other evil inclinations of his heart Psal 141.4 Encline not my heart to any evil thing And as he was carefull to suppress evil lusts in his heart so to refrain from evil speeches and sinfull practise Psal 49.1 I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my Tongue I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle while the wicked is before me Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way They that seek by the help of Christ to suppress evil lusts and inordinate affections and refrain from sinfull speeches and practices have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections 6. The Jews having heard that after Christ was Crucified he would rise again put him into a Grave and rolled a great stone upon the mouth of the Grave and set a strict watch and did all that they could to prevent his rising again So they that have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections do what they can to prevent the rising of sin in their hearts and the breaking of it forth in their lives They set a watch over their lips and lives Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my Tongue Psal 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips Psal 18.23 I kept my self from mine iniquity Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life Obj. I am under doubtings whether I am Christs because it is said they that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Now though I desire and endeavour to Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts yet I can't say I have attained to it Though I endeavour to suppress all evil lustings and all inordinate affections and to refrain from every evil way yet I still find the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the law in my members warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to the law of sin and death And therefore I fear I am none of Christs A. 1. Such as are united to Christ have Flesh as well as Spirit in them and do find the lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit and the warring of the law in their members against the law of their mind but they do not walk after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit The Apostle speaking of such as are in Christ Jesus saith not they have no flesh nothing of corruption in them that there is nothing but the Spirit of Grace in them but he saith of them they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit The Galatians were the children of God Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Yet they had in them the Flesh lusting against the Spirit whereby they were hindered that they could not do that good which they were willing and desirous to do Gal. 5.17 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would The Apostle Paul was Christs 2 Cor. 10.7 If any man trust to himself that he is Christs let him of himself think this again that as he is Christs even so we are Christs Yet this Apostle who if any man upon earth might be confident that he was Christs he would let him know that he was Christs also saw and complained of a law in his Members warring against the law of his Mind and leading him captive to the law of sin Rom. 7.23 But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity to the law of sin which is in my Members 2. They that heartily desire to have the flesh with the affections and lusts crucified they have already crucified their sins in their hearts What we are willing and desirous to do that the Scripture accounts as if it were already done As it is in the Commission what sins we desire to commit God accounts them to be committed in our hearts Matth. 5.28 Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already with her in his heart So it is with the crucifixion of sin when a man looks upon his sins and saith in the sincerity of his heart oh that my flesh with the affections and lusts were crucified he may be said to have crucified his flesh with the lusts and affections 3. They that are Christs have delivered up their corrupt natures with all the affections and lusts to be crucified We read of Christ that he was delivered to the Jews to be crucified Joh. 19.16 Then delivered he him to be crucified The hypocrite spares his sins and hides them and is unwilling to part with them Job 20.12 13. But it is not so with a true Christian to deliver up all his sins to be crucified and begs earnestly of God that he would not suffer any sin to have the dominion over him but that he may be delivered from all his transgressions Psal 119.133 Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me Psal 39.8 Deliver me from all my transgressions 4. We may be said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when we have begun to mortifie all our sins when we make it our daily care and endeavour to suppress evil lusts and inordinate affections and to refrain our feet from every evil way Crucifixion is a lingring death Our sins are crucified when they are dying though not fully dead Persons nayled to the Cross had many struglings before they gave up the ghost and yet they might be said to be crucified while they hung upon the Cross though not perfectly dead Paul saith I dye daily So a Christian makes it his daily business to dye to his sins And what we are truly and heartily endeavouring to do that the Lord esteemeth and accepts as if it were done Abraham in the sincerity of his heart endeavouring to offer up Isaac the Scripture speaks of it and accounts it as if it had been actually done Heb. 11.17 By faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up his son Isaac 5. Then we have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when the reigning power and dominion of sin is taken away that we are no longer the servants of sin Rom. 6 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin The old man is all one with the flesh and the affections and lusts thereof now this old man is crucified when the power and strength of sin is so far destroyed as that we are not servants of sin when the dominion of sin is taken away from all that are in a state
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
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.
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
when enlightned by the word and Spirit of God are able to discern and to give a judgment of our estate towards God and of the most inward workings both of Sin and Grace Pro. 20.27 The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly By the inward parts of the Belly we may undestand all the secrets of the heart the inclinations dispositions and motions of the heart both to good and evil These are all searched out and discovered by the Spirit of a man which is as the Candle of the Lord but to effect this searching of our inward parts this Candle of the Lord must be lighted by the Word and the Spirit of the Lord for till that be done it gives such a dim and uncertain light that we can discern but little of our own state Therefore besides Communing with our own hearts and making use of our own Spirits we must make use of the Word of God that we may discern the state of our own Souls towards God Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple ver 105. Thy word is a Lamp to my feet and a light to my path There are plain and clear Characters laid down in the Scriptures of such as are Christs the knowledge of these which I shall mention in the next Section are requisite for us to examine our selves by And besides making use of our own Spirits and having recourse to the light of Gods word it is needful that we should implore the illumination and assistance of the Holy Spirit because it is his enlightning our minds that gives us light Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light Job 32.8 But there is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding The eyes of our underderstandings are shut till the Spirit of God doth open them Eph. 1.17 18. And as we need the Spirit to enlighten our understandings so also to witness to and with our Spirits or being the Children of God Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Evidences of a saving interest in Christ. Seeing the knowledge of our interest in Christ tendeth so much to our Consolation both against all the troubles of this Life and the terrors of Death and seeing this knowledge is obtained by examining our selves by those Characters that the Scriptures give of those that are Christs I shall lay down several Characters out of the Scriptures of such as have a saving interest in Christ those that I shall mention and explain are these 1. Effectual calling 2. Recieving Christ as he is offered in the Gospel 3. They that are Christs have the Spirit of Christ given to them 4. They that are Christs are new Creatures 5. They that are Christs have Crucified the Flesh with the lusts and affections 6. They that are Christs do love Christ and prefer Christ above all things and persons in the World 7. They that are Christs live to Christ and dye to him 1. They that are effectually called are Christs and Christ with all his benefits are theirs 1 Cor. 1.26 compared with 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye see your calling Brethren ye are Christs Whom doth the Apostle mean when he saith ye are Christs he meaneth such as are effectually called And speaking of those that were called he tells them that God had united them to Christ and made them partakers of the benefits of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.26 30. Ye see your calling Brethren Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Eternal Life and all other saving benefits of Christ are promised to them that are effectually called Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which were called might recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance But Eternal Life and the saving benefits of Christ are given only to such as have an interest in Christ 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life Now we may know that we are effectually called these ways 1. When the Lord calls a sinner effectually he calls him out of darkness into light whereas the mind and understanding was before full of ignorance and blindness the Lord enlightens the mind with saving knowledge when he calls a sinner effectually it is 1 Pet. 2.9 That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light Now in this work of illumination we may consider these 3 or 4 things 1. God calls a man to see his sinful miserable undone estate by nature Jer. 2.19 Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hosts And his inability to help or recover himself out of his sinful and miserable estate Joh 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing 2. God calls a man to see and to know that remission of sins and Salvation is to be had in Christ and no where else but in and from Christ Jesus Act. 13.38 Through this man is preached unto you remission of sins Luke 19.10 The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost There is Salvation for lost man to be had in Christ and in none but him Act. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved As the Lord gives us to understand that we have destroyed and undone our selves so also he causeth us to know that there is help for such as are in a perishing condition and also where this help is to be found namely in himself through Christ Hos 13.9 O If del thou hast destroved thy self but in me is thy help Thus is a material branch of saving illumination the giving as the knowledge of God and Christ 1 Cor. 4.6 Joh. 17.3 3 The Lord enlightens his People to see and to know which way they should obtain Salvation from Christ out of their sinful and miserable condition namely by Faith and Repentance For after a man is enlightned to see his lost estate then he is at a loss to know what he should do to be saved and the Lord shews him that Salvation is obtained by Christ through Faith and Repentance Act. 16.30 31. Sirs what must I do to be saved And they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions and so iniquity shall not be your rutine 4. Where there is saving illumination the instruction the Lord gives is like that spoken of by the Prophet
Isa 8.11 The Lord spake thus unto me with a strong hand There is power goeth with those instructions that he gives the Soul to bring it to do what it is taught The Lord doth not only teach a sinner his lost estate and that Salvation is in Christ and that this Salvation is to be had by Faith and Repentance but he bows the heart to comply with these terms of alvation with the illumination of the mind there is the inclination of the heart to repent and believe Jer. 31.19 Surely after I was turned I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my Thigh I was asuamed c. Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that you heard the word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation And this leads me to the next head 2. When the Lord calls a sinner effectually he calls him to Repentance by working Repentance in his heart Luk. 5.32 I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners unto Repentance Now this effectual call to Repentance is discerned these ways 1. The Lord pricks the Sinner at the heart by setting home upon the Conscience the sight of his sinful and undone condition Act. 2.37 And when they heard these things they were pricked at the heart and said Men and Brethren what shall we do Till God calls a man he lyeth fast asleep in his sins He is like Jonah that was fast asleep in the side of the Ship when there was a great Tempest whereby himself and all in the Ship were in danger to be drowned Jon. 1.6 So the sinner lyeth fast asleep in his sins although he be in danger of everlasting burnings till God awakens him by calling him to a sight of his sin and misery As it was with Peter he was fast asleep when bound with Chains and in the midst of two Souldiers and was the next day to be tryed for his Life Act. 12.6 So it is with many Sinners they are bound in the chains of their sins and are in danger every day to be called to Judgment yet they lye fast asleep in their sins till the Lord comes and awakens them out of their dead sleep and this he doth by giving them a prick at the heart with his word which is called the Sword of the Spirit And when a sinner is pricked at the heart then he awakes out of his dead sleep and sits down and bemoans his sinful and miserable condition Lam. 5.16.17 The Crown is fallen from our head wo unto us that we have sinned for this our heart is faint and our eyes are dim Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself 2. When God calls a sinner to Repentance he turns his heart from his Idols from his beloved sins so that he resolves in his heart that by the help of Gods grace he will for sake his sins for ever Hos 14 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols He is willing to leave off all known sins and also all unknown sins as soon as they shall be discovered to him Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more 3. When the Lord calls a sinner to Repentance as he causeth him to forsake his sins so also he causeth him to turn to the Lord with his whole heart so that the bent of the heart is for God the heart is inclined to please serve obey glorifie and enjoy God Jer. 24.7 They shall return to me with their whole heart Psal 119.112 I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes always even to the end 3. When God calleth a sinner effectually he calleth him to his Son Jesus Christ As he enlightneth him to see his undone estate out of Christ and to see that Salvation is to be had in Christ so he draweth the Soul to Christ he causeth the Soul to come to Christ Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The call of God when it is effectual hath this effect upon all that are called it bringeth every one of them to Jesus Christ It is not some or many that hear but every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Now we may discern that God hath called us to Christ these ways 1. If he hath called us off from all things that hinder our going to Christ Cant. 2.10 Rise up my love my fair one and come away Come away that is let nothing detain thee from coming to me cast away all lets and hinderances that keep thee from coming to me leave all to follow me This effect Levi's call had upon him Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When God hath brought us to this that we are willing to leave all for Christ we need not doubt but we are effectually called to Christ This laying aside of all hinderances of our being made partakers of Christ and Eternal Life is that which the Apostle exhorts to Heb. 12.1 Let us lay aside every weight And run with pationce the race that is set before us I will instance in some hinderances of our enjoying Christ which God calls from when he draws us to Christ As the VVorld the profits of the world the honours of the world the pleasures of the world God loosens the heart from all these that the Soul can leave all the goodly all the pleasant all the glorious things of the world to cleave to Christ Cant. 4.8 Come with me from Lebanon my Spouse with me from Lebanon For the opening this Scripture let us consider what Lebanon was that Christ was so earnest with his Spouse to come with him from Lebanon that he calleth twice come with me from Lebanon with me from Lebanon Lebanon was a very goodly place Deut. 3.25 I pray let me go over and see the good Land that is beyond Jordan that goodly mountain and Lebanon Moses had a great desire to see the Land of Canaan which was the Land of promise a land above all lands and of all places in that land he had a desire to see that goodly place mount Lebanon Lebanon was a glorious place Isa 35.2 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it Lebanon was a very pleasant and delightfull place it cast forth a sweet seent to all places round about it Hos 14.6 His be my shall be as the Olive Tree and his small as Lebanon The meaning then is this that we should leave all the goodly all the glorious all the pleasant all the delightfull and desâ—â—â—able things of this world to enjoy Christ Christ calls us to come with him from Lebanon which was a goodly a desireable a glorious and delightfull place Another hinderance of coming to Christ is when a man is bound with the cords of his sins his sins have such hold upon his heart that he is like a man bound with cords that he can't stir from them
own Righteousness Isa 64.6 But we are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags 2. He sheweth a man that there is perfect and compleat Righteousness to be had in Christ Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord shall I have Righteousness and Strength 2 Cor. 5.22 He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him And he shews us that this Righteousness of Christ is for every one that believeth in him Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth He gives us to understand that Christ by his death hath fully satisfied Gods justice for all our sins and brought in Everlasting Righteousness because he rose from the dead and went to the Father and was not sent back again into the world to do any thing more for our Redemption Joh. 16.8 10. He shall reprove the world of Righteousness of Righteousness because I go to the Father and ye see me no more 3. He maketh a man to renounce all confidence in his own Righteousness and to flee to Christ that he may be found in him and have his Righteousness imputed to him Phil. 3.8 9. That I may win Christ and he found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith 3. We may know if we have the Spirit of Christ if we own Christ as our Lord and yield obedience to him as our Lord. For no man can call Christ Lord and obey him as Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost that is as Calvin per Spiritum sanctum inhabitantem regenerantem unless the holy Ghost dwell in him and hath regenerated him No man can say that Jesus is the Lord that is say it from his heart believingly and obediently so say it as to believe him to be our Lord and obey him as our Lord. It is the Spirit put into our hearts that bows our hearts to obey Christ and causeth us to walk in his wayes Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Do we walk in Gods statutes If so this proceedeth from Gods Spirit which he hath put within us which causeth us to walk in his statutes Now we know that our obedience to the Gospel of Christ proceedeth from the holy ghost given to us these wayes 1. When it proceedeth from the heart when it is internal as well as external obedience Rom. 6.17 God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit The Spirit puts us on purifying our souls as well as our bodies on inward as well as outward obedience 2. When it is universal that we are willing to obey Christ in all things Joh. 15.14 Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you If the heart be disposed to obey Christ in all things we need not doubt of our interest in him but may be assured we are his friends that he doth and will own us for his friends And though we cannot attain to perfection in our obedience yet it is a good sign of a sincere heart when we have a respect to all the commands of Christ Psal 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments 3. When we obey Christ in supernatural duties I mean in such things as are above the power of nature and are cross and contrary to flesh and blood and contrary to a mans interest as self denyal forgiving injuries loveing enemies doing good to them that hate us plucking out our right eyes cutting off our right hands our obedience in such cases proceedeth from the Spirit of Christ Mat. 5.44.45 Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that dispitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven This doth evidence us to be the true children of God endued with the Spirit of God when we can obey Christ in such commands as are so cross to our corrupt natures as loving our enemies and doing good to them that hate us 4. When our obedience proceedeth from the Spirit he sheweth us the imperfection of our obedience and teacheth us to look tothe blood of sprinkling for the taking away the imperfections of our obedience and rendring our obedience acceptable to God 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ The obedience of Gods Elect which proceedeth from the sanctification of the Spirit needeth the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Though our persons be holy and our services holy yet there is need of Jesus Christ to render our most spiritual sacrifices our best duties acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 You also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 4. We may know we have the Spirit of Christ if he hath rendred Christ glorious in our our eyes and causeth us glorifie Christ The Spirit of Christ when and where he is given he debaseth man and exalteth and glorifieth Christ Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me He that is the Spirit of truth spoken of in the foregoing verse when he the Spirit of truth is come He shall glorifie me When Christ is glorified in us and by us that is a good evidence that we have the Spirit of Christ and that we are Christs Joh. 17.10 All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them I will shew how the Spirit glorifieth Christ in those that are his 1. They that are Christs ascribe the glory of all that grace which is in them unto Christ they do not take the glory of it to themselves but acknowledge they have all from Christ Joh. 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace They are taught to look upon every grace to be grace received not born with them not obtained or gotten by their own industry but received from Christs fulness 1 Cor. 15.10 By the grace of God I am what I am Whatever excellencies we have above others the Spirit of God teacheth us to ascribe all to the grace of God in and through Jesus Christ 2. The Spirit of God teacheth us to ascribe the glory of all the good which we think speak or do unto Christ For
perpetual and irrecoverable destruction 2. The Psalmist speaks of the roaring of the waters and their being troubled and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof and this may signifie great tumults and uproars among the people such as may make the stoutest hearted persons to tremble Psal 74.4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy Congregation The Scripture setteth forth multitudes of people by waters As Rev. 17.15 And the roaring of these waters make the mountains shake that is make the stoutest and most couragious men to fear and tremble Psal 18.4 The floods of ungodly men made me afraid When ungodly men that have no fear of God before their eyes were in an uproar were gathered together and bore down all before them like a flood it made even David himself to be afraid 3. By the removing the earth and roaring of the waters are meant all places being full of trouble wars at Sea and Land the whole world full of stirs and commotions yet we will not fear 4. What the Psalmist expressed Metaphorically ver 2.3 he expresseth more plainly ver 6. The Heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted That is there should be such dreadfull judgments called for by God such ragings of the Heathen such commotions of the Kingdoms as should make mens hearts to melt with grief and fear For the heart is melted with grief Psal 119.28 My Soul melteth for heaviness Luk. 21.26 Mens hearts failing them for fear 5. He speaketh of dreadfull desolations to be made in the earth by the Lord such as might make men stand still and behold them ver 8. Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Yet under all these desolations when the Heathen rage and the Kingdoms are moved when there are such troubles as make mens hearts to melt within them when the earth is removed and the mountains are carried into the Sea when the waters roar and are troubled when the mountains shake with the swelling thereof There is a River the streams whereof make glad the City of God There is comfort in Christ under the greatest ruins and desolations that come upon Kingdoms and Nations yea upon the whole world And here we may take notice of some of these streams of this River some of these benefits we have by Christ which are matters of joy in our greatest calamities which are hinted in this Psalm 1. The Lords people shall through Christ and for Christs sake have the Lords presence with them in all the commotions and desolations that come upon the world and this makes glad the City of God and settles the faith and hope of the people of God ver 5. God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved ver 7. The Lord of hosts is with us This is three times mentioned that the Lord is with his people as being a prime antidote to expell their fears and comfort their hearts Is 41.10 Fear not I am with thee yea under dismal calamities when the Lord is pouring out his fury and is pleading against us with fire and sword and is leading his people through the depths of trouble and fiery tryals this is a singular comfort to have God with us Isa 42.24 25. compared with 43.1 2. 2. Another of those streams which make glad the City of God under calamitous times is that they have a refuge to flee to and that this refuge is God himself and that this God who is their refuge is the God of Jacob. This is also three times hinted in this Psalm ver 1 7 11. God is our refuge The God of Jacob is our refuge The God of Jacob is our refuge It is comfortable to have a refuge to flee to in a storm a refuge to flee to where we may be safe But most comfortable to have God himself the great God the eternal God the Al-mighty Al-sufficient God the faithfull God the infinitely near and gracious and loving God for our refuge And it is an addition to our comfort that this God who is our refuge hath stiled himself the God of Jacob. For that implyeth 1. That he that was Jacobs refuge when he was in great distress and afraid of his brother Esau who hated Jacob and had taken up a resolution to kill him Gen. 27.41 And to come against Jacob with four hundred men which made Jacob afraid that he intended to kill him and his wives and children Gen. 32.6 7 11. yet God was Jacobs refuge in this great strait and so over-ruled Esau's heart that he did Jacob no harm 2. That God is and will be a refuge to poor weak and shiftless creatures such as are but worms in their own and others account despicable persons he will help and take care of them in the time of trouble Isa 41.13 14. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel 3. That is and will be a refuge to such as are in a deserted condition and are ready to say they are forsaken of God for some of the seed of Jacob are ready to say their way is hid from the Lord yet the Lord is their God and their refuge Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel My way is hid from the Lord and my judgement is passed over from my God Compar'd with Isa 41.8 10. But thou Israel art my servant and Jacob whom I have chosen Fear thou not for I am with thee Be thou not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness 3. Another stream issuing from this river which maketh glad the City of God mentioned in this Psalm is that God will be his people's strength in troublous times and a present help both in trouble and out of trouble v. 1 5. God is our strength a very present help in trouble God shall help her and that right early Now this is a great comfort to have God for our strength and help in all our troubles Psal 21.1 The king shall cry in thy strength O Lord Psal 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth and with my song will I praise him I will instance in some grounds of consolation under natural troubles as invasion of Forreign Enemies Massacres Pestilence or other desolating judgements 1. It is a great ground of comfort to all the members of Christ under national calamities that there is nothing done in the world or to any Kingdom or any City or any particular person but by the Providence of God I shall Prove this that all things that are done in the world come to pass by the providence of God and then shew
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
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
willing to bestow himself upon you By these terms I mean what it is which the Lord Jesus requireth of those whom he will own for his and on whom he will bestow himself and all his saving benefits These terms are briefly comprehended under these two heads Faith and Repentance They that believe in Christ and repent of their sins shall undoubtedly be made pertakers of Christ and his saving benefits All that believe in Christ shall assuredly be saved by him Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life Joh. 3.15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life And so shall all they that repent of their sins Ezek. 30.18 Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions and so iniquity shall not be your ruine All persons in all nations that repent of their sins shall for Christs sake have remission of their sins Luk. 24.47 And that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem I shall briefly shew you what Christ requireth of those that he will own for his and to whom he will become a Saviour 1. That we love and prefer him above Father and Mother Wife or Children the nearest and dearest Relations we have in the whole world yea and above our own lives Luk. 14.26 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 Father and Mother c. is not to be taken in the usual and proper acceptation of the word For to hate any man in a proper sense is a great sin it is Murder in the sight of God 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a Murderer and ye know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him And our Lord Jesus doth not make any sin to be the condition of becoming his Disciple And therefore hating Father and Mother and other Relations is to be understood improperly for loving Father and Mother and other Relations and a mans own life less than he loveth Christ So it is explained Gen. 29.30 31. He loved Rachel more than Leah And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated We are not to entertain such thoughts of Jacob as if he hated Leah for it is not consistent with Gods grace for a man to hate his wife But the meaning is Leah was not loved so much as Rachel as it is expressed in the former verse The meaning of Leah's being hated is this that Rachel was loved more than Leah So he that hateth not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children c. cannot be my Disciple that is he that loveth not me more than his Father and Mother and all Relations and his own life cannot be my Disciple and so it is explained Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me And this is but equal that we should love Christ above all Relations in the world because he is better than all he is more amiable more excellent than Father or Mother or any other Relations and he hath done and will do more for us than Father or Mother or Wife or Children can do for us for he dyed for our sins and will save our Souls and that is more than all the men in the world ever did or can do for us 2. That we deny our selves and depart from all our sins Mar. 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself There is no being a Disciple of Christ for any man without self-denyal Now this denying a mans self implyeth 1. That he must deny his own sinful inclinations and sinful affections 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2. That he must deny himself of things in themselves lawful when they come in competition with Christ Joh. 3 Epist ver 7. For his names sake they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles It was lawful for those that taught the Gentiles to receive maintenance from them for the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel But in some special cases where it is more for the honour of Christ these persons spoken of by the Apostle would take nothing of the Gentiles 3. We must deny our selves in Religious duties and works of Righteousness not by neglecting them but these two ways 1. By attributing nothing to our selves but ascribing all to Christ 1 Cor. 15.10 By the grace of God I am what I am I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God that was with me 2. By putting no confidence in any thing that we have done or can do but placing all our confidence in Christ Phil. 3.3 VVe have no confidence in the flesh 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence we have in him 3. That we take up the Cross Mar. 8.34 VVhosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross By taking up the Cross understand a willingness to undergo any sufferings for Christ that we shall be called unto as reproaches persecutions hatred of the world loss of liberty estate yea and life it self Unless we are willing at the call of God to undergo the greatest as well as lesser sufferings for Christ we cannot be his Disciples Luk. 14.33 VVhosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple There must be a forsaking in affection and resolution by every one and an actual forsaking when they can't be enjoyed without sinning against Christ 4. That we be ruled and governed by him and yield obedience to him as our Lord and then we shall assuredly be saved by him Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all that obey him Mat. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls By taking his yoke upon us is meant submitting to his Government To be under the yoke signifieth to be under the rule and government of others 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour Under the yoke that is under the dominion and rule of others See also Gen. 27.40 where the yoke signifieth subjection The Commandements and Ordinances of God are called a yoke Act. 15.10 But here some may say is it not derogatory to the free grace of God to say that he offers us Christ and Salvation upon terms Doth he not say whoever will let him take of the water of life freely why then do you speak of terms or conditions in Salvation by Christ A. 1. To speak of terms or conditions to be performed by those that are justified and saved
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
some time vve must never expect to have any comfort of our Lives after vve have refused to die for Christ 3. If we refuse to lay down our lives for Christ he can make our lives such a burden to us that we shall count it a great mercy to be rid of them The Lord can lay such troubles upon us that we shall be burdens to our selves and long exceedingly to be in our Graves Job speaks of some men that are in such misery that they seek for Death as for hid Treasures and rejoyce exceedingly when God will take away their lives Job 3.20 21 22. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in Soul which long for Death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures which rejoyce exceedingly and are glad when they can find a grave Yea it was Job's own condition to be a burden to himself Job 7.20 Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee so as I am a burden to my self He vvas in so much misery that he prayed earnestly to God that he might die Job 6.8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let lose his hand and cut me off He vvas in such distress that Life vvas loathsome to him and if it had been lavvful he would have strangled himself Job 7.15 16. My Soul chooseth strangling and death rather than life I loath it I would not live alway And vvho can tell but God may lay as heavy affliction upon us if vve refuse to die for Christ as he did to his Servant Job who was an upright man that feared God and eschewed evil Who can tell but God may deal with us as he did with Pashur Jer. 20.4 I will make thee a terrour to thy self and to all thy Friends Now is it not better to die for Christ than to live in such misery as to be a burden to our selves and to be a terrour to our selves and all our Frinds 4. If we will not lose our lives for Christ we shall lose that which is the life of our lives yea that which is better than life What is that which is the life of our lives and which is better than our lives I answer The love and favour of God Ps 30.5 In his favour is life Ps 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than life Now if we draw back from Christ in a suffering day because we are not willing to lay down our lives for him we shall lose the love and favour of God Rebeccah was so concerned for Jacob that if he miscarried in his match she thought she should be weary of her life and her life would do her no good Gen. 27.46 I am weary of my life because of the Daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a Wife of the Daughters of Heth such as these which are the Daughters of the Land what good shall my life do me If the miscarriage of a Child in a match will make us weary of our lives what will the loss of the love and favour of God which is the fountain of all mercies May not such say I am weary of my life what good will my life do me seeing God hath taken away his loving kindness from me 5. Our Lord Jesus Christ laid down his life forus 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us His Enemies could not have taken his life from him if he had not been willing of himself to lay it down and his laying down his life was upon our account and for our sakes Joh. 10.15 18. I lay down my life for the sheep No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self And what the Israelites said of David 2 Sam. 18.3 Thou art worth ten thousand of us The same may be said of Christ he is worth ten thousand of us yea more worth than all the men that ever lived more worth than all the Angels of Heaven yet he laid down his life for us And shall we that are his Servants poor worms stick at the laying down our lives for him 6. It is a blessed thing to dye for Christ Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. The dead which die in the Lord and which die for the Lord are in a most blessed condition There is a peculiar honour promised to those that suffer Martyrdom for Christ Rev. 20.4 It may be some will say I could be willing to dye for Christ so I might dye an easy death but I can't tell how to endure such tortures and pains as some have met with for Christ I can't tell how to undergo burning at a Stake or how to bear tormenting pains A. It is true that tormenting pains are hard to be born yet we must be willing to undergo any kind of tortures for Christ not only to dye but to submit to the most painfull death if God shall call us to it and to perswade us to be willing to undergo torments for Christ Let us consider 1. Our Lord Jesus did not only dye for us but he suffered a most painfull shamefull accursed Death of the Cross for us Phil. 2.8 He humbled himself and became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross What Death is more painfull than the Death of the Cross Our Lord Jesus was in such extremity of pain when he hung upon the Cross that he was like a man that had all his Bones out of joynt his heart melted like wax that is brought to the fire his strength and the moisture of his body was dryed up like a Potsheard his tongue cleaved to his Jaws as we may see Psal 22.14 15. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels My strength is dryed up like a potsheard and my tongue cleaveth unto my jaws and thou hast brought me into the dust of death That this relates to Christs sufferings on the Cross is evident from the last clause his bones were out of joynt his heart melted like wax c. when when he was upon the Cross Thou hast brought me into the dust of Death And from several other passages in the Psalm which relate to Christs sufferings on the Cross As ver 1.7 8 16 17. And besides that anguish which our Lord Jesus felt upon the Cross when he was in the Garden he was in such an agony as made him sweat drops of blood Luk. 22.24 Now seeing our Lord Jesus Christ endured such torments and pains for us seeing he suffered the painfull shamefull accursed Death of the Cross for us Shall not we be willing to suffer any shamefull or painfull Death for him Seeing he bore the wrath of God for us shall not we be willing to bear the
poor and the lame and the blind and the halt were called to the Marriage Supper Persons of the lowest condition such as are in by-lanes high-ways and hedges and such as are most despicable in the eye of the world the maimed and the blind are to be called and entreated with all earnestness to come to Christ Luk. 14.21 23. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and compell them to come in We see here all sorts of sinners even such as are most despicable in their own eyes and the eyes of the world the poor the maimed the halt the blind sinners in all places the High-ways Hedges Streets Lanes all are called and that with such importunity as if they were compelled for this compelling is to be understood of earnest entreaties and using prevailing arguments As Luk. 24.29 3. Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ is offered freely to the greatest and chiefest of sinners if they will accept of him and repent of their sins 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth und forsaketh shall find Mercy Adam all circumstances considered was one of the chiefest of sinners for he was the cause of the death of all the men that ever lived 1 Cor. 15.22 In Adam all dye He brought sin into the World and death and by his disobedience made all men sinners and corrupted all Mankind Rom. 5. By one man sin entered into the World and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ver 19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners Yet Christ and Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam in that promise The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent's head Gen. 3.15 It may be some are in a despairing way because they have not only been sinners themselves but they have corrupted and made others sinners and have not only made others sinners but have been the occasion of the death of many persons Though this be a wofull case yet not desperate By Adam's disobedience many were made sinners Hundreds Thousands yea all Mankind Christ only excepted And Adam was the cause of the death of Hundreds Thousands Millions of Men Women and Children yea in Adam all dye yet Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam 4. Christ Jesus with his saving benefits is offered to children and old men bond and free male and female He is willing that little Children should come unto him for Life and Salvation Mar. 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God The giving of the Spirit which is one of the saving benefits of Christ is promised to all sorts of persons Young and Old Male and Female Bond and Free Men-servants and Maid-servants Joel 2.28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your Old Men shall dream Dreams your Young Men shall see Visions And also upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit By dreaming Dreams seeing Visions and Prophesying we may understand that God in the days of the Gospel would reveal his mind and will to all sorts of Persons by his Word and Spirit as he did in old times to some peculiar Persons by Dreams and Visions 5. Jesus Christ offers himself and all his saving benefits even to such as have for a long time neglected and rejected the offers of grace made to them in the Gospel and notwithstanding all former neglects and refusals if now they will come in they shall be accepted Rom. 10.21 But to Israel he saith all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a rebellious and gain-saying people The stretching forth the hands signifie the offers of grace made in the Gospel the offer of Pardon and Salvation upon their Faith and Repentance and this offer was made and continued from time to time to a rebellious and gain-saying people To the Jews that had refused Christ and preferred a Murderer before him yea and had not only refused but killed him that came to save their lives there is a promise of forgiveness of their sins upon their Repentance Acts 3.14 19. Ye denyed the holy one and the just and desired a Murderer to be granted to you and killed the Prince of Life Repent ye and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Another instance of Christ's offering himself and his saving benefits to such as have neglected former offers of grace We have Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he with me This is part of the Epistle sent to the Church of Laodicea where there were many luke-warm persons that deserved to be spued out of Christ's Mouth ver 15. And many self-conceited persons that thought their Estate good when they were in a most miserable condition ver 17. And notwithstanding their luke-warmness and self-conceitedness he makes a gracious offer of himself to them Behold I stand at the door and knock The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Praeter-perfect Tense which is used for the Present I have stood and I am not gone though neglected though the door be kept shut I stand there still and knock and call if any man hear my voice One paraphraseth thus on the words Siquis qualiscunque fuerit peccator hypocrita qui diu obstitit Evangelio c. What manner of man soever he hath been though he hath been a vile sinner though he hath been a hypocrite though one that hath long rejected the offers of grace in the Gospel If any man hear my voice and open the door that is accept of the offers of grace in the Gospel consent to receive me on the terms of the Gospel no former neglects or refusals of Christ shall hinder such a man's Salvation for it follows I will come into him and sup with him and he with me that is I will bestow my self and all my saving benefits upon any man that openeth unto me whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath formerly been or done against me 6. Remission of sins and Salvation are offered by Christ to backsliding revolting sinners upon their Repentance though they have beakslidden often and done very heinous things after their backsliding from God Jer. 3.1.5 22. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings But some may say I once had the offer of Salvation by Christ but I did not embrace it I fear now it is too late and
for there is comfort in Christ for lapsed Christians though the sins into which they have fallen be of an heinous nature and that on these grounds 1. Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father and pleads our cause for us that our sins may not be imputed to us but may upon our Repentance be forgiven us As Stephen interceeded for his Persecutors Act. 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to their charge So doth Christ interceed with his Father for all his Members VVhen they fall into any heinous sin Lord lay not this sin to their charge Christ's love to his Members is infinitely above Stephen's love to his Persecutors yet Stephen prayed for them when they had committed an heinous sin the shedding of blood the shedding innocent blood the blood of a Martyr of a man full of the Holy Ghost his own blood yet Stephen interceeded for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge And the love of Christ being infinitely above Stephens will not be much more interceeded for his members his Servants in their greatest falls though their sins be of an heinous nature Lord lay not this sin to their charge that our Lord Jesus doth interceed for us when we fall into sin that our sins may not be laid to our charge VVe may see 1 John 2.1 2. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World The children of God must be very carefull they do not sin against God But suppose they do sin must they despair No if any man sin we have an advocate 't is not said we had an advocate as if he ceased to be our advocate when we fall into sin but we have an advocate with the Father and he is a powerfull and prevalent advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous whom his Father never denyed any thing in the days of his Humiliation Joh. 11.22 42. much less will he deny him any thing in the days of his exaltation and the person with whom he interceeds is the Father who is the Father of mercies a God ready to forgive waiting to be gracious who is Christ's Father and our Father And he useth a prevailing argument when he pleads for us he presents his own blood which is the propitiation for our sins And he is advocate for all that do and shall believe on him in all places and all ages of the World 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Compared with 1 Joh. 5.12 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father These things write I unto you that believe As David interceeded with his Captains on the behalf of Absolom though an undutifull rebellious Son 2 Sam. 18.5 Deal gently for my sake with the young man even with Absolom Even so doth Christ interceed with his Father for his Rebellious and Disobedient Children deal graciously for my sake with such and such persons though they have rebelled against thee 2. The death of Christ hath obtained pardon for all our sins sins after as well as sins before Conversion great and heinous sins as well as lesser sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed The two Hebrew words used by the Prophet as Rivet observes all sorts even the worst kind of sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth superbam mandati transgressionem rebellionem defectionem A proud transgressing of the law of God rebellion and revolting from God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth perversitatem malitiam a sinning out of perverseness and malice For such sins as these was Christ wounded and bruised and by his stripes we are healed and obtain pardon for our greatest offences 3. There are mercies and forgivenesses with God upon Christ's account even for such as have rebelled against him Dan. 9.9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him To rebell against the Lord is more than to sin out of infirmity it speaks willfulness in sin it is the highest degree of sin likened to the sin of Witch-craft when men have to do with the Devil 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Witch-craft Yet there are mercies and forgivenesses with the Lord for such as have rebelled against him not only mercy and forgiveness but in the Plural number mercies and forgivenesses to signifie the abundance of mercies and pardons that are with God for such as have rebelled though they have not rebelled once or twice only but many times And therefore the Lord is styled a God of pardons who hath pardons in store for rebellious sinners upon their Repentance Ne. 9.16 17. But they and our Fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and refused to obey and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their bondage but thou art a God ready to pardon or as 't is in the Margent a God of pardons gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindness and forsookest them not 4. The Covenant of grace which is confirmed with Christs blood admits Repentance and promiseth pardon of sin to back-sliders upon their Repentance though they have deeply and grievously revolted from the Lord. The children of Israel were grievous revolters Jer. 6.28 They are all grievous revolters yet they are called to Repentance Isa 31.6 Turn ye unto him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted And have a promise of pardon upon their Repentance Jer. 3.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings If any say it may be these to whom the Lord speaks here and promiseth to heal their back-slidings on their return to him had not they back-slidden so often and in such an heinous manner To which I answer that they had back-slidden often is evident from ver 1. Thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers yet return unto me And besides he speaks of back-slidings in the Plural number He saith not I will heal your back-sliding as if they had back-slidden but once but I will heal your back-slidings intimating that though their back-slidings were many which they themselves acknowledge Jer. 14.7 Our back-slidings are many yet upon their returning he would heal them all And that they were guilty of very great and heinous sins as well as many back-slidings to whom God makes this promise Return O back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings is evident from ver 5. Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst 5. When the servants of Christ fall into heinous sins God will visit their Transgressions with his Rod and their sins with Stripes but for Christs sake he will not cast them out of his love nor break his
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