hearts about our Spiritual estate 5. Another help to the holding the perswasion of our interest in Christ is to commune often with our own hearts about our Spiritual state and the grounds of our claiming an interest in Christ and our performance of those terms which the Gospel proposeth in order to our enjoying the saving benefits of Christ as namely whether we do indeed believe on him and repent of our sins and obey Christ as our Lord and love and prefer him above all things and deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow him For 1. The oftner we search our selves and commune with our own hearts the clearer Knowledge we shall have of our Spiritual state 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you If we be doubtful and desirous to know whether Christ be in us the way to come unto this knowledge is to examine our selves whether we be in the Faith What the Psalmist saith of Gods searching him Psal 139.1 O Lord thou hast searched me and known me The same is true of searching our selves by searching our selves we shall know our selves As Solomon by communing with his own heart grew in Wisdom and Experience Eccl. 1.16 I communed with mine own heart Yea my heart had great Experience of Wisdom and Knowledge So shall we have great experience and knowledge of our hearts if we do often commune with them 2. While we are communing with our own hearts about our Spiritual Estate it pleaseth the Lord oft times to draw War to us and to illuminate our minds and to evidence to us the Graces that are wrought in us As it fared with the two Disciples Luk. 24.15 And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned Jesus himself drew near and went with them So it often comes to pass with the Children of God whilst they are Communing and Reasoning with their own hearts that Jesus Christ draws near to them with his Holy Spirit and sealeth up Instruction to them And as it was with Moses when he turned aside to see and consider that great work of God a Bush burning and not consumed when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see the work of God God spake to Moses and revealed himself to him Exod. 3.3 4 6. So 't is here when we turn aside from our worldly affairs to commune with our own hearts about the workings of Gods grace upon our Souls he reveals and discovers to us our covenant interest in himself 3. Communing with our own hearts and recollecting former experiences of Gods gracious dealings with us will still those troubled thoughts which arise in our minds about our Spiritual and Eternal State Psal 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your Bed and be still When the Psalmist was in a troubled condition and had many sad thoughts as if God would cast him off for ever and shew him no Mercy he was quieted when he communed with his own heart and recollected Gods gracious dealings with him in former days Psal 77.6 7 8 9 10. 4. Frequent communing with our own hearts will discover our irregular walkings and put us upon returning to God after we have gone astray Psal 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies And turning to God and walking in his ways will preserve our peace and maintain a Spirit of Adoption in us Jer. 3.19 Thou shalt call me my Father and shall not turn away If we would call God our Father we must be careful we do not turn away from the Lord. § Get Scruples resolved 6. See what are your most material doubts and scruples which make you call in question your Interest in Christ and beg of God to resolve those doubts and remove those scruples and observe what Resolution God gives you by his Word and Spirit after you sought to him by Prayer For after Prayer God is wont to give us intimation of our Interest in himself and his Son and to give us boldness to claim our interest in him Zech. 13.9 They shall call and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Such intimations of our Interest in God and Christ and such encouragements to claim Interest in God as are given in after Prayer are to be carefully observed and recorded safely for they may be of great use to us what was said in the fourth direction about the state of a Christian in this present evil world may be of great use to the resolving scruples about our Interest in Christ And also what is added after the use of Examination § What to do when we can't get our doubts and scruples answered 7. When your doubts and scruples and darkness are of that nature that you can't come to a Resolution about your interest in Christ close a new with Jesus Christ Seeing your selves under the offer of Christ in the gospel say thus within your selves though I can't make out that Christ is mine I see God offers him freely to me and therefore I will now accept of him that he may be mine and I do and will in a solemn manner engage my self to him to be his This will cut those knots in sunder which we can't untie And a frequent renewal of our choice of Christ for our Lord and Saviour our renewed acceptance of him upon the terms of the Gospel with mature deliberation and judgment and solemn surrendring our selves to Christ to be his would tend much to the clearing our interest Psal 119.30 94. I have chosen the way of truth I am thine David who had chosen God to be his God and the ways of God to be the ways that he would walk in could with an holy boldness say unto God I am thine save me § An Holy Conversation is a means to preserve the Assurance of our Interest in Christ 8. If we would retain the perswasion of our Interest in Christ we must be careful to order our Conversations aright and walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ for an Holy Conversation is a special means to obtain the assurance of our Salvation Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Isa 32.17 The work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever I might instance here in some particular branches of Righteousness which tend to the breeding and preserving of an assurance of our being in a state of Grace and Salvation as walking in Love and being ready to do all offices of Love one for another 1 Joh. 3.18.19 My little Children let us not love in Word or in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And hereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our hearts before him This is the way not only to get assurance but to keep it to the end of our
Apostle Paul had such confidence of the Philippians welfare because he had them in his heart what confidence may we have in all our troubles from Christs having us in his heart and bearing us upon his heart continually and ever living to make intercession for us 2 Our Lord Jesus Christ in his intercession represents to his Father our troubles and dangers that we are exposed to while we are in the World and our shiftless condition and the hatred we meet with from the World and prays his Father to keep us by his divine power he prays not that we should be taken out of the World while we have service to do in the World but that we may be kept from the evils we are liable to in the World Joh. 17.9.11 14 15. Where observe 1. The Persons for whom Christ interceedeth and they are all that are his ver 9.10 I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine 2. He represents to his Father the dangers they are in by being in the World where they are hated and want his presence with them ver 11.14 And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world I have given them thy Word and the world hath hated them 3. He commits them to his Fathers care and prays him to keep them by his divine power ver 11. Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me That which he mainly prayed for was not that they should be taken out of the world but kept from the evil ver 15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but keep them from the evil 4. The Arguments he useth in Prayer they are all mine and all thine and they glorifie me ver 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them 5. This Prayer of Christ for his wherein he hath prayed to his Father to keep them in his name whilst they are in this world was recorded on purpose to comfort our hearts under our troubles ver 13. These things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves And this Prayer of Christ was made not only for his Disciples that were then living but for all that should afterward believe on him to the end of the World ver 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word And what Christ prayed for God will assuredly grant Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always Obj. But how is the intercession of Christ a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world when notwithstanding the Prayer of Christ that they that are his may be kept from the evil they fall into as many and as great troubles as other men A. 1. Many troubles and afflictions are kept off at the intercession of Christ from those that are his For such is the malice of Satan and wicked men against the Saints that they would do them an hundred fold more mischief than they do if God should not restrain them Ps 124.2.3 4 5. Laban would have done Jacob much hurt but God would not suffer him to hurt him Gen. 31.7 Your Father hath deceived me and changed my wages ten times but God suffered him not to hurt me The Israelites when few in number when they went up and down from one place and one Kingdom to another were liable to many injuries but God prevented the malice of their adversaries Psal 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong 2. When God doth not keep off troubles and afflictions from the Members of Christ which is not absolutely prayed for God at the intercession of Christ keeps off the evil of trouble from the members of Christ The evil of trouble is when troubles make us sin against God and forsake the ways of God Mat. 13.21 VVhen Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of thy word by and by he is offended that is falleth away as another Evangelist expresseth it 2 King 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord why should I wait for the Lord any longer The evil of troubles is when men fret and curse and blaspheme the name of God because of their troubles as Isa 8.21 Rev. 16.10.11 Now the Members of Christ are kept from these evils under their troubles 3. At the intercession of Christ the nature of troubles and afflictions are changed they are not evils but good things to the People of God Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted 4. At the intercession of Christ they that are Christs are upheld under their troubles and kept from fainting Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me Though we be not kept from trouble yet Christs Prayer is answered if we be kept by the power of God in our troubles kept from falling kept from fainting Now God for Christs sake keeps his people from falling and fainting under their troubles Psal 94.18 VVhen I said my Foot slippeth thy Mercy O Lord held me up Psal 116.8 Thou hast delivered my feet from falling Psal 118.13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me 3. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort under all our troubles because he interceedeth with his Father that the Spirit the comforter may be sent down into our hearts to abide with us for ever Joh. 14.1.16 17. Let not your heart be troubled I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth The Lord Jesus foreseeing that his Disciples would meet with many Tribulations that their hearts might not be troubled proposeth many grounds of comfort to them among others this is a principal one that he would interceed with his Father to give them his holy Spirit to be their Comforter to make his abode with them for ever But some may say though the Spirit the Comforter be sent down into our hearts to abide with us for ever yet many of the Servants of Christ that have the comforter want the comforts of the Spirit in their troubles Q. What shall we do that we may get the comforts of the Spirit in our afflictions A. 1. Walk in the fear of God both before trouble comes and when you walk in the midst of trouble for such as walk in the fear of God enjoy the comforts of the holy Ghost Act. 9.31 VValking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost 2. Give your selves to prayer in the day of trouble Joh. 16.24 Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full Christ told his Disciples ver 20. That they should weep and lament and be sorrowful but their forrow should be turned into joy and here he directs them the way to get comfort under their
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel he was found of them § Such as want Evidence of their interest in Christ ought to trust in him for Salvation What grounds have such to trust in Christ 3. Though you want evidence of your interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death yet if you be such as live in the fear of God such as desire to be saved by Christ in his own way and upon his own Terms you may yea you ought to trust in Christ for eternal Salvation Isa 50.10 VVho is among you that fears the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God A man that truly feareth God may be in great darkness about his Spiritual State he may have no light that is no Evidence of his interest in God and the promises and so be in a very uncomfortable condition yet such ought to trust in Christ If any say what grounds hath a man that followeth after Righteousness and desireth to live in the fear of God and yet wanteth evidence of his Interest in Christ and the promises of God to trust in Christ for his Salvation § Grounds of trusting in Christ for Salvation for such as are in a dark condition as to their Interest in Christ A. 1. God sends his Son into the World to take our nature upon him and to die for our Sins for this very end and purpose to seek and to save Sinners who were in a lost and undone condition 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost 1 John 4.14 VVe have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the VVorld John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved These general expressions to save the World to save Sinners to save that which was lost opens a door of hope to such as can't see their interest in Christ but see themselves lost Sinners and hearing that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world to save lost sinners i◠shews them that there is hope for their Souls that they may obtain Salvation By Jesus Christ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world and who came into the world purposely to save sinners is an all-sufficient Saviour able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them He is able to save to the uttermost that is to save perfectly to save eternally to give all things requisite to Salvation he is able to justifie sanctifie and bring unto glory all that come unto him For his blood is available to take away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And his Spirit is able to sanctifie the worst and most polluted Sinners The Corinthians were the chief of Sinners Extortioners Drunkards Adulterors Abusers of themselves with mankind with other abominations yet they were sanctified by the Spirit of Christ of great sinners made eminent Saints 1 Cor. 62.10 11. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ inviteth and calleth all distressed Persons in all places that see themselves in a perishing undone condition to look to him and to come to him for Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of Earth That is let all Persons from one end of the Earth to the other that find a want of Salvation look unto me and I will save them Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 4. The Lord commandeth us to trust in his Son for the giving us eternall life 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he is displeased with those that do not relie on him for their Salvation Ps 78.21 22. The Lord was wroth and anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation 5. We have God promises yea many promises that he will give eternal life and blessedness to all whosoever they be that believe and trust in his Son Ps 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting life § The plea of such as can't trust in Christ for Salvation for want of Sanctification Obj. 1. None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified and in a state of Grace but I want evidences of my being sanctified and being in a state of Grace how then can I trust in Christ to save me A. 1. It is true that Christ sanctifieth all whom he saveth for without Holiness no man whatsoever shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. If a man live and dye in his sins without repentance and yet trust in Christ for Salvation he doth but delude himself for our Lord Jesus telleth us expresly that all that do not repent shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 2. Though you want evidences of your Sanctification yet do you not find ardent desires of Sanctification do you not find hungrings and thirstings after Righteousness Such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness are in a blessed condition as well as they that have attained Righteousness Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Spiritual desires are an argument of the Grace of God bestowed upon us The gracious estate of the Servants of God is sometimes set out by their desires Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is to thee and to the remembrance of thy name Neh. 1.11 Thy Servants who desire to fear thy name Then our desires argue a gracious state when our desires of God and the things of God exceed our desires of other things Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. If you find in your self a want of Sanctification know this that you are to trust in
my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my desire and all my Salvation although he make it not to grow See what was Davids comfort when he was speaking his last words it was his interest in the Everlasting Covenant He hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant and the assurance he had of his Salvation by virtue of this Covenant This is all my Salvation 7. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all sorts of troubles and against the terrours of Death because when Christ is ours all his saving benefits are ours As Ahab said to Benhadad 1 King 20.4 I am thine and all that I have So may I say If Christ be thine all that Christ hath is thine Hence such as are interested in Christ are said to be joynt heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 When Christ is ours all things are ours things present and things to come life and death this world and the world to come adversitie and prosperitie all things are ours ordained and designed for our good 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods And if this will not comfort us to hear that life and death things present and things to come the Kingdom of Heaven and all things are ours what else will VVhen Christ is ours his Righteousness is ours Phil. 3.9 His blood and all that he hath purchased with his blood all his merits are ours and his intercession is ours God is our Father the Spirit is our comforter Heaven is our Inheritance yea all good things are ours Obs How is this true that they are Christs have all things when as many that are Christs are ful of wants they want Riches Friends c. and in great straits and have suffered the loss of all things for Christ and can these be consistent together that a man should have all things and yet want many things A. 1. They that are Christs have all things vertually in that contentment and satisfaction which they have in Christ and from Christ They are or may be as well contented as if they had all the world Thus it was with the Apostle in his wants and straits when he was as poor to outward appearance as a man that hath nothing he was as well contented as if he had possessed the whole world 2 Cor. 6.10 As having nothing and yet possessing all things A man that hath a contented mind is as well satisfied as if he had all the world Gen. 33.11 Take I pray thee my blessing that is brought unto thee because God hath dealt graciously with me and I have enough The Hebrew is li chol I have all things Hence note that they have enough that have contented and satisfied minds they have all things 2. They that are Christs have all things in the providential care of God though they be poor and in straits and have suffered the loss of all things the providence of God takes care of them to supply them with all things that are needful with all things that are good for them 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you The providence of God taketh such care for us in all things that we need not trouble our selves with anxious thoughts or cares about any thing but may cast all our care upon the Lord. The Providence of God doth and will take care of us to supply us with all needful things and all things that are good for us Phil 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ 3. They have all things in the Covenant and Promise of God For in the Covenant there are all things promised that they do or can desire 2 Sam. 23.5 He hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant and this is all my Salvation and all my desire VVe can't desire more then Grace and Glory and all good things now these are all promised to us Ps 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly And what things are ours by promise are ours by a better and a more sure tenure then what is ours by actual possession without a promise because what we have in our possession may be lost may be taken from us but the promises no creature can take from us 4. They have all things eminently and transcendently in God and Christ in having God for their portion and Christ for their Saviour What Solomon saith of mony Eccl. 10.19 Mony answereth all things The same may be said as truly of God and Christ God answereth all things and Christ answereth all things When we enjoy God who is the fountain of all good in the enjoyment of him for our God we do inherit all things Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son They have all things in Christ their head what the head hath the head hath it for the good of the Members Now Christ our head hath all things for the good of his church Eph. 1.22 And gave him to be the head over all things in the Church 5. They have the good of all things though not the actual possession of all things Rom. 8.28 VVe know that all things work together for good to them that love God Yea their very wants are for their good for they put them upon living by Faith and stir up in them a Spirit of Prayer and keep them humble c. 6. They are heirs of all things though they are not come to the full enjoyment of their inheritance for they are joynt heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 If children then heirs heirs of God and joynt heirs with Christ And Christ is heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things The heir while a child is Lord of all though he hath not the actual possession of his inheritance Gal. 4.1 So it is with us we are heirs of all things by virtue of our Union with Christ though we have not the actual possession of our inheritance 8. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all troubles of life and terrors of death because all that are Christs are blessed in and by Christ and are so blessed as no troubles nor death it self can make them miserable but after their Union with Christ they are blessed and shall continue blessed for ever I shall open the blessedness of such as are Christs in these particulars 1. All that are Christs are in a most blessed and happy condition Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust
promised to comfort his afflicted people And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem That is to be observed for this Prophet had foretold great judgments and desolations should come upon Jerasalem As Isa 3.8 Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen Isa 24.3 11. The Land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoyled All joy is darkned and the mirth of the Land is gone Isa 64.10 Thy Holy Cities are a Wilderness Zion is a Wilderness Jerusalem a desolation Yet though these Ruines and Desolations were coming upon Jerusalem that the Land should be utterly spoiled all joy be darkned and the mirth of the Land quite gone yet the Lord promiseth to comfort his people in Jerusalem We that have such promises may rest upon God that for Christs sake he will comfort us in all our tribulations Mich. 7.8 VVhen I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Afflictions and troubles are set out by the name of darkness Isa 45.7 Joy and Comfort are expressed by the name of light Psal 97.11 So that the meaning is when I am in trouble and distress the Lord shall give me comfort Ps 38.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me Obj. But do we not see that notwithstanding these promises and the confidences of the people of God that God will comfort them in their afflictions yet they are oft times under very great sorrows and heaviness A. 1. The people of God have Flesh as well as Spirit though the Spirit be willing to love the cross the Flesh is weak though the Spirit rejoyceth in God the Flesh feeling the smart of the Rod mourns 2. Their sorrows do not last alwayes but are soon turned into joy Joh. 16.20 Ye shall weep and lament but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Christ doth not promise his Disciples that they shall have no sorrows no cause of weeping but this he promiseth that they shall not be left comfortless under their sorrows for their sorrow shall be turned into joy Psal 30.5 11. VVeeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning 3. Even while the people of God are mourning they are sowing the seeds of joy and comfort and shall doubtless reap the fruit of their sorrows in more abundant consolations Ps 126.5 6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoyceing bringing his sheaves with him There is much more reaped than was sown A little quantity of seed yields whole Cart-loads of Corn. To open this more fully of Christs promising not to leave his people comfortless in their troubles I will shew you several wayes whereby Christ comforts his Members and gives them peace under their greatest troubles 1. By shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which he gives unto them Rom. 5.3 5. VVe glory in tribulation because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us By shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts understand the manifesting of Gods love to our souls the giving us the knowledge and understanding of the love of God which doth wonderfully affect the heart with joy and gladness Psal 42.7 8. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me Two things are here worthy of our observation 1. David did believe that in his greatest distresses when all Gods waves and billows went over him God would express and manifest his love to him yet the Lord will command his loving kindness The commanding his loving kindness implyeth the powerful expressions of his love VVhere the word of a King is there is power Eccl. 8.4 And the abiding impressions of his love Ps 33.9 He commanded and it stood fast And the speedy manifestation of his love For when God gives a command to things to be done it implyeth speed Ps 147.15 He sendeth forth his Commandment upon the Earth his word runneth very swiftly 2. David did believe that the manifestation of the love of God would be such a comfort to him that it would make his heart to sing for joy in his greatest distresses yet the Lord shall command his loving kindness and in the night his song shall be with me 2. Jesus Christ comforts and refresheth his Members in their troubles by those gracious visits which he gives them in their afflictions Job 10.12 Thy visitation hath preserved my Spirit John 16.22 And ye now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you A visit from a good man is very comfortable in a day of trouble 2 Cor. 7.5 6. Our flesh had no rest we were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears Nevertheless God that comforteth them that are cast down comforted us by the coming of Titus If a visit from a good man be so refreshing that it will comfort us when we are troubled on every side when we have fightings without and fears within then how comfortable is a visit from Christ in the day of trouble But how doth Christ visit his afflicted people what are those visits of Christ which he gives his people in their affliction A. 1. Christ visiteth his people with his word by bringing suitable and encouraging promises to them in a day of distress Lam. 3.54 57. Waters flowed over mine head then I said I am cut off Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee thou saidest fear not Thus the Lord visited Abraham with a suitable word of promise Gen. 15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And these are sweet visits which do greatly rejoyce the heart Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil 2. Jesus Christ visiteth his people in their afflictions by his Spirit the teachings the revivings the supports of his Spirit Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head his right hand doth embrace me Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee Isa 57.15 I dwell with him that is of a contrite and an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones 3. The Lord Jesus visits his afflicted people when he answers their Prayers and fulfils his own promises Gen. 21.1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken 4. The Lord visits his afflicted people when he raiseth up deliverance for them out of their troubles Psal 106.4 O visit me with thy Salvation And such visits when God saves his people out of their troubles cause great joy Psal 21.1 The King shall joy in
days to shew our love in our diligence in Ministring to the Saints as we have ability and as their necessity requireth Heb. 6.10 11. Another Grace that will much further our Assurance as trusting in God in all distresses and dangers and living by Faith on Gods promises Psal 31.14 I trusted in thee I said thou art my God The more we accustom our selves to trust in God the more confidently we shall be enabled to call God our God Another grace that will further our assurance is Uprightness when we walk in our Integrity that will scatter and dispel fears and bring in comfort Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness But I shall add no more upon this question Sect. 3. What they should do that can't make out their interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death Obj. It may be some will say it is true they that have an interest in Christ and know it may be of good chear under all the troubles of this Life and when they are to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death but what shall I do in an evil day and at the hour of Death that cannot to this day nor ever could make it out that I have a saving interest in Christ § Prayer a means to clear interest Encouragements to pray for this mercy A. 1. Pray to God to make clear to your Souls your interest in himself and his Son Jesus Christ Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation That which David asks is not be thou my Salvation but 't is the satisfying his Soul with the knowledge that God was his Saviour and would give him Salvation Say unto my Soul That is Lord perswade my Soul Lord give my Soul satisfaction in this great case that thou art my Saviour and wilt confer Salvation upon me And what David prayed for in this kind that may we pray for also And for our encouragement to pray for the knowledge of your interest in Christ consider these things 1. Prayer is a means of Gods own appointing not only for the obtaining of the favour of God but also for the obtaining of the comfortable apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Job 33.26 He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy Here is a double blessing promised unto the man that prayeth unto God he shall obtain the favour of God and he shall see his face with joy that is he shall obtain the knowledge of Gods love to his Soul which shall put great joy and gladness into his heart 2. The knowledge of our interest in God as our Father and in Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer is promised in the new Covenant and what the Lord hath promised we may pray in Faith and Hope that we shall attain it See promises to this purpose Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer That which is here promised is not I will be thy Saviour and thy Redeemer but the knowledge of our interest in Christ as our Saviour and our Redeemer It is not said thou shalt know that I am the Saviour of my people or the Saviour of those that trust in me Thon shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer Another promise of clearing our interest in Christ we have Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you At that day what day is here meant some understand it of the future life when we shall live with Christ in Glory spoken of in the foregoing verse because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know And doubtless the full accomplishment of this promise is the priviledge of the other life to have a perfect understanding of the mystical Union between the Father and the Son and between Christ and Believers But it hath also a respect to clearing our Union with Christ in this life at that day that is after I am risen from the dead and gone to the Father and at that day that you set your love upon me and keep my Commandments and I shall pray the Father and he shall send you another comforter even the Spirit of truth he shall make it known to you that I am in you and you in me It may also relate to ver 13 14. When you shall earnestly pray to the Father in my name to have your union cleared in that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me If any say I have prayed to God to clear my Union with and my Interest in Christ and still I am in the dark about this matter I answer You must continue to seek this mercy the knowledge of your interest in God and Christ and that is the way to obtain it Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord § Such as can't make out their Interest in Christ should close with Christ that they may have an Interest in him 2. If you cant nor ever could make out your Interest in Christ yea suppose it be so that you have no interest in him come in now and close with him The door of Hope still stands open to your Souls It is yet an accepted time and a day of Salvation God still continueth to offer Christ to your Souls and prays you to accept of him 2 Cor. 5.20 VVe pray you in Christs stead be you reconciled to God If at length after a long neglecting of Christ you will come in and close with him you shall be saved by him Heb. 4.7 To day after so long a time as it is said to day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts Those that had stood all the day idle even to the last hour were invited to go into the Vineyard and going upon the invitation had their reward Matth. 20.6 7 9. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard and whatever is right that shall ye receive And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny This penny is by the generality of Interpreters agreed to be eternal life and this eternal life shall be given to those that come into Christ at the last hour of the day though the former part of their time hath been spent in ideleness But some may say if a man hath reflected and lived without God in the day of his prosperity is there hope if such a man turn to God in the day of trouble that God will be found of him and be gracious unto him I answer There is hope for such as have neglected God along time if they turn to him in the day of their tròuble that he will be gracious unto them 2 Chron. 15.3 4.