that this is a way of God's own ordaining Jesus Christ was set forth for this very end even by God himself and therefore the soul is brought to this conclusion to venture the Issue of its life and eternal salvation upon it and so throws it self as in a sinking condition upon the grace blood righteousness of Jesus Christ sink or swim live or perish saved or damned there the soul casts Anchor there it pitcheth to this it will stand or fall before the righteous God if there be not enough in the blood of Jesus to give it acceptance with God the Soul resolves to Hell it must There saith a poor self-emptied Soul I cast even away my self if it might be upon it Phil. 3.9 3. The soul is brought on to believe the report that God in his word makes concerning his Son Jesus Christ and of the price value merit and all-sufficiency of his blood to save a poor sinner even to the utmost that comes to God by him Heb. 7.25 to answer all the wants and distresses of a poor soul namely in pacifying the Justice of God fulfilling the Law making attonement removing guilt procuring remission of sins reconciling to God Rom. 5.9 10. Much more being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life In all which things the soul is enabled to believe the report of the Gospel that the blood and death of Jesus Christ can do all this for poor sinners that shall pitch upon it 4. In this working of faith the soul comes to see and fasten upon an absolue unlimited Free promise where any sinner that will may come to Jesus Christ and so have the vertue of his death and blood applied to it and therefore that he as well as any other sinner in the world may come to him and make claim to his blood and plead it before God whosoever will let him come Rev. 22. Now saith a poor self-emptied sinner I do not find that I am any where excluded but invited and called upon to come to the Lord Jesus and claim an interest in his blood and that I may plead it even at the throne of his Justice and that I may warrantably safely upon good grounds given out from the mouth of God himself take hold of the Lord Jesus in such a Promise and there is no sin or unworthiness can exclude me unless I will frowardly and wretchedly exclude my self I do not find saith the poor soul that any sin is too great for the Sacrifice of that blood of Jesus so the sinner will come to it yea that 't is the greatest sin and the top of condemnation not to come to it that I more injure God by standing off from Jesus Christ than by all the filthiness blasphemies ungodlinesses my Soul ever wallowed in Heb. 10.29 The Blood of Christ is a price sufficient for the sins of the whole World therefore saith a poor soul for mine He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and therefore he can take away mine and I am freely called and invited to it and 't is my Rebellion not to come what can I have more And so sense of Peace and Reconciliation falls in upon the Soul 5. The Soul by its often renewing of such Acts of Believing comes at last to see the blood of Jesus Christ appropriated to him now it can stay it self upon the word of promise and can sometimes rejoyce in believing If I roll my self upon the blood of Jesus I have the Word of God for it that I shall be saved we shall be saved from Wrath through him not it may be but we shall be saved and all upon the account of being justified by his blood Rom. 5.9 which justification ariseth upon this believing we have mentioned Thus have I opened the nature of Faith as it is precisely justifying as it applies and appropriates the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus for Remission of sins and Justification unto eternal Life I might insist upon the discovery of the effectual operations of Faith in the Soul as may distinguish it from a meer belief of the History of the death of Jesus Christ take two or three 1. When the Soul by Faith doth act upon the blood of Jesus Christ for justification it doth also bring the power and efficacy of it for purging of the Soul Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offer'd himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God So Acts 15.9 Purifying your hearts by faith There is a purifying vertue in the blood of Jesus Christ upon the souls of Believers they are for the purging away the filth as well as the guilt of sin there 's no believing soul but crys out Purge me Oh Lord purge me and throughly from my filth 2. The soul hath a secret yet real fellowship with the death of Jesus Christ to crucifie and destroy the body of sin in a justified believer which ariseth from its union with Christ Rom. 6.5 6. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection knowing that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Every true believer can really say I am or I would be Crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20 Which the Apostle there brings in as an effect of Justification by Faith 3. Every justified believer looks upon this as one great end of his Justification that he might live to God Gal. 2.19 That I might live unto God Likewise reckon ye your selves to be dead indeed unto him but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.11 Every justified Believer doth thus reckon of himself I am to be dead to sin but alive to God I am to yield my self to God verse 13. To have my fruit unto Holiness verse 22. 4. Faith that justifies doth through the Spirit work the Soul to Gospel-obedience to all the Laws and Ordinances of Jesus Christ which shall be revealed to be the Will of Christ from the Command of Jesus Christ and from a principle of love to Jesus Christ John 15.10 5. A justifi'd believer will deny himself for Christ take up his cross and follow him let any sufferings be proposed to a called believer and let him know it is for Jesus Christ and that soul unless under a temporary desertion or temptation will choose and embrace those sufferings and undergo them with some chearfulness Luke 14.26 27. 7. Every justified believer hath a Marriage Vnion with Jesus Christ Ephes 5.25 26 32. The soul hath chosen Jesus Christ having broken off from all other lovers hath betrothed it self unto Christ in an
that sleepest Ephes 5. The voice of the Spirit doth awake that Conscience that before was asleep in sinful security 4. A good Conscience is convinced that all the keepings of the Law and keeping a Conscience to men cannot justifie the soul before God cannot commend it to God which a Second Table-Conscience imagines it will and so in peace Paul kept a Conscience as to many things Acts 23.1 I have lived in all good Conscience before God unto this day meaning I conceive from his youth up when he was a Pharisee but when his Conscience was convinced and awakened and came to see Jesus Christ he saw that all his keeping a Conscience as to many sins and Duties could not in the least commend him to God A good Conscience is sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 So that this is the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ upon the Conscience of a Believer it pacifies it in the sense of the forgiveness of sins towards God so as it can draw near to God and it purgeth it from dead works sin and pollution to serve God acceptably This is a good Conscience indeed 6. A good Conscience respects all the Precepts of God as well of Holiness to God as Goodness to Men which the Conscience we have been speaking of doth not Such a one makes not conscience of this great and absolute Precept Be ye holy 1 Pet. 1. It makes not conscience of purging the heart of secret mourning to God of the purity of God's Worship It makes no Conscience of lesser sins as we have shewed not of all sin as Herod heard the Word gladly but made no conscience of persecuting John to death when he stood in the way of his Lusts Now I say a good Conscience respects Precepts of Holiness secret as well as publick Duties inward as well as outward Sins lesser sins as well as greater 7. A Scripture good Conscience is much taken up about godly sincerity So Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that with simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but with the grace of God we have had our Conversation in the world c. Thus a soul that walks with a good Conscience towards God labours to approve it self in all things with a godly sincerity to do all as unto God Lastly a good Conscience labours to keep it self pure and undefiled it is accompanied with a pure heart 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the Commandment is love out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned A Soul that would keep the Conscience good would keep it pure and the whole inward man pure as a Temple unto God Vse Now see how many ingredients go to make up a good Conscience in a Scripttre-sense and what a great mistake is in this weighty matter and how far abundance of people that make conscience of their dealings with men conclude thence they have a Scripture-good-Conscience to God when they are not savingly enlightned their Conscience never search'd by the power of the Word and throughly awakened out of a natural condition never humbled for resting in themselves and their Duties not having their Conscience sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ and purged thereby not having a tender respect to all the Precepts of God not to walk before him in godly sincerity nor with a pure heart You then that are short of these things you are wholly to seek in that which you so much pretend to and speak peace to your selves in the having or keeping a good Conscience you have as yet no part in this matter 2. What hath been spoken of a good Cnnscience may be for instruction and direction to the Called Ones of Christ how to preserve the Conscience good and peaceable and so to live and dye in the peace and comfort of it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Get it sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus Christ every day and under the searching of the Word and awake unto God and pure and undefiled respecting all the Holy Precepts of God as binding to your conscience so will the conscience be tender and peaceable and God will witness in your conences your acceptance with him in his Son Jesus Christ I would give out further some Notes of Tryal Whether you rest in false common grace or not as to what we have already spoken in so weighty a matter 1. By your never suspecting the truth of your grace but taking all upon trust never doubting but you have Faith and do repent and so of all the rest that soul that never suspected his grace may well fear that his pretended grace is no more than what a Hypocrite may reach unto The poor called children of God are exceedingly jealous their Faith is not sound that they are short in every grace because of the woful mixtures that they find more Unbelief than Faith more hardness of heart than softness more Pride than Humiliation and so of all Now that soul that goes away with an unsuspected confidence of every Grace sure flatters himself and his way will be found to be deceitful 2. That Soul that draws back his conscience from the searching power of the Word when it gives out ways of trial of Sincerity and truth of grace and puts it off as if not concerned in it this may well be speak a false heart A gracious heart would bring the Work over and over to the Touch-stone of the Word delivers up it self unto it yea is much with God to search him in point of a firm Work upon his Spirit as to any prevailing Iniquity in his heart as David Psal 139. When he was before the Lord appealing to him and opening his heart to him speaks thus ver 1. Oh Lord thou hast searched me c. thou hast And yet ver 23.24 begs of God yet further to search him Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me into the way everlasting 3. False Grace is discovered by its easie acting When you can easily believe easily repent easily be humble and so of all others Certainly 't is all naught There is great contradiction within and from the Tempter as to act Grace begun in a soul yea a daily supply from Jesus Christ must be to act any Grace livelily which the common pretending easie Believers are not sensible of It cannot be but every act of Grace must find more or less resistance from flesh and blood which is so vigorously opposite to the nature and acting of real grace in the Soul 4. Such as are
in the Strength of Christ in the wisdom and patience of Christ and so in all This 't is to have fellowship with Jesus Christ and to walk in him to do all in Christ and through Christ is the main work of the New-Creature as 't was hinted in discovering the necessity of the New-Creature's being in Christ 4. The Walk of the New-Creature is to walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit There 's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 To walk in the Spirit is 1. Not to fulfill the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.16 Not to be under the power of them or to make provision for them not to feed them but to crucifie them They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.14 which is put as an evidence of walking after the Spirit 2. 'T is to be led by the Spirit Gal. 5.18 to give up our selves to the leadings and teachings of the Spirit Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness is the cry of every true Convert in Christ who would not be led by his own Spirit in any thing nor by any other mens spirits but waits for the Leading of the spirit in every work and way wherein he would walk before God 5. The New-Creature walks after the revealed will of God And as many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them Gal. 5.16 speaking of the New-Creature who walks after a rule Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Psal 119.1 He sets himself to walk in all the precepts of God and esteemed them all holy and righteous 6. The New-Creature walks in his integrity Let integrity and uprightness preserve me Psal 25.21 As for me I will walk in mine integrity Psal 26.11 And as for me thou upholdest me in mine integrity and settest me before thy face for ever Psal 41.12 This is the gracious resolution of every Convert to walk in his integrity through which God will preserve and uphold him in all his ways and when the World reproacheth him God will set him before his face and that for ever 7. The New-Creature so far as he is a New-Creature walks humbly This is that the Lord doth require of thee walk humbly with thy God Micah 6.8 To walk humbly before the Lord toward sinners and towards Saints The soul that walks most with God walks most humbly towards men 8. The New-Creature walks in love And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us Ephes 5.2 In love to all Saints as Saints a special part of the Gospel-walk Not in love to such or such a party of Saints which is but self-love but in love to all that walk with God 9. More Particulars might I mention as walking honestly towards all men not oppressing defrauding but righteously charitably compassionately So far I say as he is a New-Creature he walks thus Only let me add this that the New-Creature walks by Faith 2 Cor. 5.7 and not by sight He is ever learning a life of dependency lives upon the All-sufficiency of God the Righteousness of Christ the fulness of his Grace the word of his Promise and so lives out of himself upon the fulness of God in Christ and his truth in his Promise even when he feels not his presence And herein briefly consists the Life of Faith to live out of our selves upon another even the fulness of an infinite God manifested in Jesus Christ In a word The New-Creature in Christ as he is called of God through infinite Free-Grace So is he to walk in all things Worthy of his vocation Ephes 4.1 To walk worthy of the Lord even to walk as Jesus Christ himself walked 1 John 2.6 To walk in this present world how he might express the vertues of Christ the Grace and Love of Jesus Christ so freely revealed to him to walk self-denyingly holily patiently harmlesly profitably heavenly as one that is called from Darkness to Light from the power of Satan to God called out of the world to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 2.14 Vse 1. If this be the Walk of the New-Creature then such who walk not as in the Eye of God but after the Atheism of their Hearts consider not that God sees them in their most hidden ways that walk after their lusts to fulfil them that walk not in the Spirit that mind not Holiness so they keep a kind of Conscience to men Verily the Spirit of God dwelleth not in you you have no Evidence for Heaven as yet you are of the World and you walk after the course of the World Eph. 2.2 You walk Hell-ward and are held by the Cords of your Lusts and your Paths lead unto destruction And therefore turn in to Jesus Christ whose Paths are Wisdom and Safety and lead in the way of Life and Peace and Blessedness even all that choose them and delight in them 2. Let such as have the New-Creature formed in them approve themselves to God to Saints and to the World in this their New-Walk Oh see you are called to walk with God and therefore be as in his Eye continually make Communion with him your chiefest joy Walk in Jesus Christ in his Life Light Power Love Wisdom and fetch your daily supplies from him Walk in the Spirit after the Spirit as much as may be and see that you keep close to Rule to the revealed Will of God and not to Delusions be able to appeal to God Judge me Oh God according to mine integrity Psal 26.1 that you may have this Peace and Comfort in all your ways Thou upholdest me Oh Lord in mine Integrity And see you walk humbly before God and Men and in love to all that profess love to Christ and they do in some measure really express it and carry it justly and compassionately towards all men Learn above all the Experience of the Life of Faith live not in or upon what you have received but live out of it upon the Fulness of the Lord as if you had received nothing Oh ply the Throne of Grace that you may be filled with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and to walk in this present World as near as may be after the Holiness Patience Meekness Wisdom and Love of Jesus Christ which he shewed towards all men having your hearts and Conversations in Heaven where your treasure is 11. The New-Creature doth in all things labour its own perfection and is therefore still in conflicting with destroying crucifying purging out the old Creature the old man all of the old Adam till it sits down in Victory in a full perfection of Holiness and Glory which it shall have and not till then at the appearing of Jesus Christ Ephes 4.22
That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and be renewed c. Knowing this that our Old Man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6.6 This is the main Work of the New-Creature where it is really formed in Christ to destroy and purge out the Defilements and Dregs of the Old Man of Sin Self Corruption that it may be as a new Lump as a Vessel made meet for the Lord's use as formed up set apart anointed sanctified for God and his use here and for ever AMEN To the Blessed God Alone be all the Glory FINIS Childrens Bread OR The First Principles of the Knowledge of GOD. To Season the Heads and Hearts of Young Ones betimes By way of QUESTION and ANSWER Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 By A. P. late Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed in the Year 1695. Childrens Bread or the first Principles of the Knowledge of GOD c. Quest WHo made you a living Soul Answ God who made all things made me a living Soul Gen. 2.7 Psal 139.14 Q. Who is God A. God is a Spirit the great and holy and good God Joh. 4.24 Jer. 32.18 Q. Is there but one God A. There is but one true and living God in three Persons the Father Son and Spirit 1 Thes 1.9 1 Ep. Joh. 5.7 Q. How is God known A. God is known by his works and by his holy Word Psal 102.24 Prov. 2.1 2 3 4 5. Q. Why did God give you such a Soul A. God gave me a Soul to know him and glorifie him Col. 3.10 Rev. 15.4 Q. What will become of your Soul when you dye A. My Soul must go to God in Heaven or else be damned in Hell Fire for ever Mat. 25. last Joh. 5.29 Q. How came your Soul to be in danger of Hell-fire A. Because I have sinned against God I deserved eternal Damnation Psa 9.17 Rom. 2.9 Q. How came you to sin against God A. The first Man Adam sinned and brake the Covenant of God and I in him Rom. 5.18 19. Gen. 2.17 Q. What is the sin of your Nature A. My Nature is corrupted with sin and hath the seed of all sin Psal 14.1 Psal 51.5 Q. What is sin A. Sin is the breaking of God's Commandments Deut. 11.27 28. 1 Ep. Joh. 3.4 Q. How many are the Commandments of the Law A. The Law of God contains ten Commandments written in Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Q. What is the first Commandment A. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me Exod. 20.3 Q. What doth the first Commandment require A. To have one God for my God and to love him above all things Deut. 6.4 5. Mat. 22.37 Q. What is the second Commandment A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. Exod. 20.4 5. Q. What is required in this Commandment A. To Worship God according to his own Word and not after mens Inventions Mat. 15.10 Isa 29.13 Q. What is the third Commandment A. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain Exod. 20.7 Q. What doth the third Commandment require A. To think and speak of God with reverence and fear and not to take his Name in vain Deut. 28.58 Prov. 1.7 Q. What is the fourth Commandment A. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day c. Exod. 20.8 Q. What doth this Commandment teach you A. To keep the Lords day holy and not to spend it in vain sports and idle words Isa 58.13 Rev. 1.10 Q. What is the fifth Commandment A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20.12 Q. What doth this Commandment of God teach you A. To give Honour to all to whom it is due and to obey my Parents in the Lord Tit. 3.1 Eph. 6.1 2. Q. What is the sixth Commandment A. Thou shalt do no Murther Exod. 20.13 Q. What is required in the sixth Commandment A. To do good to every one and not to have angry thoughts or angry words Mat. 5.21 22. Prov. 19.11 Q. What is the seventh Commandment A. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Exod. 20.14 Q. What is the meaning of this Commandment A. To keep my self from all Uncleanness and to be Chast in my thoughts and words Mat. 5.27 28. Eph. 4.19 Q. What is the eighth Commandment A. Thou shalt not Steal Exod. 20.15 Q. What doth this Commandment forbid A. It forbids me to take any thing that is anothers or to spend what is mine own vainly Eph. 4.28 1 Cor. 6.10 Q. What is the ninth Commandment A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbours Exod. 20.16 Q. What is the duty of the ninth Commandment A. It requires the speaking truth to others and forbids lying Zach. 8.16 Ephes 4.25 Q. What is the tenth Commandment A. Thou shalt not Covet c. Exod. 20.17 Q. What is required in the tenth Commandment A. To be content with those things that I have and not to have a covetous heart Luk. 12.32 Heb. 13.5 Q. Have you kept these Commandments of God A. No I have sinned by evil thoughts and words and deeds and come short of fulfilling the Law of God Mat. 15.19 Rom. 3.23 Q. What is due to you for sin A. Sin hath brought the curse of God upon my Soul and made me a Child of Wrath by Nature Gal. 3.10 Ephes 2.3 Q. How may you escape the wrath and anger of God A. God in his rich mercy hath revealed Salvation from sin by Jesus Christ Joh. 2.4 1 Tim. 1.15 Q. Who is Jesus Christ A. Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father and he took our Nature upon him and became God and Man in one Person Heb. 2.16 1 Tim. 3.16 Q. Why was Jesus Christ made Man A. Jesus Christ was made Man that he might dye for our sins and was raised from the dead Rom. 5.8 1 Cor. 15.3 Q. Why did Jesus Chrst dye for us A. Jesus Christ dyed to redeem us from the Curse of the Law and to work out Righteousness for us Gal. 3.13 1 Cor. 1.30 Q. Where is Jesus Christ A. Jesus Christ is sate down at the right hand of God in Heaven Heb. 1.3 Heb. 8.3 Q. What does Jesus Christ do for us in Heaven A. 1. Jesus Christ is our High Priest in Heaven to plead the shedding of his blood for us and to pray for us 1 Ep. Joh. 2.1 2. Heb. 7.25 2. Jesus Christ is our Prophet to teach us by his Word and Spirit Mat. 17.5 Acts 3.22 3. Jesus Christ is a King to Reign over us Acts 3.35 Rev. 15.3 Q. How may you come to be partakers of this Salvation A. I may become partaker of Salvation by coming to Jesus Christ as a poor
lost sinner to be washed from my sins in his blood and to be justified by him Rev. 1.5 Acts 13.38 39. Q. How doth God justifie a sinner A. God in his free Grace forgives a poor sinner for Christs sake and imputes Christs Righteousness to a Believer Rom. 3.24 25. Rom. 4.6 Q. How may you come to believe on Jesus Christ A. God works faith in dead sinners by his Spirit in hearing of the Gospel Preached Rom. 10.17 1 Thess 2.13 Q. In what manner doth God work faith in the Soul A. 1. By convincing me of sin and revealing Christ in the promise Luk. 7.37 Joh. 6.37 2. I must pray unto God to work faith in me and to reveal Christ to my poor soul 2 Thes 1.11 Ephes 1.17 18. Q. How may you come to pray A. I must beg of God to give me his holy Spirit to help me to Pray Luk. 11.13 Rom. 8.26 Q. How may you know the Spirit helpeth you in Prayer A. When I confess my sins and humble my self to the Mercy and Grace of God by Jesus Christ and beg all Mercy and Grace for Christs sake 1 Ep. Joh. 1.9 Joh. 14.13 Q. How must you be found a Praying Child of God A. 1. I must Pray to my Heavenly Father every Morning and Evening in secret Mat. 6.6 Psal 45.17 2. I must also read some part of the Word of God and pray that God will teach me by it Prov. 6.21 22. 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. What is the work of the Spirit of God A. I must be born again of the Spirit or never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 3.3 1 Pet. 1.13 Q. What is the fruit of being born again A. 1. I must be in Christ and a new Creature in him 2 Cor. 5.17 Ephes 2.10 2. I must press after all holiness in Christ Jesus in heart and life 1 Thes 5.14 1 Pet. 1.15 Q. What is required of souls that thirst after more of Christ A. It is the duty of such as would have more of Christ to join themselves to a particular Church of Christ Acts 2. last 2 Cor. 8.5 Q. What is a Church of Christ A. A Church of Christ is a Congregation of Saints by profession gathered by the Gospel and joyned together to enjoy all Ordinances and to Edifie one another in forbearance and love 1 Cor. 1.2 1 Thes 5.11 Q. What is the Covenant of Grace A. The Covenant of Grace is Gods taking us to be his peculiar people and our giving up our selves to him that he may be our God for ever by Jesus Christ Gen. 17.7 Isa 56.6 Q. What be the Ordinances of the Covenant A. Baptism and the Lords Supper Q. What is Baptism A. In Baptism by the washing with Water we are delivered up to the Name and Profession of Jesus Christ Mat. 28. last Gal. 3.27 Q. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is the shewing forth of the Death of Jesus Christ and our Communion with his Body and Blood by Faith in which forgiveness of sins is sealed to Believers 1 Cor. 11.36 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. When are you fit to pattake of the Lords Supper A. When I can give up my self to Christ and my heart is drawn after him though I am weak in Faith Rom. 14.1 Rev. 22.17 Q. What priviledg is there more in being of a Church of Christ A. When I am in a Church I am in a special manner in the Prayers of Saints and to partake of all help and comfort from them Isa 5.15 16. Rom. 15.1 2. Q. What is the further comfort of new-born Souls A. 1. If I am new born of the Spirit I am a Child of God and Heir of Heaven John 1.12 13. Rom. 8.16 17. 2. I shall be kept by the power of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 5. 1 Thes 5.23 Q. What further great priviledge have you if you be a Child of God A. If I become a Child of God God will love me for ever and is my Father and will hear my poor Prayers to him 2 Cor. 13 14. 1 Joh. 5 15. Q. What is the further duty of a Child of God A. 1. I am to grow in Grace and the Knowledge of Jesus Christ under the Word and Ordinances Mat. 25.30 2 Pet. 3.18 2. I ought to love all Saints as Saints though they differ from me in Judgment 1 Ep. Joh. 3.14 Col. 3.12 Q. What is the great Work God will do in the World A. To encrease the Kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ and to subdue the Nations unto him Isa 9.7 Revel 11.15 Q. Shall there be a Resurrection of the Bodies of all from the dead A. When Christ comes to Judgment all shall be raised from the dead and shall stand before his Judgment-Seat Heb. 6.2 2 Cor. 5.10 Q. What shall the reward of all be at the last Judgment A. They who be in Christ and have done good shall have Everlasting Life but such as have done evil Everlasting Damnation Mat. 24. last Joh. 5.29 FINIS
Reprobate living Remember the same Paul that thought himself a blameless man Philip. 3.6 afterwards cries out of exceeding sinfulness Rom. 7.13 yea the greatest the chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 But I hope to meet with thee and with thy conscience as to this conviction more hereafter The next inquiry will be when a poor soul may be said to be under such a discovery of the greatness of sin as may lead him to get pardon through Jesus Christ 1. One discovery I have named already which is such a soul doth not go about to lessen his sin but greeaten it to his greater abasement 't is his fear he doth not see his sins great enough to lay him low enough before the Lord. 2. When such a sight and discovery of sin it begets trouble upon the spirit In Psal 28. you have David under a great discovery of sin and he cries out there is no rest in my bones because of my sin I am troubled I am bowed down I go mourning all the day such a trouble that will not admit of peace and healing but from Jesus Christ till it can take hold of Jesus Christ in a promise of Grace and Pardon and come to him and close with him to be justified and Sanctified by him and in him as I am at large to shew if God will I speak this because there is a trouble for sin that often ends in a more dangerous peace Many poor creatures have for a time been troubled for sin and they have made one shift or other to quiet themselves it may be leave their sins and do a little something more but never come in a Gospel-way to Christ which I am also through grace to evidence in the discovery of a false Conversion However so it is that every soul that is unbottomed from a false peace a peace in sin or resting in his duties he comes under trouble more or less in and for his sin as he gets to pardon 3. God smites a soul for some special particular sin Jer. 3.13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God and hast scattered thy ways under every green tree c. General acknowledgment of Sins comes to nothing 't is the note of a Hypocrite but particular Sins lying upon the soul speak forth spiritual convictions when joyned I mean with other workings of heart we are now setting forth So Christ dealt with the woman of Samaria Joh. 4.16.29 Found her at and smote her in her particular Sin 4. As God smites so the sinner is in particular confession before the Lord loads his heart with Sin till it breaks Object But who will not confess himself a Sinner you will say Answ Truly few in a Scripture saving sense A word or two more to this That confession of sin before the Lord is a duty and such as hath the promise of forgiveness of Sin such places of Scripture will clear Psal 32. I acknowledge my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 1 John 1.9 This being a duty to which so blessed promises are annexed 't is of much concernment to souls that are very serious about forgiveness to have it stated aright according to Scripture and saving Experience There is a confession of sin that doth not entitle to the promise which a hypocrite may reach to so Pharaoh Exod. 9.27 I have sinned this time the Lord is righteous and I and my people are wicked here 's confession but no pardon so Judas Matth. 27.3 4. I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood so Saul 1 Sam. 15.29 I have sinned for I have transgressed the Commandment of the Lord Here are verbal inforced confessions when the hand of God was upon them and yet did not end in mercy The confession of a Hypocrite proceeds only from judgment felt or feared but that which is sincere and ends in mercy and pardon goes upon better grounds 1. As first Confession that hath the promise of pardon is accompanied with hatred of sin So in that blessed draught of the New Covenant Ezek. 36. I will save you from your uncleannesses c. verse 29. and verse 31. Then shall you remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for you abominations Then when God comes in a way of mercy and pardon then God will make them remember their wickednesses that they had even forgotten and had thought that God had forgotten them also They thought they were good ways before but now the Lord shews them they were not good and they loath themselves Sin is not only a terror but a loathsom thing to them hateful to the soul that is under this conviction 2. Whence secondly Saving confession respects the pollution of sin They shall loath themselves c. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee In that 38th Psal David is in self-loathing this doth arise as presently I shall shew from a glimpse of Gods holiness which I humbly conceive no reprobate in the World doth reach to to loath sin because it makes him an unholy Creature 3. It follows therefore that such confession follows sin to the root to the fountain there sees it most abominable odious infinite So David Psal 51.5 I was shapen in iniquity c. A Hypocrites confession ends in outward gross sins from terror only and reacheth not to heart-sin pollution of nature and if he can reach to reform such outward gross sins he hath done as he thinks the utmost but never comes to loath and so to mortifie through the spirit sin at the root But sincere souls touched by the Holy Ghost with a saving sense of sin do drive sin home to its original to its root in the universal corruption of heart and nature and there the severest edge and indignation against it is let forth 4. Brokenness of heart for sin is an effect of such confession Psal 51.17 Isa 61.1 57.15 And this ariseth upon sense of Gods patience goodness love as hatred of the pollution of sin ariseth from a sight of Gods Holiness Pharaoh crys out he had sinned when he smarted with punishment but was still under the plague of his hard heart Ex. 9.27 34. There is indeed a kind of brokenness that the hammerings of terrour by punishments or by the Word may work which may a little wear and rough-hew the heart and yet go no further but yet leave the heart under its natural hardness but now that which is the Spirits saving work kindly melts
acknowledge utter Condemnation nothing but sin upon him and so stoop to free mercy 5. The sinner stands off from Free-grace because he will make his own terms He will condition for his carnal case his self-interest his bosom lust the love of the World and hopes God will allow him his terms which he proposeth to himself and herein he is ruined Now God hath drawn up the tenour of his free-grace in the way of a Covenant and though there are no conditions left to the creature to make good on his part by his own power for that will easily imply a self-sufficiency in him and is absolutely derogatory from the grace of God in the Gospel-Covenant yet God hath drawn up as I may so speak what other good things he will bestow on the subjects of his free-grace Namely The Law to be new written in their hearts the gift of the Spirit Newness of heart with the making good of all those promises in a degree that hold forth Holiness and new Obedience which must accompany the free pardon of sins and make indeed the free grace of God more glorious Inasmuch as when he pardons them he will save them from the service of sin work his Image upon them bring them to a blessed conformity to himself which consider'd aright sweetens and heightens the free-grace of God and makes the terms of it more blessed In a word Mercy and Holiness must go together a Saviour and Sanctifier which a sinner from the cursed love of ease and satisfaction to his lust sticks at and so comes not up to Gods terms which are blessed and holy and so misseth of grace and mercy for ever because he chooseth Sin rather than Holiness 6. Yea a sinner and I speak all this while of such as pretend to an interest in free mercy misseth of this grace because he takes up the terms of God in his Covenant-grace in his own strength will repent and come up to new obedience before he comes to the promise to the free grace of God for it which is also a dangerous snare A Sinners first work being convinced as we have opened is to throw himself upon the free grace of God for all to give all to work all and to follow God by vertue of Promises of such good and Grace as the tenour of the Covenant holds forth 'T is an usual thing for poor Souls first to think to convert themselves make themselves holy and then come to God and Jesus Christ this is an indirect course Oh! a poor Soul must begin at the Foundation of Gods free Grace for Christ for Pardon for the Spirit for Conversion for Holiness for all as held out in Promises and then the work will be sure and prosper and nought shall hinder it 7. Sinners fail of this free Grace of God from a neglect and a sleighting of it Heb. 2.3 How shall you escape if you neglect so great salvation Sinners do hear that though they are sinners and condemned in a damnable estate yet Jesus Christ will save them if they will come unto him sit them for Heaven and do it himself for them and in them yet through a desperate folly security and careless temper the heart being in a dead sleep they wretchedly neglect it 8. From the power of Unbelief which they are under and see it not Thus have I shewed those special hindrances that cause poor Souls that hear of Gospel-grace to withstand it and for ever to miss of it Oh that this word of the Lord might find you out and might be as a glass to shew you your own hearts you who by a wilful obstinacy have withstood the Gospel-calls hitherto Oh now fall down before the Lord and cry I yield I yield thou blessed God thy Patience thy freest Grace hath overcome me Lord take away a rebellious obstinate heart from me Ah Lord Thou hast waited to be gracious and Christ and Mercy and Heaven have been offered to so vile a Wretch freely Now Lord I throw my self at thy feet a thousand Hells are too good for me But if grace infinite grace be free there 's yet hope for me If there be not grace enough in Heaven for me let me go to the depth of Hell But Lord I take hold of thee I desire to do it Oh do thou take hold of me and I shall not perish You who have stood upon your terms and hoped you had righteousness enough to cover you and God would look upon that and not upon your sin you are the most abominable in God's sight You who secretly in your hearts think your sorrowing and reforming makes God amends You who have wrapt your selves in these Cobwebs and through pride of heart will not lay them down Oh if thou wilt have mercy thou must have all in a way of mercy and grace all freely or nothing at all see all thy righteousness made void by one sin against the Law and therefore cursed and condemned by it therefore thou hast no Plea but free mercy and grace Oh lay down all thy other Pleas they will never be heard in Heaven and now cry out Oh 't is of grace Proud selfish Wretch that I have been 't is all of free grace if ever I am saved If God cannot pardon freely bestow Jesus Christ freely I am undone for ever Oh the wicked castings of my heart this way and that way Oh there 's nothing nothing but infinite misery to move mercy All my goodness is an accursed thing as from my self There 's an infinite Fountain of sin and self-righteousness in men Oh could I come to an infinite Fountain of grace Thus thou wilt come to God when he shall smite thy heart which now look up unto him to do You who have been making your own terms of ease and lusts and world Oh render up your hearts to the gracious blessed holy terms that God proposeth Why shouldst thou not be willing to be made holy Why should not the Lord rather rule thee than sin and the Devil What more beautiful and glorious than the Image of God Oh accept of Holiness with Mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ Come unto him for both be willing to be set apart for God a Vessel purged and sanctified for his use and thou shalt behold the face of God shining upon thee and whatever is laid up in Christ in Promises in Heaven and Glory shall be thine You who have thought to make your selves holy and then come to Christ to be justified be convinced of your great Error and now come as sinners to Jesus Christ to be justified and sanctified in him and see all grace laid up in Jesus Christ for such as come unto him Say Oh blessed Lord Jesus I cannot fit my self for thee If thou canst not accept me as a poor undone helpless sinner coming unto thee I never expect a blessing from thee And you who have sleighted this free rich and glorious grace see what you have done and be abased
from natural temper can bear much and it hath an appearance of of grace but yet here may be no work of the Spirit all this while humbling meekning the soul in its own vileness no mortification of contrary lusts no humbling for pride of heart without which no true gracious humility no meekning by the Gospel and the power of Christs love upon their Spirits and yet upon this account you shall have poor carnal souls pretend much as I have often heard it urged by them to the fruits of the Spirit mention'd Gal. 5.22 of love joy peace goodness patience temperance when t is nothing but disposition ingenuity or from civil education 10. As great a deceit there is about the fear of God many poor souls do fear the punishment and wrath of God which is all they do and then they think this is the fear of his Servant the fear of the Lord which God promiseth to put into the hearts of his own people Jer. 32.40 is a fear of God because he is holy because he is gracious because he hath pardoned iniquity They shall fear the Lord and his goodness Hos 3. last which fear is mixt with a sweet and blessed love to God and consolation of the Spirit at least a waiting for it 11. A misapprehension of good works causeth a mistake of the New-Creature many are convinc'd that works of Mercy and Charity and Justice are to be done and so from a pittiful nature or from vain-glory or from a secret thought to appeâ—se God or from Legal conviction at least they will be ready to do Charitable works things good in themselves and this they think discovers their Faith And herein lies a common deceit in the vulgar professors of the people of England Now all the good works falsly so called done out of Christ are fleshly and not accepted with God A Papist and many a carnal Protestant even also for the sin of his soul doth much this way but good works properly so called do flow from a living Faith from love to Jesus Christ and design not a self-justification but the glory of God And gracious Souls do find it very hard to perform them with holy ends 12. Mistake of a good conversation which may only be a moral conversation civil sober righteous as to Men but minds not Holiness to God which is the special part of a Gospel-Conversation And yet the most of people go away with this that they are believers and in a good state for Heaven because they have a good conversation which they greatly mistake That which the word of God calls a good conversation as an evidence of Faith is not only a meer outward blamelesness which the Pharisees had but to walk with God from a Gospel-principle from Gospel Grace and the love of God in the heart chiefly respecting holiness to the Lord and the fear of the Lord upon the heart now a soul that hath nothing of this may be outwardly blameless a Jew and Heathen may be so and nothing of the grace of God upon them Vse Now the Lord make this to be a convincing searching Word to you you that have left some gross sins from the word upon your consciences from afflictions from worldly advantages from age be it known unto you this you may do and more and be still the Children of Wrath in an unpardoned condition and not the New-Creatures we are speaking of yea though thou hast taken up to New-duties and makest conscience of many sins and many duties thou may'st still be out of Jesus Christ And you that call your daily sins which have dominion over you your infirmities when not humbled nor mourn for them nor cry for strength against them this your way is your folly and the Devil and your own hearts greatly deceive you yea you call such sins your infirmites meaning as if they were the infirmities of the children of God that cannot consist with truth of grace such as common lying and common prophaning the Lords Name in your mouths and neglecting to sanctifie his Sabbaths and living in the neglect of secret spiritual Prayer And such of you that have some striving in you consciences before and after the sin know it iâ— may be so and yet not a drop of saving grace in you no regenerate part wrought forth in you and yet how many bear up themselves upon this score and think thence they allow not themselves in the sins they commit in Paul's sense look to this or you may for ever perish in this snare I have given some marks how you may know it Take you heed also that you take not that which is called Common-Grace which is common to Reprobates for true grace There 's a false Faith a false Repentance a false Hope and so of the rest in which you may assuredly go to Hell you may have a harmless conversation and do some good works of Charity and yet perish for ever you may have nothing of the New-Creature in you and yet give all your goods to the poor In a word you may leave outward gross sins have convictions of wrath to come have purposes such as they are to be better take up to New Duties have common grace think you have Faith Repentance hope that you are humble patient have a good conversation and do good works and yet not be New-creatures in Jesus Christ as we shall further evince I have yet one more deceit to discover and that is the Mistake of a Scripture good conscience It is true that the Apostle in 1 Tim. 1.5 19. puts Faith and a good conscience as the great comprehensive Duties but there is not any one thing more mistaken than what this good conscience is too many Preachers press this carnally and carnal people go away with it that they have Faith yea they never doubt it and for a good conscience they discharge it I have spoken of Faith already but now that which such poor seduced souls take to be a good Conscience is only to wrong no body to be just to all not to purloin others goods to take and keep nothing but their own they take it to be chiefly conversant about the duties of the second Table concerning their Neighbour a little to rectifie this soul-damning mistake 1. A Scripture Conscience is an Enlightned Conscience which before was shut up in darkness Eph. 1.18 The light of the Word of God is set up in the conscience whereby it discovers those truths in their power and worth which before it was dark unto 2. A good Conscience is a Conscience searcht by the power of the Word convinc'd to be under sin and guilt and pollution whereby trouble doth arise in it God laying in the weight of guilt the damnableness of sin the pollution of it upon the Conscience so that the soul cries out what shall I do How shall God be pacified and the soul saved 3. And hence it is an awakened Conscience which before was asleep Awake thou
which defile a man Which defilements unfits the soul for communion with God they make a filthy puddle in the Soul and what a case is a poor Creature in to come to God in Duty in such a pickle 5. Evil Thoughts do pervert the Heart from God which should be fixed upon him they draw away the strength of the heart from God they suck up the juice and marrow of the heart which should be spent in spiritual things in Jesus Christ 6. Such Thoughts do grieve the Spirit Nothing more the Spirit cannot delight to teach and comfort when the heart is mostly acted by foolish and unholy Thoughts 7. When such Thoughts are acted in the Soul God may leave you to the power of them to break out to some grievous fall and so may ship-wrack your peace and comforts for a great while and go with broken bones and it may cost you much bitterness before you are healed 8. If vain carnal Thoughts are not resisted at first but given way to they are hardly check't and subdued and turned upon other Objects and therefore to watch the first Risings of them Now not one of these Considerations but may make a Child of God to tremble how he lets forth his heart into vain carnal idle defiling thoughts and musings which do so much wast a gracious Spirit and lay him open to such woful dangers as these are To help a Child of God in this spiritual Work of looking to and a holy ordering the Thoughts of his Heart 1. Be deeply humbled to God with abhorring and loathing for Atheistical unclean proud vain foolish worldly thoughts that croud in upon you when you make them your Burden you will be the sooner eased 2. Delight thy self much in the Word of God not only in Publick Hearing but Daily Reading and not only Reading but getting some good word upon thy heart that may season thy thoughts and affections Saith David I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Psal 119.113 The love of the Word of God made him be so far from cherishing vain Thoughts that he did hate them It doth appear this was a special part of David's exercise of Spirit to get some blessed Word upon his heart and he thinking of it and so it did turn into the sweet and wholesom nourishment of the New-creature Oh how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day Blessed and holy practice worthy a gracious Saint indeed you have one word especially that David had much on his heart out of the Books of Moses for we know not whether any other Scripture were then exant 't is that of Exod. 34.6 where the Lord saith he will proclaim his Name and Glory The Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth which you have in Psalm 103.8 Psal 86.15 and 145.8 Happily one of those sweet words which he often magnifies How hath a single word dwelt upon the heart of a Child of God and hath kept the heart savoury for Christ 3. The next Remedy against such Thoughts is Much Prayer diligence fervency pouring out the heart to God till the heart melts and runs forth sweetly spiritually and is engaged with God and hath a sight of him and a divine impression of God's Majesty left upon the soul 4. Get more and more brokenness of heart for sin when the Heart hath been broken 't will not so easily get into Vanity again At least a Child of God should take care that it should not when the heart is broken and mourning the Spirit doth wonderfully in that work refine the heart All the sleightness vanity defilement distraction that comes upon the New-Creature is mostly for want of this 5. Mortification of that Corruption that is most apt to stir doth much cure our thoughts Inordinate Affections are the Saints greatest Evils and do bespeak an unmortified heart as to what a Child of God should still be pressing after even to be dead and crucified with Christ Those that are Christs have crucified their Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.22 6. Contending for a Spiritual Heart So far as the Heart is spiritual it acts spiritually 'T is the carnality of Heart that works up all those frothy distempers that defile us Paul's corruption was much let out upon him when he cries out of the carnality of his Heart Rom. 7. which should be the daily complaint of God's poor Children 7. A great help to the preserving the Thoughts of the Heart according to the New-Creature will be to consider How precious the thoughts of God are to his people Psal 139.17 How precious also are thy thoughts O God unto me How great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more in number than the sands c. David in v. 2. was considering how God's Eye was upon his Thoughts and 't was a means to rectifie them and then David's Thoughts run forth in the sweet and blessed apprehension of the preciousness of Gods thoughts in him from all Eternity and in the ways of his Covenant towards him If Gods thoughts to us be holy and precious and ever towards us the thoughts of his Servants should be so also and as little common and unsavoury as may be More particularly let us yet consider what blessed and excellent and glorious things such as are New-Creatures in Christ have to exercise their thoughts about 1. Gracious Souls have the Attributes of God to exercise the thoughts of their Hearts in the Infiniteness of God his Greatness Holiness Glory c. A blessed Exercise for Saints indeed So we find the Scripture-Saints sweetly taken up with contemplation and admiration of the Excellencies of God himself Thou art glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 saith Moses But Thou art holy saith David Psal 22. Oh how great is thy Goodness Psalm 8.31 as might be abundantly shewed and the exercise of the thoughts this way hath a powerful influence upon the Heart as to its abasement purity sincerity 2. Saints have the riches and freeness of the grace of God in Jesus Christ towards poor sinners to be taken up withal Oh the free rich distinguishing Grace of God to a poor Creature that was posting to Hell that was a Rebellious Wretch a vile Hypocrite the worst of sinners the most unlikely to be converted of any sinner in the world We have David and Paul's hearts swallowed up in this above any other as David in many Psalms is in the admiration of grace and Paul in most of his Epistles makes it his great scope as the great Argument to be not only believing but humble and holy and heavenly all their days especially Col. 1. and Ephes 1st 2d and 3d. Chapters 3. Saints have the unsearchable Riches of Jesus Christ to take up their thoughts with the Excellencies and Dignities of his Person the Beauty and Glory that is in him the depths of his love the matchless price of his blood his bowels to sinners his care of his Churches Oh
be spoken of this Discovery of the New-Creature in its shewing it self in a new Lip 9. The 9th Discovery of the New-Creature Such as are New-Creatures in Christ they will have New-Company As soon as a soul is new forming up in Christ he saith as David Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Psal 119.115 Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal 6.8 I am a Companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts Psal 119.63 So the primitive Saints as soon as converted they become Companions of the reproached Ones of the Lord and took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods with them Heb. 10.34 And so Moses chose affliction with the people of God before Riches and Honour with the Prophane Heb. 11.26 Now this real Converts do 1. Because wicked and carnal men will act and speak wickedly against God and his ways and people which a heart broken and made tender cannot endure to hear and observe David said it was like a sword in his bones Psal 42.10 when wicked men reproached the Lord and his servants 2. Converts are in great danger to be tempted to sin as Joseph in Pharaoh's house by the company of wicked and carnal persons the Devil will lay snares especially for weak Souls It will be hard for weak souls to pass without guilt by mixing with them 3. Saints will contract deadness and indisposition by their company it causeth old Lusts to stir and other sins of heart to be working The carnal part will be too ready for complyance with them how hard to come off from them not worsted 4. Such as are New-Creatures in Christ have quite different Spirits from wicked and carnal men different principles different ends and therefore they must needs avoid them and cannot take satisfaction and contentment with them unless under great temptation Vse 1. To sinners unconverted who take pleasure in your carnal merry company but are burthened with the company of godly and you secretly disdain them and the Devil suggests to you that they are Hypocrites know this and be assured of it and your Consciences must acknowledge it that ye are yet in your sins and haters of Holiness and you love not the appearance of it Certainly you are none of these New-Creatures and you cannot know your selves by a better Character than by the company you most delight in You do not make choice of your most intimate company by their Godliness but from wordly ends or mirth or good fellowship as you stile it or generosity or some such carnal end verily the grace of God is not in you and your condition is damnable 2. As ever you would find mercy look up to the Lord to turn your hearts to himself and then to those that fear him Break off from your vain company who engage your hearts to vanity What saith the Wisdom of God A Companion of fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. No such fools how witty or prudent or civil soever otherwise as carnal souls that delight in vanity Oh hearken to the instruction of the wise and your soul shall live I confess this is the hardest pluck in conversion but yet it must be done with a vigorous resolution through grace when once the bands are broken and you come to find as you will abundant more sweetness in the Lords ways verily you shall never repent your so doing And such as have some desires towards goodness and have some better thoughts than you have had formerly of good people you will make little progress in grace and peace and comfort to your own souls till you do this till you can abhor your selves for your vanity and prophaness among carnal men and can with full purpose of heart cleave to the Lord and overcome fear or shame or whatever such cursed evils that are in your way and all your rocks of offence you will make little of it as to evidence any sound work in your hearts and peace with God by Jesus Christ one days accompanying with carnal men will set you more backward in the matter of godliness than many days after will help on 3. Let such as would evidence the New-Creature be very watchful in this matter and not to touch pitch lest they be defiled mix not your selves unnecessarily as hath been exhorted in the last head among carnal men unless you have a good and holy end in it so as Jesus Christ did going among great sinners to do them good which indeed bespeaks a great strength of grace and a Christ-like spirit and Saints should be much with God for it And among your selves that Saints do still better and not worst one anothers Spirits when they come together the more you are with Saints the more you love them and delight in them Have a compassionate healing spirit to one anothers infirmities and be not offended but look upon and love the appearance of God in each other And remember that receiving and doing of good is your great business till you come to Heaven Yea let all that have a new work upon them diligently find out the Company of Saints such as are visibly joined to the Lord and to each other to enjoy Ordinances holily and to help one another Heaven-ward Woe to him that is alone saith the wisdom of God Let not gracious Souls content themselves in pollutions of worship and without the company of the godly such do decay wither make a poor shift to hold out in their profession grow worldly or are overtaken with the Errours of the times as for the most part they are the solitary professors who are drawn aside from Gospel-truth and not such as it hath been unduly charg'd who are in the fellowship of the Gospel for that end and purpose to help strengthen pray for watch over each other 10. Such as are New-Creatures in Christ they have if I may so speak new feet namely to walk with God in a new conversation The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Psal 37.23 I have saith David refrained my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy word This New-walk of a Saint of a New-Creature is a large field that I may hint the most material things of it 1. A New-Creature doth more and more set himself to walk with God 1. As under the eye of God considering that the jealous eye of the Lord is still upon him Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways Psal 133.3 2. To keep Communion with God to be conversing with God speaking with God and unto God and waiting to hear God speak unto him 3. To walk in Jesus Christ As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Col. 2.6 which is to walk in the Life of Christ in the Light of Christ in the Love of Christ
the heart makes it soft and so it can pour out it self to God in heart-melting confessions at least the poor soul mourns over the hardness of its heart oh that I have thus sinned and yet my heart will not break blessed be every stroak and every word of God and every Ordinance that through grace breaks my heart more A sincere soul sets a high price upon brokenness and yet rests not in it c. 5. Such confession that hath the promise is accompanied with soul abasement He that humbleth himself shall be exalted Luke 18.14 spoken upon the Publicans acceptance with God in his Confession smiting upon his breast in a deep abasement not lifting up his eyes to Heaven So that great promise 2 Chron. 7.14 If my people shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins This is a work of the narrowest search of any other I intend if the Lord will to speak to this more distinctly and fully only now a word of Humiliation as is joyned with such confession that hath the promise of pardon which is the scope we drive at 1. When the Soul is in confession and under the Lords humblings in order to pardon The poor Creature acknowledgeth himself infinitely unworthy that ever the Lord should cast a look upon him or give out mercy and pardon to him This Conclusion is fixed upon the soul and the Soul falls down abased in the sense of it whatever the Lord do with me I will lay my mouth in the dust I am worthy of nothing from the Lord but a thousand Hells this quiets the heart in some measure whatever the pleasure of the Lord be towards him 2. As the poor sinful Creature is worthy of nothing so he will give glory to God if God never pardon God is never the less righteous or holy if he never let out one drop of mercy upon so vile a Creature Thou art holy saith David Psal 22.3 But I am a worm and no man verse 6. A worm fit for God and man to tread upon and yet must not rise up against God nor say to him what doest thou No Man I have unman'd my self with sin I am dust and vanity it self vile dust that 's my make my frame Oh I must give glory to his justice though I perish for ever 3. The poor Creature hath no good no not the least to procure pardon or to move God to pardon Psal 14.3 Saith a poor humbled soul treating for pardon if mercy and pardon must come forth upon terms of my good having or doing any thing but what hath infinitely Sin enough in it to damn me for ever assuredly to Hell I must No Sin enough to send a world of souls to Hell but not a drop of good to move the Lord to mercy If God give out mercy upon a Sight of good I expect not a drop from him 4. It follows from hence when a sinner comes humbled he comes as nothing else but a sinner Luke 18.13 God be merciful to me a sinner One that 's nothing else but a wretched Sinner for so the Publican means it as in a contrary frame to the Pharisee who thanks God that he was not so bad as many were though the Pharisee no doubt would acknowledge some Sin but now the Publican is All a sinner in as bad a condition as any Sinner in the World Poor Souls in these days they hope they have not so much need of Christ as many great sinners they be not nothing else but Sinners they have or do some good The discussion of this will be the next discourse only now a word more Know Sinner that one Sin strikes off all thy pretended good as shall at large through mercy be proved to thee Stick to one drop of good in thee or from thee when thou comest for mercy and pardon and thou losest all Oh to be wholly condemned wholly unrighteous wholly a sinner is a great work 't is the most distinguishing conviction of any other While a man hath any thing to live upon he is not fit to beg so while a soul hath a drop of any thing that in his own sense may the more admit him to pardon he cannot have it Take it thus If one come to your doors and beg and he hath good Cloaths on his Back and he should say I have good Cloaths on my back I have something of my own therefore I pray give me Would you not answer if you have something of your own and are pretty well cloathed why should you beg 't is not for you come and ask alms But if a poor naked wretch come and say and cry Oh I am a poor Creature a poor naked destitute creature I have nothing all 's gone I have lost all pray cover me pray feed me out of great pity you will look upon such a poor Wretch and do something for him if you have any bowels So if a Sinner as that Pharisee did come and say Lord I have done this and this I have not been so wicked as many I do some good therefore pardon that therefore will make the Lord send thee away without mercy No saith God live upon what thou hast if thou hast any thing Oh Sinner thou art not fit to beg to beg mercy and pardon till thou hast just nothing of thy own which the natural pride of thy heart will very hardly come off to 5. In the way of Mens Tribunals of Justice and Courts of Life and Death If a Malefactor be condemned by the Law and he yet plead Though I am proved a Thief or a Murderer yet I have kept the rest of the Law I have broken no Law of the Nation that deserves death beside shall not this rather justifie me than this crime condemn me No saith the Judge That 's nothing to us though thou hast kept the Law in other things thou must dye by the Law as a Transgressor of it for this thou hast done Why then saith the condemned person I must plead all mercy Just so it is at the Tribunal of God comes a poor Soul that is convinced he hath sinn'd Oh but saith he in his heart I have kept the Law in many or most things will not that commend me to God Will not God look upon my good more than my evil No saith God in his word thou hast broken the Law and thou art cursed therefore the Law can shew thee no mercy I can take no notice of any of thy pretended keeping of it in any other thing Oh then must a poor Sinner say then it must be all all of mercy if I am ever pardoned this may be enough to discover such a humiliation that follows confession that hath the promise of pardon 6. One thing more which I shall but mention such a confession of sin as hath the promise of mercy is accompanied with a firm resolution