The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 3

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ · Sermon 3

p. 224Jeremiah 50. Verſ. 4.5.

—Going and weeping: they shall go; ſeek the Lord their God.

Verſ. 5. They shall ask the way to Zion with faces thither-ward, ſaying, Come, and let us our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual Cov…nant shall not be forgotten.

SERMON III.

IT is like, that, at the firſt reading of theſe Words will approve both the deſigne that this People ha… engaging themſelves to God in Covenant, and … p. 225endeavour to have their engagement ſo ſolid and ſure, as it may not be broken any more, but may hold for ever: we take it for granted alſo, that ye will Judge, that the diſpoſition and frame of Soul wherein they are, while about this great Buſineſs, is very becoming and …uitable for ſuch as have dealt unfaithfully and foully in …he Covenant of God, and are from the Conviction …ereof ſtirred, and put upon Reſolutions to engage with …m of new and to enter again into a Covenant with …m; we Heartily wiſh, that it were a peece of our Exerciſe this night, before our approaching the Table of the Lord the next day, to compare the frame and Sett of our hearts, with what theſe words hold forth this Peoples frame and diſpoſition to be.

We need not now ſpeak to the Scope of the words, it being ſo clear, and having been touched at before. There is here a People Propheſied of, who are to be brought to Repentance and Covenanting with God in the Latter dayes, whoſe Spiritually good and deſirable frame is deſcribed; They shall go weeping and ſeeking the Lord, each of them ſtirring up another, having this for their deſigne, and the Language of their hearts, Come and let us Join our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetual Covenant never to be forgotten.

That which we would now ſpeak a litle to, is, Two Generals very much becoming a people who deſigne & …end to Covenant firmly with God: and ſeeing it is …t this time, in a more eſpecial manner, our profeſſed deſigne to cloſe the bargain with him, and in evidence …hereof, are (if the Lord will) to partake of the Signe and Seal of the Covenant, as ſuppoſing it to be indeed a cloſed bargain, or at leaſt that it is ſeriouſly deſired …y us that it may be ſo; they will not be unſuitable for …ou to hear and make uſe of them.

p. 226The Firſt Generall then is this, that Covenanting wit… God, when People are in earneſt in it, will be a very up taking, exerciſing and weighty buſineſs. This is clea… here, if ye conſider how theſe People go about th… work; they a…e in very good earneſt; and there a… ſeveral evidences of it; they are weeping and going: the… are ſeeking the Lord; asking the way to Zion with the… faces thitherward; and every one of them S…irring u… another to renew the Covenant, and to caſt the knot … firmly, that it may be A perpetual Covenant never … be forgotten, and ſuch as may never looſe or be broke… again; whence the generall is clear, viz. that whe… People mind in earneſt the making up of a breach betwixt God and them (which is done by Covenantin… with him) it will be an exerciſing and uptaking bu… neſs to them. Ye may conſider ſome Scriptures fo… confirmation of this, which will alſo hold out what it is and namely, Matth. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heav… ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force, Th… Lord is ſpeaking there of mens making Peace with G… thorow himſelf the Mediator, by which they are broug… to Heaven; and he tells, that it is a moſt ſerious bu… neſs that will abide them brangling (to ſpeak ſo) a… uſing of violence; Luke 13 25. ſtrive to enter in at … ſtrait gate, for many will ſeek, and shall not be able: is a narrow gate, and there muſt be thronging and thr… ing, to win in at it: men will be put to a ſort of Ago… as the word ſignifies: conſider alſo Pauls word, 1 C… 9.24. So run as ye may obtain, inſinuating, that the is a ſort of running, wherein men are not in earneſt, … indifferent whether they get the Prize or not; a… therefore he would have them making earneſt of it; as he Propoſeth his own practiſe as an example and a C… pie to them, I therefore run, not as uncertainly; ſo figh… p. 227not as one that beateth the Air: but I keep under my Body, and bring it into ſubjection, leſt that by any me n…, when I have Prea…hed to others, I my ſelf s…o…ld be a caſt away: theſe are the expreſſions of a man, who is in good earneſt in this buſineſs: and his ſeriouſneſs therein is Propoſed to you for a Pattern, what way ye ſhould run and fight: the like word we have, Philip. 3.13. This one thing I do, (it's an up-taking work to me) Forgetting thoſe things that are behind, and reaching forth to thoſe things which are befo e, I preſs towards the mark, for the Pr…ze of the high ca ling of God in Chriſt Jeſus: and verſ. 11. If by any means (ſaith he) I might attain unto the Reſurrection of the dead: every word hath it's own weight to make it out, that it is ſo his one thing, that he cares not what it coſt him, ſo be, he may obtain it.

That which we would ſay further on this point ſhall be a word of Application in theſe Two or Three Uſes. The Firſt whereof ſerves for Inſtruction; would ye know what is required of you as a direction to dutie at this time; And would ye know if things be right in your preparation for the Communion? This maybe a Mark to diſcern, and a direction on the matter; even to be ſerious, and to make it an uptaking buſineſs, your One thing, to be about it, as ſuch an occaſion and work calls you to be. And if ye ſhall ask, wherein conſiſts this Seriouſneſs and uptaking exerciſe, in Covenanting with God? I ſhall Sum it up to you in theſe Four, which comprehend it. Firſt, The man is taken up, in p. 228reſpect of exerciſe in his Conſcience; convictions become freſh, Challenges are put home, he is pricked leſs or more at the very heart; there is ſomething within him that gives him a Conſcience-alarm, that puts in his hand a Libell, and aſſures him of an appearance before Gods Tribunal: and indeed unleſs ſome thing of this be, men will not be in earneſt; and it is clearly implied in the Text; For there are here sharp Challenges, that make this People weep, and that extort tears from their eyes. Secondly, There is a ſeriouſneſs in reſpect of the work that it hath on Peoples hearts and affections; there will be a kindling of deſires to have Covenanting with God at a point, with a holy fear, leſt they miſcarry in the doing of it; and theſe put together do much take up the man, and make him ſeek after thorow acquaintance with his own Spirit, which he finds to be ſo fickle, inconſtant and back-ſliding; and thus, apprehending the work to be great and difficult, he is put in Holy fear and Jealouſie over himſelf, leſt he marr the matter and make it worſe with himſelf; as it is ſaid of Godly ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7.11. What carefulneſs, what fear what indignation, what vehement deſire, what zeal, what revenge it wrought in them: Now when theſe are tumbling (to ſpeak ſo) thorow other in the man, and he hath an inward wreſtling to have the work ſecured, and is afraid leſt it miſcarry; Is it Poſſible, but he will be ſerious and much taken up? and this is alſo implied in the words; Come (ſay they) And let us join to the Lord in a Perpetuall p. 229Covenant; There is a deſire to have the Covenant at a point, and they fear it ſlip, while they are caſting the knot; therefore they ſay, let it be a Perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten: It's good to fear in the very time. Thirdly, This ſeriouſneſs is in reſpect of Peoples dutie; It makes them pray that never prayed before to Purpoſe; It makes them examine themſelves, Meditat, Read and conferr that never knew before what it was to be taken up with thoſe duties: Therefore we find this People going and ſeeking the Lord and exciting one another: they are put to their feet, and to reaching forward, ſo that they leave nothing undone, whereby they may attain the end. Fourthly, This Seriouſneſs appears in the manner of their going about duties: there is another edge, then was wont to be on their prayers, Self-Judging, and wreſtling with God: they are much like to Jacob: they will not let the Lord go till he bleſs them: they will ſtill wreſtle, though it should be all the night: they cannot find in their heart to part with him on any terms: and (as the word is, Iſaiah. 64.) they shall ſtirr up themſelves to take hold of him: they are not only going but weeping: they are not for the fashion in the work: they ſeek the Lord and ſtirr up one another to do ſo: May we then ask you, are ye thus in earneſt making for the Communion? Nay (for this is not all) are ye thus in earneſt about Covenanting with God? which muſt preceed and go before, if things be right: It were good preparation, to have our very hearts moving and fluttering (as it were) within us to be at this.

p. 230The Second Uſe ſerveth for Expoſtulation with many that pretend a deſire and deſigne of Covenanting with God, and that they would be at Heaven: but yet were never in good earneſt, to have things at a point betwixt God and them, and to make ſure a Covenant-intereſt in him: The moſt part are, Alace! taken up with poor, low and inſignificant things, with unneceſſary things comparatively: If they be ſick, they will be in earneſt about the means of their health: if they ſuffer any loſs in their eſtate, they will be ſerious to have it made up: if their credit be impaired, they will be much concerned to have it repaired: they are carried forth with a ſor… of Bentneſs towards thoſe things: but Ah! where is there a man or woman amongſt many, with their faces towards Zion in a Serious manner and with a reſolute purpoſe, that peace with God, Holineſs and Heaven they muſt have? Here is the great ſtop and ſtand: and is it poſſibly, think ye, that ye can have peace in your going about dutie, while ye are not ſerious, no… ſtrive to win in at the ſtrait gate, when ye exerciſe not your ſelves to Godlineſs, when ye never (to ſpeak ſo) caſt your coat, nor Strip your ſelves naked, as it were (as the word, 1 Tim. 4 7. Sign fies) for that great work: when ye do not run and wreſtle, as thoſe who mind to obtain? but are intangled in the things of the World and languiſh with lazineſs in every thing that is Spiritually and truly good: how few are there under much exerciſe about the caſe of their Souls, afraid le… they miſs the mark and prize: with Jealouſie over themſelves, leſt they miſtake the way to Heaven? How few are there, who have it for their One thing, to be fi…mly Joined to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant? It's my fear that amongſt all the great Number that are here, there be but very few to be found who are in p. 231earneſt in this great buſineſs. I ſhall hint at a few ſorts, that are not in earneſt. Firſt, Such who are very ſerious to be at the externall ordinance of the Communion, and who will, it may be, take it ill, if they be keeped back from it, who yet never troubled themſelves, nor were ſeriouſly taken up with Covenanting with God, and with the ſtudy of Holineſs in all manner of Converſation, or how to come by the enjoyment of his ſpeciall and gracious preſence: they can be year and day, nay many years, without it and never miſs it, not be troubled with the want of it: Alace! It is not ſeriouſneſs to be at the Communion, without this, which will profit you; and even ye that are not admitted to the Communion, are called to this. A Second Sort are ſuch, as are indifferent in all religious concerns; they care not for the Communion, and would not be very deſirous of it, if it were not a ſhame to them, and ſome reflection on them to be debarred from it; they think, that whatever in Religion goeth beyond their Job, is but preciſeneſs, Niceneſs, Vanity, Conceit and Fancy; ſuch never knew what it was to be troubled with doubting or Tentations about their Souls ſtate, or the truth and reality of their Grace, nor what it was to be under any exerciſe of Conſcience on the account of much ſin and Guilt; nay they are glad and can boaſt themſelves that they were never under any ſuch ſerious exerciſe. A Third Sort is of ſuch, who are very civil in their carriage, but they have no more; & if Heaven may be bad with Ceremonies & fair faſhions, they will be in it as ſoon as any; but they cannot endure to be at pains beyond their ordinary, to take hold of it, to do violence to ther own negligence, to take the Kingdome of Heaven by force, nor in the leaſt to amend their Pace, & to be Serious, come of it what may: Theſe are a dangerous company, they have p. 232Communicated many years, and were never debarred, and ſo, think that all is well with them; and that they may fit ſtill and be at peace: I ſhall only ſay to ſuch that, that was not Davids way, nor Pauls way, not th… way of any of the Saints, nor the way that Chriſt Commended to his hearers: and I trow, he will not chalk ou… another way to you; nor take you to Heaven in a wa… by your ſelves, or in a way of your own: O be not deceived, for God will not be mocked. A Fourth So… are thoſe who have been orde…ing and diſpatching thei… externall buſineſſes, ſo as they may win to the Communion without diſtraction by them; but they hav… taken little or no pains at all to put their hearts in order; little or no time in Se…ret betwixt God and them, to examine and try, whether matters, as to their Soul… ſtate and frame, be right, clear and diſtinct; It's th… alone direction that the Apoſtle gives, 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat; That … ſerious man who puts himſelf to that Comprehenſive and up-taking exerciſe in earneſt, who proves himſelf if he be in the Faith; whoſe heart ſmites him that h… hath not taken as much time in Secret, as he hath don… in coming to a preaching: It may be, many have com… four or five miles to a preparation Sermon, who y… never Seriouſly once looked within themſelves to … how matters ſtood betwixt God and them: O ſad, Lamentable and Soul-ruining neglect!

The Third Uſe Serves for Exhortation: and let m… Exhort, Beſeech, and Obteſt you, to ſtudy to be in goo… earneſt in this buſineſs; Believe it, the buſineſs of Covenanting with God, ſo as, from this time forth, ye may have it made ſure and clear that ye are Gods and that God is yours, is a thing of greateſt Concernment: p. 233of infinitly greater, then if Kings and ſuch as are called Pro…ectors were ſending Ambaſſadours to treat with you about making you great in the World. To preſs this a little, let me Ask you, in the Firſt place, what think ye will come of it, if the Covenant be not made ſiker betwixt God and you? Ye will moſt certainly live and ly ſtill, yea even dy ſtrangers to God, liable to his curſe and wrath ready to be inflicted on you: O lay this to heart, if ye Believe that God will call you all to a reckoning, and that he will ſay to ſuch of you as a…e not in Covenant with him, Depart from me, I never knew you; Yea, ſuppoſe there were not ſuch great ground of fear as to that, as indeed there is: can ye promiſe to your ſelves Gods hearing any of your Prayers, the performance of any Promiſe, or the accepting of any duty off your hand as ſervice to him, till ye be in Covenant with the Lord? And think ye nothing or but litle of this? Secondly, Conſider the great prejudice that follows on not Covenanting with God, and that will attend many in the viſible Church; Many (ſaith the Lord, Luke 13.) Will ſeek to enter, who shall not be able; The ſolid Faith of this would make many Congregations to tremble: for it's not only many profane perſons, but many of them that countenance Ordinances, yea many of them that have preached and prayed to the Edification of others, and many of them who have heard Chriſt preach in their ſtreets, and who have countenanced faithfull Miniſters, and furthered the work of God, and who have had indignation at others that did not ſo; who will not be able to enter; this word, with that other which we have, Pſal. 78.34. where there is ſuch a ſeeming ſeriouſneſs and perſonating of many Graces of the Spirit, and yet nevertheleſs, it is but a flattering of God with the mouth and a lying to him with the tongue, p. 234(which is a very rife and common thing amongſt profeſſos, amongſt ſuch as profeſs Covenanting with God) ſhould put us in fear. And Thirdly, Conſider this, …hat ye have naturally ſuch hearts as others have, that a…e ready to beguile you, and to back ſlide and ſlip ou… from God; and are not thoſe beguiles and diſappointments of others written for our warning and advertiſments? And if any of you ſhould ſay, we hope there is no ſuch ground of fear as to us. That's but a bewraying of your Ignorance and ſenſeleſneſs; for thoſe who are beſt acquainted with their own hearts will tell you, tha… it is a tickliſh and di…ficult buſineſs to deal truly and throughly with God: Do ye not know, that many take a counterfeit for grace? And were ye no… hea…ing lately, that many Hypocrites have perſonated almoſt (if there be need to ſay, almoſt) every Grace; ſurely many o… you will find it true one day, that the heart is deceitfull above all things and deſperatly wicked: and that ye hav… etred and played the fools egregiouſly, and in nothing mo…e then in truſting your own hearts: for ſaith the wiſe man, He that truſts his own heart is a fool. Fourthly, Conſider, that it is now come to a Nick and pinc… with you, that either ye muſt cloſe the Covenant wi…h God, or put your ſelves farther under his Curſe, and eat and dri…k damnation to your ſelves: becauſe ye have mis-kent Gods Covenant, and ſligh…ed Covenanting with him, and ſo have come as enemies to his Table, without making your friend-ſhip with him: we declare to you, that e…e the morrow at this time many of yo… will ei…her have a bit or a Miſs of the greateſt bargain a d of the greateſt concernment that ever was made betwixt parties: and although ye ſhould not eternally incapacitate your ſelves for Covenanting with God, which many may do, and bring themſelves under ſuch a ſad p. 235ſentence, that they ſhall never hencefo…th be quickened nor awaked any more: yet ye may make your bands ſtronger, and may make the buſineſs of your Covenanting with God far more difficult to your ſelves then now it might be.

The Second general Obſervation is this, that a ſoft, tender and melting heart is a good and ſuitable frame for Covenanting with God: would ye then know, what is a fit frame for Covenanting with God? It's even this, a heart melting frame; they shall go weeping as they go; they have much ſeriouſneſs, inward ſtir and warmneſs of heart, and that makes it to me…t, and (as i… were) flow down before the Lord; this is according to what we have, Zech. 12.10. I will (ſaith the Lord) Pour upon the houſe of David, and on the inhabitance of Jeruſalem, the Spirit of Grace and ſupplications, and they shall look to him whom they have pierced, and shall mourn and be in bitterneſs as one is for h…s firſt born: even when they are coming home, and asking the way to Zion with their faces thither ward, and about to enter in Covenant, they are mourning; Hence, Iſaiah. 44.3, 4, 5. And elſewhere, even almoſt where ever entring into, or renewing of the Covenant with God is ſpoken of, the out-pouring of the Spirit is ſpoken of alſo; a pouring water on him that is thirſtie and flouds of the dry ground: bringing Rivers out of Rocks, &c. for preparing a People for the Lord. And this will be the more clear, if we conſider, that ſoftneſs and melting of heart gives a man a right imp…eſſion of himſelf, and a right impreſſion of God and of his free Grace and goodneſs; and it makes the man to become folding, tractable, Pliant and yeelding to God, and alſo makes way for much Spiritual ſenſe and comfort, and for Gods ref…eſhfull manifeſting of himſelf to the Soul that is ſo pliable p. 236and tender: thus the Lord ſaith, Hoſ. 2.14. I will allure her and bring her to the wilderneſs and ſpeak comfortably to her, or to her heart, as the word is; Alluring ſpeaks pliableneſs, & that hath Gods Comfortable ſpeaking to the heart following on it.

The Firſt Uſe of this point ſerves to give you another Mark for Triall, if things be right and in good caſe with you, for Covenanting with God: and as the upſhot of all, to commend ſuch a deſirable frame as thi… to you: would ye know the… further, what is a right frame for Covenanting with God? Here it is, even to have a heart melting within, to have a ſoft tender and mournfull diſpoſition of Soul: and would ye know what this is? We think that from the words it may be gathered to conſiſt in theſe five or ſix things that concurre to it. Firſt, There are ſome pricking challenges for ſin and wrongs done to God: they humbly acknowledge, take with and are made ſenſible of theſe. Secondly, There is ſome miſſing and ſenſibleneſs of the want of Gods preſence, and of the want of Communion and Fellowſhip with him: …hey know not well where he is, but they are a king after him. Thirdly, There is an ardent affection and ſerious deſire to be at him and in Covenant with him, a heart filled with love to God, whereby it is ſoftened and made to flow down, as wax by the fire is melted, and the hardeſt iron made ſoft. Fourthly, There is a Holy fear and carefulneſs, whereby the heart is kept from growing cold and indifferent as to this condition, and from ſettling and ſitting down in it; ſuch a fear and trembling as old Eli had, 1 Sam. 4. for the Ark, whereby he was kept in a fright: here is going and weeping, with a Holy fear leſt the Covenant be again broken. Fifthly, There is a ſelf loathing, kindly humiliation & exerciſe of Repentance, which eſpecially p. 237appears in this weeping: when ſerious looking into the perſons own Condition ſo affects the heart, as it fl…ws, either in tears without, and in ſighs and groans within, or in the latter without the former. There is a Holy indifferencie as to their externall lot, and an abſolute ſubmiſſiveneſs to the will of God to be dealt with and diſpoſed upon as himſelf thinks fit: If ſo be they be admitted into a Covenant with him, they are ſweetly Submiſſive to the terms, let God do with them what he will, they know it will be well, if they get once within the bond of his Covenant, and that it will never be well with them, if they be without it: Though this be ſomewhat general, yet it will be found to be a near yea a narrow tryall: If ſo…tneſs of heart beſpeak a good frame and fit for Covenanting with God: Ah! where is it? The little heart-ſoftneſs that is amongſt us is one o… the neck-breaks of Religion, and marrs our growth exceedingly: what ſhall we ſay or think of our condition, when we call to remembrance the ſeekers of God of old, who watered their couches with tears and made their beds to ſwim: who mingled their drink with tears and their meat with weeping? O! what is become of that now? or what Religion is this that we have in theſe dayes, in compariſon of that which they had, who were ſo ſerious and ſo much affected and heart-wrought with their Religion, when we are ſo chil-cold and frozen, when our hearts are ſcarce kindly warmed, much leſs ſoftened and melted? It is no wonder there be much lamenting for the want of ſenſe and life, when there is ſo much heart-hardneſs the contrarie of this heart melting ſoftneſs.

But it may be Asked here: How comes it to paſs, that the People of God are now ſo unlike that which p. 238Gods People were wont to be: ſo litle ſoftned, contri…, and melted? I ſpeak not of externall weeping and ſhedding of tears: for there may be much of that, where the heart is but litle ſoftned, though not ordinarily: often when the heart is inwardly melted, externall weeping in ſome Meaſure follows, though the one of theſe may be and is ſome times without the other: neither do I ſpeak of that ſoftneſs which is peculiarly requiſit for the Communion: but of that which is called for in our ordinary walk, to make us folding, yeelding, and pliable to God, ready to receive any impreſſion that he will pleaſe to ſtamp on us: what (I ſay) can be the cauſes of the want of this. Or that we are not in it as Gods people were wont to be? I anſwer Firſt, It may be, that Profeſſors now have much more conceit of their Profeſſion, and content themſelves better with the form, and with the Goſpels being clearer now then it was in former days; and God reſiſts the proud, yea even pride in the Godly: Trembling & ſuch other evidences of tenderneſs in ſeverall of thoſe Saints mentioned in the Scripture, are not much to be found with us, we are Alace! very unlike them; a ſharp word from God would have made the ſtrongeſt of them to tremble, nay the Godly are ſeveral times in the old Teſtament deſcri…ed to be tremblers at the Word; but we, very generally, are bolſtered up, in a manner, with much ſtoutheartedneſs and ſelf conceit, as if we were ab…ve challenges, fears, doubtings and puzzling caſes of Conſcience: David, Job, Paul and others of the Saints, who had not ſuch ground for that ſort of exerciſe, as moſt of us have, may I not ſay, as all of us have? yet were more in it then we. Whence this comes, were worthy of our ſerious enqui…y. It's probable that Pride and Self conceit have much influence upon it. Secondly, p. 239We fear that Chriſtians now a dayes have much betaken themſelves to the external deckings and adornings of religion, with neglect, in part at leaſt, and to the Prejudice of Religion it ſelf, of the ſoul and ſubſtance of it; The Godly of old were ſingle and Plain in Religion, (as Jacob is called a plain Man) and taken up with the power of Godlineſs; but many now are ſo much taken with gifts and are ſo fond of them; that a Covenant intereſt, ſelf-denyal, Mortificati…n and the like, take them up the leſs: Many of you are at more labour and Pain to hold up a Name, then to mortifie ſuch a luſt, as is a Self-ſeeking humour, or to have matters tho ough and clear betwixt God and you. Thirdly, They made mo…e and greater account of Communion with God then we do, ſeeking after it as a thing they were taken up with, which now, Alace! is much neglected: b…cau e we bear that our Salvation doth not depend ſimply on intima… and familiar fellowſhip with God, we are the leſs carefull and ſolicitous about it; whereas of old, the want of it made them Sick of Love, as the Spouſe is, Cant. 5 And what longing, fainting and out-crying is there for it, Pſal. 42? It was a Priſon to them to be in a Palace wanting Gods Company: This is a main thing that ſoftens peoples hearts, even to have the Lord manifeſting himſelf to have the light of his Countenance lifted up, and the beams of his love and good will ſhining warm on us; too much ſeeking of great things for our ſelves, fo… g andure or greatneſs in the world, in makin… godlineſs ſome way to be gain and counting gain (as it were) to be Godlineſs: Alace! it is not much our care to have victory over the World, and that it may have li…le of our heart and Chriſt much of it: It's not the deſigne that we drive with ſuitable vigour, even to be Heavenly minded and to brook a ſoft p. 240heart: Love not the World (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 John 2.15.) Nor the things of the World, for whoſo loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him: They ſo far overcame the world, that they ſuffered joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods, knowing in themſelves, they had a better and an enduring ſubſtance in heaven, as it is Heb. 10.34. But the wicked, and men of the world, having what heart can wiſh, even waters of a full cup are wrung out to them; Gods People turn in thither, and will needs eſſay and try the comforts of a preſent world, what ſatisfaction they can yeeld them, as we may ſee Solomon did, to his great p…ejudice: for the things of the world in a great meaſure got the upper hand of him, and that after the Lord had appeared to him twice: It were good and much to be wiſhed that many of you did eſpy this evil in your ſelves: the Scripture inſiſts much in it, as that which mens hearts are mainly carried out after: and yet we can get none almoſt convinced of it: Men will be got convinced of groſs out-breaking evils; but of this evil, the moſt earthly minded wormes cannot be gotten convinced: nay even good people are hardly got convinced of it: but ye are not in the leſs hazard of it: and we wot well, it's a plague in the Generation that we live in, and hath much defaced Religion as to it's beauty, in the face of the Converſation of many: Ah! how much are they, in this, conformed to the word? And how Lamentably litle behave they like Pilgrims and Strangers in it, as the Saints did of old?

As A Second Uſe of this point, We have ground here to Commend to you the ſtudie of a Soul-fixing & faſtening condition: as ye would not make an unſure bargain with God, endeavour to have this ſoftneſs and melting of heart: This thing is that which makes a man to ſit p. 241alone and to keep ſilence before God, Lam. 3.27. And ſo to be in a poſture of meeting and covenanting with him: ſuch of you as know nothing of this, and are not afraid of being hard, cold and dead at ſuch an occaſion, are in eminent hazard of loſing a good bargain: and wo to Security and hardneſs, that hath that as the fruit of it: and in the by we may ſay that there is a Wo abiding many of you, who have no Serious thoughts of this frame, and eſpecially at ſuch a time. Therefore let me Exhort you to compoſe your ſelves, as having to do with God, and as having Gods love and favour, and his hatred and wrath laid together in the ballance, and as having life and death ſet before you, and ſeriouſly to ſeek after ſuch a ſoft and tender frame of Soul that fits for Covenanting, for renewing the Covenant, and for comfortable communicating.

But ſome may Object and ſay, It is very ſad, if this be peremptory, that perſons who would rightly renew their Covenant and Communicat, muſt be in a Soft and melting frame. Anſwer, It's uſefull, and it's needfull, nay in ſome meaſure it's Simply neceſſary: What ſhall we then do that want it? for Anſwer, I wiſh many were asking the queſtion from ſerious Minding, prizing and longing after the thing: for the want of Softneſs proceeds often from this, that we do not ſeriouſly mind it, otherwiſe, the want of it would much affect and afflict us, and would put us to ask after it, and God would not fail to give them direction that were thus asking the way to Zion. Yet for your help in this matter, I would ſay theſe three Words. 1. Once take a view of your caſe and labour to have a diſtinct look of it: what luſts are up, what challenges may be Tabled, and keep a good count of them. 2. Endeavour to have faith in Exerciſe on Gods Covenant and promiſes, and p. 242be ſure that the Promiſe is ſicker that ye lay hold on and ſee that ye make Uſe of it according to the Covenant: which is done, when with your Souls ye take hold of it: and that is not, nor ſhall not be reckoned preſumpti…n, when ye beſtir your ſelves from the Faith of Gods Covenant and Promiſes, laying the weight of that which ye would be at on the Promiſe, cleaving thereto for attaining of it, and in time, through Gods Bleſſing, your unſuitableneſs ſhall piece meal wear away, and ye ſhall become tender: and any bit of ſoftneſs and tenderneſs that ye win at, cheriſh and watch over it. 3. Make this a particular errand to God, having your Eye on the Covenant of promiſes, and on this Promiſe in it in Particular, and on other promiſes of this Nature and to this purpoſe, as, concerning taking away the ſtonie heart and giving a heart of flesh: of giving you a new heart: of making you to loath your ſelves, for all your abominations: apprehending, receiving and cloſing with Chriſt in the Covenant for attaining of it as a fruit of his purchaſe: for it is not gotten but in the Covenant: and therefore it's remarkable that this Scripture is ſet down Promiſe-wiſe, They shall come, the Children of Iſrael and the Children of Judah together: your Heavenly Father who knows that ye have need of this thing (as it is Matth. 6.32.) will give his holy Spirit to them that ask him, as it is Luke 11.13. And ye would credit and truſt him with the performing of that Promiſe to you: and endeavouring to be Serious in having this for your task and work, ye shal find it made good for you and to you.