and the basis of mans blessednesse advanceing him both to a conformity to God and qualifying him for the fruition of Him by the generality of those called to be saints that they may be haved is not onely upon deliberation and choice laid aside as having nothing in it to recommend and endeare it to the souls of men but hated floured fled from and forsaken as if it came on purpose to marre mens tranquillity and torment them before the time While I say it is thus some faithful Servants who make conscience to carry on His work who came to destroy the works of the Devil and went about while in the world healing all that were oppressed of him set themselves to pray preach and perswad the things concerning the Kingdome of God yea to write and warne and weep men into a compliance with their own happipinesse they endeavour solicitously to informe mens minds that they may reforme their manners and rescue them with feare who are runing upon their own ruine but alas with so little successe that they doe the work of the Lord with grief and have much sorrow of those of whom they ought to have joy and after all their beseechings obtestings requestings and cryings this is the way walke yee in it turne you turne oh why will you dye have this as the last returne to all their importunities Nay there is no hope speake no more to us of that matter do not offer to perswade us to relinquish the old road or disswade us from following our lovers for when ye have done all after these we will go we resolve to abide what we have been children of imperswasion But if his Servants in following their work closly seem to have gained a little ground upon men and almost perswaded them to be Christians Satan to the end he may make all miscarry and counter worke these workers together with God and poison poor souls by a perversion of the Gospel beyond the power of an antidot hath raised up instigat and set on work a race of proud Rationalists for they are wiser then to classe themselves amongst those poor fools those base things those nothings to whom Christ is made all things to whom Christ is made wisdome that he may be righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to them nay they must be wise men after the flesh wise above what is written a crucified Christ is really unto them foolishnesse and weaknesse though the power of God and the wisdome of God they will needs go to work another way they will needs glory in his presence and have a heaven of their own hand-wind O my soul enter not into their secrets and O sweet Jesus let thy name be to me the Lord my righteousness thou hast wone it weare it and gather not my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but of thine onely to bring-in another Gospel amongst men then the Gospel of the grace of God as they determine to know some other thing then Christ and him crucified so with the inticeing words of mans wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth setting somewhat else before them then a crucified Christ And this they do that they may remove men from those who call them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel A Christ it is true they speake of but it is not the Christ of God for all they drive at O cursed and truely Antichristian designe is that he may profite them nothing while they model all Religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality This is that which gives both life and lustre to that image they adore to the Dagon after whom they would have the world wonder and Worship That there is such a moralizeing or muddizeing if I may be for once admitted to coine a new word to give these men their due of Christianity now introduced and comeing in fashion many of the late pieces in request do evince Now that Christianity should moralize men above all things I both give and grante for he who is partaker of the divine nature and hath obtained precious faith must adde vertue to his faith But that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more cleare light in the matter of morality wherein our Lord is onely respected as an heavenly teacher and perfect paterne proposed for imitation is but a proud pleasing fansie of self conceited darkened and deluded dreamers robing God of the glory of his mercy and goodnesse our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit The Spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations and themselves and their pilgrimes who give them the hand as guids of the comfort and frute of all This is the pilgrimage we are perswaded to undertake to the holy Land this is that reasonablenesse of Christianitie which with great swelling words of vanitie is ventilat to the allureing and ensnareing of such who had almost escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust and the pollutions of the flesh through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ This is the way which they who undertake to publish to the world the true causes of the decay of pietie take to revive and introduce that pietie which they complain is wanting O impious invention not only encroaching upon the unsearchable mysterie of the Gospel but subversive of the whole method and blessed and beautiful contrivance of salvation and rendering salvation impossible to the greatest proficients in this studie and the grand patrons and practitioners in this new art the greatest opposers of that grace of God which bâ—…ingeth salvation unto all men It is true they will not plainly plead for profanitie Nay they may and do make a great noise about the practise of pietie as if they were the only patrons thereof that with lesse observation and greater facility they may beguile themselves and their followers of the reward they may possibly perswade even to a pinching of the body that they may puffe up and pamper their fleshly minde and while they overdrive men to the practise of will worship and performance of those things which have a shew of wisdome it is that they may withdraw them from holding that blessed head from which all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God yet the grace of God that onely liveing principle of all true pietie which they dispute out of the souls of men that they may debauch them into a contempt of the Spirits working in men to will and to do takes frequent vengance on this their invention by leaving them not onely to play the Devil in disguise that they may be known by their fruits but also to lay aside that garbe of external godlinesse for the Devil nor his Domesticks cannot long weare a strait doublet that it may appeare how it is verified in them from
glade in his house of prayer and their sighes and groans come up with acceptance upon his Altar O blessed Altar that sanctifies the gold This is that Altar whereto the mocking moralist hath no right It is by him that the poor beleever offers up his sacrifice to God continually what ever he doth in word oâ—… deed he desires to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus as he knowes He lives to make intercession and to appeare in the presence of God for his poor people both to procure influences for duety and plead for acceptation so he depends upon him for both as knowing he can never otherwise heare or have it said unto him well done good and faithful servant It may be he can do little he hath but a mite to offer but he puts it in the mediators hand to be presented to God he hath not gold nor silver nor purple to bring he can do no great things he hath but goats hair or rams skins but he gives them the right tincture he makes them red in the blood of Christ and so they are a beautiful incarnat Lastly This Gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its last end as it hath its being from him so it is all directed toward the praise of his grace while the beleeving soul in whom Christ dwells designes no lâ—…sse and aims at no lower mark then assimilition to God and fâ—…uition of him while he is endeavouring alwayes and in all things to be unlike himself and what he was that he may be like God it is not to be like him on that wicked and wretched designe which man had at first in his eye whereby he lost his God and unmade a man but it is that thereby he may be in better case to glorâ—…fy him and that God may be the more endeared to his own soul because of what he hath done for him and commended and madâ—… precious to the souls of others while they take notice of what a change grace hath not onely made in his most eminent appearances for God he contracts himself into a disappearance that God may appeare and be seen in the shinâ—…ing glory of his grace bestowed upon him for the godly man of all men is â—…he most humble this is the garbe he cloaths himself with if his face shine in his accesses to God that pride may be hâ—…d fâ—…om his eyes he wots not of it the very thoughts of â—…obing God of his glory and clothing himself with thâ—… spoils of his honour are terrible to him and looked upon as that wherein thâ—… soul resembls Satan most manifestly and therefore that great practitioner who ouâ—… stript all others in doing and suffâ—…ring for God dare not stand up to intercept the glory due to his Master but ascribes all to him with a neverthe lesse neverthelesse not I but the grace of God which was with me what hast thou which thou hast not received prevents his boasting and imposeth the necessity of blessing the donor the marke he aims at in his exerciseing himself to godlinesse is mainly this that men seeing his goods works may glorify his Father which is in heaven As he knowes he acts not in his own strength but in his who counts him worthy of the high calling and fulfils all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in him and the work of faith with power so he considers for what all this is it is that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us and we in him according to the grace of our God the Lord Jesus Christ and he hath a sweet complacency in complying with this God-exalting and grace-magnifiing designe when grace hath set a crown upon his head and made him a king for the meanest beleever is truely a more illustrious Prince then the greatest Potentat of the earth not onely because under his rags lyes hide a title to a crown and his expectation is to sit with Christ upon his throne but because he is already crowned with loving kindenesse and tender mercies and doth while on the earth sit together with Christ in heavenly places Christ is possessed of glory in his stead as his representee and head and a man is all crowned and acknowledged as king when his head is crowned he knowes he is made a preist alâ—…o to sacrifice it to the giver and therefore he casts downe his crown before the throne with this thou art worthy to receive glory and honour c. and he esteems the priviledge of doing soâ—… as great as the prerogative of haveing it set on when he works hardest to adorne himself with the beauty of holinesse it is not so much that his beauty may appeare perfect as that that grace to which he is a debtor for all his comelinesse may shine in its lustre and his vertues who hath called him to glory and vertue may be shewed forth he designes not in his diligence in duty to be taken notice of as a singular saint but his great and shineing singularity which he doth most ambitionat lyes in this that Christ in the communications of his grace and efficacy of his influence may be admired in him as in all that beleeve In a word as all he hath is of him and from him so all he does or designs is for him and to him it is Christ to him to live in whom Christ lives now this is the very nature of pure religion and undefiled and that which compleats the image of God and puts it beyond all debat that his soul hath received the stamp and impression of the royal seal on it and that his heart is the epistle of Christ written not with inck and pen but with the Spirit of the liveing God when his glory and the exaltation of the manifold grace and manifold wisdom of God in the contriveance of salvation is upmost in his thinkings desireings Projectings and endeavourings and hath the first place in the roll of his wishings while other men seek their own things it is his own his onely own his one his all to seek the things of Christ that blessed seeker who came to seek him and save him and being found of him he endeavours to carry as one no more his owne the glorifieing of him in his body and Spirit which are his because bought by him is his begun heaven and the greatest errand he hath in heaven is to get a more cleare sight of that blessed object of all admiration and adoration and to be in better case to cry him up for ever Now this is but a short and general Character drawn by an unskilful hand of that holinesse which will abide the test and be found true when tried by the touch stone of the word But let us on the other hand take a short view of what our moralists substitute in its place as in their account both more beautiful to the eye and more beneficial to the souls of men wherein I intend to be breife I
might compend the account to be given shortly and give it most exactly yet trueln in these few words As the most undoubted deviation from and perfect opposition unto the whole contriveance of salvation and the conveyance of it unto the souls of men as revealed in this gospel which brings life and immortality to light that fighters against the grace of God in its value and vertue can forge stretching their blind reason to the overthrow of true religion and ruine of the souls of men for to this height these Masters of reason have in their blind rage risen up against the Lord and against his Anointed this is the dreadful period of that path wherein we are perswaded to walk yea Hectored if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand Sophies who arrogat to themselves the name and thing of knowledge as if wisdome were to dy with them The deep mysteries of salvation which Angels desire to look into and onely satisfy themselves with admiration at must appeare as respondents at their bar and if they decline the judge and court as incompetent they flee out and flout at subjecting this blinde mole mans reason to the revelation of faith in a mystery The manifold wisdome of God and the manifold grace of God must either condescend to their unfoldings and be content to speak in their dialect or else these wits these Athenian dictators will give the deep things of God because beyond their diveings the same entertainment which that great gospel preacher Paul met with from men of the same mould kidney and complexion because he preached unto them Jesus what would this babler say said they The Spirit of wisdom and revelation they know not they have not they acknowledge not nay they despise him in his saveing and soul ascertaining illuminations and the workings of that mighty power to them ward who beleeve is to the men of this new mould because they have not found it an insufferable fansy to be exploded with a disdain and indignation which discovers what Spirit acts them in this opposition But what do they say that will found this charge and free us from casting iniquity upon them They are of age and can speake for themselves when they have vomit out their gall against the imputed righteousnesse of Christ and the new birth and that holinesse which is imparted to the real members of Christ with a scoffeing petulancy they then make a great noise of holinesse as who but tâ—…ey the thing they plead for and perswade unto is a kinde of holinesse educed out of natural abilities wherein Christ the Spirit and the Gospel of the grace of God is permitted no greater interest nor allowed a more effectual adjuvancy then to concurre by way of precept motive and example Thiâ—… is now that admired and applauded Diana morality It is true they will sometime chirt thorow their teeth for what ever Christ the Spirit and Gospel gets of our Moralists it is against the hair and they are hard put to it ere they give it a tepid acknowledgement that the gospel doth afford men some special help and is of singular use and advantage in shewing the way and rule with greater clearnesse and guiding and directing how to walk in it with a plain perspicuity and exciting by noble examples and some do also adde some faint and frigid motions of the holy ghost in the dispensation of this truth put forth to make men more foreward but all this salvo jure of the great Diana so much and no more is yeelded to the gospel then to shew men with clearnesse how they may exert and put forth their proper and innat power it affords them some special help in holding the candle or rather snufing it that so they may with more promptitud see how to operat and by the motives it adduceth and examples it brings have a special provocation to the exercise of these vertues commanded the gospel with all it brings and doth does no more but hold the candle till these artists weave their web shape and shew their garment and then let them see how to put it on and being put on perswade them to weare it as the highest beauty and chief ornament of the soul this is all the provision they lay up for eternity and in this dresse and garb of guilded morality they mind to addresse themselves to God and appeare before his tribunal with confidence of acceptation they will beare their own charges to heaven and carry a summe with them to purchase the possession of the saints in light with a little abatement which a mercy of their own moulding for God mercy it is not must make and thus they make all sure But what is all this noise that these vain talkers make about holinesse they heap up words which weep to be so abused about vertue love to God mortification c. But they have really taken away our Lord Jesus Christ and will not tell us where they have laid him for feare we should go seek him and foresake them What are these rotten and loathsome raggs where with they would cloath us that the shame of our nakednesse may not appeare to that holinesse whereto we are predestinat before the foundation of the world and whereto in order to the obtaining of that salvation even the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to which we are chosen we are created againe in Christ Jesus and made meet to be possessed of by sanctification of the Spirit and beleife of the truth What is all this tattle of theirs to the new birth the saveing work of regeneration without which a man cannot enter into the kingdome of God the new creature the new heart haveing the law written in it the Spirit which he puts within us causeing us to walk in his wayes that noble principle of spiritual life whereby we are quickened raised from the dead made alive unto God through Christ Jesus disposed enclined and enabled to live to God and walk before him to all pleasing Nay according to the imposeings of these new dogmatists beware of dogs says the Apostle of the same size and sort of men in stead of that principle implanted and that power produced in us by the effectual operation of the H. G. working in us mightily according to the workings of that mighty power which was wrought in Christ when raised from the dead we must be content with some what which was liveing though lazie and dormant in the natural powers of our own soul now awakened out of its sopor and educed into act by the meer application of external means in a word in stead of all that which is purchased and procured unto us by the death of Jesus Christ wrought in us by his Spirit who takes of his and shews it unto us whereby our conformity to Jesus Christ is begun and carried on we must be content with this morality good Lord prevent such madnesse whose Principle is natural
perish O Lord. How to make the whole more useful for thee for whose advantage it s mainly intended I leave to the Author 's own direction onely this I must say his method and mould wherein he casts this sweet matter and his way of handling this so seasonable a subject it so accommodat to each case and brought home to the conscience and down to the capacity of the meanest Christian which was his aim that the feeble in this day might be as David that howbeit many worthy men have not onely hinted but enlarged upon the same matter yet thou canst not but see some heart-endeareing singularity in his way of improveing and handleing this great gospel truth Next I must tell thee that as I my self read it with much satisfaction though Alas I dar not say I have by reading reaped the designed advantage so that thou mayest be blushed into a peruseal thereof and profiting thereby I must likewise tell thee I say it hath been turned into dutch and that it hath not onely met with great acceptation amongst all the serious and Godly in these parts who have seen it but is much sought after and they professe themselves singularly thereby edified and set a going after God by its efficatious perswasivenesse with a singing alacrity and if it have not the same effect upon thee and me they and it will rise up against us in judgment Up therefore Christians and be doing listen to such a teacher who lest thou tire in thy race or turne bake teacheth thee a certaine and sweet way of singular proficiency and progresse in the wayes of God It may be it is not thy work nor mine to writ books against these soul murthering however magnified methods of takeing men off Jesus Christ but our peâ—…ury of parts for that should 1. Put us to seek plenty of teares that we may weep to see our Master so wounded by the piercing pens of those who to patronize their mock religion wrest the Scriptures and with wicked hands wring the word of the Lord till it weep blood this I say should provoke thee and me to weep upon Him till He appeare and beat the pens of such deceivers out of their hand by a blow of his 2. It should provoke us to know the truth that we may contend earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints and to have these contradicted truths so impressed in their life upon our souls that the pen of the most subtile pleader for this perversion of the gospel may neither delet thâ—…se nor be able to stagger us but we may from the efficacious workings of these have the witnesse in our selves and know the men who teach otherwayes not to be of God 3. It should be our ambition when the all of religion is cryed down and a painted shadow a putrid however perfumed nothing put in its place to make it appeare by our practise that Religion is an elevation of the soul above the sphere and activity of dead morality and that it is no lesse or lower principle that acts us than Christ dwelling in us and walking in us how can the love of God of Christ of the Spirit be in us if these perverse pratters against the power of godlinesse provoke us not to emit a practical declaration to the world extort a Testimony to his grace by our way from the enemies thereof Improve therefore this his special help to that purpose which in a most sensonable time is brought to thy hand But to sum up all shortly there are but three things which make religion an heavy burden First the blindnesse of the minde here thou art taught to make use of that eye-salve whereby the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse he who formerly erred in Spirit by the light held forth in these lines may see a surpasseing beauty in the wayes of God Secondly That aversion and unwillingnesse which is in the minde whereby the sweet easy yoke of his commands iâ—… spurned at as heavy in order to the removing thereof that thou mayest be among his willing people here thou hast Christ held forth in his conquering beauty displaying his banner of love over souls so that thou canst not look upon him as held forth but â—…ith will bow thy neck to take on his yoke because it sees it is lined with the love of Christ then this love that line the yoke shed abroad in the heart will constraine to a bearing of it O it must be an easy yoke because itis love tender love that imposeth it and it must be easy delightful to the bearer because itis the nature of love to think the greatest difficulties easy if thereby an evidence of loves reality may be given to the party beloved now if Christ thought the greatest burden easy even that which with its weight wrung these words from him now is my soul troubled c. to perswade souls of the reality and riches of his love to them Then the soul can think nothing heavy that he imposeth since he will interpret the bearing of it an evidence of its love to him none of his commandments can be grievous to the man now since he hath saide This is the love of God that yee keep his commandments Now there is a readinesse of minde to do all things without disputings murmurings as love knowes no lyon in its way so it is no murmuring disputant when this question is cleared Lord what wilt thou have me to do then love hath no moe questions its greatest difficulty is solved But Thirdly when the Spirit is willing there remains yet much weaknesse love kindled in the heart conquers the mind into a compliance with his will and a complacency in his commands but it s greatest strength is often to weep over a withered hand now that thy hands which fall down may be made strong for labour and thou mayest be girded with strength and have grace for grace yea all grace to make thee abound unto every good word and work The Author leads thee up unto the sull fountaine of all Gospel furniture and strength and teacheth thee how to make use of Jesus Christ as thy sufficiency for working all thy works in thee and for thee Take heart therefore unto thee when thy looking unto duâ—…y may make thee dispair of performance lift up thine eyes to him who is here set before thee look till every new look upward bring light and life inward and capacitat thee for makeing a new louse foreward in the power of 〈◊〉 might â—…he was but a wicked servant who said I 〈◊〉 thou art a hard master No it is false That religion which gives ease must be an easy religion and truely such 〈◊〉 Gospel holinesse not onely in regaird that it is the liberation of the soul from the basest bondage but in regaird that he who is thy Master will be served of his own the allowed supplies for all
considered And that it is not beleeved is manifest for 1. How rare is it to meet with persons that are not very well pleased and satisfied with themselves and their condition They thank the Lord it was ay well with them They have no complaints They see no wants nor necessities They wonder what makes folk complaine of their condition of their evill heart or of their hazard and danger They understand not these matters 2. Do we not finde people very quiet and at rest though they remaine in the congregation of the dead Pâ—…ov 21 16. They sleep in a sound skinne because they see no hazard The thoughts of their condition never bereave them of one nights rest no challenges have they all is at peace with them for the strong man keeps the house 3. How rare is it to finde people exercised about this matter and busied with it in their thoughts either while alone or while in company with others or once seriously thinking and considering of it yea or so much as suspecting the matter 4 How rare is it to see any soul brocken in heart and humbled because of this who is walking under this as under a load whose soul is bleeding upon the consideration of this Is there any mourning for this 5 Where is that to be heard Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved How shall we enter into the right way where is that good old way that we may walk in it Few such questions and cases troubling consciences and no wonder for a deep sleep is upon them 6. How cometh it then that the pointing forth of the way is so little hearkened unto Sure were this naturall condition perceived a report of the sure and saise way would be much more welcome then it is Christ by his Messengers would not be put to cry so often in vaine This is the way turne in hither Here is enough to convince of this ignorance and in sensiblenesse but it is his Spirit which convinceth the world of sin Iohn 16. that must beare home this conviction Secondly It pointeth out to us this That the way of man is not in himself Ier. 10 23. That is That nothing he can do can or will prove a way to him to the Father for Christ is the Way as excludeing all other meanes and wayes And that man can do nothing to help himself into the way is cleare for 1. His way is is as darknesse Prov. 4 14. He knoweth no better he is satisfied therewith there he sleepeth and resteth 2. He cannot nor doth not desire to returne He hateth to be reformed 3. Yea he thinketh himself saise no man can convince him of the contrary The way he is in seemeth right to him though the end thereof be death Prov. 14 12. 16 25. 4. Every man hath his owne particular way to which he turneth Esa. 53 6. some one thing or other that he is pleased with and that he thinks will abundantly carry him through and there resteth he and what these ordinaryly are we shall hear presently 5. In this his way which yet is a false way he trusteth Hos. 10 13. he leaneth upon it little knowing that it will faill him at length and that he and his hope and confidence shall perish Is it not strange then to see men and women gaudeing about to seek their way as it is said Ier 2 36. as if they could finde it out or as if they could of themselves fall upon the way What a lamentable sight is it to see people wearying themselves with very lies Ezech. 24 12 and wearyed in the multitude of their owne counsells Esa. 47 15. But what are those false and lying wayes which men weary themselves in and all in vaine which they choose trust into and yet are not the way which will prove saâ—… and sure Answere It will not be easie to reckon them all up we shall name some that are principall and most ordinary such as 1. Good purposes and resolutions with which many deceive themselves supposeing that to be all which is required and alas all their purposes are like to Ephraims goodnesse like the early cloud and morning dew that soon evanisheth their purposes are soon brocken off and soon disappointed because made without counsell Prov. 15 22. Many foolishly rest here that they have a good minde to do better and to amend their wayes and they purpose after such a time or such a time they shall beginne a new manner of life but their purposes never come to any effect and fo at length they and their purposes both perish 2. Some convictions and inward challenges The word now and then pâ—…erceth them so far and â—…ore and sharpe dispensations from the Lord so far affecte their heart that they see it is not well with them and they are made with Saul to cry out I have sinned 1 Sam. 15 24. and they advance no further those convictions either die out againe or work no further change And poor souls they think because at such a sermon or such a Communion they had some such convictions and sharpe challenges therefore they imagine all is well with them when a Iudas may have convictions sharper than ever they had a Felix Act. 24 25. 3. Convictions followed with some sort of amendement Some may dreadfully deceive themselves with this and conclude that all is right with them and that the way they are in is saife sure because they have had convictions which have been so effectuall as to cause them amend many things and become as to many things changed men women when alas their way is but a way of darknesse still it is not Christ they have never come to him Herod hearing Iohn Baptist had his owne convictions and amendements for he did many things Mark 6 20. 4. Many rest upon their outward civility morality or negative holinesse They cannot be challenged for grosse faults and that is all the way they have to rest in alas could not a wicked Phariseâ—… say as much as they viz That he was no extortioner unjust person nor an adulterer nor such as the publicane was Luk. 18 11 How many heathens as to this shall outstripe such as professe themselves Christians and yet they lived and dyed strangers to the right way to happinesse See what that poor young man said Luk. 18 21. 5. Some may win to more then civility and attaine unto a kinde of outward holinesse and outward performance of the duties of religion such as hearing reading prayer communicating and rest there and yet perish for that is but their owne way it is not the right way Had not the foolish virgins lamps and did they not waite with the rest Matt. 25 and will not many say in that day we have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streats to whom Christ shall answer I know not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of
iniquity Luk. 13 26 27 were not the jewes much in duties outward ordinances and yet see how the Lord rejecteth them all Esa. 1 11 12 13 14 15 66 3. 6. Much knowledge doth deceive many They think because they can talk of religion speak to cases of consciences handle places of scripture and the like that therefore all is right with them when alas that is but a slippery ground to stand upon The Phariâ—…ees sat in Moses seat taught sometimes sound doctrine and yet were heart enemies to Jesus Mat. 23. And will not many think to plead themselves in to heaven By saying that they have Prophecyed in his name Mat. 7 22 There is a knowledg that puffeth up 1 Cor. 13 2 Some there are whose knowledge seemeth to be operative and practicall and not meerly speculative Some may escape the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Saviour Iesus Christ and yet againe become entangled therein overcome so that their latter end is worse than the beginning See 2 Pet. 2 20 21 22. knowledge I grant is good but it is not Christ and so it is not the way to the Father and many alas leane to it are deceived at last 7. A kinde of seeming seriousnesse in the performance of duties and in seeking of God deceiveth many They think because they are not conscious to their owne dissembling but they look upon themselves as earnest in what they do that therefore all is well Sayeth not Christ that not every 〈◊〉 that sayeth Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of God Mat. 7 21 that is not every one that reneweth their sutes ingeminateth their desires cry and cry over againe and as it were will not give it over And yet they come short of their expectation did not the foolish virgins seem earnest and serious when they continued waiting with the rest and at length cryed Lord Lord open unto us and yet they were keeped at the door Many consider not that there is a secret and closse hypocrisie that some may be under and not know it as well as a grosse hypocrisie and dissimulation which may be easily observed Will not many seek to enter in that shall not be able Mat. 7 13. Luk. 13. 24. 8. Many may deceive themselves with this that they are looked on by others godly discerning persons ministers as good serious Christians and that they carry so handsomely and faire that no man can judge otherwayes of them than that they are good serious seekers of God But alas the day is comeing which will discover many things and many one will be deceived both of themselves of others Not he who commendeth himself is approved but whom God approveth 2 Cor. 10 18. Therefore Paul exhorts Timothie to study to show himself approved unto God 2 Tim. 2 15. Men look only on the outside and cannot see in to the heart but God searcheth the heart and it is an easie matter to deceive Men But God will not be deceived 9. Some may suppose themselves in a saife and sure way if they out stripe others in religious dutyes and be much in extraordinary dutyes when alas for all that the heart may be rotten The Pharisee fasted twice a week Luk. 18 12. and yet was but an enemie to Christ. O how deceitfull is the heart of Man 10. Inward peace and quietnesse of conscience may deceive some and they may suppose that â—…ll is right with them because they do nothing over the belly of their conscience Their heart doth not accuse them of falshood and dissimulation in their way with God or Man but they do all things according to their light No doubt that young Man Luk. 18 21. spoke according to his judgment and light when he said all these things have I observed from my youth And Paul sayeth of himself Act. 23 1. that he had lived in all good conscience before God till that very day Meaning that even while he was a Pharisee unconverted he had not thortured his conscience nor done any thing directly against it but had alwayes walked according to his light See Act. 26 9. 11. A way of Zeal may deceive many who may think their case unquestionable because they are Zealous for their way and as they think their Zeal is pure zeal for God was not Paul while a Pharisee very Zealous when out of zeal to his way he persecuted the Church Phil. 3 6. See my zeal for the Lord could a Iâ—…hu say 2. King 10 16. and the jewes had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Rom. 10 2. and Christ tells us that such as should persecute the Apostles unto death wouldthink they did God good service Iohn 16 2. 12. Some also may put it beyond question that they are in the right way because they are more strick in all their wayes than others and will not so much as keep fellowship or company with them saying with those Esa. 65 5. Stand by I am holier than thou come not neare to me who yet are but a smoak in Gods nose a fire that burneth all the day 13. Some may rest on and deceive themselves with their great attainments and more then ordinary experiences When alas we see to what a hieght some may come and yet prove nothing Let such souls read with trembling that word of Paul Heb. 6 4 5. where we see some may come to be enlightened to taste of the heavenly gift to be made partakers of the holy ghost to taste the good word of God the powers of the world to come and yet prove castawayes taking these expressions as pointing forth some thing distinct from reall grace Many such false wayes wherein Men please themselves might be mentioned By these every one may see cause of Searching trying over over againe It is a dreadfull thing to be deceived here and it is best to put it to a tryall when there is a possibility of getting the matter helped and many may feare and tremble when they see they are not yet come the length of many such as sit downe without Christ and lose all their labour O if this could put people to a serious examination tryall of themselves and of the nature of that way wherein they are rest at present Thirdly We might here observe That this true living way is but one for all There is but one Mediator betwixt God Man 1 Tim. 2 5. One Mediator for both old new Testament the Seed of the woman Howbeit the Lords dispensations with his people in that one way may be various as his way with his people under the Law is different from his way with his people under the gospell and his dispensations with individual beleevers whether under the law or under the gospell is not the same in all things And this should teach us to relinquish our owne wayes and to enter into this one only way and it
hence we are said to be chosen in him before the fundation of the world that we should be holy c. Ephes. â—… 4. and aâ—… dying for themâ—… for He gave himself son the church that He might sanctiâ—…y cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious church that it should be holy Ephes. 5 25 26 27. He hath reconciled them in the body of his flesh through death to present them holy Col. 1 21 22. So that the noble 〈◊〉 of Redemption may found the 〈◊〉 hope and expectation of the beleever upon â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First upon the account of the Fathers faithfulnesse who promised a seed to Iesus Viz. such as should be his children and so be sanctified through Him and that the pleasure of the Lord which in pâ—…rt iâ—… thâ—… work of sanctification should prosper in his hand And next upon the account of Christs undertaking and engaging as is said to bâ—…ing his sonâ—… and daughters to glory which must be through sanctification for without holinesse no man shall see God And they must look like himself who is a holy Head a holy Husband a holy Captane and therefore they must be holy members a holy spouse holy souldiers So that He standeth engaged to sanctifie them by his Spirit and word and therefore is called the Sanctifier Heb. 2 11. for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one Yea their union with Christ layeth the foundation of this for being joyned to the Lord they become one Spirit 1 Cor. 6 17. and are animated and quickened by one the same Spirit of life and grace and therefore must be sanctified by that Spirit 10. The beleever likewise would act faith upon the promises of the new Covenant of grace strength life c whereby they shall walk in his wayes have Gods lawes put into their mindes and write into their hearts Heb. 8 10. Ier. 31 33. and of the new heart and new spirit and the heart of flesh and the Spirit within them to cause them walk in his wayes or statutes and keep his judgments and do them Ezech. 36 26 27. and the like wherewith the scripture aboundeth Because these are all given over to the beleever by way of Testament and legacy Christ becoming the mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 9 15. Noâ—… Christ by his death hath confirmed this Testament for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death ' of the testatour for a Testament is of force after men are dead vers 16 17. Christ then dying to make the Testament of force hath made the legacy of the promises sure unto the beleever so that now all the promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. He was made a minister of circumcision to confirme the promises made to the Fathers Rom. 15 8. That the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble meane to sanctification is cleare by what the Apostle sayeth 2 Cor. 7 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse ourselves perfecting holinesse in the feare of God And it is by faith that those promises must be received Heb. 11 33. So that the beleever that would grow in grace would eye Christ the fundamentall promise the Testatour establishing the Testament and the excutor or dispensator of the covenant and exspect the good things through Him and from Him through the conduite and channell of the promises 11. Yet further beleevers would eye Christ iâ—… his Resurrection as a publick person and so look on themselves and reckon themselves as riseing virtually in and with Him and take the resurrection of Christ as a certane paune and pledge of their sanctification for so reasoneth the Apostle Rom. 6 4 5 11 13. we are buryed sayâ—…s He with him by baptisme into death that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of life for we shall â—…e 〈◊〉 also in the likenesse of his resurrection and if we 〈◊〉 dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him therefore reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord and yeeld yourselves unto God as these that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God The right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage unto the student of holinesse for thence he might with strong confidence conclude that the work of sanctification should prosper in his hand for he may now look upon himself as quickened together with Christ Epes 2 5. Christ dying and riseing as a publick person and he by faith being now joyned with him and united to him 12. Moreover this Resurrection of Christ may yeeld us another ground of hope and confidence in this work for there is mention made of the power of his resurrection Phil. 3 10. So that by faith we may draw strength and vertue from Christ as an arisen and quickened Head whereby we also may live unto God and bring forth fruit unto him and serve no more in the oldnesse of the letter but in the newnesse of Spirit Rom. 7 4 6. He was quickened as an Head and when the head is quickened the members cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom and to live in the strength of the life of the head See Col. 3 1 2. 13. Faith may and should also look to Christ as an intercessor with the Father for this particular Iohn 17 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and this will adde to their confidence that the work shall go on for Christ was alwayes heard of the Father Iohn 11 41 42. and so will be in this prayer which was not put up for these few disciples alone The beleever then would eye Christ as engadging to the Father to begin and perfect this work aâ—… dying to purchase the good things promised and to confirme the same as quickened and riseing aâ—… head and a publick person to ensure this work and to bestow and actually conferre the graces requisite and as praying also for the Fathers concurrence and cast the burden of the work on Him by faith knowing that He standeth obliged by his place and relation to his people to beare all their burthens to work all their works in them to perfect his owne work that He hath begun in them to present them to himself at last a holy bride to give them the Spirit to dwel in them Rom 8 9 11 and â—…o quicken their mortall bodyes vers 11. and to lead them vers 14. till at length they be crowned and brought forward to glory This is to live by faith when Christ liveth acteth and worketh in us by his Spirit Gal. 2 20. Thus Christ dwelleth in the
is a piece of the bond that bindeth us to him and his way we receive it then as a piece of his doctrine which we must owne and stand unto O if we learned all our divinity thus we would be more constant and stedfast in it then we are 15. When controversies arise and they know not which side to choise both seemeth to them to be alike well founded on the word they would exerce their spiritual sagacity and set their gift of discerning a work to see which of the two tendeth most to promove piety and godlinesse and the kingdome of Christ and so see which of the two is the truth which is after godlinesse as the Apostle speaketh Tit. 1 1. they must look which of the two is the doctrine which is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6 vers 3. That is thetruth which is Christ's and which should be owned and imbraced viz which floweth from a Spirit of godlinesse tendeth to promove godlinesse and â—…eth with the true principles of godlinesse even gospel godlinesse wrought according to the tenor of the covenant of grace that is by the strength of the Spirit of Jesus dwelling and working in us and not according to the tenor of the covenant of works that is wrought by our own strength c. 16. Yet withal they would take heed that they mistake not here for they may look upon some wayes and doctrines as having a greater tendency to promove godlinesse then others which indeed have not but only seem so They would therefore consider well what is the way of godlinesse laid down in the noble device of the gospel which is the way that only glorifyeth God Father Son and Holy Ghost and see what suiteth most with that according to the word and not what seemeth most suitable to godlinesse in their apprehension The word is the best judge and teste of true godlinesse and in the word we have the only saifest meane of true godlinesse held forth therefore we should see what doctrine tendeth most to promove godlinesse according to the way held forth in the word and choose that 17. They would guaird against pride and selfe-conceite as thinking they are wise enough and understanding enough in those matters and so need not take a lesson of any This may be of great prejudice for itis the meek that God guideth in judgment And to the meek will He teach his way Psal. 25 9. Therefore it were good for his people in such a day to be meek and humble willing ready to learne of any person how meane so ever that can teach the wayes of God The Lord may bless a word spoken by a private person when he will not bless the word spoken by a Minister for his blessings are free And itis not good to despise any meane Apollos though instructed in the way of the Lord mighty in the Scriptures fervent in Spirit and teaching diligently the things of the Lord Act. 18 24 25. Yet was content to learne of Aquila of his wife Priscilla when they expounded unto Him the way of God more perfectly vers 26. 18. In such a time itis not unsaife to look to such as have been eminent in the way of God and lye neare to Him for itis probable they may know much of the minde of God in those questioned matters Hence we finde the Apostle putting Timothy others to this duty in a time when false teachers were going abroad saying 2 Tim. 3 10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine manner of life 1 Cor. 4 16. wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me 1 Cor. 11 1. Againe Phil. 3 17. Brethren be followers together of me All which say that though we should call no man Rabbi as hanging our faith absolutely on Him yet in such a time of prevailing errour and of false teachers going abroad some respect should be had to such as have found gracâ—… of the Lord to be faithful in times of tryal anâ—… have maintained truth and stood for it in times persecution and have with singleness of heart followed the Lord It not being ordinare with God to leave such as in sincerity seek Him and desire to follow his way in truth and uprightness and to give the revelation of his minde and the manifestation of his Spirit to others who have not gone thorow such trials 19. They would also at such a time be much in the sincere practice of uncontroverted duties and in putting uncontroverted and unquestionable and unquestioned truthes into practice and this may prove a notable meane to keep them right for then are they in God's way and so the devil hath not that advantage of them that he hath of others who â—…re out of the way of dutie David understood more than the Ancients because he keeped God's precepts Psal. 119 100. 20. It were good and suteable at such a time to be much in the feare of God remembering what an one He is and how hazardous itis to sin against Him by drinking-in the least point of errour The promise is made to such Psal. 25 12. What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall He teach in the way that he shall chuse 21. Finally at such a time they would be much in communion with Jesus lying neare Him much in prayer to Him studying his Relations Offices Furniture Readiness to helpe with light and counsel and they would draw neare to Him with humility boldness faith confidence love tenderness and sincerity and then they shall not finde that He shall fail them or disappoint them Enough of this I proceed therefore to another case which is CHAP. XVII How to make use of Christ as the Truth that we may get our case and condition cleared up to us THe beleever is oft complaining of darkness concearning his case and condition so as he cannot tell what to say of himself or what judgment to passe on himself and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition Now it is Truth alone and the Truth that can satisfie them as to this The question then is How they shall make use of and apply themselves to this Truth to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them But first let us see what this case may be Consider then 1. That grace may be in the soul and yet not be seen nor observed this is manifest by daylie experience 2. Not only so but a gracious soul that is reconciled with God in Christ and hath the Spirit of grace dwelling in it may suppose itself a stranger yet unto this reconciliation and you of the grace of God and so to be still in the state of nature 3. Yea a soul may not only suppose and conclude it self in nature while it is in a state of grace but â—…urder may be filled with terrour and apprehensions of God's wrath and indignation and that in such a measure
parlying too much and too readyly with Satan Eva's practice might be a warning sufficient to us 5. Not living in the sight of their wants and of their dayly necessity of Christ nor acting faith upon Him dayly for the supplying of their wants and when faith is not used it may contract rust and be weakned and come at length not to be discerâ—…ed 6. Intertaining of jealous thoughts of God and harkening too readyly to any thing that foster and increase or confirme these 7. Not delighting themselves in and with pleasure dwelling on the thoughts of Christ of his offices of the gospel and promises so that these come at length to lose their beauty and glory in the soul and have not the lustre that once they had and this doth open a door to much mischiefe 8. In a word not walking with God according to the gospel provoketh the Lord to give them up to themselves for a time We come now to the Third particular which is to show How Chist is life to the poor soul in this case And for the clearing of this consider 1. That Christ is the author and finisher of faith Heb 12 2. and so as He did rebuke unbeleef at the first he can rebuke it againe 2. That He is the great Prophet clearing up the gospel and every thing that is necessary for us to know bringing life and immortality to light by the gospel 2 Tim. 1 11. and so manifesting the lustre and beauty of the gospel 3. He bringeth the promises home to the soul in their reality excellency and truth being the faithful witness and the Amen Revel 3 14. and the confirmer of the promises so that they are all yea and Amen in him 2 Cor. 1 20. And this serveth to establish the soul in the faith and to shoot-out thoughts of unbeleefe 4. So doth He by his Spirit dispel the mists clouds which Satan through unbeleef had raised in the soul. 5. And thereby also rebuketh those mistakes of God and prejudices at Him and his wayes which Satan hath wrought there through corruption 6. He discovereth himself to be a ready help in time of trouble the hope and anchor of salvation Heb. 6 19 and a Priest living for ever to make intercession for poor sinners Heb. 7 25. 7. And hereby he cleareth up to the poor soul a possibility of helpe and reliefe and thus rebuketh dispaire or preventeth it 8. He manifesteth himself to be the maâ—…ow and substance of the gospel and this maketh every line thereof pleasant and beautiful to the soul and so freeth them from the prejudices that they had at it 2. So in manifesting himself in the gospel he revealeth the Father that the soul cometh to the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4 6. and this saveth the soul from atheisme 10. When the soul cannot grippe Him nor look to Him yet He can look to the soul and by his look quicken and revive the soul and warme the heart with love to Him and at length move and incline it sweetly to open to Him And thus grippe and hold fast a lost sheep yea and bring it home againe But what should a soul do in such a case To this which is the Fourth particular to be spoken to I answere 1. They would strive against those evils formerly mentioned which procured or occasioned this distemper a stop should be put to these malignant humors 2. They would be careful to lay againe the foundation of solide knowledge of God and of his glorious truthes revealed in the gospel and labour for the faith of God's truth and veracity for till this be nothing can be right in the soul. 3. They would be throughly convinced of the treacherie deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of their hearts that they may see it is not worthie to be trusted and that they may be jealous of it and not hearken so readyly to it as they have done especially seing Satan can prompt it to speak for his advantage 4. They would remember also that it is divine helpe that can recover them and cause them grippe to the promises and lay hold on them of new againe as well as at the first and that of themselves they can do nothing 5. In useing of the meanes for the recovery of life they would eye Christ and because this eyeing of Christ is faith and their disease lyeth most there they would do as the Israelits did who were stung in the eye with the serpents they looked to the brazen serpent with the wounded and stung eye so would they do with a sickly and almost dead faith grip Him and with an eye almost put out and made blinde look to Him knowing how ready He is to help and what a tender heart He hath 6. And to confirme them in this resolution they would take a new vieu of all the notable encouragements to beleeve wherewith the whole gospel aboundeth 7. And withal fix on Him as the only author and finisher of faith 8. And in a word They would cast a wonderderfully unbeleeving and atheistical soul on Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working and is wonderful in mercy and grace and in all his wayes And thus may He at length in his own time and in the way that will most glorify Himself raise up that poor soul out of the grave of infidelity wherein it was stincking and so provâ—… Himself to be indeed the resurrection and the life to the praise of the glory of his grace We come now to speak to another case which is CHAP. XXV How Christ is to be made use of as the life by one that is so dead and senselesse as he cannot know what to judge of himself or his own case except that it is naught WE spoke something to this very case upon the matter when we spoke of Christ as the Truth Yet we shall speak alittle to it here but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned and therefore we shall speak alittle to those five particulars and so 1. Shew what this distemper is 2. Shew whence it proceedeth and how the soul cometh to fall into it 3. Shew how Christ as the life bringeth about a recovery out of it 4. Shew how the soul is to be exercised that it may obtaine a recovery and 5. Answere some Questions or Objections As to the first Beleevers many times may be so dead as not only not to see and know that they have an interest in Christ and to be uncertaine what to judge of themselvs but also be so carried away with prejudices and mistakes as that they will judge no otherwayes of themselves than that their case is naught yea and not only will'deny or mis-call the good that God hath wrought in them by his Spirit but also reason themselves to be out of the state of grace and a stranger to faith and to the workings of the Spirit and hereupon will come to call