temptations which hefail us in our pilgrimage A man in his pure natu rals will swell against this doctrine because he feeles no such thing and thinks what is above his measure is hypocrisie He makes himselfe the rule of other Christians to walke by and therefore values and esteemes others by his uncertaine condition but the heart of a Christian hath a light in it the Spirit of God in his soule makes him discerne what estate he is in In a naturall man all is dark hee sees nothing because his heart is in a Dungeon his eye being dark the whole man must needs be in blindnesse All is alike to him he sees no difference betweene flesh and spirit and therefore holds on in a doubting hope in a confused disposition and temper of soule to his dying-day But a Christian that labours to walk in the comforts of the holy Ghost cannot rest in such an unsetled estate he dares not venture his eternall welfare upon such infirme grounds What to depart this life and be tossed in uncertainty whether a man goes to Heaven or to Hell What a miserable perplexity must such a soule needs be in Therefore he is still working out his salvation and storing up of grace against the evill day And well may this condition challenge all our diligence in labouring for it because it is neither attained nor maintained without the strength and prime of our care for the sense of Gods favour will not bee kept without keeping him in our best affections above all things else in the world besides without keeping of our hearts constantly close and neere to him which can never bee done without keeping a most narrow watch over our loose spirits which are ever ready to stray from him and fall to the creature It cannot be kept without exact walking and serious selfe-deniall But what of that Can wee spend our labours to better purpose One sweet beame of Gods countenance will requite all abundantly A Christian indeed undergoes more trouble and paines especially with his own heart than others do but what is that to his gaines One day spent in communion with God is sweeter than a thousand without it What comforts so great as those that are fetched from the Fountaine Oh woe to him that savours not these heavenly but lingers after carnall comforts It cannot but grieve the holy Spirit when the consolations of the Almighty are either forgotten or seem nothing to us But why doth the Spirit thus establish and seale us and conveigh grace to our soules why doth that doe all Because since the fall we have no principles of supernaturall good in us and there must be a principle above nature to work grace in our barren hearts Againe there is still remaining in us an utter aversnesse to that which is spiritually good in the best therefore there must bee somewhat to over-power their corrupt disposition But why the Spirit rather than the Father or the Sonne Hee comes from both and therefore is fit to witnesse the love of both the Holy Ghost is in the breast of the Father and the Sonne hee knowes their secret affection towards us A mans spirit is acquainted with his in most thoughts the blessed Spirit is privie to the hidden love of God and of Jesus Christ to us poore creatures which we are strangers unto therefore none so fit to cheere and revive us Indeed the love originally is from the Father but in regard of application of what is wrought by the Sonne all proceeds from the Holy Ghost he receives grace from Christ for us It must needs be so because no lesse than the Spirit of God can quiet our perplexed spirits in time of tentation For when the conscience of a guilty person is affrighted what man can allay its feares That which must settle a troubled spirit must be a spirit above our owne It being no easie thing to bring the soule and God together after peace is broken we have both wind and tide against us in this businesse grace being but weak and corruption strong in the best of us We should labour therfore for heavenly spirits get somthing more than a man in us There can never be any true peace attained till the Spirit from above settle it in our souls An unsanctified heart is an unpacified heart If there be a neglect of holinesse the soule can never bee soundlyquiet where there is not a cleare conscience there cannot be a calm cōscience that is a generall rule Sinne like Ionas in the ship will raise continuall stormes both within and without a man Take away God once and farewell all true tranquillity Spirituall comforts flow immediatly from the Spirit of Comfort who hath his office designed for that purpose But how shall we know that we have the Spirit How may a man know that hee hath a soule by living and moving by actions vitall c. Even so may a man know hee hath the Spirit of God by its blessed effects and operations it is not idle in us but as the soule quickens the body so doth the Spirit the soule Every saving grace is a signe that the Spirit is in us Wheresoever the Spirit dwells hee transformes the soule changes the party like himselfe to be holy and gracious this is an undoubted symptome of the Spirits habitation Secondly all spirituall graces are with conflict for that which is true is with a great deale of resistance of that which is counterfeit the flesh still lusts against the spirit and Satan cannot endure to see any man walk cōfortably to heaven What thinks hee such a base creature as this is to have the earnest of salvation to live here as if hee were in heaven already and to defie all opposite powers sure hee shall have little peace this way I will disquiet and vex his spirit if he will goe to heaven hee shall go mourning thither This is the reasoning of the cursed spirit whereupon hee labours to shake our assurance and follow us with perplexities The grace and comfort of a Christian is with much conflict and tentations not only with Satan but with his owne heart which so long as guilt remaines wil ever be misgiving and casting of doubts there must therfore be a higher power than the soule of man to quiet and allay its owne troubles Thirdly the Spirit enables us to the practise of those duties which by nature wee are averse unto as to love an enemie to overcome our revenge to be humble in prosperity and contented with any estate It drawes our affection heavenward and makes us delight in God above all as our best portion Hee that hath the Spirit joyes in spirituall company and imployment he hates sinne as being contrary to that blessed earnest which hee hath received He looks on things as God doth and approves of the same as hee is made more or lesse spirituall thereby and so is brought neerer to that fountaine of
truths that most satisfie the soule at such a time must be above the naturall capacity of the soule therefore saith the Apostle It is God that establishes and God by his Spirit that seales us up unto the day of redemption because divine truths of themselves in the bare letter cannot stirre up the heart it is only the blessed Spirit which is above our spirits that must quiet the conscience in all perplexities the Lord can soone still the soule when he settles spirituall truths upon it therefore go to him in thy distresse and trouble of minde send up ejaculations to God that hee would seale the comfort revealed in his word to thy soule that as it is true in it selfe so it may be true to thee likewise This is a necessary observation for us all Oh we desire in the houre of death to finde some comforts that bee standing comforts that may uphold us against Hell and judgement Know that nothing will do this but spirituall truths spiritually knowne but holy truths set on by the Holy Ghost upon the soule Oft therfore enter into thine heart and examine upon what grounds and motives thou beleevest Consider well what it is thou beleevest and upon what evidences and withwhat light otherwise expect not to find sollid peace What course may a Christian generally take when hee wants comfort and inward refreshing There are in 1 Iohn 5. three witnesses in heaven three in earth to secure us of our estate in grace The three witnesses in heaven are the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost And the three witnesses in earth are the Spirit the Water and Bloud and these three on earth and those three in heaven agree in one Now by the Spirit here is meant the feelings and sweet motions thereof the water may well be the Laver of Sanctification by bloud is understood the sufferings of Christ for our justification When therefore wee find that extraordinarie seale I spake of before the joyes of the Spirit of God that it is not in us What shall we doe shall wee despaire then No then goe to the water when the witnesse of the Spirit is silent goe to the work of the Spirit see what gracious dispositions are found in thee I but what shall we do if the waters be troubled in the soule as some times there is such a confusion that we cannot see the Image of God upon it in sanctification Then goe to the bloud there is alwayes comfort goe to the fountaine set open for Iudah and Ierusalem to wash in that is never dry If we find much sinne upon our consciences and no peace in our hearts apply the bloud of sprinkling that will give rest When thou findest nothing but corruption and filthinesse in thy soule when thou seest neither joy nor sanctification of Spirit goe to the Lord Jesus and hee will purge thee from all guilt and wash thee with clean water But to goe on Who hath sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts This is the third word borrowed from humane Contracts to set forth Gods gracious work in the soule Annointing wee had before sealing now here is earnest The variety of expression shewes there is a great remainder of unbeliefe in the soule of man which causeth the blessed Spirit to use so many words to manifest Gods mind and assure the soule of salvation stablishing annointing sealing and earnest And indeed so it is howsoever we in the time of prosperity when all things goe well with us are apt to presume our estate is good yet in the houre of death when conscience is awaked we are prone to nothing so much as to call all in question and beleeve the lies and doubts and feares of our owne deceitfull hearts more than the undoubted truth and promise of God Therefore the Lord takes all courses to establish us he gives us rich and pretious promises hee gives us the holy Spirit to confirme us in those promises he seales us with that Spirit and gives us a comfortable earnest thereof and all to settle these wretched unbeleeving hearts of ours So desirous is God that wee should be well conceited of him that hee loves us better than wee love our selves Hee prizeth our love so much that he labours by all meanes to secure us of our eternall welfare as knowing that except we apprehend his love to us wee can never love him againe nor delight in him as we ought to doe Now the Spirit is an earnest of our inheritance in heaven wee are sonnes here indeed but wee are not heires invested into the blessed estate we have title to God doth notkeep all our happinesse till another world but gives us somewhat to comfort us in our absence from our husband hee gives us the Holy Ghost in our hearts as a pledge of that glorious condition which wee shall one day have eternally with him this is the meaning of the words But to shew you more particularly In what regard the Spirit is called an earnest First of all you know an earnest is used for security of a Contract So the holy Spirit doth secure us of the blessed estate we shall have in heaven for ever Secondly an earnest is part of the bargaine a part of the whole which is secured though it be a very little part yet it is a part So it is with the Spirit of God in its gracious work upon our hearts the joy of the Spirit is a part of that full joy and happinesse which shall bee revealed hereafter to us Thirdly an earnest is little in comparison of the whole So the Spirit in the work and graces therof is little in regard of that fulnesse which wee shall have in heaven But though an earnest be smal in it selfe yet it is great in security A shilling secures a bargaine of a thousand pound we see Wee value an earnest not for its owne worth so much as for that which it is a pledge of for the excellent bargaine and rich possession which it doth interest us unto So the Spirit of God with its blessed effects in the soule the joy and peace of the Spirit chearing and reviving perplexed sinners this earnest I say though it be little in it selfe yet it is great to us in respect of the assurance that we have by it Againe it hath the terme of an earnest because an arnest is given rather for the security of the party that receives it than in regard of him that gives it So God gives us the earnest of his Spirit grace and comfort in this life not so much for God for hee meanes to give us heaven and happinesse when wee are dissolved As he hath passed his promise so hee will undoubtedly performe the same Hee is Lord and Master of his word Hee is Jehovah that gives a being to his word as well as to every other thing But notwithstanding having to doe with mistrustfull
none are damned in the bosone of the Church but those that set a bar against the Spirit of God in their hearts such are damned because they will bee damned that say the Preacher what hee will think it better to bee as they are than to entertaine such a guest as will marre and alter all that was there before Take heed therefore of resisting the Spirit in the least kind sad not his blessed motions but make much of the same by yeelding subjection thereunto lay thy soule often before the spirit suffer thy selfe to be moulded and fashioned by his gracious working Oh consider how high the slighting of a gracious motion reaches even to the contemning of God himselfe certainly as we use these so would we use the Spirit himselfe were he visible to us And converse not with carnall company for what wilt thou gaine there but sorrow to thine heart if thou belongest to God and as holy Lot vex thy righteous soule with the uncleane conversation of these Sodomites it is an undoubted signe of a man destitute of grace not to care at all what company he frequents Fourthly seeing the Holy Ghost is promised to them that aske it beg earnestly for it at Gods hands this is the good th-ing that GOD gives Christ seemes to insinuate as much saying What can I give you better than the Holy Ghost Yet this will I bestow on them that ask it for indeed that is the seed of all grace and comfort A world of promises are included in the promise of giving the Spirit Labour therefore above all gettings to obtaine this high prerogative the comforts of the Spirit are above al earthly comfort and the graces of the Spirit enable to incounter the greatest tentations whatsoever A man that hath this stands impregnable God may withdraw his favour for a time to humble us but to quench the worke of the Spirit once wrought in the soule all the power of all the Devils in Hell cannot stirre it This will carry us through all oppositions and difficulties in our Christian race Let a man never baulk or decline a good cause for any thing that hee shall suffer for the seale and earnest of the Spirit is never more strong than when we are deprived of all other comforts save that alone What makes a man differ from himself and frō other men but this Take a Christian that hath the earnest of the Spirit you shall have him defie Death Satan the World and all take another that is carelesse to increase his earnest how weak and feeble will you finde him ready to be overcome by every tentation and sinck under the least burthen The Apostle Peter before the Holy Ghost came upon him was astonished with the voice of a weak Damosell but after how forward was he to suffer any thing Labour not then to bee strengthned in things below neither value thy selfe by outward dependances Alas all things here are perishing If thou hast grace thou hast that which will stand by thee when these faile the Comforter shal never be taken away What are all friends in the world to the Holy Ghost This will speake to God for us when no creature dares looke him in the face The Spirit will make requests with sighes and groanes in our behalfe and wee may be sure we shall bee heard when that intercedes for us What Prison can shut up the Spirit of God Oh gaine this what ever thou losest preferre it to thy chiefe treasure The very earnest of the Spirit is far more pretious than the creatures full quint essence If the Promises layd hold on by faith quicken and cheare the soule what shall the accomplishment of them doe If the giving a taste of Heaven so lift our souls above all earthly discouragements how glorious shall we shine forth when the Spirit shall be all in all in us This will make us more or lesse fruitfull more or lesse glorious in our profession and resolute in obedience through our whole course If we want this we can never be thankfull for any thing for it is the love of God that sweetens every mercy to us and indeed is more to be valued than any blessing we enjoy besides which if we eye not or are ignorant of what can we expect but wrath and displeasure in all that befals us Oh it is sweet to see favours and benefits issuing from grace and love they doe not alwayes proove mercies which men oft times esteeme to be so We can have no sollid comfort in any condition further than God smiles upon us in it What a fearefull case must that then be wherein a man cannot be thankfull for what he hath Every condition and place we are in should indeed be a witnesse of our thankfulnesse to God we must not think life was given onely to live in Our life should not be the end of it selfe but the praise of the giver thereof It is but fit that we should refer all that is good to his glory who hath joyned his glory to our best good in being glorified in our salvation which while we question and doubt of it is impossible ever to bee cheerfull towards him Besides how can a man suffer willingly that knowes not that God hath begun any good work in him How lumpish and dead is he under the crosse without this assurance It is worth the considering to see two men of equall parts under the same afliction how quietly and calmly the one that hath interest in Christ will beare his grievances whereas the other rages as a foole and is more beaten A man will endure any thing comfortably when he considers it proceeds from his Fathers good pleasure This breeds a holy resigning of our selves to God in al estates as Eli the wil of the Lord be done his will is a wise will and ever conduceth to his peoples good Fearest thou danger cry unto God I am thine Lord save me I am the price of thy Sons blood let me not be lost thou hast given me the earnest of thy Spirit and set thy seale upon me for thine owne let mee neither lose my bargaine nor thou thine Hence it is that Gods childe can so easily deny himselfe in tentations and allurements which others sinck under Oh saith he the Holy Ghost hath sealed me up to the day of redemption shall I grieve and quench the same for this base lust It is a great disparagement to preferre husks before the provision of our Fathers House when we give content to Sathan and a wretched heart wee put the Holy Ghost out of his Office Againe without this we can never comfortably depart this life hee that hath the earnest of the Spirit in his heart may laugh Sathan in the face and rejoyce at deaths ap proaching as knowing there will be an accomplishment then of all the bargaine then the Marriage will bee perfectly consummate then shall be the great yeare of Iubilee the Sabbath of rest for ever hee that
justice truth faithfulnesse providence wisedome and all-sufficiencie All which shall ever work together for the best to them that love his appearing So for Iesus Christ the eternall Sonne of God All his glorious titles and attributes serve like wise for the everlasting comfort of his poore Saints on earth Hee is called the Husband of his Church to cherish and maintaine the same His love unto his Church is farre above the love of any husband to his wife Hee is called the Saviour of the World because hee so loved the world that hee gave his life for it and hath promised that whosoever beleeveth on him shall not perish He is called the Fountaine of life the Well of life the Water of life the Bread of life the Way the Truth and the Life because that in him is our life and by him wee are fed and nourished to eternall life here in him wee obtain the life of Grace and in the World to come shall for ever enjoy the life of Glory So likewise for the Holy Ghost what heavenly attributes are ascribed to him in the Scriptures He is called the Comforter of Gods servants The Sealer of the Redemption of Gods children in their hearts he teacheth the Elect to call God Father hee beareth witnesse with their spirits that they are the Sons and Daughters of God he teacheth them to pray as they ought hee fills them with peace that passeth all understanding And refreshes their spirits with such unspeakable joy as eye hath not seene nor eare heard the like He that is instructed by the Spirit knoweth the things of God which a naturall man is ignorant of The holy Ghost doth call to rememberance the doctrine of God taught unto his servants writes the same in their hearts so that the operations of the blessed Spirit are all appropriated to them that love God and they alone have their right in them The direction comfort teaching and guiding of the Spirit of God doe serve entirely and peculiarly to order and work all things together for the best to the Godly Yea the Angels themselves are called Messengers and ministring Spirits appointed by God to attend and wait upon his servants Hee gives his Angells charge over these to serve them in all their wayes and to pitch their tents round about them whensoever God pleaseth to call any of his out of this world the Angels are a safe conduct to carry their soules into Abrahams bosome And at the last judgement the Lord shall send forth his Angells to gather his Elect from one end of the world to the other that they may fully enjoy that which they have long waited for even eternall blisse and glory Vnder the Angels all other creatures are likewise made serviceable for his peoples good Princes in authority are called in Scripture nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers unto the Church of Christ the end of all magistracy being that we might live religiously and peaceably in all the wayes of God Ministers also are stiled in the Word by the names of Watchmen and Seeds-men and spirituall Fathers to beget men againe to the kingdome of Heaven they are called Gods Husbandmen to manure and till his ground They are called Gods lights and the Salt of the Earth both to enlighten the Church with the light of the glorious Gospell whereof they are Ministers and to season them with such savoury and sweet instructions as may make them wise to salvation this being the very end of all Gods giving gifts to men that they might build up the Church of Christ here below So also the Word of God is called the savour of life the power of God unto salvation It is the seed of God which being sown in the hearts of Gods children springeth up in them to everlasting happinesse Gods Word is a light and a Lanthorne to guide and direct us in all his wayes it is the Sword of the Spirit to arme us against sin and to maintaine us in grace The Sacraments likewise are the Seales of life and pledges of our salvation in Christ and Ex communication though it bee rough and the extreamest censure of the Church and therefore ought to be undertaken upon weighty grounds yet the end of it is to save the soules of Gods people and to make them by repentance turne unto him So all outward gifts as beauty strength riches and honours these are given by God to serve for the good of his children As the beauty of Hester was an instrument of her preferment whereby she became a preservation to Gods children and an overthrow of her and their enemies Iosephs outward honours and wealth were made by Gods disposing hand a meanes of the preservation nourishment of the Israelites in the time of their great extremity and famine the like may be said of learning and other naturall acquirements all which do often tend to generall and publike advantages Yea the outward gists of God which are bestowed upon reprobates are still for the good of his for they who had skill and knowledge to build Noahs Ark though they themselves were not saved therein yet were they the meanes of Noahs preservation and so it many times falleth out that men of excellent parts and great abilities without grace though themselves are not profited thereby yet God so useth them as their gifts much conduce to further and build up the Church of Christ. Even outward favour of Princes oft tend to Gods servants good A just man as the Heathens could say is a common benefit And so a true Christian whatsoever good he hath it is communicable to all the faithfull and therfore S. Paul saith of him selfe that he was a debtor to all men both Iewes and Gentiles and that hee became all things to all men that he migh twin some But here the maine question will be and the difficulty arises how all ill things can work together for the best to Gods children I shall therefore demonstrate 1 The truth of this how it can be so 2 The reasons why it is so 3 Observe a caution that it be not abused 4 Let us see the sweet and comfortable use of this Doctrine That this may the better appear we must know that all evill things are either 1 Spirituall evill things 2 Outward evill things And for spirituall evill things they are either First Sinne. Secondly That which hath a reference to Sinne as being evils following after sinne The first sin of all which hath gone over whole mankinde and is spread abroad in every one of us this by Gods mercy and our repentance prooves to al beleevers a transcendent good for the fall and sin of the first Adam caused the birth and death of the second Adam Christ Jesus who notwitstanding he was God took upon him the nature of man and hath made us by his comming farre more happy than if we had neverfallen neither would God have
on thy Son whō thou hast given for us and in him behold his poore members now before thee In our selves we have dread but in thy dearly beloved wee have joy in thy presence If we come in the garments of our Elder brother wee are sure to get a blessing but in our selves God cannot endure to behold us If we bring Benjamin to our Father if wee carry Christ along with us then come and welcome Upon what unchangeable grounds is the love of God and the faith of a Christian builded How can the gates of hell prevaile against the faith of a true beleever when it is carried to the promise and from the promise to Gods love the love of God to Christ shall as soone faile as the faith of a sincere Christian shal be shaken The promises else should bee of no effect they should be Yea and Nay and not Yea Amen If the promises could bee shaken the love of God and Christ should be uncertain Overturn heaven and earth if we overturne the faith of a true persevering Christian. There is nothing in the world of that firmnesse as a beleeving soule is the ground hee stands upon makes him unmoveable Our union with the Lord Jesus makes us like Mount Sinai that cannot be shaken But wee must know there are three degrees or steps of love whereof a promise is the last 1. Inward love 2. Reall performance 3. A manifestation of performance intended before it bee done Love concealed doth not cōfort in the interim therfore God who is love doth not only affect us for the present and intend us mercy hereafter but because hee will have us rest sweetly in his bosome and settle our selves on his gracious purposes hee gives us in the mean time many rich and pretious promises Hee not only loves us and shewes the same in deeds now but he expresseth his future care of us that wee may build on him as surely as if we had the thing performed already By this wee see how God loves us he hath not only an inward liking and good wil to us in his brest but manifests the same by word hee reveales the tendernesse of his bowells towards us that wee may have the comfort of it before-hand God would have us live by faith and establish our selves in hope because these graces fit us for the promise If there were no Promises there could bee no faith nor hope What is Hope but the expectation of those things that the word saith And what is faith but a building on the promise of God Faith looks to the word of the thing Hope to the thing in the word Faith looks to the thing promised Hope to the possession and performance of it Faith is the evidence of good not seene making that which is absent as present to us Hope waits for the accomplishment of that good contained in the word if we had nothing promised what need hope and where were the foundation of faith But God being willing to satisfie both that wee may bee heavenly-wise in relying upon a firme foundation and not as fooles trust in vanity in mercy gives us promises and seales them with an oath for our greater supportment That love which ingaged the Almighty to bind himself to us in pretious promises will furnish us likewise with grace needfull till wee be possessed of them He will give us leave to depend upon him both for happinesse and all quieting graces which may support the soule till it come to its perfect rest in himselfe Now these gratious expressions of our good God may be reduced into divers rankes I will but touch some few particulars and shew how wee should carry our selves to make a comfortable use of them First there are some universall Promises for the good of all mankinde as that God would never destroy the World againe c. Secondly there are other Promises that more particularly concerne the Church and these are Promises 1. Either of outward things 2. Or of spirituall and eternall things of Grace and Glory In the manner of promising they admit of this distinction All the Promises of God are made to us either Absolutely without any condition so was the Promise of sending Christ into the world and his glorious comming againe to judgement let the world be as it will yet Christ did come and will come againe with thousands of Angels to judge us at the last Or 2. conditionall As the Promise of Grace and Glory to Gods children that he will forgive their sinnes if they repent c. God deales with men as wee doe by way of commerce one with another propounding mercy by covenant and condition yet his covenant of grace is alwayes a gratious covenant For he not onely gives the good things but helpes us in performing the condition by his Spirit he workes our hearts to beleeve and to repent Thus all Promises for outward things are conditionall as thus God hath promised protection from contagious sicknesse and from trouble and warre that he will be an hiding place and a Deliverer of his people in time of danger that he will doe this and that good for them But these are conditionall so far forth as in his wise providence he sees they may helpe to preserve spiritual good things in them and advance the graces of the inward man For God takes liberty in our outward estate to afflict us or doe us good as may best further our soules welfare Because do what we can with these bodies they will turn to dust and vanity ere long We must leave the world behinde us therefore he lookes to our main estate in Christ to the new creature and so farre as outward blessings may cherish and increase that so farre hee grants them or else he denies them to his dearest ones For we cannot still enjoy the blessings of this life but our corrupt nature is such that except we have somewhat to season the same we shall surfet and not digest them therefore they are all given with exception of the Crosse as Christ saith hee that doth for him any thing shall have a hundred fold here but with Persecution be sure of that whatsoever else he hath let Christians looke for crosses to season those good things they enjoy in this life To come now to some use of the point Are all the Promises of what kind soever whether spirituall and outward temporall or eternall are they all made to us in Jesus Christ And are they certainly true Yea and Amen in him Then I beseech you get into Christ betimes strengthen your intrest in him by all meanes out of whom we have nothing that is savingly good rest not in any thing abstracted from him so as to be accepted with God But you will say doth not God doe many good things to them that are out of Christ doth not the Sunne shine and the raine fall upon the just and the unjust upon the evill as
beneath can never accoÌ„plish Wee see that the heavens continue and the earth without any other foundation hangs in the midst of the world by the bare word of the Almighty therefore well may the soule stay it selfe on that when it hath nothing else in sight to rely upon In this case Christians should look 1. That their principles and foundations be good And secondly builded strongly upon them for the soule is as that which it relies on if upon empty things it selfe becomes poore and empty which the Devil knowing strives to unloose our hearts from our Maker and draw us to rely upon false objects Hee sees full well that whilest our soules cleave close to God there is no prevailing against us by any malice or subtilty of men or devils The Saints in him are bold and undaunted in the midst of troubles and torments Indeed the sweetest coÌ„munion with God is when we are beaten off from other helps Though misery upon misery encounters us below yet there is still succour issuing from above to a beleeving soule If God hath it in heaven faith will fetch it downe and enjoy the sweetnesse of it here That man can never doe amisse that hath his dependancie upon the Almighty there being no communion like that of a faithfull heart with the Lord. It is the office of faith to quiet our soules in all distresses for it relies upon God for heaven it self and all necessary provision till we come thither strengthen faith therefore and you strengthen all what can daunt that soul which in the sorest affliction hath the great God for his friend Such a spirit dares bid defiance to all the powers of darknes Sathan may for a time exercise but hee can never wholly depresse a gracious heart True beleevers can triumph over that which others are slaves unto they can set upon spirituall conflicts and endure fiery tryalls which others tremble to think of they can put off themselves and be content to be nothing so their God may appeare the greater and dare undertake or undergoe any thing for the glory of their Maker considering they are not their owne but have given up themselves unto Christ they count not their lives or any thing that is theirs deare for him Hee that stablisheth us with you is God who hath annointed us c. Messias signifies annointed our nature is enriched in Christ with all graces Hee is annointed with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes for us that wee might have a spring of grace in our owne nature that God and Christ being one and we being in the Lord Jesus might have all our annointing of the first annointed for of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace What are those graces which wee receive from Christs fulnesse First the grace of favour and acceptance for the same love that God beares to Christ he beares to all his though not in so high a degree Secondly the Grace of sanctification answerable to the grace of sanctification in him every renued work in us comes from Christ. Thirdly the rich priviledges and prerogatives that issue to persons sanctified wee have dignity for dignity favour for favour gracious qualifications for gracious qualifications in Christ. God annoints us all in his Sonne As the oyntment that was powred upon Aaron ran downe to the skirts of his garment so the weakest Christian is stablished with grace by Christ grace runnes from the Head to poorest member the hem of the garment every one that doth but touch Christ drawes vertue and strength from him Why is it called here an annointing Because as the Holy annointing Exod. 30. was not to be applied to prophane uses so neither are the graces of the spirit God being the Author of them to be slighted and undervalued by the Professors of them What are the vertues of this oyntment First it hath a cherishing power it revives the drooping soule and cheares a fainting spirit when men are ready to sink under the burthen of their sins this easeth them 2. Annointing hath a strengthening power it makes our limbs vigorous so doth grace fortifie the soule nothing more Our life is a combating life wiâ—h Sathan and temptations of all sorts therefore wee need continuall annointing to make us nimble and active in resisting our enemie Oyle hath a suppling quality so the Spirit of God makes pliable the joynts of the soule it supports us with hidden strength and enables us to encounter great oppositions to be victorious through Christ over all Grace is little in quantity but it is mighty in operation it carries the soule through difficulties nothing can stand in the way of a gracious man no not the Gates of Hell The spirit of grace that is in a Christian is stronger than he that is in the world A graine of Mustard seed the very least measure of true Holinesse is stronger than the greatest measure of opposition A Christians strength lies out of himselfe he never overcomes by his owne power hee can doe all things through Christ assisting him otherwise hee is a most impotent creature unable to doe or suffer any thing ready to give over at the least trouble and sink under every pressure of affliction Againe ointment doth exceedingly delight and refresh ourspirits as wee see the Box in the Gospel when it was opened the whole House smelt of it So grace is a wondrous sweet thing Before wee are anointed with the Spirit of Christ with stablishing grace what are we but a company of nasty abominable persons in the eyes of God All things are accursed to us and we are accursed in what ever we doe God cannot look on us but as loathsome creatures as the Prophet saith I would not so much as looke on thee if it were not for Iehoshaphats sake That which makes a man sweet is grace this makes our nature that is noisome and offensive in the nostrils of the Almighty in it selfe to become pleasant and amiable A wicked man is a vile man an ulcerous deformed creature grace is of a healing nature wheresoever it is this cures our spiritual distempers beautifying the inner man and making the whole frame of a Christians carriage sweet and delectable First to God who loves the sent of his own grace wheresoever he finds it Secondly to Angels the conversion of sinners rejoyceth them when our custody is committed to their charge how are they delighted with the beauty of holinesse shining in us The graces of God in his Saints are a Feast to them the very name of a godly and gratious man is as a sweet ointment every where Holy men when they are read of in Stories what a savour doe they cast in the Church so far as a Christian is a New Creature it makes him in love with himselfe scorning to be so undervalued as to defile himselfe with base services so farre as a man is gratious he gives himselfe to honourable imployments being a vessell of
grace he improves his abilities to glorious uses esteeming things below too meane for him Grace is a wondrous pleasant thing offensive to none but to wicked men that have no savour of God or goodnesse it sweetens the soule makes it delectable for Christ his holy Spirit to lodge in as in a Garden of spices A gracious man that hath subdued his corruptions is wondrous amiable both to himselfe and to the Communion of Saints his heart is as fine silver every thing is sweet that comes from him grace is full of comfort to a mans own conscience the sense of which enlargeth the soule to all holy services Fourthly an ointment hath another property it consecrates persons to holy uses Anointed persons are raised above the ordinary ranke The graces of Gods spirit elevate men above the condition of others with whom they live Anointed persons are sacred persons they are inviolable Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme we wrong the apple of Gods eye we offer indignity to Christ himselfe if we hurt these Indeed nothing can hurt them but God by his over ruling power turnes all for their good Lastly an ointment is a royall liquor it will bee above all so the graces of Gods Spirit where they are will be uppermost they will guide and governe all As if a man have excellent parts grace will rule these and make them serviceable to Christ his truth and members If we have weaknesse and corruption grace will subdue it by little and little and never leave conflicting till it hath got the victory What are our souls without Gods anointing Dead stinking offensive to God to good men and to our selves we cannot see with peace the visage of our owne soules who can reflect seriously into his heart and life without horror that hath no grace A man that sees his conscience awakened without this anointing what is he surely as the body without the soule it is not all the excellencies of the soule laid upon a dead body or all the goodly ornaments that bedeckt it can keep it from stinking and being a loathsome object because it wants the soule to quicken and enliven it to good imployments of it selfe it is but a peece of earth all the vigor and life that the body hath is communicated from the soule they are beholding to our soules for many things Put the richest ornaments whatsoever upon the body and not the Spirit of grace upon the soule to cherish and refresh the same that it may appeare lovely in Gods sight all is to no purpose Likewise this anointing hath relation to the persons anointed Kings Priests and Prophets Christ is primarily anointed and all our grace is derived from him hee teacheth us divine things by a Divine light The poorest Christian in the world whose heart is right with God sees good things with such convincing love that he imbraces them and ill things with such a convincing hatred that he abhors them A man that lives without God in the world may talke but he cannot doe he may speak of death but he dares not die he trembles to thinke of the last tribunall and of resigning his soule into the hands of his Maker such an one may discourse of suffring but when it comes to the point his heart failes him oh how he shrinkes when danger approacheth what indirect courses will hee take to save his skin how hardly is corrupt selfe brought under how heavily doe men come off in this point of doing and suffering for Christ laying downe all at his feet and resolving to be disposed of at his pleasure in every thing Men speak much of patience and selfe-deniall but they do not practise them these vertues shine not forth in their conversation which is the shame of Religion only a true Christian hath the right knowledge of the doing of things and is able to speak a word in due season to reprove to admonish to comfort every member in the communion of Saints hath some qualification for the good of the whole body A faithfull man is likewise spiritually anointed a Priest to stand before God Almighty he poures out his soul for himself for others having Gods eare open at all times to his suits Every sincere Christi an is a favourite in heaven he hath much credit there which hee improves for the welfare of the Church here below And hee keepes himselfe as a Priest unspotted of the world a true Christian is taught of God and knowes the meaning of that Law of his which prohibiteth Priests so much as to touch defiled things therefore he studies innocency he runs not after the course of the multitude neither is carried away with the streames of the times he will not converse familiarly with those that may staine him but so farre as his calling leads him lest he should therby contaminate his spirit A Christian Priest hath his heart alwayes to the Holy of Holies that so he may offer up thankes and praise to God and offer up himselfe a sacrifice to him his endeavour is to kill and slay those beasts those lusts that lurk in his heart contrary to the Almighty Lastly he that is anointed by the Spirit is a King in regard of his great possessions for all are ours things present and things to come life and death prosperity and adversity all help us to Heaven Evill things are ours in advantage and successe though in disposition they be not ours but have a hostil disposition in thē God over-powers the evil of things and gives a Christian a living principle of grace to suck sweet out of sowre draw good out of evill What a King is this that even the most terrible things are at his command and work for the best unto him He conquers and brings under his greatest enemies and feares neither death or judgement nor the vengeance to come knowing God in Christ to bee his reconciled Father he rests assured all things else will be will be at peace with him Others have Kingdomes out of themselves but in thēselves they are slaves Every lust leads them away Captive A Christian is such a King as hath a Kingdome within himselfe hee hath peace and joy and rest from base allurements and terrours of conscience hee walks by rule and therfore knowes how to governe all the glory of his Maker is the chiefe thing hee eyes and to that hee referres every action Who hath annointed us and sealed us Annointing and sealing goe together the same God annoints us doth also seale us Both are to secure us of our happy condition Now Christ is the first sealed Iohn 6. Him hath God the Father sealed God hath set Christ a part from others hath distinguished him and set a stamp upon him to be the Messiah by the graces of the spirit whereof he was richly beautified and by many miracles whereby he shewed that he was the Sonne of God by his resurrection from the dead by his calling of
the Gen tiles and many other things Christ being sealed himselfe he sealed all that he did for our Redemption with his bloud and hath added for the strengthening of our faith outward seales the Sacraments to secure his love more firmly to us But in this place another manner of sealing is to be understood For here is not meant the sealing of Christ but the sealing of us that have communion with him The same spirit that seales the Redeemer seales the redeemed What is the manner of our sealing by the spirit Sealing we know hath divers uses First of all It doth imprint a likenesse of him that doth seale when the Kings Image is stamped upon the wax every thing in the wax answers to that in the seale face to face eye to eye body to body So wee are said to be sealed when we carrie in our soules the Image of the Lord Jesus for the spirit sets the stamp of Christ upon every true Convert there is the likenesse of Christ in all things to be found in him As the Child answers the Father foot for foot finger for finger in proportion but not in quantity So it is in the sealing of a beleever there is a likenesse in the soule that is sealed by the spirit to the Lord Jesus there is understanding of the same heavenly supernaturall truthes there is a judging of things as Christ judgeth a loving of that which he loves and a hating of that which hee hates a rejoycing to doe that which he delights in and a griefe to commit any thing that displeaseth his Majestie every affection of the soul is carried that way that the affections of our blessed Saviour are carried in proportion every thing in the soule is answerable to him in its degree There is no grace in Christ but there is the like in every Christian in some measure The obedience of Christ to his Father even to the death is to be found in every true Christian The humility whereby Christ abased himselfe it is in every renued heart Christ works in the soule that receives him a conformity to himselfe The soule that beleeve that Christ hath loved him and done such great things for him is ambitious to expresse Christ in all his wayes Being once in Christ we shall delight to be transformed more and more into him To beare the Image of the second Adam upon our breasts to make it appeare that Jesus Christ lives in us and that wee live not to our selves but to him that died for us to be meeke and heavenly minded as hee was talking and discoursing of spirituall things going about doing good every where active for God fruitfull in holinesse doing receiving all the good we are able drawing others from this world to meditate of a better estate labouring for the advancement of Gods Kingdome and approving our selves to him this is one use of sealing to imprint a likenesse A second use of a Seale is distinction Sealing is a stamp upon one thing among many it distinguisheth christians from others as we shall see after Againe it serves for appropriation men seale those things that are their owne Merchants we see set their stamp on those Wares which they have or meane to have a right unto It pleaseth God thus to condiscend unto us by applying himselfe to humane contracts Hee appropriates his own to shew that hee hath chosen and singled them out for himselfe to delight in Sealing further serves to make things authenticall to give authority and excellencie The Seale of the Prince is the authority of the Prince This gives validity to things answerable to the dignity and esteeme of him that seales These are the foure principall uses of sealing And God by his spirit doth al theseto his 1. He stamps his own Image upon us he distinguisheth us from others even from the great refuse of the world God by his spirit appropriates us to himselfe hee makes us to be his and shewes that we are his hee likewise authorizethus and puts an excellencie upon us to secure us against all temptations when wee have Gods seale on us we stand firme in the greatest triall who shall seperate us from the love of God wee dare defie all objections of Sathan and accusations of conscience whatsoever A man that hath Gods seale stands impregnable in the most tempestuous season For it is given for our assu rance and not for Gods the Lord knowes who are his hee seales not because he is ignorant but for our comfort and establishment Whether is the spirit it selfe this seale or the work of the spirit and the graces thereof wrought in us I answer the Spirit of God where it is is a sufficient seale that God hath set us out for himselfe for whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ the same is his He is the Author of our sealing so that except you take the Spirit for that which is wrought by the Spirit you have not the comprehension of sealing for that which the Spirit worketh is the seale the spirit goes alwayes with his owne mark and impression Other seales when they are removed from the stamp the stamp remaines still but the Spirit of God dwells and keepes a perpetuall residence in the heart of a Christian guiding him moving him enlightning him governing him comforting him doing all offices of a seale in his heart till hee hath brought him to heaven The Holy Ghost never leaves us it is the sweetest inhabitant that ever lodging was given to he doth all the saving good that is done to the soule and is perpetually with his own work in joy and comfort though he seeme sometimes to be in a corner of the heart and is not easily discerned yet he alwayes dwels in his sealed ones What is that stamp that the Spirit seales us withall The Spirit works in this order for the most part First of all the Spirit doth together with the Word which is the instrument and the Chariot wherein it is carried convince us of the ill that is in us and the misery attending on us for the same It convinceth us of sinne and the fearefull estate we are in by that and abaseth us thereupon therefore it is called the Spirit of bondage because it makes a man tremble and quake till he see his peace made up in Christ. When hee hath done this then he convinceth us of righteousnesse by a sweet light discovering the excellencies of the Lord Jesus and the remedy in him provided for sinners God opens the eye of the soul to see the all-sufficiency of his Sons sanctâ—fication and inclines the heart to cast it selfe by faith upon him When we are throughly convinced of the ill that is in us and of the good that is in Christ and are moved by the Holy Ghost to go out of our selves and imbrace reconciliation in the Lord Jesus then a superadded worke is vouchsafed unto us for the Spirit daily perfecteth his owne
work he addes therefore after all his Seale to confirme us which Seale is not faith for the Apostle saith After you beleeved you were sealed where we see the work of faith and sealing distinguished first the soul is set in a good estate and then followes assurance and stablishment But what needs confirmation when we beleeve Is not faith confirmation enough when a man may know by a private reflect act of the soule that he is in the state of grace This act of ours in beleeving is oft terribly shaken and God is wondrous desirous that we should bee secure of his love hee knowes hee can have no glory nor we any solid peace else therfore when we by faith have sealed to his truth he sees that wee need further sealing that our faith be currant and good for all is little enough in the time of temptation the single witnesse of our soul is not strong enough in great assaults For sometimes the Spirit is so tossed and disquieted with temptations that we cannot reflect aright on our selves nor discerne what is in our own brests without much adoe therefore God first workes faith to apply the promise Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall be saved I beleeve in Christ therefore I shall be saved and then sealeth this beleefe with an addition of his holy Spirit for this sealing is a work upon beleeving an honouring of faith with a superadded confirmation How shall wee know that there is such a spirituall sealing in us I answer when we truly beleeve the Spirit of adoption reveales unto us that we are the sonnes of God by a secret whispering and intimation to the soule which the beleeving heart feeles better than I am able to expresse saying be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven there is a sweet kisse vouchsafed to the soule the Lord refresheth it with the light of his countenance and assures it that all enmity is now slaine I am thy salvation thou art for ever mine and I am thine because thou beleevest behold thou art honoured to be my child Againe the Spirit of adoption quickens and fils the soule with heavenly ejaculations to God it stirs up servent supplications to cry Abba Father The soule when it truly beleeves hath a bold and familiar speech to God There are two things in the prayer of a Christian that are incompetible with a carnall man there is first an inward confidence and secondly an carnestnesse in the soule whereby he goes to God as a Child to his loving Father not considering his owne worthinesse or meanes but the constant love that is bore to him This spirituall speech of God to the soule and of the soule to God is an evident demonstration of our truth in grace because we can do that which no Hypocrite in the world can attaine to Thirdly this sealing of the Spirit after wee beleeve is knowne by the worke of Sanctification which it effecteth in us the holy Spirit seales our spirits by stamping the likenesse of Christ upon us so as when a man finds in his soule some lineaments of the heavenly Image he may know therby that hee is translated from death to life when he finds his heart subdued to humility and obedience to such a holy and gratious frame as Christs was he may cleerely discerne that he hath something more than the Old man in him when a man can say naturally I am proud but now I can abase my selfe naturally I am full of malice now I can love and pray heartily for my enemies naturally I am lumpish dead-hearted now I can joy in the Holy Ghost naturally I am apt to distrust the Lord and be discontented with my condition now I can rest securely upon his Promise and Providence sin hath been my delight now it is my sorrow and heart-breaking I finde somewhat contrary to corruption in me I carry the Image of the second Adam about me now I say whosoever hath this blessed change may rest assured of his right to happinesse Know you not that Christ is in you except you be reprobates saith the Apostle A Christian that upon a through search finds something of Christ alwayes in his soule can never want a sweet evidence that he is sealed to the day of redemption The fourth way is by the joy of the Spirit which is the beginning of Heaven as it were and a possessing of glory before our time there are few of Gods children but in the cours of their pilgrimage first or last have this divine impression wrought in them enlarging and ravishing their soules to joy in the Almighty Yet this is especially seene after conflict when the soule hath combated with some strong corruption or temptation To him that overcomes wll I give of the hidden Mannah saith Christ and a white stone which none can reade but he that hath it that is hee shall have assurance that he is in the state of grace and the sweet savour of goodnesse it selfe shall be his portion usually God gives comfort after wee have conflicted with some sinfull disposition and have got the victory as we see in Iob after God had exercised that Champion a long time at the last hee discovered himself in a glorious manner to him In the midst of afflictions when a Christian is under great crosses and God sees hee must bee supported with spirituall strength or else he sinks then he puts in with supply from above when the creature cannot help us the Creator of all things will Thus Paul in the midst of the Dungeon being sealed with the Spirit sang at midnight when he was in the Stocks and so David in the midst of persecution Daniel in a Lions Den the three Children in the fiery furnace c. God doth as Parents smile on their little ones when they are sick and dejected hee reserves his choisest comforts for the greatest exigents when God hath a great worke for his children to doe or some sharpe suffering for them to undergoe as an incouragement before-hand hee oft enlargeth their spirits that they may be able to go through all As our Saviour Christ had Iames and Iohn with him upon the Mountaine to strengthen thē against his ensuing suffering Let us then examine our selves by that which hath beene delivered hath God spoken to thy soule and said I am thy salvation thy sinnes are remitted and thy person received into my favour doth God stirre up thy spirit to call upon him especially in extremity and to go with boldnesse and earrestnesse to his Throne Surely this is an evidence of the seale of the Spirit for who ever wants this cannot look God in the face when distresse is upon him Saul in this case goes to the Witch and Achitophel to desperate conclusions Iudas in extremity we see what becomes of him So every one that hath not this sealing of the Spirit to whom God speakes not peace by shedding abroad the love of Christ in his heart must needs
but a little signe of grace in me Be not discouraged you know in wax though the stamp be almost out yet it is currant in Law notwithstanding Put the case the stamp of the Prince be an old Coyne is it not currant though it bee crackt Suppose the mark of the Spirit should bee dim and blurred scarce discernable in us this ought to bee our shame and griefe yet some evidences of grace are still remaining there are some sighes and groanes against corruption which may continually support us if we mourne in our spirits and doe not joyne with our lusts nor allow our selves in them this is a divine impression though it bee as it were almost worne out the more comfort wee desire the fresher she should keepe this seale of comfort And labour to grow in faith and obedience that we may reade our evidence cleerely that it be not over-growne with the dust of the world so as we cannot see it Sometimes Gods children have the graces of the Spirit in them yet they yeeld so much to feares and doubtings that they can read nothing but their corruption When we bid them puruse their evidences they can see nothing but worldlinesse nothing but pride and envie because they grieve the holy Spirit by their negligence and distrust Though there be a stamp in them yet God holds the soule from it and gives men up to mistake their estates for not stirring up the graces of his Spirit in them Honour God by beleeving and he will honour thee by stamping his Spirit more cleerely on thee what a comfort is it to have the evidence of a gratious soule at all times When a man carries about him the marke of the Spirit what in the world can discourage such a soule On the contrary if a man have not something above nature in him when death judgement comes how miserable is his condition If a man be a King or an Emperour of the World and have not an interest in Christs righteousnesse ere long he shall be stripped of all and adjudged to eternall torments Oh the excellency of mans soule a Jewell more to be prized then a Princes Diadem It is the solly of the times to set up curious Pictures but what a poore delight is this in comparison of the ambition of a true Christian to see the Image of Christ stamped in his soule to finde the joy of the Spirit and God speaking peace to his inner man The transforming of our selves into the image of Christ is the best Picture in the world therefore we should labour for the new creature that as we grow downeward one way we may grow up towards Heaven another that as the life of nature decayes so the spirituall life may bee more active and working It should be our daily study while we live in this world to attain that holinesse without which no man shall ever see God There is besides the common broad Seale of God his privie Seal What is the reason that many proud hearted persons are damned the truth is they are all for externall contentments and despise the ordinances of GOD for though they stand upon their admission into the Church upon the common seales and prerogatives which in themselves are excellent yet relying on these things overmuch betrayes many soules to the Devill in the time of distresse It is an other manner of seale than the outward seale in the Sacrament that must settle peace in the conscience When once the beginnings of faith are wrought in us then wee may with comfort thinke upon our receiving of the Communion but the speciall thing to be eyed is the hidden seale If the externall meanes work no inward sanctificatiō in our hearts we shall be the worse rather than the better for them yet we must not be so prophane as to think slightly of Gods Ordinances they are of great consequence For when Satan shakes the confidence of a Christian and saith Thou art an Hypocrite God doth not love thee these help us to hold out why saith the soule I can speak by experience that I have found the contrary the Lord hath removed my feares he hath pardoned my sinne and accepted my person he hath given me many Pretious Promises to support my spirit Here is the excellency of the Sacrament it comes more home to me it seales the generall Promises of God particularly to my selfe for finding the inward worke of the Spirit in my heart and God having strengthned my faith by the outward seale I can defie Satan with all his accusations and look death in the face with comfort We should labour therefore to observe Gods sealing dayes when he uses to manifest himselfe to his people which though it may be every day if wee be spiritually exercised yet it is in the Lords day more especially for then his ordinance and his Spirit go together Now there is a sealing of persons and of truths besides the sealing of our estates that we are the children of God there is a sealing of every particular truth to a Christian. For where there is grace to beleeve the truth God seales those truths firmely to that soule by the comforts of his Spirit For example this is a truth Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life Now the same Spirit that stirs up the soule to beleeve this seales it fast upon the conscience even to death there is no promise but upon our beleeving the same it is sealed by God upon us for those truths only abide firme in the soule which the Holy Ghost sets on What is the reason that many forget their consolations the reason is they heare much but the Spirit settles nothing on their hearts What is the reason that lettered men many times stand out in their profession to blood whereas those that are more able and learned yeeld to any thing The reason is the knowledge of the one is set fast upon the soule the Spirit brings his seale and this mans knowledge close together whereas the learning and abilities of the other is only a discoursive thing swimming in the braine without any sollid foundation their knowledge of truths is not spiritual they see not heavenly things by heavenly but by a naturall light Those that would not apostatize must have a knowledge sutable to the things they know they must see spirituall things by the Spirit of GOD. Therefore when we come to heare the Word wee should not come with strong conceits of our owne to bring all to our wits but with reverent dispositions and dependance upon God that he would teach us together with his Ministers and close with his Ordinances so as to fasten truths upon our soules else shall wee never hold out for that which must stablish and quiet the soule must bee greater than the soule In time of tentations when the terrours of the Almighty encompasse us when God layes open our conscience and writes bitter things against us those
slipped out of the way themselvs and being by repentance recovered they learne to restore others with the spirit of meeknesse as the Apostle speakes A man humbledby experience of sinne in himselfe will soone relent at the fall of others Those often times prove the most excellent instruments in the Church who have formerly beene overtaken with some grosse sinne by meanes where of they have ever after beene much abased in their owne eyes We see David Paul and Peter fell grievously but being afterwards raised againe and finding comfort themselves they were a great meanes of strengthning others for he which teacheth out of his owne experience and feeling is the fittest and best teacher of all So it was with Ionah when by casting him into the Sea God had humbled him he was fit to preach repentance to Niniveh This is a most certaine truth that never any of Gods elect fell grievously but he was the better all the dayes of his life for his fall David having beene thorowly humbled for sinne when Shimei his subject cursed him to his face how patiently did hee beare the same So Peter having denied his Master and afterwards recovering himself again we see how zealous he was for his Lord Christ suffered death for him Furthermore not only the sins of Gods children which they themselves commit do work for their best but also the sinnes of others of the Saints with whom they converse and live doe much tend to their good and welfare Do not the fals of David Peter Manasses and Paul comfort the distressed and despairing soules of such as languish and are ready to faint under the burthen of their sins And do not the registry of their sins in Scripture give hope to us that God will be mercifull to our sins also we may not think it is Gods will to set upon perpetuall Record the sinnes of his servants for their shame disgrace and punishment but for our comfort who live and remaine to the end of the world And the faults of the Saints have two excellent uses whereof the one is for comfort the other for instruction The use in regard of comfort is this God hath shewed mercy to David Paul Peter and others sinning grievously against him and repenting of the same Therefore if I also shall sinne and truly repent as they did surely God is where he was as full of mercy and readinesse to forgive now as ever The second use for instruction is this If such excellent and eminent Saints by sinne have fallen grievously how then much more are we poore weak soules subject to fall if wee neglect watchfulnesse over our selves If a weak Christian oft assaulted with tentations should not see the falls slips of Gods worthier servants he would be in a wonderfull desperation and cry out of himselfe saying Alas what shall I doe never was any so assaulted and tempted so cast downe and overcome in temptations as I am and therefore my case is more fearesull and worse than ever was any But when hee considereth the grievous falls of Gods speciall servants how they have stepped aside foulely and yet obtained mercy by their examples hee beginneth to be revived and receive inward comfort wherby it is evident that all sinnes whatsoever of Gods Elect as vile and as loathsome as they are doe by Gods providence and our owne serious repentance turne to their good and the good of those with whom they live The next spirituall Evill is that which followeth after sinne committed viz. Gods desertion or forsaking of us when he seemes to hide his favour from men after they have sinned against him when God manifests himselfe as an enemie to his people this grieves them more than any thing else in the world beside wee see David how hee calls upon God not to rebuke him in his wrath nor forsake him in his displeasure where hee sheweth how grievously he was afflicted with the anger of the Almighty But albeit that God doth seeme sometimes to forsake his servants it is not for their confusion but for their consolation for by this meanes they come to be poore in spirit and wonderfully emptied of themselves And it is very observable that when such as are thorowly wounded and afflicted inwardly come to recover strength and peace againe they often prove the most cōfortable Christians of all others walking with more care to avoid offence all their lives after Christ Jesus himselfe though hee never sinned but onely stood as a surety in our roome to pay the ransome of our debts seemed to be forsaken of God his Father and because hee was thus thus humbled therefore hee was after most highly exalted above all both in heaven and in earth So Iob seemed to be forsaken and doth grievously bemoane his miseries but this was not because hee had sinned against God more grievously than others had done but for the triall of his faith and patience to give him experience of Gods love to him in the crosse that he might cleave the closer to his Maker all his time after Another Evill arising from the guiltinesse of sin is anguish of mind and a wounded spirit which saith Salomon who can beare But for all this griefe for sinne is an happy griefe yea a griefe never to bee grieved for This wound in spirit breedeth afterwards a sound spirit Repentance is good Faith in Christ is good But what doth prepare us to these happy graces Is it not a wounded spirit Who would ever repent of his sinnes and lay hold on Christ for remission of the same if hee were not pricked and pierced in the sence thereof Christ professeth himselfe to bee a Physitian but to whom To the lost Sheepe of Israel He promiseth ease and refreshment but to whom To them that are weary and laden with the burthen of their sinnes The Spirit of the Lord was upon him that he might preach the Gospell to the poore and hee was sent to heale the broken hearted that hee might preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind and set at liberty them that are bruised Againe divers Christians doe walk very heavily and uncomfortably by reason of inward tentations blasphemous imaginations which oft are suggested enter into their minds but these sinnes which so vex the soules of poore Christians are a meanes of their humiliation causing them to sue more earnestly to God for pardon And these sinfull corruptions doe further serve for a testimony to themselves that they are not under the power of Sathan but live in the Kingdome of grace for if they were captived to the Devill and under his government then would he never molest vex them but suffer them quietly to live and die in their sins but because they are from under his rule and jurisdiction therefore hee perplexeth troubleth them all he can By which it is evident that all sinnes by Gods mercy and our