The Souls Vocation, Part 3 (1 of 6)
JOHN 6.45.
Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father, commeth unto mee.
WE are now come to the worke of the will, which is the great wheele as it were, the great commander of the ſoule; we are now come to the chamber of preſence: the former affections I told you, they were but as handmaids to uſher in Chriſt and the promiſes. The minde ſaith, I have ſeene Chriſt; hope ſaith, I have waited; deſire, I have longed; love and joy ſay, that is here which wee have received, and entertained, here is that which will ſupply all wants, that will overcome all corruptions, that mercy that will pardon all our ſinnes: then ſaith the will, content, it ſhall be ſo, and this makes up the match; for now the match commeth to bee made, when the will ſaith Amen to the buſineſſe: and this is that great worke of the will, the ſpawn and the ſeeds of faith went before, now faith is come to ſome perfection, now the ſoule repoſeth it ſelfe upon the Lord; and Divines ſay, that here commeth in faith; what the minde hath knowne, and hope expected, and deſire longed for, and love embraced, then commeth in the great wheel, the great commander, the will, which ſaith, I will have it: Goe no further, it is the beſt match wee can make; you ſaw the ſeeds of faith before in the affections, but now you ſhall ſee the root of faith, and the full growth of faith in the will. So from hence the point of Doctrine is this.
Doctrine. The will of a poore ſinner humbled and enlightned, comes to bee effectually perſwaded by the Spirit of the Father, to reſt upon the free grace of God in Chriſt, that it may bee intereſted therein, and have ſupply of all Spirituall wants from thence.
For the better clearing of this Doctrine, conſider theſe foure particulars.
Firſt, the worke muſt be in an heart humbled, and enlightned:
Secondly, the will muſt be effectually perſwaded by the Spirit of the Father.
Thirdly, by the power of this perſwaſion it caſts it ſelfe upon the rich grace and free mercy of God in Chriſt.
Fourthly, the end of it, that it may bee intereſted into all the good that is in the promiſe.
For by faith wee come to have a title to all that ever Chriſt purchaſed, and God hath prepared for his people; and as by infidelity wee went from God, ſo now by faith we come again to God.
Particul. in the doctr. 1 For the firſt paſſage, this grace of faith, the root whereof is ſeated in the will, it is in an heart humbled and enlightened, if either of theſe two bee wanting, it is not poſſible, that ever ſound ſaving faith ſhould be in the ſoule: I doe not now diſpute of the meaſure of theſe, how farre a man muſt bee humbled, and how much enlightened, theſe I have handled before, I abate a man of the meaſure, and leave that to the good pleaſure of God, but the heart muſt bee truly humbled, and ſoundly enlightened.
Firſt, The heart muſt be humbled, that is, looſed from ſinne and from ſelfe; if the ſoule be not thus truly humbled, there is no roome for faith, for the worke of humiliation cleeres the coaſt, …nd clenſeth the roome; for if the ſoule of a poore ſinner be not looſened from ſinne, and made wea…y of it, but takes faſt hold of it, as Ieremie ſaith, Ierem. 8.5.They hold faſt to deceit, and would not returne; ſo when a man will hold his pride and his corruptions, that man is careleſſe of Chriſt, and not onelyonly ſo, but alſo oppoſit from going to Chriſt, he will not goe to Chriſt, that he may receive power for …he ſubduing of his corruptions, becauſe he is reſolved to keepe his ſinne ſtill, and therefore know, …hat it is not poſſible to receive Chriſt, and to …leave to ſinne too.
Secondly, ſuppoſe the ſoule be truly burdened, …nd the heart be ſurcharged with ſinne, and the …eart ſeeth an abſolute neceſſity of a change, and …e ſaith, if this be certaine, then I am a miſerable …an, and either I muſt reforme my way, or elſe periſh in my way; now when the ſoule is come to this, if the heart will yet ſhift for it ſelfe, and thinke to recover it ſelfe, ſeeing it muſt need… change, it will change it ſelfe, it will hinder faith; for whatſoever it is that keepes a man in himſelfe, that alwayes hinders the worke of faith, for faith ever goes out to another for grace and power to eaſe him of corruption, and for ſtrength to ſubdue his ſinnes; if the ſoule ſay, either I need not change, or if I muſt change, I will change my ſelfe, and ſave my ſelfe, what need have I of a Saviour: theſe hinder faith, therefore if ever faith be there, the heart muſt have thi… wrought, he muſt ſee himſelfe in a loſt condition, that is, that by all the meanes under heaven he… cannot ſuccour himſelfe, this is the meaning of that phraſe; Luke 19.10. The Lord Ieſus came … ſeeke and to ſave that which was loſt; a loſt man, indeed every man is loſt under the power of ſinne and dominion of Satan, but he muſt ſee himſelfe loſt; how the guilt of ſinne is condemning him, and therefore loſt in regard of pardon to ſave him, and alſo how he is polluted, and therefore loſt in regard of power to ſubdue corruptions, and when he ſeeth this indeed, that nothing can helpe him but a Chriſt, then the ſoule makes out for a Chriſt, this is the meaning of that place; Iohn 1.12. To as many as received him, he gave, &c. ſo that we muſt receive a Chriſt, when we are gone o… of our ſelves by humiliation, then are we fit to goe to God by vocation.
Queſt. But may not a man beleeve, and is it not l… full to beleeve, unleſſe a man be thus humbled?
Anſw. It is lawfull at any time (if thou canſt) but I ſay, it is impoſſible for thee to beleeve, untill thou be thus humbled: as Iohn 4.44. the Lord Chriſt comes to the Phariſees, and ſaith, I know you will not come to mee, that you may beleeve: nay in the next place he ſaith, How can ye beleeve that receive honour one of another? how canſt thou beleeve in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to ſubdue thy luſts, and yet wouldſt bee uncleane ſtill, and live in thy luſts ſtill? how canſt thou beleeve in Chriſt to maſter thy rebellious heart, and yet wouldeſt be rebellious ſtill? it is impoſſible; heaven and earth cannot meet together, no more can theſe two ſtand together; therefore ſet your hearts at reſt; a man muſt be truly humbled and broken hearted, …f ever he beleeve.
Secondly, the ſoule muſt be enlightened; I …oyne theſe two together in this clauſe, for though faith be above reaſon, yet it is with reaſon; it is not that colliers faith of the Papiſts, …hat put out his owne eyes to ſee by another mans: this is a deluſion and an implicite faith; …herefore, I ſay, a man muſt be inlightened to ſee …he grace, and merciemercy, and freeneſſe of Gods love …n Chriſt: as Pſal. 119.10. They that know thy name …hall put their truſt in thee; it is againſt common ſenſe, that the ſoule of a man, that is reaſonable, …hould fall upon any thing, and reſt it ſelfe there, …nd yet never ſeeth whether it bee a ſufficient helpe or no: this is by the way of preparation.
Particul. in the doctr. 2 It is effectually perſwaded by the Spirit of the Father, to reſt it ſelfe, &c. this I adde in the ſecond place upon the ſame ground, becauſe a man hath no legs of himſelfe to bee carried to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to beleeve in him, further than God doth convey this, and communicate to the ſoule, a man naturally is as well able to keepe the law, which is doe and live, as hee is of himſelfe, (in himſelfe ſo conſidered) to beleeve in the Goſpell, and to keepe the ſecond covenant of grace, which is beleeve and live: but the difference is here, the Goſpell requires abilitie, and gives it; the Lord cals us to come, and inables us to come; whereas the law reveales a mans corruptions, but never gives him power againſt them; but as the Lord called Lazarus, ſo the Lord gave Lazarus power to riſe; ſo when the Lord cals a poore ſinner, he gives ſtrength and ſpirituall ability to come, according to the call which the Lord reveales, that he may come by that ſaving and precious faith, (as S. Peter cals it) therefore it is of neceſſity required, that as the ſoule beleeves, the Lord muſt give ſtrength that it may beleeve, and therefore it is effectually perſwaded.
Now that I might meet with that erronious opinion of Pelagians, conſider what I ſay, they ſay it is of neceſſity required, that a poore ſinner have his minde inlightened, but the will of man is unaltered, and left free to refuſe or chuſe grace if it pleaſe; ſo that they put a kinde of ability in the will, to take or refuſe Chriſt and grace when it is offered; but here is a deepe miſtake, becauſe the will of man is as farre averſe from God, as the minde is blinde, nay it is more averſe from God than the minde is blinde, and it is more hard to be framed: therefore there muſt be this effectuall perſwading, as the underſtanding muſt have the truth cleered to ſee a Chriſt, ſo the will muſt be perſwaded, that it may receive power from him: as it is with the ſea and the thames, there is ebbing and flowing; now the natutall Philoſophers obſerve, that the ebbing and flowing comes not from any inward proper principle of it ſelfe, but the light and heat of the moone leaves its beames upon the water, and drawes the water after it; this makes it to flow, and when the moone is gone, the water returnes backe againe, and this is ebbing: juſt ſo it is with the ſoule of a man humbled and enlightened, there is no power in the ſoule to goe any further than it ſelfe, to flow unto a Chriſt, and to goe towards the promiſes, further than the Lord lets in, by the power of his Spirit, the beames of his merciemercy, upon the ſoule, and ſheds in the freeneſſe of his grace into the heart, and that makes the ſoule flow againe, ſo that as it ebbed and went away from God by ſinne, ſo it now flowes and comes to God againe; but it is by the power and Spirit of God.
Quest. Now if you aske mee what it is to have the heart thus perſwaded of Gods goodneſſe in Chriſt:
Anſw. It is nothing elſe but this: firſt, as it is undeniably inlightened, to ſee this merciemercy of God, ſo there comes in a ſtreame of the freeneſſe and riches of Gods grace, and doth affect the heart with the ſweetneſſe and relliſh of Gods grace, that it findes a marvellous ſweetneſſe in it. Queſt. Secondly, what is it to be effectually perſwaded?
Anſ. It is thus much, not a touch and away, and a little ſip and begone, nor a hourly kinde of taſting: but take notice of theſe two things in it; Firſt, when the prevailing ſweetneſſe in the promiſe, and that goodneſſe in the promiſe is let in by the Spirit of the Lord, that it ſinkes into the heart roots, and it comes to take poſſeſſion of the ſoule of an humble ſinner, and is next the ſoule, there is nothing next the ſoule but that: the world and pleaſure, &c. are without the heart; but the goodneſſe of the promiſe, and the freeneſſe of Gods grace hath its privie chamber in the heart of a man: this I take to be the meaning of that phraſe of rooting the promiſe in the heart; and this was the fault of the ſtony ground-hearers; Matth. 13.21. The ſeed grew up ſuddenly, and periſhed ſuddenly: why? becauſe it had not depth of earth; the ſeed of the promiſe had not the depth of his heart: but there was a ſtone in the heart, and the world lay next the heart; and a ſtone of luſt and pride was betweene the word of the Lord and the heart, ſo that the promiſe had not root: and hence it was ſlightly affected with the truth, but never thus powerfully, to have it goe downe to the roots of the heart: the good word of the Lord in this caſe comes to the heart, not as an owner, but as a travellour; this is the meaning of that place: Hoſea 2.14. I will allure her, and draw her into the wilderneſſe, that is, by preparation, and then I will ſpeake comfortably to her; that is, I will ſpeake to her heart; ſo it is in the originall: there is a kinde of prevailing ſweetneſſe of the grace of God in Chriſt, that will be at the roots of the heart, that it may give allowance unto it: now marke what followes from hence, and this is the firſt part of the effectuall perſwading of the heart, when the heart ſaith, away with profit, and the world, and all, let me have the Lord and his grace; Oh that goes to the bottome of the heart! hence it is that the ſoule thus prevailingly is ſweetned with the goodneſſe of the promiſe, can taſte nothing in the world without this; it is now out of love with all other things, it had loved and doted on before moſt immoderatly, the ſweetneſſe of the promiſe hath ſtolne away the heart of a poore ſinner, and gotten the good will of the ſoule to be only for Chriſt, and to have his heart to cloſe with Chriſt, and to be nothing in the world without him; this effectuall perſwading, it is the meaning of that place: Act. 3.19. Amend your lives, repent and turne, that your ſinnes may be done away; repent and be converted, that is, be truly prepared in the worke of humiliation; and be converted, that is, have a through heat of the heart for grace in vocation, that your ſinnes may be done away in juſtification: ſo then when the ſoule is firſt humbled in preparation, and the heart now all for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and can taſte nothing but Chriſt, and nothing in regard of him, and God hath gotten his good will, then followes juſtification, that your ſinnes may be blotted out: this was the practice of the repenting Church, when the Lord had hedged her way, and built a wall that ſhe could not finde her old lovers, Hoſ. 2.7. at laſt the Church ſaith, I will returne to my firſt husband, for then it was better with me than now; as if the Church had ſaid, Oh the mercies of God, and the conſolation of Chriſt, are better than all my delights in ſinne! the ſoule comes now to ſee a bettering in Chriſt; Oh to have my heart purged, and my ſinnes remitted, it were better than to wallow in my luſts ſtill! now the heart is going out of the world to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when there is an overpowering vertue of the ſweetneſſe of the promiſe, that prevailes with the ſoule above all, and affects the heart with the good thereof, more than all the reſt, this is then to be effectually perſwaded. Now the will and the heart is gone that way, let all the temptation and the darling delights of ſinne come in never ſo faſt: yet the prevailing power of the promiſe out bids, and goes beyond all theſe, and affects the heart more than all theſe: I would have you retaine thoſe things, that ye may trie whoſe hearts are ſound: many pretend to have a lingering deſire after Chriſt, and to ſeeme to bee for Chriſt, and yet the worke was never ſound, they were never perſwaded, powerfully, as I now ſpeake: and as there is a ſtrong and effectuall perſwading ſo there is a kinde of hourly and feeble perſwading, and a ſlight motion of it: the heart may ſeem to make out toward Chriſt, & yet never get …ut, becauſe it was never effectually perſwaded; …heſe ſlight motions and hourly perſwaſions are …ike the untimely birth of a woman, that vaniſh…th away, and comes to nothing in the end.
Many a man hath had his eyes opened and the ſweetneſſe of the promiſe revealed, and the ſoule …ad begun to purpoſe, and to be at a hay, now …ay, and then he will goe to Chriſt, and yet ſinks …owne againe and falls back and periſheth ever…ſtingly. As it is with a waggon that paſſeth by a …angerous pit, being well loaden, which if it paſſe …ot by, hee is undone, he is at a ſet: well, they will uſe their skill, they pull with might & maine, …nd now it is going, and then it is comming; it … ever at a hay, now hay: at laſt the traces breake …nd it falls downe irrecoverably. So it is with a …arnall falſe hearted Hypocrite, that hath had ma…y of theſe feeble perſwaſions to pluck a baſe …ile heart from his corruptions: the Lord hath …id ſome hand upon him by the terrours of the …aw, and let in ſome intimation of mercy, and …t him ſee what good he might have if he would …art from his ſinnes, and he hath many good re…lutions; the drunkard will be drunke no more, …e adulterer will bee uncleane no more, and the …roud perſon will never be proud any more; it is …et at a hay, now hay: but becauſe hee is not …fectually perſwaded, hee falls off from his halfe …odging with God, and is wholly overcome with …nne never to be recovered more: this was the practice of Agrippa, Act. 26.27. where Paul ſhewing his converſation, and what God had done for him; when Agrippa heard this, he was even at a dead lift and ſaid, Thou haſt almoſt perſwaded me to become a Christian, almoſt holy, & almoſt humble, and almoſt to forſake my ſinnes. I will never be more malicious againſt God, and as the originall word ſaith, Thou haſt almoſt perſwaded mee in a few things, but hee never came to any good at all. This is the guiſe of many that come to ſome outward reformation, and get ſome knowledge, and ſome parts, and ſome duties performed, ſo that a man would thinke they were making forward toward Chriſt, and yet they recoyle and fall back againe to their old baſe courſes moſt fearfully. Of this generation was this ſpoke, Heb. 6.4. that had a taſte of the Heavenly gift, that is, ſaving faith; they liked the promiſe, but it was never at the heart roots. Oh, ſaid they, comfort, eaſe and ſalvation is good to be had; but they did not take downe the promiſe and diſgeſt it, and make it good blood, they wanted this ſound perſwaſion, ſomewhat was neerer to the heart than the promiſe, and therefore it came to nothing. An Hypocrite that is tickled and hath ſome flaſhy deſires as the ſtony ground was, is a little affected with the Word of God. This man may entertaine i… ſome kinde of hourely perſwaſion, ſomewhat of the promiſe for ſome reſpect: the promiſe is this, that God will pardon the iniquity of his poore children, and eaſe them of all their miſeries, and glorifie them for ever. The Hypocrite heares this that there is ſalvation to be had, and grace is now offered: (Oh it is pretty, ſaith the ſoule) then I hope it is poſſible for ſomething to come to my ſhare; in concluſion hee entertaines the promiſe to pardon him; but the promiſe and the prevailing power of it goe not deepe enough to looſe him from his corruptions, and to purge him; hee would ſip of the promiſes, but make a meale of his luſts: But a good heart doth the contrary; the promiſe is the ſtanding diſh, and the Lord …eſus Chriſt to be loved and embraced, that is his meale: onelyonly he may ſip now and then at his luſts …nd corruptions. The Hypocrite will have his …aſe haunts and his corruptions ſtill, but in the meane time hee could bee content to thinke on Chriſt to pardon him, and that theſe evils might …ot befall him.
Part. 2 Now you ſee what it is to bee effectually perſwaded, nothing but God can doe this, and in his lies the excellency of faith, to reſt it ſelfe upon the freeneſſe of Gods grace, that it may have …n intereſt in the good thereof; that is the end …f faith, there lies the marrow of faith, that is the …ertue and ſpirituall efficacy of faith; that as hope …aited for mercy, and deſire longed for it, and …ve and joy welcomed it; and they all bring the …romiſe home to the ſoule: ſo then the will …ith, Amen, Lord, let it be ſo, I will goe no fur…her. It is in this caſe as it was with the woman …f Samaria, Iohn 4.29. When Chriſt had opened …er eyes and ſhewed her the vilenes of her heart, …nd alſo told her that ſhee had ſeven Husbands, ſaying thou art an adulterous woman; now when ſhe had heard this, away ſhee goes to the Citie, and ſaid, Behold, a man that hath told mee all that ever I did, is not he the Chriſt? Juſt ſo all the affections come to the will the great commander, and plead in this caſe, and thus begin to ſtrive with the heart. Oh, ſaith hope, I have waited for this goodneſſe of the Lord, and my eyes have failed with looking for it: And deſire ſaith, I have longed for this goodneſſe, and ſaith love, I have received it; and joy ſaith, I have felt the ſweetneſſe of it: is not this mercy worth the receiving? Then the will ſaith, is it ſo indeed? haſt thou waited for it, hope? and haſt thou longed for it, deſire? and haſt thou felt the ſweetneſſe of it, joy? then we will all goe to that mercy and ſeeke no further. Let baſe corruptions and luſts doe what they will, wee will goe to that mercy, Foure things or Acts.and repoſe our ſelves therein. Now this reſting of it ſelfe diſcovers a foure-fold act.
Act 1 Firſt, it implyes a going out of the ſoule to Chriſt, that the ſoule runnes and reacheth after a Chriſt; for a man can never reſt on a thing before he come to lay hold on it, and to deliver all his ſtrength, and lay all his weight upon it. This is implied neceſſarily, and it is one maine proper act of faith, when the ſoule ſeeth this, that the Lord Jeſus is his aid, and muſt eaſe him and pardon his ſinnes: then let us goe to that Chriſt, ſaith he, ſee what our Saviour ſaith, Iohn 6.35. He that commeth to me ſhall never hunger, and hee that beleeveth in mee ſhall never thirſt: the phraſe of comming and beleeving they are both one: Ier. 3.22. there the Prophet makes the anſwer of the humble ſinner, the Lord calls upon by his Spirit, and ſets on his mercy effectually, and ſaith, Come to me yee rebellious ſinners, and I will heale your rebellions. Though a poore Miniſter ſpeake the word, yet the Lord from heaven ſaith, come to me ye looſe hearted, &c. Now this voyce comming home to the heart, and the prevailing ſweetneſſe of the call overpowring the heart, the ſoule anſwers, Behold we come, for thou art the Lord our God. The ſoule goes out and falls and flings it ſelfe upon the riches of Gods grace thus ſetled and revealed: Come to mee all yee that are weary (ſaith Chriſt:) when the Lord ſaith come, I have mercy, though thou haſt none; and I have comfort, though thou haſt none; nay, I not only have it, but am ready to beſtow it: and come to me thou poore burthened ſinner, I have undertaken for thee, and I will eaſe and helpe thee. Now as for you that were never humbled nor brought low, God will pull downe your proud hearts, and make you ſtoope: but you that have beene burthened, and have ſeene your ſinnes, and mourned under the loathſome burthen of them, to all ſuch the Lord ſaith, Come to mee thou poore broken hearted ſinner, I will heale thee, and I have undertaken for thee: we goe then (ſaith the will) to that Chriſt, and that promiſe, and that mercy, and that grace that will pardon all, and ſubdue all whatſoever is amiſſe. It is with a ſinner, as it is with a Sea-faring man that is toſſed with the windes, and driven to a hard ſet with the tempeſt, hee labours to betake himſelfe to a ſhelter, and to land at ſome Haven.
This is the nature of beleeving in the Hebrew phraſe, as Eſa. 25.4. Thou haſt beene a ſtrength to the poor and needy in trouble, a refuge againſt the tempeſt, & a ſhadow againſt the heat, &c. Now when a poor ſinner is weather-beaten, and can ſee no comfort, and finde no evidence for the pardon of his ſinnes; the Lord is pleaſed to make knowne the goodneſſe of Chriſt through the promiſe: then the ſoule ſhrowds it ſelfe under that ſh…dow and that goodneſſe thus offered and revealed: Pſal. 118.11. Davids ſoule had gotten away from God, and he began to quarrell with Gods providence, ſaying, I ſaid in my haſte, all men are liars; ſee what an haſty ſpirit is, hee hoyſed up ſaile upon the maine Ocean, and he had imaginations and concluſions of feare and deſpaire: At laſt he got the Haven againe, and ſaid, where art thou, Oh my ſoule? thou haſt gone from God, and from his promiſe; Returne to thy reſt, O my ſoule, let us goe to the promiſe, and keepe us there to ſee land, and make haſte to it, and labour to hold the heart cloſe to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: now the ſoule is come to Chriſt.
The next Act of reſting is this, it layes faſt hold upon Chriſt, and when the Lord ſaith, Come my Love, my Dove, and come away; behold, I come (ſaith ſhe) and when ſhe is come, ſhe faſtneth upon Chriſt and ſaith, my Beloved is mine, and I am his: When ſhe is come to Chriſt, ſhee will not away againe. In the Hebrew phraſe, to beleeve is nothing elſe but Amen; the Heathen ſay that the anſwer of a man is this, let it be done, which thou haſt promiſed, that's faith. So after the ſoule hath walked a great while in horrour and vexation, and the ſoule ſinks in the apprehenſion of it; the Lord lets in the comfort of his promiſe, and ſaith, thou poore burdned heart, thy perſon is accepted; thou art unworthy, but Chriſt is worthy; thou art ſinfull, but hee is mercifull. Now when the ſoule heares this voyce, it ſaith, even Amen Lord, let it be ſo Lord. This is the hold of the heart, hope and deſire, love and joy have diſcerned a world of mercy; and the will ſaith, ſo be it, let us ſtay and hold here, and goe no further. Eſay 64.7. There is none that calleth on thy Name, neither that ſtirreth up himſelfe to take hold of thee. Faith layes hold on the Lord, and will not let mercy goe, but cleaves unto it; it is ſweet to ſee faith in conflict with the Lord. When a man hath it, as in Iob, ſee how faith holds its owne, God makes him even the Butt of his wrath (as it were) but Iob ſaith, though he ſlay mee, yet will I truſt in him. Me thinkes I ſee how the Lord makes his hand all goare blood, and yet faith holds his owne; it is able to faſten it ſelfe upon the promiſe of God in Chriſt. 1 King. 20.32, 33. when Ahab was deeply provoked with a drunken Benhadad, who ſaid, take him alive, &c. they entred the combat: now when the day went againſt Benhadad (for hee had dealt baſely with Ahab) and hee could not with any face looke for any favour from him; yet when hee was driven to a ſtand, his ſervants (being worſe than their maſter) came to him and ſaid, Wee have heard that the Kings of Iſrael are mercifull Kings, we pray thee let us put ropes about our neckes, and ſackcloth on our loynes, &c. Becauſe the poore ſervants were like to come into danger as well as their maſter, they went to Ahab and ſaid, thy ſervant Benhadad ſaith, I pray thee let me live: and Ahab ſaid, is he yet alive, he is my brother; and the ſervants catched at that word, and ſaid, he is yet alive, and they went away rejoycing. This is a lively picture of a broken hearted ſinner, after he hath taken up armes againſt the Almighty, ſaying; ſhall he be at Gods command? he will never doe it whileſt the world ſtands; but he will have his luſts, his profit and eaſe, &c. and the Lord and hee are at open warres; and now the Lord lets in juſtice, and hee ſeeth the anger of God bent againſt him, and even frowning upon him, and the wrath of the Lord dogging him from day to day, ſaying thou art an enemy to me (ſaith the Lord) and I will be an enemy to thee. Now the ſoule ſeeth that he cannot avoid juſtice, neither can he beare it, and therefore the ſoule reaſons thus: I have heard that though I am a rebellious ſinner, yet none but ſinners are pardoned; he is a gracious God, and therefore the ſoule falls downe at the footſtoole of the Lord, and ſaith, Oh what ſhall I doe! What ſhall I doe unto thee, Oh thou preſerver of men! and the broken hearted and terrified ſinner craves that he may yet live in the ſight of the Lord. And at laſt when the ſoule hath beene ſufficiently humbled, the Lord lets in his ſweet voice of mercy, and ſaith, Thou art my ſonne, and thy ſinnes are pardoned: with that the ſoule catcheth at that mercy, and ſaith mercy Lord, and a ſonne Lord, pardon Lord, and love Lord, the ſoule is marvellous willing to heare of that conſideration: But it will not away from the Lord againe: as they catched at the words of Ahab, and ſaid, thy brother liveth; ſo the ſoule ſaith beleevingly, and …eccho-like, pardoned Lord, accepted Lord, love and mercy in Chriſt Lord: the heart holds it ſelfe there. It is the faſhion of a drowning man, when hee ſeeth himſelfe going and ſinking, if any man come to helpe him, when he hath taken hold, hee will rather die, than leave him, hee holds for his life: Juſt ſo it is with a drowning ſinner, that is toſſed up and downe with the floods of Gods indignation.
He that formerly made nothing of all, and a mock of Chriſt, and thought hee might goe to heaven with all his luſts, now the Lord opens his eyes, and ſets upon him, and toſſes him up and downe, that the heart ſmites with it; and hee ſeeth himſelfe loſt, and going downe to the pit, …nd hee expects nothing but damnation; and at …aſt the Lord lets in a record of merciemercy, and the promiſe of grace and ſalvation; when the ſoule …eares hereof, hee catcheth it greedily, and knowes if that faile, his ſoule muſt needs faile, …nd therefore he will never let it goe.
Act 3 The third act of reſting is this, it flings the waight of all its occaſions and troubles upon Chriſt, as the porter that is weary of his waight, and hath no way to helpe himſelfe, but to be eaſed of his burden: ſo when the ſoule hath faſtned upon Chriſt, it layes all the waight of all its guilt and power of corruptions upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Chriſt hath promiſed to give eaſe and power to pardon; and the ſoule now layes all upon him, as Pſal. 35.7. Commit thy way to the Lord, and truſt in him; commit thy way, that is, the waight of all thy occaſions: roule thy way upon the Lord, as it is with a barrell that is tumbled up and downe; the earth beares the waight of the barrell, but ſome body moves it: ſo the ſoule caſts the waight of all its diſgrace, diſhonour, temptation, and all upon Chriſt: Eſay 50, 10. Hee that walkes in darkneſſe and hath no light, let him truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay upon hi… God; that is, if any man be in extremes, hopeleſſe, in miſery, and ſeeth no helpe for himſelfe, neither in himſelfe, nor the creature, and walkes in deſperate diſcouragement, and hath no light of comfort; let him truſt upon the name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God: as when a man cannot goe of himſelfe, hee layes the waight of all his body on another; ſo the ſoule goes to a Chriſt, and layes all the waight of it ſelfe upon Chriſt, and ſaith, I have no comfort, all my diſcomforts I lay upon Chriſt, and I relie upon the Lord for comfort and conſolation: and when the ſoule hath thus leaned upon Chriſt, it leaves it ſelfe there, and ſucks and drawes all the good that it needs from Chriſt. Cant. 8.5. Who is this that commeth up from the wilderneſſe, leaning upon her beloved? the party comming is the Church; the wilderneſſe is the troubles and vexations the Church meets withall; and the beloved is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: now the Church comes out of trouble, and out of her ſelfe, and leanes her ſelfe all upon her husband the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: ſhe only walked with him, but he bare all the burden for her: and as the Jewes after their Paſſeover had their feet ſhod with ſandals, and ſtaves in their hands; the promiſe to the ſoule is like that ſtaffe, which did teſtifie the promiſe: when we are going to the land of Canaan, the promiſe of grace and mercy is the ſtaffe which wee leane upon; and it is not a broken ſtaffe that will faile us, but a ſtrong ſtaffe which a man may truſt to, and lay all the waight of life and happineſſe upon it, and the ſubduing of his ſinnes alſo; 1 Pet. ….7. Caſt all your care on him, for he careth for you: the originall is, hurle your care upon the Lord; as …f a man ſhould ſay, ſuffer not your care to rebound backe againe, but hurle it upon the Lord, as a man doth with a ball, when it rebounds hee beats it backe againe: the Lord will not thanke you for carrying your cares and troubles about you, but he requires you ſhould hurle it upon the Lord, for he careth for you.
All that faith would have the ſoule doe, is this: Firſt, that the ſoule ſhould labour to finde out the meanes of grace; Secondly, that it ſhould practice what it knowes; Thirdly, that it improve all meanes when it hath gotten them: now that it may bee able to doe this, faith layes all the weight of the worke and burden of the day upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that I ſhall know what I ſhould doe, or the Lord will pardon what I doe not know; and either I ſhall be able to doe what I know, or elſe God will accept of my poore endevours; and either I ſhall finde ſucceſſe in that I doe, or elſe God will make me contented; ſo that all the burden is gone: therefore what if thou doeſt not know what thou ſhouldſt doe, ſeeing God will pardon thy ignorance? and what if thou doſt not that which thou knoweſt, if God will pardon thee in it? and what if thou haſt not that ſucceſſe thou deſireſt, if God will accept of thee without it? and therefore David chides his owne heart, and rocks his owne ſoule aſleepe, where it was golling; Pſal. 42. Why art thou caſt downe, O my ſoule? &c. I am baniſhed from my houſe, and from my friends, and eſpecially from the houſe of my God; and have not I cauſe to be diſquieted? no hee had not; but how ſhall I amend my ſelfe in all theſe troubles? ſtill truſt in God, for he is yet the helpe of my countenance, and my God, and I will yet give him praiſe: as if he had ſaid, thou ſhalt not need to be diſtracted, diſcouraged, nor vexed inordinately; ſtill truſt in God, and caſt all thy care upon him: the faithfull ſoule viewes all his ſinnes that he hath committed, and all the miſeries that are intended and inflicted; and when it hath done all, it conclude thus with it ſelfe, and ſaith, It is not in my power, nay it is not my duty to determine of all theſe troubles; I lay all the weight of my ſinnes upon Chriſt to pardon them, and all the weight of my corruptions to ſubdue them, and then I know he will care for me, that hath undertaken mercifully for me; all my care is to leane upon my Saviour, and this is my comfort, he will looke to me, though I cannot doe it for my ſelfe.
Act 4 The fourth act of repoſing the Spirit (which makes it up) is this, (and this indeed is the nature of faith) it drawes vertue, and derives power from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for ſuccour and ſupply; here is the eſpeciall life of faith, and it is the very words of Scripture, or elſe I durſt not ſpeake ſo much of it, but that the Scripture ſayes it open in this manner: faith findes all in the promiſe, and fetcheth all from the promiſe that it needs: as when a man hath proviſion of meat and money in his houſe; if any man ſay to him, where ſhall we have ſuch and ſuch things? Oh, ſaith he, I will goe fetch them: ſo it is with the nature of faith, it goes for mercy, and grace, and comfort in Chriſt, it knowes tis to bee had from him, and therefore fetcheth all from him; it drawes and ſuckes the ſweetneſſe of the promiſe: as it was with the woman that had the bloudy iſſue; Mat. 9.21, 22. Oh, ſaith ſhe, could I but touch the hem of his garment, I ſhould be whole; and ſo ſhe did, and vertue came from him, and ſhee was healed of all her grievances that lay upon her: ſo it is with a faithfull ſoule that toucheth the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it layes hold but a little on the promiſe, and there is ſap and vertue communicated to the beleeving heart, whereby it comes to be helped and comforted in the way of God: Eſay 12.3. it is ſaid, With joy ye ſhall draw water out of the wells of ſalvation; the fountaine of ſalvation, and all the waters of life, and grace, and mercy, are in Chriſt: now it is not enough to let downe the bucket into the well, but it muſt bee drawen out alſo: the waters of life are in Chriſt, now it is not enough to come to, and to looke to Chriſt, but wee muſt draw the water of grace from Chriſt to our ſoule; as Eſay 66.11. They ſhall ſucke and be ſatisfied with the breſts of the conſolation, that they may milke out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glorie; the Church is compared to a childe, and the breſts are the promiſes of the Goſpell; now the elect muſt ſuck out and be ſatisfied with it, and milke it out: the word in the originall is, exact upon the promiſe, and oppreſſe the promiſe, as the oppreſſo… grinds the face of a poore man, and will have his goods what ever become of his wife and children: ſo a man muſt wreſt the promiſe for grace and power from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Ah beloved, this is our miſery, we ſuffer abundance of milke to be in the promiſe, and we are like wainly children, that lye at the breſt, and will neither ſucke nor be quiet; ſo we ſuffer this to be in the promiſe, and yet imploy not our ſelves to get it out, and to ſucke it out: therefore brethren, ſuffer not your faith to come to the promiſe, and to lye at it; but hale mercy from thence, and with a… holy kinde of oppreſſion exact upon it, and get what good you may from it, the Lord allowes it.
Queſt. But here it may bee asked, how this is done, how doth faith draw vertue from Chriſt?
Anſw. I anſwer, It is an heavenly skill, and yet marvellous hard and difficult: Threefold Act.faith drawes vertue by a threefold act; or faith improves the promiſe three wayes: Firſt, faith doth appropriate the promiſe to it ſelfe, and applies all that good and grace that is revealed & offered in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt home to it ſelfe; the voices of faith in the Scripture are theſe, my Lord and my God: ſo Paul ſaith, Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chiefe, he would be ſure to have a ſhare in the mercy; as if a man ſhould ſay, I will cut ſomething before the diſh goe away: Pſal. 48.14. when the Lord had ſo much care of his Church, and how terrible he was to the enemies, and how mercifull to his people, &c. in the end the Church ſaith, This God is our God, and he will be our God even till death; ſhe doth appropriate God to her ſelfe, and engroſſeth God, and ſaith, our God is not as the Heathens god; and there David would have God all his owne, and ſaith, whatſoever God hath done for any of his people, how terrible for them, and how mercifull to them, the ſame God hee is to my ſoule, and he will bee my God for ever: and hence the Scripture ſaith, Eſay 55.1. Come buy, and eat, &c. all theſe places are nothing elſe, but the act of faith; to come, is to repaire to the promiſe; and to buy, is to take poſſeſſion of it; and to eat, is nothing elſe, but to embrace it for our good and comfort: it is not enough for mee to goe to the market, and ſtand looking on the commodity there, but I muſt lay downe my money, buy it, and take poſſeſſion of it, and beare it home; ſo the Lord ſaith, Come to the waters, buy wine and milke, &c. the Lord ſets open the ſhop of grace and ſalvation every day where the Goſpell is preached; and therefore not only cheapen, but come to the agreement and buy; offer like chapmen, and ſtand not hagling, but ſay, I will lay downe all my luſts, and part with all for Chriſt; and when yee have done thus, take mercy and comfort, it is yours, you have bought it: ſo that now the faithfull ſoule enters upon the promiſe as his owne; as a man that comes to take poſſeſſion of houſe and land as his owne: ſo the faithfull ſoule reads of all that merciemercy in pardoning of ſinne, and all that God effects to ſave, and all that mercy offered to the poore man, out of whom the Lord caſt ſeven Devils; & then the ſoule ſaith, all that merciemercy is mine: Manaſſes was an idolater and a monſter, yet the Lord humbled & ſaved him; and all that mercy is mine: Paul a perſecutour and an oppreſſour, and yet the Lord opened his eyes, pardoned his ſinne, and hee is now a glorified Saint in heaven, &c. all that merciemercy is mine: hence I take that phraſe to be, Iohn 3.33. where faith is ſaid to ſet its ſeale to the promiſe; He that beleeveth, hath ſet to his ſeale, that God is true: now obſerve that, as it is amongſt men in their agreements, it is not enough that the articles are drawne and made, but they muſt be ſealed; if they are only made, wee uſe to ſay, they want nothing but ſealing; now when they are ſealed, every than takes his owne, and the bargaine is thorow: Juſt ſo it is betweene the Lord and the ſoule; the Articles of agreement, whereby God paſſeth over his promiſe to a poore ſinner, are theſe: If wee will part from our ſelves and our ſinnes, the Lord Jeſus ſaith all this grace and mercy is yours: you that are thus burthened, Chriſt will eaſe you; and you that are thus loſt, Chriſt will finde you. But now if a man will not ſet to his ſeale, and if the ſoule doe not take all this to it ſelfe, and enter poſſeſſion of it in this kinde, and ſeale and deliver (as wee uſe to ſay) it will never prove authenticall; but when it is ſealed and delivered, then it is authenticall: So when the ſoule makes an application of the promiſes to it ſelfe, then it is authenticall, and the ſoule feeds upon it, and refreſheth it ſelfe therewith for ever.
Secondly, faith jogs the hand of God, and ſets Gods power on worke, and makes way for the ſtreame of Gods promiſe and providence, that it may take place: I ſay it makes ay for the worke of the promiſe, that ſo whatſoever is good, may flow in amaine upon the heart, and be communicated to it, as it is in other courſes of providence. When God ſets up a courſe of providence in the …ſe of means, then in the uſe of thoſe means as …e ordinarily workes. Now God will nouriſh a man if he will eat his meat, and uſe the means appointed for his nouriſhment, and hee that will take up the courſe that God hath appointed, may expect a bleſſing; ſo faith is the condition that God requires, and the means that he hath appointed, whereby he will convey all good to the ſoule, and as all grace and mercy is conveyed from God through the promiſe; ſo if wee will beleeve and lay our hearts to the promiſe, wee are under the power of the promiſe, to convey all grace and mercy to us: As it is with a Pump or Well; there is water enough in the Well, but yet a man muſt draw and pump it up before hee can have any; and when hee drawes, then the water doth come: So the Fountaine of all grace and goodneſſe in Chriſt, and the promiſe is the pump; now faith muſt jog the promiſe before any grace can come: this I take to be the reaſon of all thoſe paſſages in Scripture, where the Lord is ſaid to give away himſelfe to beleeving ſoules, as Matth. 15.28. Oh woman, great is thy faith, bee it unto thee as thou wilt: Chriſt gives her leave to goe to the treaſure of mercy and grace, and to take what ſhe would: he doth not ſay, be it unto thee, as I will, but as thou wilt: looke what health thou wilt have for thy daughter, and what comfort for thy conſcience, goe and take it, the Lord denies her nothing. This is the meaning of that place, Math. 9.29. Bee it unto you according to your faith; not according to your wit, or pride, or ſtrength, or ſturdy ſpirits; as if a man would goe to Heaven, and bee proud and ſtout hearted too: no, no, there is no ſuch matter, not according to your parts and gifts, but according to your faith; Gen. 17.7. God makes a deed of gift to Abraham, ſaying, I will be a God to thee, and thy ſeed after thee; take all Abraham: ſo that beleeving ſets Gods grace a going, and puts Gods power and providence forth for the good of the ſoule. Now imagine the Lord did yet deny that ſoule that mercy which it ſeekes and begs, and doth not anſwer the deſire of the heart, and let in that good and ſweetneſſe the beleeving ſoule expects from him; what will faith doe then?
This is the third Act of faith in drawing vertue from Chriſt, faith urgeth God with his owne word, and preſſeth Gods promiſe, and challengeth God on his faithfulneſſe and truth, not to be wanting unto him, for the acceptation of his perſon, and the pardon of his ſinnes. Faith enters into ſuit with God, Pſal. 143.1. Heare my prayer Lord, and in thy faithfulneſſe anſwer me: as if he had ſaid, I confeſſe I am baſe, vile, and ſinfull, and deſerve …o mercy; therefore not in my worthineſſe, but in thy faithfulneſſe anſwer me. I cannot bee but …ile, and thou canſt not bee but faithfull; and if thou canſt ceaſe to be faithfull, I am content to be miſerable; and ſo you may, for he can as well ceaſe to be faithfull, as ceaſe to bee God. It is a …aw-caſe betweene God and Iacob, Gen. 22.10.11. ſee how he preſſeth God in a point: Oh, ſaith hee, I know my brothers maliciouſneſſe and dogged ſpirit, and I expect hard meaſure from him. O Lord therefore remember thy ſervant, for I feare my brother Eſau, and thou haſt ſaid thou wilt doe good to thy ſervant, &c. As a man that hath a good cauſe at the Aſſizes or Seſſions, though hee hath a great enemie, one that over-powers him, yet being confident that his cauſe is good, will bring it about againe, and will not reſt till he hath an equall hearing. So faith when the Lord frownes upon him, yet the heart puts him in ſuit, as it were, and doth expoſtulate the cauſe with the Lord, ſaying, Hath the Lord forgotten to be gracious, and will he be no more intreated? This expoſtulation of the ſoule that the heart preſſeth in upon God withall, when it is upon a good ground, it argues the purſuit of God, that he will not leave till the Lord give that hee hath engaged himſelfe to beſtow. Thus to gather up all, faith goes out to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and layes hold upon him, layes all the weight upon him, drawes vertue from him, as in all the former particulars.
The fifth and laſt thing wherein the great worke of reſting conſiſts is this; faith leaves the ſoule with the promiſe, and after all deſires (haply) and all denials, and all the diſcouragements of God; and yet the ſoule ſeeth not the way of God; but that God frownes upon him; and though God comes not, yet faith leaves the heart with God. This is marvellous needfull, and it muſt needs be the worke of faith; for it is the maine tenour of the worke of the covenant of grace, and the covenant of workes, in the covenant of workes made with Adam, when he ſaid, doe and live: If Adam had done that, hee ſhould have received conſtant aſſiſtance, and God would never have denied to helpe him: but now in the covenant of grace, becauſe it muſt bee, and is free, and that a ſoule may and muſt know that it is onelyonly the goodneſſe of God to us; therefore the Lord reſerves this prerogative royall to himſelfe, that howſoever God will beſtow what he hath promiſed, yet hee reſerves the time to himſelfe, and what time he will doe it, and after what manner, and by what means, that is onelyonly of Gods free will: and hereupon the ſoule acknowledgeth that it is of Gods free grace; as if the Lord ſhould ſay, it is mercy that I give, and therefore it is according to my owne minde, and I will take my owne time.
Now in this dead lift the power of faith is this; it leaves the ſoule with the promiſe, it takes up its ſtanding there, and ſaith, I will goe to none other, and I will ſeeke no further, Eſay 28.16. He that beleeves, makes not haſte, hee makes haſte to uſe the means, but he is content to ſtay till the Lord pleaſe, becauſe he knowes the Lord onelyonly muſt doe it: and if the heart bee given to murmure and repine, ſaying, I pray, and the Lord doth not anſwer; I have grapled with my ſinne, and the Lord ſubdues it not: now faith ſaith, we muſt goe to God for mercy, that hee may order all our occaſions; and wee muſt not order Gods grace according to our humours: but the Lord ſeemes to frowne upon the ſoule, and to reject the prayers of a poore ſinner, and to beat him away from the doore, as the Lord Chriſt did, when hee called the woman a dog; yet faith will bring on the heart ſtill, and it will be ſure to lye at the gate, and it keepes the ſoule with the promiſe, what ever befals it, as Pſal. 119. Mine eyes failed for looking up for thy word, Oh when wilt thou comfort me! his heart and all failed him, and yet he would looke towards heaven. Oh, ſaith he, when will this ſinfull ſoule be humbled, and this diſtreſſed conſcience pacified? hee would looke towards heaven till hee had no heart; and therefore excellent is that paſſage, Geneſ. 32.36. when the Lord and Iacob were wreſtling, and the Lord would have beene gone, Iacob ſaid, I will not let thee goe, untill thou haſt bleſſed mee: ſo the faithfull ſoule layes hold upon the Lord for mercy, pardon, power, and grace, and though the Lord ſeeme to give him up to the torment of ſinne and corruption; yet the ſoule ſaith, though my ſoule goe downe to hell, yet I will hold here for mercy, till the Lord comfort and pardon, and ſubdue graciouſly theſe curſed corruptions, which I am not able to maſter my ſelfe. As it is with a ſun-diall, the nature of the direction is this, the needle is ever moving, and a man may jog it another way, yet it will never ſtand ſtill, till it come to the north-point: ſo when the Lord leaves off a beleeving heart with frownes, and with the expreſſion of diſpleaſure, yet the ſoule turnes to the Lord Chriſt, and will never leave, till it goe God-ward, and Chriſtward, and grace-ward; and ſaith, let the Lord doe what he pleaſe, I will goe no further, till hee bee pleaſed to ſhew mercy: then the iſſue is this, faith goes out to Chriſt, it layes hold upon Chriſt, and layes the weight of all upon Chriſt, and drawes vertue from Chriſt, and it leaves the ſoule with the promiſe, and this is in every faithfull ſoule under heaven, howſoever the ſenſe is taken away: if the ſoule once come to Chriſt, it will never away, but ever cleaves to the promiſe, and is towards God and Chriſt, whatſoever befall it.
Part of the doctr. 4 The fourth and laſt part of the doctrine is this; Firſt, as the ſoule muſt be humbled and enlightened. Secondly, as it is effectually perſwaded by the Spirit of the Father. And thirdly, as by the power of this perſwaſion it caſts it ſelfe upon the freeneſſe of Gods grace; ſo in the laſt place the ſoule comes to bee furniſhed with all ſpirituall wants, and the ſupply thereof, and this containes the finall cauſe, and that diſcovers the good and benefit which comes from faith.
Firſt, to open it in generall, and then to come to ſome particulars: In the generall obſerve thus much; a poore ſinner having fallen from God, and departed from him, he goes away from God and all goodneſſe at that one ſtroake, he that goes away from God, the God of all ſtrength, muſt needs be weake; and he that goes from the God of wiſdome, folly muſt needs poſſeſſe him, becauſe God is the God of all wiſdome, and all wiſdome muſt be from him; and hee that goes from God, goes from life and happineſſe, therefore death and curſedneſſe muſt needs ſeize upon …im: now hee that hath gone from God, hath gone from all theſe, and therefore he is full of nothing, but wants, miſeries, and troubles, and vexa…ions, that are come in upon him, and overwhelme him. Now faith is appointed as that only meanes whereby the ſoule may bee ſuccoured, and the heart furniſhed anew: and it is faith that doth all theſe, and this is the excellencie of faith, and the good of it, and the benefit that belongeth to faith in a peculiar manner, above all other graces in the world: now that yee may ſee how faith ſuits a man with all graces, take notice, that there are three wayes, whereby the heart went away from God; and the ſpirituall wants, which by this meanes befell the ſoule, 3. Sorts of ſpir. wants.are three, all which faith ſupplies to the ſoule anſwerably.
The firſt and great want of the ſoule is this, it is gone away from God, and the Lord is a ſtranger to it: it was made for God, and to have communication with God; but now it is gone from God, and God from it: there are now many controverſies betweene the Lord and the ſoule: this is the great want, and this brings in all the reſt: now faith ſupplies ſuccour and anſwers to theſe neceſſities: faith bringeth the ſoule againe to God, and the ſoule to have a nearer union, and more inward fellowſhip with God, than ever it had: thus the ſoule being an enemy to God, and God an enemy to it: and God being a ſtranger to the ſoule, and the ſoule being a ſtranger to the Lord: now faith doth this; it pitcheth the ſoule, and makes the ſoule of a poore ſinner to fall upon the very Deity, and eſſence of God; firſtly, and upon all the three whole perſons, as ſome Divines (that are now with the Lord, leaving a remembrance behinde them) have interpreted it; which phraſe the Septuagints never uſed, as they are obſerved: for it is one thing to beleeve, that there is a God, and another thing to beleeve into God: faith faſte… upon the Godhead, firſtly, as 2 Corin. 6.11. where the Apoſtle ſaith, Hee that joyneth himſelfe to an harlot, is one body, but hee that joyneth himſelfe to the Lord is one ſpirit: the Spirit of God ſets a frame of ſoule upon the poore ſinner, that it flings it ſelfe upon God: that which firſtly muſt be the object of faith, that faith muſt firſtly reſt upon, as that which is able to give that ſuccour which it wants; now becauſe God only is infinite, he alone is able to ſuccour a man according to his wants: therefore faith muſt firſt goe to him: we need pardon, and therefore faith goes to God, who only is able to pardon; and we need power, and faith goes to God, who is able to ſuccour us; thus it is an infinite God only, that muſt create this power in us, and therefore nothing but God muſt firſtly be beleeved in; we beleeve in the promiſe, becauſe God is there, and becauſe …n the promiſe only wee finde a fulneſſe of ſufficiencie, to ſupply what ever wee want or need: therefore why ſhould faith goe to any thing elſe? now nothing can ſave a man, but God infinit, and therefore faith goes to none but him, and makes an end of all controverſies betweene God and the …oule, it takes away all diviſions, and brings the ſoule into favour againe, and makes it acceptable …o God through the merits of Chriſt, ſo that now …he anger of God is appeaſed; Act. 26.17. when God ſent Paul among the heathen, he gave him this commiſſion, ſaying, Goe preach the Goſpell, and open the eyes of the blinde, that they may turne from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan to God: every man by nature is gone from God, and you goe all ſin-ward and hell-ward, and away you goe from God; now that you may bee for God againe, faith goes to God; Ioh. 1.12. To as many as received him, and beleeved in his name, to them hee gave this privilege, that they ſhould bee the ſonnes of God; God will not only bee a friend to them, but a carefull, loving, and tender Father: thou by nature art a childe of perdition and deſtruction but doſt thou beleeve and repent? now then … the controverſies betweene God and thee are … ded, and of a fiend of hell, thou art made the ſo… of God; and the Lord is a tender hearted Father to that poore ſoule of thine; Ioh. 3. He that bel… veth, ſhall bee ſaved; but hee that beleeveth not, t… wrath of God abides upon him; ſo that an unbeleeving ſoule hath God up in armes againſt him: Oh that God would perſwade your hearts of th… this is a great miſery, when thou lyeſt downe, t… wrath of God hangs over thine head, and thy ey… may cloſe up, and the Lord may ſend thy ſo… downe into the pit: and when thou goeſt fr… home, the wrath of God abides upon thee, th… mayſt never returne home againe: goe what thou wilt, and doe what thou canſt, while th… abideſt in thy ſins, the wrath of God abides … thy ſoule, body, and what appertaines to thee, … thou art an unbeleever; but if thou art a bel… ver, the wrath of God is gone, and thou art p… from death unto life: Ah, what a happy condition is this? that a man may ſay, Lord, I was a child of wrath, I wonder that God cut me not off, and I admire at it, that God ſent mee not downe to hell every night that I went to bed! but now the Lord hath made mee to beleeve, and hath accepted me; I was under the curſe of God, and now God hath delivered me, and now I have beleeved in the promiſe, and now I have a right to the promiſe, and all the mercy and goodneſſe in it; thus the ſoule hath a ſupply of this firſt want, and is brought into favour with God againe.
Want 2 The ſecond want of the ſoule is this; the ſoule being now departed from God, the God of all wiſdome, good, and life; hence it is that the ſoule is deprived of all good, and grace, and life; for whatſoever life and grace it had, it was from God, and therefore the ſoule being departed from God, the Lord ſtrips the ſoule of all that righteouſneſſe and holineſſe it had in Adam; the Lord gave him wiſdome and righteouſneſſe in Adam, and in him to all his poſterity; but now being gone from God, God hath juſtly taken all from him: ſo that now the poore ſinner is dead, and though he lives, becauſe he hath a naturall life in him; yet he lives not ſpiritually, becauſe he hath no ſpirituall life in him, and therefore can doe no ſpirituall good; he can neither doe well, nor live well, that thereby hee might pleaſe God for his comfort.
Now faith ſteps in like a friend at a dead lift, and lends helpe this way; it not onelyonly brings a ſinner to God, but it is as a hand to communicate from God to a ſinner, whatſoever ſpirituall good it needs, and this only faith can doe. Marke it, I beſeech you, a man that is dead in ſinne, and ſhould be brought to ſome ſpirituall good and life, he muſt either live by himſelfe or by another, but by himſelfe hee cannot, becauſe a dead man cannot live by himſelfe: but every man is ſpiritually dead by nature, and of himſelfe hee cannot live, and therefore he muſt goe to another, which is God; he muſt give life, and therefore he muſt beleeve in another, and receive the ſpirituall grace and power from that living gracious God, to walke more cleerly in a good courſe; this i… the intent of all theſe phraſes in Scripture, Gal. 2.20. the text ſaith, I live, but how? it is by faith in Chriſt, Chriſt lives in him, and he in Chriſt: faith is not ſo much the ſoule of a Chriſtian, but faith inables a man to live by Chriſt, whom it apprehends: therefore Saint Paul to the Hebrewes ſaith, Heb. 11.6. Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: it is ſaid of Enoch that he walked with God, and did thereby pleaſe God; but how came he to doe it? by faith hee did it. Now no man can yeeld obedience to Gods commandement, and thereby pleaſe God, except he goe to God by faith, and receive power from God, thereby to pleaſe God: I take this to be a truth, that in proprieties of language and ſpeech, faith (as wee now ſpeake of it) is not any part of the ſpirituall life and ſoule of a Chriſtian, but a ſpirituall inſtrument and engine, whereby the ſoule goes to God to fetch a ſoule, whereby he may live: thus it is punctually, the ſoule in vocation goes to God, and being come, it receives the ſpirit of adoption, brings in the image of ſanctification, which Adam had loſt: and now the ſinner is inabled to live in obedience unto God; ſo that in vocation we goe to God, and in adoption we receive the ſpirit, the image of ſanctification from God, and by ſanctification the ſpirit brings new ſpirituall powers from God to the ſoule: and ſo the ſoule is inabled to love God above all, and his neighbour as himſelfe: now whether Adam had this faith or no, I will not ſtand to diſpute in this popular congregation, but onelyonly ſpeake ſo much as ſhall be ſeaſonable and profitable. Therefore for the thing in hand, this I take to be the excellency of faith, to goe out to God to fetch a ſpirituall new principle of life and grace: faith ſaith, thou art dead, and muſt have life, and thy life is to be had only from God; and therefore goe out, that thou maiſt receive ſpirituall life from God: ſo then, when no other can bring it ſelfe life, faith brings all other graces; now faith doth all theſe, not ſo much becauſe it goes to him that hath all life in him: faith is the field, and the pearle is in it, and the hid treaſure is in Chriſt; and faith goes to God from whom it received all things, from the conſolation thereof; this is the meaning of that place, 2 Cor. 3.18. and to this it is to be referred, But we all with open face beholding as in a glaſſe the glorie of the Lord, are changed into the ſame image from glorie to glorie, even by the ſpirit of the Lord; this diſcovers how faith brings in a new ſoule, and a ſpirituall life into the ſoule: by the glory of the Lord is meant the glorious attributes of the Lord, as his holineſſe, juſtice, righteouſneſſe, patience, &c. by the glaſſe is meant the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as a m… face is ſeene in a glaſſe, ſo all the attributes of the Lord are cleerly ſeene (as in a glaſſe) in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: now how doe wee behold them … him? the heart being made to beleeve by faith, it lookes upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and in hi… ſeeth all theſe graces; and what followes thereby? we are changed, that is, we are transformed from one degree of glorious grace to another; Jeſus Chriſt, God and man, hath all graces in himſelfe; now by faith the ſoule eyes the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and then anſwerably it receives grace for grace; eying his patience, by the ſelf-ſame ſpirit it is made patient; and eying the holineſſe of God, by the ſelf-ſame ſpirit it is made holy; and eying the meekneſſe of Chriſt, by the ſelf-ſame ſpirit it is made ſo: thus the ſoule looking upon the glorious grace of Chriſt, it receives gra… for grace: if thou wouldſt be patient, ſee that by faith in Chriſt, and by that ſpirit of patience i… Chriſt, that it imprint the like grace upon th… ſoule, and it will doe it.
Want 3 In the ſupply of this third want appeares the excellencie of this worke of faith; the heart of … poore ſinner being friends with God, and having received grace from God, it is marvellous fearfull, leſt it ſhould loſe that grace that it hath and not bee able to maintaine that ſtock which God hath put into his hands: this is a great want, and it was in Adam; he had a faire ſtate, and loſt all, and undid himſelfe, and his poſterity too: now the ſoule feares this, but faith ſteps in, and lends ſuccour herein, as thus faith maintaines a continuall influence of Gods grace and power into the ſoule upon all occaſions; ſo that howſoever many wants and weakneſſes may bee in the ſoule, faith goes to heaven, and brings new ſuccour upon all occaſions to releeve it: this is the maine difference betweene the firſt and ſecond covenant: Adam had the ſtock in his owne hands, and the fountaine and roots of it was in himſelfe: yet howſoever it is true, a mans grace is weake, and would come to nothing, and may eaſily bee overcome; and yet the fountaine of grace and goodneſſe that is in Chriſt, will never be drawne dry; and faith goes to that daily, and ſo drawes ſupply and ſuccour: and from hence it is, that faith is called the protectour of all graces; Epheſ. 6.16. there faith is called a ſhield: now the nature of a ſhield is this; It not only covers the body, but all the armour of the body; ſo faith not only covers the ſoule, but all the graces of the ſoule, and ſuccours them all; and it is not only the protectour of all graces, but it is alſo a victorious conquerour in the behalfe of graces; ſo 1 Ioh. 5.4. This is your victorie, even faith: ſo that faith makes a Chriſtian ſoule a conquerour, and keepes him ſafe and ſure: now it is true indeed, that mans corruption is too ſtrong for his owne grace in himſelfe, and his temptations are too ſtrong for all his ſpirituall abilities in himſelfe: yet faith goes for n… power and might from Chriſt, and with this might and power from Chriſt, makes him ſtrong as Epheſ. 6.10. Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might: 2 Tim. 2.1. My ſonne be ſtrong in the grace that is in Ieſus Chriſt; hee doth not ſay, bee ſtrong in the grace that is in thy ſelfe, but in the Lord Chriſt, as for inſtance thou haſt many p… vocations to kindle thy patience and choler, and many occaſions to injurious dealings, and th… haſt an impatient and peeviſh heart of thi…e owne too: now theſe corruptions are too ſtrong for this patience, yet faith ſaith, I will be ſtrong by that might and power of that patience which is in Chriſt, and that ſubdues all impatience, and beares all injuries, and faith brings that patience in Chriſt, and makes the ſoule ſtrong with that patience; hence we are ſaid to be preſerved through faith unto ſalvation; faith keepes the ſoule to God, and God keepes faith, and ſoule, and all: ſo that it is the power of God by the meanes of faith, claſping the ſoule to God: you that are weake Chriſtian conſider this, you complaine that you are ſo proud and peeviſh, that you cannot ſubdue theſe corruptions; now ſet faith on worke, and that will make you ſtrong in Chriſt, and make you able to ſtand againſt all temptations and occaſions; as it is in the naturall frame of a man: the Philoſophers and Phyſitians obſerve theſe two paſſages in it; there is not only a ſoule and a body in a man, but there is an heavenly heat and a naturall ſpirit, either animall or vitall, that lyes and knits the ſoule and the body together, …nd looke how ſtrong this is, ſo ſtrong is the bo…y; but if this band bee once broken, the body …omes to nothing: juſt ſo it is with the ſoule, God himſelfe is the ſoule of this ſoule, I meane Gods free grace in Chriſt, the heavenly heat and …pirituall ſpirit, and the bloud that bindes God …nd the ſoule together, is faith, and whiles this …aith holds, a mans good condition holds even for …ver: I conclude with that of the Apoſtle, … Corin. 1.24. where hee ſaith, by faith you ſtand, it is faith that gives foot-hold to all graces; we have weake patience, but faith gives patience ſtrength and foot-hold; for it goes our to the Lord Jeſus, and receives ſap and life from him, whereby every grace comes to flouriſh in the ſoule; 1 Pet. 1.9. Receive the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſoules: as if he had ſaid, faith will be with you upon all occaſions, in temptations, and diſtempers of heart, and doe you ſervice, …nd goe to Chriſt for ſtrength and power, and uphold you, till it hath brought you into heaven, …nd ſhut the gates upon you, and if you cannot …hift for your ſelves there, then periſh: this faith puts a man into poſſeſſion of everlaſting happineſſe, and never leaves him till then; this faith furniſheth the ſoule with a ſupply in ſpirituall wants.
Now to ſumme up the point, 4. Cauſes of faith.take notice of the …ength and breadth of this bleſſed grace of faith, that you may ſee how it is made up of the cauſes; which are foure:
Firſt, the next principle and the efficient cauſe of faith is the Spirit of God, undeniably, reporting this favour of God unto the ſoule; this is that which workes faith, and the hand from whence it comes.
Secondly, the matter of which faith is minted, is this, it is effectually perſwaded of, and affected with this goodneſſe of the Lord thus reported: this is the firme earth (as I may ſay) on which faith ſtands; and whereby it is able to reſt it ſelfe upon the promiſe.
Thirdly, the nature and forme of faith is this, the repoſing of the ſoule upon the Lord, and his ſpeciall favour ſo reported, for the ground, why any man goes to God, is, becauſe he was effectually perſwaded of, and alſo affected with the goodneſſe of God; as it is with ſome outlawed traitour, he dares not goe to the court, unleſſe he will goe to his ruine, becauſe hee knowes there is nothing expected but cruell execution; but if once he come to ſee his pardon ſealed under the broad ſeale, and that there is ſome hope of mercy, then hee willingly goes to the court: what was the ground of his going home? even this, becauſe hee was effectually perſwaded, that the King had a favour to him: ſo it is with an humbled ſinner, humbled in the fight of his ſinne, and broken, becauſe of his Lords diſpleaſure againſt him: and when the ſoule hath this certification from t…e hand of the Spirit, that the Lord intends good to him, then the ſoule goeth and ſaith, Lord I durſt not have beene here, but that I have heard thou art a mercifull God.
And laſtly, the finall cauſe of faith is this; the ſoule comes to be fitted with all good, according to is neceſſity.
Object. But ſome may ſay, I heare nothing of the beleev…r all this while, it ſeemes he doth nothing; if the Spirit bee the efficient cauſe, and if the Spirit workes it, and makes the ſoule able to worke upon Gods free grace, and if the Spirit be the finall cauſe of all, then the beleever doth nothing, &c.
Anſw. This worke of beleeving is a worke of the Spirit upon the ſoule, rather than any worke wrought by the ſoule, or iſſuing from any principle which the ſoule hath in it ſelfe; as it is with an eccho, when God ſaith, thy ſinnes are pardoned, thy perſon accepted; faith ſounds againe, my ſinnes pardoned? my perſon accepted? good Lord let it be ſo: then this perſwades the heart, and that marvellouſly, to reſt it ſelfe there for all good: but it is done upon the ſoule rather, than by the ſoule; as Phil. 3.12. we are ſaid, To be comprehended of God, and not to comprehend God; ſo we know God, becauſe we are knowne of him: now give mee leave in a word to deſcribe the cauſe of it; what it is in the promiſe, that thus effectually perſwades the heart, that it may beleeve, and herein I will goe no further than the promiſe, and therein ſhew the motives in the promiſe, and how the heart comes to beleeve, and theſe will diſcover the reaſon of the point.
There are three things in a promiſe, 3. Things in a promiſe.whereby the will of man is drawne to beleeve.
Firſt, the all-ſufficiency of the freeneſſe of Gods favour, that is an admirable cauſe to perſwade the heart to come on cheerefully, it is the ſpeciall prerogative of the promiſe to anſwer the ſoule wholly in all the deſires of it; nothing under heaven doth or can doe this, but the promiſe: haply a man deſires wealth, and when hee hath it, this cannot make him honourable; and the ambitious man deſires honours, and when hee hath them, they cannot make him rich; ſo each thing of it ſelfe hath but a particular helpe: but the promiſe hath all-ſufficiency to anſwer all the heart would have: the will of a man naturally deſires good, and ſo conſequently all good; now the promiſe hath all good in it; as in that place, open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it: there is a fulneſſe in the promiſe to anſwer all the pantings and deſires of the ſoule: thou ſaiſt thou art a poore dead ſluggiſh creature; and the promiſe calls upon thee, as the Angel did, and ſaith, come hither, and here is life that will quicken thee; and thou art a weake creature, come hither (ſaith the promiſe) and I have grace to make thee ſtrong; and thou art a damned creature, come hither; then ſaith the promiſe, here is mercy to pardon all ſinnes of all kindes: the conſideration of the rich proviſion in his fathers houſe, carried the prodigall home: ſo there is mercy, grace, pardon, & comfort enough in the promiſe: you poore hungerbitten ſinner, away, away, away for ſhame, to that enough of the promiſe, and there refreſh your ſelves for ever: it is that which Eliſha ſaid to Naaman, 2 King. 5.8. Let him come hither, and he ſhall know, that there is a God in Iſrael; and that there is a healing God, though not a helping King: ſo the promiſe ſaith to every fainting, languiſhing, and leprous ſoule, if thou art a truly humbled heart, and art ſick of thy ſinnes, and even drawing on to deſpaire, and all thy prayers and dayes cannot prevaile, nor doe thee good; but ſtill thy ſinnes, thy ſorrowes, thy corruptions prevaile, and thy condemnation ſleepes not, but is drawing on apace upon thy ſoule: now ſee what the promiſe ſaith, let him come hither, and he ſhall know that there is a God in Iſrael, that is able to cure all, and to looſe him from all his corruptions.
Object. Oh but, ſaith one, I confeſſe there is enough in the promiſe to be had, but what is that to me, if the Lord intend it not to my good?
Anſ. 2 Thou being humbled and broken hearted, God doth ſeriouſly intend it for thy good; and on Gods part there is nothing to hinder thee from it, it is not more cleare, that the promiſe is all ſufficient, then it is certaine the Lord intends it for thee, if thou beeſt humbled, God ſent his Sonne to ſave thee; Eſa. 61.1. Chriſt came to binde up the broken hearted, and to comfort all that mourne: Iohn 12.47. God ſent not his Sonne to condemne the world, &c. Nay, Chriſt being ſent of his Father, freely came to this end: 1 Tim. 1.15. Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners; that is, humbled, and broken, and meeke hearted ſinners; and not ſome of them neither, but all that are broken hearted, and all that are loſt ſinners; but never a proud, ſtout-hearted, and ſturddy ſinner under heaven; hee came not to call the righteous, that is, thoſe that truſt to their owne righteouſneſſe, but ſinners to repentance.
Nay God doth earneſtly deſire thee to come and take this mercy; ho, every one that will, let him come to the waters of life, &c. and behold, I ſtand at the doore and knocke, if any will open, &c. and the Lord intreateth you to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5.20. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me; and be that commeth, I will in no wiſe caſt away, Ioh. 6.37. the originall ſaith, caſt away: no, no, thou poore diſtreſſed ſoule, though thou art never ſo meane in parts or g…fts, or never ſo much diſtreſſed in the world, though thou weare a leatherne pelt, and though haply great men may deſpiſe thy ſociety, yet the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will not caſt thee away; thou mayſt caſt away thine owne comfort if thou wilt, through thy pride and peeviſhneſſe; but the Lord Chriſt will not caſt thee away, if thou come to him, he will never doe it.
Object. 4 Let me adde a fourth motive; I confeſſe, ſaith the ſoule, there is no want of willingneſſe on Gods part, but I have a heart which cannot beleeve, what is that to me to ſee proviſion of mercy, and have no heart, to receive it? Oh this unwilling and diſtruſtfull heart, it cannot beleeve!
Anſw. If I finde a cure in the promiſe for this, then I hope you will yeeld; therefore know that the Lord hath provided in the promiſe a meanes whereby thou mayſt bee made to beleeve, and thou ſhalt be able to beleeve; firſt that ſufficiencie which is in the promiſe, and which God intends for thee.
Now the Lord ſtrikes up the match, 2. Things.and that the Lord doth this, it ſhall appeare if you conſider the manner of Gods worke in two things.
Firſt, God the Father in the promiſe gives an humble broken hearted ſinner into the hands of …eſus Chriſt that hee may make him able to be…eeve.
Secondly, he gives Jeſus Chriſt into the hands of a poore ſinner, that hee may take him, and receive mercy from him. Now though thou canſt not beleeve, yet if Jeſus Chriſt take that heart of thine in hand, he can and will make thee beleeve. This was the end of his office and comming; Iohn 6.44. No man commeth unto me except the Father draw him, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day: I will make him beleeve, and in the grave I will love his poore body, and not loſe ſo much as his …ſhes, but will preſerve them there, and raiſe him up from thence, and at laſt I will bring both body and ſoule to honour, and make both happy in Heaven for ever: for Chriſt his ſake thinke on this earneſtly, that every broken hearted ſinner is given to Chriſt, as if God the Father had ſaid, Oh my Sonne, looke well to ſuch a man, he lives in a baſe world, and hath many corruptions in his heart, but looke thou to him: Iohn 10.16. Other ſhe…pe I have which are not of this fold, and theſe I muſt bring home ſaith Chriſt: there are many of Gods people called and converted, but there are many yet which are in the gall of bitterneſſe; and I know ſuch a drunkard, and though hee bee a woolfe now, yet he is one of my ſheepe, and him I muſt bring home: It doth my heart good to thinke that there is many an enemy of Jeſus Chriſt, and many that hates grace and goodneſſe, many a wretched drunkard, many a covetous and uncleane wretch that ſhall bee brought home: One goes up and downe this way, and another that way, as a company of poore ſheepe that wander up and downe, one falls into this ditch, another into that, and another in ſuch a grove: ſo there is many a poore ſheepe that goes away from God and all goodneſſe; the Lord give us hearts to pitty them: howſoever God hath opened your eyes, and brought your hearts, and my heart home to himſelfe; yet there are many other ſheepe that as yet goe from God. Oh, what a bleſſed mercy is this? If Chriſt hath once undertaken for you, hee will ſeeke you out whereſoever you are. The Lord ſeekes you out many times in the congregation, you might come home then if you would: well the Lord will make the fire of hell to flaſh upon the conſcience of a man, and drag him home, but it is no matter which way the Lord brings him home, ſo he come to heaven at laſt. Iohn 17. Thou gaveſt them to me, and I have given them eternall life. There is no more difference than this, the Father gives the ſheep to Chriſt, and ſaith looke to him; and Chriſt ſaith, you are given to me; take you everlaſting life betweene you, and take eternall glory; I give it to you as freely as ever God the Father gave your ſoules to me. Secondly, God the Father gives Jeſus Chriſt to the poore ſoule, and ſaith, I give thee him freely with his bloud and all his merits, his grace and goodneſſe: Oh (ſaith the poore ſinner) bleſſed be God, that Jeſus Chriſt hath undertaken for me, and that God the Father hath given mee Chriſt; but alas, I cannot pay the price, I am notable to purchaſe the pearle: as in a marriage, when the parties are both agreed, if there bee a quarrell about the feffment, all breakes off: ſo it is in this caſe, the ſoule is now inabled to reſt upon Chriſt, but what will the Lord require? for I am baſe and poore; well, ſaith God the Father, I will not ſell my Sonne, but I give him to thee, and thou muſt not thinke to purchaſe him; Ioh. 19.26, 27. when Chriſt would commend Marie to the care of Iohn, hee ſaith, Woman behold thy ſonne; and to Iohn he ſaith, Behold thy mother: ſo God the Father ſaith to Jeſus Chriſt, My bleſſed Sonne, behold that poore, broken, humbled, ſighing ſinner, behold thy ſonne, take him for thy owne; and thou poore ſinner, behold thy Saviour, take him to thy ſelfe: and the ſoule receives that gift at the hand of God the Father; Ioh. 10. So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Sonne, &c. that is, God ſo ſet his heart upon thoſe whom he would ſave, that hee gave Jeſus Chriſt to bee received from him, and to doe all good for them, according to all their neceſſities: thus I hope the heart hath no ſtarting holes, the promiſe is ſufficient, ſaith the ſoule, if I had it, and God ſadly intended it, therefore I may take him, and God hath given Chriſt the care of me, to make me to beleeve: now the will is fully perſwaded, and ſaith to hope and deſire, and all the other affections, here is good enough: and come hope, expect it for ever; and come deſire, here is mercy enough that thou haſt deſired: and come love and joy, here is that mercy whereof you have felt the ſweetneſſe: nay, ſaith the will, let us reſt here, and ſettle our ſelves upon the freeneſſe and favour of the mercy of God in Jeſus Chriſt; as our Saviour ſaid to the Diſciples, Ioh. 6.27.28. Will you alſo goe away? oh, ſaith Peter, whither ſhall we goe, thou haſt then words of eternall life: the world cals, and our luſts call, and pleaſures call, and the more they call for our hearts, the more wee cry after thee out Chriſt; whither ſhall we goe, if not to thee? for there is none ſo gracious, none ſo mercifull to ſinners, none ſo ready to doe all good for us: and as there is ſufficient in the promiſe, and as here is ſufficient in thee, and enough for ſinners: ſo upon thy merciemercy we will hang, upon thee our Saviour wee will live and dye; and upon the promiſes will we put our ſelves, to receive all the comfort and good they will affoord, and upon this will we feed for ever. Thus much for the opening of the point.