changed their God for that which cannot profit O shall the Heathens be constant to their dumb Idols and shall not we be constant to the living God 8. Slighting of God after we have had some acquaintance with God is quite contrary to the course of his dealings with us Ezek. 36.11 God promises to be better to us in the end then in the beginning He will give us more Communion with him and glory afterwards then he hath done yet and if God be better and better to us shall we grow worse and worse to him God forbid Now O that we might recover that we might remember from whence we are fallen and Repent and do our first works 1. Bathe our selves by faith in the blood of Christ for the pardoning of all our backslidings look upon God in Christ as not ready only to pardon our sins when we were in gross ignorance but to heal all our back-slidings because he loveth us freely Hos 14.4 Jer. 3. the beginning Look upon our Father as having a best Robe to put upon a poor Prodigals back and shoos to put upon his feet though the poor backsliden soul hath scarce a shoo to his foot as we say he hath worn out all 2. O look for fresh and new workings of Gods Spirit upon our hearts to create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us It s said of the Lord that he reneweth the face of the earth that he doth every Spring when Winter hath made the earth to look as if it were cloathed with sackcloath the Lord in the Spring putteth on a new face and dress upon the earth the Birds sing the Trees flourish the grass grows this is our case in our Winter of backsliding a Winter indeed O look that God now should bring a spring time upon thy heart is there not need 3. O look at the heart to be renewed a clean heart saith David good Lord after his backsliding Psalm 51.10 O I would have that bone set right that I may walk in thy Statutes that instrument well tuned Dauid doth not say only Lord let me never commit Murder and Adultery again but Lord give me a clean heart O that hath bred all this mischief the foulness of my heart Lord therefore cleanse that 4. If ever the Lord quicken us again be more watchful and keep close to God if we recover out of this dangerous disease let us have more care of our souls health have a care of spiritual surfets 5. And look that our Recovery be through that the humour be not only diverted but purged away 6. Count all our outward enjoyments nothing but sit mourning in Sion until God graciously visit us 7. Labour to see not only in general that we have backslidden but particularly wherein that we may return no more to folly And those who yet have thriving spirits keep in with that God that smiles upon you say not that it is impossible that thy soul should wander as a Bird from her Nest but watch and pray lest you enter into temptation Often consider that these last times will be times of much backsliding of Professors 2 Tim. 3. O get particular and distinct Knowledge wherein Professors do commonly backslide and get your hearts deeply affected with them and remember what special notice God takes of those that keep close to him in a time when many fall off Thus he took notice of Noah Gen. 7.1 and of the sons of Zadock Ezek. 44.15 Expect to be tempted and tried by an hour of temptation and look not only to be tryed as to conversation but as to Judgement as to Opinions Sathan will have a bout with you with that Weapon of Error How many are fallen off that way but labour to have more grounds out of the Word and clearer light for all you hold Let plain Christians who have no skil in Controversies yet furnish themselves with Scriptures for every point as for the Godhead of Christ Justification by Christ and the like and labour to have your hearts given up to the Truth you know put not your selves upon Temptations in hearing every body suspect those Opinions that neither further your Communion with God nor his most holy People but straiten you in both stick close to the Word and not move a hairs breadth from it Don't love to dispute against that which you are convinced to be Truth to shew your parts and reach Take in the benefit of other light in your doubts and look up to the Spirits guidance to lead you into all Truth CHAP. IX Of Assurance and peace of Conscience ALL Believers have not Assurance some Believers walk in darkness and see no light Esay 50.10 A true Saint may be in great doubtings so great as Heman complains that his troubles were so great that they did as iâ— were distract him yea a Believer may be a long time in that condition Psalm 88.15 Heman was so exercised from his youth up There are several causes why many Believers are in great doubts about their spiritual estates as 1. want of constant meditation upon Gods free Grace in Christ 2 Falling into great sins 3. The often prevailing of the same corruption 4. Want of answers of prayers 5. Some great cross and affliction that is befallen them that they are tempted to think would never have befallen them if the Lord loved them this mistake hath disturbed the peace of many a Child of God 6. The not meeting with communion with God in Duties if God loved me saith the soul would he let me come and go from his Ordinances and take no notice of me 7. The subtile Disputes of Satan against our Sincerity in the ways of God many times baffle us and make us fit to give up the cause 8. The observing that a Hypocrite may go far strikes many a Child of God into a great fear whether he be gone beyond a Hypocrite or no 9. Unacquaintedness with Gods workings upon our hearts we know but in part as we know not all the evil in our hearts so a Saint doth not know all the good and Grace that God hath put into them 10. The weakness of Grace but like a graine of mustard seed in our hearts the least of all seeds so Faith and Sincerity lies like a small mustard seed among huge clods of corruption and the soul hath much ado many times to see this grain of mustard seed among these clods Thus and many other wayes a true Child of God may fall into great doubts and fears about his spiritual estate indeed if men know of no workings that have been upon their spirits it s a sign they are yet in a natural estate the Saint of God knows that there have been workings of the Spirit and convictions upon him but he feareth that they were but common workings such as are upon Hypocrites and Reprobates and not the saving work of Gods Spirit that he questions whether he hath gone beyond the stony-ground hearers
be observed by the hearers in the delivery of the word yet not so as to the Preacher himself by the observing of the inward frame of his heart some mens tone and art of speaking may counterfeit affections and other mens age and weakness of speech may hide very spiritual affections in that work 6 The blessed Spirit is the great thing in reading and hearing of the word 1 How clearely will the Spirit open a Scripture to a mans understanding when a man hath read many Expositors the Spirit of God is pleased many times to be the best Commentator 2 How the Spirit of God applyes the word read or preached with power many times upon the conscience and indeed then comes the word with power when it cometh in the Holy Ghost 1 Thes 1.5 and we should not observe only what we read or heard but what impressions the Spirit of God made upon the hearts in reading or hearing Those which Peter preacht to Act. 10. the holy Ghost fell on them when it is so with hearers then the word affects them indeed 3 The Spirit of God in hearing of the word sometimes enlargeth a soul and enlightneth it into a Truth far beyond what the Preacher made out in expressions 4 Yea the Spirit makes use of some passage in a Sermon many times to work upon a soul that was but a parenthesis and circumlocution or reflexion upon the hearers ignorance and dulness things that many would think might very well have been left out 7 The Spirit of God is of infinite use to us to lead us into Truth Joh. 16.13 He leads Believers into all truth all necessary truth to Salvation Gods spirit doth as it were print a body of divinity in the hearts of Believers and though many of them be of weak Judgement and not able to answer the subtile Arguments that may be brought against a Truth yet Gods Spirit keeps them in the Truth that they are not led aside 8 The Spirit brings things to our remembrace John 14.26 That though many an honest heart when he hath read or heard the word complains he can remember very little yet Gods Spirit will bring things seasonably to their Remembrance that it may be many years after when by reason of some Temptation or affliction they have most need of such a truth then they have such a place of Scripture or such a passage of a sermon heard long ago brought to their Remembrance by Gods spirit and shall be of mighty use to them The conscionable and diligent hearing and reading of the word is frequently blessed with seasonable remembrance yea Gods Spirit hath sometimes convinced and converted a soul by bringing things to Remembrance that were read or heard many years ago and then took no impression upon the soul that the benefit of hearing and reading of the word both by Believers and Unbelievers doth not always appear upon that instant but it may be a great while afâ—…r CHAP. XIII The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Iesus our Surety IT s a thing of unspeakable comfort to know that the Covenant of Grace is an everlasting Covenant and that it was principally made with Christ as the head of the Elect several things shew that there was a Covenant and Agreement between God the Father the Lord Jesus concerning the work of Redemption Christ being called the surety of the better Covenant Heb. 7.22 shews that there was a Covenant between God the Father and him as there is between a Creditor and a Surety that Christ gave Bonds as it were to God the Father and payed the debt when Christ is called Gods servant Esay 42.1 holds forth as much that though Christ as to his Divine nature was equal with God yet as Mediatour he became the Fathers servant God the Father and he agreed and Covenanted about the doing of this great Work of saving sinners Yea in Psalm 89.28 God the Father saith my Covenant shall stand fast with him that is which Christ for many things in that Psalm shew that it s to be interpreted of Christ so then there is a Covenant that God the Father hath made with Christ the Mediatour which Covenant the Lord saith shall stand fast upon this account the Lord Jesus is said Revel 13.8 to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the world because that it was agreed and Covenanted between God the Father Christ that he should in the fulness of time be made flesh and die for sinners and therefore it was said to be done from the Foundation of the world because so it was written in the Volume of Gods Book that the Lord Jesus had agreed to come to do the will of God Heb. 10. which was to offer up one Sacrifice for sins for ever which was himself and for the same Reason it is said that the Promises are made to Abrahams seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 not to seeds as of many but they are principally made to one saith he and that is Christ and this the Apostle asserts 2 Tim. 1.9 when he saith we are saved and called not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began which shews that God the Father and Christ dealt together about the Redemption of souls before the world began and all things agreed on and made sure between them This the Lord Jesus means John 10.16 when he saith there were other sheep which he must bring home why must he bring them home how was he bound to it only by this Covenant and Agreement with God the Father wherein he had covenanted to do it Thus then it may be expressed in three particulars 1. God the Father decreed the salvation of the Elect all those expressions where he is said to chuse them love them with an everlasting Love evince so much 2. God the Father appointed the Lord Jesus to be the Way and means by which they should be saved therefore is Christ said to be appointed by God the Father Heb. 3.2 therefore God is said to lay help upon him for poor sinners Psalm 89. and therefore God is said to appoint us to obtain by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.7 this is everywhere spoken of in the Scripture 3. God the Father made a sure Covenant with the Lord Jesus and agreed with him that he should do this great Work of bringing many sons unto glory And so as we may express it to our Capacities under the Notion of a Covenant there were several things agreed on between God the Father and Christ our Mediatour 1. They agreed of price what that Ransom should be that should discharge poor sinners and make full satisfaction to Gods Justice and it was agreed that it should be the death and blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus this is expressed Heb. 10. where Christ saith to God the Father Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not according to the Law but in
many times So that there is great need of the witness of the Spirit besides all our evidences to put the matter out of doubt that we are effectually called and so it is writen Rom. 8.15 The Spirit himself witnesses with our spirits that we are the sons of God He makes a heart-affecting discovery of the love of God in Christ to the soul Rom. 5.5 excites and stirs up Faith in the heart to act afresh upon the Lord Jesus works some joy in the soul from the apprehension of our Acceptance in Christ The Holy Ghost sometimes in assuring us of Gods love in Christ takes Promises in the Scriptures and sets them with power upon the heart as I am He that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own Names sake and will remember thy sins no more Not that all words of Scripture that are cast into our minds are from the Spirit of the Lord but sometimes from Satan sometimes Promises come into our minds in an ordinary way as other things come to mind that we have read or heard but when any word of Scriptute is given in and applied in a way of comfort to our spirits from the Spirit of God 1. It will take some Impression though it may be that when the Spirit comes to comfort and witness he many times comes not with such irresistibility as when he comes to sanctifie yet some Impression it will have upon the heart if not to fill it with joy and Triumphing of spirit yet some way to support it and bear it up 2. If it come from the Spirit it will be suitable and seasonable to our condition as if a poor Saint be in affliction and the Holy Ghost should give in such a word as that in Heb. 12.9 He afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness this is a seasonable word but many will say that such a Scripture was given in to them in such a condition when as the Scripture was nothing suitable to their condition but they mistook the meaning of the place 2. When the Spirit giveth in Scripture usually though not alwayes it is when the soul is in some strait some great strait and then he giveth them in some word upon which he causeth them to hope 4. Such words of Promise as the Spirit applies thus to a soul are very dear to the soul ever after yea it makes the whole Word of God more dear to them and such words do abide upon the memory very long 5. They raise up thankfulness in the heart 6. They do not cherish us in any way of sin if you thought you had any word from the Lord to put you upon any thing that the Word saith is sin then you were mistaken Somtimes the Spirit of God in comforting and witnessing to us doth not make use of any particular places and Promises but makes a general Discovery of the Gospel and New Covenant and applies that to the soul and shews him that he hath an Interest in the New Covenant that he is one of those whose Names are written in heaven and is sprinkled with the blood of Christ which cleanseth him from all sin This also I would here note that the Spirit of God doth speak peace to the consciences of many Believers that yet think they have no peace and question the truth of Grace in their hearts I say though it comes not so high as Ravishments of spirit yet the Holy Ghost in some more secret way hath quieted their hearts How comes it to pass else that those Believers notwithstanding all their doubtings yet do really and experimentally find that they can go to God as to a Father in prayer they are carried out to put all their cases to God and trust him with all their concernments and they find that the rancour of their spirits is taken off against the Lord these things declare plainly that in some secret way the Spirit of God hath quieted their hearts and given them some satisfaction concerning their sincerity and Truth of Grace though it hath not been so plain as to some other Saints that have had full assurance and abundance of joy in the Holy Ghost thereupon Let not the Saints be impatient and fret to do evil if the Spirit don't presently give them assurance neither let them think that they shall never have assurance because they have been long without it The Lord oftentimes lets things come to the worst before he sends help Peace and Assurance may be very near when thou thinkest that there is almost now no hope yea this is observable that when the Holy Spirit shall give assurance after much doubting that assurance oftentimes is more lasting then others that have had comfort sooner But God lets some even spend their dayes in sighing and their years with heaviness and even mourn out their eyes and hearts and find no rest and peace in Believing the Lord makes known to us by such examples the bitterness of sin the power of his Terrours the danger of backsliding and that he only can speak peace Let Christians beware of getting a habit of complaining and doubting as I have known some have got such a habit of complaining that upon all occasions and in all company they must be laying out their doubtings not but that Christians should make known their troubles and fears in suitable times one to another both that others seeing the straits that they are in may pray the more for them and might comfort them with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God but I say many have such a habit of complaining that I had almost said whether they have doubts and troubles upon their spirits or no they think it not well if they have not some complaint to make and think that their godly friends expect it alwayes from them Some not considering what Faith is viz. the souls being brought off from all other things to depend and relie upon the Lord Jesus for eternal life they bear false witness against themselves that they do not believe in Christ thinking that faith is nothing but some high Ravishments and almost perfection whereas ask such souls Hath the Lord convinced you of your miserable estate by nature both in respect of the damning and domineering power of sin and they can truly say yea the Lord hath convinced me of this Ask them further Hath the Lord shewn you that all your own Righteousness can never save you nothing but a crucified Christ can do it the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath powerfully convinced me of this ask the soul further Hath the Lord ever made you truly sensible that you could not believe in your own strength but Faith was the Lords free gift and the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath made me sensible of this and you ask further Did you ever find an Almighty power of Gods Spirit drawing your heart to Christ to take him for the Lord your Righteousness so that
for Christs sake hath forgiven us there will be something amiss in our carriages towards our Brethren and if we do not forgive where will our love be Minister to the wants of the Saints according to our abilities freely without grudging do not unsaint our Brethren because of some ignorance and error The Patriarcks are supposed to have been ignorant that Polygamy the having of more wives then one was a sin the disciples ignorant of Christs death and resurrection at the first visit the Saints those that are the poor especially when they are under afflictions not only to comfort them but because then usually there is much good to our selves in converse with them 21. If God hath made our days hitherto days of outward prosperity compassed us about with fulness of the creature watch against sin the more David committed those three great sins of murder adultery numbring the people when he was in prosperity and greatness And do good while we have estates or oppornity and look and prepare for afflictions don 't think God will always use thee to such fair weather and if God continue prosperity learn heavenlyness not to stick in the creature learn moderation not to surfer on the creature and daily make wise observation of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature 22. If Afflictions come see if thou canst find out the particular cause of them which sometimes may be known by the time when it comes As for Nebuchadnezar Daniel 4. to be struck just when he had been saying Is not this great Babel which I have built it was easie to know that his pride and vain glory was the cause of that woful affliction that came upon him and so Herod Act. 12. to be just smitten with death when the people cryed it was the voice of a God and he took that to himself it was easie to see that that was the cause of his death so also we may sometimes know the cause of our afflctions by that way of affliction that God useth to us it may be so like our sin as Davids affliction in the â—…eath of the Child that was by Bathsheba Vriah's wife 1 Sam. 12. it was easie to know that that sin was the cause of the childs death and so Adonibezeck Judg. 1.6,7 when he had his Thumbs and great Toes cut off he presently was convinced what was the cause of the affliction because he had served threescore and ten Kings so himself Sometimes God shews us the cause of our afflictions by setting it up upon the hearts of our Brethren among whom we live Sometimes he sets it home upon our own Spirits that such a sin is the cause of it but if the Lord never let us know all our days the particular cause of many afflictions yet we are to kiss the rod submit to his hand search and trie our waies humble our selves under his hand and walk more closely with him in the whole course of our lives 23. Take heed that we offend not with our Tongues let our words be few take not up most of the time in discourse when better gifts are present but be swift to hear let our discourse be seasonable to time place company if they be wicked such discourse as may awaken and convince if they be strong Saints such discourse as may be sutable to them sometimes it is not fit to speak in the company of weak trembling Saints what horrible temptations other Saints have unless it be to comfort them that they are not alone but others of Gods children are tempted as well as they otherways weak Saints many times fall into great torment of spirit that they shall be tempted as they are and that they shall sink under the Burthen Do not use to commend your selves neither affect in discourse to give others occasion to commend you do not delight in rough and harsh speeches be wary to whom we open our hearts in secret matters not unless they can keep Councell and give Councell use heavenly discourse among godly men for want of that makes their company to be little better then other mens in discourse be not silent when there is cause to speak out of affected gravity nor speak out of for wardness or indiscretion when our silence is better 24. Prize the Scriptures as the word of God so they are called over and over Blessed is he that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it Now the Lord is revealing light out of the Scripture more and more Satan tempts many to deny the word of God all Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the breathing of God 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God wrote the Scriptures and they wrote them as they were moved by the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forcibly carried out of themselves and above themselves by the holy Ghost By the word of God when the Scriptures are so called is meant that which God hath spoken that which he hath said and therefore for men to boggle at the expression and say the Scriptures are not the Word of God but only Christ is the Word of God it is as much as to say the Scriptures are not what the Lord hath spoken and what holy men wrote as they were moved by the holy Ghost as the holy Ghost indited this is a horrible temptation it is true Christ is called the word so is he the Eternal Word of God but the Scriptures also are the Word of God the written Word of God Where this temptation prevails upon men that they question the Scriptures being the word of God by degrees they throw up all Religion all truths one after another and though they do it at first under the notion of living in the spirit and of the Light within them yet at last they turn very Atheists and thus after a generation of grosly ignorant and superstitious persons there is risen up a multitude of deluded and erroneous persons even in the fundamentals of Religion But O let those that are the Lords people study the word of God day and night try all things by the Word get sutable hearts to the Word that we may understand it the better look up to the Spirit that indited the Scripture to be our Expositor and comment upon them and often try our selves by the word and take heed to all our ways according to the word read it ofner then other books and give up our hearts to all the Truths of it 25. Lay up experiences which are better then Cabinets of Jewels lay up experiences of the comfortings of the Spirit of his gracious influence in prayer and other duties lay up experiences of the ravishing consolation that flows from Christs blood lay up experiences of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature and of Gods care over us to keep us from many sins and errrors when we have had great temptations to them take special times to meditate of all the special experiences we
have had both in inward and outward Mercy 26. Beware of covetousness and greediness after the things of this world for there is no satisfaction in the creature we think if we had so much as some others have we could be satisfied but this is certain nothing but God can set bounds unto the desires of mens hearts after worldly things but our hearts if they be set upon the world will cry Give still all the world cannot redeem us from death nor all our Silver or Gold buy off any of the pangs of death and though men are earnest upon the world for their Children that they may leave them great matters to be some body in the world yet we must know that the happiness of our Posterity doth not lie in our leaving them great estates for if they never have Christ it usually makes them more sinfull in this world and more miserable in the world to world to come yea God oftentimes raiseth poor Children to greater Estate in the world then they ever come to and blasteth and crusheth the great Estate that men leave without his fear and though the next Heirs it may be may keep it together yet their Heirs may suddenly consume and too often the more money men lay up for their Children the fewer Prayers they lay up for them besides as Christ bids us beware of covetousness upon that account Luke 12.17 a mans life that is the comfort of it doth not consist in the multitude of that we possess not only the true comfort of a mans life doth not lie in multitude of riches but in Communion with God but the outward comfort of a mans life doth not consist in the multitude of riches many men of ordinary estates do enjoy more outward comfort then men of great Estates How many great men have no comfort in their Estates either God denies them of Heirs and that is a torment to them or gives them not Power to eat of that which they possess or God sendeth them such pains and sickness of Body that they spend their days with grief and their years with sighing Some way or other God sends them such crosses and troubles that eat out all the comforts of their Estates therefore let our Conversation be without covetousness and be content with the things which we have though it be little for God hath said He will never leave us nor forsake us 27. Beware of distracting cares fears sorrows about earthly things for these heart-distracting cares are mighty contrary to the life of faith they work not only death of soul but the sorrow of the world and grief about these things do hasten death of the body they drink and suck up the juyce of our natural Spirits All our distracting cares cannot add one Cubit unto our statures they cannot keep any of those crosses off yea they provoke God to bring those troubles and crosses that we in an unbelieving way care and perplex our Spirits about they make the troubles of our Pilgrimage more then otherwise they would be for they provoke God to continue the rod longer upon our backs and make the afflictions we have more tedious as a man in the stocks to take on and gall his legs to get out makes his suffering a great deal more then it would be if he sat quiet there is no way but to submit to God in all that befals us and not to distract our hearts in a carnal way about troubles before they come and be impatient and murmuring when they do come yet a Christian will find this a hard lesson to learn 28. Beware of the leaven of Hypocrisie as Christ calls it leaven indeed that leaveneth and sowreth our duties exceedingly beware not only of gross Hypocrisie such as declareth a man to be an Hypocrite but lay aside all other Hypocrisie that is more secret as in such particulars as these 1 When we are to pray before others not to depend upon the assistance of Gods Spirit as we do at other times but to fetch in some fine expressions by the strength of memory which we have used or read heretofore this is an evil to be watched against 2 It s the working of Hypocrisie in our hearts when we are enlarged in secret prayer to have a thought in our hearts to wish that such and such might hear us that they might think highly of our gifts 3 And so when we purposely give others occasion to commend us in conference 4 Or when we undervalew our selves not in the humility and truth of our hearts but purposely that others might commend us 5 Or when we boast of things beyond or live and speak at too high a rate of those things that God hath wrought by us too highly commend those that God hath wrought upon by us that we might have more praise 29. Watch against spiritual pride seeing that we have nothing but what we have freely received Spiritual pride is of all things most contrary to the dispensation of Grace in Christ wherein the Lord hath taken a way to save us wherein we are nothing but his free Grace is all in all let all Saints look upon themselves as the greatest of sinners for though we have not commited many great sins as Murder and the like that others have committed yet we have the same corrupt nature that the worst of men have and our sins have aggravations that make us greater sinners as the light we have of the love of God to us in Christ the Ordinances and means of Grace all these aggravate the sins of Believers and though we may be higher in Gifts and in place then many Saints yet be not high-minded but fear knowing that you are therefore a City set upon a hill which cannot be hid and God having given you eminent Gifts and brought you to some eminent place God will be more dishonoured by your falls and miscarriages which is a mighty humbling consideration that religion may have more dishonor by you then by twenty other Saints failings 30. Reprove sin for though some may turn again and rent you yet sometimes you may be an instrument of converting a soul and if this fall out but once in all thy life it s a great Mercy however it is thy duty to leave it to the Lord to give success in it 31. Be not peremptory and too earnest for the suddain removing of any affliction for if that it lasts long usually the more good is done thy soul by it 32. Be not weary of prayer and other duties because you do not always find such extraordinary joys and communion with God as sometimes you have done as sometimes the Lord hath been so present in prayer with a Saint that he cryed out Lord I could spend eternity thus Eternity thus Then hours and days to be in duty is no wearisomness to the Spirit though to the body but at other times the souls is tyred with a short walk a short duty but continue in
prayer and all duties whether our Communion with God be more or less in them FINIS CHAP. XX. How the Lord is pleased effectually to call some after they have been long in their natural Estate and have been very wicked GOd is pleased to suffer some of his Elect to go on a great while in Ignorance and to fall into great sins before he convert them as Matthew Zachaeus Mary Magdalene an elect person yet God leaveth her to be possest with seven devils and to be a Harlot before he convert her Paul an elect person yet God leaveth him a great while to go on in a Pharisaical way and to be a grievous Persecutor before the Lord convert him The Thief upon the Cross was an elect person yet the Lord let him run on a long time in his sins for these he is sentenced to die theâ—… the Lord converts him now there are many reasons why the Lord in his insinite wisdom suffers many elect persons to fall into so much sin before the Lord convert them As 1 because God will make it more eminently appeare that it was his meer Grace to save them and convert them God doth convert many in their young time before they have run into much prophaness others God leaveth to go on a long time in prophaness and though he could have converted them before yet he doth it to magnifie his own Grace 2 And God doth it that men might be the more humble after their Conversion remembring what great sins they fell into before the Lord called them 3 Hereby mens conversion is more remarkable to themselves and to others and tends much to the awakening of others when they shall see a notorious sinner so changed it may startle others exceedingly 4 That the worst of sinners might not be hardned and go on desperately in their sins and say There is no hope no but seeing others converted after they have gone on so long in sin that they might now come to Christ and say I will have no more fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but cast my self upon the free mercy of God in Christ 5 That we might use means to convert the greatest sinners and not say There is no hope that that Drunkard and that Worldling should ever be converted and so never use means to discover sin and Christ to them 6 That God might shew the certainty of Election that those that he hath chosen shall be called according to Gods gracious purpose which purpose shall stand By this we see that all the Father giveth to Christ shall come to him and be effectually called though they are long before they are converted 7 Hereby God will shew us the infinite merit of his Sons blood that it will cleanse from all sin that though an elect person hath so abounded in sin yet the blood of Christ is able to save him to the utmost 8 And thus God sheweth the power of his Spirit that he is able to convert men not only when they are less sinners but when they are mightily hardened in sin and have long accustomed themselves to do evil Question But doth God love an elect Person and hath he care of them before they be converted Answ Yes God loved them from eternity God loved Jacob Rom. 9. before he had done good or evil God doth not then begin to love a soul when he is converted though then the effects of his love do more appear 2 God gave his blessed Son for his elect while they were enemies then they were reconciled to God by the death of his Son he died for the ungodly Rom. 5.9,10 and this was infinite love 3 If God did not love the Elect before they were converted they would never be converted It s his infinite love to them that he unites draws them to Christ without which drawing they could never come to Christ 4 God Hath such a love and care towards an elect person that he never suffers them to fall into the sin against the holy Ghost though they fall into other great sins 5 God hath such a care towards them that they never die unconverted Rom. 8,30 Whom he did predestinate them he hath also called God either converts them in their young time or else lengthens out their days upon the earth and brings them to Christ though it be at the eleventh hour As God called some of all sorts of sinners excepting those that commit the sin against the holy Ghost so he calleth at several ages some in their child-hood some in their middle age and some in their old age but God calleth most in their young time whilst their hearts are yet tender How hath the Lord been pleased to work Grace in them that have been mightily prejudiced against the powerfull preaching of the word as it s recorded in the life of that gracious man Mr. Robert Bolton that before his conversion he hearing Mr. Perkins preach he said He was an empty dry fellow but after he was converted he had high thoughts of his powerfull Ministry Another was that afterwards one of the most eminent in grace and gifts that our times have known when the Bel went for Mr. Perkins secretly was glad in his heart that he was dead that he might not be so startled by his heart-searching ministry which thought did exceedingly humble him afterwards and God pleased powerfully to work upon him and make him a burning and shining light Thus where sin abounds Gods grace sometimes cals a soul and so abounds much more then sin abounded If we knew all passages concerning those whom the Lord converteth what prophaness in some what strange ignarance in others what wicked resistance of the Spirit it would make us cry out O the wickedness of the creature and O the unsearchable riches of Gods free grace some have gone to an Ordinance to sleep and the Lord hath made such a noise by his Spirit in their hearts that they have been past sleeping their souls have been so effectually awakened some have gone to ensnare the Preacher and the Lord hath changed their hearts and opened their eyes some have gone boldly to outface the Lord in his Ordinances and the Lord hath made their stout hearts tremble at his word some have gone only out of novelty to hear a man because he was a stranger or was a noted Preacher and the Lord hath converted them some have gone with their hearts as full of prejudice against the Preacher as could be and yet the Lord hath bowed their heares before they came away and made them say Surely God is in this man and in his Ministry of a truth Some shall certainly be converted and must enter into Gods rest Heb. 4.6 1 because God hath ordained some to eternal life Acts 13.48 and the Election must obtain it 2 The Lord Jesus hath died for them and hath made their peace by the blood of his cross And God the Father hath given him power over all the