eate or what yee shall drinke nor yet for your body what yee shall put on is not the life more then meate and the body then rayment Behold the fowles of the ayre they neither sow nor reape nor gather into barnes yet God feedeth them are yee not much better then they O yee of little faith Which of you by taking thought can adde one oubit unto his stature Take no thought for after these things seek the Gentiles you heavenly Father knoweth that yee have need of these things Mat. 6. 25. to the end see Rom. 8. 32. Luk. 12. 15. Cast all your care upon him for he careth for you be carefull for nothing but in every thing let your requests he made known to God with thankesgiving Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as yee have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. In thy ignorance consider Wee have such an high Priest as can have compassion on the ignorant Heb. 5. 2. If any want wisdome let him aske it of God who gives liberally and it shall be given him but let him aske in faith without wavering Jam. 1. 5. Having fallen into passion to keepe thee from sinking under it consider what the Apostles said Wee are also men of like passions with you Acts 14. 15. Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are c. Jam. 5. 17. And so of all other infirmities He will heale all thy diseases c. Psal 103. 8. If wee did live in Christ by faith more our infirmities would be lesse For a supply of all wants My God shall supply all you need according to his riches by Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 6. 19. Christ is able and will supply all our wants 5. The life of faith for graces and in the exercise of them To beleeve They shall trust in the Name of the Lord Zeph. 3. 12. This is his Commandment that yee should beleeve on the Name of his Sonne Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3. 23. To increase in faith They shall grow from faith to faith Rom. 1. 17. To live by faith The just shall live by faith Rom. 1. 17. To continue in the faith He that beleeves in me though he were dead yet shall be live c. Luk. 22. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5. In exercise of faith Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3. Joh. 11. 25. 7. 38 39. He is a buckler to all them that trust in him Psal 18. 30. He that puts his trust in the Lord mercy shall compasse him about Psal 32. 10. To know God Thou shalt know the Lord Pro. 1. 23. They shall all know mee Jer. 31. 33 34. To love God Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart Mat. 22. 17. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart that thou maist love him with all thy heart and soule Deut. 30. 6. I have declared thy Name that thy love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Joh. 17. 26. In loving God He that loves me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my selfe unto him and dwell with him Joh. 14. 21. 23. To seeke God That they should seeke the Lord Act. 17. 27. Seeke yee the Lord. In seeking God Blessed are all they that seeke him with their whole heart Psal 119. 2. The Lord hath not forsaken them that seeke him Psal 9. 10. Your hearts shall live that seeke him Psal 69. 32. They shall praise the Lord that seeke him Psal 22. 26. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing To feare God I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 39 40. They shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Hosea 3. 5. In fearing God The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him Psal 147. 11. He that feares the Lord him shall he teach the way that he shall choose Psal 25. 12. There is no want to them that feare him viz. feare lest they sinne against him Psal 34. 9. He will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great Psal 115. 13. To hope in God In hoping in God The Lord takes pleasure in those that hope in his mercy Ps 147. 11. Wee are saved by hope Rom. 8. 24. Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord Ps 146. 5. Be of good courage he shall strengthen your hearts all yee that hope in the Lord Ps 31. 24. To waite on God Waite I say on the Lord and he shall strengthen thy heart Psal 27. 14. In waiting on God They shall not be ashamed that waite for me Blessed are they that waite for him Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what he hath prepared for them that waite for him Isa 49. 23. Isa 30. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 9. To delight and rejoyce in God Thou shalt have thy delight in the Almightie thou shalt rejoyce in God in thy Name shall they rejoyce all the day our hearts shall rejoyce in him Isa 41. 16. Psal 89. 16. Psal 33. 21. To praise God The living he shall praise thee daily shall he be praised they shall praise the Lord who so offereth mee praise glorifieth me Isa 38. 19. Psal 72. 15. Psal 63. 3. Psal 22. 26. Psal 50. 23. To injoy peace with God Let him take hold on my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Isa 27. 5. To love the Saints This is his Commandement that we should love one another 1 Joh. 3. 23. Little children love one another see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Joh. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 22. By this shall all men know that yee be my Disciples if yee love one another Joh. 13. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 14. To love enemies Love your enemies doe good lend hoping for nothing againe and your reward shall be great c. Mat. 5. 43 44. Luk. 6. 35. To judge our selves They shall judge themselves worthy to be destroyed Judge your selves and yee shall not be judged Ezek. 36. 31. 2 Cor. 11. 31. To mourne for sinning against God I will powre upon them the Spirit of grace and they shall mourne Your sorrow shall be turned into joy Blessed are they that mourn in faith for they shall be comforted Zech. 12. 10. Joh. 16. 20. Mat. 5. 4. In poverty of spirit To him will I look saith God that is poore and of a contrite spirit c. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heaven Isa 66. 2. Mat. 5. 3. In desires after Christ c. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and drinke if any man thirst let him come to me and drinke
thou doest that which thou wouldst not as Rom. 7. 14. to 25. in our selves we are imperfect at the best Gal. 6. 1. The strongest is not able to stand alone also some of the Lords partake more of naturall choler which increaseth naturally and as that choler is we are more or lesse hasty and passionate A wicked man may be naturally patient and a childe of God may be sinfully passionate Jam. 5. 17. Thou shouldst not measure Gods love to thee nor the truth of his grace in thee by thy mortification of sin consider Rom. 7. God may for ends best knowne unto himselfe suffer corruption to be too strong for thee it may be to abase thee more as Paul Rom. 7. that thou maist see what need thou hast of a Lord Jesus to pardon and heale thee who knoweth but God may leave thy personall sanctification the more imperfect that we may minde and behold Jesus Christ and our righteousnesse in him and so live the more in him and our joy the more in our justification by him Rom. 4. 6 7. It 's one thing to have thy sinnes forgiven or not imputed Psal 32. 1 2. and another thing to be clensed from it live in the apprehension of the love of God and down goeth sin and all discouragements so live in discouragements and sinne prevailes as Psal 77. 2. 7 8 9 10. Wee ought not to fetch our comfort from our subduing of sinne but in Christ in whom we want no righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1. 30. Christ is ours and we are Christs and Christ is Gods When we are at the best we may not live in our selves nor by sight but by faith and when we are at the worst we are to live upon Christ by saith and comfort our selves in him and in him onely many when they want strength or comfort they seek what they want from their duties and comfort themselves in their abstainings from sin but for Christ he is not in all their thoughts Psal 10. 4. What I once felt is now decayed The ground of our faith is God in his Word and not our sight and feeling that is sensuall 2 Cor. 5. 7. We live not by sight and feeling but by faith Whilst thou maintainest feares and jealousies of Gods love to thee it is no wonder it is so with thee call to minde the dayes of old as Psal 77. It 's certain if ever God manifested his love unto thee he is still and ever will be the same unto thee having loved his owne he loved them unto the end Joh. 13. 1. With him there is no variablenesse or shadow of turning Jam. 1. 17. A child of God may decay in parts sight feelings and exercise of grace for a time as Phil. 4. 10. these are sometimes more and sometimes lesse but alwayes as God seeth best that wee might rest and relie upon nothing but Christ I see and feele nothing in my selfe or all is as nothing to me save onely Jesus Christ who is all in all to me We ought to beleeve that we neither see nor feele faith is the evidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. To live by faith is to walke after the Spirit and to live by sight and feeling is to live after the flesh Rom. 8. 1. I am discouraged because nothing is made good to me I doe not possesse it If thou beest included and art under the promise of it and under the hope of it thou shalt possesse it It may be made good unto thee without thy possession of it for wee must not ground faith in the possession of what it beleeves possession is sutable to sense and there is neither faith nor hope in what we possesse To have right in it and to possesse it are two things they died in faith and yet they did not possesse what they beleeved Heb. 11. 17 18. The possessiō of things gives no being unto faith nor is essentiall unto it no otherwise then as faith gives being unto it Abraham beleeved he should have a sonne here was his faith Rom. 4. 3. 17. 18. yet he did not possesse his sonne his sonne had no being but in the promise of God therefore to place enjoyment to be essentiall to faith is a very great mistake As a man must first beleeve God is before he can goe to God Heb. 11. 6. so a man must first beleeve in Christ to have remission of sinnes by him and after receive remission of sinnes as appeares Acts 10. 43. It thou hast power to close with God in the truth of his Word as Sarah did that shee should have a sonne not onely before shee had him but against reason shee beleeved shee should have him thou hast faith But I am not assured that I shall be saved therefore I have no faith Faith and assurance is not one thing but are differing and distinct assurance cannot be without faith but faith may be without assurance for assurance is not the proper act of faith assurance is an effect of faith and a higher measure then that is and the greater our feeling of assurance is the lesser our faith is Faith in the act is an assenting or cleaving to the truth and faithfulnesse of God in his promise not from any thing shee feeles in her selfe but from something it apprehends in God in his word Rom. 4. 20 21 22. The act of faith is sometimes attended with much strife and strugling for Satan saith to the soule it 's in vaine for thee to looke to Christ to beleeve in Christ Christ saith Come unto me beleeve I will ease thee Now for the soule to rest upon the fidelitie and abilitie of Christ in his promise is no small measure of faith assurance is not from the habit of grace nor from the direct act of faith but from the reflect act of faith which is for a man to see and know that he beleeves which assurance is from the immediate testimony of the Spirit of God in the conscience of one who is already a beleever causing the soule to know it beleeves The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our Spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8. 16. Now abideth faith 1 Cor. 13. 13. therefore faith doth at all times one way or other sufficiently evidence the truth of our estates if we did at all times truly discerne the testimony or true act of faith and the reason why we discerne it not is for want of a full measure of faith to withstand all that is opposit to faith for some there be who have faith yet by reason of their ignorance and unskilfulnesse as Heb. 5. 14 15. 10. 15. forgetfulnesse babes are unskilfull and have not experience of Gods dealings with his both for order and manner so that when faith doth not so lively act and when Christ doth not clearly appeare in the soule he begins to doubt whether he be not deceived and when
2. He knows no other way of deliverance save that of his own either wholly or in part 3. He thinkes it concerns him most therefore it is his dutie to doe it who else should 4. He is perswaded he may deliver his soule or that without him it cannot be delivered Man can do no better till God manifest to him the perfection of Christs righteousnesse then shall he see the insufficiency of his own Rom. 10. 3. 8. He cannot deliver his soule all that man can doe it is impossible for man to save himselfe in whole or in part it is beyond his power he cannot doe it untill a soule be convinced he cannot deliver himselfe he rests in himselfe God hath not left it to the will and power of man to deliver himselfe Reasons 1. That no man may boast Ephes 2. 9. That the pride in man might be dashed in pieces 2. That no man might live in and upon himselfe nor joy in himselfe but rejoyce in the Lord Jesus Christ and have no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 1. 3. 3. That Gods power and free love might be manifested That we might know the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleeve his mightie power Eph. 1. 19. 4. That God might have all the glory Ephes 1. 6. That no flesh should glory 1 Cor. 1. 29. Gal. 6. 14. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Isa 55. 25. 9. All wayes besides Christ are by-paths aside out of the way I am the way Joh. 14. 6. 10. Christs way and mans way are contrary each to other Christs way leads the soule to Christ mans way leads to himselfe to deliver himselfe 11. Wee should not be led aside from Christ by any thing hearken then onely to Chrâ—â—â— 12. Nor say is there not a lye and that is he cannot aske a question c. 13. The meanes of deliverance is so hid from man that he hath no power to use them 14. A lye all that man doth rest upon while he is in the state of nature is nothing but a lye oh he is miserably deluded 15. The strength and confidence of a deluded man may be so great that it may seeme to him unreasonable once to question it 16. Mens confidence of salvation may be greater and stronger then the faith of some of the Lords and yet it is false and nothing but the delusion of a deceived heart and Satan 17. The greatnesse or strength of any mans confidence cannot assure him that hath it that it is not a delusion but it is proved to be true or false by the ground of it the cause and foundation of it If it be built or caused by any of mans qualifications either abstinence from sin doing good or from his inward peace comfort joy c. it 's false But if it be founded upon Christ onely in his free grace from the word and promise of God Rom. 15. 4. In his word doe I hope Psal 130. 5. But I hope in thy word Psal 119. 81. it is true did God so convince thee that thou becamest lost and fatherles Hos 14. 3. and perswaded thee he had mercy for thee and caused thee to hope in him for it Psal 33. 18. 21. 22. it is no delusion FINIS NEWES FROM HEAVEN OR A CORDIALL for a fainting Heart 2 COR. 5. 20 21. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be yee reconciled to God For he hath made him to be sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him BEhold and hearken for here are tydings of great joy that Christ alone doth free the soule from sin and makes the soule to enjoy the righteousnesse of God in him in which is sure sweet cleare full durable divine consolation sufficient to cheare revive raise and ravish the sinking soule by reason of sin in the want of a righteousnesse of God in him These words containe many divine truths I shall endeavour to declare some observations from them for our instruction and consolation In that he saith Be yee reconciled to God you may observe That the best estate of men by nature is an estate of enmitie against God who is the chiefest good for if these need any reconciliation how much more enemies Rom. 5. 10. For he hath made him to be sin for us God hath in his wisdome and love found out a way to save lost man and hath sent the Lord Jesus to effect it Zach. 9. 10 11. and manifest it and hath sent Ambassadors and given us his word to declare his great grace Joh. 1. 17. infinite love Joh. 3. 16. and the unsearchable riches of Christ Be yee reconciled to God for he hath made him to be sin for us That there needs strong reasons and earnest intreaties yea the arme of the Lord must be revealed in them to reconcile a sinfull soule to God Isa 53. 1. As though God did beseech you God is more willing to pardon a sinner yea the chiefe of sinners then any soule is or can be willing to be pardoned This appeares in that God seeks to us to be reconciled man seeks it not I was found of them that sought me not Isa 65. 1 2 3. And in that God beseecheth a lost sinner to be reconciled to God and when we prodigals turne to God being turned by God we doe but goe and that softly but God who is that Father runneth to receive us as Luk. 15. 18. 20. And as running expresseth much more willingnesse then an easie going so it is here God beseecheth you by us wee pray you in Christs stead It appeares that all the doubts and feares the soule or Satan can frame as if God were unwilling to pardon a lost sinner Luk. 19. 10. are all groundlesse and false for he prayeth and beseeches to be reconciled as if he should say goe tell such a soule from me I will have him to be reconciled to me I am not angry with him he need not doubt of my love which is infinite without time or measure I am all-sufficient I can and I will passe by all his wickednesse against me Be yee reconciled we pray you That even such sinners as God sends after and will save they have many hard thoughts of God they are so foolish and so deceived by sin that they are contented to be as they are and stand in need to be prayed and intreated to be reconciled to God As though God did beseech you by us That all those into whom God hath put this word of reconciliation when it is declared unto us by them or in his Word we ought to receive it and beleeve it as if God did immediately speak unto us for they speake in his stead So also it is the duty of the Ambassadors of Christ to declare nothing but the message they receive from
guide thy feet in the way of peace Luk. 1. 78 79. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. What was that which brought thee so low but poring so much upon thy sins untill thou wert filled with despaire and thy omissions and commissions against conscience increased thy horror do the contrary and first beleeve then repent and see that yee daube not your selves over with your duties and know that which is a great cause of mourning is no cause of despaire therefore cast not away your confidence Heb. 10. 35. for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37 38. Therefore say as the Prophet said When I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me he will bring me forth into the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Micah 7. 8 9. I am in great misery and want outwardly by reason of poverty if God did love me I should not be so much neglected as I am Thou shouldst not reason so what thinkest thou of the condition of those who wandred about in sheep-skins goat-skins in deserts mountaines dens and caves of the earth I feare they were more destitute of outward comfort then thee and suffered more hunger cold and nakednesse then thee hast thou not a house not a bed to lie on the places where they wandred afforded not these things unto them art thou destitute afflicted and forsaken so were they whom God loved and esteemed the world not worthy of Heb. 11. 37 38. Poverty and want hath attended and kept company with many a deare childe of God Job was poore yea the Churches of Jesus Christ have been poore the Church of Corinth was poore 2 Cor. 8. 14. The Church of Smyrna was poore Rev. 2. 9. The Church of Macedonia was in deep poverty 2 Cor. 8. 1 2. And our Lord Jesus Christ was poore 2 Cor. 8. 9. And thou maist be very poore and yet God may love thee as he loves Jesus Christ Joh. 17. 26. The poore receive the Gospel and the profession of the Gospel of Christ have made the rich poore in that for Christ they have suffered the losse of all things Phil. 7. 8. In thy greatest want be content to be like Christ in poverty as well as in glory Joh. 17. 24. for the time will quickly come in which you shall feele no want nor suffer no hunger cold or nakednesse There is no state and condition under the Sun that is free from Satanst ēptations those who have more abundance of outward things he suggests insinuates unto them that these things are all they are like to have that seeing they have a heaven here of outward contents they must not expect another hereafter And to those who have greater gifts and parts he saith they are not given to them in love but onely for the benefit of others and is ready to discourage them Satan is ready to get an advantage of us wee are not ignorant of his devises 2 Cor. 2. 11. The Lord teach his to know the depths of Satan Rev. 2. 24. to know his stratagems and to resist him And as there is no state under the Sunne free from trouble so it is a sweet comfort unto all that are the Lords that there is no state and condition but as God can so he will support his in and under it and make it sweet and comfortable unto them yea the best for them for all things shall work for good to them that love God 1 Cor. 10. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 35. 38 39. I cannot see God surely God hath forsaken me Sometimes God hides himselfe from his as the Scripture declares Verily thou art a God that hidest thy selfe Isa 45. 15. I opened to my beloved and he had withdrawne himselfe Song 5. 6. Behold I goe forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himselfe on the right hand that I cannot see him Job 23. 8 9. Our carnall reason and corrupt heart and Satan with his suggestions are so neere us before our eyes that we cannot see God and wee hearken so much to what they say that we minde not the voyce of the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. It is one thing to know and another thing to know that wee know Christ said they knew they said they knew not Christ said Whither I goe yee know and the way yee know Thomas said unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest how then can we know the way Christ spake true and they knew not that they knew Joh. 14. 3 4 5. So shee saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus When their eyes were opened they knew him Luk. 24. 31. Paul prayed that they might know the hope of their calling Ephes 1. 18 19. When God hideth his face we are to wait upon him and look for him Isa 8. 17. for he will returne againe but Sion said The Lord hath forsaken me my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking childe c Yea shee may yet will not I forget thee Isa 49. 14. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee Isa 45. 7 8. When God absents himselfe from his his love and care is the same unto them as it is when he most manifests himselfe to them Another is discouraged saying I thought I had true faith but since I fell into a great sin I am perswaded if I had been the Lords I should not have been so left of God as I was to sin so as I did Say not so but consider that even some of the children of God he hath suffered to fall if not into the same sinnes yet as great David sinned in adultery and murder how greatly did Solomon sin after he obtained mercy 1 King 11. 9. And Peter denied Christ with an oath yet his faith was not voyd or nought Christs prayer was heard I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not Luk. 22. 32. therefore his faith never fayled him These examples are recorded in Scripture to set forth the glory of the riches of Gods free grace Eph. 2. 4. That men may know what God can doe and that great sinners might not despaire or faint under their sin therefore Christ saith All sinnes shall be forgiven unto the sonnes of men and blasphemies Mark
3. 28. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. The bloud of Jesus Christ makes us cleane from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. To despaire of the mercy of God because our sinnes are great were to limit God in his mercy which is a greater sin and an adding sin to sin therefore for the greatest sinne a beleever can commit he ought not to moane without hope for no sin he can commit can never put him into a state of condemnation or under the curse Rom. 8. 1 2 3. And whilst we live in this world God healeth not our sinfull natures wholly nor takes it away quite the flesh lusteth Rom. 7. yet God ever esteemes his as they are in Christ and not simply as they are in themselves Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Paul saith I my selfe keep the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Sin doth the evill that beleevers doe see Rom. 7. 15. 17. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Consider Nehe. 9. 16 17 c. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 103. 14. God is never an enemy to his though they greatly sinne against him Psal 51. We are not beloved for our own sakes nor any thing in our selves but for Christ in whom God is well pleased Mat. 3. 17. Therefore nothing in us or that we doe can make us to be loved more or lesse God may well say of himselfe I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. His love is as himselfe ever the same and Christ in whom we are beloved ever the same Heb. 13. 8. therefore a beleevers hope joy and coÌ„fidence is to be ever the same in Christ Ps 23. 1. So we are commanded to Rejoyce alwayes Psal 5. 11. 32. 11. Let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 40. 16. Psal 68. 3. and to rejoyce evermore Againe I say rejoyce 1 Thes 1. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4. The joy of the Lord is our strength Neh. 8. 16. Oh there is enough in the Lord Jesus to satisfie thee at all times he is an unchangeable object of true joy in him onely is all our hope and happinesse whose bloud hath payd all the debt of all thy sinnes It 's Christ that died who now shall condemn surely none Rom. 8. 33. Therefore let not thy fall cause thee to question the love of God seeing thy salvation depends not upon thy repentance or holinesse but from Gods free grace Rom. 9. 15 16. Isa 43. 24 25. 57. 17. Ezek. 16. 1. to 9. My little children these things I write unto you that yee sin not 1 Joh. 2. 1. And for any to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse that is the sweet mercy and consolations of God to incourage them in their sinning they are led by the Spirit of the Devill he is their father and his works they do Joh. 8. I speak to you that regard iniquitie Psal 66. 18. that love sin and delight in it and are bold and venturous upon it and can drinke downe iniquitie like water Job 15. 16. You at present are in the gall of bitternesse and whiles it is so with them here is no consolation for them thâ—â—e may not be numbred with them who through weaknesse and temptation or want of watchfulnesse are overtaken and fall into sinne which they hate by not shunning the occasions of sinne c. Surely all the Lords have need to pray as David did to God Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Howsoever it be be not out of hope although thou didst persecute the truth as Paul did and them that professed it Act. 9. 1 2. yet afterwards he preached the faith Gal. 1. 23. thou knowest not but God may convert thee also The servant of God having fallen into sinne is to rise by faith for shall a man fall and not rise Jer. 8. 4. When I fall I shall arise Micah 7. 7. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth the iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the Remnant of his people Micah 7. 18 19 20. God subdues the corruption that is in his not all at once but by degrees therefore he saith I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. God hath nothing against those who are in Christ 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Christ But alas I feele my heart is hardened There is much hardnesse of heart in a childe of God and they feele it and complaine of it and mourne under it which is from the new heart in them To feele hardnesse is from softnesse and the condition of an experienced childe of God O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardened our hearts from thy feare doubtlesse thou art our father thou O Lord art our father Isa 63. 16 17. Their hearts were hardened yet they were the children of God Motives or incouragements to beleeve NOtwithstanding faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. it floweth from the Spirits operation in the heart therefore our beleeving is said to be the worke of God Joh. 6. 28. the operation of God Col. 2. 12. the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. The Spirit inlighteneth our understandings and boweth our hearts to beleeve So that without the Spirit of Christ we can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. Ephes 1. 19. It is through grace that men beleeve Act. 18. 27. yet men are to use the meanes for when in the preaching of the Word we bid persons to doe so and so we expect the holy Spirit of God to put power to the words spoken to make them effectuall to enable the creature to obey as He said unto me Sonne of man stand up upon thy feet and the Spirit entred into me when he had spoken unto me and set me upon my feet Ezek. 2. 1 2. And the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live Joh. 5. 25. Else it were in vaine to speak to dead men 1 Pet. 4. 6. To beleeve c. is a spirituall worke and all men by nature are spiritually dead Eph. 2. 1. 5. 14. onely they beleeve whose hearts God opens as Acts 16. 14. None can beleeve but they to whom it is given Phil. 1. 29. Therefore such words as these Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Act. 16. 30 31. in this sense are to be understood for it is not in him that willeth and him that runneth c. Rom. 9. 16. it is God that worketh both to will and to doe Incouragements to beleeve 1. Because the Gospel is to be preached to every creature he that beleeves shall be saved Act. 16. 16. There is no precept or command for any to doubt none are exempted or forbidden to beleeve see Act. 16. 30 31. 1 Joh. 3. 23. but men are commanded
the contrary and to follow after faith and to lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2. By beleeving we come to know our interest in Christ and of our salvation by him Whosoever beleeves in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne hath everlasting life vers 36. see Joh. 6. 40. 3. By beleeving we honour God He that receives his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Joh. 3. 33. Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too soone or too confidently or too constantly 4. If yee beleeve not surely yee shall not be established Isa 7. 9. There is no true quietnesse and settlement of soule without beleeving also thou standst by faith thou fallest into sinne by unbeliefe Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached is precious and powerfull yet it profited them not because it was not mixed with faith Heb. 4. 2. 5. It 's faith that rids the soule of all its distempers doubts feares discouragements Rom. 5. 1. we may not separate the Spirit from faith nor faith from the Spirit 6. By faith in Christ thou shalt be kept in perfect peace it will sweetly transcendently refresh thy soule Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Christ our justification the fruit of which is joy and peace 7. By unbeliefe we adde sin to sin in the highest nature if we beleeve not what God saith our act of unbeliefe accuseth God to speake falsly He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impossible for God to lye The strength of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any dishonour to God nor hurt to thy selfe to hope in his mercy and to beleeve in him therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe set before thee the evill of unbeliefe 8. As bad as thou canst be have been received to mercy Jesus Christ came to save sinners This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. When thou layst in thy bloud behold it was a time of love Ezek. 16. 8. He justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope Feare not but beleeve Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night Psal 42. 8. Hope thou in God vers 5. Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. 9. Unbeliefe straitens thy heart and stoppeth thy mouth hinders thy thankfulnesse and praising of God thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not Luk. 1. 20. 10. Unlesse we beleeve we can never glorifie God He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe but was strong in faith giving God the glory Rom. 4. 20. Quest From whence is it that many of the Lords children have so many doubts and feares Answ It ariseth from many severall causes as 1. From ignorance of the fulnesse and freenesse of the promise Isa 55. 2. or mindlesnesse and heedlesnesse of the promise Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart opposing grace Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies distemper with melancholy 5. or from the conscience being inlightened which sides with the Law against it selfe Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulnesse in the Word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe which takes the Law and applies it to it selfe which occasioneth feares and feares doubts 8. And from loose walking with God 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the soule the Spirit when it acts speakes peace and causeth faith to act more strongly Rom. 8. 16. Meanes to quiet and settle a troubled soule in assurance of the love of God God gives peace to his by meanes as appeares 2 Thes 3. 16. Commune with thy heart and make diligent search to find out what it is that troubleth thee Psal 77. 6. Aske a reason of thy soule why it is disquieted why it is cast downe Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted Psal 42. 5 6. Examine from whence all thy discouragements come they come not from God for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people he hath declared himselfe to be mercifull and gracious and slow to anger and plenteous in mercy He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities Psa 103. 3 4. 8. 10. c. His voyce is comfort Comfort yee my people speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned Isa 4. 1 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Christ he doth not trouble nor discourage any He binds up the broken-hearted he proclaimes peace liberty he comforts all that mourne he gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the Spirit of heavinesse c. Isa 61. 1 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and pitiâ—ull He will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed Isai 42. 3. His voyce is full of love tendernesse all his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Feare not it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Cast youâ— care upon me I will care for you Phil. 4. 6. Christs voyce is open to me My sister my love my dove my undefiled Song 5. 2. On sweet words of Christ to his Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God he is the greatest and most sweetest comforter he causeth no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying to the soule the love of God and carrieth the soule by faith from all discouragements to God who is love peace where the soule is to rest Psal 116. 7. and to be filled with his sweet peace Therefore all our discouragements do proceed 1. From the Devill who is an enemy to faith He taketh the word out of mens hearts lest they should beleeve Luk. 8. 12. 1 Thes 3. 5. 2. Our own hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. 3. Or the lying vanities we have chosen but they that harken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercy Jonah 2. 8. Give no way to any discouragement at all though it doe seeme never so just and reasonable c. This was Davids sin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to discourage him saying Will the Lord cast off for ever doth his promise fayle for evermore I said this is my infirmitie Psal 77. 7 8 9 10. As soone as he saw his infirmitie he had other thoughts of God saying Who is so
and upholds them The Saints are sure to persevere it is impossible they should fall finally or misse of glory because they are maintained by God 1. They shall never perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand and none are able to plucke them out of my Fathers hand Joh. 10. 28 29. 2. For they are in the love of God Eph. 2. 5. Joh. 17. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 1. 16. 4. 16. They shall unavoydably come unto mee Joh. 6. 36 37. 3. God hath promised to preserve them Heb. 13. 5. For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 4. God is faithfull 1 Cor. 1. 9. 1 Thes 5. 23 24. Jer. 31. 40. And immutable I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. 5. And onely wise he knows how to preserve them Rom. 16. 27. 6. He hath power enough to preserve them 1 Pet. 1. 5. 7. Because they are in Christ Ephe. 1. 4. who shall ever live Because I live yee shall live also Joh. 14. 19. 8. Because they are so united to God that God they are but one Jo. 17. 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Joh. 17. 23. Oh sweet and happy union that is so intire reall full and eternall 9. Because God dwells in them and they in him 1 Joh. 4. 13. Joh. 17. 23. Therefore they are secure and safe enough being out of the reach of all the Devils in earth or hell The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Christs lot and inheritance is his Saints who are delightfull and precious unto him Deut. 32. 9. I have a goodly heritage Christ is wonderfully taken with the Saints comelines it is a maine part of the excellency of Christs inheritance that it cannot be taken from him nor spent nor lost Goodly heritage Christ hath a high esteeme of his Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Song 4. 7. They are without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5. 25. to 28. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Psal 51. 5. Rev. 19. 8. My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my love and faire one and come away Song 2. 10. Oh happy Saint have thee a high esteem of Christ he is satisfied in thee and be thou satisfied in him rejoyce in nothing else but him Psal 33. 21. and sing praises to him THE SAINTS COMMUNION with God by Faith The life of Faith in effectuall calling Justification Sanctification infirmities in graces in means in time past in prosperity and adversity in glorification and to dye by Faith Wherein the life of Faith consists IT is in the communion the soule hath with God in Christ and the soules injoying of Christ in his promises both spirituall and temporall 1. Faith in effectuall calling It is the soules cleaving and depending upon Christ in his promise for pardon and life 1 Joh. 12. 1. Joh. 3. 23. Upon such places as these 2 Cor. 5. 20. Mat. 11. 28. Mat. 5. 2. The life of faith in Justification The Lord having spoken peace to the soule that Jesus Christ hath fully satisfied for all his sinnes so as they are all done away and shall be remembred no more Isa 53. 5 6. Jer. 31. 34. c. And that as the soule is happy so it injoyes the comfort of it and is filled with joy and peace in beleeving and now the soule lives a life of comfort chearfulnesse and holinesse 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 5. 1. So that no sinne nor Satan and if corruption increase and God hides himselfe or seemes an enemy not any thing can cause this soule to let goe the Lord and cast away its confidence Though he slay me saith Job yet will I trust in him Job 13. 15. Rom. 8. 38 39. Isa 54. 7 8. 63. 16 17. Some hold the act of faith is that which God accepts to Justification but this is a mistake because it makes Christ inferior to faith and in ascribing such an honour to faith they dishonour Christ for although they doe not exclude Christ wholly yet in the act of Justification it gives all to faith They say as the act of Adams sin condemned him so our act of faith justifieth us Answer Adams sinne was enough to condemne him and us but our faith cannot save others nor our selves They reply Wee are justified by faith Answ Christ is called faith Gal. 3. 23. Before faith came which must be understood of Christ Wee are justified before God in his sight onely by Christ Rom. 3. 20. 24. My righteous servant Christ shall justifie many Isai 53. 11. We are not justified before God by faith which is in us but by Christ by his bloud justified by his bloud Rom. 5. 9. That which saves us is the bloud of Christ Jesus Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his bloud Rev. 1. 5. Also wee are said to be justified by faith because it is the instrument whereby we apprehend and apply Christ our Righteousnesse by faith wee know our selves to be justified Rom. 5. 1. Though faith be a grace of God yet as it is an act it is a worke and to be justified by it is to be justified by a worke of our owne for with the heart man beleeveth Rom. 10. 9 10. That which justifieth us must be perfect and so it is no act of ours for all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags c. Isai 64. 6. Not of workes least any man should boast Ephes 2. 9. Before wee had faith it seemes wee were not in Christ or in him and not justified for wee were in him before the world was Ephes 1. 4. And that at one time God should be angry with us as he is with all unjustified persons who are out of Christ Heb. 12. 29. He hateth all the workers of iniquitie Psal 5. and that our beleeving should make him to be at peace with us this is to make God changeable like man which is contrary to the Word for with him is no variablenesse Jam. 1. 17. I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. Nothing can be charged upon Gods elect Rom. 8. 1. therefore they are justified 2 Cor. 5. 19. Those who have no sin upon them are justified but Christ hath taken away all the sinnes of the Elect Job 1. 29. with Isai 35. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 6. 6. And to say wee are not justified before God untill we beleeve is to say Jesus Christ hath not justified us which is contrary to the Scriptures which saith Wee are accepted in the beloved in whom we have redemption by his bloud Ep. 1. 6 7. We are justified by his bloud Rom. 5. 9. Jesus Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his own bloud Rev. 1. 5. Wee were reconciled by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 9 10. A full satisfaction Heb. 10 11 12 13 14. And in this God is well pleased before wee beleeve Mat.