but imperfect obedience And you see from the Text that the Devils do believe and also that they have submission Now dare you wager Yes may the holy soul say Satan all thy obedience it is but slavish and therefore trembling Satan may be sent by God but he seeks all for himself I live may the true believer say in the perfect law of liberty but the Devil in all his submission and obedience under that command that genders unto bondage Satan obeys indeed when God commands but all his obedience is in a curse whose beginning and ending is in damnation Satan moves under the power of wrath but a believer moves because he is moved he loves because he is first loved and obeys through an infinite obedience even the submission of Christ Gal 2 20. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Christ moves the Christian to know to work to walk he is the beginning and the progress and the perfection of every true believers obedience Every Christian hath an infinite obedience because Christ is his and therefore he can triumphantly challenge all as Paul doth Rom. 8. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth none can condemn it is Christ that dyed and is at Gods right hand for us both to excuse us and acquit us by his own infinite Intercession and Satisfaction And though the Devil and wicked men may yield some obedience as God is a Lord and Soveraign yet all that either of them can have hath no acceptation because all they do or profess it is but of servile and slavish fear But now Christ hath brought believers into a near relation God being their Father and himself being their Righteousness and the holy Spirit their Comforter speaking in them the obedience of Christ which acteth them in power and spirit and life And now wicked men you being Judges which is best the obedience of Christ which is the obedience of Saints for when Christ was obedient unto death so were all the Saints So saith the Apostle Reckon your selves dead when Christ dyed your selves risen when Christ was raised And so of all his other saving benefits they are all accounted believers and then judge you either in regard of quantity or in regard of quality Every believers obedience is spiritual as Christ is spiritual and filial because Christ was the onely Son and with him and through him all are welcome because Christ presents them unto his Father as Sons and Daughters without spot or wrinkle And then as for quality so for quantity As believers have spiritual fear and love and obedience so likewise they have infinite love and obedience Christ being infinite in obedience so is every believer by Christ Jesus For he is our Jesus saith the Church and my Jesus saith the soul Not onely a Head and Husband and Redeemer of his Church but as full and compleat for Col. 2. 10. every believer ye are compleat in him who is not onely the head of his body the Church but every member is in him and Christ is infinite and all in all so that saying of Solomon Prov. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbor True believers have Christ in them the hope of glory And Christ for them all performance But may the world say Indeed if you take Obj. in the obedience of Christ But how is it in point of their own conversation do not they whom you account Saints fall short and subject to the same passions and infirmities as others I Answer for such that are Saints indeed Answ although they have many yea it may be gross failings as Noah Lot and David had yet judge the scope and end of their practice by considering what 's thy own and what the Devils have May be thou canst say Thou art not guilty of common and base enormities such as Drunkenness Adultery Swearing c but tel me upon what ground dost thou refrain is it because thou wouldst not grieve the holy spirit of God Eph. 4. 30. or is it because thou knowest the curse upon this last account the Devil and all wicked men obey not because they bear any good will love or liking to God or his ways but out of hatred envy and slavish fear Christ is said to have converse with creatures and what is it for but to seek and save that which was lost To this end was Christs coming crucifying dying preaching praying and practice And Believers in their measure tread in the same steps of exhorting and building up one another even as Christ hath given them example But now take the Devil and all his Emissaries and though they seek diligently what is it for but onely to devour and destroy Your adversary the devil goes about continually seeking whom he may devour the Devil is continually in motion very vigilant and active but to what end onely to ruine and confound such whom God meaneth and mindeth to save The Devil is very ready to run on Gods errand as in that case of Job but he endeavors altogether his own end to murther and devour souls and to deceive the hearts of the simple He may be obedient to Gods Soveraignty but think of his end and give the verdict to thy own soul 2. Though a believers obedience is better then Satans because the obedience of Christ is theirs and what they do they do from a principle of love and not of hatred but what is the obedience of common professors such that have a name to live but are dead have outward seeming but no inward sanctity having a form of godliness but not matter and substance true spirit and life The highest of this sort of mens obedience may be accounted either in morality or hypocrisie 1. For your morality in that you are common professors and within the pale of the national Church and none can say you are Drunkards Swearers or Blasphemers but a civil honest man paying every man his own relieving the poor according to your proportion I do no body no hurt as God forbid I should But tell me what good doest thou do He that is not with me saith Christ is against me and he that gathereth not scattereth Mat. 12. 30. What if one should give his body to be burned as it is possible from the authority of that Apostle in that of 1 Cor. 13. 3. yet if this should be and the heart not linked in love to Christ all such performances would be like the untimely fruit of a woman having no account before the Son of Righteousness For what will this amount to more then what the Devil is said to do John 8. 44. The Pharisees did many glorious performances had a zeal for God much in alms frequent in fastings paid every man his own lived a moral life so that none outwardly might say Black was their eye and yet Christ tells them plainly They were of their father the devil and his works they did
which Believers are to take notice of against their fears and troubles Our Father by these words Fear thou not for I am with thee engageth first his Word secondly his Power thirdly his Faithfulness and fourthly his Honour God hath laid all these and much more at stake as I may so express it for every Believer to the removing away fears 1. In his special presence his Word is engaged and this the Text holds forth being the Word of God though penned by this Gospel-Prophet Isaiah There is a twofold Word of God the internal and external but both are engaged against a Believers fears and dismayings The internal word is that voyce within us saying This is the way walk in it And this proceeds from the Eternal word of the Father even Jesus Christ himself for so he is called by that divine Evangelist Joh. 1. 1 2 3. And by this Word we have the Law of the Spirit of life freeing us from the Law of sin and death and this the Word of God engages and Jesus Christ by his Spirit makes good Rom. 8. 2. And then if freedom from sin and death who should once make doubt against fears and sorrowings And in the Scriptures how many gracious promises hath the Father given thee on purpose for thy consolation All the comforting promises all the upholding promises all the present promises all the prccious promises are for the support and comfort of every Child of God So that though no holy things must be cast to Dogs yet all the words of Consolation Comfort Joy and Peace they are all to be dealt forth unto a believing soul And therefore as our Saviours words do invite you so let them abide in you Joh. 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me For both agree in words of Consolation against all your fears and troubles 2. God by this special presence engageth not only his Word but his Power also and what will not a man of power do that will engage for a friend But what will not the powerful God accomplish for Jacob his friend In case of temptation he saith to Paul My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 9. And all power is in Grace though all Grace be not in power But both these are in this special presence of God engaging for a fearing Christian And I need go no further then the Text to make it appear that the Lord engageth his power to take off Believers fears Observe when God will set forth his power and greatness to the full he saith no more but thus I am that I am Exod. 3. 14. And thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I am hath sent me unto you And thus he engageth himself in the Text for the believing soul Fear not I am Be not dismayed I am And as those expressions with thee and thy God do set forth Gods gracious relations so I am his infinite power but both opposing fears and dismayings 3. God by this his special presence engageth his Faithfulness he will assuredly perform the overcoming all thy fears Had the Lord given us but his word of promise it were enough to master fears considering all the words of grace were written for the Saints comfort and the Scripture saith Not one jot or tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled And the reason is because he is faithful that hath promised And let us take heed by our giving way to fears we make not Gods word of none effect for He is faithful that hath promised yea and he is round about us to effect it saying I am with thee fear not I am thy God that is a God in covenant and I will nor suffer thee to be tempted feared affrighted but as I am with thee so I will strengthen yea I will help yea I will uphold It remains only doubting soul that thou shouldst witness with the Saints Heb. 10. 23. that He is faithful that hath promised and doth engage all for thee Hold fast therefore thy profession without wavering for the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God a God that keepeth Covenant and that with thee against distrust and fears Deut. 7 9. 4. And lastly God engageth not only his word his power and his faithfulness against a Believers fears but his Honour is at stake for them and know Believer he will not suffer himself to be foil'd in this for he is very jealous of it whatsoever suffer his Honour shall not Isa 42. 8. I am the Lord that is my name and my honour will I not give to another But a Believers fears and distrusts carry this in the very front even to ecclipse the honour and glory of God but saith the Lord Fear not for I know the drift of all your dismayings if distrusts did only seek your hurt I would not suffer it 1 Col. 10. 14. God is faithful saith the Apostle and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Ah saith the soul but what is my ability I am like a broken reed recling to and fro by every wind of temptation Well grant it what if thou art God saith he is thy God and he is with thee and he will deliver thee from all thy fears thou shalt escape and thou shalt glorifie him Nay he saith his own honour will suffer if slavish fears be suffered For though thou art a doubting Christian yet thou art my Child and so many distrusting fears may quickly make up slavish fears which is a dishonour unto my grace which I have given thee and of which I have said it should be sufficient And come what will come my honour shall not suffer nor my grace be clouded Therefore fear thou not for I am with thee and my honour is engaged in this my presence and Fears shall not be master My honour will not I give to any other much less to fears and dismayings which are so much against my honour And thus much for demonstration of these words I am with thee I am thy God To which I have chiefly spoken as they are directed against a Believers fears and dismayings Give me leave now to call forth some of those usual Doubts and Dismayings that are so incident unto Gods children that so the Express by Gods special presence may be made good even not to fear not to be dismayed I shall not speak any thing of the rise of fears knowing that every experienced Christian knoweth that sin was and is the cause of all servile fears Only thus much the Text implies that such there are in Gods own children and these are they that must be removed that so comfort and consolation may be administred CHAP. VI. Endeavoring the removal of spiritual fears and Objections answered as to the nature of fears THere are many sorts of fears yet they all may be comprehended to be Spiritual or Temporal and these again may be Personal Family and National fears And though
that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you That is If God dwell in your hearts by faith all the current of your lives will be to dwell in him by love by hope and by obedience Thus Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Here is the Spirit of Donation and of Grace sent from the Spirit of Power and Glory God hath sent So Joel 2. 28 I will pour forth my Spirit on all flesh Here is the Spirits pouring forth the Spirit namely the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. which Spirit cooperateth in our hearts through which we have communion in our union I shall cast all that I have to speak at this time from these words into these three Considerations 1. How may a Believer and Christ be said to be one Spirit 2. What Evidences may I have that my soul and Christ are thus in union And then 3. What benefit and income have I by being united unto Christ For so the Text imports it by way of triumph benefit and blessing to that soul which is one Spirit with Christ And in all these three Considerations I am not to speak of the Maximum quod sic or the Minimum quod sic Not of the Degrees of believing knowing that the least grain of faith doth as truly unite to Christ as the Plerophoria faith of assurance though not so strongly First How may a believing soul and Christ be said to be one Spirit I shall demonstrate this in some few and brief particulars 1. This will appear in the life of Christ and the life of a Believer Take a Believer in his birth and progress in this world in his first and in his last and still you will find Christ and Believers walking hand in hand and heart in heart they do not only close together in the final close but through Christ their whole life is a harmony joying and joyning and rejoycing in one another True it is as Musitians may have in their Descant some sharp and flats some rests and pauses yet even they set out the harmony So a Believer may have some withdrawings of divine light Christ may seem to stand behind the wall and to be estranged but no sooner doth Christ call but straight saith the holy soul Draw me and I will run after thee Can. 1. 4. And if the Saint cries I am my Welbeloveds Christ saith presently She is his Can. 2. 16. Likewise as Christ and the soul have an union in life so have they also in death and suffering If they suffer he suffers if he suffers they suffer if Christ dies the Saints die yea count reckon your selves so saith Paul Rom. 6. 11. yet with this difference Christ dyeth for sin the Saints to sin Christus non filius fuit irae sub ira Christ was not a Son of wrath though under wrath But we were both and yet what we had done Christ counts himself had done and stands in our stead So that as Luther saith He was the greatest sinner in the world And he bids the Saints believe that all their sins were laid on him and that not only so but that his righteousness is made ours for so saith the Prophet He is the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 6. And if we be afflicted Christ is afflicted he having the same Isa 63. 9 spirit of sympathizing must needs have the same spirit in suffering Out of this sense if Christ be bound and led to Mount Calvary to suffer for his Saints saith the holy Soul I am not only ready to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Act. 21. 13. 2. We are one Spirit with Christ by having communion and interest in all the precious graces of Christ This is the Saints testimony 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit which Spirit is the sweet fruit of all the graces dwelling in our hearts and by which we cry Abba Father And if you would know what this Spirit of Grace is the Apostle tels you in opposing it to the worlds envyings Gal. 5. 21 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Be not proud of this thy Spiritual income but be joyfull and be chearfull for against such there is no law Why no law against such Because Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. So then if we rank up all these graces Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness c. these being one Spirit with Christ we by being in union with Christ have a communion with all the graces of Christ Thus Christ dwels in us by faith and we are in Christ by faith Christ dwels in us by love and we dwell in Christ by love only We love him because he loved us first So that though we be many members and have diversity of gifts and several operations yet but one spirit one body one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. Thirdly believers are one spirit with Christ in that they leave all other relations in coming to Christ If any thing oppose tribulation peril sword father mother friends a believer will through thick and thin cross or comforts good report or bad report through all to Christ How is man and wife one flesh by leaving all to be joyned to one another Matth. 19. 5. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh Thus is it in the spiritual union between Christ and the soul they leave all for Christ And this is but that which Christ hath done for us for he left Glory Father House and Home Phil 2. 5 6 7. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant yea he was made in the likeness of men and humbled himself and became obedient unto death And what was all this for but that his Saints might be joyned unto him in spirit in righteousness in life in grace in glory Christ left all for us that we might have a union with him so we must leave all other relations and cleave unto Christ alone And therefore let us put the question unto conscience How many of us can part and leave all for Christ if we finde not this resolution within us but we have a cleaving to father and mother to this worlds comforts and enjoyments profess what we will for Christ yet so far
next foul one lowring the other serene yesterday rainy to day shineing and usually one or both is intermixt the morning fair the noon orecast one hour fair the next hour cloudy but always subject unto such like changes And what else is the consistency of mans life but two days of uncertainty a day of sickness and a day of health a day of poverty and a day of plenty a day of strength and a day of weakness a day of youth and a day of age this hour crowned the next crost our whole life is but a certain uncertain condition like the buckets to the well sometimes up and sometimes down sometimes full and sometimes empty one while whole and anon broken such are the vicissitudes and changes of the life of man in this present condition And the reason is that all things might appear to be of God and not of man The Lord casts all into contrarieties and works in them and by them take them in nature or grace to the silencing of the reason of man who would still be judging according to present events The world consists of heaven and earth the heavens have influence on the earth the earth bringing forth as to the heavens and this by dying and in dying living light and darkness is Gods order both flying yet following one another death and life is contrary so is flesh and spirit yet live in one another adversity is opposite and against prosperity yet in Gods order they make a harmony though to man they are contrary yet from him they are both alike He setteth one c. So likewise in spirituals he gives his work out upon the soul in reasons contrarieties The north wind Cant. 4. 16. and the south wind must blow together that his garden may flourish and the spices be fragrant Reason would think that the way should be something suitable to the home but this is the Lords method unto his dearest children that through straights and troubles temptations and tribulations they must inherit the promises and enter into the Kingdom of heaven But now albeit that all in this our present and temporal condition all is consistent in two days A day of prosperity and of adversity both these being set before which would we chuse I know if reason might make choice it would fix on prosperity and sense likewise without question would close with that But now what saith Religion and a gracious heart Saith Religion as to my present state Give me neither prosperity or adversity as extreams Give me neither poverty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Effigies statutum nor riches feed me with food convenient for me as to maintain my likeness Prov. 30. 8. But saith a gracious heart Considering my natural inclination if I must chuse I had rather pitch upon adversity for that will put me to consideration which prosperity seldom or never doth but rather into carnal security But may some say what a sad life then Obj. must you needs have Well but saith the godly heart let it be what it will rather then to forget God and be puft up this is my choyce And this is both their motto's and valuation Vanity of vanities all is vanity The second observation is from what man doth in the prosperous day he rejoyces in the day of prosperity he considers not as commanded but as from sense and reasons practice Observe That man keeps a measure according to Doct. present events If he counts changes prosperous then suitable thereunto he treads his joy but if contrary he takes up sorrow If things run thus and thus saith reason then I shall do so and so but if things fall thus then must I do thus and thus If such an interest be advanced that is suitable unto self or such opinions stand that are suitable to my interest then accordingly is my joy But if mine be opposed supprest and others to be advanced then on the contrary we measure out our sorrow and our grief keeping a proportion so much and so much prosperity so much and so much joy and contrary c. And the reason is because mans reason is annexed to sense rejoycing that is annexed unto prosperity grief unto distress but both by reasons rule according to their measure in occasions whether they be exterior or interior Learn hence a clear difference betwixt Faith and Reason Reason keepeth measure with every present joy or sorrow But true faith soars above either Divine faith it fixes on nothing but All sufficiency in distresses faith acts above staggerings and in temptations above though under struglings True faith is not frighted by the worlds distresses nor heightned by the worldâ— success but in either reason 's mov'd and bringet forth fleeting joy or worldly sorrow The third Observation is That all our earthly comforts and all our earthly crosses are but things that are made by him that made all things The Lord makes one against another and values them both alike in number weight and measure which are not to remain but to be removed All earthly Kingdoms Crowns and Comforts will be shaken as things that are made so also all earthly crosses will be shaken for that they are made that those things which cannot be shaken might remain Heb. 12. 27. And if this be so then here is a comfort and a cross 1. If all our earthly comforts enjoyments are but things that are made What a cross is this to the carnal covetous and voluptuous man All thy worldly joy profit and prosperity it is but made and shall not remain nay they must all shortly if not suddenly be removed Secondly Here is a comfort to the distressed and such as are in this worlds adversity do not be cast down at anothers prosperity or thy own poverty for thy poverty is but made and in a little while shall be removed The fourth and last observation is from the last clause in the Verse which hinteth out the scope and end why the Lord setteth prosperity and adversity in such anaequipollence and that is To silence mans reason in determining by present events He setteth one thing over against another that man should not finde out any thing after him Whence observe That it is a folly for man to judge or determine by the present evenâ—â— or changes of this world Whether it be of Persons Armies Victories States or Kingdoms it is a great folly Doct. in any to judge and determine by present prosperity or adversity for the creature to determine love or hatred by the present sense of things is a great folly take it Nationally or Personally for proof take Eccl. 9. 1 2. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the clean and to the unclean So in the 10 Verse of this 7 Chapter Say not thou or judge not thou that the former days are better then the present for
break thy quiet And that this is the mind of God to engage for thee mark but his resolution Yea I will yea I will yea I will strengthen help uphold He speaks it as a vehement undertaker of thy cause and quarrel as if he would in no wise suffer his Child to be so battered and abused by any fears and troubles and temptations Says the Creature I have spent both time and strength and mony and do you think I will suffer this No I will rather spend so much and so much more I will engage all but I le accomplish As the faithful Subject saith in his Countries cause Our father 's bought such and such a priviledge with such and such expence and shall we now be so incroacht on nay my life and fortune shall lie at stake first I will venture all and engage all but I will accomplish such dear-bought priviledges Even thus saith God the Father to a doubting Christian I have not only bought thee with the precious blood of my dear Son but through him I have also priviledged thee with the graces of my holy Spirit whereby thou mayst be comforted against fears and troubles But I see these guests are inmates in my houses still yea these slaves which should be underfoot are oft usurpers lording it over my sons and daughters But children be of good chear I your Father will not suffer this I will stand by you and engage for you Hath my Son redeemed you from your sins and shall you now be overwhelmed by servile fears No believe it drooping spirit Call forth all my strength all my power all my love it s all at stake for you and all engaged for you You know I sent my Son for you and in his low estate he slew the King of fears Death and Hell and led Captivity captive And now I am exalted I in him and he in me and you in both and shall I now suffer you to suffer No I will not suffer you to be tempted to be feared but I will succour you I will relieve you and support you When the offending Child hath got but a friend to stand between it and its offended Father how will it wipe the eyes and cherish hope and creep behind because it knows it hath gotten one to stand between it and home Ah but how much more may the Child of God who hath such a friend as Christ to intercede and such a Father as is so far from being offended with his Child in case of fears that he comes forth himself and engageth all his love all his grace the least drop whereof is enough to remove mountains of sins and why not fears and dismayings specially considering that he by his special presence singles out thee alone as if so be he had no more but thee for so the Text implies and expresses I am with thee poor fearing Christian and and all my mercy power and grace is engaged for thee and what will not the Bow of my power do being bent with resolution and that against all your servile fears I come I shoot I engage all my power mercy love Fear thou not for I am with thee And this is no more then what the Prodigal found at the hands of his Father Luk 16. who leaves all for him and engages all for him although a Prodigal and a Spend thrift yet because a Son the Father 's out to meet him and no cost must be spared the fatted Calf must be kill'd And if our Heavenly Father have such a resolution for a prodigal Son what will he not have for thee who art a Son but yet a fearing one The Children of God may say indeed that the sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Temptation Sin and Satan had made them slaves The sorrows of death encompassed me and the pains of hell caught hold on me yea I found trouble and sorrow saith David as our President Psal 116. 3. but v. 5 6. Gratious is the Lord for he preserveth the simple I was brought low and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to be thin and poor naked he helped me That 's the fearing soul And upon this he sings this Requiem Return unto thy rest return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And thus may every doubting Believer not only say but sing from Gods special presence that is round about them Turn out fears and dismayings turn out troubles sighs and sorrowings turn out distrusts and droopings And turn in my love and joy my comfort my consolation For my God hath dealt bountifully with me engaging all by his special presence And who would not subscribe to such an engagement such an engaging Father and such an engaging Son who is about me with all his power and love to oppose all my fears and affrightings How often have our fearing hearts said as David did in his case with Saul 1 Sam. 1 Sam. 27. 27. Surely I shall one day perish by the hands of Saul So says the weak Believer Surely I shall perish Sin doth so assault me and Temptation like the floating Sea daily riseth high and how can I chuse but fear when my life is in jeopardy every houre Ah but consider so oft as thou hast feared perishing who hath delivered thee 'T was not thy faintings and thy fearings for it is not by the best of our might or power why then it must be by the Spirit of God in his special presence which hath been with thee in the time of all thy straits and troubles only it may be thou hast not thought that God was thy assistant that he was so neer at hand by his special presence to comfort thee and sustain thee And if thou hadst known and thought of this thou wouldst have trusted more and doubted less However for the future still keep this in mind That God is with thee yea engaged for thee and that against all thy fears and dismayings And if one Attribute of God may administer a world of comfort and if one Attribute of God is an infinite support what then are all the Attributes of God which are about every Believer to comfort and engage against all their fears and troubles Surely we may all say We will not fear though the earth were removed for the Lord is a present help Yea though I be but as a worm a poor go-by the ground for so the Text expresses v. 14. Fear thou not worm Jacob yea the Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal 46. 1. 11. God being with us what need we fear any that are against us And why Because all is engaged for us All his Grace all his Love all his Mercy all his Wisdom all his Strength indeed all in God and God in all I shall in a word or two hint unto you four things which are engaged by this I am with thee