receive Gods testimony and act faith thereupon until he knows God Paul says I know him whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 and every man must know God before he will believe him many men â—o entertain some of the things that God says so the Devils believe and tremble but those perswasions rise from the convictions and not from faith in Gods Word No man will receive any thing meerly on Gods testimony until he know him and therefore will not be assured of that which he can know no other way but by faith and which carnal reason has many objections against 3. The conviction of this Truth is by the Spirit of God it is the work of Gods Spirit to satisfie the heart in this that it is safe appearing in the righteousness of Christ God does create light in the mind to discover this the outward call of the Gospel presents the object before men and the work of the Spirit is to give men eyes to see the truth of it mens natural reason makes them understand the sense of the Proposition and the Spirit of God puts a new light in them whereby they understand the truth of the Proposition their perswasion about this is the fruit of Divine Instruction This I shall shew from several Texts of Scripture John 16.7 8. The comforter will reprove the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment in this Text for the clearing of what is before us we shall take notice of three things 1. That the comforter here is the Spirit of God this is clear not only because he was a person sent to assist in and succeed the Ministry of the Apostles but also because he is called the Spirit of truth John 14.16 17. He shall give you another comforter even the Spirit of Truth 2. That the works of the Spirit here is conviction so 't is in the Margent the word signifies to convince by Argument and Reason and here is the Argument that the Spirit shall convince by ver 10. Because I go to my Father and ye see me no more so the word is used John 8.9 1 Cor. 14.24 3. That the thing that the Spirit does convince of is our safety in Christs Righteousness it is his righteousness that he speaks of for his going to the Father is the argument of it and it is the sufficiency of his righteousness to our salvation This is clear by two things First Because the Spirit is promised to confirm the Doctrine of the Apostles And then Secondly because the argument mentioned verse 10 does confirm this truth Christs Ascention to the right-hand of God shews that he has performed the work he came for and wrought righteousness John 6.45 Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth unto me the meaning of this is not that all that were godly among the Jews that had been taught of God should ackowledge Jesus of Nazareth and depend on him this is indeed a truth that upon the setting of convincting light before them they would do it so did Nathaniel Joh. 1.49 the Eunuch Act. 8.37 Cornelius and Lydia this is not the meaning for when he says every one that hath heard learned of the Father he means every one that has been taught by God the Doctrine of the New-Testament and he speaks of such teaching as did immediately draw men to Christ but the meaning is that they who have been taught the Gospel by God will believe on Christ so that this is clear from hence it is the work of God to encourage men to come to Christ and God encourages men by satisfying their hearts in the safety that is in the righteousness of Christ that perswasion that draws men to Christ is wrought by God. Rom. 8.30 And whom he called them he also justified by this Scripture it appears that it is Gods work to satisfie the heart in the safety of coming to Christ when he sayes that they are called of God he means they are inwardly called of God he intends not the outward call because he speaks of it as a proper effect of Predestination and certain fore-runner of Justification and this inward call is nothing else but the enlightning of the mind to see the truth and certainty of the outward call so that those Arguments which God sets before us in his Word to perswade us to come to Christ those he satisfies our hearts in by the inward work of his Spirit by his Spirit he sets home the precepts invitations and promises of the Gospel this inward Call is that which satisfies the heart so that it answers the call of God. Objection 1. It seems not to be work of the Spirit to convince men that they may safely appear in Christs Righteousness because after they have been convinced they doubt again and call it in question whether they may venture on the righteousness of Christ Answer We may well argue that if they have been convinced throughly by the spirit that they will never be utterly carried away with unbelief to reject this truth but we cannot conclude that they would never doubt men may call those things in question which they have learned by the spirit of God so the Prophet did 1 King. 13.17 18 19. yea men may question things that they have been taught by the saving work of the spirit God revealed it to the Disciples that Jesus was the Son of God Mat. 16.16 17. yet afterwards they questioned it Luk. 24.21 they say we verily thought it had been he that should have redeemed Israel the Psalmist no doubt had been convinced that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him and yet afterwards he had such workings of heart as these verily I have cleansed my heart in vain Psa 73.13 and it is no wonder for the blindness of the mind is but in part removed and sometimes they have not the exercise of that light which is in them the Devil is busie to throw scruples and objections into their hearts and they have several principles in themselves that lead them to doubt of those things that God has convinced them of they have a principle of unbelief carnal reason and enmity to the truth so that it is no wonder that they have doubts about it Objection 2. If men were convinced by the spirit they would have more understanding than many of them have of this way of salvation many of them understood very little of the confidency of this way of Salvation with the Law of God how the sufferings of one could answer for so many there are maeny Objections that they dont see through Answer Every one that is taught of the spirit has so much knowledg in this way of life as is a foundation for Faith he must have so much knowledg as that his Conscience may be satisfied in the truth of it t is also true that the teachings of the spirit do clarifie mens understandings they come hereby to have more clear conceptions of
on t when tumbling into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone what can comfort you in that condition men take great delight here in their worldly enjoyments and pleasures but what comfort will it be to have good things when they are tormented in this flame men comfort themselves here that they have laid a foundation of worldly greatness for their children but what comfort will it be to them to think that their children are eating and drinking and sporting when they are drinking the dregs of the wrath of God and whatever honour their Sons come to their flesh upon them shall have pain and their soul within them shall mourn you have much to do now to bear any little affliction and how do you think to go thorow these calamities where nothing will be moderate where all evils shall fall upon you and that in the extremity of them you will wring your hands and tear your hair and gnash your teeth and curse your day and fill hell with outcries and lamentations this will be your portion if you continue to reject Jesus Christ Luk. 12.46 He shall appoint him his portion with unbelievers it is not a matter of probability a thing only to be much suspected but beyond all question that you even you are a damned man if you do not entertain the calls of the Gospel you are spending away your time in delays but you had need resolve the case if you refuse Christ you chuse misery you chuse death you chuse eternal damnation stand out from Christ a little longer you are a gone man men hope God will not be so hard to them as to damn them especially considering the services they have done and the pains that they have taken in religion but there is one law for all men under the Gospel he that believeth not shall be damned Mat. 16.16 the unbeliever lies open to damnation on a double account upon the account of his other sins and upon the account of his unbelief Jeb 2.3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation let mens other qualifications be what they will yet if they believe not the wrath of God abideth upon them Joh. 3.36 God threatens them in his word with ruine and those threatnings are absolute such as bind him in faithfulness to damn every unbeliever there are many indefinite threatnings in the Scripture and many conditional but these are absolute ones against every one that continues in unbelief there is no possibility for them to escape This appears 1. Because it is contrary to the decree and appointment of God to save such as do not believe the decrees of God are inviolable it is a vain thing for any man to look for salvation contrary to Gods decree but it is against Gods decree to save unbelievers not that there is such a formal act in the decree that unbelievers shall be damned but this is a truth arising from the decree for God has determined to give faith unto all those that he has chosen unto salvation he has determined to lead them in a way of faith unto life 2 Thes 2.13 God has chosen you from the beginning unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth all that God has chosen unto life shall believe John 6.37 all that the Father has given me shall come unto me so that it is cross to the decree of God to save any man that has not faith the decree of God is a bar in the way of his salvation 2. Because faith is the condition of the covenant of grace there is one law for all men there is but one condition of this covenant John 5.24 he that heareth my words and believeth in him that sent me hath everlasting life c. we are directed to take this way for salvation there is no other way proposed in case of a failure in this so that the want of this must needs exclude men from the good of the covenant the want of this condition renders men uncapable of life 3. Because it must be so in Justice and Gods heart is as much upon the glorifying of his Justice as his grace one attribute is as due to him as another the glorifying of his Justice is not a by-business but a thing that his heart is deeply concerned in and Justice requires the ruine of unbelievers for they deserve it Rom. 6.23 the wages of sin is death and there is no way for Justice to be satisfied for their sins but by their ruine 4 Because it is foretold and prophesied of that Christ will destroy unbelievers when he comes to Judgment the Scripture gives us an account before hand of the transactions of the day of Judgment what will be the issue of things and befal these and those in that day and God tells us that unbelievers shall be ruined then he does not only threaten them with ruine but tells the Saints that such persons shall be ruined 2 Thess 1.7 8. he will take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ Rev. 21.8 the fearful and unbelieving shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone 5. Because the Sentence of God in the Gospel is that which men shall be judged by God declares in the Gospel that he that believeth not shall be damned and if unbelievers be tried by this rule they will certainly perish if God should try them by some other rule that they might fancy or imagine they might make a shift to escape but by this rule they are gone men and this is the rule they must be tried by God will have no respect in that day unto mens riches or learning or esteem among men or their civil or moral conversation but their case must be determined by the Gospel Rom. 2.16 God will judg the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel 6. Those that do not believe in Christ have not those other qualifications that do accompany salvation there be many other qualifications besides Faith that God has promised Salvation un to and some men that are under a conviction that they have not Faith are pretenders to some of those qualifications but they do but flatter themselves when they come to be examined by God they will be found destitute of all those holy qualifications they make a shew of humility patience love to God regard to his glory but those shews are but delusions all the religion of those men that have not Faith is hipocrisie there may be Morality without Faith and strong religious affections but there is no sanctification where there is no Faith there may be the shadow of it but not the thing it self Act. 26.18 Sanctified by Faith that is in me It is impossible for you to escape ruin if you do not believe and that is not all for your rejecting of Christ does not only expose you unto condemnation but to a greater degree of misery than multitudes will
Gospel truths but men may be taught by the spirit and yet be very unable to give a resolution of many Objections the Disciples were taught of God that Jesus was the Son of God Mat. 16.17 and yet knew not what to say to that Objections that Elias must first come Mat. 17.19 tho a Christian cannot answer many Objections about the sufficiency of Christs Righteousness yet he knows that that will satisfie his heart that it is sufficient namely that God gives this testimony to it and invites him to venture upon it 4. Consider in what way the spirit of God works this conviction and assurance and that is by a spiritual illumination of the mind the spirit of God is not wont in adult persons to reveal this Doctrine in any extraordinary way he works this conviction in such adult persons only as have the knowledg of the Doctrine by hearing and reading of the Word men must not expect to be taught that in a miraculous way which they may learn in an ordinary way neither would this be suffieient to work a through conviction and assurance of it a man may have things revealed unto him extraordinarily by God that has no Faith as Balaam neither does the Spirit assure men of this in way of testimony the Spirit of God is wont to testifie and witness some things to the soul of the Saints the Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8.16 but he does not in that way reveal unto men the truth of the Doctrine of the Gospel but he openeth our eyes to see the truth of it the Spirit gives us eyes to see and also the actual understanding of the truth of the Gospel he puts a principle of spiritual understanding into us by a work of creation ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 he also assists us actually to discern the truth of this way of salvation by Christ while the soul is hearing reading and meditating of it he puts a light into him discovering it to be true and sometimes while the soul is thinking of his misery the spirit brings to remembrance some word and with that puts in a light into the soul that satisfies the heart in the truth of the Gospel and this is wrought these three wayes 1. The Spirit helps us to see the truth of this in the testimony of God in his Word 't is not any inward testimony that our Faith depends upon but the testimony of God in his Word and the inward work of the Spirit is to help us to receive the sure Word of Prophecy and depend upon that God witnesses in his Word plentifully to that that there is salvation wrought out for us by Christ that he has redeemed us purged away sins brought in everlasting righteousness and in this testimony of God we see the truth of the thing it self the Spirit satisfies the heart and clears it up to him that this is Gods testimony that it is no deceit that it is not any device or forgery of man under a pretence of Gods testimony but that this is the very Word of God the Word comes in Gods Name and has many characters of divine authority in it and the soul is satisfied that it is Gods Word 1 Thess 2.13 ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God The Spirit also satisfies the heart in the faithfulness of God naturally men have no assurance of the faithfulness of God though they profess it but the spirit convinces the soul that the Lord is a God of truth I know him whom I have believed 2 Tim 1 12. he does with Sarah judge him faithful that has promised and here though his soul be precious to him yet he can quietly venture it upon his Word 2. The Spirit helps us to see the certainty of this in a way of reasoning from other Principles which we do undoubtedly receive there is an assurance by arguing from such things as we are certain of this is called the demonstration of the spirit 1 Cor. 2.4 when once a man is principled in that foundation that the testimony of God in his Word is certain and infallible then he is assured of such principles as these that Jesus Christ who was our Surety is exalted to the right hand of God that sinners are invited to rely upon the blood of Christ that Christ has fulfilled the righteousness of the Law for us for these things are plainly laid down in the Word of God he had the notion of these things before but now he is assured of them and being assured of them God help him to argue from them the infallible certainty of salvation by Christs righteousness John 16.10 the spirit convinces of righteousness because I go to my Father so a Christian sometimes after he is come to Christ finds by experience in that way the sanctifying and comforting presence of God with him and from hence he argues and is more established in the Doctrine of salvation by Christ 3. The Spirit helps to see the glorious excellency of God and Jesus Christ and thereby the great Objections of his heart do vanish away and fall of their own accord there are some less Objections which arise for want of distinct knowledg and from a mis-understanding of some places of Scripture which though they prove temptations yet don't wholly hinder the workings of Faith but the main Objections of the heart were that God could not find in his heart to pardon such sins as they have been guilty of and that the Law threatens them with ruine but the spirit discovers unto the soul the excellency of God in Christ the riches of Gods grace and the preciousness of the righteousness of Christ and then those Objections fall Psal 36.7 How excellent is thy loving-kindness O Lord therefore the sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Joh. 17.3 This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Consider 5. That this is a great work of Gods Spirit to convince men and assure them that it is safe appearing in the righteousness of Christ it is a matter of exceeding great difficulty to give entertainment unto this truth and hence it is that many men are never satisfied in it all their dayes they continue all their lives long under the means of grace and yet never come unto the knowledg of this truth and many others whom God has perswaded of it have been long before they were satisfied though they have been full of inward troubles and fears and thereby put upon it to be inquisitive into the way of salvation yet were long before they came to Christ their hearts were unsatisfied about their safety in so doing and after prevailing and clear conviction doubts are ever and anon arising in their hearts and this difficulty must needs be very
Massachusetts Historical Society FROM THE BEQUEST OF GEORGE EDWARD ELLIS Seventh President of the Society Received September 1◠1895. THE Safety of Appearing at the DAY OF Judgement In the Righteousness of Christ Opened and Applied By Solomon Stoddard Pastor to the Church of North-Hampton in New-England Phil. 3.8 9 Yea doubtless and I do count all things but less for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that 〈…〉 To the Church of Christ in North-Hampton A Main part of the Work which the Lord Jesus has committed to me at present is to be doing service to your Souls and the Souls of your Children to be directing quickening and encouraging of you in the way unto eternal life which work requires the utmost care and diligence not only in respect of the necessity that you stand in of that blessedness which is the design and tendency thereof but also in respect of that difficulty that you will unavoidably meet withal in your pursuit of that blessedness however many men that know not their own hearts and are utterly unexperienced in the way of life may fancy it to be a matter of ease to go to heaven as if there were but a step between them and heaven and upon that account are bold to cast off all care about it at present yet such as have tried it and are walking in that way can upon plentiful experience witness to what Christ has taught us That strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life every thing in corrupt nature is opposite to it and upon this account he requires Ministers to use their utmost industry in their work Luk. 14.23 Compel them to come in I have travelled in this work among you for many years and I may say without ostentation that I have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I have made it my business to gain Souls to Christ and build them up in Faith and holiness principally insisting upon such things as have reached the heart of Religion and I reckon it one of the choicest mercies of the Lord towards me that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain I have great cause to bow my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and bless his Name that he has made me an instrument of bringing many among you into saving acquaintance with himself and I count it worth the while to spend the residue of my dayes in promoting the welfare of your Souls It is in pursuance of this design that this small Treatise is published not that my care is confined to your selves I owe a regard to the prosperity of other places the scope of this Discourse is to clear up the way of Salvation by Christ I meddle not with those false Doctrines that have been invented by men in opposition to this truth the Lord hath been pleased to keep these Churches sound in the Faith and does not yet lay a necessity upon his Ministers here to spend their time in the confutation of such erronions Opinions but I have made it my work to establish your hearts in this Truth to satisfie your Consciences from the Scripture in the safety of your reliance upon Christ vindicating the same from those secret workings of unbelief that are wont to rise up in the hearts of men that you and others may grow up unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the acknowledgment of the misteries of God even of the Father and of Christ That you may be armed against those temptations wherewith your Faith is wont to be assaulted and learn to live in all conditions upon the righteousness of Christ If the Lord please to bless this Discourse together with other endeavours of his Servants in the Countrey both in Preaching and Writing to be a means to bring many Souls to an hearty closing with Jesus Christ that will be the great security of the Countrey against that degeneracy that is begun and against those superstitious practises that are entertained in other professing places the life of Religion takes beginning in the spiritual knowledg of Christ and is maintained by the same as long as we are built upon this Rock the Gates of Hell will not prevail against us The Lord who has watched over you in the time of dayes when you lay open to the fury of the Heathen and that has given special tokens of his Presence with you in his Ordinances both in the dayes of your former Pastor and also in late times continue to own and bless you and enrich you with all the Graces of his Spirit and give you Faith to sit under the shadow of Christ with great delight Which is the Prayer of Him who is Your Servant for Jesus sake Solomon Stoddard The Safety of Appearing in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ CHAP. I. The Introduction shewing the Difficulty of Believing this Truth THere is such Light remaining in the Conscience of fallen Man as has made him inquisitive after a way of acceptance with God and though several particular persons do not ordinarily concern themselves about it yet in all Nations and Ages there have been those that have made it matter of solemn search the abundant evidence that men have of the being purity justice and greatness of God in conjunction with the testimony of their own hearts concerning their guilt has made them restless till they can come at some satisfaction in this point men have been studious in many other points from a thirst after knowledg and to gratifie their curiosity but in this enquiry they have been much influenced by the cryes and disquietness of their own burdened Consciences the fearful apprehensions of Gods anger have spurred them on to discover a way of reconciliation they have not been able so to stupifie their hearts with worldly occasions and carnal delights as to let fall the consideration of this but have been compelled from their own terrors to make that enquiry as they Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord c. Many men who have busied themselves in this enquiry have not been advantaged to attain a right resolution thereof the Heathen Nations had lost the knowledg of the way of Salvation something in Religion was handed down to them by tradition and something particularly that had a reference unto Jesus Christ especially Sacrifices but the knowledg of the respect they had to him was quite worn out among them and the light of nature is utterly deficient in this particular that light is sufficient to discover to us that God is provoked with us that knowledg flows from our understanding of the nature of God and the experience which we have of our own sinfulness but the way of reconciliation does exceed the
discovery of reason the light of nature does not teach us that there is any way of reconciliation much less does it teach us what it is the light of nature may discover to us that many pretended wayes of acceptance are delusions for it is contrary unto reason to imagine that God will take up with such things but to determine what is the way is clearly beyond the most raised understanding of man without divine revelation upon a supposition that there was a possibility of any other way of acceptance for sinners besides this by Jesus Christ and I know no ground from Scripture to say that God was confined to this way that he was necessitated if he would save sinful man to take this course in order to his Salvation it will unavoidably follow that the light of nature will leave man short of this knowledg how can the light of nature reach the free determination of the Will of God but besides this the knowledg of the way of our acceptance with God through Christ does necessarily suppose the knowledg of those two great mysteries that of the holy Trinity and that of the Incarnation of the Son God which do utterly surpass all the dictates of the light of nature Flesh and blood reveals not those things but the Father that is in Heaven Mat. 16.17 hence the Gentiles were utterly mistaken as to this way of reconciliation and as Paul speaks became vain in their imaginations But besides these there are many others who have been advantaged with the light of the Gospel that have been unsatisfied in that account which the Scriptures have given concerning the way of our acceptance and have pleaded for such methods of Salvation as the Word of God is utterly a stranger to withal wresting many passages of Scripture to vindicate their own delusions thus as the Jews of old so especially the Papists Socinians now go about to establish a righteousness which the Gospel does not acknowledg and fix upon a way of acceptance with God that has no better foundation than their own sophistical reasonings this is not to be attributed to any obscurity in the Scripture in the matter of our Justification but greatly to the pride that men have in their own understandings carnal reason suggests that otherwayes are more probable than that which is commended to us by God carnal reason is full of objections against the Doctrine of our acceptance by Christs righteousness and men know not how to deny their own reason they dent carry a sence upon their hearts of the imperfections and deceits of their own reason they know not what dim sighted things they are carnal reason is a thing much idolized many men have not learned that lesson to be satisfied in the testimony of God but make their understanding the rule and measure of Principles in Religion lay so much weight upon their own reason that they judg things must be so as their reason represents them loth to entertain any thing in matters of Faith that they do not see with their own eyes partly to the enmity of the hearts of men unto this way of acceptance by Christ this way of Salvation is very suitable to our necessities but no wayes suitable to our natural disposition mans heart would sooner fall in with such a way of Salvation wherein he might have somewhat of his own to glory in this way tends much to the exalting of God and abasing and emptying of man the spirit of man is to set up his own righteousness and not be beholden unto the righteousness of another which makes men unwilling to believe this Doctrine of our acceptance by Christ and this opposition of the heart hereto prepares men to receive the contrary Doctrine Arguments that have little strength in them will take great impression upon men of corrupt minds where there is strength of affections plausible pretences will gain consent slender proofs will serve the turn where mens spirits are strongly byassed But it were well if none else did reject this Doctrine but only those that do professedly plead against it there be multitudes that do joyn in making this confession that are far from entertaining it how high so ever mens professions be there are no more that do thorowly believe this than are regenerated and effectually called there is a kind of perswasion of it which carnal men may have which perswasion the Scriptures sometime calls Faith but it is such a perswasion as leaves men really ignorant of this Truth some men have a perswasion of it wrought by tradition because it is handed down to them from former Generations and generally received in the places where they live or by those that they have particular esteem for upon the same account that a Turk gives credit unto the principles of his Religion Jer. 2.11 the Doctrine is received upon the authority and testimony of man which leaves the Soul under such uncertainty as quite obstructs the spiritual efficacy of the truth upon their hearts There is a perswasion that arises from rational convictions their reason tells them that other wayes of acceptance are frivolous that of all wayes that are pretended this must needs be the true way and they can strongly argue that there is acceptance to be obtained in this way from the accomplishment of the covenant of works by Christ from the design of God to magnifie his Grace c. but this perswasion is not sufficient to encourage a foul to venture himself on Jesus Christ There fs also a perswasion that ariseth from common illumination besides that light which is let into the hearts of men in their conversion there is a more than ordinary illumination bestowed upon some sinners the spirit of God gives an affecting sight of the way of Salvatipn enlightning natural Conscience with a great discovery of the way of life by Jesus Christ this is called a tasting of the good Word of God Heb 6.5 the fruit whereof is a rejoycing in the Gospel Mat. 13.20 this illumination is only by an extraordinary assistance of mens natural reason not by giving an eye of Faith unto them neither is this light sufficient to satisfie all the objections which may afterwards arise in the heart hence such men if afterwards they have a thorow sight of their hearts dare not venture their souls on Christ till God by a further work of the Spirit has convinced them of the certainty of the Gospel but there is no man how great soever his profession how large soever his knowledg is that continues in a natural condition does thorowly be-believe this truth This I shall clear up by two Considerations 1. Because all those that do thorowly believe this will immediately venture themselves upon Christ as there is no perswading of men before to come to Christ so there can be no keeping of them from Christ after they are convinced of this the assurance of the truth of the Gospel is ever accompanied with a powerful operation
of it upon the heart â— Thess 1.5 God teacheth men the truth of the Gospel and thereby prevails with them to come to Christ in that way it is the Father puts forth his drawing power Joh. 6.44 45. the Gospel alwayes works effectually where it is believed and received as the truth of God 1 Thess 2.13 God carries on all his works upon the hearts of his Elect in a way of conviction the devils way of working is by blinding of man by prejudice and false reasons but Gods way of working is by teaching of men thus God carries on preparatory work and thus he carries on saving work God deals with men as with rational creatures and prevails upon their hearts in a way suitable to those natures though he put forth acts of power yet not of violence on the Will but he gains the consent of that by the discovering of those reasons that are of sufficient weight to sway it indeed the understanding and will in man being faculties of the same soul and really one and the same thing the same act of God upon the Soul that puts light into the understanding does also suitably incline the will God works all holy inclinations in the will by convincing us and making us believe those truths that are the grounds of them we believe and love believe and repent believe and fear believe and submit believe and so venture on Christ God convinces us of the truth of the Gospel and that there is sufficient righteousness for us in Christ and so we come to him John 16.10 and therefore all those that are assured of the truth of the Gospel do close with Christ and are regenerated and this leads us to the interpretation of several passages of Scripture where such Men as assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel are said to be in a good condition Rom. 10.9 If shou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved 1 Joh. 4.15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he is in God 1 Joh. 5.1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1 Joh. 5.4 Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God These passages are not to be understood of that Faith which is common to Professors that Faith that may be separated from holiness which James calls a dead Faith Jam 2. ult but of that assurance that is wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost A second thing that clears it is that when natural men fall under the awakening work of the Spirit they immediately call the Gospel in particular this truth of the safety of our appearing in Christs Righteousness into question though they might seem before to themselves and others well satisfied yet when ever they come to lie under the sense of Gods anger and Conscience is writing bitter things against them they are full of scruples and objections against the Gospel t is a long time usually before such persons can give entertainment to this Truth and when it is done it is wrought in them by the mighty power of God all that Ministers can urge upon them will not take place the choicest Evidences will not sink into them till God opens their hearts as he opened the heart of Lydia sometimes the hearts of such men will be objecting against this way in general as if there were not salvation for sinners in this way they scruple how the righteousness of one will avail for the Salvation of another c. but principally their scruples are respecting themselves in particular they are not satisfied that God calls them that there is enough in Jesus Christ for the washing away of their sins that God would take it well for them to venture themselves on Christ they think they must be better first and more broken for their sins this is directly contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel for the Gospel does not only teach in general that there is salvation in Christ for sinners but that it is safe for any that will be they never so blind hard-hearted impenitent and rebellious and guilty to venture themselves on the righteousness of Christ men do not only oppose the Gospel when they question whether Believers shall be saved but when they question whether there be sufficient encouragement for them to come to Christ There are two sorts of natural men that are pretenders not only to the belief of the truth of the Gospel but also to trusting in Jesus Christ which upon examination will be found to deceive themselves one sort are many unawakened sinners some of whom are not so much as civilized nor of moral conversation yet they profess to place their trust in Jesus Christ such as those the Apostle Iames expostulates with Iam. 2 14. ad finem but what ever such men say concerning their putting their trust in Christ the real foundation of this hope is an ignorance that they have offended God they may please themselves sometimes with the general notion that Christ has wrought out redemption for sinners and make a little use of Christ dying for sinners to quiet their hearts but the bottom of their confidence lies in this that they are strangers to the provoked justice of God they dont think that God is angry for their sins they live a life of carnal security Psal 50.21.55 11.9 the other sort are self-righteous sinners who say they put their confidence in Christ but their great encouragement is that they have attained somewhat that does draw the heart of God unto them there are many self-righteous men that do not profess any trust in their own righteousness they have been so trained up in the contrary Doctrine that they could not quiet their own hearts if they knew that they did it but yet under a notion of resting upon Christ they rest upon themselves their religious qualifications are their main stay they are far from putting themselves upon a strict Trial by the Law but they imagine some excellence in themselves and that is their encouragement to go to Christ the Jews made account their works would do much towards their Salvation the grace of God making up the defects thereof Rom 9.32 so do those trust partly to their works partly to Christ making a mixture of the Law and Gospel and both these sorts of men notwithstanding their pretences are strangers to the safety of appearing in Christs righteousness And as natural men do not truly believe this Doctrine so Saints themselves have but little belief of it the people of God may justly fall under that reproof Luk. 24.25 Fools and slow of heart to believe there are times when God is pleased abundantly to assure the Souls of his people of this truth 1 Thess 1.5 the fruit whereof is a sweet and quiet resting upon Jesus Christ but the natural unbelief of
our selves with an idle dream which would deceive us â—â—men are blamed in the Word of God for such confidences Isa 29.18 it is not lawful or warrantable for us to believe in that which we have not sufficient encouragement to believe in but we have not sufficient encouragement to believe in the righteousness of Christ if it be not safe to appear before God in it what can encourage us to depend upon and be satisfied in that which it is not safe to depend upon 2. If it be commanded that we believe on the righteousness of Christ then it is duty so to doe then we are bound in conscience to come unto Christ we cannot without sin stay away from Christ and therefore surely it is safe to trust in the righteousness of Christ the holy God would never make it our duty to trust in that which is not a sufficient ground of faith it were an hard lesson to be bound in conscience to do that which we could not satisfie our consciences in doing it were wildness for any man to imagine that God should command us to love that which is not lovely or to mourn for that which is not matter of sorrow or to rejoyce in that which is not matter of joy so it is to think that God should require us to trust in that which is not a ground of confidence that would be very hard for God to bind us to put our confidence in that which we could not put our confidence in except we were out of our wits if it were not safe to trust in Christs righteousness what could induce us to do it except we were under a delusion it is against nature for man to put confidence in any thing but under this notion that there is ground of confidence in it what perswasions can prevail to make men rest on that which they could not safely rest upon the Lord is a righteous God and gives no such unequal command all his commands are righteous he requires but what is equal Psal 119 138. 3. If God commands us to believe on the righteousness of Jesus Christ then we must do it upon pain of damnation if we fail thereof every sin does by Law deserve death and the continuance in the neglect of any known command does unavoidably bring death and ruine and so the neglect of this command John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already because be hath not believed in the Name of the only begotton Son of God certainly then it must be a safe thing to believe on Jesus Christ if there be no safety in believing there is no reason that we should be punished for not believing if there be no safety in believing in Christ then it is madness to believe in Christ and will God punish us for not acting the part of mad men it were an unreasonable thing for a man to believe in Christ if it were not safe so to do and therefore unreasonable that he should be punished for not doing of it will God damn man for not building their hopes for Heauen upon the sand will God cast a man into Hell because be will not embrace a delusion and put his confidence in a broken Reed the Lord is a righteous God and would never punish men for not believing if they had not abundant encouragement to believe the command of this holy God gives us great security in believing John 12.50 I know that his command is life everlasting OBJECTION Here it may be objected against this Argument That we are commanded by God to believe for many things and to believe in the righteousness of Christ for them which we have no certain security that we shall enjoy in a way of believing whatever we pray for we must do it believing and we must do it in the Name of Christ thus we are to believe for health for the conversion of all our Children for rain and other publick mercies so that it is no bard or unreasonable thing to be commanded to believe for that which is not sure in a way of believing neither do we want sufficient encouragement to believe though the thing we believe for be not sure to us in that way ANSWER That Act of Faith which is the condition of the Covenant of Grace is far differing from other acts of Faith that are required of us we do believe for a mercy when by a spirit of Faith we take hold of any of those encouragements which God gives us with respect to that mercy that when we are encouraged by the power of God the mercy of God the love of God to us indennite promises the redemption of Christ to rely upon God with quietness for a mercy with submission to his holy will. We do believe in God for that mercy and this we have sufficient encouragement to do though there be no certainty that we shall enjoy the mercy in that way and this God may fairly command us though he don't absolutely promise the mercy but that Faith which is the condition of the covenant of Grace does much differ from this that is an accepting of Christ and Salvation by him as offered to us and a relying on him for it according to the promise of the Gospel that this is the Faith that is required as the condition of the covenant of grace is evident because it is called a receiving of Christ justifying Faith is the receiving of the promise of the Gospel 't is a relying upon God in Christ according to the invitations of the Gospel and God would never require us to accept of an offer and rely upon him for it if it were not safe so to do how is it possible for any man to rely upon God for the making good of his offer if it were not safe so to do CHAP. VI. The seventh Argument from the Spirits assuring Men of the truth of the Gospel The eighth Argument from Gods bestowing the beginnings of Salvation on Believers here in this World. Argument 7. THat Righteousness which the Spirit of God convinces and assures men that they may safely appear before God in that they may safely appear in but the Spirit of God does convince and assure men that they may safely appear before God in the righteousness of Christ that must needs be true which the spiril convinces men to be true Satan labours to shake mens belief of this and raises doubts and questions in the heart about it and from thence we may argue probably that it is true but the spirit of God does perswade and convince men of the truth of it and establishes the heart in it and from thence may infallibly argue the truth of it In opening and declaring this Argument we may Consider 1. That many men are convinced and assured that it is fafe appearing before God in the righteousness of Christ there are some kind of perswasions about it in the hearts of many others that are bestowed partly upon the testimony of men partly
upon the rationalness of the Doctrine and these perswasions may work some considerable effects on their hearts but those are some that have a thorow conviction of it whose hearts are truly satisfied in the truth of it This is Evident 1. Because they do believe this the Doctrine of the Gospel is believed by many Acts 15.7 That the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe there be some that do receive the testimony of Christ John 3.33 and by Faith entertain the Doctrine of Salvation by his sufferings tho they be but few comparatively Isai 53.1 and therefore they are assured of it for that knowledg which we have of things by Faith in God is certain that knowledg which we have of things by our believing the testimony of man is fallible and it leaves room for doubtings but the knowledg that we have of things by our believing the testimony of God is certain and as abundantly satisfying to the heart as that which we have by the seeing of the eye or by demonstration the knowledg that we have by Faith is a knowledg at second hand but God gives us sufficient assurance that it is he that speaks and that his testimony is true therefore when men do believe they are said to be perswaded Heb. 11.13 They saw the promises afar off and were perswaded of them so they are said to know surely John 17.8 they have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me So they are said to be sure John 6 69. We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ 2. Because they believe on Christ and venture their souls upon him 1 Tim. 3.16 Believed on in the World 1 John 5.13 I have written to you that believe on the Son of God and this is the effect of their assurance that it is safe appearing in Christs righteousness if they were not convinced of that no Arguments would perswade them to venture upon Christ when men come to Christ they come under that conviction that it is safe coming unto him the Gospel works effectually in them that believe 1 Thess 2.13 every one that comes to Christ hath the witness in himself 1 Joh. 5.10 this makes them come with boldness unto Christ tho there be many others that are afraid to come if they were not afraid of the truth of the Gospel they would be afraid to come too they would not dare to cast themselves on Christ before they were convinced they withstood all Arguments that could be used with them they had their answers ready and their excuses at hand they had an unperswadable spirit somewhat to turn off all that could be said and the reason that now they venture themselves on Christ is not any self-excellency for they come to him when they are at worst when they see the plague of their own hearts but is it because they are convinced of the safety that is in Christ to them that believe Christ is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 3. Because they have comfortable and gracious hopes of glory there be many flattering hopes of blessedness that ungodly men do entertain that depend upon their vain conceits but the people of God have a gracious hope of glory and the hopes of the people of God do principally depend on the conviction of these two things 1. That there is safety in Christs righteousness and then that they have an interest in it have received it their Faith of dependance arises from the conviction of the first but their hope arises from both together 't is true that their hopes do rise from the belief of other promises of glory together with a sight of the qualifications in the mselves that are mentioned in those promises thus Saints have hope from those promises that are made to those that love God that mortifie sin that love the Saints that are patient under afflictions c. yet the fundamental promise of the Gospel is that which is made to believing in Christ and the hopes of christians do principally arise from the conviction of Christs righteousness together with our interest therein 1 Pet. 1 8. Believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Rom. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing 2. This conviction is not the fruit of mens natural reason natural reason tho advantaged with external revelation cannot satisfie the heart that it is safe to appear in the righteousness of Christ natural reason may work some conviction of this truth and discover so much of it that a man may come to look upon it very rational and probable but it cannot discover the certainty of it flesh and blood can't reveal that natural reason may make such a discovery of this truth that they may be urged in conscience to believe in Christ and condemned in conscience for not believing in him that they may think those happy that do believe in him that they judg those grosly erroneous that do decy this Doctrine but yet it will not give such a conviction as can assure the soul that it is so indeed men are apt to think that they are satisfied that there is safety in relying on the righteousness of Christ only they question whether God does call them as the case is circumstanced with them to rely upon him but they delude themselves mans reason does not discover the certainty of this truth by all the helps that the world does afford yea though they do partake of some inward common illumination the nature of man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 There is a twofold defect in natural reason that hinders men from receiving of this Truth 1. Natural reason cannot apprehend that God can find in his heart to save sinners on the account of Christs righteousness when men come to be enlightned and have a sence of the guilt of sin and wrath of God it will not enter into them that God can be free to forgive them and save them on the account of Christs blood they are strangers unto the merciful nature of God and hence are seeking to get some worthiness of their own to pacifie God with and can't conceive that God is willing to pardon them who are so unworthy except they were somwhat better they think they must have something to commend them to God they think it would be madness for them as bad as they are to venture on Christs bloud 1 Cor. 1.18 the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness they have strange and low thoughts of the mercy of God Isa 55.8 2. Natural reason will not make men believe Gods testimony natural reason will not beget saith natural men are in Scripture described to be unbelievers John 5 46. natural reason will not lay weight on the testimony of God no man will
great considering these things 1. That Man in his natural state is an enemy to this way of salvation as man is an enemy to the Law of God so to the gospel of Jesus Christ the heart dont like this way of salvation man had rather be saved in another way man is proud and can't endure to go a begging and be beholden to the free grace of God for his salvation he had rather earn it himself than take it as a gift of God hence men set their wits on work to descry another way that is more suitable to their honours and to find exceptions against this way of salvation by Christ he don't like the method and so is inventing of cavils to turn off the calls of God. 2. That man is ignorant of the gracious nature of God men don't understand how merciful God is are apt to measure the compassions of God by their own and make a judgment of God by themselves hence they are full of carnal reasonings against this way of life they think it is a great deal more probable that they should be accepted on the account of some worthiness in themselves they think it utterly unlikely that God should accept of them till their hearts are better they think it would be desperate presumption to venture upon Christ before they are better they think God is so angry with them that he cannot find in his heart to pardon them they take notice of the severity of God upon others and conceive of him as very difficult to pardon they imagine there must be something considerable in them to commend them to God and draw the heart of God unto them 3 The Devil is busie to hinder men from entertaining this truth the Devil is most industrious in this matter because their entertaining this truth will deliver them from his dominion 2 Cor. 11.3 he is possessing of men with prejudices against this truth casting in objections and fortifying of the heart against the perswasions of the word and this does considerably increase the difficulty because of the subtilty of Satan to represent his temptations with great appearance of reason and smooth a delusion so that it shall have a great face of truth because of his ability together with his reasonings to work so upon the affections as to make the soul more opposite to the entertaining of the truth 4. Man by nature does not believe the testimony of God this truth cannot certainly be known but by faith reason may argue something for it but not conclusively but natural men are destitute of a principle to receive the testimony of God they are ignorant of the glorious nature of God and so of his faithfulness and therefore though they may look on it a thing probable because of Gods testimony having heard a same of him yet they cannot be assured of it upon his word since they know him not so that it is a great and wonderful work of Gods spirit to help men over all these difficulties and convince them that 't is safe appearing in the righteousness of Christ Consider 6. The evidence that this work of the spirit gives in to the truth before us and we may plainly gather from hence that it is safe appearing in Christs Righteousness For 1. The Spirit of God is holy and cannot deceive or delude us it is in consistent with the spotless purity of the spirit of God to convince us of that which is not true who can imagine that the holy spirit of God would take pains with men and work a miraculous change in them to make them believe a lie why does God busie himself so in this work but that it is of everlasting concernment unto the souls of men it is true that God may judicially blind men by withdrawing light from them but he never goes about to perswade men of a lye would God perswade men to cast themselves upon Christ if there were not safety in so doing 2. We are commanded not to quench the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 we must cherish the motions and entertain the convictions of the spirit which certainly would not be our duty if the spirit did convince of any thing that is not true we are not bound to receive delusions but by all means to be oppposing and resisting of them it cannot be our duty to entertain salshoods and give way to deceits and therefore those convictions which we are bound to cherish are certainly true I might also argue from the manner of the spirits convincing which is by enlightning and opening of the eyes but if this which he convinces us of were not true the conviction would be by blinding of us and putting out our eves where one by sophistical reasonings does perswade another of a salshood makes him believe a lye he does it by darkening his understanding the opening of the eyes is not the way to lead men into error Argument 8. That Righteousness upon the account of which God bestows the beginnings of salvation here it is safe to appear before God in but upon the account of Christs Righteousness God bestows the beginnins of salvation here There are some degrees of salvation which God bestows upon believers here upon the account of his righteousness they have an inchoation of salvation already God begins to fullfil his promise presently Tit. 3.5 2 Tim. 1.9 they are justified already Acts 3.39 all that believe are justified they are adopted 1 John 12. as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name they are saved from the curse of the law as to outward dispensations Rom. 8.28 all things shall work together for good to them that love God that are called according to purpose But I shall only urge two things wherein the people of God have experience of the beginning of salvation and therein an evidence of their full salvation by Jesus Christ in due time namely sanctification and inward comfort 1. The people of God are sanctified in a way of believing on the righteousness of Christ they that do believe in Christ are sanctified they do lead an holy life dying unto sin and living unto righteousness they are delivered from the servitude unto sin and do become servants of God indeed this cannot be made evident by experience to the world because the world cannot certainly know that those that profess faith in Christ have it in reality nor that those that seem to live an holy life do so indeed yet there is that which falls under the observation of the world that may considerably help forward their satisfaction in this particular 1. Among those that do profess to believe in Christ there are many that live in such a manner that there is not evidence that they are not sanctified 't is not so with all those that profess to believe in Christ there are many that make such a profession that have no faith and therefore it is no wonder
God. 2. Some men are naturally of a more stubborn spirit than others and upon that account they feel more dreadful opposition though every natural man is equally under the power of sin for they are totally so the disposition to sin against God does neither increase nor decrease in natural men though particular evil dispositions do yet some men by reason of their temper are of a more stubborn spirit and in other cases are wont to be more difficult to yield either to God or men than other men and that is one reason why they in this case do experience more opposition 3. There is a great difference in the risings of mens hearts against yielding to God from the different manner of Gods dispensations to the same under this work Especially in three things 1. Some men had abundance more confidence that they were in a good estate than ever others did obtain unto they were strongly perswaded that they were converted had had abundance of joy under the apprehension of their good condition and when these hopes come to be pulled away from them it is no wonder that their hearts work exceedingly they are like the troubled Sea that casts forth mire and dirt 2. Some men when they are emptied of their own righteousness are left more upon the borders of dispair than others are there is a secret hope that God does sustain the hearts of all by an hope rising from the power of God and the deliverance he has wrought for others c in some there is more of this hope in others less the more there is of this the more this work of submission is facilitated an enemy will sooner yield where he has more hope of mercy than where he has less the less hope men have the more difficult their submission will be that made the Syrians yield because they looked on the Kings of Israel as merciful Kings 1 King 20.31 3. God does discover his own soveraignty sooner unto some than unto others the conviction of that is the thing that silences the heart and makes it bow that brought down Jobs Spirit Job 42.2 5 the soul will not yield till convinced of this and God is pleased to deal with men variously as to this some he convinces sooner and thereby prevents much of those stubborn workings that otherwise would be 2. The second way of trial is by the manner of the Souls first closing with Christ there is a great difference between saints and hipocrites in their first venturing upon Christ though there be a similitude yet there is also a dissimilitude some persons indeed through negligence lose the distinct remembrance of this which occasions much darkness afterwards but a false heart does not experience such things in his first receiving of the Gospel as a sincere heart does there are some things that are common to one and to another but there are other things that are peculiar to the people of God if the manner of their closing were the same their Faith would be the same the manner of closing is such as doth distinguish them and take it up in such particulars 1. The soul is assured of the truth of the Gospel by the spirit of God before the Soul was full of doubts and questions but when he closes with Christ he is assured of the truth of the Gospel the reason that men do not entertain the truth of the Gospel is because they are not assured of the truth of it when they believe the truth of it then it works effectually up on them 1 Thess 2.13 ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh in you that believe When the soul first closeth with Christ it is satisfied in the truth of the gospel In the consideration of this we may take notice of three things 1. That at this time the soul knows the truth of the gospel he had the notion of it before but now he sees it to be so indeed it is a real thing unto him there is a light let into that soul discovering the truth of the gospel the soul has not indeed at that time an actual and distinct consideration of all the sundamental truths of the gospel so as to yield a particular assent to every one of them but all those foundation truths are radically made known at that time that is there is that light put into the soul then that will make him yield an assent to all those truths when he comes to have the actual consideration of them 1 Ioh. 2.26 ye have an unction from the holy One and know all things and at this time the soul has the actual consideration of some foundation gospel truths such as the infinite free mercy of God the vertue of the blood of Christ or the like and sees such things as neither his own reason nor Satan could make him to apprehend and although the soul has not the actual consideration of all foundation gospel truths yet he sees so much at that time as satisfies him in the truth of the gospel for the knowledg of th truth of the gospel does not depend upon the knowledg of all those things which must be true if the gospel be true the knowledg of some particular gospel truths may abundantly satisfie a mans heart that the gospel is true so as to encourage him to come to Christ and although the soul at that time does not give a particular assent to all those gospel truths which are the Pillars of our Faith yet he does reject none the truth of the gospel is discovered unto him and that not only in general that there is salvation in Christ for them that come unto him but also in particular there is salvation for him if he will accept of it he sees that there is a way of salvation for the most unworthy he sees also that this is offered by God unto him that there is that preciousness in Christ that freeness in Gods grace that faithfulness in Gods Word that is a sufficient encouragement unto him to venture his soul on Christ his eyes are opened to see that there is safety for him notwithstanding his unworthiness he thought he believed the gospel before but only did not know that God called him but now he sees gospel principles in such a manner that he is satisfied that God called him and that he may venture upon Christ 2. The soul has at this time an assured knowledg of the truth of the gospel it is not an opinion or conjecture arising from some probable appearances but an assurance therefore they say we believe and are sure Joh. 6.69 the soul sees that it is certainly so God gives us outwardly great assurance of the truth of the gospel and at this time the soul has inwardly an assurance of it t is very true there is a difference in the measure of assurance that one has and another has all assurance is not in the like
degree we read sometime in Scripture of an Assurance 1 Thess 1.5 of a full Assurance Heb. 9.22 of all riches of the full assurance of understanding Col. 2.2 this assurance in the first closing with Christ what ever degree it is in does not remove the habit and principle of doubting though it does mortifie it in part that it never recovers its strength again yet there will be frequent returnings of this spirit of doubting it will attend a Saint less or more as long as he lives and many times in the first closing with Christ the assurance is not in such a degree but that there will be actual doubting the workings of a spirit of fear are not wholly removed some doubtings and misgivings of heart are consistent with assurance a man may see that it must needs be so that it can't be otherwise and yet immediately have recoylings of spirit but the assurance of the soul so far prevails over all his doubtings that he can venture himself in the arms of Jesus Christ 3. The soul is assured at this time by the Spirit of God that the Gospel is true and the messages of salvation certain The comforter shall convince of righteousness Joh. 16.10 the Spirit works a principle of faith and draws it into act sanctifies the reason and understanding and discovers the glorious excellency of God whereby the heart is assured indeed this assurance cannot arise from any other cause natural reason will not assure men of this for the reason of man is miserably corrupted and cannot see such spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.14 the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Indeed natural reason from Scripture principles may strongly argue the truth of this way of salvation against the Papist and other Hereticks but natural reason can't satisfie men about those scripture principles yea though natural reason be enlightned by a common work of the Spirit so as to be greatly affected with the Gospel for a time yet it cannot assure a man of the truth of it neither is it possible for Satan to work any such assurance in men men are sometimes afraid whether the discovery they have had were not the delusions of the Devil but though the Devil may comfort false hearts and fill them with joy yet he cannot assure men of the truth of the Gospel for he can only raise those principles that are in men and not put a new principle of faith in them whereby it is that the truth of the Gospel is discerned neither can the Devil give a discovery to the soul of the glorious nature of God or excellency of Christ so as that the heart should trust him love him c. Satan can make no such discoveries to a natural man as a natural mind is uncapable of receiving so that this assurance is the peculiar work of the Spirit From this particular we may conclude the Faith of two sorts of persons to be false on this account that they never have been assured of the truth of the Gospel 1. Such as are perswaded of the truth of the Gospel only from tradition the bottonie of many mens perswasions is the profession and judgment of such men among whom they live this is the doctrine that they have been bred up in the principle that their Parents have taught them they abhor to have any thoughts to the contrary because they have been Educated in this way upon the same ground that a Mahometan and Papist is tenacious of the religion of his Country and as the Heathen were wont to stick to the religion of their Forefathers Jer. 2.11 14. Mic. 5. upon this account many receive the Gospel and this may be a great advantage to men because they are brought under means and are kept from prejudices against the Gospel and so tradition cannot be true faith men cannot be assured of the Gospel upon this foundation this can only be the bottom of a strong opinion and conjecture not of Assurance 2. There is also another sort whose Faith does appear from hence to be unsound namely such who believed that God meant them in the calls of the Gospel because they found some good affections in themselves if their heart had been dead and unsavoury they could not have thought that God called them but the foundation of their believing that they were invited was they found some goodness in themselves but certainly this was built upon conjecture and an opinion of their own and therefore they could not be assured of it they had no assurance that they were called though they might have a strong confidence yet they could not be assured from thence that they were invited 2. In the first closure of the soul with Christ the Soul comes to him meerly upon the incouragement of the call of God in the Gospel God invites sinners in the Gospel to come to Christ and many ways urgeth them so to do and from thence the soul takes its encouragement There were many other things that encouraged them before to wait upon God for converting grace as the power of God Gods converting of others his strivings with him by his Spirit but the thing that is his encouragement to come to Christ is the call of the Gospel he sees his warrant in the call of the Gospel the call of the Gospel is the foundation of his faith that is the reason of his faith that God calls him in his Word The call of God does contain in it sufficient encouragement to believe for therein God shews his readiness to save sinners therein he shews that there is a way of salvation prepared for them therein he binds his faithfulness to them and lays bonds upon himself to save them if they come to Christ and this is the encouragement to them to believe Acts 13 48. they glorified the Word of the Lord and as many for it may be read such as were ordained to eternal life believed For the right understanding of this Consider 1. 1. It is indifferent with this first closing with Christ whether the soul takes notice of the call to believe as Gods call or Christs call some souls in their first closing take notice that Christ calls them others that God calls them and it is no material thing which of these ways it be if either the soul hear God or hear Christ calling him the answer to that call is true faith for there is sufficient warrant for us to come either from the voice of God or the voice of Christ this is an abundant demonstration of it that the call of the Gospel is sometimes propounded to us in Scripture as the call of God Jer. 3.22 Gal. 3.15 2 Tim. 1.9 and sometimes it is propounded unto us as the call of Christ Rev 3.18.20 there is this difference between them that Christ calls us by an authority derived from God God does derive his
the Lord to make him hate him there is nothing in man that can byas the will of God either way to love him or hate him but God herein acts from his meer pleasure 2. Hence it follows that this or that particular man is as capable of being loved of God as any other in the World God has manifested special love unto thousands of men and women and you are as capable an object of divine sove as any of them you are as capable as Abrahum Moses David Paul or any other it is true you are as capable of Gods hatred also as any other the meer pleasure of God does decide it who shall be the objects of his love and his hatred you have no reason to be discouraged because you can find no reason in your self of Gods love those that God did set his love upon could find no reason in themselves of Gods love though you be mean and despicable yet you are as capable to be an object of Gods love as any other I do not say that one man is under as great likelihood as another they that God brings under means are the children of godly Parents that God is striving with by his Spirit are more likely than others but one is as capable as the other for the free will of God is the only thing that does determine it and therefore you have sufficient ground of encouragement to accept the offer of salvation 3. If God have wrought a spirit of Faith and Holiness in you that is a manifestation that God has set his love upon you though you can find no reason why God should love you can't tell why God should have any respect unto you yet it is certain he does love you if you have a gracious change wrought in you though he has cast away thousands of greater natural and acquired endowments than you and of greater external enjoyments than you yet you are one of those that he has chosen and has set his heart upon 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath loved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the World began Discouragement 4. They find things since their coming to Christ much contrary to their expectation they thought that they should have had more expressions of the love of God more quicknings of the Spirit more help against corruption more visible answers of prayer they thought that if they came to Christ they should have had little trouble or temptation but have lived a sweet easie and pleasant life but things are far otherwise things run very low in their souls they have a great deal of darkness and temptation they find very evil workings of heart and therefore they fear whether God has accepted of them or be willing to accept of them and to bestow salvation upon them did they walk in the light of the Lord and enjoy such communion with God as they expected and feel such evident fruits of the love of God as they promised themselves they should not be so backward to believe but since it is otherwise it begets a trembling and fearfulness in them it puts them to a great stand hence the calls of God take less impression on them especially because they think it is not so with others that come to Christ others do enjoy more manifest tokens of divine acceptance but they are both in inward and outward respects under tokens of divine displeasure and this is an hindrance unto their believing Job 9 16 17. If I had called and he had answered yet would I not believe that he had bearkened to my voice for he breaketh me with a tempest and multiplieth my wounds without cause For the removal of this Discouragement Consider 1. That many sad and sorrowful dispensations are consistent with the favour of God men are ready to think that if God delighted in them he could not find in his heart to exercise them in such a manner his compassion would work so towards them that they should not experience such sorrows but men greatly mistake it is true that all the wayes of God are mercy to them that fear him but yet many times his wayes are in appearance contrary unto love it is common with God to bring those that he has rejected into a prosperous condition they are under very smiling providences and on the other hand God frequently frowns upon his own children not only in external dispensations but also by inward darkness leaving them to conflict with sore temptations the love of God to his people is not an affection as love in men is but it is a design to make them happy not to bestow all those degrees of blessedness upon them that he can but it is with subserviency to a greater design even the glory of his Name and therefore he leads them to happiness in such a way as is conducible to the manifestation of the glory of his pardoning grace his holiness and soveraignty and it is frequent with God to lay very heavy afflictions upon his dearest children Psal 73.14 all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning and God leaves his sometimes to a great deal of inward darkness Psal 88.15 while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted men that fear the Lord may be in darkness and have no light Isai 50.10 the dispensations of God unto Job and the issue of the controversie between him and his friends stand upon record to satisfie the hearts of Gods people in all ages in this particular 2. God does sometimes withdraw from his own children the sensible quicknings of his spirit God never takes away wholly his sanctifying presence from his people God is present with them to uphold the being of grace there is a divine manutenency whereby God does preserve the life of grace at all times but the sensible quicknings of his spirit may be often withheld God may often so far withdraw that they may not perceive any special gracious operation of the spirit upon their hearts and that as at other times so in duties of worship they may be left many times under great dulness and senslesness left much to the stoniness of their own hearts without any special impressions made on them by the spirit of God there are times when God makes their hearts burn within them but there are times when they are left unto a benummed frame of spirit as if they had no spiritual senses they have great cause of joy but their hearts do not rejoyce therein great cause of sorrow but unaffected with it great cause of fear but fearless their senses are bound up and spiritual truths that they think of or hear of don't sink into them Mat. 25.5 They all slumbred and slept 3. The people of God ought not to count it a frown that they have not the immediate light of Gods countenance frequently we must have a care that we do not complain
toward thy Holy Temple such examples may be great inducements and helps to you to follow their example these examples are very quickning and full of argument they are very helpful to strengthen your Faith several ways 1. The examples of Saints recorded in Scripture are a warrant to you to believe their saith is recorded to shew you what you should do how you should carry in lâ—ke cases the examples of the faith of the Saints are set down by way of commendation they are presented before you as a pattern that you should walk after the record of those examples does shew that such a spirit and carriage is highly approved by God you question whether or no God will not count it presumption in you to believe under such circumstances but this may take off that God has recorded it in his Word that his people have been wont to trust in him in such cases and you are called upon by God to follow their example Heb. 6.12 be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise 2. In these examples you may see what a lovely glorious thing it is to depend upon God and be exercising of faith in difficult cases there is a great deal of the beauty and loveliness of grace seen in the exercise of it it is a taking thing to see those glorious workings of saith that were in Abraham Sarah Joseph Moses and others of the Saints the Apostle says we count them happy that endure Jam. 5.11 so we count them happy that believe the rules of Gods Word carry in them a commendation of themselves but when we see them practised they are very taking we count the exercises of faith that we hear of and read of excellent and they stir us up to imitation 3. These examples of believing do provoke unto an holy emulation as one Scholar is provoked to emulation by the learning of another so is one saint provoked to emulation by the faith of others the examples of other mens faith have a tendency to make you ashamed of your unbelief you may be ashamed to see your selves out-stripped by those that lived in darker times than you do you may be ashamed to think that you are worse then others that you should be more backward to honour the grace and faithfulness of God than others these examples have a tendency to make you pluck up that you may honour God as others have done Direction 6. Labour to get your hearts fully satisfied in the divine authority of the Scriptures if men have scruples and misgivings of heart about that they will be an occasion of discouragement such jealousies will interrupt the exercise of Faith for the word is the foundation of our faith the authority of the Word of God is our warrant to believe let all scruples of that kind be speedily removed as things that strike at the very root of faith see that you be well grounded in the authority of the Word don 't take it up as a tradition as a thing owned by those among whom you live but satisfie your hearts upon good ground that the Scripture is no device of man but the very Word of God and indeed God has given us as much assurance that it is his Word as we can reasonably desire and expect he gives his own testimony to it we receive the orders of authority upon their own testimony thus God witnesses to the truth of his Word he sets his hand to it Zech. 12.1 Rev. 1.1 and the Scripture has such characters in it as evidence it to be the Word of God the Word carries a sufficient evidence in it self there are such circumstances and marks in it as shew that it is not counterfeit if a Prince send an order to us we know it is not counterfeit by the seal the Secretaries hand the stile the matter of it so here all things are without exception the things are such as are suitable to the glory of God they were written by holy men that were Gods Messengers they are delivered to us by his Church they are such things as no man without revelation could write such things as no good man dare write without order from God such things as no bad man would write and they are confirmed by the accomplishment of predictions and by the presence of the Spirit blessing them unto conviction and conversion Direction 7 Lay up experiences both of the truth of Gods Word and Gods love to you first lay up experiences of the truth of Gods Word it is a great fault when persons do no not treasure up remarkable experiences of the truth of these things that God teaches us in his Word some men don't observe and take notice of such things God does in his providence give abundance of experience of the truth of threatnings they do many times come to pass in an eminent manner he fulfills his Word very plainly that men may see that sin is a provoking thing and a dangerous thing so God is giving experience of the truth of promises for a while the promise did not work but afterwards it was remarkably accomplished that Joshua takes notice of Josh 13.14 sometimes he gives eminent experience of his answering prayer 2 Sam. 1.27 sometimes of his making a good end of afflictions Jam. 5.11 and of the love he has to his people under their afflictions so Gen. 45 5. 2 Cor. 4.18 such things do much confirm our Faith that the Word of God is certain true Rom. 5 4. experience works hope Secondly lay up experience of his special love to you God gives his people experience of that in one degree or other lay up experiences of Gods converting you of the manifestations of his favour the discoveries of his glory his drawing forth the visible actings of grace such experiences as these may strengthen your faith they are of great use to scatter and remove many temptations wherewith your faith may be assaulted Direction 8. Get more spiritual acquaintance with God the spiritual knowledg of God is the foundation of all the practise of religion we know him and love him we know him and obey him we know him and submit to him we know him and put our trust in him Psal 9 10 they that know thy name will put their trust in thee in this way men come to believe at first and in this way their hearts come to be more setled in a way of believing if men understood more what God is that would deliver them from their doubtings 2 Tim 1 12 I know whom I have believed the more the soul sees of God the more he is satisfied that it is safe venturing upon his Word when we understand what a glorious faithful God the Lord is we see that we have sure ground to go upon and when we understand the riches of Gods grace that removes that great objection from our unworthiness which made men think that God was not free to save them and made them think he did not mean them in the invitations of the Gospel therefore make it your care to get as much acquaintance with God as you can revive upon your hearts the remembrance of those discoveries that formerly God has given you and be in the use of means to get new discoveries of the glory of God wait upon him to that end in the ways he has appointed and exercise faith upon the Lord Jesus as the great Prophet of his Church who bid us come to him that our eyes may be anointed with eye salve that we may see Rev 3 18 FINIS BOOKS to be Sold by Samuel Phillips at the West end of the Town-House in Boston ALLeins Rebuke to Back-sliders Alleins Remains Alleins Life and death Brooks Apples of Gold. Brooks Mute Christian Brooks Remedies against Satans Devices Brooks Privy Key of Heaven Baxters Family Catechism Baxters Poor Man's Family-Book Bunyans Conversion Bunyans Life of Mr. Badman Fox's Door of Heaven Fox's Time and end of Time. Galeaceous Carricciolous's Life Protestant Tutor Psalters Primers Sion in Distress Strong 's Spelling-Book Vincent on Prayer Vincents Catechism Vincent's Christs certain and sudden Appearing to Judgment Willard's Penitent Prodigal Willard's Childs Portion Willard on Justification With many other sorts of Books
authority from none but Jesus Christ as Mediator does derive his authority from God but his authority is a sufficient warrant Mat. 17.5 hear him and hence Ministers may indifferently invite men in the name of God or Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God. 3. There is no necessity that at the time of the souls closing with Christ he should be reading or hearing the call of the Gospel it is by those calls but many times they do not prevail while a man is hearing of them but afterwards sometimes it is in the very time of hearing Acts 14.1 2. Acts 2.41 but it may be as well afterwards it may be in time of prayer and often is or in meditation God does it for them that wait upon him in his Ordinances but not always in the time of Ordinances thus it is with other works of the Spirit awakening of finners comforting of Saints and Sinners Mat. 21.29 be said I will not but afterwards he repented and went. 3. There is no necessity that this closure with Christ should be wrought by the letter of the Scriptures frequently it is by some particular word but it is many times otherwise sometimes the thing is urged by a Minister according to the Scripture and God makes some sentence that he speaks effectual Acts 16.31 32. so somtimes in meditation God makes men see the general cal of the Gospel though no particular place be pitched upon thus 't is sometimes afterwards with Saints 4. There is no necessity that the particular word that draws the soul to Christ should be in the form of an invitation it is many times so as by those words Mat. 11.28 Rev. 22.17 but it may be by any other Gospel expression as by those words 1 Pet. 2.24 who bore our sins in his own body upon the Cross Isai 53.6 he was wounded for our sins and bruised for our iniquities Eph. 5.2 he hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling savour it may be wrought by any Gospel precept promise declaration God by any such word may let in a light to shew the soul the truth of the Gospel Call. From this particular we may conclude the saith of two sorts of persons to be false 1. Such as ventured at first upon Christ from that encouragement that God loved them they thought that God had a love for them either from his outward providences he smiled on them in his providences and blessed them and heard their prayers or he manifested his love to them by restraining their corruptions and keeping of them from such evil practices as others are addicted unto or else from some inward comfort that God has given them God gave them some inward comfort when they were in a sad condition and from thence they conclude the love of God and so are bold to venture themselves on Jesus Christ they have had some inward joy and that they make the foundation of their Faith and so they quite prevent Gods order they get first a faith of assurance that God loves them and then they have a saith of dependance but the particular love of God is not the foundation of our faith there is no need of knowing that in order to believing the love of God is to be cleared up by effectual calling 2 Pet. 1.10 Gods love to the soul is a secret till he does believe Eph. 1.13 after ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise God may reveal the love he has to a man unto some other before the man believes as the love God had to Jacoh was revealed to Rebecca but not to the man himself Gods particular love is not the foundation of Faith but the call of the Gospel 2. Such as ventured first upon Christ upon that encouragement that they loved God they found affections to God and Christ and that made them think that God meant them in the call of the Gospel that made them think that it was not presumption for them to come to Christ that made them think that God would not reject them their first encouragement rises from themselves and then in a secondary way they take encouragement from the Gospel that adds to their encouragement but this faith is a rotten faith it has not a right foundation such a faith may make men live more comfortable here but it will deceive them Rev. 3 17. 3. In the first closure with Christ there is such a light let into the Soul of the sinner that he cannot but come to Christ when he does come there is a necessity upon him to come it is thus many times very remarkable afterwards but eminently so at first before he comes he cannot come and when he does come he cannot but come the sinner has at that time such a supernatural light let into him that he is under constraints to come to Christ all the wit in hell can't perswade him to stay away where God begins to open the eyes there may be some objecting but before God has done the light is so full that the soul is carryed captive by it Ministers are required to compel men to come in Luke 14.23 that is to use compelling arguments such as when God sets the same home will compell men the light that God puts in to the soul at that time is such that he cannot withstand it it silences all his carnal reasonings stops his mouth answers his objections so that he cannot stand out any longer John 6.45 every one that has been taught and hath learned of the Father commeth unto me This I clear up from these considerations 1. All that have this inward light and teaching doe come unto Christ 't is true there is an illumination that is not effectual to work saith Mat. 13.20 2 Pet. 2.21 that light is only the irradiation of the natural understanding but there is an inward light that is always attended with faith such men as have a thorow conviction of the gospel doe ever close with it that light that is sufficient in order to saith is always efficacious the inward call of the gospel is always answered Rom. 8.30 whom he called them he also justified all those that God draws do run after him Cant. 1.4 they that know Christ will come to him John 17.35 Psal 9.10 and this shews that they cannot but come if this inward light could be resisted some would resist it among so many thousands some would refuse to come this way would not be universally successful with men of all tempers and inclinations if it did not necessitate them some or other would be found that would refuse 2. This inward light is said to come with power upon the soul it has a perswading overcoming power with it it has power to gain the will and draw the consent of the heart the gospel where the Spirit
does inwardly teach it has a prevailing power therefore it is called a rod of strength Psal 110.2 it comes with power upon the heart 1 Thes 1.5 when God convinces men of the truth of it it alwayes works effectually upon them 1 Thes 2.13 let but the truth of it sink into a mans soul and Christ will be precious unto him 1 Pet. 2.7 the light of the gospel turns about the wills of men Psal 110.3 3. If the sinner could stay away from Christ the corruption of his heart would make him stay away from Christ if men were able to stay away they would not be able to come there is a great deal of opposition in the heart of a sinner to believing in Christ men are as great enemies to the gospel as they are to the law sinners are dreadful averse to come to Christ how many objections and cavils have men to keep them from Christ how many by-paths will they turn into before they come to Christ how much sorrow will they endure before they come to Christ Phil. 3.18 Rom. 10.3 and this opposition of heart would not suffer them to come except they were made to come if they were nor under a necessity of coming they would stay away 4. It is against nature when men have this inward light let into them to stay away from Christ there is a principle put into every man in his first creation to seek his own happiness and however the nature of man be corrupted yet that principle is not lost but remains strong in men however they mistake the way yet the desire of all men is happiness the Devil blinds men and tells one that this is the way and another that that is the way but still they are driving an end that design Psal 4.6 who will shew us any good and therefore when the Spirit of God shews a man that Christ is the way to happiness that there is salvation in Christ he cannot but come to him Joh. 6.6.8 to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal Life 5. When the sinner comes at first to Christ this inward teaching of the Father works such affections that he cannot but come when his eyes are opened his affections are so wrought upon that he cannot but come when he comes out of darkness into light his heart is affected with the sight of Christ and he cannot stay away there are three affections that are wrought upon one is hope he sees a hope of blessedness if he comes to Christ he sees in that way hopes of pardon and glory Heb 6.18 who are fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us another is Love when the soul comes to see Jesus Christ offering himself he cannot but love him and look on this way of salvation as a glorious way he despised Christ before but now he charges his mind he prizes him 1 Pet. 2.7 to them that believe in Christ is precious and then it works on fear he dare not lose the opportunity he does not know whether he shall have another call so that he dares do no other than take God at his word Objection This seems to overthrow the liberty of mans will if he can't come to Christ where is his Freedome Answer Liberty does consist in an indifferency unto contrary Acts or Objects sometimes indeed men have such a liberty but that is peculiar to some cases liberty is not opposed to necessity but to force the will cannot be force by any external violence but it may be necessitated by reason and conviction natural men sin voluntarily yet necessarily they reject the Gospel voluntarily Joh. 5.40 yet necessarily Joh. 6.44 Saints in heaven love and serve God necessarily yet freely so t is here Psal 110.3 thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power From this Particular we may conclude the faith of such men to be false as have made a faith of their own convinced sinners hearing they shall certainly be ruined that do not believe in Christ and that they that do believe shall be saved set themselves in their own strengths to work their hearts to this duty and after a while imagine that they have got the victory and have prevailed over their unbelief and wrought their hearts unto a closure with Christ this Faith is not right it s very true that after a man has been brought in he may in this way by Gods assistance come to perform renewed acts of Faith but it is never thus in the first closure with Christ at first God layes a necessity upon men they cannot but come to Christ Eph. 1 19 20. what is the exceeding greatness if his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead when the sinner comes indeed to Christ he is compelled to come Luk 14.23 Before I leave this Particular I shall answer two Doubts in the hearts of some Saints from hence Doubt 1. I fear my closing with Christ is not right because after God let light into me I objected awhile before I yielded the light did not at first overcome me Answer Many times when God comes with that inward call of the Gospel he does not at one instant let in such light as does overcome all objections but after God begins to bring the call home to the soul there are some struglings of unbelief before he yields sometimes the light is such that it strikes all objections dead at a blow sometimes it answers them gradually the light breaks in fuller and fuller till at last it quite overcomes him as in Moses's call Doubt 2. I fear my closing was not right because when I came first to Christ I had a fear and trembling on my heart I bad not such full satisfaction as some have but crouded through difficulties Answer Some have more clear light than others but every one has so much that he cannot but venture though there be remaining darkness yet they have so much light as overbears them that their hearts are carried out to rely on Christ and that is sufficient Rom. 4.18 who against hope be teved in hope 3. The third way of Trial is by living a life of Faith on Jesus Christ they that have received Christ by Faith do not satisfie themselves that they have believed but do from time to time live a life of dependance on Christ this life Paul lived Gal. 2.20 I live by Faith in the Son of God that is the duty of them that have believed 1 Joh. 5.13 I have written to you that have believed on the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the Son of God. And this is the spirit of those that have believed they live a life of dependance upon Christ for every thing even for outward things for life health peace liberty provision protection for private and publick blessings
endure that go to hell you may not think to escape as heathens will do your load will be heavier and your fire will be hotter and your judgment every way sorer than the judgment of other men God will proportion every mans misery to his iniquity and as you have enjoyed greater light and love so you must expect more amazing and exquisite wrath than other men conscience has more to accuse you of and condemn you for and so has God and you will sink down deeper into hell than other men you are treasuring up a greater measure of wrath than others against the day of wrath you have blessed God it may be many times for the means of Grace that he has bestowed upon you but you will curse your selves a thousand times more for not improving them you will wish that you had lived in the darkest corners of the earth among Scythians and Barbarians it will be a terror to you to think of your Baptism what books you have read what Ministers you have heard what counsels have been given to you every sinner will be in a dreadful condition then but it will be more tolerable for many than for you Mat. 11.22 24. 3. The third motive is that you shall be accepted and saved if you will believe Life and death are set before you though you have been a grievous sinner though you have hardned your heart against God along while though you have rejected counsels and despised reproofs and spent your dayes hitherto in sin and travelled a great way in the path that leads to death yet there is no necessity of your damnation you are capable of salvation still if you will not cast away your self by continuing in unbelief you must bear it your selves others that laboured after your salvation will do well enough the loss will be your own but there is no need of your being ruined there is yet an open door and liberty set before you to enter into the most holy place if you will but accept of Christ you shall have salvation you are crying out what must I do to be saved you are not so solicitous for worldly enjoyments but your care is to go to Heaven and there is reason for it it is a glorious thing to see the face of God to be spectators of his glory the glimpses of it here are more refreshing than all the sweetnesses of the World to see God Father Son and Holy Ghost and all the Attributes of God is most delightful if you go to Heaven there you will have an uninterrupted sight of God you shall see him as he is and no clouds shall ever darken the sight of his countenance then you shall have the abiding sense of his love never make any questien about it more but be delighting therein for ever then you shall be delivered from sin and made glorious after the image of God then you shall be with Jesus Christ it is a comfort to hear of him but then you shall be in his presence you have a fame of him now but then you shall see him your eyes shall behold your Redeemer him that is wonderful in his person God and man and wonderful in the glory that he is advanced unto you shall have external manifestations of his favour you shall hear his wisdom and see his glorious managements and behaviour of himself and have opportunity to express your thankfulness unto the face of Christ then you shall have the gifts of the Spirit in a glorious manner the company of holy Angels that have been helpful to you and Spirits that you have heard and read of in the Book of God Adam and Noah and Abraham Moses David Paul c. there your imployment will be glorious and your body will be glorious if you will but come to Christ besides a great deal of mercy that God will bestow upon you in this world you shall partake of eternal salvation as poor a sinful creature as thou art the Lord is offering eternal life to thee if you will but accept it as a free gift from him through Jesus Christ you shall be welcome to it though heavenly glory be so great and you be so unworthy God will bestow it upon you do you desire eternal life are you indeed set for happiness in another world if you are you may soon secure it and make it sure to you if you will entertain these calls of the Gospel and you shall be saved the Lord has given abundance assurance this is no pleasing dream but a thing certain and infallible This appears if you consider 1. Because God has been at a great deal of cost in order to the salvation of Believers If a man should engage so far in any undertaking as to spend a vast estate in it we should readily conclude that it lay indeed upon his heart that he was real in it and that his spirit was deeply engaged and thus it is in this case God has been at great expense he has laid out himself more for the salvation of Believers than he did for the making of the World he has exercised much of his wisdom on this design much power yea he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believeth on him might not perish but might have everlasting life Joh 3 10. must not his heart be much in it when he gave his Son to die could any thing have induced God to such a strange dispensation had not the salvation of Believers been a thing that his heart was resolved upon God has by this given conviction to the World that he is set to save believers when we consider how many wonders God wrought in order to it how he sent his Son from heaven constituted him a Mediator delivered him over unto death it may give us great satisfaction that God is really bent to save them why should he go so far if he did not intend to go thorow God that has spent so much for the salvation of believers will spend a little more to carry the work on to perfection God loves his Son too much to let him die in vain to put him to such sorrows and then to let the design of all his sufferings fall to the ground 2. God has promised Jesus Christ to save those that believe on him Christ Jesus did not die at uncertainties the Father had engaged to him the salvation of believers God covenantd with him multitudes should be saved by him and that in a way of believing Isai 53.11 by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities and Jesus Christ in expectation of that has laid down his life and is waiting for the accomplishment of the promise Christ has taken Gods word and has paid the price of their salvation and God will not fail of his promise this eternal transaction between the Father and the Son puts the salvation of believers beyond all question God stands engaged to Christ and Christ is set
in his spirit to have this engagement fulfilled unto every believer Christ is not willing to lose one believer but claims the promise and is set for their salvation John 17.20 I pray for them also that shall believe on me through their word and what does he desire for them among other things that they may be where he is to behold his glory ver 24. 3. The Lord is perswading of you to believe in Christ he is urging of you and stirring of you up this is the very design of the Gospel to gain mens consent to come to Christ he invites you to come Rev 22.17 and is giving you an account what preparation he has made for your acceptance he has appointed the Ordinance of the Ministry upon this design to draw you to Christ and make up the match between you and Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 yea upon this account he sends his spirit into your hearts to terrifie you to mind you of your dying day of eternal judgment of the sinfulness of your lives and hearts that you may be compelled to come away to Christ that you may not be able to rest without him and why should God concern himself so to perswade you to believe if this were not a way of salvation what design can God have upon his heart in these works of his but to save you if you will hearken unto his voice why does God take so much pains about this if the life of your souls did not depend upon it would God strive so to bring you to Christ if you would not be the better for coming unto him certainly God layes extraordinary weight upon it and is deeply engaged in it to bring you unto Christ and would he be so if it were not a way of life and blessedness God would let men alone and never busie himself so to perswade them to believe in Christ if the life of their souls did not depend upon it it would not be worth the while for God with a great deal of care and by many wonderful works of his spirit to bring men to believe if this were not the way of salvation it would not become the wisdom and goodness of God to labour in this manner to perswade men to believe if this were not the way of life 4. God promises salvation to you if you will believe God is not at liberty to accept or reject you but he has brought himself under bonds and entred into a solemn covenant to save you if you come to Christ he has made a firm engagement without any exceptions conditions reservations to bestow salvation upon you that he might put the thing without doubt he has given you his word that he will save you you conclude that if you continue in this condition wherein you are you shall be damned because God threatens you so and may you not with as good ground conclude that if you believe you shall be saved because God promised you so he has not only promised eternal life to those that are already believers but he has promised it unto you upon condition that you will believe Act. 10.43 whoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins God has given you the assurance of his Word his actions do speak this to be his design but by his word he has engaged his faithfulness to you the holiness and fidelity of God and the care he has for his own honour stand security for your salvation if you come to Christ in this promise you may see the condescending grace of God how willing he is to satisfie you and the firm ground you have to go upon in coming to Christ for salvation you have the Word of God to bear you out 5. God has many wayes confirmed and strengthned his promise not but that his bare word is security enough but because men have distrustful hearts and are full of surmises and jealousies he has given abundant security to us of the stability of his promise he has given it us under his hand we have his word to shew for it he has made a firm indenture subscribed and recorded it he has not only spoken it by word of mouth but has made a firm deed and published it under his hand and millions of men can witness to it that he has bound himself to save those that come to Christ 1 Joh. 5.11 this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he has also established his promise by sealing to it circumcision was the seal of the righteousness of faith Rom. 4.11 men seal indentures to shew the reality of their purpose and to make their promise legally more firm so God has by many Sacraments in the Old Testament and by Baptism and the Lords Supper in the New Testament sealed to the covenant and ratified the same by holy Ordinances that would be prophaned if the covenant should fail God has also sworn to the covenant of grace it had been unreasonable for us to have desired such a confirmation from God but God voluntarily condescended to it to gain our belief Heh 6.17 18. that we might have strong consolation the Oath of God does declare the promise to be irrevocable and that God will not repent Psal 110.4 the Lord hath sworn and will not repent God has given you all manner of encouragement that you may evidently see an impossibility of failing of salvation if you come to Christ 6. God has made Jesus Christ the Judge of the World he has appointed him to take the examination of men and to give sentence upon them he has promised Christ that believers shall be saved and he has put power into the hands of Christ to see the thing accomplished and leaves the managing of the great Day of Judgment to him Acts 17.31 he will Judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he has ordained and certainly Jesus Christ will not suffer any to perish that come to him Christ has died for the salvation of believers and how can it be imagined but he will adjudge them unto life Christs Righteousness cannot but be a good plea in the day of Judgment where Christ is the Judge those that have an interest in the righteousness of Christ shall pass without exception in that day he will be as ready to acquit them in the Day of Judgment as he was before to die for them Christ Jesus has a deep sence of the vertue and worthiness of his Death and Obedience and will be ready to accept of you on that account Heb. 9.28 2. I shall add some considerations further to enforce these motives 1. Many others do venture their souls on Christ the perswasions of the Gospel have prevailed upon many there be thousands of men and women that have relinquished all other hopes and have built upon this foundation many others have hearkened unto God and it is a shame to you to be more backward unto duty than others there are