Discourses of William Alleine, Discourse 4

Discourses of William Alleine · Discourse 4

p. 185THE FOURTH DISCOURSE. Of working out our Salvation.

PHILIPPIANS, ij. xij. Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling; ver. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good Pleaſure.

THeſe words contain 1. An Exhortation, work out Salvation.

2. A Direction, intimating t…e way and manner in which Salvation is to be wrought out; which is, with fear and trembling.

3. An encouragement in this work, for it is God which worketh, &c. or a reaſon the Apoſtle gives of his Direction; 'tis to be wrought with fear and trembling, becauſe it is God's work. And the Soul of a Believer eyeing and beholding God going on in this work, appearing in his glory, ought to fear and tremble, even at that glory …ifeſted forth therein.

p. 186The Exhortation is to a duty of very great conſequence, there is no work that ſo nearly concerns us, as this the Apoſtle here perſwades us to ſet about; work out, &c. ſo we ſhould give diligent heed to this work.

Sect. 1. Explaining the ſence of the Text.

Take the meaning of the words thus, work; he means not, either that Sinners in their natural ſtate, can by working raiſe themſelves into a ſtate of ſpiritual Life; nor that Believers when they are ſpiritually quickned, can or ſhould ſo perform Duties, as to think they ſhall merit Salvation thereby; nor ſo work as the mercenary Phariſees did, truſting in their own works. Paul was no ſuch Legaliſt, but his meaning is, conſider the condition of your poor Souls, that they are wretched and miſerable, &c. look to the ſaving of them, ſtudy the way of Life; give not reſt to your eyes till you have found it out; ſearch the Goſpel, wherein Salvation is revealed, labour to be acquainted with the Myſteries of Chriſt: work out Salvation; this is meant two ways.

1. Give Diligence to make Salvation ſure to your Souls, deſire that it may be made out to your Spirits in the evidence and demonſtration of the Spirit. Rejoyce in nothing but the aſſurance of Salvation; that as it is wrought out in Chriſt, ſo alſo in your Hearts.

2. Work out, that is, Salvation being begun to be wrought, deſire the perfection and accompliſhment of it. Chriſt having begun to ſave you, look to be ſaved to the utmoſt by him, having received the firſt fruits of the Spirit, groan p. 187for the adoption, viz. the redemption of the body, leaving the firſt principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt; that is, theſe being well laid, go on o perfection. Heb. 6.1. Labour to know more of Chriſt, and to receive more from Chriſt, till we attain to the meaſure of the ſtature of the f…lneſs of Chriſt.

Your own Salvation: Your Hearts deſire and endeavour muſt be that others alſo may be ſaved, but eſpecially look to the ſaving of your own Souls. And indeed you cannot deſire the Salvation of others, unleſs the Spirit of God have firſt ſtirred up your hearts to deſire the Salvation of your Selves.

With fear and trembling: The Apoſtles meaning is not, that you ſhould have doubtful thoughts and perplexing fears about your Salvation, like ſuch as are under a Covenant of works, whoſe condition the Apoſtle ſets forth. Rom. 10.5, 6. Who ſhall aſcend into Heaven, &c. who can tel whether we ſhall go to Heaven or Hell? Fear and trembling is not oppoſed to Faith and full aſſurance, but to highmindedneſs, to glorying in the Fleſh, or to carnal Confidence. Rom. 11.20. Be not high minded but fear.

Again, with fear: that is, ſee God in Chriſt working your Salvation, reconciling you to himſelf by his Spirit, calling in your hearts, and conforming you to himſelf; and ſo fear and tremble at the glory of Wiſdom, Power and Love that ſhines forth from this work.

For it is God which worketh, this is a reaſon why we ſhould fear; take notice of the work of God in Chriſt, and the work of God in the Heart, p. 188cauſing his Spirit to dwell in an unclean Soul, to make it a holy and ſpiritual Temple for himſelf to dwell in; let the diſcovery of God and his glorious approach to your hearts in this great work, work fear and reverence in your Hearts; this alſo is an encouragement to work out Salvation, and look to be …aved and to be aſſured of it, becauſe it is a work that God hath undertaken: whatever difficulties there are in it God hath undertaken he will maſter them; whatever is to be done by Men, as they are to believe, they are to repent; they are to deny themſelves, and to take up their Croſs and to follow Chriſt; all this God will work in them.

To will and to do, ſo work it out by Faith, in the good pleaſure and power of God, for the perfecting of your Salvation; look that when God hath begun, God ſhould finiſh: The words are a full anſwer to the Goaler's queſtion; What ſhall I do to be ſaved? and being thus cleared, offer ſeveral Propoſitions.

Sect. 2. From the firſt ſenſe of thoſe words, work out, i. e. make it evident, get aſſurance.

Doct. 1. The great buſineſs, that requires greateſt diligence is making Salvation ſure.

That which moſt nearly concerns Men to ſet about with all diligence, is the working out their own Salvation, the full aſſurance thereof in their own hearts; your work ſhould be to make Salvation ſure, Heaven ſure, God and his All ſufficiency; Chriſt and his fulneſs ſure: The Apoſtle ſays, he that provideth not for his own is worſe than an Infidel: If it be ſo great a fault to be ſo negligent of making Proviſion for your Family, Children, p. 189&c. then how great a fault muſt it be to neglect your own Salvation, not to make proviſion for the Soul, eſpecially when great Salvation is offered, when the way of Life is diſcovered, when Chriſt is preached, that he is willing and able to ſave them to the utmoſt: This is a work you ſhould ſet about with ſo much zeal, as never to reſt ſatisfied, till the Spirit of God evidence it to your Spirits, that you are the Children of God; till you ſee your ſelves founded on that ſure foundation Jeſus Chriſt; and till by Faith, you can ſee Heaven opened, and Jeſus ſitting at the right hand of God making Interceſſion for you, preparing Manſions for you; ſo that you may ſay where Chriſt is, I ſhall be; what Chriſt is, I ſh…ll ſee. For the clearing of this point, weigh ſeriouſly theſe particulars.

1. Sa…vation may be made ſure.

Here conſider, Firſt. That for ſuch as are ordain'd to Life, or are Heirs of Salvation, and have …elieved in Christ, their Salvation is a thing in it ſelf moſt ſu…e; Salvation is entail'd to them, and this entail ſhall never be cut off: they ſhall never be diſinherited, no Angel, Principality nor Power, &c. ſhall be able to ſeperate from the Love of God in Chriſt, 'tis as ſure as the whole Trinity can make it.

1. On the Father's part ſure. He hath written their Names in the Book of Life. And if God writes them who ſhall blot them out? God the Father doth own them. The Lord knows them that are his, and this the Apoſtle calls a Foundation that ſtands ſure. God's knowing, is chuſing in his eternal Decree, that is, of ordering to Salvation: p. 190That's a ſure Foundation, nothing ſhall make it void, 2 Tim. 2.19. And the Father hath covenanted with Believers to beſtow Salvation and Li…e upon them, and for the making good his Covenant, hath given his Word and Oath, Heb. 6.18. The Salvation of Believers depends on immutable cauſes, ſo is moſt certain: If Believers ſhould periſh God ſhould break his Word and Oath: now 'tis impoſſible for God to lye, ſo that …om this place you may gather, that 'tis now as impoſſible that a true Believer ſhould come ſhort of Glory and eternal Life, as it is that God ſhould Sin. So that we may argue thus, God can't ſin, ſo a Believer can't dye. Were a Man nder a legal condition, under a Covenant o… wo…ks, he might argue thus concerning himſel… I have ſinned, ſo ought to dye, I have broken the …w, ſo the Law curſes and condemns me, and that juſtly: But a Believer in a Goſpel eſtate, under the Covenant of Grace, may argue thus, God can…ot ſin, ſo I ſhall be ſaved, God cannot lye, ſo I ſhall never dye. A Believer ſlips ſometimes and may ſin out of infirmity, but the comfort i…, though he may ſin, yet God cannot ſin. And 'tis not a Believers not-ſinning that is the Found…tion on which Salvation is built: but on the impoſſibility of God's ſinning: this is the ſure Found…ion.

2. O Chriſt's part moſt ſure. He hath undertaken to …ave that is mighty to ſave, that is able to ſave to t…e utm…ſt.

1. He is able to conquer the Enemies of Salvation.

p. 1911. The Law, that's an Enemy to the Salvation of Sinners. Thoſe that are Enemies to it, it ſays Curſe; And it hath dominion over men that are under it. Chriſt was made under the Law who was above the Law, he obeyed the Law, being Lord of the Law. So hath fulfilled the Righteouſneſs of the Law, which it required of men, and undergone the Curſe due to Sinners as Sinners, and conquered the dominion and killing power of the Law, ſo that the Law is not againſt the Promiſes, againſt the Salvation of ſuch for whom Chriſt is made a Curſe, ſo that there's no power in the Law to kill a Believer.

2. Sin. Chriſt was made Sin, it being imputed to him; he dyed under the Sin of the Elect, underwent puniſhment, and being an innocent and infinite and moſt Glorious Perſon, he ſuffered as much puniſhment as Sin deſerved, ſo Believers Sins ſhall never be puniſhed on them. And Christ dying under Sin, he now undertakes to be the deſtroyer of Sin; there may be motions of Sin, but motions of Sin in Believers are but Sin's death-pangs. Chriſt hath given Sin a deadly wound: Our Old Man is Crucified with Chriſt, Rom. 6.6. Chriſt dyed for the Sins of Believers. Chriſt will be the death of Sin in them: This is a ſure Foundation ſo they ſhall not dye.

3. Satan. Chriſt aſcended and led captivity captive. He hath taken the Devil captive that had the Elect in captivity. Satan ſeeks to devour, but ſhall but ſeek to devour the Elect. Chriſt is conqueror of Satan, the Lord ſhall tread Satan under your feet, Rom. 16.20. and Chriſt ſhall make them his foot-ſtool. Thus amidſt the many Enemies p. 192of Salvation, Chriſt ſhall keep Believers to Salvation

2. Christ is able to make meet for Salvation, Col. 1.12. Know ye not, that no unrighteous Perſon, &c. ſhall enter, &c. 1 Cor. 6.11. into the new Jeruſalem, &c. Now Chriſt can Waſh, Sanctify, Juſtify: his obedience is more able to make Righteous, then Adam's diſobedience to make Sinners; his Righteouſneſs is infinite, perfect, immutable, Rom. 5.15, 17. The Juſtification of Believers depends on a ſure Foundation. Adam's Righteouſneſs is a ſlippery Foundation, Chriſt's a ſure Foundation. No unclean thing ſhall enter; but Chriſt of unclean can make clean.

3. Jeſus Chriſt is the ſame yeſterday, to day and for ever: ſo that ſtill Salvation depends on immutable Cauſes, and an immutable God, and an immutable Chriſt. His Righteouſneſs is the ſame, ſufficient to cover all Sin. His Power is the ſame, his Love is the ſame; ground not ſo much your hope of Salvation on your ſelves, on your abſtin…nce from Sin, or activity in Duties; there is a great deal of change, yeſterday haply, lively and quick in Duties, to day dead: let an immutable Christ, Chriſt the ſame yeſterday to day, &c. be in you the hope of Glory, ſo your Peace, Joy and aſſurance ſhall be the ſame.

3. On the Spirit's part ſure. The Spirit dwells in Believers, and whatſoever is required of Believers, the Spirit hath undertaken to do in them, I will put my Spirit in you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, Ezek. 36.27. That Covenant which is confirmed unto you by immutable things, hath this Promiſe in it: He is a Spirit of Faith, Love, p. 193Meekneſs, and of Light to lead into all Truth, to make the heart willing to follow Chriſt as King, to deny ſelf. This Spirit is the earneſt of Heaven and perfect Glory. The Father hath made a bargain, confirmed by his Word and Oath, and by giving earneſt: This bargain he Seals, and the Seal is the Spirit, Eph. 1.13. This is a Seal that is ſufficient to confirm Believers, that Glory ſhall be perfected, becauſe they have the Spirit of Grace. That Spirit that dwells in them ſhall quicken their mortal bodies, Rom. 8.11.

2. As the Salvation of Believers is in it ſelf moſt ſure, ſo it may be made ſure to them.

1. Some have attained it, Job 19. I know that my Redeemer liveth &c. David, Paul, Rom. 8.38. I am perſwaded, &c. He includes himſelf; and this was not a ſingular p…iviledge given to ſome Saints more eminent then others, or an extraordinary gift. But,

2. That which ordinarily God was pleaſed to beſtow on the Saints, Rom. 8.15. Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father. This is true of all Believers, and the Spirit beareth witneſs. The Spirit where he is a Spirit of Adoption is uſually a witneſſing Spirit, ſealing up their hearts, ſealing up and treaſuring Salvation in the heart. The aſſurance of Salvation is a precious Jewel, which ordinarily the Spirit doth treaſure and ſeal up in the hearts of Believers: giving the firſt Fruits of Heaven to their hearts. And as Moſes on Nebo had a view of the Land of Canaan, ſo 'tis not unuſual for the Spirit to carry up the hearts of Believers above the World into the third Heavens, and give a ſight and taſte of that moſt Excellent Glory.

p. 1943. A way is ſhewn in the Goſpel in which it may be attained, Rom. 10.9. Say not who ſhall aſcend into Heaven, &c. Do you doubt of Salvation? Are you in fears about it? Conſider, Chriſt hath been in the deep, Chriſt is in Heaven; Confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and believe with thine heart, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. As Christ coming into the Ship when toſſed and almoſt full of water, there was a great calm, an end put to the Diſciples fea…s. So Chriſt coming into the heart, rebuking fears, revealing himſelf as dying, riſing and ſitting at the Right hand of God, there ſhall then be a great calm in the heart, Chriſt the Peace, Joy, hope of Glory in the heart.

3. Salvation ought to be made ſure, it is the Duty of all that look towards Heaven, to make their Salvation ſure, this is that which ſhould be in your aims and deſires, Rejoyce that your names are written in Heaven, ſaith Christ, Luke 10.20. This ſhould be the matter of the Saints Joy; this implies that we ought to ſeek after the aſſurance of this, that our names are written in Heaven: Heb. 10.22. Let us draw near with a true heart, that is, ye that look on God as the Life of your heart, God in Christ reconciled, loving, embracing us, the Peace, Joy, Delight, Contentment, and Reſt of the Heart. A true heart, is a heart that ſays concerning God, as the Rich Man concerning Riches, Soul take thine eaſe in God, and with full aſſurance of favour and acceptation with God. And then ſhews how it may be attained, for the Goſpel as it requires things to be done, ſo it ſhews us the way how: The Goſpel requires not impoſſibilities, but makes all its p. 195Precepts poſſible; The Law did not thus, it did not make its Precepts poſſible, but the Goſpel doth, it leads to Chriſt, by whom whatever is required, is or ſhall be accompliſhed as to Believers: Now look to Chriſt, and ſo your hearts ſhall be ſprinkled, fear and guilt ſhall be purged out of the Conſcience, and Peace, Joy and full Aſſurance brought in, 2 Pet. 1.10. Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure. And if Election, then Salvation; there is a Golden Chain mention'd, Rom. 8.29, 30. if you get hold of one link of it then you have hold of all; this reaches from Eternity to Eternity; from Eternity of Election, to Eternity of Glorification; Now our care ſhould be to faſten on this Golden Chain, this Golden Chain is fixed in Heaven, let it alſo be fixed in your hearts, ſo ſhall you have hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven, and ſo Heaven ſhall have faſt hold in you, and you ſhall have faſt hold in Heaven; Heaven ſhall not looſe you, nor you ſhall not looſe Heaven.

4. Nothing beſides Salvation can be made ſure. The Life of your Bodies cannot be made ſure, the Life of your Souls may, 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know that if our earthly Houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved we have a Building of God, an Houſe n…t made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens. Earth cannot be made ſure, Heaven may be made ſure. So lay not up for your ſelves treaſures on Earth, but in Heaven. The favour of Man cannot be made ſure, the favour of God may. Riches on Earth cannot be made ſure, they will fly from you, or you ſhall fly from them. Riches of Glory may be made ſure, worldly proſperity and p. 196happineſs cannot be made ſure. Earthly Men in their beſt eſtate of proſperity ſtand but in ſlippery places. But everlaſting happineſs in Heaven may be made ſure. Honour amongſt Men can't be made ſure, Honour with God may. Creatures can't he made ſure, Chriſt may: Comforts flowing from Creatures cannot be made ſure: Conſolations abounding by Chriſt may be made ſure. So for other things thoſe that have them ſhould be as if they had them not; Thoſe that buy as if they poſſeſſed not, thoſe that have Wives ſhould be as if they had none, thoſe that have Riches as though they had not, and thoſe that labour in the World as if they did not: becauſe nothing of them can be made ſure. So then take heed of ſpending your ſelves for them. Salvation alone, Chriſt, Heaven, the favour of God alone can be made ſure; ſo labour to make that ſure and nothing elſe. Judge the making Salvation ſure the one thing that's neceſſary, becauſe that alone can be made ſure.

5. Salvation and nothing beſides Salvation is worth the making ſure. If you have Riches, worldly proſperity and abundance, if you have health, and Houſes to dwell in, Children, Men Servants, Women Servants, Sheep, Oxen, Shops full of Wares, &c Hearts full of contentment in enjoying of theſe things, what ſhall all this avail you? Riches cannot profit you in the day of wrath; all theſe things can't redeem your Souls yet in bondage ſtill, going to condemnation: What ſhall it profit you to gain the whole World and looſe the Soul, Math. 16.26. Creatures are but broken Ciſterns, theſe are not worth the making ſure, but the Fountain of p. 197living waters is worth the making ſure. The Father who is the Father of Lights, his Love is worth tho making ſure. Chriſt in whom is Righteouſneſs, Merits, Glory, in whom all fulneſs dwells. The Spirit, who ſhall be a Well of Water ſpringing up to everlaſting life, who ſhall be in the heart as flowing Rivers of Grace, Comforts, Joy, Fullneſs of Joy, Pleaſures for evermore: theſe are worth the making ſure.

Sect. 3. For the further clearing of this conſider

1. What Salvation is.

2. And what the Aſſurance of it is.

1. Now Salvation is the reſtoring of an undone Creature from fulneſs of miſery, to fulneſs of Glory.

1. Salvation begun in this life is a Tranſlation of a Sinner from a ſtate of Guilt, Unrighteouſneſs, Condemnation, to a ſtate of Righteouſneſs and Juſtifica…ion, from Polution to Purity, from Prophaneſs to Piety, from Wrath to Grace, from a ſtate of Emptineſs and Poverty into a ſtate of Fulneſs in Chriſt, from the Power of darkneſs into the Kingdom of Chriſt.

2. Salvation perfected is the bringing of a Creature into the preſence of God, making it partaker of the Glory of Chriſt. God ſhining to the Soul in all his Glory, Chriſt in his infinite Excellency: God ſhining on the Soul in perfect likeneſs and ſuitableneſs to him, We ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is, 1 John 3.3. This is that which is worth the making ſure.

II. What aſſurance of Salvation is. Now that is, when that is done in the heart which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of. 2 Cor. 4.6. God that commanded p. 198Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs hath ſhined in our hearts, giving the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt, unto the Soul, then the Soul is at reſt. God appearing in the Glory of his Love, reconciled in Chriſt: in the Glory of his All-ſufficiency, Power and Wiſdom; God appearing as your God to your Souls; the ſeeing of your ſelves to be partakers of the Divine Nature with Chriſt; that as Christ hath the Divine Nature, ſo you partake with him in it; this is aſſurance of Salvation. Now is not this a Pearl worth the ſelling all to purchaſe it?

Sect. 4. Uſe 1. Fxhort. To perſwade you that amidſt the multitude of your Affairs and Imployments in the World, this may not be neglected, but with the greateſt diligence proſecuted, the making your Salvation ſure to your ſelves: As Solomon ſays, above all keeping keep the Heart; ſo above all working work out your own Salvation, make ſure that which may be made ſure, and is indeed worth the making ſure: You are made for ever, if once your Salvation be made ſure; and whatever you are, you are moſt miſerable, if the Salvation of your Souls be not made ſure. Be not like Martha troubled about many things, cumbred with much ſerving, with ſerving your Luſts, ſerving of Men, ſerving of the Body: Take heed of looſing your Lives, in ſeeking to ſave your Lives. Take heed of looſing your Souls in ſeeking the things appertaining to the Body, of coming ſhort of Heaven. in your toiling in Earth: but chuſe with Mary that better part: She ſate at Jeſus his Feet and heard his word, Luke 10.39. Look on this as the one thing p. 199needful, as the beſt part that you can chooſe; to hear the word of Chriſt, to ſearch the Goſpel of Christ, to ſtudy that Salvation that is in Chriſt. And wrought out in their hearts that come to Chriſt: behold that life and immortality that is brought to light in him.

To provoke hereto, conſider,

1. The Father makes it his great work to ſave Souls: a greater work than the Creation of the World, wherein more of his Glory is manifeſted, the greateſt of God's works next to the Incarnation of the Son of God. Now as God makes it his great work; ſo next to the glorifying of that God in Christ, this ſhould be your greateſt work, to get an aſſurance of your Salvation.

2. Jeſus Chriſt died to make Salvation ſure to the Elect, to the Children of Promiſe; 'tis ſo glorious a work that Chriſt valued it above his own Life; he delighted not ſo much in his own Life as in the Salvation of Sinners. The Son of God pleaſed not himſelf, that he might do whatſoever pleaſed him: He denied himſelf, that might do what he pleaſed: He humbled himſelf that was Lord of Glory, that he might ſave poor loſt Souls: He put himſelf into the miſerable condition of Sinners, that they might be tranſlated into his eſtate of Happineſs and Glory; ſo this is a moſt glorious work; for to take Salvation from Chriſt, or make Christ ſure; or the favour of God, Eternal Life in him, ſhould be your great work; and ſuch a work as you ſhould not leave, though you may be reproached and perſecuted in it: we ſhould be contented to looſe Temporals to make ſure of Eternals; to looſe p. 200Life to ſave Life. If you were in a Ship at Sea that was full of Gold, and in danger of drowning, you would caſt out all to ſave your Life; ſo let all things ſtoop to this work of ſaving of your Souls: yet it is not always ſo, you may make Salvation ſure, and keep your Riches, haply enjoy Peace, and not endanger your temporal lives.

3. Salvation aſſured ſhall be an Anchor ſure and ſtedfaſt to your Souls, you ſhall ſee Chriſt holding you faſt, and hereby you ſhall hold faſt Christ. And hereby you ſhall have Hope, and Joy in the greateſt troubles, there's no Tempeſt of afflictions ſhall carry away your hearts from Peace. Your Joy is ſure Joy, your Comforts ſure Comforts, if you have this ſure and ſtedfaſt Anchor; nay there's no ſin ſhall trip up your heels of Joy and Peace in Chriſt with the Father, in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to cover your Sin, in Chriſt's ſatisfaction for Sin; it ſhould work in you Godly ſorrow for doing any thing repugnant to his Glory; but it ſhould not diſturb a Believers Joy in God. And hereby you ſhall be kept ſtedfaſt in the Faith, and in the profeſſion of Godlineſs, and in following the Lord Jeſus; you ſhall be armed againſt all trials and oppoſitions, Eph. 6.13. Take the whole Armour of God, v. 14. Have on the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, make that ſure, and that ſhall be the Armour of proof on your hearts, and nothing ſhall kill the heart of your Peace and Joy, whilſt you keep that as a Breaſt-plate v. 15. Have your Feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace. By Feet are underſtood alſo Legs. It was a cuſtom antiently to wear a kind of Brazen Boots on the p. 201Legs, 1 Sam. 17. Goliah had ſuch greaves of Braſs on his Legs to defend him againſt darts, &c. And they that have ſuch may walk on Thorns and Briars and not be hurt. Now, have your Feet ſhod, that is, walk in Goſpel-ways, have the Goſpel of Peace in your hearts, believe the Goſpel Promiſes, Goſpel Grace, Goſpel Righteouſneſs: have a Goſpel Spirit. So you are well prepared and walk through troubles, dangers and oppoſitions, in the midſt of Satan's fiery darts, and the World's reproaches, and ſtill the life of your Peace and Joy in the Love of God in Christ be preſerved, v. 17. Take the Helmet of Salvation; Salvation being made ſure ſhall be an Helmet on your Heads, whereby you ſhall receive the blows of Tongues, &c. and not be hurt; this ſhall defend you againſt all the Curſes of the Law, 1 John 4.17. Herein is our Love, or Love with us made perfect, that we may have boldneſs in the day of Judgment. When others ſhall fear the Wrath of the Lamb, &c. you ſhall have boldneſs and not be aſhamed in this World, &c. when your Salvation is ſure, the Soul dwells in God, in the Love of God, All-ſufficiency, Power, Wiſdom, &c.

4. The more aſſurance you have of your Salvation, the leſs earthly will your thoughts and hearts be; this will raiſe your Spirits and carry them up to God in Chriſt. So that,

1. You ſhall dwell in Love, you ſhall dwell in God and God in you. He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him, 1 John 4.16. And this is a glorious habitation for a Soul to dwell in the Love of God in Chriſt. The World will be but the habitation for your Bodies. The fulneſs of the Lord Jeſus, p. 202the Love of God, which hath length and breadth, &c. ſhall be the habitation of your Souls: The want of this, the not breathing after the Aſſurance of Salvation, makes men ſo earthly that their Souls are ſtill travelling in the Creature, ſeeking Joy and Contentment in the World.

2. You'll dwell ſafely and ſecure, who can hurt thoſe that dwell in God. God muſt be overcome before they can be deſtroyed: God is a better habitation then the World, ſo whilſt you dwell in the World, above all labour for the aſſurance of the Love of God.

5. The more Aſſurance you have, the greater abounding of Grace there is from Chriſt▪ 2 Pet. 1.11. Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, ſo an entrance ſhall be administred aboundantly to you into his everlasting Kingdom; then ſhall you expect the more and receive the more, you ſhall come with the more boldneſs and receive the more Grace.

6. Now is the day of Salvation, the day wherein great Salvation is offered to you. Behold now is the acceptable time▪ now is the day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. Now in my abſence work out your own Salvation. Now is the day to make Salvation ſure, now Salvation is offered to you and revealed: Chriſt now calls on Sinners and beſeeches them to be reconciled to God. Now God lets down the co…ds of his love in Chriſt, that you may take hold on them and live: Now is the Righteouſneſs of God revealed for Sinners to embrace, that they may be juſtified: Now is the day in which the Spirit is poured forth: Now is the day in which Chriſt is working the works of p. 203God; that is, for calling of Sinners out of the World, and gathering the Elect into his Kingdom; by the preaching of the Goſpel, for the ſaving of Souls, and reconciling them unto God. And this day ſhall have a night: And now is the day and ſeaſon for you to work out your Salvation, to make it ſure: A night ſhall come when none ſhall have the means and opportunity of working out their Salvation, the Night of Death or day of Judgment, which is a Night in this reſpect; then 'tis too late to work out Salvation, if you neglect Salvation now, you ſhall not eſcape wrath in that day. Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation, which at firſt begun to be ſpoken by the Lord? 'tis great Salvation; Salvation from the greateſt miſery, to the enjoyment of the greateſt Glory; to an exceeding eternal weight of Glory: 'tis great Salvation ſpoken to, not hid from you, but ſpoken to you that you might make it ſure▪ And if the Goſpel be hid when ſpoken, conſider what the Apoſtle ſays. 2 Cor. 4 3. If our Goſpel be hid, it is to them that are loſt.

Section 5.

Uſe 2. Direct. 1. To Sinners: Such as are yet ſtrangers from Chriſt, and from the Covenant of Promiſe, that you may make Salvation ſure. To this end.

1. Build on a ſure Foundation; let your hopes of Glory be founded on Chriſt: Chriſt is a ſure Foundation. Iſa. 28 16. A foundation of Juſtification, Sanctification, and Life that will not fail. You may be as ſure of acceptance as Chriſt, an… …o continue in favour with God: as ſure of p. 204Glory as Chriſt; and to remain in a ſtate of Glory; and as ſure of Life as Chriſt; as ſure to live; becauſe I live, ye ſhall lille alſo. Joh. 14.19. Chriſt's Life is a ſure foundation of a Believers Life; Chriſt's Acceptance a ſure foundation of his: Chriſt's Glory a ſure foundation of his Glory: ſo then hearken to the Lord's call. Iſa. 45.22. Look unto me, and be ye ſaved all the ends of the Earth: Sinners, look to me who came to ſave you from your Sins; know that there is death in Sin; there is Damnation to all that are out of me, your Luſts are hurtful Luſts; if you follow them they will work out your ruin, will bring everlaſti…g hurt to your Body and Soul. Fleſhly Luſts war againſt the Soul, they war againſt the Salvation, Life and Peace of your Souls; your Life conſiſts not in the abundance of your Riches, &c. 'Tis no profit to you to gain the World and looſe your Souls in the Creature; Neither is the…e any life in you… D…ti…s: Theſe a…e no ſure foundations to build you… Sal…ation upon; hopes of Salvation built only …n them▪ is like a Houſe built on the Sand. So … Christ to you, look off from all thoſe; Behold me behold Life in my Death, Peace in my Blood, Righteouſneſs in my Obedience: Behold Love in me and B…wels of Compaſſion with which you ſhall be received by me; thus look to Chriſt▪ and you ſhall …e Salvation in him, he that believes on him ſhall not be aſhamèd, for he ſhall be ſure of Salva…on; You are all by nature of the World that lies in wickedneſs, on which condemnation is coming apace. Now prepare an Ark for the ſaving of your Souls; Chriſt is this Ark; as Noah in the Ark was ſafe, and p. 205ſure of being ſafe, let the Waters riſe as high as they would, the Ark ca…ried Noah ſtill above them; and when he was in the Ark God ſhut him in; and then if any would have entred in, none could. Chriſt is the Ark prepared for the ſaving of Souls, the Door of the Ark is not yet ſhut, Chriſt calls you to come in unto him; if you come not before God ſhuts the Door of this Ark, there is no eſcaping of Condemnation. O whilſt it is to day, if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts, &c. the refuſing to hearken will harden your hearts againſt Chriſt; there is no other name given whereby you may be ſaved, neither is there Salvation in any other, Act. 4.12. look whether you will there is no Salvation: you may look to the World, you may look to your Riches, Lands, &c. but there's no Salvation in them; ſo then ſay to your ſelves, that its vain for me to ſay to my Soul, ſit down here; in Chriſt alone is Salvation to be had; then look to him; ſay that it's good to be here, here I will dwell, this ſhall be my reſt for ever. I'll commit my Soul to him, who is able to keep what I ſhall commit to him againſt that day. Chriſt in you the hope of Glory, Chriſt formed in you, Chriſt revealed to you, Chriſt appearing with his Blood in the heart as well as in Heaven, Chriſt ſheding abroad his Love, Chriſt believed on, Chriſt judged worthy of Glory, &c. moſt worthy of Love and Obedience, Chriſt eſteemed as the chiefeſt of Ten Thouſands, as altogether lovely. Chriſt being thus in the Heart, is the hope of Glory in that Heart, and aſſurance of Salvation in that Heart: when the Sun of Righteouſneſs thus p. 206ſhines into your Hearts, then you ſhall ſee Salvation ſure. 'Tis not the performance of Duties, praying with fervency, hearing with delight, and abſtaining from this or that Sin, that is a ſure ground of aſſurance of Salvation: any Duty and Grace if there be a beam of Chriſt that you ſee, derived from Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs, coming from him, and tending to him, may afford ſome light towards aſſurance; but then is full aſſurance, when Christ the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhines in the Soul, God ſhines in the Face of Chriſt, and ſheds abroad his Love in the Heart by Jeſus Chriſt.

2. Conſider the properties of true aſſurance of Salvation, and the concomitants, &c.

1. The more aſſurance of Salvation, there is, the more Purity, true aſſurance is purifying. The more you dwell in the love of God, the more will you labour to be like unto God: and the more will you abhor impurity; and the more will you follow after holineſs. Aſſurance will not make licentious; dwelling in love and walking in your Luſts; hopes of Glory, and conforming to the courſes of the World; a looking for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein Righteouſneſs dwells, and not a putting off the old Converſation; theſe will not conſiſt together: He that hath this Hope purifies himſelf, even as he is pure. 1 Joh. 3.3. Seeing we look for ſuch things, be diligent, that we may be found of him in peace, without ſpot and blameleſs.

2. It makes fruitful in good works, the abounding of the Love of God in the heart will cauſe an abounding in the work of the Lord, it will p. 207conſtrain you to ſerve the Lord, and to live to him.

3. The more Aſſurance, the more heavenly mindedneſs, our converſation is in Heaven whence we look for a Saviour: when Heaven is ſure the mind will be moſt in Heaven. If there is your hope, there will be your hearts. This will make you willing to leave all theſe things, here below, this will make you ſojourners here in the World: By Faith Ab…aham ſojourned …n the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Land; If you look for a City that hath Foundations, then will you be ſtrangers and Pilgrims on the Earth.

4. An earneſt deſire of Chriſt's appearing: Where there is true Aſſurance, a Man ſhall ſay, to be with Chriſt is much better. Let my beloved be like a Roe on the Mountains of Spices, let him make haſte to come, let him come quickly. When there's a taſte of the Love of God, the Soul would have it fully. When God ſhines into the hearts in ſome beams of his Glory, the heart would know him perfectly, and enjoy him fully. That heart that enjoys Aſſurance of everlaſting Love, would have an everlaſting and uninterrupted ſenſe of that Love. That Soul that ſees its ſelf above danger of wrath and loſs of Love, would be above danger of the with-drawings of Love. That Soul that is Aſſured of Eternity of Love, would be in ſuch a condition, as not to be ſubject to any moments diſpleaſure in regard of the hidings of God's face.

3. Take heed you give not the Right Hand of fellowſhip to the Enemies of Aſſurance. As,

1. Do not love darkneſs and hate light: there's no greater Enemy to the Aſſurance of your Salvation p. 208then this. This is th… moſt direct way you can take, to make your reprobation, your damnation ſure: This is the condemnation, this makes condemnation ſure, that light is come into the World, and men love darkneſs rather than light John 2.19. Do not ſhut your Eyes from beholding the things of your Pe…ce: How ſhould you be aſſured of your Salvation, if you now ſhut your eyes from Salvation that is ſpoken to you, &c. or if you refuſe him in whom Salvation is to be found, and no other. Rom. 1.28 Becauſe they liked not to retain God in their Knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind &c.

2. Be not enſlaved to the World, to the Riches and to the Pleaſures of it, this will hinder you from deſiring or ſeeking Salvation to be made ſure. The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil, which while ſome have coveted after, have erred concerning the Faith: to deny the Faith to keep Riche…, this is a great cauſe of Mens erring ſo dangerouſly concerning their Souls; that they do not provide better for them, that they ſtudy not the good of them; becauſe their Hearts are ſo much glued to the World.

3. Let not Sin reign in your Mortal Bodies, that you ſhould obey it in the Luſts thereof; ſo long as Sin …igns, you are in danger of Death; for Sin reigned unto Death, and you cannot ſay you are under Grace; for that Spirit that ſpeaks peace to a Sinner, proclaims war againſt his Sin: that Spirit that ſheds abroad the love of God in the Heart, will luſt againſt the Fleſh: that Spirit that brings Chyiſt into the Heart as the hope of Glory, will write the Law of Chriſt in the p. 209heart: and cauſe a walking in newneſs of Life.

4. Take heed of grieving and quenching the Spirit; the Spirit ſtrives in the preaching of the Goſpel, as with the men of the Old World: Noah was a Preacher of the Righteouſneſs of Faith. Aſſurance is a Grace of the Spirit, a Gift of the Spirit: and if you reſiſt the Spirit, the Spirit will not witneſs with you, that you are the Children of God: but againſt you that you are Enemies to God.

2. Be not Enemies to the dominion of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt's Kingdom of Light. Aſſurance is a Priviledge of his Kingdom, and of thoſe that belong to it. When you can ſee your ſelves tranſlated out of the Kingdom of darkneſs into the Kingdom of Chriſt, then happy are you, then you are paſt all danger of periſhing. Chriſt will …oſe none of his, but …aiſe them up at the laſt day. And know, that if you are o… Chriſt's Kingdom, you do Judge him worthy and are willing to ſerve him. And t…ere is nothing that more directly oppoſes the Aſſurance of your Salvation, than an unwillingneſs to come under the yoke, and oppoſing the Kingdom of Chriſt; a walking contrary to the Goſpel, which you ſhall ſee cl…r from that glorious Promiſe which Chriſt makes Rev. 3.12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, &c. Such as over…ome the Enemies of Chriſt, Sin, Satan and the World, and come and live under the dominion of Christ, ſo as that they have their converſation in the Goſpel of Chriſt, ſuch as walk in Christ, in his will, to his Glory, They ſhall be made Pillars in his p. 210Temple: This Temple is Spiritual, the Church Militant and Triumphant, this Pillar is Spiritual and notes the ſtability of the Sons of God, a confirmed Eſtate of happineſs, from which they ſhall never fall: 'tis ſpoken in alluſion to the Pillars of Solomon's Temple, 1 King 7.21. He ſet up Pillars in the Porch of the Temple; the right Pillar he called Jachin, which ſignifies, he ſhall eſtabliſh; ſo I will make them Pillars, this notes an eſtabliſhment in the favour of God through Chriſt, an eſtabliſhment in a ſtate of Grace and Glory. The left Pillar he called Boaz, this ſhall always remain in its ſtrength; ſo that they are Pillars, and their Salvation is ſure; that is, they ſhall not be overcome, but remain in their ſtrength; that have overcome by the Spirit of Christ poured into them, whereby they are tranſlated out of the Kingdom of Darkneſs, into the Kingdom of Chriſt. They ſhall go no more out; ſuch as are in favour, ſhall go no more out of favour; ſuch as are in Chriſt, ſhall go no more out of Chriſt: And I will write upon him the name of my God; that is, he ſhall be acknowledged to be the Child of God, he ſhall be able to ſee and read his Adoption, by the Spirits witneſſing it in his Heart and ſealing it up: and others ſhall read his Adoption in his holy Converſation, and in his zeal of following Chriſt, and his love to the Saints, &c. I will write upon him the Name of the City of my God; he ſhall be known to himſelf and others, that he is one of God's City and Houſhold. And my new Name; he ſhall be honoured for King and Conquerer, he ſhall be highly Exalted and Crowned with Glory like to p. 211Chriſt. Rev. 2: 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna; an alluſion to the golden Pot of Manna kept in the Holieſt of all. Heb. 9.4. which is meant of Chriſt. the Spiritual Manna; he ſhall feed on the fulneſs of Chriſt, whatever is in Chriſt he ſhall take for his own moſt freely, and nothing ſhall be with-held from him. Now Chriſt's Kingdom is the golden Pot wherein this Manna is hidden; ſo that if you come to Chriſt as your King, and be his Followers, you ſhall feed on him as Bread of Life. I will give him a white Stone. The Antients did abſolve Perſons accuſed of any Crime, and cleared of it, by giving them a white Stone; to this Chriſt alludes and ſays, I will give him a white Stone; by this is meant, aſſurance of a Diſcharge of all their Sins, the Spirits witneſſing to any that they are the Children of God. A new Name, that is, of Sons of God: this ſhall you know, and read, and rejoyce in. By this know that aſſurance is part of the Glory and Priviledges that they enjoy who are of Christ's Kingdom. You have not this white Stone, this new Name, that are Enemies to his Government; over whom Sin reigns, and who commit it with greedineſs.

Sestion 6.

2. Direct. To Saints and Believers, to ſhew them how aſſurance may be obtained, confirmed and continued.

To make way for this, let theſe things be premiſed.

1. The Salvation of a Perſon may be ſure, and yet he want the aſſurance of it. Salvation may be made ſure in Heaven, yet not in the Heart; p. 212ſure in regard of God's knowing them to be his, but not in regard th…ir knowing God to be their's, or themſelves to be God's, An Intereſt in Chriſt, and an evidence of that Intereſt are not always Companions; there may be Peace with God, and not Peace in their Conſcience.

2. Aſſurance is a Gift of God, beſtowed upon whom, and at what time God pleaſes; 'tis a fruit of free Grace, it is the ſhining of God in the Face of Chriſt in the Souls of Believers. Now as when the Sun ariſes, it fills the World with light, and makes it day, though it may be under a Cloud, and the beams thereof are not to be ſeen; ſo God ſometimes ſhines into the Heart, and brings out of darkneſs into light, ſo far as that there may be truſt and affiance in the free Grace of God through Christ; yet the light beams of his loving kindne… m…y be ſo far with-held, as that the Soul may not have the evidence of his favour. There is a direct act of Faith, whereby Believers look on, and truſt to the Grace of God in Chriſt▪ as the Foundation of their Salvation; this all Believ…s …. There is a reflex act of Faith, a Perſon's …elieving that God is reconciled to his Soul in particular, and that Christ died for him, &c. …his God gives at what time he plea…es: …ith in th… fi… act is ſometimes given, and … in the la…ter.

3. The aſſu… of Salvation having been given, it may be lo… again; Salvation ſhall not be loſt, aſſurance of it may: For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, Iſa. 54.7, 8. I hid my face for a moment. This God may do,

p. 2131. Out of his Soveraignty, that the Soul may acknowledge, it is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good.

2. Out of his Love, that the Soul may ſet a higher eſteem on the light of God's Countenance: and may be more abundantly ſatisfyed in the beams of his Glory ſhining in the Soul, more than in all worldly Excellencies. And that he may look on God's Favour and Loving-kindneſs, as that which is better than Life; and that he may ſay as the Spouſe, thy Love is better than Wine. Spiritual Joy is ſometimes in danger to be overwhelmed in worldly Joys. The Souls of Believers are ſometimes oppreſſed with carnal ſecurity, as the Spouſe when Chriſt came. Cant. 5. I have put off my Coat, &c. Then Chriſt withdrew himſelf; worldly things withdraw the Heart too much from Chriſt; and that may cauſe a withdrawing of God from the Soul.

Now the Directions to Saints. 1. How to get aſſurance are theſe.

1. Take heed of ſurfeiting with worldly Joys and Contentments. If with Solomon, you will not withold your Hearts from any Joy, God may withold Joy from your Hearts; the Earth being betwixt us and the Sun, this makes it night with us; if the Earth get betwixt our Hearts and God at any time, they being overtaken with worldly Contentmentt, this may intercept divine light, and keep it from you; ſo let your Souls dwell in God, and not like Satan, walk to and fro in the Earth and wander up and down in it. The Apoſtle's Rule is an excellent one: Let them that have Wives be as if they had none, and thoſe that be p. 214Rich, as though they had no Riches, 1 Cor. 7.29.30. and thoſe that buy as if they poſſeſſed not; that is, let not your Hearts find reſt in theſe things; but let the love of God in Chriſt be your reſt; live above, let your Souls dwell in God, and God will dwell in your Souls.

2. Give not way to Sin, eſpecially take heed of doing any thing againſt the light of your Conſcience. There is nothing more likely to cauſe a withdrawing of light, than a walking contrary to light: hereby light is rejected and ſtifled: and when Believers will have Fellowſhip with Sin, God may teach them to take heed of Sin by hiding himſelf, and ſuffering of their Souls to be filled with terrors. By Sin Believers may fall, though not from the love of God in Chriſt, yet from the light of his Countenance; That is the Apoſtles triumph, Rom. 8. Nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate me from the love of God in Chriſt: yet there may be a falling from the love of God in the Heart, by Sin; ſo then take heed of being over taken with it; have no fellowſhip with unfruitful works of darkneſs, but reprove them.

3. Walk not in the light of your own fire, and ſparks of your own kindling, the Children of Promiſe that are free are yet too much in bondage to the Covenant of Works, looking to a Righteouſneſs of their own, to Duties. Grounding their hopes of favour and acceptation hereupon: God may ſuffer thoſe to lye down in ſorrow, that look not higher for ground of Joy: When the Wiſe men left following the guidance of the Star, it left them, they walked in their own light, and they go to the High-Prieſts, &c. p. 215and enquire of them, but when they returned then they ſaw the Star.

4. Be well Principled in the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and labour to underſtand it aright. As,

1. That though the Sins of Believers have abounded, yet Grace abounds much more: that is, there is Grace enough in God and to ſpare, for the pardon of all Sins. God hath an infinite and inexhauſtible treaſure of Grace, What God's anſwer was to Paul may be applied to all Believers. My Grace is ſufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.9: Paul was the chief of Sinners, and God had Grace ſufficient for him, 1 Tim. 1.16. He obtained Mercy that Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long ſuffering for a pattern to them that ſhould believe on him to everlasting life. Believe the abundance of Mercy in God through Chriſt, and you ſhall taſte the fulneſs of it: look on Sin, and from Sin to Grace, and there is Grace ſufficient for you, ſo you may have Peace in your heart.

2. As their diſobedience bath abounded, ſo hath Chriſt's obedience much more. As by one man's diſobedience many were made Sinners, Rom. 5.19. So by the obedience of one many ſhall be made Righteous. There is more Power in Chriſt's obedience and Righteouſneſs to Juſtify a Sinner, than there is in Sin to Condemn him. God is more honoured by Chriſt than diſhonoured by Sin: becauſe Chriſt is an infinite Perſon equal to the Father, he fulfilled the Law that was Lord of it. It appears, becauſe ſufficient to make a Sinner as Righteous as if he had never ſinned, ſufficient to blot out all Sin that there's no more remembrance of it. Sufficient to recompence God, &c. And p. 216beſides there is merit in it. It's a price ſufficient to purchaſe Glory, Life, &c. So that as …here will be frequent acts of diſobedience, againſt theſe ſet the infinite obedience of the Lord Jeſus, abounding beyond them all, as a Sacrifice ſufficient to take away the evil of all.

3. God had never ſuffered the Elect, ſuch as are ordain'd to life, to have been in a ſtate of Sin before Converſion, &c. or to do any act of Sin after Converſation, but that he intended to glorify his Grace and Mercy in pardoning their Sin, and ſaving them notwithſtanding their Sin: this was his deſign from all Eternity, to magnify his Grace and Mercy towards the Veſſels of Mercy. That he might make known the Riches of his Glory, Rom. 9.23. So he ſuffered them to Sin, Rom. 5.24. The Law entred that the offence might abound: that is, that it might be known how far, and how exceedingly it abounded. Alſo by the entring of the Law Sin was irritated, &c. And this that Grace might be magnified towards the Elect in pardoning them, and giving Chriſt to dye, and ſaving them notwithſtanding their Sin. Now this may uphold the Soul in the apprehenſi…n of Sin, God never intended that Sin ſhould hinder the Salvation of the Elect, but to work good even out of ſin, and to take occaſion from thence to magnify his Grace more abundantly; ſo let us have recourſe to Grace manifeſted in Chriſt. But though God by his abſolute power might ſuffer ſin, &c. yet ſin is never theleſs ſinful, and ſo we ought to withſtand ſin to the utmoſt; and we muſt not do Evil that Good may come of it: that is the note of Reprobates whoſe damnation is juſt. Rom. 3.8.

p. 2174. The ſin of Believers may cauſe the hiding of love, but no hatred; they have not Indignation and Wrath, but Compaſſion: God looking on the reliques of ſin as their infirmities, that he will heal. Now as Believers out of infirmity do ſometimes ſin, ſo it is an infirmity to infer hatred in God towa…ds them for it; for if ſo, then the Grace of God is not ſufficient for them, and Chriſt died in vain for them, &c.

5. The ſin of Believers may grieve the Spirit, but does not make the Spirit an en…my to Believers. Greive not the holy Spirit wh…reby ye are ſealed to the day of Redemption, Eph 4.30. The ſins of Perſons ſealed by the Spirit, do greive the Spirit; this is not to be underſtood properly, becauſe the Spirit is not ſubject to like Paſſions with us, but he's ſaid to be greived,

1. Becauſe ſin is contrary to the mind of the Spirit. Rom. 8.27. We grieve at any thing that happens againſt our minds.

2. Contrary to the motions of the Spirit.

3. To the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit, which call for an obedient walking and an holy Converſation.

4 Contrary to the Office of the Spirit, viz. to comfort; the Spirit delights in comforting; ſo it does as it were grieve the Spirit to be hindered from it.

5. The ſins of Perſons ſealed by the Spirit are ſaid but to grieve the Spirit, not to ſtir up Wrath and Indignation, and a readineſs to revenge.

6. Conſider that ſins ſhould grieve, and but grieve the Godly; they ſhould not doubt of Love, and fear Wrath, if once the Soul truſts in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon God: If p. 219once ye be founded on the Rock Christ then your ſins ſhould work grief for God diſhonoured, not fear of God's Wrath: Grief for God diſhonoured, and Joy in God well pleaſed by Chriſt, may conſiſt together: This is the way o… the Goſpel, but indeed a narrow way, too hard to keep in it; if ye joy in God notwithſtanding ſin, then not to turn to the left hand, of making light of ſin; or if ye grieve, then not to turn to the right hand of queſtioning the love of God, and ſo remitting joy.

7. God may afflict yet not hate; he may afflict and that grievouſly as he did Job and yet be well pleaſed, whom I love, I rebuke and chaſten, &c. Rev. 3.19.

8. For a Believer to doubt of Salvation that takes hold of Christ, and is founded on him, is his ſin: For

1. The Spirit of God doth not witneſs that he is not a G…ild of God. If the Spirit of God doth convince a natural Man that's out of Chriſt, of his carnal and curſed Eſtate, and then he ſay he cannot lay claim to the Promiſes of the Goſpel, to the Benefits of Chriſt; this is not his Sin, becauſe it may be that the Spirit is a Spirit of bondage in him, and witneſſeth this to him, and ſo 'tis true: But, for ſuch as believe in Christ and look for Salvation no other way, ſuch never receive the Spirit of Bondage again to fear, Rom. 8.15. that is, the Spirit doth not bring them into bondage: The Spirit doth not witneſs that they are not the Children of God, for he ſhould witneſs untruth then; but their doubting Hearts bring them into bondage.

p. 2182. 'Tis through wan… o… F…ith that ſuch doubt of Salva…ion; 'tis for not believing as they ought, and that is their Sin: and Chriſt may rep…ove them as he did Peter, O thou of little Faith, wherefore did it thou doubt? As God hath made the Salvation of Believers ſure in Chriſt, &c. ſo they ought to believe it to be ſure… and 'tis their Sin to doubt of it; not to believe is to make God a Liar. 1 Joh. 5.10.

Section 7.

2. How Believers ought to carry themſelves in the want of Aſſurance.

1. Deſire it, thir… and long for it; account it a Mercy worth the enjoying, better than all the World can afford; and God hath promiſed to ſatisfy the hungry with good things, and not to ſend them empty away: ſo then breath after it, as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks.

3. Wait with patience of God, till he return with joy and peace into the Soul. I will wait on God that hideth his Face from the Houſe of Iſrael. Iſa. 8.17.

3. Exerciſe Faith of adherence when you want the Faith of evidence, this is the advice of the Prophet, Iſa. 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his Servant, that is, Chriſt. I…a. 42.1. That fears the Lord, and ſerve him in Chriſt, being acquainted with the great Myſtery of Godlineſs; here's Faith of adherence, which Judges Chriſt worthy of Glory; and walketh in darkneſs and ſees no light; here's want of Faith of Evidence: now what ſhould be done in this caſe? Still truſt; ſtill hold faſt Chriſt, look for Salvation in him and none elſe; trust in p. 220the name of the Lord, truſt to the mercy of God, his abundant Grace manifeſted in giving Chriſt as ſufficient to …ave you; and ſtay on his God. God i… his God though he knows it not; ſtay upon him, let the Soul he fixed on him, and ſay as Job, though he kill me I will truſt in him: If I periſh, it ſhall be at the feet of Mercy; and then though you may walk in darkneſs for a time, yet the Lord ſhall be a light unto you.

S…ction 8,

From the ſecond ſenſe of theſe words, work out; that is, deſire and endeavour this that Salv…tion begun to be wrought out, may be perfected; ſo much the word ſignifies. Rom. 7.18. How to perform that which is good I find not.

Doct. 2. The perfecting of Salvation that is begun ſhould be the great deſire of all Believers; when 'tis begun to be wrought, they ſhould deſire that Salvation may be wrought out: a Perſon begun to be ſaved, ſhould long to be ſaved to the utmoſt. Here conſider a few things.

1. The Salvation of Believers ſhall be perfected. This is a work that ſhall be finiſhed. As in the fi…ſt Creation of the World, things were imperfect at firſt; but God did not ceaſe Creating till Heaven and Earth were finiſhed, and all the Hoſt of them: ſo at the firſt Converſion, when Salvation fi…ſt comes to the Soul, it may be it is very imperfect, a little Faith, a little Love, but weak and faint breathings of Spirit, but ſmoking Flax, a bruiſed Reed: But God will go on in this work till every Saint be made perfect and all the Hoſt of them. Phil. 1.6. He that hath begun a good work will perform it until the day of p. 221Jeſus Chriſt: He wi l keep Believers till the day of Christ, and perfect their Happineſs in that day which ſhall endure for ever. Christ dying, ſaid it is finiſhed; that is, the types of the Law are fulfilled: what Chriſt had to do towards the obtaining Man's Redemption was finiſhed; for Satisfaction, Reconciliation, Merit, all are fi…iſhed; and nothing remains but the application of Chriſt to the Soul, and beſtowing the Benefits purchaſed for the Elect by Chriſt; that Christ lives to finiſh; he died to finiſh the work of Satiſfaction and Reconciliation; he lives to finiſh the work of Sanctification and Glorification: He died to finiſh the work h… had to do reſpecting God's paying the price … Redemption, recompencing him for the d ſhono…r that was done him by Sin: and he lives to finiſh the work he hath to do reſpecting the Elect; which is, to pour out h…s Spirit into their …ts, and to form them for himſ…l, and to faſhion Soul and Body like to himſelf, this is the meaning of that place. Rom. 5.10. For if when were Enemies. we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we ſhall be ſaved by his Life. He died to finiſh a work with the Father for Men, making peace for them; he lives to finiſh a work in them, which is to make them Holy a…d Happy: and whatever Enemies there are to the happineſs of the Saints, Chriſt ſhall ſubdue them. 1 Cor. 15.25. He muſt Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet; and till all his Members be conformed in glory to him, and placed in Glory with him. Joh. 17.22.24. The Glory that thou haſt given me, I have given them. Now Believers have a right p. 222to, but they ſhall alſo have the poſſeſſion of it; they ſhall partake in Chriſt's Glory, in all his Glory. As the Son of God hath the Divine Nature, ſo they are Sons of God and partakers of the Divine Nature. As Chriſt is at the right hand of God, ſo they ſit with him; Chriſt is King, they Kings, &c. There's no Glory that Chriſt hath, but they that are Saints ſhall partake in: ſee Eph. 4.12, 13. He gave Apoſtles for the perfecting of the Saints, till we all come to the unity of Faith and Knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect Man, to the Stature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. Christ had a two-fold State; firſt, of Humiliation, ſubject to Infirmit…s; inward, as Hung…ings, Wearineſs, Grief, &c. and outward, as the Reproaches of Men, Contrad…ction of Sinners, &c. But in this State he was the Son of God, though he did not outwardly appear in the Glory of the Son of God; and he did the will and work of him that ſent him: he went about his Father's buſineſs, and he had the Father with him, becauſe he did always thoſe things that pleaſed him: this was Chriſt's Stature that he did grow to on Earth: Now Believers in this World grow to this meaſure of the Stature of Chriſt, or this age of his whilſt he was in the World. Secondly, His Glorious State of Exaltation. This is a ſtate of fulneſs. Christ being advanced to fulneſs of Glory. In his firſt eſtate he had the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily. In this latter the fulneſs of the Godhead clearly manifeſted forth in him. And he had as much Glory in his humane Nature as the fulneſs of the Godhead in him can bring into him: this is Chriſt's meaſure p. 223and portion of Glory. Now the Saints ſhall come to the meaſure of the ſtatute or age o… Chriſt's fulneſs, that is, which Chriſt hath as Man, be like to Chriſt in ſtate of Knowledge and of Glory; as in his growing eſtate, ſo in his perfect eſtate. Chriſt had as much Glory as he is capable of from the fulneſs of the Godhead in him; So they ſhall have as much Glory as they are capable of from Chriſt dwelling in them, as the Father in Chriſt, as 'tis John 17.23. I in them, thou in me, that they might be made perfect in one. This is the Saints meaſure.

2. There are ſeveral degrees by which the Salvation of Believers is carried on to perfection. 'Tis much diſputed amongſt ſome whether there are degrees of Glory in Heaven: whether one Saint differ from another in Glory, but this is beſides the buſineſs I have in hand, nor need it to be ſpoken unto. Somewhat may be gathered againſt that Opinion of different degrees of Glory, from the place laſt cited, till all come to the meaſure of the stature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. All ſhall have ſuch a meaſure as they are capable of from Christ. But this is evident, that it is by ſeveral ſteps and degrees that Saints attain to that meaſure of Glory. As 'tis ſaid of thoſe that did come from the remote parts of Judea to worſhip at Jeruſalem, Pſ. 84.7. They go from strength to ſtrength to appear in Sion. They encreaſe in ſtrength and courage till they they come to Sion. So Believers encreaſe in ſtrength in Faith, Love, Knowledge, Holineſs till they come to Heaven. Believers go from ſtrength to ſtrength. The Righteouſneſs of God is revealed from Faith to Faith, Rom. 1.17. that is, p. 224there are degrees of Revelation. We are changed from Glory to Glory. The Glory of Saints is pe…fected by degrees, 2 Cor. 3.18.

The Saint… are firſt Bab…s, then Men in underſtanding; they know firſt in part, after as they are known; firſt darkly, as through a Glaſs, and then Face to Face. Now is our Salvation nearer, &c. Rom. 13.11. Saints at their firſt converſion are further off from Salvation; then they come nearer and nearer to it daily. Christ reveals himſelf gradually, as Cant. 2.8. Chriſt coming towards the Spouſe did reveal himſelf gradually; She firſt hears his Voice, The Voice of my Beloved, and then hath ſome ſight of him: Behold he cometh, leaping on the Mountains, and skipping upon the Hills; overcoming difficulties, leaping over all, ſo as that nothing hinders acceſs. And he cometh ſwiftly, verſe 9. Behold he ſtandeth behind our Wall, and looketh forth, or in at the Window, yet without doors, not ſo near as he will be, yet nearer now then he was before The Spouſe firſt hears his Voice, and then ſees him coming, and then at laſt enjoys his preſence. I have many things to ſay, but ye cannot bear them now, John 16.12. In that condition they were not capable of bearing more: In this mortal eſtate Believers can…ot bear all, that they ſhall hear o… Chriſt: they muſt dye, and this mortal muſt put on immortality▪ and ſo ſhall they ſee and enjoy Chriſt perfectly. And as Chriſt reveals himſelf ſo the Spirit is poured out gradually, perfecting knowledge, perfecting holineſs by degrees. As the ways of God manifeſting himſelf to the World, have been by degrees, proceeding from leſs perfect to a more perfect p. 225way of manifeſting himſelf, as firſt in Creatures made, then in Chriſt, and in Chriſt firſt, ſet forth by carnal things, Types, and Shadows repreſenting him; then through Christ coming in the Fleſh, raiſed up to Glory, and ruling the World by him, till all his Enemies are ſubdued, and the Elect perfected, then the Son ſhall be ſubject that God may be All in All; Then the Godhead ſhall moſt gloriouſly appear: So it is by degrees that God manifeſts himſelf in the hearts of the Elect; and by degrees that they are brought nearer and nearer to him. Here they enjoy him by Faith, in Heaven by Viſion: here by Fellowſhip with the Spirit, having the Spirit bringing in Light, Grace and Comforts into the Soul; in Heaven they ſhall ſee God to be All in All, and be in his preſence.

3. The great Deſire of Believers, and Endeavour ought to be that their Salvation may be perfected. When God hath begun to ſave them, they ſhould deſire to be ſaved to the utmoſt. As God did require of the Jews three times a year every Male to appear at the place, which God did ſet apart for worſhip; and leave their Wives and Eſtates to the Protection of God, who promiſed that the Enemy ſhould not ſo much as deſire their Land at that time: This is to ſhew that Believers ought above all to deſire to appear before God, and to be in his preſence; and ſhould be content to leave all worldly enjoyments. There's nothing to be ſo much deſir'd, ſo much priz'd as to be with Chriſt. This you may ſee both in Precepts and Examples, Heb. 12.1. Let us run with patience the Race that is ſet before us. The buſineſs of a Chriſtian p. 226ſhould be to run towards Heaven: As the Jews going out of Egypt, their buſineſs was to go to Canaan; ſo the great buſineſs of a Chriſtian is to travel towards Heaven, and this ſhould be their great deſire. As thoſe that run in a Race ſtrive to be at the Mark; they put forward with all their might: ſo do Chriſtians with all their Souls and ſtrength. Heaven, and nothing but Heaven ſhould be lookt on as the place of reſt, looking unto Jeſus. Make Chriſt your pattern. What was his great deſire? Father glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee. Glorify me with the Glory I had with thee before the World was. There was Joy ſet before him: ſo Chriſt is ſet before the Saints, revealed to their Faith; they ſhould long to ſee him as he is, Glory is ſet before them, &c. In the World is Vanity, in themſelves Corruption, Croſſes on all hands, Shame, Reproach, &c. Before and above all, in Heaven is ſet everlaſting Joy, Pleaſures for evermore.

Where this Joy is there Believers hearts ſhould be; the mind, the will, and affections of a Believer ſhould ſtill be travelling towards this Joy, running a Race towards Heaven: as 'tis ſaid of the Creature, Rom. 8.21. The earneſt expectation of the Creature waiteth, &c. The Creature is in Bondage to Corruption, Slaves to Luſts; this is contrary to the end for which the Creature was made; they naturally make towards that end, to be Servants to the Saints, and to be inſtrumental towards the manifeſting the Glory of the Creator, and to be free of Bondage: So ſhould Saints deſire perfect freedom from Bondage, to enjoy the Liberty, the Inheritance, portion, p. 227and perfection of the Sons of God, in the preſence of God.

This hath been the great deſire of Believers, Rom. 8.23. We which have received the firſt Fruit of the Spirit; What is meant by theſe? The beginnings of Grace, Knowledge of Christ, Faith, Love, Humility, Heavenly Mindedneſs, the Comfort and Conſolations of the Spirit; we that have received theſe, groan within our ſelves. We would receive the whole lump of the Spirit, there are burdens we groan under. Sin is a burden, when the Spirit hath wrought Holineſs, earthly things are a burden; they cannot be gotten but by the ſweat of our brows; when Salvation that is purchaſed by Chriſt, is believed, then mortal eſtates are a burden: when immortality is brought to Light, then to be out of Chriſt's preſence is a burden; where Glory and the fulneſs of Chriſt is revealed, we groan waiting for Adoption, &c. There's Adoption in making you Sons, and there's Adoption in beſtowing the Inheritance, Glory, and Liberty which belongs to them, as they are the Sons of God.

They that are Sons, and have the Spirit of Sons crying to God Abba, would fully enjoy all the Priviledges, all the Glory, and all the love which belongs to them, as the Sons of God in Chriſt, Phil. 1.23. To depart, and to be with Chriſt is far better, beyond all compariſon better: there's Joy without Sorrow, Holineſs without Sin, Knowledge without Ignorance, Eternity of all. So to be in Chriſt in the World is infinitely better, then to be in the World enjoying the contentment of it, without Chriſt: And to be in Heaven with p. 228Christ is exceedingly much better, then to enjoy Christ only in the World. The ſtate of a Chriſtian in Heaven is exceedingly beyond the ſtate of a Chriſtian on Earth, though the Body may dye and be laid in the Grave. Phil. 3.13, 14. I count not my ſelf to have apprehended, I have not Knowledge enough, I have not Grace enough, I have not enjoyment of Chriſt enough; it was much he had, yet not enough, but this one thing I do, this is my main buſineſs forgetting the things behind, earthly things behind, and Grace receiv'd behind, ſo far as not to be ſatisfied there with, I reach forward to the things before. The heart reaches out, Faith is the hand that reaches out after; earneſt deſire carries the Soul out unto them. I preſs towards the Mark, as a Man in a throng, &c. through a throug of Luſts and Temptations, &c. For the price of the high calling, that I might enjoy all that Glory and happineſs, that God hath provided in Chriſt. 2 Pet. 3 12. Looking for, and haſtning to the coming of the day of God. That day haſtens, and is coming, be you haſtening to it, i. e. your Hearts, and Souls, by Faith, and deſire that it may come, haſten to it.

Sect. 9.

Uſe …. Information. By this it appears that many there are, that as yet are not in the way of Salvation. Becauſe they can't ſay as Paul, this one thing I do. Who?

1. Such as have nothing before them, but worldly things, worldly profits and pleaſures, that have their hope only in this Life, and not Hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven, but the love of the World fixed as an Anchor in the Earth, p. 229whereby their Hearts and Souls are faſtened to the World; that (with the two Tribes) could be content to have their Portion on this ſide Jordan; that their Houſes, Lands, and Temporal Lives might continue for ever; would deſire no better Portion, that ſee more gain in Life than in Death: this is an evidence that they have not drunk of the Water that Chriſt gives; their Souls have not been filled with the Glory of the World to come; they are not acquainted with the Riches of Chriſt; they know not the price of the High Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. This is an inſeperable property of a true Believer, a deſire to have his Salvation wrought out, and finiſhed; where ever this work is begun, the Heart would have it finiſhed; where Holineſs is begun, the deſire of the Soul is to have it perfected. There's no greater burden than Sin to a Gracious Heart; all the Contentments of the World cannot content a believing Soul; nothing beneath Heaven, nothing without the Preſence of God, nothing beſides the Glory of Chriſt, can make it perfectly Happy: to be where Chriſt is, that is beſt of all.

Faith will make us ſojourn in the World; when you are in the way of Salvation, perfect Salvation is the mark which the Soul preſſes towards. Now lay your Hearts to the bond of this undoubted Truth, and do not conclude your ſelves to be in the way of Life, if perfect Salvation be not the mark you preſs towards; if it be not the preſence of the Lord, that you account the perfection of Happineſs: if you could be contented with worldly Felicity, and your Deſires p. 230are only towards the things of this Life; then the root of all Evil is yet alive, and growing in you.

2. Such as dream of a preſent perfection; that think they know as much as they need to know, and do as much as is needful to be done. He that thinks he knows enough knows nothing as he ought, 1 Cor. 6.2. He that thinks he hath enough of Christ, hath nothing of Chriſt. Where there is true Knowledge of Chriſt begun, the Soul is carried out with ſuch earneſt deſires to know more, that it accounts it ſelf to know nothing. I forget that which is behind. Gal. 4.9. Now we know God, or rather are known of God; we are known perfectly, but we do not know perfectly. Brethren, I count not my ſelf to have apprehended: I follow after, I do not ſit down ſatisfied with that I have, but I follow after that which I have not, that I may apprehend that, for which I am apprehended of God. God apprehends the Elect in Love; he apprehends by his Spirit, to bring nigh to himſelf, to make Veſſels of Mercy and Glory: and they deſire to apprehend God, and to be nigh him, and to be filled brim full with Mercy and Glory; they that are full already, are moſt empty. Luk. 1.53.

Uſe 2.

To stir up the Saints with more diligence to labour, to work out their Salvation, as Peter exhorts Believers, 2 Pet. 1.5. Giving all diligence, add to your Faith Vertue, to Vertue Knowledge, &c. So to add Faith to Faith, Vertue to Vertue, Knowledge to Knowledge, Holineſs to Holineſs, Hoſ. 6.3. Then ſhall we know, if we follow on to know p. 231the Lord. You that know any thing of Chriſt, ſhould follow on to know more, and you ſhall know more, if you hear, if you ſearch the Scriptures, if you ask more Wiſdom and Knowledge. 2 Pet. 3.18. Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of the Lord. Grow in all Graces, in Faith, Humility, Heavenly mindedneſs, and, as a great furtherance hereto, grow in Knowledge.

That Salvation may be perfected, Conſider what it is. The Apoſtle deſcribes it by two parts.

1. Wee ſhall ſee him as he is.

2. We ſhall be like him.

To ſee Chriſt as the Expreſs Image of the Fathers Perſon; to know God in Chriſt, and to enjoy him as your God, and to bear the Image of Chriſt perfectly in your Soul and Body, this is compleat Salvation. To ſee him in whom all fulneſs dwels, and to be like him, that is the brightneſs of the Fathers Glory, is Glory enough. So theſe are two great things that ought to be your mark.

1. Grow in the Knowledge of Chriſt. Math. 13.11. To you it is given to know the Myſtery of Chriſt. To know the great Myſtery of Godlineſs; to you a Spirit is given to lead you into all Truth; to you the Promiſes are made of being taught of God: Deſire Knowledge, and believe this Promiſe, ſo more and more ſtill of the Fulneſs, Excellency, and Glory of Chriſt ſhall be revealed to you.

2. Grow in a conformity to Chriſt. Chriſt is perfectly Holy, labour to be more like him in Holineſs; let the ſame mind be in you as in p. 232Chriſt, the ſame Meekneſs, Compaſſion, Heavenly mindedneſs, and Zeal for the Glory of the Father. Faſhion not your ſelves to the World, but faſhion your ſelves according to the Pattern of Chriſt, and believe that your vile Bodies ſhall be faſhioned like to his Glorious Body; and let this Hope he your Happineſs, till you actually enjoy this Happineſs.

Uſe 3. Direction about this great work, of working out our Salvation.

1. Propoſe right ends to your ſelves. Intermediate, and Mediate.

1. Intermediate ends, that you may have perfect Happineſs, perfect Redemption from all Evils, and that an end may be put to Sin and Sorrow, that there may be no more ſinning, nor no more ſorrowing. The deſire of your own good is not unlawful, if you deſire Heaven as your Happineſs, Christ as your Life, the preſence of God as your beſt portion; this you ought to deſire as your happineſs, the enjoyment of God as your chief good, and perfect likeneſs to Chriſt as the moſt perfection, that you can be made partakers of. Thus did Paul deſire his own happineſs, and good, 2 Cor. 6. We which are in this Tabernacle do groan, &c, To be cloathed upon, that immortality may be ſwallowed up of life, that Vanitv may be ſwallowed up of fulneſs, Earthly things of Heavenly, Temporal of Eternal; that is, you muſt not make it your Buſineſs to be Rich, Great, Renowned, and Happy in the World; but to be Rich, Glorious and Happy in Heaven. Lay not up for your ſelves Treaſure on Earth, but in Heaven; ſay not to your Souls, there are Goods laid up on Earth, but p. 233much Glory in Heaven, Treaſures which Moth and Ruſt cannot corrupt, nor Thief break through and ſteal.

2. Your own Happineſs muſt not be your chief and ultimate end, but the Glory of God. Deſire that perfection of Glory may be given you, that God may have all that Glory which he expects from you. Mark that Petition. Father glorify thy Son, that thy Son alſo may glorify thee. Joh. 17.1. Deſire your own Glory for the Glory of God: Deſire perfect Knowledge, and perfect Holineſs, that you may do nothing beſides Glorifying God, that you may not come ſhort of any degree of Glory that he expects from you. It is the Everlaſting Exerciſe of the Saints in Heaven, to ſing Hallelujahs.

2. Lay aſide every Weight: As thoſe that run in a Race will not load themſelves with unneceſſary weights, and he that ſtrives for Maſteries is temperate in all things. 1 Cor. 9.15. He will take heed of Surfeiting and Drunkeneſs; ſo in running this Spiritual Race towards Heaven, lay aſide every weight, whatever may be a clog to your hearts, to ſlacken your diligence from endeavouring after the encreaſe of Heavenly perfections, whatever may draw down your hearts from Heaven, what may remit your deſire of Chriſt's appearing, and of being in his preſence. As,

1. The Love of the World: This will be a heavy weight on hearts to hinder their aſcending to Heaven. If the Mountains ſhould fall upon your Bodies, theſe would be ſuch a weight, that you would not be able to ſtir in the leaſt motion under them: the love of the World in the heart, p. 234is as great weight upon the Spirit, it ſuppreſſes breathings of Spirit after Heaven, it quenches thirſtings after Heavenly Glory: Take heed of loading your hearts with this weight, do not load your ſelves with thick clay. So much immoderate love as there is to the World, ſo much weight is in your Spirits, preſſing them down from Heaven.

2. The cares of the World: Theſe are a weight, they beget Heavineſs in your Spirits, and deadneſs unto Spiritual things, Luke 20.34. Take heed of ſurfeiting, and drunkeneſs, and the cares of the World. Provident cave is not forbidden, but immoderate car…king cares; take heed of being drunken with cares; theſe cares are choaking things; Spiritual deſires, joys, motions, and breathings, are in danger to be choak'd by worldly cares: This our Saviour ſhews in that parable of the Sower. Some Seed ſhall fall among Thorns, and the Thorns ſprang up with it, and choaked it, Luke 8.7. By this is meant ſuch hearers as hear the word, and go forth and are choaked, with the cares, riches, and pleaſures of the World, and bring no fruit to perfection, ver. 14. If you give up your ſelves to theſe, this will hinder the bringing Fruit to perfection. Worldly Men bar Fruit but not Fruits to perfection, no Faith, no Love, Repentance Reformation; ſo if Saints be overtaken with theſe, this will hinder much their growing onwards to perfection, in Knowledge, in Grace.

3. Worldly Sorrow. The Sorrow of the World worketh Death. 2 Cor. 7.10. The ſorrow of the World, that is, grieving more for Suffering than p. 235for Sin, growing under the want of Temporals, more than of Spirituals: this is a weight, it hinders deſire after a Heavenly Life, preſſing on to Salvation; this depreſſes the Spirit. Godly Sorrow, what carefulneſs it wrought? what zeal? what vehement deſires, &c.? Lay aſide the weight of worldly ſorrow.

4. Sin. Eſpecially the eaſily beſetting Sin. Heb. 12.1. Who ſhall deliver me from the body of Death? This is a weight in Paul's Spirit, when I would do good, evil is preſent; there's a Law in my Members, &c. Deſire that Sin may be ſubdued, look to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt, to free you from the Law of Sin and Death; eſpecially the Luſts that are moſt prevalent, that do moſt eaſily prevail, that the Soul is uſually overtaken with; your Dalilah, Herodias, your Right Hand, your Right Eye. The following a Luſt, takes off the Heart from following after Knowledge, &c.

3. Run your Race with Patience; that is, firſt, be not angry if the Bleſſing longed for be not preſently beſtowed: be not like thoſe that ask, where is the promiſe of his coming? Hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of God. Lam. 3.26. All my appointed time will I wait till my change come. Secondly, Be not angry at the Croſſes you meet with in the way of Salvation, &c. This was Iſrael's prevailing Sin, whereby they vext the Spirit, &c. They could not with patience bear any Croſs, in the way to the Land flowing with Milk and Honey. Satan and the World ſet themſelves againſt the Heirs of Salvation, that labour to work it out, and with patience endure their buffetting: p. 236There's great reaſon for it; for our light Afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more Exceeding, and an Eternal weight of Glory. Afflistion is not worthy to be compared with the Glory that is to be revealed. Rom. 8.18. and 2 Cor. 4.17. Skin for Skin, all that a Man hath, will he give for his Life; endures any thing, parts with any thing, rather than part with his Life.

He that will looſe his Life, ſhall find it; looſe Earth to find Heaven, &c. Pſa. 84. Going through the Vally of Baca, a dry place, make a Well: this is a Well; they going to God can ſatisfy themſelves with his Law, &c.

Thirdly. Look to Jeſus the Author and Finiſher of Faith and Love, &c. The Author and Finiſher of Grace and Glory: Believe that he (who is mighty to ſave) will carry on the work to perfection. The Jews had the Angel of God's preſence with them to keep them, and to drive out the Canaanites, &c. In a Wilderneſs he fed them with Bread from Heaven; when they were ready to periſh with t…irſt, he brought Honey out of the Rock, &c. When Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og oppoſed them, he ſlew thoſe mighty Kings, and he made a way through the Sea and Jordan. Iſa. 63.9. The Angel of his preſence ſaved them, and in his Love and Pity redeemed them, and bare them, &c. even thus Believers have the Angel of God's preſence, Chriſt Jeſus, &c. He will bear in his Love and Pity, as by his power, as the tender hearted Mother bears her Child in her Arms: Believers they have Chriſt to overcome their Spiritual Enemies, Chriſt to feed them, and ſupply them with Spiritual Nouriſhment, Bread p. 237from Heaven, and with water of Life, giving by his Spirit; ſo look to Chriſt as the Author and Finiſher of Salvation. As the Cloud and Smoak by day, and the flaming fire by night, &c. was a ſign of God's preſence, ſo God promiſes. Iſa. 4.5. I will create on Mount Sion and her Aſſemblies a Cloud, &c. the ſhining of a flaming Fire; Shining, for Light to the Saints; Flaming, for Terror to the Enemies. Chriſt will be as careful of Believers now, as of the Jews of old; believe that you have the Angel of his preſence, to conduct you to his preſence: and ſo hold faſt your Confidence firm unto the end, and you ſhall receive the end of your Faith, the Salvation of your Souls. Heb. 11.14. Chriſt is paſſed into Heaven as Prieſt, he bare Sin on Earth, but now he is entred without Sin; Jeſus the Son of God. So hold faſt your Profeſſion.

Here's an encouragement, there's no infirmities, but Chriſt hath felt the like. So then come boldly to the Throne of Grace, by Faith go to the Throne of Grace in Heaven, for Grace to help you to Heaven; have Hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven on a Throne of Grace, fixed in Chriſt, ſo ſhall you be drawn nearer and nearer to Heaven.

Section 10.

With fear and trembling. As the Goſpel requires Men to ſet about a work of following Chriſt, and of ſaving their Souls; ſo it gives directions for the way, and ſhews where ſtrength is to be had, &c. Here you have a manifeſtation of the way and manner, in which Salvation is to be wrought out.

p. 238Whence the Doctrine is.

Doct. 3. Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling. Whereas in the former Exhortation ſomewhat ſeemed to be aſcribed to the Will and Power of Man, as if he could do ſomewhat towards the perfecting of his Salvation: This that the Apoſtle adds in theſe, and the following words, takes away all colour and ground of attributing any thing to Nature in this great work. But ſhews it to be the ſole work of God's Grace and Power in Chriſt. And there being a glorious manifeſtation of God in this work, revealed in the Hearts of Believers, that's a ground of fear and trembling.

Now for the opening of this point, I ſhall ſhew, what is not meant by Fear and Trembling.

1. Not a ſlaviſh fear of Judgment. The fear of Chriſtians ſhould be filial, i. e. fear of diſhonouring God ſhould reſtrain from Sin, not fear of being deſtroyed, but an earneſt deſire of being accepted; Not a dread of Vengeance ſhould move you to walk in Holy and Goſpel ways. Chriſtians ſhould not be driven to ſeek Heaven meerly out of fear of Hell; but drawn by the Glory of Heaven, and Pleaſures for evermore in the preſence of God. Not driven by fear of the wrath of the Lamb, but drawn by the Cords of the Love of the Lamb. The fear of Chriſtians ſhould not be the fear of Slaves, but the fear of Sons: Not the fear of Cain. Every one that findeth me ſhall ſlay me, but the fear of Joſeph. Gen. 42.18. I fear God. Exod. 20.20. When Iſrael feared becauſe of the thunderings, &c. Moſes ſaid, Fear p. 239not, for God is come to prove you, that his fear may be before your faces that you ſin not. Fear of Evils God doth not account his Fear, his fear is not Sin. Believers are ſet beyond the fears of Evil; they have no ground to fear wrath and vengeance: 'Tis an Infirmity to do it, and proceeds from weakneſs of Faith. Pſa. 23, 24. 4. E…ery Believer ought to ſay as David: I will fear no Evil. But they may rejoyce in Love, and expect good, and count that all things ſhall work for good to them. In Christ they are carried above all fears of Evil, for their Hearts ſhould not fall down in them, ſo that fear of Evil is not the thing here required; this is forbidden elſewhere, as by Moſes, fear not: ſo not enjoined here.

2. Fear of Doubting and Diſtrust. Trembling oppoſed to Confidence and full Aſſurance is not here meant. Men in a natural condition out of Chriſt, may well be under the tortures and rackings of this fear, they may be in bondage through fear of Death. They may be toſſed with fear and doubting, and ſay, as Rom. 10.5. Who ſhall aſcend into Heaven? Who ſhall deſcend into the Deep? Or, who can tell whether we ſhall go to Heaven or Hell? But for Believers that are in the way of Salvation, they ought not thus to fear; 'tis for ſuch that have no other Spirit, but the Spirit of Bondage; which Believers do not receive: If they are in bondage, 'tis not the Spirit of God, but the unbelief of their own Spirit is the cauſe of it. We have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we may cry Abba Father. They are Sons, having the Spirit of Sons. Now as Chriſt ſays, the Servant abideth not in the Houſe for ever, Joh. 8.35. p. 240He may be caſt forth; and ſo is ſubject to fears: So Men in a natural eſtate, are in danger to be caſt forth into outer darkneſs. But the Son abideth ever, he is beyond fear: ſo Believers are Sons, they are always in L…ve.

The Apoſtle Exhorts. Let us draw near with a true Heart in full aſſurance of Faith, &c. Heb. 10.22. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace. Now if he ſhould exhort to fear and trembling, becauſe of doubtings of Salvation; he ſhould conclude it to himſelf, and make void his other Exhortations. Again, Believers are exhorted to be in a conſtant frame of rejoycing. Rejoyce in the Lord always, Phil. 4.4. We rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God, Rom. 5.1. But fear of doubting is directly contrary to this joy. Of it the Apoſtle ſays. 1 Joh. 4.18. Fear hath torment. But againſt this, that place may be objected. Heb. 4.1. Let us fear, leſt a promiſe being left us of entering into his reſt, any of us ſhould fall ſhort. Where he ſeems to exhort, to fear of doubting, of coming ſhort of Heaven.

For anſwer, Conſider. Becauſe ſome there are that put their Hand to the Plow, and look back again; ſome that have Lamps, and not Oyl; a form, and not the power of Godlineſs; a Faith that is not ſaving, but vain; ſo they may ſeem to ſtand and walk in the way of Life▪ but becauſe they have no more; not true Faith in Chriſt, no… real Intereſt in, nor Union with him, they come ſhort, or come too late; as 'tis ſaid of the fooliſh Virgins. They came when the Door was ſhut. So the Apoſtle Exhorts all to fear, that is to look well to themſelves, and to be ſearching for Salvation; p. 241and not content themſelves with a form, with ſhews and ſhadows; ſo as to think that their Profeſſion and the performance of ſome Duties, is enough to bring Men to Heaven. But they ſhould labour to ſee themſelves ſtated in Grace, intereſted in Chriſt; that ſo they may know that they ſhall not come ſhort. The ground of this Exhortation is the Examples of the Jews, they had the Promiſes, the Goſpel was Preached unto them: that is, Promiſes of reſt in Canaan.

But many came ſhort. Why; They did not believe. Now there are Promiſes of a reſt, a better reſt in Heaven. Heb. 10.34. We have in Heaven, &c. Now fear, &c. that is, look well to your ſelves, take heed you be not deceived, leſt your Hopes prove vain: Believe the Goſpel, the promiſes of Life made in Chriſt, and let the word of hearing be mixt with Faith. Take heed of an evil heart of Unbelief: if the Goſpel be not mixt with Faith, the Promiſes of the Goſpel will not profit you▪ Christ is of none effect to you, if you believe not in him: ſo that this is an Exhortation to thoſe that have not yet received Chriſt in their Hearts, and entertained the Goſpel Promiſes: and fear is to be taken for heed-fulneſs, warineſs, and utmoſt Diligence. If once they believe, and are intereſted in Chriſt, they may be ſure then, that they ſhall not come ſhort.

2. What is to be underſtood by Fear and trembling. For this, conſider the Apoſtle is Exhorting you to work out your Salvation; that is, make it ſure to your ſelves; ſee God in Chriſt, reconciling and ſaving; and deſire that it may be carried p. 242on to perfection. Now amidſt the beholding of God in Chriſt, and deſires of perfect enjoyment; there being ſo much of God declared in this buſineſs, in giving Chriſt; and ſo much of his Glory ſhining forth; you muſt fear, i. e. admire, and ſtand amaz'd at the love of God; giving Chriſt himſelf to a wretched polluted Creature full of Enmity. Tremble at the infinite greatneſs of Divine Love; be humble, and truſt not to your own ſtrength, but to that infinite Grace and Love, in which God comprehends poor Creatures, for carrying on Salvation to perfection.

S…ction 11.

That this may be the better underſtood, conſider theſe particulars.

1. The Salvation of Sinners is the work of the whole Trinity.

Of Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt. God was in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelf. God in Chriſt through his Spirit, ſaves the Elect, and will make them perfectly happy. The Salvation of Sinners is the Father's work by ordination, he predeſtinates them to be conform'd to the Image of his Son; he chuſes to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit. 2 Theſſ. 2.13. 'Tis Christ's work by Mediation, he makes their caſe his own, they being under Sin, under a Curſe; he repreſents their Perſons in undergoing Puniſhment, ſuffering Death, Riſing and Entring into Glory. Believers in him died, roſe, &c. Rom. 6.3 to 11. It's the Spirit's work by renovation. God will have a change, of Carnal to Spiritual; of Sinful to Holy; of Enemies to be made Obedient p. 243to the Lord Jeſus: In a word, to be conformed to the Image of Chriſt. Chriſt's work is to make Peace, and to reconcile to God. The Spirit's is to conform to Chriſt in Grace and Glory, to faſhion Soul and Body like to him. Not that the three Perſons are divided in their Operations, that one doth what another doth not; but this is to be underſtood by way of Appropriation. The Scripture doth Appropriate to each Perſon one work. The Salvation of Sinners is the Father's work by purpoſe, Chriſt's work by price, Redeeming out of Miſery; the Spirit's work by performance, ſhedding abroad God's Infinite Love in the Heart, ſhewing God in Chriſt, God giving Chriſt, Chriſt giving himſelf to ſuffer Death for them: the Spirit works to will and to do, to conſent to be ſaved by Christ, to take Chriſt for Saviour and Lord, and to believe in him as the Author of, and to follow him as the C…tain of Salvation.

2. There's a moſt glorious manifestation of God in this work. All God's works are God's manifeſtations: they are his viſible appearances and out-goings. The Creation was the firſt manifeſtation of God; The Heavens declare his Glory, and ths Firmament ſhew his handy work, Pſa. 19▪ 1. Rom. 1. His eternal Power, and Godhead is ſeen by the things that are made, as 'tis ſaid of Chriſt. Joh. 2.11. This beginning of Miracles he did, and manifested forth his Glory. The moſt glorious manifeſtation of God is in Chriſt, the Word being made Fleſh, the fulneſs of the Godhead in him being made Fleſh, made Lord and King. He has Love, Power, and Wiſdom, to ſet up his Kingdom, p. 244and to make his Enemies his Foot-ſtool. This is the greatneſs of Gods works, Godman being made by this work; that is, the Union of God and Man in one Perſon, the effect of this work.

The ſecond Glorious Manifeſtation next to this, is in ſaving Sinners by Chriſt. He ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in them that b…lieve. A Manifeſtation of Power, exceeding greatneſs of Power. As great a work to ſave a Sinner, as to raiſe Chriſt from the dead! Of Wiſdom, in finding out a way to ſave Sinners, ſo as that Juſtice might be ſatisfied, and love be abundantly diſcovered; an infinite Satisfaction, an infinite Obedience, and an infinite price to be paid. Where ſhould ſuch be found; Men were not able to give it, Angels could not bring it. The Son of God became Man and Mediator, an infinite Perſon undertakes to lay …down his Life, and to yield Obedience; and ſo an infinite Price is paid, and infinite Obedience is yielded, &c. Here the Wiſdom of God is moſt clearly ſeen. And,

Laſtly. Here's a moſt glorious diſcovery of Mercy and Grace; he makes known the Riches of his Grace on the Veſſels of Mercy. When Sinners a…e Enemies and nothing lovely, God loves the Elect, ſo as to give Chriſt to taſte Death for them; and Christ loves not his Life to Death. He that was in the form of God humbles himſelf, and puts himſelf into the miſerable condition of Sinners, that he might tranſlate them into his own Glorious Eſtate; whom he will make like to himſelf, and partakers with him; of p. 245the Divine Nature, and of all his Glorious Priviledges.

3. This Glorious manifestation of God in the Soul, cannot but work fear and trembling in it. Fear will be the effect of the diſcoveries of God to the Creature. There is ſo much Majeſty, Glory, and Greatneſs in it, that will awe the Heart of the Creature. When God appears in the Glory of his Juſtice, and Almighty Power, Then the wicked ſhall fear. The Kings and Captains, &c. ſhall cry to the Mountains, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. And the diſcovery of the infinite goodneſs of God will work fear in the Hearts of the Saints; they ſhall fear the Lord and his Goodneſs, becauſe his goodneſs is the goodneſs of God, that is, infinite and exceeding great goodneſs to ſinful nothing Creatures. The apprehenſion of this ſhould work fear. Hoſ. 3.5.

Section 12.

Now this fear conſiſts,

1. In admiration of this Glory reveal'd. Such Wiſdom and Grace, that if it be apprehended, will raiſe the Soul in holy admiration of God. David ſaid, he was fearfully and wonderfully made. Pſa. 139.14. In reſpect of the excellent frame of the Body, ſuch variety of parts, and ſo fitly compoſed; therein may be ſeen ſo much of the Wiſdom and Power of God as may make the Heart wonder and fear that God that made him: ſo Perſons that are ſav'd, are fearfully and wonderfully ſav'd; if it be reveal'd in the Soul, how this work is undertaken and carried by the Trinity; The Father loving from Eternity, Chriſt dying in the fulneſs of time; and the Spirit living, p. 246and acting in the Soul, making it his own Habitation; Sinners become the Apple of God's Eye, precious, &c. Christ's Members, Joynt Heirs with Christ, Sinners having acceſs to God, and are partakers of the Divine Nature. What a fearful and wonderful thing is this? So much favour ſhewn by God to a Sinner, when there is ſo vaſt a diſproportion betwixt him and God, may well beget admiration. When Saul ſaid he would give David his Daughter to Wife. 1 Sam. 18.18. He replys, What am I? What is my Life, or my Father's Family in Iſrael, that I ſhould be Son in Law to the King? The apprehenſion of the great diſproportion betwixt him and Saul, was the cauſe of his ſo much admiring at the favour that was ſhewn him; ſo there is the greateſt diſproportion betwixt God and Sinners. As Men, and as Sinners. As Men, they are not ſo much as a drop to the Ocean. And as Sinners, as great as is between Light and Darkneſs, &c. That ſuch Creatures ſhould be comprehended in love, and brought near to God▪ &c. What am I? and what is my Life, that I ſhould be brought hitherto? Deut. 28.58. Thou ſhalt fear this great and dreadful name, the Lord thy God. God that is Infinite! Thy God that art a poor and inconſiderable Creature! God that is ſo holy, thy God that art ſo unholy! God that is Juſt, and will not clear the Guilty, thy God that haſ… ſo much abounded with Sin, clearing thee of Guilt that haſt ſo much abounded with Guilt! This Name, This is dreadful! this is a wonderful, and dreadful Manifeſtation of God: As the Pſalmiſt ſays. They that know thy Name, they will put their truſt in thee. So they that know p. 247this Name, The Lord thy God, will fear and tremble. They cannot but admire at ſuch Infinite Grace; when the Son of God was made Man, the Word made Fleſh, and Crown'd, &c. This was a dreadful Manifeſtation of God! There's cauſe to admire at the Grace that was ſhewn to the humane Nature of Chriſt; whence, as the Apoſtle ſays. Heb. 2.6. One teſtifies, What is Man that thou art mindful of him, &c. Thou Crowneſt him with Glory and Honour. And Chriſt himſelf is ſaid to fear as Man: So as Man he is moſt deeply ſenſible of, and affected with the Grace ſhewn to the humane nature. So a Believer may ſay, What am I, that God ſhould be ſo mindful of me? That he ſhould viſit me with Salvation-love? That I, that am the loweſt, and worſt of Creatures fit for Hell, and to be a Companion for Devils, ſhould be Co-Heir with Chriſt, and partaker with him, of all his Glory?

2. In Humility. The diſcovery of ſuch Grace and Goodneſs, will bring down high Imaginations; and beget lowlineſs of Mind; it will convince the Creature of its own emptineſs, and nothingneſs: This hath been the effect of the appearance of God, both to Men and Angels. Iſa. 6.2. The S raphins had ſix Wings, with twain they covered their Faces, and with twain their Feet. Shewing, that beholding the Infinite Glory of God, they were as it were aſhamed of themſelves; of their own emptineſs, and the great diſproportion betwixt God and themſelves: that they were far from high mindedneſs, and boaſting in any perfection; they ſaw that what they had, they had from God; and that perfection p. 248they had, came Infinitely ſhort of God; and ſo rejoyce in him, and not in themſelves. And ſo many Saints. Iſaiah cried, Woe is me! I am unclean, for mine Eyes have ſeen the King, the Lord of Hoſt, &c. And Peter ſaid, when the Glory of Christ's Godhead appeared in that Miracle. Depart from me, for I am a ſinful Man, O Lord. An Expreſſion of Humility, and of an opinion of his own unworthineſs: even ſo the Infinite Grace, and Love of God in Chriſt's appearing, this begets Humility, this puls Pride out of the Throne, and high mindedneſs: Pride falls before the diſcoveries of God in the Soul: This is that eſpecially which is to be underſtood in this place, by Fear and Trembling. The Scripture uſes this Expreſſion ſometimes, and ſtill it ſignifies Humility, as Pſa. 2.11. Serve the Lord with Fear, and rejoice with Trembling Be humble in your Service, truſt not to your own Strength; be humble in your Rejoycings, take not the Glory to your ſelves: ſay that you are nothing, rejoyce in God, and give Glory to him. Again. 1 Cor. 2.3. I was with you in weakneſs, and fear, and much trembling: that is, I did not boaſt my ſelf to be ſome body. I was not with you in a proud and ſtately deportment; I did not ſeek Glory, with oſtentation of Eloquence; but I carried my ſelf with humility amongſt you. Eph. 6.5. Servants be Obedient to your Maſters with fear and trembling; that is, be humble and ſubmiſſive, not proud and ſtout againſt them: ſo work out your Salvation with fear and trembling, and be cloathed ſtill with Humility, both in Heart and Life; be far from high mindedneſs, and carnal Confidence; p. 249think not to travel towards Heaven in your own ſtrength. Rom. 11.20. Be not high minded but fear. So ſee the love of God, let your Eye be fixed on Chriſt, who died to reconcile, and lives to ſave you. Behold the Trinity carrying on the work; the Father loving from all Eternity, Chriſt mediating; and rejoyce in the firſt fruits of the Spirit; believe that the Spirit of Chriſt that's dwelling in you, ſhall renew and Sanctify you, till Sin be wholy aboliſhed; and ſhall quicken your Mortal Bodies, and make them like to Christ's glorious Body: and know that you can do nothing of your ſelves; and ſo you ſhall work out your Salvation with fear and trembling. So that Fear and Trembling is to be taken here.

1. As oppoſed to Hardneſs, Stupidity and Inſenſibleneſs. That when God manifeſts forth the Glory of his Infinite Goodneſs in Chriſt unto Sinners, the Heart is no way affected or moved herewith, a fearing and a trembling Heart, that's here meant is a Heart affected with the ſhining forth of God's Glory in Christ. God that commanded Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs, hath ſhined in our Hearts, giving of the light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt. Now when the Heart is affected herewith and raiſed in admiration, then it fears and trembles.

2. As oppoſed to high mindedneſs, to high thoughts of a Man's ſelf, of his worth and goodneſs. A fearing and trembling heart, is a heart ſenſible of its weakneſs and nothingneſs,

3. As oppoſed to Carnal Confidence, to truſting in a Man's own Righteouſneſs and Power; as if a Man could merit Heaven by his Righteouſneſs: p. 250or travel thither in his own ſtrength.

Section. 13.

Uſe 1. Is of Information. By this it appears, that many there are, to whom the way of Life and Salvation is not diſcovered: All that think they are travelling to Heaven are not indeed going thither. Many there be that think they are working out their Salvation, but there be but few that work it with fear and trembling▪ This is the temper of thoſe that God hath brought into the way of Life; their hearts are fearing and trembling hearts; hearts admiring at the Riches of Divine Grace; hearts that are humble, and broken off from Carnal Confidence: But how few among the multitude that would be thought to be travelling towards Heaven, have theſe fearing and trembling Hearts? Rom. 3.17, 18. The way of Peace have they not known, there's no fear of God before their Eyes. Christ is the way of Peace; Life and Salvation is the wo…k of the whole Trinity. If the way of Peace be known, and the Trinity be look'd on as engag'd in this work, it will work fear: but the fear of God is not before the Eyes of many; and ſo the way of Peace have they not known. As many as are without fear and Holy trembling, (I do not mean ſlaviſh fear, but reveren…ial fear) are yet ignorant of the way of Life.

1. As many as have not their Hearts deeply affected with, and ſ…nſible of the Glory of Divine Grace and Goodneſs in Chriſt to Sinners. As many as do not fear the Lord and his Goodneſs, as many as hea…ing yet do not taſte that the Lord is gracious. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſome that counted the Blood of the Covenant as a common thing; they p. 251not apprehending the price and value of it, So many there are that look on the glad Tidings of the Goſpel, the diſcoveries of Divine Grace, and of the Infinite Love of the Lord Jeſus, but as common things; and are no way taken with the Glory of the Goſpel, and the Riches of Divine Grace therein diſcovered, This inſenſibleneſs of Heart towards the precious things of the Goſpel, this unaffected Spirit bewrays their Ignorance of the way of Life: and what a common thing it is for Perſons to make light of the Goſpel, and to neglect their Salvation that is ſpoken therein; nay, to deſpiſe the Goſpel, and to diſcover enmity againſt it? There's nothing more contrary to fearing Goodneſs, than the making light of, and deſpiſing Goodneſs: and there's nothing more common than that. And what greater Evidence can there be than this, that Men are not in the way of Salvation? Hoſ. 8.12. I have written unto them the great things of my Law, but they were counted a ſtrange thing, &c.

2. As many as are full of high thoughts of themſelves. As the diſcovery of this, that Salvation is the work of the Trinity; the beholding of God in Chriſt will bring down high thoughts, ſo where high Thoughts are in the Throne, and an opinion of Righteouſneſs in Men's ſelves, this bewrays an Ignorance of the way of Life. They do not fear and tremble, &c.

3. As many as work uncleaneſs with greedineſs, as freely yield up themſelves Servants to Luſts; fearing and trembling doth not conſiſt with ſuch freedom in Sinning: the fear of goodneſs will reſtrain from wickedneſs. A trembling at the Infinite p. 252Glory of Divine Grace, will teach us to deny all Ungodlineſs. So thought the Pſalmiſt: Pſa. 36.1. The Tranſgreſſion of the wicked ſaith within mine Heart, there is no fear of God before their Eyes. There is no fear of God in them that delight ſo much in wickedneſs; there's no trembling at the Glory and Majeſty of God; where there is ſo much delight in walking contrary to God. They have not learnt Chriſt as the way of Life, that have not put off the old ſinful Converſation.

4. As many as do not fear an Oath. Where there is the fear of that great and dreadful Name, The Lord thy God; where there is trembling in admiration of the Glory of God; there can't but be fearing of an Oath. Where Mouths are ſo full of Oaths, Hearts are void of Fear. They do not reverence the Name of God in their Hearts, that do ſo abominably prophane it with their Tongues: Vain ſwearing and fearing of God do not conſiſt together. Eccl. 9.2. A continued cuſtom of prophaning the great and dreadful Name of God, and working out Salvation with fear and trembling, are things inconſiſtent. He counts the Name of God but a common Name; he hath very ſlight thoughts of God, that takes his Name in vain,

Section 14.

Uſe 2. Exhort. To conſider well this that the Apostle ſays. Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Believers ſhould have full aſſurance of their Salvation, and great confidence that God will carry it on, and yet fear and tremble. This fear is not contrary to, but the Fruit of Faith and p. 253Confidence: The more is known of Divine Love and Grace, the more we ſhould fear. This fear and trembling ſhall continue, even when the Saints are made perfect, and their Salvation accompliſh'd. The Seraphims fear and tremble in the beholding of Infinite Glory; and Chriſt as Man fears and trembles at the Glory of the Godhead dwelling in him. This is the beſt frame of Heart, a fearing and trembling frame, Reverencing, Admiring, and Adoring the Infinite Greatneſs and Goodneſs of God to poor Sinners. Hereby God is acknowledged in his greatneſs, and advanced; and the Creature brought low, and its nothingneſs is acknowledged, amidſt the boldneſs of acceſs we have. Fear and Trembling is planted in the hearts of Believers, that the infinite diſtance, and diſproportion betwixt God and the Creatures might be acknowledged. So endeavour to abound in this excellent grace of fear. God is called the Fear of Iſaac, he was the God of Iſaac. So ſaid God, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Iſaac, and Jacob, and the fear of Iſaac. So God your God in Chriſt, God appointing you to Salvation in Chriſt, ſhould be your fear. Fear, ſo as to adore his Glory, admire his Grace, and fear to do any thing contrary to his Glory. Take heed of a ſenceleſs benummed Spirit, unaffected with the glorious diſcoveries of the Divine goodneſs; take heed of high-mindedneſs, and of carnal confidence: be like the Church that walked in the Fear of the Lord. So walk towards Heaven in fear; run your Race in fear and trembling: you are running towards God, the preſence of God; p. 254to ſee him in Glory. God hath given you ſome glimpſes of Glory, ſo fear the more you know of it, and the nearer you …raw to God, fear the more ſtill, and be the more affected, 1 Pet. 1.17. If ye call on the Father, paſs the time of your ſojourning here in fear, foraſmuch as you are Redeemed with the precious blood of Chriſt. There is a duty and the ground of it, becauſe you can call God Father, God that is infinite in glory, ſo infinitely diſtant: can you call him your Father? What fear and reverence doth this call for from you? And how ſhould you be affected with this unſpeakable goodneſs? And were you Redeem'd with precious blood? How ſhould this goodneſs be admir'd and ador'd? So paſs your time here in fear, all God's works are God's manifeſtations, and all God's manifeſtations are a ground of fear, Rev. 14.7. Fear God and worſhip him that made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and the Fountains of Waters. So fear him that gave Christ to dye for you when you were Enemies, that loves you when you are Sinners. Here's a greater work than making the Sea and Fountains of Waters; the opening a Fountain for ſin and uncleanneſs; the Fountain of Chriſt'… blood. Fear ſo as not to ſin, Exod. 20.20. Let his fear be before your faces that you ſin not. Let the fear of God ſingly, without any other conſiderations reſtrain you from ſin. As Levit. 19.14. Thou ſhalt not curſe the Deaf that can't hear thee curſe, nor put a ſtumbling bl ck before the Blind, but thou ſhalt fear thy God. That is, if you may ſin and conceal it from men▪ yet let the fear of God reſtrain thee from ſin. Fear ſo as to yield that glory, ſervice, and obedience, which p. 255the greatneſs, grace, and goodneſs of God calls for. This is a moſt excellent grace. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wiſdom. 'Tis the moſt comely frame of the Creature, that knows God; as praiſe is comely for the upright, ſo …ear is comely: God delights in this temper. The proud he beholds afar off: ſuch as fear and tremble he dwells with, Pſ. 34 8. O taſte and ſee that God is gracious. To give Chriſt, to give Heaven, what infinite goodneſs is this? v. 9. O fear the Lord ye his Saints, &c.

Sect. 15.

Work out, &c. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do, &c. The Apoſtles Exhortation, work ou… &c. doth not argue any free will in Man, or power to ſave himſelf. Man conſidered in his pure natural ſtate is wholly dead to this work, he hath no will to be ſaved, and is without ſtrength to work it out. A will to be ſaved and of doing any thing in the way of Life, is of God's working. All are exhorted, becauſe 'tis the duty of all to will to be ſaved; and to walk in the way of Life: and all in Adam had once power, but as all ſinned in him, ſo in him they laſt the power. As for the Elect, God out of his mee… grace and love, intending to make known the Riches of his Glory, on the Veſſels of Mercy: works in their hearts a will and conſent, to be ſaved by Chriſt; and a walking in obedience to Chriſt, who is the Author and Captain of Salvation, which is here meant by willing and doing.

So theſe words contain the ground, why Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling. p. 256Look on it as the ſole proper work of God, ſee God willing it and Christ working it out in himſelf; and God working in the heart: here's infinite grace and power, tremble at the manifeſtation of it. Believe that your Salvation ſhall be wrought out, and tremble at the glorious way in which it is wrought. 'Tis God that works, ſo work it out with fear.

Doct: 1. They are willing and doing Chriſtians that are in the way of Life. They will and do, that are in the way of Life; they will good, and do good, they will to take Chriſt, and they will Chriſt ſhould ſave them: they will Chriſt ſhould reign over them; and are careful to do the will of Chriſt. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, Pſ. 110.3. They are willing to receive of Chriſt, and are willing to give to Chriſt; they are willing to receive grace, and willing to give glory. Willing to live by Chriſt, and willing to live to Chriſt. This is the will of a ſound Chriſtian, Cant. 6.12. Mr Soul ſet me on the Chariot of Amminadab, i. e. of my willing people. That which the Apoſtle ſpeaks in relation the duty of miniſtring to the Saints, 2 Cor. 8.10, 11. you may apply to the whole duty of Chriſtians. It is expedient for you to do, and alſo to be forward. That is to do good, and do it willingly. Now ſo perform the doing of it, that as there was a readineſs to will, ſo there may be a performance alſo. The ſum is this▪ let Will and Action go together, perform willingly, and will performingly. Let there not be performance without a willing mind: nor a willing mind without performance of that which is good.

p. 257Sect. 16.

Now for opening this point. Firſt ſhall be ſhew'd, how and in what reſpects, ſuch as are in the way of Life are willing Chriſtians?

Now they are willing Chriſtians in two reſpects.

1. In reſpect of conſent of heart to be ſav'd by Chriſt. They are made to will this. To receive Chriſt as he is tendered in the Goſpel, as the Way, Truth and Life. As Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption. Chriſt complains of the Jews, How oft would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens und…r her Wings, bu… ye would not? Ye refuſe to be gathered, and to be ſaved by me. Chriſt ſays, I am come that they might have life, and complains of the Jews, ye will not come to me that you might have life. Your hearts do not conſent to the taking of me as li…e. Now what the Jews refuſed and would not, that …ch as are in the way of life do conſent unto. They are willing to be gathered by Chriſt. They diſclaim a Self-ſufficiency, Merit, or Righteouſneſs, and will have none but Christ. Chriſt my P…ace. Buy of my Gold, ſays Chriſt: I offer it and will freely give, to thoſe that are willing to take what I offer. Now to Buy, is nothing but to conſent to take what Chriſt offers. A Will to embrace Chriſt in all his fulneſs, and glorious excellencies. This ſee in Peter, To whom ſhall we go? We will abide in thee, and with thee: we will ſeek life no other way. This Will was in Paul, I deſire to be found in him, not having mine own Righteouſneſs. God offers a Covenant, he is ready to bind himſelf to men: he calls on men to take p. 258hold on the Covenant, to take hold on the Promi- Priviledges, Grace, Blood, and Bleſſings of the Covenant. Now this is to take hold of the Covenant: Conſent to God's Covenant, be willing it ſhould be Ratified, and ſtand firm, betwixt God and you; that God may be yours and you his. Con…ent to take God in Christ as your God and Father, and Conſent to be his in Chriſt. There is none good but one, that is God. God in Chriſt the Supreme good: then the will is made perfect, when it cloſes in with God as the Supreme good. Now this upright Will, this Conſent of heart, is wrought in all that are in the way of Life. Obſerve the ſteps by which Salvation is wrought. Firſt, the Father wills it, he chuſes to Life in Chriſt. And wills that the Son of God ſhould be made Man, and dye, &c. This Chriſt was willing to do. Lo I come to do thy will. Then the Spirit is given to the Elect, he makes their hearts to Will to be ſaved by Chriſt; and draws forth a Conſen… from the heart to be ſaved by grace in Chriſt, and no other way: then God and the Creature both Will it.

God works two ways, for ſaving the Elect.

1. God was in Chriſt reconciling the World unto himſelf. That is, God gave Chriſt. Chriſt Satisfied his Juſtice: he puniſhed ſin on Chriſt, and God did accept of what Chriſt did as perfect ſatisfaction. And God was in Chriſt. That is, while Chriſt was Mediating, Redeeming, Dying, and Riſing, God was in him. Hereby he was ſtrengthened for the work, and ſupported in it; hereby the price of his blood is of infinite Value: his Obedience of infinite Merit, ſufficient to Redeem out of p. 259Miſery, and to purchaſe an Inheritance of Glory.

2. God in the heart perſwading to live to God in Chriſt, and to accept of Life that is offered. Thus drawing in their hearts to God as the Life of the Souls. God in the heart reconciling it to himſelf, making it willing to have Chriſt rather than the World: and God rather than the Creature.

2. In reſpect of Conſent of heart to ſerve God, in Chriſt. The heart of a Chriſtian is thus made willing, that God's will ſhould be its | Rule above its own, it is made Subordinate unto it, as Iſrael ſaid when the Law was given. All that the Lord hath ſpoken we will do. There was their conſent that the Lord ſhould Rule them, and they would fear him. So this is the will of a Chriſtian under the Covenant of Grace, and in the way of Life. All that the Lord ſpeaks I will do. Lord (ſays Paul) What wilt thou have me to do? The Angels and Saints cryed with a loud Voice, &c. Expreſſing their willingneſs that Chriſt ſhould be honoured as King, Rev. 5.11, 12.

There are two things to be obſerved, about the tenders of Chriſt in the Goſpel unto Believers.

1. The fulneſs of God that's held forth in him, even his Blood, the Way to it: that is, Faith in his Blood, Mediation, and Interceſſion: hereby is acceſs to God.

2. The Terms on which Sinners muſt take him. For that, Chriſt ſays, If any Man will follow me, let him deny himſelf, Self-righteouſneſs, Pleaſure, Profit, and any thing that ſtands in oppoſition to Chriſt. Let him take up his Croſs, and chuſe to p. 260ſuffer rather than ſin: and loſe any thing rather then me, Math. 16.24. He muſt love Chriſt more than all things; then he will conſent to leave all things for Chriſt: So let him follow me, and go whither I lead him, walking in ſuch ways as I command him. Then the Man doth will uprightly, when he conſents to take Chriſt in both theſe reſpects. There is fulneſs of good in him, and I will take him, and depend on him for every good thing. This ſhall be my Hope, Joy, Reſt, and Life for ever. All good is treaſured up in Chriſt, the fulneſs of the Godhead is in him. He ſeeks no further, I have found him whom my Soul loveth, and am abundantly ſatisfied with him. I am Empty, Poor, Blind, and Naked: I will buy of him Gold, White Rayment, Eye-Salve, &c. And he hath bought my Life, bought my Service, and he is worthy of it. And I am not my own, I will glorify him. This is the will of a ſound Chriſtian that is in the way of Life.

2. They are doing Christians, Math. 7.21. Not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. He that is travelling in the way towards, Heaven, is careful to do the will of the Father in Heaven. Doing his will is not the way, ſo as Chriſt is the way; but ſuch as are in the way are doing Chriſtians. He that looks on God as the Supreme Good, can't but look on the will of God as the Supreme Rule; and the Glory of God as the Supreme End: and if God be in the heart, he will be in the Life. God is ſeen in his doings, he that dwells in God will work in p. 261God; and will bring forth Fruit unto God; will abound in the work of the Lord, and their labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Abound in Zeal for God's honour, fruitfulneſs in the work of Righteouſneſs: Labour in the Lord, in the will of God, live Godly, Righteouſly, and Soberly, and you… labour ſhall not be in vain. Altho' your work deſerve not a Reward, yet God will not forget your work of Faith, and labour of Love. So Chriſtians that are in the way of Life, muſt be doing in the Lord; ſuch as are travelling towards Heaven muſt have their converſation in Heaven: they that walk towards God, muſt walk with God.

Sect. 17.

Uſe. By this it appears that few there be that walk in the way of Life. Few there be that WILL like Chriſtians, and that DO like Chriſtians; that act like ſuch that are in the way of Life. How few that ſet their Souls to the Goſpel that is full of precious Promiſes of tenders of Mercy, it holds forth the glorious things of Chriſt: his infinite fulneſs to Sinners, and their freedom of acceſs to it. But are not theſe by moſt counted a ſtrange thing? Are they not made light of? How rare is it to find a plenary, and full conſent of heart to the proffers of the Goſpel? A full will to take Chriſt and to enjoy God as the Supreme Good. Hoſ. 5.4. They will not frame their doings to turn to God. So you that follow the courſe of the World, that wallow in the pollutions of the World, as Drunkeneſs, &c. Your doings are not framed like the doings, of thoſe that are turned towards God; that go towards Heaven p. 262with your Faces thitherwards: your Faces, your outward aſpects, and appearances are not thitherwards; if the hearts be thitherwards, then the Face and outward appearance are ſo alſo. The will is not right in many: as Particularly.

1: You that allow your ſelves in Sin, and conſent to Luſt. What I do, ſaid Paul, I allow not: That is, in doing any thing that's contrary to the will of God he did not allow himſelf. Now if you allow your ſelves in Sin, if you Sin with a ſecret allowance of Heart, that is contrary to the will of a true Chriſtian. The Fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, if you conſent to the Fleſh, and have no luſting againſt it, then your will, and conſent is not the will of thoſe that are in the way of Life.

2. You that delight not in the Law of God after the Inner Man, your Wills are not upright. That Will that's ſpoken of in the Text, is not wrought in you. Rom. 7.2…. I delight in the Law of God after the Inner Man. There's a ſuitableneſs in my will to the will of God: the will of God's working is, that the will of God ſhould be the Rule, or that it ſhould ſtand. The Will of God's working delights in the will of God, and rejoices in acknowledgement of his Highneſs. Iſa. 13.3. Let God be acknowledged as God, and be feared and loved, &c. his will is againſt Sin, and 'tis for Holineſs. Rom. 7.16. If I do that which I allow not, I conſent to the Law that it is good. There is conſent to the Law, and diſſent from ſin; for where there's no conſent betwixt your Wills and the Law, your wills are not thoſe in the Text.

p. 263The Will that's mentioned in the Text, is

1. A Will altogether perſwaded to embrace Chriſt. Not like Agrippa's Will, almoſt perſwaded; not an imperfect Will, but a thorow Will; a Will that conſents to God as the ſupreme good; conſents to come to Chriſt as the way of Life, to take hold of Chriſt as the one thing neceſſary, and as moſt lovely; and to walk in the way of the Goſpel as the beſt way. Not like ths young Man's Will, he was willing to follow Chriſt, but not to depart from his Riches to follow Chriſt: He did love Chriſt, but his Riches more than Chriſt; this is but an imperfect, an almoſt perſwaded Will. Here was not a full conſent, I will take Chriſt whatever it coſts me, though it coſt me Lands, and Life, &c. This thorow Will, this willing altogether to take Chriſt, and to obey the Goſpel, is the Will of ſuch a one as is in the way of Life. Whoever go thorow to Heaven, have this thorow Will. The young man that was but almoſt perſwaded and had but a half Will and Conſent to take Chriſt, was but almoſt come to the Kingdom of Heaven; not far, but almoſt willing, &c. and ſo but almoſt a Chriſtian. Math. 12.34.

2. A Will altogether perſwaded to take a whole Chriſt: a whole Will to have a whole Chriſt. Christ as Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption. Chriſt to Redeem, and Chriſt to Reign over. I count all things but Dung to win Chriſt, &c. Every thing in Chriſt is precious to a perfect Will. As his Humiliation ſo his Exaltation over them: as his Obedience imputed … his Dominion exerciſed over them. His Mouth is moſt ſweet, yea he is altogether lovely, in every part, p. 264in every Office. As the Will in the Text is not divided, ſo not a dividing Will: as a Will not divided, halting between Chriſt and the World; ſo not a Will dividing Chriſt, parting his Offices; which is a grea…er evil than parting his Garments. As not half perſwaſion to have Chriſt, ſo not a perſwaſion to have but half Chriſt; but a whole Will, to have a whole Chriſt.

3. A Will that's altogether towards Heaven; that is, that conſents to this, that Heavenly things are better than Earthly, Eternal better than Temporal; and to be with Chriſt, is better than to be in the World: 'Tis better to be in Heaven than in the midſt of Earthly Pleaſures and Delights.

2. For Doing conſider, that their doing who are in the way of Life, is

1. A doing the will of God. When the Will is that God's Will may ſtand, there will be an anſwerable doing. Such as are in the Fleſh and broad way, have their Converſation in Luſts, but ſuch as are in the narrow way, have their Converſation in the Will of God. Rom. 12.2. Be not conformed to this World, but be ye transformed, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. An upright mind is that which proves, and finds out the will of God, and is able to diſtinguiſh it, and ſay this it is. An upright will is that likes it, and approves it, and conſents to it; as 'tis Holy, Juſt and Good. The doings of Chriſtians, the juſt and upright doings, are obeying the good and acceptable and perfect Will of God.

p. 2652. Obeying the Law as good, 1. becauſe 'tis better to obey the Law than to obey Luſts; God's will, than our own; not for our good only, but becauſe the Law is good; being drawn by goodneſs of Obedience, more than by the goodneſs that comes from Obedience; becauſe 'tis the Beauty of the Creature to be in ſubjection to the Creator.

2 Becauſe Obedience is acceptable, and approved of God. Obedience pleaſes God, though it does not pacify him. To do goood and to diſtribute forget not; for with ſuch Sacrifices God is well pleaſed. Heb. 13.16.

There's a double Head of Sacrifices.

1. A Propitiatory, purifying Sacrifice, that prevents diſpleaſure from breaking out becauſe of Sin: as the Sacrifice of Christ offered on the Croſs, and none but this.

2. A Sacrifice that God is well pleaſed with, and accepts of, when he is made propitious to a Perſon by Christ's Sacrifice, and by his Spirit works Obedience. Thus doing good is a Sacrifice of Praiſe which God is well pleaſed with. This is that which moves a ſound Chriſtian to do good; becauſe it pleaſes God: this is an excellent temper. Chriſt pleaſed not himſelf. So Chriſtians muſt not pleaſe themſelves; it is God's Prerogative to do whatever pleaſes him; but 'tis Piety in Chriſtians, to do whatever pleaſes God. This is the will of God, even your Sanctification: God's wil… is that Believers ſhould be Holy, doing good

3. Obeying the perfect will of God; that is,

p. 2661. There's no Law, nothing that God wills to be done, that a ſound Chriſtian rejects; although he fails in many points, yet he rejects not, nor deſpiſes any point of the Law. The Carnal Mind is enmity againſt, and makes void the Law, but the found Mind does not; he does not Sin out of contempt of the Law, but through infirmity of the Fleſh. As renewed, there's a delight In the whole will of God. I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man. Rom. 7.

2. The doings of thoſe that are in the way of Life, are not for Life, but from Life. i. e. They do not this and that Duty, they love not the Saints, they abſtain not from the Pollution of the World, that they may live in their doings: their doings proceed from Life, and are not to procure Life. They know that Chriſt hath done enough to procure Life, he hath obeyed the Law, and undergone the Curſe of it, for Righteouſneſs to them: they look on Chriſt as their Life, and not on their doings as their Life. They do not to deſerve by their doings, but becauſe Christ hath deſerved their doing…. They do not count themſelves worthy by their Service, but do account Chriſt worthy of their Service and Obedience. Their doings are not for Love, but …hey flow from Love. They ſerve not in the oldneſs of the Letter, but in the newneſs of the Spirit: their Service is not old Covenant, but new Covenant Service.

Sect. 18.

Doct. 2. A will to embrace ſperitual good offered, or to do ſpiritual good enjoyn'd, is of God's working. Eph. 2.10. We are his workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works. A willing and doing p. 267Chriſtian that's in the way of Life, is God's workmanſhip▪ a Mind …i…led with the Knowledge of God in Chriſt, filled with his Glory ſhining in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt; a Will drawn out to God in Chriſt, in ſweet embraces of his Love, full of ſpiritual diſpoſitions and deſires, living in God, and living to God; a life full of good works, abounding in the fruits of Righteouſneſs to the Glory of God, is the ſpecial and peculiar work of God. As God at firſt created the World out of nothing, there was no prae…xiſting matter which God did make uſe of, in forming Creatures out of it, they did all come forth from God, and ſpring out from his Divine Power and God-head, who ſaid, Let there be, and they were. So conſider a Man as ſpiri…ualiz'd, his Heart ſet into a ſpiritual frame, enjoying God as his life, and living to him: thus he is made out of nothing, there is no prae-exiſtent will or diſpoſition, to embrace good offered, to do any good that is commanded, out of which he is educed. God doth not by moral perſwaſions only ſtir up any good in him, or blow up Coals of ſpiritual good in him, that are lying hid under the aſhes of Carnality and Corruption, like a Talent wrapt up in a Napkin, and hid in the Earth; but by a Phyſical work, creating Life out of Death in the Soul: he doth not bring a greater Light out of a leſſer, in the Converſion of a Sinner, but commands Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs, as in the firſt Creation; bringing in Spiritual and Divine Light where there was none. He doth not bring forth a full, perfect and compleat will of Embracing Chriſt, and of laying hold on the Covenant, out of a Velleity p. 268or imperfect will towards ſpiritual good, towards the embracing of the Lord Jeſu…: but in all that are in the way of Life, he creates ſuch a will out of nothing; or out of that which is worſe than nothing; Enmity, Contrariety, &c.

God doth not bring perfect Health out of Sickneſs, Strength out of Infirmity, Soundneſs out of Wounds, Life out of an half Death, as the good Samaritan did, by pouring in Oyl and Wine into the wounds of him that was half dead: but God in the Converſion of Sinners, bringeth Life out of Death, abſolute, perfect Death. He creates Holineſs out of nothing; where there is nothing but ſinfulneſs, Purity out of nothing but Impurity, Obedience out of nothing but Diſobedience: So this work is called a new Creation. 2 Cor. 5.17. There is nothing of the Spiritual Man remaining in them. The influence of God on the Souls of Sinners in their Converſion is not like the influence of the Sun only upon the Earth that is the Mother of Trees, Plants, Herbs, &c. the womb in which they are begotten; there's a ſeminal Power and Vertue i… the Earth to bring them forth; but that is weak and inefectual in it ſelf, till the Sun by its enlivening and quickning influence, doth ſtrengthen and draw forth that ſeminal Vertue: So there's no ſeed of Grace, no root of Holineſs, no ſeed of God, till God ſow his Spirit in the Heart; he is the Well of Water that is ſpringing up to everlaſting Life.

For Explication of this point, before I come to the proof, I ſhall diſtinguiſh, firſt of Good, which is two fold.

p. 2691. Carnal, Outward, Worldly good, good that pertains to the Body and outward Man. As the enjoyment of the things of the World in a ſufficiency, for Food and Raiment to preſerve the Natural Life. This good Men can embrace, and they can be diligent in their ſeveral Callings to get this Worlds good.

2. There's a ſpiritual good that appertains to the Soul, which is the life, perfection, and peace of the Soul. Eternal, Everlaſting good, Meat that endures to everlaſting life: That is an All-ſufficient God. There's none good but one, that is God: a God reconciled, believed, and enjoyed in Chriſt. This good a natural Man cannot will or deſire, becauſe 'tis not poſſible for him to apprehend it: There's no ſuitableneſs in Man for it.

2. I ſhall diſtinguiſh of God's working, which is two fold.

.I In the old Creation. So 1. God gives to Creatures a being, ſome of one kind, and ſome of another kind, and puts ſeveral faculties and diſpoſitions into them to work in ſeveral ways, and to bring forth Fruits of ſeveral kinds. He Created the Sun and filled it with Light, and put into it a faculty, and diſpoſition to run a race in the Heavens, and to be the Light of the whole World. He Created the living Creatures, and gave them a power to propagate after their kind.

2. God doth by the ſame power, by which he created, preſerve and continue them in their beings. So 'tis ſaid, they are created by God. That is confirmed, Rev. 4.10. Conſervation being a continued Creation.

p. 2703. God doth ſtir up the …aculties, and Powers put into ſeveral Creatures, determining to ſeveral operations. This or that every Creature ſhall do, God concurring with them in their operations; ſo they all act and move by the power of God in them: So it's ſaid, In … we live, move, and have our being, Acts 17.25.28. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters, Gen. 1.2. Which imports the effectual quickning power of the Holy Ghoſt, which upholds, and ſuſtains, and gives vertue to all Creatures; whereby they live, move, and have their beings. So that of all Creatures this is true, whatſoever they do, 'tis God works them to do. What a Rational Creature wills, God works it to will i… a way ſuitable to the faculty of Rational Creatures, that is, in preſenting of objects to the underſtanding, thereby moving, and inclining the wi l. Now in this old Creation there's no willing or d…ing that which is good wi…hout ſpecial grace. There s no diſpoſition or faculty towards it, there's no willing of God to take him as the Supreme Good, and the will of God as the Supreme Rule, the glory of God as the Supreme End. There's no Piety, no Holineſs left in the Old Creation. Men are Corrupt, the Creature is ſubject to Vanity, and in Bondage to Corruption.

II. Th…re is God's working in the new Creation, this begins in the Souls of Men, &c. Herein God works, i. e. of Carnal makes Spiritual; from Spiritual Death raiſes to a Spiritual Life, and ſtirs up to Spiritual Operations, and brings into Holy ways. Now as in the Old Creation it's ſaid, all live, move, and have their being; ſo p. 271in this New Creation all live, move, and have their being in God. God makes New and places Holy diſpoſitions: and God preſerves and upholds them once made. God determines and ſtirs up by an actual influence of his Spirit. So God works to will and do of his good pleaſure.

For the proof of this Three things are to be clear'd.

1. Conſider. In the Natural man there's no free will to Spiritual good, no embracing or doing of it. There is free will to Sin in the Men of the Old Creation: Free will to natural actions, in as much as herein they act by Knowledge and Election, chuſing to do this, and not that. There's no free will to Spiritual good.

1. Becauſe they are under ſuch darkneſs that covers it, that they can't know, and apprehend Spiritual objects: Spiritual things can't be apprehended but by a Spiritual Eye. Now the Soul of every Man is Carnal, 'tis impriſon'd in Fleſh, it dwels in thick darkneſs. As God is ſaid to dwell in thick darkneſs, becauſe his glory is vailed and hid, 1 Kings 8.12. He is hid by the thick covering of Carnal things, that he doth not ſhine forth in Spiritual glory in the World: ſo the Soul of man dwells in thick darkneſs. God is above it, and full of Glory, Splendor, and Majeſty in himſelf; Men are under it, they are darkneſs, ſo that they cannot look beyond things Carnal: they ſee no good but in things Carnal. The Carnal Man perceives not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know, 1 Cor. 2.14. So can't chuſe and embrace them. What the mind can't know as good, the will can't embrace as good. Now p. 272this mind cannot judge and apprehend God in Chriſt to be the chief good. When Peter confeſſed Chriſt, who he was, he replies: Fleſh and Blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father which is Heaven, Math. 16.17. There's no more of ſaving Spiritual Light in the Carnal Man before the New Creation then there was of Natural Light before the Old Creation. The Men of the Old Creation have Light whereby they know the Creatures, and have Souls terminated in them: but not Light whereby they know God. Whence the Apoſtle ſais, Ye were darkneſs, Eph. 5.8. Men naturally dwell in the darkneſs, and not in the Light of the Lord. They walk in the darkneſs of Creature-comforts, and not in the Light of Divine glory. And that which ſtrenghtens this argument is, that Men love darkneſs that covers them. They had rather dwell in darkneſs than in the Knowledge of the glory of God. Men do turn from Light, and would turn the Light from them. A Man hath free will towards darkneſs that he chuſes: but not free will towards Light, that he refuſes. Light is come into the World, into the Old Creation, but Men as Men in a nat…ral temper as ſinners, do evermo…e lo…e darkneſs. There muſt be a New C…ea…ion before Light will be received with Joy.

2. They are under a ſtate of deadneſs to all Spiritual good, there's no free will in a Dead Man to Spiritual Actions, and there is no m…r… …n a Natural Man to Spiritual Actions. Ye are Dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins. As Dead to Spiritual Life, as the Bodies that lye in the grave to Natural Life: As dead to a Life of God, as Dead Bodies are to a p. 273Life of Man. God lives in himſelf, he lives to his own glory, to this whatever he doth, tends. A Natural Man is alienated from this Life of God.

3 Under a ſtate of …nmity againſt Spiritual good The Carnal mind is Enmity againſt God, 'tis not ſubject neither indeed can be. So there's no free will to Spiritual good in a Natural Man: the Carnal mind and Spiritual good are in oppoſition one to another, Rom. 8.7.

2. Man renewed and raiſed, made Spiritual, and having the Seed of God in him, hath free will to Spiritual good. As a Natural Man hath free will in Natural Actions, he acts with deliberation and Election: So Man renewed hath free will to Spiritual Actions. This is implied, God works to will, ſo in a renewed eſtate a Man hath free will. The Lord hath ſhewn what is good and what he requires, and the S…irit in them ſtirs them up to good. God hath ſhined in the Heart, and in the Face of Chriſt, and hath appeared in his Glory, ſhed abroad his Love, and hath taken away the Heart of Stone, in which there is no free will to God, and given a Heart of Fleſh in which there is a f…ee will to God, a conſent to be ſaved by Chriſt. The Spirit acting by Light and Love, convincing the Soul of the worth of Chriſt; and ſtirring up to a following of the Lord Jeſus, that heart can reaſon out ſervice. Chriſt is worthy becauſe a Lamb ſlain, &c. Rev. 5.9. And the heart chuſes to ſerve Chriſt: here's free will to the doing of good. When Chriſt is revealed in his Glory as moſt lovely, and the Soul is brought into the treaſures of good that are in Chriſt; and ſees a fulneſs in him, and p. 274then embraces him: here's a free will in embracing of good; a chuſing of Chriſt above the World. You are not ſound Chriſtians unleſs you have ſuch a free will as this.

3. That free will to Spiritual good which is in the renewed man, is of God's working. As the Apoſtle ſais, I live, yet not I, but Chriſt in me, Gal. 2.20. So that a Believer hath free will, and he acts freely in the ways of God, he embraces what God ſhews to be good, he ch…ſes the things that pleaſe God; yet not he but Christ in him. Chriſt lives, Christ wills, and Chriſt works that which is good in him. Without me ye can do nothing, John 15.5. There's no free will nor power to do good, till Chriſt be in the heart. I can do all things through Chriſt ſtrenghtening me. I can will as I ought, and do as I ought through Chriſt. Chriſt determines to good actions, Christ ſtirs up to good actions.

Now this will further appear by conſidering the great deſign of God in ſaving Sinners. As all God's works are God's manifeſtations, ſo God intends in this work a glorious manifeſtation of himſelf.

1. In his Power, as in the firſt Creation, his Eternal Power and Godhead is to be ſeen, ſo in the ſecond Creation, Eph 1.19. The Apoſtle prays that the Epheſians might have the Spirit of Wiſdom, and Revelation, to know the exceeding greatneſs of his Power to them that believe. God's deſign is not to make known the power of Nature and Free will: but his own power in the exceeding greatneſs of it. If the Converſion of a Sinner be but by Moral perſwaſion, by holding p. 275forth of Spiritual objects to be embraced; then how is it that the exceeding greatneſs of power is manifeſted to them that believe, if Faith come forth from free will, and power of Nature, only excited and ſtirred up by Divine Grace? &c. So certain it is that Faith is made out of nothing: there's no diſpoſition in us towards believing, but 'tis a work of Divine Power creating it in a Soul moſt empty of Spiritual good.

2. In his Grace, which he declares, firſt in the freeneſs of it. For it is by meer Grace that any are called and juſtified. There's nothing that that puts a difference betwixt one and another, nor why one embraces the Goſpel and another does not, but meer Grace, 1 Cor. 4:7. Theſe things I write that no one be puffed up againſt another, for who maketh thee to differ? If Men have free will to good, if that Will be not meerly of God's working, whereby one Man doth embrace Chriſt and lay hold on the Promiſe of Life, God doth not make him to differ, but his own free will doth ſo: and ſo this opinion directly oppoſes the deſign of the Goſpel to commend Grace in its freeneſs. Free will eſtabliſhed in natural men makes void free Grace. As the Apoſtle ſays, If of works then not of grace, elſe grace is no more grace, Rom. 6.11. So likewiſe if of free will, grace is no mo…e grace, and if of grace then nor of free will. So when the Goſpel is Preached to all and ſome lay hold on it, and embrace Christ in their hearts, and follow him, and others refuſe, and go on in evil ways leading to deſtruction: What makes the difference? Divine Grace God works a will in one and not in another; the one he brings p. 276out of darkneſs, and the other he leaves in darkne…: and ſo all gr…nd of glorying in a Man'… …elf i… taken away, that he that glorys may glory in the Lord. So that free wi…l to good is nor in nature, but where 'tis it is a fruit of free Grace. God works to will.

Secondly, in the ſufficiency of it, when the Creature is inſufficient and can do nothing to procure pardon, and to make his Peace, Grace gave Christ. And when Christ is offered, and there's no power to embrace Christ, then Grace gives to believe in Chriſt, and works a conſent in the will to take Christ. When there's no power againſt Corruption, and to do good, Grace gives the Spirit to be a living, conquering Law cauſing Obedience.

Objection. Some may object againſt this truth, for eſtabliſhing of free will in the Natural Man, from the general and Univerſal render of the Goſpel. Go preach the Goſpel to every Creature. God gave his Son that all that believe, &c. Rom. 12.17. Whoſoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely. To what purpoſe are theſe tenders, if there be not free will and power in Man to embrace them?

Anſw. 1. Theſe general tenders of Grace do not argue in Men a freedom of will to receive Grace, or a power to believe, but only a duty to Believe: Men ought to believe, ſo all are called on; and unbelief is Men's ſin and greateſt ſin.

2. The Election only ſhall lay hold on the Grace of the Goſpel, Rom. 11.7. Iſrael hath not obtained, but the Election, that is, ſuch perſons as were Elected, hath obtain'd it; and the reſt were p. 277blinded. Now becauſe the Election is ſecret and hid the Goſpel is preached to all alike.

3. The Preaching of the Goſpel, the holding forth of the Promiſes of Life in Chriſt to Sinners, is the miniſtration of the Spirit to thoſe that are ordain'd to Life: that's the way in which the Spirit comes down into their Souls, and is a Spirit of Faith and Love in them, 2 Cor. 3.

4. Reprobates having the Goſpel Preached, and grace offered unto them, they out of hardneſ… and unbelief in refuſing, are made the more inexcuſable: their Mouths are ſtopped not only by the Law, but the Goſpel; and the Juſtice of God is more glorified in their Condemnation. This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World &c.

Obje…tion. Why is unbelief and not laying hold on Grace charged on Men as their Sin, if they have not free will and power of themſelves to conſent to the taking of Chriſt?

Anſwer. Unbelief is never the leſs ſin for that a Man hath not power to believe. As tranſgreſſing the Law, is never leſs ſin becauſe a Man hath not power to keep the Law; becauſe Man had once power given him, 'twas given him in Adam, and loſt in Adam, who was the Head of all Men, and repreſentatively every Man. There is the more of Divine Grace ſeen in giving Faith to any, and nevertheleſs of ſin in any to refuſe it. As 'tis Man's ſin that he doth not believe, ſo 'tis Man's ſin that he cannot believe. Sin cauſed the Impotency, and Impoſſibility of believing, ſo Impotency, and Impoſſibility doth not make unbelief no ſin.

p. 278Sect. 20.

Uſe 1. Of Inſtruction. God works to will, and to do, the will of the Creature is determined by God to this or that, to will good to conſent to embrace Chriſt, and things that pleaſe him. Now if the will of the Creature be determined by God, Then,

1. The will of God is not determined by the Creatures. God works in a Creature a will and conſent to be ſaved by Chriſt: ſo the Creatures willing and embracing Salvation, doth not work a will in God to ſave him: as the Apoſtle ſays. We love God, becauſe he firſt loved us. 1. Joh. 4.10. The love of the Creature is not the cauſe of the love in God; but the love of God is the cauſe of love in the Creature: ſo Man wills becauſe God wills, and works to will: God doth not ſo will the Salvation of Man, becauſe Man wills it. There's an Opinion abroad that advances the Creature, and the power of Nature to embrace good offer'd, and that makes the will of God in relation to Salvation, wholy dependent on the will of Man, and determin'd by it. They ſay, God wills Salvation to all alike, and is not determined to this or that Man but by the right uſe of free will. This day if Man's will conſents to take Chriſt, &c. then God wills his Salvation. To morrow if he be off from willing what he did before, then God is off from willing his Salvation. And thus God's will is not the firſt mover and cauſe of things but Man's will. This is overthrown by this Text, God determines the will of Man. I… it be determined by God to will the embracing of Chriſt, this is of God; God works p. 279Man to will: ſo Man doth not work God to will; becauſe God wills it, he makes the Creature to will it.

For further clearing it, Conſider.

Conſid. 1. God wills the Salvation of ſome, but not of all; the Goſpel ſays, 1 Tim. 2.4. God will have all to be ſaved. But this is meant of ſome of all ſorts; not of all, of all ſorts, and God wills it; that is, calls on all Men to receive the knowledge of the Truth, invites all to come to Chriſt; ſo he wills it with his offering will, but not with his ordaining will. That thus appears. Eſau was a Perſon God never did will to ſave: For before they had done either good or evil, that the purpoſe of God might stand; God ſaid, the Elder ſhall ſerve the Younger, Jacob have I choſen, Eſau have I hated. Rom. 9.11. There is Election of God. What is that? A chuſing of one; that implies a paſſing by of another. If there be any ſuch thing as Election from Eternity, which the Scripture ſo often ſpeaks off, then God doth not will the Salvation of all.

Conſideration 2. The will and decree of God in relation to Man's Salvation, is abſolute and peremptory.

1. In reſpect of any cauſe without God, no foreſight of Faith, or of what the Creature will do, if it be placed in ſuch a condition, and Grace be offered to it. Rom. 9.5. He ſaith to Moſes, I will ſhew Mercy to whom I will ſhew Mercy. 'Tis not of him that willeth, but of God that ſheweth Mercy. Man's will is not the cauſe of God's will to ſhew Mercy.

p. 2802. Abſolute without alteration, the foundation of the Lord ſtandeth ſure, &c. 2 Tim. 2.19. Rom. 8.30. Whom he pred…ſtinated, them he called, and whom he …alled, them he justified, &c. The immutability of his Councel, &c. Heb. 6 18.

Conſid. 3. Chriſt was given to dye for ſuch as are ordain'd to life. It's true as in Adam all dye, ſo in Chriſt all are made alive. Rom. 5. It doth not follow that Chriſt died for every Man; Hence if any will conclude that Chriſt died for every Man, it may be as well concluded, that every Man ſhall be actually ſaved: but that's clear againſt Scripture. For,

1. Chriſt ſhall ſave all that he died for. For this is the will of him that ſent me; of all that he hath given me, I ſhould not looſe nothing, but raiſe it up at the laſt day. Joh. 6.39. But all are not ſaved, ſo Chriſt died not for all.

2 Chriſt did not pray for all, ſo did not die for all. Joh. 17.9, 19. For their ſake I ſanctify my ſelf; that is, ſacrifice my ſelf. For whoſe ſake? For the Men thou haſt given me out of the World▪ verſe 6.

Conſid. 4. God in due time works in their Hearts, a conſent and will to take Chriſt for a Saviour, whom he did will to ſave by Chriſt: As many as were ordain'd to Eternal Life believed. Act. 13.48. God was willing to ſhew to the Heirs of Salvation, &c. Heb. 6.18. God makes Heirs of Salvation; his will to ſave them, makes them Heirs. And God ſhews to them his will, and counſel, and the immutability of it, and then God makes willing. None can come except the Father draws, and it follows; they ſhall be all taught p. 281of God. Joh. 6.45. All are drawn, and made willing, that are ordained to Eternal Life: So that God's will is the cauſe of the Creatures will; and not the Creatures the cauſe of God's. God's free will is the cauſe of Salvation, and not Man's free will.

Uſe 2. Of Conſolation. To ſuch as do will to be ſaved by Chriſt, and to take him as he is offered in the Goſpel; herein you may ſee a ſaving work of God on their Souls: or God in their Hearts working them to will.

1. If your will he to embrace Christ, and cloſe in fully with the Goſpel Promiſes; then you may re…d the will of God to ſave you, the will of God in giving Chriſt for you: this is an evidence of God's will for good. God by this writes a Book of Life in your Hearts; in which you may read your Names: read the Ete…nal love of God in your Electing, or accepting Chriſt on the terms offered, chuſing him above the World, and to ſerve him rather than your Luſts. You may read your own Election or God. As 'tis ſaid of Mary Magdalen, much was forgiven her, for ſhe loved much: Pardoning love was to be read in her love: this is one fruit of the love of God on the Soul. So you may ſay, God wills, for the Creatures wills. This will is of God's working, and this teſtifi…s of God's will.

2. Such as once will to be ſaved, ſhall continue to will, and to do what they ought in the way of Life. They ſhall not reject Christ, they ſhall not caſt of his Yoke, they ſhall ſo live and do, as thoſe that are in the way of Life ought; for God will work; the immutability of God's p. 282Counſel, ſhall cauſe an immutability in their will of following Chriſt. As nothing ſhall ſeperate them from the love of God, Angels, Principalities, Powers, &c. no…hing ſhall alter God's will towards them, ſo no…hing ſhall alter their will towards God. They ſhall not grow out of the Love of Chriſt, into utter diſlike or diſ-eſteem of him; their Converſation ſhall be in Heaven, they ſhall breath, and long for Salvation. They ſhall deny themſelves, and walk contrary to the World; they ſh…ll …vercome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their Teſtimony, and not love their live… o the Death. For God ſhall work in them both … will and do of his good pleaſure, &c:

The End of the Fourth Diſcourſe.