who when he had received the witness of the Spirit from Heaven was led into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil God doth not take his Young men out of Babes immediately but out of little Children who are made strong by the Word and Witness of God abiding in them and the glory of these Young men is their strength Which leads me to the second thing to be treated of viz. what their strength is and wherein it lies CHAP. II. What is meant by their being Strong THE Text tells us that these Young men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong The great Critick Hesyâ—hius makes the word equivalent with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calcator a treader down and with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Firmus a settled and fixed person and both these are suitable to the thing in hand for our Young man is a conqueror and hath trodden down strength viz. the Devil under foot which is the usuâ—l phrase to denote conquest victory and triumph as may be seen in Deut. 33.29 Josh 10.24 25. Psal 44.5 Rom. 16.20 beside many other places which speak to the same purpose The other word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a settled person is pâ—t to the case also for settlement flows from victory others are aptto be tossed to and sro but these conquerors are fixed and immoveable But to keep close to the word and thing I shall speak of this their being strong as it notes the strength preceding the Victory and whereby they overcome and not that which succeeds to and abides after their conquest and victory Ye are strong i. e. ye are mighty and were so before the dispute and fight as well as after or else you had not overcome The strength of the Young men notes and denominates them to be men of might and valour men fit to undergo labour and to endure hardship as the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ and according to this notion you shall find that in the Scripture the hardest and most difficult employments have been assigned to and performed by Young men because they are strong and fit for such service The glory of young men is their strength Prov. 20.29 't is thus remarqued concerning Jeroboam 1 Kings 11.28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious Hebr. that he did work he made him Ruler over all the charge Hebr. burthen of the house of Joseph here is might valour work and burden-bearing spoken of this Young man In 2 Tim. 2.1 5. strength induring hardship and being a good Souldier are joyn'd all together Joshuah sent young men to spy out the Land Josh 6.23 The Porters mentioned in 1 Chron. 26.6 8. are said to be mighty men of valour strong men able men for strength for the service Now as 't is naturally 't is also morally the glory of Young men that they are strong But the Question is Wherein their Strength doth lie 'T is said of Sampson that his strength was in his Hair and of the Bohemoth that his strength is in his Loyns and his force in the Navel of his Belly Job 40.16 but wherein is the strength of these Young men 'T is originally in the Lord and the power of his might Ephes 6.10 or the grace which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 't is not the grace that is in us but that which is in him that is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12.8 9. and 't is of his sulness that we receive grace for grace as we have occasion to use it Joh. 1.16 with Heb. 4.16 God hath laid our help on him who is mighty to save and who goeth forth conquering and to conquer till all his enemies be made his footstool and subdued under his feet But among and above all the grace communicated to them their strength is in Faith or in believing for this is the victory whereby we overcome the world even our Faith 1 Joh. 5.4 5. and as hereby we overcome the world so him also who is in the world that is the Devil and therefore though every piece of Gods Armour be of great use yet we are advised above all to take the Shield of Faith whereby we quench the fiery darts of the Devil Ephes 6.11 16. Abraham was strong in Faith and in the strength of Faith did David encounter Goliah a type of the Devil and 't was by Faith that the Heroes mentioned in Heb. 11. wrought such wonders and obtained victories Vers 32 34. so that these young men are strong in the Lord strong in the Faith that is in them they go out in his name and do prevail 't is not in their own but his strength Phil. 4.13 for 't is not they of themselves do conquer but he that liveth in them by Faith that makes them conquerors Rom. 8.37 These Young men are Christs Armour-bearers and they slay after him as 't is said of Jnathan's 1 Sam. 14.13 'T is Jesus Christ who teacheth their hands to War and their fingers to fight so that the Devils bow of steel is broken by them and they believe down the Devil under their feet Through the strength of Christ living in them by Faith Ephes 3.16 17. they are almost omnipotent for they are able to do all things not only to abound but to be abased and to endure hardship Phil. 4.11 13 and by the power of his might all things are possible to them Abraham conquered doubts fears yea and naturally impossible things by strength of Faith he could live by Faith when his own body and Sarahs Womb were dead the things which crost and bound up his hope were no more to him than new Ropes and green Wit hs viz. the strongest were to Sampson before his Hair was shaved and his strength even God departed from him By this strength Jacob prevail'd with God and had his new name from thence Israel a prevailer with God 'T is by this strength that the Young men overcome the evil one and every one of his evils for so his temptations are called and the day of temptation is called The evil day Ephes 6.13 Be strong saith the Apostle in the grace or that grace which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 Now it may well refer to Faith which is in Christ Jesus for though it as all other graces be from him yet this is in him we believe in him and accordingly the same Apostle bids the same Timothy fight the good fight of Faith 1 Tim. 6.12 Faith is the Armour of proof against the Devils darts as was hinted but lately and if we will resist the Devil so that he may flee from us it must be by being stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Though the Devil roar most dreadfully like a Lyon yet a strong and stedfast Faith will make this King of terrours to run away And therefore as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand sast in the Faith quit ye like men be
If the foot shall say because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body and if the car shall say because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body No no you should by no means say so 't is a meer non sequitur So if thou shouldst say because I am not a Father I am not a Child of God it doth not follow for thou maist be a Young-man if not that yet a little Child if not that yet a Babe in Christ begin lowest do not stretch thy self beyond thy measure Nor let any be proud if they are gone beyond others to be puffed up and despise the weak But 3. Let every one be thankful and bless God for what he hath attained be it more or less Are any of you Cedars in Lebanon when others are but Shrubs as the Hysope on the wall or as the lillies of the valley are any of you like Saul taller than your Brethren by the head and shoulders are you crowned with the gray-hairs of wisdom and righteousness have ye overcome the wicked one have ye lain in the Fathers bosom give God the Glory who gave you the Grace Are others of you but of late admission or but of little and low stature are ye but Babes in Christ Yet despise not the day of small things let none of his mercies or consolations be small to you who are less than the least of them all 'T is great mercy to be one of Christs though but one of his little ones Our Lord Jesus chose twelve to be with him as his family whereof three were è secretioribus admitted to be his confidents Peter James and John and of these three John was the darling he was the Disciple whom Jesus loved with a peculiar love and was admitted to lie in his bosom now if thou be not a John yet thank him if thou be a Peter or a James if not of them yet that thou art one of the twelve but not Judas if not one of the twelve to be with him yet one of the seventy for he afterward inlarged the number to do him any service abroad Bless him that thou art a member of his body though but an ear or a foot that thou art a starr in his firmament though not of the first magnitude but the very least of all David had his several Worthies and the lowest was honorable though he attained not to the first three 2 Sam. 23.23 and among the thirty seven Vriab the Hittite was the last Verse 39. Though thou be the last yet 't is mercy to be one of the thousands of Israel Though thou do not sit at the Kings table yet bless him if thou be a Dore-keeper to behold his goings out and comings in Bless him that thou art one of the little flock though thou be not the Principal or the choise but the least of it If thou have learnt the A. B. C. of Godliness the first principles and elements of the Doctrine of Christ bless him for it thou knowest not how soon he may teach thee to spell out yea to read distinctly the more perfect lessons that thy joy may be full he takes notice of the kindness of thy Child-hood of thy lispings and essays to speak and go and he will perhaps take thee by the hand and teach thee to go from form to form till thou come to be one of the uppermost in the School of Christ and then he will remove and translate thee into the University the holy Academy where the Spirits of just men made perfect will bid thee welcome and be glad of thy Company then shalt thou be of the Society of true Christians of them that are in Christ indeed and shalt live with Christ for ever which is best of all At present if thou be not worth thousands rich in grace yet bless him that thou art worth any thing worthy of his calling and made meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light Coloss 1.12 by being delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Verse 13. Though he have not made thee a Father yet bless him that he hath made thee a Son though as yet but a Babe and under age he that blesseth God for a little is in the ready way to be blest with more Therefore again 4. Let every one that is not aim to be a Father and every one that is a Father aim at being more so for as there is a growth from one kind to another so there is a growth from one degree to another aym at and press forward to the highest state and utmost degree of perfection as Saint Paul did and thereby shews others the way Philip. 3.12 17. Be not content with being Babes but grow from thence to be little Children and from thence to be Young-men and from thence to be Fathers and so to be perfect men in Christ Jesus Ephes 4.13 16. Go from strength to strength till ye appear before God in Zion which is above Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 He had said immediately before take heed that ye fall not from your own stedfastness but lest ye should think it enough not to be Apostates or to be stedfast he presently and in the same breath subjoyns but grow in grace c. So 't is not only be stedfast and immoveable but abound yea be always abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and the Apostle Peter would not have us think that to be new-born and so to partake of a Divine nature is sufficient but saith he besides this add to your faith c. And if these things be in you is that enough No but if these things be in you and abound then an abundant entrance shall be administred to you into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.4 11. Do not content your self meerly with so much grace as will bring you into heaven the haven of happiness but that you may enter in with full sails with a plerophorie and full assurance 5. Let not the weak envy though they may emulate the strong nor let the strong despise the weak but be helpers of their faith and joy Poor Babes are apt to suffer their eye to be evil because God is good to grow sullen if others speed better than themselves but these things ought not to be so for God may do with his own what he pleaseth and give to every one as he will Many of this form are like Davids Brother Eliab who charged his inquisitive boldness upon the pride of his heart and considered not that 't was of the Lord who had chosen and preferr'd him before himself who was the elder Brother 1 Sam. 17.28 with 1 Sam. 16.6 7. Which haply was altâ mente repostum the very reason of
the grudge and picque against his Brother David Saul also ey'd him with an evil eye when his Victories increased and the ten thousands were attributed to David and but thousands to himself 1 Sam. 18.5 9. Thus 't is with weak Christians they are apt to envy their superiors and betters the very grace of God but let envyings as well as wrath be laid aside which the Apostles speaks to Babes 1 Pet. 2.1 2. On the other hand let not the strong despise the weak but bear with and bear their infirmities which is to fulfil the Law of love and of Christ Gal. 6.2 3. with Rom. 15.1 7. this honour is due to these weaker Vessels for God hath bestowed it upon them he hath so tempered the body that the hand cannot say to the eye I have no need of thee nor again the head 't is strange for the head is Christ yet his Church is his fulness Ephes 1.23 much less can any of the members say to the feet I have no need of you nay much more those members of the body which seem to be most feeble are not only convenient but necessary And not only we do or ought to give but God himself doth give more abundant honour to that part which lacketh 1 Cor. 1.12.21 24. 'T is said Prov. 22.2 The rich and poor meet together in the same body and the Lord is the maker of them all he that made him poor and thee rich could have made him rich and thee poor and as 't is now the rich need the poor as much as the poor need the rich therefore despise not the poor and low Job tells us that he despised not nor durst to despise the cause of his Man-servant no nor of his Maid-servant no though they contended with him for as he saith he could not Answer it to God who made and fashioned his Servant in the womb as he did himself Job 31.13 15. Excellent arguments Well then let not the Babe envy the Young-men c. In a great court many times there is a special favorite but all the rest are apt to envy him though they also are in the same court because they are not favoured and honoured as he is Every one would be the only one So too often in the Court of Heaven upon Earth i. e. the Church Jesus Christ the King of Saints takes one or other as John to be his bosom favorite and truely the other ambitious Courtiers cannot bear this they look upon such a person with an evil eye as Peter did upon John as you may read John 21. When Christ Jesus had told Peter not only what he must do but suffer also in relation to which he makes sure of his love first for one that loves not or loves little will not do or suffer much or willingly yet after this being told of his sufferings and nothing of that nature said concerning John he seems to take it ill and is not able to forbear asking the Question and what shall this man do which was a spice of envy for Christ takes him up for 't with an angty what is that to thee Joh. 21 15-22 When some poor souls Babes that they are see Children-Saints made so much of that they enjoy the light of Gods countenance and lie in his bosom all the day long and others Youngmen-Saints making great conquests and obtaining victories over temptations and when they hear Father-Saints tell long stories of their antient acquaintance with Christ through every turn and dispensation and what variety of experiences they have had in all conditions and withal how little joy victory experience c. they themselves have they are apt to envy and regret the others enjoyments and glory So perhaps on the other side when the Fathers hear the younger ones speak of experiences how they lisp and speak but dimidiata verba half words and see how short they fall of their attainments when the Young-men see how the Children are baffled and led into captivity by temptations when the little Children see how ignorant the Babes are and that they know not their Father at such times the rich and strong are apt to deride or at least to undervalue the poor and weak as unworthy of their company and converse 'T is but too common with them that know much to know it too much and for them that are wise and rich though but in their own eyes so many times to have very low thoughts and to speak as meanly of their inferiours but it should not be so with Saints if it be 't is their infirmity not to give it a worse name let not therefore him that eateth strong meat despise him that eateth milk nor let him that eateth but milk envy him that eateth strong meat that I may allude something to what the Apostle speakes in another case Rom. 14.3 6. Seeing there are several degrees of Saints let all be willing that each may have a share and portion at a Sermon or in an Epistle as here in 1 Job 2.13 14. or at least that some may be spoken to at one time and some at another for we cannot speak to all at once Some men must have patience at a Doal for all cannot be served at one time so it is in this case Some when they come to a Sermon think nothing worth the hearing but what is spoken to their case and truly almost so many minds as men if it be not a discourse for humbling saith one for consolation saith another for exhortation saith a third 't is nothing worth Thus one is for Paul another for Apollo and a third for Cephas some for Barnabas and others for Boanerges some for the Law and others for free-grace some for Faith and others for Works Fathers are for antiquities Young-men for wars Children for love-tokens and Babes for milk But my beloved all should wait for their meat and portion in due season And 7. Every one should endeavour to make the best use of what they hear and read All Scripture is profitable and is written for every ones learning Are Fathers spoken to 't is of use to the younger sort to provoke them to aspire and endeavour after such attainments and experiences and therefore the Apostle resolved to go on and to treat of perfection strong meat and doctrine though his Hearers were but Babes Heb. 6.1 Are the younger sort spoken to 't is of use to Fathers to call to remembrance what once they were for such were some of you And also to stir them up to thankfulness that God hath advanced them to a state of which it may be said such honour have not all the Saints and to say as David did Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou bast brought me bitherto 2 Sâ—m 7.18 I have heard of an eminent person who had been with others at a Sermon and when some complained and seemed to be offended because the Preacher was a Boanerges and threatned
sooner than others that were born before them yet each of them shall soones or later grow up to that measure of the stature of Christ to which they are appointed The Babe that is to be a Child by appointment shall be so by attainment and so of the rest No Saint shall die till he have attained the utmost of what he was designed to As none of Gods Elect I speak de adultis of them come to years die before they are converted so no converted ones die till they come to their maturity and be ripe like a shock of Corn for the Garner of God God gathers none but ripe fruit though some be riper sooner than other and as I may say some be Summer and others Winter fruit some die young and others old yet there shall not be an Infant of daies nor an old man that hath not fulfilled his years but every one shall attain to his full stature Isa 65.20 Our Saviour could not as he told that Fox be perfected till he had finished his work and then his hour came Luk. 13.32 33. When any of the Saints like him have glorified God on Earth by finishing the work God hath given him to do and every one hath his task set him and his work cut out to his hands Eccl. 9.10 then shall he go to be glorified as Christ did Joh. 17.4 5. as he could not die till then so he then would not but die David was a man of a publick spirit and served his Generation according to the Will of God and what then why then he fell asleep when his work was done he went to bed to rest in the bosom of God Acts 13.36 though his body saw corruption which Christs Body who was without sin did not see Indeed David thought to have done more work viz. to build the Temple but that was reserved for another and therefore having done his devoir he fell asleep So it was with Paul when the time of his departure was at hand he was ready to be oftered for saith he 2 Tim. 4.6 8. I have finished my course I have run to the end of my race I have nothing to do but to die So the reverend good old man Simeon could not die till he had seen and could not but die when he had seen the Salvation of God This then is the thing in hand that God having begun a good work will finish it before he take any of his converted ones out of this world he will bring them to their appointed stature it may be some may die in the good old age of Fathers others while Young men in their prime their marrow in their bones after great and glorious atchievements and victories others in their Child-hood while their love is fervent and strong and others in their Babe-state with the milk in their mouth but every one before the time of his departure come shall finish that work which was appointed for him to do 13. 'T is necessary to avoid scruples and objections that I premise this also these states are not so constantly fixed and immutable but that sometimes for a season there may be a variation A Babe may have a Spring-tide now and then but he ebbs again quickly and comes to low-water mark again The Child of Light and Love may walk in darkness God may so hide his face that the Child may not know his Father The Young man conqueror may be buffeted again and perhaps led captive and made a prisoner to a temptation a fit of forgetfulness or sickness may befal a Father and make him forgetful that he may seem to be a Child again but these intermissions rising of the low and fallings of the high do not alter their state No God measures none by particular acts or cases but according to the tenour and constant course of their frames and exercises The Corinthians made a great shew kept a great deal ado yet were Babes Paul himself was buffeted because apt to be puffed up prayed thrice before he had any Answer and yet he was a Father even at that time There may be some unevenness in the high and low and yet no alteration of their states The Church of Ephesus her love and works were more at first than when our Saviour sent her that Epistle and the Church of Thyatica her works more at last than at first yet we cannot conclude from the partial decay of the former or advance of the latter which was best at last for that might repent and this not hold fast which were the duties called for that from Ephesus and this from Thyatira but this we may clearly see that great beginnings of zeal may be intermitted and decay and on the other hand that small beginnings may increase to more and more godliness Some persons run without weariness and walk without faintness grow without intermission they meet with no rubs nor lets they are not nipt in the bud and put back by an hard season as some others are 'T is said of the Colossians that from the very day they heard of the Gospel and knew the grace of God in truth that they brought forth fruit Col. 1.6 there was no decay but a growth but the Hebrews they like the idle servant stood still at a stay Heb. 5. and were but Babes for a long time and indeed they met with many a stumbling block in their way which the Apostle indeavoured to remove in that Epistle that they if yet at last might go on to perfection There is a great variety in these things the first last and the last first very often the younger born is the elder grown in grace No man can conclude infallibly as to particular persons what their estate is at present or shall be for the future which brings me to a 14. Premise seeing no man knows nor any man can tell him what he is appointed to every one should aim at and propound to himself to attain the highest state as many a common Souldier doth to be a Captain many a young Student to be a Master and many an Apprentice to be not only a free-man or Common-council man but an Alderman This I speak that none may be idle or negligent but pursue after perfection Great things have been attempted upon a peradventure and an it may be If thou be but a Babe at present and hast been so for many years yet who knows but thou maist be a Father at last Let none therefore say I have heard prayed and waited so long and yet I see no more comes than did at first therefore I will take up with this stint which I have On let none say so for who knows but that after you have been planted in the House of the Lord and become well rooted grounded you may flourish as the Palm-tree grow up as the Cedars in Lebanon you may be fat and flourishing and shall bring forth more fruit in your old age than you did in your youth
and a Prophet to teach them They implicitely take whole Christ in all his offices and not divided And who but a new-born Soul doth The natural man especially if assisted by the common principles and grace of the Gospel desires to be happy and in relation thereunto may wish God to be his God by way of priviledge but then he fails as to the other part of being equally desirous to be Gods by way of duty which every Saint doth do in its measure yea though they have not yet attained the witness and seal of the Spirit that they are the Children of God The least Saint feels the work though it if I may so speak have not yet heard the voice of the Spirit bearing witness thereunto and is thereby in a sure state though it have not the assurance of it for 't is beyond nature at highest with all its attainments to desire and endeavour to serve God as well as to be saved by him to be like him as to be lik'd of him to be conformable to him as to have Salvation from him to obey commands as to enjoy promises and priviledges to be holy as to be happy to have grace to glorifie God as well as to be glorified thereby to be in Jesus Christ not only that there may be no condemnation but a new creation and to be sanctified as to be justified and saved to live as well as to die the death of the righteous 2. New-born ones have the Law of God in and written in their hearts and from this as from the living principle they act and bring forth the fruits of righteousness When the Law of God is in our hearts our hearts will b◠set to do it as 't is said Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy Will O God thy Law is in my heart and Isa 51.7 they are said to be the people who know righteousness the people in 〈◊〉 heart Gods Law is others may do some righteous Acts but these do it as their proper fruit springing from the root of the matter the Law of God and his truth in them and so 't is an evidence of their new-birth 1 Joh. 2. every one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a righteousness-maker as his Trade as some are called sin-makers in opposition to these 1 Joh. 3.7 10. every one that doth so do righteousness in obedience to God whose Law is in his heart is born of God Now this is said of the very Corinthian-Babes 2 Cor. 3.3 ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly Table of the heart This cannot be said of any but new-born ones and may be said of them that are but newly born even Babes in Christ From this Law written in their heart there follow and flow forth desires and endeavours after growth and such as will not permit these souls to be satisfied unless they attain it I say it begets desires after growth such as was clear'd before to be in Babes from 1 Pet. 2.2 For having tasted that the Lord is gracious and taken into their hearts what they have tasted they cannot but desire the sincere Milk of the Word of Grace to grow thereby They desire not only to live but to thrive and to be lively And though these Babes do not know or see that they grow according to their desire yet they know that they do desire to grow and that they would as be planted in the house so flourish in the Courts of the Lord and not be trees without fruit 'T is much to be fear'd that they have no grace who do not desire to grow in grace and whether they have grace enough to be saved who can be content with only so much grace as will save them Again they do not only wish and desire but do indeavour also to attain their wishes and desires viz. that they may grow and do therefore diligently and conscientiously attend upon and use all means that God hath appointed for their growth Naked velleities and idle wishes may be found in formalists and hypocrites but to be as indeavourous as desirous is congruous to and only found in the new creatures the new-born ones Balaam could profess and wish like a godly man but he instead of using answerable endeavours practised the clean contrary in formalists the end only is desirable but in true Saints the means are as desirable being not only the way to but a part of their happiness Yet once more True Converts though but Babes take not up and rest satisfied with desires and endeavours unless they attain the end of desires and endeavours or with the use of means without the end of means now it 's true these Babes attain but little and that 's the reason they are so restless and unsatisfied They have the least satisfaction of any Saints because they are much in desire and little in injoyment and therefore desire the more Others take up with desires and endeavours which these cannot do they prosecute and pursue still and say as Absolom Why am I come up from Geshur if I may not see the Kings face Hearing Praying c. is not a satisfaction to them though they do it as a duty unless they have communion with and conformity to God eekt out and carryed on thereby and all this is because the Law of God is written in their hearts 3. New-born ones are for the having their sin to be taken away and that not only by pardoning but by purging yea though their sorrows should continue If God should say to such a Soul I will take away all thy sorrows and make thee a chearful heart thou shalt have Corn and Wine and Oyl enough it would still say O Lord what 's this if I go graceless if my sins be not forgiven me take away my sins Lord though thou leave my sorrows and make me water my Couch with tears every day and walk mournfully all the daies of my life do any thing with me so my sins may be done away my heart will never be at ease till my sins be forgiven And this is not all but if God should further say to such a Soul I will forgive thy sin and remember it no more to charge it upon thee but I will leave thee under the power and bondage of it Oh Lord would this foul say though I bless thee for a pardon and that I shall by that be kept from being damned yet Lord this doth not satis fie me I have as hearty a request to make that I may be purged and that I may be taken from sin as that sin may be taken from me that I may be delivered from sins dominion as from damnation David doth not only pray Lord blot out my transgressions but Lord wash me and cleanse me throughly from my sin Psal 51.1 2. and it seems this was after the Prophet had said The
Lord hath put away thy sin 2 Sam. 12 13. and who but converted ones are of this frame Others can be content with hearts ease peace and good things though they live in the love of one or other darling sin especially if they do but entertain a conceit that God will pardon them purging is not the thing that any do heartily mind but gracious Souls Beside there is this considerable and worthy of a remark as to these new-born ones that though they have no assurance of a pardon nor have any great conquests over their corruptions by reason whereof they have little satisfaction and much sorrow yet they can in their serious and sedate frames truely say that they are glad to hear and see that other Saints do God better service than they do they mourn that themselves are no better and yet rejoyce that there are any better than themselves Indeed in a fit and pang they do more than emulate even envy those happy and advanced souls and yet in cold blood as we say cannot but be glad that God hath better servants than they are that there are Sons in his house and service though they be but as hired Servants Alas saith such a poor Babe I am one of the most worthless wretches on earth I live at so poor low and inconsiderable a rate that I am ashamed of my self and am not worthy to be called a Christian but notwithstanding this I can through grace rejoyce that God hath his Abrahams Davids Jobs Pauls c. who glorifie his name at a better rate They admire the happiness of and bless them who stand before the Lord and minister to his name and glory as the Queen of Sheba did Solomons Servants Yea if at any time in any thing they have been instrumental to the glory of God and serviceable to his name and people as the Babes were Heb. 6.10 they are glad of it though they have not yet the reward of it but God seems to have forgotten it and they themselves do scarce keep it in mind as appears by Matth. 25.37 But now take Hypocrites and Formalists they grudge what they do as Mal. 3.14 and profess Christ Jesus out of envy to the Saints as vying with them for a reputation Phil. 1.15 16. 4. New-born ones will not depart from God let God say they deal with us how he will yet this is the resolve of our souls we will never leave him nor forsake him for all the pleasures profits and preferments of this world no though he kill us we will trust in him Though God use them like the Dogs under his Table and feed them with but a bit and a knock too and give them not a meal of the Childrens bread yet they will thank him for what they have and wait for more as the woman of Canaan did Will an Hypocrite do this wait and pray alwaies I trow not These Babes say to God as Ruth to Naomi I will not leave thee but will follow thee and the Lamb though to the Grave come of it what will In the way of thy Judgements will we wait on thee Isa 26.8 If like Ephraim they are under the chastenings of God and be for a while as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke yet they cry out again Turn thou me and I shall be turned they return and repent they smite on the thigh and are ashamed and God hears this as the voice of his dear child and doth remember them and will surely have mercy on them Jer. 31.18 20. If like Israel they have followed other lovers and God therefore hedge up their way with Thorns yet they return to their first Husband and grant it to be their folly that they departed from him Hos 2. Though Peter fail of his promise and plighted troth yet he weeps bitterly and makes it good at last that he will rather die than utterly and finally forsake or deny him and so 't is with every Babe in Christ who though they fall yet fall not away but return and live Only let me leave this caution Take not up with these words without this work with fancy without feeling It may be some Hypocrite or Formalist may hear this and give it out as if he had attained this but 't is not what the words of our mouth are but what the frame of our heart is 't is not saying but feeling not expression but experience that will warrant us to be in such a state 'T is not being able to say these things by heart but having them in our heart and holding them forth in our lives that will do us good These are the things which I lay down as the characteristical discoveries of new-born ones which distinguish them not only from common sinners but from the most refined Hypocrites and Formalists I have not pitcht on many lest I should clog nor on doubtful ones lest I should amuse poor Babes but these which are essential to the new-birth state for indeed they are all promised in the new Covenant and wrought in all their hearts with whom the Covenant is made and that is with all Saints as such and not with respect to degrees as some promises are which was hinted long since Let us examine the Covenant and we shall find all these things punctually and particularly so Jer. 31.31 34. with 32.38 40. 1. I will be their God and they shall be my people This is not only promised but effected and wrought and as 't is in Gods heart to be their God so 't is in their heart to be Gods people and the one and other is desired by them which made the first head 2. I will put my Law into their hearts This is not to be laid up there as writings in a chest to be idle and without effect but 't is there that they may do it that they may fear the Lord and keep his Commandments that they breath after full obedience thereunto which made the second head 3. I will remember their sin no more Which notes not only forgiving but subduing of sin Rom. 6 14. which makes the third Head 4. They shall not depart from me That is wholly and finally as God will not leave them totally so nor they God which is the fourth Head Now this is clear as the Sun that the new Covenant Promises and frames are found accomplished in all Saints and in none but Saints that is the end of all and none but redeemed ones which is the end of the Redeemer and that is to be holy c. Tit. 2.14 and that becomes the aim and end of Elected ones which is Gods in Electing and that you may read Ephes 1.4 God the Father Son and Spirit are one and agree in one Election Redemption Sanctification to Salvation have one and the same subjects and all these have one and the same desire as to the things designed they all agree in breathing after the effects of God the Father Son and Spirits design
I have spoken of it is a great attainment and glorious priviledge will be evident by these following Considerations or considerable proofs to begin with the Old Testament 'T is Prophesied of in the Old as the glory of the New Testament The Prophecies of the time and world to come the Messiah or Gospel dispensation were glorious far beyond their present injoyments and the Prophets were more Seers in respect of what was to be than of what was so the Apostle tells us expresly 1 Pet. 1.10 12. and when the day dawns and the day-star ariseth in our hearts it supersedes the Prophecis they being then know in accomplishments so that we may say with a little alteration as Joh. 4.39 42. Many believed because of the Prophecies which testified of these things but more believed because of his own word and now they may say We believe not only because of their sayings but because we have heard and selt him our selves 1 Joh. 1.1 3. and know that this is indeed the Spirit of his Son which beareth witness with our Spirit of Adoption Now among many other Prophecies of the glorys of the Gospel-Saints this is one that they should know God as a Father and their Father Psal 89.26 which is spoken of David and of Christ who was more a David than David was He shall cry unto me Thou art my Father Isa 63.16 't is spoken what they should say in time to come Doubtless thou art our Father So Chap. 64.8 But now O Lord thou art our Father Jer. 3.19 I said How shall I put thee among the Children and I said thou shalt call me My Father Again to know God as our Father is in the New-Testament put as a greater glory than to know him as our God for 2 Cor. 6.16 't is said I will be their God and they shall be my people but if they come out from among them and be separate and touch not the unclean thing then I will receive them and will be a Father to them and they shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty God is the God of Angels but to which of them said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son The Apostles add this Title to that of God 2 Cor. 11.31 Ephes 1.3 1 Pet. 1.3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whence 't is apparent that 't is fuller of sweetness that God is Our Father than if he were only our God The great if not the greatest discovery which Christ promised to make by sending the Spirit to do it was to make known the Father They had heard him speak much of the Father and of knowing the Father Joh. 14.1 7. whereupon saith Philip Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us Vers 8. from whence our Saviour takes an occasion to speak more at large of the union that was between him and the Father and that in knowing him they might know the Father also and that whoever loves him shall be loved of the Father and that the Father would send the Holy Ghost to be the Comforter under which name he had not yet been at least not so clearly and fully known and that therefore they should rejoyce because he went to the Father with many other such like sweet things in that Chapter And Chap. 16.25 The time cometh viz. when the Comforter cometh that I will shew you plainly of the Father and in Vers 26 27. places more comfort in it than in his own intercession for us which yet is one of the greatest comforts we have as may be seen in Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.1 Accordingly the good news which he sent his Disciples after his Resurrection was this that he was ascending to his God and their God and not only so but to his Father and their Father Joh. 20.17 To have the witness of the Spirit and so to know the Father is such another honour as was confer'd on Christ himself as the Spirit is the Spirit of his Son so the glory is the glory of his Son viz. such as he had Matth. 3.17 and 17.5 which voice and testimony is called a receiving honour and glory from God the Father 2 Pet. 1.17 And when the like Testimony is born by the Spirit of God to our spirits we receive honour and glory from God the Father For if it be so great an honour to be known of God how much is it to know him and to know him as our Father Gal. 4.9 1 Cor. 13.11 12. Phil. 3.12 By all these things it appears that it is a great glorious and sweet priviledge to know the Father by the witness of his Spirit SECT 4. Shews wherein the glory and sweetness of this priviledge consists THE second thing I am obliged to discover and to treat of is the glory and excellency of his priviledge that the little Children can cry Abba Father And it lies much in two things 1. That they have a great deal of freedom boldness and assurance in their addresses to God and appearings before him at the Throne of Grace and in the day of Judgement That they have at the throne of Grace is express upon the account of their Intercessor and High-Priest Heb. 4.14 16. And indeed the Spirit becomes a Spirit of Prayer an Intercessor in them as it follows Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirits knowledge is more to their advantage and comfort than their ignorance is to their detriment They go to God as to a Father as Children use to do to their Fathers but with a much more assurance Matth. 7.11 as the Prayers of Christ are heard alwaies Joh. 11.41 42. and by his Prayers he can obtain and do mighty things Matth. 26.53 because they are addrest to his Father so 't is also with these that know the Father 1 Joh. 3.21 22. and 5 14 15. God alwaies had his favorites who had his ear and heart and hand to command almost for his Sons and Daughters such were Noah Daniel and Joh Moses Jâ—shuah and Samuel Abraham Jacob c. And now these little Children the Johns that lie in his besom Joh. 13.21 26. are such as they viz. great prevailers with and obtainers from the Lord as our Saviour tells them and us Joh. 14.12 13. Joh. 15.7 and 16.23.24 all which places and promises refer to what they should ask and receive and do after he was ascended and had sent the Spirit to make known the Father to them As they have great boldness at the throne of Grace so in the day of Judgement also for perfect love a Pierophorie or full assurance hath boldness in the day of Judgement because as he is so these are in this world viz. he is declared and witnessed to be the Son and these are to be the Sons of God 1 Joh. 4.17 they shall have confidence at his coming 1 Joh. 2.28 2. The
he will glorifie it again then say Father thy Will be done as your Saviour did and conclude that your Father will not leave you nor forsake you that you should be a prey to this mighty and a captive to this strong one If you should any of you be called out to this War take these encouragements for your help 1. The cause is good called the good fight of Faith libertas agitur pro aris focis the Devil would turn you out of house and home and deprive you of your right and title to Heaven 't is about heavenly things this dispute Ephes 6.12 and whether ye be the Sons of God or no In other wars the cause is none of the best nay many times very bad but this is clear and without exception that we should fight against the Devil and all his works which wars against our comforts souls and happiness Fear not then but fight for your Cause is good and just 'T is to defend your own rights and liberties 2. The Battel is the Lords this Goliah desies not only Israel but the living God in calling your title into question he calls the truth of God and the witness of his Spirt into question so that God is engaged with you and will plead his as well as your Cause and will be jealous for his name and for his people you fight for God and therefore God will fight for you As you may be said to help the Lord against the mighty so the Lord will help you against their might This day saith David to Goliah will the Lord deliver thee into my handâ— for the Battel it the Lords 1 Sam. 17.46 47. If the Lord be with us it matters not who be against us the gates power and policy of Hell shall not prevail no not Death it self for that Grotius understands by the gates of Hell 3. You fight under such a Captain-General Jesus Christ as never turn'd his back was never foil'd but went alwaies on conquering and to conquer Nil desperandum Christo duce auspice Christo Look to Jesus who is the leader and bringer up the Author and will be the finisher of your Faith Heb. 12.2 3. This great Commander doth not say ite but venite go and fight but follow me and 't is alwaies an huge incouragement to bear Arms and fight under the conduct of a successful General 4. You are to fight with an enemy that hath been conquered by Christ Jesus and by many of your Brethren the Devil is not so dreadful as he was before Christ died Heb. 2.14 15. The Prince of peace hath conquered the King of terrors and many of your Brethren have confuted and defeated him many times 'T is true his wiles are his worst weapons and his wit is more than his might yet 't is true his ill-will and malice is more than his wit and he hath been befool'd many a time notwithstanding all his cunning devices and put to shame for his malicious lying as in Jobs case and many others 5. You are provided with Armor of proof Armor of Gods making as well as of Gods appointing and 't is such as there is none such none like it You have the same Sword that Jesus Christ and the Young men your Brethren have conquered the Devil by and the same Shield of Faith to quench his fiery darts with this Armour is mighty through God 2 Cor. 10.3 6. God will take care for your pay you shall not war at your own charges 1 Cor. 9.7 beside the glory of overcoming you shall have a Crown of glory after you have overcome 2 Tim. 4.7 8. To him that overcometh God will give honour for they that honour him he will honor their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 7. God hath promised you success and Victory certus enim Promisit Apollo he will tread Saran under your feet shortly Rom. 16.20 He shall be cast out and you shall overcome him Rev. 12.9 10 11. Read the 41. of Isay from the eighth to the seventeenth Verse that through the comfort of that as other Scriptures also written for our consolation you may have hope and strong consolation Well then be strong in the Lord and the power of his might for by no other strength do any or can you prevail though it be said that by strength shall no man prevail yet by strength do all men prevail 't is an Orthodoxe Paradoxe By strength no man nor Devil shall or can prevail against God 1 Sam. 2.8 10. Let no man therefore provoke the Lord to jealousie for he hath no match he is stronger than all and none shall take his Saints out of his hand who ever fought against God and prospered but there is a strength of Faith and Prayer like Jacobs by which some prevail with God and they are Princes the true Israelites Hos 12.3 4. with Gen. 32.24 28. When God yields we prevail with him and when we yield not but are strong in the Lord resisting the Devil we prevail over him 'T is by no strength but by Christ strengthening us that we can do all things Phil. 4.13 'T is not by strength of wit or reason not by strength of hands or legs or strength of our Spirit and courage but by the strength of God of his Word Grace and Spirit abiding in us that we prevail 2. As to the Young men I have no more to say but to exhort them to make good what hath been said of them in all particulars Make it appear that you are strong that the Word of God abideth in you that you have overcome the evil one which will prove that God is your God and Father Rev. 21.7 and that none shall separate you from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. ult shew the tokens and signs of your Victory let the dispositions and conversations of Young men be apparent in your lives holding forth the Word of Life and power in the works of your lives that so you may grow up to be Fathers in Israel and gray-hair'd in righteousness which will be to you a Crown of glory as strength was your glory while you were Young men Live and thrive like them that eat digest and concoct strong meat that feed on the eternal Love of God and the Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ which belongs to the little Children to you and to the Fathers who all in your several measures by reason of use or habit have your senses exercised to discern between good and evil Heb. 5.14 The FOURTH CLASSIS OR FATHERS IN ISRAEL From 1 John 2.13 14. Vers 13. I write unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning Vers 14. I have written to you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning THE Fathers it seems if I may adventure to say any thing of them are usually such for Age as well as attainments the Ancients and Elders of Israel whose gray