invisible God Col. 1. 1◠I do here only mention these things because I have handled them at large in my Discourse of the Mistery of 〈◊〉 or the Person of Christ whereunto I refer the Readers for their full Declaration and Vindication Herein is he glorious in that he is the great Representative of the Nature of God and his Will unto us which without him would have been eternally hid from us or been invisible unto us we should never have seen God at any time here nor hereafter Joh. 1. 18. IN his Divine Person absolutely considered he is the Essential Image of God even the Father He is in the Father and the Father in him in the Unity of the same Divine Essence Joh. 14. 10. Now he is with the Father John 1. 1. In the Distinction of his Person so is he his Essential Image Col. 1. 15. Heb. 1. ◠In his Incarnation he becomes the Representative Image of God unto the Church 2 Cor. 4. 6. without whom our Understandings can make no such Approach unto the Divine Excellencies but that God continues to be unto us what he is in himself the Invisible God In the Face of Jesus Christ we see his Glory THIS is the Original Glory of Christ given him by his Father and which by Faith we may behold He and he alone declares represents and makes known unto Angels and Men the Essential Glory of the Invisible God his Attributes and his Will without which a perpetual comparative Darkness would have been on the whole Creation especially that part of it here below THIS is the Foundation of our Religion the Rock whereon the Church is built the Ground of all our Hopes of Salvation of Life and Immortality All is resolved into this namely the Representation that is made of the Nature and Will of God in the Person and Office of Christ If this fail us we are lost for ever if this Rock stand firm the Church is safe here and shall be triumphant hereafter HEREIN then is the Lord Christ exceedingly glorious Those who cannot beheld this Glory of his by Faith namely as he is the great Divine Ordinance to represent God unto us they know him not In their Worship of him they worship but an Image of their own devising YEA in the Ignorance and Neglect hereof consists the formal Nature of Vnbelief even that which is inevitably ruinous unto the Souls of Men. He that discerns not the Representation of the Glory of God in the Person of Christ unto the Souls of Men is an Unbeliever Such was the State of the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles of old They did not they would not they could not behold the Glory of God in him nor how he did represent him That this was both the Cause and the Formal Nature of their Unbelief the Apostle declares at large 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23 24 25. Not to see the Wisdom of God and the Power of God and consequently all the other holy Properties of his Nature in Christ is to be an Unbeliever THE Essence of Faith consists in a due Ascription of Glory to God Rom. 4. 20. This we cannot attain unto without the Manifestation of those Divine Excellencies unto us wherein he is Glorious This is done in Christ alone so as that we may glorifie God in a saving and acceptable Manner He who discerns not the Glory of Divine Wisdom Power Goodness Love and Grace in the Person and Office of Christ with the way of the Salvation of Sinners by him is an Unbeliever HENCE the great Design of the Devil in the beginning of the Preaching of the Gospel was to blind the Eyes of Men and fill their Minds with Prejudices that they might not behold this Glory of his So the Apostle gives an Account of his Success in this Design 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. If our Gospel be hid it is hid unto them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them By various Ways and Methods of Deceit to secure the Reputation he had got of being God of this World by Pretences and Appearances of supernatural Power and Wisdom he laboured to blind the Eyes of Men with Prejudices against that glorious Light of the Gospel which proposed the Lord Christ as the only Image of God This Blindness this Darkness is cured in them that believe by the mighty Power of God For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath irradiated our Hearts with the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ v. 6. wherein true saving Faith doth consist Under this Darkness perished the unbelieving World of Jews and Gentiles and such is the present Condition of all by whom the Divine Person of Christ is denied for no mere Creature can ever make a perfect Representation of God unto us But we must a little further enquire into this Mystery SINCE Men fell from God by sin it is no small part of their Misery and Punishment that they are covered with thick Darkness and Ignorance of the Nature of God They know him not they have not seen him at any time Hence is that Promise to the Church in Christ Isa. 60. 1 2. For behold the Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross Darkness the People but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his Glory shall be seen upon thee THE Antient Philosophers made great Enquiries into and obtained many Notions of the Divine Being its Existence and Excellencies And these Notions they adorned with great Elegancy of Speech to allure others unto the Admiration of them Hereon they boasted themselves to be the only Wise Men in the World Rom. 1. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they boasted that they were the Wise But we must abide in the Judgment of the Apostles concerning them in their Enquiries He assures us that the World in its Wisdom that is these wise Men in it by their Wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1. 21. And he calls the Authors of their best Notions Atheists or Men without God in the Word Ephes. 2. 12. For 1. THEY had no certain Guide Rule nor Light which being attended unto might lead them infallibly into the Knowledge of the Divine Nature All they had of this Kind was their own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Reasonings or Imaginations whereby they commenced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Disputers of the World but in them they maxed vain and their foolish Heart was darkned Rom. 1. 21. They did at best but endeavour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feel after God as Men do in the Dark after what they cannot clearly discern Acts 17. 27. Among others Cicero's Book De Natura Deorum gives us an exact Account of the Intention of the Apostle in that Expression And it is at this Day not Want of Wit but Hatred of the Mysteries
order thereby is not only an impious but a foolish Imagination DID we live more in the Contemplation of this Glory of Christ and of the Wisdom of God in this Recapitulation of all things in him there is not any thing of our Duty which it would not mind us of nor any thing of Priviledge which it would not give us a Sence of as might easily be demonstrated 3. IN particular the Lord Christ is glorious herein in that the whole Breach made on the Glory of God in the Creation by the Entrance of Sin is hereby repaired and made up The Beauty and Order of the whole Creation consisted in iâ—s dependance on God by the Obedience of the rational Part of it Angels and Men. Thereby were the being the goodness the wisdom and power of God made manifest But the Beauty of this Order was defaced and the Manifestation of the Divine Perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed by the Entrance of Sin But all is restored repaired and made up in this Recapitulation of all things in one new Head Christ Jesus yea the whole curious Frame of the Divine Creation is rendred more beautiful than it was before Hence the whole of it groaneth for the Interest of each Part in this Restauration of all things Whatever there is of Order of Beauty of Glory in Heaven above or in Earth beneath it all ariseth from this new Relation of the Creation unto the Son of God Whatever is not gathered into one even in him in its place and according to its measure is under Darkness Disorder and the Curse Hence the Jews have a saying that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the Serpent that is the Devil and wicked Men which are as his Seed 4. HE is glorious herein in that he is appointed as the only means of exerting and expressing all the Treasures of the Infinite Wisdom of God towards his Creatures The Wisdom of God is absolutely always and in all things Infinite God doth not God cannot act with more Wisdom in one thing than in another as in the Creation of man than in that of any inanimate Creatures In the first Creation Infinite Wisdom was the inseparable companion of Infinite Power How marvellous are thy works O Lord in Wisdom hast thou made them all But when the effects of this Divine Wisdom in their principal beauty and glory were defaced greater Treasures of Wisdom were required unto their Reparation And in this Recollection of all things in Christ did God lay them forth unto the utmost of whatever he will do in dealing with his Creatures so the Apostle expresseth it Ephes. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God By the Recapitulation of all things into this one head the manifold various unsearchable Wisdom of God was made known unto the Angels themselves They knew not before of the Design and Work of God after the Entrance of Sin These could not comprehend the Wisdom that might repair that Loss They knew not that Divine Wisdom had another way to take herein at least they knew not what way that should be But hereby the manifold Wisdom of God his infinite Wisdom in the Treasures of it able by various ways to attain the ends of his Glory was made known unto them Herein namely in the Recollection of all things in Christ Divine Wisdom hath made known and represented it self in all its Stores and Treasures unto Angels and Men. In him are hid and by him are displayed all the treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Herein is he glorious and will be so to Eternity 5. He is glorious herein in that hereby firmness and security is communicated unto the whole new Creation The first Creation in its Order was a curious and glorious Fabrick But every thing depending immediately on God by vertue of the Principles of its own Nature and the Law of its Obedience all was brought unto a Loss by the sin of Angels and Men. But now every thing that belongs unto this new Creation even every Believer in the World as well as the Angels in Heaven being gathered together in this one Head the whole and all and every part and member of it even every particular Believer are secured from Ruine such as befel all things before In this New Head they have an indissoluble Consistency BUT manum de Tabula I shall insist on no more Instances of this Nature which plentifully offer themselves in the Scripture unto us For who can declare this glory of Christ Who can speak of these things as he ought I am so far from designing to set forth the whole of it that I am deeply sensible how little a Portion I can comprehend of the least part of it Nor can I attain unto any Satisfaction in these Meditations but what Issue in an humble Admiration CHAP. XII Differences between our beholding the Glory of Christ by Faith in this World and by sight in Heaven The first of them explained WE walk here by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. That is in the Life of God in our walking before him in the whole of our Obedience therein we are under the Conduct and Influence of Faith and not of Sight Those are the two spiritual Powers of our Souls by the one whereof we are made Partakers of Grace Holiness and Obedience in this Life and by the other of eternal Blessedness and Glory BOTH these namely Faith and Sight the one in this Life the other in that which is to come have the same immediate Object For they are the Abilities of the Soul to go forth unto and to embrace their Object Now this Object of them both is the Glory of Christ as hath been declared as also what that glory is and wherein it doth consist wherefore my present Design is to enquire into the difference that is between our beholding of the Glory of Christ in this World by Faith and the Vision which we shall have of the same Glory hereafter THE latter of these is peculiarly intended in that Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for his Disciples Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me But I shall not distinctly insist upon it my design being another way respecting principally the Work of God in this Life and the Priviledges which we enjoy thereby Yet I shall now take a short Prospect of that also not absolutely but in the Differences that are between Faith and Sight or the View which we have of the glory of Christ in this World by Faith and that which they enjoy by Vision who are above the Object of them both being adequately the same BUT herein also I shall have respect only unto some of those things which concern our Practise or the
Wisdom unites both the Natures he had sinned against in the one Person of the Son who was the first Object of his Pride and Malice Hereby his Destruction is attended with Everâ—â—sting Shame in the Discovery of his Folly wherein he would have contended with infinite Wisdom as well as Misery by the Powers of the two Natures united in one Person HERE lies the Foundation of the Church The Foundation of the whole Old Creation was laid in an Act of absolute Soveraign Power Hereby God hanged the Earth upon nothing But the Foundation of the Church is on this Mysterious immoveable Rock Thou art Christ the Son of the living God on the most intimate Conjunction of the two Natures the Divine and Humane in themselves infinitely distant in the same Person WE may name one place wherein it is gloriously represented unto us Isa. 9. 6. For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be on his Shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Here must the whole Church fall down and worship the Author of this wonderful Contrivance and captivating their Understandings unto the Obedience of Faith humbly adore what they cannot comprehend THIS was obscurly represented unto the Church of old Exo. 3. 2 3 4 5 6. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush and he looked and behold the Bush burned with Fire and the Bush was not consumed And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great Sight why the Bush is not burnt And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the Bush and said Moses Moses and he said here am I. And he said draw not nigh hither â—ut of thy Shooes from off thy Feet for the Place whereon thou standest is holy Ground Moreover he said I am the God of â—hy Fathers the God of Abraham c. THIS Fire was a Type or Declaration of the Presence of God in the Person of the Son For with respect unto the Father he is called an Angel the Angel of the Covenant but absolutely in himself he was Jehovah the God of Abraham c. And of his Presence the Fire was a proper Representation For in his Nature he is as a Consuming Fire and his present Work was the Delivery of â—he Church out of a Fiery Tryal This Fâ—â—e placed it self in a Bush where it burned but the Bush was not consumed And although the Continuance of the Fire in the Bush was but for a short season a present Appearance yet thence was God said to dwell in the Bush The good will of him that dwelt in the Bush Deut. 33. 16. And this is so spoken because the being of the Fire in the Bush for a season was a Type of him in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily and that for ever Col. 2. 9. Of him who was made flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1. 14. The Eternal Fire of the Divine Nature dwells in the Bush of our frail Nature yet is not consumed thereby God thus dwells in this Bush with all his Good will towards Sinners MOSES looked on this sight as a marvellous and wondrous thing And if it were so in the Type what is it in the Truth Substance and Reality of it AND by Direction given unto him to put off his shooes we are taught to cast away all fleshly Imaginations and carnal Affections that by pure Acts of Faith we may behold this Glory the Glory of the only begotten of the Father I DESIGN not here to insist on the Explication or Confirmation of this glorious Truth concerning the constitution of the Person of Christ in and by his Incarnation What I can comprehend what I do believe concerning it I have fully declared in a large peculiar Treatise Here I take the Truth it self as known or as it may be thence learned My present Business is only to stir up the Minds of Believers unto a due Contemplation of the Glory of Christ in the sacred Mysterious Constitution of his Person as God and Man in one So much as we abide herein so much do we live by the Faith of the Son of God and God can by a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation open the Eyes of our Understandings that we may behold this Glory unto our ineffable Consolation and Joy And unto the diligent Discharge of our Duty herein I shall offer the ensuing Directions 1. LET us get it fixed on our Souls and in our Minds that this Glory of Christ in the Divine Constitution of his Person is the best the most noble useful beneficial Object that we can be conversant about in our Thoughts or or cleave unto in our Affections What are all other things in comparison of the Knowledge of Christ In the Judgment of the great Apostle they are but Loss and Dung Phil. 3. 8 9 10. So they were to him and if they are not so to us we are carnal WHAT is the World and what are the things thereof which most men spend their Thoughts about and fix their Affections on The Psalmist gives his Judgment about them in comparison of a View of this Glory of Christ Psal. 4. 6. Many say who will shew us any good Who will give and help us to attain so much in and of this World as will give Rest and Satisfaction unto our Minds That is the good enquired after But saith he Lord lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon us The Light of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus is that satisfactory Good alone which I desire and seek after THE Scripture reproacheth the Vanity and Folly of the Minds of Men in that they spend their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which profiteth not They ingage the Vigor of their Spirits about perishing things when they have durable Substance and Riches proposed unto them HOW do Men for the most part exercise their Minds What are they conversant about in their Thoughts SOME by them make provision for the flesh to fulfil it in the Lusts thereof as Rom. 13. 14. They search about continually in their Thoughts for Objects suited unto their Lusts and carnal Affections coyning framing and stamping of them in their Imaginations They fix their Eyes with delight on Toads and Serpents with all noisome filthy Objects refusing in the mean time to behold the Beauty and Glory of the Light of the Sun So is it with all that spend their Thoughts about the Objects of their sinful Pleasures refusing to look up after one view of this Glory of Christ. SOME keep their Thoughts in continual Exercise about the Things of this World as unto the Advantages and Emoluments which they expect from them Hereby are they transformed into the Image of the World becoming earthly carnal
present want of what is desired The desire hath sorrow and that sorrow hath joy and refreshment in it like a shower that falls on a Man in a Garden in the Spring it wets him but withall refresheth him with the Savor it causeth in the Flowers and Herbs of the Garden where he is And this groaning which when it is constant and habitual is one of the choicest effects of Faith in this life respects what we would be delivered from and what we would attain unto The first is expressed Rom. 7. 24. The other in the places now mentioned And this frame with an intermixture of some sighs from weariness by the troubles sorrows pains sicknesses of this life is the best we can here attain unto ALAS we cannot here think of Christ but we are quickly ashamed of and troubled at our own thoughts So confused are they so unsteady so imperfect Commonly they issue in a groan or a sigh Oh when shall we come unto him when shall we be ever with him when shall we see him as he is And if at any time he begins to give more than ordinary evidences and intimations of his Glory and Love unto our Souls we are not able to bear them so as to give them any abiding residence in our Minds But ordinarily this trouble and groaning is amongst our best attainments in this World a trouble which I pray God I may never be delivered from until deliverance do come at once from this state of mortality Yea the good Lord encrease this trouble more and more in all that believe THE heart of a believer affected with the Glory of Christ is like the Needle touched with the Loadstone It can no longer be quiet no longer be satisfied in a distance from him It is put into a continual motion towards him The motion indeed is weak and tremulous Pantings breathings sighings groanings in prayer in meditations in the secret recesses of our Minds are the life of it However it is continually pressing towards him But it obtains not its point it comes not to its center and rest in this World BUT now above all things are clear and serene all plain and evident in our beholding the Glory of Christ we shall be ever with him and see him as he is This is Heaven this is Blessedness this is Eternal Rest. THE Person of Christ in all his Glory shall be continually before us and the eyes of our understandings shall be so gloriously illuminated as that we shall be able steadily to behold and comprehend that Glory BUT alas here at present our Minds recoil our Meditations fail our Hearts are overcome our Thoughts confused and our Eyes turn aside from the Lustre of this Glory nor can we abide in the Contemplation of it But there an immediate constant view of it will bring in everlasting refreshment and joy unto our whole Souls THIS beholding of the Glory of Christ given him by his Father is indeed subordinate unto the ultimate vision of the essence of God What that is we cannot well conceive only we know that the pure in heart shall see God But it hath such an immediate connexion with it and subordination unto it as that without it we can never behold the face of God as the objective blessedness of our Souls For he is and shall be to eternity the only means of Communication between God and the Church AND we may take some Direction in our looking into and longing after this perfect view of the Glory of Christ from the example of the Saints under the Old Testament The sight which they had of the Glory of Christ for they also saw his Glory through the obscurity of its Revelation and its being vailed with types and shadows was weak and imperfect in the most illuminated believers much inferior unto what we now have by faith through the Gospel Yet such it was as encouraged them to enquire and search diligently into what was revealed 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Howbeit their discoveries were but dark and confused such as Men have of things at a great distance or in a Land that is very far off as the Prophet speaks Isa. 33. 16. And the continuance of this Vail on the Revelation of the Glory of Christ whilst a Vail of Ignorance and Blindness was upon their Hearts and Minds proved the ruin of that Church in its Apostacy as the Apostle declares 2 Cor. 3. 7 13 14. This double vail the covering covered the vail vailed God promised to take away Isa. 25. 7. And then shall they turn to the Lord when they shall be able clearly to behold the Glory of Christ 2 Cor. 3. 16. BUT this caused them who were real Believers among them to desire long and pray for the removal of these Vails the Departure of those shadows which made it as Night unto them in comparison of what they knew would appear when the Sun of Righteousness should arise with healing in his Wings They thought it long ere the day did break and the shadows flee away Cant. 2. 17. Chap. 4. 6. There was an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle speaks Rom. 8. 19. A thrusting forth of the head with desire and expectation of the exhibition of the Son of God in the flesh and the accomplishment of all divine promises therein Hence he was called the Lord whom they sought and delighted in Mal. 3. 1. AND great was the spiritual Wisdom of believers in those days They rejoyced and gloried in the Ordinances of Divine Worship which they did enjoy They looked on them as their chiefest priviledge and attended unto them with diligence as an effect of Divine Wisdom and Love as also because they had a shadow of good things to come But yet at the same time they longed and desired that the time of Reformation were come wherein they should all be removed that so they might behold and enjoy the good things signified by them And those who did not so but rested in and trusted unto their present Institutions were not accepted with God Those who were really illuminated did not so but lived in constant desires after the revelation of the whole Mystery of the Wisdom of God in Christ as did the Angels themselves 1 Pet. 1. 3. Ephes. 3. 9 10. IN this frame of heart and suitable actings of their Souls there was more of the power of true faith and love than is found among the most at this day They saw the promises afar oâ—â— and were perswaded of them and imbraced them Heb. 11. 13. They reached out the arms of their most intent Affections to embrace the Things that were promised We have an instance of this frame in Old Simeon who so soon as he had taken the Child Jesus in his Arms cryed out Now Lord let me depart now let me dye this is that which my Soul hath longed for Luk. 2. 28 29. OUR present darkness and weakness in beholding the Glory of Christ is not like theirs It is not
your Net this once more upon the Command of Christ venture this once more to come unto him on his Call and Invitation you know not what success he may give unto you 2. CONSIDER that it is not failing in this or that Attempt of coming to Christ but a giving over your Endeavours that will be your Ruine The Woman of Canaan in her great outcry to Christ for Mercy Mat. 15. 22. had many a Repulse First it is said he answered her not a word then his Disciples desired that he would send her away that she might not trouble him any more whereon he gives a Reason why he would not regard her or why he could justly pass her by she was not an Israelitess unto whom he was sent yet she gives not over but pressing into his presence cries out for Mercy ver 25. being come to that issue to try and draw out her Faith to the utmost which was his design from the beginning he reckons her among Dogs that were not to have Childrens bread given unto them Had she now at last given over upon this severe Rebuke she had never obtained Mercy but persisting in her Request she at last prevailed ver 27. 28. It may be you have prayed and cryed and resolved and vowed but all without success as you suppose Sin hath broken thorough all however if you give not over you shall prevail at last you know not at what time God will come in with his Grace and Christ will manifest his love unto you as unto the poor Woman after many a rebuke It may be after all he will do it this day and if not he may do it another do not despond Take that word of Christ himself for your Encouragement Prov. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors If you hear him and wait though you have not yet admission but are kept at the gates and posts of the doors yet in the issue you shall be blessed 3. THE Rule in this case is Hos. 6 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know Are you in the way of knowing Christ in the use of Means hearing the Word and sincere Endeavours in holy Duties though you cannot yet attain unto any Evidence that you have received him have closed with him nothing can ruine you but giving over the way wherein you are for then shall you know if you follow on to know the Lord. Many can give you their Experiences that if they had been discouraged by present overwhelming Difficulties arising from their Disappointments breaking of Vows relapses into Folly they had been utterly ruined whereas now they are at rest and peace in the Bosom of Christ. On a great surprizal Christ lost at once many Disciples and they lost their Souls John 6. 66. They went back and walked no more with him take heed of the like Discouragements III. SOME may say yea practically they do say That these things indeed are necessary they must come to Christ by believing or they are undone but this is not the season of it there will be time enough to apply themselves unto it when other occasions are past At present they have not leisure to enter upon and go through with this Duty wherefore they will abide in their present State for a while hearing and doing many things and when time serves will apply themselves unto this Duty also 1. THIS is an uncontrollable evidence of that Sottishness and Folly which is come upon our Nature by Sin A Depravation that the Apostle places in the head of the Evils of corrupted Nature Tu. 3. 3. Can any thing be more foolish sottish and stupid than for men to put off the consideration of the Eternal Concernment of their Souls for one hour being altogether uncertain whether they shall live another or no to preferr present Trifles before the Blessedness or Misery of an Immortal State For those who never heard of these things who never had any Conviction of Sin and Judgment to put the evil day far from them is not much to be admired But for you who have Christ preached unto you who own a necessity of coming unto him to put it off from day to day upon such slight pretences it is an astonishable Folly May you not be spoken unto in the language of the Wisdom of God Prov. 6. 9 10 11. You come to hear the Word and when you go away the language of your Hearts is Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep We will abide a little while in our present State and afterwards we will rouze up our selves Under this Deceit do multitudes perish every day This is a dark Shade wherein cursed Unbelief lyes hid 2. CONSIDER that this is the greatest Engine that Satan makes use of in the World among them that hear the Word preached unto them for the ruine of their Souls He hath other Arts and Ways and Methods of dealing with other Men as by sensual and worldly Lusts But as unto them who through their Convictions do attend unto the preaching of the Word this is his great and almost only Engine for their Ruine There needs no haste in this matter another time will be more seasonable you may be sure not to fail of it before you dye However this present day and time is most unfit for it you have other things to do you cannot part with your present frame you may come again to hear the Word the next opportunity Know assuredly if your Minds are influenced unto delays of coming to Christ by such insinuations you are under the Power of Satan and he is like enough to hold you fast unto Destruction 3. THIS is as evil and dangerous a Posture or frame of Mind as you can well fall under If you have learned to put off God and Christ and the Word for the present Season and yet relieve your selves in this that you do not intend like others alwayes to reject them but will have a time to hearken to their calls you are secured and fortified against all Convictions and Perswasions all fears one answer will serve for all within a little while you will do all that can be required of you This is that which ruines the Souls of multitudes every day It is better dealing with Men openly profligate than with such a trifling promiser See Isa. 5. 7 10. 4. REMEMBER that the Scripture confines you unto the present day without the least intimation that you shall have either another day or another tender of Grace and Mercy in any day 2 Cor. 6. 2. Heb. 3. 7. 13. Chap. 12. 15. Take care lest you come short of the Grace of God miss of it by missing your opportunity Redeem the time or you are lost for ever 5. AS unto the pretence of your Occasions and Business there is a ready way to disappoint the craft of Satan in that pretence namely
all sorts of Decays both outward and inward It is a rare thing to see a Man in Old Age naturally vigorous healthy and strong and would it were not more rare to see any Spiritually so at the same Season But this is here promised unto Believers as an especial Grace and Priviledge beyond what can be represented in the growth or fruit-bearing of Plants and Trees THE Grace intended is That when Believers are under all sorts of bodily and Natural Decays and it may be have been overtaken with Spiritual Decays also there is provision made in the Covenant to render them fat flourishing and fruitful vigorous in the power of Internal Grace and flourishing in the expression of it in all Duties of Obedience which is that which we now enquire after BLESSED be God for this good Word of his Grace that he hath given us such encouragement against all the Decays and Temptations of Old Age which we have to conflict withall AND the Psalmist in the next words declares the greatness of this Priviledge To shem that the Lord is upright he is my Rock there is no unrighteousness in him Consider the oppositions that lye against the flourishing of Believers in Old Age the Difficulties of it the Temptations that must be conquered the Actings of the Mind above it's natural Abilities which are decayed the weariness that is apt to befall us in a long Spiritual conflict the cries of the Flesh to be spared and we shall see it to be an Evidence of the Faithfulness Power and Righteousness of God in Covenant nothing else could produce this mighty effect So the Prophet treating of the same Promise Hos. 14. 4 5 6 7 8. closeth his Discourse with that blessed Remark Ver. 9. Who is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them Spiritual Wisdom will make us to see that the Faithfulness and Power of God are exerted in this work of preserving Believers flourishing and fruitful unto the End HAVING laid the Foundation of this illustrious Testimony I shall farther declare and confirm my Intention so to make way for the Application of the Truth under Consideration unto this Case manifesting that the way whereby we may be made partakers of this Grace is by a steady view of the Glory of Christ as proposed unto us in the Gospel TRERE is a latter Spring in the Year a Spring in Autumn it is indeed for the most part but faint and weak yet is it such as the Husbandman cannot spare And it is an evident sign of Barren ground when it doth not put forth afresh towards the end of the Year God the good Husbandman looks for the same from us especially if we had a Summers drought in Spiritual Decays as the Psalmist complains Psal. 32. 4. Had we not had a latter Spring the last Year the Land had greatly suffered under the drought of the Summer And if we have had such a drought in the Course of our Profession by Spiritual Decays as God the good Husbandman looks for a latter Spring in us even in old Age in the vigorous acting of Grace and fruitful Obedience So without it we can neither have Peace nor Joy in our own Souls If a Man therefore hath made a great Appearance of Religion in his former or younger days and when he is growing into Age becomes dead cold worldly selfish if he have no fresh Springs of Spiritual Life in him it is an Evidence that he hath a barren Heart that was never really fruitful to God I know that many stand in need of being excited by such warning unto a diligent consideration of their State and Condition IT is true that the latter Spring doth not bring forth the same Fruit with the former There is no more required in it but that the Ground evidence it self to be in good heart and to put forth that which is proper unto the Season It may be such Graces as were active and vigorous in Men at their first Conversion unto God as were carried in a stream of warm natural Affections may not so eminently abound in the latter Spring of old Age But those which are proper for the Season as namely Spirituality Heavenly Mindedness weanedness from the World readiness for the Cross and Death are necessary even in old Age to evidence that we have a living Principle of Grace and to shew thereby that God is upright he is our Rock and there is no unrighteousness in him WHAT is further to be insisted on shall be reduced unto these four Heads 1. THAT the constitution of Spiritual Life is such as is meet to thrive grow and encrease unto the end and will do so unless it be from the default of them in whom it is 2. THAT notwithstanding this Nature and Constitution of Spiritual Life yet Believers are subject unto many Decays partly gradual and partly by Surprizals in Temptation whereby the growth of it is obstructed unto the dishonour of the Gospel and the loss of their own Peace with Joy 3. I shall shew that such at present is the condition of many Professors namely that they are visibly fallen under Spiritual Decays and do not evidence any Interest in the blessed Promise insisted on 4. ON the Confirmation of these things our Enquiry will be how such Persons may be delivered from such Decays and by what means they may obtain the Grace here promised of Spiritual flourishing in old Age both in the strengthning of the inward Principle of Life and abounding in Fruits of Obedience which are to the praise of God by Jesus Christ And then we shall make Application unto this case of that Truth which is the Subject of the preceding Discourse 1. THE Constitution of Spiritual Life is such as is meet to grow and increase unto the end Hereby it doth distinguish it self from that Faith which is Temporary for there is a Temporary Faith which will both flourish for a Season and bring forth some Fruit but it is not in its Nature and Constitution to abide to grow and increase but rather to decay and wither It is described by our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 13. 20 21. either some great Temptation extinguisueth it or it decays insensibly until the mind wherein it was do manifest it self to be utterly barren And therefore whoever is sensible of any Spiritual Decays he is called unto a sevcre Trial and Examination of himself as unto the Nature of the Principle of his Profession and Obedience for such Decays do rather argue a principle of Temporary Faith only unto which they are proper and natural than that whose Nature it is to thrive and grow to the end whereon those that have it shall as it is in the Promise still bring forth fruit and without their own great Guilt be always freed from such Decays THAT this Spiritual Life is in it's Nature and Constitution such as will
it's Exercise for it first respects him and then other things for him when the Mind is fixed on him and his Glory every Grace will be in a Readiness for it's due Exercise And without this we shall never attain it by any Resolutions or Endeavours of our own let us make the Tryal when we please 3. THIS will assuredly put us on a vigilant watch and constant conflict against all the deceitful workings of Sin against all the Entrances of Temptation against all the ways and means of Surprizals into foolish frames by vain Imaginations which are the causes of our Decays Our Recovery or Revival will not be effected nor a fresh Spring of Grace be obtained in a careless slothful Course of Profession Constant watching fighting contending against Sin with our utmost endeavour for an absolute Conquest over it are required hereunto And nothing will so much excite and encourage our Souls hereunto as a constant view of Christ and his Glory every thing in him hath a constraining Power hereunto as is known to all who have any Acquaintance with these things FINIS Books Sold by William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street Books written by the late Dr. John Owen In Folio 1. His Exposition on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews with Exercitations concerning the Messiah Wherein the Promises concerning him to be a Spiritual Redeemer of Mankind are explained and vindicated His Coming and Accomplishment of his Work according to the Promises is proved and Confirmed The Person or who he is declared The whole Oeconomy of the Mosaical Law Rites Worship and Sacrifices is explained And in all the Doctrine of the Person Office and Work of the Messiah is opened The Nature and demerit of the first Sin is unfolded The Opinions and Traditions of the Ancient and Modern Jews are examined Their Objectious against the Lord Christ and the Gospel are Answered The time of the Coming of the Messiah is stated And the great fundamental Truths of the Gospel vindicated In four Volumes Folio 2. A Discourse concerning the Holy Spirit Wherein an Account is given of his Name Nature Personality Dispensation Operations and Effects His whole Work in the Old and New Creation is Explained The Doctrine concerning it vindicated from Oppositions and Reproaches The Nature also and Necessity of Gospel Holiness the Difference between Grace and Morality or a Spiritual Life unto God in Evangelical Obedience and a Course of Moral Vertues are stated and declared Fol. 3. The Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance explained and confirmed Or the certain Permanency of their 1. Acceptation with God and 2. Sanctification from God manifested and proved from 1. The Eternal Principles 2. The Effectual Causes And 3. The External Means thereof c. Fol. Books in Quarto written by the same Author 1. THe True Nature of a Gospel Church and its Government Wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled I. The Subject Matter of the Church II. The formal Cause of a particular Church III. Of the Polity Rule or Discipline of the Church in general IV. The Officers of the Church V. The Duty of Pastors of Churches VI. The Office of Teachers in the Church VII Of the Rule of the Church or of Ruling Elders VIII The nature of Church Polity or Rule with the Duty of Elders IX Of Deacons X. Of Excommucation XI Of the Communion of Churches Price Bound 3. s. 2. The Doctrine of Justification by Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ explained confirmed and vindicated 3. An Enquiry into the Original Nature Institution Power Order and Communion of Evangelical Churches With an Answer to the Dscourse of the Vnreasonableness of Separation written by Dr. Edward Stillingfleet And in the Defence of the Vindication of Nonconformists from the Guilt of Schism 4. The Grace and Duty of being Spiritually Minded declared and practically Improved 5. A Discourse of Communion with God the Father Son and Holy Ghost each Person distinctly In Love Grace and Consolation Or the Saints fellowship with the Father Son and Holy Ghost unfolded 6. Vindiciae Evangelicae Or The Mystery of the Gospel vindicated and Socinianism examined in the Consideration and Confutation of a Catechism called A Scripture Catechism written by J. Biddle M. A. And the Catechism of Valentinus Smalcius commonly called the Racovian Catechism 7. A Display of Arminianism Being a Discovery of the Old Pelagian Idol Free-will with the New Goddess Contingency advancing themselves into the Throne of the God of Heaven to the prejudice of his Grace Providence and Supreme Dominion over the Children of Men. Wherein the main Errors of the Arminians are laid open by which they are fallen off from the received Doctrine of all the Reformed Churches with their Opposition in divers particulars to the Doctrine established in the Church of England Discovered out of their own Writings and Confessions and confuted by the Word of God 8. The Death of Death in the Death of of Christ. A Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation that is in the Blood of Christ with the Merit thereof and the Satisfaction wrought thereby Wherein the proper End of the Death of Christ is asserted the immediate Effects and Fruits thereof assigned with their Extent in respect of it's Object and the whole Controversie about Vniversal Redemption fully discussed In four Parts 9. A Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of the Person of Christ God and Man With the Infinite Wisdom Love and Power of God in the Contrivance and Constitution thereof As also the Grounds and Reasons of his Incarnation the Nature of his Ministry in Heaven the Present State of the Church above thereon and the Use of his Person in Religion With an Account and Vindication of the Honour Worship Faith Love and Obedience due unto him in and from the Church Books in Octavo written by the same Author 1. THe Nature of Apostasie from the Profession of the Gospel and the Punishment of Apostates declared in an Exposition of Heb. 6. 4 5 6. With an Enquiry into the Causes and Reasons of the Decay of the Power of Religion in the World or the present general Defection from the Truth Holiness and Worship of the Gospel Also of the Proneness of Churches and Persons of all sorts unto Apostasie With Remedies and Means of Prevention 2. Exercitations concerning the Name Original Nature Use and Continuance of a Day of Sacred Rest. Wherein the Original of the Sabbath from the Foundation of the World the Morality of the Fourth Commandment with the Change of the Seventh Day are enquired into Together with an Assertion of the Divine Institution of the Lord's Day and Practical Directions for it's due Observation 3. The Nature Power Deceit and Prevalency of the remainders of Indwelling-Sin in Believers Together with the ways of it's working and Means of Prevention Opened evinced and applyed with a Resolution of sundry Cases of Conscience thereunto appertaining 4. An Answer to a Book entituled Fiat Lux. 5. A Vindication of the