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A53746
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A funeral sermon Opening the nature and grounds of assurance, occasioned by the death of Mr. Philip King, Minister. Who departed this life, November, 8th. 1699. By Jonathan Owen.
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Owen, Jonathan.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing O827; ESTC R216657
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12,870
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31
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to himself see how Jobs Faith wrought he not only owns Christ to be a Redeemer but his Faith cleaves fast to him it graples hard upon him and it receives him with the whole Heart my Redeemer therein lies the appropriating Act of his Faith Luther was wont to say that the sweet of the Gospel lay much in Pronouns My Lord and my God saith Thomas John 20.28 Who loved me and gave himself for me saith Paul Gal. 2.20 When Job lost all his earthly Enjoyments he did not loose his Interest in Christ when he could not say my Wealth and worldly Substance my Living Sons and Daughters then in the Assurance of Faith he could say my living Redeemer when nothing upon Earth could yield him Comfort then his Faith fetcht it from his living Redeemer when he was stript of all this remain'd and indeed it is that good Part which shall not be taken away Luke 10.42 3. To constitute a well-grounded Assurance of an Interest in the Living Redeemer there must be the Witness of the Spirit the Spirit must not only Witness to the Person and Office of Christ as Redeemer but also unto a Mans Personal Interest in him not only did all the Prophets give Witness unto Christ Acts 10.44 But his Incarnation and Baptism his Death Resurrection and Ascension does put this Matter out of Doubt but herein Jobs Faith excels ours he believed on the Redeemer to come in the Flesh but we upon Him now cloathed with our Nature he foresaw the Eternal Word to be made Flesh but we must believe upon Christ God manifest in the Flesh 1 Tom. 3. last and received up into Glory As this is the objective Faith of Assurance so to inable the Soul to say my Redeemer liveth there must be the internal subjective Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Here you have two Things the Witness and the Matter witnessed The Witness is the Spirit and the Matter witnessed unto is Adoption and surely Conscience inlightened and sanctified must 〈◊〉 the Court where this Witness is heard and received so then what can this Witness 〈◊〉 but the Holy Spirits so inlightning the Mind and perswading the Will that Conscience must conclude that Christ is received with the Priviledge to be a Son of God John 1.12 But as many as receiv'd him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Holy Job had this Witness within himself and this bore him up against all the reproaches of his miserable Comforters thus you see upon what Foundation this Assertion is built Can we say That we know our Redeemer liveth then Christ in his Person Christ in his Ofces and Christ in his Glory as Redeemer must be known to us then Faith must thus appropriate him then the Spirit must thus Witness our personal Interest in him I proceed to the Third General 3. Which is to Confirm the Doctrine to wit that they are great and rare Instances of Grace who can say with Holy Job They know that their Redeemer liveth i. e. that can say it upon Scripture Foundation now that such Instances are both great and rare thus appears 1. From their Paucity 2. From their Excellency of Spirit 3. From their Christian Deportment with respect to Death and Judgment of these a little which also is their excelling 1. If we consider the Paucity of these Instances they must be rare the scarcity of a thing oftentimes makes it rare if Gold were as plenty as Silver it would be less valuable then it is this celestial Jewel a well-grounded Assurance it is lodged in the Breast but of very few more are Poor with much Wealth then are Rich in the full Assurance of Faith Since Christs Flock is but little comparatively as he assures us Luke 12.32 Therefore the number of sealed Souls cannot be great as Holy Job was a non-such in his Day so there are but a few such in ours Not many do attain to Assurance and them that are indulged with it do not always hold it it is got in great Diligence and it is kept with no less This the Apostle plainly hints Heb. 6.11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same Diligence to the full Assurance of Hope unto the End that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Who doth not hence perceive that our utmost Diligence and a well-grounded Assurance are inseparably Connext Such Instances must be rare because they are but few 2. The rarity and greatness of such Instances of Grace appears from their Eminency of Spirit and that with Respect to their knowing doing and suffering the Will of God Scripture-certified Saints are Persons of a choice Spirit when Holy Jobs Body was rough cast with Ulcers Boils and Sores then his precious Soul like the Kings Daughter was all glorious within Psalm 45.13 He upon the Dunghil was in Gods esteem a rare Jewel So the sacred Scriptures stile the Saints Mal. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord of Host in that Day when I make up my Jewels What the Holy Ghost remarks concerning Caleb for his eminent Zeal his undaunted Courage and constant Obedience is applicable unto these Darlings of Heaven well assured Souls Numb 14.24 But my Servant Caleb because he had another Spirit with him and hath followed me fully him will I bring into the Land whereinto he went and his Seed shall possess it Mark God seldom makes great Promises to the faithful but his Heart is also towards their Children his Seed shall possess it so in like manner those that are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise and therefore can say their Redeemer liveth they are Men and Women of choice and eminent Spirits and this excellency of Spirit chiefly consists in these three Things to wit 1. In their clear knowing 2. In their faithful doing 3. In their patient Suffering the Will of God let me insist upon these a little 1. They have another Spirit of Knowledge than what other Persons commonly have That a Mind savingly inlightned in the great Truths of the Gospel is necessary unto a well grounded Assurance I need not stand to prove Job witnesseth it in the Text I know that my Redeemer liveth and you have read what Paul saith of himself to this Purpose 2. Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that be is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day I shall not now insist upon the specifick Difference which is between common and special Knowledge You may be sure it is more then gradeal Jobs Friends were Men of exquisite Parts they were indued with a great measure of excellent Understanding but in all which they have elegantly said concerning the Nature Perfections Attributes and Providence of God how little is there made of Christ
it could be no terrifying Thing to him to appear at the Bar of God for he not only kept his Integrity unto the Last but he knew that his powerful Advocate and Days-man was his living Redeemer Thus I have finished the Doctrinal Part of this Observation viz. They are great and rare Instances of Grace who can with Holy Job upon Scripture Grounds say They know that their Redeemer liveth Now this Doctrine might be applied many Ways but to Contract 1. Know that the greatness and rarity of this Grace is no effectual Bar to the thing it self though it be great Grace and a special Favour yet it is possible and attainable the Papists and Arminians erre greatly by denying the possibility of Assurance in the true and proper Scripture Sence of it Is not the Effect of Christs Righteousness apprehended by Faith Peace Quietness and Assurance for ever Yea Isa 32.17 Doth not the Holy Ghost expresly say These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have Eternal Life 1 John 5.13 Is it not the special Office of the Spirit to Witness and Seal up our Interest in Christ 1 John 5.8 There are Three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in one Moreover are not we required to give Diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2. Pet. 1.10 Let me add have not some of Christs faithful Servants attain'd to it in this Life if the Deceased had not experienced this great Grace if he had not been one of these rare Instances you had not been thus entertain'd by this Subject at present Now that you may attain to this rich Grace and have an experimental discerning that you are in the blessed number of these rare Instances Take this Advice 1. Stedfastly believe that a well grounded Assurance is attainable but withall take heed of the two common Extreams which abound much in this present Age viz. do not with some deny the possibility of the thing nor with others who know not experimentally the way of the Spirit in working this I say do not with them presume upon it without Scripture warrant these both must be carefully shun'd they are very hazardous to the Peace Comfort and welfare of immortal Souls 2. Hope that in the use of appointed means you may be favour'd with it Say not there is no hope as God hath not excluded you so do not you shut out your selves The very command to give Diligence imports a design and possibility of the Thing 2. Pet. 1.10 Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Methinks the Grace and Authority herein contain'd should move you to strive and endeavour after it yea to conclude though not for yet in so doing it is possible for you and you in particular do not only propound Grace necessary to Salvation in the use of the means but level and aim at this even to know like Job That your Redeemer liveth 3. Would you attain to this Grace viz. a well grounded Assurance of your interest in the living Redeemer then with Diligence attend to the Ministry of the Word even that which hath a Testimony in your Consciences that it is the Ministry of the Gospel and hath the Administration of the Spirit going along with it Not only Faith Rom. 10.17 But also this Assurance comes by Hearing and what an incouraging Promise is that which you have in Hosea 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepar'd as the Morning and he shall come unto us as the Rain as the latter and the former Rain unto the Earth O what hold is here for Faith mark his going forth is prepar'd and prepar'd as the Morning now how doth the Morning go forth Why certainly gradually irresistably and exceeding comfortably Why thus will the Lord discover himself to the redeem'd but remember then you must follow on not play fast and loose take some steps and then turn out of the war but you must with this Promise like a Staff in your hand follow on to know the Lord. In this his ordinary Way he sealeth up Believers unto the Day of Redemption Is Christ a living and Life giving Redeemer then why may not you have Life in and from him Hath he by the Price of his Blood and the Power of his Spirit redeemed precious Souls Why may not the Vertue of the one and the Power of the other inclose and save you Is he exalted in our Natures then why may not you be pittied and reliev'd by him Will he stand upon the Earth in the latter Day and in a Triumphant Manner to Judge the World then except the Judge be your Advocate you 'll perish for ever 4. As the Gospel reveals Christ to poor Sinners so put forth the Hand of Faith and receive him you are under command to believe and that without delay 1 John 3. 23. No present Indisposition removes the Obligation put not those blocks in your Way which Christ in the Gospel has remov'd What though Sinners are naturally impotent yet who knows but if you hearken his Power shall be exerted the Poor Man did not Object his Hand was wither'd but when his Heart was toward Christs Grace and Power He found it went out with the Command and his wither'd hand was restor'd and made whole see Mat. â—2 13 The living Redeemer is Lord of Life and Glory when the Word went out of his Mouth you know how Thomas reply'd my Lord and my God John 20.28 5. Take heed of grieving the Spirit but understand and examine your selves in the way of his sealing and consirming Souls I shall not touch upon the immediate and mediate Way of the Spirits Witness you have not only heard but experienced the thing it self in both Parts But ah alas it is Ignorance of this which makes some presume and it is unacquaintedness with this which makes thee safe in the Hands of Christ to fear they shall be miserable for ever O that you were skilful in this matter the Lord lead you into this Truth viz. The right way of the Spirits sealing and assuring Souls Now you will expect that I should speak something of what hath occasioned this Subject you know it is somewhat more than ordinary two related to us both Interred in one Week desir'd this Text might be spoke from The one was a Private Member the other a Publick Person your choice and my Fellow-Helper in the Work of the Gospel It is not my way to speak much of the Dead I had rather that Persons Lives and Good Works than my Lips should be the Trumpets of their Praises but in this I may not be altogether silent Mr. Philip King for his Time and standing was a burning and shining Light you could rejoyce in it but for a season because a violent Feaver extinguisht his Lamp in the Twenty Fifth Year of his Age. And now when God is cutting off his faithful Watchmen shall not we that remain tell you what of the Night It is evident God hath a Controversie with us for his Embassadors are call'd home not only the Aged and Honourable whose Labours commend them to all judicious and ingenious Christians But also our budding Hopes are cut off in great measure by the surprizing Death of the rising Generation not only the Reverend Dr. Bates and Worthy Mr. Mead but some of our hopeful Young Ones Mr. S Mr. King are gone also Formerly God gave us many faithful Witnesses in Time of restraint but now we have Liberty what have we else Now our Elijah's Mantels are dropt off O that a double Portion of the Spirit might be upon the succeeding Elisha's But you of this Congregation behold what the Lord hath done and humbly enquire into the meaning of this sad Providence doth not this Rod loudly call for the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and Love conform to it for the Lords sake I need not inform you that the Deceased was one of these rare Instances of Grace was not his short abode with us a live Comment upon this Text. Did not almost every Prayer and every Sermon declare that he was upon the Coelestial Wrings of a well grounded Assurance and so comsequently as they were for him Indeed he was of an eminent Spirit for powerful Godliness I know not what Suffering-Work he was ever called out unto but his Acquaintance with the Mysteries of the Gospel his Patience in Sickness and his Triumph in Death was all more than Ordinary by these things we have fair warning God help us to take it lest worst befal us not hardening but teaching and humbling Afflictions are New-Covenant Mercies So much for this Text and Time the Lord give you Understanding in all Things FINIS