The General Assembly, Doctrine · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Examination of our Souls, whether we ſhall be gathered with Saints.
3 ANother Uſe is of Tryal, Whether we be the Perſons that ſhall be gathered to Chriſt with the reſt of his Saints in that Solemn Day of his Appearing.
1. Conſider, you may know whether you be of that number yea or no; aſſurance is poſſible, attainable; God's Children have obtained it, 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know that if our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We can be well content to forego this tottering Cottage, becauſe we are well aſſured of a Coeleſtial Palace; there we ſhall lodge with God, Chriſt, Angels, and glorified Spirits for ever.
2. Nor is this Aſſurance only communicated by Divine Revelation, but may be obtained in the diligent uſe of God's appointed means, hearing the Word, Prayer, Meditation, exciting and exerciſing of Grace, holy Warfare, and Victory over Temptations, Corruptions, walking cloſe with God, particularly by a Practical Syllogiſm, where the Word of God is the Major, Conſcience the Minor, the Spirit makes the Concluſion: Thus, ſuch whoſe Eyes are opened that are turned from darkneſs to light, from the power of Satan to God, ſhall have an inheritance among them that are ſanctified, Acts 26.18. Then Conſcience brings in the Minor, I have found my Heart and Life thus changed by Converſion; then the holy Spirit brings in the Inference or Concluſion, therefore I do groundedly hope, I ſhall obtain the Inheritance of Glory with the reſt of the Saints: This is called the witneſſing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are the Children of God, Rom. 8.16.
3. Therefore it is the Duty of all Chriſtians to endeavour after it, we are commanded to give diligence to make our calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. We deſire ſaith the Apoſtle, that every one of you do ſhew the ſame diligence to the full aſſurance of hope to the End, Heb. 6.11. Such as look not after Aſſurance conſcientiouſly, render their ſpiritual Eſtate ſuſpicious: For it is the Nature of Grace to put the Poſſeſſour forwards to Perfection: The ſincere Chriſtian will be perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1.and preſs forward to injoy more of God's Preſence: Let us (ſaith the Apoſtle) draw near with a true heart in full aſſurance of faith, Heb. 19.22.
4. And oh the advantage and benefit that God's Children have by a well-grounded Aſſurance of their Salvation, it will raiſe your Hearts in praiſe of God, and tranſport your Spirits in love to and delight in him: This drops ſweetneſs into all worldly Injoyments; it chears up the Heart in Sufferings, Heb. 10.34. fortifies the Soul againſt Temptations; excites the Chriſtian to all Acts of new Obedience; gives Contentment in every Condition: This ſtrengthens againſt fears of Death, and is a certain preludium and fore-runner of Heaven: O happy Soul that can ſay God is my Father, Saints my elder Brothers, and I ſhall meet them all in Glory, and ſing praiſes with them to God and the Lamb for evermore.
Queſt. But how ſhall a Man know that he ſhall be one of thoſe that ſhall be gathered together to Chriſt, in that Solemn day?
Anſw. I deſire you will faithfully Anſwer theſe Seven Queſtions.
1. Have you been gathered to Chriſt by converting Grace? To him (i. e. to Shiloh) ſhall the gathering of the People be, Gen. 49.10. Hath the Spirit of God in the Word convinced you of your diſtance from God, prevailed with you to enter into Solemn covenant with him? Alas, by nature we are as Sheep going aſtray,Pſal. 119.176. Prodigals in a far Country, have neither skill nor will to return to God, but Chriſt the good Shephard calleth his own Sheep by name, and leadeth them out, they know his voice and follow him, John 10.34. Formerly (ſaith the returning Sinner) I heard but the Voice of Man, now methinks I hear the Voice of God, rending my Heart, diſcovering thoſe Secret-luſts, that no mortal can know of, the very Secrets of my Heart are made manifeſt; I muſt fall down on my face and worſhip God and muſt report that God is there (in ſuch an Ordinance) of a truth, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. What concuſſions and ſhakings of Soul have you found to unſettle you from your carnal Peace and Security? Hath the Lord hewed you by his Prophets, Hoſ. 6.5.and ſlain you with the words of his mouth? What convictions of your loſt Condition?Hoſ. 11.10, 11. What tremblings after the Lord? When he roareth as a Lion? Are you of thoſe that tremble at the Word of the Lord?Iſa. 66.5. Yet it doth not afright you from him, but to him: I can be ſafe no where but under the ſhadow of his Wings: Come let us join our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that ſhall not be forgotten, Jer. 50.5. I will tie this ſlippery Heart to the Lord, with the ſtrongeſt and ſtreighteſt Bonds: I will not only ſay it with my Mouth, but ſubſcribe it with my Hand, Iſa. 44.5.yea and ſwear my ſelf to be the Lords, and his only: Some indeed Swear by the Name of the Lord,Iſa. 45.23. ch. 48. 1. ch. 49. 22. but not in truth, nor in righteouſneſs, but the ſincere Chriſtian is moſt afraid of Hypocriſy, longs after ſincerity, approves his Heart to God, reſolves to reſort to his Standard, fight his Battles, and be on his Side for ever: Let Fleſh and Blood and all the Devils in Hell ſay what they can to the contrary, is this your Peremptory reſolution?
2. Have you ſeparated from Sinners, 2 Cor. 6.17. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye ſeparate ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you: For,ver. 14. 15. what communion hath light with darkneſs? As Man cannot carry their vain Companions to Heaven, ſo not into the Church-ſtate: No unclean thing or perſon can enter the Gates of this holy City:Rev. 21.27. For without are Dogs:ch. 22. 15. Saints may not deny civil Converſe with the worſt of Men in Neighbourhood or near Relation, 1 Cor. 5.10. But in two reſpects the Apoſtle denies Society with groſs Sinners, 1ſt. Not too much or needleſs Familiarity with them; not to be mingled with them, as Water and Oil will not mix, Chriſtians muſt not, will not be Hail-fellow with diſſolute Perſons: 2dly. Eſpecially with ſuch as are pretended Chriſtians, and bely their Profeſſion by ſcandalous Actions; theſe of all others we muſt keep at a diſtance from,2 Theſ. 3.14. as a piece of their Puniſhment to bring them to Shame and ſo to Repentance: If you Act as Chriſtians, you will let him ſee a ſtrangeneſs in you towards him, ut quaeras ubi. So poſſit prae pudore occultare, that he may turn into himſelf by Self-reflection, recognize his Diſorders, or ſeek where to hide himſelf: But that's not all, for a godly Perſon hath a kind of antipathy againſt wilful Sinners, and avoids them as afraid of being infected by them, as Joſeph was ſhy of his Miſtreſs: And as Solomon adviſeth, Prov. 58.9. By familiar Converſe you may incourage them in Sin, and prejudice your Selves: Hence all Pious Perſons have been afraid to aſſociate with Sinners, ſo David, Pſal. 26.4. I have not ſat with vain Perſons, neither will I go in with diſſemblers: For, in their Company I ſhall get either Guilt or Grief; if I Act as they, I ſhall be guilty; if not, I ſhall be grieved: The beſt is, to meddle as little as I can with them, for God's Honour, and my own Peace: I will reſolve with Old Jacob, Gen. 49.6. O my Soul come not into their Secret: I dare not touch the Rope, leaſt I hear the Bell: 1 Theſ. 5.22. Jude 23.I will abſtain from the appearance of evil; and hate the Garment ſpotted by the fleſh.
3. Have you aſſociated your Selves to them that fear God? Godly Perſons were holy David's intimate Friends, Pſalm 16.3. the Saints were in his Account the excellent in the Earth, in whom is all my delight: Companion am I to all them that fear thee: Pſal. 119.63.I have wiſe Senators, valiant Souldiers, but what are theſe to me, if they be not truly Religious, one Jonathan is better then many Joabs, one Huſhai better then a thouſand Achitophels; I love them that fear God with a peculiar Love, yea though they ſhould be ſevere upon me if I offend, I will not only patiently bear it, but thankfully own them as my Benefactors: Let the righteous ſmite me, Pſal. 141.5. Prov. 27.6.it ſhall be a kindneſs: Faithful are the wounds of a friend: I will love Nathan the better whil'ſt I live, for his Faithfulneſs: [Sit anima mea piis] let my Soul be united to Saints: I will live with them on Earth with whom I would ſing Praiſes in Heaven: Communion of Saints, is not only an Article in my Creed, but a main Point of Practice, yet next to Communion with God my higheſt Priviledge: Theſe, theſe will I converſe familiarly with; I will confer with them about the things of God, pray and praiſe God with them, ſit down with theſe at the holy Supper, and walk hand in hand with them in my journey Heaven-wards: There is an holy Union of all Saints, which yet is not natural, or corporal, political nor yet perſonal, but yet it is Real, and this Union is either Myſtical, as Members of the ſame myſtical Body, Eph. 5.30. or Eccleſiaſtical: Theſe Converts are ſaid to be added to the Church, and have mutual external Fellowſhip, Acts 2.41.42. Thus Paul when converted aſſayed to joyn himſelf to the Diſciples, Acts 9.26.Acts 17.4. And others conſorted with Paul and Silas, and indeed 'tis natural for a Child of God to deſire, yea and delight in the Society of the Saints; thence the Apoſtle mentions the Philippians fellowſhip in the goſpel, Phil. 1.5.from the firſt day until now mark it, it was early and permanent: A good Man knows not how to go to Heaven alone: They muſt go forth by the foot-ſteps of the flock, Song. 1.8, 6.and are like a company of horſes in Pharaohs chariot: So amiable, profitable and pleaſant is Chriſtian Society.
4. Do you lay to Heart the ſcatterings of Chriſtians? Zeph. 3.18. I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the ſolemn Aſſembly who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burthen: This ſcattering is either by Perſecution or Diſſention, 1ſt. If Enemies prevail and break up the Saints ſolemn meetings, God's poor Children lay it deeply to Heart; hence ſuch lamentable complaints and expoſtulations of God's People, Pſal. 143.4. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual deſolations even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the ſanctuary, Iſa. 64.9.—12. This was one Ingredient of Judah's Lamentation, that the ways of Zion mourn, and God's People did mourn with her, Lam. 1.4.—7. Such ſympathy ſpeaks kindly bowels, and moves God's Heart, and poſſibly in this World, they may be gathered however in the other, Iſa 66.10. Rejoyce ye with Jeruſalem and be glad with her, all ye that love her, rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her: Sions Friends ſhall partake of Sions Comforts: 2dly. Such as grieve for the Diviſions of the Church within her ſelf, Judg. 5.15, 16. For the diviſions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of heart, great ſearchings of heart: O the ſad Contentions and Animoſities that have riſen up in the Church in all Ages, and the pious and peaceable Members thereof have been grievouſly afflicted therewith! Sometimes upon Perſonal, ſometimes Doctrinal differenceſs have rent the Bowels thereof, and rent the Hearts of publick-uniting Spirits, and they have almoſt deſpaired of ſeeing an End of them in this World, till they arrive in the place where Luther and Calvin are made perfect Friends, and all the Saints ſhall be of one Mind; Mourners for theſe Breaches ſhall be perfectly cured and comforted, Iſa. 51.11. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord ſhall return and come with ſinging unto Zion, and everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their head, they ſhall obtain gladneſs and joy, and ſorrow and mourning ſhall flee away.
5. Do you follow the Army of Martyrs in bearing your Croſs, and preparedneſs to ſuffer for Chriſt? [hâc fitur ad aſtra] This way have all the Saints gone to Heaven, this is the eſtabliſhed, enacted Law of Heaven: If any man will come after me let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs and follow me, Mat. 16.24.Acts 14.22. We muſt through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God: Heaven is taken by Storm, and the gracious Soul is reſolved to go through Storms: For Perſecution and [Evangelii genius] the common conſtant Lot of all the Saints:2 Tim. 3.12. All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution: Yea, but the Chriſtian is not appaled with nor aſhamed of the Croſs of Chriſt; nay, he takes pleaſure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſt's ſake, 2 Cor. 12.10. Nay, he glories in the Croſs, and in the marks of the Lord Jeſus,Gal. 6.14.17. as much as an Old Soldier in his Wounds received in the Wars: As the poor Woman in the Book of Martyrs thought it a piece of Honour and Happineſs, that her Foot was put in the ſame Hole of the Stocks wherein Mr. Philpot's had been before. So the Chriſtian rejoyceth to follow that bleſſed Army of Martyrs to Heaven, not meerly by an Apiſh Imitation from a good Conceit they have of them,2 Cor. 4.13. but having the ſame ſpirit of Faith, they make their Profeſſion, and endure Oppoſition; whatever it coſt, onwards he will, though he die in the Conflict; he ſees a Crown attending him, and ſo gathers ſtrength by every bout, yea, by every foil, as it was ſaid of Rome, [Roma cladibus animoſior,] that every Battel, yea, every ſlaughter of Men made her more couragious. So it is with the conflicting Soul, none of theſe things move him,Acts 20.24. that ſtartle others, but animate him with more Courage in his Chriſtian Warfare and Voyage through this boiſterous Sea to the Haven of Reſt: Is it thus with you?
6. Do you daily make Proficiency in Grace? Are you marching on in your Chriſtian courſe, adding daily ſome Cubits to your Spiritual ſtature? There's no ſtanding ſtill in Heaven's Road, [non progredi est regredi,] not to go forward, is to go backward. Paul ſaith, I preſs toward the mark for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus, Phil. 3.14. Nothing would ſerve him on this ſide Perfection:Ver. 11. He longs after that pitch of Grace he ſhall attain to in the Reſurrection. The ſincere Chriſtian grows brighter and better, as the ſhining Light,Prov. 4.18. that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. Where there is Truth, there will be Growth. Grace is like a Grain of Muſtard-Seed; the Chriſtian never thinks he hath grown enough, he is ſtill perfecting Holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1.getting Ground daily of the Body of Death. This is their Duty, this is their Property, this is what the Apoſtle earneſtly prays for, 1 Theſſ. 3.12, 13. And the Lord make you to increaſe and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, &c. I would, ſaith the Saint, be holier than the holieſt Saint on Earth,Eph 3.8. but judge my ſelf leſſer than the leaſt of all Saints. O that I were perfectly free from Sin! O that my Bloſſoms of Grace were ripe Fruit! O that I could increaſe with the increaſe of God!Col. 2.19. 2 Theſſ. 1.13. Let my Faith grow exceedingly to full aſſurance; let my Love grow to delight in God, my Repentance be more Evangelical, my Hope more fixed, my Fear more filial, my Obedience more univerſal, and all my Graces more lively, and my whole Man more conformable to Chriſt, the perfect Pattern of Holineſs. Oh that I could go from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 84.7.till in Zion I appear before God.
7. What bleſſed Inſtinct inclines you Heaven-wards? Heavy things move downwards, light things upwards; every thing moves towards its Center. The Church is compared to pillars of Smoak, Cant. 3.6.ſtill mounting towards its proper Element.John 3.3. So the Chriſtian is [foreign] born from above, and naturally inclines to things above. Grace reſembles God, it widens the Soul's Faculties, and makes it altogether unſatisfied with Sublunaries: Even an Heathen Seneca could ſay, [major ſum & ad majora natus,] I am born to higher things than to theſe Trifles; my thoughts are carried quite above viſible Objects, Mortal things cannot fill an Immortal Soul, eſpecially touch'd with a Coal from the Altar, and raiſeth ſparks upwards to the Fountain of Light and Love. Our Lord gives this as a certain [foreign, or] token of a Soul that is either for this or for another World: Mat. 6.21. Where your treaſure is, there will your heart be alſo. The workings of the Heart are an infallible demonſtration of a Chriſtian's ſtate. Is the rational, habitual motion, and tendency of your Hearts God-wards, Heaven-wards? Have you a ſtrong, impetuous motion and bent of Soul to things above? Are you beſt pleaſed when your Hearts are in a frame for God? Do you take it ill, and reſent that with ſome regret and indignation that obſtructs your Soul's motion? Have you a ſtrong impulſe Heaven-wards, by the reſtleſs motion of Deſire, and by the acquieſcing affection of Delight? Never ſo well as when you are converſant about Heavenly Objects. It's alſo the bleſſed Apoſtle's Character of a Saint, Col. 3.7. If you then be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe things which are above. There, there is a Chriſtian's Life, his Love, and Delight; thither he is mounting as on Eagles Wings,Iſaiah 40. and is never ſatisfied till he be ſwallowed up in the Divine Embraces: He is glad of Communion of Saints below, more glad of Communion with God in his Ordinances, but ſtill moſt reſtleſs till he be wrapt up in the full Enjoyment of God above. For our Lord hath ſaid in, …uke …7 37. Whereſoever the body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together. The Saints are united to Chriſt by Faith, as Members to the Head, and have an innate Propenſity to him, and cannot be ſatisfied without a full Enjoyment of him, and that will never be, till the Soul get above this droſſy, reeling Earth into the Regions above. Is this your frame? Are theſe your aims? Are your motions Heaven-wards, though, alas, too often interrupted, to the grief of your hearts? Your Souls are now eſpouſed to Chriſt your Huſband, and you earneſtly long for the compleat Nuptials,2 Cor. 11.2. That you may be preſented to your Heavenly Husband as chaſt Virgins.