any Spiritual Benefit by any Affliction we may certainly conclude that the Love of God was in that Affliction Fury is not in God towards his People Isa 27. 4. And he intends nothing â—ut our profit all his ends are for our good to purge away our Sins to wean us from the World to draw us nearer to himself to humble us to try us to conform us to Christ to prepare us for Gloâ—y c. Now seeing God's Ends are â—o much for our good we must conclude That all our Afflictions proceed from his Love and when we find any of those Ends accomplished in us and on us and that we have received real spiritual good by them we ought to be strengthned in â—ur Belief that God hath corrected us in Love so that Faith acted on the love of God in our Affliction will prevent or â—ure our Heart-trouble Our Lord told â—is Disciples That the Father had loved â—hem John 16. 27. Secondly Faith acted upon God's Gloriâ—us Attributes will fortify against Heartâ—rouble First upon his All sufficiency Ye bâ—lieve that God is All-sufficient in aâ— of himself alone every way able to sâ—ply all Wants to make up and repair â— Losses to satisfy all Desires to sustaâ— under all Burdens and that without â— earthly Comforts for how else are tâ— Saints in Heaven happy who have noâ— of these Earthly Enjoyments Ye belieâ— this act your Faith on it He must neeâ— be All-sufficient who made the Worlâ— and all things in it and upholds it to tâ— day He that owns all things and Possessor of Heaven and Earth He iâ— that is your God your Father act yâ— Faith on him and be comforted Secondly He is All-mighty you belieâ— this So Christ hath told his Disciplâ— All things are possible to God He can breâ— the hardest Heart and can bind up â— most broken Spirit He can make up â— greatest Loss We are kept by the migâ— Power of God 1 Pet. 1. 5. Oh how sâ— is that Man that is in the Love and Câ—venant and that lies in the Arms aâ— Bosom of the Almighty God Deut. 33. â— He can bring Light out of Darkness aâ— make the greatest Loss to prove tâ— greatest Gain He hath the Keys of tâ— Grave to him belong the issues from Death All Power belongeth to him nothing is too hard for him Thirdly His absolute Soveraignty and Supremacy All Souls are his Ezek. 18. 4. He gives he takes who can hinder him May he not do with his own what pleaseth him Ye believe this Hath he not a Right in all the Works of his hands and may he not dispose of all as he will Fourthly His Vnchangeableness God is in one mind Job 23. 13 14. The thoughts of his Heart stand to all Generations He sets bounds to the Sea to the Life of Man and to all the Comforts of Life the number of his Months is with God Job 14. 5. Believe this Fifthly His Wisdom God is only wise the Fountain of Wisdom he doth all he doth in infinite Wisdom He is wise in Heart and worketh all things according to the counsel of his Will He knows what is best for us when to give when to take and what will do us most good Believe this And let not your Hearts be troubled Sixthly His Righteousness All his Ways are just and equal Yea when Clouds and Darkness are round about him his Providences towards us dark yet theâ— Righteousness and Judgment are the habitâ—tion of his Throne God the Judge of tâ—â— World can do no wrong believe this â— God and it will quiet your minds Lastly His Faithfulness In faithfulnâ— thou hast afflicted me saith holy Daviâ— Psal 119. 75. He hath promised he wâ— withhold no good thing from his Peopâ— Now he sees and knows that Afflictioâ— are good for them good for their Soulâ— his daily Rod as good for their Souls his daily Bread is for their Bodies Therâ—fore he brings Afflictions on them and makes good his Promise to them O â—lieve this and let not your Hearts be trâ—bled Certainly Faith acted on Goâ— Attributes will support under the greatâ— Stroaks and most grievous Losses Thirdly Faith acted on the Covenanâ— Grace God's everlasting Covenant â—â— help to support under Trouble Ye bâ—lieve in God that God hath made a Câ—venant with you to become your Goâ— Jerem. 31. 33. I will be your God and shall be my People This is infinitely moâ—â— for God to become our God to give hiâ— self to us than if he had said I will giâ— you Crowns and Kingdoms Sons and Daughters when God saith I will be your God he saith I will be All that to you and I will do All that for you and bestow All that upon you which a God can be or do and which shall make you most happy for ever I will pardon your Sins I will give you new Hearts give you my Spirit I will give you Grace here and Glory hereafter This Acting of Faith in God's Covenant supported David in his greatest Troubles 2 Sam. 23. 5. a notaâ—le Text When the Lord had made â—reach upon breach in his Family this Comforted him that God had made with him an everlasting Covenant That he was in Covenant with God that God was his God in Covenant this ballanced all his Losses and repaired all the Breaches made in his Relations tho his Family was wasted and blasted this answered all that he was in Covenant with God This is the Language of Faith If God be my God if I be his Child born of him reconciled to him pardoned justified sanctified in Covenant with him Why am I troubled though he give me neither Health nor Wealth nor Friends nor Relations Have I not enough in having God to be my God Is not God moâ— than All But if God be not my God â— have cause enough to be troubled theâ— considering the Danger I am in and â— Trouble for this should swallow up all ther Trouble For surely either God mine in Covenant or he is not if he mine in Covenant then tho he break â— Family make breaches upon all my earâ—ly Comforts yet he will not break â— Covenant Psal 89. 32. and so long I â— well enough If he leave me neither Sâ— nor Daughter if he strip me of Frienâ— Estate Liberty Health c. yet he â— mains my God still and so long it is â— enough it cannot be ill with a Maâ— long as God is his ye believe this Fourthly Faith acted upon the Worâ— God will support the Soul Ye beliâ— God's Word the Word of Truth Psâ— 119. 50. This is my Comfort in my Afflictiâ— thy Word hath quickned me So ver 92. â— not thy Law been my Delight I had perisâ— in my Affliction First Consider the Word of Preceâ— as in the Text it is Christ's Commaâ— Let not your Hearts be troubled Maâ— such Commands we have in Scripture â— not to fear not to be cast down sorrow not as those that have no hope 1
or in any near and dear Relation then sure there is Love strong Love in Jesus Christ to all Believers for in him is the Love of all Relations and therefore he expresseth it under all these Relations He calls us his Friends He is of a most tender a most merciful Nature full of Bowels of Compassion and of tender Mercies It would be endless to express the loving Nature of Jesus Christ to poor Believers which when a Believer duly considers ponders upon and acteth Faith upon it cannot but support him under all Heart-Trouble Act your Faith on Christ as yours your Jesus he that died for you he that sweated great drops of Blood for you in the Garden wrestling and grapling with his Father's Wrath for you in your Name and stead there and upon the Cross Consider that this your dearest Jesus now in Glory knows your Souls in Adversity he seeth all the Troubles of your Hearts he sympathizeth with you in all your Afflictions his Heart now in Heaven â— touched with the feeling of your Infirmiâ—â— on Earth Heb. 4. 15. He hath Humaâ— Nature still though glorified He feels oâ— Losses Crosses Griefs Pains Sorrow his Heart his most tender Heart is â—fected O that we could but believe thiâ— and thus consider with our selves Her sit solitary as a Widow or a Widowâ— or Childless or Fatherless or Motherleâ— or Friendless my Family is broken feel Pains and Sicknesses I am deprivâ— of my Liberty my sweet Relations aâ— comfortable Friends are laid in the Dust I have none about me to counsel or coâ—fort me I am brought low in the Woâ— my Estate is diminished my Honour aâ— Reputation lost my Pleasure gone â—â— Flesh faileth me my Strength faileâ— Lovers and Friends fail me c. Sâ— Complaints we are apt enough to makâ— and it may be worse than these My Gâ— hath forsaken me he hides his Face frâ— me I am compass'd about with Temâ—tations sad dejecting and distractiâ— Thoughts I am persecuted banisheâ— from House and Home all my outward aâ— inward Comforts sail me These haâ— been the Cases and Conditions of Godâ— dearest Servants as Job David Heman and others But yet let not your Hearts be troubled for all this Ye believe in God act your Faith on God yea and act it on Christ also Believe in Jesus look up by Faith unto Jesus your dear Lord whatsoever whomsoever you have lost you have not lost your Jesus your best Friend your Heavenly Husband you have his Heart his Bowels towards you still you have his Eye his tender watchful provident Eye upon you still you have his Ear open to your Cries still yea you have his everlasting Arms underneath you to sustain you still for else you would sink Oh then act Faith upon the sweet Nature of Christ as your Head and Husband Can a Mother forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb Isa 49. 14. possibly she may But can Jesus forget those whom he died for and traâ—elled for No no he will not hide his Face for ever he will never forget his People Your Maker is your Husband and he is the Father of Mercies If we read these things or hear theâ— read and do not apply them to ouâ— own Souls by Faith if we do not mâ—ditate on them and let them sink dowâ— into our Hearts if we do not prâ— earnestly that the Holy Spirit wouâ— bring them home and lay them clâ— to and fix them on our Hearts thâ— will do us no good yield us no Comforâ— therefore meditate on them apply theâ— and act Faith upon them Secondly We must act Faith upâ— the many precious Attributes of Jesâ— Christ all which will afford to Faiâ— much matter of support under all â—â— Heart-Troubles whatever And thâ— are exceeding many I shall mention oâ— some First Jesus Christ is our Advocaâ— with the Father 1 John 2. 1 2. Oâ— that undertaketh for us to plead oâ— Cause in that highest Court of Heâ—ven If a Man be sued in Law or â— accused of any Crime in any Court is a great priviledg to have a Sollicitâ— there for him that is skilful and faâ—tâ—ful and powerful with the Judg in thâ— Court Jesus Christ is such an Advocatâ— or Sollicitor for us in Heaven he wiâ— plead our Cause and he is Wise he is the Wisdom of the Father he is a Great Counsellor and the only Counsellor none else can plead in that High Court and he is most Faithful he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in all things pertaining to God Heb. 2. 17. He appears for us in Heaven Heb. 9. 24. When a Man is indicted in a Court and hath none to appear for him there he is in a bad Case But all poor Believers are in a better Case they have a blessed Advocate to appear in the Presence of God for them He continually presents his Blood his Sacrifice to the Father for them Heb. 10. 10. And it is his Will to have that Sacrifice accepted for our Justification and Sanctification Christ prevails so with his Father that he always heareth him John 11. 42. Now if we can act Faith on this Blessed Advocate in Heaven who is there always pleading for us ever-living to make continual Intercession for us Rom. 3. 25. presenting himself before God as our Sacrifice and Propitiation when Men accuse us and our own Consciences too when we are deprived of our near and dear Relations distressed with Pains and Sicknesses pinched wiâ— Wants and Necessities I say then iâ— us to act our Faith on this precioâ— Advocate at the Right Hand of Gâ— for us interceding there for us â—â— who knows and feels all our Miser it must needs be a great support aâ— relief to us and the best Remedy gainst our Heart-Troubles O that â— could act Faith strongly on this oâ— Advocate To have a Friend in Heaven aâ— such a Friend so wise so powerfâ— so faithful so merciful so sensibly â—fected with all our Misery so tender able and so willing to hear and hâ— us I say this is infinitely better thâ— all the Friends that ever we had â— could have on Earth And this Frieâ— ever liveth and maketh continual Intecession for us And as this is mattâ— of Comfort in case of Suffering so case of Sin too If any Man sin have an Advocate with the Father Jeâ— Christ the Righteous and he is the Prâ—pitiation for our Sins 1 John 2. 1 â— Faith acted on this blessed Advocate the best Remedy against Heart-Troublâ— in case both of Sin and Suffering Secondly Jesus Christ is Bread from Heaven the true Bread for Souls the Bread of Life the Water of Life John 6. 35 48 51. Now when poor Saints are fed with the Bread of Affliction and with the Water of Adversity let them look up to Christ and act Faith upon him he will be living Bread Life-giving Bread living Waters to their Souls to revive their drooping and to refresh their fainting Spirits
pardon all our Sins to give us his Spirit and all Grace here and Glory hereafter Now Christ our blessed Mediator hath perfectly fulfilled all that God required for us and in our room and stead that is most certain for he finished the work that his Father gave him to do and he hath made many sweet Promises to us That he will send the Spirit into our Hearts to work Faith in us to receive him and to apply the Merit of his Blood to us to sanctify and renew us thereby and hath promised That whosoever comes unto him he will in no wise cast out Matth. 11. 28. And all that come unto him shall find rest to their Souls That whosoever believeth in him shall be saved that he will keep them and nonâ— shall pluck them out of his Hand Thaâ— he will raise them up at the last Day John 10. 28. Assuring us That he iâ— gone to Heaven as our Fore-runner tâ— prepare a place for us there and that hâ— will come again and take us to himself that where he is we may be also Now if we can but act Faith on this Jesus and on the Covenant whereof he is the Mediator and on his Promises applying them and relying on them our Hearts shall not be troubled Besides Let us consider there is not a passage of Providence from God to us but it comes through the Hand of this Mediator 1 Cor. 8. 6. All things are by him Put what you will in the Hand of a Mediator and in his Power it must needs turn to the good of him for whom he is a Mediator Now to support and comfort us in all our Troubles let us consider two things 1. This Mediator steps in between God's Wrath and us in all our Afflictions that no Fury or Effects of it may break forth from God on his People for whom he is the Mediator that nothing but Fatherly Love may be in the Chastisement and if Love send the Affliction whatever it be to try and purge c. there can be no hurt in that Affliction Again our Mediator interposeth either to hold off the Smart or to allay and mitigate it that it shall not distract Dan. 3. 25. no nor hurt 2. He steps in to uphold us and to strengthen our Weakness enabling us to endure Phil. 4. 4 12 13. It was the Mediator that did strengthen Paul The Lord stood by me and strengthned me said he Faith acted on this Blessed Mediator eying him and believing that our Afflictions come through his Hands even his who loved us and died for us our dearest Friend and who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth must be a mighty support to us in all our Troubles Fourthly Let Faith be acted as the Word of Christ also Ye believe the Word of God believe the Word of Christ also His Mouth is most sweet None but gracious Words proceed out of his Mouth Grace was poured into his Lips Psal 45. 2. and he poured out Grace in all his Words His whole Gospel is a Gospel of Grace Words of Peace and Salvation Hear him speaking most sweetly Matth. 11. 28. Come unto me all that are weary and heavyladen and I will give you rest O what sweet Words are these Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and drink without Money and without Price Isa 55. 1 2. I am the Way the Truth and the Life Joh. 14. 6. Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3. 18. This is but a taste of those sweet Clusters of most refreshing Grapes which hang upon the Boughs of the Gospel let us take frequent view of what lies upon Record in the Evangelists and often read over the manifold Promises of Grace that fell from the sweet Mouth of our Blessed Lord and meditate and ponder and consider of them and act our Faith upon them and we shall find comfort in them his Words drop as an Honey-comb his Words are Spirit and Life More particularly First Our Faith must be acted upon Christ's Word of Precept his Word of Command in time of Trouble Fear not hâ—m that can kill the Body but 〈◊〉 that can cast both Soul and Body into â—â—â—ll Luke 12. 4 32. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Let not your Heart be troubled nor let it be afraid Rejoice when Men shall persecute you c. Luke 21. 19. In patience posses ye your Souls with many such Now Christians must yeild up the Obedience of Faith to such Commands and urge them upon their Hearts charging themselves to obey theâ— saying O my Soul my Lord hath forbidden me to fear to be troubled tâ— be thoughtful to be dejected c. â—â— hath commanded me to be patienâ— yea to rejoice in my Suffering Heâ— my Lord and I must obey him I muâ—â— keep his Commandments else I cannoâ— love him I must keep his Sayings or else I cannot be his Disciple â—â— I keep his Commandments he wiâ— manifest himself to my Soul his Father will love me and he will love me and they both will make theiâ— abode with me for it is his Promise John 14. 21 23. Say thus â— my Soul Jesus Christ is my King anâ— my Law-giver I must obey him hâ— is my Prophet also and I must heâ—â— him in all things whatsoever he shaâ— say unto me I have taken him for my Lord as well as for my Saviour for my King to rule me as well as for my Jesus to save me for my Prophet to teach me as well as for my Priest to satisfy for me O my Soul consider He is the Author of Eternal Salvation only to those that obey him Thus applying the Commands of Christ to our selves and urging his Authority upon our Hearts it will help us to bear up under our Troubles 2dly Act Faith upon the Promises of Christ of which somewhat was said before He hath promised to be always with us to send the Comforter to manifest himself unto us that he will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Mat. 19. 29. That he will give us an hundred-fold for all our Losses for his sake That he will gather us with his Arm carry us in his Bosom that he will hear our Prayers that he will give us a Crown a Kingdom Everlasting Life with many more O could we act our Faith upon his precious Promises and lie sucking by Faith on those full Breasts of Consolation and draw by Faith Prayer and Meditation from these Wells of Salvation we shouâ—d find sweet support under all our Troubles 3dly Faith acted on the Word â— Threatning may put a stop to Hear Trouble Jesus Christ hath dreaâ— fully threatned those that love Fatheâ— or Mother Son or Daughter moâ— than him or their own Lives aâ— those that are ashamed of him â— his Word and those that fall froâ— him and those that
hear his Saying and do them not and those that aâ— fruitless Branches c. Mat. 10. 3 Luke 14. 26. Mark 8. last Joh. 15. Faith acted on the Examples in thâ— Word of Christ especially his oâ— Example Learn of me saith he I â— meck and lowly in Heart Matth. 11. â— He was as a Lamb dumb before â— Shearers 1 Pet. 1. 21. and we mâ—â— follow his steps We have also â— Cloud of Witnesses the Example of the Primitive Christians who boâ— all their Troubles with Patience aâ— Holy Courage and we are expresâ— commanded to be Followers of theâ— who through Faith and Patience inherâ— the Promise Heb. 6. 12. Thus Faiâ— acted on the Word of Christ wiâ— help against all Heart-Trouble Fifthly Faith acted on the Work of Christ will either prevent or cure Heart-Trouble And that again if Faith be acted upon the Work he hath done for us already and upon the Work he is now doing for us in Heaven and upon the Work he is now doing in us on Earth and upon the Work he will do for us and in us and upon us at the last Day All which Works of Christ if we act our Faith on them we shall not be much troubled in our Hearts Believe also in Christ Believe me saith he for the Work 's sake John 14. 11. 1. Faith must be acted upon that great and glorious Work of Christ for us when he was upon Earth that Work which his Father gave him to do in the Days of his Flesh as our Redeemer and that in doing and in suffering for he came to do the Will of God by his Obedience as well as to suffer it by his Satâ—â—faction and this is his state of Humiâ—iation He assumeâ— Humane Nature entred the Virgin s Womb was bâ—rn of her yet without Sin He lived on Earth a time doing Good and healing all manner of Diseases spent most of his time in Preaching Praying Fasting and revealing to Men the whole Will of God for their Salvation and fulfilling all Righteousness He professed he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him John 6. 38 39. And saith he This is the Father's Will which sent me thâ—â— of all which he hath given me I shoulâ— lose nothing but should raise it up aâ— the last Day A comfortable Consideration indeed and a Cure for our Heart-Trouble That our Lord Jesus will raise up all our dead dear Relations and Friends now rotting in their Graves All that died in Jesus will Jesus bring with him 1 Thess 4. 16 17. And this also is the Father's Will That every one that seeth the Son that is every one that by Faith receiveth and believeth in the Son shall have Everlasting Life Now to accomplish and finish this Will of the Father was the whole Work oâ— Christ upon Earth even to draw poor Souls unt him to work Faith in them by his Word and Spirit to fulfil the whole Law of God for them and in them Rom. 8. 4. And to begin and finish the whole Work of our Redemption Faith acted on this Work of Christ upon Earth for us in the several parts of it He being partaker of Flesh and Blood with us to deliver us from him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and to free us from the fear of Death by which we were always subject to Bondage Heb. 2. I say if we can 〈◊〉 Faith on these Works of Christ for us we shall have no cause of Heart-Trouble Let us consider that our Blessed Lord denied himself on Earth and was well-pleased not to have his own Will nor to do his own Will but referred himself intirely to his Father's what reason have we poor Worms to be troubled when our Wills are cross'd Let us in Heart and Life say as we pray Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Mat. 6. 10. And when the Will of God is done upon our Families and Relations let not our Hearts be troubled but let us imitate Jesus Christ in our submission to the Will of God making it our Work on Earth to be doing â— the good we can and so to put hiâ— on and walking as he walked aâ— not be troubled Secondly Faith acted on Christ Suffering-Work on Earth will greatlâ— contribute to our Support He waâ— a Man of Sorrows Isa 53. 1 2. iâ— that if we meet with Sorrows â— Earth we do but drink of our Master own Cup and that should quiet us Christ's Suffeâ—â—â—gs on Earth were â— two kinds viz. â—â—r our Imitation aâ— for Satisfaction for our Sins 1. For our Imitation His patiâ—â—â— suffering of Reproaches Scorns iâ—vilings Contradiction of Sinneâ—â— Temptations Persecutions Bond Poverty Shame loss of Friends â— suffering all with invincible Patienâ— and Meekness without the least muâ—muring repining disquiet or discoâ—tent without any Retaliation fâ—â— when he was reviled he reviled not agaiâ— he prayed for his Enemies c. aâ— all this as our Example that we shoâ—â— follow his steps 1 Pet. â— 21 â—â— â— And if our Lord the Lord of Heâ—ven and Earth suffered such thingâ— what reason or cause have we to be troubled in our Hearts when we are persecuted reviled forsaken of all our Friends impoverished exposed to Shame and Sorrow seeing our Blessed Lord was so exposed and so exercised upon Earth Is it not enough for the Servant to be as his Master Shall we think to fare better than him His Sufferings were to teach us to bear ours with Christian Patience and to sanctify ours to us yea in all our Sufferings he sympathizeth with us Let us then act our Faith upon Christ's Sufferings on Earth his whole Life being a Life of Suffering he knew what Trouble meant he was acquainted with Grief he knew what it was to lose a Friend for in his greatest Trouble all his Disciples whom he calls his Friends forsook him and fled and being tempted himself he knows how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. and 4. 15. He hath a feeling of all our Infirmities Let us labour to act Faith on Jesus and our Hearts will not be troubled 2. But his great Suffering-Worâ— for us â—as his Work of Satisfactioâ— All our Sins being laid on him it pleaseâ— the Lord to bruise him and to put him â— grief and to make his Soul an Offerinâ— for Sin He poured out his Soul unâ— Death was numbred among Transgressor Isa 53. 6 10 12. Was made Sin for â—â— He bare our Sins on his own Body on tâ— Tree was made a Curse for us 2 Cor. â— 20. Gal. 3. 10. suffered the Wrath â— God for us to deliver us from thâ— Wrath to come O blessed Jesus â— when our Sins were upon him he wâ—â— sore amazed groaned was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death He was â—â— a bloody Sweat in a bitter Agony in thâ— Garden He was falsly accused uâ— justly condemned and then barbarouslâ— crucified suffering that cursed anâ— cruel shameful and painful
Death oâ— the Cross and all as our Surety and â—â— a Sacrifice to God for our Sins Chriâ—â— our Passover was sacrificed for us 1 Cor 5. 7. to make Atonement and Satiâ—fâ—ction to the Law and Justice of Goâ— for us Rom. 3. 25. This was the great Work of the Transcendent Love of Jesus Chrisâ— when he was upon Earth when he travelled in Soul drank of the Brook in the way Psal 110. 7. that black Torrent of Wrath and Curses that lay in the way betwixt our Souls and Heaven which stopp'd up our Passage thitherward and made it utterly impassable for us But Jesus made a Passage by his Blood that his Redeemed might pass thorow So great were his Sufferings in this World for us that they made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me offering up strong Cries with Tears Mat. 27. 46. Heb. 5. 7. Now then let us act our Faith on the Sufferings of Christ here on Earth and believe that he suffered all those hard and heavy those bitter and grievous things for us and in our Names that he bore our Sins to satisfy God's Justice for them to purchase and procure our Pardon O that we could but believe in this Jesus that he sweated great drops of Blood for us and that he shed his very Heart-blood upon the Cross for us and by Faith apply and appropiate all this to our own Souls believing that he was wounded for our Transgressions smitten for â— Sins that the chastisement of our Peâ— was upon him Isa 53. that by â— Blood of his Cross he hath made oâ— Peace and hath purchased for us Etâ—â—nal Life Believe this and then â— what little cause you have to have yâ— Hearts troubled for any Loss or Crâ— whatsoever The consideration iâ— way of believing of what Christ hâ— done for us and of what he hath sâ—fered for us should make us patienâ— do or suffer any thing for him and frâ— him Believe also in me Secondly Our Faith must be 〈◊〉 upon the Work of Christ which he â— now doing for us in Heaven He is â—â— idle there although he be set down â— the Right Hand of the Majesty on Higâ— but he is at work for his People therâ— there he he maketh continual intercesâ—â— for us Rom. 8. 34. He is there â— our Advocate to plead our Cause aâ— manage all our Businesses there pâ—â—senting his Blood in the Vertue of to his Father for our Pardon presenâ—ing our Persons and Services perfumeâ— with the Incense of his own Righteouâ—ness and by his Spirit applying thâ— â—â—â—tue of all to our Souls He is able â— save to the uttermost all that come unto â—od by him seeing he ever liveth to make â—tercession for us Heb. 7. 25. Of this â— have spoken before Now if we â—an act our Faith upon the Intercession â—f Christ who knows all our Wants â—urdens Cares and Fears and whose â—ffice it is to plead and intercede for â—s in Heaven tho we may scarce have â—ny to plead or speak a word for us on â—arth yet we should have no cause â—o have our Hearts troubled We â—ave a faithful Friend to whom we â—ay commit our Cause Thirdly Christ is doing a Work â—n us on Earth while he himself is in Heaven He is humbling us purging â—s teaching us mortifying our Corâ—uptions crucifying our inordinate Affections sanctifying us and so preparing us for Heaven He is making â—s meet for the Kingdom He is fitâ—ing us for his Father's House by all â—is Ordinances and by all his Proviâ—ences by every Loss and Cross by â—ll our Afflictions as 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our â—ight Afflictions which are but for a moâ—ent work for us that is by way of preparation a far more exceeding anâ— eternal weight of Glory Jesus Chriâ—â— is in the Word and in the Rod he â— All in All He is still forming squâ—ring fashioning and working by hâ— Spirit Word and Rod upon his Peâ—ple to make them more and moâ— conformable to himself to square theâ— as Stones for his Building to maâ—â— them Habitations for himself Templâ— for the holy God to dwell in and thâ— he himself may delight to dwell iâ— them here and to make them fit â—â— dwell with him for ever in Glory Now let us labour to act our Faitâ— on those blessed Works of Christ in uâ— and believe that he is thus working iâ— us even in and by all our Afflictioâ— and labour to feel and find these grâ—cious Works carrying on in us and â—â— shall have no cause to be troubled Moreover our Faith should be actâ— upon the Work that Christ is now â—â—ing for us in Heaven besides his â—â—tercession for us there he is preparing Place for us in Heaven as he told â—â— Disciples to comfort them In â—â— Father's House are many Mansions I â— to prepare a Place for you A Place â— Heaven is infinitely better and more to be desired than the best Place on Earth A Place in the Father's House â—n the highest Heavens in that glorious Paradise above that 's the Place of all Places there the great and glorious God dwells there blessed Jesus dwells O that New Jerusalem the City of the â—iving God that 's the Place indeed that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. Some think that Jesus went locally into Hell but we are sure he went locally into Heaven and we know for what he went there for he hath told us it was to prepare a Place for us there Here below all Places are full of Darkness Snares Temptations Fears Dangers Persecutions but that is a Place of perfect Peace perfect Rest of Light Comfort Joy and Consolation Here we are Pilgrims and Strangers there is our Home our Father's House Here we have no continuing City 1 Cor. 4. 11. no abiding Place Christ's People here in this World many times have no certain dwelling-place but are driven from House and Home forced to fly from one City to another from Town to Country from one Kingdom to another constrained to wander froâ— Place to Place while others abide iâ— their Habitations they must seek theiâ— Quarters where they can find them â— while under one Friend's Roof a whilâ— under another's which is no small Affliction to them that feel it tho others lay it not to heart Now what shoulâ— comfort us in this our Pilgrimage anâ— Wilderness-condition what should support us in this our wandring and desolate State but that it was eveâ— thus with our blessed Lord himself upon Earth who had not an House to put his Head in And so it was with his Disciples and with many choice Saints as Heb. 11. 37 38. What should bear up our Spirits but this comfortable Consideration that our Lord went to Heaven on purpose to prepare a Place for us there If the Earth cast us out Heaven will receive us If Men say to us Remove be gone hence depart away here is no Place no abiding for you our dear
Lord will call to us out of Heaven and say Come up hither Rev. 11. 12. Come up to me I have prepared a Place for you here There is room enough in our Father's House there are many Mansions and from thence there shall be no remove for ever no more any changing Houses for ever when once we are lodg'd in our Father's House There is our Forerunner for us entred Heb. 6. 20. The hope we have through Grace of getting into that blessed Place by that new and living Way to rest there after all our weary wandrings here and never to remove more is that which comforts us in these our troublesome removes here O that Place and that blessed State in that Place to see God and to be ever with the Lord to see our lovely Lord Jesus as he is and to be made like unto him Could we fix our Hearts and Eyes more stedfastly upon those invisible and eternal things we should more quietly and comfortably bear our present Troubles yea and rejoice in them And when we can act our Faith upon that Place and State above and conclude our Title to it by our Interest in Christ then our Hearts will not be troubled Also this Consideration should preserve us from Heart-trouble and Sorrow for the loss of our dear Relations which died in Jesus for that they are gone home to their Father's House they are arrived at their Harbor they are safely hous'd they are where theâ— would be they are gone to the Place that their beloved Lord went to prepare for them to that City of God â—â— the general Assembly of the First-borâ— whose Names are written in Heaven c Heb. 12. 23. They would not exchangâ— their Place now for the most stately and most magnificent Place in all thâ— World O could we but realize by Faith that most happy State and Placâ— where our deceased pious Friends are gone our Hearts would not be trouâ—led for them And this may comfort us also under all our present Sufferings and Sadnesses that e're long we also shall go tâ— that Place to that City above whicâ— God hath prepared for us Our Lorâ— assures us that he will come again and take us to himself that where he is â—â— may be also O could we believe this we should say Come Lord Jesus coâ— quickly Fourthly Our Faith must be acted upon the Work that Christ will do for us and in us and upon us in Heaven at the last It is above all our Understandings to conceive what glorious Works Christ will do for us and in us at the last day It doth not yet appear what we shall be 1 John 3. 2. There shall be a day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God The poor despised Saints all black and cloudy here covered with Shame and Reproach now shall then be manifested to be the Lord's Jewels That will be a Day of their full Redemption both of Soul and Body their Wedding and their solemn Coronation-day Then their blessed Redeemer shall publickly own them and bid them welcome to his Father's House saying Come ye Blessed of my Father c. Mat. 25. 34. Then will Jesus put the Crown of Glory of Righteousness and of Life upon their Heads Then will Jesus present them to his Father without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5. 27. Then will he make their now vile Bodies subject now to vile Corruptions to vile Diseases to vile Abuses and to a vile dissolution at Death like unto his own gloriouâ— Body and their Souls shall be like to his to their full satisfaction Theâ— the poor Disciples of Christ shall havâ— a full End put to all their Heart-Troâ—bles Sorrows Fears and Cares Then their Hearts shall rejoice and theâ— Joy no Man nor Devil shall take froâ— them Sorrow and sighing shall flee away and they shall enter in into Everlasting Rest and into that unspeakable blessed State which was purchased by the precious Blood of Jesus and by him prepared and possessed in ouâ— Names and Steads All our dear Relations that died in Jesus are already entred Christ their dearest Lord hath wrought this glorious Work on their Souls already they are triumphing singing Hallelujahs in the highest Heavens While we are fighting sighing and sobbing here below they are with blessed Jesus above according to his Prayer for them seeing his Glory and participating of it Thus much for the Work of Christ upon whicâ— our Faith must act that our Heartâ— may not be troubled Sixthly Our Faith must act upon the Will of Christ in order to the preventing and curing our Heart-Troubles Fears and Sorrows What is the Will of Christ It is his Will that his Peoples Hearts should not be troubled nor afraid as in the Text It is his Will that in the World they should have Tribulation but yet that they should be of good chear It is his Will that in their Patience they should possess their Souls and not faint nor be discouraged It is his Will they should be sanctified and that all their Afflictions should promote their Sanctification It is his Will that although he love them yet to rebuke and chasten them And when he doth so that they should be zealous and repent It is his Will that they should deny themselves and take up their Cross daily and follow him That they should fear none of those things that they should suffer That they should walk in his steps hold fast to the End be faithful unto Death That they should overcome It is his Will that they should not love Father or Mother Son or Daughter more than himself no nor their Lives but be willing to part with all for his sake Yea it is his Will his last Will thaâ— all his poor Disciples after they havâ— suffered a while may be with him whoâ— he is to behold his Glory Thus if wâ— act Faith upon the Will of Christ anâ— labour to yield to it and acquiesce iâ— it we shall procure much freedom froâ— Heart-trouble Lastly Our Faith must be acteâ— upon the Ends and Designs of Chriâ— in all his afflictive Providences towards us and these his Ends are all very good and gracious With thiâ— Argument he himself used to cure the Heart-Troubles of his Disciples for his departure from them viz. thaâ— he had good Ends in his going away from them his End was to prepare a Place for them a better Place than any to be found here a Place iâ— Heaven in the Father's House And his End was to send the Spirit the Comforter unto them which woulâ— not come if he did not go away John 16. 6 7. He had told them of his going away from them upoâ— which Sorrow had filled their Hearts and it is even so with â—s when ouâ— earthly Comforts leave us Sorrow fills our Hearts but to cure this our Lord answers them that it was expedient for them good and necessary for them that he should go away shewing them his End in going
away to wit that he might send them the Comforter he would remove from them a great Mercy the greatest earthly Mercy that ever they enjoyed which was his personal Presence they must part with so dear and near so sweet so loving so faithful a Friend as himself was to them And could there be a greater loss for this Sorrow had filled their Hearts But he tells them it was to make way for a greater Mercy which was to send them the Comforter in all the saving and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost by which they should be able to do greater Works than he himself did John 14. 12. which was a greater Mercy than his bodily Presence with them and with this he calms and quiets their Minds Now if we can act Faith upon the Blessed Ends of Christ in removing our earthly Comforts from us which are to bestow upon us better Mercies to give us more of his Spirit and of the Grace and Comforts of it our Hearts would not be troubled could we believe that Christ's End in all his Chastisements is to prepare us for that Place in his Father's House it would comfort and support us His Ends are very good and that should quiet us So long as the People of Christ enjoy most of the Comforts of this World I speak it by sad experience commonly they enjoy least of God and of his Spirit and usually when Christ takes away their earthly Comforts then he manifests most of Himself and of his tender Love to them He brings them into the Wilderness and then speaks comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. then he speaks to their Hearts and not to their Ears only as in time of Prosperity then he gives out most of the Graces and Comforts of his Spirit Christ never takes away these outward Mercies from his People but with design to bestow better if our Discontent and Unbelief do not hinder When the Lord took away from his Servant David the young Child begotten in Adultery it was to give him a Solomon Thus I have endeavoured to shew what it is also to believe in Christ that thereby we may prevent and cure our Heart-trouble The last thing I have to do is to shew how Faith acted thus on God and Christ or on God in Christ is the best Preventive of and Remedy to cure all our Heart-troubles which hath indeed been shewn partly in the two former Particulars and will serve for the confirmation of the Point also Two ways principally Faith acted on God and Christ doth effect this great Cure of Heart-trouble and procure Hearts-Ease First By way of Application and Appropriation Secondly By way of Holy Confidence and Reliance First By Applying and Apropriating God and Christ to the Soul and All that God is and All that Christ is and all that God hath and all that Christ hath and All that God and Christ hath promised Faith applieth and appropriates All this to the Soul Faith gives the Soul Right Title Claim Propriety and Interest to and in God and Christ Faith makes All the Believer's own Believe and All is thine This is the Language of Faith My God my Lord my Christ my Saviour my Redeemer and this quiets and satisfies the Soul fully or nothing in Heaven or Earth can do it wheâ— it can thus act its Faith on God and Christ So was David cured of his great Troubles 1 Sam. 30. 6. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God â—â— God his God in Christ so in that pregnant Text 2 Sam. 23. 5. His Interest in God's Everlasting Covenant whereby God was become his God it Christ he acted his Faith upon and that satisfied him So Mich. 7. 7. Psâ— 73. 25 26. Either God is ours or he is not either Christ is ours or he is not liâ—â— God and Christ be not ours we have cause enough of Heart-trouble cause enough to mind our Danger and to be troubled at our very Hearts that we are in such a woful case and should now above all things labour after an Interest in God and in Christ whatever our Losses in the World be this dangerous State of our Souls should be most minded and speedily look'd after above all things But if God be ours and if Christ be ours if we have chosen God for our Portion in Christ and if we have rightly and truly received Jesus Christ the Lord for our only Lord and Saviour and have unfainedly given up our whole selves to him then may we act our Faith upon God as our God and upon Jesus Christ as ours and may claim our Right in God and in Christ and in All that God and Christ is and hath as our own and then what cause of any Heart-trouble If God be ours if Christ be ours All is ours Life ours Death ours What if we want Relations and Friends Honour Wealth and Health is not the All-sufficient God enough Is not Jesus in whom dwells all Fulness enough to supply the want of all This God proposed to Abraham I am thy God and to Israel Isa 41. 10. Jesus Christ is All and in All and if Christ be yours alâ— is yours God is yours and all the Good of both Worlds are yours and what can you desire more Secondly Faith exercised in Holy Confidence in and Reliance upon God and Christ and the Promises will prevent or cure all our Heart-trouble David was cured both these ways Psal 31. 11 12 13 14 15. viz. by appropriating God to himself and by trusting in him I trusted in thee O Lord I said thou art my God Psal 43. 5. for God is pleased to ingage himself to discharge those Souls from Heart-trouble and sinful Fear who trust in him Psal 37. 40. Trouble doth disorder the Heart and discompose the Mind but Faith in this exercise of it trusting in the Lord doth fix and settle the Heart so that then no evil Tidings shall make such a Person afraid for his Heart is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 1 12. 7. God hath promised to keep them in perfect peace whose Minds are staied on him because they trust in him Isa 26. 3. Diffidence is the cause of all Disquiet no true Rest can be had nor Quiet to our Minds but by Confidence in God Psal 2. last O the blessedness of those that trust in Christ God in Christ is the only fit Object of our Confidence in all our Extremities A Believer hath a God to go to in all his Troubles an All-mighty and loving Father in Christ and this should be our Comfort that we are in Covenant with him that rules the World and hath committed the Government of all things to his Son our dear Redeemer who hath bought us with his Blood and we may be sure that no hurt shall befal us that he can hinder and what cannot he hinder who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth and that hath the Keys of Hell and Death unto whom we are so near that he carries our Names on
the Reason why so many faint in the Day of Adversity and sink under Trouble and others use unlawful means to prevent Trouble or to get out of it It is because they want this Faith in God and Christ and for want of it too many miscarry under Affliction The Second Use is by way of Exhortation to all the Disciples of Christ in the Words of the Text Let not your Hearts be troubled but Believe in God and Believe in Christ You must get and act Faith in God and Christ this is the only Preventive the only Remedy against Heart-Trouble Our Lord in this Text commands it and commends it we must needs get Faith above all gettings next to Christ we must get Faith for we cannot have Christ without Faith Go to God for it it is his Work his Gift yea it is his Operation yea the same Power that raised up Jesus from the Dead must be put forth upon a Soul to work Faith Eph. 1. 19 20. The exceeding great and mighty working of the Power of God to raise up the Soul to God and Christ and to enable it to lay hold on God and Christ for such is our natural proneness to live by Sense and Carnal Reason and such is the most transcendent Excellency of God and Christ and of Divine Things which Faith looks unto and so great an Inclination we have to Self-sufficiency and so much rooted in Self-Love and inordinate Love of the Creature and so hard to take off the Soul from false bottoms and because we are such Strangers to God naturally and because there is so much Guilt of Sin still remaining on us by our renewed Provocations that we are afraid to entertain serious Thoughts of God and because of that infinite Distance between God and us we can never come to believe in him and rely upon him until our Hearts be renewed by the Power of Grace and this Divine Grace of Faith infused into them Therefore must we go to God and Christ and put up strong Cries and Prayers to God to work Faith in us and never give over until it be wrought in us And having got Faith we must act and exercise it upon God in Christ upon God I say He only is the Object of Faith and is worthy of it for a Man can be in no condition in which God is at a loss and cannot help him If Comforts and means of Deliverance be wanting God can create Comforts and command Deliverance Isa 57. 19. He can bring Light out of Darkness to him all things are possible 1. Then Faith assents to and is perswaded that there is a God the Infinite First and Best Being of all things and who giveth Being to all Things Hebr. 11. 6. 2. That in this Blessed Being are Three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost and all the Object of our Faith 3. Faith must always act on God in Christ and not otherwise for in Christ God reconciles the World In Christ God becomes our Friend is at peace with us by Christ the Enmity between God and us is taken away in Christ God becomes our Father John 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26. 4. Faith is acted by Meditating on Considering of and Applying and Appropriating of God in Christ to the Soul laying claim to all that God is and to all that God hath as its own 5. It must also act upon the Promises of God in his Word and upon God and Christ in them God hath opened all his Heart to us in his Word making many sweet Promises exceeding great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. and also He hath made a Covenant of Grace with us to bestow himself and all good things upon us upon which we must live until Promises eâ—â— in Performances These Promises aâ—â— our Spiritual Treasury Promises 〈◊〉 Pardon of Sin upon Repentance and Faith Promises of renewing sanctifying Grace Promises of the Spirit of Heaven of Eternal Life and Glory of Mansions in the Father's House and of all things needful it the way to the Kingdom that we shall want no good thing and that all things shall work together for our good c. Lastly That our Hearts may not be troubled but fully satisfied and comforted we must by Faith lay hold on God take hold of God's Strength which is his Mercy in Christ and most solemnly most considerately and most sincerely take God for our God in Christ and actually enter into Covenant with him This Covenant is founded upon Jesus Christ his Satisfaction and Righteousness and therefore we must also believe in Christ taking him for our only Lord and Saviour receiving him by Faith as he is offered to us in the Gospel to be All in All to us As God offers so Faith receives God offers himself in Christ and so Faith receives him God doth as it were say in the Gospel O poor lost Sinner come to my Son Jesus take him for thy only Lord and Saviour and by him come to me and take me for thy God and Father and by Faith the poor Believer ecchoeth back My Lord and my God I humbly and heartily come to thee accept of thee close with thee and so by Faith the believing Soul becomes one with God and Christ and hereupon the Soul by Faith cleaves to God and Christ and unfeignedly and unreservedly resigns and gives up its whole self to God in Christ taking God in Christ for his and intirely surrenders up it self to be the Lord's My Beloved is mine and I am his Now Faith thus acted will certainly cure all our Heart-Troubles In order then to obtain solid Comfort in all our Distresses let us carefully look whether these Acts of Faith have really passed upon our Souls Have we thus actually understandingly and sincerely believed in God aâ—â— in Christ Have we unfeignedly eâ—tred into Covenant with God â—â— Christ Can we conclude that Gâ—â— is our God in Christ by our beiâ—â— his If we be intirely his he is 〈◊〉 for certein 1 John 4. 19. Cant. 2. 1â— If we place all our Happiness in hiâ— Psal 73. 25. If we give him tâ—â— Throne in our Hearts subjecting oâ— whole selves to his Government making God in Christ all our Love â—â— Trust Joy Desire Delight Feaâ— our All cleaving to him alone and above all depending upon him as oâ—â— chief Good contenting our selâ—â— with him as All-sufficient for us â—signing up our selves to his goâ—â— Will to be to do and suffer whâ—â— he will If we can and do engagâ— our selves to sincere Obedience thâ—â— none of his Commandments be griâ—vous to us If in all things we giâ—â— Christ the preheminence if we haâ—â— received the Spirit of Christ as Râ—â— 8. 9. Gal. 4. 6. which joins us him and makes us one Spirit with hiâ— and which is a Spirit of Adoption whereby the Soul seeing his Interest in God as his Father can freely go to God in all its straits If we have the Graces of the Spirit as Love Meekness Patience Humility
Afflictions he is afflicted Isa 63. 9. He knows all our Troubles Trials Temptations Sicknesses Losses and Miseries Jesus himself knew when he was on Earth what it was to lose a Friend He wept when his Friend Lazarus was dead He is a most tender-hearted Saviour a most merciful High Priest He sees and feels now in Heaven all the Miseries of his People upon Earth and pleads for them there believe this and let not your Hearts be troubled And as to his Spiritual and Providential Presence he is always with his People on Earth He is in his People Christ in you the Hope of Glory Col. 1. 27. He is in his Word and Ordinances by his Spirit to bless them to his People Christ is All Col. 3. 11. and in All. He is All that is instead of All of Father Mother Husband Wife of Son and Daughter instead of Health Wealth Liberty and All to his People In him dwelleth all Fulness Eph. 1. 23. and 3. 17. And he is also in All he filleth all in all In all his People he dwells in their Hearts by Faith All our fresh Springs are in him All the Strength Support and Comfort we have comes from him He is in all Providences be they never so bitter so afflictive never so smarting so destructive to our Earthly Comforts Christ is in them all his Love his Wisdom his Mercy his Pity and Compassion is in them all every Cup is of his preparing it is Jesus your best Friend O ye poor Believers who most dearly loves you It is he that died for you that appoints all those Providences orders them all over-rules moderates and sanctifies them all and will sweeten them all and in his due time will make them All profitable unto you that you shall have cause one day to praise and bless his Name for them all O that we could but believe all this and could by Faith look unto our Jesus in all dark Providences and by Faith behold this Jesus managing of them and believe his Love Wisdom Tenderness and Faithfulness in all in our Sicknesses Losses Prisons Restraints c. then surely our Hearts should not be troubled Thirdly Believe in Christ Believe what he hath told us In my Father's House are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you John 14. 3. Let us act Faith upon these true sweet sayings of our dear Lord who is Truth it self In my Father's House are many Mansions In my Father's House my Father's and your Father's House one House must hold us all John 20. 17. I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God and it is in that House which is far above all Heavens all visible Elementary Heavens the third Heaven that is the Father's House That House not made with hands whose builder and maker is God and is Eternal 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. This City of the living God this New Jerusalem there saith Christ are many Mansions many Dwellings many fixed abiding lasting everlasting Habitations Not Tents and Tabernacles such as we live in here on Earth but Mansions abiding-places Is not this a most comfortable Consideration to such poor Saints as have here on Earth no certain dwelling-places not an House of their own wherein to lay their Heads but are forc'd to remove from place to place still seeking an Habitation banished from Family and Friends from Relations and Acquaintance some cast into Prisons while others dwell safely in their own Houses and none to make them afraid and others exposed to much hardship and danger I say this is good news to them That in their Father's House are many Mansions there are everlasting Habitations ready to receive them made ready for them from which when once they are entred they shall never be cast out more from whence there shall be no more any remove for ever When once their earthly House of this Tabernacle is broken down they shall possess that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Let us then by Faith often look into the Father's House and view and review those many Mansions that are there and let us act Hope also that shortly we shall possess that Place and enjoy that blessed State The believing frequent Prospects of that place will prevent our Heart-trouble or cure it If it were not so I would have told you saith our Lord If there were not such a blessed State and glorious Place for you my Disciples in the other World after all your Sufferings in this I would have told you so For I have told of the many Troubles you must endure in this World and for your support and comfort I am now telling you what good things you shall shortly enjoy above in my Father's House where is all Joy Peace Reâ— and Consolation There are many Mansions no Prisons Chains nor Fetters but glorious Dwellings enough to hold all the Saints that ever were and that ever shall be in the World where they shall enjoy full and free Communion with the Blessed Trinity and with one another perfect Liberty without any Restraint or remove for ever Believe this and let not your Hearts be troubled I go to prepare a Place for you I have purchased this most glorious Place for you by my Blood I have promised it to you now I go away to take Possession of it for you in your Name and Stead O what an Heart-comforting and Heart-easing Consideration should this be to us poor Believers That our Lord went from Earth to Heaven oâ— purpose to prepare a Place in Heaven for us to possess it in our Name and stead and in the mean time he is preparing us by his Word and Spirit by Afflictions and Deliverances for that glorious Place Hence he is called ouâ— Forerunner who is for us entred into that within the Vail Heb. 6. 20. So that as sure as Christ himself ascended and went into the Highest Heavens so sure shall all his Disciples all true Believers ascend and enter into Heaven also because he went thither himself to prepare Heaven for them by taking Possession of it in his Humane Nature for us as our Head and Saviour God hath prepared for them a City Heb. 11. Heaven and heavenly Glory is said to be prepared A Kingdom prepared from the Foundation of the World Matth. 25. 34. If we could believe that Christ hath prepared a Place in Heaven for us and that Heaven will make amends for all our Sufferings in the way thither and if we could keep the Eye of our Faith upon that Recompence of Reward that far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. we should bear up bravely under all our Sufferings and not have our Hearts troubled Let us then look more Heaven-ward more to our Father's House Let us have our Conversations more in Heaven and set our Affections more upon things above upon that blessed State and Place above and
22 usually our Success is according to ouâ— preparation as in Prayer Psal 10 17. compare 2 Chron. 12. 14. with 2 Chron. 19. 3. make Conscience theâ— of preparation 2. Prayer Pour out your Hearâ— to God in Prayer for a Blessing oâ— the Word that you read or heaâ— O lift up a Cry to God and say Lord make this Word effectual to worâ— Faith in my Soul c. 3. Earnest Desire and Expectatis of meeting God in the Word and oâ— his blessing on it if we expect nothing from it no wonder if we receive nothing there is a fulness of Blessing in the Gospel Rom. 15. 29. We should bring hungry and thirsty Souls after God the Living God as Psal 63. 1 2 3. and 84. 1 2. God filleth the Hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. Secondly Some things are Concomitant As 1. We must read and hear it as the Word of God and not as the Word of Man 1 Thess 2. 13. Acts 10. 33. and we must acknowledg God's Authority in it 2. Receive it with Meekness opening our Hearts to it and give it the most tender entertainment Jam. 1. 21. 3. With Love readiness of Mind and gladness of Heart 2 Thess 2. 10. Acts 2. 41. 4. With Faith giving credit to it believing it to be the Word of God Heb. 4. 2. 5. We must be careful to remember it See what great stress is laid upon our remembring 1 Cor. 15. 2. Our Salvation lies upon it Psal 119. 11. Love the Word for Love is the Act of Memory 6. Prayer must be added again for a Blessing Thirdly Some things must be done afterward also As 1. Meditation upon what you have heard and read for want of this usually all is lost I am perswaded this is one great Reason why most profit so little by the Word because they make no Conscience of Meditation they hear and read but never think more on it afterwards So Preaching Hearing Reading and all lost and Souls and Heaven and all lost For God's sake then whose Word you read and hear and for your own Souls sake if you are not willing they should perish for want of Faith make Conscience of Meditation on the Word Psal 1. 2. and 119. 97. if ever you get good by the Word meditate upon it 2. Application of it take it home to your selves Job 5. 27. Let it sink down into your Hearts saith Christ it must be an ingrafted Word you must receive it into your Hearts and not into your Heads only 2. Cor. 4. 6. your Hearts must be joined to it and mix'd with it 3. Practice Yielding up our selves to the Government of it making it the Standard and Rule of your whole Conversation We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only lest we deceive our own Souls Jam. 1. 22. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Mat. 7. 22 24. And in observing these Scripture-Rules here laid down in the careful and conscientious use of God's Word after this manner you may not doubt but the Holy Spirit of God will work with the Word of God to make it effectual to work this most precious Grace of Faith in us whereby to believe in God and in Christ to the Consolation and eternal Salvation of our Souls But if we neglect the Means God hath ordained to get Faith and for want of it die in our Sins and perish eternally our Destruction will be of our selves Direct III. Thirdly Would we have Faith Let us engage our whole Souls in the deep and serious consideration of the infinite unspeakable unconceivable Love of God the Father in this the highest and fullest demonstration of it in giving his Son his only begotten Son to be a Sin-Offering a Sacrifice a Ransom for poor Sinners and that for this very end and purpose that we poor Sinners might believe in him and by believing might not perish but might have Eternal Life I pray read and ponder upon the following Texts and let your most serious Thoughts fix on them and meditate on them Isa 53. throughout John 3. 16 17. Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 8. 10. Prov. 8. 30. Col. 1. 12 13. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. Rom. 8. 3. 8. 32. with many other which for brevity sake I cannot transcribe If we can but believe this wonderful Love of God the Father in giving his dear Son to be a Surety a Sin-Offering to lay all our Iniquities on him that he was pleased to bruise him and put him to Grief for us and consider and meditate upon the Heighth and Depth the Breadth and Length of this immense imcomprehensible Love of God in giving his Son and that on purpose that we might believe in him and by beleiving might have Eternal Life I say it will greatly help us to believe in his Son to accept of this his unspeakable Gift and to receive him as he is offered to us in the Gospel Moreover let us also consider of and deeply meditate upon the transcendent Love of the Son of God himself who though he were the Delight of his Father and lay in the Bosom of his Father even then his Delights were with the Sons of Men then was his Heart full of Love to poor Sinners and his Love brought him down from Heaven to Earth to assume Humane Nature to take upon him all the Sins of his People to bear them on his Soul and Body in the Garden there sweating great drops of Blood and on the Cross there pouring out his Heart-Blood made a Curse endured the full measure of the Wrath of God due for Sin and became the Ransom of Souls Philip. 2. 6 7 8. Luke 22. 44. Gal. 2. 20. He loved us and gave himself for us Loved us and washed us from our Sins in his Blood Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Gal. 3. 13. Tit. 2. 14. But while I am writing these things I cannot but conceive an Indignation against my self and heartily wish I were filled with Shame Sorrow and Grief of Spirit that having read and heard so often of the surpassing Love of God the Father in giving his Son and so often of the unspeakable Love of Jesus and to be no more affected with it no more sensible of it to have my Affections no more stirred and moved no more quickned and warmed Alas my dead Heart my Adamantine Heart Lord sprinkle it with that Blood Lord shed abroad that Love of thine upon my Heart abundantly by the holy Ghost Lord Jesus manifest thy Love to me that I may love thee I am ashamed and pained for want of Love to God to Jesus O that I could believe thy Love to my Soul then I should not chuse but love thee Lord I believe help my Unbelief The consideration of this Love of God and of Christ is a means to work Faith try it I pray you and you will find it so Direct IV. Fourthly Improve and act the Historical Faith you have on the Doctrines Promises and Threatnings in the
Comfort and draw from this Spring by Prayer Faith and Meditation all supplies of Comfort and let not your Hearts be troubled Sixthly Jesus Christ is called a Counsellor Isa 9. 6. He is most wise he is the Wisdom of the Father In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Col. 2. 3. Yea he is made of God our Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Sâ— that when we are in Doubts and Darkness perplexed with Temptations anâ— know not what to do when we aâ— under sad and dark Providences aâ— know not how to interpret them wheâ— we are under various Exercises anâ— know not how to answer God's Enâ— in them nor how to improve them when we are in the Dark and knoâ— not the meaning of God's Dispensatons nor the Design of God in them Now are our Hearts troubled in aâ— such Cases but here is our Remedâ— this is the Course we must take Aâ— Faith now upon Jesus he is Wisdom he is a most wise and faithful Counsellor we may freely open all our Cases and Conditions to him he will nâ—â— betray us nor bewray us we may safely trust him with all the Secrets of oâ— Hearts and let us labour by Faith tâ— trust him for Counsel in all Cases lâ—â— us wait for his Counsel trust to it aâ— let not our Hearts be troubled Seventhly Jesus is a Redeemer thâ— is his Name he came into the Worâ— on this very Business to redeem his People to redeem them from all Iniquitâ— Tit. 2. 14. from this present evil World from our vain Conversations He hath shed his precious Blood to purchase us we are bought with a Price 1 Cor. 6. 20. We are none of our own we are his the purchase of his Blood and we may be confident that he dearly loves us for he dearly bought us and if he had not dearly loved us he would never have given himself for us Gal. 2. 20. That was the highest Testimony of his Love He loved us and washed us from our Sins in his Blood Rev. 1. 6. He will redeem us from the Wrath to come O then let us act Faith on our sweet Redeemer as Job did in the midst of all his Troubles I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth c. So may every Believer say Although my Friends and dearest Relations die my Credit and Estate dies though my outward Comforts all die this supports me that my Redeemer liveth and this our Redeemer is mighty mighty to save able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Therefore let us act Faith on our dear Redeemer and upon his Redemption and let us believe that shortly the day of our full Redemption will come when we shall be delivered fully and for ever from Sin Satan the World from all our Burdens Fears and Sorrows Temptations and Tribulations I might mention many other sweeâ— Names and Titles of Jesus Christ which would be Food for Faith tâ— feed upon as that He is the Everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. he hath pitâ— and compassion for all his poor Children and Power to help them being the Father Almighty and hath a Portion for them too He is their Portion and hath provided for them an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 4 He is the Prince of Peace he giveth his Peace to his People even thaâ— Peace that the World can neitheâ— give to them nor take from them When he speaks Peace none caâ— cause Trouble He is our Peace anâ— hath made our Peace with God anâ— it is he alone that speaketh Peace and creates the Fruit of the Lips Peace Isa 57. 19. He is also our Shepherâ— therefore said David I shall want nothing Psal 23. 1. He is a Fountain opened a Fountain of Light Life Love Grace and Truth He is the Head of his Body the Church The Husband the Bridegroom his People are his Members his Spouse He is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. In him dwelleth all Fulness He is the King of Saints the Rock of Ages Yea He is All and in All. O Beloved had we but Faith to act on this Blessed Jesus and on these his most sweet Names and gracious Attributes our Hearts would not be troubled into what Condition soever we were brought Could we act Faith on Jesus as our Head Husband and Father who is All Fulness All in All could we doubt of having all seasonable Supplies from him Let our Faith but apprehend apply and appropriate Jesus as our blessed Head our most dear Husband and then consider in earnest who he is and what he is how mighty how full how loving pittiful compassionate tender-hearted and kind how ready to help how engaged to us by many Promises and can we then take up such unworthy thoughts of him as to think he hath forgotten us Will he not timely support and supply us Hath he shed his Blood for us and will he forget us caâ— he forget us Are not all his People as dear to him as the Apple of his Eyâ—â— Zech. 2. 8. Surely it is our want oâ— the weakness of our Faith that causeth all our Heart-Trouble O my poor Soul how comfortably mightest thou live if thou couldest live by Faith Lord believe help strengthen my Faith Coulâ— we but apply and appropriate Chrisâ— to our Souls and act Faith upon those precious Names of Christ which aâ— not as so many empty Titles whicâ— are sometimes given to Men but theâ— are real Representations of that mosâ— dear Love and tender Affection of thaâ— special Care Mercy and Loving-kindness that is in Jesus towards aâ— his poor Children that they mighâ— draw out the same for their stronâ— Consolation and that they might truâ— in him and not despond nor be dejected Thus if we can believe in Jesus our Hearts shall not be troubled Thirdly Faith acted on the Covenant of Grace whereof Christ is the Mediator and upon all his exceeding great and precious Promises will prevent and cure all Heart-Trouble Believe in the blessed Mediator of the New Covenant who hath undertaken not only on God's part to see that his Part be performed to us but also is become our Surety undertaking for us and by himself to fulfil the whole Law of God both actively and passively to fulfil all Righteousness for us and by his Spirit to enable us to fulfil the Conditions of the Covenant working in us Faith Love Obedience and all Grace In this Sense God hath given Christ to be a Covenant to us Isa 42. 6. and his Blood is the Blood of the Covenant by which he rescueth poor Souls that were Prisoners to Sin and Satan out of the Pit of Destruction Zech. 9. 11. By this Covenant upon Christ's shedding of his Blood as a Sacrifice for Sin and his performing all the work of Mediation and upon our receiving of him and believing in him as he is offered to us in the Gospel God is pleased to promise to become our God our Reconciled Father to