The New Covenant, Part 1 · Sermon 13

The New Covenant · Part 1 · Sermon 13

p. 161THE THIRTEENTH SERMON.

GENESIS 17. 2.

And Iwill make my Couenant betweene mee and thee. And I will multiply thee exceedingly.

THE point which we were in handling,Wayes to know whether we are in the Couenant, or no. was this, How a man may know whether he be in the Couenant or no? I told you, there are 3. waies to know it. Let a man consider how Abraham came into the Couenant; Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse. If thou beleeue, then thou art within the Couenant; but it must be a faith that workes by louelove; if it bee a faith which workes not, it is but a dead faith, p. 162and if it doe worke, yet if it worke not by louelove, the Lord regard…th it not▪ it is true, it is faith that layes hold vponupon the Couenant, but it works by louelove; faith is the point of the Compasse, that fastens vponupon the Couenant, but louelove is the other part, that goes about, that doth all the businesse, it is that which keepes the Commandements, it is that which quickens vsus to eueryevery good worke.

2The second way to know whether wee be in the Couenant, or no, is, to consider whether we hauehave taken the promised seede; for in him shall all the nations of the world be blessed. How shall wee know that? If we hauehave the Spirit of the Sonne, that is knowne by the Spirit it selfe, the Spirit beares witnesse; the witnesse of the Spirit, as I told you, it is knowne by that which goes before it, by that which accompanies it, and that which followes after. This is the point, that we were in handling, and wee were broken off in the middest of it; wee will recall it a little, and deliuer it somewhat more distinctly to you, than wee could doe then for haste.

First, I say, whosoeuer hath the Spirit of the Sonne, he must hauehave, before it,Rom. 8. 15.Rom 8:15 the spirit of bondage: Rom. 8. 15. You hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare, but you hauehave receiued the spirit of Adoption. As if hee should say, there are none, but first they receiue the spirit of bondage: for there is no man can come to Christ, except the Law be his Schoolemaster, p. 163and the Law is not effectuall without the spirit of bondage, neither the Law, in the threatnings, nor the iudgements, which are the executioners of those threatnings: you may heare the Law opened vntounto you a hundred and a hundred times; that is, the particular sinnes, of which a man is guilty, described; yea, the particular iudgements; yea, the LORD may follow you with afflictions and crosses, yet except there be a spirit of bondage to worke together with these, it will neuer molifie an obdurate heart.

And therefore, my belo…ed, you must make this account, if you hauehave neuer been affrighted with the terrour of God, if you hauehave neuer bin put into any feare by this spirit of bondage, be assuted that you hauehave not yet the spirit of Adoption. If men would hauehave looked to the brazen Serpent, without being stung of the fiery Serpents, God would hauehave spared the spirit of bondage; but, beloued, who doth it? who is able to doe it? Wee bee all in a dead sleepe, and, except we be wakned with the terrours of the Almighty, there is no man would seeke after Iesus Christ; wee may preach the Gospell long enough, and men, for the most part, turne the deafe eare to vsus, till the LORD open their eares by afflictions, and especially by the spirit of bondage: it cannot bee, but there must be some precedent worke, wee will not come home to the Lord without it. Wee doe all as the Woman that had the bloody issue, as long p. 164as she had mony in her purse, or that there were Physicians to goe to, that shee had ability to hauehave them, shee would not come to Christ, but when she had spent all, when she saw there was no more hope, then shee comes to Christ, and was healed of her bloody issue: so doe we, so long as we can liue in sinne, wee consider not the greatnesse, nor the dearenesse of the disease; but if we can but subsist with them, wee goe on, we come not to Christ, but when wee are spoiled of all by the spirit of bondage, when wee are put in feare of death, that is it that brings vsus home to Iesus Christ, and therefore we must make an account of it as a generall rule, there must be such a spirit of bondage to bring vsus home: we doe in this case as Ioab did with Absolon, when hee liued in the Cour…, in ease and pleasure, hee would not come to Absolon, hee might send againe, and againe, but hee would not come at him, till his Corne was set on fire, and that brought him: beloued, except there be some such crosse as may make an impression vponupon vsus, such a crosse as hath the spirit of bondage ioyned with it, to cause it to wound our spirits, (as it is said, they were pricked in their hearts when they heard Peter) I say, wee would not come home vntounto the LORD, wee must hauehave such an avenger of blood, to pursue vsus, before wee seeke to the Citie of refuge. And therefore consider, whether thou hast tasted of this spirit; and therefore you may obserue this by the p. 165way, that when God doth write bitter things against a man, it is not a iust cause of deiection: for this is a signe that God is beginning a good worke in thee, seeke not to put it off, and to thinke, it is a miserable thing to bee vnderunder such a bondage as this: no, but make this vse of it, let it bring thee home to Iesus Christ. And heere, by the way, that men may not bee deceiued in this, and say,Obiect. Alas, I hauehave not had this spirit of bondage, and feare, and therefore I feare I am not right.

My beloued,Ans. you must know for what end the Lord sends it: hee sends it for these two ends, and by that you shall know whether you hauehave it or no: for if thou hast the end once, if the effect be wrought, no doubt but thou hast had the cause that produceth that effect.

One end is to bring vsus home to Christ; if thou finde thou hast tooke Iesus Christ, it is certaine, there hath beene a worke of the spirit of bondage vponupon thy heart, if thou finde thou art willing to take him vponupon any conditions, thou art willing to deny thy selfe, thou art willing to serue him, to louelove him, and to obey him.

And a second end is, GOD sends this Spirit of bondage, that thou mightest know the bitternesse of sinne, and learne to abstaine from it▪ that thou mayest learne to tremble at his Word, for the time to come, I looke to him that is of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my Word: that euen so p. 166as parents doe with their children, they would neuer afflict and correct their children for that which is past, but their end is for the time to come, that they may not commit the same fault againe; otherwise the parent would not lay any affliction vponupon the childe; and, beloued, know that the Lord hath this very end in sending the spirit of bondage, thou must not thinke it is for thy sinnes past, that there may be a kinde of satisfaction made for them, that is not the end, but the end is, that thou mightst know the bitternesse of sinne for the time to come, that thou being scorched once with it, thou mightst not easily meddle with it againe; and therefore if thou findest this to be thy case, thou hast so farre tasted of the terrours of the Almighty, that thou darest not aduenture vponupon sinne, thou standest in awe of the LORD, that thou darest not bee so bold with sinne as thou hast beene, that thou darest not meddle with the occasions of it, that thou darest not come neere it; I say, if thou finde such a tendernesse of conscience in thy selfe, if thou finde that that sinne is made terrible to thee, that thou diddest despise before, (for it is the property of a carnall man to despise his waies) I say, if this be wrought in thee, defer not, make not dainty of applying the promises, because thou hast not receiued the spirit of bondage: for thou hast, thou hast the effect, therefore thou needest not doubt, but that thou hast the thing. This is it that goes before: that which goes together p. 167with it, I shewed you; then is the witnesse of the blood, and of the water, and of our owne spirit; there bee three that beare witnesse in Earth, 1 Io…. 4. the spirit, and the water, and the blood; by spirit there, is meant our owne spirit enlightned; by blood is meant Iustification; by water is meant sanctification; so that that goes together with the witnesse of the spirit.

The first is the witnesse of the blood; that is, when a man is humbled, when a man is broken with the spirit of bondage, then hee beginnes to make out for a pardon: when he sees hee is arrested, as it were, when he is shut vp, as that phrase is vsed,Gal. 3.Gal 3 Gal. 3. and sees what a debt is required of him, and he is not able to pay the least farthing, now he beginnes to looke out for a surety, now he beginnes to hunger and thirst exceedingly after Christ, now he is not content onelyonly to watch with him, to serue him, and to obey him, but hee is willing to part with his life, and all that he hath, vponupon that condition. Now when a man is in this case, then the Lord beginnes to shew him the blood of his Sonne, he begins to open a little crevis of light, and to shew him the New Testament in his blood that is, the New Testament confirmed in his blood, shed for many, for the remission of sinnes. I say, he begins then to looke vponupon the promises, to consider such promises as these, Come to mee, all yee that are weary, &c. and, If any man sinne, we hauehave an Aduocate; and, Let whosoeuer will, come, and take of the waters of life freely; and, Goe p. 168and preach to eueryevery creature vnderunder heauen, and t…ll them, if they will beleeue, and take my So…ne, they shall be saued. I say, these are all promises made in the blood of Iesus Christ. now he begins to consider these promises, and he begins first to thinke, What? are these promises true? Yes, surely they are most true, they are confirmed wit… an oath, they are confirmed with the blood, with the death of the Testator: a mans Couenant, after it is once made, and the Testator is dead, Gal. 3. no man addes to it, or takes from it. Now when a man considers this, Are these the promises of the LORD? hath hee confirmed them with an Oath? are they confirmed with the blood of the Testator? Certainely, they are most true, I cannot doubt of them: but then he begins to consider, As they are true, how fit are they for mee? what is the goodnes of them? They are also exceeding good, there is nothing in the world so excellent, so precious, so sweet, and so comfortable, as these promises bee: I say, when he hath done these two, when the vnderstanding sayes they are true, and beleeues them, and when the will saith they are good, and embraceth them, at that very instant, saluation is come to thy house, and to thy hea…t; I say, Christ Iesus is come to thee, at that very instant, hee hath made a Couenant with thee, though perhaps thou see him not at that time, (as Mary could not see him, but …ooke him for the Gardner) but, I say, at that time thou art t…anslated p. 169from the Couenant of Workes, to the Couenant of Grace.

But you will say,Quest. How comes this blood to be a witnesse?

Beloued,Ans. it is a witnesse in this manner; when a mans spi…it shall consider the promises, and ponder them well, and shall say this with himselfe, Well, I hauehave applyed these promises, b…t vponupon what warrant? vponupon what ground hauehave I done it? eueryevery body will be ready to apply the promises of mercy and forgiuenesse, but what warrant hauehave I to apply them? To know that, vponupon good ground, I lay hold of these promises? then a man considers with himselfe the promises, they are sure, they are cleerely and distinctly set downe in the Word; hee considers to whom these promises are offered, to those that are vnrig… t… ous; the LORD iustifieth the vnrighteous, euen to Publicans and Harlots, to sinners; such they were that came to CHRIST, to such the promises were offered. Well, I know I am an vnrighteous man, and th…r…fore the want of sor…ow and con…rition, and the want of holinesse, and the want of tendernesse of heart in the beginning shall not exclude me: for they are promises that are made to the vnrighteous, to the vncleane and polluted, to the hard-hearted, such they are at the first to whom the promises are made; but what doth the Lord require of those? That they thi…st: all that thirst, come, I finde an ext…me thirst, p. 170I would dye that I might hauehave Christ, and his righteousnesse: Is this all? No, it is required further, that when thou art come in, thou take this resolution, now I will serue him, now I will louelove him, now I will obey him, I will bee content to take Iesus Christ, for better for worse, I will be content to deny my selfe, to take vp my Crosse, to follow him, in all his wayes. When a mans spirit hath pondred this well, when he hath looked on the blood of IESVS CHRIST, and the promises, and sees himselfe qualified, vponupon this, he sayes, surely these promises belong to mee; this is the witnesse of the blood: then followes the witnesse of the water; for the blood hath a double vertue in it, it hath not onelyonly the vertue to deliuer vsus from the guilt of sinne, to cause the LORD to passe ouer vsus, when he sees the sprinkling of the blood vponupon our hearts, and vponupon our persons, but there is this more, it hath a clensing vertue in it, cleanseth the conscience from dead workes; and so hath faith, it hath not onelyonly a vertue in it, to receiue, and to digest and to take the promises, but it hath an ability to worke; as the hand, you know, hath two offices, it hath an office to receiue, and to take, and likewise it hath ability to worke: Beloued, these are neuer disioyned, the blood neuer washeth from sinne, but likewise it cleanseth the conscience from dead workes; faith neuer receiues the promise, but it workes likewise; indeed for the …eceiuing part, wee receiue all alike precious p. 171faith; but for the working part, there is much difference: you know, a weake hand is able to receiue, as well as a stronger, but a stronger can doe more worke: therefore, as faith growes more, so it workes more. Some man hath a more working faith then others, though, as it is a receiuing faith he hath it alike: therefore thou maist consider this with thy selfe, if I hauehave the testimony of the blood, I hauehave also the testimony of the water, that is a sanctification ioyned with iustification; Christ came not by blood onelyonly, but by water also: if the spirit of a man looke on this now, and can say, I see, I am renewed in the spirit of my minde, I see I am washed from my filthinesse, I see my conscience is in some measure cleansed from dead workes, then he may conclude with himselfe, surely I am in the state of grace, I am in the Couenant. And this, beloued, is the witnesse of our owne spirits, and the witnesse of the water, and of the blood. But when this is done, it may be the LORD continues, yet, at some fits, to write bitter things against thee, he seemes to cast thee off, hee seemes to wound thee sometimes, with the wounds of an enemy. This the LORD many times doth, that he may put vsto it; hee turnes the deafe eare, that hee may try what we will doe: when the spirit of a man hath now these testimonies, and yet hath not rest, though it hauehave them on good ground, (for I meane not the naked spirit of a man, but his spirit enlightned and sanctified p. 172by the Holy Ghost) yet when hee hat… good ground, and saith thus with himselfe, Yet for all this, I will trust in him, I hauehave his sure Word for it, I hauehave his promise, I know that heauen and earth shall passe, rather then any promise of his shall passe: now when the Lord seeth a man beleeuing thus, and trusting him vponupon his bate word, then the Lord goes a step further with him, & seales the same things to him, with the spirit of promise, that is, (as I shewed before out of Eph. 1. 13. In whom after you bel…ued, you were sealed with the spirit of promise) when you put to your seale that God is true, God then comes and puts to his seale, he giues you the spirit of promise, and assures you that it is so; that is, he doth by his owne Spir…t say to a mans soule, that he is his saluation. My beloued, this is a certaine expression of the Holy Ghost to the soule of a man, that we know not how to expresse to you: therefore it is called the hidden Manna…: it is called a white stone, with a new name written in it, that no man knowes but he that hath it, a certaine manifestation of Christ to the soule, a certaine diuine light, a certaine secret token of his louelove, whereby Christ manifests himselfe to the soule of a man, that which the Scriptures call supping with him; I will come and sup with him; Rev. 3. & Iob. 14. 21. I and my Father will come to him, and I will manisest my owne selfe vntounto him; this is the witnesse of the Spirit, that when the witnesse of our owne spirit is somewhat obscure, we may then say, p. 173Lord, thou now speakest plainely, now there is no question. My beloued, this is the witnesse of the Spirit; that thou be not mistaken in it, still remember this, that it is giuen to those that ouercome; if thou be ouercome of eueryevery thing▪ of eueryevery small temptation, if thou bee ouercome with a blast of praise, with a little pelfe, and wealth, dost thou thinke now thou hast got the white stone tha… Christ giues as the witnesse of his Spirit? No, my beloued, it is to those that ouercome, and so it is to those that open: if thou bee a stubborne seruant, that Christ may come againe and againe, a…d knocke at the doore, and tell thee of such a sinne, that thou lyest in, and of such a duty that thou neglectest, and yet thou carriest thy selfe like a stubborne seruant, that will not heare him, or if thou doe, thou wilt not goe about thy wo…ke, that he hath appointed thee; dost thou thinke hee will come in, and sup with thee, when thou wilt not open to him? No, my beloued, it is not Christ that sups with thee▪ but it is a delusion of Satan▪ but how shall we know this? These are the things that accompany the Spirit;Six consequents of the Spirit. but now for the Consequents of it, they are … First there followes a spirit of prayer,1. A spirit of prayer▪ that goes together with it, prayer in the perfection of it is not a lip labour; no, it is not a putting vp of petitions, be they neuer so exceellent; it is not a crying to the Lord: for other men may doe so, but it is when a man can come to God with considence, because he knowes him p. 174to bee his Father, because hee hath beene acquainted with him, because hee hath receiued the Spirit of the Sonne, that tels him in plaine termes, he is his Father: when a ma… can come with holy affections to the Lord, this is the spirit of prayer; a wicked man, as we shewed out of Iob 27. when God comes to him, and rends, and teares his soule from him; that is, he parts with his soule vnwillingly, when God puls on the one side, and he on the other, when GOD puls away his soule, saith he, will the LORD heare him, when hee cries to the Almighty? No: for hee doth not pray, it is indeed a cry, a man in extremity may cry hard, as a thiefe at the Barre, he cryes hard, not because he loues the Iudge, or hath any confidence in him, if it were not fot that extremity, hee would not doe it at all, saith he, he prayeth not, he doth not delight in the Almighty, hee goes not to him as to a father, and it appeares hence, that were there not such an extremity, hee would not pray, for hee will not pray at all times.

Secondly,2. LoueLove. it breeds louelove; wheresoeuer the witnesse of the Spirit is, alwayes there followes it louelove, towards God, and Iesus Christ: for it cannot bee otherwise, all louelove comes from knowledge; now when a man hath seene Iesus Christ indeed, that is, when the Lord hath shewed him his owne selfe to him, when hee hath drawne neere to a man in the witnesse of his Spirit, when he hath manifested himselfe, it p. 175cannot be but a man must louelove him. What is the reason that wee shall louelove him perfectly in heauen, but because we shall know him fully? any man that knowes him in part heere, loues him in part; and therefore, if you hauehave euer knowne the LORD, that hee hath thus shewed himselfe, it cannot be but thou shalt louelove him. Besides, louelove comes from kindnesse, and goodnesse of one that hath shewed louelove to vsus; louelove begets louelove, as fire begets fire. Now when this was thy case, when thou wast a man expecting nothing but death, and hell, and the wrath of God, and the Lord hath come, and spoke kindly vntounto thee, as it were, the LORD hath come and spoken to thee, when thou wast to die, and hath said, thou shalt liue, when he hath ouercome thee with kindnesse, as it were, it cannot be now but that thy heart should be affectioned towards him, as Dauid saith Psal 18. Lord I louelove thee dearely; for, when I was in distresse thou didst heare mee; so when a man hath felt the terrours of the Almighty, when hee hath lyen vnderunder the spirit of bondage, for a time, when he expected nothing but death, and condemnation, and the Lord hath shewed mercy and louing kindnesse vntounto him, louelove will follow.

Thirdly,3. Cl…nsing a mans selfe. thou shalt finde this follow vponupon it, likewise; if thou hauehave the spirit of Adoption, it will set thee a worke, to clense thy selfe, as, 2. Cor. 7. 1. see a notable place for this purpose; saith hee, if you hauehave such promises, that p. 176is, the promises of grace, and of forgiuenesse, and of the pardon of sinne, if you hauehave applyed them indeed by the spirit of Adoption, then you will clense your selues from all pollution of fl…sh and spirit. So, beloued, by this thou maist know whether thou hast the spirit of adoption, whether thou hast applyed the Couenant of Grace, and the promises of it, indeed, and in good earn…st; this will certainely follow, thou wilt clense thy selfe: but if thou finde now, that thou wallowest in thy lusts, in thy filthinesse, that thou art not yet washed from thy sinnes, and from thy swinish nature, be assured thou hast not yet applyed the promises, thou hast not yet the spirit of Adoption, be assured, if thou hast any hope, it is not a true and liuely hope, it is but a false and dead hope: for, if it were a true and a liuely hope, 1 Ioh. 3. it would set thee aworke to purge thy selfe, and therefore Heb. 10. 22. you see the difference there, betweene the assurance of faith, and of presumption, Draw neere in assurance of faith: What then? hauing your hearts sprinkled from an euill conscience, and your bodies washed in pure water. If it be assurance of faith, it hath alwaies this following with it, the heart is sprinkled from an euill conscience; but if it bee a presumptuous, a false assurance, vponupon false grounds, there followes no such clensing, no such watchfulnesse. Beloued, this is a sure rule that will not deceiue you you, those that hauehave but false flashes of comfort, they grow secure after them, these p. 177breed carelesnesse, they are more bold to commit sinne, they walke loosely, and are apt and …eady to say, I doubt not but it shall bee well enough with mee; but those that hauehave assurance indeed, it makes them much more diligent, and sollicitous, and carefull to please the L…d in all things; for it is as a feast to them, when Christ leads them into his Sellar, as it were, and makes a mans heart glad with Flaggons of Wine, that is, with the consolations of the Spirit; I say, it quickens him, and makes him zealous, and ready to eueryevery good worke, when he hath once tasted of this Wine, his case is like Elihuds, he cannot hold in, but hee must breake forth into good workes, into holinesse of life. A man walkes in the strength of such a testimony of the Spirit for many dayes, for so many yeeres, so farre it is from making a man remisse in the wayes of God.

Fourthly,4. Peace. that which accompanies it, is peace, and Ioy, Rom. 15. 13. the Apostle prayes that they may be filled with peace and i…y, through belee…i…g; as if he should say, if you beleeue once indeed, ioy will follow; and therefore you know it is called the ioy of the Holy Ghost, that is, when once a man receiues this witnesse of the Spirit, there followes a wondrous quiet, and peaceablenesse, and calmenesse in the heart. Beloued, it is with eueryevery sonne of Adam, as it was with Adam; when he had lost the Image of GOD, there followed troub…e and horrour in his conscience, till that Image was p. 178recouered, his heart was neuer fully at peace, but as soone as that was recouered, the heart recouers the former ioy that Adam had, that former quiet, and peace, and comfort, that Adam had in that innocency, hee hath it in a measure: So, when the LORD returnes againe to a mans spirit; that it is his returning, and no delusion, I say, there ariseth a certaine peace in the soule, and a ioy that no worldly man euer tasted of▪ that they neuer vnderstood, nor knew the meaning of; a certaine peace, and ioy that goes beyond all worldly ioy whatsoeuer, that which Da…id called the s…ining of Gods countenance, Psal. 4. and, beloued, one good looke of God, is worth more then all the wealth in the world, yea, then the very corporall presence of I…SVS CHRIST; and therefore CHRIST tels his Disciples▪ that they should be great gainers by losing of him: for, saith hee, you shall get this by it, I will send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and hee shall fill you with peace, and ioy, and this shall bee much better for you, then if I should bee with you still; it is better, beloued, that Christ should dwell in our hearts then in our houses; it is better the LORD should be with vsus, with his spirituall comforts, then with his corporall presence; and this comfort, I say, eueryevery man receiues, as soone as hee receiues the Spirit, hee receiues peace that pass…th all vnderstanding. But now in the fift place, when a … hath receiued this ioy, and this peace, whe… h… i… lift p. 179vp into the third heauen, as it were, What followes vponupon this? Will he be lift vp, and puffed vp with all this? Oh no, it is impossible: and therefore in the fift place, this accompanies it, there followes an exceeding great humility,5. Humility. a man is neuer so humble, as after hee hath receiued the spirit of promise; beloued, it is very exceeding certaine, that no men in the world are so vile in their owne eyes, as those to whom the Holy Ghost hath borne this witnesse: there is a place for it, that puts this out of all doubt, Ezek. 36. 31. when the Lord saith, he will powre out his Spirit on them, and giuegive them a new heart, and a new spirit; then, saith he, then at that time, when you hauehave receiued the spirit of Adoption, and I hauehave made my Co…e…ant with you, then you shall consider your owne deedes that were not good, and you shall acknowledge your selues worthy to be destroyed for your iniq…ities and tra…sgressions; the new Translation is, … shall loath y…r sel…es, that is, a man shall bee exceeding vile in his owne eyes. Beloued, presumption alwayes puffes vp a man, it brings him into better conceipt with himselfe; but this puts him quite out of conceipt with himselfe; the neerer the LO…D drawes to any man, the more rottennesse he findes in his bones, as, wee see, when the Lord came neere vntounto Io…, then he abhorred himselfe in dust and ashes: because the Lord comes alwayes with a bright light, as the Sunne doth, that shewes to a man the corr…ptions that be in him, that he neuer saw before, that he wonders p. 180at himselfe, that hee hath liued so long with himselfe, and yet knowes himselfe no better: this is the ca…e of e…ery man, when the LORD comes home to him, it humbl…th him exceedingly; and therefore consider whether thou bee thus vile in thine owne eyes, whether the spirit of humility hauehave gone together with it.

And last of all,6. Not to receiue the spirit …f bondag… againe. to end this point, this will follow vponupon it, though it bee a negatiue, those that hauehave the spirit of Adoption, they neuer receiue the spirit of bondage againe, Rom. 8. 16. You hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare: as if he sh…uld say, this is the condition of all the Saints, you hauehave tas…d of it, that is the common condition, and tha… you must looke for; and saith hee, this testimony you hauehave, (for it is the Apostles scope to giuegive them a testimony of their good estate, that they were within the Co…nant, that they were vnderunder grace, saith he) by this you shall know it, you hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage ag…ine, as if he should say, should you euer receiue the spirit of bondage againe▪ you were not vnderunder grace: for it is impossible. So likewise, you see an excellent place for this, Gal. 3. 25. Wherefore the Law is a Schoolemaster to bring vsus to Christ, that wee might bee made righteous by faith: But after faith co…es, we are no longer vnderunder a Schoolemaster. There is no man comes to Christ, but the spirit of bondage is first a Schoolemaster to bring him, that is, the Law must set him hard taskes, that hee is not able to perfor…e, and p. 181then he sues to Christ, as a weake Scholler doth to a Schoolemaster, and desires him to performe it for him, this brings him to Christ; but, saith hee, when you are once come to Christ, when faith comes, wee are no more vnderunder a Schoolemaster, a man neuer comes vnderunder the Law againe. But you will obiect, Was it not Iobs case? did not the Lord write bitter things against him, and he was a iust man, and one that feared God? Was it not Dauids case? was not his bones broken, as hee complaines, after the committing of the sinne of adultery? Doe not many finde by experience, that GOD hath wounded them sometimes with the wounds of an enemie, and hath seemed to cast them off, euen after they hauehave receiued the spirit of Adoption? Beloued, to this I answer, it is very true, there are some awakings that a man may hauehave, a man may be put into a great feare after he hath receiued the spirit of Adoption, he may tremble exceedingly at the wrath of God; I say, all this he may doe, yet hee neuer receiues the spirit of bondage againe, that is, hee neuer comes to this, to be to God, as a seruant is to a hard Master, but alway this perswasion is in him, that God is his Father, and still hee hath the affection of a sonne, and still he hath that opinion, that God is his Father, that aff…ction neuer weares out of him, he neuer comes againe to looke on God, as the Thiefe lookes on the Iudge, hee neuer comes to be such a stranger to the Lord, so as to flye from him: for the spirit p. 182of bondage is nothing but this, when it makes a man to feare the Lord, and to tremble at him exceedingly, as a man doth at the wrath of a Iudge, that thinkes hee will condemne him; though he may in his extremity say, Lord, why hast thou forsaken mee? yet there goes a secret spirit of Adoption, that neuer leaues him altogether, although there be some mixture with this, to awaken him, and to quicken him, and to cause him to come home to Christ: for that is the end. Still as a man is brought home by the spirit of bondage at the first; so, my beloued, when a man steps out from Christ, and beginnes to grow wanton, when hee will r…nne out from the LORD IESVS, and will not keepe close, the Lord sends the same Spirit againe to bring him in; the Spirit doth its worke againe; but as hee was neuer wholly out, so he neuer hath the full worke of the spirit of bondage. So, you see, this is the 2. meanes to know whether we bee in the Couenant.

Now followes the third meanes of knowing whether we be in the Couenant, and t…t is this, you see this is a part of the Couenant, Heb. 8. You shall know me from the greatest to the least, and I will teach you, you shall no more teach one another his neighbo…r, Third way of knowing wh… ther we be in the Couenant, is by our k…owledge, which hath … properties.and it shall bee such a knowledge, that withall, you shall hauehave my Law written in your hearts: and in another place, I will circumcise your hearts. Beloued, then this is the third way, and the last, by which we may know, that wee are within the Couenant, Is there such a p. 183knowledge of GOD wrought in you? Hath Christ so taught you? Marke it well, that from that knowledge these two things follow; one, that your heart is circumcised, that the lusts of your former ignorance, that raigned in you before, bee dissolued: Secondly, it is such a knowledge, as breedes in you a forwardnesse and willingnesse to serue the Lord in all things? Is the Law of God thus written in your hearts? HaueHave you had experience of this? Then certainely you are within the Couenant. There is a double knowledge, there is a knowledge that men hauehave, that know much, but are not affected according to the things they know, no… doe they practise according to the things they know; this a knowledge that the Minister may teach them, but it is not the knowledge that Iesus Christ teacheth.

But there is a second knowledge, that which Christ teacheth as hee is a Prophet, when hee teacheth a man so to know sinne,1. It circumseth the heart. id est, subdueth Iusts. and eueryevery thing else, that withall, the lust, the dominion of sinne is dissolued by that knowledge; that this knowledge circumciseth the heart, it cuts off those lusts that did cleaue to vsus before. If thou finde this effect of thy knowledge, now Iesus Christ hath taught thee this knowledge. You know, The old man is corrupt, Ephes. 4. 22. through lusts, that come from errour, and the new man is renewed through holinesse, that comes from truth. There are certaine lusts in the old man, that proceede from errour: now those p. 184lusts we see what they are, Iob. 2. all lusts are referred to those three heads, the lusts of the eye, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life. Now if thou wouldest know whether Christ hath taught thee or no, whether thou hast this euidence of being in the Coue…ant with him, consider whether the truth be so farre taught thee, that these lusts are dissolued by it; for Iesus Christ came into the world to dissolue lusts; as the lusts arise from errour, so they are dissolued by truth: Beloued, the roote from which eueryevery lust growes, is some errour, some mistake; well, take away the foundation of it, and the lust dyes. Now, when Christ …eaches the …ight knowledge, when hee reueales his truth to vsus, as a Prophet▪ hee takes away the roote, the bottome and foundation of a lust, and when the foundation is taken away, the worke of the Diuell is dissolued in vsus, it fals to the ground.

As for example, to giuegive you an instance of it, in those three lusts to which all the l…sts in the world are referred: the lust of the eyes,1 Lust of the eyes. that is when a man lookes vponupon wealth, and and riches, and whatsoeuer a man lookes vponupon▪ it is but the sight of the eye, Ecclesiast. 5. What is the reason that men louelove riches? that they seeke them, and heape them vp aboue measure? It is because a man is deceiued, he thinkes there is such a worth in riches, and that they will stand him in such a stead, hee hath a high opinion of them, and thence p. 185comes a man to desire them so much; from hence ariseth this lust of the eye: Now, when Christ teacheth a man that there is no such thing in riches, hee is but deceiued, hee teacheth him to looke on them as Paul did. hee thinkes they are but drosse and dung, but empty wi…hering Flowers, Iam. 1. As the Flowers, so doth the rich man fade in all his waies; …iches are no better; hee teacheth a man that they are nothing; Why wilt thou set thy heart vponupon that which is nothing? Pro. 23. All the men in the world are not able to teach this, till Christ Iesus hath taught it to a man, but when hee hath taught it him, I say, the lust is dissolued, there is an end of it, hee doth no more seeke wealth in that manner as hee did, he sets no more that price vponupon it as hee did, hee thinkes how he may doe good with it, how h…e may make good vse of it, how hee may …edeeme time now from worldly things to better things: for now hee heedes them not, as Paul, What doe you tell mee of money? I heede it not, but to further your reckoning; I reioyce that I may …urther your reckoning against the Day of Iudgement.

And so for pride of life, that is honour,2 Pride of life. and dignity, and esteeme, and place of prefermen…, and applause of men, all things of that nature; What is the reason that this lust rules and captiuates a man? Beloued, it is because hee thinkes that there is an excellency in these things, but when CHRIST hath taught him, p. 186when hee hath written the New Couenant within him, when hee hath written his Law in his heart, when hee hath taught him with his owne teaching, hee beginnes to see a vanity in all these things, as the Apostle saith; the praise of men is empty glory, the applause of men, that pleased him before, he lookes now vponupon it, as a bubble blowne with the breath of men, an empty thing; hee esteemes it a thing that quickly liues and dyes, and vanisheth hee seekes no more after it. And so for the lusts of the flesh; when a man before thought it the only life for a man to satisfie the flesh, and the desires of it, now hee beginnes to looke on it after another manner, he begins to see the filthinesse and the bit…ernesse of those sinnes, he beginnes to see, that fleshly lusts fight against the soule, as enemies, hee lookes vponupon them as things more bit…er then death, more sharpe then a two-edged Sword. Now when GOD hath enlightned a man thus, and hath written his Lawe in his heart, and hath taught him that hee iudgeth so of his sinnes, and lusts, now his sinnes and lusts are dissolued in him, his heart is circumcised. now they are cut off, now the building of Satan is pulled downe; and yet beloued, this is but one part of this Couenant.

There is not onelyonly this, but likewise there followes this, further, when Christ hath written his Law in the heart, that man hath not onelyonly his heart weaned from all the finfull p. 187lusts that before he delighted in, but there followes a wondrous forwardnesse and propensnesse to the Law of God, to keepe it; there is a wondrous desire to grow in grace, to doe the duties of new obedience, that by his good will hee would liue in another Element. But in doing the duties, and vsing the meanes, by which he may receiue strength to doe them; beloued, when that Law is out of the heart, when wee looke vponupon the letter of the Law, there is no such matter; but when it is put into the heart, when it is written within, there is an inward disposition and pro…enesse put into the heart. If you looke vponupon the Law without, Thou shalt louelove the Lord thy God, and shalt feare him, &c. it is a hard Law, who can keepe it? but when thou hast it put into thy heart, that is the grace of louelove, (for that is to put the Law into the heart, when there is such a habit planted in the heart, a habit of feare, and of eueryevery good grace) then there is a great pronenesse and aptnesse in a man, and willingnesse to keepe the Law; and therefore in that place, 1. Tim. 1. 9. The Law is not giuen to the righteous, they are a Law to them selues. Beloued, if thou fi…dest this to bee thy case, that thou needest not the Law to set thee on with terrours, and the threatnings of it, but thou art now a Law to to thy selfe; that is, thou findest in thy selfe such an inward aptenesse and propensnesse to keepe the Law of God, that, if thou were put to thy choise, if there were no p. 188necessity laid vponupon thee, if there were no threatning, no Hell, yet thou delightest in God, and desirest exceedingly to hauehave communion with him, there is nothing seemes to be so beautifull as Grace, as the Image of God renewed in thy soule; I say, this will bee thy disposition, and this is for a man to be a Law to himselfe: for you know this common nature is betweene the Image of the old Adam, and the Image of the new, betweene the flesh and the spirit, betweene those lusts that remaine in thee, when thou art vnderunder the Couenant of Workes, and betweene this Couenant of Grace, and feruency in well doing; I say, common nature is betweene these two,Simile. as a Bowle betweene two byasses: Now the LORD, when he comes to write his Law in the heart, he doth not only knocke off the old by as of sinfull lusts, that carried him out, but he sets a new by as vponupon thy soule, that bowes and bends thee to the waies of God, that still there is a strong inclination that carries thee on that way, besides the Commandement; that thou dost not eueryevery thing as of necessity a man before this time, it may be, prayed, it may be he was constant in prayer, he would not let a morning or an euening goe without it, it may be he would doe eueryevery other duty, but hee did it as a taske, as a man that dares not omit it, there is a naturall conscience in him, that will be vponupon him if hee doe; he feares God will become his enemy, hee shall taste of fearefull Iudgements if hee p. 189neglect it, all this while he doth it out of feare: but one that hath the Law written in his heart, that is a Law to himselfe, that hath a new byas put vponupon his heart; I say, it still bends and inclines him to it, he cannot doe otherwise, hee longs after it exceedingly, he is exceeding forward to it, the inward inclination of his minde stands to i…. This is the third way, whereby you may know whether you be in the Co…enant, or no, if you finde that Christ hath thus taught you, and hath written his Law in your hearts, if you bee thus enlightned with knowledge, that both the lusts of the former ignorance are dissolued, and likewise there comes in the roome of them, a wondrous pronenesse and propensenesse to well donig, when there is a certaine connaturalnesse betweene good duties and thy heart, when thou canst say indeed, as P…ul, I delight in the Law of God, in the inward man, and, if I might hauehave my desire, if GOD would giuegive me my wish, as hee did to Salomon, that which I would desire aboue all things in the world, is, that I may hauehave a greater measure of the Spirit, that my sinfull lusts may bee more and more mortified, that I may excell more in grace and holinesse, that his Image may be more renewed in mee, and that it may shine more bright in all the parts of it: I say, when …hou findest this, be assured thou art in the Co…enant. So much, beloued, for that point.

I will adde a second, which is this, from this 2difference; whereas this is one of the differences p. 190betweene the old Co…enant and the new, the Old Testament was made with the Iewes onelyonly, it was shut vp within the compasse of that Nation; the New Co…enant is enlarged to the Gentiles, there is now an open doore for them to come in, there are now better promises, more knowledge, a larger effusion of the Spirit, both for intention, and for the extent of it, it is to many more; and, beloued, were it not for this Co…enant, all you now that heare this Couenant of Grace preached vntounto you, and hauehave heard it often, you had neuer heard it, but this benefit you hauehave by the New Testament, that now this good newes is come to your eares; Beloued, this God brings home to the Gentiles, and they hauehave their seuerall times, and this is the season that GOD hath brought it home to you, euen when you heare these promises of Grace made. And what vse should you make of it? surely this.

Take heede of refusing the acceptable time,Take the present opportunity. take heed of not comming in when the doore of Grace is open; take heede of doing as the foolish Virgins did, they would come, and came, but they stayed still the doore was shut vponupon them: Beloued, there is a certaine acceptable time, as we say to you, when God offers grace, and after he offers it no more, as wee told you, the time of this life is the time that we can propound, we know no other; but there are certaine secret times, that God reserues to himselfe, that none knowes, but himselfe, and p. 191when that time is past ouer, hee offers it no more. You know, those in the Wildernesse, they liued many yeeres after, and therefore it was not the time of this life to them, after God had sworne in his wrath: therefore, I say, take heede of deferring; it is an exceeding dangerous thing; beloued, delay in all things is dangerous, but procrastination in taking the offer of Grace, is the most dangerous thing in the world: beloued, we know not what we doe when we doe it. I beseech you, consider it seriously, it is that that deceiues all the world, they thinke to doe it to morrow, to morrow, though they be not come in, yet they will doe it, and doe it speedily: take heed you bee not deceiued in this, I will doe it now, and now, Modò, & modò, &c. The Charriot wheeles, when they runne, the second runnes neere the first all the day long, but neuer ouertakes it; as in a Clocke, the second minute followes the first, but it neuer ouertakes it; so it is with vsus, this doing of it, now, and now, and to morrow, and to morrow, these little distances deceiue vsus and delude vsus: we thinke to doe it in a short time, and by reason of the neerenesse and vicinity of the time, that we shall doe it easily, that we can take hold of that time; but it is not so, we are deceiued and deluded with it: as Grasse-hoppers and Butter flies deceiue children, when they thinke to lay their hand vponupon them, they hoppe a little further, and a little further, that in the conclusion, they take them not at all; so p. 192it is with vsus, we coozen our selues in that manner, we lose our life, wee lose our opportunity of taking grace, because wee thinke it to bee so neere, we thinke we can take it the next weeke, or the next monethmonth, and out of this we are confident it is in our power, we may take it. No, my beloued, for the most part wee are deceiued, when we thinke it so neere, it may flye away, so that thou shalt neuer hauehave part in it. you see how God dealt with men in the first Couenant, I meane in the time of the Old Testament, you see, when they would not take the offer, how God sware in his wrath, that they should not enter into his rest; and I am f…lly perswaded, that in this New Testament, in these dayes of Grace, the Lord is much more quicke and peremptory in reiecting men, and casting them off, the time is shorter, he will not wait so long as hee was wont to doe in those times, hee will sooner sweare in his wrath now that you shall not enter in to his rest; that I speake vponupon this ground, saith hee, if the Lord would doe this for the Law of Moses, how much more, if wee neglect so great saluation, as was preached by the Sonne himselfe? as the mercy is much greater now in the new Couenant, then it was then, so the wrath and danger is greater in refusing: therefore when we consider what a hazard it is, my beloued, me thinkes, the doubt, and the brittlenesse of this life, the vnsearchablenes, and certainety of Gods seasons, and times, that hee hath put into his owne power, the liberty of p. 193the Spirit, that breatheth where and when it listeth, the exceeding danger that we precipitate our selues into, when we lose the opportunity once, me thinkes these should moue vsus to come in, and to take heed of refusing the offer at any time; those expressions you shall finde so often in the Scripture, that God stands and knocks; that he waites, and stretcheth forth his hands; that hee will gather vsus, as a henne gathereth her chickens; signifie these two things to vsus: First, how exceeding ready God is to receiue vsus, if we come in, while the acceptable time lasteth.

Againe, withall, how dangerous it is to refuse it: for who knowes how long the LORD will waite? who knows when he will cease waiting, and shut vp the doore of grace to vsus? and then when the day of peace is gone, it is no more to be recouered, when the acceptable time is past. I beseech you therefore, consider and apply it, take heed of refusing, when you heare yet this Couenant of Grace is offered, your doores are now open, you may come in, if you will; take heed of staying till the acceptable time is past, lest the Lord sweare in his wrath (at a time when you thinke not) that thou shalt neuer enter into his rest. So much shall serue for this. Beloued, that which I intended most was this, the reason why this Couenant is made, the reason why God makes a Couenant with man; which was chiefely, that we might hauehave strong consolations, that we might know his good will towards vsus, that he might not onelyonly doe vsus good, but that hee p. 194make it manifest to vsus. Of this likewise wee should hauehave made some vse, which is the laying hold of the Couenant, the promises of free Iustification, the promises of Sanctification, and the promises of such blessings as belong to this present life, those are the three parts of the Couenant: we should hauehave shewed how wee should lay hold of them, that when the Lord hath promised once, when faith hath a promise to cloze with, when it hath such a ground to set footing vponupon, then to apply them, and if the Lord defer to performe them, then to put him to it, for the fulfilling of them; and so wee should doe for the promise of Iustification, the promise of forgiuenesse of sinnes, that you hauehave cause to make vse of this time when you receiue the Sacrament: For what doe you? You come to renew your Couenant with God, that wee hauehave now spoken of: for it is the seale of the Couenant; there is a Couenant that God makes with you, and a Couenant that you make with him: when you consider this, you should strengthen your faith, goe to him, and say, Lord, thou hast promised to forgiue me my sinnes, and to remember them no more; Lord, it is a part of thy Couenant; Lord, it is thy Couenant that thou hast put thy seale to; (for the seale is put to it for that very purpose, that when you see the Bread and Wine, you might thinke of these seales, as signes of the Couenant) you hauehave Gods owne Word, besides, as you hauehave his Word, that the raine shall no more drowne the Earth, God hath set p. 195his Bow in the Cloud, that when he lookes, he may remember the Couenant: so likewise, you shall sprinckle the doore posts with the blood of the Lambe, that when the destroying Angell shall come and see the blood, hee may passe you ouer: beloued, after the same manner, for the same end, God hath appointed the Sacrament, now when you receiue those elements of Bread and Wine, Take, eate, this is my body; and drinke, this is my blood, which was shed for you, and for many: you may goe to God vponupon the same ground, and say to him, Lord, thou hast made a Couenant with me, to forgiue me, to receiue me to thy mercy; Lord, these are the seales of thy Couenant, that if thou forget them, thou hast said, that if we doe but shew thee those signes, (for it is the seale that God himselfe hath put to it) thou wilt remember thy Couenant, & make it good: therefore is is an exceeding great confirming to you, when you looke vponupon them, when you may say to the Lord, Lord, here is thy seale, that thy selfe hath put, I beseech thee, look vponupon it, and remember thy Couenant that thou hast made. And as wee should doe thus for the promises of Iustification, so for the promises of Sanctification: suppose there be a strong lust hang vponupon thee, an hereditary disease, a lust that is naturall to thee, that thou thinkest thou shalt neuer be able to ouercome, yet God hath promised to breake the dominion of eueryevery sinne, that he will crucifie the flesh, with the affections of it, that he will sanctifie thee throughout. Beloued, p. 296you must beleeue those promises of Sanctification, as well as of Iustification: for certainely, where the Scripture hath a mouth to speake, faith hath an eare to heare, and a hand to receiue: therefore when you grapple with a strong lust, goe to the Lord, and say to him, I am not able to keepe this Commandement, I feele this temptation is too strong for me, I find such strong naturall inclinations, that I am not able to out-wrestle; Lord, it is a part of thy Co…enant, thou hast said thou wilt circumcise my heart, thou hast said, thou wilt put thy Law into my inward parts, thou hast said, thou wilt dissolue these lusts, I beseech thee to doe it; Lord, thou art able to doe it, as Christ was able to heale hereditary diseases, so the Spirit is able to heale the hereditary diseases of the soule, those that are most naturall to vsus, those that are bred and borne with vsus, and therefore trust him. And so likewise for any other blessing, go to him whatsoeuer blessing thou needest, it is a part of Gods Co…enant, he saith to Abraham, I will blesse thee, and I will be thy God; that is, let a man looke round about, and see what blessings he needeth, what euill he would be deliuered from, and let him goe to the Lord, and say, Lord, it is a part of thy Couenant, to giuegive me such a blessing, to guide me, to deliuer me from such a crosse and calamity; vrge the Lord, and tell him, it is his Couenant. For example, if a man bee in some great trouble, that hee hath some sore disease, some sore affliction, as imprisonment, or euill p. 197…eport, feare of death, or whatsoeuer; goe to the Lord, and say, Lord, thou hast said that the rod of the wicked shall not rest vponupon the lot of the righteous, thou wilt aff…ict but in measu…e, thou wil… not breake my bones, as a Father, though hee cha…ten his childe, …ee will not breake the bones of his childe; the …od of the wicked to some men, is the breaking of the bones, they know not what to doe, thou hast said thou wilt chastise vsus according to our strength, and thou wilt chastise vsus for our good; when it is too much, thou wilt s…ay thy hand. As for euill report, a man may goe to the LORD, and say, LORD, thou hast said thou wilt blesse the name of the righteous, thou wilt honour them that honour thee. And so for eueryevery other particular case, be it what it will be, lay hold on the promise, and comfort thy selfe with it: it is a great mat…er, beloued, when you consider this, that God is entred into Couenant with you, when you hauehave promises once; therefore, if thou finde a promise from GOD, beloued, build vponupon this ground, be assured that thou art one within the Couenant: secondly, if thou finde a pr…mise in Scripture, neuer let thy hold goe, but the assured of this, that the Lord will surely doe it, though he defer long, yet he will doe it, it cannot bee but hee will performe it, &c. So much shall serue for this time.

FINIS.