such are assured of Glory but this I say that all such are sure of Glory and ought to live in sure and certain Hope of Glory In this Case Christ himself is the Object and Original of all true Hope of Glory But its Christ in the Soul both in respect of Union and Communion that is the off-spring of this Hope of Glory and Christ in us becomes our Hope of Glory two ways By way of Influence and by way of Evidence 1. By way of Influence as when the Soul comes into the Body it animates it and by its influence causeth such Motions as do assure the Mother that she is quick with Child and may live in Hope of being a glad Mother So when Christ comes into the Soul by his Spirit it so influenceth the Soul and changeth it that thereby the Soul comes to know and understand that it is a member of Christ and an Heir of Glory and therefore lives in sure and certain Hope of Glory 2. By way of Evidence the Spirit of Christ in the Soul is the Souls Evidence for Heaven and as great an Evidence as can be had on this side Heaven Rom. 8.9 Ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his You see that the Spirit of Christ in the Soul doth Evidence the Souls Interest in Christ and assures it that he is Christs and Christ is his and this Evidence is so Evident that it fills the Soul with Hopes of Glory The Soul thus argues with it self Christ in the Soul is the Souls Hope of Glory Now I find Christ in my Soul and therefore Oh my Soul live thou in sure and certain Hope of Glory Having now divided and unfolded the Words I extract thence these two Doctrines Doct. 1. That every true Christian hath Christ within him Doct. 2. It s Christ within us that is our Hopes of Glory 1. Doct. Every sincere Christian hath Christ within him John 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me 1 John 3. last He that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and He in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Rev. 3.20 If any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him To prevent mistakes and clear up this great Truth let us enquire how and in what Sense this is to be understood when and in what manner doth Christ take Possession of the Hearts of his Elect why and for what cause and end is it that he abideth in them And how may we know the Spirit of Christ from the Spirit of Antichrist Quest 1. How and in what sense is this Doctrine to be understood Answ 1. Negatively It 's not to be understood of his personal bodily Presence his Body is now a Glorified Body and abideth in Heaven and there is to abide 'till he come to Judgment The Romanist tell us that Sacramental bread is changed into his Body and after Consecration every Wafer is the Body of Christ and is not to be eaten but to be swallowed and upon swallowing it Christ is within them but if Paul had been of their mind he would not have tould us that after Consecration it remains still bread and that it's bread that we eat and not the very body of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26.27 And our senses assure us it is bread we see feel and taste bread and yet they are so senseless as they will not believe their own eyes Nor is it to be understood of the Providential presence of Christ it is true that Christ is with us by the presence of his Providence ordering our affairs and disposing of us and our concerns according to the Councel of his good Will and Pleasure but the In-being here spoken of is of another Nature therefore I answer 2. Affirmatively That it is to be understood of his Spiritual presence viz. that Christ is in his Spouse and in every particular Member that belongs unto him by his Spirit and Grace Rom. 8.9 10. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none his and if that Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin viz. If by his Spirit he be in you It implies the Mistical union that is betwixt Christ and his Members A Mistery that is too wonderful to be made manifest to Mortals And it signifies to us our dependance upon Chriist for Light and Life What the Soul is to the body that Christ is to the Soul he abides in it by his spirit to supply its needs And is all in all to the Soul And all things else are just nothing to the Soul for they can afford it no satisfaction nor any one supply of its needs Alas what relief can Honour or Riches afford a Christless Soul none at all They oft prove snares to the Soul but never give any succour to it but Christ by his Spirit is in every true Christian and this is his Happiness and his hope of Glory Quest 2. When and in what manner doth Christ take possession of the hearts of his Elect Answ In this great transaction betwixt Christ and the Soul it is certain that Christ himself is the Author and the Spirit his Agent and his Word his usual and ordinary instrument and Faith his appointed method and means and the Work is wholly supernatural But the Modus rei the course and order that the Spirit makes use of in this great affair its intricate and hereby hath occasioned some difference in the apprehensions of the Learned In my weak Judgment they are in the right that distinguish betwixt 1. The qualifying Antecedents or Prerequisites that dispose prepare and fit the Soul for so great a Guest viz. the Grace that Christ by his Spirit conveys into the Soul in order to his entrance called the first preventing Grace this is the seed of Faith and a holy principle of Life Light and Love infused into the Soul as a holy Root and cause of all actual holiness and precedes it and puts the Soul into a capacity to put forth future acts of holiness This initial holiness sanctifies the Soul and halloweth it and makes it meet for the indwelling of the holy Spirit And till the Soul be thus seasoned I cannot see how the Holy Ghost can take up its Habitation in it What Communion can light have with darkness 2. The conveying Concomitants that usher Christ into the Soul and accompany the possession that the Spirit takes of the Soul is called subsequent Grace or the Influence of the Spirit causing the Soul freely to reduce the said seed and principle into Act and when it actually repents and believes through grace received then it is actually justified upon the account of Christ's
It 's a Holy Spirit and therefore called the Holy Ghost they then that are carnal and sensual have not the Spirit Jude 19. And the Spirit of God is a humble and meek Spirit they then that are haughty and lofty and despise and contemn the Righteous they want the Spirit 2. By its Nurture it Nurtures and trains up the Soul in the fear of God and in the Faith of the Gospel John 16.13 When the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth That Spirit then that leads men into Errour cannot be the Spirit of God Now that Spirit that cries down Christs Ordinances and his Ambassadors leads into Errour The Word of God is the Dictates of the Spirit and the Standard of Truth and that Spirit that contradicts the written Word cannot be the Spirit of Christ for the Spirit of Christ cannot Contradict it self in contradicting any one part of that word that it was dictator of You must then judge of the Spirit by the Word That Spirit that doth not train up conduct and lead according to the Scriptures is a false Spirit Isa 8.20 If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Gal. 1.8 9. Such as preach another Gospel are accursed And such as preach contrary to the Gospel set up another Gospel Thus far I have spoke to the Doctrinal part now let us proceed to the practical part of the Doctrine Is the Spirit of Christ in every sincere Christian Then 1 Vse Shall be of Terror to such as live without Christ in the World be they prophane Persons or Professors God hath provided an alsufficient Saviour for us that can savâ— to the utmost and there is no Salvation in any other Person or thing to be expected And none can be saved by him but such as receive and admit him into their hearts by Faith and how few are they that have Christ in them Oh you that do make account to be saved by Christ at death and yet shut your hearts against Christ and have not embraced him as freely offered in the Gospel know that you do but deceive your selves If you keep Christ out of your hearts Christ will keep you out of Heaven A Christless Soul is a wretched Soul Oh now whilst it is said to day it concerns you above all things in the World to consider your danger the dreadfulness of your danger and the desperate Madness of such as sit down contented under their danger I pray you to consider 1. Your Danger If Christ be not in you you cannot be in safety Your condition must needs be a perilous condition you stand upon the Margin of Death and Destruction For 1. You are under the Captivity of Satan and in the snares of the Devil and are carried Captive by him at his will and pleasure 2 Tim. 2. last Satan possesses the Soul of all that continue in the state of Nature 'till Christ comes and dispossesseth him Eph. 2.2 Satan is the Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience And you are the Children of Disobedience and disobey the Calls of the Gospel and the Commands of Christ in the Gospel He Commands you to believe and to repent and to obey his Gospel but you disobey him and therefore the Spirit that dwells in you is Satan and it 's he that works in you and Oh what sad work doth he make with your precious Souls how doth he insnare and enslave them what Tyranny doth he exercise on them it's high time for you to consider it 2. You are under the Curse of the Law and under the Condemnation of the Gospel and therefore you are in as much danger of Damnation as a condemned Person is of Execution Oh what dreadful Curses are the Curses of God and how certain in the Execution if Repentance do not intervene And these Curses of God hang over your heads like a Hurricane or violent Tempest that is ready to fall down upon you There is a Curse upony our Blessings a Curse upon your bodies A Curse upon your substance and a Curse upon your Soul And if this Curse be not removed it will certainly light upon you Your sins will find you out surely then you are in danger Now Consider 2. The Dreadfulness of this danger that you are under The greatness of this danger lies in these instances I will lay them before you in couples for the help of your Memories The dreadfulness of this your danger lies in 1. The Unavoidableness and Universality of this danger 1. It 's an unavoidable danger I mean under your Circumstances rebus sic stantibus as the case is now with you A man may be in danger and he may foresee it and avoid it David was in danger of Saul and hid himself in a cave and so avoided it But in the case you are in the danger is unavoidable not that it is so in it self but you make it so to your selves there is one way and but one way to avoid it and this way is by Christ Now this way you reject and how can ye escape if ye neglect so great Salvation It 's impossible for you to escape any other way and this way you do not and will not be perswaded to take and so go about to make your danger unavoidable 2. It s an universal danger a danger of a vast extent your All is in danger your lesser and greater Concerns your Estates your Lives your Bodies and Souls Your All is under a Curse and therefore your All is in danger and is it not time to look about you when fire is got in the thatch and all your goods are in danger how are you Concerned your case is much worse your danger far greater and will you be unconcerned 2. The Dreadfulness of your danger lies in the Proximity and Perpetuity of the Evils you stand in danger of 1. In their Proximity The Judge stands at the door your danger is not a remote but a present danger you are now and alway in danger you may lose your Souls in a minute you know the uncertainty of Life that it is but a Vapour a Bubble that may burst and vanish in a moment So that upon this account you are daily and constantly in danger Now Life is so uncertain that in Temporal matters you will secure your selves because all men are mortal and will you run such a hazzard as we are now speaking of and not study your safety will you be penny wise and pound foolish secure a little Siver and let your Souls lie in such danger 2 In their Perpetuity the danger is not only present but the evils you stand in danger of are everlasting You are in danger to lose your Souls and to lose Heaven and these are irrevocable losses and such losses as will I remain to all eternity and your are in danger of Hell and of eternal Death and if the danger be not removed but it once overtake
choicest Treasure and set a great value upon them both because of the superexcellency of the things Promised and because of the infallibility of him that promised them He that made these Promises is God and not man and there being no impotency nor inconstancy in him the Promises must needs prove certain and unfailable 2. The faithfulness of God in his promises serves to check and condemn the fears and jealousies that arise in us from the foresight of future troubles Whence spring all these distracting thoughts that croud our Souls but from Unbelief did we live by Faith upon the Promises it were not possible for us to be overwhelmed with fears Matth. 8.26 Why are ye fearful oh ye of little faith have we such precious Promises and is he faithful that hath promised then why are we so fearful our fears surely are groundless fears they proceed not from any just cause but from our distrusting the faithfulness of God in his Promises Had we more Faith we should have less fear Faith would scatter our fears by fetching in relief from the Promises if would chide out slavish fear as it did in David Psal 42. last Why are thou cast down Oh my Soul hope thou in God 3 The faithfulness of God in his Promises serves to Create in us an ardent Love to our Gracious Lord and Master Who would not Love such a kind and faithful Friend as we should fear him for his Greatness so should we love him for his Goodness How good hath God been to us in giving such a large stock of rich Promises unto us and therein intailing so large an inheritance upon us how sad and forlorn would our condition be were it not for these precious Promises what would poor persecuted reproached and despised Christians do were they not supported by these Promises and what would poor doubting Christians do but for these Promises how many under the distresses of their Souls have recived comfort from the Promises that Blessed Martyr Mr. Bilney being wounded in Conscience for renouncing the Profession of his Faith and subscribing the Popish Errors was at last comforted with that Promise Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee A Young maid went Triumphantly to Heaven by the refreshment she found in that Promise Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Many drooping Spirits have been comforted from these words 1 John 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren I know one that hath lived comfortably many Years upon that Promise Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your wants according to his riches in glory by Christ Oh what comforts have many received from the Promises God expresseth his Love to his People in these Promises and they should express their Love to him in their thankfulness for the Promises 4. The Faithfulness of God in his Promises serves to confirm our Faith in the Promises Is he faithful that hath Promised why then should we doubt of the truth of the Promises Christ says one is the Vine and the Promises are a Cluster of Grapes growing upon this Vine and Faith presseth the Wine of comfort and contentment out of the cluster of the Promises Why do we not make more improvement and advantage of the Promises and live more upon them doth not the Faithfulness of God silence all our doubts and challenge from us more strenuous Acts of Faith is God true to his Word then surely we should patiently wait for and assuredly expect the accomplishment of the Promises and that when the Stream of Providence runs another way God saith Jer. 32. 42. I will bring upon them all the good that I have promised them And if we would receive the good contained in the Promises then we must act Faith in the Promises Faith takes this for granted that God will be as good as his Word and by reflecting upon Gods Faithfulness Faith is strengthened and confirmed 5. The Faithfulness of God in his Promises serves to clear the Promises from all charges of miscarrying The Promises are not alway performed to all that claim an interest in them but this is not to be charged on God as a piece of unfaithfulness For 1. Delays in performing Promises are no breaches of Promise if the time of performance be not limited in the Promise Ps 77.8 Doth his promise fail for evermore No No that cannot be it may fail for a time but not for ever God will make his word good one time or other Though he may delay the performance yet he cannot break the Promise and therefore its good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 2. Discharges from Promises discharge from the performance and in conditional promises the non-observation of the condition discharges from the performance And many of Gods promises are conditional and such as keep not the Condition do justly miss of the Accomplishment of the promise and yet he is faithful that promised 2 Chron. 15.2 The Lord is with you whilst you are with him but if you forsake him he will forsake you 3. Doing more for a person then the promise amounts to though not the same but in another kind is no breach of Promise but a performance of it with advantage As if I promise to another 100 l. and instead thereof give him a Jewel worth 200 l. then I am as good and better then my word to him So it God promise Deliverance and do not deliver but gives Strength Comfort and spiritual Advantage to a person in his Trouble he is as good and better than his word to him When he gives eternal life instead of temporal life the promise doth not fail but still he is faithful that promised 6. The Faithfulness of God in his Promises serves to quicken us to all Diligence in looking out after an Interest in the Promises Though there are many precious promises and he is faithful that promised yet what are we the better if we be none of those to whom the promise belongs if we be in the state of Nature we are under the Law and not under Grace under the Curses of the Law and not under the Promises of the Gospel Study therefore under your Peace and Liberty your interest in the Promises that you may apply them to your selves without Presumption when you fall into Adversity If you ask how you may discover your interest in the Promises I answer 1. You must cleanse your selves from all Pollutions 2 Cor. 7. beg Having these Promises let us cleanse our selves c. He that will comfortably apply the Promises must apply himself diligently to the Conditions of the promise he must cleanse himself that he may be capable to receive the Blessings promised and live alway under the influence of the Promise and be able justly to challenge an interest in the promise Such as have filthy polluted Souls have no Interest
THE Helmet of Hope Distinguished from the Hope of Hypocrites And Published To prevent the danger of False Hope and to promote the Duty of Living in true Hope of Glory WITH An Appendix of the Grounds of Hope Collected in a Catalogue of Promises and Experiences By A. B. A Minister of the Gospel The Hypocrite with Hope is vainly Fed His Hope 's no Helmet but a Spiders Web. But Converts know it is no Idle Story That Christ within is the true Hope of Glory London Printed by J. A. for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel And are to be Sold by Obed. Smith at Daventry in Warwickshire 1694. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Dear Friend THIS little Book now come to thy Hand calls for entertainment both for thy Saviours sake who hath provided Salvation for thee at his own cost and for thy Souls sake which therein is much concerned both in Point of Safety and Comfort Enquire not after the Author but Study the needful Matter it presents unto thee Though it come in a plain Dress without either Top-knot or Ruffles yet it 's Grave and Serious and may contribute much towards both thy Temporal and Eternal welfare It was not designed for Publick Vse when composed but proved so Sweet in the Meditation and so acceptable in the Ministration that thereby I was encouraged to send it abroad to warn the secure World against those false Hopes that lull Sinners asleep in Security And to invite all that meet with it to look after that Helmet that is of so great use for all Souldiers that fight under the Banner of the Captain of our Salvation Christ Jesus And if thou be one of this number and hast any skill in the Spiritual warfare thou wilt in thy own Experience acknowledge the account here given of this piece of our Spiritual Armour Thou art so well acquaintted therewith and finds in thy self the fore-thoughts of Glory made thereby the Joy and Delight of thy Soul That thou wilt see that thou hast met with an old Fellow-Souldier that hath been in many a Battle and still found his Helmet of Hope his Safeguard and so admires and valueth it that he would not part with it for Paris Let me entreat thee to take thy Helmet into thy Hand and compare it with the Helmet here treated of and then Mind the Vse and Advantage of the Helmet of Hope and if it raise in thy Heart high thoughts of this great Grace and more Diligence in the Exercise of it I have obtained my end and Christ his Glory who is the Object Author and offspring of this Hope with whom we Hope to live in Glory Rom. 15.13 Now that the God of Hope may fill thee and me with all Joy and Peace in believing that we may abound in Hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost is the earnest Prayer of Daventry May 21st 1694. Thy Fellow Souldier and Servant AND. BARNET COL 1.27 latter end of the Ver. Christ within the Hope of Glory THere is a vast difference betwixt the Effects of Common Providence and the Fruits of Christs Presence 1. The Effects of Common Providence extend to the just and to the unjust We in this Nation have long lived under the Gospel and hereupon come to be acquainted with the things that belong to our Peace 2 Tim. 1.10 for Life and Immortality are brought to Light by the Gospel And the Light of the Gospel shining so long amongst us by the good Providence of God hath enlightned the understandings of many with the common Notions of Christianity and the Will following the Dictates of the Understanding it hence comes to pass that a visible outward Profession of Religion abounds amongst us And great numbers there are of Professors that walk in a Track of Duty and Conform to the External part of the true Religion and have Hope in themselves that all is well with them and that they shall inherit Glory when all this is but the Effect of Common Providence and they are still of the number of the Foolish Virgins that though Virgins vaunted in their outward Behavior yet had not a Grain of the Oyl of Grace in the Soul 2. The Fruits of Christ his own Presence are enjoyed by few and are the peculiar Priviledges of the Vessels of Honour that Christ hath Redeemed by his Bloody Sacrifice John 17.2 ver 6. These that the Father gave him are they to whom he gives Eternal Life He gave his Life for them and gives himself to them He opens their hearts by his Spirit and comes in and takes up his abode with them And having cast out the strong Man armed and set up his own Kingdom in their Souls that Kingdom that consists not in Word but in Power and ruling in their Hearts by his Grace and Spirit they hereby come to enjoy in themselves sure and certain Hopes of Glory This is called in the Text a Mistery made manifest to the Saints it s a mistery in it self and to all carnal unregenerated Persons but made manifest to the Saints They and none but they understand the meaning of it and know not only who Christ is and what are his Offices and the Benefits thereof but also what it is to have Christ in them and to live in the enjoyment of so great a Blessing And this it is that is the Ground of their Hope of Glory to them God hath made known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mistery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in them the Hope of Glory It s the Clause of these Words that I have chose to be the Subject of my ensuing Discourse Christ in you the Hope of Glory Wherein we may note 1. The Characteristical Qualification of the Persons here spoke of viz. Christ within 2. The Consequent Consolation thence arising viz. The Hope of Glory 1. The Characteristical Qualification of the Persons spoken of viz. Christ within this is the Motto of the true Christian and that that denominates him not only a Christian by Name but a Christian indeed A true Nathanael in whom there is no guile a true Israelite one by whom Christ is not only professed but also possessed Christ is formed in him and he conformed to him It s not Christ without that will serve the turn but we must have Christ within living and reigning in our Souls by his Grace and Spirit It s not Christ in Heaven but Christ in the Heart that constitutes us true Christians It s not talking of Christ but entertaining Christ as King Priest and Prophet that we must come up to if we will become true Christians 2. The Consequenâ— Consolation hence arising viz. The Hope of Glory It s Christ in the Soul that puts the Soul in so hopeful a Condition and is the true and main ground of the Souls Hope of Glory And this ground of Hope all such have that have Christ in them I do not say that all
satisfactorial meritorious Righteousness imputed to it and received by Faith and now being in a justified reconciled Estate is at that very same Moment committed to the Conduct of the holy Spirit And then and thus it is that Christ takes possession of the Souls of his Elect by his Spirit and comes in to abide with them for ever And thus a Soul becomes a Habitation of Christ through his Spirit Ephes 2. last and the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 And Christ is said to dwell in the heart by Faith Ephes 3.17 Quest 3. The 3d. Question is Why and for what cause or end doth Christ by his Spirit abide and dwell in his People Answ For several Reasons and upon several gracious designs As 1. As he is Captain of their Salvation and engaged to defend and secure them against all opposition He fought out our Salvation and obtained it by Conquest and he maintains it also by Conquest The World the Devil and the Flesh are the professed Eneof Christ and all his Subjects and stand up in opposition against his Kingdom and seek to Damn those that he seeks to Save and of whose Salvation he is the Captain And as the Captain of their Salvation he abides in them to protect them It 's for his honour and interest to safeguard them against his and their Enemies And his abode in them for this end and purpose is their safety The Captain of their Salvation is not only in Heaven personally but in their hearts Spiritually to be ready at hand in all their dangers to look after them and to aid and defend them It 's Christ in us that is our hope of Glory for his abode in us is our security from all peril and danger 2. As he is Consummator of the Work of Grace that is begun in their Souls He is not only the Author but the finisher of the Faith Heb. 12.2 And the work that he hath begun he will perform that is he will finish it Col. 1.6 He is both able and willing to finish it and is also resolved and engaged to finish it and is in them for this end and purpose to carry on his work of Grace in their Souls from one degree to another till it have attained it's gradual perfection and be consummated in Glory Our hearts are like Watches many times out of order and he sets his Spirit in us to keep our hearts in order To see how they go and to keep them in repair It 's our duty I confess to tend our hearts dilligently but we are so remiss in our Duty that if Christ did not look after us better than we our selves we should undo our selves and be undone by the Deceitfullness of our own hearts 3. As he is Comforter and the only Comforter of a comfortless Soul The People of God are oft in a drooping and dejected Condition cast down with a deep sense of Sin and sight of wrath Unbelief oft prevails and Satan is such an Enemy to their welfare that when he cannot keep them from Grace he will do all that he can to keep them from Comfort But Christ abides in their hearts by his Spirit the Comforter to disperse the Clouds of carnal discouragements that darken the Comforts of their Souls and to minister Comfort seasonably to them John 14.16 He will give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever And v. 17. He dwelleth in you and shall be in you I will not leave you Comfortless q. d. I know you will meet with many discomforts in this troublesom World but I will not leave you Comfortless but will come and abide in you by my Spirit on purpose to support you under your discomforts and to remove the causes of them and to fill your hearts with the sweet Comforts of my Spirit He is the Comforter when none can Comfort he can Comfort Others may speak Comfortably to you but yet fail in giving any Comfort to you But he is the Comforter that never fails in giving Comfort and he shall abide in you for your Comforter You will not only meet with Discomforts from your sins but from sinners they will be pouring contempt upon you and reproaching and persecuting you and from your seeming friends they will prove false-hearted and deceitful but be of good Chear you have a Comforter alway at hand and his Comforts are the best of Comforts the sweetest and most satisfactory Comforts They are Comforts that delight the Soul with joys unspeakable and full of Glory And now you see that the indwelling of Christ in your Souls is for your great advantage Christ in you is your help in all difficult cases here and your hope of Glory hereafter 4. As he is Counsellor and the best of Counsellors The People of God meet oft with such windings and turnings in the dispensations of Gods Providences towards them as put them to a stand that they know not what to do and which way to take but Christ by his Spirit abides in them to guide counsel and direct them in all such difficult cases Isa 11.2 The Spirit of Christ is called a Spirit of Counsel and Wisdom So that he that hath the Spirit in him finds assistance in many intricate cases from the Counsel of his Spirit whereby they are guided sometimes strangely and directed by special Providence to their great advantage How was Joseph in Egypt enabled by the Spirit of God to wind himself out of one trouble after another Quest The 4th and last question is How may we know the Spirit of Christ from the spirit of Satan or of Antichrist In Answer to this question I will give you both the Reasons of the question and the Resolution of it 1. The reasons of the question I have put this question for these reasons 1. Because of the prediction spoken of 1 Tim. 4.1 In the latter times there shall be seducing Spirits Yea in Pauls time Satan transformed himself into an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 and there were false Apostles that boasted of the Spirit and deceived many 2. Because of the precept we all lie under of trying the Spirit 1 John 4.1 which implies that there are evil Spirits that go under the Name of the Spirit of Christ and therefore we are Commanded to try the Spirits lest we take false Spirits for the true Spirit 3. Because of the Pretences of many in our dayes to the Spirit of Christ who certainly have not the Spirit There is a Generation of men amongst us that tell us that Christ is in them and that they act and speak by the Spirit and that all others besides themselves are led by the Devil and in the Road-way to Destruction Now for these reasons I have put it to the Question How the Spirit of Christ may be known from the Spirit of Error And 2. The Resolution of the Question is easie For the Spirit of Christ is known by its Nature and by its Nurture 1. By its Nature
but poor work of it he will be quickly weary of his work it s the Hope of a good Crop that makes the Husbandman Labour hard in Seed time he Plows and Soweth in Hope and its Hope that Spurs him on and encourageth him in his Work So it is the Hope of Glory that carries a Christian through his Work Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self says Paul Wherein was it that he was so diligent in Religious Exercises why it was in Hopes of a joyful Resurrection ver 15. I have Hope towards God of the joyful Resurrection of the Just And in Hope thereof I endeavour to be of that number exercising my self in works of Holiness and Righteousness 1 Cor. 15. last Abound in the Works of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord q. d. You know your Labour shall be rewarded and live in Hope of Glory and is it for you to Loiter No no your Hopes of Glory is given you to help on your Labour that you may abound in the Works of the Lord. 2. To help us in our Warfare for it fortifies the Soul and is as needful as Arms are for Souldiers We are all Souldiers under Christ the Captain of our Salvation and fight against his Enemies And this Hope is one of our spiritual Weapons It 's our Helmet 1 Thess 5.8 Put on for a helmet the hope of Salvation It hath both the Use and Force of a Helmet As a Helmet saves the Head and Heart and stands betwixt them and danger So our Hope of Glory doth in the time of Temptation stand betwixt the Soul and the danger and put by the strokes of the Temptation When the Soul is assaulted its Answer to the Temptation is No no if I yeild I shall dash my Hope of Glory God hath promised Glory to such as hold out against Temptations and I live in Hope of Glory and prize my Hope of Glory and will not for the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a moment hazzard the loss of this Glory I am Christs Souldier and shall I fight against my own Captain and him with whom I hope to live in Glory away Satan it s not for one that lives in Hope of Glory and finds and feels the sweetness thereof in his own Soul to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness 3. To help us in our Wants for it fits us for supplies We are needy Creatures alway in want and God hath made plentiful provision for the supply of our wants if we hope in him and promised such to supply all their need according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Psa 31. last Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your hearts all ye that hope in the Lord Though ye be weak and need strengthening and lie under heavey Burthens and want strength to bear them yet be of good Courage God will strengthen your hearts Psal 147 12. The Lord takes pleasure in those that hope in his mercy And are they the Objects of his Delight then surely he will look after them and take notice of their needs and give them seasonable supplies and hear and answer the Prayers that they put up for these supplies Such as pray in hope are sure to speed for hope redownds much to the Glory of God It implies an acknowledment of his faithfulness and alsufficiency and it puts the Soul in a waiting Frame and meets mercy with a thankful Heart and therefore God doth take Pleasure in such and in shewing mercy to such Now lay these things together and you will see both what hope God expects from you and why you are to exercise Hope and of what use this precious Grace is God expects that your hope be of the right kind a still and stedfast Hope a lively and lasting Hope grounded upon the indwelling of Christ in the Soul and his faithfulness in his Promises made to such Souls and such a hope as this is a mighty great help to the Soul both in its Work in its Warfare and in all its Wants And now I proceed to the Proof of the Doctrine 3 Quest How doth it appear that Christ in us is our Hope of Glory Answ Though few mind it yet all shall know at the great Day that this Doctrine is a great Truth and if we will submit our judgments to the Standard of Truth the infallible Word of God it will convince us and clearly inform us that it 's Christ in us that is our Hope of Glory 1. The Provisoes we find in the Acts of Oblivion recorded in the Word exempt all such from mercy as receive not Christ by Faith into their Souls and so excludes them from all Hope of Glory There are Acts of Grace in the Gospel that grant pardon and promise Glory to all penitent Believers that receive Christ by Faith into their Souls and consent and submit to his Scepter And upon these Acts of Grace our Hope of Glory is built as upon a Foundation But these Acts of Grace have Provisoes that exempt out of mercy and favour such as continue in impenitence and unbelief and in disobedience to the Gospel and tell such that it is in vain for them whilst such to Hope for Glory But in that Estate they can expect no mercy for God hath exempted them in the Acts of Grace 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Be not deceived nither fornicators nor Idolaters c. shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Glory is promised to some but gross Sinners are exempted The Apostle thus Treats the Corinthians If any amongst you lead wicked Lives and hope to go to Heaven in their Sins be it known to them that they are deceived they do but deceive themselves by thus hoping such shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if they live and dye in their Sins they live and die without an Interest in Christ and shall be shut out of Heaven but if any have been such and are changed and converted from Sin to Christ let such live in Hope of Glory Such as do continue in a State of Sin and are neither Justified nor Sanctified do vainly expect to be Glorified 2. The Promises that we find in the said Acts of Grace and the persons to whom these Promises are made do prove the truth of this Doctrine We find a grant of mercy in the Acts of Grace and Christ promising to Save some from the Wrath to come and to receive them into Glory But who are the Persons concerned in this Grant that are the subjects of this Grace and to whom the Promise is made it is not to all Sinners nor to Sinners as Sinners but to Penitent Sinners to such Sinners and to all such and to none but such as come to Christ in the path of the Promise with penitent Hearts and accept of him upon his own Terms and receive him by Faith into their Souls to dwell with them by his Grace and Spirit and reign
that they may awaken you and convince you of your need of Christ and provoke you to submit to the Gospel and to the way that God therein hath appointed for your Salvation and so by degrees brings you to live in sure and certain Hope of Glory 2. To such as are weak in Faith and Hope There are many precious Souls that have Christ in them and yet are weak in Faith and full of doubting and enjoy little Hope in themselves of Glory and I would willingly contribute something towards the encrease of their Hope of Glory And in order thereunto shall propound to such some means and helps that tend to the strengthening of the Hope of Glory and beseech them diligently to employ themselves in the use of them 1. See that you praise God heartily for the mercies you have already received Col. 3.15 Be ye thankful You are full of Complaints of your wants you want Peace and Joy and Assurance But are ye thankful for what you have thankfulness for what you enjoy is the way to obtain a speedy supply of what you want The thankful Soul is a Soul fitted for mercy And God will be the more ready to give when he knows that what he gives will be thankfully received Were we more thankfull he would open his hand the sooner and wider when we come to him for new supplies but when enjoyed mercies are undervalued and God wants his praise for them then it 's no wonder that he delays to give more mercies he will make you wait the longer to teach you more thankfulness A mite of Grace is of more worth than a Mountain of Gold And you have Grace and much Grace but because you want Comfort you overlook your Graces and do not own them with thankfulness and God is offended hereat and takes an effectual course to make you more thankful 2. See that you proceed in the exercise of what grace you have A Babe in time may become a strong Man and weak beginnings may have large endings A small Tallent may be doubled by good usage Mat. 13.12 He that hath to him shall be given and he shall have abundance alway provided that he husband well what he hath Therefore what Faith and Hope you have though it be weak yet exercise with Dilligence Repetition of Acts beget habits and diligent endeavors are attended with a Blessing and so you may come to have abundance Prov. 11.25 The diligent Soul shall be made fat You complain of leanness of Soul take heed that your leanness be not the effect of your own negligence exercise more diligence in the use of what Grace you have and your diligence will be blessed with fatness 3. See that you plead the Promises at the Throne of Grace This was good David his frequent Practise Psal 119.25 Quicken thou me according thy Word v. 28. Strengthen thou me according to thy Word v. 41. Let thy mercy come unto me O Lord even thy Salvation according to thy Word In this one Psalm he useth this Plea very oft no less then eleven times It s no presumptious but a profitable Plea to urge God with his Word of Promise and it is our Wisdom to reduce it to Practise It s much in use betwixt Man and Man You promised me to do so and so when will you perform it let us use the same Plea betwixt God and us It is thy promise be it according thy word It 's the Plea of Faith it is as if the Soul should say Lord thy promises are faithful Promises and here I spread one of thy Promises before thee and trust to thee for the accomplishment of it be it according to thy Word 4. See that you press the Commands of Faith and Hope upon your own Spirits This Course David took Psal 43. last Why art thou cast down Oh my Soul hope in God It 's ill done O my Soul to cast aside thy Hope and to give way to dispondency it 's thy Duty to trust in God and see that thou hope in God Hoping in God is an indispensible Duty that God requires from thee 1 Pet. 1.13 Be sober and hope to the end And it 's a very acceptable Duty Psal 157.11 The Lord takes pleasure in those that fear him in those that hope for his mercy And wilt thou O my Soul cast of thy Duty a Duty that God takes Pleasure in O far be it from thee Oh my Soul hope thou in God! thus press it upon your Souls 5. See that you Parley not with Satan about the great concerns of your own Souls have nothing to do with him He is an open Enemy to Christ and Christianity and you have renounced him in your Baptism therefore reject his Temptations for Sin as well as his Temptation to Sin Enter not into dispute with him he is too crafty a Sophister to be disputed with by weak Christians it will be your wisdom therefore to take the course that Paul took 2 Cor. 12.7 8. There was given me a thorn in the flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice Note 1. The Case that Paul was now in There was given him a Thorn in the flesh viz. Satan was permitted to buffet him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil Angel Satan not a Menssenger of Satan but Satan himself And this is added exegetically to explain what his Thorn in the flesh was viz. The buffets of Satan his immediate Suggestions darted into his Soul which commonly are unnatural in kind suddain in motion and violent in prosecution 2. The Course he took in this case he betook himself to God by Prayer Paul had much Grace and much of the Spirit yet declines disputing with the Devil and flies to God for refuge against him and herein is an example for us to follow We must decline Disputes with the Devil and Pray him down and were this course well followed Satan could not get such advantage against Christians as oft he doth I 'le conclude this matter with the Prayer of Paul Rom 15.13 The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost It s not the words of Man that perswade the heart to live in hope but the Power of the Holy Ghost and his Power can make you abound in hope and raise your feeble hope to a full assurance of hope Now I pass to the third sort 3. To such as are waiting in hope for the Glory of Heaven There are some yea many that through Free-Grace are brought to wait in hope for the glory of Heaven my Instructions to these follow 1. Confine your Hopes to the limits of the Gospel The Gospel allows you to wait upon God in hopes of Glory in the World to come this I am sure is your Duty but as for such as extend their hopes according to their fancies and wait Night and Day and that in a Triumphant
cordial compliance with the Rules of the Gospel and herein follow your own Consent and not the custom of others Remember your Consent is to the Vitals of your Religion and your Compliance is your indispensible Duty and let not the Example of selfish men misguide you in your work Your Compliance must carry a correspondence with your Consent and a conformity to Christ your Saviour and if the Angry World frown at you for your preciseness be not discouraged Christ himself endured such contradiction of Sinners mind you your work and let your compliance be such as is blameless and set light by the Censures of such as are Strangers to sure and certain Hope of Glory Let your main care be that your Compliance be according to the Gospel and in compliance with Christ and your Christian Consent 1. Close with Christ coming up to the Terms that you have consented to Set your selves as in his Presence and renew your Baptismal Covenant Renounce the World the Devil and the Flesh and devote your selves to Christ and to his Service with penitent Hearts for your by-past Breaches of your Covenant and importunate Prayers for help from Heaven and Strength to keep close unto God for time to come Thus espouse your selves to Christ in Covenant with full purpose of Heart to be faithful therein 2. Choose a faithful Guide for your Souls to help you in your work and quicken you in your Duty The Lord that best knows your Need hath appointed by his standing Ordinance such Guides in his Church and Blessed be his Name hath provided such for you and require you to honour and obey them and to attend upon their Ministry and by his Blessing upon their Labours and your faithful endeavours in the right use of his Ordinances administred by them your Souls may come to be built up in the holy Faith and so strengthened in believing as to live in sure and certain Hope of Glory 3. Cherish your good beginnings with secret Devotions and daily Supplications for the Spirit of Adoption Secret Prayer is a great help against secret Sins and when put up by a broken and contrite Spirit then it is a special means for the obtaining sure and certain Hopes of Glory Under the secret Humiliations of the Soul before the Lord the Lord oft visits the Soul in kindness and Communicates unto it such hints of his Love as strengthen Hope and give assurance of Glory Oh make Conscience of Secret Prayer and make it your daily Practise and be serious and devout therein and you will at last arrive at the Haven of Rest for so Christ giveth the Soul of his Beloved rest rest from it's fears and doubts and quiets it with sure and certain Hopes of Glory 4. Chear up your Souls with such Tokens of Love as you receive from Christ in your Compliance with him If you be cordial in your Compliance and sincere in your Obedience you will find that your Labour is not in vain Psal 19.11 In keeping his Commandments there is great Reward Not only for keeping them but in keeping them It 's in keeping them that Gods People have fellowship with the Trinity It 's in keeping them that they receive new supplies of Grace and Mercy and such manifestations of Gods Love as fill their Souls with high Hopes of Glory Be then encouraged to carry on your Compliance with Christ and that with care and faithfulness 'till you attain to sure and certain Hope of Glory 4. Vse Of Caution To prevent mistakes and misapprehensions about this Doctrine I shall conclude with some Cautions 1 Caution Take heed of concluding against your selves that because your hopes of Glory are so low and doubtful and not sure and certain hopes that therefore you live without Christ in the World and have no hope nor any ground of Hope of Glory I would not discourage any Babe in Christ nor encrease the doubts of poor doubting Souls and therefore leave with you this Caution And that you may avoid this Snare shall lay down some Propositions to clear up your understanding in this matter 1. Proposition It 's the manifestation of Christs Presence in the Soul that breeds and feeds our Hope of Glory and when this manifestation is obscure the Souls Hope of Glory must need be dim and doubtful 1 Cor. 2.12 We have received the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God Here Paul distinguisheth betwixt Mercies freely given us of God and the manifestation of the giving them to the Soul Many have Grace and Mercy given but know it not The Spirit first gives Grace and afterwards gives the Soul to know and understand that it hath Grace given to it Now though Grace lie in the Soul yet the Soul seeth it not nor doth it know the Grace that it hath received till the Spirit of God make it known to the Soul and when the Spirit makes it known to the Soul then the Manifestation of it to the Soul puts the Soul into a hopeful condition and it hopes for Glory Now if hope of Glory depends upon the Manifestation of Grace to the Soul then there may be Grace and yet little or no hope Because there may be Grace not manifested but yet unknown to the Soul So that none can unfaint themselves or others from doubts about Grace 2 Proposition It 's the Manner and Method of God in his Dealings with his People sometimes to withhold sure and certain hope of Glory from them a long time for gracious Ends and Purposes that tend to their great advantage as 1. To put a great Value upon the Mercy that it may be more precious and welcome when it comes like Health after Sickness when they lye long under the want of it they see the worth of it and so come to have a higher esteem of it and to prize it more when they have it 2. To prove and exercise their Faith and Patience in waiting and their Obedience in seeking after it under such long delays of giving it God delights to see his People shewing their sincerity under their Trials 3. To preseve it for a more opportune season Physitians reserve their Cordials against fainting Fits and so doth God his Comforts Sure and Certain Hopes of Glory is a rich Cordial and he oft delays the giving of it till he sees a fainting fit approaching and then to support the Soul under a Crisis or under a Qualm he gives it 4. To prevent Pride and Unthankfulness He keeps the Soul under delays of Mercy to humble it that it may bear it humbly and entertain it thankfully 2 Caution Take heed of Complaining for want of high hopes for the Fault lies in your selves Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Your want of High Hope is pena damni a punishment of loss you loose much Comfort by it But it s the punishment of your sin 1 You
hearken to the Voice of the Devil and stop your ears at the Voice of God and so let the Devil baffle you out of the choicest Comforts of your lives and then complain 2. You harbour the sin of Unbelief as if it were a harmless thing whenas it is a provoking sin Complain as long as you please you will never attain to high hopes as long as you do Let none expect high hope of Glory till these things be wrought in their Souls 1. Till the League betwixt the Soul and Sin be broken and the heart be quite out with sin as it 's an Enemy both to Christ and the Soul whilst the Heart is indulgent to sin and deals favourably with it it cannot have any sure hope of Glory but when it s become weary of it and is willing to part with it then the Soul is under that Promise Mat. 11. last and in a fair way to hopes of Glory 2. Till the Letts that keep Christ and the Soul asunder be removed Resting in our own Righteousness rejecting the command of Faith and regarding the objections of Unbelief yea retaining and cherishing the Sin of Unbelief as a harmless thing and fit Companion for the Soul are all impediments that must be removed before hope can triumph in the Soul 3. Till the Life of Faith be set up and kept up in the Soul Unbelief must not only be suppressed but Faith must be exercised and kept to its work in the soul Gal. 3.14 We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith And it s the Acts and Operations of Faith to demonstrate to the Soul that it hath received the Spirit and therefore a faithless Soul cannot live in true Hope of Glory 4. Till the Love of God be shed abroad in the Soul Rom. 5.4 5. Experience works Hope viz. The Experience of the Love of God to the soul When his Love is shed abroad in the heart and his Love-tokens appear in the soul and the Spirit gives the soul a sight of the Demonstrations of God's Love every Grace is a drop of Divine Love and the more of these drops are shed in the Soul the more visible it is to the Soul that Christ is in it and the greater satisfaction that the Soul hath herein the greater are its hope of Glory 3 Caution Take heed of conceited causeless hopes of Glory There are some whether in Christ or out of Christ I am not to determine that pretend to high hopes of Glory from an high opinion that they have of Free-Grace though they want the manifestation of true Grace in themselves That Free-grace is to be admired I grant and would not derrogate from the honour of Free-grace for a world Yet I positively affirm that it s not Free-grace quia gratis datur but quia nobis datur not because it 's freely given but because it s given to us and abideth in us and shews to us that Christ is in us and we by him in a state of Reconciliation with God that is the Spring of all true hope of Glory 1. Because this hope of Glory is one of the Priviledges of the Sons of God and no common mercy whereas if it came from Grace as free and not as in us and from a high opinion of Free-grace and not from the fruition of Free-grace then it 's a common mercy and may be found in any hypocrite that hath such an opinion in himself 2. Because this Hope of Glory is one of the Products of effectual Vocation and a Benefit that floweth from it Col. 3.15 Ephes 4.4 and therefore presupposeth effectual Vocation We must expect nothing from Free-grace but what comes in Gods own appointed way and not create to our selves foolish fancies for hopes of Glory 4 Caution Take heed of Clouding your Hope of Glory by dangerous Relapses into sin Do you live in sure hopes of Glory prize your priviledge but beware of obscuring it You find the sweetness of it and should make much of it and avoid every thing that Eclipseth this Hope of Glory Ps 85.8 God will speak peace to his people but let them not return again to folly q. d. I returned to Folly after I received Peace and I have smarted for it I broke my Peace and lost my sensible hope and would have the world to take warning by me and to take heed of Relapses into sin for Relapses into sin are returns unto Folly Let us all take warning by David and stand upon our Guard and withstand sin in its first motion lest it get advantage and we come to return to Folly and so we loose the assurance of Hope It 's a doleful loss and depresseth the Soul with much Fear and Anguish and it 's difficult and hard to regain it and therefore it will be our Wisdom to seek to prevent and to fly sin as we would fly from a Serpent for sin deals with the sinners as the Theives did by the Person of him that is spoken of Luke 10.30 They stript and wounded him It strips the Soul of us Peace and Hope and Joy and wounds the Conscience it is like the fiery Serpents in the Wilderness that stung and mortally wounded the Israelites and the wounds of Sin are not easily healed And they are painful wounds they made David as stout a Warriour as he was to roar out Psal 38.8 When hope is clouded by the dust of sin the poor soul languishes and lives very uncomfortable and that which aggravates its misery is the state from whence it is fallen To fall from hope into Despair from Joy into Sorrow adds much to the greatness of the Grief 5 Caution Take heed of cherishing Fears of future outward Calamities and falling into bad times Under high hopes of Glory I find a great Consternation in many about approaching evils and all hope of future good to the Churches of Christ in these Nations cast off by them I have read the present Dilemma of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland considered argued and improved that hath justly alarmed us and am under the same apprehensions with that Learned and Reverend Author But think that timorous Persons abuse the Author by awakening their distrustful fears and suppressing their hopes and Faith in Gods Faithfulness and All sufficiency under our sad Circumstances All the great experiences of Gods goodness and the provision that he hath made for our future supply ought not to be overlooked but remain as food for Faith and Hope to feed upon Nay were our case much worse than it is it is our duty with David to encourage our selves in the Lord our God and to exercise an universal trust in him not only in the concerns of our Souls but in and about the Concerns of Sion And though I have discovered my thoughts to many of an approaching violent storm yet I look upon it as a storm in mercy to the People of God as the great Design of Providence to usher in thereby the greatest Favours
who shall deliver me from the body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.24 In all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 Joseph refused to ly with his Mistress saying how can I do this great sin and sin against God Gen. 39.8 We are bound to give thanks to God alway for you Because your faith groweth exceedingly 2 Thes 1.3 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Prov. 4.18 Which Gospel is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you Col. 1.6 Tenthly Promises of the Presence of God and of his Spirit Fear not for I am with thee I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee Isa 41.10 Fear not O Israel thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thro' the fire thou shalt not be burnt Isa 43. beg Be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 If a man love me he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him John 14.23 Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit into you Prov. 1.23 It is convenient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him to you John 16.7 If ye being evil know how to give good Gifts to to your Children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 I will pray to the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you John 14.16 18. Experiences of the Presence of the Spirit of God Though I walk through the valley of the shaddow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Psa 23.4 Joseph was sold into Egypt but the Lord was with Joseph and he shewed him mercy Gen. 39.21 Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the son God Dan. 3.25 Solomon was strengthened in his Kingdom and the Lord his God was with him and magnified him exceedingly 2 Chron. 1.1 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 John 4.3 God which knoweth the hearts bear them witness viz. the Gentiles giving them his spirit even as he did to us Acts 15.8 The Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word Acts 10.44 Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith Acts 11.24 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost Acts 13. last Eleventhly Promises of Perseverance I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 I will give them everlasting Life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand John 10.28 One thing is needful Mary hath chosen the better part which shall never be taken from her Luke 10. last Who will confirm you to the end that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.8 I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ faithful is he that hath called you who will also do it 1 Thess 5.23 24. The Gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Being confident of this thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Experiences of Perseverance The high places were not removed nevertheless Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days 1 King 15.14 I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for I have seen thy salvation Luke 2.29 The house built upon the rock though the rain descended and the flood came and the winds blew yet kept his standing Mat. 7. lat These all dyed in the faith Heb. 11.13 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 I have been young and now am old yet have not seen the righteous forsaken Psal 37.25 My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73.26 Twelfthly Promises of the Possession of Heaven Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good will to give a Kingdom Luke 12.32 Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him James 1.12 When the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that faideth not way 1 Pet. 5.4 Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer ye shall have tribulation 10 days be faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 You have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 Experiences of the Possession of Heaven Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6.12 Lazarus dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom Luke 16.2 Then talked with him two men which were Moses and Elias who appeared in glory Luke 9.30.21 The Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 Heaven is called the inheritance of the Saints because they do inherit it Col. 1.12 A Song of Praise THe World 's a toy let me imploy My Soul in higher things Than upon those that create woes And carry cruel Stings My Fears are great Sorrow my Meat And humane Faith is gone On Pilgrimage for in this Age Amongst us there is none Thy faithfulness O God I bless And cannot but admire That Love is cold and yet behold None warm it at this Fire But O my Soul do not condole But Triumph thou in Praise Greatly rejoice with Hearts and Voice Let Joy thy Spirits raise Mind not the Rod rejoice in God That never failed thee Thou knowest this faithful he is And so will ever be Thou hast been Low and
3.14 and there Translated Confidence Faith is a Confident and stedfast Expectation of Things promised It apprehends the Promise and adheres to it and assures the Soul of the Accomplishment of it and causeth the Soul to live in Expectation thereof It realizeth the Promises and shews the Soul how substantial they are that the things promised are no Trifles or feigned things but things of Substance weight and worth really subsisting and certainly to be enjoyed and enables the Soul confidently to expect them Thus it 's the Substance of the things Hoped for And it 's the Evidence of things not seen Things not seen either because future or because invisible Faith represents to the Mind as sure and certain The Eye of Faith beholds Christ with all his Excellencies the Immortality of the Soul and the Glory of Heaven as evidently as the Eye of the Body doth visible things Now â—et us reduce this to practice can we experimentally subscribe to this Description of Faith Do we see a reality in the unseen things it is evident to our Souls that God is the chief Good and Christ the fountain of Grace and chief of ten Thousands and that all his promises are certain and infallible and do we depend upon them and live in sure and certain Hope of the accomplishment of them then we have the faith which is called the Faith of the Elect Tit. 1.1 because it 's peculiar to them and to none but them Yet further Paul here describes faith not only by its Excellency but also by its Efficacy 2. By its Efficacy v. 2. By it the Elders obtained a good report and they are famous to this day for the Testimony that God gives of the efficacy of their faith Faith wrought in them such works as were such evidences of the Truth of their Faith It 's their works of Faith that makes their memory so Honourable Faith without works saith James is dead it is of no more worth than a dead Dog It 's our works that do shew what our faith is A working Faith is a saving Faith Let us then examine our Faith by our works are our works the works of Faith do we pray in Faith and hear in Faith and live by Faith thus much for the Trial of our saving Faith Come we to our Love let us examine 2. Our Love to Christ whether it be sincere 1 John 4.16 He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him True Love you see is demonstrative of Gods dwelling by his Spirit in the Soul Let us then try our Love 1. By its Measure Do we love Christ most and best We love many Creatures and it 's allowed us Parents are to love their Chidren and Husbands their Wives but what is it that lies next our hearts and hath the largest measure of our Love I am sure Christ deserves most love from us for he hath done most for us but do we Love him above all is Christ a Pearl in our Eyes can we say with the Spouse in our Eyes he is altogether Lovely we have other Loves but none that lies so near our Hearts as Christ he is our Beloved and our best Beloved 2. By the Motive that moves us so to love Christ What is it that hath so endeared us to Christ is it the gain we expect from him or the good we see in him Cant. 5.10 The Church professeth much Love to Christ and tells the cause thereof it was the Beauty and Excellency of Christ that had gained her heart this was the attractive of her Love is it so with us is it Christs Love to Souls and his Loveliness that draws out your Love towards him Then there is sincerity and not selfish in your Love to Christ 3. By the Might and strength of your Love to Christ Love is of a constraining Nature 2 Cor. 5.14 Now do you find your Love to Christ constrain you doth it constrain you to vindicate the Honour of Christ against all that cast open contempt upon him doth it constrain you to value the Ordinances above worldly wealth and dignity doth it constrain you to venture all for Christ in suffering and trying times doth it constrain you to avoid every thing as far as you can that is offensive to Christ what influence hath your Love to Christ upon your Hearts and Lives doth it constrain you to carry it dutifully towards Christ and to cast off your beloved Lusts because they dishonour Christ and to conform to the Laws of Heaven because they are the Yoke of Christ are the things of Christ become precious to you Oh deal faithfully with your Souls 3 Vse Of Entreaty both to such as have not Christ in them and to such as have him in them 1. You that have not Christ as yet in you Be entreated and perswaded to live no longer without Christ in the World you have heard your danger and the dreadfulness of your danger and the desparate Madness of such as do sit down in so dangerous a Condition And now in the Name of Christ I earnestly beseech and entreat you to take the matter into serious Consideration The Lord Jesus Christ the great Mediator of the Covenant and victorious Captain of our Salvation makes as it were an Ho Yes Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open the door I will come in and Sup with him and he with me And he is now knocking at the door of your Heart and craving admission and tendering himself and the Riches of his Grace and Mercy unto you upon condition that you will receive and entertain him and accept of him as your Lord and Saviour and consent and submit to the gracious Terms of the Gospel Oh comply with his gracious offer and open to him and let him in Put off Christ no longer expect not Salvation by Christ without giving your selves up to Christ to be Governed by him according to the Gospel What shall I now say to perswade you to be over entreated to get Christ into your Souls and not to sit down still in a Christless condition the business is of great importance and I stand here in Christs stead to beseech you to be reconciled to God and to use your utmost endeavour to make sure of Christ and would gladly prevail with you for your own good to set about this great concern to this end press these following perswasives upon your own Spirits and that with the seriousness as the weightiness of the matter requires 1. The case you are in calls for speedy Help You live without Christ in the World this is your case and it is a case that you can neither live nor die in with safety or comfort As long as you live thus you live under the guilt of all your Sins and under the wrath of God and if you die thus you die in your Sins and to Hell you must go And is this a Case to be neglected and disregarded were your Estates
in and over them to all these he promises Pardon here and Glory hereafter And such as are of this Number ought to live in Hope of Glory because they find the conditions of the Promises in themselves and have Christ in them whose inbeing in the Soul is the ground of all true Hope of Glory True Hope must have a word of Promise from God for its Foundation Psa 130. 5. I. wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope To hope for that which we have no Promise from God for is an Act of presumtion we must be able to give an account of the reason of our Hope 1 Pet. 3.15 and he can give no reason of his Hope that cannot produce a Promise for what he hopes for and prove his Title to that Promise and he cannot prove his Title to the Promise any other way than by making out the performance of the Condition of the Promise 3. The practise and method that God takes in saving Souls by Christ proves the Doctrine Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your wants according to his riches in Glory by Christ Our Souls are by nature very needy they need Light and Life and Liberty Now God by Christ supplies all their need and this is the way appointed by him and the method he useth in saving Souls It 's by Christ that he supplies all their need they need Justification Adoption and Sanctification in order to Salvation all these needs he supplies by Christ they need his Spirit to Sanctify Solace Support and to Guard and Guide them in the way to Heaven Christ by his Spirit comes and takes possession of their Souls and there dwells to supply their Need He then that wants the Spirit hath not his need supplied but remains under such Needs as must needs be supplied in order to Salvation and under these Needs cannot live in true Hope of Glory If he hope for Glory in this his needy Condition he hopes in vain God will save none but in his own appointed way and he that will not be so Saved is sure to go without it 4. The Product of all true Hope proves this Doctrine if we consider whence this hope springs how it is wrought and from whence it proceeds let us Trace this Hope to the Spring-head where it ariseth and then it will clearly appear to us that it 's Christ in the Soul that is the Hope of Glory Tho' Christ be the Object of Christian Hope and his Hope of Glory proceed from his Reconciliation with God by Christ yet it 's Christ in a Christian that is the evidence of his reconciled Estate and the sense and manifestation of this to the Soul assures him that it is not in vain that he hopes for Glory In a word It 's this that with assurance enables to live in Hope of Glory Heb. 6.11 We desire that every one of you shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope Here is Hope and the assurance of Hope and the full assurance of Hope and all these attainable by him that enjoys Christ in himself It 's upon evidence of this that he assuredly hopes for Glory 1. This silenceth all the fears and doubts of the Soul about its eternal Estate The Spirits first work is to convince of Sin and by conviction to awaken the Conscience and cause it to charge Sin home upon the Soul to make the Soul apprehensive of its danger and to fear and tremble Them the Spirit converts the Soul from Sin and perswades and enables it to embrace Christ freely offered in the Gospel and hereupon Christ by his Spirit takes up his abode in the Soul and after som time lets the Soul see the change it hath wrought in him and the Footsteps of Christ in his own Soul whereupon all fear and doubts vanish And as Paul says Heb. 10.2 They have no more Conscience of Sin Conscience is pacified and ceaseth from accusing and condemning them of their Sins 2. This set up hope in the Soul and the Soul sees it self in a hopeful Condition and rejoyceth in Hope of Glory Rom. 5.2 And Paul tells us v. 4. How this comes to pass and what breeds this joyful Hope and whence it Springs It 's experience that breeds this Hope the experience that the Soul hath in it self of Gods goodness in setting up Christs Kingdom in the Soul He finds something of Christ in himself some work of his Spirit that hath brought him out of Darkness into Light and from hating and opposing Godliness to Love and embrace it and to pant after Christ above all and it 's this that breeds this lively Hope whereby the Soul lives in sure and certain Hope of Glory 3. This satisfies him that he is in a justified Estate acquired from Sin and ingratiated by Christ into the favour of God And he is sure that the golden Chain cannot be broken but that whom God thus calleth he justifieth and whom he justifies them he glorifies Rom. 8.30 He finds 'em himself the Tokens of Gods special Love and is sure that God is immutable and whom he loves once he loves to the end he feels his heart endeared to Christ and Christianity and that it 's Christ by his Spirit in his heart that hath made this change in himself and hence springs this Hope of Glory 4. This shews him his Interest in the Promises These Promises he knows are secure and infallible and he that is an Heir of the Promise is an Heir of Heaven and now argues thus with himself If I am an Heir of the Promise I am an Heir of Heaven Now I am an Heir of the Promise for I have the Condition of the Promses in my self Christ is formed in me and therefore I may live in Hope of Glory I see now my former doubts were causeless and will cherish them no more but live hereafter in sure and certain Hope of Glory Thus I have cleared up this Doctrine to you and Oh that it may prove as sweet to you in the reception as it was to me in my Mediations and that some doubting Souls may receive a sight of Christ in himself attended with Hope of Glory 1. Vse Of Information This Doctrine plainly shews two Truths of great concern to us viz. That all Hopes of Glory are not true Hopes and that all hearts in whom Christ dwells ought to live in Hope of Glory I will speak to both these designedly to beat down false hopes that ruin thousands and to advance true hope in the hearts of Gods People for their Comfort in this wicked World 1. All Hopes of Glory are not true hopes How many have we amongst us in England that live in Hope of Glory that have no true hope in themselves nor any ground for their Hopes of Glory I 'le apply my self to two sorts of People 1. To Professors that profess Christianity with a seeming integrity and seriousness but all in hypocrisie Least doubting sincere
Souls should fallely apply this to themselves and so aggrivate their discouragements I shall first describe the Hypocrite and then lay open the falsness of his Hope That Professor is an Hypocrite that for self-interest conforms to the outward exercises of Christianity and walks in the tract of the duties thereof but is a stranger to the inwards of duty viz. the enjoyment of Christ and the exercise of Grace therein hath no regard to the inward man hath nothing of the Image of Christ in the Soul is wholly carnal and sensual not having the Spirit is altogether destitute of saving Grace And as for his gifts he useth them for by ends to quiet his Conscience to keep up his Name and Credit amongst Christians or to curry favour with some that he hath a dependance upon As for such as labour under a trembling fear of hypocrisie and bewail that partial hypocrisie they find in themselves and fight and pray against it they hereby give such an evidence of their sincerity as declares that they are of the number of true Christians and cannot be ranked amongst Hypocrites and their Fault lies not in hoping but in the weakness of their Hope and oft in rejecting the Hope of Glory But the Hypocrite tho' he be not in a hopeful condition yet he is commonly full of confidence and cherisheth false hope in himself but this Doctrine overthrows his hope Si tollitur causa tollitur effectus Take away the Cause and the Effect ceaseth Now in these the experience of the saving work of Grace in the heart is wanting Christ was never formed in them and therefore there can be no such thing in them as any true Hope of Glory And hence it is the Spirit of God in the Word cries down the hope of the Hypocrite and tells him that it is not to be trusted to but that in vain they hope for Glory Job 8.13 14. The Hypocrites Hope shall perish His trust shall be a Spiders Web Spun out of a false conceit of their own brains and when the besom of destruction comes it fails and proves a Spiders Web for weakness and worth and durance it proves of no value Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the Hypocrite when God taketh away his Soul Then where is his hope Alas he then finds his hope turned into despair and he that hoped for Heaven is cast down into Hell Oh these false Hopes how do they vanish under the greatest needs of the Soul such come before God like men to a Market with Money enough in their Pocket that they took for good but proves counterfeit and will not pass and so they cannot supply any of their need with it So these hopes fails them when they most need them and will not pass for currant their hopes of Glory have not 〈◊〉 grain of good in them they are counterâ—eit Coin away with them 2. To prophane Wretches that live scanâ—alous Lives wallow in wickedness that â—ne would think that they could not pretend 〈◊〉 any hopes of Glory and yet I have met with many of these that feed themselves with hopes of Glory Though these hopes are the Childrens bread yet these Dogs snatch at them and they that are Posting towards Hell will not be brought to see their Danger but think they are going to Heaven Oh you that live prophane Lives and yet hope for Glory hear what is said of your hope Job 11.20 The Hope of the wicked shall be as the giving up of the Ghost that is He that is seized with Death and his Soul ready to expire may as well hope to Live as such hope for Heaven in the State they are in Or their Hope is as the giving up of the Ghost that is as a puff of breath like the last puff of breath that a dying man puffeth when he leaves the World that vanisheth in a moment It 's no more to be regarded no more to be relied upon then such a puff And when the Wicked puff out their last breath their breath and hope will vanish together Then adieu to Breath and adieu to Hope Oh ye that live in notorious Wickedness and yet hope for Mercy from God in this State of Sin at your Death give me leave to expostulate with you a little about your hopes 1. What reason can you give for this hope that is in you what Word of God have you met with to ground your hope on Alas alas that you should take up a hope that hath not one Word of God for its support but much against it in the Scripture Nay let me tell you your hope is false or God himself false in his Word reconcile your hope if you can to these Scriptures Psa 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Job 19.7 He shall perish for ever like his own Dung Isa 3.11 Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 27.11 He that made them shall not have mercy on them and he that formed them shall shew them no favour Rom. 2.9 Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul that doth evil 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven ta-Vengance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction 2. What Right can you claim to Christ and to Salvation by him he is a Saviour of the believer and of none but believers if you say you believe and therefore he is your Saviour then hear what James says to you James 2.18 19 20. Thy Faith is a dead Faith and profits nothing and this he proves thus Faith without works is dead thy Faith is such a Faith and therefore but a dead Faith Obj. This Doctrine tends to despair and leaves a Sinner without Hope and therefore a dangerous Doctrine Answ It 's the Doctrine of the Gospel and tells you that there is no hope for you in a State of Sin and yet there is Hope no Hope and yet Hope No Hope whilst you cleave to your Sins and prefer your Sins before your Salvation And yet Hope if you turn true penitent Believers Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel viz. For Sinners in case of Repentance Ezek. 18.30 Turn you from all your Iniquity so Iniquity shall not be your ruin otherwise it will certainly ruin you so that Life and Death are set before you Salvation and Damnation Salvation in case of Repentance but Damnation in case you live and die without true Repentance Now what will ye do in this Case will you be as you are and do as you do then you remain hopeless but if you will turn from all your Sins to God and accept of Salvation by Christ in Gods appointed way then you may live in Hope of Glory Heb. 6.18 Who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us You see there is a Refuge for you to flie to a Present Patent
now art so And God hath alway been A Sun and Shield that succour yield As thou hast often seen His Word is sure and doth endure For ever and for aye Witness thou can to every Man All 's true that he doth say If this be so come let us go To God and on him stay It 's not absur'd to plead his Word To it he ne'er says nay His Word applaud his Name with Laud And Praises celebrate Let not thy Love to God above In any thing abate And now O Lord for thy sure Word Of Promise I thee bless And whilst I live will Glory give To thee not to the Flesh Praise is thy due thy Word is true Thy Promises our store And full though wide from side to side Praised be God therefore A full supply in Misery I see it doth afford O let it be now unto me According to thy Word Let Faith be fed and by it led To live on Thee alone Help me to trust in the most Just Faithful and Righteous One. My Doubts expel let Hope excell Let Praises be my Trade Let me rejoice with Heart and Voice In all that thou hast said Let none despair the news is rare The Promises revealed Are high and great without deceit Records most firmly Sealed Oh praised be thy Majesty For Promises of Grace All the Elect may hear expect Supplies in every Case Another Song of Praise MY Soul give Praise unto the Lord With Joy his Praises Sing To Praise the Name of God thy Lord Is a most pleasant thing His Promises rich Jewels are These Jewels are thy own Though thou art Poor yet very rich In Promises alone Thy Faithful God will certainly His Promises perform Fear not O Soul the frowns of Men Fear not the greatest Storm Rejoice in God and in his Word Of Promise made to thee His Promises most precious Certain and faithful be Though thou art Poor God will provide Supplies he will afford Yea such supplies as shall suffice According to his Word Though thou art weak his Arms support What need is there to fear Above beneath and round about His mighty Arms appear When Troubles like a Hurrican Do compass thee about It s for thy good this Physick thou Canst not be well without Yea safety in and sure support And all that needful be For aid and help in this sad Case Are promised to thee Thy Sins though great are pardoned Thy Enemies are strong But cannot hurt because to thee The Promises belong Such guards and aids the Promises In readiness still have And will be granted unto thee When thou for them dost crave Oh Blessed be the Lords of Hosts My dear and faithful Friend According to his Promises He help and aid doth send His Promises never do fail They are most firm and sure His faithfulness is vastly great And ever shall endure My Soul exalt the living Lord For Gracious is he His Mercy now and evermore He will extend to thee Awake my Glory glorifie And Praise the Lord of Host And of his precious Promises Make thou thy daily boast The World is full of Wickedness Envy debate and strife But these are the great Cordials That do support my Life Thy Presence and thy Promises Are rare and precious things And all along unto my Soul The greatest Comfort brings FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel A Body of Practical Divinity consisting of above One Hundred Sermons on the Lesser Catechism of the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster with a Supplement of some Sermons on several Texts of Scripture By Tho. Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephens Walbrook A Discourse of Spiritual mindedness Person of Christ On the 130th Psalm The Doctrine of the Trinity Of Mortification of Sin in Believers An humble Testimony concerning the Goodness and Severity of God in Dealing with sinful Churches and Nations A Treatise of Temptation Eshcol or Rules of Fellowship These Eight last by John Owen D. D. Heywood's Baptismal Bonds renewed Grotius of Christ's Satisfaction in English Hursts Revival of Grace i.e. on the Sacrament The good of Early Obedience A Sermon of Unity The Vision of the Wheels in three Sermons Spiritual Wisdom improved against Temptation The Almost Christian discovered All Five by Mat. Mead. Consolation for the afflicted at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Rede By Tim. Rogers M. A. Calamy's Godly Mans Ark in five Sermons his Art of Divine Meditation Redemption of Time the Wisdom and Duty of Christians in Evil Days By John Wade Minister at Hamersmith Intercourses of Divine Love betwixt Christ and his Church being Sermons on the 1st and 2d Chapters of the Canticles or the Song of Songs Several Discourse of actual Providence in three Parts These two last by John Collings D. D. Spiritual Songs or Songs of praise to Almighty God on several Occasions with thirty penitential Crys with a Poem also of Dives and Lazarus The Midnight Cry a Sermon These two by John Mason Mr. Corberts Self-Employment in Secret A Treatise of the Day of Judgment By Mr. Sam. Lee Minister Husbandry Spiritualized A Saint indeed A Token for Mourners All these three by Mr. John Flavel Minister of the Gospel Satan sifting or the Oyl of Joy for the Spirit of Sadness Whites Little Book for Little Children The rare Jewel of Chistian Contentment with four useful Discouses by Mr. Jer. Burroughs An Earnest Call to Family Duties being the substance of Eighteen Sermons by Sam. Slater Hymns for the Sacrament composed mostly out of the New Testament Theological Discourses and Sermons on several Occasions By John Wallis D. D. The Truest and Largest account of the late Earthquake in Jamaica June 7. 1692. from a Reverend Divine there to his Friend in London The best way to mend the world by perswading the Rising Generation to an early and Serious Practice of Piety Both by Samuel Peck Lecturer of Ipswich A Sermon preach'd at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Tho shewell M. A. and Minister of the Gospel in Coventry These two last by William Tongue Minister c. A Discourse concerning Old Age tending to the Instruction Caution and Comfort of Aged Persons By Richard Steel M. A. A Sermon at the Funeral of the Worshipful John Symonds late of Great Yeldham in Essex Esq by John Brooke M. A. and Rector there A Vindication of the Church of Scotland being an Answer to five Pamphlets by Dr. Rule A Sermon of the absolute Necessity of Family Duties Preached to the United Parishes of St. Mary-Woolnoth and St. Mary Wool-Church-Haw in Lombard-Street His Farewel-Sermon These Two by David Jones Student of Christ-Church Oxon. A brief on the 7th Commandment wherein is discovered the Cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath-Day and the means of Reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John How Convivium Caeleste A plain and familiar Discourse concerning the Lords Supper shewing at once the Nature of that Sacrament as also the right way of preparing our selves for the receiving of it In which are also considered those Exceptions which men usually bring to excuse their not partaking of it A Sermon preached before the King and Queen at White-Hall Nov. 5.1692 These Two by Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells The Confirming Work of Religion and its great things made plain by their primary Evidences and Demonstrations whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Rational Account of their Faith