Gods Call from Heaven Echoed, Part 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. X. The means whereby the Lord doth effectually call.
IN the next place we are to ſpeak of thoſe ways and means which the Lord maketh uſe of for the calling home wandring creatures, loſt ſheep to himſelf; and they are either of a lower, or of an higher form:
Of the lower form, 1. Works.
Of the lower form, 2. Word.
Of the higher form, The Spirit.
1. By works: The Lord many times makes common works, and ordinary providences S. 1 to be eſpecial inſtruments of grace: All things are in Gods hands; and thoſe things that are of an inferiour nature, can he ſo bleſſe and diſpoſe, that thereby they ſhall be ſuited for the attaining of higheſt ends: Now thoſe providences which the Lord hath uſed this way, and countenanceth in reference to this work, are theſe ſeven following, which carry Scripture authority at their backs.
1. By providing yoke-fellows; the Lord S. 2 makes temporal marriages ſometimes means of ſpiritual; and in this regard it may be well ſaid, that matches are made in heaven, when for heaven; marrying proves to many a making to all eternity; ſometimes a man when he hath prevailed with a woman, afterwards woes and wins her for Chriſt; and many a woman, that takes her husband much with her perſon, takes him more with her piety: How doth the wiſedom and goodneſſe of God much appear in this? he brings thoſe together that were moſt unthought of, moſt unlikely; he bringeth thoſe together that were fartheſt diſtant from each other; thus he makes grace out of nature as it were; and a ſpiritual union to grow upon a fleſhly conjunction; by means of making one fleſh, he ſometimes makes one ſpirit, and doth not the Apoſtle uſe this as a reaſon, why he would have the Corinthians, not to leave, but to ſhew love to their unbelieving yoke-fellows: For what knoweſt thou, O wife, whether thou ſhalt ſave thy husband? or how knoweſt thou, O man, whether thou ſhalt ſave thy wife? 1 Cor. 7. 16. And doth not Peter counſel wives to be in ſubjection to their own husbands? (and to what end is it?) Why, That if any obey not the word, they alſo may without the word be wonne by the converſation of the wives, 1 Pet. 3. 1. Many an one may ſay to their yoke fellows in ſome ſort, as David 1 Sam. 25. 32, &c.to Abigail: Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which gave me ſuch an Husband, ſuch a Wife; and bleſſed be thy advice my dear heart, and bleſſed be thou which haſt told me of my ſin, admoniſhed me of my State, and ſo haſt kept me from Iniquity; for in very deed, had it not been for thee (under the Lord) I had periſhed in my tranſgreſſions; though there may be carnal love, and a peaceable life between yoke-fellows, yet no well-bottomed affection, if there be not mutual care for each others Eternal welfare: They ſhould ſeek by exhortation, and converſation, by counſels and commerce; by prayer, by pattern to bring each other into the boſome of Chriſt, within the bounds of the Covenant.
The Apoſtle condemnes and blames the weakneſſe of the Galatians, That having begun in the Spirit, ſought to be made perfect by the Fleſh: We may congratulate and bleſſe the Gal. 3. 3.wiſedom of God, that cauſeth that which is begun in the Fleſh, to end in the Spirit: Sometime a good Husband makes a good Wife; and a good Wife makes a good Husband; not but that ſuitable matches are beſt, (I think) as for parentage, portion, proportion, ſo for piety; and that (as I conceive) the Apoſtle meanes marrying not onelyonly with one that is a Chriſtian, but alſo with one that is Chriſts; 1 Cor. 7. 39.where he ſpeakes of marrying in the Lord; yet when they are unequally yoked, and pared; they are to pray and endeavour for an Extract of vertue, from a Contract of neceſſity: ſome of you that read this unworthy piece may have found providency improving your match to your Soules advantage; and you that are married, and have a Godly yoke-fellow, ear their precepts, eye their practice; liſten to their counſels, learn their good cuſtomes; mind their ſayings, mark their goings; obſerve their works, obey their words: Husbands and Wives do not forward each other to Hell, but further each other to Heaven: Let not your hands be imbrued in each others Soules blood, but let your hearts be ſet for each others Eternal good; and ſtrive by your prayers ſingle and ſociated, that ye may be heires together of the grace of life: Some out of fancy and vanity have endeavoured to maintain that a woman hath no Soul; but both men and women have immortal Soules; and that ye ſhall know to your coſt, and woe, or cure, and neal: The Lord grant the latter.
2. By granting good education: Grace in S. 3 age many times hath it's foundation in the training of youth: Train up a Child in the way he ſhould go, and when he is old he will not depart Prov. 22. 6.from it: Good Parents, good Tutours, good Maſters, good Guardians, good Hoſts with whom Children boord, are a great mercy; and many thank God for the time that ever they ſaw the faces of, and had to do with ſuch: Did not Abraham Gen. 18. 19.read Divinity Lectures to his Family? and did there not grow upon the ſtalk of his Inſtructions, watered with the Dew of Heavenly grace, Fruits of as eminent obedience to the Father of the Fleſh, and the Father of Spirits, as ever was, when Iſaac was willing to offer his Gen. 22.throat to the Sacrificing knife? Was not Iſaac's Faith great as well as Abraham's? the Sons as well as the Fathers? Was not Iſaac's life as dear to him, as Abraham's Son to him? and was he not coheir with his Father to the promiſes? Was not Monica a fervent beads-woman, and humble ſuppliant at the throne of grace for her Son Auſtin? and was not the ſucceſſe ſweet? A woman much in prayers, and much in teares ſhe was for him; and without doubt Motherly-preachings went along with her prayers, and teachings did accompany her teares; and had ſhe not the deſire of her Soul? Seeds of Inſtruction, and teaching caſt upon the heads of young ones under our charge, may through the moſtnings, and irrigations of the Spirit ſink into the heart, take root, and bring forth a great crop, and large increaſe of ſaving knowledge, and grace, if not for the preſent, yet for the future, if not in the time that now is, yet in the time that is to come, even when Parents are dead and rotten; Children while very young are to be learned the word of God, though they know not the work of God; experience ſheweth that it is not in vain, nor void. Did not Timothy's being inſtructed in his Childhood (in all pobability by his Grand-mother as well as Mother) for Parents remote are many times as much converſant with, and indulgent to their mediate Children as their immediate Parents, and her indulgency was rectified by grace, to ſeek his good in the beſt things.) Help to make him a Faithful man, and a fervent Preacher? 2 Tim. 1. 5. & 3. 15. Nay were there not twins in the womb of Lois her care? And was not the effect of it double: She taught her Daughter Eunice, and ſhe learned of her Mother to teach her Son Timothy: How careful were the Heathens, that Children might have education morally good? and ſhall Chriſtians ſit in the ſame forme with them? Now how many Chriſtians by name may ſit at their feet, and be taught more of their duty from them, than yet they have learned to practice? Plutarch wrote a little foreign.treatiſe of this on purpoſe. Plato would have Nurſes ſpeak no fooliſh words to their little ones, leaſt ſuch breath ſhould infect them, and ſuch bad aire have influence upon them; yet who regards this work? or conſiders that from the neglect thereof, as from a root of bitterneſſe, ſprings that general Prophaneneſſe that is in the Chriſtian world: Maſter Baxter Third part cap. 12. S. 11. &c.ſpeaks very well of this in his Saints everlaſting reſt; which is a very choice Book: The Gentry teach their Children to follow pleaſure, & the commonalty their Children to follow profit; and young ones are ready to follow old ones: This their way is their folly, yet their poſterity approve their ſayings, Selah: It is to be noted. Pſal. 49. 13. The very Heathens condemn this, and yet Chriſtians mend it not: Crates the Philoſopher ſaid; that if poſſibly he might, he would willingly mount to the higheſt place of the City, and there cry aloud in this manner: What mean you my Maſters, and whither run you headlong? carking, and caring all that ever you can to gather goods, and rake riches together as you do? whiles in the mean time you make little or no reckoning at all of your Plut.Children; unto whom you are to leave all your riches; and do not moſt care more for the wealth of their Childrens outward man, than for the health of their inward man? ſuch as one ſaith, are like thoſe that have great regard Ibid.to their Shoo, but take no heed to their Face: Some are headleſſe and cannot; others are heartleſſe and will not: By Generation men are temporal Fathers, by education they come to be Spiritual Fathers; and though it In anima ſit extraduce?be a queſtion, whether the Soul and Body come both one way, or no; yet it is out of doubt many times, that the grace of the Soul may come from the Parents: I mean yet Parents counſel, teaching, and tutouring, may be Inſtrumental in the hand of the ſupream efficient thereunto: Did not Hannah get her Samuel by praying? And may we think, that he that was brought in by earneſt ſupplication, was not brought up by early education? That he 1 Sam. 10. 27.whom ſhe took paines for before ſhe had him, ſhe did not takes pains with when ſhe had him? That for whom ſhe petitioned, him ſhe did not principle? If you that read this, can ſay by experience it is ſo, bleſſe God for your Friends, if not, begg of God to make them your Friends. Oh that Parents would bring up their Children in the nurture of the Lord; and Children obey them in the Lord.
3. By procuring ſervices: By this means alſo S. 4 doth the Lord many times provide for the good and grace of Soules; when his intention is to awake his own Servants, there the execution is in part ſometimes by making them the Servants of ſuch, or ſuch a man: when he purpoſeth to bring them into his orchard, he provides ſometimes by ſervices, a ſuitable Nurſery for them: Such as he will bring into the houſhold of Faith, he ſometimes for that end placeth in the houſhold of the Faithful; and thoſe that ſhall be brought into Gods Family, are ſealed firſt in the Family of thoſe that are Gods; and by being Servants of Gods Servants, come to be Servants of God themſelves, by a temporal ſervitude, the Lord making way for a Spiritual Freedome, and by an Earthly ſubjection to an Heavenly manumiſſion: So it was with fugitive Oneſimus, who fled from the houſe of his Maſter Philemon, and beſides his Philem. 10: 16.thoughts fel into the hands of his Maſter Chriſt. Oneſimus was Philemon's Servant: Philemon was Paul's Friend; and ſo by meanes of the Maſter, Oneſimus comes to knowledge of the Miniſter: and as the one was his Earthly Maſter, ſo the other his Heavenly Father; for Paul begate him in his bonds; (one Priſoner looſing another) and travailed of him in birth till Chriſt was formed in him, and ſo the Servant became as good a man as his Maſter: O, Oneſimus, little didſt thou think what God intended to do with thee, when he brought thee Bonus etiam ſi ſervit, liber eſt.under Philemon's Government: Thou mayeſt, thou doeſt bleſſe God that ever thou camſt under his roof: ſo it hath been no doubt with many others beſides Oneſimus. Many may have cauſe to admire the goodneſſe of the Lord in planting them under a good Maſter and Miſtreſſe, or Dame; whoſe counſels have been converting, whoſe words have been working, whoſe perſwaſions have been prevailing, whoſe prayers have been powerful, whoſe admonitions have been accepted, whoſe motives have been melting, whoſe reproofs have been reclaiming, through the grace of God accompanying them: The Lord ſeeth ſome young men or maids that belong to his election of grace, and are Tit. 1. 16.yet in the ways of the reprobate, being reprobate to every good work: and the appointed time of their converſion draweth neer, and beginneth to dawn; well, ſaith the Lord, thou art mine, yet ſtill thine own; mine by ſecret predeſtination, thine own by open abomination; mine according to my boſome will, thine according to thy baſeſt ways; mine by chooſing love, thine own by ſinful life: thou little thinkeſt how I will make thee mine own every way: I will incline thine, and thy parents heart to put thee forth, to pitch upon ſuch a ſentence; I will diſplace another to place thee there; you look at the eaſe, profit, conveniency of the ſervice: but though you purpoſe, give me leave to diſpoſe: I will ſo order it, that ſomething read, heard, ſpoken, done: by ſome means or other, there you ſhall be changed, and be made reſtleſs till you find me without whom you are loſt; that it ſhall be ſaid, this Pſal. 81 4.man, this maid was born there, in the houſe of one of my Saints, and holy ones; O the ſweet intendings and diſpoſings of the Lord towards us; how the Lord can turn things that ſeek mans way, to the accompliſhing his own wil.
4. By ordering their ſtation: Sometimes the S. 5 Lord pitcheth their tents in ſuch a place where Valet interdum, pro animae ſalute mutatio loci,they ſhall have means: God will bring the means and the end together; when God fireth his beacon, ſuch as he intendeth ſhall have warning thereby, he brings within ken of it; when he ſoundeth the ſilver trumpet of the word, ſuch as he would have prepared thereby to battle with their ſins, he brings within hearing of it; when God ſets up a light in any place, ſuch as he intendeth ſhall thereby ſee the worſt of their miſery, the way to mercy, he brings within the beams and rays thereof: God is the great Landlord, all tenements are of his letting; habitations of his appointing; dwellings of his diſpoſing; he cauſeth ſome to wander from their native ſoil, that ſo they come to have their natures changed; the Lord removeth ſome from town to town, that he may tranſlate them from darkneſſe to light: and this we may ſee in the 18th. of the Acts 9, 10. Be not afraid, hut ſpeak; and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, no man ſhal ſet on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this City. Obſerve here the ways & goings of the Lord: He intended to bring Paul to Corinth, and to have ſuch and ſuch of his elected ones to be converted there by him; whom he therfore firſt placeth in Corinth, that they might be there during the time of Paul's miniſtring: was not this a ſweet providence, for the Lord to bring them into Corinth for their converſion? ſome places are like Goſhen, all light; others like Egypt, all darkneſſe: ſome places have the dew of heaven, and ſpiritual ſhowres plentifully falling down upon them; others like mount Gilboa, upon which there cometh 2 Sam. 1. 21.neither rain nor dew; ſome places are as ſheep without a ſhepherd; having either no guides, or blind guides; others enjoy that gracious promiſe, I will give you paſtors according to Jer. 3. 15. Plerum que dum …utatur locus mutatur mentis affectus.mine own heart: now for the Lord to bring a man into ſuch a Town, and there turn him: into ſuch a Country, and there by the means convert him; to change ones houſe, and thereby to change ones heart; to change ones manſion, and to change ones manners; is a precious diſpenſation: for the Lord as he appointed the time and hour; ſo the means and place of converſion; yet a fat ſoil, a place of gain, a good pennyworth, are the things that commend habitations to many: They love to ſojourn in Meſech, and to dwell in the tents of Kedar, and have long dwelt with thoſe that Pſal. 120. 5, 6.are haters of goodneſſe. To live neer the Altar, the Ark, the Temple, is a mercy of God, and a means of good: To think our ſelves beſt, when we are fartheſt from the Sanctuary, is a curſe: to be a door keeper in the houſe of God is the way to a cure.
5. By prolonging their days: many live to S. 6 be converted, who had they died before, had been condemned: our times alſo are in the hands of the Lord, he knoweth the day and hour of the converſion of his elect; he will keep off dangers, remove deſtruction, defer death; not terminate their time, but continue their natural courſe, lengthen their life; till the hour of their holineſſe, the time of their turning, the day of their deliverance be come; for had they died before, they had died in wickedneſs; and had they died in wickedneſs, they had been undone by wrath; they had died in preſent ſin, and could not have eſcaped eternal ſorrow; as we may ſee the houſholders hiring of labourers into his vineyard; ſome Matth. 20.were called at the ninth, others at the tenth, and eleventh; now had they died in the fourth, fifth, ſixth, &c. hour of the day, what had become of them then? and ſo the theefe Luke 23. 42, 43.upon the croſſe, that was converted; had he ſuffred, or been cut off before, where had been his repentance? it is true, Gods determination cannot be fruſtrated; but his decree fixeth as the end, ſo the means; and amongſt means, time, as well as other things, are the object of his purpoſe; many had they died, had never lived to grace; many live, that they may not die for ſin; many get up from the bed of ſickneſſe, that they may attain the health of their ſouls; many are delivered from the brinck of the grave, that they may be brought into the boſome of God; many ſickneſſes would prove mortal to the body, but that God intends to be merciful to the ſoul; the Lord delivers from going downward to the earth, becauſe he intends to draw them upwards to heaven; and bids death to hold his hand, becauſe he hath purpoſed to have the heart: He ſaith, return ye children of men; that Pſal. 90. 3.ye may be renewed as the children of God: He many times ſpares the life, that he may ſave the ſoul; and gives more years, that he may give more grace; he preſerves from drowning by water, from burning by fire, from diſtruction by a fall, from death by a blow, that he may principle them with piety, furniſh them with faith, reſtore them by repentance, grant them all grace, and crown them with glory: Reader, if thou beeſt a Saint, thy experience can bear witneſſe to theſe words; had not the Lord cauſed thy ſun to ſtand ſtill in the firmament, and kept it from going down at noon, hadſt not thou gone down unto the pit, and been ſwallowed up of hell, and been as thoſe that had been dead and damned long ago? hadſt thou died of thy dropſie, been conſumed with thy cough, been fired with thy feaver, hadſt thou been mar'd with thy maim, hadſt thou ſunk under thy ſickneſſe, periſhed by the pox, and fallen under the fury of any of thy diſtempers, and caſualties which thou hadſt, and didſt meet with before thy converſion, what doſt thou think had been thy concluſion? If thy diſeaſe had deſtroyed thee in thy natural condition, ſhouldſt ever have attained to a ſpiritual conſtitution? hadſt died a ſinner on earth, thou couldſt never have been a Saint in heaven; but the time of thy change was not then, but ſince; and God in mercy added to thy years, that he might add thee to his Church: Thou mayeſt take up the Pſalmiſts words with a Pſal. 124. 1, 2, 3.little alteration; If it had not been the Lord, who was on my ſide when ſickneſſe and dangers roſe up againſt me, they had ſwallowed me up quick, and left me as the object of deſerved wrath: but bleſſed be the Lord, who hath not given me as a prey to their teeth; bleſſed be the Lord that hath let me live to the day of grace, the month of mercy, the year of Jubilee; that mine eyes might ſee the ſalvation Luke 2. 30.of the Lord. The Lord lengthned Simeon's time, that he might ſee Chriſt in the fleſh; and thine that thou mighteſt ſee him in the ſpirit. As for you that are not Saints; who though you can ſay theſe things are ſo notionly, yet not experimentally; I pray that your particular experience may plainly prove and make it good; that your life may be prolonged, your days prorogued, and the thred thereof be ſpun out: and that the event may declare the end, and the iſſue demonſtrate the intention of the Lord to be the changing of your heart, the altering of your nature, and the ſanctifying of you throughout in ſoul, and body.
6. By giving good acquaintance: Firſt, the S. 7 Lord acquainteth with his people, and by this means with himſelf; an aſſociate ſometimes proves a guide to good; they light by providence upon the knowledge of ſome good man or woman; and by ſome means or other come to have ſociety and intimacy with them; Amicus animae cuſtos dicitur.who by their gracious words, cordial counſels, loving admonitions, gentle reproofs win upon them, and allure their hearts to God: converſing Amicus vitae medicamentum.is ſometimes a means of converting; He that walketh with wiſe men ſhall be wiſe, Prov. 13. 20. A friend for the body, may prove a favour to the ſoul; civil acquaintance may be of ſpiritual advantage; and from communion with Saints, ſome come to have communion with the ſanctifier: How ſweetly did the Lord bring about the acquaintance of Ruth and Naomi, &c. firſt, the Lord ſends a famine among the people; (but it proved a feaſt of fat things to Ruth) then by that means drives Elimelech, Naomi, and their two ſons into the land of Moab, of thoſe that were ſtrangers to God; theſe two ſons marry there; the wife of one of them is Ruth; thus ſhe comes acquainted with that family; the men die; only the mother and daughters in law ſurvive, that ſtill here is religious acquaintance; which was bleſſed to her; Naomi was Naomi to her, Ruth 1.that is, beautiful, comely, or greatly moving, as the word ſignifieth; and ſo far wrought with Ruth, that ſhe would be of the religion of her mother in law; and liked the God, and People of Iſrael, better than thoſe of her own Ruth 1. …6.Country: Sometimes a chamber-fellow, an intimate, a neighbour, a companion, one whom Bonus ſic malo connectitur, ut aut pares redditur, aut cito ab invicem ſeparentur.we journey, or work, or often have occaſion to meet with, that is godly, may be a means of our good; as bad companions are very peſtiferous, ſo good ones are very profitable; graceleſs acquaintance draw others with themſelves to hell, and gracious acquaintance help to draw others with themſelves to heaven; good company may be a means of life, and bad of death; a good man ſtudieth for the good of thoſe he converſeth with; he prays Pſal. 119. 36.for their peace, ſorrows for their ſins, labours for their life, cares for their cure, perſwades them to piety, and ſeeks their eternal ſalvation: Had not the Lord given thee ſuch a friend, he had never given thee ſo much faith; had he not brought thee into ſuch a mans ſociety, he had never brought thee into his own Sanctuary: The goodneſſe of thy company helped forward the goodneſſe of thy conſcience; godly neighbours are accounted a grievous burden, when they ſhould rather be accepted as a great bleſſing; they are looked upon as foes for ſpeaking the truth, when they ſhould be loved as friends for touching the quick: They are the beſt and onelyonly company, what ever the world thinks of them, who are unworthy of them; they are not the troublers of Iſrael, but ſeek peace, as between man and man, ſo between God and man; yet how doth the world ſlight and ſcoff at them, vilifie and revile them; contemn and condemn them? but as they ſaid to Pilate, ſo I to thee, altering the John 29. 12.words, If thou do theſe things, thou art not thy ſouls friend.
7. By afflicting their perſons: This is the S. 8 laſt providence that I am to ſpeak to; the Lord breaks down the body, and by that means builds up the ſoul; by launcings, he let out the putrefactions; by the pruning knife of Nocumenta documenta.affliction doth the Lord cut away the overſpreading, and ſarmenting boughs of luſt and corruption; trials are teaching; harms are healing; blows are made bleſſings; corraſives turn cordials; maledictions benedictions; the Lord many times laies on his rod, that he may not let out his wrath; he puts ſome into the furnace of affliction, and there melts and works out their tin, and lead, and droſſe. By this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and Iſa. 87. 9.this is all the fruit, to take away his ſin. Many can ſay with David, It is good for me that I Pſal. 199. 71.have been afflicted; that I might learn thy ſtatutes: And with him that ſaid, If I had not been undone, I had been undone. If I had Periiſſem, niſi periiſſem.not loſt my ſins, I had loſt my life; If I had not loſt my goods, I had loſt my God; If my body had not been mar'd, my ſoul had never been made; If I had not loſt a child, I had never found a father; If I had not been friendleſſe, I had always been faithleſſe; an ounce of adverſity, is ſometimes worth a pound of proſperity; a little of ſorrow may ſometimes go further than a great deal of joy. Manaſſes was more beholding to captivity, than his 2 Sam. 33. 11, 12, 13.crown; to the thorns, than his throne; to his chains of iron, than his chains of gold; his fetters, than his ſcepter; his priſon, than his pallace: he was too high to be a Saint, till God unkinged him; too ſtiff to ſtoop, till God threw him out of his regal chair, and forced him to fall upon his knees; his loſſe more worth than his gain; little did he think that his parting with all, ſhould be a means to bring him to a part in Chriſt and grace; the crooked key of troubles and miſeries, many times opens the door, and lets a ſoul into the chamber of preſence; the toſſing waves lift up the ark of the ſoul neerer heaven; ſuch kind of agues are many times wholeſome; when affliction ſhews it teeth and grins, poor creatures are perplexed; but be patient, for the fruit may be very precious; the fear ſometimes, through the bleſſing and wiſedom of God, is more than the harm: Afflictions are the ſhepherds dog, not to worry in pieces, but to work to Gods part; not to tear, but to turn: The Lord is forced (as I may ſay) ſometimes to deal with ſinners, as Abſalom did with Joab, he ſent for him once, and again, by his ſervants, but he 2 Sam. 14. 29, 30.came not; at laſt he fires his field of barley, and then he comes without further ſending: The Lord hath ſome of his elect ones, whom he ſeeth walking in by-paths, and crooked ways; the Lord giveth a commiſſion to his ſervants the Miniſters, and ſaith, go invite and call you ſoul to come to me; and ſay, Return, Return, O Shulamite: but the ſoul ſtirs not; the Lord ſends and calls again; yet with the deaf adder, he hearkneth not to the voice of the inchanter; well, ſaith the Lord, if you will Pſal. 58. 4, 5.not come, I will fetch you; if fair means will not do, foul means muſt: Then he hiſſeth for the flie and the bee of affliction, and calls forth armies of trouble, and gives them commiſſion to ſieze upon, and to lay ſiege to ſuch a man or woman, and ſaith ply them with your cannon ſhot, till you make them yield, give up the keys, and ſtrike their ſail; he ſends ſickneſſe to their bodies, a conſumption to their eſtate, death to their friends, ſhame to their reputation, a fire to their houſe, and the like; and bids them prey and ſpoil, till they ſee and acknowledge the hand of the Lord lifted up; till they hear Mic. 6. 9.the voice of the rod, and who hath appointed it: the Lord many times gives ſtrong phyſick Deus medicus tribulatio medicamentum.before the peccant humour will away; and winnoweth them much to throw out the chaff; thus he bringeth the buds of grace out of the ſeeds of affliction; and uſhereth in the Lady grace with ſalt preambles many times; a ſorrowful evening may have a joyful morning: There may be crying out in the evening for the pangs of affliction, and crying out in the morning for the pains of converſion: The evening red with the fiery trial, the morning gray with grief for ſin, may produce a fair day of holineſſe; cloudy and dolorous evenings, may have cleer and deliverance-mornings; the Lord ſometimes bends a ſoul till he makes it meet again, and breaks it till he makes it melt, that he may bow them to his gracious will, and not burſt them by his grievous wrath; rather then the Lord will loſe a ſoul that belongs to him, he will laſh them till he force them into his boſome: Thus I have diſcovered unto you the providences of God, whereby he provides for his peoples good: Though there may be others, yet I think theſe are the chief; may we not now ſay as David, Many, O Lord our God, are thy wonderful works which thou haſt done, and thy thoughts which are to us ward, Pſal. 40. 5. Have not his people cauſe to utter the memory of his great goodneſſe, and to ſing of his righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 145. 7. Oh, oh, that we would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſſe, and for his wonderful works towards our ſouls; Pſal. 107. 8. That the Lord ſhould thus variouſly, unexpectedly, in all theſe ways ſeek the converſion and changing of loſt ſouls, may juſtly cauſe us to ſay, All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, Pſal. 25. 10. and with the ſame Pſalmiſt in another place, Thou crowneſt my years with thy goodneſſe, and thy paths drop fatneſſe, [into our ſouls] Pſal. 65. 11. I conclude theſe things, admiring with Paul, Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſedom and knowledge of God: and doxologizing with him, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, inviſible, the only wiſe God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
2. By his Word: Now we come to the next S. 9 means which the Lord maketh uſe of for the converſion and calling home of Saints to himſelf; and that is the Word of God: That is Jam. 1. 18. Rom. 10. 17 Nemini blanditur veritas.the inſtrument of regeneration: It is a word of truth, and therefore fit for this work: It dealeth impartially, doth not flatter: By his word did the Lord work in the firſt creation, and by his word in the ſecond; by his word he made all of nothing, and by his word he makes new of old; [though that word and this do differ] The truth ſhall make you free, John 8. 32. The light of knowledge, life of grace, liberty from ſin, come by the means of the word; a word of grace, a means of the work of grace: The Word in all the parts of it, Law and Goſpel, threatnings and promiſes, the dark and light places; Old and New Teſtament, the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles too; every part of Gods word is precious: The Scripture in the plain ſong of it, and in thoſe deſcants and diviſions, that are run upon it, by the comments, expoſitions, and writings of godly and learned men; wherewith we do abound, bleſſed be the Lord: The word read, diſcourſed of; you may ſee the commendation Perk. Rev. 1. 11.of the word of God in reference to this end, Pſa. 19. 7, 8. But more eſpecially the delivering of the word viva voce, the publike miniſtring and preaching of it: This is the Lords darling, his great engine for the battering down the ſtrong holds of ſin and Satan, whatever 1 Cor. 10. 4.the wretched world thinks of it: It pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching to ſave them that believe, 1 Cor. 1. 21. They are Aaron's bells, that through Gods bleſſing ring all in; the muſick of ſpiritual high ſounding cymbals, that charmeth ſouls, hath not the ſeed of the word been firſt caſt into the furrows of the heart; and then the fruits of grace have ſhewn themſelves; Matth. 13. 18.preaching is prevalent; the miniſtry of the word gets the maſtery of our wills: This propoſition of Gods mind, helpeth forward the depoſition of the old man: The word in the Pulpit is a word for ſouls profit; as David ſaid of Goliah's ſword, ſo may we ſay of the preaching of the word, there is none like to it. It is Gods power to the ſalvation of the ſoul, 1 Sam. 21. 9. Rom. 7 16.his ſtrong arm for the conquering of ſin; his hammer for the breaking of an hard heart in pieces: It is a fire to refine; ſope to ſcoure; a lamp to give light: It hath brought many ſtones to the building of Gods Temple: This pipe hath cauſed many to daunce in the ring of piety. This muſick hath made many ſouls Matth. 11. 17.merry in the Lord; for the Kingdom of God conſiſts, as in righteouſneſſe, ſo in joy in the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14. 17. who is there of the family of faith, that muſt not confeſſe that the word preached was the means of their grace? but there are ſeveral ſorts of Preachers, and peaching. It is not every kind of preaching that God owns and crowns; I ſhall therefore ſhew you what manner of preaching that is which is a means of effectual calling.
It is and muſt be 1. Plain Preaching.
It is and muſt be 2. Piercing Preaching.
It is and muſt be 3. Powerful Preaching.
1. Plain preaching: The word muſt be delivered S. 10 in a plain familiar way; not with curious, but common; not novel, but known; Non ad raptum ſed captum.not lofty, but lowly; not elegant, but eaſie words; for the work of a Miniſter is not to confound the head, but convert the heart; not to rack ones ſenſe, but to rectifie the ſoul; not to amaze the mind, but to mend the manners; not to delight the fantaſie, but to draw to faith; and the plaineſt expreſſions are moſt like to make impreſſion: Let Miniſters ſpeak as rationally as may be, ſo intelligibly: let them ſpeak wiſely, ſo not too wittily: This Predicator laboret, ut intelligenter audiatur.plain preaching agrees beſt to the generality of people, whoſe underſtandings are but ordinary, yea, very mean in ſpiritual things: alas, they are loſt in high expreſſions, and many times cannot ſee the wood for trees; they admire the Miniſter it may be, but underſtand not; they wonder at him, and that is all the work that paſſeth upon them: They go away, and ſay he is a great Scholler, when themſelves have not learned ſo much as to make them diſciples of the lower form. It agrees beſt to the nature of the word of truth; the richeſt coats of arms are plaineſt, they ſay: Truth loves a plain coat, and not a gaudy habit: Truth cares not for ſpangled and glittering attire; it hath native beauty enough to commend it, it needs not artificial: Thoſe that wear ſoft clothing are in Kings houſes; phalerated and embrodered words are for curious and courtly ears: Floſculous Orations are for more common meetings, and do not do well in the aſſembly of Chriſtians: Many pepper their Sermons to make them ſmack, but forget to ſalt them to make them ſmart. Paul was plain in his preaching, and I think the beſt Miniſters may be his Schollers. Seeing then that we have ſuch hope, we uſe great plainneſſe of ſpeech, 2 Cor. 3. 12. And ſo elſewhere, When I came to you, I came not to you in excellency of ſpeech, or of wiſedom; and my ſpeech and my preaching was not with entiſing words of mans wiſedom, 1 Cor. 2. 1, 4. The truths of God ſet out with human flouriſhes, are like a linſey-woolſey garment, and the ſowing of a field with mingled ſeed, which were forbidden, Levit. 19. 12. Spiritual meat is ſometimes ſpoiled with too much ſauce: All the Sermons that we find upon record in Scripture were plain Sermons: Sermons, that ſmell too much of the candle, are more for the ornament of the Speaker, than the document of the hearer▪ are rather to tickle the ear, than to take the heart: Bombaſtick words, quaint termes, abſtruſe ſentences, ſtrained expreſſions; much of Latine, and Greek quotations; (that a Sermon ſpeakes many times half in the Language of Aſhdod, and half in the Language of Canaan) are much below that gravity and ſeriouſneſſe, wherewith the mind of Chriſt is to be propounded; not that I would have Miniſters have no regard to their expreſſions; nor that the word ſhould be ſo dreſſed, as to render it deſpiſed; ſome have their expreſſions too raw, and others too much roſt; the mean is to be In medio conſiſtit virtus.obſerved: I would not have Miniſters like the ſlovenly Sons of Eli, who by their homelineſſe made the Lords offerings to be abhorred. I would have them to look to words as well as 1 Sam. 2. 17.things, manner as well as matter, both in praying and Preaching; Scripture expreſſions are the beſt: I wiſh we would all ſtudy to ſpeak more in Scripture Phraſe and words; and theſe are excellent and right words; and as Job ſaith, How forcible are right words? Job 6. 25. Right plain words tread ſure, and leave uſually the print of their foot behind them: Love plain Preaching, it is beſt for your Soul, pray againſt an itching ear.
2. Piercing Preaching: It muſt be ſuch Preaching, S. 11 as may charge Soules home with their ſins: Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, and ſhew my people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Jacob their ſins. Iſai. 58. 1. Some are ſo fine fingered they dare not touch the ſore, ſo mure hearted they dare not ſearch the wound, ſo mealy-mouthed, they cannot ſpeak hard againſt ſin; ſome ſo guilty they are afraid to condemn themſelves: A Miniſter muſt Preach not as acquitting, but accuſing; not as ſoothing, but as ſearching; not as diſcharging, but charging the wicked and ungodly: not as flattering, but frowning upon ſin, not as pleaſing man, but pleaſing God: To Preach generally, & not particularly, to Preach as a farre off, & never come near, is not the way: To make all wel, for fear of ill will, is too low a frame for the Spirit of a Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt to be in; and argues an heart ſeeking more it's own temporal comfort, than Gods Eternal glory: I mean not that Miniſters ſhould particularize publikely, perſons or names; or that that their words ſhould ſavour of Spleen and Gall againſt ought, but ſin: But this, that they ſhould charge their peoples ſins upon them, as Nathan ſaid to David, Thou art the man: So they, you are the 2 Sam. 12. 7.people that are thus and thus: Let them endeavour to cauſe them to know that they are the people that have contemned Gods Commands, broken his bonds, worked wickedneſſe, practiſed perverſeneſſe, refuſed repentance, and ſlighted their own Soules; that they are in a loſt and undone condition: after this manner did John the Baptiſt Preach to the Scribes and Phariſees. Matth. 3. 7, 8, 9. He opens the Book and ſhewes them their ſins, he brings them to the brink of Hell, and ſhewes them their danger; and ſo doth Peter: Him have ye taken, and by wicked hands Crucified and ſlain. Acts 2. 23. And did not the Lord bleſſe this his Preaching: For they were pricked in their hearts, and ſaid to Peter, and the reſt of the Apoſtles; Men and Brethren what ſhall we do? Verſe 37. And ſo again in Acts 8. 20, 21, 22, 23. Read them I pray. How terrible doth Peter thunder there againſt Simon Magus, and come home to him? My heart riſeth much againſt flattery, eſpecially in a Miniſtery; it is a moſt deſperate thing, and of curſed conſequence: There is not a ſpeedier way to damn Semper vitanda eſt pernicioſa dulcedo.people, whereas a Miniſters work is to Preach their Soules to Heaven: For Miniſters to hover, and keep at a diſtance in their Preaching, and never ſeek to come home, nor get into the conſcience, argueth cowardize, or unskilfulneſſe: Such Preaching will bring little of comfort to the Paſtor, or converſion to the people: It is ſaid of Bernard, that once he Preached a curious, neat, flouriſhing Sermon, and every one was taken with it, though not by it; but he was ſad and heavy thereupon; ſoon after he Preached another Sermon, not of kin to the former, but an home, ſearching, preſſing Sermon it was; no commendation of this as of the former: But he carried it very lightſomely, and cheerfully to what he did before; the people asked him the reaſon of his ſo various & divers Heri Bernardum, hodie Chriſtum.deportment; he anſwers, yeſterday I Preached Bernard, to day Chriſt; yeſterday my ſelf, to day my Saviour: Though people condemn ſuch kind of Preaching, yet God will crown it; though it be harſh to fleſh and blood, yet it is health to the Soul and Spirit; many look upon it as needleſſe, when the Lord knows it is very needful.
3. Powerful Preaching: Powerful, zealous S. 12 Preaching is a means of effectual calling. Miniſters ſhould Preach not with affectation, but affection; not with formality, but fervency; not with liſtlineſſe, but livelineſſe: Sermons ſhould be fired with zeal, and filled with love? Cold, dead, lazy Preaching maketh Chriſtians thereafter; faint wooing for Chriſt goes away Qui timidè rogat, negare docet.with a denial; if they be not more hot in their work, they can never win the caſtle of the heart for Chriſt: Eli's vile Children feared not their 1 Sam. 2. 25.Fathers faint chiding: The Lord did earneſtly proteſt to his people by his Miniſters. Jer. 11. 7. I earneſtly proteſted ſaith the Lord; or as in the original; proteſting I proteſted: I delivered my mind to you over, and over; which ſheweth earneſtneſſe: Earneſt Preaching many times brings early practice: Miniſters ſhould firſt warm their hearts at the Spirits fire, and then warm their Sermons at their hearts; they ſhould ſo ſpeak that their words may ſeem not to fall from their heads, but to riſe from the hearts; & what comes from the heart is moſt like to go to the heart: To ſpeak as if one were afraid to wake the ſleepers; to diſquiet ſin, as if one had no ſence of grace, or ſin; of mercy, or miſery; is like to prove fruitleſſe, and without good iſſue: Sinners are aſleep, and they muſt be rouzed; they are ſecure, and they muſt be rounded; and they are regardleſſe, and muſt be ratled; as the Heb. 4. 2word ſhould be mixed with Faith in the hearer, ſo with fervency in the Preacher.
It is ſaid of that eminent Divine Maſter Perkins, that in his Preaching he would pronounce the word [Damn] with ſuch an Emphaſis that Fuller. holy ſtate.he left a trembling impreſſion upon the Spirits of his Auditors: Miniſters muſt be Boanerges, Sons of Thunder, as well as Barjonas, Sons of Conſolation; when they ſpeak they ſhould 1 Pet. 4. 11.ſpeak as the Oracles of God, powerfully, preſſingly; vehemently, urgingly: Reader, when the word hath been powerfully Preached to thee, in a zealous, ſtirring way; haſt thou not had ſome convictions, have not the ſecrets of thine heart been made manifeſt, and thou been conſtrained to fall down, and worſhip God, and report and ſay, the Lord is in this Miniſter 1 Cor. 14. 25.of a truth? Haſt not been almoſt a Chriſtian thereby? and thou that art Godly, did not the Lord uſe the obſtetrication of means of ſuch kind of Preaching, for bringing forth the Man-child of grace? The Lord give ſuch Watch-men, ſuch Work-men, where they are wanted; the Lord bleſſe them where they are ſeated: Was not Chriſts Preaching after this manner? How Pathetically doth he expreſſe himſelf? Luke 13. 34, 35. And can we learn of a greater Doctor than he? And what elſe doth Paul mean and intend, but earneſt Preaching, foreign. Paſor. Lex.in his counſel to Timothy? Preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon. 2 Tim. 4. 2. that is, be earneſt, preſſing; be urgent, as ſome tranſlate the word.
2. Means of the higher forme: Now we S. 13 come to ſpeak of means of a ſuperiour order, and that is the Spirit of the Lord; the Spirit and the Word go together: the one as the Servant, the other as the Maſter, the one as the Inſtrument, Niſi Spiritus S. adſit cordi audientium, otioſus eſt ſermo Doctoris.the other as the Agent; the one as Organical, the other as Authentical; as Chriſt ſaid to his Diſciples. John 15. 5. ſo may the Spirit ſay to providences and the word, without me ye can do nothing: Theſe wheeles would never go, if the Spirit did not drive them; theſe ſailes would never fill, if that did not blow hard; theſe means would be but as dead carcaſſes, if that did not enliven them: Words Fruſtrà foris verba noſtra ſtreperent, ſi internum magiſterium S. S. deeſſet. Epheſ. 6. 17. Pſ. …27. 1.would be but wind without the Spirits working: If the word be not in the Spirits hand, it will never cut down the weeds of ſin, nor ſlay the Goliah of natural rebellion; therefore is it called the ſword of the Spirit. If the Spirit joyn not it ſelf to the chariot, it will move heavily, as if the wheeles were taken off: Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vain that build it: Unleſſe the Spirit move upon the face of the Soul, nothing will be brought to ripeneſſe and perfection: As an Heathen could ſay when he had done ſome piece of eminent ſervice; It was not I that did this exploit, but the Gods uſed me as an Inſtrument: So may the fore-mentioned means ſay, It is not we that have converted, but the Spirit by us; and may anſwer as Peter, if we be examined of the good Acts 4. 9, 10.that ſinful Soules have received, Be it known unto you all, that by the power of the Spirit theſe Soules are alive this day: If the Spirit do not proſper providences, and work with the word; the Soul can never be changed: It is his proper work to give grace, to grant holineſſe; and therefore is he called the Holy-ghoſt; as is his name, ſo is his nature; and as his condition is, ſo is his operation: If the Spirit ſit not at the ſtern, the Miniſter ſhall plie the oar in vain: Miniſters may Act ſecondarily, but the Spirit primarily; they as choice ſubſervients, but the Spirit as chief ſuperintendent; they may carry on their work artificially as Servants, but the Spirit architectonically as Maſter; they may Preach out their hearts, and if the Spirit doth not put out his hand, Soules may go to Hell after all.
Now the Spirit helpeth, and carrieth on this work by theſe actings.
The Spirit:
1. Perſwadeth.
2. Faſteneth.
3. Applieth.
4. Examineth.
5. Concludeth.
6. Diſquieteth.
1. The firſt work of the Spirit is to perſwade S. 14 the Soul to believe thoſe things that are ſpoken: Truths heard and not believed, will take no place: The word Preached did not profit them, not being mixt with Faith in them that heard it. Heb. 4. 2. The word was propounded to many, yet profited but ſome; taught to divers, yet took but a few; the word the ſame, but not the work: And the cauſe was as perſwaſion in the one, ſo miſperſwaſion, or non-perſwaſion in the other: If we be not perſwaded of the ſweet of a promiſe, of the ſoure of a threatning, of the reality of conſolations pronounced, of the certainty of comminations denounced, of the verity of Doctrine commended, and the neceſſity of duty commanded, they may ſtrike our ear, but they will never reach the heart: If one hear of a receit for the bodies good, and believe not the contents thereof, it will do them no good; ſo it is in this caſe; the Scripture is an whole Book of receits for our reſtitution, of remedies for our maladies, which we ſhall never follow, if we believe not the vertue and uſe of them: An unbelieving heart is like ſandy Infidelitas ſicut terra arenoſa.barren ground: Now it is the work of the Spirit to perſwade: The belief of the miſery of our Soules, the mercy of a Saviour; of the willingneſſe and worthineſſe of Chriſt in reference to redemption; of the nature of ſin, and the need of Sanctity cannot be wrought in our Soules, without the power of the Spirit: We cannot perſwade our ſelves, the Miniſter cannot perſwade us without the influx of the Holy-ghoſt: We may go down into the Waters of the word, and if the Spirit move not them and us, we may come up again as leprous as ever we were: Let the Miniſter informe ſoundly, reprove ſharply, examine ſearchingly, and exhort ſweetly, yet all is nothing, unleſſe the Spirit do ſomething: But the Spirit deals and treats with the Soul; propounds, delivers the truth of God; anſwers objections, ſilenceth queries; infallibly demonſtrates, and by ſuch ſtrong Mediums proves it's Divine concluſions, that the Soul is nonplus'd, confuted, hath nothing to ſay, and is now ſo clearly convinced, that (unleſſe it would deny principles, and ſhut it's eyes againſt the light of Argument) it muſt needs come over to the Spirits part, and be of it's mind: You that are effectually called, what ſay you? till the Spirit perſwaded you, could man prevail with you? till you believed indeed the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and the ſayings of Miniſters from thence, did you getany good? till then was not allſpoken, as to the dead?
2. It faſteneth: In the next place the Spirit S. 15 faſteneth, and fixed ſome word, or providence upon the Soul, which it cannot forget or ſhake off; and cauſeth it like Mary to keep all theſe things, and ponder them in their heart. Some Luke 2. 19.general thoughts and ſence of the word believed, of providences experimented, do light upon the Spirit of a man or woman, but are ſoon ſcared away: Now the Spirit cometh and holdeth theſe things to the heart; the ſound of the word cometh and goeth; and the Lord in his providences paſſeth by us, and we take little notice of him: But the Spirit as the Maſter of the aſſemblies faſteneth ſomething like a naile in a ſure place; and ſtrikes the arrow into the ſide; the Soul would put all away, and thruſt all out of doors, by company, mirth, by letting in thoughts of vanity: but the Spirit ſtriveth againſt this ſtream; and now the requiring repentance, preſſing piety, reproving iniquity in general, or ſuch a ſin in particular, the threatning of fury, promiſing favour, ſuch a paſſage, or ſuch a phraſe in the Miniſtery of the word; and for providences, the viſiting with ſickneſſe, the leſſening the eſtate, the preſerving from danger, the ſaving from wrack, or the like; are ſo tied by the Spirit to the Soul, that it cannot get looſe from them; and come ſo freely into it's thoughts, that it cannot avoid acquaintance with them; and now ſaith, Oh ſuch an expreſſion of the Miniſter, what means it? by this providence, what doth the Lord intend? and where ever it is going, whatever it is doing almoſt, theſe things and thoughts do interveen; the Soul cannot but revolve and turn them up and down in it's mind.
3. It applieth: The Spirit helpeth the Soul S. 16 to apply to it's ſelf in particular, what is ſpoken in the general: We are all prone to excuſe our ſelves; and are like little Children, who when they ſee their image in a glaſſe, think it is not themſelves, but another Baby: Our faces are ſhewed us in the glaſſe of the word, the Mirrour of truth, the clear Waters of the Scriptures, and we think it is another, and not our ſelves, that we ſee: But the Spirit cauſeth the Soul to ſay, I am the man, the woman, that am ſpoken to; this ſin that is ſpoken againſt and threatned, is my darling, my minion; theſe curſes, theſe woes mentioned are my portion and my lot; if exhortations to ſelf examinations, to repentance, to reforming; the Soul lookes upon it ſelf, as the mark that is aimed at: Some Miniſters Preach generally, and many people underſtand as generally: It is no good manners to others, nor charity to our ſelves, to put off all to them, and take nothing to our ſelves: If the word, or works, and our Soules do not meet, God, and we cannot meet: He that applies not the written word, wil never apply the ſubſtantial word; no hand, but the Holy-ghoſt can cauſe a Soul to make application.
4. It examineth: In the next place the Spirit S. 17 puts on the Soul to examine and ſearch it ſelf: The Spirit holdeth the Scales, and forceth the Soul into the Ballances of the Sanctuary, that there it may be weighed, to ſee whether it be light or maſſy; that produceth the touch-ſtone, and cauſeth the Soul thereby to try it ſelf, whether it be reprobate, or right Silver; whether it be counterfeit, or currant; Gold or droſſe, for all it's gliſtering: The Spirit giveth light, whereby it may ſearch all the roomes of it's Soul, and corners of it's heart; for without the candle of the Lord can none make exact inquiſition into their own ſtate. What Solomon ſpeaketh of the Spirit of a man, we may moſt truely affirme of the Holy-ghoſt, that it is the Candle of Prov. 20. 27.the Lord, ſearching all the inward parts of the belly. It is our duty, but we are naturally unwilling Redi ad cor tuum, & ſubtiliter diſcute teipſum.to Spiritual ſelf ſcrutinies; the Spirit brings the Soul into it's ſtudy, and makes it ſit down in the chaire of ſober and ſerious meditations, and gather up all thoſe looſe writings that lay ſcattered about in the deske of conſcience, and cauſeth it to peruſe, and read them over: It openeth the Book, and cauſeth the Soul to look it over from one end to the other: We neither can, nor will of our ſelves enquire into our own hearts, till the Spirit lay us upon the Bed of contemplation, and cauſe us to commune with our own hearts, and be ſtill. That Pſa. 4. 4.layeth the map before us, and openeth our eyes to view the Character, and lineaments of our ſelves. The Spirit alſo keepeth the Soul cloſe to this taske, whereas like a truantly Boy, it would fain break looſe from it's Book: It wayteth the Soul with the conſideration of the advantagious iſſue, that it grow not weary of it's imployment.
5. It concludeth: It helpeth the Soul to conclude S. 18 it ſelf miſerable: The Spirit is the moſt rational Diſputant in the world. When we have ſeen the worſt of our ſelves, we would yet fain go away with a ſence of ſome worth; though we ſee the premiſſes never ſo manifeſtly, yet we are loth to draw up the concluſion: Though the word & our hearts have been laid together, and the great unſuitableneſſe of the latter to the former is evident, yet we are loth to inferre from thence that we are ſinners; though it be proved we are ſinners, and we know not how to deny the ſequel, yet we are loth to record it in our conſciences, to file it on our memories that we are miſerable: but the Spirit repeats the concluſion, till we ſay after it, and makes us ſay after it, till indeed we think ſo; and now the Soul, which way ſoever it looks, ſeeth nothing but wrath; where ever it lives, diſcerneth nothing but vengeance; by the help of the Spirit it hath ſentenced and doomed it ſelf: And this ſentence being written in legible Characters by the finger of God cannot be wiped out by all the art and ſubtilty of Satan: Paul knew the Law, but could not Rom. 7.find his ſin and death there, till the Spirit ſhewed it him. If the Spirit help us not to judge aright, we are ſure to be partial in our own caſe; which is more deſperate than the exacteſt impartiality. That helpeth us to ſee the concluſion condemnation, the reſult wretchedneſſe, the iſſue miſery; till that turn our note we ſhall cry peace, peace; though there be nothing but wrath and warre belonging to us?
6. It diſquieteth: Sinners are ready to flatter themſelves when there is cauſe to fear; and S. 19 are too forward to preſume when deſtruction is at hand to conſume; and though they have concluded their miſery, yet they are too ſlow to look out for mercy: But the Spirit diſquieteth the Soul, till it be diſtruſtful of it ſelf; and diſtracts it with care, till it draw it to look for a cure; that it runneth about the City like Cantic. ….the ſpouſe in the Canticles, ſeeking for Chriſt: It is reſtleſſe till it reveal; diſconſolate till it diſcover; diſtreſſed till it divulge; without eaſe in it's mind till it's caſe be made known: The Spirit maketh it unfold it's ſin, uncaſe it's ſorrow, unlap it's ſore; and fills it with diſtraction, till it find ſome ſatisfaction; ſo that it repairs to Miniſters, runneth to Sermons, it turneth every ſtone, ſearcheth every corner, trieth all means, till it get ſome hope, ſome help: Saul was troubled, queſtioneth, What Acts 9. 6.wilt thou have me to do? till Chriſt anſwereth and bids him go into the City: And ſo the Jaylour was perplexed, and diſeaſed in his Spirit, till he had ſome ſolid direction given him. Acts 16. 30.The Spirit filleth the Soul full of queries, doubts, Solicitouſneſſe, and maketh it hunt up and down til at laſt it have that which it ſhould have, viz. Chriſt, grace, a new nature; thus have I in ſome meaſure ſhewed you that the Spirit hath the chief hand in effectual calling; and that all were to no purpoſe without it's preſidency; and would have no effect without it's influx; therefore O bleſſed Spirit, enliven, quicken, work with, and bleſſe theſe lines, and Nulla in diſcendo mora est, ubi Spir. S. Doctor adest.all other means uſed for the converſion of ſinners; and then the deed is done, and the work diſpatched.