contrarie Hence again we may know that we have claime to Christ and all that hee hath done for the Elect. For if I am not under the dominion of sinne I am under grace and the true subject of Christ even a member of his body But I plainly finde in me a rebellion against sinne within by loathing it as a body of death and a stinking carrion without by opposing it in all my actions and labouring to free my selfe not onely from subjection but from the encumbrance and molestation of it utterly to root it our as the spirituall Canaanite Certain am I therefore that Christ hath subdued sinne in me setled me in his kingdome and in his bodie Nothing can separate mee from him As it is very easie to see the soule in the body though invisible in the substance by the effects and workes of it so will it be no difficult matter to discerne the blessed Spirit dwelling in us by his many and manifest operations For as in the whole body of Christ so in every member the holy Ghost is ever working Looke as in the bodie the soule is never idle but ever in action even in swoones when we feele it not yet then it ceaseth not and though at such times wee have no sense of it yet others conversing with us evidently perceive it working for life so in the new man It is the same Spirit which worketh all in all so that when we feele it not our selves others easily see it Two maine actions of the Spirit comprehending the rest are mortification opposing resisting and working out the old man all sinfull matter in us or Vivification quickning repairing and strengthening the new man No sooner the Spirit enters but it discovers to us much ignorance and then stirres up to incline the eare unto wisedome and apply the heart to understanding the tongue to crie for knowledge and lift up the voyce for understanding When now the iâ—â—elligible part is somewhat cleared and light brought forth in this new Creation strait the dulnesse and deadnesse of the concupiscible part the will and affections is laid open Then the heart longues and the tongue calls out for quickeâ—iâ—g grace Take notice of this in the Saints Thus David begs for more light Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law Teach me O Lord the way of thy Sâ—atâ—tes Give mee understanding But now when by the grace of God in the exercise of the Word hee was growne wiser than his enemses and of more understanding than all his teachers then strait his eye was upon that sluggishnesse and deadnesse of spirit and how loud and frequent is he for quickning Quicken me according to thy Word quicken me according to thy judgement quicken me according to thy loving kindnesse how often repeated in that one Psalme Certaine is it that as wee can never in this life wholly shake off all sinfull infirmities so that blessed Spirit will never suffer us to rest in any Looke as in the earthly Canaan the Israelites untill the reigne of Salomon were never in full peace sometime vexed with Iabin of Canaan sometime with the Philistims but ever victorious Remarkable is it that ever their vexation was a sure signe of their enlargement and oppression by the enemy ushered in the destruction of the oppressor for when Israels soule was grieved with the Canaaâ—ites Gods soule was grieved for his Israel So in the state of grace till that true Salomon the Prince of peace shall fully reigne over all his and our enemies wee shall ever be in continuall strife with our sinfull corruptions first with one then with another and nothing should more fully assure us that God hath certainly purposed to cut off any sinfull affection in us then that discovering it to our eyes and giving us sense of the burden he gives us no rest that wee may give him no rest but seek importunately for helpe till we finde it subdued and destroyed in us Neither doth the blessed Spirit by his baptisme of fire onely mortifie and purge out the drosse of our sinfull nature but quickens us by that heat of life in vivification so that the soule enflamed with the thirst of grace and glory can make no stay in his race till it touch the marke with all diligence adding to faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance and when we are not destitute of any grace then putting us forward to grow in the grace which we have received Hence is it that even in the depth of tentation when our selves judging by sense suppose that all is lost standers by as they say see further then wee and can easily discerne this Spirit mightily working in us grieving under the load of sinne and unutterably groaning under this oppression judging our selves sighing for grace By this then may wee evidently disâ—rne the Spirit dwelling in us that we are ever in spirituall motion action and exercise sometime mortifying sometime quickning ever leading us forward to perfection See Rom. 8.11.13 14. so that we can never rest or sit downe in a contented estate till wee are fully compleat in happinesse and glory Lastly another signe whereby we may without all faile conclude that we are translated from death unto life is our love to the Brethren For certainely He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive the reward of a righteous man and hee that gives a cup of water to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple verilie hee in no wise shall lose his reward Nay this token of our love proves and makes good all the former namely that God is our Father the Lord Iesus our Saviour and we Temples of the holy Ghost For whosoever beleeveth that Iesus is the Christ is borne of God and every one that loveth him that begot loveth him also that is begotten of him And Behold let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God Where the love of Gods children is set out by the Spirit as a sure token both of our love to God and our new birth by God Againe our Saviour appointeth it as the Badge of his Disciples By this shall all men how much more our selves know that you are my Disciples if you love one another Read also 1 Ioh. 3.23,24 This is his command that we should beleeve and love one another and he that keepeth this Commandement dwels in him and he in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit he hath given us The two great commandements of the Gospell are Faith and love which when they are written in our hearts by the Spirit and he stirres us up to cleave unto our head by faith unto our fellow members by love it is manifest that we
and body with temporall and spirituall evils The most have most need of comfort but no sense of their need for they suppose they are strong and have need of nothing They are lusty and strong they are not in trouble as other men nor are plagued as other they conceit themselves all whole as those proud Pharises see no use of a Physitian but this strength is meerly imaginary and as a dreame only in their fancy and therefore but a castle in the ayre Even in earthly much more in the spirituall estate no man is so weake indeede as hee who is strong in his owne conceit this very conceit being as a traiterous warder to open a doore of security betray all to the enemie Others feele much want of comfort but want not so much as they feele for being strongly assaulted and finding great weaknesse they think all lost or very desperate and utterly forget that then they are strong indeed when they are weake in their owne feeling sense of weakenesse thrusting out importunate prayers to seeke for helpe and importunity of prayer never failing to bring in strength and succour But Comfort in the stricter sense being nothing else but a â—enitive plaister for a wounded Spirit is by our heavenly Physitian prescribed onely to an heart sicke of sinne and broken with godly sorrow To apply that Balme of Gilead to any other Patient we his Apotheâ—aries have no warrant but to administer it unto these wee have strait charge and commandement Certainly our most blâ—ssed Saviour purposâ—ly tooke upon him our infirmities that being himselfe touched with the â—eeing of our weaknesse he might be a mercifull high Priest most unlike those Pharisaical Priests by himselfe condemned They bound heavie burthens and gâ—ievous to be borne and laid them on mens shoulders but would not touch them themselves with one of their fingers But his yoake is light his Commandements not grievous and yet he beareth it first himself and receiveth the whole weight upon his owne shoulders As hee therefore commaÌ„ds his Disciples to take up their crosse and follow him and shuts out of his company all such as refuse as being unworthy of him so he takes it up first himselfe and either proportions the crosse to their strength or measures strength to them according to the cross which they beare First the curse he taketh altogether upon himselfe and beareth it off wholly from them Secondly he sendeth in that Comforter to them who shall sustaine and strongly carry them through and when by reason of sinfull infirmity they are ready to faint shall put new spirit into them And to this end he doth not only command his Messâ—ngers to rebuke sharpely that men may be sound in the faith the dead rotten flesh of our corrupt nature may be cut out but chargeth them to comfort for so signifies all that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ordinarily translâ—ted exhort And as David sent his servants to comfort Haâ—â—n sâ— the Sonne of David our most gracious Savior sends his Embassadours to every afflicted and dejected soule and commandeth them comfort you comfort you my people Speake comfortably to Ierusalem As therefore wee are most willing to bring so must thou who art a Christian be as ready to receive this mâ—ssage I am one the least and lowest yet one of these Messengers and who are the Israel of God and his true suppose never so weak servants but those that desire to fear his name who shall be refreshed but hee that is laden wherefore hath God given a tongue of the learned but to minister a seasonable word to hâ—m that is weary and if wee are weary why doe we not accept nay greedily take hold of the refreshing offered whosoever thou art who groanest under the burthen of sinne and sighest to feele the fetters of thy strong corruptions whosoever breakest thy heart disquietest and vexest thy spirit in the sight and sense of thy rebellious flesh crying out Who shall deliver me from this body of death When wilt thou enlarge my heart that I may runne in the way of thy CoÌ„mandements know the Lord Iesus was purposely annointed for thee even to heale the broken hearted to set at libertie them that are bruised know that all the comforts of the blessed Spirit are thy portion and not onely the Minister but every member of Christ upon occasion bound to reach it forth to thee and charged to comfort the feeble minded Now therefore as the Lord hâ—th given mee an heart and hand desirous to distribute a word of comfort unto anâ— fainting Christian so the same God of all mercy and compass on give every weary soule an hand to take fast hold of it and to hold it fast to receive it reâ—dily and stedfastly to retaine it Verily to this end the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the father of mercies God of all comfort doth comfort us in all our tribulation that wee may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Let not therefore the Consolations of God seeme a small matter unto us Comfort then in every respect is very needeful needfull for the Stewards of Christ faithfully to deale this portion to the afflicted and no lesse need have they to receive it But where saith the sicke soule oh where shold I finde it CHAP. II. Where comfort is to be found even in all things and first in affliction it selfe SUrely it is not the least of our miseries which sinne brought in upon us that with the losse of all spirituall comfort wee lost also all knowledge where to seeke finde it How easily can we by our taste discerne the best meates and drinkes how easily can we learne where and how to procure them but in what consisteth our true comfort the strength and solace of our poore naked miserable Spirits and where to search for it we are wholly ignorant blind as stones nay worse wilfully blinde What foole will let downe a nett for fish in the mountaines or set a toyle for Deere in the Seas Doe men looke for grapes of thornes or figs of thistles yet this madnesse is common to natural men who thinke to finde strength in vanity and comfort in vexation when seekes a rich man for shelter against the evill day His wealth is his strong City an high wall in his conceâ—t Where doe worldlings search for and hope to finde joy and solace in their Wheate and Wine The Epicure comforts and cheers up his soule Eat drink and be merry thou hast goods laid up for many yeeres Nay the drunken Hog thinks to drinke downe sorrow in his swil-tub Let us eat and drinke for to morrow we shall dye Come and I will bring wine and wee will fill our selues with strong drinke and to morrow shall be as
into this narrow way of affliction will safely lead us through it and bring our feet into a large place even the liberty of Gods children going along with us in all our evil and upholding us in it for our good and Gods glory Surely if the Furnace heated at once as for seven times could not consume the bodies of those stout Confessors nay could not singe a thred of their garments so long as the Angell of the Lord was among them what affliction or trouble shal hurt us when the Lord of Angels is with us nay in us supporting our weaknesse and bearing it out in all our troubles Lastly the many excellent delightfull fruits springing from this bitter roote will abundantly recompence and with great yea infinite usury repay all that evill which can possibly bee in any affliction First which before was mentioned The blewnesse of the wound serueth to purge the evill and the stripes within the bowels of the belly It purgeth out the old leven and maketh us a new lump Secondly the fire of affliction softneth our yron hearts and prepareth them for the hammar of the Word to frame us after the image of God and to set upon us the beauty of his holinesse It bringeth forth the pleasant fruit of righteousnesse Now what is there in all the world which if wee might wish and have wee would preferre or equall with this holinesse Neither should it too much trouble nay in some respect it should cheere us that we find inward terrors grievances doubts desertions buffeters of Satan we apply outward medicines to infants and weake ones but inward Physicke as it is given by expert Physicians to the strong so it worketh more strongly Inward stripes worke on the bowels clense the inward man this shaking rooteth our faith more stroÌ„gly and this disease of doubting occasionally seâ—leth us in more fulnesse and assurance of faith CHAP. VI. The application of this comfort by meditation NOw when we have well tasted and swallowed this Cordiall let us by some meditation and particular appliâ—ation labour to digest it and even incorporate this spirituall food into our soules For as it is with this earthly so is it with that heavenly fire of the Word it will soone bee extinguished or else lye dead uselesse unlesse it be blown up by meditation Thus therfore let the afflicted spirit confer and commune with it selfe Is it not my gracious God who reacheth forth this bitter cup of wormwood to me Commeth it not from his wonderfull love and faithfulnesse in his Covenant who promising to doe mee good hath therefore in my necessity tempered this potion for me My unfaithfull heart requireth it his faithfulnesse giveth it My dead cold heart and the sicke sinfull matter in my soule calleth for it his flagrant love his wisedome and compassion administreth it and shall not I then receive it If hee sent it in wrath should not I take it with humility and patience and if he reach it to mee in love and faithfulnesse shal not I receive it with chearefull thankfulnesse Oh shal not I drinke of the Cup which my Father hath given me Had it beene a Messenger of confusion well might I tremble and mourne yet not murmure but being an Embassadour of peace employed purposely for my Soveraigne and Supreme good and his glory shall I not make it welcome And will not hee worke his owne ends by it Shall noâ— this bitter root by his sanctifying power shoot forth that most pleasant fruit of holinesse and glory Oh thou ravishing beauty of Divine holinesse thou most excellent Image and nature of God! Oh thou unspeakeable and unconceivable happinesse with God in glory Shall any thing be unwelcome which bringeth you to me or carrieth me to you Were it water fire were it hell it selfe should I not passe through it to attayne you This light affliction bringeth with it a weight of glory This momentary affliction an eternall glory this despised affliction an excelling excellent glory and can then the root bee so bitter as the fruit delightfull Can I with a good will nay with pleaâ—ure eat a bitter or sowre sallat as helping to purge out some mellancholy humours and to whet the dull appetite and shall I not much more swallow this Pil which is bitter onely in the mouth but in the stomacke ful of sweetnesse and nourishment Nay are not all these afflictions being sanctified by God especiall evidences of my adoption and filiation through Christ Are not these stripes so many witnesses that I am his child And this smart a sure testimony that I am genuine and no bastard And with all the resâ— hath not he promised and assured me not to fayle nor forsake me but to uphold mee in it and bring mee through it and comfort me by it and glorifie me after it Have not all the members of that glorious body and the Head himselfe the Prince of glory beene perfited through afflictions Have they not all Head and members passed through this vale of teares this roaâ—ing wildernesse through many feares terrors grievous desertions crying out with strong cryes and bitter to him that is able to save them yet setting the joy before them have endured the crosse despised the shame and are now set downe in the glory of God Now therefore rejoyce my soule in tribulations knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience and patience experience and expertence hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost who is given to to us Nay count thou it exceeding joy when thou falleâ—t into these temptations knowing that the triall of faith bringeth forth patience Onely thou oh my gracious God who scourgest every Sonne whom thou receivest receive mee whom thou scourgest Thou who chastisest where thou lovest oh love this poore soule which thou chastisest Thou who correctest not for thy pleasure but for our profit oh teach me to profit by thy correction Make my soule to partake of thy Sonnes holinesse and then lay on what measure thou seest good of his affliction Oh let me be conformed to his death and sufferings that I may bee conformed to his life and resurrection Gracious Father after thou hast crowned mee with his thornes crowne mee also with his glory CHAP. VII Comforts arising from the Word NOw as good Chyrurgians often heale some sores with lancing and cure with wounds so the Lord most frequently openeth some passage by affliction and maketh an issue for the sinfull corruption of our soules to drayne them and draw out the sinfull matter which is in them and maketh a lesser wound to cure the greater But as hee useth these lancers and corrosives so also hath he singular lenitives and anodynes to comfort and strengthen the wounded Spirit Three especiall meanes hath the wisedome of God set out for sovereigne Cordials to a sicke soule First his Word Secondly those holy
endowments every creature may excell me Stones more durable Plants more vegetative Beasts more sensible even Divels more wise and understanding But herein hast thou magnified thy grace toward me thy abject Creature that I excell other workes of thy hands in that wherein thou my glorious God excellest thy selfe that thou hast printed thy holinesse thy Divine image and beauty upon me and crowned me with thy glory and honor Rejoyce then oh my soule in the Lord and dance for joy His grace hath prevented and farre out-runne thy wishes As the first Adam lost all his happinesse by his ambitious desires to bee like unto God in knowing good and evill so the second Adam hath restored all happinesse by satisfying our ambition in making us like himselfe in loving good and hating evill The life and estate which thou enjoyest in Christ the nourishment of that life and the assurance of that estate equalleth and transcendeth thy most ambitious desires and wishes Rejoyce then in the Lord againe I say rejoyce for the world is thine things present and to come are thine life and death are thine nay the Lord of life is thine thy portion the seale of thy portion and of thine inheritance in glory CHAP. XIII Comforts arising from Prayer A Third Ordinance of God in which hee yeeldeth us much consolation is Prayer wherein whether we consider the privilege which wee enjoy namely that we dust and sinfull ashes may speake unto the glorious Lord of heaven and upon all occasions at any time of need boldly through Christ approach unto his presence and make all our wants knowne unto him or the power and efficacie of Prayer that we never speake in vaine but prosper in all our suits what can bee a greater consolation to an afflicted Spirit What Hath God opened an eutrance for us unto his grace through the meditation which is in Christ Hath he set out the Sonne of his love to be our Intercessour Clothed him with our infirmities that he might be an high Priest for us mercifull sensible and tender of our weaknesse Hath he appointed this Angell of the Covenant to incence and perfume our praiers with his most fragrant mediation so to bring them into his presence Hath hee exempted no time but made every howre every minute a season for this holy Ordinance so that the oftner wee come the more welcome and the more importunate our suit the more sweete and pleasing Hath hee not permitted but commanded Call upon mee in the day of trouble and instantly promised and I will deliver thee Hath he not bid Aske ◠and assured us you shal receive Doth hee wish us Be carefull for nothing but in all thiugs let your requests be shewne to God in prayer And because we know not how to pray as we ought hath hee given us his Spirit to helpe our infirmities and to make intercession for u◠with grones which cannot be uttered And can any man want comfort who enjoyeth this privilege of Gods children and of the favourits of the King of heaven But some perhaps will reply here Doe not wee see many Saints complaine and have not I found by experience that God doth not alwayes grant what wee aske Ans. The Rules here of that Ancient Father are good Sometimes God giveth in wrath what is asked of him sometimes denieth in love And againe The Lord is gracious who often giveth not what we aske that hee may give what wee should aske And yet againe God alwaies heareth us not alwaies our wils but alwaies our profit God giveth the Israelites flesh in wrath and with store of flesh leanenesse of Spirit He giveth a King in anger when they aske him but hee denyed Paul in love that hee might keepe downe his heart from rising in pride and stablish it with sufficiency of grace Sometimes our Children aske of us things which are no way good and sometimes they aske things that are good but out of due time wee give them neither Thus often doe we and therefore receive not But fully to answer this objection we must by no means forget that in all petitions there is both a generall intention and purpose of asking good and a desire of some particular which we suppose to be good but through our dulnesse in understanding and want of a discerning Spirit may bee good or evill Againe wee must remember that in God there is an infinite wisedome which clearely and perfectly discerneth what either in it selfe or to us is evill or good Now then if the Lord should satisfie us in our mistake granting the particular which we cōceive to be good and he knoweth evill and so should deny us the good which he knoweth we intend and purpose this under a seeming grant were a plaine denyall whereas the contrary seeming a deniall yet is and wil hereafter plainly appeare to be an evident grant though not of that which wee ignorantly aske yet of that which in truth we desire Certaine is it that by reason of our great ignorance in asking every faithfull Christian prayeth with al subjection to Gods will and wisdome so we are taught as well by precept Thy will be done as by practice Not my will but thy will be done and as certaine that what wee so aske we shall without faile receive For hee that gave Christ unasked to us when we were enemies will not deny any grace when hee is entreated to them who are reconciled in Christ and aske in his name This then is sufficient for a Christian that he first knoweth that God hath willed and decreed to give him Christ and with him all good things secondly that whatsoever he asketh according to that will he shall without all faile receive 1 Ioh. 5.14 CHAP. XIV An Answer to some further objections BUt some weake dejected Christian will bee ready to reply All things indeed are possible to him that beleeveth but alas I have no faith to pray True it is that prayer is but the speech of faith And how can they call upon him in whom they beleeve not Faith saith that excellent Father gives life to prayer and praier gets strength for faith For answer let an humble soule well consider how a man with griefe should sensibly feele want of faith if he had not some faith to give him sense and feeling How should spiritual sense be without life or spirituall life without faith As he in the Gospel first found his sight in the defect of it that hee saw men like trees So might weake Christians easily discerne some measure of true faith even in this griefe and complaints for want of faith Againe we shall easily perceive in these Complainers much detestation of sinne not onely in others but especially in themselves and passionat desires to glorifie God in all faithfull service And from what root can these fruits arise but from that faith which purifieth the heart Some others
Romans 5. 3,4 5. So the Apostles Acts 5. 41. Thus as the sufferings of Christ doe abound in any of his members so doth the God of consolation cause his comforts to abound through Christ. And as hee thus sustaines the soule in ordinarie afflictions so againe in extra-ordinary troubles he poureth out more than ordinarie refreshings alwayes affording grace proportionable for the triall and the issue with the tentation Thus when wicked persecutors have devised exquisite torments for the bodies of the faithfull this blessed Spirit hath measured out unto them strong and strange joyes even transcendant ravishings Famous is the Storie of that thrice famous Martyr Theodorus recorded by Ruffinus who being apprehended by an Officer of that cursed Apostata Iulian and from the verie spring of day tormeâ—â—ed grievously till ten of the clocke yet all that time in many changes of torments and tormentors such saith hee as no age ever saw the like did nothing else but with a calme and chearefull countenance sing that Psalme Let them be confounded who worship graven Images and trust in their Idols Afterward being demanded by Ruffinus concerning his sense of these paines affâ—rmed that he had little feeling of any bodily griefe but that there stood by him a certaine young man who wiped off the sweat with a most shining cloth and often poured on him cooling waters that he was ravished with delight aâ—d could not but bee more sad when hee was let downe from the racke Above all the rest when the faithfull heart feeleth in it selfe that holy Spirit sealing up his happinesse and lying there as a pledge and earnest untill he be fully instated into it it is altogether impossible to expresse the unspeakable joy and glorious comfort which flowes into it This made the Hebrewes rejoyce in the spoyling of their goods and the Apostles to goe from the whip-stocke with more joy in their hearts than bloud on their backes This put that straâ—ge speech into the mouth of the Apostle who as hee laboured more than all so was in stripes above measure so oft in prison so oft in danger and in death when his heart overflowed with an unutterable rejoycing and hee thus expresseth it I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyous or as the word properly signifies I am more than redundantly joyous in all our tribulation There was no ability in his tongue nor possibilitie in words to set out that flowing affection running over in his heart Oh then what trouble should deject us when hee is our Comforter Art thou dull of hearing art thou very unteachable That Spirit is thy Teacher who maketh the rudest Fisher-men the most learned Doctors of the world who taught them all tongues and knowledge in an instant Art thou very forgetfull This blessed Spirit is given thee to bring all things to thy minde Art thou slow in duty faint and soone wearie This holy Spirit is sent to quicken thee to baptize thee with fire Wantest thou any grace or any measure of grace They are all fruits of the Spirit springing from this root Love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith c Art thou assaulted with feare and doubting This gracious Spirit is thy seale and the earnest of thy inheritance untill the redemption of the possession CHAP. XXII How to apply these comforts by meditation NOw when wee have thoroughly weighed this great privilege and in it our many comforts let us lay theÌ„ neerer to heart fasten them there by some meditation Thus confer with thy soule O gracious Comforter who hast taken possession of this worthlesse heart for my Lord and Saviour and keepest it unto his use and kingdome how should I want consolation who enjoy thee the onely Comforter How should I want that joy of the Spirit who enjoy the Spirit of Life and oyle of gladnesse Thou art my life which canst not dyeâ— thou my strength and the length of my dayes Thou hast opened mine eyes to behold that heavenly honour and excellent glory those wonderfull joyes and infinite happinesse which is given me by my Father and purchased by my gracious Redeemer Thou hast bored mine ears to heare those more than heavenly strains of that Angelicall song On earth peace good will toward man Thou hast quickned my pallate to tast how good and sweet the Lord is Thou hast caused my soule to sent those precious oyntments so that I finde that costly Spiknard spent on my Saviours head had all the sweetnesse from the head on which it was spent Thou hast ravished my soule with those delectable feelings of peace and love which is better than life and the most heavenly sense of thy gracious presence The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmities how much more wilt thou most gracious Spirit who art God Almighty beare up and sustaine thy weake fainting creature who leaneth upon thee liveth by thee and wholly giveth up his soule unto thee When I am dull thou quicknest me when forgetfull thou promptest mee when cold thy fiery baptisme warms me when doubtfull thou confirmest me when sad thou coÌ„forrest me Now then thou my gracious Comforter persit the teÌ„ple which thou art building forsake not the worke of â—hine hands prosper oh prosper thy handy-worke enliven strengthen quicken sustaine mee that I may live in thee walk in thee abide in thee rejoyce in thee serve praise and blesse thee for ever CHAP. XXIII Further confirmation for the weake soule EXcellent are these comforts will many a weakely Christian say who as yet is held downe by strength of tentation singular refreshings and soveraigne cordials able not onely to cure a sicke but revive a dead spirit but alas I have no portion in them Oh could I feele in my soule this glorious heavenly relation to God could I by any search finde by any but one good and sure proofe be assured that I were the least of Gods children the lowest of Christ his members a living though never so little stone of that blessed Temple of the holy Spirit all the discomforts of this present world poverty losse contempt reproaches and scoffes of men should never trouble me Oh then how cheerefully could I wade through any griefe any tentation But woe is mee I feele my soule snared chained and enthrald in sinfull fetters Easily and cleerely I perceive many signes rather of a naturall estate stil subject to sinne and Satan no power to get up from under my corruptions but no good signe can I discâ—rne at least no certaine evidence of such an happinesse Now indeed it is most true that howsoever these consolations are most approved medicines yet have they none or not their perfect operation where either they are not wel and close applied or soone after this applying are rubbed off with some tentation In the last place therefore it will not be amisse nay very expedient by some few but apparent notes and infallible markes of regeneration to cleere the
acquit him How can a man bee heartily thankefull to God for Christ and blesse him for such a gift when he is altogether in doubt whether he hath any portion in his meditation how can he poure out his soule in blessing the Lord Jesus for his love and fruits of it when he is uncertaine whether he shall be built upon or dasht against this rocke What strong consolation can arise from a wavering opinion or flickering hope whether the Lord hath appointed us unto glory with himselfe or torment with the divell Secondly that which God offereth us in his Word confirms by oath conveies by his seales and above all the rest unchangeably assureth by his Spirit as a very pledge and eaâ—nest unto this end that estate not onely is firme and irrevocable but ought with all laborious endevor and vehement contention be sought and made fast and sure upon us Now it is most apparent that by all these meanes the Lord offereth the assurance of salvation to the faithfull and offereth them to this very end that they might bee stablished in the assurance of his gracious purpose as even in earthly covenants wâ—itings oathes â—eales pawnes are given for no other purpose but to confirme the intent of the giver and the state of the receiver Be this then throughly setled in us that we ought to give all diligence to make our election and calling sure CHAP. XXVII That this assurance is the gift of God the feeling of it sometimes with-held sometimes with-drawne from the faithfull LAstly that this full perswasion of faith assuring our election and salvation is the gift of God cannot be denied and therefore shall not neede any copious or exact proofe For we all know and acknowledge that everie good and perfect gift is from above and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning Among which gifts even the Giver himselfe is the chiefe and the very summe of all the rest namely that blessed Spirit given by the Father Ioh. 14. 16. who testifieth to our spirits that we are Sonnes of God and Heires with the Lord Jesus Christ and who bringerh with him as wel that gift of faith 1 Cor. 12. 9. and the fulnesse of it as also that spiritual life and sense whereby wee see and feele the exâ—ellent things which are given us by God things which eye hath not seene eare hâ—th not heard nor ever entred into the heart of man Secondly as it is manifest that it is the gift of God so is it as apparent that it is not given at all times to all Beleevers For first when wee are new borne Babes wee finde our faith so farre from any full assurance that others discerne our life in our earnest longings after the Word and our fervent desires that wee could beleeve rather than our selves in feeling that wee doe beleeve For whereas it is impossible to come to any assurance of our salvation without a spirit of discerning whereby being able to try things that differ wee can examine and prove our faith in God and love to his Saints and so come to the knowledge of our dwelling in Christ and that wee are translated from death to life this spirit of discerning is not ordinarily given to Infants in understanding Looke as the Children of great Princes yet in their infancy much rejoyce in their costly Robes Coronets c. but have not yet discretion to gather thence their Noble parentage and dignity to which they are borne so Christian Babes though they see themselves richly adorned with those heavenly graces of God and doe not a little rejoyce in the preseut estate which they feele yet cannot in this their infancy by a reflected act of the judgement gather thence their sure title and claime to all those precious promises of God and their future glorie which depend on the former Secondly yet further when the children of God 〈…〉 up to sâ—me maâ—u 〈…〉 yeâ— iâ— pleaseth the Lord as for many reasons best knowne to his owne wisedome so certainly for his own glory in them and their glory in him to exercise them with many temptations and manifold trials so that being encumbred with much wrastling against unbeleefe and other corruptions they cannot for the present attaine this certainty But when the eye of faith is strengthned and these mists of tentation over-blowne the faithfull soule seeth cleerely the love of God in Christ by his holy Spirit leading him to salvation and evidently discernes his everlasting happinesse sealed up to his soule in the new Covenant And yet even then wee are subject to lose though not the favor of God yet the sense of his favour and consequently that comfortable perswasion of our eternal life For as some men by much neglect of seasonable refreshings decay in bodily strength and livelinesse of spirit and some other by great distemper fall into sicknesse and weaknesse so the strongest Christian who could say as David Though I walk through the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the daies of my life yet either by neglect or coldnes in the means Word Prayer c. or by some grievous sinne may finde that joy of his salvation utterly hidden and clouded as did also that holy Prophet Psal. 51.12 after he had committed that foule sinne upon Vriah and his wife CHAP. XXVIII What meanes must be used for obtaining this assurance SUrely the land of Canaan was the glory of al lands that garden of God which he had allotted and bequeathed to Abraham Isaac Iacob and their seed even to his owne deare children on earth As a father therfore intending some portion for his beloved childe will build plant furnish and adorne it with all commodious helps convenient pleasures for his good so the Lord cared for this land his eyes were continually upon it from the beginning of the yeere to the ending Hence as it flourished with Corne Balme Oyle c. so was it watered with showers and flowing Rivers of Milke Wine and Hony yet was this earthly but a darke shadow of that heavenly Canaan which land of eternall life the Lord legacâ—ed onely to his heires even the joynt-heires with Christ. How rich therefore is it in glory how ravishing in divine pleasures If the outward courts of heaven dazle the strongest eye with surpassing beautie and brightnesse Oh what is the inward retiring and Presence of that great King How unspeakeably how incomprehensibly bright and glorious No marvell then if the Children of God having tasted some fruits of this heavenly Countrey labour for full assurance in the conveyance of this purchased possession Now then in the next and last place let us consider by what meanes a Christian may attaine this security and finde his soule firmely instated and setled in it Verily as in the material so is it in this spiritual building hee