The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 15

The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance · Part 15

p. 354HAving thus ſhewed you the Cauſes … our Ignorance of our Sanctification I ſhall briefly tell you ſome Reaſons th… ſhould move you to ſeek to be acquainte… with it, where it is.

1. The knowledge of God is the moſt exce…lent knowledge: and therefore the beſt ſor… of creature knowledge is, that which hath the moſt of God in it. And undoubtedly the… is more of God in Holineſs which is his Image then in common things. Sins and … have nothing of God in them: They muſt be fathered on the Devil and your ſelves. An… therefore the knowledge of them is goo… but by Accident; becauſe the knowledg… even of evil, hath a tendency to good. An… therefore it is commanded and made ou… duty, for the good which it tendeth to. It is the Divine nature, and Image within you p. 355which hath the moſt of God; and therefore …o know this, is the high and noble know…edge. To know Chriſt within us, is our …appineſs on earth, in order to the know…edge of him in Glory face to face, which is …he happineſs of heaven. To know God …hough darkly through a glaſs, and but in …art, (1 Cor. 13.12.) is far above all crea…ure knowledge. The knowledge of him …aiſeth, quickneth, ſanctifieth, enlargeth …nd advanceth all our faculties. It is life …ternal to know God in Chriſt, John 17.3. Therefore where God appeareth moſt, there …hould our underſtandings be moſt di…igently exerciſed in ſtudy and obſerva…ion.

2. It is a moſt delightfull felicitating knowledge, to know that Chriſt is in you. …f it be delightfull to the Rich to ſee their wealth, their houſes, and lands and goods …nd money: and if it be delightfull to the Honourable to ſee their attendance, and hear their own commendations and applauſe; how delightfull muſt it be to a true Believer to find Chriſt within him, and to know his title to eternal life? If the knowledge of full barns, and much goods laid up for many years, can make a ſenſual worlding ſay, Soul take thy eaſe, eat, drink p. 356and be merry, Luke 12.19, 20. Me think… the knowledge of our intereſt in Chriſt an… heaven, ſhould make us ſay, [Thou haſt … gladneſs in my heart, more then in the ti… that their corn and wine increaſed, (that … more then corn and wine could put in… theirs) Pſal. 4.7. [Return unto thy Reſt, … ſoul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully wi… thee, Pſal. 116.7.] If we ſay with Davi… [Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy houſe they will be ſtill prayſing thee,] Pſal. 84.… much more may we ſay, [Bleſſed an… they in whom Chriſt dwelleth, and the Hol… Ghoſt hath made his Temple:] they ſhould … ſtill praiſing thee, [Bleſſed is the … whom thou chooſeſt, and cauſeſt to appro… unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: … ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe even of thy holy Temple, Pſal. 65.4. But this … upon ſuppoſition, that he be firſt Bleſſed by Chriſts approach to him, and dwelling in hi… ▪

If you ask, How it is that Chriſt dwelle… in us; I anſwer, 1. Objectively, as he is ap…prehended by our Faith and Love: As th… things or perſons that we think of, and Lov… and delight in, are ſaid to dwell in our … or hearts. 2. By the Holy Ghoſt, who … a principle of new and heavenly Life, … given by Chriſt the Head unto his members p. 357and as the Agent of Chriſt doth illuminate, ſanctifie and guide the ſoul. [He that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the ſpirit which he hath given us, 1 Joh. 3.24. That of Eph. 3.17. may be taken in either, or both ſenſes comprehenſively, That Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by faith.]

3. Did you know that Chriſt is in you by his ſpirit, it might make every place and condition comfortable to you! If you are alone, it may rejoyce you to think what company dwelleth continually with you in your hearts. If you are wearied with evil company without, it may comfort you to think that you have better within; when your have communion with the Saints, it is your joy to think that you have nearer communion with the Lords of Saints. You may well ſay with David, Pſal. 139.18. [when I awake I am ſtill with thee.] Pſal. 16.8. I have ſet the Lord alwayes before me: becauſe he is at may right hand, I ſhall not be moved.

4. Did you know Chriſt within you, it would much help you in believing what is written of him in the Goſpel. Though to the ungodly the myſteries of the Kingdom of God do ſeem incredible: yet when you p. 358have experience of the power of it on your ſouls, and find the Image of it on your hearts, and the ſame Chriſt within you conforming you to what he commandeth in his word, this will work ſuch a ſutableneſs to the Goſpel in your hearts, as will make the work of faith more eaſie. Saith the Apoſtle, 1 Joh. 4.14, 16. [We have ſeen & do teſtifie that the Father ſent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (there's their outward experience) And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us: God is Love; and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him: (There is their Faith confirmed by their inward evidence: N… wonder if they that have God dwelling … them by holy love, do believe the love … God hath to them.) This is the great advantage that the ſanctified have in the work … faith above thoſe that much excell them … diſputing, and are furniſhed with more Arguments for the Chriſtian verity; Chriſt hath his witneſs abiding in them. The fruits of the ſpirit bear witneſs to the incorruptible … the word of God that liveth and abideth for ever, 1 Pet. 1.23. The impreſs on the … heard witneſs to the ſeal that cauſed i… … it is not a weak & uneffectual Argument for the Truth of the Goſpel that Believer … to p. 359fetch from within, when they plead the effects of it on their ſouls. Labour to know the Truth of your ſanctification, that you may be confirmed by it in the Truth of the word that ſanctifieth you, Joh. 17.17. and may rejoice in him that hath choſen you to ſalvation, through ſanctification of the ſpirit and belief of the truth, 2 Theſ. 2.13.

5. If you can come to the knowledge of Chriſt within you, it will be much the eaſier to you to truſt upon him, and fly to him in all your particular neceſſities, and to make uſe of his Mediatorſhip with holy confidence. When others flie from Chriſt with trembling, and know not whether he will ſpeak for them, or help them, or have any regard to them, but look at him with ſtrange and doubtful thoughts, it will be otherwiſe with you that have aſſurance of his continual Love and preſence. Nearneſs breedeth familiarity, and overcometh ſtrangneſs: Familiarity breedeth confidence, and boldneſs: when you find Chriſt ſo …er you, as to dwell within you, and ſo particular and abundant in his Love to you, as to have given you his ſpirit, and all his Graces, i… will breed a ſweet delightful boldneſs ▪ and make you … to him as your help and refuge, in all your neceſſities. When p. 360you find the great promiſe fulfilled to your ſelves [I will put my Law in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their ſins and iniquities will I remember no more] you will [have boldneſs to enter into the Holyeſt by the blood of Jeſus; by the new and living way which he hath conſecrated for us, through the veil, that is to ſay, his fleſh; And having an high Prieſt over the houſe of God, you may draw near with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, having your hearts sprinkled from an evil conſcience, (or the conſcience of evil) as your bodies are waſhed (in baptiſm) with pure water] Heb. 10.16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. [In Chriſt we may have boldneſs and acceſs with confidence by the faith of him] Eph. 3.12. This intimate acquaintance with our great High Prieſt, that is paſſed into the Heavens, and yet abideth and reigneth in our hearts, will encourage us to hold faſt our profeſſion, and to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4.14, 16. When by unfeigned Love, we [know that we are of the truth, and may aſſure our hearts before him, and our Heart condemneth us not, then we have confidence towards God; and whatever we ask we receive of him, becauſe we p. 361keep his commandments, and do thoſe things that are pleaſing in his ſight, 1 Joh. 3.18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

6. When once you know that you have Chriſt within you, you may cheerfully proceed in the way of Life; when doubting Chriſtians that know not whether they are in the way or not, are ſtill looking behind them, and ſpend their time in perplexed fears, leſt they are out of the way, and go on with heavineſs and trouble, as uncertain whether they may not loſe their labour: and are ſtill queſtioning their groundwork, when the building ſhould go on. It is an unſpeakable mercy, when a believing Soul is freed from theſe diſtracting hindering doubts, and may bodily and cheerfully hold on his way, and be walking or working, when other men are fearing and enquiring of the way; and may with patience and comfort wait for the reward, the …rown of life, when others are ſtill queſtioning whether they were ever regenerate, and whether their hopes have any ground. We may be ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, when we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. We may then gird up the l…ins of the mind, and in ſobriety hope unto the end, p. 362for the grace that is to be brought us, at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Pet. 1.13.

7. When you are aſſured that you have Chriſt within you, it may preſerve you from thoſe terrors of ſoul that affright the… that have no ſuch aſſurance. O he th… knoweth what it is to think of the intolerable wrath of God, and ſays, I fear I … the object of this wrath, and muſt bear th… intolerable lead everlaſtingly,] may know… what a mercy it is to be aſſured of our eſcape. He that knows what it is to think of Hell, and ſay, [I know not but thoſe endleſs flames may be my portion,] will know what a mercy it is to be aſſured of deliverance, and to be able to ſay, I know I am ſaved from the wrath to come, 1 Theſ. 1.10. And that we are not of them th… draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to …he ſaving of the ſoul, Heb. 10.39. And that God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain ſalvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who dyed for us, that whether we wake or ſleep, we ſhould live together with him:] We may comfort our ſelves together and edifie one another, when we have this aſſurance, 1 Theſ. 5.9, 10, 11.

p. 363They that have felt the burden of a wounded spirit and know what it is to feel the terrors of the Lord, and to ſee Hell fire as it were before their eyes, and to be kept waking by the dreadful apprehenſions of their danger, & to be purſued daily by an accuſing conſcience, ſetting their ſins in order before them, and bringing the threatnings of God to their remembrance, theſe perſons will underſtand that to be aſſured of a Chriſt within us, and conſequently of a Chriſt that is preparing a place in glory for us, is a mercy that the mind of man is now unable to value according to the ten thouſandth part of its worth.

8. Were you aſſured that Chriſt himſelf is in you, it would ſweeten all the mercies of your lives: It would aſſure you that they are all the pledges of his love: And love in all, would be the Kernel and the Life of all: your friends, your health, your wealth, your deliverances, would be ſteeped in the deareſt Love of Chriſt, and have a ſpiritual ſweetnſs in them, when to the worldling they have but a carnal, unwholſome, luſcious ſweetneſs; and to the doubting Chriſtians they will be turned into troubles, while they are queſtioning the Love and meaning of the giver, and whether they are ſent for p. 364good to them, or to aggravate their condemnation; and the Company of the Giver will advance your eſtimation of the gift. Mean things with the company of our deareſt friends are ſweeter then abundance in their abſence. To have money in your purſes, and goods in your houſes, and books in your ſtudies, and friends in your near and ſweet ſociety, are all advanced to the higher value, when you know that you have alſo Chriſt in your hearts; and that all theſe are but the attendants of your Lord, and the fruits that drop from the tree of life, and the tokens of his Love, importing greater things to follow. Whereas in the crowd of all thoſe mercies the foul would be uncomfortable, or worſe, if it miſt the preſence of its deareſt friend: and in the midſt of all would live but as in a wilderneſs, and go ſeeking after Chriſt with tears, as Mary at his Sepulchre, becauſe they had taken away her Lord (as ſhe thought) and ſhe knew not where they had laid him, Joh. 20.13. All mercies would be bitter to us, if the preſence of Chriſt do not put into them that ſpecial ſweetneſs which is above the eſtimate of ſenſe.

9. This aſſurance would do much to preſerve you from the temptation of ſenſual delights. p. 365While you had within you the matter of more excellent contentment, and when you find that theſe inferiour pleaſures …re enemies to thoſe which are your happi…eſs and life, you would not be eaſily taken with the bait. The pooreſt brutiſh pleaſures …re made much of by them that never were …cquainted with any better. But after the …weetneſs of aſſurance of the Love of God, …ow little reliſh is there to be found in the pleaſures that are ſo valued by ſenſual unbe…ievers! Let them take them for me, ſaith …he believing ſoul; may I but ſtill have the comforts of the preſence of my Lord, how …ittle ſhall I miſs them? how eaſily can I …pare them?] Silver will be caſt by, if it …e ſet in competition, with Gold. The company of common acquaintance may be acceptable, till better and greater come: and then they muſt give place. Men that are taken up with the pleaſing entertainment of Chriſt within them, can ſcarce afford any more then a tranſient ſalutation or obſervance to thoſe earthly things that are the felicity of the carnal mind, and take up its deſires, endeavours and delight; when the ſoul is tempted to turn from Chriſt, to thoſe deceiving vanities that promiſe him more content and pleaſure, the p. 366comfortable thoughts of the love of … and his abode within us, and our … with him, do ſenſibly ſcatter and … ſuch temptations. The preſence of … the great Reconciler, doth reconcile … our ſelves, and make us willing to be … at home. He that is out of love with … company that he hath at home, is … drawn to go abroad: But who can … to be much abroad, that knoweth of … gueſt as Chriſt at home? We ſhall ſay Peter, Joh. 6.68, 69. [Lord, to whom … we goe? thou haſt the words of eternal … and we believe and are ſure thou ar… … Chriſt the ſon of the living God.] An… Matth. 7.4. when he ſaw him in a … his Glory [Maſter it is good for us to … here.] And if the riches of the world … offered to draw a ſoul from Chriſt, that … the knowledge of his ſpecial love and … ſence, the tempter would have no … entertainment then Simon Magus had … Peter, Act. 8.20. Their money periſh … them that think Chriſt and his graces … no better then money.

10. How eaſie and ſweet would all … ſervice be to you, if you were aſſured … Chriſt abideth in you? What delightful … p. 367… might you have in prayer, when you …now that Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks for you! not … if the Father himſelf were unwilling to …o us good, but that he will do it in the … and for the ſake and merits of his ſon: …hich is the meaning of Chriſt in thoſe …ords which ſeem to deny his interceſſion, …oh. 16.26. [At that day ye ſhall ask in …y name; and I ſay not unto you, that I will …ay the Father for you: for the Father …imſelf loveth you, becauſe ye have loved …, &c.] I appeal to your own hearts, Chriſtians, whether you would not be much …ore willing and ready to pray? and whe…her prayer would not be a ſwe…ter employment to you, if you were ſure of Chriſts …bode within you, and interceſſion for you, …nd conſequently that all your prayers are graciouſly accepted of the Lord! you …ould not then deſire the vain ſociety of …mpty perſons▪ nor ſeek for recreation in …heir inſipid, frothy, inſignificant diſcourſe. The opening of your heart to your hea…enly Father, and pleading the merits of …rſon, in your believing petitions for his …aving benefits, would be a more contenting …ind of pleaſure to you.

Now ſweet would meditation be to you, …f you could ſtill think on Chriſt and all the p. 368riches of his kingdom as your own? coul… you look up to Heaven, and ſay wit… grounded confidence, It is mine, and th… I muſt abide and reign for ever! could yo… think of the heavenly hoſt as thoſe that … be your own companions, and of their … employment as that which muſt be your … for ever, it would make the aſcent of yo… minds to be more frequent, and meditati… to be a more pleaſant work: were you … aſſured of your special intereſt in God, … that all his attributes are by his Love an… Covenant engaged for your happineſs, expe…rience would make you ſay, [In the mul…tude of my thoughts within me, thy comfo… do delight my ſoul, Pſal. 44.19. [I … ſing unto the Lord as long as I live: I … ſing praiſe to my God while I have my being▪ My Meditation of him ſhall be ſweet … will be glad in the Lord, Pſal. 104.33, 3… ▪ Could you ſay with full aſſurance that … are the children of the Promiſes, and … they are all your own, how ſweet would … reading and meditation on the holy ſcript… be to you! How dearly would you … the word! What a treaſure would y… judge it! your delight would be then in … Law of the Lord; and you would medita… in it day and night, Pſal. 1.2. To find … p. 369grounds of faith and hope, and riches of conſolation in every page, and aſſuredly to ſay, All this is mine, would make you bet…er underſtand why David did indite all the 119. Pſalm in high commendations of the word of God, and would make you join in his affectionate expreſſions, Pſal. 119.97, 98, 99. O how I love thy Law! it is my Meditation all the day: Thou through thy commandments haſt made me wiſer then mine enemies, for it is ever with me.

Sermons alſo would be much ſweeter to …ou, when you could confidently take …ome the conſolatory part, and uſe our miniſtry as a help to your faith, and hope, and …oy; whereas your doubts and fears leſt you are ſtill unregenerate, will turn all that you …ear, or read, or meditate on, into food and fuel for themſelves to work upon; and you will gather up all that tends to your diſquietment, and ſay, It is your part; and caſt away all that rendeth to your conſolation, and ſay, it belongeth not to you: and the moſt comforting paſſages of the word will be turned into your diſcomfort: and the promiſes will ſeem to you as none, while you imagine that they are none of yours; And the loſs of your peace and comfort will not be the worſt: But this will increaſe p. 370your backwardneſs to duty ▪ … when your delight in the worſhip of God … gone, your inclination to it will abate, an… it will ſeem a burden to you, and be as … to the ſtomacks of the ſick, that with th… carefulleſt preparation and much … can hardly be brought to get it down▪ … can bear but little and that which is ſuited … their diſeaſed appetites.

The ſame I may ſay of the Sacrament… … the Lords ſupper. How ſweet will i… … to you, if you are aſſured that the … Chriſt that is there repreſented as bro… and bleeding for your ſins, doth dwell … in you by his ſpirit! What wellcome en…tainment would you expect and find, if y… knew that you brought the feaſt and … Maſter of the feaſt with you in your … and had there entirely entertained … with whom you expect communion in … ſacrament! How boldly and comfort… would your hungry ſouls then feed … him! with what refreſhing acts of … would you there take the ſealed … and pardon of your ſins! whereas … you come in fear… and doubting, and … take the body and blood of Chriſt in … Repreſentations, with yo… hand and mo… while you know not whether you … p. 371… with the heart, and whether you have …y ſpecial intereſt in him, O what a damp … caſteth on the ſoul! how it ſtifleth its …pes and joys, and turneth the Sacrament …hich is appointed for their comfort, into …eir greater trouble! It hath many a time …ieved me to obſerve that no ordinance …th caſt many upright ſouls into greater …erplexities, and diſcouragements, and …ſtreſſes, then the Lords Supper; becauſe …ey come to it with double reverence, and … the doubtings of their title, and queſti…ning their preparedneſs, and by their fears of eating and drinking unworthily, their …uls are utterly diſcompoſed with perplex…g paſſions, and turned from the pleaſant …rciſe of faith, and the delighful enter…ourſe that they ſhould have with God; and …ey are diſtempered and put out of reliſh … all the ſweetneſs of the Goſpel: And … they are frightened from the Sacrament by ſuch ſad experiences, and dare … thither no more, for fear of eating …udgement to themſelves. And ſhould …o… Chriſtians labour to remove the cauſe of ſuch miſerable diſtracting fears, that ſo much wrong both Chriſt and them, and … recover their well-grounded peace and comfort!

p. 37211. Your Love to God, which is … Heart and Life of the new creature, … ſo much depend upon your knowledge of … love to you, as ſhould make you much … deſirous of ſuch a knowledge. Love is … end of faith; and faith the way to … So much of Love as is in every duty, … much holineſs is in it, and no more. I… is the ſum of the commandments. … the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13▪ … Mat. 22.37. Mark. 12.33. Though God … us firſt, as purpoſing our good, … we loved him, 1 Joh. 4.9.10. And … therefore Love him, becauſe he firſt … us, v. 19. Yet doth he Love us by comp…cency and acceptance, becauſe we love … Father and the ſon: Joh. 16.27. [ … the Father himſelf loveth you, becauſe … loved me, and have believed that I came … from God.] And what will more effect… kindle in you the fervent Love of Chr… then to know that he loveth you, and … in you? All this is expreſt by … himſelf, in Joh 14.20.21, 22, 23. [At … day ye ſhall know that I am in my Faith▪ and you in me, and I in you: He that … my commandments and keepeth them, he … that loveth me; and he that loveth me, … be loved of my Father, and I will love … p. 373and will manifeſt my ſelf unto him — If a man love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.] 1 Cor. 8.3. If any man love God, the ſame is known of him.] with a knowledge of ſpecial Love and approbation. This is no diſparagement to faith, whoſe nature and uſe is to work by Love, Gal. 5.6. What a man Loveth, ſuch he is. The Love is the man. Our Love is judged by our Life, as the cauſe by the effect: but the Life is judged by the Love, as the fruits by the tree, the effects by the cauſe: [Mores au…em noſtri non ex eo; quod quiſque novit, ſed ex eo quod diligit, dijudicari ſolentin… faci…t bonos vel malos mores, niſi boni vel mali amores.] ſaith Auguſtine; that is [Our manners are not uſed to be judged of according to that which every man knoweth, but according to that which he loveth: It is only good or evil love, that maketh good or evil manners.] If Plato could ſay (as Auguſtine citeth him, lib. 8. de Civit. Dei) Hoc eſt Philoſophari, ſcilicet Deum amare: To be a Philoſopher, is to Love God.] Much more ſhould we ſay, Hoc eſt Chriſtianum agere, this is the doctrine and the work of a Chriſtian, even the Love of God. Indeed it is the work of p. 374the Redeemer, to recover the heart of man to God, and to bring us to Love him by repreſenting him to us as the moſt amiable ſuitable object of our Love: And the perfection of Love, is Heaven it ſelf. [O jugum ſancti amoris, (inq. Bernard.) quam dulciter capis, glorioſe laqueas, ſuaviter premis, delectanter oneras, fortiter ſtringis, prudenter erudis!] that is [The yoak of holy Love, O how ſweetly doſt thou ſurprize? how gloriouſly doſt thou inthrall? how pleſantly doſt thou preſs? how delightfully doſt thou load? how ſtrongly doſt thou bind? how prudently doſt thou inſtruct?] [O faelix amor ex quo oritur ſtrenuitas morum, puritas affectionum, ſubtilitas intellectuum, deſideriorum ſanctitas, operum claritas, virtutum faecunditas, meritorum dignitas, praemiorum ſublimitas] [O happy Love, from which ariſeth the ſtrength of manners, the purity of affections, the ſubtilty of intellects, the ſanctity of deſires, the excellency of works, the fruitfulneſs of vertues, the dignity of deſerts the ſublimity of the reward!] I appeal to your own conſciences Chriſtians; would you not think it a foretaſte of Heaven upon earth, if you could but Love God as much as you deſire? would any kind of life that you can imagine, be p. 375ſo deſirable and delightful to you! Would any thing be more acceptable unto God! And on the contrary, a ſoul without the Love of God, is worſe then a Corpſe without a ſoul. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be anathama maranatha, 1 Cor. 16.22.

And do I need to tell you what a powerful incentive it is to Love, to know that you are beloved? It will make Chriſt much more dear to you, to know how dear you are to him. What is ſaid of affective Love in us, may partly be ſaid of attractive Love in Chriſt. Eccleſ. 8.7. Many waters cannot quench Love, neither can the floods drown it: no riches can purchaſe what it can attract; when you find that he hath you as a ſeal upon his arm and heart, v. 6. and that you are dear to him as the apple of his eye; what holy flames will this kindle in your breaſt! If it be almoſt impoſſible with your equals upon earth not to Love them that Love you (which Chriſt telleth you that even Publicans will do, Matth. 5.46.) how much more ſhould the Love of Chriſt conſtrain us abundantly to Love him, when being infinitely above us, his Love deſcendeth, that ours may aſcend! His Love puts forth the hand from heaven, to fetch us up.

p. 376O Chriſtians, you little know how Satan wrongeth you, by drawing you to deny, or doubt of the ſpecial Love of God. How can you Love him that you apprehend to be your enemie, and to intend your ruine? Doubtleſs not ſo eaſily as if you know him to be your friend. In reaſon is there any likelier way to draw you to hate God, then to draw you to believe that he hateth you? Can your thoughts be pleaſant of him? or your ſpeeches of him ſweet? or can you attend him, or draw near him with delight, while you think he hateth you, and hath decreed your damnation? you may fear him, as he is a terrible avenger; and you may confeſs his judgements to be juſt: but can you amicably embrace the conſuming fire and love to dwell with the everlaſting burnings!

O therefore as ever you would have the Love of God to animate, and ſanctifie, and delight your ſouls, ſtudy the greatneſs of his Love to you, and labour with all poſſible ſpeed and diligence, to find that Chriſt by his ſpirit is within you. It is the whole work of ſanctification that Satan would deſtroy or weaken by your doubts: And it is the whole work of ſanctification that by Love would be promoted, if you knew p. 377your intereſt in the Love of Chriſt.

12. It is the knowledge of Chriſt, dwelling in you, and ſo of the ſpecial Love of God, that muſt acquaint you with a life of holy Thankfulneſs and praſe. Theſe higheſt and moſt acceptable duties, will be out of your reach if Satan can hide from you that mercy which muſt be the chiefeſt matter of your Thanksgiving. Will that ſoul be in tune for the high Praiſes of the Lord, that thinks he meaneth to uſe him as an enemy? Can you look for any cheerful thanksgiving from him that looks to lie in hell? will he not rather cry with David, Pſal. 6.5. [In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who ſhall give thee thanks? Pſal. 30.9. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? ſhall the duſt praiſe thee? ſhall it declare thy truth?] ſhall the damned praiſe thee, or ſhall they give thee thanks that muſt be ſcorched with the flames of thine indignation? Can you expect that Joy ſhould be in their hearts, or cheerfulneſs in their countenances, or praiſes in their mouths, that think they are Reprobated to the fire of Hell? Undoubtedly Satan is not ignorant, that this is the way to deprive God of the Service which is moſt acceptable to him, and you of the pleaſures p. 378of ſo ſweet a life. And therefore he that envyeth both, will do his worſt to damp your ſpirits, and breed uncomfortable doubts and fears, and wrongful ſuſpitions in your minds. Whereas the Knowledge of your intereſt in Chriſt, would be a continual ſtorehouſe of thankſgiving and praiſe, and teach your hearts as well as your tongues, to ſay with David, [Bleſſed is the man whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, whoſe ſin is covered; Bleſſed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whoſe spirit there is no guile. — Be glad in the Lord, and rejoyce ye Righteous, and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.] Pſal. 32.1, 2, 11. Bleſs the Lord O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſs his holy name: Bleſs the Lord O my ſoul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thy diſeaſes: Who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, and crowneth thee with loving-kindneſs and tender mercies, Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3, 4.] O Lord, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou haſt healed me: O Lord thou haſt brought up my ſoul from the grave; thou haſt kept me alive that I ſhould not go down to the pit; ſing unto the Lord, O ye ſaints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of p. 379his holineſs: for his anger endureth but for a moment: in his favour is life, Pſal. 30.2, 3, 4, 5. Thanksgiving would be the very pulſe and breath of your aſſurance of Chriſt dwelling in you. You would ſay with Paul, Eph. 1.3, 4. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all spiritual bleſſings in celeſtials in Chriſt: According as he hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we ſhould be holy and blameleſs before him in Love: having predeſtinated us to the adoption of children by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf according to the good pleaſure of his will, to the praiſe of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved; In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remiſſion of ſins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us, &c.] Thus faith and aſſurance, as they have an unſpeakable ſtore to work upon, ſo it is natural to them to expatiate in the praiſe of our Redeemer, and to delight in amplifications and commemorations of the ways of grace. Juſt ſo doth Peter begin his firſt Epiſtle [Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the p. 380reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven for you who are kept by the power of Go… through faith unto ſalvation, ready to be revealed in the laſt time, wherein ye greatly rejoyce, &c.

No wonder if the Heirs of Heaven be inclined to the language and the work of Heaven. I think there are few of you that would not rejoice, and by your ſpeech, and countenance expreſs your joy, if you had aſſurance but of the dignities and dominions of this world. And can he chooſe but expreſs his Joy and Thankfulneſs, that hath aſſurance of the crown of life? What fragrant thoughts ſhould poſſeſs that mind that knoweth it ſelf to be poſſeſſed by the Spirit of the living God! How thankfull will he be that knows he hath Chriſt and Heaven to be thankfull for! What ſweet delights ſhould fill up the hours of that mans life, that knows the ſon of God liveth in him, and that he ſhall live in Joy with Chriſt for ever! How gladly will he be exerciſed in the praiſes of his Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, that knows it muſt be his work for ever? No wonder if this Joy be a ſtranger to their hearts, that p. 381are ſtrangers to Chriſt, or ſtrangers to their intereſt in his love: No wonder if they have no hearts for theſe celeſtial works, that have no part in the celeſtial inheritance, or that know not that they have any part therein. How can they joyfully give thanks for that which they know not that they have or ever ſhall have, or have any probability to attain!

But to that man that is aſſured of Chriſt within him, Heaven and Earth and all their ſtore do offer themſelves as the matter of his Thanks, and do furniſh him with proviſions to feed his Praiſes. What a ſhame is it that an aſſured heir of Heaven ſhould be ſcant and barren in comfort to himſelf, or in Thanks and Praiſe to Jeſus Chriſt, when he hath ſo full a heap of Love and mercy to fetch his motives from, and hath two worlds to furniſh him with the preciouſeſt materials; and hath no leſs then Infinite goodneſs even God himſelf, to be the ſubject of his Praiſe! [O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: becauſe his mercy endureth for ever: (what ever others do) Let Iſrael ſay, let the houſe of Aaron ſay, let them that fear the Lord ſay that his mercy endureth for ever, Pſal. 118.1, 2, 3, 4. The knowledge of our Intereſt ſitteth us for his Praiſe. [Pſal. 118.28. [Thou art my p. 382God, and I will praiſe thee: thou art … God, I will exalt thee.] Pſal. 116.16, 17 [O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, I am th… ſervant, and the ſon of thine handmaid thou haſt …ſed my bonds; I will offer … thee the ſacrifice of thanksgiving, and wi… call upon the name of the Lord?] His Praiſ… is for [the Congregation of his Saint… Pſal. 141.1, 2. Let Iſrael rejoyce in him th… made him; let the children of Zion be joy…ful in their King] Pſal. 148.13, 14▪ [Let them praiſe the name of the Lord▪ for his name alone is excellent: his glory i… above the earth and heaven. He alſo exalteth the horn of his people; the Praiſe of all his Saints, even of the children of Iſrael, … people near unto him.] Pſal. 132.16. I will alſo cloath his prieſts with ſalvation, and his Saints ſhall ſhout aloud for joy] Praiſe is a work ſo proper for the Saints, and Thanksgiving muſt be fed with the knowledge of your mercies, that Satan well knoweth, what he ſhall get by it, and what you will loſe, if he can but hide your mercies from you. The height of his malice is againſt the Lord, and the next is againſt you: and how can he ſhew it more then by drawing you to rob God of his Thanks and Praiſe, when he hath bleſſed and enriched p. 383you with the chiefeſt of his mercies! Labour therefore Chriſtians to know that you have that Grace that may be the Matter and Cauſe of ſo ſweet and acceptable an employment as the Praiſes of your Lord.

13. Moreover, you ſhould conſider that without the knowledge of your intereſt in Chriſt, you cannot live to the honour of your Redeemer, in ſuch a meaſure as the Goſpel doth require. The excellency of Gospel mercies will be veiled and obſcured by you, and will not be revealed and honoured by your lives. Your low and poor dejected ſpirits, will be a diſhonour to the faith and hope of the Saints, and to the Glorious inheritance of which you have ſo full a proſpect in the promiſes. If you take the ſon of a Prince in his infancy, and educate him as the ſon of a plowman, he will not live to the honour of his birth, which he is not acquainted with. The heirs of Heaven that know not themſelves to be ſuch, may live like the heirs of Heaven as to uprightneſs and humility; but not in the triumphant Joy, nor in the couragious boldneſs, which becometh a Believer. What an injury and diſhonour is to our Redeemer, that when he hath done and ſuffered ſo much to make p. 384us happy, we ſhould walk as heavily as he had done nothing for us at all! An… when he hath ſo fully ſecured us of eve…laſting happineſs, and told us of it ſo e…preſly that our Joy may be full, we ſhou… live as if the Goſpel were not the Goſpel, … ſuch things had never been promiſed or r…vealed! When Heaven is the Object, a… the promiſe of God is the groundwork … our faith, we ſhould live above all earth… things, as having the honours and pleaſure of the world under our feet, accountin… all as loſs and dung for the excellency of … knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. who… we ſhould love though we have not ſeen him in whom though now we ſee him not, yet b…lieving we ſhould rejoyce with joy unſpeaka…ble and full of glory; as thoſe that … receive the end of their faith, the ſalvation o… our ſouls] 1 Pet. 1.8, 9. And how ca… we do this, if we are ſtill queſtioning the Love of Chriſt, or our intereſ… in it!

Believers ſhould with undaunted reſolution charge through the armies of temptation, and conquer difficulties, and ſuffer for the name of Chriſt with joy; accounting it a beſſed thing to be perſecuted … righteouſneſs ſake, becauſe that theirs i… p. 385the kingdom of Heaven: Becauſe of the greatneſs of the Reward, they ſhould rejoyce and be exceeding glad, Matth. 5.10, 12. And how can they do this, that believe not that the Reward and Kingdom will be theirs!

The Joys of faith, and confidence on the promiſe and ſtrength of Chriſt, ſhould overcome all inordinate fears of man, [For he hath ſaid, I will never fail thee nor forſake thee. So that we may boldly ſay, The Lord is my helper, and I wi…l not fear what man ſhall do unto me, Heb. 13.5.6. And how can we do this, while we are queſtioning our part in the Chriſt and promiſe that we ſhould thus boldly truſt upon!

14. Laſtly conſider, that the knowledge of your part in Chriſt, may make all ſufferings eaſie to you. You will be ſo much ſatisfied in God your portion, as will abate the deſires, and drown the Joys and ſorrows of the world. You will judge the ſufferings of this preſent time unw…rthy to be compared to the Glory, that ſhall be revealed in us. Rom. 8.18. You will chooſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God▪ then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches then the treaſures of the world, p. 386as having reſpect to the recompence of re…ward, Heb. 11.25, 26. All this muſt b… done, and will be done by true believers that have an aſſurance of their own ſince…rity; They muſt and will forſake all and take up the Croſs and follow Chriſt, in hop… of a Reward in Heaven, as it is offered the… in the Goſpel, when they know their ſpecia… intereſt in it. For theſe are Chriſts term… which he impoſeth on all that will be hi… Diſciples, Luk. 14.33. & 18.22, 24, 25. But you may certainly perceive that i… will be much more eaſie to part with all, and undergoe and do all this, wen we have the great encouragement of our aſſured inetreſt, then when we have no more but the common offer. To inſtance in ſome particulars.

1. Do you live where ſerious Godlineſs is derided, and you cannot obey the word of God, and ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, and its righteouſneſs, without being made the common ſcorn, and the daily jeaſt and by-word of the company? Let it be ſo▪ If you know that you have Chriſt within you, and are ſecured of the everlaſting Joys, will you feel, will you regard ſuch things as theſe … ſhall the jeaſt of a diſtracted miſerable fool, abate the joy of your p. 387…ſſured happineſs? Princes and noblemen …ill not forſake their dominions or Lord-ſhips, nor caſt away the eſteem and …omfort of all they have, becauſe the poor …o ordinarily reproach them as Proud, …merciful oppreſſors. They think they may bear the words of the miſerable, while …hey have the the pleaſure of proſpe- And ſhall not we give loſers leave to …alke? We will not be mockt out of the comfort of our health or wealth, our habita…ions or our friends: and ſhall we be mockt …ut of the comfort of Chriſt and of the preſence of the comforter himſelf! If they that go naked deride you for having cloaths; and they that are out of doors in the cold and rain, deride you that are warm and dry withthin; or they that are ſick deride you for being well, this will but make you more ſenſible of your felicity, and pitty them that have added ſuch folly to their wants; ſo will it increaſe the ſenſe of your felicity, to find that you are poſſeſſed of ſo unſpeakable a mercy, which others have not ſo far taſted of as to know its worth. If you have the feaſt, you may bear the words of fa…iſhed unhappy ſouls, that ſpeak againſt it becauſe they taſte it not: If you are in your Fathers arms, you may bear the ſcorns p. 388of ſuch as ſtand without the door

2. If you have the contradictions a… oppoſition of the ignorant or malicious, ſpe…ing evil of things they know not, and pe…ſwading you from the ways of righteo…neſs, how eaſily may all this be born wh… you have Chriſt within you to ſtrengthene… encourage you! Had you but his examp… before you; who is the author and finiſher … your faith, who for the joy that was ſet b… fore him endured the Croſs, deſpiſing … ſhame, and endured ſuch contradiction of ſin…ners againſt himſelf; it ſhould keep you from being weary and fainting in your minds Heb. 12.2, 3. But when you have … preſence, his ſpirit, and his help, how muc… ſhould it corroborate and confirm you!

3. How eaſily may you bear the ſlander of your own or the Goſpels enemies, as lon… as you are ſure of your intereſt in Chriſt▪ How eaſily may you ſuffer them to call yo… by their own names, peſtilent fellows … movers of ſedition among the People, ringlead…ers of a Sect, prophaners of the Temple, as … was called, Act. 24.5, 6. as long as you have Chriſt within you, that was called Beelzebub for you ſakes, Matth. 10 25▪ Your Judge that muſt finally decide the caſe▪ is your deareſt friend, and dwelleth in you … p. 389It is he that will juſtifie you; who is he that condemneth you? Rom. 8.33, 34. His approbation is your life and comfort. How inconſiderable is it as to your own felicity, what mortal worms ſhall ſay or think of you? What if they call you all that is naught, and ſtain your names ▪ and obſcure your innocency, and make others believe the falſeſt accuſations, that Satan can uſe their tongues to utter of you? You have enough againſt all this within you: What if you go for hypocrites, or factious, or what malignity can call you, until the day of Judgement? As long as you have ſo good ſecurity of being then fully cleared of all, and your righteouſneſs vindicated by your Judge; how eaſily may you now bear the ſlanders of men, that prove themſelves wicked, by falſly affirming it of you? You can endure to be called Poor, ſo you be not poor; and to be called ſick as long as you are well. And you may well endure to be called Proud, while you are Humble; and factious, while you are the Lovers of Ʋnity and Peace; or Hypocrites, while you are ſincere. How boldly may you ſay with the Prophet, Iſaiah 50.7, 8, 9. [The Lord God will help me: therefore ſhall I not be confounded: therefore have I ſet my face like a flint, and I know that I ſhall not p. 390be aſhamed: He is near that juſtifieth me; Who will contend with me? let us ſtand together: Who is mine adverſary? Let him come near to me: Behold the Lord God will help me; who is he that ſhall condemn me? Lo, they ſhall all wax old as a garment: the moth ſhall eat them up.]

Had you but Pauls aſſurance and experience of Chriſt dwelling in you, you might imitate him in a holy contempt of all the ſlanders and revilings of the world, 1 Cor. 4.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. [For I think that God hath ſet forth us the Apoſtles laſt, as it were men appointed to death: For we are made a ſpectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men: We are fools for Chriſts ſake, but ye are wiſe in Chriſt: We are weak, but ye are ſtrong: Ye are honourable, but we are deſpiſed: Even unto this preſent hour, we both hunger, and thirſt, and are naked, and are buffetted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labour working with our own hands: being reviled, we bleſs; being perſecuted, we ſuffer it: being defamed, we intreate: We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offſcouring of all things unto this day.] Thus may we do and ſuffer all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth us, Phil. 4.13. What matter is it what men call us, if God p. 391call us his children, and friends, and Chriſt be not aſhamed to call us Brethren? With us …t will be a very ſmall thing to be judged of man, while we know the Lord that muſt judge …, is on our ſide, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. It lyeth not …n our hands to juſtifie our ſelves: It is Chriſt that hath undertaken to anſwer for …s; and made it the work of his office to …uſtifie us: and to him we may boldly and …omfortably leave it: and let all the accuſers …repare their charge, and deal with him, …nd do their worſt.

4. How eaſily may you bear impriſonment, baniſhment, or other perſecution, as …ong as you are aſſured of the Love of Chriſt? Can you fear to dwell where Chriſt …wells with you? If he will go with you …hrough fire and water, what need you fear? …hoſe owning appropriating words, will make us venture upon the greateſt perils [Fear not, for I have Redeemed thee; I have …alled thee by thy name, thou art mine: When …hou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with …hee; and through the rivers, they ſhall not …verflow thee: When thou walkeſt through the …ire, thou ſhalt not be burnt— For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Iſrael, thy Saviour.] Who would not with Peter caſt …imſelf into the Sea, or walk with confidence p. 392upon the waters, if Chriſt be there and call us to him? Matth. 14.28, 29. John 21.7.

The eleventh chapter to the Hebrews doth recapitulate the victories of faith, and ſhew us what the Hope of unſeen things can cauſe Believers patiently to undergo. How cheerfully will he endure the fouleſt way, that is aſſured to come ſafe to ſuch a home? What will a man ſtick at that knows he is following Chriſt to Heaven; and knoweth that he ſhall reign with him, when he hath ſuffered with him? 2 Tim. 2.12. Who wil… refuſe blood letting, that is aſſured beforehand that it ſhall procure his health? He is unworthy of Chriſt, and of ſalvation, that thinks any thing in the world too good to loſe for them, Matth. 10.37. What matter is it whether Death find us in honour or diſhonour, in our own Countrey or in another, at liberty or in priſon, ſo we are ſure it find us not in a ſtate of death. Who would not rather paſs to Glory by as ſtraight a way as John Baptiſt, Stephen, or other Martyr… did, then with their perſecutors to proſper in the way to miſery? Who can for ſhame repine at the loſs of temporal commodities, that is ſecured of the eternal Joyes? If aſſurance of the Love of God, would not embolden p. 393you to patient ſuffering, and to lay down life and all for Chriſt, what do you think ſhould ever do it?

But when you are afraid leſt death will turn you into Hell, What wonder if you timerouſly draw back? When you know not whether ever you ſhall have any better, no wonder if you are loth to part with the ſeeming happineſs which you have. Thoſe doubts and fears enfeeble the ſoul, and ſpoil you of that valour that becomes a ſouldier of Chriſt.

5. All perſonal croſſes in your eſtates, your families, your friends, your health, will be eaſily born, if you are once aſſured of your ſalvation. To a man that is paſſing into Heaven, all theſe are almoſt inconſiderable things. What is Lazarus the worſe now for h…s ſores or rags? Or what is the Rich man the better for his ſumptuonus attire and fare? Luke 16. Whether you be poor or rich, ſick or ſound, whether you are uſed kindly or unkindly in the world, are queſtions of ſo ſmall importance, that you are not much concerned in the anſwer of them: But whether you have Chriſt within you, or be reprobates; whether you are the heirs of the promiſe, or are under the curſe, are queſtions of everlaſting conſequence.

p. 3946. Laſtly, you may comfortably receive the ſentence of death, when once you are aſſured of the Life of Grace, and that you have eſcaped everlaſting death. Though nature will be ſtill averſe to a diſſolution, yet faith will make you cheerfully ſubmit, deſiring to depart and be with Chriſt, as the beſt condition for you, Phil. 1.23. When you know that if the earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, you have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; you will then groan earneſtly, deſiring to be cloathed upon with your houſe which is from heaven: not to be uncloathed, (for the union of ſoul and body, is the conſtitution of the man, which nature cannot but deſire) but to be cloathed upon, that mortality might be ſwallowed up of life: This God doth work you for, who giveth you the earneſt of the ſpirit; therefore as men that know while you are at home in the body, you are abſent from the Lord, and that walk by faith, and not by ſight, you would be alwaies confident, and willing rather to be abſent from the body, and preſent with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7▪ 8.

Though it be troubleſom to remove your dwelling, yet you would not ſtick upon the trouble, if you were ſure to change a cottage p. 395for a Court: nor would you refuſe to croſs the Seas, to change a priſon for a Kingdom. The holy deſires of Believers, do prepare them for a ſafe death; but it is the aſſurance of their future happineſs, or the believing expectation of it, that muſt prepare them for a death that is ſafe and comfortable. The Death of the Preſumptuous may be quiet, but not ſafe: The Death of doubting troubled Believers may be ſafe, but not quiet: The Death of the ungodly, that have awakened undeceived conſciences, is neither ſafe nor quiet: But the Death of ſtrong Belivers that have attained aſſurance, is both. And he that findeth Chriſt within him, may know that when he dyeth, he ſhall be with Chriſt: His dwelling in us by faith, by Love, and by his Spirit, is a pledge that we ſhall dwell with him. Chriſt within us, will certainly carry us unto Chriſt above us. Let Socinians queſtion the happineſs of ſuch departed ſouls, or doubt whether they be in heaven before the reſurrection; I am ſure that they are with Chriſt, as the fore-cited places ſhew, 2 Cor. 5.7, 8. and Phil. 1.23. and many other: We are following him, that when he had conquered Death, and went before us, did ſend that meſſage to his doubting troubled Diſciples, (which is to me ſo full of p. 396ſweetneſs, that me thinks I can ſcarce too oft recite it) John 20.17. [Go to my Brethren, and ſay unto them, I aſcend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and to your God.] O piercing, melting words, which methinks do write themſelves upon my heart, when ever I read them with attention and conſideration! Know once that you are his Brethren, and that his Father is your Father, and his God is your God, and that he is aſcended and glorified in your nature; and then how can you be unwilling to be diſmiſſed from the bondage of this fleſh, and be with Chriſt! For in his Fathers houſe are many manſions: and he is gone before to prepare a place for us: and will come again and receive us unto himſelf, that where he is, there we may be alſo, John 14.2, 3. And that this is his will for all his ſervants, he hath declared in that comfortable promiſe, (which alſo I have found ſo full of ſweetneſs, that I value it above all the riches of the world) John 12.26. [If any man ſerve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be: If any man ſerve me, him will my Father honour] The Spirit of Chriſt within you, is the earneſt of all this: Be aſſured of your Faith, and Hope, and Love, and you may be aſſured to poſſeſs the p. 397Good believed and Hoped for and Loved. The incorruptible ſeed, which liveth and abideth for ever, of which you are new born (1 Pe…. 1.23.) doth tend to the incorruptible crown (1 Pet. 5.4.) even the Crown of righteouſneſs which the righteous Judge will give to all that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.8. And ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord, as the Apoſtle comfortably ſpeaks, 1 Theſ. 4.17. and ſeaſonably annexeth the uſe of ſuch a cordial, verſ. 18. [wherefore comfort one another with theſe words.]

Whether we are to die by the decay of nature, or by the ſtorm of any violent diſeaſe, or by the hand of perſecutros or any other inſtruments of Satan, the difference is ſmall: They are but ſeveral ways of landing at the ſhore of happineſs, which we were making towards, through all the duties and difficulties of our lives. May we by any Death be ſent to Chriſt, let them domine…r a while that ſtay behind, and are conquerors and happy in their dream: we ſhall neither miſs nor deſire their felicity. May I die aſſured of the Love of God, how little regardable is it whether I be poor or rich till then? or in what manner Death ſhall do its execution? and how little cauſe have p. 398bleſſed ſouls, to envie them that are left on earth, in a quiet and proſperous paſſage to damnation?

And what an eaſe and pleaſure is this to a mans mind through all his life, to be able with well-grounded comfort, to think of death? What cares can vex him that hath ſecured hi… everlaſting ſtate? What loſſes ſhould afflict him that is ſure he ſhall not loſe his ſoul, and is ſure to gain eternal life? What fears ſhould diſquiet him that is ſure to eſcape the wrath of God? What wants ſhould trouble him that knoweth he is an heir of Heaven? Why ſhould the indignation or threatnings of man, be any temptation to turn him out of the way of duty, or diſmay his mind, who knoweth that they can but kill the body, and diſmiſs the ſoul into his bleſſed preſence, whom it loveth and laboureth and longs to ſee? what ſhould inordinately grieve that man that is certain of eternal Joy? What elſe ſhould he thirſt for, that hath in him the well of living waters springing up to everlaſting life? Joh. 4.14. And what ſhould deprive that man of comfort, that knoweth he hath the Comforter within him, and ſhall be for ever comforted with his maſters joy? And what ſhould break the Peace and Patience of him that is aſſured p. 399of Everlaſting Reſt? If the aſſurance of a happy death cannot make it welcome, and cannot make affliction eaſie, and fill our lives with the Joyes of Hope, I know not what can do it.

But alas for thoſe poor ſouls that know not whither death will ſend them, or at leaſt have not good grounds of hope, what wonder if through the fear of death they be all their life time ſubject unto bondage! Heb. 2.14. Methinks in the midſt of their wealth and pleaſure, they ſhould not be ſo ſtupid as to forget the millions that are gone before them, that lately were as jovial and ſecure as they; and how ſhort their dreaming feaſt will be; Methinks all the beauty of their fleſhly Idols, ſhould be blaſted with thoſe nipping froſts and ſtorms, that in their ſerious forethoughts, come in upon them, from the black and dreadful regions of death! Methinks at any time it ſhould damp their mirth, and allay the ebullition of their phrenetick blood, to remember [For all this I muſt die] and it may be this night, that the fool muſt deliver up his ſoul; and then whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which he hath provided! Luk. 12.19, 20. Then who ſhall be the Lord, and who the Knight or Gentleman? and who ſhall p. 400wear the gay attire? and who ſhall domineer, and ſay, Our will ſhall be done, an… thus we will have it? Then where is th… pleaſure of luſt, and merry company, an… meat drink and ſports? Methinks, Solo…mons memento, Eccleſ. 11.9. ſhould brin… them to themſelves [Rejoyce O young ma… in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee i… the days of thy youth, and walk in the way… of thy heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes … but know thou that for all theſe things, Go… will bring thee into judgement] And as th… ſound of theſe words [I muſt ſhortly die] methinks, ſhould be always in your ears ſo in reaſon, the Queſtion [Whether muſt I then go] ſhould be always a… it were before your eyes, till your ſoul… have received a ſatisfactory anſwer to it▪ O what an amazing dreadful thing it is▪ when an unſanctified unprepared ſoul muſt ſay [I muſt depart from earth, but I know not whither! I know not whether unto Heaven or Hell; Here I am now, but where muſt I be for ever!] When men believe that their next habitation muſt be everlaſting, methinks, the Queſtion [Whether muſt I goe] ſhould be day and night upon their minds, till they can ſay upon good grounds, [I ſhall go to the bleſſed preſence of the p. 401Lord:] O had you but the hearts of men within you, methinks the ſenſe of this one Queſtion, [Whither muſt I go when I leave …he fleſh?] ſhould ſo poſſeſs you, that it ſhould give your ſouls no reſt, till you were …ble to ſay, [We ſhall be with Chriſt, becauſe he dwelleth in us here, and hath ſealed us and given us the earneſt of his ſpirit: or at leaſt, till you have good hopes of this, and have done your beſt to make it ſure.

And thus I have told you of how great importance it is to believers, to attain aſſurance of the love of God, and to know that Chriſt abideth in them. And now I think you will confeſs, I have proved the neceſſity of Self-knowledge, both to the unregenerate, and the regenerate, though in ſeveral degrees: and having opened the diſeaſe, and ſhewed you the need of a remedy, I am next to direct you in the application for the cure.