The Poor Doubting Christian Drawn to Christ, Title page

The Poor Doubting Christian Drawn to Christ · Title page

THE POORE Doubting CHRISTIAN Drawne to CHRIST.

Wherein the maine letts and hindrances which keepe men from comming to Chriſt are diſcovered.

With ſpeciall helps to recover Gods favour.

Ho, every one that thirſteth, drinke of the waters of life, and he that hath no money, come buy and eate freely

The Third Edition.

LONDON Printed for R. Dawlman and L. Fawn at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls-Churchyard. 1636.

p. 1THE POORE DOVBTING CHRISTIAN drawne unto Chriſt.

JOHN 6.45.

Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, commeth unto mee.

THere are divers lets and impediments which hinder poore p. 2Chriſtians from comming unto Chriſt, all which I deſire to reduce to theſe following heads.

Firſt, ſuch hinderances as really keepe men from comming to take hold of Chriſt at all, which are briefly theſe.

Lets vvhichwhich hinder mē from comming to Chriſt.1. Blinde careleſneſſe, or preſumptuous ſecurity, whereby men content themſelves in their preſent condition, preſuming all is well with them, when there is no ſuch matter.

2. Being convinced of this, they bethinke how to ſave themſelves by their own ſtrength, & thereupon ſet upon a reformation of life, thinking to make God amends by reforming p. 3ſome ſinnes which they heare themſelves reproved of by the Miniſters.

3. The ſinner being convinced of his utter inability to pleaſe God in himſelfe, at length gets up a ſtayre higher, and ſees all his performances, & prayers, and duties to be of no power in themſelves, but that he muſt leave all, and cleave onelyonly unto Chriſt by faith; and this he thinks hee can doe well enough, and ſo thruſts himſelfe upon Chriſt, thinking all the worke is then done, and no more to bee looked after.

4. If hee ſees this failes him too, then he goes yet further, and confeſſeth he p. 4cannot come to Chriſt except Chriſt give him his hand, and helpe him up: therefore now hee will attend upon the ordinances, and labour and beſtirre himſelfe hard in the uſe of all good meanes, conceiving thereby to hammer out at laſt, a faith of his own to make him happie. And here hee reſts, hanging as it were upon the outſide of the Arke, ſo long till at laſt the waves and windes growing fierce and violent, hee is beaten off from his hold, and ſo ſinkes for ever.

Beſides theſe, there are other kinds of hinderances which doe not indeed deprive a man of title and intereſt p. 5to eternall happineſſe, but make the way tedious & uncomfortable, ſo that he cannot come to Chriſt ſo readily, as he deſires and longs to doe; the ground whereof, is this, when men out of carnall reaſon contrive another way to come unto Chriſt, then ever hee ordained or revealed, when we ſet up a ſtandard by Gods Standard, and out of our owne imagination make another condition of beleeving then ever Chriſt required or ordained. Thus wee make barres in the way, and manacle our hands, and fetter our feet, and then we complaine wee cannot goe: thus it is with you p. 6poore Chriſtians, and the fault is your owne. Now amongſt many there bee three hinderances which are chiefly to bee obſerved,Three main hinderances which keep man from Chriſt. by which many gracious hearts are marvellouſly hindered from comming to, and from receiving that comfort from Chriſt, which they might, and hee is willing to beſtow.

1Firſt, the diſtreſſed ſoule being happily truely humbled, takes notice of the beauty of holineſſe, and the Image of God ſtampt upon the hearts of his children, and of all thoſe precious promiſes which God hath made to all that are his; now the ſoule ſeeing p. 7theſe, begins thus to reaſon with himſelfe, and ſaith, Surely if I were ſo holy and ſo gracious, then I might have hope to receive the pardon of my ſinnes; for were my heart ſo enlarged to duties, and could my heart bee ſo carried with power againſt my corruptions to maſter them, then there were ſome hope; but when I have no power againſt ſin, nor any heart to ſeeke ſo importunatly for a Chriſt, how dare I thinke that any mercy belongs to me, having ſo many wants? thus they dare not come to the promiſe, and they will not venture upon it, becauſe they have not that inlargement p. 8to duties, and that power againſt corruption which ſometimes the Saints of God have.

But wee muſt know this doth not hinder, we make it a hinderance, when in truth it is none; for obſerve it, we muſt not think to bring enlargement and hope to the promiſe, but wee muſt goe to the promiſe for them; hope muſt be ſtirred, and deſire quickned, and love and joy kindled by the promiſe; who made this a condition of the covenant, that a man muſt have ſo much enlargement before he come to the promiſe? our Saviour requires no portion, but meere poverty and p. 9emptineſſe: if thou haſt nothing he will have thee, provided that thou wilt have him;Luk. 1.53.Luke 1:53 The rich he ſends empty away, but the poore is ſatisfied, and the thirſty refreſhed: there is nothing required on our ſide, but onelyonly to receive him as a huſband:Eſay 55.1.Isa 55:1 Buy without money, ſaith the text; you muſt not thinke to come and buy a huſband; the Lord lookes for no power or ſufficiency of our ſelves, no power againſt corruption, nor enlargement to duties, if you will be content that Chriſt ſhall take all from you, and diſpoſe of you, then, take a Saviour and have him.

Queſt. But the poore ſoule p. 10ſaith, If I goe thus hudwinked, how ſhall I know that I doe not preſume, and how ſhall I know that I have a true title to the promiſe.

Anſw.I anſwer, there is no better argument in the world that thou haſt an intereſt in Chriſt, then this, thy taking of the Lord Chriſt as a Saviour wholly, and as a huſband. Iohn 1.12. As many as received him, to them he gave power to be the ſonnes of God, even to them that beleeve on his name. He doth not ſay, to as many as had ſuch enlargement in duties, and ſuch power againſt corruptions; but if thou wilt take Chriſt upon thoſe p. 11termes which hee offers himſelfe, there is no better argument under heaven, that thou haſt a title to the promiſe. There is a deſperate deſpaire that often ſeazeth upon the hearts of diſtreſſed ſinners.

Therefore in the ſecond 2place, as the ſinner lookes upon the excellency of Chriſt, and grace, and his owne inſufficiency, and ſo will not venture upon the promiſe, ſo he lookes upon his own ſinfulneſſe and worthleſneſſe, and therefore dares not venture upon mercy; hee viewes the number of his ſinnes ſo many & vile, and the continuance of them ſo long, and hee ſeeth the floods of p. 12abominations comming in amaine upon his ſoule, and Sathan helps him forwards hereto; for this is the policie of the Devill, that, if he can, he will make a man that hee ſhall never ſee his ſinne, but ſay, there is merciemercy enough in a Saviour, and therefore I may live as I liſt: but when the ſinner will needes ſee his ſin, then hee will let him ſee nothing but ſinne; the one that hee may preſume, and the other that hee may deſpaire.

Now the poore ſinner ſtayes here; tell him of the mercy of God, and of the plenteous redemption in Chriſt, and of the riches of the freeneſſe of Gods p. 13grace, What, ſaith he, ſhould I thinke that there is any mercy for mee, and that I have any intereſt in Chriſt; that were ſtrange? And thus the ſoule is here poring, and faſtned, and ſetled upon his corruption, and is ever ſtirring the wound, and never goes to the Phyſitian: For a man is as well kept frō looking to Chriſt by deſpaire, as by preſumption; before hee ſees his ſin, he thinkes his condition is good, and hee hath a ſufficiency of his owne, and needs not goe to Chriſt; and when hee ſees his ſinne, then he beholds ſo much vileneſſe in himſelfe that he dares not goe to Chriſt, leſt when p. 14he goes before him, hee ſend him down to the pit. Herein the devill is very ſubtill; but this doth not hinder our title to Chriſt, neither ought it to diſcourage our hearts from laying hold on ſalvation.

For firſt, (obſerve it) for whom did Chriſt come into the world, & for whom did hee die when hee was come? it was not for the righteous, that needed him not, but for the poore ſinner that condemnes himſelfe, and knowes hee cannot ſave himſelf. Paul ſaith, Chriſt Ieſus came into the world to ſave ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.15.1 Tim 1:15of whom I am the chiefe: and Zach. 13.1. There is a fountaine opened for ſinne, and p. 15for uncleanneſſe, that is, for all ſorts of ſinnes, and for all kind of ſinners: be their iniquities never ſo great, and never ſo vile, there is a fountaine ſet open, come who will; there was never any ſaved but a Rebell, and never any man received to mercy, but hee that oppoſed the mercy of God, and his grace in Chriſt. The fiery Serpents did ſting the people in the wilderneſſe, but there was a brazen Serpent to heale them.

Obſerve the folly of this plea: what Scripture ever ſaid that the greatneſſe of mans ſinne could hinder the greatneſſe of Gods mercy? no Scripture reveales p. 16this, we ſee David prayeth the contrary, Have mercy upon me O Lord, Pſal. 25.11Ps 25:11and pardon my ſinnes, for they are great: Nay, God himſelfe doth the quite contrary, Iſa. 43.24, 25. Thou haſt made me ſerve with thy ſins, and wearied mee with thine iniquities, yet I am hee that blotteth out thy tranſgreſsions for my names ſake. When the Jewes did tire GOD with their diſtempers, and burthened him with thei… ſinfull courſes, then th… Lord for his owne name ſake would not ſo much a… remember their iniquitie… againſt them.

Againe obſerve, tha… ſinnes though they be never ſo haynous of themſelves, p. 17yet if the ſoule can ſee them, and the heart be burthened with them, they are ſo farre from hindering the work of faith, and frō making thee uncapable of mercy, that they fit thee to goe to Chriſt: The truth is, (which I pray you take notice of) it is not properly our unworthineſſe, but our pride and haughtineſſe that hinders us from cōming to Chriſt; for wee would have ſomething in our ſelves, and not have all from Chriſt. Take the diſtreſſed ſoule that ſees the vileneſſe of his ſinnes: ſuppoſe thy ſinnes were fewer, nevertheleſſe even then thou goeſt not to Chriſt, becauſe thou art p. 18perſwaded of the freeneſſe of his grace, but becauſe thou haſt a worthineſſe in thy ſelfe, & wouldſt bring ſomething to Chriſt, and not receive all from him: Therefore it is thy pride, and thy ſelfe-conceitedneſſe that hinders thee, thou muſt have thus much grace and holineſſe, and Chriſt muſt not juſtifie the ungodly, but the godly man; I tell thee, then he will never juſtifie a man while the world ſtands.

Object. But the ſoule replies againe, My ſins are worſe, not onelyonly becauſe they are many, but becauſe of the mercy and ſalvation that I have rejected, which hath p. 19beene offered mee from day to day.

Anſw. This hinders not, provided that thou canſt ſee thoſe evils of thine: though thou haſt caſt away the kindneſſe of the Lord, yet the Lord wil not caſt away thee, if thou wilt come and ſeeke him earneſtly againe:Eſa. 57.17, 18.Isa 57:17Isa 57:18 For the iniquity of his covetouſneſſe I was wroth (ſaith God) and I ſmote him, I hid my ſelfe, and hee went on frowardly in the way of his owne heart. If this could have hindred, Iudah ſhould never have received mercy; but the text ſaith, I have ſeene his wayes, and will heale him;Ier. 3.1.Jer 3:1 Thou haſt played the harlot with many lovers, yet turne againe to p. 20me, ſaith the Lord. There is no time paſt if a man have but a heart to returne; there is no limitation of the riches of Gods free grace, except the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, Rev. 3.20. I ſtand at the doore and knock; though he cry til he be hoarſe, & ſtand till he be weary, yet he ſtands ſtill: if any adulterous or deceitfull wretch will open, the Lord will come in, and bring comfort, and ſup with him.

Object. Oh, that is true, ſaith the poore ſoule, had I but a heart to mourne for my baſeneſſe; ſee my ſinnes I doe, but this is my miſery, I cannot bee burthened with them, I have a heart p. 21that cannot breake and mourne for diſhonouring of God.

Anſw. This hinders not neither, provided that thy heart is weary of it ſelfe, that it cannot be weary of ſinne:Mich. 7.18.Mic 7:18 The Lord ſhewes mercy becauſe hee will ſhew mercy, it is not becauſe thou canſt pleaſe him, but becauſe mercy pleaſeth him. When did the Lord ſhew mercy to Paul, even then when Paul did expreſſe moſt malice againſt him; Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou mee? hee perſecutes Chriſt, and yet Chriſt pities him, and ſhewes him mercy; and ſo the churliſh Iaylor, Acts.when hee was moſt oppoſite againſt the means p. 22of grace, the Lord ſhewed then moſt compaſſion upon him; he that before reſiſted the meanes of grace, was now brought home by thoſe meanes.

Object. But woe, faith the poore ſoule, you are now come to the quicke; this very word is like a Milſtone about my neck, to ſinke my ſoule for ever; for this is the depth of that baſeneſſe that lies on me, that all the meanes doe not better me. Why, though Paul and the Jaylor were bad enough, yet they were made better by the meanes; but this is my hopeleſſe condition, that the meanes of grace prevaile not on mee. Is there ſuch a heart in hell p. 23as I; how ill muſt I needs be, when all the meanes in the world will doe mee no, good? but, mee thinkes, I feele my heart more hard and ſtubborne under all Gods Ordinances; my condition is certainly hopeleſſe, when the meanes that ſhould ſoften me, doe but harden me, and make me worſe.

Anſw. This is the laſt plea whereby the devill holds down the heart of a poore ſinner; but let me anſwer thee, this hinders not neither, but that at leaſt thou maiſt have hope of mercy, therefore obſerve three paſſages by way of anſwer.

Firſt, the Word and p. 241meanes of grace doe work good, if it make thee more ſenſible of thy hardneſſe and deadneſſe, though happily it worke not that good, and after the ſame manner that thou deſireſt, yet if it make thee ſee thy baſeneſſe, and hardneſſe of heart, and dulneſſe, in regard of that body of death which hangs upon thee; then the word workes in the beſt manner, becauſe it is after Gods manner, howſoever not after thine: That Phyſick workes moſt kindly, that makes the party ſick before it works; ſo it is with the Word; thou haſt a proud heart, and lifteſt up thy ſelfe in thine owne abilities, and p. 25truſteſt in thine owne ſtrength, and thinkeſt that thy care and improvement of the meanes would work wonders; but now the Word works ſweetly, whē it makes thee apprehenſive, that a wounded ſoule is the gift of God, not of man, nor of the meanes; and therefore the Word makes thee looke to God for it, and to prize it when thou haſt it; and the Word makes thee looke to God to continue it; to feele deadneſſe is life, and to feele hardneſſe is ſoftneſſe; onelyonly remember this one Caution,Caution. except there bee ſome luſt or diſtemper that thy heart hankers after, for then the p. 26Word will harden thee, becauſe thou hardeneſt thy ſelfe.

2Secondly, (marke this I beſeech you) thou art the cauſe why thy heart is not ſoftned, & why the Word works not upon thy ſoule; the diſtemper of thy owne heart hinders the working of the Word, and diſpenſation of Gods providence, and the tenour of the Covenant of Grace; thou muſt not thinke to limit the Holy One of Iſrael, for it is a Covenant of Grace; the Lord will not ſtand bent to thy bow, and give thee grace when thou wilt; it is not for us to know the times & ſeaſons. What if the Lord will not p. 27give thee grace this yeare,Waite for mercy. nor the next, nor all thy life, if at the laſt gaſpe hee will drop in a little favor, it is more then he owes thee, therefore heare to day, and waite to morrow, and continue ſo doing, becauſe thou knoweſt not when God may bleſſe his owne Ordinances; & complaine not of delayes, but waite, for God hath waited for you long, and therefore if he make you waite for peace of conſcience, and aſſurance of his love, the Lord deales equally with you, and as ſhall bee beſt for you; God gives what, and when, and how he will, therefore waite for it.

Thirdly, know and conſider p. 283that thou haſt reſted upon thine owne duties and endeavours,Reſt not upon duties. and thou doeſt not goe to God, that bleſſeth both the meanes and endeavours; the fault is thine owne, (I ſay) becauſe thou reſteſt in thine owne performances, and in the power of the means that thou apprehendeſt, and doeſt not goe to God, that would have wrought more then all theſe: for did a man depend upon Gods power and mercy in his Ordinances, hee ſhould alwayes finde ſome proportionable ſuccour, as well when he findes no ſucceſſe, as when he findes any; for God ſometimes gives, and ſometimes delayes, but p. 29Gods love is as conſtant whē he gives not, as when he gives. Therefore labour to get out from all carnall confidence in holy duties, and reſt not in thy performances, but looke beyond all duties to God, and deſire him to give thee ſucceſſe above them.

Many a man makes his ſervices, his Saviours. Hee makes them the bottome to beare up his conſcience, the ground whereof is this: Happily he findes & feeles by woful experience, what the fruits of ſinne are. Hee ſees the venome of his corruptions, and the lamentable effects of all his ſinful practiſes. Hee thought it before a fine thing to p. 30ſweare, and lye, and drink, and follow baſe company, but now they are gravell to his heart, and gall to his ſoule. His conſcience flyeth in his face, and hee is ready to ſink down to hell. Conſcience ſaith, theſe bee thy ſinnes, and theſe will be thy damnation, they have been thy delight, but they will prove thy ſhame and confuſion in the end, thou ſhalt ſhortly finde the ſmart of them. To hell; away be packing.

Now this man hath no cure for his conſcience but this, hee entreates Conſcience to bee quiet, hee confeſſeth hee hath lived in baſe courſes, and his condition is very miſerable, p. 31but now hee will reforme all; hee hath neglected prayer heretofore, but now he will pray; hee hath hated Gods ſervants, but now hee will love them, his wayes have beene exceeding evill, but now hee will reforme them, hee begins to turne a new leafe now, and thinkes that will ſerve the turn. Thus many poore ſoules uſe the meanes as Mediators, and ſo fall ſhort of Chriſt. A gracious heart doth not onelyonly pray, and heare, and receive, and uſe all poſſible meanes to obtaine Chriſt, but he is reſtleſſe and unſatisfied till hee enjoy and poſſeſſe Chriſt in the meanes. Hee reſts not upon the bare performance p. 32of any duty, neither thinks by vertue of any of his endeavours, to obtaine a part in Chriſt.

I will expreſſe this particular more fully in this manner. A rich Uſurer that is ſicke of ſome diſeaſe, tell him ſuch a Phyſitian can cure him, but hee ſtands upon ſtate, he will not come without a great deale of charge: Charge (ſaith hee) I doe not ſtand upon that. I have money enough by mee, that will fetch him hither. Such a man now placeth all his confidence in his money. So when the ſoule ſees, the guilt of ſinne is not removed, and conſcience is ſtill ſnarling, and the law p. 33condemning him, and Chriſt is the onelyonly Saviour, that can ſatisfie and cure all. But how ſhall Chriſt be procured? Why his prayer, and faſting, and performances wil command him, by the power and merit of the worke done, though he hath no promiſe for it, and ſo by reſting on his owne performances, falls ſhort of Chriſt and ſalvation.

Object. Oh, ſaith a poore ſinner, I would goe out of my ſelfe, and I ſee I reſt upon my duties, but I cannot get out of my ſelfe.

Anſw. I anſwer, it is Sathans ſubtilty to keepe us in our ſelves here too, by endeavouring to make us goe p. 34out of our ſelves by our owne ſtrength; and this is a marvailous depth of malice and cunning in the devill, when he makes us beleeve (and we out of ignorance are deluded) that we have power in our owne hands to goe out of our ſelves; no, it is a ſupernaturall worke, and the ſame hand muſt bring us out of our ſelves, that muſt bring us to Chriſt:Self-denial what it is. This is in truth ſelfe-deniall, when the ſoule knoweth it h… nothing, and therefore is over powred with the mighty hand of God, and the worke of his Spirit, ſo that the poore ſinner doth not ſo much as expect any power or ability in himſelfe, p. 35or from the creature, in the doing of any duty; hee knowes he is dead, and therfore cannot help himſelfe, much leſſe can the creature doe him good, and therefore he lookes to heaven, and ſeekes all ſufficiency from God alone. For (obſerve it) whiles that I thus thinke with my ſelfe, that I have ability to goe out of my ſelfe, I doe not then ſay, that I have a principle within me to de… my ſelfe, which is quite contrary, for to deny a mans ſelfe, is to know that he hath no power in himſelfe to doe any ſpirituall duty, therefore wee muſt looke onelyonly to the voyce of Chriſt, and know, that p. 36hee that calls us from the wayes of darkneſſe, and from our ſelves, muſt alſo bring us to Chriſt; therefore expect power from Chriſt to plucke thee out of thy ſelfe, and to make thee beleeve, for the ſame hand doth worke both.

I would not have a poore creature thinke thus with himſelfe, If this meanes and theſe Ordinances will doe mee no good, and will not work upon my heart, I ſhall never have it; but ſpeak thus unto God, and ſay, In truth Lord I expect no power from my ſelfe, nor from the meanes, but my reſolution is, to looke up to him that hath hid his face p. 37from Iacob I will not looke inward here for power, to receive it from within my ſelfe, nor to the Miniſter, nor to the meanes, but I wil waite upon thee Lord, and looke up to thy power to worke by the meanes. Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord, Eſay 50.10.Isa 50:10and obeyeth the voyce of his ſervants, that walketh in darkneſſe, & hath no light of comfort, let him truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay himſelfe upon his God. When all other things in the world faile, let the ſoule then looke up to the Lord, and looke out from it ſelfe; this is the fitteſt time of all to meete with God; I would have a Chriſtian chuſe this time above p. 38all times to meete his Saviour in, and this is the onelyonly time to diſappoint Sathan; for, as I ſaid before, it is the laſt refuge that the devill hath, and if hee miſſe this opportunity, hee is for ever conquered. Thus the ſinner partly ſeeing the beauty of grace, will not, and partly ſeeing the baſeneſſe of his owne heart, dares not come to Chriſt.

Object. Then in the next place it is want of ſenſe and feeling, which he would have and cannot finde; therefore the diſtreſſed ſoule ſaith, Alas, I never knew what it was to have the aſſurance of Gods love, I never received any evidence p. 39of Gods favour, and ſhall I thinke that I have faith? they that beleeve have their hearts filled with joy unſpeakable and glorious, the Word reveales this, but I am a ſtranger to that joy, how can I then thinke that I have any worke of faith wrought in me.

Anſw. I anſwer, this doth not hinder either that thou haſt not faith, or that thou maiſt not come to God by beleeving, therefore remember theſe three particulars.

Firſt, thou muſt not 1thinke to have joy and refreſhing before thou go to the promiſe, but thou muſt looke for it, when thou p. 40doeſt chew and feed upon the promiſe: thou wouldeſt have the Lord to give thee all the bargaine before thou make the match: This joy is a fruit that proceeds frō faith after much wreſtling; it doth not follow from faith at the firſt; firſt beleeve, and then joy; the heart is never filled with joy before beleeving; but afterwards when thou haſt had the ſweet dew of the comfort of the promiſe many a day, then looke for this joy.

2Secondly, know that theſe joyes, and this ſenſe and feeling may be abſent from faith: a man may have a good faith, and yet want the relliſh and ſweetneſſe p. 41which he longs after. A man may want his deſirings, and yet want neither life nor heate: A tree may want leaves and fruit, and yet want neither ſapp nor moyſture: A mans faith may bee ſomewhat ſtrong, when his feeling is nothing at all: David was juſtified and ſanctified, and yet wanted this joy; and ſo Iob reſted upon GOD when hee had but little feeling, as when hee ſaith, Thou makeſt mee a Butt to ſhoot at; Iob 3.15.Job 3:15yet I will truſt in thee though thou kill mee. Therefore build not your comfort upon ſenſe and feeling, but goe to the promiſe.

Thirdly, the Saints of p. 423God many times are deprived of comfort, not becauſe God with-holds it, but becauſe they put it from themſelves, and will not have it, though he offer it,Pſal. 77.Ps 77 as David, My ſoule refuſed comfort, like a ſullen childe that wil not eate his Milke, becauſe hee hath it not in the golden diſh; ſo becauſe God doth not for you what you would, you will have nothing at all. Theſe are the maine hinderances: I might adde many more, for carnall reaſon is very fruitfull this way, and wee through our owne folly and the devils ſubtilty, are apt to abuſe things, and make them hinderances in our way to p. 43eternall happineſſe. I come now to the cures of all our impediments, for if we had the wiſdome and care wee ſhould have, wee might breake through them all and come to Chriſt. The means are eſpecially foure, whereby wee may bee inwardly fortified againſt them, and at laſt be able to overcome them.

The firſt cure and helpe is this,Helps to come to Chriſt. We muſt not looke too long, nor pore too much or unwarrantably upon our owne corruptions, ſo farre as to be feared or diſheartened from comming to the riches of Gods grace; for this is an everlaſting truth, that whatſoeverſight of ſin unfits a mā p. 44for mercy, when hee may take it, and it is offered to him, that ſight of ſin is ever ſinfull, though it have never ſo faire a pretence of ſorrow and deepe humiliation: as we think many times, Had I a ſoule ſo throughly humbled and bruiſed,True godly ſorow what it is. and ſo forth. The devill oft keepes us in ſin, by poring upon our ſinnes, when we thinke hereby to be carried from our ſinnes; that courſe thus is a ſinfull courſe. Tell not me of ſorrow, and repentance, and humiliation, all that ſorrow and humiliation is nought that keepes a man from receiving mercy, when it is offered; ſee this in Abraham, hee had this p. 45promiſe, that hee ſhould have a ſonne in his old age; Hee being not weake in faith regarded not his old age or deadneſſe, Rom. 4.19.Rom 4:19nor the barrenneſſe of Sarahs wombe, but beleeved in him who had promiſed it, and there hee reſts and ſtayes; hee ſaw his body was dead, yet there was a living promiſe; and what though Sarahs wombe was barren, yet the promiſe was fruitfull; he knew his owne deadneſſe and her barrenneſſe, but hee conſidered them not: ſo wee muſt ſee our ſinnes, and conſider our many weakneſſes, but never ſo ſettle our ſelves with, or conſider of them ſo, as to be hindered from comming to God p. 46for mercy, which he freely offers us, and wee ſtand in neede of, for while the ſoule of a man is daily plodding upon his owne miſery, and diſtempers, theſe two things follow.

1Firſt, wee ſtop the ſtreame of Gods promiſe, and let downe the ſluce againſt it, ſo that the promiſe cannot come into our ſoules.

2And ſecondly, wee ſet open the ſtreame & floudgate of corruption, and make it to runne moſt violently in upon us, and in the end to overwhelme us, and the inconvenience ariſing hereby, will ſlay the beſt Chriſtian in the world; for what can a man p. 47get out of his corruption? hee can have no more thereof then is there to be had; it is vaine to looke for comfort where it is not to be had, it may diſhearten us, but never encourage us. See the humility and wiſdome of the woman of Canaan, Mat. 15.27.Matt 15:27ſhee followes Chriſt, but he liſtens not to her, but gives her the repulſe, and calls her dogge, and ſaith, you Gentiles are dogges; and the Goſpell of Grace and ſalvation is the Childrens bread. Now if ſhe had on…y conſidered the words of Chriſt, and onelyonly looked into her owne baſeneſſe, ſhee had never come to receive mercy and comfort, p. 48but ſhe ſaith, Truth Lord, I am a dogge, yet the dogges eate of the crummes that fall from their Maſters table. There are two things here which doe expreſſe the frame of a gracious heart that is truely wiſe to attend to its owne baſeneſſe, her humility and wiſedome; as if ſhee had ſaid, Thou ſaiſt I am a Gentile, and a Dog, I confeſſe it, yet though I am a Dog, I will not goe out of the doores but lye under the table for mercy; ſo wee muſt and ought, when our corruptions come in upon us, and wee ſee our ſelves damned creatures, let us then ſay, In truth, Lord, I am as bad as thy word can ſpeak, yet p. 49let us not flye away from mercy, but lie at the feete of our Saviour.

It is fit, and wee ought to ſee our ſinnes, but ſtay not too long here; ſee thy ſinnes thou muſt, but not be ſetled thereon, ſo as to be kept from Chriſt; that ſight of ſinne which doth not drive a man to Chriſt for mercy, is ever ſinfull. Labour therefore to ſee thy ſinnes, thus:

Firſt,How to ſee ſinne aright. ſee thy ſinnes till thou ſee them odious and loathſome.

Secondly, till thou ſee an utter inſufficiency in thy ſelfe to ſatisfie for them.

Thirdly, till thou haſt ſeene an abſolute neceſſity p. 50of Chriſt to ſuccour thee; and then away ſpeedily to the throne of Grace, and dwell no longer on thy ſinnes, for there is pardon enough to remove the guilt that ſin hath brought upon thy ſoule, there is power enough to make thee maſter thy corruptions. Indeed every ſoule ſhould ſay thus, It is true Lord, my ſinnes are many and great, for I have departed from thee the fountaine of bliſſe: But ſhall I goe on yet further from thee, and perſiſt in evill? God forbid. All this while I ſpeake to broken-hearted Chriſtians. You prophane ones, you have your por…ion already, and ſhall have p. 51more afterwards, therefore a while ſtand you by, and let the Children come to their ſhare.

The Lord lookes to him that is of an humble and contrite heart, Eſay 66.2. Opened.Isa 66:2and that trembles before him. A poore creature cannot but obſerve every word, and tremble at every truth. Here is ſalvation indeed (ſaith hee) but it is not mine, here is mercy, but I have no part in it; and ſo hee ſhakes at the apprehenſion, concluding certainely I ſhall never enjoy it. Now marke what the text ſaith, The Lord lookes at ſuch a trembling ſoule, that is, he caſts ſweet intimations of his goodneſſe and kindneſſe p. 52upon him, and ſaith, Thou poore trembling ſinner, to thee bee it ſpoken, I have an eye towards thee in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Eſay 40.2.Isa 40:2Comfort yee, comfort yee my people (ſaith the Lord) ſpeake comfortably to Ieruſalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accompliſhed, and her iniquity is pardoned, tell Ieruſalem ſhe is accepted, tell her what my minde is. So the Lord ſaith to his Miniſters, Speake to the heart of ſuch an humbled penitent ſinner, tell him from MEE, tell him from Heaven, tell him from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, tell him from under the hand of the Spirit, his perſon is accepted, and his ſinnes are p. 53done away, and he ſhall be looked upon in mercy.

Ephraim is the picture of a ſoule truly humbled, in whom wee may ſee the behaviour of a true penitent towards God, and Gods dealing towards him. The Text ſaith,Ierem. 31.18, 19, 20.Jer 31:18Jer 31:19Jer 31:20 Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelfe (there's the heart broken & thirſting) thou haſt chaſtiſed mee, and I was chaſtiſed, turne thou to mee, and I ſhall be turned: thou art the Lord my GOD, Surely after that I was turned I repented, and after that I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh, I was aſhamed, yea even confounded, becauſe I did beare the reproach of my youth. As if the ſinner p. 54ſhould ſay, I am the wretch that have ſeene all the meanes of grace in abundant meaſure, and yet never profited under the ſame. The Lord hath corrected me, but I would not be tamed; He hath inſtructed me, but I would not learne. Lord turne mee, Thou art my God; I have nothing in my ſelfe; Nay, now I ſee the evills which before I never perceived; And I obſerve the baſeneſſe of my courſe now which before I never conſidered; And I am aſhamed of my abuſe of grace revealed, I am even confounded in the ſenſe of thoſe abominations which my ſoule hath harboured. p. 55This is the mourning of a poore ſinner; Now marke Gods anſwer: Ephraim is my ſonne, hee is a pleaſant childe, for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I doe earneſtly remember him ſtill, therefore my bowells are troubled for him, I will ſure have mercy upon him. As who ſhould ſay, I obſerved all thoſe ſecret ſighes, I conſidered all thoſe teares, I heard all thoſe prayers, and tooke notice of all thoſe complaints, and my bowells earne towards this poore ſinner, that ſeekes to mee for mercy. And the truth is, I will embrace him with my loving kindneſſe.

Now the ſecond means of cure is this,2. Helpe. take heed p. 56of judging thy eſtate by carnall reaſon without the rule, as thus it is the faſhion of poore diſtreſſed ſpirits, to paſſe fearefull ſentence upon themſelves upon groundleſſe arguments, and to ſay, I never found it, I feele no ſuch thing, and I feare it is not ſo. Thus we heare thoſe carnall pleas which Sathan helps us to invent, and we judge our ſelves by them:The danger of judging our ſelves raſhly. Now, I ſay, take heed of this, and make conſcience of this ſame, as of any other ſinne of ſwearing, ſtealing, whoring, or murther, for this is as truely a ſinne as thoſe, though not ſo great; nay; it is a farre greater ſin than you imagine. Conſider p. 57this you humble-hearted Chriſtians, for to you I ſpeake; for when upon theſe grounds thou concludeſt thy caſe and eſtate is naught: ſee againſt how many Commandements thou ſinneſt. Firſt, thou diſhonoureſt God and the worke of his grace; in denying that which GOD hath done for thee, & ſpeakeſt unreverently againſt God; thou art a murderer, and woundeſt thy owne ſoule; thou robbeſt thy ſelfe of comfort, and art a thiefe; and thou beareſt falſe witneſſe againſt thine owne heart, yea againſt Chriſt, and his Spirit, and the worke of grace wrought in thee, and joyneſt with p. 58the devill againſt the Lord Chriſt.

But thou wilt ſay, I ſpeake as I thinke. That hinders not, but that thou beareſt falſe witneſſe: as wee ſee, if a man affirme ſuch a one is a drunkard, and knowes it not, this man beares falſe witneſſe, becauſe though the man bee a drunkard, yet hee knowes it not: ſo thou ſayeſt thou doſt nothing, when as thou doſt onelyonly feare it, and ſuſpect it, and the like: I ſpeake this the rather, becauſe of the ſinfull diſtemper that creepes in upon the hearts of many broken hearted Chriſtians, that out of a ſelfewilld rode of carnall reaſon, p. 59and a vile haunt that they have got, their hearts are perſwaded that they doe well to do ſo, and they are never well except they doe thus.

But ſuch as theſe (marke it) when reaſon is plaine, and the Scriptures are evidently againſt them, they doe not ſo much attend what the Miniſter ſaith, but they ſtand and invent how they may anſwer the Miniſter, and ſo put away their owne comforts. Let the feare of God fall upon every ſoule that heares this, and know that howſoever you have taken leave to you ſelves, and have taken up pleas againſt the truth, yet now goe p. 60your wayes, and mourne for it, and wonder that the Lord hath not taken away all the comfort of his grace, and all the motions of his Spirit from you. The Prophet David prayes the Lord to turne away his eyes from beholding vanitie: Pſal. 119.37.Ps 119:37now if God muſt doe that, then much more muſt hee turn away our hearts from attending to vanities: I muſt attend to God, and the voice of his Spirit, but to liſten to thoſe carnall pleas which I have no warrant to doe, I ſinne deeply, and hurt my owne ſoule dangerouſly thereby. No man would deale with a cheator; carnall reaſon is a cheator, therefore p. 61let us not attend therto, unleſſe wee reſolve to bee cozened; and if the danger of the ſinne cannot make us doe this, then let the ſorow that will come by it conſtraine us:Iſa. 50.11.Isa 50:11 Behold all you that kindle a fire, and that compaſſe your ſelves about with the ſparkles that yee have kindled, this ſhall you have at my hand, yee ſhall lie downe in ſorrow. I will ſhew what is meant by ſparkles, and what by fire; in the old Law you know there was heavenly fire continually in the Sanctuary, that ſhadowed out to us the will and wiſdome of God in his word: but there was alſo ſtrange fire, that is, there were divers p. 62ſparkles of their owne imaginations, and conceits; every poore creature caries his tinder-boxe about him, and hee is ever kindling of it; which the Lord doth not allow of: In that text are two things: firſt, that the heart of man will naturally invent carnall reaſons and pleas againſt it ſelfe, and be ſetled upon them: ſecondly, the iſſue that follows thereupon, This ſhall yee have of mine hand, you ſhall lie downe in your owne ſorrow. When the Scriptures are cleare, and reaſons are evident, and yet you will have your owne devices, thus much I tell you, you ſhall lie downe in ſorrow p. 63at laſt, and you may thank your ſelves for it; away with your tinder-boxes therfore, abaſe your ſelves before the throne of grace and bee at length wiſe to ſalvation.

Ho every one that thirſteth (ſaith God by his Prophet) come and buy without money, take of the well of the water of life, and live for ever freely. Many a poore Miniſter would faine leave his commodity behinde him, and ſaith, You muſt have it, and you ſhall have it; it is your portion, and belongs of right unto you; we are even faine to force Gods favours upon the ſoule. We beſeech you to beleeve, and wee intreate p. 64you for the Lord JESUS ſake to receive mercy and humble your hearts.

But will any man take theſe favours?

No beloved, many ſweet promiſes, and many admirable precious things of grace and ſalvation are revealed, but men neither paſſe nor care to receive benefit by them. Some carnall plea or other evades all. This argues plainely your ſmall eſtimation of CHRIST. A poore hungry ſinner that is apprehenſive of his owne weakneſſe and feebleneſſe, longs till the feaſt day commeth, that hee may partake of theſe delicates. Oh how carefully will he liſten, and p. 65how diligently will he attend what the Miniſter ſaith; and if the Word comes home to his conſcience inlightning his heart, and reproving him of his ſecret corruption, he cries out, I am in great trouble, good Lord comfort me: I am full of doubts, good Lord reſolve me: I am ignorant in ſpirituall things, good Lord teach me: I have a proud, ſtout, ſtubborn heart, good Lord humble me. Take this for a generall rule, A good heart is alwayes at beſt eaſe, when the Word works moſt. But a wicked graceleſſe perſon is then beſt, when the Word workes leaſt upon him. p. 66Therefore when he thinks the Miniſter will come cloſe to his ſoule, hee will not bee at home that day, he will be ſure to be out of Towne, hee knowes the Word would awaken him, and affright him, and hee cannot beare the blow, therefore he keepes away, and ſhunnes the hearing of Gods Word, which would worke upon him.

3. Helpe.But thirdly, let us bee marvellouſly wary and watchfull that wee enter not into the liſts of diſpute with Sathan, upon thoſe points which are beyond the reach of man; as thus to ſay, I am not elected, therefore GOD will not doe me good, it is p. 67vaine for mee to uſe the meanes; my time of mercy is gone, oh the day of grace that I have ſeene, the Lord knocked ſweetly, and was pleaſed to reveale my ſinnes at ſuch a time: but then hard-hearted wretch that I was, I ſhut the doore of my heart againſt the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and now it is gone and paſt, now there is no hope for ever of receiving mercy againe: If the devill get thee here, all thy comfort is gone, for upon this ground a man ſhall never receive reſt to his heart, while the world ſtands; for if no man can ever know the thing, how ſhall I bee able to give, or p. 68any man to take comfort? Looke as it is with a poore travelling man that lighteth among theeves, who come and promiſe to cary him a neerer way, and at laſt they bring him into a wood where no paſſengers come, and there they doe what they will with him: ſo it is with a poore ſoule, when the devill gets him into theſe ſecret diſputes of Gods eternall counſell, there are no paſſengers come this way, therefore thou art voide of ſuccour, and Satan may exerciſe his pleaſure in terrifying thy poore ſoule. Therefore for your direction in this caſe, obſerve three rules.

1Firſt, let the ſoul in this p. 69caſe ſtay it ſelfe upon the al-mightineſſe of the power of God,Gen. 17.1.Gen 17:1 I am God all-ſufficient: if thou art perſwaded of the al-ſufficiency of GOD, this will helpe thee: God can doe more thā thou canſt think. Hee is able, and will doe thee good, though thou know it not; and therefore obſerve thus much, the ſoule never doubts of Gods will, but it doubts of his power alſo in ſome meaſure.

Secondly, check thine 2owne heart for medling with Gods ſecrets, and prying into his hidden counſels; let no man goe beyond his bounds: it appertaines not to thee to p. 70dive into this myſtery.Deut. 29.29.Deut 29:29 Secret things belong to God, but revealed things belong to us: 1 Cor. 1.2.16.1 Cor 1:21 Cor 1:16and Who hath knowne the minde of God? ſaith Paul. Mark this, you that will be going up into the skies to know what Gods ſecret minde is, keepe your ſtations wiſely, for the devill and all the devills in hell never knew the minde of the Lord.Ionas 4.19.Jonah 4:19 When Ionas cried againſt Niniveh, ſaying, Within forty dayes all you drunkards, and adulterers ſhall be deſtroyed: Marke there how the King ſtayes himſelfe, ſaying, Who can tell if the Lord will repent and ſtay his fierce wrath that we periſh not. When the devill tells thee thus, p. 71and ſaith, God hath appointed a way to ſalvation, and you have had the meanes, and did not profit by them, therefore God will never ſhew you mercy, nor give you grace: how can the devill tell that? nay, all the devills in hell cannot tell: let mee walke in that courſe which God hath appointed and commanded, and doe that which I ought, and let me ſay, who knowes but God may breake the heart of a proud rebellious ſinner, none but God knowes it.

Thirdly, Meaſure not 3the riches of Gods love, and the ſweetneſſe of his grace according to your owne conceits, and do not p. 72thinke that becauſe you cannot conceive it, therefore God will not doe it: Let the wicked forſake his wayes, Eſay 55.7, 8, 9.Isa 55:7Isa 55:8Isa 55:9and the unrighteous man his thoughts, ſaith the Prophet: that is, All you wicked ones, and you that have lived leudly, returne from your wicked wayes, and from your vaine imaginations, for he will abundantly pardon.

Object. But will the Lord pardon all my ſinnes, ſaith the ſoule, I cannot think it, If I were a God, I ſhould never paſſe by ſuch intolerable things.

Anſw. And becauſe you cannot, you thinke God cannot: Yes, ſaith the Lord, I can abundantly pardon, p. 73for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my wayes as your wayes. A poore creature thinkes his ſinnes are unpardonable, and he ſhall never get aſſurance of Gods love. You are men, ſaith the Lord, and have finite thoughts, but I am God, and have mercy infinitely, when you think I have no mercy.

Object. But there were never any ſuch received to mercy, ſaith the ſoule, and therefore why ſhould I be the man?

Anſw. When CHRIST had wrought many ſtrange miracles, the people ſaid, there were never any ſuch things done in Iſrael; and therefore it is plaine, God p. 74can doe things that never were done the like: Hee doth great things paſt finding out, Iob 9.10.Job 9:10and wondrous without number, ſaith Iob: therefore judge not Gods power and love by what thou canſt conceive.

The beſt Chriſtians are moſt ſuſpitious of themſelves, and none fuller of doubts and feares, then thoſe that have leaſt cauſe to feare their eſtates are bad. Sathan makes it his chiefe worke to grieve and terrifie theſe? And their owne diſtruſtfull hearts are alwayes raiſing falſe ſurmiſes, and putting mercy from them, as if they were hired by the devill, to take his part in pleading p. 75againſt themſelves. Therefore it is worth our obſerving what David ſaith, Pſal. 42.Pſal. 42.18Ps 42:18 The Lord ſhall command his loving kindneſſe in the morning. It is a phraſe taken from Princes & great Cōmanders, whoſe words are a law. So God will ſend forth his loving kindneſſe to a truly humbled Chriſtian with a command. As if he ſhould ſay, Goe love and everlaſting mercy, take thy Commiſſion, and I charge thee go to that poor broken-hearted ſinner, go to that poore, hungry, and thirſty ſoule: goe and proſper & prevaile, and ſettle my love upon his heart, whether hee will or no. Thus the Lord charges p. 76his loving kindneſſe to doe good to poore ſinners, and by his owne Almightineſſe ſtayeth the ſoule, when it is ready to ſinke under the burthen of its tranſgreſſions.

Object. What, ſhall I have mercy? No, No, (ſaith the doubting heart:) Will the Lord Jeſus accept me? No ſurely. Could I pray ſo, and had I theſe parts, and could I performe duties after this and this manner, then there were ſome hope, but alas there is no mercy for me.

Anſw. Let mee tell thee who ever thou art, God invites thee in particular, and all the ſweetneſſe in Chriſt, and his precious promiſes, p. 77appertaine to thy ſoule, and thou haſt as great an intereſt in them, as any ſervant of God in the world whatſoever.

Object. No, No, ſaith the trembling ſoule, I cannot beleeve it, ſuch a wretch as I goe to heaven, It cannot bee; heaven ſhall rather fall then I come there. Thus the diſcouraged ſinner knocks off mercy, and ſhuts the doore againſt himſelfe.

Now when all carnall reaſonings, and high imaginations, (as Paul calls them) have raiſed up ſtrong holds againſt mercy and comfort; when the word cannot for the preſent ſettle peace in the p. 78ſoule, God is faine at laſt to command loving kindneſſe, and ſend him with a Commiſſion from heaven, ſaying, I charge you, breake open the doore of the heart of ſuch a ſinner, rend that vayle of ignorance that is before his eyes, ſilence all his doubts and feares; And I charge you go home to that ſoule, and cheere it, refreſh it with the ſenſe of my favour, and fill it with the aſſurance of my love.

Rom. 5.8.Rom 5:8Whileſt we were enemies, ſaith the Apoſtle, Chriſt died for us. The Lord ſends from heaven to a poore miſerable creature, Commend my love, commend my mercy to ſuch a diſtreſſed p. 79ſoule, and tell him though hee hath beene an enemy to mee, yet I am a friend to him. Tell him though hee hath beene a Traytour to mee, I have beene a good King to him. Hee hath beene a rebell to mee, but tell him I have beene a loving GOD to him. Tell him his ſinnes are pardoned, his perſon accepted, and his ſoule ſhal be ſaved. Tell him his ſighes and groanes are heard, and his prayers obſerved in heaven; let him know that the Lord Jeſus died for ſinners when they were ſinners. Make this good to his ſoule I charge you before you come back.

Therefore the fourth p. 80cure is this,Helpe. and it is ſpecially to bee obſerved above all in thy proceeding with thy ſelfe in judgement; that is, Paſſe no ſentence againſt thy ſoule, but according to the evidence of the Word: if thou art to be approved, let the word of GOD approve thee, and let his word examine thee, if thou art to be examined; if the Word ſpeake for thee, it is no matter though all men and Angels ſpeak againſt thee; and if the word condemne thee, it is no matter who ſpeakes for thee: what though ſome wrangling rayler ſtep in, and will be determining the cauſes before the Judge comes; yet p. 81a wiſe man will ſtay till the Judge comes, and wait his leiſure. Deale thou ſo with thine owne ſoule, put not the caſe to be tryed by a company of peeviſh carnal reaſons, but ſtay till the word come, and judge thy ſelfe by that, and hold to that for ever.Eph. 5.13.Eph 5:13 The light is that which manifeſteth all things; the meaning is this, the light of the word, and the evidences of Gods truth manifeſted to the ſoules of Gods people; all ſenſe and feeling of carnall reaſoning, are like fogges and miſts which make a man that he cannot ſee the way; but bring him to the light, and then his ſtate and condition will be manifeſted p. 82what it is.Mat. 11.29Matt 11:29 Learne of me (ſaith our Saviour) and you ſhall finde reſt to your ſoules: And the Pſalmiſt ſaith, I will enquire what the Lord will ſay: ſo ſay thou, I will not hearken what carnall reaſon will ſay. The want of this is the cauſe why wee have ſo many diſtractions and diſquietments, & are ſtill in doubtings, becauſe hee that teacheth us is a deluder.

For the poore ſoule ſaith, What, ſhall I have an intereſt in Chriſt, ſhall I have title to the promiſes? nay, this belongs to thoſe that are broken-hearted: indeed if I had ſuch power againſt corruption, ſuch heavenly mindednes, p. 83and this and that, there were ſome hopes, but I am ſo full of weakneſſe, and many times led captive by my rebellious heart; that it is too apparent I never had ſaving grace, nay, I feare I never ſhall have it truly wrought in my ſoule.

But who told you ſo, and where learned you this Religion? I am ſure you never learned it of Chriſt. Who, or what word tells you, If I have ſuch corruptions, I ſhall never have grace? not the word of Chriſt, I am ſure: wherefore I charge you bold to the truth of the word; Learne of me, ſaith Chriſt, and put not your cauſe to bee decided by p. 84carnall reaſon, nor hearken what it telleth you; for if you take that courſe, you ſhall never come to Chriſt whilſt the world ſtandeth: Learne of the Lord Chriſt, for his word is faithfull, and his promiſe ſure, and there you ſhall finde reſt as ſtrong as Mount Sion; it is that word whereby thou ſhalt be judged at the great day, when ſenſe and feeling ſhall be caſt out for wranglers, and never come into Court. Thus much of the foure cures: I will now propound foure rules how a man may order himſelfe aright in this courſe, ſo that he may repaire to the word at all times, as he ought to doe, p. 85and gaine evidence there for eſtabliſhing his heart in peace and tranquillity.