The Voice of the Spirit, Chapter 18 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVIII. Of the ſoules retaining Aſſurance, notwithſtanding the prevailings of corruption.
Object. BUt is it poſſible that a ſoule may retaine Aſſurance, after it hath found the prevailings of Corruption? If it formerly had it, yet muſt it not unavoydably looſe it, after a falling into ſin?
Premiſe 1. Sins are either of infirmitie onelyonly; or groſſer ſins, which are the falls of the Saints.
Prem. 2. Either there is a nouriſhing of theſe ſins, or an endeavour to the utmoſt after the mortification of them.
Anſw. 1. Aſſurance in the donation and continuation of it, hath a dependance on the free actings of the Divine Spirit. Rom. 8.16. 1 Joh. 5.6. And hence, if the Spirit pleaſeth, that can continue ſuch a worke upon the heart, at ſuch a time: and if that will ſuſpend its operations, though no ſuch provocation be given it to withdraw; yet it is not in the power of man to continue it one moment longer.
2. A man ought not to throw or caſt away his Confidence ſo long as Scripturall grounds are afforded to found it upon: it is the groſſe miſtake of too many Chriſtians, if they fall into ſin, they reckon it their duty then to queſtion their eſtates, & to throw up all former perſwaſions of intereſt in Chriſt: whereas, this is very ſinfull: it not onelyonly wanteth a word to warrant it, for a duty; but it is denyed by the word to be one. They ought to hold faſt their confidence firme unto the end. Hebr. 3.6. & Iſai. 49.14. She is upbraided for ſaying the Lord had forſaken her &c.
You are not to caſt it away but upon a Scripture-ground; and ſeing it is evident that falls are conſiſtent with intereſt in Chriſt, as in the caſe of David and Peter; hence, you cannot have a warrant from the word, to make this an argument of being without Chriſt.
3. The nouriſhing of Corruption hath a tendency to deprive the ſoule of Aſſurance: Heb. 10.22. Pſal. 51.12. and therefore it is extreamely dangerous to cheriſh the leaſt ſin.
4. If thou enquireſt whither Aſſurance may ſtand with the nouriſhing any ſin: either thy Queſtion muſt looke to the time paſt, preſent, or to come. If to the time preſent, or to come, know, that the Lord hath not granted thee liberty one moment, for the nouriſhing any corruption; and ſo, it is a ſin to be ſtudious to make Aſſurance and any ſin dwell together. Put an end to this queſtion, by ceaſing to nouriſh for the preſent, and by ſeeking to prevent nouriſhing any ſin for the future.
But if it reſpecteth the time paſt; that formerly thou didſt nouriſh ſome corruption, thy after mortification of it is witneſſing.
5. I ſuppoſe Aſſurance may be retained, after, not only ſins of infirmitie; but alſo after the fals of the Saints, when thoſe ſins are not nouriſhed. That it may continue after ſins of infirmitie is undenyable, becauſe elſe it were impoſſible for any to retaine it; ſeing the beſt of Saints are ſubject to theſe, dayly. Rom. 7.15.24. And for other ſins, ſee, 1 Sam. 12. v. 19, 20.22. They had made themſelves guilty of great wickedneſſe, and were afraid of death for it, but Samuel forbiddeth this feare, and calleth them up unto confidence, that the Lord would not forſake them, v. 22. for his owne names ſake. Micah 7. v. 8.9. Though I fall, yet I ſhall ariſe — Here is Aſſurance, and yet under a fall, and it is into ſin. v. 9. I have ſinned. I ſay, [when ſin is not nouriſhed] elſe the conſidence is very ſuſpicious; for, if there be ſenſible Aſſurance, this will make oppoſition againſt ſin in the ſoule. 1 Sam. 12. v. 20.24. 1 Joh. 3.3 [Every man] that hath this hope, purifieth himſelfe —
CHAP. XIX. Of ſeparation of the heart to God and Chriſt.
Qu: 2. HOw may one know that his heart is ſeparated to God and Chriſt?
Anſw. 1. From his eſteeming of God and Chriſt, above all other things: Pſal. 73.26, 27. Whom have I in heaven but thee? a beleever would account even heaven it ſelfe, a place of but little beautie, glory or felicitie, if Communion with God and Chriſt were not to be injoyed in it. Others deſire Chriſt onelyonly for heaven, he deſireth heaven chiefly for Chriſt.
Naturall men are even drunke and ſwallowed up in Creature delights; but, the intereſt of Chriſt prevaileth with a gracious heart againſt all other intereſts. He may be interrupted in his motion to Chriſt, in particular acts; but he is the prime, principall object his ſoule is moved, and bent towards, ſet and fixed upon, and given up to; Rom. 8.5. Phil. 3.20. Coloſs. 1.18. 1 Pet. 2.7. Col. 3.11. Chriſt is all and in all. Other-things are as nothing to him, if Chriſt be not injoyed in them; he is all in all injoyments; all in all inlargements, all in all duties, all in all comforts. Others apprehend that Chriſt it, better then the gnawings of an accuſing conſcience, better then the company of damned Spirits, better then flames; but, they ſee no ſuch beautie, or excellency in Chriſt, as ſhould make him beſt, or all in all here on earth. They can verbally owne Chriſt as ſuperlatively excellent, but practitally they deny it. And, they know not Chriſt in thoſe ſpirituall excellencies, which advance him in the eyes of Saints. Take him as cloathed with bolines, and appearing againſt ſin &c. and they preferre other things that are baſe and low, before him.
The following particulars will further diſcover, when Chriſt is all in all.
2. From his ſpending his higheſt deſires and endevours after attaining Communion with God in Chriſt: when the heart is ſet upon Chriſt, or turned Chriſt-ward, it cannot ſtand ſtill without him, it muſt be waiting for him, and enquiring after him with utmoſt diligence. Cant. 3.3. Saw ye not him whom my ſoule loveth? Pſal. 130.5, 6. Phil. 3.14.
3. From his willingnes to part with all other things at Chriſts Call, or for his ſake. Luk. 14.26.33. Whoſoever forſaketh not, [all that he hath,] Mark. 8.35. & 10. v. 29.he cannot be my Diſciple. Matth. 10.37. He that loveth father or mother [more] then me, is not worthy of me —
4. From the carriage of his heart under his withdrawings: when theſe procure ſuch heart-ſickneſſes, as can be cured no way, but by his returnings to it. Cant. 5. v. 6.8. Tell him I am ſick of love.
When the feare of hell is not upon them, yet O, the ſighings, ſobbings, cryings, faintings, of love-ſicke ſoules, for Chriſt's preſence. No quiet or ſatisfaction without him. Like the childe, that nothing can ſtill, but the breaſt: ſo, nothing can fill up Chriſts roome in the ſoule. It reckoneth it ſelfe empty in the midſt of fulnes, without him. It is reſolved for ever to goe in widdow-hood, if he will not owne it as his Spouſe. This argueth a Conſent of heart to the Match, and ſo a marriage union between Chriſt and the ſoule.
5. From his injoyment of the leadings of the Spirit: theſe are a certaine, infallible evidence of Adoption to all that have them. Rom. 8.14. For [as many] as are [led by the Spirit] of God, they are [the Sons of God].