A Cabinet of Choice Jewels, Chapter 1 · Maxim 11
The Eleventh Maxim or Conſideration.
ELeventhly, Conſider that probabilities of Grace, of ſincerity, of an intereſt in Chriſt, and of Salvation, may be a very great ſtay, and a ſingular ſupport, and a ſpecial cordial and comfort to abundance of precious Chriſtians that want that ſweet and bleſſed Aſſurance that their Souls do earneſtly breath and long after. There are doubtleſs many thouſands of the precious Sons and Daughters of Zion comparable to fine Gold,Lam. 4.2. that have not a clear and full Aſſurance of their intereſt in Chriſt, nor of the ſaving work of God upon their Souls, who yet are able to plead many probabilities of Grace, and of an intereſt in Chriſt. Now doubtleſs probabilities of Grace and of an intereſt in Chriſt may ſerve to keep off fears and doubts, and darkneſs, and ſadneſs, and all raſh and peremptory concluſions againſt a mans own Soul, and his everlaſting welfare, and may contribute very much to the keeping up of a great deal of peace, comfort and quietneſs in his Soul. The probable grounds that thou haſt Grace, and that God has begun to work powerfully, and ſavingly upon thee, are mercies more worth than ten thouſand Worlds; will you pleaſe ſeriouſly and frequently to dwell upon theſe ten particulars.
Firſt, That though many weak gracious ſouls don't enjoy communion with God in joy and delight, yet they do enjoy communion with God in ſorrow and tears.Hoſ. 12.4. Iſa. 38.3. Pſal. 51.17. A man may have communion wi h God in a heart humbling, a heart melting, and a heart abaſing way, when he hath not communion with God in a heart reviving, a heart cheering, and a heart comforting way. Tis a very great miſtake among many weak tender ſpirited Chriſtians, to think that they have no communion with God in duties, except they meet with God embracing and kiſſing, cheering and comforting up their Souls: And O that all ſuch Chriſtians would remember this once for all, viz. That a Chriſtian may have as real communion with God in a heart humbling way, as he can have in a heart comforting way;John 20.11-19. a Chriſtian may have as choice communion with God when his eyes are full of tears, as he can have when his heart is full of joy; when a godly man upon his dying bed was askt which were his moſt joyful dayes (either thoſe before his Converſion, or thoſe ſince his Converſion) upon which he cryed out, O give me my mourning dayes again, Give me my mourning dayes again, for they were my joyfulleſt dayes. Many times a poor Chriſtian has never more joy in his heart than when his eyes are full of tears. But,
Secondly, Though many poor weak doubting trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they do love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt,'Twas a famous ſaying of Auſtins, he loves not Chriſt at all, that loves not Chriſt above all. yet they dare ſay that they would love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all their hearts, and with all their Souls, and they dare ſay, that if it were in their power, they would even ſhed tears of blood becauſe they cannot love Chriſt, both as they would and as they ſhould. Bleſſed Bradford would ſit and weep at Dinner till the tears fell on his Trencher, becauſe he could love God no more. So the poor doubting trembling Chriſtian mourns and laments becauſe he can love Chriſt no more. A man may love Gold, and yet not have it, but no man loveth God but he is ſure to have God, ſaith Auguſtine. A good man once cryed out, I had rather have one Chriſt, than a thouſand Worlds.
Thirdly, Though many poor weak doubting trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they have Grace, yet they dare ſay that they prize the leaſt dram of Grace above all the gold and ſilver of the Indies;Cardan ſaith, that every precious ſtone hath an egregious vertue in it. The ſame we may ſay of every ſaving Grace. were all the world a lump of gold, and in their hands to diſpoſe of it, they would give it for Grace, yea for a little Grace. Now certainly no man can thus highly prize Grace but he that has Grace. No man ſees the worth and luſtre of Grace; no man ſees a beauty and excellency in Grace, nor no man can value Grace above the gold of Ophir, but he whoſe heart has been changed, and whoſe eyes has been opened by the Spirit of Grace. B…t,
Fourthly, Though many poor doubting trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that their condition is good, that their condition is ſafe and happy, yet they dare ſay that they would not for ten thouſand Worlds change their conditions with the vain and debauched men of the World, who delight in ſin, who wallow in ſin, who make a ſport of ſin, and who live under the Reign and Dominion of ſin; they had rather with Lazarus, Luke 16.be full of ſores and full of wants, and live and dye in rags, and after all be carried by Angels into Abrahams boſom, than with Dives, every day to fare ſumptuouſly, and be cloathed gloriouſly, and periſh eternally. Though they are poor, and wicked men Rich, though they are debaſed, and wicked men exalted, though they are empty, and wicked men full, though they are low, and wicked men high, though they enjoy nothing, and wicked men enjoy every thing, yet they would not for as many worlds as there be men in the world, change conditions with them. But,
Fifthly, Though poor doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they don't ſin, becauſe there is not a juſt man upon the earth, that doth good and ſinneth not, Eccleſ. 7.20. And becauſe no man can ſay I have made my heart clean, 1 John 3.6, 8, 9, 10.I am pure from my ſin, Prov. 20.9. And becauſe in many things we offend all, James 3.2. And becauſe if we ſay We have no ſin we deceive our ſelves, and the truth is not in us, 1 John 1.8. yet they dare ſay that they would not willingly, wilfully, wickedly, reſolutely, maliciouſly and habitually ſin againſt the Lord to gain the whole World, though they dare not ſay they don't ſin, yet they dare ſay, if they might have their choice, they would never diſhonour God more, nor Crucify the Lord of glory more, nor grieve the Spirit of Grace more, nor wound Conſcience more, nor cloud the face of God more, nor darken their evidences for Heaven more, nor interrupt their communion with God more, &c. But,
Sixthly, Though poor doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that God is their God, or that Chriſt is their Redeemer, or that the Spirit is their Comforter, yet they dare ſay, that if God and Chriſt and the Spirit, and grace and glory, and holineſs and happineſs were offered to them on the one hand, and all the honours pleaſures profits delights and carnal contents of the World were offered them on the other hand, they had ten thouſand times rather,Cant. 5.10. Deut. 26.17. Pſal. 73.25. Phil. 3.6, 7, 8. they had infinitely rather chooſe God and Chriſt & the Spirit, & grace & holineſs, & everlaſting happineſs than the contrary. Look as Rachel cryed out Give me Water or I dye; So theſe poor hearts are ſtil crying out, O Lord give me thy ſelf, or I dye; Give me thy Chriſt, or I dye; Give me thy Spirit and Grace, or I dye; Give me pardon of ſin, or I dye; Lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me, or I dye; Bring me under the bond of the Covenant, or I dye; O Lord let all theſe things be done, or I am undone, and that for ever; Lord let the men of this World take the World, and divide it among themſelves, let me but enjoy thy ſelf, thy Chriſt, thy love, and I ſhall ſay my Lot is fallen to me in a pleaſant place, and verily I have a goodly heritage, Pſal. 16.5, 6. But,
Seventhly, Though poor doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they have Grace in their own hearts, yet they dare ſay that they dearly love,Acts 11.23. Pſal. 15.4. Pſal. 16.3. Lam. 4.2. 1 Theſſ. 1.2, 3. Heb. 11.38. and highly honour, and greatly prize the Graces of the Spirit which they ſee ſparkling and ſhining in the hearts and lives and lips of other Saints, And they dare ſay that there are no men in all the world that are ſo precious, ſo lovely, ſo worthy and ſo honourable in their eyes, or ſo high in their eſteems as thoſe who have the Image of God, of Chriſt, of holineſs moſt clearly, fairly and fully ſtampt upon them. But,
Eighthly, Though poor doubting trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they have ſuch ſtrength and power againſt their ſins as they would have, or as they ſhould have, or as many of the dear Saints of God have, who often lead Captivity Captive;Pſal. 65.3. Gal. 5.14. yet they dare ſay, that when the Lord is pleaſed (now and then by his Spirit, Power, Word, Grace, &c.) to help them, though it be but a little, againſt their ſins, to help them in any meaſure to ſubdue their ſins, or to aſſiſt them to bring any one ſin or another to an under, or to arm them againſt any temptations, occaſions or provocations to ſin, there are no ſuch times or ſeaſons of joy, comfort, delight, refreſhing, and content to their Souls as theſe are. The language of their Souls in ſuch a day as this is, is this, O that it might be alwayes thus with us! O that every day we might lead Captivity Captive! O that every day we might have our luſts at an under! O that every day we might triumph over the old man! O that every day one luſt or another might fall before the power, the Spirit, the preſence, the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. But,
Ninthly, Though poor doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that they make ſo much advantage,Pſal. 4.3. Pſal. 66.19, 20. Pſal. 138.3. Lam. 3.55, 56, 57, 58. ſo much earnings of the Sermons they hear, or of the Prayers they make, or of the Scriptures they read, or of the communion of Saints that they enjoy, as others do; yet they dare ſay that they would not for all the World caſt off Praying or Hearing, or Reading, or the Communion of Saints, and give up themſelves to the wayes of ſin and Satan and the World. But,
Tenthly and laſtly, Though poor doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtians dare not ſay that Chriſt is their Saviour, yet they dare ſay that they deſire and endeavour to honour Chriſt as their Lord, though they cannot ſee Chriſt beſtowing himſelf on them as their Redeemer,John 20.…8. yet they are willing to make a reſignation of themſelves up to him as their King; they are willing to reſign up their hearts and lives to the Government of Jeſus Chriſt; though they cannot find comfort, yet they will oppoſe ſin; though they cannot comprehend Chriſt, yet they will not willingly offend Chriſt; though they cannot ſee their own propriety in Chriſt, yet they deſire nothing more than that Chriſt may claim a propriety in them; though they cannot ſee Chriſt as a friend, yet they can look upon ſin as an enemy; though they cannot cloſe with the Promiſes, yet they will cloſe with the Precepts; though they cannot cloſe with the Priviledges of a Chriſtian, yet they will cloſe with the Services of a Chriſtian; though they cannot ſhare in the comforts of a Chriſtian, yet they will ſide with the duties of a Chr…ſtian; though they cannot clear up their intereſt in Chriſt, yet they are willing to yield ſubjection to Chriſt; though they want ſtrength to throw themſelves into the arms of Chriſt to ſave them, yet they will caſt themſelves at the feet of Chriſt to ſerve him; though they want the light of comfort and conſolation, yet they will walk in the light of commands and directions, Iſa. 50.10.
All men will grant that theſe ten things are ſtrong probabilit es of Grace, but give me leave to ſay that they are withou… all controverſy, moſt ſure, ſound, ſolid and infallible evidences of true Grace, and of an intereſt in Chriſt and Salvation; and therefore all thoſe poor doubting ſtaggering and trembling Chriſtians that find all theſe, or any of theſe ten things in their own Souls, they ought for ever to bleſs the Lord, and ſpeak well of his Name upon theſe accounts. And therefore O my Soul, be thou much in adoring and admiring of free and infinite Grace, that hath wrought all theſe th…ngs in thee and for thee.
But now dear hearts that this eleventh particular concerning probabilities of Grace may the better ſtick upon you, and be the more ſeriouſly minded and weighed by you, I beſeech you often to ponder upon theſe ſix following things.
Firſt, That you have deſerved Hell, and therefore for you to have but a probability of going to Heaven, is infinite grace and mercy; you have deſerved to be ſhut up in chains of darkneſs with Devils and damned Spirits to all eternity,Jude 6. and therefore for you to have a probability of enjoying for ever the preſence of God,Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. Iſa. 33.14. Chriſt, the glorious Angels, and the Spirits of juſt men made perfect in Heaven, is a mercy more worth than ten thouſand worlds; you have deſerved to dwell with a devouring fire, and to lye for ever under thoſe flames and torments that are eaſleſs, endleſs, and remedileſs;Pſal. 16. ult. and therefore for you to have a probability of ſatiating and delighting your ſouls in that fulneſs of joy, and in thoſe everlaſting pleaſures that be at Gods right hand, is Grace, yea glorious Grace upon the Throne, &c. But,
Secondly, Conſider that if you caſt up a true and faithful account, you will certainly find, that the comfort, the peace, the joy, the quiet, the reſt, the ſatisfaction, the content that the generality of Saints do enjoy, is more from probabilities of Grace, than tis from any certainty or aſſurance that they have of Grace being in their Souls; tis more from probabilities of an intereſt in Chriſt, than from any aſſurance of an intereſt in Chriſt; tis more from probabilities of being ſaved, than tis from any ſpecial perſwaſions that they ſhall be ſaved; tis more from probabilities of going to Heaven, than tis from any raiſed fixed confidence that they ſhall go to Heaven; and therefore the people of God have very great cauſe to bow before the Lord, and to adore his Grace, and for ever to ſpeak well of his name, for the very probabilities of Grace, and of an intereſt in Chriſt, and of being ſaved and glorified.
Thirdly, Conſider that there have been very many under ſuch dreadful horrors and terrors of Conſcience, and under ſuch wrath and diſpleaſure of an angry God, and that have lain trembling upon their dying beds, and that have been even ready to be ſwallowed up in the gulf of deſpair, who would have given all the world (had it been in their power) for the very probabilities of Grace.He dyed deſperately, who dyed with this deſperate ſaying in his month, Spes & fortuna valete, Farewell life and hope together. Deſpair is Satans maſter-piece, it carries men headlong to Hell, as the Devils did the herd of Swine into the deep. Spira being in a deep deſpair for renouncing of thoſe Doctrines of the Goſpel, which he had once ſtoutly profeſt ſaid, That he would willingly ſuffer the moſt exquiſite tortures of Hell fire for the ſpace of ten thouſand years, upon condition he might be well aſſured to be releaſed afterward. He further added in that helliſh and horrible fit, that his dear wife and children (for whoſe ſake principally he turned away from the Goſpel, to embrace this preſent world) appeared now to him as Hangmen, Hags and torturers. A deſpairing Soul is Magor Miſſabib, a terror to himſelf, his heart a Hell of horrour, his Conſcience an Aceldama, a Field of black Bloud: So that as Auguſtin deſcribes ſuch a one flying from the Field to the City, from the City to his houſe, from his houſe to his Chamber, from his Chamber to his bed, &c. So that he can reſt no where, but is as if infernal Devils in fearful ſhapes were ſtill following of him, and ſtill terrifying and tormenting his diſtreſſed and perplexed Soul. Now doubtleſs ſuch poor ſouls would have given ten thouſand worlds (had they ſo many in their hands to give) and that for the very probabilities of Grace; and how many tempted, deſerted, clouded, wounded, and benighted Souls are there, who would think it a Heaven on this ſide Heaven, if they could but ſee probabilities of Grace in their Souls? O therefore let not the probabilities of Grace be a ſmall thing in your eyes, but bow the knee, and let the High Praiſes of God be found in your mouths, even for probabilities of Grace. But,
Fourthly, Conſider that Sa…an is a very deadly enemy to the leaſt probabilities of grace, and will do all he can to cloud, darken, and obſcure probabilities of Grace, ſince divine vengeance has cut him off from the leaſt hopes, from the leaſt probability of ever obtaining the leaſt dram of Grace or mercy.Let not any think (ſaith Luther) the Devil is …ow dead no nor yet aſleep, for as he that keepeth Iſrael, ſo he tha… hateth Iſrael never ſlumbreth or ſleepeth. O how does he ſtorm and take on againſt every probability of Grace and mercy that God vouchſafes to his people for their comfort and encouragement! Satan is an old experienced enemy, almoſt of ſix thouſand years ſtanding, and he very well knowes that probabilities of grace will certainly arm a Chriſtian againſt many temptations, and ſweetly ſupport him under many afflictions, and exceedingly heighten and raiſe his reſolutions; he knows that probabilities of grace will turn croſſes into Crowns, ſtorms into calms, and Winter nights into Summer dayes; Satan knows that probabilities of grace will make every bitter ſweet, and every ſweet ſeven times more ſweet; and therefore his ſpirit riſes and ſwells againſt every probability of grace. Now the greater Satans rage is againſt the probabilities of grace, the more thankful we ſhould be for the probabilities grace; tis good to move and act croſs to him, who in all his actings loves to act croſs to the glory of God, and the good of our Souls. But,
Fifthly, Conſider that from probabilities in outward things, men commonly gather a great deal of comfort, ſupport, quietneſs, and ſatisfaction; when the Phyſitian tells the Patient that tis probable, yea very probable that he will recover, live and do well, O what a ſupport, comfort, and refreſhing is this to the languiſhing Patient; when there is but a probability of a good Market, how does the Marketman ſmile; when there is but a probability of good Trading, how does the Tradeſman cheer up; when there is but a probability of a good Voyage, how does the Merchants and the Marriners ſpirits riſe; when there is but a probability of a good Harveſt, how does the Husbandman ſing; when there is but ſome hopes, ſome probability of a Pardon for a Condemned man, how does his ſpirits revive, and how does his heart even leap and dance for joy; and ſo when a Chriſtian has but ſome hopes, ſome probabilities of grace, of an intereſt in Chriſt, and of being ſaved, he may well cheer up and maintain his ground againſt all fears and doubts, objections and temptations. But,
Sixthly and laſtly, Conſider there is a great deal of grace and mercy in Scripture peradventures,Exod. 32.30. 1 Sam. 9.6. 1 Kings 20.31. 1 Tim. 2.25. as you may eaſily ſee by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together: Scripture peradventures ought to keep down deſpair, and raiſe our hopes and our hearts to know that God is favourable, and that ſin is pardonable, and that mercy is attainable, and that Hell is avoidable, is no ſmall comfort to a poor doubting trembling Chriſtian. And as there is a great deal of grace and mercy in Scripture peradventures; ſo there is a great deal of grace and favour in Scripture may-be's, as you may ſee by comparing theſe Scriptures in the Margent together. Now if Scripture-peradventures,1 Sam. 14 6. 2 Sam. 16.12. 2 Kings 19.4. Iſa. 37 4. Ezek. 14 11. Amos 5 15. Zeph. 2 3. Dan. 4.27. and Scripture may-be's afford ſo much ſupport, relief and comfort to your ſouls as indeed they do, then doubtleſs probabilities of grace, of an intereſt in Chriſt, of going to Heaven, and of being ſaved, ought very much to ſupport, relieve, cheer, and comfort the hearts of all thoſe that have ſuch probabilities. A gracious ſoul may ſay when he is loweſt and weakeſt, Well, though I dare not ſay that I have Grace, yet I have a peradventure for it; and though I dare not, I cannot ſay I have an intereſt in Chriſt, yet if I have a may-be for it, I ought to bear up bravely and comfortably againſt all fears and doubts; yea and to take the comfort, and the ſweet of all thoſe bleſſed probabilities of grace, of an intereſt in Chriſt, and of being ſaved, and of all the peradventures and may-be's that are ſcattered up and down in the Book of God, and with Hannah, to walk up and down without a ſad countenance, 1 Sam. 1.18.