The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ · Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

p. 82Junius was converted, by diſcourſing with a Plow-man. And, Acts 18. 24. to 27. Apollo, though he was an Eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures (as the Text ſpeaks) yet was he furthered and bettered in the knowledge of Chriſts Kingdome, by Aquilla, and Priſcilla; a poor Tent-maker, and his wife, were inſtrumentall to acquaint him with thoſe things that he knew but weakly. He had not aſcended above John's Baptiſme, but they had, and ſo communicated their light and knowledge to him.

The ſixth Support, is this.

Where there is but a little Grace, there God expects leſſe, 6 Support.and will accept of leſſe, though it be accompanied with many failings.

Thou ſayeſt, Oh! I have but a little grace, a little faith, a little love, a little zeale. Oh know, where there is but a little p. 83grace, there God expects leſſe obedience, and will accept of leſſe ſervice. 2 Cor. 8. 12. For if there be firſt a willing mind, It is very obſervable, that the Eagle, & the Lyon, thoſe brave Creatures, were not offered in Sacrifice unto God, but the poor Lamb, and Dove. To note, that your brave, high, & lofty ſpirits God regards not; but your poore, meek, contemptible ſpirits God accepts.it is accepted according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not. The two Mites caſt into the Treaſury (Luke 21. 3.) by the poor widow, her heart being in the action, were more acceptable, then two Talents caſt in by others. Noah's Sacrifice could not be great, and yet it was greatly accepted by God. In the time of the Law God accepted a handfull of Meale for a Sacrifice, and a gripe of Goats haire for an Oblation; and certainly God hath loſt none of his affections to poore ſoules, in the time of the Goſpel. Cant. 2. 14. Let me heare thy voyce, for thy voyce is ſweet, and thy countenance is lovely. The Hebrew word **Eth kolech.ſignifies any ſound, ſuch as Birds or bruits make; their chattering is like lovely Songs in the ear of God; their mite is a ſweet Oblation. Parents that have but ſome drops of that love and tender affection that is in God to his people, yet accept of a very little ſervice from their weak Children, and will not God? In time of ſtrength God looks for much, but in the time of weakneſſe God will bear much, and overlook much, and accept of a little, yea, of a very very little.

One writing of the Tree of Knowledge, ſaith, That it bears many leaves, but little fruit. Though weak Saints have a great many leaves, and but little fruit, little grace, yet that little the Lord will kindly accept of.

Artaxerxes the Perſian Monarch, was famous for accepting of a little water from the hand of a loving Subject. God makes himſelfe famous, and his Grace glorious, by his kind acceptation of the weakeſt endeavours of his people, &c.

The ſeventh Support, is this.

The leaſt meaſure of Grace is as true an earneſt, and as good 7 Support. Though men often looſe their earneſt; yet God will never looſe his. His earneſt is very obliging. Phil. 1. 6.Phil 1:6and ſure a pledge of greater meaſures of Grace, that the ſoule ſhall have here, and of Glory, that the ſoule ſhall have hereafter, as the greateſt meaſure of Grace is.

He that hath begun a good worke, he will perfect it to the day of Chriſt. Chriſt is called not onelyonly the Author, but alſo the Finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12. 2. In Mal. 4. 2, 3. Ʋnto you that fear my name, ſhall the Son of Righteouſneſſe ariſe with p. 84healing in his wings, and he ſhall goe forth and grow up as The Hebrew word foreign or way, ſignifies a diſtinct courſe from others, as the way from one Town differs from the way to another. Here in Job 'tis taken for a courſe in piety.Calves of the ſtall. And ſo in Job 17. 9. The righteous ſhall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger, and ſtronger. Zech. 12. 8. In that day ſhall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day ſhall be as David, and the houſe of David ſhall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them. So in Hoſ. 14. 5, 6, 7. I will be as the dew to Iſrael, he ſhall grow as the Lilly, and caſt forth his fruits as Lebanon: His branches ſhall ſpread, and his beauty ſhall be as the Olive Tree, and his ſmell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his ſhadow, ſhall return, they ſhall revive as the Corne, and grow as the Vine, the ſent thereof ſhall be as the wine of Lebanon.

The Tree in Alcinous Garden, had alwayes bloſſomes, buds, and ripe fruits, one under another. Such a Tree will God make every weak Chriſtian to be. The righteous (though never ſo weak) ſhall flouriſh like the Palme Tree, Pſal. 92. 12, 13, 14, Now the Palme Tree never looſeth his leafe, or fruit, ſaith Pliny.

An old man being asked, If he grew in goodneſſe, anſwered, Yea doubtleſſe I believe I doe, becauſe the Lord has ſaid, They ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age, they ſhall be fat, and foreign From Hagnan. Green.flouriſhing, or green, as the Hebrew hath it.

In the Iſland of St. Thomas (on the back ſide of Africa) in the midſt of it is a hill, and over that a continuall Cloud, wherewith the whole Iſland is watered. Such a cloud is Chriſt, to weak Saints. Though our hearts naturally are like the Iſle of Pathmos, which is ſo barren of any good, as that nothing will grow, but on Earth that is brought from other places: yet Chriſt will make them like a watered Garden, and like a Iſa. 58. 11.Isa 58:11Spring of water, whoſe waters faile not.

The eighth Support, is this.8 Support. A dying ſai… once cryed out, He is come, he is come (meaning the Lord) with a great reward, for a little worke.

That the leaſt good that is done by the weakeſt Saint, ſhall not be deſpiſed by Chriſt, but highly eſteemed and rewarded.

As you may ſee in Mat. 19. 27. Behold we have forſaken all, and followed thee, and what ſhall we have? A great All, a great catch indeed, as I have formerly ſhew'd you; p. 85they left a few old boats, and torne Nets, and poor houſholdſtuffe; yet Chriſt carries it very ſweetly and lovingly to them, and tells them in verſ. 28. that they ſhould ſit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. Chriſt tells them they ſhall ſit as Ambaſſadors, or chief Councellors, and Preſidents, which have the chief ſeats in the Kingly Aſſembly; yea they ſhall ſit as Kings; they are here but obſcure Kings, but Kings Elected, but in that day they ſhall be Kings Crowned, Kings glorified, Kings acknowledged; then they ſhall as far out-ſhine the glory of the Sun, as the Sun pſal. 89. 27. Agrippa having ſuffered impriſonmēt for wiſhing Cajus Emperour, the firſt thing Cajus did when he came to the Empire, was to prefer Agrippa to a Kingdome. He gave him alſo a Chain of gold, as heavy as the Chaine of I…on that was …pon him in priſon: And will not Chriſt richly …eward for all our well wiſhes towards him? and for all our gracious actings for him? ſurely he will; he ha's a Kings heart, as well as a Kings Purſe. …eb. 6. 10.now outſhines a twinkling Star. In that day they ſhalbe higher then the Kings of the Earth. So in Mat. 10. ult. And whoſoever ſhall give to drinke unto one of theſe little ones, a cup of cold water onelyonly, in the name of a Diſciple, verily I ſay unto you, he ſhall in no wiſe looſe his reward, for a cup of cold water. Water the common Element, and cold water, which coſt them not the charges of fire to warme it, for that there is a torrent, and a very ſea of all pleaſures, provided for thee to all Eternity. God eſteems mens deeds by their minds, and not their minds by their deeds. The leaſt and cheapeſt courteſie that can be ſhewed, ſhall be rewarded. There is an Emphaſis in that deep aſſeveration, Verily I ſay unto you, he ſhall in no wiſe looſe his reward. Mercy is as ſure a graine as vanity. God is not like to break, neither will he forget the leaſt good done by the leaſt Saint. The Buttler may forget Joſeph, and Joſeph may forget his fathers houſe, but the Lord will not forget the leaſt good done by the weakeſt Saint.

The Duke of Burgundy, being a wiſe and loving man, did bountifully reward a poor Gardener, for offering of him a Rape root, being the beſt preſent the poor man had; and will not our God, whoſe very nature is goodneſſe, kindneſſe, and ſweetneſſe, &c. doe much more? ſurely he will reward the leaſt good done by the weakeſt Saint. Therefore be not diſcouraged, weak Chriſtians, though you ſhould meet with hard meaſure from the world, though they ſhould reward your weak ſervices, with reproaches, &c. for the Lord will reward you, he will not deſpiſe the day of ſmall things. What though (O pretious ſoule) thy language be clipt and broken, p. 86what though thou canſt but chatter like a Crane? what though thou canſt not talk ſo fluently and eloquently for Chriſt, as others? what though thy hand be weak, that thou can'ſt not doe ſo much for Chriſt, as others? nor doe ſo well for Chriſt, as others; yet the Lord ſeeing thy heart ſincere, will reward thee. Thou ſhalt have an everlaſting reſt for a little labour, and a great reward for a little work.

The ninth Support is this,9 Support. When Latimer was at the ſtake, ready to be burned, he breathed out thoſe ſweet word…, Fidelis eſt Deus, &c. God is faithfull, &c. Acts & Mon. …ol. 1579.

That as your Graces are weaker then others, ſo your Temptations ſhall be fewer, and your Afflictions lighter then others.

God in much wiſedome and love will ſute your burdens to yoar backs; he will ſute all your temptations and afflictions, to your ſtrength; your burdens ſhall not be great, if your ſtrength be bur little; as you may ſee, 1 Cor. 10. 13. There hath no Temptation taken you, but ſuch as is common to man; but God is faithfull, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will will the Temptation alſo, make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it. The Lord, Oh weak Chriſtian! will ſute thy burden to thy back, and his ſtrokes to thy ſtrength. This is moſt evident in Scripture, That the ſtrongeſt in Grace have alwayes been moſt tempted, afflicted, and diſtreſſed.

If Abraham excell others in Faith, God will try the Gen. 22.Gen 22ſtrength of Abrahams faith, to the uttermoſt, and put him to that that he never put man to before. If Moſes excell all Num. 12. 3. Exod. 16. 7, 8. Numb. …4. 27. 36. Chap. 16. 11. Ex. 15. 24. …ames 5. 11. Read the 1, …, & 7 Chapters of Iob. … Cor. 12. 1. to 11.Num 12:3Exod 16:7Exod 16:8Num 4:27Num 4:36Exod 15:24others in meekneſſe, the Lord will try the ſtrength of that grace, and Moſes ſhall have to doe with as proud, and as murmuring a Generation, as ever man had to doe with. If Job carry the day from all others, in point of Patience, he ſhall be exerciſed with ſuch ſtrange and unheard of afflictions, as ſhall try not onelyonly the truth, but alſo the ſtrength of his patience to the uttermoſt. If Paul have more glorious Revelations then the reſt of the Apoſtles, Paul ſhall be more buffetted, and exerciſed with Temptations, then the reſt of the Apoſtles.

And thus you ſee it clear by all theſe Inſtances, That the beſt and choyceſt Saints, have alwayes met with the worſt and greateſt Temptations, and afflictions. So when the Diſciples p. 87were in the loweſt forme, when they were weak in grace, the Lord Jeſus exerciſes them but with light afflictions, but when they had a greater meaſure of the Spirit poured upon them, then their troubles were encreaſed and multiplied, and their former troubles, in compariſon of the later, were but Acts 2. 1. to 21.Acts 2:1–21as ſcratches of pins, to ſtabs at the heart. When the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon them, then they were afflicted, oppoſed, and perſecuted with a witneſſe. When they had a greater meaſure of the Spirit, to inable them to bear the hatred, frownes, ſtroaks, and blowes of the enraged world; then all of them had the honour to ſuffer a violent death for Chriſt, as Hiſtories doe evidence.

That's a very remarkable Scripture, Luke 24. 49. And behold I ſend the promiſe of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the City of Jeruſalem, untill ye be indued with power from on high. The Lord Jeſus would not have them goe from Jeruſalem, till they were indued with power from on high. By the promiſe of the father, is meant the gifts and graces of the Spirit, that's promiſed in Iſa. 44. 3. Joel 2. 28. John 14. 16. & 15. 26. Tarry ye here (ſayes Chriſt) at Jeruſalem, till ye be compleatly armed and fitted for all incounters, till ye be indued with power: Or as the Greek carries it, Till ye be cloathed. They were as naked perſons, they had but a little foreign.of the Spirit, ſo that they were not compleat; they were not cloathed with the Spirit, till after the Aſcenſion of Chriſt. Now ſaith Chriſt, Tarry untill ſuch time as ye are cloathed with the Spirit. The Lord Jeſus knew well enough, that they ſhould meet with bitter oppoſition, terrible Afflictions, and dreadfull perſecutions, for his and the Goſpel ſake; therefore tarry (ſaith he) untill ye be cloathed with the holy Ghoſt: That ſo nothing may daunt ye, nor ſink ye.

The tenth Support, is this.

That your perſons ſtand not before God in your … righteouſneſſe, 10 Support.but in the perfect, ſpotleſſe, and matchleſſe righteouſneſſe of the Lord Jeſus.

Weak hearts are apt to ſit downe troubled and diſcouraged, when they look upon that body of ſin that is in them, and thoſe imperfections that attend their chiefeſt ſervices, they p. 88are ready to ſay, we ſhall one day periſh by the ſtrength of our luſts; or by the defects of our ſervices. Oh but weak ſoules ſhould remember this (to ſtrengthen them againſt all diſcouragements) that their perſons ſtand before God, cloathed The coſtly Cloak of …, which D…oniniſius ſould to the Carthaginians, for an hundred Talents, was a meane and beggerly ragge to that embroydered mantle that Chriſt does put upon the weakeſt Saints.with the righteouſneſſe of their Saviour, and ſo God ownes them, and looks upon them as perſons wrapt up in his Royall Robe, Hence 'tis that he is called, Jer. 23. 6. Jehovah Tſidkenu, The Lord our Righteouſneſſe. And ſo in 1 Cor. 1. 30. he is of God made unto us Wiſedome, Righteouſneſſe, Sanctification, and Redemption.

Though weak Saints have nothing of their owne, yet in Chriſt they have all, for in him is all fullneſſe, Col. 1. 19. both repletive, and diffuſive; both of abundance, and of redundance; both of plenty, and of bounty. He is made to weak Saints Wiſedome, by his Propheticall Office; and he is made to weak Saints, Righteouſneſſe, and Sanctification, by his Prieſtly Office; and he is made to weak Saints Redemption, by his Kingly Office. So in Col. 2. 10. And ye are compleat in him, which is the head of all Principallity and Power.

Varro reports of 288 ſeverall Opinions that was among the Philoſophers, about the compleat happineſſe of man, but they were out in them all; One judging his happineſſe lay in this, and another in that; they caught at the ſhadow of happineſſe, but could not come at the Tree of Life, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is weak Saints compleat happineſſe. Rev. 14. 5. And in their mouths was found no guile, for they were without fault before the Throne of God. Though men may accuſe you, judge, and condemne you, yet know for your ſupport, that you are acquitted before the Throne of God: However you may ſtand in the eyes of men, as full of nothing but faults; as perſons made up of nothing but ſin; yet are you clear in the eyes of God. So in Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all faire, my Love, and there is no ſpot in thee. There's none, ſuch as are the ſpots of wicked men; nor no ſpot in mine account. God looks upon weak Saints in the Son of his love, and ſees them all lovely; they are as the Tree of Paradiſe, Gen. 3. faire to his eye, and pleaſant to his taſt. Or as Abſolom, in whom there was no blemiſh from head to foot. Ah poor ſoules! you are p. 89apt to look upon your ſpots, and blots, and to cry out with the Leaper (not onelyonly) unclean, unclean, but undone, undone. Well, for ever remember this, That your perſons ſtand before God in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt; upon which account you alwayes appear before the Throne of God, without fault; you are all faire, and there is no ſpot in you.

The eleventh Support, is this.

Your ſins ſhall never provoke Chriſt, nor prevaile with Chriſt 11 Support.ſo far, as to give you a Bill of Divorce.

O there is much in it (if the Lord would ſet it home upon your hearts) your ſins ſhall never prevaile ſo far with Chriſt, nor never ſo far provoke him, as to work him to give you a Read the 3^d Chapter of Jeremiah. Out of the moſt poyſonfull druggs, God diſtills his glory, and our ſalvation. Gallen ſpeaks of a Maid, called Nupella, that was nouriſhed by poyſon. God can and will turn the very ſins of his people, w^ch are the worſt poyſon in all the world, into his childrens advantage.Bill of Divorce. Your ſins may provoke Chriſt to frowne upon you; they may provoke Chriſt to chide with you; they may provoke him gently to correct you; but they ſhall never provoke Chriſt to give you a Bill of Divorce. Pſal. 89. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. If his Children forſake my Law, and walke not in my Judgements: If they breake my Statutes, and keepe not my Commandements: Then will I viſite their tranſgreſſions with the rod, and their iniquity with ſtripes. Nevertheleſſe my loving kindneſſe will I not utterly take from him, nor ſuffer my faithfullneſſe to faile. That's a great Support to a weak Saint, That his ſin ſhall never ſeparate him from God, nor Chriſt. Thou art many times afraid that this deadneſſe, this dullneſſe, this earthlineſſe, and theſe wandring thoughts, &c. that doe attend thee, will provoke the Lord Jeſus to ſue out a Bill of Divorce againſt thee: But remember this, Thy ſins ſhall never ſo far prevaile with Chriſt, as to worke him to give thee a Bill of Divorce. Mark,

There's nothing can provoke Chriſt to give thee a Bill of Divorce, but ſin.

Now ſin is ſlaine.

Ergo.

I ſhall open this to you in three things.

Firſt, Sin is ſlaine Judicially; for 'tis condemned both by Chriſt, and his people, and ſo 'tis dead according to Law; A three-fold death of ſin.which is and may be a ſingular Comfort, and Support to weak Saints, that their greateſt and worſt Enemy (Sin) is condemned p. 90to dye, and ſhall not for ever vex and torment their precious ſoules. 'Tis dead Judicially, 'tis under the ſentence of condemnation. 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56. O death where is thy ſting? O grave where is thy Victory? The ſting of death is ſin, &c. Vide Grotium, and Vo…ſtius, on the words, &c.The Apoſtle here triumphs over it, as a Thief condemned to death. Sin is ſentenc'd now, though not fully put to death, it's dead judicially. As when the ſentence of death is paſt upon a Malefactor, you ſay he is a dead man, why? he is judicially dead: ſo is ſin, ſin is judicially dead. When a man that hath robbed and wounded another, is taken, and ſentenc'd judicially, we ſay he is a dead man; and it's often a great refreſhing and ſatisfaction to a man, that he is ſo. Sin, O weak ſoule! is ſentenc'd, and judicially ſlaine; and therefore that can never work the Lord Jeſus to give thee a Bill of Divorce. The thoughts of which ſhould much refreſh thee, and ſupport thee.

Secondly, Sin is dead or ſlaine civilly, as well as judicially. 'Tis civilly dead, becauſe the power of it is much abated; and Rom. 6. 14.Rom 6:14its Dominion and Tyranny over-powred; as when a King or a Tyrant is whipt and ſtript of all power to domineere, reigne, 'Tis with ſin in the Saints, as 'twas with thoſe Beaſts, Dan. 7. 12. who had their Dominions taken away, though their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon, and a time.Dan 7:12and play the Tyrant, is civilly dead, even whiles he lives: So is ſin in this ſenſe dead, even while it lives. That Text is ſutable to our purpoſe, Hoſ. 13. 1. When Ephraim ſpake trembling, he exalted himſelfe in Iſrael; but when he offended in Baal, he dyed.

What's the meaning of theſe words? The meaning is this, When the King of Ephraim ſpake, the people even trembled at his voyce, ſuch power once he had: But when he offended in Baal, by ſerving Baal, by giving himſelfe up to Idolatry, he dyed in reſpect of obedience, not yielded to him as formerly. Time was that he was terrible, but when he fell to Idolatry, his ſtrength and glory came downe; ſo that now he became even like a dead Carcaſſe.

Adam dyed civilly, the ſame day that he ſinned: The Creatures that before lovingly obeyed him, as ſoon as he renounc't obedience to his God, they renounc't all obedience to him, or his Soveraignty; ſo that he civilly dyed the very ſame day that he ſinned.

p. 91That's a ſweet word that you have, Rom. 6. 11. Likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin. Therefore Chriſt will never Divorce you for ſin. O what a ſupport may this be to a weak Saint! That ſin that he fears above all other Where ſinne ſits in the ſoule as a King ſins upon his throne and commands the heart, as a King commands his ſubjects, there is reigne of ſin, but grace frees the ſoule from this.things in the world, is ſlaine judicially and civilly; the Lord hath whipt and ſtript it of all its ruling, reigning, domineering, tyrannizing power. O therefore Chriſtians, look upon ſin as dead (that is) as not to be obeyed, as not to be acknowledged, no more then a Tyrant, that's ſtript of all his tyrannizing power. People that are wiſe, and underſtand their liberty, look not upon ſuch a one as fit to be obeyed and ſerved, but as one fit to be renounced, and deſtroyed. Doe you ſo look upon your ſins, and deale accordingly with them?

Thirdly, Sin is ſlaine Naturally, as well as Civilly; Chriſt hath given it its deaths wound, by his death, and reſurrection. He hath given ſin ſuch a wound, that it cannot be long liv'd, though it may linger a while in a Saint, (as a Tree that's cut at the root with a ſore gaſh, or two, muſt dye within a year, perhaps a month, nay, it may be within a week, though for a time it may flouriſh, it may have leaves and fruit, yet it ſecretly dies, and will very ſhortly wither and periſh.) The Lord Jeſus hath given ſin ſuch a mortall wound, by his death and Spirit, and by the communication of his favour and grace to the ſoule, that ſin ſhall never recover its ſtrength more, but dye a lingring death, in the ſoules of the Saints. Chriſt did not dye all at once upon the Croſſe, but by little and little. To ſhew us, that his death ſhould extend to the ſlaying of ſin gradically, in the ſoules of the Saints. When our Enemy hath a mortall wound, we ſay, he is a dead man, his wound is mortall: So when Jeſus Chriſt hath given ſin ſuch a deadly wound ſuch a mortall blow, that it ſhall never recover its ſtrength and power more; we may truly ſay, 'Tis dead, 'tis ſlaine: Therefore cheere up, Oh weak ſoules, for certainly ſin that is thus ſlaine, can never provoke Jeſus Chriſt to give you a Bill of Divorce. Ah that all weak Chriſtians would (like the Bee) abide upon theſe ſweet flowers, and gather Honey out of them, &c.

To proceed.

p. 92The twelfth Support is this.

Chriſt and you are Sharers.12 Support. The notion of foreign is beſt expreſſed by Chryſoſtome, in theſe words, When mankind fled farre from Chriſt, Chriſt purſued, and caught hold of it, and this he did by faſtening on our Nature, in his Incarnation, &c. The Ancients uſe to ſay (commonly) That Alexander and Eph… ſtion had ba… one ſoule in two diſtinct bodies, becauſe their joy and ſorrow, glory and diſgrace, was mutuall to them both. 'Tis ſo betweene Chriſt and his Saints. Their names that are written in red letters of blood in the Churches Kalender, are written in golden letters in Chriſts Regiſter, in the Book of Life, ſaid Prudentius. In my life-time (ſaid a gracious ſoule) I have been aſſaulted with temptations from Satan, and he hath caſt my ſins into my teeth, to drive me to deſpaire, yet the Lord gave the ſtrength to overcome all his temptations

Know this weak Saints, for your ſupport and comfort, That Chriſt ſhares with you, and you ſhare with Chriſt.

I ſhall open this ſweet Truth to you a little.

1 Chriſt ſhares with you, in your Natures.

In Heb. 2. 16. For verily he tooke not on him the Nature of Angels, but he tooke on him the ſeed of Abraham. And by this he hath advanc't fallen man, above the very Angels. This is the great Myſterie ſpoken of, 1 Tim. 3. 16. And without controverſie, great is the Myſterie of Godlineſſe, God manifeſted in the fleſh, &c.

2 The Lord Jeſus ſhares with you in your Afflictions.

In Iſa. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the Angel of his preſence ſaved them. In his love, and in his pitty he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all the dayes of old. It is between Chriſt and his Church, as between two Lute-ſtrings, no ſooner one is ſtruck, but the other trembles.

3 He ſhares with you in all your ſufferings, and perſecutions, as well as in all your afflictions.

Acts 9. 4, 5. Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? There is ſuch a neer Union between the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the weakeſt Saints, that a man cannot ſtrike a Saint, but he muſt ſtrike through the very heart of Chriſt: Their ſufferings are held his, Col. 1. 24. and their afflictions are his afflictions; and their reproaches are his reproaches, Heb. 13. 13. and their provocations are his provocations. Nehem. 4. 4, 5. God is provokt more then Nehemiah. So Iſa. 8. 18. compared with Heb. 2. 13. Behold I, and the Children whom the Lord hath given me, are for ſignes and wonders in Iſrael. This the Apoſtle applies to Chriſt, Heb. 2. 13.

4 The Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhares with you in all your Temptations, Heb. 2. 17, 18. Chap. 4. 15, 16.

Chriſt was tempted, and he was afflicted, as well as you, that he might he able to ſuccour you that are tempted. As a poore man that ha's been troubled with paine and griefe, he will ſhare with others that are troubled with paine or grief. p. 93Ah friends! the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath loſt none of his affections, by going to Heaven; he is ſtill full of compaſſion, though free from perſonall paſſion. When he was on earth, Oh! how did he ſimpathize with his poor ſervants, in all their temptations. Satan (ſayes Chriſt to Peter) hath deſired to winnow thee, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not. Luther in his Preaching, met with every mans temptation, and being once askt How he could doe ſo? anſwered, Mine owne manifold temptations and experiences are the cauſe thereof. Oh the manifold temptations that the Lord Jeſus hath undergone, makes him ſemable (as I may ſay) and willing to ſhare with us in our temptations.

Secondly, As Chriſt ſhares with weak Saints: So weak Saints ſhare with Chriſt. And this I ſhall ſhew you briefly in a few particulars.

1 Weake Saints ſhare with Chriſt in his Divine Nature. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious Promiſes, that by theſe we might be partakers of the Divine To be made partakers of the Divine Nature, notes two things. 1 Fellowſhip with God in his holineſſe. 2 A fellowſhip with God in his bleſſedneſſe.Nature. Not of the ſubſtance of the God-head, as the Familiſts ſay, for that is incommunicable. But by the Divine Nature, we are to underſtand thoſe Divine Qualities, called elſwhere, The Image of God, the Life of God; that whereby we are made like to God in wiſedome, and holineſſe, wherein the Image of God, after which man was at firſt Created, conſiſts, Epheſ. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. Saints that doe partake of this Divine Nature, that is, of thoſe Divine Qualities before ſpoken of, they reſemble God, not onelyonly as a picture doth a man, in outward lineaments, but as a Child doth his Father, in countenance and condition. And well may grace be called, The Divine Nature; for as God bringeth light out of darkneſſe, comfort out of ſorrow, riches out of poverty, and glory out of ſhame: ſo does grace bring day out of night, and ſweet out of bitter, and plenty out of poverty, and glory out of ſhame. It turnes Counters into gold, Pebbles into Pearles, ſickneſſe into health, weakneſſe into ſtrength, and wants into abundance, Injoying nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things, 2 Cor. 6. 10. &c.

2 Weake Saints ſhare with Chriſt in his Spirit and Grace. p. 94In Pſal. 45. 7. Chriſt is anointed with the Oyle of gladneſſe above his fellowes. They have the Anointings of the Spirit, as well as he, though not ſo richly as he. They have their meaſure, though not that meaſure and proportion of the Spirit, as Omne bonum in ſummo bono. All good is in the chiefeſt good.the Lord Jeſus hath. So in 1 John 16. Of his fulneſſe have all we received Grace for Grace. There is in Chriſt not onelyonly a fullneſſe of Abundance, but alſo a fullneſſe of Redundance: There is an overflowing fullneſſe in Chriſt, as a fountaine overflowes, and yet ſtill remaines full. Grace for Grace, or Grace upon Grace; Abundance of grace, and the increaſes of graces one by another.

Grace for Grace: That is, as a Child in generation, receives member for member: Or as the Paper from the Preſſe, receives letter for letter: Or as the Wax from the Seale, receives Print for Print: Or as the glaſſe from the Image, receives face for face: So does the weakeſt Saint receive from Jeſus Chriſt.

Grace for Grace: That is, for every grace that is in Chriſt, there is the ſame grace in us, in ſome meaſure. There is not the weakeſt Saint that breaths, but ha's in him ſome wiſedome that anſwers to the wiſedome of Chriſt; and ſome love, that anſwers to the love of Chriſt; and ſome humility, meekneſſe, and faith, that anſwers to the humility, meekneſſe, and faith, of the Lord Jeſus, in truth and reallity, though not in degree, or quantity, &c.

3 Weake Saints ſhare with Chriſt in the manifeſtations and diſcoveries of his father.

The Lord Jeſus that lies in the boſome of the father, hath Plutarch's reaſoning is good (Taton philon panta k…ina Friends have all things in common. But God is our friend. Ergo This was a …are ſpeech from a He… …hen.the cleareſt and the fulleſt manifeſtations of the father, that can be; and he comes and opens the love and heart of the father; he un-boſomes and un-bowels God to the weakeſt Saints, as in John 15. 15. Henceforth I call you not ſervants, for the ſervant knoweth not what his Lord doth; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my father, I have made knowne unto you. So in John 17. 6, 7, 8.

4 Weake Saints ſhare with Chriſt in his Honourable Titles.

In the title of Sons, 1 John 3. 12. Behold what manner of p. 95love the father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called The wife ſhares with her husband in all his Titles of honour. So does a Chriſtian with his Chriſt. See 1 Sam. 13. 17. to the 29. Col. 2. 14, 15. Epheſ 2. 13, 14, 15, 16. Heb. 2. 14 15. Rom. 8. 37. foreign We doe over overcome.1 Sam 13:17Col 2:14Col 2:15Eph 2:13Eph 2:14Eph 2:15Eph 2:16Heb 2:14Rom 8:37the Sons of God! And in that of Heires, Rom. 8. 17. Yea, they are Prieſts, and Prophets, and Kings, as well as he; as you may ſee, by comparing Revelations 1. 5, 6. with 1 Pet. 2. 9. &c.

5 Weake Saints ſhare with Chriſt in his Conqueſts.

In 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56, 57. Rom. 8. 37. Chriſt hath triumphed over ſword, famine, death, and Devils, &c. and ſo have they thorow him alſo; over all theſe we are more then Conquerours, we are over and above Conquerours. Oh what a bleſſed thing is this! that weak Saints ſhould ſhare with Chriſt in his Conqueſts. The poor weak Souldier ſhares with his Generall, in all his noble and honourable Conqueſts: So does a poor weak Chriſtian ſhare with his Chriſt in all his noble and honourable Conqueſts.

6 Laſtly, They ſhare with Chriſt in his honour and glory.

And what would they have more? John 12. 26. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be. If any man ſerve me, him will my father honour. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Epheſ. 2. 6. And hath raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together, in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. Believers are already riſen in Chriſt their head, and they doe at this inſtant ſit in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. Chriſt as a publick perſon doth repreſent all believing ſoules, and they are ſet downe in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. In Rom. 8. 17. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo reigne with him. And in John 14. 1, 2, 3. I goe to prepare a place for you, Chriſt is the Believers harbinger, to prepare for them the beſt Manſions, &c.and if I goe and prepare a place for you, I will come againe, and receive you unto my ſelfe, that where I am, there ye may be alſo. So in Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, even as I overcame, and am ſet downe with my Father, in his Throne. Now what would you have more, weak ſoules? Chriſt ſhares with you, and you ſhare with Chriſt. You are apt to be diſcouraged, becauſe you doe not ſhare with Chriſt in ſuch meaſures of grace, comfort, and holineſſe, as ſuch and ſuch ſtrong Saints doe. Oh but remember in how many weighty things Chriſt and you are ſharers, and be dejected if you can. Ah Chriſtians! what though you p. 96doe not ſhare in the honours, profits, pleaſures, and advantages of the world? yet this ſhould be your joy and Crowne, that Chriſt and your ſoules are ſharers in thoſe things that are moſt eminent, and excellent, moſt precious and glorious; and the ſerious remembrance hereof, ſhould bear up your heads, hopes, and hearts, above all the troubles, temptations, and afflictions, that come upon you in this world, &c.

The third thing propounded, was, To ſhew you the duty of weake Saints. Who theſe weak Saints are, you have heard: Weak Saints Duties.And what their Supports and Comforts are, you have heard. And now I ſhall ſhew you their duty, in the following particulars.

And the firſt duty that I ſhall preſſe upon weak Saints, is this.

To be thankefull for that little Grace they have.1 Duty.

Wilt thou be thankfull, Oh Chriſtian! for the leaſt courteſie ſhewed thee by men? And wilt thou not be thankfull for that little meaſure of grace that is beſtowed upon thee by God? Doeſt thou remember, Oh weak Chriſtian! that the The Lawes of Perſia, Macedonia, and Athens, condemned the ungratefull to death, and certainly unthankfulneſſe may well be ſtiled The Epitome of all Vices.leaſt meaſure of grace is more worth then a thouſand worlds? that 'tis more worth then heaven it ſelfe? Doeſt thou remember, O weak Chriſtian! that the greateſt number of men have not the leaſt meaſure or dram of ſaving grace? Doth free grace knock at thy doore, when it paſſes by the doores of thouſands? And doth it caſt a Pearl of price into thy boſome, when others are left to wallow in their blood for ever? And wilt thou not be thankfull? Oh doe but conſider, weak ſouls! how notoriouſly wicked you would have been, if the Lord had not beſtowed a little grace upon you. Thou lookeſt, oh ſoule! one way, and there thou heareſt ſome a curſing, banning, and a blaſpheming God to his very face: Had not the Lord given thee a little grace, ten thouſand to one, but thou hadſt been one in wickedneſſe among theſe Monſters of mankind. And thou lookeſt another way, and there thou ſeeſt perſons dicing, carding, drabbing, and drunkening, &c. why had not the Lord vouchſafed to thee ſome taſts and ſips of grace, thou mighteſt have been as vild as the vildeſt among them. Ah weak Saints! you doe not think what an awakened p. 97conſcience would give for a little of that little grace that the Lord ha's given you: Were all the world a lump of gold, and in their hand to give, they would give it for the leaſt ſpark of grace, for the leaſt drop of mercy.

I have read of a man, who being in a burning Feaver, profeſt One of the Kings of England, in his ſtraites cryed out, A Kingdome for a Horſe, a Kingdome for a Horſe. So do awakened co…ſciences cry out, A Kingdome for a Chriſt, a Kingdome for a Chriſt, or a little grace.That if he had all the world at his diſpoſe, he would give it all for one draught of Beer: So would an awakened conſcience, for one dram of grace. O ſaith ſuch a ſoule, when I look up, and ſee God frowning; when I look inward, and feele conſcience gnawing, and accuſing; when I look downward, and ſee hell open to receive me; and when I look on my right and left hand, and ſee Devils ſtanding ready to accuſe me; O had I a thouſand worlds, I would give them all for a little, lirtle drop of that grace that ſuch and ſuch ſoules have, whom I have formerly ſlighted and deſpiſed. Oh! what would not a damned ſoule that hath been but an houre in hell, give for a drop of that grace that thou haſt in thy heart? Think ſeriouſly of this, and be thankfull.

Well, remember one thing more, and that is this, viz. That there is no ſuch way to get much grace, as to be thankefull for a little grace. He who opens his mouth wide in praiſes, ſhall have his heart filled with graces. Ingratitude ſtops the ear of God, and ſhuts the hand of God, and turnes away the heart of the God of grace; and therefore you had need be thankfull for a little grace. Unthankfullneſſe is the greateſt injuſtive that may be; 'tis a with-holding from the great Land-lord of heaven Lycurgus (ſaith Muſculus) amongſt all his Lawes made none againſt the Ungratefull; becauſe that was thought a thing ſo prodigious, …s not to be committed by man. Iſa. 1. 3, 4.Isa 1:3Isa 1:4and earth, his due, his debt.

Phillip branched his Souldier that begged the land of one that had relieved him, and kindly entertained him, with (ingratis hoſpes) The Ʋngratefull Gueſt. Oh weak Saints! give not God an occaſion by your ingratitude to brand you, and to write upon your foreheads, Ʋngratefull Children. Had it not been for unthankfullneſſe, Adam had been in Paradiſe, the lapſed Angels in heaven; and the Jewes in their owne Land of Promiſe. The Jewes have a ſaying, That the World ſtands upon three things; The Law; Holy Worſhip; and Retribution: And if theſe things fall, the world will fall. You know how to apply it.

p. 98But that I may in good earneſt ſtir up your ſoules to thankfullneſſe, will you take home with you theſe things, that happily have never or ſeldome been thought of by you.

Firſt, Conſider, That there is more need of Praiſes, then Gods favours and mercies, ſeldome or never come ſingle, there is a ſeries, a concatenatiō of them, and every former drawes on a …uture.there is of Prayers.

Two things doe with open mouth proclaime this truth.

And the firſt is this. Our mercies doe out-weigh our wants. This is true in temporals, but infinitely more in ſpiritualls, and eternalls. Thou wanteſt this and that outward mercy; and what's thy want, oh ſoule! of this and that ſingle mercy, to the multitudes of mercies that thou doeſt enjoy? And as for ſpiritualls, there's nothing more clear then this, that thy ſpirituall mercies doe infinitly out-weigh thy ſpirituall wants. Thou wanteſt this and that ſpirituall mercy, but what are thoſe wants to that God, that Chriſt, and all thoſe ſpirituall bleſſings in heavenly places, with which thou art bleſt in Chriſt Jeſus?Epheſ. 1. 4.Eph 1:4

Secondly, Conſider this, That all your wants and miſeries are deſerved and procured by your owne ſins. Jer. 4. 18. Thy way and thy doings have procured theſe things unto thee, this is thy wickedneſſe, becauſe it is bitter, becauſe it reacheth God and Chriſt are the ſole fountaine from whence all theſe ſtreames of living waters flow.unto thy heart. And Chap. 50. 25. Your iniquities have turned away theſe things, and your ſins have with-holden good things from you. But now all your mercies are unmerited, and undeſerved, they all flow in upon you from the free love and favour of God; and therefore there's more need of praiſes, then of prayers. And oh! that the high praiſes of God were more in your mouths, upon this very account! And oh that with David, you would ſummon all the faculties of your ſoules to praiſe the Lord, who hath freely fill'd you, and followed Pſal. 149. 2. Pſal. 103. 1. to 5.Ps 149:2Ps 103:1–5you with the riches of mercy, all your dayes!

But ſecondly, Conſider this, Thankefullneſſe is a ſurer, and a better evidence of our ſincerity, and ſpirituall intenuity, then praying, or hearing, or ſuch like ſervices are.

Thankſgiving is a ſelfe-denying grace; 'tis an uncrowning our ſelves, and the Creatures, to ſet the Crowne upon the head of our Creator; it is the making our ſelves a footſtoole, p. 99that God may be lifted up upon his Throne, and ride 'Tis much to be feared, that that man is Chriſtleſſe and graceleſſe, that is earneſt in craving mercies, but ſlow and dull in returning praiſes. 'Tis a ſigne that the Dumb Devill ha's poſſeſt ſuch a man.in a holy triumph over all. It is a grace that gives God the ſupremacy in all our hearts, thoughts, deſires, words, and marks. Selfe-love, fleſh and blood, and many low and carnall conſiderations, may carry men to pray, and hear, and talk, &c. The whip may work a ſhame to begge, but thankfullneſſe is the free-will Offering of a Child. There's nothing that ſo clearly and ſo fully ſpeaks out your ſincerity and ſpirituall intenuity, as thankfullneſſe doth. Therefore weak Saints, if you would have a ſubſtantiall evidence of your ſincerity, and ſpirituall intenuity, be thankfull for a little grace. The little Birds doe not ſip one drop of water, but they look up, as if they meant to give thanks: To ſhew us what we ſhould doe for every drop of grace, &c.

The third and laſt Conſideration to ſet this home, is this.

A thankefull ſoule holds conſort with the muſick of Heaven.

By thankfullneſſe thou holdeſt a correſpondency with the Rev. 4. 6, 7, 8, 9. & 5. 12, 13, 14.Rev 4:6Rev 4:7Rev 4:8Rev 4:9Rev 5:12Rev 5:13Rev 5:14Angels, who are ſtill a ſinging Hallelujahs to him that ſits upon the Throne, and is bleſſed for ever. In heaven there is no prayers, but all praiſes. I am apt to think, that there can't be a clearer, nor a greater argument of a mans right to heaven, and ripeneſſe for heaven, then this, being much in the work of heaven here on earth. There is no grace but Love, nor no Epictetus wiſht he were a Nightingale, to be ever ſinging: And what then ſhould a Saint wiſh? &c.duty but Thankfullneſſe, that goes with us to heaven.

I, but weak Saints may ſay, Sir, We judge that there is weight in what you ſay, to provoke us to thankefullneſſe: But did we know that we had true Grace, though it were never ſo little, though it were but as the graine of Muſtard-ſeed, we would be thankefull. But this is our condition, we live betweene feares, and hopes; one day hoping we ſhall to heaven, and be happy for ever: Another day we are fearing that we ſhall to hell, and miſcarry for ever: And thus we are up and downe, backward and forward; ſometimes we believe we have grace, and at other times we doubt we have none. Sometimes we have a little light, and ſuddenly our Sun is clouded; one day we are ready to ſay with David, The Lord is our portion; and the next day we are ready to complaine with Jonah, that p. 100we are caſt out from the preſence of the Lord.

Me-thinks I hear a weak Saint ſaying thus to me. Sir, I would faine have an end put to this controverſie that ha's been long in my ſoule, viz. Whether I have grace, or no; and if you pleaſe I will tell you what I find, and ſo humbly deſire your judgement and opinion upon the whole.

Well, ſpeak on, poore ſoule, and let me heare what thou haſt found in thine owne ſoule.

Why Sir, then thus.

I finde firſt, a holy reſtleſneſſe in my ſoule, till with Iold Sime…n, I have gotten Chriſt in my armes; yea, till I Luke 2. 25. to 33. The Child is reſtleſſe till it be in the Mothers Armes Cant. 5. 10.Luke 2:25–33Song 5:10have gotten Chriſt into my heart. I goe from Duty to Duty, and from Ordinance to Ordinance, and yet I cannot reſt, becauſe I cannot find him whom my ſoule loves. I am like Noah's Dove, that could not reſt untill he had gotten into the Ark. Oh I cannot be quiet till I know that I am hous'd in Chriſt. My ſoule is like a ſhip in a ſtorme, that is toſt hither and thither; Oh! where ſhall I find him? Oh! how ſhall I obtaine him who is the chiefeſt of ten thouſand? What Abſolom ſaid in another caſe, I can ſay in this, ſaith the poor ſoule; in his baniſhment he could ſay, What's all this to me, ſo long as I can't ſee the Kings face? And truly the language of my ſoule is this, What's honour to me? And riches to me? And the favour of Creatures to me? ſo long as I goe mourning without my Chriſt; ſo long as I ſee not my intereſt in my Chriſt.

Well, have you any thing elſe to ſay, O weake Chriſtian?

Yes Sir, I have one thing more to ſay.

What's that?

Why, it is this.

I can truly ſay, That the pooreſt, the moſt diſtreſſed, and IIafflicted man in the world, is not fuller of deſires, nor ſtronger Tota vita beni Chriſtiani ſanctum deſiderium eſt:in his deſires, then I am. The poor man deſires bread to feed him; and the wounded deſires a Plaiſter to heale him; and the ſick man deſires Cordialls to ſtrengthen him, &c. But theſe are not fuller of deſires after thoſe things that are ſutable to them, then I am of holy and heavenly deſires. Oh that I had more of God! Oh that I were filled with Chriſt! Oh p. 101that I had his righteouſneſſe to cover me! His grace to pardon me! His power to ſupport me! His wiſedome to councell me! his loving-kindneſſe to refreſh me! And his happineſſe to Crowne me, &c.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more to tell you.

What's that?

Why, that is this.

Though I dare not ſay that Chriſt is mine, yet I can truly IIIſay, that Chriſt, his love, his works, his grace, his word, are the maine objects of my contemplation, and meditation. Oh Some Contemplatio…s have Generationem longam, fruitionem brevem, but theſe are not the con…em plations of the Saints.I am alwayes beſt, when I am moſt a meditating and contemplating of Chriſt, his love, his grace, &c. Pſal. 139. 17. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God? How great is the ſumme of them?

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more to ſay.

What's that?

Why, it is this.

I can truly ſay, That the want of Chriſts love is a greater IVgrief, and burden to my ſoule, then the want of any outward thing in this world. I am in a wanting condition, as to temporals; I want health, and ſtrength, and Trading, friends, and money, that anſwereth to all things, as Solomon ſpeaks; and yet all theſe wants doe not ſo grieve me, and ſo afflict and Eccl. 10. 19.Eccl 10:19trouble me, as the want of Chriſt, as the want of grace, as the want of the diſcoveries of that favour, that's better then Pſa. 63. 3, 4.Ps 63:3Ps 63:4life.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, there's one thing more.

What's that?

Why, that is this.

That I would not willingly, nor reſolvedly ſin againſt Chriſt, V.for a world. 'Tis true, I dare not ſay I have an intereſt in I will rather leap into a bonſire, then willfully to commit wickedneſſe, willfully to againſt God.Chriſt, yet I dare ſay, that I would not willingly and reſolvedly ſin againſt Chriſt, for a world. I can ſay, through grace, were I this moment to dye, that my greateſt feare is of ſinning againſt Chriſt, and my greateſt care is of pleaſing Chriſt. p. 102I know there was a time, when my greateſt care was to pleaſe And I, ſaid A ſelme, had rather g…e to h…ll …ure from ſin then to heaven polluted wi…h that filth. The Primitive Chriſtians choſe rathet to be …hrowne to Ly…ns without then left to luſts within. Ad Leonem magis quam Leonem, ſaith Tertullian. VI. It is rep…red of Bucer, and Calvin, That they loved a…l them in whom they could eſp…e (Aliqu…a Chriſti) any thing of Chriſt. 'Tis juſti ſo with theſe poore hearts that queſtion their preſent condition. Jer. …. 1. 2, 3. VII. Pſa. 119. 136Ps 119:136my ſelfe, and the Creature; and my greateſt fear was of diſpleaſing the Creature. I can remember with ſorrow and ſadneſſe of heart, how often I have diſpleaſed Chriſt, to pleaſe my ſelfe; and diſpleaſed Chriſt, to pleaſe the Creature; but now 'tis quite otherwiſe with me; my greateſt care is to pleaſe Chriſt, and my greateſt fear is of offending Chriſt.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more.

What's that?

Why, that's this.

Though I dare not ſay that Chriſt is mine, and that I have an intereſt in him; yet I can truly ſay, I dearly love the people of Chriſt, for the Image of Chriſt that I ſee ſtampt upon them. 'Tis true, I dare not ſay, Chriſt is mine, and heaven is mine; I cannot ſay with ſuch and ſuch, The Lord is my Portion; yet I can ſay that I dearly love thoſe that have the Lord for their portion. I can truly ſay, that the pooreſt, and the moſt neglected, and the moſt deſpiſed Saint in the world, is more pretious in my eye, and more deare to my ſoule, then the greateſt and the richeſt ſinner in the world, Pſalme 16. 3.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint, that thou haſt to ſay?

No Sir, I have one thing more.

What's that?

Why, that's this.

Though I dare not ſay that I have an intereſt in Chriſt, or that I love Chriſt, yet I dare ſay, That my ſoule weeps, and mournes in ſecret for the diſhonour that is done to Chriſt, both by my ſelfe, and by others alſo. I can look the Lord in the face, were I now to dye, and ſay, Lord, thou that knoweſt all thoughts and hearts, thou doeſt know that mine eyes run downe with Rivers of teares, becauſe men keepe not thy Law.

Well, is this all?

No Sir, I crave your patience to heare me in one thing more.

What's that, O weake Chriſtian?

p. 103Why, that is this.

That I prize perſons and things according to the ſpiritualneſſe VIIIand holineſſe that is in them; and the more ſpirituall and holy any man or thing is, the more is that man and thing prized by my ſoule. I have often thought of that ſweet word, Pſal. 119. 104. Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy Much in the word is wrapt up in a little, 'tis more to be admired, then to have Homers I liads comprized in a nut-ſhel. The word is like the ſtone Garamantides, that hath d…ops within it ſelfe, enriching of the gracious ſoul.ſervant love it. Other men love it, becauſe of the profit they get by it; or becauſe of a name, or this, or that, but I love it for the purity, for the holineſſe, and the cleanneſſe of it. No preaching (ſaith the weak Saint) nor no praying, nor no talking, nor no ſociety that likes me, and is ſweet to me, but that that's moſt ſpirituall, moſt holy. It is not an Exerciſe trick'd and trim'd up, with wit, learning, and eloquence; 'tis not the hanging of truths ears with counterfet Pearles, that takes me; but the more plainneſſe, ſpirituallneſſe, and holineſſe I ſee in an Exerciſe, the more is my heart raiſed to prize it, and love it. And therefore, ſaith the weak Saint, becauſe Chriſt is perfectly and infinitely holy above all others, I prize Chriſt above all. Ordinances are ſweet, O but Chriſt is more ſweet to my ſoule; Saints are precious, but Chriſt is far more precious; Heaven is glorious, but Chriſt is infinitely more glorious. The firſt thing that I would ask, if I might have it, ſaith the weak Saint, is Chriſt. And the next thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is more of Chriſt. And the laſt None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, …id the Martyr.thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is that I might be ſa…iated and filled with the fullneſſe of Chriſt. Let the Ambition, man take the honours of the world, ſo I may but have Chriſt. Let the Voluptuous man ſwim in all the pleaſures of the world, ſo I may have Chriſt. And let the covetous man tumble up and downe in all the gold and ſilver of the world, ſo I may have Chriſt, and it ſhall be enough to my ſoule.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more to ſay.

What's that?

Why, it is this.

I find the ſame Conflict in my ſoule, that Paul found in IX. The beſt Saints in this world are l…ke the Tribe of Manaſſes, halfe on this ſide Jordan, in the Land of the Amorites, and halfe on that ſide, in the holyland. And tho to be kept from ſinne, brings moſt comf…rt to a poore ſoule, yet for a poore ſou…e to oppoſe ſin and God to pardon ſinne, that brings moſt glory to God. 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9. X. Sozonem r… lates of one, who was as circumſpect to be ſeen, as to be. A gracious ſoule is as carefull that he does not indanger another, by a bad life. as he is carefull to ſave his own life.2 Cor 12:72 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9his ſoule, after he was converted neere upon 14 years, after he was taken up into as clear and choyce injoyments of God, p. 104as any ſoule that ever I read of. The Conflict that is mentioned, Rom. 7. I find in my ſoule, the whole frame of my ſoule, underſtanding, will, and affections, are ſet againſt ſin. I find that I hate the evill that I doe; and I find That the good that I would doe, I doe not, and the evill that I would not doe, that doe I. I find a Law in my Members, rebelling againſt the Law of my mind, and leading of me Captive to the Law of ſin. And this makes me often to cry out with Paul, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? Therefore I ſometime hope, that thoſe ſins that are now my burden, ſhall never hereafter be my bane.

Well, and is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more to ſay.

What's that?

Why, it is this.

I can truly ſay, when the Lord gives me any ſtrength againſt ſin, and any power to ſerve him, and to walk cloſe with him, in his wayes, it is a greater joy and comfort to my ſoule, then all the bleſſings of this life. Though I have not yet ſeen that he ha's ſet me as a ſeale upon his heart, as a ſeale upon his arme: Though I have not yet the clear aſſurance of his love: Though his Spirit hath not yet ſet up ſuch a light in my ſoule, whereby I might run and read my right and title to himſelfe and heaven; yet when he doth give me but a little light through a crevis, when he does but begin to cauſe his love to dawne upon me; when he gives me but a little ſtrength againſt ſin, and a little power to walk cloſe with himſelfe, &c. O this doth adminiſter more abiding joy, and more ſweet peace, and more ſollid comfort to my ſoule, then all the riches, honours, friends, and favours of this world.

Well, is this all, O weake Saint?

No Sir, I have one thing more to ſay.

What's that?

Why, that is this.

Though my intereſt in Chriſt be not cleer to me, yet I can XI. Pſal. 101. 3. Pſal. 139. 21, 22. Pſal. 120. 6.Ps 101:3Ps 139:21Ps 139:22Ps 120:6truly ſay, I would not change my condition with the men of this world, for a thouſand worlds. 'Tis true, I cannot ſay that I have the ſeale and witneſſe of the Spirit, that many p. 105talk and boaſt of, (though I fear but a few injoy) yet I can really ſay, That I would not change my eſtate with men meerly civill, nor with the prophane men of this world, for ten thouſand worlds, &c.

Well, is this all, O ſoule?

No Sir, I have but one thing more, and then I have done.

Well, what's that?

Why, that is this.

I find my ſoule carried forth to a ſecret reſting, relying, leaning, ſtaying, and hanging upon Chriſt, for life and happineſſe. Though I know not how it ſhall goe with me, yet I Job 13. 15. 2 Kings 7. 3, 4, 5. Eſth. 4. 16.Job 13:152 Kgs 7:32 Kgs 7:42 Kgs 7:5Esth 4:16have throwne my ſelfe into his armes, I leane upon him, there I'le hang, and there I'le reſt and ſtay: If I muſt periſh, I'le periſh there.

And thus, Sir, I have opened my ſtate and condition to you. And now I doe earneſtly deſire your judgement upon the whole.

Well then, this I ſhall ſay, as I muſt anſwer it in the day of my appearing before God, That had I as many ſoules as I have haires on my head, or as there be Starres in heaven, I could freely adventure the loſſe of them all, if theſe things doe not undeniably ſpeake out, not onelyonly the truth, but alſo the ſtrength of Grace, &c. Nay, let me tell you, That he that finds but any of theſe things really in his ſoule (though the Lord hath not given him a clear and full manifeſtation of his love and favour, &c.) yet while breath is in his body, he ha's eminent cauſe to bleſſe God, and to walke thankefully and humbly before him.

The ſecond uſe of the Point, is this.

Live up to that little Grace you have.

Thou ſayeſt, O weak Chriſtian, thou haſt but a little light, 2 Duty.a little love, a little zeale, a little faith, &c. Well, grant it, but know, that 'tis thy duty to live up to thoſe meaſures of To ſpeake well (ſaith Iſiodorus Pelu…iota) is to ſound like a …ymbal; but to doe well, is to act like an Angel, &cgrace thou haſt. And this is the ſecond head that I ſhall preſſe upon you; live up, and live out that grace you have. And if ever there were a ſeaſon to preſſe this Point home upon ſoules, this is the ſeaſon in which we live: And conſidering, that 'tis not a flood of words, but weight of Argument, that carries it with ingenuous ſpirits, I ſhall therefore propound p. 106theſe following things to their ſerious conſideration.

Firſt, Conſider this, Living up to your Graces, carries If Seneca ſaid of his wiſe man, Majore pa…te illic eſt, unde deſcendit, He is more in heaven, then in earth. May not I ſay this is much more true of the godly, &c.with it the greateſt evidence of the truth of Grace.

That man that lives not up to his grace, (let him be ſtrong or weak) wants one of the beſt and ſtrongeſt demonſtrations that can be, to evidence the truth of his grace. If you would have a clear evidence that that little love, that little faith, that little zeale you have, is true; then live up to that love, live up to that faith, live up to that zeale that you have, and this will evidence it beyond all contradiction, &c.

Secondly, Conſider this, God, and your owne ſoules will be very great looſers, if you live not up to thoſe meaſures of Grace you have.

God will looſe many prayers, and many praiſes, he will looſe much honour and glory, and ſervice, which otherwiſe Of all loſſes. ſpirituall loſſes are the ſaddeſt▪ and greateſt, and fercht up with the greateſt difficulty.he might have; and you will looſe much peace, much comfort, much reſt, quietneſſe, and content, that otherwiſe your ſoules might enjoy, &c.

Thirdly, Conſider this, Your not living up to that little light and grace you have, will open the mouths of graceleſſe ſouls againſt your gracious God, and againſt his gracious ones, and againſt his gracious wayes.

You think becauſe of the weakneſſe of your grace, you muſt be borne with in this, and that, and what not? But remember, it is your duty to live up to the light and grace you have; and nothing below this will effectually ſtop the mouths 1 Pet. 2. 15. Ye may put to ſilence the Greek word foreign, ſignifies to muzzle, to halter up, or button up their mouths, as we ſay. O there is nothing that will ſo muzzle & b…tton up the mouthes of vaine men, as Chriſtians ſiving up to that light & grace they have.1 Pet 2:15of graceleſſe wretches from barking againſt the wayes of God, the truths of God, and the people of God. Vaine men will be often a reaſoning thus, Though ſuch and ſuch men and women, have not ſuch great knowledge, ſuch clear light, ſuch ſtrong love, and ſuch burning zeale, as David, Paul, and other Worthies, yet they have ſo much light, and knowledge, as tells them, that they ſhould not carry themſelves thus and thus as they doe. Their light and knowledge tells them, that they ſhould be juſt and righteous in their dealings, and in all their wayes and deſignes, &c. Though they have not ſuch great meaſures of ſpirituall injoyments, as ſuch and ſuch; yet that little grace they have, ſhould lead them b y the hand to p. 107doe things worthy of that Chriſt, and that Goſpel they profeſſe, &c.

Let me a little expoſtulate the point with you (weak Saints) you know that you ſhould not be ſtirr'd and heated by every ſtraw that is in your way, why don't you in this then live up to your light? You know that you ſhould not be overcome of evill, but overcome evill with good. And why don't you in this live up to your light? You know that you ſhould Doe good Rom. 12. 21. Mat. 5. 44. u…t.Rom 12:21Matt 5:44to thoſe that doe hurt to you; why doe not you in this live up to your light? You know that you ſhould doe your duties to others, though they neglect their duties to you: 'Tis not the neglect of a husbands duty, that frees the wife from the diſcharge of hers: Nor the neglect of a wives duty, that frees the husband from the diſcharge of his. You know this, don't you? yes, why don't you then live up to your light? Why doe you by your contrary actings open the mouths of others againſt God, and his wayes? You know that you ſhould be exemplary in your relations, in your Generation, and in your converſations. You know that you ſhould be examples of holineſſe, meekneſſe, ſweetneſſe, patience, and contentedneſſe, and why then don't you live up to your knowledge in theſe things? You know that you ſhould doe to others, as you would have others to doe to you: And why in this don't you live up to your knowledge? Ah that you that are weak did not cauſe the mouths of wicked men to be opened againſt God, his truths, and wayes. Therefore by your living below that light and knowledge that God ha's given you, I beſeech you as you tender the honour of God, and as you would ſtop the mouths of vaine men, live up to thoſe meaſures of grace that the Lord ha's given you. No way to comfort-like this, no way to the Crowne like this; he will not be long a Babe in grace, who lives out that little grace he ha's.

Fourthly, Living up to your light is the readieſt and the onelyonly way to fetch up and to recover all that hath been loſt by your living below your light.

By your living below your light, God, your owne ſoules, and the Goſpel, have loſt much, yea, and others alſo have loſt much light, comfort, ſtrength, and quickneſſe, &c. that they p. 108might have had, had you but liv'd up to that little grace you Bernard paraphraſing on that of Solomon, A L…lly amongſt thorns, ſaith, the manners (or lines) of men, as Lillies, have their colours and odou…; that which comes from a pure heart, and a good Conſcience, hath he colour of a Lilly. if a good name fallow; it is more truly a Lil'y, when neither cander nor odour of the Lilly is wanting. Non enim paſſibus ad deum ſed affectibus currimus.had. Now there is no way on earth to recover, and to fetch up theſe loſſes, but by living up to that grace you have. Ah Chriſtians! 'tis not your running from Sermon to Sermon, (not that I ſpeak againſt frequent hearing of the word) nor your crying up this man, and that man; or this notion, or that; or this way, or that, that will recover and fetch up the honour that God hath loſt by your living below your graces; 'tis onelyonly your living up to your graces, that will make up all the breaches that have been made upon his honour, and the Goſpel, and upon the comfort and peace of your owne ſoules, and others. Well, remember this, all the honour that God hath from you in this life, is from your living up to that light, knowledge, love, feare, and faith, that he ha's given you: There's nothing that will make up all loſſes, but this; therefore I begg of you upon the knees of my ſoule, that you would take this one thing home with you, and goe into your Cloſets, and lay your hands upon your hearts, and ſay, Well, the Lord hath loſt much, and my owne ſoule hath loſt much, and others have loſt much by my living below that little Grace I have; and therefore I will now make it my buſineſſe (by aſſiſting Grace) to live up to thoſe meaſures of Grace that I have received, more then yet I have done all my dayes. I will by the ſtrength of Chriſt make it more my duty, and my worke to live out what God ha's given in, then ever yet I have done, that ſo the Lord and the Goſpel may be no further looſers, but gainers by me.

The fifth and laſt Motive, is this, The readieſt and the ſureſt Job 17. 9. Cant. 6. 10. Prov. 4. 18. H…ſtory reports of a Countrey in Aſrica, where the peoples induſtry hath an abundant reward; for every buſhel… of ſeed they ſow, they receive 150 mcreaſe af…er. Blaza…ium Plin l. 18. c. 10. The app…ication is eaſie. Prov. 10. 4. Dyoniſius gave him his money aga…ne, f…om whom he had taken much, after that he hea…d he empl…yed a little well: And will God beworſe then a He… then?Job 17:9Song 6:10Prov 4:18Prov 10:4way to get more Grace, is to live up to that little Grace you have.

He that lives up to a little light, ſhall have more light; he that lives up to a little knowledge, ſhall have more knowledge; he that lives up to a little faith, ſhall have more faith; and he that lives up to a little love, ſhall have more love, &c. There is no ſuch way to attaine to greater meaſures of grace, as for a man to live up to that little grace he hath. Verily the maine reaſon why many are ſuch Babes and ſhrubs in grace, is, becauſe they don't live up to their attainments. He that won't p. 109improve two Talents, ſhall never have the honour to be truſted with five: But he that improves a little, ſhall be truſted with much. The diligent hand maketh rich. He that is active and agile, that works as well as wiſhes, that adds endeavours to his deſires, will quickly be a Cedar in grace. Ah Chriſtians! you have a God that's great, a God that's good; a God that's gracious, and a God that is rich, that loves not to ſee his Children to be alwayes weaklings and ſtriplings in grace. The very Babe, by drawing the Breaſts, gets ſtrength and nouriſhment. O you Babes in grace, put out that little ſtrength you have, be you ſtill a drawing at the breaſts of Chriſt, at the breaſts of the Promiſes, and ſtrength will come, nouriſhment will follow, &c.

The third Duty that I would preſſe upon weake Saints; is this.

Be ſure that you alwayes reflect upon your Graces, and whatſocver good is in you, with Cautions.

This is a weighty Point, and doth beſpeak your moſt ſerious attention.

There are ſix Rules or Cautions that weak Saints ſhould 3 Duty.alwayes obſerve in their looking upon their graces.

And the firſt is this, Looke upon all your Graces, as gifts Of thine owne (aith David) have we given thee. 1 Chr. 29. 14.1 Chr 29:14of Grace; as favours given you from above, as gifts dropt out of heaven into your hearts, as flowers that are given you out of the Garden of Paradiſe.

A man ſhould never look upon his grace, but he ſhould look upon it as a flower of Paradiſe, as a gift that God hath caſt into his boſome, from heaven. 1. Cor. 4. 7. Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what haſt thou that thou haſt not received? &c. Thou talkeſt of light, of love, of fear, of faith, &c. but what are all theſe, but Pearles of glory that are freely given thee by the hand of grace? Every good As all light flowes from the Sun, and all water from the ſea, ſo all good flowes from Heaven.and perfect gift comes downe from above. The greateſt excellencies in us doe as much depend upon God, as the light doth upon the Sun. When thou lookeſt upon thy wiſedome, thou muſt ſay, Here's wiſedome, I, but 'tis from above. Here is ſome weak love working towards Chriſt, but 'tis from above Here's joy, and comfort, and peace, but theſe are all the flowers p. 110of Paradiſe, they never grew in natures Garden. When a ſoule looks thus upon all thoſe coſtly Diamonds with which his heart is deckt, he keeps low, though his graces are high. Where this rule is neglected, the ſoule will be endangered, of being ſwell'd and pufft.

Mr. Fox was uſed to ſay, That as he got much good by his ſins, ſo he got much hurt by his graces. When you look upon the ſtream, remember the fountaine; when you look upon the flower, remember the root; when you look upon the ſtars, remember the Sun; and when you look upon your graces, remember the fountaine of grace, elſe Satan will be too hard for you. Satan is ſo artificiall, ſo ſubtill and critical, that he can make your very graces, to ſerve him againſt your graces; conquering joy by joy, ſorrow by ſorrow, humility by humility, fear by fear, and love by love, if you doe not look upon all your graces, as ſtreames flowing from the fountaine above, and as fruits growing upon the Tree of life, that is in the midſt of the Paradice of God. Therefore when one eye is fixt upon your graces, let the other be alwayes fixt upon the God of grace.

Secondly, At the time when your eye is upon inherent grace Aut totum mecum tene, aut totam omitte. Greg. Naz. Let us ſay of Chriſt, as the heathen once ſaid of his petty Gods. (Contemno minutus iſtos Deos, modi …ovem propiti am habeam) So long as he had his Jupiter to friend, he regarded the… not. So ſo …ong as we have our Jeſus to friend, we ſhou…d not reg…rd others no not our very graces, in compariſon of Chriſtand righteouſneſſe, let your heart be fixt upon Chriſt, and his imputed righteouſneſſe.

Pauls eye was upon his grace, Rom. 7. 22. 25. I delight in the Law of God, after the inward man. And with my mind I ſerve the Law of God. And yet at that very ſame time, his heart was ſet upon Chriſt, and taken up with Chriſt, verſ. 25. I thanke God, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. So in Col. 2. 2, 3. you have one eye fixt upon grace, and at the ſame time the heart fixt upon Chriſt. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgement of the myſtery of God, and of the father, and of Chriſt; in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge. His eye is upon grace, his heart is upon Chriſt. So in Phil. 3. 8. the Apoſtle hath his eye upon the excellent knowledge of Chriſt, but verſ. 9. his heart is ſet upon the righteouſheſſe of Chriſt. That I might be found in him, not having mine owne righteouſneſſe, p. 111which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith. Here you have his eye upon grace, and his heart upon Chriſt, in the very preſence of his grace. This is your glory, Chriſtians, in the preſence and ſight of all your graces, to ſee the free grace of Chriſt and his infinite, ſpotleſſe, matchleſſe, and glorious righteouſneſſe, to be your ſureſt, ſweeteſt, higheſt, and choyceſt comfort, and refuge.

Peter was not well skill'd in this leſſon, and that was the very reaſon that he fell fowleſt, when his confidence was higheſt. Grace is a ring of gold, and Chriſt is the Pearle in that ring; and he that looks more upon the ring, then the Pearle that is in it, in the houre of temptation will certainly fall. When the wives eye is upon her Rings or Jewels, then her heart muſt be ſet upon her husband. When grace is in my eye, Chriſt muſt at that time be in my armes; yea, he muſt lye between my breaſts. Cant. 1. 13. My Beloved is as a bundle of myrrhe, he ſhall lye all night between my breaſts. Chriſt (and not grace) muſt lye neereſt to a Chriſtians heart.

A third thing is this, When you looke upon your grace, you muſt looke upon it as a beautifull Creature, that is begotten in Gal. 2. 20. Phil. 5. 6 Deus nihil coronat n…ſi dona ſua. Aug. When God crowneth us he doth but crowne his owne gifts in us.Gal 2:20the ſoule by Chriſt, and that is ſtrengthend, maintained, cheriſhed, and upheld in your ſoules by nothing below the ſpirituall, internall, and glorious apperations of Chriſt.

Though Grace be a beautifull Creature, yet Grace is but a Creature, and ſo your ſoules muſt look upon it. Grace is a heavenly off-ſpring, 'tis the firſt-borne of God (as I may ſay) and does moſt repreſent him to the life. Grace is a bud of glory, 'tis of the blood Royall, 'tis nobly diſcended, Jam. 1. 17. So in Heb. 12. 2. Looking unto Jeſus the Author and foreign The Leader and CrownerFiniſher of our faith. Chriſt is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginner, and Ender. In all other things and Arts, the ſame man cannot begin; and finiſh, but Chriſt doth both, Phil. 1. 5. Our graces thrive, and are upheld in life, and power, in beaury and glory, by the internall apperation of Chriſt in our ſoules. So in Col. 1. 27. Chriſt in you, the hope of glory. So verſ. 29. Whereunto I alſo labour, ſtriving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. So Phil. 4. 13. p. 112I can doe all things, through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me. I foreign, is wrong … in me in power. The word (foreign. All things) tho it be an univerſall, is not to be taken in the u moſt ex…ent, but according to the uſe of the like phraſes in all languages, wherein the univerſall ſigne affix…, either to perſons, o… times, or places, or things, ſignifies a greater number, but not all without exception, as you may ſee by comparing theſe Scriptures together, Pſal. 14. 4, 8, 9. John 14. 26. 1 Cor. 10. 23 So thoſe words are to be underſtood in Phil. 4. 13.Ps 14:4Ps 14:8Ps 14:9John 14:261 Cor 10:23Phil 4:13can be high, and low, poore and rich, honourable and baſe, ſomething or nothing, &c. through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. So in Cant. 4. ult. Blow upon my Garden, that the ſpices thereof may ſend forth a fragrant ſmell. We may puffe and blow our hearts out, and yet no ſavoury ſmell will flow forth, if Chriſt does not blow. So in Pſal. 138. 3. In the day when I cryed, thou anſweredſt me, and ſtrengtheneſt me with ſtrength in my ſoule. Your graces, Chriſtians, are heavenly Plants of Gods owne ſetting, and watering; and certainly this heavenly Huſbandman will never ſuffer ſuch Plants of renowne to wither, for want of heavenly ſapp; he will look to the ſtrengthening, ſupporting, and nouriſhing of the work of his own hand; he will cauſe the deſires of his people to bud, and their graces to bloſſome, and their ſoules to be like a watered Garden, green and flouriſhing, Iſa. 58. 11. compared with Iſa. 35. 6, 7.

Fourthly, When you looke upon your Graces, you muſt looke upon them as an earneſt of more glorious and unſpeakeable meaſures of Grace and glory, that your ſoules ſhall be filled with at laſt.

In Epheſ. 1. 13, 14. After that ye believed, ye were ſealed with that holy ſpirit of Promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, unto the praiſe of his glory. That little light and knowledge thou haſt, is an earneſt to thy ſoule, that thou ſhalt at laſt know even as thou art knowne. 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now wee ſee through a glaſſe darkely, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then ſhall I know, even as I am knowne. Chriſtians know but little of that they ſhould know, they know but little of that they might know, they know but little of that others know, they know but little of that they deſire to know, they know but little of that they ſhall know, when they ſhall come to know, even as they are knowne. And yet theſe weak and imperfect glimpſes that they have of God and Heaven here, are infallible pledges of that perfect knowledge, and full proſpect, that they ſhall have of God and heaven hereafter. So that that little ſpark of joy thou haſt, is an earneſt p. 113of thoſe everlaſting joyes that ſhall reſt upon thy head, when foreign in a Riddle. Aenigma is properly Obſcura allegoria, an obſcure Allegory, 'tis an Allegory with a mask on; 'tis a cloudy, knotty, intricate ſpeech, ſealed and lockt up from vulgar apprehenſions. That's a Riddle.all ſorrow and mourning ſhall flye away, Iſa. 35. 10. &c. And thoſe ſips of comfort thou haſt now, are an earneſt of thy ſwimming in thoſe everlaſting pleaſures that be at gods right hand, Pſal. 16. ult. The leaſt meaſures of grace, are an earneſt of greater meaſures: God will not looſe his earneſt, though men often looſe theirs. God will not deſpiſe the day of ſmall things; he will make thoſe that bring forth but thirty fold, to bring forth ſixty fold; and thoſe that bring forth ſixty fold, to bring forth a hundred fold, &c. He, his Son, and Spirit, are all eminently and fully ingaged to carry on the work of grace in his Childrens ſoules. Therefore doe not ſit downe and ſay, my light is but dim, and my love but weak, and my joy but a ſpark, that will quickly goe out, &c. But alwayes remember, That thoſe weak meaſures of grace thou haſt, are a ſure evidence of greater meaſures that God will confer upon thee in his owne time, and in his owne wayes, Iſa. 64. 4, 5.

Fifthly, When you looke upon your Graces, be ſure that you looke more at the truth of your Graces, then at the meaſure of your Graces.

You muſt rather bring your Graces to the Touch-ſtone, to try their truth; then to the ballance to weigh their meaſure. Many weak Chriſtians are weighing their graces, when they ſhould be a trying the truth of their graces, as if the quantity and meaſure of grace were more conſiderable, then the Eſſence and nature of grace; and this is that that keeps many weak Saints in a dark, doubting, queſtioning, and deſpairing condition; yea, this makes their lives a very hell. Weak Saints, if you will not obſerve this rule, this Caution, when you look upon your graces, you will goe ſighing and mourning to your Graves. Ah poor hearts! you ſhould not be more cruell to your owne ſoules, then God is. When God comes to make a judgement of your ſpirituall eſtates, he doth not bring a paire of ſcales to we…gh your graces, but a Touchſtone to try the truth of your graces; and ſo ſhould you deale by your owne ſoules: If you deale otherwiſe, you are more cruell to your ſoules, then God would have you. And if you p. 114are reſolved, That in this you will not imitate the Lord, then I dare propheſie, that joy and peace ſhall be none of your Lam. 1. 16.Lam 1:16Gueſts, and he that ſhould comfort you, will ſtand a farre off. 'Tis good to owne and acknowledge a little grace, though it be mingled with very much corruption; as that poor ſoule did, Mark 9. 24. And ſtraightway the father of the Child Grace is homogeneall: …very winkling of light; is light; every drop of water, is water; every ſpark of fire, is fire; every drop of honey, is honey: So every drop of grace, is grace; and if the l…aſt dr…p or ſpark of grace, be not wo…th ac knowledging, 'tis worth nothing.cryed out, and ſaid with teares, Lord I believe, help thou mine unbeliefe. He had but a little little faith, and this was mixt with abundance of unbelief, and yet notwithſtanding he acknowledges that little faith he had. Lord I believe, help my unbeliefe. His faith was ſo weak, that he accounts it little better then unbelief: Yet ſayes he, Lord I believe, help my unbeliefe. The leaſt meaſure of faith will make thee bleſſed here, and happy hereafter.

A Doctor cryed out upon his dying Bed (Credo languida fide ſed tamen fide) Much faith will yeeld unto us here our Heaven, and any faith (if true) will yield us heaven hereafter. So the Church in Cant. 1. 5. I am black, but comely. She had nothing to ſay for her beautifullneſſe, yet ſhe acknowledgeth her comelineſſe, I am black, but comely. Though ſhe could not ſay ſhe was clear, yet ſhe could ſay ſhe was comely. As ſhe was free to confeſſe her blackneſſe, ſo ſhe was ingenuous to acknowledge her comelineſſe. I am black, but comely. Ah Chriſtians! will you deale worſe with your owne ſoules, then you deale with your Children? When you goe to make a Judgement of your Childs affections, you look more to the truth of their affections, then you doe to the ſtrength of their affections; and will you be leſſe ingenious and favourable to your owne ſoules? If he deſerves to be branded, that feaſts his Child, and ſtarves his wife, what doe you deſerve, that can acknowledge the leaſt naturall good that is in a Child, and yet will acknowledge none of that ſpirituall and heavenly good that is in your ſoules?

Sixthly, and laſtly, When you looke upon your Graces, look that you doe not renounce and reject your Graces (ſeene in the light of the ſpirit) as a weake and worthleſſe evidence of your intereſt in Chriſt, and that happineſſe that comes by Chriſt.

p. 115I know in theſe dayes many cry up Revelations and Viſions Grace (ſaith one) is the foundation of all our felicity, and comprebends all bleſſings: As M…nna is ſaid to have done all go…d taſts. Johns Epiſtles are a rich Treaſury for Chriſtian Aſſurance.(yea, the Viſions of their owne hearts) and make ſlight of the graces of Chriſt, in the hearts of his people: Yea, they look upon grace as a poor weak thing. Ah Chriſtians! take heed of this, elſe you will render null (in a very great meaſure) many precious Scriptures, (eſpecially the Epiſtle of John) which were penned for the Comfort and Support of weak Saints.

But that this may ſtick, and work, be pleaſed to carry home with you theſe three things.

Firſt, Other precious Saints that are now triumphing in heaven, have pleaded their intereſt in Gods love, and hopes of a better life from Graces inherent.

I'le onelyonly point at thoſe Scriptures that ſpeak out this truth. 1 John 3. 14. Chap. 2. 3, 4. Job 23. 10, 11, 12. And the whole 31 Chapter of Job. Pſal. 119. 6. Iſa. 38. 2, 3. 2 Cor. 1. 12. All theſe Scriptures (with many others that Chriſtians may doubtleſſe look to their graces as Evidences of their part in Chriſt and ſalva…ion (and the clearer and ſtronger they are, the greater will be their comfort) but not as Cauſes.might be produced) doe with open mouth proclaime this Truth. And ſurely to deny the fruit growing upon the Tree, to be an Evidence that the Tree is alive, is to me as unreaſonable, as it is abſurd. Certainly, 'tis one thing to judge by our graces, and another thing to truſt in our graces, to make a Saviour of our graces. There is a great deale of difference betwixt declaring and deſerving: And if this be not granted, it will follow, that the Apoſtle hath ſent us aſide to a Covenant of works, when he exhorts us to uſe all dilligence to make our Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1. 5-10.

Secondly, Carry home this with you, If Juſtification and Sanctification be both of them benefits of the Covenant of Grace, then to evidence the one by the other, is no wayes unlawfull, nor no turning aſide to a Covenant of works.

But our Juſtification and Sanctification are both of them benefits and bleſſings of the Covenant of Grace.

Ergo.

In Jer. 33. 8. I will pardon all their iniquity, whereby they have ſinned againſt me (there's your Juſtification.) And I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity, whereby they have ſinned againſt me. (There's your Sanctification) And therefore p. 116to evidence the one by the other, can be no wayes unlawfull, nor no turning aſide to a Covenant of works.

Thirdly, Carry home this with you, Whatever gift of God in man brings him within the compaſſe of Gods Promiſe of Eternall Mercy, that Gift muſt be an infallible evidence of ſalvation, and happineſſe.

But ſuch are thoſe gifts mentioned in thoſe Scriptures that prove the firſt head.

Therefore they are infallible evidences of our ſalvation, and eternall happineſſe.

I confeſſe a man may have many great gifts, and yet none Covet rather graces, then gifts; as to pray more fervently, tho leſſe notionally, or eloquently. Stammering Moſes muſt pray rather then wellſpoken Aaron. The Corinthians came behind in no gift, 1 Cor. 1. 7. yet were Babes, and Carnall. Chap. 3. 2, 3.1 Cor 1:7of them bring him within the compaſſe of Gods Promiſe of Eternall mercy. But I ſay, whatever gift of God in man brings him within the compaſſe of Gods Promiſe of eternall mercy, that gift muſt be an infallible evidence of his happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe.

For the further clearing of this, I will inſtance in a gift of Waiting; where this gift is, it brings a man within the compaſſe of Gods Promiſe of eternall mercy. And had a man (as in a deſerted ſtate it often falls out) nothing under heaven to ſhew for his happineſſe, but onelyonly a waiting frame, this ought to bear him up from fainting and ſinking. When the ſoule ſaith, My ſun is ſet, my day is turned into night, my light into darkneſſe, and my rejoycing into mourning, &c. Oh! I have loſt the comforting preſence of God, I have loſt the quickening preſence of God, I have loſt the ſupporting preſence of God, I have loſt the incouraging preſence of God, &c. and when I ſhall recover theſe ſad loſſes, I know not. All that I can ſay, is this, That God keeps me in a waiting frame, weeping and knocking at the door of mercy. Now I ſay, This waiting temper brings the ſoule within the compaſſe of the Promiſe of Eternall mercy: And certainly ſuch a ſoule ſhall not miſcarry. Take three Promiſes for this.

In Iſa. 40. ult. They that waite upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run, and not be weary, and they ſhall walke, and not faint. (The mercy is the waiting-mans, but the waiting-man muſt give God leave to time his mercy for him.) So in Iſa. 30. 18. p. 117And therefore will the Lord waite, that he may be gracious unto you: And therefore will he be exalted, that he may have Vide Lyra, & Junius, on the words.mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of Judgement, bleſſed are all they that waite for him. So in Iſa. 64. 4. For ſince the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the eare, neither hath the eye ſeene, O God, beſides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. So in Iſa. 49. 23. They ſhall not be aſhamed that waite for me. Men are often That is, they ſhall be advanced by me to great hap pineſle, and glory, to great dignity, and …elicity; for in the Hebrew Dialect, Adverbs of denying, ſignifie the contrary to the import of that Verb whereunto they are joyned. as might be ſhewed by many Scriptures.aſhamed, that waite upon the mountaines and hills. Men high and great often fruſtrate the expectation of waiting ſouls, and then they bluſh, and are aſhamed and confounded that they have waited, and been deceived; but they ſhall not be aſhamed that waite for me, ſayes God. I will not deceive their expectation, and after all their waiting turne them off, and ſay, I have no mercy for you. Now I ſay, where this waiting temper is, which is all that many a poor ſoul hath to ſhew for everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe, that ſoule ſhall never miſcarry. That God that doth maintaine and uphold the ſoule in this heavenly waiting frame, in the appointed ſeaſon will ſpeak life and love, mercy, and glory, to the waiting ſoule.

And ſo I have done with the third Uſe, which was to ſtir you up to look upon your graces, with Cautions.

The fourth Duty is

To perſwade weake Saints not to turne aſide from the wayes of God, nor from the ſervice of God, becauſe of any hardſhips, 4 Duty.or difficulties that they may meet with in his wayes, or ſervice.

There is a very great aptneſſe in weak Saints, to take offence almoſt at every thing, and to be diſcouraged by the leaſt oppoſition, affliction, and temptation, and ſo to turne aſide from the good old way. Now that no difficulties, nor hardſhips may turne you out of the way that is called holy, conſider ſeriouſly of theſe few things.

Firſt, Conſider this, The Lord will ſweeten more and more his ſervices to you.

He will make his work to be more and more eaſie to your ſoules; he will ſute thy burden to thy back, and thy work to p. 118thy hand, O weak ſoule. Thou ſhalt find that his grace will be ſufficient to hold thee up, and carry thee on, notwithſtanding 2 Cor. 12. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14.2 Cor 12:92 Cor 5:14any difficulties or diſcouragements that be in the way. He will ſhed abroad that love that ſhall conſtraine thy ſoule, The Philoſopher told his friends when they came into his little low Cottage (Enteuthen ouk apeiſi the oi) the Gods are here with me. Surely God, and Chriſt, and the Spirit are and will be with weak Saints to aid and aſtiſt them in every gracious work.both to keep cloſe to his ſervice, and to delight in his ſervice. He will make all his ſervices to be eaſie to thee; he will vouchſafe to thee that aſſiſting grace that ſhall keep up thy head and heart from fainting and ſinking under diſcouragements; as you may ſee in Ezek. 36. 25, 26, 27, 28. And I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walke in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keepe my Judgements, and doe them. So in Pſal. 63. 8. My ſoule followeth hard after thee (I, but how comes this to paſſe?) Thy right hand upholds me. I feele thy hand under me, drawing of my ſoule off after thee. Oh! were not thy gracious hand under me, I ſhould never follow hard after thee. The Lord will put under his everlaſting armes, O weak Chriſtian, and therefore though thy feet be apt to ſlide, yet his everlaſting armes ſhall bear thee up; therefore be not diſcouraged, doe not turne aſide from thoſe paths that drop marrow and fatneſſe, though there be a Lyon in the way.

Secondly, Conſider this, O weak Saint, That there is leſſe danger and hardſhip in the wayes of Chriſt, then there is in the wayes of ſin, Satan, or the world.Prov. 11. 18, 19. & 21. 21.Prov 11:18Prov 11:19Prov 21:21

That ſoule doth but leap out of the Frying-pan into the fire, that thinks to mend himſelfe by turning out of the way that is called holy. Oh! the horrid drudgery that is in the wayes of ſin, Satan, or the world. Thy worſt day in Chriſts ſervice, is better then thy beſt dayes (if I may ſo ſpeak) in ſin or Satans ſervice. Satan will pay the ſinner home at laſt with the loſſe of God, Chriſt, Heaven, and his ſoule for ever: But in the way of righteouſneſſe is life, joy, peace, honour, and in the path-way thereof there is no death, Prov. 12. 28. His wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſſe, and all his paths are peace, Prov. 3. 17.

Thirdly, Remember, O weak Saint, That all thoſe hardſhips that thou meeteſt with, doe onelyonly reach the outward man.

They onelyonly reach the ignoble, the baſer part of man; they p. 119meddle not, they touch not the noble part. With my mind I ſerve the Law of God, though with my fleſh the Law of ſin, Rom. 7. 22. And, verſ. 25. I delight in the Law of God, after the inward man. And indeed, many of the Heathen have incouraged themſelves for this very conſideration, againſt the troubles and dangers of this life. All the Arrowes that are Anaxagoras, Pla to, and others.ſhot at a Chriſtian, ſtick in his Buckler, they never reach his conſcience, his ſoule. The raging waves beat ſorely againſt Noah's Ark, but they toucht not him. The ſoule is of too noble a nature to be toucht by troubles. Jacob's hard ſervice under Laban, and his being nipt by the froſt in winter, and Gen. 31. 40.Gen 31:40ſcorcht by the Sun in ſummer, did onelyonly reach his outward man; his ſoule had high communion, and ſweet fellowſhip with God, under all his hardſhips. Ah Chriſtian! bear up bravely, for whatever hardſhips thou meeteſt with in the wayes of God, ſhall onelyonly reach thy outward man; and under all theſe hardſhips thou mayeſt have as high and ſweet Hoſ. 2. 14.Hos 2:14communion with God, as if thou hadſt never knowne what hardſhips meant.

Fourthly, Tell me, O weake Saints, have not you formerly injoyed ſuch ſweet refreſhings while you have been in the very ſervice of God, as hath out-wayed all the troubles and hardſhips that your ſoules have met with? I know you have, and you know that you have often found that Scripture made good upon your hearts, Pſal. 19. 11. Moreover by them is thy ſervant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Mark) he doth not ſay, For keeping of them there is great reward, though that's a truth: But in keeping Auſtin ſaith, If a man ſhould …erve the Lord … thouſand …ears, in would …t d…ſerve an boure of the reward in Heaven, much leſſe an Eternity, &c.of them there is great reward. While the ſoule is at work, God throwes in the reward. Don't you remember, O weak Chriſtians, when you have been in the ſervice and way of God, how he hath caſt in joy at one time, and peace at another, &c? Oh! the ſmiles, the kiſſes, the ſweet diſcoveries that your ſoules have met with, whilſt you have been in his wayes. Ah poore ſoules! don't you know, that one houres being in the boſome of Chriſt, will make you forget all your hardſhips? heaven at laſt will make amends for all; and the more hardſhips you find in the wayes of God, the more p. 120ſweet will heaven be to you, when you come there. O how ſweet is a Harbour after a long ſtorme; and a Sun-ſhine day after a dark and tempeſtuous night, and a warme Spring, after a ſharp winter. The miſeries and difficulties that a man meets with in this world, will exceedingly ſweeten the glory of that other world.

Laſtly, Conſider, What hardſhips and difficulties the men of this world run through, to get the world, and undoe their owne ſoules.

They riſe early, goe to bed late, they goe from one end of the world, to another, and venture through all manner of dangers, Pſal. 127. 2. Mat. 16. 16…Ps 127:2Matt 16:16deaths, and miſeries, to gaine thoſe things that are vaine, uncertaine, vexing, and dangerous to their ſoules: And wilt not thou, as a good Souldier of Chriſt, endure a little hardſhip 2 Tim. 2. 3, 4.2 Tim 2:32 Tim 2:4for the honour of thy Captaine, and thine owne internall and eternall good? Thou art liſted under Chriſts Colours, and therefore thou muſt arme thy ſelfe againſt all difficulties, and diſcouragements. The number of difficulties makes the Chriſtians Conqueſt the more illuſtrious. A gracious man ſhould be made up all of fire, overcoming and conſuming all oppoſitions, As Chryſoſtome ſaid of Peter.as fire does the ſtubble. All difficulties ſhould be but whet-ſtones to his fortitude.

The fifth Duty is this, You that are weake Saints ſhould obſerve how Chriſt keepes your wills and affections.

That man is kept indeed, whoſe will and affection is kept cloſe to Chriſt: And that man is loſt with a witneſſe, whoſe will and affections are won from Chriſt. Weak Saints are more apt to obſerve their owne actions, then their wills and affections, and this proves a ſnare unto them; therefore obſerve your affections, how they are kept, for if they are kept cloſe to Chriſt, if they are kept faithfull to Chriſt, (though thy foot may ſlide from Chriſt) all is well. The Apoſtle, Rom. 7. obſerv'd that his will and affections were kept cloſe to Chriſt, even then when he was Tyrannically Captivated, and carried by the prevalency of ſin, from Chriſt. With my mind I ſerve the Law of God (ſayes he) and what I doe I allow not, therefore it is no more I that doth it, but ſin that dwelleth in me. My will ſtands cloſe to Chriſt, and my affections p. 121are faithfull to Chriſt, though by the prevalency of corruption I am now and then carried Captive from Chriſt. 'Tis one thing to be taken up by an Enemy, and another thing for a man to lay downe his Weapons at his Enemies feet. I am, ſaith the Apoſtle, a forc't man, I doe what I hate, I doe what I never intended. The heart may be ſound, when more externall and inferiour parts are not. The heart of a man may be ſound God-ward, and Chriſt-ward, and holineſſe-ward, when yet there may be many defects, and weakneſſes in his Converſation. Now a weak Chriſtian ſhould be very ſtudious to obſerve how his heart ſtands God-wards; for the man is as his heart is, if that be right with Chriſt, then all is well; therefore ſayes Solomon, Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iſſues of life. The Hebrew runs more The heart is (Camera omnipotentis Regis) The preſence-Chamber of the King of Heaven.fully thus, Before all, or Above all keepings, keepe thy heart; for out of it is the goings forth of lives. The heart is the Spring and Fountaine of all naturall and ſpirituall actions; 'tis the Primum mobile, the great wheele that ſets all other wheeles a going: 'Tis the great Monarch in the Iſle of Man, therefore keep it with all cuſtody and Caution, or elſe bid farewell to all true joy, peace, and comfort. When the heart ſtands right towards Chriſt, Chriſt will pardon much, and paſſe by much.

If the raviſhed Virgin in the time of the Law cryed out, ſhe was guiltleſſe: So when a poore ſoule, raviſhed by the power of corruption, and ſtrength of Satans temptations, cryes out, Lord I would not for all the world, ſin againſt thee; I would not diſtruſt thee; I would not be impatient under thy afflicting hand; I would not be proud, under thy mercifull hand; but Lord, theſe Sons of Zerviah, theſe corruptions, 2 Sam. 3. 39.2 Sam 3:39are too hard for me; they commit a Rape upon me, they raviſh me of my Jeſus, and of my joy, and of my peace; Lord help me, Lord deliver me. Now theſe weakneſſes ſhall not be charged upon the ſoule. The raviſhed Virgin under the Law, if ſhe cryed out, was guiltleſſe: And certainly, God is not, nor will not be leſſe mercifull and gracious to his people under the Goſpel, who are ſtill a crying out againſt their ſins, and Satans aſſaults. Surely thoſe ſins ſhall never be a Chriſtians p. 122bane, that are now his greateſt burden. 'Tis not falling into the water, but lying in the water, that drownes. 'Tis not falling into ſin, but lying in ſin, that damnes. If ſin and thy heart be two, Chriſt and thy heart are one. If thy heart be Chriſt-ward, thou art ſo happy that nothing can make thee miſerable.

Sixthly,

Take heed of making ſenſe and feeling a Judge of your 6 Duty.condition.

Though there is nothing more dangerous, yet there is nothing more ordinary, then for weak Saints to make their ſenſe and feeling the Judge of their condition. Ah poore ſoules! this is diſhonourable to God, and very diſadvantagious to Senſe and reaſon in ſpirituall things, ſayes Luther, is (N…xia beſtia) an harmfull beaſt, that will deſtroy and pull downe what faith builds up.your ſelves. Senſe is ſometimes oppoſite to reaſon, but alwayes to faith; therefore doe as thoſe Worthies did, 2 Cor. 5. 8, 9. We walke by faith, and not by ſight. For a man to argue thus, Surely God is not my God, for I am not inlightned, I am not quickned, I am not melted, I am not raiſed, I am not inlarged as formerly: Oh! I have not thoſe ſweet anſwers and returnes of Prayer, that once I had. Oh! I can't find the Lords quickning preſence, nor his inlivening preſence, nor his humbling preſence, nor his incouraging preſence, as once I have; therefore ſurely my condition is not good. Oh! I am more backward to good, then formerly; and more prone to evill, then formerly; therefore I am afraid that God is not my God, and that the work of grace is not through upon me. Oh! God does not look upon me as in the dayes of old; nor ſpeak to me, as in the dayes of old; nor carry it towards me, as in the dayes of old; and therefore I am afraid that all is naught.

Verily, if you will make ſenſe and feeling the Judge of your eſtate and condition, you will never have peace nor comfort all your dayes. Thy eſtate, O Chriſtian, may be very good, when ſenſe and feeling ſayes 'tis very bad. That Child cannot but be perplexed, that thinks his father doth not love him, becauſe he does not alwayes feele him ſmoothing and ſtroking of him. Chriſtians, you muſt remember, that 'tis one thing for God to love you; and another thing for p. 123God to tell you that he loves you. Your happineſſe lyes in Pſal. 80. 4. Lam. 3. 44. Pſal. 119. 25, 37, 40, 88, 107, 149, 154 156, 159. Pſal. 42. 5. Can. 3. 1, 2, 3. Iſa. 54. 7, 8.Ps 80:4Lam 3:44Ps 119:25Ps 119:37Ps 119:40Ps 119:88Ps 119:107Ps 119:149Ps 119:154Ps 42:5Isa 54:7Isa 54:8the firſt, your comfort in the ſecond. God hath ſtopt his eare againſt the prayers of many a precious ſoule, whom he ha's dearly lov'd. The beſt of men have at times loſt that quickening, raviſhing, and comforting preſence of God, that once they have injoyed. And verily, he that makes ſenſe and carnall reaſon a judge of his condition, ſhall be happy, and miſerable, bleſt and curſt, ſav'd and loſt, many times in a day, yea, in an houre. The Counſel that I would give to ſuch a ſoule that is apt to ſet up reaſon in the roome of faith, is this, Whatſoever thy eſtate and condition be, never make ſenſe and feeling the Judge of it, but onelyonly the word of God. Did ever God appoint carnall reaſon, ſenſe, and feeling, to be a Judge of thy eſtate? Surely no: And why then wilt thou ſubject thy ſoule to their judgement? God will judge thee at laſt by his word, John 12. 48. The word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judge you in the laſt day. Carnall reaſon is an Enemy to faith, 'tis ſtill a croſſing and contradicting of faith; it fills the mind full of cavills and prejudices, full of Pleas and Arguments to keep Chriſt and the ſoule aſunder; and the ſoule and the Promiſes aſunder; and the ſoule and peace and comfort aſunder. 'Twill never be well with thee, ſo long as thou art ſwayed by carnall reaſon, and relyeſt more upon thy five Senſes, then the foure Evangeliſts. Remember, Job was as famous for his Confidence, as for his Patience. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him, Job 13. 15. As the body lives by breathing, ſo the ſoule lives by believing, &c.