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
THE TEMPESTUOUS SOUL CALMED BY Jesus Christ BEING An Extract of severall SERMONS PREACHED By ANTHONY PALMER Pastor of the Church at Bourton on the Water in Gloucester-shire LONDON Printed by A. M. for E. Brewster and G. Sawbridge and are to be sold at the Signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill MDCLIIII To my dear Father Brothers and Sisters and others of my Beloved Kindred and Friends c. IF I know my own heart there were two Reasons prevailed with me for sending forth this Treatise into the light First to witnesse what the Lord to the praise of his abundant grace hath done for my own poor soul Secondly As drawn forth by tender affections and yerning bowels I desire more and more to put on for your immortall souls which my hearts desire is should be as dear and pretious to me as my own yea that my heart might be enflamed with that zeal of holy Paul Rom. 11.14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are of my flesh and might save some of them In this brief Treatise though chiefly pointing at the comforting a disquieted spirit yet there is laid down in the former part of it what may suit with your severall conditions and so to set up a rest lesse enquiry in your spirits after the Lord Jesus till he shall fill your souls with this blessed calm of his own presence here shadowed forth unto you If it should be objected by any other that I might have directed you to other Books before extant of which blessed be God there 's abundant choice I answer and I verily beleeve will you with me that the room I have in your affections will render something from my self though far short of the excellencies of other Pieces more gratefull to you and that you will be the more inclined to reade it Vpon which account I send it to you with my breathings to heaven for the blessing of the Spirit of grace to be with it and all others to whose hands it shall come craving a candid interpretation with them I Rest Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus A. P. Bourton on the Water Sept. 21. 1652. July 12. 1653. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl The Tempestuous Soul Calmed by Jesus Christ MAT. 8.23,24,25,26,27 And when he was entred into a Ship his Disciples followed him And behold there arose a great tempest in the Sea insomuch that the Ship was covered with the waves but he was asleep And his Disciples came to him and awoke him saying Lord save us we perish And he saith unto them Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith Then he arose and rebuked the windes and the Sea and there was a great calm But the men marvelled saying What manner of man is this that even the windes and the Sea obey him THe Words contain an entire work and miracle of the Lord Christ so that we need not look for coherence They are usually held forth by Divines to set forth the presence of the Lord Jesus with his Church in all the tempests that come upon it which if I conceive may without wresting be also used to discover the presence of Christ calming a particular soul in all the tempests that befall it At least by way of Allegory it will hold as Austin saith there is such a spirituall use to be made of every miracle of the Lord Christs And in this sense I shall make use of them and so unfold them into these six Ohservations 1. When Jesus Christ draws in a Soul to himself he usually raiseth a tempest in that soul There arose a tempest c. 2. The Soul when thus in a tempest it comes in a perishing condition to Jesus Christ Lord save us we perish c. 3. Jesus Christ seems for a time to take no notice of a soul in such a tempest and perishing condition He was asleep c. 4. True faith may be mixt with much weaknesse and fear and yet may engage the heart of Christ to succour Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith 5. A word from Christ can rebuke that tempest upon a Soul He rebuked the windes c. 6. The Soul that is thus calmed is filled with the wonders of Christs power and love They marvelled saying What manner of man is this that the windes and Sea obey him These I shall open in their order When Christ draws in a Soul to himself he usually raiseth a tempest in that soul The word for a tempest in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifies an Earthquake which causeth a shaking of che Earth The same word is used by the Septuagint in Ezekiel frequently to signifie a rushing winde a noise a shaking Now then this doth very well fit our purpose to discover this tempest upon a poor soul as drawing in to Christ which is a kinde of earthquake a shaking of an earthy heart whose principles and aims were earthly as promised by the Lord Christ Isa 11.4 And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth when he comes in with a rushing and a noise like the voice in Ezekiels Vision Cap. 3.22 when the awakenings and enlightenings of the Word and voice of God fall in shaking the spirit of a dead sinner like the noise of many waters Rev. 11.15 Thus when the fear of a miscarrying soul laies hold upon it such a kinde of shaking and tempest is upon it Now the Lord ordereth it to be thus with a Soul for these Reasons 1. God causeth a glimpse of his holinesse to passe by a Soul that the Creature by such a reflexion from God may see in some measure what sin hath done upon him at what an infinite distance it hath set him at with the most holy God how unlike unto him sin hath made him That he may in some measure see and feel what he is when the great and righteous God takes him in hand which makes him ready to cry out with Peter at the appearance of Christ to him Depart from me for I am a sinfull man Luk. 5.8 And as Moses in his self-abasement when God appeared to him Exod. 3.6 Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God And ver 11. Who am I that thou shouldst send me A glimpse of God causeth such an abasement upon a soul and even a shaking to be upon it That the creature may magnifie the greatness and purity of God and be vile in its own eyes before him This is the first Reason of it 2. He raiseth such a tempest and shaking upon a sinfull worm To cause him in part to taste what a bitter cup it was he could so delightfully and boldly quasse of yea to have a taste of that bitter cup that Jesus Christ drank brim full of his fathers wrath that if one dram of it be so unsupportable to a soul what were the full vials of it that were poured forth upon the sinless soul and body of Christ that thence
when we come to see him we may be pierced and be in bitternesse for him Yea 3. That a Soul may truly and in earnest feel and discern its need of such a Jesus to bear and deliver from that wrath When such a glimpse of God upon it such a shaking such an abasement in its own vilenesse such a tasting of wrath then a Christ to quiet and calm a desolate soul is worth looking after indeed But it will presently be enquired whether every Soul is brought into Christ this way I will first open the height of this tempest upon a Soul and then I will satisfie this Query It is thus When God musters up our sins and sets them in order before our eyes Psal 50.21 When he will make sin appear exceeding sinfull to be abounding sin When God writes bitter things against a Soul and makes it to possesse the iniquity of its youth I need seek no further then the 38. Psalm for this tempest and the 88. In both of them you have a description of this tempest upon a poor creature Thine arrows stick fast in me There is no rest in my bones because of my sin Mine iniquities are gone over my head and are a burthen too heavy for me to bear Troubled and bowed down and go mourning all the day filled with his terrours as Heman To this as it may be conceived to have been the case with David and Heman in both these Psalmes is usually added some sharp affliction either of sicknesse or of the imbittering some choice creature-comfort our spirits were inordinately let out unto which causeth this shaking and tempest to be the more grievous that we become as David speaks even as broken vessels under the mighty hand of God This also by the sufferance of God is often heightned by Satans violent assaults black and horrible suggestions blasphemous accusations representing sin as unpardonable joyns with an accusing conscience and all our fleshly reasonings that God is in a way of destroying and beginning of wrath here and therefore is apt to suggest self-destruction so crossing Gods design perswading the Soul to fly from God as an Enemy when Gods main design is mercy to turn it to him Now then take all these the appearing of a great and holy and terrible God shaking a poor earthly creature the powerfull awakenings and enlightenings of his Word a sense of his fierce wrath the dread of a miscarrying soul the burthen of sin the accusations of conscience the afflicting hand of God the desperate assaults of Satan these like several windes make a tempest in the whole man and make it to cry out Thy waves O Lord and thy billows go over my soul who is able to abide thine appearance These like severall windes meeting in a cranny of the earth make a concussion and mighty shaking upon the spirit of a sinner when the Lord thus takes him in hand Now to answer the question whether every Soul be brought in to Christ such a way in the height of this tempest This is more then I dare assert yet that many a poor Soul comes thus shipwracht Christ thus tempestuous and forlorn I know I need not insist to prove This I may call the storming of a Soul when Christ takes a Soul by his great power suddenly breaks down all the strong holds and high things 2 Cor. 10.5 This is usually the way of an open sinner though not in the same height neither in every open sinner at his first conversion But then sometimes Jesus Christ takes a Soul as I may so speak upon easier terms brings it in leni afflatu with a more gentle gale yet so that in the progresse of it there will be some shakings something of this tempest upon it though the Soul hath a glimpse of Christ and his hand more sensibly supporting it which I clear thus First If the seed of grace be sown early in the heart as sometimes it is that some Souls cannot remember the first work of it yet if the Soul grow up to any measure of experience it must be more shaken in order to its further subduing and purifying It will meet with some kinde of tempests ordinarily I never spake with any as to this Point but more or lesse did allow of it But when the work of God is begun at some further ripenesse of years then certainly it shall meet with what I have set forth in some measure Consider for a Soul to be awakened out of the deep sleep of carnall security which sin hath bound him in To have Satan the strong man dispossest by a stronger then he To have the guilt and filth of sinne discovered by the holy Spirit To have Christ destroy the works of Satan the power and peace of corruptions that will set against him with all the reasonings of flesh and bloud mustered up To have in a word the secure dead earthy dark hard proud atheisticall unbeleeving heart of an obstinate wretch of death to become life of darknesse light of a stone flesh To have a grain of faith break through all naturall impossibilities spirituall wickednesses all discouragements within and without when nothing within us to help forward beleeving but every thing against us as I shall further shew Though all these be not enough to hinder the Lord Jesus when he by his strong arm will work Isa 43.13 I will work and who shall let it yet certainly this work is not wrought forth in a dream as we use to speak of things insensibly done not without some shaking and concussion upon the spirit something of this tempest upon it partly in the beginning and partly in the progresse of conversion Fides non fit sine multo motu saith Melancthon faith is not wrought forth without much motion in the Soul Yea I might here shew into how many tempests from without and within many a poor Soul specially such whom God will most humble and fit for some speciall service fals into how many overwhelmings of spirit and gusts of temptations it is frequently shaken with but I intend to keep my self chiefly to the discovery of the souls first approach to Christ It may yet be further enquired What is the lowest measure of such conviction in the bringing in of a Soul to Christ In this there have been extreams somtimes I presume gracious men giving forth the tenour of their own conversion as a generall rule to all others But in this case I may safely assert that the first work of the Spirit is to convince of sin Joh. 16.7 And that such a convincement that shall give a creature such a sight of sin that it must appear exceeding sinfull to be abounding sin Rom. 5.18 to be tyrannizing fin filthy sinne condemning sinne which must not only flote in the head but convince the conscience and affect the heart that it must needs humble and abase a creature as he goes out of himself and rowls upon Jesus Christ yea he shall come in a
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
at the very root 3. Consider that though thou hast not sensible comfort yet thou art supported of the Lord in thy present condition which thou maist indeed consider with comfort Psa 63.8 My soul followeth after thee and thy right hand upholdeth me So continue to follow hard after God and if thou findest his right hand his power sustaining thee thou maist conclude as David v. last of that Psalm But I shall rejoyce in God c. thou shalt be satisfied with his goodnesse yea if thou finde such promise breaking in upon thy spirit and thou gatherest support from it it may be an evidence a love-token to thee that God is in a way of love and comfort to thee 4. Consider that faith and sensible enjoyment of Gods love do not inseparably go together are not the same as some poor creatures be apt to fancy 't is faith and not sense therefore learn to live by faith and not by sense But yet may some poor Soul say This doth not come to the height of thy condition the very strength of this tempest in the conscience being upon thee Ah thou art a forlorn tempestuous soul indeed thou saist why now then I will particularly deal with thee Reade thy condition in Isa 54.8,9,10,11 c. 'T is spoken of the State of the Church but as truly applicable to thy condition v. 6. the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit yea v. 11. Oh thou afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted that fits thee See v. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee but with everlasting kindenesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer A small moment and a little wrath but great and everlasting kindenesse But may not the Lord if he please reserve and withhold these from poor creatures that come thus afflicted and tossed with tempest I answer from ver 9 10. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindenesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Here 's the Oath of God upon it and sooner shall the waters cover the earth again and the mountains remove themselves then the Lord rebuke and utterly cast off such a soul Neither shall the Covenant of his peace be removed that is as God tenders a new agreement and to be at peace with sinners contented he is yea infinitely desirous of it Can he then cast off a soul that comes tendring it self for peace with him that laies hold on his Covenant Isaiah 59.6 But yet further will a weak mis-giving heart be reasoning against God and it self I fear for all this that 't is in vain for me to seek my heart sinks within me Now mark what the Lord saith to this Isa 45.19 I have not spoken in secret in a dark place of the earth I said not unto the Seed of Jacob Seek me in vain I the Lord speak in righteousnesse and declare things that are right This the Lord doth not reserve as a secret but would have it proclaimed on the house top Let it be known to every poor weak soul that seeks me It shall not be in vain As if it were laid down on purpose as indeed it is to answer such a fond reasoning And further saith he I the Lord speak righteousnesse I do not trifle with and delude souls but speak in good earnest the things that are right and v. 22. I am a just God true to my word and therefore not to be reasoned against by men or devils Away then with such debates as thou dost foster in thy heart yea with such vile disputings against God as to say within thy self 'T is too late 'T is in vain my case is desperate God will not hear and therefore why should I seek To what purpose is it Is not this to belye the wise and holy and faithfull God so to adde abundantly to thy former iniquity In a word If thou dost seek and venture and try what God will do if thou art at last cast off thou canst but be damned And thy seeking if thou couldst fail will rather be a mitigation of thy torment then an encrease Well but yet further may a Soul object for the devil hath a world of Sophistry this way If I should be stirred up to seek upon these grounds how shall I be ascertain'd that these promises belong to me Why mark thou dost thou not say I am an afflicted soul disquieted tossed with tempest and in thy own thoughts forsaken And saist moreover that thou art contented to seek and wait seeing at worst thou canst be no looser by it why then by what plea art thou excluded what law or what caveat is put in against thee perhaps thou wilt say thy sinning with so high a hand against thy God with many grievous aggravating circumstances Why finful worm know 't is written as clear as the Sun if thou knowst any thing of the Gospel and minde of Christ that no sinner is excluded from acceptance from the greatnesse of sin but for want of coming to Christ that he might have life Joh. 5. as hath been shew'd The truth is thou art unwilling to be beholden to Christ or impatient to stay his leisure or else art resolved to beleeve the lies of the devil against him or else thou wouldst not thus parley against him Therefore bow thy self at his feet and pleade his own arguments that he hath left for thee in his word and do not stand asking whether these promises belong to thee for they are as much thine as any souls in the world if thou wilt pleade them But yet further may a poor soul complain Ah I have a dull dead heavy indisposed heart heartlesse am I to seek and cry c. I have shewed before that if thou wilt ask a heart I will give it thee saith the Lord and ask his Spirit to raise up thy heart above that indisposed distemper Nay Soul let me ask thee Canst thou truly complain of and feel such a distemper oh what a dull heavy dead indisposed heart have I 'T is of the spirit of life within thee or thou couldst not so complain And 't is an earnest of more of the spirit to be given unto thee from what hath been now and before said unto thee Soul maist thou be encouraged to seek and wait privately publikely be diligent in all means yea with some measure of contentednesse till the Lord shall speak and when thy spirit is so subdued usually comfort is not farre off But as to thy further encouragemen I will leade thee on
sin as horrible as ever he argued it pleasant and commodious yea his chief darts lie at the faith of a beleever to be reasoning against the grounds of beleeving questioning their election severing the promises out of their sight mudding and darkening their sight of Christ accusing them for unsound and hypocrites tempting them from means which make for strengthening of faith Peter saith Christ Satan hath desired to winnow thee but I have prayed that thy faith fail not implying Satans design lay most against his faith through the malice and subtlety of Satan faith is put hard to it till the Lord rebuke him 5. Faith is wrought forth gradually in the soul by degrees at first sown as a grain of mustard-seed a small seed corruptions and reasonings like overspreading tares ready to choak it therefore being sown as I may so speak in weaknesse at first 't is thus put to it for comfort therefore Paul tels the Thessalonians 1 Thes 3.10,13 that there was something lacking in their faith and the establishment of their faith is much praied for by him 6. The Lord suffers it to be so that his power in the supporting of a weak soul may the more appear Faith is called the operation of the Son of God 1 Thess 2. and that your faith might stand in the power of God when a soul is full of fears and mis-givings and ready to sink under them theu the hand of the Lord is more visible in sustaining then we see by his power alone we stand Had we a strong setled faith presently we should rather be lifted up in our selves or rest upon grace received and so not glorifie the Lord Jesus and live upon him for strength as he requires Therefore the Lord suffers these fightings and reasonings within that we might have continuall recourse to him for support and that we might see that the beginnings life and growth of faith it is all in and from Jesus Christ as the Authour and Finisher of it For these Reasons viz. the wisedom and pride of flesh and bloud the natural power of Unbelief not being wholly subdued sense of unworthinesse the depth of guilt accusations of conscience and the disputings of Satan faith sown in weaknesse at first and all this suffered to ends of glory to the Lord Jesus Christ that his power and grace may be the more magnified therefore true faith is mixt with many reasonings doubtings misgivings disputings fears which do annoy it I will first endeavour to apply this before I prove further that such a faith may engage Christ to succour 1. If true faith be thus mixt with fears and reasonings It meets first with the easie faith that the most of people please themselves in as I thank God I alwaies beleeved God forbid but I should beleeve in Jesus Christ 'T is easie very easie indeed to presume away a precious soul 't is easie to flatter a mans self with an opinion of beleeving and indeed 't is nothing else but a customary opinion of Christ But to beleeve in Christ Jesus and savingly and effectually to apply his bloud by his Spirit enabling this is hard ah hard indeed to a poor convinced soul that hath deep thoughts of heart about the pardon of sins Lord help my unbelief and Lord if thou wilt and the like This easie beleeving is the dead sleep of sin upon the conscience and a generall opinion in the brain that Christ died for sinners even for all sinners to whom he is preached heightned by the strong delusion of the devil whose work it is to perswade souls that have nothing but a dead generall faith that they beleeve well and on the contrary to dispute against the faith of true beleevers that they do not truly believe And this among others may be a discovery of true faith unbelief is still mixing and Satan disputing against it as in the reasons shew'd If so much faith against beleeving pardon of sinne in the Lord Jesus how can it choose but be so but it must be a hard thing to a poor soul to fasten upon Christ in a promise for remission of sins when so much opposition to it Therefore this is an infallible note true beleevers deeply feel and are humbled for unbelief Oh 't is the deep evil of their hearts and that they most tremble at but take a carnall formall dead-hearted Protestant and no such matter with him He could beleeve a thousand years together and if he have any scruples they be as nothing a little praier or the like will quickly hekl it And herein also is another great snare Naturall conscience that is a conscience not savingly enlightned and sanctified may give some checks before in or after the commission of a sin and then unregenerate persons do most usually gather that they have truth of grace because they have some little conflicts within which they fasten upon from Rom. 7. the thing that I would not that do I but that former I is meant of the regenerate nature distinct to and warring against the fleshly part and not a little conflicting of the naturall conscience from common enlightenings of the word So also as to doubting and some small mis-givings these argue not a truth of saith unlesse these are only allayed by the going out of the soul to Jesus Christ and the evidence of the work of saith with power wrought forth in us If thy doubtings be such that do not settle again till thou hast made a true entire close with Jesus Christ in self-renouncing then they are of the spirit subduing sin and unbelief in thee Therefore look narrowly to unbelief as true faith interests the soul in Christ and all his grace and promises so unbelief excludes while unsubdued from all of Christ It sins against totum dei every attribute of God So then they could not enter in because of unbelief An utter impossibility upon it And this may reign through deluded mis-perswasion of true faith though the conversation in the eye of men civil and regular I desire to acknowledge to the praise of the rich grace of God that the opening of the power of unbelief by a holy Preacher of the Gospel was the first time of the Lords speaking to me in powerfull convincement that I was in the state of unbelief though before full of confidence of the safety of my condition Oh therefore Soul whoever thou art be jealous of thy own heart in this particular unbelief is a close spirituall undiscerned evil till the Lord come in and shew thee what the strength of it is by casting in a grain of faith to grapple with it which without the continuall supply of his Spirit will be overwhelmed by it Therefore let me presse thee with a serious triall of thy self this way that this is a dangerous snare easinesse to beleeve pardon of sin and peace with God So that unlesse thou canst make out a work of faith with power by the word and spirit Question all and so
that it mix not nor break out into carnall joy And indeed when such a holy fear doth arise and mingle it self with our joy then it is most spirituall and doth best distinguish a fleshly joy from a spirituall And now having thus farre stated the case of a poor willing hardly-beleeving soul as coming in a perishing condition to Christ with such considerations which may be for a stay unto it till Christ speak as in the Text Why art thou fearfull We will now set the tempestuous Soul in this perishing condition in weaknesse of faith before Jesus Christ and so briefly consider what this rebuking voice of Christ is able to do Only I will first question with this fearfull soul in Christs words Soul why art thou fearfull thou wilt answer readily From thy sins and unbelief 1. Hath Jesus Christ power enough to subdue them Sure he hath I will subdue them and Isa 43.13 I will work and who shall let it or turn it back When he will work in any businesse his Father hath committed to him whereof this is one of the chief even to receive and comsort weak souls that come unto him Isa 40.10,11 Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand and his arm shall rule for him behold his reward is with him and his work before him What work is this he owns with so much power and puts such a Behold upon See in the next verse He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them with his bosome and shall gently leade them that are with young Now mark Soul Here 's his power to work and none none shall turn it back and the work thou hast for him to do is his own work and businesse therefore with encouragement spread it before him commit it to him and neither sins nor unbelief shall stand before him 2. Is' t his will and purpose to receive such a weakling This hath been opened in part before But consider Soul 't was his very purpose in coming down from heaven 1 Joh. 3.8 and having wrought forth his purpose in order to it here below Now he is passed into the Heavens to make it good to poor souls to whom to such who come on set purpose for it Therefore when 't is Christs great purpose that which his heart is full on and also thou goest and seekest to him on purpose for it what needst thou stagger and be fearfull Now that this is the work that is still before Christ to do and his purpose not changed is left upon record in his last words to John Rev. 22.17 Let him which is athirst Come which was spoken after his ascension into glory But still it may be thy minde runs upon this This power and purpose of Christ towards my self I beleeve in the general to be true of the Lord Jesus Christ but whether I am one of those to whom it is meant Mark whosoever will answers that as I have reasoned before Shew me how thou canst exclude thy self from that generall invitement or thou must grant it takes in thee also that desirest to come to him And if thou still reasonest as to thy particular case as receiving such aggravations which every ordinary sinner doth not I answer There is no stating of cases but Whosoever will and whosoever is athirst know in a word That 't is written as with a beam of the Sun for clearnesse that the Gospel excludes no soul from salvation because he is such or such a sinner but for not coming in the sense of it to Christ that he might have life in him If thou shouldest catch at that and say Thou fearest thou art not sensible enough know that is a measure of sensibility of sin and such as may upon a true account send to Christ And therefore Soul say what thou wilt within thy self and reason from thy self and so maist put in these demurres do but eye Jesus Christ in his power purpose free and generall invitement and thou hast no ground to be fearful And therefore why art thou fearfull Thou hast no reason if thou eyest Christ to be so specially if thou consider what is next to be opened Obs 5. That Jesus Christ can with a word rebuke all the tempests and fears upon a poor soul coming and seeking to him In the handling of which I shall be very brief He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still Psa 107.27 True in this case also In Mar. 4 the parallel place to the Text He said unto the Sea Peace and be still and 't was enough He that could command the windes and Seas by his word can much more still the troubles and fears of a poor soul coming to him This hath also in part been confirmed by observing the answers that Christ gave to those who in such difficult cases came to him Be thou clean Go in peace and these were presently effected by the word of his mouth As in the Creation of the word God said Let there be c. and it was so Now as to this work upon a poor soul there 's the same mighty power promised and goes along with his word which he speaks in and by in the Gospel Thou hast the words saith Peter of eternall lise 'T is often cal'd The Word of Life The power of God The arm of the Lord The red of his Strength even such a power as is described Psa 29. The voice of the Lord upon the waters The voice of the Lord is powerfull and full of Majesty it breaks the Cedars of Lebanon and shakes the wildernesse c. So is it able to subdue all the high things all the reasonings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strong holds and heights of our Spirits It can make the wildernesse and the solitary place the place of singing and of joy even what the Psalmist concludes in that Psalm mentioned at vers 11. The Lord will give strength unto his people The Lord will bless his prople with peace And this is spoken as a conclusion to all those mighty things that are spoken of the voice of the Lord. Much might be said for the further explication of this but being a truth so clear and granted I shall only briefly apply it Vse I might return here to the dead-hearted professour and inform him of his misery by this Truth That so much vertue and might in the holy Word of God and he never felt this shaking or quickning him And thence that he might come under this that no work of God with power upon his heart to this day and so to counsell and encourage the poor dead blinde deaf sinners with diligence to attend upon Christs voice saith Christ Isa 43.8 Bring them to me Hast thou a heart like a wildernesse come to him and it shall blossome as the rose Hast thou a heart of earth I will smite it Isa 11. Nor sins
nor lusts nor barrennesse nor earthlinesse nor deafnesse nor blindenesse shall stand before him Come then oh come with such and expectation and thou shalt know the mighty power of his word But to the fearing Soul I need not I hope further encourage thee to come to Christs Ordinances Only a word Hast thou waited on them but not a comfortable answer yet Consider well Hast thou come to hear Christ speak I will hear what God the Lord will speak Hast thou not too much hang'd on the Preacher upon his lips This may be a snare Eye the promise Isa 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace saith the Lord and I will heal them So Is 55.10,11 speaking of the word It shall accomplish that which I please know If all the host of glorified Saints and Angels should joyn with all the holy Preachers of the Earth and should encompasse thy soul to speak life or peace unto it and beseech thee to be comforted unlesse Christ speak by them 't would be all fruitlesse Therefore get thy heart into a clear expectation for Christ to speak to thy heart by the Preacher that is to distill the dews and consolations of his spirit by it or all to no purpose So the Spouse Cant. 2.8 The voice of my Beloved v. 10. My Beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my Love and fair One and come away So Gant 4.16 Awake O North-winde and come thou South and blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out which is the Spirit of Christ blowing upon the Ordinances causing the vertues thereof to flow out Therefore if thou still continuest a disquieted fearing perishing soul and pants after comfort and assurance Pray thy heart may be raised up to abstract from any power as the voice of man but wait that the Spirit of Christ may breathe in the voice and then thou art in a readier posture for the Lord to rebuke the Tempest of fears upon thee A poor Soul may take further encouragement beside the promises from the blessed experiences of many and many a comfortlesse creature who after many tempests perishings fears sinkings of spirit have at last by waiting publikely and privately for Christs voice found the rebuking power of it and their distempers sweetly allayed And even a sudden heavenly calm upon them There was a great calm saith the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to smile such a calmnesse stillnesse such a wonderful serenity that is after a storm when the heavens and the earth seem as it were to smile So Christ smiles upon a soul having withheld his face and beauty and causeth a blessed serenity clearnesse quietnesse to be upon it sometimes by a sudden breaking in sometime by a secret graduall illapsing into a soul that it becomes comforted it knows not how ere it was aware Oh blessed for ever blessed the souls that wait and finde this And finde it Soul thou shalt if thou art in this posture described Let the Storm be what it will the clouds never so dark one ray and beam from Christ shall raise even a heaven in thy Spirit c. Thus far have I brought a Soul bottomed upon free and faithfull promises to the immediate expectation of Christ to rebuke the tempest and fears upon it to succour its perishing condition The Lord grant it may settle thee upon the power promise purpose delight of the Lord Jesus to do it I will a little speak of the wonders thou maist expect Obs 6. The calmed Soul is filled with the wonders of Christs power and love They marvelled saying What manner of man is this that the Windes and the Sea obey him His Name Isa 9. is called Wonderfull described to be Wonderfull in Counsell Excellent in Working Isa 28. last We may view those Meditations of the Saints when thus in the admiration of his wonderfull goodnesse and sweetnesse Psal 90.5 Many O Lord my God are thy wonderfull works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to usward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare and speak of them they are more then can be numbred So Psal 34.2 c. My Soul shall make her boast in the Lord c. Oh magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me out of all my sears This poor man cried unto him and he saved him out of all his troubles Oh taste and see that the Lord is good Blessed is the man that trusteth in him Psa 36.7 How excellent is thy loving kindenesse O God c. Psa 116.7 Return unto thy Rest O my Soul c. And what shall I render unto thee So Mic. 7.18,19 The Church is brought in so admiring Christ Who is a God like unto thee why that pardonest iniquity and passest by transgressions c. He will turn again though he hide his face he will have compassion upon us yea it will break forth Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul yea then Soul thou shalt know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power towards them that beleeve according to the working of his mighty power Eph. 1.19 These wonders of Christs power and love will be thus enlarged in thy soul Oh the wonders of his power Who is like unto thee Indeed Lord who wast able at first to lay hold of me and take me as a brand out of the fire Oh Am I not saved as a brand out of the fire Zech. 3.2 Thou who wast able to say unto me Live when I was in my bloud dead as a stone in my sins Thou who wast able to subdue all the strong rebellion and obstinacy of my heart to turn the violent stream of it from earth to heaven yea thou wast able to deal with all mine iniquities and corruptions the least of which had been too strong for me yea thou wast able to rebuke all the tempestuous assaults of Satan such tempests such a perishing condition such fears upon a poor soul to command the waves to be still and they were so Oh who is like unto thee my Almighty glorious Lord Joyn this to the greater wonders of thy free-love who hadst love and bowels enough to regard such a rebellious wretch when thus in his bloud serving his lusts and loving pleasures more then God When I was daringly and delightfully sinning against thee Oh infinite Love to pity and support and succour such a poor tempestuous wretch as I was after thou hadst awakened me when fitter my self being Judge to have been a cast-away from thy presence for ever Oh the Ocean of grace Oh the wonders of thy love Oh the unfadomed heights and depths of it Eternity will but serve to admire and adore thee in it So sings the Spouse in the Song c. 3.6 filled with the loves of Christ Who is this that cometh out of the Wildernesse like pillars