Heaven on Earth, Discourse · Chapter 5 (1 of 4)
CHAP. V. Shewing the ſeveral Ways and Means of gaining a wel-grounded Aſſurance.
FIrſt, if ever you will attainMeans 1. to Aſſurance, then be much in the Exerciſe and Actings of Grace, as the believing Epheſians wereEpheſ. 1▪ 13. A Chriſtian that would have aſſurance, muſt never leave blowing his little ſpark, till he hath blowed it into a flame. in the very Exerciſe and Actings of Grace; the Spirit of the Lord ſealed them up to the day of Redemption. Aſſurance flows in upon the actings of Grace; aſſurance is bred, and fed, it is raiſed and maintained in the ſoul by the actings of Grace. Grace is moſt diſcernable, when it is moſt in action; and Grace is made more and more perfect by acting: Neglect of your Graces, is the ground of their decreaſe. Wells are the ſweeter for drawing; you get nothing by dead and uſeleſs Habits. Talents hid in a Napkin, gather ruſt; the nobleſt faculties are imbaſed, when not improved. Grace in the habit, is no more diſcernable, then fire under the aſhes, then gold in the Ore, then a dead man in the grave; but Grace in its lively actings and operations, is as a Prince upon his throne, ſparkling and ſhining. Ah Chriſtians, were your grace more active, it would be more viſible; and were your grace more viſible, your aſſurance would be more clear and full. As Saint Paul once ſpake to Timothy, Stir up the gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. The words are an alluſion to the fire in the Temple, which was always to be kept burning. Vide Calvin upon the Text.of God that is in thee. So I ſay to you, if ever you would have aſſurance, ſtir up the grace of God that is in you, blow up that heavenly fire, raiſe up thoſe noble ſpirits, never ceaſe believing, nor repenting, till it be clearly given into your boſome, that you are ſure that you do believe, and that you do repent, as you are ſure that you live, as you are ſure that God rules in Jacob, and dwells in Zion. Remember Chriſtians, all the honor that God hath from you in this life, is from the actings and the exerciſe of your grace, and not from the habits of grace. Remember Chriſtians, that all your conſolations flow not from the habits, but from the acts of grace. Remember Chriſtians, that the want of the exerciſe of grace, is the reaſon why you do not diſcern your grace, and why you have no more aſſurance of your future happineſs. He that will be rich, muſt ſtill be turning the peny, and he that will attain unto the riches of aſſurance,Col. 2. 2. muſt ſtill be acting his graces; there are none but lively active Chriſtians, that knows and feels thoſe joys, comforts, and contents, that attends the exerciſe of grace. If thou wouldſt not be always a Babe in Grace, and a ſtranger to Aſſurance, then ſee that thy Lamp be always burning, ſee that the Golden Wheels of Grace be always going.
Secondly, If you would, Chriſtians,Means 2. attain unto aſſurance, then you muſt minde your work more then your wages; you muſt be better at obeying, then at diſputing; at doing, at walking, then at talking, and wrangling. Aſſurance is heavenly wages that Chriſt gives, not to loyterers, but to holy laborers; though no man merits aſſurance by his obedience, yet God uſually crowns obedience with aſſurance. John 14. 21, 22, 23. He that Non enim paſſibus ad Deum ſed affectibas currimus. Ambulas ſi amas. Thou walkeſt if thou loveſt to walk.hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me, ſhall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeſt my ſelf to him. Verſ. 22. Judas ſaith unto him, (not Iſcariot) Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifeſt thy ſelf unto us, and not unto the world? Verſ. 23. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto him, If any man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. In theſe words you ſee, that doing Chriſtians, working Chriſtians, are the onelyonly Chriſtians that ſhall have moſt of the love of the Father and the Son; and that ſhall have the choiceſt manifeſtations of grace and favor, and that ſhall have moſt of their preſence and company. So in Pſal. 50. 23▪ Unto him foreignthat ordereth his converſation aright, That diſpoſeth his way, as God ha…h preſcribed.will I declare the ſalvation of God: That is, I will declare my ſelf to be his Saviour. I will ſhew him Salvation, and I will ſhew him his intereſt i… Salvation, I will ſave him, and I will make him ſee, that I have ſaved him; he ſhall ſee the worth of Salvation, and taſte the ſweetneſs of Salvation. So in Gal. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule, (that is, the rule of the new Creature) Peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God. The Greek word that is here rendredforeign. Vide Bezam, and Pareus on the Text. walk, ſignifies not ſimply to walk, but to walk by rule, in order, and meaſure, without treading aſide, but making ſtraight ſteps to our feet. Now thoſe choice ſouls that thus walks according to the Law of the new Creature, ſhall have peace and mercy in them, and peace and mercy with them, and peace and mercy on them: As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be on them. Aſſurance is a jewel of too high a price, to be caſt into any of their boſoms that walk contrary to the Laws of the new Creature; ſuch may talk of aſſurance, and make a ſtir and a noiſe about aſſurance, but it is the cloſe walking Chriſtian that ſhall be crowned with aſſurance. Aſſurance is a choice part of a BelieversVis nunquam eſſe triſtis bene vive. Wouldſt thou never be fact, then live well, ſays Bernard. happineſs, and therefore God will never give it out of a way of holineſs. The Lord hath ſet apart for himſelf, the man that is godly, Pſal. 4. 3. None are favorites in Gods Court, nor none are admitted to be of his Counſel, but thoſe who are all glorious within, and whoſe rayment is of imbroidered gold: That is, ſuch whoſe principles are full of ſpiritual glory, and whoſe practiſes are amiable and anſwerable in purity and ſanctity. Theſe are the perſons that ſhall have the honor to have Gods ear, and the happineſs to know his heart.
The third Means to gain aſſurance,Means 3. is, To be kinde to the Spirit, hear his voice, follow his counſel, live up to his Laws: The Spirit is the great Revealer of the Fathers ſecrets; he lies in the boſom of the Father; he knows every name that is written in the Book of Life; he is beſt acquainted with the inward workings of the heart of God, towards poor ſinners;Rom. 8. John 14. he is the great Comforter, and the onelyonly Sealer up of ſouls to the day of Redemption. If you ſet him a mourningEph. 1. 13. by your wilful ſinnings, that alone can glad you, by whom will you be gladed. Verily, Chriſtians, when you turn your back upon the Spirit, he will not turn his face upon your ſouls; your vexing of the Spirit willIſai. 63. 10. be but the diſquieting of your ſelves. Look as all lights cannot make up the want of the light of the Sun, ſo all Creatures cannot make up the want of the teſtimony of the Spirit. Let me ſpeak to you, as God once ſpake to his people in that of Exod. 23. 20, 21,This Angel is the Lord Jeſus, as Expoſitors do generally agree. foreign 22, 23. Behold, (ſayes God) I ſend an Angel before thee, to keep thee in thy way, and to bring thee into the place, which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will Malachi, which Hebrew word is here rendered Angel, is by tranſpoſition of letters Michael, as ſome of the Rabbins have obſerved.not pardon your tranſgreſsions; for my name is in him, &…. So I ſay, Behold, the Spirit of the Lord, that is, your guide and guard, he alſo is onelyonly able to make a ſoul ſatisfying report of the love and favor of the Father to you; therefore as ever you would have aſſurance, beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for if you do by wilful tranſgreſſions, he will neither comfort you, nor counſel you; he will neither be a ſealing, nor a witneſſing ſpirit unto you; nay, he will raiſe ſtorms and tempeſts in your ſouls; he will preſent to you the Father frowning, and your Saviour bleeding, and himſelf as grieving; and theſe ſights will certainly rack and torture your doubting ſouls. The Spirit of the Lord is a delicate thing, a holy thing, a bleſſed gueſt, that makes every ſoul happy where he lodges. Therefore Ep…eſ. 4. 30. This phraſe is Tropically to be underſtood. The Greek cannot be fully expreſt in our tongue. foreign. i. e. The Spirit, the holy, of that God. To ſhew the tranſcendent excellency and glory of the Holy▪ Spirit.grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed unto the day of Redemption. You will not grieve your gueſts, your friends, but courteouſly and friendly entertain them; Why then do you make ſo little conſcience of grieving that holy Spirit, that alone can ſtamp the Image of the Father upon you, and ſeal you up to life and glory.
Ah Chriſtians, the way to aſſurance, is, Not to ſit down ſighing and complaining of the want of aſſurance, but it lies in your eying of the Spirit, in your complying with the Spirit, in your cleaving to the Spirit, in your following of the Spirit, in your welcoming of the Spirit, and in your honoring and obeying of the Spirit. As he ſaid of the ſword of Galiah, none like to that. So I ſay, no mans like to this, to gain a wel-grounded Aſſurance of a mans Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs. And as he ſaid, If there be any way to Heaven on horſe-back, it is by Prayer: So I ſay, If there be any way in the world to aſſurance, it is by being fearful to offend, and careful to pleaſe the Spirit of the Lord; whoſe office it is, to witneſs to poor ſouls, the remiſſion of their ſins, and the ſalvation of their ſouls.
Fourthly, If you would obtain Aſſurance,Means 4. then be ſincere, be diligent and conſtant in aſſuring Ordinances: He that will meet the King, muſt waitIſai. 64. 5. Revel. 2. 1. on him in his walks; Chriſts Ordinances, are Chriſts walks; and he that would ſee the beauty of Chriſt, and taſte of the ſweetneſs of Chriſt, and be raviſhed with the love of Chriſt, muſt wait at Wiſdoms door, theyProv. 8. 34, 35. muſt attend Chriſt in his own appointments and inſtitutions, that comfort and aſſurance that flowes not in thorow the Golden Pipes of the Sanctuary,Hoſ. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 24. will not better the ſoul, nor long abide with the ſoul, it will be as the morning dew, and as the flower of the field that ſoon fadeth away. I have in the former Diſcourſe, ſhewed at large, How the Lord is graciouſly pleaſed to cauſe his love and glory, to beam forth upon ſouls in Ordinances; and therefore, I ſhall ſay no more unto this particular at this time.
The fifth Means to obtain Aſſurance,Means 5. is, wiſely and ſeriouſly to obſerve, What gift of God there is in thee that brings thee within the compaſs of the promiſes of eternal mercy? Now let the gift, be this or that, if it be a gift that brings thee within the compaſs of the promiſe of Eternal Mercy? that gift is an infallible evidence of thy Salvation: For the better and further opening of this Truth, premiſe with me theſe two things.
Firſt, No man can have any ſure evidence to himſelf of his Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs, from abſolute promiſes: Abſolute promiſes do not deſcribe to whom Salvation, and all EternalIſai 42. 6. & 49. 8. Joel 2. 28. Ezek. 36. 26, 27. Jere. 32. 40. Heb. 8, 10, 11, 12. Iſai. 23. 25. Bleſſings, do belong; the promiſe of giving Chriſt, of giving the Spirit, of giving a new heart, and of pardoning and blotting out ſin, are all abſolute promiſes. Now God is free to make good theſe to whom he pleaſes; therefore he often ſteps over the rich, and chuſes the poor; the learned, and chuſes the ignorant; the1 Cor. 1. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. ſtrong, and chuſes the weak; the noble, and chuſes the ignoble; the ſweet nature, and chuſes the rugged nature, &c. That no fleſh may glory, and that all may ſhout out Grace, Grace.
Secondly, Though no man can have any ſure evidence of his Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs from abſolute promiſes, becauſe abſolute promiſes do not deſcribe the perſons to whom Salvation, and all Eternal Bleſſings, do belong; yet abſolute promiſes are of moſt choice and ſingular uſe: Firſt, In that they diſcover to us, that our Salvation is onelyonly from Free-grace, and not from any thing in us, or done by us. Secondly, They are a moſt ſure and glorious foundation, for the very worſt of ſinners to ſtay their filthy, guilty, wearied, burdened, perplexed ſouls upon; ſeeing, that God looks not for any peny or peniworth, forIſai. 55. 1, 2. any portion, or proportion in the Creature to draw his love; but he will juſtifie, pardon, and ſave, for his Name ſake; ſeeing all the Motives that moves God to ſhew mercy, are in hisDeut. 7. 7, 8. Pſal. 68. 18, own boſom; ſeeing they are all within doors, there is no reaſon why the vileſt of ſinners ſhould ſit down, and ſay, There is no hope, there is no help. Thirdly, Abſolute promiſes may, and doubtleſs often are choice Cordials to many precious ſouls, who happily have loſt the ſenſe and feeling of Divine favor. Abſolute promiſesBilney was much comforted in a great conflict, by that promiſe 1 Tim. 1. 15. And Ʋrſine by that in John 10. 29. Another by that in Iſai. 57. 15. Another by that in Iſai. 26. 3. Mr. Wheatley with that in Heb. 10. 37, &c. are waters of life to many precious ſons of Zion; they are a heavenly fire, at which they can ſit down and warm themſelves, when they cannot blow their own ſpark into a flame, and when all Candle-light, Torch-light, and Star-light fails them; when all other comforts can yeeld a perplexed, diſtreſſed ſoul no comfort; yet then abſolute promiſes will prove full Breſts of Conſolation to the diſtreſſed ſoul.
Theſe things being premiſed, ſee now what gift of God there is in thee, that brings thee within the compaſs of the promiſe of Everlaſting Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs; and to help you a little in this, I ſhall put you in minde of theſe following particulars.
Firſt, Faith is a gift of God that brings the ſoul within the promiſe of Everlaſting Bleſſedneſs, as the Scripture doth every where evidence, He Mark. 16. 16. John 3. 15, 16, &c.that believes ſhall be ſaved; he that believes, ſhall not come into condemnation, he ſhall not periſh, he ſhall have eternal life, &c. Now believing is nothing elſe, but the accepting of ChriſtJohn 1. 12. vide. for thy Lord and Saviour, as he is offered to thee in the Goſpel; and this accepting is principally (if not onelyonly) the act of thy will; ſo that if thou art ſincerely and cordially willing to have Chriſt upon his own terms, upon Goſpel terms, that is, to ſave thee, and rule thee, to redeem thee, and to reign over thee, then thou art a Believer, thy ſincere willingneſs to believe, is thy Faith; and this gift brings thee within the compaſs of the promiſe of Eternal Happineſs, and Bleſſedneſs. Chriſtian Reader, in the following Diſcourſe thou wilt finde the nature, the properties, and the excellencies of a found ſaving Faith, clearly and largely laid open before thee; and therefore I ſhall ſay no more to it in this place, but refer thee to what follows.
Secondly, Waiting patiently on God, is a gift that brings thee within the promiſe of Everlaſting Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs. And he that hath but a waiting frame of heart, hath that, that God will eternally own and crown. Iſa. 30. 18. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgement. Bleſſed are all they that wait for him. Verily, it is no iniquity to pronounce them bleſſed, that God pronounces bleſſed; it is no piety, but cruelty and inhumanity, for any not to be as merciful to themſelves, as God is merciful to them; not to have as ſweet and precious thoughts of their preſent condition, as God hath. If God ſayes the waiting ſoul is bleſſed, who dares judge, who dares ſay, it is not bleſſed? Let God be true, and every man a lyer. Iſa. 64. 4. For ſince the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye ſeen, O God, beſides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Prov. 8. 34. Bleſſed is the man that heareth me; watching daily at my gates, waiting at the poſts of my doors. Iſai. 49. 23. They ſhall not be aſhamed that wait for me: That is, I will never fail the waiting ſoul, I will never put him to bluſhing, by fruſtrating his patient waiting on me. The waiting ſoul ſhall bear the Bell, and carry away the Crown at laſt. Verily, glorious love and power, is as much ſeen in keeping up a poor ſoul, in a patient waiting on God, as it was in raiſing Chriſt from the Grave, and as it is in bringing ſouls to glory. Nothing can make the waiting ſoul miſerable. Hold out Faith and patience, but a little, and Revel. 22. 11, 12.he that ſhall come, will come, and bring his reward with him.
Thirdly, Hungering and thirſting after Righteouſneſs, is a gift that brings the ſoul within the compaſs of the promiſe of Everlaſting Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs. Matth. 5. 6. Bleſſed are they which do hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs; for they ſhall be filled, orforeign. as it runs in the Greek, Bleſſed are they that are hungring and thirſting. Intimating, that where ever this is the preſent diſpoſition of mens ſouls, they are bleſſed, and may expect ſpiritual repletions. Conſiderable to this purpoſe is that of Iſai. 44. 2, 3, 4, 5. Thus ſaith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the Womb, which will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my ſervant, and thou Jeſurun, whom I have choſen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, By Water is meant the Spirit, ſay ſome; others underſtand it of the Spiritual Waters of Grace, That God will power out upon thoſe that thirſt, and long after an abundance of Grace, &c.and flouds upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed, and my Bleſsing upon thy Off-ſpring: And they ſhall ſpring up as among the graſs, as Willows by the Water-courſes. One ſhall ſay, I am the Lords; and another ſhall call himſelf by the name of Jacob; and another ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and ſirname himſelf by the name of Iſrael. Of the like conſideration is that of Iſa. 35. 6, 7. Then ſhall the lame man leap as a Hart, and the tongue of the dumb ſing; for in the Wilderneſs ſhall waters break forth, and ſtreams in the deſert. And the parched ground ſhall become a Pool, and the thirſty Land ſprings of Water: In the habitation of Dragons, where each lay, ſhall be Groſs, with Reeds and Ruſhes. To the like purpoſe is that in Pſal. 107. 9. For he ſatisfieth the longing ſoul; and filleth the hungry ſoul with goodneſs. But that none may miſtake, nor miſcarry in this buſineſs, that is of an eternal concernment to them; I ſhall deſire them to premiſe with me theſe following things, for a better and fuller clearing of this particular truth that is under our preſent conſideration.
Firſt, Premiſe this with me. All real hungerings and thirſtings after Righteouſneſs, are earneſt and vehement thirſtings and longings, they are like Rachels longing for children, and like Samſons longing for water. Pſal. 42. 1, 2. As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, ſo panteth my ſoul after thee, O God: My ſoul thirſteth for God, for the living God, when ſhall I come and appear before God? Philoſophers obſerve, That of all Beaſts the Hart is moſt thirſty by nature, but moſt of all thirſty, when ſhe is hunted and purſued by Dogs: Sayes David, As the hunted Hart, as the wounded Hart, yea, as the She-hart, in whom the paſſions of thirſt are ſtrongeſt, panteth after the water-brooks; ſo doth my ſoul pant after thee, O God. A gracious ſoul panteth and fainteth, itPſal. 119. 20. breatheth and breaketh for the longing it hath at all times, after the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, imputed and infuled. The Greeks derive their word for deſire, from a Root that ſignifies to burn.
Ah Chriſtians, real deſires, are burning deſires, they ſet the ſoul all in a holy flame after God and Chriſt; if they are not vehement, if they do not put an edge upon thy affections, if they do not make thee like a burning Seraphim. Chriſt will take no pleaſure in them, they ſhall return into thy own boſom without working any wonders in Heaven, as thoſe deſires do that flow from the ſouls, being touched with a coal from the Altar.
Secondly, Premiſe this with me,Pſal. 63. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 27 4. Cant. 1. 2. Phil 3 7, 8, 9; 10. All real longings and hungerings in the ſoul after Righteouſneſs, ariſes from Spiritual and Heavenly Conſiderations; they ſpring in the ſoul from ſome convictions, ſome apprehenſions, ſome perſwaſions, that the ſoul hath of a real worth, of a real beauty, glory, and excellency that is in Chriſt, and in his Righteouſneſs, imputed and impar…ed. Such deſires after Righteouſneſs, that flow from external conſiderations, are of no worth, weight, or continuance; but thoſe deſires after Righteouſneſs, that flow from Spiritual conſiderations, are full of ſpirit, life, and glory; they are ſuch thatPſal. 145. 19. God will not onelyonly obſerve, but accept; not onelyonly record, but reward.
Thirdly, Real hungerings and thirſtings after Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs, &c. will put the ſoul upon lively endeavors: If they are true born deſires, they will not make the ſoul idle but active, not negligent but diligent in the uſe of all holy means, whereby the ſoul may enjoy Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs. Iſa. 26. 9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea, with my ſpirit within me, wil I ſe…k thee early. Real deſires will make men earneſt and early in ſeeking to obtain the thing deſired, as the Hebrew wordforeign from foreign imports. A thirſty man will not onelyonly long for drink, but labor for it; thewhich ſignifies to ſeek in the morning, when it is but dim and dusky, ſcarce twilight; for of duskineſs it hath its name, and it notes both an earneſt and an early ſeeking. condemned man will not onelyonly deſire his pardon, but he will write, and intreat, and weep, and ſet this friend and that to ſolicite for him; the covetous man doth not onelyonly wiſh for wealth, but will riſe early, and go to bed late; he will turn every ſtone, and make attempts upon all hopeful opportunities, whereby he may fill his bags, and fill his Barns. Even ſo, all holy deſires will put ſouls upon the uſe of the means, whereby the mercy deſired may be gained. And thus to run, is to attain; thus to will, is to work; thus to deſire, is to do the will of our Father, who accepts of pence for pounds, of mites for millions. The Perſian Monarch was not ſo famous for accepting a little water from the hand of a loving Subject, as our God is, for accepting of a handful of Meal,Levit 2. 2. Ex…d. 35 6 2 Cor. 8 12. for a Sacrifice, and a gripe of Goatshair, for an oblation, for accepting of that little we have, and for accounting our little, much. Noahs Sacrifice could not be great, and yet it was greatly accepted, and highly accounted off by God. Such is Gods condiſcending love to weak worms, that he looks more at their will, then at their work; he mindes more what they would do, then what they do do; he always prefer the willing minde, before the worthieſt work; and where deſires and endeavors are ſincere, there God judges ſuch to be, as good as they deſire and endeavor to be.
Fourthly, Spiritual hungerings and thirſtings, are onelyonly ſatisfied with Spiritual things. John 14. 8. Shew us the Father, and it ſuffic…th us. All the things in the world cannot ſuffice us, but a ſight of the Father, that will ſatisfie us. Pſal. 63. 5, 6. My ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied, as with marrow and fatneſs; and my mouth ſhall praiſe thee with joyful lips. When I remember thee upon my bed, and Chriſtus eſt mihi pro omnibus. Saith one.meditate on thee in the night watches. Pſal. 65. 4. We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe, even of thy holy Temple. It is onelyonly God, and the precious things of his houſe, that can ſatifie a thirſty ſoul. It was a ſweet ſayof one, As what I have, if offered to thee, pleaſeth thee not, O Lord, without my ſelf; ſo the good things we have from thee, though they may refreſh us, yet they cannot ſatisfie us, without thy ſelf. The Rattle without the Breſt, will not ſatisfie the Childe; the Houſe without the Husband, will not ſatisfie the Wife; the Cabinet without the Jewel, will not ſatisfie the Virgin; nor the World without Chriſt, will not ſatisfie the Soul. Luther in a time of wants,Valde proteſtatus ſum, me nolle fic ſatiari ab eo. Luth. receiving unexpectedly a good ſum of money from the Elector of Germany, at which, being ſome-what amazed, he turned himſelf to God, and proteſted, That God ſhould not put him off with ſuch poor low things. The hungry ſoul will not be put off with any Bread, but with the Bread of Life. The thirſty ſoul will not be put off with any Water, but with the Well-ſprings of Life. As the King of Sodom ſaid once,Gen 14. 21. Take you the goods, give me the perſons; ſo ſayes the hungry ſoul, take you the goods, take you honors, and riches, and the favor of Creatures; take you the Corn, the Oyl, and the Wine; give me Chriſt, give me the light of his countenance, give me the joy of his Spirit, &c. O the anſwering of Spiritual breathings, is very ſweet to the ſoul. Prov. 13. 19. The deſire accompliſhed, is ſweet to the ſoul. Returns from Heaven makes a paradiſe in the ſoul. I have read of Darius, that when he fled from his enemy, and being in great thirſt, he met with a dirty puddle of water with Carrion lying in it; and he ſucked in, and drunk very heartily of it, and profeſſed, That it was the ſweeteſt draught that ever he drunk in his life. Ah how ſweet then are thoſe Waters of Life that be at Gods right hand? how ſweet are the droppings of Gods Hony-comb upon the hungry ſoul? Water out of the Rock, and Manna in the Wilderneſs, was not ſo ſweet to the hungry thirſty Iſraelites, as Spiritual anſwers, and Spiritual returns, are to thoſe that hunger and thirſt after Spiritual things.
The ſixth Means to obtain a welgroundedMeans 6. Many may be much, in and for Church-Ordinances, whoſe hearts are very carnal▪ and whoſe liv…s are very vain. Ezek 24▪ 21, 22. You have ſeven expreſſions of carnal hearts, prizing Church priviledges▪ So Jer 7. 4. Ezek. 33. 30, 31, 32, 33. Iſa▪ 1. 11, 12, 13, 14. Zach 7. 4, 5, 6, 7. Iſa. 58. 1, 2, 3, &c. Aſſurance of your Everlaſting Happineſs, is, to be much, yea, to excel in thoſe choice particular things, that may clearly and ſully, difference and diſtinguiſh you, not onelyonly from the prophane, but alſo from the higheſt and moſt gliſtering Hypocrites in all the world. It is nothing to be much in thoſe duties and performances, wherein the worſt of ſinners may equalize, yea, go beyond the beſt of Saints. O but to excel in thoſe things, that the moſt refined Hypocrites cannot reach to. This cannot but much help you on in aſſurance: He that hath thoſe Jewels in his boſom, that God gives onelyonly to his choiceſt favorites, needs not queſtion, whether he be a favorite, &c. If he doth it, it is his ſin, and will hereafter be his ſhame. But you may ſay to me, What are thoſe choice particular things that may difference and diſtinguiſh Chriſts true Nathaniels from all other perſons in the world? Now to this queſtion, I ſhall give theſe following anſwers.
Firſt, A true Nathaniel in his conſtant courſe, labors in all duties and ſervices to be approved and accepted of God; he is moſt ſtud…ous and in duſtrious to approve his heart to God in all that he puts his hand to. So David, Search me, O God, and know my Pſal. 139. 23, 24 foreignheart; try me, and know my thoughts; and ſee if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlaſting. So Peter To make a ſtrict ſearch and inquiſition. John 21. 15, 16, 17.approves his heart to Chriſt three ſeveral times together. Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee; Lord thou knoweſt that I love thee; Lord, thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee. Thou knoweſt the ſincerity and reality of my love, and therefore to thee I do appeal; to the ſame purpoſe the Apoſtle ſpeaks in 2 Cor. 5. 9. Wherefore we labor, that whether preſent or abſent, we may be accepted of him. The Greek word that is here tranſlated labor, is aforeign very emphatical word, it ſignifies to labor, or endeavor with all earneſtneſs and might, to endeavor with a high and holy ambition, to be accepted of God; judging it the greateſt honor in the world, to be owned and accepted of the Lord. Ambitious men are not more diligent, earneſt, ſtudious, and laborious to get honor among men, then we are (ſaith the Apoſtle) to get acceptance with God. Ah but your moſtMa…th. 6. & 23. Alſo it is Chryſoſtoms obſervation, that ſhe that paints tears and blubberings, is worſe then a wanton woman that paints to ſeem fair. Hom. 6. in Matth. refined Hypocrites labor onelyonly to approve themſelves to men in their Praying, Faſting, Talking, Hearing, Giving, &c. Let them have but mans eye to ſee them, and mans ear to hear them, and mans tongue to commend them, and mans hand to reward them, and they will ſit down and bleſs themſelves, ſaying it is enough; Ah, ha, ſo would we have it. They ſay of the Nightingale, that when ſhe is ſolitary in the Woods, ſhe is careleſs of her note, but when ſhe conceives that ſhe hath any auditors, or is near houſes, then ſhe compoſes her ſelf more quaintly and elegantly. Verily this is the frame and temper of the beſt of Hypocrites. O but a ſincere Nathaniel Noli peccare, Deus videt, angeli aſtant. Take …eed what thou doeſt, God beholds thee, Angels obſerve thee, ſaith onelabors in all places, and in all caſes and ſervices to approve himſelf to God; he labors as much to approve himſelf to God in a Wood, where no eye ſees him, as he doth when the eyes of thouſands are fixt upon him. The Sun would ſhine bright, though all men were a ſleep at High noon, and no eyes open to ſee the glory of his Beams; ſo a ſincere heart will ſhine, he will labor to do good, though all the world ſhould ſhut their eyes; yet he will eye his work, and eye his God; he knows that God is totus oculus, all eye; and therefore he cares not, though others have never an eye to obſerve him, to applaud him. Let God but ſecretly whiſper him in the ear, and ſay, Well done good and faithful ſervant, and it is enough to his ſoul, enough to ſatisfie him, enough to cheer him, and enough to encourage him in the ways, and the work of his God.
Secondly, He labors to get up toHe cannot be ſatisfied with ſo much grace, as will keep him from dropping into Hell; but he muſt have ſo much Grace as will make him ſhine gloriouſly in Heaven. the very top of Holineſs; he labors to live up to his own Principles: He cannot be ſatisfied with ſo much Grace, as will bring him to glory; but he labors to be high in Grace, that he may be high in glory. Phil. 3. 11. I deſire, if by any means, I might attain unto the Reſurrection of the Dead. That is, to that perfection that the dead ſhall attain to, in the morning of the Reſurrection. Verily, that man is ripe for Heaven, who counts it his greateſt happineſs to be high in holineſs; that man ſhall never be low in Heaven, a door-keeper in Heaven; that cannot be ſatisfied, till he be got up to the very top of Jacobs Ladder, till he hath attained to the higheſt perfection in Grace and Holineſs. Pſal. 45▪ 13. The Kings daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. Her inward principles are all glorious, and her outward practiſe ecchoes to her inward principles, her clothing is of wrought gold. It was the honor, and glory of Joſhua and Caleb, that they Num. 14. 24.followed the Lord fully. That is, they lived up to their own principles; So thoſe Virgins in Revel. 14. 4, 5. that were without ſpot before the Throne of God, They followed the Lamb, whereſoever he went: That is, they lived up to their Profeſſion; there was a ſweet harmony betwixt their principles, and practiſes. And thus the ApoſtlesVivimus praceptis non factis) We live by precepts, not by deeds, (Legibus Dei, non e…emplis homi…um) by the Laws of God, not by the examples of men. lived, 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity; not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the Grace of God; we have had our converſation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards. 1 Theſ. 2. 10. Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo; how holily, and juſtly, and unblameably, we behaved our ſelves among you that believe? Thus we ſee theſe worthies living up to their own Principles. Bleſted Bradford and Bucer lived ſo up to their principles, that their friends could not ſufficiently praiſe them, nor their foes finde any thing juſtly to faſten on them. Believers know, firſt, That their living up to their own principles, doth beſt evidence Chriſt livingGal. 2. 20. in them, and their union with him; ſecondly, They know that it is not their profeſſion, but living up to their principles, that will effectually ſtop the mouths, and convince the conſciences of vain men. 1 Pet. 2. 15. For ſo is the Will of God, that by wel-doing (that is, by living up to your own principles) you may put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men. There is no ſuch way in the world, to ſtill and ſilence wicked men, to make them dumb and ſpeechleſs, to muzzle and tie up their mouths (as the Greek word notes) as by living upforeign. to your own principles. The lives of men convince more ſtrongly, then their words; the tongue perſwades, but the life commands; thirdly, They know by living up to their principles, they caſt a general glory upon Chriſt andMatth. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 11, 12. his ways: This makes Chriſt and his ways to be well thought on, and well ſpoke on; fourthly, They know that the ready way, the onelyonly way to get2 Pet. 1, 5. to 13. and keep Aſſurance, Joy, Peace, &c. is to live up to their principles; fifthly, They know that by their living below their own principles, or contrary to their own principles, they do but gratifie Satan, and provoke wicked men to blaſpheme that worthy Name, by which they are called: They knowJam. 2. 7. The very Heathen, as Salvian obſerves, did thus reproach Chriſtians that walked contrary to their principles. Where is that good law which they do believe? they read and hear the holy Scriptures, and yet are drunk and unclean; they follow Chriſt, and yet diſobey Chriſt; they profeſs a Holy Law, and yet do lead impure lives. that by their not living up to their own principles, they do but multiply their own fears and doubts, and put a ſword into the hand of Conſcience, and make ſad work for future Repentance.
Now theſe, and ſuch like Conſiderations, do exceedingly ſtir and provoke Believers to labor with all their might, to live up to their own principles, to get to the very top of Holineſs; to be more and more a preſſing towards the mark, and to think that nothing is done, till they have attained to the higheſt perfections, that are attainable in this life. It is true, many Hypocrites may go up ſome rounds of Jacobs Ladder, ſuch as make for theirGen. 28. 12. profit, pleaſure, applauſe, &c. and yet tumble down at laſt to the bottom of Hell, as Judas and others have done. Hypocrites do not look, nor like▪ nor love, to come up to the top of Jacobs Ladder, to the top of Holineſs; as you may ſee in the Scribes and Phariſees, and all other Hypocrites that the Scripture ſpeaks of.
Thirdly, It is their greateſt deſire and endeavor that ſin may be cured, rather then covered. Sin moſt afflicts a gracious ſoul; David cryes not perii, Pſal. 51.out peccavi; not I am undone, but I have done fooliſhly. Daniel complainsDan. 9. 5. not, we are reproached and oppreſſed, but we have rebelled. Paul cryes notRom. 7 23. If a Snake ſhould ſting thy dearly beloved Sp…uſe to dea…h, wouldſt thou preſerve it alive, warm it at the fire, hug it in thy boſom, and not rather ſtab it w…th a thouſand wounds? You are wiſe, and know how to apply it. out of his Perſecutors, but of the law in his members, rebelling againſt the law of his minde. A gracious ſoul grieves more that God by his ſin is grieved and diſhonored, then that for it he is afflicted and chaſtned. The heart feeling within her, the operation of the Serpents poyſon, runs from the thorns and thickets, and runs over he green and pleaſant Paſtures, that ſhe may drink of the Fountain, and be cured: So gracious ſouls being ſenſible of the poyſon and venom of ſin, runs from the Creatures that are but as thorns and thickets, and runs over their own duties and righteouſneſs; which are but as pleaſant Paſtures to come to Chriſt the Fountain of Life, that they may drink of thoſe Waters of Conſolation, of thoſe Wells of Salvation that be in him, and caſt up, and caſt out their ſpiritual poyſon, and be cured for ever. Believers know that their ſins do moſt pierce and grieve the Lord, they lie hardeſt and heavieſtAmos 2. 13. upon his heart, and are moſt obvious to his eye. The ſin of Judah is writtenJere. 17. 1. with a Pen of Iron, and with the point of a Diamond; their ſins areWhen Brutus went to ſtab Julius Caeſar, he cried out, What thou my ſen Brutus, &c. So may God well cry out, (what thou my Son) what wilt thou ſtab me w…th thy ſins? is it not enough that others ſtab my honor? but wil… thou my Son? againſt beams of ſtrongeſt light, they are againſt the bowels of tendereſt mercy, they are againſt the manifeſtations of greateſt love, they are againſt the neareſt and deareſt relations, they are againſt the choiceſt and higheſt expectations. And this makes believing ſouls cry out, O a cure Lord! a cure Lord! O give me purging grace, give me purging grace; though I ſhould never taſte of pardoning mercy, yet give me purging grace. It was a notable Speech of C…ſmus Duke o… …lorence, I have read (ſaith he) that I muſt forgive my enemies, but never that I muſt forgive my friends. The ſins of Gods friends, of Gods people, provoke him moſt, and ſad him moſt; and this makes them ſigh and groan it out, Who ſhall deliver us from this body of death. O but now wicked men labor, not that ſin may be cured, but onelyonly that ſin might be covered, and that the conſequents of ſin, viz. Afflictions, and the ſtingingsHoſea 7. 10. to ult. of Conſcience may be removed, as you may ſee in Cain, Saul, Judas, and divers others. In their affliction they Hoſea 5. 14, 15.will ſeek me early (ſaith God;) they w…ll then ſeek to be rid of their affliction, but not to be rid of their ſins, that hath brought down the affliction upon them. Like the patient that would fain be rid of his pain and torment, under which he groans, but cares not to be rid of thoſe evil habits that hath brought the pain and tormentSin doth ill in the eye, worſe in the tongue, worſer in the heart; but worſt of all in the life. upon them. Pſal. 78. 34, 35, 36, 37. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him; and they returned, and enquired early after God. And they remembred that God was their Rock, and the High God their Redeemer: Nevertheleſs, they did flatter him with their mouth; and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him; neither were they ſtedfast in his Covenant. In theſe wordsAh England, England, as face anſwers faee, ſo doth thy carri…ge towards God, anſwer the carriage of theſe people, whoſe baſeneſs and falſeneſs God hath put upon record to this very day, &c. you ſee plainly, that theſe people are very early and earneſt in ſeeking God, to take off his hand, to remove the judgement that were upon them; but not that God would cure them of thoſe ſins that provoked him to draw his ſword, and to make it drunk with their blood; for notwithſtanding the ſad ſlaughters that Divine Juſtice had made among them, they did but flatter, and lie, and play the Hipocrites with God; they would fain be rid of their ſufferings, but did not care to be rid of their ſins. Ah but a gracious ſoul cryes out, Lord do but take away my ſins, and it will ſatisfie me, and cheer me, though thou ſhouldſt never take off thy▪ heavy hand. A true Nathaniel ſighs it out under his greateſt affliction, as that good man did (A me, me ſalus Domine.) Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil man my ſelf. No burden to the burden of ſin, Lord, ſayes the believing ſoul, deliver me but from my inward burden, and lay upon me what outward burden thou pleaſeſt.
Fourthly, Are not your ſouls taken with Chriſt as cheif? is he not in your eye the cheifeſt of ten thouſand, isCant. 5. 10, 16. Prov. 3. 15. Pſal 73 25, 26. Phil. 3. 7, 8. he not altogether lovely? Yes. Have you any in Heaven but he, and is there any on Earth that you deſire, in compariſon of him? No. Do not you lift up Jeſus Chriſt as high as God the Father lifts him; God the Father liſts up Chriſt above all principalities andEpheſ. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 9. powers; he lifts up Chriſt above all your duties, above all your priviledges, above all your mercies, above all your graces, above all your contentments, above all your enjoyments. Do not you thus lift up Jeſus Chriſt? Yes. As he is the Fathers chiefeſt Jewel, ſoNone but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, cries the Martyr. he is your choiceſt Jewel, is he not? Yes. Verily none can lift up Chriſt as cheif, unleſs Chriſt have their hearts, and they dearly love him, and believe in him; for Chriſt is onelyonly precious to them that believe▪ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Luther Amat Deus non ali unde hoc h… bet, ſ…d ipſe eſt unde amat. Aug.had rather be in Hell with Chriſt, then in Heaven without him: Is not that the frame of thy heart? Yes. Why then doeſt thou ſay, thou haſt no grace, thou haſt no Chriſt; ſurely none but thoſe that have union with Chriſt, and that ſhall eternally reign with Chriſt, can ſet ſuch a high price upon the perſon of Chriſt. The true believer (Amat Chriſtum propter Chriſtum) loves Chriſt for Chriſt; he loves Chriſt for his perſonal excellencies, Cant. 5. 10. to ult. What Alexander ſaid of his two friends, is applicable toWhen one asked Catoes daughter why ſhe would not marry again, ſhe being yong when her husband died, anſwered, becauſe ſhe could not finde a man that loved her more then her goods. Few there are that love Chriſt more then his Goods, &c. many in our days, ſayes he, Hapheſtion loves me as I am Alexander, but Craterus loves me as I am King Alexander. One loved him for his perſon, the other for the benefits he received by him. So ſome Nathaniels there be that love Chriſt for his perſon, for his perſonal excellency, for his perſonal beauty, for his perſonal glory, they ſee thoſe perfections of grace and holineſs in Chriſt, that would render him very lovely and deſirable in their eyes, though they ſhould never get a Kingdom, or a Crown by him: But moſt of thoſe that bear any love and good will to Chriſt, do it onelyonly in reſpect of the benefits they receive by him. It was Auguſtines complaint of old (Vix deligitur Jeſus propter Jeſum) that ſcarce any loves Chriſt, but for his rewards. Few follow him for love, butJohn 6. 26. for loaves; few follow him for his inward excellencies, many follow him for their outward advantages; few follow him, that they may be made good by him, but many follow him, that they may be great by him. Certainly, you are the boſom Friends of Chriſt, you are in the very heart of Chriſt, who prizes Chriſt above all, who lifts up Jeſus Chriſt as high as God the Father lifts him, and that becauſe of his rich anointings, and becauſe all his garments ſmell of Myrrhe, Pſal. 45. 6, 7, 8.Aloes, and Caſha. This is a work too high, and too hard, too great, and too noble, for all that are not new born, that are not twice born, that are not of the Blood Royal, that are not partakers of the Divine Nature.
Fifthly, Is not your greateſt, and your hotteſt conflicts, againſt inward pollutions, againſt thoſe ſecret ſins,It was a good prayer of him that ſaid Lord, Libera me amalo homine, à meipſo. that are onelyonly obvious to the eye of God, and your own ſouls? The light of natures education, and ſome common convictions of the Spirit, may put men upon combating with thoſe ſins that are obvious to every eye; but it muſt be a ſupernatural power and principle, that puts men upon conflicting with the inward motions, and ſecret operations of ſin, Rom. 7. 23. the Apoſtle complains of a law in his members warring againſt the Law of his minde. The war was within doors, the fight was inward, the Apoſtle was deeply engaged againſt a law within him, which made him ſigh it out, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? So David criesPſal. 19. 12. out, Who can underſtand his error? cleanſe thou me from ſecret faults. So Hezekiah humbled himſelf for the2 Chro. 32. 26. pride of his heart, or for the lifting up of his heart, as the Hebrew hath it.foreign His recovery from ſickneſs, his victories over his enemies, and his rich treaſures lifts up his heart. O but for thoſe inward riſings, and vauntings of heart. Hezekiah humbles himſelf, he abaſes and layes himſelf low before the Lord. A ſincere heart weeps andThe Perſian Kings reign powerfully, and yet are ſeldom ſeen in publick. Secret ſins reign in many mens ſoul, powerfully and dangerouſly, when leaſt apparently. laments bitterly over thoſe ſecret and inward corruptions, that others will ſcarce acknowledge to be ſins: Many a man there is that bleeds inwardly, and dies for ever; many a ſoul is eternally ſlain by the inward workings of ſin; and he ſees it not, he knows it not till it be too late. O but a true Nathaniel mourns over the inward motions, and firſt riſings of ſin in his ſoul, and ſo prevents an eternal danger. Upon every ſtirring of ſin in the ſoul, the Believer cries out, O Lord help, O Lord undertake for me. O daſh theſe brats of Babylon in peeces; O ſtifle the firſt motions of ſin, that they may never conceive, and bring forth, to the wounding of two at once, thy Honor, and my own Conſcience.
Sixthly, Are you not ſubject to Chriſt as a head? Yes. Devils and wicked men are ſubject to Chriſt as a Lord, but thoſe that are by Faith united to him, and that have a ſpiritual intereſt in him are ſubject to him as a head. I ſhall open this particular thus unto you.
Firſt, The Members are willinglyEvery true Nathaniels motto is (omnia …x voluntate D…i) all muſt be as God will have it. and ſweetly ſubject to the head, their ſubjection is voluntary, not compulſory; it is ſo with a believing ſoul, Pſal. 27. 8. When thou ſaidſt, ſeek ye my face, my heart ſaid unto thee, thy face Lord will I ſeek. So in Pſal. 110. 3. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holineſs. So …aul criesActs 9. 6. out, What wilt thou have me to do. And profeſſes that he is willing, not to be Acts 21. 13.bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the name of Chriſt. A gracious ſoul is in ſome meaſure naturalized to the work of Chriſt, and Chriſts work is in ſome meaſure naturalized to the ſoul.
Secondly, The Members are ſubjectTheir obedience is univerſal. Firſt, In reſpect of the act of eſch…wing al evil, doing all good. Secondly, In reſpect of the rule, the whole Word of God. Thirdly, In reſpect of their general and particular callings. to the head univerſally, they do all the head enjoyneth, ſo the real Members of Chriſt do in ſincerity endeavor univerſally to ſubject to all that Chriſt their head requires, without any exception or reſervation, Luke 1. 5, 6. Zacharias and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs. They walked without halting or halving of it with God; they fell in with every part and point of Gods revealed Will, without prejudice or partiality, without tilting the ballance on one ſide or another, Acts 13. 22. I have found David the ſon of Jeſſe, a man after my own heart, which ſhall fulfil all my will: Or rather all my wills as the Greek hathforeign. it, to note the univerſality and ſincerity of his obedience.
Thirdly, The Members are ſubject to the head conſtantly, unweariedly; the Members are never weary of obeying the head; they obey in all places▪ caſes, and times; ſo are the real Members of Chriſt, Acts 24. 16. And herein do I exerciſe my ſelf, to have always foreign. Always, or throughout in all caſes, or at all times.a conſcience void of offence, toward God, and toward men. I uſe all diligence, skill, cunning, and conſcience to be ſincere and inoffenſive, in all my motions and actions towards God, and towards men. So David in Pſal. 119. 112. I have enclined my heart (or rather as the Hebrew word ſignifies, I have ſtretched foreignout my heart, as a man would do a peece of parchment) to do thy ſtatutes (the Hebrewforeign from foreign word ſignifies to do accurately, exactly, perfectly) alway, even unto the end. A gracious ſoul is not like a deceitful bow, nor like the morning dew; but he is like the Sun that rejoyceth to run his race; he is like the ſtone in Thracia, that neither burneth in the fire, nor ſinketh in the water. Now tell me, pray tell me, O you doubting ſouls, whether you do not, Firſt, Labor in all duties and ſervices to approve your hearts to God? Secondly, Whether you do not endeavor to get up to the very top of holineſs, and to live up to your own principles? Thirdly, Whether it be not your greateſt deſire and endeavor, that ſin may be cured rather then covered▪ Fourthly, Whether you are not taken with Chriſt as cheif? whether you do not in your judgements and affections, lift up Chriſt above all, as God the Father doth? Fifthly, Whether your greateſt, and hotteſt conflicts, and combates, be not againſt inward polutions againſt thoſe ſecret ſtirrings and operations of ſin, which are onelyonly obvious to the eye of God, and your own ſouls? Sixthly, Whether you do not (in reſpect of the general bent & frame of your hearts) ſubject to Chriſt, as your Head? 1. Freely and ſweetly? 2. Univerſally, in one thing as well as another, without any exception or reſervation? 3. Conſtantly and unwearily? Yes, we do theſe things, we ſhould belie the grace of God, if we ſhould ſay otherwiſe, theſe things the Lord hath wrought in us, and forIſa. 26. 12. us. Well then, know firſt, that your eſtate is good, you have certainly a bleſſed intereſt in the Lord Jeſus. None can do theſe things but ſouls that have union with Chriſt, that are intereſſed in Chriſt, that are acted by the peculiar, and ſpecial influences of Chriſt, and that are highly beloved of Chriſt; VerilyIf theſe things could be found in the moſt ſhining hypocrites, or any others but reall Saints, they could not poſſibly be either a firſt or ſecond evidence, though a man could ſee them in the light of the Spirit, this is carefully to be obſerved againſt thoſe that hold theſe good ſecond evidences, &c. theſe are ſuch flowers of Paradiſe that cannot be gathered in Natures Garden; they are Pearles of that price, that God beſtows them upon none but thoſe that are the price of Chriſts blood. All the men in the world cannot prove by the Scripture, that theſe Jewels can be found in any mens breaſts, but in theirs that have union and communion with Chriſt, and that ſhall reign for ever with Chriſt. Secondly, Know, that it is no iniquity, but rather your duty for you to ſuck ſweetneſſe out of theſe hony-combs, and to look upon theſe things as infallible pledges, and evidences of divine favor, and of your everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe. Some there be that make the witneſſe of the Spirit (of which I ſhall towards the cloſe of this Diſcourſe ſpeake at large) the only evidence of our intereſt in Chriſt, and deny all other evidences from the fruit of the Spirit; but this is to deny the fruit growing upon the tree, to be an evedience that the tree is alive; whereas all know, that the fruit growing upon the tree, is an infallible and undeniable evidence, that there is lifeWe have cauſe enough to keep off doubtings, and diſtreſſe of Spirit upon the bare ſight of our evidences, this complaining, cavilling ſoules will not underſtand. in the tree. Certainly it is one thing to judge by our Graces, and another thing to reſt upon our Graces, or to put truſt in our Graces: When one argues from the beames of the Sun, that there is a Sun, one would thinke that the moſt cavilling ſpirit in the world ſhould lye quiet and ſtill.
Now the ſeventh Means to get aMeans 7. Though our graces be our beſt Jewels, yet they are imperfect, and do not give out their ful luſtre, they are like the moon, which when it ſhineth brighteſt, hath a dark ſpot. Therefore we ſhould adde ſtill grace to grace. foreign well-grounded Aſſurance of your everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe, is, to grow and increaſe more and more in grace, 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 11. Add to your Faith, vertue; and to vertue, knowledge, &c. to v. 11. for ſo an enterance ſhall be miniſtered unto you abundantly, into the everlaſting Kingdome of our Lord and Savior Jeſus Chriſt. By enterance into the everlaſting Kingdome of Chriſt, is not meant a locall enterance into Heaven; for Heaven is no where called the Kingdom of Chriſt, but the Fathers Kingdome, the oppoſition, ver. 9. ſheweth clearly that it is meant of Aſſurance. Now the way to full Aſſurance is by adding grace to grace: The Greek word that is here rendred adde, hath a greater emphaſis, it ſignifies to link our graces together, as Virgins in a Dance doe link their hands together. O we muſt be ſtill a joyning grace to grace, we muſt ſtill be adding one grace to another; We muſt ſtill be a leading up the dance of graces. Great meaſures of grace carry with them great evidenceIf moral vertue, ſaith Plato could be ſeen with mortal eyes, it would ſoon draw all hearts to it ſelf O how much the more ſhould our hearts be drawn out after the higheſt meaſures of grace, the leaſt dram of grace being more worth then all morall vertue. of truth; little meaſures, carry with them but little evidence; great meaſures of grace carries with them the greateſt evidence of the ſoules union and communion with Chriſt, and the more evident your union and communion with Chriſt is, the more cleare and full will your Aſſurance be.
Great meaſures of grace, carries with them the greateſt and the cleareſt evidences of the glorious indwellings of the Spirit in you, and the more you are perſwaded of the reall indwellings of the Spirit in you; The higher will your Aſſurance riſe. Great meaſures of grace will bee a fire that will conſume and burn up the droſſe, the ſtubble, the fears, and doubts that perplex the ſoule, and that cauſes darkneſſe to ſurround the ſoule; Now the more you are rid of your fears, doubts, and darkneſſe, the more eaſily, and the more effectually will your hearts be perſwaded that the thoughts of God towards you, are thoughts of love; that you are precious in hisJere. 32. 41. eies, and that he will rejoyce over you to do you good for ever, &c.
The eighth Means to gaine a welgroundedMeans 8. Aſſurance of your everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe, is, to take your hearts when they are in the beſt and moſt ſpiritual frame and temper God-wards, Heaven-wards, and Holineſſe-wards: Times of temptation, and deſertion, &c. are praying times, hearing times, mourning times; and beleeving times; but they are not trying times, they are not ſeaſonable times for doubting ſoules to ſet themſelves about ſo great and ſo ſolemn a worke as that is, of ſearching and examining how things ſtand, and are like to ſtand between God and them for ever:
Be diligent, and conſtant, be ſtudious2 Cor. 13 5. and conſciencious in obſerving the frame and temper of your owneOur hearts are ponderous, multum trahit de terra, de carnum multum: therefore we had need take them when they are in the beſt temper, &c. hearts, and when you find them moſt plain, moſt melting, moſt yeelding, moſt tender, moſt humble, moſt ſweetly raiſed, and moſt divinely compoſed, then, O then is the time to ſingle out the moſt convenient place where thou mayſt with greateſt freedom open thy boſome to God, and plead with him, as for thy life, that hee would ſhew thee how things ſtand between him and thee, and how it muſt fare with thy ſoule for ever. And when thou haſt thus ſet thy ſelfe before God and opened thy boſome to God, then wiſely obſerve what report God, and thy owne renewed conſcience do make concerning thy eternall condition. I wil hear what God the Lord wil ſpeak (ſaithPſal. 85. 8, 9. foreign David) for he will ſpeak peace unto his people, and they ſhall not return to folly, (ſo the Hebrew may be read) O ſo muſt thou ſtand ſtill (when thou haſt ſincerely unbowelled thy ſelfe before the Lord) and liſten, and hearken what God will ſay unto thee. Surely he will ſpeak peace unto thee, he will ſay, Son be of good chear, thy ſins be forgiven thee, thy heart is upright with me, my ſoul is ſet upon thee; I have already bleſt thee, and I will hereafter glorifie thee.
I have read of one who was keptA good conſcience is mille teſtes, a thouſand witneſſes; therefore make much of its teſtimony. from deſtroying of himſelf (being much tempted by Satan thereunto) by remembring that there was a time, when he ſolemnly ſet himſelf in prayer and ſelf-examination before the Lord, and made a diligent enquiry into his ſpiritual condition; and in the cloſe of that work it was evidenced to him, that his heart was upright with God; and this kept him from laying of violent hands upon himſelf. O, a wiſe and ſerious obſerving what that teſtimony is, that God, Conſcience, and the Word, gives in upon ſolemn Prayer, and ſelf-examination, may beget ſtrong conſolation, and ſupport the ſoul under the greateſt affliction, and ſtrengthen the ſoul againſt the moſt violent temptations, and make the ſoul look, and long for the day of deſolution, as Princes do for their day of Coronation.
Laſtly, The laſt Means to gain aMeans 9. wel-grounded Aſſurance, is, To make a diligent enquiry, whether thou haſt thoſe things that do accompany eternal ſalvation, Heb. 6. 9. But beloved we are perſwaded better things of you, and things that accompany ſalvation; or as it is in the Greek that have ſalvation; foreign.as it were in the very bowels of them that comprehend ſalvation, and that touch upon ſalvation.
O Beloved, If you have thoſe things that accompany ſalvation, that comprehend ſalvation, you may be abundantly aſſured of your ſalvation. But you may ſay to me, What are thoſe things that accompany ſalvation? To this Queſtion I ſhall give this anſwer, viz. That there are ſeven ſpecial things that accompany ſalvation, and they are theſe. Firſt, Knowledge: Secondly, Faith: Thirdly, Repentance: Fourthly, Obedience: Fifthly, Love: Sixthly, Prayer: Seventhly, Perſeverance.
Firſt, Knowledge is one of thoſe ſpecial things that accompanies ſalvation, John 17. 3. And this is life eternal, Vide Piſcat. on the words.that they may know thee the onelyonly true God, and Jeſus Christ, whom thou haſt ſent. Divine Knowledge is the begining of eternal life, it is a ſpark of glory;It is called Eternal life, Quia radix & erigo vitae. In legend is libris non quaeramus ſcientiam, ſed ſaporum. Bern. In reading Books, let us not look ſo much for Science, as a Savorineſs of the t…uth upon our own hearts. it works life in the ſoul, it is a taſte and pledge of eternal life. 1 John 5. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an underſtanding, that we may know him that is true: And we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jeſus Chriſt; this is the true God, and eternal life. 2 Pet. 1. 3. According as his Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlineſs, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue. What this Knowledge is that accompanies Salvation, I ſhall ſhew you anon.
Secondly, Faith is another of thoſe ſpecial things that accompanies Salvation. 1 Theſ. 2. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, Brethren, Beloved of the Lord; becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation, thorow ſanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth. 1 Pet. 1. 5. You Vide Parcus Eſteum, & Gerhardum on the Text.who are kept by the power of God, through Faith unto Salvation. Verſ. 9. Receiving the end of your Faith, even the ſalvation of your ſouls. Heb. 10. 30. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the ſaving of the ſoul. John 3 14, 15, 16.Mark 16. 16. Acts 16. 31. Rom. 10. 9. Iſa. 45. 22. Phil. 2. 8. Joh 11. 25, 26. 1 John 5. 10. All …heſe and many more Scriptures ſpeaks out the ſame truth. This d…uble aſſeveration, or proteſtation, is uſed onelyonly in matters of we…ght, and unhappy are we, …hat we cannot believe without them. And as Moſes lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderneſs, even ſo muſt the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have eternal life; for God ſo loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son; that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. Verſ. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life. Chap. 5. 24. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, he that heareth my Word, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation; but is paſſed from death unto life. Chap. 6. 40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth he Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. Verſ. 47. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, he that believeth on me, hath everlaſting life.
Thirdly, Repentance is another of thoſe choice things that accompanies ſalvation. 2 Cor. 7. 10. For godly ſorrow The very word rep…nt was very diſpleaſing to Luther, till his converſion; but afterward he took delight in the work, (Paehitens de peccato dolet & de dolore, gaudet. Luth) to ſorrow for his ſin, and then rejoyce in his ſorrow.worketh repentance to ſalvation, not to be repented of, but the ſorrow of the world worketh death. Jere. 4. 14. O Jeruſalem, waſh thy heart from wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved. Acts 11. 18. When they heard theſe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, ſaying, Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Matth. 18. 3. And Jeſus ſaid, verily I ſay unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore; and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the time of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord.
Fourthly, Obedience is another of thoſe precious things that accompanies ſalvation. Heb. 5. 9. And being Vide B. Dew…h. of Juſtification. 17. c. 7.made perfect. (ſpeaking of Chriſt) he became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him. Pſal. 50. 23. whoſo offereth praiſe, glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I declare the Salvation of God.
Fifthly, Love is another of thoſe ſingular things that accompanies ſalvation.Deus nihil corenat niſi dona ſui, Auguſt. When God c…own…th us, he doth but crown h…s own gifts in us. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous Judge, ſhall give me at that day; and not to me onelyonly, but unto them alſo that love his appearing. James 2. 5. Hearken my beloved brethren, ha…h not God choſen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdome, which he hath promiſed to them that love him? 1 Cor. 2. 9. It is written, eie hath not ſeen, nor eare heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. James 1. 12. Bleſſed is the man that indureth temptation: for when The word Crown notes to us the perpetuity of that life the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, for a Crown hath neither beginning nor ending. 2. It notes plenty, the Crown fetches a compaſſe on every ſide, 3. It notes dignity, it notes majeſty Eternal life is a coronation day. It notes all joys, all delights, in a word, it notes all good, it notes all gloryhe is tryed he ſhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him. Matth. 19. 28, 29. And Jeſus ſaid unto them, verily I ſay unto you, that yee which have followed me in the regeneration. When the Son of Man ſhall ſit in the Throne of his glory, yee ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. And every one that hath forſaken houſes, or Brethren, or Siſters, or Father or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for my name ſake, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life. The whole is as if Chriſt had ſaid, whoſoever ſhall ſhew love to mee, this way or that, in one thing or another, out of reſpect to my Name, to my Honor; mercy ſhall bee his portion here, and glory ſhall bee his portion hereafter.
Sixthly, Prayer is another of thoſe ſweet things that accompanies ſalvation, Rom. 10. 10. 13. For with the heart man beleeveth unto righteouſneſſe, and with the mouth confeſsion is made unto ſalvation. For whoſoever ſhall call on the name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved. Act. 2. 21. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that whoſoever ſhall call on the name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved. That is ſaith one, hee ſhall be certainly ſealed up to ſalvation. Or as another ſaith, he that hath this grace of Prayer, it is an evident ſign and aſſurance to him that he ſhall be ſaved: Therefore to have grace to pray is a better and a greater mercy, then to have gifts to propheſie, Matth. 7. 22. Praying ſouls ſhall finde the gates of heaven open to them, when prophecying ſouls ſhall find them ſhut againſt them.
Seventhly and laſtly, Perſeverance is another of thoſe prime things that accompanies ſalvation, Matth. 10. 22. And yee ſhall be hated of all men for my name ſake: but he that indureth to the end the ſame ſhall be ſaved. Chap. 24. 12, 13. And becauſe iniquity ſhal abound, the love The ſame words you have in Mark 13. 13.of many ſhal wax cold, but he that indureth unto the end the ſame ſhal be ſaved. Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer: behold the Devil ſhal caſt ſome of you into priſon, that ye may be tryed, and yee ſhall have tribulation ten dayes; be thou A crown without cares, fears, co…rivals, envy, end. God turns the crown of thorns into a crown of glory Pericula non respicit Martyr, coronas reſpicit. Baſil.faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Chap. 3. 5. He that overcommeth, the ſame ſhall be cloathed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life, but I will confeſſe his name before my Father and before his Angels. To him that overcommeth, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, as I alſo overcome and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne. Thus you ſee theſe ſeven choyce things that accompanies ſalvation. But for your further and fuller edification, ſatiſfaction, confirmation, and conſolation, it will be very neceſſary that I ſhew you,
1. What Knowledge that is, that accompanies Salvation, that borders, that touches upon ſalvation. 2. What Faith that is, that accompanies ſalvation. 3. What Repentance that is, that accompanies ſalvation. 4. What Obedience that is, that accompanies ſalva…ion. 5. What Love that is, that accompan…es ſalvation. 6. What Prayer that is, that accompanies ſalvation. 7. What Perſeverance that is, that accompanies ſalvation. I hope when I have fully opened theſe precious things to you, that you will be able to ſit down much ſatisfied and cheated in a holy confidence and bleſſed aſſurance of your everlaſting wel-being.
I ſhall begin with the firſt, and ſhew you what that Knowledge is, that accompanies ſalvation, that comprehends ſalvation, that touches upon ſalvation; and that I ſhall open in theſe following particulars.
Firſt, That Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is a working Knowledge,Knowledge that ſwims in the head only, and ſinks not down into t…e heart, doth no more good then rain inth m…ddle re…ion or then the Un…corns horn i… the Unicorns head. an operative Knowledge, 2 Cor. 11. 6. God who commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, hath ſhined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt: Divine light reaches the heart as well as the head. The beames of Divine light ſhining in upon the ſoule thorow the glorious face of Chriſt, are very working; they warm the heart, they affect the heart, they new mould the heart. Divine knowledge maſters the heart, it guides the heart, it governs the heart, it ſuſtains the heart, it relieves the heart. Rom. 6. 6. We know that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth 1 John 3 6. Whoſoever ſinneth (viz. Cuſtomarily, habitually, delightfully) hath not ſeen him, neither known him.we ſhould not ſerve ſin. Divine knowledge puts a man upon crucifying of ſin, it keeps a man from being a ſervant, a ſlave to ſin, which no other knowledge can do. Under all other knowledge, men remain ſervants to their luſts, and are taken priſoners by Satan at his will. No knowledge lifts a man up above his luſts, but that which accompanies ſalvation. The wiſeſt Philoſophers, and the greateſtAs Socrates and others. Doctors, under all their ſublime notions, and rare ſpeculations, have been kept in bondage by their luſts. That knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is operative knowledge. 1 John 2. 3, 4. And hereby we do know, that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. He that ſaith I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a lier, and the He is a lier in a double reſpect. 1. In that he ſaith he hath that knowledge which he hath not. 2. In that he denies that in his works, which he affirms in his words.truth is not in him. By keeping his Commandments they did know, that they did know him; that is, they were aſſured that they did know him. To know that we know, is to be aſſured that we know. So in Jam. 3. 17. But the wiſdom that is from above, is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be intreated; full of mercy, and good fruits; without partiality, and without hypocriſie. Verſe 13. Who is a wiſe man, and endued with knowledge amongſt you? Let him ſhew out of a good converſation, his works with meekneſs of wiſdom. Divine knowledge fills a man full of ſpiritual activity, it will make a man work, as if he would be ſaved by his works; and yet it will make a man believe that he is ſaved onelyonly upon theEpheſ. 2. 8. account of Free-grace. That knowledge that is not operative and working, will onelyonly ſerve to light ſouls to Hell, and to double damn all thatMatth. 23. 14. have it.
Secondly, That Knowledge that accompanies Salvation, is transforming knowledge, it is metamorphoſing knowledge, it is knowledge that transforms, that metamorphoſies the ſoul. 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we with open face beholding foreign.the glory of the Lord, as in a glaſs, are changed into the ſame image, from glory to glory. Divine light beating on the heart, warms it, and betters it; it transforms and changes it; it moulds and faſhions it into the very likeneſs of Chriſt. The Naturalists obſerve, That the Pearl by the often beating of the Sun beams upon it, becomes radiant; ſo the often beating and ſhining of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, with his divine beams upon the Saints, cauſes them to gliſter and ſhine in Holineſs, Righteouſneſs Heavenly-mindedneſs, Humbleneſs, &c. Divine light caſts a general beauty and glory upon the ſoul, it transforms a man more and more into the glorious Image of Chriſt. Look as the Childe receiveth fromA Father ſtands obliged not onelyonly in point of honor, bu… alſo by the Law of nature to receive his childe that bears his image, ſo doth Chriſt to receive thoſe that by divine light have his image ſtamped upon them. his Parents, Member for Member, Limb for Limb; or as the Paper from the Preſs receiveth Letter for Letter, the Wax from the Seal, Print for Print, or as the Face in the Glaſs anſwers to the face of the man, or as Indenture anſwers to Indenture; ſo the beams of Divine Light and Knowledge, ſhining into the ſoul, ſtamps the lively Image of Chriſt upon the ſoul, and makes it put on the Lord Jeſus, and reſemble him to the life. Notional knowledge may make a man excellent at praiſing the glorious and worthy acts and vertues of Chriſt; but that transforming knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, will work a man divinely to imitate the glorious acts and vertues of Chriſt. 1 Pet. 2. 9. But ye are a choſen Generation, a royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of him (foreign, the vertues of him) who hath called you out of darkneſs, into his marvellous light. When God cauſes his Divine light, his marvellous light, to ſhine in upon the ſoul, then a Chriſtian will (foreign) preach forth the vertues of Chriſt in an imitable practiſe; and till then a man under all other knowledge, will remain an incarnate Devil. When a beam of Divine Light ſhined from Heaven upon Paul, Ah how did itActs 9. 3, &c. Divine light layes upon a man, Felix neceſſitas, a happy neceſſity of obeying God, &c. change and metomorphiſe him? how did it alter and transform him? it made his rebellious ſoul obedient? Acts 9. 6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? God bids him ariſe and go into the City, and it ſhould be told him what he ſhould do; and he obeyes the Heavenly viſion. Chap. 26. 19. Divine light makes this Lion a Lamb, this Perſecutor a Preacher, this Deſtroyer of the Saints, a Builder up of the Saints, this Tormentor a Comforter, this Monſter an Angel, this Notorious Blaſphemer, a very great admirer of God, and the actings of his Free-grace, as you may ſee by comparing the nineth, and twenty ſixt Chapters of the Acts together. So when a ſpark of this Heavenly fire fell upon the heart of Mary Magdalen, Luke 7. O what a change, what a turn doth it make in her; now ſhe loves much, and believes much, and repents much, and weeps much. O what a change did Divine light make in Zacheus, and in the Jailor. Verily, if thy light, thy knowledge doth not better thee? if it doth not change and transform thee? if under all thy light and knowledge thou remaineſt as vile and baſe as ever? thy light, thy knowledge, thy notions, thy ſpeculations, will be like to fire not on the Hearth, but in the Room, that will burn the Houſe, and the Inhabitant too; it will be like mettle in a blinde horſe, that ſerves for nothing but to break the neck of the rider. That knowledge that is not a transforming knowledge, will torment a man at laſt more then all the Devils in Hell; it will be a Sword to cut him, a Rod to laſh him, a Serpent to bite him, a Scorpion to ſting him, and a Vulture, a Worm eternally gnawing him. When Tamberlain was in his wars, one having found and digged up a great pot of Gold, brought it to him, Tamberlain asked whether it had his Fathers ſtamp upon it; but when he ſaw it had the Roman ſtamp, and not his Fathers, he would not own it. So God at laſt will own no knowledge, but that which leaves the ſtamp of Chriſt, the print of Chriſt, the image of Chriſt upon the heart. But that which changes and transforms the ſoul, that makes a man a new man, another man, then what he was before Divine light ſhined upon him.
Thirdly, That Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is experimental Knowledge; it is knowledge that ſprings from a ſpiritual ſenſe and taſte of holy and heavenly things. Cant. 1. 2. Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth; for thy loves is better then wine. The Spouſe had experienced theforeign By loves, his plural loves, ſhe means all the fruits of his love, viz. Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Joy, Peace, Aſſurance, &c. ſweetneſs of Chriſts loves; his loves, ſayes ſhe, is better then wine. (Though wine is an excellent creature, a uſeful creature, a comfortable and delightful creature, a reviving and reſtorative creature;) and this draws out her heart, and makes her inſatiable in longing, and very earneſt in courting not a kiſs, but kiſſes, not a little, but much of Chriſt: Her knowledge being experimental, ſhe is impatient and reſtleſs, till ſhe was drawn into the neareſt and higheſt communion and fellowſhip with Chriſt. So in Verſe 13. A bundle of myrrhe is my wel-beloved Pſal. 45. 8. Prov. 7. 17. So Plin. l. 12. c. 15, 16, &c.unto me; he ſhall lie all night betwixt my breſts. Myrrhe is marvellous ſweet and ſavory, ſo is my wel-beloved unto me, ſayes the Spouſe, I have found Jeſus Chriſt to be marvellous ſweet, and ſavory to my ſoul. Myrrhe is bitterEvery good man hath in him two men. Rom 7. 15, ult Gal. 5. 17. to the taſte, though it be ſweet to the ſm…ll; ſo is my wel-beloved unto me, ſayes the Spouſe, I have found him to be bitter and bloody to the old man, to the ignoble and worſer part of man. And I have found him to be ſweet and lovely to the New Man, to the Regenerate Man, to the noble part of man, I have found him to be a bitter, and a bloody enemy to my ſins; and at the ſame time to be a ſweet and precious friend unto my ſoul. Myrrhe is of a preſerving nature, it is hot and dry in the ſecond degree, as the Naturaliſts obſerve; ſo is my wel-beloved unto me, ſayes the Spouſe, O I have found the Lord JeſusAuſtin thanks God that his heart and the temptation did not meet together. preſerving my ſoul from cloſing with ſuch and ſuch temptations, and from falling under the power of ſuch and ſuch corruptions, and from fainting under ſuch and ſuch afflictions, &c. Conſiderable to the ſame purpoſe is that of Phil. 1. 9. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgeme… The Greek word that is here rendr… …udgement, foreign, Senſe. The ſoul hath her ſenſes, as well as the body, and they muſt be exerciſed. Heb▪ 5. 14.properly ſignifies ſenſe; not a corporal, but a ſpiritual ſenſe and taſte, an inward experimental knowledge of holy and heavenly things. The Apoſtle well knew that all notional and ſpeculative knowledge would leave men on this ſide Heaven, and therefore he earneſtly prayes that their knowledge might be experimental, that being the knowledge that accompaniesWhat is the Schollers knowledge of the ſtrength, riches, glories, and ſweetneſſes of far Countries obrained by Maps and Books, to their knowledge that daily ſee and enjoy thoſe things? ſalvation, that will give a man at laſt a poſſeſſion of ſalvation. Verily that knowledge that is onelyonly notional, ſpeculative, and general, that is gathered out of books, diſcourſes, and other outward advantages, is ſuch a knowledge, that will make men ſit down on this ſide ſalvation, as it did Judas, Demas, the Scribes, and Phariſees, &c. Chriſt will at laſt ſhut the doore of hope, of help, of conſolation, and ſalvation upon all thoſe that know much of him notionally, but nothing feelingly, as you may ſee in his ſhutting the door of happineſſe againſt the fooliſh Virgins, Matth. 25. and againſtSurgunt in docti & rapiu…t coelum, & Nos cum doctrinis detrudimur in Geheunam. Auſ. thoſe forward Profeſſors, Preachers, and workers of Miracles, Mat. 7. who had much ſpeculative knowledge, but no experimental knowledge, who had much outward general knowledge of Chriſt; but no ſpiritual, inward acquaintance with Chriſt. A man that hath that experimental knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, will from his experience tell you, That ſin is theRom. 7. greateſt evill in the world, for he hath found it ſo; That Chriſt is the onePſal. 27. 4. thing neceſſary, for hee hath found him ſo; That the favour of God isPſal. 63. 3. better then life, for he hath found itPſal. 32. 1, 2. ſo; That pardoning mercy onelyonly makes a man happy, for he hath found it ſo; a That wounded ſpirit is ſuchProv. 18. 14. a burthen that none can bear, for hePſal. 51. 17. hath found it ſo; That an humble and a broken heart is an acceptable ſacrifice to God, for he hath found it ſo; That the Promiſes are precious pearles, for2 Pet. 1. 4. hee hath found them ſo; That the ſmiles of God will make up the wantPſal. 4. 6, 7. of any outward mercy, for he hath found it ſo; that communion withPſal. 48. 10. God can onelyonly make a Heaven in a Beleevers heart, for he hath found it ſo;John 16. That if the Spirit be pleaſed and obeyed, he will be a comforter to the ſoul, for he hath found it ſo: But if his motions and laws be ſlighted, and neglected,Lam. 1. 16. Iſa. 63. 10. 11. he will ſtand far off from the ſoul, he will vex and gall the ſoule. Well ſouls remember this, That knowledge that is not experimental will never turn to your account; it will only increaſe your guilt, and torment, as it did the Scribes and Phariſees. What advantage had the men of the old world, by their knowing that there was an Arke, or by their clambering about the Arke, when they were ſhut out and drowned in the flood. What doth it profit a man to ſee heaps of Jewels, and Pearles, and mountains of Gold and Silver, when he is monyleſſe and pennileſſe? It is rather a torment then a comfort to know that there is a pardon for other malefactors, but none for me; that there is bread for ſuch and ſuch hungry ſouls, but none for me; that there is water and wine to chear, comfort, and refreſh ſuch and ſuch, but not a ſip a drop for me; my bottle is empty, and I may die for thirſt, whilſt others are a drinking at the fountain head: That there is houſes and cloaths to ſhelter ſuch and ſuch from colds, ſtorms, and tempeſts, whilſt I lie naked with Lazarus at Dives door expoſed to the miſeries of all weathers. This kind of knowledge doth rather torment men then comfort them, it does but adde fuell, to the fire, and make their hell the hotter▪ the knowledge that Devils and Apoſtates have of God, Chriſt, and the Scriptures, &c. being onelyonly notional, is ſo far from being a comfort to them, that it is their greateſt torment,James 2. 19. foreign, ſignifies, ſo roars the Sea, and to tremble and ſhake horribly. it is a worm that is eternally gnawing them, it makes them ten thouſand times more miſerable then otherwiſe they would be: They are ſtill a crying out, O that our light, our light were put out; O that our knowledge, our knowledge were extinguiſhed. O that we might but change rooms, change places with the Heathens, with the Barbarians that never knew what we have known. O how happy would damned Devils and Apoſtates judge themſelves in hell, if they ſhould eſcape with thoſe dreadfull ſtripes that ſhall be eternally laid upon the backs of fools. Remember Reader, that a little heart knowledge, a little experimental knowledge, is of greater efficacy and worth then the higheſt notions of the moſt acuteſt wits. He doth well that diſcourſes of Chriſt; but he doth infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge feeds, and lives on Chriſt. It was not Adams ſeeing …ut his taſting of forbidden fruit that made him miſerable; and it is not your ſeeingPſal. 34. 8. of Chriſt, but your experimentall taſting of Chriſt that will make you truly happy. As no knowledge will ſave you but what is experimental, ſo let no knowledge ſatisfie you but what is experimental.
Fourthly, that Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation is a heart-affecting-knowledge; it affects the heart with Chriſt and all ſpiritual things. O it doth wonderfully1 John 4. 7, 8. indear Chriſt and the things of Chriſt to the ſoul, Can. 2. 5. Stay me with flaggons, and comfort me with apples for I am ſick of love. O ſaith the Spouſe, my heart is taken with Chriſt, it is raiſed and raviſhed with his love, my ſoule is burning, my ſoul is beating towards Chriſt; O none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt. I cannot live in my ſelfe, IPluſquam mea, pluſquam meos, pluſquam me, Ber. cannot live in my Duties, I cannot live in externall Priviledges, I cannot live in outward Mercies, I cannot live in common Providences; ICol. 3. 3, 4. Ignatius cryed out, amor meus crucifixus, my love, my love is crucified, &c. can live onelyonly in Chriſt, who is my Life, my Love, my Joy, my Crown, my all in all. O the hearing of Chriſt affects me, the ſeeing of Chriſt affects me, the taſte of Chriſt affects mee, the glimmerings of Chriſt affects me; the more I come to know him in his Natures, in his Names, in his Offices, in his diſcoveries, in his appearances, in his beauties, the more I finde my heart and affections to prize Chriſt, toPſal 73. 23, 25, 26. run after Chriſt, to be affected with Chriſt, and to be wonderfully indeared to Chriſt, Cant. 5. 10. He is white and ruddy the cheifeſt of ten thouſand: The knowledge that ſhe had of Chriſt did ſo affect and indear her heart to Chriſt that ſhe cannot but make uſe of all her Rhetorick to ſet forth Chriſt in the moſt lovely and lively colours. Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I ſhould glory in any thing, ſave in Chriſt Jeſus. O God forbid that my heart ſhould be affected or taken with any thing in compariſon of Chriſt: The more I know him, the more I like him; the more I know him, the more I love him; the more I know him, the more I deſire him; the more I know him, the more my heart is knit unto him His Beauty is taking, his Love is raviſhing, his Goodneſſe is drawing, his Manifeſtations are inticing, and his Perſon is inamoring. His lovely Looks pleaſes me, his pleaſant Voice delights mee, his precious Spirit comforts me, his holy Word rules mee; and theſe things make Chriſt to be a Heaven unto me. O but now, all that notionall knowledge, that ſpeculative knowledge, that leaves a man on this ſide ſalvation; never affects the heart, it never draws it, it never indears the heart to Chriſt, or to the precious things of Chriſt. Hence it is, that ſuch men under all their notions, under all their light and knowledge, have no affection to Chriſt, no delight in Chriſt, no workings of heart after Chriſt. Well Reader, remember this, if thy knowledge doth not now affect thy heart, it will at laſt with a witneſſe afflict thy heart; if it doth not now indear Chriſt to thee, it will at laſt the more provoke Chriſt againſt thee; if it doth not make all the things of Chriſt to be very precious in thy eyes, it will at laſt make thee the more vile in Chriſts eyes. A little knowledge that divinely affects the heart, is infinitely better then a world of that ſwimming knowledge that ſwims in the head, but never ſinks down into the heart, to the bettering to the warming, and to the affecting of it. Therefore ſtrive not ſo much to know, as to have thy heart affected with what thou knoweſt. For heart-affecting knowledge is the onelyonly knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, that will poſſeſs thee of ſalvation.