of the Scrutiny so if we make the most diligent inquiry into the Lives and Experiences of most Men and Women O where are the Persons that can or may thus warrantably declare themselves I know that my Redeemer liveth among them that profess Christ in a more exact way then others that hear more of his Person Office and Glory as Redeemer even among these it is a rare thing most are but come up to Hopes and but few to the good Hope through Grace that which maketh not ashamed 2 Thess 2.16 2. For as I would awaken all so I would not cast down any of Christs weak Lambs We that Preach the Word must with Boanerges Thunder and with Barnabas speak Consolation to you therefore know it is possible to be interested in Christ and not be fully assured of it Assurance is not of the Essence of Christianity it is but accidental like Benjamins Mess it is a peculiar Favour they were as really Josephs Brethren that had it not as he you may be of Christs Brotherhood by adopting Grace and yet be without it If Assurance were of the Essence of Grace then none could be saved but such this makes the number of the Blessed Saints Ten Thousand Times fewer then they are it excludes all Dead Infants out of Heaven indeed what the Apostle saith is remarkable 1 John 5.10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself But consider as it is spoken of Adult Persons so it refers to the Three-fold Witness spoken off before viz. the Spirit the Water and the Blood now every Adult Believer hath this Witness in himself but alas it oftentimes so falls out that the Ear of Faith is so Deaf and the Eye of Faith so dim and Hand of Faith so weak that the renewed Believer neither hears sees nor receives his own Mercy 's as he ought many a doubting Saint hath got safe to Glory when carnal Confidents have dropt into Hell-Flames a Child may be born Heir to a great Estate and by reason of his Infancy not know it it as Birth and Blood which gives right to it not the present Sense and Knowledge of the thing this renders the Matter comfortable the other makes the Thing sure thus much of what I thought needful to be Premised but few know upon Scripture Bottom that their Redeemer liveth it is possible to be savingly interested in Christ and yet not know it certainly I enter upon the second General 2. What is that Scripture-Foundation which this full Assurance of Faith I know that my Redeemer liveth must be Built upon Here take Notice for it is without Controversie this Assurance hath its Original in Grace and not in Nature true a natural Man may be endued with great Knowledge his Head may be full of Speculative Understanding about Divine Things he may come under very powerful and common workings of the Spirit and yet be without a Foundation for this so much the Apostle declares Heb. 6.4 5. Now that I may set this weighty Matter before you in the plain Light of the Word to know that ones Redeemer liveth it is and must be built upon this Threefold Foundation viz. 1. The saving Knowledge of Christ 2. The appropriating Acts of Faith 3. And the Witness of the Spirit 1. Christ Jesus in his Person Office and Glory as Redeemer must be revealed to that Soul Without this Manifestation of Christ no Man can say it though ignorant and confident Persons may Orally speak the Words but he that doth it with this Faith must know in whom he believeth 2 Tim. 1.12 The Glory of God in the Face or Person of Jesus Christ must shine into that Heart 2 Cor. 6.4 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shin'd into our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ All this is evident from Jobs Confession let me consider it a little farther 1. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ in his Person i. e. He knew him to be really God eternally naturally and essentially God therefore he expresly so calls him ver 26. Though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God Whom I shall see for my self The glorious Display which Christ will make of himself in the latter Day all shall see some to their Eternal Horror and Confusion and some to their Everlasting Joy all the redeemed shall see and enjoy Christ then not one shall be disappointed or missing but those who are seal'd with the Holy Spirit of Promise they know it assuredly Whom I shall see for my self ver 27. 2. A well-grounded Assurance includes not only the Knowledge of Christs Person as God but also an Acquaintance with his Offices as Redeemer in both Natures the Lord Jesus by Eternal and Foederal Agreement with his Father is become a Redeemer Holy Job had the Knowledge and Fore-sight of this he not only acknowledgeth Christ to be a Redeemer but he confesseth him to be his living Redeemer Christ redeemeth his two ways by Price and Power by the Price of Satisfaction paid to the Honour Law and Justice of God to his Honour by the Death of one who thought it no robbery to be equal with him Phil. 2.6 To his Law by the perfect Obedience of Christs own self who was under it Gal 4.4 To his Justice by being made a Curse i. e. his induring the Substance thereof Gal. 3.13 As thus by Price so by Power the Lord Jesus Christ redeems Souls he hath already conquer'd Sin Death Hell and the Grave by his Almighty Power He is now conquering Sinners to himself by the Ministry of the Word and Spirit and yet a little while and the last Trump shall sound and the Dead in the Bowels of the Earth and in Depths of the Sea shall hear his Voice and come to Judgment John 5.28 29. They that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation then Christ will compleat the Redemption of his People their Bodies and Souls shall be reunited they shall all appear with him in Glory 3. As the Knowledge of Christs Person and Office is included in this Assurance so likewise the Knowledge of his Present and Future Glory to wit that he now liveth and shall stand upon the Earth at the latter Day he liveth there is much in that Expression it Points at the Eternity Fulness and Power of Christ as Redeemer his Eternity that as God he hath Life in and from himself his Fulness that he hath Life to give to all his Members and his Power that as he lives by his own self so he will quicken the Dead and Judge the World in Righteousness and shew that he hath the Keys of Hell and Death Rev. 1.18 But 2. In a well-grounded Assurance of an Interest in the living Redeemer the Faith of a renewed Soul must appropriate Christ
to himself see how Jobs Faith wrought he not only owns Christ to be a Redeemer but his Faith cleaves fast to him it graples hard upon him and it receives him with the whole Heart my Redeemer therein lies the appropriating Act of his Faith Luther was wont to say that the sweet of the Gospel lay much in Pronouns My Lord and my God saith Thomas John 20.28 Who loved me and gave himself for me saith Paul Gal. 2.20 When Job lost all his earthly Enjoyments he did not loose his Interest in Christ when he could not say my Wealth and worldly Substance my Living Sons and Daughters then in the Assurance of Faith he could say my living Redeemer when nothing upon Earth could yield him Comfort then his Faith fetcht it from his living Redeemer when he was stript of all this remain'd and indeed it is that good Part which shall not be taken away Luke 10.42 3. To constitute a well-grounded Assurance of an Interest in the Living Redeemer there must be the Witness of the Spirit the Spirit must not only Witness to the Person and Office of Christ as Redeemer but also unto a Mans Personal Interest in him not only did all the Prophets give Witness unto Christ Acts 10.44 But his Incarnation and Baptism his Death Resurrection and Ascension does put this Matter out of Doubt but herein Jobs Faith excels ours he believed on the Redeemer to come in the Flesh but we upon Him now cloathed with our Nature he foresaw the Eternal Word to be made Flesh but we must believe upon Christ God manifest in the Flesh 1 Tom. 3. last and received up into Glory As this is the objective Faith of Assurance so to inable the Soul to say my Redeemer liveth there must be the internal subjective Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Here you have two Things the Witness and the Matter witnessed The Witness is the Spirit and the Matter witnessed unto is Adoption and surely Conscience inlightened and sanctified must 〈◊〉 the Court where this Witness is heard and received so then what can this Witness 〈◊〉 but the Holy Spirits so inlightning the Mind and perswading the Will that Conscience must conclude that Christ is received with the Priviledge to be a Son of God John 1.12 But as many as receiv'd him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Holy Job had this Witness within himself and this bore him up against all the reproaches of his miserable Comforters thus you see upon what Foundation this Assertion is built Can we say That we know our Redeemer liveth then Christ in his Person Christ in his Ofces and Christ in his Glory as Redeemer must be known to us then Faith must thus appropriate him then the Spirit must thus Witness our personal Interest in him I proceed to the Third General 3. Which is to Confirm the Doctrine to wit that they are great and rare Instances of Grace who can say with Holy Job They know that their Redeemer liveth i. e. that can say it upon Scripture Foundation now that such Instances are both great and rare thus appears 1. From their Paucity 2. From their Excellency of Spirit 3. From their Christian Deportment with respect to Death and Judgment of these a little which also is their excelling 1. If we consider the Paucity of these Instances they must be rare the scarcity of a thing oftentimes makes it rare if Gold were as plenty as Silver it would be less valuable then it is this celestial Jewel a well-grounded Assurance it is lodged in the Breast but of very few more are Poor with much Wealth then are Rich in the full Assurance of Faith Since Christs Flock is but little comparatively as he assures us Luke 12.32 Therefore the number of sealed Souls cannot be great as Holy Job was a non-such in his Day so there are but a few such in ours Not many do attain to Assurance and them that are indulged with it do not always hold it it is got in great Diligence and it is kept with no less This the Apostle plainly hints Heb. 6.11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same Diligence to the full Assurance of Hope unto the End that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Who doth not hence perceive that our utmost Diligence and a well-grounded Assurance are inseparably Connext Such Instances must be rare because they are but few 2. The rarity and greatness of such Instances of Grace appears from their Eminency of Spirit and that with Respect to their knowing doing and suffering the Will of God Scripture-certified Saints are Persons of a choice Spirit when Holy Jobs Body was rough cast with Ulcers Boils and Sores then his precious Soul like the Kings Daughter was all glorious within Psalm 45.13 He upon the Dunghil was in Gods esteem a rare Jewel So the sacred Scriptures stile the Saints Mal. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord of Host in that Day when I make up my Jewels What the Holy Ghost remarks concerning Caleb for his eminent Zeal his undaunted Courage and constant Obedience is applicable unto these Darlings of Heaven well assured Souls Numb 14.24 But my Servant Caleb because he had another Spirit with him and hath followed me fully him will I bring into the Land whereinto he went and his Seed shall possess it Mark God seldom makes great Promises to the faithful but his Heart is also towards their Children his Seed shall possess it so in like manner those that are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise and therefore can say their Redeemer liveth they are Men and Women of choice and eminent Spirits and this excellency of Spirit chiefly consists in these three Things to wit 1. In their clear knowing 2. In their faithful doing 3. In their patient Suffering the Will of God let me insist upon these a little 1. They have another Spirit of Knowledge than what other Persons commonly have That a Mind savingly inlightned in the great Truths of the Gospel is necessary unto a well grounded Assurance I need not stand to prove Job witnesseth it in the Text I know that my Redeemer liveth and you have read what Paul saith of himself to this Purpose 2. Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that be is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day I shall not now insist upon the specifick Difference which is between common and special Knowledge You may be sure it is more then gradeal Jobs Friends were Men of exquisite Parts they were indued with a great measure of excellent Understanding but in all which they have elegantly said concerning the Nature Perfections Attributes and Providence of God how little is there made of Christ
it could be no terrifying Thing to him to appear at the Bar of God for he not only kept his Integrity unto the Last but he knew that his powerful Advocate and Days-man was his living Redeemer Thus I have finished the Doctrinal Part of this Observation viz. They are great and rare Instances of Grace who can with Holy Job upon Scripture Grounds say They know that their Redeemer liveth Now this Doctrine might be applied many Ways but to Contract 1. Know that the greatness and rarity of this Grace is no effectual Bar to the thing it self though it be great Grace and a special Favour yet it is possible and attainable the Papists and Arminians erre greatly by denying the possibility of Assurance in the true and proper Scripture Sence of it Is not the Effect of Christs Righteousness apprehended by Faith Peace Quietness and Assurance for ever Yea Isa 32.17 Doth not the Holy Ghost expresly say These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have Eternal Life 1 John 5.13 Is it not the special Office of the Spirit to Witness and Seal up our Interest in Christ 1 John 5.8 There are Three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree in one Moreover are not we required to give Diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2. Pet. 1.10 Let me add have not some of Christs faithful Servants attain'd to it in this Life if the Deceased had not experienced this great Grace if he had not been one of these rare Instances you had not been thus entertain'd by this Subject at present Now that you may attain to this rich Grace and have an experimental discerning that you are in the blessed number of these rare Instances Take this Advice 1. Stedfastly believe that a well grounded Assurance is attainable but withall take heed of the two common Extreams which abound much in this present Age viz. do not with some deny the possibility of the thing nor with others who know not experimentally the way of the Spirit in working this I say do not with them presume upon it without Scripture warrant these both must be carefully shun'd they are very hazardous to the Peace Comfort and welfare of immortal Souls 2. Hope that in the use of appointed means you may be favour'd with it Say not there is no hope as God hath not excluded you so do not you shut out your selves The very command to give Diligence imports a design and possibility of the Thing 2. Pet. 1.10 Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Methinks the Grace and Authority herein contain'd should move you to strive and endeavour after it yea to conclude though not for yet in so doing it is possible for you and you in particular do not only propound Grace necessary to Salvation in the use of the means but level and aim at this even to know like Job That your Redeemer liveth 3. Would you attain to this Grace viz. a well grounded Assurance of your interest in the living Redeemer then with Diligence attend to the Ministry of the Word even that which hath a Testimony in your Consciences that it is the Ministry of the Gospel and hath the Administration of the Spirit going along with it Not only Faith Rom. 10.17 But also this Assurance comes by Hearing and what an incouraging Promise is that which you have in Hosea 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepar'd as the Morning and he shall come unto us as the Rain as the latter and the former Rain unto the Earth O what hold is here for Faith mark his going forth is prepar'd and prepar'd as the Morning now how doth the Morning go forth Why certainly gradually irresistably and exceeding comfortably Why thus will the Lord discover himself to the redeem'd but remember then you must follow on not play fast and loose take some steps and then turn out of the war but you must with this Promise like a Staff in your hand follow on to know the Lord. In this his ordinary Way he sealeth up Believers unto the Day of Redemption Is Christ a living and Life giving Redeemer then why may not you have Life in and from him Hath he by the Price of his Blood and the Power of his Spirit redeemed precious Souls Why may not the Vertue of the one and the Power of the other inclose and save you Is he exalted in our Natures then why may not you be pittied and reliev'd by him Will he stand upon the Earth in the latter Day and in a Triumphant Manner to Judge the World then except the Judge be your Advocate you 'll perish for ever 4. As the Gospel reveals Christ to poor Sinners so put forth the Hand of Faith and receive him you are under command to believe and that without delay 1 John 3. 23. No present Indisposition removes the Obligation put not those blocks in your Way which Christ in the Gospel has remov'd What though Sinners are naturally impotent yet who knows but if you hearken his Power shall be exerted the Poor Man did not Object his Hand was wither'd but when his Heart was toward Christs Grace and Power He found it went out with the Command and his wither'd hand was restor'd and made whole see Mat. â—2 13 The living Redeemer is Lord of Life and Glory when the Word went out of his Mouth you know how Thomas reply'd my Lord and my God John 20.28 5. Take heed of grieving the Spirit but understand and examine your selves in the way of his sealing and consirming Souls I shall not touch upon the immediate and mediate Way of the Spirits Witness you have not only heard but experienced the thing it self in both Parts But ah alas it is Ignorance of this which makes some presume and it is unacquaintedness with this which makes thee safe in the Hands of Christ to fear they shall be miserable for ever O that you were skilful in this matter the Lord lead you into this Truth viz. The right way of the Spirits sealing and assuring Souls Now you will expect that I should speak something of what hath occasioned this Subject you know it is somewhat more than ordinary two related to us both Interred in one Week desir'd this Text might be spoke from The one was a Private Member the other a Publick Person your choice and my Fellow-Helper in the Work of the Gospel It is not my way to speak much of the Dead I had rather that Persons Lives and Good Works than my Lips should be the Trumpets of their Praises but in this I may not be altogether silent Mr. Philip King for his Time and standing was a burning and shining Light you could rejoyce in it but for a season because a violent Feaver extinguisht his Lamp in the Twenty Fifth Year of his Age. And now when God is cutting off his faithful Watchmen shall not we that remain tell you what of the Night It is evident God hath a Controversie with us for his Embassadors are call'd home not only the Aged and Honourable whose Labours commend them to all judicious and ingenious Christians But also our budding Hopes are cut off in great measure by the surprizing Death of the rising Generation not only the Reverend Dr. Bates and Worthy Mr. Mead but some of our hopeful Young Ones Mr. S Mr. King are gone also Formerly God gave us many faithful Witnesses in Time of restraint but now we have Liberty what have we else Now our Elijah's Mantels are dropt off O that a double Portion of the Spirit might be upon the succeeding Elisha's But you of this Congregation behold what the Lord hath done and humbly enquire into the meaning of this sad Providence doth not this Rod loudly call for the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and Love conform to it for the Lords sake I need not inform you that the Deceased was one of these rare Instances of Grace was not his short abode with us a live Comment upon this Text. Did not almost every Prayer and every Sermon declare that he was upon the Coelestial Wrings of a well grounded Assurance and so comsequently as they were for him Indeed he was of an eminent Spirit for powerful Godliness I know not what Suffering-Work he was ever called out unto but his Acquaintance with the Mysteries of the Gospel his Patience in Sickness and his Triumph in Death was all more than Ordinary by these things we have fair warning God help us to take it lest worst befal us not hardening but teaching and humbling Afflictions are New-Covenant Mercies So much for this Text and Time the Lord give you Understanding in all Things FINIS
the Redeemer But see how full clear and express Holy Job is in this Matter Was Christ in our Nature a living Redeemer in the Decree Purpose and Promise of God the Father This Job knew Was he actually to come in the Flesh and therein to Die and Satisfie for the Sins of his People Job was not ignorant of this Will he at the latter Day stand upon the Earth and appear in a most glorious Manner and then shall all that believe unto Salvation admire him and see him for themselves Why Holy Job was instructed into all this herein also lay his excellent Knowledge as Heaven gave a singular Testimony to his Godliness so that of the Psalmist was verified in him Psalm 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus shone into his Heart he knew him to be a Redeemer and his living Redeemer 2. As they have another Spirit of Knowledge so also of Obedience unto the revealed Will of God but mistake me not here I do not alledge that our Obedience is the Spring and Foundation of Gospel Assurance no no the Faith of Assurance looks higher and through all this to expect it from thence in our imperfect State is but lost labour such will always be doubtful and fluctuating about it if Adams perfect Obedience did not secure the Love of God to him muchless can our imperfect this Assurance comes in at the Door of Faith from Faiths eyeing of from Faiths relying upon and improving the Person Offices and Glory of the Redeemer Obedience can't give it but it always evidenceth that it is well grounded Remember I am shewing the Rarity of this Grace from that excellent Spirit of Obedience which goes along with it And this Obedience flows from the right Principles of Faith in Christ and Love to God it 's managed by the Rule of the Word and prosecuted unto the Glory of God Thus they adorn the Doctrine of God their Saviour in all things thus they observe whatsoever he hath commanded them and thus they desire to stand compleat in the whole Will of God like as the Needle in the Compass inclines to the right Point so such is the Divine Vertue of a well grounded Assurance it prompts the Subjects of it to respect every Divine Command The Language of their Holy Souls is like to that of Samuel 1 Sam. 3.9 Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth Or like that of Saul when our Lord spake vocally unto him from Heaven and miraculously Converted him to the Faith of himself Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do No sooner was the Will and Work of his persecuted Lord revealed unto him but his whole Self Soul and Body was ingaged in it his Head and Heart shall contrive his Mouth shall boldly speak and his Feet take many a weary step to propagate the glorious Gospel of the Blessed Jesus This is that eminency of Obedience which assured Souls are inspired with 3. As they have another Spirit of Eminency for knowing and doing so they have also for Suffering the Will of God the Soveraign Lord of all Things hath wisely order'd that his Servants should meet with Tribulations in this World I say with many much and great Tribulations John 16. last In the World ye shall have Tribulation Acts 14.22 Through much Tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Those that had washed their Robes and made them White in the Blood of the Lamb are said to come out of great Tribulation Rev. 7.14 Now it is not the Moral Vertue but the Christian Grace of Patience which glorifies God in Afflictions it is Patience excited by a living Faith Patience exerted by a Divine Love such is that eminency of Spirit which is in a well-grounded Assurance they according to our Lords Injunction In your Patience possess ye your Souls Luke 21.19 i. e. They enjoy themselves in Christ when they possess little or nothing else Job was not only eminent for his Faith of Assurance but also for his singular and exemplary Patience others have been inabled to say they know that their Redeemer liveth But none except Christ did ever match him in Patience though Job was not perfect and without fault yet he was a Non-such for Patience in all his Afflictions he highly exalts the Soveraignty Wisdom Holiness and Justice of God saying The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1.21 in all his Tribulations he greatly debased himself saying I have sinned Job 7.20 And therefore the Holy Ghost puts a special mark of Honour upon him James 5.10 We have heard of the Patience of Job Well-assured Saints are eminent Instances of Grace in regard of their patient Suffering the Will of God let me add one Argument more to confirm this Point 3. The greatness and rarity of this Grace a well grounded Assurance of an Interest in Christ further appears in their Triumphing over Death Hell and the Grave with their patient waiting for Christs particular and general coming to Judge the World Christ hath conquer'd Death Hell and the Grave on the behalf of every true Believer Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these Things we are more then Conquerours through him that hath loved us This gashly Enemy the grim King of Terrors Death must shortly be encounter'd by every one of us as every Believer may so them that are rightly assured can Triumph in Christ over them they like Paul can give Death a bold challenge to do its worst 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Victory they have by Free Gift through Jesus Christ the Faith of Assurance often puts Believers upon desiring and groaning to be dissolved and why though immediately after Death comes Judgment yet being cloathed upon they shall not be found naked of Christs Righteousness 2 Cor. 5.3 If so be that being cloath'd we shall not be found naked hence it is that Believers especially such that are seal'd with the Holy Spirit of Promise they are said to Love and look for the appearing and comeing of Christ to Judgment 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that Love his appearing So in Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many and unto them that look for him shall be appear the second Time without Sin unto Salvation They Love and look for Christs appearing like as a loving Wife doth for the pleasant return of her long absent Husband It could be no great Matter for Job to Die for it was but to go to his living Redeemer