Our Dying Saviors Legacy of Peace, Sermon 3
SOME HELP TO Self-Examination, Which I drew up for my Self, in the Year 1652. But may be of like use to any, that shall peruse the same; with Meditation and Self Application, and earnest Prayer,
As Psal. 139, 23, 24.
Search men, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.
And see if there be any wicked way in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.
SElf Examination, 1 Cor. 11. 28 2 Cor. 15. 5. is an enquiry into the inward Acts of one Souls; trying by the Word of God, whether we have the truth of Saving Grace in us or no? and accordingly judging of our spiritual Estates before God.
The things to be tried are;
Unfeigned Faith, Sound Repentance, and sincere Obedience; because these are saving Graces, viz. such as God in his Word hath made conditions of the Covenant of Grace; these do accompany Salvation, Heb. 6. 9. and to every one of these Salvation is expresly promised in the Word of God, John 12. 48. & 15. 7.
To Faith, Mark 16. 16. John 3. 16. Acts 16. 31. Luke 7. 50.
To Repentance, 2 Cor. 7. 10. Luke 24. 47. Acts 3. 16. & 5. 31.
To Obedience, Heb. 5. 9. Psal 50 ult. Rom 6. 7, 18, 22.
The principle Subject of these Graces is Will, Phil: 2: 13. Psal: 110: 3: Rev: 22: 17: Rom: 7: 18, 19.
Therefore we should try our selves, not by our knowledg, nor by passionate fits of affection but by the main bent of the Will.
Infallible Signs of Saving Faith.
I. From the Root of Faith; which is an humbled, broken, Self-denying frame of Spirit settled in the Soul, Isai. 57. 15. Eph. 3. 17.
1. When my heart is broken for and from all sin as my greatest evil, Jer. 2: 19: & 4: 18: Rom: 7: 13, 19: Job 36: 21:
2. When my Soul is humbled, lying down it the feet of Christ, under all my sins and miseries; despairing of any help from my self and all creatures, submitting to the good pleasure of God, Luk. 15. 18, 19. & 18. 13. Act. 9. 6. Rev. 1. 17.
3. When my Soul denies it self in regard of any inherent ability to the least spiritual good. The voice of Self-denial is, [Not I but Christ] Gal, 2. 20. 1 Cor: 15: 10: Tit: 3: 5: 2 Cor: 12: 11: Here is the root of Faith, when as Luke 8: 13, 15: The word of the Gospel takes deep rooting in an honest and good heart, i: e: in a broken, humble, selfdenying heart. Here is the root of the matter, Job 19: 28.
Here is the beginning of Faith in Christ, Heb: 3: 14:
II. From the right Object upon which my Soul looks and rests in believing, and that is, God in Christ in the promises of the Gospel.
1. The promises of the Gospel, Mark 1: 15: wherein I consider the infallible truth, and incomparable good; and the good will and meaning of God to me in this or that promise, 1 Tim: 1: 15. John 3: 14, 15, 16. Jer. 3. 21, 22. Mat: 21: 28: Rev: 3: 20: Jer: 31. 18, 19, 20.
2. Christ in the promise is, the next immediate object of my Faith. Hence we read so often of Faith in Christ, and Faith on Christ, Acts 26: 31: & 20: 21: and its Christ as a Lord and Saviour to me, Col: 2: 6: Phil: 3: 8, 9: 2 Pet: 1 2 & 11.
3. God in Christ is the last and full object of my Faith, 2 Cor: 5: 19: Gal: 3: 17: 2 Cor: 3: 4: 1 Pet: 1: 22:
Hence my Soul believes in, and makes continual use of Christ as Mediator, 1 Tim 2. 5: between the holy blessed God, and such a guilty and polluted sinner as I am. And as my way to God, Joh: 14: 6: Heb: 10: 20: the journeys end of my Soul is to come to God, Heb: 7: 25: 1 Pet: 1. 21.
III. From the subject or seat of Faith which is my heart, Rom. 10. 9, 10. all my heart, Acts 8. 37. my whole heart, Psal, 119. 10. that is, my soul, with all its faculties of Understanding Will and Affections.
1. My understanding assents to the truth of the Gospel, Mark. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 1. 15. & looks Christ with a single fixed mournful delightful eye, Isai. 45. 22. Zach. 12. 10. John 8. 56. Luke 2. 30.
2. My will consents to the good of the Gospel, Eph. 1. 13. refusing all sins as contrary to Christ, and all Creatures when they are set in comparison and competition with Christ, making an absolute choice of Christ and God in Christ, in his Word as my Alsufficient sufficient chief good and portion for ever, Phil. 2. 13. Phil. 3. 8, 9. Rom. 7. 19. Lam: 3. 24. Psal 73. 25, 26. 27, 28.
3. My liking, well-pleased affections move towards Christ, Col. 3. 12. hope longs with great expectation for Christ, 1 Tim. 1. 1. Jer. 14. 8. desire breath's and reacheth after him, Isa. 26. 8, 9.
Love embraceth and closeth with him, Cant. 1. 7. John 20. 17. joy delights in him, Cant. 1. 4.
IV. From the Acts of Faith, chiefly these three.
1. Coming to Christ, John 6. 35, 37. Heb. 7. 25. 1 Pet. 2. 4. which is the Spiritual and perpetual motion of my whole Soul going out, and getting away from Sin, and Self, and the Creature, and going unto Christ, and to God in Christ, or unto God by Christ.
2. Receiving of Christ, John 1. 12. Col. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 24. as given of God unto me, Isa. 9. 6. John 3. 16. by a consent of my whole heart, that Christ shall be my onelyonly Lord and Saviour, and resigning up my self to him, to be wholly his, and for ever, Cant. 2. 16. Psal. 119. 94.
3. Trusting in the Lord, Isa. 26. 3. 2 Cor. 3. 4. Eph: 1: 12: by committing my Soul, and the success of my Ministry, and every way of mine, and then my wife and children, honour, life, chastity, estate, truth, prosperity, and my All: I say committing my All to, and leaving my All with the mercy of God in Christ in the promises (in the way of his Commandments, Psal. 119. 66: and 116. venturing my present and future state in this world, and my eternal state in another world, in the hands of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet: 4. 17: 2 Tim: 1: 12. Psal. 37. 5. 7.
V. From the end which Faith aims at, and propounds to its self in Believing, that is, that God may have the glory of the exceeding riches of his Grace in Christ, in saving such a poor miserable Sinful Creature, who have damned my self a thousand times over.
1. The next end my distressed Soul looks at in believing, is the Salvation of my Soul, Heb. 10. last. 1 Pet. 1. 9. viz. Union and Communion with the chief good, this is the end and good my Faith would have.
1. Union to, possession of God and Christ, as my God, my Christ, Phil. 3. 8, 9. Psal. 42. 1. 2, 6, 9. Psal. 73. 25. John 20. 28. Gal. 2. 20,
2. Communion and Fellowship with God and Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1 9: 1 John 1: 3. Eph. 1. 3. Eph. 3. 19.
Hence the fruition of Christ, and not only of some but all his benefits is that which Faith aims at, and chiefly at these three.
1. Justification, or the forgiveness of sins, Acts 26: 18. Phil. 3. 9. Psal. 51. 1, 2. &c. Psal. 25. 7. 11. 2 Cor: 5. 9.
2. Sanctification and power against Sin; Phil: 3. 10. Psal: 51: 10, 11, 12. Psal. 119. 133. Psal. 19: 12, 13; 2 Cor: 12: 8.
3: Glorification or Eternal Life, Psal: 73: 24, 25: Luke 23: 42: Jude, 2. 20:
2: The last end which my poor soul aims at in believing, is, that God may have the glory of the riches of his grace and mercy in Christ in the saving of such a lost and perishing Sinner as I am, Eph: 1: 5: 6, 12: 2 Thes: 1: 10. Eph: 3: 17: 21.
These two [Gods glory, and my Salvation] though they are thus distinguished, yet are so answerably joyned together, as they make up one and the same end, which God aims at, which therefore Faith aims at in our believing in Christ:
VI. From the effects chiefly these four.
1: Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15: 9: I John 3: 3: Faith brings in a living active principle of holiness into the heart, which as a living Spring, John 4: 14: is ever working and working till it clear and cleanse my heart and inward man from the most secret corruptions and pollutions which I observe in my Soul, 2 Cor: 7: 1:
2: Faith worketh by love, Gal: 5: 6. love is the commanding affection of my Soul, which way that goes all goes, Faith sets and carrieth the love of my heart and affection to God above all, Mat: 22: 37: to Christ, and the things of Christ, as the house and Ordinances of God, Psal: 26: 8: 1 Chron: 29: 3: and to the Saints, 1 John 2: 14: 23:
3: Faith overcomes the world, 1 John 5: 5: so as to use the world and not to abuse it, to make every thing serviceable to us, (and no Creature to be our Master) in our serving of God, Acts 27: 23;
4: Faith gives a serious fixed affectionate eye to the perfect state of blessedness in Heaven, it overlooks the visible and temporal things of this world, fixing upon those invisible real and eternal things of the glory of heaven; drawing the scope of my whole course heavenward, 2 Cor 4: last: and 2 Cor: 5: 1, 2: Mat: 6: 20; Phil: 3; 20: Heb: 11: 10: 26:
Infallible Signs of Saving Repentance.
The first part of Repentance is,
1. In sacred humiliation, James 4: 10: 1 Pet: 5. 6. which includes,
1. Soul-affliction under the sense of Sin and the wrath of God, Levit. 29. 31. Mat. 11. 28. Psal. 35. 13.
1. If sin as sin be my greatest burden, then nothing but Christ can ease me, if sin as sin wound my Soul, nothing but the blood of Christ will heal me; because none but Christ can take away the venemous guilt and power of Sin, John 1. 29. Mat. 1. 21. 1 John 3. 5.
2. If I feel sin aright, I am in good earnest willing that God should by any means remove it from me: he feels his burden truly that would be eased of it thorowly by any means, 2 Sam; 24: 10: Psal. 119. 29. Hos 14. 2.
A real willingness to part with Sin is the immediate effect of those afflicting affections of fear, shame, grief and hatred which are included in sound Humiliation.
2. Self judging, 1 Cor. 11. 31. when I do accuse my self of all the sins I know, condemning my self for them, and accepting the punishment of my iniquities, Dan: 9. 7, 8: Ezra: 9: 6: Levit. 26. 41.
3. Humble confession of Sin, and supplication for mercy, Job 7. 20, 21. Job. 9. 15. when I do with shame and sorrow, and selfloathing, confess my special sins, and earnestly beg for the pardon of them, Psal: 32: 5, 6. Psal. 51. 1, 2. &c. Luke 18. 13.
4. Self-submission, Jam: 4: 7:
1. When I lye down before the Lord, acknowledging the soveraign power of the good pleasure of God in the disposing of his own mercy, and of me also and my Eternal Estate, Mat: 20: 15: Luke 15: 19. If: 64: 8. Rom: 9 ver: 15: 16; and 20, 21.
2. When I give him the glory of his justice if he should procced against me according to Law, Lam: 1: 18: Mic: 6: 49: Psal: 51: 4.
3: When I give him the glory of his mercy in Christ which he hath revealed in the Gospel, Dan: 9. 9: Psal: 130. 2: seeking of it, & waiting for it at the throne of grace, Heb: 4: last: venturing all my hopes of good in this and in another world upon what God hath said concerning his grace and mercy in Christ, in the promises to repenting Sinners that come to him by Christ.
The second part of Repentance is,
2. A through Reformation, Levit: 26: 23: this hath two great Acts.
1. Aversion or turning from Sin, Ezek. 18. 30. and 33. 11. a departing from iniquity, 2 Tim 2. 19. a forsaking of Sin, Psal. 28. 13. Isa. 55. 7.
1. This Aversion, must be rooted and seated in my Will, Rom: 7: 19: 2 Cor: 6: 17. Hos. 14: 8:
2: This turn of my heart must be from Sin, Psal: 51 4 Neb: 9 28 because it is offensive and displeasing to God, Gen: 39 9
3: It must be from all Sin, Ezek: 18 30 31 So as,
1: Not to live in the practise of any gross sin, Gal: 5: 19, 20 24
2: Not to allow, or have regard unto, but to oppose the least sin, Job: 26 21 Psal: 66. 18 Rom: 7 15 so as to admit of no terms of toleration, no secret reservation, no case of exception:
4: Especially from my special sin which hath been most natural and habitual where the power of Original Sin hath vented it self most, Psal 18 23 Psal 139 last Psal 41: 2
5: When I loath my self for my sins then I loath my sins aright, loathing my mind and heart that ever they have been acted by Sin, & been instruments under Sin to wrong God, Job: 42: 6: Ezek 36 31 hence there will follow a loathing of any the least distemper that is bubling in a mans bosom tho it never come into act, Psal 119: 113:
6: When no evil of affliction shall draw me willingly and deliberately to side with sin, no outward good in the world perswade me to close therewith, Dan 1 9 Gen 14: 33
7. When my soul turns from the occasions and lesser degrees of Sin, Gen 39 10 1 Sam 24 5
II. Couversion or turning unto God, Act. 20. 21. Jer. 4. 1.
1 This turn must be in my heart and will: the settled bent of my Will must be that way, Jer: 3: 10: Ioel 2: 12: Rom: 7: 18, 10.
2 To God himself, as the chief object and scope of my life, Gal: 2: 19: Acts 27: 23 Psal 73: 25:
3 To the Will of God, revealing myduty, as the Rule of my Will and Life, Acts 9 6: 1 Pet: 4: 2 Psal: 143: 10:
4. To the glory of God, as having a due and dear respect unto that in all, 1 Cor. 10. 31 John 12. 27, 28 1 Pet. 4: 11
5. To the Ordinances of God, Ezek. 43. 11: Luk: 1: 6.
6. To the People of God, Psal: 16. 2 & 119. 63. 1 Job. 3. 14.
7. To be for the Truth and holy wayes of God, 2 Cor. 13. 6. Zech. 14. 20. viz. To be against Error, Sin and Wickedness every where but in my self first and most of all: and to be for the practice and power of godliness in my self first and most of all, and then every where else Psal: 7: 3, ult. Josh. 24: 14, 15 1 Sam: 12: 22, 24, 25. Psal. 101. throughout.
Infallible signs of sincere Obedience.
1 To take the Ten Commandments (in their full Latitude, commanding all Duties, and forbidding all sins according to the explanation of the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles in the rest of Scriptures) for the Rule of my Life, Psal 18 22 Psal 119 6 66 166 1 Cor 9 21 Gal 6 16
2. To get and maintain an inward inclination and disposition of love to, and delight in the Law of God in my very heart, Isa 5… 7 Psal. 119 97 112 265 Rom 7 16 22
3. To get and keep a good Conscience in all duties of Holiness towards God and Righteousness towards Men, Luk 1 74, 75 Act, 24 16 2 Cor 1 12
4 To make Conscience of conforming my thoughts and affections to the Obedience of Christ, 2 Cor 10 5 Gal 5 24 Rom 7 15 17
5 When the Supremacy of God and Christ in revealing and commanding my duty, doth prevail with me more in times and cases of tryal then the Temptations of Satans allurements; or the stirrings of Indwelling Sin, Rom 6 16 17, 22 Rev 2 and 3 chapt. to him that overcomes seven times over: So that the sincerity of my Obedience appears in the prevailing degree of my Obedience to God and Christ more than to any thing else, and that especially in cases of temptation comparison, and competition, Psal 73 25 Mat 10 37 2 Tim 3 4 John 12 43
Rules for the Practice of Self-Examination.
1 Keep the former (or such like) Signs and Scriptures in your mind as Rules to try your self by, Job: 12: 48: Isai: 8: 20.
2 Constantly reflect upon thy self; watch and observe the inward actings of Grace and Corruption in thy heart, 1 Cor: 2: 11 Gal. 6: 4.
3 Make choice of time and place, for this duty often, especially before the Sacrament, 1 Cor: 1 1: 28: 2 Cor: 13: 5:
4 Do it by putting the question to thy self concerning any of the former signs according to clear Scripture. Ask thy self carefully and strictly, whither thou hast Faith? whither it be so rooted in thy heart? whether thou hast observed such acts of Faith? and such effects? and so of the rest.
5 Force thy self to an Answer, as when you examine a slippery fellow, that either will give no answer, or a slight impertinent answer, and would fain be gone; you ask him and urge him again and again; so deal with thy deceitful heart, Jer: 17: 9: Psal: 44: 4 & 77: 6:
6 Observe what thy answer is, what the sentence of thy own heart and conscience is, record and remember that,
1 Either thou dost find such and such evidences of Grace, 2 Cor: 1: 12:
2 Or thou art yet without saving Grace.
3 Or thou art yet doubtful, 1 Iohn 3: 19, 20, 21:
7 Keep thy heart kindly affected with thy condition as thou hast found it upon trial. If signs of Grace, rejoyce and be thankful. Psal: 103: 1, 2, 3, &c: If not; or if yet thou art doubtful, mourn over thy own Soul, and mourn after Christ; thy condition being sad, contrary to 2 Cor: 13: 5: 2 Pet: 1: 10, 11.
FINIS.
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End of the text · John Higginson, Our Dying Saviors Legacy of Peace (1686)