The Sure Mercies of David, Treatise · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
IV. THE fourth Uſe is of Conviction, Redargation and Reprehenſion, and this falls heavy on the heads, 1. Of Sinners. 2. Of Saints.
1. If the mercies of the Covenant be ſure mercies (as we have cleared fully) Oh what folly are thoſe ſouls guilty of that are Chriſtleſs, graceleſs, careleſs ſouls, that have no intereſt in theſe mercies, and never trouble themſelves about enſuring theſe Covenant-mercies to their own ſouls; how many in the World are deſtitute of theſe mercies? there is a Generation of Men and Women that live within the pale of the viſible Church, that may be called Lo-Ruhamah, for they have not yet obtained mercy; nay, in the ſtate they are in, there is no mercy for them, becauſe they are not yet in Chriſt, through whom theſe Covenant-mercies flow: unconverted ſouls are unconcerned perſons in theſe mercies; theſe dogs have nothing to do with this Childrens Bread; and yet who ſo apt to catch and ſnatch theſe precious dainties? they love to hear the glorious priviledges of believers laid open, as Juſtification, Reconciliation, Adoption, and eternal life; and yet we muſt ſadly ſay they have nothing to do with theſe: if they hear Diſcourſes of Gods mercy, how are they pleaſed, tickled, and even raviſhed? and they make no queſtion but they ſhall be ſaved, as well as others; and they think ſurely God that made them will not damn them, but ask theſe poor ſouls whether they be ſavingly converted, renewed, ingrafted into Chriſt by faith? alas they know not what this means; they never asked their own ſouls the queſtion; nay, they are ready, to think that is a very needleſs enquiry, or impoſſible to know; however this never lay upon their Hearts and Conſciences, as neceſſary in order to clearing up this great caſe, whether they have obtained mercy: But let all ignorant ſots know that he that made them will not have mercy on them, Iſa. 27.11. let all prophane Rebels againſt the King of Heaven know that God will not be merciful to any wicked Tranſgreſſor, Pſal. 59.5. Gods Attributes are all Analogal and Correſpondent; he will not ceaſe to be juſt and holy that he may be merciful, he will be merciful in his own way; Mercy and Covenant ſhall go hand in hand; 'tis a ridiculous folly for men to conceit, they ſhall have the Mercies of the Covenant that are not within the Covenant; this is that fallacy that Logicians call (fallacia dividendi conjungenda) of dividing things to be conjoyned; 'tis moſt dangerous and damnable in Divinity, when ſouls dream of having peace without grace, happineſs without holineſs; but let men know there's no mercy but in the Covenant, where no ark of the Covenant no ſeat of mercy, where there's no work of Grace, there's no Covenant of Grace; where Chriſt is a Saviour he will be a Soveraign, Act. 5.31. Act. 3.26.where he gives remiſſion of ſins he will give repentance; his way of bleſſing is a turning perſons from their iniquities; God will not ſhew mercy to any but in his own way; ſuch muſt obtain mercy in converting Grace, as obtain mercy in the enjoyment of pardoning Grace; ſanctification goeth along with Juſtification; Paul obtained mercy by forſaking his own old courſes; 1 Tim. 1.13.God ſaveth us according to his mercy: how? why by the waſhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, Titus 3.5. they are ſaved from ſin, that are ſaved from wrath and Hell: 'tis a ſelf-deceiving ſoul-damning contradiction to dream of pardoning, without purging grace; thouſands in the World fancy a God to themſelves made up all of mercy, and let them do what they pleaſe, they can bolſter up themſelves with this conceit, God is merciful; and ſo (as God himſelf ſaith) Pſal. 50.21. theſe things haſt thou done and I kept ſilence, thou thoughtſt that I was altogether ſuch a one as thy ſelf, but I will reprove thee, and ſet thy ſins in order before thee, q. d. think not to make me a Patron of thy wickedneſs; 'tis true I ſpare thee and ſuffer thee to live quietly, but forbearance is no acquittance; think not I love thee becauſe I afford thee outward mercies, which thou abuſeſt to licentiouſneſs, but I am reſolved to take vengeance on thee; I have juſtice, as well as mercy, and I have a ſeaſon wherein I ſhall pour out the Vials of …ny wrath upon Veſſels of wrath that are …itted to deſtruction; a time is coming when … ſhall tear you in pieces, and there ſhall be …one to deliver. Oh ſirs, the condition of graceleſs unconverted ſouls is ſad; for,
1. They are under a ſure and ſad ſentence of condemnation; for as the mercies …f the new Covenant are ſure to believers, …o the curſes of the old Covenant are as …ure to all Unbelievers; as the ſecond Adam conveys certain life; ſo the firſt Adam conveys certain death to his ſeed: as he that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life; ſo …e that believeth not ſhall not ſee life, but the …rath of God abides on him, Joh. 3.36. as …e that believeth is acquitted, ſo he that believes not is condemned already, ver. 18. all is other ſins are bound upon him by this …f unblief; this is the condemnation; it is …s impoſſible that the Devils in Hell ſhall be ſaved as that Unconverted ſinners (while ſuch) ſhall be ſaved; for Chriſt ſaith again and again, except ye be Converted, Mat. 18. Joh. 3.35.except a …an be born again, he cannot ſee, he cannot …nter into the Kingdom of God, and binds it with ſtrong aſſeverations, and dare any queſtion the verity of Gods poſitions or combinations, that pretends to believe his promiſe: yea, God hath bound him by oath …n this caſe as well as in the other, Heb. ….11. it's ſpoken there concerning the rebellious murmuring Iſraelites; I ſware in …ny wrath, ſaith God, they ſhall not enter into my reſt; or if they ſhall enter, then q. d. never truſt me more; nay, let not me be God; but what's this to us? Yes, the Apoſtle applyes it to unbelievers in Goſpel times, Gap. 4.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. hence he repeats the Oath again referring to unbelieving Goſpellers; that they ſhall never enter into the Heavenly Canaan: and ſurely unconverted ſinners are in a woful plight, of whom it may be truly ſaid, that God himſelf cannot ſave them while they continue in that ſtate; for there's no way but one of entring Heaven that's Jeſus Chriſt; and how can they eſcape that neglect ſo great ſalvation? Act. 4 12. Heb. 2.3.there's no other way revealed, and do we think God will forſake his ordinary Road, and quit this glorious deſign, to gratifie a Generation of wilful neglecters and rejecters of this bleſſed contrivance of ſaving ſinners by intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt? it cannot be, you muſt either go to Heaven this way, or down to Hell by your own way.
2. Their ſouls are not ſure to be another moment out of Hell-torments; poor graceleſs ſinners cannot ſecure themſelves upon any real Scripture-grounds, that they ſhall enjoy that baſtard peace of Conſcience, in which they flatter themſelves another hour; for ought they know, their caſe may be like Belſhazzars, Dan. 5.5. while they are Drinking, Carouſing, Ranting, Revelling, ſome dreadful Hand-writing or Teſtimony of Gods Indignation may break forth againſt them which may marr all their mirth, appal their ſpirits, trouble their thoughts, looſe the joynts of their Loyns, and make their knees ſmite one againſt another. Oh what terrour and horrour will the dreadful ſummons of death ſtrike into them? how will theſe fool-hardy Warriers, againſt an infinite God, call to the Rocks and Mountains to cover them? Oh what a ſudden change, what a ſad Cataſtrophe will the cold hand of death make with them? what a fall will theſe ſecure and ſenſleſs ſinners have from the height of worldly preferment to the depth of eternal torments? ſtand a little …nd look at that rich and wretched miſer …n the Goſpel, that had no room for his fruits and goods, that ſung a requiem to his ſoul for many years; Yet alas, had not one …ight to take his eaſe in, thou fool, See Luk. 12.17, 18, 19, 20.ſaith God, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required …f thee, or do they require thy ſoul, i. e. the Devils who are waiting for a commiſſion from God to catch hold of graceleſs ſouls …o hale them to torments as ſoon as they …ave forſaken their wretched bodies; ſo …ome interpret it; however the rich mans …oul was ſuddenly ſnatcht from a full Table …nd dainty Fare into eternal miſery, without drop of Water or hopes of mercy; for …et him tear his heart with bitter out-cryes; Father Abraham, have mercy on me, neither …is Father Abraham, See Luk. 16.24, 25, 26.nor the God of Abraham ſhall have any mercy for him; former offers of mercy are now turned into flames of fury; they have wilfully forſaken their own mercy, and now are wofully forſaken by the God of mercy. O conſider this you that are yet in your ſins, dancing about the pit, and are ready every inſtant to drop into eternal woe.
3. Their certain miſtake will aggravate their woful ſtate. Oh what a dreadful diſappointment will this be, for perſons that lived demurely in the World, and paſſed for very civil neighbours; yea, for choice Saints, yet now to be ſet on the left hand amongſt the Goats at the great day; yea, perſons that thought themſelves they were in the ready Road to Heaven; and as they are (as they imagine) ſtepping into glory to miſs their footing, and fall into Eternal Torments; 'tis a dreadful ſight to ſee ſoul and hopes giving up the Ghoſt together, Job 11.20. c. 8.14.and ſwept away as the Spiders Web into the fire of Hell. Oh for a ſoul that hath all his days been building Caſtles in the Aire; the Houſe of his fair profeſſion upon the ſliding ſand of Fancy and Imagination, to have all come tottering down with one puff of death, will be a dreadful ſight. Miniſters told them of this, but they would not believe, nor ſuſpect their ſtate, or ſpend one hour in ſearching whether they were right or no; many a time were they warned of the danger: but they pleaſed themſelves in wilful ſelf-deluſion; and now they are paſt recovery: they would not be brought to an holy deſpair in themſelves, that they might have ſure footing in theſe ſure mercies; and now they ſhall and muſt deſpair of ever having part or portion in theſe ſweet and certain mercies: they would not be beaten from their carnal ſhifts and ſenſleſs Pleas, and now they muſt and ſhall be for ever baniſht from them; and feel the bitterneſs of them: Miniſters could not deal with them, but God can; and it will be an heart-confounding day, when the varniſh ſhall be waſhed off, and all rotten props ſhall be pluckt up, that kept the ſoul from horrour, and they ſhall ſee themſelves deceived by Satan, the World, and their own ſelf-flattering hearts into eternal miſery.
4. But once more, many things in and about theſe ſure mercies, will augment their eternal miſery. Alas, ſirs, here there's no ſpeaking to wicked men, they will not abide a ſober Treaty about their ſouls, they have not leiſure or patience to yield an obſervant Ear to Diſcourſes about theſe ſure mercies, but a time is coming wherein they ſhall be forced to think of theſe loſt mercies to their coſt; now they have other things to mind, the world doth ſo fill their ears and hearts, that they thruſt theſe things from them, and judge themſelves unworthy of them: they are juſt like Jeremiah's wild Aſſe uſed to the Wilderneſs, Jer. 2.24.that ſnuffeth up the wind at her pleaſure, in her occaſion who can turn her away? — but in her month they ſhall find her. So there's no dealing with wicked men in their jollity and frolick fits, but their month of ſorrow is approaching either here or hereafter; and oh the bitter pangs and travels that ſhall then poſſeſs them? in this World they would not conſider, but hereafter they ſhall have an Eternity to conſider of theſe Covenant-mercies, though in a hopeleſs way: as 1. They ſhall think of the nature of theſe mercies they have loſt. Oh how free, how ſweet, how ſuitable, how ſatisfying were they? how ſure would God have made them to them? and the better theſe mercies, the bitterer their ſorrow in the loſs of them. 2. They ſhall think that once they might have enjoyed them, and have been happy in that enjoyment; once they had a day of grace, means of grace, miniſters perſwaded, ſpirit moved, mercies, afflictions, word, rod, every thing ſpoke this language. Oh embrace theſe mercies, but I refuſed; and now they are out of my reach. 3. They ſhall think, and think again, how near they were to the embracing of theſe mercies; Oh what convictions did God faſten on my heart by ſuch and ſuch a Sermon! I was once half-perſwaded to embrace them, how near was I to a full cloſure? I went home with ſtrong reſolutions to be another man; but this deceitful heart beguiled me, and ſo I put off repentance till now it be too late. 4. They ſhall think what theſe mercies would have done for them; theſe mercies would have infolded their ſouls in the arms of Gods love; theſe would have filled their ſouls with Grace, fitted them for Gods uſe, and furniſhed them for glory, theſe mercies would have rendred them profitable in life, comfortable in death, and happy for ever; the poſſeſſours of theſe mercies are gracious Saints; Yet again, 5. They ſhall think with ſadneſs what they have exchanged theſe mercies for; they have paſſed off theſe ſweet and ſure mercies for traſh and trifles, for dung and dirt, for a little ſtinking pleaſure or ſtinging profit, which now they have left behind them in the World, and only carry the guilt and ſhame along with them, which muſt abide them, when ſenſual delights are vaniſht away. Oh what gnaſhing of teeth and indignation at themſelves will this beget for their former madneſs? 6. They muſt think how many thouſands of ſouls were made happy by a gracious cloſure with and full enjoyment of theſe mercies; perſons whom they deſpiſed in the World, and thought not worthy to come in their company, ſhall ſit down with the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles in Heaven; but theſe wretched ſouls are thruſt out. Oh, will a damned wretch think, I might have been happy as well as yonder ſhining Saint; he was a ſuffering Creature, I was a rejoycing miſcreant; now he is comforted, and I am tormented. Yet, once more, 7. The damned in Hell ſhall bethink themſelves who was in the fault, and whence it comes to paſs that theſe mercies were not made ſure to their ſouls; and they can charge none herewith but themſelves: they will then ſee that none was to be blamed but their own wilful wills, whatever they may object here, and boaſt that they are willing, yet God lays the blame there, and ſo ſhall they, will they, nill they, they muſt be ſpeechleſs, and only charge themſelves as making faggots to burn them in for ever. Oh, will the ſoul think, I may thank my ſelf for this; I wilfully forſook my own mercies by obſerving lying vanities; this is the fruit of mine own doings, I would needs be damned; Miniſters and Godly friends perſwaded, God ſtopt my way by his Providences, Ordinances, but I would run into the pit, and here I am ſhut up in eternal darkneſs; wo be to me, that ever I was born. Oh that I had either never heard of or embraced thoſe mercies, that I have rejected, and that will follow my ſoul with horrour for ever.
Ah ſirs, I beſeech you conſider, ſuch a day will come, and then you'l remember theſe things, and they will lye heavy upon you, then you'l feel what an evil and bitter thing it is that you have forſaken God: then you'l vomit up your ſweet morſels, and remember theſe ſweet words that here you deſpiſed, Pſal. 141.6.then you'l remember the poſſibility and probability you were once in, of obtaining theſe ſweet mercies; now they are attainable; but if once you have ſet a ſtep upon the ſhore of Eternity, You are paſt hopes and remedy, for the dead and damned do only hear the ſound of wiſdom with their ears, Job 28.22.but are never likely to enjoy the benefit thereof. Oh put not off theſe things with ſome ſlight and tranſient thoughts; but ſhame yourſelves to an holy diligence.
2. Another ſort to be reproved, are Gods own children that are guilty of four foule faults: 1. They are apt to indent. 2. Compound about theſe mercies. 3. They do not live upon: Or 4. Not up to theſe mercies.
1. Gods Children would have the mercies of the Covenant; but then they have a mind to indent with God to be ſecured from the croſſes attending theſe mercies; the fleſh ſhrinks and is loath to ſuffer; we are like Orpah, we would follow Chriſt a little way, but fain would we make our bargain ſo, as not to follow him in foul way: But ſirs, conſider would you have the ſweets and not the bitter of Godlineſs? did you not take Chriſt (in a marriage-covenant) for better and worſe? will you pick and chuſe with him? do not right virgin-ſouls follow the Lamb whither-ſoever he goeth? Ah ſirs, this Covenant-relation is an expreſs, voluntary, univerſal, unreſerved ſelf-reſignation: the bearing of the Croſs was always ſuppoſed and implyed; Mat. 10.37, 38. Mark 10.30.and if you will not have him with it, you are to be without it; for the Croſs is [Evangelii genius] the very inſeparable property, complexion, and companion of the Goſpel: and Chriſt would not have any cheated with imaginary hopes of immunity from ſufferings, Luk. 14.28.but tells them the worſt, and bids them ſit down and count the coſt; and if you did not ſo at firſt, you are not yet ſincere, and if you did, and ſtill would have Chriſt; why do you now grumble at bearing of that which you freely choſe. Beſides, know it, Croſſes for Chriſt are ſpecial Goſpel-mercies, for afflictions are adopted to be real mercies of the Covenant, and therefore they are promiſed as well as any other mercies, in Pſal. 89.31, 32. and David ownes afflictions as an act and fruit of Covenant-faithfulneſs, Pſal. 119.75. ver. 67.71.becauſe it fetcheth him from his wandrings, inſtructs him in Gods ſtatutes, and therefore was good for him. Croſſes for Chriſt never did any hurt, but have been uſually means of good, many Chriſtians have bleſſed God for them; God ſees we cannot live or like well without them; Paul gloried in the Croſs of Chriſt, took pleaſure in diſtreſſes for Chriſt, and why then are we afraid of them, or would indent to be ſecured from them: be aſhamed of your nice and delicate ſpirits.
2. Some Chriſtians are too too apt to compound with God about theſe Covenant-mercies; In cloſing with offers of Grace, we muſt be uniform: earthly things God is pleaſed to retail: all have ſome, none have all: but in the Heavenly Treaſure, he will not break the whole piece, and cut it into Remnants; if God would cut off as much as would ſerve mens turn, he ſhould have cuſtomers enough. Mr. Gurnal Chriſt. armour — pag. 310.my meaning is, they do not look and make out for the whole chain, compoſition and combination (as I may ſay) of Covenant-mercies, they are willing and content to be put off with ſome, and do not ſue for all: they can apply ſome promiſes, not others; ſee a neceſſity of pardoning-mercy, but do not plead and act-faith for purging, ſoftening, quickning, enlightning mercies of the Covenant. Conſider, Chriſtians, by this doing, 1. You prejudice your ſelves, you need all theſe Covenant-mercies; there's not one of the fore-mentioned mercies, that a Chriſtian can live and thrive without; all are of great uſe, every one hath its peculiar excellency, a gracious ſoul cannot ſpare any of them; nay, 'tis a ſin for it to be content with leſs than God hath promiſed; he that's not for all, is truly for none at all: the true owner will not divide: in one part of your life or other, you'l want all Covenant-mercies; it's baſe unworthineſs and ingratitude to ſlight any of them. 2. You diſhonour God, and diſparage theſe mercies, as if God were not able to give you all, and pay the whole debt of his free and full promiſe; as for example, ſuppoſe a rich Tradeſman owe you a ſumm of money, and you come to him and tell you are willing to abate him ſo much, and compound with him, and take of him a ſhilling in the pound, or a pound in the hundred for the whole debt, he looks upon himſelf as diſparaged, being a ſufficient Chapman, he will not have his ability or honeſty queſtioned; but quickly anſwers, what do you think I am breaking? I will not be abated any thing, here's your money, i'le pay you all: ſo God would not be compounded with; he looks upon it as a diſhonour to his free-grace and faithfulneſs, and bids the ſoul open its mouth wide, and promiſeth to fill it, Pſal. 81.10. i. e. ask great things, many things, ſp… not, ask what thou needeſt, ask what I have promiſed, I am neither ſcant nor ſaint in giving, ſtint not thy ſelf in asking, I ſhall not ſend thee away empty; they that come for moſt, ſpeed beſt; and when thou haſt gone to the utmoſt extent of thy reach in asking, I can, and will give thee abundantly more than thou art able to ask or think, Epheſ. 3.20. Oh Chriſtians, chide your ſelves for your ſinful mannerlineſs and modeſty; and widen your contracted ſpirits for larger in-comes of Grace and Mercy. Remember, theſe Covenant-ſupplyes are all of mercy, not deſerved, and they are mercies in the plural, containing large and liberal revenues to be communicated to indigent wanting ſouls.
3. God's Children do not live upon theſe mercies of the Covenant; we blame them that have good eſtates, and live beſides them; and well we may, for it's a baſe and a beggarly practice, when perſons have enough, but want power to eat, take their portion, and enjoy the good of all they have; Eccleſ. 5.18, 19.this is a ſore evil, and a ſad curſe, and the contrary is good, comely, a ſweet bleſſing, and the very gift of God: and Oh what a ſad evil for the Saints of God, heirs of Promiſe to live off their Eſtates, none ſo rich as real Saints, they are heirs to a very vaſt inheritance; Pſal. 16.5.God himſelf is their portion; yea, the portion of their inheritance, and of their cup, he maintains their lot; they have enough, and they cannot loſe what they have. Oh at what high rates ſhould ſuch rich heirs live? and what an unworthy degenerate ſpirit doth it import to live ſo beggarly as moſt of us do? As, 1. To live ſo much by ſenſe, and ſo little by faith; Hab. 2.3. Rom. 1.17. 2 Cor. 5.7. Heb. 11.it is the Goſpel-character of believers, to live by their faith; walk by faith and not by ſenſe, or …ight, to ſee him that's inviſible, to venture their all upon unſeen grounds: and Oh what a noble and generous, what a brave and bleſſed life is the life of faith! and on the contrary, what a ſorry and ſordid, what … beggarly and niggardly life is a life of …enſe! ſuch a ſoul goes a begging, and craves … crumb of one, a morſel of another to make … meal of, and ſtill the ſouls Stomach is hungry and craving, and at the beſt, how quick…y are they gone? alas firs, objects of ſenſe will not carry you through the World; ſenſe will ſink with Peter where it cannot feel a … bottom; 'tis faith only that will lift the …ead above water, and heart above terrour; when you muſt paſs through a ſea of ſor…ows in this tumultuous World: Chriſtians, where's your faith? you are diſtinguiſht from others by this precious grace: the …ant of this undoeth us: hence it is, 2. That Gods Children are ſo often at a loſs, and …now not what to do; no wonder if they be at their wits end, when they are at their faiths end: many conditions; yea, any affliction will throw a Saint upon his back when he ſtands not upon the feet of faith, or leans not upon Chriſt by faith: this is the reaſon why in temptation we cry out, God hath caſt me off for ever, and he will be favourable no more; and we give up the Buckler, and yield to Satans aſſaults and demands, which becomes our enemies ſport, and our bane; yea any little loſs or croſs… diſmays us, as though we were undone, or as though (with poor Jacob, once) our life were bound up in a Ladd, or Bagg, or ſuch like ſilly ſorry things. Pſal. 37.4.1 Sam. 30.6.Ah, dear ſirs, where is your delight in God? where's your incouraging your ſelves in God? Hab. 3.16, 17.where's your rejoycing in the Lord with Habakkuk when … Cloud or Curtain hath covered all your worldly enjoyments? why do you not oppoſe one God to all the Armys of evils that beſet you round? why do you not take the more content in God, when you have the leſs of the creature to take content in why do you not boaſt in your God? and bear up your ſelves bigg with your hope in God and expectations from him? do you not ſee young heirs to great Eſtates, ac… and ſpend accordingly? and why ſhall you being the King of Heaven's Sons be lea… and ragged from day to day, as though you were not worth a Groat? Oh ſirs, liv… upon your portion, chide your ſelves for living beſides what you have, there are grea… and precious promiſes, rich inriching mercies, you may make uſe of God's al-ſufficiency; you can blame none but your ſelves if you be defective or diſcouraged: a Woman truly Godly for the main, having buried a Child, and ſitting alone in ſadneſs, did yet chear up her heart with this expreſſion, God lives, and having parted with another, ſtill ſhe redoubled, Comforts dye, but God lives, at laſt her dear Husband dyes, and ſhe ſate oppreſſed and almoſt overwhelmed with ſorrow, a little Child ſhe had yet ſurviving, having obſerved what before ſhe ſpoke to comfort her ſelf, comes to her, and ſaith, is God dead? Mother, is God dead? this reacht her heart, and by Gods bleſſing recovered her former confidence in her God, who is a living God: thus do you chide your ſelves, ask your fainting ſpirits under preſſing, outward ſorrows, is not God alive? and why then doth not thy ſoul revive? why doth thy heart dye within thee when comforts dye? cannot a living God ſupport thy dying hopes? thus Chriſtians argue down your diſcouraged and diſquieted ſpirits as David did, Pſal. 42.5. But ſo much for that:
4. As Chriſtians do not live upon, ſo they do not live up to theſe Sure Mercies of David, and that in their Walking, ſo,
1. Unholily.
2. Unſteadily.
3. Uncomfortably.
4. Unfruitfully.
1. Many of Gods Children walk unſuitably, i. e. unholily, unſpiritually, untenderly, not with that conſcientiouſneſs, exactneſs and cloſeneſs they ought to do: if Gods Children lived up to their mercies and priviledges: oh how holy ſhould they be, ſeeing that theſe things ſhall be diſſolved and ſeeing we look for ſuch things, nay, ſeeing we ſee and feel ſuch things myſtically already, even a new Heaven and new, Earth, after a ſort, in this new Covenant-diſpenſation, what manner of perſons ought we to be, and oh how diligent ſhould we be that we may be found of him in peace, without ſpot and blameleſs? 2 Pet. 3.11-13, 14. But Oh Chriſtians, how ſhort are we, yea how inconſiſtent are our lives with our liberties! how incongruous are our duties to our mercies! yea, how oppoſite are our ſpirits to our comforts! What ſirs, Heavenly mercies and carnal hearts, flat duties, earthly converſations! Oh ſhame your ſelves before the Lord, bluſh, tremble to think of your unſuitableneſs to Covenant-mercies. How far are you below theſe enjoyments! doth not your unanſwerable walking give juſt ground of ſuſpicion whether you have intereſt in theſe, yea or no? what ſirs, are you Saints and yet muck-worms, are you partakers of an Heavenly calling, and yet walk ſo like the men of the World? is it fit to ſee Eagles in a dirty dunghill, or Heaven-born ſouls in acts of filthineſs? either be better or quit your claim; you diſhonour God, and diſcredit religion more than others. Alas friends, God will not be beholden to you for the meer title of being Religious unleſs you be really ſuch: mercies inferr duty and licentiouſneſs is inconſiſtent with the nature and ends of Covenant-mercies. Qui b…onus eſt & juſtus, & mundus & immaculatus, ne que malum aliquid ne que injuſtum ne que abominand… in ſuo ſponſt thalamo ſuſtinebit. Iraen. adv. Heb. lib. 4:You grieve Gods Spirit, croſs his deſignes, wrong your own ſouls, ſadden the hearts of the righteous, and open the mouths of wicked men: you little know what hurt you do by one act of ſinning. Conſider that as the priviledges of the Covenant beſpeak holineſs; ſo the conditions of the Covenant include holineſs, and how then came, heirs of promiſe to be ſo unlike their Heavenly Father? what do the Children of light tampering with works of darkneſs?
2. Gods Children walk very unſteadily, i. e. they are off and on, inconſtant, have good moods, and motions, but they wear off, and decay, they quickly loſe their lively impreſſions, and are conſtant in inconſtancy, they are zealous and forward for God one while, at other times they are backward and froward. Ah ſirs, is this a living up to theſe Sure mercies of David? theſe conſtant, unchangeable invariable mercies? this Covenant is ordered in all things and ſure, and ſo are the mercies of it; how comes it to paſs then that Covenanters are ſo often diſcompoſed, diſordered and unſettled? ſometimes they are for God, and ſometimes not; they are halting betwixt two opinions, like drunken men, they are leaning ſometimes to the right hand, at other times to the left, like Reuben, Gen. 49.4. Hoſ. 7.8. chap. 6.4.they are unſtable as water, and ſo ſhall not excel; like Ephraim, a Cake half-baked, hot and hard on one ſide, cold and doughy on the other: or like the ſame Ephraims goodneſs like a Morning-cloud, or early Dew that tarryes not long, but is quickly ſcattered by the ſtrong ſtorms of perſecutions, or dryed up by the warm beams of proſperity: James 1.6. Jud… …, 13. Eph. 4.14.theſe unſtable Chriſtians are like Jame's waves of the Sea, like Jude's wandring Starrs, or flying clouds, carryed about of Winds; or like Paul's Children, toſſed to and fro; they are like Locuſts that move to and again; like Graſshoppers that are ſtill up and down, in variable motions; the hearts of ſuch are as a Cart-wheel, ſaith one, and their thoughts as a rolling Axel-tree: I know, the beſt of Gods Children are incident to liftings up and caſtings down in point of quicknings and inlargements, and this may be the effect of Gods affording or ſuſpending the influences of his grace; but I ſpeak this of a Chriſtians remiſſneſs, and his inconſtancy through neglect and careleſneſs, and want of ſtirring up in his ſoul the Graces of Gods ſpirit, and ſo loſing the livelineſs his ſoul feels ſometimes, and afterwards is warmed, melted, but returns into folly; this is the Chriſtians round, and how unſuitable is this for a ſincere ſoul? theſe ſtars are to be fixed in the firmament of the Church, and are not to be wandring Starrs or Meteors: theſe Trees of the Lords planting ſhould be ſtrongly rooted, and not like Reeds toſſed with every wind; they ſhould be Pillars in the Houſe of God, Non vacillantes, ſed tetragonoi.and not Feathers or Weather-cocks upon Houſe-tops; theſe living ſtones ſhould not …e round and rolling, but ſquare and fixed, ſtill ſettled upon the Center: 1 Cor. 1.6.if the Teſtimony of Chriſt be confirmed in us, we ſhould hold faſt our confidence firm unto the end, and pray hard for a more conſtant ſpirit, as David did, Pſal. 51.10. that we may be like Jachin and Boaz, ſtability and ſtrength; for if we be ſtable, we ſhall be ſtrong, and ſo anſwerable to theſe Sure Mercies of David.
3. It is a ſad thing to ſee the Heirs of this Covenant walk uncomfortably; what are you partakers and poſſeſſours of Mercies, and yet ſad? have you intereſt in ſweet and ſure Mercies, and yet are you dejected? what will lift you up, if mercy will not? and what can interrupt your peace, when mercy waits on you to chear you up? thou loſeſt Eſtate, Health, Good-Name, Relations, Liberty; yea, thy life is in continual hazzard, but as long as theſe Mercies of the Covenant are ſure, thou haſt no reaſon to complain. Seneca compares a a Chriſtian that's diſconſolate for outward …oſſes or croſſes, to a man that hath a fine Orchard, the Trees whereof are richly laden with ſtore of precious fruit, and becauſe the wind blows off ſome leaves, the man ſits down and takes on heavily, he weeps and wailes, and cryes out he is undone; why what's the matter? why the wind hath taken off ſome leaves, but the roots, and trees, and fruits are ſafe: ſhould not we judge that a fond and fooliſh man? juſt thus is it with the Chriſtian, God and Chriſt, promiſes and Goſpel-mercies are ſure and ſtedfaſt by an inviolable Goſpel-Covenant; yet the ſinful ſilly ſoul lyes whining and complaining for the loſs of ſome leaves of Worldly comforts, which he may live well without. Yea, ſaith the poor ſoul, but theſe outward things are not the chiefeſt cauſe of my trouble and diſcouragement; did I know that theſe mercies were made ſure to me, I ſhould be comfortable, but, alas, I fear I have no ſhare therein. I ſhall anſwer this doubt afterwards, at preſent I only ſay, lay thy hand upon thy heart, and deal ingeniouſly, is this the ground of thy trouble? is not this only pretended, is not ſomething elſe the real ground? the heart is deceitful; look again, ſee what comforted thee before this outward trouble came, and what chears thee when thy preſent preſſure is removed? but ſuppoſe it be jealouſies about thy intereſt; yet, why ſhouldſt thou be uncomfortable? haſt not thou ventured thy ſoul on a ſure foundation? what reaſon haſt thou of diſcouragement? a faith of adherence brings ſome ſettlement as well as a faith of evidence: every act of faith brings ſome comfort; whom having not ſeen (ſaith the Apoſtle, of a corporal ſight; ſo may I ſay of a kind of ſpiritual ſenſe and aſſurance) ye love, in whom though now you ſee him not, yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. recumbency hath a kind of complacency: it argues want of faith to want joy, and unbelief is a ſhameful ſin, conſidering the aſſurances given us in the Goſpel: but more of this hereafter. But oh, conſider ſirs, what wrong you do to your ſelves by uncomfortable walking? you weaken and exhauſt your ſtrength and ſpirits: what diſcredit you bring upon the ways of God, rendring them ſoure and diſtaſtful in the account of others; what oppoſition it expreſſeth both to many poſitive precepts, and the ſpirit of comfort, and to theſe ſure mercies of David: methinks I hear the God of Heaven thus beſpeaking the gracious troubled heart; ſoul, what ailes thee? what is it thou wouldſt have? I have given thee many glorious gifts, pardon, reconciliation, adoption, ordinances, the benefit of all my works of Providence, a title to the good things of Earth, whiles thou liveſt, and a free admiſſion into Heaven when thou dyeſt; nay, I have given thee my ſelf, my Son, my Spirit, and that by the ſureſt Marriage-Covenant: and will not all this revive thy fainting ſpirit? what wouldſt thou have more? and what canſt thou deſire to make it ſurer to thee? ſpeak but the word and it ſhall be done; but I have gone beyond thy demands, and why then art thou thus drooping and diſconſolate? is thy heart revived when mortal lying man makes thee a promiſe of ſome outward good; and canſt thou now faint, when the eternal God hath taken all theſe pains to aſſure thy troubled heart of thy intereſt in theſe ſure mercies of David? Oh Chriſtians ſhame your ſelves for your uncomfortableneſs; are theſe conſolations of God ſmall unto you? thank your ſelves for your diſcouragements; and let it be matter of trouble that you have ſo many needleſs, uſeleſs troubles in your ſouls.
4. Another fault in the Heirs of the promiſes whereby they are unſuitable to theſe mercies is unfruitfulneſs; herein they do not live up to theſe mercies, and are exceeding defective, and imperfect, eſpecially in two reſpects; the fruit they bring forth is, 1. Small. 2. Soure fruit.
1. 'Tis uſually but ſmall in quantity, ſhort of that abundance and ripeneſs that ſhould come of ſo good a ſoil as mercy is, eſpecially when mercy is the Tillage; Gods Vineyard is in a very fruitful Hill; Iſa. 5 1. foreignſo we read it, but in Heb. 'tis the Horn of the Son of Oyle; I know the Son of Oyle, may import a very fat or rich ſoile, as Son of the Morning for exceeding bright and illuſtrious; and ſo Gods people were planted in Canaan, which was an exceeding fruitful Countrey, but may at leaſt alluſively affirm of real Saints, that they are planted in the Horn of the Son of Oyle even in the Son of God, who was annointed with the Oyle of gladneſs above his fellows, and in whom true Believers are planted, and from whom they may ſuck and draw abundant juice and fatneſs, as branches do from the root of the Olive-tree, Rom. 11.17. moreover what abundant pains doth God the Father (the Husbandman) take, to make ſouls very fruitful, he takes away ſuch as bear no fruit at all, and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit, Joh. 15.2. Oh what mercies do the Saints partake of? Goſpel-priviledges; Promiſes, Providences, Ordinances, Experiences, Comforts, Corrections, every thing that might make them fruitful in good works, in Praying, Reading, Meditating, Conferring, exact Walking; doth God diſtribute; and where's their anſwerable fruitfulneſs? God expects more and riper fruit; alas, how ſhort and defective are we? how little glory do we bring to God? how little profit unto others, or comfort to our own ſouls? Phil. 1.11.1 Theſ. 3.12. Mat. 3.8. Col. 1.10.we ſhould be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs, we ſhould abound more and more, and bring forth fruits meet for ſincere repentance, and truly fruitful in every good work: but are we ſo yea or no? I much ſuſpect it; and what a ſhame is it that we ſhould lye under the warm influences of the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſo long, and be ſo unfruitful? the God of Heaven humble us for this.
2. I am afraid that the fruits we do bring forth are but ſowr and bitter, not ſo ſweet and kindly as may be the genuine fruits and products of theſe ſure mercies; my meaning is, that the obedience and performances of the Saints too often flow from a ſpirit of bondage, fear and terrour, and not from that filial Child-like diſpoſition, and the Evangelical ſpirit of Adoption that ſhould be the principle and impulſive cauſe of Saints ſpiritual actings. I know legal fears and terrours are good in their kind, to drive the ſoul out of it ſelf, and unto Chriſt; but afterwards a ſpirit of love beſt becomes a Child of God; hence ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8.15. 2 Tim. 1.7ye have not received the ſpirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the ſpirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father: a Child-like boldneſs beſt befits a Son; it's more acceptable to God to ſee ſouls attracted to him by ſilken cords of love, than ſcourged to him by ſevere flaſhes of wrath; Chriſts ſouldiers are not ſo much preſt for his ſervice by compulſion, as they are volunteers by a ſpontaneous motion: all our duties ſhould be free-will offerings. But alas, ſirs, how unwilling and forced, are many of our performances? how grumbling are we in our actings for God? we go to God as though it were our burden, not with that delight and chearfulneſs we ought: conſider ſirs, how readily God offers us mercy; how freely Chriſt laid down his life for us; how acceptable a work it is to the bleſſed ſpirit to apply theſe mercies to us; and be aſhamed to be ſo ſour and dull in your performance, yea, conſider the diſpenſation you are under; a Goſpel-Covenant, made up of mercy, and this ſhould ripen our fruits to more ſweetneſs and maturity than the old Teſtament-diſpenſation: as you know Apricocks and other fruit that are upon a Wall under the direct influence or powerful reflection of the Sun-beams are ſooner ripe and ſweeter when ripe than ſuch as are in the ſhadow; ſo our fruits in Goſpel-times ſhould be better than theirs under the Law: but alas, how far do we fall ſhort of Davids warm ſpirit for God? or the holy acts put forth by the Saints of God under types and ſhadows, when theſe ſweet mercies were not ſo clearly revealed to them, and the Sun of Righteouſneſs beat not ſo hot upon them! Ah Chriſtians, if you would ſtudy mercies more, your ſpirits would be in a better frame for duty: David ſaith, I will come into thy houſe in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worſhip toward thy holy Temple, Pſal. 5.7. obſerve it; the ſenſe of Gods mercy is an excellent ingredient in the Worſhip of God; yea, it begets an holy awe of God; for theſe two are very conſiſtent; and indeed nothing is ſo prevalent a motive to duty, and diſſwaſive from iniquity, and perſwaſive to the exerciſe of repentance, as ſenſe of mercy is: this truth Scripture and experience will abundantly confirm. But I have been too large on this ſubject: only let Gods Children be humbled for their too too legal ſpirits; and breath after a more Evangelical Spirit by the ſtudying of theſe mercies, rather than poring upon guilt and wrath.
So much for the fourth Uſe.