The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
The desires and endeavors of Hypocrites after Grace are not lasting.
SECT. I.
THat foolish Virgins in their first endeavors after the Spirit of Grace,Observation 4. usually cease from seeking farther, before they have got that measure and fulness of it which will continue to the last. Or,
That there is ever a cessation in the first endeavors of carnal professors from seeking after that measure of grace which will indeed last and continue until their meeting with, and appearing before the Lord Iesus Christ.
For these Virgins here did seek after the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of Christ, and hence did get that measure which lighted their lamps for a good season; and they contented themselves with this, and gave over seeking untill it is too late; and therefore now they say, Give us of your oyl, our Lamps are o…t: These foolish Virgins when they had got somewhat, they are carried with abundance of affection and profession, they think themselves as good as the best, and what need they seek for more! and then grow secure and fall asleep until all is spent. The Scripture is pregnant every where for this. But let us look and see the causes of this.
First, Sometime it is because they know not what that measure is which doth accompany salvation; but they set up an imagination of their own heads, which is a false image of Saving-grace, and when they have that, now they think all is well, and they go no further. Iudg. 2. 11, 12. People that know not the Lord, nor the po…er of his grace, will set up other gods, and serve them, and there rest; until it is with them, as it was with those, when the anger of the Lord wax…th hot, and spoilers come, now they cry unto the Lord; What is the reason why many a man falls short of the righteousness which is of God, viz. of Faith? Because he sets up in his head a righteousness of his own; and if I get that, then I hope the Lord will accept me, and forgive me; and hence Rom. 9. 31, 32. why did they miss of it? Because they sought it by a righteousness which is of their own; so why do many miss of Faith? because they think it is an assurance; or when a man rests upon Christ, not considering the need of an Almighty power; and hence the Apostle prays for this, Ephes. 1. 19. So for Repentance, why do men fall short of it? they think it is when Gods anger is exprest, the soul then comes to seek the Lord, and findes some comfort Psal. 78. Matth. 3. and so runs away with it: So for Holiness, they think it is to be like others; and then well, they think these are the men that shall live, and are happy; and look as it is like it was at Babel, when head and tongues were confounded, one calls for a Brick, the other brings him a Trowel, Hammer or Tile, because he did but imagine what he spake, and so understood not his language; So 'tis here; men read and hear God speak, and Ministers call for Faith, and knowledge of God; but earthly minds cannot understand heavenly language; and hence they imagine that is Faith and Repentance which indeed is not, and so miss of that which indeed else would continue; and this is the misery of many thousands that in seeing see not. The experience of the work of grace, makes men savingly to know what Grace is, Iohn 5. 37, 38. Now men graceless never felt it in the life and power of it, and therefore cannot tell it.
Secondly, From the nature of Common-grace; the nature of which is as the Apostle speaks of lifeless knowledge, 1 Cor. 8. 1 to puff up; it never leaves the soul more sensible of his vileness, as Saving-grace doth, Ezek 16 ult. and so makes a man never rest in seeking after the Lord; but makes the soul feel himself full, and hence the stomack is gone from seeking after more, as Rev. 3. 17. She thought she was rich, &c. The Spirit of Grace which is but common, that heals a vile, proud heart, it easeth him, it quiets him, in healing some sin, which lies sore on the conscience; it heals and quiets the man, so he is well, needs no repentance; but the Spirit of life indeed destroyeth the man, and …ays corruption, and hence he resists; and now saith the soul, I never felt my heart so vile as now; and hence, saith Paul, Sin revived, and led me captive, Oh wr…tched man! as it is with a Prince, if any great ones come and serve him, he likes them, this gives him rest, settles him in his Throne; but if any one come to reign over him, now he gathers all his strength to oppose: So Common grace it ever comes as a servant to corrupt; and hence take a man of best wit and parts, he turns them against the Lord, and makes them serve himself.
Thirdly, From an apprehension of this difficulty, and an unwillingness in the heart to break thorow the difficulty of seeking after the Lord; many a man sees (as Dives in hell, Abraham afar off) Grace, and God, and Christ afar off; but there is a great gulf between them and Grace; now to be watching, fasting, seeking the Lord diligently, to follow the Lord hard, Psal. 63. to keep the heart lamenting till the Lord comes, this is hard, as Heb. …. 'tis said, They could not enter in because of unbellef. 1. They thought they could never overcome. 2. They thought the Lord did therefore hate them, Deut. 1. 27. They did not regard the strength of God; they shall be but bread for us saith Caleb; Numb. 14. 9.they could not believe that to be bread that is so hazzardful. So 'tis with many a man; and hence he sits down with desires and hopes, and so perisheth; the sluggards desires slay him; hence many complain of difficulty, but never break difficulties, and so perish; and so not like to the Merchant that goes far for pearl. It is his business, and no storms no… ill weather drive him to desire the smoak of his chimney, till he hath got them, he hath now resolved to venture all for, Prov. 2. 5. if thou dig for silver, &c. many prize Christ and Grace, Oh that I had it, but are …oth to dig for it, they love their ease so well, and hence rest in their desire after it; but indeed miss it; and hence many can come to, and follow God in outward Ordinances, but never find fruit and comfort in any of them, because of difficulty, yet sit down content because they seek for Ordinances, as Prov. 12. 27. The sluggard roasts not what he had …ook in hunting; there is a very great delight in coming to Ordinances, as travellers under the shadow, but then to climb the tree that is hard, and hence lose the fruit; and hence God seeing a man love his sloth, and hath that base esteem of his Grace, as that he will not follow so hard after it as he hath done after his lusts, let's loose Satan, and he comes and stakes down a sinner in this, God must do all, and there he rests, and so he falls short; like one that comes to Husbandmen, and tells them they have taken much pains and care to get their ground good to bring forth much, but for time to come their ground shall bring forth fruit without planting or sowing, only reap you the fruit, it would be good news to them, and they beleive it, and then when the year comes about, they are to seek for corn; so this affects, and here they rest, and by this means want.
Fourthly, From feeling the unprofitableness of seeking the Lord through difficulties, and hence they give over but a little before they finde that that will continue.
1. Some follow the Lord for carnal ends, as Iudas did, but he finding the purse grow lank, and the bag empty, he forsakes the Lord.
2. Some for comfort, and hence pray and mourn; and hence Mal. 3. 14. what profit is there that we have walked so? as it was with Naomi, when she returned home, both her daughters accompany her some part of her way, Return again, saith she, to your friends, here is no Husband for you where I go; the one would not be beaten off, it is not a Husband I came for, but a God; thy God shallbe my God; the other hearing her speeches, and loving her Fathers house, and Country, goes back, not without some affection; so it is here; whereas Faith will cry the more.
Fifthly, From the offences which usually Satan casts in when they are in the heat of their first endeavours; as the stony ground being offended fell away. As,
1. Persecution, and hence they fall; a childe begins to look towards God; the Father, Mother, Friends scoff and reproach.
2. Corrupt Teachers, Matth. 24. that like false Christs deceive, and put a world of scruples into mens heads, and then lead them away; as the Galatia…s that would pull out their eyes for Paul, yet by love and smooth carriage of false Teachers so plausible, they fell off strangely.
3. Corrupt company, women or men; many strong men have fallen by the one, and men also who having a form of godliness, yet denying the power of it, their hearts be taken in these snares.
4. Some hard point of doctrine, Ioh. 6. 60, 66. something is preacht that is cross to our apprehensions; Ile never believe it, say they; and away they fall.
Sixthly, Because of false comforts which usually men meet with before they get that which will abide in them, in their worst hours; and this quiets all.
1. From themselves; A man sees Christ only can redeem him by price, but he feels no need of Christ to redeem him by power; and now seeing what a miserable creature he is, stays himself upon the Lord, and that it may be by some word which he hears. Iohn 8. 30, 31. when they heard that, they believed; yet the Lord tells them, they are not free, but were yet captive to their sin, which they need the Son himself to dye to save them from; and so many…a one comforts himself, and stayes here, though he have no other assurance.
2. The approbation and comfort of others, Ezek 13. 3, 4.
… Strange extasies of joy which many a man meets with suddenly; they have … and drunk in Christs presence, and have been comforted at such and such a time in such a manner; this, we shall finde it, perswades men that God is theirs, without revealing the subject, viz. we be his people, and that change which God hath made.
SECT. II.
Quest. VVHat is that measure which will last, and throughout continue?
Answ. I have spoken of this at large; but he that loves the truth as his daily bread, will feed upon it, when ever it is set before him: Now there is one thing (this is different) and I shall express my self in one thing only, viz. They give over before they have tasted and drunk the satisfing sweetness of the grace of Christ, and the presence of his grace in their souls: That look as it was with Israel, they came out of Egypt, and saw the wonders of God in the wilderness, and had his fiery Law, and glorious Tabernacle among them, yet they never came to the la…d of rest; so it is at this day with many, they have some glimpses of the excellency of Christ, and his grace, and some desires after it, and some tastes of it; they are pulled out of their woful bondage, and seeing words of God, are oft affected, yet their carkasses must fall in the wilness, because they never come to rest; they fall off from God because they never knew what this rest meaneth, Heb. 4. 11.
Hypocrites have awakening grace, and are much troubled; they have enlightning grace, and know more than many Christians; they have affecting grace, and are wonderfully taken with the glad tidings of the Gospel; but satisfying grace, or that grace which brings them to full rest, and satisfying sweetness in God, not only to their consciences but to their hearts; not carnal, but spiritual, this they never came to, Ioh. 4. 14. he that drinks the wat…r I give, shall never thirst again; Joh. 6. 54. If ye eat my flesh and drink my blood, there is life, if not, no life; eating and drinking, is not sipping and tasting; many may eat and drink in his presence, as those Exod. 24. 11. but yet not feed at all on his person; this makes the soul hold out, Prov. 2. 10, 11. Psal. 90. 14. this makes the soul glad in God, and in all the days of his life; where any creature is at rest, there it is in the proper place; it is a token the Lord is the proper place of the soul, (not sin, nor hell, which was Iudas proper place) when it is at rest there; and this is the last end, and fruit of the redemption of Christ, Ier. 31. 11, 14. i. e. not having so much of God as to be a God-glutted Christian (as he said) but so satiate as not to desire other things, but there to stay, though the heart doth oft feel not the same sweetness.
SECT. III.
NOw there be four things which do concur to this fulness of satisfying sweetness.
First, Manifestation of the Lord Jesus in his full proportion, and in all the dimensions of his goodness to the soul; the soul of man is made for, and so desires an infinite eternal good; whiles this good is not known to be such a one, it never satisfies; and hence let a man look upon any one creature, there is much sweetness in it, but not all; hence it satisfies not; there's sweetness in honor and wealth, but if sick, a miserable man; there is sweetness in health, but if poor and naked, a desolate man; and if one creature had all in it, yet when one thinks this must be taken from me, it is like Ionah's gourd, it never satisfies:
Now the Grace which satisfies must first, Manifest the fulness of infinite goodness suitable to me in the Lord; if that now do I want any outward blessing it is in Christ, for he is Heir not only of heaven, but of all the world.
2. Do I want spiritual blessings? Ephes. 3. there is all in him; life, and peace and glory.
3. Have I nothing to move the Lord to do any of these to me? yet there is fulness of tender mercy, and pity in him, Eph…s. 1. 17. and 3. 18.
Secondly, Possession of this good as mine; let a poor man see heaps of gold before him, it satisfies not him, because it is none of his; let a Christian hear of Kingdoms, peace, glory, in and with Christ, yet it satisfies not him; it troubles him the more, if Christ forsake him, and grow strange to him; but to be sure that Christ is mine, this makes the soul do, nay suffer the utmost for Christ, and to know that nothing can separate, &c. as a man that knows he shall kill, and not lose his life, will venture like Sampson upon an hoast of men; they may wound me, they cannot bind nor slay me, Rom. 8. ult. there is joy and some satisfaction in finding the pearl of great price, what joy when it is possessed!
Thirdly, Communication of this good to the soul; let a man have meat and drink, but he cannot come at it when he hath need of it, will this satisfie if it be lockt up? let a man have real possession of never so many lands, yet if he hath not the benefit sure to him, as well as the thing, he will never hold out; what am I the better? so that grace satisfies that brings the sould to fruition of the good, that it is now in respect of the benefit of it conveyed to the soul, Psal, 16. 4, 5, the Lord is the portion of my lot and cup, and he maintains both; and hence Ier. 14. 9. Why art thou like a man astonish…d, yet in the midst of us! if a man have meat and clothes, and the one never feeds, the other never warms, would this satisfie? no, unless that he may feel them, nay he would think this a curse; so let Saints have God in his Ordinances, the best in the world there is, if not fed thereby, Lord! what a misery is this? especially if the Lord helps not in time of need.
Fourthly, Reflexion of good again to the good which doth refresh us, else it never satisfies; if a man have meat dealt out, and it is very sweet, yet if it gives him no strength to perform acts of life; if a man have a friend, and he cannot love again, nor shew testimony of love, it will not satisfie him; so that grace satisfies which makes the soul reflect the love of God to God again; shall I serve the Lord, said David, of that which cost me nothing? you know the Vine and Olive, Iudg. 9. were quietted by this, that they did rejoyce the heart of God and man; what do you tell me of bonds? I acco…t not my life dear to … my course, saith Paul.
Now a carnal heart gives over before he sees or possesseth or enjoyeth the Lord, or found the sweetness of a holy life in walking with God. Hence,
1. He loaths and is weary of all his profession and truth he knows, and the God he talks of.
2. Hence they break out to some lusts or others; which because if not satisfied here, they must satisfie themselves some other way, either in vain conceits or opinions, or lusts of the world.
3. Hence, desperate doubts, Is the Lord mine? whereas if it were otherwise, then as it is with a man, ask him, how do you know you eat and drink? it satisfies me, saith he, it puts strength, I should die daily else.
SECT. IV.
OF Examination,Use 1. Instruction, and Exhortation to all those who have rest content with that measure of the Spirit which will never last, to begin again, and lay a better foundation, lest it befall you as it did these Virgins, or as the sinner in Prov. 5. 11, 12, 13. you mourn when you, not your flesh, but soul is consumed; Oh how have I despised instruction! lest wrath break out which cannot be quenched, for dealing slightly with God and your own souls; how many Christians take that for grace, which when it comes to tryal will be found too light, and know it not, and regard it not, till the hand-witing of God is upon their consciences!
If therefore you have not found the satisfying sweetness of the Spirit of Gods grace, that water which quencheth all your inordinate thirst, that bread which feeds you to life, be sure your oyl will be spent, and your light will go out before you dye.
SECT. V.
Quest. HOw sho…ld I know that satisfying sweetness?
Answ. Ah methinks you should say, Oh that I did know it! yet wary I would be of giving any just occasion to break off what the Lord in his grace hath wrought; yet you may know something of it by this.
1. When the Spirit of Gods grace dispensed in his Ordinances doth glut you and slay you, and make you worse; here is not the grace of Christ which doth satisfie you; if the more knowledge you have of the truth, the less glory you see in the truth, and the less you love the truth; if the more comfort you have sound by it, the less you now desire after it; if the more abilities you have received by it, the more proud you grow, and high-minded; if having come for to seek the Ordinances of God, the less good you find by them, the more weary you grow of them, and the more you despise them; it is certain, the satisfying grace of Christ is not here, when the bread to feed, is poison to slay; is not this the condition of many? what is the cause they are growing worse, that they are worse in their latter end and middle of their Christian profession, than the begining, because they are grown full by Gods Ordinances, and so worse; what is the cause in places of persecution the Lords Ordinances were precious, not when they come to them? Gods Ordinances plenty makes them to undervalue them through their sin; that look as it is with men in consumptions, whose life is going out, they think they can eat, yet when it is before them, loath the smell of it, or a little serves them, whereas another finds it otherwise; not but that Saints may think thus, but they with Hezekiah mourn under it, 2 Chron. 32. Hos. 6. 5. I have hewen and slain, what is the cause? because your goodness is like a morning dew, which soon vanisheth, therefore have I slain them. Oh God loves us, and we are the best people in the world, because we have Ordinances; no, but because you be shallow, hence you shall have Prophets to slay you.
Secondly, If any man maintains any living lust in himself in the midst of his profession, and hungers after it, and the life of it; for when a man hath better food to feed upon, he will neglect his own at home, as Christ said to them when they asked him, why he did not eat; how many be there which have strange gifts, and have had marvellous ebbings and flowings of the Spirit of Life and Peace, and yet one sin have they lived in, and would not, could not live without it. Look as it was in the wilderness, they were for a time pretty well content with their allowance and wilderness…walks and provisions, but they could not stay long, They asked meat for their lusts, but he sent leanness into their souls, Psal. 106. 14, 15. So that there it is, if lust be stirring, the Lord either denies it his own people, because he will starve the lust, that the soul may grow, or if he gives it, slays the lust by it, gluts it, makes the soul grow weary of it, and prize his first Husband more; as Solomon by his experimental discovery of the creature: Many men confess and pray aginst their sins, but by their sorrows and desires, they do maintain the life of their sin, fall to it as the dog to the vomit; you will be cast away at last, 1 Cor. 9. ult. I beat not the air, lest I become a cast-away; whereas a gracious heart doth not maintain, but waste and consume his lust. His life is to live to God.
Thirdly, If a mans heart and affections reach not the people of God with the dearest embracings, no… yet mourn for the want of such a heart; for sometimes there are some drops of the Lords goodness falling into the heart, whereby the soul cleaves unto the Lord, and is moved and ravished, and bears much …, as it thinks, towards him; but look to their love to the people of God, t…re they fall short; because the love of Christ is not shed abroad abundantly into their hearts, filling and satisfying of them; and hence have none to poure out upon the souls of their neighbors, 1 Iohn 4. 20, 21. In our own Country, what was the accusation of Saints? viz. They are Hypocrites before God; What did you think of those men that said so? Answ. Surely they were enemies to the Lord, and that never loved him; for then they would love his people. But what is the occasion here? Now they say they come far for Ordinances; but they are unjust oppressors, cruel; poor men may starve before regarded by them; and so they cast reproach not only upon some few, but all the people of God, and Church of God; If that it be so, their accusation is Gods accusation; if not (as generally it is) for many, though unable to do much, yet if called to it, would lay down their estates and lives for others; then know thou never hadst Christ's love shed in thy heart (which will continue) but drops of it only; because thy love cannot reach to these. Beloved, what is the end of your coming over hither? is it not to enjoy first Christ, and nextly his People, so his Ordinances? because next to fellowship of Christ, the Saints company is most precious; and do you here bite, and censure, and devou…e, and neglect, and reproach one another, and upon any conceived injury stumble? are poor men neglected? It is a sad sign the love of Christ in not in power, Heb. 6. 9, 10.
Fourthly, If there have been abundance of sweet affections and sweet refreshings, thereby rising up within the soul, without the death, and killing, and removal of the contrary lusts and sins; it is certain this soul was never truly filled nor satisfied with the Spirit of Gods grace; for as it is with vessels, while they be filled with lime or chaff, they cannot be filled with wheat or with water; so while the heart is filled with some noisom distempers, it cannot be filled or satisfied with the Lord; look but abroad in the Churches; how many be there that say and think they …ate their sin as the only evil, they close with the Lord Jesus, they love the people of God all of them, they seek the glory of God, and yet they do but think so! for though they hate sin, yet it is unsoundly, because they see not how closely their hands are knit to their sin; they never did believe, because they never felt their unwilling heart to close with Christ; they never loved the Saints, because they never felt their contempt of Saints; never sought Gods glory, because they never mourned under that which did stain it; they never make work with their own hearts; the stony and thorny ground withered because their soil was naught; a heart filled with sweet affections, which never felt the strength of contrary corruptions lying underneath, it is an ill soil, and where those affections will never prosper, nor prove right; and hence, 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21. he that purgeth himself from these things shall be a vessell of honor, ever preserved, never broken. Do not put it to a venture, it may be I may have grace, and so put your salvation on the hazard of such hopes; but the Lord that hath come to thee knocking, open the door that he may come in and feast; cry for infinite creating power and mercy to make haste and come and help thee; what have you to do else but to get your old lusts purged away? what do you labor for else? if you have children to bring up, if you have any love to them, nay if swine or cattel, meat you will have to feed them, and satisfie them if possible; and yet behold thy soul perishing for want of true spiritual refreshings!
SECT. VI.
OF Exhortat on to all young beginners,Vse 2. and so to all others; Take heed you chop not at your comfort too soon; take heed you do not perish in the way, that whiles seeking after the Lord and rest, you fall from the Lord by security and scandal, and so you perish; but labor for that which will continue and last.
1. Mariners when they go a voyage, they will trim their vessel, and search if there be not something amiss which may sink the ship at last; if once out at sea, they may dye before they come home; and hence at first setting out are careful; so do you.
2. You will meet with trials enough to exercise all your grace, that you will find all little enough in the issue.
3. This will be your comfort at death, that …hough it be difficult, yet if you have fought a good fight, and run a good race, there is now a crown, this will make you to go out of the world wondering, and go up to eternity in your triumphant Chariot of glory, when you shall see on the one side, here a Demas forsaking, there a Iudas betraying; here one Chri…ian withered, there another scandalised and offended, and yet the Lord hath upheld thee (in thy integrity) a poor creature, that thoughst thou shou…dst never have held out at all.
That you may do thus, two things are to be done.
First, Be sure your wound at first for sin be deep enough; for all the error in a mans Faith and Sanctification it springs from that first error of his Humiliation; if a mans Humiliation be false, and weak, and little, his Faith is light, and his Sanctification counterfeit, as may be seen in the stony and thorny soil; if a mans wound be right, and Humi…ation deep enough, that mans Faith is right, and his Sanctification is glorious; for Christ cannot be exceeding sweet and satisfactory to the soul, unless sin be first exceeding bitter; and this is the reason why Christ is not sweet nor precious at first nor afterward, because sin is not so better to them, especially heart sins; Christians shall find it, the esteem and price of Christ falls, whiles sin lies light and is not bitter.
SECT. VII.
Quest. HOw bitter must it be?
Answ. So bitter as that nothing contents your heart,Joh. 16. 22. whiles sin is with you, and the Lord is gone from you, Lam. 3. 49. Mine eye ceaseth not mourning, till the Lord look down from heaven; as a man that looks for a Prince to come and live with him, he prepares rooms for all his attendants, but he reserves the best lodgings for the Prince himself, and they are kept empty whiles he comes: So the soul entertains Creatures, and Ordinances, and Saints of God, but yet the heart is not content, but sits empty, desolate whiles the Lord is gone; for whiles the heart is delighted with somewhat else beside the Lord (that if the Lord comes, it is well, if not, it is merry and jolly) see what the Lord there speaks, Iam. 4. 8, 9, 10. Cleanse your hearts and he will draw nigh unto you; turn laughter to mourning, else you are not humbled. Let Gods own people do so, it stops up the fountain of Gods love, and sweetness of mercy, Psal. 30. 7. When carnally confident, I was troubled; as it is in marriage, if a man knows there is familiarity between the woman and another Lover he will have none of her; but when sin is thus bitter, the Lord hath the garments of joy to give for the spirit of heaviness, Isa. 61. 1, 2. Oh therefore, though it be cross to have limbs cut off, and breasts feared, bones broken, &c. yet part with all for life, even this life of Christ in you, which will give you full content.
SECT. VIII.
Quest. HOw shall I do thus, my heart will be wanton and carnal?
Answ. 1. Set this down for a conclusion, I shall never be comforted by the Lord, whiles any thing else comforts my heart, i. e. for it self, as hath been proved; and if this was well thought of, this would make a man above all other things detest his carnal content, because this indeed keeps the Lord from him.
2. Keep the remembrance of the bitterness of your sin and evil in it; thus David, Plal. 51. 3. set it ever before him; for all the sweet of sin comes into the heart by a delusion first begot in the mind, of some present good in it, which the soul not attending to is drawn away by it, …am. 1. 14. drawn away and enticed; hence fortifie here. Three things in sin, which if remembred, would make it bitter.
1. Sentence of condemnation past upon thee by the Law of God for it, which may make a soul to mourn: Little … do men take in their Prison-bolts.
2. The death, and agonies, and sorrows of the Lord Jesus, to acquit the soul from this condemnation; this is that which may work bitterness as for a first born, Zach. 12. 10, 11.
3. Crossing the will, and so grieving the heart of Christ now in glory; as when the old world grew sensual it grieved God to the heart; keep these in remembrance; what pleasure canst thou take in that which makes the Lord sigh?
4. The end w…ll be bitterness, Psal. 73. 17.
Secondly, Take heed you miss not of that Faith which will bring in supply, He…. 4. 1, 2. Take heed lest a promise being le…t, any fall short of that rest which comes by the promise, by an unbelieving heart; for many desire the Lord, and rest upon the Lord, and they are satisfied with their hunger, and with their rest on him, without receiving life from him; truly you will fall from the Lord then; for if the Lord doth not daily drop life into your hearts, you will grow weary of him; and Ordinances they are empty wells, and Promises they are dry …: if you have bread, but it feed you not, you will not care for it.
SECT. IX.
Quest. HOw shall I get this Faith?
Answ. 1. Honor and advance the Lord's rich grace in thy heart, before thou goest to him for the Spirit of life; thus that poor woman, If I can but touch his skirt, I shall be whole; if I can come to him, I shall have help; many can think before they go to Christ, I shall never speed, I shall never over come these evils; and hence the Israeli…es are excluded Canaan: though I know the Lord doth pity his poor people when they believe, though not thus far; as it is with men, if you would get their hearts from them; commend them; so here; and though this doth not move the Lord, yet it is an Ordinance; 'tis a way of God, Micah 7. 17, 18.
2. Take up a firm resolution never to let thy heart go from seeking the Lord till this is wrought, Psal. 27. 4. this I will seek after; see that thou must needs have this; and hence do not say, I have desired and gone to the Lord, and no help comes, and now sit down; no, but take advantage hereupon to desire the more, and to make the Lord's denials or delays the ground of the … Canaanitish woman, crums; as Iacob by wrestling against the Ang… … blessing at last; Say, as it hath been long, so therefore Lord help … But sins are many, and the heart is worse: Oh the more need of … Exod. 33. 18. If thou wilt not go with us, carry us not up ….
3. Wait for the Lord quietly, and lock out when will it be better. Isa. 64. 4. eye hath not seen; and wait for him first; and so for other things, Isa. 30. 18. Blessed are they that wait for him.
4. If the Lord gives not; yet seek to give him content, though he doth not content thee; as Mary, Ioh. 2. when they wanted wine, 1 Ioh. 3. 22. we do what pleaseth him; and hence have our answer; this will fetch it.