Godlinesse that you may with comfort look for the coming of Christ and with confidence hast to the Judgement day Remember that the †Tit. 2.11 12 13. Grace of God reveal'd in the Gospel which brings salvation to you teaches you that denying ungodlinesse and worldly Lusts you should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World So looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appea ing of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ Let Prayer and Piety then be your daily Exercise during Life that though you live in perillous Times you may finish your Daies in Peace Be diligent in doing of good and * 1 Thes 5.22 23. Abstaine from all appearance of Evil. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ †Jude 24 25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS The Authour's Advertisemâ—nt REader thou art now come to the End of this Book let me tell thee what was the End of the Author in publishing it God in the Scripture tells us that evil Dayes perillous Times shall come This is doubtlesse written for our Instruction It 's then surely the Duty of a Minister of the Gospel to give People WARNING of these perillous Times and after the Example of the Prophets and faithful Preachers of the Word in all Ages to give in his WITNES against the evil of the Dayes This out of Faithfulness to the great Interests of the Glory of God and the Salvation of souls The Author upon this Ground readily embraced what he judged his fittest Opportunity for the discharge of this Duty that so he might have a good conscience both towards God and towards men Moreover the Author observing with Griefe how the generality of men perceiving their Danger in such perillous Times are wont to study their safety by carnall Compliances with every rising Party whereby when a wicked Party prevailes it strengthens it selfe mightily to the carrying on and Accomplishment of those Designes which are destructive to the whole Nation in the Safety or Ruine whereof particular Persons and Societies must needs stand or fall Thus the Trees submit themselves to the scratching Bramble and put their Trust under its shadow till at length Fire coming forth from it to devoure the Noble Cedars consumes the whole Forrest Such is the Folly of men that oft-times by that very meanes whereby they seek for Safety they runne themselves into the greater Danger I judg'd it my Duty therefore to endeavour a Discovery of a more excellent Way Doubtlesse here lies our greatest Danger in our provoking God by our sins to punish us and the whole Land by his Judgements If he become our Enemy they are not men be they never so great and mighty in Power that can help or save us And by sinful compliances how soone may the whole Nation be involv'd in the guilt of those horrid Perjuries injurious Incroachments fearful Enormities and God-provoking Abominations which may pluck down the sorest Plagues and Punishments upon all the People of the Land Our onely safety then lies in making our Peace with God by humbling our selves for all our sinnes and turning to him with our whole Hearts and so in walking humbly with him in his holy wayes and keeping our selves cleare from the Evils and Abominations of the Times For if God be with us who can be against us If he that is Mighty to save be our Friend we need not care who are our Enemies nor feare what man can do unto us Now this is the Scope and Drift of the present Treatise and to give a timely Warning of this Danger and a seasonable Admonition of this Duty was the Designe and is the Desire of the Author For this Reason and end therefore was this Sermon first preached and afterwards by the Advice of many of his Reverend Brethren the Ministers of the Gospel in the City of London was this Discourse published If thou desirest to know what was at the first preached in the Sermon and hath been since added in the Discourse which hath swelled it to this Bignesse take this Account The Sermon mainly consisted of these two things the Symptomes of perillous Times and the Duty of the Saints in such Dayes of Danger For the former those seven Symptomes were laid down which according to the Order wherein now thou findest them are the third fourth fift sixt eighth ninth and last For the latter the first and second Duties onely were prest and therein principally the fift Branch of the second Duty Almost all the rest with sundry illustrative Enlargements of these are added in this Treatise that it might by the Blessing of God become of more General Usefulnesse This Advertisement I have added for thy satisfaction which I shall conclude with this Caution Take heed thou art not one of them that make the Times perillous By a serious Perusal of the fore-going Discourse and a Religious Reflexion upon thy selfe thou mayest come to know whether thou art on Gods side or against him But see thou do thy self no Hurt by what 's meant for thy Good Harden not thy selfe against the Admonitions given thee in the Name of the Lord. For Know the BOOK in thy hand however buried in Contempt will rise up in Judgement against many Great Ones many Guilty Ones in this Nation at the last Day whose guilt will be aggravated by their slighting of this timely Warning given them by A poor unworthy Servant of the Lord Jesus in the Ministry of his glorious Gospel THO. WILLES London Aug. 15. 1659. The Book commended to Gods Blessing GLORIOUS GOD This poor thing which thy unworthy servant hath finish't in thy strength is now prest for thy service And behold I have here brought it before thy Majesty that it may receive thy Blessing Thou who art the great God delightest to do great things by weak Means that thy Power may appear and thy Name may have the Glory O that it would please thee to make use of this poor thing as an Instrument in thine own hand for the Glory of thy great Name and the good of thy People in this sinful Nation Oh let not the Weaknesses and Infirmities of thy servant that herein disclose themselves hinder the success of this small service which he desires hereby to do thy distracted Church Lord own and accept what is Good in it for it is thine own but what is Evil pardon and cover as proceeding from the weaknesse of a poor Creature that would willingly do thee much better service and yet is willing to submit to thy Will though Thou shouldest subject him to the meanest employment And give O Lord so much
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A WORD in SEASON FOR A Warning to England OR A Prophecy of Perillous Times Open'd and Apply'd Wherein the Signes of Bad Times and the Means of making the Times Good are represented as the great Concernment of all good Christians in this present Age. First exhibited in a SERMON preached in the Abby at Westminster July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and Published By THOMAS VVILLES M. A. Minister of the Gospel in the City of London Seal not the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book For the Time is at hand Rev. 22.10 How do ye say We are Wise and the Law of the LORD is with us Lo They have rejected the Word of the LORD and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8.8 9. Tempora mutantur nos mutamur in illis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sIC transIt gLorIa MVnDI LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Tho. Underhill at the Blew Anchor in Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO THE SENATORS SOULDIERS CITIZENS STRANGERS To whom This SERMON was As to its main SUBSTANCE EXHIBITED FROM THE PULPIT IT 'S NOW WITH MUCH ENLARGEMENT PRESENTED FROM THE PRESSE FOR THEIR SERIOUS PERUSAL By A MESSENGER from CHRIST A MINISTER of the GOSPEL THOMAS WILLES Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Luk. 11.28 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13.17 From the KING of SAINTS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST To his Faithful and Well-beloved Servants and Subjects that shall live in the latter Dayes TAke heed that no man deceive you For many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many And ye shall hear of Warres and Rumours of Wars See that ye be not troubled For all these things must come to passe but the End is not yet For Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and there shall be Famines and Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers Places All these are the Beginning of Sorrows Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Names sake And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another And many false Prophets shall rise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure to the End the same shall be saved By the Hand of his Trusty Servant and Secretary * Chap. 24. v. 4 -13 MATTHEW Publicano-Christianus To the SACRED MAJESTY OF HEAVEN THE KING of KINGS AND LORD of LORDS The Supream Governour of the whole World The Humble Address and Representation of the Gratitude Requests of many Thousands of the Well-affected People of the Land who desire to approve themselves Faithful to the Cause of Christ and to be found walking in the Good Old way Most Mighty LORD WHereas it hath pleased thy glorious Majesty out of the exceeding riches of thy Free Grace and thy tender compassions in Jesus Christ to call us thy poore unworthy Servants out of the World to the Profession of thy truth and Gosspel and the Participation of thy saving Grace when out of thy infinite Sovereignty and Justice thou hast past by Millions of men and left them to perish everlastingly in their sinnes we humbly desire in a deep sense of our own utter Unworthiness to express our free and hearty Acknowledgement of that infinite Obligation which thou hast hereby laid upon our soules to perpetual Gratitude Love Honour and Obedience to thy Glorious Majesty for so invaluable a Mercy And we cannot but with sorrow of Heart confesse that we have by our unsuitable Walkings shew'd our selves very Unworthy of such rich Discoveries of thy Love unto us But we humbly implore thy Mercy in the forgiveness of our many Miscarriages and beseech thee to give us Leave with all Humility to present thy Majesty with these few Petitions to which we earnestly beg a Gracious Answer That it will please thee to grant preserve and establish a Righteous and Religious Magistracy a Faithful and painful Ministry in the Land with that Blessed GOVERNMENT which is most agreeable to thy holy Word and Will both in Church and State That it will please thee who hast the Hearts of all men in thy Hands to put it into the Hearts of our Counsellors and Governors to study and endeavour the Advancement of thy Glory and thy Churches Good by the suppression of Errour and Profanenesse and the Promotion of Truth and Holinesse in the Land That where thou seest those Persons in Places of Power and Trust who by their pernicious Principles and Practises make the Times Perillous thou wilt Graciously be pleased by thy Hand of Power to remove them and to set in their room men truly fearing Thee and hating Covetousness who may cordially seek and endeavour the Peace and Welfare of thine English Zion That thou wilt pour down on thy Servants a Spirit of Humiliation for the sins of the Land that thou wilt graciously pardon the Transgressions of thy People and purge the Land from its Abominations that thou mayest dwell amongst us That thou wilt break the wicked Designes and dissolve the cursed Conspiracies of those that under Pretences of thy Name Cause and Glory violently prosecute their Pernicious Purposes for the satisfaction of their Ambition and Covetousness and the Introduction of Errours Heresies and all manner of Licentiousness into the Land to the Hazard of many thousand souls and the dishonour of thy Glorious Name That it will please Thee to heal the Breaches of thy own People and to establish these three Nations England Scotland and Ireland in Peace and Love upon the sure Foundations of Religion and Righteousness and crown them all with thy Loving-kindnesse and tender Mercies And to this End that thou wilt awaken the spirits of thy Saints from their security in an unsettled and distracted condition to a serious minding of the great Concernments of thy Church and People their own Souls and this sinful Nation That thou wilt be graciously pleased speedily to change the Perillous Times that are or may come upon thy people according to the Predictions of thy holy Prophets into those Glorious Times which thou hast raised the hearts of many of thy Saints in Expectations of by thy Precious Promises However be pleased to preserve thy People in times of Peril and Persecution and to carry them as on Eagles Wings by thy Spirit of Grace through all Difficulties and Dangers till thou shalt receive them up into thy Kingdome of Glory So shall we thy poore unworthy Subjects and Suppliants as in Duty bound celebrate thy Glorious Name with everlasting Praises The Names of the Petitioners are written in Heaven A PROPHECY OF PERILLOUS TIMES Open'd and Apply'd 2 TIM 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shall come The Introduction THe knowledge of the Times and Seasons is very useful for all men Without
Jam. 1.27 keep your selves unspotted from the world Thus Noah kept himself cleare from the Corruptions of the old world Lot preserv'd himself pure from the Pollutions of Sodome Daniel was not defiled with the Idolatries of Babylon Thus the Fish retains its Freshnesse in the salt Sea the Rose its sweetnesse amongst the noysome weeds and the Diamond its Brightnesse though it lie in the Dust Gold though melted in the Furnace will not mix with the Drosse Keep your selves pure from sin as you desire God would preserve you as Noah in the Ark safe from Danger in perillous Times If you cannot make the Times better yet see that the times do not make you worse In Times of a common Contagion there 's much danger to e-every particular Person Take heed of Decayes of grace by the encrease of sin in the World When †Mat. 24.12 Iniquity abounds take heed lest your Love to God and goodnesse wax Cold. Though Errours abound be careful you decay not in your love to the Truth You have been forewarn'd of these Evils in the Word of God that you might not be insnared with them when the perillous Times therein foretold are come upon you Let me bespeak your eare and watchfulnesse in this respect in the words of the Apostle * 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen The second Branch STrengthen not by an active Compliance the hands of Evil Doers These are they which make the Times perillous A quiet submission to the Providence of God wisely ordering all the Changes in the world does well become the Saints It is good for a Saint to take notice of Gods hand in all things and to submit to his Will as well in permitting of Evil as in Depriving of good with silence So David though at the first †Ps 39.1 2 troubled to see the wicked in Power while the righteous was opprest at length exprest his submission by silence * Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it But every Godly man must have a singular care lest by any active compliance he should strengthen the hand of Evil Doers in their irrâ—gular actings This was the sinne wherewith the Lord sharply charg'd Jehoshaphat a good King by the hand of Jehu the Prophet and threatned wrath for it †2 Chr. 19 2 Shouldest thou sayes Jehu to Jehoshaphat help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. And therefore though the Lord of all may permit great changes to be irregularly made both for the manifestation and punishment of the Pride of man yet must not his people yeeld any consent or concurrence to them that irregularly make them This is the wise Counsel of the wisest of men which was dictated to him by the wisdome of God * Prov. 24 21 22. My son fear thou the LORD and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Take heed therefore Christians of contributing to the Rise of Evil Doers lest you fall in their Ruine †Rev. 18.4 Partake not in their sins lest you partake of their Plagues and feele the smart of their Punishments for having tasted the sweetnesse of their Favours * Esay 8.11 12. For to speak to you in the words of the Prophet the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying say ye not A Confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say A Confederacy neither fear ye their Fear nor be afraid Take heed therefore lest by your concurrence with them whose pernicious practices do make these perillous Times you contract to your selves the guilt of their sinnes and contribute to the Evil of the Times Let not the Desire of Gain or Glory nor the Fear of Disgrace or Danger induce you hereunto A man can never be undone by the greatest losse he can sustaine for the keeping a good conscience and preserving an interest in Gods Love and Favour He is Rich and Happy that hath God for his Portion and Heaven for his Inheritance how great soever his sufferings and losses be when he that wants this notwithstanding his greatest worldly Gaine or Glory is Poore and Miserable Account not that Gaine which may hazard the losse of your immortal soul * Mar. 8.36 For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and loose his own soul Abhor the basenesse of serving your self of the evil of the Times by seeking a private gaine by that which will turn to the publick losse Abhor the basenesse of fearing to adventure a private losse by that which may turn to the Publick gaine Never expect that God should blesse those Riches to you or yours which are rais'd out of the Ruines of the Church or Common-wealth He is no good member of either that hath not learn'd to deny his Private Interests for the Publick Good The third Branch COnsider one another to provoke unto Love and good Works †Heb. 10.24 When a Fire is kindled in a House in a City every one that can should contribute his help to quench it O labour to quench the Flames that are kindled in the Church which is the * 1 Tim. 3.15 House and †Heb. 12.22 City of the living God O stir up one another to the exercise of Brotherly Love and Charity and so help to cement the Breaches that are amongst Brethren in the Family of God 'T is the Policy of your enemies to Divide you to your Ruine 'T is your wisdom joyntly to endeavour after that Union which is your beauty strength and glory Stir up one another also to good works as meanes singularly conducible to the amendment of evil Times There is no season so sharp but the Trees of Righteousnesse should be laden with fruit Good Works are a singular Ornament to the Saints in evil Times Good Works are a Christians Shield and Crown his safety in Danger as they interesse him in the * Psal 41.2 Promise of Preservation and in Disgraces his Crown of glory Now it well becomes Christians to encourage one another to those duties whereby they may most honour God in times of danger and discouragement When the Proud were invested with Power and profane Politicians had exalted themselves they were perillous Times for the People of God yet †Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another by way of Counsel Comfort and Encouragement in the wayes of God O labour to do as much good as
you can in a little time For when the Dayes are Evil you know not how little time you may have how few Opportunities of well-doing you may enjoy * Eph. 5.15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fooles but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Daies are evil The fourth Branch LIve in the exercise of your most excellent graces Let the Lustre of them appear in the eyes of the World that so you may diminish the Darknesse of an evil Generation When the Nights are darkest every one should be careful to hang out their Lights When the Sun the Chariot of Light hath carried the Day to another World the Night comes forth deckt with all her Jewels Search your Cabinets put on your Jewels exercise your Graces your Faith Love Patience Humility Zeale Hope Confidence and so labour to preserve a Day of Light and Holinesse in spight of all the encroachments of the darknesse of Sin and Vice Labour to be every whit as Good as others are Evil. Stir up your selves especially to the exercise of those Graces which stand in opposition to the reigning Vices of the Times Study to shew your selves as Active for God as others are for the World as truly Content with your condition as others are Covetous Oppressive Ambitious as Faithful as others are False as Pious as others are Profane as much to excel in Charity Moderation Humility as others exceed in Cruelty Censoriousnesse and Pride It well becomes Saints to be best when the Times are worst So Fire burnes hottest in the coldest weather and Stars shine brightest in the darkest Nights So shall you lift up the Name and Glory of God in the World and your lives shall be illustrious Testimonies for the cause of God against a wicked world Beg Grace of God therefore that in evil and perillous Times you may live to his Glory * Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and Harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World The fifth Branch DAre to appear in your places for the Cause of God against the Evils of the Times Why should not every pious Christian dare to do more for God and the interests of his Glory then any profane Politician dares to do against him Why should you be afraid to appear on the stronger side It is indeed desperate Folly and Madnesse in impotent man to presume upon any action or undertaking which carries in it an apparent or consequential Opposition to an Omnipotent God upon whose Providence he hath a continual dependance insomuch as without some concurrence thereof he cannot move a Hand nor stirre a step Alas This Almighty God can with the least Finger of that glorious Hand by which he governes this All in one moment crush the greatest Armies of the mightiest men upon earth as a †Job 4.19 Moth and crumble them into dust But for the Saints that are guarded with an Omnipotent Arme they may with a holy confidence appear in the Cause of God against the most potent adversaries in the world For greater and stronger is he that is with us then they that are with them For as the good King Hezekiah said to the Captaines of his Army at the approach of the King of Assyria * 2 Chron. 32.7 8. with them is an Arme of Flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us And †Rom. 8.31 if God be for us who can be against us Fear not then ye sonnes of the mighty ye children of the most high to appear for God and his cause against the impieties and iniquities of evil and perillous times Remember * Rev. 21.8 the fearful are set in the Front of that Troop of Rebels that shall be sent to Hell Know you not that in this case when Gods Cause and Glory suffers He that is not for God is against him Take heed then lest while you fear a lesser danger you fall into a greater 'T is then your greatest wisdome and safety to take the strongest side and that is to appear for God So may you say with David †Ps 118.6 The LORD is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me And again * Ps 56.11 In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me †Psal 118 8 9. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in man It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in Princes Dare to appear for God therefore in your places and to plead his Cause against wicked and unreasonable men with more Courage Resolution and Boldnesse then they have to oppose it Stand up therefore in Dayes of Danger and appear for the Truth and Glory of God that made you for the Honour and Interests of the Lord Jesus Christ that redeem'd you with his own precious blood appear for his Word and Worship his Ordinances and Ministers his Sabbaths and Sacraments his Church and Saints and all the just Rights Dues and Priviledges thereof against a wicked Generation of men that dare openly deny the Truth and profane the Name of God that are not afraid to cast Contempt and Reproach upon his Word and Worship to scoff at his Sabbaths and Sacraments and slight his holy Ordinances to abuse revile and vilifie his Ministers his Ambassadours seeking to pluck their meat from their mouths desiring to imbrue their hands in their blood endeavouring their utter extirpation out of the Church of God that dare to lay sacrilegious hands upon the Rights and Revenues of the Church which she holds by a firmer Title then the greatest Lord in the Land does or can do his inheritance and thereby seek to turne her children out of their Possession that they may enrich themselves as too many have done by the Churches Ruines Now Christians will you be afraid or asham'd to appear in so just a cause against such wretched men such wicked Adversaries as these Shall these come under the Name of Religion and rob you of the thing while you sit still and do nothing Shall the Interests of Christ and Glory of God fall to the ground rather then you will rise up and appear for the maintenance of the one and defence of the other How will you answer it to God at the great day of account O therefore be not afraid to appear for the Cause of God against the Evil of the Times in the Places and Stations wherein God hath set you This will be your Crown of Glory and Cause of Rejoycing at the great Day of the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ And oh that those that are Highest in Place and Power would seriously lay these things to heart and quitting all self-interests inconsistent with the Cause and Interests of the Kingdome of Christ sincerely study and endeavour the advancement of Gods Glory in
am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth and with my song will I praise him Quest But how may I clear my Interest in God Answer By these Evidences 1. Faith in Him 2. Love to Him 3. Conformity to his Wil revealed in his Word Faith unites the soul to God Union is the very Foundation of Interest and so a sufficient Evidence thereof Faith interests the soul in the Covenant of Grace and the †Mar. 16.16 Salvation therein promist Now 't is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace the soul comes to have an Interest in God The discovery therefore of the Grace of Faith is a sufficient Evidence of the souls Covenant-Interest in God Faith unites the soul to Christ Who dwels in the heart by Faith †Eph. 3.17 Now it is in and through Christ that Believers have an Interest in God Hence is the life of a Believer said to be hid with Christ in God * Col. 3.3 He then that is by Faith united to Christ is thereby interessed in God And as Faith is the Band of our Mystical so is Love the Band of our Moral Union with God and so it likewise evidences the souls Interest in Him Our Love to God springs from Gods Love to us For we love Him because he first loved us †Joh. 4.19 Now who are they that have an Interest in God but they that are beloved by him Now it s the Nature of both these Graces Faith and Love to work the soul wherein they are seated to a Conformity to the person upon which they are acted The Eye of Faith beholding the Beauty of Holiness in the Face of God transforms the soul into the same Image So the Apostle speaking of the Glory and Efficacy of the Evangelical Administration thus expresses himself †2 Cor. 3.18 For we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So likewise Love assimilates the person loving to the person beloved When Mettal is melted it bears the figure of the Mould into which it is cast Indeed in God the immutable Pattern of all Perfections Love is of a more transcendent Nature and Efficacy in all its operations God by loving us assimilates us to himself but we by loving God are assimilated to him For this Assimilating motion of Love springs from the Quickering Motive thereof which gives Life Vigour and Activity to Love Now the Motive of our Love to God is in him but the Motive of Gods Love to us is not in us but in himself 'T is a Flower that springs from the Root of free Grace But now this Conformity to God in the Beauty of Holiness being produc'd by the Efficacy of these excellent Graces Faith and Love must needs evidence the souls Interest in God 'T is Grace flowing from God to the soul which raises the soul up to a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Holy Word And Communication of Grace speaks the souls Interest in God If the Branch flourish by Virtue of sap derived from the Stock it is certainly ingraffed thereinto Now doth your soul rest upon God in a way of Believing Doth your Heart go out after God in a way of loving Do you express a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Word in a way of Holy Living Doth your Faith work by Love Doth your Love produce Likeness Doth this Likeness nourish your Love Doth this Love strengthen your Faith Do yon find your soul to move towards God by Faith and Love and to press after Conformity to God in Holiness of Heart and Life Then have you good and sure Evidences of your Interest in God The second Work ACT all the Powers of your soul upon God Let your Understanding eye him in his glorious Excellencies and All-sufficiency as infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness and Truth Let your Will choose him as the chiefest good and your highest Happiness and rest in him as your only Satisfaction and Security Let your Affections with full tide carry your soul to him as your only Rock and Refuge Let your Love be to him your Desires after him and your Delight in Him above all things in the world Stir up your self also to the lively Exercise of your most excellent Graces whereby your soul may be lifted up above Difficulties and dangers in the world and much advanc't and advantag'd in its nearest Approaches and Approximations to God Set your Faith Hope Trust on work Act your Faith on his Promise your Hope in his Mercy your Trust in his Power So shall you be ever near unto God as a Child under his Fathers Arm a Favorite in his Princes Bosom There is a sort of * Echini Fishes called by Cassiodore for their delicate Temper and curious Colour Croceae Deliciae divitis Maris The Saffron-colour'd Delights of the rich Sea These when a Storm arises gather to themselves little stones the same thing have some observed of the Bees to poise themselves in swimming thorough the boysterous waves as the Bees in flying thorough the blustering Winâ—s and so they make to some Rock as the Bees to their Hâ—ve as their Refuge from the tempestuous Fury of the sea So Believers who are Mundi Divitiae Deliciae Christi The Riches of the World and the Delights of Christ when any Storm or Tempest arises in the Church or State gathering to themselves the Pearls of Gospel-Promises to keep them in an even Poize in Perillous Times that they may not be driven away with every †Eph. 4.14 Wind of Doctrine nor discomposed by every Wave * Luk. 6.48 of Temptation should speedily make to Christ as a Hive of sweetness and a Rock of Strength for their Security and Peace Now this Application to him is made by the Believing souls Acting of Faith upon him in time of Trouble And thus must the Saints act the Powers of their souls upon God if they would be interessed in that Protection which pertains to the Saints by Divine Promise Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself saith the Prophet †Isa 8.13 14 and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Now what is it to sanctifie the Lord in our Hearts as the Apostle expresses it * 1 Pet. 3.15 but to present his glorious Excellencies and Perfections his infinite Power and Greatness before the view of our souls and to stir up our selves to those Actings which carry in them a suitableness and correspondency to such manifestations of God to us And what is this but to act all the powers of our souls upon him as a God who for his greatness is worthy to be feared and adored for his goodness is to be loved and desired for his Wisedome Mercy Power and Truth is to be trusted in and submitted to in all Things Now he
according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace Ye shall be my people and I will be your God †Jer. 30 2â— Does thy heart say Amen to this Covenant-promise Be it so Lord Wilt thou give thy self unto me Wilt thou indeed be my God Then will I be thine and onely thine for ever Behold here am I O Lord do what thou wilt with me for to thee do I give my self body and soul for ever Canst thou indeed say thus Then is God thine Heaven is thine Speak What sayest thou to this This I can truly say If these things be so the Lord is surely my God For I do freely with my whole heart and soul give my self wholly unto him I desire in all things to be obedient to his will I would not willingly for the gain of the whole world do any thing that might offend or dishonour him I desire that he would enable me more and more by his Grace to serve him For I desire not to live a day longer then I may live to his Glory And I am not onely willing to take him for my onely happinesse and freely to leave all the sweetest and dearest Comforts I have in this world for the enjoyment of him but I should look upon it as the ground of my highest joy and of everlasting thankfulness that though he should take away all from me he would yet be pleased to give himself unto me to be my God and * Gen. 15.1 exceeding great reward Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift †2 Cor. 9 15. If thou canst indeed speak thus Happy art thou God is thine and thou art his and shalt be happy in him and with him for ever in Heaven Blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath magnifi'd his Mercie to me and hath had compassion on me the chiefest of sinners the least of Saints I am willing upon this ground of the New Covenant to believe his Love to look up to him as my God But how may I know that Christ is mine Why If God be thine Christ is thine also If he have given thee himself to be thy God he hath given thee his Sonne to be thy Saviour 'T is in Christ that he is thy God The Covenant of Grace wherein God becomes thy God is founded in Christ his Mediation and Satisfaction And Christ in all his * Col. 1.19 Fulnesse of Grace and Glory is that great †Joh. 4.10 GIFT OF GOD which is promised in the Covenant of Grace Now then if God be thine and thou art his according to the Tenour of the New Covenant he hath given his Sonne unto thee as a Jewel from his bosome for a pledge of his glorious everlasting love and hath given thee to his Son as a part of his richest Treasure in the World to redeeme sanctifie and save Thee And if Christ be thine and thou art his Heaven the Inheritance which he hath purchast for Believers with his blood is thine also For thus hath he said * Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World Moreover further to cleare it up to thy soul that Christ is thine let me ask thee Hath God ever shew'd thee what a poor lost undone Creature thou art in thy self by reason of thy sinnes Hath he made known to thee the Fulnesse and All-sufficiency of Christ with thy absolute necessity of him to justifie sanctifie and save thee or thou must perish forever Hast thou in the Glasse of the Law seen thy own Deformity and the incomparable Beauty of Christ in the Glasse of the Gospel Hast thou seen thy own †Rev. 3.17 18. Nakednesse and apprehended thy need of the Righteousnesse of Christ as glorious clothing for thy naked soul Hast thou been made sensible of thy * Mat. 5.3 spiritual poverty and have the †Eph. 3.8 unsearchable riches of Christ been unfolded before thee in the Gospel How have these things wrought upon thy heart Hast thou felt thy heart stirred within thee hereupon Hast thou felt God * Joh. 6.44 drawing thy heart out in desires and longings after Christ Hast thou been made willing to take Christ upon his own termes to be thy Soveraigne as well as thy Saviour To rule over thee as well as to save thee To save thee from thy lusts and †Mat. 1.21 sinnes as well as to save thee from Wrath and Hell Hast thou beene made willing to take his †Yoke upon thee * Mat. 11.29 30. and to bear his Burden Hath Christ beene welcome to thee when he hath come with his †Luk. 9.23 Crosse to lay it upon thee as well as when he hath come with his Cordials to refresh and comfort thee Speak seriously canst thou account thy self more happy in the presence of Christ in Prisons and Perecutions then in the midst of all worldly Pleasures and Prosperities without him Tell me truly if thou mightest certainly have thy wish and desire granted what wouldst thou wish for whom wouldst thou desire Ah None but Christ None but Christ What doest thou trust to on whom dost thou rest for salvation On thy own righteousnesse in thy own strength Oh no None but Christ None but Christ Art thou indeed Vile in thine own eyes and are all things in the World but vile in thy esteeme in comparison of Christ And is Christ above all things unto thee exceeding precious Truly if I know mine own heart I esteeme all the Riches of the world to be but * Phil. 4.8 losse and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Well then thou art a Believer For unto them onely that believe is Christ precious †1 Pet. 2.7 And if thou art a Believer thou shalt certainly be saved thou shalt surely one day behold thy Saviour in Heaven and there live in the fruition of his glorious Loves unto all Eternity * Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Now what sayst thou poore soule How does thy Heart eccho to these Questions Why through the Grace of God this I can say It hath plâ—â—â—ed the Lord so far to discover the emptynesse of self and sinfulness of sin unto me that sometimes when I look down upon my self I †Eze. 36 â—1 loath and * Job 42.6 abhor my self and cannot but wonder that ever the Lord should vouchsafe to look upon me and love me Yea I wonder he hath not thrown me into Hell And when the Lord first revealed Christ Jesus to me in his Gospel in his All-sufficiency and Readinesse to save me it even ovâ—rcame my Heart and my thoughts and reasonings were such as these Oh good
God! And hast thou given thy dearest Son to suffer such a cursed and cruel dâ—ath for such a vile sinner as I am O sweetest Mercy O infinite goodnesse O glorious Love Then me thought I first felt my Heart that before was like a †Eze. 36.26 stone within me to melt and sensibly dissolve at once into sorrow and joy †Zac. 12.10 * Sorrow that ever I had sinned against such a good God †Luk. 2.10 Joy that ever Mercy and Salvation should be tendered to such a vile sinner And then when I cast up my Eyes to Christ and beheld him sometimes as crucifi'd on Earth sometimes as glorifi'd in heaven my heart sure spake within me much to this purpose O deare Jesus And hast thou endured such grievous sufferings for the salvation of such a miserable sinner as I am What wouldest thou leave thy Fathers * Joh. 1.18 Bosome and glory to live here on Earth and die on the †Phil. 2.8 Crosse to save the Life of a crawling Worme Hast thou poured out thy * Joh. 19 34. Hearts blood to queâ—â—â— thy Fathers dreadful wrath and to â—â—â—chase his glorious Love to a poysonous Toad Is it possible Can it be believed for Truth that the Sonne of God should come to save such a sinful wretch as I am Yea He hath said it and I believe it †1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chiefe Hereupon I found my heart carried out in a restlesse and insatiable longing desire after Christ yea and indeed inseparably cleaving to Christ thus manifesting himself to me in the Gospel For then I not onely saw the sinfulnesse of my sinnes but I lookt upon all my * Isa 64.6 Righteousnesses as filthy rags and so humbling my self for my sinnes and renouncing utterly my own righteousnesse I cast my self wholly upon my Saviour and resolved †Job 13.15 though he should slay me I would trust in him And now though since I have not often found such sweet and powerful workings upon my Heart yet this is the state wherein I stand I have solemnly resigned my self wholly up into the hands of Christ as my Soveraigne and Saviour to be done with and disposed of in every thing as seemes best unto him and on him only do I rest for Righteousness and Life Eternal Happy soul God hath magnified his Mercy to thee and done more for thee then for thousands God hath drawn thee tâ— Christ and united thy soul to him by â—â—â—h a Band indissoluble For thou hast in this Declaration of Gods dealings with thee laid open the very Mysterie of Faith and manifested how the Holy Ghost hath by this Heavenly Band inseparably knit thy soul unto thy Saviour Rejoyce then in thy God For thy soul is safely lockt up in the Everlasting Blessed Embraces of thy Redeemer Yea thou shalt be for ever worn as a Jewel in his bosom Fear not For in the day that God makes up his Jewels * Mal. 3.17 he will remember thy soul And though thy Faith be weak be not discouraged Thou standest not in thy own strength but in the strength of Christ who is †Isa 63.1 Mighty to save The safety of the Child in the Mothers Bosome lies not in the strength of its own weak Arms wherewith it clings about her but in the strength of the Mothers Arm and the Affectionate Tenderness of her heart towards it What though thy Faith be weak thy strength be small and thy Enemies strong thou art kept by the Power of God through Faith unto salvation * 1 Pet. 1.5 Christ is thine and so Heaven and Happiness is thine also The Lord grant I may live to his Praise that hath shewed Mercy on me For the Glory of God is I know the end of these Dispensations of his Grace For thus it is written †Eph. 1.12 13 14. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ In whom saith the Apostle ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance untill the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory But how may I know that God hath given me this Earnest of my Inheritance that I am sealed with his Holy Spirit or that he hath given his Holy Spirit to me If God hath given you Faith in Jesus Christ he hath certainly sealed you with his Holy Spirit and so given you the Earnest of your heavenly Inheritance For it is the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of Grace by which that Faith was wrought in your Heart by which you have been united to Jesus Christ The Graces of Sanctification Repentance Faith Hope Love to God Charity c. are the prints of this Privy Seal wherewith God seals Believers as his own Peculiar which in whatsoever soul they are found to that soul is the Spirit of God given as an Earnest of an eternal Inheritance in Heaven And where there is one Grace of the Spirit as that of Faith which hath already been evidenc't there are all the rest though not equally visible Though sometimes but one Star do appear in the Heavens yet we are sure all the rest are fixed there though they are clouded from our sight Moreover the Spirit of God where ever it is is a Spirit of Holiness Prayer and Comfort Now do you desire to know whether the Spirit of God be given to you and do indeed dwell in you Then search your Heart and tell me what you discover upon these Enquiries Do you find sin to be a Burden to you and are you weary of it Do you indeed hate your sweetest sins and love the strictest wayes of Holiness Do you maintain a constant Conflict against your Corruptions Can you truly say with the Apostle †Rom. 7.19 The good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do For * v. 21. I find a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me Yet I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Oh do you not extremely long to be freed from this Bondage of Corruption that in the duties of Holiness you might enjoy a more glorious Freedom of Communion with God What is it which chiefly makes the world uncomfortable to you Is it Sin or Suffering Which of these two is it which you most constantly fear and most carefully decline Can you heartily bless God for Affliction when it becomes a Means to promote in your Heart the work of Grace and Holiness Is not your heart grieved for the Sin that cleaves unto you in your best performances Do you not find your heart endeared to the
Children of God more then to any others in the world Doe you know what it is that thus engages your Affections to them Is it not the Beauties of Holiness If it be thus with you then surely doth the Spirit of Holiness dwell in you Furthermore Do not you find your Heart drawn out in holy Breathings after God Are you not wont to pour it out dayly in †Mat. 6.6 Secret into the Bosome of your Heavenly Father If any thing afflict you or oppress your Spirit are you not wont to goe and make your mone unto God * Ps 142.2 When you want any choice Blessing are you not wont to go and ask it of God Do you not esteem it a singular Priviledge that you may freely go upon all Occasions and open your Heart unto your Heavenly Father And do you not find sometimes when you go unto God under great Discouragements many sweet Enlargements in Prayer Do you not find your heart inflamed with Love to God when you perceive he is pleased to hear your Prayers and answer your Requests But is not your Spirit much †Psal 30.6 troubled when he hides his Face from you Do you not account those sad Daies wherein you find such a Deadness in your Heart such a Dulness upon your Spirit that you cannot find that Refreshment in prayer which you was wont to receive even in your sorest Afflictions But are not those daies festival with your soul wherein God inlarges your Heart in Prayer and in Returns thereof inlarges his Hand with Blessings Is it thus with you Then surely the Spirit of God is given to you and * 2 Tim. 1.14 dwels in you For the †Zec. 12.10 Spirit of Grace is a Spirit of Supplication For when of Sinners God makes us Sons he sends the Spirit of Adoption into our Hearts whereby we cry Abba Father * Rom. 8.14 15. Such then are the Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom †Rom. 8.17 joint Heirs with Christ of the Kingdom of Glory To conclude Hath your soul ever tasted the sweet Comforts of Communion with God Have you been sensible of the refreshing Influences of his Holy Spirit when sometimes his Face hath shone upon your soul in Duties or Ordinances Do you prize these Comforts above all earthly Delights Have you felt your Heart sometimes melting under the glorious Sun-shine of Gods ravishing Face Have you felt your Heart dissolved as a Lump of Sugar in a Bowl of Wine into Holy Joy under the Pourings forth of the Love of God Then you may indeed * Rom. 5.2 Rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God and your †Rom. 5.5 Hope shall not make you ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in your Heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto you Behold then O gracious believing soul what ground thou hast to long for Heaven seeing if it be thus with thee thou hast a clear undoubted Title to it as thine Eternal Inheritance For canst thou not by the foregoing Evidences dear up thy Receipt of the Earnest thereof the Holy Spirit of God What sayst thou Truly I dare not deny what great Things God hath graciously done for me This then I can truly say though I am a poor sinfull Creature I do heartily desire that God would sanctifie me throughout by his Holy Spirit and make me holy Though sin be in my heart yet my heart is not towards my sin but against it I know by sad experience my Infirmities are so many my Corruptions so strong that I daily sin against God but yet if my Heart deceive me not I would rather choose to undergo the greatest suffering then willingly to commit the least sin against my good God I have had experience of many Troubles and Afflictions of one kind or another but this I am sure of that none of them have been such a Hearts-grief unto me as this that I have offended and dishonoured God by my sins And 't is my daily Request unto him that he would vouchsafe to give me such a Measure of his Grace that for the Time to come I might live only to his Glory I find my Heart I do confess many Times much straightened in Prayer but yet still the bent of my soul is towards God And I find that when I have been most enlarged in Prayer my heart is most apt to be lifted up in Spiritual Pride and when most straightened to be most cast down in Self-Abasement And yet I bless God I do not in these Enlargements forget my own Vileness nor in these Abasements forget Gods Goodness And thus I do perceive that it pleases God to do my soul good by his different Dispensations But Oh how sweet how ravishing how glorious are the Incomes of God to my soul sometimes in Prayer O me thinks I am lifted up above all the worlds Vanities above its Riches and Glory in so much that if the whole world was a Globe of Gold I should no more regard it then a Heap of Dung in comparison of the glorious soul-ravishing Joy I feel in Communion with God Oh me thinks my soul is walking with God in Paradise its soaring with the sacred Seraphims about the Throne of God it s bathing it self deliciously in the * Psal 36.9 Fountains of Life and Rivers of Pleasures that are at Gods right hand †Ps 16.11 it 's even drencht in the glorious Joyes of Eternity O then mâ—thinks it grieves me to come out of such a Paradise to come down from such a Heaven to turn mine eyes from beholding so much Beauty and Glory as my soul then sees in the Face of God or that the worlds Vanities interposing should again rob me of such a beatifical Vision But alas 't is but seldome I experiment such pretious Enjoyments My heart alas oft for a long while together is as an Instrument unstring'd and utterly out of Tune upon which I can make no Musick no Melody at all I am in a dead flat dull Temper and can hardly tell how to bring out a Word in Prayer or put up one petition to God with any Fervour But yet even in this Condition I can a little refresh my self with Reviews of the Lords former loving Kindnesses to my soul For I have sometimes felt my heart marvellously refresht with his gracious Comforts and my soul hath been sometimes sprinkled with glorious Joyes If these then be the fruits and flowrings forth of the * 1 Joh. 3.9 Seed of God in me if these be the Productions of the Spirit of Holiness and Evidences of its In-being in the heart then I hope I may comfortably conclude that God hath been pleased to give unto me his Holy Spirit Blessed be thou O Believer for thou hast unlockt unto me Christs Garden of Spices and hast refresht my Spirit by leading me up and down in flowry walks while thou hast laid open before me thy Experiences