The Sure Mercies of David, Treatise · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
III. THe third Ʋſe is, of Examination, to try us whether we have a real intereſt in theſe ſure mercies of the Covenant, it is one of the greateſt queſtions that we can be asked, whether we have a right title to Covenant-mercies? alas we have forfeited our title to God, or to any good thing from him, by our breach of the Old Covenant, and now we have nothing to do with God, except only to endure the ſevere ſtrokes of his ſin-revenging juſtice. Oh what need have we to try our ſelves by an impartial ſcrutiny? For our better aſſiſtance in this great and weighty buſineſs, I ſhall a little open what it is to enter into Covenant in general, and then enquire what conditions of the new Covenant we can find in our hearts, and then ſhew a little of the nature and effects of theſe Covenant-mercies where they are.
For the firſt, to enter into Covenant with God is to own God as our God, and to give up our ſelves wholly to him as his; expreſſed in theſe words in Scripture, I will be thy God and thou ſhalt be my people, this, this is the Marrow of the Covenant, for God to be our God, it is a comprehenſive word, it is [ſubſtantia faederis] as Funius calls it, [anima faederis] as Pareus calls it, [eaput foederis] as Muſail; the ſubſtance-ſoul, and head of the Covenant, the life of Religion is in this, as one ſaith ſweetly, the goodneſs of duties lyes in Adverbs, and the ſweetneſs of the Covenant lyes in poſſeſſives.
Well then, the contracting of this Covenant betwixt God and a ſoul conſiſts chiefly in a mutual reddition, or giving up themſelves each to other, expreſſed in Scripture by a Matrimonial contract, when God gives up himſelf to the ſoul, and accepts of him, and the ſoul accepts of God as his God, and gives up himſelf to him, now we are not to enquire after the act of God, for 'tis fully expreſſed in the Scriptures, and it is certainly ſuppoſed God accepts the ſinner, when the ſinner accepts of God, for theſe are relatives, nor is this any change in God, the change is only in the ſinner, who is now put into a new ſtate and relation; it is certain by the free offers of the Goſpel, that God doth conſent, and the main thing to be enquired into is whether the ſoul do conſent or no; for if it cordially do, the match is made, God and the ſoul are marryed, which is a thing of the greateſt importance in the whole World; I ſhall purpoſely wave controverſies in this buſineſs wherein this conſent lyes, whether it be only an aſſent, See Mr. Baxt. Saints Reſt. Part 1. p. 177, 178.an act of the underſtanding, or it be a choice, an act of the Will, &c. I conceive 'tis an act of the whole ſoul, whereby a poor troubled ſinner diſcovering its forlorn eſtate by its breach of the Old Covenant, and ſad conſequences thereof, and diſcerning a poſſibility of a recovery and the way of reconciliation by a new Covenant contrived and contracted betwixt God and fallen man, ſealed and confirmed, by the blood of a Mediator, Godman, doth freely, cordially, and conſtantly accept of God as his chiefeſt good, and ultimate end, and give up himſelf to him reſolvedly, unreſervedly, and univerſally, to be the Lords; to be and do what the Lord pleaſeth, to obey divine commands, be at God's diſpoſe in life and death, and thus to continue even to the end of his days.
This is for a ſoul to enter into Covenant with the Lord, the tryal will lye in theſe two things; 1. Whether we have accepted of God as our God: 2. Whether we have given up our ſelves to him, to be at his diſpoſe, yea or no? a little of both theſe.
1. Whether have you taken the Lord to be yours, or no. We are all naturally Idolaters and have our hearts glued to the Creature or ſomething elſe beſides God; we are of thoſe many, that cry out, who will ſhew us any good? and trace the whole Creation to find ſatisfaction, till we are weary, and ſit down deſpairing of obtaining what we ſeek, for all the creatures are forced to eccho this unanimous vote, happineſs is not in me; thus (like Hagar) we wander in this howling wilderneſs, Gen. 21.15, 16, 17, 18, 19.till the Water of hope be ſpent in the bottle, and our ſouls (like Iſhmael) be ready to periſh under the ſhrubs of guilt and wrath, and then we ſit down in ſorrow, ready to pine away in our iniquities, loth to ſee or think of our own damnation, lifting up our voice with bitter weeping, and deſpair. God hears and asks the troubled ſoul what it ailes, and under theſe confuſions he creates a bleſſed ſpring of hope in this deſert-ſtate; opens the eyes, raviſheth the heart with the glory of Goſpelgrace, draws Water of life out of the well of ſalvation, and ſatisfieth the hungry ſoul with good things, makes the ranſomed ſinner own that God that thus owns him in a time of need, and to cry out as repenting Iſrael: once; O Lord our God, other Lords beſides thee have had dominion over us, but by thee only will we make mention of thy name, Iſa. 26.13. or as David, Pſal. 73.25. whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee, my fleſh and my heart faileth, but God is the ſtrength of my heart and my portion for ever, ver. 26. as if the poor ſoul ſhould ſay, I have been long ſeeking contentment here below, but I ſee by ſad experience, all things fail, there's vanity and vexation writ upon the ſweeteſt comforts under the Moon; I have laid out much labour for that which profits not; I am weary with my diſappointments, I will return to my firſt Husband; return unto thy reſt, O my ſoul. God alone is the moſt, (yea, the only) ſuitable and ſatisfying reſt of my wandring and bewildred ſoul; let others go a whoring from God to creature-props, 'tis good for me to draw nigh to God. I am undone without him, I am ſick of love for him, woe is me, what ſhall I do? if my ſoul get not an intereſt in God I faint, I dye, I am damned; Lord put me not off without thy ſelf, let nothing take up my heart beſides thee; let all the pleaſures, profits, honours of the World go whither they will ſo I may have my God, I can ſet one God againſt them all, if God be the portion of mine inheritance, I can ſay truly the lines are fallen to me in pleaſant places, Pſal. 16.5, 6.I have a goodly heritage, I can bid defiance to all the world to make me miſerable, when all the World looks black about me, and all my comforts forſake me, when ſeeming friends ſcorn me, and real enemies purſue me with cruel hatred; I can then incourage my ſelf in the Lord my God. Yea rejoyce in the Lord; yea, when the whole Creation cracks about my ears, and the Earth trembles, the Heavens are rolled together as a ſcroll; I know that my Redeemer lives and I ſhall live with him in bliſs and bleſſedneſs for ever—theſe or the like are the muſings of the Covenanted ſoul, and though it cannot ſay the Lord is his, yet he can ſay, through grace, that it is the deſire of his ſoul to have the Lord for his God, he looks upon that as the happieſt eſtate that a Creature is capable of, and if God ſhould ſay this Houſe or Land, or Goods, or this Kingdom, or this world is thine, except he ſay withall, I am thine, the ſoul goes away diſconſolate, and looks on all thoſe as nothing worth.
Chriſtians, try your ſelves, hath it been thus with you, or hath it not? what ſettled, prevailing account hath the God of Heaven in your hearts? do you look upon all the bravery and delights of the World but as ſtraw and dirt under your feet in compariſon of your God? do your hearts pant after the living God? do your ſouls deſire him in the night? can you boaſt of your God, and challenge all the world; and ſay, there's none like unto our God? can you depend upon him, and caſt all your care on him: do you in all things give him the preheminence? are your hearts endeared to, and inamoured with this glorious gracious God?
2. But I proceed, whether have you given up your ſelves to him? 1 Cor. 6.19.for if you be the Lords, you are not your own, you have wholly reſigned up your ſelves to him; you have given him the Keys of your hearts, and delivered him poſſeſſion of your ſouls, as the only rightful owner thereof: juſt as the Wife gives up her all to her husband; 1 Cor. 7.4.ſo that ſhe hath not power of her own body, but her Husband; ſo doth the ſoul ſurrender it ſelf unto its ſpiritual Husband, ſo that now it hath nothing to diſpoſe of without its husbands leave; houſe, land, money, eſtates, relations, name, time, gifts of mind, members of body: faculties of ſoul, life it ſelf, and all things he is, hath, doth, are at Gods diſpoſe, and he lays them all at his Husbands feet, and dare not diſpoſe of one penny in his purſe, or minute of his time, or caſt of his eye, or thought of his heart (by his good will) without his Husbands leave; hence you ſhall hear a Covenanted ſoul inquiring after ſin and duty, and making Conſcience of complyance with the Lords will and pleaſure: the Scripture calls this a giving our ſelves to the Lord, 2 Cor. 8.5. yea, there are ſeveral outward ſymbols to evidence it, Iſa. 44.5. one ſhall ſay I am the Lords, and another ſhall call himſelf by the name of Jacob, and another ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand to the Lord, and ſirname himſelf by the name of Iſrael; Profeſſion, Subſcription, Denomination; nay though it be to endure the ſcorn of a reproachful nick-name, any thing would he do, ſo he might be ranked amongſt real Saints, and be indeed the Lords.
And there are four properties of the ſouls ſelf-delivery to God. A Covenanting ſoul gives up it ſelf to God theſe four ways, viz.
1. Really.
2. Readily.
3. Reſolvedly.
4. Unreſervedly.
1. Really, Truly, Sincerely, without the ordinary, counterfeiting and complementing that is in the World; 'tis as eaſie as it is common for men to Court others with that empty Ceremony; Your ſervant, Sir, when they never think as they ſpeak, this (by the way) is to be ranked (at leaſt) among idle words, of which (I fear) many have a ſad account to give, let profeſſours learn better manners and language, than to conform herein to the world; well, but a Saints giving up himſelf to the Lord, is not complemental but real, here holy David, you ſhall find him in good earneſt, Pſal. 116.16. O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant, and the Son of thine hand-maid, thou haſt looſed my bonds: Here's 1. An Aſſeveration, truly. 2. An affirmation, I am thine. 3. A duplication, I am, and I am thy ſervant. 4. A confirmation by two Arguments, 1. He was his ſervant by his birth, being born in his houſe, for if a Woman was ſervant in an houſe, all the Children ſhe bore there were ſervants to the maſter of that houſe; hence ſaith David, the ſon of thy hand-maid. 2. David was God's by Redemption, thou haſt looſed my bonds, for ſuch as delivered any from captivity had them to be their ſervants for ever: thus every gracious ſoul really profeſſeth himſelf to be the Lords, See Exod. 21.4, 5, 6.he is God's bought and bored Servant, he doth (as the ſervant of old) plainly ſay, I love my maſter, I will not go out, and ſo is brought to the door-poſt, and hath his ear bored through with an Aule, he receives an ear-mark, being board by the bleſſed ſpirit of God, and ſo made willing and obedient to the Lord's calls, this ingageth him to be much in deſiring to know the Lord's will with a reſolution to do it; he ſtops not his ear, hides not his eyes from his Maſter's commands, but prays as David, Pſal. 119.125. I am thy ſervant, give me underſtanding, that I may know thy teſtimonies,; a good ſoul would not be ignorant of any part of its work, becauſe he is a real ſervant, and makes Conſcience of upright obedience: Ah ſirs, what ſay your hearts to this? are you in good earneſt? do you indeed ſpeak as you think, and will you do accordingly? it's no jeſting, trifling matter? Iſrael gave God good words; ſo that God ſaith, they have well ſpoken, when they promiſed to be the Lords and to obey him, but God adds, O that there were ſuch an heart in them that they would fear me, &c. Deut. 5.28, 29. Alas perſons may ſay fair in a fluſh of affection, but enquire you into the frame of your ſpirits and actions whether you be real.
2. This ſelf-delivery to God is ready, free, willing, and chearful, not with grumbling, and by compulſion; when perſons do it becauſe they cannot help it, when they ſee they muſt dye, and can ſerve the Devil no longer, or under the rod, only they will be for a fit and ſtart religious; but it is full fore againſt their wills, for they would rather chooſe to be ſlaves to luſt, but they are taken off by violence or conſtraint, or elſe they lye under ſuch terrours and convictions, that for preſent they are over-awed, and dare not but profeſs to be the Lords, it is ſtrangers that yield feigned or forced obedience to our David. Pſal. 18.44. See Marg.But the Lord's true hearted ſubjects ſhall be a willing people in the day of his power, Pſal. 110.3. voluntarineſſes or liberalities; ſo the word ſignifies, they are all volunteers, and look upon it as their priviledge, honour and happineſs to be the Lord's ſervants, as the good Emperour Theodoſius, that accounted it greater honour to be the ſubject of Chriſt, than to be Emperour of the World. Judg. 5.9.Real Chriſtians are like the Governours of Iſrael, that offered themſelves willingly among the People; theſe have God's heart, ſince the Lord hath their heart: thoſe in Act. 2.41. gladly received the Word, and ſo were Baptized; every Child of God is a free-will offering, Rom. 12.1.and preſents his ſoul and body as a living ſacrifice (or Holocauſt) and this is acceptable to God. Oh the account that God makes of theſe! they are called Princes of the people, Pſal. 47.9. the Marg. hath it, foreignthe voluntary of the people, volunteers are Princes, (as indeed all Gods Saints are Kings, Pſal. 45.16.and the Church hath her Princes in all the Earth) becauſe they have power over their baſe ſtubborn wills, which is more than to rule over millions of men; theſe are perſons of moſt noble, generous, and ingenuous ſpirits, others are of a low, baſe, ſordid, degenerate ſpirit, that have not ſubjected themſelves to God, but are ſlaves to their luſts. Well ſirs, how is it with you; do you voluntarily, and cheerfully ſurrender your ſelves to the Lord, as a Maid doth in Marriage to the perſon ſhe loves? are your hearts ſo gone after the Lord, as to look upon it as your greateſt preferment, to be joyned to ſo ſweet an Husband? have you ſeriouſly deliberated things in your breaſts; and upon mature thoughts concluded that this is the beſt match you can make? Cant. 6.12.doth your ſoul make you like the Chariots of Amminadab, or a willing people? and the longer you ſerve this Maſter, the better do you like this ſervice: You do not repent that you gave up your names to him, if it were to do again, you would do it, though you knew of ten thouſand times more troubles in your way than yet you have met with; nay you thank God heartily that he will accept of your perſons and ſervices: and you look upon his ſervice as perfect freedom: is it thus with you, bleſs God, he hath brought you into Covenant.
3. The Covenanted ſoul delivers up it ſelf to God reſolvedly; there are ſome that halt between two opinions, that are off and on; one while they will be for God, another while they are ſtaggering, like the Samaritans: when the Jews were in proſperity, they would profeſs to be of their ſtock, when in adverſity they diſowned relation to them, theſe are a Cake half-baked, the one ſide baked for God, the other ſide dough; ſo that one cannot tell what to make of them; God likes not theſe unfixt unreſolved ſpirits: but a real Saint will have God whatever it coſt him; like a Woman, that will have ſuch a Man, though ſhe beg with him; friends may ſet their hearts at reſt, there's no diſſwading her, for her affections are placed, all bonds cannot hold her; juſt thus is it with a poor ſoul, Act. 11.23 Pſal. 119.it cleaves to the Lord with full purpoſe of heart, it hath devoted it ſelf to God's fear, there's no revocation; carnal friends, ſay nothing, that go about to hinder the ſouls match, he will ſtrike this bleſſed bargain in ſpite of all oppoſition; all the Devils in Hell, and Men on Earth, ſhall not obſtruct his courſe and motion to the Lord, if my Father hang'd about my neck, (ſaith an Ancient) my Wife and Children ſtood in my way to my dearly beloved, I would fling off my Father, throw down my Wife, trample on my Children that I may enjoy my Lord God: offer a reſolved ſoul, Houſe, Lands, Pleaſures, Treaſures, they all ſignifie nothing if they be to hire him from Chriſt; let their money periſh with them (ſaid that noble Marqueſs) that eſteem all the money in the World worth one hours Communion with Jeſus Chriſt: conſider Moſes and Paul, the firſt forſook the pleaſures of Pharaohs Court for Chriſt, Heb. 11.24, 25. Act. 20.24.the latter accounted not his life dear in the cauſe of Chriſt: and indeed this is the great condition upon which we can only have an intereſt in him, Luk. 14.26. if any man come to me, and hate not his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, ſiſters, yea and his own life alſo, he cannot be my diſciple, i. e. when theſe ſtand in competition with Chriſt; or when he cannot keep both; if he will not be willing to part with theſe rather than want Chriſt, he is not worthy of him, Mat. 10.37.as another Evangeliſt hath it: Ah ſirs, how is it with you? are you at a point? do you hang no longer in ſuſpence? will you have Chriſt upon his own propoſed terms? and will you have him now? and not delay a moment longer; do you ſay that upon due conſidering your ways, Pſal. 119.59, 60. Eph. 6.15.you make haſte and will not delay, to give up your ſelves to the Lord? are your feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace, i. e. with an holy reſolution to go through ſharpeſt paths to your beloved? you care not what befalls you; ſo that this dreadful evil do not befall you to be without God in the World, and many waters of oppoſition cannot quench this flaming love to your deareſt Lord: try your ſelves by this note.
4. A gracious ſoul delivers up it ſelf to God, unreſervedly, entirely, and univerſally, and that both with reference to the ſubject, and the ſeaſon, the whole ſoul, and that for ever, 1. Totally. 2. Finally,
1. The whole ſoul is given up to God in this Covenant-match; here do hypocrites dodge, and article, and make reſerves, and come not off fair, but leave ſome ſort of the heart for a luſt, and are not willing to give up themſelves entirely; now God will have all the heart, or none at all, he will not brook a corrival or competitour, my ſon give me thy heart, and indeed the whole ſoul is a preſent little enough for the God of Heaven, it is a whoriſh heart that's for dividing; a gracious ſoul faith, let him have all, as it cannot be content with half a Saviour, ſo it knows God will not be content with half a ſoul, and therefore cryes out Lord, here I am poor worm, I have polluted my ſelf with ſin, and deſerve not that ever thou ſhouldſt own ſuch a wretch as I am; yet ſuch as I am, I here offer my ſelf wholly to thee; alas I am but a poor and ſorry preſent for ſo great a King, yet I freely give my ſelf to thee, intreating thee to make me better; I cannot beſtow my ſelf on one that either hath more right to me, or can do more for me; here I am Lord, I am only thine and wholly thine; take me as thine, and make me leſs mine own, and that will be my happineſs, and I ſhall be fitter for thy ſervice; I dare not part ſtakes betwixt thy ſelf and any other, for I ſee, I cannot ſerve two contrary Maſters; I will not give my faculties or members any more as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs; chain my ſoul to thee, unite my heart to fear … name. This or ſuch like is the language … a Covenanting-ſoul, and there can be no Covenant without this intireneſs and compleat reſignation; hence are thoſe multitudes of expreſſions that call for a ſeeking God with the whole heart, Deut. 4 29. c. 65.and a loving God with all the heart, ſoul, &c. and ſerving God with all the heart, yea this is the ſumm of all that God requires of us, Deut. 10.12. O try then, hath the ſpirit of God beat down every ſtrong hold and vain imagination; and brought over your hearts wholly to the Lord? what ſay you, is every nook and creek of your hearts delivered up to this great and mighty Conquerour? is there no Creature-comfort, or ſenſual pleaſure that hath ſtollen away your hearts from your dearly beloved? deal faithfully with your ſouls on this behalf, there is no dallying with the ſearcher of your hearts.
2, Have you given up your hearts and ſelves irrevocably, irreverſibly, finally? there's no playing faſt and looſe with the great God, you muſt not give and take again, that's fools play: but you muſt be for ever the Lords, all your days, devote your ſelves to keep his commandments unto the end, not like ſome ſervants that will keep to their Maſters, as long as they like, or while they pleaſe them, but this is a boaring through the ear to be the Lord's ſervants for ever; it's a marriage that laſts for term of life, I will call upon him, ſaith David, as long as I live, Pſal. 116.2. it is the hollow-hearted Hypocrite that ends his Religion before he have ended his days, that puts his hand to the Plow and looks back, that falls off when tribulation comes; but a Covenanting ſpirit is a conſtant ſpirit; whoſe houſe are we, ſaith the Apoſtle, if we hold faſt the confidence, and the rejoycing of the hope firmly unto the end, Heb. 3.6. it is the end that crowns the action; Solomon ſaith, the end of a thing is better than the beginning: Chriſt ſaith, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my diſciples indeed, Col. 1.23.1 Tim. 4.16. Jam. 1.25.Joh. 8.31. and many Scriptures make this a condition without which no ſalvation: and though the end is not yet come, yet is it the deſire and deſign of your ſouls to pray, and read and ſerve God all your days? you do not, you dare not ſet bounds, limits to your obedience; but ſay as David, Pſal. 71.14. I will hope continually, and will yet praiſe thee more and more, q. d. I am ſo far from caſting away my hope and faith that I will continue, yea and increaſe in the exerciſes of Religion: do you reſolve with David to keep Gods Law continually, yea for ever and ever, Pſal. 119.44. and praying ſtill for ſupporting Grace, v. 117. uſing all the reſt of God's appointed means for your perſeverance to the end.
Thus I have diſpatcht this part of the tryal, which is general, to try whether we be entred into Covenant with God by theſe reciprocal acts of giving and receiving, whether you have taken God for your God, and given up your ſelves to him, as Covenanted ſouls are wont to do: give me leave, for a cloſe of this head, to ſumm up the moſt that I have ſaid in the Divine Poem of that incomparable ſweet Singer of our Iſrael, Mr. George Herbert, in the Claſping of hands, pag. 151.
Lord thou art mine, and I am thine,
If mine I am; and thine much more,
Then I or ought, or can be mine,
Yet to be thine doth me reſtore;
So that again I now am mine,
And with advantage mine the more:
Since this being mine, brings with it thine,
And thou with me doſt thee reſtore.
If I without thee would be mine,
I neither ſhould be mine nor thine.
Lord, I am thine, and thou art mine:
So mine thou art, that ſomething more
I may preſume thee mine then thine,
For thou didſt ſuffer to reſtore
Not thee, but me, and to be mine:
And with advantage mine the more,
Since thou in death waſt none of thine,
Yet thee as mine didſt me reſtore.
O be mine ſtill, ſtill make me thine;
Or rather make no Thine and Mine.
More particularly, I intreat you to enquire into the conditions of the new Covenant, or the graces and diſpoſitions promiſed therein, and lay your hand on your heart, and enquire whether they be really in you, ſuch as theſe.
1. I told you ſaving illumination is one great Covenant-condition; Jer. 31.33.hath the Lord diſcovered to you the great and good things of his Goſpel? opened to you his bleſſed treaſury, and annointed your eyes to behold all things in their lively colours; have you got a clear diſcovery of the nature of ſin, duty, miſery, mercy, the creatures vanity, Chriſt's beauty, and excellency? have you with an Eagle-eye pierced into deep Goſpelmyſteries? this is not a brain-knowledge conſiſting in notion, but an experimental ſpiritual acquaintance with the things of God, weighting the ſoul with the ſenſe thereof, and leading it into the life and ſoul of Scripture-truths; ſo that a Chriſtian now ſees Divine things after another manner than ever before, and is led into all truth by the bleſſed Spirit: God promiſeth that all the Churches Children ſhall be taught of God, Iſa. 54.13. which Scripture our Saviour doth cite and interpret, Joh. 6.45. of believing or coming to God, every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Ah Chriſtians, have you learned this choice Goſpel-leſſon of going out of your ſelves, and cloſing with a naked Chriſt, upon pure Goſpel-terms? this is the great leſſon of the Goſpel, have you learned it? you are dunces, and deſerve to be kickt out of Chriſt's ſchool, unleſs you have learned this great and ſweet leſſon; Beſides God teacheth many other leſſons, as to hate ſin, love God, and holineſs, and to love God's Children; Hence ſaith bleſſed Paul, 1 Theſ. 4.9. as touching brotherly love; ye need not that I write unto you, for ye your ſelves are taught of God to love one another; this divine nature prompteth ſouls to this; they cannot do otherwiſe except they put off their very nature; for a Chriſtian may find his heart ſecretly and ſenſibly carryed out to all things and perſons that have the ſtamp and image of God, as the very name and the common nature of a Brother is potent and prevalent to attract the affections: Cathedram habet in Coelis qui corda docet. Quando deus eſt ma…iſter q…àm cito do itur, quod do…itur. Aug.the truth is, he hath his Chair in Heaven that thus teacheth hearts; and if God be the teacher, he makes apt and able, nimble and notable Scholars. Oh Chriſtians, ſee and try your learning, enquire who is your maſter.
2. Another diſpoſition like this, or indeed a fruit of the former is, God's writing his Law in our hearts, Jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. 10.16.he promiſeth to put his Law into their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; ſo that as Talley anſwers to Talley, Indenture to Indenture, Face to Face, ſo the heart ſhall eccho and anſwer to the Word of God; and feel ſomething within his own boſome, that joynes iſſue with the word without; ſo that a gracious ſoul can now ſay with Paul, Rom. 7.12, 16.I conſent to the Law that it is good; whatever I be, the commandment is holy, juſt, and good, a carnal heart riſeth up in Rebellion againſt the word, and ſecretly loaths a ſpiritual command and could wiſh it even razed out of the Bible, that it might ſin more freely, but a gracious ſoul loves that word beſt, that reſtrains corruption moſt, and binds it cloſeſt in new obedience; hence ſaith David, thy word is very pure, therefore thy ſervant loves it, Pſal. 119.140. Praeſt…a …i cor tuum molle tractabile & cuſtodi figuram quae te figuravit Artifex, habens in ſemetipſo humorem, ne induratus— amittas veſtigia digitorum ejus. Iraen. adverſ. Haer. lib. 4. prop. fin.the ſtricter the Word is, the better I love it; I would have the Law of God reſtrain the exorbitancies of my heart and life, it doth me good to be kept in, for I have a wild and wayward heart: Oh how glad am I of a word that ſearcheth, curbeth, and cutteth off my extravagant branches, I willingly fall under it and bleſs God for it, as one of the greateſt mercies of my life: can you ſay thus? when there is a controverſie betwixt a pinching word and a repining luſt, whether do you vote for? which do you give your voice for, and plead on the behalf of? can you not take God's part, and the words part againſt a naughty deceitful heart? or do you pick quarrels with the ſtatutes of Heaven when you ſhould obey it? Ah ſirs, try your ſelves in this, and if you find that you have a counterpane of Gods Word within you, a tranſcript of this bleſſed Copy in your hearts, then are you within the Covenant.
3. God promiſeth to give his people in Covenant with him, one heart and one way, Jer. 32.39. this imports both an oneneſs of heart within it ſelf, and alſo an oneneſs of heart with other Saints; before Converſion the heart was divided and diſtracted betwixt various objects; God muſt have part, Satan part, ſin part, and the world another part of the heart; but now the ſoul gives it ſelf wholly to God, as I have opened, hence David prays, unite my heart to fear thy name, Pſal 86.11.or make my heart one; a real Saint is fully intirely, univerſally given up to God; but of this before; likewiſe the Covenant of Grace makes Chriſtians unanimous; hence it is that as ſoon as ſouls have given up themſelves to God, they eſſay to joyn themſelves to their fraternity, Act. 9.26.and unite with the Society of ſincere believers; hence the primitive Saints were together with one accord; Act. 2.46. cap. 4.32.yea they were of one heart, and of one ſoul; as the Curtains of the Tabernacle were coupled with loops, ſo were Chriſtians with love; hence you hear ſo often mention made of fellowſhip in the Goſpel, Phil. 1.5. Eph. 2.21.and Gods Children are compared to a building fitly framed together, by the cement of the Spirit; yea to members of the body, with relation to the head, Col. 2.19.from whom (i.e. Chriſt) the whole body fitly joyned together, and compacted—Epheſ. 4.16. Well then, ſirs, are you united and become one with the reſt of the Saints, though you cannot attain to a oneneſs in judgement in every leſſer truth about Diſcipline, &c. yet are you one with them in heart and affection? Yea of one judgement and way with them, in main material points of doctrine and practice, having one Lord, Eph. 4.3, 4, 5.one faith, one Baptiſm, endeavouring to keep the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of peace, cannot you ſay to others come, let us joyn our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant, Jer. 50.4, 5.that ſhall not be forgotten? are not your hearts glad when you ſee any come in, and Worſhip the Lord? how ſtand your …earts affected towards ſuch as fear God? …re you of one heart with them, can you …heerfully walk in one way with them as …our ſweeteſt companions? is your chief …ontent in theſe truly excellent ones? then …ou are in Covenant.
4. The fear of God, is a gracious diſpoſition promiſed to new-covenant Converts, Jer. 32.40, I will, ſaith God, Job 28 28.put my fear …n their hearts that they ſhall not depart from …e; this fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wiſdom; and 'tis often put for all Religion; it is a holy reverential awefulneſs wrought in a believers heart, whereby through a ſerious ſenſe of Gods glorious Majeſty and tender mercy the ſoul is afraid …o offend God, and careful to pleaſe him as … Child is his Father, by a conſcientious obedience to all Gods commands. I cannot ſtand to open this fully, but bring you to the …eſt; Chriſtians, doth the fear of God poſ…eſs and ſeize upon your ſpirits? doth it make you men of truth, hating covetouſneſs? Exod. 28.21. Heb. 12.28.doth it ingage your ſouls to ſerve him with reverence and godly fear? doth it make you afraid of his threatnings, Prov. 3 7. Pſa…. 5.7.fearful to offend him, careful to pleaſe him? do you worſhip him in his fear? Prov. 14.26. Prov. 23.17. Mat. 10 28. Phil. 2.12. Iſa. 66.2. Iſa. 50.11.doth it make you run to him as your hope and confidence? are your ſouls in the fear of the Lord all the day long? doth the fear of God caſt out the ſlaviſh fear of men? doth it make you work out your ſalvation with fear and trembling? doth it make you tremble at his word, and willing to obey the voice of his ſervants? doth it keep you humble, ſelf-denying, from being proud high-minded? Rom. 11.20. Rev. 14.7. Act 10.35. Prov. 14.16.do you fear God and give glory to him in ſeeing his works: in a word do you fear God and work righteouſneſs, fear God and hate wickedneſs: is it thus with your ſouls? lay your hand upon your heart, and ſeriouſly anſwer theſe queſtions; I know you'l all ſay you have the fear of God; but whether hath it theſe Prophecies? and one word more, whence ſprings this fear of God? doth it flow not only from the apprehenſion of God's Majeſty and ſtrict juſtice, but from the ſence of his free-grace and goodneſs; ſo God ſaith in Hoſ. 3.5. they ſhall fear the Lord, and his goodneſs; ſo ſaith David, Pſal. 130.4. there is mercy with thee that thou maiſt be feared; Oh this is kindly, when the ſenſe of Gods love awes the ſoul to obedience, and works upon it tenderneſs of Conſcience, that it can ſay, I dare not grieve ſo good a God, or offend ſo loving a Father, who never did me hurt, who is always doing me good, ſhall I render evil for good? God forbid: this is Childlike and ingenuous, and doth demonſtrate a Covenant-relation.
5. Sanctification is another Covenant-promiſe, Ezek. 36.25. then will I ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean from all your filthineſs, and from all your Idol… will I cleanſe you: this is a ſweet diſpoſition, what can you ſay to it? not that the ſoul in this life can be free from the remainders of corruption; for what is man that …e ſhould be clean? but the power, Job 15.14.ſtrength and Dominion of ſin is cruſhed in a Covenanted ſoul; ſo that it may be truly ſaid of the Regenerate, that he hath a clean heart, Pſal. 24.4. Joh. 13.10.and clean hands; and Chriſt ſaith his Diſciples were clean, all, except Judas; Well then, …hath the good Word of God made you holy, Joh. 15.3.and cleanſed your hearts? do you deſire to make clean the inſide of the Cup, as well as out-ſide? I mean do you cleanſe your ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, reſolving to perfect holineſs in the fear of God? 2 Cor. 7.1. Job 17.9.are you growing ſtronger and ſtronger? he that …hath clean hands doth renew his ſtrength: are you waſhed from your idols, i. e. the ſin to which you are moſt addicted? Pſal. 18.23.and keep your ſelves from your own iniquity? can you ſay you hate every falſe way? can you cut off a right-hand ſin, pluck out a right-eye ſin, though never ſo dear and uſeful, pleaſant and profitable: do you reſiſt and conquer (in ſome meaſure) your maſterluſts? ſo that you can ſay, through grace, Rom. 6.14.ſin hath not Dominion over you, though you feel to your coſt it hath poſſeſſion in you: can you ſay you are prepared for duties and ordinances, 2 Chron. 30.19— Act. 15.9. Pſal. 119.9.though you be not cleanſed according to the purification of the ſanctuary? doth faith in God's promiſes purifie your hearts? do you cleanſe your ways by obſerving Scripture-precepts? Pſal. 51.10.do you pray hard, for a clean heart as well as clear ſtate? Oh ſirs, try your ſelves in theſe things, unleſs you be ſanctified you are not juſtified, many are undone through ſelf-deceit, in this caſe, Solomon ſaith, there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet is not cleanſed from their filthineſs, Prov. 30.12. take heed of this, and labour to evidence your juſtification by your ſanctification.
6. Another gracious effect of the New Covenant is, A new heart, and a new ſpirit, Ezek. 36.26. this is an holy diſpoſition, an habit of grace, the image of God, the Divine nature ſtrangely changing, altering, metamorphoſing the ſoul, caſting it into a new mold, and turning the ſtream and current of the ſouls motions and affections into another channel, to a complyance with God's will, and a tendency towards Heaven, and the things of Heaven: this is a wonderful act and fruit of God's free-grace, and ſanctifying ſpirit: and oh what a change doth it, produce in the heart and life! not only a mental change to have the mind adorned with ſome general truths in a notional way; ſo that whereas before a man was an ignorant Sot, now he is grown a knowing perſon, and learned diſcourſer or diſputant; nor yet is it only a moral change, whereby a man formerly a notorious offender is grown an exact Civilian; nor yet a formal change by which a careleſs neglecter is become a conſtant performer of religious duties, which is good ſo far, yet no more than an hypocrite may do; Simon Magus believes, Herod doth many things, Ahab faſts, Judas can Pray and Preach. But the new creature goes beyond them all, for 'tis a Cordial, Spiritual, Evangelical change of the whole man, to what is good; ſo that now the ſoul hath new motions, actions, converſation, a new rule, a new principle, a new end, new affections, new loves and delights, a new light and life, new heat and ſtrength, new companions and acquieſcence, new griefs, fears, burdens, back, hopes, hatred, deſires, and expectations, old things are paſt away, and behold, all things are become new; ſo that it may well be called a new Creation, 2 Cor. 5.17. Chriſtians, try your ſelves in this, what work of God hath paſſed upon your ſouls? have you a new heart? are you made holy as God is holy? doth this new heart hate and expel ſin? doth it cloſe with real Saints as Saints? doth it breathe after Grace in the ſouls of relations, neighbours? doth it make you ſenſible of the ſmilings and hidings of God's face? doth it raiſe your hearts to heavenly objects and delights? doth Grace in ſome meaſure g…w, thrive, increaſe and come on in your ſouls? do you Worſhip God in a ſpiritual manner, and long for Communion with him here, and in Heaven?
7. A ſoft heart is promiſed in the new Covenant, Ezek. 36.26. I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and give you an heart of fleſh, i. e. a ſoft, broken and tender heart, a flexible, plyant, and melting diſpoſition; not ſo much the eyes pouring floods of tears (for that may proceed from a natural conſtitution) but a ſoul grieved for ſin, as offence againſt God, which lyes in the ſinners account and eſtimation, looking upon it as the greateſt evil, and worſe than the worſt affliction; and if it were to do again, he would rather be torn to pieces, than willingly commit ſuch a ſin, he would give all the World, (if in his power) that it were undone again: and therefore is it that the Scripture rather expreſſeth it by mourning than by weeping; for weeping is rather a paſſionate act of the outward ſenſes and iraſcible faculties, (though 'tis deſirable to give vent to inward ſorrow by outward tears) but mourning is an heart-contrition and hearty compunction for ſin, as diſhonouring God, grieving his Spirit, Crucifying his Son, and violating his holy and righteous Law: well then, have you ſoft and tender hearts? i. e. can you lay to heart your ſins as the greateſt evils that ever befell you? can you juſtifie God if he ſhould condemn you; can you condemn your ſelves, as worthy to be damned in Hell for ever? do you loath your ſelves for all your abominations? can you wiſh you had been upon the rack when you committed ſuch ſins? are you weary and heavy laden with the intolerable burden of the guilt of ſin? and what would you give or leave to have it taken off? is your heart ſenſible of the abſolute need you have of Jeſus Chriſt? are you ſoft and plyable to Gods holy will, attentive to Divine motions, retentive of Divine impreſſions? doth the leaſt hint of God's mind find in you an obſervant ſpirit? when God ſaith, ſeek my face, doth your heart readily eccho, thy face Lord will I ſeek? do your ſouls tremble under ſence of threatnings and judgements? do the apprehenſions of Gods loving-kindneſs melt and attract your heart? doth this ſtrongly lead and draw you to repentance? ask your own ſouls ſuch queſtions as theſe, whereby you may know whether you have this condition and diſpoſition of the Goſpel-Covenant.
8. The laſt diſpoſition that is promiſed in the New Covenant, as a ſingular mercy, is holy practice, ſpiritual obedience, ſo Ezek. Si ergo talis fucrit vita noſtra, ita omnibus membris qua…rata & compoſita ut univerſi motus noſtri ſecundum Dei? Leges agantur vere teſtamentum Dei erit ſuper carnem noſtram. Orig. Hom. 3. in cap. 17. gen.36.27. I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgements and do them— this is an holy, watchful, chearful, faithful, fruitful obedience to Divine precepts and commands: ſo then let me poſe you thus, do you run the ways of Gods commandments, with enlarged hearts; do you follow God fully, and walk with God uprightly? do you delight to do Gods will, and in all things mind your rule? doth the mind of God move you more than the cuſtomes and traditions of men? though you cannot ſay you do exactly keep, yet cannot you ſay you have reſpect to all Gods commandments? are you like the Centurion's ſervants ready to go or come at Gods biding? doth the Authority of a divine command more awe your conſcience to obedience, than the examples of moſt or beſt of men? do you with Zechariah and Elizabeth walk in all the ways of Gods commandments blameleſs? do you take heed to your ways that you offend not with tongue or hand or foot? do you worſhip God in the beauty of holineſs? do you make it your buſineſs to ingage your hearts in your approaches to God? do you lift up your hearts in Gods ways, that God and you may meet? do you worſhip God in the ſpirit, rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus, not having any confidence in the fleſh? in a word, do you gladly follow Chriſts example, ſtudy conformity to him, and communion with him? is faith working by love? and doth that love ingage you to keep Gods commands, and render them not grievous but pleaſant? do you account Chriſts yoke eaſie, his burden light, and his ſervice perfect freedom? and are you conſtant and permanent in holy walking all your days? and though you may ſtumble and fall, or turn aſide, or ſtand ſtill, or turn back, yet you dare not quit and forſake Gods ways or chuſe the ways of ſin, to go aſide with the workers of iniquity, but you lament your miſcarriages, are reſtleſs till you get into Gods ways again, plead hard for pardon, are more jealous over your hearts, make more haſte Godwards, and ſo through grace, keep faithful to death that you may receive a Crown of life.
Thus I have gleaned up the conditions or diſpoſitions of Gods Children which are promiſed by God, purchaſed by Chriſt, and effectually wrought by the bleſſed ſpirit in the hearts of the elect, and theſe are the mercies of the Covenant, by which you may try whether you be intereſted in the Covenant; for if you find theſe new-Covenant-mercies in you, you may conclude you have an intereſt in new Covenant-priviledges.
Another way of tryal (which I ſhall but briefly hint at) is to diſcover the properties and effects of new Covenant-mercies, upon the ſouls of ſuch as partake of them; i. e. thoſe benefits and priviledges of the Covenant, as Reconciliation, Adoption, Remiſſion of ſin, imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, and the reſt before-mentioned leave gracious effects upon the hearts of ſuch, as partake thereof— Take a taſte;
1. They are transforming conforming mercies, they change heart and life, as before; yea, and they make the ſoul argue from mercy to duty; that ſoul that partakes of theſe mercies, dare not ſin, that Grace may abound, nor argue from mercy to ſinful liberty, much leſs make Chriſtian liberty a cloak of laſciviouſneſs; oh no, that's the devils Logick, a Child of God thinks and thus reaſons, did Chriſt dye for me, and ſhall not I dye unto ſin, and live unto him that dyed for me? ſhall my dear Saviour ſhed his blood for me; and ſhall I think any thing too dear for him? ſhall he forgive much to me, and ſhall not I give all I have to him? ſhall not I love him much? pray much, obey much? O my ſoul, how canſt thou chuſe but live in new obedience? doth not the love of Chriſt conſtrain thee? hath he reconciled thee to God, and God to thee; and wilt not thou be reconciled to thy offending brother? hath he forgiven thee ten thouſand Talents, gratis, and wilt not thou forgive ſuch as offend thee a few farthings for Chriſts ſake? hath God given thee himſelf and doſt thou withhold any part of thy poor, ſilly, ſorry ſelf from him? nay here I am, let him work in me, and do with me as ſeems good in his eyes.
2. They are chearing, comforting, and refreſhing mercies; theſe mercies of the Covenant will anſwer all objections, clear all ſcores, and put the ſoul out of doubt concerning its ſtate. Let the Devil and an unbelieving heart conſpire together to torment the Conſcience, yet one word of the bleſſed Covenant will baffle all their arguings, and ſtop their mouths, and ſtill the ſoul; let God ſpeak out and ſay, I am thy God in Covenant, who then can cauſe trouble? this was all Davids Salvation, Deſire, and Conſolation. One drop of this holy Oyle of the Covenant will ſweeten a whole Fountain and Sea of the bitter Waters of the ſharpeſt afflictions; a taſte of the Covenant will turn Water into Wine; this is the Tree caſt into the bitter Waters of Marah, Iſa. 33.24.that makes them ſweet; ſenſe of pardon takes away the ſenſe of the pain: if a particular promiſe can ſo comfort a ſoul, as it may be called a cordial. Oh what comfort will the Covenant afford? which is a cluſter and conſtellation of Evangelical promiſes, the good things of the new Covenant keep head above Water, and heart above terrour in all conditions: theſe ſteel the ſoul with courage in difficulties, comfort in Adverſity, and an Antidote in proſperity.
3. Theſe mercies of the Covenant are raiſing, reviving, elevating mercies, they lift the heart above the World, and advance it to Divine Coeleſtial objects and Conceptions; Rev. 12.1. Col. 3.1. Phil. 3.8, 9.a Chriſtian thus cloathed with the Sun, hath the Moon under his feet, and all Sublunary enjoyments at his heels; Chriſt and things above lye next his heart; other things are droſs and dung in compariſon thereof; a Covenanted Chriſtians Treaſure is in Heaven, and his heart is there; he preferrs a grain of Grace to all the comforts of the World; common mercies will not content his heart, or quiet his Conſcience; he opens his Heaven-born ſoul to Heavenly influences; he can eaſily wink all the bravery of this lower World into blackneſs and deformity, and pitty the ſottiſh ſenſleſs ſons of men that take up their reſt below, and neglect the main concernments of Eternity. Ah, thinks the gracious ſoul, what fools are theſe that chaſe theſe guilded vanities, and pant after the duſt of the Earth? would to God they did but ſee with theſe enlightned eyes that Gods ſpirit hath helpt me to. Oh that they did but taſte the ſweetneſs of that Grace that my ſoul is enamoured with, they would thirſt after the World no more, but long for God, yea this living, loving God, and never be content till they come to appear before God. How bleſſed are they that have their ſins pardoned, hearts purged, ſouls reconciled? that have God for their portion, and Heaven for their inheritance and eternal manſion?
4. The mercies of the Covenant are enlarging and encreaſing mercies; the Chriſtian that hath them is like the houſe of David, that grows ſtronger and ſtronger; theſe are tending to perfection, and make the ſoul ſtrive and thrive in holineſs; Prov. 4.18.going from ſtep to ſtep, from ſtrength to ſtrength, preſſing towards the mark, riſing as the Sun unto Noon-day, or as the water to the ſpring; yea, this water ſhall ſtill be ſpringing up to eternal life, Joh. 4.14. Grace makes the ſoul long after means of growth, and ſo increaſe, with all increaſe of God, till it be a perfect man in Chriſt; the ſoul is inſatiable and never ſaith it hath enough, till it have arrived to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.13. yea, till it have attained to the reſurrection of the dead, Phil. 3.11. Oh ſirs, examine your hearts herein, how do you come on and increaſe in Religion? do you grow in grace, in knowledge, faith, love, humility, repentance, ſelfdenyal, and heavenly-mindedneſs? where's your proficiency? have you found grace like a grain of Muſtard-ſeed? have theſe mercies ripened into the blade and full ear of deliberate and proportionable fruit-bearing? a right Chriſtian will never ſay he is good enough while he ſojourns in this lower Region, nor yet happy enough till he be with God in Heaven.
Thus much for the third Uſe, which was an Uſe of Examination.