God doth draw us to himself by his own strength we shall never close with him but still continue at a distance and enmity Your neck is so much like an iron sinew that a less strength then that of God is insufficient to bow it to his yoak Desire therefore that this arm may be revealed whereby your naturally stubborn spirits may be made tractable and obedient 6. Resolve to cover and keep nothing whereby the Lord hath been provoked He that covereth his sins shall not prosper And as sin which is the cause of war must be forsaken so you must leave the tents of Rebels you must shake off your acquaintance with them that are the Lords profess'd enemies and become companions of those that fear him USE III. Of Advice to those whose peace is made Endeavour after an assurance of it Be restless while it may be question'd whether God be your friend or whether he be your foe His favour is a thing of so great value of such sweetness and will have so great an influence as that it better deserves to be ensured then those things of the world uncertainty about which doth so much torture the worldly minded Here I shall first Lay down some signs of that peace which is true Secondly Some arguments to perswade believers to endeavour after an assurance of peace The Signs are these 1. True peace follows after contrition and trouble for sin Thou art at peace but wast thou ever troubled if not 't were well if thy peace were gone and trouble in the room of it Thou art troubled at thy temporal losses and when thy expectation from the creatures is frustrated affliction also is troublesom and acknowledg'd an evil but were thine eyes open to see the evil of sin was thy heart ever troubled for it If guilt be made light of if future punishment be not thought on nor feared if thou art unsensible that sin is a plague and 't is not noysom to thee if thy offending of God be the smallest matter of a thousand as long as thou feelest nothing of his hand certainly thou wast never broken and so thy peace is not thy priviledg but thy punishment Christ was annointed to bind up the broken-hearted and to comfort thâ—se who first have mourned Isai 61. 1. and those who have true rest given them were first weary and heavy laden 2. True peace is the fruit of the lips Isai 57. 9. I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is far off and to him that is near Peace is called the fruit of the lips partly because 't is obtained by prayer partly because 't is grounded upon the Gospel which is preached to us Where true peace is there hath been a crying and lifting up the voice for it Oh what importunities have been used that the Lord would cease to be an adversary what wrestlings for his favour and friendship This peace hath been valued above all the world and the soul hath been contented to do any thing to be any thing so it may be at peace with God True peace is likewise grounded upon the word 't is a peace not of our own but of the Lords speaking Psal 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace to his people and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly And when he speaks peace who then can make trouble The word discovers the marks and characters of such as are indeed reconciled unto God and become his children that they prize the Lord Jesus above all 1 Pet. 2. 7. that they hunger and thirst after holiness and righteousness Matth. 5. 6. that they love and fear and are desirous to follow their Father Ephes 5. 1. And the Spirit by the Word doth work these gracious qualities and inclinations in our hearts and discovers that he hath wrought them and so we come to conclude that we are indeed reconciled 3. True peace is joyned with the spiritual combat The Spirit lusts against the flesh in all those who are reconciled unto God There is a war with sin where-ever there is a peace with God If any of our lusts which are both the Lords enemies and our own too are winked at and provision is made for them that they may be fulfilled we plainly shew we are still alienated from him But if the remainders of corruption if that evil which is present with us be our burthen and makes us cry out O wretched as we are Rom. 7. 24. and we would esteem it one of the greatest happinesses to be eased of that sin that dwells in us this shews evidently that with our minds we serve the Law of God that we are in Christ Jesus and there is no condemnation to us Rom. 7. 25. and 8. 1. I grant that in a wicked man there may be a combat between his will and his conscience Conscience may check and reproach him for what his will hath a strong propension towards But the combat between the flesh and Spirit is another thing Here the very heart and will is renewed holiness is longed after sin not only because of its guilt but because of its filth a burthen and the heart is desirous that conscience were more awakened that it might exercise greater power and cause a greater restraint from what is evil whereas the desire of unrenewed ones is that conscience when troubled may be husht asleep that so sin may be committed without any remorse 4. True peace is inconsistent with careless walking A Child of God who hath attained unto peace if he grows loose and begins to live at random presently his peace withers and conscience grudges and is unsatisfied especially if temptation to sin that hath more of presumption doth prevail Canst thou omit thy duty canst thou be proud and peevish canst thou be excessive in thy recreations canst thou be unwatchful over thy heart and words and wayes and yet thy peace not at all abate Assure thy self thy peace is but a meer delusion The quicknings of the Spirit may be without the comforts but never the comforts without the quicknings If thou grievest the Spirit by thy lukewarmness and formality to withdraw his assistance and to leave thee under deadness and thy peace still remains that peace is not the Spirits fruit but thy own hearts presumption Thus of the signs of peace Now follows the arguments to perswade unto endeavours after assurance that your peace is made 1. Assurance of peace will inflame your hearts with love How will the fire kindle and your hearts burn within you when you perceive that you even you in particular have an interest in that love which passes knowledge that God hath had thoughts of kindness and mercy towards you before the foundation of the world was laid and that as his love is from everlasting so to everlasting it will endure 1 John 4. 19. We love him sayes the Apostle because he first loved us And this manifestation
death will be thy portion and then Life will be eternally farre from thee 3. This Word doth cleanse those defilements which nothing in the world can do away The Word of God is compared to fire and to an hammer as an hammer it breaks the rocky heart and then as fire it melts the heart and from its dross doth purifie it John 15. 3. Now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken to you In the Word as in a glass we may behold the abominable filthiness and vile ingratitude that is in sin and also the beauty of holiness is presented to our eye no wonder then if the former be abhorr'd the latter desired Besides the Word holds forth a Promise from the Lord himself to make the sinner clean and that from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit Ezek. 36. 25. 2 Cor. 7. 1. The Day of Grace is a day of healing now thou mayst be purged and cured of thy spiritual plagues but if this season be neglected thou wilt dye of them 5. This Word doth afford such peace and joy as the creatures cannot yield Corn and Wine and Oyl cannot yield such true comfort Hark to David Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart In sensual mirth the heart is sad misgives and is unsatisfied but the Word makes the very heart joyful In the Word we may see at present the reconciled face of God the frowns and other signs of anger gone and it speaks plainly of fuller manifestations and infinitely greater pleasures which are reserved for hereafter and the lively hopes of these which are so near as well as sure and glorious may well make the heart to leap for joy 5. This Word is able to build up those who are converted and to bring them safe unto their Country 'T is a means to increase the grace which 't is a means to work As it is the incorruptible seed whereby we are regenerated and begotten again so it is the milk wherewith we grow and thrive in holiness Act. 20. 32. I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified I might add That even those whom the Word doth not savingly change yet it prevails upon many times a great way it brings them near to the Kingdom and 't is their own fault that they miss of it And seeing the Word of God hath such effects that the enjoyment of it is a great priviledge is without controversie 2. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is the presence of the Spirit The Word and all other Ordinances without the Spirit are but like the carcass without the soul He makes the Word quick and powerful and sharper then a two-edged Sword which also would be found but a dead and inefficacious letter 'T is observed concerning the hotter Climates that when the Sun is up and begins to shine and scorch more vehemently there is also a wind arises to fan and cool the dwellers there else those Regions would be uninhabitable In like manner where the Sun of the Gospel shines there is the wind of the Spirit and these his gales how refreshing how powerful are they The accâ—sses of the Spirit are much to be observed and esteemed without his concurrence no advantage will be reaped by all the means of grace we use If the several operations of the Spirit are consider'd 't will be very evident what a priviledge of the Day of Grace this is to enjoy his presence 1. 'T is the work of the Spirit to convince Though the secure ones of the world had rather be let alone to sleep on and cannot endure to be jogged by conviction yet these convictions are great mercies What the Spirit doth convince the world of our Lord informs us John 16. 8. And when he is come he will reprove or convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not on me of righteousness because I go to the Father and ye see me no more of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged The Spirit convinces men of sin he shews the evil in it and the danger of it and among other sins that grand one of unbelief that is to say their rejecting Christ so long and slighting and refusing the remedy he proffers is in a special manner set home upon their hearts to their affliction and humbling He convinces likewise of righteousness as well as of sin He discovers the righteousness of Christ whereby all sin may be covered and this righteousness appears to be compleat and accepted because Christ is gone to his Father Christ undertook by his sufferings to satisfie for our offences and if the satisfaction had not been full he would never have been rid of the curse which sin being imputed to him was laid upon him neither would his righteous Father have suffered him to have sit down in the Throne with him But now since he is gone to his Father and set down in the Throne we may conclude he hath paid the utmost farthing of our debt and through him the Father is ready to shew grace and favour to us And if the conviction and sight of sin cast down the discovery of this righteousness may again revive 'T is a happiness to see our scores since we are shew'd a way how to have them all cross'd were it not for the sight of the one we should never mind the other Again the Spirit doth convince of Judgment By Judgment we may understand the condemnation of the impenitent and unbelieving who though they are convinced of sin continue in sin and though Christ be proffer'd still refuse to embrace him The Prince of this world is judged and condemned and shall these who sin against a remedy which the Devil never did escape No certainly God who spared not the Angels which sinned but cast them down to hell knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2 4 9. Or else by Judgment we may understand the Government and Kingdom of Jesus Christ All power is given to him and Judgment committed into his hand Satan the Prince of this world is already cast out and overcome And if he hath spoiled principalities and powers certainly all his foes will be made his footstool Well then it highly concerns all to submit unto the Scepter of Christ since else they will be dash'd in pieces by him And in this Day of Grace Christ is ready to pass by former rebellions if you now will become obedient to him 2. 'T is the work of the Spirit to renew 'T is a difficult matter to change an heart that is so unconceivably wicked as mans is and yet the Spirit doth effect this change he shews his mighty power in causing a vehement love to be turned into a
end is unlamented indifferency whether or no it do continue If you are of an indifferent spirit whether you enjoy the light or it be put out in obscurity whether you hear the publishers of glad tidings or whether their mouths be stopp'd there is reason to be afraid the Lord is about to divest you of those priviledges which you know not how to value If you look upon spiritual darkness as no plague which is infinitely worse then that of Egypt if you esteem the famine of the Word which is worse then a famine of bread or a thirst of water Amos 8. 11. no such great judgment as long as from temporal judgments you are exempted this is a most wretched temper of soul and the Lord must needs be angry when the greatest mercies and favours are slighted and what punishment more probable or equal then to be deprived of them 4. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is contradicting and persecuting of the Lords Messengers We read Matth. 22. of a Marriage feast prepared servants are sent forth to invite many to the Marriage some who were invited took those servants and intreatthem spightfully Could the King which made this Supper bear this No he was wrath and did destroy these persecutors and none of them were permitted to partake of those good things he had provided and once proffer'd to them That is a dreadful text 2 Chron. 36. 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and there was no remedy The Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel the multitude flock to hear them when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy and spake against the Apostles doctrine but the Apostles seeing them reject ' the Gospel and them in such a way make this reply It was needful that the Word of God should be first spoken unto you but since you put it from you you shall not be troubled with it lo we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 45 46. and then to the Gentiles did the light arise and shine forth and the Jews were left under darkness Another sign the Day of Grace is near an end if not quite ended is obstinacy in some opinions which are damnable When fundamental truths are denied when all means used to reclaim and turn the erroneous through prejudiâ—e do but confirm and harden them how near to desperate is their case When the Lord sends strong delusions to any and they believe a lye oh 't is to be feared he intends their ruine and that their judgment will not linger will not flumber long 2 Thes 2. 11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Errour may extinguish the light of the Gospel and cause the Ordinances of God to be slighted the Word to be cast aside and the Spirit to depart and leave sinners to the seduction of Satan and the imagination of their dark and foolish hearts Let me therefore speak to you in the words of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3. 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being lead away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 6. Another fatal sign that the Day of Grace is near its period is an habit of back-sliding Hark how the Lord upbraids his people with this and after they are told of their desperate state Jer. 8. 4 5. Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall they turn away and not return why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back with a perpetual backsliding And then it follows ver 20 21 22 The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am black astonishment hath taken hold upon me Is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physician there why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recover'd There are many Professours who sometimes look Sion-ward and have some common work upon them but after do draw back and by often doing so contract such a scaredness that they make light of doing so They do possibly under some awakenings confess their sins but quickly return to the commission of them again they are convinced 't is their duty and yet they will not be perswaded to do the work of the Lord vigorously they are convinced of such and such sins and yet they will not be disswaded from following after them They may have a form of godliness but they will not be brought under the power of godliness nor give their consent to be sincerely and thorowly sanctified Divers motions and proffers of assistance they have had from the Spirit but all in vain they are bent upon backsliding Surely then they have just ground to fear that sentence is ready to be if not already pronounced Ezek. 24. 13. Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee Thus concerning the Signs when the Day of Grace is declining and drawing towards night Presumptuous soul if thou findest in thy self any of these signs oh startle exceedingly at the discovery and before the last hour of the day be ended enter into and labour to purpose in the Lords Vineyard 2. A second word of Caution is this Don't rashly conclude the Day of Grace is pass'd and that the Sun is already set upon you This is an extreme contrary to that of presumptuous ones which tempted and troubled spirits are very prone to run into They are ready to takeup Jobs complaint only with some sad variations Oh that I were as in moneths past as in the dayes when God would have preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and by his light I might have been deliver'd from the power of darkness The Almighty was then with me he call'd upon me to turn and was ready upon my turning to hear my calling to him But now I cry and he doth not hear me I stand up and he regards me not I have so bitterly provoked him to leave me that I am afraid he is now gone for ever Three things are here to be consider'd 1. No man can certainly conclude concerning another that his day is pass'd If we consult the Scripture we shall find those that have gone far in wickedness at last reclaimed therefore we should not despair of the worst Indeed the pride and stubbornness of the ungodly makes us fear that all our labour will be in vain yet we speak still and exhort and reprove with all long-suffering 2 Tim. 4. 2. because with God all things are possible and those sheep that are gone much astray seemingly past reach he can lay hold
of and bring home again to the fold 2. No man ought to draw such a sad conclusion in reference to himself that the season of mercy is quite expired Though our election may be made sure yet reprobation is not presently to be discover'd Though upon thy comparing thy heart and life with the Word of God thou mayst know of a certainty thou hast no grace yet thou hast no warrant to say thou never shalt have any As filthy as thou have been washed as unholy as thou have been sanctified as guilty as thou have been justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. 3. When Satan pesters you with thoughts that there is no help remaining but the acceptable time is all slipt away rather hope the contrary for Satan is a liar and because he is so busie about you 't is a sign that he is afraid of loosing you if he knew certainly that your day of visitation were gone he would be sure of you and so he would be quiet â—nd not as he doth molest and trouble â—ou But for the further relief of those who are apt to discourage themselves and to damp their own endeavours after grace by thinking the day is ended and 't is now too late I shall do two things First Lay down some probable signs Secondly Some certain signs of this Day of Grace's continuance The probable signs of its continuance are these 1. When the heart is inclined to sit under powerful means who knows but by the word of faith which you attend upon the grace of faith may be wrought in you 2. When ever and anon the heart iâ— stirred and conscience awakened by the Spirit and the Lord doth not let yoâ— alone in your iniquities nor suffer you tâ— sleep quietly and undisturbedly the sleep of death 3. When those false grounds of hope which you have built upon are more and more discover'd when you are madâ— to perceive the vanity of confidence iâ— your selves or in your own righteousness and that 't is not enough to bâ— somewhat better then the worst are anâ— that the name of Christians signifies no thing unless you depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. Who knows but that being beaten off from insufficient bottoms you may at length be settled upon the right foundation Jesus Christ 4. When there is a great fear least the Day of Grace should be past 't is to be hoped that 't is not past Jerusalem in the text was far from any such fear Usually souls are left senseless when the Lord leaves them Of the old world and of Sodom 't is said They eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded they married and were given in marriage and minded nothing else but things of this nature though the floud was so near the one and fire ready to consume the other 5. When sinners are inquisitive what they shall do to be saved 't is probable at least that the day of salvation is not terminated but salvation is near and may be obtained if the terms on which 't is proffer'd are not quarrel'd at but submitted to as good and equal In the second place follow the certain signs that the Day of Grace is not yet concluded 1. This day is not pass'd when the Soul is for peace with God upon any conditions If this be the yielding frame and temper of thy heart certainly thou dost not only know but also art willing to do the things which belong unto thy peace If this be thy language Lord Doth a right eye offend thee it shall be pluckt out doth a right hand offend thee it shall be cut off Those sins that seem most sweet and necessary as long as thou hatest them that is sufficient to discommend them I am resolved to love them no longer Thou hast no reason to give up all for lost No no being thus made willing to cast away every transgression iniquity shall not be thy ruine as you may see Ezek. 18. 30. 2. This Day of Grace is not pass'd when the sinner sets open the door of his heart that Christ the Lord may enter That promise is most sure If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he shall sup with me Rev. 3. 20. Christ complains of the Jews that They would not come to him that they might have life but if any are made willing to come the waters of life are open and none that desire shall be denied them Rev. 22. 17. Let him that is a thirst come and whoever will let him drink of the waters of life freely Doest thou know Christ Art thou acquainted with his Kingdom as well as his Priesthood and art thou willing to have his Kingdom set up in thy heart and thy very thoughts and affections brought into obedience and captivity Art thou willing thus to receive him Certainly thou shalt be received by him and have power to become a child of God Joh. 1. 12. 3. This Day of Grace is not pass'd if Grace be desired above all things in the world If the edge of thy appetite towards the things that perish is turn'd if the pearl of price be indeed of price in thy esteem if that be thy will and desire which is the will of God even thy sanctification surely the Spirit is so far from having left thee that he is in thee 'T is he who raises this hunger and thirst after righteousness which as it shall be satisfied so it argues thy estate blessed Maâ—th 5. 6. 5. This Day of Grace is not pass'd when the heart is grieved for the mispence of so much of this day and is willing to live the rest of it to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. If you judge that the time past of your life doth suffice nay more then suffice to have been foolish and disobedient to God and to have obey'd and served divers lusts and pleasures and if you resolve to dedicate the remainder of your lives in the flesh to the Lord that he may dispose of it certainly the Lord will accept both of your time and you Though you come in late so it be but presently into the Vineyard you shall receive a penny and diligence in your Masters work will be rewarded with your Masters joy 3. A third word of Caution is this Take heed of being strengthned and emboldned by the general practise to idle this Day of Grace away We read concerning Laish That the people dwelt careless after the manner of the Zidonians quiet and secure Judg. 18. 7. And truly this is the manner of most in the world careful possibly they are about many things but as to the main thing utterly careless Their tiâ—e is of little and their souls of less value in their judgments But that the humour and custom of the world may not be followed let these considerations be ponder'd by you 1. The most in
wisdom and then we see the way of reconciliation He is made unto us righteousness sin is no longer imputed and that quarrel which Justice had with us comes to an end He is made unto us sanctification and then the holiness of God ceases to be our enemy and we no longer hate that holiness there is a sweet agreement between our renewed nature and an holy God and his holy Law which he would have us walk according to They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus love God because of his holiness and they love the Word of God upon the same score Psal 119. 139 140. My zeal hath consumed mâ— because mine enemies have forgotten thy words Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Finally Christ is made unto us redemption that 's a fourth benefit reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. He makes us free indeed because he frees us from that which is slavery indeed he delivers us from the bondage of corruption and causes us to become the servants of God and righteousness Rom. 6. And now we are reconciled to Gods Soveraignty and Authority we own him as our Lord who as he hath right to rule us so 't is our honour our advancement our freedom to be ruled by him 2. As we must know who is our Peace-maker so what are the conditions of our peace 1. One condition is godly sorrow And as the Lord doth grant us peace so he himself doth work this and the other conditions of it If we will be reconciled we must mourn for our offending and provoking God to be an enemy The eye of the body can look every way but inward and shall the eye of our mind never look inward neither Were our hearts but more acquainted with themselves they would be more broken and contrite hearts How deeply is the Law of sin engraven there and this Law of sin forbids whatever the Law of God commands and commands whatever the Law of God forbids The most venemous creature is not more full of poyson then our hearts are full of enmity against the Lord and reprobateness to what is good This corruption of our nature is not a thing which hath layn dormant and idle no but as a Fountain perpetually sends forth water so from the heart proceed evils abundantly whereby the man is defiled 'T is difficult to reckon up the sins of one day or of one duty and how vast then is the total sum of our whole lives abominations Oh break hard heart for shame who hast so often broken the most equal laws and broken thorow so many obligations to obedience If thâ— offending God be made light of this will anger him more then all thy other offences 2. Another condition of our Peace is Believing When the Jaylour was under the sense of Gods anger and wrath and tortur'd with the fears of damnation and cry'd out What shall I do to be saved Paul and Silas made this answer Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. How much is faith preached up in the Gospel and unto Christ our faith is directed for 't is in him that God is well pleased and 't is through that beloved Son alone that he will be at peace and well pleased with us If we expect favour or mercy any other way but through Jesus that very expectation is sufficient to be an eternal impediment to our obtaining of either The Lord hath made Faith one great condition of our peace and salvation for two reasons 1. Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing all the glory redounds to God alone Mans boasting is utterly excluded The hand of faith is an empty hand it brings nothing along with it but it receives Christ and with him and from him freely all thâ—ngs Faith exalts Christ and abases the sinner and makes him see that he is wretched and miserable and poor and naked and that to Christ he must be beholding for every thing he must thank himself for nothing Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing his peace with God is lasting his salvation sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure Adam was at peace with God when first created but since the continuance of his peace depended upon the constancy of his obedience peace and life were soon lost by him But faith puts our peace and salvation in the hands of another in the hands of Christ he undertakes to be the finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. He hath promised to keep us from falling and to confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1. 8. And the believer rests upon this word of promise which will never fail him That 's the second condition of peace believing 3. Another condition is Conversion with the whole heart to God How often doth the Spirit cry out Turn and liveâ— And though the Lord was bitterly provoked yet upon his peoples returning he promises to be pacified Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Our returning to him must be without delay without deceit we must not divide our hearts between him and sin between him and Mammon but we must consent to be wholly his and never to leave him any more but if through infirmity we do fall we must look unto the Lord to pity and pardon and heal and raise us To turn away from God so as not to return is inconsistent with peace Thus you know these things which are the conditions of your peace let me add Happy are ye if ye do them 3. It concerns us to know how we may attain to an assurance of Peace The soul indeed may be safe without this assurance but withall 't will be disconsolate Now 't is the Spirit who makes this discovery We read Rom. 14. 17. of peace and joy in the holy Ghost Peace and joy are the fruits of this blessed Comforter In Scripture the Saints are said to be sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. And their being thus sealed as it denotes their distinction from the rest of the world their being appropriated unto God and the value that is put upon them so it serves to confirm them in that perswasion That God is theirs and they are his There is indeed a privy Seal of his gracious Decree of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his But afterwards when the Spirit works upon us we are sealed in a more discernable way Now the work and method of the Spirit in sealing and bringing those who are reconciled unto an assurance of peace I shall declare 1. The Spitit convinces us of
sin and misery of our worthlesness and weakness and bows our hearts to a submission to the righteousness of Christ and draws us to a closure with him 2. The Spirit sanctifies and cleanses us from the filthiness in which we wallowed and causes us to yield obedience to the commands of God Ezek. 36. 27. 3. The Spirit doth more and more stir up and increase the grace which he he hath wrought so that the actings of faith and love and hope and zeal are the more strong and sensible 4. The Spirit doth discover the truth of these graces letting us see that our hearts do prize Christ and breath after God and after a greater degree of likeness to him as the Saints in Scripture have done before us 5. Then peace and joy follows But here we must understand that this peace is twofold First more weak mixed and imperfect Secondly more ravishing glorious and triumphant 1. There is a peace more weak mixed and imperfect which is for our support and encouragement and this is common with believers when they stir up themselves and seek the Lord with their whole desire as they did 2 Chron. 15. 15. Seldom is a duty performed with our heart and might but some degree of peace and satisfaction follows the Spirit giving some intimation and raising a secret hope that God through Christ doth accept of us Oh who would not labour since there is such peace and rest attends it 2. There is a peace more ravishing glorious and triumphing How brightly doth the light of Gods countenance then shine upon us How sweet is that love the sense of which the Spirit sheds abroad in the heart Rom. 5. 5. What confidence have we then in God! How do we admire the richness of his grace how low are we in our own eyes being astonished that such vile creatures should be so advanced How do we then despise the worlds delights and the pleasures of sin How forward are we to obey and to walk in all Ordinances blameless How undaunted at danger and at death which will but increase our pleasures sending us much nearer to the Lord then here we are capable of approaching Thus 't is by the Spirit that peace is spoken to us and if we would attain to this peace we must heed the Spirits counsels we must readily close with his motions we must gladly accept of his help and assistance we must give up our selves unto his guidance In the third place follow the reasons of the Doctrine Why to know the things of our peace is our great happiness and wisdom The reasons are these 1. Because a true knowledge of these things will be practical and industrious It will very much affect the heart and quicken diligence in seeking peace before it be too late A right understanding of it will hinder a business of such eternal consequence from being any longer neglected by us 2. Because of the evil which unavoidably follows if of the things which concern our peace we are ignorant The ignorant soul is wretchedly careless it matters not whether God be a friend or foe â—s if his loving kindness were not to be â—alued as if his wrath were not to be â—eared and at last the soul misses of merâ—y which it doth not regard and falls â—uddenly and irrecoverably into the pit â—f destruction which it dreams not of â—or endeavours to prevent Now follows the Application USE I. Of Instruction There are two great lessons which we may learn from this Doctrine 1. One lesson is this That believers are the wisest and happiest souls for the things of their peace are understood by them Those things which are hid from the prudent of the world are unto these discover'd I know they are accounted children aâ—â— babes by the carnally minded but in the end they will be found to have had â—â— all others the greatest foresight the faithest reach the truest understanding Matth. 11. 25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hâ—â— hid these things from the wise and prâ—dent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thâ— sight Peace is a thing which all seek after but most are mistaken in judging whaâ— is peace and are wofully deceived in thâ— way to it Only the believer hits righâ— for he is lead by a Guide that leads onlâ— into truth 'T is indeed found by experience thaâ— endeavours are used to blind and deceive the believer himself but he is too wise to be put off with peace and happiness only in shew Many things do proffer peace to him 1. Pleasures do use this charming language What is it O man which thou seekest for Is it quiet and satisfaction 〈…〉 taste the sweetness which gratifying thy senses will afford Is it not fine â— gâ—â—â—ter in silk and silver bravely to be â—lothed in purple and fine linnen and to presumptuously and deliciously every day Who are more free from care and trouble â—â—en those who chaunt to the sound of the â—â—ol who drink wine in bowls who eat limbs out of the flock and calves out of â—â—e midst of the stall and after lay them down upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches Come come away with needless scruples indulge unto thy appetite please thy senses whatever thy eys desire withhold not from them and quench thy longing flame in Dalilah's â—â—braces Unto this the believing soul replyes Death is climbing up at the windows the Judge standeth before the door Eternity is just at hand and O all ye sensual pleasures can you last any longer then a short season Where is the Glutton that fared deliciously that had as much as heart could wish Is he not tormented in the flames Oh deceitful pleasures which cheat men of eternal joys and drill them along to endless torments 2. Wealth and worldly greatness do also make big offers Wouldst thou O Man have peace then seek a great estate joyn house to house and field to field let thy coffers be cram'd with silver and gold endeavour to be somebody in the world Doest thou not know how many eyes how much respect riches and honour will draw after thee Let this be thy aim to live iâ— plenty and esteem and to leave a name behind thee Unto this also the believing soul answers To expect peace and contentation from worldly abundance is as absurd as tâ— hope to sleep quietly in a bed of thorns Who ever attained to greater earthly glory then Solomon whose treasures did ever more abound yet he himself disgraces aâ—â— his own wealth and honour by calling them Vanity and vexation of spirit 3. At last the Lord calls to the Believer and thus speaks to him Is it happiness O man which thou art searching after Look unto me who am the God of love and peace The creatures have but empty breasts are but broken cisterus but I have store of living waters to quench
quake at him and the hills melt and the earth is burnt at his presence yea the world and all that dwell therein who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him Surely that heart is worse then rocky which doth not tremble before him 4. He can engage all the creatures against you He is the Maker and also the great Commander of the Host of Heaven and Earth The Angels are ready press'd for his service and to do his will all the Devils are at his beck and forward to be the Executioners when he hath pass'd an angry sentence The Thunder and the Lightning say unto him Here we are The stormy Wind doth fulfill his words Nay the smallest and most inconsiderable creatures he can render dreadful and tame the proudest by them And since he is Jehova Exercituum the Lord of such Armies Oh do not enter into battel with him 5. He hath access unto your very spirits and can wound and fill your souls with horrour When the Lord impressed his anger upon the heart of Judas how restless was he though a covetous man he flings away his silver that would not ease him his life is a burthen and with his own hands he puts an end to it A wounded spirit who can bear and wounds there the Lord can give you 6. His power will reach his enemies in the next world Nay then his hand will be heaviest of all God will lay on load upon his adversaries and not in the least spare them His patience will then be at an end his goodness totally and eternally withdrawn and how low then will his vengeance weigh them down Such an enemy the Lord is and this is one argument to perswade you to peace 2. Be mindful of the dependance you have upon him In him you live and move and have your being and if he should withdraw his visitation your life would presently conclude and vanish And is it safe or a wise part in you to provoke that God to be your enemy in whose hand your breath is and who can take it out of your nostrils when he pleaseth He can loose the silver cord he can break the golden bowl and require your souls at your hands without giving you an hours or a minutes warning Whosoever you fall out with methinks you should get and keep in with God for 't is his patience and mercy which keeps you out of the grave and hell of both which by reason of sin you are in great danger 3. The condescension and stooping of God is admirably great in beseeching such as you to be reconciled And shall he intreat in vain Shall the malefactour be beseeched to accept of a pardon and refuse it That is a text that should work upon the most refractory 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God What is it come to this doth God beseech and Christ pray that we who are so mean and so vile would be friends and shall we continue rebels O earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord for the impenitent then the earth or stones are much more stupid To slight the proffer of mercy and to disobey the command to come for it is both a fault and a folly inexcusable but to be deaf to intreaties is worst of all this goes nearest unto God when his condescension and kindness is disregarded and abused and upon this abuse the greater contempt and anger and hatred must needs follow 4. Consider what kind of friend the Lord is I might be large in describing his excellencies which they who are acquainted with him see and admire Three things at present I shall mention 1. God is such a friend whose love is transcendent That sweet name which is as an oyntment poured forth he calls himself by The God of love and peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. Nay he is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love in the abstract 1 John 4. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Whatever returns of love we make those returns fall infinitely short of the love of God from whence they come Indeed it is as possible to equal him in strength in wisdom or any other of his perfections as to equal him in love Oh let this love of God be as a loadstone to draw yours and as a whetstone to sharpen it 2. God is such a friend whose fulness can never be exhausted The Sun although it hath shined ever since the Creation yet 't is as full of light as ever it was And though the Lord hath supplyed the wants of all them whom he hath made his friends from the beginning yet his stock and store is not at all diminished His wisdom is never posed in their greatest difficulties when believers know not what to do and their eyes are unto him he knows what to do for them His power can raise them out of the lowest deep his all-sufficiency can give to the uttermost of their desires nay exceedingly more then it hath entred into their hearts to desire or conceive Who in his wits would not leave a vain world and deceitful lusts to come to such a friend as God hath alwayes shewed himself to be 3. God is such a friend as will last when all other friends fail He is the Lord who changes not He can as soon cease to be as cease to be faithful and the faithfulness of God towards his friends will make them also faithful he will not turn away from them and he will hold them fast that they shall not depart from him The Lord is most constant the Ordinances of the Sun and Moon and Stars are not so immutable as the Promises he hath made Men of low degree are vanity men of high degree are a lye Psal 62. 9. But God is true Wealth may take wings and fly away prosperity may vanish so as to be forgotten flesh and heart may fail but the Lord will be a friend and a portion for ever Oh consent to be reconciled since such a friend hereby will be gained 5. Consider If God be at peace with you he will shield you from all other adversaries he will wrest those weapons out of your own hands whereby you endeavoured your own destruction he will give a deaths wound to sin that it shall not be your death And though the world and the God of the world fight against you they shall not be able to prevail Nay their very enmity shall befriend you and God will turn to good what they do mean for evil 'T is admirable to consider how the adversaries of the Lords people though they have the intension of enemies yet are forced to act like friends and do a kindness unto Saints by those means whereby they thought to have injured and
hereby extinguished Vse 2. Do not unwarrantably surmise that the things of your peace are in judgment hid from you All blindness is not judicial If thou wouldst fain know the will of God and do it God upon thy asking will give wisdom liberally without upbraiding Jam. 1. He will not fail by his Spirit to instruct thee who hath made thee thus willing to be instructed Doct. 5. The last Doctrine follows When souls are left under darkness their state is wretched and deplorable Consider with such 1. God is extreamly angry When he punisheth sin with sin he is most of all displeased and truly he cannot punish it with a worse evil then it self is In temporal judgments 't is to be hoped the Lord aims at our reformation and amendment but when he gives up any to blindness of mind and a reprobate sense 't is a sign his love and mercy have done with them As by the Spirit of God believers are sealed up to the day of redemption so by the spirit of flumber the unbelievers are sealed up to the day of destruction 2. With such Satan doth what he pleases he leads them along and how little do they perceive whither they are going how do means make them worse how bold are they in sin how quickly are they like to fill up the measure of their iniquity and grow rotten ripe for vengeance and when that vengeance overtakes them then they will weep over themselves as Christ doth over Jerusalem and too late lament their own misery when 't will be impossible to have it removed Vse 1. Earnestly intreat that this may never be yours which was the punishment of Jerusalem And if you would not lye under the like plague you must not be guilty of the like sin namely rejecting Christ and the Gospel of peace Vse 2. Pitty those who tread in Jerusalems steps and provoke the Lord to close their eyes tell them of their danger which they themselves do not perceive awaken them out of their Lethargie if it be possible before it become past remedy Vse 3. If the Lord when others are blinded is become both light and salvation to any of you break out into praise The light is marvellous which you are called to and marvellous should be your joy You have that eye-salve with which few eyes are annointed you have that Spirit which the world doth not receive You were born blind as well as others but a miracle of grace hath been wrought upon you the vail is taken off and you see the Lord and your interest in him how should all that is within you bless him This present light wherewith you are visited is as it were the dawning of the day of glory and a certain forerunner of the light that 's everlasting THE END ERRATA The First Part. PAge 5. line 13. for Him read Me p. 7. l. 20. for deadful r. dreadful p. 10. l. 11. f. nelp r. help p. 12. l. 22. f. hepless r. helpless p. 22. l. 17. del to be p. 41. l. 5 f. de r. be p. 46. l 12. f. wayes r. wages p. 86. l. 6. f. vow r. voice The Second Part. PAge 4. line 16. for know read knew p. 5. l. 19. f. eyes r. eye p. 15 l. 7 f. thlngs r. things p. 16. l. 1. f sting r. stung p. 33. l. 4. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 35. l. 15. f. vanity r. iniquity p. 38. l. 26. f questioned r quickned p. 43. l. 13. f. sit r. sat p 60 l. 16. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 69. l. 27. f. lethurgy r. lethargie p. 74 l. 16. f. deep r. sleep p 80. l. 9. after not r. rest p. 107 l. 23. f mastered r. unaffected p. 128. l 7. f. cruclfied r. crucified p. 149. l. 7. f. should r. shall p. 151. l. 15. f. Nehem. r Nahum