it be so when he saith Come ye blessed of my Father inherit a Kingdom prepared for you before the foundations of the World were laid Reconciliation with God is comfortable but what will fruition be 3. Look upon a Christians Priviledges Believers then find the fruit of their interest in him and have their reward adjudged to them Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me Christ doth not come empty handed it is but maintenance we have from him now but then Wages earnest now but then the full sum It is our Pay-day yea rather it is our Crowning day 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Iudge will give me in that day 1 Pet. 5.4 When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away those that have been faithful and diligent in their duty shall not need to seek another Pay-Master thaâ— which Christ giveth us in hand is worth all the pains that we lay out in his Service Grace and inward Peace but then we shall have Glory and Honour he will honour us in the sight of those that have opposed contradicted and despised us Our comfort is hidden but our Glory is sensible and visible and publick before all the World Objection But how can true Christians earnestly desire it when so many tremble at the thought of it for want of assurance of Gods Love Ans. We suppose a Christian in a right frame and one that doth prepare for his coming But 1. The meanest Saint hath some inclination this way it was one of the points of the Apostolical Catechism Heb. 6.2 The Doctrine of Resurrection from the dead and of eternal Iudgment and the Apostolical Catechism was for the initiating or enâ—ring of Christians into the Faith and Profession of the Gospel when they laid the foundation this was one truth which was never omitted the coming of Christ to Judgment now Faith is a believing not with the mind only but the heart they were to be affected with what they did believe Sapida scientia was the qualification and not with trembling only for that would deter them from Christianity but with rejoicing of hope which did invite them to the practice of it Heb. 3.6 Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of hope firm unto the end and indeed what other affection can become the thought of Christs rewards which he will bring with him 2. Sometimes there may be a drowsiness and indisposition in the Children of God when their Lamps are not kept burning Luke 12. 37. Blessed are those Servants whom when the Lord cometh he shall find watching but the wise Virgins slumbered as well as the foolish and so for a Season they may be unprepared for his coming by carelessness or remission of their watchfulness and neglect of preparation yet the Spirit and inclination this way beginneth with the new birth A Wife desireth her Husbands coming home after a long Journey but it may be all things are not ready and in so good order Sometimes all good Christians desire the coming of Christ but sometimes they are not so exact and accurate in their walkings and therefore their affections are not so lively security breedeth deadness and God is fain to rouze us up by sharp afflictions 3. The Church doth really and heartily desire Christs coming though they tremble at some circumstances of his coming there is a degree of bondage that hindereth much of our confidence and boldness 1 John 2.17 18. Herein is our love made perfect thâ—t we may have boldness in the day of Iudgmenâ— because as he is so are we in this World There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he hath feareth is not made perfect in love while we are imperfect there may be some fears how it shall go with us in the Judgment The day of Judgment may be considered in esse rei or in esse cogniâ—o the success of the day it self that we may stand before Christ in the Judgment or in our apprehension of it that we may think of it with boldness confidence and desire all sincere persons shall speed well in the Judgment but while we are thus weak and imperfect we have little confidence of our sincerity Certainly the more holy we are the more we are emboldened against Judgment to come therefore we must every day get a Conscience soundly established against the fears of Hell and Damnation 4. To be of such a temper as not at all to value and prize and delight in it quencheth all sense of Godliness and Religion surely they are not touched with any fear of God who wish it would never come who would be glad in their heart to hear such news they have the Spirit of the Devil in them who count his coming their burden and torment they cannot say the Lords Prayer without a fear to be heard and pray thy Kingdom come when they desire it may never be the thoughts of it casts a damp on their carnal rejoicing and he that is afraid left his Prayers prove true can never pray heartily no not with a moral sincerity Vse To press us to keep up a firm belief and an earnest desire of Christs coming this will make you Heavenly minded Phil. 3.20 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven where we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. It will ingage you to Fidelity in your duty for every one of us must give an account of himself to God John 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming To watchfulness as well as faithfulness Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man Yea to diligence that you may clear up your title and interest Heb. 9.28 And to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation 2 Pet. 3.12 Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for these things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Oh therefore let this be a precious truth to you which you would not forgo for all the World if others tremble at the mention of it still carry it so that it may be your comfort and solace In short believe it strongly think of it frequently prepare for it diligently improve it fruitfully to all holy Conversation and Godliness yea to get Oyl not into your Lamps only but Vessels Grace in your hearts as well as profess your selves to be Christians II. Doct. That when Christ shall come all the Saints shall be gathered together unto him For evidencing this let me clear to you that at the day of Judgment there shall be 1. A Congregation 2. A Segregation
that we shall be welcome if we do so and because we cannot find any thing in our selves that he will admit us we are troubled But all this while we are but seeking the Sun with a Candle What greater evidence of God's willingness to receive you than the Death of Christ than the Institutions of the Gospel This is above all Evidences that he sent his Son to die for us This is like the Iews who when they had seen many Wonders wrought by Christ would still have a new Sign the greatest Sign is given already Christ dying for a sinful World Men and Angels cannot find out a Sign Pledg and Confirmation of the Love of God above that Yet if that be not enough we have another Sign the Promises and Invitations of the Gospel which show his willingness to welcome Sinners Salvation is offered but not to named but described Persons Therefore if we are willing to come under these hopes upon God's Terms this may satisfy our scrupulous Minds there is no Bar put to us but what we put to our selves by our refusing the Grace as God offereth it Certainly God's Love and Mercy to lost Mankind is our first motive and his willingness to impart good things to them upon his own Terms and surely he is well pleased with our acceptance of them 2. There is Special Love where this Grace is applied to us Ephes. 2.4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us hath quickned us when we were dead in Trespasses and Sins He did not begin to love us when we were converted that is of a more ancient and eternal Rise but when he did begin to apply his Love to us and this is no ordinary but great Love when God was angry with us and pronounced Wrath on us in the Sentence of the Law and appeared as an Enemy in the course of his Providence and the apprehensions of our guilty Fears then to be Reconciled and surely this is a great advantage to draw nigh to God as a Reconciled Father This is the Object of our everlasting Love and Joy Rom. 5.11 And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement And this is a prop of confidence in Prayer Could we once believe that he dearly loves us and is reconciled to us and taketh us for his Children that he delighteth in our Prosperity Oh how chearfully could we come into his Presence John 16.27 The Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and believe that I came out from God They have not only his Intercession but the Father 's especial Love which is the ground and hope of Audience Now this particular Interest dependeth on something wrought in our Souls by the holy Spirit our Lord mentioneth two things their Faith in Christ and Love to God 1. Faith in Christ or a thankful acceptance of him as our Lord and Saviour therefore called receiving Christ and entitleth us to the Privileges of Christ's Children John 2.12 To as many as received him to them gave he liberty to become the Children of God even to as many as believe in his Name 2. Love to God John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him And Vers. 23. If any Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him We cannot perceive our Interest in the special Love of God but by our Sincerity Faith in Christ and Love to God When we see God's Love taken in our Hearts we may know that he loveth us especially the latter for by the latter the former is manifested also Gal. 5.6 Faith worketh by Love Now the evidences of sincere Love to God are seeking after God and delighting in him if you cannot find the latter the former will evidence it to you Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me The desiderium unionis the desiring seeking Love if it be serious and earnest it is sincere though you find not such delightful apprehensions of his Grace to you Clear that once and when you come to Prayer you may know God loveth you and the dearest Friend we have in the World hath not the thousandth part so much as he yea the highest Angel doth not love God so much as he loveth the lowest Saint God loveth like himself becoming the Greatness and Infiniteness of his own Beeing and with this persuasion pray to him Secondly The second ground of Audience is from the fruit of his Love as demonstrated in the New Covenant wherein we have the matter of everlasting Consolation Surely this Clause respects not the effect and sense in our own Hearts but respects the Matter and Object of our Comfort for he prayeth for the Application of it afterwards Comfort your Hearts c. And besides nothing is more fleeting and oftner interrupted than our Comfort in this Life It would contradict plain sense to call that Comfort which Christians feel and actually enjoy everlasting Comfort Therefore I understand it of the Matter and observe this Doctrine That God hath given all true Believers solid ground of perpetual and endless Comfort I will prove it by three Arguments 1. The Comforts propounded are of an everlasting Tendency and Benefit Pardon and Life to free us from everlasting Death and to bring us into the possession of everlasting Happiness when our Souls and Bodies shall be for ever glorified in Heaven Now the Consolation grounded on the promise of Eternal Life whatever it be in our feeling is in its causes and foundation Eternal The Scripture often insists upon this 1 John 2. 25. And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life Heb. 5.9 And being made Perfect he became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him We have by Christ deliverance from Sin and and all the Consequents of it not only for a time but for ever Eternal Peace and Felicity is our Portion So it is said Psal. 119.111 Thy Testimonies have I taken for an Heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart It is not an Heritage to lean upon for a while as all our Worldly Comforts are but for ever So Psal. 73.26 God is my Portion for ever That is when all other things fail have spent their allowance can afford us no more relief then we begin to enjoy our true and proper Portion It were endless to heap up places Man for his Sin was cast out of Paradise but surely in the other World there is no change of Estate for Men are past their Trial and must be what they are for ever If you could imagin as some have had the large charity to conceit it
those that are in Poverty Disgrace and Want But God is most mindful of his Afflicted People visiteth them most vouchsafeth most of his comfortable Presence to those that holily and meekly bear the Afflictions he layeth upon them He comforteth us in all our Tribulations 2 Cor. 1.4 The Soul is theâ— more capable of Spiritual Comforts because their Taste is more purged and refined from the dregs of Sense and Grace is more lively and exercised now the more Grace the more Comfort And Prayers are more frequent And Prayers are seldom in vain 3. That our Comforts carry proportion with our Sorrows 2 Cor. 1.5 As our Afflictions abound so do our Consolations This cometh from the Wisdom of God that the Evil may not be greater than our Support and from the Faithfulness of God who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 And therefore if he bring on heavy Troubles he puts a suitable measure of Comfort and chearfulness into our Hearts This is Comfort 2. What it is to have our Hearts Comforted It sheweth that the Heart is the proper seat of Spiritual Comfort Psal. 4.7 Thou hast put gladness into my Heart God's Comfort is like a soaking Showre that goes to the Root and refresheth the Plants of the Earth more than a Morning dew that wets only the Surface Other Comforts tickle the Senses and refresh the outward Man but this penetrateth to the very Heart Christ prayeth John 17.13 That they may have my Ioy fulfilled in themselves Christ's Comforts are not reported to the Ear only but felt in the Heart The joy of the World maketh a great noise but in the midst of it the Heart is sorrowful Buâ— God feasts his Children with hidden Manna they have Meat and Drink which the World knoweth not of In their outward Man they are exposed to great Difficulties but their Hearts are filled with joy unspeakable and full of Glory The joy of the Carnal in outward things is foraign and as much as their Senses are pleased their Hearts are full of tormenting Fears and secret Disgusts They may put a good face upon it but dig the most jovial of them to the bottom they have their inward stings and secret horrours of Conscience But in comforting his Children God chiefly deals with the Heart Rom. 5.5 The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us And 2 Cor. 1.22 He hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts In establishing this Comfort God doth immediately work upon â—he Soul he useth Means indeed As the Word Rom. 15.4 That you through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope There we have the grounds of Comfort set forth Christ's Redemption the Promiâ—â—s of the Gospel both of Pardon and Life and the Ordinances as the Sacraments as the Eunuch after his Baptism Acts 8.39 He went away rejoycing So in the Lord's Supper we come to eat of Christ's Peace-offerings that we may rejoyce in God Psal. 22.26 The meek shall eat be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your Heart shall live for ever But his Spirit worketh immediately upon the Soul Either 1. By opening the Understanding to see the grounds and reasons of Comfort Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Peace fill you with all Ioy and Peace in believing that you may abound in Hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost Or 2. By raising the Heart to the lively aâ—t of Joy Acts 13.52 The Disciples were filled with Ioy and with the Holy Ghost Certainly God comforteth the Heart both ways by seeing the Grounds as he worketh Faith Man is a reasonable Creature and it is not imaginable that the Holy Ghost shouâ—d comfort us we know not why he revealeth indeed Supernatural grounds of Comfort but if they be not evident to Reason they are evident to Faith But then the very Joy is executed by the efficacy of his Impression But of that more anon 3. In what sence Comfort may be said to be of God I answer Three ways 1. When it is allowed by him 2. When the Matter is provided by him 3. When it is wrought by him 1. When it is allowed by him and warranted by him Every Man affects Comfort and Oblectation of Mind for otherwise they could never be pleased in that condition they are in nor satisfie themselves It would much undeceive the Carnal World and make them see the folly of their unreasonable joy and quiet if they would put Conscience to the question Is our Joy from God or no that is Doth God allow it me Certainly God doth allow us to rejoyce in our outward Portion Eccles. 5.18 It is good and comely for one to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all his Labours that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his Life which God giveth him for it is his Portion But so that his Favour may be the matter of our chief Joy for otherwise it is exceeding Folly and gross Carnality to rejoyce in the Creature apart from God And in the midst of the greatest Soul-dangers you must first enquire Are all things right between God and me It is a mighty contempt of God yea brutish Atheism to sit down contented with any thing on this side God Luke 12.19 and to say Soul take thine ease thou hast Goods laid up for many years To sing Lullabies to our Souls when God is angry for Sin this Comfort is not allowed by God There is no peace saith my God to the Wicked Isa. 57.21 It is Spirtitual Madness to dance about the brink of Hell 2. When the Matter is provided by him God in the New Covenant hath propounded excellent grounds of Comfort John 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me The two great general grounds of support against Heart-Trouble are God's merciful Nature and Christ's Mediation more particular in the New Covenant the promises of Pardon and Life Of Pardon of Sin Rom. 5.1 2 3. Therefore being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ c. And of Life Eternal 1 Thess. 4.18 And so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words It is good to see what Comforts we live upon and propound to our selves and others more expressly as to Afflictions God's particular Providence that nothing falleth out without God's Appointment 1 Thess. 3.3 That no Man should be moved with these Afflictions for your selves know that we were appointed thereunto It is not Chance or a natural Accident but that which God hath appointed If any Shimei rail the Lord hath bid him curse If any evil come to us is it without God's Fatherly care over his People who ordereth all things for their Profit Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure but He for our profit that we might be partakers of his
Holiness And his unchangeable Love which doth not vary and alter with our Condition Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth He is our God still though he seemeth to deal hardly with us We learn of Christ on the very Cross to cry My God Matth. 27.46 and if we cannot find enough in him when the Creatures and our natural Comforts fail it is meet we should lose them Heb. 3.18 Though the Fig-tree should not blossom c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation This is the sum of God's Comforts and when these things are suggested to us God comforteth our Hearts 3. When by these means God worketh Comfort in us Joy is often called the Comfort of the Spirit and Ioy in the Holy Ghost Rom 14.17 Now all the Spirit 's Works are singular and do much exceed the natural Work of Man's Heart The groans which he stirreth up in Prayer are unutterable Rom. 8.26 His Joys unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 The Heathens counted that Fire more sit and pure for their Altars whicâ— was inkindled by a Sun-beam rather than a Coal taken from a common Hearth So this Comfort which is raised in us by the Holy Ghost is more Rich and Glorious and Affective than that which is the fruit of our bare Reason or the meer working of our Human Spirit even in the common grounds of Christian Comfort Or as Elementary Fire differeth from Culinary and Kitchin Fire and is much more pure So doth this Joy which is immediately wrought in us by â—he Spirit from all Joy that we can work by our selves out of the Scriptural Grounds of Comfort Carnal Men have their Joy at the second or third Hand as God blesseth the order and influence of Inferiour Causes it comes to them from Creature to Creature so as they discern not the Work of God in it yea the Joy of common Christians in the proper grounds of Comfort is not strong as that which is raised in us by the immediat impression of the Comforting Spirit II. Why this is of God 1. Because God challegeth this as his own Right to comfort the Heart of Man and therefore whatever the Means of the comfort be God will be owned as the Spring and Fountain of it He keepeth this as his great Bridle upon the World to govern the Hearts of Men. Job 34.29 When he giveth Quietness who then can make Trouble And when he hideth his Face who then can behold him Whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Our Peace and Trouble is in God's Hands and at his disposing It is true he exerciseth his Soveraignty according to Law and in his Internal Government according to the Law of Grace penally withdrawing his Comforting Spirit and leaving us to our Doubts and Troubles and Fears by the rewarding our Obedience and Faithfulness with the manifest Tokens of his Love as the Matter shall require It is enough for the Point in hand that God alone doth powerfully dispence Peace or Trouble And when he will give Comfort none can make his Gift void for it is at his Command and in both a Nation is all one with a particular Person as to any ability to resist God 2. Though grounds of Comfort be never so clear yet if God concur not we find not the effect therefore it is his Spirit that can only comfort the Heart To have God's Warrant for our comfort is much but to have his Impression is more both musâ— concur or the Soul will not be comforted It falleth out many ways sometimes out of Ignorance When a Well of Comfort was near poor Hagar saw it not and was almost famished with thirst until God opened her Eyes and she saw a Well of Water Gen. 21.19 We know not the grounds of our comfort Sometimes out of Passion Grief is obstinate and will admit no Remedy as Rachel would not be comforted Jer. 31.15 They are so peevishly addicted to their Worldly Comforts that if they be crossed in them they will not admit of God's Comforts though they are evident clear and pertinent Sometimes out of Forgetfulness Heb. 12.5 Ye have forgotten the Exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto Children And Oblivion is an Ignorance for the present Had they remembred they would not have fainted and waxed weary It is a great Work of the Spirit to bring to Remembrance sometimes questioning their interest in Comfort besidâ—s that there are general Comforts when Interest is not clear Now the Spirit that sheweth us â—he things given us of God doth also reveal and evidence our Right to them What is wrought in our Hearts that is to say by quickning us to exercise Grace he evidenceth the truth of Grace and in our Afflictions by Patience maketh out our Comfort Rom. 5.3 4 5. We glory in Tribulations knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope And Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us From the whole there can be no true solid Comfort but what God bestoweth his Favour and our Interest in his Favaour is manifested to us by his Spirit III. What advantages we have by this that all solid Comfort is of God 1. It assureth us of God's readiness to comfort poor afflicted Creatures that humbly submit to him He that is the God of all Comfort is also the Father of Mercies his Mercy and Compassion inclineth him to comfort us God hath his Name from this effect Nomina sunt à notioribus God that comforteth those that are cast down 2 Cor. 7.6 He is very tender of all Afflicted Creatures much more of his People 2. God's Comforts come with more Authority and silence all our Doubts and Fears Psal. 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul We have many intricate perplexing thoughts out of which we cannot disentangle our selves no comforts come with such Authority and Power as God's Comforts In the Comfort we have it is good to consider whence it cometh Is it God's Comfort or a Fanâ—y of our own If it be made up by our own Fancy it will be like a Spider's Web that is weaved out of its own Bowels but is gone and swept away with the least turn of a Besom but God's Comforts are more durable they flow from the true Fountain of Comfort upon whose Frowns or Smiles our happiness and misery dependeth There is little warmth in a Fire of our own kindling God's Comforts are built on his Covenant and have a commanding force and over-powering efficacy on the Soul God in his Word speaketh by Soveraign Authority in our Hearts he worketh by powerfâ—l Efficacy The Authority of his Word we own when we speak to others or to our selves when we know trouble but in supposition or imagination The Efficacy of his Grace we feel
glad and rejoice in thee we will remember thy Love more than Wine the Vpright love thee God's Ordinances are not empty there is some participation 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we brake is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Vse 5. Consider the ends why God giveth us Comfort it is to fortify us against the Enemies of our Salvation so far as they are vexing and troubling and molesting us in the way to Heaven The Spirit hath two great Offices to be a Sanctifier and Comforter and both serve all the needs of Christians When we are inticed to Sin he helps us as a Santifyer when we are discouraged in God's Service he helps us as a Comforter And therefore Christians are to consider their condition and what their present state requireth for God dispenseth his Grace according to the Assaults made upon them by the Enemies of their Salvation As for instance Our Enemies are the Devil the World and the Flesh these we renounced in Baptism And in the progress of Christianity these are those with whom we conflict and must overcome As for instance The Devil is a tempting Devil who seeketh to draw away the Saints from God and by the love of the Flesh to weaken our Love and Obedience to our proper and our rightful Lord. Now what are we to do in this case to beg Comfort and Peace that we may not be troubled though we yield unto his Temptations Alas this were to turn the Grace of God into Wantonness No we are to be sober and watchful 1 Pet. 5.8 to use all the Rules of Sobriety and Vigilancy that our Worldly Comforts may not be a snare to us Sobriety is an Holy Moderation in the use of all earthly things Vigilancy is an Holy Diligence and seriousness in the use of Means and also add to both the help of the Sanctifying Spirit that we may keep up our Love to God and be faitful in our Obedience to him But the Devil is not only a tempting Devil but a vexing and disquieting Devil who accuseth us before God day and night Rev. 12.10 raiseth in us many troublesome Fears to make our Service uncomfortable and tire us and clog us What is our Duty then to beg the help of the Comforter not only to shew Love to God but that we may have some persuasion of his Love to us and quench his fiery Darts that we may go on chearfully in our Work because the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shorâ—ly Rom. 16.20 So for the World The World is a tempting World drawing our Affections from God and Heaven to present things and when it smileth on us in incroaches upon our Heart more and more 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World Now what is our business then to beg comfort and assurance of God's Love No that would be our Bane there is work for the Sanctifier rather than the Comforter that the worldly Spirit may be subdued in us there is need of Mortification rather than Assurance that we may be crucified to the World Gal. 6.14 But sometimes the World is a Persecuting World and reproacheth and troubleth us with all manner of vexations then there is work for the Comforter to seal up to our Souls the Love of God or Interest in Christ John 16.33 These things have I spoken to you that in me ye â—ight have peace in the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World and to become to our Souls the Earnest of eternal Glory Comfort is for Tribulation at other times we are glutted with it but then it is our great support When all tâ—ings fail we feel the great necessity of the Joys of Faith It is good to time well our Duties David saith Psal. 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee So for the Flesh it inticeth us Iames 1.14 Every Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lust and enticed Many times it draweth to Actual Sin by indulgence to its desires yea disposeth us often to Apostacy and falseness of Heart for Apostacy usually begins at falseness of Heart when the fleshly Mind and Interest is not throughly overcome Well when we are conscious to this what shall we do in such a case Certainly the great and proper Work is to beg the Spirit and implore the Spirit as a Sanctifier and to be more obedient to his sanctifying Motions Comfort will come in time Well but the Flesh is not only inticing but troublesom and grievous to the Saints witness Paul's groans Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death We are quite wearied and tired out with the importunity of its motions we would serve God more purely and perfectly Then there is work for the Comforter and confidence in his Operations to help the faithful Soul Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good Work in you will perform it unto the day of Iesus Christ. Then it is seasonable to remember the Covenant we are under Rom. 6.14 For Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under Grace The serious striving Soul will not be left destitute Thus must we expect Comfort Vse 6. Remember that Comfort hath a latitude in it and is expressed by divers words 1. Sometimes by it Support is implied when the sense of Sin and fear of God's Wrath is not altogether removed and taken away but so mitigated and abated that Hope doth more easily prevail in the Soul than Fear And we resolve to wait on God though we cannot so fully clear up our Interest in him You have many Conflicts and Fears yet some Hope and Expectation towards God Jonah 2.4 5. I am cast out of thy sight yet will I look again to thy Holy Temple Resolute adherence giveth great support Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him I will maintain my own ways before him He dependeth merely on the Covenant 2. Peace or some rest from Troubles and accusations of Conscience there is some calm and quiet of Soul Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy Assaulted with none or light Fears Iohn 16.33 In me ye shall have Peace I will give you Peace though not full Spiritual Suavities 3. The third word is Joy 1 Pet. 1.8 Ye rejoice with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory In Peace all things are quiet they have no anxious Thoughts but in Joy there is a sensible motion of Pleasure and Delight they are feasted with the pleasures of Faith Love and Hope Let us then bless God for any degree of Comfort SERMON XVIII 2 Thess. 2.17 And stablish you in every
and Faith of the Gospel that they resolve to abide by their choice Psal. 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord this will I seek after When Spiritual Resolution carrieth the force and authority of a principle in the Soul and nothing can break it 1 Pet. 4.1 Arm your selves with the same Mind As constantly as Christ persevered in the work of Mediation so be you in the work of Obedience notwithstanding the difficulties of it This powerful Will that beareth down Oppositions and Temptations and the greatest Impediments in the way to Heaven So that you rather make advantage of Opposition than are discouraged by it when sensual or carnal Good is of little force to you and you can dispise the most pleasing baits of Sin 3. The Affections are the executive power and do excite and stir us up to do what the Mind is convinced of and the Will resolved upon as to the necessary Duties of the Gospel in order to Eternal Happiness There is a Backwardness within and many Temptations without but an holy Delight overcometh the unwilling backwardness within and over ballanceth either Worldly Fear or Wordly Hope without that the Soul is carried on powerfully towards God We never work better than when we work in the strength of some eminent Affection when the Heart is enlarged Psal. 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt inlarge my Heart Either Love or Hope Love filleth us with delight overcoming our natural slackness and sluggishness in the Ways of God Psal. 40.8 I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Love is within my Heart 1 John 5.3 For this is the Love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous Psal. 112.1 Blessed is the Man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments Hope beareth us up in contempt of present delights and terrors of Sense Heb. 3.6 Whose House are we if we hold fast the considenâ—e and rejoycing of Hope firm unto the end So that we serve God with vigour and alacrity When our Affections are damped Grace falleth into a consumption and if you lose your taste your Practice will languish your Service of God will not be so uniform It is a great part of our establishment to keep up the vigour and fervency of our Affections 4. With respect to the Uses for which it serveth as to Duties Sufferings Conflicts 1. Doing the Will of God or discharging our Doings with Delight Chearfulness and Constancy for all strength is for Work Ephes. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner Man That we may do our work with that readiness of Mind which becomes Faith in Christ and Love to God This is often spoken of in Scripture Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Heb. 13.21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you what is well pleasing in his sight It is of great use to our establishment that the Soul be kept doing for as Wells are the sweeter for draining so are we the more lively for exercise Frequent omission of good Duties or seldom exercise of Grace necessarily produceth a decay As a Key rusteth that is seldom turned in the Lock thereby we lose the life and comfort of Religion and at length cast it off as a needless and unprofitable thing 2. For bearing Afflictions and passing through all conditions with Honour to God and safety to our selves Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Col. 1.11 Strengthened with all Might according to his glorious Power with all Patience The great use of Establishment is to fortifie us against all the evils and inconveniencies of the present Life that we may hold on our Course to Heaven in fair Way or foul and not be greatly moved by any thing that befalleth us within time 3. For Conflicts with Temptations from the Devil the World and the Flesh. The World is round about us and we are accustomed to these enveigling Objects whose importunity prevaileth at length the Devil seeketh to work upon our Affections and Inclinations and the Flesh urgeth us to gratifie them How then is a Christian safe God establisheth him Ephes. 6.10 Finally be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might A Christian here is in a Military State and we of our selves left unto our selves are like Reeds shaken with every Wind we have need of establishment in regard of our own Feebleness and the force of our Enemies We must be established against the Devil soliciting against the World the silent Argument by which he soliciteth us and draweth us from God and Heaven against the Flesh the rebelling Principle which is apt to be wrought upon by Satan Well then this establishment is that Grace which enableth us to carry on the Duties of Religion with constancy frequency and delight to bear all the inconveniencies of Religion with Patience and Fortitâ—de to be more deaf and resolute against all the suggestions of the Devil or the machinations of the Flesh stirred up by the World 5. With respect to the Degree it is such a strengthning of the Soul as doth prevent not only our Fall but our shaking Before falling away or our being drawn to Apostacy there may be a shaking a doubtfulness and wavering of mind with respect to the Truth and much inconstancy and unevenness of Life with respect to practice Now Christians as they must not draw back to Perdition so they must not be always fluctuating and unfixed either in Matters of Opinion but setled in the Truth or in matters of Practice there must be a strength and stability of holy Inclinations and Resolutions for God and the World to come still kept up or else there will be no evenness or uniformity in the course of our Lives and though we avoid Apostacy yet we cannot avoid Scandal though there be no falling back there is a stepping out into By-Paths 1 Cor. 15.58 Be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord. And Ephes. 3.17 That ye being rootâ—d and grounded in Love c. And Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the Faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel If we do not look to the Degree our weakness and instability groweth upon us As in matters of Opinion some have an unsetled Head of a vertiginous Spirit Ephes. 4.14 carried about with every wind of Doctrine They never were well grounded in the Truth nor took up the ways they are engaged in upon sufficient Evidence and therefore by their own weakness and the cunning and diligence of the Seducers are drawn into Error Light Chass is blown up and down by every Wind when solid Grain hitcheth in and resteth in the Floor where it is