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
Goodnesse God himselfe by them he esteemes his best being to be in Christ and therefore labours more more to be transformed into his likenesse He values nothing in the world further than it conduceth to his spirituall welfare If all be well for that hee accounts himselfe happy whatsoever else befalls him Indeed where the Spirit hath taken up his firme abode that soul will little set by any outward change Nothing can be very ill with a man that hath all well within him But that I may not distract your thoughts you shall find divers properties of the Spirit of God in Romans 8. which I will briefly touch First it is said that the Spirit where it is dwells in that heart as in an house it rules where ever it comes The Holy Ghost will not be an underling to our lusts it repaires and makes up all our inward breaches The Spirit prepares his owne dwelling he begets knowledge and acquaintance of God within us hee is not in us as hee is in the wicked hee onely knocks at their hearts but hath not his abode there Secondly when the Spirit comes into a man hee subdues whatsoever is coÌ„trary to it and makes way for it self by pulling down all strong holds which oppose it therefore wee are said to mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit ver 13. Those that by help of the Spirit have got the victory of sinne can in no wise be led as slaves by the flesh as on the contrary he that cherishes corruption and crucifies it not by spirituall reasons but out of civill respects to be freed from aspersions and to uphold his reputation or the like is a meere stranger to the Holy Ghosts working Thirdly as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sonnes of God As the Angell went before the Israelites from Egypt into Canaan so the Spirit of God goes along with his in all their wayes remooving all lets and strengthening against all impediments in their Christian race It conducts us sweetly not violently as the Devill doth those that are possessed with the Spirit wee are led strongly indeed because it is against corruption within us and opposition from without us but yet sweetly to preserve the liberty and freedome of the soule still We are all by nature like children or blinde men wee cannot lead our selves the Spirit must be our conduct or wee shall wander and goe aside presently Those therefore that enjoy the same submit themselves to its guidance and direction in all things Again the Spirit stirres up sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed When we are not able to pray or lay open the griefes of our soules if wee can but send out sighes groanes to heaven they shall bee accepted for God will heare the voyce of his own Spirit from whence these sobs complaints come How should wee be overwhelmed with despaire did not the Spirit support us Those therefore that in extremity have nothing to comfort them yet are able to send forth holy desires to the Lord may certainly conclude that the Spirit is in them Again the Spirit makes us mourne and wait for the adoption of sonnes the same Spirit that sanctifies a sinner witnesses to his soule that God is his Worldlings grieve not for their absence from Christ neither at all long they for his blessed appearing because their heaven is here They mourne not for the hidden distempers and secret impersections of their soules whereas the godly are much in condemning theÌ„selves for that which no creature can tax them of Want of coÌ„munion with their Maker straitnesse of spirit distraction in dutie that they cannot obey as they would these exceedingly deject them yet wait they will without despaire till God have finished their course there is such a divine power in faith as a very little beam of it having no other help than a naked promise will uphold the soule against the greatest discouragements and keepe it from utter sinking Indeed waiting is a difficult duty both in regard of the long day which God usually takes before he performes his promise as also by reason of the untowardnesse of our natures being ready to be put off by the least frown did not God by a Spirit of constancie preserve the soule immoveable in all conditions whether present or to come so as it failes not before him and why because it knowes full well that God in whom it rests is unchangably good Alas we are at the best but light and vaine creatures till the divine Spirit fix and settle us the firmer our Union is here the surer will be our standing in all danger for what can daunt that soul which in the greatest troubles hath made the great good to bee his owne Such a person dares chearefully encounter any opposition as having a Spirit higher than the world about him and seeing all but God farre beneath him Though I might name more what a many sweet evidences are here to manifest a soule truly â—â—ted and led by the Spirit of God How may a man obtaine this blessed guest to lodge in his soule and rule over him First attend upon the teaching of the Gospell Received ye the Spirit by the hearing of the Law or of faith preached saith the Apostle The Spirit it usually given with a cleare unfolding of Christ. Secondly omit likewise no meanes wherein the Spirit is effectuall for as a man walking in a Garden though he think not of it drawes a sweet sent of the flowers So the word of God being dictated by the Spirit leaves a heavenly favour in such as converse with it The spirit of a man is like water that runnes through Mineralls Wee see Baths have their warmth from Mineralls that they runne thorough So it is with the soule in its holy imployments When it hath to deale with good books and good company it draweth a spirituall tincture from these things and is bettered by them Withall take heed that thou grieve not the holy Ghost for that will cause an estrangement of his presence in thy soule How is that done By cherishing contrary affections and lusts to his blessed motions as when we heare the Word but resolve never to obey it When God knocks at our hearts for entrance oh how readily should wee set open those everlasting doores to receive him If Christ be willing to give us his Spirit it must needs be our owne fault if wee remain carnall There being nothing in a manner required to bee spirituall but not to resist the Spirit What greater indignity can we offer to the blessed Comforter than to preferre our base lusts before his motions leading to happinesse What greater unkindnesse can a man doe his friend than to slight his loving direction and embrace the counsell of a professed ene mie The Holy Ghost presses such forcible reasons upon us of heavenly n indednesse and de spising earthly things that it is more than evident none are damned in the bosone of the Church but those that set a bar against the Spirit 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
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
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
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
sinck as Lead in the bottome of the Sea which hath no consistence till it come to the Center to Hell Did you ever feele the joy of the Spirit in holy duties after inward striving against your lusts and getting ground of them this is a certaine signe that God hath sealed you But you will say How can that be a seale A seale continues with the thing but the joy of the Spirit comes after the work of the Spirit and abides not with us I answer though wee have not alwayes the joy of the Spirit yet we have the Spirit of joy which though it be not knowne by joy yet may be discerned by its operation and working A Christian may have a gracious work of the Spirit in him and yet want the delight and joy of the Spirit therefore when that failes look to thy sanctification and see what resemblance of Christ is formed in thee See 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heart be humble and broken if thou have a heavenly disposition like to thy Saviour when the joy of the Spirit ceaseth goe to the work of the Spirit and from the work of the Spirit to the voyce of the Spirit Canst thou cry to God with strong supplications or if thou canst not pray with distinct words canst thou mourne and groane The Spirit helps our infirmities when wee know not what to ask This sighing groaning is the voyce of Gods Spirit which hee will regard wheresoever he finds it This made Iob in his distresse to swim above water If one be in the midst of extremity and can seriously seek to God it is an undoubted signe that such a one is sealed especially when the corruption of his soule joynes with Sathans temptations the more to afflict him for a sinner in the midst of stormes clouds of darknesse then to cast anchor and quiet his soule in Christ argues great faith So when a temptation closes with our corruption and affliction yeelds ground to further the temptation then to pray and rely securely upon God is a gracious signe for Sathan useth the afflictions we are in as temptations to shake our faith as thus Canst thou be a child of God and be so exercised so vilified so persecuted Didst thou belong to Christ would ever these crosses losses and miseries have befallen thee deceive not thy selfe Thus affliction is a weapon to temptation for Sathan to help his fiery darts with he having such a dangerous party in us as our own corruption doth us the more harme continually How shall a man know whether God hath a part in him I answer If he can run against the streame if he find his soule resisting Sathans temptations raising him above afflictions standing out and combating with corruptions to the uttermost whē he can check his carnal heart that drawes him downwards saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within me it is a good signe David found inward corruptions and outward afflictions joyning with Sathans temptations to depresse his spirit hereupon he chides his owne soule Why is it thus with thee why art thou dejected in this manner and then he layes a charge upon it Trust in God Whatsoever hardship wee meet with in the world yet there is hope in God still though we can find little comfort below yet there are rivers of consolation above it argues a gracious heart to quiet ones selfe in God in the worst times I beseech you let us labour to have our soules sealed with the Spirit of God to have further and clearer evidence of our estate in grace it is a blessed thing to have Christ live in us the enemies of our salvation are exceeding many and how soone death or judgement may ceaze us wee know not God will set none at his right hand but his Sheep those that have his owne Image on them his best Sheep have no outward mark but an inward the world sees not their beautie The Kings daughter is all glorious within How comfortably will the soule commend it self to Christ when it finds it selfe stamped with the Spirit of Christ when he can chearefully say Lord Jesus receive my soule thou that hast redeemed me by thy bloud and sealed me by thy Spirit acknowledge thine owne likenesse in me though it be not as it should be yet there is somwhat of thine in me Beloved wee must not give false evidence of our selves as wee must not against others what a comfort hath a sealed soul in the houre of death and in all extremities what a difference is there betweene such a soule and others in the time of affliction as in the time of pestilence warre and persecution for Christ The soul that is sealed knowes that hee is marked out for happinesse in the world to come Whatsoever befalls him in this life hee knowes that God in all confusion of times knows his own Seale and that his destroying Angell shal spare and passe over those that are marked Ezech. 9. And though our bodies escape not yet our soules shall Iosias wee see was taken away from the evill to come and Lot was delivered from the judgement of the Sodomites If wee partake not of the sinnes of the wicked wee shall never partake of their plagues God hath a speciall care of his little ones in this life and if hee take them away yet their death is pretious in his sight hee will not part with them but upon speciall consideration he sees if they live it will be worse for them their pretious soules are in continuall danger hee sees it is best for them to be gathered to God and the soules of perfect ones in heaven therefore hee provides a shelter to free them from all stormes on earth And as hee hath an eye over them in regard of outward miseries so in respect of spirituall corruption and infection as Revel 7. Gods holy ones were sealed so many of such a Tribe and so many of such a Tribe to signifie that God hath alwayes some that hee will keepe and preserve from the leaprous contagion of sinne and Antichrist even in evill times God hath his little flock still In the obscure ages of the Church 900 yeares after Christ when there was little learning and goodnesse in the world and Egyptian darknes had over-spred the earth God had alwayes sealed ones marked out for himselfe whom he preserved from the danger of dark times why then should wee be afraid of evill tidings Let any affliction or death it selfe come Christ will know his own stamp in us he hath a book of remembrance for those that are his and when hee gathers his jewells they will bee highly set by God in common calamities suffers his luggage wicked men to goe to wrack but he will secure his jewels his darlings what ever come of it labour therefore to bee a sealed person But you will say what shall I account of my self if there bee
and prophanenesse and yet for all this say they love God Is it possible that the love of God and the love of sinne shold ever stand together Proceed wee now to some reasons and directions for the attaining of this grace And first let us not rest in an inferiour degree of this affection but rise up therin and labour that it may have full assent There are degrees of assent as when we love God because we love our selves a naturall man may doe so but this is not enough for if wee love God for our selves we make our selves our God Where the heart is truly set upon God it delights in him only for himselfe and takes comfort in no condition further than he sees God in it He never affected Christ in truth that is more taken with the benefits and priviledges that come by him than with the excellency of his person What friend will bee content that a man should only love him because he doth him good We must love our selves and all other things in and for God Moses and Paul rejoyced to honour the Lord though themselves were accurfed and deprived of happinesse and if wee could so love Christ as not to desire heaven it selfe if Christ were not there This were truly to affect him for indeed if Christ were not there heaven should not be heaven unto us Wee must love our happinesse no further than we can have with it Gods good leave and liking Againe we shall know our love to God whether it be sincere or no by our abstaining from sinne If wee avoid evill for feare of punishment or hope of reward only our love is unsound but when we so love God that wee will not doe any thing contrary to his spirit it is a speciall signe Such a man if there were no hell to punish him nor place of blisse to receive him yet would not breake with God upon any termes For the meanes to attaine this love we must in the first place labour for an humble empty soule Blessed are the poore in Spirit saith Christ for such only apprehend their misery without Christ and their need of him which occasions an holy rejoycing in the Lord and unfained love to him What is the reason that some are so ravished with the favours of the Almighty Is it not for that they were so formerly stung with the sight and feeling of their sinnes the more loving Christian ever the more humble Christian. Mark it when you will and you shall find this disposition manifest in every true convert they are daily humbling themselves for the least offence A second direction is to tast of the love of God in Christ. When the beams of his favour once shine into our hearts we cannot but reflect upon him againe We love him saith the Apostle because he loved us first Mary therefore loved much because shee had experience of Gods love in forgiving her many sinnes When a broken humble soule truly savoureth the goodnesse of the Lord it cannot but be enflamed with desire after him A Christian after hee hath had a taste of the love of God hath another manner of judgement of justification than before Taste and see saith David how good and gracious the Lord is A man that rellishes the sweetnesse of a thing can better judge of it than hee which never tasted it A third direction is to see what motives and reasons wee have from the love of God in Christ to exercise our understanding this way Wee know heat commeth from light and there is a sympathie betweene the braine and the heart the braine must make a report to the heart before that can bee enflamed with affection therefore seriously search into the grounds of thy affection The first ground is goodnesse in God God is goodnesse it self in whom all good is involved if therefore wee love other things for the goodnesse which wee see in them Why doe wee not love God in whom is all goodnesse All other things are but sparks of that fire and drops of that Sea seest thou any good in the creature remember there is much more in the Creator leave therefore the streames and goe to the well-head of comfort Another reason of love is our affinity with God our Father and friend who is unto us in all degrees of neerenesse both our head and our husband were not the Sonne ours what fellowship could we have with the Father having such a Mediator with God that is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh why should we feare to go unto him He hath taken upon him these comfortable relations of Shepheard and Brother to possesse us of his acquaintance with our infirmities and readinesse to releeve us For shall others by his grace fulfill what hee calls them unto and not he that out of his love hath taken upon him these relations so throughly founded upon his Fathers assignment and his owne voluntary undertaking How doth the tender Mother sympathize in the anguish of her child notwithstanding all its froward aversenesse and shall we think there is more bowells in our selves than in God can there be more sweetnesse in the streame than in the spring If the well of consolation be alwayes open and the fountaine of living water bee never shut up let us teach our hearts to suck and draw comfort from these rivers of refreshing What a shame is it that men should hunger at such a feast Consider likewise the benefits which wee have bestowed upon us and the end why God vouchsafes us so much favour Benefits win love even from bruit creatures therfore wee are worse than beasts if we love not God for his benefits The Oxe knowes his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib what are wee indeed but an heap of Gods benefits All our faculties of soule and body are the blessings of God Whatsoever wee have or hope to have is from him Our breath life and being subsists in God who hath promised that heaven and earth men and Devils crosses and blessings sinne and death all shall be turned by his over-ruling power to our good Consider what now we are what a happy condition God hath made us capable of hereafter Is it a small matter that wee should be regarded above the Angels that fell And that he who knew no sin should be made sinne for us nay become a curse to free us from the curse It was strange that the three Children being cast into the hot fiery Furnace should not burne So likewise it is a wonder that Christians being in the midst of the flame of Gods love should be so cold and dead hearted it is not only the guilt of sin that we are freed from but the unsupportable vengeance of the Almighty due for the same and is this a small matter If we regard the manner of bestowing his benefits it will much advance Gods goodnesse towards us and raise up our spirits to love him againe Doth not