can doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 Object But if all courage strength and comfort comes from God in Christ what a sad condition am I in I never sought God in any action or owned the hand of God in any deliverance from danger doe you thinke that God would now heare me if I should henceforth seek to him Answ. Yes let me tell thee if thou in thy heart art grieved for thy neglects of God if the contempts thou hast offered to the face of God doe prick and wound thy heart with sorrow and thou be willing to walke with God if he would now receive thee feare it not there is hope enough in Christ to infavour thee with God here and bring thee to the fulnesse of glory hereafter God looks not so much at former sinnes as future obedience if now thou hast a desire to give up thy selfe to Christ thou must count with thy selfe to live as a Christian thou must determine to cast off all thy unwarranted courses and as neere as thou canst endeavour to walke and act according to the rule of Christ The Apostle puts it downe for a Maxim Let who every one that nameth the Name of Christ that will challenge the profession of a Christian depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Jesus Christ looks not so much what you are as what you would be God is willing to quit scores for all that 's past whatever it is and that for his owne sake that shall never be questioned againe You may thinke this is much but I have Scripture for what I say God charges Iâ—rael with their unkindnesse and miscarriâ—ges towards him Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money neitheâ— hast thou filled me with the fat of thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy sinnes thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities Isa. 43.24 This was Israels misery yet the object of Gods unspeakable mercy I even I am he that blotteth out thy traâ—sgressions for my owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes ver. 25. Here 's engagement enough for poore sinners and if I had named no more I had said enough for the full answer the Objection Obiect But saith the poore soule againe I have been an open enemy to God I have taken up Armes against God I have broken his Sabbaths I have mocked at Religion yea I have persecuted the Saints and can there yet be hope for me Answ. I answer yes there is yet hope for thee this degree of sinne is not ordinary in one elect by God yet all this cannot keâ—p off Christ from saving thy soule if thou findest in thy selfe a sorrow for thy sinnes and an earnest desire to walke in new obedience He against whom thou hast sinned puts this sorrow into thy heart and will save thy soule Remorse for sinne and thoughts of obedience are gifts and graces wrought by the Spirit of God in thee these are not the fruits of nature comming from thee present paine may worke and stirre up a griefe for thy misery and sorrow but never procures a sorrow for sinne I might give you divers presidents but I will take up with this cleere precept It is God who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 that is all our good thoughts of turning unto God and the strength of all our abilities according to the rule of Christ is all from God God puts them into every one before they have them This might be sufficient for some but if thou beest not yet fully satisfied I will endeavour to find thee out some taking comfort If once thou commest to have earnest breathings and longings after Christ in love to Christ it is not former sinnes that can keep off Christ from thee Christ lookes not to have us perfect but comes to make us perfect Christ found Paul a persectour but makes him a Preacher of the Gospell Acts 26. to ver. 18. Paul doth not from his former sinnes so much question as magnifie the free Grace of God Onely this use he makes of it that the more God had done for him he endeavoured the more in the exercises of his Graces bestowed upon him to publish and advance the glory of God 1 Cor. 15.9 10. If thou beest not a sinner thou hast no need of a Saviour but if thou findest thy selfe in a perishing condition and canst say a God or I am gone a Jesus a Saviour or I am lost for ever thou art such a one as Jesus Christ lookes for they are Jesus Christ's owne words I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Marke 2.17 that is I came not for those who are holy and righteous in their owne eyes but to make rigâ—teous and save poore sinners who lye even in hell to their owne apprehension unworthinesse is no warrant to keep thee from Christ Jesus Christ will make thee worthy it 's the businesse for which God sent Jesus Christ into the world and it was Jesus Christs onely desire to doe the will of his Father and that yet a poore sinner may be further encouraged to seeke after Christ I will lay downe some speciall priviledges which comes into the soule by Christ First by Christ thou shalt have all these soul-destroying sinnes in themselves these heart-trembling sinnes these conscience-biting sinnes as cleerly taken away by Jesus Christ as if thou never hadst committed any such Thy conscience shall be at quiet and the devill himselfe shall not have any thing to say to thee for them God hath laid all thy sinnes and the sinnes of all the Elect upon Christ Isa. 53.6 Christ hath suffered and satisfied the wrath of his Father for them it is finished John 19.30 Jesus Christ hath done this for them and hence is that challenge which the Apostle takes up against the devill the world yea conscience who is it shall lay any thing any manner of sinne to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth Rom. 8.33 34. all is put to Christ Christ doth all Secondly Iesus Christ doth not onely justifie a soule before God but he reconciles God to the soule he makes a sweet peace and friendship betweene them who were at enmity and the Apostle makes this worke of reconciliation an argument of eternall salvation from which we may draw the certainty of both For saith Paul if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Sonne much more we being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5.10 Thirdly and lastly because I will hasten Iesus Christ will send the holy Ghost the Spirit to direct and sanctifie all those who have an interest in him If once Christ be thine Christ will have a care of thee thou shalt have a guide to lead thee in all the wayes of truths or God Iesus Christ knowes well the failings of the Saints He therefore promisâ—â— them a guide which his
interest in Christ in some measure or other is acquainted with the love care and power which abides in Jesus Christ and upon this ground saving faith is built They that know thy Name saith David wil trust to thee Psal. 9.10 that is they that know Jesus Christ to be the Sonne of God to be one with the Father Ioh. 17. know him to be God al-sufficient This is fâ—iths sure foundation and hence it was that Paul takes up his firme resolution to commit all to Christ I know saith he whom I have beleeved I have had experience of him and I am perswaded that he is able tâ— keep that which I have committed unto him 2 Tim. 1.12 This was a sweet frame in Paul here was a right faith and assuredly the Saints have the same they have the like pretious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 all the Saints now have the like faith the Apostles had for nature or matter though not the like measure of faith Every christian is willing nay desirous to give up all to the disposall of Christ they well know that Iesus Christ is a better keeper of any thing then they themselves are and therefore they are desirous to put all into his hand christians will trust Christ with estates wives children Religion bodies and soules this is the faith of christians it 's a true faith and it never fails True it is an hypocrite a meer knowing professor may goe farre as the young man did Mat. 19. but they cannot trust Iesus Christ with all they may stand the calm and make a goodly shew but in the storme when troubles sufferings and losses come in with profession of Christ they are lost too they are gone they want foundation they have not faith to trust Christ under difficulties Mat. 7.26 27. they know not that the Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge a hiding-place a defence in times of trouble as David did or else they would put their trust in God Ps. 9.9 10. now then bring your hearts to the rule try them whether they will be willing to close with Iesus Christ and trust him with all and for all if you have a faith that can thus see acknowledge and trust Christ with all it 's good it 's firme it is a faith given by God wrought by the holy Ghost it 's more then flesh and blood can doe thus to trust Iesus Christ And therefore I will conclude upon this faith as Iesus Christ did of the same faith in Peter This a firme faith and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Mat. 16.16 17 18. This a second sign of a christians reall interest in Christ Signe 3. The third Signe of a Christians interest in Christ is a ready obedience to all the commands of Christ when I give you obedience for a signe of being in Christ I meane a filiall and not a servile obedience an obedience that is free full universall not compelled or in part Iesus Christ loves not half Christians nor almost christians Iesus Christ will be all Master or no Master I am perswaded your selves think this a truth and no matter of dispute The soule that hath truly given up it selfe to Iesus Christ that trusts him with all expects all from him to make it happy will be counselled and commanded by the will and word of Iesuâ— Ghrist Obedience is a full discovery a notable marâ— to make known what Master you serve whose commands you obey and works you doe his you are if you obey Christ his you are if you obey the Devill his you are I know this truth is very hardly received many will live like devils and yet would be called christians and be partakers of the Saints priviledges That therefore you may the better judge of your inward estate conâ—â—dâ—r your outward walking who hath the command of your lives and actions what rule goe you by that will not deceive you this was Pauls direction to the Romans and it shall now be mine po you Know you not that is it 's a thing you ought to remember that to whom yee yeeld your selves servaâ—t to obey his servants yee are to whom you obey whether of sinne unto death or obedience unto righteousnesse Rom. 6.16 Objest But you may say how shall I know by my actions when I obey the divell and when I obey Iesus Christ Ans. This is the easiest thing that may be if you deale faithfully with your own soules there is no truth in all the Bible more clearly set down then this for the children of the divell Iesus Christ saith ye are of your father the divell and the lusts of your father ye will doe Ioh. 8.44 On the other side the sheepe the servants of Iesus Christ thâ—y harken for his commands and obey his will the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce Ioh. 10.4 Object But how shall I know which are the works of the divell and which are the commands of Iesus Christ Ans. This also is as plain as can be and they are distinguished all along the Scriptures but I will give you one place for all and that will clear both to the ful Paul writing to the Galathians satisfies the point to the full onely he differs in tearmes from the other places alledged before these works are distinguished and the one call'd the works of the divell the other the commandments of Christ and here Paul cals the one the workâ— of the flesh the other the fruits of the spirit and here is little difference if they be considered now if you would know how these may be discerned the Apostle first tels you they are manifest and then reckons up many particulars the Apostle begins with the works of the flesh or the divell call them whether you please and also shews the reward of them then he describes many qualifications in christians and gives the reason of their sweet frame I will give you both these apart becauâ—e the knowledge of them may dâ—e you much good and the Lord blesse it to you First the Apostle discovers and names many particular works of the divell now saitâ— he the works of the flesh are manifest any body may know them which are these adultery fornication uncleaâ—nesse lasciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred varâ—ance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyâ—ngs murders drunkennesse revilings c. the Apostle names these and concludes with such like that is these and such as these are will keepe a soule out of heaven they have no inheritance there and then you know what will follow his words are these â—hey which do such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God Gal. 5.19.20 21. Thus you see what the works of the divell are and how he payes them their wage â— will next fall upon the qualifications of the Saints as they are helped and guided by the Spirit the holy Ghost and therfore called the fruit of the spirit In the Saints the servants of God you finde nothing but sweetnesse
a woman a woman in travaile which yet denoâ—es greater weaknesse and accompanied with paine and sorrow Yet this poore pained travelâ—ing woman is now persecuted by a cruell and powerful â—nemie This hath hitherto been the Churches condition She hath had her time of mouâ—ning since Christ 1600. and ode yeares and therefore now she may looke for her time her time of rejoycing It is her right she may expect it It is Gods promise she mâ—y claime it They that sowe in teares shall reape in joy Psal. 126.5 The Church hath had a lâ—ng wet seed time she hath watred her plants to the purpose and therefore a full and happy Harvest of peace and plenty must needs be neere blessed be God when we looke up when we looke above our blood and miseries and eye God the times looke white as if the Harvest of deliverance was at hand for the Churches of the Lord in these parts of Europe And who ever lives shall see our present troubles to have a powerfull effect through all christian world This I say is the Churches the Saints time their part Now we will view the adverse part the other side and observe the time of the wicked The wicked you know were ever opposed to the godly and so is their condition The Saints have a hard entrance but a happy issue The wicked is cleane contray They have a plaine and easie path but death and hell are at the end They have a time to get and â—â—me to lose They have had a long time of getting Not to look back into the old Testament where the foure persecuting Monarchies were all prophesied of by Daniel châ—p 2. and answerably had their times as the Chaldean Monarchy the Persian and Midean Monarchy the Grecian Monarchy I will onely speake of the Roman Monarchy that mingle-mangle of Iron and clay Temporall and Spirituall as they call it Emperour and Pope though they would not hold together amongst themselves being of divers natures yet they have still agreed to continue persâ—cuting of Gods Saints That hath gone on for above 1600. yeares They have beene geuing upon the Saints almost all this while and therefore now it s no more but just with God to bring their time of losing Saints cheare up you hearts ply God with your prayers you shall prevaile Blessed be God your enemies have beene of the decaying losing hand a pretty while they have lost in Scotland that you know they have lost in England that you know and they shall lose and lose till they have lost all It is their part God hath alotted it to them and they shall have it Yea feâ—r it not God will doe it He hath promised it and he will performe it I am loath to be tedious or I could draw you to a full view of the wickeds ruine In the Revelation if you will but read and mark part of two chapters in this booke you shall there have as much as I have said In the 17. chap. you have a large description of the Whore in all her glory and chap. 18. vers. 2. there is her destruction I will leave this uâ—to your more serious thoughts and now proceed to the more full answer of the Objection In the second place I answer that the all-wise God may have many and sound reasons and that for the good of his Saints to suffer the wicked to prosper and put much of these outward things into their hands I will give you some of them 1. Answ. First though God suffer the wicked to thâ—ive long and have a great measure of these eaâ—thy outward things yet it is not with the like right which the Saints have them by men out of Christ have onely outwaâ—d things by a generall providenâ—e they have not so good aâ—ight and full title to any thing as the Saints have and I will shew you how they differ First wicked men unbeleevers men out of Christ may have much put into their hands when God intends to make use of them yet it is onely as they are subservient unto his glory in the Saints good They shall have little comfort in what they have while they have it they have them with much trouble and disquiet There is many times eveâ— a hell in great men houses because God bestowes not outward things upon them out of love not to doe them good But the Saints have all from the love of God in Christ Though they have never so little yet they are happy they live comfortably what they have does them good Hence was that proverbiall speech of Solomon Prov. 15.16 This is the difference Secondly the wicked men out of Christ have no right to any thing that is Gods by vertue of any promise from God They are not in Covenant with God so God is not theirs nor engaged to them by promise only what he bestows upon them by courtesie and meere providence It was Gods expression to Abraham I will give to thee and to thy seede c. Gen. 17.8 Now beleevers are the seede of Abraham they are in Covenâ—â—â— with God they may claim a priviledg as children they have a right by promise from God This is the second difference Thirdly the wicked who have not Christ have all they possesse without Christ they have the gift without God They have the gifts without grace to use them and then you may know how it will goe with them You know it will doe a man little good to have a whole shop full of curious tooles and know not how to used them But the Saints have God and the gift yea God in the gift They have the holy Spirit brought along in ever mercy which will helpe them to manage all and guide them in all and so sweetens all to them turns all to a happy and blessed use that all is for their good It is the promise of Iesus Christ he will see it made good to his Saints The Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name hee shall teach you all things Iohn 14.6 This is the 3 difference I will now come to the second answer to the objection 2 Aâ—sw 2. God may suffer the wicked to have great power to get into much strength the better and more effectually to do his work You know it is not a little common fire that will melt gold It must be a strong fire a hot fire Now Gods Saints in Scripture are compared to gold and though gold the chiefest of mettalls yet it hath drosse which must be purged out and takâ—n away Isa. 1.25 That is even the best of Gods Saints have many sins and corruptions which must be purged out in the fire of afâ—lâ—ctions And for this purpose God makes use of wicked Kings and great men and in this sence God calls them his servants as I mentioned at large in the Reasons Alas the very greatest and sharpest persecutions that ever the wicked raised did the Saints good it exercised
Father will send in his Name the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said to you Joh. 14.26 I hope I have in this set open a large doore of sweet comfort to every poore soule groaning under the burden of sinne I will now the Lord assisting come to point of tryall of which as briefe as I may I have hitherto endeavoured all along to discover a Christians priviledges he hath by Christ with some directions what a Christian is to doe in himselfe to get an interest in this Christ I am now come to give you some Signes or Evidences by which you may know whether as yet Christ be yours or no they shall be but few and short the Lord help me in the discovery and you in the faithfull examination of the ground upon which your building stands and there will arise abundance of sweet and full comfort to all our Soules Signe 1. The first Signe whereby a Christian may know he hath an interest in Christ is a sound and sincere love to Christ for Christ alone It 's not enough to love Christ for the Loaves so Christ hath lovers and followers too many to love Christ because you outwardly thrive and get by Christ Christ finds fault with this Joh. 6.26 It is not enough to love Christ with the Loaves with the world this also Christ cannot away with this will not doe yee cannot doe it Mat. 6.24 but Christ will be loved for himselfe he will have all your love and have you love him onely that is to love him above all more then all Christ would not have any thing here below to stand in computition with him if any thing must be parted with let it be any thing all things save Christ Goods Friends Life are all to he left for the love of Christ when they cannot stand together This is the meaning of thoâ—e two Scriptures Mat. 10.37 Luk. 14.26 Now if you solemnly and seriously aske your hearts they will tell you whether you love a naked Christ a despised Christ I say your hearts will in some measure tell you how they are disposed what longings have you after Christ what inquires doe you make after Christ what delight have yee in the Saints â—ow doe yee prize the Ordinances what soule-meetings have you with Christ what sweet communion have â—ou with Christ Object But you will say who can doe this Aâ—sw I answer every Christian may doe this nay I say further every true Christian doth doe this in a greater or lesser degree what is prayer but the soules discourse with God and Christ by the help of the holy Ghost what is the Word and preaching but a declaration of the mind of God to us Love these and love Christ neglect these and you care not for Iesus Christ Now then have these taken thy heart and ravished thy soule are these the cause of thy rejoycing and the want of these thy sorrow doest thou prize the Word of God above all the Words wealth doest thou love to follow Christ under all contempts canst thou rejoyce in Christ and account thy interest in him to be dearer to thee then all other honours and priviledges I say here are infallible signes of a sincere love to Christ when you can love any thing for Christ and all things for Christ and onely for Christ can you love Christians as they are Christs Ordinances as they are Christs doe you the more love Christians where there is the more of Christ in them do you the more love pure Ordinances as they are the more agreeable to the mind of Christ certainly unlesse you can doe this unlesse your hearts close with Christ in these I can give you no hopes that you either love Christ or have any interest in Christ This is not my owne rule but the rule of Iesus Christ this is not my word but the Word of Iesus Christ In one place Iesus Christ propounds a brotherly love to be a knowne signe of being in him By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if yee have love one to another Ioh. 13.35 the other place is Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keep my Commandements that is if you will make it appeared and manifest that you love me let it be knowne by your obedience in walking according to the rule I have given you to observe you see how strict Christ is and therefore it is not good for us to depart from Christ's rule from what he warrants us in I say againe for I cannot say it too often for the Lords sake take heed that you deceive not your selves in the cleering up your Evidences for Heaven your right to Christ you must not thinke because you live in the ayre of the Gospell amongst Christians and Ordinances and Bibles that this can make you Christians and intitle you to Christ no no it 's not faint prayers will bring a man to Heaven every one that saith Lord Lord shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Mat. 7.21 Christ requires acting doing his will as well as confession of him nay it 's not barely a civill and strict life will bring a man to Heaven The Scribes and Pharisees went farre in this and yet fell short and therefore did Christ propound this seasonable Caution Except your righteousnesse exceed the righâ—eousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees yee can in no wise enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Nay I must goe a little further yet it s not barely your partaking of the Seales of the Covenant doth put you into Covenant it 's not in plainer words your being baptized and receiving the Lords Supper which makes you Christians and interests you in Christ you may doe all these and yet doe nothing you may perish for all To this it is considerable which Paul writes to the Church at Galatia you may see what a stirre they kept about Circumcision Now to stint the strife and take them from their faâ—se bottomes the Apostle tels them plaine it is neither one nor the other will bring them to Heaven it 's onely the worke of faith by love For saith Paul in Iesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love Gal. 5.6 all these outward priviledges advantageth a soule nothing unlesse it can sensibly close with Christ in a full perswasion of the love of Christ to the soule in the great worke of Redemption and that it selfe have a pâ—rt therein but if the soule can thus trust Christ and hence really love Christ againe it may assuredly rest upon it it hath an inteâ—est in Christ This is the first signe of a reall love to Christ Signe 2. Secondly the soule that hath an interest in Christ will trust Christ with all the soule that hath an