his Heart and who will in his due time make all the World know that his People are as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye Trust then depend and rely upon God in Christ and by an holy Confidence resign up your Wills to his Will to do what he would have us do to be what he would have us be to suffer what he would have us suffer and then Heart-trouble will cease and sweet Peace cometh when having trusted all with God we can in heart say Lord if thou wilt have me poor disgraced imprisoned diseased deprived of my dearest Friends I am content to be so I trust all my Concerns with Thee O the sweet peace and quiet that will be in that Soul There is the Almightiness the Wisdom Goodness Love Mercy and Faithfulness of God in Christ for us to trust in and to rely upon a Bottom and Foundation strong enough to build our Confidence upon in all Storms and Streights God hath also made many exceeding great and precious Promises in his Word and not a naked Promise but he hath entred into Covenant with us founded upon full satisfaction by the Blood of Jesus and confirmed it with an Oath Heb. 6. 17. and to this Covenant sealed by the Blood of his Son he hath added the Seals of the Sacraments and all this that the Heirs of the Promises namely All true Believers night have strong Consolation and be cured of all their Heart-troubles Upon this sure Foundation then must our Faith act in an holy Confidence in God and in Christ the Soul being taken off from all other Objects carried out of Self unto God and Christ who presently as soon as trusted in communicate themselves and their love and goodness to the Soul filling it with peace strength and settlement By this trusting in God we honour God most and best provide for our own safety The way then whereby Faith quieteth the Soul and cures it of its Troubles is by raising it above all Disquietments and pitching it solely upon God in Christ and thereby uniting it to God in Christ from whence it draws Vertue and Strength to subdue what ever troubleth its Peace For the Soul is made for God and never finds Rest till it return unto and settle and center it self upon him again And that we may thus place our Confidence in God and Christ for all supplies we must most earnestly beg cry and seek to God for Grace and Strength so to do we must trust in God aloneâ— for all things and at all times and thus by appropriating God to us and Christ to us and placing our Confidence in them we may be cured of alâ— our Heart-troubles The Application 1. For Information These Inferences follow First If Faith acted upon God in Christ be such a Remedy against Heart-trouble then surely Faith is a very precious a very excellent thing a Grace of very great worth and value and of great use and efficacy It is precious Faith indeed the very Trial of it is more precious than Gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. Precious for its Author the Lord Jesus for its Object precious Jesus and all the exceeding great and precious Promises the purchased Inheritance For its Offices it unites to us Christ gives us Title to eternal Life it supports under all Afflictions prevents or cures all Heart-troubles and precious for its End which is the Salvation of our Souls Eph. 3. 17. Heb. 11. 39. 1 Pet. 1. 9. This Grace of Faith is of a transforming spiritual Nature and the Soul of a Believer by acting it on God and Christ and on Divine Heavenly and Spiritual things becomes Divine Heavenly and Spiritual Faith unfastneth the Heart from the Creature shewing the Soul the Vanity of it and carries the Soul unto God and Christ shewing it God's All-sufficiency and Christ's All-fulness for Faith believes what God in his Word hath revealed of both It is the great Design of God in all the Troubles he sends upon his People effectually to teach them the exceeding Vanity of the Creature to imbitter the things of this World to them to wean their Hearts from them to bring earthly things out of Request with them to make them see that there is no true Contentment nor solid Satisfaction for the Soul to be found in them and to make them see where true Happiness and Contentment is to be had even in God and in Christ alone for whom their Souls were Created Redeemed and Sanctified Now the great Work of Faith is to take off the Soul from the Creature and fix and settle it upon God and Christ the true Foundation Naturally our Hearts hang loose from God and cleave to the Creature and when the Creature fails our Hearts are troubled but Faith takes off the Heart from the Creature and settles it upon God in Christ where it finds Rest and this is the great Service it doth us All the great and famous things which those Worthies did and all the hard and heavy things they suffered mentioned in Heb. 11. were all done and suffered by the Power of Faith ver 37 c. The setling of our Hearts upon God in Christ trusting all there is the best means to cure our Heart-trouble and this Faith doth and therefore it is precious Secondly It follows from the Premisses That the want of Faith in God and in Christ is the Great Cause of all our Heart-Troubles Despondencies and Disquietness Could we but act our Faith strongly on God and Christ as our God in Christ our Troubles would be prevented or cured For by Faith the Soul looks up to God in Christ through the Promises looking off from all other Supports unto God for all Supplies for the removing of all Evil felt or feared and for the obtaining of all Good promised and needed and by this exercise of Faith the Soul is raised up above all Discouragements and Disquietments but where this Faith is wanting or the lively exercise of it suspended there the Soul sinks under Heart-Troubles But of this some-what was said before Thirdly Hence also we may clearly see the absolute Necessity of getting Faith in God and in Christ and of acting it and living by it There is no living quietly and comfortably without it no standing under our Burdens no bearing with Patience and Chearfulness our Losses and Crosses without this Faith no Joy and Peace but by believing by Faith we stand Fourthly Then the Things of the World are not to be trusted to nor trusted in for Comfort in time of Trouble Nothing but God and Christ to be trusted in and trusted to and there is enough in them to support and comfort us as hath been shewed but no confidence to be put in the Creature there is a Curse upon such Confidence but a Blessing on them that trust in God No trusting in Friends Riches Gifts or any thing for so to do is Idolatry to give that to the Creature which is due to God alone Fifthly Hence we see
22 usually our Success is according to ouâ— preparation as in Prayer Psal 10 17. compare 2 Chron. 12. 14. with 2 Chron. 19. 3. make Conscience theâ— of preparation 2. Prayer Pour out your Hearâ— to God in Prayer for a Blessing oâ— the Word that you read or heaâ— O lift up a Cry to God and say Lord make this Word effectual to worâ— Faith in my Soul c. 3. Earnest Desire and Expectatis of meeting God in the Word and oâ— his blessing on it if we expect nothing from it no wonder if we receive nothing there is a fulness of Blessing in the Gospel Rom. 15. 29. We should bring hungry and thirsty Souls after God the Living God as Psal 63. 1 2 3. and 84. 1 2. God filleth the Hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. Secondly Some things are Concomitant As 1. We must read and hear it as the Word of God and not as the Word of Man 1 Thess 2. 13. Acts 10. 33. and we must acknowledg God's Authority in it 2. Receive it with Meekness opening our Hearts to it and give it the most tender entertainment Jam. 1. 21. 3. With Love readiness of Mind and gladness of Heart 2 Thess 2. 10. Acts 2. 41. 4. With Faith giving credit to it believing it to be the Word of God Heb. 4. 2. 5. We must be careful to remember it See what great stress is laid upon our remembring 1 Cor. 15. 2. Our Salvation lies upon it Psal 119. 11. Love the Word for Love is the Act of Memory 6. Prayer must be added again for a Blessing Thirdly Some things must be done afterward also As 1. Meditation upon what you have heard and read for want of this usually all is lost I am perswaded this is one great Reason why most profit so little by the Word because they make no Conscience of Meditation they hear and read but never think more on it afterwards So Preaching Hearing Reading and all lost and Souls and Heaven and all lost For God's sake then whose Word you read and hear and for your own Souls sake if you are not willing they should perish for want of Faith make Conscience of Meditation on the Word Psal 1. 2. and 119. 97. if ever you get good by the Word meditate upon it 2. Application of it take it home to your selves Job 5. 27. Let it sink down into your Hearts saith Christ it must be an ingrafted Word you must receive it into your Hearts and not into your Heads only 2. Cor. 4. 6. your Hearts must be joined to it and mix'd with it 3. Practice Yielding up our selves to the Government of it making it the Standard and Rule of your whole Conversation We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only lest we deceive our own Souls Jam. 1. 22. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Mat. 7. 22 24. And in observing these Scripture-Rules here laid down in the careful and conscientious use of God's Word after this manner you may not doubt but the Holy Spirit of God will work with the Word of God to make it effectual to work this most precious Grace of Faith in us whereby to believe in God and in Christ to the Consolation and eternal Salvation of our Souls But if we neglect the Means God hath ordained to get Faith and for want of it die in our Sins and perish eternally our Destruction will be of our selves Direct III. Thirdly Would we have Faith Let us engage our whole Souls in the deep and serious consideration of the infinite unspeakable unconceivable Love of God the Father in this the highest and fullest demonstration of it in giving his Son his only begotten Son to be a Sin-Offering a Sacrifice a Ransom for poor Sinners and that for this very end and purpose that we poor Sinners might believe in him and by believing might not perish but might have Eternal Life I pray read and ponder upon the following Texts and let your most serious Thoughts fix on them and meditate on them Isa 53. throughout John 3. 16 17. Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 8. 10. Prov. 8. 30. Col. 1. 12 13. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. Rom. 8. 3. 8. 32. with many other which for brevity sake I cannot transcribe If we can but believe this wonderful Love of God the Father in giving his dear Son to be a Surety a Sin-Offering to lay all our Iniquities on him that he was pleased to bruise him and put him to Grief for us and consider and meditate upon the Heighth and Depth the Breadth and Length of this immense imcomprehensible Love of God in giving his Son and that on purpose that we might believe in him and by beleiving might have Eternal Life I say it will greatly help us to believe in his Son to accept of this his unspeakable Gift and to receive him as he is offered to us in the Gospel Moreover let us also consider of and deeply meditate upon the transcendent Love of the Son of God himself who though he were the Delight of his Father and lay in the Bosom of his Father even then his Delights were with the Sons of Men then was his Heart full of Love to poor Sinners and his Love brought him down from Heaven to Earth to assume Humane Nature to take upon him all the Sins of his People to bear them on his Soul and Body in the Garden there sweating great drops of Blood and on the Cross there pouring out his Heart-Blood made a Curse endured the full measure of the Wrath of God due for Sin and became the Ransom of Souls Philip. 2. 6 7 8. Luke 22. 44. Gal. 2. 20. He loved us and gave himself for us Loved us and washed us from our Sins in his Blood Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Gal. 3. 13. Tit. 2. 14. But while I am writing these things I cannot but conceive an Indignation against my self and heartily wish I were filled with Shame Sorrow and Grief of Spirit that having read and heard so often of the surpassing Love of God the Father in giving his Son and so often of the unspeakable Love of Jesus and to be no more affected with it no more sensible of it to have my Affections no more stirred and moved no more quickned and warmed Alas my dead Heart my Adamantine Heart Lord sprinkle it with that Blood Lord shed abroad that Love of thine upon my Heart abundantly by the holy Ghost Lord Jesus manifest thy Love to me that I may love thee I am ashamed and pained for want of Love to God to Jesus O that I could believe thy Love to my Soul then I should not chuse but love thee Lord I believe help my Unbelief The consideration of this Love of God and of Christ is a means to work Faith try it I pray you and you will find it so Direct IV. Fourthly Improve and act the Historical Faith you have on the Doctrines Promises and Threatnings in the
HEARTS-EASE IN HEART-TROUBLE OR A Sovereign Remedy against all Trouble of Heart that Christ's Disciples are subject to under all kinds of Afflictions in this Life Prescribed by the great Physician the Lord Jesus Christ which hath never failed those that have used it or ever will to the End of the World Psal 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word By J. B. a Servant of Jesus Christ The Second Edition LONDON Printed for J. Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. An EPISTLE to the Meek and Lowly-Hearted Readers who have learned of their dear Lord so to be who himself will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax. Charitable Reader CHarity which is the Bond of Perfectness and the greatest Rarity now in the World and in the Church too the more is the pity thou must put on who readest this the plainest and most unpolish'd Piece that ever thou sawest for the Author never had skill in dressing if thou meanest to profit any thing by it which is the only thing God knows is aimed at by the Author who always prays and studies to speak and write rather to Mens Hearts than Ears his own and others and by God's Word to work Faith rather than feed Fancy Charity I say thou must have for that will cover a multitude of Sins much more of Infirmities which here thou must expect to meet Charity beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 7. If thou wilt but exercise thy Charity in reading and join therewith thy fervent Prayers for a Blessing thou mayest attain thine End and mine also to wit thy Edification for Charity edifieth In hope of gaining thy Charity suffer me to give a short but true Account of the ensuing Treatise viz. I being about three Years since for some Reasons retired from my Family and place of Abode and by Sickness and other things confined during which time many of my dear Friends and Relations in Christ were called home to their Father's House whereupon I thought it my Duty to write some Lines to their surviving Relations as I was by them desired to do and after seeking God for Counsel and Assistance I thought on this Text spoken to in the following Discourse for it was not at the least in my Thoughts ever to publish this or any other knowing my own inability I wrote in my homely Stile what thou wilt here find all except the Title-Page This and the Post-script calculating it to the Capacities of the plainest Christians to whom I then sent it and with whom it lodg'd until about six months since it pleased the only Wise God to bring me to a trial of my Faith and Patience so deep a stroke it was that I used all means for my support and it came into my Mind that such a thing I had written so long before to help in such Cases and that several had found benefit by it I made enquiry after it and at last found it and in reading of it as the Word of God and begging God's Blessing on it I found much Relief and Comfort thereby all Praise and Thanks to God and thereupon had some small Inclinations to communicate the same to others and after many struglings and reluctancies in my self and with Prayers and Tears I besought the Lord to direct me At last I considered I must shortly put off this my earthly Tabernacle and having for many Years been lain aside like a broken Vessel of no use and compassed with many bodily Infirmities I was willing to leave behind me a little scrap of my Labours to my Children and Friends to put them in mind of what I had taught them for above thirty Years together that they might be fortified against all the Troubles of this Life and by Faith in God and Christ hold fast and not lose their Crown But why so mean a thing as this among the learned Labours of so many eminent Writers on the like Subject I Answer That our Lord took special notice of the Widows Mites and he will not despise the day of small things Zech. 4. 10. But what can you aim at may be said Answ Not Applause to be sure being conscious of my Weakness nor Profit or Gain expecting but Acceptance But this God and my Conscience bear me witness this is my Aim my most humble and fervent Prayer that some of Christ's poor little Flock my Children and others whose Souls are precious to me and whom I dearly love in the Lord may receive some advantage and chiefly that God may have all the Glory who hath chosen the weak things of this World c. and who accepts the Will for the Deed c. Such as will not make use of it let them do better and I will be glad None may be afraid to buy or read it for there is not a word of the State or Church-Matters in it I daily pray for the Prosperity of both but think it not my Duty to meddle with either but in subjection Two Requests I have to thee loving Reader 1. Pray for a Blessing upon as much as you find to be the express Will of God 2. Pray for me that I may more and more find and feel the Life and Power of those and all the Truths of God in mine own Heart and may express more of the Life of Faith in my whole Conversation and I will also pray for thee that thou mayest find as much and much more benefit in reading this as I have in composing and perusing it all praise to the God of all Grace If you find some Passages in your Opinion too often repeated be not offended till you find them too powerful on your Hearts Thus committing this poor Essay to the Blessing of him who is the Father of Mercies and can teach us to profit by his Word and Rod and thy self to his Love and Favour in Jesus Christ in him I remain for thy Soul 's good Thy humble Servant J. B. HEARTS-EASE IN HEART-TROUBLE JOHN 14. 1 2 3. Ver. 1. Let not your Hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me THese Words are a part of our Blessed Saviour's last Sermon upon Earth just before his Passion which begins as is probable at the 13th Verse of the 13th Chapter of this Gospel and ends at the last Verse of the 16th Chapter in which Verse our Lord tells his Disciples how dear soever they were to him yet in the World they should have Persecution Tribulation of which he had often told them before in effect that they should not expect their Heaven here but his Cross they must bear if they would wear his Crown Tribulations of all kinds Outward and Inward you must endure It is your Portion here you are thereunto appointed Man is naturally born to trouble as the Sparks naturally fly upwards and new-born to trouble also and commonly to new and
besides those Troubles they suffer in common with others by reason of their being called out of the World the World hates them and they are therefore more exposed to Tribulation than others and so are apt to be cast down and discouraged This our Lord foresaw would befal his Disciples after his departure from them and therefore he counsels them against the same Let not your Hearts be troubled Quest But it may be demanded Whence ariseth this Heart-trouble and disquietment of Mind under Affliction Answ There are many Causes of it which is necessary for us to know that so knowing the Causes we may the better find the Cure There are outward and inward Causes First Outward Causes And the first may be God himself He sometimes withdraws the Beams of his Countenance withholds the sense of his Love hideth his Face from his Children which the Saints in Scripture so bitterly complain of and so earnestly pray against Whereupon the Souls even of the strongest Christians are disquieted This caused trouble to the Soul of Jesus Christ himself Joh. 12. 37. When a poor Child of God together with his Affliction apprehends God to be his Enemy and that his Troubles are mix'd with God's Displeasure and it may be his Conscience tells him that God hath a just Quarrel against him because he hath not walked so holily so humbly so evenly and so strictly with God as he might had he been more watchful careful and circumspect and that he hath not renewed and kept his Peace with God as he should and might have done and this sense of God's Displeasure puts a Sting into all his Afflictions and this causeth trouble of Heart and disquietment of Mind And justly may such a Soul be troubled that has ever felt the Joys of God's Salvation the sweet Influences of his Love that has tasted that the Lord is gracious seeing that in his Favour is Life and his Loving-kindness is better than Life Psal 30. 5. 63. 3. Secondly The Devil is the Cause sometimes of the Heart-trouble of God's Children For he being a cursed Spirit cast out of Heaven full of Disquietment and Discontent himself labours all he can to trouble and disquiet others to bring others as much as in him lies into the same cursed Condition with himself He being cast out of Paradise himself envieâ— us the Paradise of a good and quiet Conscience for that is our Paradise until we come to Heaven And this Paradise a poor Child of God may possess in a Prison in a Dungeon on a Dunghil Two main Designs the Devil hath upon Men the one is if possibly by all imaginable Slights Temptations and Inticements he may keep Men in a course of Ungodliness to hinder them from coming to Christ by Faith and Repentance to deter them from his holy Ways And when he cannot prosper in this but that unsearchable rich and free Grace takes hold of some poor Souls and they are snatch'd out of his Hands their Captivity led captive by that mighty Redeemer then all the Devil's labour is to hinder their Comfort and to interrupt their Peace and to make their way to Heaven as hard and uncomfortable to them as possible pursuing them with all dejecting and Heart-troubling Temptations Thirdly Wicked Men are also active in the troubling of God's People they are indeed the true Troublers of God's Israel They load God's People with Reproaches And there is nothing that the Nature of Man is more impatient of than Reproaches for there is no Man so mean but thinks himself worthy of some Respect now a reproachful Scorn shews an utter disrespect of a Man which flows from the very superfluity of Malice Reproach hath broken my Heart saith David Psal 69. 20. and nothing more doth he complain of than Reproach and nothing more are God's People liable to than this These are the Causes from without Secondly There are Inward Causes also of Heart-trouble and Despondency When God's People are in Affliction most time that black Cloud of Melancholy also surrounds them and Darkness makes Men fearful and dejected There are many Causes within our selves As ignorance of God and of Christ of the Govenant of Grace of the Name of God They that know God's Name will trust in him and not be dejected Also forgetfulness of God and of what he hath done for us We forget God when we are afraid of Man Our overlooking and passing by the many Comforts we enjoy even while we are under Affliction taking little notice of our Mercies â—ut let them be all swallowed up in our Miseries as Abraham because he had no Heir and Rachel who said Give me Children or I die though she had all other earthly Comforts yet the want of this one so troubled her that all the rest seemed nothing It is an evil thing for us to be wedded to our own Wills None more subject to Discontent than those who would have all things after their own way and are meer Strangers to Self-denial Likewise false apprehensions of things cause Heart-trouble to think God hates us because he corrects us and when he takes from us that it is all in Wrath. Another common Cause is our own Watchlessness and Carelessness our neglect of keeping our Hearts and Consciences pure and clean and in time of Affliction these former neglects of Duty come to our Minds then Conscience awakes and tells us our former Faults and this brings trouble of Heart 1 King 17. 18. Moreover unnecessary Scruples cause Disquietness Solitariness Idleness when Persons will not do what is needful they are troubled with that which is needless and Idleness tempts the Devil to tempt us and trouble us If we cannot find work for our selves the Devil will make work for us Also when we are guilty of neglecting doing good to others as to our Relations not reproving admonishing or incouraging them as we ought or have neglected to receive that good from them that we might but now they are dead and gone and we can no more do any good to them nor receive any from them this hath troubled many on their Sick and Death-beds Inconstancy wavering in the Ways of God will also breed disquiet And our inordinate love of Creature-Comforts our setting of our Hearts on Friends Estates and the like letting out our Hearts on Husbands Wives Children c. this is to build Castles in the Air expecting Contentment in and from those things that cannot yield it Also multitude of worldly Business and too much poring on our Afflictions and fore-casting the Events of things You see what a croud of Causes here be within our selves of Disquiet and Heart-trouble The third Particular proposed is What is this Heart-trouble which Christ here forbids his People and that he would fortify them against A. This Heart-trouble is such a sense of Evils felt or feared as creates to us Heart-disquietment Dejection Despondency depriving us of that Tranquillity Peace and Comfort which we had in our selves or otherwise
of God do not scandalize them for they have found God in that very way which others speak evil of they are not so offended by any thing that attends the Way of God as to dislike or forsake that Way Nevertheless we must take heed that we be not offended Sixthly Temptations from Satan may cause Heart-trouble and Vexation Satan's Suggestions his fiery Darts these tormenting Thoughts which he casts into the Minds of Christ's Disciples create to them much Disturbance and Heart-trouble So soon as any Man is pluck'd out of the Devil's Hands by the mighty Power of Christ's Spirit he falls upon him speedily with all his force to trouble such a Soul and vex it so that he shall enjoy little peace if Satan can hinder it So long as the Devil keeps possession in the Soul he keeps all in peace a sad Peace But when a stronger than he comes and casteth out this strong Man armed then Satan rageth to recover his lost Captive Soul and vexeth that Soul with all his Temptations But let not this break your Peace nor cause Heart-trouble As Christ hath overcome the World and therefore bids his Disciples to be of good chear Joh. 16. 20. So hath he also overcome the Devil he hath trodden this Serpent under his Feet already and this Prince of Peace will tread him under your feet also shortly Therefore Let not your Hearts be troubled Seventhly Desertion another and not the least piece of Heart-trouble this may be the case of Christ's Disciples We read of the Saints complaining that God had forsaken them and when he hideth his Face they cannot but be troubled Sometimes God doth but seem to hide his Face Isa 49. 14 15. When God takes away their earthly Comforts from them and suffereth sharp and bitter Afflictions to befal them and though they cry unto him he doth not remove them then they think that God hath forsaken them Sometimes God doth really forsake his People as to the sense of his Favour Isa 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee In a little Wrath I hid my Face from thee for a moment And this is either by withholding comfort from them which they cry for or by withdrawing that Comfort from them which they had Psal 51. 11. Psal 77. 1 2 3 23. compared Yet here God supported and sustained his Servant's Soul with Grace many times When God's People have least Comfort they have most Grace most Humility Patience Self-denial thirstings after God Heavenly-mindedness c. God's People may lose the sense of his Love but never lose his Love for that is everlasting But to lose the sense of his Love is a grievous trouble to a gracious Soul that hath tasted and felt the Love of God and his Favour for their great Happiness is to have the Favour of God In his Favour is Life and his Loving-kindness is better than Life This is the Joy of their Lives Psal 119. 135. which David so earnestly prayed for Now such as have found this must needs be troubled when they lose it Two things chiefly cause God to hide his Face from his People 1. When their Hearts are too much set upon and carried out after earthly Comforts Psal 30. 6 7. Fleshly Delight and Confidence in earthly Things provokes God to hide his Face When a Man smiles so much on the World and gives it so much room in his Heart God frowns and is offended that the Gift should be so much loved and the Giver so neglected and forgotten 2. When their Hearts are let out too little after God and there grows a strangeness between God and them and they begin to grow cold dull and dead in Duty then God withdraws and hides himself Cant. 2. 3 5 6. compared But no Affliction like this this disquieteth and dejecteth the People of God indeed And as all the Candles in the World cannot make it Day when the Sun is set so all the Comforts in the World cannot rejoice such a Soul nor can there be any Day in suâ—h a Soul until the Sun of Righteousness arise there with healing in his Wings Mal. 4. 2. So much for this Third Particular shewing what this Heart-Trouble is which our Lord here sorbids his Disciples namely Wordly-Sorrow sinful slavish Fear distracting Care Despondency dejectedness of Spirit Distrust Offence at Persecution for Christ's sake Satan's Temptations and Spiritual Desertions all which may either be the Causes or the parts and pieces of Heart-Trouble which must be avoided The Fourth Particular to be opened is to shew how that believing in God and in Christ is the best Antidote against this sinful Heart-Trouble Christ proposeth it as a special Remedy Q. But how is it so A. To answer this I shall endeavour to shew these three Things 1. What this believing in God is which our Saviour here grants that they had Ye believe in God 2. What it is to believe in Christ Believe also in me 3. That this Faith acted on God and Christ is the best Remedy to prevent and cure Heart-Trouble in all those several parts of it I have mentioned 1. What this Faith in God is Briefly the Apostle tells us Heb. 11. 6. it is to believe that God is that there is a God an infinite first and best Being to believe that God is that All that which he hath revealed himself in his Word to be viz. That he is an All-sufficient Almighty Only-wise God a righteous gracious merciful God an holy God a loving God He proclaims his Name himself Exod. 34. 6 â— The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth c. To believe that he is wonderful in Counsel and excellent iâ— Working Isa 28. last That he is the Father of Mercies the true and faithfuâ— God the God of all Grace and of aâ— Consolation with many more admirablâ— Attributes of God doth the Scripture furnish us that we may build our Faith and place our Trust in him to preveâ—â— Heart-trouble and to cure it when iâ— hath seized on us Whatsoever is revealed of God in his Word that trâ—â— Faith believes Also this Faith in God is to belieâ—â— that he is a Rewarder of them that diligenâ— seek him That he being God All-sufficient heâ— able to support to supply to deliveâ— his People out of all their Troubles anâ— that he is willing so to do as well as able for he hath promised and he is Rewarder a God that will abundantly plentifully reward all his suffering Ones Great shall be their Reward in Heaven Mat. 5. 12. And to believe God to be â— Rewarder is to lay hold on his Covenanâ— wherein he promiseth so to be I will be thy God thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward Gen. 15. 1. The Sum of the Covenant is I will be thy God What is that but this I will be All that to thee and I will do All that for thee which a God can be to thee and
do for thee I will be a Sun and a Shield to thee Psal 84. last I will give thee Grace and Glory and will withhold no good thing from thee I that am the infinite first and best Being of all Things the living Fountain of all Mercy the Original of all Power and Goodness I will be a God to thee thy God thy Father if thou wilt take me for thy God and place all thy Happiness in me and wilt become my Servant and give up thy self sincerely to me to serve and obey to love and fear and trust me only This is to believe in God to accept of God for our God and to yield up our selves to him to be his People Isa 56. 46. to chuse the things that please him to give him our Hearts and become his Servants aâ— Deut. 26. 17 18. And so God proposed himself to Abraham when he called him Gen. 12. 1 2 3. as a Rewarder and more fully Gen. 15. 1. I am thy Shield and they exceeding great Reward and so Abraham's Faith was to act on God so manifested And Gen. 17. 1. I am God All-sufficient all-sufficient to support thee in thy Way and Work and All-sufficient to reward thee in the end therefore be thou upright and faithful let not thy Heart be troubled what-ever Dangers and Difficulties thou meetest with in my Way and Work and what Losses soever thou sustainest for my sake believe I am God All-sufficient I will sufficiently reward thee thou shalt be no loser by following and serving me Also Moses his Faith had an eye to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11. 26. And that you may see that this is not legal and mercinary our Lord Jesus proposeth this as an incouragement to his People Matth. 5. 12. Great is your Reward in Heaven And he himself took incouragement from it as Heb. 12. 1 2. for the Joy that was set before him c. So that this is to believe in God to believe that God is really and truly He is All that which he hath revealed himself to be and to believe that He is a Rewarder c. This Faith in God Christ took for granted that his Disciples had Ye believe in God Ye believe that God is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him And if ye believe this let not your Hearts be troubled be not afraid nor dejected but act your Faith in God and seriously consider what God that is in whom you believe and believing also your Interest in that God that He is your God this God All-sufficient is your God you will have no cause to be troubled Your acting of Faith on God your God will prevent and cure your Heart-trouble and that these several ways First more generally He that believes in God as his God believes God is always present with him according to his Promises In the worst Times God is present with his People And can there be any cause of Heart-trouble to such Souls as have always the presence of God with them whose Presence makes Heaven and in whose Presence is fulness of Joy and at whose right Hand are Pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Surely Beloved this will prevent Heart-trouble when a Soul can act his Faith and firmly believe it God is always present with his People and that for gracious Purposes and not as a baâ— Spectator as to proportion and measurâ— out their Afflictions to them that theâ— may not be above their strength nor moâ— than need 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 6. Aâ— the Afflictions of God's People are mesured by the Hand of a most wise moâ— merciful and gracious God all the Mâ—lice of Men and Devils cannot add a dracâ— to the Weight nor a drop to the Measurâ— beyond God's appointment He is prâ—sent to order and fix the Time of our Suâ—ferings it is an Hour of Temptation Reâ— 2. 10. It is our loving Father that sets tâ— the Glass of the Time of our Troubleâ— he appoints their Beginning their Lration their End he holds the Glass his own Hand All the Powers on Earâ— cannot bring trouble on us till the Hâ—â— come till the appointed Time nor coâ—tinue our Troubles longer than his Timâ— The Rod of the Wâ—cked shall not rest on tâ— Lot of the Righteous Psal 125. 3. Gâ—â— is present to mix some Comforts with tâ— Cross thereby to allay the bitterness â—â— it present to support the Soul with iâ—ward strength Psal 138. 3. Thou strengtâ— nest me with strength in my Soul present â—â— sanctify Afflictions for Good and at lengtâ— in his good Time which is the best Time when he hath perfected his own Work in his People he is present for their full Deliverance A true Believer in God hath always a God to go unto O what a Comfort what an happiness is that He dwells in the Love of God as well in Affliction as out of it he may be cast out of his happy Condition in the World but never out of the favour of his God This believed by us will cure Heart-sorrow Heart-fear Heart-care all Despondency Dejectedness Disquietments and Distractions whatever Faith acted on God the Almighty All-sufficient God and our God always present with us is the Soveraign Antidote against and the best Cure of all Heart-trouble Psal 142. 1 2 3 4. there are the Psalmist's Troubles and Ver. 5. there is his Cure I cried unto thee O Lord Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the Land of the Living So Psal 143. 4 6 8. his Spirit was overwhelm'd with trouble but he cried to God and trusted in him and that was his Relief His trusting in God was an high exercise of his Faith This kept David from sinking under his great distress 1 Sam. 30. 6. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God Thus in general More particularly I shall endeavour â— shew what there is in God that a Beliâ—ver's Faith fetcheth virtue from to cuâ— his Heart-trouble in his greatest distresâ— even under the loss of the personal Prâ—sence of his best and dearest Friends oâ— Earth for such was like to be the Caâ— of the Disciples in the Text. First That in God which Faith looâ— unto and fetcheth Comfort from is hâ— sweet and gracious Nature God is Lovâ— the very Element of Love 1 John 4. 1â— and his gracious Name which discoveâ— his Nature Exod. 34. 6. The Lord grâ—cious and merciful When he gives to hâ— People he gives in love when he takeâ— he takes in love Now when a Soul bâ—lieves that all is from Love and all iâ— Love he is supported When a Man caâ— believe that all his Troubles come to hiâ— from the Father of Mercies and his Father in Christ he cannot but bear theâ— patiently Ye believe in God saith Christâ— ye believe that God loves you thereforâ— let not your Hearts be troubled Q. But how shall I know that God loves me when he afflicts me I answer When we can discern that we have received
Comfort and draw from this Spring by Prayer Faith and Meditation all supplies of Comfort and let not your Hearts be troubled Sixthly Jesus Christ is called a Counsellor Isa 9. 6. He is most wise he is the Wisdom of the Father In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Col. 2. 3. Yea he is made of God our Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Sâ— that when we are in Doubts and Darkness perplexed with Temptations anâ— know not what to do when we aâ— under sad and dark Providences aâ— know not how to interpret them wheâ— we are under various Exercises anâ— know not how to answer God's Enâ— in them nor how to improve them when we are in the Dark and knoâ— not the meaning of God's Dispensatons nor the Design of God in them Now are our Hearts troubled in aâ— such Cases but here is our Remedâ— this is the Course we must take Aâ— Faith now upon Jesus he is Wisdom he is a most wise and faithful Counsellor we may freely open all our Cases and Conditions to him he will nâ—â— betray us nor bewray us we may safely trust him with all the Secrets of oâ— Hearts and let us labour by Faith tâ— trust him for Counsel in all Cases lâ—â— us wait for his Counsel trust to it aâ— let not our Hearts be troubled Seventhly Jesus is a Redeemer thâ— is his Name he came into the Worâ— on this very Business to redeem his People to redeem them from all Iniquitâ— Tit. 2. 14. from this present evil World from our vain Conversations He hath shed his precious Blood to purchase us we are bought with a Price 1 Cor. 6. 20. We are none of our own we are his the purchase of his Blood and we may be confident that he dearly loves us for he dearly bought us and if he had not dearly loved us he would never have given himself for us Gal. 2. 20. That was the highest Testimony of his Love He loved us and washed us from our Sins in his Blood Rev. 1. 6. He will redeem us from the Wrath to come O then let us act Faith on our sweet Redeemer as Job did in the midst of all his Troubles I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth c. So may every Believer say Although my Friends and dearest Relations die my Credit and Estate dies though my outward Comforts all die this supports me that my Redeemer liveth and this our Redeemer is mighty mighty to save able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Therefore let us act Faith on our dear Redeemer and upon his Redemption and let us believe that shortly the day of our full Redemption will come when we shall be delivered fully and for ever from Sin Satan the World from all our Burdens Fears and Sorrows Temptations and Tribulations I might mention many other sweeâ— Names and Titles of Jesus Christ which would be Food for Faith tâ— feed upon as that He is the Everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. he hath pitâ— and compassion for all his poor Children and Power to help them being the Father Almighty and hath a Portion for them too He is their Portion and hath provided for them an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 4 He is the Prince of Peace he giveth his Peace to his People even thaâ— Peace that the World can neitheâ— give to them nor take from them When he speaks Peace none caâ— cause Trouble He is our Peace anâ— hath made our Peace with God anâ— it is he alone that speaketh Peace and creates the Fruit of the Lips Peace Isa 57. 19. He is also our Shepherâ— therefore said David I shall want nothing Psal 23. 1. He is a Fountain opened a Fountain of Light Life Love Grace and Truth He is the Head of his Body the Church The Husband the Bridegroom his People are his Members his Spouse He is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. In him dwelleth all Fulness He is the King of Saints the Rock of Ages Yea He is All and in All. O Beloved had we but Faith to act on this Blessed Jesus and on these his most sweet Names and gracious Attributes our Hearts would not be troubled into what Condition soever we were brought Could we act Faith on Jesus as our Head Husband and Father who is All Fulness All in All could we doubt of having all seasonable Supplies from him Let our Faith but apprehend apply and appropriate Jesus as our blessed Head our most dear Husband and then consider in earnest who he is and what he is how mighty how full how loving pittiful compassionate tender-hearted and kind how ready to help how engaged to us by many Promises and can we then take up such unworthy thoughts of him as to think he hath forgotten us Will he not timely support and supply us Hath he shed his Blood for us and will he forget us caâ— he forget us Are not all his People as dear to him as the Apple of his Eyâ—â— Zech. 2. 8. Surely it is our want oâ— the weakness of our Faith that causeth all our Heart-Trouble O my poor Soul how comfortably mightest thou live if thou couldest live by Faith Lord believe help strengthen my Faith Coulâ— we but apply and appropriate Chrisâ— to our Souls and act Faith upon those precious Names of Christ which aâ— not as so many empty Titles whicâ— are sometimes given to Men but theâ— are real Representations of that mosâ— dear Love and tender Affection of thaâ— special Care Mercy and Loving-kindness that is in Jesus towards aâ— his poor Children that they mighâ— draw out the same for their stronâ— Consolation and that they might truâ— in him and not despond nor be dejected Thus if we can believe in Jesus our Hearts shall not be troubled Thirdly Faith acted on the Covenant of Grace whereof Christ is the Mediator and upon all his exceeding great and precious Promises will prevent and cure all Heart-Trouble Believe in the blessed Mediator of the New Covenant who hath undertaken not only on God's part to see that his Part be performed to us but also is become our Surety undertaking for us and by himself to fulfil the whole Law of God both actively and passively to fulfil all Righteousness for us and by his Spirit to enable us to fulfil the Conditions of the Covenant working in us Faith Love Obedience and all Grace In this Sense God hath given Christ to be a Covenant to us Isa 42. 6. and his Blood is the Blood of the Covenant by which he rescueth poor Souls that were Prisoners to Sin and Satan out of the Pit of Destruction Zech. 9. 11. By this Covenant upon Christ's shedding of his Blood as a Sacrifice for Sin and his performing all the work of Mediation and upon our receiving of him and believing in him as he is offered to us in the Gospel God is pleased to promise to become our God our Reconciled Father to
Death oâ— the Cross and all as our Surety and â—â— a Sacrifice to God for our Sins Chriâ—â— our Passover was sacrificed for us 1 Cor 5. 7. to make Atonement and Satiâ—fâ—ction to the Law and Justice of Goâ— for us Rom. 3. 25. This was the great Work of the Transcendent Love of Jesus Chrisâ— when he was upon Earth when he travelled in Soul drank of the Brook in the way Psal 110. 7. that black Torrent of Wrath and Curses that lay in the way betwixt our Souls and Heaven which stopp'd up our Passage thitherward and made it utterly impassable for us But Jesus made a Passage by his Blood that his Redeemed might pass thorow So great were his Sufferings in this World for us that they made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me offering up strong Cries with Tears Mat. 27. 46. Heb. 5. 7. Now then let us act our Faith on the Sufferings of Christ here on Earth and believe that he suffered all those hard and heavy those bitter and grievous things for us and in our Names that he bore our Sins to satisfy God's Justice for them to purchase and procure our Pardon O that we could but believe in this Jesus that he sweated great drops of Blood for us and that he shed his very Heart-blood upon the Cross for us and by Faith apply and appropiate all this to our own Souls believing that he was wounded for our Transgressions smitten for â— Sins that the chastisement of our Peâ— was upon him Isa 53. that by â— Blood of his Cross he hath made oâ— Peace and hath purchased for us Etâ—â—nal Life Believe this and then â— what little cause you have to have yâ— Hearts troubled for any Loss or Crâ— whatsoever The consideration iâ— way of believing of what Christ hâ— done for us and of what he hath sâ—fered for us should make us patienâ— do or suffer any thing for him and frâ— him Believe also in me Secondly Our Faith must be 〈◊〉 upon the Work of Christ which he â— now doing for us in Heaven He is â—â— idle there although he be set down â— the Right Hand of the Majesty on Higâ— but he is at work for his People therâ— there he he maketh continual intercesâ—â— for us Rom. 8. 34. He is there â— our Advocate to plead our Cause aâ— manage all our Businesses there pâ—â—senting his Blood in the Vertue of to his Father for our Pardon presenâ—ing our Persons and Services perfumeâ— with the Incense of his own Righteouâ—ness and by his Spirit applying thâ— â—â—â—tue of all to our Souls He is able â— save to the uttermost all that come unto â—od by him seeing he ever liveth to make â—tercession for us Heb. 7. 25. Of this â— have spoken before Now if we â—an act our Faith upon the Intercession â—f Christ who knows all our Wants â—urdens Cares and Fears and whose â—ffice it is to plead and intercede for â—s in Heaven tho we may scarce have â—ny to plead or speak a word for us on â—arth yet we should have no cause â—o have our Hearts troubled We â—ave a faithful Friend to whom we â—ay commit our Cause Thirdly Christ is doing a Work â—n us on Earth while he himself is in Heaven He is humbling us purging â—s teaching us mortifying our Corâ—uptions crucifying our inordinate Affections sanctifying us and so preparing us for Heaven He is making â—s meet for the Kingdom He is fitâ—ing us for his Father's House by all â—is Ordinances and by all his Proviâ—ences by every Loss and Cross by â—ll our Afflictions as 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our â—ight Afflictions which are but for a moâ—ent work for us that is by way of preparation a far more exceeding anâ— eternal weight of Glory Jesus Chriâ—â— is in the Word and in the Rod he â— All in All He is still forming squâ—ring fashioning and working by hâ— Spirit Word and Rod upon his Peâ—ple to make them more and moâ— conformable to himself to square theâ— as Stones for his Building to maâ—â— them Habitations for himself Templâ— for the holy God to dwell in and thâ— he himself may delight to dwell iâ— them here and to make them fit â—â— dwell with him for ever in Glory Now let us labour to act our Faitâ— on those blessed Works of Christ in uâ— and believe that he is thus working iâ— us even in and by all our Afflictioâ— and labour to feel and find these grâ—cious Works carrying on in us and â—â— shall have no cause to be troubled Moreover our Faith should be actâ— upon the Work that Christ is now â—â—ing for us in Heaven besides his â—â—tercession for us there he is preparing Place for us in Heaven as he told â—â— Disciples to comfort them In â—â— Father's House are many Mansions I â— to prepare a Place for you A Place â— Heaven is infinitely better and more to be desired than the best Place on Earth A Place in the Father's House â—n the highest Heavens in that glorious Paradise above that 's the Place of all Places there the great and glorious God dwells there blessed Jesus dwells O that New Jerusalem the City of the â—iving God that 's the Place indeed that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. Some think that Jesus went locally into Hell but we are sure he went locally into Heaven and we know for what he went there for he hath told us it was to prepare a Place for us there Here below all Places are full of Darkness Snares Temptations Fears Dangers Persecutions but that is a Place of perfect Peace perfect Rest of Light Comfort Joy and Consolation Here we are Pilgrims and Strangers there is our Home our Father's House Here we have no continuing City 1 Cor. 4. 11. no abiding Place Christ's People here in this World many times have no certain dwelling-place but are driven from House and Home forced to fly from one City to another from Town to Country from one Kingdom to another constrained to wander froâ— Place to Place while others abide iâ— their Habitations they must seek theiâ— Quarters where they can find them â— while under one Friend's Roof a whilâ— under another's which is no small Affliction to them that feel it tho others lay it not to heart Now what shoulâ— comfort us in this our Pilgrimage anâ— Wilderness-condition what should support us in this our wandring and desolate State but that it was eveâ— thus with our blessed Lord himself upon Earth who had not an House to put his Head in And so it was with his Disciples and with many choice Saints as Heb. 11. 37 38. What should bear up our Spirits but this comfortable Consideration that our Lord went to Heaven on purpose to prepare a Place for us there If the Earth cast us out Heaven will receive us If Men say to us Remove be gone hence depart away here is no Place no abiding for you our dear
the Reason why so many faint in the Day of Adversity and sink under Trouble and others use unlawful means to prevent Trouble or to get out of it It is because they want this Faith in God and Christ and for want of it too many miscarry under Affliction The Second Use is by way of Exhortation to all the Disciples of Christ in the Words of the Text Let not your Hearts be troubled but Believe in God and Believe in Christ You must get and act Faith in God and Christ this is the only Preventive the only Remedy against Heart-Trouble Our Lord in this Text commands it and commends it we must needs get Faith above all gettings next to Christ we must get Faith for we cannot have Christ without Faith Go to God for it it is his Work his Gift yea it is his Operation yea the same Power that raised up Jesus from the Dead must be put forth upon a Soul to work Faith Eph. 1. 19 20. The exceeding great and mighty working of the Power of God to raise up the Soul to God and Christ and to enable it to lay hold on God and Christ for such is our natural proneness to live by Sense and Carnal Reason and such is the most transcendent Excellency of God and Christ and of Divine Things which Faith looks unto and so great an Inclination we have to Self-sufficiency and so much rooted in self-Self-Love and inordinate Love of the Creature and so hard to take off the Soul from false bottoms and because we are such Strangers to God naturally and because there is so much Guilt of Sin still remaining on us by our renewed Provocations that we are afraid to entertain serious Thoughts of God and because of that infinite Distance between God and us we can never come to believe in him and rely upon him until our Hearts be renewed by the Power of Grace and this Divine Grace of Faith infused into them Therefore must we go to God and Christ and put up strong Cries and Prayers to God to work Faith in us and never give over until it be wrought in us And having got Faith we must act and exercise it upon God in Christ upon God I say He only is the Object of Faith and is worthy of it for a Man can be in no condition in which God is at a loss and cannot help him If Comforts and means of Deliverance be wanting God can create Comforts and command Deliverance Isa 57. 19. He can bring Light out of Darkness to him all things are possible 1. Then Faith assents to and is perswaded that there is a God the Infinite First and Best Being of all things and who giveth Being to all Things Hebr. 11. 6. 2. That in this Blessed Being are Three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost and all the Object of our Faith 3. Faith must always act on God in Christ and not otherwise for in Christ God reconciles the World In Christ God becomes our Friend is at peace with us by Christ the Enmity between God and us is taken away in Christ God becomes our Father John 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26. 4. Faith is acted by Meditating on Considering of and Applying and Appropriating of God in Christ to the Soul laying claim to all that God is and to all that God hath as its own 5. It must also act upon the Promises of God in his Word and upon God and Christ in them God hath opened all his Heart to us in his Word making many sweet Promises exceeding great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. and also He hath made a Covenant of Grace with us to bestow himself and all good things upon us upon which we must live until Promises eâ—â— in Performances These Promises aâ—â— our Spiritual Treasury Promises 〈◊〉 Pardon of Sin upon Repentance and Faith Promises of renewing sanctifying Grace Promises of the Spirit of Heaven of Eternal Life and Glory of Mansions in the Father's House and of all things needful it the way to the Kingdom that we shall want no good thing and that all things shall work together for our good c. Lastly That our Hearts may not be troubled but fully satisfied and comforted we must by Faith lay hold on God take hold of God's Strength which is his Mercy in Christ and most solemnly most considerately and most sincerely take God for our God in Christ and actually enter into Covenant with him This Covenant is founded upon Jesus Christ his Satisfaction and Righteousness and therefore we must also believe in Christ taking him for our only Lord and Saviour receiving him by Faith as he is offered to us in the Gospel to be All in All to us As God offers so Faith receives God offers himself in Christ and so Faith receives him God doth as it were say in the Gospel O poor lost Sinner come to my Son Jesus take him for thy only Lord and Saviour and by him come to me and take me for thy God and Father and by Faith the poor Believer ecchoeth back My Lord and my God I humbly and heartily come to thee accept of thee close with thee and so by Faith the believing Soul becomes one with God and Christ and hereupon the Soul by Faith cleaves to God and Christ and unfeignedly and unreservedly resigns and gives up its whole self to God in Christ taking God in Christ for his and intirely surrenders up it self to be the Lord's My Beloved is mine and I am his Now Faith thus acted will certainly cure all our Heart-Troubles In order then to obtain solid Comfort in all our Distresses let us carefully look whether these Acts of Faith have really passed upon our Souls Have we thus actually understandingly and sincerely believed in God aâ—â— in Christ Have we unfeignedly eâ—tred into Covenant with God â—â— Christ Can we conclude that Gâ—â— is our God in Christ by our beiâ—â— his If we be intirely his he is 〈◊〉 for certein 1 John 4. 19. Cant. 2. 1â— If we place all our Happiness in hiâ— Psal 73. 25. If we give him tâ—â— Throne in our Hearts subjecting oâ— whole selves to his Government making God in Christ all our Love â—â— Trust Joy Desire Delight Feaâ— our All cleaving to him alone and above all depending upon him as oâ—â— chief Good contenting our selâ—â— with him as All-sufficient for us â—signing up our selves to his goâ—â— Will to be to do and suffer whâ—â— he will If we can and do engagâ— our selves to sincere Obedience thâ—â— none of his Commandments be griâ—vous to us If in all things we giâ—â— Christ the preheminence if we haâ—â— received the Spirit of Christ as Râ—â— 8. 9. Gal. 4. 6. which joins us him and makes us one Spirit with hiâ— and which is a Spirit of Adoption whereby the Soul seeing his Interest in God as his Father can freely go to God in all its straits If we have the Graces of the Spirit as Love Meekness Patience Humility
and fully to satisfy our Souls O my Beloved and O my base and faithless Heart it is our base Vnbelief that doth us all the mischief that spoils our Peace that hinders our Comfort and makes us walk so heavily O let us bewail this God-dishonouring Sin this Peace-destroying Sin and let us who have received Jesus for our Lord and Saviour believe that he is ours indeed and that we are his indeed and then act our Faith upon him and our Hearts shall not be troubled Q. But may some say 'T is true if Christ be ours all is ours we believe that But how shall we know that Christ is ours A. Briefly thus If we be Christ's intirely and sincerely Christ's theâ— Christ is ours I am my Beloved's anâ— my Beloved is mine Cant. 2. 16. 6. 3. Her being Christ's was a sure evidence to her that Christ was hers Now it is not very hard to know whose we are whether we be Christ's or our own Christ's or the World's Christ's oâ— the Devil's Let us take a little paiâ—â— in trying and searching our selves the Matter requires it Whose are we Put this Question seriously to our Hearts in the sight of God Whose am I whose Image do I bear by whose Spirit am I acted who hath my Heart my chief Love and Delight Have we unfeignedly given up our selves to Christ Have we actually entred into Covenant with him and taken him for our Head and Husband Have we passed over and surrendred up our whole selves to Christ our Souls Bodies all our Concerns Have we given up our Hearts Heads Tongues Time Talents Estates Libeâ—ties Relations and all to Christ Have we done this sincerely Then we have received Christ upon his Terms If we be Christ's and not our own and live unto Christ and not to our selves Rom. 14. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Gal. 2. 20. and are content that Christ should dispose of us and ours as he pleaseth and are always labouring to be more and more like him and still longing for more and more Communion with him c. Then may we upon good Grounds conclude that Christ is ours If we be his he is ours Again if we truly believe in Christ then he is ours for it is by Faith that we receive him and are united to him and made one with him John 1. 12 13. and are by his Spirit and Word regenerated and made new Creatures and are enabled to walk after the Spirit and not after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5. 17. Rom. 8. 1 2. He that believeth hath the Witness in himself 1 John 5. 10. he need not go far to seek Make sure thy believing in Christ and thou hast the Witness in thy self that he is thine and that thou art his Q. But how shall we know that we have true Faith and that we do truly believe in Christ A. Briefly thus If we have been made sensible of our lost Condition by Nature of our misery by Sin of our Unbelief if we have found it an hard Work to believe if we have been made weary and heavy-laden with Sin so as to be truly willing to part with all Sin if we have been convinced of our absolute need of Christ and of his incomparable Excellency of his All-sufficiency and willingness to save us if Christ be most precious to us if these Convictions have been powerful in us to drive us from our Selves and the Creature and Sin if we have hereupon been perswaded and enabled sincerely to come unto Christ upon his Call in the Gospel to accept of him upon his Terms and to receive him as he is offered to us in the Gospel if our whole Hearts have opened to him and closed with him and we have given up our whole selves entirely to him and taken him for our only Lord and Saviour as the only way to God and do most sincerely resign up our selves to his Government trusting in him alone and relying upon him for Life and Righteousness for Grace and Glory then we do believe in him then have we this true Faith which is further to be known thus that it worketh in us true sincere Love to him and to all that is his his Word his People your Hearts will run out after him all your Affections will center in him This true Faith draws Vertue from Christ to purify the Heart and works Sanctification and Holiness it doth crucify your Affections to the World it works true Repentance and enables you to overcome the World and to realize the Glory of Heaven and to bear us up under all the Troubles in our way thither as in that 11th to the Hebrews enabling us to trust and betrust our selves our Souls and Bodies and all our Concernments with Christ by this Faith we shall stand by it we walk by it we live and hold on and hold out in following the Lamb to the end of of our Life Heb. 10. 38 c. Now certainly he that thus believes in Christ hath no cause of Heart-trouble but quietly submits to the good Will of his God in Christ under all the Dispensations of his Providence while he is here in this Vale of Tears until he come home to his Father's House in Peace where he shall meet his dearest Lord and an hearty welcome O this Faith this precious Faith in Christ will conquer all our base Fears moderate all our worldly Sorrows ease our Minds perplexed with earthly Cares and quiet our disturbed and distracted Thoughts about our outward Losses and Troubles By this Faith we shall find all our Losses made up in God and in Christ O then labour for it cry mightily to God for this great Gift cry to Jesus for it he is the Author and Finisher of it and labour to act it upon him continually and your Hearts shall not be troubled I dare affirm That if any thing bring Hearts-Ease in Heart-Trouble this will do it So long as our Faith holds up in Act and Exercise upon Christ we shall be free from Heart-trouble but when our Faith fails our Heart troubles prevail As when Moses lifted up his Hands and his Heart too by Faith Israel prevailed but when his Hands were down Amalek prevailed Faith and Heart-trouble are like a pair of Ballances when one goes up the other goes down Faith is the Counter-poize of Trouble of Heart Believe then in Jesus act Faith on him and that will prevent or cure Heart-trouble Continue in the Faith and your Heart-troubles will cease believe what Christ is and what he is to us Secondly Let us believe in Christ and believe where he is As to his Essential Presence he is in Heaven at the Father's right Hand making continual intercession for us to the Father Heb. 12. 2 3. Heb. 7. 25. He is our Advocate with the Father 1 John 2. 1 2. pleading our Cause presenting all our Services perfumed with his own Righteousness and resenting and feeling our Infirmities Sorrows and Sufferings sympathising with us In all our
know That when Christ who is our Life shall appear we shall appear with him in Glory Col. 3. 1 2 3. Believe this and be comforted Certainly we are too much taker up with and too sollicitous about our earthly Tabernacles these Houses of Clay whose Foundation is in the Dustcrushed before the Moth We are always minding the Diseases Distempers and Dangers of our Bodies those old crazy tottering Houses the Prisons of our Souls we mind earthly Places too much but too little those Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Eph. 2. 6. where we shall shortly sit with him Were we more heavenly-minded we should be more free from Heart-trouble and disquietness of mind Lastly To prevent and cure all our Heart-trouble Let us labour to believe what Christ hath promise here in the Text Verse 3. I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am ye may be also Most sweeâ— and comfortable Promises I will come again So ver 18. I wâ—â— come again I will not leave you comfortless For when I am absent from you in respect of my bodily Presence I will send the Comforter to you that shall abide with you for ever And I my self will come again unto you you shall not long be without my Company Tho' Christ seems to withdraw and hide his Face from his People it shall be but a little moment Isa 54. 7 8. He will return again and have Mercy yea with everlasting kindness will he return I will come again I will not stay long from you my Heart is still towards you while I am absent therefore I will come quickly Rev. 3. 11. I will come to you with my Messenger Death tho' it be the King of Terrors in it self and a grim Porter yet by my coming with it it shall be to you the King of Comforts I will come with it by my Spirit to strengthen you to look it in the Face to apply to you the virtue of my Death and thereby to take out the Sting of it and I will come to you by my Angels to secure your Souls through the Region of Devils into my Father's House If Death did come alone to us it would be terrible to us indeed it 's ghastly Countenance would affright us but here is the Comfort That Christ our dearest Lord will come with Death to sweeten it to us and support us under it This prevented David's Fear Psaâ— 23. 4. When I walk thorow the valley oâ— the shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me O welcomâ— Death when Christ comes with iâ— This bitter Cup of which we must aâ— drink is brought to us by the hand oâ— our dearest Lord This last stroke iâ— given by the hand of Love it is â— taking us home to our Father's House This last Enemy hath Christ conquered for us because his Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood He likewise took part of the same that througâ— Death that is his own Death â—â— might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of Death were all their Life time subject to Bondage Heb. 2. 14. Jesus knew what Death was he himself had the Pangs of Death upon him Sin the Sting of Death was laid on him and the Laâ— which is the strength of Sin the Cursâ— of the Law was upon him but now for us who believe in Jesus the sting and strength of Death is taken out and when we die we shall die in the Lord Sleep in Jesus in Union and Communion with Jesus we shall fall â—sleep in the Blessed Arms of our dear Redeemer He will come then to keep as Company through that dark Enâ—ry Death into the Father's House His Angels shall carry our Souls into Abraham's Bosom yea into the Father's Bosom O that we would make â—â—re of our Union with Christ and â—â—en let us believe that he will come â—ith Death to translâ—â—â— our Souls out â—f these Earthly Tabernacles these â—rison-Houses these Houses of Bonâ—age wherein our poor Souls have â—een fetter'd and chain'd cloy'd and â—og'd with Corruptions and Temptaâ—â—ons kept at a distance and absent â—â—om the Lord and in which they â—ave been groaning for deliverance â— to the glorious Liberty of the Sons â—â— God in their Father's House and â—all ever be with the Lord 1 Thess â— â—7 Secondly I will receive you to my self â— sweet Promise This is aâ—l the Hope all the Desire all the Longing Thirâ—ing Breathing of poor Believers â—â— that Christ would take them to hiâ— self This is the Sum of all thâ— Prayers and Labours that they mâ— be fitted for Christ and then tâ—â— Christ would take them to himseâ— Well saith Christ work and wait little longer do and suffer a liâ—â— more act your Faith and Patience little longer and I will come to yâ—â— and take you home to my self wheâ— your Souls shall be at Rest for eâ—â— The Saints while they are here â— home in the Body they are absent froâ— the Lord they see but in part darklâ— and know but in part very imperfeâ—ly and enjoy but a little a very lâ—tle of God and Christ O how swâ— are a few Drops a few Glimpses aâ— Glances of Divine Love now to a poâ— Soul the least Cast of Christ's Eyâ— the least Beam of his Loving-kindneâ— the least Intimation of his Favour â—â— least hint of his Goodness how râ—freshing to a poor Believer But whâ— Christ shall receive them to himseâ— they shall then see him as he is shall â— like him and shall he satisfied with his Lâ—â— â—â—ss 1 John 3. 2 3. Psal 17. 15. Then â—â—all they see him whom their Souls â—ove Face to Face and then will Jesus open to them all the Treasures of his Love and Grace to their everlastâ—ng Consolation They shall then be admitted into the glorious Presence of â—he great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ in whose Presence is fulness of Joy and at whose right Hand are Pleasures for ever-more Psal 16. ult When the World shall cast them out and their Habitations shall cast them out â—nd shall know them no more yea when their Houses of Clay shall be broken down and dissolved and can hold them no longer then will Jesus blessed Jesus receive them to himself Then shall they be solemnly married to their glorious Bridegroom the King of Heaven's Son the Prince of the Kings of the Earth he will receive them to himself he will take them for â—is Bride embrace them in his everlasting Arms and lay them in his blessed Bosom for ever and ever I will receive you to my self into the nearest Union and Communion with my self and therefore be not uâ—willing to part with your dear Relations be not afraid to be sepâ—rated from your Bodies your oâ— Friends for when these earthâ— Tabernacles are dissolved immedâ—ately I will receive you to my selâ— which is best of all You shall thâ— enjoy the Fruits of all my Suffering Death
Resurrection Ascension aâ—â— Intercession and the Fruits of â—â— your own Labours Prayers Tearâ— and Sufferings and shall find that am faithful in making good all mâ— Promises and that your Labouâ— was not in vain in the Lord theâ— shall there be no more any distancâ— between you and me for ever Comfort your selves and comfort oâ—â— another with these words Belieâ—â— this and let not your Hearts be trâ—â—bled Thirdly That where I am ye may be also And what more can be deâ—â—red Where is Christ but at the rigâ—â— Hand of the Majesty on high far aboâ—â— all Principalities and Powers far abâ—â— al Heavens Heb. 12. 2. there shall you be also O admirable astonishing Dignity that blessed Jesus will advance his poor Saints unto at that Day This high and wonderful Honour shall all his Saints have they shall now receive the Kingdom prepared for them and that Crown of Glory of Righteousness and of Life which Christ hath purchased for them perfectly freed now from all Sin and Sorrow and stated in an unchangeable state of Happiness and Blessedness What cause have we then to grieve for our dear Relations whom Christ hath taken to himself and placed in the Father's House who are now sitting at his right Hand in Glory and singing Hallelujahs And could we but firmly believe these Promises of our Lord and act our Faith in meditating â—â—xedly on them and on Jesus in them applying and appropriating them and Christ in them to our own Souls considering and pondering on them until our Hearts be warmed and our Affections stirred and kindled with them acting also Hope Love Joy Desire Delight Hunger Thirst Panting Breathing pouring out our Heart in Prayer to God for his Spirit â—â— bring home these Promises to oâ— Souls in Power fixing them upon oâ— Hearts and helping us to lay hold oâ— them and upon Christ in them aâ— resigning up our whole Souls to Chriâ—â— in them stedfastly relying on â—â— Goodness and Faithfulness and truâ—â—ing in him I say could we but do sâ— and in the strength of God betrust oâ—â— whole selves and all our Concerns thus with Christ and live in the lively Exercises of Faith thus on God and on Christ we should find this to be Hearts-Ease to us in all our Heart-Trouble Behold I lay in Sion a chieâ— Corner-Stone Elect Precious and â—â— that believeth in him shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2. 6. Let all Heart-Trouble cease Let nought disturb your Peace Who Faith in God profess And in his Son no less For in the Father's House Are many Mansions sweet Christ hath prepar'd for us When we 're for them made meet THE END Appendix Quest IT may be demanded That having heard the Excellency aâ—â— usefulness of this Soveraign Medicine â—â— cure Heart-Trouble namely Faith iâ— God and in Christ Can you tell us hoâ— we may get this Faith and what meaâ— we shall use to obtain it Answ I shall endeavour by the help of God's Spirit and Scripture-Light to direct you herein and aâ— briefly as I may Direct I. First You must be convinced of your Vnbelief of the greatness of the Sin of Vnbelief and of your absolute need of Faith Of these three things you must be fully convinced 1. Of your Vnbelief for most People think they have Faith and thaâ— they never were without it and therefore labour not for it Pray earnestly therefore that the Holy Spirit may be sent into your Hearts to work this Conviction in you for it 's his proper Work John 16. 8. to convince the World of Sin because they believe not on me saith our Lord this is the great Sin the damning Sin of the World their not believing on Christ Now that we may be convinced that by Nature we have no Faith let us consider these Scriptures Ephes 2. 1 2 12. and that until we are regenerate and born again we have no Faith is evident from John 1. 12 13. there believing in Christ and Regeneration are inseparably joined together Acts 15. 9. 26. 18. 20 21. From which Scriptures it is most evident that such as are Strangers to the Heart-purifying the Heart-sanctifying Work of Faith have no Faith if we have not truly repented nor know any saving Châ—nge wrought â—n us and upon us by the Spirit of God for certain what-ever we think we have no true Saving-Faith it is but a Fancy of this then we must be fully convinced and must most heartily beg the help of the Spirit to convince us 2. Of the greatness of the Sin of Unbelief it binds the Guilt of all other Sins upon us it is Disobedience and Rebellion against the great God for he commands us to believe 1 John 3. 21. and by our Unbelief we make God a Liar 1 John 5. 10. O horrible Wickedness And 3. We must be convinced also of our absolute need of Faith we must needs have it or we must perish Without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. without it we cannot be the Children of God John 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26. without it we can have no pardon of Sin Acts 10. 43 Rom. 3. 25. John 8. 24. And in what a dangerous Case are we so long as we lie under the guilt of all our Sins Without Faith we are not reconciled to God nor justified Rom. 3. 22. 5. 1. Nor can we be sanctified Acts 26. 18. 2 Thess 2. 13. No access to God but by Faith Rom. 5. 2 Ephes 2. 18. No living the Life of Religion nor bearing up under Affliction nor holding out to the End without Faith Heb. 11. No Salvation nor Eternal Life without it Ephes 2. 18. Joh. 3. 16 36. Heb. 10. last Of all these things we must be convinced if ever we will have Faith Direct II. Secondly If we would have Faith we must diligently search the Scriptures read the Gospel attend on the reading and preaching of the Gospel for this very end that we may get Faith by it I say for this very end certainly that should be our End in reading and in hearing the Word which was God's End in publishing of it now this was his End in publishing of it John 20. 21. Rom. 16. 25 26. Rom. 10. 17. Acts 13. 48. Ephes 1. 13. This is the ordinary Means appointed by God to work Faith in the Souls of Men as appears by Acts 2. 42. and 4. 4. and 11. 20 21. and many more There are few that read and hear the Word for this End and therefore get no Faith by it Now that the Word read and heard may be effectual to work this precious this most necessary Grace of Faith in us there are some thingâ— Antecedent some Concomitant and some Consequent upon our attendance on the Word and our use of it First Some things Antecedent aâ—â— necessary 1. Preparation For want of thâ—â— the Word most times proves ineffectâ—al It is the empty hungry-Soul thaâ— relisheth and taketh in this Food Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1. Mat. 13.