The Christians Great Interest, Part 2
The whole Treatiſe reſumed in a few Queſtions and Anſwers.
Queſt.
WHat is the great buſineſs a man hath to do in the World?
Anſw. To make ſure a Saving Intereſt in Chriſt Jeſus, and to walk ſuitably thereunto.
Queſt. 2. Have not all the members of the viſible Church a Saving Intereſt in Chriſt?
Anſw. No verily; yea, but a very few of them have it.
Queſt. 3. How ſhall I know, if I have a Saving Intereſt in him?
Anſw. Ordinarily the Lord prepareth his own way in the Soul, by a work of Humiliation, and diſcovereth a mans ſin and miſery to him, and exerciſeth him ſo therewith, that he longs for the Phyſitian Chriſt Jeſus.
Queſt. 4. How ſhall I know, if I have got a competent diſcovery of my ſin and miſery?
Anſw. A competent ſight of it, maketh a man take Salvation to heart above any thing in this World: It maketh him diſclaim all relief in himſelf, even in his beſt things: It maketh Chriſt, who is the Redeemer, very precious to the ſoul: It maketh a man ſtand in awe to ſin afterwards; Maketh him content to be ſaved upon any terms God pleaſeth.
Queſt. 5. What other way may I diſc…rn a Saving Intereſt in him?
Anſw. By the going out of my heart ſeriouſly and affectionately towards him, as he is held out in the Goſpel; And this is faith, or believing.
Queſt. 6. How ſhall I know if my heart goeth out after him aright, and that my faith is true Saving Faith?
Anſw. Whère the heart goeth out aright after him, in true and ſaving Faith, the ſoul pleaſeth Chriſt alone above all things, and pleaſeth him in all his three Offices, to rule and inſtruct, as well as to ſave; And is content to cleave unto him, whatſoever inconvenience may follow.
Queſt. 7. What other mark of a Saving Intereſt in Chriſt can you give to me?
Anſw. He that is in Chriſt ſavingly, is a new Creature, he is graciouſly changed and renewed in ſome meaſure, in the whole man, and in all his wayes; pointing towards all the known commands of God.
Queſt. 8. What if I find ſin now and then prevailing over me?
Anſw. Although every ſin deſerveth everlaſting vengeance; Yet if you be afflicted for your failings, confeſs them with ſhame of face unto God, reſolving to ſtrive againſt them honeſtly henceforth, and flee unto Chriſt for pardon, you obtain mercy, and your intereſt ſtands ſure.
Queſt. 9. What ſhall the man do who cannot lay claim to Chriſt Jeſus, nor any of theſe marks ſpoken of?
Anſw. Let him not take reſt, until he make ſure unto himſelf a Saving Intereſt in Chriſt.
Queſt. 10. What way can a man make ſure an intereſt in Chriſt, who never had a ſaving intereſt in him hitherto?
Anſw. He muſt take his ſins to heart, and his great hazzard thereby, and he muſt take to heart Gods offer of pardon, and peace through Chriſt Jeſus, and hear…ily cloſe with Gods offer, by betaking himſelf unto Chriſt, the bleſſed refuge.
Queſt. 11. What if my ſins be ſingularly heinous, and great, beyond ordinary?
Anſw. Whatſoever thy ſins be, if thou wilt cloſe with Chriſt Jeſus by faith, thou ſhalt never enter into condemnation.
Queſt. 12. Is faith in Chriſt only required of me?
Anſw. Faith is the only condition, upon which God doth offer peace and pardon unto men: But be aſſured, Faith, if it be true and ſaving, will not be alone in the Soul, but will be attended with true repentance, and a thankful ſtudy of conformity to Gods Image.
Queſt. 13. How ſhall I be ſure that my heart doth accept of Gods Offer, and doth cloſe with Chriſt Jeſus?
Anſw. Go make a Covenant expreſly, and by word ſpeak the thing unto God.
Queſt. 14. What way ſhall I do that?
Anſw. Set apart ſome bit of time, and having conſidered your own loſt eſtate, and the relief offered by Chriſt Jeſus, work up your heart to pleaſe and cloſe with that offer, and ſay unto God expreſly, that you do accept of that offer, and of him to be your God in Chriſt; and do give up your ſelf to him to be ſaved in his way, without reſervation or exception in any caſe▪ and that you henceforth will wait for ſalvation in the way he hath appointed.
Queſt. 15. What if I break unto G…d afterwards?
Anſw. You muſt reſolve on his ſtrength not to break, and watch over your own way, and put your heart in his hands to keep it: And if you break, you muſt confeſs it unto God, and judge your ſelf for it, and flee to the Advocate for pardon, and reſolve to do no more ſo: and this you muſt do as often as you fail.
Queſt. 16. How ſhall I come to full aſſurance of my intereſt in Chriſt, ſo as it may be above controverſie?
Anſw. Learn to lay your weight upon the blood of Chriſt, and ſtudy purity and holineſs in all manner of converſation, and pray for the witneſs of Gods Spirit to joyn with the blood and the water; and his Teſtimony added unto theſe, will eſtabliſh you in the faith of, and Intereſt in Chriſt.
Queſt. 17. What is the conſequence of ſuch cloſing with God in Chriſt by heart and mouth?
Anſw. Union and communion with God; All good here and his bleſſed fellowſhip in Heaven for ever afterwards.
Queſt. 18. What if I ſlight all theſe things and not lay them to heart to put them in practice?
Anſw. The Lord cometh with his Angels in flaming fire; to render vengeance to them who obey not this Goſpel; And thy judgment ſhall be greater than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah; and ſo much the greater that thou haſt read this Treatiſe: for, it ſhall be a witneſs againſt thee in that day.
FINIS.