The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 15 · Section 3

The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant · Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 15 · Section 3

p. 711SECT. III.

3. Uſe. DOth the Lord promiſe to cauſe his people to walk in his Statutes, What duties it may teach us.and to do them? this may inſtruct or teach us (eſpecially the people of God,) four neceſſary duties.

1. To be alwayes ſenſible of their own weakneſs and infficiencie.

2. Not to diſpond or caſt down their hearts, becauſe of the greatneſs of any To be alwayes ſenſible of our weakneſs.work or dutie which God requires of them.

3. To depend on God, and to make him their ſtrength and help for all the works which they are to perform.

4. To give the praiſe of all to God.

Firſt, To be alwayes ſenſible of their own weakneſs and inſufficiencie. Two things are of great uſe unto every Chriſtian; one is ſtill to believe Gods alſufficiencie, the other is ſtill to acknowledge his own inſufficiencie. When you are to do any work or dutie, (ſuppoſe it be to repent, to believe, to pray, to preach, to withſtand a temptation, to caſt out a ſinful corruption) preſerve in your hearts a ſenſe of your own weakneſs and inſufficiencie; as Paul ſpake, ſo do you, Lord, who is ſufficient for theſe things? 2 Cor. 2. 16. I can do nothing by my own ſtrength; here is much work, but of my ſelf I can do nothing, I am not able to carrie it on.

p. 712There are three Reaſons why I offer this advice unto you, becauſe many perſons Reaſons of it.are not ſenſible of their own weakneſs and inſufficiency to ſpiritual acts of obedience. e. g.

1. Such …s make nothing of the moſt ſolemn duties of communion with God; they feel not the weight of thoſe ſervices: It is all one with them to go to the Lords, as to go to their own table; it is all one with them to repent of ſin as to commit ſin; it is all one with them to believe on Chriſt, as to ſay that they believe on Chriſt; it is all one with them to pray as to ſpeak; are theſe men ſenſible of their weakneſs and inſufficiency unto any duty, unto whom the performance of every duty is ſo eaſie?

2. Such as are ſeldom in prayer, when they are to do any work commanded them of God; theſe men do not ſee their own weakneſs and inſufficiency; they do imagine that they are able to carry on their work in their own ſtrength, without the ſtrength of God; elſe they would be much in prayer to God for his help, and for his aſſiſtance.

3. Such as mind not the promiſes of God to enable them, and never make uſe of them: Surely the child thinks himſelf able to go alone, who refuſeth the hand, and help of the Nurſe, &c.

Secondly, Becauſe a right ſenſibleneſs of your own weakneſs is a ſpecial means to make you ſtrong for any work of God: That paſſage of Paul is obſervable, 2 Cor. 12. 10. Whe… I am weak, then am I strong; this ſeems to be a contradiction, but it is not ſo: It is as if he had ſaid, When I find that I am weak in my ſelf, then am I made ſtrong by the ſtrength of Chriſt: How ſo, will you ſay! How comes a man to be made ſtrong by Chriſt, who findes himſelf to be but weak? I will ſhe… …ou how this comes to paſs;

1. The ſenſe of his own weakneſs is a means to put him upon much prayer to … for ſtrength.

2. The ſenſe of his own weakneſs is an occaſion to put him upon faith in Chriſt, to rely on him, to make Chriſt his ſtreng…h, and to draw more grace and ſtrength from him, in whoſe ſtrength he ſhall be able to do all things.

Thirdly, Becauſe the Lord hath a ſpecial compaſſion, and a very tender regard to perſons truely ſenſible of their own weakneſs. The Lord hath a tender regard unto three ſorts of men.

1. Unto thoſe that are ſenſible of their ſins; He bindes up the broken To whom God hath a tender regard.in heart.

2. Unto thoſe that are ſenſible of their own unworthineſs; The poor Publican went home juſtified.

3. And unto thoſe that are ſenſible of their own weakneſſe and inſufficiency to do any good: Concerning theſe God gives command, Iſa. 35. 3. Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. And Zech. 12. 8. He that is f…eble among, them ſhall be as David: And to theſe eſpecially hath the promiſe in the Text a reſpect; I will cauſe, &c.

Secondly, Not to deſpond or caſt down their hearts by reaſon of the greatneſs, or by reaſon of the multiplicity, and by reaſon of the difficulty of the works and duties which God requires from them; depth, and breadth, and length of mens obedience are nothing, as long as there is depth, and breadth, and length o… Gods aſſiſtance. I confeſs that theſe would be ſtrong diſcouragements, were we to traverſe the wayes and works of God by our ſtrength; but they ſhould not make any diſcouraging impreſſion, ſeeing our hands ſhall be made ſtrong by the Almighty arm of God.

Is any thing too hard for the Lord! (he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that w… can ask or think, Epheſ. 3. 20. according to the power that worketh in us) God is pleaſed to charge all the eſſential duties of obedience upon the weakeſt of his people, and there is no ſeverity or injuſtice in this, becauſe as the ſtrongeſt p. 713cannot do the leaſt duty by his own ſtrength, ſo the weakeſt Chriſtian ſhall be made able alſo to do the greateſt duty in the ſtrength of God.

Never ſay, If I were ſo ſtrong as ſuch or ſuch a one, then I could do much, but I am weak. I tell you that the ſtrong Chriſtian without the help of God, is but weak; and the weak Chriſtian with the help of his God is ſtrong.

But to remove all diſpondency of heart from weak Chriſtians about their many, What weak Chriſtians ſhould remember.and great, and continual works of obedience, I would deſire them carefully to remember and lay up four ſingular Adjuncts or ingredients in that helping and aſſiſting grace which God do…h promiſe unto them.

1. Coextention as to all the parts and times of duty.

2. Sufficiency as to enabling for theſe duties.

3. Redundancy or exuberancy; there is help enough and to ſpare.

4. Infallibility or certainty of enjoying that aſſiſting grace, if they look up to God for it.

Firſt, Coextention: The helping or aſſiſting grace of God promiſed unto his people, is not limited or reſtrained to this or that particular duty, not to this or that particular time of life; but it extends to all our work, and for all the dayes of our life.

Firſt, It extends to all the duties which God requires of us; what the Apoſtle Aſſiſting grace extends to all our works, and at all times.ſpake in another caſe: 2 Cor. 1. 5. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt; That may be ſaid in this caſe, As our duties and ſervices abound, ſo the help and ſtrength of Gods aſſiſting grace abounds towards us.

Our duties are ſometimes ſummed up. 1. Into the love of God. And 2ly Into the love of our neighbour; and the promiſe of aſſiſting grace extends to both theſe: For the one, ſee Deut. 30. 6. I will circumciſe, &c. For the other, ſee Iſa. 11. 6. The Wolf ſhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard ſhall lie down with the Kid, &c. Ver. 9. They ſhall not hurt, nor deſtroy in all my holy Mountain.

Our duties are ſometimes ſummed up into 1. Affirmative. 2ly Negative; the one is of the good which we are to do; the other is of the evil which we are to forſake; and you have the promiſe of aſſiſting grace as to both of them▪ For theſe, ſee Rom. 6. 14. And Ezek. 18. They ſhall come thither, and they ſhall take away all the deteſtable things thereof, and all the abominations thereof.

Our duties are ſometimes ſummed up, 1. Into active. And 2ly into paſſive; both theſe have aſſiſting grace promiſed; for the firſt, Ye ſhall keep my judgements and do them: For the ſecond, it is given unto you on the behalf of Chriſt to ſuffer for his Name, Phil. 1. 39.

Secondly, It extends unto our duties for all the dayes of our life; aſſiſting grace is promiſed to come in as duties are to go on: Iſa. 40. 31. They ſhall renew their ſtrength. Chap. 41. 1. Let the people renew their ſtrength. Chap. 46. 3. Hearken unto me O houſe of Jacob, and all the remnant of the houſe of Iſrael, which are born by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb. Ver. 4. And even to the old age I am he, and even to hoary hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear, even I wiill carry, and will deliver you.

Secondly, Sufficiency: There is a ſufficiency in that aſſiſting grace promiſed to enable the people of God effectually for the greateſt and hardeſt duties; which I ſhall clear by a few inſtances.

Said God to Abraham (Gen. 22. 2.) Take thy ſonne, thine only ſonne Iſaac There is a ſufficiency in aſſiſting grace.whom thou loveſt, and get thee into the Land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt burnt-offering, &c. Was not this a very hard and difficult work to perform? againſt which all the ſtrength of nature might riſe, yea and grace itſelf might have diſputed the lawfulneſs of it; nevertheleſs Abraham was enabled to obey this command, Heb. 11. 17.

Again, is it not a great work for a perſon to leave all that he hath, and then to p. 714ſubmit himſelf unto a ſuffering condition? Yet the people of God have been enabled unto this: Moſes left all his honor, and riches, and pleaſure, and enjoyments in Egypt, and choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God. Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. And ſo did the Diſciples; they forſook all and took up the croſs, and followed Chriſt.

Again, is it not a great and difficult work, for any man to paſs through all changes (incident to our conditions) with a compoſed, quiet and wel-pleaſed ſpirit? Yet Paul was enabled to do this; to come up unto it. Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatſoever ſtate I am, therewith to be content. Ver. 12. I know both how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things, I am inſtructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound and to ſuffer need.

Once more, when we are reduced to the extreameſt of outward ſtraits, that no viſible merciemercy on earth appears for us, is it not then a very hard work to look up to God, and to place our confidence upon him? Yet Jehoſhaphat was enabled in this caſe ſo to do. 2 Chron. 20. 12. We have no might, &c. neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee: Nay when the Lord himſelf withdraws and hides his f…ce, and writes and ſpeaks bitter things, it is now a moſt difficult work to look up unto him, and to truſt upon him: certainly it is one of the hardeſt works in the world for any Chriſtian to do it: Nevertheleſs the people of God have found ſuch a ſufficiencie of Gods aſſiſting grace, that (in ſuch a caſe) they have been enabled to look up unto him, and to truſt upon him. Eſa. 8. 17. I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houſe of Jacob, and I will look for him. Job 13. 15. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him.

Thirdly, Redundancie: There is not only a ſufficiencie in Gods grace effectually A redundancy of Grace.to enable his ſervants, but there is alſo a redundancie. Whats that? That is, the Lord hath ſtrength more then enough for the works which his people are to perform. When you caſt up all the duties which do concern you, and then think of the greatneſs of that aſſiſtance neceſſarie for the performing of them; and do many times pray for, and finde an aſſiſtance proportionable to your ſervices: why, God is able to communicate much more aſſiſtance and ſtrength, then ever you found or imagined. Ephe. 3. 20. He is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.

When you need power to truſt on him, he doth give that power, and he can enable you more then only to truſt in him; he can enable you to wait and to rejoyce in him.

When you need aſſiſtance to reſiſt a ſin or a temptation, God gives you ſtrength ſo to do, and yet he can give you much more power then that; he can enable you alſo to conquer them, yea and to be more then conquerers through him that loved you.

When you need a heart to pray unto him, he can give you that heart to pray; he can help your infirmities; and more can God do than this; he can alſo ſtrengthen you to pray with confidence, and to ſtrive and wreſtle in prayer, and to make your hearts joyful in his houſe of prayer.

When you need a heart to ſuffer, he can not only give you ſtrength to ſuffer, but enable you to ſuffer more then your adverſaries can inflict.

Fourthly, Certaintie of enjoying that aſſiſting grace, if they do look up to God Certainty of enjoying Gods aſſiſting grace.for it: Here briefly obſerve two things.

1. That Gods promiſe of aſſiſting Grace, doth not exclude our calling upon God for the ſame; for even for this, as well as for the reſt of the good things promiſed by God, it holds, Ezek. 36. 37. Thus ſaith the Lord, I will yet for this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael, to do it for them.

2. That when we do rightly call upon God for his aſſiſtance, for his grace to cauſe us to walk in his Statutes, the Lord will not deny it unto us, but will aſſuredly p. 715give it unto us. James 1. 5. If any of you lack wiſdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it ſhall be given unto him: ver. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, &c. Pſal. 57. 2. I will cry unto God moſt high, unto God that performeth all things for me.

Object. But clear this by inſtances.

Sol. Pſal. 138. 3. In the day when I cried, thou anſweredſt me, and ſtrengthenedſt Cleered by inſtances.me with ſtrength in my ſoule. 2 Cor. 12. 8. For this I beſought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me: ver. 9. And he ſaid unto me, My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs.

Object. O but for all this, I finde many times no help or ſtrength from God, although he ſaith that he will cauſe us to walk in his Statutes, and to do them; and this diſcourages me.

Sol. To this I would give theſe anſwers.

Firſt, The imparting of promiſed help, is not by way of neceſſarie or natural dimanation, as the ſun imparts light unto the earth, but by way of voluntary and prudent diſpenſation, as a father imparts ſupplies unto his children; who comes in with his helps in a time of need, and upon the humble addreſſes and entreaties of his children.

Object. You want more help, but do you call upon the Lord for more help?

Sol. God expects to hear from you, as you deſire to hear from him. Jer. 29. 12. Then ſhall ye call upon me, and ye ſhall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you: ver. 13. And ye ſhall ſeek me and finde me, when ye ſhall ſearch for me with all your art.

Secondly, Though you have prayed, yet did you pray in faith? He that comes to God, muſt beleive that God is; and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. Heb. 11. 6. I ſay unto you, what things ſoever ye deſire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye ſhall have them. Mar. 11. 24.

Thirdly, But do you with patience wait upon the Lord? The Prophet ſaith, that the Lord is a God of judgment; bleſſed are all they that wal… for him. Eſa. 30. 18. And the Church ſaith, I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation, my God will hear me. Micah▪ 7. 7. And David declares it upon experience. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he enclined unto me and heard my cry. Pſal. 40 1.

Now I ſay unto you, put theſe three things together in practice, and then you ſhall aſſuredly finde that aſſiſting grace which you need; whether it be for reſiſtance of temptations, or for victorie over corruptions, or for abilitie for performance of duties.

Object. But I would enjoy ſuch a full power of aſſiſting and helping grace at once, But I would have full power of aſſiſting grace.that I might make a perfect riddance of all ſin, and be alwayes compleatly and preſently furniſhed for any acts of obedience.

Sol. Belike you would needs be in the Prodigals condition, to have all your portion of goods in your own hands, thinking that you are more wiſe and more able than your God, to manage the ſtock of grace! But,

Firſt, It is not only fitter, but better that you ſhould truſt God, then that God ſhould truſt you; your grace and ſtrength are ſafer in his hands, than in yours.

Secondly, God will not thus impart his ſtrength unto you; as you imagine or wiſh; but he will impart it ſuccſſively and gradually, according to your continual neceſſities of it.

1. He would ſtill keep you humble. 2. He would ſtill keep you in dependance Why God gives grace gradually.upon himſelf. 3. He would give unto you manifold experiences of his faithfulneſs in performing his promiſe unto you.

Thirdly, To depend on God, and to make him their ſtrength for all the works which they are to perform.

p. 716Now becauſe this is the principal Uſe which can be made from the choiſe and pretious promiſe here in the Text, I ſhall therefore inſiſt the more upon it and ſhew unto you,

1. Why you that are the people of God, ſhould depend on God for his ſtrength to enable you for all your works and ſervices?

2. When eſpecially you ſhould do ſo?

3. Whether indeed you do ſo?

4. How you may be enabled ſo to do?

5. How one may know that it is the very ſtrength of God which is with us?

1. Queſt. Why the people of God ſhould depend on God, (yea only depend on Why Gods people ſhould depend on God for Grace.God) for his ſtrength to enable them for all their duties, for all their works and ſervices?

Sol. There are three reaſons for it.

1. In reſpect of God.

2. In reſpect of our ſelves.

1. In reſpect of God.

Firſt, It is his command and will concerning you, ſtill to depend on him, and It is Gods Command.on him alone. Pſal. 62. 5. My ſoul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him: ver. 6. He is my Rock, and my Salvation: ver. 7. In God is my Salvation and my Glory, the Rock of my ſtrength, and my refuge is in God: ver. 8. Truſt in him at all times, pour out your heart before him, &c. Prov. 3. 5. Truſt in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own underſtanding. Ver. 6. In all thy wayes acknowledg him, and he ſhall direct thy paths. Eſa. 26. 4. Truſt you in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength. God (you ſee) calls on us for our dependance on him, and only upon him, and at all times, in all our occaſions.

Secondly, It is his honor that you do depend on him, to help and ſtrengthen It is for Gods Honour.your ſouls: you do now declare, and publiſh, and put unto your ſeal, that power belongs to God; that he is the alſufficient and efficient God; and that he is the faithfull God, who will perform whatſoever promiſe he hath made unto you. Unqueſtionably God would have his people to honor him, (he forms them for his praiſe,) and all the honor which God hath by us, conſiſts in this, that he is acknowledged to be the only efficient, and the only end of all that we have or do.

Thirdly, It is the end why he makes this promiſe of cauſing you to walk in his It is the end for which he makes his promiſe.Statutes: As the end of his threatnings is our repentance, and as the end of his precepts is our obedience; ſo the end of this promiſe is our dependance. Prov. 22. 19. That thy truſt may be in the Lord, I have made known unto thee this day. Ver. 29. Excellent things in counſels and konowledge.

Fourthly, It is his way of conveying or communicating his ſtrength and help: It is Gods way of communicating his ſtrength.all your ſights of his mercy, all your taſte of his love, all your experiences of his goodneſs, and all the impartings of his help and ſtrength are unto faith; you muſt believe, if you will be eſtabliſhed and ſtrengthened: God will give ſtrength to his promiſe, but then his people muſt come and depend upon him for it. Pſal. 27. 14. Wait on the Lord, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thine heart.

Object. Indeed if you ſpeak of the abſolute power of God, he can let out and convey ſufficient help for our work without any praying of ours, and without any beleiving of ours.

Sol. But God is pleaſed to ſet out this way of depending and believing to let forth his help unto us as the beſt way to his own wiſdome, both for the conviction of our own weakneſſes, and for the demonſtration of his own graces and fulneſs.

2. In reſpect of our ſelves.

Firſt, Neceſſity: There is not bread enough at home, nor ſtrength enough in p. 717Our own neceſſity requires it.our ſelves for any good; therefore go abroad, and look for it in God.

Quid es in te, & quid es de te! ſpake Auſtin very well on Pſal. 42. Pſal. 119. 35. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments: ver. 36. Incline my heart unto thy Teſtimonies: 1 Kings 8. 37. The Lord our God be with us; Let him not leave us, nor forſake us; ver. 58. That he may incline our heart unto him, to walk in his wayes and to keep his Judgements! I confeſs, that there were no neceſſity of our dependance of God for ſtrength to cauſe, &c. if one of theſe two things were true.

1. That we had power and ſufficiencie of our own.

2. Or, That any other beſides God could be a ſufficiencie unto us.

But neither of theſe are ſo: 1. No man, not the beſt, is or can be a ſufficiency unto himſelf, as I have formerly proved.

2. None beſides God, can be a ſufficiency unto us, or help unto us.

Object. We do find much help and ſtrength many times by publike Ordinances and private Conferences.

Sol. The Reaſon is, becauſe God makes them to be of help and ſtrength unto you: The conduit conveyes water into your houſes, but water comes not from the Conduit, but from the Spring: Therefore you finde ſometimes Ordinances and Conferences can do nothing at all in any way of help, that you may know, that not they, but God in and by them, was the help.

Secondly, Prevalency: Dependance on God for ſtrength, will get you his ſtrength; Pſal. 84. 5. Bleſſed is the man whoſe ſtrength is in thee: ver. 7. They go from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 28. 7. The Lord is my ſtrength and my ſhield, my Its the way to prevail.heart truſted in him and I am helped.

Thirdly, Experience: They that know thy Name; will put their truſt i… thee; Pſal. 9. 10. For thou Lord, haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee; Iſa. 11. 2. Behold, God is my ſalvation, I will truſt, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my ſtrength and my ſong, he alſo is become my ſalvation: Iſa. 25. 4. Thou haſt been a Experience proves it ſo.strength to the poor, a ſtrength unto the needy in his diſtreſs! God is your God, and he is your ſtrength, and you have found him to be ſo; when being ſenſible of your own weakneſs, you have caſt your ſelves upon him: How did his ſtrength beat down ſtrength before you! and how did his power make it ſelf manifeſt in your weakneſs! O Chriſtians, you have experience on all ſides.

1. When you have truſted upon your ſelves, how barren and dead have your hearts been! like Sampſon, &c.

2. When you have truſted on your God, how able, how full, quick, and enlarged hath your heart been, and with what life and alacrity hath the work of God proſpered in your hands!Its our priviledge.

Fourthly, Priviledge: It is not only your duty to go to God, and to truſt on him to help and enable you to walk in his Statutes, and to do them, but it is alſo your priviledge which you enjoy by vertue of the Covenant: Is it not a priviledge which a Son enjoys, and which a Wife enjoys, that the one may confidently go to his Father, and the other may confidently go to her Husband, to help them in their neceſſities!

Why! you who are in Covenant with God, you are the Sons of God, 2 Cor. 6. He is your Father, you are married unto him; Thy Maker is thy Husband, Iſa. 54. 5. you may therefore go unto him, and rely on him.

1. Your God knew long ago all your neceſſities, and ſelf-weakneſſes, or inſufficiencies, and therefore at the very firſt, he engaged himſelf to be yours in love and mercy, and help, and ſtrength.

2. It is no more than he is reſolved for; he is reſolved, and willing, and ready to help you, and do you good with all his heart and with all his ſoul.

3. And it concerns his glory to cauſe you to walk in his Statutes and to do them.

p. 718Queſt. 2. When eſpecially the People of God ſhould by faith depend upon God for his gracious help and ſtrength to cauſe them, &c.

Sol. There is no duty or work which we are to do upon Gods Command at any time, but we ſhould by faith depend upon God for his ſtrength to enable and cauſe us to do it: Nevertheleſs we ſhould in eight Caſes, expreſs a more ſpecial care to depend upon him for his aſſiſting and ſupplying ſtrength. e. g.

1. When we are moſt apt to think that we ſtand in leaſt need of his ſtrength In what caſes we ſhould depend upon him.and preſence.

2. When we find the greateſt ſtrength of oppoſition to the performing of any work.

3. When we are moſt ſenſible of our own indiſpoſition and inability to the doing of ſuch good works.

4. When any work we are called to perform, hath a greater Concernment and Reſpect to Gods Glory, his Churches good, and our own ſalvation.

5. When the Work is extraordinary and univerſal.

6. When near, great, and ſudden Changes do befall us.

7. When we have made ſolemn vows to God in the days of our diſtreſs, for Reformation or better walking.

8. When it is ſuch a work, wherein we have miſcarried, and have longer ſtuck at it, and cannot get it forward.

1. When we are moſt apt to think, that we ſtand in leaſt need of his ſtrength and preſence: That our mountain is ſtrong, that we are increaſed, that we can go alone, and are now ſufficient.

Object. But will ſome of you ſay, When are we thus apt to think, &c?

Sol. In three Caſes.

1. When the works or duties ſeem unto us little, and common, and eaſie, not In what caſes we are apt to think well of our ſelves.needing any ſingular preſence of Gods Grace: As the Iſraelites thought about the taking of Ai, it was but a ſmall City, and a few men would ſerve the turn, and there was no need to trouble all the hoſt: But they found it otherwiſe, &c. ſo when any duty ſeems but ordinary, a ſmall work; and we need not call in for the help of God, it is but to meditate, it is but to pray, it is but to read the Word, but to hear a Sermon, but to reſiſt a temptation, but to deny a very light occaſion of ſinning, but to bear an ordinary Croſs or affliction.

Now we are apt to think we can do theſe ordinary works, and we can paſs theſe ordinary croſſes; and are not very importunate with God to aſſiſt and enable us. But what comes of this? why! either we can do nothing at all! or elſe what we do is but ſuperficial and cold; or that little temptation or occaſion of ſin is too hard for us, and that little Croſs fil… us with impatience, and vexation, and diſcontent, &c. Therefore I beſeech you who are the people of God, Learn to go out of your ſelves. Learn to depend on Gods ſtrength, even for the leaſt Duty that you are to perform: there is in the leaſt duty (whether Active or Paſſive) enough to exerciſe your Faith; Though the greateſt work be not above Gods ſtrength, yet the leaſt is above your ſtrength. If you can do nothing without Chriſt, then you cannot do the leaſt good work without him. If the Apoſtles were not ſufficient of themſelves to think any thing, much leſs are we able of our ſelves do any thing! Nay, and you may obſerve it, That the failings of the people of God are uſually about ordinary duties: They do carry on their difficult works, better than they do their ordinary works; what is the Reaſon of this? becauſe in them they look up more to God: but in theſe, they look more at themſelves.

p. 719Secondly, When we have found more than ordinarie enlargments in Communion with God, that our hearts have melted in the confeſſion of our ſins, and that our hearts have wreſtled with God in Prayer, and our reſolutions have been exceedingly ſtrengthened and ſharpned: O now beware of thy ſelf; and now have a ſpecial care to make God alone thy ſtrength: why? becauſe now thou ſhalt (through ſubtiltie of temptation,) be inclined to think too highly of thy ſelf, and of thine own ſtrength; and that this may laſt long; and the…eupon th… wilt ſlack that earneſtneſs of Communion; and thou wilt be venturing and hazarding upon the account of thy own ſtrength, and God will leave thee, and humble thee.

Thirdly, When we have taſted of the wonderful goodneſs of God in high and rich experiences, nay in the very healings and aſſurances of his own ſpirit, that we have heard the voice of joy, all is pardoned, God is reconciled: Hereupon our hearts ar exceedingly raiſed to God, in bleſſing and praiſing, and ſaying, What ſhall I do for this good God? O but remember to raiſe your hearts in a careful and watchful, depending on Gods ſtrength and ſufficiencie, ſtill to enable you to walk with him, and to do for him: You think you can do much more, and I do verily believe you would do much more; but all thoſe gracious experiences without any aſſiſtance and influence from God, will not be ſufficient unto you

Secondly, We ſhould eſpecially depend upon God for his ſtrength and ſufficiencie then when we do meet with the greateſt ſtrength of oppoſition to the performing of any good work or works: as David in another caſe, when the people ſpake of ſtoning him, he did then encourage himſelf in the Lord his God. 1 Sam. 30. 6. Or as Jehoſhaphat when that great multitude came againſt him, and God promiſed him deliverance, ſaid he, Believe in the Lord your God, and ye ſhall be eſtabliſhed. 2 Chron. 20. 20.

So ſhould we do when we meet with ſtrong …ppoſitions and hinderances; when we are to work, or when we are working the work or works commanded us of God, we ſhould now by faith look up to God, and reſt on his arme of gracious power to uphold our hearts, and to cary us out unto our dutiful performances. How many temptations do we many times meet with from Satan? and how many threatnings, and ſcoffs, and reproaches, and incounters do we meet many times with from ungodly men, and from carnal parents and friends, and from ſecret enemies of …od and his wayes? All which do tend to diſcourage our hearts, and to weaken our hands, and to interrupt or divert our feet from walking in Gods wayes, and from doing of the works which God requirs of us in our places: Now this is the time to look up to God and to truſt on him, to encourage and enable the heart to ſerve him, to hold on in walking before him with all faithfulneſs, wiſdome, zeal and patience: now make uſe of that promiſe in Eſa. 41. 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not diſmaid, for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. Zech. 4. 6. This is the w…rd of the Lord unto Zorobabel ſaying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my ſpirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. Ver. 7. Who art thou O great mountain! before Zorobabel thou ſhalt become a plain, and he ſhall bring forth the head-ſtone thereof with ſhoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Thirdly We ſhould eſpecially depend on God for his ſtrength, when we are moſt ſenſible of our own indiſpoſitions, weakneſſes, ſtreitghtened and inſufficient hearts: How often do we finde theſe things upon us? how apt are we under them to ſhrink, to complain, to give over? O but our work (when we are not able to do our work,) is by faith to look up to God, to quicken and enable us to do his work. Pſal. 119 159. Conſider how I love thy precepts! quicken me (O Lord,) according to thy loving kindneſs. Eſa. 45. 24. Surely ſhall one ſay, In the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength; even to him ſhall men come.

Object. But I have no might or power at all to do any thing.

Sol. Conſider now that precious promiſe in Eſa. 40. 29. He giveth power to the faint, and unto them that have no might he encreaſeth ſtrength. Phil. 2. 13. He worketh in us, &c.

Object. But I have lookt up with ſuch weak deſires, and with ſuch a weak faith as I have, and yet finde no more ſtrength.

Sol. Read on ver. 31. They that wait upon the Lord, ſhall renew their ſtrength, &c. So Pſal. 31. 24. Be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen your hearts, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Object. But did any ſervant of God ever finde him coming in with ſtrength, when ſenſible of his own weakneſs, and calling upon him for help and ſtrength?

Sol. See two places of Scripture inſtances for this:

Pſal. 73. 26. My fleſh and my heart faileth, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion fore ver. Pſal. 138. 3. In the day when I cried thou anſweredſt me, and ſtrengthenedst me with ſtrength in my ſoul.

Fourthly, We ſhould eſpecially depend on God for ſtrength, when we are called to do any work wherein the glory of God, and the good of his Church, and our own ſalvation, are more ſingularly concerned.

Firſt, Theſe are ſervices and works of the higheſt, and of the greateſt conſequence: there is no work whatſoever (wherein we can deal) which is or can be of a higher nature, for excellencie neceſſitie, felicitie.

Secondly, Miſcarriages under theſe, would prove very woeful and ruinous: that Gods glory ſhould faile in my hand, or the good and ſafety of the Church in my hand, and my own ſoul ſhould periſh by my own neglect.

Thirdly, And of all works theſe do meet with the greateſt oppoſition, from without our ſelves, and from within our ſelves: the gates of hell are opened, &c.

Yet for theſe hath God moſt of all engaged his power, and preſence, and ſtrength, as you may ſee in the varietie of his promiſes, and in the glory of his providences; therefore when you are called to do any work, which hath a neer and ſpecial reſpect to theſe things, fall down and pray; look up and depend: as he ſaid, de deo nil ſine deo; we can know nothing of God without God: ſo ſay I, pro deo nil ſine deo; we can do nothing for God without God; nothing for his glory, without his aſſiſtance.

O Lord, the work which I am now endeavouring, thou knoweſt, that it concerns thy name and glory; the good and welfare of thy Church, which is the apple of thine eye, and the dearly beloved of thy ſoul; and it reſpects mine own eternal ſalvation, which thou wouldſt have me work out with fear and trembling: good Lord leave me not; hide not thy ſelf, but appear in thy ſtrength for the carrying on of theſe works; come in with thy wiſdom to direct me, and with thy grace to quicken me, and with thy ſpirit to lead, and uphold, and proſper me.

Fifthly, When the work is extraordinary and univerſal, of much difficultie and danger, and requires more then ordinarie hight of ſpirit, and courage, and reſolution, now is your time not to conſult with fleſh and blood; not to conſider your own proportion of gifts and abilities; but by faith to look up to him who commands the work, and promiſeth his aſſiſtance and preſence for the work. Exod. 3. 10. I will ſend thee unto Pharoah (ſaith God to Moſes,) that thou mayſt bring forth my people, the children of Iſrael out of Egypt: ver. 11. And Moſes ſaid to God, Who am I that I ſhould go unto Pharoah? and that I ſhould bring forth the children of Iſrael out of Egypt? Ver. 12. And he ſaid, Certainly I will be with thee. Joſh. 1. 5. As I was with Moſes, ſo I will be with thee; I will not faile thee nor forſake thee.

p. 721Beloved, as the weakeſt duties are above our ſtrength; ſo the greateſt and hardeſt are below Gods ſtrength: it is not what you are, but what your God is who commands you, and what he will be unto you, who hath promiſed his own power and ſtrength.

Sixthly, When neer, great, and ſuddain changes do befall us; as the loſs of a husband, wife, child, parent, friend, eſtate, &c. this is a time wherein ordinarily we are weak, and do ſtand in need of more ſtrength than our own, to bear the hand of God with patient ſubmiſſion, and to make a ſanctified uſe of the ſame. And this is a time when we ſhould in a ſpecial manner look up to God, and truſt on him for his help and aſſiſtance, who hath promiſed to be with his people in the fire, and in the water. Eſa. 43. 2. And to debat… with them in meaſure. Eſa. 27. 8. And to wipe off their tears; and to turne again in mercy; and that all things ſhall work together for their good.

Seventhly, When we have made ſolemn vows in our diſtreſſes of particular reformation, or of better walking with God: O if God will ſpare me, if God will hear me, then this I will be, and thus I will walk, &c. Indeed the ſin is great to anſwer for ſuch works, and God will certainly require them at your hands: therefore when God hath anſwered you, O begg for his grace, for his ſtrength to enable you. Eſa. 10. 21. They ſhall make a vow unto the Lord and perform it.

Eighthly, We ſhould in a ſpecial manner depend upon God for his own ſtrength to be revealed unto us, when we have experimentally found any work or duty ſticking long upon our hands, and we cannot get it forward, and accompliſh it with our ſtrength: as many times a man reſolves to leave ſuch and ſuch a ſin, and is very ſerious in his reſolution, and yet he findes himſelf hampered, and captivated by it.

And many times a man reſolves upon ſuch or ſuch a heavenly duty, which is of an excellent nature; and yet he cannot get up his heart unto it, but he ſtill omits and neglects it, or is by carnal counſel and pleaſures taken off from it.

In theſe and the like caſes, we ſhould go and weep before the Lord, and confeſs, both the deceitfulneſs and inſufficiencie of our own hearts; and earneſtly beſeech the Lord to take 1. our hearts, and 2. our works into his own hands; that he would change our hearts, and that he would direct our ſteps; and that he would mortifie our ſinful luſts, and by his ſtrength tread down ſtrength, that he would lead captivitie captive, that he would break our bonds for us, and ſet us at libertie by the power of his own Spirit.

3. Queſt. Now follows the third Queſtion, How may one know, that he doth How we may know that we make God our ſtrength.indeed make God his ſtrength; and doth depend or relie only upon him for all the works which he is to do; to cauſe him to walk in his ſtatutes, and to do them?

Sol. If one doth indeed ſet up God for his ſtrength, and doth depend and relie upon him, &c.

Firſt, He will be much in prayer unto God; be will not take up, or ſet upon any work without prayer: when any duty is to be performed by him, his firſt work is with God; Lord, give thy ſtrength unto thy ſervant: he will not firſt venture upon the work, and then look up to God, but will firſt call in the help of God, and then attempt the work. Beloved, remember this, that the more that any man depends upon himſelf, the leſs he is in prayer to God: (for ſaith he,) I have wiſdom enough; and I have ſtrength enough to do this work; and the more that any man depends upon God, the more will he pray unto God: he that believes moſt, will pray moſt. Pſal. 62. 8. Truſt in him at all times ye people, poure out your hearts before him; God is a refuge for us. Becauſe if you do indeed truſt on God; if you do indeed believe that God is your ſtrength and refuge, you will then poure out your heart in prayer before him. Pſal. 116. 10. I believe, therefore have I ſpoken.

Secondly, He will be much in fear: Work out your own ſalvation with fear and p. 722trembling; for it is God that Works in you to will and to do, of his own good pleaſure. Phil. 2. 12, 13.

Queſt. Of what is the man afraid, who acknowledgeth and relieth on God as his strength for every good work?

Sol. He is afraid

1. Of himſelf, even in his beſt ſufficiencies; for not by might and by power, but by my ſpirit, ſaith the Lord. Zech. 4. 6 As Johoſhaphat, who had an army of above eleven hundred thouſand men; (2 Chron. 1…. from ver. 14. to 19.) yet when the Moabites and the Ammonites came againſt him, he goes unto the Lord, and ſaith; 2 Chron. 20. 12. O our God, wilt not thou judg them? for we have no might againſt this great company that cometh againſt us, neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee. Why ſaid he we have no might? Had he not above eleven hundred thouſand fighting men? Were theſe no might? No, they were not; ſelf-ſufficiencie is no ſufficiencie, and ſelf-might is no might, and therefore he feared him ſelf in the higheſt of his own ſufficiencies; and his eyes are upon God; in and from him was might and ſufficiencie indeed. The like you read in a ſpiritual caſe of Paul; as able an Apoſtle, and as laborious, and as powerful as any of them all, and one that relied as much upon the grace of God in Chriſt, and one that had as choiſe and eminent abilities of knowledge and grace; yet ſaith he, 2 Cor. 3. 5. We are not ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing as of our ſelves; but our ſufficiencie is of God: Ver. 6. who hath made us able miniſters of the new teſtament.

2. Of doing any thing which may offend his God, and provoke him to withdraw himſelf from him. How jealous was Moſes, when the two Tribes and an half petitioned to have their portion on this ſide Jordan, leſt they had been upon a ſinful deſigne which might move the Lord to leave them! Numb. 32. 14. Behold you are riſen up in your fathers ſtead; an increaſe of ſinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord towards Iſrael. Ver. 15. For if ye turn away from him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderneſs, and ye ſhall deſtroy all this people: See how afraid Moſes was, leſt any thing ſhould be done which might move the Lord to leave them. And ſo indeed it is with every one who knows that God is his ſtrength and ſufficiencie; he is afraid of every thing which may move the Lord to depart from him, and to leave him unto himſelf; he is afraid of every groſſe ſin, and of going againſt the light of the word, and againſt the working of the ſpirit, and againſt the checks and warnings of his own conſcience, as knowing that for theſe things God hath left his people, and hath withdrawn his actual aſſiſtance from them, as you may read in Sampſon, and David, and Hezekiah, and Peter.

3. Of giving way to unbeliefe, and of ſideing with it, and nouriſhing of it, which makes us ſo ready to deny the power of Gods alſufficiency, and to queſtion the intention and purpoſe of it unto our ſelves, &c. againſt this he wreſtles much, and doth pray much, leſt having a promiſe of Gods helping grace, he ſhould fall ſhort of it through unbelief.

Thirdly, If you do indeed look on God as your ſtrength, that can and will enable you to walk, &c. then his promiſe in relation unto your ſervices of obedience, will put life and courage into you, even under the greateſt and hardeſt of trials and duties; ſo that the greateſt and hardeſt ſervices will be all one unto you with the weakeſt and ſmalleſt; for ſaith the Church, The Lord God will help me. Eſa. 50. 7. 9. And as Aſa ſaid when he was going out againſt an boaſt of a thouſand thouſand Ethiopians: Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whiether with many, or with them that have no power, 2 Chron. 14 11. So it will be with us, when high and difficult works are to be done by us our hearts faint not, but we ſet upon them cheerfully; for Gods ſtrength is ſufficient for the greateſt and for the ſmalleſt ſervices. Zach. 4. 7. Who art thou O great mountain? before p. 723Zerubbabel thou ſhalt become a plain. Sometimes you meet with dreadful temptations; and if you do believe and relie on Gods ſtrength, you will reſiſt them, and fight againſt them, and expect victory over them; for God is on your ſide, and his ſtrength will bear down all the ſtrength of Satan. Somtimes you meet with ſtrong corruptions; why, the power of God will ſubdue them, and ſin ſhall not have, &c. Somtimes you meet with ſtrong afflictions, and you will bear them patiently; for the hand of God will ſuſtaine you. Somtimes you meet with wonderful oppoſitions from the world; why, your God is with you, and for you, and he will uphold and ſtreng then you; and fill you with love and zeal for his name. O when a man believes indeed on God, he doth then 1. Oppoſe ſtrength to ſtrength. 2. See all to be weakneſs which oppſeth God. 3. That Gods ſtrength will carry all before it. 4. That works which heretofore ſeemed impoſſible and unfeaſible, and we did deſpaire ever to compaſs them: now we look upon them as poſſible to be done, and dare to ſet upon them, and are confident to be ſucceſsful in them: ſtrong temptations and corruptions will now appear to be vincible; and the greateſt and hardeſt of holy duties will now appear to be practicable▪ &c. Before we do by faith apprehend and rely on Gods promiſed ſtrength and aſiſtance, we do meaſure all our works, and duties, and trials by our own ſtrength; but when we do indeed rely on God, then we do meaſure them by Gods ſtrength which is alſufficient. When a poor ſoul lights upon a ſpiritual promiſe, reſpectively anſwerable unto his particular work and occaſion; and can indeed by faith rely upon God making that promiſe: Come ſaith he, the work will be done which I have often thought would never be done: this ſin will be maſtered; and that temptation will be conquered, for God, hath promiſed his own ſtrength, &c.We muſt look on God as our ſtrangth.

Fourthly, If you do indeed look on God as your ſtrength, who can and will enable you to walk in his ſtatutes, &c. then your hearts will be perfect with God, and ſound and impartial in reſpect unto all his wayes: you will not pick and chuſe; you will not take up one duty which concerns, you and leave or omit a weightyer duty which concerns you: you will not comply only with duties of eaſineſs, and neglect the duties of difficultie; you will not ſatisfie your …elves with the external parts of duty, and lay aſide the internal ingredients of duty; but your hearts will comply with all the will of God; and you will ſincerely attempt the performance of all.

Why ſo? becauſe▪ 1. The command of God takes on your ſouls for all; and 2. God aſſures you by his promiſe, that he will enable you for all the works he requires of you. Beloved, this is an undeniable truth, that ſo far as men are believingly perſwaded of Gods ſufficiencie and faithfulneſs in promiſe, ſo far their hearts are carried out in evenneſs and uprightneſs of walking with God: if a man believes that God will be preſent with him, and help and ſtrengthen him for all the duties and works commanded of God▪ this man ſhall finde his heart cloſing with God, enlarged unto all thoſe works: And on the contrary, if any man remaines unperſwaded of Gods abilitie and faithfulneſs, (either in whole or in part) his heart will remain unſound, and his walking will for ever be uneven with God: If he thinks that Gods help is ſufficie…t againſt one ſin, but not againſt another ſin, (unto which he hath been accuſt…med,) why he will now remaine under the dominion of that ſin: If he thinks that Gods help is ſufficient for one good work, but not for the performance of another good work, (not to ſelf-denial, not to contentedneſs, not to heavenlimindedneſs, not to perſeverance;) O how uneven will this man be? how full o… carna… reaſonings? O this cannot be done, and this can never be attained. And why is not that work done by you, as well as by another? and attained by you, as well as another? why can you not mourne for every ſin, as well as another doth? and why cannot you repent and forſake every ſin, as well as another? a…d why are not you ſo even and upright in your wayes, as well as another? I tell you the p. 724reaſon of it; becauſe you do not believe the promiſe of Gods ſufficient grace; and you do not rely upon it as another doth: think you that he mortifies his ſins, and acts all thoſe duties by his own ſtrength, or by the ſtrength of God? and how comes he by that ſtrength but by believing? And verily thus far might you have attained as well as he, if your heart were ſincere, and did your hearts deſire and truſt on God in Chriſt for his alſufficient help.

Fifthly, if you do indeed truſt upon God to be your ſtrength, who can and We muſt truſt on God to be our ſtrength.will enable you to wa…k in his ſtatutes and to do them; then you are and may be found in the wayes of his ſtrength, in the wayes wherein he reveals his arm and power unto his ſervants. Beloved, there is a marvellous difference between preſumption and faith: preſumption is a very bold, and boiſterous, and irregular confidence on God, both for pardoning mercy, and for aſſiſting grace: the man loves his ſins and lives in them, and yet doubts not of Gods mercy to pardon his ſins; and the man expoſeth himſelf to the temptations of ſins, and preſumes on Gods help to keep him from ſin: and the man lives in the contempt or in the neglect of Gods ordinances, and preſumes of Gods help and ſtrength for all his works: Simile. Juſt as if a man ſhould voluntarily leap into the ſea, and think that God muſt keep him from drowning; or as if a man ſhould deſire to be ſtrong, and yet refuſe daily food which is a means of ſtrength. Thus it is when perſons are fooliſh and proudly preſumptuous. When we do indeed rely on God by faith for his gracious aſſiſtance, to enable us either againſt the doing of evil or for the doing of good, we do then decline all ſinful occaſions which draw us on to ſin; and we do then apply our ſelves to all thoſe means which God hath ſet apart, and doth bleſs to convey his ſtrength unto us.

There are three wayes wherein God reveales, or gives out ſtrength unto us.

1. His word which begets and nouriſhes us; which conveys life unto us, and Three wayes wherein God gives out ſtrength to us. The Word. Prayer.ſtrength; which brings us in, and builds us up: O how diligent and conſcientious doth faith make us to attend it!

2. Prayer, when our requeſts are put up to God, and his anſwers come down to help and ſtrengthen us: O how doth faith enable us to wreſtle with God, to be strengthened with all might by his ſpirit in the inner man I as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in Epheſ. 3. 16.

3. Heavenly conference, where we help to edifie, and eſtabliſh, and build up one another in our holy profeſſion. O how doth faith make us to prize and improve Heavenly Conference.ſuch opportunities?

Now conſider your ſelves you who think you look up to God, and do acknowledge him, and rely on him for ſtrength to cauſe you, &c. where may a man finde you complaining of weakneſs, and in word extolling and deſiring ſtrength from God? are you in the wayes of ſtrength? and are you ſeriouſly and conſcientiouſly in them? I doubt that ſome of you are in the wayes of weakneſs, and not of ſtrength; not in Gods wayes, but in Satans wayes; not attending the doctrins of truths, but the doctrins of lyes and errors; not keeping cloſe to Gods ordinances, but roving out after ſuch teachers as diſtil into you ſcorns and contempts of Gods Ordinances: Is this to rely on God for ſtrength, when for lying vanities you forſake the paths of God, and of his ſtrength, and of your own true peace?

Sixthly, What ſhall I ſay more? if you do indeed depend on God as your We muſt depend on God as our ſtrength.ſtrength to enable you to walk in his ſtatutes, you ſhall then finde a ſpiritual reſt or quietation in your hearts, joyned with a ſpiritual liberty or freedom. You cannot imagine how tumultuous and unſetled a mans heart is, and how ſtreightned it is, and backward his heart is unto duties, whilſt he ſtill ſees holy and heavenly work to be done, and no ſtrength undertaking to enable him for that work; or at leaſt if he cannot believe that God will be his ſtrength: his thoughts are many times confounded and amazed, and his very heart ſometimes quakes p. 725and trembles. But on the contrary, when he can by faith ſee the ſufficiencie of Gods ſtrength, and is able to fix and rely himſelf upon it, then theſe two things Two things follow our dependance upon God.will preſently follow and appear.

1. One is Quietation: his whole ſoul comes into a calme, and is cleared of all thoſe boyſterous ſtorms of unbelieving fears: my God is my ſtrength: the work is much, but he hath help enough and will not faile me.

2. The other is a Liberty and enlargedneſs; he hath now a heart ready and free to ſet upon the work.

4. Queſt. What one muſt be, and do, that ſo he may finde God to be his ſtrength How to finde God to be our ſtrength.enabling him, &c.

Sol. There are foure things which I would anſwer to this.

Firſt, If you would finde God to be your enabling ſtrength, then there muſt be a relation twixt God and you; he muſt be your God, if you would finde him to be your ſtrength. Pſal. 91. 2. I will ſay of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortreſs, my God, in him will I truſt. Micah 7. 7. I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation; my God will hear me. Pſal. 68. 28. Thy God hath commanded thy ſtrength; ſtrengthen O God that which thou haſt wrought in us. Beloved, the Lord calls upon us to be his people; to take off our hearts from all other objects, and to give them in unto himſelf, and to exalt him in his ſoveraignity and authority; which if we do, he will be our God, and will perform all the good of his Covenant unto us. Now if any man ſaith, I do not like to ſerve this God; I would rather ſerve my ſins and the world; let not that man think to finde any good from God: neither love, nor mercy, nor grace, nor ſtrength: But if a mans heart doth like and conſent, chuſe the Lord to be his God, and him he loves, and him he will ſerve; he is now come into the bond of the Covenant, and God is bound to finde him mercy to pardon him, and grace to change him, and ſtrength to enable him for all the duties or works which he requires from him: and he may in the ſenſe of his ſufficiency go to God, and truſt on him, and wait on him; and ſhall aſſuredly receive ſtrength and power from his God, to walk in his Statutes and to do them.

Secondly, If you would finde the Lords ſtrength to cauſe you to walk, &c. then you muſt get to him in the name of Chriſt; not in your own name or worthineſs or merit, or goodneſs for which the Lord ſhould give out his help unto you, but only in the name of Chriſt; that the Lord for his ſake would make his promiſe good unto you; for all the promiſes of God are yea and amen in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1. 20. And Chriſt hath aſſured you, that whatſoever you ſhall aske the father in his name, he will give it you, Joh. 16. 23. I am weak, Lord, ſtrengthen me for Chriſts ſake: I am inſufficient, without ſtrength, able of my ſelf to do nothing, O Lord help me, O Lord, work all thy works in me for Chriſts ſake; for Chriſts ſake pull down my ſins, for Chriſts ſake enable me to walk in all well-pleaſing before thee, &c.

Thirdly, If you would finde the ſtrength of God, &c. then you muſt be ſure to keep your hearts upright with God, that it is indeed your ſouls deſire, and endeavour to walk in Gods wayes, and to do his work.

Object. A man many times complaines that he can get no power from God againſt his ſins, and no power to do ſuch and ſuch duties.

Sol. I will tell you the reaſon of it; becauſe his heart ſecretly loves ſuch a ſin, and is not willing to be parted from it; and his heart ſecretly diſlikes ſuch a way of God, and therefore the Lord gives him no power or ſtrength, and regards not his prayers, nor his complaints, Pſal. 66. 18.

But if your hearts were reſolved indeed to forſake your ſins; they would be your hatred, and burden, and grief, and you would ſet your ſelves againſt them; but your ſtrength is too weak and diſproportionable; and hereupon you go and cry unto the Lord; O Lord, thoſe ſins are too ſtrong for me, I am not able to ſubdue p. 726them; I beſeech thee for Chriſts ſake, to ſend forth the word of thy power, and lead captivitie captive, and ſuffer me not to diſhonour thee any more.

I ſay if your hearts were drawn into this frame; that the buſineſs did not lie upon the deceitfulneſs or falſneſs of your hearts, but only upon the weakneſs and impotencie of your heart, (you would break down the power of ſin, but cannot do it; you would walk better with God, but you cannot do ſo) you may now go confidently unto God for ſtrength, and he will certainly hear you, and anſwer you with ſtrength in your ſoul.

Object. You will ſay, This doth ſtay and encourage us; but how may one know that it is only weakneſs, and not wickedneſs; only a want of power, and not a want of will, &c.

Sol. Its only a weakneſs, and a want of more power againſt ſin, if you finde theſe ſix things.

1. A conſtant conflict with ſin.

2. A reſolved unſubjection unto ſin: I will never ſerve ſin, though I am often captivated by it.

3. Earneſt deſires to have it mortified; longings when.

4. Avoiding all occaſions and wayes that do give ſtrength to ſin.

5. Gladneſs of any preventing and aſſiſting power againſt ſin.

6. Extream grief, when our weakneſs is borne cown by the ſtrength of ſin.

If you finde theſe things in you, aſſuredly your hearts are willing to forſake ſin; and that you cannot get more riddance, doth ariſe only from weakneſs; and therefore in this caſe go to God for more of his ſtrength, and he will not deny it unto you.

And ſo for any good work that you would perform, but you cannot diſpatch it as you would, or as you ſhould; you may know that this comes only from weakneſs and defect of more ſtrength; and nor from a ſecret diſlike of it, or averſneſs unto it, if you finde theſe five qualities in you.

1. You dare not neglect or omit it, but you will be doing the will of God in this and that particular dutie, with ſuch a weak power as you have, though it be in ſighs, and in tears, and in much weakneſs, and under many fears and temptations.

2. You will be in the wayes of ſtrength; you will be creeping to the pools of Gods Ordinances, there to receive of his ſtrength.

3. Though you cannot do much, yet you will finde deſires to do more; ſtrong cries to help weakneſs.

4. You will take a delight after the inward man in the law of God, and conſent unto it, that it is good and holy.

5. You will make much uſe of Chriſt, untill God ſhews his power in your weakneſs, and gives in more ſtrength to enable and perfect your works.

Fourthly, If you would finde ſtrength from God to enable you to walk in his Statutes and to do them, then you muſt be an humble people, and you muſt ſue When the heart is humble.unto him in forma pauperis. Pſal 40. 17. I am poore and needy, the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help, &c. Pſal. 10. 17. Lord, thou haſt heard the deſire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt incline thine ear to hear. Jam. 4. 6. God reſiſteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. By theſe places you ſee that we muſt not be proud, but humble; and if we be ſo, and if we do ſeek the Lord with an humble heart, he will hear our deſire, and will give grace unto us.

Object. But perhaps you may deſire to know when a mans heart is humble, and when he ſeeks the Lord with an humble heart, to help and ſtrengthen him?

Sol. I will ſpeak a little to this: a mans heart is humble, and humbly ſeeking, when▪

p. 727Firſt, He hath no ſelf-bottome to truſt unto, but looks on himſelf as one utterly deſtitute and inſufficient; in me ſaith Paul, there dwells no good; and we are not ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing.

Secondly, He is well contented to go abroad, and to beg, and to be beholding unto another for all his ſupplies, and ſupports, and helps: The humble heart is well content to go and ſtand at heaven gates for mercy, for grace, for wiſdome, for all ſpiritual power.

Thirdly, He judgeth himſelf unworthy of the leaſt mercy and help from God; not only which he hath received, (as Jacob, Gen. 32, 10. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all thy mercies, and all the truth which thou haſt ſhewen to thy ſervant) but alſo which he doth now requeſt of God; there is no reaſon in me, nor cauſe in me, nothing in me for which, &c.

Fourthly, He impleads and uſeth the name of Chriſt. Dan. 9. 18. We do not preſent our ſupplications before thee for our righteouſneſs, but for thy great mercies of another: Gods own reaſon, for Gods own grant; for his Name ſake, for his own Promiſe ſake, for his Chriſt ſake. Remember thy word, and remember thy Covenant, and do it for the Lords ſake.

Fifthly, He will wait Gods leaſure, and Gods pleaſure: I will hearken what God the Lord will ſpeak, Pſal. 85. 8. I will wait ſo the God of my ſalvation, my God will hear me, Micah 7. 7.

5. Queſt. The fifth and laſt Queſtion is, How one may know that God hath been his ſtrength to cauſe him to do any good work, or that he hath done it in the strength of God, and not in the ſtrength of his owne parts and gifts?

Sol. This is a choiſe and deep queſtion, but I ſhall deſire to ſpeak a few things unto it: One may know that he doth act his duties or do his works, not in the ſtrength of his own parts, but in and by the ſtrength of God;

Firſt, By the Integrity or full frame of a holy working: when his work or duty hath ſtill the requiſities that do conſtitute or make a duty to be a right duty; or a work to be a right work in a ſpiritual ſenſe.

To make a work, or to ſet forth a work in a right and ſpiritual way, there muſt be a concurrence or conjunction of five particulars.

1. There muſt be the rule of Gods word to command and warrant it.

2. There muſt be a right end, even the glory of God alone intended and i…ed at.

3. There muſt be a renewed and changed heart by the ſpirit of Chriſt: the tree muſt be good, before the fruit be good.

4. There muſt be the breathing of thoſe heavenly affections of love, and delight, and joy, and inward working as well as an outward work.

5. There muſt be faith to ſet it forth in the name of Chriſt.

Now to work it, I ſay,

1. No man on earth can (by the ſole ſtrength of his parts) ſet forth any one good work: indeed a man of much learning, and of great endowments, and of good utterance, may in the virtue of theſe ſay and do many good works, which we call good: he may make a Sermon, he may utter a Prayer, he may be much in the outward part of duty; nevertheleſs this ſtrength that is in him is nothing as to the ſpiritual performing of any duty: he is not able with all the parts which he hath, to look only at Gods glory, nor to ſet out his duties with holy and heavenly affections, nor with faith in Chriſt.

2. Therefore if you finde this concurring frame (which! have mentioned) in any of your works or duties, aſſuredly you have attained grace and ſtrength from God to enable you: the Spirit of God hath been preſent with you to help you.

Secondly, By the Antecedents that go before any work or duty of yours, p. 726duplicate page p. 727duplicate page p. 728of which the performance of it is a conſequent or fruit: e. g. if it be the fruit following

1. The ſenſe and acknowledgment of your own inſufficiency.

2. An earneſt deſire of God to engage his help and aſſiſtance.

3. The actual and particular application of the promiſe of God, reſting on him, and expecting Gods aſſiſtance: now the work that is done, is not done in any confidence of our ſelves, but only upon the acc…unt of Gods ſtrength; but to this I have hinted already.

Th…rdly, By the Conſequents of your duties performed in the ſtrength of By the conſequents of our duties.God, which are quite different from thoſe that are performed in our own ſtrength, whether we look unto God, or unto our ſelves.

Firſt, Unto God, there is acceptance and anſwer of all the duties or works done by his ſtrength and aſſiſtance; but not ſo of the works done in our ſtrength.

Secondly, Unto our ſelves, where we ſhall experimentally finde four admirable effects.

1. After all the duties or works performed by us in the ſtrength of God, we grow more humble, as David, in 1 Chron. 29. 14. But who am I, and who is my people, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly …fter this ſort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee: But after works done in the ſtrength of our own parts, we grow more proud, as the Phariſees, &….

2. After the duties performed in the ſtrength of God, we do more exalt and bleſs the grace of God, as Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 10. I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. And David, Pſal. 115. 1. Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory for thy me…cy, and for thy truths ſake: Whereas when we do act in the ſtre…gth of our own parts, we will rob God of his glory, and give praiſe and bleſſing un…o our ſelves; unto our own wiſdom, and unto our own zeal, and unto our own dexterity and learning.

3. When we have performed our work in the ſtrength of God, and have indeed diſcerned his preſence with us, this will dr…w out our hearts to depend more upon God for our future works and ſervices: It will ſweetly raiſe our hearts u…to him; O I will truſt on him another time, for I relied on his power a…d ſufficiency, and he graciouſly helped and ſtrengthened me. Pſal. 63. 7. Becauſ… thou hast been my help, therefore in the ſhadow of thy wings will I re…oy…e: But it is not thus when we act in our own ſtrength; for after ſuch performances we are ſtill more apt to rely upon our ſelves.

4. When we have done our work by the ſtrength of God, hereupon our hearts are more endeared to God, and ſo are our reſolutions more and more to pray unto God. Pſal. 116. 1. I love the Lord becauſe he hath heard my voice, and my ſupplication. Ver. 2. Becauſe he hath enclined his ear unto me, therefore w…ll I call upon him as long as I live.

Thus have I finished the third duty, which was to depend upon God for his ſtrength, ſeeing he doth promiſe to cauſe us to walk in his Statutes and to do them.

Fourthly, Now follows the fourth and laſt duty which concerns the people Give the praiſe of all unto God.of God, which is to give the praiſe of all the good which they do, unto God alone: I may not ſlightly paſs this; therefore I will enquire, firſt why, ſecondly whither.

1. Queſt. Why the people of God ſhould be carful to give unto God alone, the praiſe and glory of all the good which they do?

Sol. Reaſons for it briefly are theſe.

Firſt, His grace is the only cauſe of all the good which we do: it is true, that we are the ſubjects who do repent, and who do believe, who do love, and p. 729fear, and ſerve, and obey him, and walk in his Statutes: O but who is the cauſe that we do all this, or any of this? from whom is all our fruit found? Excellent is that paſſage of Auſtine, Certum eſt nos velle cum volumus, ſed Deus facit ut vellemus, certum eſt nos facere cum faciamus, Deu… facit ut faciamus, we do will good, but it is God that makes us to will that good; and we do good, but it is God who makes us to do that good; it is God who works in us to will and to do: And hereupon in another place he ingenuouſly confeſſeth, that his good works were rather Gods works then his own works; Quaecunque ſunt bona opera mea tua magis quam mea ſunt.

Now if God works all our works for us, is it not juſt that he ſhould have all the glory from us?

Secondly, We ſhould elſe be injurious unto God, who ſaith, Glory is mine. 1 Chron. 29. 11. And my glory will I not give unto another. Eſa. 42. 8. Glory (if I may ſo ſpeak,) is the Lords portion and revenue out of all his works of power and grace; and he is very tender of it, and therefore we cheat him when we withhold any part of his glory from him; nay it is plaine theft to take any part of glory from God, unto whom all the glory doth belong, Pſal. 96. 8. for you lay hands of that which is none of your own, and without the conſent of another who is the true owner; and he profeſſeth that he will not part with it; it being indeed ſo properly eſſential to the crown of his diety.

Thirdly, We do but proudly diſhonour our ſelves, in a vain-glorious boaſting of that which is none of our own, for which God will certainly abaſe us. 1 Cor. 4. 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what haſt thou, that thou didſt not receive? Now if thou didſt receive it, why doſt thou glory, as if thou haſt not received it? Eſa. 2. 17. The loftineſs of men ſhall be bowed down, and the haughtineſs of men ſhall be made low. Luk. 18. 14. Every one that exalteth himſelf, ſhall be abaſed. Nebuchad…ezer was caſt out among the beaſts, for arrogating to himſelf: Herod was ſmitten and eat up with worms, becauſe he gave not the glory to God: the Phariſe rejected, becauſe he gloried in himſelf.

Fourthly, Becauſe it is an exceeding mercy, if God actually gives us his power to do any good, or to walk in his Statutes and to do them; which may appear thus.

Firſt, It is a great mercy to enjoy the Spirit of God, and an unqueſtionable Comfort to know that we do enjoy him: this I think no Chriſtian will deny. But when we finde a power enabling us to walk in Gods Statutes, this power comes from the Spirit of God dwelling in us: No man can walk in Gods Statut…s without the preſence and influence of the Spirit; and every one who doth walk in them and do them, hath the Spirit of God: I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk, &c.

Secondly, It is a great mercy to be made a new creature, to be regenerated, to partake of the life of Ch…iſt; whoſoever is enabled to walk in Gods ways and to do them, he is unqueſtionably a new creature, he is born again, he pertakes of Chriſt, of the life of Chriſt, and hath communion with Chriſt, he abides in him: For without me (ſaith Chriſt, John 15. 5.) ye can do nothing.

Thirdly, It is a great mercy to be kept from ſin, and all ſinfull walkings by which God is diſhonoured; (therefore David abundantly bleſſed God, who kept him from ſinning againſt him, when he raſhly intended to deſtroy Nabal and all his houſhold. 1 Sam. 25. 32, 33.) but thus are we kept and preſetved, when God cauſeth us to walk in his Statutes.

Fourthly, It is a great mercy that we are able to honour God, and to honour our holy profeſſion: it is one of the greateſt favours which God ſhews to any man on earth, when he makes, and when he uſeth him as a veſſel of his glory.

And this honour God puts upon you, by cauſing you to walk in his Statutes; p. 730now you are veſſels fitted for his honour. In theſe wayes you do live unto his honour, and to your own honour, and to the honour of your heavenly calling and profeſſion.

Fifthly, It is a great mercy ſo to walk as to get peace in conſcience, and aſſurance of happineſs: But when the Lord puts forth ſuch a power upon you, as enables you to walk in his Statutes, and to keep his judgments and to do them; hereupon,

1. There comes peace of Conſcience; great peace have they which keep thy law, Pſal. 119. 165. And this is our rejoycing, the teſtimony of our conſcience that, &c. 2 Cor. 1. 12.

2. And Aſſurance and confidence of happineſs; they go from ſtrength to ſtrength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God, Pſal. 44. 7.

Sixthly, It is a great judgment, (yea it is one of the greateſt judgments) when the Lord leaveth any to themſelves. Pſal. 81. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts luſt, and they walked in their own counſels. If ſo, then by the rule of contraries, it is a very great mercy when the Lord gives unto any man the power of his grace, enabling him to walk in his wayes and Statutes. Now if there be ſo many choiſe mercies beſtowed and manifeſted in cauſing us to walk in Gods Statutes, ſurely then there is great reaſon that we ſhould give God all the glory, &c.

2. Queſt. Whether we do give God the glory of all the good which he cauſeth us How to know that we give God all the glory, and aſſume it not to our ſelves.to do, and do not aſſert nor aſcribe it unto our ſelves?

Sol This may be known thus;

Firſt, When we make a right diviſion of the work done by us; and accordingly make our acknowlegment; in every good work done by us, there is aliquid Dei, and aliquid mei; ſomething which is of God, and ſomething which is of our own. The goodneſs or well-doing, that is of God; and there muſt come in an Agnoſco; O Lord, this was thine, this was wrought by thee. The evil-doing, the mixtures, the imperfections, the diſtractions, theſe are ours; and here muſt come in our Ignoſce; O Lord own and accept what is thine, and O Lord mercifully pardon what is mine. If after any good done by us we take the humbling part unto our ſelves, and give the exalting part unto God, now we aſcribe ſhame unto our ſelves, and all the glory unto God.

Secondly, When after the beſt performances we ſet an higher value upon the grace of God, and do not put a higher rate upon our ſelves: as Paul, Gal. 2. 20. I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me. 1 Cor. 15. 10. I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. When aftet our good-doings, we raiſe the grace God (in this work the good hand of God was with me, and his power was manifeſted,) but we raiſe not our ſelves a jot; but we are nothing, and ſtill are nothing, and can do nothing without his grace and preſence: verily our poſture is humble, and the glory of our well-doing is returned to God alone.

Thirdly, When we are afraid of all ſelf-glory, as Paul, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Christ. And in the ſecret temptations unto ſelf-glory, our ſouls are diſtreſſed and exceedingly humbled within us, and we wreſtle with God to beat down, and caſt out all high ſelf-challenging, and ſelf-appropriating thoughts, and to ſet the crown of praiſe only on his own glorious name: this alſo demonſtrats that we acknowledge God, and not our ſelves.

Fourthly, when after our well-doing our hearts do look upon the good which we have done, as ſpecial mercy which we have received, and as a new obligation binding and engageing us unto God, as for a new mercy received from the hand of God: When bona noſtra are dona ſua; our good-doings are reckoned amongſt Gods favours and mercies to us; and when we look on bona noſtra as debità noſtra; p. 731the good which we do as indebting us unto God for what he hath made us to do▪ and the more good we do, the more are we indebted for praiſes and thankſgivings, and ſay as David, What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? Pſal. 116. 12. So what ſhall I render unto the Lord for all the good which he hath done? and for all the good which I have done? (which I have done by his power.) This ſhews that you deſire to give all the glory unto him.

Fifthly, When there is an after-work to be done, as well as a fore-work to be done, and we are as ſerious, and careful, and watchful about this, as about that▪ before we perform any duty, our fore-work is by faith to look up to God for his ſtrength; and therein we ſhew our ſelves careful by the many prayers which we do put up unto him: And after we have done the duty, there is another work which doth concerne us, and that is immediate and ſolmne returnes of praiſe unto God, to give him praiſe who hath given us ſtrength, and this work fills our hearts preſently; we cannot come off from our work; we do not account all our work done, untill this be done: As when Naaman was cleanſed, he returned preſently unto the Prophets houſe; or as when the Leper was healed, he preſently went back to Chriſt and gave thanks: So as ſoon as the Lord hath enabled us to do any work which he hath commanded, we preſently are filled with the ſenſe of his goodneſs, and our lips do praiſe him, &c. I have one work yet more to do; one duty more, viz. to bleſs my God who hath been my ſtrength.