The Tempestuous Soul Calmed by Jesus Christ, Observation 1
When Chriſt draws in a Soul to himſelf he uſually raiſeth a tempeſt in that ſoul.
The word for a tempeſt in the Originall is foreign, which properly ſignifies an Earthquake which cauſeth a ſhaking of che Earth; The ſame word is uſed by the Septuagint in Ezekiel frequently to ſignifie a ruſhing winde, a noiſe, a ſhaking: Now then this doth very well fit our purpoſe to diſcover this tempeſt upon a poor ſoul as drawing in to Chriſt, which is a kinde of earthquake, a ſhaking of an earthy heart (whoſe principles and aims were earthly) as promiſed by the Lord Chriſt, Iſa. 11.4. And he ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth, when he comes in with a ruſhing, and a noiſe, like the voice in Ezekiels Viſion, Cap. 3.22. when the awakenings and enlightenings of the Word and voice of God fall in (ſhaking the ſpirit of a dead ſinner) like the noiſe of many waters, Rev. 11.15, Thus when the fear of a miſcarrying ſoul laies hold upon it, ſuch a kinde of ſhaking and tempeſt is upon it. Now the Lord ordereth it to be thus with a Soul for theſe Reaſons.
1. God cauſeth a glimpſe of his holineſſe to paſſe by a Soul, that the Creature by ſuch a reflexion from God, may ſee in ſome meaſure what ſin hath done upon him, at what an infinite diſtance it hath ſet him at with the moſt holy God, how unlike unto him ſin hath made him; That he may in ſome meaſure ſee and feel what he is, when the great and righteous God takes him in hand, which makes him ready to cry out with Peter at the appearance of Chriſt to him, Depart from me, for I am a ſinfull man, Luk. 5.8. And as Moſes in his ſelf-abaſement, when God appeared to him, Exod. 3.6. Moſes hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God: And ver. 11. Who am I that thou ſhouldſt ſend me? A glimpſe of God cauſeth ſuch an abaſement upon a ſoul, and even a ſhaking to be upon it, That the creature may magnifie the greatneſs and purity of God, and be vile in its own eyes before him: This is the firſt Reaſon of it.
2. He raiſeth ſuch a tempeſt and ſhaking upon a ſinfull worm, To cauſe him in part to taſte what a bitter cup it was, he could ſo delightfully and boldly quaſſe of, yea, to have a taſte of that bitter cup that Jeſus Chriſt drank brim full of his fathers wrath, that if one dram of it be ſo unſupportable to a ſoul, what were the full vials of it that were poured forth upon the ſinleſs ſoul and body of Chriſt? that thence when we come to ſee him we may be pierced and be in bitterneſſe for him.
Yea 3. That a Soul may truly and in earneſt feel and diſcern its need of ſuch a Jeſus to bear and deliver from that wrath; When ſuch a glimpſe of God upon it, ſuch a ſhaking, ſuch an abaſement in its own vileneſſe, ſuch a taſting of wrath, then a Chriſt to quiet and calm a deſolate ſoul is worth looking after indeed.
But it will preſently be enquired whether every Soul is brought into Chriſt this way?
I will firſt open the height of this tempeſt upon a Soul, and then I will ſatisfie this Query. It is thus, When God muſters up our ſins, and ſets them in order before our eyes, Pſal. 50.21. When he will make ſin appear exceeding ſinfull to be abounding ſin; When God writes bitter things againſt a Soul, and makes it to poſſeſſe the iniquity of its youth; I need ſeek no further then the 38. Pſalm, for this tempeſt, and the 88. In both of them you have a deſcription of this tempeſt upon a poor creature; Thine arrows ſtick faſt in me, There is no reſt in my bones becauſe of my ſin; Mine iniquities are gone over my head, and are a burthen too heavy for me to bear; Troubled, and bowed down, and go mourning all the day, filled with his terrours, as Heman: To this (as it may be conceived to have been the caſe with David and Heman, in both theſe Pſalmes) is uſually added ſome ſharp affliction, either of ſickneſſe, or of the imbittering ſome choice creature-comfort our ſpirits were inordinately let out unto, which cauſeth this ſhaking and tempeſt to be the more grievous, that we become (as David ſpeaks) even as broken veſſels under the mighty hand of God.
This alſo, by the ſufferance of God, is often heightned by Satans violent aſſaults, black and horrible ſuggeſtions, blaſphemous accuſations, repreſenting ſin as unpardonable, joyns with an accuſing conſcience and all our fleſhly reaſonings, that God is in a way of deſtroying and beginning of wrath here, and therefore is apt to ſuggeſt ſelf-deſtruction, ſo croſſing Gods deſign, perſwading the Soul to fly from God as an Enemy, when Gods main deſign is mercy to turn it to him.
Now then, take all theſe, the appearing of a great and holy and terrible God, ſhaking a poor earthly creature, the powerfull awakenings and enlightenings of his Word, a ſenſe of his fierce wrath, the dread of a miſcarrying ſoul, the burthen of ſin, the accuſations of conſcience, the afflicting hand of God, the deſperate aſſaults of Satan, theſe like ſeveral windes make a tempeſt in the whole man, and make it to cry out, Thy waves, O Lord, and thy billows go over my ſoul, who is able to abide thine appearance? Theſe, like ſeverall windes meeting in a cranny of the earth, make a concuſſion and mighty ſhaking upon the ſpirit of a ſinner, when the Lord thus takes him in hand.
Now to anſwer the queſtion, whether every Soul be brought in to Chriſt ſuch a way in the height of this tempeſt?
This is more then I dare aſſert, yet that many a poor Soul comes thus ſhipwracht Chriſt, thus tempeſtuous and forlorn, I know I need not inſiſt to prove; This I may call the ſtorming of a Soul, when Chriſt takes a Soul by his great power, ſuddenly breaks down all the ſtrong holds and high things, 2 Cor. 10.5. This is uſually the way of an open ſinner, though not in the ſame height, neither in every open ſinner at his firſt converſion; But then ſometimes Jeſus Chriſt takes a Soul, as I may ſo ſpeak, upon eaſier terms, brings it in, leni afflatu, with a more gentle gale, yet ſo, that in the progreſſe of it there will be ſome ſhakings, ſomething of this tempeſt upon it, though the Soul hath a glimpſe of Chriſt, and his hand more ſenſibly ſupporting it; which I clear thus.
Firſt, If the ſeed of grace be ſown early in the heart (as ſometimes it is) that ſome Souls cannot remember the firſt work of it, yet if the Soul grow up to any meaſure of experience, it muſt be more ſhaken in order to its further ſubduing and purifying; It will meet with ſome kinde of tempeſts ordinarily, I never ſpake with any as to this Point, but more or leſſe did allow of it: But when the work of God is begun at ſome further ripeneſſe of years, then certainly it ſhall meet with what I have ſet forth in ſome meaſure; Conſider, for a Soul to be awakened out of the deep ſleep of carnall ſecurity, which ſin hath bound him in, To have Satan the ſtrong man diſpoſſeſt by a ſtronger then he, To have the guilt and filth of ſinne diſcovered by the holy Spirit, To have Chriſt deſtroy the works of Satan, the power and peace of corruptions that will ſet againſt him, with all the reaſonings of fleſh and bloud muſtered up, To have, in a word, the ſecure, dead, earthy, dark, hard, proud, atheiſticall, unbeleeving heart of an obſtinate wretch, of death to become life, of darkneſſe, light; of a ſtone, fleſh; To have a grain of faith, break through all naturall impoſſibilities, ſpirituall wickedneſſes, all diſcouragements within and without, when nothing within us to help forward beleeving, but every thing againſt us (as I ſhall further ſhew:) Though all theſe be not enough to hinder the Lord Jeſus, when he by his ſtrong arm will work, Iſa. 43.13. I will work, and who ſhall let it? yet certainly this work is not wrought forth in a dream (as we uſe to ſpeak of things inſenſibly done) not without ſome ſhaking and concuſſion upon the ſpirit, ſomething of this tempeſt upon it, partly in the beginning, and partly in the progreſſe of converſion; Fides non fit ſine multo motu, ſaith Melancthon, faith is not wrought forth without much motion in the Soul; Yea, I might here ſhew into how many tempeſts from without and within, many a poor Soul (ſpecially ſuch whom God will moſt humble and fit for ſome ſpeciall ſervice) fals into, how many overwhelmings of ſpirit and guſts of temptations it is frequently ſhaken with, but I intend to keep my ſelf chiefly to the diſcovery of the ſouls firſt approach to Chriſt.
It may yet be further enquired, What is the loweſt meaſure of ſuch conviction, in the bringing in of a Soul to Chriſt? In this there have been extreams, ſomtimes, I preſume, gracious men giving forth the tenour of their own converſion as a generall rule to all others; But in this caſe I may ſafely aſſert, that the firſt work of the Spirit is to convince of ſin, Joh. 16.7. And that ſuch a convincement that ſhall give a creature ſuch a ſight of ſin, that it muſt appear exceeding ſinfull, to be abounding ſin, Rom. 5.18. to be tyrannizing fin, filthy ſinne, condemning ſinne, which muſt not only flote in the head, but convince the conſcience, and affect the heart, that it muſt needs humble and abaſe a creature as he goes out of himſelf and rowls upon Jeſus Chriſt; yea, he ſhall come in a periſhing condition, as I am to ſhew in the next Point; To deny ſuch preparations and qualifications (not ſuch I mean as of our ſelves but from the ſpirit) is to reaſon againſt the method of the Spirit witneſſed by Scripture and experience; If the ſpirit of a ſinner be naturally bound up in blindeneſſe, hardneſs of heart, inſenſibleneſſe, ſecurity, peace, then it will not make out for ſalvation by Chriſt, till the Spirit of God comes upon that blindeneſſe, &c. and ſo cauſeth the Soul to diſcern its own condition; and this, as the rebellions of our hearts begin to be ſubdued by that ſpirit, cauſeth a mutiny, diſtemper, ſome kinde of tempeſt in the whole inward man, till the Spirit draweth vertue from Jeſus Chriſt more and more to work ſome meaſure of ſerenity and compoſure upon it, as we are to ſhew in the cloſe.
3. Say ſome, This is a way to bring a Soul into bondage and tormenting fear, No ſuch matter, 'Tis the way to bring him out of it: in order to the delivery from bondage, that bondage muſt be firſt diſcovered to and owned by the captive, which naturally he feels not, as above; To ſhew the captive his bondage, in order to his ſuing for deliverance, is the way for liberty, this clear Rom. 8.17. Ye have not received the ſpirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the ſpirit of Adoption, implying, ye are not now under the Law, and ſo in bondage again, as once you were, intimating they were ſo, and felt themſelves to be ſo, and that the Spirit did reveal it, and ſo brought them out of it, and wrought forth and witneſſed Chriſt to them, whereby they cried Abba, Father,
4. How long is a Soul to lie in his bondage humbling himſelf? Till he caſt up an eye to Jeſus Chriſt to ſeek liberty in in him; Certainly, though a Soul is to renew his humblings under his bondage, ye not ſo to lie under it, but preſently to make in to Jeſus Chriſt to be freed from the guilt, condemnation, bondage, ſervice of ſin, pleading his own gracious pdrpoſes to him, as expreſſed, 1. Joh. 3.8. 'twas his purpoſe to deſtroy the works of the devill, as I will purſue in the third point.
And thus briefly I have opened what I here mean by this tempeſt in a poor ſoul, ſeeking Chriſt, and life, and peace in him, the way, and loweſt meaſure of it.
If Jeſus Chriſt by his Word and Spirit doth thus awaken, enlighten, convince, raiſe ſome kinde of tempeſt in a poor ſoul, before it truly ſeeks out for life and peace in him; Let me in the firſt place ſpeak to the ſecure peacefull ſoul that perſwades it ſelf it hath hope enough for heaven, good intereſt enough in Jeſus Chriſt, and yet is not acquainted in any meaſure with ſuch workings of the ſpirit as this coming in with an awakning voice upon the naturall blindeneſſe and ſecurity, and bondage thou art bound up in. Let me tell thee, Soul, Better were the fierceſt tempeſt upon thy ſpirit then ſuch a calm: 'Tis ſitting with folded arms under the ſhadow of death; 'Tis ſinne in its power, bondage, peace upon thy ſpirit, the ſtrong man Satan keeping peace, that thou maieſt ſleep the ſleep of Death.
But you will ſay, What, will you diſturb the peace of my conſcience that I have enjoyed all the daies of my life?
Ah Soul, miſerable peace, miſerable calm, none of Chriſts making; Spare me a little, let me then freely beſpeak thee; Awake thou that ſleepeſt and ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee light, Eph. 5 Oh, awake from thy deadly calm and peace; Hear the voice of the Son of God and live, Joh. 5. Sinner, drowſie, careleſſe, heartleſſe ſinner, that haſt been all thy life time ſubject to bondage, Heb. 2.15. Hearken, conſider, ariſe, thy ſecurity, ſafety, and peace, is the death of ſin upon thy ſoul: a captive in a dungeon of darkneſſe, and with fetters about thee, and ſeeſt it not! this is thy temper, thou haſt been at eaſe from thy youth and ſetled on thy lees, Jerem. 48.11. Thou haſt heard the firſt work of the ſpirit is to awake to Chriſt and Heaven, to hear the voice of God in thy Soul, ruſhing in upon thy ſinfull peace: So Adam Gen. 3. when after his ſinne he had thought to lie hid from God in peace covered with his fig-leaves, he heard the voice of the Lord God in the Garden, and then they were afraid, and further ſaw their own nakedneſſe; What voices of God were they? Adam, where art thou? Haſt thou eaten of the Tree I commanded thee not to eat of? To the Woman, What is this thou haſt done? v. 8, 9, 10. &c. So the Lord ſpeaks to a ſoul at firſt, ſometimes in an Ordinance, ſometimes in a ſudden voice out of it. Soul, where art thou? what is thy ſtate and condition as to eternity? what proviſion for heaven, if thy ſoul ſhould be now taken from thee? What is this thou haſt done ſo preſumptuouſly and peaceably to ſinne againſt thy God? to ſide with the devil and the world againſt the peace of thy own ſoul? What is this thou haſt done to neglect the care of a deſolate ſoul? what will it profit thee to gain the whole world and loſe thy own ſoul, and to be a caſtaway? a caſtaway from the holy, bleſſed, eternall reſt of God into the company of devils in endleſſe unredeemable torment: What Soul, what means thy eager purſuit of vanity, and ſo heartleſſe to the things of heaven and eternity? With ſome ſuch voices God ſpeaks, and then the ſoul is made awake for heaven, and then it cries after God, confeſſeth, humbleth, bemoaneth, chargeth it ſelf, then the Lord directs that ſoul to means ordinarily, whereby he will do it good, and reveal the way of life in Chriſt unto it, to deſtroy the power of ſin in it, and then though after back-ſlidings and much unſetledneſſe, and wavering, many reaſonings and temptations, as ſhewd, the ſoul ſettles in ſome good meaſure in the taſtings of the power and love of Chriſt in it, as I ſhall further ſhew; Oh that ſuch a voice or any of theſe might ſecretly glide in the ſoul of any poor creature that hath hitherto withſtood it, and might cauſe the deep thoughts of eternity to ſeize upon thee: Let me reaſon with thee, as in the counſel of God, to raiſe a tempeſt in ſtead of that peace, fear it not, for I will ſhew thee a Chriſt to calm all, to deſtroy ſin, to ſet at liberty, to fill thy ſoul with joy and peace that ſhall never be taken away, never fear to paſſe through ſuch a tempeſt, better go to harbour in a ſtorm, then periſh becalmed in the ſands. Why then, in thy moſt ſerious and retired thoughts be putting ſuch Queſtions as I have mentioned to thy ſelf, if thou art moved and excited by theſe, and ſuch like: then this is the voice of God in them, if all that is within thee is ſtirred up to ſeek after Chriſt and our intereſt in him.
Firſt, Then Conſider with thy ſelf what it is thy heart moſt earneſtly purſues, (if thou haſt not truly found and ſought Jeſus Chriſt, and life in him;) 'tis certainly to compaſſe ſome ſuch worldly deſign which may render thee eſteemed in the world without dependance on other men, eſtimation with men, riches, pleaſures, to make up (as thou thinkeſt) a full contentment, theſe are the goodly pearls in the eyes of a naturall man, conſider then how empty and diſquieted thy ſpirit is left after ſuch a purſuit made good, and preſently the thoughts of ſome new one, or elſe thy ſpirit will languiſh in the former, and grow weary of it.
Secondly, Conſider the miſerable uncertainty of all outward enjoyments, how liable to ſpoil, loſe, decay, Pro. 23. they taken from thee, or thou from them in a moment: Much might be ſaid to this.
Thirdly, When thou haſt compaſſed all thy deſigns, ſo much earth thou canſt call thy own; thou muſt at laſt be content with juſt ſo much as will cover thy carkaſſe, a feaſt for worms. Now compare this with the ſalvation of a ſoul.
Firſt, What it is that is to be ſaved, A Soul, a precious darling Soul, a Soul worth more then the whole world, Luk. 9.25. Conſider what a value God puts upon Souls, the whole could not be a ranſome for one Soul; had the whole Creation been in mans power, and he had offered it to God for the ſin of his ſoul, it had not been a valuable price; No, the bloud of the Son of God was the high price of Souls; Ah conſider the preciouſneſſe of a Soul, and it will awake thee.
Secondly, Compare this with what the Soul is doing till 'tis enſafed in Chriſt, 'tis treaſuring up wrath till the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgement of God, as if not wrath enough in hell already, 'tis treaſuring up more; that wrath that made the holy Son of God cry out as 'twas poured upon him; the everlaſting weight of wrath of the juſt avenging God; all the judgements that ever thou heardſt or readſt of, are but as mercy to this; Now conſider with deep thoughts of heart, if all thy purſuits of outward enjoyments here, will poize ſalvation from ſuch, ſuch wrath.
Thirdly, Compare it, with what the full enjoyment of ſalvation is: and here we are ſwallowed up, the holy, bleſſed, full, eternall reſt of God, with a weight of glory, crowns of glory, transformed to be made capable of enjoying it, where we ſhall never be tempted to ſin, nor ſin any more: Oh to be in the boſome of Jeſus Chriſt, filled with the fullneſſe of love, continually ſatisfied, and yet never nauſeated, pleaſures, peace, reſt, joy, glory, God hlmſeif, whoſe preſence thou ſhalt as fully enjoy as a glorified creature can poſſibly be able!
Now then I ſay, conſider, if the ſalvation of ſuch a precious Soul from ſuch unſupportable wrath to ſuch a fullneſſe of glory with the infinite God, be worth hazarding for diſquieting earthly accomodations, enjoyments, to cauſe thee ſo ſecurely to neglect ſuch ſalvation, Heb. 2.3. where mark, 'tis not ſaid, the open ſcorning the means of ſuch ſalvation; but the neglecting of it.
Yet a little further, Conſider 3. things as to this condition here below, that thou maiſt not think thy good is all in expectation.
1. That the leaſt of Jeſus Chriſt is better then all the world, ſhouldſt thou only ſuffer with Chriſt here, more glory in it then in all the world; The Spirit of God and of glory reſteth upon thee, 1 Peter 4.14. The reproach of Chriſt is better then the pleaſures of Pharaohs houſe, Heb. 11. how better that ſweet and heavenly fellowſhip with him, thou maieſt here attain unto, that thou maiſt be able to ſay, Thou hadſt rather have one hour with Jeſus Chriſt, then all the treaſures of the world for ever; Ah, hadſt thou one taſte of his love, how wouldeſt thou thirſt after him, though this be as a riddle to a dark carnall heart that knows and ſavors him not.
2. Conſider, That all theſe reſtleſſe deſires, affections, and windings of thy heart, ſhall. be raiſed and refined, and meet with that abundant ſatisfaction in Jeſus Chriſt, far above what thou canſt propoſe to thy ſelf in the purſuits of things here below, ſolid and durable ſoulcontentment, Prov. 8.18. though with ſome diſturbances by reaſon of diſtempers from ſinfull fleſh, yet 'tis here, The more of Chriſt, the more compoſure of ſpirit, ſweetneſſe, reſt; which is not ſo in the more gain of earthly advantages, theſe do only widen and enlarge, but not ſatisfie deſires.
3. Conſider, that with Jeſus Chriſt thou haſt the promiſe of all other things beſt for thee, Rom. 8. what wouldeſt thou have more, unleſſe thou wouldſt be thy own carver in the world, and not take in the wiſedom of God to diſpoſe them to thee? Say, Men of the world, they would make as ſure proviſion as they may for themſelves and families, and ſo contrive, deſign, eat the bread of carefullneſſe; but let thy purchaſe, gain, and intereſt thou aimeſt at, be thy part in Jeſus Chriſt, Count but all things loſſe to win Chriſt, and then thou gaineſt right to all things, and ſo if thou wanteſt any outward mercy, 'tis not becauſe God thinketh it too good for thee, but not ſo fit for thee; God ſeeth that mercy would haply leſſen thee in the ſweeter cloſer enjoyments of Jeſus Chriſt; why then, conſider, if that be the reaſon why the Lord withholds ſuch and ſuch things from thee thou wilt conſider now I have more of Jeſus Chriſt for it, and ſo no looſer by the hand, no need of repining of ſpirit in me, but to want them chearfully and gladly; yea, this will be thy bleſſedneſſe, that whereas now thou canſt not miſſe ſuch or ſuch things, but thy heart ſinks within thee, then thou wilt know how to anſwer all thy cares of ſpirit, and ſee the wiſe hand of God ordering all for thy good; So that here's the way to provide all, to unſafe all, to ſweeten all, to have part in Jeſus Chriſt, to be earneſt in the purſuit of him, till he will ſay unto thy ſoul, I am thine, and a Covenant paſſed between thee and him, and he is fairer then the children of men, and all beauty and goodneſſe in him, then, whereas others, have meer creatures, thou haſt the love and goodneſs of God in them, thou haſt the not by common providence, but by a covenant of love, by Jeſus Chriſt, by promiſe, the leaſt mercy is ſweet unto thee, for the kindeneſſe of God is in it.
Take then theſe three together, the leaſt of Chriſt better then all the world, all enjoyments which are promiſed in the creatures eminently in him, with him the promiſe of all other things; What can thy ſpirit be opened to more? O wretched principle of Atheiſm and unbelief! what hath ſinne and devils done upon a poor worm, that he ſhould in the darkneſſe, deadneſſe, emptineſſe, diſquietneſs of the creatures be ſeeking light, life, fulneſſe, contentment, which they are not able in the leaſt meaſure to give, and one drop of Jeſus Chriſt and Grace brings them all as fountain'd up in him.
One word more, and (I truſt) thou ſhalt ſay thou art inexcuſable, O man! Rom. 2.1.
If theſe things be ſo, and there it thus but one choice in the world that can quiet the reſtleſſe ſpirit of man, the choſen one of God, in whom his ſoul delighteth for ever, why do we lie doting and puzling our ſelves in darkneſſe, and diſquieting our ſelves in vain, why do we not break off theſe Idols from our hearts, and call them in, and ſet them to Jeſus Chriſt? Oh let my ſoul chooſe him, let him be the dear, dear choice of my ſoul, give me him or I die!
2. If he be the choſen of God, the delight of his ſoul, Iſa. 41.1. the heart of the infinite incomprehenſible God can be delighted, ſatisfied, filled, from and to all eternity, with and by him, well-pleaſed and never weary of him; Shall not the finite ſpirit of a poor creature be overcome with the ocean of his goodneſſe that is in him? ſhall it be afraid and ſtand reaſoning, whether it ſhall have earth or him? Oh the folly of the ſons and daughters of men, to hear of ſuch a prize, ſuch an Indies of all ſweetneſſe and treaſure, and but a ſhort time to venture for him; (looſe him now, and give a thouſand worlds for him hereafter, and now gaining a look from him) (though now his bowels more yearn, and his heart beats and pants after ſouls with more fervency then all the creatures deſires can make in one) yet that wretched creatures enſlaved to a curſed peace, kept by Satan, idolizing empty nothings, fullfilling luſts that reſtleſly hurry them up and down, ſhould have lower, baſer thoughts of Chriſt then of the baſeſt thing they enjoy; for they will not miſſe one of them to gain him; the pooreſt meaneſt thing they enjoy hath more of their heart, more care and thoughts of their ſpirits toward it, then Jeſus Chriſt hath. Conſider thy own heartleſneſſe how ſeldome thou art in the thought of Jeſus Chriſt, and eternall life in him; how ſeldome the deep ſenſe of ſalvation in him is upon thee; and this 'tis, thou muſt needs ſay, 'tis thus with me, wretch that I am! what do I beſtow the ſtrength of my ſpirit upon? why then poor creature as thou art, what ſhouldſt thou do but like that wiſe Merchant man Mat. 12. who having found one pearl of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought it; Ah ſuch a pearl the pearl of God, the pearl of heaven and earth, the pearl of ſouls, 'tis ſweeteſt Jeſus Chriſt, whatever is precious is laid up in him: Now then, ſell all that thou haſt, how ſo? that is, be contented to venture the loſſe of all for Chriſt, and thou gaineſt enſureſt all, as ſhewd, yet all thy riches, pleaſures, enjoyments under thy feet for Chriſt, let all, all, and ten thouſand times more go, ſo thou haſt Chriſt; Ay, but how ſhall I buy him? Will gold and ſilver do it? The meaning is, to gain him, 'tis ſpoken comparatively, As Merchant men will ſell all to buy a pearl of ineſtimable price; ſo will poor ſouls that truly beleeve theſe things to be in Jeſus Chriſt as the holy Spirit of God, and the experiences of his own witneſſe to be in him, divorce their hearts from all, venture all to winne, to winne Jeſns Chriſt. But muſt I then caſt off all, my calling, all my poſſeſſions? No, but ſubject them to the purſuit of Jeſus Chriſt, get them looſened from thy heart, let it not be a weight upon thee to depreſſe thy ſoul from ſoaring after him, keep them but as under-things, things thou muſt have or be without, and not be the leſſe bleſſed, and ſo in obedience to God and ſubmiſſion to his good pleaſure, be induſtrious in thy calling: but the motions, ſtrength, aims of thy ſpirit, to win and enjoy, love and honour Jeſus Chriſt, and ſuch will the Father honour, Joh. 5. No loſſe of time to ſeek him in his word, no ſelf-deniall for him, no motion or good word for Chriſt in ſincerity, no witneſſe for his Kingdom, Goſpel, People, but the Father treaſureth it up, and will put honour upon thee for it.
And now having thus a little dwelt upon this, to take off all Objections from thy enſnared heart; Be not afraid to be awakened, and deeply conſidering the ſtate of thy poor ſoul, though diſtempers and diſquietneſſe ariſe, though it be tempeſtuous with thee for a time, ſee the bleſſed and glorious recompences of it, by the Lord of life and glory here and to all eternity; Aud now I will conclude thee as ſtupid as a worm groveling in the earth, as thou doſt, if theſe ſo weighty and important conſiderations doe not upon thee, being ſuch as Jeſus Chriſt left to move and pierce the Rocks of mens hearts, to leade them to life in himſelf, and ſuch as if thou putſt them off, will be as Swords in thy bones, will flaſh back upon thee as a thouſand Witneſſes againſt thee, if thou receive them not into thy heart, if thou receive them not into thy heart, as thou wouldeſt do things that are moſt precious to thee; Why doth Chriſt ſo often knock and thou wilt not own him? thou art gone abroad or aſleep: In a word then, either put in thy plea to God, or ſubmit and own it, that 'tis better to paſſe through a ſmall tempeſt to Jeſus Chriſt, then to enjoy a world of empty contentments here, and be a caſtaway, under the furious tempeſts of Gods wrath for ever and ever: Ah Soul, once get hold on the skirts of Jeſus Chriſt, and he will anchor thee to a ſafe harbour; windes and waves, ſin, conſcience, fears, unbelief; Satan, all obey him; A word from him quiets all; Be not like great debtors, afraid to enter into the conſideration of thy debts, thy ſinfull eſtate for fear of diſquietneſſe (that is, to reſiſt the ſtrivings of God with thee, and he will not ſtrive alwaies) but ſet the ſins of heart and life before thee, though they ſwell to a numberleſſe ſumme in bloudy characters, I am yet to ſhew thee Jeſus Chriſt the beſt and ſafeſt pay-maſter in the world. But thou wilt ſay, What is that to thee? ſpread them before God and ſeek him to ſue all thy Bonds and Debts upon Jeſus Chriſt, and God will take him thy Surety, 'twas the good pleaſure of Jeſus Chriſt to cancell and kill them all, they did their worſt upon him, ſo get to him, and in him, and the worſt is over, and all the bleſſedneſſe I have pointed at is thine, but I ſhall prevent my ſelf: Theſe I have laid down as awakening, exciting conſiderations to a poor ſoul, to whom the experiences of theſe things are yet but dark, and ſo the Lord bleſſe them to thy ſoul, and I paſſe to the next thing.
2. Saith a poor ſoul, Well, I have had ſome good thoughts Chriſt-ward, and have made reſignment of my ſelf unto him, but I fear I am too much aſleep as yet; That may be; Therefore be more awakened, look back to the ſins thy ſoul hath been divorced from, but not ſo, as to looſen the preſent hold thou haſt on Chriſt, but to humble and abaſe thee more, and ſo cauſe thee to purſue and prize him more: Haply thou art a ſoul whom Jeſus Chriſt takes more gently to himſelf by degrees, with a ſofter hand, and ſo the tempeſt not ſo great: But if the leaſt of him be better then the beſt of all the world to thee, a Covenant with him, He is a choſen one and pearl to thee, yea, if it be thy daily mourning he is no more a pearl unto thee, no more precious, thy heart ſo dull, and then thou calleſt to him to come and make a more powerfull and fuller abode in thy ſoul, then be ſure he is thine, though a trembling jealouſie upon thee to the contrary. Now if the Lord in much mercy hath awakened thee by this or any other voice, or more awakened thee then thou waſt, I would ſtill keep thee company in this diſcourſe till thou findeſt in Jeſus Chriſt what I have here propoſed to thee; And ſo to ſhew thee yet further of the dealings of Chriſt to thee, as thou comeſt as a way-faring ſoul to him, in the next propoſition.