know perfectly Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended I follow after I do not sit down satisfied with that I have but I follow after that which I have not that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of God God apprehends the Elect in Love he apprehends by his Spirit to bring nigh to himself to make Vessels of Mercy and Glory and they desire to apprehend God and to be nigh him and to be filled brim full with Mercy and Glory they that are full already are most empty Luk. 1.53 Use 2. To stir up the Saints with more diligence to labour to work out their Salvation as Peter exhorts Believers 2 Pet. 1.5 Giving all diligence add to your Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge c. So to add Faith to Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge to Knowledge Holiness to Holiness Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. You that know any thing of Christ should follow on to know more and you shall know more if you hear if you search the Scriptures if you ask more Wisdom and Knowledge 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of the Lord. Grow in all Graces in Faith Humility Heavenly mindedness and as a great furtherance hereto grow in Knowledge That Salvation may be perfected Consider what it is The Apostle describes it by two parts 1. Wee shall see him as he is 2. We shall be like him To see Christ as the Express Image of the Fathers Person to know God in Christ and to enjoy him as your God and to bear the Image of Christ perfectly in your Soul and Body this is compleat Salvation To see him in whom all fulness dwels and to be like him that is the brightness of the Fathers Glory is Glory enough So these are two great things that ought to be your mark 1. Grow in the Knowledge of Christ Math. 13.11 To you it is given to know the Mystery of Christ To know the great Mystery of Godliness to you a Spirit is given to lead you into all Truth to you the Promises are made of being taught of God Desire Knowledge and believe this Promise so more and more still of the Fulness Excellency and Glory of Christ shall be revealed to you 2. Grow in a conformity to Christ Christ is perfectly Holy labour to be more like him in Holiness let the same mind be in you as in Christ the same Meekness Compassion Heavenly mindedness and Zeal for the Glory of the Father Fashion not your selves to the World but fashion your selves according to the Pattern of Christ and believe that your vile Bodies shall be fashioned like to his Glorious Body and let this Hope he your Happiness till you actually enjoy this Happiness Use 3. Direction about this great work of working out our Salvation 1. Propose right ends to your selves Intermediate and Mediate 1. Intermediate ends that you may have perfect Happiness perfect Redemption from all Evils and that an end may be put to Sin and Sorrow that there may be no more sinning nor no more sorrowing The desire of your own good is not unlawful if you desire Heaven as your Happiness Christ as your Life the presence of God as your best portion this you ought to desire as your happiness the enjoyment of God as your chief good and perfect likeness to Christ as the most perfection that you can be made partakers of Thus did Paul desire his own happiness and good 2 Cor. 6. We which are in this Tabernacle do groan c To be cloathed upon that immortality may be swallowed up of life that Vanitv may be swallowed up of fulness Earthly things of Heavenly Temporal of Eternal that is you must not make it your Business to be Rich Great Renowned and Happy in the World but to be Rich Glorious and Happy in Heaven Lay not up for your selves Treasure on Earth but in Heaven say not to your Souls there are Goods laid up on Earth but much Glory in Heaven Treasures which Moth and Rust cannot corrupt nor Thief break through and steal 2. Your own Happiness must not be your chief and ultimate end but the Glory of God Desire that perfection of Glory may be given you that God may have all that Glory which he expects from you Mark that Petition Father glorify thy Son that thy Son also may glorify thee Joh. 17.1 Desire your own Glory for the Glory of God Desire perfect Knowledge and perfect Holiness that you may do nothing besides Glorifying God that you may not come short of any degree of Glory that he expects from you It is the Everlasting Exercise of the Saints in Heaven to sing Hallelujahs 2. Lay aside every Weight As those that run in a Race will not load themselves with unnecessary weights and he that strives for Masteries is temperate in all things 1 Cor. 9.15 He will take heed of Surfeiting and Drunkeness so in running this Spiritual Race towards Heaven lay aside every weight whatever may be a clog to your hearts to slacken your diligence from endeavouring after the encrease of Heavenly perfections whatever may draw down your hearts from Heaven what may remit your desire of Christ's appearing and of being in his presence As 1. The Love of the World This will be a heavy weight on hearts to hinder their ascending to Heaven If the Mountains should fall upon your Bodies these would be such a weight that you would not be able to stir in the least motion under them the love of the World in the heart is as great weight upon the Spirit it suppresses breathings of Spirit after Heaven it quenches thirstings after Heavenly Glory Take heed of loading your hearts with this weight do not load your selves with thick clay So much immoderate love as there is to the World so much weight is in your Spirits pressing them down from Heaven 2. The cares of the World These are a weight they beget Heaviness in your Spirits and deadness unto Spiritual things Luke 20.34 Take heed of surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares of the World Provident cave is not forbidden but immoderate carâ—king cares take heed of being drunken with cares these cares are choaking things Spiritual desires joys motions and breathings are in danger to be choak'd by worldly cares This our Saviour shews in that parable of the Sower Some Seed shall fall among Thorns and the Thorns sprang up with it and choaked it Luke 8.7 By this is meant such hearers as hear the word and go forth and are choaked with the cares riches and pleasures of the World and bring no fruit to perfection ver 14. If you give up your selves to these this will hinder the bringing Fruit to perfection Worldly Men bar Fruit but not Fruits to perfection no Faith no Love Repentance Reformation so if Saints be overtaken with these this will hinder much their growing onwards to perfection in Knowledge in Grace 3. Worldly Sorrow
to pass 2. What are the present Consequences of God's smiting so many Shepherds such as scattering the litle Flocks growth of Ignorance Error Impiety Ruins of Temple work many disorders and distractions in the destitute Churches c. 3. What must be the Cure Its time to enquire For do we not see want of more able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 wise and faithful builders of God's House How weak are many shoulders on whom so great work is laid forcing an out-cry for a richer anointing with the Spirit of Grace i. e. of Love Wisdom Humility Zeal Self-denial Heavenliness which they had seen on others If this depart so much of our true Glory departs It cannot go well in Churches without fiâ—ed Pastors after God's own Heart entirely caring and watching for Souls feeding tâ—em with knowledge and understanding in the great Mysteries of Godliness Jer. 3.15 such was our Author known not mint anise filled his Tâ—oughts but the weighty things of Natural and Reveal'd Religion if he dwelt more than some do on sublimer Doctrines of Faith the Texts here treated are his Warrant together with Col. 1.24 to 29. 2.1 2 3. Nor did he treat them in a way of bold or curious speculation but as leading to Christian Practice upon the great things of the Gospel must Christians live if evâ—r they go further in Religion than a fruitless Form It 's in wrong to Christ and his Church if any Preachers do not jointly declare these with the moral Rules of good living I cannot see that Law and Gospel were set as variance in the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles Nor that the Honour of Christianity can be preserv'd or its ends attain'd without tutoring his Disciples great and small both in Principles of Christian Doctrine touching the glorious Person Offices Fulness and Benefits of Christ t eir only Head Lord and Saviour and touching subjection to his Soveraign Wisdom in his Laws They must be under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 and that in vertue of his own Grace 1 Cor. 15.10 what kind of Evangilists must they be that think the great discoverys of the Gospel whereby the world was Christianiz'd are of little use in Preaching now Our Author was better taught as the Truth is in Jesus and finished his Course fighting the good fight and keeping the Faith once delivered to the Saints holding fast the Doctrine according to Godliness till of his beloved Master he obtain'd the Crown of Righteousness would to God that a like love to Divine Truth might prompt many others professing to embrace it to meditate and consult speedily how tâ—ey may best establish and propagate it It 's not witâ—out a Providence that of late we hear of so many sudden deaths of able useful Ministers and may it not prove a presage of other Calamitees to surprize us It 's tâ—y spiritual Profiting Reader that this work aims at and now look to thy self that thou receive not this Grace of God in vain T e Unsearchable Ricâ—es of Christ are surely the better part and being timely chosen and pursued may be thine chuse and inherit them study to know him whom to know is Life Eternal Improve that Ministry and word of Grace to day which is still the Power of God to Salvation to them that believe and enjoying this with other Helps work out thy Salvation with Fear and Trembling and God for Christ's sake will work in thee both to will and to do So shalt thou be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man when he shall appear in Glory to doom this whole World to its Eternal State This is the Intent and Call of this Essay may the Lord of the Harvest so bless it Amen THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST DISCOURSE Eph. 3.8 Of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ CHAP. 1. Some transient Notes on the Text. Page 1 Chap. 2. Why the things of Christ call'd Riches Page 4 Chap. 3. What are these Riches Page 6 1. Riches of Love which is Abounding Abiding Effectual c. Chap. 4.2 Riches of Christ's Righteousness as Mediator 1. In his works for Men. 2. In his works towards Men. Page 13 Chap. 5.3 Riches of Wisdom 1. Speculative Page 22 2. Practical As 1. in Ancient Providences and 2. About Man's Salvation Page 32 Chap. 6.4 Riches of Christ's Power Page 37 The Power of his Death Resurrect Intecession c. Power over all Mens Hearts and over all Creatures How exercised for us Page 40 Chap. 7.5 Riches of Glory Page 45 What Glory Christ hath and will appear in What Glory he received from the Father and shall receive from Creatures Page 50 Saints shall see and share in his Glory Page 56 Chap. 8. General Application of the whole Page 62 To those enriched by Christ and to all to seek a Portion in Christ's Riches Page 66 The Second Discourse 1 Cor. 2.2 Of Knowing Christ Crucified Page 72 The Text and Context explained to Page 77 Divers Notes thereupon As 1. That a Gospel Minister must resolve to go thorow with his work of Preaching Page 80 2. That he aim not at self-applause therein Page 81 3. That he must Preach Christ tho' he be counted a Fool for so doing Page 82 4. That he truly knows Christ when he labours to make others know Christ Page 83 5. He counts it a precious service to Preach Christ Page 85 6. Of all Divine Doctrines none more necessary to be Preached than Christ Crucified Page 87 Doct. 1. Knowledge of Christ is the most excellent Knowledge Page 88 1. Proved by considering 1. its object Christ in general Page 92 And in particular as his Natures Names Relations Offices to the Church Page 93 to 99 2. The Effects of this Kowledge as Justification Spiritual Transformation and Eternal Life Page 100 1. Use of Exhortation with motives Page 103 2. Means to get this Excellent Knowledge Page 113 3. Of Comfort to such as have attained it Page 119 Signs to Satisfy such as doubt Doct. 2. Our Principal study should be to know not only the History but Mystery of Christ Crucified Page 126 That Mystery is 1. Of Wisdom 2. Of Love And 3. of Vertue in his Blood Page 132 How the Vertue of Christ's Death is conveyed to us Page 138 Use 1. 1. Of reproof to the enemies of Christ's Cross 2. Of Exhortation to Believe in Confess and Suffer for Christ Page 134 Q. How may we so Suffer as to have Fellowship in Christ's Sufferings Page 145 Christ's Sufferings for us a ground of our worshipping him and how that must be Page 150 The Third Discourse 1 Thess 2.13 The Divine Authority of Scripture Page 157 D. The Word contain'd in Holy Scripture is in truth the Word of God Shewn Page 159 1. The Spirit in Scripture gives Testimony to it 2. Arg. from the word conv its Authority As 1. It s Power upon Sinners Page 160 2. It s Holiness 3. It s
The Pharisees gave this Interpretation of the Law anger hatred speculative uncleanness they thought were no breaches of the Law when 't is thus the word is received but as the word of Man Now how many are there that in these ways only receive the word of God 5. When the word is received but in word only 1 Thess 15. The Gospel came not to you in word only but in Power The word comes only in word when 't is not accompanied and set home on the heart by power of the Holy Ghost as on Lydia and the Jailor Act. 16. Use 2. Exhort To stir you up to look on and to receive the word as the word of God Hear and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken Jer. 13.15 'T is God that speaks in the word God speaks Promises God speaks Threatnings and Commands look on each of these as coming out of the mouth of God the word is called the Spirit of Christ 's mouth 2 Thess 2.8 you must not only receive it in the Letter so indeed only it comes from Man but as the Spirit of Christ's mouth as breathed out of his mouth and so as that it proves not a dead and an ineffectual Letter but a quickning Spirit in you that is a new principle of Life a new Soul in you so as that you live by the word act and do all according to it Now for direction that the word may be received by us as the word of God know that something is due to the whole word and every part of it as more general duties and something is to be done that is some special Duties with respect to the several parts of the word as distinguished one from another 1. That which is due to the whole word consider in these particulars 1. Faith you must believe it to be the word of God upon a clear apprehension of the Divine Authority of it your assent must be grounded on the testimony of God Consider there is a divine Faith and a humane Faith this is when we believe a thing upon Man's testimony given of it as the Samaritans believed in Christ for the saying of the woman this was but a humane Faith Divine Faith is when we believe a thing and give an assent to the truth of it upon a divine testimony that is given to it as the Samaritans believed in Christ when they heard him and said now we have heard him and know that this is the Christ this was a divine Faith now this is necessary to a right receiving of the word Quest Where is this Divine Testimony that is given to the word Answ 'T is contained in the word it self for as there is a light in the Sun sufficient to discover it self so that when the Sun shines it s own light shews it to be the Sun so there is a divine Light in the word sufficient to shew it to be the word of God Quest Why do not all then believe it to be so Answ Because Men are blind and know nothing of the things of God neither are they able to judge of them the light of the Sun discovers the Sun but 't is to those that can see the light of it so the word shews its divine Authority but to those that are inlightned so we must have the Spirit as eye-salve restoring our Spiritual Sight and then we shall see clearly the word to be the word of God and this is the first duty we must receive the word as the Thess Chap. 1.15 the Gospel came not in word but power and in the Holy Ghost and much assurance 2. Fear Isa 66.2 To him God looks that trembles at his word There is twofold trembling at God's word 1. Slavish only out of fear of Judgment thus Ahab and thus Felix trembled 2. Filial this is here meant God looks to that heart that when it looks to God and sees any thing of him trembles now this is a disposition of heart that 's required to the right receiving the word you must tremble at the word that is first there must be in you an holy awfulness humility and â—everence of Spirit suitable to the Greatness and Majesty Goodness Glory of that God that gave his word this is contrary to that pride of heart which is in every one of us by nature when ever we have any manifestations or goings forth of the Glory of God the out goings of our hearts must be suited hereto 2. You must have an apprehension of your own vileness and nothingness Ezek. 2.18 there was an appearance of the Glory of God when I saw it I fell on my Face as apprehending his own unworthyness to behold it 2. There are special duties that respect several parts of the word 1. Histories related as of the Creation of the fall of Man drowning the world c. here you must believe the report as made by God and give not God occasion to complain as the Prophet Lord who hath believed our report and look on all these as written for our Learning on whom the ends of the World are come 2. There is a Saviour described and set forth which is the main scope of the Scripture the eternally begotten word revealed in the written word that came to destroy the works of the Devil to save Sinners c. him you must embrace withal your hearts entertain him as Abraham did the whole word is a Gospel bringing glad tydings of Christ the old Testament is Gospel throughout in which Christ is though more darkly set forth and in the New Testament more clearly so that this is to embrace the word to receive him whose name is the word of God Rev. 19.13 to see Christ in his fulness of Glory Merit c. and to receive him as the word of the Father this is to receive the word in power to receive Christ into our hearts and to have him revealed in us and to have him formed within us so as that Christ live acts and rules in us 3. There are Promises Now to receive these as the word of God is to quiet our Souls in dependance on them and assurance that they shall be fulfilled that as his faithfulness hinds him so his Power shall bring forth his Promises into Act. Say as Paul I believe God that it shall be as he hath said that not one jot shall pass unfulfilled you must know Christ to be the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 4. When Judgments are threatned know that there is a Righteousness and Faithfulness in God that engages him to make them good we are as averse from believing Threatnings as Promises therefore as God has confirmed his Promises by an Oath so Threatnings likewise Amos. 9.8.10 The Sinners among God's People said Evil shall not overtake nor prevent us Deut. 32.40 If I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever I will make mine Arrows drunk with Blood Now to receive this word is to fear God and to prepare to meet
your Salvation look that when God hath begun God should finish The words are a full answer to the Goaler's question What shall I do to be saved and being thus cleared offer several Propositions Sect. 2. From the first sense of those words work out i. e. make it evident get assurance Doct. 1. The great business that requires greatest diligence is making Salvation sure That which most nearly concerns Men to set about with all diligence is the working out their own Salvation the full assurance thereof in their own hearts your work should be to make Salvation sure Heaven sure God and his All sufficiency Christ and his fulness sure The Apostle says he that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel If it be so great a fault to be so negligent of making Provision for your Family Children c. then how great a fault must it be to neglect your own Salvation not to make provision for the Soul especially when great Salvation is offered when the way of Life is discovered when Christ is preached that he is willing and able to save them to the utmost This is a work you should set about with so much zeal as never to rest satisfied till the Spirit of God evidence it to your Spirits that you are the Children of God till you see your selves founded on that sure foundation Jesus Christ and till by Faith you can see Heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God making Intercession for you preparing Mansions for you so that you may say where Christ is I shall be what Christ is I shâ—ll see For the clearing of this point weigh seriously these particulars 1. Saâ—vation may be made sure Here consider First That for such as are ordain'd to Life or are Heirs of Salvation and have â—elieved in Christ their Salvation is a thing in it self most suâ—e Salvation is entail'd to them and this entail shall never be cut off they shall never be disinherited no Angel Principality nor Power c. shall be able to seperate from the Love of God in Christ 't is as sure as the whole Trinity can make it 1. On the Father's part sure He hath written their Names in the Book of Life And if God writes them who shall blot them out God the Father doth own them The Lord knows them that are his and this the Apostle calls a Foundation that stands sure God's knowing is chusing in his eternal Decree that is of ordering to Salvation That 's a sure Foundation nothing shall make it void 2 Tim. 2.19 And the Father hath covenanted with Believers to bestow Salvation and Liâ—e upon them and for the making good his Covenant hath given his Word and Oath Heb. 6.18 The Salvation of Believers depends on immutable causes so is most certain If Believers should perish God should break his Word and Oath now 't is impossible for God to lye so that â—â—om this place you may gather that 't is now as impossible that a true Believer should come short of Glory and eternal Life as it is that God should Sin So that we may argue thus God can't sin so a Believer can't dye Were a Man nder a legal condition under a Covenant oâ— woâ—ks he might argue thus concerning himselâ— I have sinned so ought to dye I have broken the â—â—w so the Law curses and condemns me and that justly But a Believer in a Gospel estate under the Covenant of Grace may argue thus God canâ—ot sin so I shall be saved God cannot lye so I shall never dye A Believer slips sometimes and may sin out of infirmity but the comfort iâ— though he may sin yet God cannot sin And 't is not a Believers not-sinning that is the Foundâ—tion on which Salvation is built but on the impossibility of God's sinning this is the sure Foundâ—â—ion 2. O Christ's part most sure He hath undertaken to â—ave that is mighty to save that is able to save to tâ—e utmâ—st 1. He is able to conquer the Enemies of Salvation 1. The Law that 's an Enemy to the Salvation of Sinners Those that are Enemies to it it says Curse And it hath dominion over men that are under it Christ was made under the Law who was above the Law he obeyed the Law being Lord of the Law So hath fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law which it required of men and undergone the Curse due to Sinners as Sinners and conquered the dominion and killing power of the Law so that the Law is not against the Promises against the Salvation of such for whom Christ is made a Curse so that there 's no power in the Law to kill a Believer 2. Sin Christ was made Sin it being imputed to him he dyed under the Sin of the Elect underwent punishment and being an innocent and infinite and most Glorious Person he suffered as much punishment as Sin deserved so Believers Sins shall never be punished on them And Christ dying under Sin he now undertakes to be the destroyer of Sin there may be motions of Sin but motions of Sin in Believers are but Sin 's death-pangs Christ hath given Sin a deadly wound Our Old Man is Crucified with Christ Rom. 6.6 Christ dyed for the Sins of Believers Christ will be the death of Sin in them This is a sure Foundation so they shall not dye 3. Satan Christ ascended and led captivity captive He hath taken the Devil captive that had the Elect in captivity Satan seeks to devour but shall but seek to devour the Elect. Christ is conqueror of Satan the Lord shall tread Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 and Christ shall make them his foot-stool Thus amidst the many Enemies of Salvation Christ shall keep Believers to Salvation 2. Christ is able to make meet for Salvation Col. 1.12 Know ye not that no unrighteous Person c. shall enter c. 1 Cor. 6.11 into the new Jerusalem c. Now Christ can Wash Sanctify Justify his obedience is more able to make Righteous then Adam's disobedience to make Sinners his Righteousness is infinite perfect immutable Rom. 5.15 17. The Justification of Believers depends on a sure Foundation Adam's Righteousness is a slippery Foundation Christ's a sure Foundation No unclean thing shall enter but Christ of unclean can make clean 3. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever so that still Salvation depends on immutable Causes and an immutable God and an immutable Christ His Righteousness is the same sufficient to cover all Sin His Power is the same his Love is the same ground not so much your hope of Salvation on your selves on your abstinâ—nce from Sin or activity in Duties there is a great deal of change yesterday haply lively and quick in Duties to day dead let an immutable Christ Christ the same yesterday to day c. be in you the hope of Glory so your Peace Joy and assurance shall be the same 3. On the Spirit 's part sure The
perishing Christ will â—ose none of his but â—aise them up at the last day And know that if you are oâ— Christ's Kingdom you do Judge him worthy and are willing to serve him And tâ—ere is nothing that more directly opposes the Assurance of your Salvation than an unwillingness to come under the yoke and opposing the Kingdom of Christ a walking contrary to the Gospel which you shall see clâ—â—r from that glorious Promise which Christ makes Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God c. Such as overâ—ome the Enemies of Christ Sin Satan and the World and come and live under the dominion of Christ so as that they have their conversation in the Gospel of Christ such as walk in Christ in his will to his Glory They shall be made Pillars in his Temple This Temple is Spiritual the Church Militant and Triumphant this Pillar is Spiritual and notes the stability of the Sons of God a confirmed Estate of happiness from which they shall never fall 't is spoken in allusion to the Pillars of Solomon's Temple 1 King 7.21 He set up Pillars in the Porch of the Temple the right Pillar he called Jachin which signifies he shall establish so I will make them Pillars this notes an establishment in the favour of God through Christ an establishment in a state of Grace and Glory The left Pillar he called Boaz this shall always remain in its strength so that they are Pillars and their Salvation is sure that is they shall not be overcome but remain in their strength that have overcome by the Spirit of Christ poured into them whereby they are translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Christ They shall go no more out such as are in favour shall go no more out of favour such as are in Christ shall go no more out of Christ And I will write upon him the name of my God that is he shall be acknowledged to be the Child of God he shall be able to see and read his Adoption by the Spirits witnessing it in his Heart and sealing it up and others shall read his Adoption in his holy Conversation and in his zeal of following Christ and his love to the Saints c. I will write upon him the Name of the City of my God he shall be known to himself and others that he is one of God's City and Houshold And my new Name he shall be honoured for King and Conquerer he shall be highly Exalted and Crowned with Glory like to Christ Rev. 2 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna an allusion to the golden Pot of Manna kept in the Holiest of all Heb. 9.4 which is meant of Christ the Spiritual Manna he shall feed on the fulness of Christ whatever is in Christ he shall take for his own most freely and nothing shall be with-held from him Now Christ's Kingdom is the golden Pot wherein this Manna is hidden so that if you come to Christ as your King and be his Followers you shall feed on him as Bread of Life I will give him a white Stone The Antients did absolve Persons accused of any Crime and cleared of it by giving them a white Stone to this Christ alludes and says I will give him a white Stone by this is meant assurance of a Discharge of all their Sins the Spirits witnessing to any that they are the Children of God A new Name that is of Sons of God this shall you know and read and rejoyce in By this know that assurance is part of the Glory and Priviledges that they enjoy who are of Christ's Kingdom You have not this white Stone this new Name that are Enemies to his Government over whom Sin reigns and who commit it with greediness Sestion 6. 2. Direct To Saints and Believers to shew them how assurance may be obtained confirmed and continued To make way for this let these things be premised 1. The Salvation of a Person may be sure and yet he want the assurance of it Salvation may be made sure in Heaven yet not in the Heart sure in regard of God's knowing them to be his but not in regard thâ—ir knowing God to be their's or themselves to be God's An Interest in Christ and an evidence of that Interest are not always Companions there may be Peace with God and not Peace in their Conscience 2. Assurance is a Gift of God bestowed upon whom and at what time God pleases 't is a fruit of free Grace it is the shining of God in the Face of Christ in the Souls of Believers Now as when the Sun arises it fills the World with light and makes it day though it may be under a Cloud and the beams thereof are not to be seen so God sometimes shines into the Heart and brings out of darkness into light so far as that there may be trust and affiance in the free Grace of God through Christ yet the light beams of his loving kindneâ— mâ—y be so far with-held as that the Soul may not have the evidence of his favour There is a direct act of Faith whereby Believers look on and trust to the Grace of God in Christ as the Foundation of their Salvation this all Believâ—â—s 〈◊〉 There is a reflex act of Faith a Person 's â—elieving that God is reconciled to his Soul in particular and that Christ died for him c. â—his God gives at what time he pleaâ—es â—â—ith in thâ— fiâ—â—â— act is sometimes given and 〈◊〉 in the laâ—ter 3. The assuâ—â—â—â— of Salvation having been given it may be loâ—â— again Salvation shall not be lost assurance of it may For a small moment have I forsaken thee Isa 54.7 8. I hid my face for a moment This God may do 1. Out of his Soveraignty that the Soul may acknowledge it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 2. Out of his Love that the Soul may set a higher esteem on the light of God's Countenance and may be more abundantly satisfyed in the beams of his Glory shining in the Soul more than in all worldly Excellencies And that he may look on God's Favour and Loving-kindness as that which is better than Life and that he may say as the Spouse thy Love is better than Wine Spiritual Joy is sometimes in danger to be overwhelmed in worldly Joys The Souls of Believers are sometimes oppressed with carnal security as the Spouse when Christ came Cant. 5. I have put off my Coat c. Then Christ withdrew himself worldly things withdraw the Heart too much from Christ and that may cause a withdrawing of God from the Soul Now the Directions to Saints 1. How to get assurance are these 1. Take heed of surfeiting with worldly Joys and Contentments If with Solomon you will not withold your Hearts from any Joy God may withold Joy from your Hearts the Earth being betwixt us and the Sun this makes
The Sorrow of the World worketh Death 2 Cor. 7.10 The sorrow of the World that is grieving more for Suffering than for Sin growing under the want of Temporals more than of Spirituals this is a weight it hinders desire after a Heavenly Life pressing on to Salvation this depresses the Spirit Godly Sorrow what carefulness it wrought what zeal what vehement desires c. Lay aside the weight of worldly sorrow 4. Sin Especially the easily besetting Sin Heb. 12.1 Who shall deliver me from the body of Death This is a weight in Paul's Spirit when I would do good evil is present there 's a Law in my Members c. Desire that Sin may be subdued look to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ to free you from the Law of Sin and Death especially the Lusts that are most prevalent that do most easily prevail that the Soul is usually overtaken with your Dalilah Herodias your Right Hand your Right Eye The following a Lust takes off the Heart from following after Knowledge c. 3. Run your Race with Patience that is first be not angry if the Blessing longed for be not presently bestowed be not like those that ask where is the promise of his coming Hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of God Lam. 3.26 All my appointed time will I wait till my change come Secondly Be not angry at the Crosses you meet with in the way of Salvation c. This was Israel's prevailing Sin whereby they vext the Spirit c. They could not with patience bear any Cross in the way to the Land flowing with Milk and Honey Satan and the World set themselves against the Heirs of Salvation that labour to work it out and with patience endure their buffetting There 's great reason for it for our light Afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more Exceeding and an Eternal weight of Glory Afflistion is not worthy to be compared with the Glory that is to be revealed Rom. 8.18 and 2 Cor. 4.17 Skin for Skin all that a Man hath will he give for his Life endures any thing parts with any thing rather than part with his Life He that will loose his Life shall find it loose Earth to find Heaven c. Psa 84. Going through the Vally of Baca a dry place make a Well this is a Well they going to God can satisfy themselves with his Law c. Thirdly Look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of Faith and Love c. The Author and Finisher of Grace and Glory Believe that he who is mighty to save will carry on the work to perfection The Jews had the Angel of God's presence with them to keep them and to drive out the Canaanites c. In a Wilderness he fed them with Bread from Heaven when they were ready to perish with tâ—irst he brought Honey out of the Rock c. When Sihon King of the Amorites and Og opposed them he slew those mighty Kings and he made a way through the Sea and Jordan Isa 63.9 The Angel of his presence saved them and in his Love and Pity redeemed them and bare them c. even thus Believers have the Angel of God's presence Christ Jesus c. He will bear in his Love and Pity as by his power as the tender hearted Mother bears her Child in her Arms Believers they have Christ to overcome their Spiritual Enemies Christ to feed them and supply them with Spiritual Nourishment Bread from Heaven and with water of Life giving by his Spirit so look to Christ as the Author and Finisher of Salvation As the Cloud and Smoak by day and the flaming fire by night c. was a sign of God's presence so God promises Isa 4.5 I will create on Mount Sion and her Assemblies a Cloud c. the shining of a flaming Fire Shining for Light to the Saints Flaming for Terror to the Enemies Christ will be as careful of Believers now as of the Jews of old believe that you have the Angel of his presence to conduct you to his presence and so hold fast your Confidence firm unto the end and you shall receive the end of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls Heb. 11.14 Christ is passed into Heaven as Priest he bare Sin on Earth but now he is entred without Sin Jesus the Son of God So hold fast your Profession Here 's an encouragement there 's no infirmities but Christ hath felt the like So then come boldly to the Throne of Grace by Faith go to the Throne of Grace in Heaven for Grace to help you to Heaven have Hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven on a Throne of Grace fixed in Christ so shall you be drawn nearer and nearer to Heaven Section 10. With fear and trembling As the Gospel requires Men to set about a work of following Christ and of saving their Souls so it gives directions for the way and shews where strength is to be had c. Here you have a manifestation of the way and manner in which Salvation is to be wrought out Whence the Doctrine is Doct. 3. Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling Whereas in the former Exhortation somewhat seemed to be ascribed to the Will and Power of Man as if he could do somewhat towards the perfecting of his Salvation This that the Apostle adds in these and the following words takes away all colour and ground of attributing any thing to Nature in this great work But shews it to be the sole work of God's Grace and Power in Christ And there being a glorious manifestation of God in this work revealed in the Hearts of Believers that 's a ground of fear and trembling Now for the opening of this point I shall shew what is not meant by Fear and Trembling 1. Not a slavish fear of Judgment The fear of Christians should be filial i. e. fear of dishonouring God should restrain from Sin not fear of being destroyed but an earnest desire of being accepted Not a dread of Vengeance should move you to walk in Holy and Gospel ways Christians should not be driven to seek Heaven meerly out of fear of Hell but drawn by the Glory of Heaven and Pleasures for evermore in the presence of God Not driven by fear of the wrath of the Lamb but drawn by the Cords of the Love of the Lamb. The fear of Christians should not be the fear of Slaves but the fear of Sons Not the fear of Cain Every one that findeth me shall slay me but the fear of Joseph Gen. 42.18 I fear God Exod. 20.20 When Israel feared because of the thunderings c. Moses said Fear not for God is come to prove you that his fear may be before your faces that you sin not Fear of Evils God doth not account his Fear his fear is not Sin Believers are set beyond the fears of Evil they have no ground to fear wrath and vengeance 'T is an Infirmity to do it