Effectual Calling and Election 2, Sermon 10
2 PET. 1.10.
Wherefore the rather, Brethren, Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure.
THE Doctrine I am yet upon, drawn from theſe words is this, That Chriſtians ought to put forth a great deal of diligence to make this ſure to their ſoules, that they are effectually called by Jeſus Chriſt. In the proſecution of which I have handled many particulars, I now come in the cloſe of this point to make a particular uſe of all that hath been ſaid, and ſo paſſe on to that other branch, to make, our election ſure. And the Uſe I ſhall ſpeak of, ſhall onelyonly be an Uſe of Exhortation, and Direction My Exhortation ſhall be directed to two ſorts of men. Firſt, to them that do enjoy and are aſſured of their effectual calling; who are called, and are aſſured they are ſo. Secondly, to them that have ſometime enjoyed this aſſurance, but now have loſt or eclipſed the comfortable feeling of their aſſurance. Into theſe two heads I ſhall branch my diſcourſe.
Ʋſe. And firſt, the exhortation or counſel I am to give, is to them that are aſſured of their effectual calling; that have done the work the Apoſtle here injoynes them; that have made ſure their vocation, and by unqueſtionable evidence can ſay ſo. And theſe I would adviſe to three particular duties.
Firſt, you ſhould be directed rightly to uſe your aſſurance.
Secondly, Carefully to preſerve your aſſurance.
Thirdly, Daily to improve your aſſurance. This is the threefold task that lies upon you, that enjoy this rich jewel of aſſurance.
Firſt, You are to take care, that you rightly uſe and manage your aſſurance. A thing hardly gotten, if it be not well managed, a man may enjoy it in a way of loſſe to himſelfe. To uſe aſſurance well is the great Art of a Chriſtian. And here (that I might ſpeak diſtinctly to this direction) I ſhall lay down eight particulars, as concomitants, or gracious qualifications, which muſt accompany you in a condition of aſſurance; As
Firſt, You muſt uſe and manage your aſſurance with humility, in caſe you uſe it well. Aſsured Chriſtians muſt be humble Chriſtians. The more high you are in comforts, the more low you ſhould be in Spirit. You know the fulleſt eares of corn hang down their head loweſt, when light and flaſhy darnel that hath nothing of worth in it, lifts up its head on high. Aſſured Chriſtians, they are like your full and ripe eares of corn; the more full they are of this fruit of the Spirit, aſſurance, the more low do they, and ſhould they hang down their heads. It is your empty barrels make a noiſe, when your full veſſels though you ſtrike them, will not ſound: It is thoſe Chriſtians that are moſt empty of faith, and moſt empty of aſsurance, that make moſt noiſe, and are moſt proud of their gifts and graces; when your aſſured Chriſtians they are like veſsels full of the beſt liquor; that makethe leaſt noiſe. The fuller God hath fil'd you with this comfort, the more you ſhould ſhine forth in humility. As Paul when he ſaith, Chriſt loved him, and gave himſelfe for him; when he was moſt full of comforts, he was moſt fill'd with humility, and ſaid, I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me.
Secondly, You muſt manage your aſsurance with a high valuation of the comforts of God in you. A man that hath received a benefit, if he do not value it, it is a provocation to the man that gave it, either to repent of his gift, or take it away. David when he had aſsurance, mark how he values it: Pſal. 63.3. Thy loving kindneſſe is better then life. He valued the comforts of his God, and the ſhining of Gods countenance better then life. And Pſal. 4.6. Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me, and that ſhall more glad me, then when my corn and wine and oile increaſeth. David would more value the comforts of Gods Spirit, then any other comfort in the world. Aſsured Chriſtians, that uſe aſsurance rightly, they muſt put a high valuation and worth upon it. And the reaſon is, Becauſe you will not then eaſily part with your aſsurance for a baſe and beggerly luſt, and for a fruitleſse ſinne, if once you know the value and worth of it.
Thirdly, Your aſsurance muſt make you to live with a weaned heart from the comforts of this world, 2 Cor. 4. the laſt verſe, compared with Chapt. 5.1. The Apoſtle tels you, We doe not look after the things that are ſeen, that are temporal. What made the Apoſtle not to look after worldly things? he gives the reaſon, For when this houſe of ours is diſſolved, we have a dwelling with God, eternal in the heavens. As if he ſhould ſay, That's the reaſon we do not look after the world, as worldly men do; for we know that when we leave this world, we have a heaven to go to. The aſsurance of the Bleſsednes of their future being, did make them undervalue the world, as a thing not worthy the glance of the eye; Perſons that have aſsurance, can ſay as Philip ſaid to Chriſt, John 14.8. Shew us, ſaith Philip, the Father, and it ſufficeth us. Thus ſaith a gracious heart, O ſweet Jeſus, ſhew us but thy favour; aſsure but my ſoule, that thy Father is a reconciled Father to me in thy ſelfe, that he is my Father as well as thy Father; Shew me but the Father, and it ſufficeth me; though I have little or nothing in the world, this ſhall ſuffice me. Gracious hearts, that live in the enjoyment of aſsurance, they ought to live with a weaned heart from the comforts of this world. Men that have taſted hony or ſome other ſweet morſel, they do diſtaſte all other things, though of themſelves very pleaſant: So men that have taſted of this hony of Gods love, and the ſweetneſſe of this grace of aſſurance; it will make them diſtaſte and diſreliſh all the things of this world, though of themſelves pleaſant & good. If a man look on the Sun it dazles his eyes, that he cannot diſcern colours about him; ſo he that beholds the light of Gods countenance, will not look upon the things here below. I may allude to that place, Luke 5.39. No man, ſaith Chriſt, having drunk old wine, ſtraight way deſireth new; for he ſaith, The old is better. His meaning is this, No man that hath had a taſte of Jeſus Chriſt, & hath had communion and fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, and lain under the Miniſtery of Jeſus Chriſt; no man that hath drunk of this old wine, will ſay, new is better; to have other comforts, and other pleaſures, is better; no man will ſay this, ſaith Chriſt. And ſo he compares his Miniſtery, and his doctrine, and the comfort Gods people have thereby, to old wine: Beloved, ſo I ſay, men that have drunk draughts of this wine of conſolation, and men that are ſet…edly aſſured, and have had a taſte that the Lord is gracious, no man will now ſay, that the world is better, and the comforts below better. No, the aſsurance of Gods love ſhould wean a mans heart from all the comforts of the world. As old Jacob ſaid, when he ſaw his ſonne Joſeph in his old age, after he had made many a prayer, and ſhed many a tear; O Joſeph my ſonne is yet alive, I have enough. As was the carriage of Jacob to Joſeph, the ſame ſhould be the carriage of a Chriſtian towards Chriſt. If he can ſay, My Joſeph, my Jeſus is alive in my heart; I having him, have enough; this comfort ſhould raviſh his ſpirit. Paul when he was rapt up into the third heaven, was ſo tranſported that he knew not whether he was in the body or no; ſo are the people of God raviſhed with heavenly conſolations, that they minde not theſe earthly things. Cui incipit dulceſcere Chriſtus, ei neceſſe eſt am …eſcere mundum.It is a ſpeech that Bernard hath, That to whomſoever Jeſus Chriſt once becomes ſweet, that he can taſte the ſweetneſſe of his love, and the ſweetneſs of his mercy, this very ſweetneſſe in Chriſts love will imbitter the world unto him.
Fourthly, you are to manage and uſe your aſsurance with tenderneſs of conſcience againſt ſinne. Aſsured Chriſtians ſhould be tender-conſcienced Chriſtians. Pſal. 85.8. God will ſpeak peace to his people; but mark the duty: they muſt not turn again unto folly. They muſt not run again into ſinne, they muſt be tender of ſin, and then God will ſpeak peace to his people. Sin (as I once told you) will be like wind in the bowels of the earth. Philoſophers ſay, Earthquakes and ruptures are occaſioned by winde got into the bowels and cavernes of the earth, which having no place for vent, it overturnes mountaines and buildings: Beloved, ſinne in the heart will do the like; it will make the heart quake and tremble if it be there; it will prove the grave of thy comforts, and the reſurrection of thy feares. Therefore Chriſtians that are aſsured, they muſt take heed of ſinne; if they would keep their comforts, they muſt keep their hearts that ſin get not into their conſciences. Beloved, they that are aſſured Chriſtians, they know how difficultly they did attain this aſſurance, and they know how ſweetly they enjoy this aſſurance, and that will make them very tender, that they do not loſe a thing ſo hardly gotten and ſweetly enjoyed for a trivial luſt; that they loſe not their former evidences, and revive former terrors.
Fifthly, Aſſurance muſt be managed with patience in bearing any outward affliction that you may meet with in the world. Aſſured Chriſtians muſt be patient Chriſtians, Heb. 10.34. They ſuffered joyfully the ſpoyling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and more enduring ſubſtance; and that made the Saints of God tuſh and ſcorn at all the loſſes they met with in the world. Suppoſe a man be at Sea, and have precious jewels and pearles aboard with him; if the man can be but ſure he ſhall ſave his own life, and ſave his jewels, though he loſe the Casket, though he loſe the box, that will not much trouble him: Thou that art ſure of heaven, thou canſt never loſe that pearle, thy ſoul; thou maiſt loſe the ſhell, thy life; thou maiſt loſe the Casket, thou ſhalt never loſe the jewel; and ſhall that trouble thee? If thou art an aſſured Chriſtian, be ſure whatever ſtorme of Temptation blow upon thee, thou ſhalt only loſe the box, never loſe the pearle. This therefore ſhould make aſſured Chriſtians to be patient Chriſtians, what ever they ſhall undergo here in the world. I have read a ſtory in Fox his Acts and Monuments, of a woman, who when ſhe came to be tried for her Religion before Bonner, that bloody Biſhop; he threatened her, he would take away her huſband from her; ſaith ſhe, Chriſt is my husband; I will take away thy childe: Chriſt, ſaith ſhe, is better to me then ten ſonnes; I will ſtrip thee, ſaith he, of all thy outward comforts: yea but Chriſt is mine, and you cannot ſtrip me of him, ſaith ſhe. The thoughts of this bore up the womans heart; ſpoile her of all, and take away all, yet Chriſt was hers, and they could not take him away. O Beloved, when thy ſoul lives in the aſſurance of Gods love, and of thy calling to grace and glory; this ſhould make you wonderful patient to endure what ever you ſhall meet with here below. It was the ſpeech of that famous ſervant of God, holy Bradford, when a company of his fellow priſoners were that morning to go to be burnt, ſaith Bradford, O my fellowſufferers, be chearful, for though we are all of us to have a bitter breakfaſt, yet truly we ſhall have a chearful dinner. Here you ſee how aſſured Chriſtians, their comforts in God did ſo tranſport their hearts, that it made them overlook, and with patience bear all afflictions they were to meet with. You have a remarkable phraſe, Eſa. 33.24. The Inhabitants of Sion ſhall not ſay, I am ſick, the people that dwell therein, ſhall be forgiven their iniquity. A ſtrange paſsage; he doth not ſay, they were not ſick, but the text ſaith, they ſhould not ſay ſo. And what's the reaſon? why ſhould the people forget their ſorrows, & forget their pains? this ſhould make them; the Lord had forgiven them their iniquities. The ſenſe of pardon took away the ſenſe of pain. And Beloved, Chriſtians ſhould walk thus to ſhew that trouble ſhould not daunt them, and afflictions never ſtartle them; you that are aſsured Chriſtians, you ſhould be patient Chriſtians under all ſufferings. And take this for a rule, that God takes impatience more unkindly at aſsured Chriſtians hands, then at the hands of any men in the world beſides: Becauſe if God give thee aſsurance, he hath given thee a ſeal in thy own breſt, that all ſhall work for thy good; and wilt thou be impatient? He hath given thee a ſeal in thy own breſt, that heaven ſhall make amends for all; and wilt thou be angry? God will take this more unkindly at them then any.
Sixtly, Aſsurance ſhould be managed with indeared love to Jeſus Chriſt. Aſsured Chriſtians ſhould be Chriſtloving Chriſtians. When Chriſt told Mary Magdalen, Thy ſins which are many are forgiven thee, When ſhe had aſsurance, her ſinnes were pardoned, what ſaith Chriſt? Much was forgiven her, therefore ſhe loved much: becauſe ſhe was ſenſible much was forgiven her, ſhe would ſhew forth much love to Jeſus Chriſt. And the reaſon is, becauſe it was Chriſts love brought thoſe Chriſtians into a State of ſalvation, and his love likewiſe that gave them aſsurance of their own call, and this ſhould indear their hearts to Jeſus Chriſt.
Seventhly, Aſsurance ſhould be managed with abundance of compaſſion towards thoſe Chriſtians that are tempted & troubled by Satan. Aſsured Chriſtians ſhould be compaſſionate Chriſtians. If God have given you aſsurance of his love, you ſhould carry compaſſionate breſts towards your Brethren, who remain behinde in great diſtreſs and perplexity, that lie toſsed and turmoiled by Temptations. When a ſhip is brought ſafe to the haven, if they have any bowels, when they ſee another ſhip in the main Ocean ſtrugling for life in the midſt of the waters, they will pity them: You that have got aſsurance, you are come to a ſafe harbour; but your tempted Brethren, they are toſsed upon the waves and tempeſts of temptation, you ſhould now have compaſſionate hearts towards tempted Chriſtians. 2 Cor. 1.4. The Apoſtle tells us, The Lord hath comforted us in all our tribulation, that we might comfort others with the ſame comforts, wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. It was the work and task of the Apoſtle, and them with him, that they having comforts and aſſurance from God, they would labour to comfort others, and bear up others, and eſtabliſh others, that they might rejoyce, and receive the ſame comforts with themſelves. Hence you read, 1 Pet. 3.8, 9. Be pitiful, be compaſſionate to your Brethren, love as Brethren. Now upon what ground doth the Apoſtle preſſe this compaſſion. Read verſe 9. Knowing, ſaith he, that you are hereunto called, that you ſhould inherit a bleſſing. As if he ſhould ſay, upon this ground I woo you to be compaſſionate becauſe you are called to inherit a bleſſing; that is, you know and are aſſured, that you are a bleſſed people, and you ſhall be a ſaved people, therefore have compaſſion on your brethren, who are tempted and troubled, that you might bring them to the ſame pitch of comfort you are brought to.
Eighthly, Aſſurance ſhould be managed with chearfulneſſe of heart: Aſſured Chriſtians ſhould be chearful Chriſtians. We read Nehem. 2.1, 2. That Nehemiah all the while he was before the face of the King, and in the preſence of the King, the Text ſaith, Nehemiah for a long time was not ſad: the Kings preſence did ſo cheare up Nehemiahs heart. Now to this I would allude: If the preſence and face of King Artaxerxes did make Nehemiah, that for a long time he was not ſad before him; Oh how much more ſhould the face of God, and the preſence of God in a mans ſoul, and the favour of God towards a man, how much more ſhould this keep thee from being ſad in Gods preſence, from a lumpiſh and Melancholy and ſad ſpirit? Thou art in the preſence of a King, in the favour of God, and this ſhould keep thee from being ſad and heavy. None in the world have greater grounds of joy then thoſe that live in a conſtant aſſurance of the love of God towards them. It is for condemned men, that are condemned to the Gallows, to hang down their heads and wring their hands; but let the pardoned people of the Lord rejoyce. The man that is condemned, he hangs down his head, but the man that comes pardoned from the barre, with what a chearful countenance will that man come? you are all a people pardoned by your God, you may well be a rejoycing people: I remember a paſſage I have read in D. Halls Works, in his Meditations upon the Creatures, ſpeaking of a little Bird called Robbinred-breſt, that when he was in his ſtudy, came chirping at the window, and leaping upon his book, and ſinging a great while together; upon this ſight he breaks out into this contemplation. O this little ſilly Bird, that doth not know where to pick up the next crum, that doth not know where to pitch and reſt it ſelfe for the next night, yet behold, how chearfully doth this Bird ſing, when man, and a Chriſtian man that knows God to be his Father, that hath not only crumbs of ourward bleſſings but whole morſels of inward comfort, and can drink draughts of inward conſolation: Chriſtians, that have a God, and a heaven, that have Chriſt and glory, yet they cannot be merry, as a poor Bird can be: and truly it is a good Meditation: Many times people that are called by Jeſus Chriſt, and have ground and aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe by him, yet they cannot be ſo merry as a poor Bird will be; Birds in the morning will be chirping and ſinging, as if nothing lay at the heart, when a Chriſtian is ſad, and vexing, and wearying out his life in diſcontents and ſorrowes; this becomes not a Chriſtian. Aſſured Chriſtians they ſhould be chearful Chriſtians.
Ninthly, Aſſured Chriſtians they ſhould be thankful Chriſtians. For one to give a man a promiſe, it is worth thanks, but when a man ſhall not onelyonly give, but aſſure that Promiſe, that he will make it good; that is more thanksworthy. Beloved, if God had only promiſed you a heaven, and had given no aſſurance, it was thanks-worthy, but when God ſhall give thee his Broad Seal, that ſhall ſeal thee up to the day of Redemption, and when God ſhall give thee an aſſurance in thy own breſt, thou ſhalt go to heaven, and go to God, this ſhould much more make thee in thy Spirit bleſſe thy God. It is a ſpeech of the Prophet David, My ſoule, bleſſe thou the Lord for his marvellous loving kindneſſe. Thou haſt kindneſſe, and thou haſt marvellous loving kindneſſe; My ſoul bleſſe God for this. David would not keep back Gods praiſes, ſeeing God would not keep back Davids comforts. In heaven we ſhall break forth into admiration, becauſe we have good things in poſſeſſion; here we ſhould break forth into thankſgiving, becauſe we have them in expectation. And thus I have done with the firſt part of my direction to you that are aſſured Chriſtians, you ſhould labour firſt rightly to uſe your aſſurance.
Secondly, All you that are aſſured Chriſtians, you are to be directed carefully to keep and preſerve your aſſurance. There is no leſſe skill, ſaith the Poet, to be put forth in keeping vertue, Non minor eſt virtus quàm quaerere parta tueri.then in getting of it. It is ſaid of Hannibal, he was a skilful ſouldier to get victories, but he had no skill to keep them, when gotten; It may be ſaid ſo of us, Chriſtians can get aſſurance, but they have not the skill to keep it, when they have got it. This therefore I am now to preſs, that you would be careful to preſerve your aſſurance. And here in ſpeaking of this, I ſhall lay down two particulars; that in caſe you would keep your aſſurance, there are ſome things you muſt do; and ſome things you muſt avoid and take heed of.
Firſt, There are ſome things you muſt do, and thoſe I ſhall comprize under 2 or 3 heads.
Firſt, In caſe you would keep aſſurance, you are to keep cloſe in communion with your God, in the exerciſe of the duty of godlineſſe. The more you keep grace, the more you will keep your comforts. And here that I may branch out this direction, I ſhall comprize theſe duties under four heads, and ſhew you from Scripture, that keeping cloſe to God in the uſe of four duties, will be a ready way to keep your aſſurance in you.
As firſt, keep cloſe to God in the duty of prayer, John 16.24. Ask, ſaith Chriſt, and your joy ſhall be full. Ask, that your joy may be full; implying that if you keep cloſe to God in the duty of prayer, after aſſurance; your ſpirits ſhall be compleat and full.
Secondly, Keep cloſe to God, in the duty of reading the Word often. By often reading the Word, you will often meet with Promiſes and ſupports for your comfort. That's the reaſon men leſſen in comforts, becauſe men do not frequently read the Word; you cannot read a Chapter, but you will finde there a prop for faith, and a prop for aſſurance. Keeping conſtant to the Word, and that's the way to keep your aſſurance, 1 John 5.13. Theſe things have I written to you that believe, that you might know, that you have eternal life. Theſe things have I writ, not onelyonly, that you have life, but that you might know it. By reading the writings of John, John tells them, they might the better know they ſhould live for ever, and everlaſtingly be ſaved. Keep cloſe to God in reading his written Word, and this will be of great uſe. Becauſe there are Promiſes ſcattered throughout the veines of Scripture. Not a Scripture almoſt you can read, but there is a promiſe or ſupport for your faith one way o… other.
Thirdly, Keep cloſe to God in a conſtant and conſciencious hearing of his Word, and this is a great means to get aſſurance, Luke 1.76. Thou ſhalt be called the Prophet of the Higheſt, for thou ſhalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his way; that is, thou ſhalt go to prepare the peoples hearts that they may receive Jeſus Chriſt that followes after. This is ſpoken of John Baptiſt. And what was the effect of hearing John preach? To give knowlege of ſalvation to his people, for the remiſſion of their ſins; not onelyonly to give them ſalvation, but to give them knowledge and aſſurance of this ſalvation. O live under the Miniſtery, and under John Baptiſts Miniſtery, that preacheth repentance and humiliation, and that is the Miniſtery will give moſt aſſurance of your ſalvation.
Fourthly, Keep in communion with God, in a daily trying and examining your own hearts. Gal. 6.4. If any man think himſelfe to be ſomewhat, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himſelfe; but let every man prove his own works, and then he ſhall have rejoycing in himſelfe. That is, let a man examine himſelfe, and prove his heart, and this will be a means to work joy in the heart, that they ſhall have comfort and joy in themſelves in the aſſurance of their happineſs. Beloved what's the reaſon you do not keep aſsurance? the reaſon is, you keep not cloſe to God in a way of communion in theſe duties of holineſse, you keep not to God in a way of prayer, and reading, and examining your hearts, and proving your comforts, and your own eſtate, and that's the reaſon you are no more full, and no more firm.
Secondly, if you would keep your comforts, keep your conſcience clear from harbouring the guilt of linne, Job 11.14 15. I iniquity be in thy hands, put it far away; if ſinne be in thy converſation, away with it. Let not ſinne be in thy heart, nor in thy houſe; then ſhalt thou liſt up thy face to God without ſpot, thou ſhalt be ſtedfaſt before him, and not fear. This will ballance thy ſpirit, and keep thy heart from fear, and keep thee in a ſtedfaſt aſsurance, if thou keep thy conſcience clear.
Thirdly, If thou wouldſt keep aſsurance, gather and heap together all the experiences thou haſt had of God in thy heart in times paſt. I called to remembrance the dayes of old, Pſal. 77.7. Call to remembrance all the experiences thou haſt had of God, and had of Chriſt, and of thy own grace, and the fruits of Gods Spirit in thy own ſoul, and this will wonderfully keep up thy aſsurance. Rom. 5.4. The Apoſtle tels us, Experience worketh hope. The more experimental you are, and the more you gather experience together, the more you ſtrengthen hope, and the more hope is ſtrengthened, the more aſsurance is gained. Theſe are the particulars you muſt practiſe, in caſe you would preſerve in your breſt this aſsurance of your effectual calling.
Secondly, There are ſome things you are to avoid and take heed of, in caſe you would perpetuate aſsurance in your hearts, and thoſe I ſhall comprize under ſix heads.
Firſt, Take heed you do not wallow in, and give your ſelves to ſenſual joy and pleaſure. There is nothing in the world will more eat out ſpiritual joy and that effectual aſſurance in your hearts, then giving your ſelves too much to carnal joy and ſenſual pleaſure, which takes away the heart. The more your joy runnes in that channel after ſenſual pleaſure, the leſs it runs towards God, and the comforts that are above; godly ſorrow is the ſeed plot of ſpiritual joy.
Secondly, The evill of earthly mindedneſs, take heed of that, if ever you would keep your comforts. There is nothing in the world will more blaſt your comforts, then an earthly minde to be ſtill poring upon the things of the world. What the Philoſophers ſay of the Eclipſe of the Sun, that it is occaſioned by the intervening of the Moon between the Sun & our ſight is true in this caſe. The Moon is an emblem of the world. If the world get between Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſnes and our ſight, it will darken our ſight of Jeſus Chriſt, and bring eclipſes upon our comforts and graces. Thoſe men that dig deepeſt into the bowels of the earth, they are oftentimes choaked and ſtifled by damps that come from the earth: So it is with Chriſtians, thoſe that will be ever poring and digging about the things of this world, it is a thouſand to one, if from worldly things a damp doth not ariſe to ſmother their comforts, and quench their graces; the world pierceth with ſorrow, therefore muſt needs damp your joys. A candle, though it may ſhine to the view of all, yet put it but under ground; and (though there be not a puffe of winde) the very damps will ſtifle the light of the flame. Beloved, though you ſhine like candles in your comforts, yet bring them but under the earth, and a clod of earth will ſtifle your candle, will damp your comforts. There is nothing laies a Chriſtian under more loſſe in his aſſurance then worldly-mindedneſs.
Thirdly, Avoid remiſſeneſs in religious duties. If you ſlack in duties, you will ſlack in comforts; leſſe duties, and leſſe comforts go together. If a man doth let looſe the tacklings of his ſhip, and let ſlack the ſailes, that ſhip cannot go with ſo ſwift a motion; ſpecially if winde and tide be againſt it, the ſhip muſt needs go backward: Believers that are aſſured Chriſtians, they are like a ſhip under ſaile; you go againſt winde and tide, againſt nature, and againſt corruption, againſt Temptation and the devil and all: now if you let ſlack your ſailes, and grow remiſſe in duties, you will quickly ſlack in your comforts; whatever weakens your graces, and ſtraitens your duties, will impaire your aſsurances, and eclipſe your comforts; and therefore take heed of remiſseneſs in a way of duties; oh do not leſs work, when you have moſt encouragement.
Fourthly, Take heed of ſpiritual pride. If once you begin to admire your ſelves, you then loſe your ſelves. If once you are proud of your graces, it is a provocation to make God take away your comforts, and to make you loſe your graces; I mean, loſe them, not in the very being, but in the comfort and exerciſe of them; pride it is the great murderer of a Chriſtians comforts.
Fifthly, Take heed of grieving the Spirit of God; Grieve not the holy Spirit, ſaith the Apoſtle, whereby you are ſealed to the day of Redemption. The Spirit of God is a ſealing Spirit; O grieve not this Spirit. Ità nos tractat Spiritus ſicut tractatur.The Spirit deals with us, as we deal with it; If you grieve the Spirit of God, God will grieve you, and your ſpirits ſhall be grieved, that you ſhall not keep the joyes of the Lord in your breſt in the aſſurance of his love and favour to you. You read, Eſa. 63.10. They grieved his Spirit, ſo he was turned to be their enemy, and fought againſt them. Beloved, though God may be your friend, yet he will frown upon you as an enemy, and ſeem to fight againſt you too, in caſe you grieve his Spirit; if thou grieve Gods Spirit, God will grieve thine, and when thy ſpirit is grieved, thou muſt needs loſe thy comforts.
Sixthly, Take heed of the ſinne of hypocriſie, falſe grace will breed a falſe joy. A falſe heart muſt needs have falſe comforts. You will never keep true comforts, if you have an unſound heart. The upright in heart they ſhall ſhout upon their beds for joy; they ſhall do it, but hypocrites ſhall not. Take heed therefore of this evill, and you are in a way to preſerve your aſſurance.