appointment you reckon upon it and come to it with such a perswasion O this is Gods appointing and in this way hath he ordered that I should wait upon him and I know his appointments are not in vain therefore I rest not in the Ordinance but look to the God of the Ordinance and I follow after the injoyment of God in his Ordinances 't is nothing to me to have the word preached other Ordinances dispenced they are nothing to me without the injoyment of God I look upon God in them and I expect a blessing from God by them truly this is an argument of a well-grown Faith Alass poor weaklings that we are we come in a formal manner too commonly so and with too much of a carnal frame of spirit too much in a complemental way look upon an Ordinance as if there were no more to be reckoned to it than what of strength and duty and benefit of man can put upon it look to the instrument have not an eye to God O without question Beloved our preaching would be to better purpose and our hearing and praying and our eating and drinking at the Lords Table would be to better purpose and with more fruit and benefit If we could look more to God in an Ordinance and come with such a thought as this O Lord this is the way that thou hast laid out for me to wait upon thee in these are the means that thou hast appointed to do my soul good by and upon this account because they are thy appointments I apply to them and expect benefit and profit by them Now I say when we manage our attendance in such a manner we are then in the fairest way to have the fruit and benefit of them and how will this be but by a well-improved Faith the truth on 't is the strength of Faith and the growth and increase of Faith will very much discover it self this way When we come to appear before God in Ordinances we have such a Faith as carries us to God Why I have been with God this day I have been in the presence of God I look upon these Ordinances as the blessed Symboles of his presence and uppon that account it is that I attend them and expect from them And then again I press you that you would grow in Grace and grow in the Grace of Faith why what growth would you require such a growth as this that your Faith may come to be of such a growth that you may not be staggered concerning the promises of God how cross soever that providences seem to run to them O this is a proof of a well-grown Faith You know that its an ordinary thing with God in the course of his dealings and dispensations when he hath made a promise and put his people upon the hopes and expectation of having it performed to order out so in the course of his providence as if he would quite null his promise the providences seem to speak flat contradiction to the promise It was Abrahams case a promise he had of a son but the providence of God ordered it out that he runs out till he be 100 years old and Sarah was old to so that there was an impossibility as to nature that ever there should be such a thing brought to pass and here was now the temptation Now if Abraham had been but of a weak Faith how apt had he been to be staggering and sorely shaken as touching the promise surely this will never be I bat being of a well-grown Faith as the Apostle testifies of him he considered not his own body nor the deadness of Sarahs womb he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but being strong in Faith he gave Glory to God So the Lord dealt with Joseph but the word of the Lord tries him and while it tries him he trusts upon it the irons enter into his soul and by that providence O what a seening contradiction was there to the promise he that was designed to wear a chain of Gold about his neck must go with chains of Irons about his legs and those irons must enter into his soul. What doth this speak but the vanity of the promise and that it was a thing not to be reckoned upon no account to be made of it and yet notwithstanding he being of a well-improved Faith under all these cross providences that spake contradiction to the promise yet he keeps in a humble dependance upon God And while the word of the Lord tried him he trusts the word he did not try the word but he trusted the word and so being of a well-grown Faith he bears up with a holy confidence towards God as touching the things that he had promised And so likewise promises concerning the Church of God and a more blessed injoyment that Saints shall have in the World God hath ingaged himself by promise very much to such a purpose and providence do seem to give the lye to the promise 〈◊〉 things are ordered out as if such things â—…uld never be brought to pass Now a poor â—…ak Beleever he will be apt to give all for naught and to conclude as David did I said in my haste all men are lyars these are but vain words we speak of this and that of a new Ierusalem coming down from Heaven as a Bride made ready for her husband and of the Churchâ—… Glory and beauty and of Babilons downfal and yet Babilon sits as a Queen and saith I shall never see sorrow nor widowhood Now a poor weak Beleever will be ready to give up the account and to say We must never look for these things I but a strong Beleever it bears up the soul in a holy confidence towards God well let God take what course he will I am sure that the womb of the promise shall never be sound to be a miscarrying womb that 's another thing Yet further I press you to growth in Grace particularly to a growth in Faith that you may not upon every occasion be cast into a discomposure of spirit upon every occasion of trouble that you meet withal when there are such providences ordered out as are startling and amazing and astonishing such a Faith you are to press to that when sinners in Zion are afraid and fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrites and likewise when poor weak Beleevers are apt to tremble and quake and at a loss and know not what to do that you may come to say my heart is fixed I trust in God these things move me not this is an argument of a well-grown Faith when we are not upon every occasion of any sudden fears in a discomposure of spirit yet well-grown Faith will bring a fixedness I it 's an argument of a Faith not well improved and not of so good a growth as it should be when we are upon every occasion surprised with fear and horror and astonishment and ready to scatter this way and that way and know not
of those Laws and Statutes and Testimonies which were given them they should be acknowledged to be a wise and an understanding People Why Truly they were of high accomplishment as touching their wisdom and understanding and judgment and that upon the account of those Revelations that God did make to them O but how much higher will the advance be of a People in wisdom and understanding and judgment that are well instructed in and acquainted with the Mysteries of Christ and the things that are to be known concerning him Consider now What was the teaching of the Old Testament to the teaching that was to be had under the New Testament the Gospel-teaching when the time came that the Mysterie which had been kept secret from Ages and Generations should be broken open and laid out to the full of it Oh what an advantage was there then for a People to come to good judgment and understanding No Knowledge in all the World I say contributes so much to the purpose of making Men and Women wise and judicious as doth the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By this Knowledge well improved for I speak of that I speak of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ considered as well improved when there is a considerable growth and increase in it I speak of this Knowledge in the improvement and increase in it as the most pretious Knowledge most beneficial to such a purpose for to accomplish men and women for being a judicious understanding People of discerning spirits Consider First of all By the means of this Knowledge we shall be the better able to make a judgment of ourselves our persons and conditions and states Alas beloved What woful mistakes are we apt to run upon concerning our conditions God-ward How many are there that think themselves to be something when they are nothing at all judge themselves to be of a right gospel-Gospel-spirit when they are nothing so at all How many are there that account themselves to be right in point of Religion and Godliness well accomplisht and that they are such as will pass in account with God for good and sound and upright men right in the Mysterie of the Gospel whom God will reject and protest against and profess of them that he hath no pleasure in them Then on the other hand There are many poor souls that pass a very sad judgment upon themselves and are apt to give themselves for stark naught that they are not to be accounted of with God that have deserved rather to be rejected of him when yet for all that they are in his account no other than noble Vines a holy a right seed as the Prophet Jeremiah useth the expression Now the reason of these mistakes in point of Judgment concerning our selves and Estates it must needs arise eâ—…pecially either from the total want or from a great deficiency in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For mark you You must know that we are never so well able to judge of the Writing as when we are well knowing of the Copy after which the Writing is to be drawn We can never so well make a Judgment of the fashion of a thing unless we know the due pattern after which it is to be cast they that see the Copy will be the better able to judge of the Writing that is to be drawn after the Copy they that understand the state of the Mold will be the better able to judge of the Vessel whether it be right cast and fashioned sutable to the Mold Now consider thus Our Lord Jesus Christ he is the Copy after which a Believer a Christian is to be drawn up He is the Mold into which a Christian is to be fashioned The Apostle tells us in Rom. 8. That those whom God hath predestinated he hath predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren Thus it is it is the great design of God concerning all his People that he will own that they be conformed and fashioned according to Christ And such as is the constitution of Christ such must be the constitution of a Christian Now when we come to know and to know to good purpose the things that concern Christ when we come to be made able to answer the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning Christ what a Christ he is of what a make and constitution Pray consider well The more we know of this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves and to escape those dangerous mistakes concerning our condition and state which we are apt to run upon when we come to know and to know to some good degree what Christ is what he is for his Nature and Disposition and Qualifications and Constitution and that he is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life That he is constituted a Priest after such a manner and so a Prophet a King When we come to know this to some purpose the Constitution of Christ what make he is of how God hath ordered him who is the Pattern and the Copy after which a Christian is to be drawn up the more we understand and know of this the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves and states when we come to compare our selves with our Saviour Jesus Christ when we can find that as in the Print there is letter for letter there is Grace for Grace there is stamp for stamp Impression for Impression when we can find this when we come to know the original Copy and then come to compare our selves with the Copy the Writing that is drawn up in our own hearts when we come to understand what Constitution Christ is of and understand that to some purpose and then come to consider how it is vvith our selves then shall vve be the better able to make a Judgment of our condition and state and to say I knovv that my heart is right I knovv that my state is good I am able to avouch it I can give a Judgment of my self upon this account because I find the conformity to Christ my Head I see there is an ansvvering to the Copy and that I am dravvn up according to the Pattern O Brethren consider vvell of this We are said to be made Kings and Priests unto God our Father Why novv Kings and Priests vve are such as Christ vvho vvas a King and a Priest not after the Lavv as I said before of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life when we come to find the power of an endless Life in us a sutableness unto Christ when it 's otherwise it is but a pretence As it may be said according to that in Rev. 2. They say they are Iews and are not they are of the Synagogue of Satan and so will many be found
yet the very same Law in the hand of Faith as it is a rule of Righteousness it is a rod in the hand and of precious use and this is that wherein the growth of Faith will discover it self when we can thus jadiciously manage the apprehensions of the Law so as to appeal from it and yet to apply to it To rejoyce in a freedom from it and from its severity and yet rejoyce in holding a complyance and correspondency with it as it is a gracious holy rule that God hath given us to conform unto And this is another thing which I offer to you to be judiciously considered of that you may shew forth the growth of your Faith in this way Yet further grow in Grace grow in Faith and how shall it appear Thus grow in Faith so as that while you remember former guilts deep and dreadful guilts that have been contracted upon you while upon review of former cursed carriages and practices upon review and upon reflection you can remember deep contracted guilt upon your consciences under which it may be you labour as under an unsupportable burden yet at that very time when the remembrance of former dreadful guilt contracted is reviv'd yet you can at the very same time bear up with a holy confidence towards God upon the account of that rich and glorious Grace which hath appeared by our Lord Jesus Christ while with freedom and as becomes a Gospel-spirit of ingenuity you can draw up a charge against your selves and say I was a Persecuter as Paul speaks I was a Blasphemer I was Injurious I was a notorious Drunkard I was a prophane cursed Swearer I was hellishly vitious thus and thus I was and thus and thus I do acknowledge I remember well how the case stood with me what a cursed course I took and how I run on in the rode to hell destruction without any fear controul how fast I was ripening sor hell and destruction I remember this and yet I can remember it without despondency I can't remember it without a breaking and bleeding soul to think that ever I should carry it so towards the Lord and yet withal I can bear up in a rejoycing spirit upon the account of super-abounding Grace While you can charge your selves so as it may be none in the World can make the like charge upon you Yet notwithstanding you can make a bold challenge and say with the Apostle in Rom. 8. who shall lay any thing to my charge This is an excellent thing and an argument of a well-improved and well-grown Faith when it comes to this and indeed it is no other than a Faith of good growth that will inable to this Poor weaklings in Faith and Grace when they come to remember their former cursed carriage O how apt to fall under deepest despondencies and to be possest with horror and astonishment and to be disputing against themselves and concerning their estate and ready to conclude alas how is it possible that ever such a miserable misereant as I should find Grace to releeve 〈◊〉 favour with God forgiveness of sins Surely this burden will sink my soul this guilt will press me down to hell such deep and dreadful guilt O such stains upon my conscience what can fetch them out what plaister broad enough to cover such sores what price great enough to say such debts A poor weakling in Faith is apt to argue thus to the sinking and over-whelming of his spirit But it is the Faith that is well-grown that will inable the soul at this same time eying guilt and eying Grace seeing the Plague and seeing the plaister and taking knowlodge of the super abundance of the Grace of Christ above his contracted guilt for to bear up with a holy confidence and as I said before to charge and challenge to charge it self and yet challenge the accuser and say who shall be able to lay any thing unto my charge I know whom I have beleeved I know whither I have sled for refuge I know where I have anchored I know upon what foundation I have built my hope and confidence upon here 's the well-grown Faith a Faith which will give the greatest Glory to God When a man can look upon all the evils that ever were committed by him with a melting dissolving soul yet notwithstanding bear up with boldness and say I but I know that not any thing of this shall ever be laid to my charge and I know whom I have believed Will you but weigh these things and consider of them and know that this is the Faith which we are to press after And so which follows upon the former such a growth in Faith should we press after as that while we see the corruptions that are in us and sadly complain of the pressures under which we lye and how miserably we are yoked while we do so and see cause to cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am by reason of what by reason of a law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind O miserable wretch what darkness is in my understanding what perversness in my will what inordinacy in my affections what a crabbed perverse nature have I O what a rebelling soul is there in me when I would do good evil is present and so the poor soul labours and makes sad complaints and moans in the ears of God yet notwithstanding at the same time can say with the Apostle but though it be thus yet blessed be God I thank God through Jesus Christ though I serve with my flesh the law of sin yet with my spirit I serve the Lord Jesus Christ though there be a rebelling law yet I find another law a law in my mind that makes opposition to that rebelling law and I find principles of Grace and Holiness acting most vigorously in opposition to those principles And though they tugg and wrestle and struggle with me yet I am utterly set against complyance with them and am resolv'd upon this that I will never make any league with them but I 'll do the utmost I can for to ruine them to be the death of them I thank God through Jesus Christ. This is now the Faith that we should press after that we may thus bear up with courage and resolution and while we see our own blemishes yet we can rejoyce to think what a beauty is upon us through Jesus Christ. We can see blemishes and yet we can see perfection of beauty that we are made comely through the comelyness which by Grace is put upon us Then again such a growth in Faith our duty is to press after and to endeavour to as that we may be able to say I am never more fearful to sin against God than when I am least fearful for to be condemned by God O it 's a blessed proof of a well-grown Faith and such a Faith should we endeavour to and a Faith of such a growth that we
weigh what hath been said and consider that I have been speaking to you to this purpose that you that are the Sons and Daughters of Faith look to it that there be a growth in Faith And such a growth as that the mysterie of the everlasting Gospel stand fast in you that you may be able to comprehend with all the Saints the height and depth and length and breadth That you may grow up to such a Faith no that you may not only live by it but live at a high rate that you may not only live by it but live honourably that you may fare deliciously every day Such a Faith as is not only a conflicting but a conquering and triumphing Faith Such a Faith as brings you off more from self and makes you seek God more his Glory more Such a Faith as makes you to be studious not only of your own eternal wellfare but of the well-fare of others Such a Faith as makes you to value your selves not according to your worldly injoyments but that you value what you injoy according to a Covenant of Grace and your self according to that account And this way truly you may give good proof that you are persons that answer the duty in the Text which the Apostle requires That we grow in Grace SERM. VI. I Shall only add a Particular or two about Growth in Faith Your duty is to endeavour to such a growth in Faith that you may be able to meditate Terror It is one thing for to be possest with terror to be apprehensive of terror and to be amazed and astonished through terror upon us another thing to be able to make terror the matter of our meditation One thing for to be apprehensive of that which is matter of terror and to be affrighted with it and ready to sink under the apprehensions of it another thing for to have not only the apprehensions but to have the heart bearing up with a holy confidence without being in the least discomposure to have a fixedness of soul a setledness of heart and not to be startled and to be ready to run this way and that way and even to be at our wits ends not knowing in the World what course to take Now this is one of the great priviledges which belongs to Beleevers and to the Saints of God to be able to meditate terror you have the expression in Isa. 33. 18. There it 's held forth unto us as a Saints and Beleevers priviledge that hearts shall meditate terror And it is not every Faith that will bring a Saint into the actual possession of free usage of this priviledge I would you would labour to have a fixed heart now upon what I speak and be in a due composure I say this It is not every degree of Faith that will bring the soul into the actual and free possession and usage of this priviledge that I now speak of For to make that which is matter of terror and amazement that which is apt to sink and swallow up the hearts and spirits of others to make it the matter of our joyful and comfortable meditation 't is not every Faith every degree of Faith 'T is true indeed every Faith in the lowest degree hath a tendency to it every Faith doth more or less make proposition to a carnal and slavish fear But it is found in experience that where Faith is but low and weak it is apt to be over-top'd and over-powred by base carnal slavish fear it is found in common experience But it must be a well-improved Faith a Faith well grown that inables the soul to bear up boldly and resolutely when there is matter of fear before it The Prophet speaks in Psal. 112. concerning the righteous man That he hath his heart fixed he is so advanced in his Faith as that he is come to a fixedness his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. And then it follows He shall not be afraid for any evil tydings that that is matter of terror and astonishment to others he can with a sweet composure of spirit meditate of muse upon and be in the thoughts of this is a great matter and a lovely priviledge and that which we should set our hearts upon Such a Faith of such a growth we should endeavour after that we may be able to meditate terror There is a terribleness in God in his Name The Lord is of terrible Majesty Terribleness in his presence when that Proclamation was made in Isa. 6. Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts the Prophet cryes out now Woe is me When there was a Proclamation of God upon Mount Synai in thunder and lightning When there was that dreadful voice O the people cry out let us hear no more the voice of God left we die Now a well-improved Faith will be able for to meditate of this terror I and to dwell with that God in holy meditation and to converse with that God that is of such terrible Majesty Who shall dwell with devouring fire who shall dwell with everlasting burnings that is as terrible as devouring fire as dreadful as everlasting burning who shall dwell with him who shall be able to bear up at the thoughts of him why a soul that is well improved in his Faith will be inabled so to do Such a Faith of such a growth we should endeavour after as that we may be able thus to meditate the terror of God not be affraid of him True it is it is a duty that is incumbent upon us to have our hearts in a holy awe but withal to bear up in a holy boldness and not to be swallowed up with fear upon the manifestations of the terribleness of God So there is a terribleness in the Law in the Covenant of works that God made and which he made a dreadful discovery of upon Siâ—…ai A fiery Law it is and so called in Deut. 33. It 's a terrible Law that flashes fire and vengeance in the face of an ungodly sinner of a guilty wretch I but now the Faith of a Beleever well improved will inable him for to meditate with sweet composure of spirit upon this terrible Law and with a rejoycing spirit think of the ridgedness and sevear requiries of it knowing that it hath taken sanctuary at a Covenant which is full of mercy and comfort and doth sweetly revive and succour the soul under the dreadfullest representations that can be made to it of its own guilt There is a terribleness in Death and it is called the King of Terrors And how many are there that are not able to bear the thoughts of it not able to stand before the thoughts of their dying I how many are there poor creatures that when the thoughts of Death do but arise in them they are ready to be swallowed up of it and they do all that ever they can to fortifie themselves against those thoughts as 't is a common thing for persons to do they cannot indure to be
them as you can use as strict discipline upon your lusts and corruptions as you can O 't is this that doth do us a great deal of mischief and doth very much prejudice the soul that there is not a more through repenting and breaking off our corruptions and lusts Amnon's lustful love to his Sister Thamar it made him look lean from day to day I allude to it O saith he to him why do'st thou being the Kings Son look lean from day to day O saith he I love my Sister Thamar Why are Christians that are the Kings Sons and Daughters lean from day to day O! there 's something amiss something lyes within some lust and corruption that is not fully subdued This is that that causeth leanness in their faces And then thirdly have not you been directed to this That you would take heed of entertaining conceits of your own perfection that you would take heed of swelling thoughts of what you have already attained so as to fancy to your selves a perfection Keep your hearts in this apprehension as Paul doth I have not yet attained I am not yet perfect I am not so good as I should be and I am not so good as I am resolved to be and thereupon you will by Grace come to this resolve as Paul did I have not yet attain'd I am not yet perfect why then I will forget what is behind and I will reach to that which is before Your duty is to take knowledge of whatsoever Grace you have already received I but so take notice of it to be thankful as that you do not rest in it and say it is enough and I will look after no more But so bless God for what is already bestowed upon you that you still be pressing on for a larger supply and that you may come to be more and more improved in the Grace that is begun Fourthly I would add this in order to your growth that you may do according to your duty you and I that we may grow in Grace Will you but seriously propound this to your selves make it your business and resolve upon it that you will do your utmost to grow in Grace and to be every day better and better Natural growth that comes on whether we mind it or no. The child that 's conceived in the womb it minds not its growth when it s born and in its infancy it minds not its growth I but yet there is a growth and nature carries it on I but it is not so in Grace Growth in Grace must be minded and it must be attained and we must propound it to our selves that we may grow And truly I am perswaded if so be that Christians would but go to work like rational creatures like men that understood themselves in a religiously rational way if so be that they would but go to work as those that do with religious reason weigh and consider that this is their duty to grow and propound it and make it their design and resolve upon it to make a business of it that they may grow in Grace I am very consident of it that there would be better growth You know whether this be propounded by you that you may be better in your Faith and Love and Holyness that you may have more of God and of Christ more of the Kingdom of God more of the power of the Gospel be more in expressing these things Your Consciences can tell you whether you propound these things to your selves whether you can say Truly I am not so good as I would be I would be better and by the Grace of God I will be better I will endeavour to better my condition and to express more of the in-dwelling of Christ in me Undoubtedly if you would but resolve to make it a business it would be better with you than it is 5. If you desire to grow in Grace do but study what Grace is and if you have it what it is in you why is it not a lovely thing Do you know what Grace is a dramn of it is worth a 10000 Worlds O a little Faith a little Love a little of the Grace of God it is more precious than all the pâ—…arls and jewels in the whole World there 's nothing comparable to it Now if you have a little of this precious commodity why should not your hearts be set to this that you may have more of it And truly this would be a good conducement to the raising up of your hearts to an endeavour this way why this Grace is a precious thing a little I have gotten of it and it is so precious that I will not be contented with this little but I will labour to have as much of it as I can more love O more love never never never too much of that Sixthly If you would grow in Grace look to your union with Christ He is the head and you are the members if you are Beleevers Now the body grows by influence from the head Truly our growth it springs up from union with Christ If you abide in me and my words abide in you then it shall be well if so be that you hold the head 'T is an excellent expression you have in 2 Collos. the Apostle useth that expression of holding the head by vertue of which holding the head there comes to be an increasing with all the increase of God When thou art well skilled in this mysterie of holding the head in a dependance upon Christ drawing every day from the Lord Jesus not contenting himself with what he hath received but is still drawing and sucking from Christ the breasts of Christ. He is in the proper way of proficiency and improvement in Grace These are not empty notions no they are the things of the spirit of God the spirit of Wisdom doth suggest them to you and therefore let them be accordingly regarded and heeded by you Seventhly your duty is to grow and to grow in Grace In order to that I will tell you what will be a a good conducement labour to make it sure that you have Grace in the truth of it and be very much in that inquiry into your selves so as that you may be clear in this that you have the true Grace of God in you that it is the true Grace of God wherein you stand This is a good conducement to proficiency and growth in Grace when you come to know that there is a work begun For mark you if so be that a man be about a building and do question whether the foundation be well laid yea or no truly he can never go on so clearly and so dexterously in the carrying on of the building But if so be that he be well perswaded sufficiently satisfied concerning this that the foundation is well laid this will strengthen his hands for to go on in the work If so be that a man be upon a journey and question whether he be in the right
World there are many they will be rich in the World and they decree and resolve upon it that they will be rich I sometimes whether God will or no. They carry the matter as if they would be rich whether God will or no. They would be rich rich in the World and they have no warrant for God hath not required this of any man that they should grow rich in the World He requires they should do their duty and if he will come in with a blessing so they ought to be thankful but he doth not command them to be rich in the World but there are that will be rich and resolve to be rich and so they run themselves into snares and temptations and many hurtful and noysome lusts that drown mens souls in destruction I but here 's the Grace of God to his poor servants His will is that they should be rich in Grace and he doth encourage thereunto by promising that he will prosper you in your way He hath given you such a stock he will give you more provided that you do but your duty and it is his mercy that he hath made it the matter of your duty to grow in Grace 2. And then reckon upon this for your encouragement and the quickening of you in your endeavours this way To be sure grow as much as you can you will never grow too good for God you can never have too much Grace you can never have too much Faith nor Love nor Holiness Godliness knows no bounds You can never have too much of God and Christ and Holiness When the foolish Virgins saw themselves at a loss as touching their oyle and come to the wise to buy of them nay say they spare us there we have none to part withal we will keep what we have gotten lest we should not have enough for us and you And so make account of this that when you have grown as high in Grace as you can you will have no over-pluss you will have none to spare SERM. VIII IT is God's great mercy that there are any in the World which have any Grace in them and that God should make such a pleasant and precious plant to take root and spring up in such a soyl as the soul is so barren of all good and so unapt to receive any good Now as it is God's mercy that any have Grace so it is their duty that have it for to grow in it and this duty you have been over and over charged with But I shall now come to what remains to be spoken concerning this Argument which I shall give a brief account of and then come to what follows in the Text. 2. The further encouragements unto the lively and vigorous prosecution of this matter a strenuous endeavour to grow in Grace the incouragements they are very great and I desire that you may know the force and power and vertue of them in your own hearts 3. If so be that you do indeed make it your business and do endeavour this to grow in Grace and shall do so as you are very like to do it if you endeavour after it you will have this advantage you will not be altogether so apt to be unsetled in your apprehensions concerning your state you will not be so much upon the questioning point concerning the truth and reality of the Grace of God in you as many are when you come to be of some considerable growth in Grace when you come to have much Faith and much Love and much Holyness much of the Fear of God you will not be so apt to be questioning the point and fluctuating in your souls concerning your Grace but you will be able to bear up against temptations of that kind and ready to make your confident avouchments and say if you be questioned about your Faith Yea Lord thou knowest I do believe Be questioned about your Love as Peter was Simon lovest thou me Yea Lord thâ—…u knowest I love thee And truly this is a great advantage that will come over to us by improvement in Grace for the truth and soundness of Grace it doth appear by its growth it is a clear demonstration that a plant lives wâ—…n it grows it may live and yet there be no discovery of its growth but when there is a growth there is a plain demonstration that the plant is alive and this benefit will come over by growing in Grace And while poor weaklings in Grace that are of low attainments and are apt to please themselves in their lower measures will be apt to be shaken by every wind of temptation and be put upon the questioning point upon every occasion whether there be any Grace in them yea or no. They that have but a little Faith a little Grace they will be apt ever and anon to be fluctuating in their spirits and doubting within themselves whether there be any thing of God and Christ and Grace in them Well-grown Christians will be able to bear up with a holy confidence that of a truth the Grace of God is in them 4. This incouragement we have to endeavour a growth in Grace God will be the more glorified Christ will be the more magnified the Gospel will be the more credited the more we have of Grace we shall be able to quit our selves honourably in our way of duty in our way of suffering Herein is our Father Glorified that we have much fruit and bring forth much fruit 5. God will glory in such and make his boast of them as he did of Iob Do'st thou not see my servant Iob that there is not a man like him in the earth an upright and a perfect man one that seareth God and escheweth evil The Lord doth make a holy boast of his eminent servant that was so raised up in Grace and Holyness And you know what our Saviour speaks concerning the woman of Canaan O woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou will Truly there is very much in that to consider of men and women of advanced Faith and Grace O! how Christ doth Glory in them and what is it that he can deny them Be it unto thee even as thâ—…u wilt draw thy requests and I will under-write them I will say amen to them what can God deny a soul that is improved in Grace of all others such are like to have the highest communications from God for this we may well think that God will order out his communications of mercy and comfort to his people according to their capacities the larger the vessel is the more liquor it takes in and accordingly the more shall there be communicated unto it Narrow hearts are like to have but little because they can receive but little they are little in capacity and are like to be accordingly but little in the communication that shall be made unto them 6. This will be our encouragement to endeavour a growth in Grace we shall by this means credit
in respect of his spiritual stature in Christ Despise not O despise not the small things in others if God have given you a larger measure of his Spirit and Grace but rather improve your strength for them that have not come to your pitch if so be that you be stronger than they let them have the benefit of your strength knowing that they have an interest in your Graces and they should have the fruit and benefit of them together with you And then withal such as may be improved in Grace and of a good growth let such yet for all that not rest in that which they have attained but still as Paul professeth concerning himself be forgetting what is behind and reaching out to that which is before pressing towards the mark because whatsoever you have yet you may have more and till you be perfect in Christ you must never cease your endeavours but be still pressing on after larger measures and that you may come to your perfection and to the full stature that you are appointed to in Christ. And then withal reckon upon this as your duty such as are well grown in Grace and Godlyness do not reckon upon it that you will now have freedom from temptations nay rather look for the greater temptations because that God doth usually lay the greatest burthens upon the strongest shoulders Weaker Christians they shall have their temptations proportionable to their strength men of greater strength and abilities in Grace must reckon upon it to be put the harder to it and to have the greater tryals considering that they have received a greater measure of Grace than others have And now Beloved I have done with this point wherein I have been somewhat large and have laid out the best of my endeavour that I might be so discours'd of as that you might come to be the more benefited by what I have had to speak You have heard that they that have Grace it is required of them and charged upon them that they be upon their growth Now remember O remember that this is the charge of God upon you you that are the sons and daughters of Grace that are called of God to the participation of Grace remember that this is your duty and God doth require it of you O now shall all that hath been preached to you from one morning to another pass away Let me but put it to your Consciences now truly I am apt to think that in the carrying on of this Discourse concerning growth in Grace I am apt to think that there are some of you how many I know not But I am apt to think that there are of you that have had some convincement upon your Consciences and that you may have cause to smite upon your hearts and to say O wretch that I am that I should be no better in Grace that my estate in Grace should be so low I am apt to think that you have had some touches upon your spirits upon this account and that withal you have been upon some resolves to set upon the business and to endeavour a growth to a higher degree and that you may be better Christians than you have been I am apt to think that you have had some movings upon your hearts hath it been so and will you let the cause fall again will you please your selves nay dare you please your selves in your lower measure having been convinc'd and awakened and made to apprehend what a blessed thing it is to be upon increases with the increase of God Hearing so much incouragement what incouragement there is to endeavour a growth in Grace dare you let this matter fall down again and your hearts flag within and not set to it with all your might that you might come to be improved Christians I beseech you consider well of it and know that God he takes notice of every message that he sends unto you of every Sermon that he provides to be preached unto you And O that this were but well considered that the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ they have an eye upon us and observe how we carry our selves after we have heard such a Sermon such a duty God takes notice whether we walk in any suitableness to what is urged and charged upon us I tell you Brethren that God will not be Complemented withal O will we make it a matter of meer complement to come early in a morning and hear a Sermon and when we have heard it go away and when we have had our task set us never set about it Truly give me leave to say this to you you that are Masters and Mistresses you would not very well like a servant if he should only give you the hearing when you come and lay him out his work and say my servant this business I would have done and that business I would have done and your servant is present with you and gives you very patient hearing and doth privately attend to your charge but when you have given your command and laid your charge upon your servant and said I require this of you that you do such a piece of service at such a time this is the work of this day and when they have given you the hearing they go away and never set about their business nay scarce ever think of it after I know you would not like well of such a servant but think him more fit to be turned out of your service for to go and slight all that you require of them and charge upon them in way of duty and service Why can you think in your Consciences that God will take content in such kind of servants that come to attend upon him and to receive his charge and have the signification made to them of their duty as our Saviour saith you call me Lord and Master and you say well for so I am Now you come here and hear the will of your Lord and among other things he requires this of you that you set upon this great work of growth in Grace Now if you come to the Ordinances and hear what his good will and pleasure is concerning Faith and when you go away never regard what your duty is nor what your Master requires of you but you let all alone and rest in your hearing and never go about the work and business that is required of you do you think that God and Christ will be well pleased with this O is it likely that Christ will say to you in the great day of account Well done good and Faithful servant faithful servant faithful servant why this was all thou gavest me the hearing but thou did'st not go about my business I tell you Brethren our Preaching will come in as a witness against you and your hearing will be to your greater condemnation And therefore I beseech you that you would not receive the Grace of God in vain And so I have given now a dispatch unto this part
everlastingly saved But now yet more fully to clear up this That by growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus there comes to be a prosperous and happy growth in Faith We will consider first of all What there is belonging unto a well-grown and improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and then you will be able clearly if so be that there be any spiritualness of understanding to see how this Knowledge duly improved doth draw out the saith of a Believer and how it doth most happily influence his Faith and is as the pouring out of water upon a Plant or at the root of a Tree which makes the Plant to thrive and grow and prosper and shoot up a main This will appear that this benefit comes over to us by our having the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ advantaged in us Now consider what doth properly belong to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is requisite in order to a due improvement and growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ First That he be known as touching his Person That he is God blessed for evermore God with God in full equality with the Father and the Spirit and accounts it no robbery to claim such an equality as Great as the Father as Good as the Father as Holy as the Father as Mighty as the Father Thus it is He is God with God And 2ly That he is not only God with God but he is God-Man that he might be both fit to deal with God for Man and with Man for God That 's the first thing that I propound I shall make the accommodation of them by and by and having propounded the things that belong to this well improved Knowledge then I shall come to offer it to your Consideration how the Grace of Faith is most happily influenced by this Knowledge thus improved 2. It belongs to well improved Knowledge for to know that this Christ God-Man is the Son of God the only begotten of the Father by an act of eternal Generation 3. It 's requisite to a well improved Knowledge That souls do know and understand that this Christ God-Man the eternal Son of the Father that he is the Son of his dearest Love and did from all eternity lodge in his blessed bosom that his heart is infinitely set upon him And then 4. It belongs to this Knowledge That souls do understand that this Christ God-Man the eternal Son of the Father the dearly beloved of his Soul is such as he doth take infinite complacency and contentment in he is pleased in him and delighted in him upon this very account because of the willingness which he hath manifested to appear in the behalf of poor Souls This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased he in whom my soul delights 5. It is requisite to a well improved Knowledge of Christ That we understand that by an eternal Decree God hath chosen and appointed and designed this Son God-Man this Beloved this Person so much delighted in That he hath chosen him according to an eternal purpose and Decree for to be the great Mediator between God and Man This is necessary likewise to be known that so there may be a due improvement of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord hath declared the decree Thou art my Son and I have appointed thee He hath decreed him and designed him to such a purpose according to that decree in Isa. 42. Behold saith the Prophet my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth He is the chosen of God from all Eternity to such a purpose 6. This is necessary to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ That it be known and understood that this Christ God-Man the Son of the Father the Beloved of his Soul the Person that he delights in that he hath made choice of is likewise most fully commissioned by the Father for to perform the Office of a Mediator to all those intents and purposes and in all such wayes wherein he may accomplish that great Design concerning the Redemption and Salvation of poor Souls God hath commissioned him he hath chosen him called him and sent him into the world and sealed him up according to Scripture expression The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me and he hath anointed me to preach good tydings Him hath God the Father sealed As in Ioh. 6. he hath a full commission from God sealed up unto him for such a purpose He is commissioned of God being the great Prophet to teach and instruct his People in the Mysteries of his Will A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me He is commissioned of God to be a Priest and God hath sworn concerning him according to that in Psal. 110. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech And then he hath commissioned and sealed him up to be a King The King of his Church to rule in the hearts of his People and to ruine his Enemies This belongs to well improved Knowledge That we come to know and understand that this Jesus Christ God-Man is thus commissioned 7. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ That as he is thus commissioned sent and sealed of God to all these intents and purposes so likewise he is accomplisht by God every way most compleatly accomplished for to bring about the Design that he is commissioned for The great God hath impowered him and accomplisht him in the most full manner that possibly can be God hath not given him the Spirit by measure the Lord hath given him the fulness of the Spirit he hath given him all fulness It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Fulness of Wisdom fulness of Grace all fulness of the Spirit he hath all fulness in him 8. We are to Consider That this belongs to a well improved Knowledge that these accomplishments of Christ and this provision that is made in him it is ordered unto Communication he is the great Trustee of Heaven and Earth He ascended on high and he râ—…ived gifts for men Why he received them as their great Trustee God hath committed to him a trust for the benefit and behoof of poor Souls This belongs to a well improved Knowledge in Christ That all the fulness that is in him it is for Communication that poor Souls might be the better for it 9. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of Christ That there be a due understanding of this that Christ was from the beginning most willing to comply with the Counsel of God concerning him and that it was the joy of his heart to ingage himself in the behalf of poor sinners to make reconciliation to God as their Peace to satisfie the Justice of God he was most willing and it was the delight of his Soul to be put upon
is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus That he hath had a deep experience of prayer and of the difficulties of it and temptations which the soul is subject to meet withal in the management of prayer all this is known to Christ So far as a holy nature could have personal experience of such difficulties and such temptations so far hath our Lord Jesus in his own person experimented this matter concerning prayer Now the knowledge of this the well digested knowledge of this That Christ was a man of prayer and that he hath had experience of prayer and knows what there is of difficulty in prayer and what sore temptations hang upon prayer and what a desperate enemy the Devil is to prayer he knows all this and he hath a sense upon his heart and a knowledge of all the strugling and wrestling in the hearts and spirits of his praying People here upon earth This is that that is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus Christ he hath a deep sense of all the strugglings and wrestlings of the spirits of his People here on earth and is perfectly knowing of all the opposition which they meet withal in the way of prayer and supplication and how the Devil doth set himself against his Saints and what incounters they meet withal from unbelief and the corruptions that are within how apt to fall under deep discouragement and despondency of spirit He knows all this and to this purpose that he might pity and compassionate his People O this is that which is to be known concerning Jesus Christ in Heaven and even now he is in glory that he hath a sense of all this upon his spirit and is privy to every prayer that his poor humble broken-hearted conflicting people do make up to God and is at Gods right hand ingaged to stand their prayers in stead and to promote the success of them and to take them from their hands as the blessed high-priest of their profession and to perfume them in his golden Sencer with his odours the odours of his intercession This is that that is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and O how doth this knowledge well digested a soul being well advanced in it how will it find this Knowledge largely contributing to the promoting of this Duty Do but weigh these things in your Consciences whether this 〈◊〉 not be a very great conducement to the more lively managing of our prayers and that we would not trifle with God when we are exercised in such a Service And then again for that noble Gospel-Service and Duty of Praise and Blessing of God The more the soul doth improve and grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the more vvill there be of loveliness and activity and inlargedness for the management of that Truly Brethren it is that vvhich vve have all cause to be deeply humbled for That God blessed for ever hath not more large returns for his People of praise and thanks and blessing for all that Grace that he hath made to appear unto them O hovv little is it that is done to purpose in such a service And vvhat 's the reason that vve are not more lively to such a purpose that our hearts are not more inlarged to God in a vvay of blessing and praising and thanksgiving to him We may vvell reckon it to this That vve are not more in the Knovvledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for this Knowledge of Christ our Lord and of the Mysteries concerning him this is the Knowledge that will make the soul to be upon the wing mounting up with all inlargements of thankfulness and praise unto God The more the soul is taken up with the apprehensions of the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning the Lord Jesus the more will it be in admirings of Grace the more will it be in magnifyings of the God of all Grace Consider This Knowledge it is such Wine as will make the lips of them that are asleep to speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that expression which we have in Cant. 7. he spâ—…ks there concerning our Saviour that is soâ—… and 〈◊〉 that it would make the lips of them that are asleep to speak Oh! The Doctrine concerning our Lord Jesus if it were better known it would spirit the soul and make it to be most active to such a purpose You here have an account concerning the Angels There was upon the birth of Christ an heavenly Hoste and they were singing praises unto God Glory be to God on high Upon what account upon the account of Jesus Christ and the knowledge they had of Jesus Christ and of that glorious Mysterie concerning Jesus Christ the Angels were not able to contain themselves The Virgin Mary in Luk. 2. when she comes to have an account of the Mysterie concerning her Lord Jesus Christ and the Grace of God through him How doth she break out with all inlargement My soul doth magnifie the Lord my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour and so all along O what blessing and praising of God was there on the part of a People that were well instructed in the first establishing Apostolical constitutions O what inlargements were there in praising God and magnifying him And why Upon the account of the Knowledge that they had of the glorious Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and the account that was given in the primitive Persecutions concerning the Christians That they would be in their early singings and praisings of God This was the account of the Christians under dreadful persecution in the dayes of Trajan the Emperor That they would be early in the morning singing and praising and blessing God And upon what account Upon the account of this great and glorious Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. O! this is that that would fill the mouth with Arguments and it would wisely contribâ—…te to the promoting of ability sutable to such Arguments wherein to inlarge in blessing and praising God our hearts would not lye so dead upon us we would be more lively than we are in exalting God magnifying his Name did we but know more of our Lord Jesus of the Mysterie which hath been kept secret from Ages and Generations but because we do but sip of the Cup have a little smattering Knowledge and no well digested Knowledge and not duly improved we come off so poorly as we do O consider the spirit of the Apostle Paul how excellently it discovers it self as in the beginning of his Epistle to the Ephesians Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ blessed be God that hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ In Christ So the Apostle Peter O blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that hath begotten us unto a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away and all by the resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus the Knowledge of our Lord and
to be known concerning Christ that this Word and Mystery which is given of the Father to Christ his ear hath been opened to listen to it most attent upon it according to that expression in Psal. 40. Sacrifice and Offerings thou would'st not Christ's ear was not much attent upon that Sacrifice and offerings thou would'st not But mine ear hast thou opened Thou hast opened mine ear to another Doctrine to another Word which concerns the salvation of souls by a sacrifice that must be offered up by me this mine ear is open to And so you have it in Isa. 50. The Prophet there speaks in the person of Christ he wakeneth morning by morning and saith he he makeneth mine ear to hear as the Learned The Lord God hath opened mine ear and I was not rebellious The Father gives the word delivers it him and the ear of the Son our Mediator is open to him 3. You are to know concerning Christ that this Word and Doctrine which is the subject matter of our Preaching and your Hearing as it is given to Christ by the Father and as his ear is open to it so it comes with all delight and complacency into his heart as you shall find in Psal. 40. First he saith Thou hast opened mine ear and not only so Thou hast bored mine ear and not only so but O Father thy Law is in mine heart and I delight to do thy will O this word that thou hast given me it 's the joy of my heart it 's the rejoycing of my soul that there should be the contrivance of such a word given to me and intrusted with me mine ear hears it as a most melodious sound my heart entertains it O my God thy Law is in my heart O it s the joy and rejoycing of my heart to think that ever thou should'st trust me with such a Doctrine as this 4. Consider that this word the Word and Doctrine of the Father thus given to Christ unto which his ear was opened and to which his heart gave such joyful entertainment to This Word and Doctrine Christ he comes to be commissioned from the Father to Preach and to make it known He hath not only an ear to hear it and a heart to imbrace it but he must have likewise a mouth opened to publish and proclaim it and this he is commissioned to This is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus that he is commissioned of God to make a solomn publication and promulgation of this Word that it may be made known to the World And therefore you have it in Isa. 50. The Lord hath given me not only to hear as the Learned but to speak as the Learned First he hath the ear of the Learned to hearken to it and then it 's exprest that he hath the tongue of the Learned that he may be able to speak a word in season to a weary soul. This is the commission that God hath given him that he should Preach and make this everlasting Gospel this word that comes out of the Father that he should make it known to the World and the truth is Brethren this that I say is of a truth to be known and acknowledged of us That Preaching work the Preaching of the everlasting Gospel and word of Reconciliation it is more Christs work than the work of any man in the World True it is the base beggerly World and the imbased spirits of the people in the World they look upon Preaching-work as a poor low mean service and look upon those that are imployed about it as persons that are little to be regarded And this is the good entertainment that the Ministers of Christ and of the Gospel have ever had in the World Generally they look upon a Preacher and upon a Preachers work as a poor low piece of service the person mean and his imployment little to be regarded I but if matters were well known this would be apprehended that the preaching of the Word is most properly the work of Christ himself He that is the great Mediator He that was in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God took upon him the form of a servant and he was pleased to accept of a commission from his Father to be a Preacher and to preach the everlasting Gospel As soon as he had suffered and was risen again he came and preached to the World as he did to his Disciples before his Resurrection and so likewise before his sufferings He came with commission from the Father to preach the Word which was given him out of the bosome of the Father That Word which is the subject matter of our Preaching and your Hearing it is the word which Jesus Christ is ingaged to preach and publish and make known to the World and I say again it is more Christ's work than it is the work of any man in the World and those that are called out to this service they are called out to the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5. And then add this further that this Lord Jesus Christ he hath that interest in the Father which none in all the World hath besides to the purpose of fetching out whatsoever there is of further Mystery and of discovery to be made concerning the Counsel of God the Word the Doctrine the Eternal Counsel which lay hid in the breast and bosome of God from all Eternity that Counsel that Word and Doctrine which hath so much of lustre in it Christ hath this priviledge above all creatures in Heaven and Earth above Angels Saints glorified in Heaven militant on Earth Christ hath this priviledge above them all to fetch out out of the Fathers treasury that which no Angel nor Saint in Heaven or Earth hath the priviledge to meddle withal Christ hath obtained this of the Father he hath this interest in the heart of the Father that he may with boldness come and take out whatsoever there is of secret Counsel in the Fathers bosome that concerns the Church of God to the end of the World He may be bold to come and challenge this as his priviledge Father if there be any secret yet undiscovered to the World I claim the priviledge to be acquainted with it and to have the discovery of it and to make it known unto the World This is the priviledge belongs to Christ. As now to give an Instance in Rev. 5. where you find there mention made of a Book in the right hand of him that sate on the Throne a Book written within and without and on the back-side sealed with seven seals a book full of Mysterie but a closed book nay a sealed book nay sealed with seven seals Hereupon the Proclamation is made with a loud voice by an Angel Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof Here 's a book full of Mysterie and matters of high concernment to the Church of God to the end of the World Who is worthy
rise up in opposition to the Kingdom of Christ to the spiritual Worship of Christ to a holy reformation and to do all that ever they can to hinder that God and Christ may not be worshipped in the beauties of holiness This is to cry up To him be shame instead of saying To him be glory both now and for ever No but to him be shame and to all his People and let them be the reproach and scorn of the World 2ly And so to close up If so be that we will approve our selves to be acted by a Gospel spirit consider how it must appear it must appear by holy apprecations and votings up of Glory to Christ and to say To him be glory the Father gives him Glory the Father reckons Glory to him the Spirit gives Glory to him The Spirit shall glorifie me he shall take of mine and shew it unto you The Angels give him Glory Worthy is the Lamb that was slain The twenty four Elders and the four Beasts make apprecations of Glory an innumerable number thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand they say Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to have Glory Now if you be men and women of a Gospel spirit let it appear by having your hearts set to this to give Glory to Christ wish him Glory in having the Government in your own hearts O to thee be Glory sweet Saviour the Glory of thy Kingdom in my own soul wish him that Glory the Glory of his Kingdom inlarged in the World of having that performed which is foretold the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever wish him that Glory make an apprecation vote it up to him shew the spirit of the Gospel by having your hearts most strongly devoted to have Christ exalted in all his offices Priestly Prophetical and Kingly office that he may come to be the glory of the World that he may sway the Scepter according to what is promised This is the great thing that Christians should be set upon I speak not this as if I would cry down Civil Magistrates but that Government which is belonging to Christ and according to what he is anointed of the Father to according to what is purposed to him it is that we are to wish to him all that honour and Glory that the Father hath designed him this is that we should wish to him and say as the Apostle here To him be glory now and for ever And this is that which we are to do not in word and tongue as the Apostle saith O my little children let us not love in word and tongue only but in deed and truth So I say to you my Friends Let it not be in word and tongue only but in heart and reality O let your lips speak it let your lives speak it To him be glory so live so walk and carry your selves as that you may give a real proof and demonstration of it that your hearts may be devoted to have Christ honoured and exalted in the World I 'll conclude all with an itteration of this Doxologie and if ever tantologie though it is no tautologie but if ever there were any place for tautologie here were the properest place for it to be used but it is none I have a pattern for what I shall now perform from the holy Spirit of God in Psal. 136. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Mark you how many verses you have in that Psalm 26. verses and so many times you have this itteration For his mercy endureth for ever Will you call this tautologie why then the Spirit is guilty of tautologie twenty six times you find it there O give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever he did thus and thus for his mercy endureth for ever he slew great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever he slew famous Kings for his mercy endureth for ever and he remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever Here 's my pattern and let me a little follow it and I have done and charge me with tautologie if you can Thus I say then take up the language of the Text which I would do not using the words without the Spirit And thus I say Jesus is the Son of God Now to him be glory for ever Amen Jesus the Saviour of the world To him be glory now and for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus came into the word to seek and to save that which was lost To him be glory now and for ever Amen Jesus who was full of grace and truth Now to him be glory for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus that went about while he was here in the world doing good preaching the Gospel healing all manner of sicknesses and diseases and delivering them that were oppressed of the Devil To him be glory now and for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus who took upon him to satisfie even by death and suffering the Justice of his Father to fulfil the Law and to expiate sin and to purge the Conscience and to deliver from damnation those that were obnoxious to it Now unto him be glory both now and for ever Amen Jesus he is risen again and he is ascended up on high he is set down at the right hand of the Father and there he appears to make intercession for his People Now to him be glory now and for ever Amen This Jesus he improves at the Fathers right hand all the interest that he hath for the good of his People he communicates the Knowledge of the Mysterie of the Will of God and he makes Revelations unto his Church and People of those things that do concern it unto the end of the World and thus he is beneficial to his poor People here on earth he takss care of his Churches and hath a tender respect of all his interest Now unto him be glory both now and for ever Amen This Jesus is now in Heaven in Glory and he longs after the injoyment of all his redeemed ones and he hath undertaken to keep them while they are in the World and to lose not one of them but he will bring them to the enjoyment of himself and he will have them to see and to share in that Glory which he is now possessed of now he is in Heaven O what cause have we to say To him be 〈◊〉 both now and for ever Amen This Jesus who died and rose again and lives at God's right hand and as I said improves all his interest for his People O to this Lord Jesus Christ Be glory both now and for ever Amen And so I have done FINIS ERRATA PAge 39 line 25 for hearing read being p. 41 l. 8 for sayes r. sees p. 49 l. 7 f. contiguity r. contiguity p. 50 l. 31 f. Kod r. Rod p. 52 l. 8 f. can r. cannot p. 56 l. 15 f. trust r. faith p. 62 l. 25 f. firedness r. fixedness p. 65 l. 15 f. less r. let p. 74 l. 30 f. said r. sav'd p. 84 l. 3 f. that r. their l. 18 f. proposition r. opposition p. 90 l. 4 f. and r. as p. 109 l. 27 dele Christ at the beginning of the line p. 112 l. 5 dele the day of p. 116 l. 18 f. seâ—… r. get p. 127 l. 19 20. dele that I might be so discours'd of as p. 130 l. 8 f. faithful r. faithless p. 132 l. 13 f. eradicated r. eradiated p. 152 l. 31 f. in r. l p. 158 l. 16 f. which r. with p. 174 l. 17 f. that 's r. there 's p. 195 l. 23 f. fidelial r. fiducial p 197 l. 3 f. in r. it p. 209 l. 27 f. established r. chastised p. 228 l. 12 f. for r. from p. 234 l. 123 r. things p. 239 l. 28 f. perfect r. present p. 244 l. 27 f. such r. sure p. 250 l. 32 r. no p. 257 l. 30 f. born r. brother p. 28â—… l. 16 f. denoted r. devoted p. 292 l. 32 f. affective r. afflictive