promised to supply that good save from that evil Why then my soul shouldst not thou joy in hope of it or mayest thou not have hope since God hath promised it And why doth not thy hope beget joy in outward things it doth so Thou mayest see the full joyes of Heaven Christs presence Gods face perfect glory and these all enjoyed by thee all enjoyed I say by hope and that by such an hope as cannot fail Rom. 5. 5. as makes not ashamed It s sure and presents the things hoped for most sure for it hath the certainty of Faith for its ground and that is the certainty of God himself For Faith buildeth on Gods promises and they are most certain confirmed by two immutable things First The Word of God Secondly The Oath of God Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19. For men swear an oath for confirmation it is then an end of all strife God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast Yea thy Faith and Hope hath as the immutability so the fidelity and truth of God to rest upon he can as well cease to be God as not to be so good as his Word It hath also the purpose and deâ—ree of God for Gods promises are onely the expressions of his purpose and decree And as the Mercy of God so it hath also the Merit of Christ the efficacy of his Obedience Passion and Intercession And thus also its sure for Christ hath merited all good things for thee present and to come whether it be pâ—rdon of sin victory over sin subduing thy corruption the favor of God or what ever else thou wantest And it s necessitated now by Gods Justice also That being satisfied by Christ and his satisfaction by God accepted Oh why then shouldst not thou joy in hope of all these O consider the strength of all these Arguments to cause and increase Hope and Joy in thee The joy of the Lord is our strength Nehâ— 8. 10. Therefore O my soul be thou no moâ—e so cast down for time to come why art thâ—u oâ— why shouldâ—st thou be so O rouzâ— up and encourage thy self in thy God and strengthen thy Faith by meditating on the truth and goodness of these promises their excellencies sweetness and usefulness to thee and by Resisâ—ing doubtings and so stir up thy Faith in them This is the place of living by Faith therefore O my soul live thou by Faith that is finde out a promise of what ever thou wantest and â—enture on it with eâ—pectation hoping above hope and so fetch every thing thou needest fâ—om the promises O that thoâ— woâ—ldst sing that triumphant Song that the Apostle Paâ—l doth Rom. 8. 38 39. I am perswaded that nâ—ither deâ—th nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinâ—s present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate theâ— from the â—â—ve of God which iâ— in Christ Jesus our Lord. O my soul pray and strive so to do O that thou couldst say as the same Apostlâ— doth Phil. 1. 23. I desâ—re to be dâ—â—olved and be with Christ which is best of all Truly in the mean while God alone is thy portion for thou hast taken him so to be And if God alone be present with thee it s enough He were not God iâ— he were not All-sufficient Now thou hast him in Faith in pledges and earnest yea in possession why then dost thou not enjoy him why dost thou not shake off that senceless drowsiness which makes thy life unpleasant and uncomfortable as though thou hadst none of God O leave off over-heaviness to those that want God to those that either know him not or know him displeased not in Christ Thou Lord shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards bring me to glory as Psal 73. 24 25 26 28. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart â—aileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portâ—â—n for ever It is good for me to draw neer to God I have put my trust in the Lord God and â—o he answers I will not leave thee nor forsake thee no never as Heb. 13. 5. No at no time When thou art therefore in any strait or distress that thou knowest not what to do then go freely and boldly to the throne of grace in the Name through the Mediation of Christ There 's a friend that will help thee and relieve thee sustain and deliver thee When all other helps â—ail yet I say he will never fail thee do I say so nay verily of a truth it is God himself saith it by his Spirit speaking in his Apostle Therefore build on it â—â—st on it as most certain For as God is truth it self so are all his promises let them be beleeved by thee Press the Lord with his own word or promise and he will perform them even to thee Lord thou hast said that sin shall not have dominion over us as Rom. 6. 14. O let it not have have dominion over me make good that word of thine to me O when shall that time once be O that thou wouldst this day nay this very hour at once kill all sin in me Lord thou hast said Thou wilt Mich. â— 19 subdue our iniquities O Lord do thou it in me for they are too strong for me Is any thing to hard for God no sure surely thou hast power enough to do it And thou saidst thou arâ— willing O what then hinders O my God let thy Spirit come sâ—nd it with power and make its vertue to appear in subduing all sin in me and raising me up to a new a holy life such a life as thou wouldst have me live Lord thou hast said That we shall seek thee with all our hearts and that thou wilt befoâ—â—d of us Jere. 29. 13 14. O remember thine own everlasting Covenant made with thy â—ervants Jere. 32. 40. That thou wilt put thy fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from thee And thou hast said Thou wilt comfort us and we shall be comforted even as one â—hom his mother comforts Iâ— 66. 13. Lord make good these promises in which thou hast caused thy servant to trust O keep thy servant that â—o presumptâ—ous sins prevail over me And cleaâ—se me from â—y secret sins yea from all my sins of thought then shall I be â—pright and I shall be innâ—cent and free from the great transgressions Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redâ—â—mer A SERMON Composed for the FVNERAL Of that prâ—â—ious Woman Mrs ANNE SKELTON of S.
COMFORTS Against the fear of DEATH Being some short Meditations composed by that precious Gentle woman Mrs. Anne Skelton late of Norwich Wherein are several Evidences of the work of Grace in her own Soul which were the Stay of her Heart against the fear of Death From which may be discerned the â—â—able of a true Christian spirit To which is added some short Notes of a Sermon preached at the Burial of that choyce Servant of God in St. Andrews in Norwich By JOHN COLLINGS M. A. and one of the most unworthy Embastadors of Jesus Christ for the preaching of the Gospel in the said City Phil. 1. 21. For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Ver. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a 〈◊〉 to depart and to be with Christ which is far 〈◊〉 London Printed by I. M. for Nathaniel Brooks and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Corhnil 1649. TO My truly honored Friend WILLIAM SKELTON Gent. Increase of Happiness and Comfort SIR IT is my happiness that I can be acquainted a little in her writings with her with whom God was pleased to give me so short a time of acquaintance in this life Sir though I could not deny my worthless labors as my last piece of service to her yet had it not been to tempt out this little piece into the world I should have denyed this Sermon any further publication then the Pulpit in which it was preached I need not excuse it to you Sir who know enough what impar opus humeris constantly lies upon my shoulders that I had neither time to compose it not yet since to enlarge or refine it but have sent you my own Notes totidem verbis as the first day written I shall beg Sir That her Notes may be prefixed to the Sermon I shall be a little covered under so sweet a shadow and the Readere expectation will be satisfied before his eye reacheth my Sermon But Sir without a Complement which is but the folly of excuse the Sermon holds out something of Christ his name is precious Reading Rhetorick c. are but the poverty of the Creatures endeavors In her writing you will be a Spectator to a pitcht battel sought betwixt her Soul and Death My Sermon will present you with the Conqueror singing Triumph we sight but Christ conquers nay to speak truth he both fights and conquers too After I had seen her upon her death-bed so fully triumphing over the King of Terrors I could not but at her Funeral rejoyce concerning Death with crying O Death where 's thy sting O Hell where 's thy victory It hath often pleased my secret thoughts to remember her over-looking Death when the pangs of Death had taken hold of her Ah Sir how sweet is it to have an assurance of Christs love What a nobleness of spirit is there in the true Christian that can call Death and Hell cowards It is no marvel to see a profane beastly wretch whose conscience the Lord hath feared to damnation dying quietly but to see a knowing Christian of an awakened conscience to dye triumphingly and make an holy-day of leaving all Creature-conteâ—â—nents O this is the mighty Conquest of the Soul through the great work of him that hath led Captivity captive Sir methinks it should comfort you to think how willing she was to part with you though before more dear then her own life to her It argued no want of love to desire Christs company more then yours Alas Sir you never dyed upon the Cross for her Let it refresh you Sir to think how much you were beholden to the Bridegroom of Glory that he would trust you with his Bride so long a time The enjoyment of such a Saint thirty years Sir is a great piece of Heaven Is she gone No Sir only restored Where she is she is in good keeping and as well-beloved as she loves You have resigned her Sir And it was but Justice that the Lord Jesus should have his Wife when he sent such a messenger for her as would not be denyed Ah! Sir let us follow she is gone before It should seem her Mansion was ready before ours or which is most probable her Soul was fitter for it then ours She was first drest and therefore is first gone to take her walk in the Paradise of God Sir let us blush and get ready how long shall her glory antidate ours But it will be some comfort to think that though she hath got the start in Heaven before us yet she will be walking there till we come It is a rare walk that wearres not the feet of he Redeemed ones Here we wall upon stones there we shall have a gardes-walk and legs that cannot be weary â—ut yet let us make haste there 's odds betwixt Earth and Heaven what ever our enjoyments here be This Sermon â—â— rather her own prefixed Meditations may mind you of her Sir who now is before the Throne and is satisfied with the likeness of him who is the brightness of his Father's glory I beseech you Sir as it minds you of her so let it quicken you after her So shall God have the glory your Soul the comfort and he the answer of his prayers who is Sir Your most unworthy Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus JOHN COLLINGS From my study in Châ—plyfield house in Norwich August 26 1648. TO THE CHRISTIAN AND Ingenious Reader Especially such as fear Death for want of assurance of Christs Love Christian Reader I Here present thee with a copy after which I would have thee to write some few Meditations of that precious Saint of God Mistriss Anne Skelton I need not speak for her as those parents said of their child so I shall say of her She is of age let her speak for her self Of age she is for she hath taken up her inheritanes in Glory what her life was let her books speak It was not her course to triffle away her time by sleeping or dressing as the most of her quality use to do God had given her another Spirit viz. to strive to go as fast to Heaven as most gallants do to go before each other in â—all I was acquainted with but a few of her last days but it was easie to discern by the honey the laboriousness of the Bee Her reported practise was to have made Heaven her â—say and the necessary things of this world her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if her time allotted for worldly affairs would allow her any minutes for God she would improve them of they would do her no good she was resolved they should do her no hurt by committing sacriledg upon her religious hours if her Kitchin would lend no time to her Closet yet she would be sure it should steal not a minute from it For her worldly imployments as she was consciencious in her relations so she was refreshed when she could wash the pitch from her fingers and
Yea dost thou not abhor thy self judg and pass on thy self the sentance of condemnatior to be thy due desert and that it were just with God if he had cast thee into hell long ago No no hypocrite ever was willing to have this filthy sink of his wholly laid open to God as thou my Soul art But did God leave thee in this miserable wretched desperate and damnable condition thou art in by nature since the fall of Adam whose 〈◊〉 thou wert then in and so guilty of his sin and not only so but deprived of that Image of God that there is in thee nothing that is good noâ— a strange averseness and unpâ—ness to all good and a pronness and readiness to all evil No no for ever blessed praised and magnified be my good God that out of his own free and unspeakable love infinite mercy and abundant goodness he hath found out a way and shewed thee a way and means to free thee from this misery save and make thee eternally happy that neither Angels not men could do no way whereby no â—â—eature no means in Heaven or Earth 〈◊〉 do it as Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvatioÌ„ in any other for there is no other name under Heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved Even then God manifested his superabundant surpassing unsearchable unexpressable incomprehensible love to the utmost to give his only begotten and deerly beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity God to take upon him our nature and dye and shed his most pretious blood for sinners of whom thou art chief and in the Gospel God offereth his Son Christ freely to all that will come and drink of this water of Life freely as Rev. 22. 17. therefore as freely to thee as any other Yet further to heighten this wonderful Love of God consider the time when he did this even then when thou desiredst it nor nor soughtst it nay when thou wert an enemy and traytor to him and then for God so infinite in Majesty so to condescend to poor wretched sinful man that had so falâ— and plunged himself into such a woful sinful and damnable condition Oh how great is the riches of his mercy and love Yet God 〈◊〉 not there but behold more in the Gospel he opens the worth Excellency All sufficiency and Fitness of Christ to save thee in particular and he helps thee with grounds and incouragements to beleeve in Christ though but weakly and he doth in some measure strengthen thee to rest and cast thy self on his mercy in Christ because of his promises yea at such times as there is a sense of the waâ—â— of him so David Psalm 42. 5 8 9 11. And now my Soul â—ast thou not not accepted of and imbraced this free offers or render of Christ made to thee by God thy Father in as much as the Gospel is preached to thee and that upon his own terms in all his offices applying him to thy self to be thy King and Soveraign Lord to rule and govern thee by his Laws his Word and his Spirit to be thy Prophet to discover the Counâ—ile of God to thee and reveal himself to thee in his Gospel and to guide and instruct thee in his Baths Dost thee not as much and heartily desire to have Christ rule thee as to love thee or â—oâ—he a Priest to offer up himself a Sacrifice for thee Thou darest not thou canst not deny it A second Sign or Evidence of Saving Grace â—o thy earnest and unsatisfied restless desire of Christ Nothing but Christ can satisfie my Soul I thrist after him my hearts pants for him as the Hart after the rivers of water so panteth my Soul for thee O Lord and I will never give thee rest but will wrastle with thee as thy Servant Jacob once did I will never let thee go thou that hast promised to give Christ to them that ask till thou give me Christ and make me to know that he is mine and I am his I can in truth say so for as I can search and know mine own heart if it do not deceive me as the Apostle saith Phil. 3. 7 8. The things that werâ— advantage to me I now account loss for Christs sake yea I esteem all things but as dung incomparison of Christ Dost not thou my Soul prize Christ sat afore all outward contentments Even in the height of them they are but as withered flowers to thee no pleasure not sweetness in them without Christ Nay no inward corruption but thou art right willing to part with for him It 's not the manner of Hypocrites to be thus willing to relinquish all outward contentments much less to â—aâ—don all inward corruptions for Christ but in them is still some private Reservation But the earnest desire of my Soul is to have all sin subdued in me Lord Lord by the power of thy holy Spirit mortifie and kill every sin Oh! let not any one sin rule in me that I should obey it in the lust of it though sin doe well in me yet let me overcome it truly it is my heavy burden that I am in yoked with sin therefore long I to go out of my self for in me is nothing that is good But in Christ is all ability to duty and against sin all life and profit from the Ordinances and Christ conveys all especially to his Members by their resting on him for it which we call beleeving Now Gods gracious invitations to come to Christ thou my Soul dost imbrace and upon the serious consideration of the all-sufficiency fitness and willingness of Christ to save thee and the infinite love of the Father to give his Son for thee and the unspeakable love of Christ in his condescâ—ntion to the Father so to dye and undergo all the wrath of God and all for thee and the freeness of the mercy of God offering Christ in the Gospel and his Commandment to beleeve as 1 John 3. 23. And this is his Commandment that we should beleeve in the name of his Son Jesus Christ Also the sweetness and freeness of his promises to them that beleeve Now in obedience to the one and confidence of the other thou my Soul are at length thereby imboldened and incouraged to repair to Christâ— and by the freeness of the promises art incouraged to apply them to thy self not daring to exclude thy self but dost beleeve though but weakly A third Sign or Evidence of Saving Grace is thy Faith thy full purpose of heart and setled resolutions and endevors still ever to rest and 〈◊〉 upon the Lord Jesus and his merits alone for the discharge of thy sins thy Sanctification Justification thy Souls safety and salvation this indeed is the very act of justifying Faith to which life and salvation is so oft in the word promised and shall unsailably be made good well therefore mayst thou rest satisfied in it yet I rest on him to strengthen my weak faith I
say not that Faith as my act doth justifie me but it is instrumental as it 's hand to receive Christ and unite thee to him those righteousness alone is the meritorious cause of thy Justification Now here is a promise for thee to rest on John 3. 16 36. Whosoever believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life And he that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life Now my Soul exercise thy Faith apply this promise to thy self I beleeve and therefore I shall have everlasting life Labor for that reflect act of thy Soul to know more that thou dost beleeve The sincerity whereof in thee is in some measure approved by thy resigning and giving up thy self wholly to him as the Apostle Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and thâ— life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Desiring as well to be ruled and guided by him as saved by him purged as pardoned freed from the power as the punishment of sin cleansed from the filth as discharged of the guilt of sin What though thou art not able wholly to put it in practise but lost full of and come short in performance thereof was not this the Apostle Paul his own case which he so â—â—â—gely deploreth Rom. 7. 15. 23. I allow not that which I do for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I. I see another Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind and leaving me Captive to the Law of sin which is in my members It sufficeth to warrant the sincerity of thee my Soul and Spirit in this case that with the same Apostle in the same place Thou takest notice of thy failings art grived for them there is in thee a nature or part that abhors them thou watchest against them endeavorest what thou canst to reclaim thy self upon discovery of falling laborest by carnest prayer to God against them and continuest constant in the use of the means sanctified by him for spiritual strength and abillity and restest on Christ and expectest from him power to overcome thy corruptions Therefore comfort thy self herein O my Soul and apply this to thy self for thou art but in the same case that Apostle Paul was then in who at that very time had truth of grace and was even then in a most happy and blessed condition Therefore fear not though thou findest many temptations either to despair or to think all thy hope but presumption none of the Saints or Servants of God was ever heard praying to be rid utterly of their corruptions forthwith and at once Suffice them and thee it may and must that he will one day rid them utterly of all and mean while to support thee Know that thy corruptions shall never so prevail against thee as to reduce thee again to the sway and soveraignty it once had in thee when it had its throne in thee these shew that there is a part in thee that is regenerated as Paul had Now to such as these are the promises of God made good Malla 3. 16 17. A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name And they shall be to me saith the Lord of Hâ—sts in thee day a flock and I will spare them and man spareth his own son that serveth him 2 Chron. 30. 18 19 20. Hezekiah prayeth to the Lord to be merciful to him that prepareth his whole heart to seek the Lord God though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people Psal 33. 18 19. Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and upon them that trust in his mercy to deliver their Souls from death and to preserve them in famine Psal 37. 40. The Lord shall help them and deliver them from the wicked and shall save them because they trust in him Psal 34. 22. The Lord redeemeth the Souls of his Servants and none that trust in him shall perish Oh my Soul set thy Faith a work lo here are promises for it to rest on apply them to thy self for they are precious Another Sign or Evidence of Grace is thy constant desire of and love to the Ordinances of God whereby these may be attained and that for this very end that thou mayst know what God requires of thee and be enabled to practise it and get strength against thy corruptions endeavouring to apply thy self thereto with delight in the use of them This evidently testifies the sincerity of thy desire love and affection to God as David urgetâ—â— oft and presseth the like for himself Psa 119. 11. I have hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sin against thee Also Vers 24. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors And Ver. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keep it even to the and. Also Vers 40. Behold I desire thy commandments quicken me in thy righteousness Hypocrites desire the and only delight in them for by and sinister ends not enduring them where they find they cross their corruptions But the closer they come home to thee and most strike at thy corruptions the better thou likest and more lovest them thou dost not spare any sin I have sworn that I will Psa 119. 106 keep thy righteous judgments Another evidence of Saving Grace is thy hatred of every false way desiring God to discover to thee thine iniquity that thou art most prone or aptest to fall into by natural inclination custom or company This was made an argument of Davids integrity Therefore O my Soul make thou the same application to thy self also to uphold and comfort thee And dost thou not groan under the â—urthen of thy inward corruptions and thoughes as well as actual transgressions Wouldst not thou fain be rid of them Is it not thy greatest grief that thou dost dayly so sin against God who is so good so loving and merciful to thee Thou darest not deny it Oh that I might and could so live as never to commit any one sin more so long as I live to offend so good a God as he is to me not no more grieve nor quench his holy Spirit in the motions of it â— I resolve so to do Oh that I could do so Another sign of true Grace Hast thou not respect unto all Gods Commandments desiring universality of sincere obedience to all alike not shunning any one nor reserving any sin to thy self So David Psa 119. 5 6. O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes Then should I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments And when fallen dost thou not loath thy self the more for that and renew thy faith in Christ and repentance as sin is renewed
and feest it more and more vile judging thy self miserable because that which is contrary to Gods will prevails over thee And so thou dost overcome sin though oft soiled by it that which yet may stand with grace though it abide to death in thee Now my Soul dost thou not mourn under this Pray earnestly and rest withal on Christ for help and assistance of his Spirit to enable thee to overcome all thy corruptions still striving against them thou darest not deny it And with unfeigned purpose never entertaining any known evil with full consent of will but coâ—â—ially embracing the contrary grace and command longing after more grace out of the fence of want of it This is an infallible sign of true grace as Math. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled Therefore my Soul apply this by faith Bless God with humility and take the comfort of it that so thou mayst walk the more thankfully and love him more who hath so loved thee and be more careful of all thy ways Another evidence or mark of true Grace is thy resolving in the sence of Gods absence yet then to stick to and rest on his mercy through Christ even unto death by his assistance Psa 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me Verse 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation So still continue thou testing on Christ alone as to work in thee all grace both to will and do so to strengthen and perfect it to the day of Christ as Philip. 1. 6. And begging of God his Spirit who is the Spirit of Grace to help and enable thee it being the sap to make thee fruitful for of thy self thou canst do nothing pleasing to God but all thy services as of thy self are an abomination in Gods presence But now if they come from Christ and the Spirit then God is well pleased with them and accepts them And remember God hath promised to give the Spirit to them that ask it Mat. 21. 23. Whatsoever we ask in Christs name if we beleeve we shall receive And Luke 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more then shall yourâ— heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Let that comfort thee this was as argument to David of grace in him let it be so to thee Another evidence of Grace is thy confident resting on Gods mercy because of his prorâ—isâ— it 's that upholds thee knowing he is most faithful as he cannot be deceived so he will not deceive any that trust in him So David did Psa 119. 81. My Soul sainteth for thy Salvation yet I wait for thy Word When David heart fainted this very thing stayd him namely that he trusted in Gods Word Psa 34. 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord. Psa 2. 12. Blessed and all that trust in him Psa 3. 18 Blessed are they that wâ—lâ— for him Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord. And dost not thou my Soul still seek wait pray hope and with on humblâ— dependency desire still to trust in God always though with much opposition Yea when thou feelest no sensible evidence of Gods love and savor to thee yet even then Gods Word comforts thee thou hast given me more joy of heart then they have whose outward comforts abound as Psal 4. 7. So thy Word comforts my Soul in the midst of great doubtings distress and trouble yet thou my Soul hast still some hope by casting thy self on thy God when other hopes stil as David Psal 142. 2 3. I poured out my complaint before him though my spirit was even over whelmed Yet Vers 5. Even then said he I cryed unto thee O Lord and said thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the living Now Oh my Soul is not God thy portion also Indeed he is Hast not thou taken him so to be Yes truly even to be thy All and thou hast I hope with a cordial resignation given up all thy interest to the Lord and his service at least desirest and endeaverest so to do in thy resolutions Good Lord put forth thy mighty yea almighty power and give me thy Spirit that may reach me and enable me to walk as becometh such a one as hath given up himself to serve thee That I may in the remainder of my lâ—st express all sincere and humble obedience to the Word delivered O that I could Another evidence of Saving Grace is Thou dost often afresh renew thy faith and confidence in Christ and resigne and give up thy self wholly to Christ to be guided and instructed by his Word and Spirit and this purpose is firm in thee And dost thou not in bitterness of soul bewail end grieve for thy exceeding unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such sweet precious and powerful ordinances as thou hast so long a time enjoyed and implotâ— the throne of Grace for the Spirit to shew forth its present vertue to make them become life and power to thee and thou usest them with hope in Christ And since that the way to make them more profitable is to be more sensible of thy particular wants and to prize the ordinances very highly as the very brests from and through which God conveys all nourishment to his Therefore quicken up thy self O my soul to use them with what care and diligence thou canst and rest on Christ rest not in the ordinance but on God Consider what God can and will do for thee expect dayly help and strength from him in the use of his ordinances and especially in that of the Sacrament act faith and reject all discouragements for they hinder the growth of grace as frosts do tender fruits Oh when shall the time be that the ordinances shall be so powerful and efficacious as to kill all my corruptions that I may 〈◊〉 the vertue of Christ his death killing the body of sin in me and the power of his resurrection raising me up to newness of life that holy frame of heart that hath been in other the servants of God Sure there hath been such a changing quickening raising comforting power attained from God in the use of his ordinances both to beget and so to strengthen and encrease Grace therefore I will never 〈◊〉 the Lord alone until he make them â—â— to me seeing he hath promised Heaâ—â— maketh shall receive Ok and it shall be given seek and you shall finds knock and it shall be opened unto you Math. 7. 7. Lord I ask I seek I knock let me obtain Lord it s thine own free and gracious promise though free thou wert not any way tyed to make it yet Lord it 's now thy promise that thou wilt give Grace to them that seek it and ask it and hunger after it Lord I
desire it more then my appointed food thou Lord sure I trust will be prevailed with Seeing the unjust Judg was so through importunity shall not the just and righteous yea merciful God be prevailed withall when importuned for that which he promiseth to give Yes surely he will most certainly make good even that promise to thee my soul in particular Do but trust in him and press him with his own Word nay more it 's a part of that new Covenant that God hath made with his servants that he will take away the heart of stone that is all that hinders Grace and he will give them a new heart and put his Laws in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be his people Jer. 31. 33. and Ezâ—ek 36. 25 26 27. And that he will put his Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his statutes beleeve so and it shall be so to thee Be encouraged and wrestle still for thou shalt obtain in the end Hath God said it Build thou on it Only go on in use of his means limit not the holy one he is a free Agent he may work when and how he pleaseth he delights to hear his children beg and cry oft to him and remember how prevalent prayer in Faith hath been with God how great things it hath obtained of God for particular Servants of God as that of Peters delivery by the prayers of the Church Acts 12. when condemned to dye the next morning and no way or means that he knew â—t to escape And so for Nations too Doth the Lord then say seek my face Oh let my heart Answer Lord thy face I do I will still seek and wait till thou Answer Another Evidence of Grace is Thy earnest desire to serve the Lord in sincerity with an upright heart above the desire of Life it self so far as thou canst search and knowest ought by thy self this must needs be an infallible sign of true Grace for nothing but truth of Grace can possibly desire this Another sign of true Grace is Thou fearest at some times that thou hast no true Faith or at least that it is decaying dying with thee when as no true Grace either stands at a stay or decays which makes thee full of discouragements and disquietness of spirit fearing thy estate is not good but what ever change is in thee O my Soul of seeming decay in Grace or increase of corruption yet thou canst not but be sure in the main for wher there is a sense of sins evil and a groaning under it a high Valuation of Christ and Grace and longing after it with a self-emptiness a desire and purpose to hang on Christ as thou darest not deny but 〈◊〉 in some measure in thee there is ground of comfort and therefore apply it to thy self else thou wrongest thy self and the spirit also Thou fearest falling into sin let it make thee more watchful and trust more and more carefully in Christ the view of thy wants should not discourage thee but abase thee in thine own esteem quicken thee to use the means and press thee to go to Christ and rest on him who can and will help all that thus repair to him Therefore fear not falling off for God hath promised to put his Fear into the hearts of his that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. Apply that promise to thy self by Faith Having once true Grace it can never be lost why therefore O my Soul art thou so cast down and why art thou so disquieted within me Trust stil in God for I will or shall yet give him thanks he is my present help and my God Psalm 42. 5 11 verses Or art thou thus disquieted because thou art often foiled by sins that thou resolvest against Oâ— consider thou hast an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ who is thy Reconciliation he sitteth at the right hand of God and there he plead thy cause for thee Or is it because thou art still full of fears that thy Grace is not true Thou didst once beleeve it was true and that upon good ground Therefore question not that ground-work now that were to go about to rip up or undo all that work of Grace that God hath wrought in thee Why then is it O my Soul because of those inward corruptions within thee that rebel against the Law and Will of God and such effects of them as thou canst not be rid off with whatsoever care and caution thou canst use Or such sins slips and oversights as thou art unwillingly overtaken withall or dost inconsiderately slip into For thou dost not allow thy self in any known sin For this remember what was once my Cozen Gatakers Answer hereunto to wit consider S. Paul his case read but what he saith of himself Rom. 7. from vers 15. to vers 24. That which I do I allow not for what I would haâ— do I not but what I hate that do I. If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not For the good that I would that do I not but the evill which I hate that do I. I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man but I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members And if you can say more of your self then he there doth of himself I much marvel if not you may conclude your estate to be no worse then his was God indeed hears the prayers of his but yet he doth not presently give in kind the thing prayed for The Apostle Paul was heard when he prayed to be rid wholly of some corruption and temptation that he was anoyed and often foiled with 2 Cor. 12. 7 8. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the Abundance of the Rovelations there was given to me a throne in the flesh the massenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Remember Gods Answer to him vers 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee So shall it be my Soul to thee if thou rest on his Word it shall be so But mark he was not presently freed from it but upheld in it Or is it out of the sense of thy want and great need of more Grace Oh let not that discourage thee indeed thou hast the more need to go to Christ by Faith who is the Fountain and Spring of all he hath enough and so fetch vertue and strength from him beleeve
the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin For that which I do I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my minde and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 2 Cor. 7. â—â— Godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation not to be repented of Lord give me more of that sorrow Now God reckons not thy failings nor imputes thy corruptions to thee as thine as by his Apostle and his Spirit speaking in him he assures thee Rom. 7. 16 17. If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me But God accepts thy person and performances in his Son as he did Paul there though never so poor and imperfect he regardeth not so much what thou art or dost as what thou wouldâ—â— be and do Another evidence of Saving Grace is thy hearty and true love to the children of God for Grace-sake meerly for the good thou seest and beleevest to be in them even those who otherwise thou couldst not love this the Apostle John makes to be a signe That we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren as 1 Joh. 3. 14. Therefore as it gives attestation for thee my Soul so take thou the comfort of it from Gods own Word and bless God with humble thankfulness for it so David Psa 119. 63. I am a companion to all them that fear thee and keep thy precepts Another signe of Grace is this Thy joy and hope and love is fixed and set not on things below but on things above in heaven this argues that thou art risen with Christ and is that which may well be a pledg and earnest to thee that thou shalt one day appear in and enjoy Glory with him See Col. 3. 1 2 3 4. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Yea thy present dis-esteem and undervaluing of all worldly honors profits preferments or greatness in the height of them accounting them vain and of small value to thee And indeed let worldlings hunt and scramble for them that have no better portion in heaven But thou my Soul I bless God seest better sweeter and more precious and durable riches spiritual things that last for ever that will satisfie the Soul The love and favor of God Heaven and Glory everlasting that shall never perish and peace of conscience and pardon of sin these indeed are well worth the desiring and laboring for Alas the other cannot afford one jot of comfort nor satisfie the conscience when troubled for sin or when death cometh Oh then nothing but Christ will serve the turn or stand in stead I Therefore now labor to get Christ to be thine and then he will not leave nor forsake thee no not when thou comest to dye and hast most need of him when friends and all creature-comforts will leave us And truly the greatness of the world doth oft steal away our hearts These are bâ—â—â—s and snares both worldly credit and profit I mean that take many a soul in their nets by means whereof many come to lose their souls ere they are aware of it because they have no 〈◊〉 or else no hearts to look after their precious Souls that must last for ever after these bodies with all the fading comforts here below are gone and perished We do or may see how fleeting and uncertain all creatures and all comforts here are every day sounds it in our ears and continually our eyes may see it in the corps dayly carryed to their graves and how riches take their wings fâ—â—e away as Prov. 23. 5. I am sure within these few last years God hath abundantly shewed and fulfilled that Scripture How many thousands not only of the meaner sort but of the great ones of the world even now in these our days worth very many hundreds a year now have not bread for their families Men get goods that many times know not who shall enjoy them But I will seek the Lord for at his right hand are joys and pleasures for ever more that shall last to all eternity My Soul this thy setled resolution is a pregnant testimony of thy love and affection to God As also that God hath created a new heart and put a new spirit within thee and thou therefore art become a new creature Again That change which God hath wrought in thee is not always alike not at all times so lively Neither yet again at all times alike cold dead and dull not always dejected not always comforted because as there is something in thee spiritual so also there is a part of flesh in thee that wars against the Spirit so is it with Gods Saints with the Apostle Paul so with David and the rest and when thou confessest thy sins to God in secret thou bewailest thy sins of thought which never trouble Hypocrites or other sort of sinners Another signe of Gods love to thee is this Though thou hast had sore conflicts of long continuance yet hast thou not been overwhelmed nor overcome but upheld and that thou usest in them spiritual weapons arguments from the power of God and from the all-sufficiency and goodness of God and thine own experience of the same having found the presence of the Spirit of God in power so supporting thee that thou hast not fallen away nor sunk under them but resolved still to trust in God by his assistance though he should kill thee as Job did Job 13. 15. at that time when thou hast had no present comfort Another sign of true Grace is Thy searching and earnest inquiry for what sin God layeth his hand of affliction upon thee and thy mourning that thou art no more bettered by afflictions for that is Gods end in afflicting his yea that thou desirest to be draw'd nearer to God by them that thou mayst say that it was good for thee that thou wert afflicted And before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep thy word As David Psalm 119. 67. Lord make good to me that promise That all things shall work together for good and therefore afflictions to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. Lord I would fain love thee The desire of my Soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my
Soul have I sought or desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seek thee in the morning As Isaiah 26. 8 9. For whom have I in Heaven but thee and I have desired none in the Earth with thee As Psalm 73. 25. And thou hatest sin as it is a breach of Gods Law Another Evidence of Gods Love to thee That at such times as thou hast renued thy Faith in Christ and again given up thy self in more solemn manner wholy to him God thereupon hath given ease to thy heart which is a sign that he accepted what thou gavest him and that he wil not cast thee away I know whom I have believed that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him as 2 Tim. 1. 12. And I am perswaded he will do so And my Soul since thou hast found favor in the eyes of God that he hath been pleased to manifest his Grace to thee consider what cause thou hast of comfort and joy Now that it may be aright conceived what Grace I mean There is a twofold meaning of the word Grace in Scripture First It is taken for the gracious good Will or Favor of God where by he is pleased of his own free love to accept of some in Christ for his own This Divines call first Grace because it is the fountain of all other Grace and the spring from whence they flow and it 's therefore called Grace because it makes a man gracious with God but this is only in God Secondly Grace is taken for the gifts of Grace and they are of two sorts Common or special Some are common to both Elect and Reprobates Believers and Hypocrites As Knowledg a gift of prayer and the like Some are special Graces and they are proper to the Saints therefore called saving Graces whereof some are most principal and absolutely necessary unto Salvation such as is Faith without which none can be saved And some other which are very comfortable as the feeling of Gods love Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Now if God have first of his gracious good will and free love accepted thee in Christ And secondly if he have given thee any evidence of the same by the saving graces of his holy Spirit wrought in thee which thou darest not deny then O my soul bless praise and magnifie this God of love for this his infinite unutterable and superabounding love to thee Hath he given thee any grace It s because he loves thee and truly no cause at all why God should love thee as thou art in thy self but the clean contrary rather to hate and abhor thee But he looks upon thee in his onely begotten and dearly beloved son the Lord Jesus Christ God-man and seeing no other means in all the world to save thee Gods love was so great That he gave his onely begotten son to die for thee And see here also the exceeding great love of Christ to thee that gave himself to dye for thee took thy nature on him stood in thy steed fulfilled the Law satisfied the justice of God for thy sin He suffered on the Cross for thee he procured pardon of sin salvation and heaven for thee he merited it all for thee for his was worthy his righteousness is the meritorious cause of thy justification He is now thy Redeemer thy Advocate that pleads thy cause for thee to God he makes peace with God for thee he â—its at the right hand of God the Father and makes intercession for thee God is now become of a just severe and angry Judg a loving Father in him Therefore now my soul receive all from him by promise that shews his love as a Father Oh the free and sweet love that is in an uncompelled promised I will love thee freely saith the Lord Hosea 14. 4. It s free love indeed in God to thee wards Oh therefore let this special free love of God cause thee to study how to return love to him and live to him Remember what he hath done for thee how thy sins wounded thy Saviour peirced and crucified him and nailed him to the cross how thy sins made his most precious body be overrun with his heart blood how thy own betraying and selling thy soul to sin and Satan made him to be betrayed and fold to suffer and die yea how he indured the torments of Hell as it were the most heavy and sorest wrath of his Father for thy sin What O what great and vehement love was in Christ thy Saviour that made him sweat drops of blood for thee my soul These are as so many cords of love from Christ to thee to cause thee to love Christ Oh that I could love thee my dear Saviour as I should It s my hearts grief that I cannot so love thee as I would Oh my dull and drousie soul awake rouze and quicken up thy self and stand amazed at this love of Christ Shall or can so many sweet expressions of such unexpressible love of Christ to thee pass without Eccho Shall every passage of Christ from his birth to his death all preach forth love to thee And shall thankfulness be wanting in thee towards him Shall his birth work thy new birth his cross take away thy curse Shall his pains procure thee rest Shalt thou â—e cleared by his sorrowful sadness Thou be made free by his bonds happy by his misery fed by his hunger refresht by his weariness rejoyced by his anguish Thou my Soul be excused before God by his being accused before men And shall not love flush and burn in my brest to him Oh my God do thou inflame my heart with this Love kindle some further heat of Love in me give me one drâ—â— more of it draw up my Love and most entire intimate affections Shall I as it were freeze for want of Love to my Saviour when his Love is so hot to me Far be it from me No my loving Lord I do love thee I will love thee dearly Oh help and enable me to love thee more Oh my Soul sleep not under such Comforts never forget such love as this is it is sufficient to fill all thy sences all thine affections And yet see more This Love is not only for some years but for eternity Whom he once loves he loves to the end as John 13. 1. He is a never failing Fountain of Love Oh my Soul therefore distrust not despair not of his Love though thou art so full of sins which indeed of all things God hates most yet behold the Love of God all these though so great so many they cannot separate between thee and thy God but in and through Christ he still loves thee accepts thy person and services It 's not some slips or falls that thou art overtaken withal that are hated resolved against not wittingly willingly deliberately committed nor delighted in nor allowed but slipt and fallen into unawares These cannot finite his infinite Love
nothing of what he did was too little nor any thing too much there could have wanted nothing and there was nothing redundant if he had not dyed he had not merited deliverance from Spiritual Death if he had not risen he had not conquered Natural Death if he had not ascended he had not led all Captivity Captive Let every action of Christ comfort thee who did all that he did for thee Thirdly From hence we may be instructed why so many are afraid of death Temporal Death I mean The cause may be double either a want of Christ or a want of Faith 1. Wicked vilâ— wretches they are afraid to dye Oh that that cup might ever pass from them they know not how to think of that day and parting hour and truly no great marvel death with its sting in it will fear the stoutest man in the world For a poor wretch to be ready to dye and cry out Now goes out my poor soul to answer for all my oaths and blasphemies for all my Sabbath breaking and profaness now must I take my leave of all comforts friends wife children all adieu for ever If death be not kil'd it self it kills the heart of the stoutest the poor wretch cannot see that Christ hath redeemed him from the power of the grave 2. Gods own dear children may fear death through a want of faith not applying with such a confidence as they ought the merits and vertue of Christs death to their souls Those now that the Lord hath given a perswasion to that they have an Interest in Jesus Christ those dye without fear they know their Redeemer lives and this was the happiness of this precious Saint of God that he hath now taken from us She had comforted her self against the fear of Death that she could say O death where 's thy sting Therefore in a book she had composed and written for her own use to Her book â—s annexed to this Sermon comfort her against the fear of Death She makes it her work to prove her interest in Christ and did it by several marks which made her dye without giving death an ill word or countenance death came but he had lost his sting Christ had been its plague A second Use may be of Consolation to comfort the children of God against the fear of death Lift up your heads O ye righteous be glad ye upright in heart All your enemies are trodden under foot fear not sin death nor hell Death hath lost its sting Hell hath lost its victory 1. Fear not spiritual death Sin shall no longer have dominion over your mortal bodies for Christ hath died to free you from the guilt of it and to deliver you from the power of it It may live it shall not reign it may fight against it shall not conquer you 2. Fear not temporal death Consider the Wasp hath lost its sting What hurt can it do thy soul It is not thy ruine Christian It is thy perfection Luke 13 32. I do cures saith Christ to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Thou art not perfected here Christian there is a crown of glory that the Father will set on thy hâ—ad with the black hand of death Who fears the Serpent that hath lost its teeth the Bee that hath lost its sting O death Christ hath been thy death Though thou mightst be afraid to take up death when it was a Serpent yet see its turned into a rod. What is thy life Christian is it not full of frowns are not all thy days almost tears and sorrow Doth not the wicked world look a squint upon the Saints of God is not suffering an hereditary disease that runs in the blood of Mighty Jesus that every Saint is born to inherit the Cross and through Golgotha to take his way to glory what should wed thee to the world Christian not thy desire of life and sure it cannot be thy fear of death Death hath nothing formidable in it Say to it Christ is dead O death where is thy sting then Much less can they fear eternal death for they are passed from death to life and the second death hath no power over them I have but a word more and that is of Exhortation First To all to get an interest in Jesus Christ Thus prepare your selves for the day of dissolution It is a statute in the Records of Heaven That all men should once die and afterwards come to judgment Death is a bitter cup to those that know nothing to sweeten it Learn here to get a part in the Lord Jesus Christ a title to him an interest in him He hath taken out the sting of death he hath been its plagâ—e but not for all see therefore for thy interest in him Hic labor hoc opus est Christians here is your work you spend else your time for nothing and your labor for that which will not profit Work out your salvation give all diligence to make your calling and election sure This is your land-work Saints and while it is done you will never be prepared to go to Sea to set sail for eternity he will never be satisfied with time and days that hath not some grounds to hope for eternity O that you would labor to make this work your work You spend your days in labor and sorrow and when you die you will lie down in sorrow Believe it you that spend your strength for that which will not profit you will see the day when your souls will be troubled for the hours lost in dressing vanity in the following the lusts of the eye and of the flesh O make this your work to get a portion in Christ and believe him who though he knows but little knows that you will finde it a difficult work a work that will be enough for the time and for the strength you have to spend If you have Christ you are well if not you die a slave to death and will be a gally-slave to Satan in Hell for ever O that you would be wise and consider your latter end before you come down wonderfully This was the work and constant work of this precious Siâ—â—er of ours whom God hath now taken from the evil to come It was her practice to hasten over the business of her family as a thing to be done yet not her great work and then to apply her self to the great work of making her calling and election sure In which her pains were as unweariable as others are in vanity That she hath lest behinde her several Books written which are as the Câ—ronicle and Annuals of her life collecting those promises on which her soul rested framing the objections of her own spirit and seeking out satisfaction from Gods Word If in any thing she doubted she â—nquired at the lips of them that should preserve knowledg and pens down their answers observes Gods ways with her self and her own frame towards him and from all gathers up a posie of such evidences of saving Grace as she could finde in her soul to comfort her in her latter hour And if any asks what profited this labor I could onely have wished that such persons had been as I was a witness to her dying happiness to have seen with what a peace of Spirit what a fulness of assurance what hope what joy she entertained her last affliction the messenger of death There they should have seen this promise made good the grave destroyed the Saint delivered hell troden under foot death desired conquered despised this song sung O death where is thy fling O hell where is thy victory Be exhorted O ye that have a portion in Christ be exhorted to tred under foot your conquered enemy What is there in death that is terrible or bitter to those that have a portion in the Lord Jesus Christ Why are you afraid to be made perfect there is no taste of hell in the cup. The prison doors shall not be lockt the bolts are broken off the bitterness of death is past O desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Love the winding-sheet that wrapt up your Saviour the stones and gravel of the grave have nothing in them that is hard or harsh Christ hath been the plague of death and the destruction of the grave I heard a voyce from henceforth saying Blessed are they that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors Lastly From this Text may those that mourn for the dead in the Lord be comforted Hast thou lost a believing friend Weep not for her weep for thy self Not that she is gone but that thou art here Death hath our friend in his hands but not in his power It is Christ that hath said I will redeâ—m you from the power of the grave Is not Christ dead is not he risen again and ascended hath he not led captivity captive why mournest thou then for a Saints freedom is there any thing of bitterness in the cup that thy and her Father hath given her to drink Triumph because she triumpheth rejoyce because all tears are now wiped from her eyes shew a faith in Christs death Resurrection Ascension conquest over Sin Death and Hell The work of Righteousness is peace and the â—ffect of her Righteousness quietness peace and assurance for ever FINIS