â—est The principle of Grace and these merâ—ies themselves are of a durable nature Grace â—s an immortal seed a never-dying root â—rincipium continuativum Joh. 7.38 He that â—elieveth in me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water though Grace is loseable in its own nature yet not in event because God upholds it the house built on the rock shall stand immovable Prov. 10.25 1 Jâ—h 2.17 the righteous is an everlasting foundation he that doth the will of God abides for ever yea he hath eternal life abiding in him But may not they depart from God no not totally and finally for God hath put his fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 they may sin and provoke God to withdraw the sense of his love they may lose their standing comforts and some degrees of Grace but never be stripped naked wholly of these sure mercies of David God hath secret hold of them and they have more hold of him than others have they are restless and dissatisfied till they enjoy God and these mercies be clear to them this Golden Chain stretcheth it self from everlasting it begins in free Election and ends in final salvation whom he predestinates them he calls justifies glorifies Rom. 8.29 30. it is horrid sacriledge to pluck one link from this golden Chain God is the finisher as well as the Author of faith it is not within the compass of any finite being to rob a gracious soul of the love of God or stop the channel of his Free-Grace to the Covenanted soul Paul can make a bold and brave challengeâ— Rom. 8.35 38 39. Who shall separate us from the love of God and he makes a sufficient enumeration of all things that were likely to conquer the believing soul and yet concludes that in all these things we are more than conquerours through Christ there are in the word sweet promises that may answer all Arminian Cavils and unbelieving fears concerning perseverance which many choice champions have produced and managed with dexterity and success See Mr. Prins Treat of Perseverance Dr. Prid. Lect. 7. De persevsanct Dr. Ames Coron Artic. 5. De perseverantiâ CHAP. IV. 3. THE third Head to be opened is more particularly to shew what is the way of making sure these Covenant-mercies how God doth it Now there are several steps of making a thing sure amongst men and God hath used the same means and some degrees more to make these mercies sure to the Children of men 1. Men are wont to pass their word When they promise any thing upon the word of an honest man they expect credit and among men this is current and the God of Heaven is worthy to be believed upon his bare word if I may so speak for he is a God that cannot lye nor deny himself yea let God be true and every man a lyar even a Balaam is convinced of it and must profess it Numb 23.19 God is not a man that he should ly hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good the unchangeable God hath ingaged his Word in the New Covenant the Patriarchs of old gave credit to all that God spake by dreams visions and revelations as Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 2. Hence Neâ— 9 38. We make a sure Covenant and write it Men use to give greater evidence by subscribing their hand and putting their mind and promise into Writing hence the expression and practice of giving Letters of credence and we use to say men are mortal give it me under your hand that will abide for litera scripta manet well our gracious God hath condescended to subscribe his promises under his own hand the hand of his blessed Spirit the word of God is upon record therefore whatsoever was written it is for our learning I may add satisfaction that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 he hath given assurance to us of these things in the word of truth for this cause was the Gospel written that we may know the certainty of these things Luk. 1.4 and that we might believe Joh. 20.31 who dare now dispute or doubt of the truth and sureness of Gospel-promises since Heaven and Earth may pass away but one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5.18 3. Men use to call in Witnesses for further confirmation some important businesses require several witnesses Deut. 19.15 it s a standing rule at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established well the God of Heaven hath confirmed his Gospel to us by three and three witnesses there 's three in Heaven the glorious persons of the Blessed Trinity the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one one in essence though three persons 1 Job 5.7 these bear Record of Christs God-head and there are three that bear witness in earth ver 8. these testifie of Christs manhood the Spirit i. e. say some his breathing out his soul and spirit in his giving up the Ghost and water and blood that came out of his side when it was pierced with a spear that shew he was real man and that he did really dye Hanc sequor sententiam hoc loco nec puto aliam posse adduci veriorem Aretius in loc See Mar'orate in loc Aretius interprets these three latter of the spirit in the Ministry of the Word the Water of Baptism and the Blood of the Lords Supper representing Christs meritorious Blood-shed and still this interpretation further confirms the Gospel-Covenant and consequently the mercies of it 4. Men use to give assurance to others by setting to their seal hence the practice amongst us of setting a seal to bills bonds leases purchases letters patents and this seal hath usually persons cognizance or Coat of Armes or some impression upon it and leaves the impression upon the Wax the God of Heaven adds his seal there is the broad seal of the new Covenant Baptism and the Lords Supper given and appointed purposely for the confirmation of our faith and asâ—uring of our hearts of the truth of the proâ—mises as Circumcision is called a seal of the Righteousness of faith Rom. 4.11 for by â—ese seals both the Grace of God is confirmed to us and holy impressions wrought in thâ— hearts of the elect there are also privy seals the seal of this blessed spirit in our hearts Ephes Eph. 4.30.2 Cor. 1 22. 1.13 sealed with that holy spirâ— of promise hereby Gods Children are distiâ—guished from wicked men and confirmed iâ— the truth of the Gospel yea it beareth witness with their spirit that they are the Chiâ—dren of God Rom. 8.16 this is an elegant simâ—litude for all civil Charters and Testamenâ— become authentick by the addition of a seaâ— and the seal in â—ormer times was the note iâ— Letters by which
verum etiam ab eo quae religioâ—i sâ—nt intrinseca cum nulla ex omnibus soeculis ac nationibus proferri potest aut praemio excellentior praeceptis perfectior aut modo propagari jussa est admirabilior Hug. Grot. de veritat Relig. Christ lib. 2. cap. 9. p. 52. Joh. 9.29 Act. 26.22 23. Act. 17.11 than that voice which came to Christ in the Holy Mount from the excellent glory 2 Pet. 1.18 19. not that any thing can be more sure than the very undoubted words of Jehovah who is truth it self but a more sure i. e. most sure a comparative for a superlative for the former visions being from God also as the Prophesies were was in it self as sure as they but the meaning is that the Scripture-testimony is more sure than that vision argumentatively as to others or secundum nos for the authority of the Scriptures is beyond the Testimony of Angels nay above the credit that any will give to men for men might suspect Peter and the other Apostles as though this apparition were but a fiction of their own brains therefore he appeals to the undoubted Prophecies of the Old Testament which were by long use settled in the hearts of the Godly Jews who believed all that the Prophets spake as coming from God therefore our Saviour makes account that they that believe not Moses's Writings will not believe his words Job 5.45 47. and hence it was that they examined Doctrines by the Prophets nay our Saviour himself affirms that if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead Luk. 16.31 Habebant Apostoli prophetas tanquam patronos â—â—ctrinae suae fidales quoque inde petebant Evangelii confirmationem Calv. in loc Videsi Mart. Aret. c. in Locum therefore the Apostles had the Prophets as patrons of their Doctrine and thence did the faithful fetch a confirmation of the Gospel the summ of this Text is then to demonstrate the verity and certainty of the Gospel by evidencing the consent of Prophetical and Apostolical Testimony for its fuller confirmation q. d. if you distrust me in commending the Evangelical Doctrine I send you back to the Prophets whom without all exception you account Holy and Faithful these testifie of the truth of the Gospel therefore this consent is to be evincing and satisfying Hence it is that the disciples of Christ have professed such a plerophory and abundant acquiescence in their perswasions of Christs being the Messiah and Saviour of mankind so Joh. 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God and Simon Peter acknowledged it Mat. 16.16 Yea unbelieving Thomas at last cryed out my Lord and my God Joh. 20.28 as being overcome with the clearness of that stupendious condescending demonstration the Apostle John testifies 1 Ep. 1.1 concerning Christ saying We have heard seen with our eyes looked upon yea our hands have handled of the Word of life and this doth he declare to us from experience of several senses Oh what a blessed thing were it to have an undoubted assurance of the certainty of divine things Oh what life would it put into our graces 〈◊〉 comforts what an Antidote would it be against temptations corruptions persecutions could we as really believe the reality of the things of God as Corporeal objects what beauty should we discern therein what comfort should we receive there-from what would we not do and endure for them did we see the reality necessity and excellency of Covenant-mercies as we do of common mercies how should our hearts be enamoured therewith they that have the most prevailing perswasions of the certainty and transcendency of heavenly mercies are the most exact and eminent Christians but a faint belief of these things is the cause of sloth all irreligion and prophaneness proceedeth from a want of an effectual assent to Gospel-revelations alas there is more Atheism and Insidelity in the World than we are aware of did men as certainly believe there is an Heaven and Hell as they see and know there is Stones and Trees Earth and Water would not this have strange influence upon their practices would they not be other manner of persons than they are especially if they did faithfully work upon their hearts the reality of the things of God Paul and the Saints in his days lookt not on the things seen but on things not seen i. e. eternal things 2 Cor. 4.18 Moses saw him that was invisible that made him to endure any thing Heb. 11.27 O Christians rest not satisfied with a bare conjecture but press forward till you arrive at a full assurance you cannot be too sure in these cases the Apostle hath a mighty full expression Col. 2.2 to this purpose ver 1. he tells of a conflict that he had for them and the Laodiceans i. e. a care fear desire good man he was in a heart-rending conflict and agony Why what 's the matter why 't is that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mysterie of God and of the Father and of Christ observe the Climax here is 1. Assurance he desires for them then 2. Full assurance further 3. Riches of full assurance Yet again 4. All Riches of full Assurance yea not a rash and ignorant but such an assurance 5. Of understanding i. e. with a settled judgement and not only to have such assurance and keep it to themselves but all this 6. To the acknowledgement of the mysterie of God that they may make an open profession of it But why was he so earnest for all this ver 4 this I say or pray for you lest any man beguile you with enticing words Q. d. You 'l find all this little enough when a subtle disputer shall set upon you with cunning artifice to draw you from the truth you will perhaps feel that you have need of the fullest perswasion that creatures can arrive unto that you may keep your hold and not be driven away from the hope of the Gospel you little know what storms may assault your faith of the truth of the Gospel Peter made a glorious profession yet his faith was staggered in a temptation and Santan is a cunning Sophister he desires to have you that he may fift you and toss you so as to shake away the purest grain of Gospel-truth he will do what he can to cheat you of your Religion hence is it that Paul was so jealous over the Corinthians with Godly jealousie lest by any means and he hath store of devices as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11 1-3 hence is it that teachers have alwayes been so careful to settle and ground their hearers in the certainty of the things they taught as Luke his Theophilus
to thy faith be it unto thee 5. Walk close with God as that is one of the mercies of the Covenant so 't is an evidence of our interest in the Covenant and 't is a notable means of obtaining and maintaining assurance Psal 50.23 to him â—hat ordereth his conversation aright will I â—hew the salvation of God close-walkers have many choice discoveries Psal 119.165 Oh the peace â—hat such have as keep Gods commandments Oh the sweet refreshment which results from a lively obedience the work of righteousness is peace the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance for ever Isa 32.17 Psal 25 14. Mat. 4.2 Joh. 14.15 16. v. 21. if you keep constantly in the â—ear of God he will discover to you the secrets of his Covenant he will cause the Sun of righteousness to arise upon you if you keep his Commandments you shall have a comforter and he will manifest himself to you But if you grow careless and remiss in your walking and step aside to any gross sin no wonder if you have little assurance of these Covenant-mercies for these do separate betwixt you and your God you and comfort this obscured Davids interest in God and his unsuitable Acts cost him many a tear and sad thoughts of heart which made him cry out of broken bones and bitterly groan out his sad complaints for the want of the joy of Gods salvation yea for one act of sloth and security the Church lost the sweet sense of divine love Cant. 5.26 Oh take heed of sin it is like a filthy vapour rising out of the soul that causeth a mist and a thick mist between God and us as will keep the light of his countenance from shining upon us it begets jealousies suspicioâ— and uncomfortable fears in the soul whether God be ours or no and therefore take heed of sin and walk humbly witâ— God 6. Be much in self-observation somâ— have an interest in the Covenant but know it not for want of self-discovery therefore it were a good work to consider boâ— your hearts and ways indeed the heart 〈◊〉 deceitful but you should take the candle 〈◊〉 the Word in the hand of Conscience anâ— deal impartially with your hearts seek into the obscure corners thereof and it 's possible in some nook or other you 'l find a Covenant-mercy canst thou not say as Peter iâ— sincerity Joh 21 17. Isa 38.3 thou knowest that I love thee oâ— with Hezekiah that you have walkt before God in uprighteness dost thou not find iâ— thy heart a care to please God fear to offenâ— him desire to enjoy him hatred of sin love tâ— the saints poverty of spirit despising thâ— World and low thoughts of thy best duty well now a sound search and clear discovery of the frame of your spirits will be 〈◊〉 notable way to assure to your selves youâ— interest in these Covenant-mercies and sâ— proving your selves Gal. 6.4 Prov. 14.14 your rejoycing and satisfaction shall be from your selves if thou canst but find one saving Grace in thy heart in truth thou maist gather some evidence thence and Gods Children have taken comfort in their sincere love to the Brethren when they have have scarce discerned any other grace and so have assured their hearts before God that they were of â—he truth see 1 John 3.18 19. there 's neâ—er a good work done if it be right for principle rule and end but it will help us â—o a discovery of our state that our work â—s wrought in God Joh. 3.21 therefore â—et's be willing to come to the light and try our hearts and acts so may we attain assurance of our interest 7. Reflect upon and recollect your former experiences this was Davids usual method â—o assure his heart of the truth of Grace Psal 77.6 Psal 143.5 6. Job 23.11 12. and his interest in God Psal 77.10 I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high days of old his songs in the night this course took Job and many other saints and the Apostle bids the believing Hebrews call to remembrance the former days in which after they were illuminated they endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10.32 and this was in order to the recovery of Gods smiles and the sence of his love you 'l say what am I better for remembring what goodness was in me in time past which I am now fallen from and have lost I answer much every way chiefly because these mercies of the Covenant are sure mercies and though they may be obscured yet never abolished where God loves once he loves to the end Joh. 13.1 Job 19.28 1 Pet. 1.23 the bud and blossom of comfort may be nipt but the root of the matter and incorruptible seed remains in the heart a man in a swoun hath life though possibly 't is not discernable to himself or others grace may be hid yet alive as the sap returns into the root in Winter want of comfortable sense and feeling is not a loss of Grace in this case search your records and see if you cannot find some manifestations of God to your souls in former times I have heard of a godly Woman who was wont to write down how God dealt with her heart and time place manner of her communion with God a time of destruction came the comforts and counsels of Ministers friends were in vain 〈◊〉 a good man gets her Book shews it under her own hand which she could noâ— deny clears the immutable love of God plyes her with it drives the nail home and thereby she recovered her assurance thus may you therefore recollect experiences 8. Strengthen every grace the greateâ— any thing is the more is is discernable little Grace is not so soon discovered aâ— much Grace a greater measure of thâ— Graces of the spirit carryes a beauty and lustre along with it and hath a self-evidencing testimony of the souls sincerity Christians do you add to your faith vertue knowledge temperance patience Godliness brotherly-kindness charity foâ— if these things be in you and abound yoâ— shall both be fruitful and they will help you to clear up your calling and election 2 Pet. 1 5-10 these resemble the soul to God and the more God-like a Chrstian grows the more clear will he be in point of state Saints of the greatest magnitude are usually more free from doubtings whiles sincere yet weak believers are much pestered with jealousies and misgivings the more you get of these sure mercies into your hearts the more sure you are of your interest in them the faster hold you have of God the surer you 'l be you have indeed hold of him every step towards Zion will add new strength stability and satisfaction to the holy Pilgrim encrease Repentance and you increase assurance of the remission of sins increase faith and that brings on assurance of faith strengthen hope and you settle your Anchor grow in love to God and his way courage and zeal
obstruct your diligence in this great and weighty case who would live at such uncertainties as the most do who would have his life to hang in doubt in a meer conjecture especially when it is in this great case of Conscience whether the soul must live in Heaven or Hell but most of all considering that our very lives are so uncertain that the next moment we may step into Eternity the God of Heaven awake the Saints of God who have indeed an interest in these mercies to use all means to know they have an interest therein that they may know they are of the truth and assure their hearts before him as the Apostle speaks 1 Joh. 3.19 CHAP. XIII III. THE third head of Directions iâ— this In what cases may a Covenanted soul make use of or improve these sure mercies of David In answer to this I shall propound these seven cases wherein a gracious soul may and must have recourse to these Covenant mercies 1. In case of dissetling suggestions tâ— Atheism or unbelief when reason begin to dispute the being of God or the truth of Scriptures and shakes our confidence or strikes at the foundation then study and improve these sure undoubted mercies and lean upon Divine Authority if God speak it the thing is out of doubt his ipsâ— dixit is beyond all demonstrations Divines distinguish of maxims in Divinity some whereof are mixtly Divine other are meerly Divine Primo creduâ—tur postea intelliguntur in truths of the former sort reason may serve in the second place first they are believed then understood as a man believes the immortality oâ— the soul then he begins to take up the same from reason Rationes precedentes minuunt fidem sed rationes subsequentes augent fidâ—m only reason must not herâ— come before faith but know her place for if she should offer to go before aâ— an Usher to make way for faith wâ— should never believe therefore Schoolmen say Reasons going before Faith weakenâ— faith but reasons coming after faith strengthens it so that reason makes not the matter more sure ex parte veritatis dictantis in respect of God the speaker See Weem's Pourtrait of Imag. Ep. to Read sed ex parte intellectus dissentientis in respect of the weakness of our understanding But now in things that are meerly Divine and fall directly under faith as the Mysterie of the Trinity of Incarnation reason hath nothing to do but admire those hid mysteries that she can never reach unto Oh take heed of doubting or unbelief Gospel-mysteries are without all Controversie here thy way is not to dispute but believe Gods Word is more than all the protestations asseverations bonds or obligations of all the men in the World Consider what 's said in the Doctrinal part and give your full assent to all revealed truths you may better believe God than your senses Senses may deceive us God cannot many men are bruitish will believe nothing but what is within the reach of sense they are meer Sadduces about spirits and spiritual things but sirs will you belive nothing but what you see then surely you 'l not believe that there is such a City as Rome or London because you have not seen them But let me tell you that that tempting spirit who perswades you now to doubt of the being of God and the reality of Divine things cannot doubt thereof himself for he to his cost feels the truth thereof though without any comfortable interest therein the Devil believes and trembles Jam. 2.19 O therefore Non est disputatio aâ—t â—ubitatio post Evangâ—lium reveâ—â—tum silence all unbelieving and disputing thoughts doubt not after these clear revelations and demonstrations admit not this grand Gospel-sin of unbelief this damning infidelity but cry out as the poor man Lord I believe help thou my unbelief Mark 9.24 2. In case of guilt upon the Conscience and fears of acceptance then have recourse to these sure mercies of David these are mercies therefore mercy is working towards a poor sinner in misery they are made sure by Christ to all Heirs of Promise and though thou canst not sensibly apprehend him by faith at some times yeâ— he can powerfully comprehend thee what though thy sins be many yet mercy answers all demerits 't is not only mercy but mercies multitudes of tender mercies he is plenteous in mercy and will abundantly pardon he doth not consult thy fitness but his free-grace come then poor guilty sinner venture thy weary soul upon these sure mercies he iâ— meeting thee half way as the Prodigalâ— Father and ready to fall upon thy neck his bowels are yerning towards thy sinning soul he is very free and liberal 〈◊〉 distributing be not thou coy and shy in entertaining these sure mercies hâ— waits to be gracious do thou bid hiâ— gracious tenders welcome Yea but saith the troubled soul though there be mercies yet I question whether they belong to me I know they are sure to some but 't is a great question whether I be of that number and I reply why not to thee what Scripture or reason hast thou to suspect that thou art excluded the grant is in general terms Jesus Christ came to seek and save what was lost and thou art lost and feelest thy self to be lost doth not he bid weary souls come to him if thou wert righteous thou mightest justly fear thou mightest go without him but thou saist thou art a sinner and thou knowest he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance thou art a sinner a great sinner yea chiefest of sinners and did not Paul look upon himself as such and yet he obtained mercy and consider soul if thou hast no interest in these mercies whence â—hen are all those fears doubts jealousies complaints enquiries whence are these sad and dreadful apprehensions of thy sin and misery these convictions of the nothingness of thy duties and sufficiency of mercies only to relieve thy perishing soul whence are those meltings of heart for â—ffending bowels of mercy and strugâ—lings against sin from the sense of mercy â—hat mean those prayers and tears those â—ossings of thy soul betwixt hopes and â—ears about thy interest in mercy and yet thou who thus complainest wouldst not give up thy title or quit thy claim to these Covenant-mercies for a full possession of all the common mercies in the World thou art not content without these thy enquiry is chiefly after these thy expectation iâ— most from and dependance most upon these Covenant-mercies these and these alone are thy salvation and desire But suppose the worst that thy soul hath no interest as yet in these why shouldst thou despair of future interest shouldst thou not rather put it out of doubt by a present application thereof by actual believing stand out stand off no longer take Christ upon his own terms give up thy self to him give him the glory of believing remember alâ— the ways the