expecteth to be received of thee that he should not * 2 Cor. 6.17 touch the unclean thing I do here in thy presence abhorring my self for all my past vileness sinfulness and unprofitableness resolve Covenant and promise in thy name and by thy strength to forsake the Devil World and Flesh 2 Cor. 4.1 and do renounce all the hidden works of darkness and dishonesty and before the Lord * Isa 30.22 say to every Idol in heart and Life get thee hence purposing in my heart never to * Rom. 6.13 yield my body or Soul nor the members and faculties of them as the members of unrighteousness to sin nor suffer for time to come as heretofore through thine assisting grace * v. 12. sin to reign in my mortal body nor immortal Soul that I should obey it in the lusts thereof that I will keep constant strict watch against all the advantages snares and temptations of all mine and and thine Enemies earnestly intreating and imploring thine * 2. Cor. 12.9 Allsufficient Grace to make me †1 Pet. 5.8 9. Sober and Vigilant that my adversary the Devil though he goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour may not by any of * 2 Cor. 2.11 his devices take any advantage against me but that I may resist him stedfastly in the faith thy grace assisting thereto keeping my Heart Tongue and way from that which is displeasing unto thee And sith I know and am convinced †Isa 64.6 that my righteousness is as filthy rags and no possibility of Salvation by it I do renounce it and loath my self for the imperfections of it being a lost perishing and damnable wretch without thy pardoning and saving Grace And * Tit. 3.4 because the kindness and love of God towards man hath so exceedingly appeared as that thou hast freely offered and promised to make an †Jer. 32.40 Everlasting Covenant that thou wilt never turn away from them to do them good but wilt ever be their God that do * Isa 56.6 lay hold on thy Covenant I desire heartily to take thee O God Father Son and Holy Ghost to be my God to be my Father Saviour and Comforter to be my portion and happiness here and hereafter beseeching thee that thou wouldest †1 Cron. 29.18 keep this purpose in my heart and continue to communicate this power to my Soul that I may ever cleave to the my Lord and God that I may become wholly and only thine for ever and ever sticking unto thy testimonies chusing the way of thy Commandements all my daies for now the * Psal 56.12 vows of God are upon me yea I have †Psal 119.106 sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous Judgments And forasmuch as there is no Coming to the Father but by Christ who is the * Joh. 14.6 way truth and life who is freely offered in the Gospel †Mat. 3.17 in whom alone thou art well pleased and I can only be accepted I heartily and thankfully desire * Col. 2.6 to receive Jesus Christ and to walk in him To take him to be my †1 Cor. 1.30 Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption to espouse my Soul to him this day and * Isa 56.6 joyn my self to him in a Covenant that can never be broken off or forgotten My dear Saviour who hast made †Heb. 10.19 a new and living way to the Father for me I do here solemnly and freely * Psal 24.7 9. open the everlasting doors of my heart to thee that thou the King of glory mayst come in that so thou mayst †Eph. 3.17 dwell in my heart by faith that being lost without thee yet * Phil. 3.9 found in thee I may be saved thine I desire to be though I deserve no such priviledg at all being a filthy stinking sinner †Eph. 2.1 dead in trespasses and Sins * 2 Tim. 3.6 Laden with hellish lusts pressed down even to Hell it self but it hath pleased thee to †Hos 2.18 espouse me to thy self in Righteousness and Mercy and Faithfulness I do with my whole Soul embrace and lay hold on thee and do take thee the * Rev. 15.4 King of Saints to be my only Lord and Head and Husband my only King and Commander and willingly †Mat. 11.29 taking thy easy yoke upon me I present my self unto thee resolving to * Hos 3.3 continue not only many but all my daies with thee †Rom. 12.1 yielding up my self body and Soul as an holy living acceptable sacrifice to thee who hast offered up thy self as a * Eph. 5.2 Sacrifice to the Father for my poor lost Soul engaging through thy Grace that I will stoop to thy Scepter fulfil thy will and †Rev. 14.4 follow thee the Lamb of God whithersoever thou goest to be disposed of by thee in every condition that neither poverty nor riches nor * Rom. 〈◊〉 38 3â— life nor death shall separate between me and thee Moreover siâ—h this †Eph. 〈◊〉 12. access is by one Spirit unto the Father through Christ I do here most blessed Spirit take thee to be my only God also to be my Guide and * Jâ—â—â— 18 9â— Comforter beseeching thee that thou wouldest * Eph. 〈◊〉 30. Seal me up unto the day of redemption That thou wouldest be in me a †Joâ—◠〈◊〉 38. Fountain of living Water springing up to life eternal That so I may notwithstanding all difficulties * Job 17.9 hold on my way and grow stronger and stronger vowing to be †Gal. 5.18 led by no other Spirit but thy self * Rom. 8.1 walking after the Spirit for time to come and not after the flesh Also because thou requirest every one that expecteth to †Rev. 22.14 enter by the Gate into the City to keep thy Commandments and having now entred into and renewed the bond of the Covenant so to do as one of thy people to which end thou hast graciously promised that thou wilt * Jer. 32.40 put thy fear into my heart that I shall not depart from thee I here as thy Covenant-servant engage solemnly to become wholly thine that I will be for no other †Psal 116.15 O Lord truely I am thy Servant I am thy Servant * Psal 119.38 devoted to thy Fear Love and Service Praying that thou wouldest keep thy promise to enable me to walk in thy statutes and through the never-failing influence of thy Heavenly power * Psal 119.8 I will keep thy statutes †v. 48. my hands also will I lift up to thy Commandements which I love Oh forsake me not utterly yea I will * Isa 30.1 follow no counsel but of thy Spirit and Word from henceforth all the days of my life Though Satan tempt the World allures and the â€
Gal. 5.17 Flesh lusteth against the Spirit yet being * Eph. 3.16 strengthned with might by thy Spirit in the inner man will †Eph. 6.12 wrestle against Sin Satan and the World yea all manner of wickedness whatsoever * 1 Tim 6.12 fighting the good fight of Faith till I lay hold on the possession of eternal life †2 Timâ— 4.8 having finished my course and obtain'd the Crown of righteousness which thou hast promised Yet sith there is no man * Eccleâ— 7.20 that liveth and sinneth not I do in thy holy presence protest against any contrived allowed sin whereby I shall †Psâ—â— 18.21 wickedly depart from my God and that though of force I do and shall in part while I am in this body * Rom. 〈◊〉 25. with my flesh serve the law of sin yet with my mind will I serve the law of God wholly and for ever Now the †Josh 22.22 Lord God of Gods the * Jer. 17.10 searcher of the hearts and tryer of the reins †Psal 139.23 24. search me and try me and if their be any way of wickedness in me lead me in the way everlasting sith thou * Psal 119.4 commandest me to keep thy precepts diligently †Psal 27.8 my heart saith unto thee * Psal 119.5 Oh that my waies were directed to keep thy statutes therefore will I †Deut. 26.16 keep and do them with all mine heart and all my Soul Blessed God I desire to * Phil. 4.4 rejoice in thee and in the †2 Chron. 15.15 Oath and Covenant made with thee this I do in the truth and uprightness of my heart as I have chosen so I desire to prize thee above all * Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee †Song 6.3 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine * Psal 16.6 The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage †Eph. 1.4 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath chosen me in him before the Foundation of the World * Rev. 5.9 10. Blessing Honour and Glory be given to the Lamb for ever who was slain and hast redeemed me to God by thy blood †Zech. 9.11 the blood of the Covenant Blessed be the eternal Spirit who hast * Gen. 1.2 moved my heart to enter into this solemn relation and obligation unto God †Deut. 7.9 29.9 The Lord my God the faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy to them that Love him and keep his Commandments keep to me the Covenant and the Mercy and Confirm it to the end and strengthen me so with thy Grace that I may keep the words of this Covenant and do them and this Covenant made this day with my God let not any thing Sin Satan World Life nor Death disannul but let it be confirmed to all Eternity Amen Amen FINIS AN APPENDIX Containing PROPOSITIONS Evidencing Not only the warrantableness but expediency of transacting with God in a particular express Covenant-way Written at first for the satisfaction of a private friend now published at the request of some others and for the benefit and advnatage of any that shall peruse them By SAMUEL VVINNEY sometimes Minister of the Gospel at Glaston in Somersetshire London Printed for Thomas Cockeril at the Atlas in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1675. To the Reader Courteous Reader THere being lately extant a worthy Treatise of a Reverend Divine called Vindiciae Pietatis written by Mr. R. A. pressing to a strict and precise Conversation and in it giving advice to persons not yet in Covenant to come in and compleat all by Solemn Covenanting with God I most gladly sweetly and delightfully viewed the design and meeting with the doubts of some person a pretious Servant of God and my dear and intimate friend about the warrantableness of that way because I my self was so much affected with the thing did set my self upon his request and letter to me seriously to seek what warrant Gods word afforded to it and at some spare-hours in some few days of vacation from my incumbring and tedious imployment drew up the following Propositions tending to the evidence thereof hoping that either the author of the forenamed treatise or some person else whose Graces Abilities and Leisure are greater than mine may be stirred up more fully to clear it The Lord grant that whosoever may peruse them may have the same comfort and benefit thereby as the Author that composed them and now through the importunity of others made them publick Amen Certain PROPOSITIONS tending to the clearing of a Question and Satisfaction of some doubts about particular express entring into Covenant with God Prop. I. THat God hath of his own good pleasure from all eternity elected so me to everlasting life 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledg of God Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World Prop. II. That God did from all eternity ransact the business of the Salvation of these elected persons between himself and his Son Jesus Christ God gave every one of those whom he would have mercy on to Jesus Christ to the intent that he might deliver them all and every one of them out of the estate of sin and misery which they should implunge themselves into by the fall of Adâ—m and the Son he accepts of this work of Salvation and Redemption of them by his own death to be accomplished in the fulness of time and this by Divines is called the Covenant of Redemption Prop. III. That besides the Covenant transacted between the Father and the Son about the Redemption and Salvation of the elect from all eternity God he enters into a Covenant of Grace with the persons themselves that are elected in due time which yet is a consequent of the former For if Christ had never undertaken or accepted of the terms in that Covenant of Redemption before time there had been no Covenant of Grace in time with the Elect themselves Prop. IV. This Covenant between God and his people is mutual and stipulatory that is obligeth God to speak with due reverence of so great a Majesty and also obligeth all and every the persons of his people taken into it wherein as God graciously doth promise to be their God to be good and kind unto them yea to be all to them and do all for them which shall be for present and future temporal spiritual and eternal good so are they answerably bound to become his people for their part and so to live before God as his people in Faith Repentance Holiness and Obedience all their daies So that the preceptive part as well as the promissive part of the Covenant is expresly in Scripture called and entitled by the name of a Covenant because of
Egypt c. thereupon they resolve that they will serve the Lord only Now Joshua again that he might the better fix them in this their assent and choice tells them that they could not serve the Lord for he is an holy God v. 19. that is as they ought if they did not forsake their sins or other gods and cleave to him stedfastly then saith he ye cannot serve the Lord viz. acceptably and well pleasingly Their reply with full and joynt consent is reiterated v. 21. they said nay but we will serve the Lord. The words of the Text do contain the ratification General scope of the words and firm conclusion of the Covenant that is made between God and his People upon the most solemn deliberation that can be expressed In them you may take notice of these two things Particulars in the words in particular I. There is Joshua's Proposal and Declaration of a double act of this people 1. Choice of God to be their God ye have chosen you the Lord to serve him 2. Their own witness to the act Ye are winesses against your selves as if he should say your own act and deed this day shall be proof and evidence against you if you decline from following the Lord in time to come your own Consciences within you and your own act and deed without you shall testifie against you II. Here is the Peoples acceptance and yielding to this proposal wherein they do discover their unfeigned assent and consent to what Joshua said in the last words and they said we are Witnesses Now the matter I shall cull out of these words to treat of passing by what else I might consider in them is the act of this people in chusing the Lord to be their God Doct. The Doctrine is this That God is and God ought to be the choice of every good Christian O who will not say Amen to this Truth Or take it thus That it is the highest and greatest duty of Christianity to chuse God unto our selves to chuse the true God to be our God ye have chosen you the Lord. The answer of the people before and what is here said of them doth suit with the proposal of Joshua in the very letter v. 15. chuse you this day whom ye will serve c. Here and before they have made God their chief and only choice Ye are witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him This is fully exprest in the Prophet David's words who seems to have done the very same thing Psal 16.2 Oh my soul thou hast said to the Lord thou art my Lord my goodness extendeth not to thee O my soul thou hast said unto the Lord c. the Prophet seems to entertain a soliloquy with his own soul he had chosen God to be his God and he was able to speak it with the greatest confidence to and before God himself which argues full assurance thou art my Lord and to this choice he had made of God he was resolved to stick and stand so far was he from chusing others or being taken from God that he would not make mention of them or any thing that concerned them v. 4. Their sorrows shall be multiplyed that hasten after another God their drink Offering of Blood will I not offer nor take their name into my lips So Gen. 28.20 21. Jacob was flying from his Brother Esau and he said if God will give me bread to eat and rayment to put on the Lord shall be my God if Jacob will take God to be his God upon the account of a little bread and water and apparel then surely we have greater encouragement to take him to be our God The testimony of these two eminent Saints of God are sufficient to prove the truth besides the peoples act in the Text specified CHAP. II. The first thing evplained What it is to chuse God opened IN the explication of the Doctrine I shall open these two things following First I shall shew you what it is to chuse God to be ours And Secondly why we are to chuse God to be ours First what it is to chuâ—â— God to be ours what is the inteâ—dment of it and what it imports Here several things considerable 1. Some things precedent 2. Some things there are wherein the essence of the act consisteth 3. And something that is the issue and product of it 1. Something 's implyed as precedent I. The Choice of God doth imply a knowledg of God that is a thing necessarily antecedent to every choice that thing cannot be chosen that is not known so that the Soul that chuseth God to be his must know not that God is only but something what he is also according as he hath revealed himself in his holy Word God hath laid himself open before us in the Word as in a glass and the only way to chuse him is by beholding of him by the eye of the understanding enlightned by this Spirit of God in this glass of the Gospel In all choices knowledg is prerequired A man chuseth not a person to be his Wife that he knoweth not no Woman chuseth a man to be her Husband whom she knows not a Person chuseâ—h nothing to be a portion which he knoweth not no more will the Soul chuse God to be his God that hath not acquaintance with him whosoever will chuse him must have some knowledg of him II. There is required to a choice of God Converse with and some Experience of him Therefore Joshua rehearseth here all that ever God had done for Israel from the beginning to that day in order to this Transaction between God and them They had experience of God all their days how much God had done for them And Joshua here recals them on purpose to draw them on to chuse him and six them in their choice Deliberation is required to every choice and when a man doth deliberate he doth consider of things and thereby debates within himself about the object of his choice and hereby he converseth with and hath experience of it so when a man by the view of God in the glass of the Word deliberately considers and apprehends the excellencies of God above all other objects whatsoever he becomes the more firmly fixed and settled in his choice of him rash choices are often repented of therefore the word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elegit as a general doth Solâ—â—ers for special service of whose valour and skill he â—ath had proâ—â— Exod. 17.9 P. I. Crit. Sacra here used and rendred to chuse doth signifie to chuse upon proof and tryal So that there must be in every person that chuseth God acquaintance with God and experience of God had we a little more Converse with God what experience should we have of him and how should we chuse him the more we Converse with God the more shall we see and know and have experience of him and consequently the more deliberately
upon Oh the beauty of holiness that is in the face of God! the glorious beauty of ten thousand Suns shining in their noon-day Splendour can't match the brightness that shines in his face continually How earnestly did the Prophet both desire and seek after the beauty of the Lord Psal 27.4.2 If an honourable person makes choice of and sues to a person of mean extraction how soon do the affections seem to comply David tells us that he would speak of the glorious honour of his Majesty Psal 145.5 he is clothed with honour and majesty Psal 104.1.3 If Greatness will prevail on us God's Greatness is unsearchable Psal 145.3 who can praise him according to his excellent greatness Psal 150.2.4 If riches Oh the unsearchable riches of his grace Eph. 3.8.5 If faithfulness will do how faithful are all his promises how many Suiters come with fair pretences and promises with great shewes of riches greatness and honour yet altogether insignificant but God will never suffer his faithfulness to fail Psal 89.6 If wisdom none will chuse if possible a fool to himself now God is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.17.7 If love how great is the love wherewith he hath loved us Eph. 2.4.8 If patience will at last prevail Oh the riches of his goodness and long-suffering and patience how many refusals and put-offs hath he born at our hands which yet shall never be laid to our charge no nor cast in our teeth if at last we are prevailed with to chuse and give our Consent to him 9. If importunity who hath used more how oft hath he besought us by his ministers by his word Spirit mercies menaces what not 10. If Blessedness Oh the infinite glorious eternal Blessedness of God! Psal 119.12 Is he not God blessod for ever Rom. 5. he is the blessed and the blessing of God the Fountain of all blessedness O at last let some or all these things prevail with you to chuse him to be your God! And as much as God is before all these things and these eminent perfections are more conspicuous in him than in all other besides him so much we should be the more effectually prevailed with speedily without debate or delay to chuse him before any of them all 8. Mot. Consider moreover if you chuse God to be your God you shall be sure here to enjoy your choice which as it is the best and most blessed enjoyment of all in Heaven or Earth so whatsoever we chuse elsewhere we may miss of and go without the enjoyment of it as well if it be a mean thing as if it be the more excellent in and among these low contemptible things of this world yea and of the lowest of them we cannot chuse and take But I dare in the name of God to make this offer to any person whomsoever that if he chuse really and unfeignedly God to be his God as he ought chuse him and take him chuse him and he will become thine thou hast him as thine own and shalt enjoy and possess all the Good that is in him as thine own peculiar treasure if thou chuse him and embrace him We cannot wish have chuse and possess in these matters of this World if so who would not be in a far better estate than he is and can be if a poor maid would chuse the King for her husband she might go without him or if a poor man chuse a great mans estate he might go without it but if the poorest and unworthiest Soul shall chuse his maker for his husband he shall have him I will betroth thee unto me c. Hos 2. and whosoever will chuse the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ for his portion the Kingdom of God for his the inheritance of the Saints in light for his mansion may enjoy them Here you may certainly chuse and take by choice you may get interest in nay possession of whatsoever you make choice of to your selves here is no failure nor frustration of your affection and Election and will not this prevail with you 9. Mot. Yet once more Consider that if you make choice of God for your God you make choice of that can never be taken away from you whatsoever you chuse of the World either is perishing in it self or is subject to be made a prey and a Spoil unto others even the worst of persons all Worldly treasures if we could chuse and have them are subject to the moth or rust Mat. 6. or else the thief may steal them and so take them away either they breed that will destroy themselves or else others may destroy us for them or if not so they may at least take them violently away from us if you chuse Gold that will be gone if Silver that may be taken away if riches they Take themselves wings and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven and how swist is that Prov. 23.5 but if you chuse God he can never be taken away God will never take himself away It is true God is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself and to hide his face but yet never takes himself away from any Soul that hath chosen him and whom he hath chosen and none else can take him away Devils nor men can never rob us of God whatsoever they may or do take from us 10. Mot. Lastly consider that if you continue to refuse and will not make choice of him to be your God take heed that he doth not reject you and cast you off for ever if we refuse him now beware that he refuse us not hereafter when we would Is not this the trouble of persons when they are awakened made sensible come to them and ask them whether they do not think that God is willing to receive them they reply Ay but have not I neglected the offers of his Grace too long so that God will not now be reconciled and become mine though I do chuse him If he stand at the door and knock and we will not open time may come that we may stand at his door too and knock and he not open unto us Prov. 1.24 Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hand and no man regarded and would none of my reproof ver 28. They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early and shall not find me because they would not chuse the fear of the Lord. So Zech. 7.11 As I called and they would not hear so they shall call and I will not hear saith the Lord. Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but ye would notâ— therefore your house is left unto you desolate God utterly cast off the Jews because they would not chuse him nor close with his tenders let us take heed lest if we stand off till too late he may reject us for ever Now lay all these things together and see
Now Conversion is a work wrought upon every particular Soul and that Soul and as many Soul's as are converted do in particular turn to God every one for himself resolves to be for him only and none else 2. Another expression of this is by the giving of the hand Rom. 6.13 compared with 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be not stiffnecked as your Fathers were but yield your selves to the Lord * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebrew Give the hand to the Lord as the Margin of some Bibles hath it which hath some resemblance to marriage also forenamed wherein as there is an express Promise by word of mouth so there is at the same time a solemn and publick Giving of the hand each to other And this action hath many times the virtue of a ratification of Promises in our civil Commerce and mutual contracts one with another The Greek Give glory to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LXX like that Jer. 13.16 give Glory to God by repentance and humiliation pressing to the same duty laid down in the first words positively though there negatively be not stiff-necked in both places yield your selves to the Lord in our translation 3. Another expression we shall said Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints which have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice Hebrew Cut a Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for at holy Covenants the Sacrifices were cut asunder and both the persons went between the parts to shew that there was a mutual stipulation and engagement not one person only was tyed Ainsw but both did thus reciprocally transact one with another and were interchangeably obliged to and assured of the terms therein contained 10. Further this is no more than is already done virtually by us in our Baptism-Covenant and ther 's no person of sound judgment but thinketh himself to be really and fully bound thereby and wo be to every baptized person that lives and dies in the neglect of fulfilling that Covenant And this kind of express transacting between God and our selves by speech or writing is but a doing of the same thing in another way So also in the Sacrament of the Supper wherein every person takes both the Elements the Bread and the Cup into his own hand denoting his receiving Christ to himself in particular and giving up himself to him both receiving and resigning himself up back again is implyed thereby 11. Lastly doth not every Christian do the same thing when he comes to die It is the last work that all men that die in Christ and in the faith do viz. resign themselves up particularly Body and Soul into the hands of God and as the Apostle phraseth it Commit their Souls unto him after all their well-doing as into the hands of a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4. ult How comfortably freely confidently will they do it then having done it solemnly before hand in their life-time for this we have our blessed Saviour for a patern See Luk. 23.46 Cryed with a loud voice and said Father into thy hands I Commend my Spirit and gave up the Ghost the very same words that David the type of Jesus Christ did use when he was alive in his life-time Psal 31.5 Into thy hands I Commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth in the doing of this work when he was in great danger of death by the malice and mischief his enemies contrived against him the same did Steven the Protomartyr at his dissolution and violent death Act. 7.59 in effect though not in express words Lord Jesus receive my Spirit And thus much for the lawfulness and warrantableness of it which is the first thing Secondly that it is expedient necessary and advantageous appears very plainly by these things following 1. The person gets true and full assurance that the work is once done indeed so that the matter will no longer hang in doubt or if there be any doubts and objections arise at any time this draught will be a testimony of it which God will never disown it being done in sincerity of heart or if not this way yet if there hath been a transacting by word of mouth wherein an interest in God hath been humbly and heartily accepted and embraced and serious giving up our selves to God totally and for ever I say if it hath been done in this manner the Soul will have some ground of evidence and some plea with God when in the midst of detections and temptations This puts me in mind of one poor Soul that was in a mixture of Soul and bodily distraction together who though then as not otherwise in many things and cases sensible yet being set to prayer by some persons that visited her whereof some were Ministers and I my self was one she made use of this passage in these words or to this effect Lord Expressing here her came thou knowest me poor by name and thou knowest that in such a place naming it both House and Room I had Communion with thee and thou didst give me assurance of interest in thee and being thine And soon after through her bodily distraction taken off from the duty and diverted So that this is one beneficial advantage that comes by it that the work is surely and irrevocably done and so shall be able with humble boldness to plead with God for our acceptance with him in any Soul-distresses we are or may come into and being once thus in good earnest done shall never be undone for that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.33 and though we are a people that shall while we are in the World through infirmity break Covenant yet it is God's Covenant-promise to forgive our iniquities and remember our sins no more Jer. 31.3.4 And it is not every infirmity that shall utterly disannul this Covenant and break off this marriage-Covenant and dissolve this marriage-knot see Jer. 3. throughout If we heartily and mournfully return to him as ver 22 c. For God is a God that keeps Covenant and mercy to a thousand Generations to them that love him and make it their whole bent and endeavour to keep all his Commandments Deut. 7.9 hence did David fetch Comfort in his personal and domestical troubles 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow 2. This will be a most strongty and bond to keep our hearts close unto God in dependence and Obedience The best are used to find their hearts hang loose and to stand at a distance through the remainders of unbelief that makes their hearts depart from the living God Heb. 3.12 Now what a spur and goad will the Consideration of this be to us that we are in Covenant and have solemnly listed up our hands to God and yielded our selves to him How will this
Woman Now presently after Marriage for persons to run away one from another for a Man to make himself one body with an Harlot it subverts the design of God in Marriage and the Apostle improves it in the next words He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit A Spiritual mystical Union there is betwixt God and his People and I hope many that heard and now read this have experience and assurance of it and the Lord grant that more may And here also are both the Nearnesses joyned together not only the Nearness of Relation but of Affection if the Affection be strongly knit between the husband and the wife there is no Affection stronger than that and no less strong and faithful between God and the Soul All which shews that they are related to God as near as any Relation in the World 3. I may yet add another Relation which is not so near as the former that are already mentioned though near also that sets forth this Nearness between God and his People and that is that of Servants God is the Master and his People are the Servants too and some Masters and Servants are very dear one to another a wonderful Nearness of Affection there is of some Masters to their Servants and of some Servants to their Masters though no Relation as to the flesh by affinity or Consanguinity yet they love them tenderly I shall give you an instance of this in the Centurion and his Servant Luk. 7.2 A certain Centurions Servant who was Dear unto him was sick and he shewed that he was dear to him in his tenderness of him in that weak Condition he was and applying himself to Christ for him Moses is called the Servant of the Lord Moses my Servant is dead saith God and you know that expression Moses my Servant is a token of the great Affection God had to him and an high honour and esteem that after he was dead the Almighty confer'd upon hm 4. Nay observe in the last place that God's People are as Near to him and as Dear to him as any of our Houshold and Family are to us And therefore are they called the houshold and family of God Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Compare this with ver 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Yea to close up this particular whatsoever Relation may express Nearness and Dearness in that Relation stand God and his People each to other and thus is the third thing fully proved 4. They are near to God in regard of Jesus Christ and that on two accounts 1. Of Union to Jesus Christ 2. Of being purchased by Jesus Christ First in regard of the Near Union there is between Christ and them Nay and add to this the Near Relation that is between Christ and them and there is one that renders these words to this very sense and purpose A people Near unto him One reads it very critically * Populo propinqui sui h. â— eâ—â—s qui accedit ad ipsâ—â—â— ut sacerdos sâ—dâ—t ad dexteram eâ—us ut rex â—empe Christi M. P. syn ex Gel. Cocceio the people of his Near one or of him that is near to him viz. God of him that comes near to him as a Priest and sits at his right hand as a King meaning the Lord Jesus Christ now Christ is near to God and there is none Nearer to God than he So near that he is his only natural Son the only begotten Son of God nay he is God himself he is of the same substance with the Father one that accounts it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 and therefore call'd God's fellow Zech. 13.7 they are as near to him as the members are to the body 1 Cor. 12.27 Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular What a priviledg is here you are the body of Christ that is the mystical body of Christ Christ hath a natural body and a mystical body his natural body is that which was made up of flesh blood formed by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin But then his mystical body are all Christians who are as really his members as his Hands and Arms and Feet and Eyes and Legs were members of his natural body Christ is the mystical Head of his Church and every believer is a mystical member of Jesus Christ how fully yet doth the Apostle express this to the same purpose Eph. 5.30 For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone He speaks of the Marriage-Union in the neighbouring verses much like that of Adam concerning Eve his wife Gen. 2. This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh But saith the Apostle This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and his Church ver 32. Further if you observe the Nearness of relation they have to Jesus Christ it will also appear how near they are to God They are near to him in regard of their kin and allyance to Christ too He counts them in the nearest Relation to himself and therefore they must be near to God by vertue thereof see it in that full Scripture Mat. 12.46 c. One said to him that is to Christ behold thy Mother and thy Brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee 48. But he answered who is my Mother c. 49. And he stretched forth his hands towards his disciples and said behold my Mother and my Brethren vers 50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Now if they be Near to Christ by vertue of relation and Union to him as we have seen they are in both these regards one together and proved then certainly they must also be Near to God So that that is the first regard they are near to God on the account of Christ viz. their Union and Relation to the Lord Jesus Christ Secondly They are Near to God with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ in regard they are the purchase of his blood They are his purchased people and that makes them Near to God he hath bought them to God by his blood out of every kindred and tongue and nation Rev. 5.9 by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ and by no other means were we brought unto God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the Just for the unjust that he might bring us to God We had never been brought unto God had it not been for the blood of Jesus Christ whereby we that were a-far off were made nigh Eph. 2.14 Time was when there was a great distance between God and them and when they were a great way off what a sad case was that but being bought by Christ's blood we were thereby brought
worse than an infidel saith God by the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.8 How many such Masters and Parents are there in the pale of this visible Church that have the badg of Christianity upon them that consuem all in their lusts and are in this sense worse than the Infidels the Heathens and Pagans now will God lay that charge upon us and will he not do it himself doth God require us to provide for our houshold and will not God provide for his are not God's People his houshold and so his own as near as Wife Children and Servants and will not God then take care of them Will God teach us providence and care for our Relations and shall not God do so for his When you want your bread you that are poor remember this if you be a People near unto God he will provide for you and this should learn you the Apostles lesson to cast all your care upon him who careth for you 1 Pry. 5.7 And what a mercy it is to be able to beg our daily bread from God upon this Relation that we are a People nigh to him will not God provide for his own Surely he will God that requires us to do good to all men but especially to the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 he himself is also good to all by that general common Goodness which he extends to the whole Creation Psal 145.9 but specially to his own Israel truely God is good to Israel Psal 73.1 the People near unto him text It 's only the houshold of Faith that is near to God for Faith is the bond of our Union unto God and Jesus Christ 6. And Lastly remember and take comfort in this also as you are now near to him here so you shall be more near to him in Heaven hereafter and this closeth up and compleateth the Happiness of the People of God he will bring them all to be near to him in Heaven methinks these things should make our hearts a little burn within us with affection to be in a longing after this great Priviledg remember you shall be as near to God as Heaven and Glory shall make you and how near will that be God is near to you now and you are near to God now but yet notwithstanding in Heaven is the greatest and chiefest Nearness Here you have his presence in a measure with many interruptions here sin that makes a separation between God and you but hereafter you shall fully immediately and for ever have his presence you shall never be excluded or shut out of it time will come when there will be nothing that shall stand and interpose between God and you all that shall cause a distance shall be taken out of the way Oh what a blessed time will that be 3. Use By way of Exhortation in two branches First Labour to make sure with the greatest diligence and speed you are possibly able that you are a People near unto God And will not all those things that I hinted and proposed to you prevail with you may not the Consideration of all those Priviledges that follow upon this forenamed that you are near to God allure us and prevail with us do not be at a distance from God still as you have been may you not say truely It is good for me to be near as David said It is good for me to draw near to God Psal 73.28 run through in your meditations every one of the Priviledges I have mentioned be not hearers or readers only be perswaded then methinks this one well-thought of before-named of having every request answered should be a mighty thing It is a Priviledg beyond all imagination sufficient to Provoke to the highest admiration and greatest desire and endeavour about this that possible can be But Consider on the other hand what is the misery of being afar off from God how great is the evil of being far off why They that are far from thee shall perish thou hast destroyed all that go a-whoring from thee saith David Psal 73.27 well it is a sad case then to be at a distance from him If we do seriously lay it to heart and this is the Condition of every man Woman as they come into the World till Christ make them nigh I pray God make you and me more Considerate of it How long have you lived and yet continue far from God! It would make ones heart to ake to consider how many years we have lived afar off in point of reconciliation Consider one thing more what Patience hath God exercised to you all this while that he hath prevented your perishing in that Condition what wonderful Patience what a World of long-suffering hath God lengthned out towards you Let me add one thing more by asking you a question Will you live and die at last at a distance from God and not be made nigh unto him What do you say If I should ask every Man and woman of you as every one of you ought to apply the word of God to your selves Art thou willing to live and dy and not be made hear to God what do your hearts say to this the Lord God of Heaven by his Spirit awaken every one to a serious Consideration of it I dare say there is never a man or woman if they were going to die this moment but would be of this mind that he might be near unto God unless God had given them over unto a reprobate sense to be so blinded by the Devil in their wickedness that they cared not what became of body or soul or any thing for ever What a sad thing that many say in their hearts with those in Job 22. Depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy ways These do not desire God or to be nigh unto him but now weigh this as if you were going to die Would I be set at a distance from God for ever and for ever and can I ever expect to be near to God hereafter if I am afar off from God now Weigh these things above-mentioned in these five particulars for method and memories sake 1. You came every one into the World at a distance from God 2. How long have you lived at a distance from him 3. How much patience hath God exercised towards you all this while 4. Whether you intend to live and die in that Condition or 5. Whether you can expect to be near to God hereafter if you be not near to but far off from God here if you live and die at the same yea greater distance than you came into the World from God at how far then will you be removed from God and that for ever if you be now so far by nature and continue all your lives widening the distance and pie without having it made up you will never then come so near as to see the face of God with Comfort I beseech you look to it for these be the great truths yea the greatest