Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Of the case of a convert, taking some acts of justifying faith to be high presumption in his person.
THis case is like the former. Some true converts are, who have fled to Christ for remission of sin and delivery from …erdition, and have applyed the promises made for sanctification and consolation, and full salvation after this life, in such a measure as doth suffice them for encouragment to wrestle with difficulties, wherewith with they may meet in their way to heaven. But when the highest and most excellent priviledges of the Gospel are presented to them, and come to be made use of, such as are, sitting together with Christ in heavenly places, E…hes. 2. 6. being co-heirs annexed with Iesus Christ, Rom. 8. 17. So esteemed of, and loved by Christ, that they who touch his Saints, do touch the apple of his eye, Iudging the world and the damned Angels, 1 Cor. 6. 3. and such like other priviledges, they are at a stand, and dar not apply these priviledges for fear of high presumption.
2. Neither must we wonder that a soul should fall in this exercise, and yet adhere to Christ as a convert and true believer: For, when a sinner for fear of perdition is chased to a Saviour, and dar not loose his grips lest he fall in the pit, he may seem to himself to be in good case if he get in to Christ, albeit he do not thrust himself upon such high priviledges, and joyn himself with Abraham, and the Patriarchs and Prophets. Like unto Mephibosheth, who judged himself to have found grace enough at Davids hand, that his life was spared, but trembled when he was priviledg'd to come to the Kings table, who, in his own eyes, was like a dead dog for his unworthinesse, as he judged of himself. Or like the prodigal in the Gospel, who in his own eyes was not worthy to be counted a child of the family, but content to be as one of the hired servants in his fathers house. And true it is, that the wonderfull largenesse of the promises of the Gospel maketh the true convert, lately come forth of the slavery of sin and Sathan, to stand so astonished, that he dar not take to him so glorious titles, priviledges and consolations as the Scripture doth allow him: yea, when he would lift up himself to believe the glory promised, he can no more apprehend the infinit love and grace of God propounded and adjudged unto him, then he can measure the heaven with his span, or comprise in his hand the great Globe, and round of heaven and earth. From such a consideration was it, that Peter did at first utterly refuse to suffer Christ to wash his feet; and that Martha, in the beginning of her conference with Christ, could not think of so great a benefit, as the resurrection of her brother Lazarus before the day of judgment.
2. The convert in this case, doth wrong to himself and to the Word of God, and to the liberality and rich grace of God; for, so long as he suffereth himself to be born down from imbracing, as safely he may, the rich allowance of God upon a soul reconciled to him by …aith in Christ, he not only cuts himself off from that measure of joy of the holy Ghost which he may have, but also giveth occasion and advantage to Sathan, to brangle and call in question, whether the man hath indeed believed in Christ at all, or whether he hath laid hold on Christ for righteousnesse and salvation by faith un…ained; for, if it be presumption for a self-condemned sinner, flying unto Christ by faith, to lay hold upon the benefits which Christ hath prepared, purchased and offered unto him upon this pretended reason, that these benefits are so hudgely great, and the man so small and unworthy in his own eyes, why may not Sathan, with as great reason, (if there were any weight in it) call it presumption for such a man to lay claim unto Christ, who is greater then all his benefits, and so beat him off from faith and confidence in Christ the great gift of God, made of God, to poor sinners fled unto him, wisdom and righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption?
3. Wherefore, to help the convert in this condition, let him consider, he doth well to be feared for presumption, for it is a fearfull evil: but, let him remember to put due difference between presumption, and true faith and confidence; for, 1, presumption is proud and pu…t up with self-conceit, but we pre-suppose the convert to be humble and laid low in his own eyes, in this condition we are speaking of. 2. Presumption is secure and negligent in the discharge of commanded duties; but the convert we speak of, is about the use of the means, and in some measure diligent in discharging commanded duties in his calling. 3. Presumption layeth hold upon promises not made to the presumptuous, and troubleth not it self with precepts and threatnings; but the convert in this condition we are speaking of, regardeth both precepts and threatnings, and is so far from putting forth his hand, without a warrant, unto promises, that he stands aloof from laying hold on moe promises, then he conceiveth necessar to save his soul from hell. 4. The presumptuous promiseth to himself felicity, albeit he walk in his own wayes, and turneth the grace of God into lasciviousnesse, incouraging himself to sin because God is mercifull; but this convert… sheweth sin, and followeth the way which may lead him to the possession of all promises. Therefore, 1. let the convert in this condition remember, that Christ and all his benefits are so joyned together in the grant of grace, that he may confidently say, with the Apostle, Rom. 8. 32. that seing Christ is given to the believer flying unto him, it cannot be but God with him will give all things also. 2. Let him consider, that it is a dangerous mater, not to give credit unto Gods faithfull Word holden forth in one promise, as well as in another: For, seing he is worthy to be believed in the first promise, of receiving into favour a sinner flying to Christ, why shall he not have the glory of truth and grace in the rest of the promises, which belong to the accomplishing of the full glorification of the man reconciled. 3. And last of all, let the convert in this condition consider, how near he draweth to a popish error in this practice; for, Papists do measure the gifts of God unto men, by the mans merit and well-deserving, and not by meer grace only, and upon this ground do reckon it presumption for any ordinar Christians to be assured in this life, that God will guide them with his counsel, and at their departure out of this life, immediatly receive them into glory. For, if the convert, being chased by the law to lay hold on Christ (who is the end of the law for righteousnesse unto every one that believeth) shall stand aback from laying hold on the highest priviledges of Saints, and the greatest promises made to justified souls, because of his own unworthinesse, doth he not say in effect, if I were more worthy and like in holinesse unto such and such Saints, I could be more confident to lay hold on these high promises: which ground, if it be once holden, it makes the reason of the mans confidence to be his own well-deserving, and not the meer and only grace of God the free promiser thereof, and so the way of salvation by grace should be undermined and over-turned: which is absurd, because the Apostle, Ephes, 2. 8. saith, that by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of our selves, it is the gift of God. Therefore let not the humbled convert think it presumption to lay hold on Christ and the fulnesse of all promised grace in him, how large soever it be.