The Application of Redemption, Book 2 · Section 2
2 How this good is made ours.
For the manner and order of putting us into … of all this good it will appear in Four Particulars.
The Soul is made capable of all that Spiritual good and those Precious blessings which … to …; … is and must be first room made for the … of these or els there is no Possibilitie to … of these, a man cannot be in heaven and hell at … happy and miserable at the same time, be … or that which opposeth and distroies this good … yet share …. First then the Lord Christ makes the Soul Capable, As in all Corporations who have their Priviledges and Immunities by Charter … to certaine persons under such terms and conditions, as that he must be bound prentise, and serve … long, he that comes not under such conditions he is not capable of such priviledges, so here: John. 3. 27. No man can receiv any thing except it be given him from …, that is not only the thing but the receiving of it must be given unto him; Math. 13. 11. To you it is given to know the Misteries of the kingdome, but to others it was not so, for in hearing they should bear and not Perceive, seeing they should See and not understand their eyes were blinded and their hearts were hardened, and so they were uncapable of any good, Coloss. 1. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made … meet to be partakers of the … of the Saints as who should say, they were not fit nor meet before they were made so.
As he makes them capable of this: 10 he giues them a right and title therunto which they may for … hould and for ever maintaine their Possession by 1. John 5. 12. he that hath the Son hath life, first we must have aright unto Christ, and then to all that is in him, In him are hid all the treasuries of wisdome and holiness: if once a man have a right in the … all the mettal Gould and Silver is his that is there, … may digg bouldly and take freely, it is his own; buy once the Ground, then all the springs that runne … all the trees that growe there, and all provision … arise thence are his. Christ is the mine of mercy, and … Oar of Grace, and Salvation, the well-spring of … and happiness, all the promises are … and Amen in him, in him accomplished, by him performed this is Gods manner, first he gives his Son and with him all things, thats his order in giving and it should be ours in receiving; It's Satans policy to make the Saints be at a loss when they look for pardon and grace, and peace and comfort, within themselves and then to Christ, and so … his labor and Lookes in vaine, but wee should Looke up to Christ the author and finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. … God hath blessed us with al Spiritual blessings, but it is in Christ Eph. 1. 3. In him these blessings are contained by him dispensed, and from him received. And therfore the Apostle issues all here, This is the witness of the Father touching his Son he hath given us eternall life, and this life is in his Son, 1. John, 5. 11. this is the Tenure of the Saints which they hould in Capite.
The Soul then stands Seized of, and actually estated in al these spiritual good things of Jesus Christ he is really admitted into all these priviledges that he may enjoy them, and unto … benefit of them as his due, he hath not onelyonly jus ad rem but jus in re, Rom. 8. 32. If he hath given us his Son, how shall he not but with him give us all things else, he is the heire who hath all, have him and have all; when the indentures are Sealed then there is Deliverie of the Land, and the Emolument therof comes to him from that Day forward, So here the rents and Revenues of the Gospel come in to us when once we have Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption; if once he be made ours, all in him will be made ours also; 1 John, 16. Of his Fulness, we all receive Grace for Grace.
The soul hath now liberty to … and improve Christ, and al he is, and hath, and doth for our Spiritual Advancement, and so to live upon our own, our Revenues, and comings in from Jesus Christ, Gal. 2. 19. That I now live it is by the faith of Jesus, Phil 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me; he hath provisions about him to live comfortably and contentedly in all conditions; I can be rich, and I can be poor; I can abound, and I can be abased: Mens Patrimonies and Possessions may help them to be rich, but to learn them how to be poor they will not, nay, rather indispose them; and God would have us not only live Christianly, but comfortably, Heb. 6. 17, 18. He hath sworn that he will bless us in his Christ, that by two immutable things we might have strong consolation; nay, To grow up in him in all things, Eph. 4. 15, 16. that we may grow rich in peace and comfort, and assurance, in grace and holiness, and all the good things of Jesus Christ.
And this is the Order of Application: He first makes us capable of, then gives us a right unto, then estates us in, and lastly gives us the use and improvement of all Spiritual Good in Christ. Thus it's made Ours.
This should make us see and affect our hearts withUse 1. a holy admiration at the riches of Gods mercy andPsal. 21 3. freeness of the Covenant of Grace in Christ, who prevents his with Blessings of goodness, and that in the midst of their undeservings, when out of the stubbornness and crossness of our hearts we oppose his Truth and Holiness, he doth us good when we neither will, nor desire our own good.
He not only provides a gift, but a hand to take …, he requires the condition which is exceeding reasonable, and works … the condition he requires, tenders us mercy which we could not have conceived, and that's not all, but gives a heart to entertain it, that … Christian might be and breath in mercy.
When Adam though adorned with all … that was compatible … a creature in his condition, having the stock left in … hand, he undid himself … his Posterity, being left to the mutability of his … will, though holy and righteous, how suddenly … irrecoverably becomes he miserable: But this is … incomparable excellency of the Covenant of Grace the Lord not only makes provision for lost man (… though it was no smal favor, yet it would never … done him good) therefore he made it his also. … dam should have had all conveyed to him by a … of Justice, by his own improvement and obedience and hence he lost what he had and hoped for. It … just God should require service from Adam, it … just he should give him grace to do it (for else … should have required … from his Creature, which had been contrary to the wisdom and holiness … the Creator) It was also just that when … had done what was commanded and covenanted … him for (… was just … say) that then he should accept of work and reward it, for to him that worketh wages is due of debt, Rom. 4. 4. but it's … in … of the Covenant of the Gospel. All … meerly and only out … the Covenant of Gods free favor; when we lost and forfeited all we had, and … ourselves for what we needed, and were unwilling out of the wretched and hellish distemp̄ers of our … …, either to have any thing, or to be made capabl of … thing, that grace might appear to be grace indeed, … doth … for our good, not only beyond our desert … what we have besides Hell, is mercy) but beyond … desire.
That thou mayest forever each day that passeth … thy head, remember it to the Lord, and leave … upon record in thy own Conscience; say, Hadst … (blessed Lord) given me the desire of my …, and left me to my own will, its certain I had … in Hell long before this day, when in the days … my folly and times of my ignorance, when out … the desperat wretchedness of my rebellious …, I was running riot in the wayes of …, When I said to the Seers, See not; and to the Isa. 30. 10, 11.Prophets, Prophesie not, to Christians, to …, to Governors, Admonish not, Counsel not, … not, Stop me not in the pursuit of sin, The…. 8. 5. … was I took hold of deceit and refused to return, …, resolved in the secret purpose of my own soulPsal. 81. 11. would none of thee, I would not have that Word … thine reveal or remove my corruptions, I would … of thy Grace that might humble me and purge …, none of that Mercy of thine that might pardon …, none of that Redemption of thine that might …, … thou then … me at my word, and … me what I wished, and sealed up my …, saying, … thou for ever filthy, forever …, and for ever miserable, thou wouldest neither … holy nor happy, thou shalt have thy will, sin … …, and take thy Portion with Devils, …, it had been just with thee, and I justly ….
But to bear with all my baseness, to put up all … wrongs and provocations, to strive with me … good when I took up Arms against thee, … strove against my own good; nay, when I … Mercy, and then to take away that resistance, and to cause me to take Mercy, and make it mine, when … us dall the skil I could to hinder my own salvation, Oh! the height, the depth, the length, the … of this Mercy!
It was Gods expression of his own kindness towards the …, Ezek. 16. 4. 6. In the day of … Nativity I saw thee in thy blood, and then I said …, Consider but thy self and thine own ways, and thou wilt sind it thy Condition, and therefore take up thy stand again here in admiration; when there was no means to help me, no man to pitty me, and I had not a heart to pity my self; when I lay w. ltring in my blood, wallowing in my sin, when I said … would die, then thou beheldest me and said, Live … poor Creature, Live: Oh that Mercy! for ever to be adored, Come down yee … Angels from Heaven, and magnifie that Mercy through eternity; … would … perished in despight of Mercy, and the Lord made me take Mercy in despight of my heart.
Train up thy self thus, and dyet thy soul with … daily admiration of this rich Mercy of the Lord, … with … daily bread; its Mercy that gives, Mercy that conti ues, Mercy that perfects al spiritual good for thee … in thee, and will do so to all … … As they in the rearing of the frame of the … Temple, All the people cryed, Grace, grace, grace, Zach. 4. 7. when it was not power nor policy, for the whole Nation was poor and despicable, wholly … and unable to begin or to carry on such a … Grace then laid the foundation, and Grace never left until it added the topstone; so here, It was meer Grace that provided salvation, that … it, offered it; made thee able to receive it; therefore thou shouldest walk in the wonderment of this Grace and Mercy, all thy life long.
Hence also is matter of Humiliation and dailyUse, 2 Self-denyal while we live in this World, which may help to pull down our proud hearts, and Peacockfeathers, and lay us low in our thoughts, in the apprehension of our own vileness and baseness, … own weakness and unworthiness: When we feel our hearts to be puffed up with the vain apprehension of our own worth, parts or performances, what we are, and what we do; look we back to our first beginnings & … aright of our own wretchedness, and nothingness, yea, worse than nothing, in that we not only wanted all good, but we had it within us to oppose all good, and that will cause us to sit down in silence, abased for ever; when empty Bladders are grown unto too great bulk and bigness, to prick them is the readiest way to lessen them; when our empty and vain minds swel, with big thoughts, and high overweening conceit of our own worth, learn we to stab and pierce our hearts with the righteous judgment of our own natural vileness, which will (or at least may) let out that frothy haughtiness that lifts us up beyond our measure, tell thy heart and commune with thy conscience, and say, It is not my good Nature that I am not roaring amongst the wretches of the world in the road and broad way of ruine and destruction, that I am not wallowing n all manner of sin with the worst of men, it's not my good nature, no thank to any thing that I have, that I am not upon the chain with Malefactors, or in the dungeon with Witches, for what ever Hell hath, it is in this heart of mine naturally, a Cain here, a Judas here, nay, a Devil here.
The time was (O that with an abased heart I may ever think of that time) I never looked after the spiritual good of my soul, whether I had a soul or no, what would become of me and it, was the least of my care, the farthest end of my thoughts, nay, loth I was to hear of, or know these things when they were …, unwilling to receive them, or give way to them when they were offered; how did I stop mine Ears, shut mine Eyes, harden my heart? what waies, means, and devices did I use and invent to shut … the light of the truth, and to stop the passage and power of the Word, that it might not convince me, that it might not reform me, might not recal me … my … how often have I secretly wished that either the Word were taken out of the place, or … from …, that it might not trouble me in my sinful distempers, and when … had least good I had most ease, and took greatest content; Oh that such a vile wretch should thus live, and yet live! to be thus sinful! Oh that I might for ever be abased for it. As in sores, when the proud … encreaseth, there is no way but a Corrosive to eat … down: This consideration of our own …, may be like this Corrosive to eat down the pride of our hearts. Thus Paul frequently in the remembrance of his former wretchedness, bleeds kindly and … in the abasement of his spirit, he mentions not his Apostleship which might exalt him, but presently he remembers his … which might abase him, 1 Tim. 1. 12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful, and put me to the Ministry, who was before a …, … and injurious, vers. 13. Hence again he observes it was Gods way that he might not be exalted Eph. 3. 8.above measure, to buffet him with the sence and assaults of his own weaknesses, 2 Cor. 12. 7. and thus far he did glory in, and take pleasure in his …, not to have them, but to use the consideration of them as a wholsom Corrosive to pull down those proud swellings: As a man somtimes takes pleasure … the pouder of Scorpions, or Mercury Water, because … a Medicine against some poysonful humors; and … he directs, Eph. 2. 11, 12. Remember that you were dead in sins and trespasses, Gentiles in the flesh, without God, without Christ, without hope: If a man conceit that his make or mettal is better than other mens, Let him look into the Pit whence he was Isa. 51. 1, 2.digged, the Rock out of which he was hewen, he wil … see cause to conclude he was as hard, as stubborn, … proud as any other, as unteachable, as unframable … any other: And here that Question hath place, What hast thou that thou hast not received? yea, … degree lower, How camest thou to be able to … it? stake down thy heart in this Determination, … answer, I have received nothing further than … hath enabled me, and I have nothing unless he … it, I do nothing unless he quicken me to the … of it; the remembrance of … plagues of … heart and nature should … me for ever to be …, I am what I am by mercy, let that have the … of all, which is the worker of all the good I …; as men pul away the steps and stool from … a man if he stand too high, so … should pul away … swelling conceits which lift us up in our own …; It's not I, but the Grace of God in me; 1 Cor. 15. 10.… I any power to be humbled, to beleeve, to be …? No, it's not I, but Free Grace, that is the … and Worker of all, let Grace therefore have … honor and praise of all.
Here is matter of cordial refreshing to support theUse. 3. … of sinners, from sinking into desperate …, when they see the weakness of their own …, not able to reach this work, the stifness of … own wills, as ready and resolute to oppose it and … of both, an utter impossibilitie to attain it, or any … good unto themselves, their hearts and hopes cannot but fail so far as they look to themselves; but when they look to this, that as it is beyond their own po wer, so it is not their own work, this may be some support, It is in … hand & must proceed from his power, who can do what he wil in Heaven and Earth and in thy heart also, therefore repare hither and rest thy fainting spirit here.
In regard of a mans weakness, the well is deep and thou hast nothing to draw withal, the work of applycation is spiritual and mystical, the eye is dim and thy understanding shallow, not able to search into such mysteries, thou canst not discern neither the way, nor the work, how wilt thou be ever able then to attain it? remember thou canst not make thy self able, but thou must be made able to know it and to receive it, its in his hand, and its his work who is able to do it, Jer. 24. 7. I will give them a heart to know me, hither our Saviour resolves this work and rests himself here Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and Earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise of the world and revealed them unto Babes even so Father, for so it pleaseth thee. And it's Gods promise, Isay, 42. 16. The hlind shall see and the deaf shall hear. It's his ordinary proceeding, He calleth the foolish and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are. 1 Cor. 1. 28. Therefore thou shouldest press God with his own promises, mind him that this is his prerogative, say, Lord it is not in man to Jer. 10. 23.direct …, to humble himself, to convert himself, but it is with thee, and its thy promise to give me a heart to know thee, thou callest things that are not, Gal. 4. 9.I am not wise nor humble nor holy, I am not able to know thee let me be known of thee that so I may come to the knowledg of thee.
But happily thy stifness is more and worse and more dangerous than thy weakness, though thy mind be enlightned cavils removed the truth made clear, thy … settled, what should be done; but Oh! the … stifness of this wayward will, that hath … al promises and distrusted them, al threatnings … slighted them; so that the distressed sinner wil …, I have a heart that cannot repent or beleeve, that … receive grace, that cannot give way to the power of Gods ordinances or make choise of any good, … that I am even weary of my heart and of my life …: Yet, God can pluck away this unteachableness … thy heart though thou canst not take away thy … from it; Of his own good will he hath begotten … Jam. 1. 18. Its not in the wil of Satan nor in thy own will to hinder it if God wil do it, it's his work he hath challenged it to himself, and hath engaged himself do it for al His, I will take away the heart of stone, Ezek. 36. 26. Say thou, Lord I cannot do it, and … truth I should not do it, for that were to arrogate more than I should, and to press into the priviledg of the Almighty I only wait upon thee and bring my heart to thee, that thou wouldest bring me to thy self, … the Leaper said Mat. 8. 3. If thou wilt thou canst make me clean, I have neither wil nor power, I can … do it nor receive it, but thou canst do both for me and work both in me; It was the ground of … which the Lord gave to his people in building the material Temple, when they looked at the greatness of the work, and their many oppositions, Zach. 4. 7. Who art thou O great mountain thou shalt become a plain, difficulties are compared to mountains, when a man sees a mountain lye before him, he thinks it is inaccessible, and impossible for him to go over it, so when a man sees the pride and stubborness and rebellion of his own spirit, he thinks … is impossible for him to subdue these, but if the Lord wil he can say unto it, who art thou O great mountain? and though it be mountainous pride and stifness and corruption yet he can make it become a plain, when he wil humble thy heart and set up the power of … grace within thee; As when the Angel came to … Peter the Iron Gate was opened, so though al the … we can take cannot pul the iron Gate off a proud heart off the hinges, yet when the Lord wil come the iron Gate wil give way of it's own accord.
Here wee have also a rule of Direction, shewing theUse 4. right and the ready way how to … forward the great work of … on our souls when ever the Lord is striving with us in the ministery of the Gospell; look how God offers Christ and al spirituall good in him so we should attend his mind, and so receive it.
The Directions here for quickning our hearts and enlightning our minds are three.
First look to Christ; first make sure of him, as he in whom all our good is laid up, … is Gods order in dispensing, it should be ours in receiving: He first Rom. 8. 32.gives his Son and all things with him, We first receive his Son, and al spiritual good through him; The Mat. 13. 44.wise Merchant bought the field, and being po sessed of that, the Pearl that was hid therein was …; Christ is the heir of all, and if we have him we have all, They said it …, this is the heir come let's … … and the inheritance shall be ours, Matt. 21. 38. But this we may and should say …, this is the heir come let's love him, let's possess him and then al the inheritance of grace & glory shal be ours; The woman looks first at the man, and then she well knows, if she have him, his means is hers also she cannot want it, if he have it; So it is here, Christ Jesus is the head and … of his Church al the great things of life & grace & glory are al in his hand, in his having, and his giving, once have Christ & have all, therfore eye a Savior look to him and make sure of him above all.
Look at all graces as either they lead to Christ or … from Christ, els they wil loose their life and sweet, and we shal loose the comfort of them, unless we look at them thus, either as they bring us to Christ by the power of his spirit, or as they come from Christ by his spirit inhabiting in us; As there be severall wayes that lead to the goale or mark at which men …, and they look no further at them, nor are refreshed by them, then as they point out a path or lead … way to the mark, where their prize and profit is; Christ is the mark al graces are such as either com from him or lead to him, and further then they attain that they and we miss both our end and good, Phil. 3. 13. 14. This one thing I do, I press forward after the … the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, still we should look at him, that we may have …, and enjoy him this should be the mark we … aim at the goale we should run for, look at … duties as they are means to bring us to him, and to … saving good from him, say to the great work … contrition humiliation vocation whence come you, whither go you? they will all say, to bring you to …, … so look at them so attend to them. Again, sanctification holiness obedience whence come you? why from Jesus Christ, here they all center; … alwaies the way to Zion, the way to Christ, … to come to him how to receive spiritual good from him; whom seek you? A Christ: why are you …? why pray you? and why weep you? It is … a Christ, thus if we make Jesus Christ the center of all graces and duties, then they wil become truly …, and truly comfortable to our own souls.
When we would have our graces either encreased or …, we must not look to our own graces or go … in the power of them, that either we may get … or do more, but look to Christ the Author and finisher of our … and leave our hearts and graces with him; the Wheel drives the Mill, but the Stream drives the Wheel, the Sail carries the Ship, but no longer than the Wind carries the Sail. So … is here, Ephe. 6. 10. Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, els there is neither power nor might … strength to be had from our own graces or abilities in the time of need, They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength as the Eagle, they shal … changes of strength, renewed resolution, courage and constancie in a Christian course, whereas the strongest without so doing wil grow weak and feeble.
Exhortation, All the faithfull are hence to be Exhorted,Use 5. to know their duty, and to deal with these Spiritual good things, as men use to do with their Possessions, Christ hath made them yours, now you may, you should, you ought to use them as your own, There is never a humbled beleeving Soul but Christ hath put him into possession of al Spirituall good, as if he should say, Christ and Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30.and Justification, and Sanctification and Redemption, in him and with him and from him these are all yours; go your waies then and use these as good … are wont to do with their …, and look what a man would do when he is come into his possession, so do thou with all that good that Christ hath made thine.
The care of good Husbands about that which … their's discovers it's self in three things.
Men that are prudent wil see their estates setled, clear up their right to their possessions by course of Law, and when they have got their Evidences which are sound and good, they keep them as sure: In a word, this is each mans care that hath but an ordinary compass of providence, he keeps the Evidence of his … in Readiness and Safety.
1 In Safety, tender and choice he is in this, above … things else in the …, why his whol estate lies … it, it's al he hath to shew; and he wil not leave … at six and sevens cast them in a blind corner, so … dust and silth may blur them, or the moth … them, or children rear them, No: If there be … Box fitter than another, one Lock or Chest surer … another, there he laies them and locks them ….
2 Not only in Safety but in Readiness, he doth … content himself to say, I am sure they are safe, … I cannot find them,. I have forgot where I left …, and laid them, No: They are never to seek, … can find them in the dark and … them …, and which is more, though a man cannot read a … yet if he be a prudent man he can … tell upon what tenure he holds them, how they were convayed to him how estated upon him, that if he be forced to try it by Law he can maintain his own, why do you do so now (I speak to Beleevers) God hath put you into possession of all spiritual good, once in Christ then you are Justisied, Adopted, …, Glorifyed, why do this then, make these sure, and keep these sure … your own comfort.
First make sure your Evidence for Christ and all saving good in him: 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves prove your selves whether you be in the Faith or no, know ye not that Christ is in you, except you be to be reproved, as who should say, this is that all … to try to & find out, & you too or els you are to blame: you should try it make it good to your selves in all Courts, by the Law, and by the Gospell, by the tenure of the Prophets and Promises, and by all the truths of God in the whol word of God: you ought to do thus and wise men will do so, Gal. 6. 4. Let every man prove his own work; for if a man … but seem to himself to be something when indeed he … nothing, he seems only to be called, and to be humbled, and to beleeve in Christ when it is not so indeed, your hearts and hopes and expectations wil deceive you at last, therefore prove it, make it clear, get Evidence undeniable of it, then you may rejoyce and be comforted, you may go triumphing to your … and so to Heaven: But what a misery is this, that many men, after many years profession, and when sickness and death comes upon them somtimes … they are ready to go out of the World, and yet, they have nothing to say or shew for Heaven; therefore do not rest until you have made sure your Evidence for Heaven and Happiness, that you may be able to say I am sure Christ and al Saving good is mine.
Secondly, when you have made sure your Evidence, then keep it sure, maintain it and keep it by you for ever, let not Satan, nor Temptations, … Corruptions, nor Discouragements, nor carnal reason, take away your Evidence from you, but that you may have them to use when you have need of them.
… is such a Childish heedlesness that a man should ever be at a loss for his Spiritual estate; As though one should live in his Possessions, and if he go but a mile out of the Town, and the day grow soggie, he cannot tel where he is though he be upon his own ground; when a man should be able to … and sind his Evidences at midnight, as Paul 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have trusted, so Job when it was … with him in his Temptations and Desertions he could then say, Job 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth, He is a Redeemer and he is mine, and though I am a dying man, yet He lives. And as a good woman said when Satan troubled her house, I was here … the Devil came, I had possession first, and I … be here when he is gone; So a Christian should …, Christ … put me into possession of al Saving …, and therefore though the Devil come and … me … his I emptations, yet he shall not put me …, I wil hold my Evidence and keep my possession … with standing all.
By a holy and blessed kind of boldness you should … and use al those good things of the Gospell … Christ hath Purchased and Estated upon you, … are your own, and you may be bold with your …; What ever Legacie is past over o an Heir, … he sees the Inventory of al Lands and Goods, … and Revenues, annexed by name to the Wil, … doth not trouble … to take these, and use …; if any say take heed what you do, why he … it, and is able to bring the Inventory where … is named, therefore he useth them and wil do so. … now, … lies the skill of a Christian, look … the Gospell (that … the wil of Christ) look into … Inventory of al the Promises, and al the good … of God contained in them, you shal sind that … Mentions you, and … you in particular, in … the Riches and Revenues of the Gospell, therefore … should take them use them as your own, they are … in the Testament of … & bequeathed … you, when you read what God hath done for Zion, …. 48. In those glorious …, …, Deliverances, Mercies … to his … in former times, mark how the Psalmist …, and so every Beleever may and should …, as in the last vers. This God is our God: He … my God, al his Attributes, his Wisdom, his …, his Love, his Mercy are mine, he wil quicken … and comfort me and save me as wel as he hath … his People in former times, David thus makes use of his portion in God here, and so should we … after David.
The Lord had said unto Joshua, I will never … thee nor forsake thee, Josh. 1. 5. The Apostle in … 13. 5. Shews how every Christian should apply … to himself; implying that what ever Promise a … leever reads and meets withal in the Gospell, he … and should … it to himself, and say, this Faith fulness and … … the Lord is mine, he wil … more leave me nor forsake me, than he did Joshua … than he hath done any or his Servants in former … And so al that Power which was expressed in … Conversion of Paul, al that Mercy which was … towards Manasseh in humbling him so mightily, … pardoning him so garciously, al that is mine; … not you such Children as to suffer Satan to … you of your own comforts, or to attend what … reasonings may cast in, to fear you from … your own, even al the Spiritual good which … Christ hath Purchased for you and giveu to you.
It's the part of a good husband to grow rich out … his Revenues and …, especially if many … great that appertain to him: To make both … meet at years end, to make but one of one, and … from hand to mouth, and yet born to so fair an Estate, and … of so many goodly Mannors, … wonder at it, that having so much, he should make so little of it; Alas (say they) he is no Husband he will never do good of it, he doth not follow … business. So to have such great, and rich, and … Promises, and to be such poor Christians, … have so plentiful Redemption, and so mean, and under consolation, it's a sign you do not improve the riches of the Gospel, you play the ill husbands with your Possessions; Then shall we know if we follow onto know the Lord, Hos. 6. 2. then shal you know what it is to be effectually called, what it is to have assurance of Gods Love, if you follow on to know the Lord; Hence the Apostle exhorts, Work out … salvation with fear and trembling. Do not … bungling at it now and then, but work it out throughly, and then you shall have according to your hearts desire.