as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. Gifts may wither but grace will grow into glory These two things premised I come now to speak and that first of those things in general which are undenyable evidences of Soul-prosperity 1. When this thriving and growth is universal The Body prospers when there is a healthy constitution all over When the Head is well the Stomach is well and all the vital parts are sound within But in Children that have the Rickets the Head is only growing the inferiour parts of the Body being weak and feeble When it is so we say the Child prospers not It is oftentimes so with the Soul It may seemingly prosper in some things when it doth not really prosper in other things or indeed in any thing It was so with many in the Church of Ephesus Their zeal was warm in externals in a high and mighty opposition against false Teachers Errours and Heresies these they could not endure Rev. 2.6 But it was not so in other things in the best things there was a great decay in the inward Man in the vitals of Godliness in those graces that accompany Salvation ver 4 5 I have something against thee because thou hast left thy first Love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works This is as far from true Soul-prosperity as a Tradesman from thriving who gains by some one pedling commodity and loseth thrice as much in greater matters The Soul prospers when it grows up in all things Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things in him who is the Head even Christ It were endless almost to reckon up the thriving and prospering in every grace I shall therefore instance in 2 things by the thriving whereof we may take an estimate of the rest 1. When the Soul thrives in those two graces which by experience are found to have as great an influence on the health of the Soul as Natural heat and Radical moisture so Physicians say and Reason saith so too have upon the health of the Body The just temperament of these is that which preserves life and health and strength So when these two graces that of Faith which is as the Natural heat and that of Repentance which is as the Radical moisture are thriving and growing toward their full height then the Soul is in a very prosperous way 1. When Faith grows which is the Natural heat as it did 2 Thes 1.3 because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth Now this growth is best discerned 1. When it grows in depth So as the Soul is more and more setled grounded rooted and built up in Christ Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled And ch 2.7 Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the Faith So that the heart is fixed and is at peace within when all without is shaken and the foundation of all Creature-comforts turned upside down As a Tree whose Root doth remain firm when the top doth shake Psal 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee He could keep his faith above his fears Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil Tydings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him As if he had said Though I read a sentence of Death upon what concerns this Life yet I have somewhat to trust him for beyond this Life No danger nor death shall beat me off from the holdfast of my faith in God through Christ Jesus When it is thus that promise will be made good Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 2. When it grows in breadth so as it gives a firm absolute unlimited assent to the whole truth of God and receives the testimony of God as in one thing so in every thing which it apprehends to be of God and that purely because God saith so whatever Sense and Reason can object to the contrary So Act. 24.14 But I confess unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets Joh. 3.33 He that believeth his testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true in every thing I speak this of justifying faith not only considered in its most eminent act which is to receive Jesus Christ and rest upon him alone for whatsoever may give a title to or a fitness for eternal Salvation but in its most full compleat and perfect act assenting to whatsoever is historically delivered in the word believing every Command every Threat'ning every Promise both of this life and the life to come So as whatever is recorded in the word is so believed not without some gratious effect upon the Soul Observe it in four particulars 1. A growing thriving faith so believes what is Historically delivered concerning the Creation of the World as nothing is too hard for it Although the things believed do not yet appear yet that hinders not a full assurance of their future existence seeing the same power of God which created the World of nothing can give a Being to whatever he hath said shall be when it seems good unto him Psal 121.2 My help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth As if he had said I will never distrust his power for whatever I stand in need of who could erect such a stately Fabrick from nothing 2. A growing thriving faith believes every Command of God Psal 119.66 I have believed thy Commandments He believes them to be holy just and good and brings down every thought more and more in subjection unto them all Thus Abraham's faith growing and thriving hath many eminent acts of obedience ascribed to it Heb. 11.8 By Faith Abraham when he was called of God to go into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went A hard tryal For as it is in the Proverb The smoak of a Man 's own Chimney is as good as the fire of another's So that Command which was yet more hard of offering up his only begotten Son that is of his wife Sarah the Son of the Promise in whose Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed yet he submitted to it Heb. 11.17 though he had but short warning Gen. 22.2 3. He received the Command over-night and went about it next Morning 3. A growing thriving Faith believes the threat'nings of the Word and this belief makes the Soul to stand in awe of them Psal 119.161 my heart standeth in awe of thy word So Heb. 11.7 Noah's Faith takes warning at the threat'ning He was moved with
in this World Not that all these sad effects are seen in every one but some in one and some in another 2. The effects will be found to be as sad in the World to come It is a sad sight to see Men undo themselves with their own mercies as Bees that are drowned in their own Honey but so it is Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of Fools shall destroy them i.e. with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. It is evident from Scritpure that but few shall be saved Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen And it is as evident that but few of those few will be found among the rich and prosperous 1 Cor. 1.26 For ye see your calling Brethren that not many wise Men after the flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called Yea it is yet more evident that the Spirit of God speaks in the Scritpure as if Salvation had been almost impropriated to the meaner sort of people and that those who prosper in the World had been almost excluded Jam. 2.5 hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him The Church is called the Congregation of the poor Psal 74.19 Such as were of the lower rank destitute of Worldly advantages But for the rich and prosperous see Luk. 6.24 25 Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your consolation Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger Wo unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep Jam. 5.1 Go to now ye rich Men weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you The Apostle speaks not by way of advice and counsel to prevent their judgment by godly sorrow The exercise of that grace it not expressed by howling but he speaks by way of threat'ning and denouncing wrath and vengeance They had their good things in this life their pleasure upon Earth vers 5. Rev. 18.7 By how much she glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Yet this is not to be understood as if God would condemn the rich because they were rich no more then he will save the poor for their poverty But he will condemn the rich for their sin and save the poor for their faith and piety through Jesus Christ Much more might be said to shew that Worldly prosperity separated from Soul-prosperity is by no means a prosperity to be desired It is but Eternal misery at a little distance Much less is it to be compared with Soul-prosperity This ye may judge by those effects of it which are seen to be so in this World and will be found to be so in the World to come 2. But now if we consider the Effects and Consequents of Soul-prosperity we shall find they are every way most desirable whether we consider the effects thereof for the present in this life or for the future in the life to come 1. In this life When the Soul prospereth and the divine well-fare thereof is kept in its heavenly temper by divine influences from above then there is such a glory and beauty in it as is much set by in the sight of God Psal 45.11 So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty It is a lovely sight to see any thing grow so as to thrive and prosper Corn on the ground Cattel in the field Fruit on the tree Children in the house growing up as Olive Plants about the Table But the growth and prosperity of the Soul is much more lovely Indeed there is much spiritual beauty and loveliness in the very first principles of spiritual life wherein as I have shewed you the first Foundation of Soul-prosperity as to our discerning it is laid These are much of the same nature and bear the same name with that perfect state of happiness which is enjoy'd in Heaven As that is called Glory so are these 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. And if so then where all these lovely principles thrive and prosper the spirit of glory rests upon such a Soul as 1 Pet. 4.14 This is so but that which I shall specially instance in as most comprehensive of the blessed effects of Soul-prosperity in this life is that sweet peace within and heavenly serenity of spirit which a prosperous Soul so long as it doth prosper may and if it know its own happiness usually doth enjoy 1. Much sweet peace because of that sweet agreement which there is between a Man's Conscience and Himself Conscience we know if enlightened presseth to duty which if neglected in its season will wound and sting A prosperous Soul is more afraid of this then to be threat'ned with a fiery Furnace Dan. 3.13 That did not affright them at all but a Man may say as Job 27.6 My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live He was not afraid of those rebukings and upbraidings Now when grace is kept in exercise as it is in a prosperous Soul this keeps peace and that when troubles and tryals come upon us as an armed Man 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoicing is in this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the World This evidenced the prosperity of his Soul and that was his rejoicing That prayer of the Apostle for others Gal. 6.16 was heard for himself As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy 2. Much sweet peace because there is a sweet agreement between a Man's affection and his condition A prosperous Soul living and desiring to live in the enjoyment of God is where it would be and is willing to be what God will have him to be in the darkest hours that befall him Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 This subdues his affection to his condition when his condition otherwise would not be according to his affection Being clear in the point of his interest in God he can say how barren soever his condition be of outward comforts The Lord is my portion I have a goodly heritage Psal 16.5 6. Making God his Heaven and his Earth too Psal 73.25 3. A sweet peace because a sweet agreement between a Man's Hope and his Reason When the foundation of Soul-prosperity is first laid being quick'ned with principles of spiritual life it is born again to a lively hope of the heavenly inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. And when the Soul prospers according to the knowledge it hath of its own state it is able to give a reason of its hope as the expression is 1 Pet. 3.15 A reason grounded upon the free promise of God Rom. 2.7 If
under the greatest obligations that are imaginable to beware of Relapses So they ought with as great care and constancy to realize the presence of God with them day by day For it is without all controversie true that the exercise and so by consequence the growth and increase of the principles of godliness wherein Soul-prosperity specially consists is founded upon and preserved by the due consideratio … 〈◊〉 God's presence with us and his all sâ—eing eye upon us This is that which is specially comprehended in that expression of walking with God and walking before God And this is as specially to be observed That those that did so whilst they did so their Souls prospered We have it exemplified in Enoch Gen. 5.22 And he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 So Noah Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just Man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God So David Psal 26.3 I have walked in thy truth Psal 119.168 I have kept they precepts and thy testimonies for all my ways are before thee This was the best testimony that Solomon his Son could give of him when he was dead 1 King 3.6 Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father great mercy according as he walked before thee in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee This is that which God gives in charge to Abraham and that upon this account Gen. 17.1 walk before me and be thou perfect As thou desirest and I know thou desirest to hold fast thine integrity Let me live in thy thoughts and see to it that thou so live so think so speak and so do as remembring thou art always in my sight This is that which hath a very great influence to draw as it were the draught of the Image of God day by day in our Souls in more and more lively colours For in the state of glory the glorified Saints that are with the Lord and always behold his face are like him and see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Even so it is in the state of grace so far as this duty is conscientiously observed and discharged 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. It is true it is not said of Moses that his face did shine the first time that he had been with God in the Mount but when he had been with him the second time Exod. 34.29 This then is that we ought to have deeply engraven upon our hearts as ever we desire not to lose the things we have wrought to do as David did Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord always before my face Always that implies that we ought to make it our daily work what a Man does every day he is said to do Always And Always i. e. one day as well as another to our last day This is no more then is expresly required Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long And 1 Pet. 1.17 pass the time of your sojourning here in fear It is the exercise of the fear of God which hath a very great influence upon Soul-prosperity 2 Cor. 7.1 perfecting holiness in the fear of God And it is this realizing the presence of God which hath the great influence into the exercise of the fear of God Hence it is that true child-like fear is said to be fearing before God that is out of an awful respect unto and due consideration of his All-seeing eye Eccl. 8.12 it shall be well with them that fear God that fear before him This is that then which above all other things ought not to be omitted for the very sinews of all heart-godliness are as it were cut in sunder so far as this is neglected For there is nothing left then which hath any power over the inward man the hidden man of the heart but it enjoys a lawless liberty as if there were none to observe it nor to judge it 3 Epist of John ver 11 Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good He that doeth good is of God but he that doeth evil hath not seen God Deut. 32.18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee All their wickedness is charged upon that I shall say no more to this Second general Direction but only these Three things 1. That untill the Soul be spiritually alive to God and so in a capacity of prospering there is neither delight nor desire to entertain any thoughts of God Rom. 1.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge They cast the notions of God out of their minds as of no use to them Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts i.e. Not in his thoughts at all Job 21.14 They say to the Almighty Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Some say so in words at length and all of them say it in their hearts Thò God saith Wo unto you when I depart from you Hos 9.12 Yet they think it best when he departeth from them and the farther the better This frame of heart is the very blackness of Hellish darkness It speaks the very language of Satan Matth. 8.29 What have we to do with thee thou Jesus the Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time Thus it was of old Isa 30.11 Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from us 2. Though the Soul be alive to God yet so far as the Image of the old Adam is unmortified and any particular lust indulged so far God and the heart will be strangers Not only the beam but even such a moat in the eye will make such Souls to shun what they can the presence of God and the presence of those who they think will speak the mind of God unto them as Ahab did the presence of Micaiah 1 King 22.8 Such Souls are far from prospering This is the very image of old Adam Gen. 3.8 He heard the voice of God and hid himself from the presence of the Lord. 3. Even those whose Souls do live and in some measure may be said to prosper though they dare not omit any external duty of Religion yet they do too often and too easily slip over this without timely observation till they take a review of their hearts and then they see they have cause to say as Psal 36.11 Unite my heart to thee that I may fear before thee all the day long Or unite my heart within it self that it may not be diverted or distracted not carried this way and that way but that I may be able to say It is fixed it is fixed Thus I say it is and that too often with Souls that prosper according to their measure Therefore we ought to charge our selves with this duty and renew the charge from
proportioned and that is his Soul-prosperity Surely this Gaius was a very rare Man It is hard to find such among all those that bear the honourable name of Christians How many are there Christians in profession and it may be according to some measure indeed and in truth who prosper in their Estates and prosper in their Bodies They are well and lively as David's Enemies were Psal 38.19 but they have poor lean withering Souls So that we may very well in the behalf of many invert the Apostle's wish and wish that their Souls might prosper as their Bodies prosper and as their Estates prosper If we should pray for some that their Bodies might be as their Souls are we should curse them instead of praying for them We must say let their Bodies be filled with noisome Diseases and let them pine away for so their Souls do But it was not so with Gaius Hence observe Note Though a person of a sickly and weak constitution be under many disadvantages yet under them all it is possible his Soul may thrive and prosper 2 Cor. 4.16 Though our outward Man perish yet our inward Man is renewed day by day Here take notice that when I say such a Man is under some disadvantages I mean in respect of the outward Duties of Religion but not as to the inward and spiritual Duties as living by Faith exercising the Love of God and the Fear of God and desires after the enjoyment of God Herein consists true Religion Wo be to that Man that hath no more Religion then can be seen Religion is not all Outside the Lining is the best part of it The Text bears the Doctrine mentioned in the first place thus John wisheth that Gaius might prosper in all things as his Soul prospered we must understand him in subordination to Soul-prosperity John wisheth that Gaius might prosper in all things so that his Soul might still prosper If Gaius's Soul had received prejudice John had wished him a great loss So that the observation is clear That of all prosperities Soul-prosperity is the most desirable prosperity SERMON II. I Now proceed to that Observation I first intended in the choice of the words But take notice first That the Text gives a fair and full occasion to speak to it though perhaps not discerned at first John ye see wisheth all prosperity to his friend Gaius but this must be understood in a way of subserviency to the prosperity of his Soul Otherwise he had wished him far more hurt then good If he had wished him any thing that in the least had been to the prejudice of his Soul It is then beyond all controversie That as he wished that he might prosper in all things as his Soul prospered he would be understood that his desire was That his Soul always might prosper Hence observe Doct. Of all prosperity the prosperity of the Soul is the most desirable prosperity For the Explication three things are to be spoken too 1. What the Soul is in its natural constitution and what it is in its unregenerate state by reason of Original corruption 2. Wherein the prosperity of the Soul consisteth and when it may be said to prosper 3. What are the Reasons whereby it may be made to appear that the prosperity of the Soul is the most desirable prosperity For the first of these there are two things to be taken into consideration and to be spoken to apart 1. What the Soul is in its natural constitution Ans It is hard to tell you for it is a thing which no Man ever saw But this I may say that it is that which the Scripture sometimes calls The Spirit of Man which is in him 1 Cor. 2.11 Sometimes and indeed most frequently The heart of Man Prov. 23.26 My Son give me thine heart The inward Man 2 Cor. 4.16 The hidden Man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 The Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 And this I may say farther That it is a most excellent piece of God's Workmanship and indeed well worth the tongue and pen of an Angel to describe it The Body of Man though it was of mean extraction made at first but of the Dust of the Earth and liable every moment when God will to tumble into the grave to rot and putrifie and to be resolved into its first original Dust thou art and unto Dust shalt thou return again Gen. 3.19 Yet that it is a very curious piece David speaking of his Body Psal 139. saith vers 13 14 That he was fearfully and wonderfully made When I think thereof saith he as I do sometimes it striketh me with astonishment yea with a dread and fear of the incomprehensible wisdom and power of God manifested therein This my Soul knows full well yet this is but the Case the Cabinet The Soul is the Jewel that is in it If that be as the Ring this is the Diamond in the Ring I shall not undertake an exact definition of it but only this description It is a Spiritual Immortal substance united to the Body yet existing when it is separated from the Body capable of doing more service unto God and of receiving more good from God then all the Creatures that ever God made the glorious Angels and the Human Nature of Christ only excepted I shall not insist upon the proof of the particulars of this description Some of them may possibly come to be spoken to hereafter Only for the present take notice that it is endued with three most excellent Faculties which will go far if no more should at any time be said in proving this to be so 1. With the faculty of Vnderstanding capable of knowing Good from Evil Truth from Falshood of knowing God in Christ the knowledge of whom is Eternal Life Job 32.8 There is a Spirit in Man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him Vnderstanding Every Soul hath this faculty though this faculty in every Soul be not so furnished yet it is capable of the inspiration of the Almighty so as to know the truth as it is in Jesus and every truth as it ought to be known without which Man were no more capable of such knowledge then the Beasts of the field as Elihu expresseth himself Job 35.11 Who teacheth us more then the Beasts of the Earth and maketh us wiser then the Fowls of Heaven Therefore Nebuchadnezer upon the highest grounds of reason praiseth and magnifieth God for restoring his understanding unto him Dan. 4.34 2. Endued it is with the admirable faculty of Conscience which hath a power to make a Man stand in awe of God though he does not see him yea and of himself too when no Body knows where he is nor what he is doing For it taketh knowledge and can or at last day will bear witness what a Man hath thought or spoken or done even from his Cradle to his Grave So that no Man need to call for a Candle to see what he hath done in the dark
Holy Ghost If they shall fall away c. Yet here was nothing really wrought for the prosperity of the Soul They had none of those good things which do accompany salvation vers 9. But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that do accompany Salvation Thus it is with many they know much but their Souls are not fully brought under the power and authority of what they know still upon the account of some lust or other they are under the power of darkness spoken of Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness 2. In the Will there may be some light touches of the Spirit inclining it to cleave to the outward and visible part of Religion together with some workings in the motions and outgoings thereof in several affections Matth. 13.20 the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with joy receiveth it 1 King 21.27 Ahab rent his Clothes and put Sack-cloth upon his flesh and fasted and lay in Sack-cloth and went softly vers 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me And these stirrings of heart may work some resolutions and something may be done in pursuance of those resolutions Psal 78.34 36 37 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God c. 3. The Conscience likewise may be so awakened and so much may an unregenerate Man stand in awe of it that he dare not go against the light thereof Thus was it with Paul he was so exceeding zealous and made such Conscience of obeying the Tradition of the Fathers that he durst not but do as he did Act. 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus And he had great peace in so doing Rom. 7.9 For I was alive without the Law once So had Abimelech in that he did nothing but what in conscience he thought to be Lawful Gen. 20.6 For this reason so many among the sober sort of the Heathen commended a good Conscience All these things seem very fair but lay them all together and let one and the same Man be thus qualified in all these respects yet they are not in the least any true evidence that true and real Soul-prosperity is begun in them For all the light in his understanding his portion at last will be utter darkness And for the workings in the Will and the Conscience though they may seem to be not far from the Kingdom of God as Mark. 12.34 Yet all is but as the Grass-hoppers which as ye may observe make many a leap as if they would mount up to the skies and then presently fall down to the Earth again Still one thing is wanting They are not effectually called Nor by all this can any prove that they are called into a state of Union with Christ Therefore they have no Spiritual life This Understanding is still dead the Conscience dead the Will dead the whole Soul spiritually dead For he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh. 5.12 So that they are not yet in the right way of Soul thriving As whilst a dead Tree is a dead Tree it cannot prosper nor bring forth fruit This we may see in those that had most to shew for themselves So much that the Scripture calls it seeking and enquiring after God Remembring that the most High was their Rock c. Psal 78.34 35 36. Yet there was no Soul-prosperity begun vers 37. all this while their hearts were not right they were Spiritually dead Therefore as ye desire to find any Evidence within you of the Foundation of Soul-prosperity Give diligence to make your calling sure 2 Pet. 1.10 This makes it sure that ye are within the compass of Electing love and that God hath wrought in you according to his purpose SERMON III. I Proceed now to the second particular To shew wherein the prosperity of the Soul especially consisteth and when it may be said to thrive and prosper This is the principal thing the Text and Doctrine engage to speak unto And indeed to speak unto it is exceeding necessary You may well remember what was laid down in a Doctrine not long since handled That a living Christian though alive to God yet in respect of his Christianity and Religion may be in a withering languishing condition as far from prospering as those Trees are whose leaves fall off the boughs wither and the root decays It is so with many As it is much talked on that these times have brought forth many broken Merchants So they have many broken or almost broken Professors Good beginnings it is too often found are not always seconded with suitable proceedings Too many are too like the New Moon in its first quarter then it gives much light but it is down again and it 's dark again all over before the Morning light It was a sad question which the Apostle put to the Galatians chap. 5. v. 7 Ye did run well who did hinder you It was a question with a very sharp rebuke in it and it withal imports that no satisfying reason could be given why they should make such a halt Now in speaking to this necessary point I shall first mention some things in general wherein the prosperity of the Soul consists And then something which may more particularly demonstrate the truth and reality of it 1. In general I shall premise That as the first Rise and Foundation of Soul-prosperity as to any possibility of Evidence that such a thing is begun is laid in those principles of Spiritual life which are received by virtue of Union with Christ So the growth and progress thereof consists in their increase As they increase so the prosperity of the Soul increaseth and no otherwise It is possible a Man may grow in gifts and be very forward in exercising them and yet the Soul not thrive It is said of the Corinthians they came behind in no gift 1 Cor. 1.7 but their grace did not thrive answerably to their gifts No they were still but Babes and very carnal 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. 2. I farther premise this That there is a natural tendency in the principles of this life to grow as there is in the best Seed that is cast into the ground to grow and to bring forth fruit according to its kind For they are the Seed of the living God there is life in them and every living thing grows according to the measure which the God of its life hath appointed The Picture of a Child doth not grow it hath the same dimensions now which it had twenty years ago But the living Child to which these principles are compared that by receiving kindly nourishment grows 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby And certain it is that no work of the Spirit is designed for glory but that which is growing 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding
the life we live so far as it is gratious and it ought to be so in all things is more in Christ and from Christ and what we expect to receive from Christ then in and from our selves when we think with our selves as the Apostle said Gal. 2.20 Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Therefore interest Christ in all that ye do Look unto him for assistance in every thing Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me and for acceptance of all 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Let us go on thus leaning upon our Beloved The heart of Christ was much upon this that all that are in a state of Union with him should learn this and live under the actual consideration of it Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the Branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing And the more this is learned and accordingly reduced into practice the more the Soul will prosper It is worth our noting that true growth is noted by our growing in Christ Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ As if to grow in parts in duties or any thing else without growing in him were a swelling rather then a growth The swelling of the Leg or Arm is no good sign that the party grows stronger It is thus indeed whiles we are full of our own strength our Souls prosper not 1 Sam. 2.9 for by strength shall no Man prevail Therefore a prospering Soul though it hath and when it hath put on the whole Armour of God yet it is not to trust thereto but to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 Certainly the more deeply this principle is engraven in our hearts and the more we act according to it the better it will be with us He that laboured more abundantly then they all that could say He had finished his course fought the good fight and kept the faith was he that said Not I but the grace of God that was with me 1 Cor. 15.10 Happy are those Souls and more happy they are like to be that are so trained up in a continual sensibleness of their own insufficiency as to what is spiritually good that still there is a looking up for more supplies that we may exercise what we have Phil. 1.19 and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ What Paul prayed for the Thessalonians 2 Thes 3.5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ i. e. into the exercise thereof A Soul that would prosper must pray for it self Yea and for that which Paul desired others to pray on his behalf Eph. 6.18 19 Praying alwaies with all Prayer and Supplication that utterance may be given unto me Paul had already a great gift of utterance and memory and had great experience of Gods presence with him in the exercise thereof having preached so well and so long now twenty five years together yet desires their prayers not only for the continuance of these gifts but also for the actual exercise of them so often as ever there was occasion of using them And no doubt Paul did pray thus for himself as often as he was to preach and as little doubt there is but that he did his work so much the better for it and with the better success Thus ye have what I have to say concerning the first thing proposed What concerns the prosperity of the Soul in general wherein it consists and when a Man may be said to prosper SERMON IV. I Now proceed more particularly to demonstrate that in truth and reality the Soul doth prosper according to the degree and measure wherein the Soul abounds in them 1. The Soul prospers when it is full of Praises to God So kept from day to day under the Law of thankfulness that it abounds in thanksgiving to God Col. 2.7 Abounding therein with thanksgiving It is possible some may think otherwise that this is no such great matter but let these following particulars be duely considered and I hope ye will acknowledge it to be as I say Consider then 1. Though it be true that there are some solemn Seasons which call for solemn Praises when God hath abounded in the expressions of his love to us and Fatherly care for us in some special favour bestowed upon us giving us to experience the truth of what David found Psal 31.7 I will rejoice and be glad in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and known my Soul in adversity Though I say this be true yet we are under express obligation to make it part and a great part of our business every day Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name It was David's resolution to keep his heart under the power and authority of this Law Psal 145.2 Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever 2. Though it be true likewise that there be some days when the Lord calls to mourning As Isa 22.12 Yet the saddest hours that the all-disposing Providence of the most wise God brings us into bring no discharge from this duty Neither need we look for it for these two duties are very well consistent together Otherwise we may be sure that God who gives a command sometimes to Mourn would never have given us a command alwaies to Rejoyce if these two had been contrary one to another And besides even in those daies when divine Dispensations call for mourning when things go most cross to our desires and affections yet we have matter of Thanksgiving if it were but for this That it is never so bad with us but it might be worse Paul acknowledgeth this to be a mercy that he had less cause of sorrow then he might have had Phil. 2.27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him and not on him only but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow Psal 118.18 19 The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them and I will praise the Lord. This needs not seem strange at all for even then when
to his Chamber because he believes that he doth it out of love and care for his health And surely those Souls who when they are under the lash of Divine Rods and are tossed with storms and tempests perhaps more then any they know of can thus exercise their faith and find satisfaction in the promises of God so as to rejoice in tribulation in hope of a good issue surely they are prosperous Souls Thus the Soul of Habakkuk prospered when he exemplified his own Doctrine That the just should live by faith in the time of the Invasion of the Babylonians by his own practice Hab. 3.17 18 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom c. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation It is observable what I have read to this purpose Magdeburg Cent. 5. cap. 10. that when Attila King of the Huns came into France Lupus Bishop of Troges met him and asked him who he was that made such spoil and devastations in the World He answered Dei se esse flagellum That he was the scourge of God whereupon he commanded the City-Gates to be set open unto him and welcomed him with these words Faustè ingrediatur flagellum Dei Whilst the Rod is in Gods hand there is no danger If this were so as it related by good Authors the Mans heart was in a good frame his faith was above his fears This is the third Particular 4. The Soul prospers when grace is so exercised that it grows more and more clear in point of Covenant-interest Observe here these two things 1. When it grows into such a well-grounded hope and comfortable apprehension thereof as ordinarily it prevails over fears and doubts though it doth not wholly silence them nor free the Soul from them This is that which the Apostle calls The joy of Faith Phil. 1.25 Arising from the solid satisfaction which the heart receives by a firm adhering to Christ in whom all fullness dwells for perfecting the work of Redemption and Salvation who is a faithful and merciful High Priest and able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him This is surely Soul prosperity 2. Much more when the joy of faith grows into the joy of spiritual Sense which is called Full joy Joh. 16.24 Ask and ye shall receive that you joy may be full 1 Joh. 1.4 These things write we unto you that your joy may be full When the love of God is shed abroad in the heart as Rom. 5.5 When the spirit doth tell us a thing in the Ear as the expression is 1 Sam. 9.15 It is said there The Lord told Samuel in his Ear. that we are sealed to the day of Redemption witnessing unto us our Adoption so as the Soul knows it is no delusion but the very voice of the Spirit of God as Abraham knew that it was God himself that spake to him and commanded him to go and sacrifice his Son and no temptation from Satan so as the Soul can say as Psal 116.7 Return to thy rest O my Soul the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Now I see the invisible God is my God All the Greatness and Goodness all the Truth and Faithfulness all the Power and Wisdom yea all the Holyness and Justice of the Eternal and Ever-living God are the things which are the portion of my Soul Now I see that all the Eternal counsels of God wrought from all Eternity to make me Eternally happy Now I know that Jesus Christ came from the bosom of the Father for me and my Salvation That my sins are put upon his account and his righteousness is put upon my account Now I know my place where I shall stand in the great day of the Lord even at the right hand of my Saviour and hear that joyful sentence Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father This is in some sense I think the uttermost hight of the Souls prosperity For when ever the Soul is thus high in point of Comfort it is as high in point of Holiness Whilst this continues the Soul can do and suffer any thing for God which he calls unto As the believing Hebrews whilst they knew their interest in the enduring substance Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance The heart being thus enlarged it goes not a foot-pace but runs the way of Gods Commandments Psal 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart That which we have Ephes 3.17 18 19. is clear to this purpose The Apostle prays on their behalf that they might know the breadth and length and depth and highth of the love of God And why did he pray so It was that they might be filled with all the fullness of God according to the uttermost measure attainable in this life and in full and absolute perfection in the life to come Thus I have given you all that I shall say concerning those things which particularly demonstrate the truth and reality of the Souls prosperity Only I desire to leave these two things with you in the conclusion to prevent mistakes 1. That none ought to argue against themselves that their Souls do not prosper because as yet they come short it may be at sometimes altogether short of what hath been laid down in this fifth and last particular They are seldom so clear in point of their Covenant interest as to feel the joy of Faith much less the joy of Sense To endeavour to be clear in this matter is every ones duty 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure To attain it is part of our Reward But when it is not attained yet the Soul may be thriving and prospering for all that Moses his face did shine and he did not know it Exod. 34.19 This was at his second being with God in the Mount We read of no such thing at the first time We may see by this that God doth not communicate himself in the same measure at all times alike to any of his Servants It hath been so of old and is so now Many partake much of the quickening presence of God when they have but little or none at all of the comforting presence of God Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light c. Hence it is that they oftentimes as sadly complain as Zion did but all without cause Isa 49.14 But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me q. d. I am cast out of his love not only forsaken but forgotten when it was neither so nor so as ye see vers 15 Can a Woman forsake her sucking Child c. They may forget yet will I not forget thee 2. Though all that hath been hitherto said
really happy as his Soul prospers These things being so one would think I might forbear to press any thing farther and might say concerning this duty of minding Soul-prosperity as the Apostle doth of Brotherly love 1 Thes 4.9 ye need not that I should write any more concerning it But considering what a deep inward rooted respect for and reaching after the things of the World there appears to be in some who yet profess they are fully convinced of the vanity thereof and such a strong byass in others turning them aside into ways that are not good So far it may be charged upon them as Rom. 1.18 They hold the truth they believe in unrighteousness not suffering it to exercise its autority in their Consciences And feeing it is so difficult a thing yea impossible without the Almighty power of the Spirit of God to raise up a drosly earthy spirit sunk into the world to look after things that are not seen to mortifie the deeds of the flesh and to set their affections on things that are above or to six a vain light spirit so as to reduce it to a sober and serious consideration of the things of Eternity and yet both the one and the other must be done by all those that resolve to mind the prosperity of their Souls above all other prosperity I shall to what hath been said already before I come to shew the great work that is to be done for the welfare of Souls first give you some Arguments to prove the Inference That if Soul-Prosperity be the most desirable Prosperity Then is it the most rational thing in the world to mind it above all things else 1. It is a rational thing ye must all grant it for any man to part with any thing except the Peace of his own Conscience and to do any thing that is possible to be done except sinning against God for the preservation of natural life It is a Scripture expression Prov. 6.26 that Life is pretious It is indeed the most pretious thing in Nature Matth. 6.25 Is not the life more than meat Act. 27. They cast away the Lading of the Ship in hope to save their lives Esth 7.2 3 4 Let my life be given me at my petition For we are sold I and my people to be destroyed to be slain and to perish If we had beensold for Bond-men and for Bond-women I had held my tongue See how she pleaded for her life he valued not the one half of 127 Provinces in comparison of that And we read of a poor woman that had spent all that she had in hope of health which is a degree below life Mar. 5. Now if it should be asked as Jam. 4.14 What is this life that is so much valued we must answer as he doth That it is a vapour which appeareth for a very little time and then vanisheth away The frailty whereof is set forth by heaps of similitudes in Scripture from the most perishing things that come under observation It is but a little warm breath turned in and out at our nostrils a narrow passage and soon stopt Isa 2.22 Cease from Man whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Now if it be so agreeable to reason by all lawful means to serve the Providence of God for the preservation of such poor and frail things as our lives are as indeed we are bound in obedience to God's command Is it not much more rational to do whatever God would have us to do for the life and well-fare of our immortal Souls Certainly if Nature teach a Man to prize his life above the World Grace should make a Man to prize his Soul above his Life Believe it To save our Lives and to save our Souls are two things This we find in Scripture that those who have learned to value their Souls according to their excellency and have understood how much their own happiness is concerned in them have willingly run the hazard of their lives to save their Souls not only as Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my Body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away but also as they Revel 12.11 they loved not their lives unto the death They did not so love their lives as out of inordinate care to preserve them and so to escape death when God called them by their open profession to give in their testimony for Christ and his Gospel against the Anti-Christian Generation So Dan. 3.19 c. The three Witnesses chose rather to be thrown into the fiery Furnace then to worship the Golden Image Heb. 11.35 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance Yea so careless have some of the Saints of old been of their Bodies in comparison of their care for the well-fare of their Souls as if they had been other folks Bodies and not their own We read Act 7 that when the sentence of death was passed upon Stephen he prays not for the mitigation of his Enemies rage he is totally silent concerning his burial It 's true there were some good Men took care of it Act. 8.2 but not at his intreaty that we read of but that which his thoughts were most taken up withal ye read vers 59. They stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit So the Lord Jesus left his Body in the hands of Pilate but he commended his Spirit into his Father's hands Luk. 23.46 It is observable what we have Psal 141.7 8. when some of David's followers were hackt and hewed in pieces and left unburied or as some think when their dead Bodies after they were buried were digged up and their bones were scattered about the Grave's mouth When David saw or heard of this see what he had most in his thoughts Lord leave not my Soul destitute Thus ye have one argument to make good the Inference That it is the most rational thing in the World to mind the wellfare of our Souls above all things else because it is very rational above all outward things to mind the preservation of our lives And that though it be so those that have been wise to Salvation have minded the saving of their Souls above the saving of their Lives there being indeed no comparison between this Natural life and the Spiritual life of the Soul 2. It is every way most rational agreeable to the best and highest principles of reason to mind that most which Jesus Christ in whom dwelt all the Treasures of Wisdom minded most This none will deny but that as it is the highest pitch of our holiness that our Ends in all things fall in with his So it ought to be our greatest business that in all things we should be of the same mind with Christ Now that this was and still is the greatest work that Jesus Christ did and still doth mind in our behalf will appear by these particulars 1. This was
the great work next to the glorifying of his Father and therein he did glorifie his Father that was in his heart to accomplish in and by that mysterious work of his Incarnation in taking upon him Man's nature and for which he made himself of no reputation in the World for which he suffered so much and still doth so much by his intercession in Heaven to this day that as Isa 53.11 he might see the Travel of his own Soul and be satisfied in the complete and Eternal prosperity of all their Souls which God the Father gave unto him and for which he engaged himself John 6.38 39 40 For I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me And this is the Fathers will which sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day In 1 Pet. 2.25 Christ is said to be the Shepherd of Souls Now a faithful Shepherd though he will be ready to do his Master what good service he can in any thing yet his chiefest care is for his Master's flock Such a faithful Shepherd is Jesus Christ he highly minds the meanest thing wherein any of his are concerned Satan to his own great vexation cannot overlook this Job 1.10 Hast thou not made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side And we know that when he was visibly in the World he was exceeding helpful to the Bodies of Men yet his chiefest care was over his peculiar flock as the Shepherd of Souls He laid down his Natural life to procure their Spiritual life That dead Souls might live and living Souls prosper That they might have life and live in abundance Joh. 10.10 11. For this end he ever lives to make intercession for those that come unto him that they might be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 And as the effect of his intercession according to his promise Joh. 16.16 he sends the Spirit of Grace into their hearts to work in them all the graces that accompany Salvation And to abide in them to preserve what he hath wrought that in believing their Souls might be saved Heb. 10.39 And that they might receive the end of their Faith the Salvation of their Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 This is the first thing that Jesus Christ minded this most in our behalf that for this cause he came into the World to seek and to save lost Souls Luk. 19.10 2. This is the great end he aims to carry on by all his Ordinances The Law of God that is the whole Doctrine revealed in the word is for the Conversion of Souls Psal 19.7 And for Edification of Souls Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up The Sacraments are Spiritual Food for Souls 1 Cor. 10.3 4 And did all eat the same Spiritual meat And did all drink the same Spiritual drink Yea Excommunication that dreadful Ordinance so it be managed according to the mind of Christ for it is a delivering a Man to Satan yet it is with reserence to the good of his Soul 1 Cor. 5.5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus For this end he appointed the Ministry to be a standing Ordinance unto the end of the World that they might watch over Souls Heb. 13.17 This was that which the Apostles aimed at according to their Commission from Christ Paul saith That he was made all things to all Men that by all means he might save some 1 Cor. 9.22 In his removal from one place to another he aimed at the conveying of some Spiritual gift where ever he came for the good of Souls Rom. 1.11 For I long to see you that I may impart to you some Spiritual gift In all his prayers for those to whom he wished all the good that might be this was the great thing he desired in their behalf that their Souls might prosper Eph. 3.14 15 16 17 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner Man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith c. Gal. 6.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit Prospering Souls were his joy and Crown Phil. 4.1 3. This was and is the great end of all his Providential Dispensations They are or may be all them either Food or Physick for the Soul Thriving in holiness as ye have heard is Soul-thriving Now this is the end that all comforting desirable Providences seem to drive on Obad. vers 17. But upon Mount Zion there shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness All afflicting saddening Providences are for the same purpose Heb. 12.10 God chasteneth us for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness Yea for this very cause it often goes very ill with many of those that live highly in the love of God in their outward condition that their spiritual condition may prosper and flourish Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Which is the sickness and otherwise would be the death of the Soul and its destruction Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes And therefore he acknowledgeth to the praise of the wisdom and rich grace of God that in very faithfulness to the interest of his Soul the hand of the Lord had been upon him so as it was Now lay all this together That this was the great end of Christ's Incarnation Death and Suffering and Intercession The great end for which all Ordinances and Providences are appointed to be subservient unto and it will evidently appear that this was and is above all things else most upon the heart of Christ in our behalf that our Souls might prosper therefore it ought to be most upon our hearts and it is most rational it should be so 3. It is every way most agreeable to the best and highest principles of reason with all possible diligence and seriousness to mind that the neglect whereof will be our utter undoing to all Eternity and bring both Body and Soul under the most absolute and unavoidable wo and misery that ever befell or possibly can befall any Creature that ever God made next unto the Devil himself That principle of self-preservation planted in the heart of Man by Nature if improved cannot but teach him this That it is most rational for him to mind that the neglect whereof would bring this ruine upon him Now what wo and misery is laid up for a neglected perishing unprospering Soul ye have fully expressed beyond what can be conceived in one verse Matth. 25.41 whereof I shall mention but these two particulars
unto you 1. Wherein the prosperity of the Soul consisteth and when it may be said to prosper I told you then that the prosperity thereof is to be considered both in its first rise and foundation Or in its growth and progress As to the first rise of it it was proved that if we look upwards we shall find it begin in God's Eternal Electing love which is without beginning But if we look inwardly so as to discern it in our selves The first foundation of it is laid in that day and hour though the very day and hour hath I think not been discerned by many though perhaps by some But however discerned or not discerned in that day and hour it begins when by the word of Christ and by the Spirit of Christ the whole Man both Soul and Body is brought into a state of Union with Christ For then the Soul receives the first Seeds of Heaven-born principles of Spiritual life and then begins to be in a capacity of prospering 2. As the first foundation is laid in these principles So the growth and progress thereof consists in their increase As they increase so the prosperity of the Soul increaseth So that if ye give up your selves to be guided by right reason your work for the substance of it is first to see that your Souls are Spiritually alive And secondly that they thrive and prosper in that wherein they live In reference to the former of them I have two things to say 1. To all and every one of you that you would set some time apart seriously to debate the matter between God and your selves alone and none else with you whether ever ye felt the day of God's power upon your spirits to prevail so far upon you As 1. To cast you down from the good opinion which ye had of your selves by a thorough conviction of the woful mistake wherein ye were about the state of your Souls That ye thought them alive when they were as now ye see dead in sin pleasing your selves with the Religion of your Education as Paul did before his Converson That ye thought ye had good hearts toward God whereas now ye see that as Psal 5.9 your inward parts were very wickedness That whereas ye thought not of any danger ye were in of the wrath to come now ye see ye are condemned by a holy and righteous Law And that what by reason of your Actual sins and what by reason of your Original sin ye utterly despair of Salvation in that state wherein ye pleased your selves and see clearly that outward Reformation will not serve your turn but ye must be inwardly changed into the Image of God and be born again by the Spirit of God else ye can never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven This is such a casting down as Paul experienced when he said Sin revived and I died Rom. 7.9 2. Whether besides this casting down ye have also experienced the day of God's power so far to prevail upon you as to raise up your hearts to a willing and hearty acceptance of Christ to all intents and purposes in order to Salvation To kill and destroy that enmity which you find in your hearts against the ways of God so as to bring you into a state of Reconciliation with God and to all the means of conformity to him and Communion with him to impute unto you the merits of Christ's death for a full and free discharge from the guilt of all your sins and to impute unto you his Righteousness that ye may be accepted as righteous unto Eternal life To mortifie all your corruptions to quicken your dead hearts with the principles of Spiritual life those principles of true holiness without which ye know ye shall never see God with a sincere resolution in his strength to wait upon him and keep his way That he would do all this for you and work all this in you and that ye are humbled for defects in living no more upon him that he might be all this unto you Verily so far as any person can really assert this that thus he hath been cast down and thus he hath been and is raised up though he may sometimes be in the dark as to the safety of his estate for Eternity he hath good Scripture ground thò he may not see it to believe that he is called into fellowship with Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 And that his Soul begins to live and is in a capacity of prospering For when the Soul it may be after a long shutting up under unbelief thus opens to Christ then Christ comes into the Soul as Rev. 3.20 And when he comes he brings the principles of Spiritual life with him 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life This is the first Particular A word to all 2. I have a word to some to those I mean that know nothing as yet what either this casting down or lifting up means And it is a word of advice That as ever they desire their Souls should live and be in a capacity of prospering that they would break off from all their dead works and resolve for this end that they may be thus cast down and lifted up To be swift to hear as Jam. 1.19 And to attend unto the words of this life so as it is said to be Joh. 5.20 The word whereby dead Souls are quickened Joh. 5.25 the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live And that in order hereunto ye would take the right way of working what ye hear upon your hearts thus or to this purpose reason the case with your selves 1. Soul-prosperity I am now convinced is the most desirable prosperity And if my Soul prosper not all the sooner possibly it may never prosper for this night it may be taken from me And if it do not prosper nothing will prosper with me so as to turn to good whilst I live and when I am dead I shall be one of the most woful and miserable Creatures to all Eternity that ever God made next to the Devils 2. If my Soul be as I have reason to be asraid it is still in its unregenerate state then it is spiritually dead in sin and while it continues so it is in no more capacity of prospering then a dead Tree while it continues dead is in a capacity of bringing forth ripe fruit This I now clearly see though I did not so much as think on it before 3. If I do not so receive Jesus Christ as that Jesus Christ may receive me into a state of Union with himself my Soul can never live for so I hear from 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath not the Son hath not life 4. If I would so receive Jesus Christ as that he may receive me into Union with himself and I receive life from him I must so receive the word as to be so cast down and so lifted up as I have heard Therefore by his help
as ever we desire that our Souls should prosper and thrive as a watered Garden according to that promise Jer. 31.12 See that these waters have a free passage Let faith be exercised upon those truths which hold forth the freeness and riches of the grace of Christ For those are the truths the Prophet saw in his Vision represented by those waters And let this be in conjunction with the exercise of Repentance This is the way by the Spirit of grace working with these truths whereby Souls are healed and purged 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit These were the truths by obedience whereunto their Souls were purified This is the way whereby the Lord first begins to heal and purge the Soul For this I shall give you but one place of Scripture but it is a place to be taken notice of It is 2 Corinth 5.19 Wherein note three things 1. God intending according to his Eternal purpose to heal some sick quicken some dead save some lost Souls declares his purpose to do it by way of Reconciling them to himself This he will do before they shall be possessed of that Salvation he hath chosen them unto His method is first to purge their Souls mortifying that enmity that is in their hearts both against his ways and their own good and so to reduce them to terms of Reconciliation with himself and make them willing to be Reconciled unto him 2. How God will do this God was in Christ The Divine Nature assumed the Human Nature and so in and through Christ God-Man in one Person offers terms of Love and Peace to them as the most effectual way to prevail upon them and to bring their Souls about to him 3. But in what peculiar way will he more transcendently manifest this grace and mercy The Text tells us he will do it in not imputing their iniquities proposing and promising a full and everlasting pardon of all sin never to be called in if his terms be accepted of And the sinner being made willing to be Reconciled unto God Thus he subdues the heart conquering it by Love And thus the work of purging and cleansing the Soul is begun Luk. 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much And as thus it is begun so upon a failure it is renewed and continued When a Soul that is Diseased and polluted is awakened to apply himself to Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness in the exercise of Faith and Repentance making way that the waters of the Sanctuary the Spirit of grace and the Gospel of grace may not be stopt in their course but have a free passage into the Soul the hope of Reconciliation with God is raised greatly and that stirs up the Soul to purifie himself 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself Observe that He purifies himself This is necessary For as Physick is most effectual to purge out corrupt humours when Nature works with it for it is to no purpose to give it to a dead Man and when Nature is quite spent in a sick Person it comes too late So it is here The Soul that thus applies it self to Christ will find his blood to be a healing purging sin-mortifying blood But in applying our selves thereunto our own thoughts and affections our own endeavours and resolutions against all occasions of sin against the first risings of sin and we must apply our selves to what mortifying means we find prescribed and have been found to be of use to others All these we must set on work and then the Spirit of God will work with us Rom. 8.13 if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live And doing thus we may be said To purge our selves as 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Tim. 1.21 If we do thus We shall be Vessels of honour fit for the Master's use That is our Souls shall prosper This is the first thing that I have to commend unto you as ye mind the well-fare and prosperity of your Souls to mind this There is another kind of Physick to be made use of as the matter requires and that is Cordials for the healing of a fainting Soul This may be spoken unto hereafter when I have first spoken unto what is most times to be made use of betwixt this of Purging and that of Cordials SERMON VIII 2. THe next thing that I shall take notice of as necessary for the health and well-fare of the Body which as the Lord shall enable me I shall apply to the point in hand is the observing of a good Diet with respect to the choice of meats such as by experience have been found best agreeable to the Nature and Constitution of the Body and in proportion suitable to the natural heat of our stomachs for Concoction and Digestion This is a great means of health especially for such as are naturally weak and infirm For usually as is our Food so is our Blood as is our Blood so are our Spirits and as are our Spirits so are our Bodies for health or sickness for strength or weakness Now as I told you what in a natural way is for the health and well-fare of the Body is in a spiritual way applicable to the health and well-fare of the Soul I shewed you that it was so in that which I spake last unto I am now to shew it is so in this In order hereunto we must take notice that as God hath provided and that with great variety Food and nourishment for the preservation of the Natural life of our Bodies So he hath for the preservation of the Spiritual life of our Soul and that suitable to the degree that our Souls have attained unto Heb 5.13 14 Milk for Babes Meat for strong Men. Food that endures to Eternal life Joh. 6.27 Such Food as is a Feast whereupon the Soul may feed and fare deliciously every day Isa 25.6 a Feast of fat things a Feast of Wine on the Lees c. This is a matter we are much concerned in That we know both our Priviledge and our Duty herein something must be said to each of these four Particulars 1. What that Food is which God hath provided for the health and prosperity of our Souls 2. What those Means are whereby that Food is conveyed unto us 3. Something by way of argument to quicken our Spiritual Appetite after it 4. Something by way of Direction how to feed upon it so as to receive that nourishment from it which our Souls stand in need of 1. For the first of these That Food which God hath provided for us is Jesus Christ himself but Jesus Christ especially as Crucified 1. This Food is Jesus Christ himself For the proof of this consider that Jesus Christ is said to be The tree of life Revel 2.7 And the Hidden Manna vers 17. Both which were Types of Christ 1. He is said to be The tree of life in
things that are nourishing to the Body Isa 55.2 3 Wherefore do ye spend your Money for that which is not Bread c. The word is compared to Honey Psal 119.103 How sweet are thy words to my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth and preferred before it Solomon saith Prov. 24.13 My Son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet to thy taste And it is found by experience that Honey is good and the Honey-comb is sweet to the taste But the word is sweeter then the Honey which of its own accord drops from the Honey-comb without any pressing which is reckoned the sweetest of all What is particularly is said of the Promises in a sense is true of all the Ordinances Isa 38.16 In these things we live in them is the life of our Spirits The whole word is said to be The word of life Act. 5.20 Thus the Lord feeds the Soul according to that promise Isa 58.14 I will feed them with the heritage of Jacob their Father What was that It was the good things of the Land of Canaan but not with them alone but with that whereof they were a Type the Heavenly inheritance together with all things relating thereunto the Promises not only of this life but also of the life to come They were part of Jacob's heritage Psal 147.19 20 He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and his ordinances unto Israel c. This is one way whereby food for the Soul is conveyed from Christ Therefore it is that Pastors in their administrations are said To feed the Church It is upon that account that they are called Pastors Jer. 3.15 Act. 20.28 But this is only so far as they are sprinkled with the blood of Christ Otherwise as there is a vanity in the Creatures when God withdraws himself from them so there is in Ordinances Isa 1.13 Bring no more vain oblations As the merits of Christ purchase our Spiritual life so they purchase a blessing upon that food which is for nourishment of it Rebecca may dress the Venison but Isaac gives the blessing So it is here Exod. 20.24 In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and bless thee Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles 2. As in all his Ordinances so in all his Providences when sprinkled with the blood of Christ there is likewise meat laid before us even in every one of them of what sort soever Observable to this purpose is that which we have Joh. 10.9 They shall go in and out and find pasture Going in and out according to Scripture expression set forth all the turnings and various passages of a Man's life So we understand that promise Deut. 28.6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out Which is renewed again Psal 121.8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in There is good feeding to be had in all these even where it might be least looked for Mic. 7.14 God promiseth That he will feed the flock of his heritage with his rod. This is hard feeding but blessed be the Lord it hath proved and will prove again good and wholesome nourishment when sprinkled with the blood of Christ for thereby he hath purchased a fruitful and sanctified use of the Rod. Christ being a Mediatour in reference to the rod as well as in reference to the word when it is so then dark and cloudy Providences falling down in showers which as we say wet a Man to the skin nay even reach the very heart coming near unto it and cutting deep into it yet they drop fatness and though they make the way foul yet they make the Land fruitful Heb. 12.10 God chastens us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Then meat is found in the eater comfortable nourishment in the cross when we can say as Psal 23 4 thy rod and thy staff comfort me 3. As both in Providences and Ordinances thus sprinkled nourishment is conveyed to the Soul So the Soul that receives this nourishment must be sprinkled with the same blood There must be as Heb. 12 23. a coming to the blood of sprinkling in the exercise of Faith for thereby it is that food or vertue to feed is distributed into them all and so conveyed unto the Soul Even as the Root of the Tree draws sap from the Earth and then concocts it and sends it forth to all the boughs and branches which if they receive not they wither so it is here It is not any one Providence or Ordinance no if we take them all in conjunction together that either in whole or in part convey any nourishment to the Soul but as sprinkled with the blood of Christ and made use of as subordinate means in his hands and as made effectual by the exercise of Faith drawing in all our expectations of any Spiritual nourishment from any of these into Christ alone 1 Cor. 10.4 They all drank the same Spiritual drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ They did all eat the same meat Some had the food but not the nourishment they had not this sprinkling for ver 5 With many of them God was not well pleased So it may be with any of us at this day Though we have cause with all thankfulness to acknowledge as David did in another case Psal 23.5 Thou preparest a Table before me in the presence of mine enemies To their great grief and vexation who thought they had shut the Door so as no Man should have opened it but God hath opened it so as none of them can as yet shut it so that we are not scanted in provision for our Souls yet as Pharaoh's lean Kine did not prosper ever the better for their feeding in a Meadow and eating up the fat Kine Even so will it be with our Souls unless we feed upon Christ In the use of Pasture and all other means of feeding they will still be lean and ill-favoured So that if we were sensible of it we should see cause to complain as Isaiah doth My leanness my leanness Isa 24.16 God will deal with us as he did with them when he gave them the food they lusted after though they had it yet he sent leanness into their Souls Instead of nourishing them a deadly consumption came along with it as Num. 11.33 Pray that we may be delivered from this Judgment that we may not as it is said in our common Proverb starve in a Cook 's shop And this leads me to the 3. Third Particular What arguments are there to quicken our Spiritual appetite to this food Of many that might be given I shall only mention these three 1. This is food that may easily be compassed Many are put hard to it for a subsistence for
impression upon his Spirit That though Christ suffered only in his Human Nature and though therefore all his sufferings were but finite yet because the Human Nature was United in one Person to the Divine Nature hence what the Human Nature did suffer though but for a time was of sufficient value to ransome from Eternal death In such a case nothing else could have done it Nothing else can support any Soul in such a condition But this may and this will if believed and wrought upon the heart that the Lord hath laid help upon one that is mighty Psal 89.19 2. Consider Christ in his Offices 1. In his Priestly Office He is a great High-Priest Heb. 4.14 Great both in respect of his Satisfaction and of his Intercession which are the two special parts of his Priestly Office From both which much Spiritual Food for the nourishment of the Soul unto the highest degree of prosperity it is capable of may be received 1. From the satisfaction he hath made to the justice of God for all the wrong that sin hath done him by the sacrifice which he offered which was Himself unto death With this God was well pleased Eph. 5.2 And for this he shall see the Souls of all his Seed to prosper Isa 53.10 Hereby his flesh became meat indeed and his blood drink indeed This clearly manifests that Christ is such an object for Faith to rest upon as we may safely adventure our Eternal state upon For let any Man conceive himself in as sad a condition as the fears of an awakened Conscience can suggest Suppose he sees the guilt of all his sins before him with all their aggravating circumstances and apprehends God coming out against him to require satisfaction to his justice for them all This is a dreadful sight but in the midst of all the heighth and depth of that terrour which this may impress upon his Spirit if God give in a sight of Christ as the great High-Priest as he made his Soul an Offering for sin this is enough to draw forth an hearty act of dependence upon him as able to save to the uttermost This supported David when he was in great depths that he had a sight of him that in the Lord was plenteous Redemption Psal 30.1 2. with vers 6 7. This was the relief of the hunger-bitten Prodigal That in his Father's house was bread enough Luk. 15.17 And it was the speech of a gracious Woman of whom I have heard not long since that upon her Death-bed being under great uncertainties as to her Eternal condition Did not ye tell me said she to those that stood by her that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sins And with that her Spirit Revived and she slept sweetly in the Lord. This indeed may well satisfie Conscience for it satisfies God himself yea so far satisfie Conscience as to go boldly to the Throne of Grace for what grace or mercy soever is necessary for the life and health well-fare and prosperity of the Soul Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 2. As from Christs satisfaction which he made to the justice of God whilst he was upon Earth so from the other act of his Priestly Office his Intercession which he makes in Heaven for sinners much Spiritual Food for the nourishment of our Souls may be had What should hinder the receiving of it but our daily repeated failings and often renewed infirmities But against the guilt of these Christ's appearing in Heaven for us prevails that even when the Law is broken the Covenant is not broken so that what Food for our Souls may be had from the Covenant and there it is all to be had 1 Joh. 2.1 2 If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins His intercession is as effectual as his satisfaction for he intercedes in the merits of his blood Heb. 12.24 The blood of Christ speaketh 2. To shew further That all in Christ is for the food and nourishment of the Soul much yea very much may be said of that which his Kingly Office affords and likewise his Prophetical Office For his Kingly Office he hath an absolute Soveraignty over all both Men and Devils Eph. 1.21 22. Far above all Principalities and Powers c. He hath all things under his feet He is head over all things to his Church Understand it of the Invisible Church especially which is his Mystical Body whereof he is the head Eph. 5.23 For the Husband is the head of the Wife even as Christ is the head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body This is full of Spiritual Food I will instance only in three things by which the prosperity of the Soul is exceedingly farthered 1. As he hath power over Satan This affords great relief to a conflicting Soul that he both can and will break the Serpents head and tread him under foot Rom. 16.20 That in Manlius is memorable to this purpose Satan as he tells the story appeared to a godly Man that was sick in the habit of a Priest with Pen Ink and Paper in his hands and told him that he must confess all his Sins to him he would write them down and then he would absolve him The Sick Man was stricken with fear and no marvel but recollecting himself and perceiving who he was If thou wilt write saith he write this first The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and with that the Devil vanished 2. As he hath Soveraignty over the Heart He can take away the heart of stone and give an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 A great relief this when the Soul is mourning over the hardness of his heart to remember that Christ is exalted to be a Prince to give Repentance Act. 5.31 3. As he hath the Keys of Hell and Death Rev. 1.18 A great relief to a troubled Soul that is under the fear first of Death and then of dropping into Hell when he is dead Those that have obeyed the call and are still obeying the call of Christ they shall none of them dye till it be better for them to dye then to live for death is theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 And for dropping into Hell Christ hath secured them against that Joh. 6.39 40. Every one that believeth on him shall have Everlasting life and Christ will raise him up at the last day 3. The Prophetical Office of Christ is likewise a fruitful food-bearing Office He is engaged by Office to make all his Seed wise unto Salvation Isa 54.13 All thy Children shall be taught of God And he is faithful who hath promised it 1 Joh. 2.27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and
is truth and is no lye Joh. 17.26 I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it This affords sweet refreshing nourishment I will instance only in two Cases 1. When many things are heard something at one time and something at another from the word And it may be something at this time which is not understood at least not so understood as that the heart is affected with it Here is relief to be had he can and undertakes to teach the heart Jer. 24.7 And I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart Thus he taught David Psal 51.6 In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom 2. When a Person walkes in darkness under many sad fears whether ever the foundation be well laid for Soul-prosperity whether ever he were brought into a state of Union with Christ so as to receive the first principles of Spiritual life from him Here from this Office of Christ which is to reveal his Father's mind in all things that we are concerned to know there is relief to be had Joh. 14.19 but ye see me They were in Christ their Union was begun but they did not know it but Christ undertakes so as they will leave it to him to take his own time that one day they shall know it Thus I have shewed you more largely then at first I intended That there needs no food for the Soul to feed upon so as to prosper but Christ alone For as all that is nourishing in the meat is for the health and well-fare of the Body so all that is in Christ is for the health and well-fare of the Soul I have very few words more to speak 4. Of the fourth and last Point Something by way of direction How to feed upon this food so as to receive that nourishment which our Souls stand in need of I shall only mention these four Particulars 1. We are to apply our selves to this Spiritual food with a Spiritual appetite Natural life desires Natural food Appetite unto it is called Hunger as it desires meat and Thirst as it desires drink So it ought to be where there is Spiritual life after this Spiritual food wherein we have both Spiritual meat and Spiritual drink Joh. 6.55 For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed And our appetite after it ought to be quick and strong We should be able to say as Isa 26.9 With my Soul have I desired thee in the night and with my Spirit will I seek thee early i. e. I have most affectionately desired thee in my most retired thoughts and so I resolve to do That 's the sense For when the Soul is said to do that which nothing else but the Soul can do it imports the strongest and highest actings of the Soul in doing it Now though that which hath been said already might be sufficient thus to quicken this appetite That there is no other food for our Souls but this That they must feed upon it or starve Yet I shall farther add this That we deliberately consider with our selves What work God requires of us every day and that we labour with our hearts to do it as we ought The work of every day is great in respect of the inward exercises of grace when not clothed with any outward duty As To live by faith To sanctifie God in our hearts To walk in the fear of the Lord And when we awake to be still with God setting the Lord always before us c. The external work of every day is great also The duties of Religion The duties of our particular Callings and Relations All these ought to be done so as to approve the sincerity of our hearts to God and find acceptance with his Majesty 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him The Apostle speaks of Epaphras that he laboured earnestly in his Prayers Col. 4.12 And we are required To do with our might whatsoever our hand findeth to do Eccles 9.10 Now hard labour gets a Man a stomach makes him both hungry and thirsty It will do so in a spiritual sense when we set our selves to make something of Religion To work and walk with God every day as we ought we shall be even constrained to cry out Who is sufficient for these things We shall see we need more spiritual food for the nourishing and strengthening of our Souls This will quicken our spiritual Appetite after Christ That we may be more and more strengthened in our inward Man by his Spirit Eph. 3.16 That we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 2. That in applying our selves to this food we manage the matter for our Souls as discreet persons do in making provisions for their Families when the Market-day comes They consider whether there be Bread-corn enough in the House or whether any thing else that is necessary be wanting and so according to their ability they provide So ought we to do in this case we ought to consider what our Souls stand most in need of that they may prosper Some days we may find we most of all want strength against one corruption some days more strength against another Some days we stand in more need of one grace and sometimes of another suppose of Faith or Repentance Meekness or Patience and accordingly we ought to apply our selves to our spiritual food the Lord Jesus for nourishment and strength in that particular Christ expects this that we should be sensible of our particular wants We read Luk. 18.35 36. that a blind Man hearing that Christ passed by that way cryed out Have mercy upon me O Son of David And vers 40 41. Christ asks him what he would that he should do unto him Christ knew what he would desire but he would have him to particularize his wants Thus we ought to apply our selves to Christ with a sense of what we want in particular And because as I told you all in Christ is some way or other for our spiritual food both Christ in his Person and Christ in his Offices We should apply our selves to that in Christ which may most of all relieve our faith in seeking after that particular supply which for the present we see we need whether it be in his Person or in his Offices either as Priest or Prophet or King When we know there is such a thing in such a Cupboard when we go to it the next way to find what we seek for is to go to the Box wherein it is 3. What dispensation soever we are under what mercy soever we have received or are receiving what cross soever we are exercised withal or is likely to come upon us what Ordinances soever we address our felves to God in we may spread the matter before God and tell him our case and our dependence upon him and pray most for the
Paul had it Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me And he exhorts all that when they have put on the whole armour of God and have every grace ready for exercise yet then to Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 11. 3. Let this be thought on too That though we ought to rest upon Christ for his assistance herein as if he were to do all and we our selves were to do nothing at all yet we ought so to stir up our selves and exercise our most serious thoughts and endeavours herein as if no help at all were to be expected from him Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do Thus I have shewed you the expressions in the Text leading me that way that what in a natural way is necessary for the health and well-fare of the body that in a spiritual way is as much necessary for the health well-fare and prosperity of the Soul And this I have shewed in four Particulars I told you when I entred first upon this use That when in the use of these means all begins to be well within the Soul begins to thrive and prosper Yet it may possibly have its fainting fits sometimes by reason of continued afflictions sometimes from a deep sense of invincible infirmities For the more of these gracious principles there are in the heart and the more they are exercised the more sad impression the least failing makes upon the heart No marvel if it be with such as it was with Jonah when the waters compassed him about and the reeds were wrapt about his head then he said his Soul fainted within him Jon. 2.5 6 7. And David had like to have done so when false witnesses were risen up against him I had fainted saith he unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Psal 27.12 13. Now as when Nature is almost spent and bodily strength fails there is need of relief by some comfortable Cordials As that poor Man 1 Sam. 30.12 being faint David's Men gave him something and then his spirits came to him which it seems were departing from him Now as the Lord Jesus was very tender over those that came from far to hear him and had been three days with him lest they should faint in their way homeward and therefore he wrought a miracle to relieve them Matth. 15.32 So without doubt he is as tender to prevent Soul-fainting Isa 57 15 16 to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the Souls which I have made Something therefore must be said to this Therefore though I cannot descend to particulars that would be too great a work I shall only give some general rules which may be indifferently applyed to all cases Let then every Soul that is ready to faint 1. Do as Jonah did in the place before quoted chap. 2. ver 7 My Soul fainted within and I remembred the Lord. Remembrance implies dependence Psal 20.7 But we will remember the name of the Lord our God This is prescribed for a fainting Soul Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Now we must know that the Name of the Lord may have reference to that name Exod. 34.5 6 7 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious c. This is very chearing For a fainting Soul may sometimes take encouragement from an Attribute of God when he doubts whether he may touch with a promise or no. Or it may have reference to that name Jer. 23 6 The Lord our Righteousness Certainly when a Soul seeth nothing in it self whereby it can challenge any interest in any ground of comfort yet because there is grace and mercy enough in the name of God and merit and righteousness enough in the Son of God such a Soul may see ground enough to resolve as Isa 8.17 I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him Psal 34.5 They looked to him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed Though all the clouds were not presently scattered yet they had some light And a little Candle in a dark room in a very dark night though it do not make it day as the Sun doth yet it is some reviving till the day do appear 2. Let it be well considered what God imposeth upon fainting Souls as one great part of their work in such a season Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved When thou art ready to faint under thy burden cast it upon me saith the Lord Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden Do then as David did he hears the command speaking in general unto all Psal 27.8 Seek ye my face and seeth himself concerned in it and therefore resolves Thy face Lord will I seek It is observable that when Christ commanded the blind Man to come unto him Mar. 10.49 Be of good comfort say those that were by-standers the Master calls thee Such commands in this case may sometimes be of greater use then promises and more effectual for the silencing of doubts and discouragements For the best are apt when in the dark to dispute their interest in the promises till they have disputed themselves out of all heart to close with them But Commands are not to be disputed but obeyed See Luk. 5.5 There was discouragement enough They had fished all night and caught nothing nevertheless say they at thy word we will let down the Net 3. Taking it for granted that a fainting Soul in obedience to the command of Christ is willing if able to come to Christ and to close with him And if the question were put to him as it was to Rebecca Gen. 24.58 Wilt thou go with this man He would answer as she did I will go And hearing the terms whereon he promiseth to be ours can and doth yield unto them as heartily as Laban did to Jacob's and desire as he did Gen. 30.34 I would it might be according to thy word Then let every fainting Soul know his right and claim it and know his duty upon this account and set about it 1. Know his right and claim it What 's that Even the promises of God as his inheritance for those that yield to Christ's terms are received into the number of his adopted Children Joh. 1.12 And if Children then Heirs Rom. 8.17 Heirs of what See Gal. 3.29 And if ye be Christs then are ye Abraham's
graces of Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 1 Thes 5.14 15 Be patient to all men not rendering evil for evil to any man but ever follow that which is good So far as any Man doth thus manage his worldly affairs for his prosperity in the World he shall not prejudice but thereby farther his Soul-prosperity And in order hereunto consider these few things 1. Remember that of Salomon Pro. 28.20 Make not haste to be rich Do not grasp more of the world into your hands then ye may manage without distraction This cannot any more be for the prosperity of the Soul then to eat more meat then the natural heat of the stomach can well digest can be for the health of the body Therefore in such a case it is a mans duty interest and wisdom to do as the Sea-men do when the Ship is overladen cast out some of the burden lest they hazard the loss of their lives Otherwise that will be found a truth when it may be too late to prevent it what the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich that are set upon it fall into temptations and snares and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in a Whirlpool of destruction and perdition 2. Remember that though ye ought to be diligent in your calling yet it ought to be with a holy indifferency of Spirit not as Rachel Gen. 30.1 Give me Children or I dye but as David in that great strait wherein he was 2 Sam. 15.26 Let the Lord do with me as it seemeth good in his sight Thus it ought to be and thus it may be if we desire our care for prosperity in this world may not hinder the prosperity of our Souls The strongest and highest workings both of our heads and hearts should be after our Soul concernments Thus did David Psal 63.8 My Soul followeth hard after thee 2 Sam. 6.14 David danced before the Lord with all his might But when a mans eyes and his heart as the expression is concerning Jehojakim Jer. 22.17 are but for the world i. e. he doth greedily affect it and most eagerly pursue it as if that Judgment were befallen him which literally befel Korah and Dathan the earth swallowed them However such may hold up and rub on in a formal profession and that it may be with some seeming forwardness yet their Souls can never prosper It is impossible they should Therefore labour not for that meat which perisheth but for that which endureth to everlasting life Joh. 6.27 3. Remember this That there is no absolute necessity of it upon one account or other that a man should be as rich as other rich men of the same calling That is necessary which cannot be supplyed with something instead of it As the light of the Sun is necessary for the day All the Candles in the world cannot supply the want of that No it will be night when the Sun is set for all the Stars Now the wealth and great things of the world may be supplyed by something else for neither mans life nor the comforts of his life consists in abundance Luk. 12.15 so Psal 4.6 7. There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us thou hast put gladness in my heart more then in the time that their Corn and their Wine increased But all the world cannot supply the want of Soul-prosperity Matth. 16.28 What can it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Therefore that is the only thing necessary Luke 10.42 4. Remember this That we manage the business of our calling with a holy fear and jealousy lest we should prejudice the wellfare of our Souls Job was afraid lest his Children whilest they were refreshing their bodies should have wronged their Souls Job 1.5 there is as much reason to be afraid in this case for the world is defiling Jam. 1.27 to keep himself unspotted from the world It his hard to touch Pitch and not to be defiled This was in the thoughts of Jesus Christ Joh. 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from evil 5. Remember this That the ruling predominant chief and principal end in labouring for the things of this world should be in reference to the world to come when David prayed for life it was not principally that he might live but that he might live and praise God Psal 119.17.175 So in labouring after all the things of this life we should desire them not as stops but as steps in our way to heaven and so accordingly use them reckoning this though not the only yet as one of the chiefest advantages we have by them that we have a price put into our hands whereby we may be the more useful and our light shine so much the more before Men that they may glorify our Father which is in heaven Matth. 5.16 6. Remember this That it is our duty and we ought to prepare for it by keeping the things of the world at a distance from our hearts to run the hazard of the loss of all when the keeping of them is inconsistent with the conscience of that duty and subjection we owe to Christ when it comes to that we should suffer joyfully the spoiling of our goods as they did Heb. 10.34 though we should go as naked out of the world as ever we came into the world He that will keep what he hath in a way that God doth not approve of may keep the thing but he will lose the comfort of it Even as they Exod. 16.20 that would keep Manna beyond the time that God allowed them they had the Manna but it did them no good it had worms in it and did stink Thus we have something toward the answering of that question and I do believe that ye will find that so far as these rules are observed the world will not prejudice your Souls FINIS