pretends to be our friend as he did to Eve and to Christ himself but yet they that have the Testimony of Gods Spirit are secure and safe though they that have it not cannot be so what ever presuming confidences they may entertain themselves with I shall therefore indeavour to clear this thing that none may be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin or Satan or their own hearts In relation whereunto I shall lay down three Rules to which though I purpose not to speak much yet I hope to speak much to the purpose having first premised this one thing that they cannot have the witness who have not the work of the Spirit and consequently they cannot have the witness of the Spirit who have not the witness of their own spirit or the Testimony of a good Conscience for if our hearts condemn us upon just grounds and we do not bear false witness against our selves which is the sin of many an otherwise tender-hearted Christian I say if our hearts condemn us God is greater than our hearts but here begins our confidence towards God if our hearts condemn us not if we love not in word or tongue but in deed and in truth hereby we do in part know that we are of the truth and shall assure or as 't is in the Margent perswade our hearts before him 1 Joh. 3.18 21. And the Apostle tells us Rom. 8.16 that the Spirit â—ears witness with our spirit as also it follows 1 Joh. 3.24 we may have ours without that but not that without our own and therefore to make up the full and compleat Testimony both witnesses both Spirits must concur and agree without contradicting or thwarting one another The three that bear witness on Earth agree in one 1 Joh. 5.8 And now to the Rules for discerning the difference between the true and the pretended or presumed witness the Spirit The Rules are these three 1. The witness is known from the Rule by which it speaks 2. By the ground on which it speaks 3. By the end to and for which it speaks I say 't is known 1. By the Rule according to which it speaks To the Law and to the Testimony for if they speak not according to this Word there is no light in them Hebr. no morning in them no not so much as the dawning of the day or the eye-lids of the morning Isa 8.20 1 Joh. 4.1 6. and Epistle 2.7 10. Gal. 1.6 9. 2 Cor. 11.1 4. The Spirit of God acts and walks by the same Rule that we are to act and walk by and that 's the Word If the Word and Spirit do not agree we must question either whether the Word be of God or whether the Spirit be of God and we are at a rueful loss if they do not both agree for if the Word say one thing and the Spirit another how shall we reconcile it but Gods Word and Gods Spirit do alwaies agree and are of one and the same mind The Spirit of God did indite and dictate the holy Scriptures and therefore it cannot say one thing there and another in thine heart that were to bear witness against it self and if its Kingdom be divided how can it stand This conclusion therefore is infallibly true that when and where-ever the Spirit of God doth bear and give its Testimony 't is alwaies according to the written Word contained in the Old and New Testament this is the foundation upon which iâ— builds both us and its Testimony Epb. 2.18 22. The Spirit of God as was hinted did indite and dictate the Scripture 2 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Tim. 3.14 17. 1 Joh. 2.20 27. which unction refers to and is according to what they had heard from the beginning Vers 24. so that they were taught the same thing by the unction within as they were by the word called unction also without In all times the Word was the Rule of tryal Our Lord Jesus Christ himself opposed and conquered the Devil by this Sword of the Spirit the Word of God He proved himself to be the Messiah more by the Scriptures than by Miracles and tells them that if the Scriptures did not testifie of him they should not believe him and therefore bids them search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Our Saviour confutes the errors of the Pharisees and the Sadduces by Scripture He tells us that his Spirit shall not bring us a new Doctrine but make Application of what he had taught Joh. 14.26 The Apostles commended them of Beroea that they searcht the Scriptures to see if the Apostles spake true Act. 17.10 11. And Peter prefers it to the Bath câ—l filia vocis the voice which he heard calling it in relation to the Jews a more sure Word of Prophecie 2 Pet. 1.16 19. So then upon the whole 't is clear that what is not according to the Sacred Scriptures cannot be the witness of Gods Spirit SECT 5. A Continuation 2. THE witness of the Spirit is known from any other by the grounds on which it witnesseth of which I shall name but two 1. The Spirit finds this ground-work laid that thou art new-born though but a Babe or Infant of daies and experience this alwaies precedes the witness The Spirit doth not nor can bear witness to them that are dead i. e. that live in sins Ephes 1.1 2 3. nor to them that have but a form of Godliness or are Pharisees-hypocrites that they are the Children of God It cannot witness that to be which is not 'T is when and because ye are Sons that God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so thereupon or therewith beareth witness to and with our spirits that we are the Children of God Gal. 4.6 with Rom. 8.15 16. The work is alwaies begun before the witness come that which is not wrought cannot be witnessed to If thou therefore be not new-born thy believing thy self to be a Child of God is a delusion not the witness of the Spirit 2. The Spirit of God bears witness that a man is the Child of God not upon the ground or account of works and self-righteousness but upon the score of mercy and grace through the redemption which is by Christ Jesus It witnesseth upon the account of mercy not of merit Though there be a work wrought and working too yet the witness attributes this to and so witnesseth to it as of grace The Sons of God are and their salvation is not of works but of grace Joh. 1.12 13. Rom. 4.1 16. and 9.15 16. and 11.5 6. Jam. 1.17 18. Tit. 3.4 5. 2 Tim. 1.9 by all which it doth appear that all is of grace and on this bottom and fondation is the witness laid and born to it 'T is called sonlship by Adoption which is meerly of grace all Adoption is so and 't is to this as such that the Spirit witnesseth as Rom. 8.15 16. Gal. 4.6 It beareth witness that we are the Children of God but still
that we are so by Adoption and not by nature for so we are Children of wrath Ephes 2.3 and as to works we were Children of disobedience and enemies in our minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 And as to works wrought by us after the new birth we are not the Children of God by them for they are from our being first the Children of God and that not from our worth or will but his grace and good will to this and to nothing but this and on this account doth the Spirit bear witness And this much of the second Rule viz. the ground on which it witnesseth 3. The witness of the Spirit is known by the ends it aims at and attains by affecting them when it beareth witness what they are I have declared in part before and shall shew more hereafter and therefore content my self with but hinting a few things here The design of the Spirit is the abasing of us and the exalting of the Fathers and the Sons love the Fathers grace and the Sons righteousness in our eyes that we may be nothing that God and Christ may be all in all that we may admire the God of all grace glorifie his Son Jesus for ever and for ever The best admirations are those which spring from knowledge and assurance ignorance is the Mother of but saint languid piteous devotion but that which flows from knowledge is strong and vigorous and therefore doth the Spirit bear witness that our admirations devotions and adorations may be such 'T is to indear God to us that we may love him the more and serve him the better that he may be not only the dearer for his mercy but dearer than it and we may live to the praise and glory of God in righteousness and true holiness in this present world that is all the daies of our life yea and that to come too in Eternity I might add that this witness designs to wean us from this world that we may put the scorn upon the lust of the eye and flesh and pride of life and live above above the grandeur and gallantry pride and pomp pleasures and prettinesses of this world I say that we might live above where the way of life is to them that are wise so wise as to have their affections and conversations in Heaven Thus it follows upon our Text 1 Joh. 2.15 where he bespeaks the Fathers Young men and little Children Not to love the world neither the things that are in the world upon this very account that if any man love the world the love included in the knowledge of the Father is not in him he doth not know the Father So that if any conceit themselves to be Children of God and yet admire themselves grow proud wanton and worldly minded they deceive themselves for they have not the witness of nor this witness from the Spirit Gods Children are of another world while in this and they that know him to be their Father live like men of another world in this Psal 73.25 Phil. 3.20 Heb. 11.13 16. And hence there is fair way made for me to pass on to the third part of this discourse viz. to shew more at large the result of this knowing the Father or that by the witness of the Spirit they are the Children of God as to the priviledges and the injoyments of this attainment of the little Children CHAP. III. Shews the priviledges and injoyments of the little Children in knowing the Father in four Sections SECT 1. HOw upon having received the witness of the Spirit they do triumph over the Law Sin the world and present enjoyments I have declared long since in a little short Discourse in Print called the Triumph of Assurance being an Appendix to the first part of my Orthodox Paradoxes to which I refer the Reader and proceed to discover other the priviledges and enjoyments of these assured ones Which priviledges must be more than ordinary or common because to know the Father is more than common knowledge and the more excellent the knowledge the more excellent the enjoyment is whether it be in kind or but only in degree That which I shall chiefly instance in is the great priviledge dignity and honour of being able to cry Abba Father by the Spirit of Adoption received into and witnessing in our selves not barely Adoption nor only the Spirit of Adoption but by it to cry Abba Father is the great thing I shall instance in according to Rom. 8.14.15 16. compared with Gal. 4.1 7. Now whether the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father be the same thing with the witness of the Spirit whereby we know the Father i. e. that we are his Children or something precedaneous to it or something succeeding it and following thereupon is a great question in so critical and nice a thing we need be wary and cautious Yet with all humble submission I shall speak what I think to be most clear and evident in this case which I suppose to be this viz. that the Spirit of Adoption may in part and a little precede the witness of the Spirit as the dawning of the day doth the Suns rising to our view withall that more of it may come and appear together with the witness but especially and chiefely that most of all as to exercise use and comfort doth flow from the witness after the receit thereof that is the Children of God who are led by the Spirit do act most in and by the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father after they have received the witness of the Spirit whereby they know the Father and that they are his Children For the better clearing hereof I shall from comparing Rom. 8. with Gal. 4. lay down several gradual positions all which well considered will not a little contribute to the deciding of the question according to what I have already hinted Position 1. These Texts with several others do discover the great advantage and dignity of the Gospel state beyond that of the Law under the Law they were Sons and Heirs but under age i. e. Babes Gal. 4.1 The Heir as long as he is a Babe so the Word is and Vers 3. So we while we were Babes so the word is there also which we render Children yea they were Sons by Adoption or by grace Acts 15.11 for none have been the Sons of God any other way since the fall of Adam But under the Law they were under a Spirit of bondage more than of Adoption and differed not from servants Gal. 4.1 were under bondage Vers 3. and received not the Spirit of Adoption till the redemption by Christ was over Vers 4 5. and till they received the filiation or Son ship by Adoption thus manifested they had not the Spirit of the Son crying Abba Father Vers 6. and after this they ceased to be servants Vers 7. that is they ceased to be Sons and Heirs as Babes only which differeth nothing from a Servant Vers 1. and
became Sons and Heirs of God through Christ Chap. 3. from 23. to the end The state under the Law was a Law of bondage the Law is called A yoke of bondage Gal. 5.1 and they under it were under a spirit of bondage which in the genuine and proper sense of it is a weak slavish and cowardly spirit of fear opposed to that of power love and a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 This spirit of bondage is usually interpreted to signifie a slavish frame of heart whereby the Jews like slaves and superstitious persons did serve God out of fear and this I shall not deny their religion at the best was called The fear of the Lord yet I shall add this unto it that they did serve God not only from fear or out of fear but that they were afraid and under bondage though they did serve God their service did not free them from fear They were afraid of suffering Death and Hell notwithstanding their Services and Sacrifices for Jesus Christ took flesh to free from this fear Heb. 2.14 and instead of it to bring in the Spirit of Adoption 2 Tim. 1.7 Gal. 4.4 5. and so 't is spoken of Rom. 8. to bear them up against sufferings which they were under as appears by Vers 15 18. and accordingly 't is mentioned to encourage Timothy notwithstanding others Pauls or his own suffering 2 Tim. 1.7 8. And 't is observable that since the death of Christ and the pouring out of this Spirit the Saints many of them have been as desirous to die as before under the Law they were most of them afraid or loth to die Well then in the general the Gospel state is as far advanced beyond that of the Law as liberty is beyond bondage and courage beyond fear as to them that have received not simply the Adoption but the Spirit of it SECT 2. A Continuation Position 2. THE Spirit of Adoption is an addition a superaddition to Son-ship under the Law they were servantsons but now they are Son-servants they have the Spirit of Sons saith the Apostle Now ye are no more Servants but Sons viz. you that have received the Spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 7. They are Sons as all Babes are before they have this Spirit of Sons to cry Abba Father Indeed when God is pleased to translate a Babe into an higher Form and to place him among the little Children this Spirit of Sonship or Adoption doth begin to exert it self before it have a clear and full witness thereof but ordinarily as among the state of Babes though they be Sons yet there 's little of the Spirit of Adoption but much of bondage appears in them so that the Spirit of Sons is an addition to Sonship as Gal. 4.5 they received the filiation and Adoption and after that the Spirit Vers 6. and so by degrees they came to call Abba Father So Rom. 8.14 they are called the Sons of God and upon being Sons received the Spirit of Sons or of Adoption Vers 15. they were Sons before they could call Father which they could not do but by the Spirit of Sons or of Adoption Position 3. The witness of the Spirit of God comes upon not barely the son-ship or Adoption but the Spirit of Adoption for it bears witness with our Spirits viz. them of Adoption for our natural Spirit doth not bear witness that we are the Children of God 't is our Spirit of Adoption doth that and with and thereunto doth the Spirit of God bear witness The Babes are Sons but have not the spirit of Sons and therefore have not the witness of Gods Spirit or assurance but assoon as the Spirit of Sons begins to put it self forth then usually doth the witness of the Spirit joyn it self to it Position 4. Upon the witness of the Spirit which gives assurance that they are the Children of God which was doubtful before because they had only the single witness of their own spirit and yet that left them not without hope I say then doth such a soul cry out aloud with freedom and boldness My Father my Father Abba Father it might hope this before and faintly and brokenly indeavour to liâ—p out Father before but now it opens its mouth wide and speaks My Father 'T is observable that the Spirit of Adoption whereby we â—y Abba Father is called the Spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 such as was in Christ who did but once My God my God alwaies pray to God with the Appellation of Father and once Abba Father Mark 14.36 and all these after he had received the witness of the Spirit that be was the only and beloved Son of God Matth. 3.17 So when we have the witness we do not only think or hope that God is our Father but with confidence and assurance a Plerophorie of Faith we draw near to God and cry Abba Father which we cannot so freely do before we have the knowledge of the Father to be ours and that we are his Children So then the Spirit of Sons and the witness of the Spirit of God therewith is not the Babes or Servants but the Childs portion and their that are above their Form viz. the Young men and Fathers and henceforth they are taken from being Servants into the glorious and noble liberty of the Children and friends of God Rom. 8.19 21. Gal. 4.7 Joh. 15.9 Position 5. To have the Spirit of Adoption and the witness of the Spirit thereunto whereby we cry Abba Father is a choice and transcendent priviledge to have the Adoption barely seems I consess to be an advance beyond their Son-ship under the Law as 't is Gal. 4.5 As if they though Sons were yet Sons of another denomination and nature viz. servants or servile sons yet to have the Spirit of Adoption is more than Adoption and to have the witness of the Spirit is more than the Spirit of Adoption for from hence is our boldness to call and cry Abba Father 'T is the height of Gospel glory to converse with to enjoy and obey God as Children do a Father Though the Sons under the Law were under bondage 't was yet a state of more freedom than other Nations and people had but this is a state of liberty glorious liberty 'T is a great advance and preferment to pass from servants to friends Joh. 15.15 to pass from Babes to Children from as carnal to spiritual I and to have not only the Spirit of Christ without which we are none of his Rom. 8.9 but to have the peculiar Spirit of his Son an Emphatical distinction â— whereby as he did we do cry Abba Father which the other that are Christs and have the Spirit of Christ cannot do without this special Spirit of his Son In relation to this priviledge I shall 1. Prove that 't is a great and glorious one 2. Shew wherein the glory excellency and sweetness of it is SECT 3. Proving this to be a glorious priviledge THat to know the Father as
I have spoken of it is a great attainment and glorious priviledge will be evident by these following Considerations or considerable proofs to begin with the Old Testament 'T is Prophesied of in the Old as the glory of the New Testament The Prophecies of the time and world to come the Messiah or Gospel dispensation were glorious far beyond their present injoyments and the Prophets were more Seers in respect of what was to be than of what was so the Apostle tells us expresly 1 Pet. 1.10 12. and when the day dawns and the day-star ariseth in our hearts it supersedes the Prophecis they being then know in accomplishments so that we may say with a little alteration as Joh. 4.39 42. Many believed because of the Prophecies which testified of these things but more believed because of his own word and now they may say We believe not only because of their sayings but because we have heard and selt him our selves 1 Joh. 1.1 3. and know that this is indeed the Spirit of his Son which beareth witness with our Spirit of Adoption Now among many other Prophecies of the glorys of the Gospel-Saints this is one that they should know God as a Father and their Father Psal 89.26 which is spoken of David and of Christ who was more a David than David was He shall cry unto me Thou art my Father Isa 63.16 't is spoken what they should say in time to come Doubtless thou art our Father So Chap. 64.8 But now O Lord thou art our Father Jer. 3.19 I said How shall I put thee among the Children and I said thou shalt call me My Father Again to know God as our Father is in the New-Testament put as a greater glory than to know him as our God for 2 Cor. 6.16 't is said I will be their God and they shall be my people but if they come out from among them and be separate and touch not the unclean thing then I will receive them and will be a Father to them and they shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty God is the God of Angels but to which of them said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son The Apostles add this Title to that of God 2 Cor. 11.31 Ephes 1.3 1 Pet. 1.3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whence 't is apparent that 't is fuller of sweetness that God is Our Father than if he were only our God The great if not the greatest discovery which Christ promised to make by sending the Spirit to do it was to make known the Father They had heard him speak much of the Father and of knowing the Father Joh. 14.1 7. whereupon saith Philip Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us Vers 8. from whence our Saviour takes an occasion to speak more at large of the union that was between him and the Father and that in knowing him they might know the Father also and that whoever loves him shall be loved of the Father and that the Father would send the Holy Ghost to be the Comforter under which name he had not yet been at least not so clearly and fully known and that therefore they should rejoyce because he went to the Father with many other such like sweet things in that Chapter And Chap. 16.25 The time cometh viz. when the Comforter cometh that I will shew you plainly of the Father and in Vers 26 27. places more comfort in it than in his own intercession for us which yet is one of the greatest comforts we have as may be seen in Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.1 Accordingly the good news which he sent his Disciples after his Resurrection was this that he was ascending to his God and their God and not only so but to his Father and their Father Joh. 20.17 To have the witness of the Spirit and so to know the Father is such another honour as was confer'd on Christ himself as the Spirit is the Spirit of his Son so the glory is the glory of his Son viz. such as he had Matth. 3.17 and 17.5 which voice and testimony is called a receiving honour and glory from God the Father 2 Pet. 1.17 And when the like Testimony is born by the Spirit of God to our spirits we receive honour and glory from God the Father For if it be so great an honour to be known of God how much is it to know him and to know him as our Father Gal. 4.9 1 Cor. 13.11 12. Phil. 3.12 By all these things it appears that it is a great glorious and sweet priviledge to know the Father by the witness of his Spirit SECT 4. Shews wherein the glory and sweetness of this priviledge consists THE second thing I am obliged to discover and to treat of is the glory and excellency of his priviledge that the little Children can cry Abba Father And it lies much in two things 1. That they have a great deal of freedom boldness and assurance in their addresses to God and appearings before him at the Throne of Grace and in the day of Judgement That they have at the throne of Grace is express upon the account of their Intercessor and High-Priest Heb. 4.14 16. And indeed the Spirit becomes a Spirit of Prayer an Intercessor in them as it follows Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirits knowledge is more to their advantage and comfort than their ignorance is to their detriment They go to God as to a Father as Children use to do to their Fathers but with a much more assurance Matth. 7.11 as the Prayers of Christ are heard alwaies Joh. 11.41 42. and by his Prayers he can obtain and do mighty things Matth. 26.53 because they are addrest to his Father so 't is also with these that know the Father 1 Joh. 3.21 22. and 5 14 15. God alwaies had his favorites who had his ear and heart and hand to command almost for his Sons and Daughters such were Noah Daniel and Joh Moses Jâ—shuah and Samuel Abraham Jacob c. And now these little Children the Johns that lie in his besom Joh. 13.21 26. are such as they viz. great prevailers with and obtainers from the Lord as our Saviour tells them and us Joh. 14.12 13. Joh. 15.7 and 16.23.24 all which places and promises refer to what they should ask and receive and do after he was ascended and had sent the Spirit to make known the Father to them As they have great boldness at the throne of Grace so in the day of Judgement also for perfect love a Pierophorie or full assurance hath boldness in the day of Judgement because as he is so these are in this world viz. he is declared and witnessed to be the Son and these are to be the Sons of God 1 Joh. 4.17 they shall have confidence at his coming 1 Joh. 2.28 2. The
non passibus aequis they make the Father their example and to walk as they have him for an example 1 Pet. 1.14 17. Ephes 5.1 And in fine Children are very teachable the Babe is not so Teach a Child the trade of his way the Child-state is a learning state the Babes are dull of hearing 〈◊〉 5.11 2 Cor. 3.2 Joh. 16.12 Great 〈◊〉 cannot be taught to Babes Isa 28.9 〈…〉 ye Children Prov. 4.1 and câ—me near 〈◊〉 children I will teach you Psal 34.11 These are capable of strong meat for they are spiritual having received the Spirit of Adoption and the witness of that Spirit by which they bring forth all the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 26. These few things shall suffice concerning the disposition and conversation of these little Children by which we may see what Dâ—ctrine is most proper to be Preacht unto them non omnibus omnia as belonging to their state I should now come to apply the whole but that there is one Question which will require an Answer to it before I shew the uses of this Point The Question is Whether those that have assurance do alwaies to their dying day lie in the injoyment and powerful influences of this assurance may not this Sun be Eclipsed May not this Child of light walk in darkness after the light and sight of God as a Father May not the witness of the Spirit be suspended and withdrawn I Answer 1. Some of them may and do live in a continual injoyment of their assurance as 1 Joh. 5.18 19 20. especially if they be grown up to be Fathers after they have been Young-men conquerors for the Fathers are spoken of as persons who have without interruption known him that is from the beginning and these little Children such as are to be kept in this state may also as John did lie in the bosom to the very last but if any of them be and many of them are design'd to be young men then indeed they are tempted to call their Son-ship into question but by the word and witness abiding in them like Josephs bow in strength they overcome and conquer as Christ Jesus did which will appear in treating of the next degree or Classis viz. that of the Young-men 2. As to the influence of assurance in respect of joy rapture transport and the like I humbly conceive that it doth not abide with any in so high a degree and great a measure as when it came at first my reason is this their Spirit would fail for the vision is too strong and the light too glaring and bright to be born alwaies or long as it shined at first and may now and then at some certain seasons afterward beside if it should continue long as it seiz'd them at first and for a while they would be unfit for any of these lower offices and affairs of their particular calling wherein they are to serve the Will of God in their generations for this would so possess and take them up as the Prophets of old were during the time of their Visions that they could not attend any thing else As when wrath is upon any the Spirit would fail if God should so contend for ever as 't is in Isa 57.16 18. So indeed if God should continue the bright shine of glory alwaies as 't is when the assurance comes at first they would faint under so great a weight of Glory and beg God to forbear a little lest their spirit should fail Now as wrath due to sin is not alwaies apprehended as at the first conviction so neither may love be and yet the influence of this Sun may operate much when the Clouds interpose and accordingly the little Children during their abode in that state have a sedate peace and calm serenity possest by them for the most part and so can go on cheerfully to serve their God and Father and to accept of and be pleased with his Will in all conditions 3. They having received the witness of the Spirit this Spirit never witnesseth against them to deny or contradict the former witness it never revokes it though it should suspend it nor reverseth it though it should witness better things against them For though it never do say to such a soul Thou art a Child of wrath yet possibly in a time of desertion and darkness it may say Thou art under wrath and so set home very terrible things to the great affliction and deep humbling of the Soul And thus at length have I dispatcht not all that I might but all that I designed to speak as to the doctrinal part of this discourse about the little Childrens attainment injoyment disposition and conversation as 't is in and from knowing the Father viz. as their Father I shall now conclude it with some Application CHAP. V. The Application in two Sections SECT I. An Exhortation to Babes MY Exhortation is first to the Babes that they would be much in Prayer unto God for this attainment that he would place them among the Children and give them the Spirit of Adoption and the witness of his Spirit therewith that they may know the Father to be their Father and themselves to be the Children of God and so cry Abba Father Beg and beg again that he would fall on your neck and kiss you with the kisses of his mouth which are better than Wine yea and Corn and Oyl too Cant. 1.2 Psal 4.6 7. For your help herein I present you with a Directory not to be read by roat but as a supply of Arguments which you may breath and sigh out before the Lord though not in these very words but as the Spirit shall help you In the first place be sure to bless God for what thou hast received Do not despise the day of small things nor think any of his consolations little seeing thou art less than the least of all bless him that he hath preclaimed his name The Lord gracious and that thou hast had a taste thereof that there is such a saying faithful and worthy of acceptance that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners that thou hast taken in the milk of this Gospel the first principles of the doctrine of Christ Repentance from dead works and Faith towards God and Christ that thou are taken into the Family though thou have but little of the Childrens bread but art fed with crumbs The best way to be blest with more is to bless God for what we have To him that hath been thankful shall be given and he shall have more abundantly Yea bless him and tell him thou wilt do it for ever though he should never do more for thee than he hath done seeing he hath convinced thee of the sinfulness of sin of the excellency of a state of Grace and given thee desires to grow as thou art told hath made with thee au everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure thou wilt bless him for it as
way of knowing the Father beyond what is attained by any below them in the School of Christ which is called the excellency of knowledge Phil. 3. and whereof I come now to speak more distinctly SECT 2. TO know the Father according to the scope and intendment of the Text in relation to the Little Children is to know him by way of interest and experience 1. By way of interest as their Father to know themselves to be his Children and so it notes a state of assurance 'T is a reciprocal knowledge in a relative notion like that of the Spouse I am my beloveds and he is mine to be able to say as Thomas My Lord and my God Though every Child of God as Babes cannot say My Father yet every of the Little Children can say My Father and not only Abba Father but My Father according to Jer. 3.19 I will put thee among the Children and thou shalt call me My Father Our Saviour promised his Babe-Disciples that when the Spirit was poured out upon them in that day they should know their union with and interest in him which was all one as with and in the Father Joh. 14.8 20. and at that time he by his Spirit would shew them plainly of the Father Joh. 16.25 with Joh. 14.26 The great thing one of them among others which the Spirit was to declare was their interest in and union with the Father and with Christ Joh. 16 13 15. with 1 Joh. 5.19 20. and Joh. 17.5 to assure them of Love 2. 'T is to know the Father in a way of communion and experience 1 Joh. 1.3 they find the communications and impartings of his Fatherly Love Some have interest in a Father Yet see not the Kings face as was Absaloms case though called to Court but these have a knowledge of injoyment they find and feel his Love shed abroad into their hearts the light of his countenance is listed up upon them and they walk in the light and joy of his Salvation 1 Joh. 1.3 7. They hear the joyful sound of my Son and my Daughter my pleasant and beloved Child in whom I am well pleased Thy sins are forgiven thee and thou art mine They find the Father falling on their neck and kissing them with the kisses of his mouth embracing them in his arms and taking them into his bosom And this indeed is their knowledge of the Father viz. knowing him in interest and experience union and communion They feast with the Father and on his Love as the Prodigal did after his Father had sealed his Love with a kiss Oh how sweet and pleasant was the entertainment and communion They rejoyced CHAP. II. How they come to and by this knowledge of the Father in three Sections SECT 1. I Have shewn you the attainment of Little Children which is a sensible assurance of the Love of God in the injoyment of union and communion with him The next thing is to shew how they come by and unto this knowledge and that is by the working and witnessing of the Spirit I put both together because though he may work where he doth not witness as in Babes yet he never witnesseth but where he hath wrought as Rom. 8.13 16. where 't is observable that mortisication ver 13. being led by the Spirit Vers 14. and being in part a Spirit of Adoption and Prayer Vers 15. did preceed the witnessing with their and so doth before witnessing with our Spirits that they were or we are the Children of God Vers 16. so 1 Cor. 2.12 which he speaks of the spiritual ones and not of Babes as Vers 13. which may be read expounding or communicating spiritual things either in spiritual words opposed to words of mans wisdom going before or to spiritual persons in relerence to what follows in the latter eâ—d of this and the beginning of the next Chapter Again 1 Joh. 3.24 where he speaks of the assurance or knowledge of these Saints dwelling in God and Christ and he in them and that he abideth in them by the Spirit which he hath given them but before he mentions that he doth characterize them by keeping his Commandments so that the work precedes the word as I may call it or witness of the Spirit In relation to this more things will be said anon only at present I shall take occasion from what hath now been said to make some discoveries concerning the persons that God doth usually call pick and single out from among his Babes to put them among the Children and to give them assurance SECT 2. Discovering the persons that God singles out to place them among the Little Children and to give them the assurance of his love and being their Father PEthaps some poor sóuls among the Babes for whom I have a great concern hearing what hath been said may be inquisitive to know if there be any hopes for them to come to this attainment of the little Children that they may also be kist with the kisses of his mouth that they who are sick of love for him may be brought into his banqueting house stayed with Flaggons comforted with Apples and that the banner over them may be Love Cant. 2.4 5. and for their sakes I shall make search though it may seem a digression to find out the footsteps of Gods way in this particular case But before I enter upon it 't will be necessary to premise 2. things 1. That God is free in his choice and may chuse out whom he please his Spirit bloweth this gale of knowledge and assurance of the Fathers Love when and where he pleaseth 't is no trade-wind if I may so say God is not under any obligation nor is bound to any man but to whom he pleaseth as he shews mercy to whom he will so 't is what degrees of mercy he will to any persons and times are wholly at Gods dispose 't is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth which refers to the story of Isaac's blessing Jacob instead of Esau but in God that sheweth this as all other mercy 2. God hath been pleased to pick and chuse out some persons upon whom he hath fixed so special a love as to make them his darlings to make himself known as a Father to them Among all the Disciples John was he whom Jesus loved viz. peculiarly as 't is often mentioned by the Evangelists he loved all his Family but John was his bosom-disciple and favourite As when Fathers have many Children only one is the beloved and kist more often than all the rest 't was Joseph's case beyond all his Brethren Gen. 37.3 so it is here God is pleased to pitch upon some to shew special manifestations of his love unto them And he hath done it usually and promised to do it to such as these 1. To such as come in to his service betimes they that seek him shall find him sooner or later but they that seek him early shall be sure to find him
advantage of knowing the Father and being able to cry Abba Father is much in this that 't is a great relief to them in the saddest times and conditions 'T was Christs standing consolation that God was his Father and so 't is theirs It 's sufficient to now the Father who is all-sufficient and whose grace shall be sufficient for them come what will or can This is great and strong consolation 1. In case we are mis-judged and mis-interpreted thus it was to Christ himself Joh. 8.15 19. and Vers 47 55. What ever you think â— say it matters not My Father witnesseth to me and my Father honoureth me c. 'T was Paul's comfort that The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him our Father knew that he did not lie though they were too â—pt to think that he did 2 Cor. 11.31 'T is a small thing to be mis judged in mans day when our Father will be our Judge and judge righteously 1 Pet. 2.23 2. 'T is great and strong consolation when we fear wants we are but too prone to be soliciteus for to morrow and therefore to pour out many and long Prayers to God but to take us off from vain Repetitions Tautologies much speaking and solicitous thoughts our Saviour propounds the remedies for our hearts case from God to be known as a Father Matth. 6 7 8 9. And therefore bids them pray briefly and pâ—hily and to address and make applications to God as a Father who knows better what they need and what 's fit fâ—â— them than they do So as to cares also Vers 26. and 32. 3. When forsaken and forgotten by friends and nearest relations Though Father and Mother forger us yet will not God our Father and therefore the Church pleads it Isa 63 16. Douâ—â—less that art our Father though Abrahaâ— be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thâ—u O Lord art our Father This supported Câ—â—â— himself whâ—â— the Disciples â—â—d and left him alone yet he was not alone for his Father was with hâ—â— Joh. 16.32 4. In case of suffering not only from men but from God himself to know the Father ingâ—gâ—th to patience and submission which is never without case and comfert When a person was lanced and cut by a Chirugion her Father and askt by one how she could endure it Oh said she 't is my Father and â—e loves me Thus our Saviour took the cup because his Father gave it him to drink Joh. 18.11 And the Aposâ—le presseth to indure enassening upon this account Heb. 12.5 10. 5. Yea in the time of desertion Death and Judgement this is a cordial notwithstanding if it were enough to a Child of light that walked in darkness and saw no light to have this staff to lean on that God was his God Isa 50.10 much more as was hinted that God is his Father as 't is Isa 64.7 8. Thou hid thy face from us c. but yet O Lord thou art our Father When our Lord Jâ—â—us cry'd out My God my God why hast that forsaken me yet presently he concludes in almost the fame breath which was also his last Father into thine hands I commend my Spirit Luk. 23.46 yea as I newly said this casts out fear in the day of Judgement 6. 'T is great comfort that we know the Father and are known of him when no man knows the good we do it being done in secret Matth. 6.4 and 6. yea though we forget the good we have done yet our Father will remember it and bless us for iâ— Mâ—â—th 2â— Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you who fed me cloath'd me c. O Lord say they when did we do this Though they had forgotten yet the Father had a Book of remembrance written for them that loved his name and shewed it in ministring to the Saints Heb. 6.9 10. 7. 'T is a great comfort when we are straitened in Prayer and cannot express nor utter our own conditions yet that our Father knows and concerns himself for all our affairs Matth. 6.7 8 9. with Rom. 8.26 27. which is spoken as referring to them that had the Spirit of Adoption Vers 15. The Spirit that witnesseth is assistant to such in Prayer and commends their thoughts sighs and groans to God for he saith the Text searcheth the hearts 8. 'T is a great comfort though at any time we have not some particular things that we pray for our heavenly Father will not withhold any good thing if he withbold any that thing is not good for us if it were pro hic nune rebus sic stantibus good and good now we should have it presently for no earthly Father can be so ready as our heavenly Father is to give good things even the Spirit to hem that ask aright and according to his Will Matth. 7.11 with Luke 11.13 they have all that they may ask would or should ask as that may be read 1 Job 3.22 and that is what 's according to his Will 1 Joh. 5.14 And beside this a Child of God would neither have nor ask any thing knowingly They are sure to have all that 's good and 't is best to be without what is not so yea that which is denyed their disappointment of it and his denial the evil they undergo as well as the good they do the good they are without as well as that which they enjoy shall all work together for their good who love God and that to be sure they do and dearly too who know the Father and have assurance of his love 'T is time now to dismiss this third Chapter having shewn in it the priviledges and injoyments as far as I intended of the little Children who know the Father and what sweetness and honey drops from this rock of ages the everlasting Father I now proceed to the fourth particular which is to discover the frame of the heart and conversation of the life of these little Children who know the Father CHAP. IV. Shewing the frame and conversation of these little Children who know the Father in two Sections THis state or Classis of Saints being not so much noted particularly as that of Bâ—bes is I shall not be able to bring many instances of particular persons yet considering the nature of their attainment by rules of proportion and degrees of grace and what the sacred Writ says in general I shall endeavour to clear up these things as an addition to several others hinted before SECT 1. 1. THâ—t these little Children who knew the Father by interest and experience are of a very loving which is a very lovely disposition and 〈◊〉 and consequently are of a very ingenuous assible and obliging yea of a winning conversation 〈◊〉 magnus amâ—is amor Love is the whetstone and lordsâ—ene of love they therefore being belâ—â—ved of the Father and this Love being made 〈◊〉 and assured to them they cannot but 〈◊〉 inwardly and expressively most dearly and
as to be a Servant in bondage to the rudiments of the world opposed to the adoption of Sons or having the spirit of Sons Gal. 4.1 6. it notes unsteadiness and instability such are tossed to and sro Eph. 4.14 In which places the word should be translated Babes and not Children as sometimes ' t is It notes an ignorance or unskilfulness Heb. 5.13 opposed to them who have their senses exercised to distinguish and discern things and consequently to approve of what is best 'T is in this last Metaphorical and Moral sense that I am to speak of Babes and by the way 't is perhaps not unworthy of observation that in the Metaphorical sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is but once used as I remember and that by St. Peter 1 Ephes 2.2 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the word so frequently used by St. Paul though by both they mean the same state of persons as appears by the Milk which both mention when they speak of these Babes Now that these metaphorical Babes be they young or old for years are a sort of professers inferiour to and of a lower rank than the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little Children which St. John speaks to I evince not only from the different words used and that so frequently * Of which before in the Introduction which is not inconsiderable but from the characters and proper attainments of the one and the other state which is the best proof and indeed such as is undeniable and cannot be gain-sayed The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in John is rendred little Children is once used by Paul to denote want or weakness of understanding 1 Cor. 14.20 My Brethren be not Children in understanding that therefore it cannot be meant in that place of these little Children which John speaks of is clear as the Sun for this is the excellency which John attributes to them that they know the Father they are called little Children from knowledge which notes an understanding that amounts to assurance but Babes considered in nature or in grace know not their Father so that from this very character 't is apparent that the state or rank of Babes is below that of little Children these are Sons and know it but Babes though they be yet know not i. e. have not the assurance that they are so though they have the things that do assure yet they have not for want of light either the assurance of the things or assurance by them but are in this sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not reprobates as we read it but without proof as the Apostle speaks to the Corinthian Babes 2 Cor. 13.5 They sought a proof of Paul's Apostleship and he requires a proof of their Conversion but they were less able to prove this than he was able to prove that as Vers 6. He was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without proof So that though they had grace yet it was so weak in its actings operations that it afforded them no assurance as strong and vigorous grace useth to do The Star-light of their grace is not clear enough in Babes to discern their conversation by it and many times 't is clouded too that the Stars do not appear and though grace live in their hearts yet the light and comfort of it may be wanting for though every man having the power of reflecting upon his own actions can discern what thoughts are in him and what affections and can tell what he loves what he fears and grieves for and the like yet he may still be questioning and doubting whether this his love sear grief c. be gracious spiritual and truly holy actings or not whereof the reason is this because though the Spirit which is in a man knows the things of a man 1 Cor. 2.11 Yet what is the true worth of these things which are in him and whether given him of God and wrought in him by God unto Salvation this we cannot know but by a supervening light of the Spirit who is not only the worker of Grace in us but is given us to discover and enlighten it to us Vers 12. Now without this light or Testimony of the Spirit which the little Children have but Babes have not 't is with them as with the natural man who knows not the things of the Spirit Vers 14. Whereas the spiritual man judgeth all things wrought in him by the Spirit by the light thereof Now Babes not being spiritual but as carnal 1 Cor. 3.1 the Apostle could not write of such things as he did to the spiritual chap. 2.13 but was sain to seed them with milk like Babes as they were for they were not able as the spiritual were to bear meat viz. strong meat having weak stomachs chap. 3.2 They like the Hebrews could hear of and believe in Christ in some kind but to take him as Christ crucified as the great high Priest as their righteousness they were yet in great part to learn and to digest which was the case both of the Corinthian and Hebrew Babes as will appear more anon by comparing 1 Cor. 3.2 with Heb. 5.10 11. c. for then by these distinct attainments and characters 't is as I hope made plain that there is a Classis and Form of Babes in Christ who are a degree below the little Children and of this state of Babes I shall treat first because they are the beginning of the new Creation of God and I am apt to believe that the Kingdom of God and of Christ in Heaven and in Earth is made up and filled up more of these than of any other sort not to say than of all the other sorts that is to say that there are more Babes in Christ than there are Children or Young men or Fathers to which peradventure that saying of our Saviour may bear a Testimony in a fuller sense than 't is commonly understood though I doubt not but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little Children there spoken of be meant in a natural and litteral sense The place is Mark 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come to me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Of Infants or Babes for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must there signifie Christ taking them into his arms Vers 16. I say of Infants both in a natural and spiritual sense doth the Kingdom of Heaven consist as well as if not more than of others II. Of their Attainments 2. THE Second thing I am to treat of is their Attainments and Characters in relation to which I shall consider and compare 1 Cor. 3.1 2. with Heb. 5.10 to the end and chap. 6.1 2 3. in both which the Apostle useth the same words and things concerning them and the explanation of the Milk and Meat in the Corinths is clear and full in the Hebrews for he speaks plainly and without a Parable He having spoken much of the Spirit spiritual
many Hearers may many a Preacher say have I been so long with you and yet ye know not the Father You have not the knowledge of God be it spoken to your shame 1 Cor. 15.34 You are yet in a babish state and not grown or advanced in Faith Knowledge Love c. 3. These Babes can eat milk though nothing but milk they suckt a year and a half and were not wean'd from the breast but were Babes and Sucklings still They could eat but milk their stomachs were not able to bear though their appetite might desire strong meat When Christ Jesus was telling his Disciples the offices of the Spirit he makes a stop and tells them I have yet many things more to say unto you but you cannot bear them yet which is the character of these Babes Joh. 16.12 q. d. I could tell you what great things there are in mine and my Fathers heart and purpose concerning you but you are not in a condition to receive them till you have received the Spirit and grown up to another higher state than yet you are in Babes cannot bear the Mathematical and Metaphysical demonstrations they cannot understand them but they are for similitudes illustrations and Parables and so Christ taught them Mark 4.33 To tell them that there is joy in Heaven at the conversion of a sinner will not down with them unless it be taught by the Parable of a lost and afterward found Sheep c. Babes are for living by sense more than by Faith The Hebrews understood but little of the Priest-hood of Christ and his Office which is the strong meat no though the Apostle illustrated it by their own shadowy Priest-hood which they had under the Law So the Apostle Peter speaking of the state of renovation the new Heavens and the new Earth of which his beloved brother Paul had also written in his Epistles of which not Epistles for there is a change of the gender and 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and refers to the these things of which or among which things some are hard to be understood by whom viz. by the unlearned and unstable and therefore he presseth them not only to stedfastness but growth in grace without which they will not attain to know the things hard to be understood Prov. 14.6 2 Pet. 3.13 17. But they cannot eat strong meat yet they can eat milk though but milk yet milk which implies that they were not only alive but had some a very little strength and took in some nourishment and had some experience of the working of grace in them though 't were weak and faint Saith the Apostle I have fed you with milk which notes that he did not only give it them but that though they did not thrive much yet it kept life and Soul together as we use to say it kept them alive in their present state which was low and weak What this milk is I am to shew anon 4. These Babes are owned for Brethren as well as the spiritual ones by the Apostle though they had not the right yet they had the left-hand of fellowship And I Brethren saith he though you be but weak yet you and I are Brethren the spiritual Paul and as carnal Corinthian Babes were Brethren yea not only Paul but Christ himself the first born among the many Brethren is not ashamed to call the Babes as well as others Brethren Heb. 2.11 which takes in all the Children Vers 13.14 For Christ took the whole seed of Abraham Vers 16. And if any are Christs as these Babes are for they are in him saith our Text then are they Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3.29 The whole brother-hood have fellowship one with another as all the members of the body have from head to foot This then is the summ of all that we have said that these Babes have truth of Grace the root of the matter is in them God hath put truth in their inward parts and written the truth of Repentance Faith and Love in their hearts They are true born and not Bastards as the distinction is Heb. 12. 'T is true also that their grace is weak 't is grace and but grace in a low degree beside also 't is mix'd with much corruption strong corruptions are arguments of weak grace they are as carnal of all Saints the Babe-Saint hath the least grace and the most corruption And which is to be noted of all the rest also these Babes have not their denomination nor are so called meerly from their being but newly born but from their continuance in such a state No state is measured by one or two acts but from the tenor frame and course of their hearts and lives for such a time and duration We call no man a dunce or a bad Scholar from one daies dulness or for one miscarriage in an exercise but when he is constantly dull and blockish as the Hebrews were who were Babes for a long time 'T is the habit that gives the denomination to this and every Classis or Form And now I â—â—all proceed to shew the attainment of these Babes which in both Texts is exprest by Their Feeding on Milk Where what is meant by Milk and how they Feed on this Milk is discovered 1. More generally 2. More Particularly MIlk we see is the Food of Babes and therefore 't is necessary that we come to know what this Milk is for the better discovery of their state and attainment In the general all the Word of God the Gospel is called Milk 1 Pet. 2.2 As new-born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby This Milk is for growth the word is not only for begetting as chap. 1.23 and 25. but 't is for nourishing and bringing up also even to a perfect stature Ephes 4.11 16. 'T is observable that Peter doth not speak meerly of the Word written in the Bible but of the Word Preach'd chap. 1.25 But then this Word Preach'd must be sincere milk of the Word not mixt and corrupted with and by the devices inventions glosses and comments of Jews or Gentiles this the Apostle Paul disclaims and declaims against 2 Cor. 2.17 We are not as many who corrupt or deal deceitfully with the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ which he also hath again chap 4.2 We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty or shame not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God We are no hucksters like them mentioned 2 Pet. 2.1 3. As this word must not be mixed with and corrupted by false Doctrine and base ends so this milk must not be made luscious and fulsome with the Sugar and Honey of mens wisdom and eloquence for this doth the Apostle no less disown and disallow as may be seen 1
thy sighs and groans are musick and make melody in mine ears let me therefore hear it For sweet is thy voice and thy countenance comely Rise up my Love my Dove my fair one and come away for lo the winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of singing is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land The Fig-tree puts forth her green Figs and the Vines with the tender Grapes give a good smell I will take the Foxes that spoil the Vines and preserve the tender Grapes Thus may the dear and loving Jesus and oh that he would thus speak to thee poor soul that after thy April of showers thou maist have a month of May with all its flowers and be able to conclude as the Spouse did Vers 16. My beloved is mine and I am his In the mean time if thou hear not this joyful sound if thou have not Wine to drink nor meat to eat yet go thy way and eat thy milk with as merry an heart as thou canst for God accepteth thy work even thy Repentance from dead works to allude to that Eccl. 9.7 only take not up here but go on and believe too And this brings me to speak to the second attainment of Babes Faith towards God which is another portion of the Milk they eat II. Of their Faith towards God THE second Principle of the beginning of Christ which he calls Mâ—â—k and yet a foundation too is faith towards God The Object is God the Act is Faith the manner and power of its working iâ— towards and but towards God and how happily our translation hath used this word in this case and place may the better appear that this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is scarce used again in relation to Faith in all the Scripture with an accusative case and it denotes a tendency and is therefore very well Englished Faith towards God and so this preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Luke 10.9 The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you or hath appreach'd towards you 't is at hand so this Faith is an appâ—oach a coming towards God it hath not a tained its perfection and termination but is in motion and tendency these Babes I speak of the lowest and weakest of Babes cannot bâ— so properly said to have closed as to be closing with God they are nigh and at hand they are not so much said to be come as to be coming it notes a gradual and but a gradual attainment 't is not a compleat and perfect act but a begun and reaching Act vet such as shall be compleated in its time and is accepted for the present for 't is said Joh. 6.37 He that is coming to me so the Greek I will in no wise cast out The Object of this Faith you see is God viz. the Father not in opposition to yet in diâ—â—â—ction from the Son for these Judaizing Christians who were generally Babes kept to the Old Testament Spirit which was a Faith towards God not without a respect to the Messiah for as the Father and the Son act in the Soul no man coming unto the Father but by the Son nor any man coming to the Son unless the Father draw him so the Soul acts towards the Father and the Son but yet mostly to the Father as looking on him to be the person mostly offended and with whom it stands in most need of reconciliatior and therefore makes its principal address to the Father yet by Christ or for the Lords sake as Daniel speaks chap. 9.17 And upon this account the distinction is and better known to grown Saints that Repentance is towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto God and unto Christ as the words are But the Babes being in great part ignorant of the union between the Father and the Son in this work of grace to Salvation as 't is hinted to Philip c. Joh. 14.8 11. and not considering that they are to honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5.23 they usually let their Faith and its motions to be most towards God without such distinct considerations of Christ as united to and in conjunction with the Father as the Object of Faith The soul being awakened as I have formerly toucht and made sensible that it hath displeased God by sin and wrong'd it self and that therefore it is unworthy to be accepted and welcomed upon its own account and withal that being without strength and righteousness it is unable to make its peace with God and that if its peace be not made it is undone it makes addresses to him upon a kind of common Faith that he is merciful yet if a Jewish Babe as of old under the notion of a God that must be attoned by Sacrifices the types of Christ and if a Gentile converted Babe then in the name of Christ though too much without the notion of him as the Lord our righteousness for they are unskilful in that word or being sound in him having the righteousness which is by Faith and so to rejoyce in Christ Jâ—sus and to have no confidence in the flesh either their birth priviledges or own graces and duties and actual righteousness such as 't is but they make toward him as well as they can And therefore by the way that act of Faith which we call reliance adherence and recumbency cannot be the first saving act that Babes put forth which yet they afterward do but being convinced by the teachings of God Joh. 6.45 concerning themselves what was said newly and that unless they believe in Christ Jesus they cannot be saved and concerning Christ Jesus that there is Salvation to be had by him and no other Acts 4.12 and that he came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 and that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life Joh. 3.16 I say being thus convinced they do in some measure receive this report and witness of God made in and by the Gospel and consequently in like measure receive Christ Jesus and also come unto him for by these two words receiving and coming is the first workings of Faith most usually exprest Joh. 1.12 13. with Joh. 6.35 37 44 45 47. compared This is the beginning of their Faith and from this receiving coming or addressing grows up in time reliance upon and trusting in him though without an assurance that Christ is theirs and they are his this I say is saving Faith Seeing therefore the work of grace is as experience generally shews a confused thing a kind of Chaos at first and many things are jumbled together without distinct considerations and they go puddering on in a dark way I shall therefore indeavour to shew the several workings of it which it may be these souls will be better able to assent to hearing it from others and calling to mind what they have
eyes too strong for thee yet shalt thou die in peace Maugre all the malice and power of Satan the gates of Hell shall not prevail against thee as Christ promised Peter who believed as thou dost that Christ is the Son of the living God nor did it fail when Satan sisted him for though he denied that he knew the man he yet still believed that Christ was the Son of God which was the Faith that Christ prayed might not fail Let the rain descend the floods come and the winds blow and beat all together upon thee yet thy house shall stand for 't is founded like Mount Sion on a rock that cannot be moved Matth. 7.24 25. Indeed if thy Faith alone were to buckle with Satan 't were impar congressus an unequal match but thou art kept by the power of God and the Prayer of Christ so that there is more power for thee than there is against thee though it be all the power of Hell 4. These experiences which thou hast at present are such as none but a true Saint ever had or can have the most exquisite hypocrite that ever was never attained to what thou hast viz. to be new-born and to be a Babe in Christ To which of the Saints wilt thou turn ask them one by one whether ever any that cast themselves upon the grace of God in Christ Jesus as thou dost did ever perish or that their hope was ashamed No no the hypocrites hope shall perish though he have gained a great name and repute but thine shall not though thou be but poor in Israel and one of the least of many thousands If thou canst but Seal to the workings of Faith before spoken of and I know thou canst if in Christ Jesus though but a Babe in him I then say 't is more than the exactest most studied and polisht hypocrite ever did or can attain to An hypocrite may be gilded over but thou art Gold he may be enlightened but thou art light in the Lord he may grow up as the grass but thou as a tree planted and rooted in Christ Jesus he may seem to be but thou art a Christian what ever may be counterfeited the new-birth cannot be counterfeited When the conceitedly rich Laediceans shall be found poor thou who art as Smyrna poor in thine own eyes wilt be owned for rich by God himself Rev. 2.9 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5.3 't was the first blessing that ever Christ pronounced with his mouth that we read of and 't was spoken of such as thou art 5. What ever thou think of it yet 't is a joy to good men and Ministers as 't was to John the bridegrooms friend that thou and such as thou do hear the bridegrooms voice and 〈…〉 him Jâ—h 3.26 30. Yea our Saviour rejoyned in Spirit and thanked his Father too 〈◊〉 such things were revealed to Babes Luke 10.21 yea there is joy in Heaven at the return of the Prodigal though he were but newly come home just alive just found and no more yet behold what joy there is at his coming Luke 15. the joy is not delayed and put off till he be grown up but there 's a feast for his birth-day and joy that the man-child was born His Fathers heart leapt for joy when as yet he had not the robe not the ring put on which followed afterward Do not then reckon that small which God makes so much of 6. Thou wantest but the knowledge of thy happiness to make thee almost as happy as Angels Thou art a Son and if thou didst but know it 't were to be almost in Heaven In Christ thou dost live move and hast thy being and if thou didst but know this what a well-being wouldst thou have Paul in Gal. 4.9 speaking of Babes saies they are rather known of God than know God Indeed what God is now a doing they know not but they shall know hereafter as Christ told Peter Joh. 13 7. and when thou shalt come to know as thou art known thou wilt be filled with admirations and raptures in the mean time wait with patience yet so as 2. Remember to press forward that thou maist apprehend that for which thou art apprehended of Christ Jesus Phil. 3.12 Seeing thou art in the way keep on and mend thy pace be not sloathful saith the Apostle to the Hebrew Babes but followers of them whose conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.17 and 20. Who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises Heb. 6.12 Grow in grace not only by adding new acts of the same and so persevering to the end but add Faith to Faith for the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 Go on then from a Faith of address to a Faith of reliance and so on to the full assurance of Faith and Hope as the Apostle speaks to his Babes to do Heb. 6.11 Ye believe in God believe in me also saith our Saviour to his Jâ—h 14 1. If thou wilt grow in grace it must be by growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as Peter tells his new-born Bâ—bes 2 Pet. 3.18 't is by being skillful in the Word of righteousness and having thy senses exercised to discern between not only good and evil but good and better Pitch on Christ more immediately and perfectly and not only through the intervention and mediation of thine own graces let not his attendants be so much in thine eye as the King of Glory himself in thy graces thou maist see something of him by reflection but in him thou wilt see perfect beauty righteousness and strength Till thou come to this or if thou shouldst never come to it know for thy comfort that 't is no small thing to be known of God and accepted of him God expresseth the priviledges of the old Israel by this You have I known above all people Gods knowledge is not like ours we know this and that man and he is little the better for it it makes no alteration in him but Gods knowledge is operative and efficacious 't was Gods consolation that though he could not know the way of God yet God knew the way that he took and when God had throughly tryed him he should come out like Gold see Job 23.9 10. This world is thy Furnace and Purgatory and though thou know not what God is a doing yet he knows that he is now purifying thee from thy dross that thou maist be the pure and fine Gold Yea though thou lie down in the dust of the grave in this state yet he will raise thee up in glory and when thou awakest thou shalt be filled with his Image If in the mean time thou know not what to do let thine eyes be to him who is never at a loss nor out of his way but is still carrying on his work to perfection though it be in the dark to thee III. Of their submission to
Baptism c. THE two next things of the six which follow are to shew not only the Doctrine which was taught to Babes but also their submission thereunto and are proofs before men of their conversion As to the things themselves Baptismes and laying on of hands there is some difference if not Controversie among Interpreters Of the Doctrine of Baptism gr Baptismes some say this That it refers to the several washings used by the Jews one of which was with reference to the admission of Proselytes to which Baptism succeeded others that it refers to both the outward and inward Baptism that of water and this of the Spirit Of the Doctrine of laying on of hands some say that it refers to confirmation others to absolution others to ordination c. It seems to be the practice of Christs Apostles after they had Baptized persons sooner or later to lay hands on them by which gifts were conferred Acts 8.17 and 19.4 6. with many other places Now whether the Doctrine of Baptismes may not refer to the Baptizing of Gentiles as well as Jews and laying on of hands also refer to both a thing which the Jews could hardly bear I submit to the consideration of others As to our present purpose not to meddle with Controversies I do conceive that by these two things is noted in general how Babes do submit and give up themselves to the obedience of such institutions duties and ordinances as they are capable and convinced of And further than this I shall not handle the Doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands and this all agree in Babes do submit to such ordinances and duties as I say they are capable and convinced of for of all they are not nor are they required at their hands till in a capacity What ever Doctrine comes under the name of strong meat they cannot bear Our Saviour would not put meat into Babes mouths no more than men would put new Wine into old Bottles and therefore they were not put upon fasting for want whereof in part they could not cast out one kind of Devils Mat. 17.19 21. till Christs departure and the delcent of the Spirit Mat. 9.14 17. This duty of fasting how formally soever used by the Pharisees is a duty too strong for Babes to be put much upon Our Saviour had many things more to say which they could not bear till the Spirit came upon them Joh. 16.12 13. they could hardly endure the doctrine of Christs death Matth. 16.21 22. they understood it not Luke 9.44 45. nor the doctrine of his Resurrection Mark 9.9 10. nor that of his Ascension to the Father and Intercession for them Joh. 16.16 18. which are the strong meat that grown Believers feed upon as they also afterward did Rom. 8.34 they were while Babes exceeding sorry at these things Matth. 17.22 23. which yet were to turn to their greatest joy after they came to a riper understanding of his Love and design herein as Christ told them it should Joh. 16.19 28. and so strong Believers find it Rom. 8.34 39. he had some things also to tell them by way of Command as that they should go and Preach to the Gentiles Baptize and lay hands on them also which as yet they could not bear and while they were under this weakness their first Commission was but for the Cities of Judaea Yea after Christs Ascension Peter himself was not convinced but by a Vision that they might go to the Gentles and 't was a matter of great admiration to the Jewish Converts who generally were but Babes that to the Gentiles God had granted Repentance to life Acts 11.18 and as they were Babes in point of gifts for they were to do greater things after Christs Ascension than they could before Joh. 14.12 viz. such as we read of Mark 16.15 20. which was much beyond both for the persons to be Preacht to and things to be done by them in the first Commission Matth. 10.1 so were they Babes in grace also they were but of little Faith Matth. 6.30 they were very carnal in their apprehensions of Christs Kingdom as if it had been of this world they were very dull of hearing the Doctrine of his death c. as was toucht even now there was much strife and envy among them and a wrathful spirit calling for fire from Heaven they were forward to promise but not so to perform for they could not watch with him one hour c. by which it appears they were as carnal and but Babes not capable of strong meat for Doctrine or duty What they Babes are and what they are not capable of or able to bear I shall not undertake to determine only this I am sure of that they are not to be received to doubtful disputations if that be the meaning of the place Rom. 14.1 of which I think the Margent gives a better account But now what they are capable of and convinced of that they submit to and act accordingly Acts 19. There were Disciples that had not heard whether there were an Holy Ghost or no but as soon as they were convinced they submitted The Disciples were not convinced of the Messiahs Offices but in the general notion without distinct apprehensions of the manner and way of restoring the world and therefore till after his Ascension which proved theirs too they had asked nothing in his name Joh. 16.24 26. Christ indeed had declared his Fathers name The Lord gracious and taught them to Pray Our Father and tells God that they had kept his Word and believed that he came out from him as sent by him Job 17.6 8. but a more particular Faith in him and praying in his name was to be taught by the Spirit and were things they were not yet convinced of The great thing I have now to do is to shew how and after what manner these Babes attend upon Ordinances and do their duties which alas is in a very poor low way the weaknesses whereof God overlooks and accepts their will for the deed and better than that many times 1. They are more at duty than in it and use Ordinances much but make little use of them and if I may so speak are very full of duties but little dutiful very little comes of all their attendance upon and addresses unto God they are where and as they were still little earnings do they make God knows They drive a great trade at hearing and praying c. hear precept upon precept and line upon line heap duty upon duty but are very bunglers at it and unprofitable after it Like young children that make many meals eat all the day long and spoil as much as they eat they mangle and crumble what is set before them and dwindle away their time without feeding Thus it was with the Hebrew-Babes they did eat and eat yet were alwaies in need of milk they do not cannot walk in the strength of their meat as the Prophet did but are
Christs Disciples that they Love one another Joh. 13.35 and by this they are known to have part from death to life because they love the Brethren 1 Joh. 3.15 Where give me leave to note this as to this Epistle of John the great duty urged in it is to love one another spoken to and of all the children of God and the sin so much declaimed against is hating or not loving of one another and when he saith Chap. 3.8 He that sinneth is of the Devil he meaneth this sin in special For saith he Vers 9. whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin viz. this sin because the seed of God of whom he is born remaineth in him which is the same reason that is given by Peter pressing to the same duty 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and Vers 10. he distinguisheth the Children of God from them of the Devil by this very thing and Vers 12. instanceth in Cain who was of the wicked one as he proves by his breaking this command of loving his Brother And perhaps the sin unto death spoken of Chap. 5.16 19. is meant of this sin for such an one abideth in death Chap. 3.14 compare Chap. 3.7 16. with Chap. 5.16 19. and this seems to be very clear But to proceed as to the thing in hand viz that Babes Love the Brethren 't is clearly manâ—fested by this among other things that they are ready to minister to their necessities as occasion opportunity and ability gives them leave to do The Apostle boasts of his Corinthian-Babes that he knew the forwardness of their mind and boasted of their readiness to this thing 2 Cor. 9.1 2. and the Authour of the Epistle to the Hebrew-Babes tells them Chap. 6.10 that God was not unrighteous to forget their labour of Love which they had shew'd to his name in that they had ministred and did continue to minister to the Saints and upon this score he is perswaded such good things of them as accompanied and contained Salvation Vers 9. of so great an esteem is this grace of Love warranted and adjusted by ministring to the Saints And indeed 't is the great thing for which Jesus Christ saith Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you why Lord for I was hungry c. and you ministred to me in doing it to mine Matth. 25.34 40. This labour of Love is not in vain in the Lord. I might inlarge on this Theam but it shall suffice to have toucht it And now that Babes may behold themselves in this Glass I shall summ up their attainments and characters briefly thus They have the Foundation laid they are new-born and do eat Milk in obeying the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ they have all things necessary to the being of a Saint and such as accompany or contain Salvation though not enough to a well-being here or to have an entrance ministred to them abundantly in Heaven as other Saints have they have all constituting and essential Graces as Repentance Faith Love though not in so perfect a degree as the other Classes have they press forward after their manner in desires to grow though they cannot run the race yet they walk in the way of Gods Commandments they press after to follow the other Saints though slowly as the Poet said of Ascanius sequitur non passibus aequis and are not able to keep pace with them This is their picture the draught of their attainment the particular features and lineaments whereof are described before in their respective places to which I reser you I must now proceed to shew them their desectiveness in comparison of other Saints and wherein they are as carnal that I may provoke them to jealousie and emulation and thereby to perfection III. Of the Babes defectiveness in comparison of other Saints and wherein they are as carnal and walk as men 1. Of their defectiveness and wherein they fall short in comparison of the higher Classes of Saints THat they fall short of Fathers and Young men who are strong Saints 't is needless to take up much time or many words to declare because 't is so obviously known and easily granted by all but that they fall short of the little Children is that which I am to evince The character of little Children is that they know the Father viz. to be their Father 1 Joh. 2.13 But the Babe-child the Infant of attainment as well as daies the sucking Child that is sed only with Milk though he have a Father and a Father that provides for him yet he knows him not to be his Father The generality of the Old Testament professors were but Babes and their usual way of address to God was as the God that made Heaven and Earth the Creator and sometimes as the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the Promiser But seldom not above twice as a collective body addrest to God as their Father the places where they did so address are Isa 63.16 and 64.8 both which are rather Prophecies of what they should do hereafter than assertions of what they did do as some conceive And in this latter they address to him as a Father viz a maker and Soveraign as appears by calling themselves the clay and God the Potter and telling him that they were the works of his hand And to prevent an Objection that may be made from the Prodigal who did at first address to God as his Father I will go to my Father and in my Fathers house it might be in this sense of a Creator as in Dent. 32.6 beside I may say that he seems to be the representative of a returning back-slider Luk. 22.32 rather than of a Convert at the very first and though returning also is a Conversion and works much like what it doth at the very first yet it hath respect to a former relation which was not wholly cut off as was the case of returning Israel in Hâ—s 1.7 Jer. 3.1 5. where they speak of him as theirs though they had been called by him Lâ—ammi not my people and almost divorced by him which they deserved to be Sâ—or a while at the beginning of the Gospel the Disciples were but as Babes for they knew not the Father Job 14.6 11. And 〈…〉 them to pray Our Father yet 't was long ere they had learned to ask of the Father in the name of Christ Joh. 16.23 24. or to know their union with the Father and the Son and therefore our Saviour tells them so often that they should know and enjoy more at that day what day viz. when he was ascended to the Father for then 't was my Father and your Father my God and your God Joh. 20.17 And the Spirit descended from the Father the Holy Ghost not being given till Christ was glorified Job 7.39 saith Christ At that day ye shall know 〈◊〉 I am in my Father and you in me and I iâ— you which yet you know not though it be so Joh. 14.20
Lord hath put away thy sin 2 Sam. 12 13. and who but converted ones are of this frame Others can be content with hearts ease peace and good things though they live in the love of one or other darling sin especially if they do but entertain a conceit that God will pardon them purging is not the thing that any do heartily mind but gracious Souls Beside there is this considerable and worthy of a remark as to these new-born ones that though they have no assurance of a pardon nor have any great conquests over their corruptions by reason whereof they have little satisfaction and much sorrow yet they can in their serious and sedate frames truely say that they are glad to hear and see that other Saints do God better service than they do they mourn that themselves are no better and yet rejoyce that there are any better than themselves Indeed in a fit and pang they do more than emulate even envy those happy and advanced souls and yet in cold blood as we say cannot but be glad that God hath better servants than they are that there are Sons in his house and service though they be but as hired Servants Alas saith such a poor Babe I am one of the most worthless wretches on earth I live at so poor low and inconsiderable a rate that I am ashamed of my self and am not worthy to be called a Christian but notwithstanding this I can through grace rejoyce that God hath his Abrahams Davids Jobs Pauls c. who glorifie his name at a better rate They admire the happiness of and bless them who stand before the Lord and minister to his name and glory as the Queen of Sheba did Solomons Servants Yea if at any time in any thing they have been instrumental to the glory of God and serviceable to his name and people as the Babes were Heb. 6.10 they are glad of it though they have not yet the reward of it but God seems to have forgotten it and they themselves do scarce keep it in mind as appears by Matth. 25.37 But now take Hypocrites and Formalists they grudge what they do as Mal. 3.14 and profess Christ Jesus out of envy to the Saints as vying with them for a reputation Phil. 1.15 16. 4. New-born ones will not depart from God let God say they deal with us how he will yet this is the resolve of our souls we will never leave him nor forsake him for all the pleasures profits and preferments of this world no though he kill us we will trust in him Though God use them like the Dogs under his Table and feed them with but a bit and a knock too and give them not a meal of the Childrens bread yet they will thank him for what they have and wait for more as the woman of Canaan did Will an Hypocrite do this wait and pray alwaies I trow not These Babes say to God as Ruth to Naomi I will not leave thee but will follow thee and the Lamb though to the Grave come of it what will In the way of thy Judgements will we wait on thee Isa 26.8 If like Ephraim they are under the chastenings of God and be for a while as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke yet they cry out again Turn thou me and I shall be turned they return and repent they smite on the thigh and are ashamed and God hears this as the voice of his dear child and doth remember them and will surely have mercy on them Jer. 31.18 20. If like Israel they have followed other lovers and God therefore hedge up their way with Thorns yet they return to their first Husband and grant it to be their folly that they departed from him Hos 2. Though Peter fail of his promise and plighted troth yet he weeps bitterly and makes it good at last that he will rather die than utterly and finally forsake or deny him and so 't is with every Babe in Christ who though they fall yet fall not away but return and live Only let me leave this caution Take not up with these words without this work with fancy without feeling It may be some Hypocrite or Formalist may hear this and give it out as if he had attained this but 't is not what the words of our mouth are but what the frame of our heart is 't is not saying but feeling not expression but experience that will warrant us to be in such a state 'T is not being able to say these things by heart but having them in our heart and holding them forth in our lives that will do us good These are the things which I lay down as the characteristical discoveries of new-born ones which distinguish them not only from common sinners but from the most refined Hypocrites and Formalists I have not pitcht on many lest I should clog nor on doubtful ones lest I should amuse poor Babes but these which are essential to the new-birth state for indeed they are all promised in the new Covenant and wrought in all their hearts with whom the Covenant is made and that is with all Saints as such and not with respect to degrees as some promises are which was hinted long since Let us examine the Covenant and we shall find all these things punctually and particularly so Jer. 31.31 34. with 32.38 40. 1. I will be their God and they shall be my people This is not only promised but effected and wrought and as 't is in Gods heart to be their God so 't is in their heart to be Gods people and the one and other is desired by them which made the first head 2. I will put my Law into their hearts This is not to be laid up there as writings in a chest to be idle and without effect but 't is there that they may do it that they may fear the Lord and keep his Commandments that they breath after full obedience thereunto which made the second head 3. I will remember their sin no more Which notes not only forgiving but subduing of sin Rom. 6 14. which makes the third Head 4. They shall not depart from me That is wholly and finally as God will not leave them totally so nor they God which is the fourth Head Now this is clear as the Sun that the new Covenant Promises and frames are found accomplished in all Saints and in none but Saints that is the end of all and none but redeemed ones which is the end of the Redeemer and that is to be holy c. Tit. 2.14 and that becomes the aim and end of Elected ones which is Gods in Electing and that you may read Ephes 1.4 God the Father Son and Spirit are one and agree in one Election Redemption Sanctification to Salvation have one and the same subjects and all these have one and the same desire as to the things designed they all agree in breathing after the effects of God the Father Son and Spirits design
Brethren if ye had saved them alive I would not have stain you but now you shall be demned body and soul I will destroy you in Hell Pâ—part ye cursed take them Devil Hear therefore and fear to despise or offend his little ones And 2. Take heed ye be not offended with Christ and Religion because of the Babes who are yet as carnal as it should and doth oblige Gods people not to be as carnal lest they give the enemies of God as David did an occasion to blaspheme and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of so it obligeth the men of this world not to be offended with and to blaspheme the way of God and his people because some of them viz. the Babes are yet as carnal and walk as men The worldly seed is hugely illogical and draw many non sequiturs for say they These professors are as bad as others they are all alike and this is their Religion Not so neither for though they are as carnal yet they are not carnal and in the flesh as other men are nullum simile est idem though they be too much like yet they are not carnal men for they are in Christ Jesus and though they take too many steps after the manner of men yet they walk nor their whole conversation is not after or according to the flesh as other men who are in and walk according to the flesh and though some are as carnal yet all are not so there are who are spiritual and walk in and according to the Spirit As for them that do otherwise 't is not their Religion but they are to blame for they have not so learned Christ Jesus his doctrine teacheth not but dedocet tales mores unteacheth them such ill manners to walk as men 'T is the Devils Logick to draw an Argument from seeming to being or from similitude to Identity from a particular to a universal and from the concrete to the abstract that because they are as carnal therefore they are but carnal and wholly so because one is bad they are all alike because Professors are to be blamed therefore Religion it self is criminal The grace of God hath taught all to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world which if Prof essors do not do 't is not graces fault but theirs and therefore take heed ye be not offended with Christ and Religion because of them And you professors learn from hence to walk circumspectly lest the way and name of God be blasphemed through you and lest Christ suffer because you sin Let not the world despise you let them not have any occasion given them by you to despise you and that which is better than you viz. the Christian Religion And this leads me to the second Branch of the Exhortation To them within of all ranks 1. IN General to all to walk wisely towards them that are without and within to be circumspect and accurate not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because our daies are few and evil How we should walk inoffensively yea winningly these following Texts will tell us Matth. 5.16 with Tit. 3.8 1 Cor. 10.31 33. with Ephes 5.15 17. and Col. 4.5 6. 1 Pet. 2.12 18. with Chap. 3.1 2. and 8 17. All Saints should exercise themselves to keep good Consciences void of offence to God and to men both them without and them within What other uses concerned all I have taught at the beginning viz. in the Application made in the Introduction to which I refer you what remains as to particulars I shall reduce to two Hâ—ads 1. An Exhortation to grown Saints 2. An Exhortation to Babes 1. To grown Saints to whom I would say these things 1. Remember what you were not only when unconverted as 1 Cor. 6.11 I speak not to that now but what you were at your first conversion viz. but Babes for such were you be not like Israel who forgat Gods work of old Call to mind the former daies Forsan haee olim meminisse juvabit 't will be worth your while and be of great use to you Remember there was a time when you were but Babes and sucklings and how before that God took you by the hand and taught you to go what go-carts and hold-bys you made use of then remember what kisses you have had from his mouth when you were little Children and how he led you forth after that to fight his battles when you â—â—me to be young men and by sighting the fight 〈◊〉 Faith and using the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God you overcame the wicked one and led captivity Captive if you are Fathers remember him whom you have known from the beginning who hath given you all the experiences and wisdom with which you are endowed Though you can eat strong meat now yet time was you could eat but Milk The remembrance of these things will be of huge use to you to give God the glory of your higher attainments and all your advances from step to step 't will make you greatly useful to the instruction of Babes which is one of your great works and duties 't will keep you low in your own eyes when you see that you owe a beholdingness to God for bringing you hitherto meerly of and by his grace not for any worth or merit of your own 't will help you to know that you were converted long ago and not to think as some are apt to do that all the work was as nothing till they came to such or such a pitch which occasions a neglect of them below that pitch and an ingratitude to God for what went before it and led to it Thus will it be many waies advantageous to remember the work of old 2. Be exhorted to bring forth fruit answerable to your state Time was when fruits worthy of Repentance were the fruits called for but now you are to bring forth fruits worthy of assurance victory and joy in the Holy Ghost 'T is true God had some little praise from you when but Babes but now he expects much more that you bring forth much fruit and be filled with it that you be strong in Faith that you abound in love that ye be filled with all wisdom and knowledge to walk worthy of God to all-well-pleasing and to do all to his glory 3. Be not ashamed of your youngest brethren that are but Babes Paul nay Christ himself was not ashamed to call them Brethren but carry it lovingly gently and tenderly towards them you know the heart of a Babe for you your selves were once Babes as 't is said to Israel in behalf of the stranger Exod. 23.9 and Levit. 19.33 34. It may be some patres aequum esse censent nos jamjam a pueris illico nasci senes poor Babes complain that such and such do not regard them because they are not grown up to their stature but pray remember these things ought
not to be so there is an honour due to the weaker vessels and uncomely parts 1 Cor. 12. We should be nurses to these froward Bantlings and crying Babes and as Paul was among the Thessalonians we should be gentle as a nurse that cherisheth her own children nurslings 1 Thes 2.7 4. Give good examples to Babes and abuse not your liberty to their offence I told you that Babes mind example much and if they have bad ones given them especially by good and eminent men they are drawn aside by it as when Peter dissembled the other Jews dissembled also insomuch that Barnabas â—n â—minent person was carried away by that dissimulation Gal. 2.13 â—â—d saith the Apostle take heed lest by any means your liberty become a stumbling block to them that are weak for if any weak and ignorant which is a Babe man see thee which hast knowledge to sit at meat in the Idols Temple shall not the conscience of him that is weak be emboldened gr edified he takes thy example for a warrant and thinks he is edified thereby when alas 't is to his loss and detriment 1 Cor. 8.9 13. 5. Acquaint the Babes with your experiences as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.6 10. and with Satans devices as he did 1 Cor. 7.5 2 Cor. 2.11 2 Cor. 11.2 Babes have but little skill to distinguish between good and evil between impressions from the good or evil spirit especially if Satan transform himself into an Angel of Light Israel of old was to tell the story to and write an History of Gods dealing with them and Amaleks against them for after Ages and to instruct the children how God had dealt with the Fathers so do you Let the little Children tell stories of the Fathers love the young men of his power and the Fathers of his wisdom in carrying on the work of Grace how God overthrew Pharaoh led them through the Wilderness sought for and provided for them from heaven till they came to the good Land But 2. 'T is time to speak to the Babes whose case we have in hand and so to conclude There are three things that I would exhort Babes unto I. To be glad that they are Babes II. To be humbled that they are but Babes III. To press after being more than Babes 1. TO be glad that they are Babes new-born and in Christ Jesus Glad alas there 's no comfort for me who am but a Babe no yes but there is that thou art a Babe though but a Babe 't is true it doth not belong to thee as carnal but as a Babe in Christ the least work of God is great consolation to the least of Saints viz. to Babes Consider whether this be nothing 1. That thou hast attained to the first Resurrection viz. from being dead and lost in sin thou art called out of Egypt and art called his Son and as such brought out of Egypt the work is begun thou art new-born and eatest Milk the Foundation is laid and is this nothing who knows to what a great Tree this little Mustard-seed of Grace may grow The Babe that lies in the Cradle may become a Father in Israel and is this nothing He that hath laid the Foundation will lay the top-stone and thou shalt cry out with shouting Grace Grace unto it God is not like the foolish Builder he hath cast up his cost and hath wherewithal to finish what he hath begun he will not be laught at and mocked as one that laid a Foundation began to build but could not finish it though thou be a knotty piece yet he will fit thee for thy place and perfect that which concerns thee for this work is not only that of his hand but of his heart and is this nothing Pray to him and believe as Psal 138.7 8. 2. Thou art not only brought out of Egypt but he hath drawn thee into the Wilderness and though thou be in the Valley of Achor yet even there is a door of hope Thou art bewildered and thy motions are full of windings and turnings now forward and then backward almost to Egypt again that thou seemest to wander rather than to walk or to go a journey true but yet thou art in thy way and God is leading thee to his holy Hill Mount Sion 'T is observable how differently the condition of Israel and so thine is exprest Psal 107.4 with 7. in the 4. Vers 't is said they wandred in the wilderness but in the 7. Vers 't is said he led them forth in the 4. Vers 't is called a solitary way but in the 7. Vers 't is called the right way in the 4. Vers they found no and despaired to find any City to dwell in yet Vers 7. that they might go to a City of habitation So 't is with thee poor soul and notwithstanding thy unbelief and murmurings yet he holds thy Soul in Life and when thou art hungry and thirsty he provides food and drink convenient for thee and thy Cloaths shall nor wear out 3. Thy being a Babe hath more of incouragement than discouragement in it Thy being a Babe in Christ is more to thy safety than thy being as carnal is to thy danger though it must be thy sorrow Babe is the name of a Saint not of a carnal man and it makes more for thee that thou art a Babe than it doth against thee that thou art as carnal Is it nothing to thy Joy that thou art born though thou be not yet cloathed with a robe nor kist with thy Fathers lips 'T was more for the Prodigal that he was alive than against him that he had been dead and came home without raggs even naked and bare 'T was more for the Disciples that the Spirit was willing than against them that the flesh was weak 'T is so with us as to our Babes their being ours doth more indear them to us than their being froward and peevish doth disingage us to them And though the elder Brother chargeth his Father as guilty of an indiscreet and partial fondness to make so much of a Prodigal yet he still owns it as meet that they should rejoyce and be glad 4. Though thou be as carnal yet on conviction of this thy carnality thou art angry with it and thy self and dost repent and abhor thy self as in dust and ashes The Corinâ—hiaâ—â— Babes were no sooner convinced of theirs but they made the Apostle glad by their sorrow seeing their sorrow wrought Repentance never to be repented of because it was to Salvation 2 Cor. 7. Yea thus it was with the Incestuous person himself 2 Cor. 2.4 7. so that the Apostle on the account of this ingenuous Repentance pronounceth them clear and him a person to be comforted Now the same consolation belongs to thee if thou do likewise and I am sure 't is in thy new nature to do it when ever thou art under the conviction of thy sin and I can safely tell thee that sin repented of as theirs was
things That in the School of Christ there are several and distinct Classes of Fathers Young-men little Children and Babes that these states are not to be measured by their age or years but by their attainments and experiences That there is something common to all these and something proper to each of these which cannâ—â— at 〈◊〉 so eminently be said of all these or of my other sort of them only that what ever excellency there is in the lowest is in the highest gradually much more and what ever defect or carnality is in the lower is in his higher much less I say of all these things I have treated at large before and shall not make any further repetition of them here Before I come to the next rank viz. Little Children 't will be convenient to give an account of two or three things 1. That what is here written to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons or Children which is the name in common to all these three following divisions of Saints Fathers Young-men and Little Children I say what ever is written to them in common as Chap. 2.1 and 12. and 28. Chap. 3.7 and 18. Chap. 5.21 doth more or less concern each of them the highest as well as lowest 2. In that he writes to Fathers that the Fathers are not past teaching though they be the highest Form ' The best may be yet better Fathers may be more so than they are they that have attained to most may attain to more the most perfect may be more perfect Phil. 3.12 15. And 3. in that he used several and various arguments to ingage and provoke all to the same things we may observe that the most likely way to prevail with persons whom we speak or write to is to use such reasons and arguments as are most proper and peculiar to them As I write to you Fathers to this and that purpose because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write to you Young-men because ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father And now to come nearer to our purpose There are in this Text three sorts of Saints denominated from and characterized by their several and special attainments and excellencies and though many other things are wrapt up and included in and under them yet these which are named are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apex the Culmen the Top the Crown and chief excellency of each of them This is the Fathers that they are persons of great much and long experience and wisdom having known him that is from and having known him from the first or beginning This is Young-mens excellency that they are persons of strength and valour having overcome the wicked one This is the excellency of the Little Children that they are persons assured of Gods Love having known him as their Father And so this state of little Children is we see a middle state between Babes whom they excel and Young-men to whose excellency they have not yet attained much less to that of Fathers In the Words you may take notice 1. Of the subject spoken of viz. Little-Children 2. Of that which is predicated and said of them viz. that they have known the Father 3. The time of their having had this knowledge implyed viz. you have lately known the Father 't is not long since that you were new-born and were but Babes For though every new-born one be in the general acceptation a Child of God yet he is not a Child â—s to dâ—gree but a Babe till he know the Father and this some attain to later and some sooner as the Father is pleased to make himself known unto them The whole of what I intend to speak to I shall reduce to these 5. Heads 1. To shew what their proper attainment is which is in knowing the Father 2. How they come to this attainment to know the Father 3. What the result of this attainment is as to their injoyments and priviledges 4. What is the frame of the heart and soul as also the manner of the conversation of these Little Children 5. After all these I shall make some Application and so Conclude as to this Classis CHAP. I. Of their Attainment or their knowledge of the Father in two Sections SECT 1. TO know the Father is sometime no more than to know or to have the knowledge of God For as Christ Jesus is known by the name of Lord so God by the name of Father 1 Cor. 8.5 6. and this name Father is in the general no more than Creator Isa 64.8 Now many have not this knowledge of God 1 Cor. 15.34 Joh. 8.19 and 8.54 55. Joh. 16.2 3. There are irreligious and wicked not knowing the Lord as 't is said of Eli's Sons 1 Sam. 2.12 nor do they know that Jesus Christ was sent of God But this knowledge the Babes in Christ have they know the Lord much more do the little Children yet this is not all there is more meant than this Bâ—side to know the Father is not only to know that God is a Father that he hath such a name and attribute God is often called the Fâ—her in Scripture The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 3.14 and in many other places The Father of our Faith Matth. 23.9 The Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 The Father of Glory Ephes 1.17 The Father of Spirits Heb. 12.9 The Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 Yet this is not all there is more meant than so And therefore Yet again to know the Father is not meerly to know him to be the Father of all Saints in general He is the Father of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Ephes 3.14 15. There is one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in all Ephes 4.6 And 't is for this cause that Jesus Christ the first-born among many Brethren Rom. 8.29 is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2.10 11. They are all born and begotten of God and therefore bear not only his Name but his Image you may spy the Fathers Image in the Babe his eye yet this knowledge of the Father is not all Moreover to know the Father is to be taught of God or to have the unction from the holy one whereby they are taught and know all the things which concern their Salvation as 1 Joh. 2.20 21. and 27. which it spoken of these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Little Children of whom he began to speak Vers 18. which is the Word used in our Text Vers 13. yet this is not all intended for to be taught of God is contained in the Coverant in relation to all the seed Babes as well as others Heb. 8.11 And this is all one with the drawing of the Father Joh. 6.44 45. which Babes partake of This knowing of the Father spoken of these little Children must therefore signifie some more signal Emphatical more excellent and transcendent
and consequently that honoureth my Son I will honour saith the Lord. What honour will God confer upon such viz. they shall be called not only be but be called manifested and declared to be the Children of God and behold what manner of love this is 1 Joh. 3.1 When the Spouse was sick of love she was much made of and to Mary who loved much there was much forgiven and special manifestations of love made unto her Our Saviour tells his Disciples that the Father loved them for this very reason because they loved him and that shortly they should have clear and plain manifestations of the Father Joh. 16.25 27. according to what he promiseth to all that love him Joh. 14.21 23. 4. God hath promised to be known as a Father to them that do separate from and are not unequally yoked with unbelievers and that do not touch the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.14 17 18. which is more as to manifestation love and joy than to be known to us as our God Vers 16. with Heb. 1.5 Wherefore come cut from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you viz. into my favour embraces and bosom and I will be a Father to you and you shall be my Sons and Daughters and you shall be treated accordingly For this reason was Christ himself anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 and as any of his are conformable to him in the separation which love of righteousness and hatred of iniquity makes the more are they like to be anointed with the oyl of gladness above their fellows 5. God usually gives out manifestations and assurances of love to such of his as are about to do and suffer great things for him and this he gives them as a preparation thereunto Christ Jesus had the voice from Heaven a little before he entred upon his ministry The Apostles had the Spirit sent to prepare them for doing greater things than they had done in Christs time And the reason that Paul had so early an assurance of his election and being dearly beloved of God was because he was presently to go about great undertakings and to undergo great sufferings Acts 9.15 16. so that he in a very little time in a few daies past from the Babe-state to that of a little Child and from thence into that of a Young-man Saint which few so suddenly do but on such an occasion as this Thus have I discovered some of them I cannot say all for there is no confining nor limiting of God to whom he is pleased to make himself known as a Father to call them out of the Form of Babes and to place them in the second higher Form that of Children and to give them assurance of his love that they may say unto him Thou art our Father Though I cannot say for whom of us God will do this yet according to these presidents 't is more than probable that if we be found among this number we shall in due and it may be in a little time know the Father But I must proceed to shew something more largely how he is thus made known by the witness of his Spirit CHAP. II. Continued and inlarged Shewing how they come to know the Father by the witness of the Spirit in five Sections SECT I. AT the beginning of this Chapter I began to shew how they came to know the Father or which is equivalent and all one that they are the Children of God and dearly beloved of him and that was by not barely the working of the Spirit in them but after and over and above that by the Spirit witnessing to them clearing up that work to be of God which is wrought in their own hearts and spirits Rom. 8.18 Here are two witnesses and both Spirits that out of the mouth of two knowing witnesses this thing may be establisht our spirit affirms and the Spirit of God confirms Our spirit knows what acts and workings are wrought in us and by us our spirit affirms that such Repentance Faith Love c. there is in us but whether this be wrought according to God our spirit by it self cannot tell without and until the Spirit of God bear witness to it that it is according to the Will of God Rom. 8.26 27. with 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. of which I have given some account above in this and more in the former Treatise of Babes From whence I infer these two things 1. That this witness of the Spirit is not a thing common to all Saints for Babes have it not though they have the things which do assure yet they have not assurance because they have not the Spirit witnessing with their spirit 't is not a thing that runs parallel with saintship as having the work of the Spirit doth If we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his that 's true Rom. 8.9 but 't is as true that we may be his though we have not the witness of his Spirit in us for we are his before we have the witness of it and the witness doth not make us so but the Spirit finding us to be his doth witness and declare that we are his The witness doth not make us but manifest us to be and to us that we are the Children of God as the Text and thing it self is clear plain and full Rom. 8.16 That which is witnessed to must be before 't is witnessed unto I shall add but one Text more to confirm this Ephes 1.13 14. where this is evident and apparent that as they heard before they believed so they believed before they were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance and which we had a little before we had this seal and earnest So that we were the Children of God by Faith Gal. 3.26 before we have the witness of being Children And though it be said 1 Joh. 5.10 that he who believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself as if every Believer had it yet I have two or three things to say hereunto 1. That St. John perhaps writ not to Babes but to all the higher Forms of Children Young-men and Fathers and all these indeed have the witness of the Spirit in themselves But 2. If we take in all Babes among the rest it may also be said of them that they have the thing which doth witness and the witness of their own spirits but it will not thence follow that they have the witness of the Spirit or assurance which is the thing that I am speaking to 'T is as true that the three witnesses in earth in us below agree in one as 't is that the three witnesses in Heaven are one Ver. 7 8. Yet all three do not give out their witness all at once the water and blood may and do witness before the Spirit doth Yet again 3. The witness in himself may be understood
and I think most properly of that which is witnessed which is that God hath given us Eternal Life and that by and in his Son Vers 11. And accordingly he that believeth hath both the Son and Eternal Life in himself Vers 12. 'T is already begun in every Believer though every one hath not the assurance of it as is implyed in the thirteenth Verse Therefore 2. I infer that this witness of the Spirit is not barely or only the working of Grace by the Spirit in our hearts but something added thereunto and superadded thereupon beyond the gracious qualifications which are called The fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 23. Whether it be a light shining upon their graces and making them clear or whether it be the Application of some one or other promise made to such graces or whether it be some immediate eradiation and beaming forth of love from God upon the soul it matters not it may be by any or all of these waies Let me a little illustrate it by the heat and light of the Sun The working of the Spirit is like to the heat and influence of the Sun which reacheth all things but the witness of the Spirit is like the light of the San which shines not on all places at once the work and influence of the Spirit reacheth all Saints but the witness of the Spirit doth not shine upon all Saints at once nor upon all in the same degree Yea I am apt to believe that assurance is a very great rarity and not so much enjoyed as talked of or pretended to I have read of one Island of which it is said that the Sun shines on it more or less every day of the year it may be there are some such Island-Saints but I am inclinable to think there are not many of them because as I have somewhere hinted before in the Treatise of Babes the greater part of Gods Children have not I fear yet attained to be little Children to know and have assurance of the Fathers Love 'T is true the Fathers have but how few are they and that the conquering young men have but how few are they yea that the little Children have but how few are they There was but one John among the many Disciples However this is clear that they who are of this Classis be they few or many have attained to assurance and it may be said of them as Psal 89.15 16 17. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance in thy name which is gracious Exod. 34.6 named upon them shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousness the Lord our righteousness i. e. Christ Jer. 23.6 shall they be exalted for thou art the glory of their strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted And now this gives me occasion to consider 1 What this witness is 2. How it may be discerned from illusions of Satan or the pretensions and presumptions of our own hearts SECT 2. Shewing what this witness is in three things it is clear sure and powerful THis witness of the Spirit by which we know the Father as ours and that we are the Children of God is 1. Clear and perspicuous 't is no dark cloudy discovery of a thing but bright and illustrious this brings evidence and demonstration with it Like him who at first saw men walking as Trees but at the second touch saw all things clearly Mark 8.23 25. This is not like the Oracles of the Heathen a Trumpet which gives an uncertain and dubious sound nor like that of our own hearts which though â—t often excuse yet it often accuseth and leaves us doubtful which to take for truth no this watness is not perplexed nor tells either false or feigned dark or dubious stories He that runs may read it 't is written in so fair and legible in such Text-hand and Capital and Golden Letters 'T is that we may know 1 Cor. 2.12 Vt ecrto noscamus non fluctuante conjectura 't is not a conjecture a perhaps or it may be but as clear as the Sun in its Meridian brightness and strength This witness doth not leave the soul under disputings and fluctuations it takes off all Scepticisme the thing is past dispute 'T is not like the Spirit of the world which is ambiguous as the Oracles newly mentioned that may be interpreted pro and con for or against like Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse but like the Oracles of God of a clear and certain and of an ascertaining and assuring sound For 2. As 't is clear 't is a sure Testimony 't is true and faithful and infallible what the Spirit of God saith is as true as that God is and that God is true This witness can be no otherwise for 1. The Spirit which beareth testimony is the Spirit of truth and therefore a Spirit of consolation the Comforter He cannot lie he cannot deceive 't is not only against his name but his nature which is contained in his name The Spirit of truth in opposition to the Devil the deceiving spirit and father of lyes No lye is of the truth nor of the Spirit of truth this Spirit guides into all truth and nothing but the truth he never bears witness to Hypocrites or Formalists but only to new born ones that they are the Children of God 2. As the Spirit of truth cannot deceive so he cannot be deceived for he knows the deep things of God and men what is in Gods heart to us 1 Cor. 2.10 11. and what is in our hearts towards God Rom. 8.26 27. 'T is a vanity as well or ill as Villany to lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 for he cannot be deceived nor will be mocked no nor can he be mistaken for he knows the deep things of God and of man though a mans heart be a great deep also This witness of God is true and sure if we receve the witness of men the witness of God is greater 'T was Pauls great comfort that God was his witness Rom. 1.9 1 Thes 2.4 5. he would not satisfie himself with this that he knew nothing by himself but as he was approved of God so he expected his Justification 1 Cor. 4.3 5. 2 Cor. 10.17 18. This witness is clear true and sure And therefore 3. 'T is a powerful witness for it satisfies and settles the Spirit of a man in a quiet serene peaceable and assured frame the soul is carried by it above bondage and fear 2 Tim. 1.7 't is like an oath that puts an end to strife and Controversie Heb. 6.16 and so affords strong Consolation Vers 18. The soul injoys God and it self in Halcyon-daies and in an undisturbed calm of assurance the soul retires into rest because the Lord hath dealt bountifully with it and it is upheld by his free and freeing Spirit which hath set it at liberty and fiâ—led it with Glory 2 Cor. 3.17 18.
significartly love and shew their love to their â—â—theâ— and to their Brethren 1 Joh. 4.19 〈…〉 Love begets Love and the manifestation of Love begets the manifestation of Love Secing they lie in his bosom under the influences of his smiles and kisses they cannot but be â—namoured and inflamed with Love The Love of God shed abroad in their heares causeth their Love to be shed and spread abroad toward him and his as 1 Joh. 4 8-19 -21. Their love is second to his first Love and bears a kind of proportion to it as may be seen 1. In this the many pretty innocent and harmless sondnesses as I may call them which they express in their Love-fits they do many things which would not seem so decent and becoming but that Love not only excuseth but warrants them yea sets a gâ—â—s and beauty upon them Mary and Martha were two of his special favourites Joh. 11.5 This Mary especially is she was lâ—ved so she loved much Luk. 7.47 and in the zeal and Eâ—â—tasie of her love being rapt and transported with it she anointed the Lord with ointment and not only washt his fect with her tears but kist them wiâ—h her lips and wiped them with her hair Joh. 11.2 compared with Luke 7.37 47. at which though others murmured yet Christ commends both it and her for it and withal upbraids Simon for falling short â—â—gely short of her though he made him a feast 2. Their Love appears in this that no danger will fright them from him whem they love when the other Dâ—sciples fled yet John the Disciple whom Jesus loved was found and observed by Christ himself standing by the Cross Joh. 20.26 But to instance in Mary Magdalene especially Oh how is she carried beyond above and out of her self by love to Jâ—sus who loved her first the story is in John Chap. 19.25 she stood by the Cross and was not affrighted away by the Troops of Souldiers rude and unruly though they were Joh. 20.1 when others were doubling she 〈◊〉 to the Sepulchre early and as 't is remarked there while it was yet dark this did not â—right her being made hold by love though she were of the weaker and more fearful Sex and went not empty handed but carried sweet spices Mark 16 1. she 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Peter and John how ' t was Joh. 20.2 which when they had seen they returned but she staid weeping and as she wept she stoopt down and as she stoopt down she lookt Vers 11. busie love and when the Angels askt nor why she wept Alas said she do you ask me what I all as he in Judg. 18.23 24. they have taken away my dear dear Lord and I know not where they have laid him though he be as one that is not yet I cannot but love him And love at that time was so much a passion that she knew not her Lord though she saw and heard him but thought it had been the Gardener But when Jesus called her by her name oh how is she transported Rabboni ob my Lord is this so am I not in a dream Rabboni and it seems she would have embraced him but that love knows how to obey as well as to enjoy and therefore being commanded away away she goes And this brings me to a 3. Discovery of their love which is in keeping his Commandments and that without regret or grief according to 1 Joh. 5.1 3. Love is such a thing as desires not only to be beâ—oved but to be commanded it hath so great a right and inclination too as well as obligation to do good and well that it thinks it self either wrong'd or suspected if it be not put upon the most high and difficult services love never saies This is an hard saying who can bear it love never repines neither doing nor suffering is grievous to it Therefore 't is note-worthy that when our Saviour was about to tell Peter what he must do and suffer he doth in the first place make sure of his love Joh. 21.15 19. When the Father gives out commands amor addidit al as love wings the soul that it flies to obedience with speed and pleasure Love hath an ambition to please to the utmost 2 Cor. 5.9 with 14. to do something worthy of the Fathers love 1 Thes 2.11 12. therefore the Apostle having prayed that they might know the unparallel'd love of God and Christ such as passeth knowledge i. e. there was never the like known Ephes 3.18 19. he presently exhorts them to walk worthy of their vocation Ephes 4.1 SECT 2. A Continuation 2. LIttle Children are modest and humble they seek not after greatness nor great things in this world for they are weaned Psal 131.1 2. being wean'd and past the state of a Babe and suckling they are not concern'd to catch after and grasp at things waich are not suteable to their state The Disciples while but Babes were often querying who should be greatest but our Saviour called a little Child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said Verily I say unto you unless ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall 〈◊〉 enter into the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. you shall have no abundant entrance as 2 Pet. 2.11 and so the subsequent Verse expounds it Whâ—soever therefore shall humble himself as this little Child the emblem of Gods little Children 〈◊〉 the same is one of the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 1.1 4. They were converted before but they needed to be converted from this being as carnal and but Babes Conversion is continued and advanced in growth not only as to degrees in the same state but in passing from one Clâ—ssis to another as from being Babes to little Children for till we are thus converted we are not wean'd from being as carnal nor can we strengthen our Brethren as Christ spake to Peter to do 3. The little Children are full of bowels and compassion very tender-hearted God as a Father is so and in being so we are his Children Mat. 5.44 48. Eph. 5.1 Col. 3.12 And this is pure Religion before God as a Father Jam. 1.27 'T was upon this account that our Saviour committed his blessed Mother to the beloved Disciple John who of all was most like to be tender of her Joh. 19.27 Yet again they are very tender-hearted in this respect that if at any time they do any thing which grieves their Father or the Spirit by which they are sealed to the day of redemption their heart smites them and they are more angry with themselves than their Father is for they will not forgive themselves though he forgive them Though God had told David the beloved one and the weak Babes are not yet as David That his sin was forgiven yet he repents and abhors himself in dust and ashes as Joh also did Chap. 42.5 6. 4. Children are full of imitation they tread in their Fathers steps as Ascanius did in Aeneas's sequitur licet
him that thou maist never receive this grace and favour in vain or turn it into wantonness or sit because his grace abounds If he tell thee the time is not yet come reply to him that thou wilt wait his pleasure and not awake him till he please but wait all thy daies if at last this change may come oh that this happy change may come Conclude by telling him that if thou have been bold 't is in the name of the great High-Priest who sits at his own right hand and is toucht with the feeling of thy infirmities by whom thou hast been emboldened to come with thy Petitions and present them to the throne of his Grace that thou mightest obtain this mercy and grace for thy opportune and seasonable relief and therefore though thou canst not call him thy Father yet thou canst call upon him as the Father of Jesus Christ who heareth him alwaies Yea at an adventure speak to him and call though thou canst not cry aloud and confidently yet call him Father and tell him Oh my dear Lord look upon me and see if this be not thy Sons Coat Though I am as carnal yet thine Apostle calls me not carnal but a Babe in Christ and I am told by them who think better of me than I dare do of my self that they do spie thine image in mine eye which makes me the more inclinable to say Father look upon me and see if there be not something of the spirit of a Son in mâ— Oâ— therefore send thy good Spirit the Comforter to witness with this spirit that I am thy Child dear God and Father do this for thy poor Babe Thus plead with God and who knows but he may be gracious to thee delight thy self in him and he will give thee thy hearts desire commit thy self and way to him and he will bring it to pass yea he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day unto victory he will not quench the smoaking Flax nor break the bruised Reed but as he hath done to them that have thus pleaded with and submitted to him so I believe he will do for thee he will revive the heart of the humble and they shall live yea it may be thou shalt within a little time hear the joyful sound of Son be of good chear thy sirs are fargiven thee thou art a pleasâ—nt Child be it unto thee as thou wilt thou shâ—lt no more strembling at the door of hope but have an abundâ—nt entrance into the Family and be placed among the Children to eat of their bread and to drink of their Wine to injoy the fruit of righteousness which is peace and assurance for ever Amen SECT 2. An Exhortation to the little Children in several particulars THE next branch of Exhortation is to them that know the Father who by the wâ—ness of the Spirit are assured that they are the Children of God I exhort you Brethren 1. That you be not wanton through this abundance of Revelation to be proud and pussed up you must expect to be set upon by Satan as Christ was when he had received the witness of the Spirit that he was the Son of God Matth. 3.16 17 with Chap. 4.1 When Paul was advanced to Paradise and inclinable thereupon to be puffed up a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him 2 Cor. 12.7 buffettings attend this state but especially it there be puffings up therefore beware High fortunes as the world speaks are the way to high minds but high minds and mountainous Spirits are more liable to tempests and storms from Satans wind and weather than the humble Valleys they are most like to be brought down who are listed up Indeed God is very gracious in giving the witness of his Spirit and so manifesting himself as a Father before the Tempter comes before we are to enter the field and fight with the Devil in this case about our Soâ—ship that we may be the better armed and able to defend our selves yet the Devil takes and our hearts too often give him occasion to take this opportunity to tempt us Beware and take heed that you be not lifted up by this advancement 2. Now you know the Father and his everlasting Love towards you take heed you do not neglect the Son of his Love and the righteousness which is by him God expects that you honour the Son as you do the Father Joh. 5.23 for you are not justified by the Fâ—thers Grace and Love but in conjunction with and through the redemption that is by Jesus Christ Rom. 3.24 the Father indeed chose you and he blesseth you with all spiritual blessings but still 't is in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.2 5. The everlasting Consolation is from not only the Father but the Son also who hath loved you 2 Thes 2.16 be sure therefore that you do not so eye the love of the Father as to look off from the Son who is joyntly ingaged with the Father in all the transactions of their happiness When the Butler was advanced he forgat Joseph to which that seems to be an allusion Amos 6.6 so some are apt to do by Jesus Christ though 't were by him they came to all their honour if at least come they be as they pretend 3. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption Ephes 4.30 If you be not kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another ye do not only forget God and Christ for whose sake God forgave you but you grieve the Spirit who brought you this good news for all these are connected together with Vers 30. and so is that also Vers 29. if you do not edifie one another and in your communications minister Grace to them that hear you If God should as it were call back the witness of his Spirit and leave thee to walk in darkness in what a woe-state wouldst thou be 't will in some respects be far worse with thee than 't was before when thou wert but a Babe Oh then grieve not the Spirit nor give God an occasion to put thee under a state of desertion 4. Honour your Father 't is the sin of some that they glorifie not God as God and it may be your sin not to glorifie God as a Father and as your Father Mal. 1.6 A Son honoureth his Father not only as a man or a man above him but as his Father The Father pittieth the Son that serves him and the Son should honor serve the Father that pities him Bâ— as Christ Jesus was alwaies about your Fathers business and bring forth much fruit whereby his and your Father may be glorified Fill up the conversation of Children live like Children be loving be humble be tender-hearted be teachable and imitate your Father to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect The more you abound in these things the more communion and joy will be your portion you will know the
strong all Military Terms and fitted for these Young men quit ye like men i. e. like Young men Souldiers likemen of War and that you may so do stand fast in the Faith be strong in Faith Look to Jesus then the Captain and bringer up also of our Faith he hath conquered the Devil be you his Armour-bearers and slay after him by Faith following him your Leader and as he did you also shall if ye be Young men overcome the evil one But before I shew who this evil one is and what 't is to conquer him I am ingaged to shew where and whence these young men have their strength in the expressions of the Text and that is by the Word of God abiding in them CHAP. III. How they come by this Strength viz. By the Word of God abiding in them THE next thing which is asserted concerning these Young men is That the Word of God abideth in them which may be understood as spoken after as the sign or as spoken before as a means or cause of the victory as it refers to that it imports that notwithstanding their fight yet their bow like Josephs abode in strength and that they were not weakened by the hot and sharp dispute which they had with the Devil but in this sense I shall not handle it here though I may touch it anon As it refers to this and I suppose it most properly doth it shews us by what they were strengthened to overcome for if the Word of God had not abode with them they had not been strong enough to overcome the evil one the weapon by which the Young men overcome him is the sword of the Spirit the Word of God or that by which the Young men are made so strong as to overcome the wicked one thereby is the Word of God abiding in them As their enemies are not carnal only but spiritual Ephes 6.12 so their weapons are not at all carnal but spiritual and so mighty through God 2. Cor 10.4 5. There are two Questions to be proposed and resolved in relation hereunto 1. What is meant by the Word of God 2. What by the abiding of the Word of God in them for 't is not the Word of God in their hand but in their heart and not sojourning or lodging but dwelling there Quest 1. What is meant by the Word of God In the general by the Word of God we are to understand the Mind and Will of God reveal'd and made known in the holy Scriptures which are so often called the Oracles Speeches Word or speaking of God as held forth in the Doctrines Prophecies Promises and Precepts thereof but especially as 't is written in their hearts and imprinted there according to the New Covenant This Word of God in whole and in every part is hugely useful for inlightening comsorting and strengthening that we may overcome the wicked one 't is to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.16 17. 't is the sword of the Spirit of which we may say as David of another material one there is none like it for by it Christ himself overcame the wicked one Yet more particularly this may refer 1. To Christ himself who is the original Word of God the Father by which or whom he made the World and hath spoken to the World by Word of mouth as I may speak not by piece-meal and diverse fashions or tropes and figures as of old but clearly plainly and fully Heb. 1.1 2. Now by Christ Jesus abiding and dwelling in us are we strong Phil. 4.13 or by the grace that is in him of which he is full as before and without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 2. It may refer to the promises of God which are so often called by the name of Word thy Word the Word of Promise which is all one with the Word of God to this Abraham's Faith did reser and wherein he was so strong Rom. 4.20 and truly the Word of Promise being in and abiding in us doth not a little contribute to our strength and victory By these we are not only made partakers of a divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 but obliged assisted and quickened to perfect holiness 2 Cor. 7.1 notwithstanding Temptations from without or within 3. By the Word of God may here be understood The witness of the Spirit bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Children of God This testimony abiding in them as it did in Christ doth strengthen them to overcome the evil one When they were little Children they received this Testimony and being now called to the War this Word as well as Work of God abideth in them and makes them strong to the Battel So that here is Father Son and Spirit the Word of God in each respect standing by them and abiding in them to strengthen them to deliver them out of the mouth of the Lion to keep them from every evil work and to preserve them to the heavenly Kingdom to use the Apostles experiences and expressions recorded in 2 Tim. 4.17 18. Quest 2. What is meant by the abiding of Gods Word in them I Answer That it doth not only denote the in-being of the Word in either of the respects forementioned that there is such a thing there in their heart and inner man nor barely the calling in to mind and keeping it in their memory nor its lodging and sojourning with them as an Inn-mate no nor as a friend that is to depart but it notes a settled abode or dwelling in efficacious power and influence 'T is said of Timothy's Mother and Grandmother that Faith dwelt in them 2 Tim. 1.5 And when the Apostle prays that the Ephesians may be strengthened he joyns this with it that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith Ephes 3.16 17. And 't is said of the happy ones who are reproached for the name of Christ that the Spirit of God and of Glory doth rest upon them 1 Pet. 4.14 And our Saviour tells his Disciples that there is no great things to be done barely by being in him unless they abide in him and he in them John 15. And the great thing in the Promise of the Holy Ghost was that he should abide with them So that the sense of this expression can signifie no less than that the Word of God doth remain in them in the fulness of assurance joy and power by which they are strengthened and inabled to overcome the wicked one and what he is I am next to discover I might here have taken occasion to shew how the Word of God abiding in them doth strengthen their Faith and make them strong as also how their strength of Faith doth contribute to their atchievements and victory but I reserve that to its proper place and at present shall proceed to explain the third thing in the Text which is said of these Young men viz. that they have overcome the evil or wicked one As to this I shall have these things to
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in compassing Sea and Land to make Proselytes do yet fall short of him for he is night and day walking about sicking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 He takes no rest in the night nor will suffer others to rest night or day Now add this to the rest his industry to his strength malice and art and it inhaunceth the Victory not a little I will mention but one thing more and that is 5. His acquests and victories which he hath obtain'd in all Ages alas how many have fallen down at his leet â—e hath deceiv'd and destroy'd a world of men Rev. 12.9 1 Joh. 5.19 2 Cor. 4.4 Jeh 14.30 Ephes 2.2 yet this Devil hath been defeated in his own Kingdom even where his Throne was and that by these young men Rev. 2.13 And this victory is the more glorious considering the advantages the Devil hath over us as a spirit thus qualified with strength malice and art thus flesh'd with success This shall suffice to have by it set forth the greatness of the Victory I now proceed to shew the signs and tokens of this Victory and so make way for the young mens triumph CHAP. X. The tokens and signs of the Victory PErhaps some will be apt to say That this is but a Romantick story a kind of Knight-Errantry 't is but for talk and discourse where are the erected Pillars and the trophies of honour that should witness the Victory where is Goliahs sword and head where are the spoiles and the booty the signs of their victory But hear ye despisers and wonder for we have not brought to you a fiction or a cunningly devised fable but words of truth and power as shall be yet further evinced And seeing we have formerly paralleled the Temptations which Christ did and these Young men also did undergo and conquer after the witness of the Spirit received we shall now parallel the signs and tokens of their respective victories When our Saviour was tempted and the Devils thrust put by and his argument defeated he wholly waves the assuming of it and shifts his ground as not able to stand upon it nor to it which is one sign of his being so far conquer'd He attempts the second time another way but with no better success and therefore sounds a parle and comes to treat which is another sign that his Forces fail'd him when he can do no good no evil this way neither he doth not only retreat but run away asham'd as one that flees in Battel as 't is said of them a Sam. 19.3 so that the field was left to Christ Jesus and thereupon the Angels came and ministred to him i.e. did him homage as to a great conqueror singing and celebrating his praise as we have cause to believe After this our Saviour went in the power of the Spirit into Galilee like a conqueror that had won the day and night go where he would as 't is remarked concerning him Luke 4.14 15. Though the Devil attempted to invalidate the witness of the Spirit yet he went in the power of the Spirit and that Testimony ever after it being not at all weakened by the encounter but went up and down teaching his Gospel and giving forth his Laws yea delivering Captives c. as it follows Vers 18. See Luk. 11.22 But it seems the Devil departed but for a season for he came again Joh. 14.30 't is true but pray observe that he never attempted with the former weapons again never disputed Christs Son-ship again but falls to down-right persecution without â—inding any thing in Christ whereof to accuse or wherefore to condemn him as the Devils own Judge even Pilate himself declares in open Court once again But here also Christ was too hard for him for though the Devil bruised his heel yet Christ brake the Devils head according to the first Promise Gen. 3.15 by dying he did destroy him that had the power of death viz. the Devil Heb. 2.14 and accordingly keeps the Keys to this day Rev. 1.18 so that the Devil was hugely out in his Politicks and was never so much defeated as now since he was a Devil for when Christ was Crucified he spoil'd principalities and powers triumphing over them Col. 2.14 15. So that now the Saints need not fear either Law Death or Devil Heb. 2.14 15.1 Cor. 15.55 57. Yet further our Saviour not only rose from the dead and so was declared to be the Son of God with a non obstante notwithstanding the Devils guard kept the Sepulchre but he ascended on high and rid in triumph through the Devils principality the Air of which he is Prince and as the Devil could not hinder him from ascending to the Father so nor his gifts from descending on men another token of his victory and triumph then then 't was that he led Captivity Captive Ephes 4.8 9. I might now draw resembling tokens of the Victory of our Young men the Armor-bearers of Christ who slay after him but I shall not stay to shew these parallels which may easily be observed by the Reader I will produce only â— me as evidences of their Victory They stand firm and fixed and lose no ground nor strength for ye are strong saith the Text and the Word of God abideth in you after this war and in the power of the Spirit and his Word of witness they as our Saviour did go about their work and imployment finishing that as he did which the Father hath given them to do and so glorifie him on earth The very Angels become ministring Spirits to them Heb. 1. ult They have their journals to shew how and where they conquer'd his broken weapons and defeated arguments they carry away as spoiles and come out of the Battel inrich'd with experiences which with their Prayers to God for them they distribute as so many gifts unto their Brethren as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.4 6. and these are no small signs of their hitherto victory no to mention the Devils flight As to what may be hereafter the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sufferings which attend them from the envy of a defeated Devil these also they overcome by not loving their lives but being faithful to the death Rev. 12.11 and 2.10 none of these things move them Acts 20.23 24. for in as well as after these things they are more than conquerors Rom. 8.36 37. They are of so great and noble Souls and spirits that they accept not deliverance but expect and shall obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11.35 And this perseverance to the end is often called overcoming in the Epistles to the Seven Churches I now go on to shew the conclusion of the whole matter viz. the issue and success of the Victory as to their after frames and Conversations CHAP. XI The result of the Victory as to their frames and Conversations BEsides what flows from their having the witness of the Spirit which is the same with that of the little Children
of which before there is a further influence from this victory which almost doubles their joy love and obedience it being another witness as it were or a confirmation of the former an assured assurance 1. It fills them with joy and rejoycing in the Lord that of him they make their boast and to him they give the glory all the day long They rejoyce not only as the Disciples did that the Devils are subject to them but that their names are written in the Book of Life Luke 10.17 They triumph in the praises of God and say Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ When they erect an Altar the name and Motto is Jehova nissi the Lord my Banner and the Lord my strength 't was he that taught me to fight and gave me the victory Not to us not to us but to thy name be all the glory They set up their Eben-Ezer saying Hitherto the Lord hath helped us They rejoyce in the Salvation of God and in the name of their God they set up their Banners They glory not in riches nor strength but in the Lord. In fine I may tell you that they sing the 18. Psalm 2. The Lord having given them rest and settlement which is the consequent and effect of victory they do not only rejoyce and sing songs but they study what to return to the Lord for all his benefits they dedicate all the spoiles to God they study as David did to build an house for God and lay up all they can as a preparation for it they have friendship with Hieram the high Life if I may allude or allegorize that he may assist in this great work and they may live above where the way of life is to them that are wise that their affections and conversation also may be in Heaven They Court not the Dalilahs of this worlds pleasure as too many Samson-like conquerors do nor turn Laplins to lust after their great successes but study to walk with God and to please him yea therein to abound more and more till they walk worthy of him to all well-pleasing They put not God off with words and a Song and then forget his works but they give and live thanks to God the fruit of their lips and of their lives 3. They are exceeding humble and lowly towards their weak Brethren they dare not Lord it over the Lords inheritance their Brethren though but Babes but they give them their helping hand and communicate their experience to them for their relief and assistance as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.4 6. If any be overtaken they indeavour to restore him with a Spirit of meekness for these Souldiers are not proud like others and lifted up but being spiritual they know tenderness and are acquainted with the heart of tempted ones having been tempted themselves and so are conformable to their great High-Priest and Captain-General of their faith and victory which to brave Souldiers is alwaies an obligation to meekness and moderation not a spur to ambition nor a stirrup to pride Yea though some Babes are apt to envy their attainment and glory yet they pity them and bear as well as bear with their infirmities 4. They keep Centinel and strict watch standing and walking in their Armor that of God alwaies they turn not their Swords into Plow-Shears nor their Spears into pruning hooks as if all were over but they watch because of their adversary the Devil and keep strong guards not knowing but that the Devil may fall on again they are not secure nor do they lay by their weapons as if they should know war no more 5. From the experiences they have had they take courage and good heart of grace to trust in God for the future not in their Sword or in their Bow though it like Josephs abide in strength Though some Young men faint and Youths fail by reason of presumption yet these wait on the Lord and renew their strength they mount up with wings as Egles they run and are not weary they walk and faint not Isa 40.30 31. They look on past deliverances as earnest of and security for future deliverances as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.10.2 Tim. 4.17 18. 6. They intangle not themselves with the affairs of this life that they may please him who hath chosen them to be Souldiers 2 Tim. 2.4 They live above the lusts of the eye the lusts of the flesh and pride of life the love of these things being inconsistent with the love of God they make Moses his choice being come to Age as he was Heb. 11.24 27. They as 't is said of Themistocles will not stoop to take up much less to take up with these things which are below this earth is for their feet to tread on and not to set their hearts on no no this is the victory whereby they overcome the world even their Faith which looks to higher and better things than this world hath any 1 Job 5.4 5. These charming and bewitching things have no power over them but they go on from strength to strength till they appear before God in Sion and say with David Whom have I in Heaven but thee there is none on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee Psal 73.25 I have thus briefly gone over the things intended and promised as to this Classis of Saints the Young men in relation to which as to the former also I have endeavoured to set out their conditions not by guess and conjecture but as they are represented in the Scripture and have chosen to wave speaking to other things as intermissions desertions c. which our text did not at all lead us nor hint us to take notice of I shall shut up all with the Application proper to this Subject which speaks first to the little Children to prepare for this War and to the Young men to make good what is said of them viz. that they are strong c. CHAP. XII The Application 1. AS for you little Children who have lived hitherto in the Fathers house and lain in his bosome injoying his love without doubts or disputes let me bespeak you to look for and to prepare for temptations Satan makes challenges and desires to winnow and sift you as he did Job and Peter c. Luke 22.31 Therefore watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation and beg of God either not to lead you into temptation or if he will and do as the Spirit did Christ Jesus that he will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength but that he will deliver you from the evil or the evil one Tell your Father that you have heard what a potent and subtle adversary the Devil is and that he throws fiery darts to inflame the hearts of Gods Children against their Father and tempts them to worship Devils which are such horrid things as you would not willingly be acquainted with but if as he hath glorified his name so
And yet further to shew the influence and power of this witness by which the Children know their Father I shall discover several other effects thereof which though I might refer to another part of this discourse viz. either that which is to shew the injoyments or that which is to shew the frames of these Children yet I shall chuse to place some of it here in a few particulars SECT 3. Shewing what the effects of this witness are and the influences they have upon the Soul and Spirit of the Children 1. THE Soul that hath received this witness is filled with a great deal of joy of which though I speak yet 't is joy unspeakable and full of glory yea though the person be in the midst of afflictions temptations and sufferings yet the Spirit of God and of glory rests upon it and dwells there 1 Thes 1.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1.6 7 8. and Chap. 4.14 't is so great that there is want in the words that are and want of more words than there are to express it significantly this work cannot be worded 't is such an experience as comes not under expression All the Eluquence in the world cannot acquaint you with the sweetness of this honey so well as the taste can and doth do 'T is like the new name which no man knows but he that hath it a stranger doth not intermiddle with this joy And as none knows it but he hath hath it so he that hath it cannot make it known as he hath it 〈◊〉 single witness that of a mans own Conscience afford so much joy as the Apostle found it did 2 Cor. 1.12 what incomparable joy must that be which flows from a double witness viz. That of the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God this is the joyful sound it 's such Musick as makes the Soul to leap and dance for joy Hos 2.14 15 16. They were Babes and under bondage in Aegypt but now they sing like the Children that had heard the joyful found of the Silver Trumpets proclaiming love and peace in their youth they sang when God had proclaimed them his Sons and first-born and called them his Sons out of Aegypt 2. Notwithstanding this joy yet consistently enough they blush and are ingenuously ashamed in the sense of their former sinfulness which made them unworthy of such favour yea worthy to have been Children of wrath for ever The Fathers lips were no sooner off from them of the returning Prodigal but the first words he utters are Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Luk. 15.20 21. And this confession was a great part of his gratitude and so taken by his Father for this interrupts not their feasting and rejoycing together This ingenuity is an effect of this assured reconciliation as 't is in Ezek 16.62 63. I will establish my Covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I Jehovah viz. gracious and merciful that thou maist remember thy waies Vers 61. and be ashamed c. but when this When I am pacified toward thee for or notwithstanding all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 3. By reason of this Testimony the little Children have a great deal of considence and boldness towards and with God If our hearts condemn us not we have confidence towards God 1 Joh. 3.21 but how much more when by the Spirit which he hath given us we know that he dwelleth in us and we in him Vers 24. This is the perfecting of love viz. assurance is love with us made perfect which gives us not only a boldness at the throne of Grace 1 Joh. 3.21 22. with 5.14 15. but in the day of Judgement Chap. 4.17 for there is no fear in love thus made perfect but it casteth out fear and fills with confidence and boldness familiarity and freedom 4. The little Children having received this Testimony long exceedingly to be with their Father not only to have their affections and conversations in Heaven but to be personally there Few Saints are willing to die that are but Babes and know not the Father and I fear if God should not take them to Heaven before they were willing and desirous to die I say I doubt that Heaven would be very thinly peopled as to that sort of his people But when they have got assurance that God is and Heaven shall be theirs they sing their nune demittis with the reverend good old man Simeon Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation And not only Paul 2 Cor. 1. 8. and Phil. 1.23 but all the seed that have received this Testimony Ephes 1.13 14. the first-fruits and earnest of happiness do sigh and groan and long yea and think it long till they be set free Rom. 8.23 While here they are absent from the Lord and 't is not without self-denial that they are willing to stay here but while they must be here they are hugely ambitious to be acceptable to God as 't is 2 Cor. 5.9 and to serve the Churches good as 't is Phil. 1.23 24. They are sure that though they suffer with Christ yet they shall be glorified together Rom. 8.16 17. and therefore they would as they are bid hasten his coming and Pray Come Lord Jesus come quickly And surely might they have their wishes either Christ should come to them or they would go to Christ within a very little while But yet remembring that they are not their own and that they serve not God only for their own advantage but his glory they are made willing to wait all the daies of their appointed time though it be a warfare as 't is in that Text in Job till their change come Rom. 8.23 24 25. As much as they long to be at home they would make no more hast than good-speed This much of the first thing The second follows SECT 4. Shewing how the Testimony of the Spirit may be distinguished from delusions of Satan and the presumptions of our own hearts IT may be some or other may be yet fearful and suspicious lest they should mistake and be deceived and so meet with the true miseries of false joyes 't is all one to the Devil which way any go to Hell so they go there whether through the common road and dirty high-way of prophaneness immorality and irreligion or through the Fields and pleasant walks of a Form of godliness which hath its Joys Raptures Transports and Ecstasies too for the evil spirit doth ape the good one and that he may the more facilely and undiscernably deceive he puts on the garb of an Angel of Light How therefore shall we discern whether the Testimony which we think we have be sound and good or but feigned and counterfeit I confess 't is good to watch and be circumspect because of our adversary the Devil who is seldom more our adversary than when he