The Application of Redemption, Book 10 (7 of 13)

The Application of Redemption · Book 10 (7 of 13)

p. 290As the Lord presseth in upon men before they be aware, 2and beyond their purposes, So many times he takes the worst of men, whose hearts and lives are at the greatest distance from the holiness of his word and waies: Thus our Savior posesseth that the Publicans and Harlots, such as were in the rank of the most notorious wretches, Go before the Scribes and Pharisees into the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke, 3. 9, 10. Luke, 7. 29. Which carried a form and appearance of Godliness in the view of the World. And you shall observe the Lord to gather the most glorious Churches in the places, and amongst the people where there have been the puddles and sinks of all wickedness. …, Corinth, Creet, notorious and … in all … for hideous and hellish abominations, and yet there the Lord … Churches of the greatest beauty, Saints of most glorious excellency p. 291of Grace, such as were destitute of no Grace, and yet the place destitute of no villany, 2. Cor. 6. 7. When he had reckoned up a catalogue of most accursed Villanies, yet professed God brought precious Gold out of dirt and …, Know ye not that no …, Idolaters, Effoeminate, abusers of themselves with man-kind, nor Theeves, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God; and such were … of you. Ver. 10. 11. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified by the Name of Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Lord Jesus prevails with these that are the 3most reffuse persons, even when they are in the ruff and height of all their wretchedness; when they are in the extreamest out-rage and running riot in the waies of wickedness, beyond the bounds of modesty and moderation. Our Savior Christ stops not Paul in his proceeding, when his injurious and blasphemous carriage was in the bud & beginning, while his Spirit was stirring with the pangs … pride and …, that he stood as a Spectator, and …, and kept the Garments of those that stoned Stephen. Acts, 22. 20. not yet attaining that impudency and violence to lay hands on the Saints, and to fly upon the prey. But when he became more mad in malice and cruelty, and became a principal in such out-rages, a leader in bloody persecutions. Acts, 26. 11. that he goes armed with Authority, breathing out threatnings and slaughter. Acts, 9. 1. resolves to attach and imprison all sorts … … Sexes, men and women that prosess the Name of Jesus. When he is running full carreer in such … and cruelty, the Lord then meets him, unhorseth him, takes his weapons out of his hand, … his Commission, and causeth him to bear his Name, who had before blasphemed it, to care sor all the Churches who before destroyed them, he makes him fall at his foot, and follow his … and colors, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The … beyond his p. 292place, commission and allowance, he scourges and cruelly handles Paul and Barnabas, and when he prides and pleaseth himself in his cruelty and … behaviour towards the poor servants of the Lord he then takes him to task Acts. 16. 30. puls him down upon his knees and forceth him to seek for mercy and direction from those to whom he shewed no mercy nor humanity before, he trembling fel down saying Sirs what must I do to be saved? The Lord stops not Manassehs out-rage when he enters first upon his kingdome (as he easily could have done) but suffers him to fil up the measure of his iniquity, so that the bottom of Hel could not afford abominations more or worse than were practised by him, he filled Jerusalem with blood, shut up the dores of the sanctuary, gave himself to witch-craft and conjuring. The Lord now grapples with him by the power of his grace, and after his mighty provocations, persevering also in those desperate courses; the Lord humbles him mightily under his almighty hand and brings him to the obedience of his wil, 2 Cron. 33. Chap.

The Reasons of the point are four.

The greatness of his power is hereby discovered, andReas. 1. that he hath laid salvation upon one that is mighty, that when al the power of darkness hath proceeded to his highest pitch, when the subtilties of Hel and al the venome of the corrupt heart of man furthered by al advantages, that the world and counsel and company of ungodly have brought in al forces, to mannage and maintain a wicked and ungodly course herein appears that power of the Almighty whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself; in that he batters down al the strong holds of the hearts of the sons of men and every high thought that lifts up it self against the obedience of his truth, dasheth all those temptations and delusions whereby the Enemy hath advanced his Kingdom in the hearts of his captives and vassalls, so that Satan and al p. 293his fortifications shal down like lightning before the dispensation of the truth: this is indeed the power of God unto salvation Rom. 1. 16. this is the out-stretched arme of the Almighty revealed in this so wonderful a work Isa. 53. 1. thus the Apostle 2. Cor. 10. 4. the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, to cast down strong holds. It was that which … observed wisely and as truly concluded, Exod. 18. 11. Now I know that the Lord is greater than al Gods for in the thing wherein he dealt proudly he was above them. It is most true in this case, herein it appears that the Lord is greater than al gods, the god Pride and Stubbornness, the god Self-love, and Self-confidence, the god Covetousness and Uncleanness; greater than all the Devils in Hel, than al the Temptations in the World, and al the distempers in the hearts of sinners, because in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. As he sayed I know not the Lord I will not let Israel go. So when they deal proudly, I know not the command of a Christ to obey it, I know not the reproof of a Christ to reforme by it, I know not, acknowledg not the threatnings and terrors of the truth which are denounced, know that God can if he wil, and its certain he wil if he ever take pleasure in thee to bring thee out of bondage he wil be above thee in al these, when you shal see the sturdy stoop, the stubborn yield, and he that was firce and proud as Belzebub himself to fal at the foot of Christ, tremble at every truth, melt under the least admonition and counsel, herein you may know the greatness of God indeed, when Peters chayn fel, the iron Gate … way, he concluded it was a message of God. And therefore Moses looks to this in God when he desires the removal of the great provocations of the …; Numb. 14. 17. I pray thee let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast said. When the wals of … … … to the ground: … the sounding of Rams horns it argued the breath of the Almighty went p. 294out with them. So to see the mighty fortes of carnalReas. 2. reason which men have reared against the force of the truth, and when they have entrenched themselves in the desperate resolutions of the self-willy, waywardness of their own hearts yet to become easie, yielding, and under, so that a child may lead them, the greatness of Gods power appears in this.

The riches of mercy is hereby especially magnified which … al the baseness … our hearts, the miscariages of our lives, beyond al our unkindnesses when they are beyond measure, herein the Lord seems to give way to the wickedness of the sons of men, to swel … the common bounds, that his mercy may appear to be beyond al bounds, and boundless and bottomless that's the vertue of the salve when the wound is deadly to heal it, the excellency of the physick when the disease is past hope, and help, then to recover it. Rom. 5. last. When the Apostle had disputed concerning the freeness of grace he asks this question why was the Law added? he answers, that sin might appear and be aggravated, because the Law was given, and the end of that, and the use that God made of it, that where sin abounded grace abounded much more, when sin hath done what it can by al advantages, mercy wil do more than sin, that as sin had raigned unto death so grace might raigne unto life through Jesus Christ our Lord, God suffered pride and rebellion to raigne in Paul, for this end that his mercy and patience towards him might be exemplary 1 Tim. 1. 16. hence it is that the times wherein … gets ground and prevails they are called the times of mercy wherein that gets … Ezek. 16. 5. 8. When the Church was weltering in her blood and had neither … in herself nor succor … without,Reas. 3. then was the time of love, not a time when it was deserved but a season wherein it should be magnifyed, otherwise in reason the Lord might have taken many other times more sutable to his love. Nay the more vile & p. 295miserable they were, Herein is the soveraign vertue of his love and mercy to make them acceptable and beloved.

Look we at the condition of the parties from whence also another reason of the dispensation of the Lord may be discovered, hereby the Lord stains the pride of al flesh, and confounds all the carnal confidence that men seem to place in the creature; for should either the wisdom of the wise, the pomp of the rich, the parts and paines and studyes and dexterity of the prudent and learned, the honor and magnificence of the mighty, and the Monarchs of the world should have found the Profit of the means or received the prevailing power of the holy spirit in his ordinances for their saying good. Men would have eyed and honoured those excellencies, and doated upon them, hung al their hopes and confidence upon the presence and work of these; so that the conclusion out of carnal reason would have issued here, none but such should have had any good, none of al these that had these out ward … should have wanted it, and so some would have been discouraged, that could not attain these, others would presume and be secure that did possess them, and the Lord have been deprived of that honor both of confidence and dependance that was due from al. That the Lord might lay al these excellencies in the dust and forever wean the hearts … men from setting their hopes thereupon, he takes the weakest and the worst and those also when they are at the greatest Under of al baseness and wretchedness, they shal outstrip al those in whom there is this seeming worth, of al the surpassing eminency that the Earth can afford. Thus the Apostle disputes, 1 Cor. 1. 26. you see … …, not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, these are the three excellencies in the world. The … abilities of wit and learning, the nobility of birth, the priviledg of our place and state. The Lord … … whol course of carnal excellency, he chooseth the … to confound the wise, the weak to confound p. 296the mighty, base things, that are not, to bring to nought things & things that are, nothing, of any probability or possibility in an ordinary way, that might have attained any good, being wholly set, against it nothing of ingenuity or moderation or common …, but when they grow desperatly wicked yet then the Lord doth good that no flesh may glory in his presence; that it is not in your wealth or parts or endeavours or outward pomp, behold these poor base creatures, base in their condition and yet more base in their carriage, scant worse in the bottom of Hel, yet these are called. Oh how wil it confound the wise to see the foolish of the world brought to the knowledg of Christ when they never knew the things belonging to their peace, how wil it confound the Civilian and subtil hypocrite who had painted over his profession with appearance of Godliness to see a prophane wretch whose leudness time was when he loathed, as though his person were not fit to be looked on, yet now pulled out of his sink and dunghil, made a glorious saint in heaven when he shal be cast out amongst dogs. So the Prophet. Ezek. 16. last.

Look we at the Work it self, There is also a depth of Reas. 4.infinite wisdom in this Dispensation to bring that about in many hearts, and that by this means, and that with most success the Lord suffers many to go to a great excess of sin, before he laies hold upon them, or seems to take them to task, that the grossness of the evils might make way for their more easie conviction; and so for the entry of the Word upon their souls, and their subjection to the power and evidence thereof. Men or Hypocrites of a smooth refined carriage, when they carry a conformity in their course to the waies of Godliness, and have strength of carnal reason to make the best of an unblameable life, it's hard for any to come within them, either to pass a Sentence of their present condition, because love hopes the best, when it can bring no evidence of the contrary evil, much less to perswade their estate is unsafe p. 297and not sincere; but when the Lord lets loose Satan, or some loathsom lusts upon them, that they become scandalous and notoriously …, and their … appears in their fore-heads, then they yield to go out of the Camp, and confess they are unclean. As the Physitian when he would cure the cold Palsey, he is content to cast his Patient into a burning Feaver, because he can tel how to come the better to the Cure. So here, our Savior wisheth, Rev. 3. 17. I would thou wert either hot or cold, because then he could tel how to deal with her; if either truly good, he would encourage; if openly naught, he would then convince her, he knew how to apply the means, and she would be content to receive it; bu when she conceives her selfrich, she wil receive nothing; wise, she wil hear nothing. So I have known some in experience, that would take it in indignation that any should question their Grace, until the Lord left them to some foul fals, gross cozenage, scandalous drunkenness, &c. that hath made them go deeper, &c.

The … operation of the Word, the breaking, Use. 1.and so converting the heart of a sinner depends not upon any preparation a man can work in himself, or any thing he can do in his corrupt estate for the attaining of life and Salvation. For had the Lord expected the good use of a mans free wil in the imployment and exercise of the works of civility and outward moral behavior, had he looked for the husbanding of the stock of those moral abilities which are left in corrupt nature, or … by the … of providence in the restrainning strokes of common grace, or had the Lord stayed until these … had either valued the worth of the Apostles and their administrations, and painfully improved the advantages, of the means of grace and … now brought home to their dores, or brought a teachableness of spirit to the ordinances. If either the preparation and saving conversion of the souls of men had depended upon any such emprovement of themselves, it's certain p. 298they had not now been made broken-hearted sinners, or savingly brought unto the Lord, and for ought any man can. tel had never attained it. But when cross to the course of humanity they mocked and scorned both … persons & message of the Apostles contrary to truth, they cast reproaches and contumelious contempt upon them, … men are ful of new wine, nay when they were carried with professed opposition, malignant enmity against their persons and dispensations, yet now the Lord presseth in upon them, by the prevailing power of his spirit and word and doth good to them, when they set themselves by al the policy and rage they could to oppose the work of the Lord and their own everlasting welfare; clear it is therefore that this spiritual dispensation of breaking or calling of them home depends not upon any preparation which was done, nor any performances al which for the present were professedly opposite to their own welfare; but meerly upon the power and good pleasure of the Lord, and the work of his spirit which he puts forth when it seems best unto himself its not in him that wills or runs sayes the Apostle, he puts both together and denies success unto both, that so he may take off al the cavils that could be made or indeed pretended. For had it been said the means were powerful and in a plentiful manner bestowed but men would not do what they might and ought, may be there was a slight …, some powerless wishing but there wanted the strength of endeavor behould he excludes both It's not him that wils only, nay let him run for it, put to the best of his abilities, that wil not do the deed. It's not there but in the good pleasure of him that shewes mercy Rom. 9. 17. And hence it is that the very spirit of bondage, terror and astonishment, and sensible troubles of heart, which many times wicked men that fal finally short of saying grace, yet attain in some measure or degree even that is beyond the reach of a mans own power, Wee have not received the spirit of bondage to fear Rom. p. 2998. 15. even that is a gift and must be received and is dispensed freely, al that a natural man can do cannot cal for his old terrors and troubles which out of his sensuality he hath devised wayes to wear out, unless the Lord wil set them on by his hand. And hence the Apostle makes the exception so general to Timothy, 2. Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, so the resolution is into the free grace of God & the soveraignty of his purpose, issues not from any work of ours, hangs not upon that hinge, & hence it is the Lord denyes the communication of means to some whom he foresees would use and husband them to beter advantages and bestowes them upon such who neither prize nor profit by al they have, nay are open contemners and opposers of the truth. Wo be to thee Chorazin wo beto thee Bethsaida for if the great workes that have beendone in thee had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would long before this day have repented in sackcloath and ashes Math. 11. 21. yea he professeth Ezek. 4. 6. If he had sent Ezekiel to a strange people and of hard language such as had never heard of the things of God and grace they would have hearkned to him when the Jewes rejected his counsel and the commands of God dispensed by his means, Hence it is the Lord to shew the soveraign freedom of his pleasure, that he may do with his own what he wil, and yet do wrong to none, he denyes pardon and acceptance to those who seek it with some importunity and earnestness Prov. 1. 28. they shal seek me early and shal not find me and yet bestowes mercy and … known himself unto some who never sought him. Isai. 65. 1. That we may … from hence for ever to fear and avoyd that haeretical doctrine of the Arminians so deeply dangerous to the salvation of mens souls and so exceedingly derogatory to the glory of Gods free grace in Christ, who maintayn that if we do what we can, and improve the natural abilities p. 300we have, and the means we do enjoy God wil not deny to give us the grace supernatural we want. An opinion so gross that the Popish school wil not abide by it, and the most ingenuous of the Jesuits themselves do professedly oppose and condemn. For besides that it destroyes the comfort of a sinner & dasheth the hopes of al the sons of men, for if none should be saved but those that do what they can, its certayn never any man either in nature or grace did what he … either emproveing his natural abilities as he might according to special opportunites and liberties put into his hand, nor … faithful ever tohusband their grace according to what they received and was expected, and might also be justly challenged at their hands; If therefore their hopes had their support here, their hearts and hopes and comforts and happiness and al would fayl them, and they must needs have their lives and their everlasting condition ever in doubt and suspence, and in issue sink down in everlasting discouragment, but I say besides this it destroyes the whol frame of grace in the carriage of it.

First it undermines the very foundation of the dispensation 1of grace which proceeds as we have heard from the purpose and Good pleasure of the Almighty thither our Saviour looks as at the fountain from whence al spiritual favours proceed: Math 11. 26.. I thank thee Father &c. Even the Father because it pleaseth thee 2 Tim. 1. 9. called not according to our works and free wil, but according to his purpose and free mercy Rom. 11. 19. Whom he will he hardens, and whom he wil he shews mercy to soften and converts; he doth not expect how we improve the freedom of our wils and perform our works, but he gives both wil and deed whereas this opinion resolves the issue of my conversion and so of salvation into my own purpose, and as he said makes Gods free grace lackey after mans free wil. For it is in a mans power and pleasure to do what God hath put into his own power according to his own wil, if I p. 301wil do but what I can, if I wil, and improve abilities and advantages afforded, but as I may according to this conceit, God wil never deny me the Grace I want, the mercy and Salvation I do endeavor after. So that the last resolution in this way is left upon a mans own free wil, if he will not do what he may, he misseth his good, if he do what he can, he shal not fail to receive it.

It cuts the very … of the Covenant of …, 2and the freedom thereof. For upon this ground and grant, it's not in Gods hand to dispose of his own mercy, but it is in my hand, and left in my choyce; If I wil improve liberties and advantages, I may have the Grace I want; if I wil reject both, then it's my folly and negligence, I must bear the blame, and endure the misery, and thank my self, when it was in mine own power, to provide for mine own comfort. This course issues and returns into the Covenant of Works: these Paul sets in such a direct opposition, as that they cannot stand the one with the other, Rom. 11. 6. If of Grace, it is no more of Works, for then Grace was no more grace; if of Works, then not of Grace, for then Works were no more Works; what then Israel hath not obtained, q. d. It was not the bulk and body of the people, nor in the power, ability, or performance of any person; but the Election hath obtained: Not because Israelites, not because they had such Priviledges, not because they used such Ordinances, and took up the performance of Duties required; but because elected, therefore called, therefore justified. The contrary course which issues the obtaining of Grace into the improvement of abilities and advantages, returns as I said into a … of Works, for the Condition in the ultimate resolution stil remains in my power, the staff is left in my hand. It's al one upon point to have … enough in my hand to pay, and to have it in my power to command, if at my pleasure in another hand; and so I dispose of Gods mercy, and my own good in the issues. p. 302Whereas in the Covenant of Grace, all is firstly, freely, wholly, and only in the hand of the Lord to dispose, to whom he wil, what, when, and after what manner he wil. In this Covenant he doth not require the condition only; but the Lord Christ as the Second Adam, he performs the Condition also; not only requires new hearts, but puts new spirits into us; not only commands us to beleeve, but enables us; and as he himself speaks, Gives us to beleeve, Matth. 13. 11.

This crosseth the end of the Covenant, and the scope 3of the whol course, and administration of the means of life and Salvation; which is to set forth the glory of the Riches of Gods Grace in the Eyes of all, and to the Consciences and acknowledgments of all hearts, a return of al … to him, and a total dependance upon him for ever. Therefore the Lord chose the base and despicable things that are not, to confound things that are, 1 Cor. 1. last. that no flesh should glory in his sight, and that he that glories, might glory in the Lord. By what Law is boasting excluded? by the Law of Works? Nay, but by the Law of Faith. Rom. 3. 27. For if Abraham had been justified by Works he had whereof to glory. Rom. 4. 2. And therefore as in the Material, it's so in the Spiritual Temple, the laying of the first and lowest stone, and adding of the last, all the people cried, Grace, Grace; and hence the whol chain is as it were of Gods own making and tying, Whom he predestinated, them he called; and whom he called, them he justified; and whom he justified, them he glorified, Rom. 8. 30. and the end and issue of all, is set down by the holy Apostle, Eph. 4. 15. when all the Churches shall meet at the great day of Appearance in the unity of the Faith, it is to the acknowledgment of the Son of God. By whom were you called, humbled, justified, adopted, sanctified? By the Son of God, receive all from him, return all to him. But this Opinion plucks the Crown from Christs Head, the Glory from his Work, the p. 303Praise from his Grace, and gives it to the will of man, and the improvement of those abilities and opportunities the Lord hath put into his hand; because by this means he makes himself to differ. For set Paul and Judas in the same rank, let them enjoy the same means, share in the same liberties, advantages, opportunities, one as the other: Paul by the good use of his free will, he plaies the good Husband, he doth what he can, and he obtains what he wants, and receives Grace; Judas plaies the Prodigal and Unthrift, doth not what he should and might, and therefore he wants Grace: so that they were both equal in the priviledges and opportunities they received from God, they differ not there; that Paul hath that Grace which Judas wants, he may thank his own pains and improvement, and glory in himself and them. Nay, Paul is not bound to be thankful to God for any thing more than Judas; for he had no more from God by this Opinion than Judas, what he had and received more, it was by his own improvements, which to conceit, is a most hellish delusion.

Lastly, If by the improvements of Abilities and Advantages 4we certainly receive Spiritual Grace, then this must follow, Either because such improvement deserves Grace; or do immediately and nextly dispose the soul to receive Grace; or that such improvements have a promise made to them from God. But none of al these can be granted.

They cannot deserve Grace, because when we have 1done what we can, we must conclude as we shal have cause to confess we are unprofitable, Luke 17. 10. The plowing, and so the praying of the wicked is sin, his most beautiful performances are from the flesh, and so sinful, and deserve the just wrath of God, and therefore no Grace nor Glory, John 3. 8.

They do not, nor can dispose the soul, as that it may be 2thereby a fit subject to receive Grace: Those actions which leave the soul under the power of sin, and acted p. 304by sin, and a man in a Natural condition, those stil leave the soul indisposed to Grace; for the Natural man perceives not the things of Grace, nor can he receive them, 1 Cor. 2. 14. they found him in the world, and they leave him in the world, and the world cannot receive the holy Ghost, John 14. 17. Natural and corrupt actions, cannot prepare immediately for Supernatural Grace.

There is no promise of giving saving Grace to such, 3and none could ever be shewed. That which somtimes the Arminians pretend, but press it with no great confidence, is in Matth. 25. 29. in the Parable of the Talents; To every man that hath, shall be given; and to him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that he hath: Hence, He that hath, and useth his Natural abilities wel, shal be given Supernatural. Answ. That gloss corrupts … Text, and doth not suit with the Scope and Circumstances of the Parable, as hath been made good by many Arguments, by such as have diligently searched into the sence of the place. The unprofitable Servant that used not his Talents wel, he is to receive that Sentence, … must be cast into utter darkness; which were it understood according to the former Opinion, it would infer an apparent falshood. He that did not improve his Talent, was forth with to be cast into utter darkness; but many that do not use their natural abilities, and the special advantages wel, have been formerly, and wil without question be brought home to Christ and happiness, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Know ye not, that no Adulterer, Covetous Reviler, Extortioner, shal inherit the Kingdom of Heaven; but such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are clensed. 1 Pet. 4. 2. It is sufficient that in time past we have had our Conversation among the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, …, excess of Riot, Revellings, and abominable …. These did not use their Natural abilities wel, and yet were not cast out into utter darkness; p. 305therefore the using of the Natural abilities, is not the having, or the using of the Talent there meant. … I suppose the meaning of the Phrase is, by him that hath, is meant the man that is truly gracious; the Talent is the Gospel; by having, is the receiving and … of it in a good and honest heart, and the sanctified use of it in a saving manner. For the Evangelists Expressions seem undeniable to evidence this meaning, Matth. 13. 11, 12. When our Savior Christ had told his Disciples it was given to them (q. d. it's the peculiar special work of the Spirit of Grace in your hearts) to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, but to them it is not given; he ads the reason and proof in the next verse; for to him that hath, he that in sincerity entertains the Gospel shal have a further communication of the Truth, and sweetness of the Gospel to his soul; but whosoever hath not, whosoever entertains not the Gospel in truth and uprightness, from him shall be taken away the Gospel, which by a seeming profession of fals-hearted, lazy entertainment he would seem to have, but never had in sincerity; the like connexion is found, Mark 4. 24, 25. Take heed what you hear, and unto you that hear, i. e. that do take heed what you hear, more shal be given; for to him that hath, shall be given; but … that hath not, i. e. that doth not take heed what he hears, and so receives not the Word in sincerity, from him shall be taken even that he hath.

But if the saving work of the Word, doth not depend Object.upon my endeavor, why should I endeavor any further, any longer, or attend the use of the means, or practice answerable thereunto?

Thou thy self, and al thy services being in a naturalAnsw. 1. estate, are as a menstruous cloth, both in themselves, and in the sight of Gods pure eyes, unanswerable to Gods mind, and the Rule of the Law, and therefore cannot save you; yet thy sinful neglects, impudent and scornful contempt of the way and means of Grace, will undoubtedly p. 306damn thee: This is condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness more than light, John, 3. 17. The Scribes and Pharisees despised the Counsel of God against themselves, Luke, 7. 30.

The Law and Command was given to Adam in innocency, 2and to thee in him, to Husband all advantages, and to lay out thy self in all thy sufficiencies to advance Gods Name, and to do his will; to love him, and serve him with all thy mind, and with all thy might; …, 22. 37. How ever thou beest changed, yet the Law is not changed; however thy ability is not the same, by reason of … wound thou hast taken by original corruption, yet thy Duty is the same to this day. Gods will is done in Heaven, and should be done in Earth. The Debtor that borrows the money, and stands bound to the Creditor to answer the Debt, though his state alter, and he be impoverished, and made unable to pay, yet his Bond for payment continues in full force against him, and he will be constrained to make it good.

Though all that thou canst do, can neither prepare 3thee for Grace, nor purchase Grace for thy self, yet the means through Divine Institution are mighty; God by them can work effectually, and if it seem good to 'his good pleasure, he will; wait upon him only for that good thou wantest, from whom only it can be received. As the Leapers in the time of the Famine resolved to try what might be done by others for their safety, who could do nothing for themselves. That is Gods way and means; try what God will do, in whose pleasure it is to give, or deny. I might ad what Divines speak, and seasonable … to the Point in hand. While thou art endeavoring as thou canst, it lessens thy sin, and prevents further plagues, unto which thou wilt be subject, through Gods just Judgment, and thine own just deserving. Abab's … humiliation, prevented the … plague, though it did not free him from the eternal, p. 3071 Kings, 21. 29. Seest thou … Ahab humbles himself, I will not bring the evil in his daies.

A Patient that hath a Wolf in her Breast, and an … Gout, knows neither can be recovered, yet both may be eased by use of Physick, and moderate Diet; and therefore he intends both. Cast away the evil of your works, but keep your works still; keep some Rules if thou canst not keep all: better save one side of thy … good, than both naught. If thou canst not avoid al sin, avoid as much as thou canst.

Is it then beyond the power, and any possibility ofObject. man to attain Grace?

Yes. It's not in man to direct his own way, Jer. 10.Answ. 23. It's beyond the power of a dead man to restore himself to life. And our Savior is express and peremptory in giving Sentence in this case and his determination is conclusive, Matth. 19. 26. when he said, it's as easie for a Chamel to go through the eye of a needle, as for a rich man to be saved: The Disciples ask Who then can be saved? He returns this definitive Answer, With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Look we at the power and performances of man, there is no sufficiency … possibility: for of our selves we are not able to think a good thought, 2 Cor. 3. 5. But if we look at the Almighty Power of God, there is nothing hard to him, who hath Hardness at Command.

But is any man tied to impossibilities, and can any Object.be punished because he … not … that which is impossible to him?

Impossibilities are of two sorts, 1. Some are absolute Answ.that exceed the compass of our being, or all that ability we ever received. 2. Impossibilities by supposition, which though the things be possible, yea; easie in their Nature, and with reference to their first order, and institution; yet by reason of some inconveniences, hindrances, weaknesses which fall in beside, and cross to the p. 308course and constitution of things as they were at first; that which formerly might easily have been compassed, there is in ordinary course no possibility to attain unto it. And to such …, a man may be justly tyed, and failing in his performances, may justly be punished by the Law of Nature, Nations, right Reason, and the righteous Rule of God. The … hath borrowed so much money, which he may improve, and is bound to repay at such a day appointed; if he through his prodigality and riot, shal vainly mis-spend, not only the Sum he borrowed, but his stock, a fair estate unto which he was born, so that it's now impossible to him, thus impoverished to satisfie. May not the Creditor according to al the Rules of Right and Reason require his Money, & in the default of payment, punish or imprison? No Nation ever questioned it. It was not only possible for Adam, but easie to love God above all; if he through his fall, hath brought impossibility of payment upon himself, the Lord may in Justice require it, and punish him for it. And certain it is, God justly may and doth deny Reprobates Grace; not only because they do not what they may, but also because they do that which through the corruption of their own hearts they cannot avoid: As namely because of the enmity of the wisdom of the flesh, they are not, nor cannot be subject to the Law, and … Will of God, Rom. 8. 7.

That for which God condemns the wicked, for that he denies them Grace and Glory: For Condemnation implies both, and cannot admit either. But they are condemned, not only because they do not so much, but because they did such and such Duties to false ends:I say, 58. 3, 4, 5, 6. not because they did not fast and pray, but because they did both to a wrong end, to serve themselves and lusts, and not to serve God: and yet they could not aim at Gods Glory as their last end. If for the not doing of such Duties they should and might do, they only want p. 309…, then if they had done such and such according to their power (as they could) and improvement of their abilities, then they had received Grace undoubtedly, which hath been fully confuted by the former Arguments. To issue this Point, that we may fence our selves against so dangerous a conceit, let us take in, and store our hearts with some saving Truths, as a Soveraign Antidote against such fals-hoods: and herein I shall not only speak mine own Judgment, but the Judgment of all my fellow Brethren, as I have just cause, and good ground to beleeve, that so you may receive them … Truths under the Testimony of many Witnesses.

Ballast therefore thy heart with the Conclusions following:

All men are by Nature, dead in sins and trespasses.

A dead man can not prepare himself for life, much 2… hath power to procure it.

The Lord in the Work of Conversion, doth not only 3by moral perswasion propound the Truths of the Gospel, and enlighten the mind, but puts a principle into the heart of such as he brings effectually and savingly home to himself.

In this work of God, the Sinner at first is meerly 4patient.

That men may … this from God, every man is 5bound to wait upon him, in the means he hath appointed, and according to the utmost of his power, improve al abilities and advantages he hath.

When any man hath improved his abilities to attend 6the means of Grace, neither hath used his ability to oppose, and cavil at the means, it's in Gods freedom to take either, or refuse both, for it is not in him that … andruns, but in God that shews mercy, Rom. 9. 16.

COMFORT. Here is ground of incomparable Use, 2.Encouragement, and in truth, of inconceivable Refreshing to hold up the heads and hearts of the most wretched p. 310sinners in the most forlorn condition, able to shore and prop up the soul with some possibility of good, that it sink not down, and be swallowed up with desperate discouragement. I am almost afraid to cast such Mat. 7.Matt 7Pearls before Swine: And when I do but think or suspect 6that any carnal wretch should abuse this kindness, and turn this Grace of God into wantonness; if it doJude, 4. not depend upon my doing, I wil do nothing, let God do al. I am forced almost to bite in my words, and my heart almost misgives me, as loth to cast away such compassions of the Lord upon such hellish Varlets, who out of the venom of their Spirits would turn these choyce Preservatives into Poyson. Yet because it is like a piece of board left after the wrack when the Ship is broken as the last means of relief; as a cord of compassion let fall amongst a company of poor perishing Creatures, ready to be over-whelmed with the floods of iniquity, and who knows but some may catch it at the last cast, before they go hence, and be seen no more. Let me therefore bequeath this Encouragement to you as my last Will, even the words of a dying man, before you and I appear before the dreadful presence of the Lord. Know then, you are yet in the Land of the Living, and bless God you are so; and know, because it's the will and pleasure of God to do good to some of the worst of men as he sees …, therefore there is yet hope while there is life; some little peep-hole of hope, like a pins head, a possibility there is you may receive good. You see here how he prevails with the spirits of … most perverse, they have their hearts …, though it be … the hair … heart and all, … when they … and wounded the godly … … … poor Disciples. … your hearts eccho then from every corner of the Assembly, Pierce me, me …; Pardon me, me also; Humble me, me also; … thy abundant goodness and good pleasure. If the … be … so dangerous, and in appearance …; … the disease be … so p. 311deadly, and in the apprehensions of al, past help, If the Physitian and … be known to have cured and helped in such cases, and that he yet lives; the patient wil yet support himself with such inferences, why may not my sore be cured, my disease healed, so the Lord lives who hath done as much for forlorn sinners and why not for me, poor wretched creature, say so, thou saiest ….

This is the scope of Gods counsel and his very purpose why he leaves such patterns of the freeness of his compassions, that yet forlorn creatures might look to him, from the depth of their most desperate misery. Let not the Lord fayl of his intendment, nor you of your comfort 1 Tim 1. 16. I was a Blasphemer a Persecuter and injurious howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me … Christ Jesus might shew forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. That they might hope stil for Good as he received it. and know they may be made partakers of it upon the same terms that he was, set the pattern of this compassion … your eyes, and see yet a possibility of relief. We shal sever a little the particulars that each man may suit his own condition with that most … him, here is that which answers to every necessity and complaint.

One complaines his wants are so many, he cannot … how ever they should be supplyed, another complains his spirit so perverse, he knows not how it can be subdued, a third his rebellions so open, so grosse against the Almighty & al the means of life, its … that ever the Lord should pass by such hellish provocations I … al your complaints are just and weighty, your condition very dangerous. And let me tel you did your relief and help depend upon your preparations and … or …, its certain your hearts and … and hopes would utterly fail and give up the Ghost. Here is the anchor of your hopes that p. 312where in your help lyes is here, and leave not this anchorhold the Lord can do good and wil, against al indispositions and oppositions of spirit, & carriages to the contrary, as he sees fit. And therefore thou mayest lift up thy head and say then it may be to me yea to thee never so weak, to the perverse and rebellious. Attend what the Lord sayes take his word and take it with thee.

Thou seest and confessest thy person baser than the earthObject. that bears thee, thy mind ful of blindness, stupidity, 1sottish and unteachable; in the things of God, thou hast heard so many able men, enjoyed so many means of conviction and information, and al hath slipt away like water spilt upon a rock, and why should I think that ever I should be convinced or instructed or any light ever set up in this sottish mind of mine.

True thou hast been taught by men, and manAnsw. and means have happily done their best, and truly they are nothing, and thou art nothing, and all that they and thou canst do is nothing, yea but they shal all John, 6.be taught of God, saies the text. Christ now45. in heaven did more by the Ministry of Peter, than in his bodily presence he did, nay (go further than that) then his bodily presence could do, though he spake as never man spak. No matter how dul thou art if God wil teach thee, how weak if God wil strengthen thee. Be thy wants what they wil be or can be, the al-sufficient God wants neither wisdom nor power nor mercy to do what thou canst need, and he wil, for thy good. And his power pitcheth his tent, and taketh pleasure to shew it self in weakness. Thou art foolish, God chooseth the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. 1. Cor. 1. 26. 27. Thou art not any thing thou shouldst be, God delights to cal things that are not as though they were, and therefore may cal and choos thee also. They are not only dry but dead bones which the Lord makes to live Ezek. 37. 2. can these dead bones live? they are not onelyonly miscarrying but barren wombs which p. 313the Lord makes to bear, and be fruitful. Not only when things are under hope but when there is nothing in present appearance or expectation then God can do it. Rom. 4. 24. when it is not onelyonly beyond thy power and ability God can support thee, and strengthen thee, teach and quicken thee when it is beyond not thy apprehension, but thy very thought and hope; he hath done so, … do so, he lives stil, and can do so to thee also.

True my weaknesses are many but thats not al, norObj. 2. yet the worst, the way wardness and perversness of mine own heart ads the greatest weight unto my misery and wretchedness not onelyonly destitute of any spiritual good, but not willing to be made better, my brow as brass and my neck like an iron and sinew, as the Lord complaynes, Isa. 48. 4. My heart harder than the nether milstone Job. 41. 28. If life and Salvation were laid before me and that I might have heaven and grace for taking or entertainment of it, yet I would neither have word, nor Christ nor heaven it self unless I might have my wil in heaven, such is the invincible stiffness and desperate perversness of my spirit; unless I may have what I wil when it comes upon the narrow, God must not have his glory, nor service nor subjection nor alleagiance nor duty in the least … discharged. I must burn, for I can neither break nor yield: nor mercies perswade me, nor judgments awe me, I can receive no good, nay I can see no reason why God should do any good to me that would not have it.

Here is the dead lift, and the wonder of al wonders,Answ. the overpowring of the soveraignty of a stubborn selfwilly heart, … the throne where Satan dwells; which … the doctrine of free-wil to be a doctrine of Devils and that which drives the soul to everlasting discouragement, pretend what such deceivers can to the contrary.

But the former doctrine affords support, and that which wil bear up thy heart even in this particular also p. 314thy Salvation depends not upon thine owne wil, for then neither thou nor any flesh should be saved. But God shewes mercy to whom he will shew mercy, Rom. 9. 19. As nothing can deserve his mercy so nothing can resist his good pleasure, when he wil shew it, he wil make thee find it and others see it. James, 1. 18. of his own good wil begot he us by the word of truth; It's not according to the wil of Satan, for then no man should be saved, its not according to the wil of man fallen, for then no man could be saved. But he dispenseth the work of his grace according to his own wil And his counsel shal stand, and he will do what he wil. Isai. 46. 11. let the wil of men and Devills oppose it to the utmost of their power. Quiet thou thy heart, I cannot do any thing that might purchas, not yet in truth would I have grace if God would give it, only it is with God to do good to this miserable soul of mine as he wil, who doth what he wil in heaven and in earth, his wil be done and blessed be his holy name for ever and ever: and there stay thy self. It was the expression of a man in heavy perplexity of Conscience finding the crosness of his wil to snarl at the Lords dispensation, his heart sunk within him, with unsupportable horror, that he had … the sin against the Holy Ghost; and with many prayers and tears he sought to heaven to bring his heart to an under subjection to the good pleasure of the Lord, but the Lord left him to his own perversness, nothing he could do, could prevail with his own spirit. and proffessed against that cursed cavil of the Arminians, that reproach of the doctrine of Gods free grace which leads to despayr and discouragement, openly acknowledging that if his own salvation depended upon his own wil, he should perish irrecoverably: but that only held his heart in some hope that his happiness was in Gods hand, and that it meerly depended upon the wil of the Lord, to give him a heart to fear and serve him or else his heart would fayl. And it was a savory p. 315speech of a gracious woman that had a great deal of Do with her own heart, when she could not find her heart to come off so willingly to give way as she ought to what her judgment allowed, she besought the Lord to give her such a disposition of heart whether she would or no.

Thou yet replyest, that which ads to the hainousnessObj. 3. of my evil is this, these loathsom distempers have not been harboured in mine own breast onelyonly, confined in mine own bosom, which yet had been too much, but they have broken out into the most sierce and professed rebellion and that in the highest degree. I have been a professed opposer of the gospel and the power thereof, an open Rabshekah, a Ringleader and Encourager, to such that would revile and reproach the righteous and good wayes of Gods grace, a jearing Ishmaelite, of such as with … of Conscience had care to walk therein, and have resolved and attempted also even with an impudent face and a brazen forehead to outbrave the authority of the truth, and made it matter of scorn to drop and give in to the most dreadful threatnings, that could be denounced out of the word, I have trampled al the entreaties of the Lord and tender offers of mercy under feet, that when I have called over my course, and viewed my carriage in cold blood I have wondred that the Lord hath not made me a spectacle of his displeasure, before I departed out of the place, that the very earth did not open and swallow me quick as Corah … and Abiram. So that God cannot be God unless he do avenge himself and pluck the praise of his justice … the heart blood of such a wretch, nay he should be accessory to the dishonor of his own name if he should shew mercy to such who openly, impudently in a hellish haughtiness of heart have trampled his mercy under their feet.

True flesh and blood could not do it, nay the heart … ….man cannot think it how this should be, did wee measure p. 316Gods compassions according to our narrowscantling, but Gods thoughts are not ours nor his wayes ours, so far as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his mercy unto them that fear him. Isai. 55. Psal. 103. 11. infinitely above and beyond our own desires and thoughts, our imaginations and expectations; They are I confess amazing expressions of miraculous compassions of the Lord, yet such they are as he is pleased to manifest to sinful dust and ashes. He can tel how to have the honor of his justice and to save thy soul, thou sinful rebel. Nay he can tel how best to provide most for his own glory, when he pardons most sins: I beseech thee pardon my sins for they are many Psal. 25. 11. He lets the power of darkness proceed to its ful strength, that the power of his exceeding mercy might shew it self in delivering from the nethermost hell. He gives sin advantage that it might do its worst, and raign unto death, that so his grace might raign over sin & death unto eternal life. According to the soveraignty of his wil whereby he subdues al things to himself Eph. 3. last and here thou mayest yet feel firm bottom to bear up thy fainting heart from sinking down into everlasting discouragement.

Thus you see the compass of this encouragement which issues from Gods free grace. But least some proud flesh should arise by this healing preservative if it should heal too fast to keep thee under this encouragement and yet to keep thee from presumption take these Cautions.

It's possible God may do thee good, notwithstanding Caut. 1.all indispositions and oppositions. But know … for certain he never will do it but in his own way. If he save thee he wil humble thee, if he pardon that guilty soul and Conscience of thine, he wil pierce both to the quick; there is not a possibility he should save thy soul … thy sin also, set it down for an undenyable conclusion I cannot have my stubborn and rebellious heart and p. 317have any hope that ever I shal have either Grace or Mercy. If thou wilt sin that mercy may abound (as the Apostle brings in the sons of Belial, speaking, Rom. 6. 1.) thou mayest have thy sin, but upon these terms thou shalt never have mercy. Either expect that God should take away thy sin, or else never expect he should prevent thy ruin.

When the Lord lets in some light to discover the 2loathsomness of thy corrupt Nature, and begins to grapple with thy Conscience, so that thou stand'st convinced of the vileness of thine own waies, the worth and excellency of his Grace; when God hath thee upon the Anvil, and under the Hammer to break thee, in the fire to melt thee, … fear, fear, lest thou should'st make an escape from under the hand of the Lord, and fall back again to the old base course; it's a dreadful suspicion of Gods direful displeasure, lest either the Lord wil cease to do thee any further good; or give thee up to those hellish departures, that thou shouldest make thy self everlastingly uncapable of mercy.

1. It's a sore suspicion that the Lord purposeth to 1leave striving, and to meddle with thee no more, when the Lord suffers thee to wind away from under the power of the means which formerly thou wert subject to. It's Gods usual manner to make such unexcusable, and never make them good, that they might go self-condemned, and so go to Hell. It's that of the Prophet … which he makes a Symptom of the out-cast condition of the Jews that they were dross, Jer. …. 30. Reprobate Silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them: How proves he that? Verse 29. The Bellows are burnt, the Lead is consumed in the fire, the Founder melteth in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away. To this purpose is that of our Savior, when he had long striven with the rebellious Jews, clocked to them as a Hen to her Chickens, and would have gathered them under the wing of his saving Providence, p. 318by the preaching of the Gospel and ye nothing would prevayl, they would drive Christ out of their sight, and he smites them with a plague answerable, Math 23. 2 last. ver. ye shal see me no more, until ye shal say blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. And this his word hath taken hold upon them unto … day, the poor forlorn Jewes have not had a sight of Christ this sixteen hundred yeers, scriptures they have, prophecyes, promises, yea they have the Gospel while they … the Gospel, for so the Apostle Gal. 3. The Gospel was preached to Abriaham saying in thy seed shal al the Nations of the earth be blessed, they see al this but the vayl is over their eyes, they see no Christ in promises, ordinances and therefore no salvation, leaving secret things to God. So it befals many falshearted Apostates when God hath had them in the fire and they come out too hastily from horror and humiliations, before half melted, Its a great adventure they never come to Christ, but wanse away in a powerless kinde of formality and content … with the enjoyment of some outward priviledges and ordinances and names of profession, they have the scriptures and ordinances but never see a Christ, in any of them, nor wil the Lord look upon them, nor once speak to them, when he passeth by, but let them live and perish as heartless, Christless men. Thus our savior dealt with his people in former times when he had sent the spyes into the Land of Canaan, Heb. 3. 18. Numb. 14. 23. and they returned convinced by their own experience of the goodness of the land as flowing with milk and honey, and out of a slothful cowardice because there were iron Charrets and walled cities, and mighty Giants, they withdrew the duty and Gods charge, and disheartened also the people, the text sayes the Lord sware in his wrath they should not enter into his rest. When God swears, it shewes his purpose is unchangable and his execution wil not be altered. Canaan is a type of the Kingdom of grace and p. 319so of Glory when the Lord let in some evidence of the excellency thereof and the heart cannot but acknowledg it, … leaves off rather than it wil take the paynes to grapple with those Giant-like corruptions, that iron and … hardness of heart, why shouldest not thou fear least God should swear thou shalt never enter into his rest, thou shouldest never find the power of the death of Jesus in killing the body of death, so that thou shouldest cease from thine own works, and from the sinful distempers of thy corrupt heart.

Fear again, lest the Lord give thee up to thy old distempers, Secondly.that thou should'st make thy self everlastingly uncapable of any good, and sin that unpardonable sin against the holy Ghost. When thou goest against those Convictions of thy Conscience, those tasts of approbation which somtimes thy heart took in the good Word and waies of God; for by this back-sliding thou art in the ready way to run upon that rock. This was that which helped Paul the possibility of mercy, 1 Tim. 1. 14. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, it was his zeal that he persecuted the Church, i. e. his blind zeal; but should he have done so against the Dictates of his Conscience, and the evidence of Truth in his own heart, he could hardly have seen a way for mercy. So the Apostle to the Hebrews, 6. 8. The Earth that often drinketh in the rain, and yet brings forth thorns and … is nigh, is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. The rain is the Word, heard, understood, embraced, acknowledged, and yet have their malicious venemous conspiracies against the Gospel of God, and Saints of Christ, and that in … like thorns under the leaves, like bryars under pretence of moderation and humility, can scratch bitterly, it's a heavy suspicion their end wil be burning. Take heed thou content not thy self in thy rebellious condition; for upon this supposition that thou wilt have this, thou puttest thy self out of any possibility of good, goest against Gods p. 320Order, Course, and Covenant, and the whol Work of Redemption, Christ comes to bless his by turning them away from their sins, Acts, 3. last; and therefore when the Lord comes to hale thee out of thy sins, take heed thou dost not go from under Gods strivings, lest he strive with thee no more.

EXHORTATION. We have hence special motives Use 3.to quicken the desires, and provoke the endeavors of the most carnal minded men in the world, to attend with all the care and diligence they may upon the means of Grace.

But you wil tel us, It is not in our Preparations,Object. Performances, and Improvements, that our Spiritual good depends, there is nothing we can do can procure it, it depends wholly upon the good pleasure of the Lord; Why then should we trouble our selves to endeavor any thing?

I Answer, The Inference is the quite contrary way: Answ.All is in God and his good pleasure, attend therefore upon him in his own means, that thou mayest receive al from him. If a man should reason thus: I can do nothing for my self, therefore I wil take a course that no man shall do any thing for me; it were not a weakness, but a kind of madness; but rather in common sence a man would be provoked to press his own heart thus; I can do nothing of my self, therefore I must attend upon God in those means which he useth to do for all those he useth to do good unto. So the Disciples to our Savior when he would arm them against his departure, Will ye also go away? John, 6. 68. They answer, Lord, whither should we go? thou only hast the words of eternal life. Christ only can humble and convert, Christ only hath peace and pardon, therefore only go to him. We are so wise for our bodies, where one is most like to speed, every man is most willing to go, especially considering as nothing can purchase his favor, … nothing can … the expression of his good pleasure when he wil, p. 321go therefore what ever thy condition is. When thou art at the weakest, here is supply: As he said, Why Gen. 42. 1, 2.Gen 42:1Gen 42:2stand you gazing, fainting, and famishing? get ye into Egypt for Corn, that we may live, and not die: though thou livest in the height of the perversness of thy heart, in the out-rage of thy rebellion, though thou carriest a scornful contemptuous spirit with thee, yet go; who knows when is Gods time, what he may do? bring your own souls, your rebellious Servants, and disobedient Children, fall down at the foot of Christ in his Ordinances, and say, Here are a company of Hellish, Traitrous hearts, which bring proud, stubborn, scornful, rebellious distempers, like so many bloody weapons, even to wound thy good Majesty withal; Oh pluck these weapons out of our hands, these treasons out of our hearts, that would pluck us to thee, and so to destruction. As we cannot deserve any thing, so our wretchedness cannot hinder thy Work.

And because thou knowest not the season of mercy, 1take al seasons, thou knowest not what time God may or wil work; because it is in his own pleasure, therefore attend upon him at al times, 2. Tim. 2. 25. Proving if at any time God will give thee Repentance.

Attend upon him in all Ordinances; because it is in 2his pleasure to breath in which he wil, and to bless which he wil for thy Spiritual Comfort. Sow thy Seed in the morning, and in the evening, because thou knowest not which may prosper, this or that, Eccles. 11. 6. Thou knowest not whether Prayer, or Meditation, or Reading wil prosper, and which of these, or any other Ordinance God wil bless for the saving good of thy soul.

When thou findest the Lord stirring, moving, enabling, 3and working in thee, move thou, and work thou also: As the Marriner when he finds the gale coming any way, he tacks about … way to take the advantage. God was tampering with the heart of Agrippa, it was at a ha, now a ha, Thou hast almost perswaded me to become p. 322a Christian, saies he to Paul, Acts, 26. 28. Ah what a pity was it he should fal back again.

It's matter os wonderment able to swallow up the: Use 4.heart of a sinner with the everlasting admiration of this …, unmatchable kindness of the Lord. Micah, 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardonest iniquity, and passest by the transgression of the remnant of his Heritage: He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he … in mercy; he will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea. You that have tasted how good the Lord is, and found this Truth made good in your own hearts by your own experience; as Paul was wont to recount his course, I was a persecuter, blasphemous and, 1 Tim. 1 15, 16.1 Tim 1:151 Tim 1:16injurious, but I obtained mercy. I doubt not but many of you may say, if ever there was a Fiend in Hell, or a Rebel upon Earth, I was one; an opposer of the Gospel, a despiser of the means of Grace, a hater of the holy waies of the Lord, and his servants that walk therein: yet then God did me good, when I desired and … my own hurt. Get ye homeye blessed Saints, and in the secret of your Closets cal Heaven and Earth together, and leave these compassions upon Record. Say, the time was this carnal mind of mine plotted my wretched …, and mine own ruin, but then the Lord prevented both; I opposed … entreaties, and he yet pursued me, and would take no …; he called after me, wept over me, Turn ye, turn Ezek. 33. 11.Ezek 33:11ye, why will you die? I provoked him, he pitied me; I resisted him, he imbraced me; I said I would have none of him nor his Grace, he said he would have no denial; I resolved to walk on in the frowardness of mine own …, and to perish in the despight of al means, and he would and did shew me mercy in the despight of the pride and rebellion of this heart, or else I had never p. 323seen this day, nor never had hope to see his face in glory. Be astonished and confounded at this, O ye Devils, and come down ye blessed Angels from Heaven, and magnifie this mercy. Leave this in your last will and testament to your little ones, O ye Fathers; leave this as a pattern of compassions to all ensuing Ages, that they may love this God, and fear this God, &c.

They were pierced in their hearts.

The persons have been considered in those respects which were material and suitable to the aim of the Text: We are now come to enquire of the Work it self, that is termed here piercing. 2. The place or subject in which this was, it was in their hearts. Pierced] The word in the Original is a compound, and implies more than bare pricking; nor have we any English word fit to express it. A shivering and pulling all asunder; Cyprian transpunctio.for it is so to prick as to pierce and enter, dig on every side, to pierce not overly, but quite through the soul, as some of the Antients render it. It's found only in this place in the new Testament, though the Seventy, Interpreters used it often in the Old, in the … of several words in several places, according to the intendment thereof. But that is remarkable, that the Hebrew Root which they somtimes expressed by the word in this place, it signifies such a kind of piercing as when the body of a travelling woman is wounded with the sorrow of Child-birth, when the Child is severed from the Womb, and brought into the world. And it usually implies as here, a work of sound sorrow laid upon the soul, whereby sin and the soul come to be parted each from other. And this resemblance and similitude between this Spiritual Sorrow and piercing; stands in three Particulars.

p. 3241. Piercing and digging, is ever grievous and tedious to the part that feels it.

2. There is a loosning and parting of those things which were united and closed before, there is dissolutio continui, as the Physitian speaks; the parts that were firm and continued, become now to be parted and severed more or less one from another.

3. By this severing and sundring the parts, there is a way and a passage made, that corruption, or any other humor which was in the part may be drawn out. So in sound sorrow, there be three things answerably.

The soul comes to be wounded and pained extreamly 1with the pressure of corruption, stung with those distempers which stab and torment the heart.

Hence the cursed union betwixt sin and the soul 2comes to be loosened, when the sinner cannot find that sweetness in his lusts which have suited with him so exceedingly in former times. When this sweetness like the soder by which the heart and corruption lay couched so neer, and so incorporate as it were, that they became one continued thing, is as I may say, by this prevailing sorrow, melted and removed; the knot and combination between our hearts and our lusts, come to be broken.

Hence there is way made for the letting out of those 3corruptions unto which the soul was endeared formerly, and the sinner brought from under the supream and soveraign commanding power of his distempers. Thus the Church converted in Hos. 2. 8. when they had sought their Lovers, and could not find them, followed them, and could not overtake them, they begin to take up other thoughts, I will go to my first Husband, for it was better with me then, than now.

Heart.] It properly signifies that chief part in a mans Body, wherein the Fountain of the Vital Spirits lies; that which lives first (as they say) and dies last; that's the Natural signification. But here it's Spiritually understood, and it's put for the Will and p. 325Affections, which have their proper place of abode there, and express their special Operations in a principal manner, according as Objects are presented, and occasion offered: And thus it's taken in this place (not to trouble you with other variety of apprehensions) thus you shal find it frequently in the Scripture; The heart shal fear, Deut. 28. 67. Joy of heart, Isa. 65. 14. Sorrow of heart, Levit. 26. 16. &c. And out of the heart comes murders and adulteries, Matth. 15. 19. All which carry undeniably the work of the Will and Affections, according as they put forth several Operations as they meet with several Objects. So that this was not a slight and overly ripling of the skin, but a piercing to the quick, reached unto the very heart-root, that which cut asunder the Soveraignty of the choyce of the Will, and made that stand back, and go off from those loathsom corruptions, which were as neer as the soul to the soul; and they were all pricked as one man in the one and the same manner in the heart; they were al wounded, as though there had been but one heart in them all. Hence we shal propound divers Points, and pursue that which is the main.

Sins unrepented of, and continued in, makeDoct. way for piercing and perplexing terrors.

I say, unrepented, and continued in, make way for terror. They do not alwaies immediately let in Gall and Wormwood into the Soul, presently after the acting of them; plagues are then in preparation, and only those over-bearing and dreadful Judgments which the Lord is devising against the ungodly, are then in the birth, and the Lord will not bring them forth until they be come to their full growth, as the fittest time for the execution of his vengeance. It fares with sinners, as it doth somtimes, and for the most part with Malefactors; p. 326they make an escape from the hand of Justice, and they please themselves in the practice of their wickedness, and contenting their own lusts, until their destruction surprize them so, as they cannot avoid it, nor bear it. Had you but seen these scorners and despisers of our Savior formerly, when they run riot in their out-rage and opposition, carried all before them, as if they had the world at will, Away with him, away with him; not Christ, but Barrabbas. You would have conceived, nay, if thou had'st asked themselves, they would have concluded, they had been beyond all gun-shot, terrors and perplexities could not have touched, much less seized upon them. Yet see them here, and see how their condition is altered; they who scorned the Apostles, now come trembling to them; they who cared not what they did before, now are at their wits ends which way to turn themselves; and it's certain, the fire was then making, which now scorched; the sins were then committed, which now sunk their hearts with unsupportable horrors. There be pleasures of sin, but they are butPsal. 97. 11.Ps 97:11 for seasons, Heb. 11. 25. and those are but the Seed times of Sorrows and Judgments. Joy is sown for the Righteous, and somtimes in deep sorrows; the longer it is growing and ripening, the larger is the Harvest of Comforts. So troubles and horrors, hellish and heartbreaking amazements, are sown for the wicked, and that in their greatest delights; and the longer these are in growing and ripening, their Harvest of Horrors of Conscience will be out of measure dreadful. As the Prophet to those who carried al before them in their sinful contrivement, Jer. 5. last, The Prophets prophesie falsly, the Priests bear Rule by their means, and the People love to have it so; all wel met: But what will you do in the end thereof? They might have answered, We do what we list: Yes, for the while; but what wil be the end? So Job, 20. 12, 13, 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, and though he hide it under his p. 327tongue, though he spare it and forsake it not, yet his meat is turned in his bowels it's the gal of aspes within him. Revel. 18. 7. how much she hath glorifyed her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her. James, 1. 12. When lust hath conceived it brings forth death; when lust is conceiving then terror is hatching.

The reason is in a word. The heart comes to be more Reas.estranged from God the God of peace and comfort, and therefore terror and astonishment is now in the mint and preparation for them. The heart grows more hard as it growes more secure in the continuance of evil, so more unfit and uncapable either of mercy offered, or of the benefit and saving good of any means that are provided by the Lord. And therefore the … is more dreadful when it comes … to be discovered, and the plagues more unsufferable when they come indeed to be executed upon them or threatned against them A rankling sore is hardly cured, and with much heart smart when it is. Surfeit of long continuance is recovered with much difficulty 1 Sam 12. 19. that which they would not acknowledg and reform before is now most dreadful, pray for us to the Lord that we dye not for we have added to al our sins this evil of as king a King. Gen. 42. 21. The … of Joseph when their cruel dealing came but into their remembrance how did it cut their hearts? wee are verily guilty concerning our Brother, his blood is required at our hands.

Learn we therefore not to judge the condition of a sinner, Use.or the content of a sinful course, according to the present delights which they seem to take or the pleasing sweetness they pretend they sind, in the wayes of wickedness. With which they are so far deceived and their carnal and deluded hearts are so far taken aside and ravished as it were, that they think it, nay conclude it, there is neither heaven nor happiness to be compared thereunto and such a suddain glitter dazles the eyes many times p. 328times of the Lords dear ones, when they looke upon the painted appearance of things, as at the present push they come presented and beautified with the trappings of pleasure and profit & ease, and honourable hearts contents Psal. 73. 2. This made Asaphs foot almost slip and turne aside from the righteous and good wayes of Gods grace, while he was deceived with the present pomp of the proceedings of the wicked men. Yea he professed that not only he stumbled but many were wholy taken aside with this delusion, Psal. 73. 10. Many come hither i. e. side with the society of the wicked because ful cups of water are administred to them and a confluence of outward and present comsorts are cast in upon them. The cure he himself found when he went into the Sanctuary and also prescribes it unto others; namely when he beheld the end of those men, vers. 17. and those their wayes what wil be the end of cozening and reproching, lying and dissembling, that is the way to judg aright of sinful proceedings, and the certain way not to be deceived by them. Look not upon the rich man as he fares deliciously every day, but look at him as he is frying and scorching in flames and herein crying Oh Father Abraham, let Lazarus dip Luke, 16 19. 24.but the tip of his finger to cool my scorching tongue, when he obtaynes not a drop of water, whereas poor Lazarus is at a feast in Abrahams bosom. Look not at Judas as plotting with the scribes and pharisees and prospering in his purpose, as pleasing himself in his project and pocketting his thirty pieces. This is but for a season but stay a while, and turn aside a little, and see how he is forced to vomit out his morsel, and in hellish horror to roar out his wretchedness, I have sinned in betraying Matth. 27. 3.Matt 27:3innocent blood. and follow yet further and see his end, he ends his dayes and his comforts together, his covetousness continued in so long before, prepared a halter for his ruin. Look not upon Corab Dathan and Abiram, when they ruffle it out in the pride of their p. 329hearts, and out-brave Moses, and the authority of his place, ye take too much upon you, ye sons of … Num. 16. 31. 32. 33.Num 16:31Num 16:32Num 16:33but see the Earth open and swallow him and his company of rebells and al the people flying and crying least we perish also.

It is one (and not the least) part of the power of the redemption of our Saviour that he gave himself for us, that he might deliver us from this present evil world. Gal. 1. 4. not because world only, or evil alone, but from the presentness of it, to deliver and free our hearts & apprehensions, from the two much attending and false conceiveings of those present appearances of these false lying vanities; we cannot judg amiss if we look at the end of Godly men, and a Godly life, not at the present inconveniences that are light and momentary which do attend them. Psal. 37. 37. Consider the upright and mark, the end of that man is peace. Perplexed he may be but his end is, he wil be pardoned, ful of doubts and distractions but his end is to be settled and quieted for ever, you have heard of the patience of Job, and of the end that the Lord made with him, judg that wel, and you wil not miss to judg aright, James. 5. 11. see what end sin and a sinful course make and then you wil not pass sentence amiss.

It wil be our greatest comfort and should be our greatest Use 2.care to rise presently from our fals and recover our souls without delay, from such failings with which we are many times overtaken. our first care should be not to sin, our next care, not to continue in it if we be surprised therewith. A green wound is easily and successefully cured in an ordinarie course, when your old rankled sores hardly admit of any recovery. When the member is sprayned or out of joynt, to delay or neglect to set it, and that with most speed, its likely never to grow strong, … almost impossible it should be made streight, deal so with thy heart in the work of seasonable and sound repentance, for there is the like danger. better p. 330we judg our sin, than that we should be judged yea condemned for them, better we begin with speed to see our evills, and lye in the way to seek for mercy, than that our careless security should make way and preparation to hasten piercing and overbearing plagues. It were to be wished we should never be taken aside or plucked away with false fears, to speak hastly and by unbeliof basely to deny the Lord Jesus, and his righteousness, but if we have fayled and that shamefully as Peter, go out immediately, and weep with him bitterly for our base departures. Math. 26. last the Lord bears not a fearless continuance in any distemper, if David bed it securely in base lusts, the Lord wil break his bones for it. David therefore takes himself here, no sooner sees God withdrawing, but he seeks him with instancy and importunity, Psal. 30. 7. 8. 9. 10.

It's a word of TERROR and astonishment to such who Use 3.adventure to continue in their sinful distempers, because they never found so much as a touch of any … in their souls for any of those distempers, they have continued in. know such must assuredly, that sin is of the same poysonful nature as ever, and the word as true, and God as just as ever; and therefore their sins they have continued in have al this while made way for overbearing perplexities, which they wil certainly bring upon your souls; the less you have felt therefore the more you may expect, and without doubt you shal find and receive. There is wrath to come; tribulation and wrath and anguish wil be and must be upon the 1 Thes. 1. last. Rom. 2. 9.1 Thess 1Rom 2:9soul of every man that sins; if you had none as yet, there is the more behind; when those noysom abominations that have so long nestled in thy bosom, and there lyes as it were in ambush, wil march in upon thee like armed men, and sink your … in everlasting discouragements; cozen not therefore your selves with the present content you seem to find in your corruptions that you can trample upon Christ his ordinances and p. 331Servants, go away with it, without any trouble or controul. See these poor creatures and consider their condition what it was and now is, they stuck not to profess open rebellion against our Savior, Away with him, crucify him, and they carried al before them, with a high hand and so continued, from the Passover to Pentecost many weeks together, the poyson of their sins that pleased their spirits so much in the practice of them now beginns to work trembling and astonishing confusion unto their souls the pleasure of sin is but for a season, and when that is gone look for the like gall and wormewood. As it is in the body while the impostume and gross humors are gathering, the party finds no matter of grief, until at last when it comes to a ful growth and breaks suddenly, and proves present death that cannot be prevented, and then al the filth and impostumate matter issues out of the ears and mouth and each man can see it, when no man can help it. It is so with a canckered Conscience and a côrrupt heart who hath hugged and harbored his distempers with pleasure and content & so continued. Until the Lord break open the … and then those hideous abominations let in the dreadful terrors of the Almighty, which overwhelm the soul of a sinner with unsupportable horrors; the Apostle thus concludes it …. Gal. 6. 7. 8. be not deceived, God is not mocked, as ye sow, so you must reap, if you sow to the flesh, of the flesh you shal reap corruption it may be your ruin is growing but not ripe, the harvest of horror is not yet come, but be not deceived God is not mocked you shal reap and your crop wil be confusion and perdition, the Lord himself hath so revealed it.

Deuter. 32. 35. in due time their foot shal slide. Stay but the time, yea he determines it fully as that which he wil not fayl to accomplish, Deutr. 29. 20. 21. … men bless themselves, and bear up their heads bravely against al the peal of plagues that were rung in their ears, the Lord resolves upon it, his anger p. 332shal smoak against that man to cut him off from the land of the living &c.

Pierced.

As their sins made way for this terror, so the word set it on. hence,

The truth is terrible to a guilty ConscienceDoct. when it prevailingly takes place there.

It's a hammer that breaks, a fire that scorcheth, an axe sharp and keen that cutts and wounds the soul of a wicked, unrepentant sinner. Acts. 7. 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart.

Because it is a witness to accuse, a judg to condemn, Reas.an executioner to torment such poor creatures, as I might make al these good in particulars, it's sayd Rev. 11. 10. That when the two wittnesses were slayn, the inhabitants of the earth, solaced themselves and sent gifts one to another, because those that tormented them that dwelt upon the earth were taken away.

Matter of trial, those who are careful hearers mayUse. without fayl discover their condition, by the word that is dispensed. Art thou sick of the saving dispensations of the holy and righteous wil and law of God, thou sits and shakest under it as that which passeth the doom and sentence upon thee, which thou art not able to endure nor avoyd, do not cozen thy self with any vain conceivings of thy estate, or please and delude thy heart with the mistaken apprehensions and approbations of other men, it's certain thy heart is naught and condition also. If thou best sick of the truth, … not side with it, nor receive approbation from it, when it comes in the strength and terror of it. As we say of men that p. 333are sick at Sea, the cause is not in the tempest but in the stomack, because there be corrupt and noysom humors there, it's those that raise stir and trouble in the stomack and not the …, when the stomach is purged and clear, the passenger can sleep in the most tempestuousHeb. 9. 14.Heb 9:14 Seas, So it is where the heart is truly emptied and the Consoience purged from dead works, the sharpest truths would find most welcom and entertainment.

But doth not the truth carry terror with it and that…. even the best tremble at it?

It's true they do so but with a double difference.

The word though it ever speaks against the corruptionsAns. 1. of those that are sincere hearted, yet it ever … sentence on their … both for the acceptation of their persons and the happiness of that condition they are in through grace, and if it appear other to them, it is because their judgments are darkned through temptations, misguided through some … … Micah. 7 Are not my words good to them that walk uprightly. Isai. 3. 10. Say to the … … shal go wel with them. The Lord and his word sayes no … … man ought to say any other, there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ. Rom. 8. 1. but it's otherwise with the wicked. The word not … condemns their sins but their persons also. Because they are one with their sins and incorporate into them, and carryed with the power of them. Isai. 3. 12. Say to the wicked, wo unto them, for the reward of their evil works … … … to them.

The Saints of God ever find … in the … 2and most keen threatnings, and their hearts tremble at them because the … of God is there, … submit to them & close with God in them, they take them as … to cure the … in them, not … kil them, and therefore take … in them, and they wil stil say; the word of the Lord is Good, and hence p. 334are desirous to hear al, to know the worst, and the whol mind of God so Ely. 1 Sam. 3. 17. hide nothing from me, that which wounds most deep and works most kindly he welcomes it with a glad heart, because he knowes his welfare is there. Whereas a fals … flyes from the terror of the truth, Math. 19. 22. He went a way sorrowful, they say to the seers see not, and to the prophets, prophecy not right things but smooth things. Isai. 30. 10. He is loath to hear what his heart doth not like, and willing to put by the power and darken the evidence of the truth, that appears dreadful to him by reason of his sins.

Cme we now to the main Observation, wherein the pith of this spiritual truth consists and thats in two things.

1. Gross and scandalous sinners God usually exerciseth with heavy breakings of heart before he bring them effectually to himself.

2. Sorrow for sin when it's rightly set on, pierceth the heart of the sinner through, that is rightly affected therewith.

To the First.

Gross and scandalous sinners God usually exercisethDoct. with heavy breakings of heart before he bring them effectually to himself.

These desperate wretches who had embrewed their hands in the blood of the Lord Jesus, and now in an impudent manner set themselves, to out-brave the servants p. 335of Christ, and his Word and Ordinances also: the Lord he handles them roughly, suitable to their rebellious carriages towards him; they had pierced the Body of our Savior, and exercised his soul with unsupportable sorrows; he pierced their hearts, they openly and impudently professed their cruel and accursed rage, not him, but …; Cruc. fie him, crucifie him. He forceth them to proclaim the loathsomness of this their way, in the view of the world: they before the multitude, scorned the Apostles; he forceth them now in the face of the people, to reverence and ackn̄owledg them as the dear Servants of God. The Lord knows how to deal with men, answerable to their sinful dealings with him, and the … of their hearts, and doth thus with scandalous ones, and not only those whose lewdness and wickedness lies open to the view of the world, but with such also who are many times more retired, and carry it more cunningly and closely from the eyes of men, if yet their evils be gross, in which they live and lie; as such which oppose the light of Reason, the Dictates of Conscience, the remainder of those common Principles which are left in the corrupt Nature of men; as murder, theft, forgeries, adulteries, though molewarplike they carry it never so secretly, dig deep to hide their counsel, and contrivement from God and man, yet commonly God breaks open their Conscience, breaks in with dreadful terror upon such, plucks those sweet morsels out of their maws, and constrains them to vomit out those bosom abominations by open confession after one manner or other, to some one or many. I say, it's Gods usual manner so to deal, with such, which implies he may deal so with others, but usually so with these.

Not that he may not, nay somtimes deals not so with others, whom by the strokes of his restraining Grace, he hath preserved and kept untainted from such loathsom abominations, and refined by a civil and comely fashion and carriage.

p. 336If either he purpose to use them as choyce Instruments in his …, and improve them in some special Service to set … and promote his own praise, as men use to season their Timber more than ordinary, if they intend to use it in some more than ordinary Service; and when they mind to raise the building marvelous high, they commonly, according to a course of prudence, lay the Foundation exceeding low.

Or if the Lord intends to manifest himself to the soul 2of a sinner with some ravishing sweetness, with enlarged and amazed communications of the assurance of his Love, Joyes unspeakable and glorious: It's ordinary with the Lord to abase the heart exceedingly under the dreadful apprehensions of it's own vileness, that it may be the more fitted to receive such special comforts, not to surfet with them by security and pride: Great Revelalations have great Humiliations go before them; the Eb is very low before the Tyde come with greatest strength and height; otherwise the soul would never be able to bear such over-bearing expressions of Gods Love, and communications of himself, but would certainly abuse them. If the Keel of the Boat were little and narrow, a large Sail would over-turn it, not convey it to the Haven. Great Assurances and glorious Joyes, are too great a Sail for a heart that is not widened with enlarged contritionsJames. 5. 11.Jas 5:11 and humiliations. God would make Job a pattern of Patience, to all posterities, therefore he exercisethJob. 1. 12.Job 1:12 him with all extremities in all kind of sharp and piercing sorrows, and heavy desertions.Job. 2. 4Job 2:4

The Lord shakes the heart of Isaiah in the sence of his own unworthiness, Wo is me (saies he) I am undone, I am a man of polluted lips; before he would revealIsa. 6. 5.Isa 6:5 unto him those hid Prophesies concerning the Dispensation of his displeasure amongst the Nations, and those mysterious depths of the glad tidings of the Gospel, which were kept secret from the beginning of the world.2 Cor. 12.2 Cor 12 Paul is buffeted with fierce assaults by the splinter in the p. 337flesh, that he might not be too much lifted up by Revelations, that he might know he was not yet in the third Heavens, but in the mid'st of a burry of distempers, and a Hell of Devils. These are but some exempt cases, and that in some persons for some special ends. But with gross and scandalous persons it's Gods usual way so to deal, not that he is tyed, or hath tied himself to this manner of dealing upon necessity, but that he hath expressed it to be his good pleasure so to dispense himself to such notorious rebels, as that way which best suits the Counsel of his own wil, and the attaining his own end, his glory, and their best good; and if ever he make an exemption for causes best known to his own blessed Majesty in bringing such unto himself that he deals tenderly with them at the first, it wil hardly ever be found, but they tast most … … afterwards, when happily they least … them, and yet are made better able to bear them. When the Delivery hath been speedy, the after-throws have been many and hazardful many times: If such men get somwhat an easie bargain at first, there be hard penny-worths, heavy after-claps they meet withal beyond their expectation, and it commonly never fails. The Rule is general the Prophet delivers touching Gods Dispensation, and I know not but it may hold here, Psal. 18. 27. With the froward thou wilt deal frowardly, the place is hard for the apprehension of it in the fair and full sence of it. The words that go before will give in some light; With the bountiful thou wilt shew thy self bountiful; with the perfect thou wilt be perfect; with the pure, thou wilt shew thy self pure; and with … perverse or froward, thou … shew thy self froward; thou wilt make thy self deal frowardly. To speak to the pinch of the Point but in two words. I conceive … to be the meaning … the place, and the mind of God in it. He that walks with God in the exercise of the Rule in a … manner, God … meet with him in it, and give him the … and comfort that p. 338follows and flows from it: he that conscienciously keeps the Rule, shal be more fitted for to keep it, and to share in the blessing and … of it: he that deals bountifully in vertue of the Rule, he shal be more apt to that Duty, and shal find bountiful dealings from the hands of others, God and men: he that is upright, thorough, and simple in Spirit and practice, he shal be more exact every way, and find peace and praise as the fruit of that: he that is pure, that is, not only contents himself to be simple and sincere hearted in his whol course, but is dayly purging himself, and clensing his own heart, … severing himself from such taints and remainders of distempers that appear, and … to cleer up the Rule in the beauty and excellency thereof to himself, that he may see more of it, submit more freely and fully to it; the Lord will make himself pure to him. So the word. God wil let in pure instructions, that no darkness or dimness may stumble him, or cause him to mistake; pure evidence of pardon, and acceptance, no guilt may unsettle him; pure comforts and peace that no doubts or fears may discourage him; pure holiness and power of …, that no strength of corruption may blur the Image of God in him, or darken the Evidence of the Work of Grace received. But … a man will be froward, crook the Rule, go cross to the Command, and wil walk in the vanity of his own …, and stubbornness of his own Spirit, oppose the power of the Truth, not willing to look upon, or abide to hear of the purity of it. God will shew himself froward towards such a one, he wil … you, and cross you in your whol course, and in al your comforts; you crook and wind away from the Rule to content your sins, God by his Righteous Law, by vertue of the provoking power therof, wil deliver you up to the power of your sins, and to al the terros, and plagues, and expressions of his …, that attend thereupon: and in the daies of thy distress, when nothing wil help thee but the holy Word of p. 339God, God wil then deal with you, and follow you with the … of your own …, thou would'st not see the holiness and purity of Gods Precepts, thou … have a mind not able to attend, or receive, or remember any thing that may be for thy direction, support, or comfort, but only live upon thine own guilt, and the terrors that attend thereupon, and the perversness of thine own heart wil be thine own plague: In your froward pangs you flinch and fling, care not what you say or do; God can be as … as you, nor hear prayers, nor regard your complaints, nor pity your necessities, but pursue you with his plagues, let fly on every hand the fierceness of his displeasure; God can and wil hamper thee if thou had'st a heart as sierce as a … of Hell, make thee weary of thy part, be as perverse as thou wilt or canst be. And therefore the word in the place is marvelous pregnant, it signifies to contend with another, as one that wrastles wil do, wreath and …, and turn his body every way, that he may meet with his adversary with whom he is to grapple. So the Lord will meet with thee at every turn; the greater thy opposition hath been against him, the greater expression of his displeasure shalt thou be sure to …, and that in the most dreadful manner. The sins of Manasseh were high handed, and hellish abominations, mighty provocations, out of measure sinful. 2 Chron. 33. 11. Therefore God abased him mightily, fettered, and …, and humbled him mightily, and made him cry mightily before he could … audience and acceptance with him: the cruel and harsh carriage of the Jaylor, Acts, 16. exceeded his Commission, and so the bounds of common Humanity, to deal worse with the distressed than either their Fact deserved, or the Law permitted, or Authority allowed him in that behalf, a … transported with deadly indignation against the waies of God and his People, and as it appears by the circumstances of the story, a man that pleased … in such unreasonable p. 340practices; the Lord therefore handles him answerably to the harshness of his spirit, makes the Earth quake and the Prison totter, the bolts break, and the door fly open, and at last his heart begins to shake and die within him, notwithstanding the fierceness of his Spirit. So Paul, Acts, 9. he comes trembling to crave the Counsel of those whose presence formerly he loathed.