Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Perſwading to thanksgiving for deliverance out of our naturall and corrupt eſtate.
Thanksgiving for deliverance out of our corrupt eſtate. Deliverance of greateſt coſt.LAſtly, this miniſters matter and occaſion of great praiſe and thanksgiving to all them whom Chriſt hath delivered out of their corrupt and carnall eſtate, and tranſlated into the ſtate of grace and holineſſe. Of all deliverances deliverance from ſinne is the greateſt, the ſweeteſt, the choiſest: A deliverance of the greateſt coſt, other deliverances are wrought by the power of God, this is a deliverance wrought not onelyonly by the power of God, but alſo by the bloud of God, by the bloud of Chriſt, who is God and Man in one perſon Feed (ſaith Saint Paul to the Biſhops, the Miniſters of Epheſus) the Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his owne zActs 20.18.bloud. aCol. 1.12.Give thanks (ſaith the Apoſtle) unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darknes, and tranſlated us into the Kingdom of his deare Son, in whom we have redemption through his bloud; the deliverance of Iſrael out of the bondage of Egypt, and the captivity of Babylon, the deliverance of Ieremy out of the dung…on, of Peter out of Herods priſon, of Ionah out of the belly of the Whale, or the three children out of the fiery furnace, or whatſoever deliverance elſe you can mention, coſt not God ſo much as the deliverance of man from ſinne;bRom 8 32. 2 Of choiſeſt Love. for this God gave his owne, his onelyonly Sonne. This is a deliverance which argues more of Gods love to man then all the deliverances which God hath wrought beſides for man; Therefore of this the Evangeliſt ſaith, God ſo cIohn 3.16.loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne; And Chriſt (ſaith Saint Paul) loved the Church, and gave himſelfe for it.From greateſt evils. This is a deliverance from greater evils then all other deliverances; a deliverance from Satan, the worſt of all Tyrants; a deliverance from Hell, of all priſons the moſt loathſome, of all places of torment the moſt painefull; a deliverance from ſinne, of all fetters the ſtrongeſt, of all burthens the heavieſt, of all ſpots the fowleſt, and of all diſeaſes the moſt mortall and dangerous; a deliverance from the curſe of the Law, of all condemning ſentences the moſt terrible, and full of ſoul-anguiſh; a deliverance from death, of all the Kings of terrour the moſt dreadfull, all other deliverances are but ſlender ſhadowes and repreſentations of this deliverance:To greateſt happineſſe. This is a deliverance reſtoring man to greater felicity then all the deliverances beſide which God ever wrought for man; a deliverance by which man is made a living member in Chriſts body, a loyall Subiect in Chriſts Kingdome, a ſpirituall Free-man of the new Ieruſalem, a childe of God by Adoption, the Spouſe of Chriſt by holy wedlocke, a glorious Conquerour over all the enemies of his ſalvation, and an heire to a heavenly and incorruptible Kingdome. Mans deliverance out of the eſtate of corruption comprehends matter and cauſe of all joy and thanksgiving. Looke therefore every gracious and ſanctified ſoule upon this bleſſed worke of Gods power, love and mercy, and ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſe the Lord, O my dPſal 103.1, 2.ſoule, and all that is within me bleſſe his holy Name: Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes, who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindneſſe and tender mercies. The woman of Shunom receiving her dead ſonne reſtored unto life, fell downe e2 King 4.37.at the Prophets feet, and bowed her ſelfe unto the ground. Thus receiving thy ſoule that was dead in ſinne, reſtored to the life of grace, fall thou downe at the feet of Chriſt, adore and worſhip him, laude and magnifie him, proſtitute thy ſelfe and all that is thine by way of gratitude under him. The blinde man whoſe eyes Chriſt opened, beleeved and fIohn 9.38.worſhipped him: Chriſt having opened the eyes of thy underſtanding to know the hope of thy gEph. 1.19.calling, the riches of Chriſt inheritance, and the exceeding greatneſſe of his power towards thy ſoule; beleeve thou in Chriſt, embrace him, caſt thy ſelfe on him, have thy whole dependance upon him, and worſhip him, by an honourable apprehenſion of his perfections, a ſincere and fervent love unto his perſon, a humble ſubmiſſion to his precepts, and thankfull celebration of his great and glorious Name for all his mercies: The lame hActs 3.8.mans feet and ankle bones receiving strength, he leaped up, ſtood and walked, and entred into the Temple, walking, leaping, and praiſing God. Chriſt having healed thy affections, having ſtrengthened thee with all ſpirituall might, riſe up from the earth, walke in the wayes of holineſſe, enter into the Temple, attend Chriſt in his Ordinances, let thy ſoule rejoyce in Chriſt, and praiſe him for thy ſpirituall abilities. Naaman being cleanſed from his leproſie, returned unto the Prophet, and intreated him to take a bleſſing from i2 King. 5.15him. Chriſt having cleanſed thee from the leproſie of thy ſinne, returne to Chriſt, and render to him the bleſſing of ſpirituall and hearty thanksgiving. The woman in the Goſpell who had a ſpirit of infirmity bowing her downe, being made ſtraight, kLuk. 13.13.glorified God Chriſt having raiſed and rectified thy heart, which was altogether bowed downe to the world, and the things here below; Chriſt having inabled thee to looke up, to ſeeke the things which are above, to mind God, to love his truth, to hunger and thirſt after the gifts and graces of his Spirit, glorifie Chriſt for this his gracious worke:lExod. 15.1. The Iſraelites ſeeing the Egyptians drowned, and themſelves delivered from their ſervitude, ſang and triumphed; Man ſeeing his ſinnes drowned in the teares of godly ſorrow, and buried in the grave of Chriſt, his ſoule ſet free by Chriſt from the ſervitude of Satan, the world, and his owne corruption, ſhould ſing and triumph in Chriſt, and ſay, the Lord hath triumphed gloriouſly, the horſe and the rider, Satan and my corruption hath he throwne downe together: The Lord having of barren made Hanna fruitfull, ſhe ſaid, my heart reioyceth in the m1 Sam. 2.1.Lord, my horne is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, becauſe I reioyce in thy ſalvation; Chriſt having opened our hearts, and of barren made our ſoules fruitfull in all heavenly graces, our hearts ſhould rejoyce in Chriſt, our mouthes ſhould be enlarged with his praiſes, and our ſoules ſhould rejoyce in that ſalvation which Chriſt hath brought unto us. Man hath not greater cauſe of thanksgiving for any thing, then for his Sanctification, this worke of Chriſt makes him a living man, puts ſuch a life into him, that the ſecond death ſhall never have power over him: This makes him an honourable man, one of the royall ſeed, a King and Prieſt to God: This makes him a beautifull and comely man, as the Lilly among the thornes, as the Sunne, Moone, and Morning among the clouds: This makes him a victorious man, a ſuperabundant conquerour over all temptations and afflictions: This makes him a rich man, the leaſt mite of this grace is better then all the abundance of the earth, as the nIudg. 8.2.gleanings of Ephraim were better then the vintage of Abiezer: This makes him a ioyfull man, regeneration is the matter and ground of the ſoules fulleſt, ſureſt, and ſweeteſt rejoycing. The Kingdome of God, the worke of grace,oRom 14.17. the ſpirituall reigne of Chriſt in the heart, is righteouſneſſe, peace, and ioy in the Holy-Ghoſt; Therfore praiſe Chriſt for this above all his favours, as Theodoſius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church, then head of the Empire; warme thy heart therefore with the frequent and ſerious thoughts of this worke of Chriſt, and praiſe him for this, as for the brighteſt Starre ſhining in the Firmament of thy ſoule, as for the moſt rich and orient pearle in the ſtore-houſe of thy heart, as for the moſt beautifull and comely ſlower adorning the garden of thy inner-man. O praiſe him for this, as for the ſweeteſt freedome, the nobleſt crowne, the choiſeſt workmanſhip, and livelieſt evidence of his love communicable to the ſoule of man. As this is the beſt, and moſt ſoule-reviving influence of Chriſt into the heart of man: ſo for this purſue, and follow Chriſt Jeſus with free and frequent, cordiall and joyous, gracious and everlaſting praiſes? for without this we are ſtrangers to Chriſt, to the number of his faithfull ſervants, to all the Prerogatives and priviledges which God miniſters to his children, even aliens to the common-wealth of Iſrael.