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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:36 -0700 |
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diff --git a/12311-h/12311-h.htm b/12311-h/12311-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bf2b47 --- /dev/null +++ b/12311-h/12311-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11592 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 1st March 2004), see www.w3.org"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Christ: The Way, The Truth, +and The Life, by John Brown</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Trebuchet MS, Tahoma, serif;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .TITLE{ text-align:center;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12311 ***</div> + +<div class="title"> +<h2>CHRIST<br> +<br> +THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.</h2> +<br> +<br> +BY THE LATE<br> +<b>REV. JOHN BROWN</b>,<br> +MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT WAMPHRAY.<br> +<br> +WRITTEN DURING THE TIME OF HIS BANISHMENT IN HOLLAND.</div> +<br> +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> +<p>"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the +life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."—JOHN XIV. +6.</p> +<br> +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<p><a href="#DEDICATION.">Dedication</a></p> +<p><a href="#THE_AUTHOR_TO_THE_READER.">The Author to the +Reader</a></p> +<p><a href="#RECOMMENDATION.">Recommendation</a></p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_I.">CHAPTER I.</a></p> +<p>Introduction, with some general observations from the +cohesion.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_II.">CHAPTER II.</a></p> +<p>Of the words themselves in general.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_III.">CHAPTER III.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is the Way in general. "I am the Way."</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IV.">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is made use of for Justification as a Way.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_V.">CHAPTER V.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is to be made use of, as the Way, for sanctification +in general.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VI.">CHAPTER VI.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is to be made use of, in reference to the killing and +crucifying of the Old Man.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VII.">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is to be made use of, in reference to growing in +grace.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII.">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ for taking the guilt of our daily +out-breakings away.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IX.">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ for cleansing of us from out daily +spots.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_X.">CHAPTER X.</a></p> +<p>Some generals proposed.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XI.">CHAPTER XI.</a></p> +<p>More particularly in what respect Christ is called the +Truth.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XII.">CHAPTER XII.</a></p> +<p>Some general uses from this useful truth, that Christ is the +Truth.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII.">CHAPTER XIII.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ as the Truth, for growth in +knowledge.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV.">CHAPTER XIV.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ, as Truth, for comfort, when truth is +oppressed and borne down.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XV.">CHAPTER XV.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ for steadfastness, in a time when +truth is oppressed and borne down.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI.">CHAPTER XVI.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ as the Truth, when error prevaileth, +and the spirit of error carrieth many away.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII.">CHAPTER XVII.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ as the Truth, that we may get our case +and condition cleared up to us.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII.">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></p> +<p>How we shall make use of Christ as the Truth, that we may win to +right and suitable thoughts of God.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX.">CHAPTER XIX.</a></p> +<p>"And the Life." How Christ is the Life.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XX.">CHAPTER XX.</a></p> +<p>Some general uses.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI.">CHAPTER XXI.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ as the Life, when the believer is so +sitten-up in the ways of God, that he can do nothing.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII.">CHAPTER XXII.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is to be made use of as our Life, in case of +heartlessness and fainting through discouragements.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII.">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></p> +<p>How to make use of Christ as the Life, when the soul is dead as +to duty.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV.">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></p> +<p>How shall the soul make use of Christ, as the Life, which is +under the prevailing power of unbelief and infidelity.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV.">CHAPTER XXV.</a></p> +<p>How Christ is made use of as the Life, by one that is so dead +and senseless, as he cannot know what to judge of himself, or his +own case, except what is naught.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI.">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></p> +<p>How is Christ, as the Life, to be applied by a soul that misseth +God's favour and countenance.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII.">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></p> +<p>How shall one make use of Christ as the Life, when wrestling +with an angry God because of sin?</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII.">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></p> +<p>No man cometh to the Father but by me.</p> +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX.">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></p> +<p>How should we make use of Christ, in going to the Father, in +prayer, and other acts of worship?</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="DEDICATION." id="DEDICATION."></a> +<h2>DEDICATION.</h2> +<p>TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RELIGIOUS LADY, THE LADY +STRATHNAVER.</p> +<p>MADAM,</p> +<p>Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all +the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in +the Lord; as it ought to be the principal concern of all who have +not sitten down on this side of Jordan to satisfy their souls (once +created for, and in their own nature requiring, in order to +satisfaction, spiritual, immortal, and incorruptible substance,) +with husks prepared for beasts, to be built in and upon this +corner-stone, for an habitation of God, through the Spirit; so it +ought to be the main design and work of such as would be approven +of God as faithful labourers and co-workers with God, to be +following the example of him who determined not to know anything +among those he wrote unto, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. O! +this noble, heart-ravishing, soul-satisfying mysterious theme, +Jesus Christ crucified, the short compend of that uncontrovertibly +great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, justified in +the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on +in the world, received up into glory, wherein are things the angels +desire to look unto, or with vehement desire bend, as it were, +their necks, and bow down their heads to look and peep into, (as +the word used, I Pet. i. 12, importeth) is a subject for angelical +heads to pry into, for the most indefatigable and industrious +spirits to be occupied about. The searching into, and studying of +this one truth, in reference to a closing with it as our life, is +an infallible mark of a soul divinely enlightened, and endued with +spiritual and heavenly wisdom; for though it be unto the Jews a +stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness, yet unto them who +are called, it is Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God, +because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness +of God is stronger than men. O what depths of the manifold wisdom +of God are there in this mystery! The more it is preached, known, +and believed aright, the more it is understood to be beyond +understanding, and to be what it is—a mystery. Did ever any +preacher or believer get a broad look of this boundless ocean, +wherein infinite wisdom, love that passeth all understanding, grace +without all dimensions, justice that is admirable and tremendous, +and God in his glorious properties, condescensions, high and noble +designs, and in all his perfections and virtues, flow over all +banks; or were they ever admitted to a prospect hereof in the face +of Jesus Christ, and were not made to cry out, O the depth and +height, the breadth and length! O the inconceivable, and +incomprehensible boundlessness of all infinitely transcendent +perfections! Did ever any with serious diligence, as knowing their +life lay in it, study this mysterious theme, and were not in full +conviction of soul, made to say, the more they promoved in this +study, and the more they descended in their divings into this +depth, or soared upward in their mounting speculations in this +height, they found it the more an unsearchable mystery! The study +of other themes (which, alas! many who think it below them to be +happy, are too much occupied in) when it hath wasted the spirits, +wearied the mind, worn the body, and rarified the brain to the next +degree unto a distraction, what satisfaction can it give as to what +is attained, or encouragement as to future attainments? And when, +as to both these, something is had, and the poor soul puffed up +with an airy and fanciful apprehension of having obtained some +great thing, but in truth a great nothing, or a nothing pregnant +with vanity and vexation of spirit, foolish twins causing no +gladness to the father, "for he that increaseth knowledge +increaseth sorrow," Eccles. i. 18. What peace can all yield to a +soul reflecting on posting away time, now near the last point, and +looking forward to endless eternity? Oh the thoughts of time wasted +with, and fair opportunities of good lost by the vehement pursuings +and huntings after shadows and vanities, will torment the soul by +assaulting it with piercing convictions of madness and folly, in +forsaking all to overtake nothing; with dreadful and +soul-terrifying discourses of the saddest of disappointments, and +with the horror of an everlasting and irrecoverable loss. And what +hath the laborious spirit then reaped of all the travail of his +soul, when he hath lost it? But, on the other hand, O what calmness +of mind, serenity of soul, and peace of conscience, because of the +peace of God which passeth all understanding, will that poor soul +look back, when standing on the border of eternity, on the bygone +days or hours it spent in seeking after, praying and using all +appointed means for some saving acquaintance with, and interest in +this only soul up-making, and soul-satisfying mystery; and upon its +yielding up itself, through the efficacious operations of the +Spirit of grace, wholly, without disputing, unto the powerful +workings of this mystery within; and in becoming crucified with +Christ, and living through a crucified Christ's living in it, by +his Spirit and power. And with what rejoicing of heart, and +glorious singing of soul, will it look forward to eternity, and its +everlasting abode in the prepared mansions, remembering that there +its begun study will be everlastingly continued, its capacity to +understand that unsearchable mystery will be inconceivably greater; +and the spiritual, heavenly and glorious joy, which it will have in +that practical reading its divinity without book of ordinances, +will be its life and felicity for ever? And what peace and joy in +the Holy Ghost, what inward inexpressible quiet and contentment of +mind will the soul enjoy in dwelling on these thoughts, when it +shall have withal the inward and well-grounded persuasion of its +right through Christ, to the full possession of that all which now +it cannot conceive, let be comprehend; the foretastes whereof +filleth it with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the hope of +shortly landing there, where it shall see and enjoy, and wonder and +praise, and rest in this endless and felicitating work, making it +to sing while passing through the valley and shadow of death? O if +this were believed! O that we were not drunk to a distraction and +madness, with the adulterous-love of vain and airy speculations, to +the postponing, if not utter neglecting, of this main and only +up-making work, of getting real acquaintance with, and a begun +possession of this mystery in our souls, Christ, the grand mystery, +formed within us, living and working within us by his Spirit, and +working us up into a conformity unto, and an heart-closing with God +manifested in the flesh, that we may find in experience, or at +least in truth and reality, have a true transumpt of that gospel +mystery in our souls! Oh, when shall we take pleasure in pursuing +after this happiness that will not flee from us, but is rather +pursuing us! when shall we receive with joy and triumph, this King +of glory that is courting us daily, and is seeking access and entry +into our souls! Oh, why cry we not out in the height of the passion +of spiritual longing and desire, O come Lord Jesus, King of glory, +with thine own key, and open the door, and enlarge and dilate the +chambers of the soul, that thou may enter and be entertained as the +King of glory, with all thy glorious retinue, to the ennobling of +my soul, and satisfying of all the desires of that immortal spark? +Why do we not covet after this knowledge which hath a true and firm +connexion with all the best and truly divine gifts. O happy soul +that is wasted and worn to a shadow, if that could be, in this +study and exercise, which at length will enliven, and, as it were, +bring in a new heavenly and spiritual soul into the soul, so that +it shall look no more like a dead dis-spirited thing out of its +native soil and element, but as a free, elevated, and spiritualized +spirit, expatiating itself and flying abroad in the open air of its +own element and country. O happy day, O happy hour that is really +and effectually spent in this employment! What would souls, +swimming in this ocean of pleasures and delights care for? Yea, +with what abhorrency would they look upon the bewitching +allurements of the purest kind of carnal delights, which flow from +the mind's satisfaction in feeding on the poor apprehensions, and +groundlessly expected comprehensions of objects, suited to its +natural genius and capacity? O what a more hyperbolical exceeding +and glorious satisfaction hath a soul in its very pursuings after +(when it misseth and cannot reach) that which is truly desirable! +How doth the least glimpse through the smallest cranie, of this +glorious and glorifying knowledge of God in Christ, apprehended by +faith, raise up the soul to that pitch of joy and satisfaction +which the knowledge of natural things, in its purest perfection, +shall never be able to cause; and to what a surmounting measure of +this joy and contentation will the experiencing and feeling, by +spiritual sense, the sweet and relish of this captivating, and +transcendently excellent knowledge raise the soul unto? O must not +this be the very suburbs of heaven to the soul! When the soul thus +seeth and apprehendeth God in Christ, and that as its own God +through Christ, (for as all saving knowledge draweth out the soul +unto an embracing and closing with the object, so it bringeth in +the object to the making up of the reciprocal union and in-being) +it cannot but admire with exultation, and exult with admiration, at +that condescendence of free grace that hath made it, in any +measure, capable of this begun glory, and will further make it +meet, by this begun glory, to be a partaker of the inheritance of +the saints in light. And what will a soul that hath tasted of the +pure delights of this river of gospel manifestations, and hath +seen, with soul-ravishing delights, in some measure, the manifold +wisdom of God wrapped up therein; and the complete and perfect +symmetry of all the parts of that noble contexture, and also the +pure design of that contrivance to abase man, and to extol the +riches of the free grace of God, that the sinner, when possessed of +all designed for him and effectuated in him thereby, may know who +alone should wear the crown and have all the glory; what, I say, +will such a soul see in another gospel (calculated to the meridian +of the natural, crooked, and corrupt temper of proud men, who is +soon made vain of nothing, which, instead of bringing a sinner, +fallen from God through pride, back again to the enjoyment of him, +through a Mediator, doth but foster that innate plague and +rebellion, which and procured his first excommunication from the +favour, and banishment out of the paradise of God,) that shall +attract its heart to it, and move it to a compliance with it? When +the poor sinner that hath been made to pant after a Saviour, and +hath been pursued to the very ports of the city of refuge by the +avenger of blood, the justice of God, hath tasted and seen how good +God is, and felt the sweetness of free love in a crucified Christ, +and seen the beauty and glory of the mystery of his free grace, +suitably answering and overcoming the mystery of its sin and +misery; O what a complacency hath he therein, and in the way of +gospel salvation, wherein free grace is seen to overflow all banks, +to the eternal praise of the God of all grace. How saltless and +unsavoury will the most cunningly-devised and patched-together mode +of salvation be, that men, studying the perversion of the gospel, +and seeking the ruin of souls with all their skill, industry, and +learning, are setting off with forced rhetoric, and the artifice of +words of man's wisdom, and with the plausible advantages of a +pretended sanctity, and of strong grounds and motives unto +diligence and painfulness, to a very denying and renouncing +Christian liberty, when once it is observed, how it entrencheth +upon, and darkeneth lustre, or diminisheth the glory of free grace, +and hath the least tendency to the setting of the crown on the +creature's head, in whole or in part? The least perception, that +hereby the sinner's song, "ascribing blessing, honour, glory, and +power unto him that was slain, and hath redeemed them to God by his +blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; +and hath made them, unto their God, kings and priests," shall be +marred, will be enough to render that device detestable, and +convince the soul, that it is not the gospel of the grace of God +and of Christ, but rather the mystery of iniquity. What a peculiar +savouriness doth the humbled believer find in the doctrine of the +true gospel-grace, and the more that he be thereby made nothing, +and Christ made all; that he in his highest attainments be debased, +and Christ exalted; that his most lovely peacock feathers be laid, +and the crown flourish on Christ's head; that he be laid flat, +without one foot to stand upon, and Christ the only supporter and +carrier of him to glory; that he be as dead without life, and +Christ live in him, the more lovely, the more beautiful, the more +desirable and acceptable is it unto him. O what a complacency hath +the graced soul in that contrivance of infinite wisdom, wherein the +mystery of the grace of God is so displayed, that nothing appeareth +from the lowest foundation-stone to the uppermost cope-stone but +grace, grace, free grace making up all the materials, and free +grace with infinite wisdom cementing all? The gracious soul can be +warm under no other covering but what is made of that web, wherein +grace, and only grace, is both wooft and warp; and the reason is +manifest, for such an one hath the clearest sight and discovery of +his own condition, and seeth that nothing suiteth him and his case +but free grace; nothing can make up his wants but free grace; +nothing can cover his deformities but free grace; nothing can help +his weaknesses, shortcomings, faintings, sins, and miscarriages but +free grace. Therefore is free grace all his salvation and all his +desire. It is his glory to be free grace's debtor for evermore; the +crown of glory will have a far more exceeding and eternal weight, +and be of an hyperbolically hyperbolic and eternal weight, and yet +easily carried and worn, when he seeth how free grace and love hath +lined it, and free grace and free love sets it on and keeps it on +for ever; this makes the glorified saint wear it with ease, by +casting it down at the feet of the gracious and loving purchaser +and bestower. His exaltation is the saint's glory, and by free +grace, the saints receiving and holding all of free grace, is he +exalted. O what a glory is it to the saint, to set the crown of +glorious free grace with his own hands on the head of such a +Saviour, and to say, "Not unto me, not unto me, but unto thee, even +unto thee alone, be the glory for ever and ever." With what +delight, satisfaction, and complacency will the glorified saint, +upon this account, sing the redeemed and ransomed their song? And +if the result and effect of free grace will give such a sweet sound +there, and make the glorified's heaven, in some respects, another +thing, or at least, in some respect, a more excellent heaven than +Adam's heaven would have been; for Adam could not have sung the +song of the redeemed; Adam's heaven would not have been the +purchase of the blood of God; nor would Adam have sitten with +Christ Redeemer on his throne; nor would there have been in his +heaven such rich hangings of free grace, nor such mansions prepared +by that gracious and loving husband, Christ, who will come and +bring his bought bride home with him. Seeing, I say, heaven, even +upon the account of free grace, will have such a special, lovely, +desirable, and glorious lustre, O bow should grace be prized by us +now! How should the gospel of the grace of God be prized by us! +What an antipathy to glory, as now prepared and dressed up for +sinful man, must they shew, whose whole wits and parts are busied +to darken the glory of that grace, which God would have shining in +the gospel; and who are at so much pains and labour to dress up +another gospel, (though the apostle hath told us, Gal. i. 7, that +there is not another,) wherein gospel-grace must stand by, and +law-grace take the throne, that so man may sacrifice to his own +net, and burn incense to his own drag, and may, at most, be grace's +debtor in part; and yet no way may the saved man account himself +more grace's debtor, than the man was who wilfully destroyed +himself in not performing of the conditions; for grace, as the new +gospellers, or rather gospel-spillers mean and say, did equally to +both frame the conditions, make known to the contrivance, and +tender the conditional peace and salvation. But as to the +difference betwixt Paul and Judas, it was Paul that made himself to +differ, and not the free grace of God determining the heart of Paul +by grace to a closing with and accepting of the bargain. It was not +grace that wrought in him both to will and to do. It was he, and +not the grace of God in him; what is more contradictory to the +gospel of the grace of God? And yet vain man will not condescend to +the free grace of God. Pelagianism and Arminianism needeth not put +a man to much study, and to the reading of many books, to the end +it may be learned, (though the patrons hereof labour hot in the +very fires, to make their notions hang together, and to give them +such a lustre of unsanctified and corrupt reason, as may be taking +with such as know no other conduct in the matters of God,) for +naturally we all are born Pelagians and Arminians. These tenets are +deeply engraven in the heart of every son of fallen Adam. What +serious servant of God findeth not this, in his dealing with souls, +whom he is labouring to bring into the way of the gospel? Yea, what +Christian is there, who hath acquaintance with his own heart, and +is observing its biasses, and corrupt inclinations, that is not +made to cry out, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me +from these dregs of Pelagianism, Arminianism, and Jesuitism, which +I find yet within my soul? Hence, it may seem no wonderful or +strange thing (though, after so much clear light, it may be +astonishing to think, that now, in this age, so many are so openly +and avowedly appearing for this dangerous and deadly error,) to us, +to hear and see this infection spreading and gaining ground so +fast, there needeth few arguments or motives to work up carnal +hearts to an embracing thereof, and to a cheerful acquiescing +therein; little labour will make a spark of fire work upon +gunpowder. And, methinks, if nothing else will, this one thing +should convince us all of the error of this way, that nature so +quickly and readily complieth therewith. For who, that hath an eye +upon, or regard of such things, seeth not what a world of carnal +reasonings, objections, prejudices, and scruples, natural men have +in readiness against the gospel of Christ; and with what +satisfaction, peace, and delight they reason and plead themselves +out of the very reach of free grace; and what work there is to get +a poor soul, in any measure wakened and convinced of its lost +condition, wrought up to a compliance with the gospel-way of +salvation? How many other designs, projects, and essays doth it +follow, with a piece of natural vehemency and seriousness, without +wearying, were it even to the wasting of its body and spirits, let +be its substance and riches, before it be brought to a closing with +a crucified Mediator, and to an accounting of all its former +workings, attainments, and painful labourings and gain, as loss for +Christ, and for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, and as +dung that it may win Christ, and be found in him, not having its +own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through +the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, +Phil. iii. 7-9. And may it not seem strange, that now, after so +many have found, through the grace of God, the sweet experience of +the gracious workings of the gospel-grace of God upon their hearts, +and so are in case, as having this witness within them, to give +verdict against those assertions, yea, more, and many more than +were in several ages before; yet Satan should become so bold as to +vent these desperate opinions, so diametrically opposite to the +grace of God declared in the gospel, and engraven in the hearts of +many hundreds by the finger of God, confirming, in the most +undoubted manner, the truth of the gospel doctrines. This would +seem to say, that there are such clear sunshine days of the gospel, +and of the Son of Man a-coming (and who can tell how soon this +night shall be at an end?) that all these doctrines of nature shall +receive a more conspicuous and shameful dash than they have +received for these many ages. Hithertil when Satan raised up and +sent forth his qualified instruments for this desperate work, God +always prepared carpenters to fright these horns, and thus gospel +truth came forth, as gold out of a furnace, more clear and shining: +And who can tell but there may be a dispensation of the pure grace +of God, in opposition to these perverting ways of Satan, yet to +come, that, as to the measure of light and power, shall excel +whatever hath been since the apostles' days. Even so, come, Lord +Jesus. However, Madam, the grace of God will be what it is, to all +the chosen and ransomed ones, they will find in it, which will make +whatever cometh in competition therewith or would darken it, +contemptible in their eyes: And happy they, of whom in this day +wherein darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the people, +it may be said, the Lord hath arisen upon them, and his glory hath +been seen upon them: For whatever others, whose understanding is +yet darkened, and they alienated from the life of God through the +ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their +hearts, imagine of the gospel-grace, and however they discern +nothing of the heavenly and spiritual glory of the grace of God; +yet they, being delivered or cast into the form and mould of the +doctrine of the gospel which they have obeyed from the heart, +through the powerful and irresistible efficacy of the mighty grace +of God, have seen such an alluring excellency in that gracious +contrivance of infinite wisdom, to set forth the unparallelableness +of the pure grace of God, and are daily seeing more and more of the +graciousness and wisdom of that heavenly invention, in its adequate +suitableness to all their necessities, that as they cannot but +admire and commend the riches of that grace that interlineth every +sentence of the gospel, and the greatness of that love that hath +made such a completely broad plaister to cover all their sores and +wounds; so the longer they live, and the more they drink of this +pure fountain of heavenly nectar; and the more their necessities +press them to a taking on of new obligations, because of new +supplies from this ocean of grace, the more they are made to admire +the wisdom and goodness of the Author; and the more they are made +to fall in love with to delight, and lose themselves in the +thoughts of this incomprehensible grace of God; yea, and to long to +be there, where they shall be in better case to contemplate, and +have more wit to wonder at, and better dexterity to prize, and a +stronger head to muse upon, and a more enlarged heart to praise for +this boundless and endless treasure of the grace of God, with which +they are enriched, through Jesus Christ. Sure, if we be not thus +enamoured and ravished with it, it is because we are yet standing +without, or, at most, upon the threshold and border of this grace; +were we once got within the jurisdiction of grace, and had yielded +up ourselves unto the power thereof, and were living and breathing +in this air, O! how sweet a life might we have! What a kindly +element would grace be to us! As sin had reigned unto death, even +so grace should reign, through righteousness unto eternal life, by +Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. v. 21. Grace reigning within us through +righteousness, would frame and fit our souls for that eternal life +that is insured to all who come once under the commanding, +enlivening, strengthening, confirming, corroborating, and +perfecting power of grace. And seeking grace for grace, and so +living, and walking, and spending upon grace's costs and charges; O +how lively, and thriving proficients might we be! The more we spend +of grace (if it could be spent) the richer should we be in grace. O +what an enriching trade must it be to trade with free grace, where +there is no loss, and all is gain, the stock, and gain, and all is +insured; yea, more, labouring in grace's field would bring us in +Isaac's blessing an hundred-fold. But, alas! it is one thing to +talk of grace, but a far other thing to trade with grace. When we +are so great strangers unto the life of grace, through not +breathing in the air of grace, how can the name of the Lord Jesus +be glorified in us, and we in him, according to the grace of our +God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Thess. i. 12. Consider we, what an +affront and indignity it is unto the Lord dispensator of grace, +that we look so lean and ill-favoured, as if there were not enough +of the fattening bread of the grace of God in our Father's house, +or as if the great Steward, who is full of grace and truth, were +unwilling to bestow it upon us, or grudged us of our allowance, +when the fault is in ourselves; we will not follow the course that +wise grace and gracious wisdom hath prescribed; we will not open +our mouth wide, that he might fill us; nor go to him with our +narrowed or closed mouths, that grace might make way for grace, and +widen the mouth for receiving of more grace; but lie by in our +leanness and weakness. And, alas! we love too well to be so. O but +grace be ill wared on us who carry so unworthily with it as we do; +yet it is well with the gracious soul that he is under grace's +tutory and care; for grace will care for him when he careth not +much for it, nor yet seeth well to his own welfare; grace can and +will prevent, yea, must prevent, afterward, as well as at the +first; that grace may be grace, and appear to be grace, and +continue unchangeably to be grace, and so free grace. Well is it +with the believer, whom grace has once taken by the heart and +brought within the bond of the covenant of grace; its deadliest +condition is not desperate. When corruption prevaileth to such a +height, that the man is given over for dead, there being no sense, +no motion, no warmth, no breath almost to be observed, yet grace, +when violently constrained by that strong distemper, to retire to a +secret corner of the soul, and there to lurk and lie quiet, will +yet at length, through the receiving influences of grace promised +in the covenant, and granted in the Lord's good time, come out of +its prison, take the fields, and recover the empire of the soul; +and then the dry and withered stocks, when the God of all grace +will be as dew unto Israel, shall blossom and grow as the lily, and +cast forth his roots as Lebanon; his branches shall spread, and his +beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. It is +a happy thing either for church or particular soul to be planted in +grace's sappy soil, they lie open to the warm beams of the Sun of +Righteousness; and the winter blasts may be sharp and long; clouds +may intercept the heat, and nipping frosts may cause a sad decay, +and all the sap may return and lie, as it were, dormant in the +root; yet the winter will pass, the rain will be over and gone, and +the flowers will appear on the earth; the time of singing of birds +will come, and the voice of the turtle will be heard in the land; +then shall even the wilderness and solitary place be glad, and the +desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, it shall blossom +abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of +Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and +Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of +our God. We wonder that 'tis not always hot summer days, a +flourishing and fruitful season, with souls and with churches. But +know we the thoughts of the Lord; see we to the bottom of the deep +contrivance of infinite wisdom? Know we the usefulness, yea, +necessity of long winter nights, stormy blasts, rain, hail, snow, +and frost? Consider we, that our state and condition, while here, +calleth for those vicissitudes, and requireth the blowing of the +north as well as of the south winds? If we considered, how grace +had ordered all things for our best, and most for the glory and +exaltation of grace, we would sit down and sing under the saddest +of dispensations, and living by faith and hope, we would rejoice in +the confident expectation of a gracious outgate; for as long as +grace predomineth (and that will be until glory take the empire) +all will run in the channel of grace; and though now sense (which +is oft faith's unfaithful friend) will be always suggesting false +tales of God, and of his grace unto unbelief, and raising thereby +discontents, doubts, fears, jealousies, and many distempers in the +soul, to its prejudice and hurt, yet in end, grace shall be seen to +be grace; and the faithful shall get such a full sight of this +manifold grace, as ordering, tempering, timing, shortening, or +continuing, of all the sad and dismal days and seasons that have +passed over their own or their mother's head, that they shall see, +that grace did order all, yea, every circumstance of all the +various tossings, changes, ups and downs, that they did meet with. +And O what a satisfying sight will that be, when the general +assembly and church of the first-born, which are in-rolled in +Heaven, and every individual saint, shall come together, and take a +view of all their experience, the result of which shall be, grace +began, grace carried on, and grace hath perfected all, grace was at +the bottom of all? What shoutings, grace, grace unto it, will be +there; when the head-stone shall be brought forth? What +soul-satisfying complacency in, and admiration at all that is past, +will a back-look thereat yield, when every one shall be made to +say, grace hath done all well, not a pin of all the work of grace +in and about me might have been wanted; now I see, that the work of +God is perfect, grace was glorious grace, and wise grace, whatever +I thought of it then. O what a fool have I been, in quarrelling at, +and in not being fully satisfied with all that grace was doing with +me? O how little is this believed now?</p> +<p>In conscience, madam, that your ladyship (to me no ways known, +but by a savoury report) shall accept of this bold address, I +recommend your ladyship, my very noble lord your husband, and +offspring, to the word of his grace, and subscribe myself,</p> +<p>MADAM,</p> +<p>Your and their servant</p> +<p>in the gospel and the grace of God.</p> +<p>JOHN BROWN.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="THE_AUTHOR_TO_THE_READER." id= +"THE_AUTHOR_TO_THE_READER."></a> +<h2>THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.</h2> +<br> +<p>CHRISTIAN READER,—After the foregoing address, I need not +put thee to much more trouble: only I shall say, that he must needs +be a great stranger in our Israel, or sadly smitten with that +epidemic plague of indifferency, which hath infected many of this +generation, to a benumbing of them, and rendering them insensible +and unconcerned in the matters of God, and of their own souls, and +sunk deep in the gulf of dreadful inconsideration, who seeth not, +or taketh no notice of, nor is troubled at the manifest and +terrible appearances of the inexpressibly great hazard, our all, as +Christians in this life, is this day exposed into. I mean the +mystery of the gospel of the grace of God, wherein the exceeding +riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, through Christ +Jesus, hath been shown. We have enjoyed for a considerable time, a +clear and powerful dispensation hereof, in great purity and plenty; +but, alas! is it not manifest to all, that will not wilfully shut +their eyes, that this mercy and goodness of God hath been wickedly +abused, and the pure administration of his grace and love +perfidiously sinned away, by this apostate generation. Are our +spots this day the spots of his children? Are their fruits +answerable to the Lord's pains and labour about us, to be seen even +amongst the greatest of professors? Is there that gospel holiness, +tenderness, watchfulness, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of +Jesus Christ, that growing up in Christ, in all things that +heavenly mindedness, that fellowship with the Father and with his +Son Christ Jesus, and that conversation in heaven, that the +dispensation of grace, we have been favoured with beyond many, and +have been long living under, did call for at our hands? Alas! our +grapes are but wild and stinking. Wherefore (and who can think it +strange, if it be so?) the Lord seemeth to be about to contend with +us, by covering our horizon with Egyptian darkness; many who would +not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved, being +already given up to strong delusion, that they should believe a +lie, and many more in hazard to be drawn aside to crooked paths, by +men of corrupt minds, who have been, and are still busy to vent and +spread abroad, with no little petulancy and confidence, damnable +doctrines, to the perverting of the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus +Christ, and to the subverting and overturning of the very +foundations of our hope and assurance; and that in such a way, and +by such means and stratagems, as seem to have wrath written upon +them in legible letters; for the more plausible and taking a +corrupt doctrine be, it is the more dangerous and judgment-like, +and more are thereby in hazard to be deluded and drawn away.</p> +<p>Nay (which is yet more terrible and dreadful) it is to be +feared, that the jealous God, in his holy and righteous judgment, +hath given a providential commission (to speak to) unto the +seducing spirit, to persuade and prevail; for is not this the clear +language of the present holy and righteous dispensations of God, +and of the stupendously indifferent frame and disposition of the +generality of men, called Christians, not only provoking God to +spue them out of his mouth, but a disposing them also unto a +receiving of whatsoever men, lying in wait to deceive, shall +propose and obtrude?</p> +<p>Alas! the clouds are not now a-gathering, but our horizon is +covered over with blackness, and great drops are a-falling, that +presage a terrible overflowing deluge of error, and apostacy from +the truth and profession of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be at +hand, if the Lord wonderfully prevent it not. And behold (O +wonderful!) the generality of professors are sleeping in security, +apprehending no danger. Satan is more cunning now, than to drive +men to Popery by rage and cruelty, (and yet what he may be +permitted to do after this manner, who can tell?) or by openly +pleading in his emissaries, for this abomination, (and yet even +thus is he already prevailing with not a few) or to send forth his +agents for Arminianism and Socinianism (though even this way too, +he is too much prevailing.) But his main work now seemeth to be, to +bring in another gospel, (and yet there is not another) or rather +an antievangelic and antichristian delusory dream, overturning at +once the whole gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and for +this end he employeth the Quakers, on the one hand, men of +desperate and antievangelic principles, the very sink of all +abominations, old and late, (as I shall show, if the Lord will +continue health and strength, in an examination of their doctrine +and principles, lately emitted by one Robert Barcley) and, on the +other hand, men, (or moralists, if you will call them so) pleading +for, and crying up an antievangelic holiness, a mere shadow without +substance or reality; and that in place of Christ himself; and in +order to the carrying on of this desperate design, the old dragon +is employing men of seeming different principles and ways, whom, +though their faces seem to look to contrary airths, yet he holdeth +notwithstanding fast tied by their tails (as Samson's foxes were) +that thereby, if the Lord permit it, he may, by the fire of enmity +to the pure gospel of the grace of God, burning in their tails, +cause a conflagration of that truth, wherein lyeth all our hope: +For this new model of religion, that many are so busied about, is +such as Pelagians, Arminians, Papists, Socinians, Quakers, yea +Turks, and moral heathens; yea, and all who are enemies to, and not +reconcilable with the true grace of God held forth in the gospel, +will willingly admit of, and harmoniously agree in: A way which +complyeth so well with proud self, and with the corrupt nature of +man, that it is little wonder, if it have many abettors and +admirers. I shall say no more of this; but only infer,</p> +<p>That sure the consideration of this should move all, in whom is +any thing of the zeal of God, and love to souls, their own and +others', to appear in the defence of the gospel of our salvation, +by all means incumbent to them, and possible for them; for if this +citadel and stronghold, wherein our all, and the all of pure and +true religion, lyeth, be blown up, we are gone; and indeed no less +is intended by this antichristian and antievangelic enemy, than the +utter subversion of true Christian religion. Who would not then be +hereby alarmed, and upon their guard, when matters are at this +pass? Should not all, who have any love to their own souls, any +zeal for the glory of Christ, anointed of the Father to be our +prophet, priest, and king; my desire to see the crown flourishing +upon his head, and to have the gospel preserved pure and +uncorrupted, be pleading with God by prayer, in the behalf of his +Son's kingdom, crown, and glory; and wrestling with him till he +were pleased to dispel these clouds, and prevent this black day: +especially should they not be labouring to be acquainted, in truth +and reality, with the gospel of Jesus Christ, that having the +mysterious truths thereof imprinted on their souls, and their +hearts cast into its mould, they may be preserved from the hurt of +this deadly poison; for this, with a constant dependence upon, and +use-making of Christ in all his offices, will prove the best +preservative against this infection.</p> +<p>The persuasion whereof did induce me to publish the following +heads of some sermons, after they have been translated into Dutch, +and published here: Knowing that they might be of no less use to +the people of God in Britain and Ireland. I know not a more +effectual mean to unstable souls from siding with and embracing +every new notion; and from being carried about with every wind of +doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby +they lye in wait to deceive; than to put them upon the real +exercise of gospel godliness, and to the daily practice of the main +and fundamental gospel work, of living by faith in Jesus Christ, +and of growing up into him, in all things, who is the head, from +whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted, by that +which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in +the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the +edifying of itself in love. Such, I am sure, as have thus learned +the truth, as it is in Jesus, and are practising the same +accordingly, will have an antidote within them against the +strongest poison of these seducers, and a real answer to, and +confutation of, all their subtile sophisms. The soul exercising +itself into gospel godliness, will find work enough to take it +wholly up; and find such a solid ground to stand upon; and see such +a satisfying fulness, answering all its necessities and wants, and +such a sure heart-quieting ground of peace, hope, and consolation +in Jesus Christ, as that it will have no leisure, and small +temptation to listen to seducing perverters, and no inclination to +seek after empty cisterns.</p> +<p>I know much may be desiderated in this following treatise, and +many may have exceptions not without ground against it. Some may +think it arrogancy, and too great confidence in me, to attempt the +handling of such a mysterious and necessary part of Christian +practice, wherein few, (if any, so far as I know,) have gone +before, in direct handling of this matter, at least in this method +and order, I mean that part which is about sanctification. Others +may be displeased with the mean and low style; with my multiplying +particulars, which might have been better and more handsomely +couched under fewer heads, and with my unnecessary contracting of +the whole into such a narrow bound, and other things of that kind; +for which, and many other failings of the like nature and import, +which may without any diligent search, be found in it, even by +ordinary and unprejudiced readers; I shall not industriously labour +to apologize, knowing that my very apology in this case, will need +an apology; only I shall say this, that considering how the snare, +which the vigilant and active enemy of our salvation, the devil, +was laying by an unholy morality, did nearly concern all, and +especially the meanest (for parts and experience) and less fixed +Christians, I thought a discourse on such a subject as I judged +most necessary at all times, and especially in such a day of +hazard, should be framed to the capacity of one as well as another; +the most understanding can receive benefit, by that which is +calculated to the capacity of children, when these can reap little +edification by what is suited to the palate of those; and the less +experienced, or such as are of lower understanding, will be less +able to draw a general to a particular; or to improve and so fully +to comprehend one particular touched, as to be able thereby to +understand and take in a like particular not mentioned; than such +as have their senses more exercised, and are thereby in case to +make a better improvement of what is but compendiously declared, +when those must have the bread broken to their hand, or they shall +receive but small edification thereby; and yet, I suppose, the +judicious will observe some variety, smaller or greater, even where +particulars seem to be, at the first view, most unnecessarily +multiplied. I know, and willingly grant, (for it is obvious enough) +that a discourse of this subject and matter, might have required a +far larger volume; but then how should such have profited thereby, +whom poverty might possibly have scared from buying; or the +necessary affairs of their ordinary callings would have keeped from +a diligent perusal of it? And I thought that neither of these +should have been overlooked in this special or general design which +I had before my eyes.</p> +<p>One thing, as my answer to all, I shall but add; if hereby +others whom the Lord hath more enabled with all necessaries for +such a work, shall be hereby either instigated or encouraged to +write upon this subject, (I mean mainly the last part thereof, +touching the use-making of Christ in sanctification; for blessed be +the Lord, many have been employed of the Lord to speak soundly and +edifyingly unto the use-making of Christ as to righteousness and +justification,) a full, plain, edifying and satisfying discovery of +this necessary and important truth, viz. Christ made of God to us +wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And withal, +point out plainly and particularly the way how believers in all +their particular and various exigencies may and should so make use +of and apply that all fulness which is treasured up in the Head, +for the benefit and advantage of the members of the mystical body, +as they may not only theoretically see, but practically also +experience this truth, that in him they are complete; and so they +may be helped to understand how through the necessary and constant +use-making of him, as all in all, they may grow up in him in all +things. If this be, I say, done by any to better purpose, I shall +think this my adventure not altogether fruitless, and in part at +least excusable.</p> +<p>As for thee, O Christian, whose instruction, edification, and +confirmation in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the faith which +was once delivered unto the saints, I mainly intended in this +undertaking, I have a few things to add:</p> +<p>Know then, that there are certain men (as the Apostle Jude +speaketh) crept in unawares, who were of old ordained to this +condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into +lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus +Christ; for in these last days we see that these perilous times are +come, (of which Paul advertised Timothy, 2 Tim. iii. 1, &c.) +wherein men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, +proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, +without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, (or make +bates) incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, +traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers +of God, having the form of godliness, but denying the power +thereof—for of this sort are they which creep into houses, +and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers +lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of +the truth. And because it is so, he exhorteth to give diligence to +make your calling and election sure, by giving all diligence to add +to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, +and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to +godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, +for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. As the Apostle +Peter assureth us, 2 Peter i. 5, 6, 7-10. For it is the elect who +are secured from full and final defection and apostacy, Matth. +xxiv. 24. Mark xii. 22. Rom. xi. 5, 6; ix. 11; viii. 33. Matth. +xxiv. 31. Mark xiii. 27. And the promise of salvation is made to +such as shall endure to the end. The crown is for the overcomers, +and such as are faithful to the death, Matth. x. 22; xxiv. 13. Mark +xiii. 13. Rev. ii. 10, 11, 17, 26, 27, 28; iii. 5, 12, 21. All +which, and the like, are set down, that hereby his people might be +rationally moved to a constant seriousness, in the working out of +their own salvation, in fear and trembling; and the forewarnings +given of the great difficulty of the reaching the end of our faith, +the salvation of our souls, because of the many active, vigilant, +indefatigable, subtile, and insinuating adversaries, who by good +words and fair speeches, will readily deceive the hearts of the +simple, and to awaken the more his people to be sober and vigilant, +because their adversary the devil (who acteth and moveth his under +agents, in their several modes, methods and motions, so as he may +best, according to the various tempers, present dispositions, +advantages or disadvantages of such as he intendeth to seduce, +which he carefully studieth, and plyeth for this end, obtain his +designed end, their ruin and destruction) as a roaring lion, +walking about seeking whom he may devour. And this calleth them to +haste out their slumber and security, who will be loath to miss his +opportunity, surprise them to their great loss and +disadvantage.</p> +<p>It is, beloved, high time now to awake, to look about us, to +consider where we are, upon what ground we stand, whether the enemy +or we have the advantage, how and in what posture we are to +rencounter with deceivers that seek to cheat us out of all our +souls, and of the Lord our Righteousness, and draw us off the paths +of life, that when we come to die (beside the unspeakably great +loss we would thereby be at, even here, in missing the comfortable +accesses to God through Jesus Christ the inflowings of grace and +strength for spiritual duty through the Lord our strength; the +sweet communications of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, the +shedding abroad of the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, +which is given unto us, and the full assurance of hope through the +Lord Jesus our hope) we might be frustrated of all our +expectations; and find, that all that which men made us grip to, +lay hold on, and lean unto, instead of Christ, was but a mere +shadow, and a lie in our right hand, to the unexpressible grief, +vexation, and sorrow of soul when all should end in a dreadful and +horrible disappointment.</p> +<p>But let us not think that our purposes, firm-like resolutions to +adhere to the truth, and our present abhorrence at, and detestation +of errors now broached, to the overturning the very foundations of +true Christianity, will sufficiently guard us from, and make us +proof against the shots and assaults of these crafty seducers. Nor +think, that our learning and knowledge in the theory of the truth; +nor our abilities to rencounter sophisters, will secure us from a +fall; let us not think that the enemies are contemptible, and +therefore we need be the less anxious, nor yet think that former +experiences and through-bearings, in the like cases, will be a +pillow, whereby we may now lay ourselves down to sleep. If we do, +we shall certainly deceive ourselves, if all our strength and +standing be in ourselves, and through ourselves; and if this be the +ground of our hope, the righteous Lord in his holy justice, may +give us up to be a prey. Peter's instance should never be forgotten +by us; and such as tempt the Lord have no ground to expect his last +issue.</p> +<p>Our strength must be in Christ: to the rock of ages must we fly: +to our chambers in him must we retire, and there must we hide +ourselves: on Christ's lee-side can we only ride safe, and be free +of the hazard of the storm. To him therefore must our recourse be +daily, by new and fresh acts of faith in and through him and his +influences, communicated according to the tenor of the covenant of +grace, through faith eyeing the promiser, the promise, with the +price purchasing, and so drawing and sucking light, direction, +strength, stability, and what our present exigent calleth for, must +we think to stand. And happy they who, conscious to themselves of +their own weakness, and convinced of the insufficiency of all +things within them, in godly fear hide themselves under the wings +of the Almighty, and get in into this stronghold, resolving there +to abide, and there to be secured from all their adversaries, +within or without. These humble fearers may expect a safe and noble +outgate; when more strong-like and more confident adventurers shall +(being left to themselves, because trusting in themselves), +shamefully fall, and be triumphed over by the enemy, to the grief +of the godly, and for a snare to others.</p> +<p>The best way then, to keep the faith of Christ, which many are +now seeking to shake and to loose us from, is to be exercising the +faith of Christ. The serious and upright practising of the gospel +is the only best mean to keep thee firm in the profession of the +gospel, when the gospel with thee is not a few fine notions in the +brain; but is heavenly and necessary truth sunk into the heart, and +living and acting there; it will keep thee, and thou wilt own it +more firmly and steadfastly in a day of trial. Thy walking in +Christ, and working and living, by him living in thee, will so root +thee in the gospel truth, that enemies will pull in vain, when +seeking to overthrow thee. The gospel of the grace of God received +and entertained in thy soul in love, and constant suitable +improvement, will fortify thee, and secure itself in thee, so that +vehement blasts shall but contribute to its more fixed abode, and +more fruitful actings in thee. Live up then to the gospel, and so +be sure of it, and be safe in it. I mean, let Christ live in thee +as thy all, and cast all thy care and cumber on him; lay all thy +difficulties before him; lean all thy weight upon him; draw all thy +necessities out of him: and undertake all thy duties in him; be +strong in him, and in the power of his might; let him be thy +counsellor, conductor, leader, teacher, captain, commander, light, +life, strength, and all, so shall thou stand and have cause to +glory, even in thine infirmities, for thou shalt find the power of +Christ resting upon thee, and thou shalt have cause to say, +therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in +necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ's sake; for +when I am weak, then am I strong. Remember that great word, Phil. +iv. 13, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth +me."</p> +<p>It hath been the usual and ordinary question of believers, How +shall we make use of Christ for sanctification? To this great and +important question, I, (though the meanest and most unfit for such +a work, of all that God hath sent to feed his flock) have +adventured or endeavoured at least, to give such as truly desire to +cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, +perfecting holiness in the fear of God, some satisfaction herein, +laying before them some plain directions framed to their +capacities, and suited to some of their most ordinary and usual +causes; some whereof are more comprehensive, and others more +particular, may be looked upon as exemplary instances, serving for +other cases of the like nature; for hardly could every particular +circumstantiate case be particularly spoken to, and some might +judge that to be superfluous, if thou, in the light and strength of +Christ, shalt really practise what is here pointed forth, I may be +confident to say, thy labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, and +thou shalt attain unto another sort of holiness than that which +proud pretenders boast of, and shalt be far without the reach of +that snare, which unstable souls are too readily entangled with. I +mean, the plausible pretension of more than ordinary sanctity which +yet is but forced, feigned, constrained, mostly external, and +framed to cause admiration in beholders, whom they intend to make a +prey of. This shall be no temptation to thee, who by experience +findeth a more safe, satisfying, full, free, easy, pleasant and +heartsome way of mortifying lusts, growing in grace, and in the +knowledge of Jesus Christ, and so perfecting holiness, by running +immediately to Christ, and by living in and upon him, who is made +of God to us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. +That the Lord may bless the same to thee, for this end, shall be, +and is the desire and prayer of him who is,</p> +<p>Thy servant in the work of the gospel,</p> +<p>JOHN BROWN.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="RECOMMENDATION." id="RECOMMENDATION."></a> +<h2>RECOMMENDATION.</h2> +<br> +<p>CHRISTIAN READER,</p> +<p>If thou answer this designation, and art really a partaker of +the unction, which is the high import of that blessed and glorious +name called upon thee, thine eye must affect thy heart, and a soul +swelled with godly sorrow must at last burst and bleed forth at a +weeping eye, while thou looks upon most of this licentious and +loathsome generation, arrived at that height of prodigious +profanity as to glory in their shame, and boast of bearing the +badge and black mark of damnation. But, besides this swarm who +savage it to hell, and make such haste hither, as they foam +themselves into everlasting flames, carrying, under the shape and +visage of men, as devils in disguise; the face of the church is +covered with a scum of such, who are so immersed in the concerns of +this life, and are so intense in the pursuit of the pleasures, +gain, and honours thereof, as their way doth manifestly witness +them to be sunk into the deep oblivion of God, and desperate +inconsideration of their precious and immortal souls. But in the +third place, besides these who are hurried into such a distraction +with the cares of this life, that they, as natural brute beasts +made to be destroyed, are never at leisure to consider either the +nature and necessity of their noble souls, or to converse with the +notion of a Deity. Thou may perceive a company of self-deceiving +speculatists, who make broad the phylacteries of their garments, +and boast of some high attainments in religion; yea, would have +others look upon them as arrived at the very porch of heaven, and +advanced to a high pitch of proficiency in the ways of God, because +they can discourse a little of the mysteries of salvation, and +without ever diving farther into the depth and true nature of +religion, dream themselves into a consideration of being saints, +and conclude themselves candidates for glory.</p> +<p>This is that heart-moving object which presents itself to thy +eye and observation this day. This is that deplorable posture, +wherein thou mayest perceive most men at the very point of +perishing eternally, who are within the pale of the visible church, +some dancing themselves headlong in all haste into the lake of fire +and brimstone, some so much concerned in things which have no +connexion with their happiness, as to drop unconcernedly into the +pit, out of which there is no redemption; and others dreaming +themselves into endless perdition: and all of them unite in a +deriding at, or despising the means used, and essays made, in order +to their recovery.</p> +<p>But if his servants, in following their work closely, seem to +have gained a little ground upon men, and almost persuaded them to +be Christians, Satan, to the end he may make all miscarry, and +counterwork these workers together with God, and poison poor souls +by a perversion of the gospel, beyond the power of an antidote, +hath raised up, instigated and set on work a race of proud +rationalists, for they are wiser than to class themselves amongst +those poor fools, those base things, those nothings, to whom Christ +is made all things, to whom Christ is made wisdom that he may be +righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to them; nay, they +must be wise men after the flesh, wise above what is written. A +crucified Christ is really unto them foolishness and weakness, +though the power of God and the wisdom of God: they will needs go +to work another way; they will needs glory in his presence, and +have a heaven of their own band-wind. O my soul, enter not into +their secrets! and, O sweet Jesus, let thy name be to me, The Lord +my righteousness; thou hast won it,—wear it; and gather not +my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but +of thine only! to bring in another gospel amongst us than the +gospel of the grace of God. As they determine to know some other +thing than Christ and him crucified; so with the enticing words of +man's wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth, +setting somewhat else before them than a crucified Christ; and this +they do, that they may remove men from those who call them into the +grace of Christ, unto another gospel. A Christ, it is true; they +speak of; but it is not the Christ of God, for all they drive at (O +cursed and truly antichristian design!) is, that he may profit them +nothing, while they model all religion according to this novel +project of their magnified morality. This is that which gives both +life and lustre to that image which they adore, to the Dagon after +whom they would have the world wonder and worship.</p> +<p>That there is such a moralizing or muddizing, if I may be for +once admitted to coin a new word to give these men their due, of +Christianity now introduced and coming in fashion, many of the late +pieces in request do evince. Now that Christianity should moralize +men above all things, I both give and grant; for he who is partaker +of the divine nature, and hath obtained precious faith, must add +virtue to his faith. But that it should be only conceived and +conceited as an elevation of nature to a more clear light, in the +matter of morality, wherein our Lord is only respected as an +heavenly teacher and perfect pattern proposed for imitation, is but +a proud, pleasing fancy of self-conceited, darkened, and deluded +dreamers, robbing God of the glory of his mercy and goodness; our +Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit. The spirit +of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations; and +themselves and their pilgrimages, who give them the hand as guides, +of the comfort and fruit of all.</p> +<p>It cannot escape thy observation, how busy Satan is this day, +upon the one hand, to keep men, under the call of the gospel to +give all diligence to make their calling and election sure, idle +all the day, so that no persuasion can induce them to engage +seriously to fall about a working out their own salvation in fear +and trembling; and, on the other, equally diligent and industrious +to divert men from trusting in the name of the Lord, and staying +upon their God; setting them on work to go and gather fuel, and +kindle a fire, and compass themselves about with sparks, that they +may walk in the light of their own fire, and in the sparks that +they have kindled, knowing well that they shall this way most +certainly lose their toil and travel, and have no other reward at +his hand of all their labour, but to lie down in everlasting +sorrow, while the stout-hearted and far from righteousness and +salvation, shall get their soul for a prey, and be made to rejoice +in his salvation, and bless him who hath made them meet to be +partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.</p> +<p>I am neither the fit person for so great an undertaking, nor do +these limits, within which I must bound myself, permit me to +expatiate in many notions about the nature of this excellent and +precious thing, true gospel holiness. Oh! if, in the entry, I could +on my own behalf and others, sob out my alas! from the bottom of my +soul, because, be what it will, it is some other thing than men +take it to be. Few habituate themselves to a thinking upon it, in +its high nature, and soul enriching advantages, till their hearts +receive suitable impressions of it, and their lives be the very +transumpt of the law of God written in their heart; the thing, +alas! is lost in a noise of words, and heap of notions about it; +neither is it a wonder that men fall into mistakes about it, since +it is only the heart possessed of it that is capable to understand +and perceive its true excellency. But if it be asked what it is; we +say, it may be shortly taken up, as the elevation and raising up of +a poor mortal unto a conformity with God. As a participation of the +divine nature, or as the very image of God stamped on the soul, +impressed on the thoughts and affections, and expressed in the life +and conversation; so that the man in whom Christ is formed, and in +whom he dwells, lives, and walks, hath while upon the earth, a +conversation in heaven; not only in opposition to those many, whose +end is destruction, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in +their shame, who mind earthly things; but also to those pretenders +unto and personaters of religion, who have confidence in the flesh, +and worship God with their own spirit, which in the matters of God +is flesh and not spirit, and have somewhat else to rejoice in than +in Christ Jesus, and a being found in him, not having their own +righteousness.</p> +<p>True gospel holiness, then, consists in some similitude and +likeness to God, and fellowship with him founded upon that +likeness. There is such an impression of God, his glorious +attributes, his infinite power, majesty, mercy, justice, wisdom, +holiness, and grace, &c., as sets him up all alone in the soul +without any competition, and produceth those real apprehensions of +him, that he is alone excellent and matchless. O how preferable +doth be appear, when indeed seen, to all things! And how doth this +light of his infinite gloriousness, shining into the soul, darken +and obscure to an invisibleness all other excellencies, even as the +rising of the sun makes all the lesser lights to disappear. Alas! +how is God unknown in his glorious being and attributes! When once +the Lord enters the soul, and shines into the heart, it is like the +rising of the sun at midnight: all these things which formerly +pretended to some loveliness, and did dazzle with their lustre, are +eternally darkened. Now, all natural perfections, and moral +virtues, in their flower and perfections, are at best looked upon +as <i>aliquid nihil</i>. What things were formerly accounted gain +and godliness, are now counted loss for the excellency of the +knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, and the soul cannot only suffer +the loss of them all without a sob, but be satisfied to throw them +away as dung, that it may win him, and be found in him. Now, the +wonder of a Deity, in his greatness, power, and grace, swallows up +the soul in sweet admiration. O how doth it love to lose itself in +finding here what it cannot fathom? And then it begins truly to see +the greatness and evil of sin; then it is looked upon without the +covering of pleasure or profit, and loathed as the leprosy of hell. +Now the man is truly like God in the knowledge of good and evil, in +the knowledge of that one infinite good, God; and in the knowledge +of that one almost infinite evil, sin. This is the first point of +likeness to him, to be conformed to him in our understanding, that +as he knows himself to be the only self-being and fountain-good, +and all created things in their flower and perfection, with all +their real or fancied conveniences being compared with him, but as +the drop of a bucket, or nothing; yea, less than nothing, vanity +(which is nothing blown up, by the force or forgery of a vainly +working imagination, to the consistence of an appearance), so for a +soul to know indeed and believe in the heart, that there is nothing +deserves the name of good besides God, to have the same superlative +and transcendent thoughts of that great and glorious self-being +God, and the same diminishing and debasing thoughts of all things +and beings besides him. And that as the Lord seeth no evil in the +creation but sin, and hates that with a perfect hatred, as contrary +to his holy will; so for a soul to aggravate sin in its own sight +to an infiniteness of evil, at least till it see it only short of +infiniteness in this respect, that it can be swallowed up of +infinite mercy. But whence hath the soul all this light? It owes +all this, and owns itself as debtor for it to him, who opens the +eyes of the blind. It is he who commands the light to shine out of +darkness, who hath made these blessed discoveries, and hath given +the poor benighted soul, the light of the knowledge of the glory of +God, in the face of Jesus Christ. These irradiations are from the +Spirit's illumination; 'tis the Spirit of wisdom and revelation +that hath made day-light in the darkened soul. The man who had the +heart of a beast, as to any saving or solid knowledge of God or +himself, hath now got an understanding to know him that is true. +Now is Christ become the poor man's wisdom, he is now renewed in +knowledge after the image of him that created him; he might well +babble of spiritual things, but till now he understood nothing of +the beauty and excellency of God and his ways; nay, he knew not +what he knew, he was ignorant as a beast of the life and lustre of +those things which he knew in the letter; nothing seemed more +despicable to him in the world, than true godliness; but now he +judgeth otherwise, because he hath the mind of Christ. The things +which in his darkness he did undervalue as trifles to be mocked at, +he now can only mind and admire, since he became a child of light; +now being delivered from that blindness and brutishness of spirit, +which possesseth the world, (and possessed himself till he was +transformed by the renewing of his mind) who esteem basely of +spiritual things, and set them at nought, he prizeth as alone +precious. The world wonders what pleasure or content can be in the +service of God, because they see not by tasting how good he is; to +be prying into and poring upon invisible things, is to them visible +madness, but to the enlightened mind, the things that are not seen +are only worth seeing, and while they appear not to be, they only +are; whereas the things that are seen appear but to be, and are +not. Though the surpassing sweetness of spiritual things should be +spoke of to them, who cannot favour the things of God, in such a +manner as the glorious light of them did surround men; yet they can +perceive no such thing; all is to them cunningly devised fables; +let be spoke what will, they see no form, no comeliness, no beauty +in this glorious object—God in Christ reconciling sinners to +himself. Alas! the mind is blinded; the dungeon is within; and till +Christ open the eyes, as well as reveal his light, the soul abides +in its blindness, and is buried in midnight darkness; but when the +Spirit of God opens the man's eyes, and he is translated by an act +of omnipotency out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of +his dear Son, which is a kingdom of marvellous light, O what +matchless beauty doth he now see in these things, which appeared +despicable and dark nothings to him, till he got the unction, the +eye-salve, which teacheth all things. Now he sees (what none +without the Spirit can see) the things which God hath prepared for +them that love him, and are freely given them of God; and these, +though seen at a distance, reflect such rays of beauty into his +soul, that he beholds and is ravished, he sees and is swallowed up +in wonder.</p> +<p>But then, in the next place, this is not a spiritless +inefficacious speculation about these things, to know no evil but +sin and separation from God, and no blessedness but in the fruition +of him; it is not such a knowledge of them as doth not principle +motion to pursue after them. This I grant is part of the image of +God, when the Sun of Righteousness, by arising upon the man, hath +made day-light in his soul, and by these divine discoveries hath +taught him to make the true parallel betwixt things that differ, +and to put a just value upon them according to their intrinsic +worth. But this divine illumination doth not consist in a mere +notion of such things in the head, nor doth it subsist in +enlightening the mind; but in such an impression of God upon the +soul, as transforms and changes the heart into his likeness by +love.' Knowledge is but one line, one draught or lineament of the +soul's likeness to him; that alone doth not make up the image, but +knowledge rooted in the heart, and engraven on the soul, hining and +shewing itself forth in a gospel-adorning conversation, that makes +a comely proportion; when the same hand that touched the eye, and +turned the man from darkness to light, and gave an heart to know +him, that he is the Lord, that doth also circumcise the man's heart +to love the Lord his God, with all his heart, and with all his +soul, and with all his mind; and this love manifesting its +liveliness, in its constraining power to live to him and for him. +Light without, heat is but wild fire; but light in the mind, +begetting heat in the heart, making it burn Godward, Christward, +and heavenward; light in the understanding, setting on fire and +inflaming the affections, and these shining out in a heavenly +conversation, makes up the lively image of God, both in feature and +stature, both in proportion and colour. Faith begins this image, +and draws the lineaments; and love bringing forth obedience +finishes, and gives it the lively lustre. The burnings of love in +obedience to God is that which illuminates the whole, and makes a +man look indeed like him, to whose image he is predestinate to be +conform, and then makes him, who is ravished with the charms of +that beauty, say, as in a manner overcome thereby, "how fair is thy +love, my sister, my spouse? How much better is thy love than wine, +and the smell of thine ointments than all spices?" But consider, +that as these beams, which irradiate the soul, are from the Spirit +of Christ, so that spiritual heat and warmth come out of the same +airth, and proceed from the same author, for our fire burns as he +blows, our lamp shines as he snuffs and furnisheth oil. Men +therefore should not indulge themselves in this delusion, to think, +that that which will pass for pure religion and undefiled before +God, consists either in an outward blameless conversation, or in +putting on and wearing an external garb of profession. No, as the +top of it reacheth higher, so the root of it lies deeper; it is +rooted in the heart, this seed being sown in an honest heart (or +making the heart honest in which it is sown) takes root downward, +and brings forth fruit upward, as trees that grow as far under +ground as above, so these trees of righteousness, the planting of +the Lord that he may be glorified, grow as far and as fast under +ground as above; godliness grows as far downwards in self-emptying, +self-denial, and self-abasing, in hungering and thirsting after +more of righteousness, in the secret engagements of the heart to +God in Christ, in these burstings of heart and bleeding of soul, to +which God alone is witness, because of shortcoming in holiness, +because of a body of death within, and because of that law in the +members warring against the law of the mind, and bringing often +into captivity to the law of sin, as it grows upward in a +profession. And this is that pure religion and undefiled before +God, which is both most pleasant to him, and profitable to the +soul.</p> +<p>But to make the difference betwixt dead morality, in its best +dress, and true godliness, more clear and obvious, that loveliness +of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other, this dead +carion and stinking carcase of rotten morality, which still stinks +in the nostrils of God, even when embalmed with the most costly +ointments of its miserably misled patrons, we say, that true +godliness, which in quality and kind differs from this much pleaded +for and applauded morality, a black heathen by a mongrel kind of +Christians baptised of late with the name of Christianity, and +brought into the temple of the Lord, concerning which he hath +commanded that it should never in that shape, and for that end it +is introduced, enter into his congregation; and the bringers for +their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his +presence. It respects Jesus Christ, 1st, as its principle; 2d, as +its pattern; 3d, as its altar; and, 4th, as its end.</p> +<p>1. I say, true holiness, in its being and operation, respects +Jesus Christ as its principle; "I live," said that shining saint, +"yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." As that which gives religion +its first being, is the religation of the soul to God; so that +which gives it motion, and draws forth that life into action, is +the same God's working all their works in them and for them, so +that in all they do, they are workers together with God; every act +of holiness is an act of the soul made alive unto God through Jesus +Christ, and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new +life and influence; therefore, says Christ, without me ye can do +nothing; it is not, being out of me ye can do nothing, for he spoke +it to those who were in him, but, if ye leave me out in doing, all +ye do will be nothing. 'Tis Jesus Christ who gives life and legs, +so that our runnings are according to his drawings. "My soul +followeth hard after thee," said that holy man; but whence is all +this life and vigour? "Thy right hand upholdeth me," Oh! it is the +upholdings and helpings of this right hand, enlarging the man's +heart, that makes a running in the ways of his commandments; it is +he who, while the saints work out the work of their own salvation, +worketh in them both to will and to do. It is he who giveth power +to the faint, and who, to them that have no might, encreaseth +strength, so that the poor lifeless, languishing lie-by is made to +mount up with eagles' wings, and surmount all these difficulties, +with a holy facility, which were simply insuperable, and pure +impossibilities. Now the man runs and doth not weary, because +Christ draws; and he walks and doth not faint, because Christ, in +whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily, dwells in him, and +walks in him, and dwells in him for that very end, that he may have +a completeness and competency of strength for duty. All grace is +made to abound unto him, that he always having all sufficiency in +all things, may abound unto every good work. He is able of himself +to do nothing, no, not to think any thing as he ought, but he hath +a sufficiency of God, whereby he is thoroughly furnished unto every +good work; so that he may say, I am able for all things: it is more +than "I am able to do all things," as we read it; its just import +is, "I am able to do all things, and to endure all things;" and +that which keeps it from vain boasting, is what is added, "through +Christ which strengthened me," or putting power in me, or rather +impowering me, which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life +into a liveliness of exercise, according to the present exigent. +There is a power in a saint, because Christ is in him, that +overpowers all the powers of darkness without, and all the power of +indwelling corruption within, so that when the poor weak creature +is ready to despond; within sight of his duty, and say, because of +difficulty, what is my strength that I should hope? Christ saith, +despond not, my grace is sufficient for thee, and my power shall +rest upon thee, to a reviving thee, and raising thee up, and +putting thee in case to say, when I am weak, then I am strong; his +strength, who impowers me, is made perfect in my weakness, so that +I will glory in my infirmities, and be glad in being grace's +debtor. But what power is that, which raiseth the dead sinner, and +carries the soul in its actings so far without the line, and above +the sphere of all natural activity, when stretched to its utmost? +O, it is an exceeding great power which is to them-ward who +believe, that must make all things, how difficult soever, easy, +when he works in them to will and to do, according to the working +of his mighty power, (or as it is upon the margin, and more +emphatic, of the might of his power,) which he wrought in Christ, +when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right +hand, &c.; he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead, +raiseth up believers also by Jesus; and being raised and revived by +him, to walk in newness of life, the life of Jesus, in its +communications of strength, is manifest in their mortal flesh, +according to that of the same apostle; "the life that I live in the +flesh," saith he, "I live by the faith of the Son of God." Faith +brings in Christ in my soul, and Christ being my life, carries out +my soul in all the acts of obedience, wherein, though I be the +formal agent, yet the efficiency and the power, by which I operate, +is from him; so that I can give no better account of it than +this,—I—not I. But who then, if not you? The grace of +God, saith he, which was with me. But this mystery to our bold, +because blind moralists, of an indwelling Christ working mightily +in the soul, is plain madness and melancholy; however we understand +his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, who said, "The life I live +in the flesh," &c.; and from what we understand of his +knowledge in that mystery, which he had by revelation, we +understand our moralists to be men of corrupt minds, who concerning +the faith hath made shipwreck; but what is that, "The life I live +in the flesh," &c. The import of it seems to be this, if not +more,—while I have in me a soul animating my body, as the +principle of all my vital and natural actions, I have Jesus Christ +animating my soul, and by the impulse and communicate virtue and +strength of an indwelling Christ, I am made to run the ways of his +commandments, wherein I take so great delight, that I am found of +no duty as of my enemy.</p> +<p>2. The gospel holiness respects Jesus Christ as its pattern. It +proposeth no lower pattern for imitation than to be conform to his +image, (he that is begotten again into a lively hope, by the +resurrection of Christ from the dead, girds up the loins of his +mind, which are the affections of his soul, lest by falling flat +upon the earth, he be hindered in running the race set before him, +as looking to the forerunner his pattern,) in this girdle of hope, +that he may be "holy in all manner of conversation," keeping his +eye upon the precept and pattern, that his practice may be conform. +It is written, saith he, "be ye holy, for I am holy;" the hope of +seeing God, and being ever with him, imposeth a necessity upon him +who hath it, to look no lower than at him, who is glorious in +holiness; and therefore he is said to purify himself even as he is +pure; and knowing that this is the end of their being quickened +together with Christ, that they may walk even as he walked, they in +their working and walking aim at no less than to be like him; and +therefore never sit down upon any attained measure, as if they were +already perfect. The spotless purity of God expressed in his laws, +is that whereto they study assimilation; therefore they are still +in motion towards this mark, and are changed from one of glorious +grace into another, into the same image, even as by the Spirit of +the Lord, who never gives over his putting them to cleanse from all +filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, till that be true in the +truest sense, "Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in +thee." And knowing that perfect fruition of him cannot be without +the perfect conformity to him, herein do they exercise themselves +to grow in grace, and to be still advancing towards some more +likeness to his image, forgetting all their attainments, as things +that are behind, and by their Teachings forth unto that which is +before, make it evident that they make every begun degree of grace +and conformity to God, a prevenient capacity for a new degree which +yet they have not attained. I know our moralists look upon +themselves as matchless, in talking of following his steps as he +hath left us an example; in this they make a flourishing with +flanting effrontery, but for all their boasting of wisdom, such a +poor simple man as I, am made to wonder at their folly, who +proposing, as they say, the purity of Christ as their pattern, are +not even thence convinced, that in order to a conformity thereto, +there is a simple and absolute necessity of the mighty operations +of that Spirit of God, whereby this end can be reached; but while +they flout at the Spirit's working as a melancholy fancy, whereby +the soul is garnished with the beauty of holiness, and made an +habitation for God, I doubt not to say of these great sayers, that +they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm; +nay, doth not the talking of the one, not only without seeing the +necessity of the other, but speaking against it, say in the heart +of every one, who hath not the heart of a beast, that they have +never yet got a sight of the holiness of that pattern, nor of their +own pollutions and impotency; for if they had, they would give +themselves up to Jesus Christ to be washed by him, without which +they can have no part with him. O there will be a vast difference, +at the latter day, betwixt them who have given their black souls to +Jesus to bleach, when he shall present them without spot, not only +clothed with wrought gold, but all glorious within, and those who +have never dipped, yea, who have despised to dip their defiled +souls in any other fountain, save in the impure puddle of their own +performances. This will make them loathsome in his sight, and cause +his soul abhor those who have done this despite unto the Spirit of +grace, as to slight that blessed fountain, opened for sin and for +uncleanness, let them pretend as high as they will, to look to him +as a pattern; while, because the plague-sore is gone up in their +eye, they look not to him as a price, nor to the grace of Jesus +Christ, as that which can only principle any acceptable performance +of duty, he will plunge them in the ditch, and it will cost them +their souls, for rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, +in not making use of him who came by water as well as by blood.</p> +<p>3. This gospel holiness respects Christ as the altar. It is in +him, and for him, that his soul is well pleased with our +performance—this is the altar upon which thou must lay thy +gift, and leave it, without which thy labour is lost, and +whatsoever thou dost is loathed, as a corrupt thing. As believers +draw all their strength from him, so they expect acceptance only +through him, and for him. They do not look for it, but in the +Beloved; they dare not draw near to God in duty, but by him. This +is the new and living way which is consecrate for them; and if +such, who offer to come to God, do not enter in hereat, instead of +being admitted to a familiar converse with God, they shall find him +a consuming fire. When the saints have greatest liberty in prayer, +and so of all other performances, when their hearts are most lifted +up in the ways of the Lord, they abhor at thinking their prayer can +any otherways be set forth before him as incense, or the lifting up +of their hands as the evening sacrifice, but as presented by the +great intercessor, and perfumed by the merit of his oblation. If +they could weep out the marrow of their bones, and the moisture of +their body, in mourning over sin; yet they durst not think of +having what comes from so impure a spring, and runs through so +polluted a channel, presented to God, but by Jesus Christ, in order +to acceptation; for, as they look to the exalted Saviour, to get +their repentance from him, so when by the pourings out upon them of +the spirit of grace and supplication, he hath made them pour out +their hearts before him, and hath melted them into true tenderness, +so that their mourning is a great mourning, they carry back these +tears to be washen and bathed in his blood, as knowing without this +of how little worth and value with God their salt water is; but +when they are thus washed he puts them in his bottle, and then +pours them out again to them in the wine of strong consolation. +Thus are they made glad in his house of prayer, and their sighs and +groans come up with acceptance upon his altar. O blessed altar, +that sanctifies the gold! this is that altar, whereto the mocking +moralist hath no right. It is by him that the poor believer offers +up his sacrifice to God continually; whatever he doth in word or +deed, he desires to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. As he +knows, he lives to make intercession, and to appear in the presence +of God for his poor people, both to procure influences for duty, +and plead for acceptation: so he depends upon him for both, as +knowing he can never otherways hear nor have it said unto him, +"well done thou good and faithful servant." It may be he can do +little, he hath but a mite to offer; but he puts it in the +Mediator's hand to be presented to God. He hath not gold, nor +silver, nor purple to bring; he can do no great things; he hath but +goats' hair or rams' skins, but he gives them the right tincture, +he makes them red in the blood of Christ, and so they are a +beautiful incarnation.</p> +<p>But let us, on the other hand, take a short view of what our +moralists substitute in its place, as in their account, both more +beautiful in the eye, and more beneficial to the souls of men, +wherein I intend to be brief. I might comprehend the account to be +given shortly, and give it most exactly, yet truly in these few +words. As the most undoubted deviation from, and perfect opposition +unto the whole contrivance of salvation, and the conveyance of it +into the souls of men, as revealed in this gospel which brings life +and immortality to light, that fighters against the grace of God in +its value and virtue can forge, stretching their blind reason to +the overthrow of true religion, and ruin of the souls of men. For +to this height these masters of reason have, in their blind rage, +risen up against the Lord and against his anointed; this is the +dreadful period of that path, wherein we are persuaded to walk, yea +hectored, if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand +sophies, who arrogate to themselves the name and thing of +knowledge, as if wisdom were to die with them. The deep mysteries +of salvation, which angels desire to look into, and only satisfy +themselves with admiration at, must appear as respondents at their +bar; and if they decline the judge and court, as incompetent, they +flee out and flout at subjecting this blind mole, man's reason, to +the revelation of faith in a mystery. The manifold wisdom of God, +and the manifold grace of God, must either condescend to their +unfoldings, and be content to speak in their dialect, or else these +wits, these Athenian dictators, will give the deep things of God, +because beyond their divings, the same entertainment which that +great gospel preacher, Paul, met with from men of the same mould, +kidney, and complexion, because he preached unto them Jesus, What +would the babbler say, said they. The Spirit of wisdom and +revelation they know not, they have not, they acknowledge not; nay, +they despise him in his saving and soul-ascertaining illuminations; +and the workings of that mighty power to them-ward who believe, is +to the men of this new mould (because they have not found it) an +insufferable fancy, to be exploded with a disdain and indignation, +which discovers what spirit actuates them in this opposition.</p> +<p>But I would recommend to you, who can neither purchase nor +peruse what is more voluminous (how worthy soever) the serious +perusal, as of the whole of that savoury and grace-breathing peace, +the fulfilling of the Scriptures; so therein that short but sweet +digression, against black-mouthed Parker, wherein the gracious +author takes out his own soul, and sets before thine eye, the image +of God impressed thereon; for while he deals with that desperado by +clear and convincing reason, flowing natively from the pure +fountain of divine revelation, he hath the advantage of most men, +and writers too, in silencing that proud blasphemer of the good +ways of God, with arguments taken from what he hath found acted +upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend, as a sovereign +antidote against this poison, the diligent perusing and pondering +of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same +unhallowed author (in the Preface to that piece of great Mr. +Durham, upon the Commands) by a disciple, who, besides his natural +acuteness and sub-actness of judgment in the depth of the gospel +mysteries, is known, by all who know him (and for myself, I know +none now alive his equal) to have most frequent access to lean his +head on his Master's bosom, and so in best case to tell his +fellow-disciples and brethren, what is breathed into his own soul, +while he lives in these embraces, and under the sheddings abroad of +that love of God in his soul, which drew and did dictate these +lines, against that flouter at all such fruitions. Nor can I here +omit to observe, how, when the devil raised up Parker, that +monster, to bark and blaspheme, the Lord raised up a Merveil to +fight him at his own weapon, who did so cudgel and quell that +boasting bravo, as I know not if he be dead of his wound, but for +any thing I know, he hath laid his speech.</p> +<p>It was not the author's design in this piece, (levelled only at +this mark, to teach thee how to make use of the strength and grace +that is in Christ Jesus, and find the promised ease in performance +of duties; in handling of which argument, he hath been remarkably +assisted, and thou canst not read with attention, but thou must +bear him witness, and bless the Lord on his behalf, that he hath +hit the mark at which he aimed) to engage in a formal debate with +these audacious moralists, who would boast and bogle us out of the +good old way, wherein, if men walk, they must find rest to their +souls. Yet if by the doctrine he hath here explained and pressed, +as the only way of life, they do not find what a mortal wound he +hath given their morality, all the lovers of the truth will see it; +and it may be, the Lord sparing life, and continuing the same +gracious and great assistance, he hath had in engaging with many +and great adversaries to the truth at home and abroad, they may see +somewhat from his pen, which may make the lovers of our Lord Jesus +Christ in sincerity, and of the operations of his Spirit, sing over +these successors to Sisera, who with their jumping chariots and +rattling wheels, assault the truth, at his feet they bowed, they +fell, they lay down at his feet, they bowed, they fell where they +bowed, there they fell down dead; so let all the enemies of thy +truth perish, O Lord! How to make the whole more useful for thee, +for whose advantage 'tis mainly intended, I leave to the author's +own direction; only this I must say, his method and mould, wherein +he casts his sweet matter, and his way of handling this so +seasonable a subject, is so accommodate to each case, and brought +home to the conscience, and down to the capacity of the meanest +Christian, which was his aim, that the feeble, in this day, might +be as David; that howbeit many worthy men have not only hinted, but +enlarged upon the same matter, yet thou canst not but see some +heart-endearing singularity in his way of improving and handling +this great gospel truth. Next, I must tell thee, that as I myself +read it with much satisfaction (though, alas! I dare not say, I +have by reading reaped the designed advantage), so that thou mayest +be blushed into a perusal thereof, and profiting thereby, I must +likewise tell thee, I say, it hath been turned into Dutch, and that +it hath not only met with great acceptation amongst all the serious +and godly in these parts, who have seen it, but is much sought +after; and they profess themselves singularly thereby edified, and +set a-going after God, by its efficacious persuasiveness, with a +singing alacrity; and if it have not the same effect upon thee and +me, they and it will arise up against us in judgment.</p> +<p>Up, therefore, Christians, and be doing: Listen to such a +teacher, who, lest thou tire in thy race, or turn back, teacheth +thee a certain and sweet way of singular proficiency and progress +in the ways of God. It may be, it is not thy work, nor mine, to +write both against these soul-murdering, however magnified, methods +of taking men off Jesus Christ; but our penury of parts for that, +should first put us to seek plenty of tears, that we may weep, to +see our master so wounded by the piercing pens of those who, to +patronise their mock religion, wrest the Scriptures, and with +wicked hands wring the word of the Lord, till it weep blood: this, +I say, should provoke thee and me to weep upon him, till he appear, +and beat the pens of such deceivers out of their hand by a blow of +his; 2d, It should provoke us to know the truth, that we may +contend earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints, and to +have these contradicted truths so impressed in their life upon our +souls, that the pen of the most subtle pleader for this perversion +of the gospel may neither delete these, nor be able to stagger us, +but we may, from the efficacious working of these, have the witness +in ourselves, and know the men who teach otherways not to be of +God; 3d, It should be our ambition, when the all of religion is +cried down, and a painted shadow, a putrid, however perfumed, +nothing put in its place, to make it appear, by our practice, that +religion is an elevation of the soul above the sphere and activity +of dead morality; and that it is no less or lower principle that +acts us, than Christ dwelling in us, and walking in us. How can the +love of God, and of Christ, and of the Spirit be in us, if these +perverse praters against the power of godliness, provoke us not to +emit a practical declaration to the world, and extort a testimony +to his grace by our way, from the enemies thereof? Improve, +therefore, this his special help to that purpose, which in a most +seasonable time is brought to thy hand.</p> +<p>But to sum up all shortly, there are but three things which make +religion an heavy burden; 1st, The blindness of the mind; and here +thou art taught to make use of that eye-salve, whereby the eyes of +the blind see out of obscurity, and out of darkness; he who +formerly erred in spirit, by the light held forth in these lines, +may see a surpassing beauty in the ways of God; 2d, That aversion +and unwillingness which is in the mind, whereby the sweet and easy +yoke of his commands is spurned at as heavy; in order to the +removing thereof, and that thou mayest be among his willing people, +here thou hast Christ held forth in his conquering beauty, +displaying his banner of love over souls, so that thou canst not +look upon him as held forth, but faith will bow thy neck to take on +his yoke, because it sees it is lined with the love of Christ, and +then this love that lines the yoke, shed abroad in the heart, will +constrain to a bearing of it; but, 3d, When the spirit is willing, +there remains yet much weakness; love kindled in the heart conquers +the mind into a compliance with his will, and a complacency in his +commands, but its greatest strength is often to weep over a +withered hand. Now that thy hands which fall down may be made +strong for labour, and thou mayest be girded with strength, and +have grace for grace, yea, all grace to make thee abound unto every +good word and work, the author leads thee up unto the full fountain +of all gospel furniture, and strength; and teacheth thee how to +make use of Christ, as thy sufficiency, for working all thy works +in thee and for thee. I say, therefore, again unto thee, take +heart, let not thine hands fall down, essay nothing thou would have +well done or easily done, in thine own strength; but yet how +difficult soever the duty be, approach it as having no confidence +in the flesh, but with an eye to thy stock, that rich store-house +of all furniture, and it shall be with thee as it was with the +priests, before whom Jordan recoiled, so soon as their foot entered +within the brink; God shall make thy difficulties evanish; and by +the illapses of the Spirit of power and might from Jesus Christ +depended upon, shall so strengthen thee, that thy duty is made easy +to admiration, and becomes the delight of thy soul. Pray for the +continuance of the life of the author, who, by his assiduous +working for Christ, hath been often near unto death, not regarding +his own life, to supply the lack of other men's service, to the +interest and Church of God; and let him be comforted for this piece +of travel undertaken for thy soul's interest, by hearing thou dost +improve it to thy advantage, for which it is so exactly calculate: +And with all I beg thy fervent and earnest intercessions for grace, +and more grace, to him who is thy poor, yet soul's well-wisher and +servant, for Christ's sake,</p> +<p>R. M. W.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_I." id="CHAPTER_I."></a> +<h2>CHRIST<br> +<br> +THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.</h2> +<br> +<p>JOHN XIV. 6—JESUS SAITH UNTO THEM, I AM THE WAY, AND THE +TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h4>THE INTRODUCTION, WITH SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM THE +COHESION.</h4> +<br> +<p>Doubtless it is always useful, yea, necessary, for the children +of God to know the right way of making use of Christ, who is made +all things to them which they need, even "wisdom, righteousness, +sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30. But it is never more +necessary for believers to be clear and distinct in this matter, +than when Satan, by all means, is seeking to pervert the right ways +of the Lord, and, one way or other, to lead souls away, and draw +them off Christ; knowing that, if he prevail here, he hath gained +his point. And therefore he endeavoureth not only to darken it by +error, either more gross or more subtle, but also to darken it by +mistakes and prejudices: whence it cometh to pass, that not only +strangers are made to wander out of the way, but oftentimes many of +his own people are walking in darkness of ignorance and mistakes, +and remain lean through want of the real exercise of the life of +faith, which would make them fat and flourishing; because it would +make them "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and +to grow up in Christ in all things."</p> +<p>The clearing up then of this truth cannot but be most seasonable +now, when Satan is prevailing with many, whom he cannot get tempted +to looseness and profanity, to sit down upon something which is not +Christ, and to rest upon something with themselves, distinct from +him, both in the matter of justification and sanctification. This +subtle adversary is now setting some a-work, to cry up, by +preaching, speaking, and printing, a way to heaven which is not +Christ; a kind of morality, civility, and outward holiness, +whereupon the soul is to rest. And this holiness, not wrought and +effectuated through the strength of Jesus, by faith sucking life +and furniture from him; but through our own art and skill, which in +effect is nothing but an extract of refined Popery, Socinianism, +and Arminianism, devised and broached of purpose to draw the soul +off Christ, that he may stand upon his own legs, and walk by his +own power, and thank himself, at least in part, for the crown at +length.</p> +<p>Further, through the great goodness of God, the true way of a +soul's justification is admirably cleared up; and many are, at +least theoretically, acquainted therewith; and many also +practically, to the quieting of their wakened consciences, and +stopping the mouth of their accusers, and obtaining of peace, joy, +and the lively hope of the everlasting crown; yet many gracious +souls profess their unacquaintedness with the solid and thriving +way of use-making of Christ for growth in grace and true +sanctification. Therefore some discovery of the truth here cannot +but be useful, seasonable, yea, and acceptable unto them. If he, +who is the Truth, would give grace to understand, and to unfold +this so necessary and always advantageous a truth, and would help +to write of and explain this truth by faith in him who is here said +to be the Truth, then should we have cause to bless and magnify his +name. But if he, because of sin, shall hide himself, and not let +out these beams of light, whereby we might discover light, we shall +but darken counsel with words without our knowledge, and leave the +matter as unclear as ever. Therefore is it necessary, there be both +in him that writeth, and in such as read, a single dependence on +him, who "is for a leader," Isa. lv. 5, and hath promised to "bring +the blind by a way which they know not, and to lead them in paths +they had not known, and to make darkness light before them, and +crooked things straight," Isa. xlii. 16, that thus by acting faith +on him we may find, in so far, the truth of this verified, viz. +that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Now, for clearing up +of this matter, we would know, that our Lord Jesus, from the +beginning of this chapter, is laying down some grounds of +consolation, sufficient to comfort his disciples against the sad +news of his departure and death; and to encourage them against the +fears they had of much evil to befall them when their Lord and +Master should be taken from them; which is a sufficient proof of +the tender heart of Jesus, who alloweth all his followers strong +consolation against all fears, hazards, troubles, and perplexities +which they can meet with in their way. He will not leave them +comfortless, and therefore he layeth down strong grounds of +consolation to support their drooping and fainting hearts; as +loving to see his followers always rejoicing in the Lord, and +singing in the ways of Zion: that the world may see and be +convinced of a reality in Christianity, and of the preferableness +of that life, notwithstanding of all the troubles that attend it, +unto any other, how sweet and desirable soever it may appear to +flesh and blood.</p> +<p>In prosecution of which design, he told them, verse 4, that they +"knew whether he went," and the way also which he was to take, and +by which he was to bring them to the Father, to the mansion spoken +of, and so to life eternal. But Thomas rashly and incredulously (as +too usually he did, chap. xi. 16; xx. 25,) venteth himself, and +little less than contradicteth his Master, saying, verse 5, "We +know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?" wherein +we have an emblem of many a believer, who may have more grace and +knowledge of God and of Christ than they will be able to see, or +acknowledge that they have; what through temptations, inward +distempers, sense of their many defects, and great ignorance, +strong desires of high measures, clearer discoveries of the +vastness of the object, mistakes about the true nature of grace, +despising the day of small things, and indistinctness as to the +actings of grace, or want of understanding and right uptaking of +grace in its various outgoings and actings under various notions, +and the like.</p> +<p>Whereupon Christ, after his usual manner, taketh occasion to +clear up that ground of consolation further unto them; and to let +them see the true way of coming to the Father, that thereby they +might be helped to see that they were not such strangers unto the +way as they supposed; and withal, he amplifieth and layeth out the +properties and excellencies of this way, as being the only true and +living way; and that in such a manner, as they might both see the +way to be perfect, full, safe, saving, and satisfying; and also +learn their duty of improving this way always, and in all things, +until they come home at length to the Father, saying, "I am the +way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but +by me."</p> +<p>Christ then saying, that he not only is the way to the Father, +even the true way, but that he is so the true way, as that he is +also truth itself in the abstract, and so the living way, that he +is life itself in the abstract, giveth us ground to consider, after +what manner it is that he is the Truth and the Life, as well as the +Way; and that for clearing up and discovering of his being an +absolutely perfect, transcendently excellent, incomparably +preferable and fully satisfying way, useful to believers in all +cases, all exigents, all distresses, all difficulties, all trials, +all temptations, all doubts, all perplexities, and in all causes or +occasions of distempers, fears, faintings, discouragements, &c. +which they may meet with in their way to heaven. And this will lead +us to clear up the duty of believers, on the other hand, and to +show how they should, in all their various cases and difficulties, +make use of Christ as the only all-sufficient way to the Father, +and as truth and life in the way, and so we will be led to speak of +Christ's being to his people all that is requisite for them here in +the way, whether for justification or sanctification; and how +people are to make use of him as being all, or, as being made of +"God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," +1 Cor. i. 30.</p> +<p>Ere we come to the words in particular, we would look upon them +as having relation to Thomas his words in the preceding verse, +wherein he did little less than contradict what Christ had said in +the 4th verse, and learn several very comfortable points of +doctrine, as,</p> +<p>I. That Jesus Christ is very tender of his followers, and will +not cast them off, nor upbraid them for every escape whereby they +may provoke him to anger and grieve his Spirit; but gently passeth +by many of their failings, when he findeth they are not obstinate +in their mistake, nor perverse in their way. For how gently and +meekly doth he here pass over Thomas his unhandsome expression, +finding that Thomas spake here, not out of obstinacy and +pertinaciousness, but out of ignorance and a mistake. And the +reason is, because, 1. Christ knoweth our infirmity and weakness, +and is of a tender heart, and therefore will not "break the bruised +reed," Isa. xlii. Well knoweth he that rough and untender handling +would crush us, and break us all in pieces. And, 2. He is full of +bowels of mercy, and can "have compassion on them that are out of +the way, and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," +Heb. iv. 15. v. 2.</p> +<p>Which truth, as upon the one hand, it should encourage all to +choose him for their leader, and give up themselves unto him, who +is so tender of his followers; so, upon the other hand, it should +rebuke such as are ready to entertain evil and hard thoughts of +him, as if he were an hard master, and ill to be followed, and put +all from entertaining the least thought of his untenderness and +want of compassion. But, moreover,</p> +<p>II. We see, that weaknesses and corruptions breaking out in +believers, when they are honestly and ingenuously laid open before +the Lord, will not fear him away, but rather engage him the more to +help and succour. Much of Thomas his weakness and corruption +appeared in what he said; yet the same being honestly and +ingenuously laid open to Christ, not out of a spirit of +contradiction, but out of a desire to learn, Christ is so far from +thrusting him away, that he rather condescendeth the more, out of +love and tenderness, to instruct him better, and clear the way more +fully. And that, because, 1. He knoweth our mould and fashion, how +feckless and frail we are, and that if he should deal with us +according to our folly, we should quickly be destroyed. 2. He is +not as a man, hasty, rash, proud; but gentle, loving, tender, and +full of compassion. 3. It is his office and proper work to be an +instructor to the ignorant, and a helper of our infirmities and +weaknesses, a physician to bind up and cure our sores and +wounds.</p> +<p>Who would not then willingly give up themselves to such a +teacher that will not thrust them to the door, nor give them up to +themselves always, when their corruptions would provoke him +thereunto? And what a madness is this in many, to stand a-back from +Christ, because of their infirmities; and to scar at him, because +of their weakness, when the more corruption we find the more we +should run to him? and it is soon enough to depart from Christ when +he thrusts us away, and saith, he will have no more to do with us; +yea, he will allow us to stay after we are thrice thrust away. +Only, let us take heed that we approve not ourselves in our evils, +that we hide them not as unwilling to part with them, that we +obstinately maintain them not, nor ourselves in them; but that we +lie open before him, and deal with him, with honesty, +ingenuousness, and plainness.</p> +<p>III. We see, further, That ignorance ingenuously acknowledged +and laid open before Christ, puts the soul in a fair way to get +more instruction. Thomas having candidly, according as he thought, +in the simplicity of his heart, professed his ignorance, is in a +fair way now to get instruction. For this is Christ's work, to +instruct the ignorant, to open the eyes of the blind.</p> +<p>Why then are we so foolish as to conceal our ignorance from him, +and to hide our case and condition from him; and why doth not this +commend Christ's school to us so much the more? why do we not carry +as ingenious scholars, really desirous to learn? But,</p> +<p>IV. We may learn, That our ill condition and distempers put into +Christ's hand will have remarkable out-gates, and an advantageous +issue; seeing Christ taketh occasion here from Thomas his laying +open his condition, not without some mixture of corruption, to +clear up the truth more fully and plainly than it was before; for +hereby, 1. Christ giveth an open declaration of the glory of his +power, mercy, goodness, wisdom, &c. 2. He hath occasion to give +a proof of his divine art and glorious skill of healing diseased +souls, and of making broken bones stronger than ever they were. 3. +Thus he effectually accomplished his noble designs, and perfecteth +his work, in a way tending to abase man, by discovering his +infirmities and failings; and to glorify himself in his goodness +and love. 4. Thus he triumpheth more over Satan, and in a more +remarkable and glorious manner destroyeth his works. 5. Thus he +declareth how wonderfully he can make all things work together for +good to his chosen ones that love him and follow him. 6. Yea, thus +he engageth souls to wonder more at his divine wisdom and power; to +despair less in time coming, when cases would seem hard; to +acknowledge his great and wonderful grace, and his infinite power +and wisdom, that can bring life out of death; and also to be more +sensible of the mercy, and thankful for it.</p> +<p>O believer, what manner of joy is here! how happy art thou that +hath given up thyself to him! Thy worst condition can turn to thy +advantage. He can make thy ignorance, vented with a mixture of +corruption, turn to the increase of thy knowledge. Bless him for +this; and, with joy and satisfaction, abide thou under his tutory +and at his school. And withal, be not discouraged, be thy case of +ignorance and corruption what it will, lay it before him with +sincerity and singleness of heart, and then "thou mayest glory in +thine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on thee," 2 +Cor. xii. 9; for thou shalt see, in due time, what advantage +infinite love and wisdom can bring to thy soul thereby.</p> +<p>May not this be a strong motive to induce strangers to give up +themselves to him, who will sweetly take occasion, at their +failings and shortcomings, to help them forward in the way? And +what excuse can they have who sit the call of the gospel, and say, +in effect, they will not go to Christ because their case is not +good. And O that believers were not sometimes led away with this +error of scaring at Christ, because of infirmities seen and +discovered!</p> +<p>V. It is remarkable, that, as the disciples did ofttimes vent +much of their carnal conceptions of the kingdom of Christ, as +apprehending it to be some carnal, outward, pompous, stately, and, +upon that account, desirable condition; so there might be much of +this carnal apprehension lurking under this acknowledgment and +question of Thomas; and the Lord, who knew their thoughts, doth +here wisely draw them off those notions, and sets them about +another study, to tell us, that it is best and most useful and +profitable for us, to be much taken up in the study and search of +necessary fundamental truths, and, particularly, of the way to the +Father. For, 1. Here is the substantial food of the soul; other +notions are but vain, and oftentimes they make the case of the soul +worse; but the study of this is always edifying. 2. The right +understanding of this and other fundamental truths will not puff +up, but keep the soul humble, and will make the soul active and +diligent in duty. 3. The fruit of this study is profitable and +lasting. 4. And the right uptaking of these truths will discover +the vanity of other sciences, falsely so called, and the folly of +spending our time about other things. 5. The right understanding of +this fundamental will help us to understand other truths the +better. 6. A mistake in this, and such like fundamentals, or the +ignorance of them, is more dangerous than the ignorance of or +mistake in other things.</p> +<p>Oh! if this were teaching us all, in humility, to be much in the +study of such fundamental necessary truths as this is; and to guard +against a piece of vanity in affecting knowledge, the effect of +which is nothing but a puffing of us up with pride and conceit!</p> +<p>VI. We may here take notice of what may serve to discover Thomas +his mistake, and what is the ground of Christ's assertion, verse 4, +which Thomas doth little less than contradict, verse 5, viz. that +such as had any acquaintance with Christ did, according to the +measure of their knowledge of him, both know heaven and the way to +it; whence we see these truths,</p> +<p>1. Persons may have some real acquaintance with Christ, and yet +be, for a time, very indistinct in their notions about him, and +apprehensions of him. They may know Christ in some measure, and yet +look upon themselves as great strangers to the knowledge of heaven, +and be oft complaining of their ignorance of the right way to +heaven.</p> +<p>2. Where there is the least measure of true acquaintance with +Christ, with love to him, and a desire to know more of him, Christ +will take notice thereof, though it be covered over with a heap of +mistakes, and accompanied with much ignorance, weakness, and +indistinctness. He seeth not as man seeth, which is good news to +some that are weak in knowledge, and unable to give any good +account of any knowledge they have; yet one thing they can say, +that he who knoweth all things, knoweth that they love him.</p> +<p>3. Various are the dispensations of God's grace unto his own. To +some he giveth a greater, to others a lesser measure of knowledge +of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; and to one and the same +person, more at one time than at another. Various are his +manifestations and out-lettings of grace and love. Small beginnings +may come to much at length. Thomas, and the rest of the disciples, +had but little clear and distinct apprehensions of the way of +salvation through Jesus Christ; and yet, ere all was done, they +attained to such a measure of understanding in the mysteries of +God, as that we are said to be "built upon the foundation of the +apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone," Eph. +ii. 20. This should teach the best much sobriety, and not to judge +of all by themselves; or to think, that God's way with them must be +a standard or a rule whereby to judge of all the rest; as if his +way of dealing were one and the same with all.</p> +<p>4. The knowledge of Christ is all. Know him, and we know heaven +and the way to it; for upon this ground doth Christ make good what +he said, touching their knowing whither he went, and the way; and +answereth the objection that Thomas did propose, viz. because he +was the way, &c., and they being acquaint with him, (which here +is presupposed,) were not ignorant of the place whither he was +going, nor of the way leading thither. The knowledge then of Jesus +Christ is a true and full compend of all saving knowledge. Hence it +"is life eternal to know him," John xvii. 3. "They that know him, +know the Father," John xiv. 9. and viii. 19. "They that see him, +see the Father also," John xiv. 9. "He is in the Father, and the +Father in him," John xiv. 10, 11. and x. 38. and xvii. 21. And so +knowing him they know heaven; for what is heaven else but the +presence and glorious manifestations of the Father; for when Christ +speaks of his going to heaven, he saith, "He was going to the +Father." So knowing him, they know the way, both how Christ was to +go to heaven as our cautioner, head, and attorney, and how we must +follow.</p> +<p>Let then a man have never so much knowledge, and be acquainted +with the mysteries of all arts and sciences, and with the depths of +nature, and intrigues of states, and all the theory of religion; if +he be unacquainted with Jesus, he knoweth nothing as he ought to +know.</p> +<p>And upon the other hand, let a poor soul that is honest, and +hath some knowledge of, and acquaintance with him, be satisfied, +though it cannot discourse nor dispute, nor speak to cases of +conscience, as some others; if we know him, it matters not though +we be ignorant of many things, and thereby become less esteemed of +by others. Here is the true test, by which we may take a right +estimate of our own, or of others' knowledge. The true rule to try +knowledge by, is not fine notions, clear and distinct expressions, +but heart-acquaintance with him; "in whom are hid all the treasures +of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3.</p> +<p>O sad! that we are not more taken up in this study, which would +be a compendious way for us to know all? Why spend we our money for +that which is not bread, and our labour for that which will not +profit us? Why waste we our time and spirits in learning this +science, and that art; when, alas! after we, with much labour and +toil, have attained to the yondmost pitch there, we are never one +whit the nearer heaven and happiness? yea, it were well, if we were +not further off! Oh! if we were wise at length, and could think +more of this one thing necessary; and could be stirred up to learn +more of him, and to make this the subject of all our study and +labour.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_II." id="CHAPTER_II."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> +<h4>OF THE WORDS THEMSELVES IN GENERAL.</h4> +<p>We come now to the words themselves, wherein Christ asserts that +he is, 1, "the way;" 2, "the truth;" 3, "the life;" and, 4, "that +no man cometh to the Father but by him."</p> +<p>In them we learn these two things in general.</p> +<p><i>First,</i> The misery of wretched man by nature. This cannot +be in a few words expressed.</p> +<p>These words will point out those particulars thereof, which we +will but mention.</p> +<p>1. That he is born an enemy to, and living at a distance from +God, by virtue of the curse of the broken covenant of life made +with Adam.</p> +<p>2. That he neither can nor will return to God, of himself. His +way is not in himself; he hath need of another to be his way.</p> +<p>3. That he is a blind, wandering creature, ready to by-ways and +to wander; yea, he loveth to wander. He goeth astray as soon as he +is born, speaking lies.</p> +<p>4. He cannot discern the true way, but is blinded with prejudice +thereat, and full of mistakes. He is nothing but a lump of +error.</p> +<p>5. He is dead legally and really: how can he then come home? How +can he walk in the way, though it were pointed out to him?</p> +<p>6. He, even when he entereth into the way, is subject to so many +faintings, swoonings, upsittings, &c. that except he get new +quickening, he must lie by the way and perish.</p> +<p>In a word, his misery is such as cannot be expressed; for as +little as it is believed, and laid to heart; or seen and mourned +for, and lamented.</p> +<p>Now, for a ground to our following discourse, I would press the +solid, thorough and sensible apprehension of this, without which +there will be no use-making or application of Christ; "for the +whole need not the physician, but the sick;" and Christ is "not +come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Matt. ix. +12. Mark ii. 17. Yea, believers themselves would live within the +sight of this, and not forget their frailty; for though there be a +change wrought in them, yet they are not perfect, but will have +need of Christ as the way, the truth, and the life, till he bring +them in, and set them down upon the throne, and crown them with the +crown of life. And, O happy they, who must not walk on foot without +this guide leading them by the hand, or rather carrying them in his +arms. Let all them who would make use of Christ remember what they +were, and what they are, and keep the sense of their frailty and +misery fresh; that seeing their need of him, they may be in better +case to look out to him for help and supply, and be more distinct +in their application of him.</p> +<p>The <i>second</i> general is, that Christ is a complete +mediator, thoroughly furnished for all our necessities. Are we at a +distance from the Father? He is a way to bring us together. Are we +wandered out of the way? He is the way to us. Are we blind and +ignorant? He is the truth. Are we dead? He is the life. Concerning +this fulness and completeness of his, we would mark these +things:</p> +<p>1. That he is thoroughly furnished with all things we stand in +need of; the way, the truth, and the life. He hath eye-salve, +clothing, gold tried in the fire, &c. "For the Spirit of the +Lord is upon him, and hath anointed him," Isa. lxi. 1.</p> +<p>2. He is suitably qualified, not only having a fulness, and an +all-fulness, so that whatever we need is to be had in him, but also +a suitable fulness answering our case to the life. Are we out of +the way? He is the way. Are we dead? He is life, &c.</p> +<p>3. He is richly qualified with this suitable good. He hath not +only "wisdom and knowledge," but "treasures of it," yea, "all the +treasures" thereof, Col. ii. 3. There is fulness in him; yea, "it +hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell," Col. +i. 19. Yea, "the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily," +Col. ii. 9.</p> +<p>4. Hence this is an up-making completeness and fulness; for we +are said to be "complete in him," Col. ii. 10. And he is said to +"be all in all," Col. iv. 11. "He filleth all in all," Eph. i. +23.</p> +<p>5. It is also a satisfying completeness. The eye is not +satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing. The avaricious man +is not satisfied with gold, nor the ambitious man with honour; but +still they are crying with the loch leech, give, give! But the man +who getteth Christ is full; he sitteth down and cryeth, enough, +enough! And no wonder, for he hath all; he can desire no more; he +can seek no more; for what can the man want that is complete in +him?</p> +<p>6. There is here that which will answer all the objections of a +soul; and these sometimes are not few. If they say they cannot know +the way to the Father, then he is the truth to instruct and teach +them that, and so to enter them into it. And if they say they +cannot walk in that way, nor advance in it one step, but will faint +and sit up, succumb and fall by; he answereth that he is the life, +to put life and keep life in them, and to cause them to walk, by +putting a new principle of life in them, and breathing of new on +that principle.</p> +<p>O thrice happy they who have fled to him for refuge! It is easy +for them to answer all objections and cavils of Satan, and of a +false heart. It is easy for them to put Christ to answer all. And, +on the other hand, who can tell the misery of such as are strangers +to Jesus? How shall their wants be made up? How shall they answer +challenges, accusations, temptations, doubts, fears, objections, +and discouragements, cast up in their way?</p> +<p>Oh! should not this endear the way of the gospel to us, and make +Christ precious unto us! Is it not a wonder that such an +all-sufficient mediator, who is able to save to the uttermost all +that come to God through him, should be so little regarded and +sought unto; and that there should be so few that embrace him, and +take him as he is offered in the gospel.</p> +<p>How can this be answered in the day of accounts? What excuse can +unbelievers now have? Is not all to be found in Christ that their +case calleth for? Is he not a complete mediator, thoroughly +furnished with all necessaries? Is not the riches of his fulness +written on all his dispensations? The mouths, then, of unbelievers, +must be for ever stopped.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_III." id="CHAPTER_III."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS THE WAY IN GENERAL, "I AM THE WAY."</h4> +<p>We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, +<i>first,</i> Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the +way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and +difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to +point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all +their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in +him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. +It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ in +reference to unbelievers, as occasion offereth, because this will +help to clear the other.</p> +<p>Before we can clear up how any can make use of Christ, we must +speak something of their necessity of him, and of his being +furnished fitly, fully, richly, and satisfyingly for their case; +and this will make the way of use-making of Christ more plain.</p> +<p>While Christ then says, "I am the Way," he points out those +things to us:</p> +<p>1. That man is now estranged from the Lord, and in a wandering +condition: He hath departed from God, he is revolted and gone. +"They are all gone out of the way," Rom. iii. 12. "They go astray +as soon as they are born, speaking lies," Psal. lviii. 3.</p> +<p>2. Nay, not only so, but we love naturally to wander and to run +away from God, as Jeremiah complaineth of that wicked people, Jer. +xiv. 10. Naturally, with "the dromedary, we traverse our ways," +Jer. ii. 23, and run hither and thither, but never look towards +him. Nay, we are like those spoken of, Job xxi. 14. "We desire not +the knowledge of his ways, we will have none of him," Psalm lxxxi. +11; nor "of his reproofs," Prov. i. 30.</p> +<p>Oh, how sad is this! And yet how is it more sad, that this is +not believed, nor once considered. And that it is not believed, is +manifest; for,</p> +<p>1. How rare is it to meet with persons that are not very well +pleased and satisfied with themselves and their condition? They +thank the Lord it was aye well with them. They have no complaints. +They see no wants nor necessities. They wonder what makes folk +complain of their condition, of their evil heart, or of their +hazard and danger. They understand not these matters.</p> +<p>2. Do we not find people very quiet and at rest, though they +remain in the congregation of the dead, Prov. xxi. 16. They sleep +in a sound skin, because they see no hazard. The thoughts of their +condition never bereave them of one night's rest: No challenges +have they; all is at peace with them, for the strong man keeps the +house.</p> +<p>3. How rare is it to find people exercised about this matter, +and busied with it in their thoughts, either while alone, or while +in company with others; or once seriously thinking and considering +of it, yea, or so much as suspecting the matter?</p> +<p>4. How rare is it to see any soul broken in heart, and humbled +because of this; who is walking under this as under a load; whose +soul is bleeding under the consideration of this! Is there any +mourning for this?</p> +<p>5. Where is that to be heard, "Men and brethren, what shall we +do to be saved?" How shall we enter into the right way? Where is +that good old way, that we may walk in it? Few such questions and +cases troubling consciences; and no wonder, for a deep sleep is +upon them.</p> +<p>6. How cometh it then, that the pointing forth of the way is so +little hearkened unto? Sure were this natural condition perceived, +a report of the sure and safe way would be much more welcome than +it is: Christ by his messengers would not be put to cry so often in +vain, "This is the way, turn in hither."</p> +<p>Here is enough to convince of this ignorance and insensibleness; +but it is his Spirit, which "convinceth the world of sin," John +xvi. that must bear home this conviction.</p> +<p><i>Secondly</i>, It pointeth out to us this, that "the way of +man is not in himself," Jer. x. 23, that is, that nothing, he can +do can or will prove a way to him to the Father: For Christ is the +Way, as excluding all other means and ways. And that man can do +nothing to help himself into the way, is clear; for,</p> +<p>1. "His way is darkness," Prov. iv. 14. He knoweth no better, he +is satisfied therewith; there he sleepeth and resteth.</p> +<p>2. He cannot nor doth not desire to return. He hateth to be +reformed.</p> +<p>3. Yea, he thinketh himself safe; no man can convince him of the +contrary: The way he is in "seemeth right to him, though the end +thereof be death;" Prov. xiv. 12, and xvi. 25.</p> +<p>4. Every man hath his own particular way to which he turneth, +Isaiah liii, 6; some one thing or other that he is pleased with, +and that he thinks will abundantly carry him through, and there +resteth he; and what these ordinarily are, we shall hear +presently.</p> +<p>5. In this his way, which yet is a false way, "he trusteth," +Hosea x. 13, he leaneth upon it, little knowing that it will fail +him at length, and that he and his hope and confidence shall +perish.</p> +<p>Is it not strange then to see men and women "gading about to +seek their way," as it is said, Jer. ii. 36. as if they could find +it out; or as if they could of themselves fall upon the way. What a +lamentable sight is it, to see people "wearying themselves with +very lies," Ezek. xxiv. 12; "and wearied in the multitude of their +own counsels," Isaiah xlvii. 15.</p> +<p>But what are those false and lying ways which men weary +themselves in, and all in vain; and which they chuse and trust +unto, and yet are not the way which will prove safe and sure?</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> It will not be easy to reckon them all up, we shall +name some that are principal and most ordinary; such as,</p> +<p>1. Good purposes and resolutions, with which many deceive +themselves, supposing that to be all which is required: And, alas! +all their purposes are like to Ephraim's goodness,—like the +early cloud and morning dew that soon evanisheth; their purposes +are soon broken off, and soon disappointed, because made without +counsel, Prov. xv. 22. Many foolishly rest here, that they have a +good mind to do better, and to amend their ways, and they purpose +after such a time or such time, they shall begin a new manner of +life; but their purposes never come to any effect, and so at length +they and their purposes both perish.</p> +<p>2. Some convictions and inward challenges. The word now and then +pierceth them so far, and sore and sharp dispensations from the +Lord so far affect their heart, that they see it is not well with +them; and they are made, with Saul, to cry out, "I have sinned," 1 +Sam. xv. 24, and they advance no further; those convictions either +die out again, or work no further change: And, poor souls, they +think, because at such a sermon, or such a communion, they had some +such convictions and sharp challenges, therefore they imagine all +is well with them; when a Judas may have convictions, sharper than +ever they had, and a Felix, Acts xxiv. 25.</p> +<p>3. Convictions followed with some sort of amendment. Some may +dreadfully deceive themselves with this, and conclude that all is +right with them, and that the way they are in is safe and sure; +because they have had convictions, which have been so effectual as +to cause them to amend many things, and become, as to many things, +changed men and women, when, alas, their way is but a way of +darkness still; it is not Christ; they have never come to him. +Herod hearing John Baptist, had his own convictions and amendments; +for "he did many things," Mark vi. 20.</p> +<p>4. Many rest upon their outward civility and morality, or +negative holiness. They cannot be challenged for gross faults, and +that is all the way they have to rest in: Alas! could not a wicked +Pharisee say as much as they, viz. "That he was no extortioner, +unjust person, or an adulterer, nor such as the publican was," Luke +xviii. 11. How many heathens, as to this, shall outstrip such as +profess themselves Christians? and yet they lived and died +strangers to the right way to happiness. See what that poor young +man said, Luke xviii. 21.</p> +<p>5. Some may win to more than civility, and attain unto a kind of +outward holiness, and outward performance of the duties of +religion, such as hearing, reading, prayer, communicating, and rest +there, and yet perish: For that is but their own way, it is not the +right way. Had not the foolish virgins lamps? and did they not wait +with the rest, Matth. xxv.; and will not many say, in that day, "We +have eaten and drunken in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our +streets:" to whom Christ shall answer, "I know not whence you are, +depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity?" Luke xiii. 26, 27. +Were not the Jews much in duties and outward ordinances? and yet +see how the Lord rejected them all, Isaiah i. 11-15, and lxvi. +3.</p> +<p>6. Much knowledge doth deceive many. They think because they can +talk of religion, speak to cases of conscience, handle places of +Scripture, and the like, that therefore all is right with them; +when alas, that is but a slippery ground to stand upon. The +Pharisees sat in Moses' seat, and taught sometimes sound doctrine; +and yet were heart-enemies to Jesus, Matth. xxiii. And will not +many think to plead themselves into heaven, by saying, that they +"have prophesied in his name," Matth. vii. 22. There is "a +knowledge that puffeth up," 1 Cor. xiii. 2. Some there are whose +knowledge seemeth to be operative and practical, and not merely +speculative. Some may "escape the pollutions of the world through +the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," and yet again +become entangled therein and overcome; so that "their latter end is +worse than the beginning;" see 2 Peter ii. 20, 21, 22. Knowledge, I +grant, is good, but it is not Christ, and so it is not the way to +the Father; and many, alas! lean to it, and are deceived at +last.</p> +<p>7. A kind of seeming seriousness in the performance of duties, +and in seeking of God, deceiveth many. They think, because they are +not conscious to their own dissembling, but they look upon +themselves as earnest in what they do, that therefore all is well. +Sayeth not Christ, that not "every one that saith, Lord, Lord, +shall enter into the kingdom of God?" Matth. vii. 21; that is, not +every one that reneweth their suits, and ingeminateth their +desires, cry, and cry over again, and, as it were, will not give it +over; and yet they come short of their expectation. Did not the +foolish virgins seem earnest and serious, when they continued +waiting with the rest, and at length cried "Lord, Lord, open unto +us;" and yet they are kept at the door. Many consider not that +there is a secret and close hypocrisy, that some may be under and +not know it, as well as a gross hypocrisy and dissimulation, which +may be easily observed; "Will not many seek to enter in that shall +not be able?" Matth. vii. 13. Luke xiii. 24.</p> +<p>8. Many deceive themselves with this, that they are looked on by +other godly, discerning persons and ministers, as good serious +Christians, and that they carry so handsomely and so fair, that no +man can judge otherways of them, than that they are good serious +seekers of God. But, alas! the day is coming which will discover +many things, and many one will be deceived both of themselves and +of others. "Not he who commendeth himself is approved, but whom God +approveth," 2 Cor. x. 18. Therefore, Paul exhorts Timothy, "to +study to show himself approved unto God," 2 Tim. ii. 15. Men look +only on the outside, and cannot see into the heart; but God +searcheth the heart; and it is an easy matter to deceive men, but +God will not be deceived.</p> +<p>9. Some may suppose themselves in a safe and sure way, if they +outstrip others in religious duties, and be much in extraordinary +duties, when, alas! for all that, the heart may be rotten. "The +Pharisee fasted twice a-week," Luke xviii. 12, and yet was but an +enemy to Christ. O how deceitful is the heart of man!</p> +<p>10. Inward peace and quietness of conscience may deceive some; +and they may suppose that all is right with them; because they do +nothing over the belly of their conscience. Their heart doth not +accuse them of falsehood and dissimulation in their way with God or +man, but they do all things according to their light. No doubt that +young man (Luke xviii. 21,) spoke according to his judgment and +light, when he said, "All these things have I kept from my youth." +And Paul saith of himself (Acts xxiii. 1,) "that he had lived in +all good conscience before God till that very day;" meaning, that +even while he was a Pharisee unconverted, he had not tortured his +conscience, nor done anything directly against it, but had always +walked according to his light. See Acts xxvi. 9.</p> +<p>11. A way of zeal may deceive many who may think their case +unquestionable, because they are zealous for their way, and, as +they think, their zeal is pure for God. Was not Paul, while a +Pharisee, very zealous, when, out of zeal to his way, he persecuted +the church, Philip. iii. 6. See my zeal for the Lord, could I thus +say, 2 Kings x. 16; and the Jews had a zeal of God, but not +according to knowledge, Rom. x. 2; and Christ tells us, that such +as should persecute the Apostles unto death, would think they did +God good service, John xvi. 2.</p> +<p>12. Some also may put it beyond question, that they are in the +right way, because they are more strict in all their ways than +others, and will not so much as keep fellowship or company with +them; saying, with those, (Isaiah lxv. 5) "Stand by, I am holier +than thou, come not near to me," who yet are but a smoke in God's +nose, and a fire that burneth all the day.</p> +<p>13. Some may rest on, and deceive themselves with their great +attainments, and more than ordinary experiences, when, alas! we see +to what a height some may come, and yet prove nothing. Let such +souls read with trembling that word of Paul, Heb. vi 4, 5, where we +see some may come to be enlightened, to taste of the heavenly gift, +to be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, to taste the good word of +God, and the powers of the world to come, and yet prove cast-aways; +taking these expressions as pointing forth something distinct from +real grace.</p> +<p>Many such false ways, wherein men please themselves, might be +mentioned; by these every one may see cause of searching and trying +over and over again. It is a dreadful thing to be deceived here, +and it is best to put it to a trial, when there is a possibility of +getting the matter helped. And many may fear and tremble when they +see they are not yet come the length of many such as sit down +without Christ, and lose all their labour. Oh, if this could put +people to a serious examination and trial of themselves, and of the +nature of that way wherein they are, and rest at present!</p> +<p><i>Thirdly</i>, We might here observe, that this true and living +way is but one for all. There is but "one Mediator between God and +man," 1 Tim. ii. 5. One Mediator for both Old and New Testament, +the seed of the woman. Howbeit the Lord's dispensations with his +people, in that one way, may be various, as his way with his people +under the law is different from his way with his people under the +gospel; and his dispensations with individual believers, whether +under the law or under the gospel, is not the same in all +things.</p> +<p>And this should teach us to relinquish our own ways, and to +enter into this one only way; and it should move such as are in +this way to study unity and agreement among themselves; and yet not +infer or suppose, that God's way with them must be in all things +alike. Yea, though the Lord's way with them be different from his +way with others, and more dark, disconsolate, and bitter, yet let +them be quiet and silent before the Lord, and acknowledge his +goodness that hath brought them into the one only way, Jesus +Christ, and keepeth them there.</p> +<p>But, <i>fourthly,</i> The main thing here, and which is obvious, +is this, that Jesus Christ is the way to the Father, the one and +only way, the sovereign and excellent way, and he alone is the way. +There is not another. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for +there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we +must be saved," Acts iv. 12.</p> +<p>For clearing of this, we shall speak a little to those four +things, and shew,</p> +<p>1. What is our case, and what need we have of a way.</p> +<p>2. How Christ answereth this our case and necessity, and is a +fit way for us.</p> +<p>3. How he alone is the way, and answereth this our case.</p> +<p>4. What are the rare advantages and specialities of this +way.</p> +<p>And this will make way for our clearing up, how Christ is made +use of as a way by poor sinners.</p> +<p>For the first of these, our present case and necessity, +something was spoken to it before; we shall reduce all those to two +heads. The first is, our state of guilt, and separation from God +because of sin and guilt; the next is, our state of wickedness and +enmity against God.</p> +<p>As to the first, we may take notice of those things:</p> +<p>1. That sin, original and actual, hath separated us from God, +and cast us out of his favour, and out of that station of favour +and friendship which once we were advanced to in Adam.</p> +<p>2. That we are under God's curse and wrath, and excommunicated +from the presence of the Lord, by a sad, yet just, sentence +according to law, and so are under death.</p> +<p>As to the next thing, we may take notice of those +particulars:</p> +<p>1. That we are impure and polluted with sin and daily +iniquity.</p> +<p>2. That we are ignorant of the right way of returning into +favour with God, seeking out to ourselves many inventions.</p> +<p>3. That we are impotent for any good work or commanded duty.</p> +<p>That not only so, but we are unwilling to do any thing that is +good, or to enter into the way when pointed out unto us; yea, we +are enemies to God by wicked works, and have an innate hatred to +all his ways.</p> +<p>5. We desire not to be out of the condition whereinto we are; +there we love to lie and sleep, and desire not to be roused up or +awakened.</p> +<p>6. We are under the power and command of Satan, who leadeth us +out of the way, yea, and driveth us forward in the wrong way, to +our perdition.</p> +<p>These things are plain and undeniable, and need no further +confirmation; though, alas! it is little believed or laid to heart +by many.</p> +<p>For the second, how Christ answereth this our case and +necessity. He is a way to us to help us out of both these, both out +of our state of guilt and separation, and out of our state of +wickedness and enmity.</p> +<p>And, first, he helpeth us out of our state of guilt and +separation:</p> +<p>1. By taking away our guilt and sin; "being made sin for us, who +knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in +him," 2 Cor. v. 21. He hath filled the great gap betwixt God and +us, with his body, and hath made of it, as it were, a bridge, by +which they may go over to the Father: "We enter now into the +holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he +hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his +flesh," Heb. x. 19, 20; "we are now brought near by his blood," +Eph. ii. 13, so that through him we are restored again to +friendship with God, and made one with him; for Christ the Mediator +hath "made both one, reconciling Jews and Gentiles both unto God, +in one body, by the cross, having slain the enmity," Eph. ii. +16.</p> +<p>2. By taking away the curse and wrath that was due to us, being +"made a curse for us," Gal iii. 13. So that he is become our peace, +and "through him we have access by one spirit unto the Father, and +are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the +saints, and of the household of God," Eph. ii. 14, 18, 19. "He is +set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood," Rom. +iii. 25. 1 John ii. 2, and iv. 10. "By him have we now received +atonement," Rom. v. 11.</p> +<p>Next, he helpeth us out of our state of wickedness and +enmity,</p> +<p>1. By taking away our impurity and uncleanness, "by washing us +and cleansing us in his blood," Ezek. xvi. 6-9. Col. i. 22, "having +purchased grace for us," Eph. v. 1, 3, "we are blessed with all +spiritual blessings in him." He applieth his merits, and layeth the +foundation of grace and holiness in the soul, and carrieth on the +work of mortification and vivification; and so killing the old man +by his Spirit, both meritoriously and efficiently, he cleanseth and +washeth. Hence, we are said to be baptised with him in his death, +and buried with him by baptism into death, that we should walk in +newness of life. And so our old man is crucified with him, that the +body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve +sin, Rom. vi. 3, 4, 6. And for our daily infirmities and escapes, +whereby we pollute ourselves, his blood "is a fountain opened to +the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and +for uncleanness," Zech. xiii. 1; and to this fountain he bringeth +by the spirit of repentance, which he, as an exalted prince, +bestoweth, Acts. v. 31, and by faith. So 1 John ii. 1, "if any man +sin, we have an advocate with the Father," &c.</p> +<p>2. As for our ignorance and blindness, he taketh that away, +being given for a light to the Gentiles, Isa. xlii. 6, and xlix. 6. +Luke ii. 32. He is sent to open the blind eyes, Isa. xlii. 7; to +bring out the prisoners from their dark prisons, Isa. xlii. 7, and +lxi. 1. Yea, he is anointed for this end, so that such as walk in +darkness see a great light, and they that dwell in the land of the +shadow of death, upon them the light hath shined, Isa. ix. 2. +Matth. iv. 15; and he hath eye-salve to give, Rev. iii. 18.</p> +<p>3. He is qualified for taking away our impotency, so that +through him we can do all things, Philip, iv. 13; "when we are +weak, we are strong in him who is our strength, and liveth in us," +2 Cor. xii. 10. Gal. ii. 20. Hence, "he worketh in us both to will +and to do of his own good pleasure," Philip. ii. 13.</p> +<p>4. He also taketh away our natural averseness, unwillingness, +wickedness, and hatred of his ways, making his people "willing in +the day of his power," Psal. cx. So he taketh away "the enmity that +is in us," Col. ii. 20, and reconcileth us to God and to his ways, +that our hearts do sweetly comply with them, and we become most +willing and glad to walk in them, yea, and "to run the way of his +commandments through his enlarging of our hearts," Psal. cxix. +22.</p> +<p>5. He likewise taketh away that desire and willingness, which we +have, to lie still in our natural condition, by convincing us of +the dreadful hazard thereof, through the spirit of conviction, +whereby he convinceth the world of it, John xvi. 8, and +circumciseth their ears to hear, and maketh them willing to hearken +to the counsel of God.</p> +<p>6. As for the power and dominion of Satan, he breaketh that, by +"leading captivity captive," Eph. iv. 8; Psal. lxviii. 18; "and +spoiling the strongman's house; for he is come to destroy the works +of the devil," 1 John iii. 8; "and he spoileth principalities and +powers," Col. ii. 15. Thus, as a captain of salvation, he leadeth +them out as a conqueror; having paid the price, he delivereth also +by power and authority from the hand of this jailor.</p> +<p>And thus we see how he answereth our case and necessity, and is +a fit way for us; and though this be not questioned, yet little is +it believed and considered, and less put in practice.</p> +<p>And as for the third particular, that he alone is this way, and +answereth our case herein, it needeth not be much spoken to, since +it is clear and manifest, confirmed by the experience of all +generations, and the disappointments of fools who have been seeking +other ways. Angels in heaven cannot do our business, they cannot +satisfy justice for us, nor have they any power over our heart to +turn it as they will; nay, they are not acquainted with our secret +thoughts, that cabinet is kept close from them, and reserved as the +peculiar privilege of God alone. The blood of bulls and of goats +cannot do it; for the apostle tells us, that it is impossible for +that to take away sin, Heb. x. 4. That blood shed according to the +law did cleanse ceremonially, but it is only the blood of Jesus, +typified by that, which cleanseth really; so that we are sanctified +through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, Heb. +x. 10. No pains or labour of ours can avail here. The Lord will not +be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers +of oil. "He will not take our first-born for our transgression, nor +the son of our body for the sin of our soul," Micah vi. 7. +Ordinance and means will not do it, nor any invention of our own: +"no man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a +ransom for him; for the redemption of the soul is precious, and it +ceaseth for ever," Psal. xlix. 7, 8. He alone hath laid down the +price; all our sufferings, prayers, tears, labours, penances, and +the like, signify nothing here; they cannot satisfy justice for one +sin.</p> +<p>As to the fourth particular, viz., the singularity of this way, +those things make it manifest and apparent:</p> +<p>1. This is such a way as can discover itself, and make itself +known unto the erring traveller. Christ Jesus is such a way as can +say to the wandering soul, "this is the way, walk ye in it," Isa. +xxx. 25. No way can do this. This is comfortable.</p> +<p>2. This way can not only discover itself to the wandering +traveller, but also it can bring folk into it. Christ can bring +souls unto himself, when they are running on in their wandering +condition. He can move their hearts to turn into the right way, put +grace in their soul for this end, begin resolutions in them, and +sow the seed of faith; and so stay their course which they were +violently pursuing, and make them look about and consider what they +are doing. As the former was good news to poor, blind, and witless +creatures that were wandering and knew not whither they were going; +so this is good news to poor souls that find their heart inclining +to wander, and loving to go astray.</p> +<p>3. This way can cause us walk in it. If we be rebellious and +obstinate, he can command with authority; for he is given for a +leader and commander, Isa. lv. 4. How sweet should this be to the +soul that is weighted with a stubborn, untractable, and +unpersuadable heart, that he, as a king, governor, and commander, +can with authority draw or drive, and cause us follow and run?</p> +<p>4. This way is truth, as well as the way; so that the soul that +once entereth in here is safe for ever; no wandering here. "The +wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err in this way," Isa. xxxv. +8. "He will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and lead +them in paths that they have not known; he will make darkness light +before them, and crooked things straight; those things will he do +unto them, and not forsake them," Isa. xlii. 16.</p> +<p>5. This way is also life, and so can revive the faint and weary +traveller. "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no +might he increaseth strength; yea, he renews their strength, and +makes them mount up with wings as eagles, and run and not be weary, +and walk and not be faint," Isa. xl. 29, 31; "and so he giveth legs +to the traveller, yea, he carrieth the lambs in his bosom," Isa. +xl. 11. Oh! who would not walk in this way? what can discourage the +man that walketh here? what can he fear? No way can quicken and +refresh the weary man. This way can do it; yea, it can quicken one +that is as dead, and cause him march on with fresh alacrity and +vigour.</p> +<p>6. From all these it followeth, that this way is a most +pleasant, heartsome, desirable and comfortable way. The man is safe +here, and he may "sing in the ways of the Lord," Psalm cxxxviii. 5. +"For wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are +peace," Prov. iii. 17. He is a way that is food, physic, cordials, +and all that the poor traveller standeth in need of till he come +hence.</p> +<p>From all which, ere we come to particulars, we shall in general +point out those duties, which natively result thence, by way of +use.</p> +<p>1. O what cause is there here for all of us to fall a wondering, +both that God should ever have condescended to have appointed a way +how sinners and rebels, that had wickedly departed from him, and +deserved to be cast out of his presence and favour for ever, might +come back again, and enjoy happiness and felicity in the friendship +and favour of that God that could have got the glory of his justice +in our destruction, and stood in no need of us, or of any thing we +could do: as also, that he appointed such a way, that Jesus Christ +his only Son, should, to speak so, lie as a bridge betwixt God and +sinful rebels, and as a highway, that they might return to the +great God upon him. Let all the creation of God wonder at this +wonderful condescending love of God, that appointed such a way; and +of Christ, that was content to lout so low as to become this way to +us, this new and living way; and that for this end he should have +taken on flesh, and become Emmanuel, God with us, and tabernacled +with us, that through this vail of his flesh, he might consecrate a +way to us. Let angels wonder at this condescendency.</p> +<p>2. Hence we may see ground of being convinced of those things: +(1.) That naturally we are out of the way to peace and favour with +God, and in a way that leadeth to death, and so that our misery and +wretchedness, so long as it is so, cannot be expressed. (2.) That +we can do nothing for ourselves; set all our wits a-work, we cannot +fall upon a way that will bring us home. (3.) That it is madness +for us to seek out another way, and to vex ourselves in vain, to +run to this and to that mean or invention of our own, and be found +fools in the end. (4.) That our madness is so much the greater in +this, that we will turn to our own ways that will fail us, when +there is such a noble and excellent, and every way satisfying way +prepared to our hand. (5.) That our wickedness is so desperate, +that the way which is pointed out to us doth not please us, and +that we will not enter into it, nor walk in it. (6.) That this way, +which is also the truth and the life, is only worth the embracing, +and is only safe and sure; we should be convinced and persuaded of +the worth, sufficiency, and desirableness of this way. Reason, with +ordinary light from the word, may teach these things; but grace can +only carry them into the heart, and make them take rooting +there.</p> +<p>3. We may read here our obligation to those particulars: (1.) To +turn our back upon all other false and deceitful ways, and not rest +there. (2.) To enter into this way, though "the gate be narrow and +strait," Matt vii. 13. Luke xiii. 24, yet "to strive to enter in." +(3.) To resolve to abide in that way as acquiescing in it, resting +satisfied with it, and thus to be "rooted in him," Col. ii. 7, and +"to dwell in him," 1 John iii. 24, and "to live in him," or +"through him," 1 John iv. 9. (4.) To "walk in this way," Col. ii. +6. that is, to make constant use of him, and to make progress in +the way in and through him; to go from strength to strength in him, +drawing all our furniture from him, by faith, according to the +covenant; and that the soul should guard against, 1. stepping aside +out of this good and pleasant way; 2. backsliding; 3. sitting up, +and fainting by the way.</p> +<p>In a word, this pointeth out our duty, to make use of Christ as +our way to the Father, and only of Christ; and this leads us to the +particulars we shall speak a little to.</p> +<p>There are two main things which stand in our way, and hinder us +from approaching to the Father. 1. Unrighteousness and guilt, +whereby we are legally banished, because of the broken covenant, +and the righteous sentence of God according to that covenant. And, +2. Wickedness, impurity, and unholiness, which is, as a physical +bar, lying in our way; because nothing that is unclean can dwell +and abide with him, who is of purer eyes than he can behold +iniquity; and nothing that is unclean can enter in there where he +is. So then there must be an use-making of Christ, as a way through +both these impediments; we need justification and pardon for the +one, and sanctification and cleansing for the other. Now Christ +being the way to the Father, both as to justification, in taking +away the enmity, in changing our state, and removing our +unrighteousness and guilt, whereby we were lying under the sentence +of the law, adjudging such sinners as we are to hell; and as to +sanctification, in cleansing us from all our pollutions, renewing +our souls, washing away our spots and defilements, &c. He must +be made use of in reference to both.</p> +<p>In speaking to the <i>first</i>, we shall be the shorter, +because through God's great mercy, the gospel's pure way of +justification by faith in Christ is richly and abundantly cleared +up by many worthy authors, of late, both as concerning the +theoretical and practical part.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV." id="CHAPTER_IV."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS MADE USE OF FOR JUSTIFICATION AS A WAY.</h4> +<p>What Christ hath done to purchase, procure, and bring about our +justification before God, is mentioned already, viz. That he stood +in the room of sinners, engaging for them as their cautioner, +undertaking, and at length paying down the ransom; becoming sin, or +a sacrifice for sin, and a curse for them, and so laying down his +life a ransom to satisfy divine justice; and this he hath made +known in the gospel, calling sinners to an accepting of him as +their only Mediator, and to a resting upon him for life and +salvation; and withal, working up such, as belong to the election +of grace, to an actual closing with him upon the conditions of the +covenant, and to an accepting of him, believing in him, and resting +upon him, as satisfied with, and acquiescing in that sovereign way +of salvation and justification through a crucified Mediator.</p> +<p>Now, for such as would make use of Christ as the way to the +Father in the point of justification, those things are requisite; +to which we shall only premise this word of caution, That we judge +not the want of these requisites a ground to exempt any, that +heareth the gospel, from the obligation to believe and rest upon +Christ as he is offered in the gospel.</p> +<p>1. There must be a conviction of sin and misery. A conviction of +original guilt, whereby we are banished out of God's presence and +favour, and are in a state of enmity and death, are come short of +the glory of God, Rom. iii. 23; becoming dead or under the sentence +of death, through the offence of one, Rom. v. 15; being made +sinners by one man's disobedience, verse 19, and therefore under +the reigning power of death, verse 17, and under that judgment that +came upon all men to condemnation, verse 18. And of original innate +wickedness, whereby the heart is filled with enmity against God, +and is a hater of him and all his ways, standing in full opposition +to him and to his holy laws; loving to contradict and resist him in +all his actings; despising and undervaluing all his condescensions +of love; obstinately refusing his goodness and offers of mercy; and +peremptorily persisting in rebellion and heart-opposition; not only +not accepting his kindness and offers of mercy, but contemning +them, trampling them under foot as embittered against him. As also, +there must be a conviction of our actual transgressions, whereby we +have corrupted our ways yet more, run farther away from God, +brought on more wrath upon our souls, according to that sentence of +the law, "Cursed is everyone that abideth not in all things that +are written in the law to do them," Deut. xxvii. 26. Gal. iii. 10. +What way this conviction is begun and carried on in the soul, and +to what measure it must come, I cannot now stand to explain; only, +in short, know, That upon whatever occasion it be begun, whether by +a word carried home to the heart by the finger of God, or by some +sharp and crossing dispensation, fear of approaching death, some +heinous out-breaking, or the like, it is a real thing, a +heart-reaching conviction, not general and notional, but +particular, plain, and pinching, affecting the heart with fear and +terror, making the soul seriously and really to mind this matter, +to be taken up with the thoughts of it, and anxiously and earnestly +to cry out, "What shall I do to be saved?" and finally, will make +the soul willing to hearken and hear what hopes of mercy there is +in the gospel, and to embrace the way of salvation which is there +laid down. And the reason of this is, because Christ himself tells +us, "The whole needeth not the physician, but the sick," Matt. ix. +12. "He is not come to call the righteous," that is, such as are +righteous in their own eyes, "but sinners," that is, such as are +now no more whole at the heart, as seeing no evil, no hazard or +danger, but pricked and pierced with the sense of their lost +condition, being under the heavy wrath and vengeance of the great +God, because of sin; and seeing their own vileness, cursedness, +wickedness and desperate madness. Because naturally we hate God and +Christ, John xv. 23-25, and have a strong and natural antipathy at +the way of salvation through Jesus, therefore nothing but strong +and inevitable necessity will drive us to a compliance with this +gospel device of love.</p> +<p>2. There must be some measure of humiliation. Under this +conviction the man is bowed down, and made mute before God; no more +boasting of his goodness and of his happy condition; no high or +great thoughts of his righteousness; for all are looked on now as +"filthy rags," Isa. lxv. 6. "What things were as gain before to the +soul, must now be counted loss, yea, and as dung," Philip, iii. 7, +8. The man must be cast down in himself, and far from high and +conceity thoughts of himself, or of any thing he ever did or can +do. "For the Lord resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the +humble," James iv. 6; 1 Pet. v. 5. "He reviveth the spirit of the +humble," Isa. lvii. 15. "He that humbleth himself shall be +exalted," Matt. xviii. 4, and xxiii. 12; Luke xiv. 11, and xviii. +14.</p> +<p>3. There must be a despairing of getting help or relief out of +this condition, by ourselves, or any thing we can do; a conviction +of the unprofitableness of all things under the sun for our relief. +No expectation of help from our supposed good heart, good purposes, +good deeds, works of charity, many prayers, commendations of +others, sober and harmless walking, or anything else within us or +without us that is not Christ. For, so long as we have the least +hope or expectation of doing our own business without Christ, we +will not come to him. Our heart hangeth so after the old way of +salvation through works, that we cannot endure to hear of any +other, nor can we yield to any other. Could we but have heaven by +the way of works, we would spare no pains, no cost, no labour, no +expenses; nay, we would put ourselves to much pain and torment by +whippings, cuttings, fastings, watchings, and the like; we would +spare our first-born; nay, we would dig our graves in a rock with +our nails, and cut our own days, could we but get heaven by this +means; such is our antipathy at the way of salvation through a +crucified Christ, that we would choose any way but that, cost what +it would; therefore, before we can heartily close with Christ and +accept of him, we must be put from those refuges of lies, and see +that there is nothing but a disappointment written on them all, +that all our prayers, fastings, cries, duties, reformations, +sufferings, good wishes, good deeds, &c. are nothing in his +eyes, but so many provocations to the eyes of his jealousy, and so, +further causes of our misery.</p> +<p>4. There must be a rational, deliberate, and resolute +relinquishing of all those things in ourselves, on which our heart +is ready to dote. The man being convinced of the vanity of all +things by which he hath been hoping for salvation, must now purpose +to lose his grips of them, to turn his back upon them, to quit them +with purpose of heart, and to say to them, get you hence, as Isa. +xxx. 22. This is to deny ourselves, which we must do ere we become +his disciples, Matt. xvi. 24. This is to forsake our father's +house, Psalm xlv. 10, and to pluck out our right eye, and to cut +off our right arm, Matth. v. 29, 30. This abandoning of all our +false propes and subterfuges must be resolute, over the belly of +much opposition within, from the carnal and natural inclinations of +the heart; and of much opposition without, from Satan's ensnaring +suggestions and deceitful temptations: It must be a real, rational +act of the soul, upon solid and thorough conviction of their +unprofitableness, yea, of their dangerousness and +destructiveness.</p> +<p>5. There must be some knowledge of the nature of the gospel +covenant, and of the way which now God hath chosen whereby to +glorify his grace in the salvation of poor sinners. That God, +Father, Son, and Holy Ghost thought good, for the glory of free +grace and wisdom, in a way of justice and mercy, to send Jesus +Christ to assume man's nature, and so become God and man in two +distinct natures, and one person, for ever; and to become under the +law, to undergo the curse thereof, and to die the cursed death of +the cross, to satisfy justice, and pay the ransom for the +redemption of the elect. In which undertaking our Lord was a +servant, Isa. xlii. 1, and xlix. 6, and lii. 13, and liii. 11. +Zech. iii. 8. Matt. xii. 18; and had furniture from God for all his +undertaking, Isa. xlii. 1, and lxi. 1, 2. Matt. xii. 18; and had a +promise of seeing his seed, and of prolonging his days, &c. +Isa. xliii. 10, 11. Thus there was a covenant of redemption betwixt +God and the Mediator; and the Mediator undertaking, was obliged to +perform all that he undertook, and accordingly did so. For, as the +Lord laid on him, or caused to meet together on him, "the iniquity +of us all," Isa. liii. 6, so in due time "he bare our griefs, and +carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, and +bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon +him. He was cut off out of the land of the living, and stricken for +the transgression of his people; he made his soul an offering for +sin, and bare the iniquities of his people. Pouring out his soul +unto death he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the +transgressors," Isa. liii. 4, 5, 10, 11, 12. So "that what the law +could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending +his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, for sin (or by a +sacrifice for sin) condemned sin in the flesh," Rom. viii. 3, "that +the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us," verse 4. +Thus "he made him sin (or a sacrifice for sin) that we might become +righteous," 2 Cor. v. 20; and "he was once offered to bear the sins +of many," Heb. ix. 28; and "he, through the eternal Spirit, offered +himself without spot to God," verse 14, and "his own self bare our +sins in his own body on the tree," 1 Pet. ii. 24. There must, I +say, be some knowledge of, and acquaintance with this great mystery +of the gospel, wherein is declared "the manifold wisdom of God," +Eph. iii. 10, and with the noble design of God, in sending his Son, +after this manner, to die the death, that condemned sinners might +live, and return to the bosom of God; as redeemed "not with gold or +silver, or corruptible things but with the precious blood of +Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot," 1 Pet. i. +18. And being "so redeemed by blood, to become kings and priests +unto God," 1 Pet. ii. 2. Rev. v. 9, 10. The man must not be +ignorant of this, else all will be in vain. I do not determine how +distinct and full this knowledge must be; but sure there must be so +much knowledge of it, as will give the soul ground of hope, and, in +expectation of salvation by this way, cause it turn its back upon +all other ways, and account itself happy if it could once win +here.</p> +<p>6. There must be a persuasion of the sufficiency, completeness +and satisfactoriness of the way of salvation through this crucified +Mediator, else the soul will not be induced to leave its other +courses, and betake itself to this alone. He must be sure that +salvation is only to be had this way, and that undoubtedly it will +be had this way, that so with confidence he may cast himself over +on this way, and sweetly sing of a noble outgate. And therefore he +must believe, that Christ is really God as well as man, and a true +man as well as God; that he is fully furnished for the work of +redemption, having the Spirit given to him without measure; and +endued fully and richly with all qualifications fitting for all our +necessities, and enabling him to "save to the uttermost all that +come unto God by him," Heb. vii. 25; that "he is made of God to us +wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification," 1 Cor. i. 30; that "all +power in heaven and in earth is given unto him," Matt. xxviii. 18; +that "all things are put under his feet;" and that "he is given to +be Head over all things to the church," Eph. i. 22; that "in him +dwelleth all fulness," Col. i. 19; that "in him are hid all the +treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3; yea, "that in him +dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" so that we are +"complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power," +verses 9, 10.</p> +<p>7. The soul must know that he is not only an able and +all-sufficient Mediator, but that also he is willing and ready to +redeem and save all that will come. For all the preceding +particulars will but increase his sorrow and torment him more, so +long as he supposeth, through ignorance and the suggestion of +Satan, that he hath no part in that redemption, no access to it, no +ground of hope of salvation by it. Therefore it is necessary that +the soul conceive not only a possibility, but also a probability of +help this way, and that the dispensation of the gospel of grace, +and the promulgation and offer of these good news to him, speak out +so much, that the patience of God waiting long, and his goodness +renewing the offers, confirmeth this; that his serious pressing, +his strong motives, on the one hand, and his sharp threatenings on +the other; his reiterated commands, his ingeminated obtestations; +his expressed sorrow and grief over such as would not come to him; +his upbraiding and objurations of such as do obstinately refuse, +and the like, put his willingness to save such as will come to him +out of all question. Yea, his obviating of objections, and taking +all excuses out of their mouth, maketh the case plain and manifest, +so that such as will not come are left without excuse, and have no +impediment lying in the way but their own unwillingness.</p> +<p>8. The man must know upon what terms and conditions Christ +offereth himself in the gospel, viz. upon condition of accepting of +him, believing in him, and resting upon him; and that no other way +we can be made partakers of the good things purchased by Christ, +but by accepting of him as he is offered in the gospel, that is to +say, freely, "without price or money," Isa. lv. 1, absolutely +without reservation, wholly, and for all ends, &c. For, till +this be known, there will be no closing with Christ; and till there +be a closing with Christ, there is no advantage to be had by him. +The soul must be married to him as an husband, fixed to him as the +branches to the tree, united to him as the members to the head, +become one with him, "one spirit," 1 Cor. vi. 17. See John xv. 5. +Eph. v. 30. The soul must close with him for all things, adhere to +him upon all hazards, take him and the sharpest cross that +followeth him. Now, I say, the soul must be acquainted with these +conditions; for it must act deliberately and rationally here. +Covenanting with Christ is a grave business, and requireth +deliberation, posedness of soul, rational resolution, full purpose +of heart, and satisfaction of soul, and therefore the man must be +acquainted with the conditions of the new covenant.</p> +<p>9. There must be a satisfaction with the terms of the gospel, +and the heart must actually close with Christ as he is offered in +the gospel. The heart must open to him, and take him in, Rev. iii. +20. The soul must embrace and receive him, John i. 12. The man must +take him as his Lord and Master, King, Priest, and Prophet; must +give up himself to him as his leader and commander, and resolve to +follow him in all things, and thus close a bargain with him; for, +till this be done, there is no union with Christ, and, till there +be an union with Christ, there is no partaking of the fruits of his +redemption as to justification, no pardon, no acceptance, no access +to the favour of God, nor peace nor joy in the Holy Ghost, no +getting of the conscience sprinkled, nor no intimation of love or +favour from God, &c.</p> +<p>10. There must be a leaning to and resting upon him and on his +perfect sacrifice. The soul must sit down here as satisfied, and +acquiesce in this complete mediation of his. This is to believe on +him, to rest on him, John iii. 18. 1 Pet. ii. 6, as an +all-sufficient help. This is to cast the burden of a broken +covenant, of a guilty conscience, of deserved wrath, of the curse +of the law, &c. upon him, that he may bear away those evils +from us. This is to put on the Lord Jesus (in part), Rom. xiii. 14; +to cover ourselves with his righteousness from the face of justice, +to stand in this armour of proof against the accusations of law, +Satan, and an evil conscience. This is to flee to him as our city +of refuge, that we may be safe from the avenger of blood. This is +to make him our refuge from the storm of God's anger, and a shadow +from the heat of his wrath, Isa. xxv. 4, and "our hiding-place from +the wind, and a covert from the tempest," and as the "shadow of a +great rock in a weary land," Isa. xxxii. 2. When we hide ourselves +in him as the complete cautioner that hath fully satisfied justice, +and "desire to be found in him alone, not having our own +righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the +faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith," Phil. +iii. 9. This is to lay our hand on the head of the sacrifice, when +we rest on this sacrifice, and expect salvation through it alone. +This is to cast ourselves in Christ's arms, as peremptorily +resolving to go no other way to the Father, and to plead no other +righteousness before God's bar but Christ's; that is faith, yea, +the lively acting of justifying faith.</p> +<p>Thus then is Christ made use of as the way to the Father, in the +point of justification, when the poor awakened sinner, convinced of +his sin and misery, of his own inability to help himself, of the +insufficiency of all means beside Christ, of Christ's +all-sufficiency, readiness, and willingness to help, of the equity +and reasonableness of the conditions on which he is offered, and +life through him, is now content and fully satisfied with this way, +actually renouncing all other ways whatsoever, and doth with heart +and hand embrace Jesus Christ, and take him as he is offered in the +gospel, to make use of him for all things, to Jean to him, and rest +upon him in all hazards, and particularly, to refuge itself under +his wings, and to rest there with complacency, satisfaction, and +delight, and hide itself from the wrath of God and all +accusations.</p> +<p>Yet it should be known, that this act of faith, whereby the soul +goeth out to Christ, and accepteth of and leaneth to him, is not +alike in all.</p> +<p>1. In some it may be more lively, strong and active, like the +centurion's faith, that could argue syllogistically, Matt. viii. 8, +&c, which Christ looked upon as a great faith, a greater +whereof he had not found, no not in Israel, verse 10; and like the +faith of the woman of Canaan, Matt. xv. 21, &c, that would take +no naysay, but of seeming refusals did make arguments, which Christ +commendeth as a great faith, verse 28. But in others it may be more +weak and fainting, not able to reason aright for its own comfort +and strength, as Matt, vi. 30, but is mixed with much fear, as +Matt. viii. 26, yea, and with much faithfulness, so that the soul +must cry, "Lord, help my unbelief!" Mark ix. 24.</p> +<p>2. In some the acts and actings of this faith may be more clear +and discernible, both by themselves, and by spiritual onlookers; in +others, so covered over with a heap of doubts, unbelief, jealousy, +and other corruption, that the actings of it can hardly, or not at +all, be perceived by themselves or others; so that nothing shall be +heard but complaints, fears, doubtings, and objections.</p> +<p>3. In some, this faith may have strong and perceptible actings, +wrestling through much discouragement and opposition, and many +difficulties; as in the woman of Canaan, Matt. xv.; running through +with peremptory resoluteness, saying, with Job, chap. xiii. 15, +"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" and thus taking the +kingdom of heaven with violence. In others it may be so weak, that +the least opposition or discouragement may be sufficient to make +the soul give over hope, and almost despair of overcoming and +winning through, and be as a bruised reed or a smoking flax.</p> +<p>4. In some, though it appear not strong and violent or wilful +(in a manner) in its actings, yet it may be firm, fixed, and +resolute in staying upon him, Isa. xxvi. 3, 4, and trusting in him, +Psalm cxxv. 1, resolving to hing there, and if it perish, it +perisheth; in others weak and bashful.</p> +<p>5. In some it may be yet weaker, going out in strong and +vehement hungerings, Matt. v. 6. The man dare not say, that he doth +believe or that he doth adhere to Christ and stay upon him; yet he +dare say, he longeth for him, and panteth after him, as ever "the +hart doth after the water-brooks," Psalm xlii. 1, 2; he hungereth +and thirsteth for him, and cannot be satisfied with any thing +without him.</p> +<p>6. In some, it may be so weak, that the soul can only perceive +the heart looking out after him; upon little more ground than a +maybe it shall be helped, Isa. xlv. 22. They look to him for +salvation, being convinced that there is no other way; and resolved +to follow no other way, they resolve to lie at his door, waiting +and looking for a sight of the king's face, and to lie waiting till +they die, if no better may be.</p> +<p>7. In some, it may be so weak, that nothing more can be +perceived but a satisfaction with the terms of the covenant, a +willingness to accept of the bargain, and an heart consenting +thereunto, though they dare not say that they actually close +therewith, yea, nor dare say that they shall be welcome, Rev. xxii. +17.</p> +<p>8. In some, it may be so weak and low, that they cannot say that +they have any right hunger or desire after him, nor that their +heart doth rightly and really consent to the covenant of grace; yet +they would fain be at it, and cry out, O for a willing heart! O for +ardent desires! O for a right hunger! and they are dissatisfied, +and cannot be reconciled with their hearts for not desiring more, +hungering more, consenting more; so that, if they had this, they +would think themselves happy and up-made. And thus we see their +faith is so low, that it appeareth in nothing more manifestly, than +in their complainings of the want of it.</p> +<p>So then, the poor weak believer needeth not to be so far +discouraged as to despair and give over the matter as hopeless and +lost; let him hang on, depend and wait. A weak faith to-day may +become stronger within a short time. He that laid the foundation +can and will finish the building, for all his works are perfect. +And a weak faith, when true, will prove saving, and lay hold on a +saving strong Mediator.</p> +<p>Moreover, as to the acting of faith on Christ's death and +sacrifice for the stopping the mouth of conscience, law, Satan, and +for the opposing to the pursuing justice of God because of sin, it +may sometimes be strong, distinct, clear, and resolute; at other +times again be weak, mixed, or accompanied with much fear, +perplexity, doubting, and distrust, because of their own seen +unworthiness, many failings, doubtings of the sincerity of their +repentance, and the like.</p> +<p>This is a main business, and of great concernment, yet many are +not much troubled about it, nor exercised at the heart hereabout, +as they ought, deceiving themselves with foolish imaginations: +For,</p> +<p>1. They think they were believers all their days, they never +doubted of God's grace and good-will, they had always a good heart +for God, though they never knew what awakened conscience, or sense +of the wrath of God meant.</p> +<p>2. Or they think, because God is merciful, he will not be so +severe as to stand upon all those things that ministers require; +forgetting that he is a just God, and a God of truth, that will do +according to what he hath said.</p> +<p>3. Or they suppose it is an easy matter to believe, and not such +a difficult thing as it is called; not considering or believing, +that no less power than that which raised Christ from the dead, +will work up the heart unto faith.</p> +<p>4. Or they resolve, that they will do it afterward, at some more +convenient season; not perceiving the cunning slight of Satan in +this, nor considering, that faith is not in their power, but the +gift of God; and that, if they lay not hold on the call of God, but +harden their heart in their day, God may judicially blind them, so +that these things shall be hid from their eyes; and so that +occasion, they pretend to wait for, never come.</p> +<p>Oh! if such whom this mainly concerneth, could be induced to +enter into this way; considering,</p> +<p>1. That except they enter into this way they cannot be safe, the +wrath of God will pursue them, the avenger of blood will overtake +them; no salvation but here.</p> +<p>2. That in this way is certain salvation; this way will +infallibly lead to the Father; for he keepeth in the way, and +bringeth safe home, Exod. xxiii. 20.</p> +<p>3. 'Tis the old path and the good way, Jer. vi. 16; all the +saints have the experience of this, who are already come to glory. +And,</p> +<p>4. It is a highway, and a way of righteousness, wherein, if very +fools walk, they shall not wander, Isa. xxxv. 8, 9, and if the weak +walk in it, they shall not faint, Isa. xl. 31.</p> +<p>5. That except this be done, there is no advantage to be had by +him; his death and all his sufferings, as to those persons that +will not believe and enter into him as the way to the Father, are +in vain.</p> +<p>6. Yea, such as will not believe in him say, in effect, either +that Christ hath not died nor consecrated a way through the vail of +his flesh; or, that all that he hath done and suffered is not +sufficient to bring a soul home to God; or that they can do their +own business without him, and that it was a foolish and vain thing +for Christ to die the death for that end; or, lastly, that they +care not for salvation; they are indifferent whether they perish or +be saved.</p> +<p>7. That, as to them, the whole gospel is in vain, all the +ordinances, all the administration of ordinances, all the pains of +ministers, are in vain.</p> +<p>8. That, as to them, all Christ's intreaties, motives, +allurements, patience and long-suffering, his standing at the door +and knocking till his locks be wet with the dew, &c. are in +vain; yea, they are contemptuously rejected, despised, slighted, +and undervalued.</p> +<p>9. That all the great promises are by such rejected as untrue, +or as not worthy the seeking or having; and that all the +threatenings, on the other hand, are not to be regarded or +feared.</p> +<p>10. In a word, that heaven and the fellowship of God is not +worth the seeking, and that hell and the fellowship of devils is +not worth the fearing; or, that there is neither a heaven nor a +hell, and that all are but fictions; and that there is no such +thing as the wrath of God against sinners, or that it is not much +to be feared.</p> +<p>If it be asked, what warrant have poor sinners to lay hold on +Christ, and grip to him, as made of God righteousness?</p> +<p>I answer, 1. our absolute necessity of him is a ground to press +us to go and seek help and relief: we see we are gone in ourselves, +and therefore are we allowed to seek out for help elsewhere.</p> +<p>2. Christ's all-sufficient furniture, whereby he is a qualified +Mediator, fitted with all necessaries for our case and condition, +having laid down a price to the satisfaction of justice, is a +sufficient invitation for us to look toward him for help, and to +wait at that door.</p> +<p>3. His being appointed of the Father to be Mediator of the +covenant, and particularly, to lay down his life a ransom for sin; +and Christ's undertaking all his offices, and performing all the +duties thereof, conform to the covenant of redemption, is a strong +encouragement to poor sinners to come to him, because he cannot +deny himself, and he will be true to his trust.</p> +<p>4. The Father's offering of him to us in the gospel, and +Christ's inviting us who are weary and heavy laden; yea, calling +and commanding such to come to him in his own and in his Father's +name, under the pain of his and his Father's wrath and everlasting +displeasure; exhorting further, and requesting upon terms of love, +pressing earnestly by many motives, sending out his ambassadors to +beseech in his stead poor sinners to be reconciled, and to turn in +to him for life and salvation; yea, upbraiding such as will not +come to him. All these are a sufficient warrant for a poor +necessitous sinner to lay hold on his offer.</p> +<p>And, further, to encourage poor souls to come unto him, all +things are so well ordered in the gospel, as that nothing occurreth +that can in the least prove a stumbling-block or a just ground of +excuse for their forbearing to believe and to accept of his offers. +All objections possible are obviated to such as are but willing; +the way is cast up, and all stones of stumbling cast out of it; so +that such as will not come can pretend no excuse. They cannot +object the greatness of their sins: for the greater their sins be +they have the greater need of one who is sent to take away sin, and +whose blood purgeth from all sin, 1 John i. 7. What great sinner +did he ever refuse that came to him, and was willing to be saved by +him? Is there any clause in all the gospel excluding great sinners? +Nor need they object their great unworthiness; for he doth all +freely for the glory of his free grace. None ever got any good of +him for their worth; for no man ever had any worth. Nor need they +object their long refusing and resisting many calls; for he will +make such as are willing welcome at the eleventh hour; him that +cometh he will in no case put away, John vi. 37. Nor can they +object their changeableness, that they will not stand to the +bargain, but break and return with the dog to the vomit; for Christ +hath engaged to bring all through that come unto him; he will raise +them up at the last day, John vi. 40; he will present them to +himself holy and without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. +v. The covenant is fully provided with promises to stop the mouth +of that objection. Nor can they object the difficulty or +impossibility of believing; for that is Christ's work also, he "is +the author and finisher of faith," Heb. xii. 1. Can they not with +confidence cast themselves upon him; yet if they can hunger and +thirst for him, and look to him, he will accept of that; "look to +me," says he, "and be saved," Isa. xlv. 22. If they cannot look to +him, nor hunger and thirst for him, yet if they be willing, all is +well. Are they willing that Christ save them in his way, and +therefore willingly give themselves over to him, and are willing +and content that Christ, by his Spirit, work more hunger in them, +and a more lively faith, and work both to will and to do according +to his own good pleasure, it is well.</p> +<p>But it will be said, that the terms and conditions on which he +offereth himself are hard. Answer—I grant the terms are hard +to flesh and blood, and to proud unmortified nature; but to such as +are willing to be saved, so as God may be most glorified, the terms +are easy, most rational and satisfying: for,</p> +<p>1. We are required to take him only for our Mediator, and to +join none with him, and to mix nothing with him. Corrupt nature is +averse from this, and would at least mix something of self with +him, and not rest on Christ only: corrupt nature would not have the +man wholly denying himself, and following Christ only. And hence +many lose themselves, and lose all; because, with the Galatians, +they would mix the law and the gospel together; do something +themselves for satisfaction of justice, and take Christ for the +rest that remains. Now, the Lord will have all the glory, as good +reason is, and will have none to share with him; he will give of +his glory to none. And is not this rational and easy? What can be +objected against this?</p> +<p>2. We are required to take him wholly, that he may be a complete +Mediator to us; as a prophet to teach, as a king to subdue our +lusts, to cause us to walk in his ways, as well as a priest to +satisfy justice for us, to die and intercede for us. Is it not +reason that we take him as God hath made him for us? Is there any +thing in him to be refused? And is there any thing in him which we +have no need of? Is there not all the reason then in the world for +this, that we take him wholly? And what stumbling-block is +here?</p> +<p>3. We are required to take him freely, "without money and +without price," Isa. lv. 1, for he will not be bought any manner of +way; that free grace may be free grace, therefore he will give all +freely. True enough it is, corruption would be at buying, though it +have nothing to lay out. Pride will not stoop to a free gift. But +can any say the terms are hard, when all is offered freely?</p> +<p>4. We are required to take them absolutely, without any +reversion of mental reservation. Some would willingly quit all but +one or two lusts they cannot think to twin with; and they would +deny themselves in many things, but they would still most willingly +keep a back-door open to some beloved lust or other. And who seeth +not what double dealing is here? And what reason can plead for this +double dealing? Corruption, it is true, will think this hard, but +no man can rationally say that this is a just ground of +discouragement to any, or a sufficient ground to warrand them to +stay away from Christ, seeing they cannot be supposed sincerely to +desire redemption from any sin, who would not desire redemption +from every sin. He who loveth any known lust, and would not +willingly be delivered therefrom, hath no real hatred at any lust, +as such, nor desire to be saved; for one such lust would be his +death.</p> +<p>5. It is required, that we accept of him really and cordially, +with our heart and soul, and not by a mere external verbal +profession, And is there not all the reason in the world for this? +He offereth himself really to us, and shall we not be real in +accepting of him? What, I pray, can be justly excepted against +this? or, what real discouragement can any gather from this?</p> +<p>6. We are to take him for all necessaries, that is, with a +resolution to make use of him as our all-sufficient Mediator. And +is not this most reasonable? Ought we not to take him for all the +ends and purposes for which God hath appointed him, and set him +forth, and offered him to us? What then can any suppose to lie here +which should scar a soul from laying hold upon him? Nay, should not +this be looked upon as a very great encouragement? And should we +not bless the Lord, that hath provided such a complete and +all-sufficient Mediator?</p> +<p>7. We are to take him and all the crosses that may attend our +taking or following of him; we must take up our cross, be it what +it will that he thinketh good to appoint to us, and follow him, +Matt. xvi. 24. Mark viii. 34. "For he that taketh not up his cross, +and followeth not after him, is not worthy of him," Matt. x. 38. I +know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying; but they +that consider, that Christ will bear the heaviest end of the cross, +yea, all of it, and so support them by his Spirit while they are +under it, that they shall have no just cause to complain; and how +he will suffer none to go his errand upon their own charges, but +will be with them when they go through the fire and water, Isa. +xliii. 2, so that they shall suffer no loss, neither shall the +waters overflow them, nor the fire kindle upon them; and that he +who loseth his life for Christ's sake and the gospel's, shall save +it, Mark viii. 35; yea, that they shall receive an hundred-fold for +all their losses, Matt. xix. 29, and that even with persecution, +Mark x. 30, and, in the world to come, eternal life. They, I say, +who consider this, will see no discouragement here, nor ground of +complaint; nay, they will account it their glory to suffer any loss +for Christ's sake.</p> +<p>8. Hence it followeth, that we are to take him, so as to avouch +him and his cause and interest on all hazards, stand to his truth, +and not be ashamed of him in a day of trial. Confession of him must +be made with the mouth, as with the heart we must believe, Rom. x. +9. Let corruption speak against this what it will, because it is +always desirous to keep the skin whole. Yet reason cannot but say +that it is equitable, especially seeing he hath said, that +"whosoever confesseth him before men, he will confess them before +his Father which is in heaven," Matt. x. 32. And that, "If we +suffer with him, we shall also reign with him," 2 Tim. ii. 12. Is +he our Lord and master, and should we not own and avouch him? +Should we be ashamed of him for any thing, that can befall us, upon +that account? What master would not take that ill at his servant's +hands?</p> +<p>Hence, then, we see, that there is nothing in all the conditions +on which he offereth himself to us, that can give the least ground, +in reason, why a poor soul should draw back, and be unwilling to +accept of this noble offer, or think that the conditions are +hard.</p> +<p>But there is one main objection, which may trouble some, and +that is, they cannot believe; faith being the gift of God, it must +be wrought in them; how then can they go to God for this, and make +use of Christ for this end, that their souls may be wrought up to a +believing and consenting to the bargain, and hearty accepting of +the offer?</p> +<p>To this I would say these things:</p> +<p>1. It is true, that "faith is the gift of God," Eph. ii. 8, and +that it is "he alone who worketh in us, both to will and to do," +Phil. i. 29, "and none cometh to the Son, but whom the Father +draweth," John vi. 44; and it is a great matter, and no small +advancement, to win to the real faith, and through conviction of +this our impotency. For thereby the soul will be brought to a +greater measure of humiliation, and of despairing of salvation in +itself, which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be +saved.</p> +<p>2. Though faith be not in our power, yet it is our duty. Our +impotency to perform our duty, doth not loose our obligation to the +duty; so that our not believing is our sin; and for this God may +justly condemn us. His wrath abideth on all who believe not in his +Son Jesus, and will not accept of the offer of salvation through +the crucified Mediator. And though faith, as all other acts of +grace, be efficiently the work of the Spirit, yet it is formally +our work: we do believe; but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in +us.</p> +<p>3. The ordinary way of the Spirit's working faith in us, is by +pressing home the duty upon us, whereby we are brought to a +despairing in ourselves, and to a looking out to him, whose grace +alone it is that can work it in the soul, for that necessary help +and breathing, without which the soul will not come.</p> +<p>4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the +elect, as other graces necessary to their salvation; and it is +promised and covenanted to him, "That he shall see his seed, and +shall see of the travail of his soul," Isa. liii. 10; and that by +the knowledge of him, that is, the rational and understanding act +of the soul gripping to and laying hold upon him, as he is offered +in the gospel, "many shall be justified," Isa. liii. 10. Hence he +saith, "That all whom the Father hath given to him, shall come unto +him," John vi. 37; and the apostle tells us, "that we are blessed +with all spiritual blessings in him," Eph. i. 3.</p> +<p>5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith, and all +other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect, but God hath +committed to him the administration and actual dispensation, and +out-giving of all those graces, which the redeemed stand in need +of. Hence "he is a prince exalted to give repentance and +forgiveness of sins," Acts v. 31. "All power in heaven and earth is +committed unto him," Matt, xxviii. 18, 19. Hence he is called, "the +author and finisher of faith," Heb. xii. 2; and he tells his +disciples, John xiv. 13, 14, that whatever they shall ask in his +name, he will do it. He is made a Prince and a Saviour, "having all +judgment committed unto him," John v. 22; and "he is Lord of all," +Acts x. 36. Rom. xiv. 9.</p> +<p>6. Hereupon the sinner, being convinced of his lost condition +through sin and misery, of an utter impossibility of helping +himself out of that state of death, of Christ's all-sufficiency and +willingness to save all that will come to him, and of its own +inability to believe or come to him for life and salvation, or to +lay hold on, and lean to his merits and satisfaction, and so +despairing in himself, is to look out to Jesus, the author of +eternal salvation, the foundation and chief corner-stone, the +author and finisher of faith; I say, the sinner, being thus +convinced, is thus to look out to Jesus; not that that conviction +is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary, either to +prepare, dispose, and fit for faith, or far less to merit any +manner of way, or bring on faith; but because this is Christ's +method to bring a soul to faith by this conviction, to the glory of +his grace. The soul naturally being averse from Christ, and utterly +unwilling to accept of that way of salvation, must be redacted to +that strait, that it shall see, that it must either accept of this +offer or die. As the whole needeth not a physician, so Christ is +come to save only that which is lost; and his method is to convince +the world of sin, in the first place; and then of righteousness, +John xvi. 8, 9.</p> +<p>7. This looking out to Jesus for faith, comprehendeth those +things: (1.) The soul's acknowledgment of the necessity of faith, +to the end it may partake of Christ, and of his merits. (2.) The +soul's satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ, by a +closing with him, and a resting upon him by faith. (3.) A sense and +conviction of the unbelief and stubbornness of the heart, or a +seeing of its own impotency, yea, and unwillingness to believe. +(4.) A persuasion that Christ can over-master the infidelity and +wickedness of the heart, and work up the soul unto a willing +consent unto the bargain. (5.) A hope, or a half-hope (to speak so) +that Christ, who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to +him for salvation; and hath said, that he will put none away in any +case that cometh—will have pity upon him at length. (6.) A +resolution to lie at his door, till he come with life, till he +quicken, till he unite the soul to himself. (7.) A lying open to +the breathings of his Spirit, by guarding against every thing (so +far as they can) that may grieve or provoke him, and waiting on him +in all the ordinances, he hath appointed, for begetting faith; such +as reading the Scriptures, hearing the word, conference with godly +persons, and prayer, &c. (8.) A waiting with patience on him +who never said to the house of Jacob, "seek me in vain," Isa. xlv. +19; still crying and looking to him who hath commanded the ends of +the earth to look to him; and waiting for him who waiteth to be +gracious, Isa. xxx. 18, remembering that they are all blessed that +wait for him; and that "there is much good prepared for them that +wait for him," Isa. lxiv. 4.</p> +<p>8. The sinner would essay this believing, and closing with +Christ, and set about it, as he can, seriously, heartily, and +willingly, yea, and resolutely over the belly of much opposition, +and many discouragements, looking to him who must help, yea, and +work the whole work; for God worketh in and with man as a rational +creature. The soul then would set the willingness it findeth, on +work, and wait for more; and as the Lord is pleased to commend, by +his Spirit, the way of grace more unto the soul, and to warm the +heart with love to it, and a desire after it, strike the iron while +it is hot; and, looking to him for help, grip to Christ in the +covenant; and so set to its seal, though with a trembling hand; and +subscribe its name, though with much fear and doubting, remembering +"that he who worketh to will, must work the deed also," Phil. ii. +13, "and he that beginneth a good work will perfect it," Phil. i. +6.</p> +<p>9. The soul essaying thus to believe in Christ's strength, and +to creep when it cannot walk or run, would hold fast what it hath +attained, and resolve never to recall any consent, or half-consent, +it hath given to the bargain, but still look forward, hold on, +wrestle against unbelief and unwillingness, entertain every good +motion of the Spirit for this end, and never admit of any thing +that may quench its lodgings, desires, or expectation.</p> +<p>10. Nay, if the sinner be come this length, that, with the bit +willingness he hath, he consenteth to the bargain, and is not +satisfied with any thing in himself, that draweth back, or +consenteth not, and with the little skill or strength he hath is +writing down his name, and saying, even so I take him; and is +holding at this, peremptorily resolving never to go back, or unsay +what he hath said; but, on the contrary, is firmly purposed to +adhere, and as he groweth in strength, to grip more firmly, and +adhere to him, he may conclude that the bargain is closed already, +and that he hath faith already; for here there is an accepting of +Christ on his own terms, a real consenting unto the covenant of +grace, though weak, and not so discernible as the soul would wish. +The soul dare not say but it loveth the bargain, and is satisfied +with it, and longeth for it, and desireth nothing more than that it +might partake thereof, and enjoy him whom it loveth, hungereth for, +panteth after, or breatheth, as it is able, that it may live in +him, and be saved through him.</p> +<p>But some will say, If I had any evidence of God's approbation of +this act of my soul, any testimony of his Spirit, I could then with +confidence say, that I had believed and accepted of the covenant +and of Christ offered therein; but so long as I perceive nothing of +this, how can I suppose, that any motion of this kind in my soul is +real faith?</p> +<p>For <i>Answer</i>—1. We would know, that our believing, +and God's sealing to our sense, are two distinct acts and +separable, and oft separated. Our believing is one thing, and God's +sealing with the Holy Spirit of promise to our sense, is another +thing; and this followeth, though not inseparably, the other, Eph. +i. 13, "In whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with +that Holy Spirit of promise."</p> +<p>And so, 2. We would know, that many a man may believe, and yet +not know that he doth believe. He may set to his seal, that God is +true in his offer of life through Jesus, and accept of that offer +as a truth, and close with it; and yet live under darkness and +doubtings of his faith, long and many a day; partly through not +discerning the true nature of faith; partly through the great sense +and feeling of his own corruption and unbelief; partly through a +mistake of the Spirit's operations within, or the want of a clear +and distinct uptaking of the motions of his own soul; partly +because he findeth so much doubting and fear, as if there could be +no faith where there was doubting or fear, contrary to Mark ix. 24. +Matth. viii. 26, and xiv. 31.; partly, because he hath not that +persuasion that others have had, as if there were not various +degrees of faith, as there is of other graces, and the like.</p> +<p>Therefore, 3. We would know, that many may really believe, and +yet miss this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be +at. God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that, lest +they forget themselves and become too proud; and to train them up +more to the life of faith, whereby he may be glorified; and for +other holy ends, he may suspend the giving of this for a time.</p> +<p>4. Yet we would know, that all that believe, have the seal +within them, 1 John v. 10, "He that believeth on the Son of God, +hath the witness in himself," that is, he hath that which really is +a seal, though he see it not, nor perceive it not; even the work of +God's Spirit in his soul, inclining and determining him unto the +accepting of this bargain, and to a liking of and endeavouring +after holiness; and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is, is +a seal and confirmation of the business. So that the matter is +sealed, and confirmed by the word, though the soul want those +sensible breathings of the Spirit, shedding abroad his love in the +heart, and filling the soul with a full assurance, by hushing all +doubts and fears to the door; yea, though they should be a stranger +unto the Spirit's witnessing thus with their spirits, that they are +the children of God, and clearing up distinctly the real work of +grace within their soul, and so saying in effect, that they have in +truth believed.</p> +<p>But enough of this; seeing all this, and much more is abundantly +held forth and explained, in that excellent and useful treatise of +Mr. Guthrie's, entitled, "The Christian's Great Interest."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_V." id="CHAPTER_V."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS TO BE MADE USE OF, AS THE WAY, FOR SANCTIFICATION +IN GENERAL.</h4> +<p>Having shown how a poor soul, lying under the burden of sin and +wrath, is to make use of Jesus Christ for righteousness and +justification, and so to make use of him, go out to him, and apply +him, as "he is made of God to us righteousness," 1 Cor. i. 30, and +that but briefly. This whole great business being more fully and +satisfactorily handled, in that forementioned great, though small +treatise, viz. "The Christian's Great Interest," we shall now come +and show, how a believer or a justified soul shall further make use +of Christ for sanctification, this being a particular about which +they are oftentimes much exercised and perplexed.</p> +<p>That we may therefore, in some weak measure, through the help of +this light and grace, propose some things to clear up this great +and necessary truth, we shall first speak a little to it in the +general, and then come to clear up the matter more +particularly.</p> +<p>Before we speak of the matter in general, it would be +remembered, 1. That the person who only is in case to make use of +Christ for sanctification, is one that hath made use of him already +for righteousness and justification. For one who is a stranger to +Christ, and is living in nature, hath no access to Christ for +sanctification. He must be a believer, and within the covenant, ere +he can make use of the grounds of sanctification laid down in the +covenant. One must first be united to Christ, and justified by +faith in him, before he can draw any virtue from him for perfecting +holiness. He must first be in him, before he can grow up in him, or +bring forth fruit in him. And therefore the first thing that souls +would go about, should be to get an union made up with Christ, and +be clothed with his righteousness by faith; and then they have a +right to all his benefits. <i>First</i>, they should labour to get +their state changed from enmity to peace and reconciliation with +God, through faith in Jesus.</p> +<p>Yet, <i>next</i>, it would be observed, that when it is said, +that one must be a believer before he can go to Christ, and make +use of him for holiness and sanctification, it is not so understood +and said, that one must know, that indeed he is justified by faith, +before he can make any use of Christ for sanctification. One may be +justified, and a believer, yea, and growing in grace through Jesus +Christ, and so actually improving the grounds of sanctification, +and making use of Christ for this end, and allowed thereunto, and +yet win to no certainty of his union with Christ, of his +justification through faith in him, nor of his faith.</p> +<p>But, <i>thirdly</i>, if it be said, How can a soul with +confidence approach to Christ, for use-making of him, in reference +to sanctification, that is, still doubting of his state and +regeneration?</p> +<p>I answer, It is true, a clear sight of our interest in Christ by +faith, would be a great encouragement to our confident approaching +to, and use-making of him, in all things; and this consideration +should move all to a more earnest search and study of the marks and +evidences of their interest; a good help whereunto they will find +in the forementioned book. I shall only say this here, That if the +soul have an earnest desire to be sanctified wholly, and to have on +the image of God, that he may glorify him, and panteth after +holiness as for life, that he may look like him that is holy, and +maketh this his work and study; sorrowing at nothing more than at +his shortcoming; crying out and longing for the day when he shall +be delivered from a body of death, and have the old man wholly +crucified; he needeth not question his interest in Christ, and +warrant to make use of him for every part of sanctification; for +this longing desire after conformity to God's law, and panting +after this spiritual life, to the end God may be exalted, Christ +glorified, and others edified, will not be readily found in one +that is yet in nature. It is true, I grant, some who design to +establish their own righteousness, and to be justified by their own +works and inherent holiness, may wish that they may be more holy +and less guilty; and for some other corrupt ends, they may desire +to be free of the power of some lust, which they find noxious and +troublesome; and yet retain with love and desire, some other +beloved lusts, and so have a heart still cleaving to the heart of +some detestable thing or other. But gracious souls, as they have +respect to all the commands of God, so they have not that design of +being justified before God by their works; nor do they study +mortification, and sanctification for any such end; nay, they no +sooner discover any bias of their false deceitful hearts unto any +such end, but as soon they disown it, and abhor it. So that hence +believers may get some discovery of the reality of their faith and +interest in Christ, and of their warrant, yea, and duty to make use +of Christ for sanctification.</p> +<p>This premised, we come to speak something, in the general, of +believer's use-making of Christ, as made of God to us +sanctification. And for this end, we shall only speak a little to +two things. <i>First</i>, We shall show upon what account it is +that Christ is called our sanctification, or, "made of God to us +sanctification," as the apostle's phrase is, 1 Cor. i. 30; or, what +Christ hath done as Mediator, to begin, and carry on to perfection +the work of sanctification in the soul. And, <i>secondly,</i> How +the soul is to demean itself in this matter, or how the soul is to +make use of, and improve what Christ hath done, for this end, that +it may grow in grace, and perfect holiness in the fear of God.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first,</i> we would know, that though the work of +sanctification be formally ours, yet it is wrought by another hand, +as the principal efficient cause, even by the Father, Son, and Holy +Ghost. The Father is said to purge the branches, that they may +bring forth more fruit, John xv. 1. Hence we are said to be +sanctified by God the Father, Jude 1. The Son is also called the +Sanctifier, Heb. ii. 21. He sanctifieth and cleanseth the Church +with the washing of water by the word, Eph. v. 26. The Spirit is +also said to sanctify, 2 Thes. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i. 2. Rom. xv. 16. +Hence we are said to be washed and sanctified by the Spirit of God, +1 Cor. vi. 11.</p> +<p>But more particularly, we are said to be sanctified in Christ, 1 +Cor. i. 2; and "he is made of God to us sanctification," 1 Cor. i. +30. Let us then see in what sense this may be true. And,</p> +<p>1. He hath by his death and blood procured that this work of +sanctification shall be wrought and carried on. For "he suffered +without the gate, that he might sanctify the people with his own +blood," Heb. xiii. 12. "We are saved by the washing of +regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us +abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour," Titus iii. 5, 6. "He +gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and +purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," Tit. +ii. 14. Thus our sanctification is the fruit of his death, and +purchased by his blood. "He gave himself for his church, that he +might sanctify it," Eph. v. 25, 26.</p> +<p>2. He dying as a cautioner and public person, believers are +accounted in law to be dead to sin in him. Hence the apostle tells +us, Rom. vi. 3-6, that as many of us as are baptised into Jesus +Christ, were baptized into his death; and that therefore we are +buried with him by baptism into death; and are planted together in +the likeness of his death; yea, and that our old man is crucified +with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth +we should not serve sin. Whence believers are warranted and +commanded, verse 11, to reckon themselves "to be dead indeed unto +sin;" and therefore sin should "not reign in their mortal bodies to +fulfil the lusts thereof," verse 12. This is a sure ground of hope +and comfort for believers, that Christ died thus as a public +person; and that by virtue thereof, being now united to Christ by +faith, they are dead to sin by law; and sin cannot challenge a +dominion over them, as before their conversion it might have done, +and did; for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth, +but no longer. Wherefore believing brethren "becoming dead to the +law by the body of Christ, are married to another, even to him who +is raised from the dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto +God," Rom. vii. 1-4.</p> +<p>3. Hence it followeth, that our "old man is crucified with +Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed," Rom. vi. 6. So +that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of God, hath got +his death wounds, in the crucifixion of Christ, and shall never +recover his former vigour and activity, to oppress and bear down +the people of God, as he did. He is now virtually, through the +death of Jesus, killed and crucified, being in Christ nailed to the +cross.</p> +<p>4. His resurrection is a pawn and pledge of this sanctification. +For as he died as a public person, so he rose again as a public +person. "We are buried with him by baptism, that like as Christ was +raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we +also should walk in newness of life," Rom. vi. 4; and believers are +said to be "planted together with him, in the likeness of his +resurrection," verse 5; "and they shall live with him," verse 8; +"and therefore they are to reckon themselves alive unto God, +through Jesus Christ our Lord," verse 11. "We are raised up +together," Eph. ii. 6.</p> +<p>5. This sanctification is an article of the covenant of +redemption betwixt the Father and the Son, Isa. lii. 15, "So shall +he sprinkle many nations." Chap. liii. 10, "He shall see his seed, +and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Christ, +then, having this promised to him, must see to the accomplishment +thereof, and will have it granted to him; seeing he hath fulfilled +all that was engaged to by him—having made his soul an +offering for sin.</p> +<p>6. This sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace, +Jer. xxxiii. 8. "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity." +Ezek. xxxvii. 23, "And I will cleanse them." So chap. xxxvi. 25, +"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; +from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse +you." Now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed +to us in the Mediator. For, "in him all the promises of the +covenant are yea and amen," 2 Cor. i. 20.</p> +<p>7. He hath purchased and made sure to his own, the new nature, +and the heart of flesh, which is also promised, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, +and xi. 19. Jer. xxxii. 39. This is the new and lively principle of +grace, the spring of sanctification, which cannot be idle in the +soul; but must be emitting vital acts natively.</p> +<p>Yea, through him, are believers made partakers of the divine +nature, which is a growing thing,—young glory in the soul, 2 +Pet. i. 3,4, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all +things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge +of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given +unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we +might be made partakers of the divine nature," &c.</p> +<p>8. The Spirit is promised, to cause us walk in his statutes, +Ezek. xlvi. 27. Now all these promises are made good to us in +Christ, who is the cautioner of the covenant; yea, he hath gotten +now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the +covenant, committed unto him; so as he is the great and glorious +custodier of all purchased blessings.</p> +<p>9. There are new waterings, breathings, and gales of the Spirit, +given in Christ, Isa. xxvii. 3. He must water his garden or +vineyard every moment. This is the north wind and the south wind +that bloweth upon the garden, Cant. iv. 16. He must be as the dew +unto Israel, Hos. xiv. 5.</p> +<p>10. Through Christ is the believer brought into such a covenant +state, as giveth great ground of hope of certain victory. He is not +now under the law, but under grace; and hence inferreth the +apostle, Rom. vi. 14, "That sin shall not have dominion over them." +Being now under that dispensation of grace, whereby all their stock +is in the Mediator's hand, and at his disposal; and not in their +own hand and power, as under the covenant of works, there is a sure +ground laid down for constant supply and furniture in all +necessities.</p> +<p>11. Christ hath prayed for this, John xvii. 17, "Sanctify them +through thy truth;" where the Lord is praying, that his disciples +might be more and more sanctified, and so fitted and qualified for +the work of the ministry they were to be employed in. And what he +prayed for them, was not for them alone, but also for the elect, +proportionably, who are opposed to the world, for which he did not +pray, verse 9.</p> +<p>12. He standeth to believers in relation of a vine, or a root, +in which they grow as branches, so that by abiding in him, living +by faith in him, and drawing sap from him, they bring forth fruit +in him, John xv. 1, 2, 4, 5. Their stock of grace is in him, the +root; and he communicateth sap and life unto his branches, whereby +they grow, flourish, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God.</p> +<p>13. Christ hath taken on him the office of a prophet and +teacher, to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to go; for he +is that great prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up, and who +was to be heard and obeyed in all things, Deut. xviii. 15. Acts +iii. 22, and vii. 37. "He is given for a witness, and a leader," +Isa. lv. 4; and we are commanded to hear him, Matt, xvii. 5. Mark +x. 7.</p> +<p>14. He hath also taken on him the office of a king, Psal. ii. 6. +Matt, xxviii. 5. Isa. ix. 7. Phil. ii. 8-11. and thereby standeth +engaged to subdue all their spiritual enemies, Satan and +corruption, Psal. cx. He is given for a leader and commander, Isa. +lv. 5, and so can cause his people walk in his ways.</p> +<p>15. When we defile ourselves with new transgressions and +failings, he hath provided a fountain for us to wash in; "a +fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness," Zech. xiii. 1; and this +fountain is his blood, which cleanseth from all sin, Heb. ix. 14. 1 +John i. 7. Rev. i. 5.</p> +<p>16. He is set before us as a copy and pattern, that we "should +walk even as he walked," 1 John ii. 6. "He left us an example that +we should follow his steps," 1 Pet. ii. 21. But we should beware to +separate this consideration from the preceding, as antichristian +Socinians do, who will have Christ only to be a copy.</p> +<p>17. He hath overcome Satan, our arch enemy, and hath destroyed +his works, 1 John iii. 8. He came to destroy the works of the +devil; and in particular, his works of wickedness in the soul. Thus +he is a conqueror and the captain of our salvation.</p> +<p>18. As he hath purchased, so hath he appointed ordinances, for +the laying of the foundation, and carrying on this work of +sanctification; both word and sacraments are appointed for that; +the word to convert and to confirm, John xvii. 17. "Sanctify them +through thy truth, thy word is truth," said Christ. The word is +given as the rule; and also through the means thereof is life and +strength conveyed to the soul, "to perfect holiness in the fear of +God," 1 Pet. ii. 2. And the sacraments are given to strengthen and +confirm the soul in the ways of God.</p> +<p>19. As he hath laid down strong encouragements to his followers, +to hold on in the way of holiness, many great and precious +promises, by which they may be made partakers of the divine nature, +2 Pet. i. 4; and by which they are encouraged to cleanse themselves +from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. vii. 1; and +many motives to hold on and continue; so hath he rolled +difficulties out of the way, whether they be within us, or without +us, and thereby made the way easy and pleasant to such as walk in +it; so as they may now run the way of his commandments, and walk +and not weary, and run and not be faint.</p> +<p>Nay, 20. We would remember for our encouragement and confidence, +that in carrying on of this work lieth the satisfaction of the +soul, and the pleasure of the Lord that must prosper in his hand, +and thus he seeth his seed, and hath of the travail of his soul, +and is satisfied.</p> +<p>These particulars, rightly considered, will discover unto us, +what a noble ground for sanctification is in Christ laid down for +believers, which they may, and must by faith grip to, that they may +grow in grace, and grow up in Christ, and perfect holiness; and +what a wonderful contrivance of grace this is, wherein all things +are made so sure for believers, Christ becoming all things to them, +and paving a royal and sure way for them; sure for them, and +glorious to himself!</p> +<p>As to the second particular, that is, how believers are to carry +in this matter, or how they are to make use of Christ, and of those +grounds of sanctification in Christ, which we have mentioned:</p> +<p><i>First,</i> There are some things which they should beware of, +and guard against; as,</p> +<p>1. They should beware of an heartless despondency, and giving +way to discouragement, and hearkening to the language of unbelief, +or to the suggestion of Satan, whereby he will labour to persuade +them of the impossibility of getting the work of sanctification +throughed, or any progress made therein to purpose. Satan and a +deceitful heart can soon muster up many difficulties, and allege +that there are many lions, many insuperable difficulties in the +way, to discourage them from venturing forward; and if Satan +prevail here, he hath gained a great point. Therefore the believer +should keep up his head in hope, and beware of multiplying +discouragements to himself, or of concluding the matter impossible; +for then shall he neither have heart nor hand for the work, but sit +down and wring his hands as overcome with discouragement and +despondency of spirit.</p> +<p>2. They should beware of wilfully rejecting their own mercies, +and forbearing to make use of the grounds of hope, of strength and +progress in the matter of sanctification, which Christ hath allowed +them to make use of. There is such an evil among God's children, +that they scar at that which Christ out of great love hath provided +for them, and dare not with confidence make use of, nor apply to +themselves the great and comfortable promises, to the end they +might be encouraged; they will not take their allowance, as +thinking themselves unworthy; and that it would be presumption in +them to challenge a right to such great things; and they think it +commendable humility in them, to stand a-back, and so wilfully +refuse the advantages and helps, that make so much for their growth +in grace.</p> +<p>3. They should beware of a careless neglect of the means +appointed for advancing in holiness; for, though the means do not +work the effect, yet it is by the means that God hath chosen to +work the work of sanctification. Here that is to be seen, "that the +hand of the diligent maketh rich; and the field of the slothful is +soon grown over with thorns and nettles; so that poverty cometh as +one that travaileth, and want as an armed man," Prov. xxiv. 30. It +is a sinful tempting of God, to think to be sanctified another way +than God hath in his deep wisdom condescended upon.</p> +<p>4. Yet they should beware of laying too much weight on the means +and ordinances, as if they could effectuate the business. Though +the Lord hath thought fit to work in and by the means, yet he +himself must do the work. Means are but means, and not the +principal cause; nor can they work, but as the principal agent is +pleased to make use of them, and to work by them. When we lean to +the means and to instruments, we prejudge ourselves, by disobliging +of God, and provoking him to leave us, that we may wrestle with the +ordinances alone, and find no advantage. Therefore the soul should +guard against this.</p> +<p>5. Albeit the means can do nothing unless he breathe, yet we +should beware not only of neglecting, as we said before, but also +of a slighting way of performing them, without that earnestness and +diligence that is required,—"cursed is he who doth the work +of the Lord negligently," Jer. xlviii. 10. Here then is the special +art of Christianity apparent, to be as diligent, earnest and +serious in the use of the means, as if they could effectuate the +matter we were seeking; and yet to be as much abstracted from them, +in our hopes and expectation, and to be as much leaning on the Lord +alone, and depending on him for the blessing, as if we were using +no means at all.</p> +<p>6. They should beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of +the Spirit; for thereby they may lose the best opportunity. They +should be always on the wing, ready to embrace the least motion; +and they should stand always ready, waiting for the breathings of +his Spirit, and open at his call; lest afterward, they be put to +call and seek, and not attain what they would be at, as we see in +the spouse, Cant. v. 2, 3, 4, &c.</p> +<p>7. They should also guard against the quenching of the Spirit, 1 +Thess. v. 12; or grieving of the Spirit, Eph. iv. 30, by their +unchristian and unsuitable carriage; for this will much mar their +sanctification. It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification +is carried on in the soul; and when this Spirit is disturbed, and +put from his work, how can the work go on? When the motions of this +indwelling Spirit are extinguished, his work is marred and +retarded; and when he is grieved, he is hindered in his work. +Therefore souls must guard against unbelief, despondency, +unsuitable and unchristian carriage.</p> +<p>8. Especially they should beware of wasting sins, Psal. li. 10. +Sins against light and conscience, such as David called +presumptuous sins, Psal. xix. 13. They should beware also of +savouring any unknown corruption, or any thing of that kind, that +may hinder the work of sanctification.</p> +<p><i>Secondly</i>, It were useful, and of great advantage for such +as would grow in grace, and advance in the way of holiness, to be +living in the constant conviction,</p> +<p>1. Of the necessity of holiness, "without which no man shall see +God," Heb. xii. 14. "Nothing entering into the New Jerusalem that +defileth," Rev. xxi. 7.</p> +<p>2. Of their own inability to do any one act right; how they are +not sufficient of themselves to think any thing as of themselves, 2 +Cor. iii. 5; and that without Christ they can do nothing, John xv. +5.</p> +<p>3. Of the insufficiency of any human help, or means, or way +which they might think good to choose, to mortify aright one +corruption, or to give strength for the discharge of any one duty; +for our sufficiency is of God, 2 Cor. iii. and it is "through the +Spirit that we must mortify the deeds of the body," Rom. viii. +13.</p> +<p>4. And of the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart, which is +bent to follow by-ways, being not only "deceitful above all things, +but also desperately wicked," Jer. xvii. 9.</p> +<p>That by this means, the soul may be jealous of itself, and +despair of doing any thing in its own strength, and so be fortified +against that main evil, which is an enemy to all true +sanctification, viz. confidence in the flesh.</p> +<p><i>Thirdly</i>, The soul will keep its eye fixed on those +things:</p> +<p>1. On Christ's all-sufficiency to help; in all cases that "he is +able to save to the uttermost," Heb. vii. 25.</p> +<p>2. On his compassionateness to such as are out of the way; and +readiness to help poor sinners with his grace and strength; and +this will keep up the soul from fainting and despairing.</p> +<p>3. On the commands of holiness; such as those, "cleanse your +hand, and purify your hearts," James iv. 8, and, "be ye holy, for I +am holy," 1 Pet. i. 15, 16, and the like; that the authority of God +and conscience to command may set the soul a-work.</p> +<p>4. On the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such +as wrestle on, and endure to the end; and on the great promises of +great things to such as are sanctified, whereof the scriptures are +full; that the soul may be encouraged to run through difficulties, +to ride out storms, to endure hardness, as a good soldier, and to +persevere in duty.</p> +<p>5. On the other hand, on the many sad threatenings and +denunciations of wrath, against such as transgress his laws, and on +all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of God and the +study of holiness have to look for, of which the scripture is full; +that by this means the soul may be kept in awe, and spurred forward +unto duty, and made the more willing to shake off laziness.</p> +<p>6. On the rule, the word of God, by which alone we must regulate +all our actions; and this ought to be our meditation day and night, +and all our study, as we see it was David's, and other holy men of +God, their daily work, see Psal. i. and cxix.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly</i>, In all this study of holiness, and aiming at an +higher measure of grace, the believer would level at a right end, +and so would not design holiness for this end, that he might be +justified thereby, or that he might thereby procure and purchase to +himself heaven and God's favour; for the weight of all that must +lie on Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness; and our holiness +must not dethrone him, nor rob him of his glory, which he will not +give to another; but would study holiness, to the end he might +glorify God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and please him who +calleth to holiness, and thereby be "meet to be partakers of the +inheritance of the saints in light," Col. i. 10, 12; and be made a +meet bride for such a holy bridegroom, and a member to such an holy +head; that hereby others might be edified, Matt. v. 16. 1 Pet. ii. +12, and iii. 1, 2; that the soul may look like a temple of the Holy +Ghost, and like a servant of Christ's bought with a price, 1 Cor. +vi. 17-20; and have a clear evidence of his regeneration and +justification, and also that he may express his thankfulness to God +for all his favours and benefits.</p> +<p><i>Fifthly</i>, The soul should by faith lay hold on, and grip +fast to the ground of sanctification; that is to say, (1.) To what +Christ hath purchased for his people. (2.) To what as a public +person he hath done for them; and so by faith,</p> +<p>1. Challenge a right to, and lay hold on the promises of grace, +strength, victory, and thorough bearing, in their combating with +corruption within, and Satan and a wicked world without.</p> +<p>2. "Reckon themselves dead unto sin, through the death of +Christ; and alive unto God through his resurrection," Rom. vi. 4, +11. "And that the old man is crucified with him, that the body of +sin might be destroyed," verse 6. "And that they are now not under +the law, but under grace," verse 14.</p> +<p>That by this means they may be encouraged to continue fighting +against a vanquished enemy, and not give over, notwithstanding of +disappointments, discouragements, prevailings of corruption, +&c. and the believer may know upon what ground he standeth, and +what is the ground of his hope and expectation of victory in the +end; and so he "may run, not as uncertainly; and so fight, not as +one that beateth the air," 1 Cor. ix. 26.</p> +<p><i>Sixthly</i>, In this work of sanctification, the believer +should be much in the lively exercise of faith; fight by faith; +advance by faith, grow up, and bring forth fruit by faith; and +so,</p> +<p>1. The believer would be oft renewing his grips of Christ, +holding him fast by faith; and so abiding in him, that he may bring +forth fruit, John xv. 4,5.</p> +<p>2. Not only would he be keeping his union fast with Christ, but +he would also be eyeing Christ by faith, as his store-house, and +general Lord dispensator of all the purchased blessings of the +covenant, which he standeth in need of, and looking on Christ, as +standing engaged by office to complete his work of salvation, and +to present him with the rest to himself holy, without blemish, yea, +and without spot and wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. v. 27.</p> +<p>3. He would by faith grip to the promises, both of the general +stock of grace, the new heart, and heart of flesh, and the spirit +to cause us walk in his statutes, Ezek. xxxvi. 26,27; and of the +several particular acts of grace that be standeth in need of, such +as that, Jer. xxx. 8, "I will cleanse them from all their +iniquities," &c. So Ezek. xxxvi. 25. Jer. xxxi. 19. As the +church doth, Micah vii. 9. "He will subdue our iniquities," &c. +And so having, or gripping these promises, we are to cleanse +ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, "and perfect +holiness in the fear of God," 2 Cor. vii. 1.</p> +<p>4. As the believer would by faith draw out of Christ, through +the conduit of the promises, which are all "yea and amen in him," 2 +Cor. i. 20. grace, strength, knowledge, courage, or whatever his +fight in this warfare calleth for, to the end he may be strong in +"the Lord, and in the power of his might," Eph. vi. 10; so he would +by faith roll the weight of the whole work upon Christ; and thus +cast himself, and his care and burden on him who careth for him, 1 +Pet. v. 7. Psal. xxxvii. 5, and lv. 22; and so go on in duty, +without anxiety, knowing who beareth the weight of all, and who +hath undertaken to work both to will and to do, according to his +good pleasure. Thus should the work be easy and safe, when by faith +we roll the burden on him, who is the chosen one fitted for that +work, and leave it on him, who is our strength, patiently waiting +for the outgate, in hope.</p> +<p>Thus the believer makes use of Christ, as made of God +sanctification, when in the use of means appointed, eyeing the +covenant of grace, and the promises thereof, and what Christ hath +done to sanctify and cleanse his people, he rolleth the matter on +him, and expecteth help, salvation, and victory through him.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>But lest some should be discouraged, and think all this in vain, +because they perceive no progress nor growth in grace for all this, +but rather corruption as strong and troublesome as ever, I would +say a few things to them.</p> +<p>1. Let them search and try, whether their shortcoming and +disappointment doth not much proceed from this, that the matter is +not so cleanly cast over on Christ as it should be; is it not too +oft found, that they go forth to the battle in their own strength, +lippening to their own stock of grace, to their own knowledge, or +to their duties, or the like? How then can they prosper?</p> +<p>2. Let them mourn as they get any discovery of this, and guard +against that corrupt bias of the heart, which is still inclining +them to an engagement without the Captain of their salvation, and a +fighting without the armour of God.</p> +<p>3. Let them try and see, if, in studying holiness, they be not +led by corrupt ends; and do not more labour after sanctification, +that they may be more worthy and the better accepted of God, and +that they may have quietness and peace as to their acceptance with +God, as if this were any cause, matter, or condition of their +righteousness and justification before God, than that they may shew +their obedience to the command of God, 1 Thes. iv. 3. Eph. ii. 10. +John xv. 16; and express their thankfulness to him, and glorify +God, Mal. i. 6. Matt. iii. 16. John xvii. 10. Eph. iv. 30; and if +so, they ought to acknowledge God's goodness in that +disappointment, seeing thereby they see more and more a necessity +of laying aside their own righteousness, and of betaking themselves +to the righteousness of Christ, and of resting on that alone for +peace and acceptance with God.</p> +<p>4. They should try and see, if their negligence and carelessness +in watching, and in the discharge of duties, do not occasion their +disappointments and shortcoming. God sometimes thinks fit to suffer +a lion of corruption to set on them, that they may look about them, +and stand more vigilantly upon their watch-tower, knowing that they +have to do with a vigilant adversary, the devil, who, as a roaring +lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour, I Pet. v. 8. and that +"they fight not against flesh and blood, but against +principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness +of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places," Eph. +vi. 12. It is not for nought that we are so often commanded to +watch, Matt. xxiv. 42, and xxv. 13, and xxvi. 41, and xiv. 38. Luke +xxi. 36. Mark xiii. 33-37. 1 Cor. xvi. 13. 1 Thes. v. 6. 1 Pet. iv. +7. Col. iv. 2. Through the want of this, we know what befel David +and Peter.</p> +<p>5. They should try and see, whether there be not too much +self-confidence, which occasioned Peter's foul fall. God may, in +justice and mercy, suffer corruption to break loose upon such, at a +time, and tread them under foot, to learn them afterward to carry +more soberly; and to "work their salvation with fear and +trembling," Phil. ii. 12, remembering what a jealous, holy God he +is, with whom they have to do; what an adversary they have against +them; and how weak their own strength is.</p> +<p>6. This should be remembered, that one may be growing in grace, +and advancing in holiness, when, to his apprehension, he is not +going forward from strength to strength, but rather going backward. +It is one thing to have grace, and another thing to see that we +have grace; so it is one thing to be growing in grace, and another +thing to see that we are growing in grace. Many may question their +growth in grace, when their very questioning of it may evince the +contrary. For they may conclude no growth, but rather a back-going, +because they perceive more and more violent, and strong +corruptions, and hidden works of darkness and wickedness, within +their soul, than ever they did before; while as that great +discovery sheweth the increase of their spiritual knowledge, and an +increase in this is an increase in grace; so they may question and +doubt of their growth, upon mistakes, as thinking corruption always +strongest when it makes the greatest stir and noise; or their +complaints may flow from a vehement desire they have to have much +more sanctification, which may cause them overlook many degrees +they have advanced. Or some such thing may occasion their darkness +and complaints; yea, God may think it fittest for them, to the end +they may be kept humble and diligent, to be in the dark as to their +progress; whereas if they saw what advancement and progress they +had made in Christianity, they might grow wanton, secure, and +careless, and so occasion some sad dispensation to humble them +again.</p> +<p>7. It should be remembered, that perfect victory is not to be +had here. It is true, in respect of justification through the +imputation of the perfect righteousness of Christ, and in respect +of their sincerity and gospel simplicity, and in respect also of +the parts of the new man, believers are said to be perfect; such an +one was Noah, Gen. vi. 9, and Job, chap. i. 1, 8. See also Psalm +xxxvii. 37, and lxiv. 4. 1 Cor. ii. 6. Heb. v. 14. James iii. 2. +And it is true, we are to aim at perfection, and to pray for it, as +Matt. v. 48. 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Col. iv. 12. Heb. xiii. 21. James i. +4. 1 Pet. v. 10. Heb. vi. 1. Yet as to the degrees of holiness and +sanctification, and in respect of the remnant of corruption within, +there is no full perfection here, Jer. ix. 20, 21. Phil. iii. 12. +For even he who is washed, and, as to justification, is clean every +whit, yet needeth to wash his feet, because contracting filth in +his conversation, Job xiii. 10. So that if the Lord should mark +iniquity, no man should stand, Psalm cxxx. 3, and cxliii. 2. There +will still be in the best something, more or less, of that battle, +that Paul speaketh of, Rom. vii. 15-23. So that they will still +have occasion to cry out with him, verse 24, "O wretched man that I +am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" And the +flesh will still lust against the spirit, and the spirit against +the flesh, so that they shall not be able to do what they would, +Gal. v. 17. The place of perfection is above, where all tears are +wiped away, and the weary wrestler is at rest.</p> +<p>8. Let them not mistake and think, that every stirring of +corruption in the soul, argueth its dominion and prevailing power. +Corruption may stir and make a great deal ado, where it cannot get +leave to reign; and be as a violent and cruel invader, seeking the +throne, putting the whole kingdom in a combustion, who is resisted +with force of arms.</p> +<p>Corruption may be more quiet and still, when indeed it hath the +throne of the soul; as a conqueror may be more quiet and still, +when he hath overcome and is in peaceable possession of the +kingdom, than when he was but fighting for it. When the strong man +keeps the house, and is master, then all is quiet and at rest, till +a stronger come and thrust him out, and dispossess him.</p> +<p>9. Sanctification doth not always consist in a man's freedom +from some corruptions. For there may be some corruptions that one +hath no natural inclination to, but, on the contrary, a great +aversion for; as some world's wretches may have no inclination to +prodigality and ranting, or such like vices, which are contrary to +their humour, or to their constant education; and Satan may never +tempt some man to such evils, knowing he will get more advantage by +plying his temper and genius, and so carrying him away to the other +contrary evil; and so, though this man know not so much, as what it +is once to be tempted to those vices, yet that will not say, that +he is a sanctified man; far less will it say, that he hath more +grace than another man, whose predominant that evil is, and against +which he is daily fighting and wrestling. Whence it appeareth that +wrestling and protesting against even an overcoming corruption, may +evidence more of grace, than freedom from some evils, to which some +are not so much tempted, and to which they are naturally less +inclined.</p> +<p>10. Nor should they think, that corruption is always master of +the soul, and possessing the throne as a full conqueror, when it +prevaileth and carrieth the soul headlong at a time, for corruption +may sometimes come in upon the soul as an inundation with +irresistible violence, and, for a time, carry all before it, so +that the soul cannot make any sensible resistance; as when a +sudden, violent, and unexpected temptation setteth on, so as the +poor man is overwhelmed, and scarce knoweth where he is, or what he +is doing, till he be laid on his back. At that time it will be a +great matter, if the soul dare quietly enter a protest against and +dissent from what is done, and if there be an honest protestation +against the violent and tyrannical invasion of corruption, we +cannot say, that corruption is in peaceable possession of the +throne. If the spirit be lusting against the flesh, levying all the +forces he can against the invader, by prayer and supplication to +God, and calling in all the supply of divine help he can get, and, +when he can do no more, is fighting and groaning under that unjust +invasion, resolving never to pay homage to the usurper, nor to obey +his laws, nor so much as parley with him, or make peace, we cannot +say, that the soul doth consent fully unto this usurpation. Nay, if +the soul shall do this much, at such a time when Satan sets on with +all his force, it will be a greater evidence of the strength of +grace in the soul, than if the soul should do the same or a little +more, at a time when the temptation is not so strong.</p> +<p>11. It is not good for them to say, that grace is not growing in +them, because they advance not so far as some do; and because they +come not to the pitch of grace that they see some advanced to. That +is not a sure rule to measure their growth in grace by. Some may +have a better natural temper, whereby they are less inclined to +several vices which these find a strong propension to; they may +have the advantage of a better education, and the like; so that +they should rather try themselves this year by what they were the +last year, and that in reference to the lusts to which they have +been most subject all their days.</p> +<p>12. We must not think that every believer will attain to the +same measure of grace. There is a measure appointed for every +member or joint of this body; and every joint supplieth, according +to the effectual working in the measure of every part, Eph. iv. 16. +God hath more ado with some than with others; there is more +strength required in an arm or leg than in a finger or toe; and +every one should be content with his measure, so far as not to fret +or repine against God and his dispensations, that makes them but a +finger, and not an arm of the body; and do their duty in their +station, fighting against sin, according to the measure or grace +dispensed to them of the Lord, and that faithfully and constantly; +and not quarrel with God, that he maketh us not as free of +temptations and corruptions as some others. For the captain must +not he blamed for commanding some of his soldiers to this post +where they never once see the enemy, and others to that post where +they must continually fight. The soldier is here under command, and +therefore must be quiet, and take his lot; so must the Christian +reverence the Lord's dispensations, in ordering matters, so as they +shall never have one hour's quietness, while, as others have more +rest and peace, and stand at their post fighting, resolving never +to yield, but rather to cover the ground with their dead bodies, +till the commander-in-chief think good to relieve them. Sure I am, +as the only wise God hath distributed to every member of the body, +as he hath thought good, so it is the duty of every member to +endeavour this holy submission to him, as to the measure of grace, +considered as his free gift bestowed on them; and to be humbled for +the grudgings of his heart, because God hath not given him more +talents. And sure I am, though this submission make no great noise +in the world; yet really this is one of the highest degrees of +grace attainable here, and such an ornament of a meek and quiet +spirit, as is in the sight of God of great price. So that whoever +hath attained to this, have the very grace they seem to want, and +more. Yet, lest this should be abused, let me add a word or two of +caution, to qualify this submission. (1.) There must be with it a +high prizing even of that degree of grace which they want. (2) +There must be a panting after grace, as it is God's image, and a +conformity to him, and with so much singleness, as they may be in +case to say, without the reproachings of their heart, they do not +so much love holiness for heaven, as heaven for holiness. (3.) +There must be an unceasingness in using all means, whereby the +growth of grace may be promoved to this end, that they may be +conformed to his image, rather than that they may be comforted. +(4.) There must be also a deep humiliation for the want of that +degree of grace they would have, as it importeth the want of so +much conformity to him to whose image they are predestinated to be +conformed, which will very well consist with this submission we are +speaking of.</p> +<p>13. It would be remembered, that there may be a great progress, +even when it is not observed; when, (1.) Hereby the man is made to +lie in the dust, to loath himself, and cry, behold I am vile! (2.) +Hereby his indignation against the body of death is the more +increased. (3.) Hereby his esteem of a Saviour and of the blessed +contrivance of salvation is the more heightened, that he seeth he +is thereby brought to make mention of his righteousness, even of +his only. (4.) Hereby his longing after immediate fruition is +increased, where all these complaints shall cease. (5.) And hereby +he is put to essay that much slighted duty of holding fast the +rejoicing of his hope firm unto the end, looking and longing for +the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of Jesus +Christ, when he shall be presented without spot, and be made meet +to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI." id="CHAPTER_VI."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS TO BE MADE USE OF, IN REFERENCE TO THE KILLING +AND CRUCIFYING OF THE OLD MAN.</h4> +<p>Having thus shortly pointed out some things in general, serving +to the clearing and opening up the way of our use-making of Christ +for sanctification, we come now more particularly to the clearing +up of this business. In sanctification we must consider, +<i>first,</i> The renewing and changing of our nature and frame; +and, <i>next,</i> The washing and purging away of our daily +contracted spots. The first of these is commonly divided into two +parts, viz. <i>1st,</i> The mortification, killing, and crucifying +of the old man of sin and corruption which is within; and, +<i>2d,</i> The vivification, renewing, quickening, and +strengthening of the new man of grace; and this is a growth in +grace, and in fruitfulness and holiness.</p> +<p>As to the first of these, viz. The mortification or crucifying +of the old man, we would know, that there is such a principle of +wickedness and enmity against God in man by nature, now since the +fall, whereby the man is inclined to evil, and only to evil. This +is called the old man, as being like the body, made of so many +parts, joints, and members, that is, so many lusts and corruptions +and evil inclinations, which, together, make up a-corpus, and they +are fast joined and compacted together, as the members of the body, +each useful and serviceable to one another, and all of them +concurring and contributing their utmost to the carrying on of the +work of sin, and so it is the man of sin; and it is also called the +old man, as having first possession of the soul, before it is by +grace renewed, and it is a dying more and more daily. Thus it is +called the old man, and the body of sin, Rom. vi. 6. This old man +hath his members in our members and faculties, so that none of them +are free,—understanding, will, affections, and the members of +our body are all servants of unrighteousness to this body of sin, +and old man. So we read of the motions of sin, Rom. vii. 5, which +work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death; and of the +lusts of the flesh, Rom. xiii. 14. Gal. v. 16, 24; and the lusts of +sin, Rom. vi. 12. So we hear of the desires of the flesh and of the +mind, Eph. ii. 3; and of affections and lusts, Gal. v. 24. And the +old man is said to be corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts, +Eph. iv. 22; all which lusts and affections are as so many members +of this body of sin, and of this old man. And, further, there is +herein a considerable power, force, and efficacy, which this old +man hath in us, to carry us away, and, as it were, command or +constrain us, as by a forcible law. Hence we read of the law of sin +and death, Rom. viii. 2, which only the "law of the Spirit of life +in Christ doth make us free from." It is also called a "law in our +members warring against the law of our mind," Rom. vii. 23, "and +bringing us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our +members." So it is said, "to lust against the Spirit, and to war," +Gal. v. 17. All which point out the strength, activity, and +dominion of sin in the soul, so that it is as the husband over the +wife, Rom. vii. 1; yea, it hath a domineering and constraining +power, where its horns are not held in by grace. And as its power +is great, so its nature is wicked and malicious; for it is pure +"enmity against God," Rom. viii. 7; so that it neither is nor can +be reconciled, and therefore must be put off and abolished, Eph. +ii. 15; killed and crucified, Rom. vi. 6. Now herein lieth the work +of a believer, to be killing, mortifying, and crucifying this +enemy, or rather enmity; and delivering himself from under this +bondage and slavery, that he may be Christ's free man, and that +through the Spirit, Rom. viii. 13.</p> +<p>Now, if it be asked, How shall a believer make use of Christ, to +the end this old man may be gotten crucified? or, how should a +believer mortify this old man, and the lusts thereof, through +Christ, or by the Spirit of Jesus? We shall propose those things, +which may help to clear this:</p> +<p>1. The believer should have his eye on this old man as his +arch-enemy, as a deadly cut-throat lying within his bosom. It is an +enemy lodging within him, in his soul, mind, heart, and affections, +so that there is no part free; and therefore is acquaint with all +the motions of the soul, and is always opposing and hindering every +thing that is good. It is an enemy that will never be reconciled to +God, and therefore will not be reconciled with the believer as +such; for it is called enmity itself, and so it is always actively +seeking to promove the ruin of the soul, what by prompting, +inclining, moving, and forcibly drawing or driving, sometimes with +violence and rage, to evil; what by with standing, resisting, +opposing, counter-working, and contradicting what is good; so that +the believer cannot get that done which he would do, and is made to +do that which he would not. Therefore this being such an enemy, and +so dangerous an enemy, so constant and implacable an enemy, so +active and close an enemy, so deadly and destructive, it is the +believer's part to guard against this enemy, to have a vigilant eye +upon it, to carry as an irreconcilable enemy thereunto; and +therefore never to come in terms of capitulation or agreement +therewith, never once to parley, let be make peace. And the +believer would not have his vigilant eye upon this or that member +of this body of death, so much as upon the body itself, or the +principle of wickedness and rebellion against God; the head, life, +spirit, or law, of this body of death; for there lieth its greatest +wickedness and activity; and this is always opposing us, though not +in every joint and member; but sometimes in one, sometimes in +another.</p> +<p>2. Though the believer should have a main eye upon the body, +this innate, strong, and forcible law of sin and death, yet should +he have friendship and familiarity with no part, member, or lust of +all this body. All the deeds of the body should be mortified, Rom. +viii. 13; the old man with his deeds should be mortified, Col. iii. +6; and we should "mortify our members which are upon the earth," +verse 5; for all of them are against us, and the least of them +countenanced, entertained, and embraced, will work our ruin, and +cut our soul's throat; therefore should the believer look on each +of them, and on all of them, as his deadly enemies.</p> +<p>3. He should consider, that, as it is a very unseemly thing for +him to be a slave to that old tyrant, and to yield his members as +so many servants to iniquity, so it is dangerous and deadly. His +life lieth at the stake; either he must get it mortified, killed, +and subdued, or it will kill him; his life will go for its life; if +this enemy escape, he is a gone man. The consideration of this +should cause the believer to act here in earnestness and +seriousness, with care and diligence, and set about this work of +mortification with labour and pains.</p> +<p>4. Much more must it be against all reason and Christianity, for +the believer to be making "provision for the flesh, to fulfil the +lusts thereof," Rom. xiii. 14. To be strengthening the hands of, +and laying provision to this enemy, which is set and sworn against +us, can stand with no reason. And here is much of the Christian's +prudence and spiritual wisdom required, to discern what may make +for fostering of this or that corruption, or member of the body of +sin and death, and to withdraw that, as we will labour to take away +provision of any kind from an enemy that is coming against us. Paul +acted herein as a wise gamester and combatant, when he kept under +his body, and brought it into subjection, 1 Cor. ix. 27. It were +but to mock God, and to preach forth our own folly, to be looking +to Christ for help against such an enemy, and, in the meantime, to +be underhand strengthening the hands of the enemy; this would be +double dealing, and treachery against ourselves.</p> +<p>5. To the end, their opposition unto this enemy may be the +stronger and more resolute, they should consider, that this body of +sin is wholly set against God, and his interest in the soul, being +very enmity itself against God, Rom. viii. 7; and always lusting +and fighting against the work of God in the soul, Gal. v. 17; and +against every thing that is good, so that it will not suffer, so +far as it can hinder the soul to do anything that is good, at least +in a right manner, and for a right end. Nay, with its lustings, it +driveth constantly to that which is evil, raiseth evil motions and +inclinations in the soul, ere the believer be aware; sideth with +any temptation that is offered, to the end that it may destroy the +soul, like a traitor within; as we see it did in David, when he +fell into adultery; and with Asaph, Psalm lxxiii. 2; yea, itself +opposeth and tempteth, James i. 14, by setting mind, will, and +affections on wrong courses; and thus it driveth the soul to a +course of rebellion against God, or diverts it, and draws it back, +that it cannot get God served aright; yea, sometimes it sets a fire +in the soul, entangling all the faculties, filling the mind with +darkness or prejudice, misleading or preventing the affections, and +so miscarrying the will, and leading it captive, Rom. vii. 23; so +that the thing is done which the unregenerate soul would not do, +and the duty is left undone which the soul would fain have done; +yea, and that sometimes notwithstanding of the soul's watching and +striving against this; so strong is its force.</p> +<p>6. The believer should remember, that this enemy is not for him +to fight against alone, and that his own strength and skill will +make but a slender opposition unto it. It will laugh at the shaking +of his spear; it can easily insinuate itself, on all occasions, +because it lieth so near and close to the soul, always residing +there, and is at the believer's right hand whatever he be doing, +and is always openly or closely opposing, and that with great +facility; for it easily besetteth, Heb. xii. 1, because it lieth +within the soul, and in all the faculties of it—in the heart, +mind, will, conscience, and affections; so that upon this account, +the deceitfulness of the heart is great, and passeth the search of +man, Jer. xvii. 9. Man cannot know all the windings and turnings, +all the drifts and designs, all the lurking and retiring places, +all the falsehoods and double dealings, all the dissimulations, +lies, and subterfuges, all the plausible and deceitful pretexts and +insinuations of his heart acted and spirited by this law of sin and +death. And besides this slight and cunning, it hath strength and +power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition, 1 Tim. iv. +9, and to carry the soul headlong; so that it makes the man's case +miserable, Rom. vii. 24. All which would say, that the believer +should call in other help than his own, and remember, that "through +the Spirit he must mortify the deeds of the body," Rom. viii. +13.</p> +<p>7. And therefore the believer must lay aside all his carnal +weapons, in dealing with his adversary, and look out for divine +help and assistance, even for the promised Spirit, through which +alone he can be instructed and enabled for this great work; for of +himself he can do nothing, not so much as think a good thought as +of himself, 2 Cor. iii. 5, far less will he be able to oppose such +a mighty adversary, that hath so great and many advantages; and +therefore all his carnal means, purposes, vows, and fightings in +himself, will but render himself weaker, and a readier prey unto +this adversary, which gaineth ground while he is so opposed. It is +Christ alone and his Spirit, that can destroy the works of the +devil, and kill or crucify this enmity.</p> +<p>8. So that the believer must have his recourse for help and +succour here, unto Jesus the Captain of salvation, and must follow +him, and fight under his banners, make use of his weapons, which +are spiritual; fight according to his counsel and conduct, taking +him as a Leader and Commander, and lying open for his orders and +instructions, waiting for the motions of his Spirit, and following +them; and thus oppose and fight against this deadly enemy, with an +eye always on Christ by faith, depending on him for light to the +mind, resolution to the will, and grace to the whole soul to stand +in the battle, and to withstand all assaults, and never engage in a +dispute with this enemy, or any lust or member of this body without +Christ the principal, that is, the soul would despair in itself, +and be strong in him, and in the power of his might, by faith +griping to him, as Head, Captain, and Commander-in-chief, resolving +to fight in his strength, and to oppose through the help of his +Spirit.</p> +<p>9. And for this cause, the believer would eye the covenant of +redemption, the basis of all our hope and consolation, wherein +final and full victory is promised to Christ, as Head of the elect, +viz. "that he shall bruise the serpent's head;" and so that in him, +all his followers and members of his mystical body shall lift up +the head, and get full victory at length over both sin and death. +Now it is "God that giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus +Christ," 1 Cor. xv. 57. The believer would also eye by faith the +covenant of grace, wherein particularly this same victory is +promised to the believer, in and through Jesus, Rom. xvi. 20. "And +the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly; and +sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, +but under grace," Rom. vi. 14. The believer, I say, would look out +by faith unto, and lay hold on these and the like promises, and +thereby get strength conveyed to himself, whereby he may strive +lawfully, and fight valiantly, and oppose with courage and +resolution.</p> +<p>10. Further, the believer would eye Christ as a fountain of +furniture, as a full and complete magazine, standing open, and +ready for every one of his honest soldiers to run to for new +supplies of what they want; so that whatever they find wanting in +their Christian armour, they must run away to the open magazine, +Christ's fulness, that standeth ready for them, and by faith take +and put on what they want and stand in need of in their warfare. If +their girdle of truth be slacked, loosed, or weakened, and they be +meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisy, and Satan objecting +to them their double dealing, of purpose to discourage them, and to +make them faint and give over the fight; they must away to him who +is the truth, that he may bind on that girdle better, and make +their hearts more upright before God in all they do. And if their +breastplate of righteousness be weakened, and Satan there seem to +get advantage, by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings +towards God or men, they must flee to him, who only can help here, +and beg pardon through his blood for their failings, and set to +again afresh to the battle. If their resolution, which is +understood by the preparation of the gospel of peace, grow weak, it +must be renewed in Christ's armoury, and the feet of new be shod +therewith. If their shield of faith begin to fail them, away must +they get to him who "is the Author and Finisher of faith," Heb. +xii. 2. And if their helmet of hope begin to fail them, in this +armoury alone can that be supplied. And if their sword be blunted +in their hand, or they unable to wield it aright, the Spirit of +Jesus can only teach their hands to fight, and instruct them how to +manage that useful weapon with advantage. Thus must the believer +"be strong in him, and in the power of his might," Eph. vi. 10. "He +is their God that girdeth them with strength, and maketh their way +perfect. He maketh their feet like hind's feet, and setteth them +upon their high places. He teacheth their hands to war, so that a +bow of steel is broken by their arms. He giveth them the shield of +salvation. His right hand upholdeth them. He girdeth with strength +unto the battle," &c. Psalm xviii. 32, &c.</p> +<p>11. For the further strengthening of their hope, faith, and +confidence, believers would eye Christ, as hanging on the cross, +and overcoming by death, death, and him that hath the power of +death, the devil; and so as meritoriously purchasing this +redemption from the slavery of sin and Satan, and particularly from +the slavery of that body of death, and of the law of sin and death; +for the apostle tells us, Rom. viii. 2, "That the law of the Spirit +of life in Christ Jesus doth make us free from the law of sin and +death," and that because, as he saith further, ver. 3, 4, "what the +law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God +sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin +condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might +be fulfilled in us." So that the believer may now look upon that +enemy, how fearful soever it may appear, as condemned and killed in +the death, of Christ; he having laid down the price of redemption, +hath bought this freedom from the chains and fetters with which he +was held in captivity. Faith, then, on the death of Jesus +satisfying justice for the poor captive, may, and should support +and strengthen the hope and confidence of the believer, that he +shall obtain the victory at length.</p> +<p>12. And it will further confirm the hope and faith of the +believer, to look to Christ hanging on the cross, and there +vanquishing and overcoming this arch-enemy, as a public person, +representing the elect who died in him, and virtually and legally +did in him overcome that jailor, and break his fetters; and the +soul now believing, may, yea, should reckon itself in Christ dying, +as it were, upon the cross, and there overcoming all those +spiritual enemies. "Likewise," saith the apostle, Rom. vi. 11, +"Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin." From hence, +even while fighting, the believer may account himself a conqueror, +yea, "more than a conqueror, through him that loved him," Rom. +viii. 37. Now faith acting thus on Christ, as a public person, +dying and overcoming death and sin, the believer may not only infer +the certainty of victory, knowing that our old man is crucified +with Christ, Rom. vi. 6; but also from the cross of Christ draw +strength to stand and fight against the strugglings of this +vanquished and killed enemy. "They that are Christ's have crucified +the flesh with the affections and lusts," Gal. v. 24. But how? Even +by the cross of Christ. "For thereby is the world crucified unto +me," saith the apostle, Gal. vi. 14, "and I unto the world." "Your +old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be +destroyed," Rom. vi. 6.</p> +<p>13. The believer being dead indeed unto sin, through the cross +of Christ, is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yoke +of bondage under sin and death. "The law hath dominion over a man +as long as he liveth," Rom. vii. 1. "But by the body of Christ +believers are become dead to the law," ver. 4. That law of sin and +death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature, +and is not yet by faith planted in the likeness of Christ's death, +nor buried with him by baptism into death, Rom. vi. 4, 5, hath not +that dominion over believers it had once—"For the law of the +Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made them free from the law of +sin and death," Rom. viii. 2; so that now the believer, is free +from that tyranny; and that tyrant can exercise no lawful +jurisdiction or authority over him; and therefore he may with the +greater courage repel the insolencies of that tyrant, that contrary +to all right and equity seeketh to lord it over him still. They are +no lawful subjects to that cruel and raging prince, or to that +spiritual wickedness.</p> +<p>14. So that the believer, renouncing that jurisdiction under +which he was formerly, and being under a new husband, and under a +new law, even the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, is to +look upon all the motions of sin as illegal, and as treasonable +acts of a tyrant. "The old man being crucified with Christ, that +the body of sin might be destroyed, the believer is not any more to +serve sin," Rom. vi. 6; "and being now dead, they are freed from +sin," ver. 7; "and are married to another, even to him who is +raised from the dead, and so they should not serve sin, but bring +forth fruit unto God," Rom. vii. 4; and therefore, look upon all +motions of the flesh, and all the inclinations and stirrings of the +old law of sin, as acts of treachery and rebellion against the +right and jurisdiction of the believer's new Lord and husband; and +are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man, this body of +death, and all the members of it, as traitors to the rightful king +and husband, and to take them prisoners to the king, that he may +give out sentence, and execute the same against them, as enemies to +his kingdom and interest in the soul;—they being now no more +"servants of sin, but of righteousness, they ought no more to yield +their members servants to uncleanness, and iniquity unto iniquity," +Rom. vi. 18, 19; "and being debtors no more to the flesh, to live +after the flesh," Rom. vii. 12; "they are to mortify the deeds of +the body through the spirit," ver. 13; "and to crucify the flesh +with the affections and lusts," Gal. v. 24; that is, by bringing +them to the cross of Christ, where first they were condemned and +crucified, in their full body and power; that a new sentence, as it +were, may go out against them, as parts of that condemned tyrant, +and as belonging to that crucified body.</p> +<p>15. So that the believer that would carry faithfully in this +matter, and fight lawfully in this warfare, and hope to obtain the +victory through Jesus Christ, must bring these traitors that appear +in their sinful motions and lusts in the soul, working rebellion +against the just authority and equitable laws of the lawful prince +Jesus, before the tribunal of him who hath now got "all power and +authority in heaven and in earth," Matt, xxviii. 18; "and hath all +judgment committed to him," John v. 22; "and to this end, both +died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead +and living," Rom. xvi. 9; that he may execute justice upon the +traitor, head, and members; that he may trample these devils under, +and bruise the head of these serpents within us. The believer then +is by faith in prayer, to carry these open enemies to Christ, and +declare and witness against them as traitors, by what mischief they +have done in the soul, by their hindering the righteous laws of the +king to be obeyed; and constraining and forcing, what by arguments +and allurements, and what by forcible inclinations and pousings, to +a disobedience and a counteracting of Christ; and he should urge +and plead upon the fundamental laws of the land, viz. the articles +of agreement betwixt the Father and the Son, and the faithful +promises of the covenant of grace; and upon Christ's office as king +and governor, and his undertaking as Mediator; upon the merits of +his death and sufferings; upon his dying as a common person; upon +the constitution of the gospel, whereby they are in law repute as +dying in him, and so free from the law of sin and death; and upon +their relation to him as their new Lord, Head, Husband, King, +Commander, &c. Upon these arguments, I say, to plead for +justice against the rebel that is now brought to the bar, and so by +faith leave the prisoner in his hand, that he may, in his own time +and way, give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and +raging enemy, that he may not rise up to disturb the peace of the +soul as before; or to trouble, impede, and molest the soul in +paying the homage and obedience due to his lawful master and +sovereign king, JESUS.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS.</p> +<p>For further clearing of the premises, I would propose a few +particulars, for caution and direction, as,—</p> +<p>1. This work of laying the burden of this business on Christ by +faith, would be gone about with much singleness of heart, aiming at +the glory of God, and the carrying on of his work in the soul; and +not for self-ends, and carnal by-respects, lest thereby we mar +all.</p> +<p>2. It would be carried on, without partiality, against all and +every one of the lusts and motions of the old man. For if there be +a compliance with and a sparing of any one known lust, the whole +work may be marred; they may meet with a disappointment as to the +particular lust they are desiring victory over;—and the lust +they are harbouring, though it may seem little, may open a door to +many stronger, and so occasion sad days to the man, ere he be +aware.</p> +<p>3. As they would bring the particular lust, or lusts, unto +Christ, as chief Lord Justice; so they would always lay the axe to +the root of the tree, and crave justice against the main body, that +yet lieth within the soul; and these particular corruptions and +affections, that are as members of that body of sin, should put +them in mind of the old man, for they should "crucify the flesh +with the affections and lusts thereof," Gal. v. 24; the body and +the members. These lusts are the lusts of sin, or of that head-sin, +which hath a law, or the force and impulse of a law in the soul; +and therefore their main design would be against this root, where +lieth the strength and body of the enemy, and which acteth in those +members; this is the capital enmity, and should be mainly opposed. +And the following of this course would prove more successful than +that which many time we take: our nibbling at, or wrestling against +this or that member of the body of death, is but of little +advantage, so long as the main body of sin, the bitter root of +wickedness, the carnal mind, this innate enmity is miskent, and not +opposed; but on the contrary, strike at this, we strike at all.</p> +<p>4. This would be the believer's constant work, to be "crucifying +the flesh, with the lusts thereof; to be mortifying their members," +wherein the members of the old man quarter and lodge, Col. iii. 5; +"to be spiritually minded, and to mind the things of the Spirit," +Rom. viii. 5, 6. "For the carnal mind is enmity, against God," Rom. +viii. 7; "and so is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed +can be." It is not only an enemy which may be reconciled, but +enmity in the abstract, which never can be reconciled. And this +enmity will never be idle; for it cannot till it be fully and +finally destroyed; "the flesh is always lusting against the +spirit,'" Gal. v. 17; "for they are contrary one to the other." So +that though, to our sense, it may sometimes appear as sleeping, in +regard that it doth not by some particular lust so molest and +perplex the soul as formerly it did: yet it is restless, and may be +more active in another lust, and so by changing weapons on us, +deceive us. Here then is much spiritual wisdom and vigilancy +required. When they think they have gotten one lust subdued, they +must not think the war is at an end; but after all their particular +victories, watch and pray, that they enter not into temptation.</p> +<p>5. This way of laying the weight of the matter on Christ, should +and will keep them humble, and teach them not to ascribe the glory +of any good that is done unto themselves, but to give him all the +glory, who is jealous of his glory, and will not give it to +another, that the crown may alone flourish on his head, who is the +captain of their salvation, and who by his Spirit worketh all their +works in them.</p> +<p>6. Nor would this way of carrying the matter to Christ, and +putting it over on him, cause the believer become negligent in +commanded duties, reading, hearing prayer, &c; for it is there +he must expect to meet with Christ; there must he seek him, and +there must he wait for him, and his Spirit to do the work desired. +For though he hath not limited himself to these means, so, as he +cannot, or will not any other way help, yet he hath bound us to +them; and it is our duty to wait there, where he hath commanded us +to wait, though he should sometime think good to come another way, +for the manifestation of the sovereignty of his grace.</p> +<p>7. Yet while we are about the means, we would guard against a +leaning to them, lest, instead of getting victory over corruption, +we be brought more in bondage thereunto another way. We must not +think that our prayers, or our hearing, or reading, &c. will +bring down the body of death, or subdue any one corruption; for +that were but an yielding to corruption, and opening a back door to +the carnal mind, and to another deadly lust, and a beating +corruption with a sword of straw. This is not to mortify the deeds +of the body through the Spirit, but through the flesh; and a +fleshly weapon will never draw blood of this spiritual wickedness +or old man, or of any corrupt lust or affection thereof; and yet +how many times doth our deceitful heart bias us this way? Our work +would be, as is said, to use the ordinances as means, whereby we +may get the business laid on Christ, and help from Christ to do the +business. We must go to the means with our prisoner to find Christ +there at his court and assizes, that he may take course with the +traitor.</p> +<p>8. In all this there would be a looking to, and dependence on +Christ for help and grace; because of ourselves, as of ourselves, +we cannot do this much; we cannot complain aright of corruptions, +nor take them away to Christ, nor ask for justice against them. As +constables and other officers must carry malefactors to the courts +of justice, upon public charges; so Christ will not have us doing +or attempting this much on our own charges, for he giveth noble +allowance.</p> +<p>9. In following of this course, we would not think always to +come speed at the first. Sometimes the Lord, for the encouragement +of his children, may give them a speedy hearing, and deliver them +from the tyranny of some particular lust or other that hath +troubled them; so that for some time at least, it shall not so +trouble them as it did. Yet he will not do so always, but may think +it good to keep them waiting on him, and hanging on his courts for +some considerable time, that he may thereby exercise their faith, +patience, desire, zeal, and diligence. So that it should not seem +strange to us, if we be not admitted at the first, and get not our +answer at the first cry.</p> +<p>10. When the Lord thinketh good to delay the answer to our +desires, and the execution of justice on the malefactor and +traitor, or to deliver us from his tyranny and trouble, we would +beware of thinking to capitulate with the enemy for our peace and +quiet, or to enter into a cessation of arms with him; that is, our +enmity against him should never abate; nor should our desire after +the mortification and crucifixion of this lust grow less; nor +should we be at quiet and at peace, though it should seem to grow a +little more calm and still, or not to rage as formerly; for this +looks but like a covenant or confederacy with lust, which will not +stand.</p> +<p>11. We would also know, that what Christ said of devils, holdeth +good of these lusts, viz. "that some of them do not go out but by +fasting and prayer;" that is, by Christ sought unto and found in +these means. There are some lusts that will not be so easily killed +and mortified as others, but will cost us more pains and labour, as +being corruptions which possibly have some greater advantage of our +natural temper and constitution of body, or of long continuance and +a cursed habit, or the like. We must not then think it strange, if +some such lust be not subdued so easily as some others to which we +have fewer and weaker, and not so frequent temptations.</p> +<p>12. As we cannot expect a full conquest of the body of death, so +long as we are here, as was shown above, neither can we expect a +full and final victory over any one lust, which ever we have been +troubled with. It is true, believers may be kept from some gross +out-breaking of a corruption, which sometime prevailed, as Peter +was from relapsing into an open and downright denying his Master; +yet that same corruption did afterward stir, though not so +violently as to carry him to such an height of sin; yet so far as +to cause him do that which was a partial denying of his Master, +when Paul withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed +for withdrawing from the Gentiles, for fear of them of the +circumcision, &c. Gal. ii. 11, 12.: So, though a particular +lust may be so far subdued through grace, as that for some +considerable time a man may not find it so violent as it was; yet +be cannot say that it is totally killed, because it may stir +thereafter in some weaker measure; yea, he cannot tell, but ere he +come to die, that same corruption may rise to be as violent as +ever, and that Satan may again think to enter the soul at that same +breach which once he entered at; yea, and who can tell, whether God +may not suffer that corruption, which lay long as dead, to revive +again for a time, and for a time drive the soul as violently as +ever, and prevail for a time? And this should teach all to walk +soberly, watchfully, and in fear, and to have a vigilant eye, even +upon such lusts and carnal affections, as they may suppose they +have got the victory of.</p> +<p>13. We would not think that we gain no ground upon corruption, +because we still perceive it stirring, less or more; for as +corruption is not always strongest, as was said above, nor hath the +deepest footing in the soul, when its motions and stirrings are +most felt; so neither must we think that there is no ground gained +upon a lust, because we are still troubled and molested with its +stirrings; for it is a great advantage to be more sensible of the +motions of this enemy; and our more faithful and active wrestling +against it may make its least stirrings more sensible to us; as the +motions and trouble which a malefactor, while in grips and in +prison, maketh, may be thought more of than his greater ragings +before he was apprehended; yet he may be sure in fetters for all +that. A beast that hath gotten death's blow may get out of grips, +and run more mad than ever, and yet will die at length of the same +blow.</p> +<p>14. Though we should find present ease and quiet by our +following this way, yet we should think it much, if the Lord help +us to stand, when we have done all we can, though we meet not with +the hoped for success presently; if he give us grace to continue +without wearying or fainting, and to be resolved never to give +over, we have reason to bless him; if we be kept still in the +conflict with pursuit of the enemy, it is our great advantage; the +victory shall come in God's own time. If our opposition so +continue, that we are resolved never to take nor give quarter, +though our trouble and exercise should be the greater, and our ease +and quiet the less, we ought to bless him, yea, and rejoice in hope +of what he shall yet do for us; for he that will come, shall come, +and will not tarry. Let us wait for him, in doing our duty, and +faithfully keeping our post.</p> +<p>15. Yea, if we get quietness or ease from the violence of raging +lusts for any little time, and be not continually driven and +carried headlong therewith, we ought to be thankful for this, and +to walk humbly before him; lest he be provoked by our +unthankfulness and pride, and let these furious dogs loose upon us +again.</p> +<p>16. When we are bending our strength and all our forces against +some one corruption or other, which possibly hath been most +troublesome to us, we would not be secure as to all others, or +think that we are in hazard only on this side; for Satan may make a +feint here, and really intend an assault at another place, by some +other corrupt affection. O what need have we of spiritual wisdom +that we may be better acquainted with his stratagems and wiles I +Let us so then fight against one member of this body of death, as +to have our eye upon others, lest when we think to keep out Satan +at the fore-door, he enter in at the back-door. He can make use of +extremities, and play his game with both; yea, and gain his point, +if we be not aware.</p> +<br> +<p>OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.</p> +<p>It will not be amiss, for further explaining of the matter, to +remove a scruple or two. Some may say, that they cannot perceive +that all their pains in this matter come to any good issue; for +they never found corruption stir more, and act more lively and +incessantly, than since they began to fight against it in good +earnest; so that this would seem not to be the right way.</p> +<p>I answer, Though from what is said before, particularly cautions +9th and 13th, a resolution of this doubt maybe had; yet I shall +propose those things, for further clearing of the matter:</p> +<p>1. May not much of this flow from thy not laying the whole work +so wholly off thyself, and upon Christ, as thou oughtest to do? Try +and see.</p> +<p>2. May not the devil rage most, when he thinks ere long to be +ejected? May he not labour to create most trouble to the soul, when +he seeth that he is like to be put from some of his strengths?</p> +<p>3. May not the devil be doing this of purpose to drive thee to +despair of ever getting corruption subdued and mortified; or to a +fainting and sitting up in the pursuit, and to a despondency of +spirit; that so instead of fighting or standing, thou may cede and +turn thee back? And should we comply with him in his designs?</p> +<p>4. May not the Lord give way to this for a time, to try thy +seriousness, patience, submission and faith, and to sharpen thy +diligence, and kindle up thy zeal? And should we not submit to his +wise dispensations?</p> +<p>5. How can thou say that thou gainest no advantage, as long as +thou art not made to lay aside the matter wholly, as hopeless of +any good issue; but, on the contrary, art helped to stand, and to +resist sin, to cry out against it, to fight as thou canst, and at +least not to yield?</p> +<p>6. What if God see it for thy advantage, that thou be kept so in +exercise for a time, to the end thou may be kept humble, watchful, +and diligent? He may see more of thee, than thou canst see of +thyself, and so may know what is best for thee; and should thou not +condescend to be disposed of by him as he will, and to let him make +of thee, and do with thee what he will?</p> +<p>7. What if God be about to chasten thee thus for thy former +negligence, security, and unwatchfulness, and giving too much +advantage to those lusts, which now, after his awakening of thee, +thou would be delivered from? Should thou not bear the indignation +of the Lord, because thou hast sinned against him, as the Church +resolved to do, Micah vii. 9?</p> +<p>8. Is it not thy duty the more that corruption stirs, to run +with it the oftener to Christ, that he may subdue it and put it to +silence? May not thou improve this to thy advantage, by making many +errands to him?</p> +<p>9. May it not come in a day, that hath not come in a year? Art +thou sure, that all thy pains shall be in vain? Or thinkest thou +that all his children have got victory alike soon over their lusts? +What cause is there then to complain thus?</p> +<p>10. May not all this convince thee, that it is thy duty to wait +on him, in the use of his appointed means, and to be patient, +standing fast to thy post, resolving, when thou hast done all, yet +to stand?</p> +<p>11. May not this satisfy thee, that God through grace accepteth +thy labour and wrestling, as thy duty, and accounteth it service to +him, and obedience?</p> +<p>But again, it may possibly be objected thus: so long as I am in +this condition, kept under with my lusts, I cannot get God +glorified and served as he ought to be.</p> +<p>I answer, though so long as it is so with thee, thou cannot +glorify and serve him, in such a particular manner as others, who +have got more victory over those evils under which thou art +groaning, yet God can get glory and service of thee another way; +as,</p> +<p>1. By thy submission, with calmness of spirit, to his wise +dispensations, when thou dare not speak against him, and say, with +Rebecca, in another case, if it be so, why am I thus? But sweetly +and willingly cast thyself down at his feet, saying, good is the +will of the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good, &c.</p> +<p>2. By thy patient on-waiting, when thou art not wearying nor +fainting, but saying, why should I not wait upon the great King's +leisure? Is he not free to come when he will? Dare I set limits to +the Holy One of Israel?</p> +<p>3. By thy humility, when thou blessest him, for keeping thee so +long out of hell, and thinkest much of his giving thee grace to see +and observe the stirrings of corruption, which carnal wretches +never perceive; and helping thee to withstand and complain of +corruption, which they sweetly comply with.</p> +<p>4. By thy hatred of sin, when all that Satan can do cannot make +thee comply with those lusts, or sweetly embrace those vipers, or +lie down in peace with those rotten members of the old man, as +others do.</p> +<p>5. By thy watchfulness, when all thy disappointments cause thee +the more earnestly watch against that enemy.</p> +<p>6. By thy acting faith, when still thou art carrying sin in its +lusts to Christ to kill and subdue, as believing the tenor of the +gospel and new covenant.</p> +<p>7. By thy hope, which appeareth by thy not despairing, and +giving over the matter as a hopeless business, and turning aside to +wicked courses.</p> +<p>8. By thy praying, when thou criest to him continually for help, +who only can help.</p> +<p>9. By thy wrestling and standing against all opposition, for +thereby is his strength made perfect in thy weakness, 2 Cor. xii. +9.</p> +<p>10. By thine obedience; for it is his command that thou stand +and fight this good fight of faith.</p> +<p>So that if thou hast a desire to glorify him, thou wants not +occasion to do it, even in this condition wherein thou complainest +that thou cannot get him glorified. And if those grounds do not +satisfy thee, it is to be feared that it is not so much a desire to +glorify him, that moveth thee to cry so earnestly for actual +delivery from the trouble of the flesh and the lusts thereof, as +something else, which thou may search after and find out; such as +love to ease, quietness, applause and commendation of others, or +the like.</p> +<p>But, in the <i>third</i> place, it may be objected, is it not +promised that sin shall not have dominion over us, as "not being +under the law, but under grace," Rom. vi. 14. How can we then but +be troubled, when we find not this promise made good?</p> +<p>I answer, 1st, Sin is not always victorious and domineering, +when it seemeth to rage and stir most. Your opposition thereunto, +fighting and wrestling against it, sheweth that it hath not full +dominion. So long as an invading usurper is opposed, he hath not +full dominion, not having peaceable possession of what he is +seeking; and thus the promise is in part accomplished.</p> +<p>2. Victory and a full conquest over the flesh, and lusts +thereof, is not promised to any believer, at his first appearing in +the fields to fight; nor granted to all in any measure, at their +first putting on their armour.</p> +<p>3. Therefore it is thy part to fight on, and wait for that full +victory, viz. that sin shall not have dominion over thee, for it +shall come in due time.</p> +<p>4. God hath his own time and seasons wherein he accomplisheth +his promises; and we must leave him a latitude, both as to the time +when, and as to the manner how, and as to the degree in which he +shall make good his promises; and he is wise in his +dispensations.</p> +<p>Therefore, though the promise as yet appeareth not to be +accomplished, there is no true cause of trouble of mind, because it +shall be afterward fully accomplished; and the wrestling against +sin, saith that it is in great measure accomplished already; +because where it hath a full dominion, it suppresseth all +opposition or contradiction, except some faint resistance, which a +natural conscience, for carnal ends, on carnal principles and +grounds, may, now or then, make against this or that particular +corruption, which occasioneth shame, disgrace, loss, challenges of +a carnal conscience, and disquietness that way, when yet it is not +hated nor wrestled against as sin, or as a member of the old man, +and the body of death. The objector would consider, that having +subjected his consent to Christ, he is delivered really from that +natural state of bondage under sin as a lawful lord, howbeit the +old tyrant, now wanting a title, is making new invasions, to +trouble the peace and quiet of the soul.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly,</i> It may be said, but what can then, in the mean +time, keep up the heart of a poor soul from sinking?</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> Several things, if rightly considered, might help to +support the soul in this case, as,</p> +<p>1. That they are helped to wrestle against this body of death, +in all the members of it, so soon as they discover themselves, were +it their right eye and right hand.</p> +<p>2. That these lusts gain not ground upon them; or if they do +seem to gain ground, yet they attain not to a full dominion, not +gaining their consent.</p> +<p>3. That God is faithful, and therefore the promised victory +shall be had in due time, and Satan's head shall certainly be +bruised.</p> +<p>4. That the wrestling soul is about his duty, carrying as a good +soldier of Jesus Christ, fighting the battles of the Lord, and +waiting on him in faith and hope.</p> +<p>But further, <i>fifthly,</i> some may say, If I were kept from +yielding, my wrestling and standing would yield me some comfort; +but when lust so stirreth, as that it conceiveth and bringeth forth +sin, (James i. 15,) what can support or comfort me then?</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> 1. Corruption cannot stir in us, but therein we sin, +for the very first rise, the <i>motus primo-primi</i>, as they are +called, are sinful, being contrary to the holy law of God; and the +very in-being of that old man is our sin; for it is sinful, and +rebellious against God, yea it is very enmity and rebellion itself. +When Satan cometh with a temptation from without, he findeth always +much in us to entertain the temptation. So that the very stirring +of corruption, which is occasioned by the temptation from without, +is our guilt.</p> +<p>2. It is true it is our duty, to set against the first risings +and motions of corruption, when it first enticeth, before it hath +conceived or brought forth sin; and it will argue grace in life and +in action, to be able to hinder the motions of lust so far, that it +shall not conceive and bring forth sin. Yet we may not say, that +there is no grace in the soul, or no measure of mortification +attained, where lust sometimes not only enticeth, but conceiveth +and bringeth forth sin. The sad experience of many of God's +worthies, registrated in the word, cleareth this abundantly. We +must not say, such an one is fallen, therefore he is dead. Paul +reasoneth otherways, Rom. vii.</p> +<p>3. Yet even then, when lust conceiveth and bringeth forth sin, +this may comfort and bear up the heart of a poor believer. (1.) +That though corruption prevail so far, as to bear down all +opposition, and run down all that standeth in its way, yet it +getteth not the full consent of the soul: there is still a party +for God in the soul, that opposeth so far as to protest against it, +or at least to dissent from it, and not to will that which yet is +done, and positively to will that which cannot be gotten +effectuated, (2.) And further, this may bear up the poor soul, that +there is a party within, which, though for a time, during the +violent overrunning of corruption, can do little more than sigh and +groan in a corner, yet is waiting and longing for an opportunity +when it may appear more for God, and against that wicked usurper. +(3.)So also this may comfort the poor soul, that as it perceiveth +corruption stirring, and the old man moving one member or other, it +runneth away to the king; and when it is not able to apprehend the +traitor, and take him captive to the court of justice, doth there +discover the traitor, and tell the king that there is such or such +a traitor acting such and such rebellion against him and his laws, +and complain and seek help to take the rebel prisoner, and bring +him bound hand and foot to the king, that he may give out sentence +against him; that is, when he can do no more against that raging +enemy, maketh his complaint to the Lord, and lieth before him, +sighing and groaning for help and strength to withstand and oppose +more this enemy.</p> +<p><i>Lastly,</i> Some may yet object, and say, If it were not +worse with me than it is with others, I could then be satisfied; +but I see some mightily prevailing over corruption, and I am still +at under, and can get no victory; and can I choose but be sad at +this?</p> +<p>I answer, 1. Dost thou know for a certainty, that those persons +whose condition thou judgest happy, are altogether free of the +inward stirrings of those lusts that thou art brought under by? Or +dost thou know for a certainty that they are not under the power of +some other corruption, as thou thinkest thyself under the power of +that corruption whereof thou complainest? What knowest thou, then, +but they may be as much complaining on other accounts as thou dost +on that?</p> +<p>2. But be it so as thou supposeth, that there is a difference +betwixt thy condition and the condition of others, knowest thou +not, that all the members of the body are not alike great and +strong, as not being equally to be employed in work requiring +strength. Are there not some young strong men in Christ's family, +and some that are but babes? May not a captain send some of his +soldiers to one post, where they shall possibly not see the enemy +all the day long, and some others to another post, where they shall +have no rest all the day? And why, I pray, may not God dispose of +his soldiers as he will? He knoweth what he is doing: It is not +safe that every one of the soldiers know what are the designs of +the commander or general; nor is it always fit for us to know or to +inquire what may be the designs of God with us, and what he may be +about to do. He may intend to employ one in greater works than +another, and so exercise them otherways for that warfare and work. +It may suffice that the prevailing of others may encourage thee to +hope, that at last thy strong corruptions shall also fall by the +hand of the grace of God.</p> +<p>3. If thy sadness savour not of envy and fretting, thou should +bless him that hereby thou art put to the exercise of spiritual +sorrow.</p> +<p>4. It is well if this bring thee to bless God for the success of +others, because hereby his grace is glorified, 1 Cor. xii. 26.</p> +<p>Therefore, 5. Let this satisfy us, That he is the Lord, who +doeth what he will in heaven and in earth, and may dispose of us as +he will, and make of us what he will, for his own glory. And that +we are to mind our duty, and be faithful at our post, standing and +fighting in the strength of the Lord, resolving never to comply +with the enemy, and to rejoice in this, that the enemy is already +conquered by the captain, and that we share in his victory, and +that the very God of peace shall quickly bruise Satan under our +feet, Rom. xvi. 20.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII." id="CHAPTER_VII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS TO BE MADE USE OF, IN REFERENCE TO GROWING IN +GRACE.</h4> +<p>I come now to speak a little to the other part of +sanctification, which concerneth the change of our nature and +frame, and is called vivification, or quickening of the new man of +grace; which is called the new man, as having all its several +members and parts, as well as the old man; and called new, because +posterior to the other; and after regeneration is upon the growing +hand, this duty of growing in grace, as it is called, 2 Pet. iii. +&c. is variously expressed and held forth to us in Scripture; +for it is called "an abiding and bringing forth fruit in Christ," +John xv. 5; "adding to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge," 2 +Pet. i. 5, 6, 7; "a going on to perfection," Heb. vii. 1; "a +growing up in Christ in all things," Eph. iv. 15; "a working out +our salvation," Phil. ii. 12; "a perfecting of holiness," 2 Cor. +vii. 1; "a walking in newness of life," Rom. vi. 4; "a yielding of +ourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and our members as +instruments of righteousness unto God," Rom. vi. 13, 18; "a +bringing forth fruit unto God," Rom, vii. 4; "a serving in newness +of spirit," Rom. vii. 6; "a being renewed in the spirit of our +minds, and a putting on the new man, which after God is created in +righteousness and true holiness," Eph. iv. 23,24. Col. iii. 10, and +the like: some whereof do more immediately express the nature of +this change, as to the root, and some as to the fruit and effects +thereof, and some the progress and advancement that is made or to +be made therein. And all of them point out a special piece of work, +which lieth on all that would see the face of God, viz. to be holy, +gracious, and growing in grace.</p> +<p>This, then, being a special piece of the exercise and daily work +of a Christian, and it being certain, as some of the places now +cited do also affirm, that without Christ they cannot get this work +either begun or carried on, the main difficulty and question is, +How they are to make use of Christ for this end?</p> +<p>For answer whereunto, though by what we have said in our former +discourse, it may be easy to gather what is to be said here; yet I +shall briefly put the reader in mind of those things, as useful +here.</p> +<p>1. The believer would consider what an ornament this is to the +soul, to have on this new man, which is created after the image of +God, Eph. iv. 23. What an excellency lieth here, to recover that +lost glory, holiness and the image of God? and what advantage the +soul reapeth hereby, when it "is made meet to be a partaker of the +inheritance of the saints in light," Col. i. 12; "and walking +worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good +work, and increasing in the knowledge of God," Col. i. 10; "and +strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto +all patience and long-suffering, with joyfulness," ver. 11; and +when the abounding of the graces of the Spirit maketh them "that +they shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our +Lord Jesus Christ," 2 Pet. i. 8; "and to be a vessel unto honour, +sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every +work," 2 Tim. ii. 21. What glory and peace is here, to be found +obedient unto the many commands given to be holy: what hazard is in +the want of holiness, when without it we cannot see God, Heb. xii. +14: how unanswerable it is unto our profession, who are members to +such a holy head, to be unholy: what profit, joy, and satisfaction +there is, in being temples of the Holy Ghost, in walking after the +Spirit, in bringing forth fruit unto the glory of the Father, +&c. The consideration of these and other motives unto this +study of sanctification, would arm the soul with resolution, and +harden it against opposition.</p> +<p>2. It would be remembered, that this work, though it be laid +upon us, as our duty, and we be called thereunto of God, yet it is +beyond our hand and power. It is true, at conversion, the seed of +grace is cast into the soul, new habits are infused, a new +principle of life is given, the stony heart is changed into an +heart of flesh; yet these principles and habits cannot act in +themselves, or be brought into act, by any thing that a believer, +considered in himself, and without divine help, can do. But this +work of sanctification and growth in grace must be carried on by +divine help, by the Spirit of Jesus dwelling and working within; +and therefore it is called the sanctification of the Spirit, 2 +Thess. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i. 2. The God of peace must sanctify us, I +Thess. v. 23. We are said to be sanctified by God the Father, Jude +1.; and by the Holy Ghost, Rom. xv. 16; see also 1 Cor. vi. 11. "We +would remember that of ourselves we can do nothing," 2 Cor. iii. 5, +and "that he must work in us both to will and to do of his own good +pleasure," Phil. ii. 13. Albeit no believer will question the truth +of this; yet it may be, it shall be found after trial, that one +main cause of their not growing in grace, and making progress in +this work, is their not acting as believing this, but setting about +the work, as if it were a work which they themselves could master +and do without special divine help. Therefore the believer would +abide, live, and act, in the faith of this truth.</p> +<p>3. Therefore believers would not, in going about this work, +either trust to their own strength, to the habits of grace, to +their former experiences, to their knowledge and parts, or the +like; nor yet would they trust to any external mean, which they are +to go about; because the wisdom, strength, and help, which their +case calleth for, is not to be found in them; yet they should not +think of laying these means and duties aside, for then should they +sin against God; they should prejudge themselves of the help, +strength, and supply, which God useth to convey to the soul, in and +by the use of the means. And withal, they should tempt the Lord, by +prescribing another way to him than he hath thought good to take. +The believer, then, would use the means and duties prescribed, and +that diligently, seriously, and constantly; and yet would lean as +little to them, and expect help and relief as little from them, as +if he were not using them at all, as we said above. And indeed this +would be a right way; yea, the most advantageous and profitable +way, of going about duties, to be diligent in the use of them, +because of God's command, and yet to place our hope and expectation +in God alone, and to look above the ordinances for our help.</p> +<p>4. Albeit it be true that the power and grace of God alone, doth +begin and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul: yet +though he might, did he but see it for his glory, carry on and +finish this work in the soul, without the intervention of second +causes or means, he hath notwithstanding thought it fit, for the +glory of his name, to work this work by means, and particularly by +believers setting about the work. He worketh not in man as if he +were a block or a stone, but useth him as a rational creature, +endued with a rational soul, having useful and necessary faculties, +and a body fired by organs to be subservient to the soul in its +actions. Therefore the believer must not think to lie by and do +nothing, for he is commanded to work out his own salvation, and +that because it is God that worketh in him both to will and to do. +Because God worketh all, therefore he should work; so reasoneth the +apostle. So that God's working is an argument and motive to the man +to work, and not an argument to him to lie by idle and do nothing. +And here is the holy art and divine skill requisite in this +business, to wit, for the believer to be as diligent and active as +if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength, and by his own +working; and yet to be as abstracted from himself, his own grace, +ability, knowledge, experience, in his working, as if he were lying +by like a mere block, and only moving as moved by external +force.</p> +<p>5. The soul that would make progress in Christianity, and grow +in grace, would remember that Christ is proposed to us as a copy, +which we are to imitate, and that therefore we should set Christ +continually before us as our pattern, that we may follow his steps, +1 Pet. i. 15, and ii. 21. But withal it would be remembered, that +he is not like other ensamples or copies, that can help the man +that imitateth them in no other way than by their objective +prospect; for looking by faith on this copy, will bring virtue to +the man that studieth to imitate, whereby he shall be enabled to +follow his copy better. O! if we knew in experience what this were, +to take a look of Christ's love, patience, long-suffering, +meekness, hatred of sin, zeal, &c, and by faith to pore in, +till, by virtue proceeding from that copy, we found our hearts in +some measure framed into the same disposition, or at least more +inclined to be cast into the same mould!</p> +<p>6. The believer would act faith on Christ, as the head of the +body, and as the stock in which the branches are ingrafted, and +thereby suck sap, and life, and strength from him, that he may +work, walk, and grow, as becometh a Christian. The believer must +grow up in him, being a branch in him, and must bring forth fruit +in him, as the forementioned places clear. Now, Christ himself +tells us, that the branches cannot bring forth fruit, except they +abide in the vine; and that no more can his disciples bring forth, +except they abide in him, John xv. Therefore, as it is by faith +that the soul, as a branch, is united to Christ, as the vine; and +as it is by faith that they abide in him; so it is by faith that +they must bring forth fruit; and this faith must grip Christ as the +vine, and the stock or root from which cometh sap, life, and +strength. Faith, then, must look to Christ as the fountain of +furniture—as the head from whence cometh all the influences +of strength and motion. Christ hath strength and life enough to +give out, for "the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily;" +and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulness, as the +relations he hath taken on do witness. The head will not grudge to +give to the members of the body, spirits for action and motion; nor +will a vine grudge to give sap into the branches. Nay, life, +strength, and furniture will, as it were, natively flow out of +Christ unto believers, except they, through unbelief, and other +distempers, cause obstructions; as life and sap doth natively and +kindly flow from the root to the branches, or from the head to the +members, unless obstructions stop the passage. It is necessary, +therefore, that believers eye Christ under these and the like +relations, and look upon him as standing, (so to speak,) obliged by +his place and relation, to grant strength and influences of life, +whereby they may become fruitful in every good work; and so with +holy, humble, and allowed boldness, press in faith for new +communications of grace, virtue, strength, courage, activity, and +what else they need; for, from the head, all the body, by joints +and bands, having nourishment ministered, increaseth with the +increase of God. Col. ii. 19. Eph. iv. 16.</p> +<p>7. For this cause believers would lie open to the influences of +Christ, and guard against the putting of obstructions in the way, +through grieving of the Spirit, by which he conveyeth and +communicateth those influences unto the soul; and through +questioning and misbelieving Christ's faithfulness and unchangeable +willingness, which as a violent humour stoppeth the passage. So +then believers would lie open by looking and waiting, drawing, +seeking from him what they need, and by guarding against every +thing that may provoke the Lord to anger, whether in omission or +commission. Here is requisite, an holy, humble, sober, and watchful +walk; an earnest, serious, and hungry looking out to him, and a +patient waiting for supply and furniture from him. This is to open +the mouth wide that he may fill it; to lie before the Sun of +Righteousness, that the beams thereof may beat upon them, and warm +and revive them; and to wait as a beggar at this King's gate, till +he give the alms.</p> +<p>8. For the strengthening their hope and faith in this, they +would lay hold upon Christ dying, and by his death purchasing all +those influences of life and strength which are requisite for +carrying on the work of grace and sanctification in the soul. For +we must be "blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings," Eph. +i. 3. The believer, then, would look upon these influences, as +purchased at a dear rate, by the blood of Jesus Christ; so that the +divine power giveth unto us all things that pertain unto life and +godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to +glory and virtue, 2 Peter i. 3. And this will encourage the soul to +wait on, and expect the flowing down of influences, and spiritual +blessings and showers of grace, to cause the soul to flourish and +become fruitful, and to urge and press more earnestly by faith the +bestowing of the purchased benefits.</p> +<p>9. Moreover, the believer would look on Jesus as standing +engaged and obliged to carry on this work, both receiving them as +for this end, from the Father. Hence we are said "to be chosen in +him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy," +&c. Eph. i. 4; and as dying for them. For he gave himself for +the church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, that he might +present it to himself a glorious church, that it should be holy, +Eph. v. 25-27. He hath reconciled them, in the body of his flesh, +through death, to present them holy, Col. i. 2, 22. So that the +noble covenant of redemption may found the certain hope and +expectation of the believer, upon a double account: (1.) Upon the +account of the Father's faithfulness, who promised a seed to Jesus, +viz. such as should be his children, and so be sanctified through +him, and that the pleasure of the Lord, which in part is the work +of sanctification, should prosper in his hand. And, (2.) Upon the +account of Christ's undertaking and engaging, as is said, to bring +his sons and daughters to glory, which must be thought +sanctification; for without holiness no man shall see God. And they +must look like himself, who is a holy head, a holy husband, a holy +captain; and therefore they must be holy members, a holy spouse, +and holy soldiers. So that he standeth engaged to sanctify them by +his Spirit and word, and therefore is called the sanctifier, Heb. +ii. 11; "for both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, +are all one." Yea, their union with Christ layeth the foundation of +this; for "being joined to the Lord, they become one Spirit," 1 +Cor. vi. 17, and are animated and quickened by one and the same +Spirit of life and grace, and therefore must be sanctified by that +Spirit.</p> +<p>10. The believer likewise would act faith upon the promises of +the new covenant, of grace, strength, life, &c, whereby they +shall walk in his ways, have God's laws put into their minds, and +wrote in their hearts, Heb. viii. 10. Jer. xxxi. 33; and of the new +heart, and new spirit, and the heart of flesh, and the Spirit +within them, to cause them walk in his ways or statutes, and keep +his judgments, and do them, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27, and the like, +wherewith the Scripture aboundeth; because these are all given over +to the believer by way of testament and legacy, Christ becoming the +Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the +redemption of the transgressions that were under the first +testament, they which are called might receive the promise of +eternal inheritance, Heb. ix. 15. Now, Christ, by his death, hath +confirmed this testament; "for where a testament is, there must +also of necessity be the death of the testator; for a testament is +of force after men are dead," vers. 16, 17. Christ, then, dying to +make the testament of force, hath made the legacy of the promises +sure unto the believer; so that now all the "promises are yea and +amen in Christ," 2 Cor. i. 20. "He was made a minister of +circumcision to confirm the promises made to the fathers," Rom. xv. +8. That the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble mean to +sanctification, is clear, by what the apostle saith, 2 Cor. vii. 1, +"Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves; +perfecting holiness in the fear of God." And it is by faith that +those promises must be received, Heb. xi. 33: So that the believer +that would grow in grace, would eye Christ, the fundamental +promise, the testator establishing the testament, and the executor +or dispensator of the covenant, and expect the good things through +him, and from him, through the conduit and channel of the +promises.</p> +<p>11. Yet further, believers would eye Christ in his resurrection, +as a public person, and so look on themselves, and reckon +themselves as rising virtually in and with him, and take the +resurrection of Christ as a certain pawn and pledge of their +sanctification; for so reasoneth the apostle, Rom. vi. 4, 5, 11, +13. "We are buried," says he, "with him by baptism unto death; that +like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the +Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life: +For—we shall be also planted in the likeness of his +resurrection; and if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we +shall also live with him:—therefore reckon ye also yourselves +to be—alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and +yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, +and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." The +right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage to the +student of holiness: for then he might with strong confidence +conclude, that the work of sanctification should prosper in his +hand; for he may now look upon himself as "quickened together with +Christ," Eph. ii. 5. Christ dying and rising, as a public person, +and he by faith being now joined with him, and united to him.</p> +<p>12. Moreover this resurrection of Christ may yield us another +ground of hope and confidence in this work; for there is mention +made of the power of his resurrection, Phil. iii. 10. So that by +faith we may draw strength and virtue from Christ, as an arisen and +quickened head, whereby we also may live unto God, and bring forth +fruit unto him, and serve no more in the oldness of the letter, +"but in the newness of the Spirit," Rom. vii. 4, 6. He was +quickened as a head, and when the head is quickened, the members +cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom, and to +live in the strength of the life of the head: see Col. iii. 1, +2.</p> +<p>13. Faith may and should also look to Christ, as an intercessor +with the Father. For this particular, John xvii. 17, "Sanctify them +through thy truth, thy Word is truth:" and this will add to their +confidence, that the work shall go on; for Christ was always heard +of the Father, John xi. 41, 42, and so will be in his prayer, which +was not put up for the few disciples alone.</p> +<p>The believer then would eye Christ as engaging to the Father to +begin and perfect this work; as dying to purchase the good things +promised, and to confirm the same; as quickened, and rising as head +and public person, to ensure this work, and to bestow and actually +confer the graces requisite; and as praying also for the Father's +concurrence, and cast the burden of the work on him by faith, +knowing that he standeth obliged, by his place and relation to his +people, to bear all their burthens, to work all their works in +them, to perfect his own work that he hath begun in them, to +present them to himself at last a holy bride, to give them the +Spirit "to dwell in them," Rom. viii. 9, 11 "and to quicken their +mortal bodies," ver. 11, "and to lead them," ver. 14; "till at +length they be crowned, and brought forward to glory." This is to +live by faith, when Christ liveth, acteth, and worketh in us by his +Spirit, Gal. ii. 20. Thus Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith; +and by this his people become rooted and grounded in love, which is +a cardinal grace; and knowing the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge, they become filled with all the fulness of God, Eph. +iii. 17, 19. So that the believer is to commit by faith the work to +Christ, and leave the stress of all the business on him who is +their life. Yet the believer must not think he is to do nothing, or +to lay aside the means of ordinances, but using these diligently, +would in them commit the matter to Christ, and by faith roll the +whole work on him, expecting, upon the ground of his relations, +engagements, promises, beginnings, &c., that he will certainly +perfect the work, (Phil. i. 6,) and take it well off their hands, +and be well pleased with them for putting the work in his hands, +and leaving it on him "who is made of God to us +sanctification."</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>As in the former part, so here it will not be amiss to give a +few words of caution, for preventing of mistakes.</p> +<p>1. We would beware of thinking that perfection can be attained +here: the perfect man and measure of the stature of the fulness of +Christ is but coming, and till then the body will be a perfecting +and edifying, through the work of the ministry, Eph. iv. 12, 13. +Believers must not think of sitting down on any measure of grace +which they attain to here; but they must be growing in grace, going +from strength to strength, till they appear in the upper Zion with +the apostle, Phil. iii. 13. "Forgetting those things that are +behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, they +must press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of +God in Christ Jesus." It must then be a dreadful delusion for any +to think that they can reach to such a degree of perfection here, +as not to stand in need of the ordinance any more. Let all +believers live in the constant conviction of their shortcoming, and +be humbled, and so work out their salvation with fear and +trembling.</p> +<p>2. Nor should every believer expect one and the same measure of +holiness, nor can it be expected with reason that all shall advance +here to the same height of sanctity; for every part of the body +hath its own measure, and an effectual working in that measure: and +so every joint of the body supplieth less or more, according to its +proportion, and contributeth to the increase of the body, and to +the edifying of itself in love, as the apostle clearly sheweth, +Eph. iv. 16. As in the natural body the diversity of functions and +uses of the members requireth diversity of furniture and strength, +so in the mystical body of Christ the members have not all alike +measure, but each hath his proper distinct measure, according to +his place and usefulness in the body. Believers then would learn +much sobriety here and submission, knowing that God may dispense +his graces as he will, and give them to each member in what measure +he thinketh good: only they would take heed, that their poverty and +leanness be not occasioned through their own carelessness and +negligence, in not plying the means of grace with that faithfulness +and single dependence on Christ that they ought.</p> +<p>3. It would be remembered, that there may be some progress made +in the way of holiness, when yet the believer may apprehend no such +thing; not only because the measure of the growth may be so small +and indiscernible, but also because even where the growth in itself +is discernible, the Lord may think it good, for wise ends, to hide +it from their eyes, that they may be kept humble and diligent; +whereas, if they saw how matters stood indeed with them, they might +(without a new degree of grace) swell and be puffed up, yea, even +forget God, and misken themselves and others too. Likewise this may +proceed from such an earnest desire after more, that they forget +any measure they have gotten, and so despise the day of small +things.</p> +<p>4. There may be a great progress in holiness, though not in that +particular which the believer is most eyeing to his sense and +apprehension: for when he thinks he is not growing in love to and +zeal for God, &c, he may be growing in humility, which is also +a member of the new man of grace; and when he can perceive no +growth in knowledge, there may be a growth in affection and +tenderness. And if the work be carried on in any joint or member, +it decayeth in none, though it may be better apprehended in one +than another.</p> +<p>5. There may be much holiness, where the believer is complaining +of the want of fruits, when under that dispensation of the Lord +towards him, he is made to stoop before the Most High, to put his +mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope, and pleasantly to +submit to God's wise ordering, without grudging or quarrelling with +God for what he doth, and to accept sweetly the punishment of his +iniquity, if he see guilt lying at the root of this dispensation. +Where there is a silent submission to the sovereign and only wise +disposing hand of God, and the man is saying, if he will not have +me to be a fruitful tree in his garden, nor to grow and flourish as +the palm-tree, let me be a shrub, only let me be kept within the +precincts of his garden, that his eye may be upon me for good; let +me abide within his courts, that I may behold his countenance, +there is grace, and no small measure of grace. To be an hired +servant is much, Luke xv. 19.</p> +<p>6. But withal, it would be observed, that this gracious frame of +soul, that is silent before God, under several disappointments, is +accompanied with much singleness of heart, in panting after more +holiness, and with seriousness and diligence in all commanded +duties, waiting upon the Lord, who is their hope and their +salvation in each of them, and with mourning for their own sinful +accession to that shortcoming in their expectations.</p> +<p>7. We would not think that there is no progress in Christianity, +or growth in grace, because it cometh not our way, or by the +instruments and means that we must expect it by. Possibly we are +too fond on some instruments and means that we prefer to others; +and we think, if ever we get good, it must be that way, and by that +means, be it private or public: and God may give a proof of his +sovereignty, and check us for our folly, by taking another way. He +would not be found of the bride, neither by her seeking of him +secretly on her bed by night; nor more publicly, by going about the +city, in the streets and broad ways; nor by the means of the +watchmen, Cant. iii. 1, 2, 3.</p> +<p>8. Nor would we think that there is no growth in the work of +grace, because it cometh not at such or such prelimited or fore-set +time; nor would we think the matter desperate, because of our +looking long, and waiting, and asking, and labouring, and yet +seeing no sensible advantage. Such and such a believer, saith the +soul, made great progress in a short time, but I come no speed, for +as long as I have been at this school. O! we should beware of +limiting the Holy One of Israel. Let us be at duty, and commit the +event to him.</p> +<p>9. It is not a fit time to take the measure of our graces, as to +their sensible growth and fruitfulness, when devils are broken +loose upon us; temptations are multiplied, corruptions make a great +noise, and we are meeting with a horrible tempest shaking us on all +hands: for it will be strong grace that will much appear then; it +will be strong faith that will say, Though he kill me, yet will I +trust in him. At such a time it will be much if the man keep the +ground he hath gained, though he make no progress. It will be much +for a tree to stand, and not to be blown out of the ground, in the +time of a strong and vehement storm, of wind, though it keep not +its flourishes and yield not fruit The trees, which in a cold +winter day bear neither leaves nor fruit, must not be said to go +back, nor not to grow; because when the spring cometh again, they +may revive and be as fruitful as ever.</p> +<p>10. We would not always measure our graces by what appeareth +outwardly; for there may be some accidental occurrence that may +hinder that, and yet grace be at work within doors, which few or +none can observe. The believer may be in a sweet and gracious +frame, blushing before the Lord, yea, melting in love, or taken up +with spiritual meditations and wondering, when as to some external +duties, it can find no present disposition, through some accidental +impediment or other, so that to some, who judge most by outward +appearance, no such things as the active working of grace in life +can appear.</p> +<p>11. We would think it no small measure or degree of holiness, to +be with singleness of heart pursuing it, even though it should seem +to flee from us; to be earnestly panting after it, and hungering +and thirsting for it. Nehemiah thought this no small thing, when he +said, Neh. i. 11, "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be +attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy +name."</p> +<p>12. Whatever measure of holiness the believer win to, he would +take special heed that he place no part of his confidence of his +being accepted and justified before God in it, as if that could +come in any part of the price to satisfy justice: but when he hath +done all, let him call and account himself an unprofitable servant. +Though believers will not be so gross as to speak thus, yet sure +their justifying of their holding a-back from God, because they +find not such a measure of grace and holiness as they would have, +looketh too much this way, and saith, that they lean too much +hereunto in the matter of the acceptance of their persons before +God. Now this should be specially guarded against, lest their +labour be in vain.</p> +<br> +<p>OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.</p> +<p>An objection or two must here also be removed. And 1. Some may +say, that though they have been labouring, and striving, and +working now for some long time, yet they can perceive no +advancement; they are as far short as ever.</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. Hath it not been found, that some have complained +without cause? Have not some complained of their unfruitfulness and +want of growth, that other good Christians would have thought +themselves very happy, if they had but advanced half so far as they +saw them to have done?</p> +<p>But be it so, as it is alleged, what if the fault be their own? +What if the cause of this be, that they attempt things in their own +strength, leaning to their own understanding, or habits of grace, +or means, &c., and that they do not go about duties with that +single dependence on Christ that is requisite, nor do they suck +life, strength, and sap from him, by faith through the promises, +nor give themselves up to him by faith, that he may work in them +both to will and to do. Should not this be seen, mourned for, and +helped?</p> +<p>3. If all this shortcoming and disappointment cause them lie in +the dust, and humble themselves more and more before the Lord, the +grace of humiliation is growing, and that is no small advantage, to +be growing downward.</p> +<p>4. Withal, they would do well to hold on in duty, looking to +Christ for help, and rolling all difficulties on him, give +themselves away to him, as their head and Lord, and so continue +their life of faith, or their consenting to let Christ live in them +by faith, or work in them by his Spirit what is well-pleasing in +his sight, and wait for the blessing and fruit in God's own +time.</p> +<p><i>Next</i>, It will be objected, Though we might wait thus, yet +how unedifying are we unto others, when there appeareth no fruit of +the spirit of grace in us.</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. A Christian behaviour and deportment under the sense +of fruitlessness, expressing an holy submission of soul unto God, +as sovereign, much humility of mind before him, justifying of God, +and taking guilt to themselves, with a firm resolution, to wait on +patiently in the use of means appointed, cannot but be edifying to +Christian souls; such exercises being really the works and fruit of +the spirit of grace working within.</p> +<p>But, <i>thirdly</i>, some may say, How then are the promises of +the covenant made good?</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. 1. The same measure of sanctification and holiness +is not promised to all.</p> +<p>2. No great measure is promised to any absolutely. So much +indeed is secured to all believers as shall carry them to heaven, +as without which they cannot see God. But much as to the degree +depends on our performing through faith the conditions requisite, +to wit, on condition of our abiding in the vine, of our acting +faith on him, &c.; and when these and the like conditions are +not faithfully performed by us, what can we expect? So the Lord +hath appointed a way wherein he will be found, and will have us to +wait for strength and influence from him; and if we neglect these +means which he hath appointed, how can we expect the good which he +hath promised in the use of these means?</p> +<p>3. The Lord has his own time of making good all his promises, +and we must not limit him to a day.</p> +<p>4. Hereby the Lord may be trying and exercising thy faith, +patience, hope, dependence, submission, diligence, &c., and "if +these be in thee, and abound, they shall make that thou shalt +neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus +Christ," 2 Pet. i. 11.</p> +<p>But <i>lastly</i>, It will be inquired, what can support the +believing soul in this case?</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. 1. The consideration and faith of the covenant of +redemption, wherein both the Father's engagement of the Son, and +the Son's engagement to the Father, secureth grace and holiness, +and salvation to the believer. And whatever we be, they will be +true to each other,—our unbelief will not make the faith of +God of none effect.</p> +<p>2. The consideration of the noble and faithful promises +contained in the covenant of grace, which shall all be made good in +due time.</p> +<p>3. If we be humbled under the sense of our failings and +shortcomings, and made to mourn before the Lord, stirred up to more +diligence and seriousness, that may yield comfort to our soul. If +we be growing in humility, godly sorrow, repentance, diligence, and +be gripping faster by faith to the root, we want not ground of joy +and support; for if that be, we cannot want fruit.</p> +<p>4. It should be matter of joy and thanksgiving, that the +believer is kept from turning his back on the way of God, and kept +with his face still Zion-ward. Though he make but little progress, +yet he is still looking forward, and creeping as he may, waiting at +God's door, begging and asking, studying, labouring, and +endeavouring for strength to go faster.</p> +<p>5. It is no small matter of peace and comfort, if we be kept +from fretting, grudging and repining at the Lord's dispensations +with us, and be taught to sit silent in the dust, adoring his +sovereignty, and ascribing no iniquity to our Maker.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII." id="CHAPTER_VIII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR TAKING THE GUILT OF OUR DAILY +OUT-BREAKINGS AWAY.</h4> +<p>The next part of our sanctification is in reference to our daily +failings and transgressions, committed partly through the violence +of temptations, as we see in David and Peter, and other eminent men +of God; partly through daily infirmities, because of our weakness +and imperfections; for, "in many things we offend all," James iii. +2; and, "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the +truth is not in us," 1 John i. 8; "a righteous man falleth seven +times," Prov. xxiv. 16; "there is not a just man upon earth, that +doeth good and sinneth not," Eccl. vii. 20; and Solomon further +saith, 1 Kings viii. 46, "That there is no man that sinneth not." +This being so, the question is, how Christ is to be made use of, +for taking these away.</p> +<p>For satisfaction to this, it would be considered, that in those +daily out breakings there are two things to be noticed. +<i>First</i>, There is the guilt which is commonly called <i>reatus +paenae</i>, whereby the transgressor is liable to the sentence of +the law, or to the penalty annexed to the breach thereof, which is +no less than God's curse; for "cursed is every one that abideth not +in all things, which are in the law to do them," Gal. iii. 10. +<i>Next</i>, There is the stain or blot, which is called <i>reatus +culpae</i>, whereby the soul is defiled, and made in so far +incapable of glory, (for nothing entereth in there which defileth,) +and of communion and fellowship with God, who is of purer eyes than +he can behold iniquity. So that it is manifest, how necessary it is +that both these be taken away, that they may not stand in our way +to the Father. And as to both, we must make use of Christ, who is +the only way to the Father.</p> +<p>And this we shall now clear. And, <i>first</i>, speak of the +taking away of the guilt that is contracted by every sin. And for +this cause we shall speak briefly to two things. (1.) Shew what +Christ hath done as Mediator, for this end, that the guilt +contracted by our daily failings and out-breakings, might be taken +away. (2.) Shew what the believer should do for the guilt taken +away in Christ; or how he should make use of Christ for +reconciliation with God after transgressions; or, for the taking +away of the guilt that he lieth under, because of his violation of +the law.</p> +<p>As to the first, we say, Christ, for taking away of guilt +contracted daily, hath done these things:</p> +<p>1. Christ laid down his life a ransom for all the sins of the +elect; both such as were past before they believed, and such as +were to be committed after. His blood was shed for the remission of +sins indefinitely, and without distinction, Matt. xxvi. 28.</p> +<p>2. And this was done according to the tenor of the covenant of +redemption, wherein the Father "caused all our sins to meet +together on him," Isa. liii. 6; and made him sin, or a sacrifice +for sin, indefinitely, 2 Cor. v. 21; and so did not except the sins +committed after conversion.</p> +<p>3. Having satisfied justice, and being risen from the dead as a +conqueror, he is now exalted to "be a prince, to give repentance +and remission of sins," Acts v. 31. Now repentance and remission of +sins his people have need of, after conversion as well as before +conversion.</p> +<p>4. There are promises of pardon and remission of sins in the new +covenant of grace, all which are sealed and confirmed in the blood +of Jesus, Jer. xxxi. 34, "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I +will remember their sin no more." And chap, xxxiii. 8, "And I will +cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned +against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they +have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me." Isa. +xliii. 25, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions +for mine own sake; and will not remember thy sins."</p> +<p>5. Though there be no actual pardon of sins, till they be +committed, and repented of, according to the tenor of the gospel, +Matt. iii. 2, Luke xiii. 3. Acts ii. 38; and viii. 22; yet while +Christ bare all the sins of his people upon the cross, they were +all then virtually and meritoriously taken away; of which Christ's +resurrection was a certain pledge and evidence; for then got he his +acquitance from all that either law or justice could charge him +with, in behalf of them, for whom he laid down his life a ransom. +Rom. viii. 33, 34, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's +elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is +Christ that died, or rather that is risen again."</p> +<p>6. So that by virtue of Christ's death, there is a way laid +down, in the covenant of grace, how the sins of the elect shall be +actually pardoned, viz. that at their conversion and first laying +hold on Christ by faith, all the sins, whereof they then stand +guilty, shall be actually pardoned and forgiven, in their +justification; and all their after-sins shall also be actually +pardoned, upon their griping to Christ of new by faith, and turning +to God by repentance. And this way is agreed to by Father and Son, +and revealed in the gospel, for the instruction and encouragement +of believers; and all to the glory of his free grace. "In whom we +have redemption, (saith the apostle, Eph. i. 7-9) through his +blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his +grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and +prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, +according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in +himself."</p> +<p>7. Beside Christ's death and resurrection, which give ground of +hope, of pardon, of daily out-breakings, there is likewise his +intercession useful for this end. For, so saith the apostle, 1 John +ii. 1, 2, "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, +Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our +sins." This intercession is a special part of his priesthood, who +was the great high priest, Heb. iv. 14, 1; and a completing part, +Heb. viii. 4, and ix. 8; and upon this account it is, that "He is +able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God through him, +because he liveth for ever to make intercession for them," Heb. +vii. 25. For by his intercession is the work of redemption carried +on, the purchased benefits applied, and particularly, new grants of +remission are, through his intercession, issued forth: he pleading +and interceding, in a way suitable, to his glorified condition, +upon his death and propitiation made, while he was upon the cross, +accepted of the Father, and declared to be accepted by his +resurrection, ascension, and sitting at his Father's right hand. +And thus, as believers are reconciled to God by Christ's death, +they are saved by his life, Rom. v. 10. So that Christ's living to +be an intercessor, makes the salvation sure; and so laying down a +ground for taking away of daily out-breakings, which, if not taken +away, would hinder and obstruct the believer's salvation.</p> +<p>8. And as for the condition requisite to renewed pardon, viz. +faith and repentance, Christ is the worker of both. For he is a +prince exalted to give repentance, first and last, Acts iv. 30; and +as he is the author of faith, so he is the finisher of it, Heb. +xii. 2.</p> +<p>As to the <i>second</i> particular, namely, what believers +should do for getting the guilt of their daily failings and +out-breakings taken away by Christ; or how they should make use of +Christ for this end, I shall, for clearing of it, propose those +things to consideration:</p> +<p>1. We would beware to think, that all our after actual +transgressions are actually pardoned, either when Christ died, or +when we first believed in Christ, as some suppose; for sin cannot +properly be said to be pardoned before it be committed. David was +put to sue out for pardon, after his actual transgression was +committed, and not for the mere sense and feeling of the pardon, or +the intimation of it to his spirit, when he cried out, Psalm li. 2, +"Blot out my transgressions, wash me," &c; and verse 9, "Hide +thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities;" and verse +14, "Deliver me from blood-guiltiness." Sure when he spoke thus, he +sought some other thing than intimation of pardon to his sense and +conscience; for that he desired also, but in far more clear +expressions, verse 8, "Make me to hear joy and gladness," &c.; +and verse 12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation," &c. +Scripture phrases to express remission import this, viz. covering +of sin, pardoning of debts, blotting out of sins, hiding of God's +face from sin, not remembering of them, casting of them behind his +back, casting of them into the sea, removing of sin, Psalm xxxiii. +1, 2. These and the like phrases, though many of them be +metaphorical, yet do all of them clearly evince, that sin must +first have a being before it can be pardoned. The same is clearly +imported by the gospel conditions requisite before pardon; such as +acknowledgment of sin, (1 John i. 9) which we see was practised by +the worthies of old; David, Psalm xxxii. 51. Nehemiah, chap. ix. +Ezra, chap. ix. and Daniel, chap. ix. Confessing and forsaking of +it, Prov. xxviii. 13. Sorrowing for it, and repenting of it, and +laying hold on Christ by faith, &c.</p> +<p>The reason why I propose this, is not only to guard against this +Antinomian error, but also to guard the soul from security, to +which this doctrine hath a natural tendency. For if a person once +think, that all his sins were pardoned, upon his first believing, +so that many of them were pardoned before they were committed; he +shall never be affected for his after transgressions, nor complain +of a body of death, nor account himself miserable upon that +account, as Paul did, Rom. vii. 24; nor shall he ever pray for +remission, though Christ has taught all to do so, in that pattern +of prayer; nor shall he act faith upon the promise of pardon made +in the covenant of grace for after transgressions, or for +transgressions actually committed, Jer. xxxi. 34, and xxxiii. 8. +Heb. viii. 12; and so there shall be no use made of Christ for new +pardons, or remissions of new sins.</p> +<p>2. The believer would remember, that among other things, +antecedently requisite to remission of posterior actual +transgressions, gospel repentance is especially required, (Luke +xiii. 3. Matt. iii. 2. Ezek. xviii. 28, 30. Luke xv. 17,18. Hos. +ii. 6, 7. Ezek. xiv. 6,) whereby a sinner, through the help of the +Spirit, being convinced not only of his hazard by reason of sin, +but also of the hatefulness and filthiness of sin; and having a +sight of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to sinners, turning from +their sin, doth turn from those sins unto God, with a full purpose +of heart, in his strength, to follow him, and obey his laws. And +hereby the soul is brought to loathe itself and sin, and is made +willing to desire, seek for, accept of, and prize remissions of +sins. This makes them more wary and careful in time coming; "For +behold," says the apostle, 2 Cor. vii. 11, "this self same thing +that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in +you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, +what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what +revenge," &c. Thus is God glorified in his justice, Psalm li. +4; and his mercy is acknowledged, in not entering with us into +judgment, nor casting us into hell, as he might have done in +justice.</p> +<p>3. Yet it would be remembered, that though it hath seemed good +in the Lord's eyes to choose this method, and appoint this way of +obtaining pardon of sins daily committed, for the glory of his +grace and mercy; and likewise for our good, we must not ascribe too +much unto repentance, in the matter of pardon. We must not make it +a cause of our remission, either efficient or meritorious. We must +not think that it hath any hand in appeasing the wrath of God, or +in satisfying justice. Pardon must always be an act of God's free +grace, unmerited at our hands, and procured alone through the +merits of Christ. We must not put repentance in Christ's room and +place, nor ascribe any imperfection unto his merits, as if they +needed any supply from any act of ours. We must beware of leaning +to our repentance and godly sorrow, even so far as to think to +commend ourselves to God, thereby that we may obtain pardon.</p> +<p>4. The believer would consider seriously the dreadfulness of +their condition who are lying under the lash of the law for sin. +The law saith, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all +things written in the law;" and every sin is a transgression of the +law. So that, according to law and justice, they are in hazard. For +every sin in itself exposeth the sinner to eternal wrath, sin being +an offence against God, who is a righteous judge, and a breach of +his law. A right sight and apprehension of this, would serve to +humble the sinner before God, and make him more earnest in seeking +out for pardon, that this obligation to punishment might be +removed.</p> +<p>5. The believer would not only consider the sin itself, but also +take notice of all its aggravations. There are peculiar +aggravations of some sins taken from the time, manner, and other +circumstances, which, rightly considered, will help forward the +work of humiliation. And the sins of believers have this +aggravation above the sins of others, that they are committed +against more love, and special love, and against more opposition +and contradiction of the grace of God within the soul, against more +light and conviction, &c. And therefore their humiliation upon +this account ought to be singular and serious. So was it with +David, when he took notice of the special aggravation of his sin, +Psalm li. 4, 6, 14, and Ezra, chap ix. and Nehemiah, chap. ix. and +Daniel chap. ix. This considering of sin, with its due +aggravations, would help to prize mercies at a high rate, and cause +the soul more willingly wait for and more seriously seek after +remission; knowing that God is more angry for great sins, than for +sins of infirmity, and may therefore pursue the same with sorer +judgments, as he broke David's bones, withdrew his comforts, +&c.</p> +<p>6. The believer would be convinced of an impossibility of doing +anything in himself which can procure pardon at the hands of God; +should he weep, cry, afflict himself, and pray never so, all will +do nothing by way of merit, for taking away of the least sin that +ever he committed; and the conviction of this would drive him to +despair in himself, and be a mean to bring him cleanly off himself, +and to look out for mere mercy in Christ Jesus. So long as, through +the deceitfulness of Satan, the false heart inclineth to the old +bias, and hath its eye upon any thing in itself, from whence it +draweth its hopes and expectation of pardon and acceptance, it will +not purely act faith on Christ for this end, and so he will lose +all his labour, and in the end be disappointed. Therefore the +believer would guard against this, and that so much the more, that +the false deceitful heart is so much inclined thereto; and that +this deceit can sometime work so cunningly, that it can hardly be +discerned, being covered over with many false glosses and pretexts; +and that it is so dishonourable to Jesus, and hurtful and +prejudicial to the soul.</p> +<p>7. The believer would act faith on the promises of pardon in the +new covenant, as having a right to them through Jesus Christ, and +challenge with humble boldness, the fulfilling of the same, +according to that, 1 John i. 9, "If we confess our sins, he is +faithful and just to forgive us our sins." So that the believer may +not only take hold of mercy and grace in God, as an encouragement +and invitation to go to God for pardon; but even of the justice and +righteousness of God, because of his faithful promises; and the +believer would have here a special eye to Christ, in whom all the +promises are yea and amen; and look for the accomplishment of them +through him, and for his sake alone.</p> +<p>8. Faith would eye Christ, as hanging upon the cross, and +offering up himself, through the eternal Spirit, a sacrifice to +satisfy divine justice, for all the sins of his own chosen ones; we +cannot think, that Christ bare but some of their sins, or only +their sins committed before conversion; and if he bare all, as the +Father laid all upon him, the believer is to lay hold on him by +faith, as hanging on the cross, as well for taking away of the +guilt of sins committed after conversion, as before; his sacrifice +was a sacrifice for all, "and he bare our sins (without distinction +or exception,) in his own body on the tree," 1 Pet. ii. 24. David +had his eye on this, when he cried out, Psalm li. 7, "Purge me with +hyssop;" hyssop being sometimes used in the legal purifications, +which typified that purification which Christ really wrought when +he gave himself a sacrifice for sin, Levit. xiv. 6. Num. xix. +18.</p> +<p>9. The believer looking on Christ, dying as a Mediator, to +pacify the wrath of God, and to make satisfaction to the justice of +God, for the sins of his people, would renew his consent unto that +gracious and wise contrivance of Heaven, of pardoning sins, through +a crucified Mediator, that mercy and justice might kiss each other, +and be glorified together; and declare again his full satisfaction +with Christ's satisfying of justice for him, and taking away the +guilt of his sins, by that blood that was shed upon the cross, by +taking those sins, whereof now he standeth guilty, and for which he +is desirous of pardon, and by faith nailing them to the cross of +Christ, and rolling them on his shoulders, that the guilt of them, +as well as of the rest, might be taken away, through the merits of +his death and satisfaction. Thus the believer consenteth to the +noble act of free grace, whereby the Lord made all our sins to meet +together on Christ, when he taketh those particular sins, wherewith +now he is troubled, and casteth them in into the heap, that Christ, +as the true scape-goat, may carry all away. This is to lay our +hands on the head of our sacrifice.</p> +<p>10. The believer hath another ground of comfort to grip to, in +this case, and that is, Christ's eternal priesthood, whereby he +makes intercession for the transgressions of his people, and as +their advocate and attorney with the Father, pleadeth their cause, +whereby he is able to save them to the last and uttermost step of +their journey, and so to save them from the guilt of all casual and +emergent sins, that might hinder their salvation. So that the +believer is to put those sins, that now he would have pardoned, +into the hands of Christ, the everlasting Intercessor, and +all-sufficient Advocate, that he, by virtue of his death, would +obtain a new pardon of these their failings and transgressions, and +deliverance from the guilt thereof; and their acceptance with the +Father, notwithstanding of these transgressions.</p> +<p>11. Thus believers eyeing Christ as dying, rising again, +ascending, and as sitting at the Father's right hand, there to be a +priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec, and to intercede +for his own, and to see to the application of what benefits, +pardons, favours, and other things they need, from all which they +have strong ground of comfort and of hope, yea, and assurance of +pardon, would acquiesce in this way; and having laid those +particular sins, under the burden whereof they now groan, on Christ +the Mediator, dying on the cross to make satisfaction, and arising +to make application of what was purchased, and having put them in +his hand, who is a faithful high priest, and a noble intercessor, +would remember, that "Christ is a prince exalted, to give +repentance and remission of sins;" and so expect the sentence even +from him, as a prince now exalted, and as having obtained that of +the Father, even a power to forgive sins, justice being now +sufficiently satisfied, through his death; yea, and as having all +power in heaven and in earth, as being Lord both of the dead and of +the living. Sure a right thought of this would much quiet the soul, +in hope of obtaining pardon through him; seeing now the pardon is +in his own hand, to give out, who loved them so dearly, that he +gave himself to the death for them, and shed his heart blood to +satisfy justice for their transgressions. Since he who hath +procured their pardon at so dear a rate, and is their attorney to +agent their business at the throne of grace, hath now obtained the +prayed-for and looked-for pardon, and hath it in his own hand, they +will not question but he will give it, and so absolve them from +their guilt.</p> +<p>12. The believer, having taken this course with his daily +provocations, and laid them all on him, would aquiesce in this way, +and not seek after another, that he may obtain pardon. Here he +would rest, committing the matter by faith in prayer to Christ, and +leaving his guilt and sins on him, expect the pardon, yea, +conclude, that they are already pardoned; and that for these sins, +he shall never be brought unto condemnation, whatever Satan and a +misbelieving heart may say or suggest afterward.</p> +<p>Thus should a believer make use of Christ, for the taking away +of the guilt of his daily transgressions; and for further clearing +of it, I shall add a few cautions.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>1. However the believer is to be much moved at, and affected +with his sins and provocations, which he committeth after God hath +visited his soul with salvation, and brought him into a covenant +with himself, yet he must not suppose, that his sins after +justification do mar his state; as if thereby he were brought into +a non-justified state, or to a non-reconciled state. It is true, +such sins, especially if gross, whether in themselves, or by reason +of circumstances, will darken a man's state, and put him to search +and try his condition over again. But yet we dare not say, that +they make any alteration in the state of a believer; for once in a +justified state always in a justified state. It is true likewise, +that as to those sins, which now he hath committed, he cannot be +said to be acquitted or justified, till this pardon be got out by +faith and repentance, as is said; yet his state remaineth fixed and +unchanged; so that though God should seem to deal with such in his +dispensations, as with enemies, yet really his affections change +not; he never accounteth them real enemies; nay, love lieth at the +bottom of all his sharpest dispensations. If they forsake his law, +and walk not in his judgments; if they break his statutes and keep +not his commandments, he will visit their transgression with the +rod, and their iniquity with stripes, nevertheless his +loving-kindness will he not utterly take from them, nor suffer his +faithfulness to fail; his covenant will he not break, nor alter the +thing that has gone out of his lips, Psalm lxxxix. 30-34. And +again, though after transgressions may waken challenges for former +sins, which have been pardoned and blotted out, and give occasions +to Satan to raise a storm in the soul, and put all in confusion, +yet really sins once pardoned cannot become again unpardoned sins. +The Lord doth not revoke his sentence, nor alter the thing that is +gone out of his mouth. It is true likewise, that a believer, by +committing of gross sins, may come to miss the effects of God's +favour and good will, and the intimations of his love and kindness; +and so be made to cry with David, Psalm li. 8, "Make me to hear joy +and gladness;" and ver. 12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy +salvation," &c. Yet that really holdeth true, that whom he +loveth he loveth to the end; and he is a God that changeth not; and +his gifts are without repentance. Yea, though grieving of the +Spirit may bring souls under sharp throes, and pangs of the spirit +of bondage, and the terrors of God, and his sharp errors, the +poison whereof may drink up their spirits, and so be far from the +actual witnessings of the Spirit of adoption; yet the Spirit will +never be again really a spirit of bondage unto fear, nor deny his +own work in the soul, or the soul's real right to, or possession of +that fundamental privilege of adoption,—I say, that the soul +is no more a son, nor within the covenant.</p> +<p>2. The course before mentioned is to be taken with all sins, +though, (1.) They be never so heinous and gross. (2.) Though they +be accompanied with never such aggravating and crying aggravations. +(3.) Though they be sins frequently fallen into; and, (4.) Though +they be sins many and heaped together. David's transgression was a +heinous sin, and had heinous aggravations, yea, there was an heap +and a complication of sins together in that one; yet he followed +this course. We find none of these kind of sins excepted in the new +covenant; and where the law doth not distinguish, we ought not to +distinguish; where God's law doth not expressly exclude us, we +should not exclude ourselves. Christ's death is able enough to take +away all sin. If through it a believer be justified from all his +transgressions committed before conversion, why may not also a +believer be, through virtue of it, justified from his gross and +multiplied sins committed after conversion? The blood of Christ +cleanseth from all sin; Christ hath taught his followers to pray, +"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us;" and +he hath told us also, that we must forgive our brother seventy +times seven, Matth. xiii. <i>22.</i> We would not be discouraged +then from taking this course, because our sins are such and such; +nay, rather, we would look on this, as an argument to press us more +unto this way, because the greater our sins be, the greater need +have we of pardon, and to say with David, Psalm xxv. 11, "Pardon +mine iniquity, for it is great."</p> +<p>3. We would not think, that upon our taking of this course, we +shall be instantly freed from challenges, because of those sins, +for pardoning whereof we take this course; nor should we think, +that because challenges remain, that therefore there is no pardon +had, or that this is not the way to pardon; for, as we shall show +afterward, pardon is one thing, and intimation of pardon is another +thing. We may be pardoned, and yet suppose that we are not +pardoned; challenges will abide till the conscience be sprinkled, +and till the Prince of Peace command peace to the conscience, and +put the accuser to silence; who, when he can do no more, will mar +the peace of a believer, as long as he can, and stop the current of +his comforts, which made David pray, that "God would restore to him +the joy of his salvation," Psalm li.</p> +<p>4. Nor would we think, that upon our taking of this course for +the pardon of our sins, we shall never thereafter meet with a +challenge upon the account of these sins. It is true, when sins are +pardoned, they are fully pardoned in God's court, and that +obligation to condemnation is taken away, and the pardoned person +is looked upon as no sinner, that is, as no person liable to +condemnation because of these sins; for being pardoned he becometh +just before God; yet we dare not say, but conscience afterward, +being alarmed with new transgressions, may mistake, as people +suddenly put into a fight are ready to do; nor dare we say, that +God will not permit Satan to upbraid us with those sins, which have +been blotted out long ago, as he suffered Shimei, who was but an +instrument of Satan, to cast up to David his blood-guiltiness, +which had been pardoned long before. The Lord may think good to +suffer this, that his people may be kept humble, and made more +tender and watchful in all their ways.</p> +<p>5. Believers would not misimprove or abuse this great +condescendency of free grace, and take the great liberty to sin, +because there is such a sure, safe, and pleasant way of getting +those sins blotted out and forgiven. "Shall we sin because we are +not under grace, but under the law? That be far from us," saith the +Apostle, Rom. vi. 15. This were indeed to turn the grace of God +into lasciviousness. And it may be a question, if such as have +really repented, and gotten their sins pardoned, will be so ready +to make this use of it; sure sense of pardon will work some other +effect, as we see, Ezek. xvi. 62, 63.</p> +<p>6. The believer, in going about this work of nailing his sins to +the cross of Christ, and of improving Christ's death, resurrection, +and constant intercession, for the obtaining of pardon, would not +think of going alone, or of doing this in his own strength; for of +himself he can do nothing. He must look to Christ for grace to help +in this time of need, and must go about this duty with dependence +on him, waiting for the influence of light, counsel, strength, and +grace from him, to repent and believe; for he is a prince exalted +to give repentance, first and last, and he is the author and +finisher of faith; so that without him we can do nothing.</p> +<p>7. Let the believer beware of concluding, that be hath got no +pardon, because he hath met with no sensible intimation thereof by +the flowing in of peace and joy in his soul. Pardon is one mercy, +and intimation of it to the soul is another distinct mercy, and +separable from it: shall we therefore say, we have not gotten the +first, because we have not gotten both? The Lord, for wise reasons, +can pardon poor sinners, and not give any intimation thereof; viz. +that they may watch more against sin afterward, and not be so bold +as they have been; and that they may find more in experience, what +a bitter thing it is to sin against God, and learn withal to depend +on him for less and more; and to carry more humbly; for it may be, +God seeth, that if they saw their sins pardoned, they would forget +themselves, and rush into new sins again.</p> +<p>8. The believer must not think it strange, if he find more +trouble after greater sins, and a greater difficulty to lay hold on +Christ for pardon of those, than for pardon of others. For as God +hath been more dishonoured by these, so is his anger more kindled +upon that account; and it is suitable for the glory of God's +justice, that our sorrow for such sins be proportionally greater; +and this will likewise increase the difficulty; and ordinarily the +effects of God's fatherly displeasure make deeper wounds in the +soul after such sins, and these are not so easily healed; all which +will call for suitable and proportionally greater godly sorrow and +repentance, and acts of faith, because faith will meet with more +opposition and discouragement there, and therefore must be the more +strong, to go through these impediments, and to lay hold on his +cross. Yet though this should make all watchful, and to guard +against gross and crying sins, it should not drive any to despair, +nor to say with that despairing wretch, their sin is greater than +it can be forgiven; the ocean of mercy can drown and swallow up +greater as well as lesser sins; Christ is an all-sufficient +Mediator for the greatest sins as well as the least. "O, for thy +name's sake, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great!" will come in +season to a soul ready to sink with the weight of this millstone +tied about its neck.</p> +<p>9. As the greater sins should not make us despair of taking this +course for remission, so nor should the smallness of sin make us to +neglect this way; for the least sin cannot be pardoned but through +Jesus Christ; for the law of God is violated thereby, justice +provoked, God's authority vilified, &c. and therefore cannot be +now pardoned, by reason of the threatenings annexed to the law, +without a ransom. Death is the wages of sin, lesser and greater, +and the curse is due to all sin, greater and smaller. There, the +believer would not suffer one sin, seen and discovered, to lie +unpardoned, but on the first discovery thereof, take it away to +Christ, and nail it to the cross.</p> +<p>10. The believer would not conclude, that his sins are not +pardoned, because possibly temporal strokes, inflicted because of +them, are not removed; for though David's sin was pardoned, yet +because of that sin of his, a temporal stroke attended him and his +family, to his dying day; for not only did God cut off the child, +(2 Sam. xv. 14.), but told him, that the sword should never depart +from his house, and that he would raise up evil against him out of +his own house, and give his wives to one that should lie with them +in the sight of the sun, vers. 10, 11. So we read, that the Lord +took vengeance on their inventions whose sins he had pardoned, +Psalm xcix. 8. God may see this fit and expedient, for his own +glory, and for humbling of them, and causing them to fear the more +to sin against him. Yea, not only may temporal calamities be +inflicted, because of sin pardoned, or continued, after sin is +pardoned, but even sense of God's displeasure may continue after +pardon, as appeareth by that penitential Psalm (the fifty-first) +penned by David, after Nathan had spoken to him concerning his +sin.</p> +<br> +<p>QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.</p> +<p>1. What course shall we take with secret sins? I answer, this +same course must be followed with them. There is an implicit +repentance of sins that have not been distinctly seen and observed, +as who can see and observe all their failings? And so there may be +an implicit faith acting; that is, the believer being persuaded +that he is guilty of more sins than he hath got a clear sight of, +as he would bewail his condition before God because of these, and +sorrow for them after a godly manner, so he would take them +together in a heap, or as a closed bagful, and by faith nail them +to the cross of Christ, as if they were all distinctly seen and +known. "Who can understand his errors," said David, Psalm xix. 12: +yet says he moreover, "cleanse thou me from secret faults."</p> +<p>2. But what if, after all this, I find no intimation of pardon +to my soul? <i>Ans.</i> As this should serve to keep thee humble, +so it should excite to more diligence, in this duty of going with +thy sins to Christ, and to ply him and his cross more, in and +through the promises, and keep thy soul constant in this duty of +the running to Christ, as an all-sufficient Mediator, and as an +intercessor with the Father; and thus wait on him waiteth to be +gracious, even in this particular, of intimating pardon to thy +soul,—he knoweth when it is fittest for thee to know that thy +sins are forgiven.</p> +<p>3. But what can yield me any ground of peace while it is so, +that I see no pardon or remission granted to me? <i>Ans.</i> This +may yield thee peace, that, following this course which hath been +explained, thou art about thy duty. Thou art not at peace with sin, +nor harbouring that viper in thy soul; thou art mourning and +sorrowing over it, and running to Christ the prince of pardons, +through his blood and intercession, conform to the covenant of +redemption, and after the encouragement given in the many and +precious promises of the covenant of grace; and having these +promises, and rolling thy guilt on Christ as thy cautioner, conform +to the manner expressed in the gospel, thou art allowed to believe +that thy sins are pardoned, and that thou art accepted in the +beloved, and so quiet thy soul through faith, God abiding faithful +and true, and his promises being all yea and amen in Christ.</p> +<p>4. But so long as I find no intimation of pardon, I cannot think +that I have taken the right gospel way of bringing my sins to +Christ. <i>Ans.</i> Though that will not follow, as we cleared +above—for a soul may take the right gospel way of getting the +guilt of their sins taken away in Christ, and God may pardon +thereupon, and for all that not think it fit to give intimation of +that pardon as yet, for wise and holy ends—yet the soul may +humble itself for its shortcoming, and still go about the duty, +amending in Christ what it supposeth to be amiss, and renewing its +act of repentance and faith, and beg of Christ understanding in the +matter, and so continue carrying sin always to Christ's cross, and +eyeing his intercession, and wait for a full clearing of the matter +in his good time.</p> +<p>5. But what shall I do with the guilt of my weak repentance, and +weak faith? <i>Ans.</i> When with a weak and defective repentance +and faith thou art carrying away thy sins to Christ, and nailing +them, to his cross, let the imperfection of thy faith and +repentance go with the rest, and leave all there.</p> +<p>6. What shall I do with my conscience, that still accuseth me of +guilt, notwithstanding of my taking and following this course? +<i>Ans.</i> Despise not the accusation of conscience, but let these +humble thee the more, and keep thee closer at this duty. Yet know, +that conscience is but an under servant, and God's deputy, and must +accuse according to law, (I speak not here of the irregular, +furious, and turbulent motions of Satan, casting in grenades in the +soul and conscience, to raise a combustion and put all in a fire); +its mouth, must be stopped by law, and so the soul would stay and +answer the accusations of conscience with this, that he hath fled +to Christ, the only Mediator and Cautioner, and cast his burden on +him; and leaneth to his merits alone; and hath put those sins in +his hand, as his advocate and intercessor with the Father; and that +the gospel requireth no more of him. And if conscience should say, +that both faith and repentance are imperfect and defective, and +that guilt is thereby rather increased than taken away,—he +must answer again, true; but I have done with the guilt of my faith +and repentance, as with the rest, taken all to Christ, and left all +on him; and herein only do I acquiesce,—I look not for pardon +for my imperfect faith and repentance, yea, nor would I look for +pardon of my sins, for my faith and repentance, were they never so +perfect, but only in and through Jesus Christ, the only Cautioner, +Redeemer, and Advocate. But further, this deputy would be brought +to his master, who can only command him to silence; that is to say, +the believer would go to Christ with the accusing conscience, and +desire him to command its silence, that he may have peace of +conscience, and freedom from those accusations that are bitter and +troublesome. Remember withal, that if these accusations drive thee +to Christ, and endear him more to thy soul, they will do no harm, +because they drive thee to thy only resting place, and to the grand +peacemaker. But if otherwise they discourage or for-slow thee in +thy motion Christward, then be sure conscience speaketh without +warrant, and its accusations ought not, in so far, and as to that +end, to be regarded.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX." id="CHAPTER_IX."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR CLEANSING OF US FROM OUR DAILY +SPOTS.</h4> +<br> +<p>Having spoken of the way of making use of Christ for removing +the guilt of our daily transgressions, we come to speak of the way +of making use of Christ, for taking away the guilt that cleaveth to +the soul, through daily transgressions; "for every sin defileth the +man," Matt. xv. 20; and the best are said to have their spots, and +to need washing, which presupposeth filthiness and defilement, Eph. +v. 27. John xiii. 8-10. Hence we are so oft called to this duty of +washing and making us clean. Isa. i. 16. Jer. iv. 14. Acts xxii. +16. David prays for this washing, Psal. li. 2-7. And it is Christ's +work to wash. 1 Cor. vi. 11. Rev. i. 5. Eph. v. 26. See Tit. iii. +5. Now, in speaking to this, we shall observe the same method; and +first shew, what Christ has done to take away this filth; and next, +what way we are to make use of him, for this end, to get our spots +and filthiness taken away, that we may be holy.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first</i>, for the purging away of the filth of our +daily failings and transgressions, Christ has done these +things:</p> +<p>1. He hath died that he may procure this benefit and advantage +to us; and thus he hath washed us meritoriously in his own blood +which he shed upon the cross. Thus he "loved us, and washed us from +our sins, in his own blood," Rev. i. 5; and this is from all sins, +as well such as are committed after, as such as are committed +before conversion. Thus, "he by himself purged our sins," Heb. i. +3, viz. by offering up of himself as an expiatory sacrifice to make +an atonement, and so procure this liberty. So also it is said, Eph. +v. 25-27, that Christ gave himself for his church, "that he might +sanctify and cleanse it—that he might present it to himself a +glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but +that it should be holy and without blemish." So, Tit. ii. 14, "He +gave himself for us, that he might purify to himself a peculiar +people, zealous of good works." Here then is the foundation and +ground of all cleansing and purification—Christ's death +procuring it.</p> +<p>2. As he hath procured, so he sendeth the Spirit to effectuate +this, and to work this washing and sanctification in us. Hence, it +is said, 1 Cor. vi. 11, "that we are sanctified and washed, in the +name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." We are said +to be saved "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the +Holy Ghost, which he hath shed upon us abundantly through Jesus +Christ our Saviour," Tit. iii. 5, 6. The sending then, or shedding +of the holy and sanctifying Spirit upon us, whereby we are +sanctified, and consequently purified and purged from our filth, is +a fruit of Christ's death and mediation, being purchased thereby, +and is an effect of his resurrection, and glorification, and +intercession in glory.</p> +<p>3. He hath made a fountain of his blood for this end, that we +may go to it daily, and wash and be clean. Thus his "blood +cleanseth from all sin," 1 John i. 7-9. This is the "fountain +opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem +for sin and for uncleanness," Zech. xiii. 1.</p> +<p>4. He hath purchased and provided the external means, whereby +this cleansing and sanctification is brought about, viz. the +preaching of the gospel, which he himself preached, and thereby +sanctified, John xv. 3, "Now are ye clean through the word that I +have spoken unto you." Eph. v. 26, the church is "sanctified and +cleansed with the washing of water, by the word."</p> +<p>5. So hath he procured, and worketh in the soul those graces +that promove and carry on this work of sanctification and +purifying; such as faith, which purifieth the heart, Acts xv. 9; +whereof he is the author and finisher, Heb. xii.; and hope, which +whosoever hath, "purifieth himself, even as he is pure," 1 John +iii. 3.</p> +<p>6. He hath confirmed and ratified all the promises of the +covenant, which are ample and large, touching this cleansing and +washing, Jer. xxxv. 8, "And I will cleanse them from all their +iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me." Ezek. xxxvi. 25, +"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean +from all your filthiness." So Ezek. xxxvii. 23, "and I will cleanse +them." And all the other promises of the covenant, apprehended by +faith, have no small influence on our cleansing; 2 Cor. vii. 1. +"Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves," +&c.; all which promises are yea and amen in Christ, 2 Cor. i. +20.</p> +<p>Thus Christ made all sure, for the cleansing and washing of his +people, conform to that article of the covenant of redemption, "so +shall he sprinkle many nations," Isa. lii. 15.</p> +<p><i>Secondly,</i> As to the way of our use-making of Christ for +the purging away of our filth and daily pollutions, believers would +take this course:</p> +<p>1. They would remember and live in the conviction of the +exceeding abominableness and filthiness of sin, which is compared +to the vomit of a dog, and to the mire wherein the sow walloweth, 2 +Pet. ii. 22; filthy rags, Isa. lxiv. 6; to a menstruous cloth, Isa. +xxx. 22, and the like, that this may move them to seek with greater +care and diligence, to have that filth taken away.</p> +<p>2. They would remember also how abominable sin makes them in the +eyes of an holy God, "who cannot behold iniquity," being a God of +purer eyes than to behold it, Hab. i. 13; nor can he look on it; +and how therefore no thing can enter into the New Jerusalem, nor +any thing that defileth. And this will make them so much the more +to abhor it, and to seek to be washed from it.</p> +<p>3. They would look by faith on the blood of Christ that is shed +for this end, to wash filthy souls into; and run to it as a +fountain opened for this end, that they might come to it, and wash +and be clean.</p> +<p>4. For their encouragement, they would grip by faith to the +promises of the new covenant, which are large and full.</p> +<p>5. And remember the end of Christ's death, viz., to purchase to +himself a holy people, zealous of good works, to present them to +himself holy, and without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; and +this will be further ground of encouragement.</p> +<p>6. They would put the work by faith in his hand, who hath best +skill to wash a foul soul, and to purge away all their spots; and +by faith pray for and expect the Spirit to sanctify and cleanse +them from all their filthiness; that is, they would make known and +spread forth their abominations before the Lord, and eyeing Christ +as the only great High Priest, whose blood is a fountain to wash +in, would lay the work on him, and by faith put him to wash away +that filth, and to purify their souls by his Spirit, pardoning +their bygone iniquities and renewing them in the Spirit of their +minds by grace, that they may walk before him in fear. Thus they +would roll the work on him, and leave it there.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS.</p> +<p><i>First,</i> The believer would in all this work be kept in the +exercise of these graces following:</p> +<p>1. Of humility; seeing what a vile, filthy wretch he is, that +stands in need of washing and purging daily, because of his daily +pollutions and transgressions.</p> +<p>2. Of love; considering with what a loving God he hath to do, +that hath provided so liberally all things for him, and +particularly hath provided a fountain, and such a fountain, whereto +he not only may, but is commanded to resort daily.</p> +<p>3. Of thankfulness; remembering how great this mercy is, how +unworthy he is, on whom it is bestowed, and who he is that doth +grant it.</p> +<p>4. Of fear; lest God's goodness be abused, and he provoked who +is so gracious to us.</p> +<p>5. Of sincerity, and godly ingenuity, avoiding all hypocrisy and +formality, knowing that we have to do with him, who will not be +mocked.</p> +<p>6. Of holy hatred; loathing and abhorrence of sin, which makes +us so filthy and odious in the eyes of the Lord.</p> +<p><i>Secondly,</i> This course would be followed for the purging +away of the least sins; for till they be purged away, we remain in +our filth, and cannot expect God's favourable countenance, nor his +warm embracements, nor the hearty intimations of his love and +kindness. And a small inconsiderable like spot may grow greater, +and provoke God to let the accuser of the brethren, Satan, who +always waits for his opportunity, loose upon us, and a conscience +wakened may make much of a little defilement to keep the soul from +approaching to God.</p> +<p>3. This course would be followed with every sin, quickly without +delay; for the longer those spots continue, it will be the more +difficult to get them taken away. The soul will after some time, +become the less troubled about them, and possibly forget them, and +so they will remain; and this may occasion at last a sad distance, +and provoke God to hide his face, which will cause more bitterness +and sorrow. It were good, then, to keep up a spirit of tenderness +and fear.</p> +<p>4. Let this be our daily work and exercise; for we are daily +contracting new filth. Yesterday's cleansing will not save us from +new filth to-day; nor will our running to the fountain to-day, +serve to take away new spots to-morrow; new spots call for new +washing, so that this must be our very life and exercise, to be +daily and continually running to the fountain with our souls; and +giving Christ, the great purger, much to do.</p> +<p>5. We must not think to be perfectly washed, so long as we are +here; for we will be contracting new filth daily, our feet will +still be to wash, John xiii. 10. We will not be without spot or +wrinkle, till we come home to that place, wherein entereth nothing +that defileth.</p> +<p>6. Let the believer's recourse in this matter be wholly to Jesus +Christ and his blood, and lay no weight on their sorrow, +repentance, or tears, or on any outward means which they are +commanded to use; yet would they not lay aside these means, but go +through them to the fountain, to Jesus, there, and there only to be +cleansed.</p> +<p>7. They should not be discouraged or despair when their spots +appear great, and not like the spots of his children; for Christ's +blood can purge from all sin, and wash away all their filth, of how +deep soever a dye it be. Christ's blood is so deep an ocean, that a +mountain will be sunk out of sight in it, as well as a small pebble +stone.</p> +<p>8. Though Christ's blood be strong enough to purge from all sin, +even the greatest, yet they should know, that scandalous spots, or +a deep stain, may cost them more frequent running to the fountain, +through humiliation, godly sorrow, prayer, and supplication. +David's scandalous blot cost him more trouble and pains, before he +got it purged away, than many others, as we see, Psalm li.</p> +<p>9. When all this is done, we must think of having on another +righteousness, as our clothing and covering, in the day of our +appearance before our Judge—even the righteousness of Jesus +Christ, which only is perfect, and able to save us from the wrath +of God. Let us be never so washed in the matter of sanctification, +and cleansed from our spots, we cannot for all that be accounted +righteous before God; nor will that satisfy justice, or take away +the guilt so much as of one transgression before God. Christ's +righteousness will be our upper garment for all eternity. This is +the fine linen wherewith his bride is busked in heaven.</p> +<p>10. At every time we run to the fountain with our daily +contracted filth, we would not forget to carry along with us the +mother corruption, which is the sink and puddle of all filthiness; +I mean our natural corrupted rottenness and pollution, from whence +flow all our other actual pollutions. We would do well to carry +mother and daughter both together to the fountain. David prayed to +be washed and purged, as well from his original filthiness, wherein +he was conceived and born, as from his blood-guiltiness. Psalm li. +5, 7.</p> +<p>11. Let not this occasion our carelessness in watching against +sin; for that would be, to turn his grace into wantonness; but +rather let it sharpen our diligence in watching against all +occasions of sin, lest we again defile our soul.</p> +<p>12. Not only must we have our bodies, or our outward +conversation washed, but our soul within, the frame of our heart, +our understanding, will, affections, and conscience, sprinkled with +that blood. The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit +"offered himself without spot to God," must purge our Consciences +from dead works, to serve the living God, Heb. ix. 14. and we must +"have our hearts, sprinkled from an evil conscience," Heb. x. +22.</p> +<p><i>Finally,</i> If the believer fear that he shall not be able +to remember all these particular duties, let him remember this, +viz. to put a foul soul, defiled with original and actual +pollutions, in Christ's hand daily, and leave it to him to wash by +his blood and Spirit; and yet remember to lay the weight of his +acceptance before God, upon the imputed righteousness of Jesus +Christ, and not upon his own cleanness, when thus sanctified and +washen, which is but imperfect.</p> +<br> +<p>QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.</p> +<p>But, alas! some may object, and say, that their very faith, +which must carry the rest of their filth to the fountain of +Christ's blood, is defiled. How, then, can they expect to be made +clean? <i>Answer.</i> The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficiently +able to wash all our filth away; and the filth of faith, as well as +of other actions. Therefore, when faith, as a hand, is carrying the +filth of the soul away to Christ to be washed in his blood, let the +foul hand go with the foul handful; give Christ faith and all to +wash.</p> +<p>2. But what shall I do, when, notwithstanding of all this, my +conscience shall still accuse me of uncleanness, and cry out +against me as filthy and abominable? <i>Answer.</i> Take it away +also to the blood of Jesus, that there it may be purged, Heb. ix. +14; and here alone will we "get our hearts sprinkled from an evil +conscience," Heb. x. 22. The conscience must be steeped, so to +speak, in the blood of Jesus, and so it shall be clean. And taking +our filthy hearts to this cleansing fountain to be washed, we will +get them delivered and sprinkled from an evil conscience, that it +shall no more have ground of accusation against us. When we have it +to say, that we have put our filthy souls in the hand of the great +cleanser, Jesus Christ, and brought all our pollutions to his +blood, what can conscience say to us? The Lord, it is true, may +suffer our conscience still to bark upon us, and cast up our +filthiness to us, that we may be the more humbled, and be put to +lie more constantly at the fountain; yet when we have fled to +Christ, and taken our filthiness to the open and appointed +fountain, we can answer the accusations of conscience in law, and +have peace.</p> +<p>3. But I am apt to think, will some say, that if I had once +taken the right way to get my sins and filthiness purged away, my +conscience would trouble me no more; but now, so long as it doggeth +me thus, I cannot think that the way which I have taken is the +right way. <i>Answer.</i> Though the Lord may think good to suffer +conscience to trouble a man for a time, though he hath taken the +right way, as is said, for a further exercise and trial to him; yet +the believer will have no less disadvantage by examining his way, +and trying whether he hath laid the matter cleanly over on Christ, +or whether he hath laid too much weight on his own humiliation, +sorrow, and pains; and whether he be leaving the matter on Jesus, +and expecting to be washed alone in his blood, or looking into +himself, and expecting some help in the matter from self; and after +trial, would mourn for any failing he gets discovered, and still be +about that work of running with filth to the fountain. But withal +they would go to Christ for help, because without him they cannot +come to him; they cannot come or carry their soul to the fountain +opened for sin and for uncleanness; so that in all this work, there +would be a single dependence on Christ for understanding and +strength to go about this work aright.</p> +<p>Thus have we endeavoured to clear up Christ being the way to the +Father, first and last; and how all believers or unbelievers are to +make use of him as the way to the Father, whatever their condition +be: from all which we may see,</p> +<p>1. That such are in a wretched and forlorn condition who are +still strangers to Christ, and will not lay hold on him, nor come +to him, and walk in him, and make use of him. They are unrighteous +and unholy, and daily contracting more guilt and more filth; and +they know no way either for justification or sanctification, but a +way of self, which will prove like the brooks, which run dry in +summer, and disappoint the weary traveller when he hath most need. +They are without Christ, and so without the way, the only way, the +safe and sure way to the Father. And, oh! if all that is here +spoken could induce them to think once of the misery of their +condition, and to seek out for relief, that they might not only be +saved from their state of sin and misery, but brought into a state +of salvation through Jesus Christ, so that they might be justified +before God, from all that justice, the devil, the law, or +conscience could lay against them, and thoroughly sanctified, and +so at length brought home to the Father, fair and spotless.</p> +<p>2. Upon the other hand, we see the noble advantage of believers, +who, through grace, are entered in this way; for it is a full and +complete way that shall carry them safe home. They shall find that +he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through +him. And, oh! if they were sensible of this, how would it excite +them to thankfulness! How would it encourage them to run through +difficulties great and many!</p> +<p>3. We see what a special duty lieth upon believers to make +special use of Christ in all things, as the way to the Father, and +so march to heaven in him, as the only way; march in his hands, or +rather be carried in his arms and bosom. This were to go from +strength to strength, till at length they appeared in Zion, and +landed in that pleasant place of rest, where the weary are at rest, +and yet rest not day nor night, but sing praises to "him that hath +redeemed them by his blood, out of every kindred and tongue, and +people and nation, saying, blessing, honour, glory, and power, be +unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever +and ever," Rev. v. 9, 13.</p> +<p>4. Hence we may see the cause of the leanness of believers, of +their wanderings, of their shortcomings, of their many defilements, +&c. viz. their not constant making use of Christ as the way in +all things, according to the tenor of the gospel. Oh I if this were +laid to heart and mourned for, and if grace were sought to help +it!</p> +<p>This one point of truth, that Christ is the way, well understood +and rightly put into practice, would do all our business, both as +to justification and sanctification, and were poor sinners once +entered into this way, and had they grace from this way to walk in +it, it would prove their life and salvation: For it is the marrow +and substance of the whole gospel. So that there needeth little +more to be said: Yet we shall speak a little to the other +particulars in the text.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_X." id="CHAPTER_X."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<br> +<h4>"THE TRUTH." SOME GENERALS PROPOSED.</h4> +<p>That what we are to speak to for the clearing and improving this +noble piece of truth, that Christ is the Truth, may be the more +clearly understood and edifying, we shall first take notice of some +generals, and then show particularly how or in what respects Christ +is called the Truth; and finally speak to some cases wherein we are +to make use of Christ as the Truth.</p> +<p>As to the first. There are four general things here to be +noticed.</p> +<p>1. This supposeth what our case by nature is, and what we are +all without Christ, who is the Truth: as,</p> +<p><i>First.</i> It supposeth that without Christ we are in +darkness, mistakes, errors: yea, we are said to be darkness itself. +Eph. v. 8, "Ye were sometimes darkness," &c. John i. 5, and of +darkness; 1 Thess. v. 5, yea, under the "power of darkness;" Col. +i. 13. John xii. 35. 1 John ii. 11, "walking in darkness;" 1 John +i. 6, and "abiding in darkness." 1 Pet. ii. 9. 1 Thess. v. 4. John +xii. 46, "We wander and go astray as soon as we are born, speaking +lies," Psal. lviii. 3. Yea, we "go astray in the greatness of our +folly," Prov. v. 22. We are "all gone astray," Isa. liii. 6. Psal. +cxix. 67-176; so far are we from any knowledge of, or acquaintance +with truth, or with the way of truth.</p> +<p><i>Secondly.</i> It supposeth that we cannot turn into the right +way. A spirit of error and untruth leadeth us continually wrong; +like the sheep we wander still, and we weary ourselves in our +wandering; and so spend all our labour and pains in vain. Being +under the power of untruth and error, we cannot walk one step +right.</p> +<p><i>Thirdly.</i> Though all other ways, beside him who only is +the way and the truth, be false ways and by-ways, leading us away +from the true resting-place, and from that way which is the truth; +yet we are prone and ready to cleave to those false and erroneous +ways, and grip to shadows, and to lean to them, as if they were the +ways of truth: Such as,</p> +<p>1. A good heart, which many may imagine they have, when they +have nothing less.</p> +<p>2. Good intentions and purposes for time to come, which such, as +were not under the power of error and untruth, would never deceive +themselves withal.</p> +<p>3. An harmless life, without scandalous out-breakings to the +reproach of Christianity, a foundation on which no wise man, led by +truth, would build his salvation, or hopes of eternal +happiness.</p> +<p>4. An outward, moral, civil and discreet carriage, which no man +can blame, and wherein a heathen can outstrip many called +Christians; so that it must be a poor ground to found our hopes +upon; and yet many are so blinded, that they lean all their weight +upon such a rotten staff.</p> +<p>5. Outward exercise of religious duties, wherein a Pharisee may +outstrip many; and yet, O how many build all their hopes of heaven +upon this sandy foundation, which none but blinded persons would +do!</p> +<p>6. The commendation and applause of ministers and Christians, is +that which many rest upon, which is a sad proof of the blindness of +their hearts.</p> +<p>7. The way of good works and alms-deeds blindfoldeth many, and +sheweth that they were never led by truth, or taught of Christ, who +is the truth.</p> +<p>8. Some pinching grief and sorrow for sin, is another way which +people, strangers to the truth, deceive themselves withal.</p> +<p>9. A common sort of repentance, backed with some kind of +amendment and outward reformation, is a way that many rest secure +in, though it lead to destruction.</p> +<p>10. Freedom from challenges of conscience deceiveth many.</p> +<p>Though these and such like ways be dangerous, yea, deadly, yet +how many are there to be found among Christians, that have no +better ground of their hope of salvation, and will cleave to them +so fast, as no preaching will make them so much as once question +the matter, or suspect that these ways will in the end deceive +them; so strong is their inclination to the way of error, though +not as the way of error.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly.</i> It presupposeth also an inclinableness in us by +nature to wander out of the way; for being nothing but a mass of +error, made up of darkness, ignorance, and mistakes, we have a +strong bias to error, which agreeth best with our natural, +corrupted temper. Hence it is, that we have such a strong +propension to errors and mistakes: Whether,</p> +<p>1. Concerning God, and his way of dealing with his church, or +with ourselves. O how ready are our hearts by nature, to hatch and +foment wrong, unseemly, untrue, yea, unchristian, if not +blasphemous thoughts and conceptions of his nature, attributes, +word, and works? And how ready and prone are we to receive and +entertain wrong apprehensions of all his ways and dealings with his +church and people? And as for his works in and about ourselves, O! +what unsuitable, erroneous, false, ungodly, absurd, and abominable +opinions do we with greediness drink in and foster; yea, feed upon +with delight? Who is able to recount all the errors and mistakes +which our heart by nature is ready to admit and foster with +complacency? Are we not by nature ready to say, that there is not a +God,—as the fool, Psal. xiv. 1. Or, that he is not such a God +as his word and works declare him to be—a holy, just, +righteous, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God, &c. Or that +he is a changeable God, and actually changed, not being the same +now which sometime he was. That he hath forgotten to be gracious, +and remembereth not his people in adversity; and so is not tender +and merciful. That he hath forgotten his promises, and so is not +faithful and true. That he approveth of sin, because he suffereth +the way of the wicked to prosper, and so is not a holy God, &c. +Yea, do not ofttimes such thoughts as these lodge within the heart +of the truly godly? All which sheweth how prone we are to receive +and entertain erroneous and false thoughts of God.</p> +<p>2. Concerning ourselves. Supposing ourselves to be born again +and reconciled to God, when yet we are living in black nature: And +who so bold and confident that they are right, as they that are +furthest out of the way? Or, on the other hand, supposing ourselves +to be in a bad state, and in nature and darkness, when the day-star +from on high hath visited us, and brought our souls from death unto +life. And who more ready to complain than such as have least cause? +Or supposing ourselves in a good condition; lively, active, +diligent, watchful, &c, when it is just otherwise with us: Or, +on the contrary, complaining of deadness, formality, upsitting, +fainting, heartlessness in the ways of God, when it is not so. Or, +in questioned matters, taking truth to be error, and error to be +truth.</p> +<p>3. Concerning others. How ready are we to run either to the one +extremity or the other in judging their persons and actions?</p> +<p>Oh! where is the faith of this natural condition? where is the +real conviction of it? Sure there is but little real believing of +this when,</p> +<p>(1.) There are so many that never so much as suspect themselves +or question either their state or condition, at one time or other; +never once imagine that their blinded hearts may deceive them; +never once dream of a possibility of mistaking, and of dying with a +lie in their right hand.</p> +<p>(2.) And so many that are not lamenting and bewailing this their +condition, nor crying out and complaining of a false, deceitful, +and desperately wicked heart.</p> +<p>(3.) And so few that are indeed humbled under the sense of this, +and made therefore to walk more watchfully and soberly with an eye +always upon their treacherous and deceiving hearts.</p> +<p>(4.) And so few, crying for help from God against this deceitful +adversary, through daily experience of the atheism, hypocrisy, +ignorance, misconceptions of God and of his ways, and deceitfulness +of our hearts, might sufficiently put it out of doubt with us.</p> +<p><i>Next,</i> How miserable must their condition be, who are yet +strangers to Christ; for they are living in darkness, lying in +darkness, walking in darkness, yea, very darkness itself, a mass of +error, mistakes, ignorance, and misconceptions of all things that +are good; and still wandering out of the way.</p> +<p><i>Finally,</i> Should not this preach out to, and convince us +all of a necessity of having more acquaintance with truth, with +Jesus Christ, who is the truth, that we may be delivered from this +woful and wretched condition; for truth only can set us free +therefrom.</p> +<p>II. The <i>second</i> general thing to be noticed here is, that +all other ways and courses, which we can take or follow, that we +may obtain life, beside Christ, are but lies, false and deceitful +ways,—there is no truth in them: For he only is the truth; no +other whatsoever can bear this epithet: For,</p> +<p>1. He only can satisfy the soul in all points otherways; +whatever we can imagine and dream can yield no true satisfaction in +this matter.</p> +<p>2. He only can secure the soul from destructive ruinous courses, +which will undo the soul. All other ways will fail here; none of +them can give the least security to the soul, that they shall not +bring him, in end, to destruction and everlasting perdition.</p> +<p>3. He only can bring the soul safe through all opposition and +difficulties in the way. No other way can do this; but will leave +us in the mire, ere ever we come to the end of our journey.</p> +<p>4. He will not deceive nor disappoint the soul. All other ways +in end will prove treacherous, and give the traveller a doleful and +sad disappointment.</p> +<p>O what a warning should this be to us all, to take heed that we +embrace not a lie, instead of him who is the truth; and sit not +down with a shadow instead of the substance. How ready are we to +put other things in his place? But whatever it be that gets his +room in the soul, though good and worthy in itself, will prove a +lie. Even, (1.) All our outward holiness and duties. Yea, (2.) All +our experiences and great attainments. Yea, (3.) All our gifts and +endowments. Aye, (4.) Our very graces. None of these are Christ's; +and if we place that hope and confidence in them, which we should +place on him, they will not prove the truth to us,—he alone +is the truth.</p> +<p>How sure then should we labour to be, that we do not die with a +lie in our right hand. And how carefully should we guard against +the trusting in, or leaning to any thing that is not Christ, and +whole Christ, and only Christ, and Christ as offered in the gospel; +seeing this way is only the truth, and no other way will be found +so in end, though at present we may find in it,</p> +<p>(1.) Some inward peace and quietness of heart, as if all were +right.</p> +<p>(2.) Some satisfaction of mind, things being right, as we +apprehend, but falsely, through the deceitfulness of the heart.</p> +<p>(3.) Something like assurance and confidence, that all will be +right with us.</p> +<p>(4.) And hope founded thereupon, which may help to ride through +some storms, and yet fail us at length.</p> +<p>III. The <i>third</i> general is this, Christ Jesus is not only +the truth in himself, but also in reference to us. The scope of the +place cleareth this, as he is the way and the life for our use, so +he is the truth. Not only as God equal with the Father, but also as +Mediator, and our Immanuel.</p> +<p>As God, he is, 1. Essentially truth, being God equal with the +Father in power and glory.</p> +<p>2. In respect of veracity, he is the God of truth, Deut. xxxii. +4; faithful in all his sayings, Ps. xxxi. 5; keeping truth for +ever, Ps. cxlvi. 6.</p> +<p>3. He is the fountain and spring-head of all created truth, for +he is the first truth.</p> +<p>As Mediator, and in reference to us, "he is full of grace and +truth," John i. 14; "he received not the Spirit in measure," John +iii. 34; and this Spirit is a Spirit of truth. But of this more, +when we come to shew more particularly, how and in what respects he +is called the truth, as Mediator.</p> +<p>IV. The <i>fourth</i> general, which is here observable, is, +that he is not only called "Truth," but "the Truth," as he is the +way and the life; and not only true, but truth in the abstract. +Which saith,</p> +<p>1. That he is every way Truth, however we consider him, as God, +or as Mediator.</p> +<p>2. That all truth is in him; all truth of salvation for us is to +be found in him.</p> +<p>3. That all that is in him is truth, his natures, offices, +performances, words, works, &c, all are true.</p> +<p>4. That he is pure and unmixed truth; no lie in him, no error or +mistake there.</p> +<p>5. That truth in him is in its perfection and excellency. In the +truest of men it is very imperfect.</p> +<p>O what an excellent one must he be! How completely fitted and +furnished for us! Oh! if our souls could love him, and close with +him, and rest upon him as all-sufficient!</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI." id="CHAPTER_XI."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h4>MORE PARTICULARLY, IN WHAT RESPECT CHRIST IS CALLED THE +TRUTH.</h4> +<br> +<p>But for further explaining of this matter, we would see more +particularly, in what respects it is, that he is called the truth; +and this will make way to our use-making of him. So,</p> +<p><i>First,</i> He is the Truth, in opposition to the shadows and +types of him, under the law. Hence, as "the law," the whole +Levitical and typical dispensation, "came by Moses, so grace and +truth came by Jesus Christ," John i. 17. They were all shadows of +him, and he is the substance and body of them all, Col. ii. 17; and +this is true in these respects:</p> +<p>1. All these shadows and types pointed at him, and directed, as +with a finger, the Israelites, who were under that dispensation, to +look to Christ, the promised Messiah, and to rest, and to lay all +their weight on him. So that the law was a shadow of good things to +come, Heb. x. 1. Col. ii. 17.</p> +<p>2. They all terminate in him, he putting an end, by his coming +and performing his work, to all those types which only related to +him, and to what he was to do; the body being come, there is no +more need of the shadow and the thing typified existing, there is +no more need or use of the type.</p> +<p>3. They are all fulfilled in him; he answereth them all fully, +so that whatever was shadowed forth by them is completely to be +found in him. This the apostle, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, +abundantly evinceth. And Paul to the Colossians, tells us, "we are +complete in him," and therefore need no more follow the +shadows.</p> +<p><i>Secondly,</i> He is the Truth in reference to the prophecies +of old; all which did principally point at him and his +concernments, his person, nature, offices, work, kingdom, &c.; +and whatever was foretold in these prophecies is perfectly +fulfilled in him, or done by him, or shall in due time be +effectuated by him. He is that great prophet spoken of, Deut xviii. +15, 18, 19. So said the Jews themselves, John vi. 14. All the +prophets from Samuel spoke of him and of his days, Acts iii. 22-24. +"And to him gave all the prophets witness," Acts x. 43. And +whatever they prophesied or witnessed of him, was, or is in due +time to be fulfilled in him. Hence, we find the evangelists and +apostles frequently applying the sayings and prophecies of the Old +Testament unto him. And Luke (chap. iv. 18,) himself said the +prophecy of Isaiah lxi. 1, &c., was fulfilled in him. See 1 +Pet. x. 11, 12. And himself expounded to the two disciples going to +Emmaus, in all the Scriptures, beginning at Moses and all the +prophets, all the things concerning himself, Luke xxiv. 27. And +thus is he the Truth of all the prophecies.</p> +<p><i>Thirdly,</i> He is the Truth, in reference to his undertaking +with the Father in that glorious covenant of redemption; for +whatever the Father laid on him to do, that he did fully and +faithfully. "He was to bear our griefs, to carry our sorrows;" and +that he did. "He was to be wounded for our transgressions, and +bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon +him, and by his stripes we were to be healed," Isa. liii. 5; and so +it was, Rom. iv. 25. 1 Cor. xv. 3. 1 Pet. ii. 23. "His soul was to +be made an offering for sin," Isa. liii. 10, and so it was; for he +offered up himself a sacrifice for sin. Yea, all that he was to do, +by virtue of that covenant, he did it perfectly, so as he cried +out, while hanging on the cross, "It is finished," John xix. 30; +and, in his prayer, John xvii., he told his Father, verse 4, that +he had glorified him on earth, and had finished the work which he +gave him to do; so that the Father was well pleased with him, Matt. +iii. 17; xii. 18; and xvii. 5. Mark i. 11. Luke iii. 22.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly,</i> He is the Truth, in respect of his offices +which he took upon him for our good; for all the duties of these +offices which he was to do, and what remaineth to be done, he will +perfect in due time. Did he take upon him the office of a prophet? +He did fully execute the same, in revealing mediately and +immediately the whole counsel of God, John i. 18; and xv. 15. Eph. +iv. 11, 12, 13. Acts xx. 32. 1 Pet. 10, 11, 12. Heb. i. 2. Did he +take upon him the office of a priest? So did he fulfil the same, +offering up himself an expiatory sacrifice to God, Heb. ix. 28; and +ii. 17; and becoming a priest, and living for ever to make +intercession for us, Heb. vii. 25. And did he take on the office +and function of a King? So doth he execute the same, calling a +people to himself out of the world by his word and +Spirit—Acts xv. 14, 15, 16. Isa. lv. 4, 5. Psalm cx. +3—erecting a visible church, a company of visible professors +to profess and declare his name; which, as his kingdom, he ruleth +with his own officers, laws and penalties, or censures; so that the +government is on his shoulders, Isaiah ix. 6, 7, who is the head of +the body, the church, Eph. i. 22, 23. Col. i. 18; and this his +kingdom he ruleth, in a visible manner, by his own officers, +&c. Ephes. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor. xii. 28. Isaiah xxxiii. 22. Matt. +xviii. 17, 18. 1 Cor. v. 4, 5; and further, he executes this office +by effectually calling the elect, giving them grace, Acts v. 3; +rewarding the obedient, Rev. xxii. 12; ii. 10; chastising the +disobedient, Rev. iii. 19; bringing his own home at length, through +all their temptations, afflictions, and overcoming all their +enemies, 1 Cor. xv. 25. Psalm cx.; and at length he shall do the +part of a king, when he shall judge quick and dead at the last day, +2 Thess. i. 8, 9. Acts xvii. 31. 2 Tim. iv. 1.</p> +<p><i>Fifthly,</i> He is the Truth in this regard, that he fully +answers all the titles and names which he had got. As he was called +Jesus, so did he save his people from their sins, Matt. i. 21. As +he was called Christ, so was he anointed with the Spirit without +measure, John iii. 34. Psalm xlv. 7; and separated for his work, +and endued with all power for that effect, Job vi. 27. Matt. +xxviii. 18, 19, 20; and established to be a prophet, Acts iii. 21, +22. Luke iv. 18, 21; a priest, Heb. v. 5, 6, 7; iv. 14, 15; and a +king, Psalm ii. 6. Isaiah ix. 6, 7. Matt. xxi. 5. Phil. ii. 8-11. +Was he called "Immanuel," Isaiah vii. 14? So was he indeed God with +us, being God and man in one person for ever. Was he called +"Wonderful," Isaiah ix. 6? So was he indeed in his two distinct +natures in one person; at which the angels may wonder, Eph. iii. +10, 11. 1 Pet. i. 12. 1 Tim. iii. 16. Was he called "Counsellor?" +So was he indeed, coming out from the Father's bosom, with the +whole counsel of God concerning our salvation, John i. 14, 18; iii. +13; v. 20, and xv. 15. Was he called the "mighty God?" So was he +indeed, Psalm cx. 1. Matt. xxii. 44. Heb. i. 13. Psalm xlv. 6. Heb. +i. 8. Jer. xxiii. 6, and xxxiii. 16. Mal. iii. 1. Matt. xi. 10. +Psalm lxxxiii. 18. Luke i. 76. John i. 1; xiv. 1. John v. 20. Tit. +ii. 13. Rom. ix. 5. Was he called the "everlasting Father?" So is +he the Father of eternity, being (as some interpret the word) the +author of eternal life, which he giveth to all that believe in him, +John vi. 39, 40, 47, 51; viii. 51; x. 28; xi. 25, 26. Heb. v. 9, +and vii. 25. Was he called the "Prince of Peace?" So is he the +Prince of Peace indeed, being our peace, Mic. v. 5. Eph. ii. 14; +making up peace between God and us, Isaiah liii. 5, and liii. 19. +Eph. ii. 17. Col. i. 20. Hence his gospel is the gospel of peace, +and his ministers ambassadors of peace, Isaiah lii. 7. Rom. x. 15. +2 Cor. v. 19, 20. Eph. vi. 15. And he giveth peace to all his, +Zech. ix. 10. John xiv. 27; xvii. 33. Rom. v. 1; viii. 16, and xiv. +17. 2 Thes. iii. 17. Was he called the "Lord our Righteousness?" +Jer. xxiii. 6; so is he the same indeed, bringing in everlasting +righteousness, Dan. ix. 24; and "being made of God to us +righteousness," 1 Cor. i. 30; and making us righteous, 2 Cor. v. +21.</p> +<p><i>Sixthly,</i> He is the Truth in reference to the promises, +which,</p> +<p>1. Centre all in him, and lead to him as the great promise.</p> +<p>2. Are founded all upon him, who is the only Mediator of the +covenant of promises.</p> +<p>3. Are confirmed all by him, and made yea and amen in him, 2 +Cor. i. 20. He confirmed the promises made to the fathers, Rev. xv. +8.</p> +<p>4. Are all dispensed and given out by him, who is the executor +of his own testament, and the great dispensator of all that we +need; so that what we ask of the Father he giveth it himself, John +xiv. 13, 14.</p> +<p><i>Seventhly,</i> He is the Truth, in that he fully answereth +all the hopes and expectations of his people. He shall not be found +a liar unto them, whatever Satan may suggest unto them, or a +misbelieving heart may prompt them to conceive, and their jealousy +may make them apprehend; and whatever his dispensations may now +seem to say. In end they shall all find, that he is the truth, +fully satisfying all their desires; and granting all that ever they +could hope for, or expect from him. They shall at length be +satisfied with his likeness, Psalm xvii. 15; yea, abundantly +satisfied with the fatness of his house, Psalm xxxvi. 8; and with +his goodness, Psalm lxv. 4; and that as with marrow and fatness, +Psalm lxiii. 5. One sight of his glory will fully satisfy, and +cause them to cry out, enough! Jeremiah is now saying, as once he +did in the bitterness of his soul, through the power of corruption +and temptation, (chap. xv. 18.) "wilt thou be altogether unto me as +a liar, and as waters that fail?"</p> +<p><i>Eighthly,</i> He is the Truth, in opposition to all other +ways of salvation: for,</p> +<p>1. There is no salvation now by the law of works, that covenant +being once broken cannot any more save; the law cannot now do it, +in that it is weak through the flesh, Rom. viii. 3.</p> +<p>2. There is no salvation now by the law of Moses without Christ: +hence Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, did +not attain to the law of righteousness, because they sought it not +by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, Rom. ix. 31, 32. +They went about to establish their own righteousness, and did not +submit themselves unto the righteousness of God, Rom. x. 3.</p> +<p>3. There is no salvation by any thing mixed in with Christ, as +the apostle fully cleareth in his epistle to the Galatians.</p> +<p>4. There is no salvation by any other way or medium, which mart +can invent or fall upon, whereof there are not a few, as we shewed +above: "for there is not another name given under heaven, by which +we can be saved," but the name of Jesus, Acts iv. 12. No religion +Will save but this.</p> +<p>So that he is the true salvation, and he only is the true +salvation; and he is the sure and safe salvation: such as make use +of him shall not be mistaken nor disappointed, Isaiah xxxv. 8.</p> +<p><i>Ninthly,</i> He is the Truth, in respect of his leading and +guiding his people in the truth: hence he is called "a teacher from +God," John iii. 2; and one that "teacheth the way of God in truth," +Matt. xxii. 16. "A prophet mighty in deed and word," Luke xxiv. 19. +And in this respect he is the truth upon several accounts.</p> +<p>1. Of his personal teaching, God spoke by him, Heb. i. 2. He +revealed the Father's mind, Matt. xi. 27. John i. 18.</p> +<p>2. Of his messengers sent by him, as prophets of old, apostles +and ministers of late, whom he sendeth forth to make disciples, +Matt, xxviii. 18; and to open the eyes of the blind, Acts xxvi. +18.</p> +<p>3. Of his word, which he hath left as our rule, and which is a +sure, word of prophecy, more sure than a voice from heaven, 2 Pet. +i. 19.</p> +<p>4. Of his ordinances, which he hath established as means to +guide us in the way of truth.</p> +<p>5. Of his Spirit, whereby he maketh the word clear, John xiv. +26. This Spirit is sent to teach all truth, and to lead and guide +us in all truth, John xvii. 13. 1 John ii. 27; and sept by him, and +by the Father in his name, John xiv. 26; xv. 16; xvi. 14.</p> +<p>6. Of his dispensations of providence, within us and without us, +by which likewise he instructeth in the way of truth.</p> +<p><i>Tenthly.</i> He, is the Truth, in, respect of his bearing +witness to, the truth; and this he doth,</p> +<p>1. By himself, who was given for a witness, Isaiah lv. 4; and +came to bear witness to the truth, John iii. 11; xviii. 37; and was +a faithful witness, Rev. i. 5; iii. 14,</p> +<p>2. By his ministers, who witness the truth of the gospel by +publishing and proclaiming the same.</p> +<p>3. By his martyrs, who seal the truth with their blood, and so +bear witness to it, Rev. ii. 13; xvii. 6. Acts xxii. 20.</p> +<p>4. By his Spirit, sealing the truth of grace in a believer, and +his interest in God through Christ, and his right to all the +benefits of the new covenant, "in whom also, after ye believed, ye +were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest +of our inheritance," Eph. i. 13, 14.</p> +<p><i>Eleventhly.</i> He is the Truth, in respect that he carrieth +towards poor sinners in all things, according to the tenor of the +gospel, and the offers thereof; he offers himself to all freely, +and promiseth to put none away that come to him; and this he doth +in truth: for no man can say, that he had a sincere and true desire +to come to Jesus, and that he rejected him and would not look upon +him. He giveth encouragement to all sinners to come, that will be +content to quit their sins; and promiseth to upbraid none that +cometh. And is there any that in their own experience can witness +the contrary? He offers all freely; and did he ever reject any upon +the want of a price in their hand? Nay, hath not the cause of their +getting no admittance been, that they thought to commend themselves +to Christ by their worth; and would not take all freely, for the +glory of his grace? Let believers and others speak here, out of +their own experience, in truth and in uprightness; and it shall be +found, that he was and is the truth.</p> +<p><i>Twelfthly.</i> He is the Truth, in that, in all his +dispensations in the gospel, and in all his works and actions in +and about his own people, he is true and upright. All his offers, +all his promises, all his dispensations, are done in truth and +uprightness; yea, all are done out of truth and uprightness of +love, true tenderness and affection to them, whatever the +corruption of jealousy and misbelief think and say to the contrary. +He is the truth; and so always the same, unchangeable in his love, +whatever his dispensations seem to say; and the believer may rest +assured hereof, that he being the truth, shall be to him whatever +his word holdeth him forth to be, and that constantly and +unchangeably.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII." id="CHAPTER_XII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h4>SOME GENERAL USES FROM THIS USEFUL TRUTH, THAT CHRIST IS THE +TRUTH.</h4> +<br> +<p>Having thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of +the way of believers making use of him as the truth, in several +cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth. But ere +we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general +uses of this useful point.</p> +<p><i>First.</i> This point of truth serveth to discover unto us, +the woful condition of such as are strangers to Christ the truth; +and oh, if it were believed! For,</p> +<p>1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of +blindness, error, ignorance, mistakes under which all are by +nature; a condition, that if rightly seen, would cause the soul lie +low in the dust.</p> +<p>2. Whatever course they take, till they come to Christ, and +while they remain in that condition, is a lie, and a false, +erroneous, and deceitful way. For still they are turning aside to +lies, Psalm xl. 4; and seeking after them, Psalm iv. 2.</p> +<p>3. Whatever hopes and confidence they may have, that their way +shall carry them through, yet in end they will be found to inherit +lies, Jer. xvi. 19; and meet with the saddest disappointment that +can be. For instead of the fellowship of God, Christ, angels, and +glorified spirits, they shall take up their lodging with devils and +damned souls; and that because they have made no acquaintance with +the way of truth; and the way wherein they are, is but a lie and a +falsehood; and so of necessity must deceive them.</p> +<p>4. All their literal and speculative knowledge shall not avail +them, so long as they are strangers unto him who is the truth. +Their knowledge is but ignorance, because it is not a knowledge of +him who is the truth.</p> +<p>5. They have none to go to for help and light in the day of +their darkness, confusion, and perplexity; for they are not +reconciled unto the truth, which alone can prove steadable and +comfortable in that day.</p> +<p>6. They can do nothing to help themselves out of that state of +darkness and ignorance; and whatever they do to help themselves +shall but increase their darkness and misery; because there is no +truth there, and truth, even the truth alone, can dispel these +clouds of error, mistakes, ignorance, &c.</p> +<p><i>Secondly.</i> Hence, we see the happy and blessed condition +of believers, who have embraced this truth, and gotten their souls +opened to him who is the truth; for,</p> +<p>1. They are in part delivered from that mass of lies, mistakes, +misapprehensions, errors, deceitfulness and ignorance under which +they lay formerly, and all the unregenerate do yet lie. And though +they be not fully delivered therefrom, yet the day is coming when +that shall be, and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a +pledge thereof; and at present they have ground to believe, that +that evil shall not again have dominion over them, they being now +under grace, and under the guidance of truth.</p> +<p>2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts, doubts and fears +of their state and condition, and think many a time, that they +shall one day or other perish by the way; and all their hopes and +confidence shall evanish; yet having given up themselves to truth, +and to the truth, they shall not be disappointed in the end. The +truth shall land them safe on the other side. The truth shall prove +no lie.</p> +<p>3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to, in a day of +darkness, clouds, doubts, when falsehood and lies are like to +prevail, even the Truth, who alone can help them in that day.</p> +<p>4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God, and of the mysteries +of the gospel, be but small; yet that small measure being taught by +him, who is the truth, and flowing from truth, shall prove +sanctifying and saving.</p> +<p>9. They have ground to hope for more freedom from errors and +deceitful lies, than others; for they have chosen the way of truth, +and given themselves up to the leading of truth.</p> +<p><i>Object.</i> But do not even such drink in and receive and +plead for errors, as well as others; and is it not sometime found, +that they even live and die in some mistakes and errors?</p> +<p><i>Answ.</i> I grant the Lord may suffer even some of his own to +fall into, and to continue for some time in errors, yea, and it may +be all their days, as to some errors, that hereby, all may learn to +tremble and fear, and to work out their salvation with fear and +trembling. (2.) Some may be tried thereby, Dan. xi. 35. (3.) Others +may break their neck thereupon. (4.) To punish themselves, for not +making that use of truth, and of the truth, that they should have +done; yet we would consider these few things:</p> +<p>1. That there are many more unregenerate persons that fall into +error.</p> +<p>2. If his people fall into error at any time, they do not always +continue therein to the end. God for his own glory maketh, sometime +or other, truth shine in upon their soul, which discovereth that +mistake, and presently, the grace of God in their soul maketh them +to abhor the same.</p> +<p>3. Or if some continue in it to their dying day, yet they repent +of it, by an implicit repentance, as they do of other unknown and +unseen evils that lie in their soul; so that that error doth not +destroy their soul.</p> +<p>4. There are some gross errors, which a regenerate soul cannot +readily embrace, or if, through a mistake, or the power of a +temptation, they do embrace them, yet they cannot heartily close +with them, whatever for a time, through corruption and pride, they +may seem outwardly to do; and that because the very daily exercise +of grace will discover them; and so they will be found to be +against their daily experience; as some opinions of the Papists, +Arminians, and Socinians, together with the abominable Quakers, +which a gracious soul, when not carried away with the torrent of +corruption, and with the tempest of a temptation, cannot but +observe to contradict the daily workings of grace in their soul, +and the motions of their sanctified soul, in prayer and other holy +duties; and so such as they cannot but find to be false by their +own experience.</p> +<p><i>Thirdly.</i> Here is ground of a sharp reproof of the wicked, +who continue in unbelief; and,</p> +<p>1. Will not believe, nor give any credit to his promises; +wherewith he seeketh to allure poor souls to come to him for +life.</p> +<p>2. Nor will they believe his threatenings, wherewith he useth to +alarm souls, and to urge them forward to their duty.</p> +<p>3. Nor will they believe and receive his offers, as true.</p> +<p>5. Nor will they believe, that he is the true prophet, priest, +and king, that must save souls from hell and death, and therefore +they will not give him employment in his offices.</p> +<p>All which cannot but be a high provocation, for in effect it is +to say that he is not the truth, nor worthy to be believed. Let +them consider this, and see how they think he shall take this off +their hands. No man will take it well that another should either +call or account him a liar; and can they think that Christ shall +take it well at their hands, to be accounted by them a liar? What +will they think to be challenged for this in the great day? Now, +the truth is, all unbelievers, as they make God a liar, (O horrid +and abominable crime! Whose hair would not stand on end to hear +this?) 1 John v. 10, 11. "He that believeth not God hath made him a +liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. +And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and +this life is in his Son." So do they make the Son of God a liar, in +all his sayings, in all his offices, and in all his works; and they +make the Holy Ghost a liar, in not believing that truth that he +hath sealed as firm truth. They make the covenant of suretiship +betwixt the Father and the Son, a mere lie and a forgery. O +dreadful! They make the word of truth a lie, and they make all the +saints liars, and all the officers of Jesus Christ, who declare +this truth, and the saints who believe it, and rest upon it, +liars.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly.</i> Hence is there ground of reproof to the godly, +in that,</p> +<p>1. They do not firmly enough believe his sayings, neither his +promises, nor his threatenings, as appeareth too oft upon the one +hand, by their faintings and fears, and upon the other hand, by +their carelessness and loose walk.</p> +<p>2. They make not use of him, in all cases as they ought. His +offices lie by and are not improved; nor is he gone to as the +truth, in cases requiring his help, as the truth; that is, in cases +of darkness, doubtings, confusion, ignorance of their case and +condition, and the like.</p> +<p>3. They do not approach to him, nor to God through him, heartily +and cordially, as the very truth, and true way.</p> +<p>4. Nor do they rest with confidence upon him in all +difficulties, as being the truth that will not fail them, nor +disappoint them.</p> +<p>5. Nor do they rejoice in him, as satisfied with him, who is the +truth, in the want of all other things.</p> +<p><i>Fifthly.</i> The right consideration of this truth should +keep us in mind of several great duties; such as those,</p> +<p>1. Of pitying those places where this truth is not heard of, as +among Turks and heathens; or where it is darkened with superstition +and men's inventions, as among papists; or where it hath been +clearly shining, but now is darkened, as in some churches now under +the prevailing power of corruption; or, lastly, where it is not +received in its power and lustre, as, alas! it is too little +received in the best and purest churches.</p> +<p>2. Of being thankful to him for making this truth known in the +world, and particularly in the place where we were born, or had our +abode; and yet more for that he hath determined our hearts to a +believing of this truth, in some weak measure; to an embracing of +it, and to a giving of ourselves up to be led, ruled, and guided +thereby.</p> +<p>3. Of esteeming highly of every piece of truth for his sake who +is the truth; studying it for his sake—loving it for his +sake—holding it fast for his sake—witnessing to it, as +we are called, for his sake. We should buy the truth, and not sell +it, Prov. xxiii. 23; and we should plead for it, and be valiant for +it, Isa. lix. 4, 14. Jer. vii. 28; ix. 3.</p> +<p>4. Of taking part with him and his cause, in all hazards, for +truth is always on his side; and truth shall prevail at length.</p> +<p>5. Of giving him employment in our doubts and difficulties, +whether,</p> +<p>(1.) They be about some controverted points of truth, which come +to be debated, or to trouble the church. Or,</p> +<p>(2.) About our own estate and condition, quarrelled at by Satan, +or questioned by the false heart. Or,</p> +<p>(3.) About our carriage in our daily walk. In all these, and the +like, we should be employing truth, that we may be led in truth, +and taught by truth, to walk in sure paths.</p> +<p>6. Of carrying in all things before him as true; for he is +truth, and the truth, and so cannot be deceived; and therefore we +should walk before him in sincerity and singleness of heart, +without guile, hypocrisy, or falsehood, that we may look like +children of the truth; and of the day, and of light, and children +that will not lie or dissemble, Isaiah lxiii. 8; not like these +that lied unto him, Psalm lxxviii. 38. Isaiah lix. 13.</p> +<p>7. Of taking him only for our guide to heaven, by denying our +own wit, skill, and understanding, and looking to and resting upon +him, who alone is the truth, and so acknowledging him in all our +ways, depending on him for light and counsel, for singleness of +heart, humility, diligence, and truth, in the inward parts.</p> +<p>8. Of giving up ourselves daily unto him and his guidance, and +denying our own wills, humours, parties, or opinions; for he alone +is truth, and can only guide us aright. And for this cause, we +would acquaint ourselves well with the word, which is our rule, and +seek after the Spirit, whom Christ hath promised to lead us into +all truth.</p> +<p><i>Sixthly.</i> Should not this be a strong inducement to all of +us, to lay hold on and grip to him, who is the truth, and only the +truth? seeing,</p> +<p>1. All other ways which we can take, will prove a lie to us in +the end.</p> +<p>2. He is substance, and no shadow, and all that love him shall +inherit substance; for he will fill all their treasures, Prov. +viii. 21.</p> +<p>3. Such as embrace him shall not wander, nor be misled; for his +"mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to his +lips," Prov. viii. 7. "All the words of his mouth are in +righteousness, and there is nothing froward or perverse in them," +verse 8. "He is wisdom, and dwelleth with prudence, and findeth out +knowledge of witty inventions," verse 12. "Counsel is his, and +sound wisdom; he hath understanding and strength," ver. 14.</p> +<p>4. He will make good all his promises in due time, and give a +subsistence and a being to them all; for he is the Truth, and the +Truth must stand to his promises, and fulfil them all.</p> +<p>5. He will never, nay, "never leave his people, nor forsake +them," Heb. xiii. 5. He is truth, and cannot deceive; he cannot +forsake nor disappoint. He is a spring of water, whose waters fail +not, Isaiah lviii. 11. Therefore they cannot be disappointed in the +end, and perish, who trust to him.</p> +<p>6. The truth will make them free, John viii. 32, 36, and so +deliver them from their state of sin and misery, wherein they lay +as captives; and from that spiritual bondage and slavery under +which they were held.</p> +<p><i>Seventhly</i>. This, to believers, may be a spring of +consolation in many cases, as,</p> +<p>1. When error and wickedness seem to prosper and prevail; for +though it prevail for a time, yet truth will be victorious at +length, and the truth will overcome all. He is truth, and will +plead for truth.</p> +<p>2. When friends, acquaintances, relations, fail them, and father +and mother forsake them, truth will take them up. He who is the +truth will answer his name, and never deceive, never forsake.</p> +<p>3. When riches, honours, pleasures, or what else their heart +hath being going out after, prove like summer brooks; for the truth +will be the same to them in all generations; there is no shadow of +turning with him. The Truth is always truth, and true.</p> +<p>4. When we fear that either ourselves or others shall fall away, +in a day of trial, and turn from the truth. Though all men prove +liars and deceivers, truth will abide the same, and stand out all +the blasts of opposition.</p> +<p>5. When unbelief would make us question the truth of the +promises, the faith of his being truth itself, and the truth, even +truth in the abstract, would shame unbelief out of countenance. +Shall truth fail? Shall not the Truth be true? What a contradiction +were that?</p> +<p>6. When we know not how to answer the objections of Satan, and +of a false treacherous heart; for truth can easily answer all +cavils; and he who is the truth can repel all objections against +truth. Truth is impregnable, and can stand against all.</p> +<p>7. When we cannot know, nor discover the wiles and subtilty of +Satan. Truth can discover the depths of Satan, and make the poor +soul more acquaint with them; so that they shall not any more be +ignorant of his devices, who look to him.</p> +<p>8. When the thoughts of the deceitfulness of our hearts trouble +us, the depth whereof we cannot search. This then may comfort us, +that truth may search the heart and the reins, Jer. xvii. 9, +10.</p> +<p>9. When we cannot tell what our disease and distemper is, and so +cannot seek suitable remedies, or help from God, O what a comfort +is it, to know and believe, that he is the truth, with whom we have +to do, and so knoweth our distemper perfectly, and all its causes +and symptoms,—truth cannot be at a stand in discerning our +disease; so nor can he be ignorant of the fittest and only safest +cures.</p> +<p>10. When we know not what to ask in prayer, as not knowing what +is best for us, it is a comfort to remember that we have to do with +the Truth, who is perfectly acquainted with all that, and knoweth +what is best.</p> +<p>11. When we know not how to answer the calumnies of adversaries, +it is comfortable to know that he is the truth, that will hear +truth, when men will not, and will own and stand for the truth, +when enemies do what they can to darken an honest man's good cause. +It is comfortable to know, we have the Truth to appeal to, as David +had, Psalm vii. 17.</p> +<p>12. When we think on our own covenant-breaking, and dealing +deceitfully with God, it is comfortable to remember, that though we +and all men be liars, and deal deceitfully with him, yet he is the +truth, and will keep covenant for ever; he will not, he cannot deny +himself, 2 Tim. ii. 13.</p> +<p><i>Eighthly,</i> Hence we may certainly conclude, that truth, +which is Christ's cause, shall at length prevail; for he is truth, +yea, the truth, and so abideth truth; therefore must he prevail, +and all the mouths of liars must be stopped. So then let us remain +persuaded, that truth at length shall be victorious, and that the +cause of Christ shall have the victory. Though,</p> +<p>1. The enemies of truth, and the cause of Christ, be multiplied, +and many there be that rise up against it.</p> +<p>2. These enemies should prosper, and that for along time, and +carry on their course of error and wickedness with a high hand.</p> +<p>3. There should be few found to befriend truth, and to own it in +an evil day.</p> +<p>4. Yea, many of those that did sometime own it, and plead for +it, should at length turn their backs upon it, as did Demas.</p> +<p>5. And such as continue constant and faithful, be loaded with +reproaches, and pressed under with sore persecution, for adhering +to truth, and owning constantly the good cause.</p> +<p>6. Yea, though all things in providence should seem to say, that +truth shall not rise again, but seem, on the contrary, to conspire +against the same.</p> +<p><i>Ninthly,</i> May we not hence read, what should be our way +and course, in a time when a spirit of error is gone abroad, and +many are carried off their feet therewith, or when we are doubtful +what to do, and what side of the dispute to take. O then is the fit +time for us to employ truth, to live near to him who is the truth, +to wait on him, and hang upon him, with singleness of heart.</p> +<p><i>Objection.</i> But many even of his own people do err and +step aside. <i>Ans.</i> That is true: But yet, (1.) That will be no +excuse to thee. Nay,(2.) That should make thee fear and tremble +more. (3.) And it should press thee to lie near to Christ, and to +wrestle more earnestly with him, for the Spirit of light and of +truth, and to depend more constantly and faithfully upon him, with +singleness of heart, and to give up all thy soul and way to him, as +the God of truth, and as the truth, that thou mayest be led into +all truth.</p> +<p><i>Tenthly,</i> This should stir us up to go to him, and make +use of him as the truth in all cases, wherein we may stand in need +of truth's hand to help us; and for this cause we should mind those +particulars:</p> +<p>1. We should live in the constant conviction of our ignorance, +blindness, hypocrisy, readiness to mistake and err. This is clear +and manifest, and proved to be truth by daily experience; yet how +little is it believed, that it is so with us? Do we see and believe +the atheism of our hearts? Do we see and believe the hypocrisy of +our hearts? Are we jealous of them, as we ought to be? O that it +were so! Let this then be more minded by us.</p> +<p>2. Let us live in the persuasion of this, that he only, and +nothing below him, will be able to clear our doubts, dispel our +clouds, clear up our mistakes, send us light, and manifest truth +unto us; not our own study, pains, prayers, duties, learning, +understanding; nor ministers, nor professors, and experienced +Christians, and the like.</p> +<p>3. We should be daily giving up ourselves to him, as the truth, +in all the forementioned respects, and receiving him into our souls +as such, that we may dwell and abide there: then shall the truth +make us free; and if the Son make us free, we shall be free indeed, +John viii. 36.</p> +<p>4. There should be much single dependence on him for light, +instruction, direction, and guidance in all our exigencies.</p> +<p>5. Withal, there should be a waiting on him with patience, +giving him liberty to take his own way and time, and a leaving of +him thereunto.</p> +<p>6. We should by all means guard against such things as are +hinderances, and will prove obstacles to us in this matter; such +as,</p> +<p>(1.) Prejudices against the truth; for then we will undervalue +light, and reject all the directions and instructions of the +Spirit, as not agreeing with our prejudicate opinion.</p> +<p>(2.) A wilful turning away from truth, as these, 2 Tim. iv. 4. +Titus i. 14.</p> +<p>(3.) Addictedness to our own judgments and opinions, which +causeth pertinaciousness, pride, and conceit, as thinking ourselves +so wise, as that we need no information; and this occasioneth a +self-confidence.</p> +<p>(4.) Looking too much unto, and hanging too much upon men, who +are but instruments, crying them up as infallible, and receiving, +without further examination, all that they say, not like the +Bereans, Acts xvii. This is a great hinderance to the receiving of +truth, and very prejudicial.</p> +<p>(5.) A neglecting of the use of the means which God hath +appointed for this end.</p> +<p>(6.) Or an hanging too much on them, and so misplacing them, +giving them his room.</p> +<p>(7.) Leaning too much to our own understanding, wit and +knowledge, &c.</p> +<p>(8.) A resisting of the truth, 2 Tim. iii. 8. These and the like +hinderances should be guarded against, lest they mar our attaining +to the knowledge of truth.</p> +<p>7. There should be much of the exercise of prayer, for this is +the main conduit and mean, through which light is conveyed into the +soul. There should also be a serious and Christian reading and +hearing of the word, which is truth, and the word of truth, and the +Scripture of truth; and those duties should be gone about with, +(1.) much self-denial; (2.) with much singleness of heart; (3.) +with much humility; (4.) with much willingness and readiness to be +instructed; (5.) with much seriousness and earnestness; and, (6.) +with faith and dependence on God for his blessing and +breathing.</p> +<p>8. We should beware of trusting to our own understandings, or to +the judgments of other men; nor should we look to what suiteth most +our own humours, nor to what appeareth most specious and plausible, +for that may deceive us.</p> +<p>9. We should lie open to the influences and rays of light, by +exercising faith in earnest desires; as also patient waiting for +and single looking to him, minding his name and his relations, +promises, and engagements, and the strengthening of our faith and +confidence.</p> +<p>10. We should labour to keep fast whatever he teacheth us by his +word and Spirit, and not prove leaking vessels. This the apostle +exhorteth to, Heb. ii. 1, "Therefore we ought to give the more +earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we +should let them slip;" yea, and we should be established "in the +truth," 2 Pet. i. 12.</p> +<p>11. We should beware of resting on a form of the truth, as those +did, of whom we read, Rom. ii. 20; and of holding the truth in +unrighteousness, as those, Rom. i. 18; and of disobeying it, as +those mentioned in Rom. ii. 8. See also Gal. iii. 1; v. 7.</p> +<p>12. But on the contrary, we should so receive truth, as that it +might rule and be master in us, captivate judgment, will, and +affections, and break out into the practice. And this recommendeth +several duties, such as,</p> +<p>(1.) To have the truth in us; while as, if we practise +otherwise, "the truth is not in us," 1 John i. 8; ii. 4.</p> +<p>(2.) To be of the truth, as belonging to its jurisdiction, +power, and command, 1 John iii. 19. John xviii. 37.</p> +<p>(3.) To do the truth, by having true fellowship with him, 1 John +i. 6; and "to walk in the truth," 2 John iv. 3. John iv. Psalm +lxxxvi. 11.</p> +<p>(4.) To have the loins girt with truth, Eph. i. 14.</p> +<p>(5.) To receive the love of the truth, 2 Thess. ii. 10.</p> +<p>(6.) To be instructed of him, "as the truth is in Jesus," Eph. +iv. 21.</p> +<p>(7.) To purify the soul in obeying the truth, 1 Pet. ii. 22.</p> +<p>This shall suffice for clearing up, and applying in the general +this excellent truth, that Christ is the truth. We shall now come +and make some more particular use of this precious point, by +speaking to some particular cases (which we shall instance in, by +which the understanding Christian may be helped to understand how +to carry and how to make use of Christ in other the like cases), +wherein Christ is to be made use of as the truth, and show how +believers are to make use of him in these cases as the truth.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII." id="CHAPTER_XIII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE TRUTH, FOR GROWTH IN +KNOWLEDGE.</h4> +<br> +<p>It is a commanded duty, that we grow in the knowledge of Jesus +Christ, 2 Pet. iii. 18; and the knowledge of him being life +eternal, John xvii. 3, and our measure of knowledge of him here +being but imperfect, for we know but in part, it cannot but be an +useful duty, and a desirable thing, to be growing in this +knowledge. This is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to +be increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. i. 10. Knowledge must +be added to virtue; and it layeth a ground for other Christian +virtues, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6. In this knowledge we must not be barren, 2 +Pet. i. 2. And this being so necessary, so desirable, so useful, +and so advantageous a grace, the believer cannot but desire to have +more and more of it, especially seeing it is a part of the image of +God, Col. iii. 10.</p> +<p>Now it is the truth that must teach them here, first and last. +"The light of the knowledge of the glory of God must be had in the +face of Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 6. The question therefore is, how +we should make use of Jesus Christ for this end, that we may attain +to more of this excellent knowledge.</p> +<p><i>First.</i> It is good to live in the constant conviction of a +necessity of his teaching us, and this taketh in those +particulars:</p> +<p>1. That we should be conscious of our ignorance, even when we +know most, or think we know most, remembering that the best knoweth +but in part, 1 Cor. xiii. 9. The more true knowledge we attain to, +the more will we see and be convinced of our ignorance; because the +more we know, the more will we discover of the vastness and +incomprehensibility of that object, which is proposed to our +knowledge.</p> +<p>2. That we should remember, how deceitful our hearts are; and +how ready they are to sit down upon a shadow of knowledge, even +where we know nothing as we ought to know, 1 Cor. viii. 2; and this +will keep us jealous and watchful.</p> +<p>3. And to help forward our jealousy of our own hearts and +watchfulness, we should remember that our hearts naturally are +averse from any true and saving knowledge; whatever desire there be +naturally after knowledge of hidden things out of curiosity; and of +things natural; or of things spiritual, as natural, for the +perfection of nature, as might be pretended, whereby in effect +those that increase knowledge, increase sorrow, Eccl. i. 18. Yet +there is no inclination after spiritual and saving knowledge, in us +naturally, but an aversion of heart therefrom.</p> +<p>4. That we should study and know the absolute necessity of this +knowledge. How necessary it is for our Christian communion with +God, and Christian walk with others; how necessary for our right +improving of dispensations, general and particular; what a noble +ornament of a Christian it is, and a necessary piece of the image +of God, which we have lost.</p> +<p><i>Secondly.</i> Upon these grounds mentioned, we would also be +convinced of this:</p> +<p>1. That of ourselves, and by all our natural parts, endowments, +quickness and sagacity, we cannot attain to this saving knowledge, +which is a special and saving grace, and so must be wrought in the +soul by a divine hand, even the mighty power of God. By our private +study and reading, we may attain to a literal, heady, and +speculative knowledge, that will puff us up, 1 Cor. viii. 1; but +thereby shall we never attain to this knowledge, which is +spiritual, hearty, and practical, and so saving, we must have the +anointing here, which teacheth us all things, 1 John ii. 27. And of +this we should be persuaded, that we may look to a higher hand for +light and instruction.</p> +<p><i>Thirdly.</i> There should be an eyeing of Christ's furniture +and fitness for this work of teaching of us, to wit,</p> +<p>1. An eyeing of him as the substantial wisdom of the Father, +Prov. viii.</p> +<p>2. An eyeing of him, as one come out of the bosom of the Father, +John i. 18; and so sufficiently enabled to acquaint us with the +mysteries of God for salvation.</p> +<p>3. An eyeing of him as Mediator, fully endued with all +necessaries for this piece of his work, and so having received the +Spirit without measure, for this end, John iii. 34; and as having +hid in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. ii. 3; +and as having all fullness dwelling in him, Col. i. 19; and also +Isa. xi. 2; lxi. 1,2.</p> +<p>4. An eyeing of him, as having power to send the Spirit, that +anointing that teacheth us all things, "and is truth and is no +lie," 1 John ii. 20-27; not only by way of intercession and +entreaty, begging it of the Father, John xv. 16, 17; but also +authoritatively, as conjunct with the Father. The Father sendeth +him in Christ's name, John xiv. 26; and Christ sendeth him from the +Father, John xv. 26; and this Spirit of truth which guideth into +all truth, shall receive of Christ's, and shew it unto us, John +xvi. 13-15.</p> +<p><i>Fourthly,</i> There should be an eyeing of Christ's +readiness, willingness, and engagement to help in this case; and +this will encourage the soul to go forward. And for this cause we +would remember those things:</p> +<p>1. That he standeth obliged to help us with instruction, by +virtue of his office, as a prophet, a witness, a leader, and a +commander, Isa. l v. 4.</p> +<p>2. That he is commissioned of the Father for this end, and so is +the Father's servant; and is given for "a light to the Gentiles," +Isa. xlii. 6; xlix. 6; and the Father is said to speak by him, or +in him, Heb. i. 1.</p> +<p>3. That he received his gifts and qualifications for this end +and purpose, that he might give out and dispense to his members +according to their necessity; as is clear from Psalm lxviii. 18, +compared with Eph. iv. 8; what he is said to have received in the +one place, he is said to have given in the other.</p> +<p>4. That he hath begun this work already by his Spirit in his +followers; and therefore standeth engaged to see it perfected; for +all his works are perfect works.</p> +<p>5. That he hath a love to his scholars, and a desire to have +them all thriving, and making progress in knowledge; this being his +glory who is their master and teacher.</p> +<p>6. That he laid down ways and means, and a constant course for +instructing of his people: for,</p> +<p>(1.) He hath given his word, and settled and established +ordinances for this end.</p> +<p>(2.) He hath established a ministry for instructing his people, +Eph. iv. 8-13.</p> +<p>(3.) He hath gifted persons for this work of the ministry, 1 +Cor. xii. 4-11.</p> +<p>(4.) He maketh these officers, in the faithful administration of +their function, and through his blessing and Spirit, maketh their +work prosperous and effectual in his own, as he seeth fit.</p> +<p><i>Fifthly.</i> There should be an eyeing of the promises of the +covenant of grace made for this end, whether general or particular, +or both; such as those which we have, Isa. ii. 9. Hab. ii. 14, "The +earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord," or of "the +glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;" and that, Isa. +xxxii. 4, "the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge," +&c.; and Jer. xxxi, 34, "They shall all know me."</p> +<p><i>Sixthly.</i> There should be a constant, diligent, serious, +and single using of the means of knowledge, with a faithful +dependence on Christ by faith, gripping to him in his relations, +offices, engagements, and promises, and waiting upon his breathing +in hope and patience, Psal. xxv. 5.</p> +<p><i>Seventhly.</i> There should be a guarding against every thing +that may obstruct this work, and grieve him in it; and therefore we +would beware,</p> +<p>1. To undervalue and have a little esteem of knowledge; for this +will grieve him; and (to speak so) put him from work.</p> +<p>2. To misimprove any measure of knowledge he giveth.</p> +<p>3. To weary of the means and ordinances whereby he useth to +convey knowledge into the soul.</p> +<p>4. To limit the holy One of Israel to this or that mean, to this +or that time, or to this or that measure, who should have a +latitude as to all these.</p> +<p>5. To despise the day of small things, because we get not +more.</p> +<p>6. To be too curious in seeking after the knowledge of hidden +mysteries, the knowledge whereof is not so necessary.</p> +<p>7. To lean too much unto, and to depend too much upon the +ordinances, or instruments, as if all, or any thing, could come +from them.</p> +<p><i>Eighthly.</i> There should be a right improving of any +measure of knowledge we get to his glory, and to the edification of +others, with humility and thankfulness, and so a putting of that +talent in use, to gain more to his glory. Whatever measure of +knowledge we get, we should in all haste, put it into practice, and +set it to work; so shall it increase, and engage him to give +more.</p> +<p><i>Ninthly.</i> There should be a lying open to Christ's +instructions, and to the shinings of the Spirit of light and of +truth, and a ready receiving of what measure he is pleased to grant +or infuse. Which includeth those duties, 1. A serious and earnest +hungering and thirsting after more spiritual knowledge.</p> +<p>2. A diligent use of every approven mean for this end.</p> +<p>3. A going about the means with much self-denial, spirituality, +singleness of heart, and sincerity, looking to and depending upon +him, who must breathe upon the means, and make them useful.</p> +<p>4. A greedy receiving, drinking in, and treasuring up in the +soul what is gotten.</p> +<p>5. A guarding against selfish and bye-ends, with a single eyeing +of his glory.</p> +<p>6. A guarding against pride in the heart, and a studying of +humility and meekness; for the "meek will he guide in judgment, and +the meek will he teach his way," Psal. xxv. 9.</p> +<p>7. A putting of the heart or understanding in his hand, together +with the truth, that is heard and received, that he may write the +truth, and cause the heart receive the impression of the truth.</p> +<p><i>Tenthly.</i> There should be a rolling of the whole matter by +faith on him, as the only teacher, a putting of the ignorant, +blockish, averse, and perverse heart, into his hand, that he may +frame it to his own mind, and a leaving of it there, till he by the +Spirit, write in it what he thinketh meet, to his own glory and our +good.</p> +<p>And sure, were this way followed, growth in knowledge would not +be so rare a thing as it is.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>For further direction and caution in this matter, the believer +would take notice of these particulars:</p> +<p>1. That he should not sit down upon any measure of knowledge he +hath attained to, or can attain to here, as if he had enough, and +should labour for no more; but he should still be minding his duty +of seeking, and pressing for more.</p> +<p>2. Whenever he is about any mean of knowledge, such as +preaching, reading, conference, &c. his heart should be only +upon Christ. He should be hanging on his lips for a word of +instruction; and with greediness looking for a word from his mouth; +he should be sending many posts to heaven, many ejaculatory desires +for light and understanding, and that with singleness and +sincerity, and not for base ends, or out of hypocrisy.</p> +<p>3. Let him not think, that there is no growth in knowledge, +because possibly he perceiveth it not, or is not satisfied as to +the measure thereof; yea, though possibly he perceive more +ignorance, than ever he did before. If he grow in the knowledge of +his own ignorance, it is a growth of knowledge not to be despised; +and in a manner, what can we else know of God, but that he far +transcendeth all our knowledge, and that he is an incomprehensible +one, in all his ways.</p> +<p>4. Let him not think, that there is no growth in knowledge, +because he perceiveth not a growth in the knowledge of such or such +a particular, which he desireth most; for if there be a truth in +the knowledge of other particulars, necessary to be known, there is +no reason to complain. If one grow not, as he supposeth, in the +knowledge of God, and of the mysteries of the gospel; yet if he +grow in the discovery of the treachery and wickedness of his own +heart, he cannot say that he groweth not in knowledge.</p> +<p>5. Let him not measure his growth in knowledge, by his growth in +the faculty of speaking and discoursing of such or such points of +religion; many measure their knowledge by their tongue, and think +they know little, because they can express little; and so they +think they attain to no increase or growth in knowledge, because +they perceive no increase or growth in this faculty of discoursing, +and talking of such or such points of truth. It is safer to measure +their knowledge by the impression that the truth hath on their +spirits, and the effects of it on all their carriage, than by their +ability and skill to talk and dispute of it.</p> +<p>6. Let them beware to imagine, that they shall be able to search +out the Almighty unto perfection, "Canst thou (said Zophar, Job. +xi. 7, 8, 9.) by searching find out God? canst thou find out the +Almighty unto perfection? He is as high as heaven, what canst thou +do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know? The measure thereof is +longer than the earth, and broader than, the sea." Or that they +shall be able ever to win to the bottom of their own false +deceitful heart, which, as Jeremiah saith, chap. xvii. 9, "Is +deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know +it?" and which it is God's prerogative alone to search and try, +ver. 10. Neither let them think, so long as they are here, to win +to an exact and perfect knowledge of the mysteries of God, wherein +is the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. iii. 10, which very +principalities and powers in heavenly places are learning; and +which the angels are poring and looking into with desire, 1 Pet. i. +12. There is no perfection in knowledge to be had here; for here +the best but knoweth in part, and prophesieth in part, 1 Cor. xiii. +4.</p> +<p>7. Let them not think that every one shall have the same measure +of knowledge; every one hath not the like use for it, or the like +capacity for it. There is a measure proportioned to every one; they +should not then complain, because they have not such a measure of +knowledge as they perceive in some others. It may be, the Lord hath +some harder piece of service, which calleth for more knowledge, to +put others to. Let every one then mind his duty faithfully and +conscientiously, and let him not quarrel with God, that he +attaineth not to such a measure of knowledge as he seeth others +attain unto.</p> +<p>8. Neither let them think, that the same measure is required of +all. For more is required of some, by reason of their office and +charge in the house of God, being called to teach and instruct +others; and so more is required of such, as have larger capacities, +and a better faculty of understanding than others, who naturally +are but of a narrow reach, and of a shallow capacity. More also is +required of such as live under plain, powerful, and lively +ordinances, and under a more powerful and spiritual dispensation of +the grace of God, than of others that want such advantages. So +likewise, more is required of old Christians than of new beginners; +old men, of much and long experience, should know more than such as +are but babes in Christ and but of yesterday.</p> +<p>9. Let their desires run out after that knowledge, not which +puffeth up,—for there is a knowledge which puffeth up, 1 Cor. +viii. 1,—but which humbleth, and driveth the soul farther +from itself and nearer to Christ.</p> +<p>10. They should carefully distinguish betwixt the gift of +knowledge and the grace of knowledge: That ordinarily puffeth up, +this humbleth; that bringeth not the soul to Jesus, this doth; that +is but a form, Rom. ii. 20, and doth not retain God, Rom. i. 28, +this is a real thing, laying hold on God and holding him fast, +having the fear of the Lord for its principle, for this "fear of +the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Job. xxviii. 28. Psalm cxi. +10. Prov. i. 7, and ix. 10.; that lieth most in the head, and +venteth most in discourses, words, yea, and sometimes vanisheth +into vain notions, but this goeth down to the heart, and lodgeth +there and appeareth in the man's walk and conversation; as these +two would be distinguished, so the one would not be measured by the +other.</p> +<p>11. When they do not profit indeed, let them beware of +quarrelling with Christ, or of blaming him in any manner of way; +but let them lay the blame of their shortcoming on themselves, for +not making more use of him by faith and single dependence upon him. +It is true, none will be so bold as in words to quarrel with or +blame him; yet the heart is deceitful and tacitly may raise and +foment such thoughts of him and his dispensations, as can pass +under no other notion than a quarrelling with him. Now these would +be guarded against.</p> +<p>12. Beware of urging for, or expecting immediate revelation, or +extraordinary manifestations. For we should not tempt the Lord, nor +set limits to him, neither should we prescribe means and ways to +him,—we must be satisfied with the ordinary means which he +hath appointed, and wait at wisdom's doors, with our ears nailed to +his posts.</p> +<p>13. Whatever point of truth they learn, or whatever measure of +knowledge they get, they would do well to give that back again to +Christ, to keep for them against a time of need; and wait on him +for grace to improve it for his glory.</p> +<p>14. Let them beware of minding things too high, Psalm cxxxi. 1. +It is better to fear, and to stand in awe, and to seek to lay the +foundations well, to get the saving knowledge of things necessary +to salvation. This will yield most peace and satisfaction.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV." id="CHAPTER_XIV."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST, AS TRUTH, FOR COMFORT, WHEN TRUTH IS +OPPRESSED AND BORN DOWN.</h4> +<br> +<p>There is another difficulty, wherein believing souls will stand +in need of Christ, as the truth, to help them; and that is, when +his work is overturned, his cause borne down, truth condemned, and +enemies, in their opposition to his work, prospering in all their +wicked attempts. This is a very trying dispensation, as we see it +was to the holy penman of Psalm lxxiii. for it made him to stagger, +so that his feet were almost gone, and his steps had well nigh +slipt; yea he was almost repenting of his being a godly person, +saying, ver. 13, "Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and +washed my hands in innocency." It was something like this, which +made Jeremiah say, chap. viii. 18, "When I would comfort myself +against sorrow, my heart is faint in me." The harvest was past, and +the summer was ended, and yet they were not saved, ver. 20; and +they looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of health, +but behold trouble, ver. 15—and this was fainting and +vexatious. And what made Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful companion in +tribulation, say, "Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to +my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest," Jer. xlv. +3, but this, that all things were turning upside down. God was +breaking down that, which he had built; and plucking up that which +he had planted. Tribulation and suffering for a good cause, is even +fainting to some; as the Apostle hinteth, Ephes. iii. 13, when he +says, wherefore, "I desire that ye faint not at my tribulation for +you." And that which evinceth the danger of this dispensation, is +the fainting and backsliding of many, in such a time of trial, as +sad experience too often cleareth.</p> +<p>Now the believer's stay in this case, must be the Rock of Ages, +Jesus the Truth. It is he alone who can keep straight and honest in +such a reeling time. So that a sight of Christ as the Truth, in +reference to the carrying on of truth in the earth, and advancing +his cause and work, will be the only support of a soul shaken by +such a piece of trial.</p> +<p>But the question is, how should believers make use of Christ, in +such a time, to the end they may be kept from fainting and +succumbing in such a storm? To which I answer, that the faith and +consideration of those particulars would help to establishment:</p> +<p>1. That Christ, in all this great work of redemption, and in +every piece of it, is the Father's servant. So is he frequently +called, "his servant," Isa. xlii. 1; xlix. 3, 5, 6; lii. 13; and +liii. 11. Zech. iii. 8; and therefore this work is a work intrusted +to him, and he standeth engaged as a servant, to be faithful to his +trust. Moreover add to this, that he hath a commission to perfect +that work; and we need not doubt, but he who is the truth will be +true to his trust. "Him hath God the Father sealed," John vi. 27; +and he often tells us himself, that he is "sent of the Father," +John iv. 34; v. 23, 24, 30, 36, 37; vi. 38, 39, 40, 44, 57; viii. +16, 18; xii. 44, 45, 49; vii. 16; ix. 4; x. 36; and xi. 42.</p> +<p>2. That while he was upon the earth, he finished that work that +was committed to him to finish here, having purchased all that was +to be bought by his blood, paying all the price that justice did +ask, John xvii. 4; xix. 30. By which price he hath purchased a +people to himself, Rev. v. 9. Luke i. 68. So that his work, cause, +and interest, is a purchased work bought with his blood.</p> +<p>3. That his resurrection and glorification is an undoubted proof +of this, that justice is satisfied, and that the price is fully +paid; and also that his exaltation at the Father's right hand is a +sure evidence and ground of hope, that he shall at last triumph +over all his enemies, and that his work of truth shall prosper. The +Father said to him, Psalm cx. 1, "Sit thou on my right hand, until +I make thine enemies thy footstool." Being highly exalted, he hath +got "a name above every name: that at his name every knee should +bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the +earth; and that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is +Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11.</p> +<p>4. That the Father standeth engaged to make good to him all that +was promised, and to give him all that he purchased, Isa. liii. 10, +11, 12. Christ, having now fulfilled his undertaking, by making his +soul an offering for sin, and so satisfying justice, which is +openly declared by his resurrection, and admission to glory, as the +head of his elect, is to expect the accomplishment of what was +conditioned unto him. His work, therefore, on the earth must +prosper; and the Father hath undertaken to see it prosper. Surely +the faith of this would much support a poor soul, staggering at the +thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked, and of their evil +cause.</p> +<p>5. That Christ himself is now thoroughly furnished and enabled +for the carrying on of his work, over the belly of all adversaries, +for all power in "Heaven and earth is given to him," Matt. xxviii. +18; "and every knee must bow to him," Phil. ii. 10; "all judgment +is committed unto him," John v. 22, 27; "angels, powers, and +authority are made subject unto him," 1 Pet. iii. 22; "yea, all +things are under him," Eph. i. 22. How then can his work miscarry; +or who can hinder, that truth should flourish on the earth?</p> +<p>6. That Christ is actually at work, employing this power for the +carrying forward of his design, for the glory of the Father, and +for his own glory, and for the good of his poor people. The Father +worked by him, and he by the Spirit, which is his great Vicegerent, +sent from the Father, and from him, and his work is to glorify the +Son, and he shall receive of his, and show it unto us, John xvi. +14.</p> +<p>7. That Christ, upon many accounts, standeth engaged to perfect +this work which he hath begun and is about. His honour is engaged +to go through, seeing now he is fully furnished for it, and hath +all the creation at his command. He must then perfect his work, as +to the application, as well as he did perfect it as to the +purchase. His love to his Father's and his own glory, and to his +own people's good and salvation, may assure us, that he will not +leave the work unperfected; and his power and furniture may give us +full security, that no stop which his work meeteth with shall be +able to hinder it.</p> +<p>8. That hence it is clear and manifest, that his wheel is in the +midst of the wheels of men, and that therefore he is ordering all +their motions and reelings to the best. His wheel keepeth an even +pace, and moveth equally and equitably in the midst of men's +contrary motions.</p> +<p>9. And that, therefore, all the eccentric and irregular motions +of devils and wicked men being in his hand, and ordered by him, +cannot hinder, but further his end; so that even enemies, while +opposing and seeking to destroy the cause and interest of Christ, +that his name and truth should no more be mentioned, are promoving +his work. His wheel is the great wheel that ordereth all the lesser +and subordinate wheels, whatever contrary motions they may have the +one to the other, and all or many of them may seem to have to this +great wheel; so that, do they what they will, the work of our Lord +goeth on. Their opposition is setting his work forward, though they +intend the contrary; however their faces look, they row to the port +he would be at. This is an undoubted truth, and confirmed in all +ages, and yet is not firmly believed; and a truth it is, which, if +believed, would do much to settle our staggering souls in a stormy +day.</p> +<p>10. That at last he shall come "to be glorified in his saints," +2 Thess. i. 10; "when he shall be revealed from heaven with all his +mighty angels," verse 7. Then shall it be seen whose counsel shall +stand, his or men's; and whose work shall prosper, his or +Satan's.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>Yet, let me add a few words, for caution and direction here.</p> +<p>1. The consideration of these things mentioned should not make +us slacken our diligence in prayer and other duties; and when they +are aright considered, they will rather prove a spur and a goad in +our side to set us forward, than a bridle to hold us back.</p> +<p>2. We would not think that Christ's work and interest is going +backward always, when it seemeth so to us. Even when he is casting +down what he hath built up, and plucking up what he hath planted, +his work is prospering, for all that is in order to the laying of a +better foundation, and to the carrying on of a more glorious work, +when he shall lay all the stones with fair colours, and the +foundations with sapphires, and make the windows of crystal, +&c. Isa. liv. 11,12.</p> +<p>3. Though his work be always going on, and his truth prospering, +yet we would not think that it will always prosper alike in our +apprehensions; many times we judge by rules of our own making, and +not by the rule of truth, and hence it is that we mistake +oftentimes. We walk little by faith, and too much by sense; and +hence we judge too much by sense, and so pass a wrong judgment, to +his dishonour, and the saddening of our own hearts.</p> +<p>4. Nor would we think that his truth and interest is ruined and +gone, because it is sore oppressed in this or that particular place +of the world; as if his work were not of an universal extent, and +in all the churches. If his truth thrive and prosper in some other +place of the world, shall we not say, that his kingdom is coming? +Or shall we limit all his work and interest to one small part of +the world?</p> +<p>5. We would not think the worse of his work because it is +carried on with so many stops, and doth meet with so many +impediments in its way. We are not acquainted with the depths of +his infinite wisdom and counsel; and so we see not what noble ends +he hath before him, in suffering those impediments to lie in the +way of his chariot. We think he should ride so triumphantly all +along, that none should once dare to cast the least block in his +way. But we judge carnally, as unacquainted with the many noble and +glorious designs which he hath in ordering matters. As himself was +for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, so will he have the +way of the carrying on of his work prove, in his holy and spotless +justice, a stumbling-stone to many that shall stumble thereat, and +fall, and never rise any more.</p> +<p>6. We should beware to think that Christ hath forgotten his +work, because he seemeth to take no notice of our prayers, which we +are putting up now and then for his work. He may be doing that +which we are desiring in the general, and yet not let us know that +he is answering our prayers; and that for wise and holy ends, to +keep us humble and diligent. He may seem to disregard our suits, +and yet be carrying on his work, and granting us our desires upon +the matter.</p> +<p>7. Hence we should beware of desponding, and growing heartless +and faint, when we see few owning truth, or standing upon Christ's +side; for he needeth not man's help to carry on this work, though +he sometimes thinketh good to condescend so far as to honour some +to be instrumental in setting of it forward, who yet have nothing +but as he giveth; let us not then think, that his work cannot +prosper because great ones and mean ones oppose it, and such as +should stand for it and own it, are few and fainting, without +strength, courage, or zeal.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV." id="CHAPTER_XV."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR STEADFASTNESS, IN A TIME WHEN +TRUTH IS OPPRESSED AND BORNE DOWN.</h4> +<br> +<p>When enemies are prevailing, and the way of truth is evil spoken +of, many faint, and many turn aside, and do not plead for truth, +nor stand up for the interest of Christ, in their hour and power of +darkness: many are overcome with base fear, and either side with +the workers of iniquity, or are not valiant for the truth, but +being faint-hearted, turn back. Now the thoughts of this may put +some who desire to stand fast, and to own him and his cause in a +day of trial, to enquire how they shall make use of Christ, who is +the truth, so as to be enabled to stand in the day of temptation, +and keep fast by truth when it is loaded with reproaches, and +buried under an heap of obloquy. For satisfaction to this question, +I shall shortly point out those directions which, if followed, may +prove helpful to keep the soul from fainting, misbelieving, +doubting, quarrelling at the Lord's dispensations, and from +yielding to the temptations in such a day.</p> +<p>1. The believer should live in the conviction of his hazard +through the sleight of Satan, the strength of temptation, the +wickedness and treachery of the heart, the evil example of others, +and the want of sanctified courage, zeal, and resolution; and this +will keep the soul humble, and far from boasting of its own +strength, which was Peter's fault.</p> +<p>2. They should live in the faith and persuasion of this, that it +is Christ alone who is the truth, who can help them to stand for +truth in a day of temptation; and that all their former purposes, +vows, resolutions, solemn professions, and the like, will prove but +weak cables to hold them fast in a day of a storm; and that only +the rock of ages must save them; and their being a leeward of him, +and partaking of his warm and safe protection, will do their +business. That all their stock of grace and knowledge, and that +confirmed with resolutions and sincere purposes, will help but +little in that day; and that new influences of grace and truth, +from the fountain, that is full of grace and truth, will only prove +establishing to the soul, and confirm it in the truth in that +day.</p> +<p>3. Therefore they should eye Christ in his offices, particularly +as the great prophet who can teach as never man taught; so teach as +to make the soul receive the doctrine, and to hold it fast—to +receive it in love, and lay it up in the heart as a rich and +enriching treasure.</p> +<p>4. They should eye him in his relations unto his people, as +their head, husband, brother, leader, commander, captain, &c.; +for those give ground of approaching unto him with confidence in +the day of darkness and mists, for light and direction, and for +strength and courage in the day of temptation; and give ground of +hope of help in that day of trial and difficulty.</p> +<p>5. They should eye and act faith upon the promises of assistance +and through-bearing, in the day of calamity; such as +those—Isa. xliii. 2, "When thou passest through the waters, I +will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow +thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; +neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." And Isaiah xli. 13, "For +I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear +not, I will help thee." And particularly they would eye the +promises of light in the day of darkness, Isaiah lviii. 8, 10; lx. +20. 2 Sam. xxii. 29.</p> +<p>6. They should look on Christ as an exalted conqueror, now risen +and glorified; as a victorious captain that hath fought and +overcome, that they, as his followers, may be made partakers of his +victory and conquest, and so reap the fruit of his resurrection and +ascension, in their establishment in the truth, when it is borne +down and questioned, yea, and condemned by men. He abode steadfast +and immoveable in the midst of all the storms that blew in his +face; and as he came to bear witness to the truth, so did he +faithfully and zealously avow truth, even to the death; and in +death got the victory of the arch liar and deceiver. Now the +believer should eye this, for the strengthening of his faith and +hope of victory also, through him; and therefore would wait +patiently for his help, and not make haste; for they who believe +make not haste, Isaiah xxviii. 16, knowing that he is true and +faithful, and will not disappoint his followers that trust in him. +And moreover it would be of advantage to them in this case, to eye +that gracious and comfortable word, John xiv. 19, "because I live, +ye shall live also;" and so by faith conclude, that seeing Christ +now liveth as a conqueror over darkness, untruth, reproaches, +calumnies, and opposition of liars, yea, of the father of lies, +they through him shall also live, and ride out that storm; and this +will give much courage to the soul to endure temptation, and to +wait in patience for an outgate.</p> +<p>7. They should study much, and suck at the grand promise of his +coming again, and of finally dispelling all clouds, and of fully +clearing up his glorious truths, that are now covered over with +obloquy, and buried under reproaches; and this will encourage the +soul to stand to truth in the midst of opposition, believing, that +at length, truth, how much soever opposed now, shall be +victorious.</p> +<p>8. They should be single in their dependence on him, for +strength and through-bearing, in that day of trial—not +leaning to their own understanding, but acknowledging him in all +their ways, Prov. iii. 8; and when they see no hope of outgate in +the world, nor appearance of the clearing up of the day, they would +comfort themselves, and encourage themselves in the Lord, as David +did in a great strait, 1 Sam. xx. 6.</p> +<p>9. Upon the forementioned grounds they would cast all the care +of their through-bearing on him, who careth for them, 1 Pet. v. +7—rolling all their difficulties on him—consulting only +with him and his word, and not with flesh and blood; and so they +would commit their ways to him, who disposeth of all things as he +seeth good; forbearing to limit the Holy One of Israel, or to +quarrel with him for any thing he doth; and patiently wait for his +outgate and delivery.</p> +<p>10. It were good, in this time of trial, to be remembering the +worth of truth, and entertaining high thoughts of the smallest +piece of truth that is questioned, for his sake, who is the truth; +that a sight of the glorious worth thereof, may make them account +the less of all they can lose in the defence and maintenance +thereof.</p> +<p>11. So were it good at this time, when truths come to be +questioned, to be lying near to the truth, for light, and to be +keeping fast, what he by his Spirit cleareth up to be truth, though +the light should not be so full as to dispel all objections. This +were to depend upon him for light, with singleness of heart; and in +godly simplicity and sincerity to follow his direction and torch, +though it should not shine so bright as they could wish.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS.</p> +<p>A few words of caution will be useful here also; as,</p> +<p>1. The believer, though taking this course, would not think to +be altogether free of fear of stepping aside, in less or in more. +God may think good to let much of this abide, to the end he may be +kept watchful, tender, and diligent; for fear maketh the soul +circumspect and watchful; and this is a good preservative from +defection.</p> +<p>2. Nor would the believer think, that hereby he shall be kept +altogether free of fainting. The heart, now and then, through fear +and misbelief, may fall into a fit of fainting, and think all is +gone; and yet he may carry poor souls through, and make his +strength perfect in their wickedness, 2 Cor. xii. 9; that when they +are supported and carried through the temptation, they may sing +praise to him, and not ascribe any thing to +themselves—remembering how often they were fainting, and +almost giving over the cause as desperate and hopeless.</p> +<p>3. They would not think it strange, if, in the time of their +wrestling with difficulties, the Lord hide his face from them, and +give not them that joyful access unto him in prayer, that sometimes +they have met with; for the Lord may see it fit to put them to this +point of trial among the rest, to see if the love of his glory and +truth will keep them standing, when they want the encouragement +that might be expected in that way; and if pure conscience to the +command and authority of God, will keep from siding with an evil +way, when the soul is destitute of all sensible encouragement, both +from within and from without.</p> +<p>4. In all this business believers should carry singly with an +eye to God's glory; and should not be acted with self-ends, or +drawn by carnal and selfish motives. They should not desire +stability and through-bearing to be seen of men, or to gain +applause and praise of men; lest God be provoked to leave them to +themselves, and they at length come off with discredit, as did +Peter. Therefore they should strive against these carnal motions of +the heart, and labour for spirituality, singleness of heart, and +truth in the inward parts, which the Lord desireth, Psalm li. +6.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI." id="CHAPTER_XVI."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE TRUTH, WHEN ERROR PREVAILETH, +AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR CARRIETH MANY AWAY.</h4> +<br> +<p>There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and +truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For +Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many +great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext +usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that +in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and +made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and +delusions instead of truth. Now the question is, how a poor +believer shall make use of Christ, who is the truth, for keeping +him steadfast in the truth, in such a day of trial, and from +embracing of error, how plausible soever it may appear. For +satisfaction to this we shall propose these few things:</p> +<p>1. In such a time, when a spirit of error is let loose and +rageth, and carrieth several away, it were good for all who would +be kept straight and honest, to be walking in fear. It is not good +to despise such a sly and subtle enemy, especially in the hour and +power of darkness. Then all are called to be on their guard, and to +stand upon their watch-tower, and to be jealous of their corrupt +hearts, that are ready enough of their own accord to drink in +error, and to receive the temptation at any time; and much more +then.</p> +<p>2. They should not think that their knowledge and ability to +dispute for truth, will keep them steadfast, if there be not more; +for if the temptation grow, they may come to reason and dispute +themselves out of all their former knowledge and skill. The father +of lies is a cunning sophister, and knoweth, how to shake their +grounds and cast all loose.</p> +<p>3. They should renew their covenant grips of Christ, and make +sure that main business, viz. their peace and union with God in +Christ, and their accepting of Christ for their head and husband. +They would labour to have the foundation sure, and to be united +unto the chief corner-stone, that so blow the storm as it will, +they may ride safely; and that hereby they may have access to +Christ with boldness, in their difficulty, and may with confidence +seek light from him in the hour of darkness.</p> +<p>4. To the end they may be kept more watchful and circumspect, +they should remember, that it is a dishonourable thing to Christ, +for them to step aside, in the least matter of truth; the denying +of the least point of truth is a consequential denying of him who +is the truth; and to loose a foot in the matters of truth is very +dangerous; for who can tell when they who once slip a foot shall +recover it again? And who can tell how many, and how dreadful +errors they may drink in, who have once opened the door to a small +error? Therefore they should beware of tampering in this matter, +and to admit any error, upon the account that it is a small and +inconsiderable one. There may be an unseen concatenation betwixt +one error and another, and betwixt a small one and a greater one, +so as if the little one be admitted and received, the greater shall +follow; and it may be feared that if they once dally with error, +and make a gap in their consciences, that God will give them up to +judicial blindness, that, ere all be done, they shall embrace that +opinion which sometime they seemed to hate as death.</p> +<p>5. They should eye the promises suiting that cause; viz. the +promises of God's guiding "the blind by a way which they know not: +of making darkness light before them, and crooked things straight," +Isa. xlii. 16; and of "guiding continually," Isa. lviii. 11; see +also Isa. xlix. 10.; lvii. 18.; and they would act faith on these +and the like promises, as now made sure by Jesus.</p> +<p>6. Particularly, they should fix their eye upon that principal +promise, of the Spirit of truth, to guide into all truth, John xvi. +13.</p> +<p>7. With singleness of heart they should depend on Christ, and +wait for light from him, and beware of prejudice at the truth; with +singleness of heart they should lie open to his instructions, and +to the influences of his light and direction, and receive in the +beams of his divine light; and thus go about duties, viz. prayer, +conference, preaching, reading, &c. with an eye fixed on him, +and with a soul open to him, and free of all sinful pre-engagement +and love to error.</p> +<p>8. With singleness of heart, they should give up their souls to +Christ, as the truth, that he would write the truth in their souls, +and frame their souls unto the truth, and unto that truth which is +most questioned, and by which they are most in hazard to be drawn +away; and urge and press him by prayer and supplication to do the +duty of a head, a husband, guide and commander, &c. unto them; +and that he would be a light unto them in that day of darkness, and +not suffer them to dishonour him or prove scandalous to others; by +departing from the truth and embracing error. A serious +single-hearted dealing with him upon the grounds of the covenant +promises and his relations and engagements, might prove steadable +in this case, if accompanied with a lying open to the influences of +truth and to the light of information which he is pleased to send +by the Spirit of truth.</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS.</p> +<p>For further clearing of this matter, we shall hint at some +cautions and further directions useful here: such as,</p> +<p>1. They should beware of thinking that God should come to them +with light and instruction in an extraordinary manner, and reveal +the truth of the question controverted somewhat immediately: for +this were a manifest tempting and limiting of the Holy One of +Israel. We must be satisfied with the means of instruction which he +hath provided, and run to the law and to the testimony. We have the +Scriptures, which are able to make the man of God perfect and +"thoroughly furnished unto all good works," 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; and +to "make wise unto salvation," ver. 15. There must we see light; +and there must we wait for the breathings of his Spirit with life, +and coming with light to clear up truth to us: for they are the +scriptures of truth, Dan. x. 21; and the law of the Lord, which is +"perfect, converting the soul;" and the commandment of the Lord, +that is pure, "enlightening the eyes," Psalm xix. 7, 8. We have the +ministry which God hath also appointed for this end, to make known +unto us his mind; there must we wait for him and his light. Thus +must we wait at the posts of wisdom's doors; and wait for the king +of light in his own way wherein he hath appointed us to wait for +him. And if he think good to come another way more immediate, let +him always be welcome; but let not us limit him nor prescribe ways +to him, but follow his directions.</p> +<p>2. When any thing is borne in upon their spirit as a truth to be +received, or as an error to be rejected, more immediately, they +should beware of admitting of every such thing without trial and +examination; for we are expressly forbidden to believe every +spirit, and commanded to try them whether they are of God or not, 1 +John iv. 1. The Lord will not take it ill that even his own +immediate motions and revelations be tried and examined by the +word; because the word is given us for this end, to be our test and +standard of truth. The way of immediate revelation is not the +ordinary way now of God's manifesting his mind to his people. He +hath now chosen another way, and given us a more sure word of +prophesy than was, "even a voice from heaven," as Peter saith, 2 +Pet. i. 18, 19. It is commended in the Bereans, Acts xvii. 11, who +upon this account were "more noble than those of Thessalonica, in +that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and +searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Even +Paul's words, though he was an authorised and an infallible apostle +of Christ's, are here put to the touch-stone of the word. "Many +false prophets may go out, and deceive many, and speak great +swelling words of vanity," 1 John iv. 1; 2 Pet. ii. 18; and the +devil can transchange himself into an angel of light, 2 Cor. xi. +14; and though an angel out of heaven should preach any other thing +than what is in the written word, we ought not to receive his +doctrine, but to reject it, and to account him accursed, Gal. i. 8. +So that the written word must be much studied by us; and by it must +we try all motions, all doctrines, all inspirations, all +revelations, and all manifestations.</p> +<p>3. Much more, they should beware of thinking that the dictates +of their conscience obligeth them, so as that always they must of +necessity follow the same. Conscience, being God's deputy in the +soul, is to be followed no further than it speaketh for God and +according to truth. An erring conscience, though it bind so far as +that he who doth contrary to the dictates thereof sinneth against +God, in that, knowing no other than that the dictates of conscience +are right and consonant to the mind of God, yet dare counteract the +same, and thus formally rebel against God's authority; yet it doth +not oblige us to believe and to do what it asserteth to be truth +and duty. It will not then be enough for them to say, my conscience +and the light within me speaketh so, and instructeth me so; for +that light may be darkness, and error, and delusion, and so no rule +for them to walk by. "To the law and to the testimony," and if +their conscience, mind, and light within them "speak not according +to this word, it is because there is no light in them," Isa. viii. +20. I grant, as I said, they cannot without sin counteract the +dictates even of an erring conscience, because they know no better +but that these dictates are according to truth; and thus an erring +conscience is a most dangerous thing, and bringeth people under a +great dilemma, that whether they follow it or not, they sin; and +there is no other remedy here, but to lay by the erring conscience, +and get a conscience rightly informed by the word; putting it in +Christ's hand to be better formed and informed, that so it may do +its office better. This then should be especially guarded against, +for if once they lay down this for a principle, that whatever their +conscience and mind, or inward light (as some call it) dictate, +must be followed, there is no delusion, how false, how abominable +soever it be, but they may be at length in hazard to be drawn away +with; and so the rule that they will walk by be nothing in effect +but the spirit of lies and of delusion, and the motions and +dictates of him who is the father of lies, that is, the devil.</p> +<p>4. Such as pretend to walk so much by conscience, should take +heed that they take not that for the dictate of conscience, which +really is but the dictates of their own humours, inclinations, +pre-occupied minds, and biassed wills. When conscience speaketh, it +groundeth on the authority of God, whether truly or falsely, and +proposeth such a thing to be done, or to be refrained from, merely +because God commandeth that, and forbiddeth this, though sometimes +it mistaketh. But though the dictates of men's humours, +inclinations, pre-occupied judgments, and wills, may pretend God's +authority for what they say, yet really some carnal respect, +selfish end, and the like, lieth at the bottom, and is the chief +spring of that motion. And also the dictates of humour and biassed +wills are usually more violent and fierce than the dictates of +conscience; for wanting the authority of God to back their +assertions and prescriptions, they must make up that with an +addition of preternatural force and strength. Hence, such as are +purely led by conscience, are pliable, humble, and ready to hear +and receive information; whereas, others are headstrong and +pertinacious, unwilling to receive instruction, or to hear any +thing contrary to their minds, lest their conscience, receiving +more light, speak with a higher voice against their inclinations +and former ways, and so create more trouble to them; while, as now +they enjoy more quiet within, so long as the cry of their self-will +and biassed judgments is so loud, that they cannot well hear the +still and low voice of conscience.</p> +<p>5. They should labour for much self-denial and sincerity; and to +be free from the snares and power of selfish ends, as credit, a +name, and applause, or what of that kind, that may be like "the +fear of man that bringeth a snare," Prov. xxix. 25; for that will +be like a gift that blindeth the eyes of the wise, Exod. xxiii. 8. +Love to carry on a party, or a design to be seen or accounted +somebody, to maintain their credit and reputation, lest they be +accounted changelings and the like, will prove very dangerous in +this case; for these may forcibly carry the soul away, to embrace +one error after another, and one error to strengthen and confirm +another, that it is hard to know where or when they shall stand. +And these, by respects, may so forcibly drive the soul forward, +that he shall neither hear the voice of conscience within, nor any +instruction from without.</p> +<p>6. They should study the word of truth without prejudice and any +sinful pre-engagement, lest they be made thereby to wire-draw and +wrest the word to their own destruction, as some of whom Peter +speaketh, 2 Pet. iii. 16. It is a dangerous thing to study the word +with a prejudicate opinion; and to bow or wire-draw the word and +make it speak what we would have it speak, for the confirmation of +our opinions and sentiments. For this is but to mock God and his +law, and to say, let his law speak what it will, I will maintain +this opinion, and so make the word speak as we would have it, or +else lay it by. This is to walk by some other rule than the word, +and to make the word serve our lusts and confirm our errors, than +which a greater indignity cannot be done to the Spirit of truth +speaking in the word.</p> +<p>7. In reading and studying of the word there should be much +single dependence on the Spirit for light; waiting for clearness +from him whom Christ hath promised to lead us into all truth. An +earnest wrestling with him for his assistance, enlightening the +mind with divine light to understand the truth, and inclining the +soul to a ready embracing and receiving of the truth declared in +the word.</p> +<p>8. Though one place of scripture be enough to confirm any point +of truth, and ground sufficient for us to believe what is there +said, there being nothing in scripture but what is truth; yet, in +such a time of abounding errors, and when many are going abroad +speaking perverse things to lead the simple away, it were spiritual +wisdom to be comparing scripture with scripture, and not be lightly +embracing whatever may seem probable, and fairly deducible from +some one passage or other of scripture, but to be comparing that +with other passages and see what concord there is; for this is +certain, whatever point contradicteth other clear and manifest +testimonies of scripture cannot be true; however a cunning +sophister may make it seem very probably to flow out of such or +such a passage of scripture. The testimony of the Spirit is +uniform, and free from all contradictions; and therefore we must +see, if such an assertion, that some would draw from such a +passage, agree with other plain passages, and if not, be sure that +is not the meaning of the place. When the devil did wrest and abuse +that passage of truth, Ps. xci. 11. "He shall give his angels +charge concerning thee," &c, and from thence would infer, that +Christ might cast himself down, Matt. iv. 6, Christ shews that this +inference was bad, because it did not agree with other divine +testimonies, particularly not with that, Deut. vi. 16, "Thou shalt +not tempt the Lord thy God." And thereby he teacheth us to take +this course in times of temptation, and so compare spiritual things +with spiritual, as Paul speaketh, 1 Cor. ii. 13. Especially they +should beware of expounding clear scriptures by such as are more +dark and mysterious; see 2 Pet. iii. 16. It is always safer to +explain darker passages by such as are more clear.</p> +<p>9. Let them guard against an humour of new-fangledness, +nauseating old and solid truths, and seeking after something new, +having ears itching after new doctrines, yea, or new modes and +dresses of old truths. For this is provoking to God, and proveth +dangerous; for such turn away their ears from the truth, and are +turned into fables, as Paul telleth us, 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4. "For the +time will come," saith he, "when they will not endure sound +doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves +teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears +from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." This savoureth of +a spirit of levity and inconstancy, which is dangerous.</p> +<p>10. They should labour to have no prejudice at the truth, but +receive it in the love of it; lest, for that cause, God give them +up to strong delusions, to believe lies, and to be led with the +deceivableness of unrighteousness, as we see, 2 Thess. ii. 10-12, +"And. with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that +perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they +might be saved; and for this cause God shall send them strong +delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be +damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in +unrighteousness."</p> +<p>11. So should they beware of stifling the truth, of making it a +prisoner, and detaining it in unrighteousness, like those spoken +of, Rom. i. 18. "For which cause God them up to uncleanness and +vile affections, and they became vain in their imaginations, and +their foolish heart was darkened, yea, professing themselves to be +wise, they became fools," ver. 21, &c. They should let truth +have free liberty and power in the soul; and should yield up +themselves to be ruled and guided by it; and not torture with it, +lay chains upon it, or fetter it, and keep it as a prisoner that +can do nothing.</p> +<p>12. For this cause, they should hold fast the truth which they +have learned, and have been taught by the Spirit out of the word. +When Paul would guard and fortify Timothy against seducers, that +crept into houses, leading captive silly women, &c., among +other directions gave him this, 2 Tim. iii. 14, 15, "But continue +thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured +of, knowing of whom thou hast learned; and that from a child thou +hast known the Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto +salvation," &c. So he would have the Colossians walking in +Christ, rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith as +they had been taught, Col. ii. 6, 7.</p> +<p>13. Especially they would be holding the groundwork +fast,—faith in Christ. It were good in such a time of erring +from the way of truth, to be gripping Christ faster, and cleaving +to him by faith, and living by faith in him. This is to hold the +foundation fast; and then let the tempest of error blow as it will, +they will ride at a sure anchor, and be safe, because fixed upon +the Rock of Ages; and further, living near Christ in such a +dangerous day, would be a noble preservative from the infection of +error. The soul that is dwelling in Christ and gripping to him +daily by faith, and acting love on him, dwelleth in light, will +discover error sooner than another, because living under the rays +of the Sun of Righteousness, which discovereth error.</p> +<p>14. They should labour to learn the truth, as it is in Jesus; +and the truths which they have heard of him, and have been taught +by him, as the truth is in him, will abide, when other truths that +have been learned but of men, and heard of men, and as it was in +the preaching of men, and in books, shall soon evanish in a day of +trial. This is to learn Christ, as the apostle speaketh, Eph. iv. +20, 21, "But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have +heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus." +When we learn the truth, as it is in Jesus, it bringeth us always +to him, and hath a tendency to fix our hearts on him, and is a +piece of the bond that bindeth us to him and his way: we receive it +then as a piece of his doctrine, which we must own, and stand unto. +O if we learned all our divinity thus, we would be more constant +and steadfast in it than we are!</p> +<p>15. When controversies arise, and they know not which side to +choose—both seemeth to them to be alike well founded on the +word—they should exercise their spiritual sagacity, and set +their gift of discerning a work, to see which of the two tendeth +most to promote piety and godliness, and the kingdom of Christ, and +so see which of the two is the truth, "which is after godliness," +as the apostle speaketh, Tit. i. 1; they must look which of the two +is the doctrine which is according to godliness, I Tim. vi. 3. That +is the truth which is Christ's, and which should be owned and +embraced, viz. which floweth from a spirit of godliness, and +tendeth to promove godliness, and suiteth with the true principles +of godliness, even gospel godliness, wrought according to the tenor +of the covenant of grace; that is, by the strength of the Spirit of +Jesus, dwelling and working in us, and not according to the tenor +of the covenant of works, that is, wrought by our own strength, +&c.</p> +<p>16. Yet withal they should take heed that they mistake not here; +for they may look upon some ways and doctrines as having a greater +tendency to promove godliness than others; which indeed have not, +but only seem so. They should therefore consider well what is the +way of godliness laid down in the noble device of the gospel, which +is the way that only glorifieth God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; +and see what suiteth most with that, according to the word, and not +what seemeth most suitable to godliness in their apprehension. The +word is the best judge and test of true godliness; and in the word +we have the only safest mean of true godliness held forth: +therefore we should see what doctrine tendeth most to promote +godliness according to the way held forth in the word, and choose +that.</p> +<p>17. They should guard against pride and self-conceit, as +thinking they are wise enough, and understanding enough in those +matters, and so need not take a lesson of any. This may be of great +prejudice; for "it is the meek that God guideth in judgment; and to +the meek will he teach his way," Psalm xxv. 9. Therefore it were +good for his people in such a day, to be meek and humble, willing +and ready to learn of any person, how mean soever, that can teach +the ways of God. The Lord may bless a word spoken by a private +person, when he will not bless the word spoken by a minister; for +his blessings are free. And it is not good to despise any mean. +Apollos, though instructed in the way of the Lord, mighty in the +Scriptures, fervent in spirit, and teaching diligently the things +of the Lord, Acts xviii. 24, 25, yet was content to learn of +Aquila, and of his wife Priscilla, when they expounded unto him the +way of God more perfectly, ver. 26.</p> +<p>18. In such a time, it is not unsafe to look to such as have +been eminent in the ways of God, and lie near to him; for it is +probable they may know much of the mind of God in those questioned +matters. Hence we find the apostle putting Timothy and others to +this duty in a time when false teachers were going abroad, saying, +2 Tim. iii. 10, "but thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of +life;" and 1 Cor. iv. 16, "wherefore I beseech you to be followers +of me;" and 1 Cor. xi. 1; and again, Phil. iii. 17, "brethren, be +followers together of me." All which say, that though we should +call no man Rabbi, as hanging our faith absolutely on him, yet in +such a time of prevailing error and of false teachers going abroad, +some respect should be had to such as have found grace of the Lord +to be faithful in times of trial, and have maintained truth, and +stood for it, in times of persecution, and have with singleness of +heart followed the Lord; it not being ordinary with God to leave +such as in sincerity seek him, and desire to follow his way in +truth and uprightness, and to give the revelation of his mind and +the manifestation of his Spirit to others, who have not gone +through such trials.</p> +<p>19. They should also at such a time be much in the sincere +practice of uncontroverted duties, and in putting uncontroverted +and unquestionable and unquestioned truths into practice; and this +may prove a notable mean to keep them right: for then are they in +God's way, and so the devil hath not that advantage of them that he +hath of others who are out of the way of duty. David understood +more than the ancients, because he kept God's precepts, Psal. cxix. +100.</p> +<p>20. It were good and suitable at such a time, to be much in the +fear of God, remembering what an one he is, and how hazardous it is +to sin against him, by drinking in the least point of error. The +promise is made to such, Psalm xxv. 12, "What man is he that +feareth the Lord, him shall he teach in the way that he shall +choose."</p> +<p>21. Finally, at such a time they should be much in communion +with Jesus, lying near him; much in prayer to him, studying his +relations, offices, furniture, readiness to help with light and +counsel; and they should draw near to him with humility, boldness, +faith, confidence, love, tenderness, and sincerity; and then they +shall not find that he shall fail them, or disappoint them.</p> +<p>Enough of this. I proceed therefore to another case, which +is:</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII." id="CHAPTER_XVII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE TRUTH, THAT WE MAY GET OUR +CASE AND CONDITION CLEARED UP TO US.</h4> +<br> +<p>The believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case +and condition, so as he cannot tell what to say of himself, or what +judgment to pass on himself, and he knoweth not how to win to a +distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition. Now, it is +truth alone, and the Truth, that can satisfy them as to this. The +question then is, how they shall make use of, and apply themselves +to this truth, to the end they may get the truth of their condition +discovered to them. But first let us see what this case may be. +Consider, then,</p> +<p>1. That grace may be in the soul, and yet not be seen nor +observed. This is manifest by daily experience.</p> +<p>2. Not only so, but a gracious soul that is reconciled With God +in Christ, and hath the spirit of grace dwelling in it, may suppose +itself a stranger yet unto this reconciliation, and void of the +grace of God, and so be still in the state of nature.</p> +<p>3. Yea, a soul may not only suppose and conclude itself in +nature, while it is in a state of grace, but further, may be filled +with terror and apprehensions of God's wrath and indignation; and +that in such a measure, as that thereby it may be as a distracted +person, as we see it was with Heman, Psalm lxxxviii. 15, who said, +"while I suffer thy terror, I am distracted." The wrath of God lay +hard upon him, and he said, that he was afflicted with all God's +waves, ver. 7. Hence he cried out, vers. 16. 17, "thy fierce wrath +goeth over me, thy terrors have cut me off, they came round about +me daily," or all the day, "like water they compassed me about +together." And yet for all this, the first word of his complaint +was faith, ver. 1. Many such complaints hear we out of Job's mouth, +to whom God, notwithstanding, was that gracious, that he never came +to question his state before God, or to conclude his hypocrisy, or +his being still in the state of nature. But it is not so with every +one that is so exercised.</p> +<p>4. Yea, further, with those inward strokes upon the soul, they +may have sin and guilt charged upon their consciences; and this +will make their life yet more bitter, and put a sharper edge upon +the rods. Thus was Job made to possess the sins of his youth, Job. +xiii. 26, and made to say, "My transgression is sealed up in a bag, +and thou sewest up mine iniquity," Job. xiv. 17.</p> +<p>5. Moreover, they may be in such a condition a long time, and +all the while have no light of comfort, as we may see in Job and +Heman. They may even walk in darkness, and have no light of +comfort, Isa. 1. 10.</p> +<p>6. Yea, and also be without the hope of a delivery or outgate. +Hence crieth Heman, Psalm lxxxviii. 4-5, "I am counted with them +that go down into the pit, free among the dead, like the slain that +lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more, and they are cut +off from thine hand." Yea, they may be driven to the very border of +despair, and conclude that there is no hope, as the church did, +Ezek. xxxvii. 11, "Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, and +we are cut off for our parts;" and as Job, chap. vii. 6, "My days +are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope;" +and chap. xix. 10, "He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am +gone: mine hope hath been removed like a tree."</p> +<p>Now, though sometimes, as we see in Job, and in Heman too, a +soul may be under such a sad and sharp dispensation, and yet not +brought to question their state, or to conclude themselves children +of wrath, lying still in black nature, yet it is not so with all +who are so exercised; but many under such a dispensation, may at +least be in the dark as to their state before God; and if they do +not positively assert their state to be bad, yet they do much +question if they be in the state of grace, and would be comforted +under all their pressures and afflictions, if they could win to the +least well-grounded apprehension of their interest in Christ.</p> +<p>In such a case as this is, there is ground for a poor soul to +make use of Christ for outgate; and an outgate may be had in God's +time, and as he seeth fit, by a right use-making of and going out +to him, who is the Truth. So, then, the soul that would have its +state and condition cleared up, and a discovery of its being +reconciled to God through Jesus, and in a state of grace, and would +make use of Christ as the Truth, for this end, would,</p> +<p>(1.) Look out to Christ, as a feeling High Priest, faithful and +merciful, who, being like us in all things, except sin, doth +sympathise with, and succour such as are tempted, Heb. ii. 17, 18. +And as a Priest, "that is touched with the feeling of our +infirmities," Heb. iv. 15. Albeit Christ, in the deepest of his +darkness, was never made to question his Sonship, but avouched God +to be his God even when he was forsaken, Psalm xxii. 1. Matt, +xxvii. 46. Mark xv. 34. Yet he knew what it was to be tempted, to +question his Sonship, when the devil said unto him, Matt. iv. 3, +"If thou be the Son of God;" and he knows what such a distress as +he himself was into, wrestling with an angry God, hiding himself +and forsaking, will work in a poor sinner; and being a merciful and +sympathising High Priest, he cannot but pity such as are under such +a distemper, and, as a gracious Head, sympathise with them. Now, +the believer would look out to him as such an one, and upon this +ground go to him with confidence and boldness, and lay out their +case before him, that he may help and send relief:</p> +<p>(2.) They would also eye Christ as able to save out of that +condition, and to command light to shine out of darkness; and so, +as one "able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through +him," Heb. vii. 25.</p> +<p>(3.) And not only so, but eye him also as given, sent, and +commissioned of the Father, to be a light to such as sit in +darkness; even to the Gentile. Isa. xlii. 6, and xlix. 6. Luke ii. +32. Acts xiii. 47; xxvi. 23. John viii. 12; and this will encourage +the poor souls to go out to him with their darkness, when they see +that he is sent as a Light and as the Truth, to clear up poor souls +that walk in darkness and have no light. When they see that it is +his place and office to help them, and consider that he is true to +his trust, and true and faithful in all that was committed to him, +it not only will embolden them to come forward to him, but it will +strengthen their hope, and encourage them to wait on.</p> +<p>(4.) They would stay themselves on him as an all-sufficient +helper, renouncing all other, crying out, that they will have no +light but his light, and that they will seek no where else for +light, but wait at his door, till he, who is the Sun of +Righteousness, shall arise in their soul, and come with healing +light in his wings.</p> +<p>(5.) They would by faith roll and cast their darkened souls, +their confused case, their overwhelmed hearts on him, and leave +them there; for he is the only physician; and the blind soul must +be put in his hand, who can take away the film, and cause the +scales fall off, and make light break into the soul and discover +unto it its condition.</p> +<p>(6.) It would be useful and very steadable, in such a time of +darkness, for the believer to be frequent in acting direct acts of +faith on Christ; that is, be frequent in going to him as an +all-sufficient Mediator, as the only refuge and shadow for a poor, +weary, scorched soul, Isa. iv. 6. "And a man shall be as an +hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as +rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a +weary land," Isa. xxxii. 2; "as one who is a strength to the needy +in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat," +&c. Isa. xxv, 4. When the soul is thus overwhelmed with clouds, +and doubteth of its interest in Christ, it would then put it out of +doubt, by flying to him for refuge from the storm of God's +indignation, and lay hold on him as he is freely offered in the +gospel, and thus renew its grips of him as the offered +all-sufficient Mediator, and frequent direct acts of faith will +help at length to a reflex act. The soul that is daily running to +Christ, according to the covenant, with all its necessities, and +laying hold on him as only able to help, will at length come to see +that it hath believed on him, and is made welcome by him, and +accepted through him. So that reiterated acts of faith on an +offered cautioner and salvation, will dispel at length those clouds +of darkness that trouble the soul.</p> +<p>7. Such souls would beware of making their bands stronger, and +their darkness greater, by their folly and unwise carriage; for +this cause they would beware,</p> +<p>(1.) To cry out in despondency of spirit as if there were no +hope, and to conclude peremptorily, that they are cut off, and it +is vain to wait any longer; for this course will but darken them +the more, and multiply the clouds over their head.</p> +<p>(2.) To run away from Christ through unbelief and despair, for +that will make their case yet worse.</p> +<p>(3.) To walk untenderly and not circumspectly; for the more sins +appear, the less light will be had. O but souls would be tender in +all their conversation at that time, and guard against the least +sin or appearance of evil!</p> +<p>(4.) To fret and repine against God, because of that +dispensation; for that will but entangle the soul more, and wreathe +the yoke straiter about its neck, and put itself further out of +case to be relieved and to receive light.</p> +<p>8. Such would do well not to limit the Holy One of Israel, but +to wait with patience till his time come to speak in light to the +soul, knowing that such as wait upon him shall never be ashamed, +Isa. xlix. 23, because he waiteth to be gracious; and therefore +blessed are all they that wait upon him, Isa. xxx. 18.</p> +<p><i>Quest.</i> But what if for all this I get no outgate, but my +distress and darkness rather grow upon my hand? <i>Ans.</i> That +such a thing may be, I grant, the Lord thinking it fit. (1.) To +exercise their faith, dependence, patience, hope, and desire more. +(2.) And to discover more unto them their own weakness, faintings, +faithfulness. (3.) To shew his absolute power and sovereignty. (4.) +To make his grace and mercy more conspicuous and remarkable at +length. And, (5.) to train them up in a way of dependence on him in +the dark, and of leaning to him when walking in darkness, yea, and +in a way of believing when they think they have no faith at all, +and for other holy ends. Yet the soul would not despond, for there +are several things that may serve to support and bear up the heart +even in that case, as,</p> +<p>1. This is not their case alone, others have been in the like +before, and many have had the like complaints in all ages, as is +known to such as have been acquainted with exercised souls.</p> +<p>2. It may yield peace and comfort to know that they are about +duty when looking to him, and depending upon him, and waiting for +his light.</p> +<p>3. The promises made to such as wait for him may support the +soul and yield comfort.</p> +<p>4. The distinct knowledge and uptaking of their condition, +though it be comfortable and refreshing, yet it is not absolutely +necessary. A soul may be a saved soul, though those clouds should +continue to its dying day; and though, as long as they lived, they +should never get a clear discovery of their gracious state, but +spend their days in mourning, complaining, and crying out of +darkness.</p> +<p>5. Such a soul should think that it is much that he is kept out +of hell so long; and sure, the thoughts of what he is, and of what +he deserveth, may make him sober, and not to think much, though he +reach not so high as to see his name written in the book of +life.</p> +<p>6. They should know that full assurance of hope and of faith is +but rare: and even such as have it do not ordinarily keep it long; +so that it should not much trouble them, if, after all their pains, +they cannot win at it.</p> +<p>7. If they win to any real ground of hope, how small soever, +they should think much of that; for many dear to Christ live long, +and never know what so much is.</p> +<p>8. It is no small matter that they are not sinking in the gulf +of inconsideration, and plagued with an indifferency in these +matters, but are made to value Christ and an interest in him at +such a rate.</p> +<p>9. Their going to Christ with all their wants, laying all on +him, and their making that their daily exercise, may keep up their +hearts from fainting, yea, and fill their souls with joy; for that +is really the exercise of faith. And the great and gracious +promises are made to such as believe, and not to such only as know +they do believe. I grant such as know not that they do believe, +cannot draw comfort from these promises; yet it is true that one +may, by reflecting on the actings of his own soul, see and know +that really he is going out to Christ, forsaking himself, casting +his burden on him, waiting and depending upon him; when yet he will +not say that he doth believe. And when he seeth this working of +soul towards Christ, he is obliged to believe that he believeth, +and thereupon rejoice in hope of the great promises. And however +the very sight and knowledge of this acting and motion of soul may +give them some comfort, though they shall not take it for faith, +because it is the way of duty, and it is the thing the gospel +calleth for, and because they cannot show an instance of anyone +soul that did so, and perished. But the truth is, the right +understanding of the nature of faith would clear many doubts, and +prevent many questions.</p> +<p>I come to speak a little to the last case which I shall handle, +which is,</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII." id="CHAPTER_XVIII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<h4>HOW WE SHALL MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE TRUTH, THAT WE MAY WIN +TO RIGHT AND SUITABLE THOUGHTS OF GOD.</h4> +<br> +<p>This is a case that much troubleth the people of God,—they +cannot get right and suitable thoughts of God, which they earnestly +desire to have, nor know not how to win at them; and certain it is, +he only who is the Truth, and came out of the bosom of the Father, +can help here. Therefore for our use-making of him for this end, it +would be remembered,</p> +<p>1. That the mind of man, through the fall, is nothing but a mass +of ignorance and blindness; that "the understanding is darkened," +Eph. iv. 17, 18; "and naturally we are in darkness," 1 John ii. 9, +11; "yea, under the power of darkness," Col. i. 13; and, which is +more, our minds are naturally filled with prejudice against God, +and enmity, through wickedness naturally residing there, and which +the prince of the power of the air, the spirit which worketh in the +children of disobedience, increaseth and stirreth up.</p> +<p>2. That this evil is not totally taken away, even in the godly, +but helped only in part; for they see and know but in part, 1 Cor. +xiii. 13.</p> +<p>3. That hence it cometh to pass, that through the working of +corruption, the soul of a believer can sometimes win to no right +thought of God at all; or at best to some very narrow and +unsuitable conceptions of him and his ways; yea, sometimes, all the +thoughts they can get of God are vain and idle, if not misshapen +and blasphemous.</p> +<p>4. That as we are, we cannot see God; "for no man hath seen +him," Matt. xi. 27. John iv. 46; for he is an invisible God, 1 Tim. +i. 17. Heb. xi. 27. "He dwelleth in light which no man can approach +unto. Him no man hath seen, nor can see," 1 Tim. vi. 16. 1 John iv. +12.</p> +<p>5. That all that knowledge of God which is saving, is to be +found in Christ, who is the "brightness of his glory, and the +express image of his person," Heb. i. 2; "and the image of the +invisible God," Col. i. 15; and is for this end come out from the +bosom of the Father, that he might acquaint us with him, and with +all his secrets, John i. 18. Matt. xi. 27, so far as is needful for +us to know. He is God incarnate, that in him we may see the +invisible. Thus "God is manifest in the flesh," 1 Tim. iii. 16; +"and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," John i. 14.</p> +<p>6. That therefore if we would see and know God, we must go to +Christ, who is the temple in which God dwelleth and manifesteth his +glory; and in and through him, must we see and conceive of God. The +light that we get of the knowledge of the glory of God, must be in +the face of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 6; that is, in the +manifestations that Christ hath made of himself, in his natures, +offices, ordinances, works, dispensations of grace, mediate and +immediate, &c. And thus doth God, who commanded the light to +shine out of darkness, "cause this light of the knowledge of his +glory shine into our hearts," viz. in the face of Jesus Christ, +that is, in the dispensations of grace in the gospel, which is the +glorious gospel of Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 4, and, as it were, the face +of Jesus Christ; for as by the face a man is best known and +distinguished from others, so Christ is visibly, and discernibly, +and manifestly, seen and known, in and by the gospel dispensations; +there are all the lineaments and draughts of the glory of God which +we would know, lively and clearly to be seen.</p> +<p>So then, if we would make use of Christ for this end, that we +may win to a right sight of God, and suitable conceptions of his +glory, we would consider those things:</p> +<p>1. We would live under the sense and thorough conviction of the +greatness and incomprehensibleness of God, as being every way past +finding out; and also under the conviction of our own darkness and +incapacity to conceive aright of him, even as to what he hath +revealed of himself.</p> +<p>2. We would know, that what the works of creation and providence +declare and preach forth of God, though it be sufficient to make +heathens and others that do not improve the same to a right +acknowledging of him, inexcusable, as Paul teacheth us, Rom. i. 20; +yet all that is short of giving to us that saving knowledge of him, +which must be had, and which is life eternal, John xvii. 2.</p> +<p>3. We would know, that what of God is to be found out by the +works of creation and providence, is more distinctly seen in Christ +and in the gospel. Here is a greater and more glorious discovery of +God, and of his glorious attributes, his justice, power, wisdom, +goodness, holiness, truth, &c. than can be found by the deepest +diving naturalist, and most wise moral observer of Providence, that +is not taught out of the gospel.</p> +<p>4. Yea, there is something of God to be seen in Christ, in the +gospel, which can be observed in none of his works of, creation or +common providence; there is the grace of God that bringeth +salvation, that is made to appear only by the gospel, Titus ii. 11; +and there is a peculiar kindness and love of God towards man, which +is only discovered by Christ in the gospel, Titus iii. 4. There is +that manifold wisdom of God, that mystery which was hid from the +beginning of the world in God; that principalities and powers in +heavenly places, the greatest and wisest of naturalists must learn +by the church, wherein that is preached and proclaimed, by the +dispensations of the gospel, Eph. iii. 9, 10. His mercy pardoning +poor sinners, justice being satisfied, cannot be cleared by nature. +Nature cannot unfold that mystery of justice and mercy, concurring +to the salvation of a sinner—only the gospel can clear that +riddle.</p> +<p>5. We would remember, that all the beams of that glory which are +necessary and useful for us to know, are, to speak so, contracted +in Christ, and there vailed, to the end that we may more steadily +look upon them. We may go to our Brother, who is flesh of our +flesh, and there, through the vail of his flesh, see and behold +what otherwise was invisible. As we can look to the sun better +shining in a pail of water, than by looking up immediately; so can +we behold God and his glory better in Christ, where there is a thin +vail (to speak so) drawn over that otherwise blinding, yea, killing +glory, than by looking to God without Christ; for, alas! we could +not endure one glance of an immediate ray of divine glory: it would +kill us outright.</p> +<p>6. We must then go to Christ, and there see God; for he who +seeth him seeth the Father also, John xiv. 9. Particularly, we must +go the face of Jesus Christ, that is, that whereby he hath made +himself known, the noble contrivance of the glorious gospel, +wherein all things are so carried on, as that God is glorified in +his Son, in the salvation of poor sinners. The whole work of +salvation is laid on Christ, and the Father is glorified in him, +who is his Servant and his Chosen, whom he upholdeth and furnisheth +for the work, Isa. xlii. 1,2. He is called the covenant itself. He +is the undertaker in the covenant of redemption and in the covenant +of grace; all is founded on him; all the good things of it are +given out by him; all the grace by which we close with it, and +accept of him according to it, is given by him. Now, in this gospel +contrivance are all the lines of the glorious face of Christ to be +seen; and in that face must we see and discern the glory of God, +all the rays of which are centered in Christ, and there will we get +a noble prospect of that glorious object. So that all such as would +make use of Christ for this end, that they might come to have right +and suitable thoughts and apprehensions of God, must be well +acquainted with the whole draught and frame of the gospel; and so +acquainted therewith, as to see Christ the substance, ground and +all of it, and to see him in every part of it.</p> +<p>7. Whatever we know or learn of God by his works of creation and +providence, in the world or about ourselves, we would bring it in +here that it may receive a new tincture and a deeper impression. +That is done, when we find and learn something of Christ there, and +are brought nearer Christ thereby, and made thereby to discover +something more of the glory of God in the face of Christ; or are +made to understand better something of the revelation that is made +of God in the gospel, or moved thereby to improve it better.</p> +<p>8. In all this matter, we must not go without our guide, lest we +wander in this wilderness, and it prove a labyrinth to us. We must +take Christ with us all along; he must teach us to understand his +own face, and to read the glorious characters of that excellent +glory which is to be seen in his face. He must be our interpreter, +and teach us how to read this book, and how to understand what is +written therein; he must give the discerning eye, and the +understanding heart; even the spirit of wisdom and understanding, +to take up the mysteries of God.</p> +<p>9. And for this cause, we should by faith lay hold upon the +promises of the Spirit, whereby we may be made spiritual, and have +our understandings enlightened more and more, to understand the +mysterious characters of divine majesty and glory.</p> +<p>10. In all this exercise we should walk with fear, and carry +with us impressions of the dreadful majesty and glory of God, that +we may tremble and fear, and stand in awe, and read what we read of +this glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, this glorious Bible, +with reverence and godly fear. And thus we may be helped to win to +right and suitable thoughts of God; yet withal we should, for</p> +<br> +<p>CAUTIONS,</p> +<p>Consider a few things further; as,</p> +<p>1. That we must not think to "search out the Almighty unto +perfection," Job xi. 7.</p> +<p>2. Nor must we think to get any one point of God known and +understood perfectly; corruption will mix in itself, do our best; +and our shortcomings will not easily be reckoned up.</p> +<p>3. We must beware of carnal curiosity, and of unlawful diving +into this depth, lest we drown.</p> +<p>4. We should not dream of a state here, wherein we will not need +Christ for this end. Yea, I suppose, in glory, he will be of use to +us, as to the seeing of God; for even there, as he is to-day, so +shall he for ever abide, God and man in two distinct natures and +one person, and that cannot be for nought; and as God will be still +God invisible and unsearchable, so we, though glorified, will +remain finite creatures, and therefore will stand in need of +Christ, that in his glorious face we may see the invisible. He must +be our <i>lumen gloriae</i>.</p> +<p>5. We should think it no small matter to have the impressions of +this sight upon our hearts, that we cannot see him; and that we, in +this state of sin, cannot get right and suitable apprehensions of +him. I say, the impression of this on our spirits, that is, such a +sight of impossibility to get him seen aright, as will keep the +heart in awe, and cause us walk before him in fear and reverence, +and to humble ourselves in the dust, and to tremble whenever we +make mention of his name, or begin to meditate on him, knowing how +great an one he is, and how dangerous it is to think amiss of him, +and how difficult to get a right thought of him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX." id="CHAPTER_XIX."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h4>"AND THE LIFE." HOW CHRIST IS THE LIFE.</h4> +<br> +<p>This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be +universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state +of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be +considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, +both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to +wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as +being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that +supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he only is the Life, +excluding all other. 3. That this help is to be had in him fully +and completely, for not only is he able to quicken, but he is +called the Life; so that the help which he giveth is full, +excellent, and complete.</p> +<p>Looking upon the words in reference to such as are in nature, +they point out those three truths to us:</p> +<p>I. That all of us by nature are dead, standing in need of +quickening and of life; for this is presupposed, while he is said +to be the Life, and that both legally and really: Legally, being +under the sentence of death, for Adam's transgression, Rom. v. 15, +and for that original corruption of heart we have; and really, the +sentence of the law being in part executed, and that both as to the +body and as to the soul. As to the body, it is now subject to +death, and all the forerunners thereof, such as weakness, pains, +sickness, fears, torment, trouble, weariness, yea, and in hazard of +hell-fire, and the torments of the second death for ever. As to the +soul, it also is many ways dead; but first in a way that is purely +penal, and next in a way that is also sinful; and both ways, as to +what is present, and as to what is future. For as to that which is +penal and present, it is, (1.) separated from God and his favour, +Gen. iii. 8, 10, 24; (2.) is under his curse and wrath, whence it +cometh to pass, that by nature we are children of wrath, Eph. ii. +2, 5; servants of Satan, 2 Tim. ii. 26; the consequence of which is +sad and heavy, for hence it is that we cannot please God, do what +we will. Till we be brought out of that state, our ordinary and +civil actions, even ploughing the ground, is sin, Prov. xxi. 4; +yea, our religious actions, whether natural or instituted, are +abomination; even our sacrifices, Prov. xv. 8; xxi. 27; and +prayers, Prov. xxviii. 9. Psalm x. 7; yea, and all our thoughts and +purposes, Prov. xv. 26; and likewise all our ways, Prov. xv. 9. As +to what is penal and future, it is obnoxious to that everlasting +excommunication from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory +of his power, 2 Thess. i. 8, 9; and to the torments of hell for +ever, Mark ix. 44, 46, 48. Luke xvi. As to what is not only penal +but also sinful, the soul here is under the stroke of darkness in +the understanding, perverseness and rebelliousness in the will, +irregularity and disorder in the affections, whereby the soul is +unfit for any thing that is good, Rom. iii. 10-20. Eph. ii. 1, 2, +3. Rom. v. 6; viii. 7, 8; whence proceedeth all our actual +transgressions, James i. 14, 15. And moreover sometimes the soul is +given up to a reprobate mind, Rom. i. 28; to strong delusion, 2 +Thess. ii. 2; to hardness of heart, Rom. ii. 5; horror of +conscience, Isa. xxxiii. 14; to vile affections, Rom. i. 26, and +the like spiritual plagues, which, though the Lord inflict on some +only, yet all are obnoxious to the same by nature, and can expect +no less, if the Lord should enter with them into judgment. And +finally, as to what is future of this kind, they are, being fuel +for Tophet, obnoxious to that malignant, sinful, blasphemous, and +desperate rebellion against God, in hell for evermore!</p> +<p>O how lamentable, upon this consideration, must the condition of +such be, as are yet in the state of nature! Oh, if it were but seen +and felt! But, alas! there is this addition to all, that people +know not this; they consider it not, they believe it not, they feel +it not, they see it not; and hence it cometh to pass, that,</p> +<p><i>First</i>. They cannot bewail and lament their condition, nor +be humbled therefor.</p> +<p><i>Secondly</i>. They cannot, and will not seek after a remedy; +for the whole will not trouble themselves to seek after a +physician.</p> +<p>And sure upon this account, their case calleth for pity and +compassion from all that know what a dreadful thing it is to be in +such a condition, and should stir up all to pray for them, and to +do all they can to help them out of that state of sin and misery, +which is dreadful to think upon.</p> +<p>Should not the thoughts and consideration of this put us all to +try and search, if we be yet translated from death to life, and +delivered out of that dreadful and terrible state, and made +partakers of the first resurrection. It not being my purpose to +handle this point at large, I shall not here insist in giving +marks, whereby this may be known, and which are obvious in Paul's +Epistles, and to be found handled at large in several practical +pieces, chiefly in Mr. Guthrie's Great Interest. I shall only +desire every one to consider and examine,</p> +<p>1. Whether or not the voice of Christ, which quickeneth the +dead, hath been heard and welcomed in their soul. This is effectual +calling.</p> +<p>2. Whether or not there be a thorough change wrought in their +soul, a change in the whole man, so as all things are become new. 2 +Cor. v. 17.</p> +<p>3. Whether or not there be a principle of life within? and they +be led by the Spirit.</p> +<p>4. Whether or not there be a living to the glory of the Lord +Redeemer.</p> +<p>And when by an impartial trial, a discovery is made of the +badness of our condition, should we not be alarmed to look about +us, and to labour by all means for an outgate? Considering, (1.) +How doleful and lamentable this condition is. (2.) How sad and +dreadful the consequences of it are. (3.) How happy a thing it is +to be delivered from this miserable and sinful condition. And, (4.) +How there is a possibility of outgate.</p> +<p><i>Finally</i>. It may break a heart of stone to think, how +people that are in such a condition are so unwilling to come out of +it: For,</p> +<p>1. How unwilling are they once to suspect their condition, or to +suppose that it may be bad, and that they may be yet +unconverted?</p> +<p>2. How unwilling are they, to sit down seriously to try and +examine the matter, and to lay their case to the touch-stone of the +word?</p> +<p>3. Yea, how unwilling are they to hear any thing that may tend +to awaken them, or to discover unto them the deadness of their +condition?</p> +<p>4. How ready to stifle challenges of conscience, or any common +motion of the Spirit, which tendeth to alarm their soul?</p> +<p>5. How great enemies are they to such ordinances as serve to +awaken sleeping consciences?</p> +<p>6. And how do they hate such ministers as preach such doctrine +as may serve to rouse them up, and set them a-work about their own +salvation?</p> +<p>II. We learn hence, that without Christ there is no imaginary +way of delivery out of this natural state of death. "No other name +is given under heaven whereby we can be saved," Acts iv. 12; and +angels can make no help here, nor can one of us deliver another; +the redemption of the soul is more precious than so, Psalm xlix. 7, +8. Nor is there any thing we can do for ourselves that will avail +here; all our prayers, tears, whippings, fastings, vows, +alms-deeds, purposes, promises, resolutions, abstinence from some +evils, outward amendments, good morality and civility, outward +religiousness, yea, and if it were possible, our keeping of the +whole law, will not help us out of this pit. And we may weary +ourselves in such exercises in vain; for they will prove but bodily +exercises that profit little. And when in this way we have spent +all our time, parts, spirits, and labour, we shall at length see +and say, that we have spent our money for that which is not +bread.</p> +<p>This should put all of us to try what it is which we lean to for +life; and what it is, the consideration whereof giveth us peace and +quietness when the thoughts of death, judgment, hell, and the wrath +of God come upon us and trouble us: For if it be any thing beside +Christ that our soul leaneth to, and that we are comforted by, and +found all our hopes upon, we will meet with a lamentable (oh! for +ever lamentable!) disappointment. Be sure then, that our hearts +renounce all other ways and means of outgate out of this death, +besides Jesus, the resurrection and the life, else it will not be +well with us.</p> +<p>III. We see here, that delivery out of this natural state of +death is only had by Christ: For he alone is the life, and the life +that is in him is suitable and excellent. Hence he is called "the +bread of life," John vi. 35, 48. "The resurrection and the life," +John xi. 25. "The water of life," Rev. xxi. 6, and xxii. 17. "The +tree of life," Rev. xxii. 2, 14. "The prince of life," Acts iii. +15. "Our life," Col. iii. 4. "The word of life, and life itself," 1 +John i. 1, 2.</p> +<p>And as he is a suitable and excellent life, so is he an +all-sufficient and perfect life, able every way to help us and to +deliver us from all the parts of our death. For,</p> +<p>1. He delivereth from the sentence of the law, Rom. v. 17, 18, +undergoing the curse of the law, and becoming a curse for us, 2 +Cor. v. 21.</p> +<p>2. He taketh away the curse and sting of all temporal plagues, +yea, and of death itself, causing all to work together for good to +such as love him, Rom. viii. 28. He hath killed him that had the +power of death, that is, the devil, Heb. ii. 14; and through him +the sting of death, which is sin, is taken away, 1 Cor. xv. 56, +57.</p> +<p>3. He reconcileth to God, taking away that distance and enmity, +2 Cor. v. 20; and so he is our peace and peacemaker, purchasing +access to us to the Father, Eph. ii. 14, 16; iii. 12.</p> +<p>4. He also delivereth from the power of sin and corruption, Rom. +vii. 24.</p> +<p>5. And from all those spiritual strokes; such as blindness, +hardness of heart, &c. For he is our light; and hath procured a +new heart for us, even a heart of flesh.</p> +<p>6. So delivereth he from hell fire, having satisfied justice, +and having brought life and immortality to light; and he giveth +life eternal, as we see, Rev. ii. 3.</p> +<p>Oh! it is sad, that Christ is so little made use of, and that so +many will forsake the fountain of living waters, and dig to +themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water; and slight, +despise, and undervalue the gospel of Christ, which bringeth life +and immortality to light.</p> +<p>Oh! if the consideration of this could move such as never found +any change in themselves, to run to, and make use of Jesus Christ +for life; and would for this end,</p> +<p>(1.) Cry to him, that he would make them sensible of their +deadness, and waken them out of their deep sleep.</p> +<p>(2.) Cry to him, to set them a-work to renounce all other help +beside his, as being utterly unable to quicken and put life in +them.</p> +<p>(3.) Cry to him, that he would draw and determine their souls to +a closing with him by faith alone, to a hearing of his voice, to an +obeying of his call, to a following of his direction, to a giving +up of themselves to him, leaning to him, and waiting for all from +him alone: in a word, to take him for their life in all points, and +to lean to him for life, and to expect it from him, through faith +in the promises of the gospel.</p> +<p><i>Next.</i> This being spoken to the disciples, whom we suppose +to have been believers, it will give us ground to speak of it, in +reference to believers, and so yield three points of truth, which +we shall briefly touch, and then come to speak of use-making of +Christ as the Life, in some particular cases.</p> +<p><i>First.</i> It is here clearly presupposed, that even +believers have need of Christ to be life unto them; and so have +their fits of deadness. If it were not so, why would Christ have +said to believers, that he was life? And daily experience doth +abundantly confirm it. For,</p> +<p>1. They are oft so weak and unable to resist temptation, or to +go about any commanded duty, as if they were quite dead.</p> +<p>2. They are oft so borne down with discouragement, because of +the strength of opposition which they meet with on all hands; and +because of the manifold disappointments which they meet with, that +they have neither heart nor hand; and they faint and set up in the +ways of the Lord; and cannot go through difficulties, but +oftentimes lie by.</p> +<p>3. Through daily fighting, and seeing no victory, they become +weary and faint-hearted; so that they lie by as dead, Isa. xl. +29.</p> +<p>4. They oft fall sick and decay, and have need of restoration +and quickening.</p> +<p>5. The want of the sense of God's favour, and of the comforts of +the Holy Ghost, maketh them to dwine and droop, and look out as +dead.</p> +<p>6. While under soul desertions upon one account or other, they +look upon themselves as free among the dead, that is, as dead men, +of the society of the dead, with Heman, Psalm lxxxviii.</p> +<p>7. Yea, many times they are as dead men, led captive in chains +of unbelief and corruptions, as we see David was, when his heart +panted, and his strength failed him, and the light of his eyes were +gone from him, Psalm xxxviii. 10.</p> +<p>8. Many times the frequent changes, and ups and downs they meet +with, take all courage and heart from them, that they become like +men tossed at sea, so as they have no more strength.</p> +<p>And many such things befall them, which make them look as dead, +and to stand in need of quickening, reviving and strengthening +cordials from him who is the life. And thus the Lord thinketh good +to dispense with his own people,</p> +<p>(1.) That they may be kept humble, and know themselves to be +indigent creatures, needing influences of life daily.</p> +<p>(2.) That they may have many errands to him who is the life, and +have much to do with him, and depend upon him continually.</p> +<p>(3.) That he may show himself wonderful, in and about them, +giving proof of his skill in quickening the dead, and in bringing +such through unto everlasting life, who were daily, as it were, +giving up the ghost, and at the point of death.</p> +<p>(4.) That heaven may be heaven; that is, a place "where the +weary are at rest," Job iii. 17; and the troubled rest, 2 Thes. i. +7; and where the inhabitants shall not say they are sick, Isa. +xxxiii. 24.</p> +<p>(5.) That they may be taught more the life of faith and of +dependence on him, and trained up in that way.</p> +<p>(6.) That he may be owned, acknowledged, and submitted unto as a +sovereign God, doing what he will in heaven and in earth.</p> +<p>For all this, there is no cause that any should take up any +prejudice at Christianity: for, for all this their life is sure, +and the outgate is sure and safe. Nor would they think it strange, +to see believers oft mourning and drooping, seeing their case will +oft fall for new supplies of life. Their fits are not known to +every one; nor doth every one know what lieth sometimes at their +heart; nor would they think it such an easy matter to win to heaven +as they imagine; and so deceive themselves. The righteous are saved +through many deaths.</p> +<p>And as for believers, they would not think it strange to meet +with such fits of deadness; nor thence conclude, that all their +former work was but delusion, and that they are still in the state +of nature. But rather observe the wisdom, faithfulness, and power +of God in bringing their broken ship through so much broken water, +yea, and shipwrecks; and his goodness in ordering matters so as +they shall be kept humble, watchful, diligent and constant in +dependence upon him who is and must be their life, first and last. +And hence learn a necessity of living always near to Christ, and +depending constantly upon him by faith; for he being their life, +they cannot be without him, but they must die and decay.</p> +<p><i>Second.</i> We hence learn, that under all these fits of +deadness to which his people are subject, nothing without Christ +will help: Not,</p> +<p>1. All their pains in and about ordinary means, prayer, reading, +hearing, meditation, conference, &c. They will all cry out, +that help is not in them: for he is the life.</p> +<p>2. Nor extraordinary duties, such as fasting and prayer, and +vows,—these will never revive and quicken a drooping or +fainting sickly soul: for they are not Christ, nor the life.</p> +<p>3. Nor will a stout courageous spirit and resolution of heart +avail. If he who is the Life, breathe not, all that will melt away +and evanish.</p> +<p>4. Nor will the stock of habitual grace which remaineth in the +soul, be sufficient to quicken and revive the sick soul, if the +Life breathe not on these habits; and if new influences of life and +strength flow not in upon the soul, and new rays come not down from +this Sun of Righteousness to warm the frozen soul, the habits will +lie by as dead.</p> +<p>5. Far less will their great gifts and endowments help them out +of that dead condition; all their light and knowledge, without the +influences of this Life, will prove weak and insufficient for this +end and purpose.</p> +<p>6. Nor will sound, pure and lively-like ordinances work out this +effect; for till he look down, all these ordinances may prove dead +and deadening to them.</p> +<p>It were good if believers were living under the conviction of +this daily, and by their practice and carriage declaring if they +believe, that Christ only is the Life, and that they must live in +him, and be quickened and revived through him alone.</p> +<p><i>Third</i>. We see hence, that Christ is the Life, that is, +one that sufficiently, yea, and abundantly can help the believer +while under those fits of deadness which have been mentioned, and +the like. There is in him a rich supply of things that tend to +revive, encourage, strengthen and enliven a soul under spiritual +deadness and fainting. Therefore is he called the Life; as having +in him all that which is necessary for and answerable to souls +under spiritual sicknesses, distempers, desertions, fainting and +swooning fits, &c., for with him "is the fountain of life," +Psalm xxxvi. 9; "and he it is that upholdeth the soul in life," +Psalm lxvi. 9; "and can command the blessing, even life for ever +more," Psalm cxxxiii. 3.</p> +<p>For further clearing of this, we would consider those +things,</p> +<p>1. That he is God, equal with the Father in power and glory, and +thereby "hath life in himself," John v. 26; and can "quicken whom +he will," ver. 21. By this he proveth his own Godhead and equality +with the Father; so, John i. 4, it is said, "that in him was life," +and that life was the light of men, whereby also his Godhead is +confirmed. This should be firmly believed, and rooted in our +hearts, as being the ground of all our hope, comfort, and life: +For, were it not so, that our Mediator were the true God, all our +hopes were gone, our comforts could not be long lived, and our life +were extinct.</p> +<p>2. As Mediator God-man, he is fully and thoroughly furnished to +quicken and enliven his members and followers, first and last; and +all along their life must be hid with Christ in God; "for in him +dwelleth the Fulness of the Godhead bodily," Col. ii. 9; as +Mediator, he is called "a tree of life," Prov. iii. 18; quickening +and enlivening all that feed upon him; and "the bread of life," +John vi. 35, 48. Yea, because of power and authority to command +life to the dead soul, he is called "the Prince of life," Acts iii. +15; and as a living, quickening stone, he giveth life to all that +are built upon him, 1 Pet. ii. 4. Yea, as being fully fitted and +furnished for this work, he calleth himself "the resurrection and +the life," John xi. 25. This should be riveted in our hearts, as a +comfortable and encouraging truth.</p> +<p>3. Of this stock of life and quickening and reviving grace which +he hath got, and is furnished withal as Mediator and Redeemer of +his people, he is communicative,—"of his fulness do we +receive, and grace for grace," John i. 16. He got it that he might +give it out, and that from him as a head it might flow unto his +members, and therefore he is the bread that came down from heaven, +and giveth life to the world, John vi. 35. Yea, he giveth eternal +life to all his sheep, John x. 28; and he is come for this end, +that his sheep might have life, John x. 10. Therefore hath he taken +on such relations, as may give ground of confirmation of this, as +of a head, of a stock or root, and the like. This consideration is +strengthening and reviving.</p> +<p>4. He communicateth of this stock of life, and of reviving +strength, which he hath most sweetly and on most easy terms. So +that,</p> +<p>(1.) Such as seek him shall find life by him, Psalm lxix. +32.</p> +<p>(2.) Yea, such as know him shall not miss life, John xvii. 3. 1 +John v. 20.</p> +<p>(3.) If we will believe on him and rest upon him, we have life +first and last, John iii. 15, 16, 36; vi. 40, 47. 1 Tim. i. 16.</p> +<p>(4.) If we will come to him, John v. 40, and cast our dead soul +upon him, we shall live.</p> +<p>(5.) If we will hear his voice, Isa. lv. 3, and receive his +instructions, we shall live; for they are the instructions of +life.</p> +<p>(6.) Nay, if the soul be so dead, that it can neither walk nor +hear, if it can but look to him, he will give life, Isa. xlv. +22.</p> +<p>(7.) And if the soul be so weak, that it cannot look, nor lift +up its eyes; yet if it be willing, he will come with life. Rev. +xxii. 17.</p> +<p>Oh, if this were believed!</p> +<p>5. As he is communicative of that life which he hath gotten as +head, and that upon easy terms; so he giveth out of that life +liberally, largely, abundantly, yea, more abundantly, John x. 10. +The water of life which he giveth, is "a well of water springing up +to everlasting life," John iv. 14. Therefore he alloweth his +friends to drink abundantly, Cant. v. 1.</p> +<p>6. Yet it would be remembered, that he is Lord and master +thereof, and Prince of this life, and so may dispense it and give +it out, in what measure he seeth fit; and he is wise to measure out +best for his own glory, and to their advantage.</p> +<p>7. All this life is sure in him,—none of his shall be +disappointed thereof. His offices, which he hath taken on; and his +commission, which he hath of the Father, abundantly clear this; and +love to his, will not suffer him to keep up any thing that is for +their advantage. He is faithful in his house as a son, and will do +all that was committed unto him to do. The whole transaction of the +covenant of redemption, and suretyship, and all the promises of the +new covenant of grace, confirm this to be a sure truth; so that +they that have him have life, 1 John v. 12. Prov. viii. 35.</p> +<p>8. Yea, all that is in Christ contributeth to this life and +quickening. His words and doctrine are the words of eternal life, +John vi. 63, 68. Phil. ii. 16. His works and ways are the ways of +life, Acts ii. 28. His natures, offices, sufferings, actings, all +he did as Mediator, concur to the quickening and enlivening of a +poor dead soul.</p> +<p>9. This fulness of life which he hath, is fully suited to the +believer's condition, in all points, as we shall hear.</p> +<p>10. This life is eminently and transcendently in him, and +exclusively of all others. It is in him, and in him alone; and it +is in him in a most excellent manner: So that he is the life, in +the abstract; not only a living head, and an enlivening head; but +life itself, the life, the "resurrection and the life."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX." id="CHAPTER_XX."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<p>SOME GENERAL USES.</p> +<br> +<p>Before we come to speak of some particular cases of deadness, +wherein believers are to make use of Christ as the Life, we shall +first propose some useful consequences and deductions from what +hath been spoken of this life; and,</p> +<p>I. The faith of those things, which have been mentioned, would +be of great use and advantage to believers; and therefore they +should study to have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts, +and a deep impression thereof on their spirits, to the end, +that,</p> +<p>1. Be their case and condition what it will, they might be kept +from despair, and despondency of spirit, from giving over their +case as hopeless; and from looking upon themselves as irremediably +gone. The faith of Christ being life, and the life, would keep up +the soul in hope, and cause it say,—how dead soever my case +be, yet life can help me, and he who is the resurrection and the +life, can recover me.</p> +<p>2. Yea, be their case and condition what it will, they would +have here some ground of encouragement, to go to him with their +dead soul, and to look to him for help, seeing he is the Life, as +Mediator, to the end he might enliven and quicken his dead, +fainting, swooning members, and to recover them from their +deadness.</p> +<p>3. They might be freed from many scruples and objections that +scar and discourage them. This one truth believed would clear up +the way so, as that such things, as would have been impediments and +objections before, shall evanish, and be rolled out of the way now: +Such as, the objections taken from their own worthlessness, their +long continuance in that dead condition, and the like.</p> +<p>4. They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plague +and evil of jealousy, whereby the soul is oft kept back from coming +to Christ: For they fear he will not make them welcome; they doubt +of his love and tenderness, and question his pity and compassion; +yea, their jealousy maketh them to doubt of his faithfulness; so +that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousy, and deliver +the soul therefrom, and open a way for the soul to come forward +with boldness and confidence.</p> +<p>5. They might also be hereby helped to wait with patience, and +to be still and quiet under the Lord's various dispensations; so as +they would not fret nor repine against him, knowing that he would +prove himself to be Life, even the Life, in his own good time; so +that the soul would patiently wait at his door, till he were +pleased to look out, and with his look convey life into their dead +soul.</p> +<p>6. They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or +expecting any help from any other quarter: knowing that he alone is +the Life; and so that help can no where else be had. The faith of +this truth would guard from any sinistrous ways which the soul, in +a time of strait, is ready to run to for relief: for hereby would +it see that neither instruments nor means, nor outward +administrations, nor any thing of that kind, can quicken their dead +soul; and that he, and he alone must breathe in life into them, as +at first, so now again.</p> +<p>II. May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration +at the goodness and rich bounty of God towards his people, who hath +found out and condescended upon such a sure, safe, and satisfying +way, whereby he becometh all things to his people which they stand +in need of; and that notwithstanding,</p> +<p>1. That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace +at his hands.</p> +<p>2. That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our +hearts beside him: O how much corruption, sin and death lodge +within our souls! and how more desirous are we ofttimes of death +than of life!</p> +<p>3. That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we +have granted unto us; yea, many a time we abuse them; and this he +did foresee, and yet notwithstanding would condescend unto us.</p> +<p>4. That we do little express our thankfulness for such +mercies.</p> +<p>But not for our sakes hath he done this, but for his own name's +sake: For noble and holy ends hath he resolved on this course; +as,</p> +<p>(1.) That he might be "all in all," Col. iii. 11, and they +nothing; that he alone might fill all in all, Eph. i. ult., and +they be empty and nothing without him.</p> +<p>(2.) That he might wear the glory of all; "for of him, and +through him, and to him are all things," Rom. xi. 36, and that no +man might share therein.</p> +<p>(3.) That man might be his everlasting debtor, and cast down, in +testimony thereof, his crown at his feet, "who sitteth on the +throne," as those did, Rev. iv. 10, and might cry out with these +same elders, ver. 11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, +and honour, and power," &c.; and with those, chap. v. 12, +"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, +and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and blessing."</p> +<p>(4.) That man's mouth might be stopped for ever, and all +boasting excluded; for man is a proud creature, and ready to boast +of that which is nothing and vanity. Now God hath chosen this noble +way of the covenant of grace, that no man might boast any more. +Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of +works? no, but by the law of faith, saith the apostle, Rom. iii. +24.</p> +<p>(5.) That all might be sure to the poor chosen believer. The +Lord will not have the stock of life, any longer to be in a man's +own hand: for even Adam, in the state of innocency, could not use +it well, but made shipwreck thereof, and turned a bankrupt; much +more would man now do so, in this state of sin, in which he lieth +at present, therefore hath God, out of love and tenderness to his +chosen ones, put all their stock in the hand of Christ, who is +better able to manage it, to God's glory and man's advantage, being +faithful in all things, and a trusty servant, "having the fulness +of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily." "Therefore," saith the +apostle, Rom. iv. 16. "it is of faith, that it might be by grace; +to the end, the promises might be sure to all the seed."</p> +<p>(6.) That believers might have strong consolation, +notwithstanding of all the opposition of enemies without and +within, when they see that now their "life is hid with Christ in +God," Col. iii. 3, and that their life is in their head, they will +not fear so much devils and men without, nor their own dead and +corrupt hearts within.</p> +<p>III. How inexcusable must all such be,</p> +<p>1. Who will not lay hold on this life, on Jesus who is the Life, +sure life, yea, everlasting life.</p> +<p>2. Who seek life any other way, than by and through him who is +the Life.</p> +<p>3. Who oppose this way of life, and not only reject the offers +of it, but prove enemies to it, and to all that carry it or preach +it.</p> +<p>IV. Here is strong encouragement to all that would be at heaven, +to enter into this gospel, which is a way of life; such need not +fear that their salvation shall not be advanced; let Satan and all +their adversaries do what they can, all that enter into this way +shall live. For the way itself is life, and nothing but life. So +that here all objections are obviated; life can answer all. If the +believer fear, that he shall never win through difficulties, he +shall die by the way; or by fainting, succumbing and swooning, +dishonour the profession, and at length fall off and apostatize, or +despair and give over all hope; here is that which may answer and +obviate all, "I am the life;" and who can perish in the way which +is the way of life, an enlivening way, yea, the way which is life +itself; yea, the life in a singular and eminent manner?</p> +<p>V. Here is ground of reproof even of believers, who, though they +have come to Christ, yet do not live in him as they ought, do not +walk in him with that liveliness and activity which is called for; +but,</p> +<p>1. Lean too much to their own understanding, gifts or graces; +and think thereby to ride out storms, and to wide through all +difficulties, while as, if he who is the Life do not breathe upon +us, all that will fail us in the day of trial. Our understanding +and parts or gifts may dry up, and our graces may wither and decay, +and go backward.</p> +<p>2. Rest too much on duties; when they should in them go to him +who is the Life. For only in him is life to be had; and him should +they seek to in the ordinances, that they might have life from him +in those outward duties; and this appeareth in their way of going +about duties, without that dependence on him, and single eyeing of +him, which is called for. As also by their freting and repining, +when duties do not their business, as if life lay all in duties; +and concluding all will be right, because they get duties somewhat +tolerably performed; and, on the contrary, desponding, when duties +fall heavy on them, and they find themselves indisposed for duty. +All which clearly evinceth, that they lay too much weight on +duties; while as it would be otherwise with them, if they were +purely depending on Christ, and looking for all from him.</p> +<p>3. Despond too soon, because they get not help and relief +instantly; or because they are not preserved from every degree of +fainting.</p> +<p>4. Neglect to make use of him, and to come to him with all their +wants, failings and necessities, as they ought; or come not with +that freedom and boldness which the gospel grounds allow.</p> +<p>VI. This preacheth out the woful misery of such as are strangers +to Christ. For being strangers to the Life, they have no life, they +are dead, and death is engraven on all they do; even though,</p> +<p>1. They should be very diligent in external duties, yea, and +outstrip many true believers; as the Pharisees had their fasts +twice a-week, Luke xviii.</p> +<p>2. They should be eminently gifted, able to instruct others, and +to speak of the mysteries of the gospel, to purpose and to +edification. For such gifts of knowledge and utterance may be, +where the lively operations of the grace of Christ are not, and +consequently where Christ is not, as the Life.</p> +<p>3. They should seem eminent in all their outward carriage, and +seem to carry most christianly in all their walk, and appear most +devout in the matter of worship.</p> +<p>4. And they should have something more than ordinary; even taste +of the heavenly gift, and be made partakers of extraordinary gifts +of the Holy Ghost; yea, and taste the good word of God, and the +powers of the world to come, Heb. vi. 4, 5.</p> +<p>VII. This discovereth the noble advantage of such as have +accepted of Christ for their life. Their condition is happy, sure, +desirable, and thriving; for Christ is theirs, and life is theirs; +because Christ, who is the Life, is theirs.</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 1. But some wicked persons may say, We see not that +happy and advantageous condition of such as go for believers; for +we observe them to be as little lively ofttimes as others, and as +unfit for duties; yea, and sometimes as much subject to sin and +corruption as others.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> 1. However it be with them, either in thine eyes, or +possibly in their own sometimes, yet thou mayest hold thy peace; +for in their worst condition, they would not exchange with thee for +a world; in their deadest-like condition, they are not void of all +life, as thou art, notwithstanding all thy motions, and seeming +activeness in duty; because all thy motion in and about duty is but +like the moving of children's puppets, caused by external motives, +such as a name, applause, peace from a natural conscience, or the +like; and not from any inward principle of grace and life.</p> +<p>2. Howbeit they sometimes seem to be dead, yet they are not +always so; life doth really work sometimes in them; whereas there +was never any true or kindly motion of life in thee.</p> +<p>3. There may be more life in them, yea, life in motion, when +they seem to be overcome with some lusts or corruption, yea, when +really they are overcome, than beholders that are strangers to the +heart can observe. For when temptation is violent, as having the +advantage of the time and place, of the constitution of the body, +and the like, it argueth no small degree of life, and of life in +motion, to make some resistance and opposition thereunto, though at +length he should be overcome thereby. And this opposition and +resistance, flowing from a principle of grace, speaketh out life, +though corruption, having the advantage, should at that time +overpower the motion of life, and carry the man away.</p> +<p>4. If it be not otherwise with believers than is objected, they +may blame themselves, for not improving Christ better for life.</p> +<p><i>Object.</i> But some who are true believers will object the +same, and cry out of themselves as dead; and say, They find not +that liveliness and activity in their souls, that will evidence +Christ, the Life, dwelling and working in them.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> It may be they prejudge themselves of that lively +frame they might enjoy, and so wrong themselves:</p> +<p>1. In not exercising faith on Christ, and drawing life from him +and through him. The life which they live should be by faith, Gal. +ii. 20. How then can such as do not eat become fat? by faith we +feed on Christ.</p> +<p>2. In not watching, but giving way to security, and thereby +encouraging and strengthening the adversary, as we see in David; +when they stand not on their watch-tower, they invite Satan to set +on; and he is vigilant enough, and knoweth how to take his +advantage, and to improve his opportunity.</p> +<p>3. In giving way to laziness and not stirring up themselves, as +we see in the bride, Cant. iii. 1; v. 3; when they stir not up the +grace of God which is in them, how can they be lively? If grace be +laid by, it will contract rust. The best way to keep grace lively, +is to keep it in exercise, how little soever it be.</p> +<p>4. By their rashness, walking without fear, as is to be observed +in Peter, when he slipped so foully. When through their want of +circumspection, they precipitate themselves into danger, and cast +themselves among their enemies' hands, is it any wonder, that it go +not with them as they would; and that they provoke God to leave +them to themselves; that they may know what they are, and learn +afterwards not to tempt the Lord, and to walk more +circumspectly?</p> +<p>5. By leaning too much to their attainments, and not looking out +for new influences of grace and life. Hereby they provoke God to +let them know to their expense, that for as great a length as they +are come, they must live by faith, and be quickened by new +influences from the Spirit of life.</p> +<p>6. So they may wrong themselves through their ignorance of +Christ, and of the way of making use of him; and if they, through +unacquaintedness with Christ and the right way of improving the +fulness that is in him, miss the fruit and advantage which +otherwise they might have, they can only blame themselves.</p> +<p>7. They may also prejudge themselves by their self-love, +self-esteem, self-seeking, self-pleasing, &c., which piece and +piece will draw them off Christ, and cause them forget the way of +sucking life from him, who is the fountain of life.</p> +<p>8. When they give way to small sins, they open a door to +greater; and they lose thereby their tenderness, and so provoke the +Lord to withdraw; and this is another way, whereby they prejudge +themselves of that benefit of liveliness, which they might +otherwise have.</p> +<p>9. So also by worldly-mindedness, which alienateth their mind +from God; and,</p> +<p>10. By their impatience, and fretting, and repining against God, +and his wise dispensations, they also prejudge and wrong +themselves; for while they are in that mood, they cannot with due +composedness of Spirit, go to Christ, and draw life from him +through faith.</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 3. But is there not even some of those who are most +tender, that complain of their deadness and shortcomings?</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> 1. It may be that they complain without cause; and +that they have more cause of rejoicing, and of blessing the Lord +for what he hath done to them, than of complaining.</p> +<p>2. Their complaining will not prove the want of life, but rather +the contrary. For when they complain most, they must be most +sensible if their complaints be real, and not merely for a fashion; +and sense is a manifest evidence of life.</p> +<p>3. It would be remembered, that the Lord can make their failings +and shortcomings contribute to the furthering of their life, as we +see it did in Peter.</p> +<p>4. It would also be remembered, that Christ doth not distribute +and give out of this life to all his members and followers, in a +like measure; but to some more, and to others less, according as he +seeth it meet and convenient, both for his own glory and their +good, He hath more service for some than for others; and some he +will employ in greater and more difficult work, which will call for +more life; and others he will employ in common work, which will not +call for such an eminent degree of life.</p> +<p>5. And upon the same account, he may think it good to give to +the same person a larger measure of grace at one time than at +another.</p> +<p>6. And that for wise reasons and noble ends; as,</p> +<p>(1.) That all may see how absolute he is in his dispensations; a +sovereign that doth with his own what he will, and will not give an +account of any of his ways or communications to us.</p> +<p>(2.) That we may learn submission, and quietly to stoop before +him, whatever measure he be pleased to dispense towards us.</p> +<p>(3.) That we may learn to depend upon him more closely all +along; in all our ways to acknowledge him.</p> +<p>(4.) That we may learn to exercise patience, which must have its +perfect work, in waiting upon him as a great king. This is his +glory, and it is the testifying of our homage to him.</p> +<p>(5.) He will train us up so as to be well contented and +satisfied, if he bring us home at length, though not with such a +convoy of the graces of his Spirit as we would wish.</p> +<p>(6.) That we may see and read our daily obligation to Christ our +life, and the daily need we have of his keeping our life in, by +fresh gales of his Spirit, and new heavenly influences.</p> +<p>(7.) And that getting new proofs of his kindness and +faithfulness, we may give him new songs of praise daily, and so +express our thankfulness to him, which will tend to set forth his +glory.</p> +<p>VIII. This may point out unto believers, several duties to which +they are called. We shall name some few of many; as,</p> +<p>1. That they should rejoice, and be comforted in the thoughts of +this, that they have such a complete Mediator, one that is +thoroughly furnished, and made all things for them; not only the +Way, and the Truth, but the Life also.</p> +<p>2. The thoughts of this should also stir up the wondering at the +wisdom, graciousness, and goodness of God; and to thankfulness for +providing such an all-sufficient way for them.</p> +<p>3. This should also encourage them under all temptations, +faintings, backsets, and fits of deadness that they fall into, that +there is one who is the Life; and that he whom their soul hath +chosen is the Life, and so fully able to quicken and enliven +them.</p> +<p>4. This should teach them humility, and not to be proud of any +thing they have or do; for it is he, who is the Life, who keepeth +them in life, and helpeth them to any duty; yea, it is life that +worketh all in them.</p> +<p>5. And likewise it should teach them to acknowledge him, to whom +they are obliged for any thing they do, for any life they have, or +any acts or fruits of life that appear in them; and to be thankful +to him therefor.</p> +<p>6. And mainly, they should here read their obligation and duty, +to improve this advantage, and to draw life out of this fountain, +and so live by this life; act and do all in and through this life; +and so be quickened by this life, in all their fits of deadness; +and for this cause would keep those things in mind:</p> +<p>(1.) That they should live in a constant conviction of their own +weakness, deadness, and inability to do any acts of life of +themselves; and far less to recover themselves out of any distemper +and fit of deadness which they fall into.</p> +<p>(2.) That they should live in the faith of this, that there is +life enough in him, who is the Life, to do their business. They +should be persuaded of his all-sufficiency.</p> +<p>(3.) That he is not only an all-sufficient deliverer, able to +deliver a soul that is, as it were, rotting in the grave, and to +cause the dead to hear his voice and live; but also most willing +and ready to answer them in all their necessities, according to +wisdom, and as he seeth it for his glory, and their soul's +advantage. The faith of this is necessary, and will be very +encouraging.</p> +<p>(4.) That they should go to him, how dead-like soever their +condition be, and by faith roll their dead case upon him, who is +the Life.</p> +<p>(5.) That they should pray upon the promises of grace and +influence, even out of the belly of hell, or of the grave, with +Jonah, chap. ii. 2; for he is faithful and true, and +tender-hearted, and will hear and give a good answer at length.</p> +<p>(6.) That in the exercise of faith and prayer, they should wait +with patience, till he be pleased to come, and breathe upon the dry +bones, and till the Sun of Righteousness arise on their souls with +healing in his wings.</p> +<p>But of this more particularly in the following cases, which now +we come to speak a little unto, of purpose to clear more fully how +the believer is to make use of Christ as the Life, when he is under +some one distemper or other, that calleth for life and quickening +from Christ the Life. We cannot handle distinctly all the +particular cases which maybe brought under this head; it will +suffice, for clearing of this great duty, to speak to some few.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI." id="CHAPTER_XXI."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE LIFE, WHEN THE BELIEVER IS SO +SITTEN-UP IN THE WAYS OF GOD, THAT HE CAN DO NOTHING.</h4> +<br> +<p>Sometimes the believer is under such a distemper of weakness and +deadness, that there is almost no commanded duty that he can go +about; his heart and all is so dead, that he cannot so much as +groan under that deadness. Yea, he may be under such a decay, that +little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others +that are yet in nature; and be not only unable to go actively and +lively about commanded duties, yea, or to wrestle from under that +deadness; but also be so dead, that he shall scarce have any +effectual desire or longing to be out of that condition. Now, in +speaking to the use-making of Christ for quickening in this dead +case, we shall do those things:</p> +<p>1. For clearing of the case, we shall show how probably it is +brought on. 2. How Christ is life to the soul in such a case as +this. 3. How the believer is to make use of Christ for the life, in +this case; and, 4. Further clear the matter, by answering a +question or two.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first</i>, such a distemper as this may be brought +upon the soul,</p> +<p>1. Through some strong and violent temptation from without, +meeting with some evil disposition of the heart within, and so +surprising and overpowering the poor soul, as we see in David and +Peter.</p> +<p>2. Through the cunning and sleight of Satan, stealing the +believer, that is not watchful enough, insensibly off his feet, and +singing him asleep by degrees.</p> +<p>3. Through carelessness, in not adverting at first to the +beginnings and first degrees of this deadness and upsitting, when +the heart beginneth to grow formal and superficial in duties, and +to be satisfied with a perfunctorious performance, without life and +sense.</p> +<p>4. Through torturing of conscience, in light and smaller +matters; for this may provoke God to let conscience fall asleep, +and so the soul become more untender, and scruple little, at +length, at great matters; and thus deadness may come to a height, +God ordering it so, for a further punishment to them, for their +untenderness and uncircumspectness.</p> +<p>5. Through their not stirring up themselves, and shaking off +that spirit of laziness and drowsiness, when it first seizeth upon +them; but, with the sluggard, yet another slumber, and another +sleep, and a folding of the hands to sleep.</p> +<p>6. Continuing in some known sin, and not repenting of it, may +bring on this distemper, as may be observed in David.</p> +<p>As to the <i>second</i> particular, Christ is life to the soul +in this case; in that,</p> +<p>1. He keepeth possession of the soul; for the seed remaineth, +the root abideth fast in the ground; there is life still at the +heart, though the man make no motion, like one in a deep sleep, or +in a swoon, yet life is not away.</p> +<p>2. He in due time awakeneth, and rouseth up the soul, and so +recovereth it out of that condition, by some means or other, either +by some alarm of judgment and terror, as he did David; or +dispensation of mercy and tenderness, as he did Peter; and usually +he recovereth the soul,</p> +<p>(1.) By discovering something of this condition, by giving so +much sense and knowledge, and sending so much light, as will let +the soul see that it is not well, and that it is under that +distemper of lifelessness.</p> +<p>(2.) By the discovering the dreadfulness of such a condition, +and how hazardous it is to continue therein.</p> +<p>(3.) By putting the soul in mind, that he is the life and the +resurrection; and through the stirring up of grace, causing the +soul to look to him for quickening and outgate.</p> +<p>(4.) By raising up the soul at length out of that drowsiness, +and sluggish folding of the hands to sleep, and out of that deep +security, and putting it into a more lively, vigilant, and active +frame.</p> +<p>As to the <i>third</i>, the believer that would make use of +Christ, for a recovery out of this condition, would mind those +duties:</p> +<p>1. He would look to Christ, as the light of men, and the +enlightener of the blind; to the end, he may get a better and a +more thorough discovery of his condition; for it is half health +here to be sensible of this disease. The soul that is once brought +to sense, is half recovered of this fever and lethargy.</p> +<p>2. He would eye Christ as God, able to cause the dead and dry +bones to live, as Ezek. chap. xxvii.; and this will keep from +despondency and despair; yea, it will make the poor believer +conceive hope, when he seeth that his physician is God, to whom +nothing is impossible.</p> +<p>3. He would look to him also, as head and husband, and life to +the poor soul that adhereth to him; and this will strengthen his +hope and expectation; for he will see that Christ is engaged (to +speak so) in point of honour, to quicken a poor dead and lifeless +member; for the life in the head is for the good of the whole body, +and of every member of the body, that is not quite cut off. And the +good that is in the husband is forthcoming for the relief of the +poor wife, that hath not yet got a bill of divorce. And Christ +being life and the Life, he must be appointed for the relief, the +quickening and recovering from death of such as are given to him, +that they may be finally raised up at the last day; he must present +all his members lively in that day.</p> +<p>4. He would by faith wrap himself up in the promises, and lie +before this Sun of Righteousness, till the heat of his beams thaw +his frozen heart, and bring warmth into his cold and dead soul, and +thus renew his grips of him, accepting of him as the Life, and as +his life. Christ himself tells us, John xi. 40, that this is the +Father's will, that hath sent him, that every one that seeth the +Son, and believeth on him, might have everlasting life, and he will +raise him up at the last day. Faith closing with him, as it was the +mean of life at first, so it will be the mean of recovery out of a +dead distemper afterwards.</p> +<p>5. He would mourn for such sins and provocations, as he +discovereth in himself to have caused and brought on this +distemper. Repentance and godly sorrow for such evils, as have +sinned Christ and life away, is a way to bring life back again.</p> +<p>6. He would be sure to harbour no known sin in his soul, but to +set himself against every known evil, as an enemy to the life and +recovery which he is seeking.</p> +<p>7. He must wait on Christ his life, in the appointed means; for +that is the will of the Lord, that he should be waited upon there, +and sought for there. There is little hopes of recovery for such as +lay aside the ordinances. Though the ordinances without him cannot +revive or quicken a poor soul, yet he hath condescended so far as +to come with life to his people in and through the ordinances, and +hath appointed us to wait for him there; we must be willing to +accept of all his condescensions of love, and seek and wait for him +there, where he hath said he will be found.</p> +<p>8. In going about those ordinances of life, he would beware of +putting them in Christ's room, <i>i.e.</i> he would beware of +thinking that ordinances will do his business; as some ignorantly +do, who think that by praying so often a-day, and reading so much, +and hearing so much, they shall recover their lost lively frame, +when, alas! all the ordinances, without him, signify nothing. They, +without him, are cold and lifeless, and can never bring heat and +warmth to a cold soul. It is he in the ordinances whom we are to +seek, and from whom alone life is to be expected, and none +else.</p> +<p>9. Though life lieth not in the ordinances as separated from +Christ, and life is to be expected from him alone, yet he would +beware of going about the ordinances in a careless, superficial, +and indifferent manner: for this will argue little desire after +life, and will bring on more deadness. The ordinances then should +be gone about seriously, diligently, and with great carefulness, +yea, with such earnestness as if life were not about the ordinances +at all. This is the right way of going about the ordinances.</p> +<p>10. He must in all this wait with patience, without fretting or +quarrelling with him for his delaying to come. He must wait with +much humility. It becometh not him who hath, through his folly, +sinned life away, to quarrel now with God, because he restoreth him +not again to life at the first asking. He may be glad if at length, +after long seeking, waiting, and much diligence, he come and +restore to him the joy of salvation, and if he be not made to lie +as bedrid all his days, for a monument of folly in sinning away his +life, strength, and legs as he did.</p> +<p>11. He must beware of giving way to any thing that may increase +or continue this deadness; such as untenderness in his walk, +unwatchfulness, negligence, and carelessness; and especially he +must beware not to provoke God by sinning against light.</p> +<p>12. He would also beware of limiting the Lord to any set measure +of life and strength: for it becometh not beggars to be carvers, +far less such beggars as through folly have sinned away a good +portion. It was not for the prodigal to seek a new patrimony, after +he had dilapidated the former; it might suffice him to be made as a +servant.</p> +<p>13. He would use well any small measure of life he getteth, for +God and his glory; getteth he but one talent, he should use it that +he may gain thereby: we say, use limbs and have limbs, use strength +and have it. This will be the way to get more.</p> +<p>14. He would be taking on the vows of the Lord, and that in the +Lord, to walk more watchful in time coming, charging all within and +without not to stir or provoke the Lord to depart further or to +scare him from coming to the soul.</p> +<p>As to the <i>last</i> particular,</p> +<p>If it be inquired, 1. What can that soul do that is not sensible +of this deadness and weakness?</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. Though there be not any real sense and feeling of +this condition, yet there may be a suspicion that all is not right; +and if this be, the soul must look out to Christ for the life of +sense and for a sight of the provocations that have brought on that +condition. He that is the Life must recover the very beginnings of +life; and when the soul winneth to any real apprehension and sense +of this deadness, it must follow the course formerly prescribed for +a recovery.</p> +<p>2. But it will be asked, how can a soul act faith in such a +case? And if it cannot act faith, how can it come to Christ and +make use of him?</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. It is true, while the soul is in that case, it +cannot act a strong and lively faith; yet it can act a weak and a +sickly faith; and a weak faith and a sickly faith can lay hold on +an enlivening Christ, and so bring in more strength and life to the +soul. If the soul be so weak as that it cannot grip, yet it can +look to him that can quicken the dead and hath helped many a poor +soul before out of a dead condition: or if it cannot do so much as +look, yet it may give an half-look, and lie before him who waiteth +to be gracious; and sustain itself if it can get no more, with a +maybe he shall come.</p> +<p>3. But further, it may be asked, what can the soul do, when, +after all this, it findeth no help or supply, but deadness +remaining, yea, and it may be, growing?</p> +<p><i>Ans</i>. The soul in that case must lie at his door, waiting +for his salvation, and resolving, if no better may be, to die at +his door, and leave no approved means or commanded duty unessayed, +that it may recover its former vigour, activity and strength. And +while the believer is waiting thus, he is at his duty; and this may +yield him peace, and he may be sure that he shall never be ashamed, +Psalm xxv. 3; lxix. 6. Isa. 1. 18.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII." id="CHAPTER_XXII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS TO BE MADE USE OF AS OUR LIFE, IN CASE OF +HEARTLESSNESS AND FAINTING THROUGH DISCOURAGEMENTS.</h4> +<br> +<p>There is another evil and distemper which believers are subject +to, and that is a case of fainting through manifold +discouragements, which make them so heartless that they can do +nothing; yea, and to sit up, as if they were dead. The question +then is, how such a soul shall make use of Christ as in the end it +may be freed from that fit of fainting, and win over those +discouragements: for satisfaction to which we shall,</p> +<p>1. Name some of those discouragements which occasion this.</p> +<p>2. Show what Christ hath done to remove all those +discouragements.</p> +<p>3. Show how the soul should make use of Christ for life in this +case; and,</p> +<p>4. Add a few words of caution.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first</i>, there are several things which may give +occasion to this distemper; we shall name those few:</p> +<p>1. The sense of a strong, active, lively, and continually +stirring body of death, and that notwithstanding of means used to +bear it down and kill it. This is very discouraging; for it made +Paul cry out, "Woe is me, miserable man, who shall deliver me from +this body of death?" Rom. vii. 24. It is a most discouraging thing +to be still fighting, and yet getting no ease, let be victory; to +have to do with an enemy that abides always alike strong, fight and +oppose as we will, yea, not only is not weakened, far less +overcome, but that groweth in power, and prevaileth. And this many +times affecteth the hearts of God's children and causeth them to +faint.</p> +<p>2. It may be the case of some, that they are assaulted with +strange temptations and buffettings of Satan that are not usual. +This made Paul cry out thrice, 2 Cor. xii.; and if the Lord had not +told him that his grace was sufficient for him, what would he have +done? Hence some of his cry out in their complaint, was there ever +any so tempted, so assaulted with the devil, as I am? Sure this +dispensation cannot but be much afflicting, saddening and +discouraging.</p> +<p>3. The sense of the real weakness of grace under lively means, +and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and +endeavours after growth in grace, cannot but disquiet and +discourage them: for they may readily conclude, that all their +pains and labour shall be in vain for any thing they can +observe.</p> +<p>4. The want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort is another +fainting and discouraging dispensation; as the feeling of these is +a heart-strengthening and most encouraging thing, which made David +so earnestly cry for it, Psal. li. 8, 12; when a poor soul that +hath the testimony of his own conscience, that it hath been in some +measure of singleness of heart and honestly seeking the face of God +for a good many years, and yet cannot say that ever it knew what +those incomes of joy and comfort meant which some have tasted +largely of, it cannot choose but be discouraged and much cast down, +as not knowing what to say of itself, or how to judge of its own +case.</p> +<p>5. The want of access in their addresses to God, is another +heart-discouraging thing. They go about the duty of prayer with +that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart that they can +win at, at least this is their aim and endeavour, and yet they meet +with a fast closed door, when they cry and shout; he shutteth out +their prayer, as the church complaineth, Lam. iii. 8. This sure +will affect them deeply, and cause their hearts sometimes to +faint.</p> +<p>6. The want of freedom and liberty in their addresses to God is +another thing which causeth sorrow and fainting. They go to pray, +but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth: they are +straitened and cannot get their hearts vented.</p> +<p>7. Outward persecution that attendeth the way of godliness, and +afflictions that accompany such as live godly, is another +discouraging thing, both to themselves who are under afflictions, +and to others who hear it and see it; wherefore the apostle +desireth earnestly that the Ephesians should not faint at his +tribulation, chap. iii. 13.</p> +<p>8. The Lord's sharp and sore dispensations for sin, as towards +David, Psal. li., or out of his sovereignty, for trial and other +ends, as towards Job, is likewise a discouraging, heart-breaking +thing, and that which will make strong giants to roar and faint, +and look upon themselves as dead men, as we see in these two +eminent men of God.</p> +<p>As to the <i>second</i> thing, Christ is life to the believer in +this case, in having done that which in reason may support under +all these discouragements, and having done so much for removing or +weakening of these; yea, and for carrying them over all, which may +be in a word cleared as to each.</p> +<p>1. As for the body of death, let it stir in the believer as fast +as it will or can, it is already killed, and all that struggling is +but like the struggling of a man in the pangs of death; for our +"old man is crucified with Christ," Rom. vi. 6; and the believer is +dead to sin and risen legally with him, Col. ii. 11, 12; iii. 3. +But of this I spoke abundantly above.</p> +<p>2. As to Satan's troubling the poor believer, through Christ +also he is a vanquished enemy: "He hath overcome him that had the +power of death, even the devil," Heb. ii. 14.</p> +<p>3. As for that felt weakness of grace, that is no ground of +discouragement, so long as he liveth who can make the lame to leap +as an hart, and can make waters break out in the wilderness, and +streams in the desert, Isa xxxv. 6, 7; "and giveth power to the +faint, and to them that have no might increaseth strength; so that +such as wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, and they +shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be +weary, and they shall walk and not faint," Isa. xl. 29, 31. For "in +him are all the promises yea and amen," 2 Cor. i. 20. So that they +need not faint upon this account, nor be discouraged: for the work +he hath begun he will finish it, and he will quicken in the way, +Psal. cxix. 37.</p> +<p>4. As for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort, he +hath promised to send the Comforter, in his own good time, John +xiv. 26; xv. 26. "As one whom his Father comforteth, so will he +comfort his," Isa. lxvi. 13. Joy and gladness is promised in the +covenant, Jer. xxxi. 13. But further, though he keep up these +influences of joy and comfort, he supporteth another way. The +lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart under all this want: +for there shall the soul have fulness of joy and pleasures for +evermore: no tears, no sorrow there, Psal. xvi. 11. Isa. xxxv. +10.</p> +<p>5. As for the want of access in their prayers, they may possibly +blame themselves, for he has by his merits opened the door; and is +become (to speak so) master-usher to the poor soul, to lead him +unto the Father, so that "by him we have access," Eph. ii. 18, +"yea, boldness and access through faith in him," Eph. iii. 12; "and +he is our advocate," 1 John ii. 1; and, as our attorney, is gone to +heaven before us; "and there liveth for ever to make intercession," +Heb. vi. 28; vii. 25. And what is there more to be done to procure +us access; or to move and encourage us to "come boldly unto the +throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help +in time of need?" Heb. iv. 14, 16.</p> +<p>6. As to that want of freedom and liberty in prayer; he helpeth +that also: For he maketh the dumb to sing, Isa. xxxv. 6, and maketh +the tongue of the stammerer to speak elegantly, Isa. xxxii. 4. He +can enlarge the heart, and help the soul to pour out his heart +before God.</p> +<p>7. As to outward persecution, he can easily take that +discouragement away, by giving the hundred-fold with it; by +supporting under it, and bringing safe through it. When his +presence is with them through fire and water, Isa. xliii. 2, what +can trouble them? And when he maketh their consolations abound, 2 +Cor. i. 5, what can discourage them? Have not his sung in the very +fires; and rejoiced in all their afflictions? The resting of the +Spirit of God and of glory, which Peter speaketh of, 1 Pet. iv. 14, +is comfortable enough.</p> +<p>8. As for all those sharp dispensations mentioned in the last +place, he having taken the sting of all, even of death away, by +taking away sin, and purchased the blessing and love of the Father, +having made reconciliation through his blood, all those +dispensations flow from love, even such as seem sharpest, being +inflicted for sin, as we see, Heb. xii. 6; so that there is no +cause here of fainting or of being so discouraged as to give over +the matter. But for help in this case, there should be a use-making +of Jesus, as the Life; and that is</p> +<p>The <i>third</i> thing which we shall speak a little to, viz. +How the soul should make use of Christ as the Life, to the end it +may be delivered from this fainting occasioned through manifold +discouragements.</p> +<p>1. The believer in this case would mind the covenant of +redemption, wherein Christ hath promised and so standeth obliged +and engaged to carry on his own through all discouragements to the +end; so that if any one believer miscarry, Christ loseth more than +they lose: for the believer can but lose his soul, but Christ shall +lose his glory; and this is more worth than all the souls that ever +were created. And, further, not only shall Christ lose his glory as +Redeemer, but the Father shall lose his glory in not making good +his promise to Christ his Son. For by the same covenant he standeth +engaged to carry through the seed that Christ had died for. And his +appointing Christ to be his servant for this end, and choosing him +from among all the folk, and his upholding of him, concurring with +him, delighting in him, and promising that he shall bring forth +judgment to the Gentiles, and that to victory, or to truth, speak +out his engagement to see all true believers brought home. See Isa. +xlii. 1-4. Matt. xii. 17-21. Psalm lxxxix. 19-21, 28, 29, 35-37. +Sure the faith of this would support the poor believer under all +those discouragements.</p> +<p>2. They would mind likewise the covenant of grace, wherein all +things are contrived and laid down, so far as that the believer may +have abundant consolation and comfort in all cases; and wherein +there is enough to take away all cause of fainting and +discouragement; as might fully be made to appear, if any did +question it.</p> +<p>3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished with all +qualifications; suiting even that case wherein they are like to be +overwhelmed with discouragements; and could the believer but think +upon and believe those three things, he might be kept up under all +discouragements: (1.) That Christ is a compassionate, +tender-hearted Mediator, having bowels more tender than the bowels +of any mother; so that "he will not break the bruised reed, nor +quench the smoking flax," Isa. xl. 2. He had compassion on the very +bodies of the multitude that followed him; and would not let them +go away fasting, lest they should faint in the way, Matt. xv. 32. +Mark viii. 3; and will he not have compassion on the souls of his +followers, when like to faint through spiritual discouragements? +(2.) That he hath power and authority to command all things that +can serve to carry on a poor believer; for all power in heaven and +in earth is given unto him; all things are made subject to him. +(3.) That he hath a great readiness and willingness upon many +accounts to help his followers in their necessities. Sure, were +these three firmly believed, the believer could not faint, having +Christ, who is tender and loving, and willing to help, and withal +able to do what he will, to look to and to run to for supply.</p> +<p>4. They would take up Christ under all his heart-strengthening +and soul-comforting relations, as a tender brother, a careful +shepherd, a fellow-feeling high priest, a loving husband, a +sympathizing head, a life-communicating root, an all-sufficient +king, &c., any of which is enough to bear up the head, and +comfort the heart of a drooping, discouraged, and fainting soul. +Much more may all of them yield strong consolation to support and +revive a soul staggering and fainting through discouragement. Oh! +if ye would but rightly improve and dwell upon the thoughts of the +comforting and heart-quickening relations! our hearts would not +fail us so much as they do.</p> +<p>5. They would eye him as now in glory, who as head and captain +of salvation hath wrestled through and overcome all difficulties +and discouragements that were in his way, and in name and behalf of +all believers that are his followers and members of his body, is +now possessed of glory, and thence draw an heart-comforting, and +soul-strengthening conclusion, thus, Is he entered into glory as +head? then such a poor, faint-hearted, discouraged worm as I am, +may at length come there as a little bit of his body, especially +since he said, that seeing he liveth, all his shall live also, John +xiv. 19.</p> +<p>6. They would remember how Christ, who was always heard of his +Father, John xi. 41, did supplicate for this, as Mediator and +Intercessor for his people, John xvii. 24, saying, "Father, I will +that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am," +&c. May not the poor faint-hearted believer that is looking to +Jesus, draw an heart-reviving, and soul-encouraging conclusion out +of this, and say, though my prayers be shut out, and when I cry for +relief under my discouragements, I get no hearing; but, on the +contrary, my discouragements grow, and my heart fainteth the more; +yet Christ always was heard, and the Father will not say him nay; +why then may not I lift up my head in hope, and sing in the hope of +the glory of God, in the midst of all my discouragements?</p> +<p>7. By faith they would cast all their discouragements, +entanglements, and difficulties, as burdens too heavy for their +back, on Christ, and leave them there with him who only can remove +them; and withal, resolve never to give over, but to go forward in +his strength, and thus become daily stronger and stronger in +resolutions, purposes, desires, and endeavours, when they can do no +more.</p> +<p>8. They would look to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, +and set him before them as a copy of courage, "who for the joy that +was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame," and +endureth contradiction of sinners against himself, Heb. xii. 2, 3. +And this may prove a mean to keep us from wearying and fainting in +our minds, as the apostle hinteth there.</p> +<p>9. They would remember, that Christ going before, as the Captain +of their salvation, hath broken the ice to them, and the force and +strength of all those discouragements, as we did lately show; so +that now they should be looked upon as broken and powerless +discouragements.</p> +<p>10. They would fix their eye by faith on Jesus, as only able to +do their business, to bear up their head, to carry them through +discouragements, to apply cordials to their fainting hearts, and +remain fixed in that posture and resolution, looking for +strengthening and encouraging life from him, and from him alone; +and thus declare, that, (1.) They are unable of themselves to stand +out such storms of discouragements, and to wrestle through such +difficulties. (2.) They believe he is only able to bear them up, +and carry them through, and make them despise all those +discouragements which the devil and their own evil hearts muster up +against them. (3.) That come what will come, they will not quit the +bargain—they will never recall or take back their +subscription and consent to the covenant of grace, and to Christ, +as theirs, offered therein, though they should die and die again by +the way. (4.) That they would fain be kept on in the way, and +helped forward without failing and fainting by the way. (5.) That +they cannot run through hard walls—they cannot do +impossibilities—they cannot break through such mighty +discouragements. (6.) That yet through him they can do all things. +(7.) That he must help, or they are gone, and shall never win +through all these difficulties and discouragements, but shall one +day or other die by the hand of Saul. (8.) That they will wait, +earnestly seeking help from him, crying for it, and looking for it, +and resolve never to give over, and if they be disappointed they +are disappointed.</p> +<p>Now for the <i>last</i> particular, the word of caution, take +these,</p> +<p>1. They would not think to be altogether free of fainting, for +there is no perfection here, and there is much flesh and corruption +remaining, and that will occasion fainting.</p> +<p>2. Nor would they think to be free of all the causes and +occasions of this fainting, viz. the discouragements formerly +mentioned, or the like; for, if the devil can do any thing, he will +work discouragements, both within and without. So that they would +lay their resolution to meet with discouragements; for few or none +ever went to heaven but they had many a storm in their face; and +they must not think to have a way paved for themselves alone.</p> +<p>3. They would not pore too much, or dwell too long and too much +upon the thoughts of those discouragements; for that is Satan's +advantage, and tendeth to weaken themselves. But it were better to +be looking beyond them, as Christ did, Heb. xii. 2, when he had the +cross and the shame to wrestle with, he looked to the joy that was +set before him; and that made him endure the cross and despise the +shame; and as Moses did, Heb. xi. 25-27, when he had afflictions +and the wrath of the king to wrestle against; he had respect unto +the recompense of the reward, and so he endured as seeing him who +is invisible.</p> +<p>4. They would remember that as Christ hath tender bowels, and is +full of compassion, and is both ready and able to help them; so is +he wise, and knoweth how to let out his mercies best. He is not +like a foolish, affectionate mother, that would hazard the life of +the child, before she put the child to any pain. He seeth what is +best for his own glory, and for their good here and hereafter; and +that he will do with much tenderness and readiness.</p> +<p>5. They would look upon it as no mean mercy, if, notwithstanding +of all the discouragements and storms that blow in their face, they +are helped to keep their face up the hill, and are fixed in their +resolution, never willingly to turn their back upon the way of God, +but to continue creeping forward as they may, whatever storms they +meet with; yea, upon this account ought they heartily to bless his +name, and to rejoice; for "their hearts shall live that seek him," +Psalm xxii. 26.</p> +<p>6. They would remember, for their encouragement, that as many +have been helped through all discouragements, and have been brought +home at length, so may they be brought through all those storms +which now they wrestle with. It is the glory of the Mediator to +bring his broken, torn, and sinking vessel, safe to shore.</p> +<p>Now, I come to a third case, and that is,</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII." id="CHAPTER_XXIII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> +<h4>HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE LIFE WHEN THE SOUL IS DEAD AS +TO DUTY.</h4> +<br> +<p>Sometimes the believer will be under such a distemper, as that +he will be as unfit and unable for discharging of any commanded +duty, as dead men, or one in a swoon, is to work or go a journey. +And it were good to know how Christ should be made use of as the +Life, to the end the diseased soul may be delivered from this. For +this cause we shall consider those four things:</p> +<p>1. See what are the several steps and degrees of this +distemper.</p> +<p>2. Consider whence it cometh, or what are the causes or +occasions thereof.</p> +<p>3. Consider how Christ is life to the soul in such a dead case; +and,</p> +<p>4. Point out the way of the soul's use-making of Christ, that +would be delivered herefrom.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first</i>, this distemper cometh on by several +steps and degrees. It will be sufficient to mention some of the +main and most remarkable steps; such as,</p> +<p>1. There is a falling from our watchfulness and tenderness; and +when we leave our watch tower, we invite and encourage Satan to set +upon us, as was said before.</p> +<p>2. There is going about duty, but in a lazy way, when we love +and seek after carnal ease, and seek out ways of doing the duty, so +as maybe least troublesome to the flesh, as the spouse did, Cant. +iii. 1, when she sought her beloved upon her bed.</p> +<p>3. There is a lying by, and not stirring up ourselves to an +active way of going about duty, of which the prophet complaineth, +Isa. liv. 7, when he saith, there is none that stirreth up himself +to take hold of thee.</p> +<p>4. There is a giving way to spiritual drowsiness, and upsitting +in duties, and in the way of God. "I sleep," said the spouse, Cant. +v. 2, 3, and "I have put off my coat," &c. She knew she was not +right, but was drowsy, and yet she did not shake it off, but +composed herself for it, took off her coat, and washed her feet, +and so lay down to sleep.</p> +<p>5. There is a satisfaction and contentment with his condition, +as thinking we are pretty well, at least for that time; and thus +was the spouse in that forementioned place led away; she was so far +from being dissatisfied with her condition, that she rather +expressed contentment therewith.</p> +<p>6. There may be such a love to such a condition, and such a +satisfaction in it, as that they may shift every thing that hath a +tendency to rouse them up out of that sluggish laziness, as not +loving to be awakened out of their sleep. So we see the bride +shifts and putteth off Christ's call and invitation to her, to +arise and open to him.</p> +<p>7. Yea, there is a defending of that condition, as at least +tolerable and none of the worst; a justifying of it, or at least a +pleading for themselves and excusing the matter, and covering over +their neglect of duty with fair pretexts, as the spouse did when +she answered Christ's call with this, that she had washed her feet +and might not defile them again.</p> +<p>8. Yea, further, there is a pleading for this case, by alleging +an impossibility to get it helped as matters now stand; or, at +least, they will muster up insuperable-like difficulties in their +own way of doing duty, as the sluggard will say, that there is a +lion in the way; and the spouse alleged she could not put on her +coat again.</p> +<p>9. Yea, it may come yet higher, even to a peremptory refusing to +set about the duty; for what else can be read out of the bride's +carriage, than that she would not rise and open to her beloved.</p> +<p>10. There is also a desperate laying the duty aside, as +supposing it impossible to be got done, and so a resolute laying of +it by as hopeless, and as a business they need not trouble +themselves withal, because they will not get through it.</p> +<p>11. And hence floweth an utter indisposition and unfitness for +duty.</p> +<p>12. Yea, and in some it may come to this height, that the +thoughts of going about any commanded duty, especially of worship, +either in public or private; or their minting and attempting to set +about it, shall fill them with terror and affrightment, that they +shall be constrained to forbear; yea, to lay aside all thoughts of +going about any such duty.</p> +<p>This is a very dead-like condition,—what can be the causes +or occasions thereof?</p> +<p>I answer, (and this is the <i>second</i> particular,) some or +all of these things may be considered as having a hand in this:</p> +<p>1. No care to keep up a tender frame of heart, but growing +slack, loose, and careless, in going about Christian duties, may +bring on such a distemper.</p> +<p>2. Slighting of challenges for omission of duties, or leaving +duties over the belly of conscience, may make way for such an +evil.</p> +<p>3. Giving way to carnality and formality in duties, is a ready +mean to usher in this evil. For when the soul turns carnal or +formal in the discharge of duties, duties have not that spiritual +lustre which they had, and the soul becometh the sooner wearied of +them, as seeing no such desirableness in them, nor advantage by +them.</p> +<p>4. When people drown themselves in cares of the world, they +occasion this deadness to themselves; for then duties not only are +not gone about heartily, but they are looked on as a burden, and +the man becometh weary of them; and from that he cometh to neglect +them; and by continuing in the neglect of them, he contracteth an +aversion of heart for them; and then an utter unfitness and +indisposition for discharging of them followeth.</p> +<p>5. Satan hath an active hand here, driving on with his crafts +and wiles from one step to another.</p> +<p>6. The hand also of a sovereign God is to be observed here, +giving way to this, yea, and ordering matters in his justice and +wisdom so, as such persons shall come under such an indisposition, +and that for wise and holy ends; as, (1.) That by such a +dispensation he may humble them, who possibly were puffed up +before, as thinking themselves fit enough to go about any duty, how +difficult or hazardous soever, as Peter, who boasted so of his own +strength, as he thought nothing to lay down his life for Christ, +and to die with him; and yet at length came to that, that he could +not, or durst not speak the truth to a damsel. (2.) That he may +punish one spiritual sin with another. (3.) To give warning to all +to watch and pray, and to work out their salvation with fear and +trembling, and not to be high-minded, but fear. (4.) That thereby, +in his just and righteous judgment, he may lay a stumbling-block +before some, to the breaking of their neck, when they shall, for +this cause, reject and mock at all religion. (5.) That he may give +proof at length of his admirable skill in recovering from such a +distemper, that no flesh might have ground to despair, in the most +dead condition they can fall into. (6.) And to shew, sometimes, +what a sovereign dispensator of life he is, and how free he is in +all his favours.</p> +<p>As to the <i>third</i> particular, how Christ is life in this +case,</p> +<p>We answer, 1. By keeping possession of the believer, even when +he seemeth to be most dead; and keeping life at the root, when +there is neither fruit appearing nor flourishes, and hardly many +green leaves to evidence life.</p> +<p>2. By blowing at the coal of grace in the soul, in his own time +and way, and putting an end to the winter, and sending the time of +the singing of the birds, a spring time of life.</p> +<p>3. By loosing the bands with which he was held fast formerly, +enlarging the heart with desires to go about the duty; so that now +he willingly riseth up out of his bed of security, and cheerfully +shaketh off his drowsiness and sluggishness, and former +unwillingness; and now with willingness and cheerfulness he setteth +about the duty.</p> +<p>4. By sending influences of life and strength into the soul, +whereby the wheels of the soul are made to run with ease, being +oiled with those divine influences.</p> +<p>5. And this he doth by touching the heart, and wakening it by +his Spirit; as he raised the spouse out of her bed of security and +laziness, by putting in his hand at the hole of the +door,—then were her bowels moved for him, Cant. v. 4; and +thus he setteth faith on work again, having the key of David to +open the heart, Rev. iii. 7.</p> +<p>6. By giving a discovery of the evil of their former ways and +courses, he worketh up the heart to godly sorrow and remorse for +what is done, making their bowels move for grief and sorrow, that +they should so have dishonoured and grieved him.</p> +<p>7. By setting the soul thus on work to do what formerly it +neither could nor would do; and thus he maketh the soul strong in +the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. vi. 10, and able to +run and not be weary, and to walk and not be faint, Isa. xl.</p> +<p>8. By discovering the great recompense of reward that is coming, +and the great help they have at hand, in the covenant and promises +thereof, and in Christ their head and Lord. He maketh the burden +light and the duty easy.</p> +<p>As to the <i>last</i> particular, viz. how a believer, in such a +case, should make use of Christ as the Life, that he may be +delivered therefrom.</p> +<p>When the poor believer is any way sensible of this decay, and +earnestly desiring to be from under that power of death, and in +case to go about commanded duties, he should,</p> +<p>1. Look to Christ for enlightened eyes, that he may get a more +thorough discovery of the hazard and wretchedness of such a +condition, that hereby being awakened and alarmed, he may more +willingly use the means of recovery, and be more willing to be at +some pains to be delivered.</p> +<p>2. He should run to the blood of Jesus, to get the guilt of his +bygone sinful ways washed away, and blotted out; to the end he may +obtain the favour of God, and get his reconciled face shining upon +him again.</p> +<p>3. He should eye Christ as a prince exalted to give repentance, +that so his sorrow for his former sinful courses may be kindly, +spiritual, thorough, and affecting the heart. He would cry to +Christ, that he would put in his hand by the hole of the door, that +his bowels may become moved for him.</p> +<p>4. He should also look to him as that good shepherd, who will +strengthen that which is sick, Ezek. xxxiv. 16. And take notice +also of his other relations, and of his obligations thereby, and by +the covenant of redemption; and this will strengthen his hope.</p> +<p>5. He should lay hold on Christ as his strength, whereby his +feet may be made like hinds' feet, and he may be made to walk upon +his high places, Hab. iii. 19; and he would grip to that promise, +Isa. xli. 10, "I will strengthen thee;" and lay hold on Christ in +it.</p> +<p>6. Having done thus, he should set about every commanded duty, +in the strength of Jesus, looking to him for help and supply, from +whom cometh all his strength, and though he should not find that +help and assistance which he expected, yet he should not be +discouraged, but continue, and when he can do no more, offer +himself as ready and willing to go about the duty, as if he had +strength.</p> +<p>7. He should lie open to, and be ready to receive the influences +of strength, which he, who is the head, shall think good to give in +his own time, manner, and measure; and this taketh in these +duties:</p> +<p>(1.) That they should carefully guard against the evils formerly +mentioned, which brought on this distemper; such as carelessness, +untenderness, unwatchfulness, laziness, carnal security, formality, +and want of seriousness, &c.</p> +<p>(2.) That they should beware of giving way to dispondency, or +concluding the matter hopeless and irremediable; for that is both +discouraging to the soul, and a tempting provocation of God.</p> +<p>(3.) That they should be exercising the grace of patient +waiting.</p> +<p>(4.) That they should be waiting in the use of the appointed +means, and thereby, as it were, rubbing the dead and cold member +before the fire, till it gather warmth.</p> +<p>(5.) That they should be keeping all their sails up, waiting for +the gale of the Spirit, that should make their ship sail.</p> +<p>(6.) That they should be looking to him alone, who hath promised +that quickening Spirit; and patiently waiting his leisure, not +limiting him to any definite time.</p> +<p>(7.) That they should be cherishing and stirring up any small +beginnings that are.</p> +<p>(8.) That they should be welcoming most cheerfully every motion +of the Spirit, and improving every advantage of that kind, and +striking the iron when it is hot, and hold the wheels of the soul +a-going, when they are once put in motion, and so be loath to +grieve the good and holy Spirit of God, Eph. iv. 30, or to quench +his motions, 1 Thess. v. 19.</p> +<p>If these duties were honestly minded and gone about, in him, and +in his strength, none can tell how soon there may be a change +wrought in the soul.</p> +<p>But if it be asked, what such can do, to whom the very thoughts +of the duty, and aiming at it, is matter of terror;</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> It may be, something, if not much, of that may flow +from a bodily distemper, as occasioneth the alteration of the body, +upon the thorough apprehension of any thing that is weighty and of +moment, so as they cannot endure to be much affected with any +thing. But leaving this to others, I would advise such a soul to +those duties:</p> +<p>1. To be frequently setting to the duty, as, for example, of +prayer, though that should raise the distemper of their body, for +through time that may wear away, or at least grow less; whileas, +their giving way thereto, will still make the duty the more and +more terrible, and so render themselves the more unfit for it, and +thus they shall gratify Satan, who, it may be, may have a hand in +that bodily distemper too. When the poor soul is thus accustomed or +habituated to the attempting of the duty, it will at length appear +not so terrible as it did; and so the body may become not so soon +altered thereby as it was.</p> +<p>2. When such an one can do no more, he should keep his love to +the duty, and his desires after it, fresh, and lively, and should +not suffer these quite to die out.</p> +<p>3. He should be much in the use of frequent ejaculations, and of +short supplications darted up to God; for these will not make such +an impression on the body, and so will not so occasion the raising +and wakening the bodily distemper, as more solemn addresses to God +in prayer would possibly do.</p> +<p>4. If he cannot go to Christ with confidence, to draw out of him +life and strength, according to his need, yet he may give a look to +him, though it were from afar; and he may think of him, and speak +of him frequently, and would narrowly observe every thing that +pointeth him out, or bringeth any thing of him to remembrance.</p> +<p>5. Such souls should not give way to despairing thoughts, as if +their case were wholly helpless and hopeless; for that is a +reflecting on the power and skill of Christ, and therefore is +provoking and dishonourable to him.</p> +<p>6. Let Christ, and all that is his, be precious always and +lovely unto them. And thus they should keep some room in their +heart open for him, till he should be pleased to come to them with +salvation; and who can tell how soon he may come?</p> +<p>But enough of this. There is a <i>fourth</i> case of deadness to +be spoken to, and that is,</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV." id="CHAPTER_XXIV."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +<h4>HOW SHALL THE SOUL MAKE USE OF CHRIST, AS THE LIFE, WHICH IS +UNDER THE PREVAILING POWER OF UNBELIEF AND INFIDELITY.</h4> +<br> +<p>That we may help to give some clearing to a poor soul in this +case, we shall,</p> +<p>1. See what are the several steps and degrees of this +distemper.</p> +<p>2. Consider what the causes hereof are.</p> +<p>3. Shew how Christ is life to a soul in such a case; and,</p> +<p>4. Give some directions how a soul in that case should make use +of Christ as the Life, to the end it may be delivered +therefrom.</p> +<p>And, <i>first,</i> There are many several steps to, and degrees +of this distemper. We shall mention a few; as,</p> +<p>1. When they cannot come with confidence, and draw out of him by +faith, what their soul's case calleth for; they cannot "with joy +draw waters out of the wells of salvation," Isa. xii. 3; but keep +at a distance, and entertain jealous thoughts of him. This is a +degree of unbelief making way for more.</p> +<p>2. When they cannot confidently assert and avow their interest +in him, as the church did, Isa. xii. 2, saying, "Behold, God is my +salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is +my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."</p> +<p>3. When they much question, if ever they have indeed laid hold +on Christ, and so cannot go to him for the supplies of their wants +and necessities.</p> +<p>4. When, moreover, they question if they be allowed of God, and +warranted to come to him, and lay hold upon him; yea, and they +think they have many arguments whereby to maintain this their +unbelief, and justify their keeping a-back from Christ.</p> +<p>5. Or, when, if they look to him at all, it is with much mixture +of faithless fears that they shall not be the better, or at least +doubting whether it shall be to their advantage or not.</p> +<p>6. This unbelief will advance further, and they may come to +that, not only to conclude, that they have no part or portion in +him, but also to conclude that their case is desperate and +irredeemable; and so say there is no more hope, they are cut off +for their part, as Ezek. xxxvii. 11, and so lie by as dead and +forlorn.</p> +<p>7. Yea, they may come higher, and vent some desperate thoughts +and expressions of God, to the great scandal of the godly, and the +dishonour of God.</p> +<p>8. And yet more, they may come that length, to question all the +promises, and to cry out with David, in his haste, Psalm c. 11, +that "all men are liars."</p> +<p>9. Yea, they may come to this, to scout the whole gospel to be +nothing but a heap of delusions, and a cunningly-devised fable, or +but mere notions and fancies.</p> +<p>10. And at length come to question, if there be a God that +ruleth in the earth.</p> +<p>These are dreadful degrees and steps of this horrible distemper, +and enough to make all flesh tremble.</p> +<p>Let us see next whence this cometh. The causes hereof we may +reduce to three heads:</p> +<p><i>First.</i> The holy Lord hath a holy hand in this, and hath +noble ends and designs before him in this matter; as,</p> +<p>1. The Lord may think good to order matters thus, that he may +magnify his power and grace, in rescuing such as were returned to +the very brink of hell, and seemed to many to be lost and +irrecoverably gone.</p> +<p>2. That in punishing them thus, for giving way to the first +motions of unbelief, he might warn all to guard against such an +evil, and not to foster and give way to groundless complaints, nor +entertain objections, moved against their condition by the +devil.</p> +<p>3. To warn all to walk circumspectly, and to work out their +salvation with fear and trembling, not knowing what may befall them +ere they die.</p> +<p>4. To teach all to walk humbly, not knowing what advantage Satan +may get of them eve all be done; and to see their daily need of +Christ to strengthen their faith, and to keep their grips of him +fast.</p> +<p>5. So the Lord may think good to dispense so with some, that he +may give a full proof of his wonderfully great patience and +long-suffering in bearing with such, and that so long.</p> +<p>6. As also to demonstrate his sovereignty, in measuring out his +dispensations to his own, as he seeth will most glorify +himself.</p> +<p><i>Next,</i> Satan hath an active hand in this; for,</p> +<p>1. He raiseth up clouds and mists in the believer, so that he +cannot see the work of God within himself, and so is made to cry +out, that he hath no grace, and that all was but delusions and +imaginations, which he looked upon as grace before.</p> +<p>2. He raiseth up in them jealousies of God, and of all his ways, +and puts a false gloss and construction on all which God doth, to +the end he may confirm them in their jealousies, which they have +drunk in of God.</p> +<p>3. Having gained this ground, he worketh then upon their +corruption with very great advantage; and thus driveth them from +evil to worse, and not only to question their perfect interest in +Christ, but also to quit all hope for the time to come.</p> +<p>4. This being done, he driveth the soul yet farther, and filleth +it with prejudices against God and his glorious truths; and from +this he can easily bring them to call all in question.</p> +<p>5. Yea, he will represent God as an enemy to them; and when this +is done, how easy it is with him to put them on desperate courses, +and cause them to speak wickedly and desperately of God.</p> +<p>6. And when this is done, he can easily darken the +understanding, that the poor soul shall not see the glory of the +gospel, and of the covenant of grace, nor the lustre and beauty of +holiness: yea, and raise prejudices against the same, because there +is no hope of partaking of the benefit thereof; and so bring them +on, to a plain questioning of all, as mere delusions.</p> +<p>7. And when he hath gotten them brought this length, he hath +fair advantage to make them question if there be a God, and so +drive them forward to atheism. And thus deceitfully he can carry +the soul from one step to another.</p> +<p>But, <i>third,</i> there are many sinful causes of this within +the man's self; as,</p> +<p>1. Pride and haughtiness of mind, as thinking their mountain +standeth so strong, that it cannot be moved. And this provoketh God +to hide his face, as Psalm xxx.</p> +<p>2. Self-confidence, a concomitant of pride, supposing themselves +to be so well rooted that they cannot be shaken, whereas it were +better for them to walk in fear.</p> +<p>3. Want of watchfulness over a deceitful heart, and an evil +heart of unbelief, that is still departing from the living God, +Heb. iii. 12. It is good to be jealous here.</p> +<p>4. Giving way to doubtings and questionings too readily at +first. It is not good to tempt the Lord by parlying too much and +too readily with Satan. Eve's practice might be a warning +sufficient to us.</p> +<p>5. Not living in the sight of their wants, and of their daily +necessity of Christ, nor acting faith upon him daily, for the +supplying of their wants. And when faith is not used, it may +contract rust and be weakened, and come at length not to be +discerned.</p> +<p>6. Entertaining of jealous thoughts of God, and hearkening too +readily to any thing that may foster and increase or confirm +these.</p> +<p>7. Not delighting themselves in, and with pleasure dwelling on, +the thoughts of Christ, of his offices, of the gospel and promises; +so that these come at length to lose their beauty and glory in the +soul, and have not the lustre that once they had; and this doth +open a door to much mischief.</p> +<p>8. In a word, not walking with God according to the gospel, +provoking the Lord to give them up to themselves for a time.</p> +<p>We come now to the <i>third</i> particular, which is, to shew +how Christ is Life to the poor soul in this case. And for the +clearing of this, consider,</p> +<p>1. That Christ is "the author and finisher of faith," Heb. xii. +2; and so, as he did rebuke unbelief at the first, he can rebuke it +again.</p> +<p>2. That he is the great prophet clearing up the gospel, and +every thing that is necessary for us to know, bringing life and +immortality to light by the gospel, 2 Tim. i. 10, and so +manifesting the lustre and beauty of the gospel.</p> +<p>3. He bringeth the promises home to the soul, in their reality, +excellency, and truth, being the faithful witness and the amen, +Rev. iii. 14, and the confirmer of the promises, so that they are +all yea and amen in him, 2 Cor. i. 20. And this serveth to +establish the soul in the faith, and to shoot out thoughts of +unbelief.</p> +<p>4. So doth he, by his Spirit, dispel the mists and clouds which +Satan, through unbelief, had raised in the soul.</p> +<p>5. And thereby also rebuketh those mistakes of God, and +prejudices at him and his ways, which Satan hath wrought there, +through corruption.</p> +<p>6. He discovereth himself to be a ready help in time of trouble, +and the hope and anchor of salvation, Heb. vi. 19; and a priest +living for ever to make intercession for poor sinners, Heb. vii. +25.</p> +<p>7. And hereby he cleareth up to the poor soul a possibility of +help and relief; and thus rebuketh despair or preventeth it.</p> +<p>8. He manifesteth himself to be the marrow and substance of the +gospel: and this maketh every line thereof pleasant and beautiful +to the soul, and so freeth them from the prejudices that they had +at it.</p> +<p>9. So in manifesting himself in the gospel, he revealeth the +Father, that the soul cometh to "the knowledge of the glory of God, +in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 6. And this saveth the +soul from atheism.</p> +<p>10. When the soul cannot grip him, nor look to him, yet he can +look to the soul, and by his love quicken and revive the soul, and +warm the heart with love to him, and at length move and incline it +sweetly to open to him; and thus grip and hold fast a lost sheep, +yea, and bring it home again.</p> +<p>But what should a soul do in such a case? To this, (which is the +<i>fourth</i> particular to be spoken to), I answer,</p> +<p>1. That they should strive against those evils formerly +mentioned, which procured or occasioned this distemper. A stop +should be put to those malignant humours.</p> +<p>2. They should be careful to lay again the foundation of solid +knowledge of God, and of his glorious truths revealed in the +gospel, and labour for the faith of God's truth and veracity; for +till this be, nothing can be right in the soul.</p> +<p>3. They should be thoroughly convinced of the treachery, +deceitfulness, and wickedness of their hearts, that they may see it +is not worthy to be trusted, and that they may be jealous of it, +and not hearken so readily to it as they have done, especially +seeing Satan can prompt it to speak for his advantage.</p> +<p>4. They should remember also, that it is divine help that can +recover them, and cause them grip to the promises, and lay hold on +them of new again, as well as at first, and that of themselves they +can do nothing.</p> +<p>5. In using of the means for the recovery of life, they should +eye Christ, and because this eyeing of Christ is faith, and their +disease lieth most there, they should do as the Israelites did who +were stung in the eye with the serpents,—they looked to the +brazen serpent with the wounded and stung eye: so should they do +with a sickly and almost dead faith, grip him, and with an eye +almost put out and made blind, look to him, knowing how ready he is +to help, and what a tender heart he hath.</p> +<p>6. And to confirm them in this resolution, they should take a +new view of all the notable encouragements to believe, wherewith +the whole gospel aboundeth.</p> +<p>7. And withal fix on him, as the only "author and finisher of +faith."</p> +<p>8. And, in a word, they should cast a wonderfully unbelieving +and atheistical soul on him, who is wonderful in counsel, and +excellent in working, and is wonderful in mercy and grace, and in +all his ways. And thus may he at length, in his own time, and in +the way that will most glorify himself, raise up that poor soul out +of the grave of infidelity wherein it was stinking; and so prove +himself to be indeed "the resurrection and the life, to the praise +of the glory of his grace."</p> +<p>We come now to speak to another case, which is,</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXV." id="CHAPTER_XXV."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +<h4>HOW CHRIST IS MADE USE OF AS THE LIFE, BY ONE THAT IS SO DEAD +AND SENSELESS, AS HE CANNOT KNOW WHAT TO JUDGE OF HIMSELF, OR HIS +OWN CASE, EXCEPT WHAT IS NAUGHT.</h4> +<br> +<p>We spake something to this very case upon the matter, when we +spoke of Christ as the Truth. Yet we shall speak a little to it +here, but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned. And +therefore we shall speak a little to those five particulars; and +so,</p> +<p>1. Shew what this distemper is. 2. Shew whence it proceedeth, +and how the soul cometh to fall into it. 3. Shew how Christ, as the +Life, bringeth about a recovery of it 4. Shew how the soul is to be +exercised, that it may obtain a recovery; and, 5. Answer some +questions or objections.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first</i>, Believers many times may be so dead, as +not only not to see and know that they have an interest in Christ, +and to be uncertain what to judge of themselves, but also be so +carried away with prejudices and mistakes, as that they will judge +no otherwise of themselves than that their case is naught; yea, and +not only will deny or miscall the good that God hath wrought in +them by his Spirit, but also reason themselves to be out of the +state of grace, and a stranger to faith, and to the workings of the +Spirit: and hereupon will come to call all delusions, which +sometime they had felt and seen in themselves, which is a sad +distemper, and which grace in life would free the soul from.</p> +<p>This proceedeth (which is the <i>second</i> particular) partly +from God's hiding of his face, and changing his dispensations about +them, and compassing them with clouds, and partly from themselves +and their own mistakes: as,</p> +<p>1. Judging their state, not by the unchangeable rule of truth, +but by the outward dispensations of God, which change upon the +best.</p> +<p>2. Judging their state by the observable measure of grace within +them, and so concluding their state bad, because they observe +corruption prevailing now and then, and grace decaying, and they +perceive no victory over temptations, nor growth in grace, +&c.</p> +<p>3. Judging also their state by others; and so they suppose that +they cannot be believers, because they are so unlike to others, +whom they judge true believers. This is also to judge by a wrong +rule.</p> +<p>4. Judging themselves by themselves, that is, because they look +so unlike to what sometimes they were themselves, they conclude +that their state cannot be good, which is also a wrong rule to +judge their state by.</p> +<p>5. Beginning to try and examine their case and state, and coming +to no close or issue, so that when they have done, they are as +unclear and uncertain what to judge of themselves, as when they +began; or,</p> +<p>6. Taking little or no pains to try themselves seriously, as in +the sight of God, but resting satisfied with a superficial trial, +which can come to no good issue.</p> +<p>7. Trying and examining, but through the sleight of Satan, and +because pitching upon wrong marks, coming to no good issue, but +condemning themselves without ground.</p> +<p>8. There is another thing which occasioneth this misjudging, to +wit, the want of distinctness and clearness in covenanting with +Christ, and the ignorance of the nature of true saving faith.</p> +<p>As to the <i>third</i> particular, how Christ is Life to the +believer in this case,</p> +<p>I answer, Christ manifesteth himself to be life to the soul in +this case:</p> +<p>1. By sending the Spirit of life, that enlighteneth, informeth, +persuadeth, and sealeth.</p> +<p>2. By actuating grace so in the soul, that it manifesteth +itself, and evidenceth itself to be there; as the heat and burning +of a fire will discover itself without other tokens.</p> +<p>The <i>fourth</i> particular, to wit, how the soul should be +exercised, or how it should employ Christ, for an outgate from +this, hath been abundantly cleared above, where we shewed, that +believers in this case should,</p> +<p>1. Be frequent in gripping Christ and closing with him as their +all-sufficient Mediator; and faith thus frequently acting on him +may discover itself at length.</p> +<p>2. Look to Christ that hath eye-salve, and is given for a +witness.</p> +<p>3. Keep grips fast of him, though they be in the dark; and walk +on gripping to him.</p> +<p>4. Keep love toward him and his working, and in exercise.</p> +<p>5. Beg of him to clear up their state, by his Spirit explaining +the true marks of grace, and discovering the working of grace in +the soul.</p> +<p>But it will be said, and so I come to the <i>last</i> +particular, what, if after all this, I remain as formerly, as +unable to judge aright of my state as ever?</p> +<p><i>Answer.</i> Yet thou shouldst continue gripping Christ, +loving him, looking to him, casting a lost, dead soul with all thy +wants upon him, and mind this as thy constant work. Yea, thou +shouldst labour to be growing in these direct acts of faith; and +learn to submit to God herein, knowing that those reflect acts are +not absolutely necessary; and that thou shouldst think it much if +he bring thee to heaven at length, though covered with a cloud all +thy days.</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 2. But others get much more clearness.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> I grant that; yet know, that every one getteth not +clearness, and such as have it, have it not in the same measure. +And must God give thee as much as he giveth to another? What if +thou could not make that use of it that others do, but wax proud +thereby, and forget thyself? Therefore it will be best to give God +liberty to dispense his favours as he will, and that thou be about +thy commanded duty, the exercise of faith, love, fear, patience, +&c.</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 3. But if at any time I got a sight of my case, it +would be some peace and satisfaction to me.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> I grant that, and what knowest thou; but thou mayest +also get that favour ere thou die. Why then wilt thou not wait his +leisure?</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 4. But the want of it in the mean time maketh me go +heartlessly and discouragedly about commanded duties, and maketh +that I cannot apply things distinctly to myself.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> Yet the word of command is the same, the offer is +the same, and the encouragement is the same. Why then should thou +not be going on, leaning to Christ in the wilderness, even though +thou want that comfortable sight?</p> +<p><i>Obj.</i> 5. But it is one thing to want a clear sight of my +state, it is another thing to judge myself, to be yet in the state +of nature; and this is my case.</p> +<p><i>Ans.</i> I grant, this is the worst of the two; yet, what if +thou misjudge thyself without ground; should thou not suffer for +thy own folly; and whom can thou blame but thyself? And if thou +judge so, thou cannot but know that it is thy duty to do the thing +that thou supposeth is not yet done, that is, run away to Christ +for life and salvation, and rest on him and abide there; and if +this were frequently renewed, the grounds of thy former mistake +might be easily removed.</p> +<p>Yet further, I would add these few things:</p> +<p>1. Take no pleasure in debating against your own soul; for that +is but to serve Satan's design.</p> +<p>2. Be not too rash or ready to drink in prejudices against the +work of God in your own souls; for that is to conclude with Satan +against yourselves.</p> +<p>3. Make much of any little light he is pleased to give, were it +but of one mark, and be not ill to please; for one scriptural mark, +as love to the brethren, may sufficiently evidence the thing.</p> +<p>4. See how thy soul would like the condition of such as are +carnal, profane, careless in the matters of God; and if thy soul +doth really abhor that, and thou would not upon any account choose +to be in such a case, thou may gather something from that to thy +comfort. But enough of this case here.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXVI." id="CHAPTER_XXVI."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> +<h4>HOW IS CHRIST, AS THE LIFE, TO BE APPLIED BY A SOUL THAT +MISSETH GOD'S FAVOUR AND COUNTENANCE.</h4> +<br> +<p>The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, +occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and +"the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is +better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their +life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the +saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall,</p> +<p>1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, +whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the reasons of this +dispensation. 3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case; +and, 4. Point out the soul's duty; or how he is to make use of +Christ for a recovery.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first,</i> we may take notice of those +particulars:</p> +<p>1. They complain of God's hiding of himself, and forsaking them, +Ps. xxii. 1, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" and Ps. +xiii. 3, "How long wilt thou forsake me?" &c.</p> +<p>2. They cry out for a blink of his face, and get it not; for he +hath withdrawn himself, Ps. xiii. 1, "how long wilt thou hide thy +face from me?" Heman, Ps. lxxxviii., cried out night and day, but +yet God's face was hid, ver. 1, 9, 14. The spouse seeketh long, +Cant. v.; see Ps. xxii. 1, 2.</p> +<p>3. They are looking for an outgate, but get none. And "hope +deferred maketh their heart sick," Prov. xiii. 12.</p> +<p>4. They are in the dark, and cannot tell' why the Lord +dispenseth so towards them; "Why," said Heman, Ps. xviii. 14, +"castest thou off my soul? why holdest thou thy face from me?" They +cannot understand wherefore it is. So Job cried out, "shew me +wherefore thou contendest with me," Job x. 2.</p> +<p>5. They may also be walking, in the mean while, without light or +counsel, so as they shall not know what to do. "How long shall I +take counsel in my soul," Ps. xiii. 2.</p> +<p>6. Moreover, they may have their heart filled with sorrow; as we +see, Ps. xiii. 2, "having sorrow in my heart," said David. He also +saith, Ps. xxxviii. that his sorrow was continually before him, +ver. 17; and Ps. cxvi. 3, "I found trouble and sorrow."</p> +<p>7. They may be so, as the sweet experience of others may yield +them no supply of comfort at present, Ps. xxii. 4-6, "Our fathers +trusted in thee," said David, "and thou didst deliver them; they +cried to thee, and were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were +not confounded." But that gave him no present ease or comfort; for +immediately he addeth, ver. 6, "but I am a worm and no man, a +reproach of men," &c.</p> +<p>8. Yea, all their own former experiences may yield them little +solace; as we see in the same place, Ps. xxii. 9, 10, compared with +ver. 14,15, "Thou art he," says he, ver. 9, "that took me out of +the womb," &c. And yet he complains, ver. 14, "that he was +poured out like water, and his bones out of joint, that his heart +was melted in the midst of his bowels," &c.</p> +<p>9. They may be brought near to a giving over all in despondency, +and be brought, in their sense, to the very dust of death, Psal. +xxii. 16.</p> +<p>If it be inquired, why the Lord dispenseth so with his own +people?</p> +<p>We answer, and this is the <i>second</i> particular, that he +doeth it for holy and wise reasons, whereof we may name a few; +as,</p> +<p>1. To punish their carelessness and negligence; as we see he did +with the spouse, Cant. v.</p> +<p>2. To chastise them for their ill-improving of his favour and +kindness when they had it; as the same passage evidenceth.</p> +<p>3. To check them for their security and carnal confidence, as he +did David, Psal. xxx. 6, 7, when he said his mountain stood strong, +and he should never be moved. Then did the Lord hide his face, and +he was troubled.</p> +<p>4. To try if their obedience to his commands be pure and +conscientious, and not in a sort mercenary, because of his lifting +up upon them the light of his countenance; and to see if conscience +to a command driveth them to duty, when they are in the dark, and +have no encouragement.</p> +<p>5. To put the graces of the Spirit to trial and to exercise; as +their faith, patience, hope, love, &c. Psal. xiii. 5, 6, 22, +24.</p> +<p>6. To awaken them from their security, and to set them to a more +diligent following of duty; as we see in the spouse, Cant. v.</p> +<p>7. To sharpen their desire and hunger after him, as this +instance cleareth.</p> +<p>Even in such a case as this, Christ is life to the soul, which +is the <i>third</i> particular,</p> +<p>1. By taking away the sinful causes of such a distance, having +laid down his life and shed his blood for the remission of their +sins, so that such a dispensation is not flowing from pure wrath, +but is rather an act of mercy and love.</p> +<p>2. By advocating the poor man's cause in heaven, where he is +making intercession for his own, and thereby obtaining a delivery +from that condition, in God's own time, even the shining again of +his countenance upon them.</p> +<p>3. By keeping life in, as to habitual grace, and by breathing +thereupon, so that it becometh lively, and operative even in such a +winter day.</p> +<p>4. By supporting the soul under that dispensation, and keeping +it from fainting, through the secret influences of grace, which he +conveyeth into the soul; as he did to the poor woman of Canaan, +Matth. xv.</p> +<p>5. By setting the soul a-work, to use such means as God hath +appointed for a recovery; as, to cry, to plead, to long, to wait, +&c. "Their heart shall live that seek him."</p> +<p>6. By teaching the soul to submit to and acquiesce in what God +doth, acknowledging his righteousness, greatness, and sovereignty; +and this quietness of heart is its life.</p> +<p>7. By keeping the heart fast to the covenant of grace; so that +whatever come, they will never quit that bargain, but they will +trust in him though he should kill them; and they will adhere to +the covenant of grace, though they should be dragged through +hell.</p> +<p>8. At length when he seeth it fit and convenient, he quickeneth +by drawing back the veil, and filling the soul with joy, in the +light of God's countenance; and causing it to sing, as having the +heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord.</p> +<p>As to the <i>last</i> particular, concerning the duty of a soul +in such a case; we say,</p> +<p>1. He should humble himself under this dispensation, knowing +that it is the great God with whom he hath to do; and that there is +no contending with him; and that all flesh should stoop before +him.</p> +<p>2. He should justify God in all that he doth, and say with +David, Psal. xxii. 3. "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest +the praises of Israel."</p> +<p>3. He should look upon himself as unworthy of the least of that +kind: "I am a worm," said David, Psal. xxii. 6, "and no man."</p> +<p>4. He should search out his provocations, and run away to the +fountain, the blood of Christ, that these may be purged away, and +his conscience sprinkled from dead works, and his soul washed in +the fountain opened to the house of David for sin and for +uncleanness.</p> +<p>5. He must also employ Christ, to discover to him more and more +of his guiltiness, whereby he hath grieved the Spirit of God; and +as sins are discovered to him, he would repent of them, and run +away with them to the blood that cleanseth from all sin. This was +Elihu's advice to Job, chap. xxxiv. 31, 32. "Surely it is meet to +be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend. +That which I see not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I +will do no more."</p> +<p>6. He should grip to Christ in the covenant, and rest there with +joy and satisfaction; he should hold that fast that he may ride out +the storm in a dark night; "though he make not mine house to grow," +said David, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5; yet this was all his salvation and all +his desire, that he "had made with him an everlasting covenant, +ordered in all things and sure." The spouse took this course, when +she could not get a sight of him whom her soul loved, Cant. vi. 3, +and asserted her interest in him; "I am my beloved's, and my +beloved is mine."</p> +<p>7. He should be entertaining high and loving thoughts of God, +commending him highly, let his dispensations be what they will. So +did the spouse, Cant. v. 10, 16.</p> +<p>8. He should earnestly seek after him. The spouse did so, Cant. +v. 6. The discouragement she met with at the hands of the watchmen, +did not put her off her pursuit, ver. 7, but she continued, yea, +was "sick of love;" ver. 8; and her looks had a prevailing power +with him, as we see, Cant. vi. 5, where the bridegroom uttered that +most astonishing word, "Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have +overcome me."</p> +<p>9. This new manifestation which he is seeking for, must be +expected in and through Christ, who is the true tabernacle, and he +who was represented by the mercy-seat. He is the only +trusting-place; in him alone will the Father be seen.</p> +<p>10. He should also look to him for strength and support, in the +mean time; and for grace, that he may be kept from fainting, and +may be helped to wait till he come, who knoweth the fittest season +wherein to appear.</p> +<p>But it will be said, what if, after all this, we get no outgate, +but he hideth his face still from us?</p> +<p>I answer, such should know, that life is one thing, and comfort +is another thing; grace is one thing, and warm blinks of God's face +is another. The one is necessary to the very being of a Christian, +the other not, but only necessary to his comfortable being; and +therefore they should be content, if God give them grace, though +they miss comfort for a time.</p> +<p>2. They should learn to commit that matter to Christ who knoweth +how to give that which is good and best for them.</p> +<p>3. They should be hanging on him for strength and for duty; and +in his strength setting about every commanded duty, and be +exercising faith, love, patience, hope, desire, &c.</p> +<p>4. Let the well-ordered covenant be all their salvation, and all +their desire; and though they should not get a comfortable blink of +God's face, so long as they were here, yet holding fast this +covenant, they should at length be saved souls, and what would they +have more? and when they get this, what will they miss?</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXVII." id="CHAPTER_XXVII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> +<h4>HOW SHALL ONE MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE LIFE, WHEN WRESTLING +WITH AN ANGRY GOD BECAUSE OF SIN?</h4> +<br> +<p>That we may give some satisfaction to this question, we +shall,</p> +<p>1. Shew what are the ingredients in this case, or what useth to +concur in this distemper.</p> +<p>2. Shew some reasons why the Lord is pleased to dispense thus +with his people.</p> +<p>3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case.</p> +<p>4. Shew the believer's duty for a recovery; and,</p> +<p>5. Add a word or two of caution.</p> +<p>As to the <i>first,</i> There may be those parts of, or +ingredients in this distemper:</p> +<p>1. God presenting their sins unto their view, so as they shall +cry out, "Our sin is ever before us," Psal. li. 3, and say, as it +is, Psal. xc. 8. "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our +secret sins in the light of thy countenance;" and so cause them see +the Lord contending for sin, as the church did, Isa. lix. "We roar +all like bears, and mourn sore like doves. We look for judgment but +there is none, for salvation but it is far off from us; for our +transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify +against us; for our transgressions are with us; and as for our +iniquities, we know them," &c.</p> +<p>2. Yea, God may bring upon them the iniquities of their youth, +as Job speaketh, chap. xiii. 26, and so bring upon them, or suffer +conscience to charge them, with their old sins formerly repented of +and pardoned. And this is more terrible: David is made to remember +his original sin, Psal. li.</p> +<p>3. And, as Job speaketh, chap. xv. 17, God may seem to be +sealing up all their sins in a bag, that none of them may be lost +or fall by, without being taken notice of; and, as it were, be +gathering them together in a heap.</p> +<p>4. He may pursue sore with signs of wrath and displeasure, +because of those sins, as we see in David, Psal. iv.; xxxviii. 51, +and in several others of his people, chastened of the Lord because +of their transgressions; whereof there are many instances in +Scripture.</p> +<p>5. Yea, and that for a considerable time together, and cause +them cry out, with David, Psal. iv. 3, "But thou, O Lord, how +long!"</p> +<p>6. And that not only with outward, but also with inward plagues +and strokes, as David's case cleareth, in the fore-cited +Psalms.</p> +<p>7. Yea, and not even themselves, but even their posterity; as +David's child was smitten with death, and the posterity of +Manasses, who found mercy himself, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 13, was carried +into captivity for his sin, 2 Kings xxiii. 26, 27.</p> +<p>8. Further, the Lord may deprive them of all their former joy +and comfort, which made David cry out, Psalm li. 12, "Restore unto +me the joy of thy salvation, and grant me thy free Spirit."</p> +<p>9. And, which is yet more terrible, write their sin upon their +judgment, as when he caused the sword and whoredom follow David's +house.</p> +<p>10. And, finally, he may cause them fear utter off-casting, as +Psalm li. 12, "cast me not away," said he, "from thy presence."</p> +<p>And this the Lord thinketh good to do (that we may speak a word +to the <i>second</i> particular) for those, and the like +reasons:</p> +<p>1. To discover to them, and to all the world, how just, holy, +and righteous a God he is, that cannot approve of, or bear with +sin, even in his own children.</p> +<p>2. To make all fear and tremble before this great and holy God, +who is terrible in his judgments, even when they come from a +Father's hand that is not pursuing in pure anger and wrath, but +chastening in love. Sure all must think that his dispensations with +the wicked will be much more fearful and horrible, seeing they are +not yet reconciled to him through the blood of Jesus.</p> +<p>3. To press believers more earnestly into Christ, that they may +get a new extract of their pardon, and their souls washed in the +blood of Jesus.</p> +<p>4. To teach them to walk more circumspectly afterwards, and to +guard more watchfully against Satan's temptations, and to employ +Christ more as their strength, light, and guide.</p> +<p>5. To cause them see their great obligation to Jesus Christ, for +delivering them from that state of wrath, wherein they were by +nature, as well as others, and would have lain in to all eternity, +had he not redeemed them.</p> +<p>6. To exercise their faith, patience, and hope; to see if in +hope they will believe against hope, and lay hold on the strength +of the Lord, that they make peace with him, Isaiah xxvii. 5.</p> +<p>7. To give a fresh proof of his wonderful mercy, grace, love, +and compassion, upholding the soul in the mean time, and at length +pardoning them, and speaking peace to their souls through the blood +of Jesus.</p> +<p>But as to the <i>third</i> particular, we may look on Christ as +the Life to the soul in this case, upon those accounts,</p> +<p>1. He hath satisfied justice, and so hath borne the pure wrath +of God due for their sins. "He hath trodden the wine press alone," +Isaiah lxiii. 5. "He was wounded for our transgressions, and +bruised for our sins," Isaiah liii. 5, 10; and therefore they drink +not of this cup which would make them drunk, and to stagger, and +fall, and never rise again.</p> +<p>2. Yea, he hath procured that mercy and love shall accompany all +those sharp dispensations, and that they shall flow from mercy; +yea, and that they shall be as a covenanted blessing promised in +the covenant, Psalm lxxxix. 30, &c.</p> +<p>3. And sometimes he is pleased to let them see this clear +difference betwixt the strokes they lie under, and the judgments of +pure wrath which attend the wicked; and this supporteth the soul; +for then he seeth that those dispensations, how sharp soever they +be, shall work together for good to him, and come from the hand of +a gracious loving Father, reconciled in the blood of Christ.</p> +<p>4. "He is a Prince, exalted to give repentance and remission of +sins to Israel," Acts v. 31. Yea, he hath procured such a clause in +the covenant, which is well ordered in all things and sure, that +upon their renewing of faith and repentance, their after sins shall +be pardoned; and besides the promises of faith and repentance in +the covenant, his being a Prince exalted to give both, giveth +assurance of their receiving of both.</p> +<p>5. He cleareth to them their interest in the covenant, and their +right to the promises of the covenant; and through their closing +with Christ by faith, he raiseth up their heart in hope, and +causeth them to expect an outgate, even remission of their sins, +and turning away the displeasure in due time through him. And this +is a great part of their life.</p> +<p>6. Being the author and finisher of faith, and a prince to give +repentance, he, by his Spirit, worketh up the soul to a renewing of +its grips of himself by faith, and to a running to the death and +blood of Christ for pardon and washing, and worketh godly sorrow in +the heart, whereupon followeth pardon, according to the gospel +constitution, though the believer as yet perceiveth it not; and sin +being pardoned before God, conform to the tenor of the covenant of +grace, the man is a living man, whatever fears of death he may be +kept under for a time.</p> +<p>7. He helpeth also to a justifying of God, and to a holy, +submissive frame of spirit under that dispensation; so that they +are willing to bear the indignation of the Lord, because they have +sinned against him, Micah vii. 9; and to wait for an outgate in +God's own time, and to kiss the rod, and to accept of the +punishment of their sin.</p> +<p>8. When he seeth it fit for his own glory, and their advantage, +he speaketh peace at length to the soul, and saith, "son (or +daughter) be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee; and then is +the soul restored to life."</p> +<p>As to the <i>fourth</i> particular. The soul that is wrestling +with an angry God for sin, and would make use of Christ as the +Life, should do these things:</p> +<p>1. He should look to Christ as standing under God's curse in our +room, and as satisfying justice for all the elect, and for all +their sins.</p> +<p>2. He should eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised, +upon the renewing of faith and repentance.</p> +<p>3. He should eye Christ as the great Lord dispensator of both +faith and repentance, and hang on him for both, and thus believe, +that he may believe and repent, or lay his soul open to him, that +he may work in him both repentance and faith.</p> +<p>4. He should flee to the blood of sprinkling, "that speaks +better things than the blood of Abel," that he may be washed, and +sprinkled with hyssop, as David did, Psalm li. 7.</p> +<p>5. He should eye Christ as a prince to give pardon and remission +of sins, and as exalted for this end, and should fix his eye upon +him, as now exalted in glory for this end.</p> +<p>6. He should close with Christ of new, as his only +all-sufficient Mediator; and having done this, and repented of his +sins, whereby God hath been provoked, he should conclude through +faith, that a pardon is passed in the court of heaven, conform to +the tenor of the gospel, and wait on Christ until the intimation +come.</p> +<p>As for the cautions which I promised to speak to, in the +<i>last</i> place, take those few:</p> +<p>1. Do not conclude there is no pardon, because there is no +intimation thereof made to thy soul as yet. According to the +dispensation of grace condescended upon in the gospel, pardon is +had immediately upon a soul's believing and repenting; but the +intimation, sense, and feeling of pardon, is a distinct thing, and +may, for several ends, be long kept up from the soul. Sure they go +not always together.</p> +<p>2. Do not conclude there is no pardon, because the rod that was +inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off. God pardoned David's +sin, and did intimate the same to him by Nathan, and yet the sword +did not depart from his house till he died. God can forgive, and +yet take vengeance on their inventions, Psalm xcix. 8.</p> +<p>3. Do not upon this ground question God's faithfulness, or +conclude that God's covenant doth not stand fast. He is the same, +and the covenant abideth fast and firm; but the change is in +thee.</p> +<p>4. Do not think that because thou hast once received Christ, +that therefore, without any new act of faith on him, or of +repentance towards God, thou should immediately be pardoned of thy +sins, as soon as they are committed; for the gospel method must be +followed, and it should satisfy us.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII." id="CHAPTER_XXVIII."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> +<h4>NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.</h4> +<br> +<p>This being added for further confirmation of what was formerly +said, will point out unto us several necessary truths, as,</p> +<p>I. That it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this +fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ. +For,</p> +<p>1. It is the whole marrow of the gospel.</p> +<p>2. It is the hinge of our salvation, Christ is "the chief corner +stone," Isa. xxxviii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6; and,</p> +<p>3. The only ground of all our solid and true peace and +comfort.</p> +<p>4 An error or a mistake here, is most dangerous, hazarding, if +not ruining all.</p> +<p>5. Satan endeavours mainly against this, raiseth up heresies, +errors, and false opinions, and prompteth some to vent perplexing +doubts and objections, and all to darken this cardinal point. So +doth he muster up all his temptations for this end, at length to +keep poor souls from acquaintance with this way, and from making +use of it, or entering into it.</p> +<p>6. Our corrupt hearts are most averse from it, and will close +with any way, how troublesome, how expensive and costly soever it +may seem to be, rather than with this.</p> +<p>7. There are a multitude of false ways, as we did shew +above.</p> +<p>All which do clear up this necessity, and should teach us to be +very diligent to win to acquaintance with it, and to make sure that +we are in it, and to hold it fast, and to keep it pure in our +practice, without mixing any thing with it, or corrupting of +it.</p> +<p>II. That it is no small difficulty to get this truth believed +and practised, that through Christ alone we come to the Father. +Therefore is the same thing asserted and inculcated again upon the +same matter; for,</p> +<p>1. Nature will not teach this way; it is far above nature.</p> +<p>2. Yea, our natural inclinations are much against it, opposing +it, and fighting against it.</p> +<p>3. This way is altogether contrary to that high esteem which +naturally all of us have of ourselves.</p> +<p>4. And is opposite to that pride of heart which naturally we are +subject to.</p> +<p>5. Yea, there is nothing in us by nature that will willingly +comply with this way; but, on the contrary, all is opposite +thereunto.</p> +<p>6. And therefore it is the Christian's first lesson to deny +himself.</p> +<p>The consideration of which should humble us, and make us very +jealous of our own hearts and inclinations, and of all those +courses which they are inclinable to and bent upon. And it should +put us to try if ever we have overcome this difficulty; and have +now all our hopes and comforts founded on him, and on nothing else; +and are up and down in our peace and joy according as we win in to +him, or are shut out from him; and in all our approaches to God, +upon whatsoever account, are leaning to him and resting upon him +alone, expecting access, acceptance, and a hearing, only in him; +and are quieted under all our fears and temptations, with +this,—that Christ is our way to the Father.</p> +<p>III. That even believers have need to have this truth inculcated +often: For,</p> +<p>1. Satan is busy pulling them off this ground by all the wiles +and temptations he can.</p> +<p>2. Their own corruption within, and the evil heart of unbelief, +is always opposing this way, and drawing them off it.</p> +<p>3. Through the sleight of Satan and the power of corruption, +they are oftentimes declining from this pure gospel way.</p> +<p>4. The experience of believers can tell, that when they are at +their best, it is a great work and exercise to them to keep their +hearts right in this matter.</p> +<p>5. Is it not too often seen, that they are the spiritual plague +of formality, which stealeth them off their feet here?</p> +<p>6. And is it not found oftentimes that they are too ready to +lean to something beside Christ?</p> +<p>How ought all to be convinced of this, and humbled under the +sense of it! And see also how necessary it is to be often preaching +on this subject, and to be often thinking upon and studying this +fundamental truth.</p> +<p>IV. It should be a strong motive and incitement to us to make +use of Christ as the way to the Father, that no man cometh to the +Father but by him; for this may be looked upon as an argument +enforcing their use-making of him as the way.</p> +<p>V. It discovereth the ground of that truth, that there are but +few that are saved, for none cometh to the Father but by him; few, +in respect of the whole world, once hear of him; and of such as +hear of him, few have the true way of employing and applying him, +as the way to the Father cleareth up unto them. And again, of such +as have the truth, as it is in Jesus, preached unto them, O how few +go to him and make use of him according to the truth, and believe +and practise the truth!</p> +<p>VI. That in and through Christ alone we must come,</p> +<p>1. To the knowledge of the Father; "for no man knoweth the +Father but the Son;" and he alone, who came out of the bosom of the +Father, revealeth him.</p> +<p>2. To the favour and friendship of the Father; for he alone is +our peace, and in him alone is the Father well pleased.</p> +<p>3. To the kingdom of the Father here; for here only is the door, +John x.; and by his Spirit are we effectually called.</p> +<p>4. To the kingdom of the Father above; for he alone hath opened +that door, and is entered into the holiest of all, as our +forerunner, and is gone to prepare a place for us.</p> +<p>5. Through him alone must we address ourselves to the Father in +our supplications, John xvi. 23. Rev. viii. 3; in our thanksgiving, +Rom. i. 8. Col. iii. 17; and praise, Heb. xiii. 15. Eph. iii. +21.</p> +<p>6. Through him alone have we access and an open door to the +Father, Eph. ii. 18; iii. 21. Heb. iv. 16.</p> +<p>I shall only speak to one case here, viz.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<br> +<br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIX." id="CHAPTER_XXIX."></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> +<h4>HOW SHOULD WE MAKE USE OF CHRIST, IN GOING TO THE FATHER, IN +PRAYER, AND OTHER ACTS OF WORSHIP?</h4> +<br> +<p>In short, for answering of this question, I shall lay down those +particulars:</p> +<p>1. There should be a lively sense of the infinite distance that +is between the great God and us finite creatures, and yet more +betwixt the Holy Ghost and us sinful wretches.</p> +<p>2. There should be an eyeing of Christ as the great peacemaker, +through his death and merits having satisfied justice and +reconciled sinners unto God; that so we may look on God now no more +as an enemy, but as reconciled in Jesus.</p> +<p>3. There should be, sometimes at least, a more formal and +explicit actual closing with Christ as ours, when we are going +about such duties, and always an implicit and virtual embracing of +him as our Mediator, or an habitual hanging upon him and leaning to +him as our Mediator and peacemaker.</p> +<p>4. There should be an eyeing of him as our great High Priest now +living for ever to make intercession for us, and to keep the door +of heaven open to us: upon which account the apostle presseth the +Hebrews to "come boldly to the throne of grace," Heb. iv. 14,16. +See also Heb. v. 24,25.</p> +<p>5. There should be a gripping to him even in reference to that +particular act of worship, and a laying hold upon him, to speak so, +as our master-usher to bring us by the hand in to the Father, +conscious of our own unworthiness.</p> +<p>6. There should be a confident leaning to him in our +approaching, and so we should approach him without fear and +diffidence; and that notwithstanding that we find not our souls in +such a good frame as we would Wish, yea, and guilt looking us in +the face.</p> +<p>7. Thus should we roll all the difficulties that come in our +way, and all the discouragements which we meet with, on him, that +he may take away the one and the other, and help us over the one +and the other.</p> +<p>8. As we should take an answer to all objections from him alone, +and put him to remove all scruples and difficulties, and strengthen +ourselves against all impediments and discouragements alone, in and +through him, so there should be the bringing of all our positive +encouragements from him alone, and all our hopes of coming speed +with the Father should be grounded upon him.</p> +<p>9. We should expect all our welcome and acceptance with the +Father only in and through Christ, and expect nothing for any thing +in ourselves, nor for our graces, good frame, preparation, or any +thing of that kind. So we should not found our acceptance nor our +peace and satisfaction on ourselves, nor on any thing we have or +do; nor should we conclude our exclusion or want of acceptance, +because we do not apprehend our frame so good as it ought to be; so +we should not found our acceptance on our right performance of +duties, for that is not Christ.</p> +<p>10. We should quiet ourselves on him alone in all our +approaches, whatever liveliness we find or miss in duty. We are too +much tickled and fain when duties go well with us, and troubled on +the other hand when it is not so; and the ground of all this is, +because we lean too much to our own duties, and do not quiet +ourselves on him alone. And hence it is, that we are often quieted +when we get the duty done and put by, though we have not met with +him there, nor gotten use made of him as was necessary. All our +comfort, peace, and quiet should be founded on him alone.</p> +<p>11. We should look to him for the removal of all the +discouragements that Satan casts in our way while we are about this +or that piece of worship, to put us back, or cause us to advance +slowly and faintingly; and casting them all on him, go forward in +our duty.</p> +<p>12. We should look for all our returns and answers only in and +through him, and lay all the weight of our hopes and expectations +of a good answer only on him, 1 John v. 13, 14, 15.</p> +<p>For caution I would add a word or two:</p> +<p>1. I do not think that the believer can explicitly and +distinctly act all these things whenever he is going to God, or can +distinctly perceive all these several acts; nor have I specified +and particularly mentioned them thus, for this end, but to shew at +some length, how Christ is to be employed in those acts of worship +which we are called to perform; and that because we oftentimes +think the simple naming of him, and asking of things for his sake, +is sufficient, though our hearts lean more to some other thing than +to him; and the conscientious Christian will find his soul, when he +is rightly going about the duties of worship, looking towards +Christ thus, sometimes more distinctly and explicitly as to one +particular, and sometimes more as to another.</p> +<p>2. Though the believer cannot distinctly act faith on Christ all +these ways, when he is going about commanded duties of worship, yet +he should be sure to have his heart going out after Christ, as the +only ground of his approaching to and acceptance with and of being +heard by the Father; and to have his heart in such an habitual +frame of resting on Christ, that really there may be a relying upon +him all these ways, though not distinctly discerned.</p> +<p>3. Sometimes the believer will be called to be more distinct and +explicit in looking to and resting upon Christ, as to one +particular, and sometimes more as to another. When Satan is +dissuading him to go to God because he is an infinitely holy One, +and he himself is but a sinner, then he is called to act faith on +Christ as the Mediator making reconciliation between God and +sinners; and when Satan is dissuading from approaching to God, +because of their want of an interest in God, then should they act +faith on Christ, and embrace him according to the gospel, and rest +there, and so approach. And when Satan casts up his unworthiness +and former sins, to keep him a-back or to discourage him, then he +is called to lay hold on Christ as the great High Priest and +Advocate, and casting that discouragement on him, to go forward. So +likewise, when Satan is discouraging him in his duty, by bringing +before him his sins, he should take this course; and when, because +of his sinful way of worshipping God, and calling upon him, and +other things, he is made to fear that all is in vain, and that +neither God regardeth him nor his services, and that he shall not +come speed, then should he cast all the burden of his acceptance, +and of obtaining what he asketh and desireth, on Christ, and quiet +himself there; and so as <i>to</i> the rest. And hence appeareth +the usefulness of our branching out of this matter.</p> +<p>4. In all this, there must be an acting in the strength of +Jesus; a looking to Christ and resting upon Christ, according to +the present case and necessity, in Christ; that is, by his strength +and grace communicated to us by his Spirit; then do we worship God +in the Spirit, and in the newness of the Spirit, when all is done, +in the matter of worship, in and through Jesus.</p> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12311 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |