THE CHRISTIANS Great Interest Or a short TREATISE Divided into two Parts The First whereof containeth The Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ The Second pointeth forth plainly The Way How to Attain it Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of Express Covenanting with God By W. GVTHRIE Minister of the Gospel in SCOTLAND 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure c. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates The Seventh Impression Wherein the Errata's of the former Impressions are amended and several words which sounded hard in the English rendred more clear and intelligible LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in Poultry 1681. THE Stationer TO THE READER The Epistle Commendatory from a Christian Friend giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of This Book Christian Friend I Have sent you by the Bearer this Book which by Providence came to my hand and a Blessed Providence indeed it was to me for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought the savour of it to my heart Upon peruâ—al of it I find such a blessed and happy conjunction betwixt the Gifts and the Graces of the Spirit such a holy and humble Condescention to my plain capacity such a serious handling of serious truths that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan Joh. 4. 29. Come see one that hath told me all that ever I did or rather all that God hath done in me and for me He that hath waded much in the waters of soul-trouble may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its Terrours and Troubles And he who is got out of these and is sunning his soul in the light of Gods Countenance may here behold the light side of the Cloud I mean the Spirit of Adoption in all its beautiful colours The former part of this Book sets forth the soul in a storm when the Law comes thundering to the Conscience the latter leads it into a Calm of sweet peace and serenity When the Spirit of God comes to a troubled soul as the Son of God once came to the troubled Sea with A peace be still Mat. 4. 29. But if it should not be thus the Believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give and to know he is wise to give when he will what he will and how he will I find now that peace is sown for the Righteous Psal 97. 11. but all do not reap the crop till they come into Emmanuel's land Isa 8. 8. there our joy as well as our light shall be clear and our love perfect And if there be any more concerned in this Piece than others though it deals forth its bread to all it 's young Men and young Converts the latter may here behold as in a Map or Mirrour the several Providences and various workings of the blessed Spirit that have all concurred in the bringing them home to God and may take notice of all the inducements and remora's they met with in the way That as Moses was to write a History of the Children of Israel passing through the Wilderness Numb 33. 2. so doth this Book with a holy kind of Elegancy describe the Spirits leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the Spiritual Canaan never leaving it till it comes to the Mountain of Spices Cant. 8. 14. out of Satans gun-shot where his habitation shall be a Munition of Rocks Isa 33. 16. neither is there one path omitted so far as I could ever read or gather from my own or others experience So that it may not be unfitly termed A Spiritual day-Book of all the passages between the Spirit of God and the soul in its regeneration work Which is no loss profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the Records of Gods love manifested in the Gospel What care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the Gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity For tryal bringâ—â—ruth to light and those things which through many Cloudâ— intercepting may have lost their remembrance in the soul are here clearly discovered that they have been although for the present the beliâ—◠〈…〉 How is the Gold become dim How is the fine gold hanged And the looking over paâ— experienâ—â— brings a renewed favour and spiritual relliâ—â— of those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good at least supports the Soul under the want of sensible feeling whilst it calls to remembrance the days of old the years of Gods right hand But I have done and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellency and utility of this piece The Lord make it so profitable to others as it hath been to me To his blessing I leave both you and it and remain Your true Christian Friend G. B. TO THE READER Christian Reader WHile the generality of Men especially in these days by their eager pursuit after low and base interests have proclaimed as upon the house tops how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part which if chosen should never be taken from them I have made an Essay such as it is in the following Treatise to take thee off from this unprofitable though painful pursuit by proposing the chiefest of interests even the Christians Great Interest to be seriously pondered and constantly pursued by thee Thou mayest think it strange to see any in Print from my Pen as indeed it is a surprize to my self But necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination in regard that some without my knowledge have lately published some imperfect Notes of a few of my Sermons most confusedly together prefixing withal this vain Title as dispealsing to my self as the publishing of the thing A Clear Attractive Warming-Beam c. Vpon this occasion I was prevailed with to publish this late Piece wherein I have purposely used a most homely and plain stile lest other wayes though when I have stretched my self to the utmost I am below the Judicious and more Vnderstanding I should be above the reach of the Rude and Ignorant whose advantage I have mainly if not only consulted I have likewise studied brevity in every thing so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicâ—ity knowing that the persons to whom I address my self herein have neither much mony to spend upon Books nor much time to spare upon Reading If thou be a Rigid Critick I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at yet assure thy self that I had no design to offend thee neither will thy simple approbation satisfie me It 's thy
hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ is their ignorance of some special principles of Religion as 1. That it was free love in Gods bosome and nothing in man that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he sent c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people which hath no reason cause or motive in us and so they cannot come to the knowledg of their interest 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart so as he hath ground to lay claim to it viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness all these things are loss and dung Phil. 3. 6 7 Secondly It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things The man finds a treasure for which with joy he selleth all c. Mat. 13. 44 46. Thirdly it determineth the heart and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances Psal 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him and him alone 62. 5. My soul wait thou only upon God Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart and formed Christ there Gal. 4. 19. The heart is changed and made new in the aforesaid work Ezek. 36. 26. and Gods Law is so stamped upon the heart in that change Jer. 31. 33. that the whole yoak of Christ is commended to the man without exception Rom. 7. 12. 16. The Law is acknowledged good holy just and spiritual upon all which from that new principle of life there flow out acts of a new life Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love Rom. 6. 18 22. and the man becometh a servant of righteousness and unto God which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship Joh. 4. 24. Rom. 7. 6. men then serve God in spirit and truth and in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter and tenderness in all manner of conversation The man then exerciseth himself how to keep a conscience void of offence c. Acts 24. 16. Now this way doth the love God discover it self unto man and acteth on him so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it so as he may justly think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect to such a man as hath found these things made out unto him Surely Ignorance of this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ for if a man know not how God worketh with a person so as he may justly lay claim to his love which was from eternity he will wander in the dark and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him 3. Many are also ignorant of this That God alone is the hope of his people he is called the hope of Israel Jer. 14. 8. Although inherent quallifications are evidences of it yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith 1 Pet. 1. 21. the faith and hope must be in God and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the Covenant Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but believeth faith is imputed for righteousness Indeed if any person take liberty here and turn grace into wantonness there is without doubt in so far a delusion since there is mercy with him upon condition that it conciliate fear to him Psal 130. 14. Yea hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of Gods love made out upon him make a cloak of the Covenant for sinful liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict In this respect he that is born of God doth not sin and he who doth so sin hath not seen God 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. I say God is the hope of his people and not their own holiness If they intend honestly and long seriously to be like unto him many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence for it is in him who changeth not Mal. 3. 6. And if any man sinneth he hath an Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Now when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope since they give not to God the Glory due to his Name and which he will not give unto another compare Psal 9. 10. They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee with Isa 42. 9. My glory will I not give to another I am the Lord that is my Name 4. Many are ignorant of the different wayes and degrees of Gods working with his people and it doth much darken their knowledge and reflex acts of their interest in him This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads 1. They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that Law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men and of the different way how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ They consider not that the Jaylor is not kept an hour in bondage Acts 16. Paul is kept in suspence three days Acts 9. Zacheus not one moment Luke 19. 2. They are ignorant of or at least do not consider how different the degrees of Sanctification are in the Saints and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some and the sad blemishing thereof in others Some are very blameless and more free of gross outbreakings adorning their profession much as Job Job 1. and Zachariah Luke 1. Those are said to be perfect walking in all the Commandements of God Others were subject to very gross and sad evils as Solomon Asa c. 3. They are ignorant of the different communications of Gods face and expression of his presence Some do walk much in the Light of Gods countenance and are much in sensible fellowship with Him as David was others are all their days kept in bondage through â—ear of death Heb. 2. 25. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their Interest in him whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working which he doth not keep as we have shewed in the former examples The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is There is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord which they will not let go neither are using the means which
They never close with Jesus Christ in that contrivement and him alone as a sufficient covering of the eyes as is said of Abraham to Sarah Gen. 20. 16. They still hold fast somewhat of their own at least to help to procure Gods favour and salvation Their heart doth still speak as that young mans speech Luke 18 18 21. doth insinuate What want I that I may inherit life Beside that they do still retain their former lovers and will not break their Covenants with Hell and Death imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart contrary to that A man cannot serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. Either Christ must be judged absolute Lord and worthy to be so or nothing at all And so it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that way of salvation by Christ whom God hath alone made Lord here in whom all fulness shall dwell But where justifying faith is the soul of a man and his heart doth close with Christ and him alone having no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. Psal 62. 5. he trusteth only in God As also the man here giveth up with other lovers as they stand in competition with Christ they resolve not to be for another Hos 3. 3. They call him Lord which a man can only do by the Spirit of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 3. 2. As Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ alone so they do never close with full Christ as he is annointed to be a King to rule over a man in all things a Priest to procure pardon and to make peace for man upon all occasions a Prophet to be wisdom and a Teacher and Counsellor in all cases to man So they do not receive Christ especially in the first and third offices But where true justifying faith is a man closeth with whole Christ in all his offices judging all his will good holy just and spiritual Rom. 7. 12. and right concerning all things Psalm 119. 128. making mention of his righteousness only Psal 71 16. The man also giveth up himself to be taught of him Mat. 11. 29. So that Christ is made to the true believer with his own consent wisdom righteousness sanctification and compleat redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. And although he hath not all these things formally in exercise when his heart goeth out after Christ yet upon search and tryal it will be found with him as I have said 3. Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ and all the inconveniencies may follow him they stick at that with that man Mat. 8. 19. 20. But where true justifying saith is a man doth close with him on all hazards he resolveth to forego all rather than to forego Christ Mar. 10. 28. he reckoneth all to be loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus as his Lord and to be found in him Phil. 3. 8. We might give other differences also as that true faith is operative purifying the heart Acts 15. 9. working by love Gal. 5. 44. Whilst Hypocrites do only cleanse the outside of the platter Mat. 23. 25. and do all to be seen of men Mat 6. 5. not seeking the honour that is of God only and so cannot believe John 5. 6. We might also shew that true faith is never alone in a man but attended with other saving graces But because these things will co-incide with what followeth and here we are shewing that a man may take up his gracious state by his faith and the actings thereof on Christ we pass these things The second great mark of a gracious state and true saving interest in Jesus Christ is the new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature That new creation or renovation of that man is a very sensible change although not in those who are effectually called from the womb or in their younger years because those have had this new creature from that time in them so as this charge in after period of time is not discernable yet in those who have been regenerated and brought unto Christ after they were come to greater age and so have been more palpably unde the power of darkness before they were translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. But in all who do warrantably pretend to Christ this new creature must be although some do not know experimentally the contraries of every part of it so as others do because they have not been equally in regard of practice under the power of darkness This new creature is called the new man Gal. 3. 10. which doth hold out the extent of it It is not simply a new tongue or a new hand but a new man There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man which is the new heart which new principle of life sendeth forth acts of life or of conformity to the image of him who created it Col. 3. 10. So as the party is renewed in some measure every way This renovation of the man who is in Christ may be reduced to these two great heads First There is a renovation of the mans person soul and body in some measure 1. His understanding is renewed so as he judgeth Christ Preached in the Gospel to be the wisdom and power of God a wise strong contrivement beseeming God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. He knoweth the things of God really and solidly not to be yea and nay and uncertain fancies but all to be yea and amen solid certain substantial things having a desirable accomplishment in Christ and resolving much in him 1 Cor. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 18. Natural men educated under Gospel ordinances although they have some notional knowledge of God Christ Promises the motions of the holy Spirit c. so as they may Confer Preach and dispute of these things yet they look on them as common received Maxims of Christianity from which to recede were a singularity and disgrace but not as real solid substantial truths so as to adventure their Souls and Everlasting being on them The understanding is renewed also to take up somewhat of God in the creatures as bearing sparks of his glorious attributeâ— Psal 10. 1. They see the Heavens declaring his Glory and Power and somewhat of God in providence anâ— dispensations that fall out His wondrous works declaring that his Name is near Psal 75. 1. The understanding also taketh up the conditions and cases of the soul otherwise than it was wont to do As we find the Saintâ— usually speaking in Scripture O my Soul thou hast saiâ— unto the Lord c. Psal 16. 2. My Soul said thy facâ— will I seek Pral 26. 8. Why art thou cast down O my Soul Psal 42. 5. Psal 43. 5. Return unto thy rest O my soul Psal 116. 7. 2. The heart and affections are renewed The heart is made a new heart a hearâ— of flesh capable of impressions having a copy of his law stamped on it and
fear of God put into it whereby the mans duty becometh in a manner native and kindly to the man Jer. 32. 39 40. Ezek. 36. 26. It was before a heart of stone void of the fear of God The affections are renewed now The love is renewed in some good measure it goeth out after God I will love the Lord Psal 18. 1. after his Law O how I love thy Law Psal 119. 97. after those who have Gods Image in them John 13. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 14. This love to Gods people is upon a pure account as they are the children of God and do keep his Statutes 1 Pet. 1. 22. It is with a pure heart Psal 119. 63. and therefore it goeth towards all such whom the man knoweth or apprehendeth to be such Psal 119. 63. I am a Companion to alâ— them c. In all cases and conditions even where there is nothing to beautify or commend but the Image of God And this love is so fervent many times 1 Pet. 1. 22. thaâ— it putteth it self out in all relations so as a man seeketh a Godly Wife a Godly Master a Godly Servant a Godly Counsellor if he have to choose upon Psal 101. 6. and it is not quenched by many waters Cant. 8. 7. many imperfections and infirmities difference in opinion wrong received will not altogether quench love Also it is communicative of good according to its measure and as the case of the poor godly requireth Psal 16. 2. 1 John 3. 17 18. 19. The mans hatred is also renewed and is now bent against sin Psal 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts against Gods enemies as such Psal 139. 21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee c. The joy or delight is renewed for it runneth towards God Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven c. towards his Law and Will Psal 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord. And towards the Godly and their followship Psal 16. 3. In whom is all my delight The sorrow is turned against sin which hath wronged Christ Zech. 12. 10. Looking on him whom they have pierced they mourn 2 Cor. 7. 11. The sorrow is godly there and against what incroacheth upon Gods honour they are sorrowful for the assemblies and the reproach of that is their burden Zeph. 3. 18. There is some renovation in all the affections as in every other part of the soul pointing now towards God 3. The very outward members of the man are renewed as the Scriptures speak the tongue the eye the ear the hand the foot c. so that those members which once were improved as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin are now improved as weapons of righteousness unto holiness Rom. 6. 19. Secondly A man who is in Christ is renewed in some measure in all his ways Behold all things are new 2 Cor. 5. 17. The man becomes new 1. In the way of his interest He was upon any good before though but apparent and at best but external Psal 4. 6. But now his interest and business is how to be found in Christ in that day Phil. 3. 9. or how to be forth-coming to him and walk before him in the land of the living Psal 56. 13. which he would choose among all the mercies that â—ill this earth Psal 119. 64. The interest of Christ also becomâ— eth the mans interest as appeareth in the song of Hannah 1 Sam. 2. And in the song of Mary Luke 1. â— is strange to see people newly converted and having reached unto the beginnings of knowledge concern anâ— interest themselves in the publick matters of Christâ— Kingdom so desirous to have him riding prosperouslyâ— and subduing the people under him 2. The man that iâ— in Christ is renewed in the way of his worship He waâ— wont to serve God in the oldness of the letter for the fashion answering the letter of the command in the outside of duty which one in whom the Old man hath absolute dominion can do But now he worshippeth God in thâ—â— newness of the Spirit Rom. 7. 6. In a new way wherein he is helped by the Spirit of God Rom 8. 26. beyond the reach of flesh and blood He serveth now the true and living God 1 Thess 1. 9. in Spirit and in truth John 4. 24. having spiritual apprehensions of God and engaged in his very soul in that work doing and saying truly and not feignedly when he worshippeth still desiring to approach unto him as a living God who heareth and seeth him and can accept his service Psal 42. 1 2. I grant he fails of this many times yet I may say such worship he intendeth and sometimes overtaketh and doth not much reckon worship which is not so performed unto God and the iniquity of his holy things is not the least part of his burthen and exercise Such a worship natural men are strargers unto whilst they babble out of their vain-glorious boastings Luke 18. 11 12. to an unknown God Acts 17. 23. 3. The man that is in Christ is renewed in the way of hit outward calling and imployment in the world he now resolveth to be about it because God hath commanded so Rom. 12. 11. and to eye God in it as his last end doing it to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and studieth to keep some intercourse with God in the exercise of his outward employments as Jacob doth in his latter Will Gen. 49. 18. and Nehemiah did Nehem. 2. 4. So as the man resolveth to walk with God and set him alwayes before him Psal 16. 8. wherein I deny not he faileth often 4. He becometh new in the way of his relations he becometh a more dutiful Husband Father Brother Master Servant Neighbour c. Herein doth he exercise himself to keep a conscience void of offence towards men as well as towards God Acts 24. 16. 1 Cor. 22. Becoming all things to all men 5. He becometh now in the way of his lawfull liberties he studieth to make use of meat drink sleep recreation apparel with an eye to God labouring not to come under the power of any lawful thing 1 Cor. 6. 12 13. Nor to give offence to others in the use of these things Rom. 14. 20 21. 15. 2. nor using liberty as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5. 13. Yea he laboureth to use all these things is a stranger on earth so as his moderations may appear Phil. 4. 5. And some way he doth eye God as the last end in these things 1 Cor. 10 31. doing all to the glory of God So as we may say of that man old things are much past away all things are in some measure become â—ew 2 Cor. 5. 15. He that is so new a creature is â—ndoubtedly in Christ This renovation of a man in all manner of conversaâ—ion and this being under law to God in all things is â—â—at holiness without which none shall see God Heb. 12. â—â— Men may fancy things to themselves but unless they â—â—â—dy
God should have humbled himself and become a servant and have taken on our nature and have united it by a personal union to â—e the blessed God-head and that he should have subâ—â—cted himself to the shameful death of the Cross and â—â—del this that men who were rebels should be reconciled unto God and be made eternally happy by being in his holy company for ever But I say all that was his own device and free choice Yea moreover if God had not soveraignly commanded men so to close with him in and through Christ Isa 55. 1 2 3. Mat. 11. 28. 1 Joh. 3. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 10. no man durst have made use of that device of his So then although with Abigale â— may say let me be but a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord 1 Sam. 25. 41. Yet since he hath in his holy wisdom devised that way and knoweth how to be richly glorified in it Ephes 1. 18. John 17. 10. and hath commanded me as I shall be answerable in the great day to close with him in Christ as is said I dare not disobey nor enquire into the reasons of his contrivements and commands but must adventure on the business as I would not be found to frustrate the grace of God and in a manner disappoint the Gospel Gal. 2. 21. and falsifie the record which God hath born of his Son that there is Life enough in him for Men 1 John 5. 10. 11. and so make God a lyar and add that rebellion to all my former transgressions Object I am a person singularly sinful beyond any I know Therefore I dare not presume to go near unto Christ Jesus or look after that salvation which is through his rightousness Answ Is your sin beyond the drunkenness and incest of Lot adultery covered with Murder in David Idolatry and horrid Apostacy in Solomon Idolatry Murder and Witchcraft in Manasseh anger against God and his way in Jonah forswearing of Christ in Peter after he was forewarned and had vowed the contrary bloody persecution in Paul making the Saints to blaspheme c. now wo â—o him who is imboldned to siâ— by these instances recorded in Scripture and adduceâ— here to the commendation of the free and rich graceâ—â— God and to encourage poor penitent sinners to fly unâ—â— Christ I say are your sins beyond these Yet all theâ— obtained pardon through Christ as the Scripture doth shew Know therefore that all sins do lye alike level before the free grace of God who loveth freely Hos. 14. 4. and looketh not to less or more sin If the person have a heart to come unto him through Christ then he is able to save to the utmost Heb 7. 25. Yea it is more provoking before God not to close with Christ when the offer cometh to a man than all the rest of his transgressions are for He that believeth not hath made God a lyar in that record he hath born of life in the Son and he who doth not believe shall be condemned for not believing on the Son of God that shall be the main thing in his indictment John 3. 18. So that much sin cannot excuse a man if he scare at Christ and shift his offer since God hath openly declared that this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation Christ came to save sinners whereof I am chief Even he who is chief of sinners in his own apprehension is bound to believe and accept this saying 1 Tim. 1. 15. Object My sins have some aggravating circumstances beyond the same sins in other persons which do much terrifie me Answ What can the aggravations of thy sins be which are not parllell'd in the fore-cited examples Is thy sin against Great Light So behooved many of these we spake of before Was it against singular mercies and deliverances So was that of Lot and Noah's drunkenness Was thy sin done with much â—eliberation So was Davids whilst he wrote the letter against Vriah Was it against or after any singular manifestation of God So was Solomons Was it by a small and despicable tentation So was that of Jonah and of Peter if we consider the hainousness of their transgression Hast thou reiâ—rated the sin and committed it over again So did Lot so did Peter so did Jehosaphat in joyning with Ahab and Jehoram 1 Kings 22. 2 Kings 3. Are there many gross sins concurring together in thee So were there in Manasseh Hast thou stood long out in Rebellion that as all the former is thy shame but so did the thief on the Cross he stood it out to the last gasp Luke 23. 42. If yet thou hast an ear to hear thou art commanded to hear Mat. 13. 19. Although thou hast long spent thy money for that which is not bread Isa 55. 1. 2. Thou hast the greater need now to haste and to flee for refuge and if thou do so he shall welcome thee and in no wayes cast thee out John 6. 37. especially since he hath used no prescription of time in Scripture So that all those aggravations of thy sin will not excuse thy shifting off the Lords offer Object In all these instances given you have not named the particulars whereof I am guilty Nor know I any who ever obtained mercy before God being guilty of such things as are in me Answ It is hard to condescend upon every particular transgression which may vex the conscience yea lesser sins than some of those I have mentioned may hugely disquiet if the Lord blow the fire But for thy satisfaction I shall condescend upon some truths of Scripture which do reach sins and cases more universally than any man can do particularly See Exod. 34. 7. God pardoneth iniquity transgression and sin that is all manner of sin Ezek. 18. 21 22 30. If a man turn from all his wickedness it shall no more be remembred or prove his ruine Job 6. 37. Him that cometh he will in 〈◊〉 wayes cast out that is whatsoever be his sins or aggravations of them John 3. 16. Whosoever believeâ— shall be saved that is without exception of any sin 〈◊〉 any case Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save to the utmost theâ—â— who come to God through him no man can sufficiently declare what is Gods uttermost Mat. 12. 31. 〈◊〉 manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men that is there is no sort of sin whereof one instance shall not be forgiven in one person or other except the sin against the Holy Ghost These and the like Scriptures do carry all sorts of sin before them so that let thy sins be what they will or can be they may be sunk in one of these two truths so as thy sin can be no excuse to thee for shifting the offer of peace and salvation through Christ since any man who will is allowed to come and take Rev. 22. 17. we will not multiply words The great God of Heaven and Earth hath soveraignly commanded all who
see their need of relief to betake themselves unto Christ Jesus and to close cordially with Gods device of saving sinners by him laying aside all objections and excuses as they shall be answerable unto him in the day he shall judge the quick and the dead and shall drive away out of his presence all these who would dare to say their sins and condition were such as that they durst not adventure upon Christs perfect Righteousness for their relief notwithstanding of the Lords own command often interposed and in a manner his credit engaged Object I suspect I am guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost and so am incapable of pardon and therefore I need not think of believing on Christ Jesus for saving of my Soul Answ Although none should charge this sin on themselves or on others unless they can prove the charge according to Christs example Matth. 12. 25 26 32. yet for satisfying of the doubt I shall 1. Shew what is not the sin against the Holy Ghost properly so called because there be some gross sins which people do unwarrantly judge to be this unpardonable sin 2. I shall shew what is the sin against the Holy Ghost 3. I shall draw some conclusions in answer directly to the objection As for the First There be many gross sins which although as all other sins may be sins against the Holy Ghost who is Gods equal and one with the Father and the Son and are done against some of his operations and motions yet are they not the sin against the Holy Ghost which is the unpardonable sin As first blaspheminâ— of God under bodily tortures is not that sin for somâ— Saints fell into this Acts 26. 11. much less blaspheming of God in a fit of distraction or frenzy for a man is not a free rational agent at that time and he that spareth his people as a Father doth the Son that serveth him and doth pity so Mal. 3. 17. Psal 103. 13. doth he spare and pity in these rovings For so would our Fathers according to flesh do if we blasphemed theâ— in a fit of distraction much less are horrid blasphemies against God darted in upon the soul and not allowed there this unpardonable sin for such things were offered to Christ Mat. 4. and are often cast in upon the Saints 2. The hating of good in others whilst I am not convinced that it is good but in my light do judge it to be evil yea the speaking against it yea the persecuting 〈◊〉 it in that case is not the sin against the Holy Ghost for all these will be found in Paul before he was converted and he obtained Mercy because he did these things ignorantly 3. Heart-rising at the thriving of others in the work and way of God whilest I love it in my self yea the rising of heart against providence which often expresseth it self against the creatures nearest our hand yea this rising of heart entertained and maintained although they be horrid things leading towards that unpardonable sin yet are not that sin for these may be in the Saints proceeding from self-love which cannoâ— endure to be darkned by another and proceeding froâ— some cross in their Idol under a fit of tentation thâ— most part of all this was in Jonah Jonah 4. 4. Nâ—â— only are not decayes in what was once in the man anâ— falling into gross sins against Light after the receiving 〈◊〉 the truth this unpardonable sin for then many of all the Saints in Scripture were undone but further Apostacy from much of the truth is not that sin for that was in Solomon and in the Church of Corinth and Galatia yea denying yea forswearing of the most fundamental truth under a great tentation is not this sin for then Peter had been undone 5. As resisting quenching grieving and vexing of the Spirit of God by many sinful wayes are not this unpardonable sin for they are charged with these who are called to repentance in Scripture and not shut out as guilty of this sin So neither reiterating sin against light is the sin against the Holy Ghost although it leadeth towards it for such was Peters sin in denying Christ so was Jehosaphats sin in joyning with Ahab and Jehoram 6. Purposes and essays of self-murther and even purposes of murthering godly men the party being under a sad fit of tentation yea actual self-murther although probably it often joyneth in the issue with this unpardonable sin which ought to make every soul look upon the very tentation to it with horrour and abhorrency yet is not the sin against the Holy Ghost The Jaylor intended to kill himself upon a worse account than many poor people do in the sight and sense of Gods wrath and of their own Sin and Corruption yet that Jaylor obtained pardon Acts. 16. 27. 34. And Paul before his effectual calling was accessory unto the murther of many Saints and intended to kill more as himself granteth Acts 26. 9. to 13. Athough all these are dreadful sins each of them deserving wrath ever lasting and not being repented of bringeth endless vengeance especially the last cuts off hope of relief for ought can be expecting in an ordinary way yet none of these is the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost and so under any of these There is hope to him that hath an ear to hear the joyful sound of the Covenant All manner of such sin and blasphemy may be forgiven as is clear in the Scripture where these things are mentioned As for the second thing Let us see what the sin against the Holy Ghost is It is not a simple act of transgression but a complex of many mischievous things involving Soul and Body ordinarily in guilt We thus describe it It is a rejecting and opposing of the Chief Gospel Truth and way of salvation made out singularly to a man by the Spirit of God in the truth and good thereof and that avowedly freely wilfully maliciously and despightfully breeding hopeless fear There be three places of Scripture which do speak most of this sin and thence we will prove every part of this description in so far as may be useful to our present purpose by which it will appear that none who have a mind for Christ need stumble at what is spoken of this sin in Scripture See Mat. 12. 24. 32. Heb. 6. 4 5. 6. and 10. 25 29. First then let us consider the Object about which this sin or sinful acting of the man guilty thereof is conversant and that is the chief Gospel-truth and way of Salvation both which run to one thing It is the way which God hath contrived for saving of sinners by Jesus Christ the promissed Messiah and Saviour by whose death and righteousness men are to be saved as he hath held forth in the Ordinances confirming the same by many mighty works in Scripture tending thereto This way of salvation is the Object The Pharisees oppose this that Christ was the Messiah Mat. 12. 23 24.