we have 1. The Title given to Christ my Beloved or as the Dutch my best Beloved or as one unicè dilectus my only Beloved Whatever apprehensions other men may have of Christ though they see no beauty or comliness why they should desire him though he be to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence though they make light of him and reject him yet gracious Souls love Christ yea he is their best Beloved they love him above all things and persons in the World 2. VVe have the claim that is laid to Christ My Beloved is mine I have a special and peculiar interest in him he is mine as much as any thing that I have is mine my Beloved is mine I can I do I will lay claim to him as my own Psal 67.6 God even our own God shall bless us 3. The Confidence the Spouse had of her special and peculiar interest in Christ It is not I hope he is mine or by way of desire O that he were mine but it is spoken with much confidence my Beloved is mine Isaiah 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father 4. Here is Christs Interest in his Church I am his I am not I will not be mine own but I am his I am not the Worlds but he hath chosen and called me out of the world I am his 5. Christs familiar converse with his Church he feedeth among the Lilies that is he affordeth his presence to them he converseth familiarly with them as persons do that feed together 6. The persons among whom Christ feeds they that are his those that love him those that resemble the Lilies that is humble Souls such as walk innocently such as are fruitful It 's Plinys Observation Lilio nihil faecundius such as are like Christ the lilie of the Valleys meek and lowly in heart 7. The Consolation the Church hath under all the troubles of this Life and the fears of Death and that ariseth from two Heads 1. Her interest in Christ my Beloved is mine 2. The enjoyment of Christs presence he feedeth among the Lilies Feeding implyeth 1. His presence and familiar converse with her 2. His delight in her feeding signifieth delight John 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me 3. His ministring inward and spiritual Comforts Judg. 19.5 Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread And inward supports Psal 104.15 Bread which strengthneth mans heart Observ 1. Jesus Christ and Gracious Souls have a mutual interest each in other Christ is theirs and they are his 2. Such as believe in Christ may come to a sure and certain Knowledge of their Interest in Christ they may be able to say with much confidence Christ is mine and I am his 3. Every true Believer hath a great love to Jesus Christ yea he loveth Christ above all things and persons in the whole world My beloved or as some render it my best beloved 4. It is the work and office of Faith to appropriate and apply Christ to a mans own Soul My beloved is mine 5. The Lord Jesus Christ feedeth among the Lilies that is converseth with them delighteth in them Communicates Spiritual comforts and supports to them 6. It is a great comfort to the Saints in an evil day when they are as a Lilie among Thorns that Christ feedeth among the Lilies The Observation insisted on is Doct. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and the dangers and approaches of Death When it was a time of persecution and there were Thorns on every side and the Foxes spoyling the Vines the Spouse could triumph in this My Beloved is mine and I am his Luk. 1.47 The Virgin Mary went through sore afflictions as sharp as if she had a Sword run through her Luk. 2.35 yet her Spirit could rejoyce in God her Saviour Paul when shut up in Prison could and did rejoyce in Christ Jesus Phil. 1.13 compared with Phil. 3.3 We rejoyce in Christ Jesus Cant. 8.5 The Wilderness a place of great troubles and a land of the shadow of Death that is where they walked almost continually in danger of death Jer. 2.6 yet under all the troubles of the wilderness and the shadow of death there was refreshment by leaning on Christ 2 Sam. 30.6 David was in great distress that he wept till he could weep no more and was in danger of death yet he could encourage himself in the Lord his God Cant. 2.2.3 As a Lilie among Thorns yet there I sat down under his shadow with great delight Psal 23.1.4 The Lord is my Shepherd and what then though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil Sect. 2. VVhat is meant by an Interest in Christ How Christ becomes ours how we become Christs For the farther clearing hereof that an Interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the Fears and Terrors of Death it will be expedient to enquire what is meant by an Interest in Christ And how Christ becomes ours and how we become his To that end we may take notice of a three fold Interest in Christ 1. A general interest which is common to all men the evil as well as the good an interest by virtue of Creation and of Christs being Lord of all The Son as well as the Father was the Creatour of Mankind and all other creatures Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was And not only by Creation hath Christ a right to all Mankind but as Mediatour he is Lord of all and is made Judge of the quick and dead and hath power over all flesh Act. 10.36 Preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh This general interest in part as his creatures or as subjects of his Mediatory Kingdom is not that interest which is a ground of Consolation For he ruleth by his power in the midst of his Enemies Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies 2. There is a Titular Interest in Christ when men profess themselves to be Christs and profess and say that Christ is theirs but they are not his neither is he theirs in truth Joh. 1.11 He came to his own and his own recieved him not The Jews are called Christs own because they professed themselves to be the people of God but many of them were not his people Joh. 8.54 55. Ye say that he is your God yet ye have not known him Many lay claim to God as their God and to Christ as their Saviour that have no real interest in God and Christ 3. There is a special saving interest in Christ as our Redeemer which is when a man is made a partaker of Christ united to Christ and hath a real and
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel he was found of them § Such as want Evidence of their interest in Christ ought to trust in him for Salvation What grounds have such to trust in Christ 3. Though you want evidence of your interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death yet if you be such as live in the fear of God such as desire to be saved by Christ in his own way and upon his own Terms you may yea you ought to trust in Christ for eternal Salvation Isa 50.10 VVho is among you that fears the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God A man that truly feareth God may be in great darkness about his Spiritual State he may have no light that is no Evidence of his interest in God and the promises and so be in a very uncomfortable condition yet such ought to trust in Christ If any say what grounds hath a man that followeth after Righteousness and desireth to live in the fear of God and yet wanteth evidence of his Interest in Christ and the promises of God to trust in Christ for his Salvation § Grounds of trusting in Christ for Salvation for such as are in a dark condition as to their Interest in Christ A. 1. God sends his Son into the World to take our nature upon him and to die for our Sins for this very end and purpose to seek and to save Sinners who were in a lost and undone condition 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost 1 John 4.14 VVe have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the VVorld John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved These general expressions to save the World to save Sinners to save that which was lost opens a door of hope to such as can't see their interest in Christ but see themselves lost Sinners and hearing that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world to save lost sinners i◠shews them that there is hope for their Souls that they may obtain Salvation By Jesus Christ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world and who came into the world purposely to save sinners is an all-sufficient Saviour able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them He is able to save to the uttermost that is to save perfectly to save eternally to give all things requisite to Salvation he is able to justifie sanctifie and bring unto glory all that come unto him For his blood is available to take away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And his Spirit is able to sanctifie the worst and most polluted Sinners The Corinthians were the chief of Sinners Extortioners Drunkards Adulterors Abusers of themselves with mankind with other abominations yet they were sanctified by the Spirit of Christ of great sinners made eminent Saints 1 Cor. 62.10 11. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ inviteth and calleth all distressed Persons in all places that see themselves in a perishing undone condition to look to him and to come to him for Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of Earth That is let all Persons from one end of the Earth to the other that find a want of Salvation look unto me and I will save them Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 4. The Lord commandeth us to trust in his Son for the giving us eternall life 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he is displeased with those that do not relie on him for their Salvation Ps 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth and anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation 5. We have God promises yea many promises that he will give eternal life and blessedness to all whosoever they be that believe and trust in his Son Ps 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting life § The plea of such as can't trust in Christ for Salvation for want of Sanctification Obj. 1. None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified and in a state of Grace but I want evidences of my being sanctified and being in a state of Grace how then can I trust in Christ to save me A. 1. It is true that Christ sanctifieth all whom he saveth for without Holiness no man whatsoever shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. If a man live and dye in his sins without repentance and yet trust in Christ for Salvation he doth but delude himself for our Lord Jesus telleth us expresly that all that do not repent shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Though you want evidences of your Sanctification yet do you not find ardent desires of Sanctification do you not find hungrings and thirstings after Righteousness Such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness are in a blessed condition as well as they that have attained Righteousness Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Spiritual desires are an argument of the Grace of God bestowed upon us The gracious estate of the Servants of God is sometimes set out by their desires Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is to thee and to the remembrance of thy name Neh. 1.11 Thy Servants who desire to fear thy name Then our desires argue a gracious state when our desires of God and the things of God exceed our desires of other things Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. If you find in your self a want of Sanctification know this that you are to trust in
them her love to them and delight in them was as strong and fresh in her old age as in the day of her Espousals when she first set out and began to tast that the Lord was gracious It is not to be spoken how she hazarded her weak body to hear Sermons to attend upon the Lord in all opportunities enjoyable â—t was generally observed in Stratford that â—he was sick indeed if she was not at the word either on the Lords day or at Church meetings on the week day Nothing but a very afflictive hand of God kept her at home It was her daily study how to glorifie God in every condition and under every dispensation that was either prosperous or adverse that was principally her study how and in what way God might be most honoured and his name advanced by her She had a heart for Vniversal Obedience walking as Elizabeth in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless She evidenced that she was a friend to Jesus Christ by doing whatever he commandded her and through that friendship between Christ and her she found she could do nothing so well as the will of Christ and found that obedience easie loved Jesus Christ with a superlative love and served him not with half an a heart but sincerely with the whole heart yea delighted in serving of him she had a Law within suitable to the Law without which rendred it natural to her to act graciously Jesus Christ was her Life his Grace and Image were implanted in her Soul that from a Spirit of love to him even in old age when weak and sickly she acted for Christ yea above her strength he was in her so much by his Spirit that she thought nothing too much to do for him and his She was full of good projects and designs for Jesus Christ loved to visit the sick and afflicted and those who walked in darkness as to their spiritual conditions loved to acquaint themselves with her who by a great treasure of experiences was able to afford Counsell and comfort to them A Christian able to speak a word in season to the relief of any soul under spiritual burdens and pressures And as ready to impart what Jesus Christ had Communicated unto her and the Lord Communicated the more to her because she was so free to Communicate to others laying up her experiences as for her own good so for others that they might be comforted with the same comforts that she was comforted with-all Her discourse never tended to self applause or commendation neither was it burthensome frothy or unsuitable but always savoury Christian and profitable commanding the ears of all about her In her Family she was frequently taking opportunities in the day time and evening and when ever she thought it seasonable to be speaking of the things of God of the excellency of Jesus Christ of the way of Life by him opening the miserable condition of a soul out of Jesus Christ setting forth the evil of sin the immortality of the Soul the sufferings and eternity of the punishment of Hell to her Children Servants and those that lived with her and was daily dropping in and working upon them to make them serious and considerate and as God had given her a choice gift that way so he made a great use thereof her counsels warnings threatnings invitations and holy instructions were made singularly advantagious and useful to the convincing quickning and edifying those committed to her charge so as they had cause for ever to bless God for the gracious words which proceeded out of her mouth She was always taking of opportunities to be calling upon those in a natural estate to mind the great concerns of their Souls and to be exciting provoking encouraging and strengthning those whose face was Zion ward her words were as choice Silver seasoned with Grace mostly Scriptural The Sermons that she heard on the Lords day or Week day were much the Subject matter of her discourse The Light of Gospel Grace and Truth did so shine in her as that her presence laid a restraint upon Sinners it was a curb unto vain Persons if they came into the Room where she was present She was exact and much in private Duties every day and yet so prudent in the singling out of the time as that the place in the Family wherein she stood never missed her She had at all times a due respect to the duties of both Tables and both in her Life and Discourses shewed how inseparable they were commending to all persons with whom she had to do the necessary and indispensible observation of both She looked upon time as a precious thing that was not to run waste and was diligent in the improvement of the Sands of every hour so as there was no part of her Life from Morning unto Evening that was an empty space but was laid out either in doing or recieving good Like the Summer she brought forth every thing in its season wisely forecasting and timeing whatsoever she had the ordering of She studied to excel in faithfulness and uprigh ness in all she undertook like Nathaniel she was without allowed guile had the Testimony of her Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity she had her Conversation in the World very zealous for the truth of Jesus Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he went She had a very publick Spirit minding the good of others where she lived much taken up about the welfare of the Nation and was deeply concerned for the interest of Christ all the world over daily bore Zion and the work that God was doing in the world upon her heart and laid out her self much in Prayer for those things She had a large heart for Jesus Christ and for all that were his though of differing perswasions always putting the best construction upon every thing but sin was no way censorious or ready harshly to judge others but did most fairly coustrue their actions and carriaages speaking modestly and moderately of them Gospel Charity ruling her Spirit in all wonderful affable and courteous so as the Grace and sweetness in her words and carriage did win upon all that she conversed with that they loved her and said that she was made up of love She by Grace was enabled to Regulate her affections had a choice poise continually upon her Spirit that she seldom or never roiled or was disturbed but walked in an even and composed frame though none more sympathizing loving tender and affectionate than she yet were her affections always in order and under command free from excessive and disturbing passions that do often put the strings of the Spirits of most men and women out of tune and so render them unfit for what they are called too in the place wherein the Lord hath set them She had a fresh remembrance of the means and methods of the Lords dealing with her in bringing her Soul unto him and of her many experiences she had of
CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Wherein is shewed That Interest in Christ is a ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life and Terrors of death How they that have an Interest in Christ may retain the same Begun in A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Asty and since much enlarged By Owen Stockton late Minister of the Gospel at Colchester in Essex TOGETHER With the Life of the said Mrs. Ellen Asty Rom. 8. v. 38. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Rom. 8. v. 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. London Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1681. To the Worthily Honoured John Clark of Bury in Suffolk Esquire SIR IT is your seriousness in Religion together with your intimate Acquaintance with and respect for Reverend Mr. Owen Stockton that occasioneth the prefixing your name to the ensuing Treatise of which he was the Author He was one mighty in the Scriptures whose Life was much desired and his Death much lamented As you delighted to hear him Preach when he was alive So I doubt not but he being dead you are willing to hear him yet speaking especially in a word of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrours of Death I hope the Lord hath delivered your self from the Sting of Death but yet you may need some help against the fear of it Take a survey of your Mercy that you are not under the unhappiness of Christless Souls who through the fear of Death are all their life time subject to Bondage It is said that the Indians being alarum'd with the Approaches of Death by its Arrestment so as all hope of recovery is past then to behold and hear their throbbing sobs and deep-fetched sighs their grief-wrung hands and tear-bedewed cheeks their doleful cries would draw tears from Adamantine Eyes that be but Spectators of their mournful Obsequies Indeed it is unexpressibly sad to be under a Conviction as many are of the immortality of a never dying Soul and yet to be Strangers to the promise of Eternal Life Such must needs be Mourners without hope All the Cordials in the World in this case will not afford the least drop of refreshment to such disconsolate Souls nor will a Righteousness of our own be a sure bottom for Comfort against that last Enemy Death But behold here is a way deciphered whereby we may not only be helped to leave Riches Friends Wife Children Houses Lands and depart in peace but also with exceeding joy Interest in Christ will be a means to turn Death the King of Terrors into the King of Comforts it will make it of a bitter Enemy a familiar Friend an Out-let to Affliction and a Portal to Glory How that Interest conduceth to the fitting a Soul with Consolation is discovered here by this eminent Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton in a Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Mrs. Ellen Asty the Relict of that Reverend Mr. Asty late of Stratford in Suffolk which afterwards he much enlarged and so left it under his own hand It was intended that the said Mr. Stockton should have printed it together with her Life but Death arresting him before he had Accomplished that work Providence hath cast it upon my hands to draw her Portraiture out of the papers which were in his hands to that end which I have done accordingly and here present it to your self and to publick view I must say further that this is a Branch or part of a Treatise of his on the same Text entituled the best Interest which probably will follow speedily This and that together compleat the Subject yet either of them might have appeared to the Reader as a perfect and distinct Treatise had I not hinted thus much I shall only add that my ardent desire is that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may bless you with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ so prayeth September 1. 1681. Honoured Sir Your Servant in the Gospel Sam. Petto Errata PAge 3. l. 25. dele for p. 23. l. 26. r. there are p. 29. l. 12. r. grace p. 37. l. 29. dele should p. 42. l. 16. for ready r. really p. 44. l. 3. for upon r. yea p. 59. l. 10. for sight r. fight p. 60. l. 28. r. carried on p. 70. l. 13. r. trusting p. 88. l. 13 for here r. how p. 96. l. 17. for preserving r. preferring In Mrs. Astys Life Page 8. l. 26. dele never p. 9. l. 15. r. uprightness p. 10. l. 16. r. never seemed CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lilies THis Book containeth a Discourse concerning Jesus Christ and his Church Sometimes Christ is brought in speaking of his Church and sometimes to his Church And at other times the Church is brought in speaking of Christ and sometimes to Christ In this Text the Spouse of Christ is brought in speaking concerning Christ and expressing her grounds of Consolation that she had both under the troubles of Life and the danger of Death The troubles of the Church are set out Chap. 1.6 She was black because the Sun had looked upon her which signifieth the scorching persecutions that the Lord suffereth to come upon the Church to try the Faith and Patience of his Servants And she met with much anger and hard usage from her Mothers Children that is those that professed the same Faith with her self my Mothers Children were angry with me and made me the Keepers of their Vineyards and would not suffer her to keep her own Vineyard Her troubles are further set out Chap. 2. v. 2. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters that is compassed about on every side with sharp and sore troubles that did prick and grieve like Thorns or that her lot and habitation was in the midst of evil Men who were like Thornes in her side Her inward troubles are touched on which did proceed from her abundant love to Christ v. 5. I am sick of love Sickness makes a man restless such was her condition a restless condition Her troubles are also set out v. 15. There were Foxes abroad that made spoil of the Vines And these Foxes were of two sorts 1. False Teachers that did by false Doctrine corrupt and spoil the Vines Ezek. 13.4 Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes that is the false Prophets for the true Prophets support and cherish the Vines they are the false Prophets that spoil the Vines 2 Subtle and cruel Persecutors that seek after the lives of the Saints are these Foxes Luk. 13.31 32. Sect. 1. The Division of the Words with the Doctrines In the words
removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
his grace and love towards her She lived much in Communion with God there was an unspeakable intercourse between God and her Soul every day She would do nothing till she had spread it before the Lord and knew his mind and in things not only small but weighty She had such intimations from the Lord of his will and his secret was so with her as she before hand knew the mind of God because God had told hereby his Spirit for she gave not over till he had signified by his â—pirit upon her Spirit what was his pleasure what he would do or what he would have done and God did marvelously herein condescend to her not once but frequently or from time to time she was far from Euthusiasme but had such intimacy with the Lord that she went daily to him for some word some manifestation of himself to bear up her Spirit that day and he gave in either a word of promise or let out something of his attributes to her discovered of his Wisdom Power Faithfulness Allsufficiency Unchangableness and the like wherewith her inward man was fed and strengthned and when her Family concerns were more she arose the earlier and though attended with the greatest weakness yet always began the day with God and would not omit the seasons for private Communion with the Lord neither indeed could she live without them they being the life of her Spirit She lived in an eminent exercise of many graces of the Spirit She was well instructed in the mystery of the life of Faith lived in a daily dependance upon God for all in her greatest fulness she lived not upon the creature but upon God and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer in every strait she had recourse to the Al-sufficiency of God and would often say the creature runs into emptiness and the streams they dried up but the Fountain was ever full and flowing and in all losses and changes blessed her self in God her portion who was a faithful Covenant keeping God for ever she went to the Wisdom of God to be directed and waited there for Counsel every day her faith advanced into assurance of the love of God which she enjoyed most part of her days and thence issued spiritual and unmixed comforts as she walked circumspectly being careful not to provoke the Lord so he witnessed his love to her and filled her Soul with strong Consolation that she had a Heaven out of it's place even hereupon Earth she was in the Banquetting house of Jesus Christ in his Wine Cellar where his Banner over her was Love In a Letter of her own she said I have not only heard that God is good but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulness to me in all my streights and Widdow-hood condition I may say the Life of Faith is the sweetest Life in the World as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God so much comfort to our selves How full of Love she was to Jesus Christ is already manifested in her carefulness to keep his Commandments and also in her love to the Members of Christ both that and also her Humility and self-denyal appeared in that in her highest actings and best frame she disowned her self and leaned only upon Jesus Christ trusted only in him gloried in nothing but in Christ in the Cross of Christ in the Righteousness of Christ in the Love of Christ not in what she did for Christ though she did much and delighted in so doing but she gloried in the Grace of Christ that did much for her he and his Righteousness were all her life and comfort she had an eye upon the Incense the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ in all her approaches to God being ashamed of the mixture of sin those weaknesses and imperfections that were in her best performances notwithstanding all her strictness and exactness she lay as low before the Lord in the sense of her own vileness emptiness nothingness as if there were nothing in her She was much in exalting of Jesus Christ his merits and grace admiring what he had done for sinners touching their reconciliation to God the remission of sin their standing and priviledges in grace here and the glory that is to be revealed relying on the freeness and fulness of his grace alone as if she had done or were able to do nothing she did set the Crown on his head in all always saw that in her self which kept her low and humble before the Lord and nothing in her own eyes She excelled in and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles her afflictions were many and long often at the very mouth of the Grave in the latter part of her time seldom enjoyed a well day yet never murmured thought her afflictions small bore them with a chearful Spirit was always submissive to the will of God always thought and spoke well of God and justified him in all her Tryals She was wonderfully melted into the will of God and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased and was greatly satisfied in what he chose for her she hath said the will of God is sweet to her in every condition and under much bodily weakness if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content yet latter ward was mostly tryed in the Fire of affliction when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in stead of repining she said she was glad they had such a house and accommodations to leave for Christ and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him She was sorely tryed in the loss of her dearest Relations and choicest comforts in this World but she was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be and that with all alacrity and cheerfulness of Spirit She had a lively hope of future mercy of the life to come shee said she scarce knew how to live out of Heaven from Jesus Christ always groaning in the body to be delivered from the body of sin and death and to be with Jesus As she set out at first so she continued in the vigorous and constant exercise of all grace not loosing the life nor abating or impairing the strength thereof in old age under the decays of nature but in the 73 of her age she slept or dyed in Jesus and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of just men made perfect FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth.