knowledge of the nature of thy Sin and so no true sense of the nature or need of Mercy Little Sinner when therefore thou goest to God though thou knowest in thy Conscience that thou as to acts art no Thief no Murderer no Whore no Liar no false Swearer or the like and in reason must needs understand that thus thou art not so profanely vile as others yet when thou goest to God for Merey know no mans sins but thine own make mention of no mans sins but thine own Also labour not to lessen thy own but magnifie and greaten them by all just Circumstances and be as if there was never a Sinner in the World but thy self Also cry out as if thou wast the only undone Man and that is the way to obtain God's Mercy It is one of the comeliest Sights in the world to see a little Sinner commenting upon the greatness of his sins multiplying and mulâ—iplying them to himself till he makes them in his own eyes bigger and higher than he seeth any other man's sins to be in the World and as base a thing it is to see a man do otherwise and as basely will come on 't Luk. 18.10 11 12 13. As therefore I said to the great Sinner before let him take heed lest he presumes I say now to the little Sinner let him take heed that he don't dissemble For there is as great an aptness in the little Sinner to dissemble as there is in the great one He that hideth his sins shall not prosper be he a sinner little or great Prov. 28.13 Eighthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Then this shews the true cause why Satan makes such head as he doth against him The Father and the holy Spirit are well spâ—kâ—n of by all Deluders and deceived Persons Christ only is the Rock of Offence Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling-Stone and a Rock of Offence Rom. 9.33 Not that Satan careth for the Father or the Spirit more than he careth for the Son but he can let men alone with their notions of the Father and the Spirit for he knows they shall never enjoy the Father or the Spirit if indeed they receive not the Merits of the Son. He that hath the Son hath Life he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life however they may boast themselves of the Father and the Spirit 1 Jâ—hn 5.12 Again Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9. Christ and Christ only is he that can make us capâ—ble to enjoy God with Life and Joy to all eternity Hence he calls himself The Way to the Father The true and lâ—ving Way Joh. 14.6 Heb. 10.19.20 For we cannot come to the Father but by him Satan knows this therefore he hates him Deluded Persons are ignorant of this and therefore they are so led up and down by Satan by the nose as they are Tâ—ere are many things by which Satan has taken occasion to greaten his rage against Jesus Christ. As first His love to Man and then the many expressions of that love He hath taken Man's nature upon him he hath in that nature fulfilled the Lâ—w to bring in Righteousness for Man and hath spilt his Blood for the Reconciling of Man to God he hath broke the neck of Death put away Sin destroyed the works of the Devil and got into his own hands the Keys of Death and all these are heinous things to Satan He cannot abide Christ for this Besides he hath eternal Life in himself and that to bestow upon us and we in all liklihood are to possess the very places from which the Satans by transgression fell if not places more glorious Wherefore he must neâ—ds be angry And is it not a vexatious thing to him that we should be admitted to the Throne of Grace by Christ while he stands bound over in Chains of Darkness to answer for his Rebellions against God and his Son at the terrible day of Judgment Yea we poor Dust and Ashes must become his Judges and triumph over him for ever and all this long of Jâ—sus Christ for he is the Meritorious Cause of all this Now though Satan seeks to be revenged for this yet he knows it is in vain to attack the Person of Christ he has overcome him therefore he tampers with a company of silly Men that he may Villifie him by them And they bold fools as they are will not spare to spit in his face They will rail at his Person and deny the very Being of it they will rail at his Blood and deny the Merit and Worth of it They will deny the very end why he accomplished the Law and by figgs and tricks and quiâ—ks which he helpeth them to they set up fond Nâ—mes and Images in his plâ—ce and give the glory of a Saviour to them Thus Satan workeâ—h under the Name of Christ and his Ministers under the name of the Ministers of Righteousness And by his Wiles and Stratagems he undoes a world of men But there is a Seâ—d and they shall serve him and it shall be counted to the Lord for a Generation Tâ—ese shall see their sins and thâ—t Câ—rist is the Way to Happiness These shâ—ll venture themselves both Body and Soul upon his Worthiness All this Satan Knows and therefore his rage is kindleâ— the more Wherefore acâ—ording to his ability and allowance he assaulteth tempteth abuseth and stirs up what he can to be hurtful to these poor People that he may while his time shall last make it as hard and difficult for them to go to eternal Glory as he can Often-times he abuses them with wrong appreheâ—sions of God and with wrong apprehensions of Christ. He also casts them into the Mire to the reproach of Religion the shame of their Brethren the derision of the World and dishonour of God. He holds our hands while the World buffets us he puts Bear-skins upon us and then sets the Dogs at us He bedawbeth us with his own Fome and then tempts us to believe that that bedawding comes from ourselves Oh! the rage and the roaring of this Lion and the hatred that he manifests against the Lord Jâ—sus and against them that are purchased with his Blood But yet in the midst of all this the Lord Jesus sends forth his Herrald to proclaim in the Nations his love to the World and to invite them to come in to him for Life Yea his Invitation is so large that it offereth his Mercy in the first place to thâ—â—iggest Sinners of every Age which augments the Devils rage the more wherefore as I said before fret he sume he the Lord Jesus will divide the Spoil with this great one yea he shall divide the Spoil with the strong because he hâ—th poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressiors and
he that would indeed be saved as before has sinned the sin unpardonable The Scriptures must not be made void nor their truth be cast to the ground Here 's a Promise and here 's a Sinner a Promise that saies he shall not be cast out that comes and the sinner comes wherefore he must be received Consequently he that comes to Christ for life has not cannot have sinned that sin for which there is no forgiveness And this might suffice for an answer to any coming soul that fears though he comes that he has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost 2. But again He that has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost cannot come has no heart to come can by no means be made willing to come to Jesus Christ for life for that he has received such an opinion of him and of his things as deters and holds him back 1. He counteth this blessed Person this Son of God a Magician a Conjurer a Witch or one that did when he was in the World what he did by the power and spirit of the Devil Mat. 9.34 Mat. 12.24 25 c. Mar. 3.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. Now he that has this opinion of this Jesus cannot be willing to cast himself at his foot for life or to come to him as the only way to God and to Salvation And hence 't is said again that such an one puts him to open shame and treadeth him under foot that is by contemning reproaching vilifying and despising of him as if he were the vilest one or the greatest Cheat in the World and has therefore as to his esteem of him called him accursed crucified him to himself or counted him one hanged as one of the worst of Malefactors Heb. 6.6 and chap. 10.29 1 Cor. 12.3 2. His Blood which is the meritorious cause of mans redemption even the blood of the everlasting Covenant he counteth an unholy thing or that which has no more vertue in it to save a Soul froâ— sin than has the blood of a Dog Heb. 10.29 For when the Apostle saies he counts it an unholy thing he means he makes it of less value than that of a Sheep or Cow which were clean according to the Law. And therefore must mean that his blood was of no more worth to him in his account than was the blood of Dog an Ass or a Swine which always was as to sacrifices rejected by the God of Heaven as unholy or unclean Now he who has no better esteem of Jesus Christ and of his Death and Blood will not be perswaded to come to him for Life or to trust in him for Salvation 3. But further all this mâ—st be done against manifest Tokens to prove the contrary or after the shining of Gospel Light upon the soul or some considerable profession of him as the Mâ—ssias or that he was the Sâ—viour of the World. 1. It must be done against manifest tokens to prove the contrary and thus the reprobate Jews committed it when they saw the works of God which put forth themselves in him and called them the works of the Devil and Beelzebub 2. It must be done against some sâ—ining light of the Gospel upon them And thus it was with Judas and with those who after they were enlightned and had tasted and had felt something of the powers of the World to come fell away from the Faith of him and put him to open shame and disgrace Heb. 6.5 6. 3. It must also be done after and in opposition to ones own open profession of him For if after they have escaped the pollution of the World through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment which is the Word of Faith delivered unto them 4. All this must be done openly before witnâ—sses in the Face Sight and View of the World by Word and Act. This is the sin that is unpardonable and he that hath thus done can never 't is impossible he ever should be renewed again to repentance and that for a double reason first such an one doth say he will not and of him God saies he shall not have the benefit of Salvation by him Object But if this be the sin unpardonable why is it called the sin against the Holy Ghost and not rather the sin against the Son of God Answ. It is called the sin against the Holy Ghost because such count the works he did which were done by the Spirit of God the works of the spirit of the Devil Also because all such as so reject Christ Jesus the Lord they do it in despight of that testimony which the Holy Ghost has given of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Scriptures are the breathings of the Holy Ghost as in all other things so in that testimony they bear of the Person of the Works Sufferings Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ. Sinner This is the sin against the Holy Ghost What saist thou Hast thou committed it nay I know thou hast not if thou wouldst be saved by Christ. Yea 't is impossible thou shouldst have done it if indeed thou wouldst be saved by him No man can desire to be saved by him whom he yet judgeth to be an Impostor a Magician a Witch No man can hope for redemption by that Blood which he yet counteth an unholy thing Nor will God ever suffer such an one to repent who has after light and profession of him thus horribly and Devil-like contemned and trampled upon him True Words and Wars and Blasphemies against this Son of Man are pardonable but then they must be done ignorantly and in unbelief Also all blasphemous thoughts are likewise such as may be passed by if the Soul afflicted with them indeed is sorry for them 1 Tim. 1.13 14 15. Mar. 3.28 All but this Sinner all but this If God had said he will forgive one sin it had been undeserved Grace But when he saies he will pardon all but one this is grace to the height Nor is that one unpardonable otherwise but because the Saviour that should save them is rejected and put away Jacob's Ladder Christ is Jacob's Ladder that reacheth up to Heaven and he that refuseth to go by this Ladder thither will scarce by other means get up so high There is none other name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved There is none other Sacrifice for sin than his he also and he only is the Mediator that reconcileth men to God. And Sinner if thou wouldst be saved by him his Benefits are thine yea though thou art a great and Jerusalem Transgressor FINIS
Observation That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners That these Jerusalem Sinners were the biggest Sinners that ever were in the World I think none will deny that believes that Christ was the best Man that ever was in the World and also was their Lord God. And that they were to have the first offer of his Grace the Text is as clear as the Sun for it saith Begin at Jerusalem Preach saith he Repentance and remission of sins to the Jerusalem-sinners to the Jerusâ—lem-sinners in the first place One would a-thought since the Jâ—rusalem-sinners were the worst and greatest Sinners Christ's greatest enemies and those that not only despised his Person Doctrine and Miracles but that a little before had had their hands up to the elbows in his Heart-bloud That he should rather have said Go into all the World and preach Repentance and Remission of Sins among all Nations and afâ—er that offer the same to Jerusalem Yea it had been infinite Grace if he had said so But what Grace is this Or what Name shall we give it when he commands that this Repentance and Remission of Sins which is designed to be preached in all Nations should first be offered to Jerusalem in the first place to the worst of Sinners Nor was this the first time that the Grace which was in the Heart of Christ thus shewed it self to the World. For while he was yet alive even while he was yet in Jerusâ—lem and perceived even among these Jerusalem-sinners which was the most vile amongst them he still in his preaching did signifie that he had a desire that the worst of these worst should in the first place come unto him The which he sheweth where he saith to the better sort of them The Publicans and Harlots enter into the Kingdom of God before you Matt. 21.31 Also when he compared Jerusalem with the Sinners of the Nations then he commands that the Jerusalem-sinners should have the Gospel at present confined to them Go not saith he into the way of the Gentiles and into any of the Cities of the Samaritans enter ye not but go rather to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel Matt. 10.5 6. chap. 23.37 But go rather to them for they were in the most fearful plight These therefore must have the Cream of the Gospel namely the first offer thereof in his Life-time Yea when he departed out of the World he left this as part of his last Will with his Preachers that they also should offer it first to Jerusalem He had a mind a careful mind as it seems to priviledge the worst of Sinners with the first offer of Mercy and to take from among them a People to be the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. The fifteenth of Luke also is famous for this where the Lord Jesus takes more care as appears there by three Parables for the lost Sheep lost Groat and the Prodigal Son than for the other Sheep the other Pence or for the Son that said he had never transgressed Yea he shews that there is Joy in Heaven among the Angels of God at the repentance of one Sinner more than over Ninety and nine Just Persons which need no repentance Luke 15. After this manner therefore the mind of Christ was set on the Salvation of the biggest Sinners in his Life-time But joyn to this this Clause which he carefully put into the Apostles Commission to preach when he departed hence to the Father and then you shall see that his Heart was vehemently set upon it for these were part of his last words with them Preach my Gospel to all Nations but see that you begin at Jerusalem Nor did the Apostles overlook this Clause when their Lord was gone into Heaven They went first to them of Jerusalem and preached Christ's Gospel to them They abode also there for a season and time and preached it to no body else for they had regard to the Commandment of their Lord. And it is to be observed namely that the first Sermon which they preached after the Ascension of Christ it was preached to the very worst of these Jerusalem-sinâ—ers even to those that were the murderers of Jesus Christ Acts 2.23 For these are part of the Sermon Ye took him and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain him Yea the next Sermon and the next and also the next to that was preached to the self-same murderers to the end they might be saved Acts 3. 14 15 16. chap. 4 10 11. chap. 5 30. chap. 7.52 But we will return to the first Sermon that was preached to these Jerusalem-sinners by which will be manifest more than great Grace if it be duly considered For after that Peter and the rest of the Apostles had in their Exhortation perswaded these Wretches to believe that they had killed the Prince of Life and after they had duly fallen under the guilt of their Murder saying Men and Brethren what shall we do He replies by an universal Tender to them all in general considering them as Christ-killers That if they were sorry for what they had done and would be Baptized for the Remission of their sins in his Name they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 2.37 38. This he said to them all though he knew that they were such sinners Yea he said it without the least stick or stop or pâ—use of Spirit as to whether he had best to say so or no. Nay so far off was Peter from making an Objection against one of them that by a particular Clause in his Exhortation he endeavours that not one of them may escape the Salvation offered Repent saith he and be Baptized every one of you I shut out never a one of you For I am commanded by my Lord to deal with you as it were one by one by the Word of his Salvation But why speaks he so particularly Oh! there were reasons for it The People with whom the Apostles were now to deal as they were Murderers of our Lord and to be charged in the general with his Blood so they had their various and particular acts of Villany in the guilt thereof now lying upon their Consciences And the guilt of these their various and particular acts of wickedness could not perhaps be reached to a removal thereof but by this particular Application Repent every one of you be Baptized every one of you in his Name for the Remission of Sins and you shall every one of you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Object But I was one of them that plotted to take away his Life May I be saved by him Peter Every one of you Object But I was one of them that bare false Witness against him Is there Grace for me Peter For every one of you Object But I was one of them that cryed out Crucifie Crucifie him and that desired that Barabas the Murderer might live rather than him What will become of me
rejoyceth against Judgment Wherefore believe All and Mercy will to thy Conscience weigh Judgment down and so minister Comfort to thy Soul. Thâ— Lord take the Yoke from off thy Jaws since he has set Meat before thee Hâ—s 11.4 And help thee to remember that he is pleased in the first place to offer Mercy to the biggest sinners Sixthly Since Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Let Souls see that they lay right hold thereof lest they notwithstanding indeed come short thereof Faith only knows how to deal with Mercy wherefore put not in the place thereof Presumption I have observed that as there are Herbs and Flowers in our Gardenâ— so there are their Counterfeits in the Field only they are distinguiâ—hed from the other by the Name of Wild Ones Why there is Faith and Wild Faiâ—h and Wild Faith is this Presumption I call it Wild Faith because God never placed â—t in his Garden his Church 't is only to be found in the Field the World. I also call it Wild Faith because it only grows up and is nourished where other wild notions abounds Wherefore take heed of this and all may be well For this presumptuousness is a very heinous thing in the eyes of God The Soul saith he that shall do ought presumptuously â—hether born in the Land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord And that Soul shall be cut off from among his people Num 15.30 The thoughts of this made David tremble and pray That God would hold him back from presumptuous sins and not suffer them to have dominion over him Psal. 19.13 Now this Presumption Then put its self in the place of Faith when it tampereth with the promise for Life while the Soul is a stranger to Repentance Wherefore you have in the Text to prevent doing thus both Repentance and Remission of Sins to be offered to Jerusalem not Remission without Repentance For all that repent not shall perish let them presume on Grace and the Promise while they will Luk. 13.1 2 3. Presumption then is that which severeth Faith and Repentance concluding that the Soul shall be saved by Grace though the man was never made sorry for his sins nor the love of the Heart turned therefrom This is to be sâ—lf-willed as Peter has it And this is a despising the Word of the Lord for that has put Repentance and Faith together Mark 1.15 And because he hath despisâ—d the Word of the Lord and hath broken the Commandment that Soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquities shall be upon him Numb 15.31 Let such therefore look it who yet are and abide in their sins for such if they hope as they are to be saved presume upon the grace of God. Wherefore Presumption and not hearkning to God's Word are put together Dâ—ut 17.12 Again Then men presume when they are resolved to abide in their sins and sins yet expect to be saved by God's grace through Christ. This is as much as to say God liketh of Sin as well as I do and careth not how men live if so be they lean upon his Son. Of this sort are they that build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity That Judge for reward and teach for hire and Divine for mony and lean upon the Lord Mic. 3.10 11. This is doing things with an high hand against the Lord our God and a taking him as it were at the Catch This is as we lay among men to seek to put a trick upon God as if he had not sufficiently fortified his Proposals of Grace by his holy Word against all such kind of fools as these But look to it Such will be found at the day of God not among that great company of Jerusalem-sinners that shall be saved by Grace but among those that have been the great abusers of the grace of God in the World. These that say Let us sin that Grace may abound and let us do Evil that Good may come their Damnation is just And if so they are a great way off of that Salvation that is by Jesus Christ presented to the Jerusalem sinners I have therefore these things to propound to that Jerusalem-sinner that would know if he may be so bold to venture himself upon this Grace First Dost thou see thy sins Secondly Art thou weary of them Thirdly Wouldst thou with all thy heart be saved by Jesus Christ I dare say no less I dare say no more But if it be truly thus with thee how great soever thy sins have been how bad soever thou feelest thy heart how far soever thou art from thinking that God has mercy for thee thou art the Man the Jerusalem-sinner that the Word of God has conquered and to whom it offereth free Remission of sins by the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ. When the Jayler cried out Sirs What must I do to be saved The answer was Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved He that sees his sins aright is brought to his wits-end by them and he that is so is willing to part from them and to be saved by the grace of God. If this be thy Case fear not give no way to Despair thou presumest not if thou believest to life everlasting in Jesus Christ. Yea Christ is prepared for such as thou art Therefore take good courage and believe The design of Satan is to tell the Presumptuous that their presuming on Mercy is good but to perswade the Believer that his believing is impudent bold dealing with God. I never heard a presumptuous man in my life say that he was afraid that he presumed but I have heard many an honest humble Soul say that they have been afraid that their Faith has been Presumption Why should Satan molest those whose ways he knows will bring them to him And who can think that he should be quiet when men take the right course to escape his hellish snares This therefore is the reason why the truly humbled is opposed while the Presumptuous goes on by Wind and Tide The truly humble Satan hates but he laughs to see the foolery of the other Does thy hand and heart tremble Upon thee the Promise smiles To this man will I look says God even to him that is poor and of a coâ—trite sâ—irit and trembles at my Word Isa. 66.2 What therefore I have said of Presumption concerns not the humble in Spirit at all I therefore am for gaâ—hering up the Sâ—ones and for taking the Stumbling-blocks out of the way of God's People and fore-warning of them that they lay the stumbling block of their Iniquity before their faces and that are for presuming upon God's mercy and let them look to themselves Ezekiel 14.6 7 8. Also our Text stands firm as ever it did and our Observation is still of force That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners So then let none Desâ—air let none Presume Let
his strait he betook him to consideration of the good that there was in his Fathers House yea he resolved to home to his Father and his Faâ—her dealt well with him he received him with Musick and Dancing because he had received him safe and sound Luk. 15.14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32. 6. Hast thou any inticing touches of the word of God upon thy mind Doth as it were some holy word of God give a glance upon thee cast a smile upon thee let fall though it be but one drop of its savour upon thy Spirit yea though it staies but one moment with thee O! then the day of Grace is not past The Gate of Heaven is not shut Nor God's Heart and Bowels withdrawn from thee as yet Take heed therefore and beware that thou make much of the Heavenly Gift and of that good word of God of the which he has made thee tast Beware I say and take heed there may be a falling away for all this but I say as yet God has not left thee as yet he has not cast thee off Hâ—b 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Secâ—ndly With respect to thy desires what are they Wouldst thou be saved Wouldst thou be saved with a thorow salvation Wouldst thou be saved from guilt and filth too Wouldst thou be the servant of thy Saviour Art thou indeed weary of the service of thâ— old Master the Devil Sin and the World And has these desires put thy Soul to the flight Hast thou through desires betaken thy self to thy heels Dost fly to him that is a Saviour from the wrath to come for life If these be thy desires and if they be unfeigned fear not Thou art one of those Runaways which God has commanded our Lord to receive and not to send thee back to the Devil thy Master again but to give thee a place in his House even the place which liketh thee best Thou shalt not deliver to his Master saies he the Servant which is escaped from his Master unto thee He shall dwell with thee even among you in that place which he shall chuse in one of thy Gates where it liketh him best thou shall not oppress him Deut. 23.15 16. This is a command to the Church consequently to the Head of the Church for all commands from God come to her through her Head. Whence I conclude that that as Israel of old was to receive the Runaway-Servant who escaped from a Heathen Master to them and should not dare to send him back to his Master again So Christ's Church now and consequently Christ himself may not will not refuse that soul that has made his escape from Sin Satan the World and Hell unto him but will certainly let him dwell in his House among his Saints in that place which he shall choose even where it liketh him best For he saies in another place And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out In no wise let his crimes be what they will either for nature multitude or the attendance of aggravating circumstances Wherefore if thy desires be firm sound unfeigned to become the saved of Christ and his servant Fear not he will not he will in no wise put thee away or turn thee over to thy old Mâ—ster again Thirdly As to thy fears whatever they are let that be supposed which is supposed before and they are groundless and so of no weight Object But I am afraid I am not elâ—ct or chosen to salvation though you called me fool a little before for so fearing Answ. Though election is in order before calling as to God yet the knowledge of Calling must go before the belief of my Election as to my self Wherefore souls that doubt of the truth of their Effectual Calling do but plunge themselves into a deeper labyrinth of confusion that concern themselves with their election I mean while they labour to know it before they prove their Calling Make your Calling and so your Election sure 2 Pet. 1.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Wherefore at present lay the thoughts of thy Election by and ask thy self these questions Do I see my lost condition Do I see salvation is no where but in Christ Would I share in this salvation by Faith of him And would I as was said afore be throughly saved to wit from the filth as from the guilt Do I love Christ his Father his Saints his Word and Ways This is the way to prove we are Elect. Wherefore sinner when Satan or thine own heart seek to puzzle thee wiâ—h Election say thou I cannot tend to talk of this point now but stay till I know that I am called of God to the fellowship of his Son and then I will shew you that I am Elect and that my name is written in the Book of Life If poor distressed souls would observe this Order they might save themselves the trouble of an unprofitable lâ—bour under these unseasonâ—ble and Soâ—l-sinking doubts Let us therefore upon the sight of our wretchedness fly and venturously leap into the Arms of Christ which are now as open to receive us into his Bosom as they were when nailed to the Cross. This is coming to Christ for Life aright this is right running away from thy Master to him as was said before And for this we have multitudes of Scriptures to support incourage and comfort us in our so doing But now let him that doth thus be sure to look for it for Satan will be with him to morrow to see if he can get him again to his old service and if he cannot do that then will he enter into dispute with him to wit about whether he be elect to Life and called indeed to partake of this Christ to whom he is fled for succour or whether he comes to him of his own presumptuous Mind Therefore we are bid as to come so to Arm our selves with that Armour which God has provided that we may resist quench stand against and withstand all the Fiery Darts of the Devil Ephes. 6. 11 12 13 14 l5 16 17 18. If therefore thou findest Satan in this Order to march against thee remember that thou hadst this Item about it and betake thy self to Faith and good Courage and be sober and hope to the End. Object But how if I should have sinned the sin unpardonable or That called the sin against the Holy Ghost Answ. If thou hast thou art lost for ever But yet before it is concluded by thee that thou hast so sinned know that they that would be saved by Jesus Christ through faith in his blood cannot be counted for such l. Because of the Promise for that must not be frustrate And that saies And him that cometh to Christ he will in no wise cast And again Whoso will let him take of the Water of Life freely Joh. 6.37 Rev. 21 6. chap. 22.17 But I say how can these Scriptures be fulfilled if