some great legal shakings are deceitful and turn to nothing if not worse we shall point at some things remarkable in these converts spoken of before which did prove the work of the Law on them to have had a gracious issue and result 1. Some word of truth or dispensation putteth the person to a dreadful stand with a great stir in the Soul Some are pricked in heart Acts 2. 27. Some fell on trembling Acts 16. 29. and this is such a stir that the person is brought to his wits end What wilt thou have me to do saith Paul Acts 9. What shall I do saith the Jaylor Acts 16. 30. 2. The person is content to have Salvation and Gods friendship on any terms as the questions do import What shall I do as if he had said What would I not do What would I not forego What would I not undergo 3. The person accepteth the condition offered by Christ and his Servants as is clear in the fore-cited Scriptures 4. The person presently becometh of one interest with the Saints joyning himself with that persecuted society putting respect on those whom he had formerly persecuted joyning and continuing with them in the profession of Christ on all hazards Those with whom the Lord hath so dealt have much to say for a gracious work of Gods spirit in them and it is like many of them can date their work from such a particular time and word or dispensation and can give some account of what past between God and them and of a sensible change following in them from that time forward as Paul giveth a good account of the work and way of God with him afterwards Acts 22. Again The Lord sometimes carrieth on this work more calmly foftly and gently protracting it so as the steps of mens exercise under it are very discernable It would draw a great length to enlarge every step of it we shall touch the most observable things in it 1. The Lord Iayeth siege to men who it may be have often refused to yield to him offering himself in the Ordinances and by some word Preached Read or born in on the mind or by some providence leading in unto the Word he doth also assault the house kept peaceably by the strong man the Devil and thus Christ who is the stronger man cometh upon him Luke 11. 22. and by the Spirit of truth doth fasten the Word on the man in which Gods curse is denounced against such and such sinners whereof the man knoweth himself guilty The spirit convinceth the man and bindeth it upon him that he is the same person against whom the Word of God doth speak because he is guilty of such sins and from such sins the man is led on to see more until ordinarily he comes to see the sins of his youth sins of omission c. yea he is led on until he sees himself guilty almost of the breach of the whole Law he seeth innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in a fit of exercise Isa 40. 12. A man sometimes will see ugly sights of sin in this case and is sharp-sighted to reckon a filthiness to every sin almost Thus the spirit convinceth of sin Jo. 16. 8. 2. The Lord shaketh a special strong hold in the garrison a refuge of lies to which the man betaketh himself when his sins are thus discovered to him The poor man pretendeth to faith in Christ whereby he thinks his burden is taken off him as the Pharisees said John 8. 41. We have on Father even God They pretend to a special relation of God as a common Lord. The Spirit of God beats the man from this by the truth of the Scriptures proving that he hath no true faith and so no interest in Christ nor any true saving grace shewing clear differences between true grace and the counterfeit fancies which the man hath in him and between him and the truly Godly as Christ laboureth to do those Joh. 8. 42 44. If God were your father ye would love me Ye are of the Devil for ye do the lusts of such a father So fear surpriseth the Hypocrite in heart Isa 33. 14. especially when the Lord discovereth to him conditions in many of these promises wherein he trusted most not easily attainable he now seeth grace and faith another thing than once he judged them to be We may in some respect apply that word here The Spirit convinceth him of sin because he hath not believed on the Son he is particularly convinced of unbelief John 16. 9. he seeth now a huge distance between himself and the godly whom he thought before out-stripped him in only some unnecessary proud hateful preciseness he now seeth himself deluded and in the broad way with the perishing multitude and so in the sight of his misery coucheth down under his own burthen which before this time he thought Christ did bear for him he now beginneth to be afraid of the Promises because of that and such other words What hasâ— thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth c. Psal 50 16 3. The man becometh careful about his salvation and beginneth to take it to heart as the one thing necessary he is brought to this with the Jaylor Act. 16. What shall I do to be saved His salvation becometh the leading thing with him It was least in his thoughts before but now it prevaileth and other things are much mis-regarded by him since his soul is ready to perish What shall it profit him to gain the whole world if he lose his soul Mat. 16. 26. Some here are much puzled with thoughts of an irrecoverable decree to their prejudice and with the fears of uncertain death which may attach them before they get matters put to a point and some are vexed with apprehensions that they are guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost which is unpardonable and so are driven a dangerous length Satan still casting up to them many sad examples of people who have dolefully put an end to their own exercise but they are in the hand of one who knoweth how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. 4. When a man is thus in hazzard of miscarrying the Lord useth a work of preventing mercy towards him quietly and under-hand supporting him and this is by bearing upon his mind the possibility of his Salvation leading the man to the remembrance of pregnant proofs of Gods free and rich grace pardoning gross transgressors such as Manasseth who was a bloody idolatrous man and had correspondence with the Devil and yet obtained mercy 2 Chron. 33. 12 13. and other Scriptures bearing offers of grace and favour indifferently to all who will yield to Christ whatsoever they have been formerly So as the man is brought again to this What shall I do to be saved which doth suppose that he apprehendeth a possibility of being saved else he would not propound the question He applyeth that or the like word to himself It may
THE CHRISTIANS Great Interest Or a short TREATISE Divided into two Parts The First whereof containeth The Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ The Second pointeth forth plainly The Way How to Attain it Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of Express Covenanting with God By W. GVTHRIE Minister of the Gospel in SCOTLAND 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure c. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates The Seventh Impression Wherein the Errata's of the former Impressions are amended and several words which sounded hard in the English rendred more clear and intelligible LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in Poultry 1681. THE Stationer TO THE READER The Epistle Commendatory from a Christian Friend giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of This Book Christian Friend I Have sent you by the Bearer this Book which by Providence came to my hand and a Blessed Providence indeed it was to me for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought the savour of it to my heart Upon peruâ—al of it I find such a blessed and happy conjunction betwixt the Gifts and the Graces of the Spirit such a holy and humble Condescention to my plain capacity such a serious handling of serious truths that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan Joh. 4. 29. Come see one that hath told me all that ever I did or rather all that God hath done in me and for me He that hath waded much in the waters of soul-trouble may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its Terrours and Troubles And he who is got out of these and is sunning his soul in the light of Gods Countenance may here behold the light side of the Cloud I mean the Spirit of Adoption in all its beautiful colours The former part of this Book sets forth the soul in a storm when the Law comes thundering to the Conscience the latter leads it into a Calm of sweet peace and serenity When the Spirit of God comes to a troubled soul as the Son of God once came to the troubled Sea with A peace be still Mat. 4. 29. But if it should not be thus the Believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give and to know he is wise to give when he will what he will and how he will I find now that peace is sown for the Righteous Psal 97. 11. but all do not reap the crop till they come into Emmanuel's land Isa 8. 8. there our joy as well as our light shall be clear and our love perfect And if there be any more concerned in this Piece than others though it deals forth its bread to all it 's young Men and young Converts the latter may here behold as in a Map or Mirrour the several Providences and various workings of the blessed Spirit that have all concurred in the bringing them home to God and may take notice of all the inducements and remora's they met with in the way That as Moses was to write a History of the Children of Israel passing through the Wilderness Numb 33. 2. so doth this Book with a holy kind of Elegancy describe the Spirits leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the Spiritual Canaan never leaving it till it comes to the Mountain of Spices Cant. 8. 14. out of Satans gun-shot where his habitation shall be a Munition of Rocks Isa 33. 16. neither is there one path omitted so far as I could ever read or gather from my own or others experience So that it may not be unfitly termed A Spiritual day-Book of all the passages between the Spirit of God and the soul in its regeneration work Which is no loss profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the Records of Gods love manifested in the Gospel What care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the Gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity For tryal bringâ—â—ruth to light and those things which through many Cloudâ— intercepting may have lost their remembrance in the soul are here clearly discovered that they have been although for the present the beliâ—◠〈…〉 How is the Gold become dim How is the fine gold hanged And the looking over paâ— experienâ—â— brings a renewed favour and spiritual relliâ—â— of those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good at least supports the Soul under the want of sensible feeling whilst it calls to remembrance the days of old the years of Gods right hand But I have done and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellency and utility of this piece The Lord make it so profitable to others as it hath been to me To his blessing I leave both you and it and remain Your true Christian Friend G. B. TO THE READER Christian Reader WHile the generality of Men especially in these days by their eager pursuit after low and base interests have proclaimed as upon the house tops how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part which if chosen should never be taken from them I have made an Essay such as it is in the following Treatise to take thee off from this unprofitable though painful pursuit by proposing the chiefest of interests even the Christians Great Interest to be seriously pondered and constantly pursued by thee Thou mayest think it strange to see any in Print from my Pen as indeed it is a surprize to my self But necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination in regard that some without my knowledge have lately published some imperfect Notes of a few of my Sermons most confusedly together prefixing withal this vain Title as dispealsing to my self as the publishing of the thing A Clear Attractive Warming-Beam c. Vpon this occasion I was prevailed with to publish this late Piece wherein I have purposely used a most homely and plain stile lest other wayes though when I have stretched my self to the utmost I am below the Judicious and more Vnderstanding I should be above the reach of the Rude and Ignorant whose advantage I have mainly if not only consulted I have likewise studied brevity in every thing so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicâ—ity knowing that the persons to whom I address my self herein have neither much mony to spend upon Books nor much time to spare upon Reading If thou be a Rigid Critick I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at yet assure thy self that I had no design to offend thee neither will thy simple approbation satisfie me It 's thy
they know to be appointed by God for delivering them from it neither can these come to clearness who know some positive duty commanded them in their stations which they deceitfully shift and shun not closing cheerfully with it or not willing to be led into it These are also in some respect condemned of their own heart as the former sort and in that case it is difficult to come to a distinct knowledge of their state 1 Joh. 3. 21. it is supposed there that a self-condemning heart maketh void a mans confidence proportionally before God I do not deny but that men may on good grounds plead an interest in Christ in the case of prevailing iniquity Psal 65. 3. Rom. 7. 23 25. but it is hard to be attained if at all attainable when the heart is dealing deceitfully and entertaining known guile in particular Therefore let people clear themselves of the particular which they know too well It is the thing which doth meet them marring their confidence and access in all their approaches unto God See Judg. 10. 10 13. The Idolatries of the people are cast up to them by the Lord and their suit rejected thereupon That which draweth away the heart first in the morning and last at night like an Oven heated at night and it burneth as a flaming fire in the Morning spoken of the wicked Hos 7. 6. And taketh up their thoughts often on their bed as it is said of some Psal 36. 4. That which doth lead away the heart in time of religious duty ordinarily and the remembrance of which hath power to enliven and quicken the Spirits more than the remembrance of God so as their heart is after the heart of some detestable thing Ezek. 11. 21. That which withstandeth men when they would lay hold on the Promise as God casteth up mens sins to them who were medling with his Covenant Psal 50. 16 17. That is the thing which doth marr the knowledge of a gracious state let it go and it will be more easie to reach the knowledge of an interest in Christ The third thing which hindreth the knowledge of an interest in Christ is a spirit of sloth and careless negligence in many They complain that they know not whether they be in Christ or not but as few take pains to be in him so few take pains to try if they be in him It is a work and business which cannot be done sleeping 2 Cor. 13. 5. The several words used there viz. examine prove know say that there is a labour in it diligence must be used to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. it is a business above flesh and blood The holy anointing which teacheth all things must make us know the things Freely given us of God 1. Cor. 2. 12. Shall the Lord impart a business of so great concernment and not so much as be enquired after to do it for men Ezek. 36. 37. Be ashamed you who spend so much time in reading Romances in adorning your persons in hawking and hunting in consulting the Law concerning your outward state in the World and it may be in worse things than those Be ashamed that you spend so little time in the search of this whether you be an heir of Glory or not whether you be in the way that leadeth to Heaven or that which will land you in darkness for ever You who judge this below you and unworthy of your pains any part or minute of your time it is like in Gods account you have judged your selves unworthy of everlasting life so as you have no lot with Gods people in this matter The fourth thing that doth darken the knowledge of interest in Christ is men do not condescend upon what would satisfie them but complain that God will not shew unto them what he is about to do with them but cannot yet say they know what would satisfie concerning his purpose this is a sad thing Shall we think those are serious who have never as yet pitched on what would satisfie them nor are making earnest enquiry after what should satisfie If the Lord had left us in the dark in that matter we were less inexcusable but since the grounds of satisfaction and the true marks of interest in Christ are so clear and frequent in Scripture and so many things written that our joy may be full 1 Joh. 1. 4. and that those who believe may know that they have eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 13. and since he that believeth hath a Witness of it in himself 1 Joh. 5. 10. none can pretend excuse here We may not here insist to shew what may and should satisfie concerning our interest since we are to speak directly to it afterwards The fifth thing that helpeth much to keep men in the dark concerning their interest in Christ is they pitch upon some mutable grounds which are not so apposite proofs of the truths of an interest in Christ as of the comfortable state of a triumphing soul sailing before the wind and marks which I grant are precious in themselves and do make out an interest clearly where they are Yet they are such as without them an interest in Christ may be and be known also in a good measure We shall touch a few of them 1. Some think that all who have a true interest in him are above the prevailing power of every sin But this is contrary to that of Psal 65. 3. where we find that holy man laying just claim to pardon in the case of prevailing iniquity and that of Rom. 7. 23 24 25. where Paul thanketh God through Christ as freed from the condemnation of the. Law even whilst a law in his members leads him captive unto sin 2. Some think that all true Saints have constantly access unto God in prayer and sensible returns of Prayer at all times But this is contrary to the many sad exercises of God's people complaining often that they are not heard nor regarded of God Psal 13. 1. and 22. 1 2. 3. Some think that all who have any true interest in him have God witnessing the same unto them by a high operation of that witnessing spirit of his spoken of Romans 8. 16. whereof afterwards and so they still suspect their own interest in Christ because of the want of this But they do not remember that they must first believe and give credit to that record which God hath given to his Son that there is life enough in him for men 1 John 5. 10 11. and then look for the seal and witness of the spirit Eph. 1. 13. In whom after ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise c. As long as people hold fast these principles and the like they can hardly come to the knowledge of their gracious state which God hath warranted people to prove and clear up to themselves otherways than by the aforesaid things The fifth thing to be premised is The removal of some mistakes whereunto
not touch or embrace They may look to one to whome they dare not speak Yet God hath made the promise to faith in that acting as the forecited Scripture doth shew and this he hath done mercifully and wisely for this is the only discernable way of the acting of faith of some persons sometimes such are the actings our outgoings of faith exprest in Scripture by hungring and thirsting after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. and that exprest by wâ—lling Rev. 22. 17. Again this faith goeth out sometimes in the act of recumbency or leaning on the Lord the soul taking up Christ then as a resting stone and God hath so held him out although he be a stumbling stone to others Rom. 9. 33. This acting of it is hinted in the expressions of trusting and staying on God so often mentioned in Scripture and precious promises are made to this acting of faith Isa 26. 34. God will keep them in prerfect peace whose minds are staid on him because such do trust in him Trust in the Lord for with him is everlasting strength So Psal 125. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which abideth for ever I say the Lord hath made promises to this way of Faiths acting as knowing it will go often out after him in this way with many persons and this way of its acting will be most discernable to them It goeth out after God sometimes by an act of waiting when the Soul hath somewhat depending before God and hath not got out his mind satisfyingly about that thing then Faith doth wait and so it hath the Promise Isa 49. 23. Sometimes it acteth in a wilful way upon the Lord when the Soul apprehendeth God thrusting it away and threatning its ruine So Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet I will trust in him The faith of that poor woman Mat. 15. 22 28. so highly commended by Christ did go out in this way of wilful acting over the difficulties and the Lord speaketh much good of it and to it because some will be put to it to exercise faith that way sometimes and so they have that for their encouragement It were tedious to instance all the several ways of the acting of faith upon and its exercise about and outgoing after Christ I may say according to the various conditions and pressures of the soul of man the Lord hath variously held out himself and his fulness in Christ under divers notions as might most fitly meet the distress or condition of man and accordinly Faith which God hath appointed to traffick and travel between Christ and Man as the instrument of conveyance of his fulness unto man and of maintaining union and communion with him acteth variously and differently upon God in Christ for Faith is the very shaping out of a mans heart according to Gods contrivement of Salvation by Christ Jesus in whom it pleased the Father that fulness should dwell So that let Christ turn what way he will Faith turneth and pointeth that way Now he turneth all ways in which he can be useful to poor man and therefore faith acteth accordingly on him for drawing out of that fulness according to a mans case and condition As for example The soul is naked destitute of a covering to keep it from the storms of Gods wrath Christ is fine raiment Rev. 3. 17 18. Then accordingly Faiths work here is to put on the Lord Jesus Gal. 3. 27. The Soul is hungry and thirsty after somewhat that may everlastingly satisfy Christ Jesus is Milk Wine Water Bread of Life and the true Manna Isa 55. 1 2. Joh. 6. 4 51. He is the feast of Fat things and of Wine refined Isa 25. 6. Then the work and exercise of faith is to go buy eat and drink abundantly Isa 55. 1. Joh. 6. 53. 57. The soul is pursued for guilt more or less and is not Law-biding Christ Jesus is the City of refuge and the High-Priest there during whose life-time that is for ever the poor man who wins this is safe Then the work and exercise of faith is to flee thither for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Heb. 6. 1. In a word whatsoever way he may benefit poor man so he speaketh of himself and as he holdeth out himself in the Scripture so faith doth point toward him If he be a Bridegroom faith will go out in a marriage relation If he be a Father Faith pleads the man to be a child If he be a shepherd faith pleads the man may be one of his sheep if he be a Lord faith calls him so which none can do but by the Spirit of Jesus If he be dead and risen again for our Justification faith believeth God hath raised him on that account Rom. 10. 9. wheresoever he be there would faith be and whatsoever he is faith would be somewhat proportionally For by faith the heart is shapen out in breadth and length for him yea when the fame and report of him goeth abroad in his truth although faith see not much yet it believeth on his Name upon the very fame he hath sent abroad of himself Joh. 1. 12. But here for avoiding of mistakes consider 1. That although justifying Faith acteth so variously yet every Believer who hath a good title to Christ Jesus hath not all these various actings and exercises of Faith for his condition craveth them not and also the Master is pleased not to lead out the faith of some persons at some times in some of these ways for reasons known to himself even when their necessity to their apprehension calleth for such acting of faith Surely every one dare not say Though he kill me yet will I trust in him Many would not have gon up with that woman I spake of Mat. 15. but would have been discouraged and quit the pursuit It is on this account that Christ doth highly commend the faith of some beyond the faith of others Mat. 8. 10. and 15. 28. Many good people are much disquieted about their faith because it goeth not out in all those ways we find recorded in Scripture But there is hardly and man will be found whose faith hath acted all these ways 2. Many of these actings of faith are much intended and remitted They are sometimes strong and vigorous and discernable and sometimes they fail and misbelief doth prevail so as it were an uncertain thing to judge of a mans estate by these We find the Saints very different from themselves in regard of the actings of faith sometimes as we shewed before 3. Each one of these actings of faith speaketh good to the person in whom it is and hath promises annexed unto it as we have said Yet 4. Although these Actings of faith have promises annexed unto them they are not for that the condition of the New Conenant for then every one behoved to have each one of them which is not true as we have said before A promise is made to him who
a special interest in the man and also all that belongs to him There is a communion between Husband and Wife whereby they have a speciaâ— Interest in each others persons goods and concernments 〈◊〉 so is it here there is such a Communion with God He is our God and all things are ours because he is oursâ— this Communion with God all true believers have at aâ—times as we shall shew afterwards I grant there is aâ— actual improvement of that Communion whereby men dâ— boldly meddle with any thing that belongs unto God and do meddle with himself as their own with much homeliness and familiarity especially in worship when the soul doth converse with a living God partaking of the Divine Nature growing like unto him and sweetly travelling through his Attributes and with some confidence of interest viewing these things as the mans owâ— goods and gear this we call Communion with God iâ— ordinances This indeed is not ordinarily nor frequentâ—y made out to men and all his people do not equally parâ—ake of it and it is true that what is in God goeth not out for the behoof of the man to his apprehension eâ—ually at all times yet certainly Communion with God â—roperly so called viz. that commonness of interest â—etween God and a Man who is savingly in Covenant with him doth alwayes stand firm and sure and so much of Communion with God in Ordinances have all Believers as that their heart converseth with a Living God there now and then and is in some measure changâ—d into that same Image and there needeth be no doubt â—ny further about it Thirdly There is a thing which is called Fellowship â—ith God often mistaken also among believers If by â—ellowship be meant the walking in our duty as in the â—ight of a living God who seeth and heareth us and is â—imess to all our carriage It is a thing common unto â—ll gracious men they have it habitually and in design â—sal 16. 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me yea â—nd often they have it actually in exercise when their â—pirit is in any good frame they walk as if they saw God standing by them and have some thoughts of his faâ—our through Christ Truly our fellowship is with the Faâ—er and with his Son 1 John 1. 3. If we by Fellowship do mean a sweet refreshing familiar sensible conâ—ersing with God which doth delight and refresh the â—ul beside what the conscience of duty doth It is â—hen a walking in the light of his countenance and a â—ood part of sensible presence and although it seemeth â—och had much of it whilest it is said be walked with â—od Gen. 5. 24. Yet it is not so ordinary as the former â—or so common to all Christians for here the soul is fillâ—â—as with marrow and fatness following hard after its â—ide and singularly upheld by his right hand Psal 3. 5 8. Fourthly there is a thing which is called Access uâ— to God and this I take to be the removing of obstructâ—ons out of the way between a Man and God so as the mâ— is admitted to come near We are said to have accâ— to a great person when doors are cast open guards râ—moved from about him and we admitted to come cloâ— at him so it is here Now this Access in Scripture 〈◊〉 sometimes taken for Christs preparing of the way the removing of enmity between God and Sinners so as mâ—now have a patent way to come unto God through Christ Ephes 2. 18. Sometimes it is taken for the actual improvement of that access purchased by Christ when a mâ— finds all obstructions and differences which do ordinaâ—â—ly fall in between him and God removed God is nauncouth to him nor as a stranger keeping up himseâ— from him or frowning on him but the man is admittâ— to come even unto his seat as Job 23. 3. Of the wanteâ— this doth Job complain Job 23. 8 9. whilst he saith go forward backward to the right and left hand and find him not The first sort of access is common to all Believers they are brought near by the blood of the Covenant and are no more far off as the deadly enmity between God and them is removed But access in the otheâ— sence is dispenced more according to the Lords absolueâ— soveraignty and pleasure and it is left in the power 〈◊〉 Believers to obstruct it unto themselves until it pleasâ— the Lord mercifully and freely to grant it unto them against so it is up and down and there needs be no question 〈◊〉 to mans state about it Fifthly There is a thing called Liberty before God and this properly is freedom or free speaking unto God many do much question their state because of the waâ— of this now and then since the Scripture hath said Whaâ— the Spirit is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. but they 〈◊〉 justly confine that liberty spoken of there unto this freâ— spaking before God I grant where the Spirit of the Lord doth savingly discover Gods will in the Scripture to a man There is liberty from any obligation to the Ceremonial Law and from the condemning power of the Moral Law and from much of that gross darkness and ignorance which is on natural hearts as a vail hiding Christ in the Gospel from them I grant also that sometimes even this liberty which is a free communion with God and ordering of our case before him and filling of our mouths with Arguments Job 23. 4. is granted to the godly but not as liberty taken in the former sences Although the Lord hath obliged himself to pour out the Spirit of prayer upon all the house of David in some measure Zech. 12. 10. Yet this communication of the Spirit which we call liberty or free speaking unto God dependeth much on the Lords absolute pleasure when and what measure to allow it This liberty which we call freedom or free speaking with God in prayer is sometimes much abstracted from any great confidence in the time of prayer at least until it draw towards the close of it it standeth much in a vivacity of the understanding to take up the case which a man is to speak before God so as he can order his case and next there be words or verbal expressions elegant suitable and very emphatical or powerful and pithy there is also joyned a fervency of spirit in prayer whereof the Scripture speaketh the soul is hot and bended and very intent There is also ordinarily in this liberty a special melting of the heart often joyned with a great measure of the Spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 10. 11. for so the soul in poured out before God as for a first born Such is the liberty which many Saints get before God whilst in much brekenness of heart and fervency of spirit they are admitted to speak their mind fully to God as a Living God noticing at least their Prayer Sometimes this liberty is joyned with confidence and then it is not
and shall not the heart of man go out and meet him here the heart or nothing love or nothing Marriage love which goeth from heart to heart love of espousals or nothing Prov. 23. 26. 1 Cor. 13. 2. I will not say that there is in all as soon as they believe a prevailing sensible love which maketh sick but there must be in believing a rational and kindly love so well grounded and deeply engaging that many waters cannot quench it It is strong as death and jealousie in it burneth as â—ire Cant. 8. 6 7. The third property or qualification of believing as it goeth out after Christ it must be rational Hereby I mean that the man should move towards God in Christ in knowledge and understanding taking up Gods device of saving sinners by Christ as the Scripture doth hold it out no fancying a Christ to himself otherwayes than the Gospel speaketh of him nor another way of relief by him than the word of God holdeth out Therefore we find knowledge joyned to the Covenant between God and man as a requisite Jer. 24. 7. 31. 34. I mean here also that a man be in calmness of spirit and as it were in his cold blood in closing with Christ Jesus not in a simple fit of affection which soon vanisheth Mat. 13. 20. nor in a distemper through some outward distress as the people were Psal 78. 34. and proved not stedfast in the Covenant not under a tentation of some outward temporary interest as Simon Magus was when be believed Acts 8. A man must act here rationally as being Master of himself in some measure able to judge of the good or evil of the thing as it stands before him The fourth is Faith as it goeth out rationally so it goeth out resolutely The poor distrest people in the Gospel did most resolutely cast themselves upon Christ This resoluteness of spirit is in order to all difficulties that lye in the way Violence is offered to these The man whose heart is a shaping out for Christ Jesus cannot say There is a Lion in the street Prov. 26. 13. If he cannot have access by the door he will break through the roof of the house with that man Luk 5. 19. He often doth not regard that which the World calleth discretion or prudence like Zacheus climbing upon a treâ— to see Christ when faith was breeding in his bosome Luke 19. This resoluteness of spirit looketh towardâ— what inconveniences may follow and waveth all these at least resolving over all these like a wise builder who reckoneth the expence before-hand Luke 14. 28. This resoluteness is also in order to all a mans Idols and such weights as would easily beset him if he did not bend after Christ over them all like that blind man who did cast his garments from him when Christ called him Mark 10. 50. This resoluteness in the soul proceedeth from desperate self-necessity within the man Actâ— 16. 30. And from the soveraign command of God obliging the man to move towards Christ 1 John 3. 23 and from the good report gone abroad of God that he putteth none away that come unto him through Christ John 6. 37. but doth commend such as do adventure over the greatest difficulties Mat. 15. â—8 But above all this resoluteness doth proceed from the arm of Jehovah secretly and strongly drawing the sinner towards Christ Joh. 6. 44. I will not say that every one closing with Christ in the offers of the Gospel hath all the foresaid thoughts formally in his mind yet upon search it will be found if he be put to it or put in mind of these things they are then aloft in the soul By what is said it doth manifestly appear that many in the visible Church had need to do somewhat further for securing of their souls when they come to years of discretion than is found to have been done by them before in the Covenant between God and the Church sealed to them in Baptism By what is said also there is a competent guard upon the free grace of God in the Gospel held out through Christ Jesus so as ignorant sensless profane men cannot with any shadow of reason pretend to an interest in it It is true believing in Christ and closing with him as a perfect Saviour seemeth easie and every godless man saith that he believeth on him But they deceive themselves since their soul hath never cordially rationally and resolutely gone out after Christ Jesus as we have said It may be some wicked men have been enlightned Heb. 6. 4. and have found some motion in their fear Act. 24. 25. or in their joy Mat. 13. 20. Maâ— 6. 20. But not having engaged their heart in approaching to God Jer. 30. 21. have either sitten down in that common work as their sanctuary until the tryal came Mat. 13. 20 21. or they return back with the Dog to their vomit from which they had in some measure escaped by the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. or they utterly fall away to the hatred and malicious despising and persecuting of Christ and his interests from whence hardly can they be recovered Heb. 6. 4 5 6. and 10. 26 29. which thing should provoke men to be serious in this great business We come now to speak to the fifth thing proposed and that is What be the native consequents of true believing I shall reduce what I will speak of them to these two viz. Vnion with God and Communion with him First then I say when a sinner closeth with Christ Jesus as is said there is presently an admirable union 〈◊〉 strange oneness between God and the man As the Husband and wife head and body root and branches are not to be reckoned two but one So Christ or God in Christ and the sinner closing with him by faith are one Eph. 5. 30 32. He that is so joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit 1. Cor. 6. 17. As the Father is in the Son and Christ in the Father so believers are one in the Father and the Son They are one as the Father and the Son are one the Father in Christ and Christ in believers that they may be made perfect in one O what a strange inter-weaving and indissoluble knot is there Joh. 17. 21 22 23 26. Because of this union between God and the believer 1. They can never hate one another henceforth the Lord will never hate the believer As noâ— man hateth his own flesh at any time but cherisheth it and nourisheth it so doth Christ his people Eph. 5. 29. He may be angry so as to correct and chastise the man that is a believer but all he doth to him is for his good and advantage all the Lords paths must be mercy and trust to him Psal 35. 10. All things must work together for good to him Rom. 8. 28. On the other side the believer can never hate God maliciously for he that is born of God