. Get Christ and you shall get the pardon of all your sins Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the Riches of his grace Though we be guilty of Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of sins if we get Christ for ours his Blood will cleanse us from them all 1 Joh. 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 3. Get Christ and you shall get an interest in all the promises 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen And it is by and through Christ that we are pertakers of the promises Eph. 3.6 That the Gentiles should
2.12 That at the time ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world Here is a fourfold description of the misery of such as are without Christ 1. They are Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel That is they are none of the people of God they have no right too no part or portion in any of the priviledges belonging to the people of God 2. They are strangers to the covenants of promise or to the promises of the covenant There are many promises in the covenant as I will be your God I will be mercifull to their Unrighteousness and remember their sins and iniquities no more c. But they that are without Christ are strangers to the covenant and all the promises of the covenant they have no right too no part in the precious promises 3. They are without hope They have much presumption but they are without hope they have no hope of the pardon of their sins they have no hope of the Salvation of their Souls they have no hope of the mercy of God in this life or the life to come 4. They are without God That is without the favour of God without the blessing of God without communion with God and a man without God is a man without all good Here is much comprehended in few words concerning the misery of a man that is without Christ He is without God without Hope without a Promise without any part in the priviledges belonging to the people of God They that are without Christ shall be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven for ever 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life They that are without Christ shall be cast into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone 6. To get an interest in Christ is the greatest and chiefest business we have to do in this World This was hinted before Prov. 4.7 Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get Wisdom and with all thy gettings get Vnderstanding This is most true of Jesus Christ who is the wisdom of God Christ is the principal thing and therefore with all our gettings we should endeavour to get Jesus Christ It is of greater concernment to get Christ than to get Riches It is of greater concernment to get Christ than to get peace and comfort It is of greater concernment to get Christ than to get power against some particular corruption greater than to get some particular grace or than to get freedom from some vexatious temptation I shall speak distinctly to these heads 1. It is off far greater concernment to get Christ than to get Riches and that on several accounts 1. A man may have great Riches and yet be a miserable man Jam. 5.1 Go to now ye rich men weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you But whosoever getteth Christ getteth true blessedness and is a blessed and happy man Psal 84.12 O Lord of Hosts blessed is that man that trusteth in thee 2. Riches will be no advantage to a man in an evil day They will not save a man from the Sword or Pestilence or other judgments Prov. 11.4 Riches profit not in a day of wrath But Jesus Christ is every way profitable in a day of wrath For he will reconcile us to God 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself And he will be an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the storm Isa 32.2 3 A man may be a rich man and yet go to Hell when he dyeth Luk. 16.22 23. The rich man dyed and was buried in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments But there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 4. Though a man get much Riches he must leave them all behind him when he dyeth 1 Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out But such as get Christ shall enjoy Christ to Eternity 2. It is of far greater concernment to get Christ than to get peace and comfort Some persons that are under trouble of mind and distress of Conscience make it their only care and great business to get comfort they would do any thing to be at rest and peace But though persons under a troubled Spirit may Lawfully seek for comfort yet it must not be their only or their chiefest care to seek for comfort but their main endeavour should be to get Christ We should seek for Christ more than comfort For 1. There is no way to get true peace and comfort but in and by Christ Joh. 16.33 That in me ye might have peace Mat. 11.28 Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest We may seek and labour to find rest for our Souls but we shall find none unless we go to Christ for it 2. Christ is more necessary than comfort for if we could get comfort without Christ those comforts would end in sorrow and we should be miserable for ever Isa 50.11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have at mine hand ye shall lye down in sorrow But if we get Christ though we should walk in darkness and in trouble all our days we shall be happy for ever and ever Psal 144.15 Yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 3. It is of greater concernment than to get victory over some particular corruption Some persons that are under the prevalency of a particular sin all their thoughts are how they may get that sin subdued And it is the duty of such as find the prevailing power of any sin to labour to have those sins subdued but yet it concerns us more to get Christ than to get the victory over some particular corrruptioâ— For 1. Suppose thou couldst get rid of that sin that troubles thee yet if thou dost not get Christ thou wilt perish for ever For who shall satisfie for thy sins past who shall satisfie for thy corrupt nature None but Christ can make expiation for the sins of our hearts and lives 2. There is no getting any sin subdued but by Jesus Christ Joh. 8.34.36 Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed We may think our selves free from the service of sin but we shall not be free indeed unless Christ the Son of God make us free 3. If we get Christ we shall be saved from the guilt and power of all our sins Mat. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins 4. We should labour more to get Christ than to get some
be best for you to give your self to Christ or to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and to pursue this present World For if it be our own choice then it is most likely that we shall stick and cleave to Christ Psal 119.30 31. I have chosen the way of truth I have stuck unto thy Testimonies As in giving Alms to the poor we should give freely willingly chearfully not grudgingly or out of necessity because we can't avoid giving something 2 Cor. 9.7 Every man according as he proposeth in his heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a chearfull giver So much more in giving our selves to Christ we should not give our selves to Christ grudgingly or out of necessity but out of choice because it is best for us to be Christs willingly and chearfully for in this as well as in other cases God loveth a chearfull giver 4. Engage your selves to Christ by Covenant to be his wholly his only his his for ever It is said of Jehojada 2 King 11.17 Jehojada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords people So should we make a covenant with Christ that we will be his people and that we will be his for ever We should joyn our selves to Christ by covenant and this covenant should be an everlasting covenant Jer. 50.5 Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten We should engage our selves to Christ to be wholly his 2 Chron. 15.18 And they entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their heart and with all their soul And to be only his Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God Mat. 4.10 Him only shalt thou serve This engaging our selves to Christ by covenant is very acceptable to God and beneficial to our selves It is so acceptable to God that it is a means of turning away his wrath when his anger is kindled against us 2 Chron. 29.10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel that his fierce wrath may turn away from us And it is very beneficial to our selves many ways I will instance only in two 1. It will more strongly oblige us to adhere to Christ when we have obliged our selves to be his in an everlasting covenant 2. It will be a good evidence and testimony that Christ is ours and we are his when we find that we have chosen him for our Lord and obliged our selves to him to be his by covenant Psal 119.30 94. I have chosen the way of truth I am thine Psal 16.2 O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord. Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord When they made covenants to be the Lords People sometimes they that entered into covenant subscribed their hands to their covenants Neh. 9.38 7. If we would be made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits after we have received Christ as God offers him in the Gospel and have given up our selves to Christ to be his we must continue and abide with him all the days of our lives we must continue in his word and in his ways we must continue believing in loving and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ and walking in his ways For if we abide in the Doctrine of Christ if we continue to believe in love serve and obey Christ he will own us for his and we shall assuredly be made pertakers of Christ and all his saving benefits To assure us of this let us consult such Scriptures as these Joh. 2d Epist ver 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son Joh. 8.30 31. As he spake these words many believed on him Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Heb. 3.14 For we are made pertakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end That is if after we have begun to believe we continue stedfast in the Faith of Christ to the end of our days we shall certainly be partakers of Christ And because it is a difficult thing to abide with Christ and continue walking in his ways when troubles and persecutions arise for the Gospels sake I will give you some encouragements to continue with Christ in an hour of temptation 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ will greatly reward our fidelity in continuing with him in his temptations and will assuredly give us eternal life Luk. 22.28 29 30. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations c. Our Lord Jesus Christ observeth who they are that reject him and who they are that continue with him in his temptations and he takes it very kindly from us when we continue with him in an hour of temptation He speaks it to his Disciples commendation Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations And see how he rewards their fidelity in adhering to him in a time of trouble He promiseth to give them no less reward than a Kingdom I appoint unto you a Kingdom And in that Kingdom they shall have joy unspeakable and full of glory and Royal dignity That ye may eat and drink at my Table It is a great honour to set with the King at his Table that we shall not only set at the Table where Angels sit but at Christs Table Not that there is eating and drinking in a proper sense in Heaven but in as much as there is delight in eating and drinking Isa 55.2 Eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness especially what is set on Kings Tables by these expressions is hinted to us that such shall enter into the joy of their Lord. And besides their unspeakable joys they shall have royal dignity conferred on them and sit on Thrones See some other Scriptures to this purpose Mat. 24.13 But he that shall endure to the end the same shall be saved In the foregoing verses the Lord Jesus foretells great National calamities Wars and Pestilences and Famine ver 7. And great persecutions against his Members ver 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my names sake And then tells us that when suffering days come many will be offended and prove treacherous ver 10. But to encourage us to continue faithfull to the death he assureth us that whosoever endureth to the end of his life in times of trouble and persevereth in Faith and Holiness the same shall be saved But he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved And if we may but obtain the Salvation of our Souls whatever we loose whatever we suffer for the obtaining the crown of glory we shall be happy for ever
Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crown of life 2. Abide with Christ in an hour of temptation and he will abide with you Joh. 15.4 Abide in me and I in you And if Christ will abide in us and with us we need not be troubled though all that we have be taken from us for Christ is better than all the World If Christ abide with us we need not fear though all the World be set against us Psal 118.6 The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me If Christ abide with us the Consolation of Israel abideth with us yea all good abideth with us 3. Abide with Christ and you shall become powerfull and prevalent in Prayer and shall bring forth much fruit Joh. 15.5 7. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you This is a large grant Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you We must understand it of such things as are agreable to the will of God such things as are for the glory of God such things as are consistent with our eternal welfare when our will is thus regulated we may ask what we will and it shall be done for us And is not this a great encouragement to abide in Christ that we shall be so powerfull in Prayer as even to obtain what we will from him Sect. 3. Hinderances of an interest in Christ removed I shall in the next place mention several Hinderances which keep men from being made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits and endeavour the removal of them First Hinderance Ignorance is a great hinderance to most men that keeps them from getting a saving interest in Christ They are ignorant of the worth and excellency of Christ and their own want of him and so do not seek after him And they are ignorant of Gods willingness to bestow Christ upon them and they are ignorant of the way and means whereby they should come to enjoy and attain to an interest in Christ There is a great deal of ignorance in many people that live under plentifull means of Grace The Jews had Moses and the Prophets and Priests in abundance to teach and instruct them yet the generality of them were very ignorant of the things of God Jer. 4.22 My people is foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have none understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge See how the Prophet multiplyeth expressions to set out the ignorance of the Jews He saith they were foolish sottish had no understanding did not know God had no knowledge to do good And as people that have great means of knowledge may be very ignorant so also are many that take upon them to be teachers of others Jer. 2.8 The Priests said not where is the Lord and they that handle the Law know me not And that ignorance is a great hinderance to our seeking after and obtaining Christ and Salvation by Christ we may see from such Scriptures as these Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their mind Rom. 10.3 If any say what should we do to get this ignorance removed 1. Search the Scriptures read them diligently and meditate on what you read thereby you shall come to the knowledge of Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures They are they which testifie of me The Scriptures set out the excellency of Christ and shew us that all things are but dross and dung in comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 They set forth our miserable and undone condition without Christ Eph. 2.12 They set forth Gods willingness to bestow Christ freely on every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 They shew how and by what means we are made partakers which is through Faith Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.14 By searching the Scriptures we shall be made wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus If we do search the Scriptures dayly and meditate on what we read we shall greatly encrease in knowledge Psal 119.99 I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation 2. Turn from your sins and then God will pour out his Spirit upon you and enlighten your minds and open your understandings that you may understand his word Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Continuance in sin darkens the mind that though a man have means of knowledge and set himself to get understanding he will be ever learning and not be able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Laden with sins and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth What is said of hating our Brother 1 Joh. 2.11 He that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because the darkness hath blinded his eyes The same is true of other sins also they blind the eyes of our understanding and keep us in darkness although we have great means of light and knowledge But when we forsake our sins and turn unto God he will take away our ignorance and give us saving knowledge Joh. 8.12 I am the light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of Life 3. Pray to God to give you Wisdom and Understanding in the mysteries of your Salvation and he will give it to you Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Observe here 1. The persons to whom God promiseth to give wisdom such as find their want of it and ask it of God 2. The extensiveness of this promise It is any one whosoever he be that lacks wisdom and asks it of God 3. The great readiness that is in God to give wisdom to all that ask for it He giveth to all men he giveth liberally he giveth without upbraiding He will not upbraid us with our unworthyness with our dulness our frequency or importunity in Prayer 4. The certainty of
success to such as ask wisdom of God It shall be given him What an encouragement is this to all that find any want of wisdom and knowledge to pray to God for it and to pray in Faith that we shall obtain what we pray for We have more promises to this effect Prov. 28.5 Evil men understand not judgment but they that seek the Lord understand all things Joh. 6.45 It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God Isa 29.18 The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness And let not any say I am such a sinfull creature I am afraid God will not teach and instruct me though I should pray to him For good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25.8 Neither let any say I am so blind and ignorant there is no hope that I should attain to saving knowledge For God can make the blind to see Psal 146.8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind 4. Converse with the Servants of Christ that have acquaintance with Christ and they will bring you acquainted with him Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise The Daughters of Jerusalem that could see no greater excellency in Christ than in other things and wondered that the Spouse should be sick of love for him and give them such a charge concerning him Cant. 5.9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved O thou fairest among women what is thy beloved more than another beloved that thou dost so charge us After they had heard the Spouse discoursing concerning Christ and setting out Christs excellencies ver 10. to the 16. they were in love with him and had their hearts stirred up to seek after Christ Cha. 6.1 Whether is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Second Hinderance Many men are willing to have Christ and Salvation by Christ if they might have Christ and Salvation by Christ in their own way and upon their own terms as if they might be exempted from the cross if they might have liberty to continue in their sins and the like but they stick at the terms of the Gospel on which Christ is offered to them To remove this obstacle I shall propose these following considerations to thy Soul 1. Consider who thou art that thou shouldest stand upon terms with the great God about thy Salvation Thou art a condemned creature a child of wrath a lost creature an undone creature a sinner a miserable creature a poor worm And shall a condemned creature refuse a pardon unless he may have it on his own terms Shall a child of wrath refuse reconciliation with God Shall a lost perishing creature refuse a Saviour an undone creature refuse help a great sinner refuse forgiveness of his sins a miserable creature refuse mercy unless he may have it in his own way Shall a poor worm that is not worthy of the least of all Gods mercies refuse Christ and all the benefits of Christ because he may not have them on his own terms 2. Consider what the torments of Hell are from which Christ came to save sinners they are intolerable and eternal torments And consider what the joys of Heaven are which Christ hath purchased for us they are eternal and unspeakable joys And shall we refuse to have deliverance from the torments of Hell unless we may have it in our own way and upon our own terms Shall we refuse a Kingdom the Kingdom of Heaven unless we may have it in our own way and upon our own terms Did we understand believe and consider the reality and greatness and eternity of Hells Torments and Heaven's Joys we should be willing to do any thing and suffer any thing so we might escape the Torments of Hell and obtain the Joys of Heaven when we dye VVhat the Apostle saith to the Galathians Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth The like may I say to such as stick at receiving Christ on the terms of the Gospel O foolish sinners who hath bewitched you that you should not accept of Christ and Salvation by Christ on the terms of the Gospel O foolish Sinners who hath bewitched you that you should not accept of Christ and Salvation by Christ in the terms of the Gospel How gladly would the Devils and the damned in Hell accept of Salvation on the terms of the Gospel if it were offered to them And wilt thou refuse that which a Devil would joyfully accept if it were offered to him How earnestly did the rich man beg for a drop of water to cool his tongue when he was tormented in Hell fire and if he were so earnest for a drop of water to cool his tongue how readily would he have embraced deliverance 3. Consider what great want you have of Christ to justifie sanctifie and save your Souls You have greater want of Christ than you have of Food or Rayment or any thing in this world You are in such want of Christ that you are utterly undone to all Eternity without Christ When men are in want they will comply with hard and difficult terms to have their wants supplyed Luk. 15.14 15 16. When the Prodigal Son began to be in want he was willing to submit to a very low condition to feed and look after Swine and he was willing to fare very hardly to eat husks such as were given to Hogs He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat And these difficulties he readily complyed with as soon as he began to be in want We have been in want of Christ ever since we were born and our want of Christ is greater than our want of necessary food for the want of food only destroys the Body but for want of Christ our precious Souls perish for ever Why then do we stand upon terms with God about accepting Christ that either we must have him on our own terms or else we will not have him all We would undergo much hardship to get bread for our Bodies Lam. 5.9 We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the Wilderness And shall we not be willing to undergo greater difficulties to get Christ the bread of Life 4. If thou wilt not have Christ and Salvation by Christ in God's way and upon God's terms thou shalt never be saved by him for God will not alter the way of Life and Salvation for the saving of thy Soul Job 18.4 Shall the Earth be forsaken for thee And shall the Rock be removed out of his place God's Eternal counsels and purposes for the saving lost man are firmer than the Rock and stand faster than the Earth And therefore 't is a vain thing for thee to imagine that God should alter the way of Life and Salvation decree'd in his eternal counsels
all the fowls of the Mountains and the wild Beasts of the field are mine 1 Chron. 29.11 All that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is mine And this God who is Lord of Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein is our Father and a God in covenant with us to provide and take the care of us as long as we live And why shall we not rest satisfyed in the bounty love faithfulness and tender care of our Heavenly Father who hath all things though we our selves have suffered the loss of all things But some say if I had but little in the World I should be willing to forsake all I had for Christ but I have a great estate and I find it difficult to be willing to forsake a great estate for the sake of Christ A. It is true it is harder for those that have much of the world to part with all for Christ than it is for those that have but little and that is one reason why 't is so hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven An instance of this we may see in the young man in the Gospel who when Christ bid him fell what he had and give to the poor and he should have treasure in Heaven went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Matth. 19.21 22. The greatness of his possessions was the cause that he would not part with them to follow Christ I shall therefore lay down some arguments to perswade such as have great Estates to be willing to forsake them for Christ 1. Christ forsook more for our sakes than we can forsake for him He was rich he was Lord of all the World yet for our sakes he left all and became very poor that we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8.9 Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich Yea he became poorer than the Birds and Beasts for they have holes and nests to go to but he had not where to lay his head Matth. 8.20 The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have nests but the Sun of man hath not where to lay his head 2. Though we forsake never so much for Christ he is able to make up all the losses we sustain on his account 2 Chron. 25.9 What shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel and thee man of God answered The Lord is able to give thee much more than this An hundred talents is a vast sum of money sufficient to defray the charges of an Army of an Hundred Thousand men ver 6. When Amaziah was afraid of losing an Hundred Talents by following the Prophets Counsel the Prophet tells him the Lord was able to give him much more than an Hundred Talents 3. We shall lose greater and better things by forsaking Christ than we can lose by embracing Christ and adhering to him though we should lose a Crown a Kingdom the whole world for adhering to Christ For 1. We shall lose our own Souls for Salvation for our Souls is to be had no where else but in Christ Act. 4.12 And to lose our Souls is a greater loss than to lose the whole world Mark 8.34 2. By forsaking Christ we shall lose the favour of God Heb. 10.38 If any man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him And we had better lose the favour of all the men in the world yea better lose the whole World than lose the love and favour of God 3. If we forsake Christ we shall lose the Kingdom of Heaven 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not life And a man had better lose all the Kingdoms of this World if he had them all in his possession than lose the Kingdom of Heaven But some may say I hope I could suffer the loss of all that I have for Christ only the laying down my life that seems a hard matter I do not know how to be willing to lay down my Life for Christ A. It is true that it is hard work to Flesh and Blood for a man to lay down our lives for Christ harder than to part with our Estates Job 2.4 Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his Life But though this seem very difficult yet it must be submitted to else we cannot be Christ's Disciples Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his own life also he cannot be my Disciple Now to perswade you to a willingness to lay down your lives for Christ Consider 1. That if you will love Life for Christ's sake you shall save it but by saving your Life when Christ calleth you to lay it down you shall lose it Mark 8.35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his Soul for my sake and the Gospels the same shall save it That is he that will save his Natural Life and refuse to lay it down for Christ shall lose Eternal Life and that will lay down his Natural Life for Christ shall have Eternal Life And it is of universal concernment which Christ speaketh here Every man whosoever he be that will lay down his Life for Christ in this VVorld that same man shall have Eternal Life in the other VVorld And every man whosoever he be that will not lay down his Life for Christ in this VVorld when called to it that same man shall lose Eternal in the other VVorld And what a good and what a happy Exchange is this to exchange a short and temporal Life for an Eternal Life a miserable sinful Life on Earth for a glorious Life in Heaven 2. If we refuse to lay down our lives for Christ vvhen he calls us to it he can take them avvay from us vvhen he pleaseth He can take them by the Svvord or Pestilence or some violent sickness that shall make us a terrour to our selves and to all that are round about us He hath the Keys of Hell and of Death Rev. 1.18 He kills and saves alive whom he pleaseth Ps 31.15 My times are in thy hands Job 12.10 In whose hand is the Soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind If we were to live for ever in this VVorld we might have some cloak for our sins in being unwilling to die for Christ But seeing we must die within a few days when Christ pleaseth and of what Death he pleaseth is it not better dying for Christ than to dye of the Pestilence or dye of a Fevour or any other kind of Death Is it not inexcusable folly for to lose Eternal Life for the enjoying our Life here on Earth a few days when as we know not whither we shall onjoy it one day or one hour after we have refused to lay it down for Christ And if vve do enjoy it for
He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 3. Both a will to embrace Christ and power have been sought with good success Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee the King brought me into his chambers Draw me that is make me willing and able to come to thee and this request was answered the King brought me into his Chambers that is according to my desire drew me unto himself Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies When we feel any averseness in our hearts to any of the ways of God we must go unto God to encline our hearts to walk in his ways Sect. 7. Mens not seeing their need of Christ is an hinderance of their closing with Christ Several causes hereof 1. Resting in a blameless Conversation 2. Resting in Church Priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Another sort of hinderances that keep many from closing with Christ besides sticking at the terms of the Gospel is when men do not see their need they have of Christ but rest satisfied with other things instead of Christ and that is occasioned several ways I will instance in three or four As 1. Resting in a civil blameless Conversation free from gross sins 2. Resting in Church priviledges 3. Resting in our own Righteousness 4. Resting satisfied with the World Seeing many men do rest in their being of a civil and blameless Conversation and being free from gross sins and thereupon do not see any need of Christ to save them but hope to go to Heaven when they dye because they live in a blameless manner I shall shew that this is not sufficient to Salvation without an interest in Christ 1. It is the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to endeavour to live in an holy blameless manner Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as lights in the World 2 Pet. 3.14 Seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2. Though it be the duty of all that expect to go to Heaven when they dye to live in a blameless manner and to keep themselves from the pollutions of the World yet a civil and blameless Conversation a Conversation free from gross sins is not sufficient to carry a man to Heaven without an interest in Christ For a man may live civilly and be free from gross sins and yet be in a dangerous and damnable condition on several accounts As 1. He may be an ignorant man and have no knowledge of God and Christ he may have no understanding in the mysteries of Salvation And such as live and dye without Understanding God will have no mercy upon them and will shew them no favour Isa 27.11 It is a People of no Vnderstanding therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour And they shall perish for ever on whom God will have no mercy and to whom he will shew no favour 2. A man may live civilly and be of a blameless Conversation and yet be an Unbeliever be one that hath no Faith in Christ And all such as do not believe in Christ shall be damned and have their portion in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Rev. 21.8 The Vnbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone 3. A man may be free from gross sins and live civilly and yet dye Eternally for want of a new heart and be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven for not being born again Ezek. 18.31 Make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O house of Israel Joh. 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 4. A man may lead a civil life and be free from gross sins and yet have no love to Jesus Christ And such as have no love to Christ are in a cursed condition 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is let him be accursed and let him remain accursed till the Lord cometh to take vengeance on him 5. A man may be free from gross sins and yet be guilty of Spiritual sins and be in a damnable condition for his Spiritual sins As for instance A Man may never touch a Woman and yet be an Adulterer in the sight of God by the lustings of his heart Math. 5.28 Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery already with her in his heart A man may never strike his Neighbour and yet be a Murderer in the sight of God by hating him in his heart 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him A man may never bow his body to an Idol and yet be an Idolater in the sight of God by over-loving and trusting in his Riches Col. Nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of â—â—â—ist He may have a civil life and yet 〈◊〉 Atheist in his heart Psal 14.1 The 〈◊〉 hath said in his heart there is no God Many persons rest in their Church priviledges as that they are born of Religious Parents are Members of Churches have been Baptized are frequenters of Gods Ordinances have received the Lords Supper and therefore they hope it shall go well with them Thus the Jews bore up themselves that they were Abraham's Seed were Circumcised had the Temple of God among them Joh. 8.33 VVe be Abraham's Seed Jer. 7.4 Trust ye not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord But none of these things will avail me to Salvation unless they have an interest in Christ As I shall make appear these ways 1. To be born of Religious Parents of Parents in Covenant with God is a great Blessing but if they do not seek and serve that God whom their Fathers served but forsake him and go in the way of their own hearts though their Fathers were as Holy men as ever lived upon the face of the Earth God will cast their impenitent degenerate disobedient Children into Eternal Torment David was a man after Gods own heart yet he tells his Son Solomon that if he forsook the Lord the Lord would cast him off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind If thou seek him he will be found of thee if thou forsake him he will cast thee of for ever The Jews bore up themselves with this that they had Abraham to their Father but
so much of them as is good for us is to receive Christ and seek after our Souls Salvation and to live an Holy Life rather than to neglect Christ and our Souls Salvation and to give our selves wholly or chiefly to mind the things of the World which may be proved several ways 1. They that serve Christ and seek chiefly after their Souls Salvation have the promise of all things necessary for this Life as well as the Life to come Math. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come And a promise from God is better security for the things of this life than our own wisdom or industry or present possessions though great or what else the whole World can afford to us 2. When Christ becomes ours the world is ours so far as God seeth it needfull and so far as he seeth it good for us it shall be ours 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or the world all are yours and ye are Christs All things in the world shall be for the furtherance of our Spiritual and Eternal welfare the crosses as well as the comforts of the world 3. All things in the world are at the disposal of God and he gives them to whomsoever he will 1 Chron. 29.12 Both riches and honour come of thee and it is in thine hand to make great Dan. 4.17 The most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will And seeing the whole world is at the disposal of God is a likelier way to obtain the world to seek and serve the Lord and his Son Jesus Christ or to live in the neglect of God and to disregard his service Obj. But some may say how is this the surest and best way to obtain the world to embrace and serve Christ when as ordinarily the servants of God have less of the world than other men A. 1. They that seek and serve the Lord have as much of the world as the Lord seeth to be good for them Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing And it is far better being without than having that which the Lord seeth would be hurtfull for us And Riches are of that nature that to have abundance of them proves a real hurt to some men Eccl. 5.13 I have seen Riches kept for the Owners thereof to their hurt 2. That little of the world which the servants of God have is better than the great possessions of other men Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the Riches of many wicked If any say how can this be that a little that a righteous man hath should be better than the riches of many wicked I answer 1. The servants of Christ have more comforts in their little than wicked men have in their abundance For they have their little with Gods Blessing which takes away the sorrow from what they possess Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh Rich and addeth no sorrow therewith But other men have a curse and vexation added to what they have Prov. 3.33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked 2. The Servants of Christ have their little with a good Conscience and a good Conscience is a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 a merry heart is a continual Feast Rich men make Feasts sometimes which the poor servants of Christ can't do yet they excell the Rich man for they have a continual Feast One of the greatest Feast made by Rich men that we read of was that which King Ahasuerus made which lasted an Hundred and Fourscore days Esth 1.4 But behold here a better yea a continual Feast But now other men have their estates with an accusing Conscience and that is a continual vexation 3. The servants of Christ have more contentment in their little than other men have in their greatest abundance Eccl. 5.10 He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase VVicked men are in straits in their greatest abundance Job 20.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits But the servants of Christ have a sufficiency and a contented mind in the midst of their wants and straits Phil. 4.11 12. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need 4. The servants of Christ have their little with the love and favour of God Deut. 10.18 He loveth the stranger in giving him Food and Rayment VVhen his People are strangers and he gives them but little Food and Rayment yet they have it with his love Psal 146.8 The Lord loveth the righteous But other men are hated in their greatest abundance Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity And a little with the love of God is better than great riches and his hatred therewith Prov. 15.17 Better is a dinner of Herbs where love is than a stalled Ox and hatred therewith If the meanest fare with love from men be better than the choicest provision and hatred therewith how much more is this true of the love and hatred of God Sect. 8. Doubts and scruples about our being under the offer of Christ an hinderance to our closing with Christ These doubts answered It may be some will say if I saw and knew that God offered Christ and Salvation by Christ to me I would accept of him on any terms but I have many doubts and scruples upon my mind whether God offers Christ to me as my unworthyness the greatness of my sins my being so little affected with my sin and misery my long neglect of Christ and the like and I can't tell how to think that God should offer Christ to such an unworthy creature to such a great sinner to such an hard hearted creature as I am to one that have neglected and stood out so long as I have done For satisfying these scruples I shall lay down these following propositions about the offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ to all sorts of sinners on the terms of Faith and Repentance 1. The Lord Jesus Christ with all his saving benefits is offered to the meanest and most worthless persons in the whole world when the Gospel comes that find their want of Christ and are willing to receive him though they have no mony that is nothing of any value to commend them to God yet they may have Christ and all his benefits freely Isa 55.1 Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no mony come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without mony and without price 2. There is an offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ to all sorts of Sinners The
that my day of grace is past and so there is no hope for my Soul that ever I should be made partaker of Christ A. No man ought to conclude his day of grace and Salvation to be past as long as he is in the Land of the living If Christ be not accepted before we dye then we shall miss of him for ever The day of grace and the day of Salvation is gone for ever if Christ be not embraced before Death comes But as long as we are in the land of the living there is a door of hope stands open to us Eccl. 9.5 To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope As long as we are under the Preaching of the Gospel which is the Ministry of Reconciliation it is an accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 5.20 Compared with 2 Cor. 6.2 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the Day of Salvation While God is treating with us by his Embassadors who do in Christ's stead pray us to be reconciled to God so long 't is an accepted time and a day of Salvation Upon the last day of the Feast when the people were to be dismissed and sent to their own home the Lord Jesus made an offer of himself to all that did thirst after him Joh 7.37 In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink This Feast was the Feast of Tabernacles ver 2. which Feast lasted many days Lev. 23.34 36. Their dwelling in Tabernacles while in the VVilderness till they came to Canaan was an Emblem of our Frailty whilst we remain in the Body which is called a Tabernacle 2 Cor. 5.1 2 Pet. 1.14 I must put of this my Tabernacle that is my body As our Lord Jesus offered himself to every one that was a thirst on the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles so he doth offer himself to us even to the last day of our continuance in our Earthly house of this Tabernacle The penitent thief who embraced Christ the last day of his being in this Earthly Tabernacle upon the day of his death was accepted of him But some may say again the weary and the thirsty and the heavy laden and such as are of a broken heart and are burdened with their sins are invited to come to Christ but I am not affected as I ought to be with my sin and misery I am not humbled for my sins but I have an hard dead insensible heart and therefore I am afraid Christ is not offered to me A. 1. Even such as are not affected with their sin and misery but have high thoughts of their own excellencies when as in truth they are wretched and miserable are invited to come to Christ for good and white rayment and eye Salve whereby they may have a true sight of their own state and be made sensible of their sin and misery Rev. 3.17 18. Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy of me Gold and white Rayment and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see VVe see the poorest and most miserable which are not affected as they ought with their sin and misery are called upon to repair to Christ and to be dealing with Christ for the choicest of his benefits Gold white Rayment eye salve that they might see and be made rich and have their nakedness covered 2. As Christ was sent to bind up and heal the broken in heart Isa 61.1 So he was exalted to give Repentance to hard hearted sinners Act. 5.31 And it is his work to take away the stony heart from those that have stony hearts and give them hearts of flesh For it is the Lords promise to take away the stony heart and to give an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 And it belongs to Christ as he is Mediator and surety of the new Covenant to see this as well as other promises of the Covenant fulfilled 3. Sleepy and secure sinners are called upon by the Gospel to awake out of their sleep and to look to Christ for light and life Eph. 5.14 Wherefore he saith awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 4. Though you do not find such an hunger and thirst such a weariness and burdened condition as others find yet if you are willing to have Christ on the terms of the Gospel willing to be ruled and saved by him in his own way you need not doubt but Christ with all his saving benefits is offered freely to you as freely as to any other person for he is offered freely to every one whosoever he be that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Sect. 9. Doubting of Christ's willingness to receive us an hinderance of our closing with Christ This doubt removed It may be some will say I am willing to accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel but I doubt whether Christ will accept of me because I have been such a vile and sinfull creature and still find in my self such an unsanctified heart and such a corrupt nature A. They that are willing to accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel may lay aside all their doubts of Christ's accepting them of what nature soever they be And that on such grounds as these 1. We have Christ's own word and promise to assure that if we come to him he will in no wise cast us out Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Him without exception of any person or any sin him whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath done that cometh to me that is that believeth on me that receiveth me as I am offered in the Gospel that in the sense of his lost and perishing condition cometh to me to save him I will in no wise cast out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Negatives I will not I will not cast him out I will in no wise no accusation that Satan shall bring against him for the multitude or greatness of his sins or his long continuance in his sins or any other accusation shall prevail with me to cast him out I will in no wise cast him out that is I will graciously accept him Nonrepellam a me a societate mea communione bonorum I will bestow my self and all my benefits upon him I will not cast him out that is out of my Kingdom I will receive him to be with me where I am 2. Though we have been sinners yet if we be penitent sinners the Lord Jesus will receive us upon our coming to him 2
Cor. 6.17 18. When Christ was on earth he received those that came to him though they had been great sinners and though he incurred the censures of the Pharisees thereby Luk. 15.2 The Pharisees and the Scribes murmured saying this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them And he is not less mercifull now he is in Heaven than he was while he was on Earth 3. The parable of the prodigal Son may satisfie us that our Lord Jesus will not only not reject penitent sinners though they have been the chiefest of sinners but will receive them willingly and joyfully Luk. 15 20 24 25. The Father received his Son with all joy when he returned home penitent and yet he had been a vile wretch he had spent all his estate on harlots and riotous living ver 13.30 And would have submitted to a base low employment rather than return to his Father It was pure want that drove him to go to his Father because he was ready to perish with hunger yet this vile wretch that was unworthy of the name of a Son was entertained and received with great joy CHAP. IV. Such as have an interest in Christ may find comfort in Christ under all Spiritual troubles I Have shewed how such as have an interest in Christ may find comfort in Christ under all personal and national troubles and under the persecutions of the Church I shall now shew that there is comfort to be had in Christ under all Spiritual troubles Cant. 2.5 Stay me with flaggons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love This being sick of love signifieth foul troubles and where doth the spouse seek for comfort under foul troubles but from Christ and the benefits we have by Christ Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples By flagons we are to understand wine which was wont to be distributed in flagons 2 Sam. 6.19 He dealt among all the people a cake of bread and a flagon of wine Now the benefits that we have by the death of Christ are compared to wine which makes glad the heart of man and are called in Scriptures by the name of wine Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters yea come buy wine Wine was appointed by Christ to be the representation and memorial of his blood and the benefits purchased by his blood namely remission of sins and confirmation of the new Covenant Christ speaking of the Wine which is drunk at his Table saith Mat. 26.28 This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins 1 Cor. 11.25 This cup is the New Testament in my Blood Under the law there was Wine offered with the dayly Sacrifice every Morning and Evening Exod. 29.38 40. Now Wine being that which makes glad the heart of man Psal 104.15 VVe may learn hence that all those comforts which make glad the heart of man they are the fruit and effect of Christs being made a Sacrifice for us Stay me with flaggons signifies support with those comforts and refreshments which are the purchase of Christ's Blood stay me with the discovery of the remission of my sins and the promises of the New Covenant Comfort me with Apples what are these Apples The fruits and benefits we have by Christs death who bore our sins in his own body upon the Tree 1 Pet. 2.24 In the foregoing verse our Lord Jesus Christ is likened to an Apple-tree As the Apple-tree among the trees of the Wood so is my beloved among the sons I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Now the benefits which we have by the incarnation the Death and Intercession of Christ are the Fruit growing on this Apple tree which was sweet to the Spouses tast and are the Apples with which she desired to be comforted when she was sick of love That we are to seek our comfort in Christ and from Christ under all Soul troubles we may see from several other Scriptures As Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance Countenance signifieth favour because a mans favour is discerned by a chearfull Countenance Prov. 16.15 God's favour is towards us in Christ Rom. 8.39 So that we see whence the Psalmist expected his Consolations when his Soul was in a perplexed disquieted condition it was from the help of God's Countenance that is from that relief and support which he should find from the manifestation of Gods love in Christ to his Soul Psal 61.2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Our Lord Jesus in Scripture is resembled to a Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 That Rock was Christ VVhen David's heart was overwhelmed with grief and when he was in desolate places where he had none to comfort him he begs to be led to Christ who was the Rock that was higher than he for he knew there was support and comfort in Christ under the greatest inward troubles though such as overwhelmed the heart as appears from ver 2. compared with ver 7. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I so will I sing praise unto thy name for ever VVhen David was in great heaviness through the hidings of Gods face and walked day by day with a sorrowfull heart he found joy and comfort in Christ Psal 13.1 2. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me How long shall I take counsell in my Soul having sorrow in my heart dayly My heart shall rejoyce in thy Salvation By thy Salvation here we may understand the Lord Jesus Christ who is called the Salvation of God Luk. 2.30 Mine eyes have seen thy Salvation That is the Lord Jesus Christ ver 26. See also Isa 49.6 That thou mayest be my Salvation unto the ends of the Earth By thy Salvation we may also understand that Temporal and Eternal Salvation which he hoped that God for Christ's sake would bestow upon him So that it was from Christ and the benefits which come by Christ that David fetched his comfort in all his Soul troubles And therefore all of us that are under any soul troubles should repair to Christ for comfort It is said of David 1 Sam. 22.2 Every one that was in distress and every one that was in debt and every one that was discontent or as it is in the Margent bitter of Soul gathered themselves unto him and he became a Captain over them Let us do the like by Christ the Son of David let every one that is in distress and every one that is in debt our sins are debts to the justice of God Mat. 6.12 and every one that is bitter in Soul gather our selves to Christ who is the Consolation of Israel and he will be the
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
Covenant with them Psal 89.30 31 32 33 34. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their Transgressions with the Rod and their Iniquities with Stripes Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Mouth Sect. 3. There is comfort in Christ for such as are but weak in grace Such as are but weak in Faith and weak in other Graces do usually walk very uncomfortably and are under much perplexity of Spirit upon the account of their weakness We are exhorted to support the weak 1 Thes 5.14 which implyeth that weak Christians are liable to faint and sink now there is comfort in Christ for weak and feeble Christians I will instance in some grounds of Consolation for weak Christians 1. There is a sufficiency of Grace and Strength in Christ for the weak as well as the strong What was said to the Apostle when he was under the buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness The same may be said to the weakest Christian that conflicts with many fears and strong temptations Christ's grace is sufficient for thee and his strength is made perfect in weakness that is the weaker we are the more eminently his strength is put forth and manifested on our behalf The Lord is wont in an eminent manner to put forth his power in supporting and upholding weak Christians Isa 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is very tender and carefull of weak and feeble Christians He gathereth his Lambs with his Arm and carryeth them in his Bosom Isa 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young By Lambs we may understand young and weak Christians There is no Shepherd so tender and carefull of his little Lambs as the Shepherd of Israel is of his Lambs His gathering his Lambs with his Arm signifieth his preserving them by his Divine power his carrying them in his Bosom signifieth his tender love to them and his tender care over them They lye near his heart he carryeth them in his Bosom he gently leadeth those that are with young that is such as are in a burdened condition afflicted and distressed Consciences When Creatures are with young they are burdened and heavy It may also signifie such as are in the way to Conversion Another Scripture setting out Christs tenderness to weak Christians we have Isa 42.3 A bruised Reed shall he not break and the smoking flax or as it is in the Margent the dimly burning flax he shall not quench That this is spoken of our Lord Jesus Christ is evident from Mat. 12.20 The Reed is very weak a little blast of wind makes the Reed to shake and tremble Mat. 11.7 A Reed shaken with the Wind. The Reed when bruised is weaker than the Reed that is whole The Reed signifieth the weak trembling Christian the bruised Reed a weak Christian bruised with afflictions and temptations such an one Christ will not break that is he will support and uphold them The smoking or dimly burning flax he will not quench That is he will cherish weak and recover lapsed Christians The wick of the lamp that burns but dimly that hath much smoke obscuring the light that hath that which is offensive for smoke is offensive to the eyes mixed with that little light that little good which is in them such Christ will not quench but will cherish and carry on his own in them Isa 29.18 The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness Though there be much obscurity and darkness mixed with our knowledge when the Lord first opens our eyes yet by degrees that dimness shall wear off and we shall have a more clear knowledge of the mysteries of our Salvation Isa 32.3 The eyes of them that see shall not be dim 3. Weak Christians that build their Faith and Hope upon Christ build upon a sure and strong Foundation For Christ is a sure Foundation to the weak as well as the strong Isa 28.16 Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation Jesus Christ is such a sure and strong foundation that all the Devils in Hell shall not be able to prevail against the weakest Christian that is built on this foundation Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it 4. VVeak Christians have a strong and Almighty God to stand by them who hath promised for Christs sake to help strengthen and uphold them Isa 41.10 13.14 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right-hand of my Righteousness Fear not I will help thee fear not thou worm Jacob I will help thee saith the Lord VVhat is weaker than a worm yet to Jacob that was but as a worm in his own and others apprehension trampled upon and despised by the men of the world the Lord calls out three times fear not fear not fear not and why because though Jacob was but as a worm The God of Jacob who is an Almighty God saith to Jacob I will help thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee The Almighty God is able to uphold the weakest Christian under all oppositions and discouragements Rom. 14.1 4. Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make them stand 5. Where there are the weakest measures of Grace they are taken notice of by God and shall have a great and glorious reward from the Lord. When there was but some good thing towards the God of Israel in Jeroboam's Son the Lord took notice of it and brought him to his grave in peace 1 King 14.13 All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam They that have but weak gifts and mean talents yet if they be faithfull in that little which is committed to their trust they shall have a great and glorious Reward Mat. 25.23 Well done good and faithfull servant thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Sect 4. There is comfort in Christ for such Christians as mourn under their decay in grace and under their unprofitableness under the means of
themselves to Christ and abide with Christ shall be made fruitfull in Grace and good works consonant to that promise Joh. 15.5 He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit Now taking this shadow to be meant of Christ then it is a gracious promise to such as betake themselves to Christ that they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine How is that The Corn lyeth buried under ground for a while and seems to be lost And after it appears it meets with cold winds and frost and draught that makes it hang the head turn yellow look in a decaying manner yet through the warm Sun and Dew of Heaven it reviveth again So 't is with them that dwell under Christ's shadow though they meet with many Pull-backs and that which was springing up seems to wither and decline yet they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine The pruning and cutting the Vine makes the Vine become the more fruitfull and so it intimates a growth under afflictions In the Winter the Vine looks like a dead stick hath no Beauty nor Savour in it but in the Spring it puts forth and flourisheth abundantly Vines give a pleasant smell and bring forth pleasant fruit Cant. 2.13 The Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell And the Fruit of the Vine is sweet and pleasant fruit I might mention more promises of growth in Grace As Psal 92.12 Job 17.9 Now by virtue of these and such like promises when we find a decay of Grace we may rest upon God that he will come in with fresh supplies of Grace Psal 92.10 I shall be anointed with fresh Oyl David was sometimes sensible of great decays in Spiritual Estate as when he complains my moisture is turned into the drought of Summer yet then he did rest upon God for fresh supplies of Grace and Comfort which may be the meaning of those words I shall be anointed with fresh Oyl For the Graces of the Spirit are called an unction or an anointing 1 Joh. 2.20 29. Ye have an unction from the Holy one The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you The Graces and Comforts of the Spirit are compared to Oyl Psal 45.7 Thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness Mat. 25.3 They that were foolish took their Vessels and took no Oyl with them When God pours out his Spirit upon us then he is said to anoint us Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me Fresh Oyl may signifie renewed supplies of the Spirit of Grace The restoring a Consumptive person that was wasted to skin and bone is called fresh Flesh Job 33.21 25. So the renewed supplies of Grace and Comfort given to a decayed soul may be called an anointing him with fresh Oyl Sect. 5. There is comfort in Christ for such as are poor in Spirit and full of want and mourn under their Spiritual Poverty Such as are in a poor condition as to Spirituals full of wants when they reflect upon their poverty and emptyness it causeth forrow and trouble of Spirit Psal 69.29 I am poor and sorrowfull Psal 119.22 I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me Now there is comfort in Christ for such as are poor in respect of their Spiritual Estate and are full of wants and are in a troubled condition because they find themselves to be so poor and full of wants And that on these grounds 1. There is a fullness in Christ of all those Graces and all those good things which we find wanting in our selves Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell And that fullness which dwelt in Christ was for our sakes that out of his fullness he might Communicate to us Grace answerable to those Graces which are in him Joh. 1.16 And of his fullness have all we received and grace for grace The gifts which Christ received he did not receive to keep them to himself or to bestow them on the Angels but to give them to the sons of men Psal 68.18 Thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell amongst them These gifts which Christ received for men include gifts of Grace as well as other gifts as namely the gifts of the Holy Ghost the gift of Faith and Love c. For the Psalmist speaks of such gifts as do make us meet to have the Lord dwell with them Now the Lord dwelleth in us by his Spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 and by Faith Eph. 3.17 and by Love 1 Joh. 4.16 2. All those good things which we find wanting in our selves we have them in Christ they are ours in him Though this seem strange yet 't is true that we should have that which we want we have those things in Christ which we find wanting in our selves In him we have righteousness and strength when we feel weakness in our selves Isa 45.24 In him we have wisdom sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 we are blessed with all spiritual blessings even while we complain of our want of them we are blessed with them all in Christ though we have not the actual enjoyment of them Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ The poorest Christian hath all things in Christ 3. In the Lord 's own time which is the best time you shall have a full and rich supply of all your needs both for Body and Soul Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus 4. Though we are poor and low and full of wants yet we are accepted of God in Christ and he thinks thoughts of love and mercy and peace towards us Psal 40.17 But I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me 5. Those Christians that are poor in Spirit and full of wants are in a blessed condition for they are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and as soon as they come to Heaven their wants shall be so fully supplyed that they shall never want any thing to Eternity Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven 6. The poorest Christian that is poorest in Spirituals hath what God in his infinite wisdom seeth to be best for him and hath better things than the richest man in the World for he hath God for his portion Lam. 3.24 And the Lord is the best portion in Heaven and Earth Psal 73.25 26. Sect. 6. There is comfort in Christ for such as mourn under deadness and want of quickning influences Spiritual deadness is a great trouble to gracious souls when the Apostle Paul felt the body of Death it made him bemoan his wretched condition that he should be under so much deadnss Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body
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