seeme full of sorrow yet cause much rejoycing they threaten poverty but fill with riches The evill is in seeming onely but the good and profit reall It was a prerogative not proper to the Apostle but common to all the members of Christ that they are as dying but certainly nay eternally living as sorrowfull yet alwaies rejoicing as having nothing but indeede possessing all things Read 2 Cor. 6. 9,10â— CHAP. XVIII Applying these comforts by Meditation NOW when wee have throughly beheld considered and by faith applyed this truth to our hearts let us by some short meditation stir up our fainting spirits and quicken them in remembraÌ„ce of this great priviledge given us by God Let us take words with us turne into our owne soules and say Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hath not the Lord commanded thee doubled and often repeated that command Rejoyce in the Lord againe I say reioice Reioice evermore none in earth with thee And hath not he said unto thee as to them I will not faile nor forsake thee And wilt not thou then conclude If Father and Mother and all the world forsake me yet the Lord will gather me up Hath not thy gracious Lord and glorious creatour adopted thee unto himselfe brought thee home into his house setled thee in his Family Hath he not cast into thy heart that immortall seed of his Word and so begotten thee unto himselfe Hast thou not found his almighty power put forth in this quickning word to raise thee up from that grave of lusts in which thou layest dead in sinnes and trespasses rotting and even crawling with the wormes of hell Is the Lord then of heaven and earth the Father of Christ the Father of lights become thy Father and canst thou want any thing that is good were there not much more good in this conflicting and afflicted state then evill nay were not this by his over-ruling hand coÌ„verted wholly to thy good how should it come from him who is infinite goodnesse to thee whom he hath infinitely loved True oh most true his love is better then life and nothing caâ— proceed from that love but good but I cannot see that love through these teares through this thicke cloud of earthly sorrowes But oh his love is not more sweet then evident see oh see it in his gifts He hath not spared his onely Sonne but given him to the death even to the cursed death of the crosse How then shall hee not with him give thee all things also He hath given thee his holy Spirit the life of thy life and his owne glorious selfe and can he with himselfe the infinite incomprehensible good give any thing which is not good Assure thy selfe whatsoever is given by and with him cannot but be through him good exceeding good beyond that which thou dost or canst conceive Now therefore remember It is his covenaÌ„t to do thee good Know then know it of a truth and throughly perswade and settle thy selfe in it that as now thou art under the rod because it is good for thee to be afflicted so when it shall be good for thee thou shalt rest from al thy troâ—ble and shâ—lt bâ— satisfied with abundance of peace Oh then my soule bee not thou of an hasty spirit For he that beleeveth wâ—ll not make hast Hâ—d Ioseph appointed the time of his deliverance Had the oppressed Israelites set out the limits of their AEgyptian bondage or those three young captive Champions prescribed their fiery triall how would they all have hindred their owne happinesse and Gods glory If my righteous Brethren smite me it is a kindnesse their reproofe is an excellent oyle What then is the rod of my heavenly Father but his fatherly love What his rebuke but a rich perfume and precious balme clensing my defiled nature preserving it from all fleshly pollution Rolle then thy way upon the Lord and hee shall bring it to passe wait upon his hand and remember hee is not alwaies chiding For a smal moment hee may forsake but with great mercies he will gather me In a little wrath hee may hide his face for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will hee have mercie upon me Oh then my heavenly father who vouchsafest to wait that thou maist be gracious to me give me power with patience to waite upon thy grace Thou who makest it thy exaltation and glory to shew me mercy oh give me an hart to attend thy mercy till thou receivest mee to thy glory CHAP. XIX Comforts taken from the second person of Trinity AS God the Father hath vouchsafed us that unspeakeable comfort and honour to be our Father so the Sonne yeeldeth us no lesse in that hee undertakes to bee the Saviour of all the faithfull and not in part but an entire and perfect Saviour from all evill For evill may be considered either in the roote or fruit of it and our Saviour hath utterly abolished both for us The greatest evill and the very root of all other is sinne and the fruit of sinne is principally as including al the rest the wrath of God and death Now our Lord saves his people first from sinne in being a perfect sacrifice Heb. 10. 14 and consequently a propitiation for all their sinnes I Ioh. 2.2 Secondly he delivers his people from wrath and the curse by bearing the curse and wrath for them In a word he hath redeemed the faithful from all enemies of body soule See Luke 1. 71. 74. Death Sinne and the curse of the Law hee hath swallowed up into victorie 1 Cor. 15. 55 56,57 But some weake Christian perhaps will here sigh out an objection How hath Christ delivered mee from sinne when I still finde this cursed law of my members rebelling against the law of my mind and leading me captive to the law of sinne How am I delivered from death when nothing is more sure to me than death I dye daily Ans. First observe that the Apostle who in the person of the faithful uttereth those words was even then devered froÌ„ sin by Christ and gives thanks in the words instantly following for his deliverance Hence it is apparent that even theÌ„ wheÌ„ sin rebelleth in us nay by strong hand carrieth us captive wee are delivered from it delivered first from the usurping power and dominion of it whereby we were enslaved and served it with greedinessâ— and againe from the guilt of it It shall not bee imputed or accounted to us but wee reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.19 Insomuch that where the Apostle confesseth plainly his sins both of omission and commission yet in this regard hee dares confidently and doth truly affirme It is no more I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in me Sinne in the faithfull is as sicknesse in the body getting up now againe and having overcome yet not
principall act of saving faith without which the other profit nothing that action of the will letting al goe and taking hold of Christ for salvation choosing him as the supreme good and happinesse and bringing him to his heart whereby he is washed and purified And hence blasphemously imagining Christ to bee but as a cloake for his sinnes he pleasantly dreames of obtaining grace without any trâ—e repentance or change of the whole man Hence the promises of God thus by himselfe abused are welcome and a false joy followes a false hope But the command of God much more the threatning word and reproofe for breach of the command is grievous to him and insupportable hated as cords as bonds as death and the very Crosse. For esteemiâ—g his lusts to bee himselfe and indeed he is little else he accounts himselfe in them wounded fettered and crucified when his lust is restreined he is imprisoned when his sinne is pierced his very heart is wounded when his corruption languishes he faints and is dead in the nest and with as much joy will he goe to the Gallowse as to that Crosse of Christ whereby the world is crucified to him and he unto the world See this exemplified in that noted hypocrite Herod The preaching of Iohn as of Christ and all his Messengers Mar. 1. 14 15. consisted of two maine points Repent and Beleeve Repent for the kingdome of God is at hand and Behold the Lomb of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1.29 Now it is easie to finde what in the preaching of Iohn this incestuous beast hard so gladly Is it any marvell if such a wretch fancying a remission of sin without forsaking sin impunity by Christ should with much joy heare of such a Savior as he blasphemously supposed But that other necessary part of the Gospell Repentance rising from faith Let every one which nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquitie this hee hated and the Preacher of it to the death Now then had it beene the truth of God in which he rejoiced the doctrin of repentance forsaking sin would have bin as wel entertained as the doctrine of remission and pardoÌ„ of sin because both are equally the word of the same God but wheÌ„ we see the one received with joy honor of the messenger the other rejected with hate death of the speaker who discerns not that his joy sprung from that fond dream of his rotten spirit that though he walked according to the stubbornnesse of his own wicked heart he should have peace Most unlike is the joy of the faithfull hearer who loves the Word with a most entire unexpressible affection Oh how I love thy Word and therefore loves it because a word of truth and a pure word an unreconcilable enemy to all sinful filthinesse and when he heares that double promise the one of remitting the other of snbduing sinne when he heares of glory and holinesse he is as the Apostle in a strait and knowes not which to preferre esteeming the conformitie to the death and life of Christ brought in the Word nothing lesse then the fellowship with him in glory Take a further view of this in some instances The uprightnesse of Davids and Hezekiahs heart with God was seene in this For when that bitter reproofe touched the quicke David taketh all the blame upon himselfe I have sinned Hezekiah further confeâ—seth the Word not onely just but good Esa. 39.8 But Amaziah who did that in the generall which was right but not with an upright heart like his father David 2 King 14.3 discovers that hypocrisie of heart in rejecting the Word when it came neere and home to his sinne 2 Chro. 25.2.16 To couclude this point remember this palpable difference betwixt an upright and dissembling heart The faithfull loves rejoyces in that part of the word of God which the hypocrite hateth and in the selfe same respect the one detests grieves at it the other loves and rejoyceth in it why doth the rebuke of Christ sound as death to the dissembler but as the glad tidings of life to the upright In both because it is the trumpet of God to sound an alarum against sin that as the wals of Iericho it shal fall at this blast and be destroyed This very nature and effect of the Word that it is the Sword of the Spirit piercing every sinfull lust to the heart and mortifying these earthly members is the very cause why to the sound Christian it is a precious oyle and perfume to the dissembler as a reproach hee cannot delight in it Ier. 6. 10. CHAP. XXX Differencing the zeale and desires after Christ in the hypocrite and faithfull ANd yet further even in godly zeale and earnest longings after Christ the hypocrite wil seem to hold pace with the souÌ„dest best Christian he can be very zealous in divers things Iehâ— had a zeale â—or the Lord yet a transparent dissembler See 2 King 10. 16. 28 29 31. Hee tooke no heed to walke in the law of the Lord with all his heart Paul before his conversion and other Iewes all persecutors yet zealous of the Law of God Acts 22.3 Rom. 10. 2. And certainly for thaâ— holy Apostle it is hard to say whether before or after conversion hee were more fervent against or for Christ and his truth How zealous was the Pharises in the observation of their fore-fathers Traditions How zealous of old those false Teachers in abstinence Touch not taste not handle not how seemingly humble neglecting the body and giving it no honour c. So the Papists â—t this day with much shew oâ— zeale maintaine their traditions abstinence from flesh from marriage lying in haire-cloth c. But where is the difference 1. The Dissembler is very hot in some particulars which concerne Gods glory but hath his owne ends in them all and therefore when those ends faile is as cold in other things which are as or more needful than the former How zealous was Iehu against Ahabs Idols He rooted out the Baalims Not so much warme against Ieroboams Idols but served the Calves of Bethel whereby hee plainly uncovered his dissembling heart and manifested his hypocrisie to every eye 2. The hypocrites zeale is all externall flaming out in bitter termes against some other who dishonour God but never moved to see God dishonoured in his owne heart and actions But the faithful as they cannot but grieve and burne when they see others grosly offending blaspheming and provoking God so are they most vexed with their own though farre lesse rebellions and failings 3. Lastly the dissembler spends his heat in matters of no moment his indignation wil be much more kindled in the use or disuse of matters of indiffereÌ„cy then in the weightiest things of the Law or Gospell But the upright heart knowes well that there are some things in which he must contend earnestly for matters of faith even to
losse of life and therefore will not faile to strive wrastle for the truth of God the faith given to the Saints but speÌ„d al his strength in such contention live and dye in defence of it In other things hee must not strive for Gods Church hath no such custome 1 Cor. 11.16 In the last place as in zeale so in earnest desires an hypocrite will seeme to run as fast to Christ to thirst long for him as the most faithfull For when the hard skin of his seared consâ—ience is flayed off by those knives of circumcision the sharp law of God and the terrours of hell gate upon his galled soule in the sense of these agonies he will value Christ as highly desire him as heartily as wel to the sight of others as to his owne sense as any true member of Christ What in the world would hee not give nay a whole world to purchase one drop of that precious bloud This goes very farre will some say can any Christian goe further Yes verily For the faithfull soule in the day peace continues still as highly and dearely to esteeme the Lord Jesus even after reconciliation when he heares the blessed Spirit speaking peace to him then hee esteemes all things dung and losse in comparison of the knowledge of Christ. Here the hypocrite leaveth him In the storme hee will runne as fast to Christ the rocke and refuge from the tempest of Gods wrath as any in faire weather hee makes no hast hee goes backe or stands still The one esteemes Christ as medicine onely and therefore in extremity of paine when he is sicke at heart whither wil he not send for him and though the pocion and prescription be grievous yet then it is forced down though hee send it up againe but as soone as he is a little cheered he loathes his Physicke The other knowes him to bee as well his meate as medicine and therefore in health when he findes his heart assured of salvation longues and hungers for him and his righteousnesse The one desires him for justification in the day of wrath to wipe off his reckoning and enter him into glory The other also for sanctification to clense him from sinne and beautifie his soule in the glorious image of God If the Lord would give the hypocrite free leave to take his pleasure in sinne without feare of judgement how would he rejoyce as in a great and speciall privilege hee would account himselfe as happy in his liberty to sinne as in his exemption from the reward of sinne But oh how wofull a captivity how lothsome a grave how base a drudgery miserable thraldome would a faithfull soule account of such a licence as much haâ—ing the filthinesse of sinne as the punishment the spirituall death as the eternall CHAP. XXXI Applying these things for removing tentations rising from conceit of hypocrisie NOw then seeing we know how farre an hypocrite may seeme to goe in the good way let us proceed to remove that wavering which beares downe many a weake Christian in a very painfull discomfortable estate I find two especiall temptations applied by Satan to shake the faith of a weake soule and to hold it in suspence that it cannot rise up to any strong consolation in the sense and feeling of Gods grace favor The first and chiefe is that whatsoever â—hey do is done in hypocrisie True it is they can heare the Word they can frequent the assemblies reverence the sincere Teachers of it invite others to the fellowship of the same grace rejoyce in the Word but all this saith the Tempter and truly may bee in an hypocrite and in themselves they thinke it is all no better than dissembling They have some zeale they confesse to the truth but an hypocriticall zeale some desire and longing after Christ but hypocriticall all is meere hypocrisie Thus they say thus they thinke Now let such a Christian 1. seriously consider that the subtle Serpent doth not onely tempt men to presumption but also to distrust as is apparent in those assaults by which he set upon our blessed Saviour As hee allures him to a presumptuous casting himselfe downe from the pinacle of the Temple because the Angels waited on him to lift and beare him up so also he laboureth to draw him to a distrust of Gods providence and therefore as the sonne of God to command the stones to be made bread See Matth. 4. 3. 6. And as the ignorant and carelesse worldling is the most ordinary object upon whom hee workes grosse presumptuous dreams of salvation those hee perswades God is mercifull Christ came to save all men and therefore when he heares the word of the curse he causeth him from these grounds to blesse himselfe in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walke after the stubbornnesse of mine owne heart adding drunkennesse to thirst thus he rocks him in a dead sleep of sinne As thus he workes grosse presumptions upon the carelesse and blinde professour so hee never pursues any with those weapons of distrustfull and unbeleeving feares but those who are either quite gone or now going or at least setting their faces to goe out of his AEgypt in travell toward the heavenly Canaan So then when hee assaults thee with this weapon know assuredly that Satan plainely discerns that God hath wakened and raised thy soule from that drowsie cradle of sinne in which hee so long had lulled thee in deep security Againe remember thy corrupt heart is very deceitfull not onely to hide up sinne in it and to flatter thee with faire but false hopes and so to breede pride and presumption but as cunning also to conceale any grace which is in it and so to affright thee with likely but false feares It will bee then a necessary point of wisedome not to give full and rash credite to either hope or feare but diligently to weigh thy estate in that ballance of the Word which is the truth and cannot deceive thee First then humbling thy soule by prayerâ— and intreating the assistance of that holy Spirit who is purposely sent that thou maist know these things which are given thee of God take a perfect examinâ—tion and triall of thy estate Thou hearest and frequentest the Word so doe dissemblers But doth an hypocrite or can he follow it with an heart hungring after perfect obedience Doth he desire to finde every thought subdued to the yoake of Christ Nay even then in his hearing his hart not steals away but with good leave and full permission goes after his covetousnesse or some other corrupt lust and resolves to keepe himselfe reserved in some things making and setting up in his heart a law against the law of God namely that he will not so be tyed to it but that in some things he will use his owne liberty Againe both a sound and rotten heart rejoyce in the Word But thou findest love to the word not in thy
more comfortable on earth Riches have wings as an Eagle and flye away Hell hath opened her mouth wide to swallow the glory pompe and joy of the mighty Beauty is vanity and favour deceitfull All our strength but sorrow and labour Children if good our continuall feares if evill our perpetuall griefes and in a word Every man in his best earthly estate altogether vanity Life decreasing by the growth of it the earth yea even the heavens also passing away but this blessed Word never passeth never but as the truth of God in his covenant with Christ hath eviâ—â—ntly expressed My Spirit and my Word which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth saâ—th the Lord for ever Verily were there no other comfort to a Christian but only that word of Truth the seed and food of everlasting life begetting him to God and still remayning and waxing in him it were sufficient if the ballance be even and the hand steddy which weigheth it to sinke downe all the discomforts of this world and to establish a Christian heart with strong consolations and glorious rejoycings CHAP. VIII More speciall comforts from speciall parts of the Word LEt us descend into some few specials and insist a â—ittle upon the mayne parts of these holy writings Now the Scriptures as I conceive may not unfitly bee divided into these foure generall heads First the Doctrinall wherin the blessed Spirit teacheth and instructeth us in all necessary truths Secondly the Historicall in which as wel the good examples of the Saints and their happy successe as also the perverse behaviour of wicked Rebels and their miserable issues are set before us Thirdly the Propheticall so more specially called where the men of God encourageâ— strengthen and excite us to walke in that good way which is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. Fourthly Practicall as the Psalmes c. wherein the constant practice of the faithfull and their actions as well within as without are lively represented to our eyes Now what great helps and comforts in every one oâ— these doth that holy Spirit reach forth unto us Consider our estate and their use Wee are Travellers through this wildernesse of sinne toward the heavenly Jerusalem ignorant and wandring soone weary and faint How usefull then how helpfull are all these unto us The first is as an open Kings high-way to conduct us The second is as a Guide treading and beating a path before us The third as goads nayls to rouze up our sluggish nature and hold fast our slippery feete from back-sliding The fourth as chearefull company heartning refreshing our drooping spirits when our weake hearts begin to tyre and those good wayes wax tedious to sinfull flesh Let us now handle some of these particulars in severall Surely whatsoever comforts a wayfaring man could wish in his journy are in these helps offered and given him The first thing that a Traveller desires is a good way oh when the wayes are first plaine and easie not hard to finde Secondly when they are cleane not deepe and miery Thirdly when they are even not mountaynous and rocky Fourthly when they are strait not crooked and winding then are they accounted very good and are no little helps comforts to any Traveller Nay in such wayes we goe not only with patience but with delight Thus the wayes of God in his Word are first plaine to him that understandeth not onely a plaine way but light too in the way Psal. 119. 105. not like these earthly but that heavenly way For as that via lactea or milkey path as it is called in heaven which by the infinite lights stucke very thicke in it embrightens it selfe so the path of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day Secondly they are cleane and pure very pure Psa. 119.140 not a spot of sinful mire in them so farre from entangling and encombring our feet that they rather hasten and quicken us Thirdly they are very even smooth not stony and troublesome Vallies filled mountaines plained and roughnesse smoothed Very easie and light Mat. 11. 30. no way grievous 1 Ioh. 5.3 nay very pleasant and sweet above the honey and honey-combe Lastly they are right and strait no crookednesse or perversenesse in them See Prov. 8. 8 9. Luk. 3. 4 5. And what marvell then if they who have walked in those wayes have beene wonderfully delighted and even ravished in such paths They are wayes of pleasantnesse and paths of peace in which we finde all the rich treasures and jewels of wisedome eternall life and perfect blessednesse A second comfort that a Traveller would wish in his journey is a perfect Guide Now then when we remember our stupid and more than beastly ignorance that even when the way is plaine and strait yea pleasant yet we can make no progresse without a Guide as is manifest by the coÌ„fession of that good Eunuch Acts 8.31 and the experience of every good Christian what a comfort is it that God hath given us so many directions and excellent Guides walking in every good path before usâ— If wee desire to travell in the way of faith the Father of the faithfull will lead us the way and chearefully call us after him Who against hope beleeved in hope and being not weake in faith considered not his owne body now dead nor the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe He staggered not in the promise through unbeleefe So likewise that Guide and Captaine of Gods people who went before them from AEgypt unto the land of Canaan will march before us in that way of faith to the land of Promise whose piercing eye of faith beholding him who is invisible and fastened on the recompence of the reward despised the wrath of the King and chose the afflictions of Gods people before the pleasures of sinne esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Would we walke in love We have choyce of excellent Guides In that love of Christ how chearfully will that holy Penitent converted Mary point and tread out that path for us Who having much forgiven her loved much and thought nothing too deare oâ— precious for the beautiful feet of that great Apostle and Prince of peace Oh how powerfully will that chosen Vessell draw us after him in this tract of love to the Lord Jesus and to all his members How did the love of Christ constraine him How did hee rejoyce in tribulations bonds and death it selfe for Christ How did his heart burne and flame in charity who could willingly spend and â—e spent for them whom the more abundantly hee loved the lesse hee was loved againe Who weying the profit of the Churches with his own glory in Christ was in a strait
we shall come to that general assembly and the Church of the first-born which are written in heaven Now then when wee here converse and conferre with them it cannot but be a great delight and refreshing to our soules And the more because in all occurrents and occasions they will furnish us in any duty In receiving of any blessing how shall we see their hearts swell and their lips overflow with all thankfulnesse How doe they melt in humiliation and swimme in teares How doe they sharpen their voyces in fervent petition In any desertion what expressions of longueings What sighing pining mourning How doe they fill their mouthes with insinuating arguments to wooe the Lords returne and regain the sense of his favor giving him no rest till they feele the joy of their salvation restored CHAP. X. The application of this comfort by meditation HEnce also may an afflicted Spirit take words unto it selfe and say Why doe I thus vexe mine owne heart and disquiet my selfe in vaine Doe I not still enjoy the holy blessed Word of my God Is there any losse which it doth not richly supply Can I be poore who possesse those precious Promises Can I be miserable who attend on the posts of his dores and heare him If I lose father mother house lands have not I a promise of an hundred-fold for the present beside that eternal life to come Mar. 10.30 If I am in any distresse have I not a promise that when Father and Mother forsake mee he well take me up Psal. 27.10 Have I not his command to cast my care upon him Psal. 55. 22. and his promise That hee will care for me 1 Pet. 5.7 Have I not his word that he will never turne away from me to doe me good that he will rejoyce in mee to doe me good His promise is that I shall want nothing that is good and his word is good as good as his deed How then shal I be destitute of any good blessing who have the Promise of this life and the life to come Why then oh my soule art thou cast downe and troubled within mee Is not that immortall seed of the Word cast into thy heart Doth it not still abide and remaine in thee Yea though I walke in the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill for thy rod and staffe comfort me Is not thy Word my way a way leading mee to life a lamp in the way enlightning mee and a Guide with a light directing me a burning light quickning my frozen heart when it is dull a sweete Companion refreshing me when I am weary Is it not a plaine way an even way a cleane way a strait delightfull and pleasant way Diddest thou ever oh my soule tread one step in it but that thou foundest some precious Jemme and Jewell What treasures of knowledge and wisedome of faith hope love and every rich grace have there offered and even thrust themselves into thy hands Oh what lovely fellowship what heavenly company what sweet and ravishing conferences have and doe I there enjoy No sooner stepped I into that path of faith butâ— instantly that Father of the faithfull went before me and with an hundred sweet comforts drew me on to those his steps that walking in the same faith I might obtaine the same blessing When I entred into the tract of Godly sorrow and true Repentance how cheerfully did that weeping Marie leade and conduct me When I set my foot into the way of heavenly love how fervently did that most zealous Apostle draw mee after him See see how many glorious Saints see oh see the King of Saints and glory thy gracious Saviour in every good way directing sustayning cheering and even carrying thee along to that heavenly Paradise What my soule Shal those three Easterne Sages when one Starre alone leading them to Christ then a poore despised Infant went before them shall they rejoyce rejoyce with exceeding great joy And wilt thou or for very shame canst thou hang downe the head when so many heavenly lights when the Sunne of righteousnesse himselfe comforting thee with his owne and such his Starres presence and chearefull beames leadeth and conducteth thee to that inheritance of light and infinite glory Oh then thou eternall Word Way and Light who hast brought my feet and entred them into thy Word a lightsome way settle me yet more deepely in it that my heart may stand fast in thee my way Put thy Word into my mouth that my mouth ever talking of it may grow fruitfull in edification Oh cleare mine eies with this true heavenly light that I may behold with joy the light of thy countenance CHAP. XI Comforts sealed up in the Sacraments IT hath also pleased our gracious God to adde seals to his Word That by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that God should lye wee might have strong consolation Certainly every word of God is infallible Heaven and earth shall passe but not a word that he hath spoken God hath not therefore annexed seales to his Covenant that it or his purpose but that our weake hearts might bee strengthned and confirmed How unspeakable is this comfort that the Lord should be so farre from despising our weake faith and disdaining our poore soules strugling under unbeleefe that hee should yeelde to our weaknesse and underprop it with these powerfull abetters of his truth Hee might shake the head at us when hee seeth so little credite given to his Word but hee rather strengthneth us with these sacred mysteries which are to us as the hand of Christ reached out to Peter to save our wavering soules ready to sinke through unbeleefe The Covenant of God is I will be their God and I will not turne away from them to doe them good but will put my feare into their hearts that they shall never depart from mee Yea I will rejoyce over them to doe them good The consolationsâ— flowing from this Covenant thus sealed how strong how full For first throw downe a man thus sealed up in this covenant of grace from all the joyes of this world into a very hell upon earth Had hee lost all his substance children health of body nay peace of soule also in some measure as Iob yet may hee thence with strong comfort infallibly conclude That this estate is good for him nay best for him For God is faithfull and his Covenant sure beyond all possibility of deceiving or being deceived who hath promised and sealed his promise to doe him good to rejoyce over him in doing him good Hence the faithfull soule will build this conclusion and rest upon it It is good for me to be thus afflicted It is good for mee to beare the yoake in my youth Oh if my faith were as strong as my sense I should taste much more sweetenesse in Gods goodnesse than bitternesse in his affliction Againe especially when wee consider the matter of
that will build sure must digge deepe and casting out loose â—ands lay a fast and strong foundation and then set up the walls and roofe So hee that would build up his soule in assurance of his heavenly Mansion must first fling out loose waverings of a distrustful heart and doubtful appearances cast into his mind by Satan and then lay his ground upon the Rocke the sure and unmoveable promises of God in Christ. I have often observed divers of the faithfull strong in many graces and in this only to sight weake who have by the plaine evidence of the Spirit in the Word bin clearely convinced that the Lord hath planted and rooted the life of grace in their hearts and so have beene for the present not a little cheered aud comforted yet after by some tentation to have bin wholly disheartned and cast downe againe in themselves from all their joyes and consolations concluding that all their religion was meere hypocrisie and themselves bare forms and images without life This I am perswaded proceeds especially from want of a thorough-grounding their perswasions much suspense and unsetlednesse remaining in them Now then it will be very needefull and expedient as briefly as may bee to set downe how farre the way of hypoâ—risie in appearance lyes in our way to life and the period of it where it stops First then it cannot be denied but that a man of meere shewes without the life of God may in his outward carriage to the Word and ordinance of God keepe way with a faithfull and sincere Christian heare frequent invite others honour thâ— Word and the Messengers of it Most of these are found in Herod a stinking Fox a rancke-smelling Dissembler Hee heard Iohn and knowing him a just and holy man feared and observed him when hee heard him did many things So those hypocrites Ezek. 33. 30,31 32. come to the Word as Gods people sit there as the people of God and call on others to the same dutie Thus farre they seeme to hold way with the Saints where doe they part 1. In the ground and end of this their frequent hearing 2. In the effects and issues following their attendance The ground and end of hearing the Word in an hypocrite is sometimes his carnall delight when his lustfull eare is tickled with the soft eloquence and sweet tongue of the Speaker and his itching heart clawed with carnall wisedome Sometimes he is driven by the cryes of his yelping conscience His best end is by further informing his understanding to set a faire glosse upon his profession and that he may not sit as a mute stand as a Cipher when matters of Religion are in discourse and handling But the faithfull soule out of a deepe loathing of sinfull matter in himselfe an unflaked hunger and thirst of righteousnes knowing the word to be both the physicke of the soule whereby it is throughly clensed and the food whereby it is nourished presents himselfe before the Ordinance of God that hee may finde it Gods power to his salvation in purging out all sinfull filthinesse and filling him with the fruits of righteousnesse Thus are they described Esa. 2. 3. They shall say Come ye and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and hee will teach us his wayes and wee will walke in his paths Where the faithfull plainly expresse their end of comming to God in his Word not onely that it may be a light to teach and point out the right way but that it may give strength to their feet and enable them to walk in every good path Secondly they differ in the effect and fruit of hearing For where the heart thus drawes neare to God as that holy Cornelius to heare as in the presence of the Lord all things commanded by him the Word is a mighty weapon to beat down all strong holds and every thing exalted against the knowledge of God to bring every thought in obedience to Christâ— it wil work effectually when it is thus received see 1 The. 2. 13. so that the faithful soule can truly say I know no sin which my heart doth not loath desire to expel I know no coÌ„mand of Christ in which I do not unfeinedly desire endevour to walke with God This cannot stand with hypocrisie because as in a Tombe there must be both a beautifull front without and a dead heart within An hypocrite must have a shew else hee is an heathen and but a shew else a true Beleever But he is a neuter to both Not a plaine Infidell for hee hath a forme of godlinesse not faithfull indeed for his heart still cleaves to much sinfull filthinesse and is not purified from the whorish love of some darling-sinnes Many things as Herod he may all not onely he doth not but he will not doe CHAP. XXIX Containing other markes differencing the true from the seeming Christian. NOr onely in the walls without but in some more inward roomes we shall finde the hypocrite fairely dressed and painted If wee looke to his understanding we shall see it often very live-like portrayed with the forme of knowledge so that the braine may bee even printed with the Word that he may be a light and Teacher of others Rom. 2.19,20 Secondly in the affection also there may bee some joy in hearing And thus farre in the inward man the dissembler may keepe companie with the faithfull where doe they break 1. The knowledge of an hypocrite is at least in some points meerely speculative ann workes not upon the will and affection to chose and love the good which hee knowes Much of Gods will hee knowes and hates as Ahab and Herod I hate him a Prophet indeed of God saith that wicked man sold to worke wickednesse of whom wee may inquire but I hate him for hee speakes not good to mee but evill Yet could this King in some things humble himselfe rent his clothes put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted So also that other incestuous beast hated the reproving Word and kild the reprover Contrary the knowledge of the faithfull seasons the heart drawes the will and affection nay the actions also after it 2. The difference in their joy is plain and palpable For the formall mans joy ariseth not from the word indeed or any love to the truth of God but from his owne fancies and dreames falsly collected from the Word witlesly and wilfully and therefore strongly conceived in his owne deceitfull hart For when he hears mercy glory proclaimed to sinners upon condition of beleeving he builds a presumption of pardon salvatioÌ„ upon that saÌ„dy faith of divels carnally as Papists at this day coÌ„cluding theÌ„ce raiseth up al his that faith consisteth onely in the understanding partly in an action of the apprehension conceiving what is the object of faith partly in an action of the judgement consenting to it and approving it as a truth of God hee thinkes not of the maine and
mouth as the dissembler Ezek. 33. 31. when indeede his soule hates it at least some part of it but in thy heart He receives not the love of the truth 2 Thes. 2. 10. and therefore rejoyces not in the truth of God but in the lyes of Satan promising life without reformation but thou out of love to the Word even because it is a purifying word rejoycest in it especially that power of it whereby thy soule is washed and clensed from thine owne wickednesse The upright and dissembler both burne in zeale but thou findest thy heart angry and grieved not with some but al sins not with others only but most with thine owne whereby God is dishonored Lastly the hypocrite can thirst for Christ at sometimes when he is in the furnace as iron his heart for the present is softned but as soone as it is out of the fiery triall returnes to his hardnesse and indeed was onely troubled never changed But thou findest a deepe and unquenched thirst of Christ and his righteousnesse ever burning in thy soule so that even in the dayes of peace thy heart is ever sighing after him and esteemest him as the onely medicine for thy sicke spirit so the onely food when thon art healthy and strong In all of these may the faithfull soule easily perceive that hee hath outstript the hypocrite and left him farre behinde and is certainely entred into the true way of grace to glory CHAP. XXXII Removing that tentation which riseth from comparison with other Christians ANother ordinary tentation of Satan is when he worketh the humbled soule to compare the graces of some other with their owne and the meanes either common and equall to both or perhaps lesse to others who yet as he conceives outstrip him in grace and so to discourage and overthrow this worke of faith in him Oh sayes a dejected spirit I have had more time more seed more labour bestowed on mee farre more than such or such a Christian and yet how fruitfull are they But I how barren and bare in knowledge in faith in love c. how wonderfully have they outgrowne me But first let such a troubled heart observe that this depressing despising and condemning our selves in respect of unfruitfulnesse whereby we seeme to come short of others is an eminent grace of God unto which by promise he hath tyed all his other graces God gives grace to the â—umble And this is a certaine fruit of true humility Sâ—condly they are often deceived in their judgements For know this and remember it as a sure truth the more thou hast profited in grace and art enriched in this durable substance the more covetous will thy heart be of spirituall gifts When a worldling begins to taste the sweetnesse of earthly lucre oh how greedily doth hee thirst after it And though hee lay up treasure as dust gulp downe sinfull pleasure as water yet a dry dropâ—ie possesseth him The more he drinks the more he thirsts so is it with that soule which being weaned from this and in love with that world to come is fired with an holy and heavenly covetousnesse of spirituall riches The more he bags up of those evelasting treasures the more poore will he seeme to himselfe oh how good a signe is it when the riches of grace make thee poore in spirit when Christ speakes unto thee as somtime to the church of Smyrna I know thy tribulation and poverty but thou art rich For as it is a certaine signe that he who supposes he knowes beleeves loves much knowes nothing as hee ought to know that when we thinke we are increased in goods and want nothing then there is nothing which we want not Wee are wretched poore miserable blinde and naked so when the desires sayling to the heavenly Jerusalemâ— filled with the breath of that holy Spirit are carried so swiftly that they thinke the actions stand still and either move not or goe backeward certainly that heart which sends forth these desires is strong and fervent in the life of grace Thirdly if those whom thou thus preferrest before thy selfe were asked their opinion thou shouldst heare them heartily and earnestly professe and protest with sighes their many infirmities as farre preferring thee as thou them But withal and above all remember and apply to this purpose that common axiom That truth or substance is not capable oâ— more or lesse Suppose thy mis-conceit true that thou wert farre inferiour in grace to many who are farre younger in the life of grace than thou this hinders not but that thou hast the true life of Christ and his Spirit as well though not so full as they Neither in this life nor in the other the eldest are ever the strongest But as a childe or weake man troubled with much sicknesse hath as true and very life as hee that is strong and never tasted one sicke houre so the weake Christian held downe intentation hath as verily the life of God as they who have out-wrastled Satan and sinne and enjoy much liberty and enlargement of spirit Who doubts but that Paul after conversion though borne out of time excelled in grace many of the Apostles themselves yet were they not onely living but eminent members of Christ. Apply these things to thy soule and so cast out this wavering in spirit and those feares whiâ—h breed painfulnesse And then endevour to ground thy assurance and establish thy soule by some infallible and evident signes of thy election and â—alvation CHAP. XXXIII Containing some infallible signes of our Calling and Election MAny sure and evident markes hath the Lord Jesus Christ set upon his Sheep which as by the hand of his Spirit in the Scripture he hath graven so hath he by the same hand printed them upon us that considering our selves marked out by them we may come not onely to a probable hope but full assurance of faith that we are his chosen Flocke and Sheepe of his pasture who shall never perish never be plucked out of his and his Fathers hand Of very many I will insist onely upon some few First then read advisedly that Scripture 1 Ioh. 3. 1 2. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that wee should bee called the Sonnes of Godâ— And we know that when hee shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Hence in the first place it is evident that those whom the Father hath made children unto himselfe hee hath most dearely and everlastingly loved see also Ier. 31. 3. And againe that when wee know our filiation when wee are made Sonnes wee know also that when Christ shall appeare wee shall see him as hee is and bee glorified with him This then is cleare that when wee are children of God wee are eternally beloved by him and shal reigne with him in eternity But how shall wee know that we are made children Looke into the 9 verse of that chap.
eyes of an afflicted Spirit dimmed and deluded in the mists of Satan True it is that the Adversary and his Antichristian Popish Teachers wrest streine al their wits to perswade men that this assured knowledge of thir election and salvation by ordinary means is a dangerous nay so provdly peremptory are they without all warrant a damnable doctrine encouraging men to all presuÌ„ption fleshly liberty HeÌ„ce the CouÌ„cil of Trent fastens an anathema upon it no marvel For that subtill Serpent knowing well how much labour of love and even contention in all holy obedience what readinesse to serve and fervour in their service this certainty of Gods favour brought forth in all the Saints contrarily what uncheerefulnesse and heartlesnesse in all duty springeth from distrust and doubtfulnesse strives with all his might either utterly to roote out or much weaken this assurance of faith whereby they hold fast the profession of their hope without wavering So his false Apostles deceitfull workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ joyne issue with him as knowing this Doctrine would not only quench their Purgatory but which is worse wonderfully coole their kitchin In the Epilogue therefore and conclusion of this discourse I will very briefly as in such a subject I may lay downe and handle these three propositions First That the faithfull by ordinary revelations may attaine the certaine and infallible perswasion of their salvation by Christ. Secondly That it is a Christian duty to labour for it Thirdly That this assurance is the gift of God which every one of his children doe not presently receive nor so retaine but that the sense of it sometimes may faile them And lastly I will set downe some meanes whereby wee may secure our soules in this assurance of our happinesse which is the Sunne of al comfort First then that a faithfull Christian may by ordinary without extraordinarie revelations by visions Angels c. bee fully assured of the life of grace already in his possession and of glory certainly reserved for him will appeare first by divers cleare Testimonies of Gods word secondly by the examples of the Saints thirdly by evident reason CHAP. XXIIII Proofe of Scriptures testifying in the faithfull a possibilitie to assure their salvation by ordinarie meanes FOr the evidence of this truth consider that discourse of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 9,10,11,12 verses â— a place much wrested by Papists and grosly abused but as all the words of Wisedome Pro. 8. 9. plaine to him that will understand Thus you shal finde the Apostle affirme 1. That no eye hath seene eare heard or ever entered into the thought of man those things which God hath prepared for his chosen 2. God hath revealed even these things unto us by his Spirit for because no man can know the minde of man save the spirit of the man which is in him and those to whom hee unfolds himselfe in evident expressions much lesse can anie man know the things of God but the Spirit of God and they to whom that Spirit reveales theÌ„ therfore because our dull understandings cannot pierce into the secrets of God the Lord hath given us his Spirit to this very purpose that we might know the things which are given us of God Observe hence that God doth not only preordaine his children unto glory such as eye hath not seene c. but by a second gift of his Spirit manifesteth this his decree unto them which blessed Spirit openeth their eyes to discerne this grace bestowed not on otheâ—s onely but themselves To this testimony in the next place adjoyne that also in the Rom. 8. 15,16,17 which will both cleare and much confirme the former You have not received the spirit of bondage to feare againe but you have received th Spirit of adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father The Spirit himselfe beareth witnesse with our spirits that we are the children of God and if children then heires heires of God and joynt heires with Christ. Where marke a double grace and gift of God 1. That dignity and unspeakeable honor of being children and heires to himselfe and joynt heires with Christ which is conferred on all the faithfull not onely Apostle and others of eminent gifts and place in the Church but commonly on all those true Beleevers at Rome 2. That Spirit of bondage cauâ—ing feare is cast our and the Spirit of adoption even the Spirit of God is given themâ— but to what end even to witnes unto thâ—ir consciences that they are sonnes and heires of God and joynt heirs with Christâ— Now this is such a witnesse as neither can deceive or be deceived and this Testimony of the Apostle so cleare that even the great Cardinall the late Champion of Rome hath no shift for any defence which every childs eye will not easily pierce through Take a third from 2 Cor. 5. 1. Wee kâ—ow if this earthlie house of our Tabernacle were dissolved wee have a building of God not made with hands but eternall iâ— the heavens For in this wee groane earnestly desiring to bee cloothed upon with our house which is from heaven And in the 9 ver the Spirit gives us this reason For wee walke by faith not â—y sight where as the Apostle speaketh generally of the faithfull so also he mentioneth no conjecture no ghesse or flickering earthly hope but a plaine evident knowledge full of heavenly confidence even groaning in desire of dissolution that so they may bee cloathed upon And how commeth this knowledge by some extraordinary revelation no walking by faith not by sight and sense Lastly not to be as were very easie too copious in a matter often cleared see that testimony of another Apostle 1 Iohn .3 1 2. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that wee should be called the sonnes of God c. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Beloved now are wee the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but wee know when hee shall appeare wee shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Carefully attend the Apostle Hee magnifies the wonderfull love of God and calleth us out with joy and admiration to take view of it especially in two effects 1. The glorious dignity to which he preferreth us namely To be his children 2. The manifestation of this our happy estate not indeed to the world which thinketh us the most abject of creatures but to our owne consciences so that we now perceive our selves to be children and though yet wee know not the parcels and particulars of that excellent estate untill wee come to enjoy it yet so much already we know not ghesse that when Christ appeareth wee shall appeare with him in glorie and be like unto him by that beatificall vision of God seeing him face to face Adde onely to this a further confirmation from the mouth of the same Spirit by the hand of the same Pen-man
dwell in Christ and Christ in us by that holy Spirit Hence also may a faithfull soule surely gather God himselfe hath most clearely testified that if I love the Brethren I am translated from death to life that I am borne of God and therefore love the children of God because being my selfe his childe I love my Father Christ hath set his badge and cognizance upon me in that love and that holy Spirit is â—hee which by his presence hath brought my heart into obedience of this precept Certaine then is it that this love to the Saints is proper onely to the Saints even to those whom God hath begotten by his Word saved by his death and sanctified by his grace Seeing then I finde this love to the Saints rooted in my heart that my soule cleaves to their persons delights in their fellowship admires their excellencies sure am I that the same grace which I love fâ—ourishing in others is planted in my selfe that their Father is my Father their Head my Head and that Spirit which dwels in them resteth on me and will abide with me forever CHAP. XXXIV Recollecting and applying these things by short meditation NOw then in the last place let the troubled soule in some inward conference underset and prop up his shaken faith by applying these assurances unto himselfe Say then in thy heart How long oh my soule how long wilt thou suffer this feare which hath torment to hold thee downe in continuall affright and vexation how long shall it keep out that spirituall joy which is thy only Paradise on earth Search oh my Spirit search ouâ— in these heavenly Records those sure evidences whereby thy Lord hath graciously convâ—yed unto thee this happy and blessed estate Are they not layed up in the middest of thy heart See here first divers strong assurances that God hath clensed thee from reigning hypocrisie that hee hath given thee a thirst of righteousnesse not onely a desire to know him but to walke with him in all sincerity of obedience That hee hath given thee an unfeined delight and joy not onely in the Promises but in every Commandement of thy Lord liking and heartily loving that purifying fire of the Word whereby thou art refined as gold and seperate from this sinfull drosse which is so mixed and incorporate with thee A zealous anger and griefe burning within thee detesting every sinne whereby thy Saviour is dishonoured and above all thine owne in which thou unthankefull wretch too often forgettest that incomperable incomprehensible love wherewith hee hath compassed and embraced thee A continuall longing after the Lord Jesus after his death that thou maist be buried in it after his resurrection that thou maist be quickened by it and not only justified in that other but sactifiâ—d in this life and renewed after that his glorious image and divine beauty True indeed my weake soule too true thou art full of infirmities very unfruitfull very unprofitable every one out-strips thee and those who have set out long after thee in this heavenly race are now much before thee But yet comfort thy selfe for even in this estate thy gracious Saviour leaves thee not altogether comfortlesse but still affords thee some token of his eternall love for seeing thy weakenesse thou art humbled within me and broken with griefe of thy barrennesse Remember that he as much delights in the low feat of an humble spirit as in the loftiest Throne of his glorious heavens But rise my dejected soule oh rise up in strong consolations and glorious rejoycings See here oh see thou hast an infallible evidence that the Father of lights hath begotten thee through the word of Truth and that thou art borne anew not of mortall but immortall seede the Word of God and therefore entred not into a corruptible but eternall life For seest thou not that seede of thy Father abiding in thee feelest thou not an unslaked thirst of that sincere milke of the Gospell not that thou mightst have it in thy mouth for discourse but in thy heart for growth growth in all obedience growth in all holinesse and perfection Behold also behold with joy unspeakeable Thy Saviour hath assured his victory unto thee and hath already throwne downe the dominion of sinne in thee It is indeed an enemy a strong a grievous encombring vexing and ah too often prevailing enemy but an enemy thou professest no obedience but proclaimest open warre to every sinne how much more will he who conquered it reigning subdue it rebelling in thee yea certainely the Lord Jesus hath set up his victorious Crosse in thee and he that now hangs out a flagge of defiance will shortly set up his banner of triumph trample all thine enemies and bruise under thy feet both sinne and Satan Consider also that the bleâ—sed Spirit the life of thy spirit dwelleth and continually worketh in thee It cannot bee that uncleane spirit the Prince of disobedience it cannot bee the spirit of the world or that fleshly sinfull spirit within thee which is ever washing thee from uncleannesse seperating thee more and more from the world and the corruption which is in the world through lust which drawes and frames thy desires and actions to all obedience unto the Lord Jesus which gives thee no peace in sinne suffers thee not to rest in any imperfection discovers thy corruption causeth thee to groane under it puts thee forward in thy race enflames thy affections and orders thy feet to turne out of the evill into the good way and to runne in it Dost thou not finde in thee an unfeyned love to the Brethren Doth not thy judgement highly esteeme them Doth not thy will doe not thy affections entirely love and honour them Doth not thy whole soule blesse them How dost thou cleave to them in heart How dost thou admire those that excell upon the earth in holinesse How doest thou delight in them and art ravished with their heavenly fellowship Looke now to thy evidence sworne by the Father written by the Spirit sealed by the bloud of thy Saviour Is not hee borne of God who loves the children of God Is not hee a member who loves a fellow-member Is not hee quickened by the same Spirit who is united in the same spirituall love to those who live walk in the Spirit Rejoyce then oh my sonle rejoyce in the Lord and in these assurances of his everlasting truth and favour Cast out this spirit of bondage this servile this tormenting feare Bring in that joy of the Spirit seat it in the midst of thy heart There let it abide there let it reigne making thee to delight in the Lord to turne and tune thy grones and sighs to hymnes and spirituall songs ever blessing him who never ceaseth to blesse thee to love his glory and glory in his love to serve him in joy and rejoyce in his service CHAP. XXXV Conâ—luding all with Prayer OH glorious Trinity of persons in the unity of one God draw mee nearer