Gal. 5.17 Flesh lusteth against the Spirit yet being * Eph. 3.16 strengthned with might by thy Spirit in the inner man will †Eph. 6.12 wrestle against Sin Satan and the World yea all manner of wickedness whatsoever * 1 Tim 6.12 fighting the good fight of Faith till I lay hold on the possession of eternal life †2 Timâ— 4.8 having finished my course and obtain'd the Crown of righteousness which thou hast promised Yet sith there is no man * Eccleâ— 7.20 that liveth and sinneth not I do in thy holy presence protest against any contrived allowed sin whereby I shall †Psâ—â— 18.21 wickedly depart from my God and that though of force I do and shall in part while I am in this body * Rom. 〈◊〉 25. with my flesh serve the law of sin yet with my mind will I serve the law of God wholly and for ever Now the †Josh 22.22 Lord God of Gods the * Jer. 17.10 searcher of the hearts and tryer of the reins †Psal 139.23 24. search me and try me and if their be any way of wickedness in me lead me in the way everlasting sith thou * Psal 119.4 commandest me to keep thy precepts diligently †Psal 27.8 my heart saith unto thee * Psal 119.5 Oh that my waies were directed to keep thy statutes therefore will I †Deut. 26.16 keep and do them with all mine heart and all my Soul Blessed God I desire to * Phil. 4.4 rejoice in thee and in the †2 Chron. 15.15 Oath and Covenant made with thee this I do in the truth and uprightness of my heart as I have chosen so I desire to prize thee above all * Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee †Song 6.3 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine * Psal 16.6 The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage †Eph. 1.4 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath chosen me in him before the Foundation of the World * Rev. 5.9 10. Blessing Honour and Glory be given to the Lamb for ever who was slain and hast redeemed me to God by thy blood †Zech. 9.11 the blood of the Covenant Blessed be the eternal Spirit who hast * Gen. 1.2 moved my heart to enter into this solemn relation and obligation unto God †Deut. 7.9 29.9 The Lord my God the faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy to them that Love him and keep his Commandments keep to me the Covenant and the Mercy and Confirm it to the end and strengthen me so with thy Grace that I may keep the words of this Covenant and do them and this Covenant made this day with my God let not any thing Sin Satan World Life nor Death disannul but let it be confirmed to all Eternity Amen Amen FINIS AN APPENDIX Containing PROPOSITIONS Evidencing Not only the warrantableness but expediency of transacting with God in a particular express Covenant-way Written at first for the satisfaction of a private friend now published at the request of some others and for the benefit and advnatage of any that shall peruse them By SAMUEL VVINNEY sometimes Minister of the Gospel at Glaston in Somersetshire London Printed for Thomas Cockeril at the Atlas in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1675. To the Reader Courteous Reader THere being lately extant a worthy Treatise of a Reverend Divine called Vindiciae Pietatis written by Mr. R. A. pressing to a strict and precise Conversation and in it giving advice to persons not yet in Covenant to come in and compleat all by Solemn Covenanting with God I most gladly sweetly and delightfully viewed the design and meeting with the doubts of some person a pretious Servant of God and my dear and intimate friend about the warrantableness of that way because I my self was so much affected with the thing did set my self upon his request and letter to me seriously to seek what warrant Gods word afforded to it and at some spare-hours in some few days of vacation from my incumbring and tedious imployment drew up the following Propositions tending to the evidence thereof hoping that either the author of the forenamed treatise or some person else whose Graces Abilities and Leisure are greater than mine may be stirred up more fully to clear it The Lord grant that whosoever may peruse them may have the same comfort and benefit thereby as the Author that composed them and now through the importunity of others made them publick Amen Certain PROPOSITIONS tending to the clearing of a Question and Satisfaction of some doubts about particular express entring into Covenant with God Prop. I. THat God hath of his own good pleasure from all eternity elected so me to everlasting life 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledg of God Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World Prop. II. That God did from all eternity ransact the business of the Salvation of these elected persons between himself and his Son Jesus Christ God gave every one of those whom he would have mercy on to Jesus Christ to the intent that he might deliver them all and every one of them out of the estate of sin and misery which they should implunge themselves into by the fall of Adâ—m and the Son he accepts of this work of Salvation and Redemption of them by his own death to be accomplished in the fulness of time and this by Divines is called the Covenant of Redemption Prop. III. That besides the Covenant transacted between the Father and the Son about the Redemption and Salvation of the elect from all eternity God he enters into a Covenant of Grace with the persons themselves that are elected in due time which yet is a consequent of the former For if Christ had never undertaken or accepted of the terms in that Covenant of Redemption before time there had been no Covenant of Grace in time with the Elect themselves Prop. IV. This Covenant between God and his people is mutual and stipulatory that is obligeth God to speak with due reverence of so great a Majesty and also obligeth all and every the persons of his people taken into it wherein as God graciously doth promise to be their God to be good and kind unto them yea to be all to them and do all for them which shall be for present and future temporal spiritual and eternal good so are they answerably bound to become his people for their part and so to live before God as his people in Faith Repentance Holiness and Obedience all their daies So that the preceptive part as well as the promissive part of the Covenant is expresly in Scripture called and entitled by the name of a Covenant because of
Now Conversion is a work wrought upon every particular Soul and that Soul and as many Soul's as are converted do in particular turn to God every one for himself resolves to be for him only and none else 2. Another expression of this is by the giving of the hand Rom. 6.13 compared with 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be not stiffnecked as your Fathers were but yield your selves to the Lord * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebrew Give the hand to the Lord as the Margin of some Bibles hath it which hath some resemblance to marriage also forenamed wherein as there is an express Promise by word of mouth so there is at the same time a solemn and publick Giving of the hand each to other And this action hath many times the virtue of a ratification of Promises in our civil Commerce and mutual contracts one with another The Greek Give glory to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LXX like that Jer. 13.16 give Glory to God by repentance and humiliation pressing to the same duty laid down in the first words positively though there negatively be not stiff-necked in both places yield your selves to the Lord in our translation 3. Another expression we shall said Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints which have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice Hebrew Cut a Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for at holy Covenants the Sacrifices were cut asunder and both the persons went between the parts to shew that there was a mutual stipulation and engagement not one person only was tyed Ainsw but both did thus reciprocally transact one with another and were interchangeably obliged to and assured of the terms therein contained 10. Further this is no more than is already done virtually by us in our Baptism-Covenant and ther 's no person of sound judgment but thinketh himself to be really and fully bound thereby and wo be to every baptized person that lives and dies in the neglect of fulfilling that Covenant And this kind of express transacting between God and our selves by speech or writing is but a doing of the same thing in another way So also in the Sacrament of the Supper wherein every person takes both the Elements the Bread and the Cup into his own hand denoting his receiving Christ to himself in particular and giving up himself to him both receiving and resigning himself up back again is implyed thereby 11. Lastly doth not every Christian do the same thing when he comes to die It is the last work that all men that die in Christ and in the faith do viz. resign themselves up particularly Body and Soul into the hands of God and as the Apostle phraseth it Commit their Souls unto him after all their well-doing as into the hands of a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4. ult How comfortably freely confidently will they do it then having done it solemnly before hand in their life-time for this we have our blessed Saviour for a patern See Luk. 23.46 Cryed with a loud voice and said Father into thy hands I Commend my Spirit and gave up the Ghost the very same words that David the type of Jesus Christ did use when he was alive in his life-time Psal 31.5 Into thy hands I Commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth in the doing of this work when he was in great danger of death by the malice and mischief his enemies contrived against him the same did Steven the Protomartyr at his dissolution and violent death Act. 7.59 in effect though not in express words Lord Jesus receive my Spirit And thus much for the lawfulness and warrantableness of it which is the first thing Secondly that it is expedient necessary and advantageous appears very plainly by these things following 1. The person gets true and full assurance that the work is once done indeed so that the matter will no longer hang in doubt or if there be any doubts and objections arise at any time this draught will be a testimony of it which God will never disown it being done in sincerity of heart or if not this way yet if there hath been a transacting by word of mouth wherein an interest in God hath been humbly and heartily accepted and embraced and serious giving up our selves to God totally and for ever I say if it hath been done in this manner the Soul will have some ground of evidence and some plea with God when in the midst of detections and temptations This puts me in mind of one poor Soul that was in a mixture of Soul and bodily distraction together who though then as not otherwise in many things and cases sensible yet being set to prayer by some persons that visited her whereof some were Ministers and I my self was one she made use of this passage in these words or to this effect Lord Expressing here her came thou knowest me poor by name and thou knowest that in such a place naming it both House and Room I had Communion with thee and thou didst give me assurance of interest in thee and being thine And soon after through her bodily distraction taken off from the duty and diverted So that this is one beneficial advantage that comes by it that the work is surely and irrevocably done and so shall be able with humble boldness to plead with God for our acceptance with him in any Soul-distresses we are or may come into and being once thus in good earnest done shall never be undone for that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.33 and though we are a people that shall while we are in the World through infirmity break Covenant yet it is God's Covenant-promise to forgive our iniquities and remember our sins no more Jer. 31.3.4 And it is not every infirmity that shall utterly disannul this Covenant and break off this marriage-Covenant and dissolve this marriage-knot see Jer. 3. throughout If we heartily and mournfully return to him as ver 22 c. For God is a God that keeps Covenant and mercy to a thousand Generations to them that love him and make it their whole bent and endeavour to keep all his Commandments Deut. 7.9 hence did David fetch Comfort in his personal and domestical troubles 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow 2. This will be a most strongty and bond to keep our hearts close unto God in dependence and Obedience The best are used to find their hearts hang loose and to stand at a distance through the remainders of unbelief that makes their hearts depart from the living God Heb. 3.12 Now what a spur and goad will the Consideration of this be to us that we are in Covenant and have solemnly listed up our hands to God and yielded our selves to him How will this
concernments of your Souls Query What shall I do what Course would you advise me to take that I may be near to God Answ 1. Pray to God for the Spirit of regeneration that thou maist be born of God thereby thou wilt be made partaker of the Divine Nature if thou art born of the Spirit then wilt thou be near to God As near and as dear as a Child is to his Father 2. Beg of God to communicate to you the Benefits of Christ's Sufferings For it is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that makes us nigh to God Eph. 2.14 For he is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle-Wall of partition c. between God and men as well as between Jew and Gentile Oh that we might by Faith and Prayer still apply him to our Souls He suffered the Just for the unjust that he might bring us near to God Now beg of God to bring you nigh to him by his Sons blood I wish I could engage every person of you not to lie down this night till you had prayed this Prayer that you might be brought nigh to God by the blood of his Son 3. Lay hold on the Covenant of God the Covenant between God and his people it is a matrimonial Covenant a Marriage-Covenant now it is the work of the Ministers of the Gospel to be wooers for Christ and to beseech you in the name of Christ to be married to him and I desire in the name of God to make this proposal Will you hearken to it and accept of it God in his Word doth offer to be married to your Souls God doth call you you have every one of you run away from God and he calls you as he did to Israel of old Return you back sliding Children for I am I will be married unto you Jer. 3.14 What do you say Will you give Consent or no shall your Maker be your Husband or shall he not ask your own hearts this question Art thou willing Oh my Soul to be espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ or art thou not we are ambassadors for Christ and he hath sent me to invite you to him And if this day there might be but one Soul brought in to accept of Jesus Christ as it would be the day of the gladness of his heart Song 3.11 so would it be the rejoicing of mine There is no such match as this no such Husband as Jesus Christ how near if espoused to God and Jesus Christ none nearer than Husband and Wife the Lord therefore prevail with you You have in the foregoing papers direction to and information of a Design of a worthy man and Minister of God proposing in several treatises advice about particular transacting with God between God and your own Souls apart not in word only but in writing and you have also a few things added to shew the warrantableness and advantage of so doing and I could wish that every Christian in the World might be prevailed with to do it effectually and speedily Blessed be God for the comfort of it never any one that hath tasted of the comfort of it would for any thing have it to do Besides the instance of one person I have given in the foregoing Appendix that in sore troubles improved it I shall here add one more of a person dying whom when I came to visit being near to death after I asked concerning the parties state I said I hope you are able to resign up your whole self Body and Soul into the hands of God Reply was made this have I done between God and my own self many a time in a Corner and the draught between God and the Person was sound after amongst other writings when deceased So that there is no greater preparative that fits for nor will there be a greater stay to comfort and embolden when at the point of death What can be greater encouragement hereunto than the experience of the Saints of God both living and dead Up therefore and delay no longer but do it that so you may live and die in full assurance that you are and shall be fully and for ever near to God 2. Branch of Exhortation Let me beseech you in the name of God that have made sure that you are a people near to God that you would walk as a people near unto him First make the matter clear and then be sure to have suitable Conversation and that will be so if the former be done indeed for the same Spirit of Grace that draws us to the one will enable us to the other Carry it towards God as becomes so great a Priviledg Query But how shall we do that may some say Answ 1. Be sure to have a care of that that will cloud your evidences and assurance of Nearness unto God and put you in your apprehensions at a great distance again from him You may get assurance but then take heed you do not meddle with that which will cloud it time was you rejoiced in God as your God and your Father that your selves were his Children taken into Covenant with him and into his family in the nearest relation to him And when you are near to God you will be ever near to God but yet you may lose your assurance by your sin for that will set you at a distance again it being a forsaking God and departure from him and so cloud your apprehension of Gods affection your adoption and regeneration and acceptation and thereby rob you of the Comfort of your condition and all your relation to God therefore have a care of sin of all and every sin whatsoever and specially your own iniquity Some persons are addicted to some sins more than others specially therefore take care of them these will crack your peace and cloud your evidences walk watchfully therefore and labour to have an unspotted Conversation for the spots and sins of a mans Conversation will be clouds upon his Soul and will blur all his evidences and so break his Peace 2. Keep near to God as much as you can and be as often with God as possibly you can Do not carry it strangely towards God be often in Gods Company and frequent in his presence often see his face and draw nigh to him my meaning is be often in the use of Ordinances and the Duties of Gods Worship specially in Prayer which is a duty wherein God and the Soul draw as near one to another as in any duty whatsoever Nobles are still about the King and if the King stir to any place without their privity away they go and post to follow after him so should we if God seems to withdraw himself so the Church after her beloved Song 3. 5. Psal 63.8 My Soul followeth hard after thee saith David 3. Bless God for his distinguishing Mercy to you above many others many thousands in the World how many are kept off and at a distance still and what are
it is not now needful to Question but if the former was done as it may be rationally supposed then it speaks fully to our purpose it may be not only subscribed with the hand but sealed also This would be as effectual a Monitor of and Bond upon us as Joshua's stone that he set up for a testimony ver 27. This way is the Counsel of a Reverend Divine in a book written by him called a Vindication of Godliness which it may be some of you that hear and read this and I hope thousands more have seen wherein pag. 173. c. he hath given suitable direction very quick and pressing to such a way of dealing with God and pag. 179. he hath set down the form of such a Covenant Such a thing is directed to also * Mr. Thomas Vincent Treat called Words whereby we may be saved pag. 63.64 c. Also in Mr. Jos Alleins book of Convers pag 164. the same as is in Vindictae Pietatis in another Reverend Divine's book named in the margin and another you may find subjoyned at the end hereof you may make use of which you please But I think it best for every judicious Christian to have a draught of his own as best suiting his estate which will much tend to our Spiritual good and advantage as the Appendix will discover and then in life manifest that you have chosen him by chusing all those things that please him God complaints of it as a great sin of the Jews that they did evil before him and wherein was that so evident and did chuse that wherein I delighted not Isa 65.12 just as if a women should chuse a man for her husband but not do any thing he delights in rather chuse to do all that might displease him Whereas those that do take hold of God's Covenant must chuse also those things that please God Isa 56.4 It may be she will live with him for a shew and a pretence but is so far from pleasing him as that she is always vexing and fretting him just so Jerusalem fretted God in all these things Ezek. 16.43 Though we should walk so as to please God and abound therein more and more 1 Thes 4.1 The carriages and conversations of most towards God do discover that they chuse the things that do displease him but let us do and chuse to do the things that please him Particularly 1. chuse the fear of the Lord Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long Prov. 23. that is a brave life and that will make a man eschew whatsoever is displeasing unto God God laies it on a people as their great sin that they did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1.31 2. Chuse the statutes of God David that chose God for his portion and inheritance he also chose Gods statutes Psal 119.111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart and ver 30. I have chosen the way of thy truth Men look upon the actions but God looks on the choice of persons more than their actions though he look to and observes both some sin out of infirmity others out of choice chuse the things wherein God hath no pleasure Folly is joy to him that is destitute of Wisdom Prov. 15.21 now God pities the one and pardons But if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth this is sad indeed Heb. 10. I beseech you therefore chuse God and cleave to him with all your Heart and Soul for ever And frequently reiterate and solemnly view this way of transacting with God according to the draught you have lying by you especially every fast-day every Sacrament-day wherein there is as I may so say a new Seal set to the bond of the Covenant wherein you are obliged Oh that the transaction between God and Israel might be between every Soul that hath heard and may read this Deut. 26.17 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his waies and to hearken to his voice ver 18. See the Appendix and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandements Having directed you to two forms of the Covenant whereby the Christians choice of God is compleated by a free and blessed close with him as also made mention of another to be subjoyned I thought good to offer you the use and view thereof though I have wished and still do that each person that can would be his own penman in this case because though it may be drawn full enough to any hand yet it may not so suit and satisfy every ones Condition or Experience as it might if it were drawn out of as I may say and according to the frame and workings of a Man's own Soul OMst Glorious Gracious and blessed Lord God the great Creator Gen. 14.19 and most high possessor of Heaven and Earth I thy poor and unworthy Creature * Psal 139.14 fearfully and wonderfully made by thee at first in my Creation and as wonderfully dignified by thee in being taken into Covenant with thee in that blessed estate wherein I was at first made do desire to come humbly prostrate before thee in the sense of thy great mercy and my own vileness and undone estate by the fall and the irreparable breach of that first Covenant by that transgression of my first parents and manifold violations of all thy holy and just Rom. 7.12 and good Laws in my sinful practice and Conversation being touched by thy blessed Spirit with a serious remorse therefore am emboldned by thy gracious invitations and frequent call to come in the most humble and unfeigned manner that I can unto thee beseeching thee that thou wouldest accept of me in thy dear Son and mercifully vouchsafe to receive me into Covenant a-new with thy self even that Covenant of Grace which thou hast revealed in thy holy Word wherein thou offerest assurest to all that will come unto thee and lay hold on thy mercy * Joh. 6.37 that they shall in no wise be case out I am I acknowledg a lost sinner in my self and have daily played my part against thee in thought and word and deed discovering that enmity that my heart hath been by nature full of against thee in my enormous rebellions and provocations Thy Promise is * Isa 55.7 Though I have been wicked If I forsake my evil way and though I have been unrighteous if I forsake my evil thoughts and turn unto the Lord thou wilt have mercy upon me and abundantly pardon Having encouragement by thy promise and hoping in thy word * Jer. 3.22 behold I come unto thee beseeching thee O Lord that thou wouldest have mercy upon me a miserable sinner Luk. 18.13 Now sith it hath pleased thee to require and dost expect of him that
expecteth to be received of thee that he should not * 2 Cor. 6.17 touch the unclean thing I do here in thy presence abhorring my self for all my past vileness sinfulness and unprofitableness resolve Covenant and promise in thy name and by thy strength to forsake the Devil World and Flesh 2 Cor. 4.1 and do renounce all the hidden works of darkness and dishonesty and before the Lord * Isa 30.22 say to every Idol in heart and Life get thee hence purposing in my heart never to * Rom. 6.13 yield my body or Soul nor the members and faculties of them as the members of unrighteousness to sin nor suffer for time to come as heretofore through thine assisting grace * v. 12. sin to reign in my mortal body nor immortal Soul that I should obey it in the lusts thereof that I will keep constant strict watch against all the advantages snares and temptations of all mine and and thine Enemies earnestly intreating and imploring thine * 2. Cor. 12.9 Allsufficient Grace to make me †1 Pet. 5.8 9. Sober and Vigilant that my adversary the Devil though he goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour may not by any of * 2 Cor. 2.11 his devices take any advantage against me but that I may resist him stedfastly in the faith thy grace assisting thereto keeping my Heart Tongue and way from that which is displeasing unto thee And sith I know and am convinced †Isa 64.6 that my righteousness is as filthy rags and no possibility of Salvation by it I do renounce it and loath my self for the imperfections of it being a lost perishing and damnable wretch without thy pardoning and saving Grace And * Tit. 3.4 because the kindness and love of God towards man hath so exceedingly appeared as that thou hast freely offered and promised to make an †Jer. 32.40 Everlasting Covenant that thou wilt never turn away from them to do them good but wilt ever be their God that do * Isa 56.6 lay hold on thy Covenant I desire heartily to take thee O God Father Son and Holy Ghost to be my God to be my Father Saviour and Comforter to be my portion and happiness here and hereafter beseeching thee that thou wouldest †1 Cron. 29.18 keep this purpose in my heart and continue to communicate this power to my Soul that I may ever cleave to the my Lord and God that I may become wholly and only thine for ever and ever sticking unto thy testimonies chusing the way of thy Commandements all my daies for now the * Psal 56.12 vows of God are upon me yea I have †Psal 119.106 sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous Judgments And forasmuch as there is no Coming to the Father but by Christ who is the * Joh. 14.6 way truth and life who is freely offered in the Gospel †Mat. 3.17 in whom alone thou art well pleased and I can only be accepted I heartily and thankfully desire * Col. 2.6 to receive Jesus Christ and to walk in him To take him to be my †1 Cor. 1.30 Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption to espouse my Soul to him this day and * Isa 56.6 joyn my self to him in a Covenant that can never be broken off or forgotten My dear Saviour who hast made †Heb. 10.19 a new and living way to the Father for me I do here solemnly and freely * Psal 24.7 9. open the everlasting doors of my heart to thee that thou the King of glory mayst come in that so thou mayst †Eph. 3.17 dwell in my heart by faith that being lost without thee yet * Phil. 3.9 found in thee I may be saved thine I desire to be though I deserve no such priviledg at all being a filthy stinking sinner †Eph. 2.1 dead in trespasses and Sins * 2 Tim. 3.6 Laden with hellish lusts pressed down even to Hell it self but it hath pleased thee to †Hos 2.18 espouse me to thy self in Righteousness and Mercy and Faithfulness I do with my whole Soul embrace and lay hold on thee and do take thee the * Rev. 15.4 King of Saints to be my only Lord and Head and Husband my only King and Commander and willingly †Mat. 11.29 taking thy easy yoke upon me I present my self unto thee resolving to * Hos 3.3 continue not only many but all my daies with thee †Rom. 12.1 yielding up my self body and Soul as an holy living acceptable sacrifice to thee who hast offered up thy self as a * Eph. 5.2 Sacrifice to the Father for my poor lost Soul engaging through thy Grace that I will stoop to thy Scepter fulfil thy will and †Rev. 14.4 follow thee the Lamb of God whithersoever thou goest to be disposed of by thee in every condition that neither poverty nor riches nor * Rom. 〈◊〉 38 3â— life nor death shall separate between me and thee Moreover siâ—h this †Eph. 〈◊〉 12. access is by one Spirit unto the Father through Christ I do here most blessed Spirit take thee to be my only God also to be my Guide and * Jâ—â—â— 18 9â— Comforter beseeching thee that thou wouldest * Eph. 〈◊〉 30. Seal me up unto the day of redemption That thou wouldest be in me a †Joâ—◠〈◊〉 38. Fountain of living Water springing up to life eternal That so I may notwithstanding all difficulties * Job 17.9 hold on my way and grow stronger and stronger vowing to be †Gal. 5.18 led by no other Spirit but thy self * Rom. 8.1 walking after the Spirit for time to come and not after the flesh Also because thou requirest every one that expecteth to †Rev. 22.14 enter by the Gate into the City to keep thy Commandments and having now entred into and renewed the bond of the Covenant so to do as one of thy people to which end thou hast graciously promised that thou wilt * Jer. 32.40 put thy fear into my heart that I shall not depart from thee I here as thy Covenant-servant engage solemnly to become wholly thine that I will be for no other †Psal 116.15 O Lord truely I am thy Servant I am thy Servant * Psal 119.38 devoted to thy Fear Love and Service Praying that thou wouldest keep thy promise to enable me to walk in thy statutes and through the never-failing influence of thy Heavenly power * Psal 119.8 I will keep thy statutes †v. 48. my hands also will I lift up to thy Commandements which I love Oh forsake me not utterly yea I will * Isa 30.1 follow no counsel but of thy Spirit and Word from henceforth all the days of my life Though Satan tempt the World allures and the â€
nigh unto all them that call upon him The like passage in Psal 34.18 The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a Contrite Spirit This then is the first regard wherein Gods People are said to be Near to him viz. God's Nearness unto them 2. In regard of Affection to them he is and is said to be Near to them Lord help us to believe it God's People sometimes can't hardly believe it you know these People whom we by love account dear we account also to be very Near to us Dearness and Nearness are here Convertible Now God's People are the dearly beloved of his Soul Jer. 12.7 in Original but one word I have given the dearly beloved of my Soul Heb. the love into the hands of her enemies And that is one of the titles Christ gives his Church throughout the whole Song of Solomon My Love my Dove c. So near to him the Church desireth to be that Song 8.6 she prays Set me as a Seal on thy heart What is the meaning of that in short love me dearly and love makes as strong an impression on the heart as a Seal doth upon any thing to which it is applyed she desires to be near the heart of Christ and that his Love towards her may have deep impressions there as the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel had on the brest-plate of Judgment which Aaron did bear on his heart when he went in into the Holy-place Exod. 28.21 29. Further she prays there as a Seal upon thine arm for love is as strong as death in which she desires also his Compassion and Affection The Lord expresseth the same thing in a like phrase to his Church saying Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands Isa 49.16 I remember the Lord makes use of one expression more to set it forth by the signet on the right hand and that is near in place and affection too Jer. 22.24 where the Lord speaks of Coniah one of the Kings of Judah and saith to this purpose As I live saith the Lord though Coniah the Son of Jehojakim King of Judah were their Signet on my right hand yet would I pluck thee thence c. A Man's Signet that he wears on his right hand what an esteem and love hath he for that yet saith God though he was as the Signet on my right hand would I pluck thee thence Sin will make a separation between a person or people though near to him And that is the second thing God's People are his dearly beloved and so they are near upon the account of Affection 3. In regard of Relation to God they are nearly related to God there is a Spiritual kin and alliance between God and his people you shall find nearness and kin are Convertible in the Scripture Lev. 21.2 But for his kin that is near unto him that is for his Mother and Father and for his Son and for his Daughter and for his Brother and ver 3. and for his Sister That is nigh unto him c. So that Kin and Nearness are joyned together words of the same import Now there is a twofold Relation betwen God and his People which makes the Kin to be so Near. 1. By Regeneration and the new-birth 2. By the Marriage-Covenant and blessed are the people that are in such a Nearness unto God! First by Regeneration and the new-birth that is one way the kin comes in if I may so speak and therefore you shall find throughout the Scripture that they are said to be born of God and born again and hence is it that all that are regenerate are called the Sons and Daughters of the living God and who are nearer to us than our Children these are the Children of God being born of him Joh. 1.12 As many as believed to them gave he power to become the Sons of God How came they to be the Sons of God ver 13. shews which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God So in the Epistle of John throughout are they said to be born of God Now how near is the Father and Son I need not tell you that are Paâ—ents So near is the relation between God and his People 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty What a Promise is this he will receive them to be as near unto him as he will receive his own Son that serveth him And what a deal of Nearness of Affection as well as Relation is there in this case Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 You that are parents think on this when you see your Children in the streets or any where about you Oh how are your hearts drawn out after them learn hence to be affected with the nearness both of Relation and Affection that is between God and his People you cannot love your Children though your hearts run out after them as God loves his Children all the affection of all the parents in the World to their Children is but the drops of a bucket in Comparison of God's love to his people and his Children 2. By Marriage-Covenant are they Near to God And this is so near a Relation that all other kin are to be left for this Relation they that are married as to their Relation in the flesh are become one flesh so near they are Mat. 19.5 Just as Adam said of the woman when God brought her to him this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh Gen. 2.23 Beloved Gods people are his married people and they are his espoused people full of this is the Scripture in many places 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you a chast Virgin to Christ Hos 2.19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness c. Jer. 3.14 turn Oh backsliding Children saith the Lord for I am married unto you Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his name Oh what an husband is this Every woman is apt to admire her own husband but what an husband is this of Souls Mark how the Apostle doth improve this natural marriage to a Spiritual use 1 Cor. 6.16 17. What know ye not that he that is joyned to an Harlot is one body for he saith ye shall be one flesh ver 17. but he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit The Apostles design is to take off people from Fornication and the argument is taken from the design of God in Marriage God made Marriage that there might be an union betwixt the Man and the
Woman Now presently after Marriage for persons to run away one from another for a Man to make himself one body with an Harlot it subverts the design of God in Marriage and the Apostle improves it in the next words He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit A Spiritual mystical Union there is betwixt God and his People and I hope many that heard and now read this have experience and assurance of it and the Lord grant that more may And here also are both the Nearnesses joyned together not only the Nearness of Relation but of Affection if the Affection be strongly knit between the husband and the wife there is no Affection stronger than that and no less strong and faithful between God and the Soul All which shews that they are related to God as near as any Relation in the World 3. I may yet add another Relation which is not so near as the former that are already mentioned though near also that sets forth this Nearness between God and his People and that is that of Servants God is the Master and his People are the Servants too and some Masters and Servants are very dear one to another a wonderful Nearness of Affection there is of some Masters to their Servants and of some Servants to their Masters though no Relation as to the flesh by affinity or Consanguinity yet they love them tenderly I shall give you an instance of this in the Centurion and his Servant Luk. 7.2 A certain Centurions Servant who was Dear unto him was sick and he shewed that he was dear to him in his tenderness of him in that weak Condition he was and applying himself to Christ for him Moses is called the Servant of the Lord Moses my Servant is dead saith God and you know that expression Moses my Servant is a token of the great Affection God had to him and an high honour and esteem that after he was dead the Almighty confer'd upon hm 4. Nay observe in the last place that God's People are as Near to him and as Dear to him as any of our Houshold and Family are to us And therefore are they called the houshold and family of God Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Compare this with ver 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Yea to close up this particular whatsoever Relation may express Nearness and Dearness in that Relation stand God and his People each to other and thus is the third thing fully proved 4. They are near to God in regard of Jesus Christ and that on two accounts 1. Of Union to Jesus Christ 2. Of being purchased by Jesus Christ First in regard of the Near Union there is between Christ and them Nay and add to this the Near Relation that is between Christ and them and there is one that renders these words to this very sense and purpose A people Near unto him One reads it very critically * Populo propinqui sui h. â— eâ—â—s qui accedit ad ipsâ—â—â— ut sacerdos sâ—dâ—t ad dexteram eâ—us ut rex â—empe Christi M. P. syn ex Gel. Cocceio the people of his Near one or of him that is near to him viz. God of him that comes near to him as a Priest and sits at his right hand as a King meaning the Lord Jesus Christ now Christ is near to God and there is none Nearer to God than he So near that he is his only natural Son the only begotten Son of God nay he is God himself he is of the same substance with the Father one that accounts it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 and therefore call'd God's fellow Zech. 13.7 they are as near to him as the members are to the body 1 Cor. 12.27 Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular What a priviledg is here you are the body of Christ that is the mystical body of Christ Christ hath a natural body and a mystical body his natural body is that which was made up of flesh blood formed by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin But then his mystical body are all Christians who are as really his members as his Hands and Arms and Feet and Eyes and Legs were members of his natural body Christ is the mystical Head of his Church and every believer is a mystical member of Jesus Christ how fully yet doth the Apostle express this to the same purpose Eph. 5.30 For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone He speaks of the Marriage-Union in the neighbouring verses much like that of Adam concerning Eve his wife Gen. 2. This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh But saith the Apostle This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and his Church ver 32. Further if you observe the Nearness of relation they have to Jesus Christ it will also appear how near they are to God They are near to him in regard of their kin and allyance to Christ too He counts them in the nearest Relation to himself and therefore they must be near to God by vertue thereof see it in that full Scripture Mat. 12.46 c. One said to him that is to Christ behold thy Mother and thy Brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee 48. But he answered who is my Mother c. 49. And he stretched forth his hands towards his disciples and said behold my Mother and my Brethren vers 50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Now if they be Near to Christ by vertue of relation and Union to him as we have seen they are in both these regards one together and proved then certainly they must also be Near to God So that that is the first regard they are near to God on the account of Christ viz. their Union and Relation to the Lord Jesus Christ Secondly They are Near to God with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ in regard they are the purchase of his blood They are his purchased people and that makes them Near to God he hath bought them to God by his blood out of every kindred and tongue and nation Rev. 5.9 by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ and by no other means were we brought unto God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the Just for the unjust that he might bring us to God We had never been brought unto God had it not been for the blood of Jesus Christ whereby we that were a-far off were made nigh Eph. 2.14 Time was when there was a great distance between God and them and when they were a great way off what a sad case was that but being bought by Christ's blood we were thereby brought