Doctrine of a Man in the Act of the New Birth, Treatise · Chapter 6

Doctrine of a Man in the Act of the New Birth · Treatise · Chapter 6

p. 40CHAP. VI.

SECT. 1. The Anſwer on mans part for the Soul to cloſe with, and to relye on Chriſt.

HItherto of the Call on Gods part; now we are come to the Anſwer on mans part. No ſooner hath the Gospel and Gods Spirit clearly revealed the fulneſs of Gods mercy in Chriſt, but then the whole ſoul (both the Minde that diſcovers mercy, and Hope that expects it, and Deſire that purſues it, and Love that entertains it, and the Will that reſts on it) gives anſwer to the Call of God therein. Mercy is a proper object of all theſe, of the Minde to be illightned, of Hope to be ſuſtained, of Deſire to be ſupported, of Love to be cheared: Nay, there is a full ſatisfactory ſufficiency of all good in Chriſt, that ſo the will of man may take full repoſe and reſt in him; therefore the Lord ſaith, Come unto me, all that are weary and heavy laden; Come Mat. 11. 28.Matt 11:28Minde, and Hope, and Deſire, and Love, and Will, and Heart: they all anſwer, We come: The Minde ſaith, Let me know this Mercy above all, and deſire to know nothing but Chriſt and him crucified: Let me expect this Mercy (ſaith Hope) that belongs to me, and will befal me: Deſire ſaith, Let me long after it: O—ſaith Love, let me embrace and welcome it: O, ſaith the Heart, let me lay hold on the handle of Salvation; here we will live, and here we will dye at the footſtool of Gods Mercy. Thus all go, Minde, Hope, Deſire, Love, Joy, the Will, and all lay hold upon the Promiſe, and ſay, Let us make the Promiſe a prey, let us p. 41prey upon mercy, as the wilde Beaſts do upon their proviſion. Thus the faculties of the ſoul hunt and purſue this mercy, and lay hold thereupon, and ſatisfie themſelves herein.

SECT. 2. A ſight of Chriſt, or of mercy in Chriſt.

BUt for a further diſcovery of theſe works of the ſoul, we ſhall now enter into particulars: And for their order, Firſt, the Lord lets a light into the minde, for what the eye never ſeeth, the heart never deſireth, hope never expecteth, the ſoul never imbraceth: If the ſoul then ſeems to hang afar off, and dares not believe that Chriſt will have mercy on him, in this caſe the Spirit lets in a light into his heart, and diſcovers unto him, that God will deal graciouſly with him. It is with a ſinner, as with a man that ſits in darkneſs, haply he ſeeth a light in the ſtreet out of a window, but he ſits ſtill in darkneſs, and is in the dungeon all the while, and he thinks, How good were it, if a man might enjoy that light? So, many a poor humble-hearted broken ſinner ſeeth, and hath an inckling of Gods mercies, he heareth the Saints ſpeak of Gods love, and his goodneſs, and compaſſion; Ah (thinks he) how happy are they, bleſſed are they, what an excellent condition are they in? but I am in darkneſs ſtill, and never had a drop of mercy vouchſafed unto me: At laſt, the Lord ſets a light in his houſe, and puts the candle into his own hand, and makes him ſee by particular evidence, Thou ſhalt be pardoned, and thou ſhalt be ſaved.

The maner how the Spirit works this, is diſcovered in three paſſages:

Firſt, the Spirit of the Lord meeting with an humble, broken, lowly, ſelf-denying ſinner (he that is a proud ſtout-hearted wretch knows nothing of this matter) it opens the eye, and now the humbled ſinner begins to ſee (like the man in the Goſpel) ſome light and glimmering about his underſtanding, that he can look into, and diſcern the ſpiritual things of God.

2. Then the Lord ſays before him all the riches of the treaſure of his grace; no ſooner hath he given him an eye, but then he p. 42lays colours before him (the unſearchable riches of Chriſt) that he may ſee and look, and fall in love with thoſe ſweet treaſures; Eph. 3. 9.Eph 3:9and then ſaith the ſoul, O that mercy, and grace, and pardon were mine! O that my ſins were done away! the Lord ſaith, I will refreſh them that are heavy laden; then ſaith the ſoul, O that I had that refreſhing! you ſhall have reſt, ſaith God; O that I had reſt too, ſaith the ſoul! And now the ſoul begins to look after the mercy and compaſſion which is laid afore it.

3. The Spirit of the Lord doth witneſs or certifie throughly and effectually to the ſoul, that this mercy in Chriſt belongs unto him; and without this, the ſoul of an humble broken-hearted ſinner hath no ground to go unto Chriſt: what good doth it an hungry ſtomack to hear that there is a great deal of cheer and dainties provided for ſuch and ſuch men, and he have no part therein? Take a Beggar that hath a thouſand pounds told before him (he may apprehend the ſum of ſo much gold and ſo much ſilver) but what is all that to me (ſaith he) if in the mean time I dye and ſtarve? It falls out in this caſe with a broken-hearted ſinner, as with a prodigal childe: The Prodigal he hath ſpent his means, and abuſed his Father, and now is there a Famine in the Land, and poverty is befallen him; he knows indeed there is meat and cloaths enough in his Fathers Houſe, but (alas) what can he expect thence but his Fathers heavy diſpleaſure? if a man ſhould ſay, Go to your Father, he will give you a portion again; would he (think you) believe this? No (would he ſay) it is my Father I have offended, and will he now receive me? yet ſhould a man come and tell him, that he heard his Father ſay ſo, and then ſhew him a Certificate under his Fathers hand that it was ſo, this would ſure draw him into ſome hope that his Father meant well towards him: So it is with a ſinner when he is apprehenſive of all his rebellions; if a man ſhould tell ſuch a ſoul, Go to God, and he will give you abundance of mercy and compaſſion; the ſoul cannot believe it, but thinks, What, I mercy? no, no: Bleſſed are they that walk humbly before God, and conform their lives to his word, let them take it; but for me, it is mercy I have oppoſed, it is grace I have rejected; no mercy, no grace for me: But now if God ſend a Meſſenger from Heaven, or if it come under the hand of his Spirit, that he will accept of him, and paſs by all his ſins, this makes the ſoul grow into ſome p. 43hopes, and upon this ground it goes unto the Lord: But here obſerve me, that none either in heaven or in earth, but onelyonly Gods Spirit can make this Certificate; when it is night, all the candles in the world cannot take away the darkneſs; ſo all the means of grace and ſalvation, all the candle-light of the Miniſtry, they are all good helps, but the darkneſs of the night will not be gone, before the Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſe in our hearts. Hence it is that it proves ſo difficult a matter to comfort a diſtreſſed ſoul; I ſhall one day periſh, ſaith David, I ſhall one day go down to hell: ſaith the ſoul, Let all the Miniſters under heaven cry, Comfort ye, comfort ye: ſtill he replyes, I mercy? and I comfort? will the Lord pardon me? It is mercy I have deſpiſed and trampled under my feet, and I mercy? no, no: Thus we Miniſters obſerve by experience, Some that in their own apprehenſions are gone to the bottom of hell, we make known to them Reaſons, and Arguments, and Promiſes, but nothing takes place; whats the Reaſon? O none but Gods Spirit can do it, he muſt either come from Heaven, and ſay, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, or it will never prevail: let me ſpeak therefore to you that are Miniſters, you do well to labor to give comfort to a poor fainting ſoul, but always ſay, Comfort Lord, O Lord, ſay unto this poor ſoul, that thou art his ſalvation.

SECT. 3. Hope in Chriſt.

THe minde being thus illightned, the Lord calls on the affections; Come deſire, Come love: but the firſt voice is to Hope, now Hope is a faculty of the ſoul that looks out for mercy, and waits for the ſame; So the Apoſtle, Phil. 1. 20. According to my earneſt expectation: It is a ſimilitude taken from a man that looks after another, and lifts up himſelf as high Phil. 1. 20.Phil 1:20as he may to ſee if any be coming after him; ſo here the ſoul ſtands as it were a tip toe, expecting when the Lord comes; he hath heard the Lord ſay, Mercy is coming towards thee, mercy is provided for thee: now this affection is ſet out to meet mercy afar off, it is the looking out of the ſoul: O when will it be Lord? p. 44Thou ſayeſt mercy is prepared, thou ſayeſt mercy is approaching; the ſoul ſtandeth a tip-toe, O when will it come Lord! here is the voyce of Hope; This ſinful ſoul of mine, it may through Gods mercy be ſanctified; this troubled perplexed ſoul of mine, it may through Gods mercy be pacified; this evil and corruption which harbors in me, and hath taken poſſeſſion of me, it may through Gods mercy be removed; and when will it be, Lord?

The maner how Gods Spirit works this, is diſcerned in three particulars: 1. The Lord doth ſweetly ſtay the heart, and fully perſwade the ſoul, that a mans ſins are pardonable, and that all his ſins may be pardoned, and that all the good things he wanteth, they may be beſtowed; this is a great ſuſtainer of the ſoul: when a poor ſinner ſeeth his ſins in their number, nature; when he ſeeth no reſt in the creature, nor in himſelf, though all means, all help, all men, all Angels, ſhould joyn together, yet they cannot pardon one ſin of his; then the Lord lifteth up his voyce, and ſaith from Heaven, Thy ſins are pardonable in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

2. The Lord doth ſweetly perſwade the ſoul that all his ſins ſhall be pardoned; the Lord makes this appear, and perſwades his heart that he intendeth mercy, that Chriſt hath procured pardon for the ſoul of a broken-hearted ſinner in ſpecial, and that he cannot but come unto it; by this means Hope comes to be aſſured, and certainly perſwaded to look out, knowing the Promiſe ſhall be at the laſt accompliſhed: the former onelyonly ſuſtained the heart, and provoked it to look for mercy, but this comforts the ſoul, that undoubtedly it ſhall have mercy: The Lord Jeſus came to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt: now ſaith the broken and humble ſinner, I am loſt; Did Chriſt come to ſave ſinners? Chriſt muſt fail of his end, or I of my comfort: God ſaith, Come unto me, all you that are weary and heavy laden: I am weary, and unleſs the Lord intend good unto me, why ſhould he invite me and bid me come? ſurely he means to ſhew me mercy, nay he promiſeth to relieve me, when I come therefore he will do good unto me.

3. The Lord lets in ſome reliſh and taſte of the ſweetneſs of his love, ſome ſcent and ſavor of it, ſo that the ſoul is deeply affected with it, and carryed mightily unto it, that it cannot be ſevered; it is the letting in the riches of his love, that turneth p. 45the expectation of the ſoul another way, yea it turneth the whole ſtream of the ſoul thitherward.

This Reproves, 1. Thoſe that caſt off all Hope. 2. Thoſe that 1 Ʋſe. of Reproof.without ground will do nothing but Hope. 1. If the Lord ſtir up the heart of his to hope for his Mercy, then take heed of that fearful ſin of Despair. Deſpair we muſt in our ſelves, and that is good; but this Despair we ſpeak of, is hainous in the eyes of God, and hurtful to thee. 1. Injurious to God, thou goeſt to the deep dungeon of thy Corruption, and there thou ſayeſt, Theſe ſins can never be pardoned, I am ſtill proud, and more ſtubborn, this diſtreſs God ſeeth not, God ſuccors not, his hand cannot reach, his Mercy cannot ſave. Now mark what the Prophet ſaith to ſuch a perplexed ſoul, Why ſayeſt thou thy way is hid from the Iſa. 40. 27.Isa 40:27Lord? the Lord ſaith, Why ſayeſt thou? is any thing too hard for the Lord? O you wrong God exceedingly, you think it a matter of humility, when you account ſo vilely of your ſelves: Can God pardon ſin to ſuch unworthy creatures? It is true (ſaith the ſoul) Manaſſes was pardoned, Paul was converted, Gods Saints have been received to mercy, But can my ſins be pardoned? can my ſoul be quickned? No, no, my ſins are greater then can be forgiven. Why then, poor ſoul, Satan is ſtronger to overthrow thee, then God to ſave thee; and thus you make God to be no God, nay you make him to be weaker then Sin, then Hell, then the Devil. 2. This ſin is dangerous to thy own ſoul, it is that which taketh up the bridge, and cutteth off all paſſages, nay it plucks up a mans Endeavors (as it were) quite by the roots: Alas (ſaith he) what skilleth for a man to pray? what profits it a man to read? what benefit in all the means of grace? The ſtone is rolled upon me, and my Condemnation ſealed for ever: I will never look after Chriſt, Grace, Salvation any more; the time of grace is paſt, the day is gone. And thus the ſoul ſinketh in it ſelf, Will the Lord caſt me off for ever, and will he ſhew no favor? Pſal 77. 7…Ps 77:7I ſaid (ſaith David) this is my infirmity: the word in the Original is, This is my ſickneſs; as who ſhould ſay, What, is mercy gone for ever? this will be my death, then is life gone.

2. This Reproves and Condemns that great ſin of Preſumption, a ſin more frequent, and (if poſſibly may be) more dangerous; as they ſaid, Saul had ſlain his thouſands, and David his ten thouſands: So hath Despair ſlain his thouſands, but Preſumption p. 46his ten thouſands. It is the counſel of Peter, That every man ſhould be ready to give an account of his faith and hope that 1 Pet. 3. 15.1 Pet 3:15is in him. Let us ſee the Reaſons that perſwade you to theſe groundleſs fooliſh Hopes? you ſay, You hope to be ſaved, and you hope to go to heaven, and you hope to ſee Gods face with comfort; and have you no grounds? it is a fooliſh hope, an unreaſonable hope.

But comfort ye, comfort ye, poor drooping ſpirits; They that Ʋſe 2. of Comfort. Iſa. 40. 31.Isa 40:31wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength: you ſay, You cannot do this, and you cannot do that; I ſay, If you can but hope, and wait for the Mercy of the Lord, you are rich Chriſtians. If a man have many Reverſions, they that judge of his Eſtate, will not judge him for his preſent Eſtate, but for the Reverſions he ſhall have: Haply thou haſt not for the preſent the ſenſe and feeling of Gods love and aſſurance; away with that feeling, do not dote upon it, thou haſt Reverſions of old Leaſes, ancient Mercies, old Compaſſions, ſuch as have been reſerved from the beginning of the world, and know thou haſt a fair Inheritance.

You will ſay, Were my hopes of the right ſtamp, then might Ʋſe 3. of Examination.I comfort my ſelf; but there are many falſe, flaſhy hopes, and how ſhould I know that my hope is ſound and good? I anſwer, you may know it by theſe particulars:

1. A grounded hope hath a peculiar certainty in it, it doth bring home unto the ſoul in ſpecial maner, the goodneſs of God, and the riches of his love in Chriſt Jeſus. It ſtands not on Is's and And's, but ſaith, It muſt undoubtedly, it muſt certainly be mine; and good Reaſon, for this hope hath a Word to hang and hold upon: What is that? I will wait upon the Lord, and I hope Pſa. 130. 5.Ps 130:5in his Word; it is a Scripture-hope, a Word hope: the Word ſaith, The Lord came to ſave thoſe that were loſt; why, I finde my ſelf Matth. 18. 11.Matt 18:11to be loſt, ſaith the ſoul, and therefore I hope: The Lord will ſeek me, though I cannot ſeek him; I hope the Lord will finde me, though I cannot finde my ſelf; I hope the Lord will ſave me, though I cannot ſave my ſelf. So the Word ſaith, He appointeth them that mourn in Sion, to give unto them beauty for aſhes: will you have a Legacy of Joy, Mercy and Pity? here it is, the Lord Chriſt left it you, I bequeath and leave this to all broken-hearted ſinners, to all you humble mourning ſinners, this is your Legacy, ſue for it in the Court, and you ſhall have it for ever.

p. 472. A grounded hope is ever of great power and ſtrength to hold the ſoul to the truth of the Promiſe; hence take a poor ſinner when he is at the weakeſt, under water, when all Temptations, Oppoſitions, Corruptions grow ſtrong againſt him, and he ſaith, I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of Saul, this proud, fooliſh, filthy heart of mine will be my bane, I ſhall never get power, ſtrength and grace againſt theſe ſins. Here is the loweſt under of a poor ſoul. If a man ſhould now reply, Then caſt off all hope and confidence, reject the means, and turn to your ſins: Mark how Hope ſteppeth in, and ſaith, Nay, whatſoever I am and do, whatſoever my condition is, I will uſe the means; I am ſure all my help is in Chriſt, all my hope is in the Lord Jeſus, and if I muſt periſh, I will periſh ſeeking him, and waiting upon him. Why, this is Hope, and I warrant, that ſoul ſhall never go to hell; I will wait for the Lord, yea though he hath hid himſelf from Iſa. 8. 17.Isa 8:17the houſe of Jacob.

The laſt Uſe is of Exhortation: I deſire you, I intreat you Ʋſe 4. of Exhortation.(I will not ſay, I command you, though this may be enjoyned) if you have any hope of Heaven, if you have any treaſure in Chriſt, labor to quicken this affection above all: The means are theſe—

1. Labor to be much acquainted with the precious Promiſes of God, to have them at hand, and upon all occaſions: Theſe 1 Means.are thy comforts, and will ſupport thy ſoul, as the body without comfort is unfit for any thing; ſo it is here, unleſs a man hath that proviſion of Gods Promiſes, and have them at hand daily, and have them diſhed out, and fitted for him, his heart will fail.

2. Maintain in thy heart a deep and ſerious acknowledgement of that ſupreme Authority of the Lord, to do what he will, and 2 Means.how he will, according to his pleaſure. Alas, we think too often to bring God to our bow, We have hoped thus long, and God hath not anſwered, and ſhall we wait ſtill? Wait! Ah wait, and bleſs God that you may wait: If you may lie at Gods feet, and put your mouthes in the duſt, and at the end of your days have one crum of Mercy, it is enough; therefore check thoſe diſtempers, Shall I wait ſtill? It is a moſt admirable ſtrange thing, that a poor worm, worthy of hell, ſhould take up ſtate, and ſtand upon terms with God: He will not wait upon God; Who muſt wait p. 48then? muſt God wait, or man wait? It was the Apoſtles queſtion, Wilt thou now reſtore the Kingdom of Iſrael? to whom our Savior anſwered, It is not for you to know the times and ſeaſons; as who ſhould ſay, Hands off, it is for you to wait, and to expect mercy, it is not for you to know: If you begin to wrangle, and ſay, How long, Lord? When, Lord? And why not now, Lord? Why not I, Lord? now check thy own heart, and ſay, It is not for me to know, it is for me to be humble, abaſed, and to wait for mercy.

SECT. 4. A deſire after Chriſt.

VVHen the ſoul is humbled, and the eye opened, then he begins thus to reaſon, O happy I that ſee mercy, but miſerable I, if I come to ſee this, and never have a ſhare in it! O why not I (Lord?) why not my ſins pardoned? and why not my eorruptions ſubdued? my ſoul now thirſteth after thee as a thirſty Land, my affections now hunger after righteouſneſs both infuſed and imputed; Now this deſire is begotten thus:

When the ſoul is come ſo far, that after a through conviction of ſin, and ſound humiliation under Gods mighty hand, it hath a timely and ſeaſonable revelation of the glorious myſteries of Chriſt, of his excellencies, invitations, truth, tenderheartedneſs, &c. of the heavenly ſplendor, and riches, of the pearl of great price; then doth the ſoul conceive by the help of the Holy Ghoſt, this deſire and vehement longing: And (leaſt any couzen themſelves by any miſconceits about it, as the notorious ſinner, the meer civil man, and the formal Profeſſor) it is then known to be ſaving:

1. When it is joyned with an hearty willingneſs and unfeigned reſolution, to ſell all, to part with all ſin, to bid adieu for ever to our darling-delight; it is not an effect of ſelf-love, not an ordinary wiſh of natural appetite (like Balaams, Numb. 23. 10.) of Num. 23. 10.Num 23:10thoſe who deſire to be happy, but are unwilling to be holy; who would gladly be ſaved, but are loth to be ſanctified; no, if thou deſireſt earneſtly, thou wilt work accordingly; for as the deſire is, ſo will the endeavor be.

p. 492. When it is earneſt, eager, vehement, extreamly thirſting after Chriſt, as the parched earth for refreſhing ſhowers, or the hunted Hart for the Water-brooks. We read of a Scotiſh Penitent, who a little before his confeſſion, freely confeſſed his fault, See the Preface written by G. Abbot, D D. before the examination of George Sprot, p. 23.to the ſhame (as he ſaid) of himſelf, and to the ſhame of the Devil, but to the glory of God; he acknowledged it to be ſo heynous, and horrible, that had he a thouſand lives, and could he dye Ten thouſand deaths, he could not make ſatisfaction: Notwithſtanding (ſaid he) Lord, thou haſt left me this comfort in thy word, that thou haſt ſaid, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refreſh you: Lord, I am weary, Lord, I am heavy Matth. 11. 28.Matt 11:28laden with my ſins, which are innumerable, I am ready to ſink, Lord, even into hell, unleſs thou in thy mercy put to thine hand and deliver me: Lord, thou haſt promiſed by thine own word out of thy own mouth, that thou wilt refreſh the weary ſoul: And with that he thruſt out one of his hands, and reaching as high as he could towards Heaven, with a louder voyce and a ſtreined, he cryed, I challenge thee, Lord, by that word, and by that promiſe which thou haſt made, that thou perform and make it good to me, that call for eaſe and mercy at thy hands, &c. Proportionably, when heavy-heartedneſs for ſin hath ſo dryed up the bones, and the angry countenance of God ſo parched the heart, that the poor ſoul begins now to gaſp for grace, as the thirſty Land for drops of rain; then the poor ſinner (though duſt and aſhes) with an holy humility thus ſpeaks unto Chriſt, O merciful Lord God, Thou art Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; Thou ſayeſt it is done, of things that are yet to come, ſo faithful and true are thy Decrees and Promiſes; That thou haſt promiſed by thine own word out of thy own mouth, that unto him that is a thirſt, thou wilt give him of the fountain of the water of life freely. O Lord, I thirſt, I faint, I languiſh, I long for one drop of mercy: As Rev. 21. 6.Rev 21:6the Hart panteth for the water-brooks, ſo panteth my ſoul after thee, O God, and after the yearning bowels of thy wonted compaſſions: Had I now in poſſeſſion the glory, the wealth, and pleaſures of the whole world; nay, had I Ten thouſand lives, joyfully would I lay them all down and part with them, to have this poor trembling ſoul of mine received into the bleeding arms of my bleſſed Redeemer. O Lord, my spirit within me is melted into tears of blood, my heart is ſhivered into pieces; out of the very p. 50place of Dragons and ſhadow of death, do I lift up my thoughts heavy and ſad before thee, the remembrance of my former vanities and pollutions, is a very vomit to my ſoul, and it is ſorely wounded with the grievous repreſentation thereof: The very flames of Hell, Lord, the fury of thy juſt wrath, the ſcorchings of my own conſcience, have ſo waſted and parched mine heart, that my thirſt is inſatiable, my bowels are hot within me, my deſire after Jeſus Chriſt, pardon and grace, is greedy as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a moſt vehement flame: And, Lord, in thy bleſſed Book thou calleſt and cryeſt, Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters. In that great day of the Iſa. 55. 1.Isa 55:1feaſt, thou ſtoodeſt and cryed'ſt with thine own mouth, If any man Iohn 7. 37.John 7:37thirſt, let him come unto me and drink; and theſe are thine own words, Thoſe who hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs ſhall be Matt. 5. 6.Matt 5:6filled. I challenge thee, Lord, in this my extreameſt thirſt after thine own bleſſed ſelf, and spiritual life in thee, by that Word, and by that Promiſe which thou haſt made, that thou perform, and make it good to me, that lie grovelling in the duſt, and trembling at thy feet: Oh! open now that promiſed well of life, for I muſt drink, or elſe I dye.

The means to obtain this deſire, are theſe three:

1. Be acquainted throughly with thine own neceſſities and 1 Means.wants, with that nothingneſs and emptineſs that is in thy ſelf; a groundleſs preſumption makes a man careleſs; ſee into thine own neceſſities, confeſs the want of this deſire after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

2. Labor to ſpread forth the excellency of all the beauty and ſurpaſſing glory, that is in the Promiſes of God: Couldſt thou 2 Means.but view them in their proper colours, they would even raviſh thee, and quicken thy deſires.

3. After all this, know it is not in thy power to bring thy heart to deſire Chriſt, thou canſt not hammer out a deſire upon 3 Means.thine own Anvil, dig thy own pit, and hew thy own rock as long as thou wilt; nay, let all the Angels in Heaven, and all the Miniſters on Earth provoke thee, yet if the hand of the Lord be wanting, thou ſhalt not lift up thine heart, nor ſtep one ſtep towards Heaven; then go to him who is able to work this deſire in thy ſoul. It is the complaint of a Chriſtian, O they are troubled, becauſe they cannot fetch a good deſire from their own p. 51ſouls, and one falls, another ſinks, a third ſhakes, and they are overwhelmed with diſcouragement: What a wretched heart have I? (faith one) I grace? No, no, the world I can deſire, the life of my childe I long for, and I ſay with (Rachel) Let me have honor or elſe I dye: but I cannot long for the unconceivable riches of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and will the Lord ſhew any mercy upon me? Is it thus? remember now, deſires grow not in thy garden, they ſpring not from the root of thy abilities: O ſeek unto God, and confeſs, In truth Lord, it is thou from whom come all our deſires, it is thou muſt work them in us as thou haſt promiſed them to us; and therefore, Lord, quicken thou this ſoul, and inlarge this heart of mine, for thou onelyonly art the God of this deſire. Thus hale down a deſire from the Lord, and from the Promiſe, for there onelyonly muſt thou have it: The ſmoaking flax God will not quench: flax Mat. 12. 20.Matt 12:20will not ſmoak, but a ſpark muſt come into it, and that will make it catch fire and ſmoak; thus lay your hearts before the Lord, and ſay, Good Lord, here is onelyonly flax, here is onelyonly a ſtubborn heart, but ſtrike thou by thy Promiſe one spark from heaven, that I may have a ſmoaking deſire after Chriſt, and after grace.

SECT. 5. A Love of Chriſt.

VVE have run through two affections, Hope & Deſire, and the next is Love: A poſſible good ſtirs up Hope, a neceſſary excellency in that good, ſetleth Deſire, and a relliſh in that good ſetled, kindles Love. Thus is the order of Gods work: If the good be abſent, the underſtanding ſaith, It is to be deſired, O that I had it! then it ſends out Hope, and that waits for that good, and ſtays till it can ſee it; and yet if that good cannot come, then Deſire hath another proper work, and it goes up and down wandring, and ſeeketh and ſueth for Chriſt Jeſus. After this, if the Lord Jeſus be pleaſed to come himſelf into the view of the heart, which longeth thus after him, then Love leads him into the ſoul, and tells the Will of him, ſaying, Lo here is Jeſus Chriſt the Meſſiah, that hath ordered theſe great things for his Saints and people.

p. 52The Motive or ground of this Love, is Gods Spirit in the Promiſe, letting in ſome intimation of Gods love into the ſoul; thus Pſal. 42. 8. The Lord will command his loving kindeneſs in Pſal. 42. 8.Ps 42:8the day time: This is a phraſe taken from Kings and Princes, and great Commanders in the field, whoſe words of Command ſtand for Laws; ſo the Lord ſends out his loving kindeneſs, and ſaith, Go out, my everlaſting love and kindeneſs, take a Commiſſion from me, and to go that humble, thirſty and hunger-bitten ſinner, and go and prosper, and prevail, and ſettle my love effectually upon him, and faſten my mercy upon him; I command my loving kindeneſs to do it. Thus the Lord doth put a Commiſſion into the hands of his loving kindeneſs, that it ſhall do good to the poor ſoul, yea though it withdraw it ſelf, ſaying, What, I mercy? will Chriſt Jeſus accept of me? No, no; there is no hope of mercy for me: indeed if I could pray thus, hear thus, and perform Duties with that enlargement, and had thoſe parts and abilities, then there were ſome comfort, but now there is no hope of mercy for me. We demand, Is this your caſe? is it thus and thus? are you thus humbled? and have you thus longed for the riches of his Mercy in Chriſt? Lo then, the Lord hath put a Commiſſion into the hands of his loving kindeneſs, ſaying, Go to that poor ſoul, and break open the doors upon that weary weltering heart, and break off all thoſe bolts, and rend off that veil of ignorance and carnal Reaſon, and all thoſe Arguments: Go (I ſay) to that ſoul, and chear it, and warm it, and tell it from me, That his ſins are pardoned, and his ſoul ſhall be ſaved, and his ſighs and prayers are heard in heaven; and I charge you do the work before you come again.

Here is the ground of Love, Gods love affecting the heart and ſetled upon it, it breeds a love to God again; We love him, becauſe Iohn 4. 19.John 4:19he loved us firſt: The burning-glaſs muſt receive heat of the beams of the Sun, before it burn any thing; ſo there muſt be a beam of Gods love to fall upon the ſoul, before it can love God again: I drew them with the cords of a man, even with the bands of love; Hoſea 11. 4.Hos 11:4God lets in the cords of love into the ſoul, and that draws love again to God: He brought me into the banqueting-houſe, and his banner over me was love; ſtay me with flaggons, comfort me Cant. 2. 4.Song 2:4with apples, for I am ſick of love. When the banner of Chriſts love is ſpread over the ſoul, the ſoul comes to be ſick in love with Chriſt.

p. 53Now this love of God doth beget our love in three particulars:

Firſt, there is a ſweetneſs and a relliſh which Gods love lets into the ſoul, and warms the heart with; you ſhall ſee how the fire is kindled by and by: As when a man is fainting, we give him Aqua-vitae; ſo a fainting ſinner is cold at the heart, and therefore the Lord lets in a drop of his loving kindeneſs, and this warms the heart, and the ſoul is even filled with the happineſs of the mercy of God; Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth (ſaith the Spouſe in the Canticles) for his love is better then wine: Cant. 1. 1.Song 1:1The kiſſes of his mouth, are the comforts of his Word and Spirit; the ſoul ſaith, O let the Lord refreſh me with the kiſſes of his mouth, let the Lord ſpeak comfort to my heart, and this is better then wine.

Secondly, as that ſweetneſs warms the heart, ſo the freeneſs of the love of God let in and intimated, begins even to kindle this love in the ſoul, that it ſparkles again: God ſetteth out his love towards us, ſeeing that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt dyed for us. This commends the love of God, the Lord ſends to Rom. 5. 8.Rom 5:8poor and miſerable, ſinful broken-hearted ſinners, and ſaith, Commend my mercy to ſuch a one, and tell him, That though he hath been an enemy to me, yet I am a friend to him, and though he hath been rebellious againſt me, yet I am a God and Father to him: When the poor ſinner conſiders this with himſelf, he ſaith, Is the Lord ſo merciful to me? I that loved my ſins, and continued in them, had it not been juſt that I ſhould have periſhed in them? but will the Lord not onelyonly ſpare his enemy, but give his Son for him? O let my ſoul for ever rejoyce in this unconceiveable goodneſs of God! Be thy heart never ſo hard, if it have but the ſenſe of this, it cannot but ſtir thee to Humiliation.

Thirdly, the greatneſs of the freeneſs of this mercy of God, being ſetled upon the heart, enflames it, the ſweetneſs warms the heart, this freeneſs kindles the fire, and when the greatneſs of the ſweetneſs comes to be valued, this ſets the heart all on a flame; the Apoſtle deſires, that the Epheſians being rooted and grounded Eph. 3. 17, 18.Eph 3:17Eph 3:18in love, might be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth and height of the love of God in Chriſt; as if he had ſaid, The unmeaſureablenes of Gods mercy will blow up the ſoul, and enflame the heart with admirable love of God again, and p. 54will make the ſoul ſay, What, I that have done all that I could againſt this good God? O it breaks my heart to think of it! there was no Name under heaven that I did blaspheme and tear in pieces, more then this Name; no Command under heaven I ſo much despiſed, as the Command of God and of Chriſt; no Spirit that I grieved, ſo much as the good Spirit of God; and therefore had the Lord onelyonly given me a look, or ſpoken a word to me, it had been an infinite Mercy, but to ſend a Son to ſave me, it is incomparable: I could not conceive to do so much evil againſt him, as he hath done good to me: O the breadth of that Mercy beyond all limits! O the length of that Mercy beyond all time! O the depth of that Mercy below a mans miſery! O the height of that Mercy above the height of my underſtanding! If my hands were all love, that I could work nothing but love, & if mine eyes were able to ſee nothing but love, and my minde to think of nothing but love, and if I had a thouſand bodies, they were all too little to love that God that hath thus unmeaſureably loved me a poor ſinful Hell-hound: I will love the Lord dearly (ſaith David) O Lord my ſtrength. Have Pſal. 18. 1.Ps 18:1I gotten the Lord Jeſus to be my comfort, my buckler and my ſhield? if I have any good, he begins it; if I have any comfort, he bleſſeth it: Therefore I will love thee dearly, O Lord my ſtrength, O how ſhould I but love thee!

Me thinks there is a poor ſincere ſoul that ſaith, My underſtanding are not ſo deep as others, my tongue runs not ſo glib as Ʋſe 1. of Comfort.ſuch and ſuch; I cannot talk ſo freely of the things of grace and ſalvation, I have meaner parts, and cannot inlarge my ſelf in holy Duties and holy Services; I cannot dispute for a Savior, or perform ſuch Duties as others can do: yet, ſweet ſoul, canſt thou love Chriſt Jeſus, and rejoyce in him? O yes! I bleſs the Name of the Lord, that all I have, all my friends, and parts, and means, and abilities, are but as dung and droſs in compariſon of Chriſt Jeſus; it were the comfort of my ſoul, if I might be ever with him. Say you ſo? Go thy way, and the God of heaven go with thee: This is a work of God that will never leave thee, it is a badge and proper livery that the Lord Jeſus gives onelyonly to his Saints; never a meer Profeſſor under heaven ever wore it, never any Hypocrite under heaven to whom God did intend it, but onelyonly to thoſe whom he hath effectually called, and whom he will ſave; therefore though thou wantſt all, thou haſt this p. 55to comfort thee in the want of all; and thou mayeſt ſay, I can ſay little for Chriſt, my tongue faulters, and my memory is weak, yet the Lord knows I love the Lord Jeſus. This is enough, David deſired no more, but what God was wont to do to his children that loved his name, Do to me (ſaith the text) as thou uſeſt to do Pſal. 119. 132.Ps 119:132unto thoſe that love thy name; I know thou loveſt them that love thee, and wilt ſave and glorifie them in the end, I deſire no more but this, do as thou uſeſt to do to thoſe that love thy name. And doth David, a King, deſire no more? ſure then if thou (poor ſoul) haſt ſo much as he had, it is enough, be quiet with thy childes part, Thy lot is faln into a marvellous fair ground.

Some may ſay, this is all the difficult, How may I know whether Object.my love be a true love, or a falſe love? How may I know, that my love is of the right ſtamp.

Let every man put his love upon the trial, and examine thus, Anſw.Whether doeſt thou welcome Chriſt and grace, according to the worth of them? if thou doeſt, it will appear in theſe particulars: 1. Obſerve the root and riſe from whence thy love came, canſt thou ſay, I love the Lord, becauſe he hath loved me? then thy love is of the right mettle, and know it for ever, that that God which cannot but love himſelf, he cannot but like that love which came from himſelf: is thy ſoul affected and enlarged in love to the Lord, becauſe thou haſt felt and retained the reliſh and ſweetneſs of his grace? canſt thou ſay, The Lord hath let in a glimpſe of his favor? and the Lord hath ſaid in his truth, he looks to him that trembles at his word, the Miniſter ſaid it, and the Spirit ſaith it, that my mercy is regiſtred in heaven: Oh how ſhould I love the Lord! my ſins are many, which I have bewailed, my ſighs and ſobs I have put up to heaven, and at the laſt the Lord hath given me a gracious anſwer: Oh how ſhould I love the Lord my ſtrength dearly? If it be thus with thee, thy love is ſound, and will never fail.

2. If thou entertain thy Savior, as it beſeems him, thou muſt entertain him as a King, and that is thus; give up all to him, and entertain none with him upon terms of honor, but ſuch as retain to him, or be attendants upon him; love all in Chriſt, and for Chriſt, but expreſs thy love and joy to Chriſt above all: He is as a King, and all the reſt are but as retainers; he that loves any thing equal with a Chriſt, it is certain he did never love p. 56Chriſt; to ſet up any thing cheek by jole with Chriſt, it is all one as if a man did put a ſlave into the ſame Chamber with the King, which is upon the point to drive him away.

3. The ſoul that rightly entertains Chriſt, and ſtudies wholly to give him contentment, he is marvellous wary and watchful, that he may not ſad that good Spirit of God to grieve him, and cauſe him to go away as diſpleaſed: See this Cant. 3. 4, 5. the Spouſe ſought long for her beloved, and at laſt brought him Cant 3. 4, 5.Song 3:4Song 3:5home, and when ſhe had welcomed him, ſhe gives a charge to all the houſe, not to ſtir nor awaken her love, till he pleaſe. When a Prince comes unto the houſe of a great man, what charge is there given to make no noiſe in the night, leſt ſuch and ſuch a man be awakened before his time? the ſoul when it hath received the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, doth thus; he gives a peremptory charge to keep watch and ward, and gives a charge to hope, and deſire, and love, and joy, and the minde, and all, not to grieve and moleſt the good Spirit of God, Let there be no motion but to entertain it, no adviſe but to receive it, and do nothing that may work the leaſt kinde of diſlike unto it.

4. He that truly entertains Chriſt, rejoyceth in the good and glory of Chriſt: When Mephiboſheth had been wrongfully accuſed to David, and when David who had taken away all the inheritance from him, was returned in ſafety; Then ſaid David to comfort him, Thou and Ziba divide the land: nay, ſaid Mephiboſheth, 2 King. 19. 30.2 Kgs 19:30Let him take all, foraſmuch as my Lord the King is come again in peace, it matters not for inheritance, and for my ſelf and my life, I paſs not, ſith the King is returned in peace; it is enough that I enjoy thy preſence, which is better to me then goods, life or liberty: So it is with a kinde loving heart, which cannot endure to ſee Chriſts honor and glory layed in the duſt, but if his praiſe be advanced, then is he glad, Lord, I have enough (ſaith the ſoul) that Chriſt is mine, and that his honor and glory is magnified, whatſoever becomes of me it matters not; let the world take all, if I may have Chriſt, and ſee him praiſed and magnified: Let this try any mans ſpirit under heaven, and labor to bring the ſoul to this pitch: A Miniſter in his place, and a Maſter in his place, and every Chriſtian in his place; let it be our care to honor God, not our ſelves; and let it be our comfort, if God may be better honored by others, then by our ſelves: This is our p. 57baſeneſs of ſpirit, we can be content to lift up Chriſt upon our ſhoulders, that we may lift up our ſelves by it; but we ſhould be content to lie in the duſt, that the Lord may be praiſed; and if any of Gods people thrive and proſper more then thou, let that be thy joy.

5. He that welcomes Chriſt truly, covets a neerer union with Chriſt: Love is of a linking and gluing nature, and will carry the ſoul with ſome kinde of ſtrength and earneſtneſs, to enjoy full poſſeſſion and fellowſhip of the thing that is loved; it cannot have enough of it: Nothing (ſaith the ſoul) but Chriſt, ſtill I deſire more of that mercy, and holineſs, and grace, and love in Chriſt Jeſus: As it is with parties that have lived long together in one houſe, and their affections are linkt together in way of marriage, they will ever deſire to be talking together, and to be drawing on the marriage; ſo the ſoul that loves Chriſt Jeſus, and hath his holy affection kindled, and his ſpirit enlarged therein; when the Lord hath let in ſome glimpſe of his love, he thinks the hour ſweet when he prayed to the Lord Chriſt, he thinks the Lords-day ſweet, wherein God revealed, by the power of his holy Ordinances, any of that rich grace and mercy of his: it is admirable to ſee how the heart will be delighted to recover the time and place, and means, when and where the Lord did reveal it; Oh this is good (ſaith the ſoul) Oh that I might ever be thus cleared and refreſhed! Or as the ſpouſe contracted, thinks every day a year, till ſhe enjoy her beloved, and take ſatisfaction to her ſoul in him: So the ſoul that hath been truly humbled, and enlightened, and is now contracted to Chriſt Jeſus, Oh when will that day be (ſaith it) that I ſhall ever be with my Jeſus! he takes hold of every word he hears, every promiſe that reveals any thing of Chriſt, But oh! when will that day be, that I ſhall Phil. 1. 23.Phil 1:23ever be with Chriſt, and be full of his fulneſs for ever?

And now let me prevail with your hearts, and work your ſouls to this duty, Love the Lord, all ye his Saints; whom will 2 Ʋſe. of Exhortation.you love, if you love not him? Oh you poor ones, love you the Lord, for you have need; and all you rich ones, love you the Pſal 31. ….Ps 31Lord, for you have cauſe; and you little ones too (if there be any ſuch in the Congregation) he knocks at every mans heart, and perſwades every mans ſoul, Love ye the Lord.

The means are theſe, 1. Labor to give attendance daily to p. 581 Means.the promiſe of grace, and Chriſt; drive away all other ſuitors from the ſoul, and let nothing come between the promiſe and it; forbid all other bands, that is, let the promiſe confer daily with thy heart, and be expreſſing and telling of that good that is in Chriſt, to thy own ſoul. If all things be agreed between parties to be married, and there wants nothing but mutual affection; the only way to fix their affections upon one another, is to keep company together, ſo as they meet wiſely and holily: So let the ſoul daily keep company with the promiſe, and this is the firſt way.

2. Labor to be throughly acquainted with the beauty and ſweetneſs of Chriſt in the promiſe: Now there are three things 2 Means.in the promiſe we muſt eye and apprehend, that our hearts may be kindled with love in the Lord: 1. The worth of the party in himſelf, Chriſt is worthy of it. 2. The deſert of the party, in regard Chriſt deſerves it. 3. The readineſs of the party in himſelf to ſeek our good, Chriſt ſeeks it.

1. Chriſt is worthy in himſelf: if we had a thouſand hearts to beſtow upon him, we were never able to love him ſufficiently; as Nehemiah ſaid, The name of the Lord is above all praiſe; will you let out your love and affections? you may lay them out here with good advantage: what would you love? wouldſt thou have beauty? then thy Savior is beautiful, Thou art fairer then the children of men, Pſal. 45. 2. Wouldſt thou have ſtrength? then is thy Savior ſtrong, Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O moſt Pſal. 45. 2.Ps 45:2mighty, Pſal. 45. 3. Wouldſt thou have riches? thy Savior is Pſal. 45. 3.Ps 45:3more rich (if it be poſſible) then he is ſtrong, He is heir of all things, Heb. 1. 2. Wouldſt thou have wiſdom? then thy Savior Heb. 1. 2.Heb 1:2is wiſe, yea wiſdom it ſelf, In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. Wouldſt thou have life eternal? Col. 2. 3.Col 2:3Chriſt is the Author of life and happineſs to all that have him; and he hath not onelyonly theſe in himſelf, but he will infeoff thee in them, if thou wilt but match with him.

2. Chriſt deſerves our love, in regard of benefits to us; be man never ſo worthy in himſelf, yet if he have wronged, or expreſt the part of an Enemy, a woman ſaith, I will not have him though he had all the world, this takes off the affections; it is not ſo with the Lord Jeſus: as he is worthy of all love in himſelf, ſo he hath dealt mercifully and graciouſly with you: In your ſickneſs, who helped you? in wants, who ſupplied you? in anguiſh p. 59of heart, who relieved you? it was Jeſus Chriſt: Oh therefore love him, deal equally with him, and as he deſerves, ſo enlarge your hearts to him for ever.

3. Chriſt ſeeks our love: Here is the admiration of mercy, That our Savior, who hath been rejected by a company of ſinful creatures, ſhould ſeek their love: for ſhame refuſe him not, but let him have love ere he go: Had the Lord received us, when we had come to him, and humbled our hearts before him; Had he heard, when we had ſpent our days, and all our ſtrength in begging and craving, it had been an infinite mercy: But when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall ſeek to us by his Meſſengers (it is all the work we have to do, to woo you, and ſpeak a good word for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; yea, and if we ſpeak for our ſelves, it is pity but our tongue ſhould cleave to the roof of our mouth) when the Lord Jeſus ſhall come and wait upon us, and ſeek our love, O this is the wonder of mercies! think of this, O ye Saints! The Lord now by us offers love to all you that are weary and have need, What anſwer ſhall I return to him in the evening? ſhall I ſay, Lord, I have tendred thy mercy, and it was refuſed: Brethren, it would grieve my heart to return this anſwer: O rather let every ſoul of you ſay, Can the Lord Jeſus love me? In truth, Lord, I am out of love with my ſelf, I have abuſed thy Majeſty, I have loved the world, I have followed baſe luſts, and can the Lord Jeſus love ſuch a wretch as I am? yet ſaith the Lord, I will heal their back-ſlidings, I will love them freely. Hoſea. 14. 5.Hos 14:5He looks for no portion, he will take thee and all thy wants; get you home then, and every one in ſecret, labor to deal truly with your own hearts; make up a match in this maner, and ſay, Is it poſſible that the Lord ſhould look ſo low? that a great Prince ſhould ſend to a poor Peaſant, that Majeſty ſhould ſtoop to means? Heaven to Earth, God to man? Hath the Lord offered mercy to me? and doth he require nothing of me but to love him again? call upon your hearts, I charge you, and ſay thus, Lord, if all the light of mine eyes were love, and all the ſpeeches of my tongue were love, it were all too little to love thee: O let me love thee dearly! If you will not ſay thus, then ſay hereafter, You had a fair offer, and that a poor Miniſter of God did wiſh you well. Alas, be not coy and ſquemiſh, the Lord may have better then you; lie down therefore, and admire at the mercy of the p. 60Lord, that ſhould take a company of dead dogs, and now at the laſt, ſay as the Prophet did, Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Pſal. 24. 7, 9.Ps 24:7Ps 24:9and be ye lift up ye everlaſting doors, and the King of Glory ſhall come in.

SECT. 6. A relying on Chriſt.

VVE are now come to the work of the Will, which is the great wheel and Commander of the ſoul. The former affections were but as hand-maids to uſher in Chriſt and the Promiſes; the minde ſaith, I have ſeen Chriſt: Hope ſaith, I have waited: Deſire ſaith, I have longed: Love ſaith, I am kindled: then ſaith the Will, I will have Chriſt, it ſhall be ſo: and this makes up the match, the ſpawn and ſeeds of faith went before, now faith is come to ſome perfection, now the ſoul repoſeth it ſelf upon the Lord Jeſus.

And this repoſing or reſting it ſelf, diſcovers a fivefold act:

Firſt, it implyes A going out of the ſoul to Chriſt: When the ſoul ſeeth this, that the Lord Jeſus is his ayd, and muſt eaſe him and pardon his ſins, then let us go to that Chriſt, ſaith he, it is the Lords call, Come to me all ye that are weary: now this voyce coming home to the heart, and the prevailing ſweetneſs of the call over-powering the heart, the ſoul goes out, and falls, and flings it ſelf upon the riches of Gods grace.

Secondly, It lays faſt hold upon Chriſt: when the Lord ſaith, Come my Love, my Dove, O come away! Behold, I come (ſaith Cant. 2. 16.Song 2:16ſhe) and when ſhe is come, ſhe faſteneth upon Chriſt, ſaying, My beloved is mine, and I am his: Faith lays hold on the Lord, and will not let Mercy go, but cleaves unto it, though it conflict with the Lord; Should he ſlay me (ſaith Job) yet will I truſt in him: Iob 13. 15.Job 13:15The caſe is like Benhadads, who being overcome by Ahab, his Servants thus adviſe him: We have heard that the Kings of Iſrael 1 King. 20. 31, 32, 33.1 Kgs 20:311 Kgs 20:321 Kgs 20:33are merciful Kings, we pray thee let us put ropes about our necks, p. 61and ſackcloth on our loyns, and go out to the King, peradventure he will ſave thy life: Thus the Servants go, and coming to Ahab, they deliver the Meſſage; Thy Servant Benhadad ſaith, I pray thee let me live: and he ſaid, Is he yet alive? he is my brother: Now the men diligently obſerved whether any thing would come from him, and did haſtily catch at it, and they ſaid, Thy brother Benhadad, and they went away rejoycing: This is the lively Picture of a broken-hearted ſinner, after he hath taken up arms againſt the Almighty, and that the Lord hath let in Juſtice, and he ſeeth (or hath ſeen) the anger of God bent againſt him; then the ſoul reaſons thus, I have heard, though I am a rebellious ſinner, that none but ſinners are pardoned, and God is a gracious God, and therefore unto him let me go: with this he falls down at the footſtool of the Lord, and cryes, O what ſhall I do! what ſhall I ſay unto thee? O thou preſerver of men! O let me live, I pray thee, in the ſight of my Lord! The ſoul thus humbled, the Lord then lets in his ſweet voyce of mercy, and ſaith, Thou art my Son, my Love, and thy ſins are pardoned: Theſe words no ſooner uttered, but he catcheth thereat, ſaying, Mercy Lord? and a Son Lord? and love Lord? and a pardon Lord? The heart holds it ſelf here, and will never away.

Thirdly, it flings the weight of all its occaſions and troubles (guilt and corruptions) upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: He that walks in darkneſs, and hath no light, let him truſt in the name Iſaiah 50. 10.Isa 50:10of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God; that is, if a man be in extremity, hopeleſs in miſery, and walks in deſperate diſcouragements, yea and hath no light of comfort, Let him truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God: As when a man cannot go of himſelf, he lays all the weight of his body upon another, ſo the ſoul goes to a Chriſt, and lays all the weight of it ſelf upon Chriſt, and ſaith, I have no comfort, O Lord, all my diſcomforts I lay upon Chriſt, and I relye upon the Lord for comfort and conſolation: Who is this, ſaith Solomon, Cant. 8. 5.Song 8:5that cometh up from the wilderneſs, leaning upon her beloved, Cant. 8. 5. The party coming is the Church, the wilderneſs is the troubles and vexations the Church meets withal, and the beloved is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; now the Church leans her ſelf all upon her Husband, ſhe walked along with him, but he bare all the burthen: Caſt all your care upon him (ſaith Peter) for he p. 621 Pet. 5. 7.1 Pet 5:7careth for you, 1 Pet. 5. 7. the Original is, Hurl your care upon the Lord: The Lord will not thank you for carrying your cares and troubles about you, he requires that you Hurl them upon him, for he careth for you.

Fourthly, it draws vertue, and derives power from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for ſuccor and ſupplies, and here is the eſpecial life of Faith, it goes for mercy, and grace, and comfort in Chriſt, he knows 'tis to be had from him, and therefore he fetcheth all from him; With joy ſhall ye draw water out of the Iſa. 12. 3.Isa 12:3wells of ſalvation, Iſa. 12. 3. The fountain of Salvation is Chriſt, and all the waters of life, of grace and mercy, are in Chriſt Jeſus: Now it is not enough to let down the bucket into the well, but it muſt be drawn out alſo; it is not enough to come to Chriſt, but we muſt draw the water of grace from Chriſt to our ſelves; They ſhall ſuck and be ſatisfied (ſaith Iſaiah) with the breaſts of her conſolations, that they may milk out, and be delighted with Iſa. 66. 11.Isa 66:11the abundance of her glory: The Church is compared to a childe, and the breaſts are the Promiſes of the Goſpel; now the Elect muſt ſuck out, and be ſatisfied with it; the word in the Original is, Exact upon the Promiſe, and oppreſs the Promiſe: as the Oppreſſor grindes the face of a poor man, ſo with an holy kinde of oppreſſion, you ſhould exact from the Promiſe, and get what good you may from it.

Fifthly, Faith leaves the ſoul with the Promiſe; yea, notwithſtanding all delays, denyals, diſcouragements from God, faith brings on the heart ſtill, it will be ſure to lie at the gate, and keep the ſoul with the promiſe, whatever befalls it. Excellent is that paſſage, Gen. 32. 26. when the Lord and Jacob were wreſtling, Let me go, ſaith the Lord, I will leave thee to thy ſelf, Gen. 32. 26.Gen 32:26I care not what becomes of thee; No, I will not let thee go, until thou haſt bleſſed me, ſaith Jacob: So the faithful ſoul lays hold upon the Lord for Mercy, Pardon, Power and Grace, and though the Lord ſeem to give him up to the torment of Sin and Corruption, yet the ſoul ſaith, Though my ſoul go down to hell, I will hold here for Mercy, till the Lord comfort and pardon, and ſubdue graciouſly theſe curſed corruptions, which I am not able to maſter my ſelf. As it is with a Sun-dyal, the needle is ever moving, and a man may jog it this way and that way, yet it will never ſtand ſtill, till it come to the North-point: So when the Lord leaves p. 63off a believing heart with frowns, and with the expreſſion of diſpleaſure, and the ſoul turns to the Lord Chriſt, and will never leave till it go God-ward, and Chriſt-ward, and Graceward, and ſaith, Let the Lord do what he pleaſe, I will go no further, till he be pleaſed to ſhew Mercy. Thus the ſoul once come to Chriſt, it will never away, but ever cleaves to the Promiſe, and is towards God and Chriſt, whatſoever befalls it.

But (poor ſoul) art thou yet ſhut up in Unbelief? do then as the Priſoners in New-gate, what lamentable cryes do they utter Ʋſe 1. of Inſtruction.to every Paſſenger by? So do thou, look out from the gates of Hell, and from under the bars of Infidelity, and cry, that God would look on thee in mercy, and ſay, Spare, Lord, a poor unbelieving wretch, lockt up under the bars of Ʋnbelief, good Lord ſuccor, and deliver in thy due time. David could ſay, Let the Pſal. 79. 11.Ps 79:11ſighing of priſoners come up before thee; that indeed was meant of bodily impriſonment, yet the argument prevails much in regard of the Spiritual: Good Lord, let the ſighing of priſoners come up before thee; let the ſighing of poor diſtruſtful ſouls come up before thy Majeſty: O ſend help from heaven, and deliver the ſoul of thy ſervant from theſe wretched diſtempers of heart. Is there no cauſe thus to pray? He that believeth not (ſaith our Savior) Iohn 3. 18.John 3:18is condemned already: He is caſt in heaven and earth, by the Law and Goſpel, there is no relief for him abiding in this condition; lay this under thy pillow, and ſay, How can I ſleep, and be a condemned man? What if God ſhould take away my life this night? Alas! I never knew what it was to be illightned, or wounded for ſin; I can commit ſin, and play with ſin, but I never knew what it was to be wounded for ſin; I never knew what it was to be zealous in a good cauſe; O I confeſs I have no faith at all! Beloved! would you yield this, then were there ſome hopes that you might get out of this condition and ſtate, to have a ſenſe of its want, to go to the Lord by prayer, and to ask hearty counſel of ſome faithful Miniſter, are the firſt ſteps to obtain it. And to help a poor wretch in this caſe, O you that are gracious, go your ways home, and pray for him: Brethren, let us leave preaching and hearing, and all of us fall to praying and mourning: In truth, I condemn my own ſoul, becauſe I have not an heart to mourn for him; we reprove his ſin, and condemn him of his ſin; and we muſt do ſo: but where are the p. 64heart-blood petitions that we put up for ſuch a one? Where are the tears that we make for the ſlain of our people? You tender-hearted Mothers and you tender-hearted Wives, if your children or husbands be in this woful caſe. O mourn for them, let your hearts break over them, and ſay, O wo is me for my children, O wo is me for that poor husband of mine!

Or ſecondly, haſt thou gotten faith? then labor to husband this grace well, and to improve it for thy beſt good. It is a marvellous Ʋſe 2. of Inſtruction.ſhame, to ſee thoſe that are born to fair means (I mean the poor Saints of God) that have a Right and Title to Grace and Chriſt, and yet to live at ſuch an under-rate: I would have you to live above the world, for the Lord doth not grudge his people of comfort, but would have them live chearfully, and have ſtrong conſolations, and mighty aſſurance of Gods love: Is there not cauſe? why, faith (if it be right) will make the life of a Chriſtian moſt eaſie, moſt comfortable. Unfaithful ſouls ſink in their ſorrows upon every occaſion; but faith gives eaſe to a man in all his converſation: 1. Becauſe faith hath a skill, and a kinde of flight to put over all cares to another: We take up the Croſs, but faith hurls all the care on Chriſt; an eaſie matter it is to lie under the burthen, when another bears all the weight of it. Look how it is with two Ferry-men, the one hales his Boat about the ſhore, and cannot get off, but tugs and pulls, and never puts her forth to the Tide; the other puts his Boat upon the ſtream, and ſets up his ſail, and then he may ſit ſtill in his Boat, and the wind will carry him whither he is to go: Juſt thus it is with a faithful ſoul, and an unbeliever; all the care of the faithful ſoul, is to put himſelf upon the ſtream of Gods Provividence, and to ſet up the ſail of Faith, and to take the gale of Gods Mercy and Providence, and ſo he goes on chearfully, becauſe it is not he that carries him, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: whereas every unfaithful ſoul tugs and pulls at the buſineſs, and can finde neither eaſe nor ſucceſs; Alas! he thinks by his own wits and power to do what he would. 2. Becauſe faith ſweetens all other afflictions, even thoſe that are moſt hard and full of tediouſneſs; and howſoever it apprehends all troubles and afflictions, yet withal it apprehends the faithfulneſs of God, ordering all for our good: and that's the reaſon why all our troubles are digeſted comfortably, without any harſhneſs at all: When the p. 65Patient takes better Pills, if they be well ſugered they go down the eaſier, and the bitterneſs never troubles him: So it is with Faith, it takes away the harſhneſs of all inconveniencies, which are bitter Pills in themſelves, but they are ſweetned and ſugered over by the faithfulneſs of God, for the good of the ſoul; and therefore it goes on cheerfully.

You will ſay, if faith bring ſuch eaſe, how may a man that hath faith, improve it to have ſuch comfort by it? I anſwer, the rules are four:

1. Labor to gain ſome evidence to thy own ſoul, that thou 1 Rule.haſt a title to the promiſe: The reaſon why poor Chriſtians go drooping, and are overwhelmed with their ſins and miſeries, is becauſe they ſee not their title to mercy, nor their evidence of Gods love, To the word, and to the Teſtimonies: Take one evidence Eſay 8. 20.Isa 8:20from the word, 'tis as good as a thouſand, if thou haſt but one promiſe for thee, thou haſt all in truth, though all be not ſo fully and cleerly perceived.

2. Labor to ſet an high price on the promiſes of God: One 2 Rule.promiſe, and the ſweetneſs of Gods mercy in Chriſt, is better then all the honors or riches in the world; Prize theſe at this rate, and thou canſt not chooſe but finde eaſe, and be contented therewith.

3. Labor to keep thy promiſes ever at hand: what is it to me 3 Rule.if I have a thing in the houſe, if I have it not at my need? If a man ready to ſound and dye, ſay, I have as good cordial water as any in the world, but I know not where it is; he may ſound and dye before he can finde it: So when miſery comes, and thy heart is ſurcharged, O then ſome promiſe, ſome comfort to bear up a poor fainting, drooping ſoul, my troubles are many, and I cannot bear them: Why, now Chriſt and a promiſe would have done it; but thou haſt thrown them in a corner, and they are not to be found: Now for the Lords ſake let me intreat thee be wiſe, for thy poor ſoul; there is many a fainting and aguiſh fit and qualm comes over the heart of many a poor Chriſtian; perſecutions without, and ſorrows and corruptions within, therefore keep thy cordials about thee, and be ſure that thou haſt them within reach, take one, and bring another, and be refreſhed by another, and go ſinging to thy grave, and to heaven for ever.

4. Labor to drink in hearty draught of the promiſe; beſtow p. 66thy ſelf upon the promiſe every hour, whenſoever thou doſt finde the fit: coming; and this is the way to finde comfort, Eat O Cant. 5. 1.Song 5:1friends, and drink ye abundantly O welbeloved: The Original is, in drinking drink; ye cannot be drunken with the Spirit, as you may with wine, drink abundantly, were dainties prepared: If an hunger-ſtarved man comes in, and takes onelyonly a bit and away, he muſt needs go away an hungred: Think of it ſadly, you faithful Saints of God; you may come now and then, and take a ſnatch of the promiſe, and then comes fear, and temptation, and perſecution, and all quiet is gone again, it is your own fault brethren, you come thirſty, and go away thirſty, you come diſcomforted, and ſo you go away. Many times it thus befals us Miniſters; when we preach of conſolation, and when we pray, and confer▪ we think we are beyond all trouble; but by and by we are full of fears, and troubles, and ſorrows, becauſe we take not full contentment in the promiſe, we drink not a deep draught of it: of this take heed too; 1. Of Cavilling and Quarelling with carnal reaſon. 2. Of attending to the parlies of Satans temptations; if we liſten to this chat, he will make us forget all our comfort.