filling them for Gods use both here and hereafter 4. Common-mercies and Covenant-mercies differ in their duration and continuance and this is the discriminating note in this Text they are called Sure Mercies in opposition to those uncertain riches that take to themselves wings and fly away 1 Tim. 6.18 alas the fashion of the world passeth away earthly enjoyments are but of a short continuance at death they and we must part but many times they leave us before we leave them the dreadful example of many thousands in London in the late astonishing burning confirms this that were very rich and very poor in a few hours many worth thousands in the Morning but before Night had not an House to put their head in our eyes have seen and ears have heard how suddenly vast estates have been pluckt out of the hands of the securest possessours Nemo dives est qui quod habit secum hinc auserre non potest Ambros a night may put an end to the rich fools confident boasting no man is rich who cannot carry away with him that which he hath what we must leave behind us is not ours but some others and this is the certain end of these uncertain enjoyments that lose them we must and we know not when or how and what a condition will a poor worldling be in when his God and he must be parted But now these mercies of the Covenant are lasting yea everlasting mercies they continue even beyond this transitory life and run paralel with the life of God and line of Eternity eternal life is in the rear of spiritual life Grace ends in Glory yea an immortal Crown is one of the mercies of this sure Covenant these are a treasure that is neither subject to inward decays nor outward violence no Moth can corrupt it nor Thief steal it Mat 6.19 20. Well then since this be the vast difference betwixt common and Covenant mercies why should we make so great account of the former and so little of the latter what need have we to advance our hearts and eyes to things that are not seen with bodily eyes and not dote upon things that are seen 2 Cor. 4.18 Valdè protestatus sum 〈◊〉 istis non satia◠our souls must resolve with brave Luther I earnestly protested I would not be put off with these things alas what poor things are outward enjoyments consider the differences mentioned God may hate you though you abound with worldly comforts but Covenant-mercies are infallible tokens of God's love these gifts are not suitable and satisfying to the soul the other are outward mercies will make you no better in the eyes of God or good men but spiritual will render you truly good the world will take its sudden farewell of you and fail you at your greatest need Covenant-mercies will stick by you while you live and bring you blameless before his Throne in Eternal glory here will come in that usual distinction of Bona throni and Bona scabelli 't is these Covenant-mercies that are the good things of the Throne outward mercies are but the good things of the foot-stool let Heaven-born souls mount up to the mercies of the Throne but let the Moon and all sublunary injoyments be under their feet the whole World is too little for the godly man's soul not but that we should be thankful for the least common mercy but we should not be put off with the greatest a little of the World should content a Christian with God all the World should not content him without God Oh how sweet are common-mercies when they come to us in a Covenant-way a morsel sprinkled with Christ's blood hath a delicate rellish this only takes away the poyson venom and malignity that guilt hath brought upon the Creature and reduceth all things to their pristine usefulness and primitive perfection Oh the happiness of the Saints they have all they do enjoy as so many tokens of love as it s said that Cyrus his kiss to Chrysantas was better Gold than the costly Cup of Gold that he gave to Artabarus So common mercies perfumed with Covenant-love are trancendently better than the richest Treasures of wretched Worldlings that 's the second instruction 3. Another inference is this if Covenant-mercies be thus sure then it instructs us in the precedency of Grace above gifts Gifts come upon other terms than Grace God gives grace as a free-hold it hath the promise of this and another World but gifts come upon liking though a father will not cast off his Child yet he may take away his fine Coat and ornaments if he be proud of them Mr. Gurnal Christ armour Mat. 25.29 Luk. 8.18 there are gifts of illumination conviction interpretation elocution Prayer Prophesie which are given for the Churches edification the main difference betwixt gifts and grace is that the former may languish vanish and utterly perish but Grace never totally and finally decays God may give Saul a spirit of Government Judas a gift of Preaching and Miracles Simon Magus a temporary faith and yet repent him of these and pluck them quite away he may and often doth dry up the right arm of an Idol idle shepherd and darkens his right eye of knowledge Zach. 11.17 so that he improves not Talents of gifts from him shall be taken away that which he hath even real gifts and shews of Grace persons eminently gifted may be fire-brands of Hell men may fall from the clearest intellectuals to bruitish sensuality but these gifts and callings of saving grace are without repentance God loveth his own to the end gracious habits shall not be lost the Apostle elegantly expresseth the difference to my hand in 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity i. e. saving grace never faileth but whether there be Prophecies they shall fail whether there be Tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away I know the main intent of the place is to commend love above other saving graces from the duration and perpetuity of it that it shall continue and be of use in Heaven yet here 't is opposed to such gifts as may also be lost in this life and however by consequence it will follow that the one is separable from its subject the other not natural men may make a fair shew and flourish with fine gifts which are as it were the trimming and ornament of Grace which yet may through negligence or old age decay and wither true grace may be accompanyed with the guildings and varnish of gifts which may in time wear off whilst a sound principle continues fresh and lively Besides this give me leave to add other four differentes betwixt common gifts and saving graces 1. They differ in respect of their Fountain and spring the original from whence they flow Eph. 16.7 gifts as one saith come from Gods treasury of bounty Grace proceeds from the choice Cabinet of his Love Grace flows to the elect through the blood of Christ from Gods
Luk. 1.3 4.2 Tim. 3.14 and Paul his Timothy Oh sirs get well assured of these things let your faith and perswasion have its full dimensions let it be deeply rooted and high built take not things upon trust let every truth have its full emphasis and efficacy upon your hearts and Consciences especially the main momentous Gospel-truths that you must venture your souls upon and live and dye by you had need consider what ground you stand upon and be fully perswaded in your own minds But so much for the second Use CHAP. VIII III. THe third Vse is of Examination to try us whether we have a real interest in these sure mercies of the Covenant it is one of the greatest questions that we can be asked whether we have a right title to Covenant-mercies alas we have forfeited our title to God or to any good thing from him by our breach of the Old Covenant and now we have nothing to do with God except only to endure the severe strokes of his sin-revenging justice Oh what need have we to try our selves by an impartial scrutiny For our better assistance in this great and weighty business I shall a little open what it is to enter into Covenant in general and then enquire what conditions of the new Covenant we can find in our hearts and then shew a little of the nature and effects of these Covenant-mercies where they are For the first to enter into Covenant with God is to own God as our God and to give up our selves wholly to him as his expressed in these words in Scripture I will be thy God and thou shalt be my people this this is the Marrow of the Covenant for God to be our God it is a comprehensive word it is substantia faederis as Funius calls it anima faederis as Pareus calls it eaput foederis as Musail the substance-soul and head of the Covenant the life of Religion is in this as one saith sweetly the goodness of duties lyes in Adverbs and the sweetness of the Covenant lyes in possessives Well then the contracting of this Covenant betwixt God and a soul consists chiefly in a mutual reddition or giving up themselves each to other expressed in Scripture by a Matrimonial contract when God gives up himself to the soul and accepts of him and the soul accepts of God as his God and gives up himself to him now we are not to enquire after the act of God for 't is fully expressed in the Scriptures and it is certainly supposed God accepts the sinner when the sinner accepts of God for these are relatives nor is this any change in God the change is only in the sinner who is now put into a new state and relation it is certain by the free offers of the Gospel that God doth consent and the main thing to be enquired into is whether the soul do consent or no for if it cordially do the match is made God and the soul are marryed which is a thing of the greatest importance in the whole World I shall purposely wave controversies in this business wherein this consent lyes whether it be only an assent See Mr. Baxt. Saints Rest Part 1. p. 177 178. an act of the understanding or it be a choice an act of the Will c. I conceive 't is an act of the whole soul whereby a poor troubled sinner discovering its forlorn estate by its breach of the Old Covenant and sad consequences thereof and discerning a possibility of a recovery and the way of reconciliation by a new Covenant contrived and contracted betwixt God and fallen man sealed and confirmed by the blood of a Mediator God-man doth freely cordially and constantly accept of God as his chiefest good and ultimate end and give up himself to him resolvedly unreservedly and universally to be the Lords to be and do what the Lord pleaseth to obey divine commands be at God's dispose in life and death and thus to continue even to the end of his days This is for a soul to enter into Covenant with the Lord the tryal will lye in these two things 1. Whether we have accepted of God as our God 2. Whether we have given up our selves to him to be at his dispose yea or no a little of both these 1. Whether have you taken the Lord to be yours or no. We are all naturally Idolaters and have our hearts glued to the Creature or something else besides God we are of those many that cry out who will shew us any good and trace the whole Creation to find satisfaction till we are weary and sit down despairing of obtaining what we seek for all the creatures are forced to eccho this unanimous vote happiness is not in me thus like Hagar we wander in this howling wilderness Gen. 21.15 16 17 18 19. till the Water of hope be spent in the bottle and our souls like Ishmael be ready to perish under the shrubs of guilt and wrath and then we sit down in sorrow ready to pine away in our iniquities loth to see or think of our own damnation lifting up our voice with bitter weeping and despair God hears and asks the troubled soul what it ailes and under these confusions he creates a blessed spring of hope in this desert-state opens the eyes ravisheth the heart with the glory of Gospel-grace draws Water of life out of the well of salvation and satisfieth the hungry soul with good things makes the ransomed sinner own that God that thus owns him in a time of need and to cry out as repenting Israel once O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee only will we make mention of thy name Isa 26.13 or as David Psal 73.25 whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever ver 26. as if the poor soul should say I have been long seeking contentment here below but I see by sad experience all things fail there 's vanity and vexation writ upon the sweetest comforts under the Moon I have laid out much labour for that which profits not I am weary with my disappointments I will return to my first Husband return unto thy rest O my soul God alone is the most yea the only suitable and satisfying rest of my wandring and bewildred soul let others go a whoring from God to creature-props 't is good for me to draw nigh to God I am undone without him I am sick of love for him woe is me what shall I do if my soul get not an interest in God I faint I dye I am damned Lord put me not off without thy self let nothing take up my heart besides thee let all the pleasures profits honours of the World go whither they will so I may have my God I can set one God against them all if God
be the portion of mine inheritance I can say truly the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places Psal 16.5 6. I have a goodly heritage I can bid defiance to all the world to make me miserable when all the World looks black about me and all my comforts forsake me when seeming friends scorn me and real enemies pursue me with cruel hatred I can then incourage my self in the Lord my God Yea rejoyce in the Lord yea when the whole Creation cracks about my ears and the Earth trembles the Heavens are rolled together as a scroll I know that my Redeemer lives and I shall live with him in bliss and blessedness for ever these or the like are the musings of the Covenanted soul and though it cannot say the Lord is his yet he can say through grace that it is the desire of his soul to have the Lord for his God he looks upon that as the happiest estate that a Creature is capable of and if God should say this House or Land or Goods or this Kingdom or this world is thine except he say withall I am thine the soul goes away disconsolate and looks on all those as nothing worth Christians try your selves hath it been thus with you or hath it not what settled prevailing account hath the God of Heaven in your hearts do you look upon all the bravery and delights of the World but as straw and dirt under your feet in comparison of your God do your hearts pant after the living God do your souls desire him in the night can you boast of your God and challenge all the world and say there 's none like unto our God can you depend upon him and cast all your care on him do you in all things give him the preheminence are your hearts endeared to and inamoured with this glorious gracious God 2. But I proceed whether have you given up your selves to him 1 Cor. 6.19 for if you be the Lords you are not your own you have wholly resigned up your selves to him you have given him the Keys of your hearts and delivered him possession of your souls as the only rightful owner thereof just as the Wife gives up her all to her husband 1 Cor. 7.4 so that she hath not power of her own body but her Husband so doth the soul surrender it self unto its spiritual Husband so that now it hath nothing to dispose of without its husbands leave house land money estates relations name time gifts of mind members of body faculties of soul life it self and all things he is hath doth are at Gods dispose and he lays them all at his Husbands feet and dare not dispose of one penny in his purse or minute of his time or cast of his eye or thought of his heart by his good will without his Husbands leave hence you shall hear a Covenanted soul inquiring after sin and duty and making Conscience of complyance with the Lords will and pleasure the Scripture calls this a giving our selves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 yea there are several outward symbols to evidence it Isa 44.5 one shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord and sirname himself by the name of Israel Profession Subscription Denomination nay though it be to endure the scorn of a reproachful nick-name any thing would he do so he might be ranked amongst real Saints and be indeed the Lords And there are four properties of the souls self-delivery to God A Covenanting soul gives up it self to God these four ways viz. 1. Really 2. Readily 3. Resolvedly 4. Unreservedly 1. Really Truly Sincerely without the ordinary counterfeiting and complementing that is in the World 't is as easie as it is common for men to Court others with that empty Ceremony Your servant Sir when they never think as they speak this by the way is to be ranked at least among idle words of which I fear many have a sad account to give let professours learn better manners and language than to conform herein to the world well but a Saints giving up himself to the Lord is not complemental but real here holy David you shall find him in good earnest Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thine hand-maid thou hast loosed my bonds Here 's 1. An Asseveration truly 2. An affirmation I am thine 3. A duplication I am and I am thy servant 4. A confirmation by two Arguments 1. He was his servant by his birth being born in his house for if a Woman was servant in an house all the Children she bore there were servants to the master of that house hence saith David the son of thy hand-maid 2. David was God's by Redemption thou hast loosed my bonds for such as delivered any from captivity had them to be their servants for ever thus every gracious soul really professeth himself to be the Lords See Exod. 21.4 5 6. he is God's bought and bored Servant he doth as the servant of old plainly say I love my master I will not go out and so is brought to the door-post and hath his ear bored through with an Aule he receives an ear-mark being board by the blessed spirit of God and so made willing and obedient to the Lord's calls this ingageth him to be much in desiring to know the Lord's will with a resolution to do it he stops not his ear hides not his eyes from his Master's commands but prays as David Psal 119.125 I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies a good soul would not be ignorant of any part of its work because he is a real servant and makes Conscience of upright obedience Ah sirs what say your hearts to this are you in good earnest do you indeed speak as you think and will you do accordingly it's no jesting trifling matter Israel gave God good words so that God saith they have well spoken when they promised to be the Lords and to obey him but God adds O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me c. Deut. 5.28 29. Alas persons may say fair in a flush of affection but enquire you into the frame of your spirits and actions whether you be real 2. This self-delivery to God is ready free willing and chearful not with grumbling and by compulsion when persons do it because they cannot help it when they see they must dye and can serve the Devil no longer or under the rod only they will be for a fit and start religious but it is full fore against their wills for they would rather choose to be slaves to lust but they are taken off by violence or constraint or else they lye under such terrours and convictions that for present they are over-awed and dare not but profess to be the Lords it is strangers that yield feigned
or forced obedience to our David Psal 18.44 See Marg. But the Lord 's true hearted subjects shall be a willing people in the day of his power Psal 110.3 voluntarinesses or liberalities so the word signifies they are all volunteers and look upon it as their priviledge honour and happiness to be the Lord's servants as the good Emperour Theodosius that accounted it greater honour to be the subject of Christ than to be Emperour of the World Judg. 5.9 Real Christians are like the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the People these have God's heart since the Lord hath their heart those in Act. 2.41 gladly received the Word and so were Baptized every Child of God is a free-will offering Rom. 12.1 and presents his soul and body as a living sacrifice or Holocaust and this is acceptable to God Oh the account that God makes of these they are called Princes of the people Psal 47.9 the Marg. hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the voluntary of the people volunteers are Princes as indeed all Gods Saints are Kings Psal 45.16 and the Church hath her Princes in all the Earth because they have power over their base stubborn wills which is more than to rule over millions of men these are persons of most noble generous and ingenuous spirits others are of a low base sordid degenerate spirit that have not subjected themselves to God but are slaves to their lusts Well sirs how is it with you do you voluntarily and cheerfully surrender your selves to the Lord as a Maid doth in Marriage to the person she loves are your hearts so gone after the Lord as to look upon it as your greatest preferment to be joyned to so sweet an Husband have you seriously deliberated things in your breasts and upon mature thoughts concluded that this is the best match you can make Cant. 6.12 doth your soul make you like the Chariots of Amminadab or a willing people and the longer you serve this Master the better do you like this service You do not repent that you gave up your names to him if it were to do again you would do it though you knew of ten thousand times more troubles in your way than yet you have met with nay you thank God heartily that he will accept of your persons and services and you look upon his service as perfect freedom is it thus with you bless God he hath brought you into Covenant 3. The Covenanted soul delivers up it self to God resolvedly there are some that halt between two opinions that are off and on one while they will be for God another while they are staggering like the Samaritans when the Jews were in prosperity they would profess to be of their stock when in adversity they disowned relation to them these are a Cake half-baked the one side baked for God the other side dough so that one cannot tell what to make of them God likes not these unfixt unresolved spirits but a real Saint will have God whatever it cost him like a Woman that will have such a Man though she beg with him friends may set their hearts at rest there 's no disswading her for her affections are placed all bonds cannot hold her just thus is it with a poor soul Act. 11.23 Psal 119. it cleaves to the Lord with full purpose of heart it hath devoted it self to God's fear there 's no revocation carnal friends say nothing that go about to hinder the souls match he will strike this blessed bargain in spite of all opposition all the Devils in Hell and Men on Earth shall not obstruct his course and motion to the Lord if my Father hang'd about my neck saith an Ancient my Wife and Children stood in my way to my dearly beloved I would fling off my Father throw down my Wife trample on my Children that I may enjoy my Lord God offer a resolved soul House Lands Pleasures Treasures they all signifie nothing if they be to hire him from Christ let their money perish with them said that noble Marquess that esteem all the money in the World worth one hours Communion with Jesus Christ consider Moses and Paul the first forsook the pleasures of Pharaohs Court for Christ Heb. 11.24 25. Act. 20.24 the latter accounted not his life dear in the cause of Christ and indeed this is the great condition upon which we can only have an interest in him Luk. 14.26 if any man come to me and hate not his father mother wife children brethren sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple i. e. when these stand in competition with Christ or when he cannot keep both if he will not be willing to part with these rather than want Christ he is not worthy of him Mat. 10.37 as another Evangelist hath it Ah sirs how is it with you are you at a point do you hang no longer in suspence will you have Christ upon his own proposed terms and will you have him now and not delay a moment longer do you say that upon due considering your ways Psal 119.59 60. Eph. 6.15 you make haste and will not delay to give up your selves to the Lord are your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace i. e. with an holy resolution to go through sharpest paths to your beloved you care not what befalls you so that this dreadful evil do not befall you to be without God in the World and many waters of opposition cannot quench this flaming love to your dearest Lord try your selves by this note 4. A gracious soul delivers up it self to God unreservedly entirely and universally and that both with reference to the subject and the season the whole soul and that for ever 1. Totally 2. Finally 1. The whole soul is given up to God in this Covenant-match here do hypocrites dodge and article and make reserves and come not off fair but leave some sort of the heart for a lust and are not willing to give up themselves entirely now God will have all the heart or none at all he will not brook a corrival or competitour my son give me thy heart and indeed the whole soul is a present little enough for the God of Heaven it is a whorish heart that 's for dividing a gracious soul faith let him have all as it cannot be content with half a Saviour so it knows God will not be content with half a soul and therefore cryes out Lord here I am poor worm I have polluted my self with sin and deserve not that ever thou shouldst own such a wretch as I am yet such as I am I here offer my self wholly to thee alas I am but a poor and sorry present for so great a King yet I freely give my self to thee intreating thee to make me better I cannot bestow my self on one that either hath more right to me or can do more for me here I am Lord
out of your hearts hands this consideration is of singular use in a losing time men may take away our estates liberties priviledges but they cannot take away our mercies they may degrade us and remove us from our functions and offices but cannot dissettle our souls from relation to Christ or state of grace or blessed influences of grace Fox Mart. Vol. 1. p. â—20 When Popish Bishops took from John Husse the Chalice saying Oh cursed Judas we take away from thee this Chalice of thy salvation he answered but I trust unto God the Father omnipotent and my Lord Jesus Christ for whose sake I suffer these things that he will not take away the Chalice of his redemption but have a stedfast and firm hope that this day I shall drink thereof in his Kingdom Yea men may take away the members of the body but not the graces and comforts of the soul Notable is the story of Agatha the primitive Martyr Quintiliano dixisse ferunt ex cujus jussu praecisae sunt ipsi mammillae annâ—n te pudet Tyrone membrum illud in me amputare quod in matre suxisti verum age saevi quantum poteris duae tamen supersunt mammillae quas nequis attingere fidei una spei altera hae mihi vel in mediis tormentis solamen tutamen suppeditant earum alimento sustinendi virtus in me reparatur Dr. Arrows Tact. sac p. 195. who when Quintilian had commanded her breasts to be cut off art thou not ashamed O Tyrant said she to cut off that member in me which thou suckedst in thy mother but â—o to rage as much as thou canst yet two breasts are left which thou canst â—ot touch the one of faith the other of â—ope these supply me with comfort and safety in the midst of torments and abundant strength is repaired in me by the nourishment I have by them to endure Alas it were a sad state of an immortal soul to have nothing but what supplys corporal wants how soon will worm or moth or fire or thieves or tyrants make a prey of visible riches the good things of Saints are invisible happy are you whose mercies are divine you need not fear plundring or spoiling of your best goods these are the true riches Omnia â—â—m aliis communia habent tanquam ciâ—s omnia patiuntur tanquam pâ—egriai omnis pâ—regrina regio patris est eorâ—m omnis patria est peregrina Just Mart. eâ—â—d Diâ—g vid. plura though you be poor in this world yet if you beâ— rich in faith you are heirs of a Kingdom you live as strangers and Pilgrims for your estates lyeâ— in another Countrey and indeed a Christian is a Paradox in this as Justin Martyr observes of the ancient Christians that they inhabit their own Countrey but as strangers theâ— have all things common with others aâ— Citizens yet suffer all things as Pilgrims every strange Region is their Countrey and every Countrey a strange Region a Christians politicks are seemingly contradictory and truly mysterious they make a common table yet not polluted they are in the flesh but live not after the flesh they live on earth but have their conversation in Heaven they obey Laws established yet by their way of living go beyond laws they love all and are persecuted by all they are not known yet condemned they are killed yet made alive they are poor yet inrich many they want all things yet abound in all things they are disgraced yet thereby honoured c. Thus he proceeds shewing the state of Christians which is the same now oh what a mysterie yet felicity it is to be a Saint all things are yours though nothing were yours a Saint by Covenant hath right to all and shall have actual possession of what is for his good the Saints rule the earth themselves being trampled on by all they pass through the world as Conquerours and carry the spoils along with them as Trophies to death and when death is swallowed up in victory these blessed Champions arise triumphant in glory Oh Christians study your state know your priviledges be always triumphing in Christ live at the rate of these mercies make no reckoning of the world but as a foot-stool to raise you higher God-wards or as a stepping-stone to pass forward through this dirty world Heaven-wards thereby bless God for the least outward mercy but be not put off with the greatest a little with God is enough all things without God are nothing suppose you be below the higher part of the dust of the earth in riches power and glory yet you are above them in grace true riches and favour with the God of Heaven therein he makes amends as the Jews have a Fable that the Waters Terrestrial in the beginning took it ill they must be divided from the Coelestial by the Firmament he pacifies them by promising a Sacred use of them below in the Tabernacle of the Covenant so although you are set below others in other things yet in this you have preheminence above them that you are interested in and imployed about these Covenant-mercies this is abundant compensation be not discouraged whatever you suffer here 't is not Hell whatever you lose for God Heaven will make amends faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it God is yet able to pay his debts as able and willing as to the first man that ever sued for performance of a promise never any went away grumbling or charging God as some men are too justly accused that he minds not what he saith when David through weakness of faith began to stagger and expostulate saying doth his promise fail for evermore he quickly checks himself with that reflection And I said this is my infirmity Psal 77.8 10. It were a blessed thing which Luther wisheth for that our faith were as certain and firm as the thing it self believed Optarim fidâ—â—tam certaâ— firmam â—sse quâ—m â—es ipsa verwn peccatum in carâ—e râ—sistit spâ—rituiâ—ut non possitam firmiter credere Luth. but alas sin in the flesh doth resist the spirit so as we cannot so firmly believe as he complains the way to stability is acting of faith believe and ye shall be established as long as we consult with reason we shall still be fluctuating persons expedient for establishment after many temptations of doubt concerning a main article of faith was an hearty humiliation and captivating his understanding to the obedience of faith which brought such clear light of truth and certitude into his soul that there remained no reliques at all of dubitation we may all cry out with the Disciples Lord increase our faith alas the want of faith is the root of all actual sins and insensibleness yea the want of a through perswasion of the reality of divine things undoth the world most men do but read the Gospel as a fine fiction or a well-composed Romance but work not their hearts to credit
gift of God and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Joh. 6.44 Alas it is as impossible to believe in Christ as to keep the Moral Law from principles of corrupted nature our state had been sad and forlorn still if God had not undertaken to work the faith which he requireth Duce Dâ—o venitur ad deum 't is only the arm of omnipotency that can draw the soul to Christ Jesus is the only Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 Eph. 1.19 there is an exceeding greatness of his power to all them that believe put forth to create an act of saving faith all they that have felt it can testifie that this is a rich mercy and this is one of the mercies of the Covenant More particularly there are four choice dispositions promised in the Covenant of Grace which are Covenant-mercies 1. Saving illumination Jer. 31.34 they shall all know me saith the Lord by nature we are blind and blockish creatures but the new Covenant brings light and sight to the ignorant erring sinner and Oh what a mercy is it to know God and Christ and sin and misery and duty and felicity to know Scripture-truths and Gospel-mysteries our own hearts and the sweetness of Grace heaven and the way thither certainly such saving knowledge is worth a world truly such light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eye of the soul to behold the Sun of Righteousness and the beauty of Heaven what blind Bartimeus would not own it as a rich mercy to have his eyes opened and is it not a blessed thing to be translated out of Aegyptian darkness into this marvelous light Oh happy are the eyes that are annointed with the new-covenant eye-salve and behold Coelestial objects through this Divine optick of faith and become faithful guides to the feet of an holy life 2. Sound humiliation this is another Covenant-mercy Ezek. 11.19 I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh a broken heart is instead of many Sacrifices an hard heart is the greatest judgement and a soft heart the greatest mercy repentance is Gods gift bound up in the Covenant of Grace our sweet and blessed Redeemer is exalted as well to be a Prince that he may give Repentance as to be a Saviour to give unto us remission of sins Oh what a mercy is the spirit of Repentance they that have this Godly sorrow shall never need to sorrow for it such a Repentance needs not to be repented of blessed are they that mourn for sin for they shall rejoyce happy such as sow in tears for they shall â—eap in joy certainly a Converted sinner looks upon a repenting heart as a rich mercy one penitent tear is an orient pearl of more worth than the whole Creation a bleeding soul is a blessed sight in the eyes of God and man it layes the Christian under the promise of the Covenant and qualifies it for remission and the sweetest consolation 3. Another Covenant-mercy with respect to the condition is heart-sanctification Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean this is the mercy that David is so importunate for create in me a clean heart no less than creation will effect it a putting off the old man and putting on the new in a sound Regeneration is a miraculous mercy Oh what would a poor soul give for dominion over some special corruptions and power to resist temptations why here it is this mercy of mortification which is also a Christians duty is infolded in this blessed Gospel-Covenant so that sin shall not have Dominion over them that are under this Covenant of Grace a Christian can do more to mortifie sin and Crucifie the flesh than another man every word of God hath a cleansing vertue now you are clean saith Christ through the word that I have spoken to you but the promises of the Covenant have a direct and immediate tendency to cleansing 2 Cor. 7.1 having these promises i. e. the fore-mentioned Covenant let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit it is only the Gospel Covenant that can make Evangelically holy and holiness is the image of God the beauty of a soul the duty of a Christian and the mercy of the Covenant 4. A spiritual conversation this is also included in the Covenant Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Commandments and do them Oh what a blessed thing is it to have a heart to love and fear and serve the Lord Oh what a mercy to be inabled to perform holy duties to walk with God in all wayes of well-pleasing Jer. 31.33 to have the Law of God written in the heart and transcribed in the life yea to keep Gods commands with ease alacrity and complacency not to have them grievous but pleasant to the soul and thus it is when the Christian acts from an innate principle of Grace and Holiness well this is the promised and purchased condition of the New Covenant God undertakes to put a new habit into the soul his fear which is the beginning of Wisdom and principle of obedience God gives the spirit of prayer the spirit of power love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.9 he promiseth to give them one heart and one way that they may fear him for ever Jer. 32.39 Oh what rich mercies of the New Covenant are these 4. Yet the great mercies of the Covenant are behind under the next head for a Covenant contract conveyance contains the Habendum or grant reflecting advantage to the party Covenanting and that in these words I will be thy God this is repeated fifteen or sixteen times in the Scriptures this this is the mercy of the New Covenant the mercy of mercies the flower cream and quintescence of all mercies God gives himself to the soul by Covenant and what greater or better gift can he bestow if he should give us all the world and deny himself we are miserable beggars if he give himself and nothing of the world we are truly rich if we have God we have all things if we want God we want all things Deus mâ—us est omnia Ben scripsisti Thoma qâ—id pet Resp nil nisi â—ipsum Domine my God is my All saith one 't is recorded of Thomas Aquinas the great School-man that a voice from Heaven spake thus to him thou hast well written Thomas what desirest thou and that he answer thus nothing O Lord but thy self this certainly is the Language of a gracious soul Lord put me not off with any thing below or besides thy self what mortal Creature durst have presumed to beg of God such a boon if God had not graciously promised himself in the New Covenant what can the creature desire more what can it now want when it hath an infinite God all
faith in the intelligent observer yea and they were wont to beget faith in the spectatours as Nathaniel believed upon Christs telling him of his conference at a distance Joh. 1.48 49. the beginning of his miracles manifested his glory and his Disciples believed in him Joh. 2.11 and others comparing the doctrine of John with Christs Miracles believed on him Joh. 10.41 and indeed the Argument of Miracles is a cogent convincing Argument for no man can do these real Miracles except God be with him Joh. 3.2 Certainly the strange things wrought by Christ ought to assure our hearts of the truth of the Gospel and consequently of the sureness of these Covenant-mercies But upon this subject you have evident and abundant demonstrations from the pen of Reverend Mr. Baxter in his Saints Rest Part 2. in the Preface and in pag. 215. to 234. to which I referr you the truth is God hath graciously condescended to confirm the Gospel by many infallible miracles which none can question and all this to make sure to the elect these Covenant-mercies therefore they are inexcusable that slight this way of the Gospels confirmation See Heb. 2.3 4. 9. Another step that God hath gone is the various wayes that God hath taken to make us know these sure mercies and thereby to assure us thereof As Mat. 3.17 Cap. 17.5 1. An audible intelligible voice from Heaven at Christs Baptism and in his Transfiguration this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and this voice the Apostle Peter saith he heard in the Holy Mount 2 Pet. 1.17 18. so that these Gospel mercies are not devised Fables but divine Oracles of undoubted truth 2. The constant preachings of honest and unbiassed men that were eye-witnesses of his glory they give clear evidence of their hatred of evil love of truth and goodness and they could not be perverted by any selfish ends of profit pleasure or honour for these were not proposed promised or attained Nay affliction and persecution was their known portion and therefore certainly could not would not couzen the world with lyes to get that which was not attainable in that way 3. God hath adorned men with admirable gifts to enable them to demonstrate the certainty and excellency of these Covenant-mercies extraordinary gifts in the Apostles dayes as extemporary prophecying 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. singing healing diseases working miracles discerning spirits divers kinds of tongues so that all Nations might hear these magnalia dei in their own dialect Act. 2.6 Eph. 4.8 and now they are translated into all languages and God hath continued to distribute ministerial gifts for the Churches satisfaction and edification 4. Yea he sent his own Son to be the Preacher as well as Purchaser of these sure mercies he spake at sundry times and in divers manners in times past by the Prophets but in these last dayes he hath spoken to us by his Son Heb. 1.12 the more to conciliate in us reverence and credence for he saith surely they will reverence my Son certainly he will declare to us the whole counsel of God for he was in the bosome of the Father and came from thence for that very end to declare Gods mind Joh. 1.18.5 Yea he hath raised Jesus Christ from the dead so that we have a Preacher sent from the grave to assure us of the truth of these high mysteries and sweet mercies so the rich man could say in hell if one went to them from the dead they will repent and believe Rom. 16.30 now our dear Saviour himself was dead and is alive and as he is declared to be the Son of God by his Resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 so after his Resurrection he declared the great things of God confirming his Disciples in the truth of things formerly delivered and giving further testimonies and instructions Luk. 24 44-49.6 Still another way of manifestation is clear and christal Ordinances in which as in a fair glass we may behold both the face of God and the choicest mercies of the Covenant here you may not only hear the voice of God but see Jesus Christ evidently set forth crucified before your eyes Gal. 3.1 in the Sacrament of his blessed body and blood are obvious Gods Grace in giving Christ Christs love in giving himself his body broken for our food his blood shed for the remission of our sins and all the benefits of this new Covenant 7. Another way more yet of the Lords manifesting these mercies and so making them sure is the sanctifying and satisfying illumination of souls by his holy spirit by this holy unction they know all things 1 Joh. 2.20 God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit in 1 Cor. 2.10 12. now the spirit comes with conviction and demonstration answers all the souls doubts and cavils and leaves it without dispute and haesitancy so that the believing soul cannot but say they are sure mercies he dare not deny this for a world 10. Yet there is one other way whereby God doth make sure these mercies of the Covenant and that is marriage-knot a mutual and matrimonial ingagement in the perpetual and inviolable bond of the Covenant whereby Christ and the soul are inseparably linked together and this relates to the particular application of these Covenant-mercies and compleats all the former for saith the poor soul I do not question but these mercies are sure in themselves in their own nature and sure to some but are they so to me what ways may I be assured of my title thereunto and interest therein now this the Lord doth make good by entring into that sweet and familiar relation with his people of marriage Isa 54.5 Jer. 3.14 Rom. 7.4 thy maker is thy husband and I am marryed to you saith the Lord a believing soul is dead to the Law that he may be marryed to Christ and our heavenly husband hateth puting away Mal. 2.16 once marryed to Christ and for ever marryed to him death it selt breaks not this marriage-knot nay it fastens and heightens it here Christ and the soul are but as it were contracted there the marriage is solemnized with the acclamations of glorious Angels and glorified Saints for saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ now souls are fitting for that great solemnity when the marriage of the Lamb shall come that the bride is made ready Rev. 19.7 she is making her self ready in this world she is marryed at the illustrious day of Christs second appearing so then this marriage-knot cannot be broken since it is compleated in glory But yet more particularly consider that remarkable Text in Hosea 2.19 20. wherein the mercies of the Covenant are made over in a way of matrimonial relation And I will betroth thee unto me for ever c. in which Scripture there are four things that may assure the heart of the firmness of these
into Heaven and as a token thereof sets him upon his right hand which is an evidence of honour as Solomon dealt with his Mother and then bids him ask and he would give him all that was in his heart certainly then the mercies of the Covenant must needs be sure and that in Christ the Mediatour since his Intercession is so prevailing that he said in the dayes of his flesh when praying over Lazarus's Grave Father I knew that thou hearest me alwayes Joh. 11.42 Thus I have dispatcht the Doctrinal part of this subject wherein I have endeavoured to clear up what the mercies of the Covenant are in what respects they are said to be sure by what means and wayes they are made sure and how they are made sure in and by Jesus Christ the great Mediator of the Covenant CHAP. VI. NOW for the Application of this point I shall make use of it several wayes 1. For confutation of 1. Atheists 2. Papists 3. Arminians 4. Socinians 1. It confutes the vain conceits of Atheists who call in question the great things of Religion they are first Scepticks and Disputants then by degrees they grow Atheists and deny God as one saith in the Academy of Athesin a sinning soul takes these sad degrees 1. To doubting whether there be a God or no. 2. To living as though there were indeed no God 3. To wishing that there were none and 4. To disputing against a Deity and then he commenceth Doctor in positive Conclusions Mr. Herle in Policy p. 52. with the fool that there is no God Psal 14.1 many are ready to say that Religion in the power of it is but a fiery Meteor which the influence of those hot Dog-starrs of the times Ministers have drawn up and kindled in the grosser Region of some sick and melancholy brains and so like fire is apt to catch in thatcht and low-built houses not Pallaces and Castles i. e. â—arge and high-built souls But the truth is some Atheists do find in this life the certainty of our Religion all shall find it to their cost hereafter by an irrecoverable loss of these sure mercies and by intolerable sustaining of â—verlasting miseries As Atheism hath been much propagated in these latter dayes so God hath afforded some remarkable convictions by several modern examples Cardinal Richlieu who after he had given Law to all Europe many years confessed to P. Du Moulin that being forced to many irregularities in his life time by that which they call Reason of state and not being able to satisfie his Conscience thence had temptations to dis-believe a God another World the immortality of the soul and by that distrust to relieve his aking heart but could not so strong said he was the notion of God on his soul so clear the impression of him upon the frame of the world so unanimous the consent of mankind that he could not but taste the powers of the World to come and so live as one that must dye and so dye as one that must live for ever and being asked one day why he was so sad he answered Monsier Monsier the soul is a serious thing it must be either sad here for a moment or sad for ever and though Cardinal Mazareen was an Atheist the greatest part of his time yet he hath left behind him clear convictions of the immortality of the soul and certainty of another state after this life professing that if he were to live again he would be a Capuchin rather than a Courtier i. e. of a Popish religious Order to serve God in their way rather than choose worldly preferments 't is recorded of Sir John Mason Councellor to Hen. 8. Edw. 6. that he called his Clark and Steward to him and said I have seen five Princes been Privy Councellour to four seen the most remarkable observables in forreign parts been at most State-transactions for thirty years and have learned that seriousness is the greatest wisdom temperance the best physick and a good conscience is the fairest estate and were I to live again I would change the Court-life for a Cloyster my privy Councellors bustles for an Hermits retirement and my whole life in the Pallace for one hours enjoyment of God in the Chappel all things else forsake me besides my God my Duty my Prayer thus he It is also recorded of Charles 5. Emperour of Germany King of Spain Lord of the Netherlands that after 23. pitcht Fields 6. Triumphs 8. Kingdoms won after all this success reigned all these retired to his Devotion had his Funeral celebrated before his face left this testimony behind him that the sincere profession of Religion hath its sweets and joys that Courts were strangers to and we know from Holy Writ that Solomon after his vast experiments and exact disquisitions left this Maxime as the total summ of his large accounts Eccles 12 13 fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man Atheists never yet tasted the sweetness of Religion they never fully studied the Word or Works of God both which would satisfie them 't is recorded of Francis Junius that reading Tully de Legibus Nihil curare deum nec sui nec alieni he fell into a perswasion that God cared for nothing neither his own nor others affairs but in a tumult in Lions the Lord convinced him of a Divine Providence by delivering him strangely from eminent death and also being put by his Father upon reading the first Chapter of John's Gospel he was abundantly convinced by the Divinity of the Argument Majesty and Authority of the stile in such a manner as his body trembled his mind was astonished and his his soul savingly Converted Yea the works of God are sufficient to leave a Conviction of a Deity upon Conscience Lord Bacon used to say that a little smattering in Philosophy might tempt a man to be an Atheist but a through study of it would bring him back to be Religious for it would reduce him to a first cause and a last end But I must not enlarge on these Atheists see them described and confuted in Weems Treatise of four degenerate Sons of Adam All I shall adde is the words of Lord Chancellour Egerton to be Prophane is the simplest thing in the World for the Atheist layes a wager against the serious man that there is no God but upon wosul odds he ventures his everlasting state the other only hazards the loss of his Lusts if there were no God yet the latter doth as well as the Atheist at last and lives better at present but if there be a God as undoubtedly there is Oh the vast disproportion at the great day if the Arguments for or against the verity of the Gospel were equal yet the gain or hazard is infinitely unequal therefore every wise man will take the safest side Lord what an Age do we live in when the choicest truths duties mercies from a principle of opinionativeness or licentiousness are
effected this work and their faculties shall be inlarged to take in more of Gods grace and Wisdom That 's the first instruction 2. Another consequence is this if the mercies of the Covenant be made sure in Christ it lets us see the great difference betwixt Covenant-mercies and common mercies temporal and spiritual mercies Saul's mercies that God takes away and the sure Mercies of David founded upon the Covenant of Grace 1 Chron 17.13 take the difference principally in these four particulars 1. They differ in the Fountain Original and rise thereof or in the affection of the giver outward mercies proceed from common bounty these Gospel-mercies from special grace the former from general munificence the other from peculiar benevolence the former are but crumbs for dogs these are bread for Babes all things come alike to all See Eccles 9.1 2 3. so that none can know love or hatred by the want or abundance of Creature-comforts but the mercies of the Covenant are alwayes tokens of special affection Luther calls the whole Turkish Empire but a morsel east to doggs but one dram of Grace is a Childs Patrimony God hates the wicked though he give them the World he loves the Godly Deus saepedat iâ—atus quod negat propitius though he deny them worldly enjoyments he may give that to his enemies in anger that he denyes his Children in love he gives to many wicked giftless gifts as some call them but he gives his grace his heart himself to his Saints with Covenant-mercies these are always clear evidences of special love they are Bracelets and Jewels that are sent as love-tokens to the espoused Saint from his Heavenly Husband 2. They differ in the dimensions of the gifts their Natures Properties and Proportionables to the precious and immortal soul Temporal mercies may indeed supply the outward man the cloaths cover nakedness fire may warm meat may fill and drink may quench thirst but all these serve but to supply corporal necessities they do not reach the soul he was a fool that said soul Luke 12.19 20. thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry and well might he be called a fool for alas what were these goods to the soul it was a sensual bruitish soul that could be satisfied with these things they bear no proportion to the nature of the immortal Heaven-born soul it is above them and when it acts it self scorns to feed on such dung or wind 't is recorded of Pasotes who called his friends to a banquet where they should see a Table furnisht with variety and plenty but when the guests went to eat it vanished away into nothing and truly so will worldly enjoyments they promise fair and perform nothing not but that these are useful mercies in their kind and do attain their end which was to accommodate the outward man but they were never designed to satisfie souls but Covenant-mercies fill and feast the soul pardon of sin sense of Gods love Jesus Christ and the benefits flowing from him these are adaequate to the nature and faculties of precious souls these satiate the souls both of Priests and people with fatness and goodness Jer. 31.14 Psal 36.8 yea they are abundantly satisefid with the fatness of his house this living Bread and Water nourisheth immortal souls to eternal life hence it is that holy David prays Psal 40.11 with-hold not thy tender mercies from me O Lord q. d. Lord my soul is a fine delicate thing it cannot down with this course fare of common mercies these Husks are for the Swine of the World I must have Bread at my Fathers Table my soul must have Angels food or it will not like nor live Lord let me have tender mercies for my tender soul otherwise I shall famish and dye therefore he prays again Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live Psal 119.77 and again ver 132. Look upon me and be merciful as thou usest to do to those that love thy name David will not be content with any mercies but Saints peculiar priviledges and such as accompany salvation these these only fit and fill suit and satisfie the gaping desires of the immortal soul but other things cannot for you may as soon fill a sack with wit as a soul with wealth Covenant-mercies are only proper for immortal souls that 's the second difference 3. They differ in their efficacy and operation in the effects and impressions they leave upon hearts common mercies never make any better but many worse Covenant-mercies always make the subject where they lodge abundance better common mercies can no more sanctifie than they can satisfie a large share of the World hath been a snare to many souls these things are apt to puff up with pride to steal the heart from God to beget carnal confidence and security which prove the bane of grace Difficile est esse in honore sine tumore Bern. and a bait to sin they that have tryed it find that it's â—ard to have worldly honour without vain-glory to have great estates without a covetous desire and to swim in worldly pleasures without too much sensual delight Oh the sad demonstrations we have had of the truth of this how may the souls of thousands sadly say the world hath undone them it's Syren-songs have bewitcht the credulous and unwary soul the world oftentimes proves a stumbling block of iniquity that obstructs souls in their journey to Heaven and blinds their eyes that they cannot make divine discoveries even good souls have found this sad experiment that outward enjoyments have had a malignant influence upon their spirits they were in a better frame when they are poor then they are since raised in the World according to that Distich Pellitus nunc es fueras sine vestibulante Nudus eras purus crimen amicius habes Well this is the too too common effect of common mercies but Covenant-mercies always make the soul better certainly sanctifying knowledge softening Grace the spirit of faith and holiness leave the soul in a gracious frame and the priviledges of the Covenant reconciliation with God Adoption Justification Assurance Communion with God alwayes work kindly and Evangelically upon the heart these are so many Silver and Silken Cords of Love to draw and joyn the soul to God these mercies are as Coals of fire to melt the heart and make the conscience supple and pliable to the will of God Dives qui multa possidâ—t auâ—o sordidum marsupium at qui justus est bone compositus est de orus Câ—em Alex paedag that cannot be a wicked soul that hath these Mercies and he that hath most of these mercies is the best our perfection consists in possession and participation of these Sure Mercies of David outward mercies are occasions of ripening wicked mens sins to fit them for Hell but Covenant-mercies ripen Saints for glory by filling their souls with Grace and
my face doth your heart readily eccho thy face Lord will I seek do your souls tremble under sence of threatnings and judgements do the apprehensions of Gods loving-kindness melt and attract your heart doth this strongly lead and draw you to repentance ask your own souls such questions as these whereby you may know whether you have this condition and disposition of the Gospel-Covenant 8. The last disposition that is promised in the New Covenant as a singular mercy is holy practice spiritual obedience so Ezek. Si ergo talis fucrit vita nostra ita omnibus membris quaâ—rata composita ut universi motus nostri secundum Dei Leges agantur vere testamentum Dei erit super carnem nostram Orig. Hom. 3. in cap. 17. gen 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them this is an holy watchful chearful faithful fruitful obedience to Divine precepts and commands so then let me pose you thus do you run the ways of Gods commandments with enlarged hearts do you follow God fully and walk with God uprightly do you delight to do Gods will and in all things mind your rule doth the mind of God move you more than the customes and traditions of men though you cannot say you do exactly keep yet cannot you say you have respect to all Gods commandments are you like the Centurion's servants ready to go or come at Gods biding doth the Authority of a divine command more awe your conscience to obedience than the examples of most or best of men do you with Zechariah and Elizabeth walk in all the ways of Gods commandments blameless do you take heed to your ways that you offend not with tongue or hand or foot do you worship God in the beauty of holiness do you make it your business to ingage your hearts in your approaches to God do you lift up your hearts in Gods ways that God and you may meet do you worship God in the spirit rejoyce in Christ Jesus not having any confidence in the flesh in a word do you gladly follow Christs example study conformity to him and communion with him is faith working by love and doth that love ingage you to keep Gods commands and render them not grievous but pleasant do you account Christs yoke easie his burden light and his service perfect freedom and are you constant and permanent in holy walking all your days and though you may stumble and fall or turn aside or stand still or turn back yet you dare not quit and forsake Gods ways or chuse the ways of sin to go aside with the workers of iniquity but you lament your miscarriages are restless till you get into Gods ways again plead hard for pardon are more jealous over your hearts make more haste God-wards and so through grace keep faithful to death that you may receive a Crown of life Thus I have gleaned up the conditions or dispositions of Gods Children which are promised by God purchased by Christ and effectually wrought by the blessed spirit in the hearts of the elect and these are the mercies of the Covenant by which you may try whether you be interested in the Covenant for if you find these new-Covenant-mercies in you you may conclude you have an interest in new Covenant-priviledges Another way of tryal which I shall but briefly hint at is to discover the properties and effects of new Covenant-mercies upon the souls of such as partake of them i. e. those benefits and priviledges of the Covenant as Reconciliation Adoption Remission of sin imputation of Christs Righteousness and the rest before-mentioned leave gracious effects upon the hearts of such as partake thereof Take a taste 1. They are transforming conforming mercies they change heart and life as before yea and they make the soul argue from mercy to duty that soul that partakes of these mercies dare not sin that Grace may abound nor argue from mercy to sinful liberty much less make Christian liberty a cloak of lasciviousness oh no that 's the devils Logick a Child of God thinks and thus reasons did Christ dye for me and shall not I dye unto sin and live unto him that dyed for me shall my dear Saviour shed his blood for me and shall I think any thing too dear for him shall he forgive much to me and shall not I give all I have to him shall not I love him much pray much obey much O my soul how canst thou chuse but live in new obedience doth not the love of Christ constrain thee hath he reconciled thee to God and God to thee and wilt not thou be reconciled to thy offending brother hath he forgiven thee ten thousand Talents gratis and wilt not thou forgive such as offend thee a few farthings for Christs sake hath God given thee himself and dost thou withhold any part of thy poor silly sorry self from him nay here I am let him work in me and do with me as seems good in his eyes 2. They are chearing comforting and refreshing mercies these mercies of the Covenant will answer all objections clear all scores and put the soul out of doubt concerning its state Let the Devil and an unbelieving heart conspire together to torment the Conscience yet one word of the blessed Covenant will baffle all their arguings and stop their mouths and still the soul let God speak out and say I am thy God in Covenant who then can cause trouble this was all Davids Salvation Desire and Consolation One drop of this holy Oyle of the Covenant will sweeten a whole Fountain and Sea of the bitter Waters of the sharpest afflictions a taste of the Covenant will turn Water into Wine this is the Tree cast into the bitter Waters of Marah Isa 33.24 that makes them sweet sense of pardon takes away the sense of the pain if a particular promise can so comfort a soul as it may be called a cordial Oh what comfort will the Covenant afford which is a cluster and constellation of Evangelical promises the good things of the new Covenant keep head above Water and heart above terrour in all conditions these steel the soul with courage in difficulties comfort in Adversity and an Antidote in prosperity 3. These mercies of the Covenant are raising reviving elevating mercies they lift the heart above the World and advance it to Divine Coelestial objects and Conceptions Rev. 12.1 Col. 3.1 Phil. 3.8 9. a Christian thus cloathed with the Sun hath the Moon under his feet and all Sublunary enjoyments at his heels Christ and things above lye next his heart other things are dross and dung in comparison thereof a Covenanted Christians Treasure is in Heaven and his heart is there he preferrs a grain of Grace to all the comforts of the World common mercies will not content his heart or quiet his Conscience he opens his Heaven-born soul to Heavenly influences he
can easily wink all the bravery of this lower World into blackness and deformity and pitty the sottish sensless sons of men that take up their rest below and neglect the main concernments of Eternity Ah thinks the gracious soul what fools are these that chase these guilded vanities and pant after the dust of the Earth would to God they did but see with these enlightned eyes that Gods spirit hath helpt me to Oh that they did but taste the sweetness of that Grace that my soul is enamoured with they would thirst after the World no more but long for God yea this living loving God and never be content till they come to appear before God How blessed are they that have their sins pardoned hearts purged souls reconciled that have God for their portion and Heaven for their inheritance and eternal mansion 4. The mercies of the Covenant are enlarging and encreasing mercies the Christian that hath them is like the house of David that grows stronger and stronger these are tending to perfection and make the soul strive and thrive in holiness Prov. 4.18 going from step to step from strength to strength pressing towards the mark rising as the Sun unto Noon-day or as the water to the spring yea this water shall still be springing up to eternal life Joh. 4.14 Grace makes the soul long after means of growth and so increase with all increase of God till it be a perfect man in Christ the soul is insatiable and never saith it hath enough till it have arrived to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes 4.13 yea till it have attained to the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.11 Oh sirs examine your hearts herein how do you come on and increase in Religion do you grow in grace in knowledge faith love humility repentance self-denyal and heavenly-mindedness where 's your proficiency have you found grace like a grain of Mustard-seed have these mercies ripened into the blade and full ear of deliberate and proportionable fruit-bearing a right Christian will never say he is good enough while he sojourns in this lower Region nor yet happy enough till he be with God in Heaven Thus much for the third Use which was an Use of Examination CHAP. IX IV. THE fourth Use is of Conviction Redargation and Reprehension and this falls heavy on the heads 1. Of Sinners 2. Of Saints 1. If the mercies of the Covenant be sure mercies as we have cleared fully Oh what folly are those souls guilty of that are Christless graceless careless souls that have no interest in these mercies and never trouble themselves about ensuring these Covenant-mercies to their own souls how many in the World are destitute of these mercies there is a Generation of Men and Women that live within the pale of the visible Church that may be called Lo-Ruhamah for they have not yet obtained mercy nay in the state they are in there is no mercy for them because they are not yet in Christ through whom these Covenant-mercies flow unconverted souls are unconcerned persons in these mercies these dogs have nothing to do with this Childrens Bread and yet who so apt to catch and snatch these precious dainties they love to hear the glorious priviledges of believers laid open as Justification Reconciliation Adoption and eternal life and yet we must sadly say they have nothing to do with these if they hear Discourses of Gods mercy how are they pleased tickled and even ravished and they make no question but they shall be saved as well as others and they think surely God that made them will not damn them but ask these poor souls whether they be savingly converted renewed ingrafted into Christ by faith alas they know not what this means they never asked their own souls the question nay they are ready to think that is a very needless enquiry or impossible to know however this never lay upon their Hearts and Consciences as necessary in order to clearing up this great case whether they have obtained mercy But let all ignorant sots know that he that made them will not have mercy on them Isa 27.11 let all prophane Rebels against the King of Heaven know that God will not be merciful to any wicked Transgressor Psal 59.5 Gods Attributes are all Analogal and Correspondent he will not cease to be just and holy that he may be merciful he will be merciful in his own way Mercy and Covenant shall go hand in hand 't is a ridiculous folly for men to conceit they shall have the Mercies of the Covenant that are not within the Covenant this is that fallacy that Logicians call fallacia dividendi conjungenda of dividing things to be conjoyned 't is most dangerous and damnable in Divinity when souls dream of having peace without grace happiness without holiness but let men know there 's no mercy but in the Covenant where no ark of the Covenant no seat of mercy where there 's no work of Grace there 's no Covenant of Grace where Christ is a Saviour he will be a Soveraign Act. 5.31 Act. 3.26 where he gives remission of sins he will give repentance his way of blessing is a turning persons from their iniquities God will not shew mercy to any but in his own way such must obtain mercy in converting Grace as obtain mercy in the enjoyment of pardoning Grace sanctification goeth along with Justification Paul obtained mercy by forsaking his own old courses 1 Tim. 1.13 God saveth us according to his mercy how why by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Titus 3.5 they are saved from sin that are saved from wrath and Hell 't is a self-deceiving soul-damning contradiction to dream of pardoning without purging grace thousands in the World fancy a God to themselves made up all of mercy and let them do what they please they can bolster up themselves with this conceit God is merciful and so as God himself saith Psal 50.21 these things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtst that I was altogether such a one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thee q. d. think not to make me a Patron of thy wickedness 't is true I spare thee and suffer thee to live quietly but forbearance is no acquittance think not I love thee because I afford thee outward mercies which thou abusest to licentiousness but I am resolved to take vengeance on thee I have justice as well as mercy and I have a season wherein I shall pour out the Vials of â—ny wrath upon Vessels of wrath that are â—itted to destruction a time is coming when â— shall tear you in pieces and there shall be â—one to deliver Oh sirs the condition of graceless unconverted souls is sad for 1. They are under a sure and sad sentence of condemnation for as the mercies â—f the new Covenant are sure to believers â—o the curses of the old Covenant are as
â—ure to all Unbelievers as the second Adam conveys certain life so the first Adam conveys certain death to his seed as he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life so â—e that believeth not shall not see life but the â—rath of God abides on him Joh. 3.36 as â—e that believeth is acquitted so he that believes not is condemned already ver 18. all is other sins are bound upon him by this â—f unblief this is the condemnation it is â—s impossible that the Devils in Hell shall be saved as that Unconverted sinners while such shall be saved for Christ saith again and again except ye be Converted Mat. 18. Joh. 3.35 except a â—an be born again he cannot see he cannot â—nter into the Kingdom of God and binds it with strong asseverations and dare any question the verity of Gods positions or combinations that pretends to believe his promise yea God hath bound him by oath â—n this case as well as in the other Heb. â— 11 it 's spoken there concerning the rebellious murmuring Israelites I sware in â—ny wrath saith God they shall not enter into my rest or if they shall enter then q. d. never trust me more nay let not me be God but what 's this to us Yes the Apostle applyes it to unbelievers in Gospel times Gap 4.1 2 3 4 5 c. hence he repeats the Oath again referring to unbelieving Gospellers that they shall never enter into the Heavenly Canaan and surely unconverted sinners are in a woful plight of whom it may be truly said that God himself cannot save them while they continue in that state for there 's no way but one of entring Heaven that 's Jesus Christ and how can they escape that neglect so great salvation Act. 4 12. Heb. 2.3 there 's no other way revealed and do we think God will forsake his ordinary Road and quit this glorious design to gratifie a Generation of wilful neglecters and rejecters of this blessed contrivance of saving sinners by interest in Jesus Christ it cannot be you must either go to Heaven this way or down to Hell by your own way 2. Their souls are not sure to be another moment out of Hell-torments poor graceless sinners cannot secure themselves upon any real Scripture-grounds that they shall enjoy that bastard peace of Conscience in which they flatter themselves another hour for ought they know their case may be like Belshazzars Dan. 5.5 while they are Drinking Carousing Ranting Revelling some dreadful Hand-writing or Testimony of Gods Indignation may break forth against them which may marr all their mirth appal their spirits trouble their thoughts loose the joynts of their Loyns and make their knees smite one against another Oh what terrour and horrour will the dreadful summons of death strike into them how will these fool-hardy Warriers against an infinite God call to the Rocks and Mountains to cover them Oh what a sudden change what a sad Catastrophe will the cold hand of death make with them what a fall will these secure and sensless sinners have from the height of worldly preferment to the depth of eternal torments stand a little â—nd look at that rich and wretched miser â—n the Gospel that had no room for his fruits and goods that sung a requiem to his soul for many years Yet alas had not one â—ight to take his ease in thou fool See Luk. 12.17 18 19 20. saith God this night shall thy soul be required â—f thee or do they require thy soul i. e. the Devils who are waiting for a commission from God to catch hold of graceless souls â—o hale them to torments as soon as they â—ave forsaken their wretched bodies so â—ome interpret it however the rich mans â—oul was suddenly snatcht from a full Table â—nd dainty Fare into eternal misery without drop of Water or hopes of mercy for â—et him tear his heart with bitter out-cryes Father Abraham have mercy on me neither â—is Father Abraham See Luk. 16.24 25 26. nor the God of Abraham shall have any mercy for him former offers of mercy are now turned into flames of fury they have wilfully forsaken their own mercy and now are wofully forsaken by the God of mercy O consider this you that are yet in your sins dancing about the pit and are ready every instant to drop into eternal woe 3. Their certain mistake will aggravate their woful state Oh what a dreadful disappointment will this be for persons that lived demurely in the World and passed for very civil neighbours yea for choice Saints yet now to be set on the left hand amongst the Goats at the great day yea persons that thought themselves they were in the ready Road to Heaven and as they are as they imagine stepping into glory to miss their footing and fall into Eternal Torments 't is a dreadful sight to see soul and hopes giving up the Ghost together Job 11.20 c. 8.14 and swept away as the Spiders Web into the fire of Hell Oh for a soul that hath all his days been building Castles in the Aire the House of his fair profession upon the sliding sand of Fancy and Imagination to have all come tottering down with one puff of death will be a dreadful sight Ministers told them of this but they would not believe nor suspect their state or spend one hour in searching whether they were right or no many a time were they warned of the danger but they pleased themselves in wilful self-delusion and now they are past recovery they would not be brought to an holy despair in themselves that they might have sure footing in these sure mercies and now they shall and must despair of ever having part or portion in these sweet and certain mercies they would not be beaten from their carnal shifts and sensless Pleas and now they must and shall be for ever banisht from them and feel the bitterness of them Ministers could not deal with them but God can and it will be an heart-confounding day when the varnish shall be washed off and all rotten props shall be pluckt up that kept the soul from horrour and they shall see themselves deceived by Satan the World and their own self-flattering hearts into eternal misery 4. But once more many things in and about these sure mercies will augment their eternal misery Alas sirs here there 's no speaking to wicked men they will not abide a sober Treaty about their souls they have not leisure or patience to yield an observant Ear to Discourses about these sure mercies but a time is coming wherein they shall be forced to think of these lost mercies to their cost now they have other things to mind the world doth so fill their ears and hearts that they thrust these things from them and judge themselves unworthy of them they are just like Jeremiah's wild Asse used to the Wilderness Jer. 2.24 that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure in her occasion who can
turn her away but in her month they shall find her So there 's no dealing with wicked men in their jollity and frolick fits but their month of sorrow is approaching either here or hereafter and oh the bitter pangs and travels that shall then possess them in this World they would not consider but hereafter they shall have an Eternity to consider of these Covenant-mercies though in a hopeless way as 1. They shall think of the nature of these mercies they have lost Oh how free how sweet how suitable how satisfying were they how sure would God have made them to them and the better these mercies the bitterer their sorrow in the loss of them 2. They shall think that once they might have enjoyed them and have been happy in that enjoyment once they had a day of grace means of grace ministers perswaded spirit moved mercies afflictions word rod every thing spoke this language Oh embrace these mercies but I refused and now they are out of my reach 3. They shall think and think again how near they were to the embracing of these mercies Oh what convictions did God fasten on my heart by such and such a Sermon I was once half-perswaded to embrace them how near was I to a full closure I went home with strong resolutions to be another man but this deceitful heart beguiled me and so I put off repentance till now it be too late 4. They shall think what these mercies would have done for them these mercies would have infolded their souls in the arms of Gods love these would have filled their souls with Grace fitted them for Gods use and furnished them for glory these mercies would have rendred them profitable in life comfortable in death and happy for ever the possessours of these mercies are gracious Saints Yet again 5. They shall think with sadness what they have exchanged these mercies for they have passed off these sweet and sure mercies for trash and trifles for dung and dirt for a little stinking pleasure or stinging profit which now they have left behind them in the World and only carry the guilt and shame along with them which must abide them when sensual delights are vanisht away Oh what gnashing of teeth and indignation at themselves will this beget for their former madness 6. They must think how many thousands of souls were made happy by a gracious closure with and full enjoyment of these mercies persons whom they despised in the World and thought not worthy to come in their company shall sit down with the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles in Heaven but these wretched souls are thrust out Oh will a damned wretch think I might have been happy as well as yonder shining Saint he was a suffering Creature I was a rejoycing miscreant now he is comforted and I am tormented Yet once more 7. The damned in Hell shall bethink themselves who was in the fault and whence it comes to pass that these mercies were not made sure to their souls and they can charge none herewith but themselves they will then see that none was to be blamed but their own wilful wills whatever they may object here and boast that they are willing yet God lays the blame there and so shall they will they nill they they must be speechless and only charge themselves as making faggots to burn them in for ever Oh will the soul think I may thank my self for this I wilfully forsook my own mercies by observing lying vanities this is the fruit of mine own doings I would needs be damned Ministers and Godly friends perswaded God stopt my way by his Providences Ordinances but I would run into the pit and here I am shut up in eternal darkness wo be to me that ever I was born Oh that I had either never heard of or embraced those mercies that I have rejected and that will follow my soul with horrour for ever Ah sirs I beseech you consider such a day will come and then you 'l remember these things and they will lye heavy upon you then you 'l feel what an evil and bitter thing it is that you have forsaken God then you 'l vomit up your sweet morsels and remember these sweet words that here you despised Psal 141.6 then you 'l remember the possibility and probability you were once in of obtaining these sweet mercies now they are attainable but if once you have set a step upon the shore of Eternity You are past hopes and remedy for the dead and damned do only hear the sound of wisdom with their ears Job 28.22 but are never likely to enjoy the benefit thereof Oh put not off these things with some slight and transient thoughts but shame yourselves to an holy diligence 2. Another sort to be reproved are Gods own children that are guilty of four foule faults 1. They are apt to indent 2. Compound about these mercies 3. They do not live upon Or 4. Not up to these mercies 1. Gods Children would have the mercies of the Covenant but then they have a mind to indent with God to be secured from the crosses attending these mercies the flesh shrinks and is loath to suffer we are like Orpah we would follow Christ a little way but fain would we make our bargain so as not to follow him in foul way But sirs consider would you have the sweets and not the bitter of Godliness did you not take Christ in a marriage-covenant for better and worse will you pick and chuse with him do not right virgin-souls follow the Lamb whither-soever he goeth Ah sirs this Covenant-relation is an express voluntary universal unreserved self-resignation the bearing of the Cross was always supposed and implyed Mat. 10.37 38. Mark 10.30 and if you will not have him with it you are to be without it for the Cross is Evangelii genius the very inseparable property complexion and companion of the Gospel and Christ would not have any cheated with imaginary hopes of immunity from sufferings Luk. 14.28 but tells them the worst and bids them sit down and count the cost and if you did not so at first you are not yet sincere and if you did and still would have Christ why do you now grumble at bearing of that which you freely chose Besides know it Crosses for Christ are special Gospel-mercies for afflictions are adopted to be real mercies of the Covenant and therefore they are promised as well as any other mercies in Psal 89.31 32. and David ownes afflictions as an act and fruit of Covenant-faithfulness Psal 119.75 ver 67.71 because it fetcheth him from his wandrings instructs him in Gods statutes and therefore was good for him Crosses for Christ never did any hurt but have been usually means of good many Christians have blessed God for them God sees we cannot live or like well without them Paul gloried in the Cross of Christ took pleasure in distresses for Christ and why then are we afraid of them or would
indent to be secured from them be ashamed of your nice and delicate spirits 2. Some Christians are too too apt to compound with God about these Covenant-mercies In closing with offers of Grace we must be uniform earthly things God is pleased to retail all have some none have all but in the Heavenly Treasure he will not break the whole piece and cut it into Remnants if God would cut off as much as would serve mens turn he should have customers enough Mr. Gurnal Christ armour pag. 310. my meaning is they do not look and make out for the whole chain composition and combination as I may say of Covenant-mercies they are willing and content to be put off with some and do not sue for all they can apply some promises not others see a necessity of pardoning-mercy but do not plead and act-faith for purging softening quickning enlightning mercies of the Covenant Consider Christians by this doing 1. You prejudice your selves you need all these Covenant-mercies there 's not one of the fore-mentioned mercies that a Christian can live and thrive without all are of great use every one hath its peculiar excellency a gracious soul cannot spare any of them nay 't is a sin for it to be content with less than God hath promised he that 's not for all is truly for none at all the true owner will not divide in one part of your life or other you 'l want all Covenant-mercies it 's base unworthiness and ingratitude to slight any of them 2. You dishonour God and disparage these mercies as if God were not able to give you all and pay the whole debt of his free and full promise as for example suppose a rich Tradesman owe you a summ of money and you come to him and tell you are willing to abate him so much and compound with him and take of him a shilling in the pound or a pound in the hundred for the whole debt he looks upon himself as disparaged being a sufficient Chapman he will not have his ability or honesty questioned but quickly answers what do you think I am breaking I will not be abated any thing here 's your money I 'le pay you all so God would not be compounded with he looks upon it as a dishonour to his free-grace and faithfulness and bids the soul open its mouth wide and promiseth to fill it Psal 81.10 i. e. ask great things many things spâ—â—â— not ask what thou needest ask what I have promised I am neither scant nor saint in giving stint not thy self in asking I shall not send thee away empty they that come for most speed best and when thou hast gone to the utmost extent of thy reach in asking I can and will give thee abundantly more than thou art able to ask or think Ephes 3.20 Oh Christians chide your selves for your sinful mannerliness and modesty and widen your contracted spirits for larger in-comes of Grace and Mercy Remember these Covenant-supplyes are all of mercy not deserved and they are mercies in the plural containing large and liberal revenues to be communicated to indigent wanting souls 3. God's Children do not live upon these mercies of the Covenant we blame them that have good estates and live besides them and well we may for it 's a base and a beggarly practice when persons have enough but want power to eat take their portion and enjoy the good of all they have Eccles 5.18 19. this is a sore evil and a sad curse and the contrary is good comely a sweet blessing and the very gift of God and Oh what a sad evil for the Saints of God heirs of Promise to live off their Estates none so rich as real Saints they are heirs to a very vast inheritance Psal 16.5 God himself is their portion yea the portion of their inheritance and of their cup he maintains their lot they have enough and they cannot lose what they have Oh at what high rates should such rich heirs live and what an unworthy degenerate spirit doth it import to live so beggarly as most of us do As 1. To live so much by sense and so little by faith Hab. 2.3 Rom. 1.17 2 Cor. 5.7 Heb. 11. it is the Gospel-character of believers to live by their faith walk by faith and not by sense or â—ight to see him that 's invisible to venture their all upon unseen grounds and Oh what a noble and generous what a brave and blessed life is the life of faith and on the contrary what a sorry and sordid what 〈◊〉 beggarly and niggardly life is a life of â—ense such a soul goes a begging and craves 〈◊〉 crumb of one a morsel of another to make 〈◊〉 meal of and still the souls Stomach is hungry and craving and at the best how quickâ—y are they gone alas firs objects of sense will not carry you through the World sense will sink with Peter where it cannot feel a 〈◊〉 bottom 't is faith only that will lift the â—ead above water and heart above terrour when you must pass through a sea of sorâ—ows in this tumultuous World Christians where 's your faith you are distinguisht from others by this precious grace the â—ant of this undoeth us hence it is 2. That Gods Children are so often at a loss and â—now not what to do no wonder if they be at their wits end when they are at their faiths end many conditions yea any affliction will throw a Saint upon his back when he stands not upon the feet of faith or leans not upon Christ by faith this is the reason why in temptation we cry out God hath cast me off for ever and he will be favourable no more and we give up the Buckler and yield to Satans assaults and demands which becomes our enemies sport and our bane yea any little loss or crossâ— dismays us as though we were undone or as though with poor Jacob once our life were bound up in a Ladd or Bagg or such like silly sorry things Psal 37.4.1 Sam. 30.6 Ah dear sirs where is your delight in God where 's your incouraging your selves in God Hab. 3.16 17. where 's your rejoycing in the Lord with Habakkuk when 〈◊〉 Cloud or Curtain hath covered all your worldly enjoyments why do you not oppose one God to all the Armys of evils that beset you round why do you not take the more content in God when you have the less of the creature to take content in why do you not boast in your God and bear up your selves bigg with your hope in God and expectations from him do you not see young heirs to great Estates acâ— and spend accordingly and why shall you being the King of Heaven's Sons be leaâ— and ragged from day to day as though you were not worth a Groat Oh sirs livâ— upon your portion chide your selves for living besides what you have there are greaâ— and precious promises rich inriching mercies you may make
acceptable to God to see souls attracted to him by silken cords of love than scourged to him by severe flashes of wrath Christs souldiers are not so much prest for his service by compulsion as they are volunteers by a spontaneous motion all our duties should be free-will offerings But alas sirs how unwilling and forced are many of our performances how grumbling are we in our actings for God we go to God as though it were our burden not with that delight and chearfulness we ought consider sirs how readily God offers us mercy how freely Christ laid down his life for us how acceptable a work it is to the blessed spirit to apply these mercies to us and be ashamed to be so sour and dull in your performance yea consider the dispensation you are under a Gospel-Covenant made up of mercy and this should ripen our fruits to more sweetness and maturity than the old Testament-dispensation as you know Apricocks and other fruit that are upon a Wall under the direct influence or powerful reflection of the Sun-beams are sooner ripe and sweeter when ripe than such as are in the shadow so our fruits in Gospel-times should be better than theirs under the Law but alas how far do we fall short of Davids warm spirit for God or the holy acts put forth by the Saints of God under types and shadows when these sweet mercies were not so clearly revealed to them and the Sun of Righteousness beat not so hot upon them Ah Christians if you would study mercies more your spirits would be in a better frame for duty David saith I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy Temple Psal 5.7 observe it the sense of Gods mercy is an excellent ingredient in the Worship of God yea it begets an holy awe of God for these two are very consistent and indeed nothing is so prevalent a motive to duty and disswasive from iniquity and perswasive to the exercise of repentance as sense of mercy is this truth Scripture and experience will abundantly confirm But I have been too large on this subject only let Gods Children be humbled for their too too legal spirits and breath after a more Evangelical Spirit by the studying of these mercies rather than poring upon guilt and wrath So much for the fourth Use CHAP. X. V. THE fifth Use of Exhortation is to all sorts of persons to look after their share in these sure mercies of David and oh that I had a Tongue and Pen to drive this nail home Oh what a mercy now would it be if by these sure mercies of David and Discourses about them some soul were enamoured therewith and set in good earnest to make them its own But shall I need to use many arguments to perswade any poor soul to accept of mercy Yes certainly the most part of the World forsake their own mercies by observing lying vanities and they that can experimentally distinguish betwixt a gracious and graceless heart find that 't is the hardest thing in the World to close in with mercies in Gods way 't is an easie thing for a secure sinner to presume upon mercy to make mercy a pillow to sleep upon with ease to build Castles in the Aire and feed our selves with groundless conceits of the mercy of God this any one can do but to be got of our own bottoms to despair in our selves to accept of Jesus Christ give up our selves to God in Covevant venture a troubled heart upon the promises of Free-grace this is an high and hard work an arduous and difficult undertaking but this is done by every converted sinner and a soul never obtains mercy till it be indeed savingly converted 1 Tim. 1.13 if you be Lo-ammi Hos 1.6 9 not Gods people by way of Covenant you are Lo-ruhamah i. e. persons that have not obtained mercy Oh look after an interest in these sure mercies of David Consider 1. Nothing else in the World can be made sure we live in an inconstant World every thing is upon the wheel of change sublunary comforts are like the Moon sometimes at the full and sometimes in the wane nothing continues in a fixed station a man may be rich to day and poor to morrow therefore the Apostle calls them uncertain riches or uncertainty of riches in the abstract now then saith the Apostle Christians must lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come Bavyer Emp. of Germany said Hujusmodi comâ—arandâ—e sunt opâ—s quae cum naâ—fragio simul enatent Non est Paupertas pâ—curiae paucitas sed insatiabilitas quae si reâ—â—sserit qui bonus est dives quogâ—e fuâ—rit Clem. Alexand. Strom. lib. 2. 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Alas riches were never true to any that trusted to them the things of the World are like smoak or sand with which you cannot fill your hand who would be so fond of that which a man knows he cannot keep 't is the part of a wise man to purchase such an estate as he may enjoy friends goods honours health pleasures have their periods but these mercies are sure and everlasting Oh the vast difference it 's very considerable that the things that make us happy can only be made sure but the things of this World which cannot make us happy cannot be made sure and indeed whatever may be lost is not capable of making any truly happy now Heavenly things are durable as well as suitable to the soul therefore let us all take the counsel of our Lord Jesus in Mat. 6.19.20 Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where Thieves break through and steal But lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal 2. Except you have an interest in these sure mercies common mercies are accursed to you nor indeed have you any real Covenant-title to any thing you enjoy whatever interest you have before men in foro humano yet in foro Dei you are in the Court of Heaven in a sort usurpers however you have forfeited all by actual rebellion and have but what you enjoy as condemned Prisoners or Malefactors to keep you alive till execution of the righteous sentence of condemnation Oh the woful condition of Unconverted sinners they are accursed with a Gospel-curse 1 Cor. 16.22 Prov. 3.33 and under a dreadful sentence of excommunication there 's a curse in their houses on their actions on their relations as to them there 's a curse upon their very blessings Mal. 2.2 there 's a plague in their apparel poison in their meat and we may say death is in the Pot as to all their enjoyments my meaning is nothing is truly sanctified or perfumed with Covenant-mercy and if God give it a commission whatever they enjoy may be their bane whithersoever they go a curse goes
with them whatever they partake of a curse meets them in it whoever they are with a curse attends them Oh fearful state it was sad to be under the curse of a mortal man C ham found his Father Noah's curse heavy but oh how heavy is the curse of Almighty God who with a word can send the soul into Hell and follow his stroke into another World dear friends who would live in this cursed state another hour on the contrary whosoever hath these mercies of the Covenant hath all blessings blessed yea and also crosses and in a sort curses are turned into blessings who would not be covetous of such a state But to hasten 3. Without these Covenant-mercies the soul is not accepted in its choicest duties neither person nor performance is owned by God it is only upon a Covenant-account that any are accepted indeed in the Covenant of works the person was accepted for the works sake but in the Covenant of Grace God accepts the person first then the work if the man be in Christ then the offering is taken in good part though it be but a Turtle-dove or young Pigeon though but a sigh or groan God takes a Posie of Flowers of sweet-smelling Graces though mixed with stinking Weeds and pricking Bryars of vanity and corruption gathered by a Child and perfumed by Christs Mediation and is better pleased therewith than with the most odoriferous gifts of uncoverted souls where the heart is destitute of Covenant graces Prov. 15.8 alas the prayer of the wicked is abomination to God the great and jealous God challengeth the wicked man that hath not Covenant-mercies in his heart for taking Covenant-promises into his mouth Psal 50.16 17. What hast thou to do saith God q. d. thou poor graceless sinner thou profanest my holy name and provokest the eyes of my glory in the works and worship by which thou thinkest thou dost most honour and pleasest me in the state wherein thou art I cannot endure to look towards thee I abhorr thy person and performance thy costly incense is a smoak in my nose I can see through thy painted beauty at thy rotten inside thy guilded Eloquence and Rhetorical Flourishes are no more to me than the roaring of Bears or howling of Doggs get out of my sight thou sorry whining hypocrite all thy duties are as Cyphers and signifie nothing except the Mediatour as the principal and only figure be set before them and the spirit of God write and indite them which are two of the greatest mercies of the new Covenant Ah sirs God doth despise the most melodious Tunes of wicked men Psal 51.17 but a broken and contrite heart he despiseth not that 's sweet Musick in his blessed â—ears for a broaken heart is a Covenant-mercy these mercies are brave Ornaments â—o believing souls and render them lovely and amiable in the sight of God every penitent Tear is a rich Pearl every Prayer pierceth Heaven and fetcheth down abundant incomes from the Throne of Grace Oh what a difference do these mercies make â—n persons performances and acceptance with God 4. Without these mercies you have no solid ground of peace comfort or satisfaction for without these you are not only under the sentence of condemnation but â—ou have no real ground to hope that the sentence shall not be executed this very â—our 't is a wonder to think that graceless â—ouls should be so merry that are hanging over the pit of Hell but by the rotten â—read of a mortal life Oh how suddenly â—ay this brittle glass be broken and they â—e gone for ever for ought they know â—hen they go to bed God may say as â—ce he did to one as rich and secure as â—ese sensual sots this night shall thy soul 〈◊〉 required from thee 't is a wonder to me â—ow souls can rest quietly that are conscious to themselves or groundedly suspect they are not in Covenant with God and so know not that they shall be another moment out of Everlasting torments Redâ—e praevaricatores ad cor inhaerete ei qui sacit vos state cum to stabâ—tis requiescite in eo qâ—ieâ—i eritis Quo itis in aspectu qâ—o itis bonum quod amatis ab illo est sed quantum est illum bonom est ad suave Vid Aug. conf lib. 4. c. 12. but God leaves them to seared Consciences and Satan and the World joyn with their deceitful lusts to lull them asleep till God awake them by true repentance or eternal vengeance but God hath â— time to shake the foundations of this bastard-peace and set the soul upon the sure bottom of Covenant-relation and interest in Jesus Christ which only brings true content and comfort peace that passeth understanding joy in the Holy Ghost and a sweet Sabbath of refreshment to the tossed soul here the noble soul may as iâ— were terminate its desires and expatiate its largest faculties upon its only portion God in Covenant and thence will resulâ— continual ground of triumph and exaltation for these mercies are suitable and adaequate to the immortal soul and will support iâ— under greatest outward pressures and iâ— the hour of death therefore I may conclude this Exhortation with ver 2. of this Chapter Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not hearken diligently unto me and cat ye that which is good anâ— let your soul delight it self in fatness 5. These mercies of the Covenant will render your condition safe whatever befalls you we little know what may befall us betwixt this and the grave who knows what a day may bring forth man is born to trouble a Saint is born again to more bad news may come as Jobs Messengers treading in each others steps losses and crosses may put us on sad discouragements Oh but now to have a Covenanted God a Christ and all the fore-mentioned Covenant-mercies to solace the soul what mercy will this be when the true Christian can say I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine my flesh and heart fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever let the Sea roare Men rage Heavens look black and Earth tremble I lye at Anchor in a sure Port I trust in God Psal 112.7 Psal 46.1 2. and fear no evil tidings from below God is my refuge and help yea my present help in time of trouble evils shall either miss me or mend me all winds blow my soul nearer my Haven all dispensations hitch me a step nearer Heaven for all things work together for my good my Covenanted God will teach me to profit by Word Rod by Mercys Crosses Ordinances Providences God is my Sun and Shield to enlighten me in times of darkness to protect me in times of danger he will command a guard of Angels to attend me yea his wings shall cover me his comforts shall refresh my soul he will guide me here
unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55.7 they are mercies fear not being made welcome they are sure mercies fear not disappointment thou hast a tender of mercies that 's mercy yea such a mercy as the fallen Angels never had or ever shall have and if thou refuse thou dost not only neglect a great salvation but the Devils shall rise up in judgement against thee it 's a wonder of mercies that thou art not past hopes of mercies thou hast run a wild course yet there 's hope if now thou come upon the call of mercy all the condition God requires is acceptance of Christ and Grace it sticks at your wills and if you wilfully reject mercy what must save you if you will be damned who can hinder you you must thank your selves for ever the God of mercy stands waiting at your door the Prince of peace purchased mercy at a dear rate the spirit of grace knocks and put in his blessed finger at the hole of the door will not yet your bowels move towards him he beseecheth you to be reconciled that might with a word command you into Hell and will you have no bowels of mercy towards your own souls Ministers Intreat 2 Cor. 5.20 Rom. 12.1 Travel Study Weep and earnestly beseech you for mercies sake to come in and yet will you stand out and must I after all this pains leave you short of mercy these sure and sweet mercies God forbid however remember you were warned CHAP. XI VI. THE sixth Use is of Instruction and Direction to sinners and Saints wherein I shall as paper-room permits â—ay before you four sorts of Directions 1. What is a poor soul to do that he may obtain interest in these mercies 2. How a doubting soul may be assured of these Covenant-mercies 3. In what cases may a Christian improve Covenant-mercies 4. How a good soul that hath interest in these mercies is to behave himself For the first which concerns graceless â—uls poor unregenerate Creatures if any â—ch enquire what they must do that they may have a part and portion in these sure â—ercies of David I shall briefly propound â—ese seven Directions 1. Make a strict enquiry into your state â—â—ligently examine what title you have to â—e Mercies of the Covenant practise this â—eat and much neglected duty of self-tryal whether you have closed with the Covenant whether Christ be in you 2 Cor. 13.5 or you be 〈◊〉 Christ whether faith be in you or you 〈◊〉 in the faith self-knowledge is a good â—gree towards saving grace Authology is â—e first step to Theology a man cannot will not look after mercy till he know his own misery they that conceit themselves to be something deceive themselves therefore let every man prove his own work Gal. 6.3 4. Oh how many thousands with aâ— vain hope do descend into everlasting burnings how many presume they have as good a title to mercy as any and fall short of it mistakes in this point are dangerous and damning therefore soul try thy title be 〈◊〉 a point concerning thy state some aâ— Children of wrath and have not obtained mercy yea all are such by nature that Grace that changeth our title changeth our spirits therefore deal faithfully with your own hearts ask them whether they bâ— renewed changed soundly converted ask your selves whether you be new Creatures be not put off with silence or a slight answer remember life and death depends on the resolution of this important question you must be tryed another day you cannoâ— evade Gods impartial search only consider there 's no returning back to mend the matter as you are found then at the gret day so must you abide for ever but here 〈◊〉 you find a flaw in your title you may have it well repaired and this is the first step to mending what 's amiss therefore gâ— a distinct knowledge of your state 2. Work on your hearts the misery of souls being destitute of these sure mercies yea if upon serious examination you 〈◊〉 that your souls have no interest therein oâ— consider what a dreadful doleful state your souls are in you are indeed Lo-ruhamahs bond-slaves of Satan enemies to God destitute of Christ and have nothing to do with the good things of the Gospel take your state from the blessed Apostle or rather from the infallible dictates of the Holy Ghost Ephes â—2 12 without Christ whatever confident claim you may lay to him however you may boast of him Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel i. e. no members of the true Church though you may presumptuously call and account your selves the only Sons of the Church you have nothing to do with the spiritual priviledges and sweet Communion of Saints you are strangers from the Covenants of Promise i. e. you are not in this new Covenant but under that of works and have not right to any one promise and so to no Gospel-mercy and therefore without hope yea without God in the World 't is inexpressible yea inconceivable misery that a graceless soul is in it is ready every moment to drop into Hell must be shut out of Heaven God is angry with him every moment Satan hath him in a string leads him whither he list and if he dye this moment he is gone for ever Oh work on your hearts such sad thoughts as these awake Conscience rouze up affections then cry out with the Publican striking on your breast God be merciful to me a sinner Wo is me Luk. 18.13 wretched Creature that I am what shall I do I am undone the guilt of sin is upon me mercy is far from me I have despised free-grace and now I may fear mercy is turned into sury long forbearance will end in just vengeance Oh is there any hope for a forlorn wretch have not I worn out my day of grace is there any hope for me surely a little mercy will not serve my turn I am a great sinner yea the chiefest of sinners there must be a larger dole of mercy to me than others Oh what shall I do men and brethren what must I do to be saved thus sirs bemoan your state it 's not a saying all are sinners and God is merciful that will serve the turn but you must be sin-sick then you 'l desire a Physitian else you 'l slight and scorn both Christ and Covenant Mat. 9.12 13. and all the mercies thereof 3. Be thankful for but be not content with common mercies they are good in their kind and for their use and ends but these are not suitable to or sufficient for the soul a Christian should be content with any thing in the World yet content with nothing in the World the worst of the World doth please a Child of God with God the best of it cannot should not please him without God you must look on these things as good
for God humility and self-denyal and hereby shall you clear up your own souls and others that these mercies of the Covenant belong to you for so saith the Apostle the Lord make you to increase and abound in love to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God 1 Thes 3.12 13. if you have more Grace you may probably have more comfort 9. Lay the stress of your souls upon free-grace the more you mix any conceits of your own righteousness the more you 'l stagger and be disconsolate let free-grace be your foundation and build upon nothing in your selves for your best graces duties excellencies are imperfect and can afford you little solid satisfaction Let Jesus Christ be all in all to you be you nothing at all in your selves Oh God loves to see a poor trembling soul despairing o◠any thing in it self accounting the World as loss and dross flying into the out-stretched arms of free-grace casting it self down a◠his feet and resolving to venture all upon an all-sufficient Saviour and though at present it walk in darkness yet it will cas◠Anchor in the dark Isa 50.10 and trust in the name of the Lord you shall see in due time the mists shall be dispelled and the souls state cleared and the troubled heart fully satisfied 〈◊〉 thus David made account to recover the light of Gods countenance See Psal 33.20 22. and banish disquieting thoughts even by trusting in God Psal 45.5 12. mercy will answer all your doubts and scruples mercy will suit your necessity mercy will revive and rejoyce troubled spirits therefore poor doubting soul though thou canst find no goodness in thy self therefore lookest on thy self as utterly unworthy yea uncapable of interest in Covenant-mercies yet hope in Gods mercy let no mud of thy duties mix with the pure stream of free undeserved mercy and as that will carry thy soul apace to the Ocean of glory so it will bring many sweet refreshing streams of joy and peace into thy heart we have instances of many in the word that judged themselves most unworthy of good as in themselves yet expected and received Mat. 8.8.15.27 both mercy and assurance thereof for mercies sake as Centurion Woman of Canaan and others because as mercy is free so these Covenant-mercies are purchased and ensured by Jesus Christ the Mediator of the Covenant and therefore though there be no goodness in the poor soul to procure these mercies yet there is enough in their surety and as their sins are made over to him so what good is in Christ is made over to the believing soul 1 Cor. 1.30 here is the marrow of the Gospel Yea farther the less goodness an humbled sinner finds in himself the greater evidence hath he that these mercies belong to him Isa 55.1 Mat. 5.3 Rom. 4.5 because he finds even such very persons invited and received yea humility self-denyal and poverty of spirit are mercies of the Covenant and do evidence interest 10. Be much in the duties of thankfulness and chearfulness give God praise and God will give you more grounds of praise bury not his mercies in the grave of forgetfulness especially bless him for Covenant-mercies Alas saith the soul if I were sure I had an interest in these Covenant-mercies then I could sing to Gods praise and be very thankful but how can I praise God for that which I question whether it belong to me yea or no I Answer thou must bless God that there are such mercies in store for poor sinners and that any poor souls have obtained an interest therein and are carryed to Heaven thereby bless God that you are under a call and capacity to enjoy these Covenant-mercies that God hath not excluded but included you in the universal tender of it yea consider if you have not cause to bless God that he hath been dealing with your hearts in such a manner as he is wont to do with such souls as he brings into Covenant with himself hath he not humbled broken brought your souls off your own bottoms let you see a vanity in the World the excellency and necessity of Christ caused longings and pantings in your souls after these mercies and doth not all this deserve your thankfulness but know further that thankfulness for what you have is a most effectual way to clear up your title and to beget assurance praise raiseth the souls faculties to an high pitch of joy and comfort it is like David's harp to banish away the evil spirit of disquietness or discouragement your praise should wait for God Psal 65.1 Isa 30.18 and you 'l find God waiting to be gracious to you usually a thankful heart is a chearful heart you may sing your selves out of your sorrows as David did frequently he made a song of these mercies of the Covenant even then when he could find little comfort in or benefit by these Covenant-mercies in many regards See Psal 89.1 with ver 38. ad finem thus do you Christians sing your selves into this blessed sleep and soul tranquility 't is the fault of doubting souls that they pore all upon their sins and forget their mercies they think they can never be sufficiently bathed in the tears of repentance and torment their hearts with doubtful thoughts but consider not that a thankful commemoration of mercies is as well their duty as mourning and humiliation yea 't is a sweet heart-chearing God-pleasing duty therefore let Christians be much in this duty as a means of assurance I shall add a word or two to all of us to press after a particular assurance of our interest in these mercies of the Covenant 1. Christians may be assured of their interest we are commanded to make it sure many good souls have arrived to a Plerophory or full assurance 2 Pet. 1.10 experience proves the truth of this Joh. 16.24 Eph. 1.13 Rom. 15 4. 'T is promised See Isa 60.16 Saints have attained to it Job 19.25 Psal 63.1 Gal. 2.20 1 Joh. 3.14 5.19 Cant. 2.16 Isa 45.24 25. God himself hath promised joy and comfort to such as ask it 't is the great office of the spirit to seal up souls to the day of redemption Yea the Scriptures were written to promote our comfort and assurance seals of the Covenant instituted Ordinances and Ministers appointed for this very end and shall we slight this infinite Condescention of God who is so forward to help us shall we use no means or endeavours to ensure these mercies to our souls Oh ingrateful wretches if it were a thing unattainable we might be daunted but how many gracious souls do we see 〈◊〉 hear of that do walk in the light of Gods Countenance and triumph over all opposition in the sense of Gods love and one great Reason why many of us are so full of doubts is our neglect of Gods appointed means for the obtaining of assurance for if it be attainable in the use of ordinary means we
sin exceedingly against God and our own souls in neglecting those means of assurance 2. You cannot evidence your truth of grace or title to Covenant-mercies unless you use Gods appointed means to obtain assurance it 's an ill sign of a graceless heart to nourish doubtings and distrusts and then to come in with such pleas as these true faith is accompanied with doubtings he that doubts not doth not believe a doubting faith is a good faith let me have doubts and fears I dare not be too confident lest I presume But I must tell thee soul a doubting faith is but a weak faith and a Christian ought to be strong in faith Rom. 4.20 and make a progress to a full degree and proficiency in grace and endeavour to arrive to a plerophory and full assurance for this is the nature of grace to be pressing after perfection Rom. 1.17 and go from faith to faith even from a faith of adherence to a faith of evidence and assurance yea let such know this that slight means of assurance you live in a constant neglect of a known duty in disobedience to a flat command Heb. 6.11 and we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end q. d. if your faith and hope be of the right stamp as it may seem to be it will be working off all doubtings anxious thoughts and distrusting fears and move to a further degree of confidence and assurance else you may suspect the truth of it 3. You cannot assure your selves of creature enjoyments a day to an end nor yet of immunity from crosses and if you have not assurance of these sure mercies what have you to bear up your hearts in an evil day we little know what shaking times may come that may pluck from you whatever you account dear and if you have not something above oh the sad confusions that will seize upon you but assurance of an interest in the God of Heaven and the good things of the Covenant will be a guard to free your hearts from those numerous Armies of tormenting fears that will beset you this will be a cordial to drive away sick and swooning qualmes from your troubled spirits assurance of Gods love will fortifie your hearts against the fierce assaults of men and devils Psal 27.1 the Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear Exod. 12.23 Ezek. 9.6 destroying Angels shall not come near any persons that are sprinkled with Christs blood and have the mourners mark a day of danger horrour confusion may overtake us in the Nation in which we may be stript naked of all our enjoyments surely then assurance of our interest in the best riches in the World will stand us in stead and when all things else fail these will abide with us But 4. Consider the great advantages of assurance I can but name them 1. It will assure us that we shall want nothing that 's good for us if he have given us Christ then will he give us all good things Rom. 8.32 2. It gives a sweet relish to every comfort of life delight in Gods great goodness Neh. 9.25.3 It will sweeten the bitterest cup of affliction Mat. 9.2 4. It gives boldness to the Throne of Grace Heb. 10.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. with a liberty to say what we list if according to his will and he will hear us 5. Assurance helps the soul to despise the World he that knows he is cloathed with the Sun can trample the Moon under his feet 1 Pet. 4.14 16. see Heb. 10.34.6 It strengthens against the censures and reproaches of men no matter what men say when God acquits Rom. 8.33 34. our Conscience tells us we are not the men we are represented to be 7. It sweetens the reading of the Word and receiving of the Sacraments these promises seals blood of the Covenant are mine precepts threatnings all things his 1 Cor. 3.21 22.8 It enlargeth the soul in praise and thanksgiving hence those Hallelujahs in Heaven the more assurance the more thankfulness Psal 103.1 2 3. 9. It commendeth Religion to others makes Gods ways lovely Oh taste and see come and I will shew you what he what he hath done for my soul ingageth many Psal 142.7.10 It helpeth on repentance makes Godly sorrow more kindly Evangelical a love-look from Christ melts Peters heart this Sun dissolves frozen souls Ezek. 16.63.11 It engageth a soul against sin appearances of God are cords of love which are strongest to an ingenuous spirit Rom. 6.1 2.12 Assurance animates our performances and obedience is any thing too much to do for God yea my God deserves all I am have his command 's are not grievous 1 Joh. 3.5.13 It deadens the heart to needless disputes and Controversies it settles the heart in the truth and fortifies it against the subtilties of seducing spirits for Gods Law is in their hearts Heb. 13.9.14 It representeth the glory of Heaven is some blessed embleme of a souls bathing it self in these Rivers of pleasure that are at Gods right hand divine embraces a corner of Heaven a Pisgah-sight of Canaan 15. It sweeteneth the King of terrours and plucks out the sting of death so that a gracious soul assured of Gods love can triumph with Paul over this conquered enemy 1 Cor. 15.55 and indeed none but an assured Christian can look death in the face without horrour and amazement ruffling gallants may be prodigal of their lives who are far from any capacity of obtaining assurance but those are liker Bruits than men that are guided by sence not by reason and consider not that their souls are immortal and that they are entring into Eternity at death but these have drowned themselves in sensuality and consider not what they do but 't is only the Christian that's upon good grounds assured of his good estate that can in cold blood adventure upon death yea be willing to dye yea desire to be dissolved and be with Christ I have but hinted at these things because 't is an ordinary subject wherein many have done worthily to promote endeavours to obtain assurance Sirs what say you to these things is not assurance of interest in Covenant-mercies worth labouring for can you let these things lye without clearing your title doth not the new creature breathe after it doth not a rational soul desire it do not all wicked men catch after a certainty and frame to themselves some kind of certainty do not worldlings take care to secure their Lands Goods Estates shall they require Bonds Seals Oaths Sureties and yet account all this too little and shall we account any thing too much to secure these sweet mercies whithout which we are undone for ever Oh let nothing hinder your endeavours this way let no objections make you delay or be discouraged let not Satan deter you or the Worlds conceits make you slight it as unattainable nor a slothful unbelieving heart
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
Lord hath taken to assure thee of these mercies so that unbelief is the most unreasonable sin in the World Joh. 3.19 this is the great damning sin say not with Cain thy sins are greater than can be forgiven for thou lyest in saying so is not the mercy of an infinite God beyond the demerits of a finite creature nay further thou givest God the lye who is truth it self he saith there 's life for dead condemned sinners in his Son 1 Joh. 5.10 11. thou saist no but I have been to seek and I want life but there 's none for me yes yes soul there 's life enough for thee grace abounds and you may have this life in abundance only shut not out your selves by unbelief but come to him and he will in no wise cast you off for he is ready to forgive your iniquities and give you these sure mercies 3. In case of persecutions afflictions temptation from Satan the World or any other ways you may then improve these Covenant-mercies and find abundance of sweetness solace and satisfaction therein were it not for these the soul of a child of God would sink under his pressures how often doth David profess that he had perished in his affliction Psal 119. did not Gods word of promise support him a Covenant-word will lift up the soul from the lowest depth a Covenanted God will incourage a Saint in the greatest straits there is a Divine art in a Christians improving this â—tock to his best advantage and affliction â—s a proper season to make use thereof as suppose a man be in poverty there 's enough â—n the Covenant to make him rich if in disgrace Covenant-mercies make him honourable if sick one Covenant-mercy even pardon of sin will make him sound Isa 33. Dei hominem cultoâ—em Dei subnixum spei veritate fidei stabilitate fundatum â—gat mandi buâ—us seâ—uli in testatioâ—ibus commoveri vid. Cypr. tractaâ— cont Demetr p. 273. 〈◊〉 in Prison Covenant-mercies set him at â—iberty if hungry or thirsty why Covenant-mercies are meat and drink to him if derived of relations still Covenant-mercy makes up that loss and lets the soul see â—etter relations in Heaven Oh Christians our case can never be forlorn as long as â—u have such rich mercies of the Covenant to support and supply you let all the â—en of earth set themselves against you â—ey can but storm the out-works they can â—ver surprize your main Fort or rob you 〈◊〉 your best goods these mercies of the Covenant which are made sure to you by a Covenant of salt oh hug and embrace these mercies in such a time as this when trade decays your stock is safe in a plundering time none can pluck away your treasure and estate you have something that all the Devils in Hell and Men on Earth cannot deprive you of troubles will but knock these mercies into your breasts more firmly and feelingly then deprive you of them or render you suspicious of your interest in them for these are seasons wherein God communicates most of himself to the soul Gen. 28.13 Jacob's sad and solitary journey was attended with the choicest heart-reviving discoveries Heaven was opened and God shined upon blessed Stephen's soul through a showr of Stones Act. 7.55 Oh Christians 't is worth a World to have interest in God in the day of affliction and 't is your great work in such a day to bear up your hearts with what you have in the Covenant of grace take heed of discontented murmurings under any tryals since you have a God that can and will be all in all to your souls in the want of all comforts and over-flowing of sorrows 4. You may improve these Covenant mercies in a day of spiritual dearth in thâ— famine of the Word which is the sad desâ— judgement when Means Ordinances failâ— and the soul is in great danger of pining then 't is both safe and sweet to suck growtâ— and strength from the spring-head eveâ— from God in a Covenant-way these mercies nourish the languishing soul in a famishing season Isa 41.17 18. when the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open Rivers in high places and Fountains in the midst of the Valleys I will make the Wilderness a Pool of water and streams in the Desart and dry Land springs of Water Oh blessed are Covenanted souls they have meat to eat others know not of hidden Manna God hath ways to convey Marrow and Fatness into their souls when their ordinary provision is kept from them I Read of a man that was condemned to starve to death in Prison his Daughter getting leave to visit him once a day yet not permitted to bring food notwithstanding preserved his life a long time by the Milk which he sucked out of her Breasts Oh how doth God preserve the souls of his Children in Prisons by that good nourishment they suck from God in the breasts of the Promises he keeps them alive in famine bread shall be given them their waters shall be sure Isa 33.16 yea he makes affliction and adversity both bread and water wholesome food therefore called in Scripture Isa 30.20 the bread of adversity and water of affliction because souls are bravely nourished thereby Ordinances may for a season be removed but influences of grace are still conveyed grace is supported the soul supplyed as long as the spring remains free for a Christians access he shall be provided for though the Chanel be stopt streams cut off and outward means much obstructed therefore Christians when the word of the Lord is precious and there is little open vision make your addresses immediately to God see what he will speak to your souls own him in Covenant-relation lay your souls at his feet and tell him that you are cast in a thirsty Wilderness your graces are withering and hearts failing tell him you can scarce meet with an instrument to receive a word of council or comfort from but ask him if he cannot supply without as well as by the means tell him he sometimes stops the Conduit that he may convince us where our refreshment lyes and whither we must have recourse for fresh supplys tell him when you enjoyed the means they could not work without him and now you want them he can work without them though he hath tyed us to the means yet he hath not tyed himself to them tell him once again that the more immediate his Conveyances are the more evidential they are and the sweeter emblems of Heaven 5. In your backslidings and fears of apostacy then oh then improve these mercies of the new Covenant you fall and miscarry and lose your hold of God but God hath hold of you you dare not venture to approach to him again Jer. 3.12 13. but he calls and tells you he will
they are dear to Jesus Christ but free to us they are purchased with the warmest blood in the veins of the Son of God yea he thought his dearest heart-blood well bestowed to purchase these sure mercies he sees of the Travel of his soul and is well satisfied the fruits of his purchase are the joy of his heart he thinks these worth all his pains pain and dolours God the father is well pleased and accounts these mercies a valuable fruit of his Sons purchase and shall not we be thankful 3. They are Deep mercies Aquae quo sunt profundiores eo sunt puriores quoniam crassa terrea materia in profundum depressa est hinc profunditatem a quarum bibea Ezek. 34.18 high and broad and have all the dimensions of greatness Psal 36.5 6. these mercies can fetch up a drooping despairing soul out of the grave yea out of Hell be the soul sunk as low as sin can make it in this World these mercies can fetch it up and raise it out of the grave and pit of silence and save to the uttermost Oh what a long arm of mercy hath been reached forth unto your troubled hearts in your low estate and doth not this deserve thankfulness 4. They are Designed mercies purposely designed aimed and intended to set forth riches of grace the infinite contrivance of the blessed God to magnifie riches of love to sinners 't is true God intended to set off his power wisdom justice truth but he hath magnified his mercy above all the rest of his name it 's beyond the rest of his works the attributes of God are set very high but mercy sits in the chiefest Throne he declares to Angels and Saints what he can do for sorry man oh advance free-grace 5. They are Dignifying mercies such honour have all his Saints oh what an height doth God raise his Covenant-Children to he deals bountifully with them by these Covenant-mercies was David raised up on high 2 Sam. 23.1 and therefore confesseth that God regarded him according to the estate of a man of high degree 1 Chron. 17.17 and truly it is the highest preferment in the World to partake of these sure mercies and therefore we have great cause of thankfulness 6. They are Sanctifying mercies they season all other mercies and make common mercies to become Covenant-mercies yea they make crosses mercies they perfume the most offensive griefs and are like Moses's Tree that sweetens the Waters of Marah if you poure a paile of Water on the floor it seems a little Sea but pour it into the Ocean it 's swallowed up and seems nothing so afflictions out of the Covenant are intollerable but as in Covenant-love they are inconsiderable the depth of mercies drowns the depth of miseries and is not this ground of thankfulness 7. They are Separating mercies hereby are Gods Children distinguished from all the people that are upon the face of the Earth Exod. 33.16 19. even in their finding grace in Gods sight and his presence with them and making his goodness pass before them if there be any discriminating mercies for any of the Children of men as protection provision direction these Covenant-mercies usher them in and sort them out to the heirs of Promise and if they be good for them they shall partake thereof then bless God 8. They are Sealing mercies they signifie exhibit and represent Gods love to the soul where-ever these mercies are laid up in the breast of a sinner that soul is the Jedidiah or beloved of Gods soul they testifie such a souls relation to God and Gods affection to it wicked men are strangers to Covenant-love Gods people are the proper subjects of these endeared thoughts of Gods heart and are you of that number oh give God the glory of this mercy 9. They are Extensive mercies they are exceeding broad they have wide arms and embrace all the heirs of Promise not a gracious soul though never so poor is left out yea they are largely extended to every Christians state case exigency and necessity let doubts be what they will let â—ears falls faults be sad and soul-astonishing yet these sure mercies will answer all they are commensurate and proportionated to all conditions of soul body estate relations oh bless God for them 10. They are Comprehensive mercies they contain all the good that God promiseth or a soul needeth grace and glory holiness and happiness peace and pardon all our fresh springs are herein the good things of this life and of a better and there are many precious things put forth by this Sun of righteousness in a Covenant-way Oh what cause have we to bless God and admire free-grace that hath not only given us the spiritual good things of his Kingdom righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost but temporal good things by a sure and sweet tenure so that these sure mercies of the Covenant insure unto us the corporal mercies that are good for us and and after another and better manner than any uncovenanted persons though never so great can enjoy them for in a Covenant-way believers do enjoy common-mercies 1. More refinedly taken off the dregs oâ— cares and sorrows Prov. 10.22 a Saints bread Psal 81.16 though never so course is of the finest of the wheat and he is satisfied with honey out of the rock Luk. 8.18 Psal 39. yea they come 2. More really other comforts are but seeming comforts as man walketh in a vain shew so what he enjoys is but a dream but outward comforts coming through the blood of Christ are solid substantial refreshments again they come more 3. Sweetly have not those prickles and stings that worldly things have to natural men Oh the peace and quietness that a Christian enjoys with outward comforts and further comforts come to a Child of God more 4. Serviceably the creature doth homage to its Maker and Masters Children so that what they have is for their good and doth them good and comforts also come more 5. Satisfyingly a Godly man is more contented with his little than the men of the world can be with abundance a little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 and then a Child of God enjoys his comforts in a Covenant-way more safely he needs not fear want bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Isai 33.16 God is the Christians purse-bearer and it 's in safer hands than in his own and they are here more 7. Lastingly we shall have corporal mercies as long as we need them and when we need them not they shall be swallowed in eternal enjoyments O therefore let the Saints of God be truly thankful let the high praises of God be in their mouths this is the chief rent and reasonable Tribute that God expects for these sure mercies sacrifice these sacrifices of thanksgiving take this Cup of salvation and give God the praise that 's due unto his name Begin that work here in time which shall be fully managed by the ransomed of the Lord to all Eternity this this shall be the burden of the Saints triumphant Song in Heavenly Mansions that glorious pallace shall ring and eccho with the blessed note of mercy mercy free-grace laid the foundation and grace grace only lays the top-stone of Saints glory Oh how will God be admired by and in all that believe at that day well sirs begin those Hosanna's here that will be seconded with Hallelujahs hereafter speak well of your gracious God admire this new-Covenant design and let him have all the glory of this blessed contrivance so shall you accomplish Gods end and evidence your Covenant-interest in these sure mercies of David Thus though these Divine graces which adorn the Temple of a Christians breast do sometimes disappear and sin costs the soul some tears yet the gracious soul hath abundant ground of thankfulness for the whole transaction take it in Divine Herbert's Poem of Church-floor Mark you the floor that square and speckled ston which looks so firm and strong is Patience And th' other black and grave wherewith eacâ— on is checker'd all along Humility The gentle rising which on either hand leads to the Quire above is Confidence But the sweet Cement which in one sure band tyes the whole frame is Love and Charity Hither sometimes sin steals and stains the Marbles neat and curious veins But all is cleansed when the Marble weeps Sometimes death puffing at the door blows all the dust about the floor But while he thinks to spoil the room he sweeps Blest be the Architect whose art could build so strong in a weak heart FINIS