The Confirming Work of Religion, Text
AN IDEA, Of the confirm'd ſtate of a Chriſtian in diſmall and shaking times.
THo the ſame meaſure of Chriſtians eſtablishment in the truth be not alike to all, but muſt have reſpect to the different trialls, talent, & improvements of ſuch for this end; yet may it be cauſe of aſtoniſhment, how rare any ſtudy of this kinde is now to be ſound, when its not only one of the higheſt concerns of Chriſtianity, but in a more then ordinary way called for, as the work of this day; yea, that this is a part of religion, which ſeemes leſt improven of any, for the more generall ſtate of profeſſours within the Church; under ſome conviction hereof, was this eſſay deſigned, where with humble confidence (I may ſay) the truth hath been ſought with that ſerious enquiry into the nature of theſe things held forth, as I judged needfull for ſuch, who have ſo great ane intereſt & venture not only through time, but for all eternity, to ſupport upon the alone certainty hereof, & er theſe dayes of triall, which we now ſee, paſſe over this generation, it may be found this was not unſeaſonable, or without cauſe directed to ſuch a time, if the Lord graciouſly bleſſe the ſame; nor will it (I hope) be found incongruous & without uſe to preſent yet further, in ſuch a method, & way of example, ſome cleare proſpect of a confirmed ſtate in religion, & what theſe ought to be, who with light & aſſurance of minde would follow the Lord fully, in ſuch a day, as is here offered in a 7 fold Character, under which a truly confirmed Chriſtian in the truth of his profeſsion may be ſtated.
CHARACTER. I. That he is one who hath ane other ſence, & impreſſion of this great ſtudy for attaining to a confirmed ſtate in religion, & is on higher grounds preſſed to follow the ſame, then what moſt of the viſible Church ſeemes to apprehend; & ſhould be thus conſidred.
1. As one to whom the glory of the Chriſtian profeſſion is in the higheſt degree deare, & to have the world ſee, that ſuch as embrace the ſame & does moſt fully adventure on the teſtimony of God in his word, are theſe alſo who walks on the higheſt principles of true, & enlightned reaſon; yea, who takes deeply to heart that obligation which is on all, who deſires to advance the repute, & honor of the truth, to be in ſuch tearmes therewith upon its own evidence, as they may know how to ſerve a rationall conviction both on Atheiſts, & inſidels, if called thereunto.
2. Who ſees alſo, how ſuch is the ſtate of fallen man, as ſtands in need of all the contributions that can be, not only to ſtrengthen the Chriſtians faith, and beare out againſt the ſtrong aſſaults of infidelity, but to gain alſo more credit and veneration to the truth with theſe who are not eaſily delt with, but by ſuch meanes, as beares ſome congruity to their naturall light, and reaſon; for which end the Lord hath affoorded theſe miniſteriall helpes, to render the misbeleefe of the world, or any pretenſe of heſitation about his truth more fully inexcuſable.
3. He thus ſees, how the moſt important, and fundamentall truths of Chriſtianity, needs the greateſt confirmation of his faith, & for theſe who enter in ſo high & diſcriminating a profeſſion from the reſidue of the world, to know in what manner they embrace the ſame: yea that the naturall order of things does abſolutly require to have the foundation ſure laid, on which ſo great a ſuperſtructure muſt reſt, ſo as he judgeth it a work by its ſelfe, and to need ſome peculiar retiring his ſoul in the moſt ſerious receſſe, and compoſure thereof, to attain a stedfaſtnes of his own in the truth, and to know the ſtrong and firm convoyances of that greateſt myſtery of the goſpell, in ſuch a manner, as needes no paund of a miracle to confirm the ſame. But he knowes here that no ſharpneſs of mens naturall underſtanding about the truth can ever attain a true reſt, and ſettlement of minde therein, without a humble, and ſerious ſpirit ſtooping doune before the wiſedome of God, and to enter as little Children into his Schoole; yea that by humble practice, and obedience of the goſpell there is ane undoubted comming up to the greateſt aſſurance and cleareſt demonſtrations of the ſame, as Joh. 7: 17.
4. He knowes that as nothing tends more to ſhake mens ſpirits, and ſtagger them about the truth, then a light and tranſient view hereof, ſo does the greateſt eſtablishment, follow on the neareſt approach by a deep and ſerious enquiry about the ſame, and thus clearely ſees that if ſuch who look but at a diſtance on the way of religion, did but once come that length of triall, as to have their ſpirits ſeparat, by a more ſerious reflection thereon, the firſt view they ſhould have, could not but be matter of wonder, and amazement, to think what can determine and ſupport in ſo marvellous a way as the life and practice of Chriſtianity, which is ſo viſibly above nature, and wherein they muſt do violence to the ſame, where they muſt part with the multitude, and oppoſe themſelves to the ſtrongeſt tyde of exemple, and muſt endure alſo in hope, and believe for things not ſeen, which were never the object of humane ſence, to any in this earth, and are oft called to part with the moſt deſireable things of ſence, upon the alone credit of their faith, yea, where they muſt enter in that profeſſion, on no other tearmes, then to be martyrs for the ſame, and ſeall it with their blood; ſo that he muſt needs ſee a Chriſtian according to the rule and inſtitution of the goſpell, to be the greateſt riddle, and wonder of any ſight within time; but when ſuch come more cloſſe and neare upon this triall, and have once underſtood the nature and greatneſse of that ſecurity which theſe have to adventure on, yea what is the glory of their hope, and the ſure ſpring of their ſupplyes, for their work and trialls within time, then will this ſecond wonder unſpeakably exceed the firſt; how its poſſible that ſuch are not of a more raiſed, and enlarged ſpirit, in the ſervice of the Goſpell, in that ſhort ſeaſon they have here for it on the earth, and how their triall ſhould not be more to beare the joy of ſo great a proſpect, and expectation, then any preſent griefes and troubles, yea how mens life who indeed makes earneſt of the Chriſtian profeſſion, is not in ſome more continued tranſport of ravishment and wondering, to know that they are ſurely made for an eternall ſtate in another world, and are among theſe on whom the glorious God hath choiſed to have the exceeding riches of his grace ſhewed forth in theſe regions of bleſsedneſs above for ever.
5. He hath another ſight and proſpect of the Chriſtian Creed, then moſt who give ane eaſy aſſent thereunto; and hath his reaſon ſo dazeled with the revelation of the goſpell and of the wonders thereof as hath put him to ſuch ane exerciſe as that 2 Chr. 6: 8. How to credit his eyes therewith, the more deep reflexion he hath upon the ſame, but will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth; and to judge their caſe, who after ſome fluctuating ſuſpence, are admitt to ſee the truth of Chriſtianity, with that certainty of its evidence, as the greatneſs of ſuch a diſcovery does require, may have ſome reſemblance to that tranſport which the Angells had at the firſt being of the creation, where the morning ſtarres ſung together, and the Sonnes of God shouted for joy, to ſee themſelves thus, who were brought out of pure nothing, entered into that ineſtable light of ſeeing God, and of their own bleſſedneſs in him, in ſo high a degree; ſo that he accounts it one of the higheſt attainements of religion, for a Chriſtian indeed to believe the articles of his own faith, and have his ſoul thus as fully perſuaded, as of his being, that ſuch a time aſſuredly was, & now many ages ſince paſt, when the glorious Redeemer of the Church, the ſecond perſon of the God head came doune from heaven and was revealed in our nature, that on him as ſurety t… divine juſtice in the roome of the Elect Church, was the whole guilt, and ſin thereof transferred, and in this marvellous way did the holy God take ſatisfaction to himſelfe, by himſelfe; that thus our nature is exalted, by the incarnation of Chriſt above the nature of Angels; that the time is neare when the meaneſt afflicted Chriſtian, ſhall draw in no other aire, then the breathings of the higher Paradiſe above, and now hath ane eternity of joy, and bleſſedneſſe before him; that within a very little time he ſhall know this welcome of our bleſt Redeemer to his followers here on the earth, come ye bleſſed of my father inherite the Kingdome, &c. when he ſhall take off the croſſe, and put on the crown, when it ſhall be then no more a matter of faith, but of ſence to be partakers of that inheritance with the ſaints in light, and know theſe proper manſions in that ſtate of glory and peculiar aſſignement thereunto which all the Redeemed ſhall then have, and be adjoyned in the ſame claſſe with the Elect Angels to be as pure flames of love, and joy, yea know what its to walk in theſe ſtreetes of the new Jeruſalem which are as gold tranſparent as Chriſtall, and what that meeting will be of his ſoul perfected, and in a triumphant ſtate with his glorifyed body, raiſed incorruptible and never to part any more; and to have his proper ſhare of that bleſſed and greateſt ſolemnity, that ſhall be celebrated in heaven of the marriage ſupper of the lamb, with the whole triumphant Church, and heare that honourable account which the great judge will then make of theſe trials of his faith, and ſharp conflicts which he had gone through within time, with that ſolemn teſtimony of approbation which will be given thereof, and ſince its ſure theſe great things muſt be a part of the Chriſtian faith, can it be ſtrange, that ſuch, as would in that manner converſe therewith (tho they be not yet ſeen) as no leſſe undoubted realities then any preſent objects of ſenſe, be not eaſily ſatisfyed with a low degree of evidence and confirmation of their judgement, but that their joy who are ſure here ſhould be perfected ſo far as this ſtate of mortality can beare, and thus find it eaſy to rejoyce, and glory in tribulation, and to weep now for a ſeaſon, who are to rejoyce for ever, yea to ſay in the words of Mephibosheth, let them take it all, & enjoy the ſame, ſince he who is their life and exceeding joy, lives and reignes, who is infinitly better to them then all theſe things.
6. He accounts the ſtrengthning of his faith, to be ſuch a concern, not only as it is his ſoules venture for all eternity, but as the higheſt way of gloryfying God here, that what ever tends to a more full confirmation of the ſame, he reckons alſo one of the greateſt additions to his joy and comfort within time; and that theſe manyfold aſſiſtances with ſuch reduplication thereof which the Lord hath himſelfe given for this end, are ſuch as no fragments of ſuch a talent ſhould be loſt; & tho he knowes the greateſt demonſtrations of our faith can add nothing to the certainty of divine truth in it ſelfe; yet are they thus given in regard of the ſtrong trials of a Chriſtians life, and of what their weakneſſe ſtand in need of for ſupport.
7. Its in this ſtudy, he ſees and takes to heart, how not only the condition of man in the earth, but the profeſſion of Chriſt alſo calls for ſuch a reckoning, that he may have trialls in that manner diſpenſed, when no viſible refuge will be found in the leaſt to ſtand by, but all humane comfort and aſſiſtance wholly to ſuccumb; as needes his laying in ſuch ballaſt now in its ſeaſon, and to be founded thereon with that aſſurance of judgment, as is needfull for that day, when he muſt either get through in the alone way of beleeving, againſt ſence, or perish, and tho no ſuch attainments of light can beare out then without preſent and immediat influences from above, and that it is ſure according to the day, ſo muſt the Chriſtian ſtrength be, yet does he ſee alſo, the want of ane eſtabliſhed judgement, and of ſome proper ſtock laid up of aides, and aſſiſtances this way forgainſt a ſharpe ſtorm, is like to make ſad work among the profeſsours of this age, er the trialls of ſuch a time have done their work.
8. He ſees alſo how the greateſt conteſt, which is this day in the world, is betwixt God, and man, upon the truth and aſſurance of his word; and that the higheſt triall, and probation of a Chriſtian, in which all the trialls of their life does ſtill meet, may be reſolved here, if they receive the teſtimony of God in his word as an abſolute ſecurity to rely on, yea or not, and tho this is the peculiar glory of the only true God, to have ane abſolute dependance of his whole work on himſelfe, and to be the alone center of his peoples reſt, yet may nothing be more evident, then that with moſt he beares that name, of being their truſt, when the whole burden and weight thereof lyes alone upon viſible grounds, ſo that thoſe bonds, and promiſes which he hath himſelfe given unto men does beate no more credit, then they have ſome externall ſurety in the earth, which they ſtill looke after, to ſtand as it were good and reſponſible for the ſame, which is the higheſt indignity can be offered to the glorious Majeſty of God.
9. He does much take to heart this preſent period of time, wherein the fluctuating ſuſpence and halting of ſo many under a viſible profeſſion of the truth is now one of the moſt diſmall ſignes hereof; & that it ſeemes to be the time, wherein the Lord will in ane unuſuall way take this generation off any implicit profeſſion of the ſame; and when that great roll of viſible profeſſours in all the reformed Churches may be er long in that manner called, as each muſt anſwer to his own name, and put to ſtand to the proofe before the world, when no temporall intereſt, but internall motives and certainty of the truth upon its own evidence, muſt beare out; yea that the moſt eſtablisht may er long finde it not eaſy to be keept from ſtaggering, and a few dayes come in the Churches way, more remarkable for triall then hath been in ſome ages before.
CHARACT. II. A truely confirmed Chriſtian, may be thus alſo ſtated as one who is in the firſt place moſt deeply taken up about that rare plot of mans redemption, and to ſee theſe great and wonderfull truths there, not ſingly, and apart, but in that harmony, order and conſent of all the parts thereof, as they are linkt together in this marvellous frame, ſo as to make the whole one entire peece, and where no part does in the leaſt interfere with an other, which he finds to be one of the moſt principall demonſtrations of this great myſtery of the Goſpell, that the Lord hath given for confirming his peoples faith; and thus in another manner then formerly can now entertain his ſoul herewith, and have his joy unſpeakably hightned, 1 to ſee at once the ruined ſtate of fallen man, and what a floodgate of all evill is let looſe on that race, not only morally in ſin, but what is penall in the woe and miſeryes thereof; yea ſuch a ſtate, where all hope of releefe is for ever cut off in the way of nature or by any created help; and where the execution of a righteous ſentence on ſuch for the voluntare violation of a law, juſt, holy and equall, can be no impeachment in the leaſt of the righteouſneſs of God; But then therewith he does ſee ſuch a releefe brought to light as can not only anſwer the whole extent of this ruin, but the glory of God more eminently diſplayed therin, then if the law had been obeyed, or abſolutely execute in its penalty on the whole race of man, yea which makes this more wonderfull to ſee a higher diſpenſation of grace unto man now under the goſpell then was to Adam in his primitive ſtate; whereby innumerable Chriſtians are made to endure and prevail over ſtronger aſſaults then broke him even in his integrity, which is a conjunction ſo marvellous that the great and infinit God only could finde out and effectuat. 2. He does now ſee how cleare a conſiſtence and harmony is here, that he who had no ſin by inheſion, but holy, harmles, and undefiled, ſhould be under the greateſt weight of ſin by imputation and by the exacteſt rule of divine juſtice made liable to anſwer both the whole duty, and full penalty of the Law, having as ſurety betwixt the creditor & debter, put himſelfe in his peoples roome to anſwer the full demands thereof both for debt, and duty. 3. It is here he does ſee that bleſt conſent and harmony betwixt the ſpotles juſtice of God, and his marvellous grace, ſo as his love is to the higheſt glorifyed, in that marvellous way, as ſecures the full and compleat ſatisfaction of his Law, and all the rights of justice inviolable. 4. Whilſt he is thus dazled with the greatnes of ſuch a light, and put to enquire what ſuch a myſtery can mean, he is then furder led on to ſee that rare plot and contrivance of the covenant of reconciliation between God and man, here within time to be the very duplicat, and counterpart of that eternall tranſaction and ſtipulation between the father and the ſon; and thus ſees what ever God hath declared and promiſed in the one to his Church, was firſt promiſed and ſecured to our bleſſed head in the covenant of Redemption; wherein as with a reverend and awfull diſtance, ſo with the greateſt evidence of light he is made to ſee here theſe reciprocall obligations betwixt them, and mutuall truſt for making good the whole tearmes thereof in the appoynted time. 5. He does alſo clearly ſee that rare order & harmony of time in theſe ſignall periods of the revelation of this great myſtery of Chriſt which from its more dark diſcovery and dawning did ſtill more gloriouſly open its ſelfe to the Church by a graduall light and unvailing of the ſame, as the Sun in its courſe unto the perfect day; yea hath his faith thus unſpeakeably confirmed to ſee herewith the goſpell Church being ſtill the ſame, whither of Jewes or Gentil's, and how that ſeries and conſent hath yet never been broken off ſince the beginning of one Church ſeparat from the reſidue of mankinde ſet apart as a peculiar people for the Lord, where none ever had right and priviledge to be members of the ſame, but by faith in the Meſſias, and profeſſion of their obedience to his Lawes. 6. It is in this union and harmony he ſees the whole branches and parts of goſpell obedience moſt exactly meet, and terminat, to advance both the greateſt excellency and bleſſedneſs of man, and aſſimulat him to the bleſſed image of God, yea how all the rules and precepts there does ſo entirly conſpire for this end as may conſtrain the world to ſee, and admire the glorious nature, and perfections of him, whoſe lawes theſe are, wherein he does ſo brightly ſhine forth. 7. Nor can he looke ſeriouſly herein and not ſee that ſweet concord as a part of this harmony, which is betwixt the promiſſory, and mandatory part of the goſpell, ſo as the Chriſtians comfort is moſt fully eſtabliſhed and no duty aboliſhed; but the very path rod to the muſt full enjoyments of the promiſe and proper way to attain reſt and tranquillity of ſpirit muſt be ever here by taking on the yoke of Chriſt. 8. Yea to confirm this entire union and harmony more fully he now ſees that exact and marvellous correſpondence which is betwixt that firſt fundamentall promiſe of the Meſſias, and the event; betwixt the whole ancient figures and types of the leviticall ſervice and the revelation of Chriſt himſelfe, in which all theſe did meet as their proper center, and now have their full end and accomplishment. 9. His confirmation thus grows to ſee that wonderful conſent of Chriſtianity, and native reſult hereof to put fallen man in a due poſtour towards God, towards his neighbour, and himſelfe, ſo as he may know by faith and adoration how to enjoy God, and his brother by love, and thus by patience, meeknes and humility to poſſeſſe his own ſoul, and enjoy himſelfe. 10. Yea it is in this rare and wonderfull frame he is made to ſee (and no ſight can be like this) that exact correſpondence which is betwixt the foundation and ſuperſtructure, how the whole tract of the goſpell is but one entire and compleat mean to glorify God, and reſtore fallen man to the higheſt bleſſednes, how that excellent ſtream of ſanctification does flow from that fountain head of ane eternall decree herein, which does ſtill run under the ground, until it break up at laſt in the heart of each Chriſtian, by the effectuall call of the goſpell; and thus runs doune through time untill it loſe its ſelfe in that unconceiveable deep of perfection and glory. Thus is it that each Chriſtian might attain ſome higher degrees of confirmation in his faith, then moſt ſeemes either to know or looke after if he underſtood more how to improve this rare comparing work of Religion by ſetting the great truths and principles thereof in their order & dependance ſo as each may be ſeen, in its neceſſare coherence with other and under its proper aſpect.
But the more deep reflexion and enquiry he hath herein, he is the more made to wonder and finds this one of the great aſſaults to his faith, that the revelation of the Chriſt, and redemption by his blood should have no greater effects this day amongſt men, and that the Chriſtian world is not in ſome other manner awaked with the glory of this light, and preſt after a larger ſpreading and diffuſion of this higheſt and univerſall good to poore mankinde; yea the more he conſiders this it doth highten his amazement to think how mens deſigns in the matter of duty and ſervice for the Kingdome of Chriſt, can be ſo low within time, whoſe deſigns and hopes in the cloſe therof are ſo high in the matter of enjoyment; or take ſo litle to heart, that the whole day of the diſpenſation of the Goſpell, amidſt the moſt diſmal trials may fall in therewith, is a continued time wherein we are called to keep the feaſt, and from one age to another celebrate the ſame, as a perpetuall Jubily of joy and exultation, ſince Chriſt our paſſover was ſacrificed for us; but oh how rare a thing ſeems this to be, and how litle of that flame and fervency of love to our bleſſed Redeemer is now kindled on his altar, that might be expected on ſuch wonderfull incitments therto, and which once was in the Church.
CHARACT. III. Though a confirmed Chriſtian muſt be ſpecially ſtated as ſuch, who knowes the internall part of religion, and ſealing work of the Holy Ghoſt on his own ſoul, which is not by words, but things of the higheſt truth, ſubſtance, and reality; yet is he herein not alone ſatisfyed to know this by ſpirituall ſence, untill he can ſee the ſame with the furtheſt evidence of light alſo to his mind; and have no leſſe a clear and judicious tryal of this great myſterie of experimentall religion, for confirmation of his faith, then to be ſenſibly affected with the felt power therof. And in the firſt place why this is neceſſarly requiſite and called for, with reſpect to the confirmed ſtate of a Chriſtian, may be thus conſidered, on ſome few grounds.
1. That the things of religion, which muſt be experienced within time, are ſuch ſublime, and wonderfull myſteries, as may be juſt matter of aſtoniſhment, and make men a wonder to themſelves, to think that theſe preſent pledges of ſo great a hope which is to come, are no shaddows, no appearences of things, but moſt ſure and undoubted realities; and that ſuch are this day in the earth who knowes ſo near a converſe with an inviſible God, and the ſupernaturall truths of his word, with the ſenſible fealing of that ineſtimable love of Chriſt, by this demonſtration of experience; yea who in ſuch diſmall times does aſſuredly know what the joy of his preſence, and an immediate fellowſhipe with their bleſſed head is, upon the greateſt certainty of tryall; ſince theſe are ſo high, and marvelous things, which exceed all naturall underſtanding, as the felt ſweetneſſe of their enjoyment ſhould not more deeply take men up, then to ſee the truth, and ſureneſſe of theſe principles, wheron they found herein.
2. Becauſe this teſtimony of the truth of experimentall religion, ſhould be underſtood not only as its of higheſt uſe for Chriſtians perſonall comfort and eſtabliſhment, but with reſpect to the publick intereſt of the Church, as a ſpecial truſt repoſed theron, to have the credit of this greateſt teſtimony and ſeal, demonſtrably cleared, with the furtheſt ſtrength of harmonious, and argumentive reaſon, for ſuch who look but at a diſtance yet theron, as may not only awake them to ſome deeper ſenſe and impreſſion hereof, but conſtrain them to ſee, how no naturall ſcience hath more clear, and firm demonſtrations, then the experimentall part of Chriſtianity, (which is the very life and ſoul thereof,) may have to mens reaſon, and judgement, tho they never knew it within themſelves; yea for this end ſhould ſuch, as have experienced the truth, and vertue of the Goſpell, reckon themſelves as witneſſes who are judicially ſiſted to put their ſeal therunto; & is now more called for in an age, when no particulare truth ſeems more ſtrongly impugned, then the reality of experimental godlineſſe is, and become as a publick theam of deriſion, tho men muſt either quite the whole revelation of the Scripture, or ſee this to be as eſſentiall to the conſtitution of a Chriſtian, as vitall principles are to a living man.
3. Yea its ſure herein, that ſuch as take religion to heart, muſt needs look to be put to the greateſt tryal of its certainty, and ſhould moſt nearly concern them to know if they can abide as firmly by their ſpirituall ſenſe as by that which is naturall, and doe thus know as ſurely in themſelves the operations and motions of a ſpirituall life, as that they have being by nature; and that here is no doubtfull or abſtract notions, but who have had ſuch deep tryall and reflexion on the ſame as theſe who dare venture their eternal ſtate on the known certainty theirof, as they could thence reaſon their ſoul to a ſtedfaſt adherence to the truth, if they were called to ſacrifice their lives therto, from what rare experiments, and proofs, they have oft had of the ſame in their own tryall.
4. It doth more ſpecially call for a demonſtrative clearing of the credit of this teſtimony, as one of the ſervices of religion, to promote the Kingdom of Chriſt amonghſt men, which ſeems leaſt improven of any with reſpect to the general ſtate of ſuch who are within the Church, who are ſo great ſtrangers to the ſame; yea ſhould be judged one of the great wants of this day, when Atheiſm is now at ſo aſtoniſhing a hight, that it is not more ſtudied to have the experimentall part of religion, (which in it ſelf lyes deep and hid, and is a ſecret betwixt God and the Chriſtians ſoul,) with ſuch clearneſſe, and by that manner of evidence demonſtrat to the world, as might tend to beget ſome more awfull ſenſe and conviction hereof, (when ſuch clear and unanſwerable grounds might be improved for this end) on theſe who look thereon as ſome ſtrang and dark riddle, ſo as they could no more deny or withſtand the evidences hereof, then that they have a living ſoul which yet they never ſaw, or could ever be the object of human ſenſe. And how ſad a proſpect ſhould this give of the greateſt part of the Chriſtian world, who not only know nothing of the true glory, and ſpirituall powers of Chriſtianity, but have not the very notion, or any ſenſe of the reality of ſuch a thing.
But in the 2d place it is thus that each Chriſtian, for being ſolidly confirmed in the way of religion, may as clearly ſee, as he does ſenſibly feal, the truth of his own experience, and have his faith as fully eſtabliſhed by this inward and great demonſtration of the things of God, as his affections are quickned, upon ſuch ſtrong and demonſtrative grounds of the certainty hereof, as theſe are.
1. By conſidering, his preſent and former ſtate, that not in a dream, but in the moſt deep and ſerious compoſure of ſpirit, he knows how once he was blind and wholly eſtranged from this myſterie of Chriſtian experience, which now he does ſee; and once had the ſame ſentiment hereof with ſuch who doe moſt deeply reflect on the ſame, but no ſooner did the truth, and power of religion ſeaſe on his ſoul, then he found himſelf entered into a new world to know the dawnings of this marvelous light, and what belongs to theſe injoyments, and vital acts of Chriſtianity, that hath not the leaſt dependence on any naturall cauſe.
2. By conſidering that marvelous ſuperſtructure of experimentall religion, which from the inward obſervation of Chriſtians in all ages, is ſuch as the world could not almoſt contain the books, that might be write hereof, which yet is ſo intirely founded on one and the ſame foundation, and does in all the lines of this great circumference, ſtill meet in the ſame center; yea thus how intire and harmonious a thing religion in all the parts therof is within upon the ſoul, as well as without, ſo as every ſtep in this way of the experience of the ſaints is no groping in the dark, but what is by line and rule, with as ſure and demonſtrable a connexion with the externall teſtimony of the word, as there is in nature betwixt the cauſe and the effect; which affords a more wonderfull aſſiſtance to his faith, then the greateſt externall miracles could ever doe; and tho the ſpirit of God does ſometimes in an extraordinare manner reveal himſelf to men (as acts of his Soveraign prerogative which make no rule) yet with the eſtabliſhed conſtitutions of his word does the continued experience of the ſaints moſt harmociouſly ever correſpond.
3. By conſidering thus alſo the being, & reality of grace, not in its effects only but in its proper cauſe and original, & how the truth of holineſſe in the life of a Chriſtian is ſo expreſs a tranſcript of the Gospell, in its external revelation, that the impreſſe doth not more clearly anſwer the ſeal on the wax then it doth beget the ſame forme and image of it ſelf in ſuch as believe; yea alſo that conformity it bears to the ever bleſsed Architype, as well as to the revealed rule, and how bright a discovery is thus of ſo glorious a being, and nature, to which its conformed, who is the alone patern, and exemple of all truth and holineſſe; which is ſo great a discovery, as he is made to wonder, how men in this age are ſo much awakened to find out the true Phaenomena of nature, (though in its own room a moſt choiſe ſtudy, and ſpecialy deſirable,) and will be as in a tranſport, upon ſome rare natural experiment, as made one in that manner cry out foreign; whilſt here is another kind of demonſtration, and of more transcendent intereſt then all theſe could ever amount to, on which the eyes of moſt are this day ſhutt.
4. By conſidering that uncheangable congruity, which is betwixt the nature of theſe things, injoyned in the whole inſtitutions of the Gospell, and mens being made happy therby, now in their preſent ſtate, and how great a temporal revenew of the fruits of religion, as inward confidence, peace, and ſerenity of mind, doth as natively follow the life and practice herof, as the fruit of a tree anſwers to its kind, and is ever found the alone true relief of mankind, againſt all the griefs and bitterneſſe of time; yea that its no diſtance of place, but of mens ſpirit by impurity, and corruption that makes ſo ſad a diſtance betwixt God, and man here in the earth.
5. He is thus further confirmed upon this great teſtimony of experimentall religion, by conſidering that its ſure ſuch as does bear this witneſſe are known; 1. to be ſuch who are of the moſt diſcerning and judicious in the things of reaſon, as any elſe. 2. Whoſe walke and practice uſe to have the greateſt authority over mens conſcience with whom they converſe. 3. who are found moſt intenſly taken up in the retired worke, and duties of religion, that can have no reſpect to the witneſſe and obſervation of others. 4. Who ſeeks no implicit credit from any herein, but does obteſt men to come and ſee, and prove the ſame in their their own experience, with an appeal to the moſt exact inquiry, and rationall tryall of all mankind, if here be any caſuall thing, and if that teſtimony of the doctrinall, and experimentall part of religion be not ſtill one and the ſame. 5. Who alſo out of the moſt remott places of the earth, and otherwiſe ſtrangers amonghſt themſelves, does yet moſt harmoniouſly meet in the ſame witneſse, and are thus mutually diſcloſed to other, by a near and fealing intercourſe of their ſouls, from ſuch an onneſſe in a ſpirituall ſtate and theſe ſpecifick properties of a ſpirituall, and new nature, with as diſcernible evidence as if one man ſhould meet with ane other of the ſame kind, in ſuch a place of the earth which were only inhabited with beaſts.
6. By conſidering alſo, (with a deep and ſerious reflection hereon,) that ſure and known conjunction, which is betwixt the moſt rare experiences of a Chriſtians life, and the moſt ſearching tryalls thereof, with that uniform conſent, that hath in all ages of the Church been, in ſuch marvelous things, as theſe. 1 what ſolemne tokens and teſtimonies of the love of God, and his acceptance, are found uſually to meet his people in the entry of ſome great tryall, or ſervice for him, even in ſome unuſuall manner then, in the ſence whereof, as it was with Elijah, they have been made to goe many days after in a wilderneſse ſtate; yea how this does not reſpect perſons only, but Churches, that the word ſtill uſeth to goe before with ſome remarkable confirming worke to ſecure the heart, before the croſſe and ſome ſpecial tryal of perſecution comes 2. That as each day hath its proper burden, and worke, ſo hath it its proper allowance provided for the ſame, which ſhould be no leſſe ſought after by a Chriſtian, then his dayly bread, and when the preſſure of ſuch a day grows to ſome more ſingulare hight, ſo alſo ſhould the expenſe hereof be in faith ſought for & expected. 3. How the choiſeſt mercies are reſerved to the ſaddeſt times of a Chriſtians lot, and moſt uſually croſſe to their own choiſe, and thus hath had the greateſt ſtruglings with theſe methods of providence, which hath in the iſſue tended moſt to their upmaking. 4. Yea how the returnes of a long deferred hope after much humble on-waiting, have been to ſuch as a Pisgah, whence they have not only had a clear and comforting proſpect of their bypaſt tryals, but for being more fully confirmed of the time to come; and can bear now that teſtimony, that the Lord hath cleared all bygones to them, and hath taken the vail off his worke, which for long had been as a dark and ſtrang riddle.
7. This likeways gives a moſt clear, and confirming proſpect of that great ſeal of experience, when he can now ſee, both in his own caſe and of others, what the issue of believing in a ſingular exigence and tryal and upon ſome ſpecial act of truſt and adventure herein does at laſt come to; which the more deeply its conſidered he finds one of the moſt peculiare aſſiſtances to his faith, and one of the greateſt attainments of experimentall religion within time, when he can thus ſee the ſame way of believing, (in ſome ſtrong and extraordinare aſſaults, which he hath had to cruſh and break him herein,) which hath carried ſo many thorow in their ſaddeſt tryals, bring him alſo in his turn, to be an inſtance in the ſame kind, to bear an honourable teſtimony to this ſure, and excellent way of believing before the world, and that none fear, after him, to hold by the promiſe of God and venture on that ſecurity, tho it then ſeem againſt hope, whoſe diſpenſations, did yet never, never give his word the lye.
CHARACT. IV. Such is a truely confirmed Chriſtian, who in a diſmall time, is not ſtaggered in his faith from the preſent ſigns and appearences therof, but hath his ſoul ballaſt with ſuch ſolid grounds of confirmation againſt the ſame, as theſe providences, wherat others doe moſt ſtumble, tends to his further ſtrenthning in the way of the Lord, when he does now clealy ſee;
1. How tribulation and the croſſe makes one of the moſt illuſtrious and beutifull parts of the whole frame of Providence about the Church, and in the lot of each Chriſtian, ſo as there can be no poſſible ſtumbling to any for want of light here, that ſore tryalls, and diſtreſſe ſhould moſt remarkably follow theſe in their journey, who have an eternall bleſſedneſſe before them in the clofe hereof, when ſo great a part of the Scripture is directed not only for comfort but for a clear conduct of the Chriſtians faith, through all the intrcacies and labyrinths of ſuch a diſpenſation, and thus ſees how highly congruous it is to the infinit wiſdom of God, that ſo ſtrait and narrow a way, in ſuch a ſtate of tryall as is here, ſhould goe before the ſtate of everlaſting injoyment; that there ſhould be ſuch a ſtage and theatre alſo, whereon the paſſive graces of the ſpirit, may not only be exerciſed, but diſplayed in their true luſtre and glory before Angels and men; yea that thus the Redeemed of the Lord be firſt trained in ſo ſharp a warfare, as may not only put a due value and reſpect on the greatneſs of that triumph and reward which is to come, but be matter of ineffable joy and exultation, that ever they were admitt thus to evidence their love and adherence to their bleſſed head and his truth here on the earth, and accounted worthy to be put on ſome hotter ſervice, and to peculiare tryals and conflicts this way beyond others, for ſome example and incouragement to the Church in their day; and here alſo he can now ſee how the greateſt injoyments of comfort are more oweing to the moſt ſharp and afflicting tryals of their life, then to the greateſt externall calme; and that to endure patiently and ſuffer for the name Chriſt is ſuch a priviledge as the elect Angels have not been admitt to, yea that the Lords chaſtning worke, and ſoreſt ſmitting of his own, is an act alſo of ſaving; ſo that thus the more deeply he ſearcheth here, the more does he ſee, admire, and conſent to that glorious piece of the adminiſtration of providence about the Church, and finds it to be one of the greateſt confirmations of his faith within time.
2. He does now clearly ſee how the truth and faithfulneſſe of God is commenſurate to his whole worke of Providence & that all the lines hereof, as they doe lead from his revealed councell in the Scripture, which is the adequat ſigne of his eternall councell and decrees, ſo doe they returne thither again, to make this great demoſtration clear; that if a full Hiſtory were write of this world, and what hath been conspicuous thorow the whole ſeries of times paſt in all theſe conjunctions of inſeriour cauſes, whether neceſſare, free, or contingent, and of ſuch events that ſeem moſt caſual, it ſhould be nothing elſe but an exact transcript and hiſtory of the Bible, to bear this witneſſe, quod mundus nihil aliud eſt quam Deus explicatus ſecundum ſcripturam; but though a full diſcovery hereof be not attainable within time, yet is it a ſad and deplorable want, that the great acts of the Lord, in each age of the Church are not more ſearched and ſought out of all them that take pleaſure therin, that they may be ſeen, obſerved, and admired by that part of the creation, Angels and Men, who are only in a capacity to know the ſame; which is a ſervice for the Lord wherin his praiſe, and declavative glory is ſo highly conceirned, as a Chriſtian ſhould account the meaneſt roome herein one of the moſt deſirable attainments within time; yea it ſeems juſt matter of regret alſo that this comes not under a more publick care and nottice of particulare Churches and of the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, where religion hath any true regard, to have ſuch ſolemne providences as occurre in that time, and place, which may be called experimenta lucifera to the Church, and of a further reach and extent then any private uſe, both ſearch'd after and recorded as becomes ſo high a ſervice to the Chriſtian cauſe and one of the higheſt conceirns of the poſteritie, to have ſuch not only poſſeſſed of a pure religion, but of that ſeal alſo; which the Lord hath in the great acts of providence appended therto, and thus to have that increaſe, which each ſucceſſive age brings therwith to the publick ſtock of the Church, looked after, as a piece of the greateſt truſt repoſed theron, ſo that the Children riſe not up and ſay, we have not heard nor have our fathers faithfully transmitt to us the wonderous works which the Lord hath wrought in their time.
3. He is thus alſo tought to ſee the foreign and demonſtrative cauſes of the moſt ſtrang judgments on the Church, to be as clear in the Scripture as they are in the event, and though the holy God in the day of his patience, and longſuffering is not alike quick in the execution of the ſentences of his word, yet does he ever eſtabliſh the authority of his Laws by the works of his providence in the moſt opportune ſeaſon; and as judgment deferred, is no acquittance, ſo does it more threaten its being the greater, when it comes, then a quick and preſent dispatch; yea though this tempeſt which now blowes on the Chruches of Chriſt, come to a greater hight, and the darkneſſe be ſuch, as no Moon or Starres may for many dayes yet appear of any viſible ſigns of hope, yet is his ſoul thus at reſt whilſt he can ſee the credit of the truth cleared, on which he hath more in dependence then any adventure within time, and does rejoyce, whatever miscarrying may be of inferiour ends, that this great and ultimate end of the works of God is ſecured herein, and the glory of his truth does ſhine forth in the moſt ſtrang and amazing acts of his providence, wherat many are ready to ſtagger, when they doe not wiſely conſider the ſame.
4. He ſees now likewiſe, ſo high a value which the Lord puts on the tryall of his peoples faith, and that the great dispenſation wherby he deales with men is by truſt and on the credit of his word, as it addes further to his confirmation, to ſee all human and viſible refuges oft taken out of his Churches ſight, yea his greateſt works in the earth make the greateſt delay er they be brought forth, & his Churches caſe put ſo far beyond help before a cure, as the firſt quickning of her cruſhed and allmoſt dead hope, muſt be at the mouth of the grave; and he is thus herein more ſingularly ſtrenthned, that when the Lord ſpeaks the ſame in the way of providence, which he hath ſpoke in his word, not by might nor by power, that he doth with unspeakable advantage ſupply and fill the roome therof by the next word, but by my ſpirit ſaith the Lord, which in this day ſhould with a full aſſurance of faith be both ſought and looked after.
5. It is in this rare ſtudy he attaines alſo the greateſt confirmation to his faith that could poſſibly be deſired within time, to ſee now when its ſo near the cloſe therof and after all the revolutions of times paſt, how the truth and faithfullneſſe of God, hath, as the ſun in its ſtrenth, ſtill keept its way ſtraight and fixt amidſt all theſe dark clouds which have been to darken the ſame and is now gone its courſe untill it draws near to the full and perfect day; yea thus to ſee how ſignally this preſent age is ſiſted upon that ſame appeal and ſolemne teſtimony which as Joſua gave, Josh. 23:14. that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God ſpake concerning yow, all are come to paſſe to yow, and not on thing hath failed thereof; and Solomon did bear alſo at the dedication of the Temple, 1 Kings 8: v. 56. Bleſſed be the Lord that hath given reſt unto his people Iſrael, according to all that he promiſed, there hath not failed one word of all his good promiſe, which he promiſed by the hand of Moſes his ſervant; ſo is this now that great teſtimony of the latter dayes and the higheſt tribute of praiſe to the glory of God in his truth which can be given by men, that this preſent generation ſtands accountable to make the ſame yea much greater appeal to the world, if they can inſtance one promiſe or prediction of that ſacred record of the Scripture which hath ever failed or fallen to the ground, but may be this day read in the event, & under theſe proper circumſtances wherin it was to take place in its proper ſeaſon, as evidently as it was fortold, and muſt ſtill bear the ſame witnes, Pſal, 18:30. that the way of the Lord is perfect, and his word tryed on all the adventures of faith, and tryals which to this moment of time have been made hereof, and of his being ſtill a buckler to ſuch as truſt in him, and are called to transmitt this glorious teſtimony to the ſucceeding ages, that it may never ceaſe to shine or want a publick witneſſe therto before Angels and men, untill the whole myſtery of God in his word be finished in that magnificent cloſe which ſhall be therof at the ſecond coming of the Lord.
CHARACT. V. A confirmed Chriſtian in this day ſhould be thus alſo ſtated, as one who hath not only attained a ſolid reſt and ſettlment of mind, upon the certainty of the Chriſtian faith, but does know the pure genuine truth of Chriſtianity amidſt ſuch high oppoſitions betwixt the Romish and Reformed Church herein.
And in the 1 place hath in this manner ſiſted himſelf upon ſuch a tryal; I as one who knows there is but one true and ſaving religion in the earth, to which God hath annexed the promiſe of eternall life which can never be divided againſt it ſelf. 2. Who knows that within a litle his religion will be tryed in the truth therof at the tribunall of Chriſt, where each muſt give account of himſelf unto God. 3. As ſuch who ſees there can be no poſſible indifference in the exterior profeſſion of either way, but that ſo high a contrariety of principles is in this oppoſition, that if the doctrine of Chriſt be on the one hand, it is ſure Antichriſtianisme muſt be on the other hand. 4. Yea who hath in that abſtract manner ſought to ſtate the caſe herein with his own ſoul as if he were come out of Paganiſm, to give a ſerious asſent to the divinity of the Scripture, and thus preſſed to joyn in with that profeſſion of the Chriſtian faith, which is moſt exactly conforme to the ſame, in the genuine and perſpicuous ſence therof.
In the 2d place he hath ſought to know, how he could imbrace the Popish creed and adventure his eternall ſtate theron, or can extinguiſh his reaſon, and conſcience ſo far as to believe that the holy God would ever impoſe ſuch a faith upon men, as this is; I where he muſt abandon theſe principles of naturall reaſon in the moſt neceſſare uſe therof, which God hath himſelf planted in mans ſoul, ſo as not to truſt his own eyes but others in that great intereſt of his eternall ſtate, and with his own conſent be ſhutt out from all proper knowledge of the rule of his religion, yea account a blind and unlimited obedience to men, amongſt the higheſt excellencies of ſaith. 2. Where he muſt at once believe the fullneſse, and perfection of the Scripture, and to be not only fitted for that great end of bringing mankind to God, but for ſuch an univerſall uſe herein, as to make the ſimple wiſe, and that the poor may receive the Goſpell; and yet believe alſo that it is a maſſe of dead, and unſenſed characters, untill the Romish Clergy put a juſt ſenſe theron, tho its ſenſe and meaning is the very ſoul thereof, yea thus paſſe from the whole letter of the ſame, or any certainty of its truth, from intrinſick evidences and theſe marks and characters of its divinity, wherby the Chriſtian cauſe could be maintain'd againſt Pagans. 3. Where he muſt believe alſo that theſe are the words of Chriſt Joh. 7:17. if any man doe my will he shall know my doctrine whither it be of God or not, and that men errs through not knowing the Scripture Math. 22. and yet believe therewith, that theſe ſacred fountains of light should be shutt up, to keep men from going wrong, and that the ſole right of underſtanding the ſame belongs to a few, but not to the multitude, who yet can pretend no extraordinare aſsiſtance or revelation herein, nor will themſelves come to theſe waters of Jealouſie to be tryed. 4. Where he muſt needs believe that the Scriptures are the oracles of God committ to the Church, to give anſwer in every darke caſe Rom. 3:2. the type and forme of ſound doctrine, Rom. 6.17. unto whoſe ſentence in all matters both of faith and practiſe, we are expresſly referred, Is. 8.20. and yet believe alſo that it hath no authority or deciſive voice, but what is precarious and dependant on the Romish Church, and thus conſent to have the whole Chriſtian faith viſibly unhinged of that foundation of the Scripture, and ſubjected to a ſupreme, viſible, and infallible judge here in the earth, with ſuch a claime of dominion over the faith of the ſaints, as the Apoſtles of Chriſt durſt never owne, but did fully diſclaime 2 Cor. 1:24. 5. Where he muſt believe that Jeſus Chriſt came for this end, to ſave loſt man, and by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are ſanctified Heb. 10:18. and yet joyn in the ſame faith herewith a human ſatisfaction for ſin, ſo as men may both merit, mediate, and ſupererogate above what is needfull for themſelves, and be thus ſaved in the ſame way of life, which was by the covenant of works; aſcribing that only to Chriſt to give ſalvation to their merits, which yet their own intrinſick value, and condignity doth require as a debt. 6. He finds not how in the ſame creed he could poſſibly hold by one Mediator betwixt God and man, where a plurality for this end is admitt; and by the reality of Chriſts human nature, and his having a true and finit body, which is ſubjected to have a new created being, each time in the Conſecrate Hoſtia; or believe the truth of his ſufferings as now fully accompliſhed, and to be repeated no more, when it is in that dayly ſacrifice of the Meſſe ſtill offered, as a propitiatory ſacrifice for the liveing and the dead; ſo as on the moſt ſevere and impartial inquiry here, he cannot find how one holding by theſe principles ſhould goe a further lenth then Morality, or claim another ſtanding then by a covenant of works. 7. Nor knows he how to believe at once the truth of the Goſpell, to be a doctrine of Holineſſe, and infinite purity, and yet joyne in the ſame faith herewith ſuch an immunity and indulgence for men to ſin, as money can ſtand for merit, and the rich have the moſt eaſy and large entrey to heaven and account it a priviledge to deſtroy themſelves; yea where ſome externall ſeverities and pennance to the fleſh, like to the lanching and gashing of Baals Prieſts, are reckoned enough to ſupply the roome of Chriſtian mortification. 8. Yea he finds it not poſible to believe, that ſin by the blood of Chriſt can only be expiate, and is his alone worke, who hath purged our ſin himſelf, Heb. 1:3. or that there are but two ways that lead to a twofold ſtate of men, a ſtrait way which leads to a life, and a broad unto deſtruction, Math. 7:14. and yet believe that there is a Purgatory after this life, where men muſt be tormented and ſuffer extream pains there, to expiate ſuch venial ſins, as their prayers and pennances here could not doe; yea is here made to wonder how any that believes ſuch a thing, can ever have true peace, or comfort in the world, but doe either take it as a fiction, or forget themſelves when they are chearfull; where the fear of ſuch a place, the uncertainty of releaſe, and how long a term it may be er this purging worke be compleat, (when their own writers aſſigne no leſſe time, then 10000 Years as needfull to ſatisfy for ſome ſins,) and leaſt it prove a reall hell, muſt ſtill be a preſent terrour; nor can he believe that ſuch poſſibly doe credit themſelves herein, who aſſume this power to change the condition of the dead, ſince were it really believed, that the keyes of ſuch a priſon were here in mens hand, and could, by the largeſt dotations to the Romish Church, get a ſafe outgate thence, it were not ſtrang, to ſee the temporall ſtate of Criſtendome in a ſhort time made over to theſe, and ſhould Judge they were in a ſtrang manner indead priviledged by the whole reſidue of men, who by ſuch a power over the world to come can make ſo eaſy a purchaſe over this alſo which is preſent. 9. He finds & is ſure he could never get his reaſon and conſcience brought to ſuch a faith, even tho he made a ſimulate profeſſion herein, of that pretended ſupremacy of Peter as Bishop of Rome, on which the whole frame and ſtructure of the papacy leans, and the vertue of all the pardons and abſolutions founded theron, on which ſo many have adventured into an other world except he would thus build on the ſand only, but not on the rock. 10. He finds alſo how ſuch an erection of the Goſpell Church in her militant ſtate here, as the Papacy in its complexe frame is, unite in ſuch an head, as the Pope, who as the ſole vicegerent of Chriſt in the earth, is at once inveſted with a civill Monarchy, and univerſall impire over the Church, to impoſe, and judge in the higheſt tranſactions that relate to the eternall ſtate and immortall ſouls of men, is a thing that as to matter of right is as forreign to the Scripture and incompatible therwith, as Mahumitanisme can be, and as to matter of fact is a truſt that no created being could ever exerce. 11. he ſees & is ſure that he muſt either loſe ſight both of the rule, and ſpirit of the Goſpell, or have a juſt abhorrence at that way, where he ſhould be inevitably involved in a virtual conſent, and acceſſion to all that cruelty and blood which for ſo many ages hath been ſhed therin, when its ſo clear that this was no exorbitance only of practice, but a native reſult of their tenets, and principles, and not only diſpenſed with, but counted an highly meritorious ſervice; yea when it is ſure that under no ſecular government of the moſt tyrannicall ſtate that ever was in the world, hath ſuch arbitrary violence, and oppreſſion been exerced, or ſo much innocent blood ſhed, as by this party. 12. And tho his judgment ſtood indetermined and in an equall ballance upon this great controverſie, he could not exerce reaſon, and not ſee upon what hand ſuch a deciſion is as was in Solomons time of the true mother of the child, and who does moſt ruthfully ſeek to intereſſe themſelves in the imminent hazard of the Chriſtian faith, and under leaſt influence of any temporall motives does this day ſtand for the truth and ſubſtance of Chiſtianity, and plead that it be not deſtroyed in envy and hatred to them; or on what ſide it is likeways that this manner of conqueſt is moſt followed to gain men to the profeſſion of the truth by a prevailing evidence of their own light and judgment herein, and to require their exacteſt perſonall tryall, and inquiry about the ſame.
In the 3d place, tho he ſees there can be no pretence of doctrinall wavering about the Reformed religion, and finds it not eaſy to comprehend how in one and the ſame age, wherin the truth hath ſo brightly ſhined, this way of Popery, ſhould have prevalence, or gain ground any more by ſeduction from arguments to the reaſon or conſcience of any; yet ſince it is an hower of temptation, and of fainting, above all that hath been hitherto known, and mens eyes arreaſted with ſuch a proſpect of the time, as is like to ſtagger the faith of the moſt eſtabliſhed, he is thus preſſed, as one of the higheſt duties of this day, to know and ſearch out what may afford greateſt aſſiſtance to his faith, from the diſpenſations of providence therin, and to know the evidence and ſtrenth of ſuch reſlections as theſe are for this end.
1. That its ſure, as the ſmalleſt things which the Lord does afford, to ſtrenthen and ſupport againſt ſuch a ſtorme, ſhould be ſeriouſly improven, and taken to heart; ſo does it lay us in the way of that promiſe for having greater things given to our obſervation; yea that now is the time when ſuch as have been moſt comforted by the word of promiſe, may be put to the foreſt tryal in their faith of any, to keep off ſtumbling at the worke of providence, and be thus tryed according to the meaſure of theſe confirmations.
2. Tho the Churches declinings under greateſt meaſures of light may be too viſible, and that religion gains not by perſecution as formerly, with ſuch an amazing chang as is now in her external condition, yet ſees it to be no ſtrang thing, when moſt ſignal warnings have gone before of ſuch a tryal with too evident diſpoſitions towards the ſame and diſcovery of its approach in all the cauſes therof; yea might be forſeen by all, that the holy God would not ſtill bear with an impure, and uninlivned profeſſion of the pure and glorious truth of Chriſtianity, which hath now long been one of the moſt ſad, and mortall ſigns in the publick ſtate of religion; nor can it be found that ever any Church did decline and fall from the purity of the truth and loſe ground herein by externall perſecution, where a judicial departure of its life and power did not remarkably goe before; ſo as it is not of late this hath been too clearly preſaged, that ſom… dark and unuſual meaſure of tryall from Amichriſt, and that ultima clades of the Reformed Churches, was drawing near, which would be ſore er it had done its worke.
3. He ſees alſo, how this preſent hower is not more ſearching and dark, then it may be clear herewith, 1. that now after the iſſue of that oppoſition, which was betwixt the Chriſtian faith in the firſt entry of the Goſpell and that dying Apoſtate Church of the Jewes, and next with the Pagan Impire, after that new erection of the Goſpell Church among the Gentils, which is now over; ſo is the greateſt tryall of the latter dayes fixed on the deciſion of that long depending controverſie betwixt Chriſt and Antichriſt. 2. That according to the Scripture we muſt believe that as after the manner of Egypt, that glorious triumph and delivery of the Church from Antichriſt will be ſurlie carryed on, ſo the more near it comes to the laſt aſſault, and when this falls in to have its proper roome in the frame and adminiſtration of providence, the greater extremitie, terrour and darkneſſe may be expected alſo, as hath not been in any ſuch manner formerly, yea with that unite and formidable conjunction of ſtrenth and growing ſucceſſe of this adverſary for a time, as the moſt eſtabliſhed Chriſtians may be in hazard to ſtagger. 3. That now is the day wherin the Lord will have men know what it is to have the Bible as the alone ſecurity of the Proteſtant religion, on which they muſt intirely reſt no leſſe then it is the ſole rule and ſtandard therof, which is a tryall worthy of all that expenſe of the pain, anguish, and wreſtlings, that can now poſſibly attend the ſame.
4. Whilſt the great ſtandard of Antichriſts Kingdome is viſibly ſet up and brought to the open field, as its this day in the Church of France, and all human help taken out of ſight; yet does he ſee herewith, 1 how this now is concluded, as the moſt infallible remedy to recover Popery, and that argument, to which they truſt more then to Peters keyes to wit theſe ſanguinary lawes by the ſword, and rack, which they have again betaken themſelves to, tho ſuch an argument the Scripture never knew, which ſober heathens would abhorr, and gives up the credite of all religion to Atheiſm. 2. That there can be no more evidence of a deſperate and ſinking cauſe then is here, and how nothing elſe can ſupport it but theſe weapons which are not againſt the Conſcience, or by any terrours of the 2d death, but of the firſt. 3. that this is ſuch an argument, (if they have not in a ſtrang manner forgot,) which hath within theſe 100 Years been ſo fully anſwered, and by ſuch an immediate appearence of God in the Kingdome of France, that according to theſe meaſures of cruelty againſt the Proteſtants there, ſo was it returned in a deludge of their own blood, yea thus both the publick ſtate of the Church and faith of the ſaints in the truth more deeply rooted; and tho we yet ſee not the end of theſe wonders and the darke ſide only of the diſpenſations of ſuch a day, yet doe we know this ſore rod on the Church is but as the ſaw and axe in the carpenters hand, who ſhall never undoe that glorious worke which Chriſt hath done and is ſtill further perfecting on the ruins of Antichriſts Kingdome.
5. Tho ſome unuſuall deeps and methods of ſubtilty be now on foot alſo againſt the truth, yet he cannot but ſee how nothing could more effectually tend to confirm the proteſtant cauſe and take the credite of popery off the conſcience of theſe in their own profeſſion who are conſiderate and in the leaſt ſerious herein; when the world muſt thus ſee, 1 how eaſy its for ſuch to take any meaſure and latitude in the doctrinals of their profeſſion, when this can moſt ſerve the juncture of ſuch a time and highten or narrow the controverſy betwixt them and the Reformed Church at their pleaſure, ſo as to ſacrifice the Church of Rome unto the Court of Rome, if no leſſe can ſecure that end. 2. That the moſt horrid Turkish Slavery over mens bodies comes no ſuch lenth, as that ſtrang claime that theſe now make of an abſolute impire over mens conſcience by the ſword, and to put them to ſuch a tribute of their obedience, and they ſhall then be ſecure, if they but come the lenth to ſin againſt their light, and adventure on ſo ſmall a thing as to goe to Hell and perish eternally, ſince its an externall and ſimulate profeſſion of ſuch a way they doe thus inforce from theſe, whom they ſee cannot in faith be perſwaded hereof. 3. Yea it hath been too viſible how much that maſter-plot, and ingine, hath in theſe times been working, to take men firſt off all ſenſe of religion, and deſtroy them in the morals of Chriſtianity, to make this conqueſt more eaſy, that ſuch may have no inward defence and ſupport againſt the terrour of human violence, yea in this way, when they have ſought how to divide Proteſtants among themſelves and betwixt Rulers and them, this ſeams the laſt and greateſt ingine of all, how to divide betwixt them and their God, and act the ſame plot, which was laid betwixt Balack and Balaam, as knowing that its no naked ſhew or profeſſion of the Reformed religion they nead fear, ſo much as that old proteſtant ſpirit in the power & life therof, before which their intereſt could never ſtand, and dreads nothing ſo much as the reviving hereof, which as the hand-writing upon the wall did ever more threaten the fatall ruine of that Kingdome, then any human power or ſtrenth.
6. Here alſo he finds juſt cauſe of aſtoniſhment, how Kings or great men in the earth ſhould give their power to ſupport the Romish intereſt, that hath been ſo viſibly deſtructive to theirs, when its not poſſible to deny how its firſt advance and progreſſe to that ſupreme hight, which it once attained, and the declining of the civill impire, did by the ſame ſteps goe together, untill Magiſtracy was turned as unto a dead image and shaddow, except its being enlivened by their breath and authority, as it was during the whole hight of that Antichriſtian power; nor will it be denyed that in theſe late times the French Monarchy was never more near its diſſolution in its right line, then by the Catholick league there; and would ſeem not eaſy to be forgot, how Henry the 3d, who had moſt ſought to cruſh the Proteſtants there in purſuance of that league, was at laſt conſtrained to flee to ſuch for help, or by whom he was killed; and that Heroick Prince Henry the 4. was firſt ſtobbed in the mouth and then in the heart; yea that the publick records of that nation cannot poſſibly deny how the houſe of Burbon owes its power and preſervation more to the Proteſtants, (without whom it had been fully extinct,) then Ahaswerus did to Mordecai the Jew for what he found written in the Chronicles of Perſia, when the decree was then paſt to deſtroy all the ſeed of the Jewes.
7. As in no times paſt was ever a greater expectation then is now, which way the ſcale will turn, and what will be the end of theſe wonders, when the neareſt events of Providence are ſo darke and amazing; ſo does he find this, in ſome eztraordinare way called for, to be ſtill, and ſee what God will doe for his Church, and with humble confidence look for ſome diſpenſation as hath not hitherto been in this extreme exigence, and tho he doe not appeare in that way and manner as in former times, that it ſhall be in a way more ſignally glorious, beyond what hath formerly been; yea does in faith thus judge, that then is the Churches day broke, and hath found the ſure way of her ſtrenth, and right lith of duty, when her hope and confidence is taken of all viſible refuges and intirely ſetled on her inviſible head, and his promiſe put to ſuite by prayer without fainting herein. It is ſure the truth & faithfullneſſe of God ſtands ingadged for Antichri…s fall, as well as for ſalvation by Chriſt, and ſince he hath ſaid this adverſary ſhall be broke and brought down, it muſt ſurely be, tho the duſt of the ground ſhould riſe for this end, and now is the faith of the ſaints called for becoming the greatneſſe of ſuch an aſſurance, on which are the eyes of men, of their own conſcience, of the elect Angels, yea of the glorious God, to ſee who does indeed credit him in this day, when there is no ſenſible ſupport herein; and tho it is now like to ſhake ſore the departure of many from the faith who had ſome viſible profeſſion therof, yet may it be hoped for, that the turn of the next tyde ſhall bring in moe, with a ſolid and true increaſe to the Church, then theſe ſad dayes doe now take off.
CHARACT. VI. It is thus a confirmed Chriſtian ſhould be ſpecially conſidered, as one who is not only at reſt on the known certainty of his ſaith, but is ready to render ſome account of the ſolid rationall grounds and demonſtrations hereof, unto all who ask after the ſame, and doth thus judge, 1 that theſe are the proper and appointed means which the Lord hath afforded for the greateſt confirmation of mens faith within time, yea preferable to any externall miracles, which are more extraordinare and remott aſſiſtances therto. 2. That theſe are given as ſo great an helper to his joy, and excitment of his affections to follow the Lord fully, as makes him wonder how the greatneſſe of theſe things, which men are called to believe, can come near their thoughts, and yet not more taken up about this confirming worke. 3. That the too viſible neglect herof, both with reſpect to the youth and community of profeſſours in the Church, ſeems one of the ſad, and fundamentall defects of this day. The reaſons hereof, with ſome clear view of theſe means which might moſt anſwer ſuch an end, are briefly offered, in this preceding worke.
CHARACT. VII. À truely confirmed Chriſtian may in the laſt place be herein alſo conſidered, as ſuch whoſe faith being oft tryed through all theſe ſtages of Chriſtianity he hath been taken; hath ſome proper record of the moſt choiſe, and ſignall confirmations of his life, to improve the ſame not only for his own ſupport in that laſt warfare of death, but for ſtrenthning the faith of others; wherin he does thus judge, 1 that there could be no true ſupport or relief from religion here in the earth, if it cannot bear out then, and that death is the great touchſtone and tryall, when the true value and difference betwixt things of an eternall truth and ſubſtance, and the things of this world, will be beſt ſeen. 2. He reckons each real Chriſtian, by his profeſſion then ſiſted and accountable, even by ſome explicit perſonall teſtimony, to put to his ſeal that God is true, and bear the ſame witneſſe with his laſt and dying breath to the truth of Chriſtianity, which he gave in the whole courſe of his life; and of that joy, complacence and aſſurance of mind, which he hath found, and now hath in the way of truth, ſo as to preſſe the ſame on his deareſt relations as their alone true intereſt. 3. He ſees alſo, how honorable it is for the Lord, that ſuch whoſe faith hath been oft tryed, (and when thus with joy and admiration he can look back on the moſt preſſing and conſpicuous conflicts of time,) ſhould have it their laſt worke to pay in ſome tribute of praiſe, unto him whoſe word & promiſe unto them did yet never fail. 4. He accounts the more weighty tryalls he hath been carryed thorow in his Chriſtian warfare, doth both give more acceſſe to this ſervice, and adds more to the value of ſuch a teſtimony. 5. He judgeth this one ſpecial way and advantage, wherby one generation might declare the truth and faithfullneſſe of God unto an other, in a family line and relation, to shew forth thus that the Lord is upright, that he is their rock, and with him is no unrighteouſneſſe; yea which ſhould be matter of unſpeakable joy, when now in his turn he can ſay that ſuch hath the Lord been to him, what was Davids dying words 1 Kings. 1:14. Who hath delivered my ſoul out of all diſtreſſe, how that in no trouble or exigence of his life he was ever left without a door of outgate; and thus alſo with Caleb Josh. 14:10. to give in ſome ſuch wittneſſe for God I am now near the cloſe of time, and does teſtify, that the word of his truth, and promiſe he hath ſurely accomplished, which hath brought me ſafe and honourably through, when ſuch as did dicredit the ſame by misbelief, and ſought after another refuge, found all their confidences fail. 6. And knowing likeways how great a ſuprizall death may be, and that ſuch as have shined in their day, may yet fet under a cloud and goe ſilent off the ſtage, he judgeth it the more needfull to have ſuch a piece of his dying worke prepared, as one of the choiſeſt legacies he can bequath to his ſurviving friends, in a ſeaſon when it hath uſually the greateſt advantage of weight and acceptance: it being ſtill qualified with Chriſtian prudence, and humble ſobriety, ſo as all may ſee its whole intent is to commend to mens conſcience the way of truth and godlineſſe and not themſelves, and thus only direct, for the proper uſe, and improvement of their neareſt relations. I know it may be ſtrang to ſome, what is ſpoke upon this head; but as its ſure the preſent day hath its duty, and each time of our life hath ſome proper worke, ſo I humbly judge, that this ſeems to fall in as the laſt ſervice of a dying Chriſtian to his generation, to deliver of his hand the truth which he had received and hath oft proven, with his confirmatory ſeal and teſtimony therto, and now in ſome more then ordinare way called for in this hower of great darkneſſe, when if that ſecurity of the abſolute promiſes ſtood not good to the Church, we might fear religion might quickly wear out, and truth periſh from the earth; and as ſo ſolemn and weighty a thing ſhould be mannaged with much humble prudence, ſo it may be judged that no ſerious and obſerving Chriſtian but hath ſome peculiare ingadgments under which they find themſelves ſiſted even beyond others, yea ſome ſuch ſingulare confirmations in the journall of their life, that ſhould be not eaſy to hide under the ground, where the ſtrenthning of others hereby is conceirned, and that ſuch ſhould not then leave the croſſe of Jeſus Chriſt at a loſſe, or part therwith without their teſtimony, which hath left them at ſo great an advantage. And though this is not to offer particulare rules in ſuch a duty, but that Chriſtian wisdome muſt direct herein, as the preſent caſe is circumſtantiate, yet might it be hoped, were this more taken to heart, it ſhould be a ſingulare mean, to put a more deep impreſſion of mens dying worke on their own ſpirit, even whilſt they are in health, to excite their ſurviving friends, and to keep religion thus alive in a family ſtate, and relation, and gain a more venerable reſpect to the ſame on mens conſcience, yea to fix alſo ſtronger ingadgments on the ſucceeding offſpring.
Thus is preſented here a ſhort Idea of the ſolid and judicious worke of Chriſtian confirmation in the truth, under theſe forgoing Characters, to ſhew how rare an atteanment of religion this is, yea to preſent herein a ſpeciall ſeries and ſcale of the greateſt ſteps in this confirmatory worke, by which it ſhould be followed, and where none of theſe may be parted from other, though ſome be of an higher and more abſolute uſe for ſuch an end. And if it ſhould be objected here, what needs any ſuch expenſe of time or pains in this caſe, when its ſure the eſſentiall truths of the Goſpell are not queſtioned, and that without internall evidence of the ſpirit, no externall means of this kind can be of uſe. I know that its the alone worke of the holy Ghoſt, to beget a divine and ſupernaturall faith, without which the furtheſt light, and objective evidence, though backed with a continued diſpenſation of externall miracles, could never bear Chriſtians out, either as to duty or comfort, in their paſſage thorow time; yea nothing is in the leaſt here to ſubject the credite of our faith to mens rationall comprehenſion, but rather tends to enervate wholly the ſtrenth of any ſuch tenet and take off all pretence for the ſame: But its ſure alſo, I muſt quite all ſolid ſecurity in the way of religion, and any clear founding in the light and certainty of the Scripture, or admitt theſe things as undenyable, 1 that ſupernaturall faith is the moſt highly rationall light thats within time, and that none who profeſſe the name of Chriſt can be of ſo low a ſize, as ſhould not be preſsed and excited to be much about this ground worke of knowing the truth, and principles of their profeſſion upon its own evidence; yea are thus called as new born babes to drink in the ſincere milk of the word, 1 Pet. 2. Which, as its clearly in the originall, is the rationall milk of the word, to be thus received no leſſe on conviction and certainty of the judgment, then with the out going of their affections. 2. That as its not conceivable how a true and firme aſſent can be to divine truth, but on its known certainty, ſo here is no reſolving of the Chriſtians faith on the ſtrongeſt rationall evidences hereof, yet muſt it ſtill be reſolved on the teſtimony of God, made clear & evident to them to be ſuch. 3. It is ſure alſo, the Lord hath not given ſo large a meaſure of theſe grounds and demonſtrations of his truth with ſuch redoubled arguments of that kind, to be of ſo ſmall regard, as is with moſt, but for ſome great, and univerſall uſe hereof to the wholl Church, and knew how needfull ſuch aſſiſtances to the faith of his people would be, whilſt they are on the earth. 4. That theſe means, which tend moſt convincingly to found a rationall aſsurence in the judgment, are the proper vehicle of the Spirit of God, by which his ſealing worke, ſhould be both ſought and expected; nor can I judge how the credite and uſe hereof ſhould be ſo ſmall, and not on the ſame ground quite any externall ordinance of the Goſpell, which without the Spirit of the Lord can never profite, nor how we ſhould expect and ſuite his confirming worke on the ſoul, when theſe greateſt confirming means, which he hath given to the Church, have no juſt weight; but o how wonderfull a teacher is the holy Ghoſt, when ſuch ordinare means fail, and are inacceſſable, by furniſhing his people then with theſe ſtrongeſt arguments of love and power, who having had but ſmall meaſures of light, yet were not unfaithfull to improve the ſmalleſt degree of ſuch a talent. 5. Yea ſo great a thing is it, to attain a ſolid faith of things wholly remott from our ſenſe, and ſo far above the reach and apprehenſion of nature, or to have an abſolute relyance on an inviſible refuge, for our preſent and eternall ſtate, as no common aſſent can anſwer, when the very reſt and quiet of the ſoul muſt needs ly in the ſure and firme perſuaſion hereof. 6. It is too viſible alſo how little the practicall uſe of ſuch a mean hath yet been eſſayed in the Church, that all who are members therof might no leſſe know the ſtrenth and firmneſſe of the foundation of their faith by its own evidence, then the generall articles of religion, but whilſt the moſt uſuall inſtructing worke lyes almoſt wholly about the noetick part of Divinity, there ſeems not that ſerious regard to preſſe the dianoetick part hereof on mens conſcience, as if this were to be reſtricted to a few who are more knowing, learned, and of an inquiſitive ſpirit about the rationall certainty of the truth, and for whom theſe choiſe and abundant helps of this kind, which are in this age, ſeem more peculiarly directed. Its ſure, that the Chriſtian faith in the firſt times did remarkably then ſpread and prevail, by theſe clear evidences hereof to the judgment, made effectuall by the ſpirit of God, more then by extraordinare miracles, nor knew they otherwiſe what it was to be Chriſtians but by imbracing the truth with a full aſſurance of underſtanding, no leſſe then of delight and affection. But if it be objected, it is not the ſame caſe now, where religion is planted in a nation, and hath an uncontrollable publick profeſſion under the ſupport of humane lawes; I know no weight this can have, except that should be admitt therwith, quod nunc naſcuntur Chriſtiani, ſed non fiunt. 7. Yea is it not ſure, (tho it ſeems little underſtood,) that the primary grounds and evidences of our faith are not only as to their …nd demonſtrative of the truth and divinity of the Scripture, but are upon the matter ſuch demonſtrations alſo which moſt natively reſult from the ſame by infallible conſequence, and are thus to be accounted not as human but divine arguments, given us by the ſpirit of God. 8. I shall but further add, how ſuch as doe ſeriouſly ponder things, will find this demonſtration to be not more important then clear, that to be a confirmed Chriſtian and a confirmed Proteſtant are convertible terms; and that if theſe as are under that deplorable bondage and darkneſſe of popery were but once awaked to ſee the truth & certainty of the Chriſtian faith, by its intrinſick and objective evidence, and taken off that brutish credulity and dependance on the alone credite of others herein, it might be ſaid the ſtrongeſt ingine to hold up that profeſſion were then broke, and should ſee the doctrine and rule of faith to be of ſuch full and perſpicuous evidence from the Scripture, as without blaſphemy they could not ſeek from the Lord to give them a plainer rule, then what he hath there given.