The Application of Redemption, Book 8 (2 of 2)

The Application of Redemption · Book 8 (2 of 2)

p. 401Quest. 6. Why is this Work of Attraction given to the Father; as in the text, None can come to Me, but whom the Father Draws?

I Answer. This Work as all Actions which pass upon the Creature and leave some change there are equally and indifferently wrought by al the … in the most Glorious and Blessed Trinity, and so are truly understood of al, and truly given …: but only they are in several places in an … manner attributed unto some because of some peculiar Consideration that may be attended by … of some Circumstancees in the place; and so the intendment of the Spirit, and aim of the Text, may rightly be attended and conceived in this place; … p. 402shall a little explicate and unfold both, that al mistakes may be prevented.

This Work of Drawing is Common to all … 1Three Persons.

That which issues from the Deity and … firstly, that must indifferently belong to al the Persons: For as al the Persons have the same individual Essence wholly and equally communicated, they are al one God. The Unity of the God-Head is a of it, and al in a like manner at once given to them … And thence it follows, That as the same Essence, … the same both Attributes and Actions which appertain to the God-Head, or be done by the God-Head are wholly and joyntly affirmed of all the Persons They al are Infinire, Eternal, Omnipotent: … Create, Redeem, Call, Convert, Sanctifie; because these Actions are Creatures, therefore … the first Being, but from the First; therefore from the God-Head: and therefore are truly said to … done by al that have the God-Head, and are truly said to be God, and so by al the Persons.

Again, Look we to the language of the Spirit … the Scripture, we shal see that either the very … of the text so speaks as here, or else the same thing in the same …, in some variety of Explication … given unto al.

That which is here said of the Father, our … speaks upon the like occasion of himself, Joh. 12. 31. And I, if I be lifted up shall draw all people to me The same word here and there is used: The … work also intended, though not in the same expressions, is affirmed of the Holy Ghost, Joh. 16. 9, 10. I will send the Spirit, and he shall Convince of Sin of Righteousness, of Judgement: This Conviction is the special work of the Spirit in this great … of Attraction.

p. 403Lastly, Its a known and received Principle of …, That the Persons differ each from other, … in some Internal and Incommunicable relative …, whereby the Personallity of each is …, and the Person distinguished, as begetting … the Father, to be begotten to the Son, to proceed … Both to the Holy Ghost: And so the Order … Manner of the Working of each which of … follow herefrom, as the Father works of … and first in Order, the Son from the Father and … in Order, the Holy Ghost from Both, and … last in Order. And therfore observe from … before we pass, That it is a dangerous Deceit, … a desperate Mistake, so to appropriate this work … the Father, and some other actions to the Son, … Holy Ghost, as that we should thereby bring in … Ranks and Conditions of Christians. As … Example, From this Fancy men have forged such … of the Works of the Persons, and such … suitable of Christians who receive such …; As they Attribute Drawing to the …, Liberty to the Son, Power to the Spirit: and …, such are under the Fathers Work: such under … Sons Work but yet are not attained to the work … the Holy Ghost. And such who are to be under … work of the Spirit and so to be sealed, they have … al the former: Whereas in truth, and according … the simplicity of the Scriptures, al these works … saving, and al of them wrought by al the …, and he that is under the work of the Father in … of these, is also under the work of Christ, and … Spirit in them al. For as Drawing (before) is … to al as wel as the Father, the like we may say of Liberty, and Power. Doth the Son set us free? …. 8. 31. So doth the Spirit. For, 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom: p. 404The law of the spirit of life hath freed us from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8. 2. Doth the spirit seal us? Ephes. 1. 13. So doth the Father also: 2 Cor. 1. 12. He that consirmeth and sealeth us is God who hath given unto us his holy spirit: So likewise our Savior who hath the two edged sword in his hand. Rev. 2. 17. He gives the white stone and the new name that no man knows: That is the secret of Adoption, and seal of Sonship; yea, it is general, What ever he sees the Father do, even those things the Son doth also. Joh. 5. 19. We must be … and wary therefore that we be not taken aside … that Delusion.

Though this Work be wrought by al, yet it is attributed 2unto the Father here in the text: because the manner of his work is herein more plainly discovered, and expressed also experimentally unto the heart; and that as here he is …, … send the Lord Jesus: I shal shortly open both: 1 Why it is ascribed to the Father: And, 2 Why to the Father as sending the Lord Jesus, Unless the Father which hath sent me, draw him.

First then, Why the Father is said to Draw?

This Drawing as we have Disputed formerly, implyes Two Things in it of necessity: 1 … from whence the soul is drawn, and that is sin upon which the soul was …. 2 Somthing unto which the soul is drawn, and that is …. Now both the Expressions serve both these Intendments in a most pregnant manner.

Because the Fathers manifesting himself in his displeasure 1unto the soul, doth … …, and most … the work of that holy violence … is … unto the soul … the … of the … from it, and … which this drawing we know is …, …, which may … … … be conceived.

p. 405The sin of Adam falling from his Creation in which the … of the Fathers working is especially discovered, in that he is the original in the Deity, first in Order, and Working from himself, and Creation is the Original of things, there they have their beginnings: Hence in Scripture it is said to be … directly against him, and indirectly against the Son and the Holy Ghost; because that work wherein though they al wrought, yet the manner of the Fathers dispensation did principally appear. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Little Children sin not at al, but if any man do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. He sayes not, We have an Advocate with an Advocate: Christ is not properly, and firstly, and directly an Advocate to himself, but an Advocate is to plead with the party offended, in behalf of him who stands guilty and hath offended, and therefore he is said to be an Advocate with the Father, because he was the offended party properly and directly. Christ an Advocate to plead the Cause of his people, the Spirit the Witness to Certifie of the Success what the Advocate hath done for them, and what acceptance he hath found with the Father in their behalf.

Hence the Fathers Displeasure in the fierceness of it comes as most cross, and directly contrary unto sin, and so the sinner; because directly wronged, and therefore hath most reason, and is most ready to offer violence to the sin, for the destruction of that, and the Confusion and Condemnation of the sinner because of that: And hence therefore the resistance of sin comes to be destroyed, and the soul of the sinner most affrighted for it, and wearied with it, and so compelled to part: And therefore our Savior who was in our stead, and became our surety, and bore our sorrows, the chastisement of our peace being p. 406upon him, He sayes, Shall I not drink of … Cup which the Father will give me? Joh. 18. 11. By Cup is meant those sufferings in our behalf … the Father had appointed, and did also lay upon him; and so Consequently upon us in him.

If the fierceness of the wrath of the Father as the Partie directly offended is most cross to the sin of … sinner, and most dreadsul to his soul as guilty, … the Expression thereof even in that regard, is most fit, by a kind of violence to remove sin from the soul, and to force the soul from it.

Again, The Father as he sends Christ, … 2unto him: Because when he so makes himself manifest unto the sinner, he shews the soul whither … should go, and what certain success it may expect; yea, easie and ready acceptance with the Father, and deliverance from his wrath, and the vengeance deserved if it'do go. For when the sinner comes indeed to look upon the ghastly visage of sin, to see the heinousness, and the unsufferable bitterness of that Evil that doth undoubtedly attend upon it. He now Concludes, he must either part from sin, or else he must needs perish in it: it cannot be avoided. Go he must from his sin, but whither to go he cannot tel, that the filth and guilt of sin may be removed from him, and he delivered from the wrath of the Father which he hath deserved by it. When he hath sought far and neer for succour and shelter, that Heaven and Earth professeth there is no salvation to be had in us. Holy Ordinances and Duties say, We have heard of the Name thereof, but we neither have it, nor can give it, only we have heard tel there is Salvation in Christ, and in no other Name under Heaven: The … therefore intends to make out to a Christ, but … the Question and Doubt meets him, Though Christ can Discharge my Debt, lay down and present p. 407sufficient pay, Its yet doubtful whether the …, being the Creditor, wil accept of it, and rest … with it, or no: Yea, sayes the text, The Father hath sent him for this purpose to be his salvation unto the ends of the earth, and therefore he wil not refuse him: briefly, therebe Three things … in this sending, which may draw the … of the sinner towards Christ.

1 That God hath appointed him, in his … purpose and Counsel, to accomplish this work, …. 49. The Lord hath called me, vers. 1. And he … unto me, Thou art my Servant, in thee will I … glorified, vers. 3. Thou shalt be my salvation to … ends of the earth, vers. 6. Joh. 6. 27. For him … the Father sealed: A Comparison taken from Princes when they would send any with certain Evidence of their Appointment and Approbation, they … him a Commission, and signifie their mind under … Hand and Seal: So the Commission and … of the Father, is as it were the Evidence, and … undeniable, that he was Designed to this ….

2 That he hath fitted and furnished him with all … abilities and sufficiency to discharge the … of Redemption committed to him, Psal. 89. 19. He hath laid salvation upon one that is mighty … save: Yea, Isa. 61. 1. 2. The spirit of God was … him, and he hath anointed him, i. e. … him with Grace, that he might suit al the … and desires of his people, yea, with the spirit above measure, Joh. 3. 34.

3 That he accepts of him, and his Service and Mediation, in the behalf of al those whose … and places he sustains, Matt. 3. last. This is my …, in whom I am well pleased: Not with whom only, but in whom, with al those whose p. 408place he sustains, and whose surety he was.

If God the Father who was offended, and that deeply with my sin, and therefore is now come out against me, either to destroy my sin, or to ruinate and condemn my soul, he hath appointed the Lord Jesus his Son to deliver poor Creatures from their sins and from his wrath, and he hath fitted him for this so great a work, and he wil accept him only, and al that sue for acceptance in him. He only appointed, fitted, and accepted for sinners, let us therefore look towards him, and go to him. The Father that hath sent him for this end, would drive me out of my sins, and send me to him for succour and relief, that I may be sure to speed. And I may be sure the Father who is so deeply offended, wil never refuse him, … me, if I come to him through his Christ.

So we have done with the Explication of the Point.

Instruction. We may hence by way of CollectionUse. 1 inferr several things, which are of much Consequence in our daily Course, and yet al appertain to this place as to their proper residence where they have their first rife, and therefore may most cleerly and rightly be here discussed and so discerned by those who will encline their ear, and apply their heart unto wisdom.

Hence it follows by force of undeniable Consequence,Coll. 1. that this work of Attraction (and so of preventing Grace) proceeds from God as the only Cause thereof, and depends wholly upon his … pleasure, and that he works in us without us: We being destitute of al Ability which might help thereunto.

p. 409That which is done by a Holy kind of Violence against the natural inclination of the heart, that must needs be done upon us, but not by us; we have no hand in that work, and so it is here as hath been proved. Let me ad Two or Three Reasons more besides the Evidence of the Rule from whence it is immediately deduced.

Here that Weapon comes first to hand whichReas. 1 some of the Ancients have so often used in this Cause, and its the Canon of the Apostle, and that Staple Principle that cannot be gain-said, Rom. 9. 16. It is not in him that willeth, or in him that runneth, but in God that shews Mercy. Where al other helping Causes that may share in the Conversion and bringing home of the sinner, are wholly denied & cast out, though they were Means of special improvment, that if any thing might seem to further it, they might have been of peculiar use, and of a speeding nature. It was not a sleepy, careless, slighting of the attainment of any spiritual good, or a sloathful attendance upon it, nor is it a kind of heartless, and spiritless Affection to it that are here rejected, nay though his will was there, and the strength of endeavor, yet both miss the mark; The Apostle is Plain and peremptory, Let him set Heart, and Feet, and Hand, and Head on work, he shal never do no good on it, it is not there. Its meerly only in him that shews Mercy.

It was wont to be Answered by the Pelagians, that it is so said, That its not in him that Runs, or Wills, without Mercy pittying of him, and Grace assisting of him, he cannot do it without these, let him do what he can; yet he can do it with these. The vanity of which Answer hath been long since discovered, as that it crosseth and corrupteth the very meaning of the Apostle. For then the meaning upon p. 410the self same grounds would here be thus, As it is not in him that Wills and Runs without God assisting, co-working; so you might turn the tables: Its not in God that shewes Mercy without him that Wills and Runs. For if the words be not a plain & peremptory denial, but only comparatively to be taken, Its not so much, or not in his willing and running without Mercy prevailing and helping, yet they concur as Causes in this work; then may they as … be taken the other way: Its not in God that shews Mercy only and wholly, but in him that wills and runs in part, which is to destroy the text, and to cross the intendment of the Spirit.

That Dispensation of God which gives ability and…. 2 a Principle to the will for to work that act and dispensation must be before the ability of the will and act of it, and so cannot be caused by it. As if God put a soul into those dead dry bones in Ezek. 37. that they might live, this putting in of the … whence comes life, is before, and so without the work of the soul, or life also; and not at al caused by either. But this Preparation and pulling away from sin, is to make way for a spiritual ability to be given to the will for to work, and therefore it is before the will and work, and either of them as any cause. So the Apostle John, 1 Joh. 5. 20. He hath given us a mind to know him and his Christ. Not only drawn out this act of Knowledge, but given a mind also to enable us hereunto. 2 Cor. 3. 5. We … no sufficiency as of our selves to think a good thought, but all our sufficiency is of God: Not only the thinking, but the … thereunto. Its he that gives a … of flesh, and then causeth us to walk in his wayes: Ezek. 36. 26, 27.

This is to be Observed against a wretched Shift and cursed Cavil of the Jesuits; when they would p. 411pretended to give way to the Grace of God; and yet in truth take away what they give: And therefore they yeild freely and fully, That it is God who gives both the will and the deed. And Grace is required of necessity unto both, and neither can be without it; nor will nor deed. But in truth this is nothing but a colour of words, when the sense which they follow sounds quite contrary. For ask but their meaning, and when they have opened themselves, al comes to thus much; That the Lord hath a Concourse and a co-working in the Will and Deed, and sends forth an influence into the act of the Will, and of the work done: and leads forth and guides both unto their end. And this is no more than he doth with the act of any Creature; the first cause concurring with the second: For in him it is that we live, and move, and have our being. As it is with Two men that draw a Boat or a Ship together, each man hath a principle and power of his own whereby he draws, but both these meet, and concur, and co-work together, in the drawing. So that al this that is said is but indeed to darken and delude the Truth; yea, and to destroy the work of Gods Grace, and deceive the Reader. For this gives no more to the work of Gods Grace in Conversion, than it doth to the Act of Providence upon, and with the act of any Creature reasonable.

Whereas this must be observed carefully, and for ever maintained as the everlasting Truth of God, That the Lord gives a power spiritual to the work, which it had not before he Concurs with the act of that power when it is put forth, he gives him a being in the … of Grace, before he leads out the act of that being. He first lets in an influence of a powerful impression upon the Faculty of the Will, before he Concurs with the Act … Deed. He gives a p. 412heart of flesh, and then causeth them to walk in his wayes: As if one could put a Principle of life and motion into another, and then draw forth the act of that power to the performance of the work: As to draw a Boat, &c. This comparison will … the truth of the work.

As it is with the Sons of the first Adam, in theReas. 3 work of their Generation naturally, and the perverting and turning aside their souls from the Lord: So it is with the Sons of the second Adam in their spiritual Regeneration and Conversion. But in the … the work is wrought in them without them; so it is said … Adam, He begate a Son in his own image, Gen. 5. 3. That the Son was begotten in point of natural Constitution, and that he was in Adams Image, his mind darkned, his will perverted, and the whole frame and disposition of the whole Man turned aside from God; all which is wrought in the Child without any act on the Childs part. So … is with every one that is begotten unto God by a new Conversion. There is an impression of Gods Spirit to turn them from … unto God, without any ability of their own, further than it was given them by God, and acted by his Spirit. Jam. 1. 18. Of … own will begat he us. Joh. 1. 13. Born not of the will of blood, nor of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Hence then it follows in the second Place, ThatColl. 2. the Conversion of a sinner depends not upon, … is lastly resolved into the Liberty of mans Will, which is the proper Opinion of the Arminians, and somwhat more … than the … themselves wil own. The sum of it, and the full sense of it will appear in the Answer to this Question: Suppose that all outward means have been used and improved by providence upon Two Persons indifferently, in the same p. 413place enioying the same helps, say Judas and Peter, who were both trained up under the wing of Christ, and received the droppings of his daily counsels alike, their minds both so far enlightned, and their Consciences convinced of the things of God and Grace, that they see what the will of God is, and what their way is to Happiness, by Beleeving in Christ.

Here grows the Question: Why doth Peter receive Christ, and Judas reject him? Why the Answer and last Resolution of Arminians is here; It was in the Liberty of their own Wills, and Peter would close with Christ, Judas would refuse him. But the Orthodox Divines Answer out of the Word, The Lord gives a heart of flesh to Peter, and enables him: which he denies unto Judas, as he … may, and Judas hath justly deserved he should. The wretchedness & falseness of the former Opinion appears as from the former ground, so also from these following Arguments.

If the Will of it self hath not the next Passive powerArgu. 1. to receive Grace and Christ, then it is not in its Liberty to chuse or refuse: But it hath not the next Passive power, Rom. 8. 7. It is not subject to the law of God; nay, it cannot be subject to receive the Work, therefore not Chuse the Work much less.

If it be in the Liberty of the Will either to Chuse 2or Refuse, and that our Conversion is lastly resolved into that; then it is in a mans own proper power and freedom to make himself to … from another: which the Apostle peremptorily and professedly denies, 2 Cor. 4. 7. Who makes thee to differ? And What hast thou that thou hast not received? Why the Arminians will say, It was my own Will that made me to differ, the Liberty of my own Choice, p. 414because I used and improved my freedom wel, which another did not.

That which exalts the Will of man above the power 3and will of God, and makes it the more principal Cause of our Conversion, that is injurious to Gods Grace, and opposite to his truth, and the aim of his counsel, which is to work al for the manifestation of the Glory of his free Grace. But this Opinion doth so. For it makes it in the power of mans will to frustrate and over-power al the Means which are provided, and the operations of the Spirit upon the soul, For, for al these, the soul may not be Converted. But if this be put forth, then the work is accomplished and brought to perfection without fail: That in genere …; this in genere causae efficientis proprie sic dictae. That is only to stir up power, this alone puts forth the power by … it is wrought.

This Delusion is exceedingly derogatory to the 4Glory of God, deprives God of that Praise and Thanksgiving which is due unto his Name; for upon this ground, a Reprobate wretch who shal perish for ever in the bottomless pit, stands as much bound to God for his Grace and Bounty as he that is saved. For they were al equal in the Means provided, in the operation of the Spirit, and the offers tendered for good; had the one the Ordinance, the other had so to. Had the one Priviledges, Abilities, the other shared equally herein. Was the one enlightned, perswaded, so was the other: That the one received Christ, that was his Free Will, he may thank himself for that, and not God.

But the Saints when they come to acknowledge the Son of God; at the meeting of al the Churches they do profess the contrary; It was not their prayers, their tears, nor hearing, … resolutions, … performances, p. 415for al these their guilt still remained, the power of their Corruptions not removed.

It was not any ability, or parts natural that could do it: for they see the spawn of al sin in their hearts, and had certainly had the strength of al distempers in their Lives, that they are not in the dungeon with Witches, upon the chain with Malefactors, they cannot thank their good nature for it. Nay it was not in al the means though spiritual and powerful, the Ministers they shewed the way, they set forth the glorious things of God and Grace, but it was not that which did it, but it was only in God that shewed mercy, meerly, only, wholly, out of the free mercy of the Lord.Coll. 3.

Hence, Our conversion depends not upon, nor issues not from the congruity of al such means, or the … suitableness of al such Circumstances w^ch may help forward those forcible perswasions which the Lord doth present to the Soul, and whereby he would so call the soul of a sinner to himself, as that his call may certainly find success. I conceive it meet to ad this Collection to the former, partly because this is the proper place to which it ought to be referred, and where it should be disputed, and from the former Doctrine receives its Doom, and Confutation.

The Brain of the Jesuites is the Womb that bare it, and their Forgery gave it its first being; a Brat of their Brain, a Conceit which they Forged and Anvilled out of the Froth of their own imaginations: For when they saw that it was a Conclusion absurd and unreasonable, yea, that which sounded harshly even to Common Sense to affirm, … a mans Conversion was Lastly resolved into the Liberty of a mans own Will; which advanceth mans free Will above Gods Free Grace, and makes the Will of p. 416man a superior and more principal Cause of our effectual Calling, than the work of Gods Spirit and Grace.

It was so loathsom to look upon, That they Resolved not to Own it in such Apprehensions, but they devised to put another Vizard upon it, that so … might appear other, when it was presented in other Apprehensions; and because they cannot maintain what they say, they would say somthing which neither they, nor any else can understand. For they set down their Opinion in these Expressions.

When God (say they) who made al Creatures, and so the Will of man, by his Wisdom and foreknowledge fully understood, what each Creature and so the Will of man would do in every event, condition, and occasion that could betide it: He also foresaw when the Will of man was set in such a Condition, so Disposed, so Suited with several Circumstances, and Conveniences, when his Perswasions would find the greatest Congruity and Agreeablness with his Disposition: And then presents such Arguments that suit his Disposition, and so undoubtedly prevails. So that these Three Particulars are attended in it.

1 The Lord works only by Moral Perswasions; that is the alone way that he takes to draw, not offering any violence, for that they think is unnatural, and unreasonable.

2 The Will is still left indifferent, and in its own Liberty to Chuse, or Refuse.

3 The Lord out of his wisdom and fore-knowledge, sees how to hit the heart in a right Vein, takes the sinner in a good mood, hits his humor, watches as it were his advantages, observes what will meet and suit his disposition, and then presseth it, and so ….

p. 417He that God at such a time, in such a manner, by such means presseth, as carry a congruous, a suitable, and answerable agreeableness to his disposition, he is converted. He that hath not such hints taken to hit his Disposition, he is not Converted. So that Two men sitting at the same Sermon, the Spirit equally … both, the Wills of both being equally apt and able to receive the work of the Spirit, yet there is Congruity and suitableness in the one, and there the word speeds; not so in another, and there the word takes no place, … prevails. Ask them what this Congruity and Agreeableness is? They … they cannot tell. And thus they mud the water and raise the dust, that they may go away in the dark, that others may not see them, nor see where they go. And thus they labor to shift off the pressure of Reason, as Hares when they are pursued they fall to their Jumps and Doublings, but al in vain, for the … of this Conceit is Confuted from the former Doctrine.

For if this Attraction be wrought by the impression 1of the work of the Spirit, without us though in us, then doth it not issue from any Congruity of Circumstances, which may cal forth the ability of our Wills to this work: but this work is wrought in us without us, we not sharing in any manner, as any Cause thereof. Therefore no Power, nor Disposition in our Will, carried by any Congruity of any helps, doth or can procure it.

If the Lord doth by a holy kind of Violence destroy 2the resistance of the Will, when it doth, and cannot but oppose this work; and therefore expresseth the power of his Spirit in way of Contrariety to its inclination, then doth it not look to any Congruity of any Circumstances to draw home the soul. But the former is true as hath been abundantly proved p. 418before; Therefore the latter also.

Nor do they, or can they by this pretence prevent 3the former Absurdity, as Resolving the Conversion of the Sinner, upon the Freedom of the Will.

For they themselves Confess, as you heard in the Explication of the Cause, That this perswasion of the Lord put forth in this Congruity and suitablness of al the Circumstances; It leaves the Will still at his liberty and indifferency, as the Masters and Maintainers of this Opinion do profess: whence I Reason thus,

If it be left in the power of the Will, either to Receive or Refuse this Congruous perswasion, then is it in the power of the Will still, whether the act of Conversion shal follow or not; then is the efficacy and success of the work of the Means and the Spirit resolved lastly into a mans Will. For if it be in his Will to succed, or not to succed the work of Conversion, then is it in the power of it, To make, or not to make the Means efficacious, for therein lies the efficacy of Grace.

But besides the former Principles, weigh we a little the following Arguments, which further discover the folly and falshood of this Delusion.

First, Experiment: Then, Argument.

First, The Experience of the Saints left upon Record in the Scriptures (which give witness …) give in Evidence, and that undeniable that in truth the Dispensation of the Lord is quite … to this Conceit: who is pleased herein to magnifie the freedom, and power, and riches of Grace, that … takes sinners at the worst, and over-powers the perversness of their hearts, and that many times when they are come to the height, and that in the very heat p. 419of their Rebellions, that they might indeed Confess it, and al the world see it: It is not the suitableness of our Disposition which God needs to take advantage by, but the Almighty and Al-sufficient efficacy of his Grace is such, That he doth what he Will, when our wills most oppose, and in reason there is least probability and possibility in the work of Causes to attain this effect. Thus the Israelites, Ezek. 16. 3, 4. when the Lord called them, and took them to himself, he professeth their navel was not cut, nor salted with salt, nor washed; but he saw them weltring in their blood, and that was a time of love which the Lord took, and said to them, Live. Isa. 43. 24, 25. When they wearied him with their wickedness, and made him to serve with their iniquities, then be said, I, even I for mine own names sake will blot out thine iniquities. It was the carriage of God to Abraham, and typed out in the Son of his Promise, when his body was dead, her womb was barren, then he gives them a Son: He brings and begins his Church out of the dust, and calls things that are not, as though they were.

Paul is breathing out threatnings against Christ, fierce in the pursuit of his poor members, and resolved to see the ruine of them, as he himself speaks of himself, he was mad with malice, and made havock with the Church, Acts, 26. 11. Acts, 1. 1. Gal. 1. last. The Lord takes this time, when he was in the height, and ruff of his outrage, to bring him to the embracing of the truth, when he was come out in greatest outrage in opposition and persecution of it, Acts. 9. And this was usual in the Course of Providence, and the Dispensation of the Means of Grace, for himself gives the ground of Gods dealing, and his aim in this. 1 Tim. 1. 16. To wit, That he might be an p. 420example and pattern to all Posterity to support the hearts of the rebellious Gentiles, that they might not sink under the weight of their unsufferable …, but yet to seek the Lord.

So it was with these Converts, Acts, 2. Some mocked, some blasphemed, … derided the Apostles, and that was the season, the Lord took to set upon their hearts by the Ministery of the Apostles. And were the Scripture silent in this case, how often have we found it in our own experience acknowledged by many, those who came purposely to deride and scom the Ministery of the Word, somtimes to entrap and ensnare the Minister, somtimes to see, and slight, and jear at the Assemblies of the Saints: that was the time which the Lord took to seize upon their souls, to Convince, Convert, and Save them through Mercy, what Congruity or suitableness was there then for this work, unless you wil make Contrariety and the height of sinful rage, and opposition to be Congruity, this is Gods manner to do wonderful things beyond the reach of Common Reason, when it was hard to the people of the Captivity to beleive it; God then sayes it was not hard to work it: Zach. 8. 6. Thus saith the Lord unto this people, If it be marvelous in your eyes, should it be marvelous in my eyes?

God usually carries the chiefest of the Expressions of his Providence by way of Contrariety, and cross Means in Common Apprehension, and the course of things, that he might silence the pride of al flesh, and the forgery of al …, who are the professed enemies of his Grace: So Elias when he would make way for the Glory of the Miracle and Manifestation of Gods power, he doth nor only lay the Sacrifice upon the Altar without Fire, but digs ditches deep, and fills them with water, that the p. 421power of the Fire might appear more remarkablely, 1 Kings, 18. 33, 34, 35. So here,

To this Experience, which cannot be …, take these Reasons for further cleering of the truth, and the crushing of this Erronious Conceit.

If the Conversion or Attraction of a sinner beArgu. 1. lastly resolved into the Congruity and suitableness of Moral Perswasions: then may it lastly depend upon some natural Cause, or in truth upon some Common Circumstance of some outward occasion, and Conveniency with which the sinner may meet in the use of Means. For in the meeting and Concurence of these, as time, place, order, or outward helps, and the disposition of the party, in some, or al of these this Congruity wil consist. But this is to resolve our spiritual and supernatural Call into a natural Cause against Rule and Reason. For nothing can exceed the bounds of that ability which the Lord in the way of his Providence hath set in the Creature, natural Causes produce natural Effects only: Joh. 1. 12. Which are born not of blood, nor of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh: There is nothing in Corruption, or natural Disposition, or the excellency of any …, that brings forth this spiritual birth. Nay the Apostle professedly excludes al these as not able to bring about this work, and therefore sets out the vanity and emptiness of them, when they are at the highest; We Preach (saies the Apostle) Wisdom to those that are perfect, which this world, nor the Princes of this world were never able to reach unto, 1 Cor. 2. 6. 8. If any were suited with the choicest Means, or had liberty to enjoy the choicest Opportunities, or the best Advantages, according to their hearts Content, these were the men, and yet these could p. 420duplicate page p. 421duplicate page p. 422… … of this work: …, a … of outward Means which properly reach not the … work, prove an … unto this effectual Calling. So the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many wise, not many rich, … many noble: … wisdom and choice abilities. wealth and outward …, honor and …, they are in …, and so …, and therefore Congruous to help forward a … Course, (because those that are not subordinate, …, are … …, and the Argument follows …) … reason if any, then these who had … and choice abilities to improve the Means, … … the work, those who had wealth to purchase them, those who had authority to … and them to serve their turn, they should be suited to al … encouragements, to … on in a Christian Course, but we see this doth it not.

Some who have the greatest … and suitableness 2of al Moral Perswasions, to draw their hearts to Christ, do remain for ever at greatest distance from him; therefore saving Conversion is not resolved into, nor depends certainly upon the Congruity of Moral Periwasions. That some have such suitableness and yet remain at such a distance, I instance in … those that sin the sin against the holy Ghost, and count the Blood of Jesus a Common thing: That these have the Congruity of al means to prevail with them, the Word wil give in … proof, Heb. 6. 5, 6. They taste of the heavenly gift, that is Faith; are made … of the holy Ghost, have tasted of the good Word of God, and of the powers of the world to come: They have a taste of Vocation, of Adoption, and …, and …; and that there were … of Moral … to work these, I thus shew, Where p. 423there is a Concurrence of al Moral Causes which by the rule of Providence the Lord hath appointed, all those that he hath fitted and proportioned both to the nature of the soul, and the nature of the spiritual work needful for it; such whom he hath so far breathed upon and wrought withal, that there is a taste of al the saving work of God left upon the soul, only the truth and reality of the work is …, comes as neer to effectual Calling as may be, and not be Called; as neer to the stamp of true Sanctification as can be, and not be Sanctified: there is the Congruity of al Moral Perswasions, and the meeting and Concourse of the strength of al Arguments and Reasons that can be propounded, only there is yet a principle internal wanting, which should indeed change the Will: For if the contrary to al these be incongruous, and carry a kind of unsuitableness, either to the necessities of the soul, and the work of God upon the soul for its saving good, then the presence of these carry an undoubted congruity, and answerableness to all the good of the soul and the work that should be done upon it. For certain it is when al the Means that God hath appointed are attended and used, also in the order and manner he hath appointed, neither more help, nor more Congruity can be desired, nor yet attained; for if there be any other Means which God hath not appointed, those wil prove hinderances not helps; or if they be used in any other Order than that he hath ordained, these are disorderly perverted and abused, and made unserviceable to do their work, or attain their end. And yet when the power of al these is improved to affect the Will, and stir and provoke it, but not change it, it is never savingly brought home to God. So Moses, touching the Condition of the Israelites, Deut. 4. 34. Compared with p. 422duplicate page p. 423duplicate page p. 424Deut. 29 4. Did ever God assay to take a people to himself with signs and wonders, and great temptations, and out of the heavens he made thee to hear his voyce, that he might instruct thee: What then was wanting? He suited them with al miraculous expressions of his Love and Mercy; but this was …, To this day he hath not given thee a heart. And if he give you al Mercies beside, tryed you with al Corrections, pursued with miraculous Expressions of his power and faithfulness, if yet he give … a new heart, al that ever he shal give wil never do you good. So the Prophet, when he was appointed and fitted in an especial manner, having his tongue touched with a Coal from the Altar, when he was furnished with gracious abilities from Christ to dispense the Word, yet al was to make their ears heavie, and their hearts fat, and their eyes blind, that they should not see, nor beleive, nor be converted, Isa. 6. 7, 8. And therefore the Apostle when he had given the doom upon those back-sliders, he ads, We are perswaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, which these did not: … 6. 9.

If al Means and Helps that can be used in way of 3Moral Perswasions, are wholly incongruous, and utterly unable to work upon the Corrupt heart of man, then there is no congruity of such Perswasions, that can savingly Convert, or Call the Soul, or draw the sinner to Christ: But al Means in way of Moral Perswasions that can be used, are indeed wholly incongruous, and utterly unable to work upon the corrupt heart of a sinner unto his Conversion; but they reach not the Distemper or Cause of a mans misery and therefore can never do the Cure. For these are to Call forth the power a man hath into act, whereas the … wants al spiritual power, whereby … p. 425may be enabled to put forth any act that may be acceptable unto God, Rom. 5. 6. When we were without strength; and the Apostle doth not say, We have some sufficiency to think a good thought, if some Arguments were suggested to draw it out, but doth plainly and peremptorily affirm, That all our sufficiency is from God, and therefore none firstly of our selves. 2. Cor. 3. 5.

How silly was it, & incongruous to common sense to provide the sweetest sounds, and choicest musick to delight a deaf man? To present the pleasingest colours to affect and please him that is blind, to set the most soveraign cordials and the most curious rarities and dainties before a dead man to refresh him? Yet such is the Condition of every natural man touching the things of Grace: He is deaf and hears not, blind and sees not, dead and relisheth not any thing that appertains unto his peace, unless then you give him a new soul whereby he may live, al outward services are utterly unsuitable to his Condition: In a word this quaint devise of the Jesuit is so far from any sap, or any real subtilty in it, that the Opinion quite contrary (in a true sense) is most consonant to the truth.

The Means (then) appointed and used in Providence by the Lord, may be attended in a double respect, either in regard of the end the Lord aims at, and the effect he intends; and so it is true, the Means which the Lord hath Ordained carry Congruity and and suitableness for the attainment of his own end, and accomplishment of his own work.

But Secondly, If we look at the corrupt Heart, and Nature, and Will of man, which is now to be subdued, and his darling Corruptions now to be removed from him, then it is most certain the Means p. 426which the Lord hath Ordained and useth for his Conversion carry not any Congruity, but a Contrariety to his corrupt heart and Will.

That which must expel and … Corruption in the heart, that must not have … but a … to it. But the Means which the Lord … to Call and draw …, are to destroy and expel the Corruption; therefore they must … not a Congruity, but a Contrariety and crossness to them.

That Question which is attended with so manyColl 4. tedious …, is from the former Doctrine … and Concluded, and that undeniably, and because … doth … properly to this place, I shal … Express it: Hence then it Follows,

The Power of Grace put forth in the Work of Conversion, is irresistable.

When I say, Irresistable: We mean not that the Corrupt Heart doth not Oppose and resist the Operation of the Spirit, and the … of the Ordinance: for whilest that … is …, it cannot but labor the preservation of it self, and therefore cannot but oppose the power of Gods Spirit, which works the destruction of it. But this is the meaning, It cannot so prevail as to … Gods intent, or to prejudice the work of his Grace, as that it should not find … in the … of the sinner, or hinder his … home to Christ: This Collection in … …, is … Demonstratively, and undeniablely from the former Doctrine.

That Grace which takes away the power of Resistance stirred up by Satan, or the Corrupt Heart of a Sinner, that cannot be resisted. But the Grace of p. 427God put forth in Preparation, and drawing doth by … … … of … take away the power of resistance in the … Heart of a Sinner; and therfore it cannot be resisted.

Hence it Follows again in the Fifth Place,

Wheresoever there is spiritual sufficiency ofColl. 5. Grace; there is also spiritual efficacy put sorth … work of ….

These Two go hand in hand in this … of God, and are either the same really, or do … accompany one another. And I therefore mention this Collection, not only … of the … of it, as that it needs to be unfoulded and apprehended aright, especially considering … is the proper seal unto which it must be referred, where his stock and … may be observed, and where his … … be Disputed and ….

But … I … it Convenient to take the more … … thereof, … of the special Benefit and Use thereof: The right … of this makes ready way for the cleer … of the Delusions of the Jesuits which they have invented and set up as blinds in the way that men might not see the … of the Lord, and set forth and acknowledge the power and Glory of his …. Nay, it hath found favor with some who otherwise follow the …, and that truly, in their … of the drawing of God, … according to their divers Apprehensions, they set down Explications of their own Thoughts in a diverie manner.

p. 428Their general Tenent is this, They make this … Distribution of the Work of Gods Grace in Conversion,

Auxilium est vel,

Sufficiens.

Efficax.

The Dispensation of the Work of Grace in the way of Conversion, is either by way of Sufficiency … …: Either Sufficient, or Effectual and Efficient.

1 All men say they have sufficient help from God in the Dispensation of the wayes of his Providences and Ordinances, that they may be Converted were it not their own fault; they … a power and a … by the supply of this sufficient help from God to this end and for this work, and yet though they may, yet they do not attain success.

2 But the Elect and such as the Lord hath set apart to himself, have the Efficacy of this spiritual help from the Lord, as that they shal be, and in their times are actually Called and Converted unto God. Against these Forgeries, I desire this Fifth Collection may be attended.

Where ever there is Sufficiency of exciting and preventing Grace, put forth by the Lord, for the Drawing, and Converting of the Sinner; there is also the Efficacy of that Grace which never fails to attain success.

First, We shal Open this Collection, That p. 429… ful meaning may fairly and plainly be apprehended.

Secondly, We shal shew how it follows evidently from the former Doctrine, as that the one cannot be granted, but the other must needs be yeilded.

For the understanding of the Collection, attend Three Things.

That this Exciting or Preventing Grace of God, 1it is not any Habit, or gracious Disposition imprinted upon the Soul, wherby it was in power or possibility to act or not to act, as it seems good and suits best with its own purpose. For Example sake, In those Actions wherein men are Causes by Counsel, they have … and power to put forth such an action, or with-hold the doing of it as they see fit. A man hath a power to go hither or thither, to speak these or those words, yet he may sit still, and stop his motion, he may be mute, and silence his words. But as we heard before, It is the motion or actual impression of the work of the Spirit, so that God is not purposing and decreeing within himself, but putting his purpose into a powerful Execution, and so comes under such words to be deciphered, as Drawing, Teaching, Turning; al which shew an actual Expression of Gods power and pleasure.

Sufficiency of any Cause or Causes is to be attended, 2either absolutely in regard of the End at which they look, and then that is absolutely sufficient which can attain his End without any other; if any hinderances it can remove, if any wants it can supply, if any thing to be done, it can procure it, accomplish it; 1 Cor. 12. 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee. And thuse some Causes may be sufficient for the accomplishment of one Effect, which are not for another. Those Common stroaks of the Spirit in p. 430Illumination, and Conviction, and Moral …, in propounding Arguments to the hearts, … pressing on mightily by Evidence of Reason, are sufficient to make people beyond …. Joh. 15. …. If I had not come and spoken to them, they had … no sin; but now they have no Cloak for their … Ezek. 3. 11. Whether they … hear, or whether they will for bear, yet this they shall know there … been a Prophet amongst them. Its sufficient to Condemn them, if not to Convert them. But these … not sufficient to … the work of Conversion, for there is more power required to that: There is not only an enlightening of the understanding, but … opening of the heart; …. 3. 11. … Baptize … water, but there is one that comes …, he … … with the Holy Ghost and Fire.

There is Sufficiency upon Companison or Supposition, upon this Ground or Supposal that we take in other Causes, in their … and … work with others; and this is very improperly and abusively said to be Sufficient. This is the … of the Popish Crew, There is Sufficient Help vouch safed on Gods part unto …, for Salvation and Conversion, if they would … of the freedom of their own Wills use and improve them for the End that the Lord hath appointed them, and doth now … them if they wil give way, and welcome … the light which the Lord hath now …, and not reject the … of God against …: which is in truth to say it is not sufficient to work their Wills and Hearts to this, but it is sufficient to present, and perswade the Heart if it will for they who make the Will of Man a partial Cause with God in this work, … that … Will and Grace of God and his Spirit is not the sole and alone Cause, and therefore not the Sufficient … to do p. 431it. As if Two men be partial Causes in drawing a Ship, neither are sufficient to do it.

The like mistake is in that Expression & Comparison, in which the Fautors of this Opinion do so much please themselves: Say they, The Eye hath sufficient power to see, but yet unless the Air be enlightened, and the Object presented unto it, it will never see or perceive it, not put forth this power effectually upon the Object. Answ. The mistake is meerly in the manner of the Expression misunderstood: For Seeing implyes Two things in it. 1 To act upon an Object when it is presented in a right distance, and through a fit mean. 2 To bring this Object in such a manner to the Eye. That the Eye is sufficient to do the first, and is also effectual that way; the Eye is not sufficient to the second, and therefore no wonder it doth not perform it. Thus it is in the spiritual work; Deut. 29. 4. Though they had seen many signs and wonders, yet nothing was sufficient to work upon them, and prevail with them effectually: And its added, because that unto that day God had not given them an …: He had given them Wonders, provided Ordinances, crowned … with Priviledges, and these might happily … and Condemn, being sufficient for that: but not to Convert, unless he had given them an heart. This is the ods our Savior gives of the Sufficiency, and so the Efficacy of Gods Dispensarions, Matt. 13. 11. 13. To them I speak in Parables, that-seeing they may see and not perceive; hearing they may hear, and not understand: But to you is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. He not only gives unto his Disciples a word, but a mind to know.

Efficacious, or Effectual Grace and Help is, when 3the work formerly intended and purposed by the p. 432Lord, is now really accomplished, actually performed, and put into Execution: When the Soul … turned, and called according to his purpose, Rom. …. 28. So that the ful sense is, Where ever there is … absolute sufficiency of preventing and … Grace, there is an actual Efficacy in the accomplishment of that work upon the Soul. And this … from the former Doctrine by force of … Argument several wayes: Thus,

Where there is the Concurrence of all … 1putting forth themselves for the work of Conversion, there that work wil certainly and effectually be brought forth; because there is no more required to the existence of any thing, than the Causes of it, and those joyntly working for that End. But … there is the sufficiency of preventing Grace, there … al the Causes of Conversion, and all these working: For in that there is a sufficiency, therin al the … are implyed: in that it is the sufficiency of … Grace, which is a motion and impression of … Spirit, therein the action of these is expressed: And the work must needs follow, and the drawing … fail to be Efficacious. For the reason why a reasonable Agent is sufficient to accomplish, and … doth not; it is, because he hath power but … and doth not put forth that power to the … mance of the work: But so it is not here.

Where Gods preventing Grace is put forth, there 2the work of Conversion doth undoubtedly follow; because it alone works it in us, without us: but … there is … help of our drawing, there … preventing Grace is put forth: Therefore there … Conversion must needs be effectual.

Where all the power of Resistance is … … might hinder the work of our Conversion, there our Conversion must needs be effectual, but … p. 433… drawing is, and so sufficiency of Gods exciting Grace, (for that and drawing are alone) there al the … of resistance which might hinder is removed: herefore where this sufficiency is, the work of our Calling must needs be effectual.

Hence again it follows by undeniable Evidence,Coll. 6. That al men have not sufficient help of preventing Grace whereby they may be called effectually, and … Conversion wrought without fail, if they would but improve the help as they may. This … immediately from the foregoing grant, and … beyond al gain-saying.

For Sense and Experience puts it beyond al 1doubt and Dispute, That al men have not tasted … Efficacy of saving Calling, but the Efficacy and Sufficiency of exciting Grace are either al one, or without fail go alwaies together; therfore to whom … Efficacy of this preventing Grace is not dispensed to them, the sufficiency is not.

Again, The Letter of the Text gives in Testimony 2beyond controul; They who share not in the drawing of the Father, they partake not of the sufficiency of exciting Grace: for herein the very nature of it lies, and the words are pregnant, No man can come to me, he hath not power to come unless the Father draw him. But the Father draws not al, for that is the scope of our Saviors direction and Caution whereby he would check the murmuring of the Jews, quarrelling with his Doctrine, and despising his Person; now lest any should be taken aside by their sinful example, our Savior ads this as the Reason, and leavs it upon Record, No man can come to me, be his place, his parts, his excellencies and abilities never so great and glorious, therefore marvel not, it is not in their practise, it is beyond their power, unless they are drawn, … p. 434yet they are not, nor are like to be.

Again, There is yet a special work of Gods Grace 3and Favor, the want whereof our Savior makes a never failing … why the souls of sinners never share in Christ, and … neither in eternal life; Joh. 6. 36. I said unto you, that you also have seen me and beleeve not: But they might have … a Reason to be rendered, and a … given, why that should be charged; our Savior gives in His Argument which will admit no Answer to satisfie it, hardly a pretence to avoid the … of it. vers. 37. All that my Father gives shal come unto me, and him that comes unto me, I will in no wise cast out. Not to be given, then is one Cause why men cannot come; and so have not sufficiency of help to enable them to that work, and to partake of the comfort.

Lastly, the sufficiency of exciting Grace may be 4attended Two wayes. Either, 1 In respect of the outward Dispensation of the Means, which the LORD … appointed, and by which his Grace and Spirit is conveyed. Or, 2dly. There is also the internal operation of the holy Ghost wherin only the sufficiency of saving Calling is accomplished. Now many thousand thousands, there be that never Communicated in any of these either the external, or …: … in the external; when the special priviledges under the Law were paled in, and appropriated to the Nation of the Jews, You alone have I known of all the Nations of the world, Amos 3. 2. To them belong the Adoption, and the Glory and the Covenant, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the Promises, Rom. 9. 4. He hath not dealt so with other Nations, neither have the Heathen the knowledge of his wayes, Psal. 147. 20. They who never heard of …, nor Grace, nor Sin, nor Conversion, nor Salvation, p. 435… have not sufficiency of outward Means whereby … might be Converted, Acts, 17. 30. The times … that ignorance, he over-looked: He regarded … the Gentiles; but now he commands all men to … and repent; as if he should say, Before he … not so much as Call the Gentiles to the … of the things of Grace. And for the inward …, how many thousands have not the Common … of the Spirit which tend to Conviction, and … Perswasion, of whom that of the Prophet is …, To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? …. 53. 1. Multitudes there be, to whom the word is … of death. 2 Cor. 2. 16. In whom the God of … world hath blinded their eyes. 2 Cor. 4. 4. That … might not see the Glory of God; who seeing see … yet perceive not, hearing they hear and yet … not, their ears are made heavie and their … fat, that they should not be converted. The whole Nation of the Jews now Curse the Lord Jesus … their Synagogues, and therefore have no drawing … the Lord Jesus. And so much for the First Use of Instruction.

The Second Use is for Consolation, to several sorts of men.

First, Here is ground of incomparable, and inconceivableUse 2 Comfort to support the hearts of … sinners, from sinking under desperate …, and that irrecoverably. When their Corruptions come in upon them like the mighty Ocean, when innumerable evils compass them about, Psal. 40. 12.Ps 40:12… their sins take hold upon them, that they are not … to look up, they are more than the hairs of their …, and their very hearts fail them: They find the Opposition so strong, and themselves so weak, … work of deliverance so impossible to their own Sense and Experience, that their Prayers and Endeavors, p. 436and Hearts … them: Yet here is a Gale … Hope, and that which will uphold the Heart, if … Lord will have in the soul, all Opposition in … and Earth, shal never hold it.

As he must needs go whom the Devil drives, so … must … come whom God wil draw: Though … Means prevail not, thy Prayers speed not, thou … not able by al thy Endeavors to bear up against … stream, yet God is able, and its his work, here stay they heart, God can do it, and who knows but … may.

Briefly, the DISCOURAGEMENTS are Three.

First, The Assaults of Satan, he comes in amain, 1and makes batteries against the Heart, he Musters up al his Forces, and presents to the view of the sinner al the darkness of the kingdom of Darkness, and … the venom of sin in the twinckling of an eye: … presents al his Sins that ever he hath committed with al the aggravating Circumstances against Mercies, Covenants, Checks of Conscience: Lo, (saith Satan) do you not see al these, and they come in, … troops, there is no end of them, not only in NewEngland, but upon the Sea, in the Land of our nativity, and he brings him to his Cradle, and … him how he came a Child of wrath into the world: Withal, Satan lets in the guilt of al these sins upon the soul: Sayes Satan, if one sin deserve everlasting Condemnation as you know it doth, what then is deserved by so many sins Committed, continued in, repeated, against Means and Mercies, why Hell is too little for such a Rebel, God must make a new Hell for such a wretch. And withal Satan tells him the date of Mercy is past, your best dayes are done, you have had Means, and Mercies, and Friends to Counsel you; very good, now Mercy is gone and p. 437past, you shal hear no more of the Mercy of God, or of Jesus Christ. Now Satan hurries the … when he hath got him hither, (the multitude of his sins, the guilt of his sins, and Mercy past) why now had you not better go out of the world, than to live without Hope, and multiply your sins, and so your plagues forever? Here he hurries the soul up and down, and gives him no leave to think of Mercy. Oh! sayes the soul, Is there no hope in Jesus Christ, the Means of Grace, and the Spirit of God? Why, sayes Satan, Do not you deceive your self, you have had Means, and Mercies, and you are just in the place where you were, therefore you had best put an end to your sins, and self, and life, and all.

Now mark …; In this Case you should have recourse to the former Doctrine, Satan wil not cannot be entreated thats true: Aye, but God is stronger than Satan, and he can cast him out of thy Soul; It is not Arguments that can do it, but God can do it: Say therefore, Though my Prayers, my Endeavors, my Heart, my Hopes fails me, yet God … do it; though my Soul cannot leave my sin, … my … wil not, cannot leave my soul, yet God can force away my sin from my soul, and command my soul to return from iniquity, God can do this, Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace shall beat down Satan under your feet shortly; What ever become of your Sense and Feeling listen not, attend not to his temptations, be sure to Retire hither as to your Castle, God can do it, it is the Almighty work of God, there stand, there live, and there die. Christ told his Disciples, He saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightening, Luke, 10. 18. That is, Suddenly and strangely. And Joh. 16. 11. Now shall the Prince … this world be judged. God wil judge Satan for al p. 438those Temptations and Delusions of his, do not you own them, and God wil Condemn him for them: Nay, as it is, Isa. 43. 6. I will say to the North, Give up; to the South, Keep not back; bring my Sons from far, and my Daughters from the ends of the earth: Though thou shouldst be in the mouth of Hell, or in the bottom of the Sea, yet God is able to call thee from thence: He that saith to the Sea, Give up thy dead; he can say to Hell, Give up thy damned. Therefore bear up thy Heart and Hopes, and Expectation that God may do that for thee, which thou art not able to conceive of.

But yet there is another ground of Discouragement: 2Satan he's Malicious, but Oh! the world and the snares thereof are so many, so mighty, that the soul is still in a maze, taken in a net as it were, and knows not which way to turn him. And there are some kind of sins which snare a man exceedingly by the world: As when loose Companions have … within a man, and licentious Courses have taken away the heart of a man, Oh! the heart comes … hardly there. The sinner shakes at the sight of … Companions, he is convinced and resolved … them, and yet he goes away to them, and is led by them, and when the Adulterer is taken with his Adulterous Mate, they scarce ever return again. … lamentable what those that are acquainted with Cases of Conscience this way do know: still … mates tempt, and these Companions over-bear though they resolve, and promise, and vow, … pray, yet they are in again, just in the place … they were; so that the soul sayes, I am not able … resist these temptations, I am never able to get … of these snares, therefore sin I shal, and sin I must and perish I must: temptations are desperate here p. 439a man lies prostrate under them, not able to recover out of them.

Now Brethren, when you are in such a Case as this; you see your sins, you confess them, pray against them, and yet are taken aside by them, your heart is strongly engaged, and ensnared, you are not able to get from under these sins.

Here's all the hope I can give you: It is in Gods hand yet to pluck off thy soul, and to take away thy heart for al that. You know how Solomon the wisest, and Sampson the strongest, they were Deluded and snared, and taken by their own Corruptions and snares of the world Sampsons head upon Dalilahs lap, he would sit and lie, though he died for it. Brethren, it is here only, God may do good unto you: If I … tel you, It is in the power of Means and Mercies, and any Congruity of Means, or Liberty of your own Wills, your souls might be deceived, but would never be Comforted: But look up to the Lord, there is Hope in him, there is Mercy with him. Joh. 16. last. Be of good Comfort (sayes our Savior Christ) I have overcome the world. Yea, the Lord professeth it, Ezek. …. 32. They shall loath themselves in the sight of all their doings that have not been good. Say then, God is able to make me loath my self and my snares, and al the sinful entanglments that my heart is so taken aside withal; this is that only that wil sustain thee and support thee: Joh. 16. 10. I have other sheep, and they shall hear my voyce, and them I must bring. I must bring the … from his Cups, the Adulterer from the arms of his Queans, and the worldly man from all the snares of the world; the Lord can do it, and wil do it also for those that belong to him; therefore to that God look, … that Christ look, who hath p. 440said it, and can do it, he can do it for thee as wel as for any other.

A Third ground of Discouragement which the 3sinner finds, and that is the worst of al, viz. The stiffness and stubbornness of his own heart; he cannot blame the Devil for … of him, or the world for snaring of him; he sayes, and knows his heart is as bad as Hell it self, he hath courted and desired temptations, his heart hath been lingering and hankering after them: and had not God been merciful to him, he had lived, and lien, and perished for ever in his sins. Nay, though there were no … to tempt, nor world to allure, yet I have a heart like a dunghil, that steams up continually noysom abominations: Nay, that that's worst of al, If after al the Mercies I have abused, and sins committed; I had a heart that could repent there was some hope: but Oh! the stiffness and knottiness of this heart of mine, I have had Conscience checking of me, and the Minister reproving of me, and the Spirit of God striving with me, but Oh! I have a hard heart that cannot repent; And this is the plague of al plagues, worse than the Devil and Hell it self, How shal I help my self here? Moral Perswasions? Alas my heart spurns at them all, and makes nothing of them al, I have had the Minister speaking to my soul, and the flashes of Hell in my face, and yet alas! such is the desperate frame of my heart, that I wil have my sins or … die for it. What wil al Moral Perswasions, and Congruity of Means do here? Alas! the Heart scorns al: As in the Case of a man, who fell into deep distress and horror of Conscience … he had … the sin against the Holy Ghost, lying in that a twelve month together, and the Lord let loose the … of his own Spirit upon him, that he often p. 441thought to lay violent hands upon himself, but this was al that he had to support himself in that sad time; my Salvation is not in mine own hand, it is not in my Will, but in Gods Will, It is not in him that Wills, or in him that Runs, but in God that shews mercy, Jam. 1. 18. Of his own Will he hath begotten us by the word of truth. He that made the Will, can only Convert the Will: Oh! then bless God, that hath taken our Salvation into his own hand, for if it were in our hands, if it were left to our Wills, we should never have it. This is that that may uphold the heart in the midst of al the heavie temptation, which wil … or last seize upon the hearts of men.

Again: Secondly, It is matter of Consolation to 2al the faithful who have found this work of God upon their souls; it wil afford them ground of glorious support to fence and fortifie their souls against the dayes of difficulty, and times of distress, against what ever discouragements or desertions may … them from within, what ever assaults or temptations may press in upon them from without in the following Course of their lives in future times. From hence they may promise themselves assistance and deliverance without fail, and certainly expect it. What ever the temptations be they shal never prevail against them, what ever the power and strength of their Corruptions be, they shal never be able hurtfully to overcome them; If God the Father have once drawn them to his Christ, when they did nothing but oppose this work, al the power of Hell shal never be able to with-draw them from the Lord Jesus, when they desire to cleave to him, and to be His. He that plucked me away from my sin with a holy kind of violence, when I loved it as my life, and was loath to part with it, will he deny his … p. 442to me when I strive against it? He that forced his Mercy upon me when I resisted it in the dayes of my folly and wretchedness, when I resolved I would none of him; wil he deny me Mercy when he hath given me a heart to beg and prize it? He that sought me, and drew me, when I forsook him, wil he not embrace and entertain a poor Creature when I seek and sue for acceptance from him? Thus the Apostle disputes and cleers himself with much boldness, and assurance of invincible success, and he gains and gets the higher ground of his Fears and Discouragments, Rom. 5. 6. 9. If Christ died for us when we were of no strength, nay, when we were ungodly, How much more being Justified by his Death shall we be saved from wrath through him, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled, how much more shal we be saved by his life? If when we had no strength, he rescued us from the hand of Hell, and Sin, and when Enemies reconciled us: when he hath given us strength and made us his Friends, wil he not for ever releive and succour us? yea, much more sayes the Apostle, he gets upon the higher ground and triumphs over al the enemies of our salvation, as knowing he should certainly be Assisted against them al.

Thus Samuel shored up the dismayed and sinking hearts of the Rebellious Israelites, when the Lord had thundred out his displeasure against them, by reason they had wretchedly, and treacherously, and unfaithfully rejected the Lord and his gracious Government, when they would not beleive Samuels words, he tels them, That God would thunder out his threatnings from heaven, 1 Sam. 12. 17, 18. &c. And when the people saw the lightning and heard the thunder, and then saw the hamousness of their sins, and feared what heavy punishment they p. 443might expect from so terrible a God. Then they that cared not for his words and Counsels, crave his Prayers, Oh pray for us (say they) for we have sinned, and to all our other sins have added this, in asking for a King. Samuel to prevent the deadly symptom of desperate Discouragement, which would drive them from the Lord, and so from their own Comfort; heads, You have indeed sinned, yet turn ye not aside from following the Lord: And again he ads, Turn not aside unto vain things that cannot help: And he gives this as a ground, For the Lord will not forsake his People for his great Names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: He that out of Mercy made you his people when you were not, he wil not forsake you when he hath called you to him: As the Elders of Israel Reasoned when they were to War with Jehu in the defence of their Masters Sons, 2 King. 10. 4. Behold two Kings could not stand before him, how shall we? Let this be thy comfort and undoubted evidence of succour and deliverance: When thy heart was Satans home, and the power of darkness dwelt in it, when he had levyed al his Forces, he was strengthened and encouraged, by al the advantages that might be; he had the hold of the heart, and entrenched himself in the stubbornness, and invincible stiffness of my Will, and that I was resolved to leave my life, but never to leave my lusts, nor renounce his temptations, which I entertained as my delight, and sided with al alurements, and stood in open … against the Holy One of Israel. If Satan in his ful power could not keep his hold, nor my heart, but the Lord cast him out; when he is Conquered, and his Forces spoiled by the Lord Christ: Shal he not for ever keep him out? When I was under the power of Satan, he then rescued p. 444me; being now rescued from his rage, and beyond his power shal he not preserve me? He that destroyed the works of Satan when he was in his ful strength, intrenched, fortified in the unconquerable stiffness of his Will, and took away his Armour: being Disarmed, Dispossessed, and Conquered, shal he ever be able to recover and set up his works again? By no means.

The Third and Last USE of this Doctrine,Use 3. is of Exhortation. First, To the Converted: Then, To the Unconverted: Here is somthing for both.

First the Converted are hereby to be provoked to 1follow the dealing of the Lord: Here is a pattern to order their daily practice by. Hath God, doth God deal so with poor Creatures as to draw them from their sins to … Christ? Go thy wayes, and do thou likewise. Herein shew your selves Children Matr. 5. 45.of your heavenly Father, be merciful as he is merciful. And if in any case, I take it, Mercy is herein to be discerned, ought to be practised and expressed. As the Elect of God put on bowels of mercy, Col. 4. 11. If you be the Elect of God shew it in this, if ever you have received Mercy express it, if ever God hath shewed favour to you, shew the fruit thereof in shewing compassion to others: put too the best of your endeavors, even by a holy kind of violence to pluck away poor sinners from their sins, unto the Lord. So David, Psal. 51. 13. I will teach transgressors thy wayes, and sinners shall be Converted unto thee: I wil take no nay at their hands, they are stubborn, I was so; they resist, I did so; they are unwilling to part with their sins, I was so; and yet the Lord hath done me good, and p. 445overcome al my evil with goodness, when I was in my blood, when I lay weltring in the guilt and filth of my sins, when I said I would have my sins and I would die, and was resolved to destroy my self, then he said unto me, Live poor Creature, Live: You cannot get your heart away from your Corruptions, the Lord wil do it for you, nay he can do it for you without you; If he wil put forth the same power upon your soul as he hath done upon my soul you shal be drawn from your sins to Jesus Christ. In a word.

1 Do what you can your self. 2 Help them with supply from others.

First do what you can your self; let every man 1in his own particular set upon al such loving Means as are in your power, Compassionately and Couragiously to draw sinners from their sins to Christ: Heb. 3. 13. Exhort one another daily, lest any be bardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 1 Thess. 5. 14. Now we exhort you Brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men: As who should say, Lay about you to do al the good you can; he makes a Christian man to be as busie as a Bee, that he should go no whither, but should seek and find occasion of doing good to one or other, you wil meet with some that are unruly, warn them and instruct them; and some that are weak, labor to strengthen them; some that are feeble minded and discouraged Christians, labor to quicken and encourage them: Let not those thoughts be found once in thy heart, Am I my Brothers keeper? Yes, thou art, or else thou art his murtherer; wilt thou defend his house from a thief, his body from …? nay, wouldest thou ease and raise his Ass from falling, and return his Ox from straying? and wilt thou not p. 446do much more for his Soul? Therefore take al opportunities that are offered, and seek what is no offered, and improve what you have to the …. Jude, 23. And others save with fear, plucking them out of the fire. If thy neighbors Ox were in the pit, or himself in the fire, thou wouldest break … the door and not strain Complements, much more when his soul is fallen into his distempers, as into a deep ditch, his soul is … on fire from Hell, … away the Drunkard from his Cups, and hale the Covetous man from the world, and those whom you see to be … by any special Corruption, do … you can to rescue them from the snare of the Devil; and double thy forces, lay battery against the heart, to it again and take better hold; it may be he sees his evil, and acknowledgeth his sin, and yet returns to it again, return thou to thy prayers, and tears, an …, if he forget thy Counsels, Counsel him again, admonish again, besiege him, lie at him; when thou meetest him in the way, walkest in the field, … at the table, leave some remembrance upon … of those you converse withal, say and do som thing that may help to draw their souls from their sins to Christ. God hath dealt so with thee, therefore deal thou so with others.

Succour them also by all other Means. … 2thou according to thy power and place, to … them under the means of Grace; As they said one … another, Isa. 2. 3. Come let us go up to the house … the Lord, he will teach us of his wayes. And as … good man Cornelius, when Peter was to come … Preach the Gospel to him, Acts, 10. 24. he Calls … his friends and kindred together that the Lord … work upon them; and sayes he, We are all here ready to hear what the Lord hath commanded thee. This especially belongs to al such as have power and p. 447authority over others, as Magistrates may compel the Subjects, the Master may compel his Servants, and the Father his Children to use the Means (for they can go no farther than a moral violence) and to be under those Ordinances which they in their own Consciences are convinced of to be the Means of Conversion and Salvation: And look as they did when our Savior Christ came to any place, they brought the blind and the deaf, and dumb, and those that were possessed of Devils, and laid them down before him, and intreated him to Cure them; Mar. 2. 4. So if thou hast a stubborn Servant, or a Rebellious Child, al the Means thou hast used can do no good upon him, bring him before the Lord in the use of the Ordinances, lay him down before him, and tell him what his Case is, what a blind mind, and what a hard heart he hath, and how he is possessed with a Devil, of pride, and self-willedness, and resistance against God, and Grace; and say, It is with thee alone, O Lord, to work upon him; Thus we should use al the Means we can to draw others to Jesus Christ.

Here is also a word of Exhortation to the Unconverted, 11such as are not yet Called: You are to be entreated, That as ever you desire to see the face of God in Christ, as ever you desire to gain Evidence of Gods love here and happiness in another world, be sure of this, That you come under the Call of God; This work of drawing is Gods proper work, come therefore under his hand, when doles are stirring every man goes to that door: So here, It is not in Man, nor in Ordinances, that's true: but there God dispenseth it, Rom. 1. 16. The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation: And if the Lord draw by his Spirit in his Ordinances, repair thou to his Ordinances for ever. It is the Lord only that p. 448makes his Call effectual, therefore come under … Call of his in his Ordinances.

It is God only that doth this work in us … Object.us: It is not in our power to help our selves, therefore better sit still, then rise and fall; why … we endeavor that we can never do?

I do not say thou canst do the work, but do … Answ.go to him that can do it. Thou sayest thou canst … go; I confess thou canst not as a Christian, but … I exhort unto is, Do what thou canst as a man, improve those Faculties, and Parts, and Gifts that … yet left in thee; and come under, and keep … the Call of God. God meets his People in the … Exo. 29. 43.Exod 29:43of his worship, in the use of the Ordinances which he appoints, therefore go thou thither to meet with him. Thou hast an Ear to hear the word therefore thy feet can carry thee to other places, let them carry thee to the house of God, that mind and memory of thine can meditate upon other things, … it meditate upon the word, and fasten upon the truth and the reasons thereof; I do not say thou … pray so as to please God, but pray still, who know but God may help thee; thou canst confer … things of no profit, and remember idle things of … worth; nay, such as leave a taint of Corruption … Pollution upon thy soul; use that mind, and … thoughts, and that tongue of thine about the … of God and Jesus Christ. Thou mayest do this, … shouldest do this.

Attend further these Two Directions.

Present thy self before God in the use of … 1Means of Grace, and when thou art there … thy own abilities, either to do good to thy self, or … receive good from God in al the Means that are appointed for thy good. Say therefore, Lord, it … not in Man or Means to do any good to my soul, … p. 449… heart here, and be sure thy soul be rightly … of it. And mark what Balaam said, Lo, I … come now, have I now any power at all to say … thing? Numb. 22. 38. So say thou, Here's a … mind, a dead heart, a damned soul, I live to … and hear that, that thousands desired but never …; but now I am here, Lord, have I any … to receive any good from any of the Ordinances, …, Lord, the work is thine, do al for thy Servants, … receive al the Glory from me; you think you … a large understanding to catch the reason of the …, and a strong memory and can recount what … hear, and you go for a right Godly man, because … hear, and repeat, and profess, &c. Thou mayest … al this be utterly destitute of any saving work … thy soul, thou hast the out-side but thou canst … come at the kernel, the sap, the sweet, the good of the Ordinances; therefore say thus; I can hear … Word blessed be thy name, and I am able to remember, and repeat, and to discourse of the things of God, but Oh! the power of God to work upon my … that I want, here's a blind mind, and a dead …, a lame heart; Lord work upon it, and draw … to thy self and that effectually: It was … speech, 2 Chron. Chap. 20. Vers. 12. when … had Mustered up all the Forces of ISRAEL, Yet, sayes he, We have no strength, nor do … know what to do, but our eyes are unto …. So shouldest thou say, for thou mayest have … strength, and moral strength, but spiritual … to hear profitably, and savingly, and to bring … fruit unto God, this is not in any mans power of himself. Therefore say it, and acknowledge it, Lord, though I do what I can, yet I have no strength, … do I know what to do, but mine eyes are unto ….

p. 450When you are got hither and keep here, be sure 2now not to leave the Ordinances of God, before you find some power beyond the power of Ordinances, and Man, and Means; leave them not till you find the almighty power of God working upon your souls: As the Woman that labored of the Bloody-issue, and had … al, she came and desired, Oh! that … might touch the Hem of the Garment of Christ, and she felt in her self she was made whole, Mat. 9. 21. 22. Thou knowest the pride, and peevishness, … uncleanness of thy Nature, the bloody-issues of corruption in thy soul; that, nor word, nor Ordinances could help thee to this day, thou hast spent all, and done al thou canst do in the use of Means, and yet the issue is, the proud heart, the carnal heart, the unclean heart remains still, taken aside by … … still; what will you do now, you are in the croud of Means and Helps, but say, Oh! the Hem of the Garment of Jesus. That Vertue and Power may come from Jesus Christ … work upon this Soul … mine: But how shal I know that? Answ. When you see the Ordinance so upon your soul really as you see it in your understanding and judgement, when you find it in the work of it upon your heart, as you apprehend it in the letter of it. And … you shal … the work really done, and your heart bowed, and loosened from those base Distempers, you never touch Jesus Christ until you find it so: Therefore as the Widdow, whose Child was dead, when Elisha sent his Servant, she was not contented with that; but sayes, As the Lord lives, and … thy soul …, I will not leave thee: 2 Kings, 4. 30. The man came, and the staffe was laid, but … Child was dead, till the Prophet came, and the power of God came along with him, and then … Child arose; Let me leave this upon Record for ever p. 451amongst you. This effectual drawing and quickning of the heart, is the alone work of God. It is not in him that Wills, nor in him that Runs, … in God that shews Mercy. You know (many of you, hundreds for ought I know) that you never knew what Christ and his Grace meant; and you know your hearts close with your sins though you dare not give way to them: Now mark, when you come and hear the mind of God, and the Ministers speak unto you, and the Will of God is published: Oh! Go your wayes home, and say, As the Lord lives, I will not leave thee until the Lord hath spoken to my soul, till I find the effectual work of the Word and Spirit of God drawing my soul from my sins to Jesus Christ. Therefore call for that same, shewing Mercy which the Apostle speaks of; Rom. 9. 16. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that sheweth mercy. When you have run what you can, and willed what you are able, then look up to the Lord to shew you Mercy; the Minister hath spoken what he can, and I have heard what I can, but Lord shew Mercy; and never leave until you have found that the Lord hath shewed you Mercy, in this work of drawing your Soul from Sin to Christ.

FINIS.