34. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their Transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my Faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Lips § No doubts about our Spiritual estate to be indulged or admitted but upon Scripture grounds 3. After you have closed with Christ and God hath cleared up to your Souls your interest in Christ by his Word and Spirit admit no doubts about your interest in Christ but upon Scripture grounds Satan labours what he can to keep us in a doubting condition all our dayes because doubts of this nature hinder our comfort weaken our faith and are impediments to our glorifying God And therefore after clearest evidences of our interest in Christ he will be thrusting doubts into our minds whether webe Christs yea or no that he may puzzleus herein as long as we live After our Lord Jesus Christ had it witnessed to him from Heaven that he was the Son of God Matth. 3.17 And lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Devil tempted him twice with doubts about his Sonship Matth. 4.3 6. If thou be the Son of God if thou be the Son of God Now if Satan adventured to suggest doubts to our Lord Jesus Christ after he had his Sonship witnessed in an extraordinary manner even by his Fathers voice speaking from Heaven to him it is no marvail if he be often suggesting doubts to us about our interest in Christ after clearest manifestations thereof Wherefore it will be our wisdom to examine all our doubts to see whether there be real grounds from the Holy Scriptures for such doubts and if there be not then to reject them as the suggestions of Satan and the sinful fruit of our own unbelieving mistrustful hearts As Christ said to Peter Matth. 14.31 O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt So should we say to our own hearts when doubts arise in our hearts wherefore do I doubt Have I cause from the word of God to question my interest in Christ because of this or that which is suggested to me If not reject those doubts as causeless and as proceeding from Satan § Interest in Christ is consistent with great imperfections sore afflictions dreadful temptations conflicts between the Flesh and Spirit want of influences succeslesness in Holy Duties and the hideings of Gods face 4. It is of great use to the holding fast the perswasion of our interest in Christ to have a right understanding of the State and Condition of a Christian in this present evil world A man may be united unto Christ and have a saving interest in him and yet be sensible of many and great imperfections and be exercised with sharp afflictions and dreadful temptations he may feel a law in his Members warring against the law of his mind and find great conflicts between the Flesh and the Spirit he may feel great dryness and want of Spiritual influences and be under the hideings of Gods face and meet with other exercises of his Faith and notwithstanding all these things he may be Christs and Christ may be his As I shall shew by instanceing in the several particulars 1. A man may be sensible of much imperfection in himself he may find very great defects in his best duties and yet be one that hath a saving interest in Christ God may be his Father and he may be one of Gods Children Isa 64.6 8. We are all as an unclean thing and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags But now O Lord thou art our Father There are Babes in Christ as well as young Men and Fathers and they that are but Babes in Christ are so full of imperfections that in some things they seem more like to carnal men than Spiritual 1 Cor. 3.1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carrnal even as unto babes in Christ yet these Babes in Christ that had much carnality in them were truly interested in Christ as we may see ver 23. ye are Christs 2. A man may be exercised with sharp and sore afflictions such as may melt and break his heart and yet have a saving interest in Christ Cant. 2.2 16. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my love among the Daughters My beloved is mine and I am his When the Spouse was a Lilie among Thorns that is compassed about with sharp afflictions which did prick and grieve her like Thorns she was Christs Love and Christ was hers and she was his When David was afflicted very much and his troubles such as melted his Soul and broke his heart he did not question his interest because of his afflictions but could and did own it that he was the Lords Psal 119.28 107. My Soul melteth for heaviness I am afflicted very much compared with ver 94. I am thine save me A man may be exercised with horrid and dreadful temptations and yet be one that hath an interest in Christ The Apostle Paul who was a chosen Vessel and had an undoubted interest in Christ was under the buffettings of Satan which were as grievous to his Soul as a Thorn is grievous to the Flesh 2 Cor. 12.7 There was given to me a Thorn in the Flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure Our Lord Jesus himself was tempted by Satan to great and grievous sins to get bread when he was hungry to cast down himself from a Pinacle of the Temple which was in effect to have destroyed himself and to fall down and worship the Devil And what worse sin than to worship the Devil Matth. 4.6 9. Now if Satan adventured to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ to such horrid sins as these are We need not wonder if he assault his Members with temptations to the worst of sins as Blasphemy Idolatry Atheism Self-Murder and the like 4. A man may have a saving interest in Christ and yet feel in himself the indwelling corruption which may incline him to that which is evil and hinder him in doing that good which he desireth to do He may feel the lustings of the Flesh opposing the workings of the Spirit of Grace He may feel the Law in his Members warring against the Law of his Mind and sometimes leading him Captive to the Law of Sin and yet be one that is made a partaker of the saving benefits of Christ We find the Apostle Paul uttering such complaints as these Sin dwelleth in me The good that I would that I do not but the evil which I would not that I do I find a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind
goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a Land not inhabited This did signifie Gods laying all our sins upon Christ Isa 53.6 And Christ making satisfaction for them all bearing them all away by his death 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree The discharge that Christ by his death hath obtained for us is a full discharge VVhatever sin may be charged upon us by the Law by Conscience by Satan who is our accuser by the justice of God all is discharged and quitted and answered by the death of Christ Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. It is God that justifieth It is Christ that dyed Out of respect to the Death of Christ God will forgive us all our trespasses how many or how great soever they have been Col. 2.13 Having forgiven you all trespasses Ps 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ps 85.2 Thou hast forgiven all the iniquities of thy people thou hast covered all our sin And that we may be the more fully assured that the pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained for us is a full and general pardon of all offences the Lord hath obliged himself by many promises for Christs sake to pardon all and every one of our sins Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their Iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthiness and all your Idols I will cleanse you 2. Our Lord Jesus hath obtained of God that this general pardon shall be for ever that all our sins should be forgiven for ever and never be remembred against us to Eternity Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And this is implyed in such promises as these Mich. 7.19 Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea that is as Drusius observ's aeternâ oblivione delebit memoriam peccatorum nostrorum He will blot out the remembrance of our sins for ever Those things that are cast into the depths of the Sea are wholly and for ever taken out of our sight Psal 103.12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressious from us That is so far as they shall never be laid to our charge any more For the East and VVest are at that great distance that they shall never come together Ezek. 33.16 None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him 3. The Lord Jesus hath obtained a general and perpetual pardon of all offences upon terms of free grace without any respect to merit or worthiness in us that are partakers of it Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is from grace free-graces the riches of grace that we have pardon of our Sins through the blood of Christ It is not for our sakes but for his own sake and his Sons sake that the Lord pardons our sins Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember tâ—y sin Eph. 4.32 God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 4. This free this everlasting this general pardon of all offences our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for all that are his that is for all that do and all that shall believe in him in all places and all ages of the world Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Now this free this everlasting this full and general pardon which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his by shedding his blood for them is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of life and all fears and terrours of death Rom. 5.1 3. Being therefore justified by Faith We glory in Tribulations Justified persons whose sins are remitted through the blood of Christ may glory not only when they are got out of their troubles but when they are in the midst of all their tribulations Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities It is not said the Inhabitant shall be without sickness The greatest of Gods favourites are liable to sickness as well as other men Daniel was a man greatly beloved yet he was sick and faint many days Dan. 8.27 I Daniel fainted and was sick certain dayes And it is said of Lazarus John 11.3 Lord he whom thou lovest is sick Justified persons are oft times sick as well as other men but the pardon of sin doth so sweeten their affliction that they shall not say I am sick that is they shall not say by way of complaint and discontent Sin unpardoned makes afflictions like gall and wormwood that is exceeding bitter Lam. 3.5 15 42. He bath compassed me with gall He hath filled me with bitterness he hath made me drunken with worm wood We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned But pardon of sin doth so sweeten the bitterest afflictions that it takes away all causes of complaint under the rod of God The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick and why is it because there is no sickness No but because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquitie VVhen a man is taken sick and his sickness for ought he knoweth may be his death sickness when he is so sick that he can't go or stand or set up but is confined to his Bed if his sins be forgiven him he may be of good cheer Math. 9.2 Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Here is a sick man his sickness was very uncomfortable he was sick of the Palsie he was brought very low he kept his Bed there was no way for his recovery but a miracle yet before Christ gave him any intimation of his purpose to heal him he bid him be of good cheer and why because his sins were forgiven him This pardon of all our sins which is obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ may comfort us against all the fears and terrours of Death on several accounts 1. VVhen our sins are pardoned the sting of Death is taken away For the sting of Death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And when Sin is forgiven Death hath lost its sting and when the sting of Death is taken away we need not be afraid of Death
sorrows which was by Praver Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full 3. Call to mind apply and meditate upon the gracious promises of God The Spirit comforts us by and through the word and more especially by the promises It was through the word that David had the Spirits comforts in his affliction Psal 119.49 50. Remember thy word unto thy Servant wherein thou hast caused me to hope this is my comfort in mine affliction So also the Prophet Jeremiah had the comforts of the Spirit through the word Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of my heart 4. Keep up and act your Faith in God through Christ in all your troubles for trustings in God brings the joys and comforts of the Holy Ghost into our hearts Psal 13.5 I have trusted in thy Mercy my heart shall rejoyce in thy Salvation In the 3d. verse he complained of his sorrows that he had sorrows in his heart dayly but having strengthned his Faith by the consideration of the mercy of God he concluded that God would put joy and gladness into his heart My heart shall rejoyce Rom. 15.13 The God of Peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing There is joy all joy a fulness of all joy comes in by believing 4. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world because it is our security that they shall not cause our Faith to fail Luk. 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Peter was greatly affrighted at the sufferings of Christ The fear of the Cross made him fall in a dreadful manner three times he denyed his Master and cursed and swore that he did not know the man But though he was grievously foiled yet by the Prayer of Christ his Faith was supported that it did not fail Not only our Flesh and our Hearts would fail but our Faith also if it were not preserved by the intercession of Jesus Christ § All troubles are sanctified to those that are Christs This is a ground of great Consolation III. All troubles and afflictions whatsoever befall those that are Christs are sanctified to them and shall work together for their good and this is a ground of comfort under all the troubles of this World that they shall be sanctified to us and work for our good Jesus Christ is made of God Sanctification to all such as are in him 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us VVisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption When Christ is said to be made of God sanctification to such as are in him the meaning is that he is appointed by God to sanctifie our persons and our conditions Our Lord Jesus hath taken the curse from our Crosses and turned them into Blessings So that we are not now to look upon our corrections as our misery but rather as conducing to our happiness Job 5.17 Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth That all our afflictions are sanctified by Jesus Christ appeareth thus because none of them shall do us hurt but they shall all work together for our good Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose There is a threesold good which is wrought for us by our afflictions 1. They purge out our sins Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away their sin And this is greatly for our good to be purged from our sins which are the chiefest of evils 2. They promote and increase the graces of the Spirit of God in our hearts and make us partakers of his Holiness and that is much for our profit to be made more Holy Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few days chastned us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness 3. They encrease our glory in the world to come for ever 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding etâ—â—nal weight of glory Now the knowledge of this that all our afflictions are sent to do us good and that they shall all work together for our good is a ground of great comfort under all our troubles Rom. 5.3 4. VVe glory in Tribulations also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope Upon this account the Apostle James exhorteth us to count it joy yea all joy when we fall into divers temptations because we know that our Tryals shall work patience in us Jam. 1.2 3. My Brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh Patience Now if this single benefit the encreasing of our Patience be such a ground of joy how may it encrease our joy when we consider that not only Patience but our other graces also and not our graces but our glory in Heaven shall be augmented for ever by our momentary afflictions which we go through in this World The Apostle writing to the Hebrews encourageth to chearfulness in their sufferings because they were for their profit Heb. 12.10 11. He chastneth us for our profit Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees Though a man was in a dejected condition with hands hanging down and in a fainting condition his knees waxing feeble under his burdens yet the consideration that he is chastned for his profit may revive him and make him lift up his hands that hang down and strengthen his feeble knees § The Lord Jesus will not leave us comfortless in our troubles How Christ comforts his people IV. Though we meet with many troubles in the World this may chear our hearts under all of them that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised he will not leave us comfortless in our troubles but he will give us peace and comfort in himself and from himself when we meet with troubles in the World Joh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Joh. 16.33 These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have Tribulation Isa 66.13 As one whom his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem The Affections of a Mother are very great and tender towards her Child especially towards her sick and afflicted Child she will spare no pains no cost for that which may comfort her sick Child The affections of a Nurse are great 1 Thes 2.7 8. But of a Mother far greater Now as readily as affectionately as a Mother comforts her afflicted Child so hath the Lord
sooner you shall come to the knowledge of your interest in God Psal 16.1 2. In thee do I put my trust O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord Psal 31.14 But I trusted in thee O Lord I said thou art my God 4. Learn to deny your selves for Christ for the more you are exercifed in self-denial the sooner you shall attain to know your interest in Christ After Abraham had denyed himself of taking a reward from the King of Sodom God came to him with a promise to assure him of his interest in God Gen. 15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward 5. Set your love upon Christ The Spouse finding in her heart an ardent love to Christ could say Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine To such as love Christ there is a promise that he will manifest himself to their Souls John 14.21 6. Labour to order your Conversation aright and to live righteously and holily Psal 50.23 Isa 32.17 7. Attend frequently that sealing ordinance of the Lords upper the neglect or careless use whereof is the reason so few Christians attain to assurance of their interest in Christ Exhort 3. Learn how to fetch comfort from Christ in all troubles How to retain the knowledge of your interest in Christ VVhat you should do that can't make out your interest in Christ in a day of trouble and at an hour of death I have shewn that there is comfort to be had in Christ for such as have an interest in him not only under outward but also under Soul troubles Now I shall conclude this discourse with the resolution of three questions 1. How may we fetch comfort from Christ in all our troubles 2. How may such as have attained the knowlede of their interest in Christ retain the same 3. VVhat shall they do that want the knowledge of their interest in Christ Sect. 1. How may we fetch comfort from Christ in all our troubles both inward and outward 1. Get Acquaintance with Christ and those benefits we have by Christ The more we have of the knowledge of Christ the more peace and comfort we shall have in our Souls 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and peace be multiplyed unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. As grace so peace also is multiplyed given abundantly through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ And as the knowledge of Christ tends much to the multiplying of peace and comfort so also doth the knowledge of the benefits that we have by Christ very much promote our comfort under all our troubles as I might shew by instancing in the several benefits we have by Christ I will mention three or four 1. By Christ we are reconciled to God and have an attonement made for our Souls God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself The knowledge of this attonement which Christ hath made for us will fill our hearts with joy and gladness Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the attonement 2. By Christ we have remission of all our sins Act. 13.38 39. And the knowledge of remission of sins is a ground of joy in all troubles Matth. 9.2 Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee 3. By Christ our persons and services are accepted of God Eph. 1.6 And the acceptation of our persons and services may put great joy and gladness into our hearts Eccl. 9.7 Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy Wine with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy works 4. By Jesus Christ we have a perfect and compleat righteousness Rom. 10.4 And this is matter of great joy Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my Soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness 5. By Christ we have boldness to hope for eternal life Heb. 10.19 And hope of eternal life is a ground of great joy in all our troubles Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 6. By Christ there is a new Covenant established full of precious promises And the knowledge of the Covenant layeth a foundation for peace and comfort in all troubles Psal 25.13 14. His Soul shall dwell at ease He wil shew them his Covenant To be at ease intimates a relief against all sorts of Malidies for if there be any thing that disquiets the Soul it is not at ease Dwelling at ease implyeth a permanency of Spiritual comforts Now here comes the Soul to dwell at ease when the outward man is exposed to variety of troubles It is by being acquainted with the Covenant II. If you would fetch comfort from Christ under all troubles get and keep clear apprehensions of your interest in Christ and in those benefits which he hath purchased with his blood Darkness and doubts about our interest hinder our comfort but when we know Christ to be ours our Saviour and our Redeemer this will make our Souls greatly to rejoyce under all our troubles Luk. 1.47 My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour 1 Sam. 30.6 David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Ps 27. 1. The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid III. Keep in remembrance and meditate on the benefits you have by Christ as Reconciliation with God Remission of sins Adoption Sanctification Eternal life c. For those things that are forgotten and out of mind yield no comfort to us It is the remembrance and meditating on Christ and the benefits of Christ that brings in sweetness and Soul-satisfying comforts Ps 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet Ps 63.5 6. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Ps 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul IV. In all your troubles both inward and outward keep up your Faith in Christ and in God through Christ Trust in God that for Christs sake he will give you all the blessings purchased with the blood of Christ and promised in the new Covenant For this is the way to keep your hearts from being troubled and to fill your Souls with peace and joy Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me
and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my Members Rom. 7.17 19 21 23. Yet at the same time that he uttered these complaints he did look upon himself to be Christs and did bless God for his interest in Christ and the benefits he had by Christ ver 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Galatians felt in themselves the lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit whereby they were hindred in well-doing Gal. 5.17 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Yet these Persons that felt these conflicts between the Flesh and the Spirit were the Children of God through Faith in Jesus Christ Gal. 3 26. Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus 5. A man may be sensible of much dryness and be under a great want of the influences of the Spirit of Grace and yet he may have a saving interest in Christ and God may be his God and Father in Christ Psal 119.83 94. I am become like a bottle in the smoke I am thine save me When the Psalmist found himself like a bottle in the smoke that is in a withered drie parched condition he did notwithstanding his drie and withered condition believe himself to be the Lords I am thine save me So also Psal 32.4 7. My moisture is turned into the drought of Summer Thou art my hiding place He did believe his interest in God though he found himself in such a dry condition that he complained his moisture was turned into the drought of Summer that is was so gone as he could not discern any remaining in him An example of believing God to be our Father in and through Christ under a suspension of influencees we have Isa 63.15 16. VVhere is thy zeal and thy strength and the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me are they restrained Doubtless thou art our Father Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer 6. A man may be under the withdrawings of God the Lord may hide his face from him and though he seek the Lord he may give no answers to his Prayers and yet God may be his Father in Christ and he may have a saving interest in Christ Isa 64.7 8. Thou hast hid thy face from us But now O Lord thou art our Father Cant. 2.16 Compared with Cant. 5.6 My beloved is mine and I am his I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone I sought him but I could not find him I called him but He gave me no answer 7. A man may be succesless in Holy Duties he may not find what his Soul seeks after in Gods Ordinances and yet Christs may be his and he may be Christs Cant. 2.16 Compared with Cant. 3.1 My beloved is mine and I am his By night on my bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth I sought him but I found him not Here is earnestness and continuance in seeking Christ I sought him I sought him it 's mentioned twice Here is sincerity in seeking Christ a seeking him out of love and yet no success but I found him not Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Here is labour in vain as to men and a spending our strength for nought and yet a claiming an interest in God 8. A man that hath a saving interest in Christ may be under various and different tempers and frames of Spirit He may have his Ups and his Downs sometimes his heart may be in a raised elevated frame he may have such an high measure of Faith as to fear nothing Isa 12.2 Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid Ps 27.1 The Lord is my Light and Salvation whom shall I fear At another time the same person may be in a very low and dejected frame that his Soul may as it were cleave to the dust Ps 119.26 My soul cleaveth to the Dust Psal 42.6 O my God my Soul is cast down within me At one time he may have sweet peace and comfort Ps 94.19 Thy comforts delight my Soul Another time he may be in a disturbed disquieted frame and go mourning all the day long Ps 42.11 VVhy art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Ps 38.6 I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long At one time he may be in a lively frame and have earnest longings and breathings after God Ps 42.1 2. As the heart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O God My Soul thirsteth for God At another time he may be in a dead dull and stupid frame Ps 73.22 I was as a beast before thee Ps 143.3 4. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead My heart within me is desolate Ps 102.4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass At one time he may be in a melting broken frame at another time in such an hardned frame that he may wonder to see how hard his heart is Isa 63.16 17. Doubtless thou art our Father O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy wayes and hardned our hearts from thy fear At one time he may walk in the light of Gods countenance Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance At another time he may be under the hidings of Gods face and that for so long a time as to fear that God will never return to him again Ps 13.1 How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Thus we see how the Children of God are liable to variety of changes in their Spiritual state and in the frame of their hearts only let this be added also when ever their hearts are out of frame they are unquiet and troubled and can't be at rest till they get into a good frame again Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled 9. A man may be in a very dark and distressed condition and want the presence of God and think himself forsaken of God and yet be one that hath a saving interest in Christ Isa 50.10 Who is there among you that feareth the Lord that walketh in darkness and seeth no Light let him stay himself upon his God The Lord is his God that heareth him though he walk in darkness and can't apprehend it Joh. 6.17 It was now dark and Jesus was not come to them They were Christs own Disciples that wanted Christs presence when they were at Sea in a dark night when there was a great Tempest that endangered their Lives See also Isa 49.14 15 16. § It is a great help to hold in our interest in Christ to commune often with our own
removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. 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 Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
know what actings there are in our Souls towards God and Christ whether we chuse the Lord for our God and Portion and whether we accept of Christ for our Saviour and Redeemer or whether we refuse and reject him Psal 16.2 O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thâ—u art my God Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my Soul Now this Testimony of our Consciences that we do accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel to be ruled and saved by him in his own way is a good ground of comfort and may embolden us to hope that God doth accept us in Christ 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience 1 Joh 3.21 Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God When I speak of the Testimony of Conscience witnessing our accepting of Christ on the terms of the Gospel understand it of a Conscience enlightned by the word and Spirit with the knowledge of Christ 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and the knowledge of the terms on which God offers Salvation by Christ for if we know not the terms on which Christ is offered to us how can our Consciences witness to us that we do close with the terms of the Gospel 3. The grant or promise of God in the Gospel to all that recieve Christ that he shall be theirs and they shall be his Joh 1.12 As many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name Here is a priviledge granted and promised to all that do or shall recieve Christ how many soever they be that they shall become the Sons of God God will become their Father in Christ and will own them for his children Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast him out In this promise is implyed that such as on the call of the Gospel close with Christ he will bestow himself and all his benefits on them for theirs and he will own them for his 4. Our finding in our selves those marks or characters which the Scriptures give of such as have a saving interest in Christ which will evidence to us that we have rightly recieved or closed with Christ As namely our having the Spirit of Christ given to us 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Our loving and preserving Christ above all things Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his But of these Scripture characters I have spoken before § Christ becomes theirs by covenant that accept of him How conduceth this to our comfort 2. If you would hold the perswasion of your interest in Christ as you must look to your grounds on which you lay claim to an interest in Christ so also it will be of great use to you to understand the nature of that covenant which Christ maketh with you when you come to him and accept of him on the terms of the Gospel The Lord Jesus takes all those that come to him upon the call and invitation of the Gospel into an everlasting covenant Isa 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Incline your ear and come unto me And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Concerning this covenant which the Lord maketh with those that come to Christ we may observe these three or four things 1. This covenant is to give us Christ himself and all his saving benefits for ever I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David Christ the Son of David is called by the name of David Hos 3.5 Ezek. 34.24 And so the sure mercies of David are all those Mercies and Blessings which Jesus Christ hath purchased for us and made sure to us by an everlasting covenant 't is as much as to say I will enter covenant to give you my self and all my benefits That this covenant which Christ inters into with those that come to him is to give us an eternal interest in himself and all his benefits We may see Hos 2.19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in Mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness To open this Scripture consider 1. What it is for the Lord to betroth us unto himself It is to engage himself to us to be ours and to take us for his 2. For how long a time the Lord engageth himself to us and that is for ever I will betroth thee unto me for ever 3. The manner how he will betroth us to himself in Righteousness in Judgment in Mercies in Faithfulness It is a most sure contract made out of infinite mercy and managed with Wisdom and Judgment and shall be Righteously and Faithfully observed 4. The persons that the Lord will betroth to himself are those who are willing to be divorced from their sins and to accept of Christ for their Husband ver 7.19 I will go and return to my first Husband I will betroth thee to me They whom God taketh into Covenant with himself ver 18.19 I will make a Covenant for them And I will betroth thee to me for ever And 't is also to be observed that the Lord repeats this three times I will betroth thee yea I will betroth thee I will even betroth thee unto me that we may rest satisfied that our former sins though great shall not hinder us on our Repentance from this great priviledge of being betrothed to the Lord for ever That the covenant is to give a mutual and eternal interest that is that the Lord will be ours for ever and take us for his for ever you may see Ezek. 36.28 Yeshallbe my people and I will be your God Psal 48.14 This God is our God for ever and for ever Lam. 3.31 The Lord will not cast off for ever 1 Sam. 12.22 The Lord will not forsake his People for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people 2. This Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ maketh with us upon our coming to him wherein he engageth to be ours and to take us for his for ever is a sure and everlasting covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 More firm and stedfast than the Hills and Mountains which shall all be removed out of their places sooner than Gods covenant shall be removed from us Isa 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee 3. The failings and back-slidings of the Members of Christ shall not make void this everlasting covenant he will chasten them for their sins and backslidings but he will not break his covenant with them Psal 89.30 31 32 33