us look back on the patience of Christ it may be it may raise our hearts a little he is not like furious man that will be gone if they will not hear at the first or second knock he will in a spleen be gone but Christ waits tell his head is wet with the Dew c. methinks this should make us willing to wait on him it may be he doth not presently answer all our requests It may be with Paul thou and I have some thorn in the Flesh that we have sought God for the taking of it away and we begin to be impatient and to say we have waited and prayed and looked long and yet 't is not taken away we looked for peace and behold no good we looked for healing and behold trouble and we begin to fret and say as Jehoram King of Israel did when trouble began to arise and the Famine increase 2 Kings 6. 33. Behold this evil is of the Lord what should we wait for the Lord any longer Ah poor soul whoever thou art I pitty thee that hast been at any time in this sad temper but stay thy self soul with this that Christ waited tell his head was wet with the Dew c. And to what end did he and doth he wait but to be gracious so he saith Is. 30 18 And therefore doth the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you Note the force of that word therefore for that very end that he may be gracious Oh! how long hath he waited for you it may for some ten twenty thirty fourty years and yet he saith he will wait Therefore will the Lord wait not onely hath but will wait Oh why then should not we wait then for him I but dost thou find after all this waiting that Jesus Christ is come in thou wilt say it may be I would have Christ for my Saviour First Hast thou received him for thy Priest the Priest's under the Law were changed by reason of mortallity but this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood but art thou able to say thou art willing to cast thy self on him to bear away thy iniquities I tell thee he is able to bear them there is help laid on one that is mighty and he is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. And he is not one that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was tempted as we are that he might the better succour them that are tempted and because of this Priest-hood We may come boldly to the Throne of Grace Heb. 4. 15. Heb. 2. 8. Alas we durst not have looked God in the Face had not Christ been our Priest and undertaken this but now we may come boldly and plead Christ with him Oh who shall condemn 't is Christ that dyed Rom. 8. 34. Yea when he let Angels go those noble Creatures yet he condescended to take on him the Seed of Abra'm he would be a Priest for poor lost man Heb. 2. 16. Yea he by this bare our iniquities into the Wilderness of forgetfulness Lev. 16. 21. And truly we had need of one to bear away not only the iniquity of our transgression but to bear the iniquities of our services he is the Antitipe of Aaron the Priest to bear away the iniquity of our Holy things Exod. 28. 38. When poor Believers are troubled with vain thoughts and their Spirits are wandring in Prayer or Hearing or Meditation or Reading These Worm eaten services the worms of evil thoughts will be creeping in and eating out the heart of our prayers yet Christ will bear away the iniquity of these Holy things yea when not only vain but wicked thoughts come in as in Prov. 5. 14. I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation Yea thy very secret sins which made David cry out Cleanse me from my secret sins Psal 19. 12. Yet he is a Priest to bear away all sorts of sins The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sins Now Soul try thy self art thou willing to have Christ for thy Priest do not deceive thy self 't is not so easie to take Christ for thy Priest 't is no small matter to come of from thy self Secondly Hast thou received Christ for thy Prophet to teach thee All Gods Children shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54. 13. And a Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy brethren him shall ye hear in all things Acts 3. 22. And this was of old Prophesied by Jacob Gen. 49. 13. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the people be this Shiloh was Christ and this gathering of the people to hear him begun to be fulfilled Luke 19. 48. For all the people were very attentive to hear him or as some margins have it they hanged on him Now art thou willing to hear him and to hang on his lip to be taught by him and none other and to hear no other Doctrine then what he Teaches dost thou indeed take him for thy Prophet and with the Apostle Gal. 1. 9. Dost account him accursed that brings any other news of Salvation This is a second way we should receive Christ But I proceed to the next Thirdly Dost thou receive Christ for thy King to Rule and give thee Laws as well as teach thee Isa 33. 22. The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King not only King to save us but our Law-giver to rule us He is our King and he will save us we must not think to be Kings our selves Alas what can we do but he will save us save us from sins Matth. 1. 21. And he will save us from our enemies too the people of Israel did not save themselves by their own arm but by the Lords arm and by the Lords right hand Psal 44. 3. so in Hos 1. 7. I will have mercy on the House of Israel and will save them How by themselves by their own arm not so the Text tells you by the Lord their God and 't is Christ that is that horn of Salvation in Luke 1. 69 71. That will save us from our enemies and from the hand of them that hate us and it is he in Isa 63. 1. That is Mighty to save and as he will rule in the Salvation of his people so he will rule secondly in the destruction of his enemies Jam. 4. 12. As he is able to save so likewise to destroy He shall Rule his enemies with a Rod of Iron Psal 2. 9. Psal 110. 2. God will send the Rod of his strength out of Zion and he shall rule in the midst of his enemies and Vers 6. He shall wound the heads of many Countries Though the proud ones of the World say this man shall not Reign over us yet he will bring them into subjection whether they will or no have but
lyes pressed hard with some violent temptation that he seems to take little delight in God as Job Jeremiah and David when Gods hand pressed them sore these are not times for a man to pass a right Judgement of his state and he that thus and then judges himself judges only according to appearance and not a righteous Judgement John 7. 24. And the Scripture doth plainly lay down a rule thus to judge a mans state by namely whether or no a man love God so as to leave all not by constraint but willingly out of the love to God and so is a clear and distinct Carracter of a mans state what it is as may be easily cleared from Matt. 10. 37. Luke 14. 26. And though it be of absolute necessity that we know this else we can never have any sollid and true joy in our hearts or else as the Apostle saith to the Gallations we shall never rejoyce in our selves alone yet I am perswaded that not one of many is able thus to judge of his state though as I said even now it is that that is our chief concernment as we value a well grounded peace But with subordination to this great and grand Carracters I hope to hold out from the Word of Truth many simptomes of a Heaven born soul or of a soul for whom Christ is Sacrificed as the Phrase in the Text is First 'T is a good sign Christ is thine if thou hast heard the voice of Christ My Sheep saith Christ hear my voice he doth not say the Goats or the Flocks of the World or the Devil hear his voice but my Sheep hear my voice thou wilt say this was hinted at before when it was said that one of the first things that Christ doth is to open blind eyes and to unstop deaf ears but I am not speaking of that now but of hearing Christ voice so as to know it from a stranger for so saith Christ a stranger they will not follow John 10. 5. Now if thou hast that skill to know thy Lords voice 't is a good sign thou hast had some intimacy with him I mean so know it as not to be deceived by a conterfeit voice but I 'le be brief Secondly Hast thou been made willing to follow Christ They that follow me in the regeneration ye shall sit upon Thrones Judging the Tribes of Israel Try whether you are willing to follow Christ in duty in ordinances in afflictions If any man take not up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple Why so because none is a Disciple but such as follow Christ Luke 14. 27. Matth. 10. 38. He that taketh not his Cross that is take it willingly readily for he doth not say take it when 't is not laid on him for Luke saith bear the Cross in that prequoted Text which doth intimate that he must have it put upon him try now man as thou goest art thou willing to suffer shame for his Name art thou willing to follow Christ not only to his exaltation but to his persecution not to the Crown but to the Cross 't is a sign thou art a Virgin then if thou art willing to follow Christ wheresoever he goes Rev. 4. 14. Into a Prison as well as a Palace I put in this here because it follows the hearing of Christ's voice My Sheep hear my voice and they follow me If I do set down things disorderly not arising higher step by step for indeed when a Christian can follow Christ he is come to a good degree excuse me in this for two reasons First In that my time is but borrowed or redeemed if thou knewest how hardly thou wouldst not say I offered thee that which cost me nought Secondly Because I would now rather find out consolation then windy ostentation which is but to savour after the flesh I can but hint at things pray you enlarge them in your own Meditations Thirdly Hast thou a Holy fear of God upon thee David crys out Psal 34. 10. Oh fear the Lord all ye his Saints intimating that none but Saints know how to fear him he doth not say be afraid but fear him there are two sorts of fear 1. There is a slavish fear arising from the apprehension of wrath of punishment such a fear as arises from guilt thus it was with Adam when he had sinned Gen. 3. 10. I heard thy voice in the Garden and I was afraid he did not fear the Lord before he offended him but he was afraid of his wrath when he had offended by the way take notice sinner if thou shouldst cast thy eyes on this thou that darest sin boldly without fear thou wilt afterward be afraid yea and tremble at the sight of wrath 2. There is a fillial and childlike fear or if you please a conjugal fear and this arises from the goodness of God They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days Hos 3. 5. From the consideration of forgiveness God should be feared There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared Psalm 130. 4. 'T is a fear of the right stamp to fear him as one would fear to displeases ones onely friend that one loved as it is with those that are in Love they will rather run the hazard of any thing then displease them if their love be true oh this is the fear that God calls for and gives a blessing to Blessed is the Man that thus feareth the Lord Psal 112. 1. Therefore pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. Why must it be in fear why it follows Forasmuch or because ye know you were not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious Blood of Christ Oh Sirs ye are they that know you were redeemed Pass you the time of your sojourning here in fear 'T is true a fear of the loss of Heaven should quicken us to diligence as Heb. 4. 1. Let us fear least a promise being left us any of us should fall short of it I but the fear off ending God is the truest Gospel fear and is surely the product of the Spirit of God and so is a good sign in them that have it that they are them for whom Christ is Sacrificed Fourthly Hast thou received Christ is he come in it may be thou dost not remember the opening of thy heart to him so punctually as some may do but doth thy soul find that all his enemies are made to stoop and give way before him when Lydia's heart was opened how sweetly did she embrace Christ in his Apostles and constrain him to come in all other her lodgers were made to give place I 'le warrant you canst thou say Christ in me the hope of glory if thou canst 'tis well time was he was without and stood and called as Cant. 5. 2. Open to me my Sister my Love my Dove my head is filled with Dew and my locks with the drops of the night By the way let
a little patience believer and it will come to pass but besides this Christ will be King in thy Soul to tread down Sin and Satan and art thou willing to have Christ King in thee to this end art thou willing he shall tread on the neck of every lust and corruption then dost thou receive him as King aright art thou willing he shall bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself 2 Cor. 10. 5. Dost thou receive him to give Laws too and art thou willing to follow the Laws of none other Lord alas when he hath given thee Laws there is no other Law for any other to make after him an excellent place to this purpose is that in Eccl. 2. 12. For what can the man do that comes after the King he saith before I turned my self to behold Wisdom Madness and Folly what was that why in the latter end of the Verse even that which is already done I turned my self to behold Wisdom Wisdom in the King to act Laws for his people and when I saw the wisdom of that King I thought it was both madness and folly to think to act with more wisdom for what can the man do that comes after the King it is an interogation implying anogation what can the man do that comes after the King truly nothing who hath either wisdom or power to act after the King if it should be of the Laws of the Church why that 's already done now soul hast thou received Christ to be thy Priest Prophet and King thy Priest to offer for thee thy Prophet to Teach thee and thy King to give Laws too and Rule over thee and to deliver thee from thine enemies Spiritual and Temporal yea from Wrath to come why if so â—hou hast some ground to hope Jesus was Sacriâ—â—ced for thee Fifthly Hast thou Faith precious Faith as â—eter calls it 2 Pet. 1. 1. 'T is a good sign thou â—elongest to the Lord for that 's it I drive at in â—he main to give thee a little hope that thou art â—recious in the sight of God and art within the â—ompass of electing love or one for whom Christ â—yed faith now is a precious grace and it may â—e precious upon a double account 1. In respect of the giver 2. In respect of the Vertue of the Grace it â—elf Oh what a precious God is the Giver of this â—ift he gives perfect gifts and what a precious grace is this when given by God 't is of an inâ—stimable value 't is that that doth make the Saints rich rich in Faith Abrahams faith was â—ounted to him for righteousness Rom. 4. 5. And he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life John 3. last Not he may have it but he hath it already 't is made sure to him this faith â—s of a large extent and will do mighty things it will remove Mountains of sin and corruptions into the Sea of forgetfulness Yea what ever we ask in Faith it shall be given us Mark 11. 24. And as Faith is the greatest and powerfullest grace so unbelief is the greatest sin Christ saith he will send the Spirit to reprove the World of sin and what is that sin you may be in Johnâ— 16. 9. Of sin because they believe not on me so they could not enter in because of unbelief Heb. 3. 19. And without Faith 't is unpossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. So that you see unbelief is our greatest evil but in a few words Faith will help us do these things 1. It will help us to give up our selves to God for to follow him this was that which made Abraham go up out of his own Countrey Gen. 12. 4. Though he knew not whether he went as 't is repeated Heb. 11. 8. Faith will do more then we can express it will carry a soul forth above fear and above reproach above good and bad report through Fire and Water how did it elevate the Spirits of those Champions for Christ in that little Book of Martyrs Heb. 11. 2. Faith will enable us to receive Christ and good things from him that Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith how by Faith Eph. 3. 17. And good things from him too it was by faith that Sara'h had strength to conceive Seed and to bring forth a Child and by Faith Elizabeth and Mary bare the two greatest that ever were on Earth Heb. 11. 11. and the first of Luke many more of this kind might be urged but I hasten Ah soul to thee that believest all things are possible therefore if thou findest this Spirit of Faith in thee 't is a good sign Christ is Sacrificed for thee Sixthly It is a good sign thy sins are aquitted if Christ be of an inestimable value to thee he that had found this Pearl of Price sold all that he had to buy it Matth. 14. 46. There are many precious in the World many precious Friends and Relations yea more then these there is that good name so much gazed after among men That is more precious then fine Gold and all other precious things Prov. 22. 1. Eccl. 7. 1. Yet all these and all he hath doth he not value at the rate that he value's the Pearl of Price Oh unto you that believe to you that Christ hath been Sacrificed for Christ is very precious Ah soul is Christ more precious to thee then all things hath he the highest room in thy heart higher then thy Teacher I speak to thee that dost as 't were deisie thy Minister And thou Minister if it should fall into thy hand to peruse this hath Christ a room in thy heart higher then they that sit in the highest seat in the Meeting I speak to you that are partial and have such respect to persons you that the great ones do so seat themselves about in their attendancises on the Word I tell you a man may love Christ more then sinners and yet not love him more then Saints especially them that bring you in your greatest revenues you 'l say is there any such as these If you should I would answer you by another question what meaneth your bearing with great ones great faults when you 'l rebuke the poor of the Flock sharply for a smaller faults but you will it may be say I am out of my way well to return how dost thou prize Jesus Christ above all things then 't is a good sign Christ is thine and thou art his try as thou goest along for this is indeed the only distinguishing Carracter of a Believer Enlarge it in thy Meditation Seventhly They that have Christ slain for them will not do as the multitude do neither as the multitude of oppressors nor as the very multitude of professors do Exod. 23. 2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil alas there be many very many too too many professors go on in an evil way in the neglect of many duties and in many evil ways and