to justifie from sin and a rowling the soul upon it and also some delightfull savour of it Then the main temptation is to become negligent in duty As to neglect humble awfull diligent waiting upon God in prayer and other Ordinances This reasoning being upon a young convert because our duty and obedience doth not justifie us before God therefore for no other purpose But this is a dangerons snare and too many poor souls endangered with it Neglect of duty begets a vain and a wanton spirit and causeth the Lord to withdraw from us and will stagger faith and cause thee to question any work upon thy spirit 2. Sleightnesse of Humiliation for former sins in our unregenerate state begets a dead and slight spirit Though they are not to be remembred after effectuall calling as now able to condemn us and God declares in his Covenant of grace to forget them also to remember them no more against us yet they are not to be forgotten to other considerations viz. that we may be the more humbled and abased before the Lord that we may loathe our selves in our former detestable waies and the sense of the pardon of them may the more melt our hearts Eze. 36.31 Zech. 12.10 Therefore after grace received 't is good to be frequent in the renewing of serious and through and as particular as may be humiliation for sins of unregeneracy though pardoned to us and changed from them 3. Too familiar converse with carnall company haply such which before our calling we did most frequently converse with this will deaden our spirits and beget discomfort when a convert will not own and acknowledge to the praise of the rich and free grace of God the change and work the Lord hath wrought upon him And so the want of that serious composed reserved wary carriage and demeanour answerable to a change upon the inward man which will also quickly beget deadnesse staggering discomfort 4. Either a neglectfull or a curious criticall hearing the Gospel preached as to judge of the gifts and parts of Preachers which will at last grow to a matter of fancy rather then to a trembling at the word that it may purisie and assure the heart This joyned with a negiect of reading the Scriptures or reading them out of a curious enquiry to be able to speak discerningly before others to have praise of men This will also quickly cause a staggering 5. As consequentiall of this latter a self-conceit of knowledge and parts growing to an over-weaned conceit of our selves This self-conceit is the main bait of Satan in young converts and the cause of many after-trials till a through discovery of it and so a mortifying of it usually by afflictions temptations or desertions or all No evil more natural then to be lifted up in our selves to have an itch to appear to be some body and to excell others and to seek for gifts and graces not so much to honour God with as to please others and to gain a repute with men This to be lookt to with a godly jealousie as that which will cause a staggering upon thy spirit at last 9. The want of diligent searching our own hearts from whence the former and other evils get strength and lie close specially as to pride and hypocrisie and so not attending to that main grace which is the soul of all sincerity and simpliciy of heart to aim at God and not at our selves A slight practise of searching the more close and spiritual corruptions begets an unsafe temper and when they appear and the Lord gives a deeper discovery of them will stagger thy faith and bring all afresh into question whether any soundnesse at all in thee 7. Not attending to growth in mortification sincerity zeal and holinesse but to content our selves we are we trust converted therefore safe enough much carnall joy mixing with that of the spirit This growth upon a young convert is apt for a time to be neglected whereby faith is overgrown ere they are aware and begin to be at a losse till the Lord have a way to awaken them to it 8. Inordinate enjoyment of any creature-mercy be it what it will either by too affectionate pursuit or delight in it staying upon and feeding upon the creature and not carried up to Gods goodnesse by it and so not using it with a loose heart This is apt to bring many snares upon our spirits and waies and at last to cause us to loose the favour of God 9. Want of a holy fellowship with such who are godly either by frequent conference and communicating their experiences of God specially in a more holy Church-fellowship then the mixt Congregations are yet reduced into which will abundantly quicken and strengthen faith and every gift and grace of beleevers and maketh much for the retaining and encrease of comfort 10. In a word a slight frame of spirit the heart not being daily awed with a holy fear of God whereby lightnesse and vanity and discomposure ariseth As also negligence in a mans calling or in some duty to some relations These are the speciall things which are apt to stagger and deaden Faith to cause the Lord to withhold or withdraw comfort that we are brought to question all again whether any true saving work upon us to cause the Lord to let out sore temptations upon us or to lay his hand upon us very usually sicknesse or crosses in our estates or friends And indeed by these a sounder and deeper humiliation is wrought forth even a second conversion when a narrower search is set up in our hearts and sincerity watchfulnesse and other graces come more in view Now as all those evils negligences and defects do thus startle weaken faith and hinder comfort so a diligent care opposite to all those as thou maist particularly review them or means blessed of God to strengthen faith and comfort which I shall only mention viz. Diligence in praier and every other duty renewing of humiliation avoiding much converse with carnall men carefull attending upon the Word preached not with curiosity but humility Not to be pufft up with self-conceit of parts search for hypocrisie attending to growth enjoying the creatures with a loose and mortified heart the fellowship of the Saints a serious frame of spirit joyned with wisedome and care as to all relations towards God or man these are the waies wherin God usually sheddeth comfort upon his people It may further be enquired Whether faith will ever cast out all fear I answer It may in good measure keep under servile base disheartening fear But there is a fear which is vigil animae the watchman of the soul a Servant to faith which makes the heart not over-despondent and bears off security and keeps all awake as the Centinell of the heart Heb. 4.1 Let us therefore fear c. And when the blessed intervals of joy and assurance come then let this fear be stirring and 't will preserve thee from wantoning with thy joy
of smoak perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincense with all Powders of the Merchant c. A little to enlarge this I will shew what considerations they are that make any work appear wonderfull and they will be found in this of the Lord Christs to his People 1. A repugnancy in nature to the effect wrought forth this causeth wonder So is it in the whole work of Christ for us and in us That which was for us being but as one continued rich glorious mystery Col. 1.26 All of nature against it As to his work in his people what reluctancy obstinacy strivings with the holy Spirit before a proud hard rebellious self-exalting heart will yeeld to bow before the Lord Jesus Not only listnesnesse heartlesnesse impotency but a strong enmity and resolute opposition against the work of grace yea as to our case in hand the quieting of the tempest upon a soul what resistency to comfort by the carnall part what putting up of fresh reasonings and doubtings and will not beleeve Jesus Christ upon his word till the spirit of power perswade command enables to do so 2. Such things do beget wonder which are unexpected or unhoped for so is the first appearing and work of Christ to and in us When a Soul securely sits with folded arms in the shadow of death in the grosse darknesse that is naturally upon it the strength of the heart after vanity when little expectation of such a voice of Christ as hath been shewed in the first Arise Awake Come away c. Matthew sitting at the Receipt of Custom little expected that the Lord Christ whom he never lookt after should come and speak to him in such a commanding voice and he should presently leave all so wealthy an income and follow a persecuted Christ He would have been like enough to have spit in the face of him who should have prophesied such a thing to him as every sinfull wretch is till the Lords voice be heard within him And so in the matter of comfort when poor and languishing and complaining a tempest is up then even before we are aware above what we durst to expect comes a Christ and speaks and calms all 3. Things formerly unknown to us when they appear beget wonder so are the things that Christ works and reveals to us we are utterly ignorant and know not what preciousnesse in Christ rill he open his heart to us What refreshings what treasures of all goodness and sweetnesse are in him 4. Things that are seldome done beget wonder so comparatively with the world of souls that are passed by 't is but seldome and rare work for Jesus Christ to lay hold upon souls here and there a soul he chaseth forth And saith a poor delivered soul What was I more then another that the Lord should passe by abundance of poor creatures who haply never dishonoured God so much as I have done Oh this consideration makes grace appear abundant and admirable this is a heightning enlarging Meditation upon a poor calmed soul indeed In a word the Lord Jesus so convays himself to his own that it shall be marvellous in their eyes That they may attribute the first motion of light and life in the soul from him the perfecting and continuing of it That his children may be kept humble and lowly before him and ascribe all to him and depend upon him that they may have nothing to rejoyce in but only in the name of the Lord Jesus Vse If a calmed soul be thus full of the wonders of Christs power and love first By this any soul may know whether the calm that is upon his spirit be from Christ or not If so then his hand his power and love is admired and extolled in it Consider therefore any soul by the way What are the wondrous things upon thy Spirit what are the things thou hast deep thoughts of heart about Canst thou feelingly say Oh how wonderfull have been the thoughts of Christ towards me what wonders hath he wrought for me and in me Who is a God pardoning iniquity like unto thee Mic. 7.18 That 's the temper and voice of a pardoned soul So he breaks out into the admiration of him A pardoned Soul cannot have such sleight thoughts about it as the pretenders to a dead hope of it have If it be not so with thee let me once more counsell thee to go to Christ and tell him what wonders thou hearest he can doe And pleade with him that there 's an object before him to manifest one upon even by raising up such a worm dead in sin as thou art unto life Tell him he shall have the glory of the Miracle Oh let him say unto thee Live and thou shalt live in his sight 2. If Jesus Christ be able to work forth such wonders upon and for poor souls Videant quam tutò se committunt Sancti c. saith Bucer See then how safely we commit our selves to such a Pilot who can guide and anchor us through all storms and difficulties can cease our tempests within or without to make way for sweeter Sun-shines and calms And therefore should not the Saints pierce through the thickest darkest tempests and hang upon him when all appears but in a perishing way yea will not the Lord Jesus pierce through them all to us and make our hears melt with chiding us for our little faith Say not Fainting Soul within thy self that because 't will be a wonderfull thing for thee to be raised up comforted whatever thy condition be and therefore it will not be No No Say thou hangest upon a Christ whose works are all wonders and therefore it shall be so And now what will this poor Soul do that is thus through the abundant grace of Christ silled in some measure with such precious wonders of Christ when it is blessedly calmed by Christs refreshing voice For so I will now suppose that soul either already or shall be so who hath been or is in this tempestuous perishing condition at Christs feet and is or shall be thus calmed Will it not to this purpose break forth O welcome ten thousand times sweetest Christ Come Lodge for ever in my soul though a mean habitation for I cannot let thee go Ah will not that soul study returns of love and honour to Jesus Christ Will it not love him and love him more abundantly Will it not lay it self at his feet to be disposed by him Will it not smile upon and embrace reproaches for him Shall any thing be too dear and precious to part with for Christ No It shall not Shall the pursuit of empty creatures come in competition with him Let me ask thee Soul in earnest Wilt thou canst thou seek great things for thy self and let Christs honour be slighted Go then and daily treat with Christ to this purpose Say unto him Master Master what shall I do for thee For whom shall I live and die but for thee Dear Lord let me some way or other bring honour to thy tender glorious Name among the living before I come to thee and adore thee for ever Now Soul to point thee out thy particular duty that livest in the sense of the favour and love of Christ is more then I designed in this brief Treatise only I will minde thee with a word or two and so have done Art thou a Soul that hast been by the strong arm of the Lord carried through some of these experiences as have been set forth in this Treatise If thou art a poor Soul not yet attained to this measure of comfort and joy I have endeavoured to lay down Directions to thee and what may by the blessing of the Spirit with it uphold thee till these wonders shall be made good upon thy soul But now to a Soul that in some measure enjoyeth them 1. Consider that though Jesus Christ hath made such a calm upon thy Spirit yet know that there 's more than enough in thy heart to distemper all again though at present kept under Therefore thou art to look up to the same mighty hand to keep all in peace and in a comfortable frame as well as at first to create it and to give in new refreshings else that which is within thee already will decay and wither If Jesus Christ withdraw his hand all is in a mutiny again Oh therefore walk humbly and jealously before him and still be committing all to him and be drawing fresh supplies from him or else the sense of this blessed calm will grow dead in thee 2. Beware how carnal joy mixeth with thy spiritual by fetching in too large additions from Creature-comforts whence will follow lightnesse and vanity of spirit and then comes a Cloud ere thou art aware 3. Be vigilant as I have before hinted and diligent in such waies wherein thou hast speciall communion with God By which thou shalt finde greater wonders by the strong arm of the Lord then thou hast yet felt The danger of this neglect is spoken before 4. Do not sit down in a slender stock of Grace and the Knowledge of Christ There are depths in Christ and depths in thy own heart to be searcht which haply doe yet lie close undiscerned upon thy spirit 5. Be in the frequent remembrance of how much is forgiven and this will raise up thy love and zeal and quicken it when it begins to slack 6. Beware of venturing on the least sin do not say 't is a little one and thou maist venture 't will like an Achan disturb all The fear and hatred of the least evil maintains a solid setled communion with God vain and carnal company as hath been shewed dulls a mans spirit as also a frothy carriage and liberall jesting 7. Much might be said but in a word know 'T is the hardest work of a Beleever to manage comfort and assurance The heart the carnal part of it is apt to be lifted up in it Indeed a comforted Soul at the first coming of it is apt to conceive that such a temper can never be lost But this is a vanity Lastly Get the aims of thy heart more raised after purity and likenesse of God then joy and comfort To be like God and see him at he is 1 Joh. 3.2 is the highest aim of a gracious Soul which the blessed holy God give thee and me to aspire after till we shall be fully with him and so see him as he is to all eternity Amen FINIS
life fulnesse contentment which they are not able in the least measure to give and one drop of Jesus Christ and Grace brings them all as fountain'd up in him One word more and I trust thou shalt say thou art inexcusable O man Rom. 2.1 If these things be so and there it thus but one choice in the world that can quiet the restlesse spirit of man the chosen one of God in whom his soul delighteth for ever why do we lie doting and puzling our selves in darknesse and disquieting our selves in vain why do we not break off these Idols from our hearts and call them in and set them to Jesus Christ Oh let my soul choose him let him be the dear dear choice of my soul give me him or I die 2. If he be the chosen of God the delight of his soul Isa 41.1 the heart of the infinite incomprehensible God can be delighted satisfied filled from and to all eternity with and by him well-pleased and never weary of him Shall not the finite spirit of a poor creature be overcome with the ocean of his goodnesse that is in him shall it be afraid and stand reasoning whether it shall have earth or him Oh the folly of the sons and daughters of men to hear of such a prize such an Indies of all sweetnesse and treasure and but a short time to venture for him loose him now and give a thousand worlds for him hereafter and now gaining a look from him though now his bowels more yearn and his heart beats and pants after souls with more fervency then all the creatures desires can make in one yet that wretched creatures enslaved to a cursed peace kept by Satan idolizing empty nothings fullfilling lusts that restlesly hurry them up and down should have lower baser thoughts of Christ then of the basest thing they enjoy for they will not misse one of them to gain him the poorest meanest thing they enjoy hath more of their heart more care and thoughts of their spirits toward it then Jesus Christ hath Consider thy own heartlesnesse how seldome thou art in the thought of Jesus Christ and eternall life in him how seldome the deep sense of salvation in him is upon thee and this 't is thou must needs say 't is thus with me wretch that I am what do I bestow the strength of my spirit upon why then poor creature as thou art what shouldst thou do but like that wise Merchant man Mat. 12. who having found one pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Ah such a pearl the pearl of God the pearl of heaven and earth the pearl of souls 't is sweetest Jesus Christ whatever is precious is laid up in him Now then sell all that thou hast how so that is be contented to venture the losse of all for Christ and thou gainest ensurest all as shewd yet all thy riches pleasures enjoyments under thy feet for Christ let all all and ten thousand times more go so thou hast Christ Ay but how shall I buy him Will gold and silver do it The meaning is to gain him 't is spoken comparatively As Merchant men will sell all to buy a pearl of inestimable price so will poor souls that truly beleeve these things to be in Jesus Christ as the holy Spirit of God and the experiences of his own witnesse to be in him divorce their hearts from all venture all to winne to winne Jesns Christ But must I then cast off all my calling all my possessions No but subject them to the pursuit of Jesus Christ get them loosened from thy heart let it not be a weight upon thee to depresse thy soul from soaring after him keep them but as under-things things thou must have or be without and not be the lesse blessed and so in obedience to God and submission to his good pleasure be industrious in thy calling but the motions strength aims of thy spirit to win and enjoy love and honour Jesus Christ and such will the Father honour Joh. 5. No losse of time to seek him in his word no self-deniall for him no motion or good word for Christ in sincerity no witnesse for his Kingdom Gospel People but the Father treasureth it up and will put honour upon thee for it And now having thus a little dwelt upon this to take off all Objections from thy ensnared heart Be not afraid to be awakened and deeply considering the state of thy poor soul though distempers and disquietnesse arise though it be tempestuous with thee for a time see the blessed and glorious recompences of it by the Lord of life and glory here and to all eternity Aud now I will conclude thee as stupid as a worm groveling in the earth as thou dost if these so weighty and important considerations doe not upon thee being such as Jesus Christ left to move and pierce the Rocks of mens hearts to leade them to life in himself and such as if thou putst them off will be as Swords in thy bones will flash back upon thee as a thousand Witnesses against thee if thou receive them not into thy heart if thou receive them not into thy heart as thou wouldest do things that are most precious to thee Why doth Christ so often knock and thou wilt not own him thou art gone abroad or asleep In a word then either put in thy plea to God or submit and own it that 't is better to passe through a small tempest to Jesus Christ then to enjoy a world of empty contentments here and be a castaway under the furious tempests of Gods wrath for ever and ever Ah Soul once get hold on the skirts of Jesus Christ and he will anchor thee to a safe harbour windes and waves sin conscience fears unbelief Satan all obey him A word from him quiets all Be not like great debtors afraid to enter into the consideration of thy debts thy sinfull estate for fear of disquietnesse that is to resist the strivings of God with thee and he will not strive alwaies but set the sins of heart and life before thee though they swell to a numberlesse summe in bloudy characters I am yet to shew thee Jesus Christ the best and safest pay-master in the world But thou wilt say What is that to thee spread them before God and seek him to sue all thy Bonds and Debts upon Jesus Christ and God will take him thy Surety 't was the good pleasure of Jesus Christ to cancell and kill them all they did their worst upon him so get to him and in him and the worst is over and all the blessednesse I have pointed at is thine but I shall prevent my self These I have laid down as awakening exciting considerations to a poor soul to whom the experiences of these things are yet but dark and so the Lord blesse them to thy soul and I passe to the next thing 2. Saith a poor soul Well I have had some good