The Parable of the Prodigal, Part 15

The Parable of the Prodigal · Part 15

p. 332And they began to be merry.Luke 15. 24.Luke 15:24

Theſe words are as the Banquet after the Feaſt; they are the cloſe, and the reckoning that is brought in upon the loſt Son being brought home. The caſe is wonderfully altered with him, (all is altered, when the ſinner is altered) when he was wandring from his Father, he ran up and down the Country, and waſted all his eſtate among Harlots; he ſhifted himſelf to his very skin, and out he is turned amongſt the Swine, and no man regarded him; the poor wretch wanted Father, and Houſe, and Cloaths, and all Comforts, and was upon his laſt Leggs, at the very point of ſtarving and famiſhing. But now being found and returned home, all mercies come in unto him; there's a Father to embrace him, and an Houſe to entertain him, and Raiment to cloath him, and Friends to welcome him, and a feaſt to rejoyce him. [And they began to be merry:] As formerly you have had the nature of Converſion, ſo in theſe, you have the fruit of Converſion. When Jeſus Chriſt was born, there was great joy; and when a ſinner is born again, hereupon alſo ariſeth great joy. The Propoſition on which I intend to inſiſt, is this:

That Converſion brings the Soul into a joyful, a very joyful condition; [They began to be merry] Mirth is the accent of joy, Doct. 7. Converſion brings the ſoul into a very joiful condition.it is an emphatical joy; but when did they begin to be merry? why! as ſoon as it was ſaid, This my Son is alive, and this my Son is found; now they begin to be merry. Converſion may p. 333be conſidered three wayes. 1. Antecedenter: For the precious qualities and works, which immediately go before, and ordinarily uſher in Converſion; ſo it is ſad, and bitter, and ſharp; for there the law imprints a ſenſe of ſin, and of wrath, and a ſpirit of bondage to fear; the Needle pricks, and the Sword cuts and wounds, and the Hammer bruiſeth, and the Plough rents and tears. 2. Formaliter: as it is a perfective change, and alteration, even from hell to heaven, from baſeſt luſts, to ſweeteſt holineſs; and thus it is (at the leaſt) a fundamental, radical, and virtual joy. 3. Conſequenter: For the Crop and preſent harveſt, which reſults out of Converſion; thus it is the Muſick after the tuning of the ſtrings; the fruit of righteouſneſs is peace, ſo the fruit of converſion is joy and delight. There are three things unto which I deſire to ſpeak about this point. 1. That upon Converſion, the condition becomes very joyful and pleaſant; quod ſit. 2. What kind of joy and pleaſure Converſion doth bring; quale ſit. 3. Reaſons why ſo; cur ſit: and then the uſeful Application.

Queſt. 1. For the firſt of theſe; that Converſion doth bring the ſoul into a very joyful condition.

Sol. There are four things which demonſtrate the quod ſit of The quod ſit demonſtrated.this. 1. Many pregnant places of Scripture; Pſal. 52. 11. Shout for joy, all ye that ar… upright in heart, Pſal. 132. 9. By Scripture.Let thy Saints ſhout for joy, Iſai. 35. 10. The ranſomed of the Lord ſhall return, and come to Zion with ſongs, and everlaſting joy upon their heads; they ſhall obtain joy and gladneſs, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall flee away. Iſai. 65. 13. Behold my ſervants ſhall rejoyce, but ye ſhall be aſhamed. v. 14. Behold my ſervants ſhall ſing for joy of heart, but ye ſhall cry for ſorrow of heart. Iſai. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God. Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdome of God conſiſts in righteouſneſs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Prov. 3. 17. Her wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths are peace. 2. Many pregnant teſtimonies and inſtances: By Inſtances.When Zacheus was converted, he came down joyfully, and received Chriſt, Luke 19. 6, 9. When the three thouſand were converted, there enſued ſingular gladneſs and joy, Acts 2. 41. When the Eunuch was converted, he went home rejoycing, Act. 8. 39. When thoſe in Samaria were converted, the Text ſaith, There p. 334was great joy in that City, Acts 8. 5, 6. When the Jailor was converted, He rejoyced, believing in God with all his houſe, Acts 16. 34. When they to whom Peter wrote were converted, they did rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. 3. The many Compariſons, by which converting grace is expreſſed, By Compariſons.doth confirm it, that it makes the ſouls condition very joyful, and delightful: The eſtate of grace is ſet forth by all the things which are eſteemed pleaſant, and delightful, and joyful. Men take Delight, and Joy, in Honour, Beauty, Strength, Youth, Riches, Pearls, and Jewels, in Birth, in Wiſdome, and Knowledg, in Springs, Orchards, Spices, Perfumes, Buildings, Victories, Life, Duration, Friends. Why! when converting grace is conveyed into the heart, the man now is honourable, and of high dignity; now the beauties of Chriſt are on his ſoul, all his graces are more precious then Pearls, and Gold, and Silver; he is rich in ſpiritual treaſures, he is one born of the Spirit of God, never truly knowing and wiſe, till now, &c. Nay, grace is phraſed by ſuch things, which yield a general and univerſal contentment and delight to the whole man: It is ſometimes called Light, which is pleaſant to the eye; Oyntment, which is pleaſant to the ſmell; Wine, which is pleaſant to the taſt; Muſick, or the joyful ſound, which is pleaſant to the ear. Nay, yet again, it is ſometimes called Truth, and that is pleaſant to the underſtanding; Goodneſs, and that is pleaſant to the will; a Kingdome, and that is pleaſant to deſire; an Inheritance, and that is pleaſant to hope; Communion, and that is pleaſant to love; a Poſſeſſion, and and that is pleaſant to joy; a Victory, and that is pleaſant to hatred; a Security, and that is pleaſant to fear; Heaven, the Kingdome of Heaven, and that is pleaſantneſs itſelf; and all this even under fears and combates, when at the firſt, and weakeſt, and loweſt: Nay, yet once more, it is ſet out by all the occaſions, and by all the times of joy, to the birth of a man-child; for joy that a manchild is born (ſaid Chriſt;) A converted man is a new-born. To the day of Marriage, which ſome call the only day of joy; a converted man is marryed to Chriſt: To a Feaſt, Iſai. 25. 6. Every diſh is filled with mercy. To a Coronation day, which was a day of gladneſs of heart to Solomon, Cant. 3. 11. There is a crown of life for every converted ſoul. To the time of Harveſt, when the Husbandman reaps with joy, Iſai. 9. 3. To the returns p. 335of Merchants upon the increaſe of Wine and Oyle; Pſal. 4. To a ranſome and releaſe from bondage and captivity; a converted man is ſet at liberty, he is a freeman in Chriſt 4. Conſider Converſion in the Cauſes of it, or in the very By the Cauſes of it.Nature of it, or in the Acts flowing from it; certainly by all of them you may be induced to believe that it makes the Condition joyful and pleaſant. 1. The Cauſes of it, which are four, 1. The Radical cauſe. Why! Converſion drops out of the Eternal Love of God to a mans ſoul. Behold what manner of Love, 1 Jo. 3. 1. as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Acts. 13. 2. The Meritorious cauſe: Who loved us and gave himſelf for us, Gal. 2. It is one part of Chriſts purchaſe, he merited Grace and Glory for his. 3. The Efficient cauſe; (immediately efficient) it is the firſt breath of Gods ſanctifying Spirit, the Spirit of true Comfort and Joy. 4. The Inſtrumental cauſe; the word which is called ſweet, and ſweeter then the Hony, and the breaſts of Conſolation, is the inſtrument of Converſion, Jam. 1. 2. Its owne Nature. Converting Grace hath three things intrinſecal unto it. 1. Goodneſs; it is By the Nature of it.good, and it only makes us good: Now Goodneſs is the foundation of Delight; Nothing is truly pleaſant, but what is truly good. 2. Suteableneſs; There is nothing ſo ſuteable either to the nature of the ſoul, or end of the ſoul, as true Grace. 3. Perfection; it is the Glory of the Soul.

3. The acts flowing from it; If the acts flowing from Converſion be ſuch as God himſelf takes delight in, (He takes delight By the acts flow…ng from it,in the prayer of his ſervants, in the broken hearts of his ſervants, in the Faith, and in the Fear, and in the Hope of his ſervants; all their ſervices are a ſweet ſavour unto him, as Noahs ſacrifice was:) Surely then Converſion is able to make the converted Soul joyful and delightful. Againe, there cannot be a greater delight and joy then when an Active and Actual intercourſe is maintained twixt an immortal Soul and perfect Bleſſedneſs; when my Soul hath a free converſs with Bleſſedneſs it ſelf, and Bleſſedneſs it ſelf hath a Gracious converſe with my ſoul, this is as if two deeply in Love converſed with each other: this is as if Jonathan and David met together; this is as if Jacob and Joſeph met together, and infinitely more: But upon Converſion, the ſoul and God have mutual communications. (And is not p. 336God the bleſſedneſs of mans ſoul, and is not bleſſedneſs a joyful and pleaſant ſight) God ſpeaks to that ſoul, and that ſoul ſpeaks with God; the ſoul opens its ſelf to God, and God opens himſelf to that ſoul. Ergò.

5. It were a mighty diſhonour to God that his Wayes, his Image, By the diſhonour that otherwiſe would redound to God. What kind of Joy Converſion brings. A Lawful Joy. Quaedam. 1. Nec bona nec Jucunda. 2. Bona ſed non jucunda. 3. Jucunda ſed non bon…. 4. Jucunda et Bon…. …o Bernard.ſhould be barren of Joy, and yet the Divels wayes and ſin, pleaſant. 6. A Great motive to draw in a ſoul were loſt. 7. Grace doth ſpiritualize our joyes, it doth not nullify true joy.

Queſt. 2. What kind of Joy and Pleaſure doth Converſion bring unto the Soul. Sol. There are five properties in the joy which Converſion lets into the Soul.

1. It is a lawful Joy and Pleaſure. There are many things which are pleaſent, but they are not Lawful: Stollen waters are ſweet, ſaith Solomon, but God allowes them not; the Tree in the garden was Pleaſant, but it was not Lawful for Adam and Eve to taſte of. Sinful wayes afford ſome kind of joy, but that joy is forbidden fruit; God hath curſed ſin and all that comes out of ſin. Agrippina poyſoned her husband with the meat he moſt delighted in. Wicked men delight and rejoyce in ſinful things, but this is only ſweet Poyſon, God allowes it not; nor is it ſafe: But converſion yeilds a Joy, which the ſoul may ſafely feed on; It is lawful to rejoyce in the Lord, and to rejoyce in Chriſt, and to reioyce in the pardon of our ſins, and to rejoyce that our names are written in the book of Life.

2. It is a Spiritual Joy; A Joy that reacheth to the ſpirit of Man, and that becomes the ſpirit of man, and that raiſeth the A Spiritual joy.ſpirit of man. 1. Many men have joy in their faces, and yet not joy in their hearts; A man in a feaver hath a lively colour, when yet he hath a dying heart; and many have joy in their tongues and mouthes, and yet no joy in their conſciences. As he ſaid to one that commended his fine ſhoe, But you doe not know where it pincheth me; a wicked man hath an hell in his conſcience, who yet hath a ſmile in his countenance; But a Converted mans joy, is an heart joy; My ſervants ſhall ſing for joy of heart, Iſa. 65. 14. My Spirit rejoiceth in God my Savior, ſaid Mary, Luk. 2. 2. And it is a ſpirit becoming joy. Laughter is not ſeemly for a fool, ſaid Solomon; There are joyes which are not ſeemly nor becoming an Immortal ſoul: Ageſilaus ſaid of ſome pleaſures, that they were fit for ſalves, not for Freemen: p. 337a wicked man takes joy either in Vile things, which fight againſt the Soul; or in vain things, which are below a Soul; his joyes are fetcht out of hell, or out of the Creature; either ſuch joyes as delight the Devil, or delight the beaſts, or delight the baſeſt and vaineſt of men; in Whoring, and Drinking, and Curſing, and Dicing, and Dancing, and Gaming, and Mumming, and Masking &c. But Converſion feeds the Soul with the joyes of the Holy Ghoſt, with Divine joy, joy drawn out of the wells of Salvation, Iſa. 12. 2. And it is a Spirit-raiſing joy: when the ſoul is caſt down, and all the comforts on Earth cannot lift it up and chear it, yet Converſion can let in a fetching Cordial; It can open a window to ſee the light of Gods countenance and favour, which can turn night into day, and troubles into peace, and heavineſs into an exceeding joy; even Davids, Why art thou caſt down O my Soul? into Praiſe the Lord O my Soul 3. It is a wonderfull Joy; There are two caſes wherein men do wonder, how a man can poſſibly be joyful. A wonderful Joy.1. One is, when all the comforts of the Creature fail him; not a Candle but is without light, not a Well but is ſtopt; not a Spring but is dry; No friend to look on and pity, no maintenance, no ſubſiſtance: Yet in ſuch a caſe (which is wont to be a time Sighs and Tears) can a converted man rejoyce. Hab. 3. 17. Although the Fig-tree ſhall not bloſſome, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vine, The labor of the Olive ſhall faile, and the field ſhall yeild no meat, the …lock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall be no Herd in the ſtals; Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation. 2. Another is, when all outward miſeries are upon him: as when all his outward eſtate is taken away, yet then converted perſons have taken joyfully the ſpoyling of their Goods, Heb. 10. 34. When Afflictions, Deriſions, Reproaches, Bonds, Impriſonments, Scourgings, cruel Torments, are laid on him; Yet ſaith Paul, Wee rejoyce in Tribulations alſo, Rom. 5. 3. Yet ſaith Chriſt, when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evill againſt you falſly for my ſake, Re…oyce and be exceeding glad, Mat. 5. 11, 12. And the Apoſtles when they were impriſoned and bea…en, rejoyced that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his name, Act. 5. 41. My Brethren count it all Joy, when ye fall into diverſe Temptations, Jam. 1. 2. When he is going to endure p. 338a cruel death as burning in the Fire, devouring by wild Beaſts, roaſting on the Gridiron, boyling in Oil, breaking of the Bones, tearing out the Bowels; All theſe have converted perſons ſuſteined, with unſpeakeable Courage, clapping of the Hands, kiſſing of the Stake, and Glorious Rejoicings. Why, the truth is that though all the Candles on Earth be put out, yet he hath Light and Comfort, ſtill …un ſh…nes, nothing can diſſolve, nor yet interrupt the ſouls ſweet …ommunion with God. 4. It is a Firme, and Pure, and Ʋnclogged Joy; an unconverted man A firm and pure Joy.hath his joy, and his delights, and his mirth, and pleaſure; but there are three doleful burdens under which all this while he lies. 1. Notwithſtanding all his joyes, he lies under the hatred of God. 2. Notwithſtanding all his joyes, he lies under the dominion of his ſinful Luſts. 3. Notwithſtanding all his joyes, he lies under the power of a Guilty, and Accuſing, and Condemning Conſcience; but now the Converted mans joy is a Perfect joy, a Wel-grounded joy; God loves him, Chriſt hath ſatisfyed for him, his heart is ſanctifyed, and his conſcience pacified. 5. It is a well ending joy; A joy which ends A well ending Joy.in joy: an unconverted man hath his joyes and pleaſures, but they end in Griefe and horror. O my poor Soul, ſaid Adrian, when he was dying, whither art thou now going? all thy Mirth, and Joy, are at an end: nec ut ſoles dabis jocos, thou art going away, and all thy joyes are going away: Luk. 16. 15. But Abraham ſaid to Dives, Remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and Lazarus evill things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Dives fared ſumptuouſly every day, he had pleaſure on earth, but after them his ſoul went into hell torments: he never had pleaſure more. Babylon, it is ſaid of her Rev. 18. 7. how much ſhe hath glorified her ſelf, and lived deliciouſly, ſo much torment and ſorrow give her: Job ſpeaking of the Wicked, chap. 21. 7. ſaith, That they take the Timbrel and Harp, and rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ: v. 12. they ſpend their dayes in wealth, and in a moment go down to the Grave: Solomon ſpeaks ironically to the Voluptuous Youthes, Eccleſ. 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy Youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the dayes of thy Youth, and walk in the wayes of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes; But know thou, that for all theſe things God will bring thee into Judgment: So then the p. 339converted man's joy, is a ſhort joy, and a joy that ends in bittereſt ſorrow: But a converted man's joy, is a laſting joy, and it ends in perfect joy; when he dies, yet his grace dies not, yet his joy dies not: Well done good and faithful Servant, enter into thy Maſter's joy; the end of life, is the beginning of all joy.

6. It is a tranſcendent joy; it exceeds all worldly joyes. A tranſcendent joy.Pſal. 4. 7. Thou haſt put gladneſs in my heart, more then in the time that their Corn and their Wine increaſed. Pſal. 60. 3. Thy loving kindneſs is better then life.

Queſt. 3. Why doth Converſion make the ſouls condition ſo Reaſons of it.joyful? Sol. …t cannot but be ſo, if you conſider Converſion, either as to God, or as to Chriſt, or as to Conſcience.

1. As to God.As to God. Converſion is the certain effect of Gods election.

1. True Converſion is the certain effect of Gods gracious election; Although Converſion be not the cauſe of election, yet it is the fruit of election, it is the counterpane of election. Act. 13. 48. As many as were ordinaed to eternal life, believed. 1. Theſ. 1. 4. Knowing, Brethren, Beloved, the election of God. v. 5. For our Goſpel came not to you in word only, but in power alſo, and in the Holy Ghoſt. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure. When the word comes to the perſon, in the Letter only, this is no ſign of his election, but when it comes in power, and in the Holy Ghoſt it is; for to come in power, and in the Holy Ghoſt, is mightily, and effectually to change and convert a perſon, and this the Apoſtle makes an evidence of election; and queſtionleſs, a copy of a man's election cannot but be a cauſe of great joy; Rejoyce (ſaith Chriſt to his Diſciples) that your names are written in heaven: Oh, what a comfort is it to know that God from all eternity hath written and recorded it down, This is the man whom I will have mercy on, and will glorifie to all eternity!

2. True Converſion, It is the ſingular fruit of God's great It is a ſingular fruit of Gods Love.Love, and of his rich mercy to a mans ſoul, the ſure token of great love: God hath a common love and mercy, and God hath a choice love and mercy; there are ſome to whom he hath a great love, and unto whom he ſhews rich mercy: Now Converſion is a drop out of that great Ocean; the man is greatly beloved of God, who is converted by God. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed on us, that we ſhould be p. 340called the Sons of God. Eph. 2. 4, 5. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, v. 5. Even when we were dead in ſins, hath quickned us.

3. True Converſion brings a ſoul under all the good and kind It brings a ſoul under all the ſmiles of God.Language of God, under the ſmiles of God. All the Ordinances are as Milk, and Honey, and Wine, and Oyle to a converted man. The Word is a good Word to him, and the Sacrament is a good Sacrament to him; Why! when an unconverted man hearts of all the mercy, and kindneſs, and happineſs which God portions out for a converted ſinner; I ſay, when he hears of all this, and gets but a lick or a taſte of it upon the top of his Tongue, it effects him, and makes him glad. Herod heard John Baptiſt gladly, and the ſtony ground received the ſeed with joy; and ſhall not the converted man, whoſe due portion all this is, ſhall not his heart have joy and gladneſs? ſhall a ſtranger who peeps over into the Garden, and is a ſpectator only at the Feaſt, ſhall he find a reliſh? and ſhall not he who hath the Poſie at his Noſe ſmell the ſweetneſſe? ſhall not he who c…tes at the Table, be filled with the goodneſſe, and fat, and marrow, and rejoyce, and bleſſe God?

4. True Converſion, It is a Claſpe, the Golden Claſpe of It is the claſp of the Covenant of Gracethat everlaſting Covenant of Gods Grace. Note here two things. 1. All the deſireable delicacies of the ſoul are treaſured up in the Covenant of Gods Grace; in it are contained all the gracious attributes in God, all the gracious affections of God, all the gracious relations of God, all the gracious promiſes and engagements of God. There you find the reconciled God, the merciful God, the pardoning God, the ſin-ſubduing God, the ſtrengthning and helping God, the guiding and upholding God, the bleſſing and comforting God; you cannot think of a mercy for the ſoul, of a mercy for the body, of a mercy for this life, of an happineſs after this life, but there it is, but there it is for you, but there it is aſſuredly for you. 2. Every converted perſon is in this Covenant; Why! the new heart, and the new ſpirit, (is not this Converſion?) are a very part of it; Ezek. 36. 26. I will give them a new heart, and a new ſpirit: If this be ſo, then certainly Converſion brings a perſon p. 341into a very joyful condition. Mark a little: If the mercies which many receive only from Providence do delight and pleaſe them, ſhall not the mercies which men receive from Gods Covenant pleaſe and rejoyce them? Bread is ſweet to an hungry man, out of whatſoever hand it comes; and is it not more ſweet when it comes out of the hand of love and kindneſs? O Sirs! even the ordinary mercies to a converted man, have a ſweet diſtinction in them; they are ſo perfumed, they are ſo diſtilled, they are ſo carved, they are all of them the kiſſes of a father, the gifts of a gracious God. Every bit of Bread thou eateſt, and every draught of Beer thou drinkeſt, and every piece of Cloath thou weareſt, it is the ſpecial proviſion of thy moſt gracious God, and thy loving Father: If ſome one royal mercy in the Covenant be able ſometimes to ſweeten an Ocean, to turn hell into heaven, to wipe off all tears, and put the ſoul almoſt into an extaſie of joy; what rivers of joy then can the whole Covenant afford? If the lifting up of the light of Gods countenance upon the ſoul, (which is but one beam of the Covenant) if his ſaving to a man, Soul, I am thy Salvation; if one word, Son, be of good cheer, thy ſins are forgiven thee, imprints a ſuperlative comfort, a joy unſpeakable and full of glory; if one drop be ſo ſweet, how ſweet is the Fountain? if one Grape, what is the cluſter of Grapes? Now not only this or that mercy in the Covenant belongs to a converted man, but every mercy, the God of all mercies, and all the mercies of God; the God of all comforts, and all the comforts of God.

5. True Converſion, It is the infallible fore-runner, the It is the infallible forerunner of glory.earneſt, the pawn of Glory: the pledg which God leaves in hand, the firſt fruits of thy eternal Glory in the higheſt heavens; and is not this a cauſe of great joy? if I look back, and ſee a love from all eternity; if forward, and ſee a glory to all eternity. Truly, if I ſhould never taſte Honey on earth; if all the Wells of a preſent comfort were ſtopped up, if my Father ſhould never ſmile on me in the way, if all my Life were a ſayling on briniſh tears, and my Ship were ſtill to be toſſed with troubleſome waves; yet, if I were ſure at length to put in at this Port, to come ſafe to Heaven at length, to appear p. 342before the God of Gods at the laſt, to ſee him in Glory, and enjoy his face, and the pleaſures at his right hand for evermore, even this confidence and aſſurance were enough to make me to rejoyce in the hope of the Glory of God. Oh Chriſtian, beſides all that joy which ariſeth from converting grace (which is it ſelf a ſweet Roſe) and beſides all thoſe Honey dewes which fall upon the ſoul in the exerciſe of grace, in the way to Heaven, (Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth and worketh righteouſneſs, thoſe that remember thee in thy wayes, Iſai. 64. 5.) There is alſo reſerved in the higheſt heavens, that moſt perfect happineſs, that moſt perfect tranquillity, that moſt perfect joy; Oh, I cannot expreſs it, I cannot comprehend it. 1 Pet. 1. 3. He hath begotten us again unto a lively hope. v. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in heaven for you. Ponder the words; an inheritance, the beſt of poſſeſſions; incorruptible, the beſt of inheritances; undefiled, the beſt of incorruptibles; unfading, the beſt of undefileds; and reſerved in heaven, the beſt of unfadings: Nothing is ſo ſurely kept as that which is kept in heaven for us, and born unto all this, and a lively hope of all this: Oh, what comfort! Oh, what joy comes out of all this! If I had all the world, and lookt up towards heaven, but my heart ſhould tell me, that goodly Canaan will never fall to thy portion; it would be now with me, as once with Ahab, who, though he enjoyed a Kingdome, yet was very ſad, becauſe the heavens were as Braſs to him. But in the midſt of all diſtreſſes to look up to Heaven, to think of God, and the future Beatifical Viſion, and upon infallible grounds, to ſay, that God is my Father, that Heaven is my inheritance, that place of Glory is my home, there ſhall I be ſhortly, there ſhall I be to eternity, I have the earneſt of it, the pawn of it in my heart, the firſt fruits, &c.

2. Secondly, As to Chriſt: The converted condition cannot As to Chriſt.but be joyful, becauſe the converted perſon hath. 1. A neer relation to Chriſt; Bone of his Bone. 2. A ſingular propriety in Chriſt; my beloved is mine, &c. 3. An admirable revenue by Chriſt; wonderful riches, of and by Chriſt all are yours, for ye are Chriſts. 4. He is bought by Chriſt, and reconciled by Chriſt, and loved by Chriſt, and diſcharged by Chriſt, and p. 343owned by Chriſt, and defended by Chriſt, and kept by Chriſt, and ſhall one day be ſaved by Chriſt.

3. As to Conſcience: As a mans conſcience is, ſo is his comfort As to Conſcience.or diſcomfort, ſo is his joy or ſorrow: One drop of an evil conſcience (ſaith Luther) doth imbitter the whole Sea of worldly joy: an evil conſcience is an hell in the breſt, and in hell (ſaid Latimer) there is no mirth: and on the contrary, a good conſcience it is a kind of heaven; one good word from it will ſweeten all our miſeries, and cauſe us to rejoyce under all ſorrows. Solomon ſaith it is a continual feaſt, it is the year of Jubilee; conſcience ſpeaks the trueſt joy, and the ſtrongeſt joy, and the higheſt joy, and no man hath a good conſcience but a good man: Conſcience cannot ſpeak peace till a man be converted; and when he is converted, conſcience hath then a commiſſion and authority to look on the man, and ſpeak to the man as God doth. When thou heareſt of pardon of ſins, Oh, ſaith conſcience, hearken and be of good cheer, thats thy portion: when thou heareſt of Jeſus Chriſt, and of his ſufferings, and of his ſatisfactions, and merits, hearken, ſaith conſcience, and take hold, for all this alſo is thy portion; when thou heareſt the Covenant of Grace graciouſly explained, and all the glories in heaven; Oh, ſaith conſcience, all this alſo is thy portion: when thou art about to pray, and fears are intruding themſelves; do not fear, …aith conſcience, thou art ſpeaking to thy Father: when thou art about to dye, and tremblings are upon thee, do not doubt or tremble, ſaith conſcience, thou art going to thy God: when Satan ſuggeſts thou haſt nothing to do with the mercy-ſeat, what, ſuch a ſinner? thou haſt, ſaith conſcience; when unbelief ſuggeſts, Chriſt will have nothing to do with thee, he will, ſaith conſcience.

Now, againſt all that hath been ſaid; it is objected, That the aſſertion of joy for a converted perſon cannot be true: Becauſe 1. No perſons are ſo expoſed to afflictions, and perſecutions, and infamies as converted perſons. They are appointed to them, 1 Theſ. 3. And they that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecutions; how can that condition be ſo very joyful, which may, and oftentimes doth deprive a man of all his comforts. 2. Converſion brings the perſon into a narrow path, and under the ſtraiteſt rules, even ſuch as condemn, and cut off a world of pleaſures, and delights; can that condition be very joyful which denies us the p. 344fruition of many joyes and delights. 3. Converſion breeds the deepeſt ſenſe of ſin, and the greateſt mourning for ſins: Nothing makes the heart more mournful then converting grace. See Zach. 12. 10. Can that condition be ſo very joyful, which makes the heart ſo exceeding mournful? 4. We ſee no perſons walk more uncomfortably then (at leaſt) ſome converted perſons: Yet the eſtate is joyful, though the man is not alwayes ſo; God is a God of comfort, and they can pray for comfort; comfort, O Lord, thy ſervants ſoul! But more fully.

Object. 1. No perſons are ſo expoſed to afflictions and perſecutions as converted perſons, and theſe do deprive us of joy and How can this condition be joyful that is ſo expoſed to affl…ctions. Anſwered.comfort.

To th…s I anſwer, 1. It is a truth that Converſion doth expoſe a perſon to moſt afflictions and perſecutions; Many are the afflictions of the righteous, ſaith David, Pſal. 34. 19. All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution, ſaith Paul, 2 Tim. 3. 12. Filii lucis, are Filii crucis, and Chriſtianus is Crucianus (ſaid Luther.) In the World you ſhall have troubles (ſaid Chriſt to his Diſciples) and the Diſciple is not above his Maſter; if the Maſter dyed upon the Croſs, is it much that the Diſciple take up the Croſs? Nevertheleſs in the ſecond place, as it was emblem'd in Reverend Hoopers Motto, There was a Lamb in a flaming Buſh, with the Sun ſhining upon it; or as it was with the three Children, though they were in a fiery Furnace, yet the Son of God walked with them, and preſerved them: So, though converted perſons meet with many afflictions, there is yet a ſpring of joy, a Sun of comfort open unto them; therefore heed me.

1. Afflictions and perſecutions do only take away the Chriſtians outward comforts: The Shell, not the Kernel; the Caſe, not the Afflictions only take away their outward comforts.Jewel (which neither make nor marr the joy and comfort of a converted perſon) they do not take away the true principles of comfort. There are three ſorts of comforts; Senſual; which are drawn out of our ſinful luſts; Converſion is an enemy to theſe: Senſitive; which are drawn out of the creatures; affliction is an enemy to theſe: Spiritual, which are drawn out of the favour of God, the blood of Chriſt, the Teſtimony of a good conſcience; afflictions cannot hinder theſe, and only a ſinful unconverſion is an enemy to theſe: The Winter freezeth up the p. 345Ponds, but not the Ocean; the winds blow out the Candle, but not the Sun: An Unconverted man may have an exemption from all outward Afflictions, and yet have no inward Joy; for although he hath peace with men, yet he hath no peace with God; and although he hath no trouble upon his Eſtate, yet he may have terror upon his Conſcience. But a Converted man, although he be compaſſed with outward Sorrows, nevertheleſs he hath inward Joy; though all the Candles be blown out, yet I am Comforted as long as the Sun doth ſhine. There are two ſorts of evils; there are mala triſtia, & mala turpia: afflictions are only Sorrowful evils as to ou… ſenſe, they are not Sinful evils as to our conſcience. Now no evil is able to take away ſpiritual comfort, unleſs it be a ſinfull evil; I confeſs, that did a godly man look upon creature comforts as his bonum ultimum, as that which made him happy, then afflictions would be inconſiſtent with his joy, he might well cry out, as Micah once, Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more? But he doth not ſo: It is not the Creature, but the Creator, which is the foundation of his Happineſs and joy. A man may be Bad who hath them, and Good who wants them: If we had hope only in this life (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.) we were of all men the moſt miſerable. I wiſh that you would or could give credit unto two things, one is, That that only makes the eſtate comfortable which denominates it to be good; for nothing can be truly delightful, but what is truly good. The other is, That there is a greater power in the preſence of the chiefeſt good to make the Soul joyful, then there can be in the receſs or abſence of the leaſt kind of good to make it uncomfortable. Were Afflictions the greateſt evils, and were Creatures the beſt good, then joy could not conſiſt with afflictions; but God is the chiefeſt good, and the Chriſtian enjoyes him under all afflictions as his inſeparable good; Ergo. 2. As Afflictions do not take off the Times of afflictions are his moſt proper ſeaſons for joyChriſtians true joy, ſo the times of afflictions are oft times the moſt proper ſeaſons for joy and comfort to his ſoul. There are three ſeaſons of ſpecial comforts which God is pleaſed to reſerve for his ſervants, one is after great temptations, or to prepare againſt them; as that Voice, This is my well beloved Son, came to Chriſt immediately before his temptation. The ſecond is, after p. 346great Humiliations. God who comforts them that are caſt down, ſaith Paul, 2 Cor. 7. 6. The Angel comforted Chriſt after his Agony; the Cordial comes after the Phyſick. The third is, before and under great afflictions and tryals: Paul was to appear before Nero, but firſt God appeared to him ſaying, Be of good cheer Paul. He is come, he is come, ſaid the Martyr when he ſaw the ſtake; and Stephen ſaw heaven opened before he dyed. The comforts of heaven came into his heart juſt before the ſtones were thrown at him to daſh out his brains. 2 Cor. 1. 3. Bleſſed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of mercies and God of all comforts, who comforteth us in all our tribulations; for as our ſufferings abound, ſo our Conſolation aboundeth through Chriſt. Is not the night a ſeaſon to light a Candle? and is not weakneſs the ſeaſon to give a Cordial? and is not the winter a ſeaſon to make a Fire? When doth or can the Chriſtian more need the comforts of God, then when all comforts on earth do fail him? 3. As afflictions deprive not the Chriſtian of the true principles of Joy, ſo neither Afflictions cannot hinder his principles of Joy from acting in a way of comfort.can they hinder thoſe principles in himſelf from acting in a way of comfort. There are two principles (eſpecially) in the Chriſtian which enable him to joy and comfort: One is Faith: It is ſtill Day, and never Night with Faith; the Star ſhines beſt in the night; (Believing ye rejoyced with joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8.) Now Faith can act very comfortably in uncomfortable times; it can ſee the ſame God, with the ſame Love, and in the ſame Covenant, and in the ſame Relation, in Adverſity as in Proſperity: Hab. 3. 17. Although the Fig-tree ſhall not bloſſome, &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, &c. Rom. 5. 3. And not only ſo, but we glory in tribulation, &c. 1 Sam. 29. 6 the people ſpake of ſtoning him, but David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. Rom. 8. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? &c. If even in afflictions I can go unto the ſame armes of Chriſt, and unto the ſame breſts of divine Love, and into the ſame chamber of Preſence; if I can look upon God as my God, and ſee him to be my Father, that I can make known my heart to him, and he can make known his favour to me, what ſhould hinder me now to be joyful, who ſtill do enjoy him who (alone) makes all my joy? Another is, the p. 347Testimony of Conſcience: This is the Friend in adverſity. This is our rejoycing, even the testimony of our Conſcience, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Conſcience is a mans night or day, his Hell or Heaven, his Palace of delight or Jail of bitterneſs: If Conſcience be ſanctified or pacified, it can ſpeak a peace or joy that none can cruſh; none can hinder, but under the greateſt afflictions and perſecutions a converted man may and doth enjoy the teſtimony of a good Conſcience: Thou art upright, ſaith Conſcience to Hezekiah on his ſick-bed; Thou fearest God, ſaith Conſcience to Job under the loſs of all; Thou lovest Christ, ſaith Conſcience to Paul, even in the Priſon.

Object. 2. Now to the ſecond Objection, That converting But converſion brings us into a narrow path, it is an enemy to many delights.Grace brings the perſon into a narrow path, and under the ſtricteſt rules, even ſuch as condemn a multitude of joys and delights; how can that condition be ſo joyfull, which denies and abridgeth, &c? Sol. To this I anſwer.

1. It is granted, That converting Grace brings the perſon into Anſwered. There is a ſtrictneſs required.a very narrow path, and under very ſtrict rules. A converted man muſt not walk as other men; he muſt not allow himſelf to think, and deſire, and love, and ſpeak, and act as formerly: He muſt fear to ſin, he muſt love the Lord with all his heart, and with all his ſoul, and with all his might; he muſt order his ſteps by the Word of God; he muſt deny himſelf, and crucifie his deareſt luſts, and not ſhun the hardeſt duty, nor delight in the leaſt iniquity.

2. But then, This ſtrictneſs is no adverſary to his true joy. In This ſtrictneſs is no adverſary to true joy.keeping of thy commandments there is great reward, ſaith David, Pſal. 19. 11. Great peace have they who love thy law, Pſal. 119. 165. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy upon the Iſrael of God, Gal. 6. 16. I beſeech you to conſider four things: 1. Let thine own Conſcience judge, whether it be not a more comfortable courſe to obey God, then to diſobey God? to have grace to ſerve God acceptably, then to have an heart ſtill free and ready to diſhonour and provoke God? Who hath moſt true comfort, the bones ſound and in place, or broken? to walk on the Land, or to be troubled at Sea? the Child who runs away from his Father, or the Child who waits upon his Father? the Child that deſires to pleaſe, or the Child that continues to grieve and vex? the wandring and famiſhed Prodigal, or the returning p. 348and embraced Son. Hoſ. 2. 7. I will return to my firſt Husband; for then it was better with me then now. 2. Rightly understand what it is ſtrictly to walk with God: It is an endeavour in your affections and duties to draw near to God in all well-pleaſing, and to anſwer the will of God. The Chriſtians courſe of obedience, it is his daily communion with his God in this life: When thou prayeſt, what is Praying, but a divine conference of the ſoul with God? and when thou heareſt, what is this but a divine conference of God with the ſoul? and when thou repenteſt, what is that but a recovery and return of the ſoul to God? and when thou believeſt, what is that but the recumbency of the ſoul on the goodneſs of God? and when thou receiveſt the Sacrament, what is it, but a communion, a feaſting with Jeſus Chriſt? If a ſtrict walking be nothing but a divine and heavenly communion with God, why doeſt thou, how dareſt thou to judge of it as the onelyonly Bar to ſhut out all joy and comfort? Was there ever any affectionate Wife, that thought it an injury to her Joy to ſpeak with her Husband, or to enjoy the ſociety of her Huſband? Was there ever any faithfull Friend, who thought it a miſery, a burthen to enjoy the ſociety of his Friends, to open his heart unto his Friend? How then can it be a prejudice to any mans joy, to enjoy communion with his God? 3. Conſult with experience, which hath travelled in the ſtrict ways of God; either thine own experience, (if any,) which day of thy life hath been cloſed up with heartieſt joy? whether the day of licentiouſneſs, or the day of ſtrictneſs? That day which thou haſt let out to thy luſts, hath made the night a trembling to thee; that day which thou haſt redeemed for walking with God, hath always given unto thee the ſweeteſt reſt and repoſe at night: The experience of godly people; have any of them ever found more ſoul rejoycing then when they have abounded in ſtricteſt obedience? This is thy burthen, but it is their delight; the pureſt walking hath diſtilled the ſweeteſt joy, and their looſer walking hath been the cauſe of their greateſt ſorrows. It is with a ſtrict Chriſtian as with the Sun, which ſtill keeps to the Ecliptique Line, and is of all the Stars the moſt glorious and comfortable when it is at the higheſt; and the higher Sun, the purer and warmer light: And it is with the looſe Chriſtian as with the uneven foot, the wry ſtepping is the cauſe of unjoynting, or pinching and p. 349paining. 4. The ſtrict walking, what is it but a path to everlasting life? every ſtep of it is a ſtep to heaven. Strait is the gate which leads unto life, ſaith Chriſt: There is an eaſie way for men to walk in, but thats the way to hell, and what comfort is it, after all to go to hell, to go to hell with eaſe. There is a ſtrict way for men to walk in, but it is the way to life, to eternal life: Now even that alone is ſufficient to create joy, that theſe ſteps after a while will bring me to appear before the God of Gods in Sion; and truly, there is no end whatſoever, the which if it be (in it ſelf) amiable and comfortable, but it darts alſo an amiableneſs and comfortableneſs upon all the ſteps and paths which tend unto it.

3. Laſtly, Converting Grace doth not condemn or deny any lawfull Converting grace denies not any lawfull joy.joy and comfort: It doth onelyonly two things; 1. It abſolutely condemns and abridgeth the ſoul of man of all ſinfull joys, of joys and delights which ariſe from his ſinfull luſts and ways; and is it not the great goodneſs of God, to deny us leave to drink cups of poiſon, and glaſſes of hell? Or is it poſſible that any Chriſtian ſhould to thee, that ſin ſhould be thy delight, which is a departing of the poor ſoul from God, which is an incenſing of the wrath of God, which was ſuch a dreadfull burthen to Jeſus Chriſt, which puts the ſoul under the wrath and curſe of God; one act whereof muſt coſt more then all the world is worth to pardon it. 2. It doth onelyonly order our outward lawfull joys and delights, for the ſeaſons, for the meaſures, for other circumſtances; ſo that they may be our ſauce, not our food; our helps to Godlineſs, not damps thereto: It is but the Bridle on the Horſe, the Pale for the Garden, the Finger on the Dial. Converſion abridgeth us of no delight, but of that which to want is a true delight; and ſo orders the reſt, that you may not loſe delight.Converſion makes us mournful for ſin, and how can it be ſo joyfull. Anſwered. True grace makes the heart more mournf…ll.

Object. 3. Converſion breeds the quickeſt ſenſe of ſin, and the deepeſt mourning for ſin, yea, a continual mourning for ſin, makes the clouds to drop, never mournfull till converted; and can that condition be ſo joyfull which makes the heart ſo mournfull?

To this I anſwer, 1. It is certain, that true grace 1. doth make the clearest diſcovery of ſin: 2. It yields the tenderest ſenſe p. 350of ſin, (for it takes away the heart of ſtone, and gives an heart of fleſh,) and nothing makes the heart more mournfull, then true grace.

2. But then know, that mourning for ſin and joy in the heart are no way inconſistent. Iſai 12. 3. With joy ſhall ye draw water But this is not inconſiſtent with joy.out of the wells of ſalvation. Three things I would grant, 1. That love of ſin and true joy are inconſiſtent; 2. Worldly ſorrow and ſpiritual joy are inconſiſtent; 3. That terrour for ſin and joy of heart are inconſiſtent; Legal terrour and Evangelical joy are ſo, but Evangelical ſorrow and Evangelical joy are not ſo; for as one grace is conſiſtent with another grace, ſo one heavenly affection is conſiſtent with another heavenly affection. And there are three things which (to me) fully convince, That Evangelical mourning is conſiſtent with Spiritual joy: One is, That ſuch a mourning is but a drop out of the eye of faith; They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn, Zach. 12. 10. and certainly, nothing comes from faith, but what is comfortable; all is Goſpel that Faith trades in. Another is, That the mourning heart is a renewed heart, and verily the gracious heart is a joyous heart. The third is, That the mourning ſinner is a pardoned ſinner: (Cum intueor flentem, ſentis ignoſcibilem,) if the fountain of ſorrow be ſet open in the heart, the fountain of mercy is ſet open in heaven, Zach. 12. 10. compared with chap. 13. 1. Yea let me add to this alſo three experiences: 1. One is this, That the Christian is never more ſad and mournfull, then when he feels his heart least mournfull: He is then caſt down; O (ſaith he) into what a condition am I brought? I was wont to find a tender, ſenſible mourning ſpirit; but me thinks now my heart is grown hard again: O Lord, why am I now hardened from thy fear? And the man never gives over with God and himſelf, until tenderneſs be renewed in his heart again. 2. That the Christian is never more joyfull, then when he is most mournfull: Bleſſed are they that ſow beſides all Waters, ſaith the Prophet. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted, ſaith Chriſt. They that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy, ſaith David. Godly ſorrow is the Water that is turned into Wine; One drop of a guilty Conſcience is able to turn all our Joyes into Bitterneſs, and one drop of p. 351godly ſorrow is able to turn all our bitterneſs into joy. I rejoyce, ſaith Paul, that I made you ſorry; what cauſe then had they to rejoyce who were ſorry? ſorry after a godly ſort; ſorry with a ſorrow that bred repentance unto ſalvation, never to be repented of. 3. That the Chriſtian is never more mournful then when he is moſt joyful: The time of a Chriſtians higheſt joy, is the time of his greateſt aſſurance: Sealing and aſſuring times are the ſoulraiſing and reviving times. And the times of greateſt aſſurance, are the times of our greateſt mournings: The more manifeſtation of Gods Love, and the more aſſurance of Gods Mercy, do ever cauſe in the heart more Humility and more ſorrow; here is now the greateſt joy for mercy, and here is now the greateſt mourning for ſinning againſt mercy.

Object. 4. We ſee no perſons to walk more ſadly and more uncomfortably I, but no perſons walk more ſadly then converted perſons. Anſwered, It is a Falſe Charge.then (at leaſt) many do who are converted perſons, Ergo. To this give me favour to anſwer more fully: 1. This is a Falſe Charge, and a very unjuſt Cal…mny: take the diviſions of the ſons of men according to the diverſity of their ſpiritual conditions, compare men with men, according unto them, and I dare confidently affirm, That no condition is more dreadfully ſad then the condition of men Unconverted; and no condition is more comfortably cheerful, then the condition of men truly Converted; let's a while peruſe the phraſes and inſtances of ſuch. Me thinks the terrible paſſages in Scripture may abundantly convince us of the dreadfulneſs of an Unconverted and wicked perſon, Iſa. 57. 20. The wicked are like the raging ſea that cannot reſt, whoſe waters caſt up mire and dirt. ver. 21. There is no peace, ſaith my God, to the wicked. Job 20. 16, 17, 23, 24, 25. there Zophar ſets him out: He ſhall ſuck the gall of Aſps, and the Vipers tongue ſhall ſlay him. He ſhall not ſee the Rivers, nor the floods and ſtreams of Honey and Butter. When he is about to fill his belly, God ſhall ſend upon him the fierceneſs of his wrath, and ſhall cauſe it to rain upon him. The bow of Steel ſhall ſtrike him through, the gliſtring ſword cometh out of his gall, terrors are upon him. Pſal. 11. 6. Ʋpon the wicked he ſhall rain ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and an horrible tempeſt; this ſhalt be the portion of their cup. Again, did you ever read of any one godly and converted perſon who fell into that horrible deſpair p. 352as Cain or Judas did? But take the hardeſt agonies incident to true converts, they are 1. rather fears then horrours; 2. rather doubts then deſpairs; 3. effects of a miſtaking Conſcience, then a rightly condemning Conſcience; 4. They can look towards the Promiſes, as Jonah did in the deeps towards God; 5. Faith doth doth act for relief, and will hold ſome communion with God; 6. They are abated by the Ordinances; 7. They are but for a time; 8. They end in fulleſt ſetling and glorious comforts, and likewiſe with advantage to their gracious condition. And truly, it is impoſſible that wicked and ungodly men ſhould ever enjoy that ſerenity and peace as the godly do, for as much as all the principles and cauſes of uncomfortableneſs abide on the wicked. 1. Sin is in them in all its ſtrength: They have a thouſand hells and arrows of guilt ſticking in their hearts; they have ſouls full of plague ſores, the deadly ſtrokes of death, the reſtleſs motions of evil ſpirits. 2. They carry a roaring Lion in their brests; I mean, an evil, accuſing, ſmiting, wounding, racking, condemning Conſcience; which if it once awake, it will tear the caul of their hearts, and cruſh them with the flames of unavoidable, unſupportable and continual wrath. 3. They have no City of Refuge open to their ſuccour, no land or ſhore, no place to caſt anchor, no portion in Chriſt; and therefore the Law of God ſtands in full force againſt their ſouls, and under its curſe they lie, and at that Bar of Juſtice muſt they be tried. 4. They end in an éternal and perfect Hell. 5. Take them at their beſt, God is their Enemy, (they never yet made peace with him,) and all their outward bleſſings are ſteeped in gall, and drenched in Wormwood; as their ſorrows, ſo their bleſſings are diſtributed in wrath.

2. Many converted perſons are not really ſad and uncomfortable, Many converted perſons are not really ſad, they onelyonly ſeem ſo.but onelyonly ſeem ſo to the mean and childiſh opinions of vain men, 2 Cor. 6. 10. As ſorrowfull, yet always rejoycing. The joy of Chriſtians is an hidden joy, (Hidden Manna, Revel. 2. 20.) it is a ſpiritual joy to which thou art a ſtranger, meat to eat which thou knoweſt not of. Suppoſe that thou rejoyceſt not in a fine Baby, and a Toy, which is a Childs great delight, art thou therefore ſad? All objects yield not contentment to an high mind, nor joy to a good man; he cannot take pleaſure in an Alehouſe and Tavern, in ſwaggering and masking, in dicing p. 353and carding, and ſwearing, and whoring; but yet he can take delight in a reconciled God, in a Chriſt, in the Word of God, in praying to God, in gracious returnes from God, in expectation of the Glory of God. A ſwine delights in mire, but a man doth not. The Moon is oft times dark to the world, when yet that part which faceth to the Sun is beautiful and lightſome: The countenance and carriage of a Chriſtian, as to the world, ſeems dull and uncomfortable, but if you could look into the heart of him (which faceth towards heaven) O there is Righteouſneſs, there is Peace, there is Joy in the Holy Ghoſt!

3. If any converted perſons be ſad, and want actual joy and comfort, If they be ſad, Converſion is not the cauſe of it.yet their Converſion is not the cauſe thereof. Can the Sun be any cauſe of darkneſs? But, amongſt others, theſe are the Cauſes of it; Either 1. Thy unconverſion. It is the unconverted husband, child, maſter, which makes ſadneſs in the heart of the converted wife, father, &c. It is thy drunkenneſs, thy curſing and ſwearing, thy ſcorning and ſco…ing, thy reſiſting and ſhifting the offers of Grace, thy lying and ſlandering, thy pride and looſneſs which makes the hearts of Miniſters ready to break, and the hearts of thy godly friends ready to ſink in them: O they tremble at thy condition, and they grieve to ſee God ſo extremely diſhonoured. Pſal. 119. 136. Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, becauſe they keep not thy Law. ver. 158. I beheld the tranſgreſſors and was grieved, becauſe they kept not thy Word. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. The wicked deeds of the ungodly Sodomites vexed the ſoul of righteous Lot. Luke 19. 41. It was Jeruſalems proud obſtinacy, that would not know in her day the things which concerned her peace, that made Jeſus Chriſt to weep. 2. Their Captivities to ſin. Pauls converſion did never trouble him, but this did trouble him, that he did the evil which he would not; his Corruption, not Converſion; That the Law of his members led him captive against the Law of his mind. It was not Peters Converſion, but Peters tranſgreſſion, that made him go forth and weep bitterly. It was not Davids Converſion, but Davids great ſinning, which made him go ſo heavily, and ro…r ſo greatly, Pſal. 32. 3. The Fears and Suſpitions that they are not yet truly converted. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death! O they feel ſo many working Corruptions ſtill, and ſo little of the ſtrength of Chriſt ſtill, and ſo much unbelief ſtill, and ſo many indiſpoſitions p. 354ſtill, and ſo many failings ſtill, and ſo many doubts about theſe; This …race is not right, the ſaving Work is not begun; and theſe things make them …o ſigh, and weep, and go heavily all the day long. 4. They are but newly crept out of the ſhell: The Spirit of Bondage is yet hardly worn off, ſome legal Dints ſtick on them: they are either ſtill in travel, or but newly delivered; Or if they be got out of the ſtate of Bondage, yet they are for the preſent under ſpiritual conflicts; and as ſpiritual Bondage before Converſion, ſo ſpiritual conflicts after converſion ſuſpends the taſte of a preſent and actual joy: Or if that be not the damp, then perhaps it is ſome ignorance or unexperience; they are not yet come to read their Fathers Will and Chriſts Teſtament, what portion is left and laid out for the Children of God: Or if that be not it, then perhaps it is a preſent fit of unbelief, they cannot yet be perſwaded that God means ſo much mercy, and ſo much love, and ſo many great things for them.

Is it ſo, That …onverſion brings the perſon into a very joyful Ʋſe 1.condition? Hence then 1. We may be Informed of four Information.things,

1. That they are enemies to their joy and comfort, who are adverſaries They are enemies to their joy, who are enemies to Converſion.to their Converſion. Prov. 1. 22. How long ye ſimple ones will ye love ſimplicity, and ye Scorners delight in ſcorning, and fools hate knowledg? Six things ſhew one to be in an unconverted condition; Unſenſibleneſs, Love of ſin, Path of evil, hatred of Reformation, deſpiſing the Means of Converſion, loathing of Converted-Perſons. There are ſome perſons who hate to be reformed, who hold faſt their …ns, and will not let them go; they are like thoſe ſtiff-necked Jewes, who alwayes reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt; a diſobedient people to the Call of God, they refuſe to put their necks into the yoak of Jeſus Chriſt, and will not be bound with his cords; They love their ſinful wayes, and will not return to the Almighty: Why! Write that man childleſs, ſaid God of Coniah; So I ſay of theſe men, Write them comfortleſs: Will the Lord lye for you? Or will he miſplace his hands for you? Peace is the effect of righteouſneſs, and Joy is the fruit of Converſion. And ſhalt thou have pleaſure, who takeſt pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs? Shalt thou know the wayes of Peace, who wilt not know the path of Holineſs? Did ever God ſmile on him who hated God? Or claſp him with joy, who deſpiſed his grace with p. 355hatred? Go enquire and ſearch all the Springs of joy, and knock at all the Gates of pleaſure, dilig…ntly ask, What of delight they contain for thee? Knock at the mercy-ſeat, which is the Gate of God, and ask; Lord, haſt thou not joy for one who will go on in his ſins, and will not return unto thee? No (ſaith God) not any; but he who …orſakes his ſins ſhall have mercy, and he who hardens his heart ſhall fall into miſchief, Prov. 28. 13, 14. Knock at the Goſpel, which is the gate of Chriſt, and ask; Bleſſed Jeſu, haſt thou no word of comfort for him who reſiſts thy ſpirit, and will not come in unto thee? No not I (ſaith Chriſt) not any; thou deſpiſeſt the goodneſs of God, and by thy impenitency and hardneſs, treaſureſt unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath. Knock at conſcience, which is the gate of thine own ſoul, and ask; O conſcience, h…ſt thou not a word of peace to ſpeak to one who loves his ſins, and is an enemy to God and godlineſs? Who, I, ſaith conſcience! not I; thou art an enemy of righteouſneſs, and in the gall of bitterneſs, and except thou repent, thou ſhalt certainly periſh. Knock at the Scriptures, which are the Gate of truth, and ask; May not the wicked and unconverted perſon ſuck at the breſts of your conſolation? are not th…ſe wells of ſalvation open for me to draw joy and comfort out of? Oh no, ſay the promiſes, we are childrens bread, and legacies for ſons; if thou be a believer, we are a Fountain opened for thee; if thou be an unbeliever, we are a Fountain ſealed againſt thee. Knock at the Creatures, which are the Gate of Providence, and ask; Have ye no Commiſſion of Comfort for one who cares not to remember his Creator? O no, ſay all the Creatures, Sin long ago hath caſt thee out of Paradiſe, and turned the earth into a curſe, and thy bleſſings are curſed, and thy ſinnings do poiſon all the flowers in our Garden unto thee. Nay, Knock at thy very Sins, which are the Gate of Hell, and ask them; Ye of all other are my deareſt friends, and choiceſt maſters, and have ye no Joyes and Comforts for me? O yes, ſay they, we have, but they are forbidden fruit, but they are pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, but they will end in everlaſting torments and ſorrow. Thus is every wicked and unconverted man in Cains condition, who cryed out, Behold, thou haſt driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face ſhall I be hid, and I ſhall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, Gen. 4. 14.

p. 3562. That they are enemies and ſlanderers of the goodneſs and They are ſlanderers of the ſweetneſs of Gods ways, who thus reproach the ſtate of Converſion.ſweetneſs of the wayes of God, who load the eſtate of Converſion with all the ignominious reproaches of ſadneſs and heavineſs; and mopiſhneſs, and melancholy, and bitterneſs, and grave of all joy and pleaſure: As the Spies of old traduced the good and pleaſant land of Ca…aan, which abounded with milk and hony, O it was a land that did eat up the Inhabitants thereof; But as God ſpake once to Aaron and Miriam, How were ye not afraid to ſpeak againſt my ſervant Moſes? ſo I to theſe; How are ye not afraid to reproach the wayes of the living God? Is not God the God of comfort? Is not Chriſt the conſolation of Iſrael? Is not the Holy Ghoſt the comforter? are not the Scriptures written for our conſolation? are not the Promiſes the breaſts of Conſolation? are not all the pathes of Wiſdome pathes of pleaſantneſs? are not the Graces of God the very beds of Spices? Is not the peace of Conſcience a peace that paſſeth all underſtanding? Doth David find the Word ſweeter then the hony comb? Doth Job find it better then his appointed food? Doth Jeremiah find it the Rejoycing of his heart? Doeſt thou read of ſo many Converted perſons in Scripture full of joy and gladneſs, rejoycing in Chriſt, rejoycing in the hope of the Glory of God, re…oycing in Troubles, in Perſecutions, yea, in Death it ſelf; and yet dareſt thou to revile and ſcandalize the converted mans condition as the only ſea of Bitterneſs, and darkeſt night, eclipſing all joy and comfort? I pray thee to conſider, 1. This doth ariſe from the gall of thy wicked and imbittered Spirit, hating and deſpiſing the goodly excellencies of holineſs and holy perſons. 2. It doth ſhew a curſed heart to call good evil, as it doth to call evil good; and as he that juſtifies the Wicked, ſo he that condemns the juſt, is an abomination to the Lord; How much more then, he who condemns Righteouſnes it ſelf. 3. This doth ſhew an Univerſal rage againſt Gods glory and mans happineſs; So heavily doſt thou load the pathes of Converſion, that ſo much as in thee lies, thou diſſwadeſt and diſcourageſt all the men on earth from leaving off their ſins, ſo that God ſhall have no Glory from them; nor they any true happineſs from God. 4. And laſtly: Take heed leaſt God deal with thee, as once he did with the lying ſpies; ſhut them out of Canaan, and deſtroyed them with a remarkable Judgment.

p. 3573. That they have hitherto deluded and deceived themſelves with falſe joy, in ſtead of true joy, who as yet never ſaw a converted They who never were converted, delude themſelves with falſe joy.condition. All thy mirth and joy hath been but falſe fire; a madneſs, not a joyfulneſs; ſparkles of thy own kindling; thou haſt fed on the husks all this while, on a fancy, on a Dream; thou haſt never in all thy life took in one draught of true …oy, nor ever ſhalt thou, till God convert thy ſoul. Take heed of ſetling your ſouls, or reſting your ſouls on any works, or any affections which are antecedent to converſion, even the ſorrows and troubles before converſion are no matter of joy and comfort; if any joy depends on them, it is rather becauſe converſion hath followed them; and the joys which many men take before their converſion, certainly they are falſe joys, poor joys, they are not pleaſures of Gods right hand. There are three properties of true Joy: 1. It is not the Ʋſher which goes before, but the Handmaid that follows after Grace. 2. It is not a Surfet to dead, but a Cordial to ſtrengthen; and it is not a Feaſt to ſatisfie, but a Sawce to quicken communion with God. 3. It is not a temptation to ſin, but upholds againſt the new temptations of ſin. True Joy never goes before true Grace, but follows it. Do you uſe to gather fruit before you plant, or reap before ye ſow.

4. Then if ever you would have joy, and live joyfull If you would have joy, get converted hearts.lives, get converted hearts. Every man deſires joy; and as the Bee hunts for honey, ſo do men naturally hunt for delight; foreign aut jucunde aut non omninò. Let the thing or condition be what it will, if we take no delight in it, it is a burthen to us: Heaven would not be Heaven to him who cannot find delight in it. Now Converſion is the true path to true joy. If God would be pleaſed (once) to convert thy ſoul, his converting Grace would lick thy ſores, and pull out the ſtings in Conſcience, and ſweeten the bitter Springs, and clear the Heavens to thee; it would make thy bed to be eaſie, and thy bread to be ſweet, and thy condition to be a Paradiſe; even the Wilderneſs ſhould drop honey to thee, and thy heart ſhould ſing for joy. It is a witty paſſage of Bernards, (de bonis deferendis) Be willing to ſacrifice thy Iſaac, and thy Iſaac ſhall live. Iſaac, you know, ſignifies laughter; do but ſacrifice thy ſinfull pleaſure, and then thy true pleaſure ſhall not die, but live. Caius gave p. 358unto Agrippa a Chain of Gold which was as heavy as the Chain of Iron that he endured in the Priſon: Sins do …ut upon us a Chain of Iron, which if we would forſake, Converſion would put upon as a Chain of Gold; thou ſhalt not loſe, but better thy pleaſures, by forſaking of thy ſins and the pleaſures of them. O! that all the joys which you have heard attending a converted condition, might allure all our hearts to become converted perſons. I obſerve five things about the converted condition in Scripture. 1. The invitation unto it, and there joy preſents it ſelf; Turn and live, turn and live; hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your ſoul delight it ſelf in fatneſs, Iſa. 55. 2. 2. The entrance into it, and there joy embraceth the perſon: As ſoon as the Prodigal Son returned, his Father ſaw him a far off, (O how quick is Mercy to eſpy a Convert!) and had compaſſion, (O how tender is Mercy to yern over a Convert!) and ran, (O how ſwift is Mercy to receive a Convert!) and fell on his neck, (O how how out-ſtretching is Mercy to embrace a Convert!) and kiſſed him, (O how kind is Mercy to entertain a Convert!) 3. The motion or courſe of it, and there joy attends the perſon: I have rejoyced, ſaith David, Pſal. 119. 14. in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. When a converted man doth Mediate, his meditation is ſtiled ſweet: Hear, he hears With joy; When they heard this they were glad: Pray, this is a ſweet incenſe to David; And I will make them joyfull in my houſe of prayer, Iſa. 56. 7. Believe, he doth believe and rejoice: Mourn, there is appointed the oy… of joy for mourning, Iſa. 61. 3. Do the will of God, it is his delight to do the will of God: Suffer; Rejoyce, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 4 13. in as much as ye are partakers of Christs ſufferings. 4. The concluſion or end of it, why! there alſo doth joy accompany him: Pſal. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the just, for the end of that man is peace. 5. The reward and recompence of it, and there alſo joy doth claſp the converted perſon: Enter into thy Masters joy, ſaith Chriſt to the good ſervant: Gaudium ſupra omne gaudium, At thy right hand are pleaſures for evermore, ſaid David.

O… that all theſe things might ſo affect our hearts this day, as to forſake our ſins, and turn back to God Pleaſure is the great …it which is laid forth to catch the ſoul of man; Satan draws us p. 359to ſin by pleaſure, and God draws us to grace by pleaſure; ſhall pleaſure move thee to damn thy ſoul? and ſhall not true pleaſure move thee to ſave thy ſoul? Our Averſion from God depends much upon pleaſure, and our Converſion unto God depends much upon pleaſure; me thinks that Gods promiſe ſhould be more accounted then the Divels temptation; is it not more probable to buy a better penniworth from heaven then from hell? and is it not more reaſonable to traffick at the gates of life for joy, then to trade at the gates of death for comfort? Return, return, O ſinner! yet, yet, come back to thy God, and do not for lying vanities any longer forſake thine own mercies,—But God muſt perſwade Japhet.

Try whether you are in a converted condition or no. There Ʋſe 2. Try whether converted or no. Nine things ſhew a man is unconverted.are two ſorts of perſons. 1. Some plainly unconverted. 2. Some deceiving themſelves about it. Nine things do ſhew that a man is as yet abſolutely in an unconverted condition.

1. Ʋnſenſibleneſs: God promiſeth to take away the ſtony heart; quanto inſenſibilior, tanto pe jor. This is the Stone upon the Grave.

2. Love of ſin: Wicked men are deſcribed by this in Scriptūre.

3. Walking in the path of ſin: It is his work, his trade; when a man chuſe…h an evil way, and ſits in the Chair, is a ſervant of unrighteouſneſs, walks in the way fo wicked men.

4. Hating to be reformed: It is an abomination to him to be good, that will rather be damned then reformed, breaks the Cords, will not have Chriſt to reign.

5. Deſpiſing of the means of Converſion: The word of the Lord is a reproach to him; his heart rageth when the word finds out his ſins, and would ſeparate him and his luſts.

6. Loathing of converted perſons; cannot endure the ſight of grace; his ſpecial diſlikes are of the godly, and diſgraces, and diſcountenancings of them; he is exceedingly diſpleaſed and grieved at the eſtimations of godlineſs, and rejoyceth in the cloudings, and ſetting of it.

7. In communion with God: It is a note of a wicked man, that God is not in all his thoughts, and that he call; not upon God, but is a ſtranger to him, the ſtil-born child is a dead child.

p. 3608. Diſvaluations of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all the precious ſeaſons of grace, and opportunities of mercy; the Swine tramples upon the Pearl, the dayes of the Son of man are of no account with him.

9. An earthly reſt and ſatisfaction: When he is a man only for this life, and for this preſent world, ſets up his ſtaff on this ſide Jordan; all his hopes are in this life.

Secondly: Five things which do ſhew that a man flatters and Five things ſhew a man deceived about his converſion.deceives himſelf about his condition, that it is converted, when yet it falls ſhort thereof.

1. Meer knowledg; though a man knows never ſo much, yet if he be but a knowing man, he may be a learned man, but he is not a converted man. It is one thing to know controverſies, another thing to know Converſion: If the knowledg be without 1. Experience; know what ſin is, but feel it not; know what Chriſt is, but never feel the virtues and powers of his death and reſurrection: 2. Propriety; know Chriſt as a purchaſe, but not as an inheritance; what he is, and hath done, but not what he is to me, or hath done for me: 3. Power; as a candle that lightens, but not as fire to burn, as an Ornament on a Tomb, not as a Soul to the Body; as a Star which ſhines in the night, not as the Sun which makes day; new knowledg, but ſtill an old heart: 4. Affections; know ſin, but hate it not, nor mou…n for it; know Chriſt, but love and deſire him not: 5. Practiſe, like a Scholler, who knows Countries, but never travels to them; reads the Copy, but writes not after it, know the way to heaven, but never walks the way to heaven.

2. Meer trouble of conſcience: A troubled condition is one thing, a converted condition is another; Cain and Judas were troubled, yet not converted; many things may ſuffice to trouble us, which yet are not ſufficient to convert us; the Law, the Wrath of God, the quickneſs of conſcience, fear of death and hell and ſhame may ſuffice to trouble us, yet not to convert us. The Sea may be troubled, and yet remains briniſh; the Iron may be broken, and yet it is hard; the Water boils, and yet it is Water: There is a difference twixt paſſive trouble, and active trouble; twixt a trouble that I would get off, and godly ſorrow which I would get up; twixt trouble in ratione p…nae, and in ratione gratiae; twixt being troubled for ſin as it is malum ſenſible, and as malum p. 361ſpirituale, twixt malum as cauſa mali, and malum as affectus mali. The Land-flood is high, but it leaves the mud and dirt behind; the Wells water is leſs, but it cleanſeth.

3. Limited Reformation: When only external; if internal, yet partial, will ſtick with Chriſt for ſome one thing. True Converſion is an inviſible work, it is ſeed under ground, tis a child formed in the womb, it is the hidden man of the heart, tis Chriſt formed and living in us, it is a new Creation of the heart, the new heart, a law written there. The Phar…ſees were good at Outworks, all far to the eyes of men: Outward abſtinence from ſin may conſiſt with an inward love of it; and a man may do much good, who yet is not good: Self-grounds, and ends, of profit, of eſteem, of hopes, of compliance with others, beſides thoſe workings of conſcience, &c. may lead us out to viſible conformities, when yet, &c.

4. Accidental reſolutions: When a perſon will on a ſudden grow good altogether, only upon mutable occaſions; 1. As in an exigence of Conſcience, 2. In a fit of Sickneſs, 3. Some preſent conviction of the Word, 4. Some imminent judgements, 5. preſent hopes; not upon ſolid Conviction, conſideration, fervent prayer to God to work the change, &c.

5. Paſſionate Joyes: If taken by the Word upon the diſcoveries of Grace, and Mercy, and Love of Chriſt, and of future glory; like one who is taken with the Ware, yet will not come up to the Price: The young man would have heaven, but will not ſell all, take up the Croſs and follow Chriſt. But when a man is truly converted, he is like the Wiſe Merchant, who found the Pearl, and rejoiced, and ſold all, and bought it. He will part with all his Luſts, and Friends, and Pleaſures, and World, to enjoy Chriſt.

Doth Converſion bring the ſoul into a joyful condition? Then Ʋſe. 3. Let every converted perſon take his portion of joy.let every converted perſon take his due portion, and live as becomes himſelf, joyfully. Pſal. 32. 11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous. Phil. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I ſay, rejoice. I wiſh that converted perſons would conſider

1. That God doth not reſerve all their joyes unto another life: God doth not reſerve all their joy to another life,O no, ſpiritual joy is an allowance alſo for this life; a good p. 362bit and bait by the way. Nay, it is not a meer Toleration or Permiſſion, but it is an expreſs Command and Injunction; and as a man doth ſin who refuſeth Grace, ſo ſome man may ſin who refuſeth Joy. 2. God would have the life of Grace to God would have the life of Grace a ſhadow of the life of Glory.be a primordial ſhadow (at leaſt) of the life of Glory: and indeed our eſtate of Grace is an Epitome of that in Glory; only that is a fuller and larger Volume: We have the ſame God, the ſame Chriſt, the ſame Spirit, the ſame Communion in this as in that; only here it is more Mediate, there more Immediate; here Imperfect, there Perfect; here Mixt, and there Pure. And doeſt thou ſo poorly conceive of God, that He who is able to make an heaven full of joy to Eternity hereafter, is not able or willing to let fall a few drops of joy upon thy ſoul on earth? Or that there can or ſhould be any Communion with ſuch a God, which ſhould not be joyful and delightful? The Emperor would have none to go away ſad. 3. God would God would have the Chriſtians life to be the credit of Grace.have the Chriſtians life, as to be the fruit, ſo to be the credit of Grace. Grace is an ornament to the ſoul, and ſpiritual joy is an Ornament to grace: It teſtifies to the world, that converſion quits all coſts: What! ſhal madneſs be found in the habitations of the wicked, and ſhall not joy be found in the tabernacles of the juſt? Shall the worldly man rejoice in a Creature, and ſhall not the godly man rejoyce in his God? Shall the condemned malefactor take delight, and ſhall not the acquitted perſon take comfort? Shall wicked men ſuck pleaſure out of bitter waters, and ſhall not good men draw joy out of the wells of ſalvation? Joy is not comely for a fool, ſaith Solomon, but it becomes the upright to rejoice, ſaith David. 4. As ſpiritual joy is an ornament, ſo it is an improvement to grace. It is a certain truth, that grace Joy is an Improvement to Grace,is the Mother of joy, and true joy is the Nurſe of grace. Spiritual comforts are inlargements to ſpiritual graces; look as it is with ſinful pleaſures, they do add to our ſinful principles; the more delight that any man finds in ſinful wayes, this adds the more love, and the more deſire, and the more earneſtneſs for to ſin; ſo is it in ſpiritual wayes, the more joy and delight any man takes in them, this adds a new quickning to his graces, a freſher edge unto them; nothing makes either a communion, or an action more frequent, or more fervent then delight; didſt p. 363thou ever find thy heart more apt to pray, or more fixed in prayer, then when thou foundeſt moſt delight and comfort, in, or upon praying? ſo for other duties. 5. Spiritual joy will exceedingly It will exceddingly facilitate the way and work to heaven.facilitate the way and work for heaven: It is our facundus Comes, which is pro Vehiculo. As the fear of the Lord is our treaſure, Iſa. 33. 6. So the joy of the Lord is our strength, Neh. 8. 10. An heavy, dull, ſad ſpirit, is a burden of… it ſelf, and is very apt to make every thing elſe a burden: Now ſpiritual joy, it takes off dulneſs and deadneſs, and enables us to run the way of Gods Commandments, and to run the race that is ſet before us. Amanti nihil difficile, it makes our ſpiritual work to come off; the Wheels run if oyled.

Queſt. This is true, will ſome reply; but what ſhould converted What ſhould converted perſons do to walk joyfully?perſons do, that they may walk joyfully? Sol. There are two ſorts of converted perſons: Incipientes; who are newly called, newly wrought on, newly brought home; and theſe ordinarily are full of fears, of doubts, of temptations, of conflicts, of heavineſs: Proficientes; who are long ſtanders in the wayes of grace. Will you favour me to ſpeak a few words to either of theſe.

1. To perſons newly converted: I would humbly preſent Directions. To perſons newly converted.theſe directions, as proper means or Conduits of joy and comforts to their ſouls.

1. Draw up your ſpiritual condition to ſome iſſue: Do not live with a doubtful ſuſpition; perhaps you are converted, perhaps Draw up your Spirituall condition to ſome Iſſue.you are not converted: As ignorance is an enemy to grace, ſo doubtfulneſs is an enemy to comfort. That man who is ſtill in ſuit, whether his Converſion be true, will not dare to lay claim to the joyes which reſult from Converſion: If I fear my grace, I ſhall much more fear my comfort: Give all diligence to make your calling and election ſure. Therefore do this; bring thy ſouls eſtate to the word, (that is the rule, that is the fire, that is the touchſtone;) if the Word of God will approve and decide for thee, bleſs God, and maintain the truth of thy ſpiritual eſtate, againſt all the ſuggeſtions of Satan, and cavils of thine own heart; when once that doth ſay, truth of grace is in thee; conſcience will ſay, truth of comfort belongs unto thee.

p. 3642. Get a little more faith; one dram more would turn the the ſcale, and ſettle thine heart. Faith trades with the Fountain, Get a little more ſaith.with the God of Comfort, and of Peace, and with Jeſus Chriſt: It is Faith that lets you into Chriſt, and it is Faith which lets comfort into you. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 15. 13. There are five priviledges of Faith: It hath the firſt look of Mercy, it hath the firſt kiſs from Chriſt, it hath the firſt news of acceptance unto Life, it hath the firſt anſwer of Peace, it hath the firſt draught of Joy: Oh, get a little more faith; a little more faith would weaken the grounds of thy fears, quell the motions of thy doubts, clear thy way to the fountains of comfort, imprint on thy heart a moſt joyful Communion with thy God and Chriſt; no life of joy, but that of faith.

3 And Learn to live by faith, and then you will have more Learne to live by faith.joy and comfort. Four things would make a mans life very joyfull and comfortable. 1. If he were eaſed of all burthens. 2. If he were ſecured from all prejudices. 3. If what he had were good, and enough. 4. If he were aſſured, that whatſoever good he ſhould need, of that he ſhould not fail, but be ſupplied with it in due time. Now the life of faith, 1. Eaſeth you of all your burthens: There are but two burthens upon us; 1. The ſinfull, Faith ſees this taken off by Chriſt, He bare our ſins: 2. The earthly, of cares; Faith ſees Gods providence taking that off, The Lord is a Sun, &c. Pſal. 84. I will never leave thee, Heb. 13. Bread ſhall be given to him, his waters ſhall be ſure, Iſa. 33. 16. Cast your care on him, for he careth for you, 1 Pet. 5. 7. 2. Secures you against all prejudices and hurts: Faith finds us ſtill in Gods hands, and in a ſafe cuſtody: Though there be evils in the world, yet they ſhall not come nigh you; and his work goes on, though ours do not: God is with you, who can be againſt you. There's a Deluge, but Noah's in the Ark; a ſtorm, but you are in an hiding place: He holds you in his hand, and covers you under his wings; makes all things to work for good. Faith ſees the Trouble and the Sanctuary both, Occurrences and Providence both, ruling, carrying on, obſerving, watching, preſerving: If Earth won't keep you ſafe, Heaven ſhall. 3. It renders the preſent poſſeſſion as good, and enough: p. 365Your portion is ſo: For what is a Chriſtians portion? Is not God? is not his favour? And is not God enough? is not his favour better then life? He who cannot be contented with a God, and a Chriſt, and a Covenant of Grace, and Heaven, will be ſatisfied with nothing. You have but little of Earth, A… but you have God and Chriſt. If a man have but a little Garden, yet if he have a large field, &c. A little of Earth, and much of Heaven, makes a fair Eſtate. 4. It aſſures you of ſupplies univerſal and ſeaſonable. Ʋniverſal; I ſhall not want, Pſal. 23. 1. No good thing will he withhold, Pſal. 84. 11. No good for ſoul, no good for body, (you have his Bonds for both;) and this is for life; Surely goodneſs and mercy ſhall follow me all the days of my life, Pſal. 23. Nay, for everlaſtingneſs; I will marry thee to my ſelf for ever, Hoſ. 2. 19. 2. Seaſonable; In an acceptable time, &c. In the mount God will be ſeen.

4. Get a little more underſtanding and judgment about your converted Get more underſtanding and judgment about your converted condition.and gracious condition. Shall I help thee a little with a few Conſiderations and Informations? Know then, 1. The great Fountain of thy Joy lies more in thy Juſtification then in thy Sanctification. Thou haſt not ſo much Holineſs as another, but thou haſt of Chriſts Righteouſneſs; thou canſt not apprehend ſo ſtrongly, but thou art apprehended as ſtrongly, Chriſt lays as faſt hold of thee. 2. That Grace and Weakneſs may dwell together. It may be very true, though very weak, the ſmoaking flax, and the bruiſed reed, and the grain of muſtard-ſeed; A Father hath one Child in the Cradle, and another in the Shop; a Shepheard hath Lambs in the flock, as well as Sheep; the Gardiner hath Plants, as well as Trees; and Chriſt hath Babes, as well as ſtrong Men, belonging to him. 3. That the least Grace, and the great Love of God do go together: The little drop of Grace comes out of the Ocean of his great Love; the Peny, as well as the Shilling, bears the Superſcription. 4. That the leaſt degree of true Grace denominates the condition to be converted: I would believe, is Faith; I would love thee, is Love; I deſire to do thy will, is Obedience: Not Strength, but Truth denominates. 5. True Grace and many Conflicts go together: Let the motions of ſin be never ſo vile, but I hate them; never ſo many, but I reſiſt them; here Grace is the Lord which rules me, p. 366though ſin be the Enemy which moleſts me. Why am I thus? Alas, there are contraries in thee, Light and Darkneſs, Fleſh and Spirit. 6. True Grace and ſome Failings may lodge together: I may at the ſame time be a Captive to Sin, and yet a Servant to Grace; ſin may ſometimes be too ſtrong even for him who hates ſin. 7. All ſervices to God are interpreted and accepted by God according to the will of a converted perſon: Although thou canſt not pray ſo freely, ſo fully, ſo uniformly, yet if God ſee a will in thee deſirous ſo to do, it ſhall paſs for currant; groans, and ſighs, and chatterings, and deſires, and tears, &c. 8. Thou never doeſt any Duty, but Jeſus Chriſt gives acceptance unto it by his Interceſſion; his ſweet Incenſe takes off the ill ſavour: The greateſt work done by thee, if it comes in thy own name, is rejected; the weakeſt, if preſented in his Name, a ſigh or groan, is graciouſly accepted; as the Sacrifices by the Prieſt. 9. God never expects thou ſhouldeſt buy out thy own pardon, or bring from thy ſelf any ſatisfaction for any of thy ſins; he hath deſigned that work onelyonly to Jeſus Chriſt, in whom he hath accepted thee, and for whoſe ſake alone he doth and will diſcharge thee: You trade in Heaven upon gracious terms; when you come for any grace and help, thy Reaſons and Motives are in God, who gives, and freely gives. 10. As ſoon as ever converting Grace prevails upon thy heart, Salvation is come to thy ſoul: Thou art now a Believet; and if a Believer, a Son; and if a Son, an Heir of all the comfortable Promiſes now, and a Co-heir with Chriſt hereafter. 11. The Lord will bleſs thy buds, and increaſe thy ſtock of Grace: He will water, as well as plant it. 12. That little Grace ſhall never fail thee, never leave thee, till it brings thee to Heaven: The greateſt Grace is imperfect, and the leaſt Grace is invincible; the greateſt Grace is weak, and the weakeſt Grace is immortal.

Now if Chriſtians did believe all theſe Truths, and would conſider of them, would not their condition be more joyfull? Here's a Weakneſs, I but it is Grace; that Grace is little, I but it comes from Graciouſneſs, and makes me gracious: O how many conflicts! I but 'tis 'twixt Grace and Sin; yea, and many ſinnings, I but not love of ſin, no voluntary ſervice: But how poor in Duties! I but God regards the Will: But what will p. 367become of me for my former ſins? Why! Chriſt hath ſatisfied, and God hath pardoned: But if I had ſtrength of Grace, I might take comfort; Why! the weakeſt Convert is a Believer, and the weakeſt Believer hath Chriſt; Ergò.

Secondly, to Perſons long ſince converted; What ſhould they To perſons long ſince converted. Often examine and review your Speritual condition. Be upright.do to walk with joyful hearts? I anſwer, 1. Often examine and review your Spiritual condition; this will keep you and God friends: often look upon the evidences of Gods favour to your Souls, and maintaine and cleare them if blotted; Such experiences are bathes of Comfort: Remember the days of old. 2. Be upright; maintain the Oyl, and you maintain the light. The work of Righteouſneſs ſhall be peace; and the effect of Righteouſneſs, quietneſs and aſſurance for ever: Iſai. 32. 17 A ſtable Spirit will further a ſtable Joy; one …y ſtep puts the bone out of joynt, That man loſeth his Spiritual pleaſure, who ſteps out for ſinful pleaſure; remember Davids ſwarving, and Peters, and Jacobs. 3. Live by faith: We never meet wi…h more troubles Live by faith.then when we ſhift for our ſelves. That man who can truſt God moſt, him doth God truſt with moſt Grace and peace: ſee Habak. 3. 17, 18. 4. Hold up cloſe communion with God Hold up cloſe communion with God.and his people; he who rrades moſt at heaven, gets the greateſt ſtock of Grace and comfort; even the neglect of one prayer may loſe a man much comfort; be ſatisfied with God alone, and let not out your minds to earthly things; And that one ſermon which thou didſt overſlip, brought in exceeding Joy to thy fellow Chriſtian. 5. Walk in the fear of God all the day long: Walk in the fear of God all the day long.Self-confidence makes the perſon to lye down in tears; but he who feares to ſin, fortifies his Graces and comforts; expoſe not your ſelves to Temptations. 6. Renew a ſolemn and ſpeedy Peace Renew peace upon every fall.upon every fall; Light may quickly be reſtored to a candle newly blown out, and the bone diſplaced may preſently be ſet again; Let not a diſeaſe ſettle. 7. Engage not thy mind to vain and new Engage not to new opinions.Opinions. Mind the maine things of Life and Salvation, and not profitable ſtrifes. He who hath not more Grace to get, hath aſſuredly much comfort to loſe; an Unſetled Judgment will quickly raiſe an uncomfortable heart. 8. Preſerve an humble and contented Spirit. Pride is the father of diſcontentment, Preſerve an humble and content…d Spirit.and Diſcontentment is a priſon to our Graces, and a Sea to our p. 368comforts. Thy Graces will not be pleaſant to thee, if thy outward condition pleaſe thee not. 9. Be active and thriving. That Be active and thriving.man who doth moſt for God, doth alſo moſt for his own comfort; Barrenneſs is no good ſign of Life, and therefore no good way for comfort; the travelling Bee is laden with hony: Thriving Grace is a clear evidence of truth, and adds to our excellency and our joy.

FINIS.

End of the text · Obadiah Sedgwick, The Parable of the Prodigal (1660)