c. 8. A waiting with patience on Him who never said to the house of Iacob seek me in vaine Esai 45 19. still crying and looking to Him who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him and waiting for him who waiteth to be gracious Esai 30 18. remembering that they are all blessed that waite for him Ibid. and that there is much good prepared for them that waite for Him Esai 64 4. 8. The sinner would essay this beleeving and closeing with Christ and set about it as he can seriously heartily willingly yea and resolutely over the belly of much opposition and many discouragements looking to Him who must helpe yea and worke the whole work for God worketh in and with Man as a rationall creature The soul then would set the willingnesse it findeth on work waite for more and as the Lord is pleased to commend by his Spirit the way of grace more unto the soul and to warme the heart with love to it and a desire after it strick the yron while it is hote and looking to Him for help gripe to Christ in the covenant and so set to its seal though with a tembling hand and subscribe its name though with fear and much doubting remembring that He who worketh to will must work the deed also Phil. 2 13. and He that beginneth a good work will perfect it Phil. 1 6. 9. The soul essaying thus to beleeve in Christ's strength and to creep when it can not walk or run would hold fast what it hath attained and resolve never to recall any consent or half consent it hath given to the bargane but still look forward hold on wreastle against unbeleefe and unwillingnesse intertaine every good motion of the Spirit for this end and never admit of any thing that may quench its longings desires or exspectation Nay 10. If the sinner be come this length that with the bit willingnesse he hath he consenteth to the bargane is not satisfied with any thing in himself that draweth back or consenteth not with the little skill or strength he hath is writing downe his name and saying even so I take Him and is holding at this peremptorily resolving never to goe bake or unsay what he hath said but on the contrare is firmly purposed to adhere as he groweth in strength to grippe more firmly and adhere to Him he may conclude that the bargan is closed already and that he hath faith already for here ther is an accepting of Christ on his owne tearmes a reall consenting unto the covenant of grace though weak and not so discernable as the soul would wish The soul dar not say but it loveth the bargane and is satisfied with it and longeth for it and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof and enjoy Him whom it loveth hungereth for panteth after or breatheth as it is able that it may live in Him be saved through Him But Some will say If I had any evidence of God's approbation of this act of my soul any testimony of his Spirit I could then with confidence say that I had beleeved accepted of the covenant and of Christ offered therein but so long as I perceive nothing of this how can I suppose that any motion of this kinde in my soul is real faith For answere 1. We would know that our beleeving and God's sealing to our sense are two distinct acts and separable and oft separated our beleeving is one thing and God's sealing with the holy Spirit of promise to our sense is another thing and this followeth though not inseparably the other Eph. 1 13. In whom also after that yee beleeved yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise And so 2. We would know that Many a man may beleeve yet not know that he doth beleeve He may set to his seal that God is true in his offer of life through Iesus and accept of that offer as a truth and close with it and yet live under darknesse doubtings of his faith long many aday partly through not discerning the true nature of faith partly through the great sense and feeling of his owne corruption and unbeleefe partly through a mistake of the operations of the spirit within or the want of a clear distinct uptaking of the motions of his owne soul Partly because he findeth so much doubting and feare as if there could be no faith where there were doubting or fear contrare to Mark 9 24. Mat. 8 26. 14 31. Partly because he hath not that perswasion that others have had as if there were not various degrees of faith as there is of other graces the like Therefore 3. We would know that many may really beleeve and yet misse this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be at God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that lest they forget themselves and become too proud and to traine them up more to the life of faith whereby He may be glorified and for other holy ends He may suspend the giving of this for a time 4. Yet we would know that all that beleeve have the seal within them 1. Iohn 5 10. He that beleeveth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himself that is He hath that which really is a seal though he see it not nor perceive it not even the work of God's spirit in his soul inclining and determineing him unto the accepting of this bargan to a likeing of endeavouring after holinesse and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is is a seal confirmation of the businesse So that the matter is sealed and confirmed by the word though the soul want those sensible breathings of the Spirit sheding abroad his love in the heart and filling the soul with a full assurance by hushing all doubts and feares to the door yea though they should be a stranger unto the Spirits witnessing thus with their spirits that they are the children of God and clearning up distinctly the reall wotâ—… of grace within their soul and so saying in effect that they have in truth beleeved But enough of this seing all this and much more is abundantly held forth and explained inthat excellent usefull treatise of Mr. Guthries intituled The Christians great interest CHAP. V. How Christ is to be made use of as the VVay for Sanctification in generall HAving shown how a poor soul lying under the burden of sin wrath is to make use of Iesus Christ for righteousnesse justification and so to make use of Him goe out to Him and apply Him as He is made of God to us righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1 v. 30. and that but briefly this whole great businesse being more fully and satisfactoryly handled in thâ—…t fore mentioned great though small Treatise vix The Christians great Interest We shall now come and show how a beleever or a justified soul shall furder make use of Christ for Sanctification
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
him that hath not shall be taken away even that he hath which is so plain that to many of these pleaders for this new way and their prosâ—…lyts in the righteous judgement of God it happeneth according to the true proverb the dog is turned to his owne vomit againe and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire It cannot escape thy observation how busie Satan is this day upon the one hand to keep men under the call of the Gospel to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure idle all the day so that no perswasion can enduce them to engage seriously to fall about a working out their own salvation in feare and trembling and on the other equally diligent and industrious to divert men from trusting in the name of the Lord and staying upon their God seting them on work to go and gather fewel and kindle a fire and compasse themselves about with sparks that they may walk in the light of their own fire and in the sparks that they have kindled knowing well that they shall this way most certainly lose their toil and travel and have no other reward at his hand of all their labour but to ly down in everlasting sorrow while the stout hearted and far from righteousnesse and salvation shall get their soul for a prey and be made to rejoyce in his salvation and blesse him who hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light It is fit therefore in order to thy own establishment in the present truth and that thou mayest so work that thy labour be not in vaine but God may accept thy works often to think and seriously to consider in thy own soul what that Gospel holinesse is and what these men substitute in the place of it that thou may choice the perfect and pleasant way of Gospel holinesse and exercise thy self to that godlinesse which is profitable for all things haveing the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come I am neither the fit person for so great an undertaking nor do these limits within which I must bound my self permit me to expatiat in many notions about the nature of this excellent and precious thing true Gospel holinesse Oh if in the entry I could on my own behalfe and others sob out my Alas from the bottome of my soul because be what it will it is some other thing then men take it to be few habituat themselves to a thinking upon it in its high nature and soul enriching advantages till their hearts receive suteable impressions of it and their lives be the very transumpt of the law of God written in their heart the thing Alas is lost in a noise of words and heap of notions about it neither is it a wonder that men fal into mistakes about it since it is onely the heart possessed of it that is capable to understand perceive its true excellency But if it be asked what it is we say it may be shortly taken up as the elevation and raising up of a poor mortal unto a conformity with God As a participation of the divine nature or as the very image of God stamped on the soul impressed on the thoughts affections and expressed in the life and conversation so that the man in whom Christ is formed and in whom he dwells lives and walks hath while upon the earth a conversation in heaven not only in opposition to those many whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame who minde earthly things but also to these pretenders unto personaters of religion who have confidence in the flesh Worship God with their own Spirit which in the matters of God is flesh and not Spirit and have somewhat else to rejoyce in then in Christ Jesus and a being found in him not having their own righteousnesse True Gospel holinesse then consists in some similitude and likenesse to God and fellowship with him founded upon that likenesse there is such an impression of God his glorious attributes his infinit Power Majesty Mercy Justice Wisdom Holinesse and Grace c. As sets him up all alone in the soul without any competition and produceth those real apprehensions of him that he is alone excellent and matchlesse O how preferable doth he appeare when indeed seen to all things And how doth this light of his infinit gloriousnesse shineing into the soul darken abscure to an invisiblenesse all other excellencies even as the riseing of the sun makes all the lesser lights to disappear Alas how is God unknown in his glorious being and attribute When once the Lord enters the soul and shines into the heart it is like the riseing of the sun at midnight all these things which formerly pretended to some lovelinesse and did dazil with their lustre are eternally darkened now all natural perfections and moral vertues in their flowr and perfections are at best looked upon as aliquid nihil what things were formerly accounted gaine and godlinesse are now counted losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord and the soul cannot onely suffer the losse of them all without a sob but be satisfied to throw them away as dung that it may win him and be found in him Now the wonder of a Deity in his greatnesse power and grace swallowes up the soul in sweet admiration O how doth it love to lose it self in finding here what it cannot fathome And then it begins truely to see the greatnesse and evil of sin then it is looked upon without the covering of pleasure or profit and loathed as the leprosy of hell Now the man is truely like God in the knowledge of good and evil in the knowledge of that one infinit good God to the knowledge of that one almost infinit evil sin This is the first point of likenesse to him to be conformed to him in our understanding that as he knowes himself to be the onely self being and fountain good and all created things in their flour and perfection with all their real or fancied conveniencies being compared with him but as the drop of a bucket the small dust of the ballance or nothing yea lesse then nothing vanity which is nothing blown up by the force or forgery of a vainly working imagination to the consistence of an appearance so for a soul to know indeed and beleeve in the heart that there is nothing deserves the name of good besides God to have the same superlative and transcâ—…dent thoughts of that great and glorious self being God and the same diminishing and debaseing thought â—…o all things beings besides him And that as the Lord seeth no evil in the creation but sin and hates that with a perfect hatred as contrary to his holy will so for a soul to aggravat sin in its own sight to an infinitnesse of evil at least till it see it onely
after more of righteousness in the secrete engagements of the heart to God in Christ in these burstings of heart and bleedings of soul to which God alone is witnesse because of shortcomeing in holinesse because of a body of death within and because of that law in the members warring against the law of the mind and bringing often into captivity to the law of sin as it growes upward in a profession and this is that pure Religion and undefiled before God which is both most pleasant to him and profitable to the soul. But to make the difference betwixt dead morality in its best dress and true godlinesse more cleare and obvious that the loveliness of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other this dead caâ—…ion and stinking carcaâ—…e of rotten morality which still stinks in the nostrills of God even when embalmed with the most costly ointments of its miserably misled patrons we say that true godlinesse which in quality and kinde differs from this much pleaded for and applauded morality a blake heathen by a â—…el kinde of Christians baptized of late with the namâ—… of Christianity and brought into the temple of the Lord concerning which he hath commanded hat it should never in that shape and for that end it is introduced enter into his congregation and the bringers for their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his presence It respects Jesus Christ. 1. As its Principle 2. As its Paterne 3. As its Altar and. 4. As its end First I say true holinesse in its being and operation respects Jesus Christ as its principle I live said that shineing saint yet not I but Christ liveth in me as that which gives religion its first being is the religation of the soul to God so that which gives it motion and drawes forth that life into action is the same God's working all their works in them and for them so that in all they do they are workers together with God every act of holinesse is an act of the soul made alive unto God through Jesus Christ and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new life and influence therefore says Christ without me you can do nothing it is not being out of me you can do nothing for he spoke it to those who were in him but if ye leave me out in doing all ye do will be nothing It s Jesus Christ who gives life and leggs so that our runings are according to his drawings my soul followeth hard after thee said that holy man but whence is all this life and vigour Thy right hand upholdeth me O it is the upholdings and helpings of this right hand enlargeing the mans heart that makes a runing in the way of his commandâ—…ents it is he who while the saints worke-out the work of their own salvation workâ—…th in them â—…th to will and to do It is he who giveth power to the faint and who to them that have no might encreaseth stâ—…ength so that the poor lifelesse languishing ly by is made to mount-up with Eagles wings and suâ—…mount all these difficulties with a holy facility which were simply insuperable and pure impossibilities now the man runs and doth not weary because Christ drawes and he walks and doth not faint because Christ in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily dwels in him and walks in him and dwels in him for that very end that he may have a compleatnesse and competency of strength for duety all grace is made to abound unto him that he alwayes having all sufficiency in all things may abound unto every good work he is able of himself to do nothing no not to think any thing as he ought but he hath a sufficiency of God whereby he is thorowly furnished unto every good work so that he may say I am able for all things it is more then I am able to do all things as we read it its just import is I am able to do all things and to endure all things and that which keeps it from vain boasting is what is ad led through Christ which strengtheneth me or putting power in me or rather impowering me which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life into a livelinesse of excercise according to the present exigent There is a power in a saint because Christ is in him that over powers all the powers of darknesse with out and all the power of indwelling corruption within so that when the poor weak creature is ready to despond within sight of his duty and say because of difficulty what is my strength that I should hope Christ saith despond not my grace is sufficient forthee and my power shall rest upon thee to a reviveing thee and raising thee up and putting thee in case to say when I am weake then am I strong his strength who impowers me is made perfect in my weakenesse so that I will glory in my infirmities and be glade in being graces debtor But what power is that which raiseth the dead finner and carries the soul in its actings so far without the line and above the sphere of all natural activity when stretched to its utmost O it is an exceading great power which is to them ward who beleive that must make all things how difficult so ever easie when he works in them to will and to do according to the working of his mighty power or as it is upon the margent more emphatick of the might of his power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand c. he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead raiseth up beleevers also by Jesus and being raised and revived by him to walk in new nesse of life the life of Jesus in its communications of strength is manifest in their mortal flesh according to that of the same Apostle the life that I live in the flesh sais he I live by the faith of the Son of God faith brings in Christ in my soul and Christ being my life carries out my soul in all the acts of obedience wherein though I be the formal agent yet the efficiency and the power by which I operat is from him so that I can give no better account of it then this I not I. But who then if not you The grace of God sais he which was with me But this mystery to our bold because blind moralists of an indwelling Christ working mightily in the soul is plain madnesse and melancholy however we understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ who said the life I live in the flesh c. and from what we understand of his knowledge in that mystery which he had by revelation we understand our moralists to be men of corrupt minds who concerning the faith have made shipwrack but what is that the life I live in the flesh c The â—…port of it seems to be this if not more while I have
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
reason whose Rule is the law of nature as explained in the scriptures whose use and end is acceptation with God and justification before him which is pure impure Pelagianisme propagat now in Brittan where it had its unhallowed birth a tremenduous signification of the high displeasure of God against these huffeing arrogants of this age who because they have not received the truth in love are left to soul-murthering delusions and for their dispiseing the unsearchable riches of Christ held forth in the gospel are left in stead of embraceing Christ Jesus into their soul as altogither lovely whom God hath made unto us wisdom righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to embrace in their bosome and hug between their brests this hell-borne and after all the cost they have bestowed upon it wherein they are at the expence of their precious soul if repentance prevent it not hell-blake brate morality in opposition to that gospel holinesse wherein conformity to God consists It concernes thee Christian Reader whoso ever thou art carefully to observe that the great designe the Devil this day drives in the world i◅ how to introduce a Religion amongst these called Christians which for the soul and substance of it is an Antichristian masse and medly substitute and obtruded in place of the marrow of the gospel mysteries of salvation And though Christ be named amongst these perverters of the gospel yet he is really exautorat and robbed of his offices and while false ends are assigned the great end of his comeing in the world is denied and the blessed intendment and designe of the gospel of the grace of God is defeat Now because Satan finds no mids so propper for his purpose nor mean so certain to accomplish his end as to corrupt the minds of men with perverse principles for they are more then halfe way to hell when their principles state them in an opposition to thē Prince of life he perverts them into a nauseating of the plain path way of salvation by a slain Saviour for the preaching of the crosse what ever they pretend is really to them foolishnesse and seduceth them into a satisfaction with and pleading for this pagan piety as preferable to pure Religion and undefiled before God And then under this maske of morality and disguise of vertue doth Abaddon muster all his several legions and mannage his opposition against the Mediator in the comeing of his kingdome in the world and conquering the souls of men It is true there may be some small differences betwixt his forces when gathered in the field in their manner or method and marke some attacqueing the gospel in the very substance of it with a flouting and fierce insolency others with a subtile and snarkeing fullenness but all of them concenter in the designe and bewray such a keenness and diligence in driveing it as showes both under whose banner they fight and how true they are to their collours and Captain herein Papists Pelagians Socinians Arminians and the compound of all abominations Quakers are unite And r◅uely if I might be heard I would beseech also our pepper corne men to consider how far the Adversary of mans salvation hath improved their assertions and concessions and how much advantage the common enemies of the truth have got thereby Take notice therefore I say Christians of this being Satans main designe and how and by whom it is mannaged lest yee be seduced into the same conspiracie for many who seemed to be of understanding have fallen and fallen because the did not feare to fall O beware lest yee also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness but study to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour for there is none other name given und◅ heaven whereby men may be saved Jesus Christ I know that every Reader and serious Christian in order to his own establishment is not able to purchase nor is at leisure to peruse what Godly men have written for this end and whose praise because of their pains is in the Church of Christ such as that large discourse of learned and truely religious Doctor Owen upon the Holy Spirit◅ wherein that worthy Author as he hath given proof to the world of Christs being formed in him and that his working and walking and witnessing to the truth proceeds from the same noble principle Christ dwelling in him and walking in him so he hath with a profound perspicuity and convinceing plainnesse discovered the nature pedegree discent and tendency of this monster and then haveing discovered whence it came and for what end he hath given it a mortal blow whereby he hath laid it all alongs and left it sprawling and gnawing its tongue and gnashing its teeth for which learned elaborat and judicious discourse as all the lovers of that truth which is according to godlinesse are obliged to blesse the Lord so are they under the obligation of thankfulnesse to him and by this I returne him my poor insignificant thanks And I have the allowance of the Author to do the same in his name But I would recommend to you who can neither purchase nor peruse what is more voluminous how worthy soever the serious perusal as of the whole of that savoury grace-breathing peece The fulfilling of the Scriptures so therein that short but sweet digression against blake-mouthed Parker wherein the gracious Author takes out his own soul and sets before thine eye the image of God impressed thereon for while he deals with that Desperado by clear and convinceing reason flowing natively from the pure fountain of divine revelation he hath the advantage of most men and writers too in silencing that blasphemer of the good wayes of God with arguments taken from what he hath found acted upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend as a soveraigne antidot against this poison the diligent peruseing and pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same unhallowed Author in the preface to that piece of great Mr. Durham upon the Commands by a disciple who besids his natural acuteness and subactness of judgement in the deepth of gospel mysteries is known by all who know him and for my self I know none now alive his equal to have most frequent accesse to lean his head on his Masters bosome and so in best case to tell his fellow disciples and brethren what is breathed into his own soul while he lives in these embraces and under the shedings abroad of that love of God in his soul which drew and did dictat these lines against that flouter at all such fruitions Nor can I here omit to observe how when the devil raised up Parker that Monster to barke and blaspheme the Lord raised up a Merveil to fight him at his own weapon who did so cudgel and quell that boasting Bravo as I know not if he be dead of his wound but for any thing I know he hath laid his speech
commanded duties are full measure heaped up shaken together and runing over And though he who hath much hath nothing over yet he 〈◊〉 hath little hath no inlâ—…ke for he abounds towards us in 〈◊〉 wisdome I say therefore againe unto thee take heart let not thine hands fall down essay nothing thou would have well done or easily done in thine own strength but yet how difficult so ever the duty be approach it as haveing no confidence in the flesh but with an eye to thy stocâ—… that rich store house of all furniture and it shall be with thee as it was with the priests before whom jordan recoiled so soon as their foot entered within the 〈◊〉 God shall make thy difficulties evanish and by the 〈◊〉 the Spirit of power and might from Jesus Christ depended upon shall so strengthen thee that thy duty is made easy to admiration and becomes the delight of thy souli 〈◊〉 I have exceeded the just limits of an Epistle pray for the continuance of the life of the Author who by his assiduous working for Christ hath been often neir unto death not reguarding his own life to supply the lake of other meus service 〈◊〉 the interest Church of God let him be comforted for this piece of travel undertaken for thy soul's mâ—…erest by hearing thou dost improve it to thy advantage for which it is so exactly calculat And withall I beg thy fervent earnest intercessions for grace more grace to him who is Thy poor yet souls well wisher and servant for Christ's sake R. Mc. W. The Author to the Reader Christian Reader AFter the foregoing adress I need not put thee to much more trouble only I shall say That he must needs be a great stranger in our Israel or sadly smitten with that epidemick plague of indifferency which hath infected many of this Generation to a benumming of them and rendering them insensible and unconcearned in the matters of God and of their own souls and sunck deep into the gulfe of dreadful inconsideration who seeth not or taketh no notice of nor is troubled at the manifest and terrible appearances of the unexpressibly great hazard our all as Christians in this life is this day into I meane the mystery of the Gospel of the grace of God wherein the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus hath been shoune VVe have enjoyed for a considerable time a clear and powerful dispensation hereof in great purity and plenty but Alas is it not manifest to all that will not wilfully shut their eyes that this Mercy and Goodness of God hath been wickedly abused and the pure administration of His Grace Love perfidiously sinned away by this Apostate Generation Are our spots this day the spots of his children Are there fruits answerable to the Lord's paines and labour about us to be seen even among the greatest of Professours Is there that gospel holiness tenderness watchfulness growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ that growing up 〈◊〉 Christ in all things that heavenly mindedness that followshipe with the Father and with his Son Christ Iesus and that conversation in heaven that the dispensation of grace we have been favoured with beyond many and have been long living under did call for at our hands Alas our grapes are but wilde and stincking VVherefore and who can think it strange if it be so the Lord seemeth to be about to contend with us by covering our horizon with Egyptian darkness many who would not receive the love of the Truth that they might be saved being already given up to strong delusion that they should beleeve a lie and many moe in hazard to be drawn aside to crooked pathes by men of corrupt mindes who have been and are still busie to vent and spread abroad with no little petulancy and confidence damnable doctrines to the perverting of the doctrine of the Gospel of Iesus Christ and to the subverting and overturning of the very foundations of our Hope Assurance and that in such a way and by such meanes and stratagems as seem to have wrath written upon them in legible letters for the more plausible and taking a corrupt doctrine be it is the more dangerous judgment-like and moe are thereby in hazard to be deluded and drawn away Nay which is yet more terrible and dreadful it is to be feared that the jealous God in his holy and righteous judgment hath given a providential commission to speak so unto the seduceing Spirit to perswade and prevail for is not this the clear language of the present holy and righteous dispensations of God and of the stupenduously indifferent frame and disposition of the generality of men called Christians not only provoking God to spew them out of his mouth but disposeing them also unto a receiving of whatsoever men lying in waite to deceive shall propose and obtrude Alas the clouds are not now a gathering but our horizon is covered over with blakness and great drops are a falling that presage a terrible overflowing deluge of errour and Apostasie from the Truth and Profession of the Gospel of Iesus Christ to be at hand if the Lord wonderfully prevent it not And behold O wonderful the generality of Professours are sleeping in security apprehending no danger Satan is more cunning now than to drive men to Popery by rage and cruelty and yet what he may be permitted to do after this manner who can tell or by openly pleading in his emissaries for this abomination and yet even thus is he already prevailing with not a few or to send forth his agents for Arminianisme and Socinianisme though even this way too he is too much prevailing But his maine work now seemeth to be to bring in another Gospel and yet there is not another or rather an Antievangelick and Antichristian delusory dream overturning at once the whole Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ and for this end he inployeth the Quakers one the one hand Men of desperat and antievangelick principles the very sinke of all abominations old and late as I shall show if the Lord will continue health and strength in an examination of their doctrine and principles lately emitted by one Robert Barclay and on the other hand Men or Moralists if you will call them so pleading for and crying up an antievangelick holiness a meer shadow without substance or reality and that in place of Christ himself And in order to the carrying on of this desperat designe The old dragon is imploying men of seeming different principles and wayes whom though their faces seem to look to contrary aâ—…rths yet he holdeth notwithstanding fast tyed by their tails as Samson's foxes were that thereby if the Lord permit it he may by the fire of enmity to the pure Gospel of the grace of God burning in their tails cause a conflâ—…gration of that Truth wherein lyeth all our hope for this new model of Religion
that many are so busied about is such as Pelagians Arminians Papists Socinians Quakers yea Turks and moral Hâ—…athens Yea and all who are enemies to and not reconcileable with the true grace of God held forth in the Gospel will willingly admit of and harmoniously agree in A way which complyeth so well with proud self and with the Corrupt Nature of Man that it is little wonder if it have many abettors and admirers I shall say no more of this seing my beloved Brother hath said so much to it already to very good purpose in the foregoing Epistle but only inferre That sure the consideration of this should move all in whom is any thing of the zeal of God and love to souls their owne and others to appear in the defence of the Gospel of our Salvation by all meanes incumbent to them and possible for them for if this Citadel strong hold wherein our All and the all of pure and true Religion lyeth be blown up we are gone and indeed no less is intended by this Antichristian and antievangelick enemy than the utter subversion of True Christian Religion VVho would not then be hereby alarmed and upon their guaird when matters are at this passe Should not all vvho have any love to their ovvn souls any zeal for the glory of Christ anointed of the Father to be our Prophet Priest King any desire to see the crown flourishing upon his Head and to have the Gospel preserved pure and uncorrupted be pleading vvith God by prayer in the behalfe of His Son's Kingdom Crown and Glory and vvrestling vvith Him till He vvere pleased to dispel these clouds prevent this blake day Especially should they not be labouring to be acquanted in truth and reality vvith the Gospel of Iesus Christ that having the mysterious truths thereof imprinted on their souls and their hearts casl into its mould they may be preserved from the hurt of this deadly poison for this vvith a constant dependence upon and use making of Christ in all His offices vvill prove the best preservative against this infection The persvvasion vvhereof did induce me to publish the follovving heads of some sermons after they had been translated into dutch and published here knovving that they might be of no lesse use to the people of God in Britane and Ireland I knovv not a more effectual mean to keep unstable souls from sideing with and imbraceing every new notion from being carryed about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in waite to deceive than to put them upon the real exercise of Gospel godliness and to the dayly practice of the maine and fundamental gospel work of living by faith in Jesus Christ and of growing up into Him in all things who is the Head from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Such I am sure as have thus learned the Truth as it is in Iesus and are practiseing the same accordingly will have an Antidot within them against the strongest poison of these Seducers and a real answere to and confutation of all their subtile sophismes The soul exerciseing it self unto Gospel godliness will finde work enough to take it wholly up and finde such a solide ground to stand upon and see such a satisfying fulness answering all its necessities and wants such a sure heart-quieting ground of Peace Hope and Consolation in Iesus Christ as that it will have no leasure and small temptation to listen to Seduceing perverters and no inclination to seek after empty Cisterns I know much may be desiderated in this following Treatise and many may have exceptions not without ground against it Some may think it arrogancy and too great confidence in me to attempt the handling of such a mysterious necessary part of Christian practice wherein few if any so far as I know have gone before in direct handling of this matter at least in this methode order I meane that part which is about Sanctification others may be displeased with the meane low stile with my multiplying of particulars vvhich might have been better more handsomly couched under fevver heads and vvith my uncessary contracting of the vvhole into such narrovv bounds and other things of that kinde for vvhich many other failings of the like nature import vvhich may vvithout any diligent search be found in it even by ordinary unprejudiced Readers I shall not industriously laboure to apologize knovving that my very apology in this case vvill need an apology Only I shall say this That considering hovv the snare vvhich the vigilant active enemie of our Salvation the Devil vvas laying by an unholy morality did nearly concearne all especially the meanest for parts experience and less fixed Christians I thought a discourse on such a subject as I judged most necessary at all times especially in such a day of hazard should be framed to the capacity of one as well as another the most understanding can receive benefite by that which is calculat to the capacity of children when these can reap little edification by what is suited to the palate of those the less experienced or such as are of lower understanding will be less able to draw a General to a Particular or to improve so fully to comprehend one particular touched as to be able thereby to understand take in a like particular not mentioned than such as have their senses more exercised and are thereby in case to make a better improvement of what is but compendiously declared when those must have the bread brocken to their hand or they shall receive but small edification thereby and yet I suppose the judicious will observe some variety smaller or greater even where Particulars seem to be at the first view most unnecessarily multiplied I know and willingly grant for it is obvious enough that a discourse of this Subject and matter might have required a faâ—… larger volume But then how should such have profited thereby whom Poverty might possibly have scarred from bâ—…ying or the necessary affaires of their ordinary callings would have keeped from a diligent perusal of it And I thought that neither of these should have been overlooked in this special or general designe which I had before mine eyes One thing as my answere to all I shall but add If hereby Others whom the Lord hath more enabled with all necessaries for such a work shall be hereby either instigated or encouraged to write upon this Subject I meane mainly the last part thereof touching the usemaking of Christ in Sanctification for blessed be the Lord many have been employed of the Lord to speak soundly and edifyingly unto the usemaking of Christ as to Righteousness and Justification and give a Full Plaine
5 6. that as many of us as are Baptized into Iesus Christ were Baptized into his death and that therefore we are buryed with Him by baptisme into death and are planted together in the likenesse of his death yea and that our old man is crueified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that hence forth we should not serve sin whence beleevers are warranded commanded vers 11. to reckon themselvs to be dead indeed unto sin and therefore sin should not reigne in their mortall bodyes to fulfill the lusts thereof vers 12. This is a sure ground of hope comfort for beleevers that Christ dyed thus as a publick person and that by vertue thereof being now united to Christ by faith they are dead unto sin by law and sin cannot challenge a dominion over them as before their conversion it might have done and did for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth but no longer wherefore beleeving brethren becomeing dead to the law by the body of Christ are marryed to another even to Him who is raised from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 1 4. 3. Hence It followeth that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. So that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of God hath got his deaths wounds in the crucifixion of Christ shall never recover his former vigour activity to oppresse beare down the people of God as he did He is now virtually through the death of Iesus killed crucified being in Christ nailed to the crosse 4. His resurrection is a paune pledge of this sanctification for as He died as a publick person so He rose againe as a publick person we are buryed with Him by baptisme that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. and beleevers are said to be planted together with him in the likenesse of his resurrection vers 5. and they shall live with Him vers 8. and therefore they are to reckon themselvs alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord verse 11. we are raised up together Ephes. 2 6. 5. This sanctification is an article of the covenant of redemption betwixt the Father the Son Esa. 52 15. so shall he sprinkle many nations Cap. 53 10. He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Christ then having this promised to Him must see to the accomplishment thereof and will have it granted to him seing He hath fulfilled all that was engadged to by Him having made his soul an offering for sin 6. This sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace Ier. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity Ezech 37 23. and I will cleanse them So Chap. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse from all your idols will I cleanse you Now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed to us in the Mediator for in Him all the promises are yea amen 2. Cor. 1 20. 7. He hath also purchased made sure to his owne the new nature and the heart of flesh which is also promised Ezech. 36 26. 11. 19. Ier. 32. 39. This is the new lively principle of grace the spring of sanctification which cannot be idle in the soul but must be emitting vitall acts natively Yea through Him are beleevers made partakers of the divine nature which is a growing thing young glory in the soul. 2. Pet. 2 3 4. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine unto life godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature c. 8. The Spirit is promised to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 27. Now all these promises are made good to us in Christ who is the cautioner of the covenant yea He hath gotten now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the covenant committed unto Him so as He is the great Lord treasurer and administrator of the great glorious purchased blessings 9. There are new waterings breathings gailes of the Spirit given in Christ. Esai 27 3. He must water his garden or vinyaird every moment This is the north winde the south winde that bloweth upon the garden Cant. 4 16. He must be as the dew unto Israel Hos. 14 5. 10. Through Christ is the beleever brought into such a covenant state as giveth great ground of hope of certane victory He is not now under the law but under grace and hence inferreth the Apostle Rom. 6 14. That sin shall not have dominion over them Being now under that dispensation of grace whereby all their stock is in the Mediators hand at his disposall and not in their own hand power as under the covenant of works there is a sure ground laid down for constant supply furniture in all necessities 11. Christ hath prayed for this Iohn 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth where the Lord is praying that his disciples might be more more sanctified and so fitted qualified for the work of the ministrie they were to be imployed in And what He prayed for them was not for them alone but also for all the elect proportionably who are opposed to the world for which He did not pray v. 9. 12. He standeth in relation to beleevers of a Vine or a Root in which they grow as branches so that by abiding in Him living by faith in Him and drawing sap from him they bring forth fruit in Him Iohn 15 1 2 4 5. Their stock of grace is in Him the root and He communicateâ—…h sap and life unto his branches whereby they grow floorish and bring forth fruit to the glory of God 13. Christ hath taken on Him the office of a Prophet and Teacher to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to goe for He is that great Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up and who was to be heard and obeyed in all things Deut. â—…8 15. Act. â—… 2â—… and 7 37. He is given for a witnesse a leader Esai 55 4. and we are commanded to hear Him Mat. 17 5. Mark 10 7. 14. He hath also taken on Him the office of a King Psal. 2 6. Mat. 21 5. Esai 9 6 7. Phil. 2 8. 9 10 11. and thereby standeth engadged to lubdue all their spirituall enemies Satan corruption Psal. 110. He is given for a leader and commander Esai 55 4 and so can cause his people walk in his wayes 15. When we defile ourselves with new transgressions failings He hath provided a fountaine for us
to wash in a fountaine opened to the house of David to the Inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin for uncleannesse Zâ—…ch 13 1. and this fountaine is his blood which cleanseth from all sin Heb. 9 14. 1. Iohn 1 7 Revel 1 5. 16. He is set before us as a copie patternâ—… that we should walk even as He walked 1. Ioh. 2 6. He left us an example that we should follow his stepps 1. Pet. 2 21. But we would beware to separate this consideration from the preceeding aâ—… Antichristian Socinians do who will have Christ only to be a copie 17. He hath overcome Satan our arch-enemie and hath destroyed his works 1. Iohn 3 8. He came to destroy the works of the devill And in particular his works of wickednesse in the soul Thus He is a conquerour the Captaâ—…e of our Salvation 18. As He hath purchased So hath He appointed ordinences for the laying of the foundation and carrying on of this work of sanctificationâ—… both Word 〈◊〉 are appointed for this end The Word to convert and to confirme Iohn 17 17. sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth said Christ. The word is given as the rule and also through the meanes thereof is life and strength conveyed to the soul to perfect holinesse in the fear of God 1. Pet. 2 2. And the Sacraments are given to strengthen confirme the soul in the wayes of God 19. As He hath laid downe strong encouragements to his followers to hold on in the way of holinesse many great precious promises by which they might be partakers of the divine nature 2. Pet. 1 4. and by which they are encouraged to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of the flesh spirit 2. Cor. 7 1. and many motives to hold on continue So hath He rolled difficultyes out of the way whether they be within us or without us and thereby made the way easie and pleasant to such as walk in it so as they may now run in the way of his commandements walk not weary run not be faint Nay 20 we would remember for our encouragment and confidence that in carrying on of this work lyeth the satisfaction of soul the pleasure of the Lord that must prosper in His hand thus He seeth his seed hath of the travail of his soul and is satisfied These particulars rightly considered will discover unto us what a noble ground for sanctification is in Christ laid downe for beleevers which they may and must by faith grippe to that they may grow in grace and grow up in Christ and perfecte holinesse and what a wonderfull contriveance of grace this is wherein all things are made so sure for beleevers Christ becomeing all things to them and paveing a royall sure way for them sure for them and glorious to himself As to the second particular that is How beleevers are to carry in this matter or how they are to make use of Christ and of those grounds of sauctification in Christ which we have mentioned First There are some things which they would bewar of and guaird against as 1. They would bewar of an heartlesse despondency giving way to discouragements and hearkning to the language of unbeleefe or to the suggestions of Satan whereby he will labour to perswade them of the impossibility of getting the work of sanctification throughed or any progresse made therein to purpose Satan a deceitfull heart can soon muster up many difficultyes alledge that there are many Lyons many insuperable difficultyes in the way to discourage them from ventureing forward and if Satan prevail here he hath gained a great point Therefore the beleever would keep up his head in hope and beware of multiplying discouragements to himself or of concludeing the matter impossible for then shall he neither have heart nor hand for the work but sit downe wring his hands as overcome with discouragement despondency of Spirit 2. They would beware of wilfull rejecting their owne mercyes and forbearing to make use of the grounds of hope of strength and progresse in the matter of sanctification which Christ hath allowed them to make use of There is such an evill even amongst Gods children that they scarre at that which Christ out of great love hath provided for them and dar not with confidence make use of nor apply to themselves the great and comfortable promises to the end they might be encouraged they will not take their allowance as thinking themselves unworthy and that it should be presumption in them to challenge a right to such great things and they think it commendable humility in them to stand aback and so wilfully refuse the advantages and helps that make so much for their grouth in grace 3. They would beware of a carelesse neglect of the meanes appointed for advanceing in holinesse for though the meanes do not worke the effect yet it is by the meanes that God hath chosen to worke the work of sanctification Here that is to be seen that the hand of the diligent maketh rich and the field of the slothfull is soon grown over with thorns and nettles so that poverty cometh as one that travelleth and want as an armed man Prov. 24 30 31 34. It is a sinfull tempting of God to think to be sanctified another way than God hath in his deep wisdom condescended upon 4. Yet they would beware of laying too much weight on the meanes ordinances as if they could effectuat the businesse Though the Lord hath thought good to work in and by the meanes yet He himself must do the work Meanes are but meanes and not the principal cause nor can they work but as the principal agent is pleased to make use of them and to work by them when we leane to the meanes and to instruments we prejudge our selves by disobligeing God and provoking Him to leave us that we may wrestle with the ordinances alone and finde no advantage Therefore the soul would guaird against this 5. Albeit the meanes can do nothing unlesse He breath yet we would beware not only of neglecting them as we said afore but also of a slighting way of performing of them without that earnestnesse and diligence that is required Cursed is he who doth the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48 10. Here then is the speciall art of Christianity apparent to be as diligent earnest and serious in the use of the means as if they could effectuate the matter we were seeking and yet to be as much abstracted from them in our hopes and exspectation and to be as much leaning on the Lord alone and depending on Him for the blessing as if we were useing no meanes at all 6. They would beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of the Spirit for thereby they may lose the best opportunity They should be alwayes on the wing ready to imbrace the least motion and they should stand alwayes ready waiting
heart by faith and by this his people become rooted and grounded in love which is a cardinall grace and knowing the love of Christ which passeth knowledge they become filled with all the fulnesse of God Ephes. 3 17 19. So that the beleever is to commit by faith the work to Christ and leave the stresse of all the businesse on Him who is their life Yet the beleever must not think to do nothing nor to lay aside the means and ordinances but usâ—…ing these diligently would in them commit the matter to Christ and by faith roll the whole work on Him exspecting upon the ground of his relations engadgments promises beginnings c. that He will certanely perfect the work Phil. 1 6. and take it well off their hands and be well pleased with them for putting the work in his hands and leaving it on Him who is made of God to us sanctification Cautions As in the former part so here it will not be 〈◊〉 to give a few words of caution for preventing of mistakes 1. We would bewar of thinking that perfection can be attained here the perfect man and measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ is but coming and till then the body will but be a perfecting edifying through the work of the ministery Ephes. 4 12 13. Beleevers must not think of sitting down on any measure of grace which they attaine to here but they must be growing in grace going from strength to strengh till they appeare in the upper Zâ—…on with the Apostle Phil. 3 13. forgetting those things that are behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before they must presse toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus It must then be a dreadful delusion for any to think that they can reach to such a degree of perfection here as not to stand in need of the ordinance any more Let all beleevers live in the constant convicton of their shortcoming and be humbled and so worke out their salvation with fear and trembling 2. Nor should every beleever exspect one and the same measure of holinesse nor can it be expected with reason that all shall advance here to the same height of sanctity for every part of the body hath its owne measure and an effectuall working in that measure and so every joint of the body supplieth lesse or more according to its proportion and contribureth to the increase of the body and to the edifying of it self in love as the Apostle cleaâ—…ly showeth Ephes. 4 16. As in the naturalâ—… body the diversity of functions and uses of the members requireth diversity of furniture strength so in the mysticall body of Christ the members have not all alike measure but each hath his proper distinct measure according to his place and usefulnesse in the body Beleevers then would learne much sobrâ—…ety here and submission knowing that God may dispense his graces as he will and give them to each member in what measure he thinketh good Only they would take heed that their poverty and leannesse be not occasioned through their own carelesnesse and negligence in not plying the meanes of grace with that faithfulnesse and single dependence on Christ that they ought 3. It would be remembered that there may be some progresse made in the way of holinesse when yet the beleever may apprehend no such thing not only because the measure of the grouth may be so small and indiscernable but also because even where the growth in it self is discernable the Lord may think it good for wise ends to hide it from their eyes that they may be keeped humble and diligent whileas if they saw how matters stood indeed with them they might without a new degree of grace swell and be puffed up yea even forget God and misken themselves and others too Likewise this may proceed from such an earnest desire after more that they forget any measure they have gotten and so despise the day of small things 4. There may be a progresse in holinesse though not in that particular which the beleever is most eying to his sense and apprehension for when he thinks he is not growing in Love to and Zeal for God c. he may be growing in Humility which is also a membâ—…r of the new man of grace and when he can perceive no grouth in Knowledge there may be a grouth in Affection Tendernesse And if the work be carryed on in any joynt or member it decayeth in none though it may be better apprehended in one than in another 5. There may be much holiness where the believer is compleaning of the want of fruits when under that dispensation of the Lord towards him he is made to stoup before the most high to put his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope and pleasantly to submit to God's wise ordering without grudging or quarrelling with God for what He doth and to accept sweetly the punishment of his iniquity if he see guilt lying at the root of this dispensation Where there is a silent submission to the soveraigne only wise disposeing hand of God and the man is saying if he will not have me to be a frutefull tree in his garden nor to grow and flouriâ—…h as the palme tree Let me be a shrub only let me be keepâ—…d within the precincts of his garden that his eye may be upon me for good let me abide within his courts that I may behold his countenance there is grace and no small measure of grace To be an hired servant is much Luk 15 19. 6. But withall it would be observed that this gracious frame of soul that is silent before God under severall disappointments is accompanied with much singleness of heart in panting after more holiness and with seriousness and diligence in all commanded dutyes waiting upon the Lord who is their hope and their salvation in each of them and with mourning for their own sinfull accession to that shortcoming in their expectations 7. We would not think that there is no progress in Christianity or grouth in grace because it cometh not our way or by the instruments and meanes that we most expect it by possibly we are too fonde oâ—… some instruments and meanes that we preferre to others and we think if ever we get good it must be that way and by that meane be it private or publick and God may give a proof of his Soveraignity and check us for our folly By taking another way He would not be found of the Bride neither by her seeking of him secretly on her bed by night nor more publickly by going about the city in the streets and broad wayes nor by the meanes of the watchmen Cant. 3 1 2 3. 8. Nor would we think that there is no grouth in the work of grace because it cometh not at such or such a prelimited or fore-set time nor would we think the matter desperate because of
our looking long and waiting and asking and labouring and yet seeing no sensible advantage Such and such a beleever sayeth the soul made great progresse in a short time but I come no speed for as long as I have been at this school O! we should beware of limiteing the holy one of Israel Let us be at duty and commit the event to Him 9. It is not a fit time to take the measure of our graces as to their sensible grouth and fruitfulnesse when devils are broken loose upon us temptations are multiplyed corruptions make a great noise and we are meeting with an horrible tempest shaking us on all hands for it will be strong grace that will much appear then It will be a strong faith that will say though He kill me yet will I trust in Him At such a time it will be much if the man keep the ground he hath gained though he make no progress It will be much for a tree to stand and not be blowne out of the ground in the time of a strong and vehement storme of winde though it keep not its flourishes yeeld not fruit The trees which in a cold winter day bear neither leafs nor fruit must not be said to go back nor not to grow because when the spring cometh againe they may revive and be as fruitfull as ever 10. We would not alway measure our graces by what appeareth outwardly for there may be some accidental occurrence that may hinder that and yet grace be at work within doors which few or none can observe The Believer may be in a sweet and gracious frame blushing before the Lord yâ—…a melting in love or taken up with spirituall meditations wondering when as to some externall duties it can finde no present disposition through some accidentall impediment or other so that to some who judge most by out ward appearance no such thing as the active working of grace in life can appeare 11. We would think it no small measure or degree of holinesse to be with singlenessâ—… of heart pursueing it even though it should seem to flee from us to be earnestly panting after it and hungering and thirsting for it Nehemiah thought this no small thing when he said Neh. 1. last O Lord I beseech thee let now thine eare be attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to feare thy name 12. Whatever measure of holinesse the beleeveâ—… win to he would take speciall heed that he place no part of his confidence of his being accepted and justified before God in it as if that could come in as any part of the price to satisfy justice but when he hath done all let him call and account himself an unprofitable servant Though beleevers will not be so grosse as to speak thus yet sure their justifying of their holding aback from God because they finde not such a measure of grace and holinesse as they would have looketh too much this way and sayeth that they leane too much hereunto in the matter of the acceptance of their persons before God Now this would be specially guairded against lest their labour be in vaine Objections answered An Objection or two must here also be removed and first some may say That though they have been labouring and striveing and working now for some long time yet they can perceive no advancementâ—… they are as far short as ever Answer 1. Hath it not been found that some have compleaned without cause Have not some complained of their fruitlesnesse and want of grouth that other good Christians would have thought themselves very happy if they had but advanced half so farre as they saw them to have done 2. But be it so as it is alleiged what if the fault be their owne what if the cause of this be that they attempt things in their owne strength leaning to their own understanding or habites of grace or meanes c. and that they do not go about duties with that single dependence on Christ that is requisite nor do they suck life strength and sap from Him by faith through the promises nor give themselvs up to Him by faith that He may worke in them both to will and to do Should not this be seen mourned for and helped 3 If all this shortcoming and disappointment cause them lye in the dust and humble themselves more and more before the Lord the grace of humility is growing and that is no small advantage to be growing downward 4. Withall they would do well to hold on in duty looking to Christ for help and rolling all difficulties on Him give themselves away to Him as their Head and Lord and so continue their life of faith or their consenting to let Christ live in them by faith or work in them by his Spirit what is welpleasing in his sight and waite for the blessing and fruit in God's own time Next it will be Objected Though we might wait thus yet how unedifying are we unto others when there appeareth no fruit of the spirit of grace 〈◊〉 Answer A Christian behaviour and deportment under the sence of fruitlesnesse expressing an holy submission of soul unto God as Soveraigne much humility of minde before Him justifying of God and taking guilt to themselves with a firme resolution to waite on patiently in the use of meanes appointed cannot but be edifying to Christian soules such exercises being really the works and fruit of the Spirit of grace working within But thirdly Some may say How are then the promises of the covenant made good Answere 1. The same measure of sanctification and holinesse is not promised to all 2. No great measure is promised to any absolutly So much indeed is secured to all beleevers as shall carry them to heaven as without which they cannot see God but much as to the degrees depends on our performing through faith the conditions requisite to wit on condition of our abideing in the vine of our acting faith on Him c. and when these the like conditions are not faithfully performed by us what can we exspect So the Lord hath appointed a way wherein He will be found and will have us to waite for strength and influence from Him and if we neglect those meanes which He hath appointed how can we exspect the good which He hath promised in the use of these means 3. The Lord hath his owne time of making good all his promises and we must not limite Him to a day 4. Hereby the Lord may be trying and exerciseing thy Faith Patience Hope Dependence Submission Diligence c. and if these be in thee and abound they shall make that thou shall neither be barren noâ—… unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1 11. But lastly it will be enquired what can support the beleeving soul in this case Answere 1. The consideration and saith of the covenant of Redemption wherein both the Fathers engadgment to the Son and the Sons engadgment to the Father secureth
truth should no more be mentioned are promoveing his work His wheel is the great wheel that ordereth all the lesser and subordinate wheels whatever contrary motions they may have the one to the other and all or many of them may seem to have to this great wheel So that do they what they will the work of our Lord goeth on Their opposition is setting his work forward though they intend the contrary However their faces look they row to the port He would be at This is an undoubted truth and confirmed in all ages and yet is not firmly beleeved and a truth it is which if beleeved would do much to settle our staggering souls in a stormy day 10 That at last He shall come to be glorifyed in his saints 2 Thes. 1 10 when He shall be revealed from heaven with all his mighty angels vers 7. Then shall it be seen whose shall counsel stand His or mens and whose work shall prosper His or Satans Cautions Yet let me adde a few words for caution and direction here 1. The consideration of those things mentioned should not make us slacken our diligence in prayer and other duties and when they are a right considered they will rather prove a spurre and a goad in our side to set us forward than a bridle to hold us aback 2. We would not think that Christ's work and interest is going backward alwayes when it seemeth so to us Even when He is casting downe what He hath built up and plucking up what He hath planted his work is prospering for all that is in order to the laying of a better foundation and to the carrying on of a more glorious work when He shall lay all the stones with faire colours the foundations with saphires and make the windowes of crystal c. Esai 5 4 11 12. 3. Though his work be alwayes going on and his truth prospering yet we would not think that it will alwayes prosper alike in our apprehensions many times we judge by rules of our own making and not by the rule of truth and hence it is that we mistake oftentimes We walk little by faith and too much by sense and hence we judge too much by sense and so passe a wrong judgement to his dishonour and the sadning of our own hearts 4. Nor would we think that His Truth and interest is ruined and gone because it is sore oppressed in this or that particular place of the world as if his work were not of an universal extent and in all the churches If his truth thrive and prosper in some other place of the world shall we not say that his kingdome is coming Or shall we limite all his work and interest to one small part of the world 5. We would not think the worse of his work because it is carryed on with so many stops and doth meet with so many Impediments in its way We are not acquanted with the depths of his infinite wisdome and counsel and so we see not what noble ends He hath before Him in suffering those impediments to lie in the way of his chariot We think He should ride so triumphantly all alongs that none should once dar to cast the least block in his way but we judge carnally as unacquanted with the many noble and glorious designes which He hath in ordering matters As Himself was for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence so will he have the way of the carrying on of his work prove in his holy and spotlesse justice a stumbling stone to many that shall stumble thereat and fall and never rise any more 6. We would beware to think that Christ-hath forgotten his work because He seemeth to take no notice of our prayers which we are putting up now and then for his work He may be doing that which we are desireing in the general and yet not let us know that He is answering our prayers that for wise and holy ends to keep us humble diligent He may seem to misregaird our suites and yet be carrying on his work and granting us our desires upon the matter 7. Hence we â—…ould beware of desponding and growing heartlesse and fainte when we see few owneing truth Or standing upon Christ's side for He needeth not mans help to carry on his work though He sometimes thinketh good to condescend so far as to honour some to be instrumental in setting of it forward who yet have nothing but as He giveth let us not then think that his work cannot prosper because great ones and meane ones oppose it and such as should stand for it and owne it are few and fainting without strength courage or Zeal CHAP. XV. How to make use of Christ for stedfastness in a time when truth is oppressed and borne downe WHen enemies are prevailing and the way of truth is evil spoken of many fainte and many turne aside and do not plead for truth not stand up for the interest of Christ in their houre and power of darknesse many are overcome with base feare and either side with the workers of iniquity or are not valient for the truth But being faint-hearted turne back Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast and to owne Him and his cause in a day of tryall to enquire how they shall make use of Christ who is the Truth so as to be inabled to stand in the day of temptation and to keep fast by Truth when it is loaded with reproaches and buryed under an hâ—…pe of obloquy For satisfaction to this question I shall shortly point out those directions which if followed may prove helpful to keep the soul from fainting misbeleeving doubting quarrelling at the Lord's dispensations and from yeelding to the temptatitions in such a day 1. The beleever would live in the conviction of his hazard through the slight of Satan the strength of the temptation the wickednesse and treachery of the heart the evil example of others and the want of sanctified courage Zeal and resolution and this will keep the soul humble and farr from boasting of its own strength which was Peter's fault 2. They would live in the faith and perswasion of this That it is Christ alone who is the Truth who can help them to stand for truth in a day of temptation and that all their former purposes vowes resolutions solemne professions and the like will prove but weak cables to hold them fast in a day of storme and that only the rock of ages must save them and their being a ley ward of Him and partaking of his warme and saife protection will do their businesse That all their stock of grace and knowledge and that confirmed with resolutions and sincere purposes will helpe but little in that day and that new influences of grace and truth from the fountaine that is full of grace and truth will only prove establishing to the soul and confirme it in the truth in that day 3. Therefore they
hear 10. This life is eminently and transcendently in Him and exclusively of all others Itis in Him and in Him alone and itis in Him in a most excellent manner So that He is the Life in the abstract not only a living head and an enlivening head but Life it self the Life the Resurrection and the Life CHAP. XX. Some general uses BEfore we come to speak of some particular cases of deadnesse wherein beleevers are to make use of Christ as the Life we shall first propose some useful consequences and deductions from what hath been spoken of this life and. First The faith of those things which have been mentioned would be of great use and advantage to beleevers and therefore they should study to have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts and a deep impression thereof on their spirits to the end that 1. Be their case and condition what it will they might be keeped from dispaire and despondency of spiâ—…it from giving over their case as hopless and from looking upon themselves as irremediably gone The faith of Christs being Life and the Life would keep up the soul in hope and cause it say how dead so ever my case be yet Life can help me and He who is the resurrection and the Life can recover me 2. Yea be their case and condition what it wil they would have here some ground of encouragement to goe to Him with their dead soul and to look to Him for helpe seing He is the Life as mediator to the end He might enliven and quicken his dead fainting swooning members and to recover them from their deadness 3. They might be freed from many scruples and objections that scar and discourage them This one truth beleeved would cleare up the way so as that such things as would have been impediments and objections before shall evanish and be rolled out of the way now such as are the objections taken from their own worthlesness their long continuance in that dead condition and the like 4. They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plagâ—…e and evil of jealousie whereby the soul is oft keeped aback from comeing to Christ for they feare He will not make them welcome they doubt of his love and tendernesse and questione his pity and compassion yea their jealousie maketh them to doubt of his faithfulnesse So that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousie and deliver the soul therefrom and open a way for the soul to come forward with boldnesse and confidence 5. They might also be hereby helped to waite with patience and to be still and quiet under the Lord 's various dispensations so as they would not frete nor repine against him knowing that He would prove himself to be Life even the Life in his own good time so that the soul would paitiently waite at his door till He were pleased to look out and with his look convey life in to their dead soul. 6. They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any help from any other arth knowing that He alone is the Life and so that help can no where else be had The faith of this truth would guaird from many sinistrous wayes which the soul in a time of straite is ready to run to for reliefe for hereby would it see that neither instruments nor meanes nor outward administrations nor any thing of that kinde can quicken their dead soul and that He and He alone must breathe in life into them as at first so now againe Secondly May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the goodnesse and rich bounty of God towards his people who hath found out and condescended upon such a sure saife and satisfying way whereby he becometh all things to his â—…ple which they stand in need of and that notwithstanding 1. That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his hands 2. That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts beside Him O How much corruption sin and death lodge we within our souls and how more desirous are we oftimes of death than of life 3 That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have granted unto us yea many a time we abuse them and this He did foresee and yet notwithstanding would condescend thus unto us 4. That we do little expresse our thankfulnesse for such mercies But not for our sakes hath He done this but for his owne names sake for noble and holy ends hath He resolved upon this course as 1. That He might be all and in all Col. 3 11. and they nothing That He alone might fill all in all Ephes. 1. ult and they be empty nothing without Him 2. That He might weare the glory of all for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things Rom. 11. last and that no man might share therein 3. That Man might be His everlasting debtor and cast downe in testimony thereof his crowne at His feet who sitteth on the throne as those did Revel 4 10. and might câ—…y out with these same elders vers 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power c. and with those Chap. 5 12. worthy is the lamb that was staine to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength honour and glory and blessing 4. That mans mouth might be stopped forever and all boasting excluded for man is a proud creature and ready to boast of that which is nothing and vanity Now God hath chosen this noble way of the covenant of grace that man might boast no more Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law by the law of works no but by the law of faith sayeth the Apostle Rom. 3 vers 24. 5. That all might be sure to the poor chosen beleever The Lord will not have the stock of life any longer to be in mans own hand for even Adam in the state of innocency could not use it well but made shipewrack thereof and turned a bankerupt much more would man now do so in this state of sin in which he lyeth at present therefore Hath God out of love and tendernesse to his chosen ones put all their stock in the hand of Christ who is better able to manage it to God's glory and mans advantage being faithful in all things and a trusty servant having the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodyly Therefore sayeth the Apostle Rom. 4 16. It is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promises might be sure to all the seed 6. That beleevers might have strong consolation notwithstanding of all the opposition of enemies without and within when they see that now their life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3 3. and that their life is in their Head they will not feare so much devils and men without nor their own dead and corrupt hearts within Thirdly How inexcuseable must all such be
the evil of their former wayes and courses He worketh up the heart to godly sorrow and remorse for what is done making their bowels move for grief and sorrow that they should have so dishonoured and grieved Him 7. By setting the soul thus on work to do what formerly it neither could nor would do and thus He maketh the soul strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Epes 6 10. and able to run and not be weary and to walk and not be faint Esai 40. 8. By discovering the great recompence of reward that is comeing and the great help they have at hand in the Covenant and promises thereof and in Christ their Head and Lord He maketh the burden light and the duty easie As to the Last particular viz. How a beleever in such a case should make use of Christ as the Life that he may be delivered therefrom When the poor beleever is any way sensible of this decay and earnestly desireing to be from under that power of death and in case to go about commanded duties he would 1. Look to Christ for enlightened eyes that he may get a more through discovery of the hazard wreatchednesse of such a condition that hereby being awakened and alarmed he may more willingly use the meanes of recovery and be more willing to be at some paines to be delivered 2. He would run to the blood of Jesus to get the guilt of his by gone sinful wayes washen away and bloted out to the end he may obtaine the favour of God and get his reconciled face shineing upon him againe 3. He would eye Christ as a Prince exalted to give repentance that so his sorrow for his former sinful courses may be kindely spiritual through and affecting the heart He would cry to Christ that He would put in his hand by the hole of the door that his bowels may become moved for Him 4. He would also look to Him as that good Shepherd who will strengthen that which is sick Ezech. 34 16. And take notice also of his other Relations and of his Obligations thereby and by the Covenant of Redemption and this will strengthen his hope 5. He would lay hold on Christ as his Strength whereby his feet may be made like hindes feet and he may be made to walk upon his high places Habb 3 19. and he would grippe to that promise Esai 41 10 I will strengthen thee and lay hold on Christ in it 6. Having done thus he would set about every commanded duty in the strength of Jesus looking to Him for help and supply from whom cometh all his strength and though he should not finde that help and assistance which he expected yet he would not be discouraged but continue and when he can do no more offer himself as ready and willing to go about the duty as if he had strength 7. He would lye open to and be ready to receive the influences of strength which He who is the Head shall think good to give in his own time manner and measure and this taketh in those duties 1. That they would carefully guaird against the evils formerly mentioned which brought on this distemper such as Carelesnesse Untendernesse Unwatchfulnesse Lazynesse carnal Security Formality and want of Seriousnesse c. 2. That they would beware of giving way to despondency or of concludeing the matter hopelesse and remedilesse for that is both discourageing to the soul and a tempting provocation of God 3. That they should be exerciseing the grace of patient Waiting 4. That they should be waiting in the use of the appointed meanes and thereby as it were rubbing the dead and cold member before the fire till it gather warmth 5. That they should be keeping all their sails â—…p waiting for the gaile of the Spirit that should make their shipe sail 6. That they should be looking to Him alone who hath promised that quickening Spirit and patiently waiting his leasure not limiting Him to any definite time 7. That they should be cherishing and stirring up any small beginnings that are 8. That they should be welcoming most cheerfully every motion of the Spirit and improveing every advantage of that kinde and stricking the yron when it is hote and hold the wheels of the soul a going when they are once put in motion and so be loath to grieve the good and holy Spirit of God Ephes. 4 vers 30. or to quench his motions 1 Thes. 5 vers 19. If these duties were honestly minded and gone about in Him and in His strength none can tell how soon there might be a change wrought in the soul. But of it be asked what such can do to whom the very thoughts of the duty and aimeing at it is matter of terrour Ans. It may be something if not much of that may flow from such a bodyly distemper as occasioneth the alteration of the body upon the through apprehension of any thing that is weighty and of moment so as they cannot endure to be much affected with any thing But leaving this to others I would advise such a soul to those duties 1. To be frequently seting to the duty as for example of prayer though that should raise the distemper of their body for through time that may weare away or at least grow lesse while as their giving way thereto will still make the duty the more and more terrible and so render themselves the more unfit for it and thus they shall gratifie Satan who it may be may have a hand in that bodyly distemper too when the poor soul is thus accustomed or habituated to the attempting of the duty it will at length appeare not so terrible as it did so the body may become not so soon altered thereby as it was 2. When such an one can do no more He would keep his love to the duty and his desires after â—…t fresh and lively and would not suffer these quite to die out 3. He would be much in the use of frequent ejaculations and of short supplications darted up to God for these will not make such an impression on the body and so will not so occasion the raiseing and wakening of the bodyly distemper as more solemne addresses to God in prayer would possibly do 4. If he cannot go to Christ with confidence to draw out of Him life and strength according to his need yet he may give a look to Him though it were from a farre and he may think of Him and speak of Him frequently and would narrowly observe every thing that pointeth Him out or bringeth any thing of Him to remembrance 5. Such souls would not give way to despairing thoughts as if their case were wholly helpelesse and hopelesse for that is a reflecting upon the power skill of Christ and therefore is provoking and dishonourable to Him 6. Let Christ and all that is His be precious alwayes and lovely unto them And thus they would keep some room in their heart open for