that he may exalt When thou wa'st little in thine owne eyes wa'st thou not 1 Sam. 15. 17. made head of the Tribes of Israel and the King over them saith Samuel to Saul When Saul thought himselfe one of the smallest of the Tribes of Israel and his familie the least of all the families of the Tribe of Benjamin then God made him greatest But when he waxed proud and rejected the Lord and his words spoken to him by his Prophets God rejected him and his latter end was worse then his beginning doe not you now observe a vast difference between the fruits of God's humbling man and mans exalting himselfe marke the end of each operation and then tell mee i' st not sweet to be laid and kept low by Christ that this grace may have its perfect work in you as well as other graces let all true converts speake Is not Christ most advanced by man when man's most abased by Christ who can denie it Fourthly Christ makes humble that he may bee familiar with the humble spirit God and Christ is a stranger to the loftie in heart will not be familiar with them as a man with his friend will you heare the Lord himselfe speake who best knowes his owne mind in this principle 't is this Though the Lord be high yet hath hee respect to the lowlie but the proud he knoweth afarre off hee knowes them but 't is at a distance not as friends nearely alied to his blessed selfe he knowes them as enemies and useth them so hee resists the proud but gives grace to the humble Many incomes from the highest Heavens have the lowest soules Christ do's not when a man 's downe adde afflictions to his bonds deject or reject a soule that 's dejected alreadie but when he 's downe helps him up when he ha's much trouble gives him much peace for much sorrow much Joy garments of joy for the spirit of heavinesse to humble hearts he 's called a God that comforts those that are cast downe but 2 Cor. 7. 6. he 's to the proud a stranger ô sweet Lord there 's none like to thee nor are there any workes like thine Fifthly Christ humbles to conform those he 'l save to himself as wel in grace as glory Christ himselfe was humble and faine would he have his to be and doe like him Learne of mee saith Christ Mat. 11. 29. for I am meek and lowly of heart How sweet a designe is this what doe all Christ's acts prove transforming is all he doe's done to change us into the similitude of himselfe ô great mysterie blessed is hee that understands it and improves it To bee like Christ is to enter glorie in this terme of life to be in part what we shall be for ever compleatly for what 's the glorie of the just and children of God in Heaven but their likenesse unto Jesus Christ When John spake of great things to come in glorie not apparent he summes up all in this one saying we shall be like Christ Humilitie makes man the Embleme 1 Ioh. 3. 2. of Christ for he was humble but pride makes man the Embleme of Satan the Father of Pride as proud as Luciser that 's the world's proverb concerning some but how glorious would it be were it possible to find men as humble as Christ Humilitie is Gods Creature pride is the Devills you see then how needfull a grace it is as well as faith and love with other graces then suffer your selves to be made like Christ in this and admire his goodnesse in this excellent end he propounds in his workings in you and actings of you for good because the pride of a man shall bring him low but honour shall uphold the humble in Spirit Prov. 29.23 Christ's third act in and on man is his bringing up the soule and infixing of it to the object so apprehended by it Men are mightily prone to seeke out many comforters but Christ will have his to have but one and in him all true contentments Christ first removes all props that a soule might rest on and take comfort in on this side himselfe Is it prosperitie that some leane on when they are setled on their lees and have their cares of Christ soule choaked he changeth that into adversitie and then in their afflictions they 'l seeke him early when Christ withdrawes himselfe returnes to his place they 'l acknowledge their offence and seeke his face whose presence was not prized before when men smart by outward and inward wants then supplies from Christ are desireable verie seasonable Christ will teach mercies worth by its want to those hee loves health is best prized in sicknesse riches most prized in povertie libertie 's most priz'd in infringment So Christians learne to prize the sweetnesse of their Saviours presence by the bitternesse of his absence doe we doate on friends Christ will take them hence to let us know there 's no friend like Christ thus he cleares it out to the soule that all props beside himselfe are broken reeds that will deceive when most weight is laid on them or broken cisternes which hold no water when wee thinke there 's most in them Secondly Christ removes all obstructions that hinder conjunction with him Do's unworthinesse discourage Christ assures them he 's worthie and hee is so in himselfe for their sakes and that living waters are powred out to thirstie soules freely that such have most of Christ and receive most from Christ who carrie least unto Christ that a man 's owne Righteousnesse effects not nor can his owne unrighteousnesse hinder his Justification because men are justified freely by his grace and that there is one who justifies the ungodly if they bee returning backsliders that it 's more pride then humilitie to keepe from Christ meerely for a mans unworthinesse of Christ Thirdly Christ workes in the heart a true perswasion on Scripture-ground that himselfe and all his benefits are made over to such a person in particular that hee may know that his Redeemer lives that he shall see him for himselfe Job 19. 25. that he is his God his Lord his Saviour his Mediatour his Intercessour his Advocate at the Throne of grace Christ's third act is a building of them when Christ ha's prepared 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 3. 6. materialls then he falls to building Christ builds Christians First by keeping them and all their graces in continuall action there are sometimes fightings without feares within to exercise 2 Cor. 7. 5. grace to quicken faith patience and watchfulnesse God suffers sometimes one corruption to get strength sometimes another to keep them doing as well as beleeving fighting as well as falling sometimes unruly passion strives to reigne then the Spirit strives that patience may have its perfect worke at another time worldly sorrow fills the whole man then the strife is that all sorrow may be turned into sorrow for sinne now cares of the carcase eat a
some how hardly doe they live and how uncheerefull doe they spend their dayes on earth because the Comforter who should releeve their soules is farre from them as the Church once said Others also would be glad at the heart could they graspe Christ in the precious Promise by a precious Faith and what hinders this even this is the thing corruption and carnall reason intervenes comes between the soule and home Hence objections are rais'd against God Gospel Christ Promise selfe and all because the evidence is darkned do's not at all exist To support such build up such it pleaseth the Father of mercies as well as Spirits to convince and perswade the soule that he 'l supplie what 's wanting will heale back-slidings freely worke both will and deed fullie and thus hee sustaines the soule in life raises it up as it were from the grave of despaire and dismall distresse Fourthly Christ help 's some to live above glorious manifestations of his Fathers love 'T is after this sort viz when in the absence of those manifestations just ones are made to live and rejoyce in the invisible essence of God viz. when they live rejoyce in the Lord when they see him not and that with Joy unspeakeable and full of glorie when a Christian can live waiting on him who ha's hid his face from him as the Prophet said hee would doe 't is an easie thing to swimme when the head 's held up but 't is a singular thing to be kept from drowning when the whole man 's kept under water Christians through Christ you may and can doe singular things this is one when the Sunne is no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse Isa 60. 19. doth the Moone give light unto thee yet the unseen Lord's to thee an everlasting light and thy God 's thy glorie When as the Church said Micah 7 8. thou sittest in darknesse yet hast determin'd the Lord shall bee a light unto thee When as Paul said thou seest no light of Sunne Moone or Starres appeare for many dayes and yet canst live like a child of light in thickest darknesse tell me tell me thou spirituall soule is not this to live above even glorious manifestations of dearest love if not what is' t then verilie verilie I say unto thee thou that so livest livest by Christ like Christ with him in him whilst he thus acts in thee for thee and by thee Thirdly Christ builds his and that hee do's by cherishing and nourishing them with heart-ravishing comforts and solicitations Christ's comming into a soule is verie restorative his being solicitous with her is verie instructive when hee comes to her much good comes along with him for he ne'r comes into an emptie heart with an emptie hand He filleth the hungrie with good things Satan's all for emptiing the soule of good things but Christ is all for filling Christ makes his abound towards Heaven and heavenly minds Did you ever see such a guest you keepers of his Temple which is within you which you have of him do's not his custome make you rich to keepe open house for ever Alas my friends and worthies of the other world when hee first used your hearts his house you were worth nothing had nothing but sinne that 's nothing 't is but vanitie emptinesse what insides had you and how uncleane were they and were your outsides ought but bodies of unsanctified parts what were all your members lesse than weapons of unrighteousnesse raised up both against your selves and Saviour also was not your whole man a slave of Satan his captive prisoner now when he repaires you puts a glorie upon you dispossesses Satan in you fills your hearts with himselfe do's hee not then build you up as a spirituall house for himselfe True Converts answer to the question is not this one thing that Christ hath done for you in your conversion from sinne to himselfe is not this course the meanes of bringing and breeding up your soules for the heavenly Academie above is not this to make you fit to be partakers of that inheritance of the Saints in light Do's Col. 1. 12. not this kindnesse deserve a giving thanks to the Father who ha's made you so Fourthly Christ confirmes his even those he will save First by giving them some setlednesse of Spirit concerning their finall condition the knowledge of what a man shall bee in the end and for ever is the great Question and most stated by some and when the Spirit speaks that it shall bee everlastingly well then the soul 's safe What breeds doubts fear 's and distrustings so much as this whence are those cries I am a wretch shall be damned and goe to Hell am a cast-away have deceived many and am deceiv'd my selfe whilest I seem'd what I was not and so beguiled my owne soule There 's no mercie for me I have so sinn'd against it Christ dyed not for mee such a one as I there 's much in God but nothing for mee my heart 's hardned against the use of meanes Is' t not hence their unacquaintance with the certaintie of what their condition shall be for then the Serpent subtilly winds himselfe in and makes the condition of such to be worse than ' t is Now when Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse doth arise shining into and upon that soule all those mists of ignorance and errour are soone disper'd and then at the last the unsetled soule is made steadie you cannot move it though feares arise and doubts be many and trialls more yet this is the result of all in such a soule well let God doe what hee will with mee I 'le hang on him though he kill mee yet will I trust in him I have many rubs in my heavenly race but I shall get through all at last I am often brought to call in question what my finall estate is but yet I cannot say but God ha's done something in me sure I am I would not allow of sinne for all the world and if my heart deceives me not I would be better then I am would faine love God serve him and feare him that 's my desire and I doe not sinne but I am troubled at it troubled in the actings and it brings me on my knees to the God of pardons Thus it pleaseth Jehovah to work secretlie the soules settlement in a fit season which may fitly bee called Christ's way of bringing up his children Secondly by assuring them of his abilitie and activitie to keep them from a totall Apostasie and fatall destinie Will you know how confirm'd Christians speake 'T is thus When I fall I shall arise God first or last fastens Micah 7. 8. that truth upon the soule which the Psalmist speakes of Viz that though a good man fall he shall not be utterly cast downe and what 's the reason for the Lord upholds him with his hand Feares of falling from Christ in tribulations that attend Christians or towards the close
man and his comforts up then meanes is used that the soule be car'd for too that all cutting cares be cast on God for hee cares for his owne while Satan tempts to despaire another while he tempts men to presume this makes worke for grace do's not weaken but strengthen grace for vertue gets strength by wounds Adde to this pride vaine Virescit vulnere virtus glorie hearts hypocrisie formalitie sensualitie incredulitie infidelitie deadnesse of heart dulnesse in divine services frowardnesse untowardnesse unwatchfulnesse coldnesse in affections weaknesse in desires after Christ badnesse of memorie mispending mercies time talents wantonnesse abuses of Christ's love breach of bonds and Covenants relapses recidivations and the like Secondly by infusing strength sutable to oppositions some like Pharaoh's task-masters require much worke but give no abilities thereunto but Christ is no such Master if hee laies burdens on a soule he gives a heart and parts able to sustaine it Which of his servants did e're come into great straights who had not great helpes Some have slept on the cold ground and were healthfull when in publick employments for Christ whereas being wearied in their owne personall employments though they have reposed themselves on beds of downe been well fedd and warmely clad yet could they not have health and lifes vigour in them Christminding Christians have said it and ha's not he promised to lay no more on you then you are able to beare is not this a specimen that he 's a mercifull Master if afflictions bee many which surprize the Saints strength shall bee given either of bodie or mind to uphold them When the Lord foresaw that Paul should be troubled and much opposed in Acaiah be accused before Gallio Acts 18. 14. how thinke yee hee was enabled for the encounter 't was thus the Lord Christ appear'd to him in a vision saying Bee not afraid but speake and hold â—ot thy peace ver 9 10. for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee hee had great tryalls but hee had great strength the strength of God was with him the arme of God wrought deliverance for him In all afflictions God observes a meane is never in the extreame hee ha's said he 'l correct in measure yet will not leave men altogether Jer. 30. 11. unpunish'd he has a rodde and hee ha's a staffe as David speakes yet so pitifull is he that Psal 23. he 'l not cudgell a weakely child for that were to breake his bones because he is tender and a switch or rod may suffice O soule consider thy Saviour can tell how much thou smart'st under everie twigge he layes upon thee and how much thy heart breakes under everie blow receiv'd from him then consider would'st thou in patience possesse thy soule and selfe under all thy sufferings thy abilities and difficulties are with thee in measure given thee by measure And moreover what though sinne bee a grace-weakning vice yet if grace be afforded in proportion sinne shall perish when grace will flourish so well workes God in the soules of his servants and upon their spirits Is not this to bee built up and that upon the rock Jesus Christ who 's a ne'r failing firme foundation t is to grow according to the measure of the stature of Christ 'T is a causing of his to live onely upon himselfe and his glorious Father to live above all things even those things which would be above them and keep them under Shall I tell you yee disconsolate soules what Christ first or last will cause you to live above They 're such things as these First Christ helps his to live above corruptions would you know how 't is thus by giving soules a sight of pardoning promises as well as a sense of incensing sins and imperfect services Some pore too little others so much upon their sinnes that they have scarce a heart to ponder their Saviour or any of his sweetest sayings are listlesse lovers of the Lord Jesus Sad Soules let me tell you your sinnes doe keep you under Discouragements with feares and distrust have surpriz'd you got above you and will not this thing if allowed of make you goe drooping stooping mourning to your graves what 's of more force to kindle discomfort within your brests God would have men bee sensible of sinne stand and goe under it as under a heavie burthen but shall sense of sinne bee such as that it should hinder from the sight of the Lamb who is the meanes of escape from its evill staine filth guilt and power God forbid Secondly Christ cause's his to live above temptation and that 's thus When they in the time of greatest temptation being assaulted are made to reassault Satan and stand or else if they doe fall makes them fight even falling with their weapons in their hands when though they are slaughtered foiled and doe fall yet they cannot be overcome As hee said of persecuted Christians * Occidi poterant vinci non poterant Cyprian Deo duce non potest esse dubius belli eventus Eraz. Mar. And can the event of that fight be doubfull where the Lord is the Leader I trow not Christ makes Christians doe like himselfe in such à case retort back the Serpents owne subtill arguments to him againe When Satan alleadged Scripture to allure Christ to sinne hee alleadges Scipture to prove he should not tempt the Lord God but serve him Mat. 4. 6 7 8 9 10. so when Satan censures a soule to his face which is more even to before the face of God should he doe Do's the Tempter suggest unto thee Thou art a cast-away art wicked and therefore thy selfe and services are an abomination to the Lord that many better than thy selfe are in Hell that thou art an hypocrite doest but dissemble wilt fall away come to nothing hast sinn'd against the Holy Ghost and that thy day of grace is past 't is sweet to replie as he who art thou that condemnest 't is a Christ that died yea rather that 's risen againe who is ever at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us Therefore Satan get thee hence for thou savourest not the things which be of God and thou should'st not thus tempt the servants of Christ who are one with him as 't were bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and much more Thus not to give place to temptation is to overcome it and live above it 't is to bee firmely built upon the rock of ages Jesus Christ Thirdly Christ in building helps some to live above gracious evidences and that after this manner working the soule to a close with and dependance upon an absolute promise when the glorie of an evidence from the conditionall promise is eclips'd Ther 's a time when some of Gods deare children stagger betwixt the promises and conditionall performances Gracious spirits you can tell that this is your very case Alas for