Those that walk in crooked waies the Lord shall lead them forth This is given as a black mark of men that are broken off from the Lord Rom. 11. 9. Let their Table become a snare When it may be no unlawful thing but lawful is that which banes them 2 Pet. 2. 22. Sheep may fall into the mire but if they lie and wallow in it it 's a Swine and all their excellencies are but Pearls in a Swines snout But when doth a man make choice of it 1. When a mans heart is set upon a lust and God blesseth and prospers him in it When God fills the back-slider in heart full of his own waies His heart is wordly and he thrives in it his heart is ambitious and he hath his Honour This the Lord gives not to his people but some rod or other upon their backs Hos. 4. 17. Let him alone 2. When a man lies long in his Fall Saints lie not long I limit no time but when day after day a man lives in it Rom. 11. 10. Let their Backs be bowed down alway Oh when a mans heart and back is bowed down alway Saints are under Christs care 5. When the Cause of a mans withering is a withering root Trees in winter cast their leaves as withered trees but others root is hurt If the branches do wither yet if the root remain it will recover again So the Saints cast their leaf and their branches wither in desertions and temptations but they preserve themselves at the root But why do others wither 'T is because their Faith withers Heb. 10. 39. 3. 12 14. Many a man withers because of his Faith He feels many wants Why lives he so Why dies he in beggery Why see Micah 3. 11. When a man is twice dead and pulled up by the roots so that the root perisheth for him is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever That the means and way of enriching Saints is a way of beggery to these 't is very fatal There is some false Faith in Saints but it is not wholly such Oh consider these things No Grace What no Grace I say then no life no God no Spirit no Christ no Glory Oh mourn here See it now that you may be humbled and so saved Else you will fall worse and worse still Ier. 3. 5 6. SECT VI. HEnce see how far they fall short of saving Grace that serve the Lord by fits and starts and whose hearts follow after the Lord and make much of the Lord only in good moods Dying pangs are not eternal graces Withering Grace is flourishing and prosperous wickedness If the Spirit of Grace in the Saints be of an eternal constant nature that is not the Spirit of Grace which accompanies salvation which is alive to day but dead to morrow which a man is full of to day but quite empty of to morrow Hence the Prophet cries out Hos. 6. 4 5. Oh Ephraim what shall I do What more means can I use for thy good Why do we not get good by means Yes but thy goodnesse is like the morning dew soon lickt up by the Sun and like a cloud which passeth away which promiseth much but is scattered again The Lord knows not what to do with such men yet how many be there of such that like Ionas Gourd spring up for a time and then die the next day and they comfort themselves under the shadow thereof That take them in their Moon they are as good as you can wish more than men but out of it they are bruit beasts not men Whatever is in a godly man the likeness and similitude of it is for a time in an Hypocrite Would you have earnest prayer for a blessing look upon Esau he seeks for it with tears and mourns for it for a time Would you have following the means and that the most powerful and searching and joy in it also See Iohn 5. 35. What went they out into the wildernesse to see a Prophet a burning and shining light and rejoyced therein for a season Would you have hazarding life for Paul and Ministry of the Gospel Alexander did thus for a time Would you have people enter into Covenant with God Look upon the Israelites Deut. 29. with 31. 16. I know that after they death this people will go a whoring Would you have thankfulnesse Psal. 106. 13. They sang his praise they soon forgat the Lord. And these Affections are for a time stronger than the Saints like land-floods and because they be violent and strong they last not long But however it argues a wretched false heart Psal. 78. 37. Their hearts were not right because not stedfast in his Covenant But what man is there but changeth What body so healthful that is found alway in the same temper Do not the Saints find their hearts soon cold their joy soon quencht their affections soon spent This therefore will discourage them I answer to it two waies First They sometimes deny the constancy of Grace where constantly it is for the Spirit of Grace in us is like life for 't is eternal life It 's ever acting or remaining in the soul and this they do by reason of many mistakes As 1. They think the Grace of God in them perisheth when the act ceaseth Whereas a man may be weary of actions of life where life remaineth as in sick men A man may have a rich treasure alway with him yet not alway spend it There is a gracious frame of heart which the Lord regards chiesly which is before the act hence may be without it The wheel doth not run that it may be round but it is made round that it may run Hence when the act of running ceaseth the frame whereby its fit to run again remaineth And this is the Seed of God 1 John â— 9. 2. Many think the act of grace ceaseth when it doth not act alway upon the same object as some think because they have not the sence of Gods love alway all grace is lost when it may be there is sence of corruption at that time sometime God gives victory over temptation it riseth again Now the soul thinks the very act of grace ceaseth when yet it s now warring against the temptation sometime the Spirit of grace may lead a man to prayer and sadness sometime to a mans calling and cheerfulness The act of grace is small its dominion large 3. They think they are not constant when they are not so at all times as they are at some times As a man thinks he is unconstant at prayer because he is not all day upon his knees not heavenly minded because he is not all day long minding heavenly things Whereas the Spirit should be ready so to do and be at all times and in every worldly occasion to be sowing or reaping some spiritual good yet 't is not a season alway to be upon the Mount Somtime Moses must come down to the camp
expression of the Lords love How many doubting drooping Spirits are there that though others may see and though themselves have felt the sensible expression of the Lords love yet oft come to this conclusion or fear that the Lord did never yet good unto me And dispute against it and think that this an hypocrite may have Isa. 49. 14. There are two waies whereby Grace is despised 1. By making common Grace special 2. By making special Grace common The Elect are apt to do so before they are called as Paul thought his innocent Godlinesse gain they are apt to do the latter when once in Christ. All this we may have and yet to Hell Oh take heed of despising this kindnesse which the Lord Jesus hath not shewn to the greatest Potentates of the world Yea if I did but know it but I am put to such fears and doubts about it that I know not what to make on 't 1. Do not think that thou art under the power of thy sin when thou art at war with thy sin and it with thee For the Lord many times clears up his love to the soul and 't is better than life to him but then winds arise and storms come and sin and Satan assaults and now he cries out he perisheth and that he was never redeemed by Christ nor never saw Christs love Should his soul be thus ensnared thus assaulted and no strength against it and therefore being under the power of it hence he never had pardon they cannot overcome their corruptions though they strive against them hence think they are under the power of them and then say where is Christs Spirit c. Answ. When Rebekah had Twins so that she was troubled she went to the Lord who told her the elder shall serve the younger So there is Flesh and Spirit in Saints and these two are contrary so that you cannot do the things you would and somtimes cannot will yet somthing opposeth this Well know it that the elder and stronger shall serve the younger it shall be Lord. A man that is at war with another hath received power against him but victory is not gotten presently so 't is here Iudgment shall come to victory Though thou art bruised and canst not raise up thy self now there is no fear of breaking if God will not do that none shall do it and therefore thou shalt get victory Only know for the present thou hast power Thou goest to all Ordinances and when no help there raisest the power of Heaven Oh Lord awake Awake Oh Arm of the Lord Isa. 51. 9. 2. Do not think that the being of Grace is lost when 't is hid by the cessation of it for a time from act For 't is hard to know whether Grace be there when acts are not seen or felt now somtimes 't is so The heart growes carelesse and negligent ceaseth from acting quencheth the flame of the Spirit Hence come fears was there ever Grace here The Sluggards Garden grows full of Nettles and he saith was the ever good seed sown here Answ. Consider 't is in this case as 't is in sin Though the act of sin ceaseth yet there is a bent of heart still toward it and a carnal heart will return to his old Byas and bent again So though the act of Grace ceaseth yet there is an inner man a gracious bent and frame put upon the will that though for a time it ceaseth acting yet it will return to its old bent again to its own nature which is called the seed of God 1 Iohn 3. 9. From which a man can never fall For in sleep there is cessation from acts yet the frame remains still In the old Law if any unclean thing fell on a Pitcher it was accounted unclean but if in a Spring not because it would work it out again so here There is a Spring of Grace which may be muddied and stopt up yet it will work it leâ—â— clear again And this Gods people shall find there is somthing in them that springs up to everlasting life all their daies 3. Do not judge only of the truth and measure of Grace by what thou hast in thy hand of feeling but by what thou hast in thy hand of Faith in the promise God hath ever delighted to keep his people short of what they would have and to give them but little insomuch that they often question the truth of Grace feeling so little measure of it Yet they look to the riches of Gods Grace to the freenesse and riches of the Lords promise and hang there and pleaâ— that and suck that breast Answ. Oh now consider thou art empty but remember the Lord Jesus is full and the promise is free and full Oh the riches of it to give abundantly and to work Truth in thee Hence 't is there in the promise and thy Faith hâ—ngs on the promise for it Why t is thine by Faith then The nature of Faith is to carry the soul empty to a promise and the Lords Grace and Christ there so that it knows not whither else to go but for bread here Now Faith doing thus it makes the promise and all of it thine 2 Pet. 1. 1 4. Abraham had his child first in the promise when he felt a dry body and saw a barren womb And know it its insinite mercy to be kept up in the promise and thou givest the Lord infinite Glory by embracing of it now and thou maist triumph here Hast not said Lord that Solomon shall reign and sin shall not It shall not Oh rejoyce oh Heavens and Earth at this for the Lord hath visited me God took from Paul his revelations and sent distempers that Grace might be manifested in the promise 4. Do not think that the Lords heart is not towards thee while he hides his face from thee For there may be frowns in a Fathers face and yet love in his heart The Lord purposely hides himself from his people somtimes especially when they begin to grow weary of him or proud but yet his heart is towards them still Now they think not so when in utter darknesse then they think there is no love the woman of Canaan besought Christ oft yet he heard not yet his heart was towards her How did that appear Her heart and Faith was still toward him she would not leave him though she should have but crumbs Isa. 45. 15. 8. 17. And the Lord doth purposely hide his face in love that his peoples hearts may be towards him Hos. 5. 15. 6. 1. 5. Do not judge of the Lords love and heart toward you in these sad times by present feelings but by the issue of them For such is the Lords cariage towards his people somtimes that God seems wholly to crosse them and appears in all their waies with a drawn sword against them He doth not only leave them to their enemies as he did Samson but to their sins and to Satan to
he quickned who were dead in sins i. e. you were held as fast under the power of your sins as a dead man is under the bonds of death but now in the room of that death there is the Spirit of life and the life of the Spirit Now life is an inward principle of motion of any thing in its own place as the sun and trees and grasse and cattel You may take a stone or milstone or wheel and move it yet they have no life because this is not from an inward Principle so hypocrites may be acted and moved by the great power of the Spirit in an Ordinance yet not living but dead stil. Iohn 4. 14. the water which is the Spirit is a spring of living water in him Cisterns may have water in them but no spring that is running winter and summer 1 Iohn 3. 9. This is called the seed remaining in him which is that new creation new birth which the verse it self expounds so that he cannot sin it is against his nature now he cannot be a sinmaker Balaam could not curse the people of God and many cannot do as others do Why is it because they are born of God No but from some other respects and hence Mat. 13. 21. the stony ground fell away because they had not the root within This is called the inner man the good treasure of the heart opposite to the evil treasure of the heart of a wicked man Now as an evil man acts not only from Satan the evil spirit but the inward power of lust so the Saints Mat. 12. 35. And here I intend not to shew what this inward Principle is particularly for that I reserve to the two last points Yet least any should stumble let me speak to two sorts 1. Know some of you that there is not only external actings of the Spirit from whence we act but a new nature in the Saints 2. Let others know 1. That as before the Lord cals we are dead so after we are alive this inward principle is not perfect here Hence actions sometimes cease and when they do not yet are corrupted as laesa principia act but ever erre in their act hence have need of pardon from and acceptance in the Lord Jesus 2. That this is not in us as in Adam who did not need to borrow life of another but it stands in daily need of the Lord Jesus and hence this inward principle acts but 't is by faith the operations of which are the wagons to victual the camp continually especially in time of need and which is part of this inward principle and hence 1 Pet. 1. 5. You are kept by power and faith i. your souls graces lives are kept by the Spirit but through faith in us to salvation Let me therefore prove these three things to you for opening of this point 1. That the Spirit of the Lord Jesus is in the souls of the faithfull 2. That there is a principle of created graces or the life of the Spirit in them 3. That from this principle of the Spirit dispensing himself by his graces our lamp burns our acts of profession spring and shine forth First That the Spirit of Jesus is in the soules of the faithfull 1 Iohn 2. 27. The anointing teacheth you all things Rom. 8. 11. The Spirit that raised up Iesus from the dead dwels in us The manner of his being in us I intend not to meddle with unlesse I saw more cause I do beleeve the manner of his abiding in us and his nearnesse to all the Saints when seen of us may astonish our own spirits and shall one day confound all the world Only know as the Martyr said He is come he is come The spirit of the world and Satan is cast out 1 Cor. 2. 12. and in room of them enters the Spirit of God Secondly That the Spirit so is in the faithfull as that there is a principle of created graces in them or an inward principle of life and grace Not that these alone make this inward principle but the Spirit in us working of them working by them And truly 't is a sad thing if the proving of such a principle shall be an attributing too much to grace in us 1. Therefore to deny this is to deny Christ to be our sanctification For beside the passive obedience of Christ we are justified by his active obedience also i. e. his inward conformity to the Law and his external obedience to the Law So that graces as they are in Christ become our justification and hence he is said to be our righteousnesse No man can stand before God but by perfect holinesse but by doing whatever the Law requires and continuing so to do this is not in us this is in Christ This as 't is in Christ is properly our righteousnesse or justification Now what is our sanctification if not graces in Christ then graces received from Christ Jesus which is this inward principle now I speak of and therefore to deny this is no lesse than to say Christ is not our sanctification But saith Paul The Lord sanctifie you in soul and body and spirit 1 Thess. 5. 23. And if it were so a man may have a heart unsanctified and Christ too 2. If there should not be those graces then a Christian was not bound to adde one grace to another but then the Apostles precept should be broken 2 Pet. 1. 7 8. and so a Christian could not grow in grace for graces are perfect in Christ and the Spirit doth not grow in grace and the immediate operations of the Spirit increasing in us are not properly graces no more than the act of seeing is the eye no more then giving goods to be burned is love 3. Then we are not to pray for graces if there be no such things to be found in the hearts of Saints but Psal. 51. 10. David praies Create in me a clean heart now if it be a thing created in me 't is not the Spirit only in me for that cannot be created I doubt not but David had a clean heart but he fell in part and therefore look as there needs a creating power to make so there is a creating power to restore us again to what is lost 4. Then the Saints have none of their sins mortâ—fied for 't is as with the eye being made to see if sight goes out darkness comes in and if that be subdued sight is renewed So the Soul being made only for God and to bear his image blot out that darkness and sin comes in cast out sin the Lord and his Image and Graces come in If therefore there be no Graces in the Saints then no sin mortified truly if so then the end of Christs coming and dying is quite abolished 1 Iohn 3. 8. Rom. 6. 2 3. 5. Then the Lord should be false in his Covenant and break Oath and be forsworn for Ier. 31. 32. I 'le write my Law in their hearts Luke 1.
73 74. So that if you will not believe man yet believe God and if you will not believe his Word yet his Oath Oh but many good Christians find no such thing But is it so as they find it indeed Either then they are no Christians or else the Lord is forsworn Thirdly That by the inward principle of Spirit and Graces our lamp burns and shines our actions issue The Spirit enables a man to know hence the act flows he doth know the Lord. The Spirit enables inwardly for to love the Lord and hence it doth love him That as Christ saith a good tree brings forth good fruit from an inward sap received from the root and by abiding on the root So here 1. Those that are renewed to Adams image in their measure have according to that measure power to act or in those Graces there is power to act for he had power so to do Every creature in the world had a Law of Nature to carry them to their end and so were carried to it But Adam had a Law of Divinity whereby he being a cause by Counsel was enabled by God to carry himself toward his end Now we are renewed to that image in part Eph. 4. 24. I know there is difference between Adams power to act which had no Faith ours that hath And do not think that this doth advance nature the power of man no more than the execution of the Promise of the Covenant of Grace doth destroy Grace and advance nature For the writing again the Law in our hearts is that which this Covenant promiseth nay this doth honour the riches of Grace that a man being under the power of sin and cannot get deliverance the Lord should now give an humble conquering Spirit never a precious heart but will be thankful for it 2. Because the Graces in us are received from the Lord Jesus his fulness Iohn 1. 16. Now the Graces in Christ are not dead but living are not weak but powerful the Spirit of Grace 't is now triumphing in him 't is so in us only 't is in him in the highest degree in us in a lower And therein consists our likeness to Christ 2 Cor. 3. 18. And to deny this is to deface the Image of the Lord Jesus and this is part of the Beauty and Glory of Christ hence to deny this is to obscure the glory of the Lord Jesus Without Christ a Christian can do nothing but how doth Christ do all by the Spirit without Graces I speak not of Conversion where 't is without Graces as causes No truly as he acts so we act in part Unless any will say we have not received grace for grace or are in no measure like the image of Christ. 3. If the first Adam hath conveyed to all his members a power of corruption then the second Adam also a power of Godliness contrary to that 2. Tim. 3. 5. yet in measure still so as the Apostle saith we can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth 2 Cor. 13. 8. But what measure of power is it I know no man that can from any ground limit the measure of it For it may be in some men in greater power in some men in less in the same man at one time in a greater measure at another time less If one ask of trees what measure of fruit they can bring forth we cannot tell because sometime more sometime less and the same tree more one year than another and more at one time of the year then another for they have their winter season Only this whereas before conversion he is stark dead to act now he is alive and is not dead And if a man should after conversion be but in the next disposition to receive Grace then how could one Christian be more grown and stronger in Grace in his inner man than another I know not any to question this only I speak it to cut off their carnal hopes that think Christ is theirs when they have nothing can do nothing and sleightly say he must do all I cannot I tell you the Saints can they cannot but love the Lord and choose the Lord. c. But must not a Christian deny himself and alway go to Christ for power to do and so be humble and empty 1. You must because this is the meanes to live to Christs but this doth not argue you have no power at all A man must pray for his daily bread much more for daily grace but doth this argue a man hath no bread in his house No this is the means to have it continued and blest Easily can the Lord take away bread or the staff of bread Graces extinguish not Faith but help it 2. A Christian can do no duty perfectly hence must repair to Christ to help him to do every duty better hence though he must use that power he hath and do what he can yet he must not content himself with what he hath but seek for more and what a sweet life is this What honour would here come in God lets in a new light into my minde now I may and must see his truth I saw it yesterday but I may and must go to Christ to do it better I must not quench the Spirit of prayer but carry the key with me and next day pray better And thus the soul is thankful for what it hath and emptying it self notwithstanding that and daily then receiving from Christ. And I beleeve many Christians fail here As in the body meat feeds and strengthens life so I cannot live without Christ. But doth not this make a man trust to graces To act from them is not to trust to them no more then for a diligent hand to trust to his diligence when he acts diligently that so he may be rich But doth not this dishonour grace to do all by the power of it Then the Saints in heaven that are made perfectly like Christ and that love the Lord perfectly should not honour grace by this means when as this is it that makes them honour it most of all As David Lord what am I and my people that we should offer willingly So here SECT II. SEE hence what cause of thankfulness to all the people of God that the Lord should make their souls the Vessels which he might easily and justly have dashed in peeces to receive and preserve this eternal anointing I do beleeve there is no man that knows the bitterness of sin the plague of his own heart but when he sees Christ is his yet it makes him mourn that there should be so little suitableness between the Lord and him so little likeness between his life and Christ what though the Lord love me and yet my heart weary of him what though the Lord bless me and my heart abuse him and hence this makes it thankful Rom. 7. 24 25. This is so far from dishonouring grace as that the
when he is gone oh the straitness vileness of a corrupt heart you say it may be If this be not a right Principle what is Answ. To undermine all false works oh therefore feel this plague If ever God works this grace feel you must the want of it and if you do mourn then you are under it And oh mourn 1. By considering the evil of it you can mourn after a dead father and shall you not over a dead heart 2. To think there should be so much Spirit in Christ and not a drop for me Is he so angry with me See therefore I pray you that you are led by ill principles or false principles I pray but self-love sets me a work I profess but praise of men acts me I observe duties in secret but natural Conscience only carries me No surer sign of ruine then for the Lord to hide these things from you nor of love then when he shews this and gives you not only sense of some one act but a spirit of heaviness under this This empties the Vessel and so makes us Vessels of honour do not therefore set thy self so much to do as to see where thy evil principle is in all thou doest Repair now to the fountain of life for a principle of life from him and fetch it from him What is thâ—â— and how shall I fetch it from him 1. T is not a mans own striving a man may imitate nature but cannot make nature All the world cannot make one poor flie And as 't is artis celare artem so when he hath done he may deceive himself and others but nothing else Born not of the will of mâ—n A man is in great distress of Conscience for sin past â—ear of death for time to come and now he comes just as far as a Devil then prays Lord save me and now comes as far as nature can carry him and therefore is eaâ—ed and now he hath Satans black seal upon him and self-flattery hath carried him on The fountain of life is not here 2. 'T is not the Law it convinceth one and he complains it condemns another and he cries out it irritates another and he falls to do what he can but the Law cannot give life Gal. 3. 21. 3. 'T is not bare Ordinances which are of themselves but husks and shels and empty pipes witness the cries of many a man Sabbath after Sabbath no life and that for a long time Nay he grows worse 4. 'T is not God simply considered He is indeed the fountain of life but sin hath sealed that fountain hence many a one goes to him and departs from him with frowns 5. Where is life then In Christ I know he is Lord and Prince of Life Yet consider as God-man no life is in him for you as to be communicated to you Where then 'T is in the blood and death of the Lord of life You are ready to undervalue this life Oh consider what it musâ— cost the Son of God and where it must lie Hebr. 9. 14. If Buls and Goats blood washed the flesh much more this blood c. Many a man feels a blind dead heart and all duties dead And hence useth many periwasions to himself yet they continue so still because he never looks to this blood There is this excellency in Christs blood not only to cleanse from guilt and power of sin but from dead works and none else can Now therefore repair hither for it know what your lives will and must cost Now how shall this be done Answ. 1. Prize this blood and satisfie thy Soul with it choose it and rest in it in the Lord himself as sufficient Ioh. 6. 53. Except you eat and drink c. many account it a common thing you receive it not then but trample it under their feet many esteem of it but they feed not themselves with it nor quiet their hearts with life there first and hence it falls out thus 2. Keep this Rule content not thy self with that measure which thou hast from Christ but be thankful for it and falling short call ever for more but satiate thy self with that which is in Christ. If thou canst not do this and it is beyond thy strength then consider Christ hath words of life Iohn 6. Oh beg for that and for those words Hear what the Lord will say Psal. 51. 8. You cannot see nor come to Christ Then hear and your souls shall live Who knows what the Lord may do 'T is not possible for man to do it but the Lord Jesus may and can Oh then you that have this Principle Let all your actions issue and spring from hence As Paul exhorted Timothy Stir up that gift that is in thee Up Deborah up Awake Harp and Lute saith David Do not say I can do nothing and so the Lord must do all Do not say I have a dead heart and can do nothing but stir it up It was the Lords complaint Isa. 64. 7. None took hold of the Lord nor stirred up himself to that end It may be some of you have some strength Oh put it forth I know all strength is from Christ but there is a peâ—manent strength in you You are not dead to act you wrong the Lord and his Grace if you think so As 't is a heavy sin to shut up and imprison natural truth Rom. 1. 18. So much more the power of Grace Others have lost it oh recover it And hence Paul praies for this earnestly Eph. 3. 15. The Lord strengthen you with might in the inner man And therefore put this forth to act and be sure you act only from this Spirit of Grace How shall I do this 1. Set the Lord Jesus in all his Glory before you There is that excellency of the knowledge of Christs Person that it makes us be and live like him and according to the propinquity of our souls and eyes to Christ so we are like him As â—tis with the Sun when it is gone from the earth there are not so much as leaves on the Trees yet when it returns the Trees bring forth fruit Or as 't is in Heaven 1 Iohn 3. 2. so in this life when we see him in a Glasse 1 Cor. 3. 18. That look as 't is with an ambitious man when he is in the presence of men he will manifest all his excellency nothing shall be done to gain discredit So if the Lord and his life be your excellency when you see Christ you will approve your selves to him See him therefore beholding and accepting and that Grace you would put forth see it in him 't is strange to see what a stream of spirit comes somtimes this way 2. Keep the remembrance of the exceeding greatnesse of his love fresh in your minds in that he hath quickned you Eph. 2. 4 5. and that this life was by his death All the Flowers of the field cast their savour but for a time and
now away to the Lord if ever help now 't is when most helplesse 2. If you can do any thing savingly good the soul is bound now by the power of Faith to stir up it self to act though not to trust to it alone for somtimes the soul hath the regenerate part uppermost and the prevailing Spirit of God Psal. 21. 3. which comes to him and gives it power to act before the soul come to it Now a man is bound to act because 't is from Christ now Hence Timothy was to stir up the gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. Hence complained of them Isa. 64. 8. None stir up himself to take hold on the Lord. A man must stir up himself to believe as well as other Graces hence the Kingdom of Heaven is taken with violence and though corruption is stronger than Grace yet Grace assisted with the Spirit is stronger than it which is never quite out of the soul but 't is in the soul 1 Iohn 4. 4. Stronger is he that is in you And 't is said professedly He purgeth himself and keepeth himself the evil one toucheth him not 1 John 5. 18. But mark trust not barely t◠this but when you do this withall remember Lord I cannot hold out in this unlesse thou dost help me But know Isa. 26. The Lord is the rock of my strength And if you by the Spirit mortifie c. Rom. 8. 13. Therefore ever hold up sailes but look for a wind And if a man be not to do this then when any sinful temptation comes if a man do not find the Spirit and strength ready at hand to help if he be not to stir up himself against it he is to suffer himself to be carried down by it Hence a man may neglect all duties a long time if he do not find the Spirit assisting if so be a man must not stir himself up and so will some say a man may May What shall I say to such sluggish soul but sleep on But know it the Lord will awaken thee when you shall say Oh that I had improved the Talent I had And if you do find Christ in such a condition know it they be but the last visits of Christ before he departs You can do more than you do and the Lord will have you do it But I cannot do it for good ends without Christ. Yet do the thing as far as you can else if you owe another a debt and will not pay because not for a good end that excuse will not serve So you owe the Lord your lives your spirits your abilities lay them out for the Lord though evil be in them be humbled for that Is this good requital to say you find your hearts dead in prayer and God must do all and there leave it 3. You are to expect and look for power from the Lord Jesus in the use of means all known means For Faith fetcheth all from Christ hence we must go thither where Christ is to be found and he dwells in his House in his Ordinances Therefore there you must depend upon him As 't is with a Merchant he wades not over the Sea for Pearls but gets into his ship and there he sits still so here Mat. 13. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Merchant man Hence you that know you can do nothing being under a spirit of conviction and hence do nothing under a spirit of sloth and neglect of means by vertue of a spirit of presumption and say Christ must do all I say you take not the right course for the Lord to help you in The Lord will never be a slave to thy sloth but thou shalt be like a shrub never to see good when it comes and shalt die in horrour with this Oh I might have done more Hence you are worse than the other that think if a man fasts prayes watches against his distempers mourns for want of Christ and Grace and followes God hard here he is a Legal Christian Why these are but his own works and this is not living on Christ. I confesse bare using them or trusting to them is not but he that lives not on Christ in use of means these and all other means to find Christ or enjoy more of Christ shall never have him Neither do I know what turning Gods Grace into wantonnesse is if this be not and under a conceit of liberty to be a servant of corruption I know not whether it be thus with any but if I did I would pity them 4. If the soul cannot every moment live on Christ i. e. for every particular act have a distinct act of Faith for this cannot be yet every fit season that it can it ought to look up to the Lord for life and fresh strength Pray as 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every fit season And as he brings forth fruit so he goes for fruit in season Psal. 1. 3. And when the soul doth this the Spirit of the Lord helps when the act is ceased Now the fit seasons are 1. At beginning of any action as prayer hearing reading All the time a man is in his journey or in his work he is carried on by the act of Faith at first setting out The reach of Faith is long and continues all prayers all the duty throughout the act of faith is short Now the Lord looks to his people according to the first 2. When our act beigns to die as Moses lifted up his hands and when they were heavy Aaron and Hur supported them again 3. When a man feels himself strong now apt to be self-confident now Lord for an humble heart And thus you are to live on Christ which if done would make a Christians life glorious and give infinite content to the heart of Christ. But here is the misery either hearts are full and need not or slothful and care not for living so That truly I do not wonder to hear and see so many withering trees as though blasted by wrath because you fetch not all out of this stock and Christ is such a stranger because you are so seldom with him to act and bring forth fruit to him SECT VI. 2 COnsider of the means to act from Christ Jesus and indeed herein lies the skill and life of a Christian and this is the complaint of many a Soul Christ is full and he is not for himself but for those that want and I come to him when I want it and yet I find no help and hence many are brought to think either it 's in vain to come to Christ or else I have no Faith in Christ I will therefore premise these three things 1. That a false double treacherous disloyal heart to Christ cannot expect to receive any thing it comes for unto Christ. As 't is with a Woman that though others do not yet her Husband knows she is fallen in league with some other man he will be strange to her and will not do any thing for
they see and be troubled at it they take it as a burden not as the greatest burden Hence say men you must not judge of your estate by any thing or qualification you feel in your self for these may fail your eye-sight in misty times But we must follow it then and not rest till we see and find it for without holinesse no man shall see God Hence also let there be never so many falls yet say they never call your state into question hence they professe we cannot move till we be moved and if I do not it is not my fault Hence if Ministers do preach any things which are not about the person of Christ or the excellency of a Christian in Christ or the emptinesse of the creature to prepare for Christ which are indeed of great use and presse to any work or service of Christ they are Legal Preachers and bring people under a Covenant of works Whereas if we preach duties and leave them as signs before being in Christ they are so but â—ere to preach any duty of the Law is part of the sweet will of Christ. Tell us say they what we should do What can a man do He can do all things through Christ True but Christ must come to act it Yeâ— But he hath a Faith to fetch it 1 Iohn 1. 6. many said they had communion with him 1 Iohn 2. 3 4. It seems they said they had no sin as now some say God sees no sin in justified people God looks to the new creature only 't is not I but sin if the Spirit help not 't is not my fault Not many dayes since it did lye upon the spirit of one who seeing Christ hath undertaken all closed with him rejoyced in him not for this end not from the beauty they saw in holiness nor bitterness of â—infulness but because they should be eased of the work I have known them that have lived in some sin and promised the Lord shall be blessed if he save them in their sin and conceiting he would have loved him thus these In a word the soul of man desires rest and peace seeks for it in Creatures seeks to satisfie it self there there it cannot hence seeks for it as many dying men do in Christ not in the Grace but in the joy of Christ not in Christs holy presence but in his comforting presence seeking the utmost perfection of a Christian in the seale of the Spirit not in the mighty actings of the Spirit for God Hence he is deludeâ— and fancies he hath Christ and hence joy Sin is the great evill hence the end of Christs coming is to take it away Hence if a man close with Christ to remove horror not sin and so hath not closed with him for his holiness you never closed with Christ for the end of his coming nor for his but only for your own ends and so 't is not him but his 2 Cor. 2. 15. The Gospel is a savour to them that perish if of Death to death Oh consider of these things if it be not thus 1 Iohn 5. 11 12. Hast the Son for thy portion Dost see his Glory full of Grace to accept and sanctifie thee thou hast life if not the Son but only soâ—ething from him Oh death and not life the bonds of Death not life are upon thee which no creature can unloose unlesse the Lord come to they Grave-side and unloose thee SECT VIII TO close with the Person of the Lord Jesus you will think this is not a right course thus to do We cannot do it Answ. Yet the Gospel hath commands and entreaties wherewith Christs Spirit goes to the Elect and if you could see Christ in the miniâ—â—ry of man you should feel it And hence we look it should be so and besides Saints that have Faith and power are quickened by the voice of the Son of God Consider therefore 1. All men are fallen into a bottomless gulf of misery and sin though once righteous Hence Gods truth having said he that sins shall dye hence justice comes out to do execution and when the neck of all men thus lies on the block yet mercy pities and saith Oh spare save Satisfie me saith justice then I will hence mercy sends forth a Son when no men nor Angels could help and he takes flesh takes all their sin fulfills all righteousness bears their sorrows and by one offering perfects for ever them that are sanctified and having done this is now at the right hand of God in the Glory of his Father all creatures subject to him all excellencies being met together in him so that now he is the delight of â—od the joy of Heaven so that whatsoever thou canst want or losest if thou hadst him thou shalt find it in him and also whatever he can do for thee in his time thou shalt receive it from him Deut. 33. 26 29. Who is like the God of Iesurun 2. Now there is a universal offer to all people where the Gospel comes enemies are entreated to be reconciled for though he hath not dyed for all yet now being King such is his excellency that he is worthy of all Hence commands all to receive him and if this be a condemning sin to reject him 't is then a command lies upon you to receive him and the foundation of this offer is your wants and miseries You are dead Oh come to him therefore for life weak guilty blind Oh therefore come to him for pardon peace and life Not fulness nothing but emptiness is the ground of this offer Ier. 3. 22. 3. Hence there is nothing on Gods part nor yet on your part that can keep you from him No sins no wants unless it be your will Mat. 23. 37. Therefore now who-ever will shall have him let him take him Rev. 22. 17. There be two acts of the Will Election and Resolution I must have him which if you will nothing that ever thou didst or canst do can please the Father so much so that he will 1. Adopt thee to be his Son Iohn 1. 12. As è contra 2. Thou shalt enrich thy self with a greater blessing than if Heaven and Earth and all glory was put into thy hand as the Lord himself is better than all and hence once thine ever thine none shall pull thee out of his hand 2 Pet. 1. 5. And it shall rejoyce the heart of Christ himself in Heaven when as his Bride thou givest to him thy good will Isai. 62. 5. And if you do not kiss the Son he will be angry Psalm 2. And God knows whether now the last word the last offer is to be made to thee But I find such sins in me that till they are gone I dare not Then you will first remove sin and after receive Christ first be your own saviours and then make him another you shall never do it Oh close with him to take sin away because sick therefore receive him But I
an extacy of joy that a man would think he was sealed with the Spirit of Christ and yet his end being naught Christ only to comfort him misseth of Christ in conclusion for when a man beleeves indeed he receives Christ for the end the Father sent him viz. to be King and Soveraign of the whole man as well as Saviour Psalm 24. 7. Open your gates that the King of Glory c. Rom. 8. 38. I am perswaded nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Iesus our Lord our Lord as well as Jesus Indeed Iohn 6. 15. some did receive Christ to be King but it was that he might be their cook he provided loaves for them so here Psalm 66. 2 3. Because of thy power thine enemies shall flatteringly submit â—tis but flattery not Faith look to it therefore VI. Those that beleeve but fail in regard of the use of the Gospel and of the Lord Jesus and these we read of Iude 3. viz. of some men that did turn Grace into â—â—ntâ—nnesse for therein appears the exceeding evill of a mans heart that not only the Law but also the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus works in him all manner of unrighteousnesse and 't is too common for men at the first work of conversion oh then to cry for Grace and Christ and afterward grow licentious live and lye in the breach of the Law and take their warrant for their course from the Gospel I shall not name all the wayes that men do so but I will only speak that which conscience and compassion moves me to not to begin but if possible to still division and what I shall speak shall be by way of prevention 1. Take heed of making Graces in a christian the weaknesses of a christian for this is to make darknesse light and Grace wantonnesse indeed Is it not Take heed then of thinking or saying counterfeit or false Sanctification consists in feeling something in a mans self as love to delight in the Lord and his wayes True Sanctification in seeing nothing no love no delight why the Apostle Paul â—new that in him i. e. in his flesh dwelt no good thing but he calls it flesh there and groans under it yet he felt a Law within closing with the Law without and blessed the Lord for it and that was himself Do you think the Holy Ghost coâ—es on a man as on Balaam by immediate acting and then leaves him and then he hath nothing Yes Beloved know you not Christ is in you 2 Cor. 13. 5. as well as out of you in you comforting dwelling sanctifying preparing the heart for himself Indeed to be puft â—p with Grace or rest in it is a sin yet that Grace is not that sin 2. Take heâ—d of making weaknesses Graces or Duties as First To make poverty of spirit the sight of nothing in a mans self why he that is poor hath Heaven for his and so Christ and Promises his and hath Faith his at least some seeds Now to see nothing now is to see an untruth and to tell a flat lie to God and Men and Scripture too Indeed a man that is poor doth usually see nothing but that is his weaknesse not any Grace Secondly To say there is no difference between Graces of Hypocrites and Saints Why so Because I cannot see any Is this your weaknesse or your wisdom you can see noâ—e and will you make your weaknesse your Religion Thirdly That a man must not evidence his Justification by his Sanctification I speak of that which accompanies Salvation Why so Because then there will be comfort to day and sorrow to morrow grant it but then consider 1. That is either a mans weaknesse and ignorance that he doth not see it or 2. his wickednesse and carelesnesse that hath stained that work And will you make this a Dâ—ty a Grace Oh but many have been deceived here grant it and will you 〈◊〉 your wretâ—hed basenesse of heart the foundation of this conceit Fourthly That a man must see no saving work nor take comfort from any promise until he is sealed No why so Because many tall christians have deceived themselves so and deluded themselves there and been kept off from Christ and truly I believe it in part But what of that Shall mens weaknesse be my Religion or work No Beâ—oved for a man beleeves before he is sealed Ephes. 1. 15. And hence Christ is his and now for him to deny Christ to be his own 't is to make Christ a lyar 1 Iohn 5. 10 12 13. not that I would have christians content themselves here it 's a sign you never knew what Christ meant if so you do till he shall send a more full gale of his Spirit 3. If you do account them weaknesses yet take heed your closing with Christ do not cause you to make a light matter of sin either not to take notice of sins at all only look to Christ 't is not I but sin as being the act of the outward man one calls this to unknow a mans self or not to be deeply sensible of them and so use Christ as your shoe-clout to wipe them off Oh this is dangerous the Spirit of joy never quencheth the Spirit of Sorrow Capernaum entertained Christ and yet perished Oh she repented not What must we repent after we be in Christ Yes Ier. 30. 19. After I was turned I repented It argues a bold conscience when men as they look to no good in themselves so to no sin in themselves but wholly to Christ. 4. Take heed of those Doctrines which in shew lift up Grace but indeed pull 〈…〉 any part of it as First to think that the letter of the whole Scripture holds out no more than a Covenant of Works a most prodigious Speech though coloured with advancing a Spiritual Covenant of Grace and no Word but Christ. Secondly Under a shew of advancing Gods Grace in doing all to say the Ordinances are not means but only occasions of conversion Thirdly under a shew of giving all to Grace to abolish that plain truth as to say we are not justified by Faith which though it be true not really i. e. not simply by Faith in it self considered as a work yet to say not relatively as the Lord is apprehended by it it is false If we cast off the power of the truth yet let us not cast off the form of it keep the form of wholsome words as well as truths Fourthly Take heed of maintaining that a man until sealed is not to be perswaded to beleeve under a shew of letting the Spirit of Grace do all And Brethren doth not the Spirit of Grace accompany the word of Grace are not Evangelical commands part of that Word is there not a power going along with them what is this but to take from Gods Book and he that so doth God will blot him out of the Book of Life Rev. 22. 19. Fifthly That a Christian is to gather no assurance
measure Iohn 3. 34. and fountaines alway run though men seldom drink What then Is it because they bring not their hearts hold not their vessels under the Lords horn of oyl Yes that they do but their vessels are naught they are not only for him they feel their want of grace and Christ but not only or chiefly of this Special Grace shall never be poured into a common vessel a common heart that lies in common for God and lust and world too The honour peace life gain of a God are sweet and precious Lord ever give me that water to drink But you have five husbands and seek not this only Hence if the Lord deâ—ies you you can be content because you have something else to fill your vessels if the Lord gives you undervalue it and grow worse and the very rising of that common grace you have is the beginning of your apostacy and setting off from God And hence no wonder why you pray but never have Iam. 1. 6 7. you want and crave but never find your vessel is naught though the Lord is good 'T is a black mark that thou art in bondage to the creature and didst never know what the liberty even the glorious liberty of a son means And 't is a most grievous bondage to be half unloosed and yet to be in bonds And I assure you if you knew the gift of God if ever you tasted how sweet the Lord is this is the only thing your souls will cry for That when you come to ask and the Lord saith what would you have Oh the spirit of life Oh the anointing of my blessed head And what else It only this is it only my vessel is made to hold I am not made for my lust nor sins nor world I would I had a bigger vessel a larger heart to receive thy Grace only I confess a gracious heâ—rt may for a time be carried too violently after other things and yet seek the Lord too as Solomon Eccl. 2. But after it knows Christ better it 's more reserved now for him as Gen. 39. 3 4 5 6. Iosephs master for a time kept things in his own hand but when he saw the Lord was with Ioseph and that he was prosperous and blessed then he made him overseer and he knew not 't is said what he had save only the bread that he did eat So it is in our Ioseph As the poor woman that knew the Messiah she leaves her vessel her water-pot with him and now would have all the City to come and see and believe in him and depend on him only trust to him only c. Dost therefore seek and find not Hast bin long waiting and feelest not And thou wondrest at it Others comforted and I not Search if this be not the cause it may be thy heart is not set only for this but on thy back belly lots ease what shall I eat drink c. As some women because God doth not feed so liberally their sweet tooth their licorish longings build them seiled houses measure their present condition according to their sinful humour nothing can please them neither husband servants Ministers nor Gods Ordinances Is this a vessel for the Lord and his Grace only You must you will have a longer coat than you can well wear Hold here Never think to have one prayer answered If this night thy day of misery should come cry thou mayst but no God to hear thee or help thee Oh a little oyl now a little grace now a little mercy Lord now Oh no you have no vessel to hold it But oh bless the Lord you know it Others it may be are noâ— so full of these sores of impatiency but you pray for God and Grace and have it not Why so These are not the things that you are only set for Why Because you are content without them I am not you will say But you are for you doe not lament daily after the Lord for these things only that which only satisfies that thy heart is not at rest till it find I hope I may have help for all this No saith Iames think not so Oh therefore bless the Lord. You know what hurts you Saints have hurts thus but they purge themselves and hence are blessed vessels still When Moses was begging for Israel mine Angel saith God shall goe with you I will not No thou only else let us die here Exod. 33. This prayer wins the field wears the garland The evils of the Churches are many an hour of temptation is coming on scandals are like to be great the subtilties of enemies many Now we pray and yet these have come and we fear they will come Oh beloved go to the Lord and plead with him only for this and when thou canst procure nothing for thy self yet let it fare well with Sion and this only I must have Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired You shall have it then else not See the great sin of those that lose their life preserve not the Spirit when he comes to them in Ordinances you are vessels onely made for the Lord and will you lose that which He drops in There is no others can receive him Iohn 14. 17. and when He comes to you do you thus requite Him c. CHAP. XVIII That the Holy Spirit is in beleivers as the Principle of their Spiritual Life and Holinesse SECT I. THat within these Vessels is an inward Principle of Life and Grace Or The burning shining profession of all the faithful it proceedeth from an inward Principle of the Spirit of Grace by the means of which their Lamp burns and their Profession shines For this I understand by oyl in the vessel the Spirit of Jesus not out of us but received in us not coming only upon us for so he may on foolish virgins by Balaamitish ravishments and hypocritical pangs and land-flood affections but abiding in us and that not as it doth in hypocrites but as it is in Christ Jesus without measure both Spirit and Graces so it abides in us in measure in Him as the fountain in us as the vessels from whose fulness we receive the same So that by oyl is not meant the external Principle of all Life the Lord Jesus having Spirit and Grace enough but keeping our hearts empty of it but the Lord Jesus in us who is not in us but by his Spirit even the Spirit of Life from whence all our actions spring and from which oyl our lamp burns This therefore I say the Profession of the faithful springs not from outward motives or principles of motion as the actions of hypocrites sometimes sudden praise sometimes gain sometimes feâ—rs sometimes fleshly hopes sometimes sudden conceipt and fancy some times irruption and rushings of the Spirit upon them but there is a spring within there is a life within there is oyle in the Vessel to fill the lamp and so hence it burns Eph. 2. 1. You hath
Apostle makes this the matter of admiration of Gods grace Eph. 2. 3 4. God who is rich in mercy when dead in sins hath quickned us Not only quickned our head for hence is cause of eternal praise but us and hence he hath set us up in heavenly places in him This is the state of all men they cannot do one spiritual act now that the Lord should help when all creatures left us is wonderful but that it should be with such a life even the life of Christ Jesus himself for the same Spirit that raised him from the dead dwells in us and the same Spirit that is now in glory with him is in us 1 Pet. 5. 1. This is mercy indeed that he should not only die for us and live in heaven for us but that he should love so dearly as to come and live in us that when our sins had slain him he should not onely come and dwell in our houses nor onely lay his head in our bosome but live in our hearts where he finds such poor welcome and ill entertainment at our hands I tell you this is wonderful to make his habitation in us that before we go to live with him he should live in us Let them that never knew what this meant refuse to be thankful but if you find it so forget not this love Iohn 14. 17. I le send the Spirit whom the World cannot receive because it knows him not The Lord sends the Spirit in common graces and the World doth receive that also in prophetical and miraculous gifts and it doth receive that but this Spirit which God pours on the thirsty this Spirit with which God fills the empty they cannot receive this Oh that you should have it when as they know it not 1. Hence therefore take heed of not owning the Spirit in this his presence Do you thus requite the Lord oh unthankful world not so much as to own the presence of such a friend neither in your selves nor yet in others How like the world is it to think that there is no such thing 2. Take heed therefore of not esteeming highly of it If ever God broke thy heart thou wilt esteem this life this principle as the greatest piece of love and say Lord I shall account this as the greatest part of love in the world Psal. 119. 68. Thou art good oh teach me thy Statutes Now to undervalue this and to account it common and hence as no sign of love 't is a part of unthankfulness 3. Take heed of imprisoning the Spirit of grace common truth Rom. 1. 18. It was fearful to imprison and silence that much more this It was the complaint of the Church in those days None stirs up himself Isai. 64. 7. What strength the Lord gives let me use what I want the Lord hath enough to help me withal put it to exercise or else affliction will 4. Take heed of enfeebling this Principle weakning of it The Church of Sardis things were ready to die in it you should strengthen this inner man not weaken it either by not feeding it with Christ or wounding it with known sins against Christ. Therefore let all the Churches know this and take heed that you do not refuse to own this where else will you make the difference between men that either Churches may discern them or you may discern and so have peace your selves Hence see the reason of that inward hypocrisie that is in many mens hearts so that the best profession of many a man is but a Scheme an Image a very craft a very artificial form all the duties are fair without but sapless liveless within Here is the reason they have no inward principle of life or if they do go to Christ they have no such principle within them to carry them to him so as to receive life from him and hence confess sin without sorrow or shame petition without thirsting live without love do without life because there is no spring but a dry heart within and hence they must do duty but they must make dead work of it and hence all is but an appearance and at best but a would be This is in a great measure in Saints when the Spirit within is quenched but it is in full age and strength in hypocritical hearts Ier. 4. 14. when the profession of Iudah was great and the Prophets had scarce any thing to say against them for outside Oh Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickedness there thy wo lies it enters to the very heart so Christ How can he that is evil bring forth good fruit And this is that which may make men mourn if I forsake all profession I shame my self before men if not I must blaspheme the Lords Name and play the Hypocrite before the Lord Matth. 12. 33 34 35. SECT III. TO take heed of denying the grace of God or this inward principle in whole or in part for this inward principle being the life of Christ in us to deny this is to deny Christ and to take away his life and such the Lord will deny before his Angels another day When they shall say Have we not eat and drank in thy presence he shall answer I never knew you I shall therefore here direct my speech to four sorts First To those that deny created graces in the Saints peculiar unto them only it s said there are none such in the Country if there are not it may be there have been and it may be will be and therfore I le speak For I beleeve 't is a delusion digged and hatcht out of the steam of the lowest sink in Hell And therefore that all may take heed of the evill of it I will first shew the evill of it then the causes that do beget it I. The evils of this delusion are these 1. It settles and fastens a man under the power of all his sin and yet with a quiet Conscience and yet to keep his Christ too It transcends my capacity from whatever I have read or have heard or have felt or can imagine how the power of sin can be taken away but where the Spirit infuseth the contrary grace an empty house swept and garnished with common gifts is but a fitting house for Satan to return into Say therefore a man may have no such graces and yet have Christ and them in Christ you stake this man down under his sin and make this member of Satan a member of Christ Jesus And upon this ground all Churches in the Land may be forced in Conscience to take in all prophane members if they plead Christ and their allness in him 2. This blurs all the glory of a Christian or at least the greatest part of it For what is the glory of a Saint 'T is to be like Jesus Christ the Lord of glory to bear his Image before God and men As to see a man with a Swines face would be the shame of a man to see a
Christian with Satans Image is the shame of a Christian but to be like our Head this is our glory though it be in sufferings 2 Cor. 3. 18. heavenly humble compassionate holy as he was and hence when God hath a mind to make Churches or Christians base in the eyes of the world he will withdraw here and when he intends to draw the world after him he will glorifie it with his glory Isai. 60. 6 7. 3. It cuts off a Christian from all hope of glory how many be there that scramble and catch at Christ and every one saith he is mine The proud man saith he is mine and hopes now verily to be saved but that hope is vain they have Christ out of them but where is Christ in them The life of Christ and the Spirit of Christ Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory 4. Give me but one place in all the Book of God where blessedness is bestowed upon or conveyed unto any or promised but to such as have these graceâ— Blessed is he that feareth the Lord and greatly delighteth c. Psal. 112. 1 2. If there be no such thing let any man expect it if he can II. The Causes 1. A magnifying Christ and making him our Sanctification when as you heard the last day this is to deny him to be our Sanctification He becomes our righteousness by imputation of his holiness and our Sanctification by infusing of it Nay hence a man depriveâ— himself of all good in the Lord Jesus when a man denies all grace in himself and then flies for Sanctuary unto Jesus Christ â— Iohn 1. 6 7. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie c. And hence it seems they denied men to have sin vers 8. boasting of fellowship with Christ vers 6. 2. Because there are say men onely immediate actings of the Spirit If this be so then there is seeing in a Christian without an eye and hearing without an ear and knowing Christ without an understanding and loving without love and living without life and feeding and eating without a mouth and then when these actings are over a Christian is like another man there is no Law remains written on his heart and so Christ should enter into his Saints like Satan into the Serpent who only acts the Serpent and when that is done he remains a Serpent again Know it the Lord Jesus his greatest work is not onely to change the acts but to change the frame of the heart not only to put new actions but a new nature into men 3. Because men know not the Spirit never felt the presence not power nor comfort of it themselves and hence men do as some Countries because themselves are black they paint the Devil whiâ—e Iohn 14. 17. The World cannot reâ—eive because it knows him not Give me any Christian living that ever found the sweetness of it but his longings were to have more of that grace to forget things behinde and reach to things before even to the resurrection of the dead whom I believe none will say want all habits of grace I look upon the Opinion as coming with a curse from God A man hath been a dry Professor long Conscience saith There is no grace in the heart and hence is troubled True saith he there is none in Saints it is in Christ and there he catcheth and deceives himself Secondly Those that do acknowledge them but any power or activity in them they deny they say there is oyl indeed in the Vessel but it helps not 't is no means to make the Lamp to burn or shine there is the life of Christ but it is a dead life they call them the graces of Christ but they are but fruitless graces I confess it if you consider them without the Spirit of Christ they are no true graces much less active or living ones but consider them thus they have a power as take the least grain of corn there is a growing power in it fructifying too in it by dying first though it actually doth not fructifie presently and though there must be rain and Sun must shine also and a providence accompanying of it so it is in the graces of Saints And hence it s called a Law of the mind there is a power of a Law as of sing and hence as Christ grew in wisdome and stature so all the members of Christ are like unto him I. The evill of this 1. This abates of the excellency of grace as from a Jewel to take away the operâ—tive vertue of it Foâ— it 's not like Christs now which is strong through God not weak which is living noâ— dead This is not like the glorious Graces of Saints triumphing This makes the Graces of Saints of less excellency then common Graces common Grace will make a man â—ide over many a sin and run exceeding fast though he fall at last A man that hath bin angry it will make him very quiet and still and is there no more power in this 2. This will make a man content himself with a bare form with a false confidence if this be true For take a man that hath bin long seeking to get strength against a vile heart and â—e finds none there is no power of heavenliness he is earthy no meekness he is proud I would say to him do you ever think to get any power of meekness love faith c. You shall never do it never have it here all your strength is immediatly from Christ look for it there in conscience a man must cease there And 't is certain all our strength is in and from the Lord but 't is dispensed mediatly Eph. 3. 16. Paul prays he may be strengthned with might in the inner man Or thus a man may not pray for strength of Grace which Paul refused not 3. Then the Saints if they be asked whether they believe or can love the Lord Jesus their answer must be no I have no power to love nor beleeve and then Peter did ill to answer so Lord thou knowest that I love thee Then Paul to say We can do nothing but for the Truth Then that Martyr that to then that said the Lord strengthen you yes saith he the Lord doth I know if the Lord withdraw his Spirit we are gone as Adam but is there not the immutable assistance of it Is there not the Promise I will never leave thee though sometimes weaker sometimes stronger 4. This will make a Christian hide and not improve his Talents he hath Grace but no power to put it forth Then suppose God gives power to see Truth one day I must not see it with this eye the next but look up to Christ and say I cannot see at all II. Causes of this 1. In opposing the outward principle of life or first principle and this second I must live on Câ—rist hence I must noâ— I have no power to act my self in any measure
they forsake him and live on the spoyl This is no inward Principle And hence when mens Expences for Christ exceed their Receipts from Christ they cease spending and fall in the high way to begging at the door of the World 5. Those whose Principle is nothing else but the strength of natural Conscience which will set men a doing when they have neither praise from men nor gain from Christ for their labour For the Lord deals with some men â—as the Romans did with some of their Prisoners they would chain a Prisoner and his keeper together and let them go up and down so God chains many a poor Prisoner of hell and his conscience together and lets them go together And hence many a man keeps pace with his conscience and cannot give it the slip for all the world heaped up with gold as Balaam said Now there are two things in a natural conscience Rom. 2. 15. 1. To accuse Hence a man dares not omit prayer dares not commit a sin he hath a mind to conscience would then roar Hence many keep constantly set duties in private and tremble at small sins not because they take any delight in the one or are weary of the other but because they are ever under the eye of this Judge 2. To Excuse and to give much sweetness when a man follows the dictates thereof hence a man though carnal will die for his Religion and that with some chearfulness because conscience chears within and sings him asleep in trouble And hence a man will cry out of all the glorious hypocriâ—ies of men because to walk according to Conscience is sweeter to him And hence a man comforts himself t is my Conscience Mark 12. 33. To love God is better than burnt Offerings Hence a man will profit exceedingly in what he holds Gal. 1. 14. because zealous for it for Conscience and yet this is but a Principle of Nature not an inward Principle of life whose property is to seek the subversion of corrupt Nature as natural Conscience seeks the garnishings of it and the actions thereof 6. Those whose Principle is the fear of death and hell raised not so much by the power of Conscience as by the power of the Word And hence come complaints about a mans Estate that a man can have no rest by all duties that he hath done or doth Hence following of the means running to the best Ministry mourning and lamenting and confessing sin Mat. 3. 7. Oh generation of vipers c. And hence prizing of favour and Comfort Psal. 78. 34 35. Hence many do take this for their Conversion and say I heard such a Minister at such a time and then I cryed out I was damned and thought I saw the Devil yea and to Hell you may for all this if no other Principle Indeed there is this fear in the elect but drives them to the Ark as Noah But those when their fear is over they fall to fight against the Lord. 7. Those whose Principle is nothing else but the immediate actings of the Spirit of God upon them For sometime the Spirit of God comes upon men as Light shines on the mud wall yet dwels not there as in the Sun And hence many speak pray prophecy admirably as Balaam Numb 24. 3 4. Many men like Carriers bring others goods that are not possessors of them Now these are 1. External enlargements and hence a man doâ—h many things which he hath no inward power to perform the Spirit is there assisting hence he cannot do so at another time but 't is the Spirit only assisting And hence a man may have abundance of knowledge and he not affected with it he may live and pray with applause of men others wish they were like him yet live without love speak without feeling and do without life hence men leave themselves here 2. Internal pangs the Spirit of God begets some inward grief especially when outward evils press then inward flashes and desires but they are soon done There is no Spring no Principle within What the difference is between Saints uneveness and this unconstancy you shall hear hereafter yet these are wrestlings of Spirit not yet conquering and hence it possesseth not the Soul 8. When men Principle is nothing else but common gifts which are inward and abiding long in the Soul That a man now thinks he hath Grace and sure signes of the Lords love and here is fastned when there be two things wherein it appears here is no inward Principle 1. These gifts ever puff up and make a man something in his own eyes as the Corinthian knowledge did And many a private man thinks himself fit to be a Minister many a Minister better than all the Parish besides when Paul was the least of all the Saints And hence commonly they degenerate to pride form 2. These keep men strangers to Christ the life of Faith they have these affections yet ignorant of Christ take these as signes of his love live without him And this is indeed the inner Principle which all the wicked in the world want there is in true Grace an infinite circle a man by thirsting receives receiving thirsts for more But hence the Spirit is not poured out abundantly on Churches because men shut it out by shutting in and contenting themselves with their common graces and gifts Mat. 7. 29. Examine if it be thus If so 1. You cannot come to the Lord John 5. 44. how can ye beleeve 2. Nor to receive any thing from the Lord if you do Jam. 4. 3. When you ask to spend it on your lusts when that carries you 3. This puls down the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when other things rule us and not himself alone 4. Satan will have this against you as against Iob You serve not the Lord for nought To what purpose are your new Moons Church-reformations if it be thus Now because it hath been replyed to what was formerly said that Christ was the vessel not our Souls I shall therefore confirm the latter to be the truth by these reasons 1. Mystical places of Scripture are to be interpreted by plain Now though Christ may be the Antitype of these Vessels of the Temple yet he is not plainly said to be a Vessel but Souls are called so Rom. 9. 23. 2 Cor. 4. 7. Acts 9. 15. Paul is a chosen Vessel 1 Thes. 4. 4. we are to possess our Vessels in holiness 2 Tim. 2. 20. Vessels of honour 2. The Spirit is not in Christ as in a Vessel but as in a fountain hence Ioh. 3. 34. Christs hath received the Spirit without measure 3. The foolish Virgins had Vessels because it s sayd they took their Lamps but no Oyle with them Their folly was not in not providing Vessels Hence the foolish Virgins did not afterward beg their Vessels but their Oyle 4. The wisdome of the Wise did appear in that they did provide Oyle for their Vessels If therefore the Vessel
hence that charge of Iosh. 22. 5. And 't is a peculiar fruit of Election Eph. 1. 4. 1. To be holy 2. Before him 3. In love II. Negatively If there should not be such a distinguishing fulness 1. Then the whole Ministry of Christ is in vain and so destroyed for what is the end of that that God raiseth up any Ministers in the Church but this Acts 26. 18. To turn men from darknesse to light If this light was only that in Heb. 6. 4 then the end of the Ministry was to work hypocrisie And from the power of Satan to God there the Lord leaves them not but that they may receive remission of sins c. 2. If there should not be this fulness most of the Promises should be destroyed and Gods Faithfulness fail and the Saints be deceived For Promises are made to them that mourn to them that hunger to them that believe c. Now many Hypocrites mourn and desire and the stony ground believed Then it seems the promise is not true Yes and therefore there must be another kind of mourning another and higher degree of the Spirit of Faith c. i. e. not of the same Faith but of another kind of Faith 3. If not then all Christian endeavour after a higher measure of Grace should be destroyed For if any man only hath Christ in his eye that he may have him I say that is sweet but I say you shall never have him unless you receive him Oh but many receive him as Iohn 2. 23. yet Christ commited not himself to them for he saw what they were Now therefore if you regard not the measure i. e. such a kind of receiving of him you will never seek for it pray for it nor learn to know it And hence 't is said Prov. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the righteous If it were not above of that height he would never come over difficulties to it 4. If not there is no true hope that any man can have But 't is utterly destroyed 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope purgeth himself I am as good as such a one But as Christ is pure That is his Copy and his Pattern 5. The very people of God are destroyed from having a being in the world if this measure makes not the difference If it be replied the Lord Jesus makes the difference 'T is very true those that are in Covenant they have God to be their God that makes one difference but if there be not some peculiar workmanship of the Spirit in them then though they have God their God yet the second part of the Covenant is destroyed i. e. They are not the Lords peculiar people that have more than common wash-work For we are not only the Lords people by choyce and purchase but by new Creation also Isa. 64. 7 8 9. SECT III. HEnce we see the sight of no Grace is no part of a Christians Grace and Holiness The five Foolish Virgins were not shut out because they did not see they had no Oyl but because when they did see it as the Lord will make you see it first or last they did not get such a measure and quantity of it as might fill their Vessel You may go down to Hell with complaints I have nothing unlesse the eternal Spirit work somthing at last in you Hence take heed of quenching and limiting the Spirit of God when it 's working upon and breathing in your hearts at any time in any means Because you may then fall short of this measure of it and so be shut out at last Look as it was with the Israelites 't is said of them that they could not drive out the Canaanites i. e. they would not by reason of their sloath and â—â—nce they were pricks nay snares to them So the Lord begins to work strangely upon some men but they are presently humble enough and have comfort enough and Grace enough and cannot be better and hence God makes their sins snares and thorns to their sorrow and ruine afterward Nay Beloved many a one will quench the Spirit Oh take heed of it Thus 1. The Spirit not only convinceth but humbles his heart and shake his spirit with fears of sin Now what should he do He should welcom it and say oh blessed Spirit dost begin to cast me down to the dust for my sin before I am cast to Hell for my sin What wilt have me to do Oh humble me more Give me not only an act of heaviness but a spirit of heaviness As she said of affliction I pray God this Plaister may never cease cleaving till healed Now what do many men Why either game it or work it or sleep it away The young man will not so soon lose all his mirth The man that hath thought his estate good so long will not believe 't is so with him now Or as Solomon speaks of Gods hand he groâ—s weary of his chasâ—isement and so casts it off and catcheth hold on Christ and comfort and there staies before the Spirit hath done it 2. If they dare not shake it off thus till the Spirit easeth then they satisfie themselves with some hopes the Lord gives and some tast of his sweetness before they are satisfied with it as those did Heb. 6. 4 5. And hence Psal. 90. 14. Oh satisfie us with thy mercy so shall we be glad all the daies of our lives So satisfied as to live upon it alone As many say they could be contented it should be so but they do not live upon it As if you should ask a man could you be content to be made King and come from Beggery Yes but he is left there 't is not so and hence lives a Beggar still Men cannot live without their lusts Yet saith Christ My flesh is meat indeed and drink indeed i. e. This gives real consolation satisfaction indeed And here many a Christian sinks and goes up and down short of saving good 3. Hence many walk in some desires which the Spirit hath wrought but to break through all difficulties and follow the Lord indeed and come to that they know they must indeed this they will not do but depart from Christ sorrowful and hope the Lord will accept of them and hence the Lord complains Mal. 1. 8. of this generation that had desires in their flocks but lame ones Will thy King accept this And so all their work is overly and superficial by stinting the Spirit Thus far you shall go but no farther Oh Beloved this is the frame of a sincere heart the Lord empties him but he is never content till the Lord fills and when he finds it he sits not down content that the work is done but as his want made him beg before so his tast makes him long more now as Moses to see more of the Lords Glory As Paul Phil. 3. 12 13. Oh therefore when the Spirit comes intreat it to go on and
So since you have closed with Christ you have lost your faâ—ness and sweetness that once you had you are now out of your place go to your horrors and sorrows again till the Lord so give himself to you as that you may receive life from him But must all come thus to Christ with their whole soul will not part of the price serve No the whole soul must come and cannot but come 1. In regard of the Jealousie of God who is like a jealous Husband can bear with many weaknesses but will have the whole heart and they that do not shall be destroyed for spiritual Whoredom Psal. 73. 27. He should dishonour Christ else to sell him so cheap 2. In regard of the excellency of Christ The Lord draws the soul by the revelation of him Rom. 1. 16 17. Isa. 55. 3 4. Now look as men in this world when they see a seeming good their whole soul is over-powered to be drawn after it So here when such an Object is seen especially the Soul having been at his Sepulcher weeping as Iron never stirs till the Loadstone comes and then it makes to that only not to things toucht with it For as we love him because he loved us first so Christ loving the soul with all his heart and his whole heart set upon him the whole soul is â— contra set on Christ. 3. In regard else a man can receive nothing from the Lord Ier. 29. 12 13. As 't is with Conduit-Pipes let them be laid but not reach the Conduit head no water can come to that Family so here And this is the reason why men live and pray and receive nothing their hearts reach not hither Mens hearts reach but half way to Christ Tell me else did you ever not receive 4. Because else 't is indeed no coming to him but a leaning on him or toward him So as 't is with trees if not cut off quite or not pulled up quite by the roots they cannot be set in another Orchard if the tree be left with never so little twigs in the ground so here Nay the Lord accounts this worse than if a man had not come at all Ier. 3. 10. The Lord abhors a double heart that Iudas like forsakes all for the Lord but then loves the Lord and the Bag too You are not the Lords As it was with that man that quarrelled about the tree it leaned over the Pales but the root being found to be there his it was So though he lean on Christ he is none of his But do all Saints come to this measure Ponder these grounds else Object But are not our hearts partly carnal and so close with the Creature Answ. True but yet 1. So far as 't is carnal 't is lamented heavily so that they grow not there but are dying withering dayly Ier. 31. 18 19. When a mans affections grow out of the world and there is no fear nor sorrow in this respect now no Christ is there 2. The Bent and Byas of the Soul carries the whole Soul hither For I would not judge of this so much by sudden paâ—gs as by an inward bent for the whole Soul in affectionate expressions and actions may be carried unto Christ but being without this bent and change of affections it 's unsound As in Gideon they would on a hurry make him King He would not He knew it was a sudden pang which would die And the reason is the true turn of the whole Soul is not by turning old affections upon another Object but changing them first by this bent and so turning them For a carnal heart may have the first as the same eye may see the Sun and a Dunghill and the eye not changed So here Now when the whole Soul is set here it is never at rest till here But may not Hypocrites come to this 1. Then they may be blessed Psal. 119. 2. 2. Then they shall never be cast off from Christ Iohn 6. 37. 3. Then they may partake of that which the Lord only looks for For why is the Lord angry The heart is gone from him Why is the Ministry ordained but to win the whole heart to him Iohn 3. 19 20 21. Oh therefore consider whether it hath been thus with you or no! If not wo to you Oh be very careful here 'T is a thousand to one if some part of your heart be not fixt elsewhere If Christ were at Judgment and should say Come ye Blessed How glad would ye be Oh he saith now Come and take my self SECT IV. IV. Fulness of the Spirit it self in the room of Satan I Shall not speak here either concerning that fulness of the Spirit in extraordinary gifts spoken of frequently in the Acts nor yet of that Fulness of the Spirit which some Christians that the Lord sets apart to do and suffer more for him shall receive more than others For Iohn 14. 17. the Disciples had the Spirit and yet Christ promiseth to send them the Spirit And Stephen was a man full of Faith and the Holy Ghost Acts 6. 8. And Barnabas Acts 11. 14. was a good man full of Faith and the Holy Ghost But I shall speak of that Spirit which is in every Believer without which we are not Christs Rom. 8. 9. And this is that Spirit which is opposite to the evil Spirit the Prince of darkness which possesseth with craft and power all the souls of the sons of men who doth not only encamp about men 1 Pet. 5. 7 8. Nor only work within them Eph. 1. 2 3. but he inhabiteth and dwelleth in men He doth not only take men captive 2 Tim. 2. 26. but he dwells in and possesseth the souls of his Captives Luke 11. 21. And though he doth depart for a time yet v. 26. They return and dwell there Now in the room of this comeâ— Gods Spirit who v. 22. is said to be stronger than Satan which cannot be meant but of Christs Spirit That as 't is with a man whose heart is turned from the Lord he is not left only to be carried by the power of his sin but by the power of Satan also So when the whole soul is turned unto him the Lord leaves not the soul to be carried along by the power of his own Grace or Faith but the Spirit it self fills and acts that soul. And as the soul was carried by the mighty power of Satan before 't is now carried by the Almighty power of the Spirit it self Hence 1 Pet. 1. 5. Kept by the mighty power of God through Faith And hence Acts 26. 18. Turned from the power of Satan not to duties but to God himself i. e. the Spirit of God and so to close with him What is this Spirit which the Saints have I shall express my self in these three Conclusions 1. That if Adam had stood he and all his posterity should have had that poweâ— and presence and constant assiâ—tance
too but a little fills them and quiets them and so damns them And hence men at the first work upon them are very diligent in the use of means but after that they be brought to neglect prayer sleep out Sermons and to be careless sapless liveless who is the better for them Because I say that now they have got something the main work is wrought they call not that into Question and so when God comes to reckon they are found too light Oh therefore keep the Vessel empty never content thy self with any measure Hath the Lord called thee Yes I think so and beleeve sometimes so but I am afraid I may at last be found without oyle in my Vessel be then every day as if thou wert but now to begin And this I say true grace as it comforts so it never fills but puts an edge on the appetiâ—e more of that grace Lord Thus Paul Phil. 3. 13 14. Thus David Out of my poverty I have given c. 1 Chron. 29. 3 17 18. It s a sure way never to be deceived in lighter strokes of the Spirit to be thankful for any but to be content with no measure of it and this cuts the thread of difference between a superficial lighter stroke of the Spirit and that which is sound 3. Look that your vessel be not broken nor crackt that when the Lord pours in it runs not out again Heb. 2. 1 2. Prov. 4. 12 13. Oh here is the wound of many a man he hath many affections in Word in Ordinances and they take hold on him to convince to affect him but he takes not fast hold on them he keeps them not as his life with thankfulness for any little and with watchfulness And hence a man is where he was dry and barren It 's true the Lord will not give that out of an Ordinance which he doth in an Ordinance But it 's one thing to have it lost out of thy hands and the Lords hands too another thing only to lose it out of thy hand It 's one thing for the Lord to withdraw it another thing for thee to spend it away by the prevailing power of a lust viz. either the world without or contempt of Grace within you esteem it not as your life and hence seek not to keep it you will lose the Oyl in your Vessels And I am confident this is one reason why a man lives long under means and never profits the Lord sees if he should poure any thing into the heart it would be lost He takes fast hold of world or self and keeps that and hence all runs out again 4. Look that you be at the cost to get this Oyl in your Vessel These â—irgins when the door was shut and too late would but the time was past For we shall find the reason why mens works are sleight their buildings their garments why they will not be at the cost so mens work of Grace is sleight because they will not be at the cost They find a want of Grace and prize it and would fain have it but it shall cost them little they will not be at the cost of their time Somtime they can seek the Lord in an Ordinance but what if he comes not They depart from him Sometimes in pangs and fits when the Spirit comes they seek but to be ever seeking ever carrying sense of sin 't is too much time and trouble they will not be at the cost Some affections and hearts they spend but not their whole hearts Hence Christ exhorts oh strive because many seek and are never able Look therefore as it was with Ionathan Saul 1 Sam. 14. 45. said he should die No the people said not so for he hath wrought with God this day Not that a man can get Grace by his own strength but Col. 1. 29. I strive according to his mighty working Only let me add this be at cost first to get the Lord Jesus himself As Mat. 13. 33. He sold all and bought the Field and when he had the Field now he had the Treasure Oh think no time too much no lusts too dear no affections too much for him and then you have all things with him and shall receive life from him and not for a dead but for a living risen Christ. Christ bestowed Gifts on Iudas on Saul but whom he bestowed himself upon those never wanted any thing Psal. 23. 1. But here I might take up a doleful complaint Oh that men content themselves with colours and tinctures of Truth and Spirit c. Some Naturalists observe that Brass would be Gold it tends to it had it but more heat of the Sun to concoct it and to bring it to perfection so 't is with the lighter Stroaks of common Grace CHAP. XXI That true saving Grace in the Hearts of Believers can never fail SECT I. THat those Graces of the Spirit wherewith those Heavenly Vessels or Souls of the Faithful are filled are constant and of an eternal Nature For thus the wiâ—e Virgins their Vessels were not only filled but the Oyl was constantly preserved in them and continued in their Vessels until they met the Bridegroom 'T is true their Lamp went out outward acts of the Spirit of Grace expressed in the Profession of the Saints may be extinct for a time yet the Oyl did remain in the Vessel still which was not so with those which were Foolish not only their Lamps were out but their Oyl was spent so that here is a third Difference between the Foolish and the Wife Virgins That the Spirit of Grace in the one is of a dying withering nature in the other of an eternal and everlasting nature There is an eternal excellency stampt upon them Iohn 4. 14. The water that I shall give him shall be in him no Pools but a perpetual living Spring Heb. 6. 9. Some that were enlightned and tasted fell away but we are perswaded better things of you The Saints have better things which do not cause but accompany Salvation The Lord is so far from suffering it to die as that he will add to it Luke 8. 18. To him that hath shall be given Though it be like Mustard-seed yet it shall grow there is a growing vertue in it But as the Lord speaks of his people Isa. 65. 8. As new wine is in the Cluster and one saith destroy it not for a blessing is in it so it shall be here Nay though it be not so much as seen yet the Lord then can see it and doth then keep it and will preserve it Isa. 40. 29 30 31. Nay though opposed and resisted by temptation yet 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. 'T is not consumed but tried that it may be to Glory another day notwithstanding manifold temptations 'T is one of the greatest Miracles in the world to preserve it as a Spark of fire in a Sea of water Nay though it seems to a mans feeling to be quite quenched and put out that
prosper not a man able to stand against thee this puts life into him 2. Though they cannot fall quite away yet they may fall so as to lose the sweetness of Grace and presence of God If a man should eat too much and ever be sick though not die after it or if one should fall and break his bones though he doth not lose his life Is this any gap for any to rejoyce 3. Though they cannot wholly drive away nor beat out the breath of the Spirit yet they may grieve the Spirit by which they are sealed Eph. 4. 30. Which is more sad to a holy heart than all evils in the world beside But therefore let this Conceit die and perish which is raised up by Satan to disgrace the Image of God and Spirit of Grace in the hearts of the Faithful for who will make men seek after perishing things under a colour of making men seek for the Spirit it is to resist and quench the Spirit of God in them SECT IV. IT may comfort the hearts of the Faithful exceedingly against fears of Apostacy when they see great Cedars fall How shall I stand And when they hear of some temptation that may be hereafter then they fear And when they feel the evil of their own hearts which the Lord lets them feel to humble them that they may grow lower and so stand the faster they say I shall fall and when they have found the Lords presence oh if now I should relapse after this health How shall I know whether I shall stand or no 'T is not only discernable by perseverance but by somwhat begun though very difficult to be seen As 1. Observe Gods several and various dispensations of himself and his Grace toward thee whether they issue from his everlasting love or no for if so then he will everlastingly keep that which he hath given thee Quest. How shall I know that Answ. Look as that issues from eternal wrath that separates the soul from God or therein 't is exprest so that is the expression of eternal love which draws thee to God in Jesus Christ. Observe therefore the Lords carriage Doth it draw thee at last to him nearer to him and so the more he dispenseth of himself the nearer thou art brought to him here is the expression of eternal love and the Lord will keep thee Iohn 6. 37. All that 〈◊〉 given me shall come to me Let the Lord give his Spirit though but little they grow thankful Oh he is come whom I thought would never have returned again Let him deny it this keeps them humble Let the Lord dispense himself in an Ordinance they love him and 〈◊〉 day 〈◊〉 better than a thousand elsewhere Let him not do so they feel the more need of him Let the Lord free them from temptations and give them conquest Faith now rejoyceth Let them fall into many temptations their Faith growes the more purified than ever Let the 〈◊〉 give them outward blessings they grow more vile in their own eyes lesse thâ—â— the least with Iacob Let the Lord deny them Hab. 3. 18. they rejoyce in the Lord. They get good and are more endeared to the Lord by every carriage of the Lords at least in the issue it is so As 't is with wicked men they may for a fit be affected and return to the Lord but in the issue they forget the Lord so 't is here contrariwise There is not any unregenerate man but somthing or other 〈◊〉 him The wicked ever are like Chaffe driven from God Gold that is of an everlasting nature keep it beat it burn it you cannot consume but only purifie it 't is not so with Chaffe Let the Lord give him tasts of Grace and joy it estrangeth his soul from Christ it doth not bring him neaâ— to Christ. 2. Observe whether thou dost grow out of and live upon an everlasting Covenant or no Rom. 11. 1. God hath not cast off his people whom he 〈◊〉 Who are those Children of the promise Rom. 9. 7 8. That are born and bred of the promise or whole Covenant of Grace God hath treasured up all Grace in Christ laid it up in that store-house Christ hath dropt it in his promises Now when the soul is rooted in the Covenant now it shall never die nor perish As 't is with some trees set them in the ground they will grow if they have Sun and rain but die at last Take another and set it in a Stock so that it abides there and fetcheth all its life from thence by cleaving to it now it will grow and become a flourishing Branch Now then the soul growes out of the Covenant when the whole soul cleaves to the whole Covenant for the whole benefit of it and is fully satisfied with it 2 Sam. 23. 4 5. As take a soul that feels a want of all the benefits of the Covenant pardon peace life that the Spirit is ready oft to fail and hath no assurance it shall have any part of that which is the Childrens portion and looks upon his own unworthiness never to have any from the Lord yet it looks up to the free mercy and Grace that made it to some to make it good to me and so pleads the promise and so laies it self there and there rests and there looks and here sucks and takes root and the rooâ— spreads to every part of the Covenant The Lord hath now rooted the soul in this Covenant and it hath received life from hence this is everlasting you shall continue And when the soul especially is like a bough blown by the wind yet it stands fast still If men have been in horrors and then fell to reformation and there rested it will not last If men have had some workings and actings of the Spirit upon them and then say God must do all but they grow not into the Covenant they will die But here though God keeps thee short and naked and thou only pleadest the Covenant thou shalt stand If you plead for pardon and some good not the whole good of the Covenant you shall die also If you grow upon some distemper and the whole heart grow not upon this you will die also Look as 't is with a man that builds he will make an end if the foundation be laid but if not pull it down so here 3. If the power of Grace received and acted by the Spirit hath risen to the nature of fruits and not leaves only Iohn 15. 2. And that is when the soul receives that Grace as that in every thing its scope is to live to God to give his heart content For fruit is the end of the trees growth and leaves and fruit is not for the tree bâ—â— for the content of the owner of it If so the Lord hath undertaken to purge thee though there be much Self-seeking in thee and he hathâ—undertaken though little at present to make thee bear more fruit â— Many a man
wonder if the City be taken though never so strong if it grow once secure no wonder if the world be entred and men are grown more worldly and if Satan be entred and men grow more passionate than ever before no wonder a mans work be neglected if he be asleep Ordinances more slighted than ever before Never shall you see Security fall upon a man alone but it brings its train with it when the Husbandmen sleep tares will be sown and when the Disciples sleep temptations will enter This is that which the Lord testifies of his people Ier. 2. 2 3 4. I remember what thou didst in times of streights in a land not sown every one that touched you did offend but in the seventh and eighth verses when brought to a plentiful Country they did not so much as say Where is the Lord that hath done this for us But yet the Lord questions his people for this What iniquity have you found in me which question you cannot answer without grief here or confusion another day You that are the Lords often have heard this complaint for this may be your condition as well as Noah's and Lot's but now see the cause of it how hard to awake on hour how hard to walk with God one day short awakenings you have but long sleeps this may be your condition for a time but you cannot continue so for ever if you are the Lords But if you do continue so especially without bemoaning this unto the Lord 't is a question whether ever there was that oyl in your vessel which others have when not only a mans acts grow worse but the very spirit of a man degenerates when not only the leaves of the Vine fall but the Vine it self groweth degenerate and hence continueth so this is a sore evidence of a woful state Ier. 2. 20 21. When the yoke was upon thy nick thou saidst Thou woâ—lâ—st not transgress but the Lord hath broken thy â—ands and now thou art becom a strange Vine Remember it will be an heavy indictment against thee to be good in Mesheck but base in Sion to be then worst when the Lord is best Use 3. Hence see one reason why the Lord pursueth many a Soul with inward terrors and outward sorrows Those that are fast asleep because soft speechs cannot awaken them hence we lay our hands upon them and sometimes knock them because this is the way to awaken them and then they hear so the Word and Spirit speak to a man but such soft still winds rock them asleep rather than awaken them hence the Lord layeth his iron hands upon a man and knocks by blows and now when affliction is upon you now you can hear When as the winds and water were ready to tear the ship in pieces now they enquire Why were they sent And the lot fell upon Ionah who was then sleeping it is easie to awaken out of natural sleep but very hard out of spiritual security All the terrors of God on Ionah within and without are little enough but at last he could hear and run on his errand Psal. 30. 6 7. Why did God hide his face from David he said in prosperity he should not be moved this was the reason of it the Lord sees you have need of it seldom shall one see an awakening Christian without inward temptations and terrors or outward sorrows Oh consider then if the Lord do meet with thee consider thy own security thou hast been in or art apt to fall into This is the sin you must enquire after and finde out and do not account it hard though long though bitter for never greater misery than for the Lord to say Sleep on it is one of the heaviest Judgements for the Lord to let a man go on in a secure condition without blows mark therefore unto the end of those blows to be throughly awakend by them For sometimes when the Lord sends them a man if they be not very bitter if he hath any rest lays them not to heart Isa. 42. 25. Fire burnt about him and in this Country I know not what curse befalls men peace makes men secure and sorow makes men discontented and sunk and discouraged which may be for a fit in a Saint but to continue so this is that Ahab Oh when as thou feelest the blow look now that thou dost awaken and be thankfull for it that you met with that you did never reckon upon viz. to be frighted out of security thereby SECT VI. Of Exhortation TO watch over one another by exhorting one another while it is called to day Heb. 3. 13. Let both the Watchmen and Members of Churches do this for this is one means appointed by the Lord to preserve the soul from sleeping 1 Thes. 5. 1 5 6. Exhorting one another as it is in Cities when the Watch is apt to sleep they have their companies that are passing up and down the walls the greatest part of the night and so they are kept waking and we shall finde that as it is in a Town where men are all asleep one Bell-man one waking Christian will keep life and spirit and the power of godliness in many and when he sleeps all are fast Nothing in the world brings security sooner upon men than sleepy company Officers of Churches watch not over members nor they one over another exhorting and crying one unto another to their work while it is called to day Oh then let every man get up and fall to this work of mutual exhorting go and visit one another go and speak oft to one another and if thou be a childe of the light see that thou endure not thy fellow servants to sleep in the open day in one duty or another Know if God stirs thee thou wilt awaken others 2 Cor. 5. 10. We knowing the terrors of the Lord perswade men 2. Consider thy labor cannot be in vain here the best mettalled horse needs spurs others are asleep You will say if I knew such a sin I would speak but I dare not Answ. It is the case of all the Virgins they have need of it Iude 23. Some save with fear pulling them out of the fire Matth. 3. 3. Consider this is one part of your Warfare to keep your watch whereby you may be made conquerors You complain you have many sins and temptations arising and prevailing never do they usually prevail but when you are secure first the Watch is taken and then the City is suddenly taken now look as Paul 2 Tim. 4. 6 7. he hath finished his course and fought his fight and now expects the crown how can you end your days in peace that cannot in some measure finde and feel this The Church is the City of the living God this is taken and every man in it unless you be watchful and exhort one another daily while it is called to day And that I may not speak in the clouds 4. Their sin will be yours First Labor to
he and others were the off-scouring of the world and this was their glory vâ—rse 16. Look upon Christ himself he had as much excellency as could be yet he cast it off despised all the glory of the world was a worm and no man he professeth he sought no â—onor of men â—ut the will of him that sent him this was his glory 2. Look upon the excellency of your estate in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 21. Glory not in men for all things are yours take any Prince that hath a Kingdom will he house in a cottage or spend his time and care to thatch and repair that no all the Kingdom is mine and hence he will have Kingly thoughts and Kingly aims and ends and acts that ennoble him indeed So here 2 Cor. 5. 9. Knowing we have a house above that there is but a breath between us and glory we labor are ambitious that whether absent or present to be present to be accepted of him The very reason why the hearts minds lives of men are so debased as to seek their glory in that which is their shame is this they know no better estate no greater glory the God of glory and Kingdom of glory and promise of glory and Ark and Cherubims and Oracles of glory in Christ have been to this day hid from their eyes hence Heb. 12. 2. Christ for the joy set before him despâ—sed the shame 3. Make the Lord present with you and see him shine about you in his glory when poor men come to the Court and see no King there they bow down to his Chair whereas if he was seen he should have all the honor then so when men see creatures but see them like empty chairs the God of glory not filling of them we bow down to creatures but when God is seen now the soul gives all glory to him a man that lives without any in his house as chief all servants attend on him but when the Prince comes with his train now all his Servants with himself are too little to attend on the Prince so here when men come to pray or preach or speak Oh how doth a wicked heart seek it self but when the Lord is seen now all attend on him hence when God sends his people to honor him he first appears to them in his glory and it never is long out of their minds hence Abraham forsook his own Country Acts 7. Moses forsook Egypt he saw God invisible Heb. 11. 26 27. Psal. 22. ult All nations shall remember and turn to the Lord when the Lord is seen all our glory is shame Isa. 6. and now glory in that and make him as present as at the last day then all shall fall down before him 4. See how every service you perform unto him every act of holiness quickned by the Spirit of life is pleasing to him if a Prince be with a man and cannot be pleased nothing can content him or we hear not one word from him whether we please him or not we shall grow weary of him at last but to consider this he that serves me him will my father honor that every cup of cold water shall have a Disciples reward that every groan shall be heard that what you do to one of these little ones you do it to Christ and Christ takes it as kindly as done to himself that the Lord remembers the love of your eâ—pousals Ier. 2. when you follow him in a land not sown that the comfort of all your labors tears sufferings shall follow you to heaven and for ever lodge in that blessed brest of thine Oh Brethren saith Paul always abound and spend your time here knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord why do men seek to please men and place their glory there because men see and approve them Oh what is this to the approbation of a God SECT VIII OH then preserve this your glory when men have any thing in the world that is their glory their Crown their Treasure Oh they will keep that especially rather lose life than lose their names and glory in the world Oh preserve the spirit of holiness especially in these places this hath been this only shall be our glory and that not in name and yet dead but in deed and in power we have had our Christian conversation and that not by contenting our selves with a little but to be exactly holy a little spot is soon seen in your coat you shall observe it 1. When the Jews shall be made the glory of all the earth their glory shall not consist then in immediate Revelations but in Sanctification there shall be holiness and sanctification there shall be holiness on pots and horse bridles 2. When the Lord will be a defence to his people and a shadow from heat and from the Sun it shall be when the Lord hath purged away the filth of men by a spirit of burning not which burns up all holiness but filthiness and self-confidence in any holiness and hypocrisie and so they shall be holy Isa. 4. 3 4. 3. How many men stumble by opinions divisions c. the fruits of a corrupt head and streams of a dunghil heart that had rather live in sorrows among enemies than divisions among friends Oh the spirit of people as soon as any new Calf is made fall down and worship it and break the antient Land-marks which the Word hath set and then make prognostications of all ill weather to arise from opposing their opinion never shall our glory be recovered till these evils are confessed and lamented and the sin of the heart which begat them 4. I have wondred why so few be converted though blessed be God some the Lord doth pick out a few Servants Children and Natives is it not because either this exemplary holiness which is our glory is not or not so shiniâ—g but our lamps are dim Ministers preach and hearers are â—troubled but they then look upon scandals and offences from others and so are beaten off again Zach. 8. 20 21 22 23. Oh therefore preserve it 5. HOw will all the world ahhor the ways we walk in if we miscarry 6. God will have holy Churches he is refining the whole world now for that end and will do so more and more and go on SECT IX Quest. How shall we preserve it Answ. 1. Take heed of harboring an ill opinion of holiness for then if your judgements dislike it your tongues and your lives shall disgrace it Take heed of imagining that First there is no grace in Saints only immediate actings of the Spirit this is no spirit of holiness no more than in Baalams Ass through which God spake to him Secondly That these graces are only common who will seek much after that or esteem that which is but common this is to despise the Spirit to contemn the blood of the Covenant whereby the Church is sanctified Thirdly That grace is so dark and obsâ—ure a thing always as no
to awaken thee if the word doth not SECT XII Use 3. OF Exhortation Labour to be in a readinesse awaken out of sleep and get your Garments on your loynes girt your Vessels full your Lamâ—s burning thaâ— you may be indeed ready and he Lord may finde you so as well as men think you so It is Christs Exhortation Luke 12. 40. whereupon Peter askt Did he speak that Parable only to the Disciples or of all Verse 41. he answers all especially them that know the Lords minde herein and do it not Verse 47. So you may ask me Whom do I press to make ready I answer all Two sorts I shall therefore name 1. Those who are yet unready either in whole or part 2. Those who are ready but not so ready as those should be who stand before the Lord and as themselves will wish another day they had been the wise as well as foolish may be sleepy and so unready for a time but O awake First Those who are unready and unprepared for the Lord and his coming are there any such Yes very many some there be who know they are unready and will not yet buy and yet prepare not for it because they are young enough yet or have time enough to provide for that hereafter Some others because they cry Lord Lord and look to Christ and are well thought of by the wise that think they are ready but know it all your thoughts and cares and prayers and endeavours are little enough for it even all your life and yet to prepare for this hath been the least part of many a mans life and such is the security of some that till Christ come they will not Gird up themselves to this Work SECT XIII COnsider the lamentable end of one who dies unready some not all the Lord leaves for terrours to the secure world who are as good as men risen from the dead to tell men of the vanity of their sinful courses who looking upon time past they see that it is irrecoverably lost and past away as a dreame and lost as a shadow look upon time present they feel their souls left naked their accounts not made an end come to all their hopes and comforts here their body sick their conscience trembling if not tearing their hearts hard God departed the grave opened for their filthy carkasses and Devils waiting for their secure soules And now say such What profit have I for all my vanity under the Sun Look to time to come there they see the Throne set the Lord Jesus on it their soules standing naked before him whose grace was great toward them whiles they lived but whose face now is a consuming fire and they behold eternity even that eternal black Gulf between them and the Lord and here they lie wishing they had taken their time professing now their time is lost beseeching others to take warning by them desiring the prayers of others but yet thinking though Noah and Samuel should stand before the Lord for them there is no hope Come and tell them Do not cast away mercy cast not away that blood which is worthy to be gathered up by blessed Angels in Vessels of gold lament and returne and the Lord will to you what tell you me of repenting and believing is a sick time a fit time to repent in but the Lord hath done great things for you you have thought so but there were such sins or such a sin I knew you knew not I knew it yet I loved it I had indeed some lazy purposes to forsake it but the Lord hath taken me in my seemings but mercy is infinite oh it 's my torment I have seen an end of my sinnes and now I feel the beginning of my torment happy are they that die in the Lord and thrice happy that make ready for the Lord. Consider thou hast but a short time to prepare in and the time will be then when thou dost least think of it Luke 12. 46. The Lords Arrows are now flying abroad if you did think you should be next smitten down dead you would prepare but you think the Lord delayes his coming Oh Remember that time thou do'st least think of Christ will come If unready now you will be much more unready next day grant thy time to be long you will be the more unfit the longer you delay thou hast hinderances now the longer thou livest thou wilt have more and more â—y heart will be harder every day than other SECT XIV PRay unto the Lord that he would prepare you and fit you give his Christ and fulness of his Spirit unto you which you know the Lord will give to them that ask for man like the Potters clay is no more able to prepare himself for glory than to appoint and elect himself thereunto Hence Psal. 10. 17. Rom. 9. 23. prepared to glory therefore pray not that prayer can move the Lord to it but because it is a means appointed of God to execute his eternal purposes of grace unto the Vessels of grace Acts 9. 9 11. Paul was three dayes mourning and he did not eat and drink and yet was not discouraged but kept on praying and ceaseth not till the Lord sends Ananias that he might receive the Spirit Verse 17. So say I to you Time hath been thou hast not prayed mornings evenings your sleep would not suffer you or if so yet it hath been without mourning for living without Christ abusing of Christ and the sin of your nature or if so it hath been onâ—y by fits and you could hold up your head againe before God sends Anamias with a Message of peace or that Message without the Spirit of grace Are you now prepared Oh no! oh therefore now begin this work say I am thy clay Lord and have been a broken unclean Vessel unfit for any use to hold any grace if mercies come I forget thee and grow worse if sickness I am blockish if Ordinances I despise them if thou forsakest me I forsake thee if thou drawest neare to me I resist thee if Christ be offered I reject him if not I presume and turn his grace to wantonness now Lord gather a broken Vessel if I live I shall still sin if I die I shall blaspheme if I forsake acts of sin yet lusts of sin remaine if they be quenched yet my polluted nature remaines not cleansed and the guilt cries Now Lord undertake for me begin thou the work and take the glory and here mourn till the Lord comes know the worth and prize the presence of the Spirit and then pray Iohn 14. 16. The world cannot receive it because they know it not with Iohn 4. 10. Sacrifice is unfit to be offered till by shedding blood life is taken away Be very watchful over your hearts that they grow not too gentle and handle tenderly sinnes arising after faith and profession of your interest in Iesus Christ sins of the second growth some sins grow
suffer the Lord Jesus to bruise or cross its will that so he may prevaile over the resistancy of it A strong arme a strong man when his arme is bruised or broken or wounded takes away the act of resistance as taking away the very life from it takes away the very power of resistance so Christ would unite himself to the soul there can be no constant union where there is constant resistance Christ comes to take away that hence bruises and wounds the soul outwardly sometime in name estate inwardly in conscience in heart Now here is mens folly That they will not be humbled when they heare of their estate in the Word they will not believe 't is so though they stand all the while convinced therein as if they had been named nay they will not think of it if it begins to trouble them or if they do begin they think it is the temptation of the Devil and if their estates or names begin to dye they will not be poor nor despised they had rather dye or live in vexing and fretting rather than yield they will have Gods Will bowed to theirs not theirs to the Lord nor yield themselves Captives to his mercy let him do with them what he will who owes them nothing Thus it was with Ephraim Capernaum heard admired embraced Christ but yet repented not that was to live in the smoke and fire Wo to you saith he for it Ier. 6. 7 8. Be instructed He saith not Instruct thy self but be instructed be convinced be humbled for thy sin lest my soul depart I am with thee yet to pardon it yet to take it away Secondly When they will not be gathered to Christ nor come to him nor receive his love when it comes to them but put it farre from them as much as in them lies The Disciples told Thomas Christ was risen but he would not believe unless he saw him nay unless he felt nay unless he felt his very wounds Christ pities and beares with the weakness of Faith But saith he be no more faithless but faithful and hence saith he Blessed are they which have not seen and yet believed this Christ complaines of in the Jewes He would have gathered them and they would not Now here resistance is made two wayes 1. By the will when the soul sees the offer of love faire and full but will not be drawn to close with it because it knows whether to go and live and be yet well enough without it Iohn 6. 68. Whether shall I go It hath some other Lovers to give it content but loss of Christs love is not for the present as bitter as death to him because having of it is not life to him because something else is his life this is enmity of heart and indeed the root is worse if worse may be you can finde some pillow to ease you when you refuse Christs love to help you 2. By the minde the soul knows not whether to go and yet the minde doth not not will meditate with fixed meditations on the grace of Christ whereby it might be drawn to Christ but pores upon its sinnes and unbelief and feares and objects strongly and continually against the Lord. Isaiah 40. 27 28. Hast not seen c. Beloved 'T is with the minde as it is with burning glasses hold them to the Sun and you gather and unite the beames that they burn So the soule by musing on Christs Love Object Many say I cannot believe though I see a command for it and God will not help me Answer The fault is not here but in this You will not use this means in musing on the gracious freeness riches and need of his love Psal. 6â— 6 7. but on the earth 1. Object You will say I cannot but resist Answer Yet I pray give us leave to exhort you to believe give Peter leave to perswade Acts 3. 19. Repent and be converted the Lord requires that only it may be the Lord may go away from thy soul and take his leave of thee for ever and if you did know you would noâ— crucifie nor resist the Lord of glory if you would consider you would know 2. Object I finde my heart much affected and drawn but then I am afraid of prâ—suming â—ow shall I know when I may close with the Lord Answ. 1. When the Merchant hath sold all let him take the Pearl and enrich himself with it the Devil may grudge thee it but the Lord doth not will not 2. When the Lord comes to draw indeed you cannot but accept your need will be so great the offer so faire love so abundant and like the honey comb dropping into thy heart before thou suckest it and Christ so dear that thou canst not tread upon hâ—m whom God hath smitten for thee Mary Iob. 20. 15 16 17. stands weeping at last Christ appeares Woman why weepest thou whom seckest thou she knew him not hence her heart stirres not but at last he calls her by her name and then she knew him and saw him present Rabboni saith she and now had she best apprehend Yea she cannot but embrace him Oh touch me not as yet saith he c. Of Exhortation To labour that the Lord Jesus may apprehend you I know it 's nothing but his mercy can move him to it even to take away that resistance of your hearts but yet heare his voice as well as know his power and harden not your hearts whiles it is called to day in use of means for this end Psal. 61. 7. 1. Consider your need of this Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold Did Christ need Yes Christ himself must be supported by the power of the Lord Psal. 40. 11 12. Let thy mercy and truth continually â—reserve me and this was not only when sinnes swallowed him up but when he had been preserved Psalme 17. 5 6. Hold up my goings You are gone in a moment if the Lord lets his hold go you are kept in strong holds in Iron bolts in invisible everlasting chaines in the Dungeon where no water is unless the arme of Christ help 2. Consider the benefit of it Acts 2. 24 25. It was impossible Christ should be held under paines of death because of his Princely Spirit exalting him so here Christ is and will be with you and when once he hath apprehended you none can pull you out of his hands no not the Fathers hand that was angry and he will never cast away his Ioh. 10. 29. when they come to him 3. Consider how few finde this Isa. 53. 1. To whom is the arme of the Lord revealed and who hath believed our report both joyned together the arme is Christ and the power of Christ by his Spirit in the hearts of his Elect but for want of this it is that one lives loosely and another falls foulely and never riseth another falls secretly and is never known and dyes in a dreame c. and that there is