come unto him neglect not but come For Christ came that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 Jo. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil By nature we are slaves to Satan and he tiranizeth over us and the way to be effectually delivered from it is by coming to Christ and being weary of and willing to throw away his Yoke and to yield subjection unto Christ I say the way to be eased of these Burthens is to come to Christ as weary and heavy laden with them 6ly Come unto the Lord Jesus repenting and believing I put these both together because I would contract Christ is ready to behold the Watery Eye and bleeding heart caused by a sence of the heinousness of Sin with a gracious aspect he loves a broken and contrite Spirit he is willing to heal the wounds of a broken heart and set at liberty them that are bruised with the intollerable Burthen of Sin Luk. 4.18 and a sence of the wrath of God and because of that are willing to turn to Christ and become wholly his Those who are Heirs of the Crown of glory are for the most part brought to the Kingdom by weeping Cross Luk. 13.3 Except you repent ye shall all likewise Perish So likewise there must be a believing or else there is no true closing with Christ for Faith is the Hand that lays hold on Christ the Mouth that feeds upon him and derives out of his fulness Jo. 1.16 That Soul is in a dead and deplorable state and condition that hath not a saving Faith in Christ Jo. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him There is nothing but Wrath for that Soul that believes not in the Lord Jesus 7ly and lastly Come unto Christ with high estimations and valuations of that rest which Christ hath Promised for this will discover thy sincerity and true love to divine and spiritual things and hereby thou wilt honour Christ when thou believest in him and preferrest his Rest above all that this vain World can afford The World is a fading Perishing thing and the best rest that it gives is full of disquietness fears perplexities but now the rest which Christ will give hath so much contained in it that the World cannot compare with it therefor I say keep up a high valuation of this rest which leads me to the Motives that may induce us freely and chearfully to come unto Christ and they shall be taken from the consideration of what kind of rest this is which Christ will give unto them that come unto him 1. In regard of this World 1. It shall be a rest from the Dominion of Sin and I think it is a happy rest and priviledge to be free from the dominion of Sin if it was only this rest that should be obtained it would be very well worth coming unto Christ for who would be a slave and servant to Sin Humanorum nullum est grave malorum nisi Peccatum Chrisost which brings trouble and vexation of Spirit now those the Son makes free they are free indeed Jo. 8.34 35 36. Whosoever commiteth Sin is the Servant of Sin and the Servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever if the Son therefore shall make you free you shall be free indeed It is Christ alone that can make any free from the raigning power of Sin therefore come unto him that thou mayest partake of this Blessedness not to be a Servant of Sin whilst thou art here it is a base servitude and very dishonourable most uncomfortable and hath the least and worst security for he that is Servant to Sin hath abundance of Enemys but no real Friends therefore he is obnoctious to miserys every moment both temporal and eternal 2ly It is a Rest from the tyranny of Satan although not from his temptations Snares whilst thou abidest in this sinful world and art a sojourner as all thy Fathers were the Devil will hunt and tempt thee to commit Iniquity but yet if thou comest unto Christ he will give thee rest from the tiranical power of this grand enemy for he will do and say unto thee as he did unto Paul when buffered by the Messenger of Satan My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in thy weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 And if thou hast the strength of Christ for thee although thou art weak in thy self Yet thou wilt be strong to resist Satan Vers 10. of that Chap. 3ly It is an inward Soul-rest that thou shalt have if thou comest unto him it is not such a Rest as the world gives neither can the World deprive thee of it the World may afflict and perplex thy outward man and give no rest unto it but it can never touch thy internal peace rest if Christ is pleased to confer it upon thee if thou hast rest for thy Soul thou art most happy even in the midst of Worldly disquietments for it is the affliction and trouble of the Soul that is the Soul of affliction but now Christ hath promised to give this Soul-rest to those that come unto him Mat. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Spirit and ye shall find rest for your Souls This indeed is the best of rests for suppose a man hath never so many temporal injoyments yet if his Soul be not at rest and peace all these blessings seem to be cursed to him because his Soul is under preturbations or if not so yet under sleepy sinful security which is worse but O the serene calmness peace sedateness that the saints injoy in this life for I am not speaking of that rest the Righteous shall inherit hereafter but whilst we are here in the Wilderness and journy to Canaan God hath promised to give them peace Isa 26.3 Whose minds are stayed upon him and the Saints experience this dayly 2ly What kind of peace and rest this is in regard of the future World 1. It is a true rest not any fiction of the Poets but a certain and firm rest that Christ hath purchased for Non expectationem fallit and promised to believers they shall be sure of it for he that cannot lye hath promised it he who is the Amen Rev. 3.14 He in whose mouth was found no guile therefore he will not deceive poor Souls for The foundation of God standeth sure 2 Tim. 2.19 Men many times promise themselves rest but it proves false to them for the most part and they never find that rest which they imagined would be their lot but now this rest will prove true even beyond expectation 2. The rest that Christ will give to them that come unto him shall be perfect and compleat rest it is not part rest and other
a slave to men well but come unto him and he will exalt thee even to his own throne Rev. 3.21 8. Motive To excite poor Creatures to come unto Christ who invites them is this consider what you shall have if you come unto him but hear I may say with the Apostle in another case Who is sufficient for these things I want understanding to conceive it 1 Cor. 2.9 and words to express it For as the Apostle saith Eye hath not seen Ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him I may as well think to number the days of eternity as Imagin to declare all the Immunities Priviledges and Benefits those will Partake of who come unto the Lord Jesus Christ they shall know more fully when they come to glory but I will lay some of them before thee 1. If thou comest unto Christ thou shalt have Pardon for thy Sins Act. 13.38 39. Through this man is Preached the Forgiveness of Sin That is through the man Christ Jesus vers 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things O Sinner here is pardon and justification if thou wilt but come to and believe in him and how desirable is a pardon to a condemned Malefactor thou art undon for ever if thou art not pardoned now it is alone by Christ Exod. 34.6 and upon his account that thou caust expect to obtain it the Lord is a sin-pardoning God but there is no man can come to the Father for this Pardon but in and through Christ Jo. 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 2ly Thou shalt have peace for thy Conscience not such peace as the World gives but the peace of God God is called The God of Peace 2 Cor. 13.11 Because he gives peace to his People thou shalt be at peace with God at peace with thine own Conscience and what would a wounded Conscience give for this peace but it is too pretious to purchase for Silver or Gold My peace saith Christ I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Jo. 14.27 The World can afford no such fruit for it is brought forth by the Spirit in the heart of the believer Gal. 6.22 This peace is permanent Isa 26.3 I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayd upon me now Worldly peace is deceitful it is uncertain but this is true and abiding because rt is from God at peace with God upon the account of the Lord Jesus But I intend not to be large in these particulars only my great desire is Sinner that I might induce thee to come unto Christ 3. Thou shalt have Grace in abundance and what can be more desireable or what dost thou need more on this side Eternity it will beautify and make thee lovely in the sight of God Virtus clara aeternaque habetur Salust Angels and Saints Thy Soul is deformed by Sin but this will make thee comly Grace will inrich thee with a Divine treasure as Christ said to the Church of Smyrna Rev. 2.9 Virtus intaminatis fulget honoribus Hor. Thou art Rich Rich in Grace although poor in worldly Treasure as Jam. 2.5 Poor in the world yet rich in faith now these riches come from the fulness of Christ Joh. 1.16 Out of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates It will establish the Soul in shaking times Heb. 13.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an excellent and good thing to have the heart established with Grace I should burthen you and prevent my self if I should here treat of the Excellencies of the graces as faith love hope patience and all the other graces which are the golden Chains and Pearls which adorn the Soul of a Believer only consider this that all grace is from God through Christ by the Spirit conveyed and wrought in the Soul 4. If thou comest to Christ thou shalt have life so saith Christ I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly Life naturally is much desirable but how much more life spiritual and life eternal Thou art spiritually dead Eph. 2.5 and it is from him thou must receive quickning Joh. 11.25 Jesus saith unto her I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Vers 26. And he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die Here Soul is spiritual and eternal life for thee and wilt thou not come unto Christ for this what dost thou not reguard life life everlasting Mat. 25.46 the righteous shall go into life everlasting O let the consideration of this excite and stir up thy Soul to come unto Christ for all those that come unto him shall obtain this blessed priviledge of living for evermore Our days here are but a shaddow Vita ipsa qua fruimur brevis est Salust Pulvis umbra sumus we soon pass away into Eternity and is not life eternal much more to be esteemed of then to be everlastly in a dying state of misery and yet never die 5ly Thou shalt have joy Rom. 15.13 Act. 16 25. The God of peace fill you with all joy in believing In the midst of outward troubles and afflictions this joy will keep thee company as it did Paul and Silas in Fetters they Sung praises to God this joy will be strength to thee Neh. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is our strength It is not like the worldlings joy which is transient and momentary but it is everlasting joy Isa 35.10 The Ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Indeed after thou dost come to Christ Psal 42.5 and hast tasted of this joy whilest thou art here Sinning God may for a time hide his Face but when thou dost return again by repentance and humiliation he will again lift up the light of his countenance upon thee and put more gladness into thy Soul then all sublimary consolations can Psal 4.6.7 and when thou dost come above the Clouds thou shalt then rejoice for ever Psal 16.11 In thy presence is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satietas laetitiarum fullness of joys or as the Word sinifies fullness to Satiety Thou wilt have it in abundance then therefore defer not thy coming to Christ 6ly If thou comest unto him thou shalt have a Crown and Kingdom Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Christ has prepared the Kingdom for you and by your coming to him he prepares you for the Kingdom I say from the word of God thou shalt have a Kingdome
BLESSED REST FOR THE Burthened Sinner London Printed for Benj. Harris BLESSED REST FOR THE Burthened Sinner Or the only Center of the Soul Wherein is Discovered 1. Who he is that invites and calls Sinners to this Rest 2. The encouragements to come unto him for Rest 3. Many Obstructions and Impediments which keep back Sinners With their unreasonableness Answered 4. The rest that every one shall have that comes unto Christ Delivered in some Sermons at first yet since some Addition and Enlargement has been made to them By John Hopwood Preacher of the Gospel Tu es recreator omnium qui dixisti venite ad me omnes qui laboratis c. anima enim quae est in te radicata in centro suo recreata quieta est quae vero in te non est multis vanis phantasmatibus fatigatur Tu sufficientissimus es qui te habet totum habet qui non mendicus est pauper Quïa quicquid praeter te est non reficit non sufficit Gerson Part. 3. Alphabet Amoris Divini c. 14. London Printed for Benj. Harris at the Stationers Arms in Sweethings Rents in Cornhil 1676. IMPRIMATUR ANTHONY SAUNDERS Ex Aedibus Lambethanis Reverend Arch. Episc Cant. à Sacris Domesticis Jan. 18. 1675. To the Reverend Mr. Nathaniel Vincent Minister of the Gospel and my much Esteemed FRIEND Worthy Sir IT is well known that that famous Lacedemonian Legislator would not establish among all others a Law against Ingratitude Quòd prodigiosa res esset benificium non rependere and of all ingenious spirits it was ever accounted monstrous to make slight of favours and easily forget Pristine benefits for neglect of favours makes all favour void and should I come under this sensure by my dis-ingenuous and impolite carriage I might from you justly incur the ignominious title of an ingrateful person Your complicated kindnesses conferred upon me do perpetually oblige me whilst not being capable of sutable returns yet to publish my humble acknowledgements of them and if the Laws of God and Nature injoyne and require the homage of due respects to be given unto our earthly Parents I know no Reason or Law which exempts from attributing the like to our Spiritual It was the saying of Alexander that as we have our being from our Parents we have our well being from our instructors and if he could esteem himself happy for terrene knowledge how much more then ought I for that Divine in which you have been my Teacher and if that earthy knowledge may so much conduce to a well being here what will Celestial Science do but safely carry the Soul to an everlasting Weal a happy being which never knows end to terminate its satiateing and abounding comforts Sir I shall not blush to own or be timerous to declare that which I know to you is matter of joy although I have had many Instructors you are he that has begotten me unto Christ and I may truly call you as Cyprian did Cecilius Vitae novae patrem your sweet invitations and divine Rhetorick being accompanied with the blessed influences of Heaven drew me out of the Womb of this world and from the power of Satan into the gracious imbraces of the Lord Jesus it was eternally the design of the Father but you were the Instrument by the Word and Spirit in time to call me home to Christ Moreover you did not only beget me to a second birth but also constantly entertained me with those heavenly dainties with which Christ does nourish his beloved ones But to add to these the remembrance of your private instructions and care for me are not to be obliterated by Times swift Motion or Diurnal vicissitudes and mutations But Sir as an addition to the former favours I have here presumed to prefix your Name and make a-Dedication of this little Treatise to your self not for your Instruction but a manifestation of my submissive respects due to you I know that I have here exposed my self and labours to the view of no less a censuring than a sinning Generation therefore by your favourable Aspect it may in some measure abate if not altogether prevent the hard speeches of a calumniating world It is too perspicuous that our Age abounds with such who study more to carpe at than gather the sweet fruits of the Gospel but Momo satisfacere would be an endless work therefore if I can but exalt the Lord Jesus and help immortal Souls to glory I shall not value the foul aspersions of a dirty World for in this Generation there are such who will not spare the tallest Cedars in the Lebanon of God much less the lowest shrubs Therefore I will not fondly promise my self better entertainment then Christ and his Apostles and his faithful Labourers have ever met with Neither do I so much address my self unto you to shroud me from the frowns or hereby to silence the perverse sayings of Men as that I would study to declare my gratitude in humble acknowledgements and thankful returns like gliding streams that swiftly move toward the abounding Ocean from whence their original sprang I am not ignorant that the world is copiously furnished with Books yet these Muti Magistri as Alphonsus called them are not totally in vain for I have extracted benefit from some of them which I hope others may do from this I have adventured to cast my might into the Treasury and my grain into the field leaving the increase unto God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Book I may call my Primitiee for when the Lord first called me forth to publish the Gospel he sent me with this Message to call and invite Sinners unto Christ which found entertainment with some then wherefore it gives me some matter of encouragement that it will not prove now as water spilt upon the ground I was unwilling for a time to suffer it to see the light being conscious of my own defections and imperfections but at last being prevailed with by some and having it long by me I was willing to send it forth into the world although not invested with splendid cloathing of rhetorical Phrases yet I trust like pure Gold it will bear the Touchstone of Divine verity and so prove for the advancement of Gods glory the exaltation of the Lord Jesus and the Salvation of immortal Souls All which I am certain are the ardent desires of your Soul and that these may receive a gracious answer with all true prosperity to you and yours shall be the sincere and constant requests of him who will for ever acknowledge a firm obligation to subscribe himself SIR Your obliged Friend and Servant JOHN HOPWOOD To The Unprejudiced Reader I Here present unto thy view what for the most part I some time delivered to the Ear that thou by Divine Benediction mayest through the Reading gain more then some others did by hearing and obtain an eternal emolument to thy immortal Soul expect not here to drink of those
will give thee Rest which implys all spiritual blessings both for time and Eternity Why Christ invites 2ly Possitively 1. In Obedience to his Fathers Will as he was Mediator for although he was in the form of God yet he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2.6.7 empty himself disrepute himself and took upon him the form of a Servant therefore Christ saith so frequently I come not to do my own will in reguard of his Man-hood but the will of him that sent me Jo. 5.30 Jo. 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me In the 39.40 He declares what is the Fathers will even the Salvation of poor Sinners the Father he wills and the Son he wills the eternal well-being of poor Sinners therefore he cloathed himself with a body of Flesh to the end he might declare and fulfil his Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 2.14 good pleasure towards poor perishing Creatures For allthough he was a Son yet he learned Obedience Heb. 5.8 Therefore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.7 behold I come to do thy will O God Heb. 10.7 2. Reason Why Christ thus condescends to invite poor Sinners to come unto him may be taken from his tender love and compassion to poor Souls Christ Jesus is full of tenderness and love as he manifested when he was grieved for their unbelief for faith is the leading grace as I shewed before which carrieth the Soul to Christ in Mat. 14.14 We read Christ was moved with compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his bowels did yearn towards the multitude and then it was only bodily food they needed but Oh how much more doth Christ commiserate and pitty poor distressed Souls that is a kind of a pathetick expression of Christ in Jo. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life As if Christ should have said you my Friends my Country-men Jo. 11.25 you are all morally dead but I am the resurrection and the Life And he that believeth in me though he were dead yet should he live You are lost ones but I came to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19.10 you are miserable Sinners but I a merciful Saviour Heb. 2.17 Therefore come unto me believe in me and ye shall have Life and have it more abundantly all that Christ Jesus did and suffered was from a principle of love to poor Souls Jo. 10.10 We commonly say Magnes Amoris Amor Love is the Loadstone of Love but now here was no such Argument in the Sinner for instead of Love here he found hatred instead of Friends deadly enemies therefore Christ did all from his Love and Pity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saw the Sinners Misery Ezek. 16. Therefore is moved with mercy so Christ did when he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem Luk. 19.41.42 He beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even then at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Christ had been here inviting with much love and kindness but they refused and slighted his invitation we see here when Christs words and Doctrine will not prevail with hard-hearted Sinners he is so full of compassion notwithstanding that his Soul mourns in secret for their Pride Folly and Unbelief Illis compatitur a quibus patitur Ang. Jer. 13.17 when gratious intreatys will not bring the Sinner home he himself will send tears sighs and groans after him thus we see Christ invites because he is full of tenderness and love to poor Souls O Sinner then retard not but love thy self and come to Christ 3. Reason Because he knows the worth and excellency of their Souls the excellency of the Soul did consist at first in its conformity to the Creator in wisdom and true holyness but upon Sinning the Soul lost its pristine Beauty and primitive excellency only this remains scil the faculty and capability of being restored and renewed again The worth of the Soul transcends all sublimary things Mat. 16.26 What is a Man profited if he gain not a City not a Kingdom not some parts of 〈◊〉 but the whole World and loose his own Soul Now because Christ knows this therefore he invites them to come unto him that they may not lose a Jewel of so high value that there is no exchange for it see Psal 49.7.8 None can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransome for him He gives the Reason in the 8. v. For the Redemption of the Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever Well may he say the redemption of the Soul is precious for no less then the precious blood of Christ who was God-man will redeem it 1 Pet. 1.19 and it ceaseth forever as to its deliverance by any Creature so Christ seems to intimate in my Text and in v. 29. I have reguard to the better part even to the Soul I will give you rest for your Soul and indeed that is the happiest and most glorious rest 4. Reas Because he knows it will prove in vain to go or seek to any other he alone can bear their Burden and ease them of their Labour and weary Travel Men cannot help Angels which excel in strength cannot succour in Soul-distresses Isa 45.22 à quibus vulnetatur illis medetur look unto me and be ye saved saith Christ he who was wounded by thee is the only Physitian for thee Jo. 14.16 I am the way the truth and the Life He is the direct way to Salvation Glory God has made him to be Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption If thou wantest Wisdom thou must go to Christ for he is the Teacher come from God 1 Cor. 1.30 Jo. 3.2 Col. 1.19 If Righteousness we must seek to Christ and so for all mercies For it hath pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell He has ability to save and willingness too come unto me saith Christ why For there is no other name given under Heaven whereby you can be saved Act. 4.12 All Power is given unto me saith Christ Jo. 17.2 I have power to kill and power to make a live therefore Sinner be perswaded to return come unto me and find rest I can ease thee from the yoke of Bondage and I can make thee free with the Priviledg of the Sons of God 5. Reas Because he knows the weight of Glory the Sinner will lose and the greatness of the misery he involves himself into if he refuse It is not a temporal but eternal not a light but a weight of Glory that the refusing Sinner will fall short of He knows the misery is great the Burthen intollerable the Flames inextinguishable the Fire eternal that will be the portion of those who refuse to come Jo. 3.36 He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life which implies
the Scripture saith concerning Christ and what Christ saith concerning himself wilt thou contemn Christ for thine own conceited Righteousness or for the Righteousness of another who is but a meer Man the Apostle Paul would not durst not rely upon this Phil. 3.3 7 8 9. but fled out of himself into the Lord Jesus thou contemnest him without whom thou canst never be saved if the word of God be true Jo. 3.18.36 Thou dost not come to him but thou runest from him and he will one day judg thee for it and count thee among the number of his Enemys Luke 19.27 For thou dost trample under foot the Blood of Christ without which there is no cleansing 1 Jo. 1.7 The Blood of Christ Cleanseth from all Sin And without which there is no Pardon Heb. 10.29 Heb. 9.22 Without sheding of Blood no remission of Sins one day God will reprove thee and set thy Sins in order before thee and this will be none of the least thy contemning Christ and his invitation and so consequently glory and salvation 2ly Reproof to those who do not contemn coming to Christ but neglect and deferre it they are for Cras Cras to Morrow to Morrow They have procrastinations and delays they think of coming but not now it is too soon yet they were yet in Flore Etatis in the Flower of their Age and they have not yet passed through the Pleasures of the Spring their Bones are full of Sapp they have Health and Strength as yet therefore time enough yet a little more Slumber a little more folding of the Hands together if we come now we must leave our Sins we must then deny the World Eph. 5.15 the Flesh and Satan we must then walk circumspectly we must not then be conformable to this World Rom. 12.2 but there is time enough yet for all these things sayest thou so Sinner then I would ask thee one serious question When wilt thou come Thou mayst be ready to say to morrow but Christ saith to Day this present day is only certain to thee Heb. 3.15 to morrow thou mayst be in thy Grave it is a dangerous and evil thing to neglect Christ one hour for thy Soul and how wilt thou escape if thou neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 Further consider it is not in thy own power to come when thou pleasest but more of this when I come to answer objections in the second Doctrine thou mayst be deprived of Reason thy Heart may be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin and Satan therefore if thou neglectest Christ and his invitation now he is weighting Cant. 5.2 It declares thou esteemest the World above Christ thy Lusts above thy immortal Soul O what words are bitter enough to be written against thee what canst thou neglect Christ and his tenders of mercy for such trifles as these O wretched creature turn thine Eyes about and behold Christ open thine Ears and hearken to him see if there be not more in Christ and his invitation then all the World will afford if it be but in that word Rest and that for thy Soul 3ly It reproves those who notwithstanding they feel themselves burthened yet keep off from coming unto Christ they think to ease themselves their good meaning or their Prayers or some little external reformation keep them back if they can but obtain a little though false peace of conscience here they rest what Sinner dost thou make of Christ dost thou think he cannot or will not ease thee if he alone can why dost thou not come unto him if thou sayst he will not then thou makest him who is God a Lier for he invites thee to come I tell thee Christ takes it unkindly from thee that thou wilt not give Credit to him Jo. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me saith Christ that ye may have Life Peace Rest and happiness thou art the Guest he hath sent forth his servants to invite all things are ready prepared for thee Luk. 14.17 Therefore thou of all others art to be reproved when thou refusest to come thou givest advantage to Satan and wrongest thine own Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou must not think to gather Canaan Grapes of rest and Peace from Thorns of thine own planting thou must come to Christ if thou wilt tast them and have eternal rest 3ly For councel Christ doth graciously invite therefore I would councel you to come unto him let not Christ Jesus call and intreat in vain he invites to come without Mony and without Price come though poor he has riches for you Isa 55.1.2 if Blind he has Eye salve if Naked he has cloathing Rev. 3.18 come I say unto him for he has all Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell fullness of Pardon fullness of Grace fullness of Glory Out of his fullness we all receive grace for grace Jo. 1.16 And then Further he is all and in all Col. 3.11 If you have him you have all there are treasures in him Col. 2.3 Not treasures of wrath and punishment but treasures of mercy and grace come then and make no delays come now or else thou mayst come never come ease thy labouring Burthened Soul Christ is willing then refuse not Some Motives to inforce this word of Councel 1. Consider if thou comest not now he intreats thou wilt declare great disingenuity and ingratitude has Christ condescended so far as to intreat thee manifested so much Love as to call after thee and wilt thou not return what is there no retaliation no imbracing his offers this was the great Sin of the Jews Jo. 1.11 He came to his own but his own received him not He tendered himself but they refused him Prodigosa res est Benificium non rependere Lycurgus O what horrid ingratitude is this for such unparralled love Salvation offered but they put it from them Luk. 13.16 This I say was their Sin base unthankfulness to Christ so it will be thine if thou dost not receive him and come unto him this is requiting evil for good Pro. 17.13 The Persians Punished Ingratful Men with Death and Queen Elizabeth in a Letter to Henry the Fourth King of France used this expression If there be any unpardonable Sin in the World Camb. Eliz. it is Ingratitude Oh Sinner be not Ingrateful do not slight neglect Christs gratious invitations 2ly If thou consent not and hearken to Christ thou wilt hearken to Satan for where the ears and heart are shut to Christ they are open to Sin and Satan so it was with the Jews when they would not believe Christ that he was the Son of God they presently believe Satan term him a Blasphemer and a Devil 3ly Consider that it is he alone can help thee and if thou seekest unto any other Physitian it may cost thee thy Life even the Life of thy Soul it will be with thee as it was with King Asa
who when he was sick sought not to the Lord but to Physitians of no value 2 Cron. 16.12 and so he perished in his affliction If thou mountest up to Heaven and from thence goest down to the Deep if thou compassest the whole Universe to seek for another Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it will be but Labour spent in vain Isa 45.22 Christ saith Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none other therefore none other Saviour because there is no other God for he that is any thing less then God who is altogether Infinite is no way sufficient neither can he be a compleat Saviour to Poor Sinners Thy transgressions O Sinner are infinite thou hast broken the pure spiritual Law of thy Creator thou canst not make satisfaction because it requires that which is infinite Men or Angels cannot do it for thee the Pope himself with all his Church-treasures cannot satisfy for the least of his own Transgressions it may be said to him as Agesilaus said to the Thasians when for some great Favour received of him they built him a Temple and deified him and withal sent Embassadors to certify him of it Can your Country men said he make Gods of men To which Zenophon answering him they could Let them first make themselves Gods replyed he and then I will believe they can make me one so say I when the Pope can save himself I shall have greater grounds to expect help from him But Further thou art obnoctious to eternal Punishments and dost thou think any can deliver and redeem thee but the Lord Jesus Christ who can pacify the wrath of an angry God who can satisfy Infinite Justice and who can undergo and yet overcome Infinite Torments None O none but Christ therefore Poor Soul hasten unto him 4ly Let Christs willingness to imbrace and ease thee be a motive to thee to come unto him never let the greatness of thy Labour the weightiness of thy burden the deceitfulness of Sin or the subtilty of Satan keep thee back or impede thy coming unto him if Christ were not willing to receive thee he would never invite thee Ho every one that Thirsteth come Drink freely Jo. 17.37 for Christ is freely willing Christ is troubled for thy unwillingness Jo. 5.40 Reason then with thine own Soul and say is Christ willing to ease me and shall I still lay under my burdens is Christ willing to give me life and shall I still remain in a state of Death will Christ make me free with the freedoms of the Sons of God and shall I still abide in slavery to Sin and Satan is Christ willing to give me peace and rest and to keep my Soul in that state Isa 26.3 He will keep them in peace whose minds are staid upon him And shall I still keep my Soul in perpetual perplexity Hose 13.9 shall I be a Self Murtherer when Christ is a willing and Merciful Saviour O this would be horrid impiety and I might then cry out with the rest Heu patior telis vulnera facta meis a lass I suffer wounds made with mine own Darts and yet slight such an able Chirurgion sick even to Death and yet neglect so willing and kind a Physitian I say thus reason thy self out of thy unwillingness from the consideration of Christs willingness as in my Text Come unto me 5ly Consider as a motive who it is that invites thee I have shewed thee in the Former part that he is God Tit. 2.13 he is the great God therefore able he is Jesus therefore Willing If a King should invite thee and make great offers unto thee I am perswaded thou wouldst not as Diogenes Quint. Curt. scorn and refuse them but consider this is not a Cyrus who can promise only Towns or Citys to his Subjects neither an Alexander that may promise an Earthly Kingdom to thee but he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The King of Kings Rev. 19.16 Rev. 5.10 Heb. 12.28 and Lord of Lords He can make thee a King and give unto thee an heavenly and glorious Kingdom a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Imploy thy thoughts a little upon this consideration who the Inviter is and this will inflame thee and ingage thee without delay to come unto him 6. Motive Consider what and who thou art that by so glorious a Person art invited Thou art by Nature a Child of wrath Ephes 2.3 Under the wrath of God Under the Curse Gal. 3.10 and the power of Satan a lost undone perishing sinner Luk. 19.10 an Enemy to God to Christ to Goodness to thy own Soul by nature Rom. 5.10 Whilst we were yet Enemies Christ dyed for us Thou art under the Yoke of Bondage a Poor Needy Indigent creature and it is he alone that can supply thee if thou hadst been a glorious Angel thou wouldst then have needed Christ to confirm and establish thee but thou art not such Mat. 9.13 Luk. 18.13 thou art a Sinner and he a glorious Saviour consider that well in thy meditations what a Sinner it implys a miserable State and person yet Christ invites thee 7. Motive Consider what thou mayst be if thou comest unto him from a Child of wrath thou wilt become the Son of God from an Heir of Hell to be an Heir of Glory from being under the Power of Satan to serve the Liveing God and be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 If thou comest unto him thou shalt be for ever happy Blessed in Body Blessed in Soul Blessed in Time Blessed in and to Eternity Rev. 14.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam nunc Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord. In the very moment of their entring upon eternity they are Blessed and shall be so for ever so saith the Apostle Paul And so we shall be for ever with the Lord Thou shalt be made like unto God in Righteousness and true Holyness 1 Thes 17. Eph. 4.24 1 Epis 3.2 Beloved saith the Apostle John Now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him Who is not ambitious of being a Prince and Heir to an Earthly Crown and Kingdom how much more shouldst thou be desirous of being Son and Heir to the King of Glory and this is the only way by coming to the Lord Jesus No coming to the Father but by the Son Eph. 1 4 5 6. According as he hath chosen us in him and he has adopted us to be Children by Christ to himself And if Children then Heirs Heirs with God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Here see and meditate well what thou shalt be if thou comest to Christ it may be thou art a poor distressed dejected dispised Creature here among the men of the World it may be thou art a Servant
Rev. 3.21 He that overcometh shall sit down with me in my Throne Thou shalt Raign with Christ in that Kingdom for ever now this Kingdom is a transcendently glorious Kingdom it is the Court of the great Jehova it is a rich Kingdom full of treasure no want there read but Rev. 21. It is an invincible Kingdom all the Black Regiments of the infernal Prince cannot overcome it Lastly it is an everlasting Kingdom it will abide as long as God is and that will be to all Eternity and thou shalt be Crowned with a Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 I could be much larger in every one of these Particulars but I have much exceeded what I intended being desirous to exalt Christ in thine estimation and allure thee to come to and close with him seeing he so graciously invites thee 7. Thou shalt have God Christ and the blessed Spirit and what a priviledg is this to have God to be thy God this is the great blessing of the new covenant Jer. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People See hear Soul what a blessing thou wilt obtain God will be thine what canst thou desire if he be thine then his power is ingaged to defend and protect thee Psal 84.11 Psal 73.24 Psal 103.13 Exod. 34.36 I will be a Sun and a Shield saith God to those that walk uprightly And such are the Souls who come unto Christ his wisdom shall direct thee his love Pity thee his Mercy pardon thee but what shall I say I might run through all the Attributes of God for some way or other they are imployed for thy good Happy is that Soul whose God is the Lord for he can bring good out of Evil to thee he can make all things work together for thy good I cannot number up all the mercys which are contained in this one but let me tell thee in a word it is the Mercy of Mercys for if we seriously consider that those people ever since the lapsation of Adam were looked upon as the most miserable who were said to be without God as the Apostle speaks of the condition of the Gentiles before the Gospel came among them Eph. 2.12 They were without God in the World i. e. They had no saving knowledg of God as Christ saith Jo. 17.3 This is Life eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent They had no knowledg of God in Christ moreover the words implys they had no God in covenant with them they were Aliens to the commonwealth of Israel now seeing this is so miserable a condition to be without God to have no interest in him no access unto him no smiles from him it must on the contrary be granted that it is a signal blessing to have God to be our God now this inestimable benefit is confered upon the Soul in and by the Lord Jesus as in Rom. 5.1.2 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus vers 2. By whom also we have access unto that grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God Thus we see when the Soul comes to Christ by Faith then it is justifyed and hath free access to God which before it had not It now can cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 2. Christ himself will be thine and thou shalt be his 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Christ will be a head to communicate Life unto thee and also to rule thee he will be a Mediator and Intercessor at the Right hand of the Father in thy behalf 1 Jo. 2.1 O consider what it is to have Christ to be thine for if he be thine he will be a hiding place for thee from all those tempestuous storms that may arise against thee Isa 8.14 He is called a Sanctuary this must be for his own Isa 22.2 A man shall be for a hiding place and for a Covert from the Storm this Man is the Lord Jesus Col. 3.3 Our Life is hid with Christ in God Now Christ will be a hiding place a sanctuary From 1. The wrath of Men that may be inraged against his Servants Pro. 18.19 The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous flee into it and are safe Thus he defended Luther from all malice of the Pope and his Emissaries and many more instances I could give out of History the word of God but I should be too prolix and tedious then but as he has been to his Servants so he will be to thee if thou comest unto him 2. From the wrath of God which will inevitably destroy and consume all those who are out of Christ 1 Thes 1.10 Jesus who redeemeth us from wrath to come It must be Christ alone that can hide thee and defend thee from the wrath of God 1 Pet. 5.8 3. From the wrath and malice of Satan who goes about like a Roaring Lyon Christ keeps his Sheep from being destroyed by him Jo. 10.28 I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hands 2. If thou hast Christ he will be a Redeemer to thee Rev. 5.9 Who has redeemed us with his Blood he paid a sufficient price 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.18.19 Tit. 2.14 Gal. 3.13 Jo. 15.19 Jo. 14.16 it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his own pretious Blood He is a Redeemer from Sin from the World and from the Curse of the Law and he hath redeemed thee for everlasting Glory 3. He will be a Mediator between God and thee he will Mediate for Pardon for thy Sins for acceptance with God for grace for thy Soul for his Spirit to guide thee for perseverance that thou mayst hold out to the end Jo. 17.15 Christ prayed that Peters Faith might not fail lastly Jo. 6.35 he mediates for a Crown of Righteousness what priviledges are all these wilt thou not come to Christ upon these terms if thou hast Christ he will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 food for thy Soul he will be Righteousness to thee 1 Cor. 1.30 God has made him to be wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption unto every one that believeth in him In a word Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 Therefore thou wilt be no looser but an infinite gainer if thou hast the Lord Jesus for thy Portion for he is the Eternal delight of the Father the glory of Angells the admiration of Saints 2 Thes 1.10 3. The holy Spirit will be thine saith Christ Jo. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever ver 17. Even the spirit of truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth
do therfore do never so much I must relye wholly upon another and it t is uncertain whether he can or will save me therefore I will not go unto him These are the Obstacles that lies in sinners ways and keeps them from coming unto Christ I come now to the second outward Obstacle or Impediment of the sinners coming unto Christ Imped 2. and that is Satan that Arch-Enemy of poor souls who goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom and how he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 The great Apostle tells us of the Wiles and fiery darts of Satan Eph. 6.11.16 and if his Engines of Craft and subtilty will not do he will then throw forth his fire-balls and shoot his fiery darts and all to keep poor miserable Creatures from coming unto Christ I shall indeavour to discover some of his subtilties and lay them open to the view of sinners that they may not be so easily deluded and deceived by him * 2 Cor. 2.11 and be ignorant of his devices for he is always waiting and watching to take advantages of sinners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satan is altogether evill therefore he can bring forth nothing that is good he is the Father of Lyes Jo. 8.44 He is called in the same verse a Murderer and so he may well even in the worst sence for he loves to Murder Souls t is thy life not thy living the Jewel not the Cabinet he desires and aims at therefore seriously peruse these following particulars wherein is discovered what stratagems Satan useth to keep the soul if he can from coming to Christ 1. By his power not that Satan is stronger than God or can do any thing more than what God permits him for God has him in a Chain and can curb him when he pleases but when man rebelliously fell from God and refused him for his Guardian and Protector God most justly for his sin and iniquity permited him to be under the Dominion and power of a most tyranical Lord scil Satan who ever since has held him in slavery till God by Christ did redeem him and by his Spirit does convert him He is called Eph. 2.2 The Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit who worketh in the Children of disobedience And it is very observable that the Apostle there speaks of Believers and converted ones we had our conversation according to this world those who are the elect ones of God are under this power of Satan till God by his own Almighty power delivers them from the jaws of this roaring Lyon and from the paw of this devouring Bear Acts 26.18 To turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Satan raignes in Elect ones before conversion but when converted Christ erects and sets up his Throne in their hearts The Apostle exhorts the Ephesians to put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.11 But why must they do it In the 12 vers saith he We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but against Principalitys against Powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World against wicked Spirits as it may be red in high places i. e. in the air they are the enemys which was against poor Souls and do their utmost to deter and hinder them from coming to the Lord Jesus 2. Satan doth it by casting a mist before their eyes so that they cannot perceive their own misery nor the necessity of a Saviour 2 Cor. 4.4 The God of this world i. e. Satan hath blinded the eyes of them who believe not lest the light of this Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them The sinner is blinded by Satan he thinks not his condition so bad as it is therefore he sees no necessity of coming to Christ thus he did by the Jews they thought themselves happy they were the Children of Abraham so it could not but go well with them They perceived not that they were under the curse notwithstanding they were Abrahams natural offspring Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them They were to fulfill all the Commandments both externally and internally and continually without any omission of Good or commission of evil or else they lay under the curse but they understood not this their misery therefore they came not to Jesus Christ Thus it was with the Laodicean Church she thought she was rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing and knew not that she was miserable Rev. 3.17 poor blind and naked but what was the cause of all this it was her blindness she knew not as the Text saith her Misery Poverty and Nakedness therefore Christ exhorts her to come unto him in the 18. v. for it was her keeping away from him put her in this low condition for had her eyes been open to have seen her deplorable condition without Christ shee would speedily have gon unto him but till the Mask of ignorance be taken off from the Soul it will never see the excellency or necessity of the Son of Righteousness Act. 26.18 They must be turned from darkness to light before they can come to Christ who is the bright morning Star 3ly If the Conscience be awakened and the eyes a little inlightned then he raises doubts in the Soul as 1. Whether the Scriptures are the word of God Thus he has done by many and so made them turn out of the way which leads to Christ and the knowledg of him and run into horrid Atheism and Blasphemy against the God who made them and the Christ who alone can save them Jo. 5.39 Christ saith search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they who testify of me That is the true way to come unto the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by the assistance of the holy Spirit which Satan is not ignorant of therefore it is his policy to bring the Soul to doubt this as he did Eve concerning the strict Command of God and the punishment threatned Gen. 3. So at last she stretches forth her hand to the forbiden fruit Thus he doth bring them to doubt the certainty and the truth of the word of God and then causeth them to stretch forth their hand to all manner of wickedness and wholly to neglect the saviour the Lord Jesus 2. To doubt of Christ whether he be the son of God Thus he did by the Jews of old when Christ asserted so frequently that he was the Messiah that he was one with the Father Jo. 10.30 That he came forth from God He made them doubt it therefore it is so often mentioned in the four Evangelists that they inquired of him whether he was the Christ the son of God Jo. 1. There they send to John Baptist to inquire of him whether he was the Christ they expected a Messiah but doubted whether
23. to 28. See there what befell them and thou must expect no better also Heb. 11. There is no peace in that way it is full of Thorns and briers thou must expect to be pricked and wounded therefore spare thy self as Peter said to Christ Mat. 16.22.23 Be it far from thee but Christ terms it the language of Satan get thee behind me Satan said he for thou savourest not the things that are of God Thus he deludes poor souls with promises of peace which is no true peace for here is not a word of the peace of God which passeth understanding such a peace that the world cannot give Jo. 14.27 Neither can the world take it away for as it is said of the Nightingale she sings with her breast against a thorne so the people of God have such peace and joy within that when the thorne of affliction is against their brests they can rejoice as Paul and Silas did in prison although they have not peace with the world yet they have peace with God Christ and their own Consciences which is the best of all therefore let not Satan keep thee by this wile from coming to Christ for he tells thee in the text he will give thee rest which implys all peace as far as it is good for thy Soul but Satan cannot give one moment of true peace or tranquility to the Soul 8. If peace will not do then he promises the world the pleasures the honours and the profits of this world as he did to Christ but in vain so he doth to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All these things I will give unto thee do but fall down and worship me Mat. 4.9 O how many Souls doth he catch by this bait notwithstanding he frequently deceives the Soul and gives a blear-eyed Leah instead of a beautiful Rachel Tuta frequens via est sub amici fallere Nomen Vnder the name of kindness and friendship he frequently deludes the sinner And these are brave alluring baits and do most usually insnare the poor silly creature being so sutable to flesh and blood and that corrupt part of man which is like tinder easily fired with the desire of these things these have kept thousands from coming and have drawn back many that were gon a fair way toward Christ this made Judas instead of believing in Christ for his Saviour betray him as a Malefactor the Love of the world drew away Demas who had followed Christ a great way the Devil knows full well how to impede and hinder sinners from coming to Christ I have read a story of one Hippomenes who fell in Love with a beautiful Woman called Atalanta who had vowed Virginity only she proposed this to her Wooers that they should run a Race with her unarmed she having a dart in her hand and if she won the Race she was to kill them with her dart she having ended many so Himpomenes was to run with her and he had gotten three Golden Apples given him by Venus which in the midst of the race when she drew nigh unto him he severally throws down and she being allured by them runs to gather them up and so he wins the race and her which I apply thus for the moral of it is good This Hipomenes is Satan who falls in love with the soul which is Atalanta who has vowed Virginity in its baptismal covenant he goes to Venus which is the world and gets three Golden Apples which are profit pleasure and honour and when the soul is as it were half way to Zion he throws down these before it and whilst it stops to gather them the Race is lost and the soul is undone for ever Satan works most effectually by these which are but perishing vanitys and thousands of souls are swallowed up in this Gulfe who believe Satan that is the Father of lyes when he promiseth only a dirty world and neglect to come to Christ when he promiseth an eternal glorious Kingdom Satan promiseth the earth and he too often prevails but Christ offers Heaven with all the immunitys glory and happiness imaginable and yet is refused Satan promiseth that which he cannot perform without divine permission but Christ promiseth that which he will certainly bestow upon the believing soul therefore let not these Cobwebs hold thee seeing he Commands thee and it is thy duty to obey 9ly He perswades the sinner that he shall live a Malancholly life if he come to Christ and then produces various instances then shews him such a one and such a one who when they followed the course of the world and had their conversation as other men they lived chearfully and merrily but since they turned out of that way and have gone in another new way they are sad and disconsolate persons now ye shall not see them rejoyce but hang down their heads as a Bullrush This I say is another of his devices to keep back poor Souls when they are coming to Christ although there is no reason why it should for if they are sorrowful and pensive it is not with the sorrow of the world which is deadly 2 Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation never to be Repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death and as the wise man saith In the midst of laughter the heart is sad thus it is usually with the men of the world but the Godly though they have a dejected countenance yet then they have a chearful heart as their sorrows are not alike so their joys cant be compared the Apostle can say to the Godly rejoice evermore 1 Thes 5.16 And rejoice in the Lord always when he saith to the wicked Go weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you James 5.1 Satan lies when he saith the ways of God are Melancholy for as the wise man saith Rom. 3.17 All her ways speaking of wisdom are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace and he may truly say all because all her paths are holiness I could give several instances besides scriptural ones of persons who have found it and declared it to be the most pleasant way all the godly more or less Galeaceus Carraciolus have experienced this I shall mention only that of the Noble Marquess who had experienced what comforts the world could afford and what were to be found in the ways of God could say Cursed be that Man who shall preferr all the Gold and Silver in the world before one days Communion with the Lord Jesus See here how he esteemed the comforts and delights he met with in the ways of God Therefore let not this deter thee and I will add mine own experience I never had such joys and delights as in the holy ways of God I cannot express it but come thou to Christ and thou shalt tast it nay satiate thy soul out of his superabundant fullness for he has rivers of pleasure by him and he doth often here give
plentiful draughts to the believing soul 10ly Remember Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 5.8 A calumniator and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 12.10 the accuser of the Brethren By laying open the Infirmities miscarriages of the saints and servants of the Lord Jesus and representing them as vile as others if not to the eye of the world yet they are so in secret and they are but painted on the external side but all rotten within But I know this to be one of Satans devices to keep poor souls from coming to Christ O saith he to the sinner there are none without their failings and if you expect to be perfectly holy you must be so in another world observe the steps of those that seem most precise saith Satan and you shall see that they sin dayly they are as proud as passionate and as worldly as others if you live in one sin they live in another therefore be not so much concerned about your self and about coming to Christ And if this will not do he finds out some who walke with the people of God and go under the notion of Servants of Christ when indeed they are not but are like those Jo. 6.26 Who followed Christ not because of his Miracles but for the Loaves for some by interest not for love and yet they live in sin and do as they world do Now he strikes the nail to the head and the sinner sits down contented as if he had no need to press forward through the Crowd of the wicked and wickedness of this world and come to Christ I grant that which cannot be denyed that the best of Saints have their failings and infirmitys as Noah Abraham Lot David and many more but consider 1. They did not live in the practise of any known sin 2. They did not neglect coming to Christ and believing in him 3. If none of these be so holy as thou thinkest they pretend or ought to be yet it is thy duty to provide for thine own soul Therefore resist Satan and come to Christ 11ly By shewing the poverty and afflictions the people of God undergo Joh. 7.48 and that if they come to Christ they must expect the same This is a wile by which she insnares many says Satan see there are not many mighty or noble ones of that way They are but an impoverished people that are his followers and are afflicted distressed dayly as the Apostle said 2 Cor. 4.8.9 Troubled on every side In perplexities continually this is the portion of them who are his disciples it has ever been so with them here the Devil speaks truth but to a wicked end scil To keep the miserable from seeking to a Saviour Abraham Moses David Josiah Constantine Galeaceus with many more Indeed the followers of Christ have been and are for the most part a poor and afflicted people although there has been some honorable ones that have forsaken all and followed Christ but the reason why there have been and are so few great ones of the world that close with Christ is because Satan and their Riches will not let them Thus it was with the young man in the Gospel Mat. 19.21 Go saith Christ part with all sell all and follow me but he rather chose to part with Christ and bid farewell to him he went away the Text saith sorrowing but we never read he came again repenting Again they who abound with the riches of this world are least sollicitous about the riches of another now the poor having but little here seek for a better treasure James 2.5 God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith Heirs of the Kingdome 3. They are most secure thinking God is oblieged to give Heaven freely unto them because he bestows earth liberally upon them 4. They must needs have the least love for their immortal Souls whose greatest care is taken up about their bodys therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 1.26 Not many wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called not but that they are invited to come but they refuse it And as for their afflictions which the Apostle calls light they will work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory therefore let not Satan hold thee by this wile 12ly Professorum paucitas religionem non probat esse falsam The Paucity of Professors doth not prove the Religion to be false The Paucity and fewness of Christ's Followers is another device of his to impede and hinder sinners with this Argument the serpent makes excellent work for and among the Papists O say those Hellish Emissarys fit Instruments for that roaring devouring Lyon to work by when they come to dispute with poor silly creatures there are but few of that way in comparison of ours we have whole Kingdomes of our perswasion that way is but an affected Singular way and in the Multitude of Councellors there is much safety a few may erre but the universal Church cannot this is the subtilty of Satan his Servants but this is no just reason for thy not coming because there are but few for Christs Flock hath always been a little Flock Luk. 12.32 When Christ was upon the earth he had but Twelve Apostles and a few more that followed him those of the Pharisees and Saduces were of greater number but it could be no true Argument that therefore they must needs be of the true religion then Christs few Disciples that followed him 2. Councells have and do erre as our Divines have sufficiently proved but the word of God is true 3. If none else come to Christ yet it is thy duty and should be thy care because Salvation is alone to be had in him Acts. 4.12 13ly Satan deters many from coming to Christ by telling them of the reproaches scorns and hatred of others which tâ—â—y will incur and must expect to undergo for the world hath ever despised such persons who have been Christs true and faithful Disciples If they go but through the street and their habit discover what they are you shall hear how they are reproached and scorned but it is not so with those who lead their conversation after the Customes of this world Moreover they are hated by their relations their friends and acquaintance you must not expect a good name nor an aspect of love from them this must be your Lot and who would expose themselves to all these afflictions what will you make yourselves to be abhorred of most men bring misery upon your selves do not do it but keep in the same way you are in keep up your reputation among your neighbours and maintain the love of your friends get the good will of all and this is the only way It is a common Maxime That Truth is Truth ever Veritas semper est veritas à quocunque dicatur from whomsoever it is spoken So Satan speaks abundance of truth when he suggests these
if thou dost Sin God is Merciful he is full of Pity Exod. 34.6.7 He is gracious and long suffering Therefore question not but thou wilt do well we find this answer very ready in their Mouths when we come to set their Sins before them and demand how they expect to be saved seeing they live so in Sin the answer is God is merciful and I hope he will pardon my iniquities By this wile of Satan the mercy of God is abused and the Sinner undone for ever it is true that Gods mercys are infinite and he is full of pitty and tenderness unto poor Creatures but his mercy will not save without Christ I shall not now enter into that dispute whether or no God could save Sinners by his mercy alone without any Consideration of or relation unto the Lord Jesus but this I assert from Christs own words Jo. 14.6 That there is no coming to the Father but by the Son no coming to him for mercy pardon and salvation but by Christ alone But consider further it is the Malice of Satan to thy Soul and he designs only Cruelty when he keeps thee in thy Sins and yet flatters thee with hopes of Mercy I do not write this to discourage any poor penitent Sinner from finding mercy but to bring deluded Sinners from the abuse of it and discovering the Wile of Satan shewing them the only way to obtain it for never think to be saved by his mercy when thou hast lived as long as thou canst in Sin for God is a consuming Fire to all such Heb. 12.29 And instead of extending Mercy he will on the contrary Condemn thee if thou dost not come unto Christ Rom. 8.1 21ly He impedes them by begeting prejudices in them against the faithful Ministers of the Lord Jesus and if he can but do this he thinks he hath done the work thus he did in the Jews Act. 3.45 when Paul and Barnabas had Preached Christ and so consequently Salvation to the Gentiles they then contradict and Blaspheme and are filed with envy against them Christs Embassadors are the very Butt Satan Shoots at and he knows if he can but keep Sinners from imbracing their Doctrine then he has them secure because Christ has committed such treasure unto them and his chosen them as instruments in an ordinary way to convert Sinners and turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 and as Christ saith Jo. 15.20 If they have kept my sayings they will keep yours also Satan is not ignorant of this that the Preaching of the Gospel is the means of conversion and the hearing of it the means of the begeting faith in the Lord Jesus Rom. 20.14 Therefore he doth all he can to prevent Sinners this he doth sometimes by scandalizing of them and casting contempt upon them giving forth names of Schismaticks Hereticks and the like as the Church of Rome hath done and some others sometimes by blaspheming the Doctrine they deliver as though it was not congruent to the word of truth But Sinner thou hast no reason to believe him for he is a Lyer and a Murderer and seeks the Blood of thy Soul and under pretence of keeping thee from delusion he deludes thee altogether For although the World and Devil hate them persecute them and speak evil of them that is no Argument that they are not therefore Christs Ministers and Servants but rather that they are so Jo. 15.30 22. Satan hinders by perswading the Sinner that Christs service is very difficult his Yoke is heavy and his burthen Intolerable that Christ is a hard Master and will exact the whole tale of Bricks but will not allow Straw there is no abiding long in his Service for there are several that have made tryal but are returned to their former courses if he become his Servant he must take up his Cross and deny himself he must be universal and constant in his obedience Pray always Watch always and in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 Thus Satan renders the service of Christ as unlovely and intolerable as may be to the end he may impede the Sinner from coming home to Christ but Satan is not to be credited before Jesus Christ therefore I say hearken to what Christ saith Mat. 11.30 My Yoke is easy and my Burthen is Light All his commands and injunctions are light and easy because he puts under everlasting arms to support the Soul and inables it to go chearfully under it There is no service like his for it is perfect freedom and the Soul is never free till it is subject to him The experience of all his sincere disciples and servants will confute this lying Argument of Satan for there is not a faithful servant of his but will say they have found his ways pleasant and his Burthen tolerable thou maist hear them cry out of the thorn in the Flesh 2 Cor. 12.7 8. of the Body of Sin Rom. 7.24 And of the Burthen of it Psal 38.4 Mine iniquities are gon over my head as a heavy Burthen they are too heavy for me to bear But they are so far from accounting his service difficult or crying out of the weightiness of Christs Burthen that on the contrary they cry O how do we love thy Law as David in Psal 119. I rejoice in them more than in hid Treasure so Paul Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God after the inward Man Da quod mandas manda quod vis Aug. This is their language give but strength Lord and command what thou wilt let not this discourage thee for it is only Satans wile 23. If all this will not do then he will let fly his fiery Darts and by terrors and horrors of Conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 6.16 he will seek to scare the Sinner from coming to Christ he will send forth Thunder and Lightening against the poor Soul and threaten nothing but damnation if it go to seek for Salvation he will give it no peace till it returns again to folly Woful experience doth confirm the truth of this many have tasted of the powers of the World to come but yet by Satans Darts have been shamefully overcome If Christ promise Peace Satan will give the Soul nothing but trouble he will terrify and amaze it if once it offer to look to Christ when his sophystry and subtilty will not do then he plays his Engines of War and makes the poor Sinner willingly yield and lay down Arms upon condition of peace It is willing to comply and yield subjection rather then stand the contest with such a potent adversary but let not Satan with his fiery Darts beat thee back from coming unto Christ the Captain of thy Salvation Pray Christ to give thee the sheild of faith wherewith thou may'st quench his fiery Darts Eph. 6.6 If thou come to Christ he will tread this Enemy Satan under thy Feet and bring thee conqueror out of the
but ten thousand Worlds can do thy Soul no good nor help thee in the evil day these sufferings are but light and momentary but the Crown and Glory shall be eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 2ly The things of the World they impede I shall not here particularly treat or make mention of them because I have already exceeded what I first intended therefore I shall only name those three usual heads under which all are comprehended scil Pleasure Profit and Honour these obstacles are mentioned by the Apostle John under the names of the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life 1 Jo. 2.16 O how many have these worldly terrene vanities prevented from coming unto Christ As 1. The pleasures of the world both lawful and unlawful as in Luk. 14.20 I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come Here was not so much as a civil excuse from him as from the two former in vers 18.19 And why because he thought such a delightful relation was lawful by divine appointment and therefore he concluded he might very well answer I cannot come this man supposed it more just and equal to solace and felicitate himself with the injoyment of a Wife then to come when the Lords Servants invited but I fear he is not alone in this answer for if we pass by former Ages and only take a prospect of the present we shall meet with many such answers if not in their Lips yet in their Lives it is most perspicuously demonstrated but remember this that comforts are Lawful when Lawfully injoyed and as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.23 All things are Lawful but all things are not expedient For when any injoyment keeps the Soul from fully closing with Christ though never so lawful in it self it then becomes sinful as in Luk. 14.20 Instead of loving and delighting in all must be hated in comparison of Christ who is the eternal delight of the Father Prov. 8.30 The joy of Angels and the glory of Saints 2. Those pleasures which are unjust base and sordid which true vertue and ingenuity never invented which only gratify the bruitish part of man and have Plus Alloes quam Mellis more of Gall then of Hony in them which do immerge and drown the Sinner in sensuallity nay may I not say in brutish bestiality which make him forget God his Creator and neglect coming unto Christ the only Redeemer and Saviour of Mankind How many in this Age prefer the gratifying a base Lust before the obeying a glorious Jesus their sordid pleasures before the welfare of their immortal Souls they will do more to please one single Lust though it be to their eternal detriment and loss then to delight Christ and Angels by converting and turning to him for there is joy in Heaven at the conversion of a Sinner There is no reason to be given why a Sinner should be held by such Cobwebs as these but we see by dayly and woful experience that their Lust prevails more to keep them from Christ then all the sweet invitations promises of Christ will do to bring them unto him They will go Twenty Steps after a vain pleasure to damn their Souls but not one in order to the Salvation of them it may be when some dark Providence beclouds them when the Night of affliction overshaddows them and the Terrors of Conscience affright them old decriped Age hath imbicilitated and decayed them and Death stands ready to attend them then it may be but not till then when the delicacies of this World are imbittered and have no relish there may be some faint desires after those sweet Celestial Pleasures which are at the right hand of God for evermore Psal 16.11 But O Sinner neglect not Christ for a Vanity a more then Vanity let not temporal Pleasures be prefered before eternal felicities what for a momentary delight hazard everlasting Treasures I have before declared what thou shalt have if thou comest unto Christ weigh them in the Ballance of sanctified reason and try them by the Touchstone of the Scripture and then see whether Christ and his pleasures be not to be prefered before all others 2. The Profits of the World are great impediments when these stand between Christ and the Sinner and if he comes to Christ he must transileate and leap over all these he rather chooses to Sit down contented with his Worldly Portion and to take the Left hand rather than the Right hand blessings give him but the Earthly and terestial let who will take the Heavenly and Celestial Mansions this kept the young man from closing with Christ Mat. 19.22 this made Demas forsake Paul and imbrace this present World and many others both then and now To Err from the Faith and drown themselves in destruction and perdition Tim. 6.10 Exitio est avidis Mare Nautis What made Judas betray the Glorious Jesus but the vain Profits of a perishing World what is the great support of the Papists Religion but their Gain and Profits from their several quarters this makes them debase Christ instead of exalting him and Daphne-like run away from the great Apollo scil the Lord Jesus Quid non mortalia pectora cogit auri sacra fames when they should willingly run themselves and incourage others to come and meet him but as the Poet said the greedy and cursed desire of Gold doth destroy men how are men lincked with these Chains these Silver shrines cause multitudes to prostrate themselves to the base Diana of this World i. e. their profit when Christ is Preached up to be the only Saviour Act. 19. I think this Chapter would serve excellently to paint forth the Whore of Rome with her Demetrius's and Sinners are beseeched and exhorted to come unto him then come the Idol-Worshipers of this World and cry Great is Diana of the Ephesians Great profit and gain there is to be had if we adore this false Deity But least I be too prolix I will contract let not the thick clay of this World so depress and weigh down thy Soul that thou canst not sore aloft to meet a Jesus for it is Christ not Gold that can save thee it is Heaven not Earth that can truely inrich thy Soul Multa petentibus desunt muta here thou maist desire still and be in want but if thou comest to Christ he will possess thee with everlasting Treasure thou shalt satiate thy Soul with the riches of Heaven in a word the more thou dost deny thy self in the things of this World Quanto quisque sibi plura negaverit a Diis plura feret the more thou shalt receive from Christ as grace here and Glory for ever Psal 84.11 Therefore let not vanity possess thy Soul and keep out him who is all and in all Col. 3.11 3. The Honours of the World are great hindrances these elevate the Soul above the bounds of reason Non semper idem floribus
that he will not pass by the least Sin without full satisfaction to his justice or else in equity he will punish every Sinner with infinite punishment till then I say the Soul doth not so much regard coming to Christ that it may be made partaker of his righteousness when the Sinner is made to see Gods righteousness then he flys to the Horns of the Alter scil to lay hold of Christs righteousness tendered to Poor Sinners in the Gospel 6ly I might add further that the Spirit doth inlighten the understanding to discern the Love Pity and mercy of God in Christ and his readiness and willingness to accept of those who come unto him in and through his Son Jo. 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life God is ready to give and be reconciled Psal 86.5 But there is no coming unto him but by Christ Jo. 14.6 these considerations do incourage the Poor Soul to come to Christ because God is full of Pitty and faithfulness to forgive 1 Jo. 1.9 7ly The Spirit inlightens the mind in the knowledg of Christ 1. What he is 2 What he hath done 3. What he is doing in the behalf of Poor Sinners 1. What he is I have declared in the beginning of this Book that he is God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 the true God and eternal life 1 Jo. 5.20 that he is the eternal delight of the Father the Glory of Angels admired by Saints and the Saviour of poor lost Sinners that he is God-man in two distinct natures and one person for ever as he was Man he suffered but as he was God-Man he satisfied infinite Justice by laying down an infinite price for infinite transgressions It was the blood of him that was God as well as Man that was effused and poured forth for our sins Acts 20.28 1 Job 3.16 2dly What he hath done for lost sinners he who was in the form of God took upon him the form of a Servant Phil. 2.6 7. he put himself into a capacity to fulfil all righteousness and to undergo all misery for our iniquities that he might save us from the wrath of God wch will consume all those who believe not in Christ he hath compleated the work of Redemption for we are made compleat in him Col. 2.10 In short he hath fulfilled the whole Law in way of obedience he suffered the penalty due unto those whom he redeemed he was made a Curse for them Gal. 3.13 that they might obtain the blessing even life for evermore he died that they might live for by dying he conquered Death and brought life and immortality to light he broke through the Prison of the grave and by his own power brought Salvation and ascended on high and lead captivity captive that he might give gifts unto men Eph. 4.8 3. He is now sitting at the right hand of God till his Enemies be made his foot-stool Psal 110.1 and his Saints crowned and glorified with him in his Kingdom he prayed for them when he was here on earth Joh. 17. but now he is interceding at the right hand of God in the behalf of his redeemed ones 1 Joh. 2.1 These things and many more the spirit reveals unto them that are come to Jesus Christ Christ is the head of the Body his Church Eph. 1.22.23 And gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulness of him who filleth all in all * Sicut vita ex solo capite in omnia membra propagatur sic ex un◠Christo in omnia membra spiritus ipsius spargitur non autem ex uno membro in aliud Ursin de doc Chris pa. 249. for as life from the head alone is propagated into all the Members so from one Christ his spirit is poured out into all his Members but not from one member into another as the Head is sons omnis vitae the fountain of all life so Christ is the fountain from which his Members derive continual supplies Now seeing Christ and Believers are so nearly related as to be one spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 he the Head and they the Members there must needs be an intimacy and knowledge of each other for as Christ saith Job 10.14 I am the good Shepheard I know my Sheep and am known of mine so I say if thou art come unto Christ the Spirit hath revealed Christ Jesus to thee he hath enlightned thy understanding to know in some measure what he is what he hath done and what he is doing for thy Soul 2dly If thou art come to Christ thy conscience hath been convinced by the holy spirit it is his work to convince a person of sin Joh. 16.8 and when he is come to wit the holy Spirit he shall convince the world of sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is beyond the power of man to convince the conscience it is proper to the holy Ghost 1. Then he hath convinced thee of thy original sin which is the source and spring from which all other sins flow it is not Fons vitae the fountain of life but Fons corruptionis Mortis of corruption and death from this spring flows forth the bitter waters of Meribah which prove destructive to Mankind the whole man being vitiated and corrupted by original sin which made the Apostle say I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 he calls it The Law in his Members Vers 23. The Body of Death ver 24. Thus he was convinced of his Original sin and therefore he saith We are all the children of Wrath by Nature Eph. 2.3 which Scriptures are fully and excellently declared to be meant of Original sin by that worthy Minister of Christ Mr. Anthony Burgess in his Doctrine of Original sin The Prophet David confesseth it Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me he was convinced of his pollution even in the very womb and so art thou if the Spirit hath been effectually at work in thy Soul from the heart naturally proceeds no good thing but thence come Thefts evil Thoughts Murders Adulteries Fornications false Witness Blasphemy Mat. 15.1.9 All which defile and pollute a Man 2. Thou art convinced of the evil of thy actual sins thy manifold transgressions and violations of the Law of God those sins which thy hand thy heart thy tongue thy ear and eye have been imployed in as David was convinced of his Murther and Adultery which the 51. Psal declares Paul of his Persecution injuriousness and blasphemy 1 Tim. 1.13 Peter of denying his Lord and Master Mat. 26.74 75. Thou art now convinced that Sin is exceeding sinful Rom. 17.13 and that thy great work and business in thy unconverted state was to Sin against God 3ly Thou art convinced that every Sin doth contaminate and defile thy Soul Psal 19. Cleanse thou me
it do make it manifest 1. It cleanseth and puryfieth the heart true Faith and an unsanctified Heart are never concomitants or coinhabitants Acts 15.9 And put no difference between us and them Purifying their Hearts by Faith A defiled Gentile as well as a chosen Jew is purified by Faith for Faith apprehends the right means of purifying scil the Blood of Christ it will not suffer corruption to remain predominant in the Soul therefore the People of God are said to be a holy Temple for the Holy God to dwell and abide in 2 Cor. 6.16 2ly It lifts the Heart above the World and makes it come off Conquerer 1 Joh. 5.4 5. Whosoever is Born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Vers 5. Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God Faith is a World-conquering Grace it can presentiate future things it looks to the Land that is a far off Isa 33.17 Faith cloaths the Soul with the Sun of Righteousness and gets the Moon of this World under his Feet it regards these things but as perishing and transitory the things of the future and sempiternal world to be most Glorious Permanent and abiding It was by Faith that all the Worthy Champions of Christ have conquered this Base World and followed their Lord and Master through the greatest difficultys I might instance in many Moses Refused all the Pomp and Splendor of Pharaohs Court the Riches and Grandeur of the World and made a voluntary choise of suffering with the People of God and esteemed the reproach of Christ greater Riches then all the Riches of Egypt but how did this valliant Conquerer break through all these difficultys what could not Courts nor Kingdoms nor Terrors of a King nor Treasures nor Horrors nor Displeasures conquer one Moses such an Army as here was set in aray against him the least of which is enough to foil if not to conquer the greatest Monarch if Faith be not his sheild Eph. 6.16 Heb. 11.24 25. 26 27. but all these cords were too weak to hold him whilst the seven-fold Lock of Faith remained his strength abode firm and his bow abode in strength it was by Faith he did all this and there were two main Pillars which supported him and his Faith the first was looking to him who is invisible i. e. God The second was the prospecting and looking forward to the recompence of reward I might number up many more Instances but in short all the Servants of Christ have this conquering Faith Rom. 8.37 for the nature of it although one acts inferiour to another by reason of the different degrees some being not called to that tryal as others are but all have a measure of this Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these things speaking of several sorts of afflictions we are more then Conquerers through him that Loved us Every Christian is to Fight the Fight of Faith and Righteousness and in a Combat there is a conquerer and the Conquered either we Conquer the World or the World Conquers us but if we come off Conquerers it must be by the Shield of Faith 3ly It is a labouring working Faith in opposition to an Idle Faith Jam. 2.22 Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Work and by Works was Faith made perfect That is by his works it was manifest that his Faith was a perfect and right Gospel one true Faith is opperative it is active in puting the Soul upon all obedience unto God as it did Abraham in that difficult Service he was called to by Faith he went through with it Heb. 11.17 By Faith Abraham when he was tryed offered his Son Isaac Faith put Noah upon his obedience unto God when all others neglected their Salvation and the Preach-of Noah unto them Heb. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet he being religiously afraid as the word may be rendred prepared an Ark to the saving of his house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A right saving Faith whereever it is Religiose solisite cavet ne Deum offendat puts the Soul upon the performance of all dutys injoyned and commanded by God it doth not rest only in a bare assent to the revealed will of God saying it is true and so sits down there and proceeds no farther but it is up and doing for God Christ and the Soul 4ly It is a Living Faith it works a principal of Life in the Heart where it is wrought The just shall live by Faith In opposition to a dead faith Rom. 1.17 Heb. 10.38 It is a quickening Principle which inlivens all other graces and keeps them in motion they would all faint and Dye if Faith did not keep them alive Gal. 2.20 I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I Live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life I now Live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Here the Apostle clearly manifests how he lived it was by a living Principle of saving Faith apprehending a living Jesus 5ly and Lastly It is a lasting and permanent in opposition to a temporary and perishing Faith many pretend to believe but it is for a time like the Stony-ground Hearers which rejoyce to day and by reason of some afflictions are offended to morrow but now true Faith is abiding Mat. 13.20.21 growing and increasing dayly 1 Jo. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God sineth not for his seed remaineth in him This Seed remains firm there because it is sowed not by Satan but by the Spirit of God Heb. 10.39 We are not of those who draw back into perdition but them who believe to the saving of the Soul According to that of Christ he that induers to the End shall be saved There must be a Perseverance in Faith if we expect the Crown of Righteousness for Christ will Crown none but conquerers and none can conquer unless they believe and none believe but them who persevere in it 4ly It is known by its effects I shall mention only these two Joy and Peace 1. Joy and exaltation Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Joy is a Fruit that Grows upon the root of Faith what hath made the Servants of Christ in all Ages Rejoice when they met with nothing in the Inn of this World but rough Entertainment but their believing in Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 The Apostle in vers 7. tells the believers of the tryal of their Faith and the preciousness of it in the day of Christ and saith in the 8. vers whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Faith assends by the wings of Love and Zeale and fixeth it self above the Clouds and takes a view of the celestial
Canaan and the Glory of the new Jerusalem she takes a survey of those blessed immunities eternal felicitys and that Immortal glory the Saints shall be invironed and invested with when they come to injoy Christ who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all and in all Col. 3.11 and from the blessed Prospect of these things Faith makes a return and descent into the Soul implets and fills it with divine joy even to the supream confines of it it tells such storys of the Love of God and Christ and the blessed Spirit to the believer that it doth conflagate and inflame the Soul and makes it rejoice perpetually in the Lord according to that exhortation of the Apostle rejoyce in the Lord always May I speak with reverence Faith penetrates into the very Bosome of the Almighty and sees there is Love Peace and reconciliation for the believing Soul it looks into the records of Heaven and can read Thy Sins are forgiven and thy Iniquitys are blotted out It can look into the Lambs book of Life and read the name of the believer imprinted there this makes the Soul exalt and triumph with Songs of praise what made Paul and Silas Sing and Rejoyce when their Feet was incastriated their Bodys with Stripes vulnerated Act. 16.22 23 24 25. in an interior obscure Prison denyed the solace of that which nature is very ambitious of scil their Eyes to behold the Sun but this a lively Faith which devocated and fetched down new comfort to their Souls Faith when Active makes the Soul rejoyce in God and Christ and in divine and spiritual objects 2ly Peace is another effect of that Faith which is wrought by the Spirit of God as in that forequoted place Rom. 15.13 The God of Peace fill you with all joy and Peace in believing Peace of Conscience from sound principles is a happy priviledge and great blessing To be under the racks of a disquieted and tormented Conscience O what a mercy is it to injoy peace and a Calm within the Soul when there is nothing but tempests and tumults abroad what a comfortable condition is this God hath made a promise of Peace to believers Isa 26.3 I will keep him in Peace whose mind is Staid upon me because he trusteth in me Christ gives his Peace to Believers as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.27 My Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you The Believer is at Peace with the Law of God because it is satisfied by the Death of Christ at peace with God the Father because he is well pleased in his Son to be reconciled to poor Sinners he is at peace with himself because his Sins are pardoned but he is never at peace again with Sin or Satan because they are Enemys to this true Peace which believers do partake of The believers peace is not remaining in Sin but it is a peace from Sin from the guilt and power of it 3ly In those who are come unto Christ the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Love for as the Apostle saith 1 Jo. 4.8 He that Loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love This is the great Gospel-grace as the Apostle Paul calls it 1 Cor 13.13 Jo. 13.35 Now there abideth Faith Hope and Love these three but the greatest of these is Love This is the distinguishing grace by which we are known to be Christs Disciples it declares our Divine original That we are Born from above 1 Jo. 4.7 it manifests our near union and communion with God 1 Jo. 4.16 God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him But I shall speak to this Query how may one know that the grace of Love is wrought by the Spirit in the Soul The Resolution of which may be known by these two means scil the propertys and objects of it 1. As to the propertys of it it is Divine for the Spirit of God is the Author of it Gal. 5.22 it descends from above Jam. 1.17 Every good gift and every perfect gifts is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights Now Love is one of these good perfect gifts 1 Jo. 4.7 for there is not any thing in the new Creature which is not the Finger-work of God all grace flows from him through Christ by his holy Spirit into the Soul Love is a grace that is Immortal for when Faith is turned into fruition and hope into possession this divine Love Remains 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 13.8 Love never faileth It is a Seed that never dies a fire that once being kindled never more will be extinguished it transformes the Soul into the very Image of God and makes it most like unto its maker it is Divine in that it Loves Joys and takes complacency in pure holy and divine objects it is not Like Carnal Love which findes nothing but the perishing Creature to diligate and delight in but it seeks better and more durable objects because it is of a Divine original 1 Jo. 4.7 Love is from God Therefore there are reflex acts towards the Author and giver of it 2ly This Love is sublime it is high and lofty although not puffed up with vain pride because it scorns to fix its felicity in a vain Perishing world the base things of this World are not objects noble enough for this excellent grace it is of a noble extraction and therefore Loves and delights in Divine and noble objects David who was a Man after Gods own Heart was full of this Divine and sublime Love therefore we have him often expressing his Love to God to the Law far above Gold or Silver or the perishing trash of a sinful World Psal 119.72 The Law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of Gold and Silver The beauty of this inferior World is but deformity and blackness compared with the Splendor and glory of those divine objects which this Love is fixed upon the Honours and Riches of this World are but Dung and Dross to the Soul who hath this sublime Love Phil. 3.8 Ye doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogs-meat that I may win Christ What made the Apostle thus to trample upon these terrene things and so to stain the glory of those things which are most excellent in the Eyes of most men why his Heart overflowed with this divine sublime and seraphick Love this is the true nature of evangelick Love it Loves the World and the things of it with a World-like Love which is cold indifferent and mutable the Heart that flows with this Love ever ebbs and runs low to the things of this world because it looks upon them as not worthy of its Love 3ly It Loves superlatively all divine things it doth not only Love in a high degree but in
the highest even with all the Heart with all the Mind and with all the Strength God and Christ are to be beloved beyond all measure as one saith the right manner of Loving God is Modus diligendi deum est ut diligatur quantum potest diligi Bern. that he may be beloved as much as he can be beloved This evangellick Love seats it self in the most superlative place of the Soul there is no comparison between this Love and the Love of the Creature 4ly This Love is sincere Grace be with all those who Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Eph. 6.24 If there is not Sincerity at the Root besure the Fruit is corrupt Hypocrisie is the distruction of many but Sincerity Integrity and Uprightness preserveth the Soul wherefore were Noah Job and others counted Perfect it was not because they were Perfect in their obedience but because their Love was Sincere this makes the Scripture give such an excellent Charactor of them Sincerity is as it were the Salt which seasons every duty and a Sincere Love although but weak in the actings is that which savours of a right Gospel Spirit 5ly It is a fervent Love Rom. 12.11 Fervent in Spirit Serving the Lord. It is true that this Love may not always Seraphin like be in a bright burning flame but yet where once it is wrought by the Spirit it never after is quite extinguished for when it flames not it does burn and when it burns not clearly there are some scintilla's and Sparks which keep it from quite going out and when the Cinders of Corruption are blown away it kindles up into a flame again Let one who hath this fervent Love through invigilancy fall into Sin or neglect duty it cools and damps the fire of his affection for a time but let him come again to the ordinances and by Faith Drink a draught of the warm Blood of Christ and by Prayer blow up the heat of his affections it will prove but like the Water the Smith Casts upon the fire which seemingly Puts it out but when he hath blown a while it flames more violently I say not this to incourage any to make tryal by Sin but if it be so with any that now find their Love but cold which formerly was fervent they may see the cause be wise to improve and apply the Remedy this Love I say is Ardent Love which warms the heart for it is a ray from the Sun of righteousness which sets the Soul all in a Divine feaver 6thly This Love is total I mean it is with the whole heart God hates a divided Heart or as the Hebrew hath it a Heart and a Heart one as it were for God and another for the World and Sin but God will have the whole or none therefore it is said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God Mat. 22.37 Deut. 6.5 with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind See here how many Times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all is expressed as God is of an indivisible essence so he would not have that which is his due to be divided now the true Saint is very well content that God should have all he would have none to be Copartner with God and Christ but desires that his Love and affections may wholly be fixed and set upon the right objects when God saith to the person who hath this Love my Son give me thy heart he is ready to respond and say Lord here am I take the whole of my heart nay take the all of my all let me be but thine and that for ever 7thly and lastly It is a constant and permanent Love as Christ said unto his Disciples Jo. 15.9 Continue ye in my love so may I say to you See that this love abide and continue in you For if your Love be of an Evangellick nature it is a permanent Love 1 Cor. 13.8 Love never faileth Christ spake of some whose Love should fail them but that which is durable ends in Salvation Mat. 24.12.13 Because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold but he that indures to the end the same shall be saved He whose Love keeps warm and abideth shall certainly obtain Salvation as the love of God towards his People is an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 So he expects that their love should be a permanent love God hates those who draw back Heb. 10.38 but it is the nature of this love to press forward to increase and aspire till it comes unto the Center from whence it came He that hath this love maintains it in adversity as well as prosperity when the Clouds do darken the Face of God as well as when the Sun-shine of this love beams forth upon the Soul many of the Saints have experienced this they have found their love hottest when their afflictions have been heavyest when most shaken by the World they have been most confirmed in their love to God and Christ I come now to the objects of this spiritual evangelick love and I shall speak of them first negatively shewing what are not the objects of this love 2ly possitively what they are 1. Negatively what are not the objects 1. Not Sin neither in ones self or in another The Soul that hath this Divine love in it cannot but hate all Sin Psal 119.101 and 104. I have refrained my feet from every evil way v. 104. I hate every false way v. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love As God is said to be of purer Eies then to behold Iniquity so the Saints are of purer Hearts then to love Iniquity Sin hath brought bitterness to their souls therefore they now abhor it they have no love or liking at all for Sin it doth not fix upon Iniquity as a delectable and lovely object but hates and flees from all base lusts which seek to insnare the Soul 2ly It is not fixed upon Satan for although no Creature mearly as a Creature is to be the object of our hatred because it declares something of the wisdom and power of the Creator in giving existence and being to such a Creature yet Satan in his Sinful lapsed State and condition as an Enemy to God Christ and the well being of our immortal Souls ought to be the object of our hatred 1 Pet. 5.8 For he goes about like a Roaring lyon seeking whom he may devour He makes it his great imployment to effect the ruin of poor Souls therefore he is become the object of hatred 3ly It is not placed upon this teâ—rene dying and perishing world love to God and Christ in that measure and degree as it should be cannot consist with an eager and earnest love of the world Jam. 4.4 Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the Friendship of the World is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God This is further manifest in 1 Jo. 2.15 Love not the World neither
objects and the Soul wisheth nothing more than to be full even to the brim 1 Pet. 1.15 16. with this celestial Liquor And for Holyness the Soul is ambitious to attain to the perfection of it To be Holy as God is Holy in all manner of conversation But seeing it cannot acquire that Perfection in this Life it is so in Love with Sanctity that it pants and Prays and longs to get to that state of Glory wherein it is not perfecting but perfect in Holyness not cleansing but cleansed and purified from all Iniquitys By these things you may know whether the Spirit hath wrought the Grace of love in your Souls 4ly The Fourth grace is Hope This is numbred among the three graces 1 Cor. 13.13 And now abideth Faith Hope and Charity but the greatest of these is Charity I shall speak to this and the other two scil Humility and Zeale very Briefly because I have been longer then I intended in the former the Spirit is the Author of this evangellick grace in the Soul and it is the Character of the People of God that they are those who hope in him Psal 3.24 Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your Hearts all ye that hope in the Lord. 1. I shall declare what this Hope is 2. It s Nature and Office 3. Its objects 1. What it is Hope is a Grace of the Soul whereby every true Christian doth surely expect and patiently wait and look for the injoyment of promised mercys and Salvation Rom. 8.24.25 For we are saved by Hope but hope that is seen is no hope for how can a Man hope for that which he seeth but if we hope for that we see not we do with patience wait for it Heb. 10.35.36 Cast not away therefore your Confidence which hath great recompence of reward Vers 36. For ye have need of Patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the Promise i. e. The thing promised Rom. 5.2 Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God Hope looks to the time to come for the certain possession of the thing hoped for 2. The propertys of it 1. It Looks for the thing promised God hath promised Life Salvation Glory and Bliss to believers Tit. 1.2 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began I will give Grace and Glory saith God Psal 84.11 Now hope doth firmly expect that God should make good his word and not fail in one Iota or tittle of all things he hath promised to his Saints and Servants 2. It is the nature of it to look forwards to the end and full perfection of bliss Here our blessedness is but imperfect because our graces are not compleated there being the Reliques of Sin in the Soul but hereafter when we are taken above the Clouds and possessed of eternal Glory being in full fruition of God Grace shall be perfected and Crowned with Glory Faith shall be turned into a glorious vision and hope into everlasting fruition this hope expects and waits for 3. From the consideration and certain perswasion of the things hoped for it fills the Soul with joy and gladness Rom. 5.2 Rejoycing in the Hope of the Glory of God The very Expectation that the Day will come when the Soul shall be invested with and possess That far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory spoken of 2 Cor. 4.17 makes it even in the midst of afflictions exult and rejoice It can Glory in tribulation when the Heart is possest of this Grace of Hope 4. This Hope is not ashamed to discover it self neither doth it make the Person ashamed that has it Paul is not ashamed to own it before Agrippa and a Court of Judicature Act. 26.6 And now I stand and am Judged for the Hope of the promise made by God to our Fathers Although the worldly Miser may condemn Believers who build so much upon the expectation of future happiness and for that are willing to undergo afflictions here Yet this hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 5. It puts the Soul upon purification of it self Seeing it expects such great things as to be delivered from all evil to enjoy God and be made like unto him 1 Joh. 3.2.3 Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is vers 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifyeth himself even as he is pure This Soul expects to live with a holy God holy Angels and Saints therefore it labours to become holy and to be made meet for so blessed an Inheritance as God hath provided for them who hope in his Mercy 3ly The objects and foundations of this Evangelic hope 1. God as in Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his Countenance So vers 11. and Psal 43.5 The Psalmist doth still call upon his Soul to hope in God Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is 2. This hope builds upon the Mercy of God in and through Christ Psal 33.1.8 Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his Mercy And in the 147. Psal 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in those that fear him in them that hope in his Mercy God has declared himself by this Name The Lord gracious and merciful Exod. 34.6 therefore hope looks unto this expecting that his Mercy and pity will move him to tender forth grace to the poor soul Christ is called the Mercy promised to the Fathers Luk. 1.72 To perform the Mercy promised to our Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant And the fulfilling of this is said to flow from the tender mercys of God ver 78. Through the tender mercys of God whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us so that hope takes incouragement from the mercy of God still to rely upon him 3ly The faithfulness of God Titus 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised before the foundation of the world Here the soul casts Anchor flyes to refuge in storms and concludes the foundation of God stands sure 2 Tim. 2.13.19 and he cannot deny himselfe he can as soon cease to be as fail of fulfilling his promises which he has given as bonds to his people and they are sealed with the blood of Christ therefore never to be cancelled till they are fully discharged 4ly This hope looks upon the promises that God hath made and builds upon them 1. for salvation and eternal life the believer firmly hopes for it and expects to partake of life and happiness as in that forementioned place Tit.
your selves and them who were entring ye hindred Or forbid those Lawyers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are sometimes taken for the Scribes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they were writers of the Law and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 1.7 Dionisius de tribus sectis l. 2. Chap. 11. The teachers of the Law of Moses they did expound the Law to the People in Esra 7.6 But yet by their false interpretation took away the Key of Knowledg i. e. the right meaning of it and so shut out both themselves and others from happiness by their false and corrupt glasses Upon Texts of Scripture it is probable they prohibited and forbid the Jews to believe that Christ was the promised Messiah therefore they ought not to obey him who is the only way to Eternal Life Thus the Papists Socinians and Pelagians have perverted Souls and caused whole Kingdoms to deviate and turn out of that direct way which leads unto Christ but O what a dreadful account will these Soul-Murderers have to give in at the day of Christ The Papist is for his Works and Merits the Socinian for his Faith not laying hold upon the object and Foundation the Lord Jesus the Pelagian for his free Will he will come to Christ when he pleaseth Others by a bare notion and assent thus when they should do as the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.5 Not Preach themselves but Jesus Christ they on the contrary Preach down Christ and extol themselves but Sinner receive none of these Doctrines which Savour not of Christ but reject them with that saying of Augustine when he read Cicero's Works Dukes non sunt quia nomen Jesu non est in illis Aug. They are not sweet because the name of Jesus is not in them Let him be alone exalted and held forth as the Brasen Serpent for the Eye of thy Faith to look unto Jo. 3.14 That thou maist receive cure for thy wounded Soul 2ly By their evil example for this hath a great influence upon the common sort and generality of mankind Exemplis sanè qui docet ille docet He teacheth well who teacheth by examples These pretend to believe in Christ yet live like the Servants of Satan Linaker reading the 6. 7. Chap. of Mat. and considering the lives of Christians threw away his Testament saying Certainly Certè aut hoc non est Evangelium Christi aut nos non sumus Christiani either this is not the Gospel of Christ or we are not Christians I say this has been and is at this day a very great Let to poor Sinners and keeps them from coming to Christ The conversation of such who profess Christ ought to be mannaged so uprightly that thereby they might win others unto Christ I know the evil of this by experience for when I was Puris Naturalibus in my Natural State and Condition and observing the loose conversation of one who seemed a great Zealot for Christ and pure Christianity it proved an obstacle unto me for a time and kept me back from fully closing with the Lord Jesus Therefore I only say this Christians look to your lives that they be exemplary for holyness and Sinner look to the word of God which will lead thee unto Christ who is the best example and pattern of Piety 3ly By their Edicts and strict Laws against them and their threatning of them Thus the Jews threatned the Apostles that they should not Preach up Christ Act. 4.17 And thus the Papists threaten people with fire and faggot if they come unto Christ their Bloody Inquisitions scares many from believing professing and imbracing the truth of the Gospel this they have done ever since Christs time but let not these things deter thee but consider the answer of the Apostles when called before the Councel Act. 4.19 Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God judg ye 4ly By keeping the word of God from them and not permiting them to read the holy Scriptures which are able by the assistance of the holy Spirit to make one wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Chrisostom calls them Animae Pharmaca the Medicines of the Soul there the wounded may find cure the blind may receive sight the Scriptures are such a copious treasure that the Soul may have full supplies in time of straits there it may have councel as David had they were the men of his councel there the Soul may come to understand its misery the way of justification and Salvation by a Redeemer who and what person he is that he is the Eternal Son of God Jo. 3.16 The only begotten Son of God In fine there are all things necessary to Salvation it is like a well stored Magazin wherein there is plenty of Amunition to offend and defend against the Enemy and also plenty of Provision to supply the wants of those inclosed in the Garison But cruel Papists deny them to the Layety and by that means prevents them from knowing who Christ is and the necessity of coming unto him many have been converted by reading the Scriptures as Augustine Tertullian and Luther with several others therefore labour to get the Scriptures to read and understand them that thou maist come unto Christ and that thy Soul may be made eternally happy by him 5ly By persecuting of and destroying those who are Christs faithful Embassadors that would bring them to Christ Justin Martyr was converted by seeing the undanted Spirit of those who suffered for Christ And many more instances I might give Thus the Papists have spit out their poisonous venome how many have they made to deny the Lord that bought them although it must be confessed that God is pleased to order it so that Sanguis Martyrum est semen Ecclesiae The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church and the more they have been oppressed the more they have Augmented and by scattering have been increased as they were in the Apostles days yet quite contrary to the design of their Adversaries as it is said of the great King of Assyria Isa 10. He designed to destroy Nations not a few But God designed no such thing but only to convert and chastise those who had sinned against him so the wicked persecutors of the World in all the ten bloody persecutions and in the Marian Days here in England their whole purpose and intent was to keep Persons from believing in Christ and laying hold upon him for Salvation therefore they destroyed the shepheards that the Sheep might go astray others through fear of their cruelty be impeded and letted from coming but that this may not hinder consider that to have Christ at a dear rate is better than to have the World at a Cheap for thou wilt infinitely be a looser if thou hast the whole world and yet missest of Christ One Christ will make thee amends for all thy sufferings and afflictions