I Have perused this Discourse entituled Honey out of the Rock and find it answerable to the Title full both of strength and sweetnesse and therefore do approve the publishing of it in Print April 19. 1644. Joseph Caryl HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK OR GODS METHOD IN GIVING THE SWEETEST Comforts in sharpest Combates Chiefly intended As Spirituall Plunder for Plundered Beleevers Judges 14.14 Out of the eater came forth meat Hebr. 10.34 And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance LONDON Printed by Francis Neile for Henry Overton in Popes-Head Alley 1644. TO ALL THE PERSECVTED Members of Iesus Christ especially the Exiles and Plundered of Bristol Exeter Westchester Oxford and elsewhere in these bleeding Kingdoms of England and Ireland Right precious in the Lord IT is hard to say whether would first have devoured the persecuted Saints in the Primitive times either the depth of their miserie or the weight of their glorie had not the Almightie enlarged their capacity to bear the one as well as the other and therefore not doubting the Father of mercies continued dispensations towards you afflicted for his sake in a way of like abounding consolations your poore brethren not yet honoured as your selves to suffer for Christ do look upon you they know not whether with more compassion or holy emulation t is true your outward condition hath a sad aspect to the eye of reason you are driven from the creature but it is to the Creator from the lower to the upper springs from the streame to the fountain is this miserie before your troubles you had your ordinarie commons with your fellow-beleevers but now your daily food is choice morsels your ordinarie liquids waters of life and superlative refections Benjamins messe your daily share the love of God the power of Christ the Spirit of glorie the care of Angels the prayers of Saints are all upon the wing for your present welfare is this miserie the Summum bonum the great inquirie of this blind world searching for it in all aboundancie of outward glorie is found by you and you by it sitting in sackcloth and ashes is this miserie your earth is dissolved before your bodies and your heaven prevents you before your time your joyes are immediate you reap without sowing you feed on the kernels and break not the shels you rest from your labours the vision of God the blood of Christ the joy of the spirit the food of Angels are not these your daily repast is this miserie dearest brethren it is my ambition to be your unworthy servitor in your present supports whereby if I can but help on your joy and insinuate my self among the number of your benefactors and share with them in your daily requests at the throne of grace it will be a double reward unto him who is unworthy to be mentioned with the meanest of you all J. P. Hony out of the Rock HOlinesse is the object of mans hatred and Gods love and in what subject soever it be found it produceth the contrary effects of love and hatred from God and man there is not one thing wherein wretched man more contends with his maker then about the peace and trouble joy and sorrow life and death of the Saints of God this the Apostle speaks of 2 Cor. 4.8 9. We are troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed And Christ expresly affirmeth that in the world they should have trouble but in him peace Joh. 16.33 The great contention between Michael and the Devil is not now about the body of Moses as of old Jude vers 9. but the body of Christ viz. his Church Revel 12.6 whose habitation though it be in the wildernesse and mountains of Lebanon and Amana Shenir and Hermon the Lions dens and mountains of the Leopards Song 4.8 yet even there is she leaning upon her beloved Chap. 8.5 and there hath God prepared a place for her where she is fed and supported Revel 12.16 where he maketh peace her borders and filleth her with the finest of the wheat Psal 147.14 and with honey out of the rock Psal 81.16 Extracts of spirits are most vigorous how much more the Spirit of spirits which is a beleevers recoverie in fainting fits and therefore the subject matter of our present discourse shall be this The Spirit of Christ is unto beleevers the sweetest comforts in their sharpest combates In which Proposition two things are considerable First that God hath given unto his Saints the Spirit of his Son Secondly that this Spirit yeelds forth the sweetest comforts in the sharpest trials The â—oynt confirmation prosecution and application whereof shall be endeavoured in the solution of these Questions First why God gives unto his people the Spirit of Christ Secondly how the Spirit of Christ doth comfort beleevers in evill times Thirdly how the Spirit of Christ may be discerned from the Spirit of delusion First why God gives unto his people the Spirit of his Son Answ First God gives the Spirit of his Son unto Beleevers that so they may be made like unto his Son Christ is the expresse image of God and the Saints are the expresse image of Christ if you will know what God is study Christ there you may read his infinite justice mercy love truth and goodnesse if you will know what Christ was here in the world study the Saints viz. Quatenus Saints there you may read the holinesse meeknesse humilitie patience love gentlenesseâ— with the like glorious perfection of Jesus Christ Psal 45.7 God is said to anoint Christ with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellows This is spoken of the Spirit which in many places of Scripture is compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 and else-where and the anointing oyle under the Law consisting of many sweet spices Exodus 35.8 did tipifie the powring out of the Spirit under the Gospel consisting of many sweet and precious graces and fruits therof and this is called the oyle of gladnesse to denote the chearing property of the Spirit of Christ which is as ointment Pro. 27.8 to rejoyce the heart and with this was Christ anointed above his fellows that is in respect of measure 3. John 34. but not in respect of kinde the Saints having received it of his fulnes Joh. 1.16 it pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell 1. Col. 19. but yet that this fulnesse powred forth upon the head should reach even unto the skirts of his garments Psal 133.2 the Saints are called Christs fellows God hath given them fellowship with Christ in the same inheritance Rom. 8.17 and therefore in the same Spirit Gal. 4.6 Gods designe was to make his Elect like his Son and in him like himselfe we shall be like unto Christ in glory John 3.2 and we must be made like him in grace even pure as he is pure verse 3. the
Spirit of Christ stamps the image of his Son upon us looking upon and beholding the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is the first reason God gives the Spirit of his Sonn to conforme us to the similitude of his Sonne Secondly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son which is the fruit of his death and intercession that we may be fully convinced of all the glorious perfections and fruits of the death and merits of Jesus Christ God hath convinced us of the perfection of his love by sending his Sonne into the world John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his Sonne if you will measure his love measure the gift but both the one and the other is infinite Christ was the ensuring earnest of his love having given him he will surely give all things with him Rom. 8.32 Now as Christ is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Gods love so the gift of the Spirit is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Christs merits and therefore it is called the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession 1. Ephes 14. greater is Christ then all other fruits of Gods love and greater is the Spirit then all other fruits of Christs merits as all the fruits of Gods love are intayled unto the person of Christ so all the fruits of Christs death are intayled unto the Spirit of Christ hee that hath Christ need not question whether God will give any other fruit of his love so he that hath the Spirit need not question any other fruit of Christs merits his Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory will follow God would not have us doubt of his love and therefore he hath given us the person of his Son neither would he have us doubt of the fruit of Christs merits aad therefore hath hee given us the Spirit of his Son the very gift of Christ being understood doth convince of the love of God and yet Christ in his person did also preach the love of God so the very gift of the Spirit doth convince of the merits of Christ and yet this Spirit doth preach and declare the perfection of Christs merits None in the world could be convinced of the love of God except Christ had preached it unto him so none in the world can be convinced of the merits of Christ except this Spirit doth shew it and preach it unto him Christ did bear witnesse of the truth of Gods love and his witnesse is true John 5.31 and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse unto Christs blood and this Spirit is truth 1. John 5.6 What ever God gives and not his Son there is no testimonie of Gods love so what ever the soule hath and not the Spirit there is no conviction of the merits of Christ though the Word speakes peace and the Prophets of God speakes peace and all the people of God speakes peace yet the soule cannot heare it except God viz. by his Spirit cause it to heare the voyce of joy and gladnesse Psal 51.8 Thirdly God gives the Spirit of his Son unto his Saints to fit them for glory God doth not love disproportion when he made a woman for man hee made her a meet help 1. Genesis 18. When God sent Christ for the worke of Redemption he fitted him A body hast thou prepared or fitted Heb. 10.5 So God intending his Elect for glorie he makes them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light 1. Col. 12. and to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 2. Ephes 6. and this meetnesse is by the Spirit for the Elect of God are chosen to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the Truth 2. Thess 2.13 who living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit wait through the Spirit for the righteousnesse of Faith viz. the end thereof which is the salvation of their soules Gal. 5.5 no uncleane thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God Revel 22.15 but the Saints shall therefore are they washed and sanctified and just fied in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of ouâ— God 1. Cor. 6.11 The Sacrifices and all the appurtenances thereof under the Law were to be sanctified and set apart and the Priests that were to enter into the holy place were sanctified and chosen from the world for that purpose and this sanctification was tipified by the anointing oil sprinkled upon Aaron Exod. 29.21 So the Saints of God are sanctified chosen or separated out of the world being made spirituall Kings and Priests unto God and appointed to come into that holy place even the place of glorie wherein dwelleth righteousnesse to give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth upon the Throne that liveth for ever and ever Revel 4.9 which sanctification consisteth in the powring forth of the Spirit compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 upon the Saints and thereby fitting them for glory Lastly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son that so they may be enabled to doe and suffer his will in an acceptable manner God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit 4. John 23. hee requireth that wee should pray in the Spirit and sing in the Spirit 1. Cor. 14.15 that wee should walke in the Spirit and live in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 that wee should doe every thing from a spirituall principle according to a spirituall rule with reference unto a spirituall end God is not a hard Master requiring to reap where he did not sow exacting a tale of bricke and give no straw but that they may doe the will of God in an acceptable manner he gives his Spirit unto all his Saints the Apostle saith that through Christ we have accesse by one Spirit unto the Father 2. Ephes 18. through Christ viz. the blood of Christ wee are brought into this grace and by the Spirit wee are enabled to improve this grace viz. in all spirituall services so that God gives them his Spirit that so they may be enabled to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 And so likewise for passive obedience he hath given them his Spirit that with comfort and spirituall joy and consolation they may undergoe that hard worke of bearing the crosse which leadeth me to the solution of the second generall Question Namely how the Spirit doth comfort beleevers in evill times How doth the Spirit of Christ support Beleevers in evill times Answ First by his owne naturall genuine and proper strength and influence 1. John 4 4. You are of God little children and have overcome the world because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world the Saints of God are as little children in meeknesse humilitie singlenesse of heart simplicitie of mind freedom from envie dependance upon God and
God my high tower God gives unto the soule the wings of a Dove as David hath it Psalme 55.6 viz. of his Spirit whereby he flies away and is at rest Tell me you experienced holy ones did you ever feele the strength of faith more glorious in you then since these troubles came upon you have you not found your faith a great deale weaker under lesser troubles then now when happily you are plundered of all you have Fourthly as the Spirit of God shewes the soule where his sccuritie is and the doore hereunto and gives legs and spirit to run unto it it shewes God and Jesus Christ and brings the soule unto God through Christ So in the fourth place it enables the souleta treat with God in prayer and to prevaile with him to be his securitie his rocke his defence c. The Spirit of Christ moves the soule towards God through Christ and then suggests and dictates its request unto him Gal. 4.6 Because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts whereby you cry Abba Father the Saints of God are sons of God Ye are sons saith the Text the free grace of God maketh them so by adoption the Spirit of God makes them so by the infusion of the Divine Nature viz. so farr as communicable the sons of God have the Spirit of Christ because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts where hee gives the priviledges of his Sonne he gives the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts not onely the knowledge of his Sonne into their heads and the confession of his Sonne into their tongues but the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts whereby ye cry the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer and of fervency in prayer ye cry Abba Father the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of adoption and that to the Greeks as well as to the Jewes and the Spirit perswades that now the sonnes of God are not onely of the Jewes but the Gentiles and that hee is a Father to all that call upon him in Truth whether Jewes or Greekes and therefore the Apostle here speaketh in the language both of the Jewes and Greekes viz. the whole world Abba Father the maine that we note here to our purpose is that the Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of prayer and it cheares the soule in time of trouble by enabling it to powre out it selfe unto the Lord in prayer which is a sweet supporting exercise God commands in nothing to be carefull but in every thing to let our requests be made knowne unto him in giving of thankes Philip. 4.6 God would have his people live in quietnesse not in anxious troubles and solicitous cares of the minde be so carefull for nothing turne not your troubles into cares but into prayers in every thing by prayer and supplication let every thing occasion prayer and supplication and let your prayers be alwayes dasht with thanks-giving your present wants may move your prayers and earnest requests your supplications and your present enjoyments calls for your thanks-giving This God commands in many places in the holy Scriptures Open thy mouth wide I will fill it Psal 81.10 we cannot out pray Gods power and goodnesse No he is able and therefore willing to doe abundantly above all that we are able to aske or thinke Ephes 3.20 I might bring in many more places as that in the Canticles 2.14 Let me see thy face let me heare thy voice and againe Call upon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and turne thy prayer into prayses thou shalt praise me Psal 50.15 The Spirit puts the soule into an improvement of these incouragements in this duty And here againe let me appeale unto you Oh ye afflicted and persecuted Saints did you ever feele the Spirit of prayer so swectly breathing in your souls as since your troubles Have you not found that freenesse and inlargednesse of spirit which you neuer found in all the dayes of your pilgrimage cannot many a secret corner witnesse such pantings such movings such powring forth of prayers and teares and holy and heavenly affections as you never knew before and hath not this been a most sweet strengthning ordinance unto you though God hath touched you as it were in the hollow of your thigh I mean your estate your friends and outward comforts that perhaps you may halt all the dayes of your life in respect thereof yet have you not had such a blessing through your wrastling with God as that you would not want it for all your former wonted comforts That is the fourth particuler Fiftly as the Spirit of God doth minde the soule of God his tower of Jesus Christ the doore into it gives strength to come unto it enables to pray and prevaile with God for protection and supplies so in the last place the spirit proves in the soule grace sufficient to support to uphold during the trouble it lies under 2. Cor. 12.9 The Apostle Paul lying under some great pressure of spirit what it was is the different judgement of many godly learned yet it drove him unto God in Christ and his answere was that the grace of God was sufficient for him the grace of God that is the favour of God is sufficient to appease and satisfie his conscience from guilt and the grace of God that is the Spirit of grace is sufficient to support and keepe up the heart notwithstanding the power of the affliction This Spirit of Christ convaies as it were the influence of Gods attributes his power goodnesse and mercy and the influence of Christs Offices and Merits and applyes and brings home the sweet and luscious promises and the strength of supporting ordinances in that experimentall and sutable manner unto the condition of the soule that no man knowes the meaning hereof but spirituall Christians indeed And tell me againe O ye afflicted of the Lord have you not felt the secret workings of the attributes of God Offices Blood and Merits of Christ the Promises of the Gospel and Ordinances of Gods Worship like the still dew of heaven dropping upon your soules and making you fruitfull in all peace and joy in beleeving filling you with patience meekenesse and all other graces of the Spirit to the praise of his grace And have not you beene in respect of your inward and spirituall security like God himselfe a bove all storms and troubles belowe able to laugh them to scorne have you not felt such refreshings to come from the presence of the Lord which have been as waters out of a rock in a thirsty land Have you not been hereby able to see all things beneath you and your selves like God in securitie when clouds and darknesse have beene round about you solacing your selves in your God pertaking of that fulnesse of joy and drinking from those rivers of pleasure which are in his presence for evermore And that is the fourth generall
her great belly this was that renuing in the inner man day by day which made Paul and the rest of the suffering Saints to rejoyce though their outward man did perish 2 Cor. 4.16 And hence it is that they count it all joy when that they fall into divers temptations knowing that the triall of their faith worketh patience and patience having its perfect work maketh them perfect and intire wanting nothing Jam. 1.2.3 A spirituall growth in the inner man is so much the more acceptable unto a beleever above all outward injoyments by how much the more it is more precious in it self then they Outward blessings are Esau his portion but God is the portion of his Saints and the more of God they have viz. of his divine communicable nature the richer they are if they can see the light of Gods countenance shining upon them and the work of his Spirit thriving in them they have enough and will rejoyce in that condition wherein these prosper though it be most irksome to their frail flesh and here again I call for your experiences you refined Saints by the fiery triall did you ever feel God so powerfull in you the work of his Spirit so strong in you in patience meeknesse humilitie gentlenesse dependance upon God c. as you have done since you have been stript of your late comforts Did you not know the time that the smallest crosse and trouble in your estates made you peevish passionate and froward and now you can look upon the spoiling of your whole estate with joy Did you not know the time when the best food easiest lodging costly garments and many friends with many other accommodations could not satisfie and content you and you are now satisfied and can blesse God and thank your friends for a meals meat a suit of clothes a little money a nights lodging a mean house to hide your heads in and now brown bread and the Gospel is good fare with you The time was when you thought your selves high and great men and that every man wrong'd you if he came not to you with cap and knee at everie word looking haply upon your inferiours in estate though superiours in grace with mean thoughts and disrespect but now you hugge them in your bosoms and blesse God for their societie and Christian company and is not this a sweet chearing Would you want this precious spirituall work upon your hearts for all your glorie Well this is the last way that I shall note whereby the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evil times viz. by furnishing them with and enabling them unto the exercise of those suitable gifts and graces fit for a suffering condition And so much for the second generall Question how the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times The third generall Question is How the Spirit of Christ may be discerned from the spirit of delusion This indeed is one of the most concerning Queries in all the world as will appear if you note these brief considerations First If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 viz. for the present in his own knowledge and to his own satisfaction Secondly if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he cannot worship him in spirit and in truth so that to kill an ox in sacrifice is no more acceptable unto God then killing a man His sacrificing a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck his oblation is as swines blood his incense is as blessing an Idol Isa 66.3 that is not onely not acceptable unto God but every way as abominable as these provocations Thirdly if a man hath not the Spirit he is left alone in all his troubles and perplexities for there is no meet help and comfort for a man but the Spirit When God made man at first having made the world behold all was good save one and that was for man to be alone Genes 2.18 But now among all the creatures was not found an help meet for him verse 20. Even so it is not good to be alone Eccles 1.10 that is alone to bear all his crosses and troubles Now among all other comforters is not found an help and comforter meet for man and therefore God gives his people the Spirit Adam was above the capacâ—…ie of all other creatures here belowe and therefore he must have an help of his own qualitie and consideration just so the whole world is beneath the soul of man and therefore it must be something like it self that must be a suitable good and that is the Spirit of Christ which indeed differeth from Adams help in this chiefly ☞ viz. that when God made man at first his help was the weaker vessel by occasion whereof he fell but now in restoring man God intending to make his recoverie more glorious then at first his help is the stronger viz. the strong God himself by his Spirit within Fourthly confider if a man hath not the Spirit of Christ the day of his death will be a bitter day unto him even the houre and power of darknesse when the whole world shall vanish in his own vision being sensible of nothing but fear and dread and a guilty Conscience and of Satan readie to prey upon his trembling soul readie to expire Digest these considtrations with such like seriously in your thoughts and let them have their own proper working upon your spirit Consider are you able to bear it that Christ and you should have no interest each in other that all your prayers and tears and duties of all kinds shall rise up against you one day have you not sin enough to damne you but your duties must do it are you able to be alone in your miseries are not the Heavens black over your heads and the Earth bloodie under your feet do you not see the hils to quake and the mountains hurl'd into the midst of the Seas is there not such a Concussion of Kingdoms Cities Countreys which threatens a confusion of all Do you not see God coming like an armed man against you attended with a black guard of bloodie warre famine plagues pestilences and the bitter consequences of these Do you not expect death every day when God is coming with his judgements as with a fieth to mowe down the kingdom before him and can you bear the thoughts of death without the Spirit to chear you and support you How might all this put us all upon inquisition whether we have the Spirit of Christ Before we come to the solution of this grand Question Ssme things are to be premised by way of caution First that there are many in the world that think they have the Spirit of Christ and it is nothing so Secondly that some there are that have the Spirit of Christ and know it not Thirdly that it is very possible to know that a man hath the Spirit of Christ Fourthly that it is a very hard and difficult thing to find it out All and
every one of these premises and cautions may be clearly argued out both from manifest Scriptures and Reasons and Demonstrations which will if prosecuted accordingly be a too great digression from the thing intended and besides much conviction in them all is extant in the Labours of many godly and holy mens writings There is a great deale of difference in the judgements of some godly men whether a mans Justification may bee knowne by his Sanctification and by the markes and fignes of Sanctification It were to bee wisht that both the one partie and the other yea the whole generation of holy ones the Sonnes of unitie would studie unitie among themselves and make conscience of that Apostolicall Injunction so far as in them lieth 1. Thess 4.11 Studie to be quiet and 1. Pet. 3.8 Be ye all of one minde having compassion one of another love as brethren Surely if we had compassion one of another especially in these times when our divisions are both the studie and advantages of our bloody enemies we would be all of one minde at least so far as we reveale our selves to the world it is very sad to see men even holy doubtlesse and godly to be so farre from studying to be quiet that they study to oppose and to differ and it is a very acceptable thing unto them to differ from their brethren and to blaze the same I would not be mistaken a tender conscience an inquiring and searching Spirit after the things of Jesus Christ is very commendable but yet with speciall respects to the Community of Christ and all his Churches and the truth is we suffer much disadvantage by our neglect this way But to returne to the businesse in hand this I think will be granted that for a man to know his interest in God and the truth of the Spirit in his heart is a part of Sanctification whether it be by the testimony of the Spirit or any other way and therefore at least in some sence it is to be granted that the knowledge of our Justification is by the knowledge of our Sanctification Againe this I thinke will be likewise granted that no man can be assured of his Justification and not be sanctified that hee cannot know his Justification without Sanctification it is very true that it is a very hard and difficult thing to finde out the truth of holines and supernaturall worke of Gods Spirit in the soule the heart of man being so deceitfull above all things and there being so many counterfeit quallifications and common gifts and it is to be granted also that many deluded hypocrites think great matters of their conceited holinesse from such and such quallisications wrought within them and such and such things done by them and many also whose hearts are most upright with their God yet through ignorance of Jesus Christ and consciousnesse of their owne guilt misjudge of their owne happie estate and so erre on the other hand yet this I thinke is not to be denyed viz. that the meanest Saints have peculiar and fingular workes of the Spirit in their very worst condition of soule which the most glorious hypocrites in the world never had in their best condition and greatest inlargements in their hearts These considerations being premised the result herein will be this that as inward quallifications are to be heeded I meane in using them as satisfactory markes of an undoubted condition ☞ sound and good in Jesus Christ so on the other hand they are not altogether to be neglected as uselesse for such a purpose for doubtlesse if men will take that paines with their spirits as they may doe they may in a very probable if not certaine way have much satisfaction in respect of the state of their soules otherwise I know not how to use and improve that place of the Apostle John 13.20.21 If our hearts condemne us God is greater then our hearts if our hearts condemne us not then have wee confidence before God So in Pet. 1.10 2. Cor. 13.5 and many such like places and therefore I take leave to give my answer to the question in hand with a very speciall respect to what the Spirit of God worketh in the soul To the question therefore how a man may know the truth of the Spirit in his heart I answer First The Spirit of Christ in the heart is Christ spiritually in the heart that is Consider Christ in every respect and there is an answerablenesse thereof in the heart of the beleever Christ is considerable in his Natures Conception Birth Life Death Buriall Resurrection Ascention and Intercession at the right hand of God the Father and in his Offices and there is a certaine consimilitude of every particuler in the heart of a spirituall man First for the Natures of Christ he was God and Man 1. Cor. 15.47 Heb. 1.10 So beleevers as they are true men so likewise are they partakers of the divine Nature so farre as Communicable God himselfe dwelling in them viz. by his Spirit 2. Pet. 1.4 John 14.17 Secondly For the Conception of Christ hee was Conceived by the holy Ghost not by any meanes of the Virgin yet not against or without her Luke 1.35 Even so Christ in a beleever is Conceived Not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 Thirdly Consider Christ in his Birth elected before the world by the Father but borne in fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 even so beleevers according to the good pleasure of God which he purposed in himselfe in fulnes of time are gathered together as the Apostle hath it Ephes 1.9 10. Fourthly Looke upon the Life of Christ from first to last hee did and suffered all things and that with all delight and complacency with reference to his Fathers will John 4.33 John 5.30 Luke 22.42 Even so the Spirit of Christ frameth the whole of man so farre as he is spirituall to do and suffer all and that with delight in reference unto the will of God Ephes 6.6 Galat. 4.12 c. And as the Law of God was written in the heart of Christ which made him naturally content and willing to do the will of God Hebr. 10.7 Even so the Law of God is written in the heart of beleevers which makes them willing and chearfull in doing the will of God Hebr. 8.10 11. Fifthly Look upon the sufferings of Christ that hath a manifold influence and operation in the soul as first to pacifie and quiet the heart Christ by his eternall Spirit tendreth his blood to pacifie God sitting in the throne of Justice in the seat of glory Hebr. 9.14 And the Spirit of Christ tendreth as it were the same blood unto the conscience Gods vice-gerent to the satisfaction and pacification therof All the oblations in the world though they had been ten thousand rivers of oyl could not have satisfied Divine Justice nothing but the blood of Christ nor that too had it not been offered
1. Cor. 2.14 15. Fiftly The Spirit of Christ gives a being unto the word of God in the soule and this doth steare and guide the heart and life this is sweeter unto them then the honey or the honey-combe it maketh them set to their seale that God is true that his word is tried Psal 18.30 setled in beaven Psal 119.89 that God hath magnified his Word above all his Name Psal 138.2 That the word of the Lord shall stand Esai 40.8 That heaven and earth shall passe away before one jot or tittle of his word shall faile Matth. 5.18 This is setled in the heart by the Spirit and there it frames the heart according to it and this is called Gods writing his laws in the heart of Beleevers Heb. 8.10 Hence it comes to passe that they obey from the heart that forme of doctrine that is delivered unto them Rom. 6.17 So that they rejoyce at the word of promise as one that findeth great spoiles Psal 119.162 And they stand in awe of the word of threatning verse 161. and the word of instruction direction consolation reprehension from the mouth of God hath most deepe weight and roome in the heart This is one of the most clear durable and effectuall evidence of the Spirit of Christ so that when many other quallifications faile and there is no difference in the soules apprehension between it selfe and the vilest of sinners when little or nothing at all of the fruits of the Spirit appeare when instead of faith hope patience meeknesse c. the soule is apprehensive of nothing but unbeliefe and feare passion pride hardnesse of heart c. Yet then the word of free grace and the promise of healing mercy this stayeth and supporteth the heart Now this is differenced from that vain common pretended dependance that meere formalists have of the word of God in such particulers as these First Beleevers in and through Christ waits for the fulfilling of the Word in him they expect all to be Yea and Amen So that being acquainted with the manifold mysteries of God in Christ through him they expect the performance of all his word so that though flesh faile and heart faile yet God through Christ is his portion and help for ever and this is unto him as good as currant money in his purse which answers every condition whatsoever whereas meere formalists in a sleight general and confused notion of God and Christ very faintly professe faith in the word but their eyes and their hopes are after carnall and secondary supports which failing their spirits faints Secondly The whole Word of God hath a proportionable being and power in the hearts of beleevers The word of promise of threatning of terror of comfort of command of prohibition consolation direction c. each of these hath its proper work upon the heart of Beleevers so that there is a sweet commensurable and proportionable influence thereof in the heart making it to rejoyce with trembling and to tremble with rejoycing Every notion of God hath a particular work upon the heart working up the whole frame of the soul unto a sweet and blessed posture of the inward man But it is not thus with Formalists they haply may be affected with the word of promise and sometimes terrified with the word of threatning but the word of direction and instruction seldome takes hold upon their hearts they are sometimes tickled with flashy raptures of joy in a conceitednesse of their interest in the promises and again as deeply cast down with unbelief and despair when a threatning of the word seiseth upon their hearts but they are not proportionably ballanced with ingenious constant mutuall and sutable affections from every part of the whole Word of God Thirdly the Word of God is a Beleevers meditation his study and that for obedience and conformity sake here unto insomuch that it hath an influence throughout his whole course of life Look upon him in his relations whether master servant husband wife father child c. or in his conditions whether poore or rich high or low or in his calling in buying selling working c. the Word of God runs in his mind and how he might conform unto that as may be clearly shewed from the Scriptures in many instances but that it would leade into too large a discourse But now it is not thus with formalists the Word of God runs not in his thoughts but his ends and aimes and not the will of God steers him in his whole conversation so that we may conclude it an undoubted character of the presence of the Spirit of Christ viz. it s giving a being unto the whole Word of God in the soul which is the fifth Testimony of the Spirits presence in the Saints Shall we apply this with reference to the comfort of those whose outward comforts are lost and gone is it thus with you do you find Christ in you spiritually in the sence formerly spoken of Do you find your hearts alwayes by a sing towards Jesus Christ in respect of the bent and frame thereof do you find the Spirit of Christ trading with you for God as Christ with God for you do you find your hearts affected with spirituall objects hath the whole Word of God a being in your hearts is it not thus with you in some sweet and precious measure Oh do not deny God in you I know it is thus with you lift up then your hanging-down hands and strengthen your feeble knees rejoyce and be exceeding glad great is your portion in heaven be not cast down at your present condition God hath taken away the lesser testimonies of his love that he may clear it up by greater and is this your sorrow You have heretofore offered up your selves and your estates unto God he hath accepted of your offering is this your complaint He hath taken away his ordinarie and common favours that you might partake of his extraordinarie and speciall grace and shall this grieve you He hath taken away your shels and husks the creature that he might feed you with kernels even himself and is this your dejection Chear up then you children of the most high sitting haply for the present in sackcloth and ashes forget not your consolation which speaketh unto you as unto children My son despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son that he receiveth Hebr. 12.5 6. Though you are afflicted and tossed up and down yet behold now you are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what you shall be but when Christ which is your life shall appear then shall ye appear with him in glory 1 Joh. 3.2 All your present troubles extend no farther then your meer carcasse your vile bodies which God shall one day change making it like unto the glorious body of Jesus Christ Philip. 3.21 Yet a little while and the Lord shall wipe away all tears from your eyes yea he that shall come will come and will not tarry In the mean while take these directions for your present practice the fruit whereof will be sweet and comfortable to your souls First take heed of sinning in the time of your affliction this will torment more then any thing Secondly study not your losses pore not upon your miserie little good will come by that but melancholly and afflicting thoughts Thirdly study the severall grounds of comfort mind your Consolations it will be a heart-raising work Fourthly observe every dayes providence and the Almighty his carefull provision for you this will heighten your experiences and fill you with joy Fiftly be frequent in prayer and in nothing be carefull but in all things let your requests be made known unto God in prayer and supplication with giving of thanks And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall preserve your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus Philip. 4.6 7. FINIS