A Cabinet of Choice Jewels, Chapter 5

A Cabinet of Choice Jewels · Chapter 5

p. 332CHAP. V.

Now in this fifth and laſt Chapter, I ſhall lay down ſome Propoſitions and Directions, that ſo you may ſee what a ſober uſe and improvement Chriſtians ought to make of their evidences for Heaven; and how in the uſe of gracious evidences they ought to live above their gracious evidences, and how to exalt and lift up Chriſt above all their graces, evidences and performances.

1FIrſt Propoſition. 'Tis the wiſdom, and ought to be the work of every Chriſtian to own the leaſt meaſure of grace that is in him,Though our graces like Gideon's Army, are but a handful in compariſon of our ſins, which like the Midianites are innumerable, yet a handful of grace is to be owned in the midſt of an Hoſt of ſins. though it be mixed and mingled with many weakneſſes and infirmities: Sin is Satan's work, and grace is Chriſt's work; and therefore Chriſt's work ought to be eyed and owned, though it be mingled with much of Satan's work. That Chriſtian is much clouded and benighted, who hath two eyes to behold his ſins, but never an eye to ſee his graces. Chriſt gets no glory, nor the ſoul gets no good, when a Chriſtian is ſtill a poring upon his ſins. How can that Chriſtian prize a little grace, and bleſs God for a little grace, and improve a little grace, who won't own a little grace becauſe it is mingled with many weakneſſes? Shall the Husbandman own a little wheat when mingled with a great deal of chaff?1 Sam. 21.13, 14.1 Sam 21:131 Sam 21:14 ſhall the Goldſmith own a little filings of gold when mingled with a great deal of duſt? and ſhall not a Chriſtian own a little grace when mingled with a great many failings? David had a great many infirmities, yet he owns his uprightneſs, Pſal. 18.23. I was upright before p. 333him. And Job Job 3.Job 3had a great many weakneſſes, yet he owns his integrity, Job. 27.5. Till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. Ver. 6. My righteouſneſs I hold faſt, and will not let it go, my heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live. The Spouſe was ſenſible of her blackneſs, yet owns her comelineſs, Cant. 1.5. I am black, but comely. So Cant. 5.2. I ſleep, but my heart waketh. Jeremiah was a man of many failings, yet he owns his hope in God, Jer. 17.17.Jer. 20.14—ult.Jer 20:14 Thou art my hope in the day of evil: The poor man in the Goſpel was very ſenſible of the ſad reliques and remains of unbelief that was in him, and yet with a holy boldneſs and confidence he pleads his faith, Mark 9.24. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Peter miſcarried ſadly,Mat. 26.69—ultMatt 26:69 and yet he owns his love to Chriſt, Joh. 21.15. Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee. Ver. 16. Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee. Ver. 17. Lord, thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee. Paul had his infirmities and weakneſſes hanging upon him, witneſs that 7th of the Romans; and yet how frequently and boldly does he own the grace of God that was in him, throughout his Epiſtles. Nothing keeps grace more at an under, than mens not owning of a little grace, becauſe it is mingled with many infirmities. The beſt way to be greatly good, is to own a little, little good, though in the midſt of much evil. But,

The ſecond Propoſition is this. It is your wiſdom, and 2ſhould be your work, to look upon all your graces and gracious evidences as favours given you from above, as gifts dropt out of heaven into your hearts, as flowers of Paradiſe ſtuck in your boſoms by a divine hand. A man ſhould never look upon his graces or his gracious evidences,Of thine own (ſaith David) have we given thee, 1 Chron. 29.14:1 Chr 29:14 but ſhould be ready to ſay, theſe are the jewels of glory with which God has beſpangled my ſoul, 1 Cor. 4.7. What haſt thou that thou haſt not received? What gift? what grace? what experience? what evidence haſt thou that thou haſt not received? All the light, and all the life, and all the love, and all the joy, and all the fear, and all the faith, and all the hope, and all the patience, and all the humility, &c. that thou haſt, with all the evidences that ariſe from diſcovery of thoſe graces, are p. 334all grace gifts, they are all from above. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, Jam. 1.17.Jas 1:17and cometh down from the father of lights. Look, as all light flows from the Sun, and all water from the Sea, ſo all temporal, ſpiritual and eternal good flows from heaven. All your graces, and the greateſt excellencies that are in you, do as much depend upon God and Chriſt, as the light doth upon the Sun, or as the Rivers do upon the Sea,Joh. 15.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Pſal. 87.7.John 15:1John 15:2John 15:3John 15:4John 15:5Ps 87:7 or as the branches do upon the root. All my ſprings are in thee; all the ſprings of comfort that I have communicated to my ſoul, and all the ſprings of grace that I have to quicken me, and to evidence the goodneſs and happineſs of my ſpiritual eſtate and condition to me, they are all in thee. When a Chriſtian looks upon his wiſdom and knowledge, it concerns him to ſay, Here is wiſdom and knowledge, I but 'tis from above; here is ſome weak love working towards Chriſt, but 'tis from above; here's joy, and comfort, and peace, &c. but theſe are all ſuch flowers of Paradiſe as never grew in natures garden. Now when a Chriſtian looks thus upon all thoſe coſtly Diamonds of grace, of glory, with which his ſoul is bedeckt, he keeps low, though his graces and gracious evidences are high. Where this Rule is neglected, the ſoul will be endangered of being ſwell'd and pufft.

It was a great ſaying of a very worthy man that is now with God, viz, Mr. Fox.That as he often got much good by his ſins, ſo he often got much hurt by his graces. Dear hearts, when you look upon the ſtream, remember the fountain; when you look upon the flower, remember the root; when you look upon the Stars, remember the Sun; and when ever you look upon your graces, then be ſure to remember Chriſt the fountain of grace, elſe Satan will certainly be too hard for you: Satan is ſo ſubtile, ſo artificial, and ſo critical, that he can make your very graces to ſerve him againſt your graces conquering joy by joy, ſorrow by ſorrow, humility by humility, fear by fear, and love by love; if you don't look upon all your graces as ſtreams flowing from the fountain above, and as fruits growing upon the Tree of life that is in p. 335the midſt of the Paradiſe of God. Therefore when one of your eyes is fixt upon your graces, let the other be alwayes fixt upon Chriſt the fountain of grace.1 John 16. Of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. Here they eye their graces, and the fountain of grace together. So Paul, I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20.Gal 2:20who loved me and gave himſelf for me. Paul eyes Chriſt and his graces together; ſo Peter eyes Chriſt and his graces together. Lord, John 21.15.John 21:15thou knoweſt …hat I love thee. So thoſe Worthies of whom this world was not worthy, they eye Chriſt and their graces together.Heb. 12.2.Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jeſus the Author and finiſher of our faith. 2 Cor. 5.17.2 Cor 5:17Though grace be a new creature, a noble creature, a beautiful creature, an excellent creature, yet grace is but a creature,Col. 1.17. Phil. 4.12, 13. Cant. 4. ult.Col 1:17Phil 4:12Phil 4:13Song 4 and ſuch a creature that is ſtrengthned, maintained, cheriſhed and upheld in your ſouls, in life and power, in beauty and glory, by nothing below the ſpiritual, internal and glorious operations of Chriſt, Col. 1.10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, being fruitful in every good work, and increaſing in the knowledge of God. Ver. 11. Strengthned with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-ſuffering with joyfulneſs. Now when ever you look upon grace as a lovely, beautiful creature, O then remember that might and glorious power of Chriſt, by which this creature is preſerved and ſtrengthned. Chriſtians, your graces are holy and heavenly plants of Chriſt's own ſetting and watering, and will you mind the plants more than that noble hand that ſet them? 'Tis Chriſt alone that can cauſe the deſires of his people to bud, and their graces to bloſſom,Iſa. 58.11. & 35.6, 7.Isa 58:11Isa 35:6Isa 35:7 and their ſouls to be like a watered garden, green and flouriſhing; and therefore let the eye of your ſouls be firſtly, moſtly and chiefly fixt upon Chriſt. But,

The third Propoſition is this. When you look upon your 3graces in the light of the Spirit, it highly concerns you to look narrowly to it, that you don't renounce and rejecty our p. 336graces, as weak and worthleſs evidences of your intereſt in Chriſt, and of that eternal happineſs and bleſſedneſs that comes by Chriſt. The works of grace (ſaith my Author) which conſiſts in thoſe divine qualities of holineſs and righteouſneſs,Grotius in Rom. 8.16.Rom 8:16 &c. Gal. 5.22, …. is a ſure Mark, a bleſſed character, whereby men may know whoſe children they are; even as the Spartans or Lacedemonians of old are ſaid to know what ſtock and linage they were of, by a mark that was made upon their bodies by the head of a Lance or Speer. I readily grant, that you muſt not truſt in your graces, nor make a Saviour of your graces; but yet you ought to look upon your graces, as ſo many ſigns and teſtimonies of the love and favour of God to your ſouls. What certainty can there be of Election, Remiſſion of ſin, Juſtification or Glorification, if there be not a certainty of your Sanctification and Renovation; if that perſwaſion that is in you ahout your grace or ſanctification be falſe, then that perſwaſion that is in you concerning remiſſion of ſin, predeſtination, juſtification and eternal ſalvation is falſe: This highly concerns all them to conſider, that would not be miſerable in both worlds. I know many cry up Revelations, Impreſſions, Viſions (yea the viſions of their own hearts) and ſpeak lightly and ſlightly of the graces of the Spirit, of ſanctification, of holineſs, as evidences of the goodneſs and happineſs of a Chriſtians condition. There were ſome in James his time, who cryed up faith,James 2.18.Jas 2:18 and union, and communion with Chriſt, but were deſtitute of good works. Well, what ſaith the Apoſtle? Shew me thy faith without thy works, Ver. 26.and I will ſhew thee my faith by my works; for as the body without the ſpirit is dead, ſo faith without works is dead. Look, as the body without the ſpirit (or without breath, as the Greek word foreign primarily ſignifies) is dead; ſo that faith that is without works, which are as it were the breathings of a lively faith, is a dead faith. Though it be faith that juſtifieth the man, yet it is works that juſtifies a mans faith to be right and real, ſaving and juſtifying. So there were ſome in Johns time, viz. the Gnoſticks, who talkt high of fellowſhip and communion with Chriſt, and yet walkt in darkneſs; they lived in all impurity, p. 337and yet would make the world believe that they were the only people who knew God, and had fellowſhip with God, but John tells us they were lyars.2 Cor. 6.14.2 Cor 6:14 If we ſay that we have fellowſhip with him, and walk in darkneſs, we lye, and do not the truth. What fellowſhip hath light with darkneſs? Such walk in darkneſs, who promiſe to themſelves the future viſion of God's face, whilſt they go on in the wilful breach of God's royal Laws. Such who ſay they know him, and are ſwallowed up in the enjoyments of him, and yet in the courſe of their live… walk contrary to him, ſuch are lyars. He that ſaith I know him; 1 John 2.4.1 John 2:4and keeps not his commandements is a lyar. Sanctification and juſtification are both of them benefits of the Covenant of grace, and therefore to evidence the one by the other,Jer. 33.8, 9. Heb. 8.10, 12.Jer 33:8Jer 33:9Heb 8:10Heb 8:12 can be no turning aſide to the covenant of works: You may run and read in the Covenant of grace, that he that is juſtified is alſo ſanctified, and that he that is ſanctified is alſo juſtified and therefore, why may not he that knows himſelf to be really ſanctified upon that very ground, ſafely and boldly conclude, that he is certainly juſtified. O Sirs! the ſame ſpiri… that wit…eſſes to a Chriſtian his juſtification; can ſhine upon his graces,1 Cor. 2.12. 1 Joh. 4.13, 14.1 Cor 2:121 John 4:131 John 4:14 and witneſs to him his ſanctification as well as his juſtification; and without all controverſie, 'tis as much the office of the Spirit to witneſs to a man his ſanctification, as 'tis to witneſs to him his juſtification. But you will ſay, Sir, pray what ſhould be the reaſons why many men have, and why ſome do ſtill cry down marks and ſigns, and deny ſanctification to be an evidence of mens juſtification, &c. and ſpeak diſgracefully of this practice that is now under conſideration? I conjecture the Reaſons may be ſuch as follow.

Firſt, Many Profeſſors take up in a great name, and in a 1great profeſſion, and in great parts and gifts, though they have never found a through change,1 Theſ. 5.23. John 3.3, 5. 2 Cor. 5.17. Acts 26.28.1 Thess 5:23John 3:3John 3:52 Cor 5:17Acts 26:28 though they have never paſt the pangs of the new birth, though they have never experienced what it is to be a new creature, a throughout Chriſtian. And hence it comes to paſs, that they make head againſt this way of evidencing the goodneſs and happineſs of a mans condition, by inward gracious qualifications. Of all p. 338men theſe are moſt apt to out-run the truth, and to run from one extream to another, and to be only conſtant in inconſtancy. But,

2Secondly, Many profeſſors are given up to ſpiritual judgments (which are the ſoreſt of all judgments) viz. luke-warmneſs, dead-heartedneſs, formality, indifferency, Apoſtacy, blindneſs, hardneſs, and to ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe a lye,2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12.2 Thess 2:102 Thess 2:112 Thess 2:12 becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved. Now, is it any wonder to ſee ſuch men quarrel, and wrangle, and rail againſt the way and method of evidencing the goodneſs and happineſs of a mans ſpiritual condition, by inherent gracious qualifications? But,

3Thirdly, In ſome this ariſeth from their luſts, which they indulge and connive at, and which they have a mind to live quietly in; they are deſirous to keep their peace, and yet unwilling to forſake their luſts; and hence they exclude this witneſs of water or ſanctification to teſtifie in the Court of Conſcience, whether they are beloved of God, or whether they are ſincere hearted or no, or whether they have the root of the matter in them or no; for the want of this witneſs, water or ſanctification, is a clear and full witneſs againſt them, that they are yet in their ſins, under wrath, and in the way to eternal ruin; and that they have nothing to do with peace,Iſa. 57. ult. Pſal. 50.16.Isa 57Ps 50:16 or comfort, or the promiſes, or Chriſt, or heaven, to take God's name into their lips, ſeeing they ſecretly hate to be reformed. There are many fair Profeſſors that are foul ſinners, and that have much of God, and Chriſt, and heaven, and holineſs in their lips, when they have nothing but ſin and hell in their hearts and lives. Theſe mens converſions ſhame their profeſſion, and therefore they cry out againſt ſanctification as a ſure and bleſſed evidence of a mans juſtification: Such ſinners as live in a courſe of ſin, that make a Trade of ſin,1 Theſ. 2.12.1 Thess 2:12 that indulge their ſins, that take up arms in defence of ſin, that make proviſion for ſin, that make a ſport of ſin, that take pleaſure in ſin, and that have ſet their hearts upon their p. 339ſins; ſuch ſinners can't but look upon the witneſs of ſanctification, as the hand-writing upon the wall, Dan. 5.5, 6. But,

Fourthly, There are many who are great ſtrangers to 4their own hearts and the bleſſed Scriptures, and are ignorant of what may be ſaid from the bleſſed Word,'Tis ſad to be a ſtranger at home, and to be leaſt acquainted with a mans own heart. Ariſtotle. to evidence the lawfulneſs of this practice that is under our preſent conſideration. And hence it comes to paſs that they cry down marks and ſigns, and deny ſanctification to be a ſure and bleſſed evidence of mens juſtification. Ignorat ſane improb… omnis; ignorance is the ſource of all ſin, the very well-ſpring from which all wickedneſs doth iſſue.'Tis ſaid of knowledge, non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem. Ignorance inſlaves a ſoul to Satan, it lets in ſin by Troops, locks them up in the heart, ſhuts out the means of recovery, and ſo plaiſters up a mans eyes, that he can't ſee the things that belongs to his own or to others internal or eternal peace. The Scripture ſets ignorant perſons below the Ox and the Aſs. Did men either ſee the deformity of ſin,Iſa. 1.3.Isa 1:3 or the beauty and excellency of holineſs, they would never delight in the one, nor cry down the other. Peter 2 Pet. 2.12.2 Pet 2:12tells you of ſome that ſpeak evil of the things that they underſtood not, they did reprehend that which they could not comprehend. Ignorance is a breeding ſin, a mother ſin, all ſins are ſeminally in ignorance; ignorance is the mother of all the miſtakes, and of all the miſrule in the world. Chriſt told the Sadduces,Mat. 22.29.Matt 22:29 That they did err not knowing the Scriptures; and ſo I may ſay many err in crying down ſuch ſigns and evidences of grace which are bottomed upon Scripture, becauſe they are ignorant of what the Scripture ſaith in the caſe. But,

Fifthly, The generality of Chriſtians are but Lambs, 5Babes and Children in grace,Iſa. 40.11. 2 Pet. 2.2, 3. 1 John 2.1.Isa 40:112 Pet 2:22 Pet 2:31 John 2:1 the ſprings of grace runs low in them, their fears frequently over-top their faith, and their ſtrong paſſions and corruptions do often raiſe ſuch a duſt and ſmoak in their ſouls, that … they might have all the world, yea if their ſalvation lay upon it, they were not able to diſcern the leaſt meaſure of grace in their own ſouls. A little grace is next to none, ſmall things are hardly diſcerned; he p. 340had need to have a clear light and good eyes, that is to diſcern a hair, a mote, or an atome. A little grace is not diſcoverable but by a ſhining light from above. There are none ſo full of fears, and doubts, and queſtions, and diſputes, about the truth of their faith in Chriſt, and the ſincerity of their love to Chriſt, as thoſe that leaſt believe and leaſt love. The Kingdom of God in moſt Chriſtians,Mark 4.30, 31, 32.Mark 4:30Mark 4:31Mark 4:32 is but as a grain of muſtard-ſeed, which is the leaſt of all ſeeds; and therefore▪ 'tis no wonder they ſee it not. The root of the matter in moſt Chriſtians is but ſmall, and that ſmall root is often covered over with many ſinful infirmities and weakneſſes, and therefore we are not to look upon it as a ſtrange thing, if we ſee ſuch Chriſtians not ſenſible of the root of the matter that is in them. Weak habits put forth ſuch faint actions (and with ſo much interruption) that it is not an eaſie thing to diſcern whether they are the products of ſpecial or of common grace. Now moſt Chriſtians having but ſmall meaſures of grace, holineſs and ſanctification in them; and theſe ſmall meaſures being much obſcured and buried under the prevalency of fears, doubts and unmortified luſts, can ſpeak but weakly and darkly for them; & upon this ground they are not fond of bringing in this witneſs of ſanctification to ſpeak for them. In civil Courts men are not ambitious to bring ſuch witneſſes to the Bar, as can witnes but weakly & faintly in their caſe. Tis ſo here.

6Sixthly, Satan is a grand enemy to the peace, joy, comfort, aſſurance, ſettlement and ſatisfaction of every poor Chriſtian; and therefore he will leave no ſtone unturn'd, nor no means unattempted,Pſal. 77. Pſal. 88.Ps 77Ps 88 whereby he may keep them in a low, dark, unſettled and uncomfortable condition. When once a poor ſoul is brought over to Chriſt, how does the Devil beſtir himſelf to keep ſuch a ſoul ſo under fears, doubts and bondage, as that it may not in the leaſt have an eye to any thing that may have a proper tendency to its comfort, joy, aſſurance, peace or quiet. The Devil will do all he can to furniſh ſuch (as ar… …egotten again by the reſurrection of Chriſt from the dead) with all ſorts of deadly weapons one of his Armoury to fight againſt thoſe Arguments and evidences which make for the peace and comfort p. 341of their own ſouls. He that ſhall look ſeriouſly and impartially upon the ſubtile, cloſe, ſtrong,2 Sam. 2.19.2 Sam 2:19 and rhetorical arguings of many diſtreſſed Chriſtians (above their own natural parts) againſt the peace, reſt, comfort, and ſettlement of their own ſouls, may ſafely conclude, that a hand of Joab, a hand of Satan, yea a ſtrong hand of Satan, has been with them. He that ſhall pleaſe to read the life of Francis Spira (though he be no great Philoſopher) yet he may eaſily diſcern with what ſubtilty and wonderful.2 Cor. 11.14.2 Cor 11:14 Sophiſtry Satan help… him to argue againſt the pardonableneſs of his ſins, and the poſſibility of his ſalvation. Satan knows how to transform himſelf into an Angel of light; Satan does not alwayes appear in one and the ſame faſhion; but he appears in as many ſeveral ſhapes, faſhions and changes, as Proteus did among the Poets: To deceive ſome, he has aſſumed a lightſom body, as if he were an Angel of heaven▪ as if he had been a holy one, cloathed with the brightneſs of celeſtial glory. To deceive others, he has appeared as an Angel of light, ſuggeſting ſuch things to them, and injecting ſuch things into them, under fair and ſpecious ſhews and pretences of Religion, Piety, Zeal and Holineſs, which have had a direct tendency to the diſhonour of God, the wounding of Chriſt, the grieving of the Spirit, the clouding or denying their evidences for heaven, the ſtrangling of their hopes, and the death of all their comforts and joy. But,

Seventhly and laſtly, Some Chriſtians live under high enjoyments 7and ſingular manifeſtations of God's love to them, they have God every day a ſhedding abroad of his love into their hearts by the holy Ghoſt.Rom. 5.5. Pſal. 63.2, 3, 4.Rom 5:5Ps 63:2Ps 63:3Ps 63:4 God is every day a filling their ſouls with life, light, love, glory and liberty;Mat. 17.4.Matt 17:4 Chriſt every day takes them up into the Mount, and makes ſuch diſcoveries of himſelf and his glory to them, that they are ready frequently to cry out, Bonum eſt eſſe hic, Dan. 9.22, 23 Cant. 2.6.Dan 9:22Dan 9:23Song 2:6It is good to be here Chriſt often whiſpers them in the ear with an, O man, O woman, greatly beloved; Chriſt's left hand is every day under their heads, and his right hand doth embrace them; they ſit down every day under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit is ſweet unto their taſte; he makes out every day ſuch ſweet and clear manifeſtations of his admirable p. 342favour to their hearts,Pſal 63.2, 3, 4, 5.Ps 63:2Ps 63:3Ps 63:4Ps 63:5 that their ſouls are daily ſatisfied as with marrow and fatneſs. There are ſome precious Chriſtians (I ſay not all,Cant. 8.Song 8 I ſay not moſt) who live daily under ſingular glances of divine glory, and who are daily under the ſenſible embracements of God, and who daily lye in the boſom of the Father,Cant. 1.13.Song 1:13 and who every night have Chriſt as a bundle of myrrh lying betwixt their breaſts. Now theſe choice ſouls who live daily in the glorious manifeſtations of the Spirit, and enjoy a little heaven on this ſide heaven, theſe many times are ſo taken up with their high communion with God, with their ſpiritual enjoyments, and with their taſtes of the glory of that other world, that they do not much mind ſuch evidences as we have had under our conſideration. And thus much for the Reaſons, why ſome cry down Scripture marks, ſigns and evidences of grace, of holineſs, of ſanctification; and why others don't much mind them, or take any great notice of them. But,

4The fourth Propoſition is this. If this way of trying our ſpiritual eſtates by holy and gracious qualifications, were not both lawful and uſeful, then certainly the holy Spirit would never have preſcribed it, nor never have preſt men ſo earneſtly upon it, as we find he has done in the bleſſed Scripture. Take a taſte, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your ſelves whether ye be in the faith; Pſal. 4.4. Vide Chryſoſtom on the words. Gal. 6.3, 4. 1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19.Ps 4:4Gal 6:3Gal 6:41 Tim 6:171 Tim 6:181 Tim 6:19prove your own ſelves. The precept is doubled, to teach us to redouble our diligence in this moſt needful, but much neglected duty of ſelf-examination. The final tryal of our eternal eſtates, doth immediately and ſolely belong to the Court of heaven, but the diſquiſitive part belongs to us. Here are two emphatical words in the Greek; Firſt, foreign, examine your ſelves. The word in the general ſignifies to take an experimental knowledge of any thing, that is either uncertain, unknown or hidden; moſt men are great ſtrangers to God, to Chriſt, to Scripture, and to themſelves, and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Examine your ſelves. Now if there were not ſure marks and infallible ſigns whereby men may certainly know what their preſent eſtate is, and p. 343how 'tis like to go with them in another world, the redoubled commnad of the Apoſtle would be in vain. The ſecond Greek word is foreign, prove your ſelves. The original word ſignifies a ſevere and diligent inquiſition into our ſelves, ſo as to have a full experience of what is in us. Doubtleſs the Apoſtle would never call again and again upon us, to try and examine our ſelves whether we be in the faith, if it were not lawful to come to the knowledge of our faith, or of our being in the ſtate of faithful Chriſtians in a diſcurſive way, arguing from the effect to the cauſe. So in that, 2 Pet. 1.10. Wherefore the rather brethren, give all diligence to make your calling and election ſure. The Greek word tranſlated give diligence, is very emphatical,foreign. it ſignifies to do a thing not in an overly, lazy, careleſs way, but to do a thing with induſtry, vigilancy and unweariedneſs of ſpirit. Now it is granted on all hands, that election cannot be made more ſure in reſpect of God or it ſelf, but only in reſpect of us, that we may be more perſwaded of it. Election cannot be made more ſure than it is already, for thoſe whom God hath elected ſhall be certainly glorified, but we muſt make it ſure on our parts;Rom. 8.29.30.Rom 8:29Rom 8:30 that is, we muſt labour to have a real bottom and grounded aſſurance that we are elected by God in his eternal decree, to obtain life and glory by Jeſus Chriſt. There is a double certainty, 1. There is certitudo objecti, a certainty of the object; ſo our election is ſure with God, for with him both it and all things are unchangable. 2. There is certitudo ſubjecti, the certainty of the ſubject; and ſo we muſt make our election ſure to our ſelves in our own hearts and conſciences. Now the means whereby we are to come to this aſſurance, is by adding grace to grace, and by cauſing thoſe ſeveral graces to abound in us. This is the way of wayes to make all ſure to us. Now by theſe Scriptures 'tis moſt evident, that we ſtand engaged to make our election ſure by holy ſigns and marks. But,

The fifth Propoſition is this. That other precious Saints that are now triumphing in glory, have pleaded their intereſt in God's love, and their hopes of a better life from graces p. 344inherent.Grace in the working of it, is often compared to life. Now, look as natural life is diſcerned by the actions thereof, as by ſo many ſigns, ſo alſo is ſupernatural life. I'le only point at ſome of thoſe Scriptures among many others, that clearly ſpeak out this truth; the firſt Epiſtle of John, James 2.17—ult. Job. 23.10, 11, 12. and the whole 31. Chapter of Job, Pſal. 119.6. Iſa. 38.2, 3. Neh. 1. ult. & 13.14, &c. Now all theſe Scriptures do evidently prove, that the precious ſervants of the Lord did take their graces for precious ſigns and teſtimonies of God's love, of their intereſt in Chriſt, and thereby received much comfort, peace and ſatisfaction. And truly, to deny the fruit growing upon the Tree to be an evidence that the Tree is alive, is to me as unreaſonable as it is abſurd: Certainly 'tis one thing to judge by our graces, and another thing to truſt in our graces, to make a Saviour of our graces. There is a great deal of difference betwixt declaring and deſerving Chriſtians, they may doubtleſs look to their graces as evidences of their part in Chriſt and ſalvation (and the clearer and ſtronger they are, the greater will be their comfort and aſſurance) but not as cauſes. No man advanced free grace like Paul; no man debaſed his own righteouſneſs like Paul, he counted it but dung and droſs; and no man exalted the righteouſneſs of Chriſt like Paul, Phil. 3.6, 7, 8, 9Phil 3:6Phil 3:7Phil 3:8Phil 3:9and yet by this way of ſigns he gathered much comfort and aſſurance, 2 Tim, 4.7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſs. How plainly, how fully doth he here conclude his right to the crown of life, from his fighting a good fight, his finiſhing his courſe (in a way of grace and holineſs) and his keeping the faith.foreign is boaſting; they boaſted in the teſtimony of their conſciences. O the quiet and tranquility that ariſes from the teſtimony of a mans ſincerity, both in heart and life. By this great inſtance you may clearly ſee, that a Chriſtian may greatly exalt Chriſt, lift up free grace, tread upon his own righteouſneſs (as to juſtification) and at the very ſame time take comfort in his graces, and in his gracious actings. So in that, 2 Cor. 1.12. Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of a good conſcience, that in godly ſincerity we have had our converſation in the world. His joy was founded on the teſtimony of his conſcience; but from what did his conſcience teſtifie? from his ſincere converſation. Again, take that memorable inſtance of Job, God hid his face from him, the arrows of the Almighty ſtuck faſt in him, Satan was let looſe p. 345upon him, the wife of his boſom proved a tempter to him, a tormenter of him; his moſt inward acquaintance deſerted him, reproached him, and condemned him as an hypocrite; God writ bitter things againſt him, and made him to poſſeſs the iniquities of his youth, all was clouded above him, and he ſtript of all the outward comforts that did once ſurround him; ſo that he had nothing left to ſtay him, to refreſh him, to ſupport him, and to be a comfort and joy to him,Job 1.8. & 2.3.Job 1:8Job 2:3 but the ſenſe of his integrity, and the evidence he had of his own uprightneſs, his own righteouſneſs, Job. 27.5. Till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. Ver. 6. My righteouſneſs I hold faſt, and will not let it go; my heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live. Job was under great afflictions, ſore temptations, and deep deſertions; now that which was his cordial, his bulwark in thoſe ſad times, was the ſenſe and feeling of his own uprightneſs, his own righteouſneſs; the ſenſe and feeling of the grace of God in him, kept him from fainting and ſinking under all his troubles. So 1 Joh. 2.3. Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments, &c. In theſe words two things are obſervable; Firſt, that where there is a true knowledge of Chriſt, there is an obſervation of his commandements. Secondly, that by this obſervation of his royal Law, we may know that our knowledge is ſound and ſincere. He ſpeaks not of a legal, but of an evangelical keeping of his commandements. A conſcionable and ſerious endeavour to walk in a holy courſe of life, according to God's will revealed in his Word, is a moſt certain mark or evidence that we have a ſaving knowledge of God, and that we are his children, and heirs of glory. Such who ſincerely deſire, and unfeignedly purpoſe, and firmly reſolve, and faithfully endeavour to keep the commandements of God; theſe do keep the commandements of God evangelically and acceptably in the eye of God, the account of God. So ver. 6. He that ſaith he abideth in him, ought himſelf alſo ſo to walk, even as he walked. Here you may obſerve two things; Firſt, that by faith we are implanted into Chriſt. Secondly, that we diſcover our implantation into Chriſt by our imitation of Chriſt. Such as plead for ſanctification a an evidence of p. 346juſtification, don't make their graces cauſes of their implantation into Chriſt, or of their juſtification before the throne of Chriſt, but they make them teſtimonies and witneſſes to declare the truth of their real implantation into Chriſt, and of their being juſtified before the throne of Chriſt. So 1 Joh. 3.14. We know we are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe we love the brethren. The Apoſtle makes this a great ſign of godlineſs to love another godly man for godlineſs ſake; and the more godly he is, the more to love him and to delight in him. Now mark, this love of our brethren is not a cauſe of our tranſlation from death to life (for the very word tranſlated, ſuppoſeth ſuch a grace, ſuch a favour of God as is without us) but a ſign of our tranſlation from death to life. But of this I have ſaid enough already; as you may ſee if you will but read from page 189. to page 200. of this Book. But,

6The moſt ordinary and ſafe way of coming to aſſurance, is the diſcourſive way in which a believer from the fruits and effects of grace infers he hath the habit, and from the habit concludes his j…ſtification & adoption; and as this is a way leaſt ſubject to deluſion, ſo it is alſo moſt ſuited to a rational creature, whoſe way of acting is by diſcourſe and argumentation.The ſixth Propoſition is this. There are many ſcores of precious promiſes made over to them that believe, to them that truſt in the Lord, to them that ſet him up as the great object of their fear, to them that love him, to them that delight in him, to them that obey him, to them that walk with him, to them that thirſt after him, to them that ſuffer for him, to them that follow after him, &c. Now, all theſe ſcores of promiſes are made for the ſupport, comfort and encouragement of all ſuch Chriſtians whoſe ſouls are beſpangled with grace. But now if we may not lawfully come to the knowledge of our faith, love, fear, delight, obedience, &c. in a diſcourſive way, arguing from the effect to the cauſe. What ſupport, what comfort, what advantage ſhall a ſincere Chriſtian have by all thoſe ſcores of promiſſory places of Scripture? Doubtleſs all thoſe ſcores of promiſes would be as ſo many Suns without light, as ſo many ſprings without water, as ſo many breaſts without milk, and as ſo many bodies without ſouls, to all gracious Chriſtians, were it not lawful for them to form up ſuch a practical ſyllogiſm as this is, viz. The Scripture doth plainly and fully declare, that he that p. 347believeth, feareth, loveth, obeyeth, &c. is bleſſed, and ſhall be happy for ever. But I am ſuch a one that doth believe, fear, love, obey, &c. therefore I am bleſſed, and ſhall be happy for ever. Now although it muſt be granted that the major of this Propoſition is Scripture, yet the aſſumption is from experience, and therefore a godly man being aſſiſted therein by the holy Ghoſt, may ſafely draw the concluſion as undeniable. O that you would ſeriouſly conſider, how little would be the difference (ſhould you ſhut out this diſcourſive way) betwixt a man and a beaſt, if a man ſhould aſſent to a thing unknown through an inſtinct and impreſſion, and ſhould to one who asks him a reaſon of his perſwaſion, be able to return no other anſwer but this; I am perſwaded becauſe I am perſwaded. But,

The ſeventh Propoſition is this. That the Scripture giveth 7many ſigns and ſymptoms of grace; ſo that if a man cannot find all, yet if he diſcover ſome, yea but one, he may ſafely conclude, that all the reſt are there; he who hath but one in truth of the forementioned characters in this book, hath ſeminally all; he who hath one link of the golden chain, hath the whole chain. Look, as he who hath one grace in truth, hath every grace in truth, though he doth not ſee every grace ſhining in his ſoul; ſo he that hath in truth any one evidence of grace in his ſoul, he hath virtually all. And, O that all weak, dark, doubting Chriſtians, would ſeriouſly and frequently ponder upon this Propoſition, for it may be a ſtaff to uphold them, and a cordial to comfort them under all their fears and faintings. But,

The eighth Propoſition is this. Without the light of the 8holy Ghoſt our graces ſhine not; our graces are only the means by which our condition is known to us;Rom. 9.2.Rom 9:2 the efficient cauſe of this knowledge, is the Spirit illuſtrating our graces and making them viſible, and ſo helping us to conclude from them, 1 Cor. 2.12. Now we have received not the ſpirit of the p. 348world, but the ſpirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Our graces, our ſanctification, as well as our election, vocation, juſtification and glorification, are freely given to us of God; and the Spirit of God is given as well to diſcover the one as the other to us. Mark, the things freely given us may be received by us, and yet the receit of them not known to us; therefore the Spirit for our further conſolation doth (as it were) put his hand and ſeal to our receits,Eph. 4.30.Eph 4:30 whence he is ſaid to ſeal us up unto the day of redemption. The graces of the Spirit are a real earneſt of the Spirit, yet they are not alwayes an evidential earneſt; therefore an earneſt is often ſuperadded to our graces. For ever remember theſe few hints; 1. That it is the work of the Spirit to plant grace in the ſoul. 2. That it is the work of the Spirit to act and exerciſe the graces that he has planted there. 3. That it is the work of the Spirit to ſhine upon thoſe graces that he has planted in the ſoul, and to cauſe the ſoul to ſee and feel what he has wrote. 4. That it is the work of the Spirit to raiſe ſprings of comfort and joy in the ſoul, upon the diſcovery of that grace which he has wrote in the ſoul. O Chriſtians, till the Spirit of the Lord ſhine upon your graces,Job 33.Job 33 you will ſtill be in the dark. 'Tis only God's own Interpreter that muſt ſhew a man his righteouſneſs. When the holy Ghoſt ſhines upon a Chriſtians graces, then a Chriſtian finds the ſprings of comfort to riſe in his ſoul, and then he finds the greateſt ſerenity and calmneſs in his ſpirit. O Sirs! no man can by any natural light or evidence in him, come to be aſſured of the grace wrought in his ſoul. Look, as no man can ſee the Sun but in the light of the Sun; ſo no man can ſee the graces of the Spirit but in the light of the Spirit.1 Joh. 5.13.1 John 5:13 A man may have grace, and not ſee it; he may be in a ſtate of grace and not know it; as the child lives in the womb but don't perceive it, is heir to a crown but don't know it.Iſa. 50.10. Rom. 8.13.Isa 50:10Rom 8:13 O! till the Spirit ſhines upon his own work, a child of light may walk in darkneſs and ſee no light. Look, as no man can ſubdue his ſins but by the power of the Spirit; ſo no man can ſee his graces but in the light of the Spirit. The confidence that a believer hath of the truth of grace wrought p. 349in him, ſprings more from the Spirits removing his ſlaviſh fears, and anſwering his doubts, and ſhining upon his graces, and ſupporting his ſoul, than it does from that excellency and beauty of grace which ſhines in him. A man may read the promiſes over and over a thouſand times, and yet never be affected, delighted or taken with them, till the Spirit of the Lord ſet them home upon his ſoul. And a man may read the threatnings over and over a thouſand times, and yet never ſtartle nor tremble, though he knows himſelf guilty of thoſe very ſins againſt which the threatnings are denounced, till the Spirit of the Lord ſets home the threatnings in power upon his conſcience; and then every threatning will be like the hand-writing upon the wall, which will cauſe his countenance to be changed, and his thoughts to be troubled,Dan. 5.6, 7.Dan 5:6Dan 5:7 and his joynts to be looſed, and his knees to be daſhed one againſt another. It is juſt ſo in the matter of our graces, and gracious evidences, till the holy Spirit ſhine upon them, till in the light of the Spirit we come to ſee them, they won't be witneſſing, comforting and refreſhing to us; and therefore let not the pious Reader think, that by the ſtrength of his natural light he ſhall ever attain to know the certainty of that grace which is in his ſoul, but let him rather beg hard of God for his holy Spirit, and that his Spirit may ſhine upon that good work which he hath begun in him, that ſo he may be perſwaded, aſſured and comforted. Without the light of the Spirit, the work of the Spirit can't be ſeen, no more than a book written in the faireſt hand or print, can be ſeen without light to ſee it or read it by. But,

The ninth Propoſition is this. Sincere Chriſtians may ſafely 9and groundedly rejoyce,Moſt Chriſtians by experience find that their aſſurance and joy riſes and falls as grace and holineſs, and as the evidences of grace and holineſs riſe and fall in their ſouls. delight and take comfort in thoſe graces, or in thoſe divine qualities, which in the light of the Spirit they ſee and know are wrote in their ſouls. I don't ſay that a Chriſtian ſhould build the comfort of his juſtification upon his graces, or that he ſhould reſt on his graces, or truſt to his graces, or make a Saviour of his graces, for this would be ſuch a piece of Phariſaical Popery, as is juſtly to be deteſted p. 350and abhorred by all that love Chriſt, or are looking towards heaven: But this I ſay, a Chriſtian may make ſeveral uſes of his graces, he may ſafly look upon his graces as ſo many evidences of Chriſt's dwelling in him, and he may look upon his graces as ſo many heavenly bracelets, or as ſo many love tokens from God in which he may ſafely rejoyce. The gracious evidences that I have laid down in this Treatiſe, are bleſſed ſymptoms of ſalvation, and therefore to rejoyce in them, can be no tranſgreſſion of any royal Law of heaven. He that can experimentally ſubſcribe to any of the gracious evidences that are laid down in this Book, has ſuch a fair certificate to ſhew for heaven, that no wicked man or hypocrite under heaven has the like to ſhew; and why ſuch a man ſhould not rejoyce in ſuch a certificate, I can't at preſent ſee. I may and ought to rejoyce in the works of Creation: O! how much more then ought I to rejoyce in the work of Renovation, in the work of ſanctification, which does ſo infinitely tranſcend the work of Creation? I may and ought to rejoyce in my natural life, health, ſtrength, beauty; and why then ſhould I not rejoyce in grace and holineſs, which is the life, health, ſtrength and beauty of my ſoul?Cant. 4.9.Song 4:9 Chriſt delights in the graces of his people. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, (or thou haſt behearted me, as the Hebrew runs) my ſiſter, my ſpouſe; thou haſt raviſhed my heart with one of thine eyes, (or with one glance of thine eyes, as ſome read it) with one chain of thy neck. The eye of faith, ſay ſome; the eye of love, ſay others: The chain of obedience, ſay ſome; the chain of ſpiritual graces, ſay others, raviſhed Chriſt's heart; the one eye of faith, the one chain of obedience, unhearted Chriſt, wounded Chriſt; this one eye, this one chain robbed Chriſt of his heart, and laid the Spouſe in the room of it. Now, ſhall Chriſt's heart be raviſhed with his childrens graces, and ſhall not their hearts be raviſhed and delighted with thoſe very graces that raviſh Chriſt's own heart? I may, yea I ought to rejoyce in the graces of others;1 Theſ. 1, …, 3, 4, 5. 2 Theſ. 1.3, 4.1 Thess 12 Thess 1:32 Thess 1:4 and why then not in my own? I may, yea I ought to rejoyce in others outward mercies, and in my own outward mercies. O! how much more then ought I to rejoyce in the ſaving and diſtinguiſhing graces of the p. 351Spirit, eſpecially when I conſider, that the leaſt dram of grace is more worth than ten thouſand thouſand worlds,Hab. 3.18. Gal. 6.14. Phil. 3.3.Hab 3:18Gal 6:14Phil 3:3 as every awakened conſcience will tell you when they come to dye. Mark, firſtly, moſtly and chiefly a Chriſtian is to rejoyce in God and Chriſt; but ſecondarily and ſubordinately he may rejoyce in thoſe graces, and in thoſe gracious evidences that God has given into his ſoul: Firſtly, moſtly and chiefly a Wife is to rejoyce in the perſon of her Husband, but ſecondarily, ſubordinately ſhe may rejoyce in the bracelets, in the ear-rings, in the jewels, in the gold chains that are given her by her Husband. But,

The tenth Propoſition is this, viz. That that aſſurance that 10the people of God may riſe to by the ſight of their graces, and upon the ſight of their gracious evidences in the light of the ſpirit, is not ſo clear, and bright, and high, and full, a that it utterly excludes all fears, doubtings, conflicts,1 Cor. 13.12. Phil. 3.12, 13, 14.1 Cor 13:12Phil 3:12Phil 3:13Phil 3:14 or ſpiritual agonies. Our knowledge of God, of Chriſt, of our ſelves, and of the bleſſed Scripture, which is the Rule of tryal, is imperfect in this life. And how then can our aſſurance be perfect? David, a man eminent in grace and holineſs, had his up-hills and his down-hills, his Summer days and his Winter nights.Pſal 73.25. Pſal. 42.5, 11.Ps 73:25Ps 42:5Ps 42:11 Now you ſhall have him upon the Mountains ſinging and ſaying, The Lord is my portion; and preſently you ſhall have him in the Valleys, ſighing and ſaying, Wh… art thou caſt down, O my ſoul; why art thou diſquieted within me? Job 3. Pſal. 77. Pſal. 88.Job 3Ps 77Ps 88The ſame is evident in Job, Heman and Aſaph. Such an aſſurance as ſhall exclude all fears, doubts, conflicts, agonies, i… very deſirable on earth, but ſhall never be obtained till we come to heaven. The grievous aſſaults of Satan, the power of unbelief, and the prevalency of other corruptions in a Chriſtians heart, may be ſuch as may ſhake (I don't ſay overturn) that aſſurance which a Chriſtian may gather from the ſight and evidence of his graces in the light of the ſpirit.Gal. 5.17.Gal 5:17 The fleſh luſteth as well againſt the ſpirit as it is a ſpirit of conſolation, as it luſteth againſt the ſpirit as it is a ſpirit of ſanctification; and therefore ſuch an aſſurance as ſhall exclude p. 352all ſorts and degrees of fears and doubts,Doubting is not a vertue, as the Papiſts would make us believe, but 'tis a fruit of the fleſh, and a thing moſt contrary and oppoſite to the nature of faith, Jam. 1.5. Mat. 21.21. & 13.31. And therefore Chriſtians ſhould pray hard to be rid of their doubts.Jas 1:5Matt 21:21Matt 13:31 is not attainable in this life; whilſt we are in this old world we ſhall have water with our wine, gall with our honey, and ſome clouds with our brighteſt Sun-ſhiny dayes, &c. Moſt Chriſtians think, that as long as they have any doubtings they have no aſſurance; but they conſider not that there are many degrees of infalible certainty, below a perfect or an undoubting certainty: Doubtleſs ſome darkneſs, more or leſs, will overſpread the face of every Chriſtians ſoul, and unbelief in one degree or another will be making head againſt their faith; and hypocriſie in one degree or another will be making head againſt ſincerity, and pride in one degree or another will be making head againſt humility, and paſſion in one degree or another will be making head againſt meekneſs, and earthly-mindedneſs in one degree or another will be making head againſt heavenly-mindedneſs, &c. yet as long as a Chriſtian has the ſight of his graces or his gracious evidences, he may and ought to walk in much peace, comfort and joy. Such Chriſtians as are reſolved to lye down in ſorrow, till they have attained to a perfect aſſurance, muſt reſolve to lye down in ſorrow till they come to lay down their heads in the duſt. Our graces are imperfect, and therefore that aſſurance that ariſes from the ſight and evidence of them, muſt needs be imperfect;1 Theſ. 3.10.1 Thess 3:10 perfect ſigns of grace can never ſpring from imperfect grace. Now, if this were ſeriouſly apprehended, ſtudied and minded by many weak Chriſtians, they would not at every turn call their ſpiritual eſtates into queſtion as they do, becauſe they find ſome ſeeds and ſtirrings of pride, hypocriſie, vain-glory, and other ſinful humours and paſſions working in them. But,

11The eleventh Propoſition is this, viz. When all your ſigns and evidences of the happineſs and bleſſedneſs of your condition fails you, and are ſo clouded, obſcured, darkned and blotted, that you can't read them, that you can't take any comfort from them, then it highly concerns you to keep up p. 353high, and precious, and honourable thoughts of God, of Chriſt, of his word, and of his wayes in your ſouls.Pſal. 97.2. Cant. 5.6, 7.Ps 97:2Song 5:6Song 5:7 When Chriſt was withdrawn from his Spouſe, and when the watchmen that went about the City had ſmote her and wounded her, and when the keepers of the walls had took away her vail from her, yet then ſhe keeps up in heart very high, precious and honourable thoughts of Chriſt, Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt among ten thouſand. Ver. 16. His mouth is moſt ſweet, and he is altogether lovely; or his mouth is ſweetneſſes, and he is altogether deſirableneſſes, or all of him is deſires, or he is wholly deſirable. Here ſhe breaks off her praiſes in a general Elogy, which no words can expreſs enough. Alas! ſaith the Spouſe, I want words to expreſs how ſweet, how lovely, how comely, how deſirable, how eminent, and how excellent Chriſt is in my eye, and to my ſoul;Hag. 2.8.Hag 2:8 he is the deſire of all Nations (de jure) and all that is perfect in heaven or earth, is but a dim ſhadow of his excellency and glory. Where Chriſt is there is heaven; heaven it ſelf in the Spouſe's eyes, without Chriſt, would be but a low little thing. The Spouſe looks upon Chriſt as the ſparkling Diamond in the ring of glory. So David when he was wofully clouded and benighted, when all was dark within him, and dark about him, and dark over him, Pſal. 73. Verily I have cleanſed my heart in vain, See Pſal. 77. & Pſal. 88. 1 Sam. 30.6.Ps 77Ps 881 Sam 30:6and waſhed my hands in innocency. Ver. 21. My heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. Ver. 22. I was as a beaſt before thee; or I was as a great beaſt, or as many beaſts in one, as the Hebrew word Behemoth imports. Ver. 26. My fleſh and my heart faileth; that is, my outward man and my inward man faileth me. And yet mark, at this very time, when the Pſalmiſt was thus overcaſt, he keeps up in him very high, precious and honourable thoughts of God, Ver. 1. Truly God is good to Iſrael, even to ſuch as are of a clean heart. Ver. 23. Nevertheleſs, I am continually with thee, thou haſt holden me by my right hand. Ver. 24. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, and afterward receive me to glory. Ver. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. Ver. 26. God is the ſtrength (or rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever. Ver. 28. p. 354It is good for me to draw near to God. So the Church in that, Micah 7. When God had hid his face from her. Ver. 7. When ſhe ſate in darkneſs. Ver. 8. When ſhe was under the indignation of the Lord. Ver. 9. When the righteous man was periſhed, and there was none upright among men. Ver. 2. And when her enemies rejoyced, inſulted and triumphed over her. Ver. 8. & ver. 10. Yet now, even now, ſhe keeps up in her ſoul very high, precious and honourable thoughts of the Lord. Ver. 7. My God will hear me. Ver. 8. When I fall, I ſhall ariſe; when I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. Ver. 9. He will bring me forth to the light, and I ſhall behold his righteouſneſs. I might give you twenty more inſtances, but enough is as good as a feaſt. Dear Chriſtians, when your graces are not tranſparent, when your evidences for heaven are blotted, and when the face of God is clouded, O then keep up in your hearts high, precious and honourable thoughts of God and Chriſt, and of his Word and wayes,Acts 27.20.Acts 27:20 &c. When your Sun of righteouſneſs is ſet in a cloud, when great darkneſs is upon your ſpirits, when all Moon-light, and Star-light of your graces and gracious evidences fails you,Pſal. 22.3.Ps 22:3 yet then ſay with David, Thou art holy, O thou that inhabiteſt the praiſes of Iſrael; and with Ezra, Thou haſt puniſhed me leſs than mine iniquities deſerve; Ezra 9.13. Neh. 9.33.Ezra 9:13Neh 9:33and with Nehemiah, Howbeit, thou art juſt in all that is brought upon us, for thou haſt done right, but we have done wickedly; and with the Church, The Lord is righteous. Lam. 1.18.Lam 1:18In the darkeſt night, and under your deepeſt ſoul-diſtreſſes, ſay, Well, if I periſh, if I ſhould miſcarry for ever, yet I will maintain and keep up in my heart high, and precious, and honourable thoughts of God and Chriſt: Say, well, though my graces are obſcured, and my evidences for heaven are blurred and ſoyled, yet I ſhall to my laſt breath, ſay the Lord is good, and his Word is good, and his wayes are good; yea, though he ſhould ſlay me, yet I will truſt in him,Job 13.15.Job 13:15 and entertain noble and glorious thoughts of him. This is the way of wayes to have your graces cleared and ſtrengthned, your evidences brightned, your comforts reſtored, and your aſſurance confirmed. But,

p. 355The twelfth Propoſition is this, viz. That it is the great 12duty and concernment of Chriſtians to keep the evidences of their gracious and happy condition, alwayes bright and ſhining; Chriſtians ſhould make conſcience of blurring and disfiguring the golden characters of grace in their ſouls. The leaſt character of grace in the ſoul, is more worth than all the gold of Ophir, yea more worth than ten thouſand thouſand worlds;Eph. 4.30. Pſal. 51.11, 12Eph 4:30Ps 51:11Ps 51:12 and therefore every gracious Chriſtian ſhould be marvellous careful, that he does not by wilful omiſſions or ſinful commiſſions, cloud, dim or darken the leaſt character of grace; ſuch as blot or loſe their evidences for heaven, they loſe the comfort of their lives in this world. Satans maſter-piece is firſt to work Chriſtians to blot and blur their evidences for glory, by committing this or that hainous ſin; and then his next work is to rob them of their evidences for glory, that ſo though at the long run they may get ſafe to heaven, that yet Jacob like they may go halting and mourning to their graves. Satan knows, that whilſt a Chriſtians evidences are bright and ſhining, a Chriſtian is temptation-proof. Satan may tempt him, but he can't conquer him; he may aſſault him, but he can't vanquiſh him. Satan knows, that whilſt a Chriſtians evidences for heaven are bright and ſhining, no afflictions can ſink him, nor no oppoſition ſhake him, nor no perſecution diſcourage him, nor no outward wants perplex him; and therefore he will uſe all his power and policy, all his arts, crafts and parts, to draw poor Chriſtians to blot and blur their evidences for glory. Satan knows, that a man may loſe one friend, and eaſily get another, loſe his Trade in one place, and ſoon get a Trade in another place; loſe health and get it, loſe an eſtate and get an eſtate, &c. But if he loſes his evidences for heaven, he knows it will coſt him many a prayer, and many a ſigh, and many a groan, and many a tear, and many a ſad complaint, before he recovers his loſt evidences; and therefore his grand deſign is to plunder a Chriſtian of his evidences for heaven. O Sirs! keep but your evidences for heaven alwayes bright and ſhining, and then heavy afflictions will be light, and long afflictions will be ſhort,2 Cor. 4.16, 17, 18.2 Cor 4:162 Cor 4:172 Cor 4:18 and bitter afflictions will be ſweet; and then every evidence fainly p. 356written in your hearts, will be a living comfort to you in a dying hour. When the tokens of death are upon your bodies, and you ſhall ſee the lively characters of grace ſhining in your ſouls,Luke 2.29.Luke 2:29 you will then cry out with old Simeon, Lord, now let thy ſervant depart in peace; and with the Spouſe, Make haſt my beloved, Cant. 8. ult.Song 8and be like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the mountains of ſpices; Rev. 22.20. Phil. 1.23.Rev 22:20Phil 1:23and with the Bride, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly; and with Paul, I deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt. When a man's evidences for heaven are either loſt or blotted and blur'd, then he will be ready to cry out wi…h David, O ſpare me yet a little, that I may recover ſtrength before I go hence and be ſeen no more; Iſa. 38.3.Isa 38:3and with Hezekiah, to turn his face to the wall and weep. There are four things that above all others a Chriſtian ſhould labour to keep; 1. Chriſt. 2. His own heart. 3. The Word. 4. His evidences for heaven, bright and ſhining. But,

13The thirteenth Propoſition is this, viz. It is the high concernment of every Chriſtian, either when he is in the dark, or when his graces ſhine brighteſt, and when his evidences for heaven are cleareſt, and his ſprings of comfort riſe higheſt, then to have his heart and the eye of his faith moſt firmly fixt upon theſe three royal Forts, or theſe five Cities or refuge. It muſt be granted, that though our graces are our beſt jewels, yet they are imperfect, and do not give out their full luſtre; they are like the Moon, which when it ſhines brighteſt hath her dark ſpots; and therefore a Chriſtian had need have his eye, his heart fixt upon the five following royal Forts. You know in time of War there are the outworks, and there are the royal Forts: Now, when the Soldiers are beaten out of their outworks, they retire to the royal Forts, and there they are ſafe, and then they caſt up their caps and bid defiance to their proudeſt enemies. Now, our graces and our gracious evidences, they are our out-works; and from theſe we may be beaten in a day of deſertion and temptation, &c. Now if we make our retreat to the five following royal Forts, we may in a holy ſence caſt up our caps, and bid defiance to an hoſt of Devils, yea to all the powers of darkneſs.

p. 357Qu. But Sir, Pray let us know which are theſe Royal Forts.

Anſ. They are theſe three that follow.

The firſt is the free, rich, infinite, ſoveraign and glorious 1grace of God.Gen. 6.8. Exod. 19.5. Eph 1.5, 6, 7. 1 Tim. 1.13, 14, 15, 16. The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant. The original word is foreign, was over full, redundant, more than enough, more than might ſerve the turn for him, who was the greateſt of ſinners.Gen 6:8Exod 19:5Eph 1:5Eph 1:6Eph 1:71 Tim 1:131 Tim 1:141 Tim 1:151 Tim 1:16 By free-grace you are to underſtand the gracious good will or favour of God, whereby he is pleaſed of his own free love to chuſe and accept of ſome in Chriſt for his own, This we call firſt grace, becauſe it is the fountain of all other grace, and the ſprings from whence they flow; and it's therefore called grace, becauſe it makes a man gracious with God. Now mark, there have been many Chriſtians who have had no aſſurance of the love of God, no ſight of their intereſt in Chriſt, no ſealing of the ſpirit, nor no one clear evidence of grace, that they durſt reſt the weight of their ſouls upon; nor no one promiſe in the whole Book of God that they durſt apply or reſt upon, who yet daily caſting or rowling themſelves, their ſouls, and their everlaſting concernments, upon the infinite, free, rich and ſoveraign grace of God in Chriſt, have found ſome tolerable peace, comfort and refreſhment in ſuch a practiſe all their dayes. A Chriſtian may loſe the ſight of his graces, and the evidences of his gracious eſtate; he may be ſo much in the dark, he may be ſo much benighted and bewildered in his ſpirit, that there may be no way under heaven left to him to enjoy peace, comfort, reſt, quiet, ſettlement or contentment, but by caſting or rowling of his ſoul upon the free, rich, infinite and ſoveraign grace of God in Chriſt; and here caſting anchor, the poor bewildered, deſerted, tempted,Iſa. 50.10.Isa 50:10 toſſed ſoul may be ſafe and at reſt. The free love and favour of God will be a lamp to the ſoul in the darkeſt night,Pſal. 4.6. Socrates prized the Kings countenance above his coyn. What is then the countenance of a God, to a gracious ſoul?Ps 4:6 it will be a ſweet lump that will ſweeten the bittereſt cup, it will be a ſingular cordial againſt all faintings, it will be armour of proof againſt all temptations, it will be an everlaſting arm to you under all afflictions, it will be a Sun and a ſhield to you in every condition, Pſal. 80.3. Cauſe thy face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved. Divine favour is that pearl of price that is moſt deſirable, Dan. 9.17. The Lord make his face to ſhine upon his ſanctuary p. 358that is deſolate, for the Lords ſake. Numb. 6.24. The Lord make his face to ſhine upon you, and be gracious to you. Pſal. 67.1. God be merciful to you, and bleſs you, and cauſe his face to ſhine upon you. Job 2.4.Job 2:4Life is a very deſirable thing, skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life; and yet the loving kindneſs of God is better than life, Pſal. 63. Thy loving kindneſs is better than life. The Hebrew word is Chajim, lives; to note that the loving kindneſs of God is better than many lives, yea than all lives, and the revenues of life, put many lives together, put all lives together; and yet there is more excellency in the leaſt diſcovery of divine love than in them all. Many a man has been weary of his life, but who have ever been weary of divine love? Dear Chriſtians, are your graces or gracious evidences ſhining and ſparkling? O then ſolace your ſelves moſtly in the free love and favour of God; for in his free favour lyes the life of your ſouls, the life of your graces, the life of your comforts, yea in his free favour your all is bound up. If your graces or evidences are ſo clouded and darkned, that you are in a ſtormy day beat out of your out-works: O now run to the free grace and favour of God, as to your Royal Fort, as to your ſtrong Tower, as to your City of Refuge, where you may be ſafe and happy for ever. In ſuch a day ponder much upon theſe Scriptures, Hoſ. 14.4. I will heal their back-ſliding, I will love them freely. God's love is a free love, having no motive or foundation but within it ſelf; all the links of the golden chain of ſalvation are made up of free-grace. The people of God are freely loved, Deut. 7.6, 7, 8. and freely choſen, John 15.16, 19. Eph. 1.4. and freely accepted, Eph. 1.6. and freely adopted, Eph. 1.5. Gal. 4.5, 6. and freely reconciled, 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20. and freely juſtified, Rom. 3.24. Being juſtified freely by his grace; and freely ſaved, Eph. 2.5. By grace ye are ſaved. Ver. 8. For by grace are ye ſaved. Tit. 3.5. Not by works of righteouſneſs which we have done, but according to his mercy he ſaved us. Thus you ſee, that all the golden rounds in Jacob's Ladder that reaches from heaven to earth, are all made up of free-grace. Free-grace is the foundation of all ſpiritual and eternal mercies; free-grace is the ſolid bottom and p. 359foundation of all a Chriſtians comfort in this world. Were we to meaſure the love of God to us by our fruitfulneſs, holineſs, humbleneſs, ſpiritualneſs, heavenly-mindedneſs, or gracious carriages towards him, how would our hope, our confidence, every hour,Rom. 4.16.Rom 4:16 yea every moment in every hour be ſtaggered, if not vanquiſhed? B…t all is of grace, of free-grace, that the promiſe might be ſure, and that our ſalvation might be ſafe. O Sirs! it is free-grace that will ſtrengthen you in all your duties, and that will ſweeten all your merciemercy…,Rom. 8.33, 34, 35, 36.Rom 8:33Rom 8:34Rom 8:35Rom 8:36 and that will ſupport you under all your changes, and that will arm you againſt all temptations, & anſwer all objections, and take off all Satans accuſations, that may be caſt in to diſturb the peace and quiet of your ſouls; and therefore, whether your graces or gracious evidences do ſhine or are clouded, yet ſtill have your recourſe to the free-grace of God, as to your firſt Royal Fort, your firſt City of Refuge; and ſtill cry out, Grace, grace. When your gracious evidences are cleareſt and fulleſt, it then concerns you to look upon free grace as your choiceſt and ſafeſt City of Refuge. But,

The ſecond Royal Fort that Chriſtians ſhould have their eys, 2their hearts fixed upon,Imputed righteouſneſs ſeem… to be prefigured by the skins wherewith the Lord after the full cloathed our firſt parents. The bodies of the beaſts were for ſacrifice, & the skins to put them in mind, that their own righteouſneſs was like the fig-leaves imperfect, & that therefore they muſt be juſtified another way▪ whether their graces or gracious evidences ſparkle and ſhine, or are clouded and obſcured, is the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt. Beloved, there is a twofold righteouſneſs in Chriſt. Firſt, there is his eſſential and perſonal righteouſneſs as God: Now this eſſential perſonal righteouſneſs of Chriſt cannot be imputed to us. But then there is, Secondly, his Mediatory righteouſneſs, that is that righteouſneſs which he wrought for us as Mediator, whereby he did ſubject himſelf to the preceptt, to the penalties, commands & curſes, anſwering both Gods vindictive and rewarding juſtice. This is communicated to us, and made ours: by virtue of which we ſtand recti in curia, juſtified in God's ſight. The Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt is the matter of our juſtification. Now this Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt includes, Firſt, the habitual holineſs of his perſon in the abſence of all ſin, and in the rich and plentiful preſence of all holy and requiſite qualities. Secondly, the actual holineſs of p. 360his life and death by obedience. By his active obedience he perfectly fulfilled the commands of the Law, and by his paſſive obedience, his voluntary ſufferings, he ſatisfied the penalty and commination of the Law for tranſgreſſions. Mark, that perfect ſatisfaction to divine juſtice in whatſoever it requires, either in way of puniſhing for ſin, or obedience to the Law, made by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, God and Man, the Mediator of the new Covenant,Oſiander was of opinion, that men were juſtified by the eſſential righteouſneſs of Chriſt as God, which opinion is largely confuted by Calvin in his Inſtitutions. as a common head repreſenting all thoſe whom the Father hath given to him, and made over unto them that believe in him. This is that righteouſneſs that is imputed to us in juſtification. No other righteouſneſs can juſtifie us before the throne of God. Look, as Chriſt was made ſin for us only by imputation, ſo we are made righteous only by the imputation of his righteouſneſs to us; as the Scripture clearly evidences, 2 Cor. 5.21. He hath made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him. Jer. 23.6. The Lord our righteouſneſs. (A ſoul truly ſenſible of his own unrighteouſneſs, would not have this ſentence, The Lord our righteouſneſs, blotted out of the Bible for ten thouſand thouſand worlds.) 1 Cor. 1.30. Chriſt Jeſus is made unto us of God, wiſdom, righteouſneſs, &c. And pray, how is Chriſt made righteouſneſs to the believer? Not by way of infuſion, but imputation; not by putting righteouſneſs into him, but by putting a righteouſneſs upon him, even his own righteouſneſs; by the imputing his merit, his ſatisfaction, his obedience unto them, through which they are accepted as righteous unto eternal life, Rom. 5.19. As by one mans diſobedience many were made ſinners, ſo by the obedience of one ſhall many be made righteous. Chriſt's righteouſneſs is his in reſpect of inheſion, but it is ours in reſpect of imputation; his righteouſneſs is his perſonally, but ours meritoriouſly. Look, as there is a true and real union between us and Chriſt, ſo there is a real imputation of Chriſt's righteouſneſs to us. And a gracious ſoul triumphs more in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed, than he would have done if he could have ſtood in the righteouſneſs in which he was created. This is the crowning comfort to a ſenſible and underſtanding ſoul, that he ſtands righteous p. 361before a judgment-ſeat, in that full, exact, perfect, compleat, matchleſs, ſpotleſs, pearleſs, and moſt acceptable righteouſneſs of Chriſt which is imputed to him. The righteouſneſs of Chriſt is therefore called the righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 3.21, 22. Rom. 10.3. Phil. 3.9.Rom 3:21Rom 3:22Rom 10:3Phil 3:9becauſe it is it which God hath deſigned, and which God doth accept for us in our juſtification, and for and in which he doth acquit and pronounce us righteous before his ſeat of juſtice.Luthers great fear was, that when he was dead this glorious doctrine of free juſtification by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt would be ſent packing out of the world. That we are freely juſtified by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to us, is the very Baſis, foundation and ſtate of Chriſtian Religion, whereby it is diſtinguiſhed from all other Religions whatſoever. Jews, Turks, Pagans and Papiſts explode an imputed righteouſneſs, yea Papiſts jeer it, calling it a putative righteouſneſs. Well Sirs, remember this once for all, viz. That the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt is the life of your ſouls, and will afford you theſe moſt admirable comforts.

Firſt, In this righteouſneſs there is enough to ſatisfie the 1juſtice of God to the utmoſt farthing. The Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt is ſo perfect, ſo full, ſo exact, ſo compleat, and ſo fully ſatisfactory to the juſtice of God, as that divine juſtice cryes out, I have enough, and I require no more; I have found a ranſom, and I am fully pacified towards you, Ezek. 16.62, 63. But,

Secondly, This Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt takes 2away all our unrighteouſneſs, it cancels every bond, it takes away all iniquity, and anſwers for all our ſins. Lord,Iſa. 53. Col. 2.12, 13, 14, 15.Isa 53Col 2:12Col 2:13Col 2:14Col 2:15 here are my ſins of omiſſion, and here are my ſins of commiſſion, but the righteouſneſs of Chriſt hath anſwered for them all; here are my ſins againſt the Law, and here are my ſins againſt the Goſpel, and here are my ſins againſt the offers of grace, the tenders of grace, the ſtrivings of grace, the bowels of grace, but the righteouſneſs of Chriſt hath anſwered for them all. When a cordial was offered to one that was ſick; O (ſaid he) the cordial of cordials which I daily take is this; The blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all our ſins. O Sirs!1 Joh. 1.7.1 John 1:7 it would be high blaſphemy for any to imagine that there p. 362ſhould be more demerit in ſin,Rom. 8.1, 33, 34, 35.Rom 8:1Rom 8:33Rom 8:34Rom 8:35 in any ſin, in all ſin, to condemn a believer, than there is merit in Chriſt's righteouſneſs to abſolve him, to juſtifie him. But,

3Thirdly, This righteouſneſs of Chriſt preſents us perfectly righteous in the ſight of God. It is that pure, fine, white linnen garment, whereby our nakedneſs is covered before the face of God. And to her was granted (that is to the Lambs wife) that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine linnen, Rev. 19.8.Rev 19:8clean and white; for the fine linnen is the righteouſneſs of Saints, or the righteouſneſſes or juſtifications of Saints;foreign. for the Greek is plural. Some by righteouſneſſes underſtand the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed, and the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imparted; but I rather cloſe with thoſe who ſay it is an Hebraiſm, the plural righteouſneſſes, noting that moſt perfect, compleat, abſolute righteouſneſs which Chriſt is pleaſed to put upon his people. Upon the account of this righteouſneſs of Chriſt, the Church is ſaid to be without ſpot or wrinkle,Eph. 5.27.Eph 5:27 and to be all fair. Thou art all fair my love, Cant. 4.7. Col. 2.10.Song 4:7Col 2:10there is no ſpot in thee. And to be compleat. And ye are compleat in him, which is the head of all principality …nd power. Rev. 14.5.Rev 14:5And to be without fault. They are without fault before the throne of God. And ſo Col. 1.21. And to preſent us holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in the ſight of God. But,

4Fourthly, This righteouſneſs of Chriſt will anſwer to all the fears, doubts, and objections of your ſouls. How ſhall I look up to God? the Anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. How ſhall I have any communion with a holy God in this world? the Anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt? How ſhall I find acceptance with God? the Anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. How ſhall I dye? the Anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt? How ſhall I ſtand before a Judgment-ſeat? the Anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. Your ſure and only way under all temptations, fears, conflicts, doubts and diſputes, is by faith to remember Chriſt,That was a rare ſpeech of Luther, Ipſ… videret ubi anima mea manſura ſit, qui pro ea ſic ſolicitus fuit ut vitam pro ea poſuerit, let him ſee to it where my ſoul ſhall reſt, who took ſo much care for it, as that he laid down his life for it. and the ſufferings of Chriſt, as your Mediator and Surety; and ſay, O Chriſt, thou art my ſin in being made ſin for me, and thou art my curſe in being made a curſe for p. 363me; or rather I am thy ſin, and thou art my righteouſneſs, I am thy curſe, and thou art my bleſſing, I am thy death and thou art my life; I am the wrath of God to thee, and thou art the love of God to me, I am thy hell, and thou art my heaven. O Sirs! if you think of your ſins and of God's wrath, if you think of your guiltineſs and of God's juſtice, your hearts will fail you and ſink into deſpair; if you don't think of Chriſt, if you don't reſt and ſtay your ſouls upon the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt. But,

Fifthly and laſtly, The righteouſneſs of Chriſt is the beſt 5title that you have to ſhew for a Kingdom that ſhakes not,Heb. 12.28. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4.Heb 12:281 Pet 1:31 Pet 1:41 Pet 1:52 Cor 5:12 Cor 5:22 Cor 5:32 Cor 5:4 for riches that corrupt not, for an inheritance that fadeth not away, and for an houſe not made with hands, but one eternal in the heavens. The righteouſneſs of Chriſt is your life, your joy, your comfort, your crown, your confidence, your heaven, your all; and therefore whether your graces or gracious evidences do ſparkle and ſhine, or are clouded or blotted, yet ſtill keep a fixed eye and an awakned heart upon the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, for that's the righteouſneſs by which you may happily live, comfortably die, and boldly appear before a Judgment-ſeat. But,

The third Royal Fort, that Chriſtians ſhould have their 3eyes, their hearts fixed upon, whether their graces or gracious evidences ſparkle and ſhine, or are obſcured and clouded, is the Covenant of grace. The Covenant of grace is a new compact or agreement which God hath made with ſinful man out of his own meer mercy and grace,Deut. 4.23. Iſa. 55.3. & 54.7, 8, 9, 10. Jer. 31.31. Pſal. 50.5, &c. Hoſ. 14.4. Tit. 3.6. Eph. 1.5, 6, 7. Chap. 2.5 7, 8. Rom. 9.18, 23. Jer. 32.38, 39, 40, 41. Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27.Deut 4:23Isa 55:3Isa 54:7Isa 54:8Isa 54:9Isa 54:10Jer 31:31Ps 50:5Hos 14:4Titus 3:6Eph 1:5Eph 1:6Eph 1:7Rom 9:18Rom 9:23Jer 32:38Jer 32:39Jer 32:40Jer 32:41Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27 wherein he undertakes both for himſelf and for faln man, & wherein he engages himſelf to make faln man everlaſtingly happy. All mankind had been eternally loſt, and God had loſt all the glory of his mercy for ever, had he not of his own free-grace and mercy made ſuch an agreement with ſinful man. This Covenant is called a Covenant of grace, becauſe it flows from the meer grace and mercy of God. There was nothing out of God, nor nothing in God, but his meer mercy and grace that moved him to enter into Covenant with poor ſinners. In the p. 364Covenant of grace there are two things conſiderable, Firſt, the Covenant that God makes for himſelf to us, which conſiſts of theſe Branches; 1. That he will be our God. 2. That he will give us a new heart, a new ſpirit. 3. That he will not turn away his face from us from doing of us good. 4. That he will put his fear into our hearts. 5. That he will cleanſe us from all our filthineſs, and from all our Idols. 6. That he will rejoyce over us to do us good. Secondly, here is the Covenant which God doth make for us to himſelf, which conſiſts in theſe things; 1. That we ſhall be his people. 2. That we ſhall fear him for ever. 3. That we ſhall walk in his Statutes, keep his Judgments and do them. 4. That we ſhall not depart from him. Upon many accounts I may not enlarge on theſe things; but by theſe ſhort hints 'tis evident, that the Covenant of grace is an entire Covenant made by God, both for himſelf and for us. O Sirs! in the Covenant of grace God ſtands engaged to give whatſoever he requires.

11 Chron. 28.9.1 Chr 28:9Firſt, He requires us to know him, and he has engaged himſelf that we ſhall know him, Jer. 24.7. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. And Jer. 31.34. They ſhall all know me from the leaſt of them to the greateſt of them, Heb. 8.11. But,

2Secondly, The Lord frequently requires his people to truſt in him, Pſal. 62.8. Iſa. 26.4. 2 Chron. 20.20. And he has engaged himſelf that his people ſhall truſt in him, Zeph. 3.12. I will leave in the midſt of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they ſhall truſt in the name of the Lord. But,

3Thirdly, The Lord frequently commands his people to fear him, Deut. 6.13. Chap. 8.6. And he has engaged himſelf that they ſhall fear him, Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear into their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me. Hoſ. 3.5. They ſhall fear the Lord and his goodneſs. But,

4Fourthly, The Lord frequently commands his people to love him, Deut. 11.1. Pſal. 31.23. O love the Lord, all ye his p. 365Saints. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf, that his people ſhall love him, Deut. 30.6. The Lord thy God will circumciſe thy heart, and the heart of thy ſeed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy ſoul. But,

Fifthly, The Lord frequently commands his people to 5call upon him, and to pray unto him, Pſal. 50.15. 1 Theſ. 5.17. &c. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf to pour upon them a ſpirit of prayer, Zech. 12.10. I will pour upon the houſe of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the ſpirit of grace and ſupplications. But,

Sixthly, The Lord frequently commands his people to repent, 6and to turn from their evil wayes, Hoſ. 14.1. Ezek. 14.6. Chap. 18.30. Acts 17.30. Acts 26.20. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf, that they ſhall repent and turn from their evil wayes, Acts 5.30. Acts 11.18. 2 Tim. 2.25. Iſa. 30.22. Jer. 24.7. But,

Seventhly, The Lord has commanded his people to obey 7him, and to walk in his Statutes, Jer. 24.7. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf, that his people ſhall obey him, and walk in his Statutes, Ezek. 36.27. And I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgments and do them. So Ezek. 11.19, 20. Chap 37.23, 24. But,

Eightly, The Lord commands his people to mourn for 8their ſins, Iſa. 22.12. Joel 2.12. Jam. 4.10. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf to give them a mourning frame, Zech. 12.10. They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one that mourneth for an only ſon. Ezek. 7.16. They ſhall be on the mountains as the Doves of the valleys, all of them mourning every one for his iniquity. But,

Ninthly, The Lord commands his people to grow in grace, 92 Pet. 3.18. &c. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf, that they ſhall grow in grace, Pſal. 92.12, 13, 14. The p. 366righteous ſhall flouriſh like the Palm-tree (which is alwayes green and flouriſhing) he ſhall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. The Cedar of all Trees is moſt durable, and ſhoots up higheſt. Thoſe that be planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God; they ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age, they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing. See Hoſ. 14.5, 6, 7. Mal. 4.2. &c. But,

10Tenthly, The Lord commands his people not to ſuffer ſin to reign in them, Rom. 6.12. Let not ſin reign in your mortal body. And he has promiſed and engaged himſelf, that ſin ſhall not reign in them, Rom. 6.14. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you. Jer. 33.8. And I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity. Ezek. 36.25. Then will I ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean from all your filthineſs; and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you. Mich. 7.19. He will ſubdue our iniquities. But,

11Eleventhly, He has commanded his people to loath their ſins, and to loath themſelves for their ſins, Pſal. 97.10. Ye that love the Lord hate evil. Rom. 12.9. Abhor that which is evil. And the Lord has promiſed and engaged himſelf to give them ſuch a frame of ſpirit, Ezek. 36.13. Then ſhall ye remember your own evil wayes, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Ezek. 6.9. And they that eſcape of you ſhall remember me among the Nations whither they ſhall be carried captives, becauſe I am broken with their whoriſh heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols, and they ſhall loath themſelves for the evils which they have commited in all their abominations. Ezek. 20.43. And there ſhall ye remember your wayes, and all your doings wherein you have been defiled, and ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight, for all your evils that ye have committed. But,

12Twelfthly and laſtly, (for enough is as good as a feaſt) God has commanded us to hold out, to perſevere to the end, 1 Cor. 15.58. Rev. 2.10. Luke 18.1. And the Lord has promiſed p. 367and engaged himſelf, that they ſhall perſevere, Job 17.9. The righteous ſhall hold on his way, 2 Sam. 3.1.2 Sam 3:1and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger. Iſa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, they ſhall walk and not faint. Thus you ſee by an induction of twelve particulars, that what ever God requires of his people, he ſtands engaged by the Covenant of grace to give to his people, to do for his people.

Now mark, the Covenant of grace … …onfirmed to us in the ſureſt and moſt glorious wa… …at can be imagined.Gen. 17.7. Heb. 13.20. Pſal. 89.28. 2 Sam. 23.5.Gen 17:7Heb 13:20Ps 89:282 Sam 23:5 The Covenant of grace is ſo …ongly ratified, that there can be no nulling of it▪ …o… ▪

Firſt, 'Tis confirmed to us by his Word. I will be your 1God, and you ſhall be my people. Now,Jer. 33.38. 2 Cor. 1.20.Jer 33:382 Cor 1:20 all the promiſes of God in htm are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us; that is, they are ſtable and firm, as the Hebrew word ſignifies. They will eat their way over all Alps of oppoſition. In the new Covenant God neither makes nor fulfils any promiſes of ſalvation, but in Chriſt and by Chriſt.

Secondly, God hath ratified the Covenant of grace by his 2oath; his promiſe is enough,Gen. 22.16. Heb. 6.19.Gen 22:16Heb 6:19 but ſurely his oath muſt put all out of queſtion; there's no room for unbelief now God hath ſworn to it; had there been a greater God, he would have ſworn by him. But,

Thirdly, God hath ratified it by the death of his Son. A 3mans laſt Will and Teſtament as ſoon as he is dead,Gal. 3.15. Heb. 9.15, 26.Gal 3:15Heb 9:15Heb 9:26 is in force and cannot then be diſannulled. The Covenant of grace is a Teſtamentary Covenant, which by the death of the Teſtator is ſo ſetled, that there is no altering of it. But,

Fourthly and laſtly, The Covenant of grace is ratified 4by the ſeals which God hath annexed to it. What was ſealed by the Kings Ring could not be altered.Eſth. 8.Esth 8 God hath ſet his ſeals p. 368to the Covenant of grace, his broad ſeal in the Sacraments, and his privy ſeal in the witneſs of his Spirit, and therefore 'tis ſure and can't be reverſt, &c.

Now, when ever you look upon your graces or gracious evidences with one eye, be ſure you look upon the Covenant of grace, your laſt royal Fort with the other eye. The whole hing of a mans comfort and happineſs hangs upon the Cove… of grace. The Covenant of grace is the Saints original title to … 'tis a Saints beſt and brighteſt evidence for life and ſalvation. …re was an eternal deſign (an eternal plot, if I may ſo ſpeak) be… God the father and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; a bargain, a Covenant …de between the Father and the Son, for the ſalvation of his choſen …; and by this patient and tenure of grace, all Saints have title to heaven, &c. Dear Chriſtians, many times your gracious evidences are ſo blotted and blur'd that you can't read them. O then, turn to the Covenant of grace; when other evidences fail you, the Covenant of grace will be a glorious ſtanding evidence to you; 'tis upon the ſcore of the Covenant that you muſt challenge an intereſt in all the glory of another world. The Covenant of grace is the great Charter, the Magna Charta of all your ſpiritual priviledges and immunities. Now in this great Charter the Lord declares, That ſincerity ſhall go for perfection:Luke 1.5, 6. Acts 13.22. 2 Chron 3….…8, 19, 20.Luke 1:5Luke 1:6Acts 13:222 Chr 3:82 Chr 3:192 Chr 3:20 In this great Charter the Lord hath declared, That he judges his people by the ſtanding bent and frame of their hearts, and not by what they are, under ſome pangs of paſſion, or in an hour of temptation. In this great Charter the Lord declares, That his eye is more upon his peoples inward diſpoſition, than 'tis upon their outward actions; and that his eye is more upon their will,2 Cor. 8.12. Phil. 2.13.2 Cor 8:12Phil 2:13 than 'tis upon their work. In this great Charter, the Covenant of grace, the Lord hath declared, That he will not forſake his people, nor caſt off his people,Ponder much upon Jer. 31.31, to 38.Jer 31:31–38 becauſe of thoſe failings and weakneſſes that may and do attend them, 1 Sam. 12.22. For the Lord will not forſake his people for his great name ſake: becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his people. He choſe you for his love, and he ſtill loveth you for his choice. God will rather p. 369pity his people under their weakneſs, than he will reject them for their weakneſs. The Covenant of grace that God hath made with his people, is as the Covenant that a man makes with his Wife. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, ſaith the Lord. Hoſ. 2.19, 20. Jer. 3.13.Hos 2:19Hos 2:20Jer 3:13Turn O back-ſ…iding children, ſaith the Lord, for I am married unto you. Now, a man will never reject his Wife, he will never caſt off his Wife for thoſe common weakneſſes and infirmities that daily attends her; no more will the Lord caſt off his people, becauſe of the infirmities that daily hang upon them. In this great Charter, the Covenant of grace, the Lord declares, that he will require no more than he gives; and that he will give what he requires, and that he will accept what he gives; and what can a God ſay more? and what can a gracious ſoul deſire more?

O Sirs! when all is cloudy over head, and all dark within doors, when a Chriſtians graces are not tranſparent, when his evidences for heaven are ſoiled and blotted, and when neither heart nor houſe are as they ſhould be, 'tis good then to turn to the Covenant grace, and to dwell upon the Covenant of grace. Thus David did, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my houſe be not ſo with God, yet he hath made with me an everlaſting covenant, ordered in all things and ſure: for this is all my ſalvation, and all my deſire, although he make it not to grow. Let me give a little light into the words.

Although my houſe be not ſo with God.] Though David in the main had a good heart, yet he had but a wicked houſe. Abſalom had ſlain his Brother, rebelled againſt his Father, and lay with his Fathers Concubines. And Amnon had defloured his Siſter, &c. Now David under a deep ſenſe of all this wickedneſs, and of his own perſonal unworthineſs, ſadly ſighs it out, Although my houſe be not ſo with God, &c. though I have not walked ſo exactly and perfectly as I ſhold have done, though neither I nor my houſe have walked anſwerable to thoſe great mercies and ſingular kindneſſes of God that have been extended to us.

Yet he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant.] The word everlaſting hath two acceptations; it doth denote, 1. Sometimes p. 370a long duration,Vide Iſa. 55.3. Gen. 17.7. Pſal. 105.9, 10 Iſa. 61.8. Heb. 13.20.Isa 55:3Gen 17:7Ps 105:9Ps 105:10Isa 61:8Heb 13:20 in which reſpect the old Covenant cl…athed with figures and ceremonies is called everlaſting, becauſe it was to endure, and did endure a long time. …. Sometimes it denotes a perpetual duration, a duration which ſhall laſt for ever. In this reſpect the Covenant of grace is everlaſting, it ſhall never ceaſe, never be broken, nor never be alte…ed. Now, the Covenant of grace is an everlaſting Covenant in a twofold reſpect.

1Firſt, Ex parte ſoederantis, in reſpect of God, who will never break Covenant with his people, but is their God, and will be their God for ever and ever, Pſal. 48.14. For this God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death: I and after death too; for this is not to be taken excluſive; he will never leave his people, nor forſake his people, Heb. 13.5, 6.

2Secondly, Ex parte confoederatorum, in reſpect of the people of God who are brought into Covenant, and ſhall continue in Covenant for ever and ever. You have both theſe expreſſed in that excellent Scripture, Jer. 32.40. I will make an everlaſting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that they ſhall not depart from me. Seriouſly dwell upon the place; it ſhews that the Covenant is everlaſting on God's part, and alſo on our part: On God's part, I will never turn away from them to do them good; and on our part, They ſhall never depart from me. How ſo? I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me (even that fear ſpoken of in ver. 39. That they may fear me for ever.)

Ordered in all things.] O! what head can conceive, or what tongue can expreſs that infinite counſel, wiſdom, love, care and tenderneſs that the bleſſed God has expreſt in ordering the Covenant of grace, ſo as it may moſt and beſt ſuit to all the wants, and ſtraits, and neceſſities, and miſeries, and deſires, and longings of poor ſinners ſouls. The Covenant of grace is ſo well ordered by the unſearchable wiſdom of God, that you may find in it remedies to cure all your diſeaſes, p. 371and cordials to comfort you againſt all your faintings,Iſa. 40.28. Pſal. 147.5.Isa 40:28Ps 147:5 and a ſpiritual armoury to arm you againſt all your enemies, viz. the world, the fleſh, and the devil. Doſt thou, O diſtreſſed ſinner, want a loving God, a compaſſionate God, a reconciled God, a ſin pardoning God? here thou mayeſt find him in the Covenant of grace. Doſt thou want a Chriſt to counſel thee by his wiſdom, and to cloath thee with his righteouſneſs, and to adorn thee with his grace? here thou mayeſt find him in a Covenant of grace. Doſt thou want the Spirit to enlighten thee, to teach thee, to convince thee, to awaken thee, to lead thee, to cleanſe thee, to cheer thee, and to ſeal thee up to the day of redemption?Eph. 1.13.Eph 1:13 here thou mayeſt find him in a Covenant of grace. Doſt thou want grace, or peace, or reſt, or quiet, or content, or comfort, or ſatisfaction? here thou mayeſt find it in a Covenant of grace. God has laid into the Covenant of grace, as into a common ſtore, all thoſe things that ſinners or Saints can either beg or need. Look, as that is a well ordered Commonwealth where there are no wholſom Laws wanting to govern a people, and where there are no wholſom remedies wanting to relieve a people; ſo that muſt needs be a well ordered Covenant, where there is nothing wanting to govern poor ſouls, or to relieve poor ſouls, or to ſave poor ſouls; and ſuch a Covenant is the Covenant of grace.

And ſure, the Covenant of grace is a ſure Covenant,Jer. 31.31, 33, 35, 36, 37. Pſal. 19.7. Rev. 3.14. Iſa. 54.10.Jer 31:31Jer 31:33Jer 31:35Jer 31:36Jer 31:37Ps 19:7Rev 3:14Isa 54:10 Deut. 7.9. The Lord thy God he is God, the faithful God (or the God of Amen) which keepeth Covenant with them that love him. Pſal. 89.33. My Covenant will I not break (Hebrew, I will not prophane) nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. All God's precepts, all God's predictions, all God's menaces, and all God's promiſes, are the iſſue of a moſt juſt, faithful and righteous will. God can neither dye nor lye, Tit. 1.2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lye promiſed before the world began. There are three things that God can't do; 1. He can't dye. Nor, 2. He can't lye. Nor, 3. He can't deny himſelf, Joſh. 23.14. And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your hearts, and p. 372in all your ſouls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God ſpake concerning you, all are come to paſſe unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. O Sirs! the Covenant of grace is bottomed upon God's everlaſting love,John 13.1.John 13:1 upon Gods unchangable love, upon God's free love; whom God loves once he loves for ever.Jer. 31.3.Jer 31:3 I have loved thee with an everlaſting love. God can as well ceaſe to be, as he can ceaſe to love thoſe whom he has taken into Covenant with himſelf. And as the Covenant of grace is bottomed upon God's everlaſting love, ſo 'tis bottomed upon Gods immutable counſel,Heb. 6.17.Heb 6:17 God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel confirmed it by an oath. And as the Covenant of grace is bottomed upon the immutable counſel of God, ſo it is bottomed upon the free purpoſe of God, 2 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God ſtandeth ſure; that is, the decree and purpoſe of God's election ſtands firm and ſure. Now, the purpoſe of God's election is compared to a foundation, becauſe it is that upon which all our happineſs and bleſſedneſs is built and bottomed, and becauſe as a foundation it abides firm and ſure. And as the Covenant of grace is bottomed upon the free purpoſe of God, ſo 'tis bottomed upon the glorious power of God. The power of God is an infinite power,Iſa. 33.11. Iſa. 41.2. Mal. 4.1. 1 Cor. 1.25.Isa 33:11Isa 41:2Mal 4:11 Cor 1:25 it is a ſupream power, a power that overtops the power of all mortals: What's the ſtubble to the flames, the chaff to the whirlwind? no more is all created power to the power of God. The weakneſs of God is ſtronger than men; and did not Pharaoh find it ſo? and Haman find it ſo? and Sennacherib find it ſo? and Nebuchadnezzar find it ſo? and Belſhazzar find it ſo? and Herod find it ſo? In all the ages of the world the power of God hath bore down all before it; the power of God is an independant power, a matchleſs power, an incomparable power, an enduring power, an eternal power. And as the Covenant of grace is bottomed upon the power of God,Heb. 6.17, 18 Pſal. 89.34, 35.Heb 6:17Heb 6:18Ps 89:34Ps 89:35 ſo it is bottomed upon the oath of God, Luke 1.72. To perform the mercy promiſed to our fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant. Ver. 73. The oath which he ſware to our father Abraham. To think that God will break his oath, or be perjured, is an intollerable blaſphemy. Once p. 373more give me leave to ſay, the Covenant of grace is bottomed not only upon the oath of God, but alſo upon the precious blood of Chriſt. The blood of Chriſt is called the blood of the everlaſting Covenant, Heb. 13.20. Mat. 26.28. This is my blood of the New Teſtament, which is ſhed for many for the remiſſion of ſins: Heb. 9.15. And for this cauſe he is the Mediator of the New Teſtament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the tranſgreſſions that were under the fi…ſt Teſtament, they which are called might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance. Ver. 17. A Teſtament is of force after men are dead. It is called a Covenant and a Teſtament. 1. A Covenant in reſpect of God, and a Teſtament in reſpect of Chriſt. 2. A Covenant in reſpect of the manner of agreement, and a Teſtament in reſpect of the manner of confirming. Jeſus Chriſt died as a Teſtator, and by his death confirmed the Teſtamentary gift before made of Life and Salvation. Now, the Covenant of grace being thus gloriouſly bottomed as you ſe…, it muſt roundly and undeniably follow, that th… Covenant of grace is a ſure Covenant.

For this is all my ſalvation and all my deſire.] i. e. This is the great ground of all my hope concerning my ſalvation, and of all the happineſs and bleſſedneſs which I look for in another world. This everlaſting Covenant, this ſure Covenant, is the great Charter of Charters that I have to ſhew for eternal bliſs. David was drawing neer to his eternal home, and whether his graces and gracious evidences for heavens happineſs were bright and ſhining, or blotted and clouded, I ſhall not at this time ſtand to enquire; it is enough that he ſtayes his ſoul upon the Covenant of grace, and that he comforts and ſolaces his ſoul in the Covenant of grace. And, O that all Chriſtians, when their graces and gracious evidences are either clouded or blotted, or elſe ſparkling and ſhining, that they would frequently eye theſe three royal Forts, viz. 1. The free-grace and favour of God. 2. The Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt. 3. The Covenant of grace. Now, that I may the more effectually prevail with you to look upon theſe royal Forts, and to delight in theſe royal Forts, and to prize theſe royal Forts, and to improve p. 374theſe royal Forts. Give me leave to offer theſe three things briefly to your conſideration.

Firſt, Our beſt graces and performances are not commenſurate 1and ſquare payment in the eyes of pure juſtice; all of them as inherent in us, and acted by us, are but imperfect excellencies. No man hath ſo much grace and holineſs as is required, nor doth he ſo much as he is obliged to do: Every particular grace, though it be of an heavenly and divine original, yet it is like the Stars twinkling, though placed in the heavens; ſo that if God ſhould enter into judgment with the moſt righteous perſon, even the righteouſneſs that is in him,Pſal. 143.2. Job. 14.3, 4. Rom. 3.20.Ps 143:2Job 14:3Job 14:4Rom 3:20 would not be ſafety and defence unto him; for what a deal of pride have we mixt with a little humility? and what a deal of paſſion have we mixt with a little meekneſs? and what a deal of hypocriſie have we mixt with a little ſincerity? and what a deal of earthly-mindedneſs have we mixt with a little heavenly-mindedneſs? and what a deal of unbelief have we mixt with a little faith? O Sirs! in the great buſineſs of your acceſs to God, and of your acceptance with God,Rom. 3.20, to ver. 27. Phil. 3.8, 9, 10.Rom 3:20Phil 3:8Phil 3:9Phil 3:10 and of your reconciliation to God, and of your juſtification before God. 'Tis beſt, ſafeſt and nobleſt, to bottom your faith, hope and expectation, infinitely rather upon imputed righteouſneſs than inherent righteouſneſs, upon what Chriſt has done for you, than upon what he has done in you. Inherent righteouſneſs is ſtained, imperfect, impure; but imputed righteouſneſs is pure and perfect; if there were any ſtain, or any imperfection in that, it could not juſtifie us, it could not ſave us, it could not ſecure us from wrath to come. Such evidences as are not fetcht from any thing in us, nor from any things done by us, but are fetcht by faith from our free juſtification, and from Chriſt's full ſatisfaction which he hath wrought for us, will be found the moſt full, the moſt ſweet, the moſt refreſhing, the moſt comforting, and the moſt ſatisfying evidences. Chriſt is all fair, all perfect, all pure, and therefore let him be moſt in your eye, and moſt upon your hearts; but here take heed, that you don't look upon your graces, or your gracious evidences, as poor, low, weak, contemptible things (as too many do) for the leaſt of p. 375them is more worth than heaven and earth, and they may yield you much comfort, much ſupport, much refreſhing, and much ſatisfaction; though they can't yield you that full comfort, nor that full ſatisfaction as Chriſt himſelf can yield, as Chriſt's ſatisfaction can yield, as free juſtification can yield. Though children and friends can't yield to a Wife that full comfort, content, delight and ſatisfaction as her Husband does, yet they may yield her much comfort, much content, much delight, much ſatisfaction. The application is eaſie. But,

Secondly, Conſider, That Chriſtian that hath free-grace, 2that hath free juſtification, that hath the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that hath the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, that hath the Covenant of grace moſt conſtantly in his ſight, and moſt frequently warm upon his heart, that Chriſtian of all Chriſtians in the world is moſt free from a world of fears, and doubts, and ſcruples, which do ſad, ſink, perplex and preſs down a world of other Chriſtians, who affect a life of ſenſe, and who daily eye more what Chriſt is a doing in them, and what they are a doing for Chriſt, than they do eye, either his active or paſſive obedience. Chriſt hath done great things for his people, and he has ſuffered great things for his people, and he has purchaſed great things for his people, and he has prepared great things for his people; and yet many of his own dear people are ſo taken up with their own hearts, and with their own duties and graces, that Chriſt is little eyed by them, or minded by them; and what is this but to be more taken with the ſtreams than with the Fountain? with the leaves, bloſſoms and fruit, than with the Tree it ſelf? with the bracelets, ear-rings and gold chains, than with the Husband himſelf? with the Nobles that wait, than with the King that is waited on? And this is the great Reaſon why ſo many Chriſtians (who will certainly go to heaven) do walk in darkneſs, and lye down in ſorrow. But,

Thirdly, Truſting in our own duties, and reſting on our 3own righteouſneſs (and not on Chriſt's ſolely) is a cloſe, ſecret, p. 376ſpiritual,Iſa. 58.1, 2, 3. Zech. 7.5, 6.Isa 58:1Isa 58:2Isa 58:3Zech 7:5Zech 7:6 dangerous and unperceivable ſin, which the nature of man is exceedingly prone unto. The Phariſees were mightily given up to truſt in their own righteouſneſs, to reſt on their own righteouſneſs,Mat. 6. chap. 23 Luke 18.Matt 6Luke 18 and to boaſt and glory in their own righteouſneſs; and this prov'd their mortal diſeaſe, their damning ſin: truſting in their own righteouſneſs had ſo beſotted and benummed them, that they had no mind, no heart to open the gates of their ſouls, that the King of glory might enter in. And this was that which undid the Jews, Rom. 10.3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs, and going about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs, have not ſubmitted themſelves to the righteouſneſs of God. And 'tis obſervable, the Apoſtle uſeth an emphatical word of a Jew, Rom. 2.17. Thou reſteſt in the Law,Look as there is nothing more pleaſing to Chriſt, than the renouncing of all confidence in our own duties and righteouſneſs; ſo there is nothing more provoking to Chriſt, than the ſetting up of our own duties and righteouſneſs. This is a ſecret Impoſthume that kills thouſands. foreign, thou art ſecure in the Law, as in ſome admirable priviledge and ſignal teſtimony of Gods love. This was Bernards temptation, when being aſſiſted in duty he could ſtroak his own head with bene feciſti Bernarde; O Bernard, this was gallantly done, now chear up thy ſelf. It was the ſaying of a precious Saint, That he was more afraid of his duties than of his ſins, for the one made him often proud, and the other made him alwayes humble. It was good counſel Luther gave, Cavendum eſt non ſolum à peccatis, ſed à bonis operibus; We muſt take heed not only of our ſins, but of our good works. Duties can never have too much diligence uſed about them, nor too little confidence placed in them; they are good helps, but bad Saviours; it is neceſſary we do them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot diſſwade us from performing Religious duties, then his next work will be to perſwade us all he can to rely upon them to make Saviours of them, becauſe this will as much gratifie Satan, and as certainly ruin our ſouls, as if we had wholly neglected them. O man, thine own righteouſneſs reſted in, will as certainly and eternally undo thee as the greateſt and fouleſt enormities. This ſoul-ſickneſs is that ſpiritual Idolatry that will undo thee, for thou makeſt thy ſelf a Saviour, and thy duties a Saviour, and ſayeſt of thy duties, as they did of the golden Calf; Theſe are the gods that brought thee out of the Land of Egypt. Open wickedneſs, open idolatry p. 377ſlayes her thouſands, but ſecret idolatry, a ſecret reſting upon duties ſlayes her ten thouſands; multitudes bleed inward by this diſeaſe, and die for ever. Open prophaneſs is the broad dirty way that leads to hell, but Religious duties reſted in, is as ſure a way, though a cleaner way to hell; prophane perſons and formal Profeſſors, ſhall meet at laſt in one hell. Ah Chriſtians! don't make Religious duties your money, leſt you and your money periſh together. The Phenix gathers ſweet odoriferous ſticks in Arabia together, and then blows them with her wings and burns with them: So do many ſhining Profeſſors burn themſelves with their own duties and ſervices. You know in Noahs floud, all that were not in the Ark, though they climb up the talleſt Trees, and the higheſt Mountains and Hills, yet were drowned: So let men climb up to the higheſt duties, yet if they be not houſed in Chriſt, & in his righteouſneſs, they will be as certainly damned, as the men in the old world were certainly drowned. Adam and all his poſterity was to be ſaved by doing; Do this and live. And hence it is natural to all the ſons and daughters of Adam to reſt on duties, and to look for life and happineſs in a way of doing; but if ſalvation were to be had by doing, what need of a Saviour? Well, remember this once for all, ſuch as reſt on duties, ſuch as reſt on their own righteouſneſs, or on any thing on this ſide Chriſt, ſuch ſhall find them as weak as the Aſſyrian, or as Jareb, they cannot heal them, they cannot cure them of their wounds:Hoſ. 5.13.Hos 5:13 When Ephraim ſaw his ſickneſs, and Judah ſaw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Aſſyrian, and ſent to King Jareb, yet could they not heal him, nor cure him of his wound. Duties are to Satan as the Ark of God was to the Philiſtines; he trembles to ſee a ſoul diligent in the uſe of them, and yet not daring to rely on them but on Chriſt; but when he can draw poor ſouls to confide in their duties, and to reſt on their duties, then he has his deſign, then he claps his hands for joy, then he cryes out, Ah, ah, ſo would I have it. There is no ſin that doth ſo formally and immediately oppoſe Chriſt, and reject Chriſt, and provoke Chriſt, as this of reſting upon ſelf-righteouſneſs; and therefore above all, pray againſt this, and watch againſt this, and p. 378weep over this. There is no man in his wits that hath a precious lading, that will dare to adventure it in a crackt and broken veſſel; ſo there is no Chriſtian in his wits that will dare to adventure the everlaſting ſafety of his ſoul upon the leaking veſſels and bottoms of his own holineſs or ſervices. O Sirs! your duties cannot ſatisfie the Juſtice of God, they cannot ſatisfie the Law of God; your preſent duties cannot ſatisfie for your former ſins and rents that be behind. A man that payes his Rent honeſtly every year, does not thereby ſatisfie for the old Rent not paid in ten or twenty years before. Thy new obedience, O Chriſtian, is too weak to ſatisfie for old debts, and therefore roll thy ſelf on Chriſt, and Chriſt alone for life and for ſalvation. Bellarmine could ſay after all his diſputes for relying on works, on Saints and Angels, Tutius eſt, &c. The ſafeſt way is to rely on Jeſus Chriſt. Now, let all theſe things work you to renounce your own righteouſneſs, and to take ſanctuary alone in the pure, perfect, and moſt glorious righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, and in the free-grace of God.Auſtin. Paul is called by one the beſt child of grace in the world;Eph. 3.8.Eph 3:8 for whatſoever he was, or had, or did, he aſcribeth all to free-grace; he was the chiefeſt of the Apoſtles, and yet leſs than the leaſt of all Saints; he was very eminent in grace, and yet what he was, he was by grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. He lived, yet not he, but Chriſt lived in him.1 Cor. 15.10. Gal. 2.20. 1 Cor. 15.10. Phil. 4.13.1 Cor 15:10Gal 2:20Phil 4:13 He laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not he, but the grace of God which was with him. He was able to do all things, but ſtill through Chriſt that ſtrengthned him. O, that theſe three laſt things might work you to be more in love with free-grace than ever, and to be more in love with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt than ever, and to be more in love with the Covenant of grace than ever. But,

14The fourteenth Propoſition is this. The more grace, the more holineſs, the more any man has of the Spirit of Sanctification, the more clear, the more fair, the more full, the more ſweet will his evidences be for heaven, for ſalvation; p. 379and the more comfort, and the more aſſurance, and the more ſettlement, and the more of the witneſs of the ſpirit of Adoption, ſuch a perſon will certainly attain unto. That Spirit which is the earneſt of our inheritance, and which ſeals us up to an holy aſſurance, is an holy Spirit;Eph. 1.13, 14.Eph 1:13Eph 1:14 he is frequently called the holy Spirit. Caſt me not away from thy preſence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Pſal. 51.11. Iſa. 63.10. Eph. 4.30. 1 Theſ. 4.8.Ps 51:11Isa 63:10Eph 4:301 Thess 4:8But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are ſealed unto the day of redemption. H… therefore that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man but God, who hath alſo given unto us his holy Spirit. To make a man holy, is more than to create a world, 'tis a work too high, and too hard for Angels or men; it becomes none, and it can be done by none but by the holy Spirit. Sanctification is the Spirits perſonal operation; 'tis the great work of the Spirit to ſhape,2 Theſ. 2.13. 1 Pet. 1.2.2 Thess 2:131 Pet 1:2 form and faſhion the new-creature holineſs in all the veſſels of glory. The Spirit is the root of all holineſs, and therefore the ſeveral parts of holineſs are called the fruits of the Spirit. Holineſs is the very picture of God;Gal. 5.22.Gal 5:22 and certainly no hand can carve that excellent picture but the Spirit of God. Holineſs is the Divine nature, and none can impart that to man but the Spirit; the Spirit is the great principle of holineſs. Now, the more grace, the more holineſs any man hath, the more he is the delight of the Spirit; and the more the Spirit will delight to witneſs his Sonſhip, his Saintſhip, and his Heirſhip unto him. Scripture and experience will tell you, that commonly men of greateſt holineſs have been men of greateſt aſſurance. This is certain, the more holineſs the more aſſurance; for ſo the precious promiſes runs, Iſa. 32.17. The work of righteouſneſs ſhall be peace (to wit, peace of conſcience, Rom. 5.1.) and the effect of righteouſneſs quietneſs and aſſurance for ever. Inherent righteouſneſs (for of that he ſpeaks, as is evident by the 15. and 16. verſes of the ſame Chapter) is the high-way to aſſurance and peace. So Pſal. 50. ult. To him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God; that is, declare my ſelf to be his Saviour, ſay ſome; ſay others, I will give him a proſpect of heaven here, and a full fruition of heaven hereafter; ſay others, I will cauſe him to ſee and know that p. 780he ſhall be ſaved. So John 14.21. He that hath my commandements and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me ſhall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and manifeſt my ſelf unto him. Ver. 23. If any man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. Holy Chriſtians ſhall have moſt of the ſpiritual preſence of Chriſt, and of the ſingular manifeſtations of the love of Chriſt to their ſouls. The great reaſon of reaſons why the ſprings of comfort, of joy, of inward peace, and of aſſurance, riſes no higher in many Chriſtians ſouls, is becauſe the ſprings of grace and holineſs riſes no higher in their ſouls. Had Chriſtians more grace, and more holineſs in their hearts and lives, God would quickly bring down more of heaven and aſſurance into their ſouls. There is a bleſſed aſſurance (as I have told you before) which ariſes from the diſcovery of grace in the ſoul. Now, the more ample, large and full the matter of our aſſurance is, the more ample, large and full muſt our aſſurance be. Methinks the connexion of theſe four verſes in Titus 2.11, 12, 13, 14. ſhews this, When grace that appears to us, teacheth us to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, &c. See what follows, then we are moſt likely to look for the bleſſed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. And that prayer of the Apoſtle for his Epheſians, Eph. 3.16, 17, 18Eph 3:16Eph 3:17Eph 3:18ſpeaks as loudly in the caſe, That God would grant them to be ſtrengthned by the Spirit, &c. to be rooted and grounded in love. And what then? That ye may comprehend with all Saints, the length and breadth of the love of God. Suppoſe in health or ſickneſs, living or dying, a man ſhould labour to ſupport, comfort and chear up his ſpirit, in the thoughts or meditations of his eternal election and free juſtification. And ſuppoſe that at that very time the Spirit of God, his own conſcience,… Theſ. 2.13, 14. a faithful Miniſter, or an experienced Chriſtian ſhould tell him, That if he be really juſtified, he is really ſanctified. Now, if this man ſhould ſay, What do you tell me of ſanctification, or I know not whether I am ſanctified or no, or I look not to ſanctification, I mind not holineſs, I regard not the fruits of the Spirit; will not the holy Spirit, p. 381will not an enlightned conſcience, will not a faithful Miniſter, will not an experienced Chriſtian reply, Then certainly thou art not elected, thou art not juſtified, for it is a truth as clear as the Sun, a truth that will admit of no diſpute, viz. Rom 8.1, 13, 29, 30.Rom 8:1Rom 8:13Rom 8:29Rom 8:30That none are eternally elected and freely juſtified, but they are ſanctified; and that they that are not ſanctified, are not juſtified. Mark, there is a cloſs connexion of ſanctification with juſtification in the promiſes of the Covenant; ſanctification and juſtificatiòn go hand in hand, they come forth like twins out of the womb of free-grace; as you may ſee in theſe remarkable Scriptures, Jer. 33.8.Bern. in Cant. Serm. 37. I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have ſinned, and whereby they have tranſgreſſed againſt me; Here you ſee them both expreſſed together in the ſame deed, I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity; there is our ſanctification promiſed. And I will pardon all their iniquities; there is juſtification promiſed, So Mich. 7.19. He will ſubdue our iniquities, and thou wilt c…ſt all their ſins into the depths of the Sea. Here you find juſtification and ſanctification again in the promiſe. He will ſubdue our iniquities; This is ſanctifying. And he will caſt all their ſins into the depths of the Sea; This is juſtifying. Heb. 8.10. I will put my Laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts (there is the promiſe of ſanctification) V…r. 12. And I will be merciful to their unrighteouſneſs and their ſins, and their iniquities will I remember no more; (There is the promiſe of juſtification. 1 John 1.9. If we confeſs our ſins, he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins; (There is our juſtification promiſed.) And to cleanſe us from a…l unrighteouſneſs; (There is the promiſe of ſanctification. Ezek. 36.25. From all your filthineſs, and from all your idols will I cleanſe you; (There is the promiſe of ſanctification) Ver. 29. I will alſo ſave you from all your uncleanneſſes; (There is the promiſe of juſtification) 1 Cor. 6.11. But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified. Juſtification and ſanctification are inſeparable companions; diſtinguiſhed they muſt be, but divided they can never be; where ſin is pardoned, the gift of ſanctity is ſtill conferred. 'Tis weakneſs, 'tis wickedneſs for a man to conclude that he p. 382is in an elected and juſtified eſtate when he has nothing, when he has not the leaſt thing to evidence himſelf to be in a ſanctified eſtate: Both juſtification and ſanctification have a neceſſary reſpect to the ſalvation of all thoſe that ſhall go to heaven. He that will go to heaven muſt be ſanctified, and he that will go to heaven muſt be juſtified. No man can go to heaven without both; no man can go to heaven unleſs he be juſtified, Rom. 8.30. Whom he called, them alſo he juſtified; and whom he juſtified, them he alſo glorified. None are juſtified but ſuch as are called, and none are glorified but ſuch as are juſtified. And as no man can go to heaven but he that is juſtified, ſo no man can go to heaven but he that is ſanctified, John 3.5. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto him, verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the kingdom of God. Ver. 5. Jeſus anſwerd, verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the ſpirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. See my Treatiſe on Holineſs.Heb. 12.14. And holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. By theſe Scriptures 'tis evident, that there is an abſolute neceſſity both of ſanctification and juſtification in reference to ſalvation. Now, as ſanctification and juſtification are linkt together; ſo the more clear, the more full, the more evident, and the more eminent a mans ſanctification is, the more clear, the more full, the more evident and the more eminent will the evidences of his juſtification be. The greateſt evidences of our ſanctification carries with them the greateſt aſſurance of our juſtification, and of our ſalvation. But,

15The fifteenth Propoſition is this. When your graces are ſtrongeſt, and your evidences for heaven are cleareſt, and your comforts riſe higheſt upon the ſight of your graces or gracious evidences, then in a ſpecial manner it concerns you to make it your great buſineſs and work to act faith a freſh, to act faith with a greater ſtrength, upon the free, rich and glorious grace of God, and upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 'Tis reported of the Chryſtal, that it hath ſuch a vertue in it, that the very touching of it quickens other ſtones, and p. 383puts a luſter and beauty upon them. This is moſt true of faith; faith is a grace that gives ſtrength and efficacy to all other graces, it is like a ſilver thred that runs thorow a chain of pearl, it hath an influence upon all other graces that are in the ſoul; faith is as the ſpring in the watch that moves the wheels, not a grace ſtirs till faith ſets it at work. What is ſaid of Solomons vertuous woman, viz. Prov. 31.15, 27 Heb. 11. Rom. 4.3. & 8.24. Zech. 12.10.Prov 31:15Prov 31:27Heb 11Rom 4:3Rom 8:24Zech 12:10That ſhe ſets all her Maidens to work, is moſt true of faith; faith ſets all the graces in the ſoul at work. We love as we believe, and we obey as we believe, and we hope as we believe, and we joy as we believe, and we mourn as we believe, and we repent as we believe; all graces keep time and pace with faith, &c. Now when your graces are moſt ſhining, and your evidences for heaven are moſt ſparkling, O then, give faith elbow-room, give faith full ſcope to exerciſe it ſelf upon the Lord Jeſus. Adams obedience to innocency was not more pleaſing and delightful to God, than the exerciſe of your faith on the Lord Jeſus will be at ſuch a time pleaſing and delightful to him; you are to look upon all your graces and gracious evidences as your higheſt encouragement to a lively, cheerful,1 Joh. 5.13. Rom. 1.17.1 John 5:13Rom 1:17 and reſolute acting of faith upon the perſon of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, &c. All a Chriſtians graces, and all his gracious evidences ſhould be but as a golden bridge,Gen. 45.19, 21, 27.Gen 45:19Gen 45:21Gen 45:27 or as Joſephs wagons, a means to paſs his ſoul over to Chriſt afreſh by a renewed exerciſe of faith. When your graces and gracious evidences are moſt ſplendent, then be ſure that Chriſt be found lying as a bundle of myrrhe between your breaſts, and all is well, and will be well. Dear Chriſtians,Cant. 1.12.Song 1:12 when your eyes are fixt upon inherent righteouſneſs,Plutarch in the life of Phocion tells us of a certain gentle-woman of Ionia who ſhewed the wife of Phocion all the rich jewels and precious ſtones ſhe had: She anſwered her again, all my riches and jewels is my Husbands. This is more applicable to Chriſt, &c. The precious ſtone Opalum (is ſaid) to have the vertue of all ſtones; the brightneſs of the Carbuncle, the purple colour of the Amethiſt, the amiable greenneſs of the Emerald; but what are all theſe to Chriſt. and upon your gracious evidences, then let your hearts be firmly fixt upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and his imputed righteouſneſs. Pauls eye was fixt upon his grace, upon his better part, Rom. 7.22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man. Ver. 25. And with my mind I ſerve the Law of God. And yet at the very ſame time his heart was ſet upon Chriſt, and taken up with Chriſt. Ver. 25. I thank God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Though Paul had an eye to his noble part, his better part, his regenerate part; yet at the ſame time his heart p. 384was taken up with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as freeing of him from the curſe of the Law, the dominion of ſin, the damnatory power of ſin, and as tranſlating of him into the glorious liberty of the ſons of God. I thank God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. So in Col. 2.2, 3. You have their eyes fixt upon grace, and at the ſame time their hearts fixt upon Chriſt; That their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgment of the myſtery of God, and of the father and of Chriſt, in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge. Their eyes were upon grace, but their hearts were taken up with Chriſt. So in Phil. 3.8. The Apoſtle had his eye upon the excellent knowledge of Chriſt. But Ver. 9. his heart is taken up with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. That I might be found in him, not having mine own righteouſneſs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith. Though Paul had his eye upon grace, upon inherent righteouſneſs; yet in the very preſence of his grace his heart was taken up with Chriſt, and with his imputed righteouſneſs, as is evident in the Text. This is your glory Chriſtians, in the preſence and ſight of all your graces and gracious evidences, to ſee the free grace of Chriſt and his infinite, ſpotleſs, matchleſs and glorious righteouſneſs to be your ſureſt, ſweeteſt, higheſt and choiceſt comfort and refuge. Look as Rebkekah was more taken with the perſon of Iſaac than ſhe was with his ear-rings,Gen. 24.30, 53, 64, 65, 66, 67.Gen 24:30Gen 24:53Gen 24:64Gen 24:65Gen 24:66Gen 24:67 bracelets, jewels of ſilver, and jewels of gold: So it becomes a Chriſtian in the preſence of his graces and gracious evidences (which are Chriſts ear-rings, bracelets and jewels) to be▪ more taken up with Chriſt than with them.He that holds not wholly with Chriſt, doth very ſhamefully neglect Chriſt. Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omitte, Grego Nazien. Chriſt and his Mediatory righteouſneſs ſhould be more in a Chriſtians eye, and always lye nearer to a Chriſtians heart, than inherent righteouſneſs. Grace is a ring of gold, and Chriſt is the ſparkling diamond in that ring. Now, what's the ring to the ſparkling diamond? 'Tis not ſafe to pore more upon inherent righteouſneſs than upon imputed righteouſneſs. 'Tis not wiſdom to have our thoughts and hearts more taken up with our gracious diſpoſitions and gracious actings, than with the perſon of Chriſt, p. 385the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, the life of Chriſt, the death of Chriſt, the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, &c. Dear Chriſtians, was it Chriſt, or was it your graces, or your gracious evidences, or your gracious diſpoſitions, or your gracious actings, that trod the wine-preſs of your Fathers wrath, that ſatisfied divine juſtice, that pacified divine anger, that did bear the curſe, that fulfill'd the Law, that brought in an everlaſting righteouſneſs, that diſcharged your debts, that procured you pardon, that made your peace, and that brought you into a ſtate of favour and friendſhip with God? If you anſwer (as you muſt) none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt; O then, let your thoughts and hearts be firſtly, moſtly, chiefly and laſtly taken up with the Lord Jeſus. Though inherent grace be a glorious creature, yet 'tis but a creature. Now, when your thoughts and hearts are more taken up with inherent grace, than they are with Chriſt the ſpring and fountain of all grace; you make an idol of inherent grace,John 1.16. Col. 2.2, 3.John 1:16Col 2:2Col 2:3 and reflect diſhonour upon the Lord Jeſus. A Chriſtian may lawfully look upon his graces and his gracious evidences, and a Chriſtian ought to be much in bleſſing and praiſing of God for his graces and gracious evidences, and a Chriſtian may ſafely take comfort in his graces and gracious evidences as they are the fruits of God's eternal and unchangable love,Iſa. 38.3. 2 Cor. 1.12.Isa 38:32 Cor 1:12 but ſtill his work ſhould be to live upon Chriſt, and to lift up Chriſt above all. 'Tis Chriſt, 'tis his Mediatory righteouſneſs, 'tis free-grace that a Chriſtian ought to make the chief and only ground and bottom of his hope and comforts. Though good old Jacob did really rejoyce in the chariots and wagons that Joſeph had ſent to bring him down to Egypt, Gen. 45.26, 27, 28.Gen 45:26Gen 45:27Gen 45:28yet he did more abundantly rejoyce in this, that Joſeph was alive, and that ſhortly he ſhould ſee and enjoy Joſeph himſelf. Though a Chriſtian may really rejoyce in his graces and gracious evidences, yet above all he ought to rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus, to triumph in Chriſt Jeſus,Gal. 6.14. Phil. 3.3. 2 Cor. 2.14. Col. 3.11.Gal 6:14Phil 3:32 Cor 2:14Col 3:11 and to take up in Chriſt Jeſus as in his great all. There is a great aptneſs and proneſs in many (may I not ſay in moſt) gracious Chriſtians, to gaze ſo much and ſo long upon their graces, upon their gracious diſpoſitions, upon their gracious evidences, and upon their p. 386gracious actings, that too often they neglect the exerciſe of faith upon Chriſt, upon the promiſes; they gaze ſo much and ſo long upon what is wrought in them, and done by them, that they forget their grand work, which is immediate cloſing with Chriſt, immediate embracing of Chriſt, immediate relying upon Chriſt, immediate ſtaying, rowling, and reſting upon Chriſt, for juſtification and ſalvation. Now, from theſe frequent miſcarriages of Chriſtians, ſome have taken the liberty and boldneſs very hotly and peremptorily to cry down the total uſe of all characters, ſigns and marks, the evil of which I have formerly pointed at, and therefore let this touch ſuffice here. Grace is excellent, yea very excellent, but Chriſt is infinitely more excellent than all your graces, and therefore above all let Chriſt ſtill have the preheminence.Col. 1.18.Col 1:18 Now, though it muſt be granted that a Chriſtian may lawfully make uſe of his graces and gracious evidences in order to his ſupport, comfort and encouragement, yet it cannot be denyed but that the nobleſt, pureſt, higheſt and moſt excellent acts and exerciſes of faith,Cant. 8.5. Job 13.15. Pſal. 42.5, 11. Iſa. 50.10. Mic. 7.7, 8, 9, 10 John 20.27, 28, 29.Song 8:5Job 13:15Ps 42:5Ps 42:11Isa 50:10Mic 7:7Mic 7:8Mic 7:9Mic 7:10John 20:27John 20:28John 20:29 are when a Chriſtian cloſes with Chriſt, embraces Chriſt, hangs upon Chriſt, and ſtayes himſelf upon Chriſt, and upon free and precious promiſes, when ſenſe and feeling fails, when joy and comfort fails, and when his gracious evidences for heaven fails. O now, to turn to Chriſt, and to turn to the breaſts of a promiſe, and to live upon Chriſt, and to hang upon a promiſe, is the way of wayes to exalt Chriſt, and to glorifie Chriſt; there is nothing that pleaſes Chriſt, or that delights Chriſt, or that is ſuch an honour to Chriſt, as theſe pure actings of faith are. Signs and evidences, are moſt ſweet, comfortable and pleaſing to us; but the pure actings of faith are moſt eyed and valued by Chriſt,Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. & 5.3, 4, 5, 6.Song 3:1Song 3:2Song 3:3Song 3:4Song 3:5Song 5:3Song 5:4Song 5:5Song 5:6 and therefore many times Chriſt draws a curtain between him and the ſoul, and cauſes a Chriſtians Sun to ſet at noon, and damps his joy, and marrs his peace, and clouds his evidences for heaven, on purpoſe to train up his children in the pure actings of faith. 'Tis ſad when Chriſtians make ſuch immoderate uſe of their ſigns, marks, evidences, as damps and hinders thoſe direct and immediate acts of faith, whereby they ſhould receive Chriſt, p. 387and apply Chriſt, and reſt upon Chriſt alone for pardon, peace, reconciliation, juſtification and ſalvation; he that pores ſo long and ſo much upon his graces or gracious evidences as ſhall hinder him from the freſh and frequent actings of faith upon Chriſt, he caſts contempt upon Chriſt.Chriſt is an incomparable cordial, he is worthily called the conſolation of Iſrael, Luke 2.25.Luke 2:25 Though the ſight of a Chriſtians graces and gracious evidences be very comfortable and delightful to him, yet the ſight of Chriſt ſhould be ten thouſand times more comfortable and delightful to him. O Sirs! what are the favourites to the King himſelf? What are the ſervants to the Lord they wait on? what are the friends of the Bridegroom to the Bridegroom himſelf? what are all the bracelets and jewels to the Husband that gives them? no more are all a Chriſtians graces or gracious evidences to the Lord Jeſus himſelf. A Chriſtian ſhould ſay to all his gifts, graces, evidences and ſervices, Stand by, make room for Chriſt, make room for Chriſt. Oh! none but Chriſt; Oh! none to Chriſt. Living by ſigns is moſt natural, pleaſing and comfortable to us, but living by faith is moſt honourable to Chriſt. It is ſaid, the juſt ſhall live by his faith, not by his evidences.Hab. 2.4. Heb. 10.38.Hab 2:4Heb 10:38 When men pride themſelves in their evidences, and when men ſecretly lean upon their evidences inſtead of leaning upon Chriſt, and when men bottom their hopes and comforts upon their ſigns and evidences, when they ſhould be bottoming of all their hopes and comforts upon Chriſt; on a ſudden Chriſt withdraws, and the ſoul is immediately filled with clouds, fears, doubts, darkneſs; and all a mans graces and gracious evidences are eclipſed, and he can ſee nothing, nor feel nothing, but deadneſs, hardneſs, barrenneſs, hypocriſie, unbelief, ſelf-love, guilt, &c. which makes him a Magor-Miſſabib, a terror to himſelf. Now the deſign of Chriſt in all this is to train up his people in a life of faith, and to teach them in the want of their ſigns and evidences,Col. 3.3, 4. Col. 1.27.Col 3:3Col 3:4Col 1:27 how to live above their ſigns and evidences upon himſelf, who is their life, their hope, their heaven, their happineſs, their all. Now Chriſtians, the beſt way to prevent theſe ſore ſoul-diſtreſſes, is in the moderate uſe of your ſigns and evidences, to live much in the freſh and frequent actings of faith upon the Lord Jeſus, and in ſo p. 388doing, you will neither grieve Chriſt, nor provoke Chriſt nor wrong your own precious and immortal ſouls. But,

16The ſixteenth and laſt Propoſition that I ſhall lay down is this: When ever any freſh doubts or fears riſe in your hearts, upon the ſtirrings of corruptions, or debility of graces, or failing in duties, &c. then keep cloſs to theſe two Rules; Firſt, have recourſe to any of the former characters that are laid down in this Book, and while you find any of them ſhining in your ſouls; nay, though it were but one, never paſs any judgment againſt the happineſs and bleſſedneſs of your ſpiritual or eternal eſtates. Secondly, turn your ſelves to ſuch particular promiſes, and plead ſuch particular promiſes, and reſt and ſtay your trembling ſouls upon ſuch particular promiſes,Sirtorius paid what he promiſed with fair words, Plutarch. But ſo does not God; men may eat their words, but God won't eat his. and cling faſt to ſuch particular promiſes, that have been comforts, cordials and ſupports to many weak, doubting, trembling Chriſtians, who have been alwayes afraid to ſay they had grace, or to ſay that God was their Father, or Chriſt their Redeemer, or the Spirit their Sanctifier, or Heaven their Inheritance, &c. I have read of a woman that was much diſquieted in conſcience, even to deſpair, endeavouring to be her own executioner, but was comforted by that bleſſed promiſe, Iſa. 57.15. For thus ſaith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place; with him alſo that is of an humble and contrite ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. And I have read of another man, who being ready to dye; Lord, ſaith he, I challenge thee by that promiſe, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt, and ſo was comforted. And I have read of ſome others that were comforted with that promiſe,…rſin. and Beza. John 10.29. None ſhall pluck them out of my fathers hand. And I have read of another, who having deeply wounded his conſcience by ſubſcribing to Popiſh errors, was much comforted by that bleſſed Scripture, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, of p. 389whom I am chief. And I have read of another,Mr. Bilney the Martyr, Pſal. 51.17. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou thou wilt not deſpiſe. This promiſe was a cordial to Bernard on his dying bed, he dyed with this promiſe in his mouth. And Auſtin found ſo much ſweetneſs in the ſame promiſe, that he cauſed it to be written on the wall over againſt his bed where he lay ſick and dyed.Ps 51:17 who was much comforted under ſore diſtreſſes by that promiſe, Iſa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (or as the Hebrew runs, Shalom, Shalom, peace, peace) whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. And many have gone to heaven triumphantly by the refreſhing and comfort that they have found in theſe following Scriptures, John 6.37. All that the father giveth me ſhall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Iſa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Ver. 3. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your ſoul ſhall live, and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David. And ſo Rev. 22.17. And the Spirit and the Bride ſay come, and let him that heareth ſay come, and let him that is athirſt come, and whoſoever will let him take the water of life freely. So Hoſ. 14.4. I will heal their back-ſlidings, and love them freely. So Iſa. 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy trangreſſions for mine own ſake, and will not remember thy ſins. Iſa. 57.18. I have ſeen his wayes, and will heal him; I will lead him alſo, and reſtore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. Ver. 19. I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, ſaith the Lord, and I will heal him. O, theſe have been comforting promiſes, and upholding promiſes, and refreſhing promiſes,The promiſes are pabulum fidei, &c. anima fidei, the food of faith, and the ſoul of faith. to many doubting, drooping ſouls. 'Tis impoſſible that ſuch a ſoul ſhould ever drop into hell, that can cling faſt to any of theſe promiſes, that can hang upon any of theſe promiſes, that can reſt and lay the weight of their ſouls upon Chriſt in any of theſe promiſes: Doubtleſs relyance upon Chriſt in theſe precious promiſes hath ferried many poor, doubting, trembling ſouls to heaven. The promiſe is the golden Cabinet, and Chriſt is the coſtly jewel that is laid up in it. The promiſe is the field, and Chriſt is the pearl of price that is hid in it; all the promiſes they point to Chriſt, they lead to Chriſt, they hang upon Chriſt;2 Cor. 1.20.2 Cor 1:20 All the promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him Amen. In the new Covenant, God neither makes any promiſes, nor fulfils any promiſes of ſalvation, but p. 390in Chriſt and through Chriſt. Now when any fears, or darkneſs, or doubts, or diſputes ariſes in your ſouls about your ſpiritual eſtates, Oh! then run to Chriſt in the promiſe, and plead the promiſe, and hang upon the breaſts of the promiſe, and let your ſouls cleave cloſs to the promiſe; for this is the way of wayes to have your evidences cleared, your comforts reſtored, your peace maintained, your graces ſtrengthned, and your aſſurance raiſed and confirmed.

FINIS.