Great and Precious Promises, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
… Pet. 1.4.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiſes, that by theſe you might be partakers of the divine nature, having eſcaped the corruption that is in the world through luſt.
THough Juſtice and Judgement be the habitation of His Throne, yet mercy and truth do go before it as two di…ne Uſhers to convey us home unto God. …ere are theſe two things that we would …ve Chriſtians principally to ſtudy. 1. That … would be much in the ſtudy of theſe …rongs and injuries that ye have done to …riſt: And, 2. that ye would be much … the ſtudy of theſe infinit acts of precious …ndeſcendency that Chriſt hath manifeſted …wards you, that the one may provoke you …to ſorrow and humility, and the other …y provoke you unto a ſweet aſtoniſhment …d admiration. And I would aſk you this, … Chriſt ſhould preſent that challenge unto …, which Abſolon preſented unto Huſhai, … this thy kindneſſe unto thy friend? O be…ed, what could you anſwer, when you …re thus reproved? I think if Chriſt had …t forgetfulneſſe for that bleſſed end, to …get the wrongs and injuries of his own, I know not unto what uſe Chriſt ſhould … forgetfulneſſe, for he knoweth not wh… is to forget our good works, but he ha… bleſſed arte of forgetting our wrongs; tho… we may ſay upon the contrary, that we h… a curſed arte of forgetting them our ſel… There are theſe three things that Chriſt … doth forget; they forget much Chriſt, … is the great author of the promiſes, ſo … may charge them with this, Why hav… …gotten me? 2. They forget their … …es, and theſe divine receipts of love … Chriſt hath given unto them. 3. They … get even their iniquities, yea ſometimes … forget them before Chriſt doth forget t… and paſſe an act of pardon upon the… ſhall not ſtand long to plead with you your undervaluings of that bleſſed and … Plant of renown; I think if there wer… more to evidence that low eſteem that have of Chriſt, but only this, that we ſo much in ſleighting the promiſes, it … more than ſufficient: but beſides, is t… not this to teſtifie how much you u… value that holy and juſt one; that ye … more to have an outward conformity … him, than to have an inward. We may … the Chriſtians of this time Nephtali; … are as a hind let looſe, and they give go… words, but we do not give Chriſt … practices: And is there not this alſo … teſtifieth our undervaluings of Chriſt … we ſlight ſo much, ſecret and retired reſpondence and communion with hi… ſuppoſe there are ſome that are he…e, … …nſciences beareth them record, they do …t exerciſe themſelves unto godlineſſe, and ſhall only ſay that word, that Gideon ſpake … another caſe, If God be with us, how … all this come upon us? ſuch a ſpirit of …o… …ality, ſuch a ſpirit of lazineſſe, ſuch a …irit of hardneſſe, and ſuch a ſpirit of un…rvaluing of Chriſt? I ſuppoſe, that if …ere were a Chronicle written of all the …es of the Saints that have been ſince Adams …yes, and the Chriſtians of this time ſhould …ad over that Chronicle, when they ſhould …gin and read the life of Adam, they might …t this to the cloſe of it, my life is not …e his, and when they ſhould read the life … Abel, they might put this to the cloſe of it, …y life is not like his; and when they ſhould …ad the life of Enoch, they might put this … the cloſe of it, my life is not like his: O! … which of the Saints can we go: and if ye …ould call, is there any that would anſwer …u, your life is like mine.
But to come to the words, we told you the laſt occaſion that we ſpake upon them, …at there were theſe things concerning the …omiſes holden forth in them. 1. The riſe … the promiſes is holden forth in theſe words, …hereby, or as we cleared the words may be …us rendered, by whom, which relateth un… Jeſus Chriſt.
The ſecond thing concerning the promiſes, …lden forth in the verſe is, the property of …e promiſe, and they are theſe four. 1. That …e promiſes are free, holden forth in that …rd, Whereby are given unto us; all the promiſes of the everlaſting Covenant are … and not debt. There is that ſecond pro… …y of the promiſes, that they are unchable, holden forth in that word, Given, gifts and calling of God being without retance. And the third property of the … miſes was, That they were exceeding gr…. And the fourth, That they were exce… precious.
The third thing concerning the prom… holden forth in the words, is the advan… that floweth to a Chriſtian by the pro… that by them they might be made partake the divine nature.
And the laſt thing concerning them … that time when the promiſes were eſpe… …y accompliſhed, it was then, when we eſcaped the pollutions of the world th… luſt.
Now, as for the firſt thing, to wit, fountain, original and riſe of the prom… which is Jeſus Chriſt, By whom; In ſpe… unto this, we ſhall ſpeak a little unto … two. 1. In what reſpects Chriſt ma… ſaid to be the fountain and original of promiſes; and we conceive he may be to be ſo, Firſt, Becauſe he purchaſed promiſes unto us by his own pre… bloud. There is not a promiſe in all everlaſting Covenant, but it is the pri… the bloud of the Son of God; this is cl… Eph. 2.12, 13. where ſpeaking of the tiles, that they were ſtrangers unto the venant of promiſe: he ſetteth down … 13. verſe, the way by which they … brought near unto the Covenant, and had …ight unto it, it was through the bloud of hit roſse: and it is clear in Eph. 3.6. that the …romiſes of the Goſpel were given unto us in …im, that is, through the purchaſe of him, …nd his merits: and 1 Pet. 1.19. where …e are ſaid to be bought by his bloud: for the …romiſe of Redemption, was the price of …oud. Secondly, Chriſt may be ſaid to be …e fountain of the Promiſes, in this reſpect, …at he is the Perſon unto whom the pro…iſes of the Covenant are firſt made, and …rough him are made over unto us; this is …ear in Gal. 3.16. the promiſes were given …to Abraham, not unto many ſeeds, but as to one, that is Chriſt; and it is clear from Tim. 1.9. where the promiſes of Grace …d Salvation are ſaid to be given unto us in … before the world was made: It is true, …t the promiſes are not given to Chriſt, …nſidered only as the Son of God, (for ſo … had no other relation to us then the Fa…er of the holy Ghoſt) but yet they are, …ſt, made to him as the Mediator and head … his Church, and as that bleſſed Dayes man, … King of Saints, and the Great Lord …per of all the Rights of the young heirs Glory; And we all receive of his fulneſſe, … grace for grace. Thirdly, There is this …pect, in which Chriſt may be ſaid to be … fountain of the promiſes, that he it is whom we have a right unto all the proſes; this is clear, 1 Cor. 3 12, 13. where…ſe two are conjoyned, ye are Chriſts, and …n all things are yours: If once a ſoul cloſe with Chriſt in the Covenant of p… miſe, there is not one promiſe in Scriptu… but he may write this ſuperſcription ab… it, This is mine, this is mine. Fourth… Chriſt may be ſaid to be the fountain of … promiſes, in regard that he is the Perſon … applyeth the promiſes, and maketh u… reſt upon them, and to believe them, … David did acknowledge, Pſal. 119.49. … member thy word unto thy ſervant, upon w… thou haſt cauſed me to hope: as if David ſ… I had never believed a promiſe, except … hadeſt cauſed me, and it is clear, Eph. 2… where faith is called the gift of God, … faith to believe the promiſes, it is the r… donation and gift of Chriſt. Fifthly, may be ſaid to be the fountain of the … miſes, in that he qualifieth us for the ac… pliſhment of them. Chriſt giveth us ſtre… to obey the condition that is annexed to promiſe, and Chriſt he infuſeth habi… grace in us, by which we may be helpe… exerciſe faith upon the promiſes: ſo grant all the Scripture were promiſes, if Chriſt did not help us, we would never lieve a promiſe, and there would never a miſe be accompliſhed unto us. Six… The laſt reſpect in which Chriſt may b… to be the fountain of the promiſes, is, … all the promiſes of the everlaſting Cove… they have their accompliſhment through… according to that word, 2 Cor. 1.20. A promiſes of God are in him yea, and i… Amen; ſo that ye are to bleſſe Chriſt, … ly for the giving of the promiſes, but … accompliſhment of them alſo.
That which ſecondly we ſhall ſpeak to …om this, that Chriſt is the fountain of the …romiſes, ſhall be to preſſe upon Chriſtians …eſe three excellent and ſoul-concerning …ties. The firſt, That they would not have light account of the promiſes, ſince they are …olets and ſtreams that flow from that …eſſed Ocean: O but if a Chriſtian did be…eve that the promiſe that he hath for his …ily bread, it was bought with the blood … the ſecond Perſon of the bleſſed Trinity, …ould he not have an high account of that …omiſe? And let me tell you, it is impoſ…le for the promiſes to be in high account …ith you, till once ye reduce them unto their …e, and to their fountain: but once know at all the promiſes are ſweet ſtreams of we that have run through the heart of pre…us Chriſt, and from thence they have …wed unto you, and then when this is be…ved, how ſhall ye ſit down and comfort …ur ſelves in the promiſes, and rejoyce ex…dingly in them.
The ſecond duty that we preſſe upon you …m this, is, That ſince Chriſt is the foun…n and original of the Promiſes, be much … the application of the Promiſes. And …e I ſhall ſpeak a little upon theſe three …ings. 1. A little unto the evidences and …ks of thoſe that have a right to apply … promiſes; and ſhall only name unto you …ſe few. The firſt is, to be a perſon under, …victions of ſenſible need and neceſſity of … a promiſe; have ye convictions of … …eceſſity; Then from that ye may … have a right to the promiſes, and are not … glad tidings? I know there are ſome are under ſuch convictions of their ſin, they think it boldneſs to apply the prom…. But I would ſay this unto you, that i… were under ſenſible convictions of your … neſſe, ye would give a world for an ha… a promiſe whereby to hang: believe it, exerciſe of miſbelief is never at its hei… …ill we would be content to dig through… earth to get a promiſe, and till we … at that, that our ſouls would purſue a them from the one end of the world to other: And for the grounds of this a… tion, that ſenſible neceſſity giveth a righ… the promiſes, if ye will look to theſe g… promiſes of the everlaſting Covenant, they not given to that Chriſtian that is det a need, Iſa. 55.1, 2. and Matth. … where the great promiſe of the Goſp… given out, and the invitation of … Chriſt, is unto theſe that are weary and … Iaden. Chriſt would account it an exce… courteſie, that ye would not diſpute, believe, and that ye would look upon y… neceſſities as his call to believe the prom… 2. A perſon that hath a high account o… Promiſes, he hath a right to apply the… miſes: Let once your ſoul cloſe with … by Faith and Love, and then you may … holdneſſe cloſe with the Promiſes. … ſeſſe, if we were more in believing the …iſes, we would have a higher and … … of the Promiſer: Would … the reaſon that Chriſt is not acco… matchleſſe, it is becauſe of this, our neceſſi… ties of the promiſes is not alwayes within our ſight, and our exerciſing of Faith upon the promiſes is not our daily work. 3. This looketh like a right to the promiſe; that which is born in upon a Chriſtians ſpirit when he is near God in prayer, and is under moſt ſenſible exerciſe under his own infirmities, he hath readily a right to apply tha… promiſe: As for inſtance, when a Chriſtian is debating himſelf out of Chriſt, which is but an unpleaſant exerciſe; to meet with a promiſe born in upon their ſpirit, that giveth them ſome ground of hope, that they may apply and reſt upon Chriſt: of when a Chriſtian is fainting under affliction and is like to give over; to meet with … word of promiſe born in upon his ſpirit … that doth uphold him in the day of his triall he may probably conclude he hath a right t… believe that promiſe. 4. There is that ev… dence, perſons that have an high account … the promiſes, they have a right to apply … promiſes, it is an excellent and moſt conce… ning work for a Chriſtian to believe the excellency of the promiſes, when he cannot have the actual application of the Promiſe… For when once a Chriſtian cometh to this … that the great things of the everlaſting Covenant are matchleſſe in his eyes; then tha… is the valey of Achor, and a door of hope that ere long Chriſt will apply the… 5. When a Chriſtian hath great delight … …he promiſes, when they are ſweet … …aſte, and are the refreſhing and rejoy … his heart, that is an undeniable ſign that … hath a right to make uſe of ſuch promiſes … Were your ſouls never refreſhed by reading of the boundleſſe Covenant of love, an… the ſweet promiſes that are in it? I would have Chriſtians marking theſe promiſes tha… have upholden them in their ſtraits, I would have them marking the promiſes that ha… been lievely to their ſouls, and ſay, Th… once was my goodly meat, and made me … rejoyce in the houſe of my affliction; and … would have a Chriſtian marking the time … the accompliſhment of the Promiſes, … which he will ſee infinite wiſdom ſhining … ordering the accompliſhment of the pr… niſes to ſuch a time. And I would have … Chriſtian marking the frame of his own ſpirit, when the promiſes are accompliſhed (as ye will find often in Scripture) and … …ll this, ye ſhould find ſuch a reviving an… profitable delight in the promiſes, th… …ould give a very full evidence of your righ unto them. 6. Laſtly, when a Chriſti… under ſtraits can receive conſolation from … …ther thing, but all prove Phyſicians of … …lue and miſerable comforters: when … Chriſtian is convinced, there is no joy … …e had under ſuch a croſſe but in the faith… …e promiſes, that is an evidence that th… perſon hath a right to the promiſes. … would only ſay this, O beloved in the Lo… …not this your guilt, your undervaluing …e promiſes, and your little exerciſe …ith? I would poſe you with this, w… …ſt ſtudied ye to apply any promiſe of … Covenant of Grace? When laſt did ye ex…erciſe faith upon any of them? Shall I tell you what is the practiſe of the moſt part of us, we ſtudy perhaps to apply one promiſe, but for the reſt of the promiſes we lay them aſide, and do totally neglect them: we ſtudy to apply the promiſes of ſalvation, and of having redemption through Chriſt, but for the promiſes of Sactification, for the promiſes to help us to perform duties, for the promiſes to ſupport us under the croſſe, for the promiſes to comfort us in our way to heaven, for promiſes in reference to all ordinary things, we are not much in application of theſe. O but if a Chriſtian were believing the promiſes, he might ſit down even while he is here and ſing one of the ſongs of Zion, though yet but in a ſtrange land.
The ſecond thing that I ſhall ſpeak to upon the application of the promiſe, ſhall be to propoſe unto you ſome rules that ye would mare uſe of in the application of them, and ſhal name unto you theſe.
Frſt, Study theſe four things, one is the faith…nineſſe and truth of the promiſes, that ſuch thing is the ſaying of him that is the faithful witneſse, and Amen: This was the… practie of Paul, 1 Tim. 1.15. the way how… he was ought to make application of the promiſe was, 1. by laying down that concluſion this is a faithfull ſaying; and Ren. 22. frot the beginning to the 6. verſe, whoſe there …n great promiſes made, and much ſpoken t… the commendation of heaven, this is ſubjoyned in the 6. verſe, Theſe are … faithfull and true ſayings of God: As if Jo… had ſaid, all that I have ſpoken concerni… heaven, will be to no purpoſe, except ye believe the truth of the promiſes; and this w… the practice of David, 2 Sam. 7.28. T… words are truth, O Lord, he ſubjoyneth th… unto the actual application of the promiſe 2. Study the ſweetneſſe and excellency … the promiſes, this was the practice of Pa… 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithfull ſaying, … then he ſubjoyneth, and worthy of all acctation: And this was the practice of David Pſal. 119.72. I have eſteemed the laws of … mouth better then thouſands of gold and ſil… O ſuch an opinion, to eſteem the promi… better then thouſands of gold! It is he… rodox amongſt the moſt part of you, th… prefer the world before the promiſes of … Covenant: and it was his practice, verſ. 10 and ver. 162. I rejoyce at thy word as one th… findeth great spoil: he had a higher acco… of the promiſes, then to divide the ſpo… …er war. 3. Let the Chriſtian ſtudy … neceſſity that he hath of the promiſe, th… there is no way of winning above that neceſity but the cloſing with the promiſe, a… ſaying hold upon it. 4. Laſtly, A Chriſt in would ſtudy the ſuitablneſſe that is in … promiſe to anſwer their neceſſities that they be under need, there is aprecio… way of remedy manifeſted unto them … …heſe.
The ſecond rule that we would preſcr… … the application of the promiſes, is, T… ye do not expect ſenſible comforts immediately after ye have believed the promiſe, a Chriſtian may apply the promiſes, and yet want the joy and ſweetneſſe that is in them: This is clear, Pſal. 119.25. My ſoul cleaveth unto the duſt. There he is under much unxiety and much ſorrow; and yet he is a believer of the promiſes in the mean time, …s the words following doth clear, Quicken one according to thy word, he layeth claim to the promiſe, and this is clear in the 81 verſ. of that Pſalm, My ſoul doth faint within me; There is much exerciſe of ſorrow, and yet he is a beleever in the promiſe, But I hope in …hy word: A Chriſtian after he hath believed the promiſe, he would put a blank in Chriſts hand concerning the ſweetneſſe of the promiſes to be made out in its own time. What …s ſenſe? Is it the precious indulgence of Chriſt that he giveth to his own. I would preſſe this upon you, propheſie nothing before your believing of the promiſe; but, having believed, ye may ſurely propheſie that the promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed in its own time, and the word that he hath ſpoken ſhall certainly come to paſſe: but as for ſenſe, is for quickening, as for comforting, as for receiving, ye muſt put a blank in the hand of Chriſt to diſpenſe theſe things to you as he ſeeth fit.
The third rule in the application of the promiſes, is, That ye do not build your faith upon this, that the promiſes ſhall be acco… pliſhed, becauſe probability and reaſon … to ſay the thing: I would ſay this … Chriſtian, that ye may oftentimes ſuſpect … promiſe is not near to be accompliſhe… when reaſon ſaith, Behold the word of the L… cometh, and that of times the Lord is nea… when we begin to paſſe a concluſion, … Word is not at hand, and the time of the … compliſhment of the promiſe is not nea… Certainly many times before Chriſt acco… pliſh the promiſes, he will learn us to be … ing above ſenſe and reaſon, and he will h… reaſon to ſubmit to faith, and he will ha… probabilities to contradict the accompli… ment of the promiſe; and when probab… ties are furtheſt away, that is His time … work: this is clear in theſe two ſignal d… verances of the people of Iſrael from Eg… and Babylon, Exod. 3.4, 5. and Ezech. 37▪ the beginning. And therefore as a Chriſ… would not quite his grip of the promiſes, … cauſe diſpenſations ſeem to contradict … accompliſhment of the promiſe, and ſo… time cryeth out, Why art thou become unto as a liar, and waters that fail? So on … other hand, ye are to build your faith up… the promiſes, and not upon diſpenſation even when favourable; ſeeing that we kno… the way that Chriſt taketh many times accompliſh the promiſes, is by contra… means to our apprehenſion; His paths … in the whilewind, and his footſteps are … known. And may we not cry out, Who … take up the wayes of God, whoſe ways more ſubtil than the way of an eagle in the … the way of a ſerpent upon the rock, or the … of a ſhip upon the ſea, &c.
The fourth rule that we would preſcribe into you in the application of the promiſes, …, That ye would cloſe abſolutely with the promiſes, I mean, without limiting the only …ne. There is a limitted cloſing with the promiſe, which is the frequent exerciſe of …ur hearts; we will cloſe with the promiſe, …ur with this reſtraint laid upon Chriſt, …hat whenſoever we begin to believe the promiſes, all things might go as we deſire: …nd this is the great occaſion that we do ſo …equently reject our confidence, and do re…ſe our hope when God doth not anſwer …ur peremptory expectations.
Fifthly, We give you this rule, that ye …ould eye Chriſt much in the application of …e promiſes. There is a threefold ſight of …hriſt that a Chriſtian ſhould have when he …pplyeth the promiſes, a Chriſtian ſhould …ave a ſight of the boundleſſe and conde…ending love of Chriſt, that ſo he may be …onſtrained to hope, and may be conſtrained … love. 2. A Chriſtian ſhould eye the …ithfulneſſe and unchangeableneſſe of Chriſt, …hat what his bleſſed lips have ſpoken, he …ill alſo do, and what he hath ſaid, he will …ikewiſe bring to paſse. And, 3. in the ap…lication of promiſes, he muſt eye the om…ipotency of Chriſt, that what he hath ſaid, …e is able to bring to paſſe. And O when …hall we have occaſion to ſing that ſong, What hath God wrought for us, which was the …ong that Balaam ſung who yet was but … …rofane wretch.
6. There is this rule that we would preſcribe unto you in the application of the promiſes, that a Chriſtian after he hath applyed them, he would be much in the exerciſe of Prayer for the accompliſhment of theſe promiſes; this was the practice of David, 2 Sam. 7.27. When God in paſſing many precious promiſes; David doth ſubjoyn that word, Therefore have I found in my heart to pray this prayer: And we ſee in Ezek. 36.37. all alongs that Chapter, God is paſſing moſt excellent promiſes; and yet in verſ. 37. this is ſubjoyned, For all theſe things, I will be enquired of the houſe of Iſrael: And in Jer. 29.10, and 12. where the time is coming, when God would accompliſh his good word (as he ſpeaketh) that is ſubjoyned in verſ. 12. Then ſhall ye call upon me, and ſeek after me: And Daniel 9.2, 3. when Daniel knew that the promiſe was near the time of its accompliſhment, then he ſet himſelf by prayer and ſupplication to ſeek the face of God. I would ſay theſe three words unto a Chriſtian; The ſmalleſt mercy that a Chriſtian meeteth with, if he can call it Samuel, that is, The ſon of prayer, and if ye can call it Iſaac, that is, The childe of promiſe, he may then, and doth ordinarily receive much conſolation in that mercy. O but a mercy flowing to a Chriſtian through a promiſe, if it were but a drink of cold water, and a piece of brown bread, it will be more excellent chear, then all the dain…es of the Kings of the earth. O but to eat and drink, taking theſe things as the accompliſhment of the promiſes, this would make us eat our bread with ſinglneſſe of heart, and much chearfulneſſe. And there is this, ſecondly, I would ſay unto you, When a promiſe is accompliſhed, and a Chriſtian is not much in the exerciſe of Prayer in the accompliſhment of it, one to a hundred if he loſe not the ſanctified uſe of the accompliſhment of that promiſe. Ah, know ye not that a promiſe when it is accompliſhed, may be a curſe to a Chriſtian. That word is moſt terrible, Mal. 2.2. I will curſe your bleſſings. And the laſt word that I would ſay to this, is, That a Chriſtian who believeth the promiſes, notwithſtanding that diſpenſations ſeem to contradict it, that promiſe ſhall be made moſt refreſhful unto his ſpirit, when it is accompliſhed. O but a Chriſtian that never had much jealouſie, nor much ſtaggering about the accompliſhment of the promiſe, when it cometh, it will be moſt refreſhful unto him: And believe it, there is not one hours entertainment of jealouſie about the accompliſhment of the promiſe, but it will impare the ſweetneſſe of the promiſe when it is accompliſhed, except ſo far, that the tranſcendant and free love of Chriſt is ſeen in the accompliſhment of them, notwithſtanding of our miſbelief.
The laſt rule that I ſhall offer a Chriſtian in his application of the promiſes, when ye meet with objections that ye cannot anſwer, but they do ſilence you; I will tell you wha… ye ſhould do with them, miſken theſe obſtructions and lay them by. This was th… practice of believing Abraham, Rom. 4.9. He conſidered not his own body being weak, an… the deadneſſe of Sarahs womb. The weal… neſſe of his own body, and the deadneſſe o… Sarahs womb were ſo ſtrong objections … the way of the accompliſhment of the pr… miſes, that he could not anſwer them; an… the way he taketh to refute them was, H… did not conſider them; as it were, he forg… thoſe objections, and went about his duty.
The third thing that we ſhall ſpeak to, … relation to the application of the promiſ… ſhall be ſomwhat for helping a Chriſtian th… is ſtanding at too great a diſtance, to get th… promiſes applied.
Firſt, A Chriſtian would be much in t… ſtudy of theſe experiences of the faithfulne… of God, and what others have met with When ye begin to apply a promiſe, ye ma… be helped in the Faith of applying promiſe by beholding theſe great records of the faithfulneſſe of God that are extant. This w… the way the Angel took with Mary, Luk. … 36. where helping her to believe that pr… miſe, that of her ſhould be born the Meſſia… this is the way that he ſtrengthened he… Thy coſin Elizabeth is now with childe, … hath gone ſix moneths, even ſhe that was call… barren. And I ſhall onelyonly name theſe … places in Scripture which may help you … ceedingly, and ſtrengthen you to believe … promiſes upon this account. There is that word in Exod. 12.41. and 51. It is a moſt remarkable ſaying, At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that ſame very day, (there was not one day miſled after the time that was ſet was accompliſhed) In that ſame very day they came out, and this is marked in ver. 51. again: And there is that word 1 King. 8.56. where Solomon, when he is ſinging moſt ſweetly to God, he taketh an obſervation of this, Loe (ſaith he) there hath not failed one word that God hath ſpoken to you by his ſervant Moſes.
Secondly, Ye would be much in the conſideration of your own experiences, that you have in the accompliſhment of promiſes formerly. This was Davids way that he took to ſtrengthen himſelf to believe the promiſe, He that hath delivered me from the rage of the Lion, and the paw of the Bear, he will deliver me from this uncircumciſed Philiſtine, 1 Sam. 17.35. and 37 46. And this was the practice of the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Tim. 4.17, 18. God hath delivered me from that cruel lion: And from thence he ſubjoyneth, And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work: And this was his practice, 2 Cor. 1.10. where theſe three are ſweetly knit together, God hath delivered me, he doth deliver me, and he ſhall deliver me. There is not one experience of this kind, but it preacheth that unto you: O believe the promiſe, and do not call in queſtion his faithfulneſſe.
Thirdly, There is that help; that … ſtudy much the excellency of the promiſe… that is the moſt noble and excellent way … move you to apply the promiſes, accordin… to that word, Pſal. 119.111. I have ma… thy teſtimonies my heritage for ever, and th… ground of it is that, Becauſe they are the r… joycing of my heart. The ſweetneſſe of th… promiſes would engage our heart to app… them.
And there is that fourth help, A Chriſt an would ſtudy the omnipotency of God that ſo he may be helped to believe a… apply the promiſe: This is clear in Zee… 12.1. where God going to paſſe many excellent promiſes, he uſhers in that diſcour… with high and majeſtick deſcriptions of h… power, in that he ſtreatcheth forth the heaven and layeth the foundation of the earth, a… formeth the ſpirit of man within him. An this was the practice of Abraham, Rom. 4.2… the way how he came to believe the promiſe He counted him able that had made it, that … might perform it.
Fifthly, For your help in applying … the promiſes, Study much the unchange ablneſſe of Chriſt, and his faithfulneſſe, kno… that he is the ſame, yeſterday, and to day and for ever. This was the way that Sar… came to the faith of the promiſes, Heb. … 11. She believed, and the ground of it … that ſhe judged him faithfull that had … …niſed. There is not one act of miſbe… that a Chriſtian falleth into, but it ſai… that God is not faithfull, and that he is not true.
Now the laſt duty that we would preſſe from this point, that Chriſt is the fountain of the promiſes, is, that we may have an high eſteem of the Promiſer; even of Jeſus Chriſt, in whom they are yea, and Amen. And I ſhall cloſe all at this time with this, are there not many here, that have no reſpect unto him who is that faithful witneſse, and the Amen; who hath promiſed us himſelf, and all things: and if ye will not take with the challenge, let your hearts but anſwer theſe two or three things. 1. Hath not the loſſe of things in the world affected your heart more, then ever abſence from Chriſt did? Hath it not? And can ſuch a ſoul ſay, I have an high account of the Promiſer? Is it poſſible, that theſe that will mourn more under the abſence of their Idols than for the want of him, that they can have …n high account of Jeſus Chriſt? I am perſwaded of this, there are ſome Merchants, that the loſſe of their goods at the Sea, hath diverted them from their nights reſt, and yet abſence from Chriſt never did divert them from their ſleep one hour. O when did love to find out Jeſus Chriſt, and to enjoy his fellowſhip, make you riſe up in the filent watches of the night, and to purſue after Him. 2. Have not your ſouls delighted more on the enjoyment of the things of a world, than ever they did in the enjoyment of Chriſt? Is not this true, that the increaſe of wine and oyl, and of ſilver and gold, hath affected your hearts more with joy than … Chriſt did? And have you a high eſ… of the Promiſer? 3. Are you taking … light to entertain fellowſhip and comm… on with the Promiſer; Is this true? W… went you to your prayers, but ye wear… ere ye went away? And have ye a h… account of the Promiſer? Is not that … language of your hearts; O when ſhall … Sabbath be over? and when ſhall the new … be gone that I may purſue after my Idols? would poſe you with this, if there were eye to take notice of you, would you … flight ſecret prayer, would you not ſli… Family Prayer? We love not to ſerve … ſus Chriſt. I know there are atheiſts he… that would love to go to heaven with… Faith, Love, Prayer and Repentance, th… would love to go to heaven by a way t… never one went before them. And now ſhall ſay but this one word to you that … the heirs of the promiſe, and have the ble… expectation of heaven, what ever the wo… do, eſteem ye highly of him: O remem… and comfort your ſelves in the thoughts … the bleſſed day which Chriſt (after he ha… paſt the ſentence of condemnation upon … wicked) ſhall go in upon the head of … Troups of the firſt born, he ſhall walk before us through the Ports of the New … ruſalem, having Crowns of Immortal G… upon his head, and then ſhall follow … Him His Angels, and then ſhall follow … Him the bleſſed company of the firſt … every one having the Harps of God in … …and, and they ſhall be ſinging as they enter … through the Ports of the City, Hallelujah unto him that was devd, and is alive, and now liveth for evermore. O to believe that day when firſt we ſhall all enter in through the ſtreets of the New Jeruſalem, when we ſhall be cloathed in white robes, having Crowns upon our head! O ſuch a day, if it were believed, might it make us often ſhake our glaſſe, and ſtreach out our necks, (as the word is, Rom. 8.19.) till once we ſaw that bleſſed day were approaching to us! There is no wearying in heaven, the promiſes are now accompliſhed unto them, and they are inheriting the promiſes; When ſhall that word be accompliſhed, or when ſhall we have occaſion to ſay it? Mark 1.37. Behold all men ſeek after thee; the word that theſe Diſciples ſpake to Chriſt: O ſtudy to love him, ſtudy to believe on him, for be perſwaded he is upon his way. And I ſhall ſay no more but this, that as all the promiſes that are within the bounds of this everlaſting Covenant, they are yea, and Amen, in an imbraced Chriſt, and laid hold on by faith; ſo I ſay, all the curſes that are in Deut. 26.27, 28. and all the curſes that are within the volumn of the Book of this Covenant, they ſhall be yea and Amen in a deſpiſed Chriſt, and not laid hold upon by faith.