for clearing and confirmation 1. He had some desire to see Christ and such a desire as made him wave that which some would have judged prudence and discretion whilest he climbeth up upon a tree that he might see him 2. Christ spake to his heart and that word took such hold upon him that presently with joy he did accept of Christ's offer and closed with Christ as Lord whilest few of any note were following him 3. Upon this his heart did open to the poor although it seems he was a covetous man before 4. He had a due impression of his former wayes evidencing his respect to Moses his Law and this he did signifie before all the company then present not caring to shame himself in such things as probably were not known to the World 5. Upon all these things Christ confirmeth and ratifieth the bargain by his word recommending to him that oneness of interest which behoved to be between him and the Saints and the thoughts of his own lost condition if Christ had not come and sought him and found him All which are clear Luke 19. 3 10. We grant the Lord calleth some so and if any can lay claim to the special things we have now hinted they have a good confirmation of Gods dealing with them from that Scripture Neither are they to vex themselves because of the want of a distinct preparatory law-Law-work if their heart have yielded unto Christ For a Law work is not desirable except for this end Therefore Christ doth offer himself directly in the Scripture and people are invited to come to him and although many will not come to him who is the surety until the spirit of bondage distress them for their debt yet if any upon the knowledge of their lost estate would flee and yield to Christ none might warrantably press a Law-work upon them As for others whom Christ perswaded by a word to follow him whatsoever he did or howsoever he spake to them at his first meeting with them we must rationally suppose that then he discovered so much of their own necessity and his own fulness and excellency to them as made them quit all and run after him And if he do so to any we crave no more since there is room enough there for the Physitian So that from all this as some may be confirmed and strengthened with whom God hath so dealt So there is no ground nor occasion for deluded souls to flatter themselves in their condition who remain ignorant and senseless of their own miseries and Christs all-sufficiency and hold fast deceit Thirdly There are some brought in to Christ in a way yet more declarative of his free grace and this is when he effectually calleth men at the hour of death We find somewhat recorded of this way in that pregnant example of the Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 39 41. Although this seems not very pertinent for the purpose in hand yet we shall speak a little of it that on the one hand men may be sparing to judge and pass Sentence upon either themselves or others before the last breath And we shall so circumstantiate it that on the other hand none may dare to delay so great a business to the last hour of their life We find these things remarkable in that business between Christ and the Thief 1. The man falleth at odds with his former Companion 2. He dareth not speak a wrong word of God whose hand is on him but justifieth him in all that is befallen him 3. He now seeth Jesus Christ persecuted by the World without a cause and most injuriously 4. He discovereth Christ to be a Lord and a King whilst enemies seem to have him under 5. He believeth a being of glory after death so really that he preferreth a portion of it to the present safety of his bodily life which he knew Christ was able to grant to him at that time and he might have chosen that with the other Thief 6. Although he was much abased in himself and humbled that he pleaded but that Christ would remember him yet he was nobly daring to throw himself upon the Covenant on life and death and he had so much faith of Christs all-sufficiency that he judged a simple remembrance from Christ would satisfyingly do his business 7. He acquiesced sweetly in the word which Christ spake to him for the ground of his comfort All which are very clear in the case of that poor dying man and do prove a very real work of God upon his heart As this example may encourage some to wait for good from God who cannot as yet lay clear claim to any gracious work of his Spirit So we beseech all as they love their souls not to delay their soul-businesses hoping for such a cast of Christs hand in the end as too many do This being a rare miracle of mercy with the glory whereof Christ did honourably triumph over the ignominy of his cross a parallel of which we shall hardly find in all the Scripture beside yea as there be but few at all saved Mat. 20. 16. and most few saved this way So the Lord hath peremptorily threatned to laugh at the calamity and not to hear the cry of such as mocked formerly at his reproof and would not hear when he called to them Prov. 1. 24 26. which Scripture although it doth not shut mercies door upon any who at the hour of death do sincerely judge themselves and flee unto Christ as this penitent Thief did Yet it is certain it implyeth that very few who fit the offer until then are honoured with repentance as he was and so their cry as not being sincere and of the right stamp shall not be heard The fourth and most ordinary way by which many are brought in to Christ is by a clear and discernable work of the law and humiliation which we ordinarily call the spirit of bondage as was hinted before We do not mean that every one whose conscience is awakened with sin and fear of wrath doth really close with Christ the contrary doth appear in Gain Saul Judas c. But that wherein there is a conviction of sin awakening of conscience and work of humiliation which as we shall circumstantiate it doth rarely miscarry or fail of a gracious issue but ordinarily doth resolve into the spirit of adoption and a gracious work of Gods Spirit and because the Lord dealeth with many sinners this way and we find that many are much puzled about the giving judgment of this Law-work This work is either more violent and sudden or it is more sober and longer protracted through a great length of time and so as the steps of it are very discernable It is more violent in some as in the Jaylor Paul and some other converts in the book of the Acts of the Apostles on whom Christ did break in at an instant and fell on them as with Fire and Sword and led them captive terribly And because
some great legal shakings are deceitful and turn to nothing if not worse we shall point at some things remarkable in these converts spoken of before which did prove the work of the Law on them to have had a gracious issue and result 1. Some word of truth or dispensation putteth the person to a dreadful stand with a great stir in the Soul Some are pricked in heart Acts 2. 27. Some fell on trembling Acts 16. 29. and this is such a stir that the person is brought to his wits end What wilt thou have me to do saith Paul Acts 9. What shall I do saith the Jaylor Acts 16. 30. 2. The person is content to have Salvation and Gods friendship on any terms as the questions do import What shall I do as if he had said What would I not do What would I not forego What would I not undergo 3. The person accepteth the condition offered by Christ and his Servants as is clear in the fore-cited Scriptures 4. The person presently becometh of one interest with the Saints joyning himself with that persecuted society putting respect on those whom he had formerly persecuted joyning and continuing with them in the profession of Christ on all hazards Those with whom the Lord hath so dealt have much to say for a gracious work of Gods spirit in them and it is like many of them can date their work from such a particular time and word or dispensation and can give some account of what past between God and them and of a sensible change following in them from that time forward as Paul giveth a good account of the work and way of God with him afterwards Acts 22. Again The Lord sometimes carrieth on this work more calmly foftly and gently protracting it so as the steps of mens exercise under it are very discernable It would draw a great length to enlarge every step of it we shall touch the most observable things in it 1. The Lord Iayeth siege to men who it may be have often refused to yield to him offering himself in the Ordinances and by some word Preached Read or born in on the mind or by some providence leading in unto the Word he doth also assault the house kept peaceably by the strong man the Devil and thus Christ who is the stronger man cometh upon him Luke 11. 22. and by the Spirit of truth doth fasten the Word on the man in which Gods curse is denounced against such and such sinners whereof the man knoweth himself guilty The spirit convinceth the man and bindeth it upon him that he is the same person against whom the Word of God doth speak because he is guilty of such sins and from such sins the man is led on to see more until ordinarily he comes to see the sins of his youth sins of omission c. yea he is led on until he sees himself guilty almost of the breach of the whole Law he seeth innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in a fit of exercise Isa 40. 12. A man sometimes will see ugly sights of sin in this case and is sharp-sighted to reckon a filthiness to every sin almost Thus the spirit convinceth of sin Jo. 16. 8. 2. The Lord shaketh a special strong hold in the garrison a refuge of lies to which the man betaketh himself when his sins are thus discovered to him The poor man pretendeth to faith in Christ whereby he thinks his burden is taken off him as the Pharisees said John 8. 41. We have on Father even God They pretend to a special relation of God as a common Lord. The Spirit of God beats the man from this by the truth of the Scriptures proving that he hath no true faith and so no interest in Christ nor any true saving grace shewing clear differences between true grace and the counterfeit fancies which the man hath in him and between him and the truly Godly as Christ laboureth to do those Joh. 8. 42 44. If God were your father ye would love me Ye are of the Devil for ye do the lusts of such a father So fear surpriseth the Hypocrite in heart Isa 33. 14. especially when the Lord discovereth to him conditions in many of these promises wherein he trusted most not easily attainable he now seeth grace and faith another thing than once he judged them to be We may in some respect apply that word here The Spirit convinceth him of sin because he hath not believed on the Son he is particularly convinced of unbelief John 16. 9. he seeth now a huge distance between himself and the godly whom he thought before out-stripped him in only some unnecessary proud hateful preciseness he now seeth himself deluded and in the broad way with the perishing multitude and so in the sight of his misery coucheth down under his own burthen which before this time he thought Christ did bear for him he now beginneth to be afraid of the Promises because of that and such other words What hasâ— thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth c. Psal 50 16 3. The man becometh careful about his salvation and beginneth to take it to heart as the one thing necessary he is brought to this with the Jaylor Act. 16. What shall I do to be saved His salvation becometh the leading thing with him It was least in his thoughts before but now it prevaileth and other things are much mis-regarded by him since his soul is ready to perish What shall it profit him to gain the whole world if he lose his soul Mat. 16. 26. Some here are much puzled with thoughts of an irrecoverable decree to their prejudice and with the fears of uncertain death which may attach them before they get matters put to a point and some are vexed with apprehensions that they are guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost which is unpardonable and so are driven a dangerous length Satan still casting up to them many sad examples of people who have dolefully put an end to their own exercise but they are in the hand of one who knoweth how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. 4. When a man is thus in hazzard of miscarrying the Lord useth a work of preventing mercy towards him quietly and under-hand supporting him and this is by bearing upon his mind the possibility of his Salvation leading the man to the remembrance of pregnant proofs of Gods free and rich grace pardoning gross transgressors such as Manasseth who was a bloody idolatrous man and had correspondence with the Devil and yet obtained mercy 2 Chron. 33. 12 13. and other Scriptures bearing offers of grace and favour indifferently to all who will yield to Christ whatsoever they have been formerly So as the man is brought again to this What shall I do to be saved which doth suppose that he apprehendeth a possibility of being saved else he would not propound the question He applyeth that or the like word to himself It may
cases Psal 9. 6. Psal 42. 5. Psal 4. 2. 5. It is observable here that sometimes the man will halt and be silent to hear some indistinct whispering of a joyful sound glancing on the mind or some news in some broken word of Scripture which it may be the man scarcely knoweth to be Scripture or whether it is come from God or Satan to delude him yet this he hath resolved only to hear what God the Lord will speak as upon another occasion Psal 85. 8. 6. More distinct promises comes into the mans mind whereupon he assayeth to lay hold but is beaten off with objections as in another case the Psalmist is Psal 20. 3. 6. But thou art holy But I am a Worm Now it is about the dawning of the day with the man and Faith will stir as soon as the Lord imparteth the joyful sound Psal 89. 15. This is the substance of the Covenant which may be shortly summed up in these words Christ Jesns is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him We can speak no further of the mans exercise as a preparatory work for what followeth is more than preparatory Yet that the exercise may appear compleat and full we shall add here That after all these things the Lord it may be after many answers of divers sorts mightily conveyeth the sound of his Covenant to the heart and determineth the heart to close with it and God now draweth him so to Christ Joh. 6. 44. and so shapeth out the heart for him that the conception cannot miscarry for now the heart is so in breadth and length for him as that less cannot satisfie and more is not desired like that of Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee or whom have I desired on earth besides thee The soul now resolveth to die if he command so yet at his door and facing to him-wards We have drawn this preparatory work to some length not tying any man to such a work so circumstantiate only we say the Lord dealeth so with some and where he so convinceth of sin corruption and self emptiness and maketh a man take salvation to heart as the one thing necessary and sets him on work in the use of the means which God hath appointed for relief I say such a work rarely shall be found to fail of a good issue and gracious result Object Hypocrites and reprobates have great stirrings of Conscience and deep convictions about sin setting them on work sometimes and I do suspect any preparatory work of the Law I ever had to be but such as they have Answ It will be heard to give sure essential differences between the preparatory work in those in whom afterwards Christ is formed and those legal stirrings which are sometimes in Reprobates If there were not some gracious result of these convictions and wakenings of conscience in the Lords people and other marks of which we shall speak afterwards it were hard to adventure upon any difference that is clear in these legal stirrings Yet for answer to the Objection I shall offer some things which rarely will be found in the stirring of reprobates and which are ordinarily found in that Law-work which hath a gracious issue 1. The convictions of hypocrites and reprobates are usually confined to some few very gross transgressions Saul grants no more but the persecuting of David 1 Sam. 26. 21. Judas grants only the betraying of innocent blood Mat. 27. 4. But usually these convictions by which the Lord prepareth his own way in the soul although they may begin at one or more gross particular transgressions yet they rest not there but the man is led on to see many breaches of the Law and innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in the sight of his sin Psal 40. 12. and withal that universal conviction if I may call it so is not general as usually we hear senseless men saying that in all things they sin But it is particular and condescending as Paul afterwards spake of himself he not only is the chief of sinners but particularly he was a blasphemer a persecuter 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. The convictions which Hypocrites have do seldom reach thier Corruption and that body of death which breeds an averseness from what is good and strongly inclineth to what is evil Ordinarily where we find Hypocrites speaking of themselves in Scripture they speak loftily and with some self conceit both as to their freedom from corruption Joh. 9. 34. The Pharisees say to the poor man Thou wast altogether born in sins and dost thou teach us as if they themselves were not as corrupt by nature as he They speak of great sins as Hazael did 2 Kings 8. 13. Am I a Dog that I should do this great thing And also in their undertakings of duty as that man spake Mat. 8. 19. I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest See how the people do speak Jer. 42. 2. to 7. They undertake to do all that God will command them so that they still go about in any case to establish their own righteousness not submitting unto the righteousness of God But I may say that convictions and exercise about corruption and that body of death inclining to evil and disenabling for good is not the leasâ— part of the work where the Lord is preparing his own way They use to judge themselves very wretched because of a body of sin and are at their wits end how to be delivered as Paul speaketh when he is under the exercise of it afterwards Rom. 7. 19. 3. It will ordinarily be found that the convictions which are in hypocrites either are not so serious as that some other business will not putâ— them out of head before any satisfaction be gotten as in Cain who went and built a City and we hear no more oâ— his Convictions Gen. 4. Felix went away until a morâ— convenient time and we hear no more of his trembling Actâ— 24. 25. Or if that work become very serious then iâ— runneth to the other extremity and despair of relief leaving no room for any escape So we find Judas very serious in his Convictions yet he grew desperate and hanged himself Mat. 27. 4 5. But where the Lord prepareth his own way the work is both so serious as the person cannot be put off it until he find some satisfaction and yet under that very seriousness he lyeth open for relief both which are clear in the Gaolers words What shall I do to be saved Acts 16. 30. This serious enquiry after Relief is a very observable thing in the preparatory work which leadeth on to Christ yet we desire none to lay too much weight on these things since God hath allowed clearer differences between the precious and the vile Object I still fear I have not had so through a sight of my sin and misery as the Lord giveth to many whom he effectually calleth especially to great Transgressors such as I am Answ It is true
44. Yet it were a reflection upon Christ and all he hath done to say it were a matter of insuperable difficulty as is clear Rom. 10. 6 11. it were according to that Scripture as much upon the matter as to say Christ came not from Heaven is not risen from the dead or ascended victorious to Heaven I say he hath made the way to Heaven most easie and faith which is the condition required on our part more easie than men do imagine For the better understanding of this consider that justifying faith is not to believe that I am elected or to believe that God loveth me or that Christ died for me or the like These things are indeed very difficult and almost impossible at the first hand to be obtained by those who are serious whilst natural Athiests and deluded Hypocrites find no difficulty in asserting all those things I say true justifying faith is not any of the foresaid things neither is it simply the believing of any sentence that is written or that can be thought upon I grant he that believeth on Christ Jesus believeth what God hath said about mans sinful miserable condition by nature and he believeth that to be true That there is life in the Son who was slain and is risen again from the dead c. But none of these nor the believing of many such truths do speak out justifying faith or that believing on the Son of God spoken of in Scripture for then it were simply an act of the understanding But true justifying Faith which we now seek after as a good mark of Interest in Christ is chiefly and principally an act or work of the heart and will having presupposed sundry things about truth in the understanding with the heart it is believed unto Salvation Rom. 10. 10. and although it seem vers 9 of that Chapter that a man is saved upon condition that he believe this truth God raised Christ from the dead yet we must understand another thing there and vers 10. than the believing the truth of that proposition For beside that all Devils have that Faith whereby they believe that God raised Christ from the dead So the Scripture hath clearly resolved justifying Faith into a receiving of Christ Joh. 1. 12. The receiving of Christ is there explained to be the believing on his Name it is still called a staying on the Lord Isa 26. 3. a trusting in God often mentioned in the Psalms and the word is a leaning on him it is a believing on Christ Joh 6. 29. and often so exprest in the New Testament When God maketh men believe savingly He is said to draw them unto Christ and when the Lord inviteth them to believe he calleth them to come to him Joh. 6. 37 44. The â—ingdom of Heaven is like a man â—â—nding a Jewel wherewith he falleth in love Mat. 13. 14 to 46. Now I say this action of the heart on Christ Jesus is not so difficult a thing as is conceived Shall that be judged a mysterious difficult thing which doth consist much in desire If man have but an appetite â—ey have it for they are blessed that hunger after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. If you will you are welcome Rev. 22. 17. It is a matter of such intricacy and insuperable difficulty greedily to look to that exalted Saviour Isa 45. 22. and to receive a thing that is offered held forth and declared to be mine if I will but accept and take iâ— and in a manner open my mouth and give way to it Such a thing is faith Psal 81 10. if not less Oh if I could perswade people what is justifying Faith which impropriateth Christ to me We often fright people from their just rest and quiet by making them apprehend faith to be some deep mysterious thing and by moving unnecessary doubts about it whereby it is needlesly darkened 2. Some make no use of this mark as judging it a high presumptuous crime to pretend to so excellent a thing as is the very condition of the New Covenant To those I say you need not startle so much as it as if it were high pride to pretend to it for whatsoever true Faith be men must resolve to have it or nothing at all all other marks are in vain without it a thousand things besides will not do the business Unless a man believe he abideth in the state of Condemnation Joh. 3. 18 36. 3. Others do not meddle with this noble mark of faith because they judge it a work of greatest difficulty to find out Faith where it is To those I say It is not so difficult to find it out since he that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is a thing which by some serious search may be known not only may we do much to find it out by the preparatory work going before it in many as the apprehending and believing of a mans lost estate and that he cannot do his own business and that there is satisfying fulness in Christ very desirable if he could overtake it A serious minding of this with a heart laid open for relief as also by the ordinary companions and concomitans of it viz. the liking of Christs Dominion his Kingh and prophetical Office a desire to resign my self wholly up to him to be at his disposing As also by the native consequences of it viz. the managings of the World the managings of my own conscience according to the Word a heart purifying work a working love c. I say not only may we know faith by these things but it is discernable by it self and of its own nature although I deny not but that there must be some help of Gods Spirit by which we know what is freely given unto us of God 1 Cor. 2. 12 As also that God hath allowed many evidences and marks as precious helps whereby men may clear up faith more fully to themselves 1 John 5. 13. Yet I still say that faith or believing which is some acting of the heart upon Christ in the Gospel and the transacting with him there is discernable of it self and by it self to a judicious understanding person with an ordinary influence of the spirit unless the Lord for reasons known to himself do overcloud a mans reflex light by which he should take up and perceive what is in him This justifying faith which we assert to be so discernable is in the Lords deep wisdom and gracious condescendence variously exprest in Scripture according to the different actings of it upon God and outgoings after him so as every one who hath it may find and take it up in his own mould It sometimes acted by a desire of union with him in Christ This is that looking to him Isa 45. 22. This seems to be a weak act of faith and far below other actings of it at other times perhaps in that same person Men will look to what they dare not approach to their apprehension which they dare
only a free but also a bold speaking before God it is that boldness with confidence Ephes 3. 12. this is more rarely imparted unto men than the former yet it is ordinary It hath in it beside what we spake before some influence of the Spirit upon faith making it put out some vigorous acting in Prayer there is a sweet mournful frame of Spirit by which a man poureth out his heart in Gods bosome and with some confidence of his Favour and good will pleadeth his cause before him as a living God and this is all the sensible presence that many Saints do attain unto there is no ground of doubt about a mans estate in point of liberty before God in this last sence because there is nothing essential to the making up of a gracious state here some have it some want some have it at sometimes and not at other times so that it is much up and down yet I may say gracious men may do much by a very ordinary influence in contributing towards the attaining and retaining or keeping of such a frame of spirit Sixthly There is a thing called Influence or breathing of the Spirit This gracious influence for of such only do I now speak is either ordinary and this is the operation of the holy Spirit on the soul and the habits of grace there whereby they are still kept alive and in some exercise and acting although not very discernable This influence I conceive doth alwayes attend Believers and is that keeping and watering night and day and every moment promised Isa 27. 3. Or this influence is more singular and special and is the same to a gracious although a withered soul as the wind and breath to the dry bones putting them in good ease Ezek. 37. 9 10. And as the dew or rain to the grass or newly mowen field and parched ground Psal 72. 6. Such influence is meant Cant. 4. 16. by the blowing of the South wind making the Spices to flow out When the Spirit moveth thus there is an edge put upon the graâ—es of God in the soul and they are mad to act more viâ—orously This is the inlarging of the heart by which a 〈◊〉 doth run in the wayes of God Psal 119. 32. This influence is more discernable than the former and not so ordinarily communicated Also here sometimes the wind bloweth more upon one grace and sometimes more discernably upon another and often upon many of the graces together and according to the lesser or greater measure of this influence the soul acteth more or less vigorously towards God and since faith is a created grace in the soul this influence of the Spirit is upon it sometimes less sometimes more and accordingly is the assurance of faith small or great Seventhly There is the hearing of prayer often spoken of in Scripture and many vex themselves about it alleadging that they know nothing of it experimentally I grant there is a favourable hearing of prayer But we must remember it is two fold Either 1. It is such as a man is simply to believe by way of argument on Scriptural grounds As if I be fled unto Christ and do approach unto God in him pray according to his will not regarding iniquity in my heart exercising faith about the thing I pray for absolutely or conditionally according to the nature of the thing and promises about it I am obliged to believe that God heareth my prayer and will give what is good according to the Scriptures Joh. 14. 13 14. Whatsoever ye ask in my name I will do it 1 John 5. 14. This is our confidence that whatsoever we ask according to his will he heareth us Mark 3. 24. Believe that you receive and you shall have what you desire Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity he will not hear Then if I regard not iniquity I may believe that he doth hear me Or 2. A man doth sensibly perceive that God heareth his prayer It is made out to his heart without any syllogistical deduction Such a hearing of prayer got Hannah 1 Sam. 1. 8. Her countenance was no more sad Surely the Lord did breath upon her faith and made her believe that she was heard and she could not make it out by any argument for she had not grounds whereupon to build the premises of the argument according to Scripture in that particular God did stamp it in some way upon her heart sensibly and so made her believe it This is but rarely granted especially in cases clearly deducible in Scripture And therefore people are much to be satisfied in exercising their faith about the other and let God give of this latter what he pleaseth A mans gracious state should not be brought upon debate upon the account of such hearing of prayer Eighthly There is Assureance of Gods favour by the witnessing of our own spirits which assurance is deduced by way of argument syllogistically Thus Whosoever believeth on Christ shall never perish But I do believe on Christ Therefore I shall never perish Whoso hath respect unto all Gods Commandments shall never be ashamed But I have respect unto all his Commands Therefore I shall never be ashamed I say by reasoning thus and comparing Spiritual things with spiritual things a man may attain unto a good certainty of his Gracious State It is supposed 1 John 3. 18 19. That by loving the Brethren in deed and in truth we may assure our hearts before God and that a man may rejoyce upon the Testimony of a Good Conscience 2 Cor. 1. 12. A man may have confidence if his heart do not condemn him 1 John 3. 21. We may then attain unto some assurance although not full assurance by the witness of our own spirit I do not deny that in this witnessing of our Spirits towards Assurance there is some concurrence of the Spirit of God But I conceive there needeth but a very ordinary influence without which we can do nothing Now this assurance such as it is may be reached by intelligent Believers who keep a good conscience in their walk So I hope there needs be no debate about it as to a mans gracious state for if a man will clear himself of heart condemnings he will speedily reach this assurance Ninthly There is a Witnessing of Gods Spirit mentioned Rom. 8. 16. A bearing witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God This operation of the Spirit is best understood if we produce any syllogism by which our spirit doth witness our Sonship as for example Whosoever loveth the Brethren is past from Death to Life and consequently is in Christ But I love the Brethern Therefore I am passed from Death to Life Here there is a threefold operation of the Spirit or Three Operations rather The first is a beam of Divine Light upon the first Proposition perswading the Divine Authority of it as the Word of God the Spirit of the Lord must witness the Divinity of the Scripture and that is the
lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the Covenant of Works or inherent righteousness and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in and shall be saved So then to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus is to quit and forego all thoughts of help or salvation by our own Righteousness and to agree unto this way which God hath found out It is to value and highly esteem of Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man and with the heart to believe this record That there is life enough in him for men It is to plead this invention and to acquiesce in it as the only way to true happiness It is to point towards this Mediator as God holdeth him out in the Gospel with desire to lay the stress of our whole estate on him This is that which is called Faith or Believing the receiving of Christ or believing on his Name John 1. 12. This is that believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus commanded unto the Jaylor for his safety Acts 10. 31. This agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture this doth answer the type of looking to the Brazen Serpent lifted up in the Wilderness John 3. 14 15. and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of Faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God and it will be found in none else As to the Second thing viz. That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls It appeareth thus 1. This closing with Gods contrivance or believing in Christ is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new Covenant giving title and right unto all the spiritual blessings of the same for it is upon the matter the receiving of Christ This is commanded whilst God bids men come and buy that is impropiate all by closing with that contrivement Isa 55. 1. the weary are commanded to come uuto him thus for their rest Mat. 11. 28. This is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Son 1. John 3. 23. this is enough to prove it a duty incumbent But further it is such a duty as only giveth title and right to a Sonship for only they who receive him are priviledged to be Sons John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to be the sons of God even to such as believed on his name 2. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all thus No less than this doth give a meeting unto God offering himself to be our God in Christ and no less than this doth answer our profession as we are in Covenant with him as Members of his visible Church The Lord offereth to be our God in Christ if we do not close with the offer in laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness we give no meeting to him he saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. If we close not with the offer we give no answer unto God Moreover we are all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Now unless we close with Christ as is said we falsifie that profession therefore since this is the thing which doth answer Gods offer in the Gospel and make good our profession as members of his Church it is a necessary duty lying upon us 3. Whatsoever a man hath else if he do not thus close with Gods Invention about Christ Jesus and do not receive him it doth not avail either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances or as to the saving of his soul Men are accepted only in Christ the beloved Eph. 1. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith Heb. 11. 4. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. and He that believeth not is condemned already and shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18. 36. for want of this no external title doth avail the Children of the Kingdom are cast out if this be wanting Mat. 8. 10 11 12. The people of Israel are like other Heathens in regard of a graceless state lying open to the wrath of God Jer. 9. 25 26. If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem who was called Christ Jesus and witnessed unto by the Prophets and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works I say if men do not believe that he is the way and close not with him as the only way they shall dye in their sins John 8. 24. We say then it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus as the blessed relief appointed for sinners every one who is come to years of understanding and heareth this Gospel is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition and Gods gracious offer of peace and salvation throngh Christ Jesus and speedily to fly from the wrath to come by accepting and closing with this offer heartily acquiescing therein as a satisfying way for saving of poor Sinners And that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto them let them remember that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms to all without exception If any man will he shall be welcome Rev. 22. 17. If any thirst although after that which will never profit yet they shall be welcome here on the condition aforesaid Isa 55. 2 3. all are commanded to believe 1 John 3. 23. The promises are to all who are externally called by the Gospel God excludes none if they do not exclude themselves Acts 2. 39. so that if any have a mind for the thing they may come forward he will in no wise cast them out John 6. 37. being able to save to the utmost them who come to God through him Heb. 7. 25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their Eyes but all these words will not take effect with people until God pour out his Spirit from on high Isa 32. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ yet we must still press mens duty upon them and beseech and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ and their reckoning to him in that day that they give the Lord no rest until he send out that Spirit which he will give to them who ask it Luke 11. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace and bring them up to their duty We come now to speak of the Third thing viz.
sinneth not 1 Joh. 3. 9. For the Lord hath resolved and ordained things so that his hand shall undoubtedly so be upon all believers for good that they shall never get leave to hate him and be so pluckt out of his hands 2. Because of this union there is as a strange sympathy and fellow-feeling between God and the believer The Lord is afflicted with the mans afflictions he doth tenderly carefully and seasonably resent it as if he were afflicted with it Isa 63. 9. He who toucheth the believer toucheth the apple of the Lords eye Zech. 2. 8 He is touched with the feeling of their infirmities Heb. 4. 15. And precious in his sight is their blood Psal 116. 15. In a word what is done to them is done unto him and what is done unto them is not done unto him Mat. 10. 40. 25. 40 45. On the other part the zeal of his house sitteth in the heart of the believer Psal 69. 9. The Lords reproach lighteth on the believer if it go well with his affairs that is the business of his people So there is a strange sympathy between God and believers all by vertue of the union between them because of which men should hate every thing which would compete with him in their love or affections and should disdain to be slaves to the Creatures since these are the servants of their Lord and Husband and their servants through him What a hateful thing is it for a Queen to whore with the servants of her Prince and Husband It is also a shame for a Believer to be afraid of evil tidings since the Lord with whom he is one alone ruleth all things and doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Psal 112. 6 7. and 115. 3. The other great consequent of believing is an admirable unpararell'd communion by vertue whereof 1. The parties themselves do belong each to other The Lord is the God of his people he himself Father Son and Holy Ghost is their God in all his glorious Attributes his justice as well as his mercy his wisdom power holiness c. for He becometh the God of his people as he often speaketh in the Covenant On the other part the Believers are his people in their very persons they are his as the Covenant doth speak They shall be his people their head their heart their hand c. whatsoever they are they are his 2. By vertue of this communion they have a mutual interest in one anothers whole goods and geer in as far as can be useful All the Lords Word doth belong to the Believer Threatnings as well as Promises for their good all his wayes all his works of all sorts special communications death devils even all things in so far as can be useful 1. Cor 3. 21 22 23. On the other side all which belongeth to the Believer is the Lords heritage children life wife credit all is at his disposing if any of these can be useful to him the Believer is to forego them else he falsifieth that communion and declareth himself in so far unworthy of Christ Luke 14. 26. 3. By vertue of this communion there should be much familiarity between God and the Believer The Lord may meddle with any thing which doth belong to the believer and do to him what seemeth good to him and the man is not to mistake or say unto God What dost thou but in so far as concerneth his duty yes he is still to say in every case Good is the Word and Will of the Lord Isa 38. 8. 2. Kings 4. 23 26. On the other part the believer may in an humble way be free and familiar with God in Christ he may come with boldness to the throne of Grace and not use a number of complements in his addresses unto God Heb. 4. 16. For he is no more a stranger unto God Eph. 2. 19. so as that he needs not speak unto God as one that hath acquaintance to make every hour as many professors do and it maketh a huge inconsistency in their Religion The believer also may lay open all his heart unto God 1. Sam. 1. 15. and impart all his secrets unto him and all his tentations without fear of a mistake The believer also may enquire into what God doth in so far as may concern his own duty or in so far as may ward off mistakes of the Lords way and reconcile it with his Word John 13. 15. The believer is a friend in this respect as knowing what the Master doth see Gen. 18. 23. c. Jer. 12. 1. Isa 63. 17. The believer also may be free with God to go in daily with his fallings and seek repentance pardon and peace through Christs Advocateship Acts. 5. 31. 1 John 2. 1. O how often in one day may the believer plead pardon if he intend not to mock God or to turn grace into wantonness The Lord hath commanded men to forgive seventy times seven in one day and hath hinted therein a parable how much more the Master will forgive Mat. 18. 22 28. The believer also may be free to entrust God with all his ovtward concernments for he doth care for these things Mat. 6. 30 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Yea the believer may humbly put God to it to make him forth-coming for him in all cases as beseemeth and to help him to suitable fruit in every season even grace in time of need Heb. 4. 16. Yea how great things may believers seek from him in Christ Jesus both for themselves and others 1 John 5. 14 15. John 14. 13. Isa 45. 11. It is the shame and great prejudice of his people that they do not improve that communion with God more than they do Christ may justly upbraid them that they ask nothing in his Name John 16. 24. By what is said it doth appear of how great consequence this duty of believing is by which a man closeth with Christ Jesus whom the Father hath sealed and given for a Covenant to the people It is so honourable for God answering his very design and serving his interest in the whole contrivment and manifestation of the Gospel And it is so advantagious to men that Satan and an evil heart of unbelief do mightily oppose it by moving objections against it I shall hint some most ordinary Object I am so base worthless and faithless of my self that I think it were high presumption for me to meddle with Christ Jesus or the salvation purchased at the rate of his blood Answ It is true all the Children of Adam are base and vile before him who chargeth his Angels with folly Job 4. 18. All Nations are less than nothing and vanity before him Isa 40. 17. There is such a disproportion between God and men that unless he himself had devised that Covenant and of his own free will had offered so to transact with men it had been high treason for men or Angels to have imagined that
in whom God was well pleased Mat. 17. 5. 3. This matter is so clear and supposed to be so notorious in Scripture and so manifest to all who are under the Ordinances that the Lord doth often speak of transacting with himself not making mention of the Mediator because it is supposed that every one in the Church knoweth that now there is no dealing with God except by and through Christ Jesus the Mediator 4. Consider that Christ Jesus God-man is not only a fit meeting-place for God and men to meet into and a fit spokes-man to treat between the parties now at variance 2 Cor. 5. 19. But we may say also he is the immediate Bridegroom and so our closing or transacting with God may be justly called the marriage of the Kings Son and the elect may be called the Lambs Wife Christ Jesus being as it were the hand which God holdeth out unto men and on which they lay hold when they deal with God And so through and by Christ we close with God as our God on whom our soul doth terminate lastly and ultimately through Christ 1 Pet. 1. 21. 5. Consider that the diverse relations mentioned in Scripture are set down to signifie the sure and indissoluble union and communion between God and his people whatsoever nearness is between head and members root and branches King and Subject shepherd and flock father and children brother and sister Husband and Wife c. all is here John 17. 21. to 27. So that whatsoever be spoken in the Scripture people may be clear that God calleth them to be reconciled unto him through Christ and doth offer himself to be their God and Husband in him alone and men are to accept God to be their God in Christ pleasing that way of relief for poor man and to give up themselves unto God in Christ in whom alone they can be accepted And they who close with Christ they do close with God in him who is in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. Joh. 14. 9. to 12. And we are not to dip further into the diverse relations mentioned in Scripture between God or Christ and men then as they may point out union and communion or nearness with God through Christ Jesus and our advantage thereby These things being clear we will not multiply words But since to believe on Christ is the great duty required of all that hear this Gospel we beseech every one in the Lords Name to whom the report of this shall come that without delay they take to heart their lost condition in themselves and that they lay to heart relief which God hath provided by Jesus Christ whereof he hath made a free offer unto all who will be content of the same and to be saved that way And that they lay to heart that there is no other way of escape from the wrath that is to come because of which men would be glad at the last day to run into a lake of melted Lead to be-hid from the face of the Lamb whom they do here despise we say we beseech all in the consideration of these things to work up their hearts to this business and to lay themselves open for God and to receive him through Christ in the offers of the Gospel acquiescing in him as the only desirable and satisfying good that so they may secure themselves go speedily and search for his offers of peace and salvation in the Scripture and work up your heart and soul to close with them and with Christ in them and with God in Christ And do it so as you may have this to say that you were serious and in earnest and cordial here as ever you were in any thing to your apprehension and for ought you know Christ is the choice of your heart at least you neither know nor allow any thing to the contrary Whereupon your heart doth appeal unto God to search and try if there be ought amiss to rectifie it and lead unto the right way Now this cleaving of the heart unto him and casting it self upon him to be saved in his way is believing which doth indeed secure a man from the wrath that is to come because now he hath received Christ and believeth on him and so shall not enter into condemnation as saith the Scripture Object When I hear what it is to believe on Christ Jesus I think sometimes I have faith For I dare say to my apprehension the invention of saving sinners by Christ Jesus pleaseth me my heart goeth out after him and doth determinate upon him as a satisfying treasure and I am glad to accept God to be my God in him But I often do question if ever I have done so and so am for most part kept hesitating and doubting if I do believe or be savingly in Covenant with God Answ It is ordinary for many whose hearts are gone out after Christ in the Gospel and have received him to bring the same in question again Therefore I shall advise one thing as a notable help to fix the soul in the maintaining faith and an interest in God and that is that men not only close heartily with God in Christ as is said but also they expresly explicitely by word of mouth and viva voce And formally close with Christ Jesus and accept Gods offer of salvation through him and so make a Covenant with God And this by Gods blessing may contribute not a little for establishing them about their saving interest in God Before I speak directly to this express Covenanting with God I premise these few things 1. I do not here intend a covenanting with God essentially differing from the Covenant between God and the visible Church as the Lord doth hold it out in his revealed Will. Neither do I intend a Covenant differing essentially from that transacting of the heart with God in Christ formerly spoken unto It is that same Covenant only it differeth by a singular circumstance viz. the formal expression of the thing which the heart did before practise 2. I grant this express covenanting and transacting with God is not absolutely necessary for a mans salvation For if any person close heartily and sincerely with God offering himself in Christ in the Gospel his soul and state is thereby secured according to the Scripture although he utter not words with his mouth But this express verbal covenanting with God is very expedient for the better being of a mans state and his more comfortable maintaining of an interest in Christ Jesus 3. This express covenanting with God is very expedient for the better being of a mans state and his more comfortable maintaining of an interest in Christ Jesus 3. This express covenanting with God by word of mouth is of no worth without sincere heart-closing with God in Christ joyned with it For without that it is but a prophaning of the Lords Name and a mocking of him to his face so to draw near unto him with
the lips whilst the heart is far away from him 5. I grant both cordial and verbal transacting with God will not make out a mans gracious estate unto him so as to put and keep it above controversie without joynt witness of the Spirit by which we know what is freely given unto us of God yet this explicite way of transacting with God joyned with that heart-closing with him in Christ contributes much for clearing up unto a man that there is a fixed bargain between God and him and will do much to ward off him many groundless jealousies and objections of an unstable mind and heart which useth affrontedly to deny this hour what it did really act and perform the former hour This explicite covenanting is an Instrument taken of what past between God and the soul and so hath its own vantage for strengthening of Faith As for this express covenant we shall 1. Shew that is a very warrantable practice 2. We shall shew shortly what is preparatorily required of those who do so transact with God 3. How men shall go about that duty 4. What should follow thereupon As to the first I say it is a warrantable practice and in incumbent duty expâ—â—â—ly and by word to covenant with God which appeareth thus 1. In many places of Scripture if we look to what they may bear according to their scope and the analogy of Faith God hath commanded it and left it on people as a duty Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousness and strength Jer. 31. 4. Wilt thou cry unto me My father thou art the guide of my youth Zech. 13. 9. They shall say The Lord is my God Hos 2. 16. Thou shalt call me Ishi and in many places elsewhere Now since God hath so clearly left it on men in the matter of the word they may be perswaded that it is a practice warranted and allowed by him and well-pleasing unto him 2. Arg. It is the approved practice of the Saints in Scripture thus expresly to covenant with God and they have found much quiet in that duty afterwards David did often expresly say unto God that he was his God his portion and that himself was his servant Thomas will put his interest out of question with it Joh. 20. 28. Yea I say the Saints are much quieted in remembrance of what hath past that way between God and them Psal 73. 25. Psal 142. 5. we find it often in the Book of the Canticles Now shall the chief Worthies of God be so much in a duty breeding so much quiet and satisfaction to them in many cases and shall we be under the New Testament unto whom access is ministred abundantly and who partake of the sap of the Olive shall we I say lie behind in this approved piece of freedom with God Since we study to imitate that cloud of witnesses in other things as faith zeal patience c. let us all imitate them in this 3. Arg. The thing about which we move here is a matter of the greatest concernmen 〈◊〉 all the World It is the life of our Soul Deut. 32. 47. Oh shall men study to be express explicite plain and peremptory in all their other great businesses because they are such and shall they not much more be peremptory and express in this which doth most concern them I wonder that many not only do not speak it with their mouth but that they do not swear and subcribe it with their hand and do not every thing for securing of God to themselves in Christ and themselves unto God which the Scripture doth warrant Isa 44. 5. This also may have its own weight as an argument to press this way of covenanting with God The business of interest in Christ and of real and honest transacting with him is a thing which in experience of Saints is most frequently brought upon debate and in question Therefore men had need all the ways they can even by thought word and deed to put it to a point This also may have place here for pressing this as a duty that God is so formal express distinct and legal to say so in all the business of mans salvation viz. Christ must be a near kinsman to whom the right of redemption doth belong he must be chosen called authorized and sent Covenants formally draw between the Father and him the Father accepting payment and satisfaction giving formal discharges all done clearly and expresly Shall the Lord be so express plain and peremptory in every part of the business and shall our part of it rest in a confused thought and we be as dumb beasts before him If it were a marriage between man and wife it would not be judged enough although there were consent in heart given by the woman and known to the man if she did never express so much by word being in a capacity to do so Now this Covenant between God and man is held out in Scripture as a marriage between man and wife Hos. 19. 20. 2 Cor. 2. The whole Song of Soloman speaketh it The Lord useth similitudes to signifie unto us what he intends and surely this is a special requisite in Marriage that the wife give an express and explicite consent unto the business The man saith so I take thee to be my lawful wife and do oblige my self to be a dutiful husband The woman is obliged on the other Part to express her consent and to say Even so I take thee to be my lawful husband and do promise duty and subjection It is so here The Lord saith I betroth thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt call me Ishi my husband Hosea 2. I will be for thee as a head and husband if thou wilt not be for another Hosea 3. the man ought to answer and say Amen So be it Thou shalt be my God my head and Lord and I shall and will be thine and not for another Cant. 6. 3. And so this making of this Covenant with God is called a giving of the hand to him as the word is 2 Chron. 30. 8. which doth hint a very express formal explicite and positive bargaining with God So then we conclude it to be an incumbent duty and a very approved practice necessary for the quieting of a mans mind and his more comfortable being in Covenant with God and more fully answering Gods condescendence and offer in that great and primary promise I will be your God and ye shall be my people Not only may and should people thus expresly close with God in Christ for fixing their heart but they may upon some occasions renew this verbal transacting with God especially when through tentations they are made to question if ever they have really and sincerely closed Covenant with God as they are to put out new acts of faith embracing Christ as the desirable portion and measure and also upon other occasions so were
it expedient especially if there remain any doubt about the thing that by viva voce and express word they determine that controversie and say of the Lord and to him that he is their refuge and portion Psalm 91. 2. Psalm 142. We find the Saints doing so and we may imitate them especially 1. In the time of great back-sliding people were wont to renew the Covenant with God and we should do so also Our heart should go after Christ in the promises of reconciliation with God for he is our peace upon all occasions and our Advocate and we are bound to apprehend him so when we transgress 1 Joh. 2. 1. and to express so much by word as Saints did in their formal renewing of the Covenant 2. When people are in hazzard then it were good that they should send out their heart after him and express their adhering unto him for securing their own heart We find Joshua doing so when he was to settle in the land of Canaan in the midst of snares Joshua 24. so David doth in his straits Psal 57. 1. 3. When men apprehend God to be at a distance from them and their Soul be under withering and decay then it is safest heartily to close with Christ and embrace him by faith for securing of the Soul and it were good to put it out of question by the expressing of the thing This is the ready way to draw sap from Christ the root for recovering of the Soul and for establishing the heart before him The Spouse in the Song of Soloman doth so thus asserting her interest in him when in such a condition Professing and avouching him to be hér beloved Cant. 5. 4. At the celebration of the Lords Supper men should thus cordially close with God in Christ and speak and express so much For that is a feast of Love And then and there we come under a solemn profession of closing with God in Christ personally and openly and do receive the seal of it it is therefore beseeming at that time to bring up both heart and tongue to second and answer our profession apprehending God to be our God and resigning over our selves to be his and at his disposing We shall not confine the Lords people to times and season of this duty The Lord may bind it upon them at his pleasure Only there is hazzard that by too frequent express covenanting with God men turn too formal in it Therefore it is not so fit that people should cordially at full length renew that explicite transacting with God but rather to declare unto God that they adhere unto the Covenant made with him and that they do maintain and will never revoke nor recal the same and withal they may hint the sum of it in laying claim unto God in Christ as their own God and this they may do often even in all their addresses to God and probably this is the thing designed by the Saints in their so ordinary practice in the Scripture whilst they assert their interest in God as their God and portion And it is fit that men in all their walk hold their heart at the business by heart-cleaving to God in Christ The life we live in the flesh should be by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. As to the second thing viz. what is preparatorily required of him who is expresly to transact with God Here besides what we spake before as previous to a mans closing with Christ Jesus we only add 1. That he that would explicitly bargain with God must know that to do so is warranted and allowed by God as we shewed before If this be wanting a man cannot do it in faith and so it will be sin unto him Rom. 14. 23. 2. The man must labour to bring up his heart to the thing that it do not belye the tongue It will be a great mocking of God so to draw near him with the lips whilst the heart is far off from him Isa 29. 13. The third thing to be considered in this express verbal covenanting with God is the way how it is to be performed and managed And beside what was said before in heart-closing with Christ I add here 1. The man should do it confidently not only believing that he is about his duty when he doth it But also that God in Christ Jesus will accept his poor imperfect way of doing this duty he do accept a man according to what he hath if there be a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12. a mite is accepted since it is all the poor womans substance Mat. 12. 44. yea if it can be attained the man should believe that the issue and consequence of this transacting shall prove comfortable and all shall be well and that God who engageth for all in the Covenant since he hath determined the man to this happy choice will in some measure make him forth-coming and will perfect what concerns him Faithful is he who hath promised who will also do it 1. Thess 5. 24. If this confidence be wanting the matter will be done with much fear and jealousie if not worse and will still prove a disquieting business to the man 2. It should be done holily It is called the Holy Covenant Luke 1. 72. The holy things of David Acts 13. 34. Here it were fitting that what is done in this express transacting with God should not be done passingly and on the by but in some special addresses unto God the thing should be spoken unto the Lord Psal 142 5. It is beseeming in so great a business that a piece of time were set apart for confessing and supplication before God yea also the person so transacting with God should labour to have high apprehensions of Gods greatness and soveraignty 2. Sam. 7. 22. although he thus humble himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth and these high and holy thoughts of him will and should be attended with debasing and humbling thoughts of self although admitted to this high dignity 2 Sam. 7. 18. It is no small thing to be allyed unto and with the great God of Heaven and his Son Christ as David speaketh when King Saul did offer his Daughter unto him 1 Sam. 18. 22. Yea further there should be special guarding and watching that the heart keep spiritual transacting with God there is great reason for this holy way of performing the duty For men are ready to forget themselves and to shape the Lord according to their own fancy and to turn carnal in the business since it is a marriage transaction held out in all the ordinary expressions of love as in the Song of Soloman Isa 62. 5. Zeph. 3. 17. The fourth thing we shall speak a word unto is what should follow upon this express verbal Covenanting with God I say beside that union and communion with God in Christ following upon believing if a man explicitly by word transact with God 1. He should thenceforth be singularly careful to abide close by
God in all manner of conversations For if a man thenceforth do any thing unsuitable he doth falsifie his word before God which will stick much in his Conscience and prove a snare If a man henceforth forget God and take on him to dispose of himself since he is not his own and hath opened his mouth unto the Lord he makes enquiry after vows and devoureth that which is holy Prov. 20. 25. 2. He who transacteth with God should hold stedfast that determination and conclusion it is a shame for a man whose heart hath closed with God and whose mouth hath ratified and confirmed it solemnly before him to contradict himself again and to admit any thing to the contrary he ought boldly to maintain the thing against all deadly Then let me beseech you who desire to be established in the matter of your interest in God that with all conveniency you set apart a piece of time for Prayer before God and labouring to work up your heart to seriousness affection and the faith of the duty to make a Covenant and to transact with God by express words after this manner O Lord I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day And although being born within the visible Christ I was from the womb in Covenant with thee and had the same sealed unto me in bapsïsin Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the world senseless and ignorant of my Obligation by vertue of that Covenant Thou hast at length discovered unto me and bound upon my heart my miserable state in my self and hast made manifest unto my heart the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus offering the same freely unto me upon condition that I would accept of the same and would close with thee as my God in Christ warranting and commanding me upon my utmost peril to accept of this offer and to flee unto Christ Jesus Yea to my apprehension now thou hast Soveraignly determined my heart and shaped it for Christ Jesus leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel causing me to approach unto the living God to close so with him and to acquiesce in his offer without any known guile And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter which should be to my comfort and the praise of thy glorious Grace Therefore I am here this day to put this matter out of question by express words before thee according to thy will And now I unworthy as I am do declare that I believe that Christ Jesus who was slain at Jerusalem was the Son of God and the Saviour of the World I do believe that record that there is life eternal for men in him and in him only I do this day in my heart plead and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him and do interest my soul unto him I do accept of reconciliation with God through him and do close with thee as my God in him I chuse him in all that he is and all that may follow him and do resign up my self and what I am or have unto thee desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee and that without exception or reservation of any thing consistent with my knowledge or intended reversion Here I give the hand to thee and do take all things about me witnesses that I whatever I be or have hitherto been do accept so Gods offer of peace through Christ and do make a sure Covenant with thee this day never to be reversed hoping that thou wilt make all things forth-coming both on thy part and mine seriously begging as I desire to be saved that my corruptions may be subdued and my Neck brought unto thy sweet yoke in all things and my heart made chearfully to acquiesce in whatsoever thou dost unto me or with me in order to these ends Now glory be unto thee O Father who devised such a Salvation and gave the Son to accomplish it Glory be to Christ Jesus who at so dear a rate did purchase the out-letting of that love from the Fathers bosome and through whom alone this access is granted and in whom I am reconciled unto God and honourably united unto him and am no more an Enemy or Stranger Glory be to the Holy Ghost who did alarm me when I was destroying my self and who did not only convince me of my hazzard but did also open my eyes to behold the relief provided in Christ yea and did perswade and determine my wild heart to fall in love with Christ as the enriching treasure and this day doth teach me how to Covenant with God and how to impropriate to my self all the sure Mercies of David and blessings of Abraham and to secure to my self the favour and friendship of God for ever Now with my soul heart head and whole man as I can I do acquiesce in my choice this day henceforth resolving not to be my own but thine And that the care of whatsoever concerns me shall be on thee as my Head and Lord protesting humbly that failings on my part against which I resolve thou knowest shall not make void this Covenant for so hast thou said which I intend not to abuse but so much the more to cleave close unto thee and I must have liberty to renew ratifie and draw extracts of this transaction as often as shall be found needful Now I know thy consent to this bargain stands recorded in Scripture so as I need no new signification of it and I having accepted of thy offer upon thy own terms will henceforth wait for what is good and for thy salvation in the end As thou art faithful pardon what is amiss in my way of doing the thing and aceept me in my sweet Lord Jesus in whom I only desire pardon And in testimony hereof I set to my Seal that God is True and in declaring him a competent Saviour Let People Covenant with God in fewer or more words as the Lord shall dispose them for we intend no Platform of words for any person Only it were fitting that men should before the Lord acknowledge their lost state in themselves and the relief that is by Christ and that they do declare that they accept of the same as it is offered in the Gospel and do thankfully rest satisfied with it intrusting themselves henceforth wholly unto God to be saved in his way for which they according to his faithfulness If men would heartily and sincerely do this it might heartily through the Lords blessing help to establish them against many fears and jealousies And they might date some good thing from this day and hour which might prove comfortable unto them when they fall in the dark afterwards and even when many failings do stare them in the face perhaps at the hour of death 2 Sam. 23. 5. It is much if a man can appeal unto God and
be ye shall be hid Zeph. 2. 3. he findeth nothing excluding him from mercy now if he have a heart for the thing Although here it may be the man doth doth not perceive that it is the Lord who upholdeth yet afterward he can tell that when his foot was slipping Gods mercy held him up as Psal 94. 17. 18. the Psalmist speaketh in another case And he will afterwards say When he was as a Beast and as fool in many respects God held him by the hand Psal 73. 22 23. 5. After this discovery of a possibility to be saved there is a work of desire quickned in the Soul which is clear in that same expression What shall I do to be saved But sometimes this desire is not regular whilst it goeth out thus what shall I do that I may work the works of God Joh. 6. 28. In which case the man formerly perplexed with fear and care about his Salvation would be at some work of his own to extricate himself And here he suddenly resolveth to do all that is commanded and to forego every evil way yet much slighting Christ Jesus and so beginneth to take some courage to himself again establishing his own righteousness but not submitting to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. whereupon the Lord maketh a new assault on him intending the discovery of his absolutely broken state in himself that so room might be made for the Surety as Joshua did to the people when he found them so bold in their undertakings Josh 24. 18. 19. You cannot serve the Lord saith he fer he is a Holy God c. In this new assault the Lord 1. Bends up against the man the spirituality of the Law the Commandment cometh with a new change in the spiritual meaning of it Rom. 7. 9. The Law came saith Paul viz. in the spiritual meaning of it Paul had never seen such a sight of the Law before 2. God most holily doth loose the restraining bonds which he had laid upon the mans corruptions and suffereth it not only to boyl and swell within but to threaten to break out in all the outward members Thus sin groweth bold and kicketh at the law becoming exceeding sinful Rom. 7. 8 9 13. 3. The Lord doth discover to man more now than ever before the uncleanness of his righteousness and what spots are in his best things These things kill the mast and he dieth in his own conceit Rom. 7. 9. and dispaireth of releif in himself if it come not from some other way 6. After many ups and downs here ordinarily the man resolveth some retirement he desireth to be alone he cannot keep company as before like those who in a besieging City when they see they cannot hold out and would be glad of any good condition from the besieging enemy they go to a council that they may resolve somewhat So the man here retireth that he may speak with himself This is like that communing with our own heart Psal 4. 4. Thus God leadeth to the wilderness that he may speak to the heart Hos 2. 14. When the person is retired the thoughts of the heart which were scattered in former steps of exercise do more observable throng in here We shall reduce them into this method 1. The man thinks of his unhappy folly in bearing arms against God and here there be large thoughts of former wayes with a blushing countenance and self-loathing Ezek. 36. 31. like that of Psal 51. 3. his sin is before him 2. Then he remembreth how fair opportunities of yeilding to God he hath basely lost his spirit is like to faint when he remembreth that as is said in another case Psal 42. 4 5. 3 He now thinks of many Christians whom he mocked and despised in his heart perswading himself now that they are happy as having chosen the better part he thinks of the condition of those who wait on Christ as the Queen of Sheba did of Solomons servants Happy are thy servants saith she who stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom 1 Kings 10. 8. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house c. Psal 8. 4. 4. He wisheth to be one of the meanest who have any near relation to God as the 〈◊〉 Son doth speak he would be as one of the Fathers hired servants Luke 15. 17. 19. 5. Then he calleth to mind the good report that is gone abroad of God according to that testimony Jonah 4. 2. The Prophet knew that God was a gracious God and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness c. The free and large promises and offers of grace come in here and the glorious practices which have past upon sinners of all sorts according to the same of God in Scripture 5. He thinks with himself why hath God spared me so long and why have I got such a sight of my sin why hath he kept me from breaking prison at my own hand in choosing some unhappy way of escape Why hath he made this strange change on me It may be it is in his heart to do me good O that it may be so Although all these thoughts be not in the preparatory work of every one yet they are with many and very promising where they are 7. Upon all these Thoughts and Meditations the man more seriously than ever before resolveth to pray and to make some essay with God upon Life and Death he concludeth it can be no worse with him for if he sit still he perisheth as the Lepers speak 2 Kings 7. 3 4. He considereth with the pinched Prodigal Son that there is bread enough in the Fathers House and to spare while he perisheth for want so he goeth to God for he knoweth not what else to make of his condition as the Prodigal Son doth Luk. 15. 17 18. and it may be here he resolveth that to speak but readily things do vary when he is arraigned before God as the Prodigal Son forgot some of his premediated prayers Luk. 15. 18 19 21. And now when he cometh before God more observably than ever before 1. He beginneth with the Publican a far off Luk. 18. 13. with many through confessions and self-condemnings whereof he is very Prodigal as Luk. 15. 21. I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy c. 2. Now begin his thoughts about the hearing of his prayer which he was not wont to question much he now knows what those expressions of the Saints about the hearing of their prayers do import 3. It is observable in this address that there are many broken Sentences like that of Psal 6. 3. But thou O Lord how long supplyed with sighs and groans Rom. 8. 26. and greedy looking upward thereby speaking more than can be exprest by words 4. There be ordinarily some interruptions and as it were diversions the man speaking sometimes to the enemy sometimes to his own heart sometimes to the multitude in the world as David did in other