and feest it more and more vile judging thy self miserable because that which is contrary to Gods will prevails over thee And so thou dost overcome sin though oft soiled by it that which yet may stand with grace though it abide to death in thee Now my Soul dost thou not mourn under this Pray earnestly and rest withal on Christ for help and assistance of his Spirit to enable thee to overcome all thy corruptions still striving against them thou darest not deny it And with unfeigned purpose never entertaining any known evil with full consent of will but coâ—â—ially embracing the contrary grace and command longing after more grace out of the fence of want of it This is an infallible sign of true grace as Math. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled Therefore my Soul apply this by faith Bless God with humility and take the comfort of it that so thou mayst walk the more thankfully and love him more who hath so loved thee and be more careful of all thy ways Another evidence or mark of true Grace is thy resolving in the sence of Gods absence yet then to stick to and rest on his mercy through Christ even unto death by his assistance Psa 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me Verse 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation So still continue thou testing on Christ alone as to work in thee all grace both to will and do so to strengthen and perfect it to the day of Christ as Philip. 1. 6. And begging of God his Spirit who is the Spirit of Grace to help and enable thee it being the sap to make thee fruitful for of thy self thou canst do nothing pleasing to God but all thy services as of thy self are an abomination in Gods presence But now if they come from Christ and the Spirit then God is well pleased with them and accepts them And remember God hath promised to give the Spirit to them that ask it Mat. 21. 23. Whatsoever we ask in Christs name if we beleeve we shall receive And Luke 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more then shall yourâ— heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Let that comfort thee this was as argument to David of grace in him let it be so to thee Another evidence of Grace is thy confident resting on Gods mercy because of his prorâ—isâ— it 's that upholds thee knowing he is most faithful as he cannot be deceived so he will not deceive any that trust in him So David did Psa 119. 81. My Soul sainteth for thy Salvation yet I wait for thy Word When David heart fainted this very thing stayd him namely that he trusted in Gods Word Psa 34. 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord. Psa 2. 12. Blessed and all that trust in him Psa 3. 18 Blessed are they that wâ—lâ— for him Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord. And dost not thou my Soul still seek wait pray hope and with on humblâ— dependency desire still to trust in God always though with much opposition Yea when thou feelest no sensible evidence of Gods love and savor to thee yet even then Gods Word comforts thee thou hast given me more joy of heart then they have whose outward comforts abound as Psal 4. 7. So thy Word comforts my Soul in the midst of great doubtings distress and trouble yet thou my Soul hast still some hope by casting thy self on thy God when other hopes stil as David Psal 142. 2 3. I poured out my complaint before him though my spirit was even over whelmed Yet Vers 5. Even then said he I cryed unto thee O Lord and said thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the living Now Oh my Soul is not God thy portion also Indeed he is Hast not thou taken him so to be Yes truly even to be thy All and thou hast I hope with a cordial resignation given up all thy interest to the Lord and his service at least desirest and endeaverest so to do in thy resolutions Good Lord put forth thy mighty yea almighty power and give me thy Spirit that may reach me and enable me to walk as becometh such a one as hath given up himself to serve thee That I may in the remainder of my lâ—st express all sincere and humble obedience to the Word delivered O that I could Another evidence of Saving Grace is Thou dost often afresh renew thy faith and confidence in Christ and resigne and give up thy self wholly to Christ to be guided and instructed by his Word and Spirit and this purpose is firm in thee And dost thou not in bitterness of soul bewail end grieve for thy exceeding unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such sweet precious and powerful ordinances as thou hast so long a time enjoyed and implotâ— the throne of Grace for the Spirit to shew forth its present vertue to make them become life and power to thee and thou usest them with hope in Christ And since that the way to make them more profitable is to be more sensible of thy particular wants and to prize the ordinances very highly as the very brests from and through which God conveys all nourishment to his Therefore quicken up thy self O my soul to use them with what care and diligence thou canst and rest on Christ rest not in the ordinance but on God Consider what God can and will do for thee expect dayly help and strength from him in the use of his ordinances and especially in that of the Sacrament act faith and reject all discouragements for they hinder the growth of grace as frosts do tender fruits Oh when shall the time be that the ordinances shall be so powerful and efficacious as to kill all my corruptions that I may 〈◊〉 the vertue of Christ his death killing the body of sin in me and the power of his resurrection raising me up to newness of life that holy frame of heart that hath been in other the servants of God Sure there hath been such a changing quickening raising comforting power attained from God in the use of his ordinances both to beget and so to strengthen and encrease Grace therefore I will never 〈◊〉 the Lord alone until he make them â—â— to me seeing he hath promised Heaâ—â— maketh shall receive Ok and it shall be given seek and you shall finds knock and it shall be opened unto you Math. 7. 7. Lord I ask I seek I knock let me obtain Lord it s thine own free and gracious promise though free thou wert not any way tyed to make it yet Lord it 's now thy promise that thou wilt give Grace to them that seek it and ask it and hunger after it Lord I
more and thou shalt have more Grace that is the only way to obtain it And remember Mr. Archers Answer once to thee concerning this particular Dear Sister Let not that make thee doubt thou christ no truth of â—ence which is an Evidence or effect of Grace and is not until Grace be â—t is no sign thou hast not Grace but their thou hast Grace These things which make thee doubt added to the former make me assumed of the goodness of thy state Satan ever makes that to be feared and doubted that is true and good These be conflicts of corruption Satan which company Grace These be that smoak that argues fire and Christ will not by 〈◊〉 the smonking Flax They be effects of Sanctification therefore be comforted here with I beseech you Another sign of truth or Grace is Thy very fear and jealousie of thy own unsoundness and deceitfulness of thy heart this acquits thee of hypocrisie and justifies thy sincerity this is a holy jealousie fear of falseness to God and that thâ—se are not in sincerity in thee For first These dispositions in thee desires and endeavors being signs or Grace must of necessity be granted to be signs of sincerity since that that is no grace in truth that is not sincere Secondly thy diligent search and inquiry into thy self and jealousie of thy self is an evident argument of the sincerity of thy heart and that thou wouldst not deceive thy self with flattery false or vain hopes Another signe of true Grace is thy putting thy self upon tryal of others that thou didst not rest satisfied with thine own tryal of thy self but desiredst Gods Ministers whom thou didst judg most sincere strict and faithful much pressing them to deal truly plainly and freely with thee without any flattery as they will one day answer it to the great God of Heaven And they bear witness to thee my soul from Gods own Word of the much of Grace in thee Thou didst not account thy own poor weak endeavors â—o search and try thy self sufficient although thou didst it to the utmost of thy power and ability apprehending that they might be more able to discover some deceit of thy heart that thou couldst not finde out There follows another signe of saving grace that is yet farther Thou hast put thy self upon the Lords own tryal How often hast thou in secret gone to thy God on thy knees and earnestly intreated and beseeched him to search thy heart and reins thy most secret sins and intimate corruptions and that he would shew thee thine iniquity and cleanse thee from thy sin not willing to hide any one from him so David Psal 39. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me And the Lord hath at sometimes made answer to thy heart That he is thine and thou art his shewed some little glimpse of his love and favor to thee as it were at 〈…〉 which hath been more joy of heart to thee then if thou hadst a thousand worlds Therefore O my soul praise thou this God of love and all that is within me praise his holy name as Psal 103. 1. Oh magnifie his free-grace mercy and love that he hath given thee some love-tokens as pledges of more hereafter Oh my soul raise up thy self to sound out the praises of the Lord and all that is within me bless his great and glorious name For truly he hath delt bountifully with thee Oh how can I how shall I express my thankfulness unto him Surely I will tell others what the Lord hath done for my poor soul that they also may trust in him For truly it s never in vain to seek and wait and trust in the Lord. Therefore O my soul do not be no more cast down and so disquieted within me Trust in God for I shall that is he will give me cause to give him thanks he is my present help and my God As David said so say I. Oh that I could chide my soul out of its unquiet condition seeing I cannot I will complain to God of it and desire him to do it for me as David did Psal 43. 6. O my God my soul is cast down do thou raise and comfort it for thou art able to do it Though I cannot I know thou Lord art able to cheer and revive my drooping spirits and thou wilt cause me to taste how good thou art that I may set forth thy ravishing sweetness unto others acquainting them what great and unexpressible goodness the Lord hath manifested to me O dwell my soul a while here suck more sweetness out of this love of God O how great is this love of God that pardons all thy sins of nature and custome oâ— long continuance as well as later great as well as smaller of omission as well as commission sins of ignorance and knowledg secret sins and more open sins sins in thought word and act sins of thy youth and â—â—per age He blots them out all as a creditor that takes his pen and blots out all debts leaves none to condemn O the greatness of this infinite love of God O stand still and behold what love the Father hath shewed wonder and be amazed and ravished with this love of all loves O the riches of this love of God to thee O admirable superabundant surpassing love O excellent precious sweet unheard of love O wonderful indeed rare unspeakable unutterable unexpressible incomprehensible love O love everlasting one dram whereof is better then life it self much sweeter then the hony and the hony comb Another Evidence of Grace is the sweet intercourse that hath been betwixt God and thee my soul Sometimes thy praying to him his answering thee Gods upholding and quieting thee sometimes in greatest dangers so Job and David Therefore stir up thy faith and live by it for time to come Thou hast humbled thy soul and God hath comforted thy soul Now he hath this communion with none but his own children Another Evidence of Grace is Thy hearty sorrow and grief for thy sinning against mercies and unthankfulness for them and not profiting by them arising from the consideration of Gods goodness to thee whom thereby thou dost offend These are undoubted signes of Grace Psal 51. 3 4 5 6 10. I acknowledg my transgressions and my sin is ever before me Against thee thee onely have I sinned and done evil in thy sight that thou mighâ—est be justified when thou speakest and be cleared when thou judgest Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Psal 19. 12 13. Cleanse me from my secret sins keep thy servant also that presumptious sins raign not over me Rom. 7. 14 15 22 23 24. For we know that
nothing of what he did was too little nor any thing too much there could have wanted nothing and there was nothing redundant if he had not dyed he had not merited deliverance from Spiritual Death if he had not risen he had not conquered Natural Death if he had not ascended he had not led all Captivity Captive Let every action of Christ comfort thee who did all that he did for thee Thirdly From hence we may be instructed why so many are afraid of death Temporal Death I mean The cause may be double either a want of Christ or a want of Faith 1. Wicked vilâ— wretches they are afraid to dye Oh that that cup might ever pass from them they know not how to think of that day and parting hour and truly no great marvel death with its sting in it will fear the stoutest man in the world For a poor wretch to be ready to dye and cry out Now goes out my poor soul to answer for all my oaths and blasphemies for all my Sabbath breaking and profaness now must I take my leave of all comforts friends wife children all adieu for ever If death be not kil'd it self it kills the heart of the stoutest the poor wretch cannot see that Christ hath redeemed him from the power of the grave 2. Gods own dear children may fear death through a want of faith not applying with such a confidence as they ought the merits and vertue of Christs death to their souls Those now that the Lord hath given a perswasion to that they have an Interest in Jesus Christ those dye without fear they know their Redeemer lives and this was the happiness of this precious Saint of God that he hath now taken from us She had comforted her self against the fear of Death that she could say O death where 's thy sting Therefore in a book she had composed and written for her own use to Her book â—s annexed to this Sermon comfort her against the fear of Death She makes it her work to prove her interest in Christ and did it by several marks which made her dye without giving death an ill word or countenance death came but he had lost his sting Christ had been its plague A second Use may be of Consolation to comfort the children of God against the fear of death Lift up your heads O ye righteous be glad ye upright in heart All your enemies are trodden under foot fear not sin death nor hell Death hath lost its sting Hell hath lost its victory 1. Fear not spiritual death Sin shall no longer have dominion over your mortal bodies for Christ hath died to free you from the guilt of it and to deliver you from the power of it It may live it shall not reign it may fight against it shall not conquer you 2. Fear not temporal death Consider the Wasp hath lost its sting What hurt can it do thy soul It is not thy ruine Christian It is thy perfection Luke 13 32. I do cures saith Christ to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Thou art not perfected here Christian there is a crown of glory that the Father will set on thy hâ—ad with the black hand of death Who fears the Serpent that hath lost its teeth the Bee that hath lost its sting O death Christ hath been thy death Though thou mightst be afraid to take up death when it was a Serpent yet see its turned into a rod. What is thy life Christian is it not full of frowns are not all thy days almost tears and sorrow Doth not the wicked world look a squint upon the Saints of God is not suffering an hereditary disease that runs in the blood of Mighty Jesus that every Saint is born to inherit the Cross and through Golgotha to take his way to glory what should wed thee to the world Christian not thy desire of life and sure it cannot be thy fear of death Death hath nothing formidable in it Say to it Christ is dead O death where is thy sting then Much less can they fear eternal death for they are passed from death to life and the second death hath no power over them I have but a word more and that is of Exhortation First To all to get an interest in Jesus Christ Thus prepare your selves for the day of dissolution It is a statute in the Records of Heaven That all men should once die and afterwards come to judgment Death is a bitter cup to those that know nothing to sweeten it Learn here to get a part in the Lord Jesus Christ a title to him an interest in him He hath taken out the sting of death he hath been its plagâ—e but not for all see therefore for thy interest in him Hic labor hoc opus est Christians here is your work you spend else your time for nothing and your labor for that which will not profit Work out your salvation give all diligence to make your calling and election sure This is your land-work Saints and while it is done you will never be prepared to go to Sea to set sail for eternity he will never be satisfied with time and days that hath not some grounds to hope for eternity O that you would labor to make this work your work You spend your days in labor and sorrow and when you die you will lie down in sorrow Believe it you that spend your strength for that which will not profit you will see the day when your souls will be troubled for the hours lost in dressing vanity in the following the lusts of the eye and of the flesh O make this your work to get a portion in Christ and believe him who though he knows but little knows that you will finde it a difficult work a work that will be enough for the time and for the strength you have to spend If you have Christ you are well if not you die a slave to death and will be a gally-slave to Satan in Hell for ever O that you would be wise and consider your latter end before you come down wonderfully This was the work and constant work of this precious Siâ—â—er of ours whom God hath now taken from the evil to come It was her practice to hasten over the business of her family as a thing to be done yet not her great work and then to apply her self to the great work of making her calling and election sure In which her pains were as unweariable as others are in vanity That she hath lest behinde her several Books written which are as the Câ—ronicle and Annuals of her life collecting those promises on which her soul rested framing the objections of her own spirit and seeking out satisfaction from Gods Word If in any thing she doubted she â—nquired at the lips of them that should preserve knowledg and pens down their answers observes Gods ways with her self and her own frame towards him and from all gathers up a posie of such evidences of saving Grace as she could finde in her soul to comfort her in her latter hour And if any asks what profited this labor I could onely have wished that such persons had been as I was a witness to her dying happiness to have seen with what a peace of Spirit what a fulness of assurance what hope what joy she entertained her last affliction the messenger of death There they should have seen this promise made good the grave destroyed the Saint delivered hell troden under foot death desired conquered despised this song sung O death where is thy fling O hell where is thy victory Be exhorted O ye that have a portion in Christ be exhorted to tred under foot your conquered enemy What is there in death that is terrible or bitter to those that have a portion in the Lord Jesus Christ Why are you afraid to be made perfect there is no taste of hell in the cup. The prison doors shall not be lockt the bolts are broken off the bitterness of death is past O desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Love the winding-sheet that wrapt up your Saviour the stones and gravel of the grave have nothing in them that is hard or harsh Christ hath been the plague of death and the destruction of the grave I heard a voyce from henceforth saying Blessed are they that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors Lastly From this Text may those that mourn for the dead in the Lord be comforted Hast thou lost a believing friend Weep not for her weep for thy self Not that she is gone but that thou art here Death hath our friend in his hands but not in his power It is Christ that hath said I will redeâ—m you from the power of the grave Is not Christ dead is not he risen again and ascended hath he not led captivity captive why mournest thou then for a Saints freedom is there any thing of bitterness in the cup that thy and her Father hath given her to drink Triumph because she triumpheth rejoyce because all tears are now wiped from her eyes shew a faith in Christs death Resurrection Ascension conquest over Sin Death and Hell The work of Righteousness is peace and the â—ffect of her Righteousness quietness peace and assurance for ever FINIS
have liberty to go sit with her God Her Closet work was no chambering and wantoness but a serious study to make heâ—â—â—â—lling and election sure To this end she reads with understanding observing and carefully transcribing the promises she had gathered up her Bonds and knew how much God was in his Word an accomptant to her Soul and was never in want but she had a Bond to put in sute knowing that he was faithful that had promised She was a consciencious attender upon God in his Ordinances and it was her practise not to hear as one that looks his natural face in a glass that presently goeth away and forgetteth what manner of man he was She would observe mater al passages and upon her retirements record them with her pen if in any thing â—â— doubted she ceased not till she was satisfied And whereas it is the too blame-worthy practise of Christians to seek cavils against themselves striving by their cavillings to unsettle their spirits she rather stadyed to make it her work to find what interest God had in her Soul then what she might have to say against her self nor in this was her labour without fruit Thou shalt read here what a writing she had drawn for Heaven to make it sure to her Soul and 〈…〉 had striven so the Lord had crowned her Souls endeavours with such an assurance as failed not her Soul in her dying hour It was my happiness to be a witness to the latter end of her life It pleased God to continue her holy day to the last hour in such a measure that Death had not an ill look from her There mightst thou haue seen Christian what a conquest Christ had made over Death and Hell Death had in her truly lost his sting and Hell was cheated of its victory Captivity was led Captive I shall commend to thee this little piece penned with her own hand by which thou mayst disâ—â—â—â— with what an excellency of Graces as well as Gifts the Lord had crowned her I commend it to thee not to be read only but that as by a true touchâ—â—one thou mayst try thy own Soul by it and find whether thou beest ready to dye or no. Thou shalt find this choice Servant of God dealing truly with her own heart neither presumptuously flattering nor unwarrantablâ— dejecting her own Spirit For what of â—â—ine is added I beseech thee take the goodwill that he that offers it bears to thy Soul I acknowledg there is nothing of a Schollar in it if there be the more of Christ let God have the Glory thy Soul the benefit and the Author thy prayers who is Thy true Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus John Collings From my study Aug. 27 1648. Infallable Signes OF Saving Grace Each one an Evidence for Heaven each Evidence an Antidote against the Fear of Death Death being to the Soul endowed with Grace only Heavens Gate to enter in by or through it to Eternal Glory and Happiness IT is a â—rrevokable decree of Heaven that all men must once dye yea it is the Law of the God of Nature and must be obeyed no avoiding it The Scripture faith it is appointed to all men once to dye Therefore oh my Soul seeing there is no escapâ—â—â— Death thy only way is to prepare for in get the sting of it taken away so shall it not hurt thee nor be terrible to thee no cause then to fear Death for it shall be but a messenger sent from God thy Father to fetch thee home to him and free thee from all sins which is thy greatest burden and all sorrows and miseries that sin occasioneth and carry thee to Heaven to Happiness and Glory to thy Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ to raign with him for ever in Heaven Now the only way to make Death thus to thee is to clear up thy evidences for Heaven Wherefore on my Soul get thee more Interest in Christ make that more sure to thy self that Christ is thine and thou art his and then no cause at all for thee to fear death As it is certain that Death will come even to thee as well as to others so is it most uncertain the time when it shall come Therefore my Soul defer it not for it stands thee as much upon as thy life may as thy eternal well being for evermore to make that sure to thy self even now while it is called to day and that upon good grounds that thou hast a sure title to Heaven art an heir of it and hast an Interest in Christ then it shall be well with thee after Death that shall be a happy change for thee no cause then to fear it Therefore oh my Soul why art thou so cast down And why art thou so disquieted within me And why fearest thou Death so much Hast thou not some Evidences of Truth of Saving Grace to prove thou art in Christ Darest thou deny it Thou canst not Oh therefore now clear them up view them well again meditate on them seriously bless God for them and let them support and comfort thee against the fear of Death at all times in all extremities or distresles whatsoever may befall thee Consider seriously with thy self hath not God promised to support thee in and deliver thee out of all afflictions and distresses in the best time and mean while that all shall work for thy good Therefore trust thou in him for he never fails any that trust in him rest thou on his promise and he will make it good to thee The first ground work of Grace in thee â—s this God hath given thee the sight of thy self thy sinful wretched and miserable yea damnable condition by nature thy sins both many and great as well thy inâ—â—nd corruption of which David complains Psalm 51. 5. As also thy continued actual transgressions all thy life along which are the fruits of that bitter root either outward or inward to wit thy natural aversness to all good pronness to evil perversness of heart rebelliousness of will disorder of affections and distemper of thy whole Soul in every part not as a meer natural disturbance only but as a spiritual disease a wicked and wretched disposition evil in it self of it self displeasing to God and deserving his curse and damnation of thy Soul and body although it should never break forth into any actual excess And now my Soul hath not God also in some measure humbled thee and broken thy heart too for thy sins Are they not a burden too heavy for thee to bear Wert thou not once in thirte own apprehension in a most desperate condition ready to sink under the load of them Therefore oh my Soul â—o Christ calleth thee to come to him and promiseth he will ease thee Mat. 11. 28. There is a promise for thy faith to rest on apply it to thy self to support thee Dost thou not confess thâ—â— to God bewailing 〈◊〉 with great grief and sorrow of heart
desire it more then my appointed food thou Lord sure I trust will be prevailed with Seeing the unjust Judg was so through importunity shall not the just and righteous yea merciful God be prevailed withall when importuned for that which he promiseth to give Yes surely he will most certainly make good even that promise to thee my soul in particular Do but trust in him and press him with his own Word nay more it 's a part of that new Covenant that God hath made with his servants that he will take away the heart of stone that is all that hinders Grace and he will give them a new heart and put his Laws in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be his people Jer. 31. 33. and Ezâ—ek 36. 25 26 27. And that he will put his Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his statutes beleeve so and it shall be so to thee Be encouraged and wrestle still for thou shalt obtain in the end Hath God said it Build thou on it Only go on in use of his means limit not the holy one he is a free Agent he may work when and how he pleaseth he delights to hear his children beg and cry oft to him and remember how prevalent prayer in Faith hath been with God how great things it hath obtained of God for particular Servants of God as that of Peters delivery by the prayers of the Church Acts 12. when condemned to dye the next morning and no way or means that he knew â—t to escape And so for Nations too Doth the Lord then say seek my face Oh let my heart Answer Lord thy face I do I will still seek and wait till thou Answer Another Evidence of Grace is Thy earnest desire to serve the Lord in sincerity with an upright heart above the desire of Life it self so far as thou canst search and knowest ought by thy self this must needs be an infallible sign of true Grace for nothing but truth of Grace can possibly desire this Another sign of true Grace is Thou fearest at some times that thou hast no true Faith or at least that it is decaying dying with thee when as no true Grace either stands at a stay or decays which makes thee full of discouragements and disquietness of spirit fearing thy estate is not good but what ever change is in thee O my Soul of seeming decay in Grace or increase of corruption yet thou canst not but be sure in the main for wher there is a sense of sins evil and a groaning under it a high Valuation of Christ and Grace and longing after it with a self-emptiness a desire and purpose to hang on Christ as thou darest not deny but 〈◊〉 in some measure in thee there is ground of comfort and therefore apply it to thy self else thou wrongest thy self and the spirit also Thou fearest falling into sin let it make thee more watchful and trust more and more carefully in Christ the view of thy wants should not discourage thee but abase thee in thine own esteem quicken thee to use the means and press thee to go to Christ and rest on him who can and will help all that thus repair to him Therefore fear not falling off for God hath promised to put his Fear into the hearts of his that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. Apply that promise to thy self by Faith Having once true Grace it can never be lost why therefore O my Soul art thou so cast down and why art thou so disquieted within me Trust stil in God for I will or shall yet give him thanks he is my present help and my God Psalm 42. 5 11 verses Or art thou thus disquieted because thou art often foiled by sins that thou resolvest against Oâ— consider thou hast an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ who is thy Reconciliation he sitteth at the right hand of God and there he plead thy cause for thee Or is it because thou art still full of fears that thy Grace is not true Thou didst once beleeve it was true and that upon good ground Therefore question not that ground-work now that were to go about to rip up or undo all that work of Grace that God hath wrought in thee Why then is it O my Soul because of those inward corruptions within thee that rebel against the Law and Will of God and such effects of them as thou canst not be rid off with whatsoever care and caution thou canst use Or such sins slips and oversights as thou art unwillingly overtaken withall or dost inconsiderately slip into For thou dost not allow thy self in any known sin For this remember what was once my Cozen Gatakers Answer hereunto to wit consider S. Paul his case read but what he saith of himself Rom. 7. from vers 15. to vers 24. That which I do I allow not for what I would haâ— do I not but what I hate that do I. If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not For the good that I would that do I not but the evill which I hate that do I. I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man but I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members And if you can say more of your self then he there doth of himself I much marvel if not you may conclude your estate to be no worse then his was God indeed hears the prayers of his but yet he doth not presently give in kind the thing prayed for The Apostle Paul was heard when he prayed to be rid wholly of some corruption and temptation that he was anoyed and often foiled with 2 Cor. 12. 7 8. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the Abundance of the Rovelations there was given to me a throne in the flesh the massenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Remember Gods Answer to him vers 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee So shall it be my Soul to thee if thou rest on his Word it shall be so But mark he was not presently freed from it but upheld in it Or is it out of the sense of thy want and great need of more Grace Oh let not that discourage thee indeed thou hast the more need to go to Christ by Faith who is the Fountain and Spring of all he hath enough and so fetch vertue and strength from him beleeve
Soul have I sought or desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seek thee in the morning As Isaiah 26. 8 9. For whom have I in Heaven but thee and I have desired none in the Earth with thee As Psalm 73. 25. And thou hatest sin as it is a breach of Gods Law Another Evidence of Gods Love to thee That at such times as thou hast renued thy Faith in Christ and again given up thy self in more solemn manner wholy to him God thereupon hath given ease to thy heart which is a sign that he accepted what thou gavest him and that he wil not cast thee away I know whom I have believed that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him as 2 Tim. 1. 12. And I am perswaded he will do so And my Soul since thou hast found favor in the eyes of God that he hath been pleased to manifest his Grace to thee consider what cause thou hast of comfort and joy Now that it may be aright conceived what Grace I mean There is a twofold meaning of the word Grace in Scripture First It is taken for the gracious good Will or Favor of God where by he is pleased of his own free love to accept of some in Christ for his own This Divines call first Grace because it is the fountain of all other Grace and the spring from whence they flow and it 's therefore called Grace because it makes a man gracious with God but this is only in God Secondly Grace is taken for the gifts of Grace and they are of two sorts Common or special Some are common to both Elect and Reprobates Believers and Hypocrites As Knowledg a gift of prayer and the like Some are special Graces and they are proper to the Saints therefore called saving Graces whereof some are most principal and absolutely necessary unto Salvation such as is Faith without which none can be saved And some other which are very comfortable as the feeling of Gods love Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Now if God have first of his gracious good will and free love accepted thee in Christ And secondly if he have given thee any evidence of the same by the saving graces of his holy Spirit wrought in thee which thou darest not deny then O my soul bless praise and magnifie this God of love for this his infinite unutterable and superabounding love to thee Hath he given thee any grace It s because he loves thee and truly no cause at all why God should love thee as thou art in thy self but the clean contrary rather to hate and abhor thee But he looks upon thee in his onely begotten and dearly beloved son the Lord Jesus Christ God-man and seeing no other means in all the world to save thee Gods love was so great That he gave his onely begotten son to die for thee And see here also the exceeding great love of Christ to thee that gave himself to dye for thee took thy nature on him stood in thy steed fulfilled the Law satisfied the justice of God for thy sin He suffered on the Cross for thee he procured pardon of sin salvation and heaven for thee he merited it all for thee for his was worthy his righteousness is the meritorious cause of thy justification He is now thy Redeemer thy Advocate that pleads thy cause for thee to God he makes peace with God for thee he â—its at the right hand of God the Father and makes intercession for thee God is now become of a just severe and angry Judg a loving Father in him Therefore now my soul receive all from him by promise that shews his love as a Father Oh the free and sweet love that is in an uncompelled promised I will love thee freely saith the Lord Hosea 14. 4. It s free love indeed in God to thee wards Oh therefore let this special free love of God cause thee to study how to return love to him and live to him Remember what he hath done for thee how thy sins wounded thy Saviour peirced and crucified him and nailed him to the cross how thy sins made his most precious body be overrun with his heart blood how thy own betraying and selling thy soul to sin and Satan made him to be betrayed and fold to suffer and die yea how he indured the torments of Hell as it were the most heavy and sorest wrath of his Father for thy sin What O what great and vehement love was in Christ thy Saviour that made him sweat drops of blood for thee my soul These are as so many cords of love from Christ to thee to cause thee to love Christ Oh that I could love thee my dear Saviour as I should It s my hearts grief that I cannot so love thee as I would Oh my dull and drousie soul awake rouze and quicken up thy self and stand amazed at this love of Christ Shall or can so many sweet expressions of such unexpressible love of Christ to thee pass without Eccho Shall every passage of Christ from his birth to his death all preach forth love to thee And shall thankfulness be wanting in thee towards him Shall his birth work thy new birth his cross take away thy curse Shall his pains procure thee rest Shalt thou â—e cleared by his sorrowful sadness Thou be made free by his bonds happy by his misery fed by his hunger refresht by his weariness rejoyced by his anguish Thou my Soul be excused before God by his being accused before men And shall not love flush and burn in my brest to him Oh my God do thou inflame my heart with this Love kindle some further heat of Love in me give me one drâ—â— more of it draw up my Love and most entire intimate affections Shall I as it were freeze for want of Love to my Saviour when his Love is so hot to me Far be it from me No my loving Lord I do love thee I will love thee dearly Oh help and enable me to love thee more Oh my Soul sleep not under such Comforts never forget such love as this is it is sufficient to fill all thy sences all thine affections And yet see more This Love is not only for some years but for eternity Whom he once loves he loves to the end as John 13. 1. He is a never failing Fountain of Love Oh my Soul therefore distrust not despair not of his Love though thou art so full of sins which indeed of all things God hates most yet behold the Love of God all these though so great so many they cannot separate between thee and thy God but in and through Christ he still loves thee accepts thy person and services It 's not some slips or falls that thou art overtaken withal that are hated resolved against not wittingly willingly deliberately committed nor delighted in nor allowed but slipt and fallen into unawares These cannot finite his infinite Love
stand meerly by the latch When Adam had his mittimus made to the Gaol of the Grave Death turns the lock bolts up the door when he had gotten him but once in his custody never intending to part with the prisoner more Christ seeing the Gaoler so confident in his Tyranny Well saith he let him be good of his office for I will ransom them froÌ„ tho power of the grave I will make Death know he is but to keep his prisoner till further order Indeed this was decretally done before the beginning of the world by Christs Word given to his Father and Christ ever and anon in the time of the Jews let his elected ones know there was an evasion out of the grave by the resurrection of several persons but the time of Christs actual and full becoming the plague of death and the destruction of the grave was when he dyed and rose and led captivity captive Thus Christ is the plague of Death and the destruction of the grave for all men and women in the world but to his Elect only for good there is an escape-way out of the deepest grave already and at the last day there shall be an actual freedom Secondly He is to Beleevers the plague of this Death and the destruction of this Grave by taking away the cause of fear of this death out of all their hearts they can stand upon the top of the grave and sing O Death where is thy stiâ—g O Hell where is thy victory The Elect â—ad it noâ— been for Christ for â—eaâ— of death had all their life time been subjeâ—t to bondage Heb. 2. 15. â—â—rasmuch therefore as the children were partakers of flesh and blood he also took part with them v. 1â— that â—e might dâ—liver them The Saints of God can stand over the grave and say Surely the bitterness of death is past though they cannot say the time oâ— death is past 3dly Christ to his Elect is the plague of Death temporal â—n that he hath taken away the final evil of it and hath made that which would have been theiâ— maâ—â—eâ— for â—â—ine and evil to be their desire and servant for good Death thought to have been goâ—ler of the bodies of Gods Saints till the day of judgment and then Hell should have had them delivered up God says No their bodies shall be in thy custody but thou shalt deliver them up refined to Glory to Eternal Rest to be with me for ever So that now it is the voyce of Gods child I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And in this we groan earnestly being burthened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality may be swallowed up of life Death is ease now to the Saints of God the hard stones are but pillows of doun The grave from a place of terror is turned into a retiring house from the busie sweating world O death Christ is thy plague O grave â—e is thy destruction Thirdly Christ is the plague and destruction of Eternal Death they shall never taste of that Beleevers are past from death to life He that is the Amen that was dead and is alive yea alive for ever more he hath the keyes of Hell and Death Rev. 1. 18. Christ is the Angel that came down from heaven Râ—v 20. 1. that hath the key of the bottomless pit and he that hath a part in the first resurrection on him the second death hath no power Rev. 2. 11. Overcoming Saints shall not be hurt by the second death Now this is our victory that overcometh the world even our faith Beleevers are Conquerors in and through Christ and Christ hath conquered hell for them for the lake which burns with fire and brimstone is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Christ now hath saved them from this this hath no power over them O death he is thy plague O grave he is thy destruction Thus I have opened the first and shewed you what Death what Grave Christ is a plague to Now let me shew you in the next place How Christ is the plague of death the grave of destruction To this I shall answer in three or four particulars briefly 1. By his enlivening Spirit 2. By his dying Love 3. By his rising Power 4. By his ascending and reigning Glory First By his enlivening power Thus he is the plague of spiritual death he comes and sees the soul that he hath chosen dead in â—respasses and sins it neither speaks nor hears nor sees nor moves spiritually it is more cold then the frozen earth Christ breathes into it the breath of life The Son quickeneth whom Joh 5 21. Iohn 6. 63 he will Christ doth it meritoriously The Spirit doth it instrumentally Joh. 6. 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth He maketh the dead soul to begin to hear the voyce of the Son of God and live to begin to relish heavenly things and savor things which are above to stand upon its legs and walk a little in the ways of godliness Secondly By his dying Love Christs death was that which destroyed death He was the first of those that rose from the dead by power from himself to live for ever Christ dying shewed the grave his power Christs dying was the plague of death 1. In his own example He brake through the bolâ—ed door of the Grave though the stone was rolled and sealed He was he that was dead and is alive yea that lives for evermore O Death he was thy plague in himself he was â— Pâ—t 3 18 dead and is alive thy lock could not keep him 2. In the merit of it Christs death in the merit of it was the plague of death and the destruction of the grave The sting of death is sin saith the Apostle Christ dying satisfiâ—d his Fathâ—rs Wrath and Justice So that though death lives for a while yet he lives without a sting it can do no member of Christ hurt and it shall not live long neither for though it be the last enâ—my that shall be destroyed yet it shall dye too 1 Cor. 15. 26. Christs death was the graves destruction it destroyed sins life which is the spiritual death for Christ having dyed sin is dead too Rom. 6. 6. Our old man is cruciâ—ied wiâ—â— him that the body of sin might from henceforth be dâ—stroyed that henceâ—orth we should not serve sin Vers 9 10. In thâ—â— he dyed he dyed once unto sin Vers 11. Likewise râ—ckon you your selves to be dead indeed unto sin By Christs dâ—ath temporal death is destroyed in the power of it for he himself led captivity captive In the fear or it Fâ—rasmuch as â—â—e children were partakers of flesh and blood â—e also himself took part with them that through death â—e â—ight destroy him that had the power of dâ—â—th â—ven the devil And deliver them that through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 13 14. In the bitterness of it for now we know
He that dyed and bled for thee will not lose thee now he hath done so much for thee No thy sins shall not eternally separate â—hâ—e from him Sin may over-cloud the beams of his Love but it shall not cut off the Being of his Love to thee Be thou sensible of thy load of sin and thou art capable of his Love He that suffered not a cup of cold water to go unrewarded will not permit a â—ar for thy sins or for his Love to go without reward Let not the sense of thy own wretched miserable and undone condition discourage thee not the fear of his displeasure dishâ—â—â—â—en thee there is Love enough in him for all that there is a Sun within these Clouds there 's Love within these frowns Can Christ forget thee whose burning Love made him sweat drops of blood for thee No he cannot he will not he may withdraw himself to sharpen thy desire he may â—â—em lost to inflame thee to seek morâ—â—arnestly and instantly It may be my Soul thou thinkest thou wantest him because thou desirest him and dost not sensibly at some times feel thou hast him but know thou desirest him because thou lovest him you know it 's so in natural love and thou couldst not love him had he not first loved thee But if thy sinful neglects have sent him away from thee let thy future diligence draw him home to thee If thou hast lost him by sin seek him by true repentance and he will be sound of thee He cannot be long absent from a weeping Soul He is Love and that will yearn and melt when it sees tears If thy sins fear the hand of Justice â—o Love is a Sanctuary If thy sins make thee tremble before the Judg Love is an Advocate there 's nothing but the Love of Christ to thee will do it for thee and supply it to thee Oh my dear-bought Soul that cost so precious a price as the very heart-blood of the Lord Jesus Christ wrap up thy self in this consideration Want not comfort while thou hast or mayst have enough yea abundance but make him that is all in all to be thy All in all thy Wants and Necessities Thou canst want nothing but his ABVNDANT LOVE can supply thee Art thou cold in holy duties His love can warm thee Art thou flat in thy spirit His love can rouze thee Art thou still hard under the means His love can soften and melt thee Art thou liveless under ordinances His love can quicken thee Art thou incorrigible under afflictions His love can bend thee Art thou fallen by any sin His ardent love can raise thee and revive thee and make thee alive Oh excellent comfort joy unexpressible and love surpassing Oh thou who art Love it self who art only amiable thou whom my Soul loveth longeth for and thirsteth after panteth for as the hunted Hart after the rivers of water Oh God my God come thou oh come thou and do all this to my poor soul Oh warm heat and inflame me with love to thee who hath so loved me Oh melt my heart with thy love revive and quicken me that am so dull and dead in my self shed thy love abroad in my heart more and more which may enable me to express sincere cordial and hearty love to thee all the days of my life by walking more closely with thee and trusting more in thee and resting more on thee Oh my soul make that good the Scripture saith They that know thy Psa 9. 10. name will trust in thee It s the work that God appoints thee to do to beleeve in Christ as Joh. 6. 29. Also it 's his commandment that we beleeve in the name of his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3. 23. And Christ himself calls thee that art weary of and heavy laden with the burden of thy sins to come to him and he promiseth to ease thee or give thee rest Math. 11. 28. And he calls out to any that will come Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to to the waters and ye that have no money come and buy and eat yo come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. And so Revel 22. 17. Every one that thirsteth let them come and who ever will come and drink freely of the waters of life And whosoever comes to him he will not cast off Joh. 6. 37. And besides all these offers of Christ and his command to beleeve there 's abundance of sweet promises which God hath made to them that beleeve as Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Also Verse 36. He that beleeveth on the Son hath everlasting life He is as sure and as certain of it as if he had it already in possession And God delights in them that hope in his mercy Psa 147 11. And the Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants and none that trust in him shall perish Psa 34. 22. The Lord is a shield and a helper to all them that trust in him Now God that made these rich free and precious promises is Truth it self and therefore is so in performing all his promises God is not as man that â—e should lye neither as the son of man that he should repent Hath he said and shall he not do it And hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it O yes as Numb 23. 19. Nay more it 's a part of his Covenant with his people therefore Oh my Soul press the Lord with his Covenant and he will perform it even to thee and so all his promises also What good thing dost thou or canst thou want either spiritual temporal or eternal that God hath not promised to give thee And what evil thing caust thou fear or suffer that God hath not promised to save thee from the evil of it at least Are there not promises of giving thee Christ and with him perfect Righteousness and Justification and in this life such a measure of Sanctification as he will accept of both all the necessary graces of the Spirit and victory over every lust and perfect Sanctification after death as also a sufficient ability to every service and duty a passing by and covering of all imperfections and perseverance to the end and in the end life everlasting Again a sanctified use of all Afflictions either preservation from or deliverance out of them in the best time with such Administration of all outward necessaries as he shall see best for his glory and thy good Assistance also in any sufferings for his name and a reward for them And what now can be thy estate in which thou mayest not hope yea and joy in that hope too as Rom. 12. 13. Art thou under the guilt of some sin power of some lust want of some grace absence of Gods Spirit or assurance of Gods favor or under some persecution or outward affliction Hath not God
promised to supply that good save from that evil Why then my soul shouldst not thou joy in hope of it or mayest thou not have hope since God hath promised it And why doth not thy hope beget joy in outward things it doth so Thou mayest see the full joyes of Heaven Christs presence Gods face perfect glory and these all enjoyed by thee all enjoyed I say by hope and that by such an hope as cannot fail Rom. 5. 5. as makes not ashamed It s sure and presents the things hoped for most sure for it hath the certainty of Faith for its ground and that is the certainty of God himself For Faith buildeth on Gods promises and they are most certain confirmed by two immutable things First The Word of God Secondly The Oath of God Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19. For men swear an oath for confirmation it is then an end of all strife God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast Yea thy Faith and Hope hath as the immutability so the fidelity and truth of God to rest upon he can as well cease to be God as not to be so good as his Word It hath also the purpose and deâ—ree of God for Gods promises are onely the expressions of his purpose and decree And as the Mercy of God so it hath also the Merit of Christ the efficacy of his Obedience Passion and Intercession And thus also its sure for Christ hath merited all good things for thee present and to come whether it be pâ—rdon of sin victory over sin subduing thy corruption the favor of God or what ever else thou wantest And it s necessitated now by Gods Justice also That being satisfied by Christ and his satisfaction by God accepted Oh why then shouldst not thou joy in hope of all these O consider the strength of all these Arguments to cause and increase Hope and Joy in thee The joy of the Lord is our strength Nehâ— 8. 10. Therefore O my soul be thou no moâ—e so cast down for time to come why art thâ—u oâ— why shouldâ—st thou be so O rouzâ— up and encourage thy self in thy God and strengthen thy Faith by meditating on the truth and goodness of these promises their excellencies sweetness and usefulness to thee and by Resisâ—ing doubtings and so stir up thy Faith in them This is the place of living by Faith therefore O my soul live thou by Faith that is finde out a promise of what ever thou wantest and â—enture on it with eâ—pectation hoping above hope and so fetch every thing thou needest fâ—om the promises O that thoâ— woâ—ldst sing that triumphant Song that the Apostle Paâ—l doth Rom. 8. 38 39. I am perswaded that nâ—ither deâ—th nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinâ—s present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate theâ— from the â—â—ve of God which iâ— in Christ Jesus our Lord. O my soul pray and strive so to do O that thou couldst say as the same Apostlâ— doth Phil. 1. 23. I desâ—re to be dâ—â—olved and be with Christ which is best of all Truly in the mean while God alone is thy portion for thou hast taken him so to be And if God alone be present with thee it s enough He were not God iâ— he were not All-sufficient Now thou hast him in Faith in pledges and earnest yea in possession why then dost thou not enjoy him why dost thou not shake off that senceless drowsiness which makes thy life unpleasant and uncomfortable as though thou hadst none of God O leave off over-heaviness to those that want God to those that either know him not or know him displeased not in Christ Thou Lord shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards bring me to glory as Psal 73. 24 25 26 28. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart â—aileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portâ—â—n for ever It is good for me to draw neer to God I have put my trust in the Lord God and â—o he answers I will not leave thee nor forsake thee no never as Heb. 13. 5. No at no time When thou art therefore in any strait or distress that thou knowest not what to do then go freely and boldly to the throne of grace in the Name through the Mediation of Christ There 's a friend that will help thee and relieve thee sustain and deliver thee When all other helps â—ail yet I say he will never fail thee do I say so nay verily of a truth it is God himself saith it by his Spirit speaking in his Apostle Therefore build on it â—â—st on it as most certain For as God is truth it self so are all his promises let them be beleeved by thee Press the Lord with his own word or promise and he will perform them even to thee Lord thou hast said that sin shall not have dominion over us as Rom. 6. 14. O let it not have have dominion over me make good that word of thine to me O when shall that time once be O that thou wouldst this day nay this very hour at once kill all sin in me Lord thou hast said Thou wilt Mich. â— 19 subdue our iniquities O Lord do thou it in me for they are too strong for me Is any thing to hard for God no sure surely thou hast power enough to do it And thou saidst thou arâ— willing O what then hinders O my God let thy Spirit come sâ—nd it with power and make its vertue to appear in subduing all sin in me and raising me up to a new a holy life such a life as thou wouldst have me live Lord thou hast said That we shall seek thee with all our hearts and that thou wilt befoâ—â—d of us Jere. 29. 13 14. O remember thine own everlasting Covenant made with thy â—ervants Jere. 32. 40. That thou wilt put thy fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from thee And thou hast said Thou wilt comfort us and we shall be comforted even as one â—hom his mother comforts Iâ— 66. 13. Lord make good these promises in which thou hast caused thy servant to trust O keep thy servant that â—o presumptâ—ous sins prevail over me And cleaâ—se me from â—y secret sins yea from all my sins of thought then shall I be â—pright and I shall be innâ—cent and free from the great transgressions Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redâ—â—mer A SERMON Composed for the FVNERAL Of that prâ—â—ious Woman Mrs ANNE SKELTON of S.