them that pride and adultery and drunkennesse army after army Legion after Legion of sinnes presse in upon mee Are your soules thus perplexed with miseries why I beseech you consider what I say art thou humbled thou polluted heart art thou oppressed with thy corruptions doth thy soule say it is the greatest burthen I have the greatest wound I feele if my heart were but rid of my sinnes my soule should be quiet and my heart pacified why then If the Lord seeth thee humbled hee will never see thee corrupted hee will come suddenly let all thy corruptions come accusing let all thy sinnes rise up at armes against thee yet if thy heart be broken for these and humbled in the consideration of these and resolved to forsake them the Lord will come suddenly and then mercy will come to pardon all to subdue all these cursed distempers that hang upon thee But you will say What will this Lord come into my soule this wretched soule these mud-walls this abhominable heart what to mee will the Lord come to my temple such hideous sinnes have I committed and the Lord come into such a rotten cottage and such a base cursed heart as mine Aye marke what the text saith I stand at the doore and knock If any man will open I will come in Hee knocks at the doore of every proud person and adulterer and drunkard if any adulterous person will open the Lord will come and sanctifie him If any uncleane wretch will open the Lord will come and release him from all abhomination what a comfort is this then let Satan accuse us and sinne condemne us if the Lord will comfort us who can discourage us if the Lord will save us who can condemne us Againe as this is comfort against all sinnes so there is marvellous comfort against all extremities and miseries If thou art humbled let miseries come and troubles and temptations come and Christ will come too into an humble Soule in all weaknesses Christ will come to strengthen in all disgraces and will come to honour thee here is comfort The favour of men goeth away the neerer a man goeth to God the farther they goe from him hee is a stranger now to his brother and an aliant to his mothers Sonne why let thy wants be what they will and let troubles come and weaknesse come though they come the Lord will not goe away though friends be farre off the Lord will be neere unto thee Be therefore comforted for even the wise man saith a man will change honour to get a commoditie sometimes hee will part with honour for profit and money will supply all whatsoever the world can doe money can doe Therefore this quiets the rich man I have it by mee I have many wants that is no matter I have it by mee in money haply hee wants a house that 's no matter hee hath it by him in money and therefore can build him one hee wants cloathes to cloath him but hee hath it in money and that will buy them thus money answers to all You that are broken hearted sinners goe home chearfully eat your bread with glad hearts the Lord accepts you and how ever men will not looke after you but looke aloofe goe home and the Lord comfort you more and more know the Lord Christ comes suddenly and answers to all it was the speech of Christ to his Disciples Feare not little flock it is your Fathers will to give you a Kingdome You are troubled you shall have a Kingdome that will quiet you you are disgraced you shall have a Kingdome that will honour you you are in persecution you shall have a Kingdome that will comfort you Let an humble Soule goe downe into the Sea and fly into the uttermost parts of the earth yet it will comfort thee the Lord will come suddenly and bring his provision with him wheresoever thou art hee will be with thee to comfort thee and cheare thee You little ones that are humbled it is not your Fathers pleasure only to give you a Kingdome but his Sonne and hee answers all what though thou hast many miseries thou hast a Christ that is the God of all mercies thou hast many sinnes what of that thou hast a Christ that is the God of all grace where ever thou art hee will bee with thee though thou wert banished yet he will wander up and downe all the wildernesse but he will find thee and bring thee upon his shoulders to cheare thee and comfort thee here and give the end of thy hopes hereafter If wee be not comforted hereby it is a shame therefore let every sad Soule take his part if you have Christ you have enough though you never see good day after Now wee come to the second doctrine Doct. 2 When the Lord Jesus comes to the humbled Soule hee takes possession of it as his owne now when the soule is at Gods dispose that mercy may doe what it will with him and then the Lord takes possession Ezek. 16.8 Quest Wherein lies the Soveraigne possession Answ It appeares in two particulars The Lord Jesus undertakes for the Soule Hee disposeth of it to his best advantage Hee undertakes for it namely hee takes upon him to shelter it from all the evill which it could not avoid I told you before the sinner sees his vilenesse of sinne and desires now to be freed but cannot deliver himselfe and therefore sues to Christ Now our Saviour steps in and saies hee will undertake to pay all If men be oppressed with some outragious enemy they seeke to some sorraigne Prince and submit to him if hee will take the protection of them So when the Soule is oppressed with too many sins with too heavy pangs it falls downe and desires Christ to be Lord protectour of it and then presently Christ comes and frees it from the evill 35. Numb 25. it was an Injunction that the man-slayer should fly to the Cities of refuge and they should open the gate to him the man-slayer is the poore sinner that is pursued now hee flies to the Lord Jesus his refuge as David often speakes Now Christ receives and delivers him from the hand of the avenger The dangers of an humble heart are three for which Christ undertakes first the justice of the Father not satisfied secondly the temptation of Satan not conquered thirdly Sinne not yet subdued All these the Soule sinkes under and cries who will deliver mee when the heart is thus Christ is come to rescue it and saith be comforted the justice of my Father I will satisfie the malice of Satan I will crosse the power of corruption I will cashiere The sinner sees a just God that will have his glory when thus justice makes out Christ puts in Bale When a man is arested if some great man give his word hee is acquitted so when the venome of Gods vengeance pursues thee Christ passeth his word hee will see all satisfied bee therefore comforted Christs word will goe
house prepared for him so the Lord dwels in a humbled Soule Thus we have shewed what is meant by Temple What is meant by the comming of the Lord into his Temple as the Temple was Spiritually to bee conceived so is this comming By comming is here meant when the Lord comes to take possession of the Soule truly prepared observe it that the Lord Christ comes as a King therefore he hath a Harbinger before him hee hath one to prepare all things for him A King comes 2. waies first he takes soveraigne possession at the place where hee is If he come to a towne or to an Inne the Guests that tooke up the place must be gone so the Lord comes as a King he comes to take soveraigne possession of the Soule 2. All Kings bring furniture with them when he comes to a place his owne furniture must bee hung up So Christ comes these 2. wayes he takes full possession of the soule and provides mercifully for the soule Thus wee have the words opened and now the point is plaine enough The English of the text is this When Iohn the Baptist by the power of the Word and Spirit of Contrition and Humiliation hath laid the Soules of Gods servants humbled and willing to be at Gods dispose then suddenly and immediatly the Lord Jesus will come and hee will command as a King and take possession of an humble Soule and provide gratiously for it hee comes to the naked wals he brings his provision with him he cares for nothing but a Soule prepared and emptied and he will bring provision enough of Vocation Adoption Justification and Sanctification now we will gather the points as they lye Doct. 1 That the Lord Jesus cannot be hindred from comming into an humbled Soule Doct. 2 That the Lord Christ takes possession of the Soule as a King and will provide for it The first is that Christ cannot bee hindred from comming into a Soule truly humbled hee commeth speedily as who should say he layeth all other worke aside as though he cared for nothing lookt after nothing intended after nothing but how all might come into the heart prepared the wicked of the world he will not come at them though the rich crie he will not heare them though the honorable perish he will not looke after them but the Lord will come suddenly into an humble Soule nay to speake with reverence he leaves all Company he leaves Heaven and the blessed Angels he leaves all and onely desires to be in and to live with an humble broken heart it is the manner of the Phrase he comes suddenly as who should say he lets all alone he cares for nothing go he must and take possession of a broken Soule this is the cause that the Scripture doth not content it selfe in expressing the marvellous tender respect that the Lord hath toward such a Soule the delight the Lord hath in an humble Soule he will lie with a broken heart and dwell with it and sleepe with it he will suddenly come into his Temple Luke 15.16 We may see it in the father of the prodigall the prodigall he resolved to returne to his father and say I have sinned against Heaven and against thee c. the father he observes this that he is content to be at his dispose and hee lyeth at the doore and desires to come into his family though his condition were base and he was ragged the father he might say go to your Queanes let them comfort you if they can no the text saith hee saw him a farre off and hee ranne and had compassion on him and fell upon his neck and kissed him before the prodigall could speake a word or kneele downe he ranne and kissed him Observe here foure particulars He saw him a farre off and had compassion on him ranne to meet him and kissed him Hee never now remembers that he was riotous a whorer a drunkard that he had lavished out all his substance all this was forgotten but when he sees him come humbly and brokenly he saw him a farre off before the prodigall could see his father nay hee compassioned his wretchednesse before he could confesse it nay hee ranne to meet him more speedily than he could come to him and when the prodigall fell downe before him hee fell on his necke and kissed him before he could speake a word this Scripture doth not satisfie it selfe it cannot tell how to expresse the marvellous ready inlargement of the Lord to give entertainment to an humbled Soule and it is remarkable after the prodigall had said Father I have sinned c. Fetch out saith he the best robe to cover him and put a ring on his finger c. As who should say T is no matter for thy stubbornnesse and rebelliousnesse a prodigall thou hast been I care not for it bring this robe to cover him kill the fat Calfe to feed him and the ring to adorne him So Luke 15.4 A man that hath an hundred sheepe and one be gone astray he leaves there 99. and he goes seeking for that and when hee findes the stragling sheep though it cannot come home he takes it upon his shoulder and brings it home The lost sheepe is the lost Soule that is bee-wildred the Lord Jesus after all mercies vouchsafed to him and kindnesse enlarged towards him yet the lost sheepe will be stragling the Lord leaves all now to seeke him and marke the phrase and the degree thereof he leaves all to seeke it and will never leave till hee finde it he doth not seeke hourely but he seekes till hee hath found it when he hath found it he brings it home The Lord will leave all to seeke an humbled sinner the more need thou hast of Christ the more labor he will bestow in seeking of thee and he will never leave seeking till hee hath found thee and when he hath found thee though thou canst not goe he will carry thee upon his shoulders to everlasting happinesse This is to expresse the marvellous readinesse and bounty of the Lord towards a poore humble sinner Matth. 13.45 This is the scope of the Parable of the Pearle the text saith The Kingdome of God is like unto a Pearle which when a Merchant had found he seld all he had and bought it First we will open the text then apply it to our purpose The Pearle is nothing else but the rich Mercy of God and Grace and Salvation in Christ the Merchant man is every poore sinfull creature that wants mercy to comfort him and grace to pardon him for what is all the world if my Soule wants mercy well he knoweth where the Pearle is the bargaine is thus he must sell all and buy this Pearle Hee comes to Gods tearmes buyeth it at his rate and there is no more words this selling of all is when a man parts with all sinnes and confidence in himselfe then he hath sold all when he will neither trust to his owne
worth nor rest in his owne sufficiency and seeth himselfe miserable by corruptions committed and seeth that he is unable to releeve himselfe out of his misery and then hee is willing to part with all and when hee hath done this then there is no more words to the bargaine but the Lord bids him take the Pearle he hath bought it and carry it away with him so then the case is cleere if you bee good chapmen and bid roundly and come to Gods price there is no more words to the bargaine You would have sinne and Christ God and Devill no no but sell all and the pearle is yours you may take it in your hand and carry it home with you thus much for the proofe Reasons I come now to the Reasons whence comes it that the Lord will not delay to come into an humble soule the marvellous readinesse of the Lord it is admirable to thinke on it the reasons are three Because the Lord Jesus was sent for this very end by God the Father Matt. 15.24 And hee came also to this very purpose Luke 19.10 Gather up the places I am not sent but to the lost sheepe of Israel and in the other place there he came to seeke and save that which was lost that is lost in the sight and sense of his owne misery lost in regard of his owne ability and sufficiency to helpe himselfe Then lastly willing to be disposed by another this is the nature of a lost man The man that is in the wildernesse if hee knew not the way out there is no meanes to succour him therefore he is willing and contented that any man should direct him the way out if a man should say this is the path that leads you out of the wildernesse to such a place would hee not yeeld to his advice hee were but a lost man so dost thou see that thou art lost if thou liest in the wildernesse of sinne thou art a damned man and then lost dost thou see that thou art unable to come out and succour thy selfe art thou contented to be informed by God and disposed by him then marke what the text saith The Sonne of man the Lord Jesus came to seeke such sinners and the Lord will never leave till he finde thee and when hee hath found thee hee will never leave till hee hath saved thee the Lord though thou canst not seeke him hee will seeke thee and when hee hath sought thee hee will save thee too Then if the end of Christs comming and the scope of his sending be to save a lost sinner then above all hee will attaine his owne end fulfill what was betrusted to him hee will seeke and save him The second ground Because an humble broken soule is the fittest subject to set forth the glory of the riches of Gods grace and Salvation that is in Christ purchased and through Christ conveyed to the soule I say they are the fittest subjects for God to worke upon for the Lord to come to and dwell in and to set forth the honour of the worke of Redemption as it deserves Ephes 2.11.12 The text saith hee worketh all things according to the counsell of his will and why so namely to the praise of the glory of his grace Now observe it there is no soule so fit to set forth the praise of the glory of the grace of the Lord and the great worke of Salvation as a broken soule and selfe denying heart for an humble soule denies all in it selfe but expects all from grace and the free favour of God It saith it is unworthy to receive mercy that it needs and beggs and therefore an humble soule is the fittest of all to set forth the great worke of God all the Councell of God to set forth the riches of his grace that all may be said to be grace as in that of Zacharie when the temple was built thy cryed Grace Grace Grace as who should say grace layeth the first stone and grace layeth the last stone all is of grace from beginning to ending so an humble soule setteth forth the freenesse of Gods grace abundantly and saith I deserved nothing but hell and if I have any thing but hell it is from Gods mercy But a proud heart hee opposeth the worke of God all the workmanship of the grace of God The proud heart will have something of it selfe and take something to it selfe to boast of and where is grace now it's not grace but your parts and abilities that you attribute all to and by that meanes hinder the setting forth the riches of Gods mercy in Christ Therefore an humble soule is the best shop wherein the great worke of redemption and frame of salvation may be seene the poore soule will say Looke what the Lord hath done and it is marvellous in our eyes it ought to be marvellous in our hearts Looke as it is with men No wise man will dwell in an house where his credit may not be maintained and where hee may not have all conveniences necessary and therefore no marvell though Christ comes into an humble heart it is the fittest place for the credit of Christ Christ would worke all in the soule the humble soule is content he shall take notice of it It is a schoole rule there is no wise man that disposeth of the frame of a building but if he hath disposed of it he will set it up and dwell in it unlesse he wants power or wisdome power in that he hath begun a thing and was not able to finish it none of these can befall God God is a wise sufficient cause hee never disposeth of a matter fully but he brings a frame and a forme to the matter disposed Now when the Lord hath prepared a building and framed an humble soule to dwell in if hee will not finish his frame hee must want power and wisdome But these cannot be wanting to an almighty and most wise God therefore hee that hath fitted the heart for his owne credit and for all conveniences that all may be wrought by him and all glory may come to him surely that powerfull God that cannot be hindred and that wise God that doth nothing but out of wisedome hee will reare up the building of grace and salvation shall be bestowed upon the soule The third ground Because now all hinderances are taken out of the way that should stop him and all impediments that should let him are removed wholly therefore the place being for him and he ready to come he must of necessity come for if there be any hinderance to stop the comming of Christ into the soule it must either lie on his part or on our part but it shall appeare that there is no hindrance either on Gods part or a broken soules part therefore there is nothing can hinder the Lord from comming if there be any thing on our parts to hinder him it is either because wee love our selves or cleave to our
sinnes Now a broken heart hath renounced both these an humble soule saith sinne shall not rule in mee and a selfe denying heart saith I cannot rule my selfe and therefore Lord guide mee with thy grace now the way is ready the soule is divorced from all other matches therefore it is ready for the Lord the humbled soule hath renounced sinne and all authority of it selfe and would have Christ rule over it Now therefore all impediments must be on Christs part that which cannot be Revel 3.20 Our Saviour Christ is so farre from being unwilling to come into the soule that he stands knocking at the doore hee knocks at a proud loose heart at a base drunken heart Forsake these sinnes and entertaine a Saviour renounce these corruptions and entertaine thy owne salvation be not under the power of corruption that will undoe thee but submit to Christ that will redeeme thee Hee knocks and knocks againe Open my Love my Dove my undefiled one the Lord knocks thus at the doore therefore if the doore be open he will surely come in nay he protesteth himselfe I stand at the doore and knock hee hath stood often at the heart of many stubborne sinners and knocked by mercies and judgements and knocked by the word and all blessings hee hath bestowed and saith If any will open I will come in and dwell with him Now then he that promiseth that if the doore be open hee will come in if the doore be open that hee may come there is no unreadinesse in him to come into the soule but in an humbled soule the doore is open away sinne away selfe I trust you not let the Lord come and rule in take possession of the heart of mine the doore is wide open now and the Lord knocked before is glad to take the occasion and comes speedily into the soule prepared and humbled So then if it be the end of the ruling and comming of Christ if the glory of his mercy bee advanced thereby if there be no hindrance neither on our parts or on Christs part then the soule being thus disposed immediately expect our Saviour for hee will come Thus much for the proofe Quest I confesse nothing should be deare and if I know my selfe there is no sinne but I am content it should be loosened from mee my sinne I have abandoned my selfe I have renounced and yet I find no comfort so that this doctrine is not true or my heart not cured Answ Is it thus with thee then Christ is come but thou perceivest it not When Iacob awaked out of his sleepe Surely said hee the Lord is in this place and I perceived it not And so the Lord is in thy soule and thou perceivest him not Quest But can Christ be and not be seene Answ I t is too too often and the hindrances are of two sorts 1. On our part 2. On Christs part Those on our parts are of foure sorts Christ is come into thy soule and thou dost not know him Matt. 14.26 When Christ was nearest to comfort c. they thought it had beene a spirit to terrifie them So thou saiest thy sinnes are ugly to thee thou thinkest this is not Christ but it is Jesus Christ is there and thou seest it not Iohn 20.15.16 The poore soule of the woman longed for Christs society and shee thinking it had beene a gardner enquired of a Saviour for a Saviour So a broken hearted sinner seekes a Saviour if you know how I may obtaine favour with God counsell a poore sinner It is Christ that gives thee the heart to seeke him and that Christ thou seekest by the vertue of a Saviour thou seekest for a Saviour as a man lookes for a candle by the light of his candle Iohn 14.9 Thou attendest not to our Saviour when hee comes hee that comes quietly conveies himselfe and thou seest him not as to his Disciples when they were all shut up in a Chamber then hee appeared in the midst Luk. 24. Why seekest thou the living among the dead So wee rub the sore dayly and thinke can grace come into such a heart Whilst thou art thus looking on corruption thou canst not see Christ Why seekest thou the living among the dead why seekest thou a Saviour to comfort thee among corruptions that would condemne thee It was not the fault in Hagars eyes that shee saw not the fountaine but shee attended not to it so wee sit disconsolate and Christ is in us but wee looke not after him A man that waits for a Noble-man if hee come not at the houre appointed hee goes into a corner and weepes because hee thinks he hath taken distaste and this whilst the Noble-man approaches and is there a great while before hee knowes it so while wee goe drooping under our corruptions the Lord Christ comes not and wee goe to discouragement and in the mean time Christ comes and wee see him not Hee that goes in a dungeon shall never see Sun-shine though it shine never so cleerely so when this Sonne of Righteousnesse shines wee goe into the dungeon of discouragement and so perceive him not though hee shines most cleerely Wee also are not able aright to know when Christ is in us because wee judge him by sense and some extraordinary sweetnesse wee imagine should be in us woe judge upon false grounds every sinner sets up a fancie in his owne Imagination that if Christ comes strange matters will be wrought Now framing this fancie in his conceit he will take no other evidence of Christs comming It was the fault of Gideon Iudges 6.13 he judges Gods presence there upon false grounds for hee was with him as well to helpe him beare the misery as to deliver him from it so it is with an humble sinner burthened with the sight of his abominations when the Ministers say The Lord is with you you broken sinners they reply If the Lord be with us why is all his befalne us what say some distempers so violent corruptions so many and can the Lord be here where are those miracles the Saints heretofore have found Behold what God did for David for Elias for Paul they led captivity captive and were more than Conquerors over their corruptions and yet wee are burthened with our sins I answer the Lord is as well present to helpe thee contend against sinne as to make thee domineere over it The same Apostle that was more than Conqueror at one time was led captive at another Rom. 7.23 And had the flesh lusting against the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Gal. 5.17 This is your conceit you thinke if the King come there will be no Traitours but Traitors will follow the Court you thinke if the King come to your harts hee must needs promote you to some place of honour This is the apprehension of a broken heart Were Christ in mee then I should have such and such sufficiency these are desperate mistakes Iohn 20.25 It is a patterne of a broken Soule that depends
upon some stirring apprehension if I had that ability if my heart could so breake if I had such assurance then Christ were come You will not beleeve the King is come unlesse hee hug you in his bosome Thus wee judge according to sense not according to the promise of Christ who is blessed for ever It befalls the Soule as Iacob Gen. 45.24 Hee would not beleeve their word but when hee saw their Chariots then he was perswaded of it this is the frame of disconsolate spirits Wee have the word of God to confirme the presence of Christ unlesse you be Charioted with that ability as to triumph over all sinnes your spirits are not revived you beleeve not that Ioseph is yet alive your Saviour is with you When our eyes are held namely when the sting of Conscience seaâ—es or when the fiercenesse of temptation presses in or else when some worldly inconvenience sits close so that the thoughts of a mans heart are wholly bestowed upon that object the Soule cannot owne Christ though he were close by him A man that hath his heart swayed with sad meditations though hee meet with a man of his acquaintance yet hee would not know him So it was with the disciples looke Luke 24. vers 32. Did not our hearts burne in us as who should say there was testimony enough of a divine presence it was a Christ that spake but wee were not able to see it So when the soule is taken up with two hurries partly with temptation partly with worldly occasions it sees not Christ though the heart burnes towards him this is the ground why when Satan lets flie though wee propound never so many promises alwayes those perplexed Spirits forget what is spoken and their minde is only upon temptation They attend not Christ in the promise because their eyes are held though they be in their privie Chamber and may talke with our Saviour Psalm 13.23 The Lord Jesus out of our just desert doth hide himselfe Esay 8.17 Psalm 31.22 Now Christ hides himselfe in these three cases When the Saints fall into some foule grosse sin or else are at truce with some bosome corruption though but an infirmitie then God doth withdraw his presence for obedience is the tearme of Gods presence 2. Chron. 15.1 Hee is with us while we are with him If then the Saints breake company no marvell though Christ withdraw his society Iohn 19.21 This is the tenure of Christs manifestation provided wee love him but if not hee is gone Psalm 51. Create a new Spirit within mee as who should say all is to begin a new This God doth so shew his indignation against sinne hee will not beare nor bolster it no not in his owne and this God doth not only when they sin fouly but when they are at truce with a distemper though but an Infirmity as for example if a Christian be overtaken ordinarily with a cholerick distemper if a Christian be eager of the world or growes dead in services it is just with God that these men should be destitute of their comforts When the Saints of God grow wanton abusing the sense and sweetnesse of the feeling of his favour thereupon growing carelesse now God seeing a man abusing his goodnesse it is just with him to estrange himselfe from that Soule that hee may labour for his former strength againe Cant. 5.2 Psalm 30.6 The Lord hides himselfe by way of prevention as thus hee will not make some of his to apprehend his favour lest they should pranck up themselves in the privilege and censoriously contemne their fellow brethren but holds out the heart at the staffe end so much mercy as may serve his turne that hee may be a little comforted and yet humbled If the Father see the child grow proud hee keeps him upon dependance that he may have better obedience So God sees wee have unruly hearts and therefore keeps us upon dependance that hee may have more obedience Iohn 16.12 If there were high sailes upon a little Barke they would drowne it in stead of carrying of it So men proportion their sailes according to their Barke This is one maine ground why God takes away the sense of his favour The Sea is the world the Soule sailes about and a little gale carrieth it on but if it should have great sailes they would drowne it not that grace doth this the fault is not in the sailes but in the boat that will not beare c. So the fault is not in grace but in the Soule that cannot beare it This is the reason why many men have smoken out their dayes in sorrow and at their death have great assurance It was the speech of a good man that God will not alwayes give his servants a cup of Sack his meaning was hee would not alwayes comfort them the comforts of Gods Spirit are better than wine now much of this comfort with a proud heart would cause him to trample upon every man Therefore God keeps the cup to the last If while therefore God keeps us under hatches if while hee withdrawes his hand wee doe contend with the Almighty and often say why should I pray and God answers not heare and God accepts not if when wee are kept low and doe thus if then wee had what wee would certainly wee would turne our backs to the Almighty and say as they in Ieremy 2.31 Wee will come no more unto thee Therefore it is good for God to doe thus wee are not able to beare this saile else God would give it Vse 1 If this be so let every Soule take his part and portion All you stout disobedient spirits that will not obey the Gospell of God all hearts not broken and spirits not humbled I have nothing to say to you for the while But you that have any obedience of the worke of the spirit and grace in your Soules you that are now willingly conteâ—â—â—d and resolutely perswaded to give way to Châ—â—â—â— and breake open doore to a Saviour if there be any Soule that hides himselfe according to the former doctrine you humble broken hearted sinners goe your wayes with comfort and the God of heaven goe with you nay hee is with you hee will meet with you at home nay hee will meet with you in the mid-way what ever thy sinnes or miseries or wants be here is consolation yea abundant consolation to support the heart if thou beest a poore broken hearted sinner it is enough the Lord Christ will come into your soules and let then what will or can come the Lord Jesus will come and that suddenly But you will say So many are the sinnes that lye upon mee my corruptions like clouds come in upon mee all my oathes and drunkennesse all pride and loosenesse and vanitie and earthly mindednesse all my corruptions come in upon mee and the guilt remaines and they are not pardoned their horror remaines and I cannot get my soule pacified in the assurance of the forgivenesse of
hee desires no other pacifier Temptation is subdued sinne and Satan must give way That supreme authority makes sinne and Satan vanish Rev. 1.18 A key is an ensigne of authority he that hath the Key may let in and shut out whom hee will So Christ can bring out whom he will Ephes 4.8 Looke how Conquerours lead captived slaves so Christ leads sinne and death Luke 10.18 When the Scepter of Christ was displayed Satan fell like lightning Sinne comes to be cashiered sinne pleads prescription in the Soule and challenges a title yet Christ having taken possession hee will have all charges when sinne saith I have possessed the Soule from my youth therefore why should I out Christ replies it is usurped all this title is but forged it is mine and I come for my owne therefore sinne depart Rom. 8.3 Christ condemnes sinne in the flesh to condemne sinne is as much as when a man hath cast in his cause hee layes claime to a thing and is cast by law So sinne layes claime to the Soule and Christ comes and condemnes sinne in the flesh Hee makes the cause goe against sinne for sinne claimes right on this ground every sonne of Adam is the childe of disobedience he is under my power and death is his due from mee Now Christ answers Those for whom the sinne of Adam hath beene satisfied over those sin hath no possession but the Soule is such doth Adams sin remaine I have satisfied for it Is sinne strong I have led captivity captive thus sinne loseth his cause this is to condemne sinne in the flesh Acts 26.18 First they were turned from the power of Sathan and then followed remission of sinnes and sanctification Hee disposes of the Soule for his best advantage when Satan the strong man kept the house and the soule was at his manage and tillage it either lay fallow ground as Ier. 4.3 overspread with thornes When sinne and Satan rule the heart they blinde it and the whole entertainement on our part as God calls so the Soule entertaines that call and that appeares in two things The sinner receives the worke of grace and mercy being empty The Lord may powre in what he will there is roome in the Soule to entertaine any thing and this is called passive receiving namely hereby God fits the Soule to receive mercy and prepares it that it may come and the soule being emptied entertaines the worke of mercy The soule being emptied and having received vertue from God returnes an answer to this call and this we call active calling The soule having received power by vertue of that power returnes an answer to the call of God as it is with an eccho first the ayre is moved by the voice secondly being moved it returnes the same voice So it is with the answer of the Soule Psal 27.8 Like that of the men of Syria 1 Kings 20.32.33 When Ahab said my brother Benhadad so the sinner waits and lookes when will God have mercy at last God saith my sonne and the Soule answereth thy Sonne Lord Ier. 3.22 marke how they answer Behold wee come for thou art the Lord our God The Lord saith come away and the Soule saith behold I come 1. Cor. 6.17 It s the same voyce that ecchos the same beame that reflects from the wall So it is the same spirit that returnes the voyce and this answer of the Soule wee tearme faith Now wee have cut out our worke and for the further handling we have chosen this text which is to discover this worke of vocation