any thing to the charge of Gods Elect for Christ hath dyed and also is risen Rom. 8. 33. again who will not suffer them to be tempted to be touched or attached but deliver them out of all 5. That soul that hath union with Christ hath not only such an Income as all the precious Promises all the richest Graces all the sweetest Comforts all the highest Priviledges but also all the noblest Hopes are yours if you be Christs What a noble hope is that which a gloriovs Christ gives unto every gracious heart Col. 1. 27. Which is Christ in us the hope of Glory This hope is a mysterie yea a glorious mysterie yea there is riches of glory in this mysterie By union with Christ this is our spiritual Income Christ is in that soul the hope of glory True it is that if in this life we had only hope we were of all men most miserable as the hope of wicked men is who make gold their hope Job 31. 24. as Job speaks But saith the soul I have not thirsted after such base and earthly hopes as this worlds good or this worlds gold but Heaven and God and Grace and Glory yea the noblest hopes Christ in my soul the hope of glory 6. And lastly not only the noblest hopes are thine by being one with Christ but all heavenly enjoyments are thine by vertue of thy union And this is so large an Income that Saints and Angels cannot express Eye hath not seen neither hath ear heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for such that are in union with Christ Heaven and all Heavens enjoyments Christ and God and Glory a glorious God a glorious Christ a glorious Glory I can say no more All is promised and all shall be accomplisht Saints united to Christ have all theirs and they are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 23. And out of all that hath been said I shall adde but a word by way of use 1. Unbeliever come forth and behold the Income of the Saints and with a holy emulation enquire what is thy portion say as they in the Canticles What is your Can. 5. 9 beloved more then another beloved Say in a melting frame of pity over thy own soul What must you that are called to be Saints have such an Income as all these Promises all these Graces all these Comforts Hopes and Priviledges And what must I have Tell thy soul with sadness If thou art out of this spiritual union with Christ then all the fearful Threatnings all the heavy Judgments the Vials of Gods wrath with eternal judgments and everlasting torment is all yours if you be not in Christ and become a new creature Search therefore and seek For such Benefits and such spiritual Incomes have gracious souls by being in union with a gracious Christ 2. And last of all Believers Live at that rate as becomes the Espoused of the Lord Jesus They that have great revenues fear not wanting especially if it be certain and sufficient then we cast to keep house according and live and lay out sutably to our yearly maintenance Now none can keep a better house then Believers for they have such a spiritual Income that nothing can be more certain nothing can be more sufficient What will not Promises Graces Comforts Priviledges answer when they are all precious rich sweet and heavenly Every of these is by Christ an eternal maintenance constant durable that waxeth not old Thou mayst even feed thy very faintings and feast thy fears for there can be no lack where there is such spiritual and heavenly supply Terror for Professors OR Mans Fruitlesness without Saving Faith Jam. 2. 19. Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the Devils also believe and tremble CHAP. I. Shewing the import of the Text with the Doctrine and Parts for further Demonstration THis Epistle was not particularly written to any Church but in generall to the scattered Tribes as may be seen cap. 1. 1. And yet you have the Apostle often calling of them by this appellation Brethren as in the following Chapters Notwithstanding this he reproveth them and that sharply of two eminent faulrs that were among them First in regard of their Partiality And secondly in regard of their Charity So ver 3 4. compared with 15 16. And I think these two things the world will never remedy But that the Saints should be thus uncharitable so lofty and so partial who would not wonder they having so righteous a God and so merciful a Father Yet this Iames found amongst them And therefore he comes more close to them in the 5. ver Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of a kingdom Mark how the Apostle comes in with this as if so be they were dull of hearing and therefore he speaks it as whispering in their ears as if he were ashamed the world should know that Professors should be Despisers and so uncharitable unto their poor Brethren who were as good as they were by the Fathers side and by faith though not so rich in outward ornaments and goodly apparel Grant saith the Apostle that you be rich and great and goodly in apparel yet you need not be ashamed or despise a poor believer for if he be poor yet if a believer he is as good as thou art All one in Christ rich in faith May be thou hast much more in thy hands but what of that the poorest in Christ is an heir of a kindom for God hath promised this to them that love him Verse 5. Take heed therefore none of you be thus partial as to despise a poor brother in the faith of Christ for they and you bear the impress of a worthy name And being thus partial as to despise you blaspheme your holy calling in the profession of Christ Verse 7. And know Professors if you have the faith of Christ in respect of persons it cannot stand with saving faith There is a faith that will not save as the 14 Verse hath it But have as large a profession as you will if you have not the nature of faith truly operative and working in charity and lowliness of minde all is nothing Profession without practice and performance is but a dead faith and profiteth nothing for thus he illustrates in the 15 16 17. Verses If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what doth it profit the meaning is have as many good words as you will yet if you have not practice in a measure suitable unto your expressions you are alone your faith is but a dead faith words though never so sweet without works are but as a sounding brass and a tinkling symbal From the scope this will be very clear That common profession without spiritual operation will deceive and therefore James seems to be zealous against such that have a great deal of name but not the nature of true serving of God Saith he Verse 18. Shew me thy faith by
not we prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works So in that day will many plead at least in these days they think such pleadings will serve the turn Was not I born of Christian Parents Baptized into such a faith lived all my life time under such a Ministry professed the Gospel of Christ as the rest of my friends and neighbors did believed the word of God and do verily believe it is a truth from the first of Genesis to the last of the Revelation And who can considering this once doubt of my eternal welfare But know that notwithstanding all this thou wilt surely miss of it for if thou hast no better plea Satan will come in against thee saying Thus If this man and this woman may have salvation on such terms as these why may not I I was no common drunkard or an adulterer I have known the Scriptures from first to last yea have addrest and profest the common Historical faith in all ages yea I have been as an Angel of light in all forms and through all times And yet notwithstanding my belief and my profession I must have no favor for I look for none and why should this person or that person have any more favor then I who had but like faith as I Common professors in the fear of him whom you do profess if ever you look for favor in that day do not flatter and deceive your own souls by thinking Lord Lord for a man may be a Gospel-professor yea a believer of God his Word his Truth and yet so unsound in the faith that this sentence may be his Depart from me I know you not ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7. 23. CHAP. IV. That most mens faith is no better then the faith of Devils 3. AS the Devils have an Historical faith they do believe so most mens faith is no better then the faith of devils For the proof of this I need carry your thoughts no further then the Text for mark Thou believest that there is one God that is at large and in common as most of the world do Have a name to live but are dead A prophane life and a vain conversation makes all thy profession vain and fruitless as the verse following the Text clearly tells you Faith without works is fruitless and for all thy glorious profession thou art but a vain man so saith the text But thou wilt know O vain man that faith without works is dead for though the devil believes to a base end and thou sayest thou hast faith to a pretended good end yet if thou attainest it not but instead thereof hast eternal torment what art thou the better nay rather how much art thou the worse They that run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize So many are runners by common profession but it is the saving faith onely that obtains it is not a profession of Christ but the enjoying of Christ and living and loving of Christ that puts into a true account beyond the devil But doth not the Text put a commendation Obj. on such a faith when he saith I do well Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well This is that which unlocks the Text and tells you the meaning of the Apostle Answ therefore this doing well is not by way of commendation but of aggravation As if he should say Thou thinkest it well but as well as thou thinkest of it I will give you an instance of as good if not a better but it is the basest that I can finde it is not from heaven but from hell from the devils The devils do believe and tremble Thou hast a large profession so hath the devil he hath seemings as well as men have and therefore he is said To transform himself to be an Angel of light and when he doth thus he is most a devil So when a man professes for God but inwardly acts for Satan what is he better if seemings be good in Satan it is good in wicked men but if base because without any fruits to God much more in thee whose fruits are for Satan notwithstanding thy profession But it may be said This is harsh to couple Obj. mans common profession to the faith of devils Is there not several sorts of Faith as Historical Temporary and faith of miracles a belief of the letter and with the times and a wonder working faith as the Apostles had and of which sort the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians 1 Cor. 13. 2. That if he had all faith so that he could remove mountains yet if not charity all is nothing and this the Text imports in those words Faith without works is dead The Question answers it self for had we Answ all these sorts of faith yet saving faith in Christ is the one thing necessary and prize thy education and thy common profession and all thy outward priviledges yet if thou hast not saving faith the devils may be said to believe as well as thou for They believe and tremble Some do make a threefold difference in believing A believing of God a believing De Deo Deo in Deum to God and a believing in God But assure thy soul nothing but saving faith Christ being in thee and Christ being for thee will ever administer any true and solid comfort And if nothing else what will it profit me if I have the faith of the times and faith of wonders yea and all knowledge of which latter the devil hath abundance surely no more then he that gains the world but yet loses his soul a miserable and wretched bargain That wicked men may gather this truth more clearly and tremble to know That most mens faith is no better then the devils I will in a word or two give you the parity and the disparity wherein the faith of Devils and the Common faith of men do agree and wherein they disagree CHAP. V. Sheweth wherein the belief of common professors and the belief of devils agree and disagree I Shall begin with the disparity unlikeness or disagreement betwixt the common faith of men and the faith of Devils The first difference lieth in this that the devils are without hope but common professors are not the devil knows himself to be reprobated never to be approved before God but man thinks he shall And I will not say otherwise so long as there is life there is hope but take heed this hope make thee not ashamed through a false faith Lay hold therefore of present opportunity study to be approved The devils saith Jude Verse 6. Are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day Many there be that live without God in the world but pretend to have faith the devil hath faith too the Text tells you He doth believe but he doth not say he hopes and our usual saying is If it were not for hope the heart would
none can say certainly what they expect but I hope the best as well as others would you have me to say certainly that is more then Paul doth or I think any Saint Nay but do not so reckon Mark the Apostle not onely in the behalf of himself but of others also 2 Cor. 5 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Mark Christians the Christians expectation not that every childe of God doth come up to this faith of certainty and assurance but we are all for to desire it as all strangers they desire home and know their home and travel after it though it be but by steps and strides yet a constant pace goes far so Christians must all keep journeying and going on though not coming to this attainment and thou poor weakling faith though thou canst not say so much yet think the more press hard and follow after though thou canst not go so fast as such whose evidence is sure Though thou canst not say I know and we know yet say I hope and it is best yea happy for that soul whose evidence is clear though we all cannot say We know yet let us not be sad but say We may know In this Pronoune We lies much divinity for the comfort of a Christian for we know we have tabernacles of clay poor bodies of dust and ashes And why should not we know we have a building of God with all such properties as not made with hands eternal in the heavens Methinks every Christian is like a stranger and a traveller that comes into his Inn and takes up his lodging for a night the people bring him meat and drink and gives him bed and board but they know not whence he comes nor whether he goes but now he knows himself where he goes and whether he would so Christians though the world knows not yet they do For we know c. I am a traveller and a stranger but I have a home a house a heaven a building I expect it saith Faith c. I am a stranger saith Patience but I have a building I wait for it saith Patience It is but to day and to morrow and the next day it shall be perfected so saith Patience I must have its perfect work a little to day more to morrow the third day I shall have possession I am a stranger in the earth saith Love but I have a building and O how I long for it Psal 42. 2. My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God! Now unto such souls that make out after home heaven and happiness with such a triplicity of We We expect it saith Faith wait for it saith Patience long for it saith Love to such gathering of a heart in Grace the Lord doth make a gracious answer Cant. 1. 11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver Mark poor soul here is a We to answer thy We not a Wo but a We not to dismark thee but to make thee gracious and glorious Thou that hast an I of faith expecting and I of patience waiting and an I of love longing this is a Christians We Now the Lord unto thy soul hath his We We will make thee I will saith God the Father and I will saith Christ the Son and I will saith the blessed Spirit All this makes this We to make the soul graciously glorious and gloriously gracious Now be perswaded O soul upon this thy future expectation here thou art a stranger living in thy houses of clay bedecked onely with furniture of infirmity weakness and crosses and a few broken comforts and crackt enjoyments but in heaven there is brightness and purity there is blessedness and peace there is never broken joys and everlasting comforts there are houses richly furnished with furniture free from all infirmity bordered with gold and set forth with silver all variety interwoven for soul satisfaction Hasten O strangers O strangers hasten without lingring long for this thy expectation But may some say I know every childe of Obj. God shall be well provided for of their heavenly Father Eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2. 9. neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what the Lord hath prepared for them that love him but there is that to be passed would make one fear the straits of death is not an easie passage it fills my heart with grief and my eyes with tears at the present sence of my deceased friend but what fears and pain and staggering may it be if I should be called to pass the straits of death the Lord knows In Answer unto this and so as pertinent to our present occasion I shall adde but a word of comfort and consolation and so conclude the time and Doctrine CHAP. VII Containing comfort for dejected souls in their loss of Christian friends and encouragements for estranged Saints in this world 3. IF it be so that the Saints are strangers on the earth then Saints be you freed from fear grieve not for the death or departure of the faithful nor being faithful be thou not afraid to dye To all Gods children death is but a messenger of life and a calling from the cross to the crown You know every one will hasten to a father or a friends house and what though there be a plash of water and a few bryers to go through if we do wet our feet or tear our garments so long as we are going home such things are nothing home and the father makes us through all Christians I will not say all your way is paved and smooth to heaven and happiness but some rubs fears sorrows may be in your way but know assuredly Christ hath sweetned the grave for every childe of God what though you do wet your feet by fears and pricks your hearts with sorrow let the hope of home and father and Christ make you be comforted and encouraged Captain Death hath taken away a friend now and he stands in the way to press thee too but may not we be comforted in this My friend was a stranger here and he is now gone home to his dwelling place where father and friends are yea where he shall want for nothing freed from fears and cares aches and pains but fed with favor love and life such dishes that the world never had at their tables The Saints indeed have meat in heart and hand I mean at present that the world knows not of but alas Saints though this be wine and milk yet this is but the first mess in this spiritual banquet Our Master Christ keeps the best wine and the best chear and best welcome until the last After death every thing to a faithful soul is disht out and disht up unto Eternity the longing soul through the straits of death is satisfied and