the soul begins to see it 's own unworthiness then it will be much fearing that it shall not be accepted will he think you entertain me then Christ shews not only his beauty but his willingness too to embrace thee and saith do you think I am unwilling Alas that is the great complaint I have to make of you You will not come to me that you may have life John 5.40 Alas man there is no want of will in me but in thy self I have done all that I can to make thee willing which is a clear proof of my willingness I have shewed thee that there is a necessity of coming to me he that 's stung cannot be healed unless he look unto me I have shewed thee that there is no cure any where else no acceptance no duty pleasing to God unless you come to me no no man thou canst do nothing without me John 15.5 And that there is neither name nor thing under Heaven by which you can be saved but by me Acts 4.12 If I had told you there had been any cure by your own Faith or your own Repentance or any thing else then indeed you might have said I was not willing because I told you you might seek remedy else where but I tell you I am very willing yea and I do wait for your acceptance of the love that I have declared to you Oh that you would not be unkind to me nor so cruel to your selves as to keep me out of your hearts any longer I profess I am not willing of your ruine but rather that you would be healed I have life for dead souls I have light for dark souls I have strength for weak souls I have holiness for pulluted souls I have ease for pained souls I have health saving health for sick souls I have bread for the hungry and drink for the thirsty clothing for the naked I have Salvation for lost souls nay what have I not that good is and this I have revealed and declared I have brought life yea and eternal life immortallity to light through the Gospel and yet notwithstanding all that I have shewed to manifest their necessity and my own willingness yet I am forced after all to complain that there is none or hardly any that stirreth up himself to take hold on me me and my light me and my life me and my righteousness though they see all their own righteousness to be as filthy Dung-hill rags yet they will not stir up themselves to take hold on me with my all Isa 64 7. Come poor trembling sinner come take hold of my strength come thou that sin is ready to burn up thy spirit I have water that shall allay that heat come buy of me Wine to pour into thy wounds come man without money of thy own righteousness or thy own merit come without thine own worthiness and when a poor soul is brought to see this indeed why then in the next place Sixthly The Soul even leans on it's Beloved then Lord I am thine and will be thine then it runs hastens to this strong Tower wherein it shall be safe Prov. 18.10 Now the soul is lodged safely in the bosom of it 's beloved Oh soul who ever thou be that stand'st trembling and art afraid thou art not worthy I tell thee he want's not thy worth but thy willingness to accept his worth therefore prethee give thy consent this day this present hour before thou stir one foot out of the place never talk of asking counsel of friends nor biding them farewel that are at home as he in the Gospel now saith God I never told thee another time nor too morrow But now is the time the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 And too day if thou wilt hear my voice Heb. 3.7 Oh now say as his children that had back sliden from him when he bid them return Jer. 3.22 Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God If it hath not been done before let this be the Marriage-day let the knot be knit this day do not put him off tell to morrow he may leave thee to morrow to the hardness of thy heart and thou mayst dye in thy sins and be damned It may be some poor soul may now say but I have not observed this all along in my soul therefore I doubt 't is not well with me it may be so soul yet there may be some that have and some can remember the manner how the place where the time when God did call them to himself and yet notwithstanding thou hast not taken such special notice of Gods way yet Christ may be as truly thine as his I this would rejoyce my heart indeed would'st thou say if I knew it but how shall I know it truly this leads me to the thing I promised you to try my self and you according to the measure and rule of the Law of liberty and here I would perswade thee to fall to the work of examination and bring thy self to the Touch-stone of the Word and if I speak not according to the rule say that 's mine but if it be according to the Word take heed thou reject it not for by that Word thou must and I must stand or fall I and presently too do not put it off If thou wouldst have present comfort to thy soul or if thou would know thy danger to it presently Oh I am afraid they that are so loath to come to the Sanctuary weights and measure will at last when they are broughtt to it be found with that motto on their foreheads as is left on Record touching the tryal of Beltshazar that wicked man Dan. 5.27 Tekel thou art weighed in the Ballances and art found wanting Prethee Soul come to the Sanctuary-scale betimes that if thou should be found to light thou might have time to get weight before the Market time be over and done and here in this tryal I shall not confine my self to that one only distinguishing Carracter that I find some Learned faithful men in the Church of Christ do give out as the only distinguishing Carracter for souls to Judge their state by and that is whether God the Father God the Son God the Spirit or else some inferior thing be it what it will or can be be a mans or souls chief good and the onely object of his delight and happiness In plain English whether or no upon due search as we say in cold blood that is when a man on the one hand is not lifted up in any way from the Earth from the consideration of trouble that sometimes are met withall among terrene things nor on the other hand when a man lyes pressed hard with some violent temptation that he seems to take little delight in God as Job Jeremiah and David when Gods hand pressed them fore these are not times for a man to pass a right Judgement of his state and he that thus and then judges himself judges only
the devil hath not forget his old trade of transforming himself into an Angel of light he can tell them 't is lawful to provide for their Family they are worse then Infidels that do not but this Nehemiah might have as many excuses as thee who ever thou art and yet Nehemiah would not leave the Lords work no he preferred the Lords work and esteemed it a great work this Christ would have all his children do Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness I and that 's the work that should be done in the first place before all other things try how 't is with thee if it be thus 't is a good sign thou art a child of God XXVI Hast thou in any measure overcome the World and dost thou seek the things above I put these together for they are of the same import 't is a sign thou art quickned with Christ if thou seek the things that are above and gett'st the world under thy feet this made Moses contenin the Treasures in Aegypt alas he valued it not Heb. 11.26 so John 1 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World and as they have overcome the World so they seek the things of another Paul would have the Corinthians live in the world like Men and Women of another World 1 Cor. 7.29 It remains that they that have Wives be as they that have none no why should they run away from them no that 's not the meaning but they should sit loose from them if God call for them be as willing to part from them in his fear without repining at Gods hand as if they had none at all And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it Note well the Apostle doth not say you shall have no Wives nor you shall not weep nor receive nor buy nor use this World no but take heed how you have and do things in the World as if the Apostle should say I would not have your hearts set on these things We should use the World to carry us to our Fathers House but we must take heed you rest not here Arise arise Man this world is not thy rest Get wings man and fly up live like men of another world in this world such a life as this did Paul live when he said Our conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Why Paul are not you among the Saints on earth among men on earth yes but converse in Heaven I trade about Heavenly things my thoughts Heavenly my affections Heavenly my conversation Heavenly my words they are Heavenly too they are such as are a Paradox to the Men of this world the men of the world speak of the world the world hear them but said the Apostle We are of God and they that know God hear us and they that are not of God heareth not us no poor Creatures they know not what we say 1 John 4.5 if you speak of God the world know not what you say these are out of their reach therefore Christ said to the poor blind Jews You do not understand my speech why because you cannot bear my Word in John 8.43 'T was a mistery that he speak to them therefore Paul saith 3 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned Talk to him of Meat and Drink and Sleep and ease and the pleasures and sports of this life and this he heareth and knoweth this is sensual not spiritual Jude 19. This his sence understandeth talk to him of a Kingdom that consisteth of Meat and Drink this he is willing shall be his Heaven but alas poor carnal man thou art mistaken The Kingdom of God consisteth not in Meats and Drink Rom. 14.17 But now soul hast thou overcome these sower things and is thy heart set on Heaven hast thou thy heart soaring aloft I am afraid the most professors of this age are great strangers to this and many other things that are the life of Christianity what ever specious pretences they may make yet their very practices speak it out to loud but if thou art one whose life is in Heaven then thou art one of wisdoms children For the way of life is above to the wise Prov. 15.22 XXVII Art thou a new creature then 't is a sign thou art in Christ Are all old things done away the old Companions the old lusts the old love of the folly of this world is turned into the love of Heavenly things 2 Cor. 5.17 It may be thou canst not shed tears so plentifully why man repentance doth not so much consist in that but is thy nature changed and dost thou abhor thy self as Job 42.6 Dost thou find in thee a hatred to thee way of wickedness that thou wast wont to love and a love to the things of God that of old thou wast wont to hate dost thou loath sin and loath thy self for sin 't is a good sign thou art in Christ it may be formerly thou wouldst not have this man to reign over thee but now give me Christ or else I dye formerly thou wer 't alive and active in sin But now thou art dead to sin and alive to God Rom. 6.11 Now you do not alow your selves willingly in any known sin Oh soul is well with thee thou art pure in heart though not perfect yet in part XXVIII Hast thou a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon thee when Paul was converted to Christ whom before he persecuted Ananias was bid to go and enquire for Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth why did he never pray before possible he might utter words before but he had not the Spirit of Prayer before there be many from the invention of memory or in a form seem to pray excellently that yet do not pray in the Holy Ghost Acts 9.11 And you know Jude speaks of praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost Men may as I said mumble over a form of words it may be I but a man cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost 't is the Spirit of God that will help souls to pray to confess sin and to plead promises the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groans that cannot be uttered he that hath the Spirit can come to God as a Friend and say Father I have need of such and such mercies I have need of strength against sin and such and such corruptions are like to overcome me he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God as Abraham was called the friend of God often times take one place for the rest that comes next to my hand 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God and say Lord such and such sins and corruptions are to hard for me
but Lord thou hast said Micab 7.19 20. Thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast our sins into the depth's of the Sea Oh Lord perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham that thou hast promised yea sworn to our Fathers in the days of old Now soul if thou dost find in thee a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication that thou canst plead with God in his promises as I have instanced here in one why then 't is a good sign thou art thy self called of God and precious in his sight but I would hasten toward an end of these things XXIX 'T is a good sign thou thy self art in Christ if thou art willing to bring others into Christ grace is of a diffusive nature it will spread it self Peter saith Christ when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Luke 22.23 It may be this is of a second conversion and you know Paul speaks of travelling in Birth again till Christ be found in the Gallatians Gal. 4.19 It seems to intimate they were born before but were turned aside to crooked pathes for saith Paul Verse 20. I stand in doubt of you but I will not dispute it here but leave it to the sober wise but however When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren that is do what thou canst to convert and confirm others in their most Holy Faith Wherefore Brethren edifie one another as also ye do 1 Thess 5.11 Grace will beget and strengthen as many as it can it will draw others what may be to the good ways of God Come saith David and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul His spirit was full it was ready to break before it had vent and thus it was with the Woman of Samaria when she had once heard Christ She run into the City and saith Come oh come and see a man that told me all that ever I did She was willing they should know all that ever she knew of Christ and so saith Paul I would thou wer 't such as I am except these hods Acts 26.29 Oh how did his soul long for the conversion of others in Rom. 10.1 My hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved Soul is it thus with thee dost thou know thy friends and relations to be in an unconverted estate and dost thou long and pray they may be converted Is thy fellowship with the Father And dost thou desire their fellowship may be with you with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and dost thou declare to others what thou hast seen and heard of Jesus Christ that thou mayest draw them into fellowship with Jesus 1 John 1.3 If so 't is a good sign thou art one in Christ XXX And lastly If thou art in Christ thou lovest the Saints of Christ not love them barely as they are men but as they are Saints a man may love another but not upon the account as he is a Christian man he may love him as he is of a sweet behaviour and carriage or as he is a relation or as an aquaintance or as a friend that may be profitable to a man in the World I but I speak of love to a Saint as he is a Saint and therefore Christ saith He that giveth to a Prophet not as he is a man or a friend But as in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward Matt. 10.41.42 Now I say if thou lovest Christ's Disciples thus thou art in Christ and Christ saith by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples how so why If you love one another John 13.35 This Spirit was in Moses which made him say If thou wilt not forgive their sin blot me out of thy Book Exod. 32.32 Which Book we would with submission say 't is the Book of his Temporary Life and truly this was great love that he would lay down his life for Israel in this he was a Type of our Lord so David had a great love to the Saints and a delight in the Saints Psal 16.3 To the Saints and to the excellent in the Earth in whom is all my delight Had David nothing else to set a little of his delight upon yes David was a King he had a Crown and many things else to have delighted in but to the Saints and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Davids delight was all on the Saints and that with good reason because they were most excellent Why had not David many mighty Men of Valour that were excellent ones you may see a whole Catalogue of Davids Worthies in the 1 Chron. 11.10 to the end and were none of these Noble Princes of valor that were in his Court his delight no saith David to the Saints in whom is all my delight and it will appear by the delight he had in the company of them that fear the Lord Psal 119.63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee Not of Nobles and great Men of whom then Of all that fear thee why David there be some poor Men that fear God dost not thou think scorn David being a King to company with poor Men no saith David I am a companion of all that fear thee and 't is so with others too saith David Vers 74. They that fear thee will be glad to see me or when they see me the Saints be glad to see one another therefore David saith again Verse 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me be they poor or rich be they those that fear thee Oh let them turn unto me be they Servants or any I 'le keep them company that fear the Lord I but David would it not credit thy Court to keep Ranters and Swearers for the World saith he is no Gentleman that cannot swear no saith David I 'le keep no such as they are My eye shall be on the Faithful in the Land they shall dwell with me Psal 101.6 7. But for those that work deceit they shall not dwell in my house nor he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight This was the Spirit that was in David he loved the Saints let them be poor or rich be they Masters or Servants All that fear thee I am a companion toe by the way give me leave one word to those one 's of this age we live in Sirs how many will Davids practice condemn he was a companion of all that fear God he was a King and it may be thou art some Trades man and yet thou thinkest scorn to converse with the poor Saints if he be some of the great ones of the City then thou art a companion of such but if a poor Saint come to thee then thou art in hast or some one or another stay for me this is a sad Spirit that is crept in among us in these days And from this also may Ministers themselves be rebuked and that sharply too truly among you men of low estate are low in esteem for ought I