The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, Treatise · Help 2

The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration · Treatise · Help 2

p. 348The ſecond help to Regeneration.

An obſervation or knowledge of thoſe ſeveral ſteps whereby the Spirit of God reneweth others ſouls, and a pliable carriage and ſubmiſſions to its workings and motions in thine own ſoul.

I Come now to the ſecond help which I promiſed towards Holineſs and Regeneration, and that will branch it ſelf forth into theſe two particulars.

Firſt, An obſervation or knowledge of thoſe ſeveral ſteps, whereby the Spirit bringeth home wandering ſheep into the fold of Chriſt.

Secondly, A pliable ſubmiſſion to the workings and motions of the holy Ghoſt, as at any time he maketh his addreſſes unto thee.

For the firſt of theſe, thou art to underſtand that converſion is not wrought all together and at once, but by decrees; as in the generation of a childe, firſt the brain, heart, and liver is framed, next the bones, ſinews, nerves and arteries, then the fleſh is added; ſo in regeneration, firſt the ſinner p. 349hath the ſeed of repentance and faith in the ſenſe of his ſins and miſery, and the ſight of the mercy of God in Chriſt; then ſome deſires after Chriſt; next ſome affiance on Chriſt, and after theſe an hearty acceptance of Chriſt as Lord and Saviour.

The match between Chriſt and the ſoul, is not hudled up in haſte, Chriſt firſt goeth a woing. The Father offereth a large portion with his Son; the creature conſidereth his terms, how lovely his perſon is, what his precepts will be; what advantage he ſhall have by the marriage, and by a deep and powerful energy of the Spirit, conſenteth to take him for his Lord and husband.

Firſt, the firſt ſtep is Illumination. The ſpirit of God doth in the firſt place open the eyes of the blind, Vide more of this p. 24, 5.and turn men from darkneſs to lght; here is illumination; and then from the power of Satan to God; here is regeneration. Act. 26.18. Before the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſeth on the ſoul, there is a day-break of light in the underſtanding, John Baptiſt, who was the forerunner of Chriſt, and ſent to prepare his way before him, did it by giving knowledge of ſalvation, Luke 1.76, 77.

It is obſervable, that in the covenant of grace, the mind is ſtill ſpoken of to be renewed before the heart. Heb. 10.8, 9. Jer. 31.33. For tis by the underſtanding that grace ſlips down into the affections.

p. 346Satan indeed that cruell Jaylor, ſecures his captives in the dark dungeon of ignorance. They are ſtrangers to the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them. Eph. 4.18. When that uncircumciſed Philiſtine hath taken any Sampſon priſoner, the firſt thing he doth, is to put out his eyes; when this is done, he can make ſport enough with him. The evil ſpirit ſtrikes men blind as the Syrians were, and then leads them whither he pleaſes; But the good ſpirit opens their eyes, and ſheweth them that they are in their enemies hands, liable every moment to be murdered, and then ſets bread and water before them. Converſion is called a tranſlation out of darkneſs into marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2.3.

The ſinner travelleth in the dark night of his natural eſtate, and miſtaketh his way, (he loſeth himſelf in the miſt of ignorance) but when the morning commeth, the man ſeeth that he hath gone in a wrong path, then he befools, and is diſpleaſed with himſelf, and turneth about. All the while the creature hath his underſtanding darkened, he walketh in the way of the fleſh and the world, and believeth that to be the right way to happineſs; but when the ſpirit of God enlightneth the mind, the man ſeeth that he was exceedingly miſtaken, begins to wonder at his own folly and wickedneſs, to abhor himſelf, and change his courſe; I will bring the blind by a way which they p. 347knew not; Iſa. 42.16, 17.Isa 42:16Isa 42:17I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkneſs light before them (then what followeth?) they ſhall be turned back, they ſhall be greatly aſhamed.

Till the underſtanding of a man be enlightened to ſee the deformity of ſin, and the beauty of holineſs, he will never heartily loath and grief for the former, love and long for the latter. As it is in ſome hot climates, though the Sun ſhine very hot there, yet when there is no entrance for it into mens houſes, twill not ſcorch or heat the inhabitants; ſin is of a ſcorching nature; but when the underſtanding, (which is the window into the houſe) is kept ſhut that it can have no entrance into the heart, no wonder if the ſinner feel no pain.

God hath made the ſame organ for ſeeing and weeping. Tis the eye of knowledg which affects the heart. Zach. 12.10.Zech 12:10They ſhall ſee him whom they have pierced and mourn, ſight of ſin doth precede ſorrow for ſin; as ſoon as ever the infant cometh into the light, it cryeth, though all the time it was in the dark priſon of the mothers womb it was quiet.

Secondly, Ioh. 16.9, 10.John 16:9John 16:10the ſecond ſtep which the ſpirit takes, is conviction, to convince the ſinner. The ſun which did before enlighten his mind, doth now ſlide down with its heating and ſcorching beams into the conſcience: p. 352That knowledge which the ſinner had of his ſins before, was ſpeculative, but now becomes practical, making ſin like a lump of lead upon tender fleſh, that the conſcience is exceeding preſs'd and oppreſs'd with it.

Conviction is the application of the nature of ſin, and danger of ſinners to himſelf in particular, which before he knew in the general; as in the twilight before the Sun ariſeth, a man may ſee abroad, but he cannot ſee in his own houſe; but when the Sun ariſeth a man can ſee both abroad, and at home within his own doors: So before the Spirit approacheth the ſoul in a way of conviction, the ſinner could ſee abroad, he knew that the ſoul that ſinneth muſt die, that they which do ſuch and ſuch things, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; he knew theſe things in the general, but he could not ſee in his own houſe, in his own heart, that he himſelf was a great ſinner, a dead, a damned creature; for though he would in his prayers acknowledge that he had broken the Law, and was thereby liable to the wrath of the Lord, yet he did it but cuſtomarily and formally, not beleeving what he ſpake; for ſhould another man come to him, and tell him, O Friend, you daily provoke God, and are every hour in danger of hell, he would flye in his face, and tell others, that he was a very uncharitable man, and all becauſe the ſinner could not p. 353ſee in his own houſe; but when the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſeth, the ſinner can ſee within as well as without doors; he ſeeth the hainous nature of his own ſins, and the grievous danger of his own ſoul.

The Spirit of God convinceth the ſinner of four things.

Firſt, the Spirit convinceth him of his great and innumerable corruptions. The man before knew in the general, that all have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God, and would confeſs himſelf a ſinner formally, and ſlightly; but now he feels himſelf a ſinner, and finds experimentally that he is a polluted poiſoned creature. The Spirit of God holdeth the glaſs of the law, before the eyes of his ſoul, and makes him whether he will or no, ſee what dirt and deformity is in the face of his heart and life. Without the law there is no tranſgreſſion, and without the knowledge of the law there will be no conviction. As one of the perſecutors in the days of Queen Mary, ſearching an houſe for a Proteſtant, askd an old woman in the houſe, Where is the Heretick? ſhe points to a Cheſt of linnen, upon which ſtood a lookingglaſs, and bid him look there and he ſhould ſee him; he lookt there, and ſtill asked Where is he? She meant that he himſelf was the Heretick, and in the glaſs he might ſee himſelf. So before the Holy Ghoſt came to convince this ſinner, if the miniſter at any time had preached againſt pride, unbelief, p. 354carnal-mindedneſs, hypocriſie, and the like his voice was, Where are theſe men? Surely the Miniſter meets with ſuch and ſuch in his Sermon; but now the ſpirit in his conſcience ſpeaketh to him, what Nathan did to David, Thou art the man. Thou art the proud, carnal, hypocritical, curſed ſinner, which the word of God meaneth, & the man cannot deny it. The Holy Ghoſt puls off his rags, and plaiſters, and makes him ſee all his nakedneſs and ſores; it lanceth his wounds before his eyes, and now he beholdeth the venemous matter and corruption which is in them, that he little thought of before.

Formerly he eſteemd himſelf to be ſound, comparing himſelf with them that were worſe, or not minding the inward meaning and extent of the law of God; but now by the law the ſpirit brings him to the knowledg of ſin, Rom. 7.7. It ſheweth him the depravation of his nature, how full it is of pollution, even as full as ever toad was of poiſon; how empty it is of all good, nay what an enemy it is to God and godlineſs; it ſheweth him the abominations of his heart, how the imaginat ons and thoughts of his heart have been evil, onelyonly evil, and that continually; the provocations of his life, how full that hath been of luſts and ſins, even as the firmament of ſtars; it ſheweth him the evil of his thoughts, of his words, of his deeds, his omiſſions in his cloſet, in his family; his commiſſions abroad, at home; it ſheweth p. 355him his idolatry, in ſetting up Self as his God, in bowing down to it, and worſhiping it, his adultery in going a whoring after the creatures, loving, fearing, and truſting them more then the creatour who is bleſſed for ever. It ſheweth him how he hath diſhonoured the name of God, grieved the ſpirit of God, undervalued the Son of God, violated every command of God; how he hath ſinned againſt the firſt command in not worſhipping and glorifying God as the only true God, and as his God, and in giving that honour to others, which is due to him alone; againſt the ſecond, in not worſhiping God, according to the word, but according to the traditions of others, or his own inventions; againſt the third, in not reverencing the name, word and works of God; againſt the fourth in not ſanctifying the Sabbath to Gods ſervice, but prophaning it, either by idleneſs or worldly labours, or omiſſion of duties, and ordinances; againſt the fifth, in not carrying himſelf according to his duty, towards them that are above him, equal to him, or below him. Againſt the ſixth, ſeventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth, in wronging his neighbours, either in regard of life, chaſtity, goods, name, relations, either in thoughts, words or actions.

It ſheweth him the darkneſs of his underſtanding, the ſtubbornneſs of his will, the diſorderedneſs of his affections, the p. 356hardneſs of his hea…t, the ſearedneſs of his conſcience, the miſ-improvement of his outward parts, how his eyes have beheld vanity, his ears been open to iniquity, all his ſenſes been through-fares to ſin, all the members of his body inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs, how from the crown of the head to the ſoals of his feet there is no ſound part in him, nothing but wounds, bruiſes, and putrified ſores.

It is not one or two ſins that trouble this ſinner, but innumerable evils compaſs him about; whole ſwarms of theſe Bees flie in his face and ſting his conſcience; it may be one ſin did firſt ſet upon him, ſome ſin againſt the light which God had given him; and now that creditor hath caſt him into priſon, all the reſt come and clap their actions upon him to keep him there; his ſins in his dealings with men, in his duties to God, his ſins againſt ſeaſonable corrections, againſt merciful diſpenſations, his ſins againſt the motions of Gods Spirit, againſt the conviction of his own ſpirit, againſt light, love, purpoſes, promiſes, they all compaſs the ſinner round that he cannot eſcape; now he ſees the ugly loathſomneſs of all his luſts, how they are againſt an infinite God, againſt a righteous Law, againſt a precious ſoul, how by reaſon of them he is wholly unlike God, and become the very picture of the Devil; and truly now he is far from having thoſe flattering thoughts of himſelf, and favourable thoughts of his ſins which formerly he p. 357had; for ſins part, tis abounding, polluting, poiſonous, ſinful ſin; He ſeeth the wrinckles of this Jezabels face under her paint, and O how ugly is ſhe in his eyes; and for himſelf, he is more out of love, then ever he was in love with himſelf. Some ſay after they have had the Small-pox that they come to ſee themſelves in a glaſs, they look ſo ugly by reaſon of their ſpots that they cannot endure to ſee themſelves: Truly this poor ſinner beholding himſelf in the glaſs of the Law, and viewing thoſe helliſh ſpots of ſin all over his ſoul and body, he abhorreth himſelf in duſt and aſhes.

This is the firſt thing the Spirit convinceth the ſoul of, and that is ſin; When he is come he ſhall convince the world of ſin, Joh. 16.8. God never cured a ſpiritual Leper but he cauſed him to fall down firſt and cry out, unclean, unclean.

Secondly, The Spirit convinceth him of his miſerable and dreadful condition. Now the commandments of God come to the ſoul, ſin reviveth, and the ſinner dieth. He thought before that he was whole, a ſound man, to have little need of a Phyſician, but now he both ſeeth his ſores, and feeleth his wounds.

Miniſters before had frequently told him of his dangerous damnable eſtate, but he had a ſhield to keep off all their darts; He was not ſo bad as they took him to be; ſomewhat they muſt ſay for their money; and p. 358beſides though he were as bad as ſuch preciſe cenſorious Preachers would make him to be, yet God was a merciful God, and Jeſus Chriſt died for ſinners, and he hoped to be ſaved as well as the beſt of them; but now God comes to him as he did to Adam after his fall, Adam, where art thou? Haſt thou eaten of the tree of which I ſaid unto thee thou ſhalt not eat? Sinner where art thou? Doſt thou know what thou art doing, and whether thou art going? how dareſt thou prophane my day, blaſpheme my name, ſcoff at my people, neglect my worſhip, caſt my Laws behinde thy back, and hate to be reformed? Dareſt thou provoke the Lord to anger? art thou ſtronger then he? how will thine heart endure, or thine hands be ſtrong in the day that I ſhall deal with thee? Doſt not know, poor dry ſtubble, that 'tis a fearful thing to fall into my hands? for I am a conſuming fire. Now the ſinner heareth the voice of God, and is afraid: Alas, alas, thinks he, I am a dead, a damned man; the Almighty God is angry; the weight of my ſins at preſent is heavy, but the ſufferings which I am every moment liable to are infinite and eternal. O that I ſhould ever be born to do as I have done! Now the lightnings of divine fury flaſh in his eyes, and the canons of the Laws curſes thunder in his ears; he ſeeth a ſharp ſword of pure wrath hanging by a ſlender thread of life over his head; he feeleth the ſtingings of his ſins, thoſe fiery ſerpents at his p. 359heart. There is no reſt in his fleſh becauſe of Gods anger, nor quietneſs in his bones becauſe of his ſins; the arrows of the Almighty are within him, and the poiſon thereof drinks up his ſpirit; the waves and billows of God go over his ſoul, and he ſinketh in deep waters; God writeth bitter things againſt him, and makes him to poſſeſs the ſins of his youth: Now the man is calmed, he will hear what God ſpeaketh: before, though God himſelf had told him out of his word what a wicked wretched man he was, he would not minde it, but ſtorm and rage at it; he was like a wilde Aſs ſnuffing up the wind, and as an untam'd heifer impatient of the yoke; he would kick and fling like a mad man, What he give credit to the doctrine, and ſubmit to the ſevere diſcipline of a few whimſical Puritans, that muſt be wiſer then all their neighbors! no not he, though they ſhewed him the very hand of God in Scripture to thoſe warrants which they deſired him to obey. But now he is of another mind, for the Law hath ſhut him up under ſin and guilt, Gal. 3.22. The Law hath pent him in, and ſhut him up that he cannot poſſibly get out: As Lions, Bears and wilde beaſts are tamed by being ſhut up, and kept in, ſo the Law cauſeth wrath, Rom. 4.15. ſhuts the ſinner up under it, and keeps him in, that his former ſtarting holes cannot help him, and thereby tames him.

While he was unconvinced of his ſins and p. 360miſery, his conſcience was ſeared, not troubled at all the threatnings which were denounced againſt him; but now his conſcience is ſore, touch it which way you will you put him to pain; tell him under this conviction, of his drunkenneſs, or ſwearing, or atheiſm, or eagerneſs after this world, & heartleſneſs about the things of the other world, his neglecting God in ſecret, of not inſtructing and praying with his family, tell him how cold and cuſtomary he was in his devotion, ſaying to others that they took more pains for heaven then they needed to do, of his juſtifying himſelf in his tranſgreſſions, and taking part with Satan againſt his own ſoul; he crieth Guilty, Guilty, when ſuch Bills of indictment are read againſt him; but every word in them is a deep wound to him; the wolf in the breſt, and worms in the belly do not cauſe half that pain which his wickedneſs doth by gnawing in his conſcience. Tell him of the Goſpel, how infinitely merciful God is, and how inconceivably meritorious Chriſt is, and how freely the glad tidings of the Goſpel are offered to all; O this toucheth him to the quick, the ſword of the Goſpel cuts him more to the heart then the ſword of the Law. O, ſaith he, This, this is my death, were it not for this I ſhould have ſome hopes of life; but alas, I have abuſed mercy, which is the only friend I have left; I have deſpiſed Chriſt, and neglected the great ſalvation which was tendred to p. 361me in the Goſpel; Vile creature that I am, Mercy, Love and Grace came many a time woing me! how did Jeſus Chriſt himſelf with pardon and life come beſeeching me, begging of me to open my heart and let him in, and yet curſed wretch that I was, I denied him! when the world could lie warm in my boſom all night, and ſin get a good room in my ſoul, yet my Saviour muſt ſtand without, and not be thought worthy to be let in! I have moſt unworthily ſpurned againſt his bowels of compaſſion, ſcorned his ſweeteſt and moſt affectionate perſwaſions, moſt deſperately refuſed the only means of my recovery; and therefore I, what ſhall I do? whether ſhall I go? If one man ſin againſt another, the judge ſhall judge him; 1 Sam. 2.25.1 Sam 2:25but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall entreat for him? If I had ſinned only againſt my Creator, my Redeemer might have ſatisfied for me, but I, wretched I, have ſinned againſt my Redeemer, and therefore who ſhall intreat for me? O the frights and fears, the horrors and terrors which this poor creature ſuffereth under the ſight and ſence of his ſins and guilt; but the fore-thoughts of an everlaſting miſcarriage in the other world ſinks him quite down, that he is able to hold up no longer. Thus the Spirit firſt plougheth up the fallow-ground of the heart, before he caſteth into it the ſeed of grace; he firſt captivates the ſinner, and brings him into a ſpiritual dungeon, under chains of guilt and horror, that the very irons enter into his ſoul before p. 362he proclaimeth liberty to the captive, Iſa. 61.1, 2.Isa 61:1Isa 61:2and the opening of the priſon to them that are bound: Some indeed are brought lower then others with legal terror; but ſurely, not a few have ſailed to Heaven by the very gates of Hell. God is reſolved that men ſhall feel ſin either here or hereafter.

Thirdly, The Spirit convinceth him of the impotency and weakneſs of all the things in the world to help him; that in the whole garden of Nature there is never an herb which can make a ſalve to heal his wounded conſcience. Now the ſinner is ſcorched with the heat of Gods wrath, he is like a man in a burning feaver, full of pain, and he tumbleth and toſſeth from one ſide of the bed to the other, trying and hoping for eaſe; he goeth to this carnal comfort, or that humane help to have his pain abated, and his ſores cured, but none of them will do; as faſt as he claps on thoſe carnal plaiſters, the Spirit cauſeth his conſcience to rub them off.

It may be firſt the man uſeth forreign drugs; he being troubled in conſcience, goeth with Cain to the building of Cities, to earthly imployments, that the noiſe of the hammers might drown the voice of conſcience; that his minde and body being occupied about other things, conſcience might have no time nor leaſure to proceed in preaching its cutting Lectures; or elſe like Saul, he runneth to his muſick, to carnal contentments, p. 363to merry meetings, jovial companions, his preferment or pleaſures in the world, or ſome carnal diverſion, if it be poſſible to turn the water of his thoughts into another channel, and ſo to keep that mill from going which makes ſuch a clacking dreadful noiſe in his ears, and threatneth to grind him to powder. Thus ſinfully fooliſh is man; as ſoon as ever a fire is kindled in his ſoul, which would aſpire to heaven, he runneth with his buckets to earthly ſprings, and fetcheth water thence to quench it; the throws of the new birth do no ſooner come upon him, but he, like ſome ſimple women, takes cooling things, which cauſe his labour to go back again. But the Holy Ghoſt (for I am now ſpeaking of one in whom the Spirit goeth through with the work) makes all theſe things empty to him; the vertue of thoſe poor cordials is ſoon ſpent, and now the man is as ſick as before. Conſcience for all theſe interruptions, ſtill followeth him with its Hue and Cry by a warrant from Heaven, for the breach of Gods Statutes, that the ſinner can houſe nowhere in any of theſe worldly comforts, but conſcience is at his heels, raiſing the Town upon him, and giveth him no reſt; the man finds this phyſick but like hot water to one in a cold fit of an ague, which warms a little at preſent, but makes his hot fit the more violent.

When the ſinner findes that his exotical p. 364drugs will not cure him, he will try in the next place Kitchin phyſick, he will be his own both Doctor and Apothecary; he hopeth that his praying and grieving, and trouble of minde, and reſolution to be better, will ſatisfie Gods juſtice, and pacifie his own conſcience, and heal it throughly. O how the man endeavors to lick himſelf whole! man is a proud creature, unwilling to beg or borrow of his neighbors, very ſolicitous rather to make a poor ſhift with what he hath of his own. The Mariners will row hard in a ſtorm to get to ſhore by their own power, before they will awake Jeſus with Save us Maſter, or we periſh.

But the Spirit convinceth him of the inſufficiency of all his prayers, and tears, and duties to appeaſe God, or ſatisfie his Law; the Spirit ſheweth him the narrowneſs and ſhortneſs of all his rags, how they cannot poſſibly cover his nakedneſs; conſcience telleth him that by his very duties, he is ſo far from paying his old ſcore, that he runneth further in debt: Alas, ſaith Conſcience, thy very duties may damn thee; He who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity, ſeeth a thouſand holes in thy beſt coat; the holy God ſeeth ſins enough in them to ſend thee into Hell for them. Canſt thou, poor begger, with thy counterfeit farthings think to pay an infinite ſum? Can thy poor finite performances ſatisfie infinite Juſtice for the violation of his righteous precepts? And for thy reſolutions of better p. 365obedience, canſt thou think that future obedience can ſatisfie for former diſobedience? No, though thou couldſt offer thouſands of rams, and ten thouſands of rivers of oil; nay, though the firſt-born of thy body; all theſe could no: be a propitiation for one of the leaſt ſins of thy ſoul; no, no, the redemption of a ſoul is more precious; for all theſe it muſt ceaſe for ever.

Thus God ferrits the ſinner out of all his Borows, and cauſeth the poor Prodigal, while he is wandring from his Father, to finde a famine in all the creatures. As a General that beſiegeth a City, doth not onelyonly play in upon it with his Cannons and Granadoes, but alſo ſecure the ſeveral paſſages, ſtop all proviſion that no relief can come to it, then they will yeild upon his terms: So when the Spirit beſiegeth the ſoul, it often plyeth it hard with the batteries of the Law, and alwayes ſtoppeth relief from coming in, either from the world, or a mans own righteouſneſs, and then, and not till then will the creature yeild upon the terms of the Goſpel.

Fourthly, The Spirit convinceth him of the willingneſs, ſutableneſs, and al-ſufficiency of Jeſus Chriſt to help and heal him.

The ſinner now in his burning fit is very thirſty; like Hagar, he ſits weeping, for his bottels are empty, and his creature comforts are found by experience to be broken p. 366ciſterns which can hold no water, he knoweth not what to do; how can I ſee the death of my ſoul? thinks he. When the ſinner is brought to this ſtrait, the ſpirit of God openeth his eyes, to ſee a well of ſalvation, even Jeſus who delivereth from the wrath to come.

The ſpirit diſcovereth to the ſinner that though his wound be dangerous, becauſe the God whom he hath provoked, is reſolved, either to have his law ſatiſfied, or his eternal wrath endured; yet that it is not deſperate; for there is Balm in Gilead, and a Phyſitian in Iſrael that can heal his ſoul.

It convinceth him, that Chriſt is a ſutable help, bread to the hungry, water to the thirſty, reſt to the weary and heavy-laden; that he hath a precious ſalve made of his own blood, which is a proper and pecular remedy for his ſores.

It convinceth him that Chriſt is an alſufficient help, that he can ſupply all the ſouls wants, be they never ſo many, and bear all the ſouls iniquities be they never ſo weighty, that he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt thoſe that come unto God by him. Heb. 7.25.Heb 7:25It preſenteth to the ſoul his fitneſs and fulneſs in regard of his natures, and offices, and the impoſſibility of his being unfaithful to this great work of ſaving poor ſinners, for which he came into the world. It ſheweth the ſinner p. 367the infiniteneſs of Chriſts merits, and his omnipotency to help becauſe he is God: the examples of other wounded diſeaſed perſons, who ſurrendred themſelves, to the care of this Phyſitian and were cured; He ſhall convince the world of righteouſneſs becauſe I go to the father, and ye ſee me no more. John 16.9, 10. That is, the world ſhall be convinced that there is righteouſneſs enough in me to ſatisfy both the law and law-giver, in that I ſhall appeare in my fathers preſence, and that with acceptance: he would not ſend an Angel as his officer, to roll away the ſtone, and releaſe the ſurety out of priſon, the grave, and bring him before the Judge with ſo much credit and countenance, if the law were not ſatisfied, and the debt fully diſcharged. Heaven could never have held me; ye would have ſeen me upon earth again, if I had not done that work perfectly, which the Father gave me to do. He ſhall convince the world of righteouſneſs, becauſe I go to the father.

It convinceth him that Jeſus Chriſt is exceeding willing to ſave poor ſinners; that he is joyful that any will accept him for their Saviour; that he came from heaven to earth, was born meanly, lived miſerably and died ſhamefully, meerly upon this errand, that he might ſeek and ſave them that are loſt, that he inviteth him; to come to him and promiſeth that he ſhall be welcom; that he calleth them that go from p. 368him, but caſteth away none that come to him.

Thus when the prodigal is in a far country, and cannot fill his belly ſo much as with husks, that he is ready to periſh for hunger, he is ſhewd and convinced that there is bread enough in his Fathers houſe. When the ſinner is like the Iſraelite in the wilderneſs, beholding the curſe of the law like the Egyptian behind him, and purſuing him hard, the red ſea of divine wrath before him, into which he is haſtening, his crimſon and bloody ſins like mountains on each ſide of him, incompaſſing him round, that he knoweth not what to do, then the ſpirit biddeth him look up to Jeſus, and he ſhall ſee the ſalvation of God.

The third ſtep which the ſpirit takes, is anhelation, to cauſe the ſoul of the convinced ſinner, to breath and pant after Jeſus Chriſt; breath is the firſt effect of life. Conviction hath emptied his ſtomach of creature confidence and ſelf righteouſneſs, made him poor in ſpirit, and O how hungry he is after the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, the bread which came down from heaven! As the thirſty ground cleaves and opens for drops, as the heart panteth after the water brooks, ſo panteth his ſoul after Jeſus Chriſt, God bleſſed for ever, (thinks he) O when ſhall I come and appear before him! His voice is (like Rachel) Give me p. 369children or I die; Give me the holy child Jeſus or I die; or like Abraham, Lord, what wilt thou give me if I go childleſs? Ioh. 12.21John 12:21O what wilt thou give me if I go Chriſtieſs! or like the Jews to Philip, Sir, we would fain ſee Jeſus. Mat. 28.5.Matt 28:5If the Angel ſhould meet him, he might beſpeake the ſoul as he did the woman, I know what thou ſeekeſt, thou ſeekeſt Jeſus which was crucified. O the ardent deſires, the vehement longings, the unutterable groans, which this poor creature hath after his Saviour! as David, he cryeth out, Who will give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem! Where is that bleſſed guide, that can leade me, and help me to drink of the water of life!

Methinks I ſee how Jeſus Chriſt preſents himſelf to the eye of the dejected ſouls underſtanding, in all his glory and gallantry, in his ſutableneſs unto the ſinners indigencies, and ſufficiency for all his neceſſities, with the freeneſs of his mercy, the fullneſs of his merits, and the ſweetneſs of his love; how he appeares before the ſoul with all his retinue and train of graces, comforts, his blood, his ſpirit, the favour of God, freedom from ſin, wrath, hell; on the one hand of him there ſtand his gracious promiſes of pardon, peace, adoption, ſanctification, heart-chearing love, and everlaſting life; On the other hand of him, there ſtands his precious precepts of ſelf denyal, crucifying the fleſh, p. 370walking after the Spirit, deſpiſing the ſenſual pleaſures, honours, and profits of this world, and delighting in God, walking with him, having the converſation in heaven, and rejoycing in hope of glory. In the middle, there ſtands the faireſt of ten thouſands, adorned as a bridegroom with his richeſt attire, gliſtering with the jewels of thoſe graces, with which his humanity is adorned, in a greater degree then the heavens could, though every ſtar in it were a glorious ſun; but O how the diamond of his deity ſparkleth in the ſouls account, that millions of worlds would be but a muck-heap to it. Ah how lovely is he in the ſinners eye! How infinitely raviſhing to his heart! How bleſſed are thoſe ſouls (thinks this ſinner) that are intereſted in ſuch a Saviour! Ʋnc…nceiveably, happy is that ſpouſe which hath ſo beautiful, ſo accompliſh'd, ſo lovely, ſo loving an husband; God is hers, earth is hers, heaven is hers, all is hers; holineſs is her nature, and happineſs is her joynture. O that I, O that I might be ſo bleſſed as to be called to the marriage ſupper of the Lamb! Who can expreſſe the vehement, violent longings of this man after Chriſt, as the loadſtone of his affections, as the onelyonly center of his ſoul, the proper remedy for all his maladies; had he the beauty of Abſolom, the renown of Solomon, the wealth, the worth of the whole world, like the wiſe Merchant, he would ſell all p. 371to buy this pearle of price, and think it the beſt bargain that ever he made; nothing is ſo dear to him but he will give it; nothing is ſo difficult but he will do or ſuffer for Chriſt; he is of the ſame mind with the Martyr, None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt. It is reported of a woman that was in theſe throws, that ſhe ſhould ſay, I have brought nine children into the world with as much pain as moſt women, yet I would bear them all over again, and bear them all my days for Chriſt.

There is mention made of a bird in Egypt, near Nilus, called the bird of Paradiſe, which they ſay, if it be once enſnared is unquiet, and mournful till ſhe be delivered: ſo is this convinced ſinner, now he feels himſelf entangled in the bonds of iniquity and ſnares of the Devil, he is unquiet till he be delivered. Talk to this man of his reſpect and friends, and riches in the world, they are as the white of an egg, or a dry chip without any ſavour, reliſh, or nouriſhment to him; but tell him of Jeſus Chriſt, an able Surety to diſcharge all his debts, O that is the ſavory meat which his ſoul loveth; As a man that is ſick and extreamly pained, when you talk to him of his calling or eſtate, he heareth not, he regardeth not; but tell him of one that can cure him of his diſeaſe, and eaſe him of his paine, then he will hearken to you; thus tis with this ſinner; all his delight is in hearing of p. 372Chriſt, all his longing is to hear from Chriſt. The poor priſoner that is condemned to be hanged, and hath ſent a meſſenger to ſue for a pardon, never longed ſo much for his return with joyful news, as this poor creature for an intereſt in the Mediatour.

Thus the Spirit having convinced the ſoul of its beggery and nakedneſs, bondage and miſery, cauſeth it to breathe and long after the riches, liberty and righteouſneſs which is in Chriſt.

The fourth ſtep is lamentation; the ſoul that breatheth after a Saviour, is truly broken for his ſins; his groans after liberty are accompanied with grief for his ſlavery: Now the clouds gather and thicken over the ſoul, and fall down in tears; his ſorrow under the conviction of his miſery was legal, but now tis for his abuſe of mercy, and ſo Evangelical. His heart before was as a cloud broken by a thunderbolt, being torn in pieces violently, and making a mighty noiſe; but now like the cloud melted by the ſhining of the Sun upon it, it diſſolves down ſweetly into a fruitful ſhowre. Vemo poſſit poenitenti…m ager…, niſi qui ſperaver…t indu ge…tiam. AmbHe looked on ſin before as twas damning, as that which would caſt his ſoul and body into hell, but now he looks on ſin as tis defiling, as that which makes him unlike to God, and as that by which he hath abuſed love and mercy; and the conſideration of this warmeth his heart, and kindly thaweth it. The man hath p. 373now ſome ſmall hope of mercy, and that, like the nearer approach of the Sun, ſoftneth that earth which was hardned under the froſt of legal terrors.

The pump of the ſinners heart was dry, till the water of goſpel grace, apprehended and hoped for, was poured in, and then it ſendeth forth abundantly. He returneth now to God with ſupplication, weeping, and mourning; As Joſeph, ſo this ſinner ſeeketh for a place to weep in; He goeth into his chamber, falleth down before God, and poureth out his heart at his eyes and tongue; He accuſeth, ſhameth, condemneth, abhorreth himſelf becauſe of his ſins: He doth not diſſemble his birth, but acknowledgeth the pollution of his conception. Behold I was ſhapen in iniquity, Pſal. 51.5.Ps 51:5and in ſin did my mother conceive me; He confeſſeth the tranſgreſſions of his life, Pſa. 58.3Ps 58:3that he hath gone aſtray from the womb, that ever ſince he was able to go, he went aſtray: He acknowledgeth his tranſgreſſions, and is ſorry for his ſins; with Ephraim, he ſmites upon his thigh, ſaying, What have I done? with the Publican, he beats on his breaſt, crying out, God be merciful to me a ſinner; With the Prodigal he is aſhamed to look up to God, yet ſighs out, Father, I have ſinned againſt heaven, and before thee, and am unworthy to be called thy child. He throweth himſelf down at Gods feet, bemoaning himſelf thus, Lord, I am the greateſt of ſinners, p. 374leſs then the leaſt of all thy mercies; I have defaced thine image, broken thy Laws, ſinned againſt thy majeſty; againſt thee, thee, I have ſinned and done evil in thy ſight; I have done the work of Satan thine enemy, and my wages is nothing but death; how thou pleaſeſt to deal with thy worthleſs creature I know not, but however thou deal with me, thou art righteous, and I will lay my hand on my mouth; If thou ſay that thou haſt no pleaſure in me, …o here I am, do with me what ſeemeth good in thy ſight; yet, O ſave my ſoul; ten thouſand Hells are my portion; but if out of thy bottomleſs mercy thou ſhalt pluck my feet out of this bottomleſs miſery, my ſoul ſhall admire thy free Grace, my tongue ſhall ſing aloud of thy rich mercy; and O the obligations which this vile wretch ſhall have to be faithfully and uprightly ſerviceable to thy majeſty!

His contrition runneth all along parallel with his confeſſion; his heart worketh more then his lips and hands; his affections are much more ſelf-abaſing and humbling then his expreſſions; he ſeeth him whom he hath pierced, and mourneth; Calvary is a Bochim, a place of weeping to him; his eyes are ſo full, that though Chriſt be nigh him, yet like Mary, he cannot ſee him for tears; never fountain ſent forth water more freely then this ſinner doth godly ſorrow; when he conſidereth what he hath done, how he hath ſinned, what a God he hath greived, ſorrow and grief overwhelm his ſpirit.

p. 375The fifth ſtep is implantation into Chriſt; the Spirit now leadeth the childe by the band unto Chriſt, nay, grafteth him into Chriſt. The ſoul being convinced of the neceſſity it ſtands in of Chriſt, of the endleſs miſery which it muſt undergo without Chriſt, of the al-ſufficiency that is in Chriſt, how willing, how able he is to binde up the broken heart, and to ſave the ſinful ſoul, doth by the help of the Holy Ghoſt venture its ſelf, and its everlaſting eſtate up-Jeſus Chriſt, reſolving to ſtand or fall, live or die at his feet.

The ſinner is now between hope and fear, not knowing how he ſhall fare. As the four Lepers that were ſhut out of the City in the famine of Samaria, conſidered with themſelves, If we enter into the City, the famine is in the City, and we die there; Kings 7.3.and if we ſit ſtill here, we die alſo: Now therefore, come and let us fall into the Hoſt of the Syrians, if they ſave us alive, we ſhall live; and if they kill us, we ſhall but die; and accordingly they went to the Syrians camp, found food there, and lived. So the ſinner pondereth in his heart, If I go to the world, and the lying vanities thereof, I periſh, vanity of vanities is written upon all its enjoyments, the famine is there, there is nothing that is bread, its whole ſhop cannot afford a plaiſter which can heal my wounded conſcience; if I ſit ſtill in this condition under the weight of mine iniquities, I periſh; they p. 376will unqueſtionable ſink me into Hell; now therefore I will fall into the hands of the Lord Jeſus; If he ſave my ſoul, I ſhall live; if he deny to receive ſuch an unworthy wretch as I am, I ſhall but die, I can but periſh, I will therefore venture; and accordingly the ſoul goeth to him, and findeth life in him; I have ſometime thought, that when the ſinner is come thus far, he carrieth himſelf much like Eſther: When the King had made an irrevocable decree for the deſtruction of her ſelf and people, what doth ſhe do? ſhe faſteth, and prayeth, and ſendeth word to Mordecai, I will go in unto the King, which is not according to the Law, and if I periſh, I periſh, Eſth. 4. ult. Thus the poor broken-hearted ſinner, perceiving that the King of Kings hath made a Decree, That the ſoul that ſinneth ſhall die eternally, and he is a grievous ſinner, he faſteth, he mourneth, he prayeth, and at laſt reſolveth; Well, I will go in unto the King, though it be not according to the Law (which ſhutteth me up under guilt and wrath) If I periſh, I periſh; poſſibly he may hold out the golden Scepter of Grace, and I may live in his ſight; thus the poor creature goeth, maketh ſupplication believingly, and prevaileth.

The Devil now layeth all the blocks he can poſſibly in the ſouls way, to hinder its journey to Chriſt. As when the woman talked to her husband of going to the Prophet p. 377for the enlivening of her dead childe, he preſently endeavoureth to diſſwade her, that 'twould be to no purpoſe: Why wilt thou go, 'tis neither new moon nor Sabbath? but yet ſhe went, and had her childe reſtored to life. Thus, To what purpoſe ſhouldſt thou go to Chriſt? (ſaith the Devil to the penitent ſinner) Canſt thou think that ſo holy and righteous a God will have the leaſt reſpect for ſuch a wicked notorious hell-hound as thou art? I tell thee, he hath ſent thouſands, that never ſinned as thou haſt done, into Hell, and canſt thou have any thoughts of Heaven? Thou haſt done my work all thy dayes, and now lookeſt for a reward from God; No, no, Ile pay thee thy wages in blackneſs of darkneſs for ever; if thou hadſt intended for life, thou ſhouldſt have minded it ſooner; thou haſt dayes without number broken the Law, and many a time rejected the Goſpel, and now 'tis too late; God called, and thou wouldſt not hear; now thou mayſt call long enough, for he will not hear thee; he tells thee as much with his own mouth, Prov. 1.25, to 32. Therefore thou mayſt ſpare thy pains, and prayers, for all will be to no purpoſe; Surely, thou haſt a impudent face, and a brazen forehead, to expect ſuch choice bleſſings as pardon and life from that Chriſt whom thou haſt perſecuted in his people, rejected in his Laws, preferring the world and thy fleſh before him, and daring him to his very face. Thus he that was the ſinners tempter to thoſe ſins, turns his tormentor for them, p. 378and he that when the ſoul was poſting to Hell, bid it not doubt of Heaven, doth, now the creature is creeping towards eternal life, perſwade him, that 'tis impoſſible to eſcape eternal death: But notwithſtanding theſe diſcouragements, the ſinner will go to the great Prophet of the Church for the life of his dead ſoul; He thinks 'Tis true, I am a grievous ſinner, but I know that he is a gracious Saviour; I ſee nothing but miſery and hell in me, but I ſee mercy and heaven in him; for my warrant, Mat. 11.28.Matt 11:28I have …his precept, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden; for my encouragement, I have his promiſe, I will give you reſt; Ioh 6.33.John 6:33him that cometh unto me I will in no wiſe caſt out. I will therefore go what ever come of it, and lay my ſelf at his feet; if he condemn me, and ſpurn me into Hell, Ile juſtifie him; peradventure he may lend me his hand, and raiſe me up with hope of Heaven; others have gone to him, and he hath bid them welcom. O the rings and robes, the kiſſes and embraces, which many returning Prodigals have had of him! who knoweth but he may be gracious to me! if he had not been willing that poor ſinners ſhould live, he would not have dyed; if he had been unwilling that I ſhould come why doth he call me? Well, what ever come of it, I will go; it may be I may be hid in the day of the Lords wrath. Thus Faith at firſt ſtandeth but on one weak foot.

I ſuppoſe, that when the ſinner is in this condition, the very command of God p. 379(enjoyning him to believe in the name of his Son) is a ſpecial inſtrument in the hand of the Spirit to draw him unto Chriſt; like Abraham, he being called of God, obeyed, not knowing whither he went; he being called of God to caſt himſelf on Jeſus Chriſt, obeyeth, not knowing how he ſhall ſpeed.

The Diſciples, when they hear Chriſt ſpeaking to them in the morning, Caſt on the other ſide of the ſhip, and ye ſhall finde, anſwer him, We have fiſhed all night and caught nothing, nevertheleſs at thy command we will let down the net. So the penitent man having tried this and that means, and found no water, no meat, no ſolid food for his hungry and thirſty ſoul, heareth at laſt Chriſt calling to him, Ho every one that thirſteth, come to the waters, buy wine and milk without money, and without price; caſt thy ſins, thy ſoul on me, and thou ſhalt finde reſt; Lord, thinks he, I have tried creatures, and they cannot help me; I have tried duties, and they cannot eaſe me; I have taken much pains and caught nothing; and ſhould I come to thee, wouldſt thou open thine eye upon ſuch a wretch! my unworthineſs makes me miſtruſt the ſucceſs, nevertheleſs at thy command I will do it, and now he cometh in his ſinking eſtate to take hold on the arm of the Lord which the Goſpel ſtretcheth out to him, and thereby he is ſaved.

p. 380The laſt ſtep is a reſolution of the ſinner to give up himſelf to all the Laws of Chriſt, or an hearty acceptation of the Redeemer as Saviour and Soveraign. The heart of the man is ſo melted by Evangelical ſorrow for ſin, and the heat of Gods love to his ſoul, that he is like ſoft wax for any impreſſion; God may command him what he pleaſeth, he cleaveth to the Lord with full purpoſe of heart: Before, he was like the Prodigal, he muſt go as far as he could from his Fathers houſe; the orders there were too pure, the Laws there too ſtrict, the diſcipline there too ſevere; he travelleth therefore into a far Country, but now the man is hungry, he will ſubmit to do the duty of a Son, ſo he may but have the childrens bread and diet; nay, now he is come to himſelf, it is his meat and drink to do the will of God: he ſeeth ſuch equity in Gods will, ſuch beauty in his worſhip, ſuch excellency and comfort in his wayes, that he would not part Jeſus Chriſt and his holy precepts (which he now ſavoureth) for all earthly pleaſures; he is tied ſo firmly to his Maſter with the bond of unfeigned love, that Satan himſelf will but work at the labour in vain, when he goeth about to ſeparate him and his ſervice.

He writes Holineſs to the Lord upon his body, ſoul, eſtate, family, relations, and all that he hath, thankfully acknowledgeing Gods propriety in all, and his own felicity p. 381to conſiſt in improving all for God. He conſidereth how infinite his obligations to God are, what an hell of endleſs horror he is redeemed from, what an heaven of love and happineſs he is called to, and wiſheth that he had or could do ſomething worthy of ſuch a God. And becauſe he hath nothing more or better, he gives himſelf to God: as Aeſchines when he ſaw his fellow-ſchollers give their Maſter Socrates large preſents, being poor, and having nothing to give, went and gave himſelf to his Maſter, acknowledging that he was his devoted ſervant.

The ſinner before was unbroken, and ſo as unfit for ſubjection, as the unbroken colt for the ſaddle, but now the heart being humbled, the eare is heedy to whatever God ſpeaketh; Lord what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9.6.

It is with an humbled, M. Fenner of the kiling power of the Law.and with an unhumbled ſinner, as with two men that are going to market, whereof the one hath need, he and his family are in extreme want, ready to periſh for bread; now this man will go, what ever weather come; if it raine never ſo faſt he will go; when he comes there, whatever the price be, he will buy; though he pawn his cloaths, he will have bread; why? he is like to famiſh for want of it, bread he comes for, and bread he muſt have. The other hath no great need, therefore if he like the weather he will p. 382go; if not, he will ſtay at home; if he goeth, when he comes to the Market, he will buy, or forbear, as the price of things pleaſeth him; he is indifferent, whether he lay out his money or no; if commodities are held at an high rate, he will go as he came, and buy nothing, and all becauſe he hath no need; he can do well enough without them; thus an humbled ſinner ſeeth, nay feeleth his extreme need of Chriſt, that he muſt periſh everlaſtingly, without an intereſt in him, and therefore what ever it coſt him, he will have Chriſt; he is reſolved to deny himſelf, to crucifie the fleſh, to hate father, mother, houſe, name, land, all for Chriſt, let God hold the price of his Son never ſo dear, he will ſell all but he will buy this pearl; and what is the reaſon? truly becauſe this man hath need; he knoweth the abſolute neceſſity which he ſtandeth in of Chriſt, that none but Chriſt can deliver him from the weight of his ſins, the Almighty Gods fury, and the vengeance of eternal fire, therefore a Saviour he comes for, and a Saviour he will have, what ever commands or prohibitions are joyned with him; but an unhumbled finner feeth not his extream need of Chriſt, and therefore though when he heareth of the infinite perfections in Chriſt, and the unſpeakable pri…iledges which the regenerate have by Chriſt, he will acknowledg that the wares are good, he hath nothing to ſay againſt them, but p. 383the price is too dear, he will not come up to it, and why? truly becauſe he ſeeth not his need of Chriſt; he thinks he can do well enough without Chriſt. If God would let him ſerve Chriſt, and the world, and fleſh with him, he would not care much, if he did buy; but if he cannot have Chriſt at his own price, farwel Chriſt, and pardon, and mercy, and God, and eternall life, Mat 9.12.Matt 9:12farwel for ever for him, and all becauſe the man is an whole man, unbroken, unhumbled. But you have read in the former ſteps, that the ſinner before he comes thus far, is throughly melted, and therefore he is for any mould which God thinks good.

Yet I believe that a man or woman, whom the Spirit of God hath brought over to Jeſus Chriſt, doth by the new nature beſtowed on them, or the law of God written within them, reſolve upon all known duties, and againſt all known iniquities, more out of love to God and holineſs, then out of any ſlaviſh fear of wrath and hell. The man ſeeth by the law the contrariety of ſin to the image of God, and conſequently to his own real and ſpiritual good, whereby there ariſeth within him not onelyonly an eſtrangedneſs from, but an emnity againſt ſin; though it were the object of his affections before, yet tis the object of his paſſions now. So for duties, the ſoul is brought through working of the Spirit, to approve and delight in the good and perfect, and acceptable will of p. 384God, Communion with God, and conformity to God, are the utmoſt of his deſires, and indeavours. O how willingly doth this Chriſtian take upon him the yoak of Chriſt, not complaining of its uneaſineſs, but of his own unholineſs.

The man formerly was as a Virgin; before marriage ſhe ſtandeth upon her terms, ſhe will indent with her Sweet heart, what ſhall be ſetled upon her, and how he ſhall deal with her, or elſe ſhe will not have him; but now Chriſt by his ſpirit hath prevailed with the ſoul, and 'tis heartily willing to take him for better for worſe, to reſign up all to Chriſt, to part with all for Chriſt, to take all from Chriſt, to be diſpoſed in all by Chriſt, in a word it promiſeth with the whole heart, to be a loving, faithful and obedient wife, and now the match is made, nay the Saviour and the ſoul are actually married together. And O what an happy joyful day is this? If Aaron when he met Moſes, was glad at his heart, how glad is this poor ſoul, now he meets with the Meſſias! The Father accepts him for his child, the Son accepts him for his ſpouſe, the Spirit hath given earneſt already to have the Chriſtians heart for his everlaſting habitation; the Devils in hell are vexing, the Angels in heaven are ſinging, the Saints on earth are ſhouting, for it is meet that they ſhould be merry; for this ſon was dead and is alive, was loſt and is found, p. 385was a curſed ſinner, and is become a bleſſed Saint.

So I have diſpatched the firſt branch of this ſecond help to regeneration; namely, an obſervation of thoſe ſeveral ſteps whereby the wandring ſheep is brought home. I come now to the ſecond branch of this help, which is a pliable ſubmiſſion to the workings and motions of the Spirit, when the Spirit at any time maketh his addreſſes to thy ſoul.

Reader, I muſt earneſtly beſeech thee, if thou haſt the leaſt ſpark of love to thy ſoul and endleſs good in the other world, that thou be more tender of the motions of the Spirit, then of the apple of thine eye. When the Holy Ghoſt cometh to thy ſoul by its motions to good, thy kinde entertainment of it, may (be as much as thine eternal happineſs is worth and) probably invite the Spirit to ſtay with thee, perfect the work, and abide in thee for ever; whereas if thou ſhouldſt grieve or quench the Spirit, and affront this Ambaſſador which is ſent to treat with thee about terms of peace between God and thy ſoul, he may be called home, and thou never hear of him more.

We read in Geneſis 2.2. Incubabat aquis. Iun. Gen.That the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Several read the words, The Spirit of God was ſitting, or hatching upon the waters: It is a Metaphor taken from birds or hens, p. 386they ſit and move upon their eggs to hatch them, and bring them forth, and when they are hatched, they ſtill ſit and move upon them, to cheriſh and bring them to perfection. So the Spirit of God ſat, or moved upon that face of the deep, that by his motion or incubation, he might hatch and bring forth out of that vaſt Chaos the ſeveral kindes of creatures. Thus the Spirit moveth upon thy heart, he ſitteth upon, he broodeth on thee, that he may hatch and bring thee forth a new creature: Therefore conſider what thou doſt, and how thou carrieſt thy ſelf towards him; fowls when they have been much diſturbed, have left their eggs and never hatched them, they have come to nothing; ſhouldſt thou reſiſt the Spirit in his operations, or quench him in his motions when he is brooding on thy ſoul, he may take its eternal flight from thee.

When the Spirit cometh to thy ſoul by its motions, diſſwading thee from ſin, or ſtirring thee up to holineſs, Jeſus Chriſt then knocks at the door of thy heart; every motion is a knock from the hand of Chriſt; if thou hearkeneſt and openeſt, he will come in and ſup with thee; but if notwithſtanding his knocking, thou wilt not hear, though he cometh upon an errand ſo infinitely for thine advantage, he will depart away in a diſtaſt, (as neighbors when they are ſo uncivilly uſed) and thou mayſt never hear of him more.

p. 387Thou art apt to complain that thou wanteſt help to turn from ſin, and to turn unto God: I tell thee when the Spirit moveth and worketh within thee to minde thy ſoul, and thine eternal eſtate, he offereth thee his help and aſſiſtance; and if thou hearkeneſt to, and obeyeſt his motions, thou ſhalt have his help. As he was teaching, the power of God was preſent to heal them, Luke 5.17. Whilſt the Son of man was teaching, at that ni…k of time the power of God was preſent to heal mens bodies; ſo when the Spirit is moving, at that very time, the power of God is preſent to help thy ſoul; now if thou takeſt that time, thou mayſt be an happy man for ever; If when the windes blow fairly for mens voyage, they then hoiſe up their ſails, and be going, they may through the help of the winde, be at their Haven in convenient time; but if they neglect the opportunity, and will not lanch out whilſt the winde offereth its help, they may be dead before they have another winde, and ſo never go that voyage: Thus if when the gales of the Spirit blow, and offer thee their aſſiſtance for Regeneration and Salvation, thou then preſently lancheſt out, and complieſt with its motions, through its help thou ſhouldſt be ſeaſonably and ſafely landed in Chriſt, and at the Haven of Heaven; but if thou then lieſt ſtill, and neglecteſt this oportunity, God knoweth but thou mayſt be p. 388dead before the Spirit blow ſo favorably for thee again.

Solomon telleth us, that there is a time for every purpoſe under Heaven, and a time to be born, Eccleſ. 3.1, 2. There is time for every purpoſe, that is, an opportunity when the work may be done beſt, and with moſt advantage, yea, when it muſt be done, or ſhall not be done at all; now ſuch a time, ſuch an opportunity there is for the new birth; there is an accepted time, 2 Co…. 6… Pſal. 3.6 and 55.6.Ps 3:6Ps 55:6a time when God may be found, when he is near, a day of Salvation; this is when the Spirit moveth and ſtirreth, and offereth thee his help; if thou paſſeſt by that time, and doſt not then ſtrike in, thou mayſt come as Eſau too late for the bleſſing; thou mayſt, as ſome idle perſons that are tippling and drinking in an Alehouſe when they ſhould be in the market, let ſlip thy opportunity, and finde it too late to buy the wine and milk in the Goſpel.

It is one great miſery of men and women, that they obſerve not, neither improve their opportunities; The turtle, and the ſtork, Ier. 8.7.Jer 8:7and the crane and the ſwallow, they all know their opportunity, and their time; but the generation of mankinde neglect theirs; O that thou hadſt known in this thy day the things which concern thy peace! Opportunity is a tranſient thing, it is quickly gone, but it bringeth a laſting treaſure along with it, which if neglected, can never p. 389be recovered; time is all the while a man liveth on earth; but opportunity is onelyonly when the Spirit moveth, Me ye have not alwayes, ſaith Chriſt.

Friend, thou wilt make hay while the Sun ſhineth, I mean improve opportunities for the good of thine outward eſtate; when the heavens offer thee their help, then thou wilt cut thy corn or hay, and make it, and carry it in: For thy ſoul ſake, do not neglect the Spirit when he offereth thee his help for a ſpiritual harveſt: when the Holy Ghoſt moveth, like the Angel, upon the waters, then, at that nick of time, if thou ſteppeſt down, art pliable to its motions, thou mayſt be healed.

The Spirit of God is a tender thing, ſaith one; grieve it once, and you may drive it away for ever; Grieve not the Spirit, Epheſ. 4.30. much leſs quench it, leaſt of all reſiſt it; Maſters of a calling will not be check'd, 1 Theſ. 5.19. Acts 7.51.

The Client by loſing a term, hath loſt his Suit; Saul by loſing his opportunity, loſt a Kingdom, 1 Sam. 10.9, 13. Reader, the way to loſe the Kingdom of Heaven, is to neglect and ſlight the motions of the Spirit, the onelyonly opportunity for thy Salvation.

For thine help herein, I ſhall direct thee how to demean thy ſelf towards the Spirit, when he maketh his addreſſes unto thy ſoul for thy regeneration and quickening; p. 390in which I ſhall take thee (as indeed thou art, in thine unregenerate eſtate) for a patient dangerouſly ſick, yea unto death eternal, though thou thinkeſt thy ſelf whole, and the Spirit of God (as he is) for a skilful, able and compaſſionate Phyſitian.

Firſt, I ſupoſe that this tender Phyſitian, beholding thee very ſick (notwithſtanding thy conceit that thou art well enough) and daily increaſing thy diſtemper, doth come to thee, and acquaint thee that thou art a diſeaſed perſon, and that unleſs thou forbeareſt ſuch and ſuch ſins, ſuch and ſuch things, which feed thy diſeaſe, thou wilt make thy condition which is already dangerous, to be deſperate and incurable; I mean the Holy Ghoſt enlighteneth thy mind to lee, and convinceth thy conſcience of thy ſins and miſery, that whereas before thou thoughtſt that thou waſt rich, and increaſed with goods, and hadſt need of nothing; yet now thou ſeeſt that thou art wretched, Rev. 3.1….Rev 3:1and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and that ſuch and ſuch courſes which thou takeſt will unavoidably tend to thy ruine. Poſſibly thou art one accuſtomed to wicked company, to the Ale-houſe, to deal unrighteouſly in thy particular calling, to lay aſide praying, hearing, reading, and the like duties; now the Spirit of God in thy conſcience, moveth thee to lay down theſe ungodly cuſtoms, which thou haſt taken p. 391up, and to take up theſe duties, and performances, which thou haſt laid down, and convinceth thee by the word, that this is the will of God; O now Friend, look to thy ſelf, that thou doſt not ſin againſt this light, nor play by that candle which the Spirit of God ſets up for thee to work by. If thou hadſt a gueſt of any quality in thine houſe, and ſhouldſt burn things of an ill ſavour in his chamber, which thou kneweſt he hated, or ſhouldſt fill the room wherein he lodgeth with filth, and uncleanneſs, wouldſt thou not provoke him to ſpeed away in a diſtaſt; and to reſolve againſt ever coming at thine houſe again I muſt tell thee, that ſhouldſt thou go on in the commiſſion of thoſe iniquities, and neglect of thoſe duties which the Spirit convinceth thee of, it would be far more diſtaſtful to the Spirit of God, then all the forementioned uncivil uſage could be to an Emperour. The Holy Ghoſt is compared to fire, Act. 2. (as the word quenching implyeth) Now how is fire quenched and put out? both by throwing water on it, and by taking away the wood from it. Shouldſt thou notwithſtanding its checks and convictions, continue in any way of open wickedneſs, thou throweſt water upon it; and ſhouldſt thou omit thoſe holy duties, thou withdraweſt fuel from it; and therefore be confident, the fire will be quencht and go out.

p. 392By ſinning againſt theſe convictions and light, thou art a profeſt defier and darer of him, and maiſt confidently expect that he ſhould give thee up to judiciary inward darkneſs, which is but the forerunner of utter darkneſs, Rom. 1.20, 21, 22. Jam. 3. ult. Pro. 5.11, 12, 13. John 9.41.

If thou improveſt that little ſtock of help (which the Holy Ghoſt affordeth thee) well, thou may hope that thy maſter will truſt thee with more, (every act of obedience fitteth for greater obedience) but if thou ſquandereſt that away prodigally, by ſinning againſt it, thou mayſt look for no more.

Dear friend, be tender of the firſt motions of the Spirit; thou ſitteſt cold and frozen in thy natural eſtate, now as ever thou wouldſt have a good fire to melt thee kindly, to thaw thee throughly, to warm thy heart eternally, make much of thoſe ſparks. As thou deſireſt a ſpiritual flame, which may aſcend to heaven, take heed leſt by preſumptuous ſins thou bloweſt out thoſe ſparks. As the beſt way to quench the fiery darts of the Devil, that evil ſpirit, is to reject them, to diſobey them in the firſt motions, when the Devil firſt kindleth them, then throw water on them, then deteſt them, and that fire of Hell will be quencht. So the readieſt way to quench the fiery darts of the good ſpirit, is to ſlight the firſt motions of it; if thou ſtrive againſt p. 393theſe firſt motions of him, he may never ſtrive with thee more, Gen 6.3.

It may be, thou art a drunken wretch, an unclean perſon, a ſcoffer at godlineſs, a ſwearer, a lyar, a cheater by falſe weights, or meaſures, or the like, and the Spirit of God, whiſpereth thee in the eare, Man, doſt thou know what thou doſt? thou art in a loſt eſtate, in a damnable condition; Turn at my reproof (ſaith God) and I will pour my Spirit upon thee. Pro. 1.23. Forbear ſuch ſins, and I will aſſiſt thee for the recovery of thy ſoul. O now look to thy ſelf, venture by no means upon the forbidden fruit. I have read of one, that being troubled with ſore eyes, asked a Phyſitians advice; The Phyſitian told him, that if he did not forbear his drunken intemperate courſes, he would loſe his ſight; Vale lumen ami…um.He makes no more of it, but preſently crieth out, Farwell ſweet ſight, farwell ſweet ſight. He was reſolved to loſe his ſight, rather then leave his ſin. Thou art diſeaſed, the tender Phyſitian cometh to thee, without ſending for, and giveth thee his bleſſed counſel without asking, and tis this, that thou muſt forbear thy lewd ſinful ways, or elſe thou wilt loſe thy ſoul, thy Saviour, thy God, thine happineſs for ever; Now wilt thou (by continuing in ſuch courſes and rejecting his firſt counſel) ſay Farewel pretious ſoul, Farwel deareſt Saviour, Farwel bleſſed God, Farwel glorious Angels, p. 394Farwel perfect Spirits, Farwel fulneſs of joy, Rivers of pleaſures, Farwel to you all, I and farwel for ever. Take heed what thou doſt with theſe firſt motions of the Spirit, leſt he take of thee his laſt leave and bid thee farwel for ever.

When a noble perſon ſhould come to thine houſe, one by whom thou expecteſt to be promoted highly, and inriched greatly, or one whoſe heir thou lookeſt to be, how welcome wouldſt thou make ſuch a man, eſpecially the firſt time that he commeth to viſit thee? and upon thoſe very accounts, I mean for thy advantage, he muſt have the beſt room, the beſt fare, the moſt pleaſing language, the moſt reſpectful carriage; all things muſt be done as much as poſſibly can be, according to his mind, and nothing muſt be done which is known to be offenſive to him; and all, leſt he ſhould be provoked to forſake thee, to caſt thee off, and to do nothing at all for thee. Reader, is there not far more reaſon, that when the infinite Spirit of the bleſſed God cometh to thine heart, who onelyonly is able to promote thee, to become the child of God, an heir of heaven, and to inrich thee with the image of God, in Regeneration; that when he cometh firſt to thee, and for theſe very ends, thou ſhouldſt give him all the reſpects imaginable, that thou ſhouldſt follow his counſel, forbeare what thou knoweſt grieves him, do what thou knoweſt p. 395will pleaſe him, leſt he depart away from thee, and do none of theſe things for thee? Saul by diſobeying the counſel of Samuel from God, concerning the ſlaughter of the Amalekites, did ſo grieve his ſpirit, that Samuel tels him plainly, That God had rejected him from being King. 1 Sam. 15.…3, ult.1 Sam 15:3And the text ſaith expreſly, That Samuel came no more to ſee Saul, until the day of his death (that is never) nevertheleſs Samuel mourned for Saul. Truly now the Spirit of God delivereth thee counſel, to deſtroy thoſe notorious fins (which if thou wilt thou canſt forbear) ſhould thou ſpare thoſe fat, thoſe King corruptions, though the Spirit of God may mourn for thee, that thou ſhouldſt be ſuch a wilful ſoul-murderer, and reject the counſel of God againſt thy ſelf? yet he may utterly reject thee, from being any of the heirs of the heavenly Kingdom, and thou mayſt ſee him no more to the day of thy death.

If thou liveſt under the Goſpel, I queſtion not but the Holy Spirit doth move thee, to forſake thine ungodly comrades, thy ſcandalous crimes, and to ſet upon prayer in ſecret, in private, Scripture and meditation, which I muſt tel thee that if thou haft will at home (as we ſay) thou haſt power enough in thine hands to do, again and again I pray thee to cheriſh and obey ſuch motions, (the Spirit makes ſhort work with ſome) leaſt he bid thee adieu, and clap ſuch a curſe upon thee, that thou never claweſt p. 396off while thou liveſt, no not whilſt thou haſt a being.

It may be this skilful Phyſitian proceedeth further; he doth not onelyonly ſhew thee thy diſeaſe, and tell thee what things are bad, what things are good for it; but alſo gives thee Phyſick, in order to thy cure, and ſuch Phyſick as works to purpoſe, and makes thee heart ſick indeed: I mean, the Spirit of God proceedeth from illumination to humiliation, it doth not onelyonly convince thee of thy wounds and putrified ſores, but alſo lanceth and cutteth them, applieth a ſtinging corroſive to eat up thy proud fleſh, and putteth thee to great pain; the Spirit ſheweth thee ſin and wrath in their colours, making thee ſee the former more frightful then a devil, and feel the latter more painful at thy heart then a dagger; poſſibly he takes thee and holds thee (as it were) over Hell, making thee ſee the ſmoak of that bottomleſs pit, ſmell the brimſtone, and feel the ſcorchings of that eternal fire, that thou beginneſt to ſink under the weight of thy wickedneſs, and to cry out, Mine iniquities are gone over my head, Pſal. 38.1.Ps 38:1and they are a burthen too heavy for me to bear; Thoſe ſins which were as ſweet as honey in thy mouth, are now taken down into thy belly, and they are there more bitter then gall. The Law chargeth thee home with its great guns, that thou feareſt and trembleſt, and knoweſt not whither to flie for ſuccor.

p. 397If thou art come thus much of thy journey, I would bid thee welcom ſo far; and would tell thee for thy encouragement, that theſe pangs and throws ſeem to foretell the new birth to be coming; if thou ſuffereſt not the Devil and thy corrupt heart to be at thy labour, to try their experiments, and tamper about thee (for queſtionleſs, they would deſtroy both thee and the babe of Grace in thy womb) but ſuffereſt the Spirit of God to be the midwife, and followeſt his directions, I durſt be the man that ſhould propheſie an happy and fafe delivery. But thou knoweſt that the condition of one in travel is very tickliſh; a little miſcarriage may then undo both mother and child; therefore it behoveth thee now to be extraordinary careful what thou doſt and how thou carrieſt thy ſelf; it is as much as thy life is worth: For thy direction I ſhall tell thee what thou ſhouldſt not do, and what thou ſhouldſt do.

Be ſure that thou do not run to creatures for comfort: Fooliſh people when ſometimes an able Chirurgion hath laid ſome ſharp medicine to their feſtered wounds, which puts them to much pain, though, unleſs by ſuch means the rottenneſs of them be eaten up, and the corruption in them forced out, they can never be cured, yet they are ordinarily ſo impatient, that they will not endure it; but as this good woman, and that neighbour if they do not p. 398know a milder medicine for ſuch a ſore; ſurely, ſay they, this medicine which the Doctor uſeth, will never do it; we finde the member or part very angry, and extreamly raging; and then ſome one or other acquainteth them with gentler means, which they preſently apply, and thereby skin over their ſores before they are half ſearched, that afterwards the wound either breaks out again, and puts them to more pain if ever they be healed, or elſe it keeps ſtill in, overſpreads the body, and kills them. Thus, thus do too many with the Phyſitian of their ſouls, and thereby do often undo themſelves. The Spirit of God applyeth the terrors and conſternations the Law, to make way, and prepare them for the dainties and conſolations of the Goſpel; the good Samaritan poureth wine into the wound to ſearch it, before he poureth oil to heal it; now fooliſh men are impatient, not able to bear ſuch ſad melancholy thoughts, (as they call them) and therefore they often break away from the Spirit of God before they are throughly humbled, and run to their earthly enjoyments, whereby they get ſome preſent eaſe, but here or hereafter far greater pain.

It is reported of the Italians, that in a great thunder they ring their bells, and ſhoot off their canons, that the noiſe of them might drown the voice of the thunder. Thus do ſome with the voice of their awakened p. 399and terrified conſciences, they ſeek to drown it by the noiſe of worldly buſineſſes, recreations, or it may be ungodly delights; But ſurely, damning a ſoul is not the way to ſave a ſoul.

Reader, didſt thou never know of any that were in a journey, and coming to ſome deep dirty pochy lane, they thought to avoid it, and broke over the hedge into the field? but when they had rod round and round, they could finde no way out, but were forced to go out where they got in; and then notwithſtanding their unwillingneſs, to go through that mirie lane, or elſe not to go that journey. Truly ſo it is in thy journey to Heaven; thou art now come to this deep lane of humiliation, through which all muſt go that will reach that City whoſe builder and maker is God; do not think to avoid it, no not the leaſt part of it; for this is the narrow way and ſtrait gate that leadeth to life: Suppoſe thou ſhouldſt run to the world, or any thing here below, now thou beginneſt to be ſenſible of thy ſickneſs and pain, and ſo in an hopeful way of recovery: Firſt, 'tis impoſſible that any of thoſe things can cure thee; Miſerable comforters are they all, and Phyſitians of no value. Can a ſilver Slipper cure the gout? or a golden Crown the head-ach? or the greateſt Empire in the world the pain of thy teeth? much leſs can theſe things cure the diſeaſes of thy ſoul: All the wrapping p. 400of thy foot, that hath a thorn in it, though with never ſuch fine ſcarlet cloth, will be altogether ineffectual to eaſe thee of thy pain; for the thorn muſt be pulled out; ſo muſt ſin be pluck'd out, its guilt removed before thou canſt poſſibly be eaſed: But my great reaſon is, (which I deſire thee to conſider ſeriouſly) ſhouldſt thou throw off this medicine of thy ſpiritual Phyſitian becauſe it is ſomewhat ſharp, and run to the Empericks and Mountebanks of the world, thou wilt provoke thy tender able Phyſitian to leave thee (for what man will bear ſuch affronts) and where art thou then? what will become of thee for ever? Thoſe that work in Coal-mines finde by experience that the earth ſendeth up damps which quench and put out their candles; and what then becomes of the men that are there? they are often ſlain. Shouldſt thou like Jonah, run from the preſence of the Lord, to more pleaſing employments then the work of a thorow humiliation, either he will bring thee back again to the ſame buſineſs by ſtorms and tempeſts, or elſe ſuch damps will ariſe from thine earthly interruptions as will quench Gods Spirit, and eternally ruine thy ſpirit.

The evil ſpirit I know will be buſie to perſwade thee to ſmother and put out the ſparkes (which the good Spirit hath kindled within thee) by heaps of worldly rubbiſh and dirt: but take heed what thou doſt, p. 401for thy ſoul is at ſtake; if thoſe ſparks ſhould die, thou art like to live in hell fire for ever. Obſerve how it fared with unhappy Felix. He was a Priſoner to his Priſoner, and in a ready way to have been one of Chriſts freemen, but now hells jaylor was like to loſe one of his captives, (for I queſtion not but Satan for fear of loſing him, trembled more then he) what therefore through the Divels advice muſt Felix do? He muſt needs cure himſelf of his convulſion by an abruptdiverſion. When the Spirit ſtruck in with the word and cauſed him to tremble, he ſendeth Paul away till another ſeaſon, and we never read when that time came. Had Felix ſtruck in with the Spirit, when the iron of his heart was hot, he might have been happy indeed, but he quencheth thoſe motions, which were ſo likely to recover his ſoul, and thereby (in all probability) miſſeth ſalvation.

Some ſay that Samſons mother was forbidden wine and ſtrong drink, all the while ſhe was with child of him, partly becauſe that wine and ſtrong drink are naught for the child in the womb. I am confident that carnal diverſions, that, To put back thy pangs by earthly affaires, much more by wine and ſtrong drink, is infiniely prejudicial to the babe of grace, and many to one but it may cauſe thine eternal miſcarriage.

Friend, that which in this caſe I would p. 402adviſe thee to do, is to betake thy ſelf to thy cloſet, or chamber, and there to fall down before the moſt high God, and to accuſe, indict, and condemne thy ſelf for thy ſins, poure out thy ſoul before the Lord in acknowledging the pollution of thy nature, the tranſgreſſions of thy life, with all their bloody aggravations, confeſſing the righteouſneſs of the law, and thy obnoxiouſneſs thereby to the infinite and eternal wrath of the Lord. O now is the onelyonly time to repent, with that repeniance which is never to be repented of; if ever thou wouldſt draw water, and pour it out before the Lord, it muſt be now the ſpirit hath thawed the tap; neglect this ſeaſon, and it may freeze again ſpeedily. When Nathan came from God to David after his fall, (when he had lain in his impenitency many months) and told him of his ſins, and convinced him that he was worthy to die, what doth David do? doth he run to his crown or honour, or power in the world? No. Doth he haſtily ſnatch at the promiſes? No, but he goeth to God (as appeares by the title and body of the 51. Pſalm) bewaileth his original and actual ſins, condemneth himſelf, juſtifieth God, offereth up the ſacrifice of a broken heart, beggeth hard for pardon and holineſs. O do thou follow this bleſſed pattern; if thy body were ſick of a violent feaver, and nature were ſo far thy friend, as when thou waſt in thy bed, p. 403to put thee into a fine ſweat, and thereby give thee hope of evacuating the ill humours (which cauſe thy diſeaſe) through the pores, what wouldſt thou do in this caſe? wouldſt thou riſe preſently, and run into the cold aire, or wouldſt thou not rather abide ſtill in thy bed, and if need were, call for more cloaths, to increaſe thy ſweat, whereby thy body might be perfectly cured? Thus it is in the ſtate of thy ſoul; thou art ſick unto death; the Spirit of God is ſo much thy friend, as to help thee to ſweat out thy diſtemper by humiliation, and godly ſorrow; twere a madneſs in thee now to run to the open air of the world, or to do any thing which might hinder this ſweating; thy onelyonly way is to encourage and increaſe it, by betaking thy ſelf to thy chamber, and there to look into thy heart, and conſider how full it is of unholineſs, to look back upon thy life, and conſider how contrary it hath been to the Divin…law, to look up to God and conſider the Majeſty, holineſs, and mercy, which are in him whom thou haſt provoked; this is the way to continue and increaſe thy humiliation, and thereby (for the ſpirit delighteth to proceed in aſſiſting thoſe, that thus cheriſh his motions) to be perfectly healed. Duties now are the Spirits pleaſant garden, in which he will delight to walk with thee; they are like bellows to blow up the heavenly fire into a flame, or as oyle to the lamps, which p. 404will keep them ever burning. Philoſophers tell us, that elementary fire wants no fuell, though culinary doth. Divines tell us that the Spirit of God needs not ordinances, for he is infinite in power; but that he will not work without them where he affords them, is manifeſtly his pleaſure.

Reader, if thou art humbled as I have before ſpoken, thou lookeſt on thy ſelf as a vile creature, even as a dog; I would have thee now very careful, that thou wait patiently (for the bountiful houſe-keeper of the world, is preparing ſome good food for thee) and do not eatch too haſtily at the childrens bread, the promiſes, leſt it be taken from thee, and thou meet with a blow. When a wound is deep, there is much wiſdome required to keep it ſome time open with a tent, and not to heal it up too ſoon, leſt its cure be imperfect. Do thou wait Gods leiſure, bemoaning thy ſins, abhorring thy ſelf, praying fervently for thy ſoul, and be confident that Jeſus Chriſt, who is already upon his way, will ariſe upon thee ſpeedily, with healing under his wings.

It may be that this tender able Phyſitian, cometh nearer to thee, he doth not onelyonly ſhew thee the nature and danger of thy diſeaſe, and make thee (who wert before ſenſleſs) apprebenſive of it, by feeling thy ſickneſs, but doth alſo diſcover to thee an excellent and coſtly remedy, which hath p. 405cured many of thy very diſeaſe, and will unqueſionably heal thee, if thou wilt but accept it thankfully, and apply it prudently; I mean the ſpirit preſenteth to thee, (when thou art full of anguiſh and ſorrow) that rare ſalve of the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, which ſpread upon a promiſe, is the onelyonly healing plaiſter for a wounded conſcience. He acquainteth thee with the alſufficiency of Jeſus Chriſt to ſave ſinners; that he is a Saviour of Gods own appointing, one in whom God hath given under his hand, that he is well pleaſed; a redeemer that hath in him infinite meritoriouſneſs, becauſe he is the onelyonly begotten of the father; if he ſheweth thee long bils of others debts which have been canceld by the blood of Chriſt, and aſſureth thee that he is not onelyonly able, but truly willing to ſave thee, that he was wounded for thy tranſgreſſions, and bruiſed for thine iniquities, and by his ſtripes thou mayſt be healed: The Holy Ghoſt poſſibly ſetteth the King of Saints before thee, in all his robes, and riches, and righteouſneſs, (as it were) thus beſpeaking thee; Come poor ſinner, that lyeſt weltring in thy blood, hearken to me, and thou ſhalt ſee what I can and will do for thee; though by thy wilful breach of the Law, thou art liable to ſuch endleſs boundleſs fury, as thou couldſt neither abide nor avoid; yet I will be a Skreen between thee and the unquenchable fire. Ile ſatisfy the law, and p. 406pacify my father, Ile not onelyonly deliver thee from ſin and Satan, wrath, and death, and damnation, but adopt thee for a Son, intereſt thee in that ineſtimable treaſure, the covenant of grace, and make thee an heir of the eternal weight of glory; and all this thou ſhalt have freely and ſurely, if thou wilt but accept me thankefully and heartily for thy Saviour and Lord. At the hearing of which loving language thou probably art amazed, and ready to ſay as Mephiboſheth (when David told him that he ſhould eat bread at his table continually) What is thy ſervant that thou ſhouldſt look upon ſuch a dead dog as I am! Thou admireſt the riches of Chriſts merits, the freeneſs of his mercy, and the happineſs of his members; thy ſoul begins to be exceedingly in love with him, and affectionately longing after him; O thinkeſt thou, Had I but Chriſt for my portion, though I were never ſo poor in temporals, I could be heartily contented. Now Chriſtian, the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto thee, thou art now upon thy quickening, be but careful there, and thou art made for ever. I know that thy broken heart is willing to go to Jeſus Chriſt, but have a care that thou carry nothing to him, that thou keep nothing from him; thy miſcariage in either of theſe, may quite break off the bargain between Chriſt and thy ſoul, as near as tis driven.

I ſay, carry nothing to Chriſt; Thy p. 407next ſtep muſt be quite out of thine own doors; the Devil knoweth how to ſlay thee as well by thy righteouſneſs, thy mournful contrition for ſin, as by thine unrighteouſneſs, thy wilful commiſſion of ſin, which made Auſtin ſay, That repentance damneth more then ſin; nay, thy truſting upon thy prayers, or tears, or any good in thee, doth alter the nature of them, and turn them into ſin; in this many ſtick; they are hardly brought off from their own bottoms. When mens houſes are on fire, their covetouſneſs to ſave their goods hath often loſt them their lives; when mens ſouls are in a flame, their pride to carry out with them their good prayers, and good deſires, and good reſolutions, hath loſt them eternal life; they will pay ſome of their braſs-farthings towards the reckoning, and God therefore makes them pay the whole ſhot.

O how unwilling is the creature to be beholden to Chriſt, his Surety, for the payment of all his debts! though he be a meer bankrupt, yet he hopes he may compound with his Creditor, and pay ſomething towards his ſatisfaction; and this ariſeth partly from his ignorance of that righteouſneſs which alone can ſatisfie the Law, or pacifie the Lord; For they being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs, and going about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs, Rom. 10.3. They were ignorant, firſt, how perfect that righteouſneſs muſt be, for which God will juſtifie a p. 408ſinner, that if there be the leaſt ſpot in it, his pure eyes cannot accept it; ſecondly, they were ignorant how compleat that righteouſneſs is which the Law requireth, how the Law reacheth to the inward as well as the outward man; how it damneth for the ſmalleſt idle word, wandring thought, or complying motion of the heart with ſin. Did they but know, that that righteouſneſs which pleaſeth God for their juſtification, muſt anſwer the Law in its full latitude, and all its dimenſions, they would not offer their droſſy duties, no nor their golden graces for currant coin, which being weighed in that ballance of the Sanctuary muſt needs be found infinitely too light. Partly from his pride; For they being ignorant of the righteouſneſs of God, and going about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs, have not ſubmitted themſelves to the Righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 10.3. Mark, They have not ſubmitted themſelves to the righteouſneſs of God; Proud man eſteems it ſubmiſſion, a condeſcention, to be beholden to Jeſus Chriſt for remiſſion and ſalvation; he hath (though a beggers purſe, yet) a proud heart, and is loth to trouble Jeſus Chriſt ſo much, and to take all his mercies as almes, out of the basket of the Redeemers merits.

Reader, now thou art in a ſtorm, if thou loveſt thy ſoul, do not run to ſhelter thy ſelf under the rotten houſe of thy own righteouſneſs; for be confident 'twill fall p. 409about thine ears, and thou like Zimri will periſh in it. The Law of man denieth allowance from the Pariſh to them that have any thing of their own to ſubſiſt by; and the Goſpel of God denieth allowance from the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, to all them that have of their own for their maintenance.

Do not think to piece thy rags up with Chriſts robes, for it will not be allowed; go to Jeſus Chriſt ſtark naked for his glorious raiment, altogether poor for his precious riches; there is a neceſſity of being found wholly in him, or wholly out of him, there is no medium. The Hare which being purſued, truſteth to her own legs, is torn in pieces by the Dogs, when the Coney that runneth to the holes of the rock is ſafe. The man that purſued by the Law, leaneth on his own ſanctity, loſeth his own ſoul, when he that fleeth to the wounds of a crucified Chriſt is ſure to be ſaved. Behold (ſaith God) I lay in Sion for a foundation a ſtone, a tried ſtone, Iſa. 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6.Isa 28:161 Pet 2:6a precious corner-ſtone, a ſure foundation; He that believeth on him ſhall not be confounded.

As I would have thee careful that thou carry nothing to Chriſt; ſo alſo that thou keep nothing from Chriſt. When Iſrael went out of Egypt to ſerve God, there was not a hoof to be left behinde. There muſt be no reſervation, no exception, but an abſolute hearty dedication of thy ſelf, and all thou haſt unto Jeſus Chriſt; if thou halfeſt or p. 410halteſt now, thou art an undone man: As Samuel asked Jeſſe, Are all thy ſons here? and denied to ſit down and feaſt with him till all were preſent; ſo truly Chriſt will deny to cloſe with thy ſoul, to ſit down and ſup with thee, unleſs all thou haſt be preſent, and unfeignedly devoted to his ſervice.

But in a ſpecial manner, be careful that no ſin be kept from the ſtroke of Chriſt: As when Paul came to Epheſus, the whole City was in an uproar; ſo now the Lord Jeſus is coming into thine heart, there will be old ſtir among thy corruptions; how ſtrongly will they plead, if not for their formes open allowance, yet at leaſt for a ſecret inward connivance; little doſt thou think how buſie Satan will be for a writ of partition, that ſince he cannot prevail for all thy heart, that yet he may be admitted an equal ſharer with Chriſt; he will tell thee, (but remember that he was a Liar from the beginning) that thou mayſt keep thy ſins and thy Saviour too; that Chriſt is not ſo ſtrict, but that for a fair agreement he will allow ſomewhat to the fleſh. But I beſeech thee, not to think of any League with the leaſt of thy luſts: Surely, if thou ſeeſt any lovelineſs in Chriſt, thou canſt not but judge every ſin loathſom; beſides, he were a poor Saviour, if he could not make thee amends for thy parting with the moſt pleaſureable or profitable ſin. Who would think, that p. 411thou like David ſhouldſt plead for Abſolom, for ſin when it ſeeks to bereave thee of thy crown and life? Truly ſhouldſt thou gratify Satan ſo far as to hide any wedg of gold, or Babyloniſh garment, any one luſt I muſt tell thee, that one, be it never ſo ſmall, would like a little boy put in at a caſement, open the door of thine heart for many theeviſh luſts, and great ones too, to enter in. If thou allow the old Serpent but room for his head, he will quickly wind in his whole body. Sir Francis Drake, being in a dangerous ſtorm upon the Thames, was heard to ſay, Muſt I who have eſcaped the rage of the Ocean, be drowned in a ditch! Surely thou mayſt ſo far comply with Chriſt, as to take thy leave of ſcandalous enormities; yet if thou reſerveſt favourable thoughts towards any ſecret iniquity, thou deſtroyeſt thy ſelf. And it will be all one, whether thou art ſlain by a ſmall Piſtol, or by a great Cannon.

Corruption may cloſe with religion a great way (ſaith a Divine) and hear gladly and do many things; Dr. Reynolds on Hoſ. 14. ſer. 7.Hos 14but there is a particular point of ſtrictneſs, in every unregenerate mans caſe, which when it is ſet on cloſe to him, cauſeth him to be offended and ſtumble, as in the young man, and Herod. —This is the difference between hypocritical and ſincere converſion. That goeth far, and parts with much, and proceeds to almoſt, but when it comes to the turning point, and ultimate act of p. 412regenerate, he then plays the part of an unwiſe ſon, and ſtays in the place of the breaking forth of children, as a fooliſh Merchant, that in a rich bargain of a thouſand pound, breaks off upon a difference of twenty ſhillings; but the other is content to part with all, and to ſuffer the loſs of all, to carry on the treaty to a full and final concluſion, to have all the armour of the ſtrong man taken from him, that Chriſt may divide the ſpoiles.

Reader, thou knoweſt upon what terms thou mayſt contract a bargain with Chriſt, for the ſaving of thy ſoul; that thou muſt not think to have him for thy Saviour, unleſs thou wilt accept him for thy Lord alſo. As Boaz told his kinſman, that if he would enjoy the inheritance of Ebimelech, he muſt have Ruth the Moabiteſs to be his wife; ſo ſay I to thee, if thou wilt have the inheritance, the portion of Jeſus Chriſt, thou muſt have his perſon for thy husband, and reſign thy ſelf to be ruled by his precepts. The Jews that ſtayed themſelves upon the God of Iſrael, and yet continued rebellious, were more bold then welcom. Iſa. 48.1, 2. Now thou art come thus far, do not go back, and to ſave a pin, loſe a Kingdom. Thou mayſt be confident that nothing can ever be enjoined thee by Chriſt, but what is reaſonable and honourable, tending to thy real and eternal good, as well as his own glory; therefore now the Maſter is come and calleth for thee, do thou anſwer, Lo I come to do p. 413thy will O my God, thy law is in the midſt of my heart.

Friend, if the Spirit of God hath been ſo favourable to thee, as to kindle ſuch motions (as I have mentioned) within thee, for the Lords ſake, cheriſh them, obey them leſt thy quenching the Spirit bring thee to that fire which can never be quencht. To day if thou wilt hear his voice, harden not thine heart, leſt he ſwear in his wrath, that thou ſhalt never enter into his reſt.