A Discourse of Spiritual Blessings, Title page – To the reader
A DISCOURSE OF Spiritual Bleſſings: Or a Diſcovery
I. That every Chriſtian is bleſſed with all Spiritual Bleſſings in Chriſt. In four Sermons.
II. That God hath a high account of the leaſt Grace in the Saints. In three Sermons.
By Mr. John Cromwell, late Paſtor of a Church of Chriſt in the City of Norwich.
Col. 3.11.—But Chriſt is all and in all.
LONDON, Printed by T. S. for Edward Giles, Bookſeller in Norwich, near the Market-place. 1685.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
IT is the unſpeakable unhappineſs of all the Children of Men whilſt in a natural condition, that they are favoured only with Temporal Bleſſings; and as an aggravation of their miſery, their Spirit ſtandeth primarily and chiefly towards thoſe Earthly Enjoyments, they are minding Earthly things, Phil. 3.19. their higheſt purſuits are after theſe, they eſtimate and value themſelves according to the meaſures of theſe which they have enrichment with, they are carnally minded, which is death, Rom. 8.6. They are dead to the things of God, which are of higheſt concernment to their Souls.
On the other hand, all, even the loweſt Chriſtians, are Priviledged not only with ſome, but with all Spiritual Bleſſings, Eph. 1.3. So as they are rightly denominated Spiritual Men, 1 Cor. 2.15. Gal. 6.1. They are ſo in their principles. Indeed, by a non-improvement thereof, although the ſtanding frame of their heart is to Spiritual things, yet many, if not moſt, come exceedingly ſhort in point of practice, that it may be ſaid to them, as 1 Cor. 3.1. Are ye not carnal, and walk as men? They are apt to Diviſions, and ſo are Carnal. v. 3. To build hay and ſtubble, (that which will not abide the fire, and is of little value) upon the true foundation, and ſo are carnal; too worldly, and do not exerciſe Grace in its due height upon all occaſions, and ſo are carnal.
To reduce or advance Chriſtians unto their proper frame and temper of ſpirituality, this eminent and judicious Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt Mr. John Cromwell (the Author of the enſuing Sermons) hath diſcovered what Spiritual Bleſſings they are intruſted with.
It is a matter of lamentation that ſuch a labourer in the Lords Vineyard ſhould ſo early be tranſplanted to eternity, and that when ſo many other eminent Miniſters have lately been removed from that place by death.
Theſe Sermons were taken from his mouth by the Pen of a ready Writer; they would have come forth in a better dreſs, and with much more advantage if they had been poliſhed with his own hand; but as they are here preſented to view they may be exceedingly uſeful to thoſe whoſe Citizenſhip is in heaven, their affections in Heaven, their converſations in Heaven whilſt they are on Earth.
Indeed they evidence that he himſelf had arrived at a more than ordinary ſtrain of Spirituality, which is a great excellency, becauſe Spiritual Bleſſings are moſt excellent, the beſt of Bleſſings.
They have the beſt Original, they have the beſt Father, even him who is the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 1.3. They come from the beſt place, not from Earth, but Heaven [in heavenly places] from Gods Throne, thence he giveth forth all theſe of the beſt nature; it may be rendred [in heavenlies] i.e. Not only in heavenly places, but in heavenly things.
Yea Spiritual Bleſſings have a tendency to the imbelliſhing, and adorning the nobleſt part, the immortal Soul; a man may be enriched with temporal Bleſſings, and his Spirit may be the worſe for theſe, but ever is the better for theſe Spiritual Bleſſings.
They furniſh for the beſt operations and actings; Earthly things may indiſpoſe for the higheſt Services and moſt glorious imployments, they may be clogs and heavy weights preſſing down, which muſt be caſt off in running the Chriſtian race, Heb. 12.1. But Spiritual Bleſſings capacitate for the choiceſt actings; they give the beſt diſcerning of matters which are of higheſt concernment and greateſt moment, 1 Cor. 2.15. The Spiritual man judgeth all things, i. e. Spiritual men are enabled to paſs right Judgment upon Divine matters, and what concern themſelves, their own conditions, their own Salvation and what is conducible to it, and this far beyond what a natural man, one in a natural condition by the greateſt parts can attain unto.
They capacitate to be Spiritually helpful unto others who are fallen by temptation, Gal. 6.1. If a man be overtaken with a fault, ye which are Spiritual reſtore ſuch a one, put him in joint again. They help to deſcry the ways and methods of Satan in tempting, and of Jeſus Chriſt in ſuccouring. They qualify to encounter and conflict with Spiritual enemies, and reſiſt Spiritual evils, which there is the greateſt difficulty in the withſtanding of, Eph. 6.12. The grace of humility helpeth to expell Spiritual pride, and the grace of love helpeth againſt ſelf-love. Spiritual Bleſſings will enable to make improvement of all occurrences towards the higheſt advantage, he that is carnal maketh an ill uſe of all that is before him, he turneth all to ſin, to himſelf, he ſetteth corruption or ſin on work by all Enjoyments, Riches, Pleaſures, Relations, yea even by the gracious actings of the Saints, but he that is Spiritual maketh uſe not only of enjoyments, but even of the worſt befalments, as Tryals and afflictions, towards Raiſing, heightning and mounting, his Soul more towards God, he by a Spiritual Chymiſtry can extract good out of the worſt that betideth him. Spiritual Bleſſings will advance to a chooſing the higheſt and beſt ends; When others have inferiour, baſe and low ends of their actings, ſuch as are priviledged with theſe will make God their ultimate and chiefeſt end, they have a frame for doing all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. Yea Spiritual Bleſſings are diſcriminating, differencing of Chriſtians from others, 1 Cor. 2. v. 14, 15. And ſo they are evidences of the ſpecial favour and love of God, v. 10. Whereas a man may have other enjoyments and yet be an object of the higheſt wrath and indignation of the Almighty.
And once more, Spiritual bleſſings they are eternal Bleſſings; other things are of no continuance, a man may ſoon be ſtripped and diſpoſſeſſed of them, but Spiritual Bleſſings will never be loſt, they will abide for ever, all which ſufficiently argue that they have a tranſcendent excellency far above other things.
And all theſe are diſpenſed out in Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 1.3. They may have a large meaſure of temporal things, and yet be out of Chriſt, but theſe are all vouchſafed in him, they are the fruit of his purchaſe, obtained by a union with him. He is the great repoſitory, the ſtore houſe where all Spiritual Bleſſings are treaſured up, Col. 1.19. It pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell, that we might have recourſe to him for all ſupplies evermore. Thoſe in a Chriſtleſs condition are deſtitute thereof, whatever their attainments be, and the great reaſon why Chriſtians are no more repleniſhed therewith, is becauſe they repair no more to him, that they may have ſupplies.
None are to content themſelves with any lower degree; but yet thoſe who have the ſmalleſt portion may be ſupported and comforted by the ſecond Subject, viz. That where there is grace but as a grain of Corn, the loweſt meaſure, yet the Lord hath a high eſtimation of it. And that all grace may be multiplied ſhall be the Prayer of him who is
A Servant of Chriſt in the Goſpel, SAM. PETTO. Octob. 13. 1684.