,,christ ,,the ,,way1 ,,the ,,truth1 ,,and ,,the ,,life4 ,,by ,,the ,,late ,,rev4 ,,john ,,brown1 ,,minister ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,,at ,,wamphray4 ,,written ,,during ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,his ,,banishment ,,in ,,holland4 99 99 99 99 99 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,i am the way1 and the truth1 and the life3 no man cometh unto the ,father1 but by me4--,,john ,,xiv4 #f4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,contents4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dedication ,the ,author to the ,reader ,recommendation ,,chapter ,i4 ,introduction1 with some general observations from the cohesion4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,of the words themselves in general4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,how ,christ is the ,way in general4 ,i am the ,way4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,how ,christ is made use of for ,justification as a ,way4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,how ,christ is to be made use of1 as the ,way1 for sanctification in general4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,how ,christ is to be made use of1 in reference to the killing and crucifying of the ,old ,man4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,how ,christ is to be made use of1 in reference to growing in grace4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,how to make use of ,christ for taking the guilt of our daily out-breakings away4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,how to make use of ,christ for cleansing of us from out daily spots4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,some generals proposed4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,more particularly in what respect ,christ is called the ,truth4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,some general uses from this useful truth1 that ,christ is the ,truth4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,how to make use of ,christ as the ,truth1 for growth in knowledge4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,how to make use of ,christ1 as ,truth1 for comfort1 when truth is oppressed and borne down4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,how to make use of ,christ for steadfastness1 in a time when truth is oppressed and borne down4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,how to make use of ,christ as the ,truth1 when error prevaileth1 and the spirit of error carrieth many away4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,how to make use of ,christ as the ,truth1 that we may get our case and condition cleared up to us4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,how we shall make use of ,christ as the ,truth1 that we may win to right and suitable thoughts of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,and the ,life4 ,how ,christ is the ,life4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,some general uses4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,how to make use of ,christ as the ,life1 when the believer is so sitten-up in the ways of ,god1 that he can do nothing4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,how ,christ is to be made use of as our ,life1 in case of heartlessness and fainting through discouragements4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,how to make use of ,christ as the ,life1 when the soul is dead as to duty4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,how shall the soul make use of ,christ1 as the ,life1 which is under the prevailing power of unbelief and infidelity4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,how ,christ is made use of as the ,life1 by one that is so dead and senseless1 as he cannot know what to judge of himself1 or his own case1 except what is naught4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,how is ,christ1 as the ,life1 to be applied by a soul that misseth ,god's favour and countenance4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,how shall one make use of ,christ as the ,life1 when wrestling with an angry ,god because of sin8 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,no man cometh to the ,father but by me4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,how should we make use of ,christ1 in going to the ,father1 in prayer1 and other acts of worship8 ,,dedication4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,to ,,the ,,right ,,honourable ,,and ,,religious ,,lady1 ,,the ,,lady ,,strathnaver4 ,,madam1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone1 in whom all the building fitly framed together1 groweth unto an holy temple in the ,lord2 as it ought to be the principal concern of all who have not sitten down on this side of ,jordan to satisfy their souls 7once created for1 and in their own nature requiring1 in order to satisfaction1 spiritual1 immortal1 and incorruptible substance17 with husks prepared for beasts1 to be built in and upon this corner-stone1 for an habitation of ,god1 through the ,spirit2 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 ,god1 to be following the example of him who determined not to know anything among those he wrote unto1 save ,jesus ,christ and him crucified4 ,o6 this noble1 heart-ravishing1 soul-satisfying mysterious theme1 ,jesus ,christ crucified1 the short compend of that uncontrovertibly great mystery of godliness1 ,god manifest in the flesh1 justified in the spirit1 seen of angels1 preached unto the ,gentiles1 believed on in the world1 received up into glory1 wherein are things the angels desire to look unto1 or with vehement desire bend1 as it were1 their necks1 and bow down their heads to look and peep into1 7as the word used1 ,i ,pet4 i4 #ab1 importeth7 is a subject for angelical heads to pry into1 for the most indefatigable and industrious spirits to be occupied about4 ,the searching into1 and studying of this one truth1 in reference to a closing with it as our life1 is an infallible mark of a soul divinely enlightened1 and endued with spiritual and heavenly wisdom2 for though it be unto the ,jews a stumbling-block1 and to the ,greeks foolishness1 yet unto them who are called1 it is ,christ the power of ,god1 and the wisdom of ,god1 because the foolishness of ,god is wiser than men1 and the weakness of ,god is stronger than men4 ,o what depths of the manifold wisdom of ,god are there in this mystery6 ,the more it is preached1 known1 and believed aright1 the more it is understood to be beyond understanding1 and to be what it is--a mystery4 ,did ever any preacher or believer get a broad look of this boundless ocean1 wherein infinite wisdom1 love that passeth all understanding1 grace without all dimensions1 justice that is admirable and tremendous1 and ,god in his glorious properties1 condescensions1 high and noble designs1 and in all his perfections and virtues1 flow over all banks2 or were they ever admitted to a prospect hereof in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 and were not made to cry out1 ,o the depth and height1 the breadth and length6 ,o the inconceivable1 and incomprehensible boundlessness of all infinitely transcendent perfections6 ,did ever any with serious diligence1 as knowing their life lay in it1 study this mysterious theme1 and were not in full conviction of soul1 made to say1 the more they promoved in this study1 and the more they descended in their divings into this depth1 or soared upward in their mounting speculations in this height1 they found it the more an unsearchable mystery6 ,the study of other themes 7which1 alas6 many who think it below them to be happy1 are too much occupied in7 when it hath wasted the spirits1 wearied the mind1 worn the body1 and rarified the brain to the next degree unto a distraction1 what satisfaction can it give as to what is attained1 or encouragement as to future attainments8 ,and when1 as to both these1 something is had1 and the poor soul puffed up with an airy and fanciful apprehension of having obtained some great thing1 but in truth a great nothing1 or a nothing pregnant with vanity and vexation of spirit1 foolish twins causing no gladness to the father1 for he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow1 ,eccles4 i4 #ah4 ,what peace can all yield to a soul reflecting on posting away time1 now near the last point1 and looking forward to endless eternity8 ,oh the thoughts of time wasted with1 and fair opportunities of good lost by the vehement pursuings and huntings after shadows and vanities1 will torment the soul by assaulting it with piercing convictions of madness and folly1 in forsaking all to overtake nothing2 with dreadful and soul-terrifying discourses of the saddest of disappointments1 and with the horror of an everlasting and irrecoverable loss4 ,and what hath the laborious spirit then reaped of all the travail of his soul1 when he hath lost it8 ,but1 on the other hand1 ,o what calmness of mind1 serenity of soul1 and peace of conscience1 because of the peace of ,god which passeth all understanding1 will that poor soul look back1 when standing on the border of eternity1 on the bygone days or hours it spent in seeking after1 praying and using all appointed means for some saving acquaintance with1 and interest in this only soul up-making1 and soul-satisfying mystery2 and upon its yielding up itself1 through the efficacious operations of the ,spirit of grace1 wholly1 without disputing1 unto the powerful workings of this mystery within2 and in becoming crucified with ,christ1 and living through a crucified ,christ's living in it1 by his ,spirit and power4 ,and with what rejoicing of heart1 and glorious singing of soul1 will it look forward to eternity1 and its everlasting abode in the prepared mansions1 remembering that there its begun study will be everlastingly continued1 its capacity to understand that unsearchable mystery will be inconceivably greater2 and the spiritual1 heavenly and glorious joy1 which it will have in that practical reading its divinity without book of ordinances1 will be its life and felicity for ever8 ,and what peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 what inward inexpressible quiet and contentment of mind will the soul enjoy in dwelling on these thoughts1 when it shall have withal the inward and well-grounded persuasion of its right through ,christ1 to the full possession of that all which now it cannot conceive1 let be comprehend2 the foretastes whereof filleth it with joy unspeakable and full of glory1 and the hope of shortly landing there1 where it shall see and enjoy1 and wonder and praise1 and rest in this endless and felicitating work1 making it to sing while passing through the valley and shadow of death8 ,o if this were believed6 ,o that we were not drunk to a distraction and madness1 with the adulterous-love of vain and airy speculations1 to the postponing1 if not utter neglecting1 of this main and only up-making work1 of getting real acquaintance with1 and a begun possession of this mystery in our souls1 ,christ1 the grand mystery1 formed within us1 living and working within us by his ,spirit1 and working us up into a conformity unto1 and an heart-closing with ,god manifested in the flesh1 that we may find in experience1 or at least in truth and reality1 have a true transumpt of that gospel mystery in our souls6 ,oh1 when shall we take pleasure in pursuing after this happiness that will not flee from us1 but is rather pursuing us6 when shall we receive with joy and triumph1 this ,king of glory that is courting us daily1 and is seeking access and entry into our souls6 ,oh1 why cry we not out in the height of the passion of spiritual longing and desire1 ,o come ,lord ,jesus1 ,king of glory1 with thine own key1 and open the door1 and enlarge and dilate the chambers of the soul1 that thou may enter and be entertained as the ,king of glory1 with all thy glorious retinue1 to the ennobling of my soul1 and satisfying of all the desires of that immortal spark8 ,why do we not covet after this knowledge which hath a true and firm connexion with all the best and truly divine gifts4 ,o happy soul that is wasted and worn to a shadow1 if that could be1 in this study and exercise1 which at length will enliven1 and1 as it were1 bring in a new heavenly and spiritual soul into the soul1 so that it shall look no more like a dead dis-spirited thing out of its native soil and element1 but as a free1 elevated1 and spiritualized spirit1 expatiating itself and flying abroad in the open air of its own element and country4 ,o happy day1 ,o happy hour that is really and effectually spent in this employment6 ,what would souls1 swimming in this ocean of pleasures and delights care for8 ,yea1 with what abhorrency would they look upon the bewitching allurements of the purest kind of carnal delights1 which flow from the mind's satisfaction in feeding on the poor apprehensions1 and groundlessly expected comprehensions of objects1 suited to its natural genius and capacity8 ,o what a more hyperbolical exceeding and glorious satisfaction hath a soul in its very pursuings after 7when it misseth and cannot reach7 that which is truly desirable6 ,how doth the least glimpse through the smallest cranie1 of this glorious and glorifying knowledge of ,god in ,christ1 apprehended by faith1 raise up the soul to that pitch of joy and satisfaction which the knowledge of natural things1 in its purest perfection1 shall never be able to cause2 and to what a surmounting measure of this joy and contentation will the experiencing and feeling1 by spiritual sense1 the sweet and relish of this captivating1 and transcendently excellent knowledge raise the soul unto8 ,o must not this be the very suburbs of heaven to the soul6 ,when the soul thus seeth and apprehendeth ,god in ,christ1 and that as its own ,god through ,christ1 7for as all saving knowledge draweth out the soul unto an embracing and closing with the object1 so it bringeth in the object to the making up of the reciprocal union and in-being7 it cannot but admire with exultation1 and exult with admiration1 at that condescendence of free grace that hath made it1 in any measure1 capable of this begun glory1 and will further make it meet1 by this begun glory1 to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,and what will a soul that hath tasted of the pure delights of this river of gospel manifestations1 and hath seen1 with soul-ravishing delights1 in some measure1 the manifold wisdom of ,god wrapped up therein2 and the complete and perfect symmetry of all the parts of that noble contexture1 and also the pure design of that contrivance to abase man1 and to extol the riches of the free grace of ,god1 that the sinner1 when possessed of all designed for him and effectuated in him thereby1 may know who alone should wear the crown and have all the glory2 what1 ,i say1 will such a soul see in another gospel 7calculated to the meridian of the natural1 crooked1 and corrupt temper of proud men1 who is soon made vain of nothing1 which1 instead of bringing a sinner1 fallen from ,god through pride1 back again to the enjoyment of him1 through a ,mediator1 doth but foster that innate plague and rebellion1 which and procured his first excommunication from the favour1 and banishment out of the paradise of ,god17 that shall attract its heart to it1 and move it to a compliance with it8 ,when the poor sinner that hath been made to pant after a ,saviour1 and hath been pursued to the very ports of the city of refuge by the avenger of blood1 the justice of ,god1 hath tasted and seen how good ,god is1 and felt the sweetness of free love in a crucified ,christ1 and seen the beauty and glory of the mystery of his free grace1 suitably answering and overcoming the mystery of its sin and misery2 ,o what a complacency hath he therein1 and in the way of gospel salvation1 wherein free grace is seen to overflow all banks1 to the eternal praise of the ,god of all grace4 ,how saltless and unsavoury will the most cunningly-devised and patched-together mode of salvation be1 that men1 studying the perversion of the gospel1 and seeking the ruin of souls with all their skill1 industry1 and learning1 are setting off with forced rhetoric1 and the artifice of words of man's wisdom1 and with the plausible advantages of a pretended sanctity1 and of strong grounds and motives unto diligence and painfulness1 to a very denying and renouncing ,christian liberty1 when once it is observed1 how it entrencheth upon1 and darkeneth lustre1 or diminisheth the glory of free grace1 and hath the least tendency to the setting of the crown on the creature's head1 in whole or in part8 ,the least perception1 that hereby the sinner's song1 ascribing blessing1 honour1 glory1 and power unto him that was slain1 and hath redeemed them to ,god by his blood1 out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation2 and hath made them1 unto their ,god1 kings and priests1 shall be marred1 will be enough to render that device detestable1 and convince the soul1 that it is not the gospel of the grace of ,god and of ,christ1 but rather the mystery of iniquity4 ,what a peculiar savouriness doth the humbled believer find in the doctrine of the true gospel-grace1 and the more that he be thereby made nothing1 and ,christ made all2 that he in his highest attainments be debased1 and ,christ exalted2 that his most lovely peacock feathers be laid1 and the crown flourish on ,christ's head2 that he be laid flat1 without one foot to stand upon1 and ,christ the only supporter and carrier of him to glory2 that he be as dead without life1 and ,christ live in him1 the more lovely1 the more beautiful1 the more desirable and acceptable is it unto him4 ,o what a complacency hath the graced soul in that contrivance of infinite wisdom1 wherein the mystery of the grace of ,god is so displayed1 that nothing appeareth from the lowest foundation-stone to the uppermost cope-stone but grace1 grace1 free grace making up all the materials1 and free grace with infinite wisdom cementing all8 ,the gracious soul can be warm under no other covering but what is made of that web1 wherein grace1 and only grace1 is both wooft and warp2 and the reason is manifest1 for such an one hath the clearest sight and discovery of his own condition1 and seeth that nothing suiteth him and his case but free grace2 nothing can make up his wants but free grace2 nothing can cover his deformities but free grace2 nothing can help his weaknesses1 shortcomings1 faintings1 sins1 and miscarriages but free grace4 ,therefore is free grace all his salvation and all his desire4 ,it is his glory to be free grace's debtor for evermore2 the crown of glory will have a far more exceeding and eternal weight1 and be of an hyperbolically hyperbolic and eternal weight1 and yet easily carried and worn1 when he seeth how free grace and love hath lined it1 and free grace and free love sets it on and keeps it on for ever2 this makes the glorified saint wear it with ease1 by casting it down at the feet of the gracious and loving purchaser and bestower4 ,his exaltation is the saint's glory1 and by free grace1 the saints receiving and holding all of free grace1 is he exalted4 ,o what a glory is it to the saint1 to set the crown of glorious free grace with his own hands on the head of such a ,saviour1 and to say1 ,not unto me1 not unto me1 but unto thee1 even unto thee alone1 be the glory for ever and ever4 ,with what delight1 satisfaction1 and complacency will the glorified saint1 upon this account1 sing the redeemed and ransomed their song8 ,and if the result and effect of free grace will give such a sweet sound there1 and make the glorified's heaven1 in some respects1 another thing1 or at least1 in some respect1 a more excellent heaven than ,adam's heaven would have been2 for ,adam could not have sung the song of the redeemed2 ,adam's heaven would not have been the purchase of the blood of ,god2 nor would ,adam have sitten with ,christ ,redeemer on his throne2 nor would there have been in his heaven such rich hangings of free grace1 nor such mansions prepared by that gracious and loving husband1 ,christ1 who will come and bring his bought bride home with him4 ,seeing1 ,i say1 heaven1 even upon the account of free grace1 will have such a special1 lovely1 desirable1 and glorious lustre1 ,o bow should grace be prized by us now6 ,how should the gospel of the grace of ,god be prized by us6 ,what an antipathy to glory1 as now prepared and dressed up for sinful man1 must they shew1 whose whole wits and parts are busied to darken the glory of that grace1 which ,god would have shining in the gospel2 and who are at so much pains and labour to dress up another gospel1 7though the apostle hath told us1 ,gal4 i4 #g1 that there is not another17 wherein gospel-grace must stand by1 and law-grace take the throne1 that so man may sacrifice to his own net1 and burn incense to his own drag1 and may1 at most1 be grace's debtor in part2 and yet no way may the saved man account himself more grace's debtor1 than the man was who wilfully destroyed himself in not performing of the conditions2 for grace1 as the new gospellers1 or rather gospel-spillers mean and say1 did equally to both frame the conditions1 make known to the contrivance1 and tender the conditional peace and salvation4 ,but as to the difference betwixt ,paul and ,judas1 it was ,paul that made himself to differ1 and not the free grace of ,god determining the heart of ,paul by grace to a closing with and accepting of the bargain4 ,it was not grace that wrought in him both to will and to do4 ,it was he1 and not the grace of ,god in him2 what is more contradictory to the gospel of the grace of ,god8 ,and yet vain man will not condescend to the free grace of ,god4 ,pelagianism and ,arminianism needeth not put a man to much study1 and to the reading of many books1 to the end it may be learned1 7though the patrons hereof labour hot in the very fires1 to make their notions hang together1 and to give them such a lustre of unsanctified and corrupt reason1 as may be taking with such as know no other conduct in the matters of ,god17 for naturally we all are born ,pelagians and ,arminians4 ,these tenets are deeply engraven in the heart of every son of fallen ,adam4 ,what serious servant of ,god findeth not this1 in his dealing with souls1 whom he is labouring to bring into the way of the gospel8 ,yea1 what ,christian is there1 who hath acquaintance with his own heart1 and is observing its biasses1 and corrupt inclinations1 that is not made to cry out1 ,o wretched man that ,i am6 who shall deliver me from these dregs of ,pelagianism1 ,arminianism1 and ,jesuitism1 which ,i find yet within my soul8 ,hence1 it may seem no wonderful or strange thing 7though1 after so much clear light1 it may be astonishing to think1 that now1 in this age1 so many are so openly and avowedly appearing for this dangerous and deadly error17 to us1 to hear and see this infection spreading and gaining ground so fast1 there needeth few arguments or motives to work up carnal hearts to an embracing thereof1 and to a cheerful acquiescing therein2 little labour will make a spark of fire work upon gunpowder4 ,and1 methinks1 if nothing else will1 this one thing should convince us all of the error of this way1 that nature so quickly and readily complieth therewith4 ,for who1 that hath an eye upon1 or regard of such things1 seeth not what a world of carnal reasonings1 objections1 prejudices1 and scruples1 natural men have in readiness against the gospel of ,christ2 and with what satisfaction1 peace1 and delight they reason and plead themselves out of the very reach of free grace2 and what work there is to get a poor soul1 in any measure wakened and convinced of its lost condition1 wrought up to a compliance with the gospel-way of salvation8 ,how many other designs1 projects1 and essays doth it follow1 with a piece of natural vehemency and seriousness1 without wearying1 were it even to the wasting of its body and spirits1 let be its substance and riches1 before it be brought to a closing with a crucified ,mediator1 and to an accounting of all its former workings1 attainments1 and painful labourings and gain1 as loss for ,christ1 and for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ1 and as dung that it may win ,christ1 and be found in him1 not having its own righteousness1 which is of the law1 but that which is through the faith of ,christ1 the righteousness which is of ,god by faith1 ,phil4 iii4 #g-i4 ,and may it not seem strange1 that now1 after so many have found1 through the grace of ,god1 the sweet experience of the gracious workings of the gospel-grace of ,god upon their hearts1 and so are in case1 as having this witness within them1 to give verdict against those assertions1 yea1 more1 and many more than were in several ages before2 yet ,satan should become so bold as to vent these desperate opinions1 so diametrically opposite to the grace of ,god declared in the gospel1 and engraven in the hearts of many hundreds by the finger of ,god1 confirming1 in the most undoubted manner1 the truth of the gospel doctrines4 ,this would seem to say1 that there are such clear sunshine days of the gospel1 and of the ,son of ,man a-coming 7and who can tell how soon this night shall be at an end87 that all these doctrines of nature shall receive a more conspicuous and shameful dash than they have received for these many ages4 ,hithertil when ,satan raised up and sent forth his qualified instruments for this desperate work1 ,god always prepared carpenters to fright these horns1 and thus gospel truth came forth1 as gold out of a furnace1 more clear and shining3 ,and who can tell but there may be a dispensation of the pure grace of ,god1 in opposition to these perverting ways of ,satan1 yet to come1 that1 as to the measure of light and power1 shall excel whatever hath been since the apostles' days4 ,even so1 come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,however1 ,madam1 the grace of ,god will be what it is1 to all the chosen and ransomed ones1 they will find in it1 which will make whatever cometh in competition therewith or would darken it1 contemptible in their eyes3 ,and happy they1 of whom in this day wherein darkness covereth the earth1 and gross darkness the people1 it may be said1 the ,lord hath arisen upon them1 and his glory hath been seen upon them3 ,for whatever others1 whose understanding is yet darkened1 and they alienated from the life of ,god through the ignorance that is in them1 because of the blindness of their hearts1 imagine of the gospel-grace1 and however they discern nothing of the heavenly and spiritual glory of the grace of ,god2 yet they1 being delivered or cast into the form and mould of the doctrine of the gospel which they have obeyed from the heart1 through the powerful and irresistible efficacy of the mighty grace of ,god1 have seen such an alluring excellency in that gracious contrivance of infinite wisdom1 to set forth the unparallelableness of the pure grace of ,god1 and are daily seeing more and more of the graciousness and wisdom of that heavenly invention1 in its adequate suitableness to all their necessities1 that as they cannot but admire and commend the riches of that grace that interlineth every sentence of the gospel1 and the greatness of that love that hath made such a completely broad plaister to cover all their sores and wounds2 so the longer they live1 and the more they drink of this pure fountain of heavenly nectar2 and the more their necessities press them to a taking on of new obligations1 because of new supplies from this ocean of grace1 the more they are made to admire the wisdom and goodness of the ,author2 and the more they are made to fall in love with to delight1 and lose themselves in the thoughts of this incomprehensible grace of ,god2 yea1 and to long to be there1 where they shall be in better case to contemplate1 and have more wit to wonder at1 and better dexterity to prize1 and a stronger head to muse upon1 and a more enlarged heart to praise for this boundless and endless treasure of the grace of ,god1 with which they are enriched1 through ,jesus ,christ4 ,sure1 if we be not thus enamoured and ravished with it1 it is because we are yet standing without1 or1 at most1 upon the threshold and border of this grace2 were we once got within the jurisdiction of grace1 and had yielded up ourselves unto the power thereof1 and were living and breathing in this air1 ,o6 how sweet a life might we have6 ,what a kindly element would grace be to us6 ,as sin had reigned unto death1 even so grace should reign1 through righteousness unto eternal life1 by ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 ,rom4 v4 #ba4 ,grace reigning within us through righteousness1 would frame and fit our souls for that eternal life that is insured to all who come once under the commanding1 enlivening1 strengthening1 confirming1 corroborating1 and perfecting power of grace4 ,and seeking grace for grace1 and so living1 and walking1 and spending upon grace's costs and charges2 ,o how lively1 and thriving proficients might we be6 ,the more we spend of grace 7if it could be spent7 the richer should we be in grace4 ,o what an enriching trade must it be to trade with free grace1 where there is no loss1 and all is gain1 the stock1 and gain1 and all is insured2 yea1 more1 labouring in grace's field would bring us in ,isaac's blessing an hundred-fold4 ,but1 alas6 it is one thing to talk of grace1 but a far other thing to trade with grace4 ,when we are so great strangers unto the life of grace1 through not breathing in the air of grace1 how can the name of the ,lord ,jesus be glorified in us1 and we in him1 according to the grace of our ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,thess4 i4 #ab4 ,consider we1 what an affront and indignity it is unto the ,lord dispensator of grace1 that we look so lean and ill-favoured1 as if there were not enough of the fattening bread of the grace of ,god in our ,father's house1 or as if the great ,steward1 who is full of grace and truth1 were unwilling to bestow it upon us1 or grudged us of our allowance1 when the fault is in ourselves2 we will not follow the course that wise grace and gracious wisdom hath prescribed2 we will not open our mouth wide1 that he might fill us2 nor go to him with our narrowed or closed mouths1 that grace might make way for grace1 and widen the mouth for receiving of more grace2 but lie by in our leanness and weakness4 ,and1 alas6 we love too well to be so4 ,o but grace be ill wared on us who carry so unworthily with it as we do2 yet it is well with the gracious soul that he is under grace's tutory and care2 for grace will care for him when he careth not much for it1 nor yet seeth well to his own welfare2 grace can and will prevent1 yea1 must prevent1 afterward1 as well as at the first2 that grace may be grace1 and appear to be grace1 and continue unchangeably to be grace1 and so free grace4 ,well is it with the believer1 whom grace has once taken by the heart and brought within the bond of the covenant of grace2 its deadliest condition is not desperate4 ,when corruption prevaileth to such a height1 that the man is given over for dead1 there being no sense1 no motion1 no warmth1 no breath almost to be observed1 yet grace1 when violently constrained by that strong distemper1 to retire to a secret corner of the soul1 and there to lurk and lie quiet1 will yet at length1 through the receiving influences of grace promised in the covenant1 and granted in the ,lord's good time1 come out of its prison1 take the fields1 and recover the empire of the soul2 and then the dry and withered stocks1 when the ,god of all grace will be as dew unto ,israel1 shall blossom and grow as the lily1 and cast forth his roots as ,lebanon2 his branches shall spread1 and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree1 and his smell as ,lebanon4 ,it is a happy thing either for church or particular soul to be planted in grace's sappy soil1 they lie open to the warm beams of the ,sun of ,righteousness2 and the winter blasts may be sharp and long2 clouds may intercept the heat1 and nipping frosts may cause a sad decay1 and all the sap may return and lie1 as it were1 dormant in the root2 yet the winter will pass1 the rain will be over and gone1 and the flowers will appear on the earth2 the time of singing of birds will come1 and the voice of the turtle will be heard in the land2 then shall even the wilderness and solitary place be glad1 and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose1 it shall blossom abundantly1 and rejoice even with joy and singing2 the glory of ,lebanon shall be given unto it1 the excellency of ,carmel and ,sharon1 they shall see the glory of the ,lord1 and the excellency of our ,god4 ,we wonder that 'tis not always hot summer days1 a flourishing and fruitful season1 with souls and with churches4 ,but know we the thoughts of the ,lord2 see we to the bottom of the deep contrivance of infinite wisdom8 ,know we the usefulness1 yea1 necessity of long winter nights1 stormy blasts1 rain1 hail1 snow1 and frost8 ,consider we1 that our state and condition1 while here1 calleth for those vicissitudes1 and requireth the blowing of the north as well as of the south winds8 ,if we considered1 how grace had ordered all things for our best1 and most for the glory and exaltation of grace1 we would sit down and sing under the saddest of dispensations1 and living by faith and hope1 we would rejoice in the confident expectation of a gracious outgate2 for as long as grace predomineth 7and that will be until glory take the empire7 all will run in the channel of grace2 and though now sense 7which is oft faith's unfaithful friend7 will be always suggesting false tales of ,god1 and of his grace unto unbelief1 and raising thereby discontents1 doubts1 fears1 jealousies1 and many distempers in the soul1 to its prejudice and hurt1 yet in end1 grace shall be seen to be grace2 and the faithful shall get such a full sight of this manifold grace1 as ordering1 tempering1 timing1 shortening1 or continuing1 of all the sad and dismal days and seasons that have passed over their own or their mother's head1 that they shall see1 that grace did order all1 yea1 every circumstance of all the various tossings1 changes1 ups and downs1 that they did meet with4 ,and ,o what a satisfying sight will that be1 when the general assembly and church of the first-born1 which are in-rolled in ,heaven1 and every individual saint1 shall come together1 and take a view of all their experience1 the result of which shall be1 grace began1 grace carried on1 and grace hath perfected all1 grace was at the bottom of all8 ,what shoutings1 grace1 grace unto it1 will be there2 when the head-stone shall be brought forth8 ,what soul-satisfying complacency in1 and admiration at all that is past1 will a back-look thereat yield1 when every one shall be made to say1 grace hath done all well1 not a pin of all the work of grace in and about me might have been wanted2 now ,i see1 that the work of ,god is perfect1 grace was glorious grace1 and wise grace1 whatever ,i thought of it then4 ,o what a fool have ,i been1 in quarrelling at1 and in not being fully satisfied with all that grace was doing with me8 ,o how little is this believed now8 ,in conscience1 madam1 that your ladyship 7to me no ways known1 but by a savoury report7 shall accept of this bold address1 ,i recommend your ladyship1 my very noble lord your husband1 and offspring1 to the word of his grace1 and subscribe myself1 ,,madam1 ,your and their servant in the gospel and the grace of ,god4 ,,john ,,brown4 ,,the ,,author ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ,,christian ,,reader1--,after the foregoing address1 ,i need not put thee to much more trouble3 only ,i shall say1 that he must needs be a great stranger in our ,israel1 or sadly smitten with that epidemic plague of indifferency1 which hath infected many of this generation1 to a benumbing of them1 and rendering them insensible and unconcerned in the matters of ,god1 and of their own souls1 and sunk deep in the gulf of dreadful inconsideration1 who seeth not1 or taketh no notice of1 nor is troubled at the manifest and terrible appearances of the inexpressibly great hazard1 our all1 as ,christians in this life1 is this day exposed into4 ,i mean the mystery of the gospel of the grace of ,god1 wherein the exceeding riches of his grace1 in his kindness towards us1 through ,christ ,jesus1 hath been shown4 ,we have enjoyed for a considerable time1 a clear and powerful dispensation hereof1 in great purity and plenty2 but1 alas6 is it not manifest to all1 that will not wilfully shut their eyes1 that this mercy and goodness of ,god hath been wickedly abused1 and the pure administration of his grace and love perfidiously sinned away1 by this apostate generation4 ,are our spots this day the spots of his children8 ,are their fruits answerable to the ,lord's pains and labour about us1 to be seen even amongst the greatest of professors8 ,is there that gospel holiness1 tenderness1 watchfulness1 growing in grace1 and in the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 that growing up in ,christ1 in all things that heavenly mindedness1 that fellowship with the ,father and with his ,son ,christ ,jesus1 and that conversation in heaven1 that the dispensation of grace1 we have been favoured with beyond many1 and have been long living under1 did call for at our hands8 ,alas6 our grapes are but wild and stinking4 ,wherefore 7and who can think it strange1 if it be so87 the ,lord seemeth to be about to contend with us1 by covering our horizon with ,egyptian darkness2 many who would not receive the love of the truth1 that they might be saved1 being already given up to strong delusion1 that they should believe a lie1 and many more in hazard to be drawn aside to crooked paths1 by men of corrupt minds1 who have been1 and are still busy to vent and spread abroad1 with no little petulancy and confidence1 damnable doctrines1 to the perverting of the doctrine of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and to the subverting and overturning of the very foundations of our hope and assurance2 and that in such a way1 and by such means and stratagems1 as seem to have wrath written upon them in legible letters2 for the more plausible and taking a corrupt doctrine be1 it is the more dangerous and judgment-like1 and more are thereby in hazard to be deluded and drawn away4 ,nay 7which is yet more terrible and dreadful7 it is to be feared1 that the jealous ,god1 in his holy and righteous judgment1 hath given a providential commission 7to speak to7 unto the seducing spirit1 to persuade and prevail2 for is not this the clear language of the present holy and righteous dispensations of ,god1 and of the stupendously indifferent frame and disposition of the generality of men1 called ,christians1 not only provoking ,god to spue them out of his mouth1 but a disposing them also unto a receiving of whatsoever men1 lying in wait to deceive1 shall propose and obtrude8 ,alas6 the clouds are not now a-gathering1 but our horizon is covered over with blackness1 and great drops are a-falling1 that presage a terrible overflowing deluge of error1 and apostacy from the truth and profession of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 to be at hand1 if the ,lord wonderfully prevent it not4 ,and behold 7,o wonderful67 the generality of professors are sleeping in security1 apprehending no danger4 ,satan is more cunning now1 than to drive men to ,popery by rage and cruelty1 7and yet what he may be permitted to do after this manner1 who can tell87 or by openly pleading in his emissaries1 for this abomination1 7and yet even thus is he already prevailing with not a few7 or to send forth his agents for ,arminianism and ,socinianism 7though even this way too1 he is too much prevailing47 ,but his main work now seemeth to be1 to bring in another gospel1 7and yet there is not another7 or rather an antievangelic and antichristian delusory dream1 overturning at once the whole gospel of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ2 and for this end he employeth the ,quakers1 on the one hand1 men of desperate and antievangelic principles1 the very sink of all abominations1 old and late1 7as ,i shall show1 if the ,lord will continue health and strength1 in an examination of their doctrine and principles1 lately emitted by one ,robert ,barcley7 and1 on the other hand1 men1 7or moralists1 if you will call them so7 pleading for1 and crying up an antievangelic holiness1 a mere shadow without substance or reality2 and that in place of ,christ himself2 and in order to the carrying on of this desperate design1 the old dragon is employing men of seeming different principles and ways1 whom1 though their faces seem to look to contrary airths1 yet he holdeth notwithstanding fast tied by their tails 7as ,samson's foxes were7 that thereby1 if the ,lord permit it1 he may1 by the fire of enmity to the pure gospel of the grace of ,god1 burning in their tails1 cause a conflagration of that truth1 wherein lyeth all our hope3 ,for this new model of religion1 that many are so busied about1 is such as ,pelagians1 ,arminians1 ,papists1 ,socinians1 ,quakers1 yea ,turks1 and moral heathens2 yea1 and all who are enemies to1 and not reconcilable with the true grace of ,god held forth in the gospel1 will willingly admit of1 and harmoniously agree in3 ,a way which complyeth so well with proud self1 and with the corrupt nature of man1 that it is little wonder1 if it have many abettors and admirers4 ,i shall say no more of this2 but only infer1 ,that sure the consideration of this should move all1 in whom is any thing of the zeal of ,god1 and love to souls1 their own and others'1 to appear in the defence of the gospel of our salvation1 by all means incumbent to them1 and possible for them2 for if this citadel and stronghold1 wherein our all1 and the all of pure and true religion1 lyeth1 be blown up1 we are gone2 and indeed no less is intended by this antichristian and antievangelic enemy1 than the utter subversion of true ,christian religion4 ,who would not then be hereby alarmed1 and upon their guard1 when matters are at this pass8 ,should not all1 who have any love to their own souls1 any zeal for the glory of ,christ1 anointed of the ,father to be our prophet1 priest1 and king2 my desire to see the crown flourishing upon his head1 and to have the gospel preserved pure and uncorrupted1 be pleading with ,god by prayer1 in the behalf of his ,son's kingdom1 crown1 and glory2 and wrestling with him till he were pleased to dispel these clouds1 and prevent this black day3 especially should they not be labouring to be acquainted1 in truth and reality1 with the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 that having the mysterious truths thereof imprinted on their souls1 and their hearts cast into its mould1 they may be preserved from the hurt of this deadly poison2 for this1 with a constant dependence upon1 and use-making of ,christ in all his offices1 will prove the best preservative against this infection4 ,the persuasion whereof did induce me to publish the following heads of some sermons1 after they have been translated into ,dutch1 and published here3 ,knowing that they might be of no less use to the people of ,god in ,britain and ,ireland4 ,i know not a more effectual mean to unstable souls from siding with and embracing every new notion2 and from being carried about with every wind of doctrine1 by the slight of men1 and cunning craftiness1 whereby they lye in wait to deceive2 than to put them upon the real exercise of gospel godliness1 and to the daily practice of the main and fundamental gospel work1 of living by faith in ,jesus ,christ1 and of growing up into him1 in all things1 who is the head1 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted1 by that which every joint supplieth1 according to the effectual working in the measure of every part1 maketh increase of the body1 unto the edifying of itself in love4 ,such1 ,i am sure1 as have thus learned the truth1 as it is in ,jesus1 and are practising the same accordingly1 will have an antidote within them against the strongest poison of these seducers1 and a real answer to1 and confutation of1 all their subtile sophisms4 ,the soul exercising itself into gospel godliness1 will find work enough to take it wholly up2 and find such a solid ground to stand upon2 and see such a satisfying fulness1 answering all its necessities and wants1 and such a sure heart-quieting ground of peace1 hope1 and consolation in ,jesus ,christ1 as that it will have no leisure1 and small temptation to listen to seducing perverters1 and no inclination to seek after empty cisterns4 ,i know much may be desiderated in this following treatise1 and many may have exceptions not without ground against it4 ,some may think it arrogancy1 and too great confidence in me1 to attempt the handling of such a mysterious and necessary part of ,christian practice1 wherein few1 7if any1 so far as ,i know17 have gone before1 in direct handling of this matter1 at least in this method and order1 ,i mean that part which is about sanctification4 ,others may be displeased with the mean and low style2 with my multiplying particulars1 which might have been better and more handsomely couched under fewer heads1 and with my unnecessary contracting of the whole into such a narrow bound1 and other things of that kind2 for which1 and many other failings of the like nature and import1 which may without any diligent search1 be found in it1 even by ordinary and unprejudiced readers2 ,i shall not industriously labour to apologize1 knowing that my very apology in this case1 will need an apology2 only ,i shall say this1 that considering how the snare1 which the vigilant and active enemy of our salvation1 the devil1 was laying by an unholy morality1 did nearly concern all1 and especially the meanest 7for parts and experience7 and less fixed ,christians1 ,i thought a discourse on such a subject as ,i judged most necessary at all times1 and especially in such a day of hazard1 should be framed to the capacity of one as well as another2 the most understanding can receive benefit1 by that which is calculated to the capacity of children1 when these can reap little edification by what is suited to the palate of those2 and the less experienced1 or such as are of lower understanding1 will be less able to draw a general to a particular2 or to improve and so fully to comprehend one particular touched1 as to be able thereby to understand and take in a like particular not mentioned2 than such as have their senses more exercised1 and are thereby in case to make a better improvement of what is but compendiously declared1 when those must have the bread broken to their hand1 or they shall receive but small edification thereby2 and yet1 ,i suppose1 the judicious will observe some variety1 smaller or greater1 even where particulars seem to be1 at the first view1 most unnecessarily multiplied4 ,i know1 and willingly grant1 7for it is obvious enough7 that a discourse of this subject and matter1 might have required a far larger volume2 but then how should such have profited thereby1 whom poverty might possibly have scared from buying2 or the necessary affairs of their ordinary callings would have keeped from a diligent perusal of it8 ,and ,i thought that neither of these should have been overlooked in this special or general design which ,i had before my eyes4 ,one thing1 as my answer to all1 ,i shall but add2 if hereby others whom the ,lord hath more enabled with all necessaries for such a work1 shall be hereby either instigated or encouraged to write upon this subject1 7,i mean mainly the last part thereof1 touching the use-making of ,christ in sanctification2 for blessed be the ,lord1 many have been employed of the ,lord to speak soundly and edifyingly unto the use-making of ,christ as to righteousness and justification17 a full1 plain1 edifying and satisfying discovery of this necessary and important truth1 viz4 ,christ made of ,god to us wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,and withal1 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 ,head1 for the benefit and advantage of the members of the mystical body1 as they may not only theoretically see1 but practically also experience this truth1 that in him they are complete2 and so they may be helped to understand how through the necessary and constant use-making of him1 as all in all1 they may grow up in him in all things4 ,if this be1 ,i say1 done by any to better purpose1 ,i shall think this my adventure not altogether fruitless1 and in part at least excusable4 ,as for thee1 ,o ,christian1 whose instruction1 edification1 and confirmation in the faith of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the faith which was once delivered unto the saints1 ,i mainly intended in this undertaking1 ,i have a few things to add3 ,know then1 that there are certain men 7as the ,apostle ,jude speaketh7 crept in unawares1 who were of old ordained to this condemnation1 ungodly men1 turning the grace of our ,god into lasciviousness1 and denying the only ,lord ,god1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 for in these last days we see that these perilous times are come1 7of which ,paul advertised ,timothy1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #a1 c47 wherein men shall be lovers of their ownselves1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 7or make bates7 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,god1 having the form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof--for of this sort are they which creep into houses1 and lead captive silly women1 laden with sins1 led away with divers lusts1 ever learning1 and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth4 ,and because it is so1 he exhorteth to give diligence to make your calling and election sure1 by giving all diligence to add to faith virtue1 to virtue knowledge1 and to knowledge temperance1 and to temperance patience1 and to patience godliness1 and to godliness brotherly kindness1 and to brotherly kindness charity1 for if ye do these things1 ye shall never fall4 ,as the ,apostle ,peter assureth us1 #b ,peter i4 #e1 #f1 #g-aj4 ,for it is the elect who are secured from full and final defection and apostacy1 ,matth4 xxiv4 #bd4 ,mark xii4 #bb4 ,rom4 xi4 #e1 #f2 ix4 #aa2 viii4 #cc4 ,matth4 xxiv4 #ca4 ,mark xiii4 #bg4 ,and the promise of salvation is made to such as shall endure to the end4 ,the crown is for the overcomers1 and such as are faithful to the death1 ,matth4 x4 #bb2 xxiv4 #ac4 ,mark xiii4 #ac4 ,rev4 ii4 #aj1 #aa1 #ag1 #bf1 #bg1 #bh2 iii4 #e1 #ab1 #ba4 ,all which1 and the like1 are set down1 that hereby his people might be rationally moved to a constant seriousness1 in the working out of their own salvation1 in fear and trembling2 and the forewarnings given of the great difficulty of the reaching the end of our faith1 the salvation of our souls1 because of the many active1 vigilant1 indefatigable1 subtile1 and insinuating adversaries1 who by good words and fair speeches1 will readily deceive the hearts of the simple1 and to awaken the more his people to be sober and vigilant1 because their adversary the devil 7who acteth and moveth his under agents1 in their several modes1 methods and motions1 so as he may best1 according to the various tempers1 present dispositions1 advantages or disadvantages of such as he intendeth to seduce1 which he carefully studieth1 and plyeth for this end1 obtain his designed end1 their ruin and destruction7 as a roaring lion1 walking about seeking whom he may devour4 ,and this calleth them to haste out their slumber and security1 who will be loath to miss his opportunity1 surprise them to their great loss and disadvantage4 ,it is1 beloved1 high time now to awake1 to look about us1 to consider where we are1 upon what ground we stand1 whether the enemy or we have the advantage1 how and in what posture we are to rencounter with deceivers that seek to cheat us out of all our souls1 and of the ,lord our ,righteousness1 and draw us off the paths of life1 that when we come to die 7beside the unspeakably great loss we would thereby be at1 even here1 in missing the comfortable accesses to ,god through ,jesus ,christ the inflowings of grace and strength for spiritual duty through the ,lord our strength2 the sweet communications of peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 the shedding abroad of the love of ,god in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost1 which is given unto us1 and the full assurance of hope through the ,lord ,jesus our hope7 we might be frustrated of all our expectations2 and find1 that all that which men made us grip to1 lay hold on1 and lean unto1 instead of ,christ1 was but a mere shadow1 and a lie in our right hand1 to the unexpressible grief1 vexation1 and sorrow of soul when all should end in a dreadful and horrible disappointment4 ,but let us not think that our purposes1 firm-like resolutions to adhere to the truth1 and our present abhorrence at1 and detestation of errors now broached1 to the overturning the very foundations of true ,christianity1 will sufficiently guard us from1 and make us proof against the shots and assaults of these crafty seducers4 ,nor think1 that our learning and knowledge in the theory of the truth2 nor our abilities to rencounter sophisters1 will secure us from a fall2 let us not think that the enemies are contemptible1 and therefore we need be the less anxious1 nor yet think that former experiences and through-bearings1 in the like cases1 will be a pillow1 whereby we may now lay ourselves down to sleep4 ,if we do1 we shall certainly deceive ourselves1 if all our strength and standing be in ourselves1 and through ourselves2 and if this be the ground of our hope1 the righteous ,lord in his holy justice1 may give us up to be a prey4 ,peter's instance should never be forgotten by us2 and such as tempt the ,lord have no ground to expect his last issue4 ,our strength must be in ,christ3 to the rock of ages must we fly3 to our chambers in him must we retire1 and there must we hide ourselves3 on ,christ's lee-side can we only ride safe1 and be free of the hazard of the storm4 ,to him therefore must our recourse be daily1 by new and fresh acts of faith in and through him and his influences1 communicated according to the tenor of the covenant of grace1 through faith eyeing the promiser1 the promise1 with the price purchasing1 and so drawing and sucking light1 direction1 strength1 stability1 and what our present exigent calleth for1 must we think to stand4 ,and happy they who1 conscious to themselves of their own weakness1 and convinced of the insufficiency of all things within them1 in godly fear hide themselves under the wings of the ,almighty1 and get in into this stronghold1 resolving there to abide1 and there to be secured from all their adversaries1 within or without4 ,these humble fearers may expect a safe and noble outgate2 when more strong-like and more confident adventurers shall 7being left to themselves1 because trusting in themselves71 shamefully fall1 and be triumphed over by the enemy1 to the grief of the godly1 and for a snare to others4 ,the best way then1 to keep the faith of ,christ1 which many are now seeking to shake and to loose us from1 is to be exercising the faith of ,christ4 ,the serious and upright practising of the gospel is the only best mean to keep thee firm in the profession of the gospel1 when the gospel with thee is not a few fine notions in the brain2 but is heavenly and necessary truth sunk into the heart1 and living and acting there2 it will keep thee1 and thou wilt own it more firmly and steadfastly in a day of trial4 ,thy walking in ,christ1 and working and living1 by him living in thee1 will so root thee in the gospel truth1 that enemies will pull in vain1 when seeking to overthrow thee4 ,the gospel of the grace of ,god received and entertained in thy soul in love1 and constant suitable improvement1 will fortify thee1 and secure itself in thee1 so that vehement blasts shall but contribute to its more fixed abode1 and more fruitful actings in thee4 ,live up then to the gospel1 and so be sure of it1 and be safe in it4 ,i mean1 let ,christ live in thee as thy all1 and cast all thy care and cumber on him2 lay all thy difficulties before him2 lean all thy weight upon him2 draw all thy necessities out of him3 and undertake all thy duties in him2 be strong in him1 and in the power of his might2 let him be thy counsellor1 conductor1 leader1 teacher1 captain1 commander1 light1 life1 strength1 and all1 so shall thou stand and have cause to glory1 even in thine infirmities1 for thou shalt find the power of ,christ resting upon thee1 and thou shalt have cause to say1 therefore ,i take pleasure in infirmities1 in reproaches1 in necessities1 in persecution1 in distresses for ,christ's sake2 for when ,i am weak1 then am ,i strong4 ,remember that great word1 ,phil4 iv4 #ac1 ,i can do all things through ,christ1 which strengtheneth me4 ,it hath been the usual and ordinary question of believers1 ,how shall we make use of ,christ for sanctification8 ,to this great and important question1 ,i1 7though the meanest and most unfit for such a work1 of all that ,god hath sent to feed his flock7 have adventured or endeavoured at least1 to give such as truly desire to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god1 some satisfaction herein1 laying before them some plain directions framed to their capacities1 and suited to some of their most ordinary and usual causes2 some whereof are more comprehensive1 and others more particular1 may be looked upon as exemplary instances1 serving for other cases of the like nature2 for hardly could every particular circumstantiate case be particularly spoken to1 and some might judge that to be superfluous1 if thou1 in the light and strength of ,christ1 shalt really practise what is here pointed forth1 ,i may be confident to say1 thy labour shall not be in vain in the ,lord1 and thou shalt attain unto another sort of holiness than that which proud pretenders boast of1 and shalt be far without the reach of that snare1 which unstable souls are too readily entangled with4 ,i mean1 the plausible pretension of more than ordinary sanctity which yet is but forced1 feigned1 constrained1 mostly external1 and framed to cause admiration in beholders1 whom they intend to make a prey of4 ,this shall be no temptation to thee1 who by experience findeth a more safe1 satisfying1 full1 free1 easy1 pleasant and heartsome way of mortifying lusts1 growing in grace1 and in the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 and so perfecting holiness1 by running immediately to ,christ1 and by living in and upon him1 who is made of ,god to us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification and redemption4 ,that the ,lord may bless the same to thee1 for this end1 shall be1 and is the desire and prayer of him who is1 ,thy servant in the work of the gospel1 ,,john ,,brown4 ,,recommendation4 ,,christian ,,reader1 ,if thou answer this designation1 and art really a partaker of the unction1 which is the high import of that blessed and glorious name called upon thee1 thine eye must affect thy heart1 and a soul swelled with godly sorrow must at last burst and bleed forth at a weeping eye1 while thou looks upon most of this licentious and loathsome generation1 arrived at that height of prodigious profanity as to glory in their shame1 and boast of bearing the badge and black mark of damnation4 ,but1 besides this swarm who savage it to hell1 and make such haste hither1 as they foam themselves into everlasting flames1 carrying1 under the shape and visage of men1 as devils in disguise2 the face of the church is covered with a scum of such1 who are so immersed in the concerns of this life1 and are so intense in the pursuit of the pleasures1 gain1 and honours thereof1 as their way doth manifestly witness them to be sunk into the deep oblivion of ,god1 and desperate inconsideration of their precious and immortal souls4 ,but in the third place1 besides these who are hurried into such a distraction with the cares of this life1 that they1 as natural brute beasts made to be destroyed1 are never at leisure to consider either the nature and necessity of their noble souls1 or to converse with the notion of a ,deity4 ,thou may perceive a company of self-deceiving speculatists1 who make broad the phylacteries of their garments1 and boast of some high attainments in religion2 yea1 would have others look upon them as arrived at the very porch of heaven1 and advanced to a high pitch of proficiency in the ways of ,god1 because they can discourse a little of the mysteries of salvation1 and without ever diving farther into the depth and true nature of religion1 dream themselves into a consideration of being saints1 and conclude themselves candidates for glory4 ,this is that heart-moving object which presents itself to thy eye and observation this day4 ,this is that deplorable posture1 wherein thou mayest perceive most men at the very point of perishing eternally1 who are within the pale of the visible church1 some dancing themselves headlong in all haste into the lake of fire and brimstone1 some so much concerned in things which have no connexion with their happiness1 as to drop unconcernedly into the pit1 out of which there is no redemption2 and others dreaming themselves into endless perdition3 and all of them unite in a deriding at1 or despising the means used1 and essays made1 in order to their recovery4 ,but if his servants1 in following their work closely1 seem to have gained a little ground upon men1 and almost persuaded them to be ,christians1 ,satan1 to the end he may make all miscarry1 and counterwork these workers together with ,god1 and poison poor souls by a perversion of the gospel1 beyond the power of an antidote1 hath raised up1 instigated and set on work a race of proud rationalists1 for they are wiser than to class themselves amongst those poor fools1 those base things1 those nothings1 to whom ,christ is made all things1 to whom ,christ is made wisdom that he may be righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption to them2 nay1 they must be wise men after the flesh1 wise above what is written4 ,a crucified ,christ is really unto them foolishness and weakness1 though the power of ,god and the wisdom of ,god3 they will needs go to work another way2 they will needs glory in his presence1 and have a heaven of their own band-wind4 ,o my soul1 enter not into their secrets6 and1 ,o sweet ,jesus1 let thy name be to me1 ,the ,lord my righteousness2 thou hast won it1--wear it2 and gather not my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but of thine only6 to bring in another gospel amongst us than the gospel of the grace of ,god4 ,as they determine to know some other thing than ,christ and him crucified2 so with the enticing words of man's wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth1 setting somewhat else before them than a crucified ,christ2 and this they do1 that they may remove men from those who call them into the grace of ,christ1 unto another gospel4 ,a ,christ1 it is true2 they speak of2 but it is not the ,christ of ,god1 for all they drive at 7,o cursed and truly antichristian design67 is1 that he may profit them nothing1 while they model all religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality4 ,this is that which gives both life and lustre to that image which they adore1 to the ,dagon after whom they would have the world wonder and worship4 ,that there is such a moralizing or muddizing1 if ,i may be for once admitted to coin a new word to give these men their due1 of ,christianity now introduced and coming in fashion1 many of the late pieces in request do evince4 ,now that ,christianity should moralize men above all things1 ,i both give and grant2 for he who is partaker of the divine nature1 and hath obtained precious faith1 must add virtue to his faith4 ,but that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more clear light1 in the matter of morality1 wherein our ,lord is only respected as an heavenly teacher and perfect pattern proposed for imitation1 is but a proud1 pleasing fancy of self-conceited1 darkened1 and deluded dreamers1 robbing ,god of the glory of his mercy and goodness2 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ of the glory of his grace and merit4 ,the spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations2 and themselves and their pilgrimages1 who give them the hand as guides1 of the comfort and fruit of all4 ,it cannot escape thy observation1 how busy ,satan is this day1 upon the one hand1 to keep men1 under the call of the gospel to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure1 idle all the day1 so that no persuasion can induce them to engage seriously to fall about a working out their own salvation in fear and trembling2 and1 on the other1 equally diligent and industrious to divert men from trusting in the name of the ,lord1 and staying upon their ,god2 setting them on work to go and gather fuel1 and kindle a fire1 and compass themselves about with sparks1 that they may walk in the light of their own fire1 and in the sparks that they have kindled1 knowing well that they shall this way most certainly lose their toil and travel1 and have no other reward at his hand of all their labour1 but to lie down in everlasting sorrow1 while the stout-hearted and far from righteousness and salvation1 shall get their soul for a prey1 and be made to rejoice in his salvation1 and bless him who hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,i am neither the fit person for so great an undertaking1 nor do these limits1 within which ,i must bound myself1 permit me to expatiate in many notions about the nature of this excellent and precious thing1 true gospel holiness4 ,oh6 if1 in the entry1 ,i could on my own behalf and others1 sob out my alas6 from the bottom of my soul1 because1 be what it will1 it is some other thing than men take it to be4 ,few habituate themselves to a thinking upon it1 in its high nature1 and soul enriching advantages1 till their hearts receive suitable impressions of it1 and their lives be the very transumpt of the law of ,god written in their heart2 the thing1 alas6 is lost in a noise of words1 and heap of notions about it2 neither is it a wonder that men fall into mistakes about it1 since it is only the heart possessed of it that is capable to understand and perceive its true excellency4 ,but if it be asked what it is2 we say1 it may be shortly taken up1 as the elevation and raising up of a poor mortal unto a conformity with ,god4 ,as a participation of the divine nature1 or as the very image of ,god stamped on the soul1 impressed on the thoughts and affections1 and expressed in the life and conversation2 so that the man in whom ,christ is formed1 and in whom he dwells1 lives1 and walks1 hath while upon the earth1 a conversation in heaven2 not only in opposition to those many1 whose end is destruction1 whose god is their belly1 whose glory is in their shame1 who mind earthly things2 but also to those pretenders unto and personaters of religion1 who have confidence in the flesh1 and worship ,god with their own spirit1 which in the matters of ,god is flesh and not spirit1 and have somewhat else to rejoice in than in ,christ ,jesus1 and a being found in him1 not having their own righteousness4 ,true gospel holiness1 then1 consists in some similitude and likeness to ,god1 and fellowship with him founded upon that likeness4 ,there is such an impression of ,god1 his glorious attributes1 his infinite power1 majesty1 mercy1 justice1 wisdom1 holiness1 and grace1 c41 as sets him up all alone in the soul without any competition1 and produceth those real apprehensions of him1 that he is alone excellent and matchless4 ,o how preferable doth be appear1 when indeed seen1 to all things6 ,and how doth this light of his infinite gloriousness1 shining into the soul1 darken and obscure to an invisibleness all other excellencies1 even as the rising of the sun makes all the lesser lights to disappear4 ,alas6 how is ,god unknown in his glorious being and attributes6 ,when once the ,lord enters the soul1 and shines into the heart1 it is like the rising of the sun at midnight3 all these things which formerly pretended to some loveliness1 and did dazzle with their lustre1 are eternally darkened4 ,now1 all natural perfections1 and moral virtues1 in their flower and perfections1 are at best looked upon as aliquid nihil4 ,what things were formerly accounted gain and godliness1 are now counted loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus the ,lord1 and the soul cannot only suffer the loss of them all without a sob1 but be satisfied to throw them away as dung1 that it may win him1 and be found in him4 ,now1 the wonder of a ,deity1 in his greatness1 power1 and grace1 swallows up the soul in sweet admiration4 ,o how doth it love to lose itself in finding here what it cannot fathom8 ,and then it begins truly to see the greatness and evil of sin2 then it is looked upon without the covering of pleasure or profit1 and loathed as the leprosy of hell4 ,now the man is truly like ,god in the knowledge of good and evil1 in the knowledge of that one infinite good1 ,god2 and in the knowledge of that one almost infinite evil1 sin4 ,this is the first point of likeness to him1 to be conformed to him in our understanding1 that as he knows himself to be the only self-being and fountain-good1 and all created things in their flower and perfection1 with all their real or fancied conveniences being compared with him1 but as the drop of a bucket1 or nothing2 yea1 less than nothing1 vanity 7which is nothing blown up1 by the force or forgery of a vainly working imagination1 to the consistence of an appearance71 so for a soul to know indeed and believe in the heart1 that there is nothing deserves the name of good besides ,god1 to have the same superlative and transcendent thoughts of that great and glorious self-being ,god1 and the same diminishing and debasing thoughts of all things and beings besides him4 ,and that as the ,lord seeth no evil in the creation but sin1 and hates that with a perfect hatred1 as contrary to his holy will2 so for a soul to aggravate sin in its own sight to an infiniteness of evil1 at least till it see it only short of infiniteness in this respect1 that it can be swallowed up of infinite mercy4 ,but whence hath the soul all this light8 ,it owes all this1 and owns itself as debtor for it to him1 who opens the eyes of the blind4 ,it is he who commands the light to shine out of darkness1 who hath made these blessed discoveries1 and hath given the poor benighted soul1 the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,these irradiations are from the ,spirit's illumination2 'tis the ,spirit of wisdom and revelation that hath made day-light in the darkened soul4 ,the man who had the heart of a beast1 as to any saving or solid knowledge of ,god or himself1 hath now got an understanding to know him that is true4 ,now is ,christ become the poor man's wisdom1 he is now renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him2 he might well babble of spiritual things1 but till now he understood nothing of the beauty and excellency of ,god and his ways2 nay1 he knew not what he knew1 he was ignorant as a beast of the life and lustre of those things which he knew in the letter2 nothing seemed more despicable to him in the world1 than true godliness2 but now he judgeth otherwise1 because he hath the mind of ,christ4 ,the things which in his darkness he did undervalue as trifles to be mocked at1 he now can only mind and admire1 since he became a child of light2 now being delivered from that blindness and brutishness of spirit1 which possesseth the world1 7and possessed himself till he was transformed by the renewing of his mind7 who esteem basely of spiritual things1 and set them at nought1 he prizeth as alone precious4 ,the world wonders what pleasure or content can be in the service of ,god1 because they see not by tasting how good he is2 to be prying into and poring upon invisible things1 is to them visible madness1 but to the enlightened mind1 the things that are not seen are only worth seeing1 and while they appear not to be1 they only are2 whereas the things that are seen appear but to be1 and are not4 ,though the surpassing sweetness of spiritual things should be spoke of to them1 who cannot favour the things of ,god1 in such a manner as the glorious light of them did surround men2 yet they can perceive no such thing2 all is to them cunningly devised fables2 let be spoke what will1 they see no form1 no comeliness1 no beauty in this glorious object--,god in ,christ reconciling sinners to himself4 ,alas6 the mind is blinded2 the dungeon is within2 and till ,christ open the eyes1 as well as reveal his light1 the soul abides in its blindness1 and is buried in midnight darkness2 but when the ,spirit of ,god opens the man's eyes1 and he is translated by an act of omnipotency out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear ,son1 which is a kingdom of marvellous light1 ,o what matchless beauty doth he now see in these things1 which appeared despicable and dark nothings to him1 till he got the unction1 the eye-salve1 which teacheth all things4 ,now he sees 7what none without the ,spirit can see7 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love him1 and are freely given them of ,god2 and these1 though seen at a distance1 reflect such rays of beauty into his soul1 that he beholds and is ravished1 he sees and is swallowed up in wonder4 ,but then1 in the next place1 this is not a spiritless inefficacious speculation about these things1 to know no evil but sin and separation from ,god1 and no blessedness but in the fruition of him2 it is not such a knowledge of them as doth not principle motion to pursue after them4 ,this ,i grant is part of the image of ,god1 when the ,sun of ,righteousness1 by arising upon the man1 hath made day-light in his soul1 and by these divine discoveries hath taught him to make the true parallel betwixt things that differ1 and to put a just value upon them according to their intrinsic worth4 ,but this divine illumination doth not consist in a mere notion of such things in the head1 nor doth it subsist in enlightening the mind2 but in such an impression of ,god upon the soul1 as transforms and changes the heart into his likeness by love4' ,knowledge is but one line1 one draught or lineament of the soul's likeness to him2 that alone doth not make up the image1 but knowledge rooted in the heart1 and engraven on the soul1 hining and shewing itself forth in a gospel-adorning conversation1 that makes a comely proportion2 when the same hand that touched the eye1 and turned the man from darkness to light1 and gave an heart to know him1 that he is the ,lord1 that doth also circumcise the man's heart to love the ,lord his ,god1 with all his heart1 and with all his soul1 and with all his mind2 and this love manifesting its liveliness1 in its constraining power to live to him and for him4 ,light without1 heat is but wild fire2 but light in the mind1 begetting heat in the heart1 making it burn ,godward1 ,christward1 and heavenward2 light in the understanding1 setting on fire and inflaming the affections1 and these shining out in a heavenly conversation1 makes up the lively image of ,god1 both in feature and stature1 both in proportion and colour4 ,faith begins this image1 and draws the lineaments2 and love bringing forth obedience finishes1 and gives it the lively lustre4 ,the burnings of love in obedience to ,god is that which illuminates the whole1 and makes a man look indeed like him1 to whose image he is predestinate to be conform1 and then makes him1 who is ravished with the charms of that beauty1 say1 as in a manner overcome thereby1 how fair is thy love1 my sister1 my spouse8 ,how much better is thy love than wine1 and the smell of thine ointments than all spices8 ,but consider1 that as these beams1 which irradiate the soul1 are from the ,spirit of ,christ1 so that spiritual heat and warmth come out of the same airth1 and proceed from the same author1 for our fire burns as he blows1 our lamp shines as he snuffs and furnisheth oil4 ,men therefore should not indulge themselves in this delusion1 to think1 that that which will pass for pure religion and undefiled before ,god1 consists either in an outward blameless conversation1 or in putting on and wearing an external garb of profession4 ,no1 as the top of it reacheth higher1 so the root of it lies deeper2 it is rooted in the heart1 this seed being sown in an honest heart 7or making the heart honest in which it is sown7 takes root downward1 and brings forth fruit upward1 as trees that grow as far under ground as above1 so these trees of righteousness1 the planting of the ,lord that he may be glorified1 grow as far and as fast under ground as above2 godliness grows as far downwards in self-emptying1 self-denial1 and self-abasing1 in hungering and thirsting after more of righteousness1 in the secret engagements of the heart to ,god in ,christ1 in these burstings of heart and bleeding of soul1 to which ,god alone is witness1 because of shortcoming in holiness1 because of a body of death within1 and because of that law in the members warring against the law of the mind1 and bringing often into captivity to the law of sin1 as it grows upward in a profession4 ,and this is that pure religion and undefiled before ,god1 which is both most pleasant to him1 and profitable to the soul4 ,but to make the difference betwixt dead morality1 in its best dress1 and true godliness1 more clear and obvious1 that loveliness of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other1 this dead carion and stinking carcase of rotten morality1 which still stinks in the nostrils of ,god1 even when embalmed with the most costly ointments of its miserably misled patrons1 we say1 that true godliness1 which in quality and kind differs from this much pleaded for and applauded morality1 a black heathen by a mongrel kind of ,christians baptised of late with the name of ,christianity1 and brought into the temple of the ,lord1 concerning which he hath commanded that it should never in that shape1 and for that end it is introduced1 enter into his congregation2 and the bringers for their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his presence4 ,it respects ,jesus ,christ1 #ast1 as its principle2 #b;d1 as its pattern2 #c;d1 as its altar2 and1 #dth1 as its end4 #a4 ,i say1 true holiness1 in its being and operation1 respects ,jesus ,christ as its principle2 ,i live1 said that shining saint1 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,as that which gives religion its first being1 is the religation of the soul to ,god2 so that which gives it motion1 and draws forth that life into action1 is the same ,god's working all their works in them and for them1 so that in all they do1 they are workers together with ,god2 every act of holiness is an act of the soul made alive unto ,god through ,jesus ,christ1 and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new life and influence2 therefore1 says ,christ1 without me ye can do nothing2 it is not1 being out of me ye can do nothing1 for he spoke it to those who were in him1 but1 if ye leave me out in doing1 all ye do will be nothing4 ',tis ,jesus ,christ who gives life and legs1 so that our runnings are according to his drawings4 ,my soul followeth hard after thee1 said that holy man2 but whence is all this life and vigour8 ,thy right hand upholdeth me1 ,oh6 it is the upholdings and helpings of this right hand1 enlarging the man's heart1 that makes a running in the ways of his commandments2 it is he who1 while the saints work out the work of their own salvation1 worketh in them both to will and to do4 ,it is he who giveth power to the faint1 and who1 to them that have no might1 encreaseth strength1 so that the poor lifeless1 languishing lie-by is made to mount up with eagles' wings1 and surmount all these difficulties1 with a holy facility1 which were simply insuperable1 and pure impossibilities4 ,now the man runs and doth not weary1 because ,christ draws2 and he walks and doth not faint1 because ,christ1 in whom dwells the fulness of the ,godhead bodily1 dwells in him1 and walks in him1 and dwells in him for that very end1 that he may have a completeness and competency of strength for duty4 ,all grace is made to abound unto him1 that he always having all sufficiency in all things1 may abound unto every good work4 ,he is able of himself to do nothing1 no1 not to think any thing as he ought1 but he hath a sufficiency of ,god1 whereby he is thoroughly furnished unto every good work2 so that he may say1 ,i am able for all things3 it is more than ,i am able to do all things1 as we read it2 its just import is1 ,i am able to do all things1 and to endure all things2 and that which keeps it from vain boasting1 is what is added1 through ,christ which strengthened me1 or putting power in me1 or rather impowering me1 which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life into a liveliness of exercise1 according to the present exigent4 ,there is a power in a saint1 because ,christ is in him1 that overpowers all the powers of darkness without1 and all the power of indwelling corruption within1 so that when the poor weak creature is ready to despond2 within sight of his duty1 and say1 because of difficulty1 what is my strength that ,i should hope8 ,christ saith1 despond not1 my grace is sufficient for thee1 and my power shall rest upon thee1 to a reviving thee1 and raising thee up1 and putting thee in case to say1 when ,i am weak1 then ,i am strong2 his strength1 who impowers me1 is made perfect in my weakness1 so that ,i will glory in my infirmities1 and be glad in being grace's debtor4 ,but what power is that1 which raiseth the dead sinner1 and carries the soul in its actings so far without the line1 and above the sphere of all natural activity1 when stretched to its utmost8 ,o1 it is an exceeding great power which is to them-ward who believe1 that must make all things1 how difficult soever1 easy1 when he works in them to will and to do1 according to the working of his mighty power1 7or as it is upon the margin1 and more emphatic1 of the might of his power17 which he wrought in ,christ1 when he raised him from the dead1 and set him at his own right hand1 c42 he that raised up the ,lord ,jesus from the dead1 raiseth up believers also by ,jesus2 and being raised and revived by him1 to walk in newness of life1 the life of ,jesus1 in its communications of strength1 is manifest in their mortal flesh1 according to that of the same apostle2 the life that ,i live in the flesh1 saith he1 ,i live by the faith of the ,son of ,god4 ,faith brings in ,christ in my soul1 and ,christ being my life1 carries out my soul in all the acts of obedience1 wherein1 though ,i be the formal agent1 yet the efficiency and the power1 by which ,i operate1 is from him2 so that ,i can give no better account of it than this1--,i--not ,i4 ,but who then1 if not you8 ,the grace of ,god1 saith he1 which was with me4 ,but this mystery to our bold1 because blind moralists1 of an indwelling ,christ working mightily in the soul1 is plain madness and melancholy2 however we understand his knowledge in the mystery of ,christ1 who said1 ,the life ,i live in the flesh1 c42 and from what we understand of his knowledge in that mystery1 which he had by revelation1 we understand our moralists to be men of corrupt minds1 who concerning the faith hath made shipwreck2 but what is that1 ,the life ,i live in the flesh1 c4 ,the import of it seems to be this1 if not more1--while ,i have in me a soul animating my body1 as the principle of all my vital and natural actions1 ,i have ,jesus ,christ animating my soul1 and by the impulse and communicate virtue and strength of an indwelling ,christ1 ,i am made to run the ways of his commandments1 wherein ,i take so great delight1 that ,i am found of no duty as of my enemy4 #b4 ,the gospel holiness respects ,jesus ,christ as its pattern4 ,it proposeth no lower pattern for imitation than to be conform to his image1 7he that is begotten again into a lively hope1 by the resurrection of ,christ from the dead1 girds up the loins of his mind1 which are the affections of his soul1 lest by falling flat upon the earth1 he be hindered in running the race set before him1 as looking to the forerunner his pattern17 in this girdle of hope1 that he may be holy in all manner of conversation1 keeping his eye upon the precept and pattern1 that his practice may be conform4 ,it is written1 saith he1 be ye holy1 for ,i am holy2 the hope of seeing ,god1 and being ever with him1 imposeth a necessity upon him who hath it1 to look no lower than at him1 who is glorious in holiness2 and therefore he is said to purify himself even as he is pure2 and knowing that this is the end of their being quickened together with ,christ1 that they may walk even as he walked1 they in their working and walking aim at no less than to be like him2 and therefore never sit down upon any attained measure1 as if they were already perfect4 ,the spotless purity of ,god expressed in his laws1 is that whereto they study assimilation2 therefore they are still in motion towards this mark1 and are changed from one of glorious grace into another1 into the same image1 even as by the ,spirit of the ,lord1 who never gives over his putting them to cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit1 till that be true in the truest sense1 ,thou art all fair1 my love1 there is no spot in thee4 ,and knowing that perfect fruition of him cannot be without the perfect conformity to him1 herein do they exercise themselves to grow in grace1 and to be still advancing towards some more likeness to his image1 forgetting all their attainments1 as things that are behind1 and by their ,teachings forth unto that which is before1 make it evident that they make every begun degree of grace and conformity to ,god1 a prevenient capacity for a new degree which yet they have not attained4 ,i know our moralists look upon themselves as matchless1 in talking of following his steps as he hath left us an example2 in this they make a flourishing with flanting effrontery1 but for all their boasting of wisdom1 such a poor simple man as ,i1 am made to wonder at their folly1 who proposing1 as they say1 the purity of ,christ as their pattern1 are not even thence convinced1 that in order to a conformity thereto1 there is a simple and absolute necessity of the mighty operations of that ,spirit of ,god1 whereby this end can be reached2 but while they flout at the ,spirit's working as a melancholy fancy1 whereby the soul is garnished with the beauty of holiness1 and made an habitation for ,god1 ,i doubt not to say of these great sayers1 that they understand neither what they say1 nor whereof they affirm2 nay1 doth not the talking of the one1 not only without seeing the necessity of the other1 but speaking against it1 say in the heart of every one1 who hath not the heart of a beast1 that they have never yet got a sight of the holiness of that pattern1 nor of their own pollutions and impotency2 for if they had1 they would give themselves up to ,jesus ,christ to be washed by him1 without which they can have no part with him4 ,o there will be a vast difference1 at the latter day1 betwixt them who have given their black souls to ,jesus to bleach1 when he shall present them without spot1 not only clothed with wrought gold1 but all glorious within1 and those who have never dipped1 yea1 who have despised to dip their defiled souls in any other fountain1 save in the impure puddle of their own performances4 ,this will make them loathsome in his sight1 and cause his soul abhor those who have done this despite unto the ,spirit of grace1 as to slight that blessed fountain1 opened for sin and for uncleanness1 let them pretend as high as they will1 to look to him as a pattern2 while1 because the plague-sore is gone up in their eye1 they look not to him as a price1 nor to the grace of ,jesus ,christ1 as that which can only principle any acceptable performance of duty1 he will plunge them in the ditch1 and it will cost them their souls1 for rejecting the counsel of ,god against themselves1 in not making use of him who came by water as well as by blood4 #c4 ,this gospel holiness respects ,christ as the altar4 ,it is in him1 and for him1 that his soul is well pleased with our performance--this is the altar upon which thou must lay thy gift1 and leave it1 without which thy labour is lost1 and whatsoever thou dost is loathed1 as a corrupt thing4 ,as believers draw all their strength from him1 so they expect acceptance only through him1 and for him4 ,they do not look for it1 but in the ,beloved2 they dare not draw near to ,god in duty1 but by him4 ,this is the new and living way which is consecrate for them2 and if such1 who offer to come to ,god1 do not enter in hereat1 instead of being admitted to a familiar converse with ,god1 they shall find him a consuming fire4 ,when the saints have greatest liberty in prayer1 and so of all other performances1 when their hearts are most lifted up in the ways of the ,lord1 they abhor at thinking their prayer can any otherways be set forth before him as incense1 or the lifting up of their hands as the evening sacrifice1 but as presented by the great intercessor1 and perfumed by the merit of his oblation4 ,if they could weep out the marrow of their bones1 and the moisture of their body1 in mourning over sin2 yet they durst not think of having what comes from so impure a spring1 and runs through so polluted a channel1 presented to ,god1 but by ,jesus ,christ1 in order to acceptation2 for1 as they look to the exalted ,saviour1 to get their repentance from him1 so when by the pourings out upon them of the spirit of grace and supplication1 he hath made them pour out their hearts before him1 and hath melted them into true tenderness1 so that their mourning is a great mourning1 they carry back these tears to be washen and bathed in his blood1 as knowing without this of how little worth and value with ,god their salt water is2 but when they are thus washed he puts them in his bottle1 and then pours them out again to them in the wine of strong consolation4 ,thus are they made glad in his house of prayer1 and their sighs and groans come up with acceptance upon his altar4 ,o blessed altar1 that sanctifies the gold6 this is that altar1 whereto the mocking moralist hath no right4 ,it is by him that the poor believer offers up his sacrifice to ,god continually2 whatever he doth in word or deed1 he desires to do all in the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,as he knows1 he lives to make intercession1 and to appear in the presence of ,god for his poor people1 both to procure influences for duty1 and plead for acceptation3 so he depends upon him for both1 as knowing he can never otherways hear nor have it said unto him1 well done thou good and faithful servant4 ,it may be he can do little1 he hath but a mite to offer2 but he puts it in the ,mediator's hand to be presented to ,god4 ,he hath not gold1 nor silver1 nor purple to bring2 he can do no great things2 he hath but goats' hair or rams' skins1 but he gives them the right tincture1 he makes them red in the blood of ,christ1 and so they are a beautiful incarnation4 ,but let us1 on the other hand1 take a short view of what our moralists substitute in its place1 as in their account1 both more beautiful in the eye1 and more beneficial to the souls of men1 wherein ,i intend to be brief4 ,i might comprehend the account to be given shortly1 and give it most exactly1 yet truly in these few words4 ,as the most undoubted deviation from1 and perfect opposition unto the whole contrivance of salvation1 and the conveyance of it into the souls of men1 as revealed in this gospel which brings life and immortality to light1 that fighters against the grace of ,god in its value and virtue can forge1 stretching their blind reason to the overthrow of true religion1 and ruin of the souls of men4 ,for to this height these masters of reason have1 in their blind rage1 risen up against the ,lord and against his anointed2 this is the dreadful period of that path1 wherein we are persuaded to walk1 yea hectored1 if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand sophies1 who arrogate to themselves the name and thing of knowledge1 as if wisdom were to die with them4 ,the deep mysteries of salvation1 which angels desire to look into1 and only satisfy themselves with admiration at1 must appear as respondents at their bar2 and if they decline the judge and court1 as incompetent1 they flee out and flout at subjecting this blind mole1 man's reason1 to the revelation of faith in a mystery4 ,the manifold wisdom of ,god1 and the manifold grace of ,god1 must either condescend to their unfoldings1 and be content to speak in their dialect1 or else these wits1 these ,athenian dictators1 will give the deep things of ,god1 because beyond their divings1 the same entertainment which that great gospel preacher1 ,paul1 met with from men of the same mould1 kidney1 and complexion1 because he preached unto them ,jesus1 ,what would the babbler say1 said they4 ,the ,spirit of wisdom and revelation they know not1 they have not1 they acknowledge not2 nay1 they despise him in his saving and soul-ascertaining illuminations2 and the workings of that mighty power to them-ward who believe1 is to the men of this new mould 7because they have not found it7 an insufferable fancy1 to be exploded with a disdain and indignation1 which discovers what spirit actuates them in this opposition4 ,but ,i would recommend to you1 who can neither purchase nor peruse what is more voluminous 7how worthy soever7 the serious perusal1 as of the whole of that savoury and grace-breathing peace1 the fulfilling of the ,scriptures2 so therein that short but sweet digression1 against black-mouthed ,parker1 wherein the gracious author takes out his own soul1 and sets before thine eye1 the image of ,god impressed thereon2 for while he deals with that desperado by clear and convincing reason1 flowing natively from the pure fountain of divine revelation1 he hath the advantage of most men1 and writers too1 in silencing that proud blasphemer of the good ways of ,god1 with arguments taken from what he hath found acted upon his own soul4 ,and likewise ,i would recommend1 as a sovereign antidote against this poison1 the diligent perusing and pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same unhallowed author 7in the ,preface to that piece of great ,mr4 ,durham1 upon the ,commands7 by a disciple1 who1 besides his natural acuteness and sub-actness of judgment in the depth of the gospel mysteries1 is known1 by all who know him 7and for myself1 ,i know none now alive his equal7 to have most frequent access to lean his head on his ,master's bosom1 and so in best case to tell his fellow-disciples and brethren1 what is breathed into his own soul1 while he lives in these embraces1 and under the sheddings abroad of that love of ,god in his soul1 which drew and did dictate these lines1 against that flouter at all such fruitions4 ,nor can ,i here omit to observe1 how1 when the devil raised up ,parker1 that monster1 to bark and blaspheme1 the ,lord raised up a ,merveil to fight him at his own weapon1 who did so cudgel and quell that boasting bravo1 as ,i know not if he be dead of his wound1 but for any thing ,i know1 he hath laid his speech4 ,it was not the author's design in this piece1 7levelled only at this mark1 to teach thee how to make use of the strength and grace that is in ,christ ,jesus1 and find the promised ease in performance of duties2 in handling of which argument1 he hath been remarkably assisted1 and thou canst not read with attention1 but thou must bear him witness1 and bless the ,lord on his behalf1 that he hath hit the mark at which he aimed7 to engage in a formal debate with these audacious moralists1 who would boast and bogle us out of the good old way1 wherein1 if men walk1 they must find rest to their souls4 ,yet if by the doctrine he hath here explained and pressed1 as the only way of life1 they do not find what a mortal wound he hath given their morality1 all the lovers of the truth will see it2 and it may be1 the ,lord sparing life1 and continuing the same gracious and great assistance1 he hath had in engaging with many and great adversaries to the truth at home and abroad1 they may see somewhat from his pen1 which may make the lovers of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in sincerity1 and of the operations of his ,spirit1 sing over these successors to ,sisera1 who with their jumping chariots and rattling wheels1 assault the truth1 at his feet they bowed1 they fell1 they lay down at his feet1 they bowed1 they fell where they bowed1 there they fell down dead2 so let all the enemies of thy truth perish1 ,o ,lord6 ,how to make the whole more useful for thee1 for whose advantage 'tis mainly intended1 ,i leave to the author's own direction2 only this ,i must say1 his method and mould1 wherein he casts his sweet matter1 and his way of handling this so seasonable a subject1 is so accommodate to each case1 and brought home to the conscience1 and down to the capacity of the meanest ,christian1 which was his aim1 that the feeble1 in this day1 might be as ,david2 that howbeit many worthy men have not only hinted1 but enlarged upon the same matter1 yet thou canst not but see some heart-endearing singularity in his way of improving and handling this great gospel truth4 ,next1 ,i must tell thee1 that as ,i myself read it with much satisfaction 7though1 alas6 ,i dare not say1 ,i have by reading reaped the designed advantage71 so that thou mayest be blushed into a perusal thereof1 and profiting thereby1 ,i must likewise tell thee1 ,i say1 it hath been turned into ,dutch1 and that it hath not only met with great acceptation amongst all the serious and godly in these parts1 who have seen it1 but is much sought after2 and they profess themselves singularly thereby edified1 and set a-going after ,god1 by its efficacious persuasiveness1 with a singing alacrity2 and if it have not the same effect upon thee and me1 they and it will arise up against us in judgment4 ,up1 therefore1 ,christians1 and be doing3 ,listen to such a teacher1 who1 lest thou tire in thy race1 or turn back1 teacheth thee a certain and sweet way of singular proficiency and progress in the ways of ,god4 ,it may be1 it is not thy work1 nor mine1 to write both against these soul-murdering1 however magnified1 methods of taking men off ,jesus ,christ2 but our penury of parts for that1 should first put us to seek plenty of tears1 that we may weep1 to see our master so wounded by the piercing pens of those who1 to patronise their mock religion1 wrest the ,scriptures1 and with wicked hands wring the word of the ,lord1 till it weep blood3 this1 ,i say1 should provoke thee and me to weep upon him1 till he appear1 and beat the pens of such deceivers out of their hand by a blow of his2 #b;d1 ,it should provoke us to know the truth1 that we may contend earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints1 and to have these contradicted truths so impressed in their life upon our souls1 that the pen of the most subtle pleader for this perversion of the gospel may neither delete these1 nor be able to stagger us1 but we may1 from the efficacious working of these1 have the witness in ourselves1 and know the men who teach otherways not to be of ,god2 #c;d1 ,it should be our ambition1 when the all of religion is cried down1 and a painted shadow1 a putrid1 however perfumed1 nothing put in its place1 to make it appear1 by our practice1 that religion is an elevation of the soul above the sphere and activity of dead morality2 and that it is no less or lower principle that acts us1 than ,christ dwelling in us1 and walking in us4 ,how can the love of ,god1 and of ,christ1 and of the ,spirit be in us1 if these perverse praters against the power of godliness1 provoke us not to emit a practical declaration to the world1 and extort a testimony to his grace by our way1 from the enemies thereof8 ,improve1 therefore1 this his special help to that purpose1 which in a most seasonable time is brought to thy hand4 ,but to sum up all shortly1 there are but three things which make religion an heavy burden2 #ast1 ,the blindness of the mind2 and here thou art taught to make use of that eye-salve1 whereby the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity1 and out of darkness2 he who formerly erred in spirit1 by the light held forth in these lines1 may see a surpassing beauty in the ways of ,god2 #b;d1 ,that aversion and unwillingness which is in the mind1 whereby the sweet and easy yoke of his commands is spurned at as heavy2 in order to the removing thereof1 and that thou mayest be among his willing people1 here thou hast ,christ held forth in his conquering beauty1 displaying his banner of love over souls1 so that thou canst not look upon him as held forth1 but faith will bow thy neck to take on his yoke1 because it sees it is lined with the love of ,christ1 and then this love that lines the yoke1 shed abroad in the heart1 will constrain to a bearing of it2 but1 #c;d1 ,when the spirit is willing1 there remains yet much weakness2 love kindled in the heart conquers the mind into a compliance with his will1 and a complacency in his commands1 but its greatest strength is often to weep over a withered hand4 ,now that thy hands which fall down may be made strong for labour1 and thou mayest be girded with strength1 and have grace for grace1 yea1 all grace to make thee abound unto every good word and work1 the author leads thee up unto the full fountain of all gospel furniture1 and strength2 and teacheth thee how to make use of ,christ1 as thy sufficiency1 for working all thy works in thee and for thee4 ,i say1 therefore1 again unto thee1 take heart1 let not thine hands fall down1 essay nothing thou would have well done or easily done1 in thine own strength2 but yet how difficult soever the duty be1 approach it as having no confidence in the flesh1 but with an eye to thy stock1 that rich store-house of all furniture1 and it shall be with thee as it was with the priests1 before whom ,jordan recoiled1 so soon as their foot entered within the brink2 ,god shall make thy difficulties evanish2 and by the illapses of the ,spirit of power and might from ,jesus ,christ depended upon1 shall so strengthen thee1 that thy duty is made easy to admiration1 and becomes the delight of thy soul4 ,pray for the continuance of the life of the author1 who1 by his assiduous working for ,christ1 hath been often near unto death1 not regarding his own life1 to supply the lack of other men's service1 to the interest and ,church of ,god2 and let him be comforted for this piece of travel undertaken for thy soul's interest1 by hearing thou dost improve it to thy advantage1 for which it is so exactly calculate3 ,and with all ,i beg thy fervent and earnest intercessions for grace1 and more grace1 to him who is thy poor1 yet soul's well-wisher and servant1 for ,christ's sake1 ,r4 ,m4 ,w4 ,,christ ,,the ,,way1 ,,and ,,the ,,truth1 ,,and ,,the ,,life4 ,,john ,,xiv4 #f--;,,jesus ,,saith ,,unto ,,them1 ,i ,,am ,,the ,,way1 ,,and ,,the ,,truth1 ,,and ,,the ,,life2 ,,no ,,man ,,cometh ,,unto ,,the ,,father ,,but ,,by ,,me4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,introduction1 ,,with ,,some ,,general ,,observations ,,from ,,the ,,cohesion4 ,doubtless it is always useful1 yea1 necessary1 for the children of ,god to know the right way of making use of ,christ1 who is made all things to them which they need1 even wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj4 ,but it is never more necessary for believers to be clear and distinct in this matter1 than when ,satan1 by all means1 is seeking to pervert the right ways of the ,lord1 and1 one way or other1 to lead souls away1 and draw them off ,christ2 knowing that1 if he prevail here1 he hath gained his point4 ,and therefore he endeavoureth not only to darken it by error1 either more gross or more subtle1 but also to darken it by mistakes and prejudices3 whence it cometh to pass1 that not only strangers are made to wander out of the way1 but oftentimes many of his own people are walking in darkness of ignorance and mistakes1 and remain lean through want of the real exercise of the life of faith1 which would make them fat and flourishing2 because it would make them strong in the ,lord1 and in the power of his might1 and to grow up in ,christ in all things4 ,the clearing up then of this truth cannot but be most seasonable now1 when ,satan is prevailing with many1 whom he cannot get tempted to looseness and profanity1 to sit down upon something which is not ,christ1 and to rest upon something with themselves1 distinct from him1 both in the matter of justification and sanctification4 ,this subtle adversary is now setting some a-work1 to cry up1 by preaching1 speaking1 and printing1 a way to heaven which is not ,christ2 a kind of morality1 civility1 and outward holiness1 whereupon the soul is to rest4 ,and this holiness1 not wrought and effectuated through the strength of ,jesus1 by faith sucking life and furniture from him2 but through our own art and skill1 which in effect is nothing but an extract of refined ,popery1 ,socinianism1 and ,arminianism1 devised and broached of purpose to draw the soul off ,christ1 that he may stand upon his own legs1 and walk by his own power1 and thank himself1 at least in part1 for the crown at length4 ,further1 through the great goodness of ,god1 the true way of a soul's justification is admirably cleared up2 and many are1 at least theoretically1 acquainted therewith2 and many also practically1 to the quieting of their wakened consciences1 and stopping the mouth of their accusers1 and obtaining of peace1 joy1 and the lively hope of the everlasting crown2 yet many gracious souls profess their unacquaintedness with the solid and thriving way of use-making of ,christ for growth in grace and true sanctification4 ,therefore some discovery of the truth here cannot but be useful1 seasonable1 yea1 and acceptable unto them4 ,if he1 who is the ,truth1 would give grace to understand1 and to unfold this so necessary and always advantageous a truth1 and would help to write of and explain this truth by faith in him who is here said to be the ,truth1 then should we have cause to bless and magnify his name4 ,but if he1 because of sin1 shall hide himself1 and not let out these beams of light1 whereby we might discover light1 we shall but darken counsel with words without our knowledge1 and leave the matter as unclear as ever4 ,therefore is it necessary1 there be both in him that writeth1 and in such as read1 a single dependence on him1 who is for a leader1 ,isa4 lv4 #e1 and hath promised to bring the blind by a way which they know not1 and to lead them in paths they had not known1 and to make darkness light before them1 and crooked things straight1 ,isa4 xlii4 #af1 that thus by acting faith on him we may find1 in so far1 the truth of this verified1 viz4 that he is the ,way1 the ,truth1 and the ,life4 ,now1 for clearing up of this matter1 we would know1 that our ,lord ,jesus1 from the beginning of this chapter1 is laying down some grounds of consolation1 sufficient to comfort his disciples against the sad news of his departure and death2 and to encourage them against the fears they had of much evil to befall them when their ,lord and ,master should be taken from them2 which is a sufficient proof of the tender heart of ,jesus1 who alloweth all his followers strong consolation against all fears1 hazards1 troubles1 and perplexities which they can meet with in their way4 ,he will not leave them comfortless1 and therefore he layeth down strong grounds of consolation to support their drooping and fainting hearts2 as loving to see his followers always rejoicing in the ,lord1 and singing in the ways of ,zion3 that the world may see and be convinced of a reality in ,christianity1 and of the preferableness of that life1 notwithstanding of all the troubles that attend it1 unto any other1 how sweet and desirable soever it may appear to flesh and blood4 ,in prosecution of which design1 he told them1 verse #d1 that they knew whether he went1 and the way also which he was to take1 and by which he was to bring them to the ,father1 to the mansion spoken of1 and so to life eternal4 ,but ,thomas rashly and incredulously 7as too usually he did1 chap4 xi4 #af2 xx4 #be17 venteth himself1 and little less than contradicteth his ,master1 saying1 verse #e1 ,we know not whither thou goest1 and how can we know the way8 wherein we have an emblem of many a believer1 who may have more grace and knowledge of ,god and of ,christ than they will be able to see1 or acknowledge that they have2 what through temptations1 inward distempers1 sense of their many defects1 and great ignorance1 strong desires of high measures1 clearer discoveries of the vastness of the object1 mistakes about the true nature of grace1 despising the day of small things1 and indistinctness as to the actings of grace1 or want of understanding and right uptaking of grace in its various outgoings and actings under various notions1 and the like4 ,whereupon ,christ1 after his usual manner1 taketh occasion to clear up that ground of consolation further unto them2 and to let them see the true way of coming to the ,father1 that thereby they might be helped to see that they were not such strangers unto the way as they supposed2 and withal1 he amplifieth and layeth out the properties and excellencies of this way1 as being the only true and living way2 and that in such a manner1 as they might both see the way to be perfect1 full1 safe1 saving1 and satisfying2 and also learn their duty of improving this way always1 and in all things1 until they come home at length to the ,father1 saying1 ,i am the way1 and the truth1 and the life2 no man cometh unto the ,father but by me4 ,christ then saying1 that he not only is the way to the ,father1 even the true way1 but that he is so the true way1 as that he is also truth itself in the abstract1 and so the living way1 that he is life itself in the abstract1 giveth us ground to consider1 after what manner it is that he is the ,truth and the ,life1 as well as the ,way2 and that for clearing up and discovering of his being an absolutely perfect1 transcendently excellent1 incomparably preferable and fully satisfying way1 useful to believers in all cases1 all exigents1 all distresses1 all difficulties1 all trials1 all temptations1 all doubts1 all perplexities1 and in all causes or occasions of distempers1 fears1 faintings1 discouragements1 c4 which they may meet with in their way to heaven4 ,and this will lead us to clear up the duty of believers1 on the other hand1 and to show how they should1 in all their various cases and difficulties1 make use of ,christ as the only all-sufficient way to the ,father1 and as truth and life in the way1 and so we will be led to speak of ,christ's being to his people all that is requisite for them here in the way1 whether for justification or sanctification2 and how people are to make use of him as being all1 or1 as being made of ,god to us wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj4 ,ere we come to the words in particular1 we would look upon them as having relation to ,thomas his words in the preceding verse1 wherein he did little less than contradict what ,christ had said in the #dth verse1 and learn several very comfortable points of doctrine1 as1 ,i4 ,that ,jesus ,christ is very tender of his followers1 and will not cast them off1 nor upbraid them for every escape whereby they may provoke him to anger and grieve his ,spirit2 but gently passeth by many of their failings1 when he findeth they are not obstinate in their mistake1 nor perverse in their way4 ,for how gently and meekly doth he here pass over ,thomas his unhandsome expression1 finding that ,thomas spake here1 not out of obstinacy and pertinaciousness1 but out of ignorance and a mistake4 ,and the reason is1 because1 #a4 ,christ knoweth our infirmity and weakness1 and is of a tender heart1 and therefore will not break the bruised reed1 ,isa4 xlii4 ,well knoweth he that rough and untender handling would crush us1 and break us all in pieces4 ,and1 #b4 ,he is full of bowels of mercy1 and can have compassion on them that are out of the way1 and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities1 ,heb4 iv4 #ae4 v4 #b4 ,which truth1 as upon the one hand1 it should encourage all to choose him for their leader1 and give up themselves unto him1 who is so tender of his followers2 so1 upon the other hand1 it should rebuke such as are ready to entertain evil and hard thoughts of him1 as if he were an hard master1 and ill to be followed1 and put all from entertaining the least thought of his untenderness and want of compassion4 ,but1 moreover1 ,,ii4 ,we see1 that weaknesses and corruptions breaking out in believers1 when they are honestly and ingenuously laid open before the ,lord1 will not fear him away1 but rather engage him the more to help and succour4 ,much of ,thomas his weakness and corruption appeared in what he said2 yet the same being honestly and ingenuously laid open to ,christ1 not out of a spirit of contradiction1 but out of a desire to learn1 ,christ is so far from thrusting him away1 that he rather condescendeth the more1 out of love and tenderness1 to instruct him better1 and clear the way more fully4 ,and that1 because1 #a4 ,he knoweth our mould and fashion1 how feckless and frail we are1 and that if he should deal with us according to our folly1 we should quickly be destroyed4 #b4 ,he is not as a man1 hasty1 rash1 proud2 but gentle1 loving1 tender1 and full of compassion4 #c4 ,it is his office and proper work to be an instructor to the ignorant1 and a helper of our infirmities and weaknesses1 a physician to bind up and cure our sores and wounds4 ,who would not then willingly give up themselves to such a teacher that will not thrust them to the door1 nor give them up to themselves always1 when their corruptions would provoke him thereunto8 ,and what a madness is this in many1 to stand a-back from ,christ1 because of their infirmities2 and to scar at him1 because of their weakness1 when the more corruption we find the more we should run to him8 and it is soon enough to depart from ,christ when he thrusts us away1 and saith1 he will have no more to do with us2 yea1 he will allow us to stay after we are thrice thrust away4 ,only1 let us take heed that we approve not ourselves in our evils1 that we hide them not as unwilling to part with them1 that we obstinately maintain them not1 nor ourselves in them2 but that we lie open before him1 and deal with him1 with honesty1 ingenuousness1 and plainness4 ,,iii4 ,we see1 further1 ,that ignorance ingenuously acknowledged and laid open before ,christ1 puts the soul in a fair way to get more instruction4 ,thomas having candidly1 according as he thought1 in the simplicity of his heart1 professed his ignorance1 is in a fair way now to get instruction4 ,for this is ,christ's work1 to instruct the ignorant1 to open the eyes of the blind4 ,why then are we so foolish as to conceal our ignorance from him1 and to hide our case and condition from him2 and why doth not this commend ,christ's school to us so much the more8 why do we not carry as ingenious scholars1 really desirous to learn8 ,but1 ,,iv4 ,we may learn1 ,that our ill condition and distempers put into ,christ's hand will have remarkable out-gates1 and an advantageous issue2 seeing ,christ taketh occasion here from ,thomas his laying open his condition1 not without some mixture of corruption1 to clear up the truth more fully and plainly than it was before2 for hereby1 #a4 ,christ giveth an open declaration of the glory of his power1 mercy1 goodness1 wisdom1 c4 #b4 ,he hath occasion to give a proof of his divine art and glorious skill of healing diseased souls1 and of making broken bones stronger than ever they were4 #c4 ,thus he effectually accomplished his noble designs1 and perfecteth his work1 in a way tending to abase man1 by discovering his infirmities and failings2 and to glorify himself in his goodness and love4 #d4 ,thus he triumpheth more over ,satan1 and in a more remarkable and glorious manner destroyeth his works4 #e4 ,thus he declareth how wonderfully he can make all things work together for good to his chosen ones that love him and follow him4 #f4 ,yea1 thus he engageth souls to wonder more at his divine wisdom and power2 to despair less in time coming1 when cases would seem hard2 to acknowledge his great and wonderful grace1 and his infinite power and wisdom1 that can bring life out of death2 and also to be more sensible of the mercy1 and thankful for it4 ,o believer1 what manner of joy is here6 how happy art thou that hath given up thyself to him6 ,thy worst condition can turn to thy advantage4 ,he can make thy ignorance1 vented with a mixture of corruption1 turn to the increase of thy knowledge4 ,bless him for this2 and1 with joy and satisfaction1 abide thou under his tutory and at his school4 ,and withal1 be not discouraged1 be thy case of ignorance and corruption what it will1 lay it before him with sincerity and singleness of heart1 and then thou mayest glory in thine infirmities1 that the power of ,christ may rest on thee1 #b ,cor4 xii4 #i2 for thou shalt see1 in due time1 what advantage infinite love and wisdom can bring to thy soul thereby4 ,may not this be a strong motive to induce strangers to give up themselves to him1 who will sweetly take occasion1 at their failings and shortcomings1 to help them forward in the way8 ,and what excuse can they have who sit the call of the gospel1 and say1 in effect1 they will not go to ,christ because their case is not good4 ,and ,o that believers were not sometimes led away with this error of scaring at ,christ1 because of infirmities seen and discovered6 ,v4 ,it is remarkable1 that1 as the disciples did ofttimes vent much of their carnal conceptions of the kingdom of ,christ1 as apprehending it to be some carnal1 outward1 pompous1 stately1 and1 upon that account1 desirable condition2 so there might be much of this carnal apprehension lurking under this acknowledgment and question of ,thomas2 and the ,lord1 who knew their thoughts1 doth here wisely draw them off those notions1 and sets them about another study1 to tell us1 that it is best and most useful and profitable for us1 to be much taken up in the study and search of necessary fundamental truths1 and1 particularly1 of the way to the ,father4 ,for1 #a4 ,here is the substantial food of the soul2 other notions are but vain1 and oftentimes they make the case of the soul worse2 but the study of this is always edifying4 #b4 ,the right understanding of this and other fundamental truths will not puff up1 but keep the soul humble1 and will make the soul active and diligent in duty4 #c4 ,the fruit of this study is profitable and lasting4 #d4 ,and the right uptaking of these truths will discover the vanity of other sciences1 falsely so called1 and the folly of spending our time about other things4 #e4 ,the right understanding of this fundamental will help us to understand other truths the better4 #f4 ,a mistake in this1 and such like fundamentals1 or the ignorance of them1 is more dangerous than the ignorance of or mistake in other things4 ,oh6 if this were teaching us all1 in humility1 to be much in the study of such fundamental necessary truths as this is2 and to guard against a piece of vanity in affecting knowledge1 the effect of which is nothing but a puffing of us up with pride and conceit6 ,,vi4 ,we may here take notice of what may serve to discover ,thomas his mistake1 and what is the ground of ,christ's assertion1 verse #d1 which ,thomas doth little less than contradict1 verse #e1 viz4 that such as had any acquaintance with ,christ did1 according to the measure of their knowledge of him1 both know heaven and the way to it2 whence we see these truths1 #a4 ,persons may have some real acquaintance with ,christ1 and yet be1 for a time1 very indistinct in their notions about him1 and apprehensions of him4 ,they may know ,christ in some measure1 and yet look upon themselves as great strangers to the knowledge of heaven1 and be oft complaining of their ignorance of the right way to heaven4 #b4 ,where there is the least measure of true acquaintance with ,christ1 with love to him1 and a desire to know more of him1 ,christ will take notice thereof1 though it be covered over with a heap of mistakes1 and accompanied with much ignorance1 weakness1 and indistinctness4 ,he seeth not as man seeth1 which is good news to some that are weak in knowledge1 and unable to give any good account of any knowledge they have2 yet one thing they can say1 that he who knoweth all things1 knoweth that they love him4 #c4 ,various are the dispensations of ,god's grace unto his own4 ,to some he giveth a greater1 to others a lesser measure of knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven2 and to one and the same person1 more at one time than at another4 ,various are his manifestations and out-lettings of grace and love4 ,small beginnings may come to much at length4 ,thomas1 and the rest of the disciples1 had but little clear and distinct apprehensions of the way of salvation through ,jesus ,christ2 and yet1 ere all was done1 they attained to such a measure of understanding in the mysteries of ,god1 as that we are said to be built upon the foundation of the apostles1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone1 ,eph4 ii4 #bj4 ,this should teach the best much sobriety1 and not to judge of all by themselves2 or to think1 that ,god's way with them must be a standard or a rule whereby to judge of all the rest2 as if his way of dealing were one and the same with all4 #d4 ,the knowledge of ,christ is all4 ,know him1 and we know heaven and the way to it2 for upon this ground doth ,christ make good what he said1 touching their knowing whither he went1 and the way2 and answereth the objection that ,thomas did propose1 viz4 because he was the way1 c41 and they being acquaint with him1 7which here is presupposed17 were not ignorant of the place whither he was going1 nor of the way leading thither4 ,the knowledge then of ,jesus ,christ is a true and full compend of all saving knowledge4 ,hence it is life eternal to know him1 ,john xvii4 #c4 ,they that know him1 know the ,father1 ,john xiv4 #i4 and viii4 #ai4 ,they that see him1 see the ,father also1 ,john xiv4 #i4 ,he is in the ,father1 and the ,father in him1 ,john xiv4 #aj1 #aa4 and x4 #ch4 and xvii4 #ba4 ,and so knowing him they know heaven2 for what is heaven else but the presence and glorious manifestations of the ,father2 for when ,christ speaks of his going to heaven1 he saith1 ,he was going to the ,father4 ,so knowing him1 they know the way1 both how ,christ was to go to heaven as our cautioner1 head1 and attorney1 and how we must follow4 ,let then a man have never so much knowledge1 and be acquainted with the mysteries of all arts and sciences1 and with the depths of nature1 and intrigues of states1 and all the theory of religion2 if he be unacquainted with ,jesus1 he knoweth nothing as he ought to know4 ,and upon the other hand1 let a poor soul that is honest1 and hath some knowledge of1 and acquaintance with him1 be satisfied1 though it cannot discourse nor dispute1 nor speak to cases of conscience1 as some others2 if we know him1 it matters not though we be ignorant of many things1 and thereby become less esteemed of by others4 ,here is the true test1 by which we may take a right estimate of our own1 or of others' knowledge4 ,the true rule to try knowledge by1 is not fine notions1 clear and distinct expressions1 but heart-acquaintance with him2 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge1 ,col4 ii4 #c4 ,o sad6 that we are not more taken up in this study1 which would be a compendious way for us to know all8 ,why spend we our money for that which is not bread1 and our labour for that which will not profit us8 ,why waste we our time and spirits in learning this science1 and that art2 when1 alas6 after we1 with much labour and toil1 have attained to the yondmost pitch there1 we are never one whit the nearer heaven and happiness8 yea1 it were well1 if we were not further off6 ,oh6 if we were wise at length1 and could think more of this one thing necessary2 and could be stirred up to learn more of him1 and to make this the subject of all our study and labour4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,of ,,the ,,words ,,themselves ,,in ,,general4 ,we come now to the words themselves1 wherein ,christ asserts that he is1 #a1 the way2 #b1 the truth2 #c1 the life2 and1 #d1 that no man cometh to the ,father but by him4 ,in them we learn these two things in general4 ,first1 ,the misery of wretched man by nature4 ,this cannot be in a few words expressed4 ,these words will point out those particulars thereof1 which we will but mention4 #a4 ,that he is born an enemy to1 and living at a distance from ,god1 by virtue of the curse of the broken covenant of life made with ,adam4 #b4 ,that he neither can nor will return to ,god1 of himself4 ,his way is not in himself2 he hath need of another to be his way4 #c4 ,that he is a blind1 wandering creature1 ready to by-ways and to wander2 yea1 he loveth to wander4 ,he goeth astray as soon as he is born1 speaking lies4 #d4 ,he cannot discern the true way1 but is blinded with prejudice thereat1 and full of mistakes4 ,he is nothing but a lump of error4 #e4 ,he is dead legally and really3 how can he then come home8 ,how can he walk in the way1 though it were pointed out to him8 #f4 ,he1 even when he entereth into the way1 is subject to so many faintings1 swoonings1 upsittings1 c4 that except he get new quickening1 he must lie by the way and perish4 ,in a word1 his misery is such as cannot be expressed2 for as little as it is believed1 and laid to heart2 or seen and mourned for1 and lamented4 ,now1 for a ground to our following discourse1 ,i would press the solid1 thorough and sensible apprehension of this1 without which there will be no use-making or application of ,christ2 for the whole need not the physician1 but the sick2 and ,christ is not come to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance1 ,matt4 ix4 #ab4 ,mark ii4 #ag4 ,yea1 believers themselves would live within the sight of this1 and not forget their frailty2 for though there be a change wrought in them1 yet they are not perfect1 but will have need of ,christ as the way1 the truth1 and the life1 till he bring them in1 and set them down upon the throne1 and crown them with the crown of life4 ,and1 ,o happy they1 who must not walk on foot without this guide leading them by the hand1 or rather carrying them in his arms4 ,let all them who would make use of ,christ remember what they were1 and what they are1 and keep the sense of their frailty and misery fresh2 that seeing their need of him1 they may be in better case to look out to him for help and supply1 and be more distinct in their application of him4 ,the second general is1 that ,christ is a complete mediator1 thoroughly furnished for all our necessities4 ,are we at a distance from the ,father8 ,he is a way to bring us together4 ,are we wandered out of the way8 ,he is the way to us4 ,are we blind and ignorant8 ,he is the truth4 ,are we dead8 ,he is the life4 ,concerning this fulness and completeness of his1 we would mark these things3 #a4 ,that he is thoroughly furnished with all things we stand in need of2 the way1 the truth1 and the life4 ,he hath eye-salve1 clothing1 gold tried in the fire1 c4 ,for the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon him1 and hath anointed him1 ,isa4 lxi4 #a4 #b4 ,he is suitably qualified1 not only having a fulness1 and an all-fulness1 so that whatever we need is to be had in him1 but also a suitable fulness answering our case to the life4 ,are we out of the way8 ,he is the way4 ,are we dead8 ,he is life1 c4 #c4 ,he is richly qualified with this suitable good4 ,he hath not only wisdom and knowledge1 but treasures of it1 yea1 all the treasures thereof1 ,col4 ii4 #c4 ,there is fulness in him2 yea1 it hath pleased the ,father that in him should all fulness dwell1 ,col4 i4 #ai4 ,yea1 the fulness of the ,godhead dwelleth in him bodily1 ,col4 ii4 #i4 #d4 ,hence this is an up-making completeness and fulness2 for we are said to be complete in him1 ,col4 ii4 #aj4 ,and he is said to be all in all1 ,col4 iv4 #aa4 ,he filleth all in all1 ,eph4 i4 #bc4 #e4 ,it is also a satisfying completeness4 ,the eye is not satisfied with seeing1 nor the ear with hearing4 ,the avaricious man is not satisfied with gold1 nor the ambitious man with honour2 but still they are crying with the loch leech1 give1 give6 ,but the man who getteth ,christ is full2 he sitteth down and cryeth1 enough1 enough6 ,and no wonder1 for he hath all2 he can desire no more2 he can seek no more2 for what can the man want that is complete in him8 #f4 ,there is here that which will answer all the objections of a soul2 and these sometimes are not few4 ,if they say they cannot know the way to the ,father1 then he is the truth to instruct and teach them that1 and so to enter them into it4 ,and if they say they cannot walk in that way1 nor advance in it one step1 but will faint and sit up1 succumb and fall by2 he answereth that he is the life1 to put life and keep life in them1 and to cause them to walk1 by putting a new principle of life in them1 and breathing of new on that principle4 ,o thrice happy they who have fled to him for refuge6 ,it is easy for them to answer all objections and cavils of ,satan1 and of a false heart4 ,it is easy for them to put ,christ to answer all4 ,and1 on the other hand1 who can tell the misery of such as are strangers to ,jesus8 ,how shall their wants be made up8 ,how shall they answer challenges1 accusations1 temptations1 doubts1 fears1 objections1 and discouragements1 cast up in their way8 ,oh6 should not this endear the way of the gospel to us1 and make ,christ precious unto us6 ,is it not a wonder that such an all-sufficient mediator1 who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to ,god through him1 should be so little regarded and sought unto2 and that there should be so few that embrace him1 and take him as he is offered in the gospel4 ,how can this be answered in the day of accounts8 ,what excuse can unbelievers now have8 ,is not all to be found in ,christ that their case calleth for8 ,is he not a complete mediator1 thoroughly furnished with all necessaries8 ,is not the riches of his fulness written on all his dispensations8 ,the mouths1 then1 of unbelievers1 must be for ever stopped4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,the ,,way ,,in ,,general1 ,i ,,am ,,the ,,way4 ,we come now to speak more particularly to the words2 and1 first1 ,of his being a way4 ,our design being to point at the way of use-making of ,christ in all our necessities1 straits1 and difficulties which are in our way to heaven2 and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of ,christ in all their particular exigencies2 and so live by faith in him1 walk in him1 grow up in him1 advance and march forward toward glory in him4 ,it will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of ,christ in reference to unbelievers1 as occasion offereth1 because this will help to clear the other4 ,before we can clear up how any can make use of ,christ1 we must speak something of their necessity of him1 and of his being furnished fitly1 fully1 richly1 and satisfyingly for their case2 and this will make the way of use-making of ,christ more plain4 ,while ,christ then says1 ,i am the ,way1 he points out those things to us3 #a4 ,that man is now estranged from the ,lord1 and in a wandering condition3 ,he hath departed from ,god1 he is revolted and gone4 ,they are all gone out of the way1 ,rom4 iii4 #ab4 ,they go astray as soon as they are born1 speaking lies1 ,psal4 lviii4 #c4 #b4 ,nay1 not only so1 but we love naturally to wander and to run away from ,god1 as ,jeremiah complaineth of that wicked people1 ,jer4 xiv4 #aj4 ,naturally1 with the dromedary1 we traverse our ways1 ,jer4 ii4 #bc1 and run hither and thither1 but never look towards him4 ,nay1 we are like those spoken of1 ,job xxi4 #ad4 ,we desire not the knowledge of his ways1 we will have none of him1 ,psalm lxxxi4 #aa2 nor of his reproofs1 ,prov4 i4 #cj4 ,oh1 how sad is this6 ,and yet how is it more sad1 that this is not believed1 nor once considered4 ,and that it is not believed1 is manifest2 for1 #a4 ,how rare is it to meet with persons that are not very well pleased and satisfied with themselves and their condition8 ,they thank the ,lord it was aye well with them4 ,they have no complaints4 ,they see no wants nor necessities4 ,they wonder what makes folk complain of their condition1 of their evil heart1 or of their hazard and danger4 ,they understand not these matters4 #b4 ,do we not find people very quiet and at rest1 though they remain in the congregation of the dead1 ,prov4 xxi4 #af4 ,they sleep in a sound skin1 because they see no hazard4 ,the thoughts of their condition never bereave them of one night's rest3 ,no challenges have they2 all is at peace with them1 for the strong man keeps the house4 #c4 ,how rare is it to find people exercised about this matter1 and busied with it in their thoughts1 either while alone1 or while in company with others2 or once seriously thinking and considering of it1 yea1 or so much as suspecting the matter8 #d4 ,how rare is it to see any soul broken in heart1 and humbled because of this2 who is walking under this as under a load2 whose soul is bleeding under the consideration of this6 ,is there any mourning for this8 #e4 ,where is that to be heard1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do to be saved8 ,how shall we enter into the right way8 ,where is that good old way1 that we may walk in it8 ,few such questions and cases troubling consciences2 and no wonder1 for a deep sleep is upon them4 #f4 ,how cometh it then1 that the pointing forth of the way is so little hearkened unto8 ,sure were this natural condition perceived1 a report of the sure and safe way would be much more welcome than it is3 ,christ by his messengers would not be put to cry so often in vain1 ,this is the way1 turn in hither4 ,here is enough to convince of this ignorance and insensibleness2 but it is his ,spirit1 which convinceth the world of sin1 ,john xvi4 that must bear home this conviction4 ,secondly1 ,it pointeth out to us this1 that the way of man is not in himself1 ,jer4 x4 #bc1 that is1 that nothing1 he can do can or will prove a way to him to the ,father3 ,for ,christ is the ,way1 as excluding all other means and ways4 ,and that man can do nothing to help himself into the way1 is clear2 for1 #a4 ,his way is darkness1 ,prov4 iv4 #ad4 ,he knoweth no better1 he is satisfied therewith2 there he sleepeth and resteth4 #b4 ,he cannot nor doth not desire to return4 ,he hateth to be reformed4 #c4 ,yea1 he thinketh himself safe2 no man can convince him of the contrary3 ,the way he is in seemeth right to him1 though the end thereof be death2 ,prov4 xiv4 #ab1 and xvi4 #be4 #d4 ,every man hath his own particular way to which he turneth1 ,isaiah liii1 #f2 some one thing or other that he is pleased with1 and that he thinks will abundantly carry him through1 and there resteth he2 and what these ordinarily are1 we shall hear presently4 #e4 ,in this his way1 which yet is a false way1 he trusteth1 ,hosea x4 #ac1 he leaneth upon it1 little knowing that it will fail him at length1 and that he and his hope and confidence shall perish4 ,is it not strange then to see men and women gading about to seek their way1 as it is said1 ,jer4 ii4 #cf4 as if they could find it out2 or as if they could of themselves fall upon the way4 ,what a lamentable sight is it1 to see people wearying themselves with very lies1 ,ezek4 xxiv4 #ab2 and wearied in the multitude of their own counsels1 ,isaiah xlvii4 #ae4 ,but what are those false and lying ways which men weary themselves in1 and all in vain2 and which they chuse and trust unto1 and yet are not the way which will prove safe and sure8 ,ans4 ,it will not be easy to reckon them all up1 we shall name some that are principal and most ordinary2 such as1 #a4 ,good purposes and resolutions1 with which many deceive themselves1 supposing that to be all which is required3 ,and1 alas6 all their purposes are like to ,ephraim's goodness1--like the early cloud and morning dew that soon evanisheth2 their purposes are soon broken off1 and soon disappointed1 because made without counsel1 ,prov4 xv4 #bb4 ,many foolishly rest here1 that they have a good mind to do better1 and to amend their ways1 and they purpose after such a time or such time1 they shall begin a new manner of life2 but their purposes never come to any effect1 and so at length they and their purposes both perish4 #b4 ,some convictions and inward challenges4 ,the word now and then pierceth them so far1 and sore and sharp dispensations from the ,lord so far affect their heart1 that they see it is not well with them2 and they are made1 with ,saul1 to cry out1 ,i have sinned1 #a ,sam4 xv4 #bd1 and they advance no further2 those convictions either die out again1 or work no further change3 ,and1 poor souls1 they think1 because at such a sermon1 or such a communion1 they had some such convictions and sharp challenges1 therefore they imagine all is well with them2 when a ,judas may have convictions1 sharper than ever they had1 and a ,felix1 ,acts xxiv4 #be4 #c4 ,convictions followed with some sort of amendment4 ,some may dreadfully deceive themselves with this1 and conclude that all is right with them1 and that the way they are in is safe and sure2 because they have had convictions1 which have been so effectual as to cause them to amend many things1 and become1 as to many things1 changed men and women1 when1 alas1 their way is but a way of darkness still2 it is not ,christ2 they have never come to him4 ,herod hearing ,john ,baptist1 had his own convictions and amendments2 for he did many things1 ,mark vi4 #bj4 #d4 ,many rest upon their outward civility and morality1 or negative holiness4 ,they cannot be challenged for gross faults1 and that is all the way they have to rest in3 ,alas6 could not a wicked ,pharisee say as much as they1 viz4 ,that he was no extortioner1 unjust person1 or an adulterer1 nor such as the publican was1 ,luke xviii4 #aa4 ,how many heathens1 as to this1 shall outstrip such as profess themselves ,christians8 and yet they lived and died strangers to the right way to happiness4 ,see what that poor young man said1 ,luke xviii4 #ba4 #e4 ,some may win to more than civility1 and attain unto a kind of outward holiness1 and outward performance of the duties of religion1 such as hearing1 reading1 prayer1 communicating1 and rest there1 and yet perish3 ,for that is but their own way1 it is not the right way4 ,had not the foolish virgins lamps8 and did they not wait with the rest1 ,matth4 xxv42 and will not many say1 in that day1 ,we have eaten and drunken in thy presence1 and thou hast taught in our streets3 to whom ,christ shall answer1 ,i know not whence you are1 depart from me1 all ye workers of iniquity8 ,luke xiii4 #bf1 #bg4 ,were not the ,jews much in duties and outward ordinances8 and yet see how the ,lord rejected them all1 ,isaiah i4 #aa-ae1 and lxvi4 #c4 #f4 ,much knowledge doth deceive many4 ,they think because they can talk of religion1 speak to cases of conscience1 handle places of ,scripture1 and the like1 that therefore all is right with them2 when alas1 that is but a slippery ground to stand upon4 ,the ,pharisees sat in ,moses' seat1 and taught sometimes sound doctrine2 and yet were heart-enemies to ,jesus1 ,matth4 xxiii4 ,and will not many think to plead themselves into heaven1 by saying1 that they have prophesied in his name1 ,matth4 vii4 #bb4 ,there is a knowledge that puffeth up1 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #b4 ,some there are whose knowledge seemeth to be operative and practical1 and not merely speculative4 ,some may escape the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 and yet again become entangled therein and overcome2 so that their latter end is worse than the beginning2 see #b ,peter ii4 #bj1 #ba1 #bb4 ,knowledge1 ,i grant1 is good1 but it is not ,christ1 and so it is not the way to the ,father2 and many1 alas6 lean to it1 and are deceived at last4 #g4 ,a kind of seeming seriousness in the performance of duties1 and in seeking of ,god1 deceiveth many4 ,they think1 because they are not conscious to their own dissembling1 but they look upon themselves as earnest in what they do1 that therefore all is well4 ,sayeth not ,christ1 that not every one that saith1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of ,god8 ,matth4 vii4 #ba2 that is1 not every one that reneweth their suits1 and ingeminateth their desires1 cry1 and cry over again1 and1 as it were1 will not give it over2 and yet they come short of their expectation4 ,did not the foolish virgins seem earnest and serious1 when they continued waiting with the rest1 and at length cried ,lord1 ,lord1 open unto us2 and yet they are kept at the door4 ,many consider not that there is a secret and close hypocrisy1 that some may be under and not know it1 as well as a gross hypocrisy and dissimulation1 which may be easily observed2 ,will not many seek to enter in that shall not be able8 ,matth4 vii4 #ac4 ,luke xiii4 #bd4 #h4 ,many deceive themselves with this1 that they are looked on by other godly1 discerning persons and ministers1 as good serious ,christians1 and that they carry so handsomely and so fair1 that no man can judge otherways of them1 than that they are good serious seekers of ,god4 ,but1 alas6 the day is coming which will discover many things1 and many one will be deceived both of themselves and of others4 ,not he who commendeth himself is approved1 but whom ,god approveth1 #b ,cor4 x4 #ah4 ,therefore1 ,paul exhorts ,timothy1 to study to show himself approved unto ,god1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ae4 ,men look only on the outside1 and cannot see into the heart2 but ,god searcheth the heart2 and it is an easy matter to deceive men1 but ,god will not be deceived4 #i4 ,some may suppose themselves in a safe and sure way1 if they outstrip others in religious duties1 and be much in extraordinary duties1 when1 alas6 for all that1 the heart may be rotten4 ,the ,pharisee fasted twice a-week1 ,luke xviii4 #ab1 and yet was but an enemy to ,christ4 ,o how deceitful is the heart of man6 #aj4 ,inward peace and quietness of conscience may deceive some2 and they may suppose that all is right with them2 because they do nothing over the belly of their conscience4 ,their heart doth not accuse them of falsehood and dissimulation in their way with ,god or man1 but they do all things according to their light4 ,no doubt that young man 7,luke xviii4 #ba17 spoke according to his judgment and light1 when he said1 ,all these things have ,i kept from my youth4 ,and ,paul saith of himself 7,acts xxiii4 #a17 that he had lived in all good conscience before ,god till that very day2 meaning1 that even while he was a ,pharisee unconverted1 he had not tortured his conscience1 nor done anything directly against it1 but had always walked according to his light4 ,see ,acts xxvi4 #i4 #aa4 ,a way of zeal may deceive many who may think their case unquestionable1 because they are zealous for their way1 and1 as they think1 their zeal is pure for ,god4 ,was not ,paul1 while a ,pharisee1 very zealous1 when1 out of zeal to his way1 he persecuted the church1 ,philip4 iii4 #f4 ,see my zeal for the ,lord1 could ,i thus say1 #b ,kings x4 #af2 and the ,jews had a zeal of ,god1 but not according to knowledge1 ,rom4 x4 #b2 and ,christ tells us1 that such as should persecute the ,apostles unto death1 would think they did ,god good service1 ,john xvi4 #b4 #ab4 ,some also may put it beyond question1 that they are in the right way1 because they are more strict in all their ways than others1 and will not so much as keep fellowship or company with them2 saying1 with those1 7,isaiah lxv4 #e7 ,stand by1 ,i am holier than thou1 come not near to me1 who yet are but a smoke in ,god's nose1 and a fire that burneth all the day4 #ac4 ,some may rest on1 and deceive themselves with their great attainments1 and more than ordinary experiences1 when1 alas6 we see to what a height some may come1 and yet prove nothing4 ,let such souls read with trembling that word of ,paul1 ,heb4 vi #d1 #e1 where we see some may come to be enlightened1 to taste of the heavenly gift1 to be made partakers of the ,holy ,ghost1 to taste the good word of ,god1 and the powers of the world to come1 and yet prove cast-aways2 taking these expressions as pointing forth something distinct from real grace4 ,many such false ways1 wherein men please themselves1 might be mentioned2 by these every one may see cause of searching and trying over and over again4 ,it is a dreadful thing to be deceived here1 and it is best to put it to a trial1 when there is a possibility of getting the matter helped4 ,and many may fear and tremble when they see they are not yet come the length of many such as sit down without ,christ1 and lose all their labour4 ,oh1 if this could put people to a serious examination and trial of themselves1 and of the nature of that way wherein they are1 and rest at present6 ,thirdly1 ,we might here observe1 that this true and living way is but one for all4 ,there is but one ,mediator between ,god and man1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #e4 ,one ,mediator for both ,old and ,new ,testament1 the seed of the woman4 ,howbeit the ,lord's dispensations with his people1 in that one way1 may be various1 as his way with his people under the law is different from his way with his people under the gospel2 and his dispensations with individual believers1 whether under the law or under the gospel1 is not the same in all things4 ,and this should teach us to relinquish our own ways1 and to enter into this one only way2 and it should move such as are in this way to study unity and agreement among themselves2 and yet not infer or suppose1 that ,god's way with them must be in all things alike4 ,yea1 though the ,lord's way with them be different from his way with others1 and more dark1 disconsolate1 and bitter1 yet let them be quiet and silent before the ,lord1 and acknowledge his goodness that hath brought them into the one only way1 ,jesus ,christ1 and keepeth them there4 ,but1 fourthly1 ,the main thing here1 and which is obvious1 is this1 that ,jesus ,christ is the way to the ,father1 the one and only way1 the sovereign and excellent way1 and he alone is the way4 ,there is not another4 ,neither is there salvation in any other2 for there is none other name under heaven given among men1 whereby we must be saved1 ,acts iv4 #ab4 ,for clearing of this1 we shall speak a little to those four things1 and shew1 #a4 ,what is our case1 and what need we have of a way4 #b4 ,how ,christ answereth this our case and necessity1 and is a fit way for us4 #c4 ,how he alone is the way1 and answereth this our case4 #d4 ,what are the rare advantages and specialities of this way4 ,and this will make way for our clearing up1 how ,christ is made use of as a way by poor sinners4 ,for the first of these1 our present case and necessity1 something was spoken to it before2 we shall reduce all those to two heads4 ,the first is1 our state of guilt1 and separation from ,god because of sin and guilt2 the next is1 our state of wickedness and enmity against ,god4 ,as to the first1 we may take notice of those things3 #a4 ,that sin1 original and actual1 hath separated us from ,god1 and cast us out of his favour1 and out of that station of favour and friendship which once we were advanced to in ,adam4 #b4 ,that we are under ,god's curse and wrath1 and excommunicated from the presence of the ,lord1 by a sad1 yet just1 sentence according to law1 and so are under death4 ,as to the next thing1 we may take notice of those particulars3 #a4 ,that we are impure and polluted with sin and daily iniquity4 #b4 ,that we are ignorant of the right way of returning into favour with ,god1 seeking out to ourselves many inventions4 #c4 ,that we are impotent for any good work or commanded duty4 ,that not only so1 but we are unwilling to do any thing that is good1 or to enter into the way when pointed out unto us2 yea1 we are enemies to ,god by wicked works1 and have an innate hatred to all his ways4 #e4 ,we desire not to be out of the condition whereinto we are2 there we love to lie and sleep1 and desire not to be roused up or awakened4 #f4 ,we are under the power and command of ,satan1 who leadeth us out of the way1 yea1 and driveth us forward in the wrong way1 to our perdition4 ,these things are plain and undeniable1 and need no further confirmation2 though1 alas6 it is little believed or laid to heart by many4 ,for the second1 how ,christ answereth this our case and necessity4 ,he is a way to us to help us out of both these1 both out of our state of guilt and separation1 and out of our state of wickedness and enmity4 ,and1 first1 he helpeth us out of our state of guilt and separation3 #a4 ,by taking away our guilt and sin2 being made sin for us1 who knew no sin1 that we might be made the righteousness of ,god in him1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba4 ,he hath filled the great gap betwixt ,god and us1 with his body1 and hath made of it1 as it were1 a bridge1 by which they may go over to the ,father3 ,we enter now into the holiest by the blood of ,jesus1 by a new and living way1 which he hath consecrated for us1 through the veil1 that is to say1 his flesh1 ,heb4 x4 #ai1 #bj2 we are now brought near by his blood1 ,eph4 ii4 #ac1 so that through him we are restored again to friendship with ,god1 and made one with him2 for ,christ the ,mediator hath made both one1 reconciling ,jews and ,gentiles both unto ,god1 in one body1 by the cross1 having slain the enmity1 ,eph4 ii4 #af4 #b4 ,by taking away the curse and wrath that was due to us1 being made a curse for us1 ,gal iii4 #ac4 ,so that he is become our peace1 and through him we have access by one spirit unto the ,father1 and are no more strangers and foreigners1 but fellow-citizens with the saints1 and of the household of ,god1 ,eph4 ii4 #ad1 #ah1 #ai4 ,he is set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood1 ,rom4 iii4 #be4 #a ,john ii4 #b1 and iv4 #aj4 ,by him have we now received atonement1 ,rom4 v4 #aa4 ,next1 he helpeth us out of our state of wickedness and enmity1 #a4 ,by taking away our impurity and uncleanness1 by washing us and cleansing us in his blood1 ,ezek4 xvi4 #f-i4 ,col4 i4 #bb1 having purchased grace for us1 ,eph4 v4 #a1 #c1 we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in him4 ,he applieth his merits1 and layeth the foundation of grace and holiness in the soul1 and carrieth on the work of mortification and vivification2 and so killing the old man by his ,spirit1 both meritoriously and efficiently1 he cleanseth and washeth4 ,hence1 we are said to be baptised with him in his death1 and buried with him by baptism into death1 that we should walk in newness of life4 ,and so our old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 that henceforth we should not serve sin1 ,rom4 vi4 #c1 #d1 #f4 ,and for our daily infirmities and escapes1 whereby we pollute ourselves1 his blood is a fountain opened to the house of ,david and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness1 ,zech4 xiii4 #a2 and to this fountain he bringeth by the spirit of repentance1 which he1 as an exalted prince1 bestoweth1 ,acts4 v4 #ca1 and by faith4 ,so #a ,john ii4 #a1 if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father1 c4 #b4 ,as for our ignorance and blindness1 he taketh that away1 being given for a light to the ,gentiles1 ,isa4 xlii4 #f1 and xlix4 #f4 ,luke ii4 #cb4 ,he is sent to open the blind eyes1 ,isa4 xlii4 #g2 to bring out the prisoners from their dark prisons1 ,isa4 xlii4 #g1 and lxi4 #a4 ,yea1 he is anointed for this end1 so that such as walk in darkness see a great light1 and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death1 upon them the light hath shined1 ,isa4 ix4 #b4 ,matth4 iv4 #ae2 and he hath eye-salve to give1 ,rev4 iii4 #ah4 #c4 ,he is qualified for taking away our impotency1 so that through him we can do all things1 ,philip1 iv4 #ac2 when we are weak1 we are strong in him who is our strength1 and liveth in us1 #b ,cor4 xii4 #aj4 ,gal4 ii4 #bj4 ,hence1 he worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure1 ,philip4 ii4 #ac4 #d4 ,he also taketh away our natural averseness1 unwillingness1 wickedness1 and hatred of his ways1 making his people willing in the day of his power1 ,psal4 cx4 ,so he taketh away the enmity that is in us1 ,col4 ii4 #bj1 and reconcileth us to ,god and to his ways1 that our hearts do sweetly comply with them1 and we become most willing and glad to walk in them1 yea1 and to run the way of his commandments through his enlarging of our hearts1 ,psal4 cxix4 #bb4 #e4 ,he likewise taketh away that desire and willingness1 which we have1 to lie still in our natural condition1 by convincing us of the dreadful hazard thereof1 through the spirit of conviction1 whereby he convinceth the world of it1 ,john xvi4 #h1 and circumciseth their ears to hear1 and maketh them willing to hearken to the counsel of ,god4 #f4 ,as for the power and dominion of ,satan1 he breaketh that1 by leading captivity captive1 ,eph4 iv4 #h2 ,psal4 lxviii4 #ah2 and spoiling the strongman's house2 for he is come to destroy the works of the devil1 #a ,john iii4 #h2 and he spoileth principalities and powers1 ,col4 ii4 #ae4 ,thus1 as a captain of salvation1 he leadeth them out as a conqueror2 having paid the price1 he delivereth also by power and authority from the hand of this jailor4 ,and thus we see how he answereth our case and necessity1 and is a fit way for us2 and though this be not questioned1 yet little is it believed and considered1 and less put in practice4 ,and as for the third particular1 that he alone is this way1 and answereth our case herein1 it needeth not be much spoken to1 since it is clear and manifest1 confirmed by the experience of all generations1 and the disappointments of fools who have been seeking other ways4 ,angels in heaven cannot do our business1 they cannot satisfy justice for us1 nor have they any power over our heart to turn it as they will2 nay1 they are not acquainted with our secret thoughts1 that cabinet is kept close from them1 and reserved as the peculiar privilege of ,god alone4 ,the blood of bulls and of goats cannot do it2 for the apostle tells us1 that it is impossible for that to take away sin1 ,heb4 x4 #d4 ,that blood shed according to the law did cleanse ceremonially1 but it is only the blood of ,jesus1 typified by that1 which cleanseth really2 so that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all1 ,heb4 x4 #aj4 ,no pains or labour of ours can avail here4 ,the ,lord will not be pleased with thousands of rams1 or with ten thousands of rivers of oil4 ,he will not take our first-born for our transgression1 nor the son of our body for the sin of our soul1 ,micah vi4 #g4 ,ordinance and means will not do it1 nor any invention of our own3 no man can by any means redeem his brother1 or give to ,god a ransom for him2 for the redemption of the soul is precious1 and it ceaseth for ever1 ,psal4 xlix4 #g1 #h4 ,he alone hath laid down the price2 all our sufferings1 prayers1 tears1 labours1 penances1 and the like1 signify nothing here2 they cannot satisfy justice for one sin4 ,as to the fourth particular1 viz41 the singularity of this way1 those things make it manifest and apparent3 #a4 ,this is such a way as can discover itself1 and make itself known unto the erring traveller4 ,christ ,jesus is such a way as can say to the wandering soul1 this is the way1 walk ye in it1 ,isa4 xxx4 #be4 ,no way can do this4 ,this is comfortable4 #b4 ,this way can not only discover itself to the wandering traveller1 but also it can bring folk into it4 ,christ can bring souls unto himself1 when they are running on in their wandering condition4 ,he can move their hearts to turn into the right way1 put grace in their soul for this end1 begin resolutions in them1 and sow the seed of faith2 and so stay their course which they were violently pursuing1 and make them look about and consider what they are doing4 ,as the former was good news to poor1 blind1 and witless creatures that were wandering and knew not whither they were going2 so this is good news to poor souls that find their heart inclining to wander1 and loving to go astray4 #c4 ,this way can cause us walk in it4 ,if we be rebellious and obstinate1 he can command with authority2 for he is given for a leader and commander1 ,isa4 lv4 #d4 ,how sweet should this be to the soul that is weighted with a stubborn1 untractable1 and unpersuadable heart1 that he1 as a king1 governor1 and commander1 can with authority draw or drive1 and cause us follow and run8 #d4 ,this way is truth1 as well as the way2 so that the soul that once entereth in here is safe for ever2 no wandering here4 ,the wayfaring men1 though fools1 shall not err in this way1 ,isa4 xxxv4 #h4 ,he will bring the blind by a way that they knew not1 and lead them in paths that they have not known2 he will make darkness light before them1 and crooked things straight2 those things will he do unto them1 and not forsake them1 ,isa4 xlii4 #af4 #e4 ,this way is also life1 and so can revive the faint and weary traveller4 ,he giveth power to the faint1 and to them that have no might he increaseth strength2 yea1 he renews their strength1 and makes them mount up with wings as eagles1 and run and not be weary1 and walk and not be faint1 ,isa4 xl4 #bi1 #ca2 and so he giveth legs to the traveller1 yea1 he carrieth the lambs in his bosom1 ,isa4 xl4 #aa4 ,oh6 who would not walk in this way8 what can discourage the man that walketh here8 what can he fear8 ,no way can quicken and refresh the weary man4 ,this way can do it2 yea1 it can quicken one that is as dead1 and cause him march on with fresh alacrity and vigour4 #f4 ,from all these it followeth1 that this way is a most pleasant1 heartsome1 desirable and comfortable way4 ,the man is safe here1 and he may sing in the ways of the ,lord1 ,psalm cxxxviii4 #e4 ,for wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths are peace1 ,prov4 iii4 #ag4 ,he is a way that is food1 physic1 cordials1 and all that the poor traveller standeth in need of till he come hence4 ,from all which1 ere we come to particulars1 we shall in general point out those duties1 which natively result thence1 by way of use4 #a4 ,o what cause is there here for all of us to fall a wondering1 both that ,god should ever have condescended to have appointed a way how sinners and rebels1 that had wickedly departed from him1 and deserved to be cast out of his presence and favour for ever1 might come back again1 and enjoy happiness and felicity in the friendship and favour of that ,god that could have got the glory of his justice in our destruction1 and stood in no need of us1 or of any thing we could do3 as also1 that he appointed such a way1 that ,jesus ,christ his only ,son1 should1 to speak so1 lie as a bridge betwixt ,god and sinful rebels1 and as a highway1 that they might return to the great ,god upon him4 ,let all the creation of ,god wonder at this wonderful condescending love of ,god1 that appointed such a way2 and of ,christ1 that was content to lout so low as to become this way to us1 this new and living way2 and that for this end he should have taken on flesh1 and become ,emmanuel1 ,god with us1 and tabernacled with us1 that through this vail of his flesh1 he might consecrate a way to us4 ,let angels wonder at this condescendency4 #b4 ,hence we may see ground of being convinced of those things3 7#a47 ,that naturally we are out of the way to peace and favour with ,god1 and in a way that leadeth to death1 and so that our misery and wretchedness1 so long as it is so1 cannot be expressed4 7#b47 ,that we can do nothing for ourselves2 set all our wits a-work1 we cannot fall upon a way that will bring us home4 7#c47 ,that it is madness for us to seek out another way1 and to vex ourselves in vain1 to run to this and to that mean or invention of our own1 and be found fools in the end4 7#d47 ,that our madness is so much the greater in this1 that we will turn to our own ways that will fail us1 when there is such a noble and excellent1 and every way satisfying way prepared to our hand4 7#e47 ,that our wickedness is so desperate1 that the way which is pointed out to us doth not please us1 and that we will not enter into it1 nor walk in it4 7#f47 ,that this way1 which is also the truth and the life1 is only worth the embracing1 and is only safe and sure2 we should be convinced and persuaded of the worth1 sufficiency1 and desirableness of this way4 ,reason1 with ordinary light from the word1 may teach these things2 but grace can only carry them into the heart1 and make them take rooting there4 #c4 ,we may read here our obligation to those particulars3 7#a47 ,to turn our back upon all other false and deceitful ways1 and not rest there4 7#b47 ,to enter into this way1 though the gate be narrow and strait1 ,matt vii4 #ac4 ,luke xiii4 #bd1 yet to strive to enter in4 7#c47 ,to resolve to abide in that way as acquiescing in it1 resting satisfied with it1 and thus to be rooted in him1 ,col4 ii4 #g1 and to dwell in him1 #a ,john iii4 #bd1 and to live in him1 or through him1 #a ,john iv4 #i4 7#d47 ,to walk in this way1 ,col4 ii4 #f4 that is1 to make constant use of him1 and to make progress in the way in and through him2 to go from strength to strength in him1 drawing all our furniture from him1 by faith1 according to the covenant2 and that the soul should guard against1 #a4 stepping aside out of this good and pleasant way2 #b4 backsliding2 #c4 sitting up1 and fainting by the way4 ,in a word1 this pointeth out our duty1 to make use of ,christ as our way to the ,father1 and only of ,christ2 and this leads us to the particulars we shall speak a little to4 ,there are two main things which stand in our way1 and hinder us from approaching to the ,father4 #a4 ,unrighteousness and guilt1 whereby we are legally banished1 because of the broken covenant1 and the righteous sentence of ,god according to that covenant4 ,and1 #b4 ,wickedness1 impurity1 and unholiness1 which is1 as a physical bar1 lying in our way2 because nothing that is unclean can dwell and abide with him1 who is of purer eyes than he can behold iniquity2 and nothing that is unclean can enter in there where he is4 ,so then there must be an use-making of ,christ1 as a way through both these impediments2 we need justification and pardon for the one1 and sanctification and cleansing for the other4 ,now ,christ being the way to the ,father1 both as to justification1 in taking away the enmity1 in changing our state1 and removing our unrighteousness and guilt1 whereby we were lying under the sentence of the law1 adjudging such sinners as we are to hell2 and as to sanctification1 in cleansing us from all our pollutions1 renewing our souls1 washing away our spots and defilements1 c4 ,he must be made use of in reference to both4 ,in speaking to the first1 we shall be the shorter1 because through ,god's great mercy1 the gospel's pure way of justification by faith in ,christ is richly and abundantly cleared up by many worthy authors1 of late1 both as concerning the theoretical and practical part4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,made ,,use ,,of ,,for ,,justification ,,as ,a ,,way4 ,what ,christ hath done to purchase1 procure1 and bring about our justification before ,god1 is mentioned already1 viz4 ,that he stood in the room of sinners1 engaging for them as their cautioner1 undertaking1 and at length paying down the ransom2 becoming sin1 or a sacrifice for sin1 and a curse for them1 and so laying down his life a ransom to satisfy divine justice2 and this he hath made known in the gospel1 calling sinners to an accepting of him as their only ,mediator1 and to a resting upon him for life and salvation2 and withal1 working up such1 as belong to the election of grace1 to an actual closing with him upon the conditions of the covenant1 and to an accepting of him1 believing in him1 and resting upon him1 as satisfied with1 and acquiescing in that sovereign way of salvation and justification through a crucified ,mediator4 ,now1 for such as would make use of ,christ as the way to the ,father in the point of justification1 those things are requisite2 to which we shall only premise this word of caution1 ,that we judge not the want of these requisites a ground to exempt any1 that heareth the gospel1 from the obligation to believe and rest upon ,christ as he is offered in the gospel4 #a4 ,there must be a conviction of sin and misery4 ,a conviction of original guilt1 whereby we are banished out of ,god's presence and favour1 and are in a state of enmity and death1 are come short of the glory of ,god1 ,rom4 iii4 #bc2 becoming dead or under the sentence of death1 through the offence of one1 ,rom4 v4 #ae2 being made sinners by one man's disobedience1 verse #ai1 and therefore under the reigning power of death1 verse #ag1 and under that judgment that came upon all men to condemnation1 verse #ah4 ,and of original innate wickedness1 whereby the heart is filled with enmity against ,god1 and is a hater of him and all his ways1 standing in full opposition to him and to his holy laws2 loving to contradict and resist him in all his actings2 despising and undervaluing all his condescensions of love2 obstinately refusing his goodness and offers of mercy2 and peremptorily persisting in rebellion and heart-opposition2 not only not accepting his kindness and offers of mercy1 but contemning them1 trampling them under foot as embittered against him4 ,as also1 there must be a conviction of our actual transgressions1 whereby we have corrupted our ways yet more1 run farther away from ,god1 brought on more wrath upon our souls1 according to that sentence of the law1 ,cursed is everyone that abideth not in all things that are written in the law to do them1 ,deut4 xxvii4 #bf4 ,gal4 iii4 #aj4 ,what way this conviction is begun and carried on in the soul1 and to what measure it must come1 ,i cannot now stand to explain2 only1 in short1 know1 ,that upon whatever occasion it be begun1 whether by a word carried home to the heart by the finger of ,god1 or by some sharp and crossing dispensation1 fear of approaching death1 some heinous out-breaking1 or the like1 it is a real thing1 a heart-reaching conviction1 not general and notional1 but particular1 plain1 and pinching1 affecting the heart with fear and terror1 making the soul seriously and really to mind this matter1 to be taken up with the thoughts of it1 and anxiously and earnestly to cry out1 ,what shall ,i do to be saved8 and finally1 will make the soul willing to hearken and hear what hopes of mercy there is in the gospel1 and to embrace the way of salvation which is there laid down4 ,and the reason of this is1 because ,christ himself tells us1 ,the whole needeth not the physician1 but the sick1 ,matt4 ix4 #ab4 ,he is not come to call the righteous1 that is1 such as are righteous in their own eyes1 but sinners1 that is1 such as are now no more whole at the heart1 as seeing no evil1 no hazard or danger1 but pricked and pierced with the sense of their lost condition1 being under the heavy wrath and vengeance of the great ,god1 because of sin2 and seeing their own vileness1 cursedness1 wickedness and desperate madness4 ,because naturally we hate ,god and ,christ1 ,john xv4 #bc-be1 and have a strong and natural antipathy at the way of salvation through ,jesus1 therefore nothing but strong and inevitable necessity will drive us to a compliance with this gospel device of love4 #b4 ,there must be some measure of humiliation4 ,under this conviction the man is bowed down1 and made mute before ,god2 no more boasting of his goodness and of his happy condition2 no high or great thoughts of his righteousness2 for all are looked on now as filthy rags1 ,isa4 lxv4 #f4 ,what things were as gain before to the soul1 must now be counted loss1 yea1 and as dung1 ,philip1 iii4 #g1 #h4 ,the man must be cast down in himself1 and far from high and conceity thoughts of himself1 or of any thing he ever did or can do4 ,for the ,lord resisteth the proud1 but giveth grace to the humble1 ,james iv4 #f2 #a ,pet4 v4 #e4 ,he reviveth the spirit of the humble1 ,isa4 lvii4 #ae4 ,he that humbleth himself shall be exalted1 ,matt4 xviii4 #d1 and xxiii4 #ab2 ,luke xiv4 #aa1 and xviii4 #ad4 #c4 ,there must be a despairing of getting help or relief out of this condition1 by ourselves1 or any thing we can do2 a conviction of the unprofitableness of all things under the sun for our relief4 ,no expectation of help from our supposed good heart1 good purposes1 good deeds1 works of charity1 many prayers1 commendations of others1 sober and harmless walking1 or anything else within us or without us that is not ,christ4 ,for1 so long as we have the least hope or expectation of doing our own business without ,christ1 we will not come to him4 ,our heart hangeth so after the old way of salvation through works1 that we cannot endure to hear of any other1 nor can we yield to any other4 ,could we but have heaven by the way of works1 we would spare no pains1 no cost1 no labour1 no expenses2 nay1 we would put ourselves to much pain and torment by whippings1 cuttings1 fastings1 watchings1 and the like2 we would spare our first-born2 nay1 we would dig our graves in a rock with our nails1 and cut our own days1 could we but get heaven by this means2 such is our antipathy at the way of salvation through a crucified ,christ1 that we would choose any way but that1 cost what it would2 therefore1 before we can heartily close with ,christ and accept of him1 we must be put from those refuges of lies1 and see that there is nothing but a disappointment written on them all1 that all our prayers1 fastings1 cries1 duties1 reformations1 sufferings1 good wishes1 good deeds1 c4 are nothing in his eyes1 but so many provocations to the eyes of his jealousy1 and so1 further causes of our misery4 #d4 ,there must be a rational1 deliberate1 and resolute relinquishing of all those things in ourselves1 on which our heart is ready to dote4 ,the man being convinced of the vanity of all things by which he hath been hoping for salvation1 must now purpose to lose his grips of them1 to turn his back upon them1 to quit them with purpose of heart1 and to say to them1 get you hence1 as ,isa4 xxx4 #bb4 ,this is to deny ourselves1 which we must do ere we become his disciples1 ,matt4 xvi4 #bd4 ,this is to forsake our father's house1 ,psalm xlv4 #aj1 and to pluck out our right eye1 and to cut off our right arm1 ,matth4 v4 #bi1 #cj4 ,this abandoning of all our false propes and subterfuges must be resolute1 over the belly of much opposition within1 from the carnal and natural inclinations of the heart2 and of much opposition without1 from ,satan's ensnaring suggestions and deceitful temptations3 ,it must be a real1 rational act of the soul1 upon solid and thorough conviction of their unprofitableness1 yea1 of their dangerousness and destructiveness4 #e4 ,there must be some knowledge of the nature of the gospel covenant1 and of the way which now ,god hath chosen whereby to glorify his grace in the salvation of poor sinners4 ,that ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost thought good1 for the glory of free grace and wisdom1 in a way of justice and mercy1 to send ,jesus ,christ to assume man's nature1 and so become ,god and man in two distinct natures1 and one person1 for ever2 and to become under the law1 to undergo the curse thereof1 and to die the cursed death of the cross1 to satisfy justice1 and pay the ransom for the redemption of the elect4 ,in which undertaking our ,lord was a servant1 ,isa4 xlii4 #a1 and xlix4 #f1 and lii4 #ac1 and liii4 #aa4 ,zech4 iii4 #h4 ,matt4 xii4 #ah2 and had furniture from ,god for all his undertaking1 ,isa4 xlii4 #a1 and lxi4 #a1 #b4 ,matt4 xii4 #ah2 and had a promise of seeing his seed1 and of prolonging his days1 c4 ,isa4 xliii4 #aj1 #aa4 ,thus there was a covenant of redemption betwixt ,god and the ,mediator2 and the ,mediator undertaking1 was obliged to perform all that he undertook1 and accordingly did so4 ,for1 as the ,lord laid on him1 or caused to meet together on him1 the iniquity of us all1 ,isa4 liii4 #f1 so in due time he bare our griefs1 and carried our sorrows4 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 and bruised for our iniquities1 the chastisement of our peace was upon him4 ,he was cut off out of the land of the living1 and stricken for the transgression of his people2 he made his soul an offering for sin1 and bare the iniquities of his people4 ,pouring out his soul unto death he bare the sin of many1 and made intercession for the transgressors1 ,isa4 liii4 #d1 #e1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,so that what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god sending his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 for sin 7or by a sacrifice for sin7 condemned sin in the flesh1 ,rom4 viii4 #c1 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 verse #d4 ,thus he made him sin 7or a sacrifice for sin7 that we might become righteous1 #b ,cor4 v4 #bj2 and he was once offered to bear the sins of many1 ,heb4 ix4 #bh2 and he1 through the eternal ,spirit1 offered himself without spot to ,god1 verse #ad1 and his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #bd4 ,there must1 ,i say1 be some knowledge of1 and acquaintance with this great mystery of the gospel1 wherein is declared the manifold wisdom of ,god1 ,eph4 iii4 #aj1 and with the noble design of ,god1 in sending his ,son1 after this manner1 to die the death1 that condemned sinners might live1 and return to the bosom of ,god2 as redeemed not with gold or silver1 or corruptible things but with the precious blood of ,christ1 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ah4 ,and being so redeemed by blood1 to become kings and priests unto ,god1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #b4 ,rev4 v4 #i1 #aj4 ,the man must not be ignorant of this1 else all will be in vain4 ,i do not determine how distinct and full this knowledge must be2 but sure there must be so much knowledge of it1 as will give the soul ground of hope1 and1 in expectation of salvation by this way1 cause it turn its back upon all other ways1 and account itself happy if it could once win here4 #f4 ,there must be a persuasion of the sufficiency1 completeness and satisfactoriness of the way of salvation through this crucified ,mediator1 else the soul will not be induced to leave its other courses1 and betake itself to this alone4 ,he must be sure that salvation is only to be had this way1 and that undoubtedly it will be had this way1 that so with confidence he may cast himself over on this way1 and sweetly sing of a noble outgate4 ,and therefore he must believe1 that ,christ is really ,god as well as man1 and a true man as well as ,god2 that he is fully furnished for the work of redemption1 having the ,spirit given to him without measure2 and endued fully and richly with all qualifications fitting for all our necessities1 and enabling him to save to the uttermost all that come unto ,god by him1 ,heb4 vii4 #be2 that he is made of ,god to us wisdom1 righteousness1 and sanctification1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj2 that all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ah2 that all things are put under his feet2 and that he is given to be ,head over all things to the church1 ,eph4 i4 #bb2 that in him dwelleth all fulness1 ,col4 i4 #ai2 that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge1 ,col4 ii4 #c2 yea1 that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily2 so that we are complete in him1 who is the head of all principality and power1 verses #i1 #aj4 #g4 ,the soul must know that he is not only an able and all-sufficient ,mediator1 but that also he is willing and ready to redeem and save all that will come4 ,for all the preceding particulars will but increase his sorrow and torment him more1 so long as he supposeth1 through ignorance and the suggestion of ,satan1 that he hath no part in that redemption1 no access to it1 no ground of hope of salvation by it4 ,therefore it is necessary that the soul conceive not only a possibility1 but also a probability of help this way1 and that the dispensation of the gospel of grace1 and the promulgation and offer of these good news to him1 speak out so much1 that the patience of ,god waiting long1 and his goodness renewing the offers1 confirmeth this2 that his serious pressing1 his strong motives1 on the one hand1 and his sharp threatenings on the other2 his reiterated commands1 his ingeminated obtestations2 his expressed sorrow and grief over such as would not come to him2 his upbraiding and objurations of such as do obstinately refuse1 and the like1 put his willingness to save such as will come to him out of all question4 ,yea1 his obviating of objections1 and taking all excuses out of their mouth1 maketh the case plain and manifest1 so that such as will not come are left without excuse1 and have no impediment lying in the way but their own unwillingness4 #h4 ,the man must know upon what terms and conditions ,christ offereth himself in the gospel1 viz4 upon condition of accepting of him1 believing in him1 and resting upon him2 and that no other way we can be made partakers of the good things purchased by ,christ1 but by accepting of him as he is offered in the gospel1 that is to say1 freely1 without price or money1 ,isa4 lv4 #a1 absolutely without reservation1 wholly1 and for all ends1 c4 ,for1 till this be known1 there will be no closing with ,christ2 and till there be a closing with ,christ1 there is no advantage to be had by him4 ,the soul must be married to him as an husband1 fixed to him as the branches to the tree1 united to him as the members to the head1 become one with him1 one spirit1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #ag4 ,see ,john xv4 #e4 ,eph4 v4 #cj4 ,the soul must close with him for all things1 adhere to him upon all hazards1 take him and the sharpest cross that followeth him4 ,now1 ,i say1 the soul must be acquainted with these conditions2 for it must act deliberately and rationally here4 ,covenanting with ,christ is a grave business1 and requireth deliberation1 posedness of soul1 rational resolution1 full purpose of heart1 and satisfaction of soul1 and therefore the man must be acquainted with the conditions of the new covenant4 #i4 ,there must be a satisfaction with the terms of the gospel1 and the heart must actually close with ,christ as he is offered in the gospel4 ,the heart must open to him1 and take him in1 ,rev4 iii4 #bj4 ,the soul must embrace and receive him1 ,john i4 #ab4 ,the man must take him as his ,lord and ,master1 ,king1 ,priest1 and ,prophet2 must give up himself to him as his leader and commander1 and resolve to follow him in all things1 and thus close a bargain with him2 for1 till this be done1 there is no union with ,christ1 and1 till there be an union with ,christ1 there is no partaking of the fruits of his redemption as to justification1 no pardon1 no acceptance1 no access to the favour of ,god1 nor peace nor joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 no getting of the conscience sprinkled1 nor no intimation of love or favour from ,god1 c4 #aj4 ,there must be a leaning to and resting upon him and on his perfect sacrifice4 ,the soul must sit down here as satisfied1 and acquiesce in this complete mediation of his4 ,this is to believe on him1 to rest on him1 ,john iii4 #ah4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #f1 as an all-sufficient help4 ,this is to cast the burden of a broken covenant1 of a guilty conscience1 of deserved wrath1 of the curse of the law1 c4 upon him1 that he may bear away those evils from us4 ,this is to put on the ,lord ,jesus 7in part71 ,rom4 xiii4 #ad2 to cover ourselves with his righteousness from the face of justice1 to stand in this armour of proof against the accusations of law1 ,satan1 and an evil conscience4 ,this is to flee to him as our city of refuge1 that we may be safe from the avenger of blood4 ,this is to make him our refuge from the storm of ,god's anger1 and a shadow from the heat of his wrath1 ,isa4 xxv4 #d1 and our hiding-place from the wind1 and a covert from the tempest1 and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land1 ,isa4 xxxii4 #b4 ,when we hide ourselves in him as the complete cautioner that hath fully satisfied justice1 and desire to be found in him alone1 not having our own righteousness1 which is of the law1 but that which is through the faith of ,christ1 the righteousness which is of ,god by faith1 ,phil4 iii4 #i4 ,this is to lay our hand on the head of the sacrifice1 when we rest on this sacrifice1 and expect salvation through it alone4 ,this is to cast ourselves in ,christ's arms1 as peremptorily resolving to go no other way to the ,father1 and to plead no other righteousness before ,god's bar but ,christ's2 that is faith1 yea1 the lively acting of justifying faith4 ,thus then is ,christ made use of as the way to the ,father1 in the point of justification1 when the poor awakened sinner1 convinced of his sin and misery1 of his own inability to help himself1 of the insufficiency of all means beside ,christ1 of ,christ's all-sufficiency1 readiness1 and willingness to help1 of the equity and reasonableness of the conditions on which he is offered1 and life through him1 is now content and fully satisfied with this way1 actually renouncing all other ways whatsoever1 and doth with heart and hand embrace ,jesus ,christ1 and take him as he is offered in the gospel1 to make use of him for all things1 to ,jean to him1 and rest upon him in all hazards1 and particularly1 to refuge itself under his wings1 and to rest there with complacency1 satisfaction1 and delight1 and hide itself from the wrath of ,god and all accusations4 ,yet it should be known1 that this act of faith1 whereby the soul goeth out to ,christ1 and accepteth of and leaneth to him1 is not alike in all4 #a4 ,in some it may be more lively1 strong and active1 like the centurion's faith1 that could argue syllogistically1 ,matt4 viii4 #h1 c1 which ,christ looked upon as a great faith1 a greater whereof he had not found1 no not in ,israel1 verse #aj2 and like the faith of the woman of ,canaan1 ,matt4 xv4 #ba1 c1 that would take no naysay1 but of seeming refusals did make arguments1 which ,christ commendeth as a great faith1 verse #bh4 ,but in others it may be more weak and fainting1 not able to reason aright for its own comfort and strength1 as ,matt1 vi4 #cj1 but is mixed with much fear1 as ,matt4 viii4 #bf1 yea1 and with much faithfulness1 so that the soul must cry1 ,lord1 help my unbelief6 ,mark ix4 #bd4 #b4 ,in some the acts and actings of this faith may be more clear and discernible1 both by themselves1 and by spiritual onlookers2 in others1 so covered over with a heap of doubts1 unbelief1 jealousy1 and other corruption1 that the actings of it can hardly1 or not at all1 be perceived by themselves or others2 so that nothing shall be heard but complaints1 fears1 doubtings1 and objections4 #c4 ,in some1 this faith may have strong and perceptible actings1 wrestling through much discouragement and opposition1 and many difficulties2 as in the woman of ,canaan1 ,matt4 xv42 running through with peremptory resoluteness1 saying1 with ,job1 chap4 xiii4 #ae1 ,though he slay me1 yet will ,i trust in him2 and thus taking the kingdom of heaven with violence4 ,in others it may be so weak1 that the least opposition or discouragement may be sufficient to make the soul give over hope1 and almost despair of overcoming and winning through1 and be as a bruised reed or a smoking flax4 #d4 ,in some1 though it appear not strong and violent or wilful 7in a manner7 in its actings1 yet it may be firm1 fixed1 and resolute in staying upon him1 ,isa4 xxvi4 #c1 #d1 and trusting in him1 ,psalm cxxv4 #a1 resolving to hing there1 and if it perish1 it perisheth2 in others weak and bashful4 #e4 ,in some it may be yet weaker1 going out in strong and vehement hungerings1 ,matt4 v4 #f4 ,the man dare not say1 that he doth believe or that he doth adhere to ,christ and stay upon him2 yet he dare say1 he longeth for him1 and panteth after him1 as ever the hart doth after the water-brooks1 ,psalm xlii4 #a1 #b2 he hungereth and thirsteth for him1 and cannot be satisfied with any thing without him4 #f4 ,in some1 it may be so weak1 that the soul can only perceive the heart looking out after him2 upon little more ground than a maybe it shall be helped1 ,isa4 xlv4 #bb4 ,they look to him for salvation1 being convinced that there is no other way2 and resolved to follow no other way1 they resolve to lie at his door1 waiting and looking for a sight of the king's face1 and to lie waiting till they die1 if no better may be4 #g4 ,in some1 it may be so weak1 that nothing more can be perceived but a satisfaction with the terms of the covenant1 a willingness to accept of the bargain1 and an heart consenting thereunto1 though they dare not say that they actually close therewith1 yea1 nor dare say that they shall be welcome1 ,rev4 xxii4 #ag4 #h4 ,in some1 it may be so weak and low1 that they cannot say that they have any right hunger or desire after him1 nor that their heart doth rightly and really consent to the covenant of grace2 yet they would fain be at it1 and cry out1 ,o for a willing heart6 ,o for ardent desires6 ,o for a right hunger6 and they are dissatisfied1 and cannot be reconciled with their hearts for not desiring more1 hungering more1 consenting more2 so that1 if they had this1 they would think themselves happy and up-made4 ,and thus we see their faith is so low1 that it appeareth in nothing more manifestly1 than in their complainings of the want of it4 ,so then1 the poor weak believer needeth not to be so far discouraged as to despair and give over the matter as hopeless and lost2 let him hang on1 depend and wait4 ,a weak faith to-day may become stronger within a short time4 ,he that laid the foundation can and will finish the building1 for all his works are perfect4 ,and a weak faith1 when true1 will prove saving1 and lay hold on a saving strong ,mediator4 ,moreover1 as to the acting of faith on ,christ's death and sacrifice for the stopping the mouth of conscience1 law1 ,satan1 and for the opposing to the pursuing justice of ,god because of sin1 it may sometimes be strong1 distinct1 clear1 and resolute2 at other times again be weak1 mixed1 or accompanied with much fear1 perplexity1 doubting1 and distrust1 because of their own seen unworthiness1 many failings1 doubtings of the sincerity of their repentance1 and the like4 ,this is a main business1 and of great concernment1 yet many are not much troubled about it1 nor exercised at the heart hereabout1 as they ought1 deceiving themselves with foolish imaginations3 ,for1 #a4 ,they think they were believers all their days1 they never doubted of ,god's grace and good-will1 they had always a good heart for ,god1 though they never knew what awakened conscience1 or sense of the wrath of ,god meant4 #b4 ,or they think1 because ,god is merciful1 he will not be so severe as to stand upon all those things that ministers require2 forgetting that he is a just ,god1 and a ,god of truth1 that will do according to what he hath said4 #c4 ,or they suppose it is an easy matter to believe1 and not such a difficult thing as it is called2 not considering or believing1 that no less power than that which raised ,christ from the dead1 will work up the heart unto faith4 #d4 ,or they resolve1 that they will do it afterward1 at some more convenient season2 not perceiving the cunning slight of ,satan in this1 nor considering1 that faith is not in their power1 but the gift of ,god2 and that1 if they lay not hold on the call of ,god1 but harden their heart in their day1 ,god may judicially blind them1 so that these things shall be hid from their eyes2 and so that occasion1 they pretend to wait for1 never come4 ,oh6 if such whom this mainly concerneth1 could be induced to enter into this way2 considering1 #a4 ,that except they enter into this way they cannot be safe1 the wrath of ,god will pursue them1 the avenger of blood will overtake them2 no salvation but here4 #b4 ,that in this way is certain salvation2 this way will infallibly lead to the ,father2 for he keepeth in the way1 and bringeth safe home1 ,exod4 xxiii4 #bj4 #c4 ',tis the old path and the good way1 ,jer4 vi4 #af2 all the saints have the experience of this1 who are already come to glory4 ,and1 #d4 ,it is a highway1 and a way of righteousness1 wherein1 if very fools walk1 they shall not wander1 ,isa4 xxxv4 #h1 #i1 and if the weak walk in it1 they shall not faint1 ,isa4 xl4 #ca4 #e4 ,that except this be done1 there is no advantage to be had by him2 his death and all his sufferings1 as to those persons that will not believe and enter into him as the way to the ,father1 are in vain4 #f4 ,yea1 such as will not believe in him say1 in effect1 either that ,christ hath not died nor consecrated a way through the vail of his flesh2 or1 that all that he hath done and suffered is not sufficient to bring a soul home to ,god2 or that they can do their own business without him1 and that it was a foolish and vain thing for ,christ to die the death for that end2 or1 lastly1 that they care not for salvation2 they are indifferent whether they perish or be saved4 #g4 ,that1 as to them1 the whole gospel is in vain1 all the ordinances1 all the administration of ordinances1 all the pains of ministers1 are in vain4 #h4 ,that1 as to them1 all ,christ's intreaties1 motives1 allurements1 patience and long-suffering1 his standing at the door and knocking till his locks be wet with the dew1 c4 are in vain2 yea1 they are contemptuously rejected1 despised1 slighted1 and undervalued4 #i4 ,that all the great promises are by such rejected as untrue1 or as not worthy the seeking or having2 and that all the threatenings1 on the other hand1 are not to be regarded or feared4 #aj4 ,in a word1 that heaven and the fellowship of ,god is not worth the seeking1 and that hell and the fellowship of devils is not worth the fearing2 or1 that there is neither a heaven nor a hell1 and that all are but fictions2 and that there is no such thing as the wrath of ,god against sinners1 or that it is not much to be feared4 ,if it be asked1 what warrant have poor sinners to lay hold on ,christ1 and grip to him1 as made of ,god righteousness8 ,i answer1 #a4 our absolute necessity of him is a ground to press us to go and seek help and relief3 we see we are gone in ourselves1 and therefore are we allowed to seek out for help elsewhere4 #b4 ,christ's all-sufficient furniture1 whereby he is a qualified ,mediator1 fitted with all necessaries for our case and condition1 having laid down a price to the satisfaction of justice1 is a sufficient invitation for us to look toward him for help1 and to wait at that door4 #c4 ,his being appointed of the ,father to be ,mediator of the covenant1 and particularly1 to lay down his life a ransom for sin2 and ,christ's undertaking all his offices1 and performing all the duties thereof1 conform to the covenant of redemption1 is a strong encouragement to poor sinners to come to him1 because he cannot deny himself1 and he will be true to his trust4 #d4 ,the ,father's offering of him to us in the gospel1 and ,christ's inviting us who are weary and heavy laden2 yea1 calling and commanding such to come to him in his own and in his ,father's name1 under the pain of his and his ,father's wrath and everlasting displeasure2 exhorting further1 and requesting upon terms of love1 pressing earnestly by many motives1 sending out his ambassadors to beseech in his stead poor sinners to be reconciled1 and to turn in to him for life and salvation2 yea1 upbraiding such as will not come to him4 ,all these are a sufficient warrant for a poor necessitous sinner to lay hold on his offer4 ,and1 further1 to encourage poor souls to come unto him1 all things are so well ordered in the gospel1 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 offers4 ,all objections possible are obviated to such as are but willing2 the way is cast up1 and all stones of stumbling cast out of it2 so that such as will not come can pretend no excuse4 ,they cannot object the greatness of their sins3 for the greater their sins be they have the greater need of one who is sent to take away sin1 and whose blood purgeth from all sin1 #a ,john i4 #g4 ,what great sinner did he ever refuse that came to him1 and was willing to be saved by him8 ,is there any clause in all the gospel excluding great sinners8 ,nor need they object their great unworthiness2 for he doth all freely for the glory of his free grace4 ,none ever got any good of him for their worth2 for no man ever had any worth4 ,nor need they object their long refusing and resisting many calls2 for he will make such as are willing welcome at the eleventh hour2 him that cometh he will in no case put away1 ,john vi4 #cg4 ,nor can they object their changeableness1 that they will not stand to the bargain1 but break and return with the dog to the vomit2 for ,christ hath engaged to bring all through that come unto him2 he will raise them up at the last day1 ,john vi4 #dj2 he will present them to himself holy and without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing1 ,eph4 v4 ,the covenant is fully provided with promises to stop the mouth of that objection4 ,nor can they object the difficulty or impossibility of believing2 for that is ,christ's work also1 he is the author and finisher of faith1 ,heb4 xii4 #a4 ,can they not with confidence cast themselves upon him2 yet if they can hunger and thirst for him1 and look to him1 he will accept of that2 look to me1 says he1 and be saved1 ,isa4 xlv4 #bb4 ,if they cannot look to him1 nor hunger and thirst for him1 yet if they be willing1 all is well4 ,are they willing that ,christ save them in his way1 and therefore willingly give themselves over to him1 and are willing and content that ,christ1 by his ,spirit1 work more hunger in them1 and a more lively faith1 and work both to will and to do according to his own good pleasure1 it is well4 ,but it will be said1 that the terms and conditions on which he offereth himself are hard4 ,answer--,i grant the terms are hard to flesh and blood1 and to proud unmortified nature2 but to such as are willing to be saved1 so as ,god may be most glorified1 the terms are easy1 most rational and satisfying3 for1 #a4 ,we are required to take him only for our ,mediator1 and to join none with him1 and to mix nothing with him4 ,corrupt nature is averse from this1 and would at least mix something of self with him1 and not rest on ,christ only3 corrupt nature would not have the man wholly denying himself1 and following ,christ only4 ,and hence many lose themselves1 and lose all2 because1 with the ,galatians1 they would mix the law and the gospel together2 do something themselves for satisfaction of justice1 and take ,christ for the rest that remains4 ,now1 the ,lord will have all the glory1 as good reason is1 and will have none to share with him2 he will give of his glory to none4 ,and is not this rational and easy8 ,what can be objected against this8 #b4 ,we are required to take him wholly1 that he may be a complete ,mediator to us2 as a prophet to teach1 as a king to subdue our lusts1 to cause us to walk in his ways1 as well as a priest to satisfy justice for us1 to die and intercede for us4 ,is it not reason that we take him as ,god hath made him for us8 ,is there any thing in him to be refused8 ,and is there any thing in him which we have no need of8 ,is there not all the reason then in the world for this1 that we take him wholly8 ,and what stumbling-block is here8 #c4 ,we are required to take him freely1 without money and without price1 ,isa4 lv4 #a1 for he will not be bought any manner of way2 that free grace may be free grace1 therefore he will give all freely4 ,true enough it is1 corruption would be at buying1 though it have nothing to lay out4 ,pride will not stoop to a free gift4 ,but can any say the terms are hard1 when all is offered freely8 #d4 ,we are required to take them absolutely1 without any reversion of mental reservation4 ,some would willingly quit all but one or two lusts they cannot think to twin with2 and they would deny themselves in many things1 but they would still most willingly keep a back-door open to some beloved lust or other4 ,and who seeth not what double dealing is here8 ,and what reason can plead for this double dealing8 ,corruption1 it is true1 will think this hard1 but no man can rationally say that this is a just ground of discouragement to any1 or a sufficient ground to warrand them to stay away from ,christ1 seeing they cannot be supposed sincerely to desire redemption from any sin1 who would not desire redemption from every sin4 ,he who loveth any known lust1 and would not willingly be delivered therefrom1 hath no real hatred at any lust1 as such1 nor desire to be saved2 for one such lust would be his death4 #e4 ,it is required1 that we accept of him really and cordially1 with our heart and soul1 and not by a mere external verbal profession1 ,and is there not all the reason in the world for this8 ,he offereth himself really to us1 and shall we not be real in accepting of him8 ,what1 ,i pray1 can be justly excepted against this8 or1 what real discouragement can any gather from this8 #f4 ,we are to take him for all necessaries1 that is1 with a resolution to make use of him as our all-sufficient ,mediator4 ,and is not this most reasonable8 ,ought we not to take him for all the ends and purposes for which ,god hath appointed him1 and set him forth1 and offered him to us8 ,what then can any suppose to lie here which should scar a soul from laying hold upon him8 ,nay1 should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement8 ,and should we not bless the ,lord1 that hath provided such a complete and all-sufficient ,mediator8 #g4 ,we are to take him and all the crosses that may attend our taking or following of him2 we must take up our cross1 be it what it will that he thinketh good to appoint to us1 and follow him1 ,matt4 xvi4 #bd4 ,mark viii4 #cd4 ,for he that taketh not up his cross1 and followeth not after him1 is not worthy of him1 ,matt4 x4 #ch4 ,i know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying2 but they that consider1 that ,christ will bear the heaviest end of the cross1 yea1 all of it1 and so support them by his ,spirit while they are under it1 that they shall have no just cause to complain2 and how he will suffer none to go his errand upon their own charges1 but will be with them when they go through the fire and water1 ,isa4 xliii4 #b1 so that they shall suffer no loss1 neither shall the waters overflow them1 nor the fire kindle upon them2 and that he who loseth his life for ,christ's sake and the gospel's1 shall save it1 ,mark viii4 #ce2 yea1 that they shall receive an hundred-fold for all their losses1 ,matt4 xix4 #bi1 and that even with persecution1 ,mark x4 #cj1 and1 in the world to come1 eternal life4 ,they1 ,i say1 who consider this1 will see no discouragement here1 nor ground of complaint2 nay1 they will account it their glory to suffer any loss for ,christ's sake4 #h4 ,hence it followeth1 that we are to take him1 so as to avouch him and his cause and interest on all hazards1 stand to his truth1 and not be ashamed of him in a day of trial4 ,confession of him must be made with the mouth1 as with the heart we must believe1 ,rom4 x4 #i4 ,let corruption speak against this what it will1 because it is always desirous to keep the skin whole4 ,yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable1 especially seeing he hath said1 that whosoever confesseth him before men1 he will confess them before his ,father which is in heaven1 ,matt4 x4 #cb4 ,and that1 ,if we suffer with him1 we shall also reign with him1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ab4 ,is he our ,lord and master1 and should we not own and avouch him8 ,should we be ashamed of him for any thing1 that can befall us1 upon that account8 ,what master would not take that ill at his servant's hands8 ,hence1 then1 we see1 that there is nothing in all the conditions on which he offereth himself to us1 that can give the least ground1 in reason1 why a poor soul should draw back1 and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer1 or think that the conditions are hard4 ,but there is one main objection1 which may trouble some1 and that is1 they cannot believe2 faith being the gift of ,god1 it must be wrought in them2 how then can they go to ,god for this1 and make use of ,christ for this end1 that their souls may be wrought up to a believing and consenting to the bargain1 and hearty accepting of the offer8 ,to this ,i would say these things3 #a4 ,it is true1 that faith is the gift of ,god1 ,eph4 ii4 #h1 and that it is he alone who worketh in us1 both to will and to do1 ,phil4 i4 #bi1 and none cometh to the ,son1 but whom the ,father draweth1 ,john vi4 #dd2 and it is a great matter1 and no small advancement1 to win to the real faith1 and through conviction of this our impotency4 ,for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation1 and of despairing of salvation in itself1 which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved4 #b4 ,though faith be not in our power1 yet it is our duty4 ,our impotency to perform our duty1 doth not loose our obligation to the duty2 so that our not believing is our sin2 and for this ,god may justly condemn us4 ,his wrath abideth on all who believe not in his ,son ,jesus1 and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified ,mediator4 ,and though faith1 as all other acts of grace1 be efficiently the work of the ,spirit1 yet it is formally our work3 we do believe2 but it is the ,spirit that worketh faith in us4 #c4 ,the ordinary way of the ,spirit's working faith in us1 is by pressing home the duty upon us1 whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves1 and to a looking out to him1 whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul1 for that necessary help and breathing1 without which the soul will not come4 #d4 ,christ ,jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the elect1 as other graces necessary to their salvation2 and it is promised and covenanted to him1 ,that he shall see his seed1 and shall see of the travail of his soul1 ,isa4 liii4 #aj2 and that by the knowledge of him1 that is1 the rational and understanding act of the soul gripping to and laying hold upon him1 as he is offered in the gospel1 many shall be justified1 ,isa4 liii4 #aj4 ,hence he saith1 ,that all whom the ,father hath given to him1 shall come unto him1 ,john vi4 #cg2 and the apostle tells us1 that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in him1 ,eph4 i4 #c4 #e4 ,not only hath ,christ purchased this grace of faith1 and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect1 but ,god hath committed to him the administration and actual dispensation1 and out-giving of all those graces1 which the redeemed stand in need of4 ,hence he is a prince exalted to give repentance and forgiveness of sins1 ,acts v4 #ca4 ,all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him1 ,matt1 xxviii4 #ah1 #ai4 ,hence he is called1 the author and finisher of faith1 ,heb4 xii4 #b2 and he tells his disciples1 ,john xiv4 #ac1 #ad1 that whatever they shall ask in his name1 he will do it4 ,he is made a ,prince and a ,saviour1 having all judgment committed unto him1 ,john v4 #bb2 and he is ,lord of all1 ,acts x4 #cf4 ,rom4 xiv4 #i4 #f4 ,hereupon the sinner1 being convinced of his lost condition through sin and misery1 of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death1 of ,christ's all-sufficiency and willingness to save all that will come to him1 and of its own inability to believe or come to him for life and salvation1 or to lay hold on1 and lean to his merits and satisfaction1 and so despairing in himself1 is to look out to ,jesus1 the author of eternal salvation1 the foundation and chief corner-stone1 the author and finisher of faith2 ,i say1 the sinner1 being thus convinced1 is thus to look out to ,jesus2 not that that conviction is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary1 either to prepare1 dispose1 and fit for faith1 or far less to merit any manner of way1 or bring on faith2 but because this is ,christ's method to bring a soul to faith by this conviction1 to the glory of his grace4 ,the soul naturally being averse from ,christ1 and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation1 must be redacted to that strait1 that it shall see1 that it must either accept of this offer or die4 ,as the whole needeth not a physician1 so ,christ is come to save only that which is lost2 and his method is to convince the world of sin1 in the first place2 and then of righteousness1 ,john xvi4 #h1 #i4 #g4 ,this looking out to ,jesus for faith1 comprehendeth those things3 7#a47 ,the soul's acknowledgment of the necessity of faith1 to the end it may partake of ,christ1 and of his merits4 7#b47 ,the soul's satisfaction with that way of partaking of ,christ1 by a closing with him1 and a resting upon him by faith4 7#c47 ,a sense and conviction of the unbelief and stubbornness of the heart1 or a seeing of its own impotency1 yea1 and unwillingness to believe4 7#d47 ,a persuasion that ,christ can over-master the infidelity and wickedness of the heart1 and work up the soul unto a willing consent unto the bargain4 7#e47 ,a hope1 or a half-hope 7to speak so7 that ,christ1 who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to him for salvation2 and hath said1 that he will put none away in any case that cometh--will have pity upon him at length4 7#f47 ,a resolution to lie at his door1 till he come with life1 till he quicken1 till he unite the soul to himself4 7#g47 ,a lying open to the breathings of his ,spirit1 by guarding against every thing 7so far as they can7 that may grieve or provoke him1 and waiting on him in all the ordinances1 he hath appointed1 for begetting faith2 such as reading the ,scriptures1 hearing the word1 conference with godly persons1 and prayer1 c4 7#h47 ,a waiting with patience on him who never said to the house of ,jacob1 seek me in vain1 ,isa4 xlv4 #ai2 still crying and looking to him who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him2 and waiting for him who waiteth to be gracious1 ,isa4 xxx4 #ah1 remembering that they are all blessed that wait for him2 and that there is much good prepared for them that wait for him1 ,isa4 lxiv4 #d4 #h4 ,the sinner would essay this believing1 and closing with ,christ1 and set about it1 as he can1 seriously1 heartily1 and willingly1 yea1 and resolutely over the belly of much opposition1 and many discouragements1 looking to him who must help1 yea1 and work the whole work2 for ,god worketh in and with man as a rational creature4 ,the soul then would set the willingness it findeth1 on work1 and wait for more2 and as the ,lord is pleased to commend1 by his ,spirit1 the way of grace more unto the soul1 and to warm the heart with love to it1 and a desire after it1 strike the iron while it is hot2 and1 looking to him for help1 grip to ,christ in the covenant2 and so set to its seal1 though with a trembling hand2 and subscribe its name1 though with much fear and doubting1 remembering that he who worketh to will1 must work the deed also1 ,phil4 ii4 #ac1 and he that beginneth a good work will perfect it1 ,phil4 i4 #f4 #i4 ,the soul essaying thus to believe in ,christ's strength1 and to creep when it cannot walk or run1 would hold fast what it hath attained1 and resolve never to recall any consent1 or half-consent1 it hath given to the bargain1 but still look forward1 hold on1 wrestle against unbelief and unwillingness1 entertain every good motion of the ,spirit for this end1 and never admit of any thing that may quench its lodgings1 desires1 or expectation4 #aj4 ,nay1 if the sinner be come this length1 that1 with the bit willingness he hath1 he consenteth to the bargain1 and is not satisfied with any thing in himself1 that draweth back1 or consenteth not1 and with the little skill or strength he hath is writing down his name1 and saying1 even so ,i take him2 and is holding at this1 peremptorily resolving never to go back1 or unsay what he hath said2 but1 on the contrary1 is firmly purposed to adhere1 and as he groweth in strength1 to grip more firmly1 and adhere to him1 he may conclude that the bargain is closed already1 and that he hath faith already2 for here there is an accepting of ,christ on his own terms1 a real consenting unto the covenant of grace1 though weak1 and not so discernible as the soul would wish4 ,the soul dare not say but it loveth the bargain1 and is satisfied with it1 and longeth for it1 and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof1 and enjoy him whom it loveth1 hungereth for1 panteth after1 or breatheth1 as it is able1 that it may live in him1 and be saved through him4 ,but some will say1 ,if ,i had any evidence of ,god's approbation of this act of my soul1 any testimony of his ,spirit1 ,i could then with confidence say1 that ,i had believed and accepted of the covenant and of ,christ offered therein2 but so long as ,i perceive nothing of this1 how can ,i suppose1 that any motion of this kind in my soul is real faith8 ,for ,answer--#a4 ,we would know1 that our believing1 and ,god's sealing to our sense1 are two distinct acts and separable1 and oft separated4 ,our believing is one thing1 and ,god's sealing with the ,holy ,spirit of promise to our sense1 is another thing2 and this followeth1 though not inseparably1 the other1 ,eph4 i4 #ac1 ,in whom also1 after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise4 ,and so1 #b4 ,we would know1 that many a man may believe1 and yet not know that he doth believe4 ,he may set to his seal1 that ,god is true in his offer of life through ,jesus1 and accept of that offer as a truth1 and close with it2 and yet live under darkness and doubtings of his faith1 long and many a day2 partly through not discerning the true nature of faith2 partly through the great sense and feeling of his own corruption and unbelief2 partly through a mistake of the ,spirit's operations within1 or the want of a clear and distinct uptaking of the motions of his own soul2 partly because he findeth so much doubting and fear1 as if there could be no faith where there was doubting or fear1 contrary to ,mark ix4 #bd4 ,matth4 viii4 #bf1 and xiv4 #ca42 partly1 because he hath not that persuasion that others have had1 as if there were not various degrees of faith1 as there is of other graces1 and the like4 ,therefore1 #c4 ,we would know1 that many may really believe1 and yet miss this sensible sealing of the ,spirit which they would be at4 ,god may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that1 lest they forget themselves and become too proud2 and to train them up more to the life of faith1 whereby he may be glorified2 and for other holy ends1 he may suspend the giving of this for a time4 #d4 ,yet we would know1 that all that believe1 have the seal within them1 #a ,john v4 #aj1 ,he that believeth on the ,son of ,god1 hath the witness in himself1 that is1 he hath that which really is a seal1 though he see it not1 nor perceive it not2 even the work of ,god's ,spirit in his soul1 inclining and determining him unto the accepting of this bargain1 and to a liking of and endeavouring after holiness2 and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is1 is a seal and confirmation of the business4 ,so that the matter is sealed1 and confirmed by the word1 though the soul want those sensible breathings of the ,spirit1 shedding abroad his love in the heart1 and filling the soul with a full assurance1 by hushing all doubts and fears to the door2 yea1 though they should be a stranger unto the ,spirit's witnessing thus with their spirits1 that they are the children of ,god1 and clearing up distinctly the real work of grace within their soul1 and so saying in effect1 that they have in truth believed4 ,but enough of this2 seeing all this1 and much more is abundantly held forth and explained1 in that excellent and useful treatise of ,mr4 ,guthrie's1 entitled1 ,the ,christian's ,great ,interest4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,to ,,be ,,made ,,use ,,of1 ,,as ,,the ,,way1 ,,for ,,sanctification ,,in ,,general4 ,having shown how a poor soul1 lying under the burden of sin and wrath1 is to make use of ,jesus ,christ for righteousness and justification1 and so to make use of him1 go out to him1 and apply him1 as he is made of ,god to us righteousness1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj1 and that but briefly4 ,this whole great business being more fully and satisfactorily handled1 in that forementioned great1 though small treatise1 viz4 ,the ,christian's ,great ,interest1 we shall now come and show1 how a believer or a justified soul shall further make use of ,christ for sanctification1 this being a particular about which they are oftentimes much exercised and perplexed4 ,that we may therefore1 in some weak measure1 through the help of this light and grace1 propose some things to clear up this great and necessary truth1 we shall first speak a little to it in the general1 and then come to clear up the matter more particularly4 ,before we speak of the matter in general1 it would be remembered1 #a4 ,that the person who only is in case to make use of ,christ for sanctification1 is one that hath made use of him already for righteousness and justification4 ,for one who is a stranger to ,christ1 and is living in nature1 hath no access to ,christ for sanctification4 ,he must be a believer1 and within the covenant1 ere he can make use of the grounds of sanctification laid down in the covenant4 ,one must first be united to ,christ1 and justified by faith in him1 before he can draw any virtue from him for perfecting holiness4 ,he must first be in him1 before he can grow up in him1 or bring forth fruit in him4 ,and therefore the first thing that souls would go about1 should be to get an union made up with ,christ1 and be clothed with his righteousness by faith2 and then they have a right to all his benefits4 ,first1 they should labour to get their state changed from enmity to peace and reconciliation with ,god1 through faith in ,jesus4 ,yet1 next1 it would be observed1 that when it is said1 that one must be a believer before he can go to ,christ1 and make use of him for holiness and sanctification1 it is not so understood and said1 that one must know1 that indeed he is justified by faith1 before he can make any use of ,christ for sanctification4 ,one may be justified1 and a believer1 yea1 and growing in grace through ,jesus ,christ1 and so actually improving the grounds of sanctification1 and making use of ,christ for this end1 and allowed thereunto1 and yet win to no certainty of his union with ,christ1 of his justification through faith in him1 nor of his faith4 ,but1 thirdly1 if it be said1 ,how can a soul with confidence approach to ,christ1 for use-making of him1 in reference to sanctification1 that is1 still doubting of his state and regeneration8 ,i answer1 ,it is true1 a clear sight of our interest in ,christ by faith1 would be a great encouragement to our confident approaching to1 and use-making of him1 in all things2 and this consideration should move all to a more earnest search and study of the marks and evidences of their interest2 a good help whereunto they will find in the forementioned book4 ,i shall only say this here1 ,that if the soul have an earnest desire to be sanctified wholly1 and to have on the image of ,god1 that he may glorify him1 and panteth after holiness as for life1 that he may look like him that is holy1 and maketh this his work and study2 sorrowing at nothing more than at his shortcoming2 crying out and longing for the day when he shall be delivered from a body of death1 and have the old man wholly crucified2 he needeth not question his interest in ,christ1 and warrant to make use of him for every part of sanctification2 for this longing desire after conformity to ,god's law1 and panting after this spiritual life1 to the end ,god may be exalted1 ,christ glorified1 and others edified1 will not be readily found in one that is yet in nature4 ,it is true1 ,i grant1 some who design to establish their own righteousness1 and to be justified by their own works and inherent holiness1 may wish that they may be more holy and less guilty2 and for some other corrupt ends1 they may desire to be free of the power of some lust1 which they find noxious and troublesome2 and yet retain with love and desire1 some other beloved lusts1 and so have a heart still cleaving to the heart of some detestable thing or other4 ,but gracious souls1 as they have respect to all the commands of ,god1 so they have not that design of being justified before ,god by their works2 nor do they study mortification1 and sanctification for any such end2 nay1 they no sooner discover any bias of their false deceitful hearts unto any such end1 but as soon they disown it1 and abhor it4 ,so that hence believers may get some discovery of the reality of their faith and interest in ,christ1 and of their warrant1 yea1 and duty to make use of ,christ for sanctification4 ,this premised1 we come to speak something1 in the general1 of believer's use-making of ,christ1 as made of ,god to us sanctification4 ,and for this end1 we shall only speak a little to two things4 ,first1 ,we shall show upon what account it is that ,christ is called our sanctification1 or1 made of ,god to us sanctification1 as the apostle's phrase is1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj2 or1 what ,christ hath done as ,mediator1 to begin1 and carry on to perfection the work of sanctification in the soul4 ,and1 secondly1 ,how the soul is to demean itself in this matter1 or how the soul is to make use of1 and improve what ,christ hath done1 for this end1 that it may grow in grace1 and perfect holiness in the fear of ,god4 ,as to the first1 we would know1 that though the work of sanctification be formally ours1 yet it is wrought by another hand1 as the principal efficient cause1 even by the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,father is said to purge the branches1 that they may bring forth more fruit1 ,john xv4 #a4 ,hence we are said to be sanctified by ,god the ,father1 ,jude #a4 ,the ,son is also called the ,sanctifier1 ,heb4 ii4 #ba4 ,he sanctifieth and cleanseth the ,church with the washing of water by the word1 ,eph4 v4 #bf4 ,the ,spirit is also said to sanctify1 #b ,thes4 ii4 #ac4 #a ,pet4 i4 #b4 ,rom4 xv4 #af4 ,hence we are said to be washed and sanctified by the ,spirit of ,god1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #aa4 ,but more particularly1 we are said to be sanctified in ,christ1 #a ,cor4 i4 #b2 and he is made of ,god to us sanctification1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj4 ,let us then see in what sense this may be true4 ,and1 #a4 ,he hath by his death and blood procured that this work of sanctification shall be wrought and carried on4 ,for he suffered without the gate1 that he might sanctify the people with his own blood1 ,heb4 xiii4 #ab4 ,we are saved by the washing of regeneration1 and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost1 which he shed on us abundantly1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour1 ,titus iii4 #e1 #f4 ,he gave himself for us1 that he might redeem us from all iniquity1 and purify unto himself a peculiar people1 zealous of good works1 ,tit4 ii4 #ad4 ,thus our sanctification is the fruit of his death1 and purchased by his blood4 ,he gave himself for his church1 that he might sanctify it1 ,eph4 v4 #be1 #bf4 #b4 ,he dying as a cautioner and public person1 believers are accounted in law to be dead to sin in him4 ,hence the apostle tells us1 ,rom4 vi4 #c-f1 that as many of us as are baptised into ,jesus ,christ1 were baptized into his death2 and that therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death2 and are planted together in the likeness of his death2 yea1 and that our old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 that henceforth we should not serve sin4 ,whence believers are warranted and commanded1 verse #aa1 to reckon themselves to be dead indeed unto sin2 and therefore sin should not reign in their mortal bodies to fulfil the lusts thereof1 verse #ab4 ,this is a sure ground of hope and comfort for believers1 that ,christ died thus as a public person2 and that by virtue thereof1 being now united to ,christ by faith1 they are dead to sin by law2 and sin cannot challenge a dominion over them1 as before their conversion it might have done1 and did2 for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth1 but no longer4 ,wherefore believing brethren becoming dead to the law by the body of ,christ1 are married to another1 even to him who is raised from the dead1 that they should bring forth fruit unto ,god1 ,rom4 vii4 #a-d4 #c4 ,hence it followeth1 that our old man is crucified with ,christ1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 ,rom4 vi4 #f4 ,so that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of ,god1 hath got his death wounds1 in the crucifixion of ,christ1 and shall never recover his former vigour and activity1 to oppress and bear down the people of ,god1 as he did4 ,he is now virtually1 through the death of ,jesus1 killed and crucified1 being in ,christ nailed to the cross4 #d4 ,his resurrection is a pawn and pledge of this sanctification4 ,for as he died as a public person1 so he rose again as a public person4 ,we are buried with him by baptism1 that like as ,christ was raised up from the dead1 by the glory of the ,father1 even so we also should walk in newness of life1 ,rom4 vi4 #d2 and believers are said to be planted together with him1 in the likeness of his resurrection1 verse #e2 and they shall live with him1 verse #h2 and therefore they are to reckon themselves alive unto ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 verse #aa4 ,we are raised up together1 ,eph4 ii4 #f4 #e4 ,this sanctification is an article of the covenant of redemption betwixt the ,father and the ,son1 ,isa4 lii4 #ae1 ,so shall he sprinkle many nations4 ,chap4 liii4 #aj1 ,he shall see his seed1 and the pleasure of the ,lord shall prosper in his hand4 ,christ1 then1 having this promised to him1 must see to the accomplishment thereof1 and will have it granted to him2 seeing he hath fulfilled all that was engaged to by him--having made his soul an offering for sin4 #f4 ,this sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace1 ,jer4 xxxiii4 #h4 ,and ,i will cleanse them from all their iniquity4 ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #bc1 ,and ,i will cleanse them4 ,so chap4 xxxvi4 #be1 ,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you1 and ye shall be clean2 from all your filthiness1 and from all your idols will ,i cleanse you4 ,now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed to us in the ,mediator4 ,for1 in him all the promises of the covenant are yea and amen1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 #g4 ,he hath purchased and made sure to his own1 the new nature1 and the heart of flesh1 which is also promised1 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bf1 and xi4 #ai4 ,jer4 xxxii4 #ci4 ,this is the new and lively principle of grace1 the spring of sanctification1 which cannot be idle in the soul2 but must be emitting vital acts natively4 ,yea1 through him1 are believers made partakers of the divine nature1 which is a growing thing1--young glory in the soul1 #b ,pet4 i4 #c1d1 ,according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness1 through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue1 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises1 that by these we might be made partakers of the divine nature1 c4 #h4 ,the ,spirit is promised1 to cause us walk in his statutes1 ,ezek4 xlvi4 #bg4 ,now all these promises are made good to us in ,christ1 who is the cautioner of the covenant2 yea1 he hath gotten now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the covenant1 committed unto him2 so as he is the great and glorious custodier of all purchased blessings4 #i4 ,there are new waterings1 breathings1 and gales of the ,spirit1 given in ,christ1 ,isa4 xxvii4 #c4 ,he must water his garden or vineyard every moment4 ,this is the north wind and the south wind that bloweth upon the garden1 ,cant4 iv4 #af4 ,he must be as the dew unto ,israel1 ,hos4 xiv4 #e4 #aj4 ,through ,christ is the believer brought into such a covenant state1 as giveth great ground of hope of certain victory4 ,he is not now under the law1 but under grace2 and hence inferreth the apostle1 ,rom4 vi4 #ad1 ,that sin shall not have dominion over them4 ,being now under that dispensation of grace1 whereby all their stock is in the ,mediator's hand1 and at his disposal2 and not in their own hand and power1 as under the covenant of works1 there is a sure ground laid down for constant supply and furniture in all necessities4 #aa4 ,christ hath prayed for this1 ,john xvii4 #ag1 ,sanctify them through thy truth2 where the ,lord is praying1 that his disciples might be more and more sanctified1 and so fitted and qualified for the work of the ministry they were to be employed in4 ,and what he prayed for them1 was not for them alone1 but also for the elect1 proportionably1 who are opposed to the world1 for which he did not pray1 verse #i4 #ab4 ,he standeth to believers in relation of a vine1 or a root1 in which they grow as branches1 so that by abiding in him1 living by faith in him1 and drawing sap from him1 they bring forth fruit in him1 ,john xv4 #a1 #b1 #d1 #e4 ,their stock of grace is in him1 the root2 and he communicateth sap and life unto his branches1 whereby they grow1 flourish1 and bring forth fruit to the glory of ,god4 #ac4 ,christ hath taken on him the office of a prophet and teacher1 to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to go2 for he is that great prophet whom the ,lord promised to raise up1 and who was to be heard and obeyed in all things1 ,deut4 xviii4 #ae4 ,acts iii4 #bb1 and vii4 #cg4 ,he is given for a witness1 and a leader1 ,isa4 lv4 #d2 and we are commanded to hear him1 ,matt1 xvii4 #e4 ,mark x4 #g4 #ad4 ,he hath also taken on him the office of a king1 ,psal4 ii4 #f4 ,matt1 xxviii4 #e4 ,isa4 ix4 #g4 ,phil4 ii4 #h-aa4 and thereby standeth engaged to subdue all their spiritual enemies1 ,satan and corruption1 ,psal4 cx4 ,he is given for a leader and commander1 ,isa4 lv4 #e1 and so can cause his people walk in his ways4 #ae4 ,when we defile ourselves with new transgressions and failings1 he hath provided a fountain for us to wash in2 a fountain opened to the house of ,david1 and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 for sin and for uncleanness1 ,zech4 xiii4 #a2 and this fountain is his blood1 which cleanseth from all sin1 ,heb4 ix4 #ad4 #a ,john i4 #g4 ,rev4 i4 #e4 #af4 ,he is set before us as a copy and pattern1 that we should walk even as he walked1 #a ,john ii4 #f4 ,he left us an example that we should follow his steps1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #ba4 ,but we should beware to separate this consideration from the preceding1 as antichristian ,socinians do1 who will have ,christ only to be a copy4 #ag4 ,he hath overcome ,satan1 our arch enemy1 and hath destroyed his works1 #a ,john iii4 #h4 ,he came to destroy the works of the devil2 and in particular1 his works of wickedness in the soul4 ,thus he is a conqueror and the captain of our salvation4 #ah4 ,as he hath purchased1 so hath he appointed ordinances1 for the laying of the foundation1 and carrying on this work of sanctification2 both word and sacraments are appointed for that2 the word to convert and to confirm1 ,john xvii4 #ag4 ,sanctify them through thy truth1 thy word is truth1 said ,christ4 ,the word is given as the rule2 and also through the means thereof is life and strength conveyed to the soul1 to perfect holiness in the fear of ,god1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #b4 ,and the sacraments are given to strengthen and confirm the soul in the ways of ,god4 #ai4 ,as he hath laid down strong encouragements to his followers1 to hold on in the way of holiness1 many great and precious promises1 by which they may be made partakers of the divine nature1 #b ,pet4 i4 #d2 and by which they are encouraged to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit1 #b ,cor4 vii4 #a2 and many motives to hold on and continue2 so hath he rolled difficulties out of the way1 whether they be within us1 or without us1 and thereby made the way easy and pleasant to such as walk in it2 so as they may now run the way of his commandments1 and walk and not weary1 and run and not be faint4 ,nay1 #bj4 ,we would remember for our encouragement and confidence1 that in carrying on of this work lieth the satisfaction of the soul1 and the pleasure of the ,lord that must prosper in his hand1 and thus he seeth his seed1 and hath of the travail of his soul1 and is satisfied4 ,these particulars1 rightly considered1 will discover unto us1 what a noble ground for sanctification is in ,christ laid down for believers1 which they may1 and must by faith grip to1 that they may grow in grace1 and grow up in ,christ1 and perfect holiness2 and what a wonderful contrivance of grace this is1 wherein all things are made so sure for believers1 ,christ becoming all things to them1 and paving a royal and sure way for them2 sure for them1 and glorious to himself6 ,as to the second particular1 that is1 how believers are to carry in this matter1 or how they are to make use of ,christ1 and of those grounds of sanctification in ,christ1 which we have mentioned3 ,first1 ,there are some things which they should beware of1 and guard against2 as1 #a4 ,they should beware of an heartless despondency1 and giving way to discouragement1 and hearkening to the language of unbelief1 or to the suggestion of ,satan1 whereby he will labour to persuade them of the impossibility of getting the work of sanctification throughed1 or any progress made therein to purpose4 ,satan and a deceitful heart can soon muster up many difficulties1 and allege that there are many lions1 many insuperable difficulties in the way1 to discourage them from venturing forward2 and if ,satan prevail here1 he hath gained a great point4 ,therefore the believer should keep up his head in hope1 and beware of multiplying discouragements to himself1 or of concluding the matter impossible2 for then shall he neither have heart nor hand for the work1 but sit down and wring his hands as overcome with discouragement and despondency of spirit4 #b4 ,they should beware of wilfully rejecting their own mercies1 and forbearing to make use of the grounds of hope1 of strength and progress in the matter of sanctification1 which ,christ hath allowed them to make use of4 ,there is such an evil among ,god's children1 that they scar at that which ,christ out of great love hath provided for them1 and dare not with confidence make use of1 nor apply to themselves the great and comfortable promises1 to the end they might be encouraged2 they will not take their allowance1 as thinking themselves unworthy2 and that it would be presumption in them to challenge a right to such great things2 and they think it commendable humility in them1 to stand a-back1 and so wilfully refuse the advantages and helps1 that make so much for their growth in grace4 #c4 ,they should beware of a careless neglect of the means appointed for advancing in holiness2 for1 though the means do not work the effect1 yet it is by the means that ,god hath chosen to work the work of sanctification4 ,here that is to be seen1 that the hand of the diligent maketh rich2 and the field of the slothful is soon grown over with thorns and nettles2 so that poverty cometh as one that travaileth1 and want as an armed man1 ,prov4 xxiv4 #cj4 ,it is a sinful tempting of ,god1 to think to be sanctified another way than ,god hath in his deep wisdom condescended upon4 #d4 ,yet they should beware of laying too much weight on the means and ordinances1 as if they could effectuate the business4 ,though the ,lord hath thought fit to work in and by the means1 yet he himself must do the work4 ,means are but means1 and not the principal cause2 nor can they work1 but as the principal agent is pleased to make use of them1 and to work by them4 ,when we lean to the means and to instruments1 we prejudge ourselves1 by disobliging of ,god1 and provoking him to leave us1 that we may wrestle with the ordinances alone1 and find no advantage4 ,therefore the soul should guard against this4 #e4 ,albeit the means can do nothing unless he breathe1 yet we should beware not only of neglecting1 as we said before1 but also of a slighting way of performing them1 without that earnestness and diligence that is required1--cursed is he who doth the work of the ,lord negligently1 ,jer4 xlviii4 #aj4 ,here then is the special art of ,christianity apparent1 to be as diligent1 earnest and serious in the use of the means1 as if they could effectuate the matter we were seeking2 and yet to be as much abstracted from them1 in our hopes and expectation1 and to be as much leaning on the ,lord alone1 and depending on him for the blessing1 as if we were using no means at all4 #f4 ,they should beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of the ,spirit2 for thereby they may lose the best opportunity4 ,they should be always on the wing1 ready to embrace the least motion2 and they should stand always ready1 waiting for the breathings of his ,spirit1 and open at his call2 lest afterward1 they be put to call and seek1 and not attain what they would be at1 as we see in the spouse1 ,cant4 v4 #b1 #c1 #d1 c4 #g4 ,they should also guard against the quenching of the ,spirit1 #a ,thess4 v4 #ab2 or grieving of the ,spirit1 ,eph4 iv4 #cj1 by their unchristian and unsuitable carriage2 for this will much mar their sanctification4 ,it is by the ,spirit that the work of sanctification is carried on in the soul2 and when this ,spirit is disturbed1 and put from his work1 how can the work go on8 ,when the motions of this indwelling ,spirit are extinguished1 his work is marred and retarded2 and when he is grieved1 he is hindered in his work4 ,therefore souls must guard against unbelief1 despondency1 unsuitable and unchristian carriage4 #h4 ,especially they should beware of wasting sins1 ,psal4 li4 #aj4 ,sins against light and conscience1 such as ,david called presumptuous sins1 ,psal4 xix4 #ac4 ,they should beware also of savouring any unknown corruption1 or any thing of that kind1 that may hinder the work of sanctification4 ,secondly1 ,it were useful1 and of great advantage for such as would grow in grace1 and advance in the way of holiness1 to be living in the constant conviction1 #a4 ,of the necessity of holiness1 without which no man shall see ,god1 ,heb4 xii4 #ad4 ,nothing entering into the ,new ,jerusalem that defileth1 ,rev4 xxi4 #g4 #b4 ,of their own inability to do any one act right2 how they are not sufficient of themselves to think any thing as of themselves1 #b ,cor4 iii4 #e2 and that without ,christ they can do nothing1 ,john xv4 #e4 #c4 ,of the insufficiency of any human help1 or means1 or way which they might think good to choose1 to mortify aright one corruption1 or to give strength for the discharge of any one duty2 for our sufficiency is of ,god1 #b ,cor4 iii4 and it is through the ,spirit that we must mortify the deeds of the body1 ,rom4 viii4 #ac4 #d4 ,and of the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart1 which is bent to follow by-ways1 being not only deceitful above all things1 but also desperately wicked1 ,jer4 xvii4 #i4 ,that by this means1 the soul may be jealous of itself1 and despair of doing any thing in its own strength1 and so be fortified against that main evil1 which is an enemy to all true sanctification1 viz4 confidence in the flesh4 ,thirdly1 ,the soul will keep its eye fixed on those things3 #a4 ,on ,christ's all-sufficiency to help2 in all cases that he is able to save to the uttermost1 ,heb4 vii4 #be4 #b4 ,on his compassionateness to such as are out of the way2 and readiness to help poor sinners with his grace and strength2 and this will keep up the soul from fainting and despairing4 #c4 ,on the commands of holiness2 such as those1 cleanse your hand1 and purify your hearts1 ,james iv4 #h1 and1 be ye holy1 for ,i am holy1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ae1 #af1 and the like2 that the authority of ,god and conscience to command may set the soul a-work4 #d4 ,on the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such as wrestle on1 and endure to the end2 and on the great promises of great things to such as are sanctified1 whereof the scriptures are full2 that the soul may be encouraged to run through difficulties1 to ride out storms1 to endure hardness1 as a good soldier1 and to persevere in duty4 #e4 ,on the other hand1 on the many sad threatenings and denunciations of wrath1 against such as transgress his laws1 and on all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of ,god and the study of holiness have to look for1 of which the scripture is full2 that by this means the soul may be kept in awe1 and spurred forward unto duty1 and made the more willing to shake off laziness4 #f4 ,on the rule1 the word of ,god1 by which alone we must regulate all our actions2 and this ought to be our meditation day and night1 and all our study1 as we see it was ,david's1 and other holy men of ,god1 their daily work1 see ,psal4 i4 and cxix4 ,fourthly1 ,in all this study of holiness1 and aiming at an higher measure of grace1 the believer would level at a right end1 and so would not design holiness for this end1 that he might be justified thereby1 or that he might thereby procure and purchase to himself heaven and ,god's favour2 for the weight of all that must lie on ,jesus ,christ1 who is our righteousness2 and our holiness must not dethrone him1 nor rob him of his glory1 which he will not give to another2 but would study holiness1 to the end he might glorify ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit1 and please him who calleth to holiness1 and thereby be meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light1 ,col4 i4 #aj1 #ab2 and be made a meet bride for such a holy bridegroom1 and a member to such an holy head2 that hereby others might be edified1 ,matt4 v4 #af4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #ab1 and iii4 #a1 #b2 that the soul may look like a temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 and like a servant of ,christ's bought with a price1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #ag-bj2 and have a clear evidence of his regeneration and justification1 and also that he may express his thankfulness to ,god for all his favours and benefits4 ,fifthly1 ,the soul should by faith lay hold on1 and grip fast to the ground of sanctification2 that is to say1 7#a47 ,to what ,christ hath purchased for his people4 7#b47 ,to what as a public person he hath done for them2 and so by faith1 #a4 ,challenge a right to1 and lay hold on the promises of grace1 strength1 victory1 and thorough bearing1 in their combating with corruption within1 and ,satan and a wicked world without4 #b4 ,reckon themselves dead unto sin1 through the death of ,christ2 and alive unto ,god through his resurrection1 ,rom4 vi4 #d1 #aa4 ,and that the old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 verse #f4 ,and that they are now not under the law1 but under grace1 verse #ad4 ,that by this means they may be encouraged to continue fighting against a vanquished enemy1 and not give over1 notwithstanding of disappointments1 discouragements1 prevailings of corruption1 c4 and the believer may know upon what ground he standeth1 and what is the ground of his hope and expectation of victory in the end2 and so he may run1 not as uncertainly2 and so fight1 not as one that beateth the air1 #a ,cor4 ix4 #bf4 ,sixthly1 ,in this work of sanctification1 the believer should be much in the lively exercise of faith2 fight by faith2 advance by faith1 grow up1 and bring forth fruit by faith2 and so1 #a4 ,the believer would be oft renewing his grips of ,christ1 holding him fast by faith2 and so abiding in him1 that he may bring forth fruit1 ,john xv4 #d1e4 #b4 ,not only would he be keeping his union fast with ,christ1 but he would also be eyeing ,christ by faith1 as his store-house1 and general ,lord dispensator of all the purchased blessings of the covenant1 which he standeth in need of1 and looking on ,christ1 as standing engaged by office to complete his work of salvation1 and to present him with the rest to himself holy1 without blemish1 yea1 and without spot and wrinkle1 or any such thing1 ,eph4 v4 #bg4 #c4 ,he would by faith grip to the promises1 both of the general stock of grace1 the new heart1 and heart of flesh1 and the spirit to cause us walk in his statutes1 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bf1bg2 and of the several particular acts of grace that be standeth in need of1 such as that1 ,jer4 xxx4 #h1 ,i will cleanse them from all their iniquities1 c4 ,so ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #be4 ,jer4 xxxi4 #ai4 ,as the church doth1 ,micah vii4 #i4 ,he will subdue our iniquities1 c4 ,and so having1 or gripping these promises1 we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit1 and perfect holiness in the fear of ,god1 #b ,cor4 vii4 #a4 #d4 ,as the believer would by faith draw out of ,christ1 through the conduit of the promises1 which are all yea and amen in him1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 grace1 strength1 knowledge1 courage1 or whatever his fight in this warfare calleth for1 to the end he may be strong in the ,lord1 and in the power of his might1 ,eph4 vi4 #aj2 so he would by faith roll the weight of the whole work upon ,christ2 and thus cast himself1 and his care and burden on him who careth for him1 #a ,pet4 v4 #g4 ,psal4 xxxvii4 #e1 and lv4 #bb2 and so go on in duty1 without anxiety1 knowing who beareth the weight of all1 and who hath undertaken to work both to will and to do1 according to his good pleasure4 ,thus should the work be easy and safe1 when by faith we roll the burden on him1 who is the chosen one fitted for that work1 and leave it on him1 who is our strength1 patiently waiting for the outgate1 in hope4 ,thus the believer makes use of ,christ1 as made of ,god sanctification1 when in the use of means appointed1 eyeing the covenant of grace1 and the promises thereof1 and what ,christ hath done to sanctify and cleanse his people1 he rolleth the matter on him1 and expecteth help1 salvation1 and victory through him4 ,,cautions4 ,but lest some should be discouraged1 and think all this in vain1 because they perceive no progress nor growth in grace for all this1 but rather corruption as strong and troublesome as ever1 ,i would say a few things to them4 #a4 ,let them search and try1 whether their shortcoming and disappointment doth not much proceed from this1 that the matter is not so cleanly cast over on ,christ as it should be2 is it not too oft found1 that they go forth to the battle in their own strength1 lippening to their own stock of grace1 to their own knowledge1 or to their duties1 or the like8 ,how then can they prosper8 #b4 ,let them mourn as they get any discovery of this1 and guard against that corrupt bias of the heart1 which is still inclining them to an engagement without the ,captain of their salvation1 and a fighting without the armour of ,god4 #c4 ,let them try and see1 if1 in studying holiness1 they be not led by corrupt ends2 and do not more labour after sanctification1 that they may be more worthy and the better accepted of ,god1 and that they may have quietness and peace as to their acceptance with ,god1 as if this were any cause1 matter1 or condition of their righteousness and justification before ,god1 than that they may shew their obedience to the command of ,god1 #a ,thes4 iv4 #c4 ,eph4 ii4 #aj4 ,john xv4 #af2 and express their thankfulness to him1 and glorify ,god1 ,mal4 i4 #f4 ,matt4 iii4 #af4 ,john xvii4 #aj4 ,eph4 iv4 #cj2 and if so1 they ought to acknowledge ,god's goodness in that disappointment1 seeing thereby they see more and more a necessity of laying aside their own righteousness1 and of betaking themselves to the righteousness of ,christ1 and of resting on that alone for peace and acceptance with ,god4 #d4 ,they should try and see1 if their negligence and carelessness in watching1 and in the discharge of duties1 do not occasion their disappointments and shortcoming4 ,god sometimes thinks fit to suffer a lion of corruption to set on them1 that they may look about them1 and stand more vigilantly upon their watch-tower1 knowing that they have to do with a vigilant adversary1 the devil1 who1 as a roaring lion1 goeth about seeking whom he may devour1 ,i ,pet4 v4 #h4 and that they fight not against flesh and blood1 but against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world2 against spiritual wickedness in high places1 ,eph4 vi4 #ab4 ,it is not for nought that we are so often commanded to watch1 ,matt4 xxiv4 #db1 and xxv4 #ac1 and xxvi4 #da1 and xiv4 #ch4 ,luke xxi4 #cf4 ,mark xiii4 #cc-cg4 #a ,cor4 xvi4 #ac4 #a ,thes4 v4 #f4 #a ,pet4 iv4 #g4 ,col4 iv4 #b4 ,through the want of this1 we know what befel ,david and ,peter4 #e4 ,they should try and see1 whether there be not too much self-confidence1 which occasioned ,peter's foul fall4 ,god may1 in justice and mercy1 suffer corruption to break loose upon such1 at a time1 and tread them under foot1 to learn them afterward to carry more soberly2 and to work their salvation with fear and trembling1 ,phil4 ii4 #ab1 remembering what a jealous1 holy ,god he is1 with whom they have to do2 what an adversary they have against them2 and how weak their own strength is4 #f4 ,this should be remembered1 that one may be growing in grace1 and advancing in holiness1 when1 to his apprehension1 he is not going forward from strength to strength1 but rather going backward4 ,it is one thing to have grace1 and another thing to see that we have grace2 so it is one thing to be growing in grace1 and another thing to see that we are growing in grace4 ,many may question their growth in grace1 when their very questioning of it may evince the contrary4 ,for they may conclude no growth1 but rather a back-going1 because they perceive more and more violent1 and strong corruptions1 and hidden works of darkness and wickedness1 within their soul1 than ever they did before2 while as that great discovery sheweth the increase of their spiritual knowledge1 and an increase in this is an increase in grace2 so they may question and doubt of their growth1 upon mistakes1 as thinking corruption always strongest when it makes the greatest stir and noise2 or their complaints may flow from a vehement desire they have to have much more sanctification1 which may cause them overlook many degrees they have advanced4 ,or some such thing may occasion their darkness and complaints2 yea1 ,god may think it fittest for them1 to the end they may be kept humble and diligent1 to be in the dark as to their progress2 whereas if they saw what advancement and progress they had made in ,christianity1 they might grow wanton1 secure1 and careless1 and so occasion some sad dispensation to humble them again4 #g4 ,it should be remembered1 that perfect victory is not to be had here4 ,it is true1 in respect of justification through the imputation of the perfect righteousness of ,christ1 and in respect of their sincerity and gospel simplicity1 and in respect also of the parts of the new man1 believers are said to be perfect2 such an one was ,noah1 ,gen4 vi4 #i1 and ,job1 chap4 i4 #a1 #h4 ,see also ,psalm xxxvii4 #cg1 and lxiv4 #d4 #a ,cor4 ii4 #f4 ,heb4 v4 #ad4 ,james iii4 #b4 ,and it is true1 we are to aim at perfection1 and to pray for it1 as ,matt4 v4 #dh4 #b ,cor4 xiii4 #aa4 ,col4 iv4 #ab4 ,heb4 xiii4 #ba4 ,james i4 #d4 #a ,pet4 v4 #aj4 ,heb4 vi4 #a4 ,yet as to the degrees of holiness and sanctification1 and in respect of the remnant of corruption within1 there is no full perfection here1 ,jer4 ix4 #bj1 #ba4 ,phil4 iii4 #ab4 ,for even he who is washed1 and1 as to justification1 is clean every whit1 yet needeth to wash his feet1 because contracting filth in his conversation1 ,job xiii4 #aj4 ,so that if the ,lord should mark iniquity1 no man should stand1 ,psalm cxxx4 #c1 and cxliii4 #b4 ,there will still be in the best something1 more or less1 of that battle1 that ,paul speaketh of1 ,rom4 vii4 #ae-bc4 ,so that they will still have occasion to cry out with him1 verse #bd1 ,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from the body of this death6 ,and the flesh will still lust against the spirit1 and the spirit against the flesh1 so that they shall not be able to do what they would1 ,gal4 v4 #ag4 ,the place of perfection is above1 where all tears are wiped away1 and the weary wrestler is at rest4 #h4 ,let them not mistake and think1 that every stirring of corruption in the soul1 argueth its dominion and prevailing power4 ,corruption may stir and make a great deal ado1 where it cannot get leave to reign2 and be as a violent and cruel invader1 seeking the throne1 putting the whole kingdom in a combustion1 who is resisted with force of arms4 ,corruption may be more quiet and still1 when indeed it hath the throne of the soul2 as a conqueror may be more quiet and still1 when he hath overcome and is in peaceable possession of the kingdom1 than when he was but fighting for it4 ,when the strong man keeps the house1 and is master1 then all is quiet and at rest1 till a stronger come and thrust him out1 and dispossess him4 #i4 ,sanctification doth not always consist in a man's freedom from some corruptions4 ,for there may be some corruptions that one hath no natural inclination to1 but1 on the contrary1 a great aversion for2 as some world's wretches may have no inclination to prodigality and ranting1 or such like vices1 which are contrary to their humour1 or to their constant education2 and ,satan may never tempt some man to such evils1 knowing he will get more advantage by plying his temper and genius1 and so carrying him away to the other contrary evil2 and so1 though this man know not so much1 as what it is once to be tempted to those vices1 yet that will not say1 that he is a sanctified man2 far less will it say1 that he hath more grace than another man1 whose predominant that evil is1 and against which he is daily fighting and wrestling4 ,whence it appeareth that wrestling and protesting against even an overcoming corruption1 may evidence more of grace1 than freedom from some evils1 to which some are not so much tempted1 and to which they are naturally less inclined4 #aj4 ,nor should they think1 that corruption is always master of the soul1 and possessing the throne as a full conqueror1 when it prevaileth and carrieth the soul headlong at a time1 for corruption may sometimes come in upon the soul as an inundation with irresistible violence1 and1 for a time1 carry all before it1 so that the soul cannot make any sensible resistance2 as when a sudden1 violent1 and unexpected temptation setteth on1 so as the poor man is overwhelmed1 and scarce knoweth where he is1 or what he is doing1 till he be laid on his back4 ,at that time it will be a great matter1 if the soul dare quietly enter a protest against and dissent from what is done1 and if there be an honest protestation against the violent and tyrannical invasion of corruption1 we cannot say1 that corruption is in peaceable possession of the throne4 ,if the spirit be lusting against the flesh1 levying all the forces he can against the invader1 by prayer and supplication to ,god1 and calling in all the supply of divine help he can get1 and1 when he can do no more1 is fighting and groaning under that unjust invasion1 resolving never to pay homage to the usurper1 nor to obey his laws1 nor so much as parley with him1 or make peace1 we cannot say1 that the soul doth consent fully unto this usurpation4 ,nay1 if the soul shall do this much1 at such a time when ,satan sets on with all his force1 it will be a greater evidence of the strength of grace in the soul1 than if the soul should do the same or a little more1 at a time when the temptation is not so strong4 #aa4 ,it is not good for them to say1 that grace is not growing in them1 because they advance not so far as some do2 and because they come not to the pitch of grace that they see some advanced to4 ,that is not a sure rule to measure their growth in grace by4 ,some may have a better natural temper1 whereby they are less inclined to several vices which these find a strong propension to2 they may have the advantage of a better education1 and the like2 so that they should rather try themselves this year by what they were the last year1 and that in reference to the lusts to which they have been most subject all their days4 #ab4 ,we must not think that every believer will attain to the same measure of grace4 ,there is a measure appointed for every member or joint of this body2 and every joint supplieth1 according to the effectual working in the measure of every part1 ,eph4 iv4 #af4 ,god hath more ado with some than with others2 there is more strength required in an arm or leg than in a finger or toe2 and every one should be content with his measure1 so far as not to fret or repine against ,god and his dispensations1 that makes them but a finger1 and not an arm of the body2 and do their duty in their station1 fighting against sin1 according to the measure or grace dispensed to them of the ,lord1 and that faithfully and constantly2 and not quarrel with ,god1 that he maketh us not as free of temptations and corruptions as some others4 ,for the captain must not he blamed for commanding some of his soldiers to this post where they never once see the enemy1 and others to that post where they must continually fight4 ,the soldier is here under command1 and therefore must be quiet1 and take his lot2 so must the ,christian reverence the ,lord's dispensations1 in ordering matters1 so as they shall never have one hour's quietness1 while1 as others have more rest and peace1 and stand at their post fighting1 resolving never to yield1 but rather to cover the ground with their dead bodies1 till the commander-in-chief think good to relieve them4 ,sure ,i am1 as the only wise ,god hath distributed to every member of the body1 as he hath thought good1 so it is the duty of every member to endeavour this holy submission to him1 as to the measure of grace1 considered as his free gift bestowed on them2 and to be humbled for the grudgings of his heart1 because ,god hath not given him more talents4 ,and sure ,i am1 though this submission make no great noise in the world2 yet really this is one of the highest degrees of grace attainable here1 and such an ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 as is in the sight of ,god of great price4 ,so that whoever hath attained to this1 have the very grace they seem to want1 and more4 ,yet1 lest this should be abused1 let me add a word or two of caution1 to qualify this submission4 7#a47 ,there must be with it a high prizing even of that degree of grace which they want4 7#b7 ,there must be a panting after grace1 as it is ,god's image1 and a conformity to him1 and with so much singleness1 as they may be in case to say1 without the reproachings of their heart1 they do not so much love holiness for heaven1 as heaven for holiness4 7#c47 ,there must be an unceasingness in using all means1 whereby the growth of grace may be promoved to this end1 that they may be conformed to his image1 rather than that they may be comforted4 7#d47 ,there must be also a deep humiliation for the want of that degree of grace they would have1 as it importeth the want of so much conformity to him to whose image they are predestinated to be conformed1 which will very well consist with this submission we are speaking of4 #ac4 ,it would be remembered1 that there may be a great progress1 even when it is not observed2 when1 7#a47 ,hereby the man is made to lie in the dust1 to loath himself1 and cry1 behold ,i am vile6 7#b47 ,hereby his indignation against the body of death is the more increased4 7#c47 ,hereby his esteem of a ,saviour and of the blessed contrivance of salvation is the more heightened1 that he seeth he is thereby brought to make mention of his righteousness1 even of his only4 7#d47 ,hereby his longing after immediate fruition is increased1 where all these complaints shall cease4 7#e47 ,and hereby he is put to essay that much slighted duty of holding fast the rejoicing of his hope firm unto the end1 looking and longing for the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 when he shall be presented without spot1 and be made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,to ,,be ,,made ,,use ,,of1 ,,in ,,reference ,,to ,,the ,,killing ,,and ,,crucifying ,,of ,,the ,,old ,,man4 ,having thus shortly pointed out some things in general1 serving to the clearing and opening up the way of our use-making of ,christ for sanctification1 we come now more particularly to the clearing up of this business4 ,in sanctification we must consider1 first1 ,the renewing and changing of our nature and frame2 and1 next1 ,the washing and purging away of our daily contracted spots4 ,the first of these is commonly divided into two parts1 viz4 #ast1 ,the mortification1 killing1 and crucifying of the old man of sin and corruption which is within2 and1 #b;d1 ,the vivification1 renewing1 quickening1 and strengthening of the new man of grace2 and this is a growth in grace1 and in fruitfulness and holiness4 ,as to the first of these1 viz4 ,the mortification or crucifying of the old man1 we would know1 that there is such a principle of wickedness and enmity against ,god in man by nature1 now since the fall1 whereby the man is inclined to evil1 and only to evil4 ,this is called the old man1 as being like the body1 made of so many parts1 joints1 and members1 that is1 so many lusts and corruptions and evil inclinations1 which1 together1 make up a-corpus1 and they are fast joined and compacted together1 as the members of the body1 each useful and serviceable to one another1 and all of them concurring and contributing their utmost to the carrying on of the work of sin1 and so it is the man of sin2 and it is also called the old man1 as having first possession of the soul1 before it is by grace renewed1 and it is a dying more and more daily4 ,thus it is called the old man1 and the body of sin1 ,rom4 vi4 #f4 ,this old man hath his members in our members and faculties1 so that none of them are free1--understanding1 will1 affections1 and the members of our body are all servants of unrighteousness to this body of sin1 and old man4 ,so we read of the motions of sin1 ,rom4 vii4 #e1 which work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death2 and of the lusts of the flesh1 ,rom4 xiii4 #ad4 ,gal4 v4 #af1 #bd2 and the lusts of sin1 ,rom4 vi4 #ab4 ,so we hear of the desires of the flesh and of the mind1 ,eph4 ii4 #c2 and of affections and lusts1 ,gal4 v4 #bd4 ,and the old man is said to be corrupt1 according to the deceitful lusts1 ,eph4 iv4 #bb2 all which lusts and affections are as so many members of this body of sin1 and of this old man4 ,and1 further1 there is herein a considerable power1 force1 and efficacy1 which this old man hath in us1 to carry us away1 and1 as it were1 command or constrain us1 as by a forcible law4 ,hence we read of the law of sin and death1 ,rom4 viii4 #b1 which only the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ doth make us free from4 ,it is also called a law in our members warring against the law of our mind1 ,rom4 vii4 #bc1 and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members4 ,so it is said1 to lust against the ,spirit1 and to war1 ,gal4 v4 #ag4 ,all which point out the strength1 activity1 and dominion of sin in the soul1 so that it is as the husband over the wife1 ,rom4 vii4 #a2 yea1 it hath a domineering and constraining power1 where its horns are not held in by grace4 ,and as its power is great1 so its nature is wicked and malicious2 for it is pure enmity against ,god1 ,rom4 viii4 #g2 so that it neither is nor can be reconciled1 and therefore must be put off and abolished1 ,eph4 ii4 #ae2 killed and crucified1 ,rom4 vi4 #f4 ,now herein lieth the work of a believer1 to be killing1 mortifying1 and crucifying this enemy1 or rather enmity2 and delivering himself from under this bondage and slavery1 that he may be ,christ's free man1 and that through the ,spirit1 ,rom4 viii4 #ac4 ,now1 if it be asked1 ,how shall a believer make use of ,christ1 to the end this old man may be gotten crucified8 or1 how should a believer mortify this old man1 and the lusts thereof1 through ,christ1 or by the ,spirit of ,jesus8 ,we shall propose those things1 which may help to clear this3 #a4 ,the believer should have his eye on this old man as his arch-enemy1 as a deadly cut-throat lying within his bosom4 ,it is an enemy lodging within him1 in his soul1 mind1 heart1 and affections1 so that there is no part free2 and therefore is acquaint with all the motions of the soul1 and is always opposing and hindering every thing that is good4 ,it is an enemy that will never be reconciled to ,god1 and therefore will not be reconciled with the believer as such2 for it is called enmity itself1 and so it is always actively seeking to promove the ruin of the soul1 what by prompting1 inclining1 moving1 and forcibly drawing or driving1 sometimes with violence and rage1 to evil2 what by with standing1 resisting1 opposing1 counter-working1 and contradicting what is good2 so that the believer cannot get that done which he would do1 and is made to do that which he would not4 ,therefore this being such an enemy1 and so dangerous an enemy1 so constant and implacable an enemy1 so active and close an enemy1 so deadly and destructive1 it is the believer's part to guard against this enemy1 to have a vigilant eye upon it1 to carry as an irreconcilable enemy thereunto2 and therefore never to come in terms of capitulation or agreement therewith1 never once to parley1 let be make peace4 ,and the believer would not have his vigilant eye upon this or that member of this body of death1 so much as upon the body itself1 or the principle of wickedness and rebellion against ,god2 the head1 life1 spirit1 or law1 of this body of death2 for there lieth its greatest wickedness and activity2 and this is always opposing us1 though not in every joint and member2 but sometimes in one1 sometimes in another4 #b4 ,though the believer should have a main eye upon the body1 this innate1 strong1 and forcible law of sin and death1 yet should he have friendship and familiarity with no part1 member1 or lust of all this body4 ,all the deeds of the body should be mortified1 ,rom4 viii4 #ac2 the old man with his deeds should be mortified1 ,col4 iii4 #f2 and we should mortify our members which are upon the earth1 verse #e2 for all of them are against us1 and the least of them countenanced1 entertained1 and embraced1 will work our ruin1 and cut our soul's throat2 therefore should the believer look on each of them1 and on all of them1 as his deadly enemies4 #c4 ,he should consider1 that1 as it is a very unseemly thing for him to be a slave to that old tyrant1 and to yield his members as so many servants to iniquity1 so it is dangerous and deadly4 ,his life lieth at the stake2 either he must get it mortified1 killed1 and subdued1 or it will kill him2 his life will go for its life2 if this enemy escape1 he is a gone man4 ,the consideration of this should cause the believer to act here in earnestness and seriousness1 with care and diligence1 and set about this work of mortification with labour and pains4 #d4 ,much more must it be against all reason and ,christianity1 for the believer to be making provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof1 ,rom4 xiii4 #ad4 ,to be strengthening the hands of1 and laying provision to this enemy1 which is set and sworn against us1 can stand with no reason4 ,and here is much of the ,christian's prudence and spiritual wisdom required1 to discern what may make for fostering of this or that corruption1 or member of the body of sin and death1 and to withdraw that1 as we will labour to take away provision of any kind from an enemy that is coming against us4 ,paul acted herein as a wise gamester and combatant1 when he kept under his body1 and brought it into subjection1 #a ,cor4 ix4 #bg4 ,it were but to mock ,god1 and to preach forth our own folly1 to be looking to ,christ for help against such an enemy1 and1 in the meantime1 to be underhand strengthening the hands of the enemy2 this would be double dealing1 and treachery against ourselves4 #e4 ,to the end1 their opposition unto this enemy may be the stronger and more resolute1 they should consider1 that this body of sin is wholly set against ,god1 and his interest in the soul1 being very enmity itself against ,god1 ,rom4 viii4 #g2 and always lusting and fighting against the work of ,god in the soul1 ,gal4 v4 #ag2 and against every thing that is good1 so that it will not suffer1 so far as it can hinder the soul to do anything that is good1 at least in a right manner1 and for a right end4 ,nay1 with its lustings1 it driveth constantly to that which is evil1 raiseth evil motions and inclinations in the soul1 ere the believer be aware2 sideth with any temptation that is offered1 to the end that it may destroy the soul1 like a traitor within2 as we see it did in ,david1 when he fell into adultery2 and with ,asaph1 ,psalm lxxiii4 #b2 yea1 itself opposeth and tempteth1 ,james i4 #ad1 by setting mind1 will1 and affections on wrong courses2 and thus it driveth the soul to a course of rebellion against ,god1 or diverts it1 and draws it back1 that it cannot get ,god served aright2 yea1 sometimes it sets a fire in the soul1 entangling all the faculties1 filling the mind with darkness or prejudice1 misleading or preventing the affections1 and so miscarrying the will1 and leading it captive1 ,rom4 vii4 #bc2 so that the thing is done which the unregenerate soul would not do1 and the duty is left undone which the soul would fain have done2 yea1 and that sometimes notwithstanding of the soul's watching and striving against this2 so strong is its force4 #f4 ,the believer should remember1 that this enemy is not for him to fight against alone1 and that his own strength and skill will make but a slender opposition unto it4 ,it will laugh at the shaking of his spear2 it can easily insinuate itself1 on all occasions1 because it lieth so near and close to the soul1 always residing there1 and is at the believer's right hand whatever he be doing1 and is always openly or closely opposing1 and that with great facility2 for it easily besetteth1 ,heb4 xii4 #a1 because it lieth within the soul1 and in all the faculties of it--in the heart1 mind1 will1 conscience1 and affections2 so that upon this account1 the deceitfulness of the heart is great1 and passeth the search of man1 ,jer4 xvii4 #i4 ,man cannot know all the windings and turnings1 all the drifts and designs1 all the lurking and retiring places1 all the falsehoods and double dealings1 all the dissimulations1 lies1 and subterfuges1 all the plausible and deceitful pretexts and insinuations of his heart acted and spirited by this law of sin and death4 ,and besides this slight and cunning1 it hath strength and power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition1 #a ,tim4 iv4 #i1 and to carry the soul headlong2 so that it makes the man's case miserable1 ,rom4 vii4 #bd4 ,all which would say1 that the believer should call in other help than his own1 and remember1 that through the ,spirit he must mortify the deeds of the body1 ,rom4 viii4 #ac4 #g4 ,and therefore the believer must lay aside all his carnal weapons1 in dealing with his adversary1 and look out for divine help and assistance1 even for the promised ,spirit1 through which alone he can be instructed and enabled for this great work2 for of himself he can do nothing1 not so much as think a good thought as of himself1 #b ,cor4 iii4 #e1 far less will he be able to oppose such a mighty adversary1 that hath so great and many advantages2 and therefore all his carnal means1 purposes1 vows1 and fightings in himself1 will but render himself weaker1 and a readier prey unto this adversary1 which gaineth ground while he is so opposed4 ,it is ,christ alone and his ,spirit1 that can destroy the works of the devil1 and kill or crucify this enmity4 #h4 ,so that the believer must have his recourse for help and succour here1 unto ,jesus the ,captain of salvation1 and must follow him1 and fight under his banners1 make use of his weapons1 which are spiritual2 fight according to his counsel and conduct1 taking him as a ,leader and ,commander1 and lying open for his orders and instructions1 waiting for the motions of his ,spirit1 and following them2 and thus oppose and fight against this deadly enemy1 with an eye always on ,christ by faith1 depending on him for light to the mind1 resolution to the will1 and grace to the whole soul to stand in the battle1 and to withstand all assaults1 and never engage in a dispute with this enemy1 or any lust or member of this body without ,christ the principal1 that is1 the soul would despair in itself1 and be strong in him1 and in the power of his might1 by faith griping to him1 as ,head1 ,captain1 and ,commander-in-chief1 resolving to fight in his strength1 and to oppose through the help of his ,spirit4 #i4 ,and for this cause1 the believer would eye the covenant of redemption1 the basis of all our hope and consolation1 wherein final and full victory is promised to ,christ1 as ,head of the elect1 viz4 that he shall bruise the serpent's head2 and so that in him1 all his followers and members of his mystical body shall lift up the head1 and get full victory at length over both sin and death4 ,now it is ,god that giveth us the victory1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 #a ,cor4 xv4 #eg4 ,the believer would also eye by faith the covenant of grace1 wherein particularly this same victory is promised to the believer1 in and through ,jesus1 ,rom4 xvi4 #bj4 ,and the ,god of peace shall bruise ,satan under your feet shortly2 and sin shall not have dominion over you1 for ye are not under the law1 but under grace1 ,rom4 vi4 #ad4 ,the believer1 ,i say1 would look out by faith unto1 and lay hold on these and the like promises1 and thereby get strength conveyed to himself1 whereby he may strive lawfully1 and fight valiantly1 and oppose with courage and resolution4 #aj4 ,further1 the believer would eye ,christ as a fountain of furniture1 as a full and complete magazine1 standing open1 and ready for every one of his honest soldiers to run to for new supplies of what they want2 so that whatever they find wanting in their ,christian armour1 they must run away to the open magazine1 ,christ's fulness1 that standeth ready for them1 and by faith take and put on what they want and stand in need of in their warfare4 ,if their girdle of truth be slacked1 loosed1 or weakened1 and they be meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisy1 and ,satan objecting to them their double dealing1 of purpose to discourage them1 and to make them faint and give over the fight2 they must away to him who is the truth1 that he may bind on that girdle better1 and make their hearts more upright before ,god in all they do4 ,and if their breastplate of righteousness be weakened1 and ,satan there seem to get advantage1 by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings towards ,god or men1 they must flee to him1 who only can help here1 and beg pardon through his blood for their failings1 and set to again afresh to the battle4 ,if their resolution1 which is understood by the preparation of the gospel of peace1 grow weak1 it must be renewed in ,christ's armoury1 and the feet of new be shod therewith4 ,if their shield of faith begin to fail them1 away must they get to him who is the ,author and ,finisher of faith1 ,heb4 xii4 #b4 ,and if their helmet of hope begin to fail them1 in this armoury alone can that be supplied4 ,and if their sword be blunted in their hand1 or they unable to wield it aright1 the ,spirit of ,jesus can only teach their hands to fight1 and instruct them how to manage that useful weapon with advantage4 ,thus must the believer be strong in him1 and in the power of his might1 ,eph4 vi4 #aj4 ,he is their ,god that girdeth them with strength1 and maketh their way perfect4 ,he maketh their feet like hind's feet1 and setteth them upon their high places4 ,he teacheth their hands to war1 so that a bow of steel is broken by their arms4 ,he giveth them the shield of salvation4 ,his right hand upholdeth them4 ,he girdeth with strength unto the battle1 c4 ,psalm xviii4 #cb1 c4 #aa4 ,for the further strengthening of their hope1 faith1 and confidence1 believers would eye ,christ1 as hanging on the cross1 and overcoming by death1 death1 and him that hath the power of death1 the devil2 and so as meritoriously purchasing this redemption from the slavery of sin and ,satan1 and particularly from the slavery of that body of death1 and of the law of sin and death2 for the apostle tells us1 ,rom4 viii4 #b1 ,that the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus doth make us free from the law of sin and death1 and that because1 as he saith further1 ver4 #c1 #d1 what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god sending his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin condemned sin in the flesh2 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us4 ,so that the believer may now look upon that enemy1 how fearful soever it may appear1 as condemned and killed in the death1 of ,christ2 he having laid down the price of redemption1 hath bought this freedom from the chains and fetters with which he was held in captivity4 ,faith1 then1 on the death of ,jesus satisfying justice for the poor captive1 may1 and should support and strengthen the hope and confidence of the believer1 that he shall obtain the victory at length4 #ab4 ,and it will further confirm the hope and faith of the believer1 to look to ,christ hanging on the cross1 and there vanquishing and overcoming this arch-enemy1 as a public person1 representing the elect who died in him1 and virtually and legally did in him overcome that jailor1 and break his fetters2 and the soul now believing1 may1 yea1 should reckon itself in ,christ dying1 as it were1 upon the cross1 and there overcoming all those spiritual enemies4 ,likewise1 saith the apostle1 ,rom4 vi4 #aa1 ,reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin4 ,from hence1 even while fighting1 the believer may account himself a conqueror1 yea1 more than a conqueror1 through him that loved him1 ,rom4 viii4 #cg4 ,now faith acting thus on ,christ1 as a public person1 dying and overcoming death and sin1 the believer may not only infer the certainty of victory1 knowing that our old man is crucified with ,christ1 ,rom4 vi4 #f2 but also from the cross of ,christ draw strength to stand and fight against the strugglings of this vanquished and killed enemy4 ,they that are ,christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts1 ,gal4 v4 #bd4 ,but how8 ,even by the cross of ,christ4 ,for thereby is the world crucified unto me1 saith the apostle1 ,gal4 vi4 #ad1 and ,i unto the world4 ,your old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 ,rom4 vi4 #f4 #ac4 ,the believer being dead indeed unto sin1 through the cross of ,christ1 is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yoke of bondage under sin and death4 ,the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth1 ,rom4 vii4 #a4 ,but by the body of ,christ believers are become dead to the law1 ver4 #d4 ,that law of sin and death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature1 and is not yet by faith planted in the likeness of ,christ's death1 nor buried with him by baptism into death1 ,rom4 vi4 #d1 #e1 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 death1 ,rom4 viii4 #b2 so that now the believer1 is free from that tyranny2 and that tyrant can exercise no lawful jurisdiction or authority over him2 and therefore he may with the greater courage repel the insolencies of that tyrant1 that contrary to all right and equity seeketh to lord it over him still4 ,they are no lawful subjects to that cruel and raging prince1 or to that spiritual wickedness4 #ad4 ,so that the believer1 renouncing that jurisdiction under which he was formerly1 and being under a new husband1 and under a new law1 even the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus1 is to look upon all the motions of sin as illegal1 and as treasonable acts of a tyrant4 ,the old man being crucified with ,christ1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 the believer is not any more to serve sin1 ,rom4 vi4 #f2 and being now dead1 they are freed from sin1 ver4 #g2 and are married to another1 even to him who is raised from the dead1 and so they should not serve sin1 but bring forth fruit unto ,god1 ,rom4 vii4 #d2 and therefore1 look upon all motions of the flesh1 and all the inclinations and stirrings of the old law of sin1 as acts of treachery and rebellion against the right and jurisdiction of the believer's new ,lord and husband2 and are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man1 this body of death1 and all the members of it1 as traitors to the rightful king and husband1 and to take them prisoners to the king1 that he may give out sentence1 and execute the same against them1 as enemies to his kingdom and interest in the soul2--they being now no more servants of sin1 but of righteousness1 they ought no more to yield their members servants to uncleanness1 and iniquity unto iniquity1 ,rom4 vi4 #ah1 #ai2 and being debtors no more to the flesh1 to live after the flesh1 ,rom4 vii4 #ab2 they are to mortify the deeds of the body through the spirit1 ver4 #ac2 and to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts1 ,gal4 v4 #bd2 that is1 by bringing them to the cross of ,christ1 where first they were condemned and crucified1 in their full body and power2 that a new sentence1 as it were1 may go out against them1 as parts of that condemned tyrant1 and as belonging to that crucified body4 #ae4 ,so that the believer that would carry faithfully in this matter1 and fight lawfully in this warfare1 and hope to obtain the victory through ,jesus ,christ1 must bring these traitors that appear in their sinful motions and lusts in the soul1 working rebellion against the just authority and equitable laws of the lawful prince ,jesus1 before the tribunal of him who hath now got all power and authority in heaven and in earth1 ,matt1 xxviii4 #ah2 and hath all judgment committed to him1 ,john v4 #bb2 and to this end1 both died1 and rose1 and revived1 that he might be ,lord both of the dead and living1 ,rom4 xvi4 #i2 that he may execute justice upon the traitor1 head1 and members2 that he may trample these devils under1 and bruise the head of these serpents within us4 ,the believer then is by faith in prayer1 to carry these open enemies to ,christ1 and declare and witness against them as traitors1 by what mischief they have done in the soul1 by their hindering the righteous laws of the king to be obeyed2 and constraining and forcing1 what by arguments and allurements1 and what by forcible inclinations and pousings1 to a disobedience and a counteracting of ,christ2 and he should urge and plead upon the fundamental laws of the land1 viz4 the articles of agreement betwixt the ,father and the ,son1 and the faithful promises of the covenant of grace2 and upon ,christ's office as king and governor1 and his undertaking as ,mediator2 upon the merits of his death and sufferings2 upon his dying as a common person2 upon the constitution of the gospel1 whereby they are in law repute as dying in him1 and so free from the law of sin and death2 and upon their relation to him as their new ,lord1 ,head1 ,husband1 ,king1 ,commander1 c4 ,upon these arguments1 ,i say1 to plead for justice against the rebel that is now brought to the bar1 and so by faith leave the prisoner in his hand1 that he may1 in his own time and way1 give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and raging enemy1 that he may not rise up to disturb the peace of the soul as before2 or to trouble1 impede1 and molest the soul in paying the homage and obedience due to his lawful master and sovereign king1 ,,jesus4 ,,cautions ,,and ,,directions4 ,for further clearing of the premises1 ,i would propose a few particulars1 for caution and direction1 as1-- #a4 ,this work of laying the burden of this business on ,christ by faith1 would be gone about with much singleness of heart1 aiming at the glory of ,god1 and the carrying on of his work in the soul2 and not for self-ends1 and carnal by-respects1 lest thereby we mar all4 #b4 ,it would be carried on1 without partiality1 against all and every one of the lusts and motions of the old man4 ,for if there be a compliance with and a sparing of any one known lust1 the whole work may be marred2 they may meet with a disappointment as to the particular lust they are desiring victory over2--and the lust they are harbouring1 though it may seem little1 may open a door to many stronger1 and so occasion sad days to the man1 ere he be aware4 #c4 ,as they would bring the particular lust1 or lusts1 unto ,christ1 as chief ,lord ,justice2 so they would always lay the axe to the root of the tree1 and crave justice against the main body1 that yet lieth within the soul2 and these particular corruptions and affections1 that are as members of that body of sin1 should put them in mind of the old man1 for they should crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof1 ,gal4 v4 #bd2 the body and the members4 ,these lusts are the lusts of sin1 or of that head-sin1 which hath a law1 or the force and impulse of a law in the soul2 and therefore their main design would be against this root1 where lieth the strength and body of the enemy1 and which acteth in those members2 this is the capital enmity1 and should be mainly opposed4 ,and the following of this course would prove more successful than that which many time we take3 our nibbling at1 or wrestling against this or that member of the body of death1 is but of little advantage1 so long as the main body of sin1 the bitter root of wickedness1 the carnal mind1 this innate enmity is miskent1 and not opposed2 but on the contrary1 strike at this1 we strike at all4 #d4 ,this would be the believer's constant work1 to be crucifying the flesh1 with the lusts thereof2 to be mortifying their members1 wherein the members of the old man quarter and lodge1 ,col4 iii4 #e2 to be spiritually minded1 and to mind the things of the ,spirit1 ,rom4 viii4 #e1 #f4 ,for the carnal mind is enmity1 against ,god1 ,rom4 viii4 #g2 and so is not subject to the law of ,god1 neither indeed can be4 ,it is not only an enemy which may be reconciled1 but enmity in the abstract1 which never can be reconciled4 ,and this enmity will never be idle2 for it cannot till it be fully and finally destroyed2 the flesh is always lusting against the spirit1' ,gal4 v4 #ag2 for they are contrary one to the other4 ,so that though1 to our sense1 it may sometimes appear as sleeping1 in regard that it doth not by some particular lust so molest and perplex the soul as formerly it did3 yet it is restless1 and may be more active in another lust1 and so by changing weapons on us1 deceive us4 ,here then is much spiritual wisdom and vigilancy required4 ,when they think they have gotten one lust subdued1 they must not think the war is at an end2 but after all their particular victories1 watch and pray1 that they enter not into temptation4 #e4 ,this way of laying the weight of the matter on ,christ1 should and will keep them humble1 and teach them not to ascribe the glory of any good that is done unto themselves1 but to give him all the glory1 who is jealous of his glory1 and will not give it to another1 that the crown may alone flourish on his head1 who is the captain of their salvation1 and who by his ,spirit worketh all their works in them4 #f4 ,nor would this way of carrying the matter to ,christ1 and putting it over on him1 cause the believer become negligent in commanded duties1 reading1 hearing prayer1 c2 for it is there he must expect to meet with ,christ2 there must he seek him1 and there must he wait for him1 and his ,spirit to do the work desired4 ,for though he hath not limited himself to these means1 so1 as he cannot1 or will not any other way help1 yet he hath bound us to them2 and it is our duty to wait there1 where he hath commanded us to wait1 though he should sometime think good to come another way1 for the manifestation of the sovereignty of his grace4 #g4 ,yet while we are about the means1 we would guard against a leaning to them1 lest1 instead of getting victory over corruption1 we be brought more in bondage thereunto another way4 ,we must not think that our prayers1 or our hearing1 or reading1 c4 will bring down the body of death1 or subdue any one corruption2 for that were but an yielding to corruption1 and opening a back door to the carnal mind1 and to another deadly lust1 and a beating corruption with a sword of straw4 ,this is not to mortify the deeds of the body through the ,spirit1 but through the flesh2 and a fleshly weapon will never draw blood of this spiritual wickedness or old man1 or of any corrupt lust or affection thereof2 and yet how many times doth our deceitful heart bias us this way8 ,our work would be1 as is said1 to use the ordinances as means1 whereby we may get the business laid on ,christ1 and help from ,christ to do the business4 ,we must go to the means with our prisoner to find ,christ there at his court and assizes1 that he may take course with the traitor4 #h4 ,in all this there would be a looking to1 and dependence on ,christ for help and grace2 because of ourselves1 as of ourselves1 we cannot do this much2 we cannot complain aright of corruptions1 nor take them away to ,christ1 nor ask for justice against them4 ,as constables and other officers must carry malefactors to the courts of justice1 upon public charges2 so ,christ will not have us doing or attempting this much on our own charges1 for he giveth noble allowance4 #i4 ,in following of this course1 we would not think always to come speed at the first4 ,sometimes the ,lord1 for the encouragement of his children1 may give them a speedy hearing1 and deliver them from the tyranny of some particular lust or other that hath troubled them2 so that for some time at least1 it shall not so trouble them as it did4 ,yet he will not do so always1 but may think it good to keep them waiting on him1 and hanging on his courts for some considerable time1 that he may thereby exercise their faith1 patience1 desire1 zeal1 and diligence4 ,so that it should not seem strange to us1 if we be not admitted at the first1 and get not our answer at the first cry4 #aj4 ,when the ,lord thinketh good to delay the answer to our desires1 and the execution of justice on the malefactor and traitor1 or to deliver us from his tyranny and trouble1 we would beware of thinking to capitulate with the enemy for our peace and quiet1 or to enter into a cessation of arms with him2 that is1 our enmity against him should never abate2 nor should our desire after the mortification and crucifixion of this lust grow less2 nor should we be at quiet and at peace1 though it should seem to grow a little more calm and still1 or not to rage as formerly2 for this looks but like a covenant or confederacy with lust1 which will not stand4 #aa4 ,we would also know1 that what ,christ said of devils1 holdeth good of these lusts1 viz4 that some of them do not go out but by fasting and prayer2 that is1 by ,christ sought unto and found in these means4 ,there are some lusts that will not be so easily killed and mortified as others1 but will cost us more pains and labour1 as being corruptions which possibly have some greater advantage of our natural temper and constitution of body1 or of long continuance and a cursed habit1 or the like4 ,we must not then think it strange1 if some such lust be not subdued so easily as some others to which we have fewer and weaker1 and not so frequent temptations4 #ab4 ,as we cannot expect a full conquest of the body of death1 so long as we are here1 as was shown above1 neither can we expect a full and final victory over any one lust1 which ever we have been troubled with4 ,it is true1 believers may be kept from some gross out-breaking of a corruption1 which sometime prevailed1 as ,peter was from relapsing into an open and downright denying his ,master2 yet that same corruption did afterward stir1 though not so violently as to carry him to such an height of sin2 yet so far as to cause him do that which was a partial denying of his ,master1 when ,paul withstood him to the face1 because he was to be blamed for withdrawing from the ,gentiles1 for fear of them of the circumcision1 c4 ,gal4 ii4 #aa1 #ab43 ,so1 though a particular lust may be so far subdued through grace1 as that for some considerable time a man may not find it so violent as it was2 yet be cannot say that it is totally killed1 because it may stir thereafter in some weaker measure2 yea1 he cannot tell1 but ere he come to die1 that same corruption may rise to be as violent as ever1 and that ,satan may again think to enter the soul at that same breach which once he entered at2 yea1 and who can tell1 whether ,god may not suffer that corruption1 which lay long as dead1 to revive again for a time1 and for a time drive the soul as violently as ever1 and prevail for a time8 ,and this should teach all to walk soberly1 watchfully1 and in fear1 and to have a vigilant eye1 even upon such lusts and carnal affections1 as they may suppose they have got the victory of4 #ac4 ,we would not think that we gain no ground upon corruption1 because we still perceive it stirring1 less or more2 for as corruption is not always strongest1 as was said above1 nor hath the deepest footing in the soul1 when its motions and stirrings are most felt2 so neither must we think that there is no ground gained upon a lust1 because we are still troubled and molested with its stirrings2 for it is a great advantage to be more sensible of the motions of this enemy2 and our more faithful and active wrestling against it may make its least stirrings more sensible to us2 as the motions and trouble which a malefactor1 while in grips and in prison1 maketh1 may be thought more of than his greater ragings before he was apprehended2 yet he may be sure in fetters for all that4 ,a beast that hath gotten death's blow may get out of grips1 and run more mad than ever1 and yet will die at length of the same blow4 #ad4 ,though we should find present ease and quiet by our following this way1 yet we should think it much1 if the ,lord help us to stand1 when we have done all we can1 though we meet not with the hoped for success presently2 if he give us grace to continue without wearying or fainting1 and to be resolved never to give over1 we have reason to bless him2 if we be kept still in the conflict with pursuit of the enemy1 it is our great advantage2 the victory shall come in ,god's own time4 ,if our opposition so continue1 that we are resolved never to take nor give quarter1 though our trouble and exercise should be the greater1 and our ease and quiet the less1 we ought to bless him1 yea1 and rejoice in hope of what he shall yet do for us2 for he that will come1 shall come1 and will not tarry4 ,let us wait for him1 in doing our duty1 and faithfully keeping our post4 #ae4 ,yea1 if we get quietness or ease from the violence of raging lusts for any little time1 and be not continually driven and carried headlong therewith1 we ought to be thankful for this1 and to walk humbly before him2 lest he be provoked by our unthankfulness and pride1 and let these furious dogs loose upon us again4 #af4 ,when we are bending our strength and all our forces against some one corruption or other1 which possibly hath been most troublesome to us1 we would not be secure as to all others1 or think that we are in hazard only on this side2 for ,satan may make a feint here1 and really intend an assault at another place1 by some other corrupt affection4 ,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 death1 as to have our eye upon others1 lest when we think to keep out ,satan at the fore-door1 he enter in at the back-door4 ,he can make use of extremities1 and play his game with both2 yea1 and gain his point1 if we be not aware4 ,,objections ,,answered4 ,it will not be amiss1 for further explaining of the matter1 to remove a scruple or two4 ,some may say1 that they cannot perceive that all their pains in this matter come to any good issue2 for they never found corruption stir more1 and act more lively and incessantly1 than since they began to fight against it in good earnest2 so that this would seem not to be the right way4 ,i answer1 ,though from what is said before1 particularly cautions #ith and #acth1 a resolution of this doubt maybe had2 yet ,i shall propose those things1 for further clearing of the matter3 #a4 ,may not much of this flow from thy not laying the whole work so wholly off thyself1 and upon ,christ1 as thou oughtest to do8 ,try and see4 #b4 ,may not the devil rage most1 when he thinks ere long to be ejected8 ,may he not labour to create most trouble to the soul1 when he seeth that he is like to be put from some of his strengths8 #c4 ,may not the devil be doing this of purpose to drive thee to despair of ever getting corruption subdued and mortified2 or to a fainting and sitting up in the pursuit1 and to a despondency of spirit2 that so instead of fighting or standing1 thou may cede and turn thee back8 ,and should we comply with him in his designs8 #d4 ,may not the ,lord give way to this for a time1 to try thy seriousness1 patience1 submission and faith1 and to sharpen thy diligence1 and kindle up thy zeal8 ,and should we not submit to his wise dispensations8 #e4 ,how can thou say that thou gainest no advantage1 as long as thou art not made to lay aside the matter wholly1 as hopeless of any good issue2 but1 on the contrary1 art helped to stand1 and to resist sin1 to cry out against it1 to fight as thou canst1 and at least not to yield8 #f4 ,what if ,god see it for thy advantage1 that thou be kept so in exercise for a time1 to the end thou may be kept humble1 watchful1 and diligent8 ,he may see more of thee1 than thou canst see of thyself1 and so may know what is best for thee2 and should thou not condescend to be disposed of by him as he will1 and to let him make of thee1 and do with thee what he will8 #g4 ,what if ,god be about to chasten thee thus for thy former negligence1 security1 and unwatchfulness1 and giving too much advantage to those lusts1 which now1 after his awakening of thee1 thou would be delivered from8 ,should thou not bear the indignation of the ,lord1 because thou hast sinned against him1 as the ,church resolved to do1 ,micah vii4 #i8 #h4 ,is it not thy duty the more that corruption stirs1 to run with it the oftener to ,christ1 that he may subdue it and put it to silence8 ,may not thou improve this to thy advantage1 by making many errands to him8 #i4 ,may it not come in a day1 that hath not come in a year8 ,art thou sure1 that all thy pains shall be in vain8 ,or thinkest thou that all his children have got victory alike soon over their lusts8 ,what cause is there then to complain thus8 #aj4 ,may not all this convince thee1 that it is thy duty to wait on him1 in the use of his appointed means1 and to be patient1 standing fast to thy post1 resolving1 when thou hast done all1 yet to stand8 #aa4 ,may not this satisfy thee1 that ,god through grace accepteth thy labour and wrestling1 as thy duty1 and accounteth it service to him1 and obedience8 ,but again1 it may possibly be objected thus3 so long as ,i am in this condition1 kept under with my lusts1 ,i cannot get ,god glorified and served as he ought to be4 ,i answer1 though so long as it is so with thee1 thou cannot glorify and serve him1 in such a particular manner as others1 who have got more victory over those evils under which thou art groaning1 yet ,god can get glory and service of thee another way2 as1 #a4 ,by thy submission1 with calmness of spirit1 to his wise dispensations1 when thou dare not speak against him1 and say1 with ,rebecca1 in another case1 if it be so1 why am ,i thus8 ,but sweetly and willingly cast thyself down at his feet1 saying1 good is the will of the ,lord2 let him do what seemeth him good1 c4 #b4 ,by thy patient on-waiting1 when thou art not wearying nor fainting1 but saying1 why should ,i not wait upon the great ,king's leisure8 ,is he not free to come when he will8 ,dare ,i set limits to the ,holy ,one of ,israel8 #c4 ,by thy humility1 when thou blessest him1 for keeping thee so long out of hell1 and thinkest much of his giving thee grace to see and observe the stirrings of corruption1 which carnal wretches never perceive2 and helping thee to withstand and complain of corruption1 which they sweetly comply with4 #d4 ,by thy hatred of sin1 when all that ,satan can do cannot make thee comply with those lusts1 or sweetly embrace those vipers1 or lie down in peace with those rotten members of the old man1 as others do4 #e4 ,by thy watchfulness1 when all thy disappointments cause thee the more earnestly watch against that enemy4 #f4 ,by thy acting faith1 when still thou art carrying sin in its lusts to ,christ to kill and subdue1 as believing the tenor of the gospel and new covenant4 #g4 ,by thy hope1 which appeareth by thy not despairing1 and giving over the matter as a hopeless business1 and turning aside to wicked courses4 #h4 ,by thy praying1 when thou criest to him continually for help1 who only can help4 #i4 ,by thy wrestling and standing against all opposition1 for thereby is his strength made perfect in thy weakness1 #b ,cor4 xii4 #i4 #aj4 ,by thine obedience2 for it is his command that thou stand and fight this good fight of faith4 ,so that if thou hast a desire to glorify him1 thou wants not occasion to do it1 even in this condition wherein thou complainest that thou cannot get him glorified4 ,and if those grounds do not satisfy thee1 it is to be feared that it is not so much a desire to glorify him1 that moveth thee to cry so earnestly for actual delivery from the trouble of the flesh and the lusts thereof1 as something else1 which thou may search after and find out2 such as love to ease1 quietness1 applause and commendation of others1 or the like4 ,but1 in the third place1 it may be objected1 is it not promised that sin shall not have dominion over us1 as not being under the law1 but under grace1 ,rom4 vi4 #ad4 ,how can we then but be troubled1 when we find not this promise made good8 ,i answer1 #ast1 ,sin is not always victorious and domineering1 when it seemeth to rage and stir most4 ,your opposition thereunto1 fighting and wrestling against it1 sheweth that it hath not full dominion4 ,so long as an invading usurper is opposed1 he hath not full dominion1 not having peaceable possession of what he is seeking2 and thus the promise is in part accomplished4 #b4 ,victory and a full conquest over the flesh1 and lusts thereof1 is not promised to any believer1 at his first appearing in the fields to fight2 nor granted to all in any measure1 at their first putting on their armour4 #c4 ,therefore it is thy part to fight on1 and wait for that full victory1 viz4 that sin shall not have dominion over thee1 for it shall come in due time4 #d4 ,god hath his own time and seasons wherein he accomplisheth his promises2 and we must leave him a latitude1 both as to the time when1 and as to the manner how1 and as to the degree in which he shall make good his promises2 and he is wise in his dispensations4 ,therefore1 though the promise as yet appeareth not to be accomplished1 there is no true cause of trouble of mind1 because it shall be afterward fully accomplished2 and the wrestling against sin1 saith that it is in great measure accomplished already2 because where it hath a full dominion1 it suppresseth all opposition or contradiction1 except some faint resistance1 which a natural conscience1 for carnal ends1 on carnal principles and grounds1 may1 now or then1 make against this or that particular corruption1 which occasioneth shame1 disgrace1 loss1 challenges of a carnal conscience1 and disquietness that way1 when yet it is not hated nor wrestled against as sin1 or as a member of the old man1 and the body of death4 ,the objector would consider1 that having subjected his consent to ,christ1 he is delivered really from that natural state of bondage under sin as a lawful lord1 howbeit the old tyrant1 now wanting a title1 is making new invasions1 to trouble the peace and quiet of the soul4 ,fourthly1 ,it may be said1 but what can then1 in the mean time1 keep up the heart of a poor soul from sinking8 ,ans4 ,several things1 if rightly considered1 might help to support the soul in this case1 as1 #a4 ,that they are helped to wrestle against this body of death1 in all the members of it1 so soon as they discover themselves1 were it their right eye and right hand4 #b4 ,that these lusts gain not ground upon them2 or if they do seem to gain ground1 yet they attain not to a full dominion1 not gaining their consent4 #c4 ,that ,god is faithful1 and therefore the promised victory shall be had in due time1 and ,satan's head shall certainly be bruised4 #d4 ,that the wrestling soul is about his duty1 carrying as a good soldier of ,jesus ,christ1 fighting the battles of the ,lord1 and waiting on him in faith and hope4 ,but further1 fifthly1 some may say1 ,if ,i were kept from yielding1 my wrestling and standing would yield me some comfort2 but when lust so stirreth1 as that it conceiveth and bringeth forth sin1 7,james i4 #ae17 what can support or comfort me then8 ,ans4 #a4 ,corruption cannot stir in us1 but therein we sin1 for the very first rise1 the motus primo-primi1 as they are called1 are sinful1 being contrary to the holy law of ,god2 and the very in-being of that old man is our sin2 for it is sinful1 and rebellious against ,god1 yea it is very enmity and rebellion itself4 ,when ,satan cometh with a temptation from without1 he findeth always much in us to entertain the temptation4 ,so that the very stirring of corruption1 which is occasioned by the temptation from without1 is our guilt4 #b4 ,it is true it is our duty1 to set against the first risings and motions of corruption1 when it first enticeth1 before it hath conceived or brought forth sin2 and it will argue grace in life and in action1 to be able to hinder the motions of lust so far1 that it shall not conceive and bring forth sin4 ,yet we may not say1 that there is no grace in the soul1 or no measure of mortification attained1 where lust sometimes not only enticeth1 but conceiveth and bringeth forth sin4 ,the sad experience of many of ,god's worthies1 registrated in the word1 cleareth this abundantly4 ,we must not say1 such an one is fallen1 therefore he is dead4 ,paul reasoneth otherways1 ,rom4 vii4 #c4 ,yet even then1 when lust conceiveth and bringeth forth sin1 this may comfort and bear up the heart of a poor believer4 7#a47 ,that though corruption prevail so far1 as to bear down all opposition1 and run down all that standeth in its way1 yet it getteth not the full consent of the soul3 there is still a party for ,god in the soul1 that opposeth so far as to protest against it1 or at least to dissent from it1 and not to will that which yet is done1 and positively to will that which cannot be gotten effectuated1 7#b47 ,and further1 this may bear up the poor soul1 that there is a party within1 which1 though for a time1 during the violent overrunning of corruption1 can do little more than sigh and groan in a corner1 yet is waiting and longing for an opportunity when it may appear more for ,god1 and against that wicked usurper4 7#c47,so also this may comfort the poor soul1 that as it perceiveth corruption stirring1 and the old man moving one member or other1 it runneth away to the king2 and when it is not able to apprehend the traitor1 and take him captive to the court of justice1 doth there discover the traitor1 and tell the king that there is such or such a traitor acting such and such rebellion against him and his laws1 and complain and seek help to take the rebel prisoner1 and bring him bound hand and foot to the king1 that he may give out sentence against him2 that is1 when he can do no more against that raging enemy1 maketh his complaint to the ,lord1 and lieth before him1 sighing and groaning for help and strength to withstand and oppose more this enemy4 ,lastly1 ,some may yet object1 and say1 ,if it were not worse with me than it is with others1 ,i could then be satisfied2 but ,i see some mightily prevailing over corruption1 and ,i am still at under1 and can get no victory2 and can ,i choose but be sad at this8 ,i answer1 #a4 ,dost thou know for a certainty1 that those persons whose condition thou judgest happy1 are altogether free of the inward stirrings of those lusts that thou art brought under by8 ,or dost thou know for a certainty that they are not under the power of some other corruption1 as thou thinkest thyself under the power of that corruption whereof thou complainest8 ,what knowest thou1 then1 but they may be as much complaining on other accounts as thou dost on that8 #b4 ,but be it so as thou supposeth1 that there is a difference betwixt thy condition and the condition of others1 knowest thou not1 that all the members of the body are not alike great and strong1 as not being equally to be employed in work requiring strength4 ,are there not some young strong men in ,christ's family1 and some that are but babes8 ,may not a captain send some of his soldiers to one post1 where they shall possibly not see the enemy all the day long1 and some others to another post1 where they shall have no rest all the day8 ,and why1 ,i pray1 may not ,god dispose of his soldiers as he will8 ,he knoweth what he is doing3 ,it is not safe that every one of the soldiers know what are the designs of the commander or general2 nor is it always fit for us to know or to inquire what may be the designs of ,god with us1 and what he may be about to do4 ,he may intend to employ one in greater works than another1 and so exercise them otherways for that warfare and work4 ,it may suffice that the prevailing of others may encourage thee to hope1 that at last thy strong corruptions shall also fall by the hand of the grace of ,god4 #c4 ,if thy sadness savour not of envy and fretting1 thou should bless him that hereby thou art put to the exercise of spiritual sorrow4 #d4 ,it is well if this bring thee to bless ,god for the success of others1 because hereby his grace is glorified1 #a ,cor4 xii4 #bf4 ,therefore1 #e4 ,let this satisfy us1 ,that he is the ,lord1 who doeth what he will in heaven and in earth1 and may dispose of us as he will1 and make of us what he will1 for his own glory4 ,and that we are to mind our duty1 and be faithful at our post1 standing and fighting in the strength of the ,lord1 resolving never to comply with the enemy1 and to rejoice in this1 that the enemy is already conquered by the captain1 and that we share in his victory1 and that the very ,god of peace shall quickly bruise ,satan under our feet1 ,rom4 xvi4 #bj4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,to ,,be ,,made ,,use ,,of1 ,,in ,,reference ,,to ,,growing ,,in ,,grace4 ,i come now to speak a little to the other part of sanctification1 which concerneth the change of our nature and frame1 and is called vivification1 or quickening of the new man of grace2 which is called the new man1 as having all its several members and parts1 as well as the old man2 and called new1 because posterior to the other2 and after regeneration is upon the growing hand1 this duty of growing in grace1 as it is called1 #b ,pet4 iii4 c4 is variously expressed and held forth to us in ,scripture2 for it is called an abiding and bringing forth fruit in ,christ1 ,john xv4 #e2 adding to faith virtue1 and to virtue knowledge1 #b ,pet4 i4 #e1 #f1 #g2 a going on to perfection1 ,heb4 vii4 #a2 a growing up in ,christ in all things1 ,eph4 iv4 #ae2 a working out our salvation1 ,phil4 ii4 #ab2 a perfecting of holiness1 #b ,cor4 vii4 #a2 a walking in newness of life1 ,rom4 vi4 #d2 a yielding of ourselves unto ,god1 as alive from the dead1 and our members as instruments of righteousness unto ,god1 ,rom4 vi4 #ac1 #ah2 a bringing forth fruit unto ,god1 ,rom1 vii4 #d2 a serving in newness of spirit1 ,rom4 vii4 #f2 a being renewed in the spirit of our minds1 and a putting on the new man1 which after ,god is created in righteousness and true holiness1 ,eph4 iv4 #bc1bd4 ,col4 iii4 #aj1 and the like3 some whereof do more immediately express the nature of this change1 as to the root1 and some as to the fruit and effects thereof1 and some the progress and advancement that is made or to be made therein4 ,and all of them point out a special piece of work1 which lieth on all that would see the face of ,god1 viz4 to be holy1 gracious1 and growing in grace4 ,this1 then1 being a special piece of the exercise and daily work of a ,christian1 and it being certain1 as some of the places now cited do also affirm1 that without ,christ they cannot get this work either begun or carried on1 the main difficulty and question is1 ,how they are to make use of ,christ for this end8 ,for answer whereunto1 though by what we have said in our former discourse1 it may be easy to gather what is to be said here2 yet ,i shall briefly put the reader in mind of those things1 as useful here4 #a4 ,the believer would consider what an ornament this is to the soul1 to have on this new man1 which is created after the image of ,god1 ,eph4 iv4 #bc4 ,what an excellency lieth here1 to recover that lost glory1 holiness and the image of ,god8 and what advantage the soul reapeth hereby1 when it is made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light1 ,col4 i4 #ab2 and walking worthy of the ,lord unto all pleasing1 being fruitful in every good work1 and increasing in the knowledge of ,god1 ,col4 i4 #aj2 and strengthened with all might1 according to his glorious power1 unto all patience and long-suffering1 with joyfulness1 ver4 #aa2 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 ,christ1 #b ,pet4 i4 #h2 and to be a vessel unto honour1 sanctified1 and meet for the ,master's use1 and prepared unto every work1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ba4 ,what glory and peace is here1 to be found obedient unto the many commands given to be holy3 what hazard is in the want of holiness1 when without it we cannot see ,god1 ,heb4 xii4 #ad3 how unanswerable it is unto our profession1 who are members to such a holy head1 to be unholy3 what profit1 joy1 and satisfaction there is1 in being temples of the ,holy ,ghost1 in walking after the ,spirit1 in bringing forth fruit unto the glory of the ,father1 c4 ,the consideration of these and other motives unto this study of sanctification1 would arm the soul with resolution1 and harden it against opposition4 #b4 ,it would be remembered1 that this work1 though it be laid upon us1 as our duty1 and we be called thereunto of ,god1 yet it is beyond our hand and power4 ,it is true1 at conversion1 the seed of grace is cast into the soul1 new habits are infused1 a new principle of life is given1 the stony heart is changed into an heart of flesh2 yet these principles and habits cannot act in themselves1 or be brought into act1 by any thing that a believer1 considered in himself1 and without divine help1 can do4 ,but this work of sanctification and growth in grace must be carried on by divine help1 by the ,spirit of ,jesus dwelling and working within2 and therefore it is called the sanctification of the ,spirit1 #b ,thess4 ii4 #ac4 #a ,pet4 i4 #b4 ,the ,god of peace must sanctify us1 ,i ,thess4 v4 #bc4 ,we are said to be sanctified by ,god the ,father1 ,jude #a42 and by the ,holy ,ghost1 ,rom4 xv4 #af2 see also #a ,cor4 vi4 #aa4 ,we would remember that of ourselves we can do nothing1 #b ,cor4 iii4 #e1 and that he must work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure1 ,phil4 ii4 #ac4 ,albeit no believer will question the truth of this2 yet it may be1 it shall be found after trial1 that one main cause of their not growing in grace1 and making progress in this work1 is their not acting as believing this1 but setting about the work1 as if it were a work which they themselves could master and do without special divine help4 ,therefore the believer would abide1 live1 and act1 in the faith of this truth4 #c4 ,therefore believers would not1 in going about this work1 either trust to their own strength1 to the habits of grace1 to their former experiences1 to their knowledge and parts1 or the like2 nor yet would they trust to any external mean1 which they are to go about2 because the wisdom1 strength1 and help1 which their case calleth for1 is not to be found in them2 yet they should not think of laying these means and duties aside1 for then should they sin against ,god2 they should prejudge themselves of the help1 strength1 and supply1 which ,god useth to convey to the soul1 in and by the use of the means4 ,and withal1 they should tempt the ,lord1 by prescribing another way to him than he hath thought good to take4 ,the believer1 then1 would use the means and duties prescribed1 and that diligently1 seriously1 and constantly2 and yet would lean as little to them1 and expect help and relief as little from them1 as if he were not using them at all1 as we said above4 ,and indeed this would be a right way2 yea1 the most advantageous and profitable way1 of going about duties1 to be diligent in the use of them1 because of ,god's command1 and yet to place our hope and expectation in ,god alone1 and to look above the ordinances for our help4 #d4 ,albeit it be true that the power and grace of ,god alone1 doth begin and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul3 yet though he might1 did he but see it for his glory1 carry on and finish this work in the soul1 without the intervention of second causes or means1 he hath notwithstanding thought it fit1 for the glory of his name1 to work this work by means1 and particularly by believers setting about the work4 ,he worketh not in man as if he were a block or a stone1 but useth him as a rational creature1 endued with a rational soul1 having useful and necessary faculties1 and a body fired by organs to be subservient to the soul in its actions4 ,therefore the believer must not think to lie by and do nothing1 for he is commanded to work out his own salvation1 and that because it is ,god that worketh in him both to will and to do4 ,because ,god worketh all1 therefore he should work2 so reasoneth the apostle4 ,so that ,god's working is an argument and motive to the man to work1 and not an argument to him to lie by idle and do nothing4 ,and here is the holy art and divine skill requisite in this business1 to wit1 for the believer to be as diligent and active as if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength1 and by his own working2 and yet to be as abstracted from himself1 his own grace1 ability1 knowledge1 experience1 in his working1 as if he were lying by like a mere block1 and only moving as moved by external force4 #e4 ,the soul that would make progress in ,christianity1 and grow in grace1 would remember that ,christ is proposed to us as a copy1 which we are to imitate1 and that therefore we should set ,christ continually before us as our pattern1 that we may follow his steps1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ae1 and ii4 #ba4 ,but withal it would be remembered1 that he is not like other ensamples or copies1 that can help the man that imitateth them in no other way than by their objective prospect2 for looking by faith on this copy1 will bring virtue to the man that studieth to imitate1 whereby he shall be enabled to follow his copy better4 ,o6 if we knew in experience what this were1 to take a look of ,christ's love1 patience1 long-suffering1 meekness1 hatred of sin1 zeal1 c1 and by faith to pore in1 till1 by virtue proceeding from that copy1 we found our hearts in some measure framed into the same disposition1 or at least more inclined to be cast into the same mould6 #f4 ,the believer would act faith on ,christ1 as the head of the body1 and as the stock in which the branches are ingrafted1 and thereby suck sap1 and life1 and strength from him1 that he may work1 walk1 and grow1 as becometh a ,christian4 ,the believer must grow up in him1 being a branch in him1 and must bring forth fruit in him1 as the forementioned places clear4 ,now1 ,christ himself tells us1 that the branches cannot bring forth fruit1 except they abide in the vine2 and that no more can his disciples bring forth1 except they abide in him1 ,john xv4 ,therefore1 as it is by faith that the soul1 as a branch1 is united to ,christ1 as the vine2 and as it is by faith that they abide in him2 so it is by faith that they must bring forth fruit2 and this faith must grip ,christ as the vine1 and the stock or root from which cometh sap1 life1 and strength4 ,faith1 then1 must look to ,christ as the fountain of furniture--as the head from whence cometh all the influences of strength and motion4 ,christ hath strength and life enough to give out1 for the fulness of the ,godhead dwelleth in him bodily2 and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulness1 as the relations he hath taken on do witness4 ,the head will not grudge to give to the members of the body1 spirits for action and motion2 nor will a vine grudge to give sap into the branches4 ,nay1 life1 strength1 and furniture will1 as it were1 natively flow out of ,christ unto believers1 except they1 through unbelief1 and other distempers1 cause obstructions2 as life and sap doth natively and kindly flow from the root to the branches1 or from the head to the members1 unless obstructions stop the passage4 ,it is necessary1 therefore1 that believers eye ,christ under these and the like relations1 and look upon him as standing1 7so to speak17 obliged by his place and relation1 to grant strength and influences of life1 whereby they may become fruitful in every good work2 and so with holy1 humble1 and allowed boldness1 press in faith for new communications of grace1 virtue1 strength1 courage1 activity1 and what else they need2 for1 from the head1 all the body1 by joints and bands1 having nourishment ministered1 increaseth with the increase of ,god4 ,col4 ii4 #ai4 ,eph4 iv4 #af4 #g4 ,for this cause believers would lie open to the influences of ,christ1 and guard against the putting of obstructions in the way1 through grieving of the ,spirit1 by which he conveyeth and communicateth those influences unto the soul2 and through questioning and misbelieving ,christ's faithfulness and unchangeable willingness1 which as a violent humour stoppeth the passage4 ,so then believers would lie open by looking and waiting1 drawing1 seeking from him what they need1 and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the ,lord to anger1 whether in omission or commission4 ,here is requisite1 an holy1 humble1 sober1 and watchful walk2 an earnest1 serious1 and hungry looking out to him1 and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from him4 ,this is to open the mouth wide that he may fill it2 to lie before the ,sun of ,righteousness1 that the beams thereof may beat upon them1 and warm and revive them2 and to wait as a beggar at this ,king's gate1 till he give the alms4 #h4 ,for the strengthening their hope and faith in this1 they would lay hold upon ,christ dying1 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 soul4 ,for we must be blessed in ,christ with all spiritual blessings1 ,eph4 i4 #c4 ,the believer1 then1 would look upon these influences1 as purchased at a dear rate1 by the blood of ,jesus ,christ2 so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness1 through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue1 #b ,peter i4 #c4 ,and this will encourage the soul to wait on1 and expect the flowing down of influences1 and spiritual blessings and showers of grace1 to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitful1 and to urge and press more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefits4 #i4 ,moreover1 the believer would look on ,jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work1 both receiving them as for this end1 from the ,father4 ,hence we are said to be chosen in him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy1 c4 ,eph4 i4 #d2 and as dying for them4 ,for he gave himself for the church1 that he might sanctify and cleanse it1 that he might present it to himself a glorious church1 that it should be holy1 ,eph4 v4 #be-bg4 ,he hath reconciled them1 in the body of his flesh1 through death1 to present them holy1 ,col4 i4 #b1 #bb4 ,so that the noble covenant of redemption may found the certain hope and expectation of the believer1 upon a double account3 7#a47 ,upon the account of the ,father's faithfulness1 who promised a seed to ,jesus1 viz4 such as should be his children1 and so be sanctified through him1 and that the pleasure of the ,lord1 which in part is the work of sanctification1 should prosper in his hand4 ,and1 7#b47 ,upon the account of ,christ's undertaking and engaging1 as is said1 to bring his sons and daughters to glory1 which must be thought sanctification2 for without holiness no man shall see ,god4 ,and they must look like himself1 who is a holy head1 a holy husband1 a holy captain2 and therefore they must be holy members1 a holy spouse1 and holy soldiers4 ,so that he standeth engaged to sanctify them by his ,spirit and word1 and therefore is called the sanctifier1 ,heb4 ii4 #aa2 for both he that sanctifieth1 and they who are sanctified1 are all one4 ,yea1 their union with ,christ layeth the foundation of this2 for being joined to the ,lord1 they become one ,spirit1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #ag1 and are animated and quickened by one and the same ,spirit of life and grace1 and therefore must be sanctified by that ,spirit4 #aj4 ,the believer likewise would act faith upon the promises of the new covenant1 of grace1 strength1 life1 c1 whereby they shall walk in his ways1 have ,god's laws put into their minds1 and wrote in their hearts1 ,heb4 viii4 #aj4 ,jer4 xxxi4 #cc2 and of the new heart1 and new spirit1 and the heart of flesh1 and the ,spirit within them1 to cause them walk in his ways or statutes1 and keep his judgments1 and do them1 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bf1 #bg1 and the like1 wherewith the ,scripture aboundeth2 because these are all given over to the believer by way of testament and legacy1 ,christ becoming the ,mediator of the ,new ,testament1 that by means of death1 for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament1 they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance1 ,heb4 ix4 #ae4 ,now1 ,christ1 by his death1 hath confirmed this testament2 for where a testament is1 there must also of necessity be the death of the testator2 for a testament is of force after men are dead1 vers4 #af1 #ag4 ,christ1 then1 dying to make the testament of force1 hath made the legacy of the promises sure unto the believer2 so that now all the promises are yea and amen in ,christ1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 ,he was made a minister of circumcision to confirm the promises made to the fathers1 ,rom4 xv4 #h4 ,that the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble mean to sanctification1 is clear1 by what the apostle saith1 #b ,cor4 vii4 #a1 ,having therefore these promises1 let us cleanse ourselves2 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god4 ,and it is by faith that those promises must be received1 ,heb4 xi4 #cc3 ,so that the believer that would grow in grace1 would eye ,christ1 the fundamental promise1 the testator establishing the testament1 and the executor or dispensator of the covenant1 and expect the good things through him1 and from him1 through the conduit and channel of the promises4 #aa4 ,yet further1 believers would eye ,christ in his resurrection1 as a public person1 and so look on themselves1 and reckon themselves as rising virtually in and with him1 and take the resurrection of ,christ as a certain pawn and pledge of their sanctification2 for so reasoneth the apostle1 ,rom4 vi4 #d1 #e1 #aa1 #ac4 ,we are buried1 says he1 with him by baptism unto death2 that like as ,christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 even so we also should walk in newness of life3 ,for--we shall be also planted in the likeness of his resurrection2 and if we be dead with ,christ1 we believe that we shall also live with him3--therefore reckon ye also yourselves to be--alive unto ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 and yield yourselves unto ,god1 as those that are alive from the dead1 and your members as instruments of righteousness unto ,god4 ,the right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage to the student of holiness3 for then he might with strong confidence conclude1 that the work of sanctification should prosper in his hand2 for he may now look upon himself as quickened together with ,christ1 ,eph4 ii4 #e4 ,christ dying and rising1 as a public person1 and he by faith being now joined with him1 and united to him4 #ab4 ,moreover this resurrection of ,christ may yield us another ground of hope and confidence in this work2 for there is mention made of the power of his resurrection1 ,phil4 iii4 #aj4 ,so that by faith we may draw strength and virtue from ,christ1 as an arisen and quickened head1 whereby we also may live unto ,god1 and bring forth fruit unto him1 and serve no more in the oldness of the letter1 but in the newness of the ,spirit1 ,rom4 vii4 #d1 #f4 ,he was quickened as a head1 and when the head is quickened1 the members cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom1 and to live in the strength of the life of the head3 see ,col4 iii4 #a1 #b4 #ac4 ,faith may and should also look to ,christ1 as an intercessor with the ,father4 ,for this particular1 ,john xvii4 #ag1 ,sanctify them through thy truth1 thy ,word is truth3 and this will add to their confidence1 that the work shall go on2 for ,christ was always heard of the ,father1 ,john xi4 #da1 #db1 and so will be in his prayer1 which was not put up for the few disciples alone4 ,the believer then would eye ,christ as engaging to the ,father to begin and perfect this work2 as dying to purchase the good things promised1 and to confirm the same2 as quickened1 and rising as head and public person1 to ensure this work1 and to bestow and actually confer the graces requisite2 and as praying also for the ,father's concurrence1 and cast the burden of the work on him by faith1 knowing that he standeth obliged1 by his place and relation to his people1 to bear all their burthens1 to work all their works in them1 to perfect his own work that he hath begun in them1 to present them to himself at last a holy bride1 to give them the ,spirit to dwell in them1 ,rom4 viii4 #i1 #aa and to quicken their mortal bodies1 ver4 #aa1 and to lead them1 ver4 #ad2 till at length they be crowned1 and brought forward to glory4 ,this is to live by faith1 when ,christ liveth1 acteth1 and worketh in us by his ,spirit1 ,gal4 ii4 #bj4 ,thus ,christ dwelleth in the heart by faith2 and by this his people become rooted and grounded in love1 which is a cardinal grace2 and knowing the love of ,christ1 which passeth knowledge1 they become filled with all the fulness of ,god1 ,eph4 iii4 #ag1 #ai4 ,so that the believer is to commit by faith the work to ,christ1 and leave the stress of all the business on him who is their life4 ,yet the believer must not think he is to do nothing1 or to lay aside the means of ordinances1 but using these diligently1 would in them commit the matter to ,christ1 and by faith roll the whole work on him1 expecting1 upon the ground of his relations1 engagements1 promises1 beginnings1 c41 that he will certainly perfect the work1 7,phil4 i4 #f17 and take it well off their hands1 and be well pleased with them for putting the work in his hands1 and leaving it on him who is made of ,god to us sanctification4 ,,cautions4 ,as in the former part1 so here it will not be amiss to give a few words of caution1 for preventing of mistakes4 #a4 ,we would beware of thinking that perfection can be attained here3 the perfect man and measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ is but coming1 and till then the body will be a perfecting and edifying1 through the work of the ministry1 ,eph4 iv4 #ab1 #ac4 ,believers must not think of sitting down on any measure of grace which they attain to here2 but they must be growing in grace1 going from strength to strength1 till they appear in the upper ,zion with the apostle1 ,phil4 iii4 #ac4 ,forgetting those things that are behind1 and reaching forth unto those things which are before1 they must press toward the mark1 for the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,it must then be a dreadful delusion for any to think that they can reach to such a degree of perfection here1 as not to stand in need of the ordinance any more4 ,let all believers live in the constant conviction of their shortcoming1 and be humbled1 and so work out their salvation with fear and trembling4 #b4 ,nor should every believer expect one and the same measure of holiness1 nor can it be expected with reason that all shall advance here to the same height of sanctity2 for every part of the body hath its own measure1 and an effectual working in that measure3 and so every joint of the body supplieth less or more1 according to its proportion1 and contributeth to the increase of the body1 and to the edifying of itself in love1 as the apostle clearly sheweth1 ,eph4 iv4 #af4 ,as in the natural body the diversity of functions and uses of the members requireth diversity of furniture and strength1 so in the mystical body of ,christ the members have not all alike measure1 but each hath his proper distinct measure1 according to his place and usefulness in the body4 ,believers then would learn much sobriety here and submission1 knowing that ,god may dispense his graces as he will1 and give them to each member in what measure he thinketh good3 only they would take heed1 that their poverty and leanness be not occasioned through their own carelessness and negligence1 in not plying the means of grace with that faithfulness and single dependence on ,christ that they ought4 #c4 ,it would be remembered1 that there may be some progress made in the way of holiness1 when yet the believer may apprehend no such thing2 not only because the measure of the growth may be so small and indiscernible1 but also because even where the growth in itself is discernible1 the ,lord may think it good1 for wise ends1 to hide it from their eyes1 that they may be kept humble and diligent2 whereas1 if they saw how matters stood indeed with them1 they might 7without a new degree of grace7 swell and be puffed up1 yea1 even forget ,god1 and misken themselves and others too4 ,likewise this may proceed from such an earnest desire after more1 that they forget any measure they have gotten1 and so despise the day of small things4 #d4 ,there may be a great progress in holiness1 though not in that particular which the believer is most eyeing to his sense and apprehension3 for when he thinks he is not growing in love to and zeal for ,god1 c1 he may be growing in humility1 which is also a member of the new man of grace2 and when he can perceive no growth in knowledge1 there may be a growth in affection and tenderness4 ,and if the work be carried on in any joint or member1 it decayeth in none1 though it may be better apprehended in one than another4 #e4 ,there may be much holiness1 where the believer is complaining of the want of fruits1 when under that dispensation of the ,lord towards him1 he is made to stoop before the ,most ,high1 to put his mouth in the dust1 if so be there may be hope1 and pleasantly to submit to ,god's wise ordering1 without grudging or quarrelling with ,god for what he doth1 and to accept sweetly the punishment of his iniquity1 if he see guilt lying at the root of this dispensation4 ,where there is a silent submission to the sovereign and only wise disposing hand of ,god1 and the man is saying1 if he will not have me to be a fruitful tree in his garden1 nor to grow and flourish as the palm-tree1 let me be a shrub1 only let me be kept within the precincts of his garden1 that his eye may be upon me for good2 let me abide within his courts1 that ,i may behold his countenance1 there is grace1 and no small measure of grace4 ,to be an hired servant is much1 ,luke xv4 #ai4 #f4 ,but withal1 it would be observed1 that this gracious frame of soul1 that is silent before ,god1 under several disappointments1 is accompanied with much singleness of heart1 in panting after more holiness1 and with seriousness and diligence in all commanded duties1 waiting upon the ,lord1 who is their hope and their salvation in each of them1 and with mourning for their own sinful accession to that shortcoming in their expectations4 #g4 ,we would not think that there is no progress in ,christianity1 or growth in grace1 because it cometh not our way1 or by the instruments and means that we must expect it by4 ,possibly we are too fond on some instruments and means that we prefer to others2 and we think1 if ever we get good1 it must be that way1 and by that means1 be it private or public3 and ,god may give a proof of his sovereignty1 and check us for our folly1 by taking another way4 ,he would not be found of the bride1 neither by her seeking of him secretly on her bed by night2 nor more publicly1 by going about the city1 in the streets and broad ways2 nor by the means of the watchmen1 ,cant4 iii4 #a1 #b1 #c4 #h4 ,nor would we think that there is no growth in the work of grace1 because it cometh not at such or such prelimited or fore-set time2 nor would we think the matter desperate1 because of our looking long1 and waiting1 and asking1 and labouring1 and yet seeing no sensible advantage4 ,such and such a believer1 saith the soul1 made great progress in a short time1 but ,i come no speed1 for as long as ,i have been at this school4 ,o6 we should beware of limiting the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,let us be at duty1 and commit the event to him4 #i4 ,it is not a fit time to take the measure of our graces1 as to their sensible growth and fruitfulness1 when devils are broken loose upon us2 temptations are multiplied1 corruptions make a great noise1 and we are meeting with a horrible tempest shaking us on all hands3 for it will be strong grace that will much appear then2 it will be strong faith that will say1 ,though he kill me1 yet will ,i trust in him4 ,at such a time it will be much if the man keep the ground he hath gained1 though he make no progress4 ,it will be much for a tree to stand1 and not to be blown out of the ground1 in the time of a strong and vehement storm1 of wind1 though it keep not its flourishes and yield not fruit ,the trees1 which in a cold winter day bear neither leaves nor fruit1 must not be said to go back1 nor not to grow2 because when the spring cometh again1 they may revive and be as fruitful as ever4 #aj4 ,we would not always measure our graces by what appeareth outwardly2 for there may be some accidental occurrence that may hinder that1 and yet grace be at work within doors1 which few or none can observe4 ,the believer may be in a sweet and gracious frame1 blushing before the ,lord1 yea1 melting in love1 or taken up with spiritual meditations and wondering1 when as to some external duties1 it can find no present disposition1 through some accidental impediment or other1 so that to some1 who judge most by outward appearance1 no such things as the active working of grace in life can appear4 #aa4 ,we would think it no small measure or degree of holiness1 to be with singleness of heart pursuing it1 even though it should seem to flee from us2 to be earnestly panting after it1 and hungering and thirsting for it4 ,nehemiah thought this no small thing1 when he said1 ,neh4 i4 #aa1 ,o ,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name4 #ab4 ,whatever measure of holiness the believer win to1 he would take special heed that he place no part of his confidence of his being accepted and justified before ,god in it1 as if that could come in any part of the price to satisfy justice3 but when he hath done all1 let him call and account himself an unprofitable servant4 ,though believers will not be so gross as to speak thus1 yet sure their justifying of their holding a-back from ,god1 because they find not such a measure of grace and holiness as they would have1 looketh too much this way1 and saith1 that they lean too much hereunto in the matter of the acceptance of their persons before ,god4 ,now this should be specially guarded against1 lest their labour be in vain4 ,,objections ,,answered4 ,an objection or two must here also be removed4 ,and #a4 ,some may say1 that though they have been labouring1 and striving1 and working now for some long time1 yet they can perceive no advancement2 they are as far short as ever4 ,ans4 ,hath it not been found1 that some have complained without cause8 ,have not some complained of their unfruitfulness and want of growth1 that other good ,christians would have thought themselves very happy1 if they had but advanced half so far as they saw them to have done8 ,but be it so1 as it is alleged1 what if the fault be their own8 ,what if the cause of this be1 that they attempt things in their own strength1 leaning to their own understanding1 or habits of grace1 or means1 c41 and that they do not go about duties with that single dependence on ,christ that is requisite1 nor do they suck life1 strength1 and sap from him1 by faith through the promises1 nor give themselves up to him by faith1 that he may work in them both to will and to do4 ,should not this be seen1 mourned for1 and helped8 #c4 ,if all this shortcoming and disappointment cause them lie in the dust1 and humble themselves more and more before the ,lord1 the grace of humiliation is growing1 and that is no small advantage1 to be growing downward4 #d4 ,withal1 they would do well to hold on in duty1 looking to ,christ for help1 and rolling all difficulties on him1 give themselves away to him1 as their head and ,lord1 and so continue their life of faith1 or their consenting to let ,christ live in them by faith1 or work in them by his ,spirit what is well-pleasing in his sight1 and wait for the blessing and fruit in ,god's own time4 ,next1 ,it will be objected1 ,though we might wait thus1 yet how unedifying are we unto others1 when there appeareth no fruit of the spirit of grace in us4 ,ans4 ,a ,christian behaviour and deportment under the sense of fruitlessness1 expressing an holy submission of soul unto ,god1 as sovereign1 much humility of mind before him1 justifying of ,god1 and taking guilt to themselves1 with a firm resolution1 to wait on patiently in the use of means appointed1 cannot but be edifying to ,christian souls2 such exercises being really the works and fruit of the spirit of grace working within4 ,but1 thirdly1 some may say1 ,how then are the promises of the covenant made good8 ,ans4 #a4 ,the same measure of sanctification and holiness is not promised to all4 #b4 ,no great measure is promised to any absolutely4 ,so much indeed is secured to all believers as shall carry them to heaven1 as without which they cannot see ,god4 ,but much as to the degree depends on our performing through faith the conditions requisite1 to wit1 on condition of our abiding in the vine1 of our acting faith on him1 c42 and when these and the like conditions are not faithfully performed by us1 what can we expect8 ,so the ,lord hath appointed a way wherein he will be found1 and will have us to wait for strength and influence from him2 and if we neglect these means which he hath appointed1 how can we expect the good which he hath promised in the use of these means8 #c4 ,the ,lord has his own time of making good all his promises1 and we must not limit him to a day4 #d4 ,hereby the ,lord may be trying and exercising thy faith1 patience1 hope1 dependence1 submission1 diligence1 c41 and if these be in thee1 and abound1 they shall make that thou shalt neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,pet4 i4 #aa4 ,but lastly1 ,it will be inquired1 what can support the believing soul in this case8 ,ans4 #a4 ,the consideration and faith of the covenant of redemption1 wherein both the ,father's engagement of the ,son1 and the ,son's engagement to the ,father1 secureth grace and holiness1 and salvation to the believer4 ,and whatever we be1 they will be true to each other1--our unbelief will not make the faith of ,god of none effect4 #b4 ,the consideration of the noble and faithful promises contained in the covenant of grace1 which shall all be made good in due time4 #c4 ,if we be humbled under the sense of our failings and shortcomings1 and made to mourn before the ,lord1 stirred up to more diligence and seriousness1 that may yield comfort to our soul4 ,if we be growing in humility1 godly sorrow1 repentance1 diligence1 and be gripping faster by faith to the root1 we want not ground of joy and support2 for if that be1 we cannot want fruit4 #d4 ,it should be matter of joy and thanksgiving1 that the believer is kept from turning his back on the way of ,god1 and kept with his face still ,zion-ward4 ,though he make but little progress1 yet he is still looking forward1 and creeping as he may1 waiting at ,god's door1 begging and asking1 studying1 labouring1 and endeavouring for strength to go faster4 #e4 ,it is no small matter of peace and comfort1 if we be kept from fretting1 grudging and repining at the ,lord's dispensations with us1 and be taught to sit silent in the dust1 adoring his sovereignty1 and ascribing no iniquity to our ,maker4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,for ,,taking ,,the ,,guilt ,,of ,,our ,,daily ,,out-,,breakings ,,away4 ,the next part of our sanctification is in reference to our daily failings and transgressions1 committed partly through the violence of temptations1 as we see in ,david and ,peter1 and other eminent men of ,god2 partly through daily infirmities1 because of our weakness and imperfections2 for1 in many things we offend all1 ,james iii4 #b2 and1 if we say we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us1 #a ,john i4 #h2 a righteous man falleth seven times1 ,prov4 xxiv4 #af2 there is not a just man upon earth1 that doeth good and sinneth not1 ,eccl4 vii4 #bj2 and ,solomon further saith1 #a ,kings viii4 #df1 ,that there is no man that sinneth not4 ,this being so1 the question is1 how ,christ is to be made use of1 for taking these away4 ,for satisfaction to this1 it would be considered1 that in those daily out breakings there are two things to be noticed4 ,first1 ,there is the guilt which is commonly called reatus paenae1 whereby the transgressor is liable to the sentence of the law1 or to the penalty annexed to the breach thereof1 which is no less than ,god's curse2 for cursed is every one that abideth not in all things1 which are in the law to do them1 ,gal4 iii4 #aj4 ,next1 ,there is the stain or blot1 which is called reatus culpae1 whereby the soul is defiled1 and made in so far incapable of glory1 7for nothing entereth in there which defileth17 and of communion and fellowship with ,god1 who is of purer eyes than he can behold iniquity4 ,so that it is manifest1 how necessary it is that both these be taken away1 that they may not stand in our way to the ,father4 ,and as to both1 we must make use of ,christ1 who is the only way to the ,father4 ,and this we shall now clear4 ,and1 first1 speak of the taking away of the guilt that is contracted by every sin4 ,and for this cause we shall speak briefly to two things4 7#a47 ,shew what ,christ hath done as ,mediator1 for this end1 that the guilt contracted by our daily failings and out-breakings1 might be taken away4 7#b47 ,shew what the believer should do for the guilt taken away in ,christ2 or how he should make use of ,christ for reconciliation with ,god after transgressions2 or1 for the taking away of the guilt that he lieth under1 because of his violation of the law4 ,as to the first1 we say1 ,christ1 for taking away of guilt contracted daily1 hath done these things3 #a4 ,christ laid down his life a ransom for all the sins of the elect2 both such as were past before they believed1 and such as were to be committed after4 ,his blood was shed for the remission of sins indefinitely1 and without distinction1 ,matt4 xxvi4 #bh4 #b4 ,and this was done according to the tenor of the covenant of redemption1 wherein the ,father caused all our sins to meet together on him1 ,isa4 liii4 #f2 and made him sin1 or a sacrifice for sin1 indefinitely1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba2 and so did not except the sins committed after conversion4 #c4 ,having satisfied justice1 and being risen from the dead as a conqueror1 he is now exalted to be a prince1 to give repentance and remission of sins1 ,acts v4 #ca4 ,now repentance and remission of sins his people have need of1 after conversion as well as before conversion4 #d4 ,there are promises of pardon and remission of sins in the new covenant of grace1 all which are sealed and confirmed in the blood of ,jesus1 ,jer4 xxxi4 #cd1 ,for ,i will forgive their iniquity1 and ,i will remember their sin no more4 ,and chap1 xxxiii4 #h1 ,and ,i will cleanse them from all their iniquity1 whereby they have sinned against me2 and ,i will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned1 and whereby they have transgressed against me4 ,isa4 xliii4 #be1 ,i1 even ,i1 am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake2 and will not remember thy sins4 #e4 ,though there be no actual pardon of sins1 till they be committed1 and repented of1 according to the tenor of the gospel1 ,matt4 iii4 #b1 ,luke xiii4 #c4 ,acts ii4 #ch2 and viii4 #bb2 yet while ,christ bare all the sins of his people upon the cross1 they were all then virtually and meritoriously taken away2 of which ,christ's resurrection was a certain pledge and evidence2 for then got he his acquitance from all that either law or justice could charge him with1 in behalf of them1 for whom he laid down his life a ransom4 ,rom4 viii4 #cc1 #cd1 ,who shall lay anything to the charge of ,god's elect8 ,it is ,god that justifieth3 ,who is he that condemneth8 ,it is ,christ that died1 or rather that is risen again4 #f4 ,so that by virtue of ,christ's death1 there is a way laid down1 in the covenant of grace1 how the sins of the elect shall be actually pardoned1 viz4 that at their conversion and first laying hold on ,christ by faith1 all the sins1 whereof they then stand guilty1 shall be actually pardoned and forgiven1 in their justification2 and all their after-sins shall also be actually pardoned1 upon their griping to ,christ of new by faith1 and turning to ,god by repentance4 ,and this way is agreed to by ,father and ,son1 and revealed in the gospel1 for the instruction and encouragement of believers2 and all to the glory of his free grace4 ,in whom we have redemption1 7saith the apostle1 ,eph4 i4 #g-i7 through his blood1 the forgiveness of sins1 according to the riches of his grace2 wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence2 having made known unto us the mystery of his will1 according to his good pleasure1 which he hath purposed in himself4 #g4 ,beside ,christ's death and resurrection1 which give ground of hope1 of pardon1 of daily out-breakings1 there is likewise his intercession useful for this end4 ,for1 so saith the apostle1 #a ,john ii4 #a1 #b1 ,if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous2 and he is the propitiation for our sins4 ,this intercession is a special part of his priesthood1 who was the great high priest1 ,heb4 iv4 #ad1 #a2 and a completing part1 ,heb4 viii4 #d1 and ix4 #h2 and upon this account it is1 that ,he is able to save to the uttermost1 all that come to ,god through him1 because he liveth for ever to make intercession for them1 ,heb4 vii4 #be4 ,for by his intercession is the work of redemption carried on1 the purchased benefits applied1 and particularly1 new grants of remission are1 through his intercession1 issued forth3 he pleading and interceding1 in a way suitable1 to his glorified condition1 upon his death and propitiation made1 while he was upon the cross1 accepted of the ,father1 and declared to be accepted by his resurrection1 ascension1 and sitting at his ,father's right hand4 ,and thus1 as believers are reconciled to ,god by ,christ's death1 they are saved by his life1 ,rom4 v4 #aj4 ,so that ,christ's living to be an intercessor1 makes the salvation sure2 and so laying down a ground for taking away of daily out-breakings1 which1 if not taken away1 would hinder and obstruct the believer's salvation4 #h4 ,and as for the condition requisite to renewed pardon1 viz4 faith and repentance1 ,christ is the worker of both4 ,for he is a prince exalted to give repentance1 first and last1 ,acts iv4 #cj2 and as he is the author of faith1 so he is the finisher of it1 ,heb4 xii4 #b4 ,as to the second particular1 namely1 what believers should do for getting the guilt of their daily failings and out-breakings taken away by ,christ2 or how they should make use of ,christ for this end1 ,i shall1 for clearing of it1 propose those things to consideration3 #a4 ,we would beware to think1 that all our after actual transgressions are actually pardoned1 either when ,christ died1 or when we first believed in ,christ1 as some suppose2 for sin cannot properly be said to be pardoned before it be committed4 ,david was put to sue out for pardon1 after his actual transgression was committed1 and not for the mere sense and feeling of the pardon1 or the intimation of it to his spirit1 when he cried out1 ,psalm li4 #b1 ,blot out my transgressions1 wash me1 c2 and verse #i1 ,hide thy face from my sins1 and blot out all my iniquities2 and verse #ad1 ,deliver me from blood-guiltiness4 ,sure when he spoke thus1 he sought some other thing than intimation of pardon to his sense and conscience2 for that he desired also1 but in far more clear expressions1 verse #h1 ,make me to hear joy and gladness1 c42 and verse #ab1 ,restore unto me the joy of thy salvation1 c4 ,scripture phrases to express remission import this1 viz4 covering of sin1 pardoning of debts1 blotting out of sins1 hiding of ,god's face from sin1 not remembering of them1 casting of them behind his back1 casting of them into the sea1 removing of sin1 ,psalm xxxiii4 #a1 #b4 ,these and the like phrases1 though many of them be metaphorical1 yet do all of them clearly evince1 that sin must first have a being before it can be pardoned4 ,the same is clearly imported by the gospel conditions requisite before pardon2 such as acknowledgment of sin1 7#a ,john i4 #i7 which we see was practised by the worthies of old2 ,david1 ,psalm xxxii4 #ea4 ,nehemiah1 chap4 ix4 ,ezra1 chap4 ix4 and ,daniel1 chap4 ix4 ,confessing and forsaking of it1 ,prov4 xxviii4 #ac4 ,sorrowing for it1 and repenting of it1 and laying hold on ,christ by faith1 c4 ,the reason why ,i propose this1 is not only to guard against this ,antinomian error1 but also to guard the soul from security1 to which this doctrine hath a natural tendency4 ,for if a person once think1 that all his sins were pardoned1 upon his first believing1 so that many of them were pardoned before they were committed2 he shall never be affected for his after transgressions1 nor complain of a body of death1 nor account himself miserable upon that account1 as ,paul did1 ,rom4 vii4 #bd2 nor shall he ever pray for remission1 though ,christ has taught all to do so1 in that pattern of prayer2 nor shall he act faith upon the promise of pardon made in the covenant of grace for after transgressions1 or for transgressions actually committed1 ,jer4 xxxi4 #cd1 and xxxiii4 #h4 ,heb4 viii4 #ab2 and so there shall be no use made of ,christ for new pardons1 or remissions of new sins4 #b4 ,the believer would remember1 that among other things1 antecedently requisite to remission of posterior actual transgressions1 gospel repentance is especially required1 7,luke xiii4 #c4 ,matt4 iii4 #b4 ,ezek4 xviii4 #bh1 #cj4 ,luke xv4 #ag1ah4 ,hos4 ii4 #f1 #g4 ,ezek4 xiv4 #f17 whereby a sinner1 through the help of the ,spirit1 being convinced not only of his hazard by reason of sin1 but also of the hatefulness and filthiness of sin2 and having a sight of the mercy of ,god in ,christ ,jesus to sinners1 turning from their sin1 doth turn from those sins unto ,god1 with a full purpose of heart1 in his strength1 to follow him1 and obey his laws4 ,and hereby the soul is brought to loathe itself and sin1 and is made willing to desire1 seek for1 accept of1 and prize remissions of sins4 ,this makes them more wary and careful in time coming2 ,for behold1 says the apostle1 #b ,cor4 vii4 #aa1 this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort1 what carefulness it wrought in you1 yea1 what clearing of yourselves1 yea1 what indignation1 yea1 what fear1 yea1 what vehement desire1 yea1 what zeal1 yea1 what revenge1 c4 ,thus is ,god glorified in his justice1 ,psalm li4 #d2 and his mercy is acknowledged1 in not entering with us into judgment1 nor casting us into hell1 as he might have done in justice4 #c4 ,yet it would be remembered1 that though it hath seemed good in the ,lord's eyes to choose this method1 and appoint this way of obtaining pardon of sins daily committed1 for the glory of his grace and mercy2 and likewise for our good1 we must not ascribe too much unto repentance1 in the matter of pardon4 ,we must not make it a cause of our remission1 either efficient or meritorious4 ,we must not think that it hath any hand in appeasing the wrath of ,god1 or in satisfying justice4 ,pardon must always be an act of ,god's free grace1 unmerited at our hands1 and procured alone through the merits of ,christ4 ,we must not put repentance in ,christ's room and place1 nor ascribe any imperfection unto his merits1 as if they needed any supply from any act of ours4 ,we must beware of leaning to our repentance and godly sorrow1 even so far as to think to commend ourselves to ,god1 thereby that we may obtain pardon4 #d4 ,the believer would consider seriously the dreadfulness of their condition who are lying under the lash of the law for sin4 ,the law saith1 ,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law2 and every sin is a transgression of the law4 ,so that1 according to law and justice1 they are in hazard4 ,for every sin in itself exposeth the sinner to eternal wrath1 sin being an offence against ,god1 who is a righteous judge1 and a breach of his law4 ,a right sight and apprehension of this1 would serve to humble the sinner before ,god1 and make him more earnest in seeking out for pardon1 that this obligation to punishment might be removed4 #e4 ,the believer would not only consider the sin itself1 but also take notice of all its aggravations4 ,there are peculiar aggravations of some sins taken from the time1 manner1 and other circumstances1 which1 rightly considered1 will help forward the work of humiliation4 ,and the sins of believers have this aggravation above the sins of others1 that they are committed against more love1 and special love1 and against more opposition and contradiction of the grace of ,god within the soul1 against more light and conviction1 c4 ,and therefore their humiliation upon this account ought to be singular and serious4 ,so was it with ,david1 when he took notice of the special aggravation of his sin1 ,psalm li4 #d1 #f1 #ad1 and ,ezra1 chap ix4 and ,nehemiah1 chap4 ix4 and ,daniel chap4 ix4 ,this considering of sin1 with its due aggravations1 would help to prize mercies at a high rate1 and cause the soul more willingly wait for and more seriously seek after remission2 knowing that ,god is more angry for great sins1 than for sins of infirmity1 and may therefore pursue the same with sorer judgments1 as he broke ,david's bones1 withdrew his comforts1 c4 #f4 ,the believer would be convinced of an impossibility of doing anything in himself which can procure pardon at the hands of ,god2 should he weep1 cry1 afflict himself1 and pray never so1 all will do nothing by way of merit1 for taking away of the least sin that ever he committed2 and the conviction of this would drive him to despair in himself1 and be a mean to bring him cleanly off himself1 and to look out for mere mercy in ,christ ,jesus4 ,so long as1 through the deceitfulness of ,satan1 the false heart inclineth to the old bias1 and hath its eye upon any thing in itself1 from whence it draweth its hopes and expectation of pardon and acceptance1 it will not purely act faith on ,christ for this end1 and so he will lose all his labour1 and in the end be disappointed4 ,therefore the believer would guard against this1 and that so much the more1 that the false deceitful heart is so much inclined thereto2 and that this deceit can sometime work so cunningly1 that it can hardly be discerned1 being covered over with many false glosses and pretexts2 and that it is so dishonourable to ,jesus1 and hurtful and prejudicial to the soul4 #g4 ,the believer would act faith on the promises of pardon in the new covenant1 as having a right to them through ,jesus ,christ1 and challenge with humble boldness1 the fulfilling of the same1 according to that1 #a ,john i4 #i1 ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4 ,so that the believer may not only take hold of mercy and grace in ,god1 as an encouragement and invitation to go to ,god for pardon2 but even of the justice and righteousness of ,god1 because of his faithful promises2 and the believer would have here a special eye to ,christ1 in whom all the promises are yea and amen2 and look for the accomplishment of them through him1 and for his sake alone4 #h4 ,faith would eye ,christ1 as hanging upon the cross1 and offering up himself1 through the eternal ,spirit1 a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice1 for all the sins of his own chosen ones2 we cannot think1 that ,christ bare but some of their sins1 or only their sins committed before conversion2 and if he bare all1 as the ,father laid all upon him1 the believer is to lay hold on him by faith1 as hanging on the cross1 as well for taking away of the guilt of sins committed after conversion1 as before2 his sacrifice was a sacrifice for all1 and he bare our sins 7without distinction or exception17 in his own body on the tree1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #bd4 ,david had his eye on this1 when he cried out1 ,psalm li4 #g1 ,purge me with hyssop2 hyssop being sometimes used in the legal purifications1 which typified that purification which ,christ really wrought when he gave himself a sacrifice for sin1 ,levit4 xiv4 #f4 ,num4 xix4 #ah4 #i4 ,the believer looking on ,christ1 dying as a ,mediator1 to pacify the wrath of ,god1 and to make satisfaction to the justice of ,god1 for the sins of his people1 would renew his consent unto that gracious and wise contrivance of ,heaven1 of pardoning sins1 through a crucified ,mediator1 that mercy and justice might kiss each other1 and be glorified together2 and declare again his full satisfaction with ,christ's satisfying of justice for him1 and taking away the guilt of his sins1 by that blood that was shed upon the cross1 by taking those sins1 whereof now he standeth guilty1 and for which he is desirous of pardon1 and by faith nailing them to the cross of ,christ1 and rolling them on his shoulders1 that the guilt of them1 as well as of the rest1 might be taken away1 through the merits of his death and satisfaction4 ,thus the believer consenteth to the noble act of free grace1 whereby the ,lord made all our sins to meet together on ,christ1 when he taketh those particular sins1 wherewith now he is troubled1 and casteth them in into the heap1 that ,christ1 as the true scape-goat1 may carry all away4 ,this is to lay our hands on the head of our sacrifice4 #aj4 ,the believer hath another ground of comfort to grip to1 in this case1 and that is1 ,christ's eternal priesthood1 whereby he makes intercession for the transgressions of his people1 and as their advocate and attorney with the ,father1 pleadeth their cause1 whereby he is able to save them to the last and uttermost step of their journey1 and so to save them from the guilt of all casual and emergent sins1 that might hinder their salvation4 ,so that the believer is to put those sins1 that now he would have pardoned1 into the hands of ,christ1 the everlasting ,intercessor1 and all-sufficient ,advocate1 that he1 by virtue of his death1 would obtain a new pardon of these their failings and transgressions1 and deliverance from the guilt thereof2 and their acceptance with the ,father1 notwithstanding of these transgressions4 #aa4 ,thus believers eyeing ,christ as dying1 rising again1 ascending1 and as sitting at the ,father's right hand1 there to be a priest for ever1 after the order of ,melchisedec1 and to intercede for his own1 and to see to the application of what benefits1 pardons1 favours1 and other things they need1 from all which they have strong ground of comfort and of hope1 yea1 and assurance of pardon1 would acquiesce in this way2 and having laid those particular sins1 under the burden whereof they now groan1 on ,christ the ,mediator1 dying on the cross to make satisfaction1 and arising to make application of what was purchased1 and having put them in his hand1 who is a faithful high priest1 and a noble intercessor1 would remember1 that ,christ is a prince exalted1 to give repentance and remission of sins2 and so expect the sentence even from him1 as a prince now exalted1 and as having obtained that of the ,father1 even a power to forgive sins1 justice being now sufficiently satisfied1 through his death2 yea1 and as having all power in heaven and in earth1 as being ,lord both of the dead and of the living4 ,sure a right thought of this would much quiet the soul1 in hope of obtaining pardon through him2 seeing now the pardon is in his own hand1 to give out1 who loved them so dearly1 that he gave himself to the death for them1 and shed his heart blood to satisfy justice for their transgressions4 ,since he who hath procured their pardon at so dear a rate1 and is their attorney to agent their business at the throne of grace1 hath now obtained the prayed-for and looked-for pardon1 and hath it in his own hand1 they will not question but he will give it1 and so absolve them from their guilt4 #ab4 ,the believer1 having taken this course with his daily provocations1 and laid them all on him1 would aquiesce in this way1 and not seek after another1 that he may obtain pardon4 ,here he would rest1 committing the matter by faith in prayer to ,christ1 and leaving his guilt and sins on him1 expect the pardon1 yea1 conclude1 that they are already pardoned2 and that for these sins1 he shall never be brought unto condemnation1 whatever ,satan and a misbelieving heart may say or suggest afterward4 ,thus should a believer make use of ,christ1 for the taking away of the guilt of his daily transgressions2 and for further clearing of it1 ,i shall add a few cautions4 ,,cautions4 #a4 ,however the believer is to be much moved at1 and affected with his sins and provocations1 which he committeth after ,god hath visited his soul with salvation1 and brought him into a covenant with himself1 yet he must not suppose1 that his sins after justification do mar his state2 as if thereby he were brought into a non-justified state1 or to a non-reconciled state4 ,it is true1 such sins1 especially if gross1 whether in themselves1 or by reason of circumstances1 will darken a man's state1 and put him to search and try his condition over again4 ,but yet we dare not say1 that they make any alteration in the state of a believer2 for once in a justified state always in a justified state4 ,it is true likewise1 that as to those sins1 which now he hath committed1 he cannot be said to be acquitted or justified1 till this pardon be got out by faith and repentance1 as is said2 yet his state remaineth fixed and unchanged2 so that though ,god should seem to deal with such in his dispensations1 as with enemies1 yet really his affections change not2 he never accounteth them real enemies2 nay1 love lieth at the bottom of all his sharpest dispensations4 ,if they forsake his law1 and walk not in his judgments2 if they break his statutes and keep not his commandments1 he will visit their transgression with the rod1 and their iniquity with stripes1 nevertheless his loving-kindness will he not utterly take from them1 nor suffer his faithfulness to fail2 his covenant will he not break1 nor alter the thing that has gone out of his lips1 ,psalm lxxxix4 #cj-cd4 ,and again1 though after transgressions may waken challenges for former sins1 which have been pardoned and blotted out1 and give occasions to ,satan to raise a storm in the soul1 and put all in confusion1 yet really sins once pardoned cannot become again unpardoned sins4 ,the ,lord doth not revoke his sentence1 nor alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth4 ,it is true likewise1 that a believer1 by committing of gross sins1 may come to miss the effects of ,god's favour and good will1 and the intimations of his love and kindness2 and so be made to cry with ,david1 ,psalm li4 #h1 ,make me to hear joy and gladness2 and ver4 #ab1 ,restore unto me the joy of thy salvation1 c4 ,yet that really holdeth true1 that whom he loveth he loveth to the end2 and he is a ,god that changeth not2 and his gifts are without repentance4 ,yea1 though grieving of the ,spirit may bring souls under sharp throes1 and pangs of the spirit of bondage1 and the terrors of ,god1 and his sharp errors1 the poison whereof may drink up their spirits1 and so be far from the actual witnessings of the ,spirit of adoption2 yet the ,spirit will never be again really a spirit of bondage unto fear1 nor deny his own work in the soul1 or the soul's real right to1 or possession of that fundamental privilege of adoption1--,i say1 that the soul is no more a son1 nor within the covenant4 #b4 ,the course before mentioned is to be taken with all sins1 though1 7#a47 ,they be never so heinous and gross4 7#b47 ,though they be accompanied with never such aggravating and crying aggravations4 7#c47 ,though they be sins frequently fallen into2 and1 7#d47 ,though they be sins many and heaped together4 ,david's transgression was a heinous sin1 and had heinous aggravations1 yea1 there was an heap and a complication of sins together in that one2 yet he followed this course4 ,we find none of these kind of sins excepted in the new covenant2 and where the law doth not distinguish1 we ought not to distinguish2 where ,god's law doth not expressly exclude us1 we should not exclude ourselves4 ,christ's death is able enough to take away all sin4 ,if through it a believer be justified from all his transgressions committed before conversion1 why may not also a believer be1 through virtue of it1 justified from his gross and multiplied sins committed after conversion8 ,the blood of ,christ cleanseth from all sin2 ,christ hath taught his followers to pray1 ,forgive us our sins1 as we forgive them that sin against us2 and he hath told us also1 that we must forgive our brother seventy times seven1 ,matth4 xiii4 #bb4 ,we would not be discouraged then from taking this course1 because our sins are such and such2 nay1 rather1 we would look on this1 as an argument to press us more unto this way1 because the greater our sins be1 the greater need have we of pardon1 and to say with ,david1 ,psalm xxv4 #aa1 ,pardon mine iniquity1 for it is great4 #c4 ,we would not think1 that upon our taking of this course1 we shall be instantly freed from challenges1 because of those sins1 for pardoning whereof we take this course2 nor should we think1 that because challenges remain1 that therefore there is no pardon had1 or that this is not the way to pardon2 for1 as we shall show afterward1 pardon is one thing1 and intimation of pardon is another thing4 ,we may be pardoned1 and yet suppose that we are not pardoned2 challenges will abide till the conscience be sprinkled1 and till the ,prince of ,peace command peace to the conscience1 and put the accuser to silence2 who1 when he can do no more1 will mar the peace of a believer1 as long as he can1 and stop the current of his comforts1 which made ,david pray1 that ,god would restore to him the joy of his salvation1 ,psalm li4 #d4 ,nor would we think1 that upon our taking of this course for the pardon of our sins1 we shall never thereafter meet with a challenge upon the account of these sins4 ,it is true1 when sins are pardoned1 they are fully pardoned in ,god's court1 and that obligation to condemnation is taken away1 and the pardoned person is looked upon as no sinner1 that is1 as no person liable to condemnation because of these sins2 for being pardoned he becometh just before ,god2 yet we dare not say1 but conscience afterward1 being alarmed with new transgressions1 may mistake1 as people suddenly put into a fight are ready to do2 nor dare we say1 that ,god will not permit ,satan to upbraid us with those sins1 which have been blotted out long ago1 as he suffered ,shimei1 who was but an instrument of ,satan1 to cast up to ,david his blood-guiltiness1 which had been pardoned long before4 ,the ,lord may think good to suffer this1 that his people may be kept humble1 and made more tender and watchful in all their ways4 #e4 ,believers would not misimprove or abuse this great condescendency of free grace1 and take the great liberty to sin1 because there is such a sure1 safe1 and pleasant way of getting those sins blotted out and forgiven4 ,shall we sin because we are not under grace1 but under the law8 ,that be far from us1 saith the ,apostle1 ,rom4 vi4 #ae4 ,this were indeed to turn the grace of ,god into lasciviousness4 ,and it may be a question1 if such as have really repented1 and gotten their sins pardoned1 will be so ready to make this use of it2 sure sense of pardon will work some other effect1 as we see1 ,ezek4 xvi4 #fb1 #fc4 #f4 ,the believer1 in going about this work of nailing his sins to the cross of ,christ1 and of improving ,christ's death1 resurrection1 and constant intercession1 for the obtaining of pardon1 would not think of going alone1 or of doing this in his own strength2 for of himself he can do nothing4 ,he must look to ,christ for grace to help in this time of need1 and must go about this duty with dependence on him1 waiting for the influence of light1 counsel1 strength1 and grace from him1 to repent and believe2 for he is a prince exalted to give repentance1 first and last1 and he is the author and finisher of faith2 so that without him we can do nothing4 #g4 ,let the believer beware of concluding1 that be hath got no pardon1 because he hath met with no sensible intimation thereof by the flowing in of peace and joy in his soul4 ,pardon is one mercy1 and intimation of it to the soul is another distinct mercy1 and separable from it3 shall we therefore say1 we have not gotten the first1 because we have not gotten both8 ,the ,lord1 for wise reasons1 can pardon poor sinners1 and not give any intimation thereof2 viz4 that they may watch more against sin afterward1 and not be so bold as they have been2 and that they may find more in experience1 what a bitter thing it is to sin against ,god1 and learn withal to depend on him for less and more2 and to carry more humbly2 for it may be1 ,god seeth1 that if they saw their sins pardoned1 they would forget themselves1 and rush into new sins again4 #h4 ,the believer must not think it strange1 if he find more trouble after greater sins1 and a greater difficulty to lay hold on ,christ for pardon of those1 than for pardon of others4 ,for as ,god hath been more dishonoured by these1 so is his anger more kindled upon that account2 and it is suitable for the glory of ,god's justice1 that our sorrow for such sins be proportionally greater2 and this will likewise increase the difficulty2 and ordinarily the effects of ,god's fatherly displeasure make deeper wounds in the soul after such sins1 and these are not so easily healed2 all which will call for suitable and proportionally greater godly sorrow and repentance1 and acts of faith1 because faith will meet with more opposition and discouragement there1 and therefore must be the more strong1 to go through these impediments1 and to lay hold on his cross4 ,yet though this should make all watchful1 and to guard against gross and crying sins1 it should not drive any to despair1 nor to say with that despairing wretch1 their sin is greater than it can be forgiven2 the ocean of mercy can drown and swallow up greater as well as lesser sins2 ,christ is an all-sufficient ,mediator for the greatest sins as well as the least4 ,o1 for thy name's sake1 pardon mine iniquity1 for it is great6 will come in season to a soul ready to sink with the weight of this millstone tied about its neck4 #i4 ,as the greater sins should not make us despair of taking this course for remission1 so nor should the smallness of sin make us to neglect this way2 for the least sin cannot be pardoned but through ,jesus ,christ2 for the law of ,god is violated thereby1 justice provoked1 ,god's authority vilified1 c4 and therefore cannot be now pardoned1 by reason of the threatenings annexed to the law1 without a ransom4 ,death is the wages of sin1 lesser and greater1 and the curse is due to all sin1 greater and smaller4 ,there1 the believer would not suffer one sin1 seen and discovered1 to lie unpardoned1 but on the first discovery thereof1 take it away to ,christ1 and nail it to the cross4 #aj4 ,the believer would not conclude1 that his sins are not pardoned1 because possibly temporal strokes1 inflicted because of them1 are not removed2 for though ,david's sin was pardoned1 yet because of that sin of his1 a temporal stroke attended him and his family1 to his dying day2 for not only did ,god cut off the child1 7#b ,sam4 xv4 #ad471 but told him1 that the sword should never depart from his house1 and that he would raise up evil against him out of his own house1 and give his wives to one that should lie with them in the sight of the sun1 vers4 #aj1 #aa4 ,so we read1 that the ,lord took vengeance on their inventions whose sins he had pardoned1 ,psalm xcix4 #h4 ,god may see this fit and expedient1 for his own glory1 and for humbling of them1 and causing them to fear the more to sin against him4 ,yea1 not only may temporal calamities be inflicted1 because of sin pardoned1 or continued1 after sin is pardoned1 but even sense of ,god's displeasure may continue after pardon1 as appeareth by that penitential ,psalm 7the fifty-first7 penned by ,david1 after ,nathan had spoken to him concerning his sin4 ,,questions ,,or ,,objections ,,answered4 #a4 ,what course shall we take with secret sins8 ,i answer1 this same course must be followed with them4 ,there is an implicit repentance of sins that have not been distinctly seen and observed1 as who can see and observe all their failings8 ,and so there may be an implicit faith acting2 that is1 the believer being persuaded that he is guilty of more sins than he hath got a clear sight of1 as he would bewail his condition before ,god because of these1 and sorrow for them after a godly manner1 so he would take them together in a heap1 or as a closed bagful1 and by faith nail them to the cross of ,christ1 as if they were all distinctly seen and known4 ,who can understand his errors1 said ,david1 ,psalm xix4 #ab3 yet says he moreover1 cleanse thou me from secret faults4 #b4 ,but what if1 after all this1 ,i find no intimation of pardon to my soul8 ,ans4 ,as this should serve to keep thee humble1 so it should excite to more diligence1 in this duty of going with thy sins to ,christ1 and to ply him and his cross more1 in and through the promises1 and keep thy soul constant in this duty of the running to ,christ1 as an all-sufficient ,mediator1 and as an intercessor with the ,father2 and thus wait on him waiteth to be gracious1 even in this particular1 of intimating pardon to thy soul1--he knoweth when it is fittest for thee to know that thy sins are forgiven4 #c4 ,but what can yield me any ground of peace while it is so1 that ,i see no pardon or remission granted to me8 ,ans4 ,this may yield thee peace1 that1 following this course which hath been explained1 thou art about thy duty4 ,thou art not at peace with sin1 nor harbouring that viper in thy soul2 thou art mourning and sorrowing over it1 and running to ,christ the prince of pardons1 through his blood and intercession1 conform to the covenant of redemption1 and after the encouragement given in the many and precious promises of the covenant of grace2 and having these promises1 and rolling thy guilt on ,christ as thy cautioner1 conform to the manner expressed in the gospel1 thou art allowed to believe that thy sins are pardoned1 and that thou art accepted in the beloved1 and so quiet thy soul through faith1 ,god abiding faithful and true1 and his promises being all yea and amen in ,christ4 #d4 ,but so long as ,i find no intimation of pardon1 ,i cannot think that ,i have taken the right gospel way of bringing my sins to ,christ4 ,ans4 ,though that will not follow1 as we cleared above--for a soul may take the right gospel way of getting the guilt of their sins taken away in ,christ1 and ,god may pardon thereupon1 and for all that not think it fit to give intimation of that pardon as yet1 for wise and holy ends--yet the soul may humble itself for its shortcoming1 and still go about the duty1 amending in ,christ what it supposeth to be amiss1 and renewing its act of repentance and faith1 and beg of ,christ understanding in the matter1 and so continue carrying sin always to ,christ's cross1 and eyeing his intercession1 and wait for a full clearing of the matter in his good time4 #e4 ,but what shall ,i do with the guilt of my weak repentance1 and weak faith8 ,ans4 ,when with a weak and defective repentance and faith thou art carrying away thy sins to ,christ1 and nailing them1 to his cross1 let the imperfection of thy faith and repentance go with the rest1 and leave all there4 #f4 ,what shall ,i do with my conscience1 that still accuseth me of guilt1 notwithstanding of my taking and following this course8 ,ans4 ,despise not the accusation of conscience1 but let these humble thee the more1 and keep thee closer at this duty4 ,yet know1 that conscience is but an under servant1 and ,god's deputy1 and must accuse according to law1 7,i speak not here of the irregular1 furious1 and turbulent motions of ,satan1 casting in grenades in the soul and conscience1 to raise a combustion and put all in a fire72 its mouth1 must be stopped by law1 and so the soul would stay and answer the accusations of conscience with this1 that he hath fled to ,christ1 the only ,mediator and ,cautioner1 and cast his burden on him2 and leaneth to his merits alone2 and hath put those sins in his hand1 as his advocate and intercessor with the ,father2 and that the gospel requireth no more of him4 ,and if conscience should say1 that both faith and repentance are imperfect and defective1 and that guilt is thereby rather increased than taken away1--he must answer again1 true2 but ,i have done with the guilt of my faith and repentance1 as with the rest1 taken all to ,christ1 and left all on him2 and herein only do ,i acquiesce1--,i look not for pardon for my imperfect faith and repentance1 yea1 nor would ,i look for pardon of my sins1 for my faith and repentance1 were they never so perfect1 but only in and through ,jesus ,christ1 the only ,cautioner1 ,redeemer1 and ,advocate4 ,but further1 this deputy would be brought to his master1 who can only command him to silence2 that is to say1 the believer would go to ,christ with the accusing conscience1 and desire him to command its silence1 that he may have peace of conscience1 and freedom from those accusations that are bitter and troublesome4 ,remember withal1 that if these accusations drive thee to ,christ1 and endear him more to thy soul1 they will do no harm1 because they drive thee to thy only resting place1 and to the grand peacemaker4 ,but if otherwise they discourage or for-slow thee in thy motion ,christward1 then be sure conscience speaketh without warrant1 and its accusations ought not1 in so far1 and as to that end1 to be regarded4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,for ,,cleansing ,,of ,,us ,,from ,,our ,,daily ,,spots4 ,having spoken of the way of making use of ,christ for removing the guilt of our daily transgressions1 we come to speak of the way of making use of ,christ1 for taking away the guilt that cleaveth to the soul1 through daily transgressions2 for every sin defileth the man1 ,matt4 xv4 #bj2 and the best are said to have their spots1 and to need washing1 which presupposeth filthiness and defilement1 ,eph4 v4 #bg4 ,john xiii4 #h-aj4 ,hence we are so oft called to this duty of washing and making us clean4 ,isa4 i4 #af4 ,jer4 iv4 #ad4 ,acts xxii4 #af4 ,david prays for this washing1 ,psal4 li4 #b-g4 ,and it is ,christ's work to wash4 #a ,cor4 vi4 #aa4 ,rev4 i4 #e4 ,eph4 v4 #bf4 ,see ,tit4 iii4 #e4 ,now1 in speaking to this1 we shall observe the same method2 and first shew1 what ,christ has done to take away this filth2 and next1 what way we are to make use of him1 for this end1 to get our spots and filthiness taken away1 that we may be holy4 ,as to the first1 for the purging away of the filth of our daily failings and transgressions1 ,christ has done these things3 #a4 ,he hath died that he may procure this benefit and advantage to us2 and thus he hath washed us meritoriously in his own blood which he shed upon the cross4 ,thus he loved us1 and washed us from our sins1 in his own blood1 ,rev4 i4 #e2 and this is from all sins1 as well such as are committed after1 as such as are committed before conversion4 ,thus1 he by himself purged our sins1 ,heb4 i4 #c1 viz4 by offering up of himself as an expiatory sacrifice to make an atonement1 and so procure this liberty4 ,so also it is said1 ,eph4 v4 #be-bg1 that ,christ gave himself for his church1 that he might sanctify and cleanse it--that he might present it to himself a glorious church1 not having spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing1 but that it should be holy and without blemish4 ,so1 ,tit4 ii4 #ad1 ,he gave himself for us1 that he might purify to himself a peculiar people1 zealous of good works4 ,here then is the foundation and ground of all cleansing and purification--,christ's death procuring it4 #b4 ,as he hath procured1 so he sendeth the ,spirit to effectuate this1 and to work this washing and sanctification in us4 ,hence1 it is said1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #aa1 that we are sanctified and washed1 in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and by the ,spirit of our ,god4 ,we are said to be saved by the washing of regeneration1 and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost1 which he hath shed upon us abundantly through ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour1 ,tit4 iii4 #e1 #f4 ,the sending then1 or shedding of the holy and sanctifying ,spirit upon us1 whereby we are sanctified1 and consequently purified and purged from our filth1 is a fruit of ,christ's death and mediation1 being purchased thereby1 and is an effect of his resurrection1 and glorification1 and intercession in glory4 #c4 ,he hath made a fountain of his blood for this end1 that we may go to it daily1 and wash and be clean4 ,thus his blood cleanseth from all sin1 #a ,john i4 #g-i4 ,this is the fountain opened to the house of ,david1 and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness1 ,zech4 xiii4 #a4 #d4 ,he hath purchased and provided the external means1 whereby this cleansing and sanctification is brought about1 viz4 the preaching of the gospel1 which he himself preached1 and thereby sanctified1 ,john xv4 #c1 ,now are ye clean through the word that ,i have spoken unto you4 ,eph4 v4 #bf1 the church is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water1 by the word4 #e4 ,so hath he procured1 and worketh in the soul those graces that promove and carry on this work of sanctification and purifying2 such as faith1 which purifieth the heart1 ,acts xv4 #i2 whereof he is the author and finisher1 ,heb4 xii42 and hope1 which whosoever hath1 purifieth himself1 even as he is pure1 #a ,john iii4 #c4 #f4 ,he hath confirmed and ratified all the promises of the covenant1 which are ample and large1 touching this cleansing and washing1 ,jer4 xxxv4 #h1 ,and ,i will cleanse them from all their iniquity1 whereby they have sinned against me4 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #be1 ,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you1 and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness4 ,so ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #bc1 and ,i will cleanse them4 ,and all the other promises of the covenant1 apprehended by faith1 have no small influence on our cleansing2 #b ,cor4 vii4 #a4 ,having therefore these promises1 let us cleanse ourselves1 c42 all which promises are yea and amen in ,christ1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 ,thus ,christ made all sure1 for the cleansing and washing of his people1 conform to that article of the covenant of redemption1 so shall he sprinkle many nations1 ,isa4 lii4 #ae4 ,secondly1 ,as to the way of our use-making of ,christ for the purging away of our filth and daily pollutions1 believers would take this course3 #a4 ,they would remember and live in the conviction of the exceeding abominableness and filthiness of sin1 which is compared to the vomit of a dog1 and to the mire wherein the sow walloweth1 #b ,pet4 ii4 #bb2 filthy rags1 ,isa4 lxiv4 #f2 to a menstruous cloth1 ,isa4 xxx4 #bb1 and the like1 that this may move them to seek with greater care and diligence1 to have that filth taken away4 #b4 ,they would remember also how abominable sin makes them in the eyes of an holy ,god1 who cannot behold iniquity1 being a ,god of purer eyes than to behold it1 ,hab4 i4 #ac2 nor can he look on it2 and how therefore no thing can enter into the ,new ,jerusalem1 nor any thing that defileth4 ,and this will make them so much the more to abhor it1 and to seek to be washed from it4 #c4 ,they would look by faith on the blood of ,christ that is shed for this end1 to wash filthy souls into2 and run to it as a fountain opened for this end1 that they might come to it1 and wash and be clean4 #d4 ,for their encouragement1 they would grip by faith to the promises of the new covenant1 which are large and full4 #e4 ,and remember the end of ,christ's death1 viz41 to purchase to himself a holy people1 zealous of good works1 to present them to himself holy1 and without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing2 and this will be further ground of encouragement4 #f4 ,they would put the work by faith in his hand1 who hath best skill to wash a foul soul1 and to purge away all their spots2 and by faith pray for and expect the ,spirit to sanctify and cleanse them from all their filthiness2 that is1 they would make known and spread forth their abominations before the ,lord1 and eyeing ,christ as the only great ,high ,priest1 whose blood is a fountain to wash in1 would lay the work on him1 and by faith put him to wash away that filth1 and to purify their souls by his ,spirit1 pardoning their bygone iniquities and renewing them in the ,spirit of their minds by grace1 that they may walk before him in fear4 ,thus they would roll the work on him1 and leave it there4 ,,cautions ,,and ,,directions4 ,first1 ,the believer would in all this work be kept in the exercise of these graces following3 #a4 ,of humility2 seeing what a vile1 filthy wretch he is1 that stands in need of washing and purging daily1 because of his daily pollutions and transgressions4 #b4 ,of love2 considering with what a loving ,god he hath to do1 that hath provided so liberally all things for him1 and particularly hath provided a fountain1 and such a fountain1 whereto he not only may1 but is commanded to resort daily4 #c4 ,of thankfulness2 remembering how great this mercy is1 how unworthy he is1 on whom it is bestowed1 and who he is that doth grant it4 #d4 ,of fear2 lest ,god's goodness be abused1 and he provoked who is so gracious to us4 #e4 ,of sincerity1 and godly ingenuity1 avoiding all hypocrisy and formality1 knowing that we have to do with him1 who will not be mocked4 #f4 ,of holy hatred2 loathing and abhorrence of sin1 which makes us so filthy and odious in the eyes of the ,lord4 ,secondly1 ,this course would be followed for the purging away of the least sins2 for till they be purged away1 we remain in our filth1 and cannot expect ,god's favourable countenance1 nor his warm embracements1 nor the hearty intimations of his love and kindness4 ,and a small inconsiderable like spot may grow greater1 and provoke ,god to let the accuser of the brethren1 ,satan1 who always waits for his opportunity1 loose upon us1 and a conscience wakened may make much of a little defilement to keep the soul from approaching to ,god4 #c4 ,this course would be followed with every sin1 quickly without delay2 for the longer those spots continue1 it will be the more difficult to get them taken away4 ,the soul will after some time1 become the less troubled about them1 and possibly forget them1 and so they will remain2 and this may occasion at last a sad distance1 and provoke ,god to hide his face1 which will cause more bitterness and sorrow4 ,it were good1 then1 to keep up a spirit of tenderness and fear4 #d4 ,let this be our daily work and exercise2 for we are daily contracting new filth4 ,yesterday's cleansing will not save us from new filth to-day2 nor will our running to the fountain to-day1 serve to take away new spots to-morrow2 new spots call for new washing1 so that this must be our very life and exercise1 to be daily and continually running to the fountain with our souls2 and giving ,christ1 the great purger1 much to do4 #e4 ,we must not think to be perfectly washed1 so long as we are here2 for we will be contracting new filth daily1 our feet will still be to wash1 ,john xiii4 #aj4 ,we will not be without spot or wrinkle1 till we come home to that place1 wherein entereth nothing that defileth4 #f4 ,let the believer's recourse in this matter be wholly to ,jesus ,christ and his blood1 and lay no weight on their sorrow1 repentance1 or tears1 or on any outward means which they are commanded to use2 yet would they not lay aside these means1 but go through them to the fountain1 to ,jesus1 there1 and there only to be cleansed4 #g4 ,they should not be discouraged or despair when their spots appear great1 and not like the spots of his children2 for ,christ's blood can purge from all sin1 and wash away all their filth1 of how deep soever a dye it be4 ,christ's blood is so deep an ocean1 that a mountain will be sunk out of sight in it1 as well as a small pebble stone4 #h4 ,though ,christ's blood be strong enough to purge from all sin1 even the greatest1 yet they should know1 that scandalous spots1 or a deep stain1 may cost them more frequent running to the fountain1 through humiliation1 godly sorrow1 prayer1 and supplication4 ,david's scandalous blot cost him more trouble and pains1 before he got it purged away1 than many others1 as we see1 ,psalm li4 #i4 ,when all this is done1 we must think of having on another righteousness1 as our clothing and covering1 in the day of our appearance before our ,judge--even the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ1 which only is perfect1 and able to save us from the wrath of ,god4 ,let us be never so washed in the matter of sanctification1 and cleansed from our spots1 we cannot for all that be accounted righteous before ,god2 nor will that satisfy justice1 or take away the guilt so much as of one transgression before ,god4 ,christ's righteousness will be our upper garment for all eternity4 ,this is the fine linen wherewith his bride is busked in heaven4 #aj4 ,at every time we run to the fountain with our daily contracted filth1 we would not forget to carry along with us the mother corruption1 which is the sink and puddle of all filthiness2 ,i mean our natural corrupted rottenness and pollution1 from whence flow all our other actual pollutions4 ,we would do well to carry mother and daughter both together to the fountain4 ,david prayed to be washed and purged1 as well from his original filthiness1 wherein he was conceived and born1 as from his blood-guiltiness4 ,psalm li4 #e1 #g4 #aa4 ,let not this occasion our carelessness in watching against sin2 for that would be1 to turn his grace into wantonness2 but rather let it sharpen our diligence in watching against all occasions of sin1 lest we again defile our soul4 #ab4 ,not only must we have our bodies1 or our outward conversation washed1 but our soul within1 the frame of our heart1 our understanding1 will1 affections1 and conscience1 sprinkled with that blood4 ,the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered himself without spot to ,god1 must purge our ,consciences from dead works1 to serve the living ,god1 ,heb4 ix4 #ad4 and we must have our hearts1 sprinkled from an evil conscience1 ,heb4 x4 #bb4 ,finally1 ,if the believer fear that he shall not be able to remember all these particular duties1 let him remember this1 viz4 to put a foul soul1 defiled with original and actual pollutions1 in ,christ's hand daily1 and leave it to him to wash by his blood and ,spirit2 and yet remember to lay the weight of his acceptance before ,god1 upon the imputed righteousness of ,jesus ,christ1 and not upon his own cleanness1 when thus sanctified and washen1 which is but imperfect4 ,,questions ,,or ,,objections ,,answered4 ,but1 alas6 some may object1 and say1 that their very faith1 which must carry the rest of their filth to the fountain of ,christ's blood1 is defiled4 ,how1 then1 can they expect to be made clean8 ,answer4 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ is sufficiently able to wash all our filth away2 and the filth of faith1 as well as of other actions4 ,therefore1 when faith1 as a hand1 is carrying the filth of the soul away to ,christ to be washed in his blood1 let the foul hand go with the foul handful2 give ,christ faith and all to wash4 #b4 ,but what shall ,i do1 when1 notwithstanding of all this1 my conscience shall still accuse me of uncleanness1 and cry out against me as filthy and abominable8 ,answer4 ,take it away also to the blood of ,jesus1 that there it may be purged1 ,heb4 ix4 #ad2 and here alone will we get our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience1 ,heb4 x4 #bb4 ,the conscience must be steeped1 so to speak1 in the blood of ,jesus1 and so it shall be clean4 ,and taking our filthy hearts to this cleansing fountain to be washed1 we will get them delivered and sprinkled from an evil conscience1 that it shall no more have ground of accusation against us4 ,when we have it to say1 that we have put our filthy souls in the hand of the great cleanser1 ,jesus ,christ1 and brought all our pollutions to his blood1 what can conscience say to us8 ,the ,lord1 it is true1 may suffer our conscience still to bark upon us1 and cast up our filthiness to us1 that we may be the more humbled1 and be put to lie more constantly at the fountain2 yet when we have fled to ,christ1 and taken our filthiness to the open and appointed fountain1 we can answer the accusations of conscience in law1 and have peace4 #c4 ,but ,i am apt to think1 will some say1 that if ,i had once taken the right way to get my sins and filthiness purged away1 my conscience would trouble me no more2 but now1 so long as it doggeth me thus1 ,i cannot think that the way which ,i have taken is the right way4 ,answer4 ,though the ,lord may think good to suffer conscience to trouble a man for a time1 though he hath taken the right way1 as is said1 for a further exercise and trial to him2 yet the believer will have no less disadvantage by examining his way1 and trying whether he hath laid the matter cleanly over on ,christ1 or whether he hath laid too much weight on his own humiliation1 sorrow1 and pains2 and whether he be leaving the matter on ,jesus1 and expecting to be washed alone in his blood1 or looking into himself1 and expecting some help in the matter from self2 and after trial1 would mourn for any failing he gets discovered1 and still be about that work of running with filth to the fountain4 ,but withal they would go to ,christ for help1 because without him they cannot come to him2 they cannot come or carry their soul to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness2 so that in all this work1 there would be a single dependence on ,christ for understanding and strength to go about this work aright4 ,thus have we endeavoured to clear up ,christ being the way to the ,father1 first and last2 and how all believers or unbelievers are to make use of him as the way to the ,father1 whatever their condition be3 from all which we may see1 #a4 ,that such are in a wretched and forlorn condition who are still strangers to ,christ1 and will not lay hold on him1 nor come to him1 and walk in him1 and make use of him4 ,they are unrighteous and unholy1 and daily contracting more guilt and more filth2 and they know no way either for justification or sanctification1 but a way of self1 which will prove like the brooks1 which run dry in summer1 and disappoint the weary traveller when he hath most need4 ,they are without ,christ1 and so without the way1 the only way1 the safe and sure way to the ,father4 ,and1 oh6 if all that is here spoken could induce them to think once of the misery of their condition1 and to seek out for relief1 that they might not only be saved from their state of sin and misery1 but brought into a state of salvation through ,jesus ,christ1 so that they might be justified before ,god1 from all that justice1 the devil1 the law1 or conscience could lay against them1 and thoroughly sanctified1 and so at length brought home to the ,father1 fair and spotless4 #b4 ,upon the other hand1 we see the noble advantage of believers1 who1 through grace1 are entered in this way2 for it is a full and complete way that shall carry them safe home4 ,they shall find that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to ,god through him4 ,and1 oh6 if they were sensible of this1 how would it excite them to thankfulness6 ,how would it encourage them to run through difficulties great and many6 #c4 ,we see what a special duty lieth upon believers to make special use of ,christ in all things1 as the way to the ,father1 and so march to heaven in him1 as the only way2 march in his hands1 or rather be carried in his arms and bosom4 ,this were to go from strength to strength1 till at length they appeared in ,zion1 and landed in that pleasant place of rest1 where the weary are at rest1 and yet rest not day nor night1 but sing praises to him that hath redeemed them by his blood1 out of every kindred and tongue1 and people and nation1 saying1 blessing1 honour1 glory1 and power1 be unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever1 ,rev4 v4 #i1 #ac4 #d4 ,hence we may see the cause of the leanness of believers1 of their wanderings1 of their shortcomings1 of their many defilements1 c4 viz4 their not constant making use of ,christ as the way in all things1 according to the tenor of the gospel4 ,oh ,i if this were laid to heart and mourned for1 and if grace were sought to help it6 ,this one point of truth1 that ,christ is the way1 well understood and rightly put into practice1 would do all our business1 both as to justification and sanctification1 and were poor sinners once entered into this way1 and had they grace from this way to walk in it1 it would prove their life and salvation3 ,for it is the marrow and substance of the whole gospel4 ,so that there needeth little more to be said3 ,yet we shall speak a little to the other particulars in the text4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,truth4 ,,some ,,generals ,,proposed4 ,that what we are to speak to for the clearing and improving this noble piece of truth1 that ,christ is the ,truth1 may be the more clearly understood and edifying1 we shall first take notice of some generals1 and then show particularly how or in what respects ,christ is called the ,truth2 and finally speak to some cases wherein we are to make use of ,christ as the ,truth4 ,as to the first4 ,there are four general things here to be noticed4 #a4 ,this supposeth what our case by nature is1 and what we are all without ,christ1 who is the ,truth3 as1 ,first4 ,it supposeth that without ,christ we are in darkness1 mistakes1 errors3 yea1 we are said to be darkness itself4 ,eph4 v4 #h1 ,ye were sometimes darkness1 c4 ,john i4 #e1 and of darkness2 #a ,thess4 v4 #e1 yea1 under the power of darkness2 ,col4 i4 #ac4 ,john xii4 #ce4 #a ,john ii4 #aa1 walking in darkness2 #a ,john i4 #f1 and abiding in darkness4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i4 #a ,thess4 v4 #d4 ,john xii4 #df1 ,we wander and go astray as soon as we are born1 speaking lies1 ,psal4 lviii4 #c4 ,yea1 we go astray in the greatness of our folly1 ,prov4 v4 #bb4 ,we are all gone astray1 ,isa4 liii4 #f4 ,psal4 cxix4 #fg-agf2 so far are we from any knowledge of1 or acquaintance with truth1 or with the way of truth4 ,secondly4 ,it supposeth that we cannot turn into the right way4 ,a spirit of error and untruth leadeth us continually wrong2 like the sheep we wander still1 and we weary ourselves in our wandering2 and so spend all our labour and pains in vain4 ,being under the power of untruth and error1 we cannot walk one step right4 ,thirdly4 ,though all other ways1 beside him who only is the way and the truth1 be false ways and by-ways1 leading us away from the true resting-place1 and from that way which is the truth2 yet we are prone and ready to cleave to those false and erroneous ways1 and grip to shadows1 and to lean to them1 as if they were the ways of truth3 ,such as1 #a4 ,a good heart1 which many may imagine they have1 when they have nothing less4 #b4 ,good intentions and purposes for time to come1 which such1 as were not under the power of error and untruth1 would never deceive themselves withal4 #c4 ,an harmless life1 without scandalous out-breakings to the reproach of ,christianity1 a foundation on which no wise man1 led by truth1 would build his salvation1 or hopes of eternal happiness4 #d4 ,an outward1 moral1 civil and discreet carriage1 which no man can blame1 and wherein a heathen can outstrip many called ,christians2 so that it must be a poor ground to found our hopes upon2 and yet many are so blinded1 that they lean all their weight upon such a rotten staff4 #e4 ,outward exercise of religious duties1 wherein a ,pharisee may outstrip many2 and yet1 ,o how many build all their hopes of heaven upon this sandy foundation1 which none but blinded persons would do6 #f4 ,the commendation and applause of ministers and ,christians1 is that which many rest upon1 which is a sad proof of the blindness of their hearts4 #g4 ,the way of good works and alms-deeds blindfoldeth many1 and sheweth that they were never led by truth1 or taught of ,christ1 who is the truth4 #h4 ,some pinching grief and sorrow for sin1 is another way which people1 strangers to the truth1 deceive themselves withal4 #i4 ,a common sort of repentance1 backed with some kind of amendment and outward reformation1 is a way that many rest secure in1 though it lead to destruction4 #aj4 ,freedom from challenges of conscience deceiveth many4 ,though these and such like ways be dangerous1 yea1 deadly1 yet how many are there to be found among ,christians1 that have no better ground of their hope of salvation1 and will cleave to them so fast1 as no preaching will make them so much as once question the matter1 or suspect that these ways will in the end deceive them2 so strong is their inclination to the way of error1 though not as the way of error4 ,fourthly4 ,it presupposeth also an inclinableness in us by nature to wander out of the way2 for being nothing but a mass of error1 made up of darkness1 ignorance1 and mistakes1 we have a strong bias to error1 which agreeth best with our natural1 corrupted temper4 ,hence it is1 that we have such a strong propension to errors and mistakes3 ,whether1 #a4 ,concerning ,god1 and his way of dealing with his church1 or with ourselves4 ,o how ready are our hearts by nature1 to hatch and foment wrong1 unseemly1 untrue1 yea1 unchristian1 if not blasphemous thoughts and conceptions of his nature1 attributes1 word1 and works8 ,and how ready and prone are we to receive and entertain wrong apprehensions of all his ways and dealings with his church and people8 ,and as for his works in and about ourselves1 ,o6 what unsuitable1 erroneous1 false1 ungodly1 absurd1 and abominable opinions do we with greediness drink in and foster2 yea1 feed upon with delight8 ,who is able to recount all the errors and mistakes which our heart by nature is ready to admit and foster with complacency8 ,are we not by nature ready to say1 that there is not a ,god1--as the fool1 ,psal4 xiv4 #a4 ,or1 that he is not such a ,god as his word and works declare him to be--a holy1 just1 righteous1 omnipotent1 omnipresent1 omniscient ,god1 c4 ,or that he is a changeable ,god1 and actually changed1 not being the same now which sometime he was4 ,that he hath forgotten to be gracious1 and remembereth not his people in adversity2 and so is not tender and merciful4 ,that he hath forgotten his promises1 and so is not faithful and true4 ,that he approveth of sin1 because he suffereth the way of the wicked to prosper1 and so is not a holy ,god1 c4 ,yea1 do not ofttimes such thoughts as these lodge within the heart of the truly godly8 ,all which sheweth how prone we are to receive and entertain erroneous and false thoughts of ,god4 #b4 ,concerning ourselves4 ,supposing ourselves to be born again and reconciled to ,god1 when yet we are living in black nature3 ,and who so bold and confident that they are right1 as they that are furthest out of the way8 ,or1 on the other hand1 supposing ourselves to be in a bad state1 and in nature and darkness1 when the day-star from on high hath visited us1 and brought our souls from death unto life4 ,and who more ready to complain than such as have least cause8 ,or supposing ourselves in a good condition2 lively1 active1 diligent1 watchful1 c1 when it is just otherwise with us3 ,or1 on the contrary1 complaining of deadness1 formality1 upsitting1 fainting1 heartlessness in the ways of ,god1 when it is not so4 ,or1 in questioned matters1 taking truth to be error1 and error to be truth4 #c4 ,concerning others4 ,how ready are we to run either to the one extremity or the other in judging their persons and actions8 ,oh6 where is the faith of this natural condition8 where is the real conviction of it8 ,sure there is but little real believing of this when1 7#a47 ,there are so many that never so much as suspect themselves or question either their state or condition1 at one time or other2 never once imagine that their blinded hearts may deceive them2 never once dream of a possibility of mistaking1 and of dying with a lie in their right hand4 7#b47 ,and so many that are not lamenting and bewailing this their condition1 nor crying out and complaining of a false1 deceitful1 and desperately wicked heart4 7#c47 ,and so few that are indeed humbled under the sense of this1 and made therefore to walk more watchfully and soberly with an eye always upon their treacherous and deceiving hearts4 7#d47 ,and so few1 crying for help from ,god against this deceitful adversary1 through daily experience of the atheism1 hypocrisy1 ignorance1 misconceptions of ,god and of his ways1 and deceitfulness of our hearts1 might sufficiently put it out of doubt with us4 ,next1 ,how miserable must their condition be1 who are yet strangers to ,christ2 for they are living in darkness1 lying in darkness1 walking in darkness1 yea1 very darkness itself1 a mass of error1 mistakes1 ignorance1 and misconceptions of all things that are good2 and still wandering out of the way4 ,finally1 ,should not this preach out to1 and convince us all of a necessity of having more acquaintance with truth1 with ,jesus ,christ1 who is the truth1 that we may be delivered from this woful and wretched condition2 for truth only can set us free therefrom4 ,,ii4 ,the second general thing to be noticed here is1 that all other ways and courses1 which we can take or follow1 that we may obtain life1 beside ,christ1 are but lies1 false and deceitful ways1--there is no truth in them3 ,for he only is the truth2 no other whatsoever can bear this epithet3 ,for1 #a4 ,he only can satisfy the soul in all points otherways2 whatever we can imagine and dream can yield no true satisfaction in this matter4 #b4 ,he only can secure the soul from destructive ruinous courses1 which will undo the soul4 ,all other ways will fail here2 none of them can give the least security to the soul1 that they shall not bring him1 in end1 to destruction and everlasting perdition4 #c4 ,he only can bring the soul safe through all opposition and difficulties in the way4 ,no other way can do this2 but will leave us in the mire1 ere ever we come to the end of our journey4 #d4 ,he will not deceive nor disappoint the soul4 ,all other ways in end will prove treacherous1 and give the traveller a doleful and sad disappointment4 ,o what a warning should this be to us all1 to take heed that we embrace not a lie1 instead of him who is the truth2 and sit not down with a shadow instead of the substance4 ,how ready are we to put other things in his place8 ,but whatever it be that gets his room in the soul1 though good and worthy in itself1 will prove a lie4 ,even1 7#a47 ,all our outward holiness and duties4 ,yea1 7#b47 ,all our experiences and great attainments4 ,yea1 7#c47 ,all our gifts and endowments4 ,aye1 7#d47 ,our very graces4 ,none of these are ,christ's2 and if we place that hope and confidence in them1 which we should place on him1 they will not prove the truth to us1--he alone is the truth4 ,how sure then should we labour to be1 that we do not die with a lie in our right hand4 ,and how carefully should we guard against the trusting in1 or leaning to any thing that is not ,christ1 and whole ,christ1 and only ,christ1 and ,christ as offered in the gospel2 seeing this way is only the truth1 and no other way will be found so in end1 though at present we may find in it1 7#a47 ,some inward peace and quietness of heart1 as if all were right4 7#b47 ,some satisfaction of mind1 things being right1 as we apprehend1 but falsely1 through the deceitfulness of the heart4 7#c47 ,something like assurance and confidence1 that all will be right with us4 7#d47 ,and hope founded thereupon1 which may help to ride through some storms1 and yet fail us at length4 ,,iii4 ,the third general is this1 ,christ ,jesus is not only the truth in himself1 but also in reference to us4 ,the scope of the place cleareth this1 as he is the way and the life for our use1 so he is the truth4 ,not only as ,god equal with the ,father1 but also as ,mediator1 and our ,immanuel4 ,as ,god1 he is1 #a4 ,essentially truth1 being ,god equal with the ,father in power and glory4 #b4 ,in respect of veracity1 he is the ,god of truth1 ,deut4 xxxii4 #d2 faithful in all his sayings1 ,ps4 xxxi4 #e2 keeping truth for ever1 ,ps4 cxlvi4 #f4 #c4 ,he is the fountain and spring-head of all created truth1 for he is the first truth4 ,as ,mediator1 and in reference to us1 he is full of grace and truth1 ,john i4 #ad2 he received not the ,spirit in measure1 ,john iii4 #cd2 and this ,spirit is a ,spirit of truth4 ,but of this more1 when we come to shew more particularly1 how and in what respects he is called the truth1 as ,mediator4 ,,iv4 ,the fourth general1 which is here observable1 is1 that he is not only called ,truth1 but the ,truth1 as he is the way and the life2 and not only true1 but truth in the abstract4 ,which saith1 #a4 ,that he is every way ,truth1 however we consider him1 as ,god1 or as ,mediator4 #b4 ,that all truth is in him2 all truth of salvation for us is to be found in him4 #c4 ,that all that is in him is truth1 his natures1 offices1 performances1 words1 works1 c1 all are true4 #d4 ,that he is pure and unmixed truth2 no lie in him1 no error or mistake there4 #e4 ,that truth in him is in its perfection and excellency4 ,in the truest of men it is very imperfect4 ,o what an excellent one must he be6 ,how completely fitted and furnished for us6 ,oh6 if our souls could love him1 and close with him1 and rest upon him as all-sufficient6 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,more ,,particularly1 ,,in ,,what ,,respect ,,christ ,,is ,,called ,,the ,,truth4 ,but for further explaining of this matter1 we would see more particularly1 in what respects it is1 that he is called the truth2 and this will make way to our use-making of him4 ,so1 ,first1 ,he is the ,truth1 in opposition to the shadows and types of him1 under the law4 ,hence1 as the law1 the whole ,levitical and typical dispensation1 came by ,moses1 so grace and truth came by ,jesus ,christ1 ,john i4 #ag4 ,they were all shadows of him1 and he is the substance and body of them all1 ,col4 ii4 #ag2 and this is true in these respects3 #a4 ,all these shadows and types pointed at him1 and directed1 as with a finger1 the ,israelites1 who were under that dispensation1 to look to ,christ1 the promised ,messiah1 and to rest1 and to lay all their weight on him4 ,so that the law was a shadow of good things to come1 ,heb4 x4 #a4 ,col4 ii4 #ag4 #b4 ,they all terminate in him1 he putting an end1 by his coming and performing his work1 to all those types which only related to him1 and to what he was to do2 the body being come1 there is no more need of the shadow and the thing typified existing1 there is no more need or use of the type4 #c4 ,they are all fulfilled in him2 he answereth them all fully1 so that whatever was shadowed forth by them is completely to be found in him4 ,this the apostle1 in his ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 abundantly evinceth4 ,and ,paul to the ,colossians1 tells us1 we are complete in him1 and therefore need no more follow the shadows4 ,secondly1 ,he is the ,truth in reference to the prophecies of old2 all which did principally point at him and his concernments1 his person1 nature1 offices1 work1 kingdom1 c42 and whatever was foretold in these prophecies is perfectly fulfilled in him1 or done by him1 or shall in due time be effectuated by him4 ,he is that great prophet spoken of1 ,deut xviii4 #ae1 #ah1 #ai4 ,so said the ,jews themselves1 ,john vi4 #ad4 ,all the prophets from ,samuel spoke of him and of his days1 ,acts iii4 #bb-bd4 ,and to him gave all the prophets witness1 ,acts x4 #dc4 ,and whatever they prophesied or witnessed of him1 was1 or is in due time to be fulfilled in him4 ,hence1 we find the evangelists and apostles frequently applying the sayings and prophecies of the ,old ,testament unto him4 ,and ,luke 7chap4 iv4 #ah17 himself said the prophecy of ,isaiah lxi4 #a1 c41 was fulfilled in him4 ,see #a ,pet4 x4 #aa1 #ab4 ,and himself expounded to the two disciples going to ,emmaus1 in all the ,scriptures1 beginning at ,moses and all the prophets1 all the things concerning himself1 ,luke xxiv4 #bg4 ,and thus is he the ,truth of all the prophecies4 ,thirdly1 ,he is the ,truth1 in reference to his undertaking with the ,father in that glorious covenant of redemption2 for whatever the ,father laid on him to do1 that he did fully and faithfully4 ,he was to bear our griefs1 to carry our sorrows2 and that he did4 ,he was to be wounded for our transgressions1 and bruised for our iniquities2 the chastisement of our peace was upon him1 and by his stripes we were to be healed1 ,isa4 liii4 #e2 and so it was1 ,rom4 iv4 #be4 #a ,cor4 xv4 #c4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #bc4 ,his soul was to be made an offering for sin1 ,isa4 liii4 #aj1 and so it was2 for he offered up himself a sacrifice for sin4 ,yea1 all that he was to do1 by virtue of that covenant1 he did it perfectly1 so as he cried out1 while hanging on the cross1 ,it is finished1 ,john xix4 #cj2 and1 in his prayer1 ,john xvii41 he told his ,father1 verse #d1 that he had glorified him on earth1 and had finished the work which he gave him to do2 so that the ,father was well pleased with him1 ,matt4 iii4 #ag2 xii4 #ah2 and xvii4 #e4 ,mark i4 #aa4 ,luke iii4 #bb4 ,fourthly1 ,he is the ,truth1 in respect of his offices which he took upon him for our good2 for all the duties of these offices which he was to do1 and what remaineth to be done1 he will perfect in due time4 ,did he take upon him the office of a prophet8 ,he did fully execute the same1 in revealing mediately and immediately the whole counsel of ,god1 ,john i4 #ah2 and xv4 #ae4 ,eph4 iv4 #aa1 #ab1 #ac4 ,acts xx4 #cb4 #a ,pet4 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,heb4 i4 #b4 ,did he take upon him the office of a priest8 ,so did he fulfil the same1 offering up himself an expiatory sacrifice to ,god1 ,heb4 ix4 #bh2 and ii4 #ag2 and becoming a priest1 and living for ever to make intercession for us1 ,heb4 vii4 #be4 ,and did he take on the office and function of a ,king8 ,so doth he execute the same1 calling a people to himself out of the world by his word and ,spirit--,acts xv4 #ad1 #ae1 #af4 ,isa4 lv4 #d1 #e4 ,psalm cx4 #c--;erecting a visible church1 a company of visible professors to profess and declare his name2 which1 as his kingdom1 he ruleth with his own officers1 laws and penalties1 or censures2 so that the government is on his shoulders1 ,isaiah ix4 #f1 #g1 who is the head of the body1 the church1 ,eph4 i4 #bb1 #bc4 ,col4 i4 #ah2 and this his kingdom he ruleth1 in a visible manner1 by his own officers1 c4 ,ephes4 iv4 #aa1 #ab4 #a ,cor4 xii4 #bh4 ,isaiah xxxiii4 #bb4 ,matt4 xviii4 #ag1 #ah4 #a ,cor4 v4 #d1 #e2 and further1 he executes this office by effectually calling the elect1 giving them grace1 ,acts v4 #c2 rewarding the obedient1 ,rev4 xxii4 #ab2 ii4 #aj2 chastising the disobedient1 ,rev4 iii4 #ai2 bringing his own home at length1 through all their temptations1 afflictions1 and overcoming all their enemies1 #a ,cor4 xv4 #be4 ,psalm cx42 and at length he shall do the part of a king1 when he shall judge quick and dead at the last day1 #b ,thess4 i4 #h1 #i4 ,acts xvii4 #ca4 #b ,tim4 iv4 #a4 ,fifthly1 ,he is the ,truth in this regard1 that he fully answers all the titles and names which he had got4 ,as he was called ,jesus1 so did he save his people from their sins1 ,matt4 i4 #ba4 ,as he was called ,christ1 so was he anointed with the ,spirit without measure1 ,john iii4 #cd4 ,psalm xlv4 #g2 and separated for his work1 and endued with all power for that effect1 ,job vi4 #bg4 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ah1 #ai1 #bj2 and established to be a prophet1 ,acts iii4 #ba1 #bb4 ,luke iv4 #ah1 #ba2 a priest1 ,heb4 v4 #e1 #f1 #g2 iv4 #ad1 #ae2 and a king1 ,psalm ii4 #f4 ,isaiah ix4 #f1 #g4 ,matt4 xxi4 #e4 ,phil4 ii4 #h-aa4 ,was he called ,immanuel1 ,isaiah vii4 #ad8 ,so was he indeed ,god with us1 being ,god and man in one person for ever4 ,was he called ,wonderful1 ,isaiah ix4 #f8 ,so was he indeed in his two distinct natures in one person2 at which the angels may wonder1 ,eph4 iii4 #aj1 #aa4 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab4 #a ,tim4 iii4 #af4 ,was he called ,counsellor8 ,so was he indeed1 coming out from the ,father's bosom1 with the whole counsel of ,god concerning our salvation1 ,john i4 #ad1 #ah2 iii4 #ac2 v4 #bj1 and xv4 #ae4 ,was he called the mighty ,god8 ,so was he indeed1 ,psalm cx4 #a4 ,matt4 xxii4 #dd4 ,heb4 i4 #ac4 ,psalm xlv4 #f4 ,heb4 i4 #h4 ,jer4 xxiii4 #f1 and xxxiii4 #af4 ,mal4 iii4 #a4 ,matt4 xi4 #aj4 ,psalm lxxxiii4 #ah4 ,luke i4 #gf4 ,john i4 #a2 xiv4 #a4 ,john v4 #bj4 ,tit4 ii4 #ac4 ,rom4 ix4 #e4 ,was he called the everlasting ,father8 ,so is he the ,father of eternity1 being 7as some interpret the word7 the author of eternal life1 which he giveth to all that believe in him1 ,john vi4 #ci1 #dj1 #dg1 #ea2 viii4 #ea2 x4 #bh2 xi4 #be1 #bf4 ,heb4 v4 #i1 and vii4 #be4 ,was he called the ,prince of ,peace8 ,so is he the ,prince of ,peace indeed1 being our peace1 ,mic4 v4 #e4 ,eph4 ii4 #ad2 making up peace between ,god and us1 ,isaiah liii4 #e1 and liii4 #ai4 ,eph4 ii4 #ag4 ,col4 i4 #bj4 ,hence his gospel is the gospel of peace1 and his ministers ambassadors of peace1 ,isaiah lii4 #g4 ,rom4 x4 #ae4 #b ,cor4 v4 #ai1 #bj4 ,eph4 vi4 #ae4 ,and he giveth peace to all his1 ,zech4 ix4 #aj4 ,john xiv4 #bg2 xvii4 #cc4 ,rom4 v4 #a2 viii4 #af1 and xiv4 #ag4 #b ,thes4 iii4 #ag4 ,was he called the ,lord our ,righteousness8 ,jer4 xxiii4 #f2 so is he the same indeed1 bringing in everlasting righteousness1 ,dan4 ix4 #bd2 and being made of ,god to us righteousness1 #a ,cor4 i4 #cj2 and making us righteous1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba4 ,sixthly1 ,he is the ,truth in reference to the promises1 which1 #a4 ,centre all in him1 and lead to him as the great promise4 #b4 ,are founded all upon him1 who is the only ,mediator of the covenant of promises4 #c4 ,are confirmed all by him1 and made yea and amen in him1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 ,he confirmed the promises made to the fathers1 ,rev4 xv4 #h4 #d4 ,are all dispensed and given out by him1 who is the executor of his own testament1 and the great dispensator of all that we need2 so that what we ask of the ,father he giveth it himself1 ,john xiv4 #ac1 #ad4 ,seventhly1 ,he is the ,truth1 in that he fully answereth all the hopes and expectations of his people4 ,he shall not be found a liar unto them1 whatever ,satan may suggest unto them1 or a misbelieving heart may prompt them to conceive1 and their jealousy may make them apprehend2 and whatever his dispensations may now seem to say4 ,in end they shall all find1 that he is the truth1 fully satisfying all their desires2 and granting all that ever they could hope for1 or expect from him4 ,they shall at length be satisfied with his likeness1 ,psalm xvii4 #ae2 yea1 abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house1 ,psalm xxxvi4 #h2 and with his goodness1 ,psalm lxv4 #d2 and that as with marrow and fatness1 ,psalm lxiii4 #e4 ,one sight of his glory will fully satisfy1 and cause them to cry out1 enough6 ,jeremiah is now saying1 as once he did in the bitterness of his soul1 through the power of corruption and temptation1 7chap4 xv4 #ah47 wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar1 and as waters that fail8 ,eighthly1 ,he is the ,truth1 in opposition to all other ways of salvation3 for1 #a4 ,there is no salvation now by the law of works1 that covenant being once broken cannot any more save2 the law cannot now do it1 in that it is weak through the flesh1 ,rom4 viii4 #c4 #b4 ,there is no salvation now by the law of ,moses without ,christ3 hence ,israel1 which followed after the law of righteousness1 did not attain to the law of righteousness1 because they sought it not by faith1 but as it were by the works of the law1 ,rom4 ix4 #ca1 #cb4 ,they went about to establish their own righteousness1 and did not submit themselves unto the righteousness of ,god1 ,rom4 x4 #c4 #c4 ,there is no salvation by any thing mixed in with ,christ1 as the apostle fully cleareth in his epistle to the ,galatians4 #d4 ,there is no salvation by any other way or medium1 which mart can invent or fall upon1 whereof there are not a few1 as we shewed above3 for there is not another name given under heaven1 by which we can be saved1 but the name of ,jesus1 ,acts iv4 #ab4 ,no religion ,will save but this4 ,so that he is the true salvation1 and he only is the true salvation2 and he is the sure and safe salvation3 such as make use of him shall not be mistaken nor disappointed1 ,isaiah xxxv4 #h4 ,ninthly1 ,he is the ,truth1 in respect of his leading and guiding his people in the truth3 hence he is called a teacher from ,god1 ,john iii4 #b2 and one that teacheth the way of ,god in truth1 ,matt4 xxii4 #af4 ,a prophet mighty in deed and word1 ,luke xxiv4 #ai4 ,and in this respect he is the truth upon several accounts4 #a4 ,of his personal teaching1 ,god spoke by him1 ,heb4 i4 #b4 ,he revealed the ,father's mind1 ,matt4 xi4 #bg4 ,john i4 #ah4 #b4 ,of his messengers sent by him1 as prophets of old1 apostles and ministers of late1 whom he sendeth forth to make disciples1 ,matt1 xxviii4 #ah2 and to open the eyes of the blind1 ,acts xxvi4 #ah4 #c4 ,of his word1 which he hath left as our rule1 and which is a sure1 word of prophecy1 more sure than a voice from heaven1 #b ,pet4 i4 #ai4 #d4 ,of his ordinances1 which he hath established as means to guide us in the way of truth4 #e4 ,of his ,spirit1 whereby he maketh the word clear1 ,john xiv4 #bf4 ,this ,spirit is sent to teach all truth1 and to lead and guide us in all truth1 ,john xvii4 #ac4 #a ,john ii4 #bg2 and sept by him1 and by the ,father in his name1 ,john xiv4 #bf2 xv4 #af2 xvi4 #ad4 #f4 ,of his dispensations of providence1 within us and without us1 by which likewise he instructeth in the way of truth4 ,tenthly4 ,he1 is the ,truth1 in1 respect of his bearing witness to1 the truth2 and this he doth1 #a4 ,by himself1 who was given for a witness1 ,isaiah lv4 #d2 and came to bear witness to the truth1 ,john iii4 #aa2 xviii4 #cg2 and was a faithful witness1 ,rev4 i4 #e2 iii4 #ad1 #b4 ,by his ministers1 who witness the truth of the gospel by publishing and proclaiming the same4 #c4 ,by his martyrs1 who seal the truth with their blood1 and so bear witness to it1 ,rev4 ii4 #ac2 xvii4 #f4 ,acts xxii4 #bj4 #d4 ,by his ,spirit1 sealing the truth of grace in a believer1 and his interest in ,god through ,christ1 and his right to all the benefits of the new covenant1 in whom also1 after ye believed1 ye were sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise1 which is the earnest of our inheritance1 ,eph4 i4 #ac1 #ad4 ,eleventhly4 ,he is the ,truth1 in respect that he carrieth towards poor sinners in all things1 according to the tenor of the gospel1 and the offers thereof2 he offers himself to all freely1 and promiseth to put none away that come to him2 and this he doth in truth3 for no man can say1 that he had a sincere and true desire to come to ,jesus1 and that he rejected him and would not look upon him4 ,he giveth encouragement to all sinners to come1 that will be content to quit their sins2 and promiseth to upbraid none that cometh4 ,and is there any that in their own experience can witness the contrary8 ,he offers all freely2 and did he ever reject any upon the want of a price in their hand8 ,nay1 hath not the cause of their getting no admittance been1 that they thought to commend themselves to ,christ by their worth2 and would not take all freely1 for the glory of his grace8 ,let believers and others speak here1 out of their own experience1 in truth and in uprightness2 and it shall be found1 that he was and is the truth4 ,twelfthly4 ,he is the ,truth1 in that1 in all his dispensations in the gospel1 and in all his works and actions in and about his own people1 he is true and upright4 ,all his offers1 all his promises1 all his dispensations1 are done in truth and uprightness2 yea1 all are done out of truth and uprightness of love1 true tenderness and affection to them1 whatever the corruption of jealousy and misbelief think and say to the contrary4 ,he is the truth2 and so always the same1 unchangeable in his love1 whatever his dispensations seem to say2 and the believer may rest assured hereof1 that he being the truth1 shall be to him whatever his word holdeth him forth to be1 and that constantly and unchangeably4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,some ,,general ,,uses ,,from ,,this ,,useful ,,truth1 ,,that ,,christ ,,is ,,the ,,truth4 ,having thus cleared up this truth1 we should come to speak of the way of believers making use of him as the truth1 in several cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth4 ,but ere we come to the particulars1 we shall first propose some general uses of this useful point4 ,first4 ,this point of truth serveth to discover unto us1 the woful condition of such as are strangers to ,christ the truth2 and oh1 if it were believed6 ,for1 #a4 ,they are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of blindness1 error1 ignorance1 mistakes under which all are by nature2 a condition1 that if rightly seen1 would cause the soul lie low in the dust4 #b4 ,whatever course they take1 till they come to ,christ1 and while they remain in that condition1 is a lie1 and a false1 erroneous1 and deceitful way4 ,for still they are turning aside to lies1 ,psalm xl4 #d2 and seeking after them1 ,psalm iv4 #b4 #c4 ,whatever hopes and confidence they may have1 that their way shall carry them through1 yet in end they will be found to inherit lies1 ,jer4 xvi4 #ai2 and meet with the saddest disappointment that can be4 ,for instead of the fellowship of ,god1 ,christ1 angels1 and glorified spirits1 they shall take up their lodging with devils and damned souls2 and that because they have made no acquaintance with the way of truth2 and the way wherein they are1 is but a lie and a falsehood2 and so of necessity must deceive them4 #d4 ,all their literal and speculative knowledge shall not avail them1 so long as they are strangers unto him who is the truth4 ,their knowledge is but ignorance1 because it is not a knowledge of him who is the truth4 #e4 ,they have none to go to for help and light in the day of their darkness1 confusion1 and perplexity2 for they are not reconciled unto the truth1 which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day4 #f4 ,they can do nothing to help themselves out of that state of darkness and ignorance2 and whatever they do to help themselves shall but increase their darkness and misery2 because there is no truth there1 and truth1 even the truth alone1 can dispel these clouds of error1 mistakes1 ignorance1 c4 ,secondly4 ,hence1 we see the happy and blessed condition of believers1 who have embraced this truth1 and gotten their souls opened to him who is the truth2 for1 #a4 ,they are in part delivered from that mass of lies1 mistakes1 misapprehensions1 errors1 deceitfulness and ignorance under which they lay formerly1 and all the unregenerate do yet lie4 ,and though they be not fully delivered therefrom1 yet the day is coming when that shall be1 and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a pledge thereof2 and at present they have ground to believe1 that that evil shall not again have dominion over them1 they being now under grace1 and under the guidance of truth4 #b4 ,howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts1 doubts and fears of their state and condition1 and think many a time1 that they shall one day or other perish by the way2 and all their hopes and confidence shall evanish2 yet having given up themselves to truth1 and to the truth1 they shall not be disappointed in the end4 ,the truth shall land them safe on the other side4 ,the truth shall prove no lie4 #c4 ,they have a fast and steadable friend to go to1 in a day of darkness1 clouds1 doubts1 when falsehood and lies are like to prevail1 even the ,truth1 who alone can help them in that day4 #d4 ,howbeit the knowledge they have of ,god1 and of the mysteries of the gospel1 be but small2 yet that small measure being taught by him1 who is the truth1 and flowing from truth1 shall prove sanctifying and saving4 #i4 ,they have ground to hope for more freedom from errors and deceitful lies1 than others2 for they have chosen the way of truth1 and given themselves up to the leading of truth4 ,object4 ,but do not even such drink in and receive and plead for errors1 as well as others2 and is it not sometime found1 that they even live and die in some mistakes and errors8 ,answ4 ,i grant the ,lord may suffer even some of his own to fall into1 and to continue for some time in errors1 yea1 and it may be all their days1 as to some errors1 that hereby1 all may learn to tremble and fear1 and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling4 7#b47 ,some may be tried thereby1 ,dan4 xi4 #ce4 7#c47 ,others may break their neck thereupon4 7#d47 ,to punish themselves1 for not making that use of truth1 and of the truth1 that they should have done2 yet we would consider these few things3 #a4 ,that there are many more unregenerate persons that fall into error4 #b4 ,if his people fall into error at any time1 they do not always continue therein to the end4 ,god for his own glory maketh1 sometime or other1 truth shine in upon their soul1 which discovereth that mistake1 and presently1 the grace of ,god in their soul maketh them to abhor the same4 #c4 ,or if some continue in it to their dying day1 yet they repent of it1 by an implicit repentance1 as they do of other unknown and unseen evils that lie in their soul2 so that that error doth not destroy their soul4 #d4 ,there are some gross errors1 which a regenerate soul cannot readily embrace1 or if1 through a mistake1 or the power of a temptation1 they do embrace them1 yet they cannot heartily close with them1 whatever for a time1 through corruption and pride1 they may seem outwardly to do2 and that because the very daily exercise of grace will discover them2 and so they will be found to be against their daily experience2 as some opinions of the ,papists1 ,arminians1 and ,socinians1 together with the abominable ,quakers1 which a gracious soul1 when not carried away with the torrent of corruption1 and with the tempest of a temptation1 cannot but observe to contradict the daily workings of grace in their soul1 and the motions of their sanctified soul1 in prayer and other holy duties2 and so such as they cannot but find to be false by their own experience4 ,thirdly4 ,here is ground of a sharp reproof of the wicked1 who continue in unbelief2 and1 #a4 ,will not believe1 nor give any credit to his promises2 wherewith he seeketh to allure poor souls to come to him for life4 #b4 ,nor will they believe his threatenings1 wherewith he useth to alarm souls1 and to urge them forward to their duty4 #c4 ,nor will they believe and receive his offers1 as true4 #e4 ,nor will they believe1 that he is the true prophet1 priest1 and king1 that must save souls from hell and death1 and therefore they will not give him employment in his offices4 ,all which cannot but be a high provocation1 for in effect it is to say that he is not the truth1 nor worthy to be believed4 ,let them consider this1 and see how they think he shall take this off their hands4 ,no man will take it well that another should either call or account him a liar2 and can they think that ,christ shall take it well at their hands1 to be accounted by them a liar8 ,what will they think to be challenged for this in the great day8 ,now1 the truth is1 all unbelievers1 as they make ,god a liar1 7,o horrid and abominable crime6 ,whose hair would not stand on end to hear this87 #a ,john v4 #aj1 #aa4 ,he that believeth not ,god hath made him a liar2 because he believeth not the record that ,god gave of his ,son4 ,and this is the record1 that ,god hath given to us eternal life2 and this life is in his ,son4 ,so do they make the ,son of ,god a liar1 in all his sayings1 in all his offices1 and in all his works2 and they make the ,holy ,ghost a liar1 in not believing that truth that he hath sealed as firm truth4 ,they make the covenant of suretiship betwixt the ,father and the ,son1 a mere lie and a forgery4 ,o dreadful6 ,they make the word of truth a lie1 and they make all the saints liars1 and all the officers of ,jesus ,christ1 who declare this truth1 and the saints who believe it1 and rest upon it1 liars4 ,fourthly4 ,hence is there ground of reproof to the godly1 in that1 #a4 ,they do not firmly enough believe his sayings1 neither his promises1 nor his threatenings1 as appeareth too oft upon the one hand1 by their faintings and fears1 and upon the other hand1 by their carelessness and loose walk4 #b4 ,they make not use of him1 in all cases as they ought4 ,his offices lie by and are not improved2 nor is he gone to as the truth1 in cases requiring his help1 as the truth2 that is1 in cases of darkness1 doubtings1 confusion1 ignorance of their case and condition1 and the like4 #c4 ,they do not approach to him1 nor to ,god through him1 heartily and cordially1 as the very truth1 and true way4 #d4 ,nor do they rest with confidence upon him in all difficulties1 as being the truth that will not fail them1 nor disappoint them4 #e4 ,nor do they rejoice in him1 as satisfied with him1 who is the truth1 in the want of all other things4 ,fifthly4 ,the right consideration of this truth should keep us in mind of several great duties2 such as those1 #a4 ,of pitying those places where this truth is not heard of1 as among ,turks and heathens2 or where it is darkened with superstition and men's inventions1 as among papists2 or where it hath been clearly shining1 but now is darkened1 as in some churches now under the prevailing power of corruption2 or1 lastly1 where it is not received in its power and lustre1 as1 alas6 it is too little received in the best and purest churches4 #b4 ,of being thankful to him for making this truth known in the world1 and particularly in the place where we were born1 or had our abode2 and yet more for that he hath determined our hearts to a believing of this truth1 in some weak measure2 to an embracing of it1 and to a giving of ourselves up to be led1 ruled1 and guided thereby4 #c4 ,of esteeming highly of every piece of truth for his sake who is the truth2 studying it for his sake--loving it for his sake--holding it fast for his sake--witnessing to it1 as we are called1 for his sake4 ,we should buy the truth1 and not sell it1 ,prov4 xxiii4 #bc2 and we should plead for it1 and be valiant for it1 ,isa4 lix4 #d1 #ad4 ,jer4 vii4 #bh2 ix4 #c4 #d4 ,of taking part with him and his cause1 in all hazards1 for truth is always on his side2 and truth shall prevail at length4 #e4 ,of giving him employment in our doubts and difficulties1 whether1 7#a47 ,they be about some controverted points of truth1 which come to be debated1 or to trouble the church4 ,or1 7#b47 ,about our own estate and condition1 quarrelled at by ,satan1 or questioned by the false heart4 ,or1 7#c47 ,about our carriage in our daily walk4 ,in all these1 and the like1 we should be employing truth1 that we may be led in truth1 and taught by truth1 to walk in sure paths4 #f4 ,of carrying in all things before him as true2 for he is truth1 and the truth1 and so cannot be deceived2 and therefore we should walk before him in sincerity and singleness of heart1 without guile1 hypocrisy1 or falsehood1 that we may look like children of the truth2 and of the day1 and of light1 and children that will not lie or dissemble1 ,isaiah lxiii4 #h2 not like these that lied unto him1 ,psalm lxxviii4 #ch4 ,isaiah lix4 #ac4 #g4 ,of taking him only for our guide to heaven1 by denying our own wit1 skill1 and understanding1 and looking to and resting upon him1 who alone is the truth1 and so acknowledging him in all our ways1 depending on him for light and counsel1 for singleness of heart1 humility1 diligence1 and truth1 in the inward parts4 #h4 ,of giving up ourselves daily unto him and his guidance1 and denying our own wills1 humours1 parties1 or opinions2 for he alone is truth1 and can only guide us aright4 ,and for this cause1 we would acquaint ourselves well with the word1 which is our rule1 and seek after the ,spirit1 whom ,christ hath promised to lead us into all truth4 ,sixthly4 ,should not this be a strong inducement to all of us1 to lay hold on and grip to him1 who is the truth1 and only the truth8 seeing1 #a4 ,all other ways which we can take1 will prove a lie to us in the end4 #b4 ,he is substance1 and no shadow1 and all that love him shall inherit substance2 for he will fill all their treasures1 ,prov4 viii4 #ba4 #c4 ,such as embrace him shall not wander1 nor be misled2 for his mouth shall speak truth2 and wickedness is an abomination to his lips1 ,prov4 viii4 #g4 ,all the words of his mouth are in righteousness1 and there is nothing froward or perverse in them1 verse #h4 ,he is wisdom1 and dwelleth with prudence1 and findeth out knowledge of witty inventions1 verse #ab4 ,counsel is his1 and sound wisdom2 he hath understanding and strength1 ver4 #ad4 #d4 ,he will make good all his promises in due time1 and give a subsistence and a being to them all2 for he is the ,truth1 and the ,truth must stand to his promises1 and fulfil them all4 #e4 ,he will never1 nay1 never leave his people1 nor forsake them1 ,heb4 xiii4 #e4 ,he is truth1 and cannot deceive2 he cannot forsake nor disappoint4 ,he is a spring of water1 whose waters fail not1 ,isaiah lviii4 #aa4 ,therefore they cannot be disappointed in the end1 and perish1 who trust to him4 #f4 ,the truth will make them free1 ,john viii4 #cb1 #cf1 and so deliver them from their state of sin and misery1 wherein they lay as captives2 and from that spiritual bondage and slavery under which they were held4 ,seventhly4 ,this1 to believers1 may be a spring of consolation in many cases1 as1 #a4 ,when error and wickedness seem to prosper and prevail2 for though it prevail for a time1 yet truth will be victorious at length1 and the truth will overcome all4 ,he is truth1 and will plead for truth4 #b4 ,when friends1 acquaintances1 relations1 fail them1 and father and mother forsake them1 truth will take them up4 ,he who is the truth will answer his name1 and never deceive1 never forsake4 #c4 ,when riches1 honours1 pleasures1 or what else their heart hath being going out after1 prove like summer brooks2 for the truth will be the same to them in all generations2 there is no shadow of turning with him4 ,the ,truth is always truth1 and true4 #d4 ,when we fear that either ourselves or others shall fall away1 in a day of trial1 and turn from the truth4 ,though all men prove liars and deceivers1 truth will abide the same1 and stand out all the blasts of opposition4 #e4 ,when unbelief would make us question the truth of the promises1 the faith of his being truth itself1 and the truth1 even truth in the abstract1 would shame unbelief out of countenance4 ,shall truth fail8 ,shall not the ,truth be true8 ,what a contradiction were that8 #f4 ,when we know not how to answer the objections of ,satan1 and of a false treacherous heart2 for truth can easily answer all cavils2 and he who is the truth can repel all objections against truth4 ,truth is impregnable1 and can stand against all4 #g4 ,when we cannot know1 nor discover the wiles and subtilty of ,satan4 ,truth can discover the depths of ,satan1 and make the poor soul more acquaint with them2 so that they shall not any more be ignorant of his devices1 who look to him4 #h4 ,when the thoughts of the deceitfulness of our hearts trouble us1 the depth whereof we cannot search4 ,this then may comfort us1 that truth may search the heart and the reins1 ,jer4 xvii4 #i1 #aj4 #i4 ,when we cannot tell what our disease and distemper is1 and so cannot seek suitable remedies1 or help from ,god1 ,o what a comfort is it1 to know and believe1 that he is the truth1 with whom we have to do1 and so knoweth our distemper perfectly1 and all its causes and symptoms1--truth cannot be at a stand in discerning our disease2 so nor can he be ignorant of the fittest and only safest cures4 #aj4 ,when we know not what to ask in prayer1 as not knowing what is best for us1 it is a comfort to remember that we have to do with the ,truth1 who is perfectly acquainted with all that1 and knoweth what is best4 #aa4 ,when we know not how to answer the calumnies of adversaries1 it is comfortable to know that he is the truth1 that will hear truth1 when men will not1 and will own and stand for the truth1 when enemies do what they can to darken an honest man's good cause4 ,it is comfortable to know1 we have the ,truth to appeal to1 as ,david had1 ,psalm vii4 #ag4 #ab4 ,when we think on our own covenant-breaking1 and dealing deceitfully with ,god1 it is comfortable to remember1 that though we and all men be liars1 and deal deceitfully with him1 yet he is the truth1 and will keep covenant for ever2 he will not1 he cannot deny himself1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ac4 ,eighthly1 ,hence we may certainly conclude1 that truth1 which is ,christ's cause1 shall at length prevail2 for he is truth1 yea1 the truth1 and so abideth truth2 therefore must he prevail1 and all the mouths of liars must be stopped4 ,so then let us remain persuaded1 that truth at length shall be victorious1 and that the cause of ,christ shall have the victory4 ,though1 #a4 ,the enemies of truth1 and the cause of ,christ1 be multiplied1 and many there be that rise up against it4 #b4 ,these enemies should prosper1 and that for along time1 and carry on their course of error and wickedness with a high hand4 #c4 ,there should be few found to befriend truth1 and to own it in an evil day4 #d4 ,yea1 many of those that did sometime own it1 and plead for it1 should at length turn their backs upon it1 as did ,demas4 #e4 ,and such as continue constant and faithful1 be loaded with reproaches1 and pressed under with sore persecution1 for adhering to truth1 and owning constantly the good cause4 #f4 ,yea1 though all things in providence should seem to say1 that truth shall not rise again1 but seem1 on the contrary1 to conspire against the same4 ,ninthly1 ,may we not hence read1 what should be our way and course1 in a time when a spirit of error is gone abroad1 and many are carried off their feet therewith1 or when we are doubtful what to do1 and what side of the dispute to take4 ,o then is the fit time for us to employ truth1 to live near to him who is the truth1 to wait on him1 and hang upon him1 with singleness of heart4 ,objection4 ,but many even of his own people do err and step aside4 ,ans4 ,that is true3 ,but yet1 7#a47 ,that will be no excuse to thee4 ,nay17#b47 ,that should make thee fear and tremble more4 7#c47 ,and it should press thee to lie near to ,christ1 and to wrestle more earnestly with him1 for the ,spirit of light and of truth1 and to depend more constantly and faithfully upon him1 with singleness of heart1 and to give up all thy soul and way to him1 as the ,god of truth1 and as the truth1 that thou mayest be led into all truth4 ,tenthly1 ,this should stir us up to go to him1 and make use of him as the truth in all cases1 wherein we may stand in need of truth's hand to help us2 and for this cause we should mind those particulars3 #a4 ,we should live in the constant conviction of our ignorance1 blindness1 hypocrisy1 readiness to mistake and err4 ,this is clear and manifest1 and proved to be truth by daily experience2 yet how little is it believed1 that it is so with us8 ,do we see and believe the atheism of our hearts8 ,do we see and believe the hypocrisy of our hearts8 ,are we jealous of them1 as we ought to be8 ,o that it were so6 ,let this then be more minded by us4 #b4 ,let us live in the persuasion of this1 that he only1 and nothing below him1 will be able to clear our doubts1 dispel our clouds1 clear up our mistakes1 send us light1 and manifest truth unto us2 not our own study1 pains1 prayers1 duties1 learning1 understanding2 nor ministers1 nor professors1 and experienced ,christians1 and the like4 #c4 ,we should be daily giving up ourselves to him1 as the truth1 in all the forementioned respects1 and receiving him into our souls as such1 that we may dwell and abide there3 then shall the truth make us free2 and if the ,son make us free1 we shall be free indeed1 ,john viii4 #cf4 #d4 ,there should be much single dependence on him for light1 instruction1 direction1 and guidance in all our exigencies4 #e4 ,withal1 there should be a waiting on him with patience1 giving him liberty to take his own way and time1 and a leaving of him thereunto4 #f4 ,we should by all means guard against such things as are hinderances1 and will prove obstacles to us in this matter2 such as1 7#a47 ,prejudices against the truth2 for then we will undervalue light1 and reject all the directions and instructions of the ,spirit1 as not agreeing with our prejudicate opinion4 7#b47 ,a wilful turning away from truth1 as these1 #b ,tim4 iv4 #d4 ,titus i4 #ad4 7#c47 ,addictedness to our own judgments and opinions1 which causeth pertinaciousness1 pride1 and conceit1 as thinking ourselves so wise1 as that we need no information2 and this occasioneth a self-confidence4 7#d47 ,looking too much unto1 and hanging too much upon men1 who are but instruments1 crying them up as infallible1 and receiving1 without further examination1 all that they say1 not like the ,bereans1 ,acts xvii4 ,this is a great hinderance to the receiving of truth1 and very prejudicial4 7#e47 ,a neglecting of the use of the means which ,god hath appointed for this end4 7#f47 ,or an hanging too much on them1 and so misplacing them1 giving them his room4 7#g47 ,leaning too much to our own understanding1 wit and knowledge1 c4 7#h47 ,a resisting of the truth1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #h4 ,these and the like hinderances should be guarded against1 lest they mar our attaining to the knowledge of truth4 #g4 ,there should be much of the exercise of prayer1 for this is the main conduit and mean1 through which light is conveyed into the soul4 ,there should also be a serious and ,christian reading and hearing of the word1 which is truth1 and the word of truth1 and the ,scripture of truth2 and those duties should be gone about with1 7#a47 much self-denial2 7#b47 with much singleness of heart2 7#c47 with much humility2 7#d47 with much willingness and readiness to be instructed2 7#e47 with much seriousness and earnestness2 and1 7#f47 with faith and dependence on ,god for his blessing and breathing4 #h4 ,we should beware of trusting to our own understandings1 or to the judgments of other men2 nor should we look to what suiteth most our own humours1 nor to what appeareth most specious and plausible1 for that may deceive us4 #i4 ,we should lie open to the influences and rays of light1 by exercising faith in earnest desires2 as also patient waiting for and single looking to him1 minding his name and his relations1 promises1 and engagements1 and the strengthening of our faith and confidence4 #aj4 ,we should labour to keep fast whatever he teacheth us by his word and ,spirit1 and not prove leaking vessels4 ,this the apostle exhorteth to1 ,heb4 ii4 #a1 ,therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard1 lest at any time we should let them slip2 yea1 and we should be established in the truth1 #b ,pet4 i4 #ab4 #aa4 ,we should beware of resting on a form of the truth1 as those did1 of whom we read1 ,rom4 ii4 #bj2 and of holding the truth in unrighteousness1 as those1 ,rom4 i4 #ah2 and of disobeying it1 as those mentioned in ,rom4 ii4 #h4 ,see also ,gal4 iii4 #a2 v4 #g4 #ab4 ,but on the contrary1 we should so receive truth1 as that it might rule and be master in us1 captivate judgment1 will1 and affections1 and break out into the practice4 ,and this recommendeth several duties1 such as1 7#a47 ,to have the truth in us2 while as1 if we practise otherwise1 the truth is not in us1 #a ,john i4 #h2 ii4 #d4 7#b47 ,to be of the truth1 as belonging to its jurisdiction1 power1 and command1 #a ,john iii4 #ai4 ,john xviii4 #cg4 7#c47 ,to do the truth1 by having true fellowship with him1 #a ,john i4 #f2 and to walk in the truth1 #b ,john iv4 #c4 ,john iv4 ,psalm lxxxvi4 #aa4 7#d47 ,to have the loins girt with truth1 ,eph4 i4 #ad4 7#e47 ,to receive the love of the truth1 #b ,thess4 ii4 #aj4 7#f47 ,to be instructed of him1 as the truth is in ,jesus1 ,eph4 iv4 #ba4 7#g47 ,to purify the soul in obeying the truth1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #bb4 ,this shall suffice for clearing up1 and applying in the general this excellent truth1 that ,christ is the truth4 ,we shall now come and make some more particular use of this precious point1 by speaking to some particular cases 7which we shall instance in1 by which the understanding ,christian may be helped to understand how to carry and how to make use of ,christ in other the like cases71 wherein ,christ is to be made use of as the truth1 and show how believers are to make use of him in these cases as the truth4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,truth1 ,,for ,,growth ,,in ,,knowledge4 ,it is a commanded duty1 that we grow in the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,pet4 iii4 #ah2 and the knowledge of him being life eternal1 ,john xvii4 #c1 and our measure of knowledge of him here being but imperfect1 for we know but in part1 it cannot but be an useful duty1 and a desirable thing1 to be growing in this knowledge4 ,this is to walk worthy of the ,lord unto all pleasing1 to be increasing in the knowledge of ,god1 ,col4 i4 #aj4 ,knowledge must be added to virtue2 and it layeth a ground for other ,christian virtues1 #b ,pet4 i4 #e1 #f4 ,in this knowledge we must not be barren1 #b ,pet4 i4 #b4 ,and this being so necessary1 so desirable1 so useful1 and so advantageous a grace1 the believer cannot but desire to have more and more of it1 especially seeing it is a part of the image of ,god1 ,col4 iii4 #aj4 ,now it is the truth that must teach them here1 first and last4 ,the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god must be had in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f4 ,the question therefore is1 how we should make use of ,jesus ,christ for this end1 that we may attain to more of this excellent knowledge4 ,first4 ,it is good to live in the constant conviction of a necessity of his teaching us1 and this taketh in those particulars3 #a4 ,that we should be conscious of our ignorance1 even when we know most1 or think we know most1 remembering that the best knoweth but in part1 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #i4 ,the more true knowledge we attain to1 the more will we see and be convinced of our ignorance2 because the more we know1 the more will we discover of the vastness and incomprehensibility of that object1 which is proposed to our knowledge4 #b4 ,that we should remember1 how deceitful our hearts are2 and how ready they are to sit down upon a shadow of knowledge1 even where we know nothing as we ought to know1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #b2 and this will keep us jealous and watchful4 #c4 ,and to help forward our jealousy of our own hearts and watchfulness1 we should remember that our hearts naturally are averse from any true and saving knowledge2 whatever desire there be naturally after knowledge of hidden things out of curiosity2 and of things natural2 or of things spiritual1 as natural1 for the perfection of nature1 as might be pretended1 whereby in effect those that increase knowledge1 increase sorrow1 ,eccl4 i4 #ah4 ,yet there is no inclination after spiritual and saving knowledge1 in us naturally1 but an aversion of heart therefrom4 #d4 ,that we should study and know the absolute necessity of this knowledge4 ,how necessary it is for our ,christian communion with ,god1 and ,christian walk with others2 how necessary for our right improving of dispensations1 general and particular2 what a noble ornament of a ,christian it is1 and a necessary piece of the image of ,god1 which we have lost4 ,secondly4 ,upon these grounds mentioned1 we would also be convinced of this3 #a4 ,that of ourselves1 and by all our natural parts1 endowments1 quickness and sagacity1 we cannot attain to this saving knowledge1 which is a special and saving grace1 and so must be wrought in the soul by a divine hand1 even the mighty power of ,god4 ,by our private study and reading1 we may attain to a literal1 heady1 and speculative knowledge1 that will puff us up1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #a2 but thereby shall we never attain to this knowledge1 which is spiritual1 hearty1 and practical1 and so saving1 we must have the anointing here1 which teacheth us all things1 #a ,john ii4 #bg4 ,and of this we should be persuaded1 that we may look to a higher hand for light and instruction4 ,thirdly4 ,there should be an eyeing of ,christ's furniture and fitness for this work of teaching of us1 to wit1 #a4 ,an eyeing of him as the substantial wisdom of the ,father1 ,prov4 viii4 #b4 ,an eyeing of him1 as one come out of the bosom of the ,father1 ,john i4 #ah2 and so sufficiently enabled to acquaint us with the mysteries of ,god for salvation4 #c4 ,an eyeing of him as ,mediator1 fully endued with all necessaries for this piece of his work1 and so having received the ,spirit without measure1 for this end1 ,john iii4 #cd2 and as having hid in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge1 ,col4 ii4 #c2 and as having all fullness dwelling in him1 ,col4 i4 #ai2 and also ,isa4 xi4 #b2 lxi4 #a1b4 #d4 ,an eyeing of him1 as having power to send the ,spirit1 that anointing that teacheth us all things1 and is truth and is no lie1 #a ,john ii4 #bj-bg2 not only by way of intercession and entreaty1 begging it of the ,father1 ,john xv4 #af1 #ag2 but also authoritatively1 as conjunct with the ,father4 ,the ,father sendeth him in ,christ's name1 ,john xiv4 #bf2 and ,christ sendeth him from the ,father1 ,john xv4 #bf2 and this ,spirit of truth which guideth into all truth1 shall receive of ,christ's1 and shew it unto us1 ,john xvi4 #ac-ae4 ,fourthly1 ,there should be an eyeing of ,christ's readiness1 willingness1 and engagement to help in this case2 and this will encourage the soul to go forward4 ,and for this cause we would remember those things3 #a4 ,that he standeth obliged to help us with instruction1 by virtue of his office1 as a prophet1 a witness1 a leader1 and a commander1 ,isa4 l v4 #d4 #b4 ,that he is commissioned of the ,father for this end1 and so is the ,father's servant2 and is given for a light to the ,gentiles1 ,isa4 xlii4 #f2 xlix4 #f2 and the ,father is said to speak by him1 or in him1 ,heb4 i4 #a4 #c4 ,that he received his gifts and qualifications for this end and purpose1 that he might give out and dispense to his members according to their necessity2 as is clear from ,psalm lxviii4 #ah1 compared with ,eph4 iv4 #h2 what he is said to have received in the one place1 he is said to have given in the other4 #d4 ,that he hath begun this work already by his ,spirit in his followers2 and therefore standeth engaged to see it perfected2 for all his works are perfect works4 #e4 ,that he hath a love to his scholars1 and a desire to have them all thriving1 and making progress in knowledge2 this being his glory who is their master and teacher4 #f4 ,that he laid down ways and means1 and a constant course for instructing of his people3 for1 7#a47 ,he hath given his word1 and settled and established ordinances for this end4 7#b47 ,he hath established a ministry for instructing his people1 ,eph4 iv4 #h-ac4 7#c47 ,he hath gifted persons for this work of the ministry1 #a ,cor4 xii4 #d-aa4 7#d47 ,he maketh these officers1 in the faithful administration of their function1 and through his blessing and ,spirit1 maketh their work prosperous and effectual in his own1 as he seeth fit4 ,fifthly4 ,there should be an eyeing of the promises of the covenant of grace made for this end1 whether general or particular1 or both2 such as those which we have1 ,isa4 ii4 #i4 ,hab4 ii4 #ad1 ,the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the ,lord1 or of the glory of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea2 and that1 ,isa4 xxxii4 #d1 the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge1 c42 and ,jer4 xxxi1 #cd1 ,they shall all know me4 ,sixthly4 ,there should be a constant1 diligent1 serious1 and single using of the means of knowledge1 with a faithful dependence on ,christ by faith1 gripping to him in his relations1 offices1 engagements1 and promises1 and waiting upon his breathing in hope and patience1 ,psal4 xxv4 #e4 ,seventhly4 ,there should be a guarding against every thing that may obstruct this work1 and grieve him in it2 and therefore we would beware1 #a4 ,to undervalue and have a little esteem of knowledge2 for this will grieve him2 and 7to speak so7 put him from work4 #b4 ,to misimprove any measure of knowledge he giveth4 #c4 ,to weary of the means and ordinances whereby he useth to convey knowledge into the soul4 #d4 ,to limit the holy ,one of ,israel to this or that mean1 to this or that time1 or to this or that measure1 who should have a latitude as to all these4 #e4 ,to despise the day of small things1 because we get not more4 #f4 ,to be too curious in seeking after the knowledge of hidden mysteries1 the knowledge whereof is not so necessary4 #g4 ,to lean too much unto1 and to depend too much upon the ordinances1 or instruments1 as if all1 or any thing1 could come from them4 ,eighthly4 ,there should be a right improving of any measure of knowledge we get to his glory1 and to the edification of others1 with humility and thankfulness1 and so a putting of that talent in use1 to gain more to his glory4 ,whatever measure of knowledge we get1 we should in all haste1 put it into practice1 and set it to work2 so shall it increase1 and engage him to give more4 ,ninthly4 ,there should be a lying open to ,christ's instructions1 and to the shinings of the ,spirit of light and of truth1 and a ready receiving of what measure he is pleased to grant or infuse4 ,which includeth those duties1 #a4 ,a serious and earnest hungering and thirsting after more spiritual knowledge4 #b4 ,a diligent use of every approven mean for this end4 #c4 ,a going about the means with much self-denial1 spirituality1 singleness of heart1 and sincerity1 looking to and depending upon him1 who must breathe upon the means1 and make them useful4 #d4 ,a greedy receiving1 drinking in1 and treasuring up in the soul what is gotten4 #e4 ,a guarding against selfish and bye-ends1 with a single eyeing of his glory4 #f4 ,a guarding against pride in the heart1 and a studying of humility and meekness2 for the meek will he guide in judgment1 and the meek will he teach his way1 ,psal4 xxv4 #i4 #g4 ,a putting of the heart or understanding in his hand1 together with the truth1 that is heard and received1 that he may write the truth1 and cause the heart receive the impression of the truth4 ,tenthly4 ,there should be a rolling of the whole matter by faith on him1 as the only teacher1 a putting of the ignorant1 blockish1 averse1 and perverse heart1 into his hand1 that he may frame it to his own mind1 and a leaving of it there1 till he by the ,spirit1 write in it what he thinketh meet1 to his own glory and our good4 ,and sure1 were this way followed1 growth in knowledge would not be so rare a thing as it is4 ,,cautions4 ,for further direction and caution in this matter1 the believer would take notice of these particulars3 #a4 ,that he should not sit down upon any measure of knowledge he hath attained to1 or can attain to here1 as if he had enough1 and should labour for no more2 but he should still be minding his duty of seeking1 and pressing for more4 #b4 ,whenever he is about any mean of knowledge1 such as preaching1 reading1 conference1 c4 his heart should be only upon ,christ4 ,he should be hanging on his lips for a word of instruction2 and with greediness looking for a word from his mouth2 he should be sending many posts to heaven1 many ejaculatory desires for light and understanding1 and that with singleness and sincerity1 and not for base ends1 or out of hypocrisy4 #c4 ,let him not think1 that there is no growth in knowledge1 because possibly he perceiveth it not1 or is not satisfied as to the measure thereof2 yea1 though possibly he perceive more ignorance1 than ever he did before4 ,if he grow in the knowledge of his own ignorance1 it is a growth of knowledge not to be despised2 and in a manner1 what can we else know of ,god1 but that he far transcendeth all our knowledge1 and that he is an incomprehensible one1 in all his ways4 #d4 ,let him not think1 that there is no growth in knowledge1 because he perceiveth not a growth in the knowledge of such or such a particular1 which he desireth most2 for if there be a truth in the knowledge of other particulars1 necessary to be known1 there is no reason to complain4 ,if one grow not1 as he supposeth1 in the knowledge of ,god1 and of the mysteries of the gospel2 yet if he grow in the discovery of the treachery and wickedness of his own heart1 he cannot say that he groweth not in knowledge4 #e4 ,let him not measure his growth in knowledge1 by his growth in the faculty of speaking and discoursing of such or such points of religion2 many measure their knowledge by their tongue1 and think they know little1 because they can express little2 and so they think they attain to no increase or growth in knowledge1 because they perceive no increase or growth in this faculty of discoursing1 and talking of such or such points of truth4 ,it is safer to measure their knowledge by the impression that the truth hath on their spirits1 and the effects of it on all their carriage1 than by their ability and skill to talk and dispute of it4 #f4 ,let them beware to imagine1 that they shall be able to search out the ,almighty unto perfection1 ,canst thou 7said ,zophar1 ,job4 xi4 #g1 #h1 #i47 by searching find out ,god8 canst thou find out the ,almighty unto perfection8 ,he is as high as heaven1 what canst thou do8 deeper than hell1 what canst thou know8 ,the measure thereof is longer than the earth1 and broader than1 the sea4 ,or that they shall be able ever to win to the bottom of their own false deceitful heart1 which1 as ,jeremiah saith1 chap4 xvii4 #i1 ,is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked2 who can know it8 and which it is ,god's prerogative alone to search and try1 ver4 #aj4 ,neither let them think1 so long as they are here1 to win to an exact and perfect knowledge of the mysteries of ,god1 wherein is the manifold wisdom of ,god1 ,eph4 iii4 #aj1 which very principalities and powers in heavenly places are learning2 and which the angels are poring and looking into with desire1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab4 ,there is no perfection in knowledge to be had here2 for here the best but knoweth in part1 and prophesieth in part1 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #d4 #g4 ,let them not think that every one shall have the same measure of knowledge2 every one hath not the like use for it1 or the like capacity for it4 ,there is a measure proportioned to every one2 they should not then complain1 because they have not such a measure of knowledge as they perceive in some others4 ,it may be1 the ,lord hath some harder piece of service1 which calleth for more knowledge1 to put others to4 ,let every one then mind his duty faithfully and conscientiously1 and let him not quarrel with ,god1 that he attaineth not to such a measure of knowledge as he seeth others attain unto4 #h4 ,neither let them think1 that the same measure is required of all4 ,for more is required of some1 by reason of their office and charge in the house of ,god1 being called to teach and instruct others2 and so more is required of such1 as have larger capacities1 and a better faculty of understanding than others1 who naturally are but of a narrow reach1 and of a shallow capacity4 ,more also is required of such as live under plain1 powerful1 and lively ordinances1 and under a more powerful and spiritual dispensation of the grace of ,god1 than of others that want such advantages4 ,so likewise1 more is required of old ,christians than of new beginners2 old men1 of much and long experience1 should know more than such as are but babes in ,christ and but of yesterday4 #i4 ,let their desires run out after that knowledge1 not which puffeth up1--for there is a knowledge which puffeth up1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #a1--;but which humbleth1 and driveth the soul farther from itself and nearer to ,christ4 #aj4 ,they should carefully distinguish betwixt the gift of knowledge and the grace of knowledge3 ,that ordinarily puffeth up1 this humbleth2 that bringeth not the soul to ,jesus1 this doth2 that is but a form1 ,rom4 ii4 #bj1 and doth not retain ,god1 ,rom4 i4 #bh1 this is a real thing1 laying hold on ,god and holding him fast1 having the fear of the ,lord for its principle1 for this fear of the ,lord is the beginning of wisdom1 ,job4 xxviii4 #bh4 ,psalm cxi4 #aj4 ,prov4 i4 #g1 and ix4 #aj42 that lieth most in the head1 and venteth most in discourses1 words1 yea1 and sometimes vanisheth into vain notions1 but this goeth down to the heart1 and lodgeth there and appeareth in the man's walk and conversation2 as these two would be distinguished1 so the one would not be measured by the other4 #aa4 ,when they do not profit indeed1 let them beware of quarrelling with ,christ1 or of blaming him in any manner of way2 but let them lay the blame of their shortcoming on themselves1 for not making more use of him by faith and single dependence upon him4 ,it is true1 none will be so bold as in words to quarrel with or blame him2 yet the heart is deceitful and tacitly may raise and foment such thoughts of him and his dispensations1 as can pass under no other notion than a quarrelling with him4 ,now these would be guarded against4 #ab4 ,beware of urging for1 or expecting immediate revelation1 or extraordinary manifestations4 ,for we should not tempt the ,lord1 nor set limits to him1 neither should we prescribe means and ways to him1--we must be satisfied with the ordinary means which he hath appointed1 and wait at wisdom's doors1 with our ears nailed to his posts4 #ac4 ,whatever point of truth they learn1 or whatever measure of knowledge they get1 they would do well to give that back again to ,christ1 to keep for them against a time of need2 and wait on him for grace to improve it for his glory4 #ad4 ,let them beware of minding things too high1 ,psalm cxxxi4 #a4 ,it is better to fear1 and to stand in awe1 and to seek to lay the foundations well1 to get the saving knowledge of things necessary to salvation4 ,this will yield most peace and satisfaction4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ1 ,,as ,,truth1 ,,for ,,comfort1 ,,when ,,truth ,,is ,,oppressed ,,and ,,born ,,down4 ,there is another difficulty1 wherein believing souls will stand in need of ,christ1 as the truth1 to help them2 and that is1 when his work is overturned1 his cause borne down1 truth condemned1 and enemies1 in their opposition to his work1 prospering in all their wicked attempts4 ,this is a very trying dispensation1 as we see it was to the holy penman of ,psalm lxxiii4 for it made him to stagger1 so that his feet were almost gone1 and his steps had well nigh slipt2 yea he was almost repenting of his being a godly person1 saying1 ver4 #ac1 ,verily ,i have cleansed my heart in vain1 and washed my hands in innocency4 ,it was something like this1 which made ,jeremiah say1 chap4 viii4 #ah1 ,when ,i would comfort myself against sorrow1 my heart is faint in me4 ,the harvest was past1 and the summer was ended1 and yet they were not saved1 ver4 #bj2 and they looked for peace1 but no good came1 and for a time of health1 but behold trouble1 ver4 #ae--;and this was fainting and vexatious4 ,and what made ,baruch1 ,jeremiah's faithful companion in tribulation1 say1 ,woe is me now6 for the ,lord hath added grief to my sorrow2 ,i fainted in my sighing1 and ,i find no rest1 ,jer4 xlv4 #c1 but this1 that all things were turning upside down4 ,god was breaking down that1 which he had built2 and plucking up that which he had planted4 ,tribulation and suffering for a good cause1 is even fainting to some2 as the ,apostle hinteth1 ,ephes4 iii4 #ac1 when he says1 wherefore1 ,i desire that ye faint not at my tribulation for you4 ,and that which evinceth the danger of this dispensation1 is the fainting and backsliding of many1 in such a time of trial1 as sad experience too often cleareth4 ,now the believer's stay in this case1 must be the ,rock of ,ages1 ,jesus the ,truth4 ,it is he alone who can keep straight and honest in such a reeling time4 ,so that a sight of ,christ as the ,truth1 in reference to the carrying on of truth in the earth1 and advancing his cause and work1 will be the only support of a soul shaken by such a piece of trial4 ,but the question is1 how should believers make use of ,christ1 in such a time1 to the end they may be kept from fainting and succumbing in such a storm8 ,to which ,i answer1 that the faith and consideration of those particulars would help to establishment3 #a4 ,that ,christ1 in all this great work of redemption1 and in every piece of it1 is the ,father's servant4 ,so is he frequently called1 his servant1 ,isa4 xlii4 #a2 xlix4 #c1 #e1 #f2 lii4 #ac2 and liii4 #aa4 ,zech4 iii4 #h2 and therefore this work is a work intrusted to him1 and he standeth engaged as a servant1 to be faithful to his trust4 ,moreover add to this1 that he hath a commission to perfect that work2 and we need not doubt1 but he who is the truth will be true to his trust4 ,him hath ,god the ,father sealed1 ,john vi4 #bg2 and he often tells us himself1 that he is sent of the ,father1 ,john iv4 #cd2 v4 #bc1 #bd1 #cj1 #cf1 #cg2 vi4 #ch1 #ci1 #dj1 #dd1 #eg2 viii4 #af1 #ah2 xii4 #dd1 #de1 #di2 vii4 #af2 ix4 #d2 x4 #cf2 and xi4 #db4 #b4 ,that while he was upon the earth1 he finished that work that was committed to him to finish here1 having purchased all that was to be bought by his blood1 paying all the price that justice did ask1 ,john xvii4 #d2 xix4 #cj4 ,by which price he hath purchased a people to himself1 ,rev4 v4 #i4 ,luke i4 #fh4 ,so that his work1 cause1 and interest1 is a purchased work bought with his blood4 #c4 ,that his resurrection and glorification is an undoubted proof of this1 that justice is satisfied1 and that the price is fully paid2 and also that his exaltation at the ,father's right hand is a sure evidence and ground of hope1 that he shall at last triumph over all his enemies1 and that his work of truth shall prosper4 ,the ,father said to him1 ,psalm cx4 #a1 ,sit thou on my right hand1 until ,i make thine enemies thy footstool4 ,being highly exalted1 he hath got a name above every name3 that at his name every knee should bow1 of things in heaven and things in earth1 and things under the earth2 and that every tongue should confess1 that ,jesus ,christ is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father1 ,phil4 ii4 #i1 #aj1 #aa4 #d4 ,that the ,father standeth engaged to make good to him all that was promised1 and to give him all that he purchased1 ,isa4 liii4 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,christ1 having now fulfilled his undertaking1 by making his soul an offering for sin1 and so satisfying justice1 which is openly declared by his resurrection1 and admission to glory1 as the head of his elect1 is to expect the accomplishment of what was conditioned unto him4 ,his work1 therefore1 on the earth must prosper2 and the ,father hath undertaken to see it prosper4 ,surely the faith of this would much support a poor soul1 staggering at the thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked1 and of their evil cause4 #e4 ,that ,christ himself is now thoroughly furnished and enabled for the carrying on of his work1 over the belly of all adversaries1 for all power in ,heaven and earth is given to him1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ah2 and every knee must bow to him1 ,phil4 ii4 #aj2 all judgment is committed unto him1 ,john v4 #bb1 #bg2 angels1 powers1 and authority are made subject unto him1 #a ,pet4 iii4 #bb2 yea1 all things are under him1 ,eph4 i4 #bb4 ,how then can his work miscarry2 or who can hinder1 that truth should flourish on the earth8 #f4 ,that ,christ is actually at work1 employing this power for the carrying forward of his design1 for the glory of the ,father1 and for his own glory1 and for the good of his poor people4 ,the ,father worked by him1 and he by the ,spirit1 which is his great ,vicegerent1 sent from the ,father1 and from him1 and his work is to glorify the ,son1 and he shall receive of his1 and show it unto us1 ,john xvi4 #ad4 #g4 ,that ,christ1 upon many accounts1 standeth engaged to perfect this work which he hath begun and is about4 ,his honour is engaged to go through1 seeing now he is fully furnished for it1 and hath all the creation at his command4 ,he must then perfect his work1 as to the application1 as well as he did perfect it as to the purchase4 ,his love to his ,father's and his own glory1 and to his own people's good and salvation1 may assure us1 that he will not leave the work unperfected2 and his power and furniture may give us full security1 that no stop which his work meeteth with shall be able to hinder it4 #h4 ,that hence it is clear and manifest1 that his wheel is in the midst of the wheels of men1 and that therefore he is ordering all their motions and reelings to the best4 ,his wheel keepeth an even pace1 and moveth equally and equitably in the midst of men's contrary motions4 #i4 ,and that1 therefore1 all the eccentric and irregular motions of devils and wicked men being in his hand1 and ordered by him1 cannot hinder1 but further his end2 so that even enemies1 while opposing and seeking to destroy the cause and interest of ,christ1 that his name and truth should no more be mentioned1 are promoving his work4 ,his wheel is the great wheel that ordereth all the lesser and subordinate wheels1 whatever contrary motions they may have the one to the other1 and all or many of them may seem to have to this great wheel2 so that1 do they what they will1 the work of our ,lord goeth on4 ,their opposition is setting his work forward1 though they intend the contrary2 however their faces look1 they row to the port he would be at4 ,this is an undoubted truth1 and confirmed in all ages1 and yet is not firmly believed2 and a truth it is1 which1 if believed1 would do much to settle our staggering souls in a stormy day4 #aj4 ,that at last he shall come to be glorified in his saints1 #b ,thess4 i4 #aj2 when he shall be revealed from heaven with all his mighty angels1 verse #g4 ,then shall it be seen whose counsel shall stand1 his or men's2 and whose work shall prosper1 his or ,satan's4 ,,cautions4 ,yet1 let me add a few words1 for caution and direction here4 #a4 ,the consideration of these things mentioned should not make us slacken our diligence in prayer and other duties2 and when they are aright considered1 they will rather prove a spur and a goad in our side to set us forward1 than a bridle to hold us back4 #b4 ,we would not think that ,christ's work and interest is going backward always1 when it seemeth so to us4 ,even when he is casting down what he hath built up1 and plucking up what he hath planted1 his work is prospering1 for all that is in order to the laying of a better foundation1 and to the carrying on of a more glorious work1 when he shall lay all the stones with fair colours1 and the foundations with sapphires1 and make the windows of crystal1 c4 ,isa4 liv4 #aa1ab4 #c4 ,though his work be always going on1 and his truth prospering1 yet we would not think that it will always prosper alike in our apprehensions2 many times we judge by rules of our own making1 and not by the rule of truth1 and hence it is that we mistake oftentimes4 ,we walk little by faith1 and too much by sense2 and hence we judge too much by sense1 and so pass a wrong judgment1 to his dishonour1 and the saddening of our own hearts4 #d4 ,nor would we think that his truth and interest is ruined and gone1 because it is sore oppressed in this or that particular place of the world2 as if his work were not of an universal extent1 and in all the churches4 ,if his truth thrive and prosper in some other place of the world1 shall we not say1 that his kingdom is coming8 ,or shall we limit all his work and interest to one small part of the world8 #e4 ,we would not think the worse of his work because it is carried on with so many stops1 and doth meet with so many impediments in its way4 ,we are not acquainted with the depths of his infinite wisdom and counsel2 and so we see not what noble ends he hath before him1 in suffering those impediments to lie in the way of his chariot4 ,we think he should ride so triumphantly all along1 that none should once dare to cast the least block in his way4 ,but we judge carnally1 as unacquainted with the many noble and glorious designs which he hath in ordering matters4 ,as himself was for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence1 so will he have the way of the carrying on of his work prove1 in his holy and spotless justice1 a stumbling-stone to many that shall stumble thereat1 and fall1 and never rise any more4 #f4 ,we should beware to think that ,christ hath forgotten his work1 because he seemeth to take no notice of our prayers1 which we are putting up now and then for his work4 ,he may be doing that which we are desiring in the general1 and yet not let us know that he is answering our prayers2 and that for wise and holy ends1 to keep us humble and diligent4 ,he may seem to disregard our suits1 and yet be carrying on his work1 and granting us our desires upon the matter4 #g4 ,hence we should beware of desponding1 and growing heartless and faint1 when we see few owning truth1 or standing upon ,christ's side2 for he needeth not man's help to carry on this work1 though he sometimes thinketh good to condescend so far as to honour some to be instrumental in setting of it forward1 who yet have nothing but as he giveth2 let us not then think1 that his work cannot prosper because great ones and mean ones oppose it1 and such as should stand for it and own it1 are few and fainting1 without strength1 courage1 or zeal4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,for ,,steadfastness1 ,,in ,a ,,time ,,when ,,truth ,,is ,,oppressed ,,and ,,borne ,,down4 ,when enemies are prevailing1 and the way of truth is evil spoken of1 many faint1 and many turn aside1 and do not plead for truth1 nor stand up for the interest of ,christ1 in their hour and power of darkness3 many are overcome with base fear1 and either side with the workers of iniquity1 or are not valiant for the truth1 but being faint-hearted1 turn back4 ,now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast1 and to own him and his cause in a day of trial1 to enquire how they shall make use of ,christ1 who is the truth1 so as to be enabled to stand in the day of temptation1 and keep fast by truth when it is loaded with reproaches1 and buried under an heap of obloquy4 ,for satisfaction to this question1 ,i shall shortly point out those directions which1 if followed1 may prove helpful to keep the soul from fainting1 misbelieving1 doubting1 quarrelling at the ,lord's dispensations1 and from yielding to the temptations in such a day4 #a4 ,the believer should live in the conviction of his hazard through the sleight of ,satan1 the strength of temptation1 the wickedness and treachery of the heart1 the evil example of others1 and the want of sanctified courage1 zeal1 and resolution2 and this will keep the soul humble1 and far from boasting of its own strength1 which was ,peter's fault4 #b4 ,they should live in the faith and persuasion of this1 that it is ,christ alone who is the truth1 who can help them to stand for truth in a day of temptation2 and that all their former purposes1 vows1 resolutions1 solemn professions1 and the like1 will prove but weak cables to hold them fast in a day of a storm2 and that only the rock of ages must save them2 and their being a leeward of him1 and partaking of his warm and safe protection1 will do their business4 ,that all their stock of grace and knowledge1 and that confirmed with resolutions and sincere purposes1 will help but little in that day2 and that new influences of grace and truth1 from the fountain1 that is full of grace and truth1 will only prove establishing to the soul1 and confirm it in the truth in that day4 #c4 ,therefore they should eye ,christ in his offices1 particularly as the great prophet who can teach as never man taught2 so teach as to make the soul receive the doctrine1 and to hold it fast--to receive it in love1 and lay it up in the heart as a rich and enriching treasure4 #d4 ,they should eye him in his relations unto his people1 as their head1 husband1 brother1 leader1 commander1 captain1 c42 for those give ground of approaching unto him with confidence in the day of darkness and mists1 for light and direction1 and for strength and courage in the day of temptation2 and give ground of hope of help in that day of trial and difficulty4 #e4 ,they should eye and act faith upon the promises of assistance and through-bearing1 in the day of calamity2 such as those--,isa4 xliii4 #b1 ,when thou passest through the waters1 ,i will be with thee2 and through the rivers1 they shall not overflow thee2 when thou walkest through the fire1 thou shalt not be burnt2 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee4 ,and ,isaiah xli4 #ac1 ,for ,i the ,lord thy ,god will hold thy right hand1 saying unto thee1 fear not1 ,i will help thee4 ,and particularly they would eye the promises of light in the day of darkness1 ,isaiah lviii4 #h1 #aj2 lx4 #bj4 #b ,sam4 xxii4 #bi4 #f4 ,they should look on ,christ as an exalted conqueror1 now risen and glorified2 as a victorious captain that hath fought and overcome1 that they1 as his followers1 may be made partakers of his victory and conquest1 and so reap the fruit of his resurrection and ascension1 in their establishment in the truth1 when it is borne down and questioned1 yea1 and condemned by men4 ,he abode steadfast and immoveable in the midst of all the storms that blew in his face2 and as he came to bear witness to the truth1 so did he faithfully and zealously avow truth1 even to the death2 and in death got the victory of the arch liar and deceiver4 ,now the believer should eye this1 for the strengthening of his faith and hope of victory also1 through him2 and therefore would wait patiently for his help1 and not make haste2 for they who believe make not haste1 ,isaiah xxviii4 #af1 knowing that he is true and faithful1 and will not disappoint his followers that trust in him4 ,and moreover it would be of advantage to them in this case1 to eye that gracious and comfortable word1 ,john xiv4 #ai1 because ,i live1 ye shall live also2 and so by faith conclude1 that seeing ,christ now liveth as a conqueror over darkness1 untruth1 reproaches1 calumnies1 and opposition of liars1 yea1 of the father of lies1 they through him shall also live1 and ride out that storm2 and this will give much courage to the soul to endure temptation1 and to wait in patience for an outgate4 #g4 ,they should study much1 and suck at the grand promise of his coming again1 and of finally dispelling all clouds1 and of fully clearing up his glorious truths1 that are now covered over with obloquy1 and buried under reproaches2 and this will encourage the soul to stand to truth in the midst of opposition1 believing1 that at length1 truth1 how much soever opposed now1 shall be victorious4 #h4 ,they should be single in their dependence on him1 for strength and through-bearing1 in that day of trial--not leaning to their own understanding1 but acknowledging him in all their ways1 ,prov4 iii4 #h2 and when they see no hope of outgate in the world1 nor appearance of the clearing up of the day1 they would comfort themselves1 and encourage themselves in the ,lord1 as ,david did in a great strait1 #a ,sam4 xx4 #f4 #i4 ,upon the forementioned grounds they would cast all the care of their through-bearing on him1 who careth for them1 #a ,pet4 v4 #g--rolling all their difficulties on him--consulting only with him and his word1 and not with flesh and blood2 and so they would commit their ways to him1 who disposeth of all things as he seeth good2 forbearing to limit the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 or to quarrel with him for any thing he doth2 and patiently wait for his outgate and delivery4 #aj4 ,it were good1 in this time of trial1 to be remembering the worth of truth1 and entertaining high thoughts of the smallest piece of truth that is questioned1 for his sake1 who is the truth2 that a sight of the glorious worth thereof1 may make them account the less of all they can lose in the defence and maintenance thereof4 #aa4 ,so were it good at this time1 when truths come to be questioned1 to be lying near to the truth1 for light1 and to be keeping fast1 what he by his ,spirit cleareth up to be truth1 though the light should not be so full as to dispel all objections4 ,this were to depend upon him for light1 with singleness of heart2 and in godly simplicity and sincerity to follow his direction and torch1 though it should not shine so bright as they could wish4 ,,cautions4 ,a few words of caution will be useful here also2 as1 #a4 ,the believer1 though taking this course1 would not think to be altogether free of fear of stepping aside1 in less or in more4 ,god may think good to let much of this abide1 to the end he may be kept watchful1 tender1 and diligent2 for fear maketh the soul circumspect and watchful2 and this is a good preservative from defection4 #b4 ,nor would the believer think1 that hereby he shall be kept altogether free of fainting4 ,the heart1 now and then1 through fear and misbelief1 may fall into a fit of fainting1 and think all is gone2 and yet he may carry poor souls through1 and make his strength perfect in their wickedness1 #b ,cor4 xii4 #i2 that when they are supported and carried through the temptation1 they may sing praise to him1 and not ascribe any thing to themselves--remembering how often they were fainting1 and almost giving over the cause as desperate and hopeless4 #c4 ,they would not think it strange1 if1 in the time of their wrestling with difficulties1 the ,lord hide his face from them1 and give not them that joyful access unto him in prayer1 that sometimes they have met with2 for the ,lord may see it fit to put them to this point of trial among the rest1 to see if the love of his glory and truth will keep them standing1 when they want the encouragement that might be expected in that way2 and if pure conscience to the command and authority of ,god1 will keep from siding with an evil way1 when the soul is destitute of all sensible encouragement1 both from within and from without4 #d4 ,in all this business believers should carry singly with an eye to ,god's glory2 and should not be acted with self-ends1 or drawn by carnal and selfish motives4 ,they should not desire stability and through-bearing to be seen of men1 or to gain applause and praise of men2 lest ,god be provoked to leave them to themselves1 and they at length come off with discredit1 as did ,peter4 ,therefore they should strive against these carnal motions of the heart1 and labour for spirituality1 singleness of heart1 and truth in the inward parts1 which the ,lord desireth1 ,psalm li4 #f4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,truth1 ,,when ,,error ,,prevaileth1 ,,and ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,error ,,carrieth ,,many ,,away4 ,there is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad1 and truth is questioned1 and many are led away with delusions4 ,for ,satan can change himself into an angel of light1 and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness1 and under that pretext usher in untruths1 and gain the consent of many unto them2 so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet1 and made to depart from the right ways of ,god1 and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth4 ,now the question is1 how a poor believer shall make use of ,christ1 who is the truth1 for keeping him steadfast in the truth1 in such a day of trial1 and from embracing of error1 how plausible soever it may appear4 ,for satisfaction to this we shall propose these few things3 #a4 ,in such a time1 when a spirit of error is let loose and rageth1 and carrieth several away1 it were good for all who would be kept straight and honest1 to be walking in fear4 ,it is not good to despise such a sly and subtle enemy1 especially in the hour and power of darkness4 ,then all are called to be on their guard1 and to stand upon their watch-tower1 and to be jealous of their corrupt hearts1 that are ready enough of their own accord to drink in error1 and to receive the temptation at any time2 and much more then4 #b4 ,they should not think that their knowledge and ability to dispute for truth1 will keep them steadfast1 if there be not more2 for if the temptation grow1 they may come to reason and dispute themselves out of all their former knowledge and skill4 ,the father of lies is a cunning sophister1 and knoweth1 how to shake their grounds and cast all loose4 #c4 ,they should renew their covenant grips of ,christ1 and make sure that main business1 viz4 their peace and union with ,god in ,christ1 and their accepting of ,christ for their head and husband4 ,they would labour to have the foundation sure1 and to be united unto the chief corner-stone1 that so blow the storm as it will1 they may ride safely2 and that hereby they may have access to ,christ with boldness1 in their difficulty1 and may with confidence seek light from him in the hour of darkness4 #d4 ,to the end they may be kept more watchful and circumspect1 they should remember1 that it is a dishonourable thing to ,christ1 for them to step aside1 in the least matter of truth2 the denying of the least point of truth is a consequential denying of him who is the truth2 and to loose a foot in the matters of truth is very dangerous2 for who can tell when they who once slip a foot shall recover it again8 ,and who can tell how many1 and how dreadful errors they may drink in1 who have once opened the door to a small error8 ,therefore they should beware of tampering in this matter1 and to admit any error1 upon the account that it is a small and inconsiderable one4 ,there may be an unseen concatenation betwixt one error and another1 and betwixt a small one and a greater one1 so as if the little one be admitted and received1 the greater shall follow2 and it may be feared that if they once dally with error1 and make a gap in their consciences1 that ,god will give them up to judicial blindness1 that1 ere all be done1 they shall embrace that opinion which sometime they seemed to hate as death4 #e4 ,they should eye the promises suiting that cause2 viz4 the promises of ,god's guiding the blind by a way which they know not3 of making darkness light before them1 and crooked things straight1 ,isa4 xlii4 #af2 and of guiding continually1 ,isa4 lviii4 #aa2 see also ,isa4 xlix4 #aj42 lvii4 #ah42 and they would act faith on these and the like promises1 as now made sure by ,jesus4 #f4 ,particularly1 they should fix their eye upon that principal promise1 of the ,spirit of truth1 to guide into all truth1 ,john xvi4 #ac4 #g4 ,with singleness of heart they should depend on ,christ1 and wait for light from him1 and beware of prejudice at the truth2 with singleness of heart they should lie open to his instructions1 and to the influences of his light and direction1 and receive in the beams of his divine light2 and thus go about duties1 viz4 prayer1 conference1 preaching1 reading1 c4 with an eye fixed on him1 and with a soul open to him1 and free of all sinful pre-engagement and love to error4 #h4 ,with singleness of heart1 they should give up their souls to ,christ1 as the truth1 that he would write the truth in their souls1 and frame their souls unto the truth1 and unto that truth which is most questioned1 and by which they are most in hazard to be drawn away2 and urge and press him by prayer and supplication to do the duty of a head1 a husband1 guide and commander1 c4 unto them2 and that he would be a light unto them in that day of darkness1 and not suffer them to dishonour him or prove scandalous to others2 by departing from the truth and embracing error4 ,a serious single-hearted dealing with him upon the grounds of the covenant promises and his relations and engagements1 might prove steadable in this case1 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 truth4 ,,cautions ,,and ,,directions4 ,for further clearing of this matter1 we shall hint at some cautions and further directions useful here3 such as1 #a4 ,they should beware of thinking that ,god should come to them with light and instruction in an extraordinary manner1 and reveal the truth of the question controverted somewhat immediately3 for this were a manifest tempting and limiting of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,we must be satisfied with the means of instruction which he hath provided1 and run to the law and to the testimony4 ,we have the ,scriptures1 which are able to make the man of ,god perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #af1 #ag2 and to make wise unto salvation1 ver4 #ae4 ,there must we see light2 and there must we wait for the breathings of his ,spirit with life1 and coming with light to clear up truth to us3 for they are the scriptures of truth1 ,dan4 x4 #ba2 and the law of the ,lord1 which is perfect1 converting the soul2 and the commandment of the ,lord1 that is pure1 enlightening the eyes1 ,psalm xix4 #g1 #h4 ,we have the ministry which ,god hath also appointed for this end1 to make known unto us his mind2 there must we wait for him and his light4 ,thus must we wait at the posts of wisdom's doors2 and wait for the king of light in his own way wherein he hath appointed us to wait for him4 ,and if he think good to come another way more immediate1 let him always be welcome2 but let not us limit him nor prescribe ways to him1 but follow his directions4 #b4 ,when any thing is borne in upon their spirit as a truth to be received1 or as an error to be rejected1 more immediately1 they should beware of admitting of every such thing without trial and examination2 for we are expressly forbidden to believe every spirit1 and commanded to try them whether they are of ,god or not1 #a ,john iv4 #a4 ,the ,lord will not take it ill that even his own immediate motions and revelations be tried and examined by the word2 because the word is given us for this end1 to be our test and standard of truth4 ,the way of immediate revelation is not the ordinary way now of ,god's manifesting his mind to his people4 ,he hath now chosen another way1 and given us a more sure word of prophesy than was1 even a voice from heaven1 as ,peter saith1 #b ,pet4 i4 #ah1 #ai4 ,it is commended in the ,bereans1 ,acts xvii4 #aa1 who upon this account were more noble than those of ,thessalonica1 in that they received the word with all readiness of mind1 and searched the ,scriptures daily1 whether those things were so4 ,even ,paul's words1 though he was an authorised and an infallible apostle of ,christ's1 are here put to the touch-stone of the word4 ,many false prophets may go out1 and deceive many1 and speak great swelling words of vanity1 #a ,john iv4 #a2 #b ,pet4 ii4 #ah2 and the devil can transchange himself into an angel of light1 #b ,cor4 xi4 #ad2 and though an angel out of heaven should preach any other thing than what is in the written word1 we ought not to receive his doctrine1 but to reject it1 and to account him accursed1 ,gal4 i4 #h4 ,so that the written word must be much studied by us2 and by it must we try all motions1 all doctrines1 all inspirations1 all revelations1 and all manifestations4 #c4 ,much more1 they should beware of thinking that the dictates of their conscience obligeth them1 so as that always they must of necessity follow the same4 ,conscience1 being ,god's deputy in the soul1 is to be followed no further than it speaketh for ,god and according to truth4 ,an erring conscience1 though it bind so far as that he who doth contrary to the dictates thereof sinneth against ,god1 in that1 knowing no other than that the dictates of conscience are right and consonant to the mind of ,god1 yet dare counteract the same1 and thus formally rebel against ,god's authority2 yet it doth not oblige us to believe and to do what it asserteth to be truth and duty4 ,it will not then be enough for them to say1 my conscience and the light within me speaketh so1 and instructeth me so2 for that light may be darkness1 and error1 and delusion1 and so no rule for them to walk by4 ,to the law and to the testimony1 and if their conscience1 mind1 and light within them speak not according to this word1 it is because there is no light in them1 ,isa4 viii4 #bj4 ,i grant1 as ,i said1 they cannot without sin counteract the dictates even of an erring conscience1 because they know no better but that these dictates are according to truth2 and thus an erring conscience is a most dangerous thing1 and bringeth people under a great dilemma1 that whether they follow it or not1 they sin2 and there is no other remedy here1 but to lay by the erring conscience1 and get a conscience rightly informed by the word2 putting it in ,christ's hand to be better formed and informed1 that so it may do its office better4 ,this then should be especially guarded against1 for if once they lay down this for a principle1 that whatever their conscience and mind1 or inward light 7as some call it7 dictate1 must be followed1 there is no delusion1 how false1 how abominable soever it be1 but they may be at length in hazard to be drawn away with2 and so the rule that they will walk by be nothing in effect but the spirit of lies and of delusion1 and the motions and dictates of him who is the father of lies1 that is1 the devil4 #d4 ,such as pretend to walk so much by conscience1 should take heed that they take not that for the dictate of conscience1 which really is but the dictates of their own humours1 inclinations1 pre-occupied minds1 and biassed wills4 ,when conscience speaketh1 it groundeth on the authority of ,god1 whether truly or falsely1 and proposeth such a thing to be done1 or to be refrained from1 merely because ,god commandeth that1 and forbiddeth this1 though sometimes it mistaketh4 ,but though the dictates of men's humours1 inclinations1 pre-occupied judgments1 and wills1 may pretend ,god's authority for what they say1 yet really some carnal respect1 selfish end1 and the like1 lieth at the bottom1 and is the chief spring of that motion4 ,and also the dictates of humour and biassed wills are usually more violent and fierce than the dictates of conscience2 for wanting the authority of ,god to back their assertions and prescriptions1 they must make up that with an addition of preternatural force and strength4 ,hence1 such as are purely led by conscience1 are pliable1 humble1 and ready to hear and receive information2 whereas1 others are headstrong and pertinacious1 unwilling to receive instruction1 or to hear any thing contrary to their minds1 lest their conscience1 receiving more light1 speak with a higher voice against their inclinations and former ways1 and so create more trouble to them2 while1 as now they enjoy more quiet within1 so long as the cry of their self-will and biassed judgments is so loud1 that they cannot well hear the still and low voice of conscience4 #e4 ,they should labour for much self-denial and sincerity2 and to be free from the snares and power of selfish ends1 as credit1 a name1 and applause1 or what of that kind1 that may be like the fear of man that bringeth a snare1 ,prov4 xxix4 #be2 for that will be like a gift that blindeth the eyes of the wise1 ,exod4 xxiii4 #h4 ,love to carry on a party1 or a design to be seen or accounted somebody1 to maintain their credit and reputation1 lest they be accounted changelings and the like1 will prove very dangerous in this case2 for these may forcibly carry the soul away1 to embrace one error after another1 and one error to strengthen and confirm another1 that it is hard to know where or when they shall stand4 ,and these1 by respects1 may so forcibly drive the soul forward1 that he shall neither hear the voice of conscience within1 nor any instruction from without4 #f4 ,they should study the word of truth without prejudice and any sinful pre-engagement1 lest they be made thereby to wire-draw and wrest the word to their own destruction1 as some of whom ,peter speaketh1 #b ,pet4 iii4 #af4 ,it is a dangerous thing to study the word with a prejudicate opinion2 and to bow or wire-draw the word and make it speak what we would have it speak1 for the confirmation of our opinions and sentiments4 ,for this is but to mock ,god and his law1 and to say1 let his law speak what it will1 ,i will maintain this opinion1 and so make the word speak as we would have it1 or else lay it by4 ,this is to walk by some other rule than the word1 and to make the word serve our lusts and confirm our errors1 than which a greater indignity cannot be done to the ,spirit of truth speaking in the word4 #g4 ,in reading and studying of the word there should be much single dependence on the ,spirit for light2 waiting for clearness from him whom ,christ hath promised to lead us into all truth4 ,an earnest wrestling with him for his assistance1 enlightening the mind with divine light to understand the truth1 and inclining the soul to a ready embracing and receiving of the truth declared in the word4 #h4 ,though one place of scripture be enough to confirm any point of truth1 and ground sufficient for us to believe what is there said1 there being nothing in scripture but what is truth2 yet1 in such a time of abounding errors1 and when many are going abroad speaking perverse things to lead the simple away1 it were spiritual wisdom to be comparing scripture with scripture1 and not be lightly embracing whatever may seem probable1 and fairly deducible from some one passage or other of scripture1 but to be comparing that with other passages and see what concord there is2 for this is certain1 whatever point contradicteth other clear and manifest testimonies of scripture cannot be true2 however a cunning sophister may make it seem very probably to flow out of such or such a passage of scripture4 ,the testimony of the ,spirit is uniform1 and free from all contradictions2 and therefore we must see1 if such an assertion1 that some would draw from such a passage1 agree with other plain passages1 and if not1 be sure that is not the meaning of the place4 ,when the devil did wrest and abuse that passage of truth1 ,ps4 xci4 #aa4 ,he shall give his angels charge concerning thee1 c1 and from thence would infer1 that ,christ might cast himself down1 ,matt4 iv4 #f1 ,christ shews that this inference was bad1 because it did not agree with other divine testimonies1 particularly not with that1 ,deut4 vi4 #af1 ,thou shalt not tempt the ,lord thy ,god4 ,and thereby he teacheth us to take this course in times of temptation1 and so compare spiritual things with spiritual1 as ,paul speaketh1 #a ,cor4 ii4 #ac4 ,especially they should beware of expounding clear scriptures by such as are more dark and mysterious2 see #b ,pet4 iii4 #af4 ,it is always safer to explain darker passages by such as are more clear4 #i4 ,let them guard against an humour of new-fangledness1 nauseating old and solid truths1 and seeking after something new1 having ears itching after new doctrines1 yea1 or new modes and dresses of old truths4 ,for this is provoking to ,god1 and proveth dangerous2 for such turn away their ears from the truth1 and are turned into fables1 as ,paul telleth us1 #b ,tim4 iv4 #c1 #d4 ,for the time will come1 saith he1 when they will not endure sound doctrine1 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers1 having itching ears2 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables4 ,this savoureth of a spirit of levity and inconstancy1 which is dangerous4 #aj4 ,they should labour to have no prejudice at the truth1 but receive it in the love of it2 lest1 for that cause1 ,god give them up to strong delusions1 to believe lies1 and to be led with the deceivableness of unrighteousness1 as we see1 #b ,thess4 ii4 #aj-ab1 ,and4 with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish1 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved2 and for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie1 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness4 #aa4 ,so should they beware of stifling the truth1 of making it a prisoner1 and detaining it in unrighteousness1 like those spoken of1 ,rom4 i4 #ah4 ,for which cause ,god them up to uncleanness and vile affections1 and they became vain in their imaginations1 and their foolish heart was darkened1 yea1 professing themselves to be wise1 they became fools1 ver4 #ba1 c4 ,they should let truth have free liberty and power in the soul2 and should yield up themselves to be ruled and guided by it2 and not torture with it1 lay chains upon it1 or fetter it1 and keep it as a prisoner that can do nothing4 #ab4 ,for this cause1 they should hold fast the truth which they have learned1 and have been taught by the ,spirit out of the word4 ,when ,paul would guard and fortify ,timothy against seducers1 that crept into houses1 leading captive silly women1 c41 among other directions gave him this1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #ad1 #ae1 ,but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned1 and hast been assured of1 knowing of whom thou hast learned2 and that from a child thou hast known the ,scriptures1 which are able to make thee wise unto salvation1 c4 ,so he would have the ,colossians walking in ,christ1 rooted and built up in him1 and stablished in the faith as they had been taught1 ,col4 ii4 #f1 #g4 #ac4 ,especially they would be holding the groundwork fast1--faith in ,christ4 ,it were good in such a time of erring from the way of truth1 to be gripping ,christ faster1 and cleaving to him by faith1 and living by faith in him4 ,this is to hold the foundation fast2 and then let the tempest of error blow as it will1 they will ride at a sure anchor1 and be safe1 because fixed upon the ,rock of ,ages2 and further1 living near ,christ in such a dangerous day1 would be a noble preservative from the infection of error4 ,the soul that is dwelling in ,christ and gripping to him daily by faith1 and acting love on him1 dwelleth in light1 will discover error sooner than another1 because living under the rays of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 which discovereth error4 #ad4 ,they should labour to learn the truth1 as it is in ,jesus2 and the truths which they have heard of him1 and have been taught by him1 as the truth is in him1 will abide1 when other truths that have been learned but of men1 and heard of men1 and as it was in the preaching of men1 and in books1 shall soon evanish in a day of trial4 ,this is to learn ,christ1 as the apostle speaketh1 ,eph4 iv4 #bj1 #ba1 ,but ye have not so learned ,christ1 if so be that ye have heard him1 and have been taught by him1 as the truth is in ,jesus4 ,when we learn the truth1 as it is in ,jesus1 it bringeth us always to him1 and hath a tendency to fix our hearts on him1 and is a piece of the bond that bindeth us to him and his way3 we receive it then as a piece of his doctrine1 which we must own1 and stand unto4 ,o if we learned all our divinity thus1 we would be more constant and steadfast in it than we are6 #ae4 ,when controversies arise1 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 sagacity1 and set their gift of discerning a work1 to see which of the two tendeth most to promote piety and godliness1 and the kingdom of ,christ1 and so see which of the two is the truth1 which is after godliness1 as the apostle speaketh1 ,tit4 i4 #a2 they must look which of the two is the doctrine which is according to godliness1 ,i ,tim4 vi4 #c4 ,that is the truth which is ,christ's1 and which should be owned and embraced1 viz4 which floweth from a spirit of godliness1 and tendeth to promove godliness1 and suiteth with the true principles of godliness1 even gospel godliness1 wrought according to the tenor of the covenant of grace2 that is1 by the strength of the ,spirit of ,jesus1 dwelling and working in us1 and not according to the tenor of the covenant of works1 that is1 wrought by our own strength1 c4 #af4 ,yet withal they should take heed that they mistake not here2 for they may look upon some ways and doctrines as having a greater tendency to promove godliness than others2 which indeed have not1 but only seem so4 ,they should therefore consider well what is the way of godliness laid down in the noble device of the gospel1 which is the way that only glorifieth ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 and see what suiteth most with that1 according to the word1 and not what seemeth most suitable to godliness in their apprehension4 ,the word is the best judge and test of true godliness2 and in the word we have the only safest mean of true godliness held forth3 therefore we should see what doctrine tendeth most to promote godliness according to the way held forth in the word1 and choose that4 #ag4 ,they should guard against pride and self-conceit1 as thinking they are wise enough1 and understanding enough in those matters1 and so need not take a lesson of any4 ,this may be of great prejudice2 for it is the meek that ,god guideth in judgment2 and to the meek will he teach his way1 ,psalm xxv4 #i4 ,therefore it were good for his people in such a day1 to be meek and humble1 willing and ready to learn of any person1 how mean soever1 that can teach the ways of ,god4 ,the ,lord may bless a word spoken by a private person1 when he will not bless the word spoken by a minister2 for his blessings are free4 ,and it is not good to despise any mean4 ,apollos1 though instructed in the way of the ,lord1 mighty in the ,scriptures1 fervent in spirit1 and teaching diligently the things of the ,lord1 ,acts xviii4 #bd1 #be1 yet was content to learn of ,aquila1 and of his wife ,priscilla1 when they expounded unto him the way of ,god more perfectly1 ver4 #bf4 #ah4 ,in such a time1 it is not unsafe to look to such as have been eminent in the ways of ,god1 and lie near to him2 for it is probable they may know much of the mind of ,god in those questioned matters4 ,hence we find the apostle putting ,timothy and others to this duty in a time when false teachers were going abroad1 saying1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #aj1 but thou hast fully known my doctrine1 manner of life2 and #a ,cor4 iv4 #af1 wherefore ,i beseech you to be followers of me2 and #a ,cor4 xi4 #a2 and again1 ,phil4 iii4 #ag1 brethren1 be followers together of me4 ,all which say1 that though we should call no man ,rabbi1 as hanging our faith absolutely on him1 yet in such a time of prevailing error and of false teachers going abroad1 some respect should be had to such as have found grace of the ,lord to be faithful in times of trial1 and have maintained truth1 and stood for it1 in times of persecution1 and have with singleness of heart followed the ,lord2 it not being ordinary with ,god to leave such as in sincerity seek him1 and desire to follow his way in truth and uprightness1 and to give the revelation of his mind and the manifestation of his ,spirit to others1 who have not gone through such trials4 #ai4 ,they should also at such a time be much in the sincere practice of uncontroverted duties1 and in putting uncontroverted and unquestionable and unquestioned truths into practice2 and this may prove a notable mean to keep them right3 for then are they in ,god's way1 and so the devil hath not that advantage of them that he hath of others who are out of the way of duty4 ,david understood more than the ancients1 because he kept ,god's precepts1 ,psal4 cxix4 #ajj4 #bj4 ,it were good and suitable at such a time1 to be much in the fear of ,god1 remembering what an one he is1 and how hazardous it is to sin against him1 by drinking in the least point of error4 ,the promise is made to such1 ,psalm xxv4 #ab1 ,what man is he that feareth the ,lord1 him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose4 #ba4 ,finally1 at such a time they should be much in communion with ,jesus1 lying near him2 much in prayer to him1 studying his relations1 offices1 furniture1 readiness to help with light and counsel2 and they should draw near to him with humility1 boldness1 faith1 confidence1 love1 tenderness1 and sincerity2 and then they shall not find that he shall fail them1 or disappoint them4 ,enough of this4 ,i proceed therefore to another case1 which is3 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,truth1 ,,that ,,we ,,may ,,get ,,our ,,case ,,and ,,condition ,,cleared ,,up ,,to ,,us4 ,the believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case and condition1 so as he cannot tell what to say of himself1 or what judgment to pass on himself1 and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition4 ,now1 it is truth alone1 and the ,truth1 that can satisfy them as to this4 ,the question then is1 how they shall make use of1 and apply themselves to this truth1 to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them4 ,but first let us see what this case may be4 ,consider1 then1 #a4 ,that grace may be in the soul1 and yet not be seen nor observed4 ,this is manifest by daily experience4 #b4 ,not only so1 but a gracious soul that is reconciled ,with ,god in ,christ1 and hath the spirit of grace dwelling in it1 may suppose itself a stranger yet unto this reconciliation1 and void of the grace of ,god1 and so be still in the state of nature4 #c4 ,yea1 a soul may not only suppose and conclude itself in nature1 while it is in a state of grace1 but further1 may be filled with terror and apprehensions of ,god's wrath and indignation2 and that in such a measure1 as that thereby it may be as a distracted person1 as we see it was with ,heman1 ,psalm lxxxviii4 #ae1 who said1 while ,i suffer thy terror1 ,i am distracted4 ,the wrath of ,god lay hard upon him1 and he said1 that he was afflicted with all ,god's waves1 ver4 #g4 ,hence he cried out1 vers4 #af4 #ag1 thy fierce wrath goeth over me1 thy terrors have cut me off1 they came round about me daily1 or all the day1 like water they compassed me about together4 ,and yet for all this1 the first word of his complaint was faith1 ver4 #a4 ,many such complaints hear we out of ,job's mouth1 to whom ,god1 notwithstanding1 was that gracious1 that he never came to question his state before ,god1 or to conclude his hypocrisy1 or his being still in the state of nature4 ,but it is not so with every one that is so exercised4 #d4 ,yea1 further1 with those inward strokes upon the soul1 they may have sin and guilt charged upon their consciences2 and this will make their life yet more bitter1 and put a sharper edge upon the rods4 ,thus was ,job made to possess the sins of his youth1 ,job4 xiii4 #bf1 and made to say1 ,my transgression is sealed up in a bag1 and thou sewest up mine iniquity1 ,job4 xiv4 #ag4 #e4 ,moreover1 they may be in such a condition a long time1 and all the while have no light of comfort1 as we may see in ,job and ,heman4 ,they may even walk in darkness1 and have no light of comfort1 ,isa4 #a4 #aj4 #f4 ,yea1 and also be without the hope of a delivery or outgate4 ,hence crieth ,heman1 ,psalm lxxxviii4 #d-e1 ,i am counted with them that go down into the pit1 free among the dead1 like the slain that lie in the grave1 whom thou rememberest no more1 and they are cut off from thine hand4 ,yea1 they may be driven to the very border of despair1 and conclude that there is no hope1 as the church did1 ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #aa1 ,our bones are dried1 and our hope is lost1 and we are cut off for our parts2 and as ,job1 chap4 vii4 #f1 ,my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle1 and are spent without hope2 and chap4 xix4 #aj1 ,he hath destroyed me on every side1 and ,i am gone3 mine hope hath been removed like a tree4 ,now1 though sometimes1 as we see in ,job1 and in ,heman too1 a soul may be under such a sad and sharp dispensation1 and yet not brought to question their state1 or to conclude themselves children of wrath1 lying still in black nature1 yet it is not so with all who are so exercised2 but many under such a dispensation1 may at least be in the dark as to their state before ,god2 and if they do not positively assert their state to be bad1 yet they do much question if they be in the state of grace1 and would be comforted under all their pressures and afflictions1 if they could win to the least well-grounded apprehension of their interest in ,christ4 ,in such a case as this is1 there is ground for a poor soul to make use of ,christ for outgate2 and an outgate may be had in ,god's time1 and as he seeth fit1 by a right use-making of and going out to him1 who is the ,truth4 ,so1 then1 the soul that would have its state and condition cleared up1 and a discovery of its being reconciled to ,god through ,jesus1 and in a state of grace1 and would make use of ,christ as the ,truth1 for this end1 would1 7#a47 ,look out to ,christ1 as a feeling ,high ,priest1 faithful and merciful1 who1 being like us in all things1 except sin1 doth sympathise with1 and succour such as are tempted1 ,heb4 ii4 #ag1 #ah4 ,and as a ,priest1 that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities1 ,heb4 iv4 #ae4 ,albeit ,christ1 in the deepest of his darkness1 was never made to question his ,sonship1 but avouched ,god to be his ,god even when he was forsaken1 ,psalm xxii4 #a4 ,matt1 xxvii4 #df4 ,mark xv4 #cd4 ,yet he knew what it was to be tempted1 to question his ,sonship1 when the devil said unto him1 ,matt4 iv4 #c1 ,if thou be the ,son of ,god2 and he knows what such a distress as he himself was into1 wrestling with an angry ,god1 hiding himself and forsaking1 will work in a poor sinner2 and being a merciful and sympathising ,high ,priest1 he cannot but pity such as are under such a distemper1 and1 as a gracious ,head1 sympathise with them4 ,now1 the believer would look out to him as such an one1 and upon this ground go to him with confidence and boldness1 and lay out their case before him1 that he may help and send relief3 7#b47 ,they would also eye ,christ as able to save out of that condition1 and to command light to shine out of darkness2 and so1 as one able to save to the uttermost all that come to ,god through him1 ,heb4 vii4 #be4 7#c47 ,and not only so1 but eye him also as given1 sent1 and commissioned of the ,father1 to be a light to such as sit in darkness2 even to the ,gentile4 ,isa4 xlii4 #f1 and xlix4 #f4 ,luke ii4 #cb4 ,acts xiii4 #dg2 xxvi4 #bc4 ,john viii4 #ab2 and this will encourage the poor souls to go out to him with their darkness1 when they see that he is sent as a ,light and as the ,truth1 to clear up poor souls that walk in darkness and have no light4 ,when they see that it is his place and office to help them1 and consider that he is true to his trust1 and true and faithful in all that was committed to him1 it not only will embolden them to come forward to him1 but it will strengthen their hope1 and encourage them to wait on4 7#d47 ,they would stay themselves on him as an all-sufficient helper1 renouncing all other1 crying out1 that they will have no light but his light1 and that they will seek no where else for light1 but wait at his door1 till he1 who is the ,sun of ,righteousness1 shall arise in their soul1 and come with healing light in his wings4 7#e47 ,they would by faith roll and cast their darkened souls1 their confused case1 their overwhelmed hearts on him1 and leave them there2 for he is the only physician2 and the blind soul must be put in his hand1 who can take away the film1 and cause the scales fall off1 and make light break into the soul and discover unto it its condition4 7#f47 ,it would be useful and very steadable1 in such a time of darkness1 for the believer to be frequent in acting direct acts of faith on ,christ2 that is1 be frequent in going to him as an all-sufficient ,mediator1 as the only refuge and shadow for a poor1 weary1 scorched soul1 ,isa4 iv4 #f4 ,and a man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind1 and a covert from the tempest1 as rivers of water in a dry place1 as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land1 ,isa4 xxxii4 #b2 as one who is a strength to the needy in his distress1 a refuge from the storm1 a shadow from the heat1 c4 ,isa4 xxv1 #d4 ,when the soul is thus overwhelmed with clouds1 and doubteth of its interest in ,christ1 it would then put it out of doubt1 by flying to him for refuge from the storm of ,god's indignation1 and lay hold on him as he is freely offered in the gospel1 and thus renew its grips of him as the offered all-sufficient ,mediator1 and frequent direct acts of faith will help at length to a reflex act4 ,the soul that is daily running to ,christ1 according to the covenant1 with all its necessities1 and laying hold on him as only able to help1 will at length come to see that it hath believed on him1 and is made welcome by him1 and accepted through him4 ,so that reiterated acts of faith on an offered cautioner and salvation1 will dispel at length those clouds of darkness that trouble the soul4 #g4 ,such souls would beware of making their bands stronger1 and their darkness greater1 by their folly and unwise carriage2 for this cause they would beware1 7#a47 ,to cry out in despondency of spirit as if there were no hope1 and to conclude peremptorily1 that they are cut off1 and it is vain to wait any longer2 for this course will but darken them the more1 and multiply the clouds over their head4 7#b47 ,to run away from ,christ through unbelief and despair1 for that will make their case yet worse4 7#c47 ,to walk untenderly and not circumspectly2 for the more sins appear1 the less light will be had4 ,o but souls would be tender in all their conversation at that time1 and guard against the least sin or appearance of evil6 7#d47 ,to fret and repine against ,god1 because of that dispensation2 for that will but entangle the soul more1 and wreathe the yoke straiter about its neck1 and put itself further out of case to be relieved and to receive light4 #h4 ,such would do well not to limit the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 but to wait with patience till his time come to speak in light to the soul1 knowing that such as wait upon him shall never be ashamed1 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc1 because he waiteth to be gracious2 and therefore blessed are all they that wait upon him1 ,isa4 xxx4 #ah4 ,quest4 ,but what if for all this ,i get no outgate1 but my distress and darkness rather grow upon my hand8 ,ans4 ,that such a thing may be1 ,i grant1 the ,lord thinking it fit4 7#a47 ,to exercise their faith1 dependence1 patience1 hope1 and desire more4 7#b47 ,and to discover more unto them their own weakness1 faintings1 faithfulness4 7#c47 ,to shew his absolute power and sovereignty4 7#d47 ,to make his grace and mercy more conspicuous and remarkable at length4 ,and1 7#e47 to train them up in a way of dependence on him in the dark1 and of leaning to him when walking in darkness1 yea1 and in a way of believing when they think they have no faith at all1 and for other holy ends4 ,yet the soul would not despond1 for there are several things that may serve to support and bear up the heart even in that case1 as1 #a4 ,this is not their case alone1 others have been in the like before1 and many have had the like complaints in all ages1 as is known to such as have been acquainted with exercised souls4 #b4 ,it may yield peace and comfort to know that they are about duty when looking to him1 and depending upon him1 and waiting for his light4 #c4 ,the promises made to such as wait for him may support the soul and yield comfort4 #d4 ,the distinct knowledge and uptaking of their condition1 though it be comfortable and refreshing1 yet it is not absolutely necessary4 ,a soul may be a saved soul1 though those clouds should continue to its dying day2 and though1 as long as they lived1 they should never get a clear discovery of their gracious state1 but spend their days in mourning1 complaining1 and crying out of darkness4 #e4 ,such a soul should think that it is much that he is kept out of hell so long2 and sure1 the thoughts of what he is1 and of what he deserveth1 may make him sober1 and not to think much1 though he reach not so high as to see his name written in the book of life4 #f4 ,they should know that full assurance of hope and of faith is but rare3 and even such as have it do not ordinarily keep it long2 so that it should not much trouble them1 if1 after all their pains1 they cannot win at it4 #g4 ,if they win to any real ground of hope1 how small soever1 they should think much of that2 for many dear to ,christ live long1 and never know what so much is4 #h4 ,it is no small matter that they are not sinking in the gulf of inconsideration1 and plagued with an indifferency in these matters1 but are made to value ,christ and an interest in him at such a rate4 #i4 ,their going to ,christ with all their wants1 laying all on him1 and their making that their daily exercise1 may keep up their hearts from fainting1 yea1 and fill their souls with joy2 for that is really the exercise of faith4 ,and the great and gracious promises are made to such as believe1 and not to such only as know they do believe4 ,i grant such as know not that they do believe1 cannot draw comfort from these promises2 yet it is true that one may1 by reflecting on the actings of his own soul1 see and know that really he is going out to ,christ1 forsaking himself1 casting his burden on him1 waiting and depending upon him2 when yet he will not say that he doth believe4 ,and when he seeth this working of soul towards ,christ1 he is obliged to believe that he believeth1 and thereupon rejoice in hope of the great promises4 ,and however the very sight and knowledge of this acting and motion of soul may give them some comfort1 though they shall not take it for faith1 because it is the way of duty1 and it is the thing the gospel calleth for1 and because they cannot show an instance of anyone soul that did so1 and perished4 ,but the truth is1 the right understanding of the nature of faith would clear many doubts1 and prevent many questions4 ,i come to speak a little to the last case which ,i shall handle1 which is1 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,how ,,we ,,shall ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,truth1 ,,that ,,we ,,may ,,win ,,to ,,right ,,and ,,suitable ,,thoughts ,,of ,,god4 ,this is a case that much troubleth the people of ,god1--they cannot get right and suitable thoughts of ,god1 which they earnestly desire to have1 nor know not how to win at them2 and certain it is1 he only who is the ,truth1 and came out of the bosom of the ,father1 can help here4 ,therefore for our use-making of him for this end1 it would be remembered1 #a4 ,that the mind of man1 through the fall1 is nothing but a mass of ignorance and blindness2 that the understanding is darkened1 ,eph4 iv4 #ag1 #ah2 and naturally we are in darkness1 #a ,john ii4 #i1 #aa2 yea1 under the power of darkness1 ,col4 i4 #ac2 and1 which is more1 our minds are naturally filled with prejudice against ,god1 and enmity1 through wickedness naturally residing there1 and which the prince of the power of the air1 the spirit which worketh in the children of disobedience1 increaseth and stirreth up4 #b4 ,that this evil is not totally taken away1 even in the godly1 but helped only in part2 for they see and know but in part1 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #ac4 #c4 ,that hence it cometh to pass1 that through the working of corruption1 the soul of a believer can sometimes win to no right thought of ,god at all2 or at best to some very narrow and unsuitable conceptions of him and his ways2 yea1 sometimes1 all the thoughts they can get of ,god are vain and idle1 if not misshapen and blasphemous4 #d4 ,that as we are1 we cannot see ,god2 for no man hath seen him1 ,matt4 xi4 #bg4 ,john iv4 #df2 for he is an invisible ,god1 #a ,tim4 i4 #ag4 ,heb4 xi4 #bg4 ,he dwelleth in light which no man can approach unto4 ,him no man hath seen1 nor can see1 #a ,tim4 vi4 #af4 #a ,john iv4 #ab4 #e4 ,that all that knowledge of ,god which is saving1 is to be found in ,christ1 who is the brightness of his glory1 and the express image of his person1 ,heb4 i4 #b2 and the image of the invisible ,god1 ,col4 i4 #ae2 and is for this end come out from the bosom of the ,father1 that he might acquaint us with him1 and with all his secrets1 ,john i4 #ah4 ,matt4 xi4 #bg1 so far as is needful for us to know4 ,he is ,god incarnate1 that in him we may see the invisible4 ,thus ,god is manifest in the flesh1 #a ,tim4 iii4 #af2 and the ,word was made flesh1 and dwelt among us1 ,john i4 #ad4 #f4 ,that therefore if we would see and know ,god1 we must go to ,christ1 who is the temple in which ,god dwelleth and manifesteth his glory2 and in and through him1 must we see and conceive of ,god4 ,the light that we get of the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 must be in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f2 that is1 in the manifestations that ,christ hath made of himself1 in his natures1 offices1 ordinances1 works1 dispensations of grace1 mediate and immediate1 c4 ,and thus doth ,god1 who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 cause this light of the knowledge of his glory shine into our hearts1 viz4 in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 that is1 in the dispensations of grace in the gospel1 which is the glorious gospel of ,christ1 #b ,cor4 iv4 #d1 and1 as it were1 the face of ,jesus ,christ2 for as by the face a man is best known and distinguished from others1 so ,christ is visibly1 and discernibly1 and manifestly1 seen and known1 in and by the gospel dispensations2 there are all the lineaments and draughts of the glory of ,god which we would know1 lively and clearly to be seen4 ,so then1 if we would make use of ,christ for this end1 that we may win to a right sight of ,god1 and suitable conceptions of his glory1 we would consider those things3 #a4 ,we would live under the sense and thorough conviction of the greatness and incomprehensibleness of ,god1 as being every way past finding out2 and also under the conviction of our own darkness and incapacity to conceive aright of him1 even as to what he hath revealed of himself4 #b4 ,we would know1 that what the works of creation and providence declare and preach forth of ,god1 though it be sufficient to make heathens and others that do not improve the same to a right acknowledging of him1 inexcusable1 as ,paul teacheth us1 ,rom4 i4 #bj2 yet all that is short of giving to us that saving knowledge of him1 which must be had1 and which is life eternal1 ,john xvii4 #b4 #c4 ,we would know1 that what of ,god is to be found out by the works of creation and providence1 is more distinctly seen in ,christ and in the gospel4 ,here is a greater and more glorious discovery of ,god1 and of his glorious attributes1 his justice1 power1 wisdom1 goodness1 holiness1 truth1 c4 than can be found by the deepest diving naturalist1 and most wise moral observer of ,providence1 that is not taught out of the gospel4 #d4 ,yea1 there is something of ,god to be seen in ,christ1 in the gospel1 which can be observed in none of his works of1 creation or common providence2 there is the grace of ,god that bringeth salvation1 that is made to appear only by the gospel1 ,titus ii4 #aa2 and there is a peculiar kindness and love of ,god towards man1 which is only discovered by ,christ in the gospel1 ,titus iii4 #d4 ,there is that manifold wisdom of ,god1 that mystery which was hid from the beginning of the world in ,god2 that principalities and powers in heavenly places1 the greatest and wisest of naturalists must learn by the church1 wherein that is preached and proclaimed1 by the dispensations of the gospel1 ,eph4 iii4 #i1 #aj4 ,his mercy pardoning poor sinners1 justice being satisfied1 cannot be cleared by nature4 ,nature cannot unfold that mystery of justice and mercy1 concurring to the salvation of a sinner--only the gospel can clear that riddle4 #e4 ,we would remember1 that all the beams of that glory which are necessary and useful for us to know1 are1 to speak so1 contracted in ,christ1 and there vailed1 to the end that we may more steadily look upon them4 ,we may go to our ,brother1 who is flesh of our flesh1 and there1 through the vail of his flesh1 see and behold what otherwise was invisible4 ,as we can look to the sun better shining in a pail of water1 than by looking up immediately2 so can we behold ,god and his glory better in ,christ1 where there is a thin vail 7to speak so7 drawn over that otherwise blinding1 yea1 killing glory1 than by looking to ,god without ,christ2 for1 alas6 we could not endure one glance of an immediate ray of divine glory3 it would kill us outright4 #f4 ,we must then go to ,christ1 and there see ,god2 for he who seeth him seeth the ,father also1 ,john xiv4 #i4 ,particularly1 we must go the face of ,jesus ,christ1 that is1 that whereby he hath made himself known1 the noble contrivance of the glorious gospel1 wherein all things are so carried on1 as that ,god is glorified in his ,son1 in the salvation of poor sinners4 ,the whole work of salvation is laid on ,christ1 and the ,father is glorified in him1 who is his ,servant and his ,chosen1 whom he upholdeth and furnisheth for the work1 ,isa4 xlii4 #a1b4 ,he is called the covenant itself4 ,he is the undertaker in the covenant of redemption and in the covenant of grace2 all is founded on him2 all the good things of it are given out by him2 all the grace by which we close with it1 and accept of him according to it1 is given by him4 ,now1 in this gospel contrivance are all the lines of the glorious face of ,christ to be seen2 and in that face must we see and discern the glory of ,god1 all the rays of which are centered in ,christ1 and there will we get a noble prospect of that glorious object4 ,so that all such as would make use of ,christ for this end1 that they might come to have right and suitable thoughts and apprehensions of ,god1 must be well acquainted with the whole draught and frame of the gospel2 and so acquainted therewith1 as to see ,christ the substance1 ground and all of it1 and to see him in every part of it4 #g4 ,whatever we know or learn of ,god by his works of creation and providence1 in the world or about ourselves1 we would bring it in here that it may receive a new tincture and a deeper impression4 ,that is done1 when we find and learn something of ,christ there1 and are brought nearer ,christ thereby1 and made thereby to discover something more of the glory of ,god in the face of ,christ2 or are made to understand better something of the revelation that is made of ,god in the gospel1 or moved thereby to improve it better4 #h4 ,in all this matter1 we must not go without our guide1 lest we wander in this wilderness1 and it prove a labyrinth to us4 ,we must take ,christ with us all along2 he must teach us to understand his own face1 and to read the glorious characters of that excellent glory which is to be seen in his face4 ,he must be our interpreter1 and teach us how to read this book1 and how to understand what is written therein2 he must give the discerning eye1 and the understanding heart2 even the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 to take up the mysteries of ,god4 #i4 ,and for this cause1 we should by faith lay hold upon the promises of the ,spirit1 whereby we may be made spiritual1 and have our understandings enlightened more and more1 to understand the mysterious characters of divine majesty and glory4 #aj4 ,in all this exercise we should walk with fear1 and carry with us impressions of the dreadful majesty and glory of ,god1 that we may tremble and fear1 and stand in awe1 and read what we read of this glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 this glorious ,bible1 with reverence and godly fear4 ,and thus we may be helped to win to right and suitable thoughts of ,god2 yet withal we should1 for ,,cautions1 ,consider a few things further2 as1 #a4 ,that we must not think to search out the ,almighty unto perfection1 ,job xi4 #g4 #b4 ,nor must we think to get any one point of ,god known and understood perfectly2 corruption will mix in itself1 do our best2 and our shortcomings will not easily be reckoned up4 #c4 ,we must beware of carnal curiosity1 and of unlawful diving into this depth1 lest we drown4 #d4 ,we should not dream of a state here1 wherein we will not need ,christ for this end4 ,yea1 ,i suppose1 in glory1 he will be of use to us1 as to the seeing of ,god2 for even there1 as he is to-day1 so shall he for ever abide1 ,god and man in two distinct natures and one person1 and that cannot be for nought2 and as ,god will be still ,god invisible and unsearchable1 so we1 though glorified1 will remain finite creatures1 and therefore will stand in need of ,christ1 that in his glorious face we may see the invisible4 ,he must be our lumen gloriae4 #e4 ,we should think it no small matter to have the impressions of this sight upon our hearts1 that we cannot see him2 and that we1 in this state of sin1 cannot get right and suitable apprehensions of him4 ,i say1 the impression of this on our spirits1 that is1 such a sight of impossibility to get him seen aright1 as will keep the heart in awe1 and cause us walk before him in fear and reverence1 and to humble ourselves in the dust1 and to tremble whenever we make mention of his name1 or begin to meditate on him1 knowing how great an one he is1 and how dangerous it is to think amiss of him1 and how difficult to get a right thought of him4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,and ,,the ,,life4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,the ,,life4 ,this1 as the former1 being spoken indefinitely1 may be universally taken1 as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature1 and to such as are in the state of grace1 and so may be considered in reference to both1 and ground three points of truth1 both in reference to the one1 and in reference to the other2 to wit1 #a4 ,that our case is such as we stand in need of his help1 as being the ,life4 #b4 ,that no other way but by him1 can we get that supply of life1 which we stand in need of1 for he only is the ,life1 excluding all other4 #c4 ,that this help is to be had in him fully and completely1 for not only is he able to quicken1 but he is called the ,life2 so that the help which he giveth is full1 excellent1 and complete4 ,looking upon the words in reference to such as are in nature1 they point out those three truths to us3 ,i4 ,that all of us by nature are dead1 standing in need of quickening and of life2 for this is presupposed1 while he is said to be the ,life1 and that both legally and really3 ,legally1 being under the sentence of death1 for ,adam's transgression1 ,rom4 v4 #ae1 and for that original corruption of heart we have2 and really1 the sentence of the law being in part executed1 and that both as to the body and as to the soul4 ,as to the body1 it is now subject to death1 and all the forerunners thereof1 such as weakness1 pains1 sickness1 fears1 torment1 trouble1 weariness1 yea1 and in hazard of hell-fire1 and the torments of the second death for ever4 ,as to the soul1 it also is many ways dead2 but first in a way that is purely penal1 and next in a way that is also sinful2 and both ways1 as to what is present1 and as to what is future4 ,for as to that which is penal and present1 it is1 7#a47 separated from ,god and his favour1 ,gen4 iii4 #h1 #aj1 #bd2 7#b47 is under his curse and wrath1 whence it cometh to pass1 that by nature we are children of wrath1 ,eph4 ii4 #b1 #e2 servants of ,satan1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #bf2 the consequence of which is sad and heavy1 for hence it is that we cannot please ,god1 do what we will4 ,till we be brought out of that state1 our ordinary and civil actions1 even ploughing the ground1 is sin1 ,prov4 xxi4 #d2 yea1 our religious actions1 whether natural or instituted1 are abomination2 even our sacrifices1 ,prov4 xv4 #h2 xxi4 #bg2 and prayers1 ,prov4 xxviii4 #i4 ,psalm x4 #g2 yea1 and all our thoughts and purposes1 ,prov4 xv4 #bf2 and likewise all our ways1 ,prov4 xv4 #i4 ,as to what is penal and future1 it is obnoxious to that everlasting excommunication from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power1 #b ,thess4 i4 #h1 #i2 and to the torments of hell for ever1 ,mark ix4 #dd1 #df1 #dh4 ,luke xvi4 ,as to what is not only penal but also sinful1 the soul here is under the stroke of darkness in the understanding1 perverseness and rebelliousness in the will1 irregularity and disorder in the affections1 whereby the soul is unfit for any thing that is good1 ,rom4 iii4 #aj-bj4 ,eph4 ii4 #a1 #b1 #c4 ,rom4 v4 #f2 viii4 #g1 #h2 whence proceedeth all our actual transgressions1 ,james i4 #ad1 #ae4 ,and moreover sometimes the soul is given up to a reprobate mind1 ,rom4 i4 #bh2 to strong delusion1 #b ,thess4 ii4 #b2 to hardness of heart1 ,rom4 ii4 #e2 horror of conscience1 ,isa4 xxxiii4 #ad2 to vile affections1 ,rom4 i4 #bf1 and the like spiritual plagues1 which1 though the ,lord inflict on some only1 yet all are obnoxious to the same by nature1 and can expect no less1 if the ,lord should enter with them into judgment4 ,and finally1 as to what is future of this kind1 they are1 being fuel for ,tophet1 obnoxious to that malignant1 sinful1 blasphemous1 and desperate rebellion against ,god1 in hell for evermore6 ,o how lamentable1 upon this consideration1 must the condition of such be1 as are yet in the state of nature6 ,oh1 if it were but seen and felt6 ,but1 alas6 there is this addition to all1 that people know not this2 they consider it not1 they believe it not1 they feel it not1 they see it not2 and hence it cometh to pass1 that1 ,first4 ,they cannot bewail and lament their condition1 nor be humbled therefor4 ,secondly4 ,they cannot1 and will not seek after a remedy2 for the whole will not trouble themselves to seek after a physician4 ,and sure upon this account1 their case calleth for pity and compassion from all that know what a dreadful thing it is to be in such a condition1 and should stir up all to pray for them1 and to do all they can to help them out of that state of sin and misery1 which is dreadful to think upon4 ,should not the thoughts and consideration of this put us all to try and search1 if we be yet translated from death to life1 and delivered out of that dreadful and terrible state1 and made partakers of the first resurrection4 ,it not being my purpose to handle this point at large1 ,i shall not here insist in giving marks1 whereby this may be known1 and which are obvious in ,paul's ,epistles1 and to be found handled at large in several practical pieces1 chiefly in ,mr4 ,guthrie's ,great ,interest4 ,i shall only desire every one to consider and examine1 #a4 ,whether or not the voice of ,christ1 which quickeneth the dead1 hath been heard and welcomed in their soul4 ,this is effectual calling4 #b4 ,whether or not there be a thorough change wrought in their soul1 a change in the whole man1 so as all things are become new4 #b ,cor4 v4 #ag4 #c4 ,whether or not there be a principle of life within8 and they be led by the ,spirit4 #d4 ,whether or not there be a living to the glory of the ,lord ,redeemer4 ,and when by an impartial trial1 a discovery is made of the badness of our condition1 should we not be alarmed to look about us1 and to labour by all means for an outgate8 ,considering1 7#a47 ,how doleful and lamentable this condition is4 7#b47 ,how sad and dreadful the consequences of it are4 7#c47 ,how happy a thing it is to be delivered from this miserable and sinful condition4 ,and1 7#d47 ,how there is a possibility of outgate4 ,finally4 ,it may break a heart of stone to think1 how people that are in such a condition are so unwilling to come out of it3 ,for1 #a4 ,how unwilling are they once to suspect their condition1 or to suppose that it may be bad1 and that they may be yet unconverted8 #b4 ,how unwilling are they1 to sit down seriously to try and examine the matter1 and to lay their case to the touch-stone of the word8 #c4 ,yea1 how unwilling are they to hear any thing that may tend to awaken them1 or to discover unto them the deadness of their condition8 #d4 ,how ready to stifle challenges of conscience1 or any common motion of the ,spirit1 which tendeth to alarm their soul8 #e4 ,how great enemies are they to such ordinances as serve to awaken sleeping consciences8 #f4 ,and how do they hate such ministers as preach such doctrine as may serve to rouse them up1 and set them a-work about their own salvation8 ,,ii4 ,we learn hence1 that without ,christ there is no imaginary way of delivery out of this natural state of death4 ,no other name is given under heaven whereby we can be saved1 ,acts iv4 #ab2 and angels can make no help here1 nor can one of us deliver another2 the redemption of the soul is more precious than so1 ,psalm xlix4 #g1 #h4 ,nor is there any thing we can do for ourselves that will avail here2 all our prayers1 tears1 whippings1 fastings1 vows1 alms-deeds1 purposes1 promises1 resolutions1 abstinence from some evils1 outward amendments1 good morality and civility1 outward religiousness1 yea1 and if it were possible1 our keeping of the whole law1 will not help us out of this pit4 ,and we may weary ourselves in such exercises in vain2 for they will prove but bodily exercises that profit little4 ,and when in this way we have spent all our time1 parts1 spirits1 and labour1 we shall at length see and say1 that we have spent our money for that which is not bread4 ,this should put all of us to try what it is which we lean to for life2 and what it is1 the consideration whereof giveth us peace and quietness when the thoughts of death1 judgment1 hell1 and the wrath of ,god come upon us and trouble us3 ,for if it be any thing beside ,christ that our soul leaneth to1 and that we are comforted by1 and found all our hopes upon1 we will meet with a lamentable 7oh6 for ever lamentable67 disappointment4 ,be sure then1 that our hearts renounce all other ways and means of outgate out of this death1 besides ,jesus1 the resurrection and the life1 else it will not be well with us4 ,,iii4 ,we see here1 that delivery out of this natural state of death is only had by ,christ3 ,for he alone is the life1 and the life that is in him is suitable and excellent4 ,hence he is called the bread of life1 ,john vi4 #ce1 #dh4 ,the resurrection and the life1 ,john xi4 #be4 ,the water of life1 ,rev4 xxi4 #f1 and xxii4 #ag4 ,the tree of life1 ,rev4 xxii4 #b1 #ad4 ,the prince of life1 ,acts iii4 #ae4 ,our life1 ,col4 iii4 #d4 ,the word of life1 and life itself1 #a ,john i4 #a1 #b4 ,and as he is a suitable and excellent life1 so is he an all-sufficient and perfect life1 able every way to help us and to deliver us from all the parts of our death4 ,for1 #a4 ,he delivereth from the sentence of the law1 ,rom4 v4 #ag1 #ah1 undergoing the curse of the law1 and becoming a curse for us1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba4 #b4 ,he taketh away the curse and sting of all temporal plagues1 yea1 and of death itself1 causing all to work together for good to such as love him1 ,rom4 viii4 #bh4 ,he hath killed him that had the power of death1 that is1 the devil1 ,heb4 ii4 #ad2 and through him the sting of death1 which is sin1 is taken away1 #a ,cor4 xv4 #ef1 #eg4 #c4 ,he reconcileth to ,god1 taking away that distance and enmity1 #b ,cor4 v4 #bj2 and so he is our peace and peacemaker1 purchasing access to us to the ,father1 ,eph4 ii4 #ad1 #af2 iii4 #ab4 #d4 ,he also delivereth from the power of sin and corruption1 ,rom4 vii4 #bd4 #e4 ,and from all those spiritual strokes2 such as blindness1 hardness of heart1 c4 ,for he is our light2 and hath procured a new heart for us1 even a heart of flesh4 #f4 ,so delivereth he from hell fire1 having satisfied justice1 and having brought life and immortality to light2 and he giveth life eternal1 as we see1 ,rev4 ii4 #c4 ,oh6 it is sad1 that ,christ is so little made use of1 and that so many will forsake the fountain of living waters1 and dig to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water2 and slight1 despise1 and undervalue the gospel of ,christ1 which bringeth life and immortality to light4 ,oh6 if the consideration of this could move such as never found any change in themselves1 to run to1 and make use of ,jesus ,christ for life2 and would for this end1 7#a47 ,cry to him1 that he would make them sensible of their deadness1 and waken them out of their deep sleep4 7#b47 ,cry to him1 to set them a-work to renounce all other help beside his1 as being utterly unable to quicken and put life in them4 7#c47 ,cry to him1 that he would draw and determine their souls to a closing with him by faith alone1 to a hearing of his voice1 to an obeying of his call1 to a following of his direction1 to a giving up of themselves to him1 leaning to him1 and waiting for all from him alone3 in a word1 to take him for their life in all points1 and to lean to him for life1 and to expect it from him1 through faith in the promises of the gospel4 ,next4 ,this being spoken to the disciples1 whom we suppose to have been believers1 it will give us ground to speak of it1 in reference to believers1 and so yield three points of truth1 which we shall briefly touch1 and then come to speak of use-making of ,christ as the ,life1 in some particular cases4 ,first4 ,it is here clearly presupposed1 that even believers have need of ,christ to be life unto them2 and so have their fits of deadness4 ,if it were not so1 why would ,christ have said to believers1 that he was life8 ,and daily experience doth abundantly confirm it4 ,for1 #a4 ,they are oft so weak and unable to resist temptation1 or to go about any commanded duty1 as if they were quite dead4 #b4 ,they are oft so borne down with discouragement1 because of the strength of opposition which they meet with on all hands2 and because of the manifold disappointments which they meet with1 that they have neither heart nor hand2 and they faint and set up in the ways of the ,lord2 and cannot go through difficulties1 but oftentimes lie by4 #c4 ,through daily fighting1 and seeing no victory1 they become weary and faint-hearted2 so that they lie by as dead1 ,isa4 xl4 #bi4 #d4 ,they oft fall sick and decay1 and have need of restoration and quickening4 #e4 ,the want of the sense of ,god's favour1 and of the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost1 maketh them to dwine and droop1 and look out as dead4 #f4 ,while under soul desertions upon one account or other1 they look upon themselves as free among the dead1 that is1 as dead men1 of the society of the dead1 with ,heman1 ,psalm lxxxviii4 #g4 ,yea1 many times they are as dead men1 led captive in chains of unbelief and corruptions1 as we see ,david was1 when his heart panted1 and his strength failed him1 and the light of his eyes were gone from him1 ,psalm xxxviii4 #aj4 #h4 ,many times the frequent changes1 and ups and downs they meet with1 take all courage and heart from them1 that they become like men tossed at sea1 so as they have no more strength4 ,and many such things befall them1 which make them look as dead1 and to stand in need of quickening1 reviving and strengthening cordials from him who is the life4 ,and thus the ,lord thinketh good to dispense with his own people1 7#a47 ,that they may be kept humble1 and know themselves to be indigent creatures1 needing influences of life daily4 7#b47 ,that they may have many errands to him who is the life1 and have much to do with him1 and depend upon him continually4 7#c47 ,that he may show himself wonderful1 in and about them1 giving proof of his skill in quickening the dead1 and in bringing such through unto everlasting life1 who were daily1 as it were1 giving up the ghost1 and at the point of death4 7#d47 ,that heaven may be heaven2 that is1 a place where the weary are at rest1 ,job iii4 #ag2 and the troubled rest1 #b ,thes4 i4 #g2 and where the inhabitants shall not say they are sick1 ,isa4 xxxiii4 #bd4 7#e47 ,that they may be taught more the life of faith and of dependence on him1 and trained up in that way4 7#f47 ,that he may be owned1 acknowledged1 and submitted unto as a sovereign ,god1 doing what he will in heaven and in earth4 ,for all this1 there is no cause that any should take up any prejudice at ,christianity3 for1 for all this their life is sure1 and the outgate is sure and safe4 ,nor would they think it strange1 to see believers oft mourning and drooping1 seeing their case will oft fall for new supplies of life4 ,their fits are not known to every one2 nor doth every one know what lieth sometimes at their heart2 nor would they think it such an easy matter to win to heaven as they imagine2 and so deceive themselves4 ,the righteous are saved through many deaths4 ,and as for believers1 they would not think it strange to meet with such fits of deadness2 nor thence conclude1 that all their former work was but delusion1 and that they are still in the state of nature4 ,but rather observe the wisdom1 faithfulness1 and power of ,god in bringing their broken ship through so much broken water1 yea1 and shipwrecks2 and his goodness in ordering matters so as they shall be kept humble1 watchful1 diligent and constant in dependence upon him who is and must be their life1 first and last4 ,and hence learn a necessity of living always near to ,christ1 and depending constantly upon him by faith2 for he being their life1 they cannot be without him1 but they must die and decay4 ,second4 ,we hence learn1 that under all these fits of deadness to which his people are subject1 nothing without ,christ will help3 ,not1 #a4 ,all their pains in and about ordinary means1 prayer1 reading1 hearing1 meditation1 conference1 c4 ,they will all cry out1 that help is not in them3 for he is the life4 #b4 ,nor extraordinary duties1 such as fasting and prayer1 and vows1--these will never revive and quicken a drooping or fainting sickly soul3 for they are not ,christ1 nor the life4 #c4 ,nor will a stout courageous spirit and resolution of heart avail4 ,if he who is the ,life1 breathe not1 all that will melt away and evanish4 #d4 ,nor will the stock of habitual grace which remaineth in the soul1 be sufficient to quicken and revive the sick soul1 if the ,life breathe not on these habits2 and if new influences of life and strength flow not in upon the soul1 and new rays come not down from this ,sun of ,righteousness to warm the frozen soul1 the habits will lie by as dead4 #e4 ,far less will their great gifts and endowments help them out of that dead condition2 all their light and knowledge1 without the influences of this ,life1 will prove weak and insufficient for this end and purpose4 #f4 ,nor will sound1 pure and lively-like ordinances work out this effect2 for till he look down1 all these ordinances may prove dead and deadening to them4 ,it were good if believers were living under the conviction of this daily1 and by their practice and carriage declaring if they believe1 that ,christ only is the ,life1 and that they must live in him1 and be quickened and revived through him alone4 ,third4 ,we see hence1 that ,christ is the ,life1 that is1 one that sufficiently1 yea1 and abundantly can help the believer while under those fits of deadness which have been mentioned1 and the like4 ,there is in him a rich supply of things that tend to revive1 encourage1 strengthen and enliven a soul under spiritual deadness and fainting4 ,therefore is he called the ,life2 as having in him all that which is necessary for and answerable to souls under spiritual sicknesses1 distempers1 desertions1 fainting and swooning fits1 c41 for with him is the fountain of life1 ,psalm xxxvi4 #i2 and he it is that upholdeth the soul in life1 ,psalm lxvi4 #i2 and can command the blessing1 even life for ever more1 ,psalm cxxxiii4 #c4 ,for further clearing of this1 we would consider those things1 #a4 ,that he is ,god1 equal with the ,father in power and glory1 and thereby hath life in himself1 ,john v4 #bf2 and can quicken whom he will1 ver4 #ba4 ,by this he proveth his own ,godhead and equality with the ,father2 so1 ,john i4 #d1 it is said1 that in him was life1 and that life was the light of men1 whereby also his ,godhead is confirmed4 ,this should be firmly believed1 and rooted in our hearts1 as being the ground of all our hope1 comfort1 and life3 ,for1 were it not so1 that our ,mediator were the true ,god1 all our hopes were gone1 our comforts could not be long lived1 and our life were extinct4 #b4 ,as ,mediator ,god-man1 he is fully and thoroughly furnished to quicken and enliven his members and followers1 first and last2 and all along their life must be hid with ,christ in ,god2 for in him dwelleth the ,fulness of the ,godhead bodily1 ,col4 ii4 #i2 as ,mediator1 he is called a tree of life1 ,prov4 iii4 #ah2 quickening and enlivening all that feed upon him2 and the bread of life1 ,john vi4 #ce1 #dh4 ,yea1 because of power and authority to command life to the dead soul1 he is called the ,prince of life1 ,acts iii4 #ae2 and as a living1 quickening stone1 he giveth life to all that are built upon him1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #d4 ,yea1 as being fully fitted and furnished for this work1 he calleth himself the resurrection and the life1 ,john xi4 #be4 ,this should be riveted in our hearts1 as a comfortable and encouraging truth4 #c4 ,of this stock of life and quickening and reviving grace which he hath got1 and is furnished withal as ,mediator and ,redeemer of his people1 he is communicative1--of his fulness do we receive1 and grace for grace1 ,john i4 #af4 ,he got it that he might give it out1 and that from him as a head it might flow unto his members1 and therefore he is the bread that came down from heaven1 and giveth life to the world1 ,john vi4 #ce4 ,yea1 he giveth eternal life to all his sheep1 ,john x4 #bh2 and he is come for this end1 that his sheep might have life1 ,john x4 #aj4 ,therefore hath he taken on such relations1 as may give ground of confirmation of this1 as of a head1 of a stock or root1 and the like4 ,this consideration is strengthening and reviving4 #d4 ,he communicateth of this stock of life1 and of reviving strength1 which he hath most sweetly and on most easy terms4 ,so that1 7#a47 ,such as seek him shall find life by him1 ,psalm lxix4 #cb4 7#b47 ,yea1 such as know him shall not miss life1 ,john xvii4 #c4 #a ,john v4 #bj4 7#c47 ,if we will believe on him and rest upon him1 we have life first and last1 ,john iii4 #ae1 #af1 #cf2 vi4 #dj1 #dg4 #a ,tim4 i4 #af4 7#d47 ,if we will come to him1 ,john v4 #dj1 and cast our dead soul upon him1 we shall live4 7#e47 ,if we will hear his voice1 ,isa4 lv4 #c1 and receive his instructions1 we shall live2 for they are the instructions of life4 7#f47 ,nay1 if the soul be so dead1 that it can neither walk nor hear1 if it can but look to him1 he will give life1 ,isa4 xlv4 #bb4 7#g47 ,and if the soul be so weak1 that it cannot look1 nor lift up its eyes2 yet if it be willing1 he will come with life4 ,rev4 xxii4 #ag4 ,oh1 if this were believed6 #e4 ,as he is communicative of that life which he hath gotten as head1 and that upon easy terms2 so he giveth out of that life liberally1 largely1 abundantly1 yea1 more abundantly1 ,john x4 #aj4 ,the water of life which he giveth1 is a well of water springing up to everlasting life1 ,john iv4 #ad4 ,therefore he alloweth his friends to drink abundantly1 ,cant4 v4 #a4 #f4 ,yet it would be remembered1 that he is ,lord and master thereof1 and ,prince of this life1 and so may dispense it and give it out1 in what measure he seeth fit2 and he is wise to measure out best for his own glory1 and to their advantage4 #g4 ,all this life is sure in him1--none of his shall be disappointed thereof4 ,his offices1 which he hath taken on2 and his commission1 which he hath of the ,father1 abundantly clear this2 and love to his1 will not suffer him to keep up any thing that is for their advantage4 ,he is faithful in his house as a son1 and will do all that was committed unto him to do4 ,the whole transaction of the covenant of redemption1 and suretyship1 and all the promises of the new covenant of grace1 confirm this to be a sure truth2 so that they that have him have life1 #a ,john v4 #ab4 ,prov4 viii4 #ce4 #h4 ,yea1 all that is in ,christ contributeth to this life and quickening4 ,his words and doctrine are the words of eternal life1 ,john vi4 #fc1 #fh4 ,phil4 ii4 #af4 ,his works and ways are the ways of life1 ,acts ii4 #bh4 ,his natures1 offices1 sufferings1 actings1 all he did as ,mediator1 concur to the quickening and enlivening of a poor dead soul4 #i4 ,this fulness of life which he hath1 is fully suited to the believer's condition1 in all points1 as we shall hear4 #aj4 ,this life is eminently and transcendently in him1 and exclusively of all others4 ,it is in him1 and in him alone2 and it is in him in a most excellent manner3 ,so that he is the life1 in the abstract2 not only a living head1 and an enlivening head2 but life itself1 the life1 the resurrection and the life4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,some ,,general ,,uses4 ,before we come to speak of some particular cases of deadness1 wherein believers are to make use of ,christ as the ,life1 we shall first propose some useful consequences and deductions from what hath been spoken of this life2 and1 ,i4 ,the faith of those things1 which have been mentioned1 would be of great use and advantage to believers2 and therefore they should study to have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts1 and a deep impression thereof on their spirits1 to the end1 that1 #a4 ,be their case and condition what it will1 they might be kept from despair1 and despondency of spirit1 from giving over their case as hopeless2 and from looking upon themselves as irremediably gone4 ,the faith of ,christ being life1 and the life1 would keep up the soul in hope1 and cause it say1--how dead soever my case be1 yet life can help me1 and he who is the resurrection and the life1 can recover me4 #b4 ,yea1 be their case and condition what it will1 they would have here some ground of encouragement1 to go to him with their dead soul1 and to look to him for help1 seeing he is the ,life1 as ,mediator1 to the end he might enliven and quicken his dead1 fainting1 swooning members1 and to recover them from their deadness4 #c4 ,they might be freed from many scruples and objections that scar and discourage them4 ,this one truth believed would clear up the way so1 as that such things1 as would have been impediments and objections before1 shall evanish1 and be rolled out of the way now3 ,such as1 the objections taken from their own worthlessness1 their long continuance in that dead condition1 and the like4 #d4 ,they might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plague and evil of jealousy1 whereby the soul is oft kept back from coming to ,christ3 ,for they fear he will not make them welcome2 they doubt of his love and tenderness1 and question his pity and compassion2 yea1 their jealousy maketh them to doubt of his faithfulness2 so that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousy1 and deliver the soul therefrom1 and open a way for the soul to come forward with boldness and confidence4 #e4 ,they might also be hereby helped to wait with patience1 and to be still and quiet under the ,lord's various dispensations2 so as they would not fret nor repine against him1 knowing that he would prove himself to be ,life1 even the ,life1 in his own good time2 so that the soul would patiently wait at his door1 till he were pleased to look out1 and with his look convey life into their dead soul4 #f4 ,they might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any help from any other quarter3 knowing that he alone is the ,life2 and so that help can no where else be had4 ,the faith of this truth would guard from any sinistrous ways which the soul1 in a time of strait1 is ready to run to for relief3 for hereby would it see that neither instruments nor means1 nor outward administrations1 nor any thing of that kind1 can quicken their dead soul2 and that he1 and he alone must breathe in life into them1 as at first1 so now again4 ,,ii4 ,may we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the goodness and rich bounty of ,god towards his people1 who hath found out and condescended upon such a sure1 safe1 and satisfying way1 whereby he becometh all things to his people which they stand in need of2 and that notwithstanding1 #a4 ,that we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his hands4 #b4 ,that we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts beside him3 ,o how much corruption1 sin and death lodge within our souls6 and how more desirous are we ofttimes of death than of life6 #c4 ,that we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have granted unto us2 yea1 many a time we abuse them2 and this he did foresee1 and yet notwithstanding would condescend unto us4 #d4 ,that we do little express our thankfulness for such mercies4 ,but not for our sakes hath he done this1 but for his own name's sake3 ,for noble and holy ends hath he resolved on this course2 as1 7#a47 ,that he might be all in all1 ,col4 iii4 #aa1 and they nothing2 that he alone might fill all in all1 ,eph4 i4 ult41 and they be empty and nothing without him4 7#b47 ,that he might wear the glory of all2 for of him1 and through him1 and to him are all things1 ,rom4 xi4 #cf1 and that no man might share therein4 7#c47 ,that man might be his everlasting debtor1 and cast down1 in testimony thereof1 his crown at his feet1 who sitteth on the throne1 as those did1 ,rev4 iv4 #aj1 and might cry out with these same elders1 ver4 #aa1 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord1 to receive glory1 and honour1 and power1 c42 and with those1 chap4 v4 #ab1 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain1 to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and blessing4 7#d47 ,that man's mouth might be stopped for ever1 and all boasting excluded2 for man is a proud creature1 and ready to boast of that which is nothing and vanity4 ,now ,god hath chosen this noble way of the covenant of grace1 that no man might boast any more4 ,where is boasting then8 ,it is excluded4 ,by what law8 ,by the law of works8 no1 but by the law of faith1 saith the apostle1 ,rom4 iii4 #bd4 7#e47 ,that all might be sure to the poor chosen believer4 ,the ,lord will not have the stock of life1 any longer to be in a man's own hand3 for even ,adam1 in the state of innocency1 could not use it well1 but made shipwreck thereof1 and turned a bankrupt2 much more would man now do so1 in this state of sin1 in which he lieth at present1 therefore hath ,god1 out of love and tenderness to his chosen ones1 put all their stock in the hand of ,christ1 who is better able to manage it1 to ,god's glory and man's advantage1 being faithful in all things1 and a trusty servant1 having the fulness of the ,godhead dwelling in him bodily4 ,therefore1 saith the apostle1 ,rom4 iv4 #af4 it is of faith1 that it might be by grace2 to the end1 the promises might be sure to all the seed4 7#f47 ,that believers might have strong consolation1 notwithstanding of all the opposition of enemies without and within1 when they see that now their life is hid with ,christ in ,god1 ,col4 iii4 #c1 and that their life is in their head1 they will not fear so much devils and men without1 nor their own dead and corrupt hearts within4 ,,iii4 ,how inexcusable must all such be1 #a4 ,who will not lay hold on this life1 on ,jesus who is the ,life1 sure life1 yea1 everlasting life4 #b4 ,who seek life any other way1 than by and through him who is the ,life4 #c4 ,who oppose this way of life1 and not only reject the offers of it1 but prove enemies to it1 and to all that carry it or preach it4 ,,iv4 ,here is strong encouragement to all that would be at heaven1 to enter into this gospel1 which is a way of life2 such need not fear that their salvation shall not be advanced2 let ,satan and all their adversaries do what they can1 all that enter into this way shall live4 ,for the way itself is life1 and nothing but life4 ,so that here all objections are obviated2 life can answer all4 ,if the believer fear1 that he shall never win through difficulties1 he shall die by the way2 or by fainting1 succumbing and swooning1 dishonour the profession1 and at length fall off and apostatize1 or despair and give over all hope2 here is that which may answer and obviate all1 ,i am the life2 and who can perish in the way which is the way of life1 an enlivening way1 yea1 the way which is life itself2 yea1 the life in a singular and eminent manner8 ,v4 ,here is ground of reproof even of believers1 who1 though they have come to ,christ1 yet do not live in him as they ought1 do not walk in him with that liveliness and activity which is called for2 but1 #a4 ,lean too much to their own understanding1 gifts or graces2 and think thereby to ride out storms1 and to wide through all difficulties1 while as1 if he who is the ,life do not breathe upon us1 all that will fail us in the day of trial4 ,our understanding and parts or gifts may dry up1 and our graces may wither and decay1 and go backward4 #b4 ,rest too much on duties2 when they should in them go to him who is the ,life4 ,for only in him is life to be had2 and him should they seek to in the ordinances1 that they might have life from him in those outward duties2 and this appeareth in their way of going about duties1 without that dependence on him1 and single eyeing of him1 which is called for4 ,as also by their freting and repining1 when duties do not their business1 as if life lay all in duties2 and concluding all will be right1 because they get duties somewhat tolerably performed2 and1 on the contrary1 desponding1 when duties fall heavy on them1 and they find themselves indisposed for duty4 ,all which clearly evinceth1 that they lay too much weight on duties2 while as it would be otherwise with them1 if they were purely depending on ,christ1 and looking for all from him4 #c4 ,despond too soon1 because they get not help and relief instantly2 or because they are not preserved from every degree of fainting4 #d4 ,neglect to make use of him1 and to come to him with all their wants1 failings and necessities1 as they ought2 or come not with that freedom and boldness which the gospel grounds allow4 ,,vi4 ,this preacheth out the woful misery of such as are strangers to ,christ4 ,for being strangers to the ,life1 they have no life1 they are dead1 and death is engraven on all they do2 even though1 #a4 ,they should be very diligent in external duties1 yea1 and outstrip many true believers2 as the ,pharisees had their fasts twice a-week1 ,luke xviii4 #b4 ,they should be eminently gifted1 able to instruct others1 and to speak of the mysteries of the gospel1 to purpose and to edification4 ,for such gifts of knowledge and utterance may be1 where the lively operations of the grace of ,christ are not1 and consequently where ,christ is not1 as the ,life4 #c4 ,they should seem eminent in all their outward carriage1 and seem to carry most christianly in all their walk1 and appear most devout in the matter of worship4 #d4 ,and they should have something more than ordinary2 even taste of the heavenly gift1 and be made partakers of extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost2 yea1 and taste the good word of ,god1 and the powers of the world to come1 ,heb4 vi4 #d1 #e4 ,,vii4 ,this discovereth the noble advantage of such as have accepted of ,christ for their life4 ,their condition is happy1 sure1 desirable1 and thriving2 for ,christ is theirs1 and life is theirs2 because ,christ1 who is the ,life1 is theirs4 ,obj4 #a4 ,but some wicked persons may say1 ,we see not that happy and advantageous condition of such as go for believers2 for we observe them to be as little lively ofttimes as others1 and as unfit for duties2 yea1 and sometimes as much subject to sin and corruption as others4 ,ans4 #a4 ,however it be with them1 either in thine eyes1 or possibly in their own sometimes1 yet thou mayest hold thy peace2 for in their worst condition1 they would not exchange with thee for a world2 in their deadest-like condition1 they are not void of all life1 as thou art1 notwithstanding all thy motions1 and seeming activeness in duty2 because all thy motion in and about duty is but like the moving of children's puppets1 caused by external motives1 such as a name1 applause1 peace from a natural conscience1 or the like2 and not from any inward principle of grace and life4 #b4 ,howbeit they sometimes seem to be dead1 yet they are not always so2 life doth really work sometimes in them2 whereas there was never any true or kindly motion of life in thee4 #c4 ,there may be more life in them1 yea1 life in motion1 when they seem to be overcome with some lusts or corruption1 yea1 when really they are overcome1 than beholders that are strangers to the heart can observe4 ,for when temptation is violent1 as having the advantage of the time and place1 of the constitution of the body1 and the like1 it argueth no small degree of life1 and of life in motion1 to make some resistance and opposition thereunto1 though at length he should be overcome thereby4 ,and this opposition and resistance1 flowing from a principle of grace1 speaketh out life1 though corruption1 having the advantage1 should at that time overpower the motion of life1 and carry the man away4 #d4 ,if it be not otherwise with believers than is objected1 they may blame themselves1 for not improving ,christ better for life4 ,object4 ,but some who are true believers will object the same1 and cry out of themselves as dead2 and say1 ,they find not that liveliness and activity in their souls1 that will evidence ,christ1 the ,life1 dwelling and working in them4 ,ans4 ,it may be they prejudge themselves of that lively frame they might enjoy1 and so wrong themselves3 #a4 ,in not exercising faith on ,christ1 and drawing life from him and through him4 ,the life which they live should be by faith1 ,gal4 ii4 #bj4 ,how then can such as do not eat become fat8 by faith we feed on ,christ4 #b4 ,in not watching1 but giving way to security1 and thereby encouraging and strengthening the adversary1 as we see in ,david2 when they stand not on their watch-tower1 they invite ,satan to set on2 and he is vigilant enough1 and knoweth how to take his advantage1 and to improve his opportunity4 #c4 ,in giving way to laziness and not stirring up themselves1 as we see in the bride1 ,cant4 iii4 #a2 v4 #c2 when they stir not up the grace of ,god which is in them1 how can they be lively8 ,if grace be laid by1 it will contract rust4 ,the best way to keep grace lively1 is to keep it in exercise1 how little soever it be4 #d4 ,by their rashness1 walking without fear1 as is to be observed in ,peter1 when he slipped so foully4 ,when through their want of circumspection1 they precipitate themselves into danger1 and cast themselves among their enemies' hands1 is it any wonder1 that it go not with them as they would2 and that they provoke ,god to leave them to themselves2 that they may know what they are1 and learn afterwards not to tempt the ,lord1 and to walk more circumspectly8 #e4 ,by leaning too much to their attainments1 and not looking out for new influences of grace and life4 ,hereby they provoke ,god to let them know to their expense1 that for as great a length as they are come1 they must live by faith1 and be quickened by new influences from the ,spirit of life4 #f4 ,so they may wrong themselves through their ignorance of ,christ1 and of the way of making use of him2 and if they1 through unacquaintedness with ,christ and the right way of improving the fulness that is in him1 miss the fruit and advantage which otherwise they might have1 they can only blame themselves4 #g4 ,they may also prejudge themselves by their self-love1 self-esteem1 self-seeking1 self-pleasing1 c41 which piece and piece will draw them off ,christ1 and cause them forget the way of sucking life from him1 who is the fountain of life4 #h4 ,when they give way to small sins1 they open a door to greater2 and they lose thereby their tenderness1 and so provoke the ,lord to withdraw2 and this is another way1 whereby they prejudge themselves of that benefit of liveliness1 which they might otherwise have4 #i4 ,so also by worldly-mindedness1 which alienateth their mind from ,god2 and1 #aj4 ,by their impatience1 and fretting1 and repining against ,god1 and his wise dispensations1 they also prejudge and wrong themselves2 for while they are in that mood1 they cannot with due composedness of ,spirit1 go to ,christ1 and draw life from him through faith4 ,obj4 #c4 ,but is there not even some of those who are most tender1 that complain of their deadness and shortcomings8 ,ans4 #a4 ,it may be that they complain without cause2 and that they have more cause of rejoicing1 and of blessing the ,lord for what he hath done to them1 than of complaining4 #b4 ,their complaining will not prove the want of life1 but rather the contrary4 ,for when they complain most1 they must be most sensible if their complaints be real1 and not merely for a fashion2 and sense is a manifest evidence of life4 #c4 ,it would be remembered1 that the ,lord can make their failings and shortcomings contribute to the furthering of their life1 as we see it did in ,peter4 #d4 ,it would also be remembered1 that ,christ doth not distribute and give out of this life to all his members and followers1 in a like measure2 but to some more1 and to others less1 according as he seeth it meet and convenient1 both for his own glory and their good1 ,he hath more service for some than for others2 and some he will employ in greater and more difficult work1 which will call for more life2 and others he will employ in common work1 which will not call for such an eminent degree of life4 #e4 ,and upon the same account1 he may think it good to give to the same person a larger measure of grace at one time than at another4 #f4 ,and that for wise reasons and noble ends2 as1 7#a47 ,that all may see how absolute he is in his dispensations2 a sovereign that doth with his own what he will1 and will not give an account of any of his ways or communications to us4 7#b47 ,that we may learn submission1 and quietly to stoop before him1 whatever measure he be pleased to dispense towards us4 7#c47 ,that we may learn to depend upon him more closely all along2 in all our ways to acknowledge him4 7#d47 ,that we may learn to exercise patience1 which must have its perfect work1 in waiting upon him as a great king4 ,this is his glory1 and it is the testifying of our homage to him4 7#e47 ,he will train us up so as to be well contented and satisfied1 if he bring us home at length1 though not with such a convoy of the graces of his ,spirit as we would wish4 7#f47 ,that we may see and read our daily obligation to ,christ our life1 and the daily need we have of his keeping our life in1 by fresh gales of his ,spirit1 and new heavenly influences4 7#g47 ,and that getting new proofs of his kindness and faithfulness1 we may give him new songs of praise daily1 and so express our thankfulness to him1 which will tend to set forth his glory4 ,,viii4 ,this may point out unto believers1 several duties to which they are called4 ,we shall name some few of many2 as1 #a4 ,that they should rejoice1 and be comforted in the thoughts of this1 that they have such a complete ,mediator1 one that is thoroughly furnished1 and made all things for them2 not only the ,way1 and the ,truth1 but the ,life also4 #b4 ,the thoughts of this should also stir up the wondering at the wisdom1 graciousness1 and goodness of ,god2 and to thankfulness for providing such an all-sufficient way for them4 #c4 ,this should also encourage them under all temptations1 faintings1 backsets1 and fits of deadness that they fall into1 that there is one who is the ,life2 and that he whom their soul hath chosen is the ,life1 and so fully able to quicken and enliven them4 #d4 ,this should teach them humility1 and not to be proud of any thing they have or do2 for it is he1 who is the ,life1 who keepeth them in life1 and helpeth them to any duty2 yea1 it is life that worketh all in them4 #e4 ,and likewise it should teach them to acknowledge him1 to whom they are obliged for any thing they do1 for any life they have1 or any acts or fruits of life that appear in them2 and to be thankful to him therefor4 #f4 ,and mainly1 they should here read their obligation and duty1 to improve this advantage1 and to draw life out of this fountain1 and so live by this life2 act and do all in and through this life2 and so be quickened by this life1 in all their fits of deadness2 and for this cause would keep those things in mind3 7#a47 ,that they should live in a constant conviction of their own weakness1 deadness1 and inability to do any acts of life of themselves2 and far less to recover themselves out of any distemper and fit of deadness which they fall into4 7#b47 ,that they should live in the faith of this1 that there is life enough in him1 who is the ,life1 to do their business4 ,they should be persuaded of his all-sufficiency4 7#c47 ,that he is not only an all-sufficient deliverer1 able to deliver a soul that is1 as it were1 rotting in the grave1 and to cause the dead to hear his voice and live2 but also most willing and ready to answer them in all their necessities1 according to wisdom1 and as he seeth it for his glory1 and their soul's advantage4 ,the faith of this is necessary1 and will be very encouraging4 7#d47 ,that they should go to him1 how dead-like soever their condition be1 and by faith roll their dead case upon him1 who is the ,life4 7#e47 ,that they should pray upon the promises of grace and influence1 even out of the belly of hell1 or of the grave1 with ,jonah1 chap4 ii4 #b2 for he is faithful and true1 and tender-hearted1 and will hear and give a good answer at length4 7#f47 ,that in the exercise of faith and prayer1 they should wait with patience1 till he be pleased to come1 and breathe upon the dry bones1 and till the ,sun of ,righteousness arise on their souls with healing in his wings4 ,but of this more particularly in the following cases1 which now we come to speak a little unto1 of purpose to clear more fully how the believer is to make use of ,christ as the ,life1 when he is under some one distemper or other1 that calleth for life and quickening from ,christ the ,life4 ,we cannot handle distinctly all the particular cases which maybe brought under this head2 it will suffice1 for clearing of this great duty1 to speak to some few4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,life1 ,,when ,,the ,,believer ,,is ,,so ,,sitten-,,up ,,in ,,the ,,ways ,,of ,,god1 ,,that ,,he ,,can ,,do ,,nothing4 ,sometimes the believer is under such a distemper of weakness and deadness1 that there is almost no commanded duty that he can go about2 his heart and all is so dead1 that he cannot so much as groan under that deadness4 ,yea1 he may be under such a decay1 that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet in nature2 and be not only unable to go actively and lively about commanded duties1 yea1 or to wrestle from under that deadness2 but also be so dead1 that he shall scarce have any effectual desire or longing to be out of that condition4 ,now1 in speaking to the use-making of ,christ for quickening in this dead case1 we shall do those things3 #a4 ,for clearing of the case1 we shall show how probably it is brought on4 #b4 ,how ,christ is life to the soul in such a case as this4 #c4 ,how the believer is to make use of ,christ for the life1 in this case2 and1 #d4 ,further clear the matter1 by answering a question or two4 ,as to the first1 such a distemper as this may be brought upon the soul1 #a4 ,through some strong and violent temptation from without1 meeting with some evil disposition of the heart within1 and so surprising and overpowering the poor soul1 as we see in ,david and ,peter4 #b4 ,through the cunning and sleight of ,satan1 stealing the believer1 that is not watchful enough1 insensibly off his feet1 and singing him asleep by degrees4 #c4 ,through carelessness1 in not adverting at first to the beginnings and first degrees of this deadness and upsitting1 when the heart beginneth to grow formal and superficial in duties1 and to be satisfied with a perfunctorious performance1 without life and sense4 #d4 ,through torturing of conscience1 in light and smaller matters2 for this may provoke ,god to let conscience fall asleep1 and so the soul become more untender1 and scruple little1 at length1 at great matters2 and thus deadness may come to a height1 ,god ordering it so1 for a further punishment to them1 for their untenderness and uncircumspectness4 #e4 ,through their not stirring up themselves1 and shaking off that spirit of laziness and drowsiness1 when it first seizeth upon them2 but1 with the sluggard1 yet another slumber1 and another sleep1 and a folding of the hands to sleep4 #f4 ,continuing in some known sin1 and not repenting of it1 may bring on this distemper1 as may be observed in ,david4 ,as to the second particular1 ,christ is life to the soul in this case2 in that1 #a4 ,he keepeth possession of the soul2 for the seed remaineth1 the root abideth fast in the ground2 there is life still at the heart1 though the man make no motion1 like one in a deep sleep1 or in a swoon1 yet life is not away4 #b4 ,he in due time awakeneth1 and rouseth up the soul1 and so recovereth it out of that condition1 by some means or other1 either by some alarm of judgment and terror1 as he did ,david2 or dispensation of mercy and tenderness1 as he did ,peter2 and usually he recovereth the soul1 7#a47 ,by discovering something of this condition1 by giving so much sense and knowledge1 and sending so much light1 as will let the soul see that it is not well1 and that it is under that distemper of lifelessness4 7#b47 ,by the discovering the dreadfulness of such a condition1 and how hazardous it is to continue therein4 7#c47 ,by putting the soul in mind1 that he is the life and the resurrection2 and through the stirring up of grace1 causing the soul to look to him for quickening and outgate4 7#d47 ,by raising up the soul at length out of that drowsiness1 and sluggish folding of the hands to sleep1 and out of that deep security1 and putting it into a more lively1 vigilant1 and active frame4 ,as to the third1 the believer that would make use of ,christ1 for a recovery out of this condition1 would mind those duties3 #a4 ,he would look to ,christ1 as the light of men1 and the enlightener of the blind2 to the end1 he may get a better and a more thorough discovery of his condition2 for it is half health here to be sensible of this disease4 ,the soul that is once brought to sense1 is half recovered of this fever and lethargy4 #b4 ,he would eye ,christ as ,god1 able to cause the dead and dry bones to live1 as ,ezek4 chap4 xxvii42 and this will keep from despondency and despair2 yea1 it will make the poor believer conceive hope1 when he seeth that his physician is ,god1 to whom nothing is impossible4 #c4 ,he would look to him also1 as head and husband1 and life to the poor soul that adhereth to him2 and this will strengthen his hope and expectation2 for he will see that ,christ is engaged 7to speak so7 in point of honour1 to quicken a poor dead and lifeless member2 for the life in the head is for the good of the whole body1 and of every member of the body1 that is not quite cut off4 ,and the good that is in the husband is forthcoming for the relief of the poor wife1 that hath not yet got a bill of divorce4 ,and ,christ being life and the ,life1 he must be appointed for the relief1 the quickening and recovering from death of such as are given to him1 that they may be finally raised up at the last day2 he must present all his members lively in that day4 #d4 ,he would by faith wrap himself up in the promises1 and lie before this ,sun of ,righteousness1 till the heat of his beams thaw his frozen heart1 and bring warmth into his cold and dead soul1 and thus renew his grips of him1 accepting of him as the ,life1 and as his life4 ,christ himself tells us1 ,john xi4 #dj1 that this is the ,father's will1 that hath sent him1 that every one that seeth the ,son1 and believeth on him1 might have everlasting life1 and he will raise him up at the last day4 ,faith closing with him1 as it was the mean of life at first1 so it will be the mean of recovery out of a dead distemper afterwards4 #e4 ,he would mourn for such sins and provocations1 as he discovereth in himself to have caused and brought on this distemper4 ,repentance and godly sorrow for such evils1 as have sinned ,christ and life away1 is a way to bring life back again4 #f4 ,he would be sure to harbour no known sin in his soul1 but to set himself against every known evil1 as an enemy to the life and recovery which he is seeking4 #g4 ,he must wait on ,christ his life1 in the appointed means2 for that is the will of the ,lord1 that he should be waited upon there1 and sought for there4 ,there is little hopes of recovery for such as lay aside the ordinances4 ,though the ordinances without him cannot revive or quicken a poor soul1 yet he hath condescended so far as to come with life to his people in and through the ordinances1 and hath appointed us to wait for him there2 we must be willing to accept of all his condescensions of love1 and seek and wait for him there1 where he hath said he will be found4 #h4 ,in going about those ordinances of life1 he would beware of putting them in ,christ's room1 i4e4 he would beware of thinking that ordinances will do his business2 as some ignorantly do1 who think that by praying so often a-day1 and reading so much1 and hearing so much1 they shall recover their lost lively frame1 when1 alas6 all the ordinances1 without him1 signify nothing4 ,they1 without him1 are cold and lifeless1 and can never bring heat and warmth to a cold soul4 ,it is he in the ordinances whom we are to seek1 and from whom alone life is to be expected1 and none else4 #i4 ,though life lieth not in the ordinances as separated from ,christ1 and life is to be expected from him alone1 yet he would beware of going about the ordinances in a careless1 superficial1 and indifferent manner3 for this will argue little desire after life1 and will bring on more deadness4 ,the ordinances then should be gone about seriously1 diligently1 and with great carefulness1 yea1 with such earnestness as if life were not about the ordinances at all4 ,this is the right way of going about the ordinances4 #aj4 ,he must in all this wait with patience1 without fretting or quarrelling with him for his delaying to come4 ,he must wait with much humility4 ,it becometh not him who hath1 through his folly1 sinned life away1 to quarrel now with ,god1 because he restoreth him not again to life at the first asking4 ,he may be glad if at length1 after long seeking1 waiting1 and much diligence1 he come and restore to him the joy of salvation1 and if he be not made to lie as bedrid all his days1 for a monument of folly in sinning away his life1 strength1 and legs as he did4 #aa4 ,he must beware of giving way to any thing that may increase or continue this deadness2 such as untenderness in his walk1 unwatchfulness1 negligence1 and carelessness2 and especially he must beware not to provoke ,god by sinning against light4 #ab4 ,he would also beware of limiting the ,lord to any set measure of life and strength3 for it becometh not beggars to be carvers1 far less such beggars as through folly have sinned away a good portion4 ,it was not for the prodigal to seek a new patrimony1 after he had dilapidated the former2 it might suffice him to be made as a servant4 #ac4 ,he would use well any small measure of life he getteth1 for ,god and his glory2 getteth he but one talent1 he should use it that he may gain thereby3 we say1 use limbs and have limbs1 use strength and have it4 ,this will be the way to get more4 #ad4 ,he would be taking on the vows of the ,lord1 and that in the ,lord1 to walk more watchful in time coming1 charging all within and without not to stir or provoke the ,lord to depart further or to scare him from coming to the soul4 ,as to the last particular1 ,if it be inquired1 #a4 ,what can that soul do that is not sensible of this deadness and weakness8 ,ans4 ,though there be not any real sense and feeling of this condition1 yet there may be a suspicion that all is not right2 and if this be1 the soul must look out to ,christ for the life of sense and for a sight of the provocations that have brought on that condition4 ,he that is the ,life must recover the very beginnings of life2 and when the soul winneth to any real apprehension and sense of this deadness1 it must follow the course formerly prescribed for a recovery4 #b4 ,but it will be asked1 how can a soul act faith in such a case8 ,and if it cannot act faith1 how can it come to ,christ and make use of him8 ,ans4 ,it is true1 while the soul is in that case1 it cannot act a strong and lively faith2 yet it can act a weak and a sickly faith2 and a weak faith and a sickly faith can lay hold on an enlivening ,christ1 and so bring in more strength and life to the soul4 ,if the soul be so weak as that it cannot grip1 yet it can look to him that can quicken the dead and hath helped many a poor soul before out of a dead condition3 or if it cannot do so much as look1 yet it may give an half-look1 and lie before him who waiteth to be gracious2 and sustain itself if it can get no more1 with a maybe he shall come4 #c4 ,but further1 it may be asked1 what can the soul do1 when1 after all this1 it findeth no help or supply1 but deadness remaining1 yea1 and it may be1 growing8 ,ans4 ,the soul in that case must lie at his door1 waiting for his salvation1 and resolving1 if no better may be1 to die at his door1 and leave no approved means or commanded duty unessayed1 that it may recover its former vigour1 activity and strength4 ,and while the believer is waiting thus1 he is at his duty2 and this may yield him peace1 and he may be sure that he shall never be ashamed1 ,psalm xxv4 #c2 lxix4 #f4 ,isa4 #a4 #ah4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,to ,,be ,,made ,,use ,,of ,,as ,,our ,,life1 ,,in ,,case ,,of ,,heartlessness ,,and ,,fainting ,,through ,,discouragements4 ,there is another evil and distemper which believers are subject to1 and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements1 which make them so heartless that they can do nothing2 yea1 and to sit up1 as if they were dead4 ,the question then is1 how such a soul shall make use of ,christ as in the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting1 and win over those discouragements3 for satisfaction to which we shall1 #a4 ,name some of those discouragements which occasion this4 #b4 ,show what ,christ hath done to remove all those discouragements4 #c4 ,show how the soul should make use of ,christ for life in this case2 and1 #d4 ,add a few words of caution4 ,as to the first1 there are several things which may give occasion to this distemper2 we shall name those few3 #a4 ,the sense of a strong1 active1 lively1 and continually stirring body of death1 and that notwithstanding of means used to bear it down and kill it4 ,this is very discouraging2 for it made ,paul cry out1 ,woe is me1 miserable man1 who shall deliver me from this body of death8 ,rom4 vii4 #bd4 ,it is a most discouraging thing to be still fighting1 and yet getting no ease1 let be victory2 to have to do with an enemy that abides always alike strong1 fight and oppose as we will1 yea1 not only is not weakened1 far less overcome1 but that groweth in power1 and prevaileth4 ,and this many times affecteth the hearts of ,god's children and causeth them to faint4 #b4 ,it may be the case of some1 that they are assaulted with strange temptations and buffettings of ,satan that are not usual4 ,this made ,paul cry out thrice1 #b ,cor4 xii42 and if the ,lord had not told him that his grace was sufficient for him1 what would he have done8 ,hence some of his cry out in their complaint1 was there ever any so tempted1 so assaulted with the devil1 as ,i am8 ,sure this dispensation cannot but be much afflicting1 saddening and discouraging4 #c4 ,the sense of the real weakness of grace under lively means1 and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and endeavours after growth in grace1 cannot but disquiet and discourage them3 for they may readily conclude1 that all their pains and labour shall be in vain for any thing they can observe4 #d4 ,the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort is another fainting and discouraging dispensation2 as the feeling of these is a heart-strengthening and most encouraging thing1 which made ,david so earnestly cry for it1 ,psal4 li4 #h1 #ab2 when a poor soul that hath the testimony of his own conscience1 that it hath been in some measure of singleness of heart and honestly seeking the face of ,god for a good many years1 and yet cannot say that ever it knew what those incomes of joy and comfort meant which some have tasted largely of1 it cannot choose but be discouraged and much cast down1 as not knowing what to say of itself1 or how to judge of its own case4 #e4 ,the want of access in their addresses to ,god1 is another heart-discouraging thing4 ,they go about the duty of prayer with that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart that they can win at1 at least this is their aim and endeavour1 and yet they meet with a fast closed door1 when they cry and shout2 he shutteth out their prayer1 as the church complaineth1 ,lam4 iii4 #h4 ,this sure will affect them deeply1 and cause their hearts sometimes to faint4 #f4 ,the want of freedom and liberty in their addresses to ,god is another thing which causeth sorrow and fainting4 ,they go to pray1 but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth3 they are straitened and cannot get their hearts vented4 #g4 ,outward persecution that attendeth the way of godliness1 and afflictions that accompany such as live godly1 is another discouraging thing1 both to themselves who are under afflictions1 and to others who hear it and see it2 wherefore the apostle desireth earnestly that the ,ephesians should not faint at his tribulation1 chap4 iii4 #ac4 #h4 ,the ,lord's sharp and sore dispensations for sin1 as towards ,david1 ,psal4 li41 or out of his sovereignty1 for trial and other ends1 as towards ,job1 is likewise a discouraging1 heart-breaking thing1 and that which will make strong giants to roar and faint1 and look upon themselves as dead men1 as we see in these two eminent men of ,god4 ,as to the second thing1 ,christ is life to the believer in this case1 in having done that which in reason may support under all these discouragements1 and having done so much for removing or weakening of these2 yea1 and for carrying them over all1 which may be in a word cleared as to each4 #a4 ,as for the body of death1 let it stir in the believer as fast as it will or can1 it is already killed1 and all that struggling is but like the struggling of a man in the pangs of death2 for our old man is crucified with ,christ1 ,rom4 vi4 #f2 and the believer is dead to sin and risen legally with him1 ,col4 ii4 #aa1 #ab2 iii4 #c4 ,but of this ,i spoke abundantly above4 #b4 ,as to ,satan's troubling the poor believer1 through ,christ also he is a vanquished enemy3 ,he hath overcome him that had the power of death1 even the devil1 ,heb4 ii4 #ad4 #c4 ,as for that felt weakness of grace1 that is no ground of discouragement1 so long as he liveth who can make the lame to leap as an hart1 and can make waters break out in the wilderness1 and streams in the desert1 ,isa xxxv4 #f1 #g2 and giveth power to the faint1 and to them that have no might increaseth strength2 so that such as wait upon the ,lord shall renew their strength1 and they shall mount up with wings as eagles2 they shall run and not be weary1 and they shall walk and not faint1 ,isa4 xl4 #bi1 #ca4 ,for in him are all the promises yea and amen1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 ,so that they need not faint upon this account1 nor be discouraged3 for the work he hath begun he will finish it1 and he will quicken in the way1 ,psal4 cxix4 #cg4 #d4 ,as for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort1 he hath promised to send the ,comforter1 in his own good time1 ,john xiv4 #bf2 xv4 #bf4 ,as one whom his ,father comforteth1 so will he comfort his1 ,isa4 lxvi4 #ac4 ,joy and gladness is promised in the covenant1 ,jer4 xxxi4 #ac4 ,but further1 though he keep up these influences of joy and comfort1 he supporteth another way4 ,the lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart under all this want3 for there shall the soul have fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore3 no tears1 no sorrow there1 ,psal4 xvi4 #aa4 ,isa4 xxxv4 #aj4 #e4 ,as for the want of access in their prayers1 they may possibly blame themselves1 for he has by his merits opened the door2 and is become 7to speak so7 master-usher to the poor soul1 to lead him unto the ,father1 so that by him we have access1 ,eph4 ii4 #ah1 yea1 boldness and access through faith in him1 ,eph4 iii4 #ab2 and he is our advocate1 #a ,john ii4 #a2 and1 as our attorney1 is gone to heaven before us2 and there liveth for ever to make intercession1 ,heb4 vi4 #bh2 vii4 #be4 ,and what is there more to be done to procure us access2 or to move and encourage us to come boldly unto the throne of grace1 that we may obtain mercy1 and find grace to help in time of need8 ,heb4 iv4 #ad1 #af4 #f4 ,as to that want of freedom and liberty in prayer2 he helpeth that also3 ,for he maketh the dumb to sing1 ,isa4 xxxv4 #f1 and maketh the tongue of the stammerer to speak elegantly1 ,isa4 xxxii4 #d4 ,he can enlarge the heart1 and help the soul to pour out his heart before ,god4 #g4 ,as to outward persecution1 he can easily take that discouragement away1 by giving the hundred-fold with it2 by supporting under it1 and bringing safe through it4 ,when his presence is with them through fire and water1 ,isa4 xliii4 #b1 what can trouble them8 ,and when he maketh their consolations abound1 #b ,cor4 i4 #e1 what can discourage them8 ,have not his sung in the very fires2 and rejoiced in all their afflictions8 ,the resting of the ,spirit of ,god and of glory1 which ,peter speaketh of1 #a ,pet4 iv4 #ad1 is comfortable enough4 #h4 ,as for all those sharp dispensations mentioned in the last place1 he having taken the sting of all1 even of death away1 by taking away sin1 and purchased the blessing and love of the ,father1 having made reconciliation through his blood1 all those dispensations flow from love1 even such as seem sharpest1 being inflicted for sin1 as we see1 ,heb4 xii4 #f2 so that there is no cause here of fainting or of being so discouraged as to give over the matter4 ,but for help in this case1 there should be a use-making of ,jesus1 as the ,life2 and that is ,the third thing which we shall speak a little to1 viz4 ,how the soul should make use of ,christ as the ,life1 to the end it may be delivered from this fainting occasioned through manifold discouragements4 #a4 ,the believer in this case would mind the covenant of redemption1 wherein ,christ hath promised and so standeth obliged and engaged to carry on his own through all discouragements to the end2 so that if any one believer miscarry1 ,christ loseth more than they lose3 for the believer can but lose his soul1 but ,christ shall lose his glory2 and this is more worth than all the souls that ever were created4 ,and1 further1 not only shall ,christ lose his glory as ,redeemer1 but the ,father shall lose his glory in not making good his promise to ,christ his ,son4 ,for by the same covenant he standeth engaged to carry through the seed that ,christ had died for4 ,and his appointing ,christ to be his servant for this end1 and choosing him from among all the folk1 and his upholding of him1 concurring with him1 delighting in him1 and promising that he shall bring forth judgment to the ,gentiles1 and that to victory1 or to truth1 speak out his engagement to see all true believers brought home4 ,see ,isa4 xlii4 #a-d4 ,matt4 xii4 #ag-ba4 ,psalm lxxxix4 #ai-ba1 #bh1 #bi1 #ce-cg4 ,sure the faith of this would support the poor believer under all those discouragements4 #b4 ,they would mind likewise the covenant of grace1 wherein all things are contrived and laid down1 so far as that the believer may have abundant consolation and comfort in all cases2 and wherein there is enough to take away all cause of fainting and discouragement2 as might fully be made to appear1 if any did question it4 #c4 ,they would remember how richly ,christ is furnished with all qualifications2 suiting even that case wherein they are like to be overwhelmed with discouragements2 and could the believer but think upon and believe those three things1 he might be kept up under all discouragements3 7#a47 ,that ,christ is a compassionate1 tender-hearted ,mediator1 having bowels more tender than the bowels of any mother2 so that he will not break the bruised reed1 nor quench the smoking flax1 ,isa4 xl4 #b4 ,he had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude that followed him2 and would not let them go away fasting1 lest they should faint in the way1 ,matt4 xv4 #cb4 ,mark viii4 #c2 and will he not have compassion on the souls of his followers1 when like to faint through spiritual discouragements8 7#b47 ,that he hath power and authority to command all things that can serve to carry on a poor believer2 for all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him2 all things are made subject to him4 7#c47 ,that he hath a great readiness and willingness upon many accounts to help his followers in their necessities4 ,sure1 were these three firmly believed1 the believer could not faint1 having ,christ1 who is tender and loving1 and willing to help1 and withal able to do what he will1 to look to and to run to for supply4 #d4 ,they would take up ,christ under all his heart-strengthening and soul-comforting relations1 as a tender brother1 a careful shepherd1 a fellow-feeling high priest1 a loving husband1 a sympathizing head1 a life-communicating root1 an all-sufficient king1 c41 any of which is enough to bear up the head1 and comfort the heart of a drooping1 discouraged1 and fainting soul4 ,much more may all of them yield strong consolation to support and revive a soul staggering and fainting through discouragement4 ,oh6 if ye would but rightly improve and dwell upon the thoughts of the comforting and heart-quickening relations6 our hearts would not fail us so much as they do4 #e4 ,they would eye him as now in glory1 who as head and captain of salvation hath wrestled through and overcome all difficulties and discouragements that were in his way1 and in name and behalf of all believers that are his followers and members of his body1 is now possessed of glory1 and thence draw an heart-comforting1 and soul-strengthening conclusion1 thus1 ,is he entered into glory as head8 then such a poor1 faint-hearted1 discouraged worm as ,i am1 may at length come there as a little bit of his body1 especially since he said1 that seeing he liveth1 all his shall live also1 ,john xiv4 #ai4 #f4 ,they would remember how ,christ1 who was always heard of his ,father1 ,john xi4 #da1 did supplicate for this1 as ,mediator and ,intercessor for his people1 ,john xvii4 #bd1 saying1 ,father1 ,i will that they also whom thou hast given me1 be with me where ,i am1 c4 ,may not the poor faint-hearted believer that is looking to ,jesus1 draw an heart-reviving1 and soul-encouraging conclusion out of this1 and say1 though my prayers be shut out1 and when ,i cry for relief under my discouragements1 ,i get no hearing2 but1 on the contrary1 my discouragements grow1 and my heart fainteth the more2 yet ,christ always was heard1 and the ,father will not say him nay2 why then may not ,i lift up my head in hope1 and sing in the hope of the glory of ,god1 in the midst of all my discouragements8 #g4 ,by faith they would cast all their discouragements1 entanglements1 and difficulties1 as burdens too heavy for their back1 on ,christ1 and leave them there with him who only can remove them2 and withal1 resolve never to give over1 but to go forward in his strength1 and thus become daily stronger and stronger in resolutions1 purposes1 desires1 and endeavours1 when they can do no more4 #h4 ,they would look to ,jesus1 the author and finisher of faith1 and set him before them as a copy of courage1 who for the joy that was set before him1 endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and endureth contradiction of sinners against himself1 ,heb4 xii4 #b1 #c4 ,and this may prove a mean to keep us from wearying and fainting in our minds1 as the apostle hinteth there4 #i4 ,they would remember1 that ,christ going before1 as the ,captain of their salvation1 hath broken the ice to them1 and the force and strength of all those discouragements1 as we did lately show2 so that now they should be looked upon as broken and powerless discouragements4 #aj4 ,they would fix their eye by faith on ,jesus1 as only able to do their business1 to bear up their head1 to carry them through discouragements1 to apply cordials to their fainting hearts1 and remain fixed in that posture and resolution1 looking for strengthening and encouraging life from him1 and from him alone2 and thus declare1 that1 7#a47 ,they are unable of themselves to stand out such storms of discouragements1 and to wrestle through such difficulties4 7#b47 ,they believe he is only able to bear them up1 and carry them through1 and make them despise all those discouragements which the devil and their own evil hearts muster up against them4 7#c47 ,that come what will come1 they will not quit the bargain--they will never recall or take back their subscription and consent to the covenant of grace1 and to ,christ1 as theirs1 offered therein1 though they should die and die again by the way4 7#d47 ,that they would fain be kept on in the way1 and helped forward without failing and fainting by the way4 7#e47 ,that they cannot run through hard walls--they cannot do impossibilities--they cannot break through such mighty discouragements4 7#f47 ,that yet through him they can do all things4 7#g47 ,that he must help1 or they are gone1 and shall never win through all these difficulties and discouragements1 but shall one day or other die by the hand of ,saul4 7#h47 ,that they will wait1 earnestly seeking help from him1 crying for it1 and looking for it1 and resolve never to give over1 and if they be disappointed they are disappointed4 ,now for the last particular1 the word of caution1 take these1 #a4 ,they would not think to be altogether free of fainting1 for there is no perfection here1 and there is much flesh and corruption remaining1 and that will occasion fainting4 #b4 ,nor would they think to be free of all the causes and occasions of this fainting1 viz4 the discouragements formerly mentioned1 or the like2 for1 if the devil can do any thing1 he will work discouragements1 both within and without4 ,so that they would lay their resolution to meet with discouragements2 for few or none ever went to heaven but they had many a storm in their face2 and they must not think to have a way paved for themselves alone4 #c4 ,they would not pore too much1 or dwell too long and too much upon the thoughts of those discouragements2 for that is ,satan's advantage1 and tendeth to weaken themselves4 ,but it were better to be looking beyond them1 as ,christ did1 ,heb4 xii4 #b1 when he had the cross and the shame to wrestle with1 he looked to the joy that was set before him2 and that made him endure the cross and despise the shame2 and as ,moses did1 ,heb4 xi4 #be-bg1 when he had afflictions and the wrath of the king to wrestle against2 he had respect unto the recompense of the reward1 and so he endured as seeing him who is invisible4 #d4 ,they would remember that as ,christ hath tender bowels1 and is full of compassion1 and is both ready and able to help them2 so is he wise1 and knoweth how to let out his mercies best4 ,he is not like a foolish1 affectionate mother1 that would hazard the life of the child1 before she put the child to any pain4 ,he seeth what is best for his own glory1 and for their good here and hereafter2 and that he will do with much tenderness and readiness4 #e4 ,they would look upon it as no mean mercy1 if1 notwithstanding of all the discouragements and storms that blow in their face1 they are helped to keep their face up the hill1 and are fixed in their resolution1 never willingly to turn their back upon the way of ,god1 but to continue creeping forward as they may1 whatever storms they meet with2 yea1 upon this account ought they heartily to bless his name1 and to rejoice2 for their hearts shall live that seek him1 ,psalm xxii4 #bf4 #f4 ,they would remember1 for their encouragement1 that as many have been helped through all discouragements1 and have been brought home at length1 so may they be brought through all those storms which now they wrestle with4 ,it is the glory of the ,mediator to bring his broken1 torn1 and sinking vessel1 safe to shore4 ,now1 ,i come to a third case1 and that is1 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,life ,,when ,,the ,,soul ,,is ,,dead ,,as ,,to ,,duty4 ,sometimes the believer will be under such a distemper1 as that he will be as unfit and unable for discharging of any commanded duty1 as dead men1 or one in a swoon1 is to work or go a journey4 ,and it were good to know how ,christ should be made use of as the ,life1 to the end the diseased soul may be delivered from this4 ,for this cause we shall consider those four things3 #a4 ,see what are the several steps and degrees of this distemper4 #b4 ,consider whence it cometh1 or what are the causes or occasions thereof4 #c4 ,consider how ,christ is life to the soul in such a dead case2 and1 #d4 ,point out the way of the soul's use-making of ,christ1 that would be delivered herefrom4 ,as to the first1 this distemper cometh on by several steps and degrees4 ,it will be sufficient to mention some of the main and most remarkable steps2 such as1 #a4 ,there is a falling from our watchfulness and tenderness2 and when we leave our watch tower1 we invite and encourage ,satan to set upon us1 as was said before4 #b4 ,there is going about duty1 but in a lazy way1 when we love and seek after carnal ease1 and seek out ways of doing the duty1 so as maybe least troublesome to the flesh1 as the spouse did1 ,cant4 iii4 #a1 when she sought her beloved upon her bed4 #c4 ,there is a lying by1 and not stirring up ourselves to an active way of going about duty1 of which the prophet complaineth1 ,isa4 liv4 #g1 when he saith1 there is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee4 #d4 ,there is a giving way to spiritual drowsiness1 and upsitting in duties1 and in the way of ,god4 ,i sleep1 said the spouse1 ,cant4 v4 #b1 #c1 and ,i have put off my coat1 c4 ,she knew she was not right1 but was drowsy1 and yet she did not shake it off1 but composed herself for it1 took off her coat1 and washed her feet1 and so lay down to sleep4 #e4 ,there is a satisfaction and contentment with his condition1 as thinking we are pretty well1 at least for that time2 and thus was the spouse in that forementioned place led away2 she was so far from being dissatisfied with her condition1 that she rather expressed contentment therewith4 #f4 ,there may be such a love to such a condition1 and such a satisfaction in it1 as that they may shift every thing that hath a tendency to rouse them up out of that sluggish laziness1 as not loving to be awakened out of their sleep4 ,so we see the bride shifts and putteth off ,christ's call and invitation to her1 to arise and open to him4 #g4 ,yea1 there is a defending of that condition1 as at least tolerable and none of the worst2 a justifying of it1 or at least a pleading for themselves and excusing the matter1 and covering over their neglect of duty with fair pretexts1 as the spouse did when she answered ,christ's call with this1 that she had washed her feet and might not defile them again4 #h4 ,yea1 further1 there is a pleading for this case1 by alleging an impossibility to get it helped as matters now stand2 or1 at least1 they will muster up insuperable-like difficulties in their own way of doing duty1 as the sluggard will say1 that there is a lion in the way2 and the spouse alleged she could not put on her coat again4 #i4 ,yea1 it may come yet higher1 even to a peremptory refusing to set about the duty2 for what else can be read out of the bride's carriage1 than that she would not rise and open to her beloved4 #aj4 ,there is also a desperate laying the duty aside1 as supposing it impossible to be got done1 and so a resolute laying of it by as hopeless1 and as a business they need not trouble themselves withal1 because they will not get through it4 #aa4 ,and hence floweth an utter indisposition and unfitness for duty4 #ab4 ,yea1 and in some it may come to this height1 that the thoughts of going about any commanded duty1 especially of worship1 either in public or private2 or their minting and attempting to set about it1 shall fill them with terror and affrightment1 that they shall be constrained to forbear2 yea1 to lay aside all thoughts of going about any such duty4 ,this is a very dead-like condition1--what can be the causes or occasions thereof8 ,i answer1 7and this is the second particular17 some or all of these things may be considered as having a hand in this3 #a4 ,no care to keep up a tender frame of heart1 but growing slack1 loose1 and careless1 in going about ,christian duties1 may bring on such a distemper4 #b4 ,slighting of challenges for omission of duties1 or leaving duties over the belly of conscience1 may make way for such an evil4 #c4 ,giving way to carnality and formality in duties1 is a ready mean to usher in this evil4 ,for when the soul turns carnal or formal in the discharge of duties1 duties have not that spiritual lustre which they had1 and the soul becometh the sooner wearied of them1 as seeing no such desirableness in them1 nor advantage by them4 #d4 ,when people drown themselves in cares of the world1 they occasion this deadness to themselves2 for then duties not only are not gone about heartily1 but they are looked on as a burden1 and the man becometh weary of them2 and from that he cometh to neglect them2 and by continuing in the neglect of them1 he contracteth an aversion of heart for them2 and then an utter unfitness and indisposition for discharging of them followeth4 #e4 ,satan hath an active hand here1 driving on with his crafts and wiles from one step to another4 #f4 ,the hand also of a sovereign ,god is to be observed here1 giving way to this1 yea1 and ordering matters in his justice and wisdom so1 as such persons shall come under such an indisposition1 and that for wise and holy ends2 as1 7#a47 ,that by such a dispensation he may humble them1 who possibly were puffed up before1 as thinking themselves fit enough to go about any duty1 how difficult or hazardous soever1 as ,peter1 who boasted so of his own strength1 as he thought nothing to lay down his life for ,christ1 and to die with him2 and yet at length came to that1 that he could not1 or durst not speak the truth to a damsel4 7#b47 ,that he may punish one spiritual sin with another4 7#c47 ,to give warning to all to watch and pray1 and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling1 and not to be high-minded1 but fear4 7#d47 ,that thereby1 in his just and righteous judgment1 he may lay a stumbling-block before some1 to the breaking of their neck1 when they shall1 for this cause1 reject and mock at all religion4 7#e47 ,that he may give proof at length of his admirable skill in recovering from such a distemper1 that no flesh might have ground to despair1 in the most dead condition they can fall into4 7#f47 ,and to shew1 sometimes1 what a sovereign dispensator of life he is1 and how free he is in all his favours4 ,as to the third particular1 how ,christ is life in this case1 ,we answer1 #a4 ,by keeping possession of the believer1 even when he seemeth to be most dead2 and keeping life at the root1 when there is neither fruit appearing nor flourishes1 and hardly many green leaves to evidence life4 #b4 ,by blowing at the coal of grace in the soul1 in his own time and way1 and putting an end to the winter1 and sending the time of the singing of the birds1 a spring time of life4 #c4 ,by loosing the bands with which he was held fast formerly1 enlarging the heart with desires to go about the duty2 so that now he willingly riseth up out of his bed of security1 and cheerfully shaketh off his drowsiness and sluggishness1 and former unwillingness2 and now with willingness and cheerfulness he setteth about the duty4 #d4 ,by sending influences of life and strength into the soul1 whereby the wheels of the soul are made to run with ease1 being oiled with those divine influences4 #e4 ,and this he doth by touching the heart1 and wakening it by his ,spirit2 as he raised the spouse out of her bed of security and laziness1 by putting in his hand at the hole of the door1--then were her bowels moved for him1 ,cant4 v4 #d2 and thus he setteth faith on work again1 having the key of ,david to open the heart1 ,rev4 iii4 #g4 #f4 ,by giving a discovery of the evil of their former ways and courses1 he worketh up the heart to godly sorrow and remorse for what is done1 making their bowels move for grief and sorrow1 that they should so have dishonoured and grieved him4 #g4 ,by setting the soul thus on work to do what formerly it neither could nor would do2 and thus he maketh the soul strong in the ,lord1 and in the power of his might1 ,eph4 vi4 #aj1 and able to run and not be weary1 and to walk and not be faint1 ,isa4 xl4 #h4 ,by discovering the great recompense of reward that is coming1 and the great help they have at hand1 in the covenant and promises thereof1 and in ,christ their head and ,lord4 ,he maketh the burden light and the duty easy4 ,as to the last particular1 viz4 how a believer1 in such a case1 should make use of ,christ as the ,life1 that he may be delivered therefrom4 ,when the poor believer is any way sensible of this decay1 and earnestly desiring to be from under that power of death1 and in case to go about commanded duties1 he should1 #a4 ,look to ,christ for enlightened eyes1 that he may get a more thorough discovery of the hazard and wretchedness of such a condition1 that hereby being awakened and alarmed1 he may more willingly use the means of recovery1 and be more willing to be at some pains to be delivered4 #b4 ,he should run to the blood of ,jesus1 to get the guilt of his bygone sinful ways washed away1 and blotted out2 to the end he may obtain the favour of ,god1 and get his reconciled face shining upon him again4 #c4 ,he should eye ,christ as a prince exalted to give repentance1 that so his sorrow for his former sinful courses may be kindly1 spiritual1 thorough1 and affecting the heart4 ,he would cry to ,christ1 that he would put in his hand by the hole of the door1 that his bowels may become moved for him4 #d4 ,he should also look to him as that good shepherd1 who will strengthen that which is sick1 ,ezek4 xxxiv4 #af4 ,and take notice also of his other relations1 and of his obligations thereby1 and by the covenant of redemption2 and this will strengthen his hope4 #e4 ,he should lay hold on ,christ as his strength1 whereby his feet may be made like hinds' feet1 and he may be made to walk upon his high places1 ,hab4 iii4 #ai2 and he would grip to that promise1 ,isa4 xli4 #aj1 ,i will strengthen thee2 and lay hold on ,christ in it4 #f4 ,having done thus1 he should set about every commanded duty1 in the strength of ,jesus1 looking to him for help and supply1 from whom cometh all his strength1 and though he should not find that help and assistance which he expected1 yet he should not be discouraged1 but continue1 and when he can do no more1 offer himself as ready and willing to go about the duty1 as if he had strength4 #g4 ,he should lie open to1 and be ready to receive the influences of strength1 which he1 who is the head1 shall think good to give in his own time1 manner1 and measure2 and this taketh in these duties3 7#a47 ,that they should carefully guard against the evils formerly mentioned1 which brought on this distemper2 such as carelessness1 untenderness1 unwatchfulness1 laziness1 carnal security1 formality1 and want of seriousness1 c4 7#b47 ,that they should beware of giving way to dispondency1 or concluding the matter hopeless and irremediable2 for that is both discouraging to the soul1 and a tempting provocation of ,god4 7#c47 ,that they should be exercising the grace of patient waiting4 7#d47 ,that they should be waiting in the use of the appointed means1 and thereby1 as it were1 rubbing the dead and cold member before the fire1 till it gather warmth4 7#e47 ,that they should be keeping all their sails up1 waiting for the gale of the ,spirit1 that should make their ship sail4 7#f47 ,that they should be looking to him alone1 who hath promised that quickening ,spirit2 and patiently waiting his leisure1 not limiting him to any definite time4 7#g47 ,that they should be cherishing and stirring up any small beginnings that are4 7#h47 ,that they should be welcoming most cheerfully every motion of the ,spirit1 and improving every advantage of that kind1 and striking the iron when it is hot1 and hold the wheels of the soul a-going1 when they are once put in motion1 and so be loath to grieve the good and holy ,spirit of ,god1 ,eph4 iv4 #cj1 or to quench his motions1 #a ,thess4 v4 #ai4 ,if these duties were honestly minded and gone about1 in him1 and in his strength1 none can tell how soon there may be a change wrought in the soul4 ,but if it be asked1 what such can do1 to whom the very thoughts of the duty1 and aiming at it1 is matter of terror2 ,ans4 ,it may be1 something1 if not much1 of that may flow from a bodily distemper1 as occasioneth the alteration of the body1 upon the thorough apprehension of any thing that is weighty and of moment1 so as they cannot endure to be much affected with any thing4 ,but leaving this to others1 ,i would advise such a soul to those duties3 #a4 ,to be frequently setting to the duty1 as1 for example1 of prayer1 though that should raise the distemper of their body1 for through time that may wear away1 or at least grow less2 whileas1 their giving way thereto1 will still make the duty the more and more terrible1 and so render themselves the more unfit for it1 and thus they shall gratify ,satan1 who1 it may be1 may have a hand in that bodily distemper too4 ,when the poor soul is thus accustomed or habituated to the attempting of the duty1 it will at length appear not so terrible as it did2 and so the body may become not so soon altered thereby as it was4 #b4 ,when such an one can do no more1 he should keep his love to the duty1 and his desires after it1 fresh1 and lively1 and should not suffer these quite to die out4 #c4 ,he should be much in the use of frequent ejaculations1 and of short supplications darted up to ,god2 for these will not make such an impression on the body1 and so will not so occasion the raising and wakening the bodily distemper1 as more solemn addresses to ,god in prayer would possibly do4 #d4 ,if he cannot go to ,christ with confidence1 to draw out of him life and strength1 according to his need1 yet he may give a look to him1 though it were from afar2 and he may think of him1 and speak of him frequently1 and would narrowly observe every thing that pointeth him out1 or bringeth any thing of him to remembrance4 #e4 ,such souls should not give way to despairing thoughts1 as if their case were wholly helpless and hopeless2 for that is a reflecting on the power and skill of ,christ1 and therefore is provoking and dishonourable to him4 #f4 ,let ,christ1 and all that is his1 be precious always and lovely unto them4 ,and thus they should keep some room in their heart open for him1 till he should be pleased to come to them with salvation2 and who can tell how soon he may come8 ,but enough of this4 ,there is a fourth case of deadness to be spoken to1 and that is1 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,how ,,shall ,,the ,,soul ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ1 ,,as ,,the ,,life1 ,,which ,,is ,,under ,,the ,,prevailing ,,power ,,of ,,unbelief ,,and ,,infidelity4 ,that we may help to give some clearing to a poor soul in this case1 we shall1 #a4 ,see what are the several steps and degrees of this distemper4 #b4 ,consider what the causes hereof are4 #c4 ,shew how ,christ is life to a soul in such a case2 and1 #d4 ,give some directions how a soul in that case should make use of ,christ as the ,life1 to the end it may be delivered therefrom4 ,and1 first1 ,there are many several steps to1 and degrees of this distemper4 ,we shall mention a few2 as1 #a4 ,when they cannot come with confidence1 and draw out of him by faith1 what their soul's case calleth for2 they cannot with joy draw waters out of the wells of salvation1 ,isa4 xii4 #c2 but keep at a distance1 and entertain jealous thoughts of him4 ,this is a degree of unbelief making way for more4 #b4 ,when they cannot confidently assert and avow their interest in him1 as the church did1 ,isa4 xii4 #b1 saying1 ,behold1 ,god is my salvation1 ,i will trust and not be afraid1 for the ,lord ,jehovah is my strength and my song2 he also is become my salvation4 #c4 ,when they much question1 if ever they have indeed laid hold on ,christ1 and so cannot go to him for the supplies of their wants and necessities4 #d4 ,when1 moreover1 they question if they be allowed of ,god1 and warranted to come to him1 and lay hold upon him2 yea1 and they think they have many arguments whereby to maintain this their unbelief1 and justify their keeping a-back from ,christ4 #e4 ,or1 when1 if they look to him at all1 it is with much mixture of faithless fears that they shall not be the better1 or at least doubting whether it shall be to their advantage or not4 #f4 ,this unbelief will advance further1 and they may come to that1 not only to conclude1 that they have no part or portion in him1 but also to conclude that their case is desperate and irredeemable2 and so say there is no more hope1 they are cut off for their part1 as ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #aa1 and so lie by as dead and forlorn4 #g4 ,yea1 they may come higher1 and vent some desperate thoughts and expressions of ,god1 to the great scandal of the godly1 and the dishonour of ,god4 #h4 ,and yet more1 they may come that length1 to question all the promises1 and to cry out with ,david1 in his haste1 ,psalm c4 #aa1 that all men are liars4 #i4 ,yea1 they may come to this1 to scout the whole gospel to be nothing but a heap of delusions1 and a cunningly-devised fable1 or but mere notions and fancies4 #aj4 ,and at length come to question1 if there be a ,god that ruleth in the earth4 ,these are dreadful degrees and steps of this horrible distemper1 and enough to make all flesh tremble4 ,let us see next whence this cometh4 ,the causes hereof we may reduce to three heads3 ,first4 ,the holy ,lord hath a holy hand in this1 and hath noble ends and designs before him in this matter2 as1 #a4 ,the ,lord may think good to order matters thus1 that he may magnify his power and grace1 in rescuing such as were returned to the very brink of hell1 and seemed to many to be lost and irrecoverably gone4 #b4 ,that in punishing them thus1 for giving way to the first motions of unbelief1 he might warn all to guard against such an evil1 and not to foster and give way to groundless complaints1 nor entertain objections1 moved against their condition by the devil4 #c4 ,to warn all to walk circumspectly1 and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling1 not knowing what may befall them ere they die4 #d4 ,to teach all to walk humbly1 not knowing what advantage ,satan may get of them eve all be done2 and to see their daily need of ,christ to strengthen their faith1 and to keep their grips of him fast4 #e4 ,so the ,lord may think good to dispense so with some1 that he may give a full proof of his wonderfully great patience and long-suffering in bearing with such1 and that so long4 #f4 ,as also to demonstrate his sovereignty1 in measuring out his dispensations to his own1 as he seeth will most glorify himself4 ,next1 ,satan hath an active hand in this2 for1 #a4 ,he raiseth up clouds and mists in the believer1 so that he cannot see the work of ,god within himself1 and so is made to cry out1 that he hath no grace1 and that all was but delusions and imaginations1 which he looked upon as grace before4 #b4 ,he raiseth up in them jealousies of ,god1 and of all his ways1 and puts a false gloss and construction on all which ,god doth1 to the end he may confirm them in their jealousies1 which they have drunk in of ,god4 #c4 ,having gained this ground1 he worketh then upon their corruption with very great advantage2 and thus driveth them from evil to worse1 and not only to question their perfect interest in ,christ1 but also to quit all hope for the time to come4 #d4 ,this being done1 he driveth the soul yet farther1 and filleth it with prejudices against ,god and his glorious truths2 and from this he can easily bring them to call all in question4 #e4 ,yea1 he will represent ,god as an enemy to them2 and when this is done1 how easy it is with him to put them on desperate courses1 and cause them to speak wickedly and desperately of ,god4 #f4 ,and when this is done1 he can easily darken the understanding1 that the poor soul shall not see the glory of the gospel1 and of the covenant of grace1 nor the lustre and beauty of holiness3 yea1 and raise prejudices against the same1 because there is no hope of partaking of the benefit thereof2 and so bring them on1 to a plain questioning of all1 as mere delusions4 #g4 ,and when he hath gotten them brought this length1 he hath fair advantage to make them question if there be a ,god1 and so drive them forward to atheism4 ,and thus deceitfully he can carry the soul from one step to another4 ,but1 third1 there are many sinful causes of this within the man's self2 as1 #a4 ,pride and haughtiness of mind1 as thinking their mountain standeth so strong1 that it cannot be moved4 ,and this provoketh ,god to hide his face1 as ,psalm xxx4 #b4 ,self-confidence1 a concomitant of pride1 supposing themselves to be so well rooted that they cannot be shaken1 whereas it were better for them to walk in fear4 #c4 ,want of watchfulness over a deceitful heart1 and an evil heart of unbelief1 that is still departing from the living ,god1 ,heb4 iii4 #ab4 ,it is good to be jealous here4 #d4 ,giving way to doubtings and questionings too readily at first4 ,it is not good to tempt the ,lord by parlying too much and too readily with ,satan4 ,eve's practice might be a warning sufficient to us4 #e4 ,not living in the sight of their wants1 and of their daily necessity of ,christ1 nor acting faith upon him daily1 for the supplying of their wants4 ,and when faith is not used1 it may contract rust and be weakened1 and come at length not to be discerned4 #f4 ,entertaining of jealous thoughts of ,god1 and hearkening too readily to any thing that may foster and increase or confirm these4 #g4 ,not delighting themselves in1 and with pleasure dwelling on1 the thoughts of ,christ1 of his offices1 of the gospel and promises2 so that these come at length to lose their beauty and glory in the soul1 and have not the lustre that once they had2 and this doth open a door to much mischief4 #h4 ,in a word1 not walking with ,god according to the gospel1 provoking the ,lord to give them up to themselves for a time4 ,we come now to the third particular1 which is1 to shew how ,christ is ,life to the poor soul in this case4 ,and for the clearing of this1 consider1 #a4 ,that ,christ is the author and finisher of faith1 ,heb4 xii4 #b2 and so1 as he did rebuke unbelief at the first1 he can rebuke it again4 #b4 ,that he is the great prophet clearing up the gospel1 and every thing that is necessary for us to know1 bringing life and immortality to light by the gospel1 #b ,tim4 i4 #aj1 and so manifesting the lustre and beauty of the gospel4 #c4 ,he bringeth the promises home to the soul1 in their reality1 excellency1 and truth1 being the faithful witness and the amen1 ,rev4 iii4 #ad1 and the confirmer of the promises1 so that they are all yea and amen in him1 #b ,cor4 i4 #bj4 ,and this serveth to establish the soul in the faith1 and to shoot out thoughts of unbelief4 #d4 ,so doth he1 by his ,spirit1 dispel the mists and clouds which ,satan1 through unbelief1 had raised in the soul4 #e4 ,and thereby also rebuketh those mistakes of ,god1 and prejudices at him and his ways1 which ,satan hath wrought there1 through corruption4 #f4 ,he discovereth himself to be a ready help in time of trouble1 and the hope and anchor of salvation1 ,heb4 vi4 #ai2 and a priest living for ever to make intercession for poor sinners1 ,heb4 vii4 #be4 #g4 ,and hereby he cleareth up to the poor soul a possibility of help and relief2 and thus rebuketh despair or preventeth it4 #h4 ,he manifesteth himself to be the marrow and substance of the gospel3 and this maketh every line thereof pleasant and beautiful to the soul1 and so freeth them from the prejudices that they had at it4 #i4 ,so in manifesting himself in the gospel1 he revealeth the ,father1 that the soul cometh to the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f4 ,and this saveth the soul from atheism4 #aj4 ,when the soul cannot grip him1 nor look to him1 yet he can look to the soul1 and by his love quicken and revive the soul1 and warm the heart with love to him1 and at length move and incline it sweetly to open to him2 and thus grip and hold fast a lost sheep1 yea1 and bring it home again4 ,but what should a soul do in such a case8 ,to this1 7which is the fourth particular to be spoken to71 ,i answer1 #a4 ,that they should strive against those evils formerly mentioned1 which procured or occasioned this distemper4 ,a stop should be put to those malignant humours4 #b4 ,they should be careful to lay again the foundation of solid knowledge of ,god1 and of his glorious truths revealed in the gospel1 and labour for the faith of ,god's truth and veracity2 for till this be1 nothing can be right in the soul4 #c4 ,they should be thoroughly convinced of the treachery1 deceitfulness1 and wickedness of their hearts1 that they may see it is not worthy to be trusted1 and that they may be jealous of it1 and not hearken so readily to it as they have done1 especially seeing ,satan can prompt it to speak for his advantage4 #d4 ,they should remember also1 that it is divine help that can recover them1 and cause them grip to the promises1 and lay hold on them of new again1 as well as at first1 and that of themselves they can do nothing4 #e4 ,in using of the means for the recovery of life1 they should eye ,christ1 and because this eyeing of ,christ is faith1 and their disease lieth most there1 they should do as the ,israelites did who were stung in the eye with the serpents1--they looked to the brazen serpent with the wounded and stung eye3 so should they do with a sickly and almost dead faith1 grip him1 and with an eye almost put out and made blind1 look to him1 knowing how ready he is to help1 and what a tender heart he hath4 #f4 ,and to confirm them in this resolution1 they should take a new view of all the notable encouragements to believe1 wherewith the whole gospel aboundeth4 #g4 ,and withal fix on him1 as the only author and finisher of faith4 #h4 ,and1 in a word1 they should cast a wonderfully unbelieving and atheistical soul on him1 who is wonderful in counsel1 and excellent in working1 and is wonderful in mercy and grace1 and in all his ways4 ,and thus may he at length1 in his own time1 and in the way that will most glorify himself1 raise up that poor soul out of the grave of infidelity wherein it was stinking2 and so prove himself to be indeed the resurrection and the life1 to the praise of the glory of his grace4 ,we come now to speak to another case1 which is1 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,how ,,christ ,,is ,,made ,,use ,,of ,,as ,,the ,,life1 ,,by ,,one ,,that ,,is ,,so ,,dead ,,and ,,senseless1 ,,as ,,he ,,cannot ,,know ,,what ,,to ,,judge ,,of ,,himself1 ,,or ,,his ,,own ,,case1 ,,except ,,what ,,is ,,naught4 ,we spake something to this very case upon the matter1 when we spoke of ,christ as the ,truth4 ,yet we shall speak a little to it here1 but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned4 ,and therefore we shall speak a little to those five particulars2 and so1 #a4 ,shew what this distemper is4 #b4 ,shew whence it proceedeth1 and how the soul cometh to fall into it4 #c4 ,shew how ,christ1 as the ,life1 bringeth about a recovery of it #d4 ,shew how the soul is to be exercised1 that it may obtain a recovery2 and1 #e4 ,answer some questions or objections4 ,as to the first1 ,believers many times may be so dead1 as not only not to see and know that they have an interest in ,christ1 and to be uncertain what to judge of themselves1 but also be so carried away with prejudices and mistakes1 as that they will judge no otherwise of themselves than that their case is naught2 yea1 and not only will deny or miscall the good that ,god hath wrought in them by his ,spirit1 but also reason themselves to be out of the state of grace1 and a stranger to faith1 and to the workings of the ,spirit3 and hereupon will come to call all delusions1 which sometime they had felt and seen in themselves1 which is a sad distemper1 and which grace in life would free the soul from4 ,this proceedeth 7which is the second particular7 partly from ,god's hiding of his face1 and changing his dispensations about them1 and compassing them with clouds1 and partly from themselves and their own mistakes3 as1 #a4 ,judging their state1 not by the unchangeable rule of truth1 but by the outward dispensations of ,god1 which change upon the best4 #b4 ,judging their state by the observable measure of grace within them1 and so concluding their state bad1 because they observe corruption prevailing now and then1 and grace decaying1 and they perceive no victory over temptations1 nor growth in grace1 c4 #c4 ,judging also their state by others2 and so they suppose that they cannot be believers1 because they are so unlike to others1 whom they judge true believers4 ,this is also to judge by a wrong rule4 #d4 ,judging themselves by themselves1 that is1 because they look so unlike to what sometimes they were themselves1 they conclude that their state cannot be good1 which is also a wrong rule to judge their state by4 #e4 ,beginning to try and examine their case and state1 and coming to no close or issue1 so that when they have done1 they are as unclear and uncertain what to judge of themselves1 as when they began2 or1 #f4 ,taking little or no pains to try themselves seriously1 as in the sight of ,god1 but resting satisfied with a superficial trial1 which can come to no good issue4 #g4 ,trying and examining1 but through the sleight of ,satan1 and because pitching upon wrong marks1 coming to no good issue1 but condemning themselves without ground4 #h4 ,there is another thing which occasioneth this misjudging1 to wit1 the want of distinctness and clearness in covenanting with ,christ1 and the ignorance of the nature of true saving faith4 ,as to the third particular1 how ,christ is ,life to the believer in this case1 ,i answer1 ,christ manifesteth himself to be life to the soul in this case3 #a4 ,by sending the ,spirit of life1 that enlighteneth1 informeth1 persuadeth1 and sealeth4 #b4 ,by actuating grace so in the soul1 that it manifesteth itself1 and evidenceth itself to be there2 as the heat and burning of a fire will discover itself without other tokens4 ,the fourth particular1 to wit1 how the soul should be exercised1 or how it should employ ,christ1 for an outgate from this1 hath been abundantly cleared above1 where we shewed1 that believers in this case should1 #a4 ,be frequent in gripping ,christ and closing with him as their all-sufficient ,mediator2 and faith thus frequently acting on him may discover itself at length4 #b4 ,look to ,christ that hath eye-salve1 and is given for a witness4 #c4 ,keep grips fast of him1 though they be in the dark2 and walk on gripping to him4 #d4 ,keep love toward him and his working1 and in exercise4 #e4 ,beg of him to clear up their state1 by his ,spirit explaining the true marks of grace1 and discovering the working of grace in the soul4 ,but it will be said1 and so ,i come to the last particular1 what1 if after all this1 ,i remain as formerly1 as unable to judge aright of my state as ever8 ,answer4 ,yet thou shouldst continue gripping ,christ1 loving him1 looking to him1 casting a lost1 dead soul with all thy wants upon him1 and mind this as thy constant work4 ,yea1 thou shouldst labour to be growing in these direct acts of faith2 and learn to submit to ,god herein1 knowing that those reflect acts are not absolutely necessary2 and that thou shouldst think it much if he bring thee to heaven at length1 though covered with a cloud all thy days4 ,obj4 #b4 ,but others get much more clearness4 ,ans4 ,i grant that2 yet know1 that every one getteth not clearness1 and such as have it1 have it not in the same measure4 ,and must ,god give thee as much as he giveth to another8 ,what if thou could not make that use of it that others do1 but wax proud thereby1 and forget thyself8 ,therefore it will be best to give ,god liberty to dispense his favours as he will1 and that thou be about thy commanded duty1 the exercise of faith1 love1 fear1 patience1 c4 ,obj4 #c4 ,but if at any time ,i got a sight of my case1 it would be some peace and satisfaction to me4 ,ans4 ,i grant that1 and what knowest thou2 but thou mayest also get that favour ere thou die4 ,why then wilt thou not wait his leisure8 ,obj4 #d4 ,but the want of it in the mean time maketh me go heartlessly and discouragedly about commanded duties1 and maketh that ,i cannot apply things distinctly to myself4 ,ans4 ,yet the word of command is the same1 the offer is the same1 and the encouragement is the same4 ,why then should thou not be going on1 leaning to ,christ in the wilderness1 even though thou want that comfortable sight8 ,obj4 #e4 ,but it is one thing to want a clear sight of my state1 it is another thing to judge myself1 to be yet in the state of nature2 and this is my case4 ,ans4 ,i grant1 this is the worst of the two2 yet1 what if thou misjudge thyself without ground2 should thou not suffer for thy own folly2 and whom can thou blame but thyself8 ,and if thou judge so1 thou cannot but know that it is thy duty to do the thing that thou supposeth is not yet done1 that is1 run away to ,christ for life and salvation1 and rest on him and abide there2 and if this were frequently renewed1 the grounds of thy former mistake might be easily removed4 ,yet further1 ,i would add these few things3 #a4 ,take no pleasure in debating against your own soul2 for that is but to serve ,satan's design4 #b4 ,be not too rash or ready to drink in prejudices against the work of ,god in your own souls2 for that is to conclude with ,satan against yourselves4 #c4 ,make much of any little light he is pleased to give1 were it but of one mark1 and be not ill to please2 for one scriptural mark1 as love to the brethren1 may sufficiently evidence the thing4 #d4 ,see how thy soul would like the condition of such as are carnal1 profane1 careless in the matters of ,god2 and if thy soul doth really abhor that1 and thou would not upon any account choose to be in such a case1 thou may gather something from that to thy comfort4 ,but enough of this case here4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,how ,,is ,,christ1 ,,as ,,the ,,life1 ,,to ,,be ,,applied ,,by ,a ,,soul ,,that ,,misseth ,,god',s ,,favour ,,and ,,countenance4 ,the sixth case1 that we shall speak a little to1 is a deadness1 occasioned by the ,lord's hiding of himself1 who is their life1 and the fountain of life1 ,ps4 xxxvi4 #i1 and whose loving-kindness is better than life1 ,ps4 lxiii4 #c1 and in whose favour is their life1 ,ps4 xxx4 #e4 ,a case1 which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough1 concerning which we shall1 #a4 ,shew some of the consequences of the ,lord's hiding his face1 whereby the soul's case will appear4 #b4 ,shew the reasons of this dispensation4 #c4 ,shew how ,christ is life to the soul in this case2 and1 #d4 ,point out the soul's duty2 or how he is to make use of ,christ for a recovery4 ,as to the first1 we may take notice of those particulars3 #a4 ,they complain of ,god's hiding of himself1 and forsaking them1 ,ps4 xxii4 #a1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 and ,ps4 xiii4 #c1 ,how long wilt thou forsake me8 c4 #b4 ,they cry out for a blink of his face1 and get it not2 for he hath withdrawn himself1 ,ps4 xiii4 #a1 how long wilt thou hide thy face from me8 ,heman1 ,ps4 lxxxviii41 cried out night and day1 but yet ,god's face was hid1 ver4 #a1 #i1 #ad4 ,the spouse seeketh long1 ,cant4 v42 see ,ps4 xxii4 #a1 #b4 #c4 ,they are looking for an outgate1 but get none4 ,and hope deferred maketh their heart sick1 ,prov4 xiii4 #ab4 #d4 ,they are in the dark1 and cannot tell' why the ,lord dispenseth so towards them2 ,why1 said ,heman1 ,ps4 xviii4 #ad1 castest thou off my soul8 why holdest thou thy face from me8 ,they cannot understand wherefore it is4 ,so ,job cried out1 shew me wherefore thou contendest with me1 ,job x4 #b4 #e4 ,they may also be walking1 in the mean while1 without light or counsel1 so as they shall not know what to do4 ,how long shall ,i take counsel in my soul1 ,ps4 xiii4 #b4 #f4 ,moreover1 they may have their heart filled with sorrow2 as we see1 ,ps4 xiii4 #b1 having sorrow in my heart1 said ,david4 ,he also saith1 ,ps4 xxxviii4 that his sorrow was continually before him1 ver4 #ag2 and ,ps4 cxvi4 #c1 ,i found trouble and sorrow4 #g4 ,they may be so1 as the sweet experience of others may yield them no supply of comfort at present1 ,ps4 xxii4 #d-f1 ,our fathers trusted in thee1 said ,david1 and thou didst deliver them2 they cried to thee1 and were delivered2 they trusted in thee1 and were not confounded4 ,but that gave him no present ease or comfort2 for immediately he addeth1 ver4 #f1 but ,i am a worm and no man1 a reproach of men1 c4 #h4 ,yea1 all their own former experiences may yield them little solace2 as we see in the same place1 ,ps4 xxii4 #i1 #aj1 compared with ver4 #ad1ae1 ,thou art he1 says he1 ver4 #i1 that took me out of the womb1 c4 ,and yet he complains1 ver4 #ad1 that he was poured out like water1 and his bones out of joint1 that his heart was melted in the midst of his bowels1 c4 #i4 ,they may be brought near to a giving over all in despondency1 and be brought1 in their sense1 to the very dust of death1 ,psal4 xxii4 #af4 ,if it be inquired1 why the ,lord dispenseth so with his own people8 ,we answer1 and this is the second particular1 that he doeth it for holy and wise reasons1 whereof we may name a few2 as1 #a4 ,to punish their carelessness and negligence2 as we see he did with the spouse1 ,cant4 v4 #b4 ,to chastise them for their ill-improving of his favour and kindness when they had it2 as the same passage evidenceth4 #c4 ,to check them for their security and carnal confidence1 as he did ,david1 ,psal4 xxx4 #f1 #g1 when he said his mountain stood strong1 and he should never be moved4 ,then did the ,lord hide his face1 and he was troubled4 #d4 ,to try if their obedience to his commands be pure and conscientious1 and not in a sort mercenary1 because of his lifting up upon them the light of his countenance2 and to see if conscience to a command driveth them to duty1 when they are in the dark1 and have no encouragement4 #e4 ,to put the graces of the ,spirit to trial and to exercise2 as their faith1 patience1 hope1 love1 c4 ,psal4 xiii4 #e1 #f1 #bb1 #bd4 #f4 ,to awaken them from their security1 and to set them to a more diligent following of duty2 as we see in the spouse1 ,cant4 v4 #g4 ,to sharpen their desire and hunger after him1 as this instance cleareth4 ,even in such a case as this1 ,christ is life to the soul1 which is the third particular1 #a4 ,by taking away the sinful causes of such a distance1 having laid down his life and shed his blood for the remission of their sins1 so that such a dispensation is not flowing from pure wrath1 but is rather an act of mercy and love4 #b4 ,by advocating the poor man's cause in heaven1 where he is making intercession for his own1 and thereby obtaining a delivery from that condition1 in ,god's own time1 even the shining again of his countenance upon them4 #c4 ,by keeping life in1 as to habitual grace1 and by breathing thereupon1 so that it becometh lively1 and operative even in such a winter day4 #d4 ,by supporting the soul under that dispensation1 and keeping it from fainting1 through the secret influences of grace1 which he conveyeth into the soul2 as he did to the poor woman of ,canaan1 ,matth4 xv4 #e4 ,by setting the soul a-work1 to use such means as ,god hath appointed for a recovery2 as1 to cry1 to plead1 to long1 to wait1 c4 ,their heart shall live that seek him4 #f4 ,by teaching the soul to submit to and acquiesce in what ,god doth1 acknowledging his righteousness1 greatness1 and sovereignty2 and this quietness of heart is its life4 #g4 ,by keeping the heart fast to the covenant of grace2 so that whatever come1 they will never quit that bargain1 but they will trust in him though he should kill them2 and they will adhere to the covenant of grace1 though they should be dragged through hell4 #h4 ,at length when he seeth it fit and convenient1 he quickeneth by drawing back the veil1 and filling the soul with joy1 in the light of ,god's countenance2 and causing it to sing1 as having the heart lifted up in the ways of the ,lord4 ,as to the last particular1 concerning the duty of a soul in such a case2 we say1 #a4 ,he should humble himself under this dispensation1 knowing that it is the great ,god with whom he hath to do2 and that there is no contending with him2 and that all flesh should stoop before him4 #b4 ,he should justify ,god in all that he doth1 and say with ,david1 ,psal4 xxii4 #c4 ,but thou art holy1 ,o thou that inhabitest the praises of ,israel4 #c4 ,he should look upon himself as unworthy of the least of that kind3 ,i am a worm1 said ,david1 ,psal4 xxii4 #f1 and no man4 #d4 ,he should search out his provocations1 and run away to the fountain1 the blood of ,christ1 that these may be purged away1 and his conscience sprinkled from dead works1 and his soul washed in the fountain opened to the house of ,david for sin and for uncleanness4 #e4 ,he must also employ ,christ1 to discover to him more and more of his guiltiness1 whereby he hath grieved the ,spirit of ,god2 and as sins are discovered to him1 he would repent of them1 and run away with them to the blood that cleanseth from all sin4 ,this was ,elihu's advice to ,job1 chap4 xxxiv4 #ca1 #cb4 ,surely it is meet to be said unto ,god1 ,i have borne chastisement1 ,i will not offend4 ,that which ,i see not1 teach thou me2 if ,i have done iniquity1 ,i will do no more4 #f4 ,he should grip to ,christ in the covenant1 and rest there with joy and satisfaction2 he should hold that fast that he may ride out the storm in a dark night2 though he make not mine house to grow1 said ,david1 #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #e2 yet this was all his salvation and all his desire1 that he had made with him an everlasting covenant1 ordered in all things and sure4 ,the spouse took this course1 when she could not get a sight of him whom her soul loved1 ,cant4 vi4 #c1 and asserted her interest in him2 ,i am my beloved's1 and my beloved is mine4 #g4 ,he should be entertaining high and loving thoughts of ,god1 commending him highly1 let his dispensations be what they will4 ,so did the spouse1 ,cant4 v4 #aj1 #af4 #h4 ,he should earnestly seek after him4 ,the spouse did so1 ,cant4 v4 #f4 ,the discouragement she met with at the hands of the watchmen1 did not put her off her pursuit1 ver4 #g1 but she continued1 yea1 was sick of love2 ver4 #h2 and her looks had a prevailing power with him1 as we see1 ,cant4 vi4 #e1 where the bridegroom uttered that most astonishing word1 ,turn away thine eyes from me1 for they have overcome me4 #i4 ,this new manifestation which he is seeking for1 must be expected in and through ,christ1 who is the true tabernacle1 and he who was represented by the mercy-seat4 ,he is the only trusting-place2 in him alone will the ,father be seen4 #aj4 ,he should also look to him for strength and support1 in the mean time2 and for grace1 that he may be kept from fainting1 and may be helped to wait till he come1 who knoweth the fittest season wherein to appear4 ,but it will be said1 what if1 after all this1 we get no outgate1 but he hideth his face still from us8 ,i answer1 such should know1 that life is one thing1 and comfort is another thing2 grace is one thing1 and warm blinks of ,god's face is another4 ,the one is necessary to the very being of a ,christian1 the other not1 but only necessary to his comfortable being2 and therefore they should be content1 if ,god give them grace1 though they miss comfort for a time4 #b4 ,they should learn to commit that matter to ,christ who knoweth how to give that which is good and best for them4 #c4 ,they should be hanging on him for strength and for duty2 and in his strength setting about every commanded duty1 and be exercising faith1 love1 patience1 hope1 desire1 c4 #d4 ,let the well-ordered covenant be all their salvation1 and all their desire2 and though they should not get a comfortable blink of ,god's face1 so long as they were here1 yet holding fast this covenant1 they should at length be saved souls1 and what would they have more8 and when they get this1 what will they miss8 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,how ,,shall ,,one ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,life1 ,,when ,,wrestling ,,with ,,an ,,angry ,,god ,,because ,,of ,,sin8 ,that we may give some satisfaction to this question1 we shall1 #a4 ,shew what are the ingredients in this case1 or what useth to concur in this distemper4 #b4 ,shew some reasons why the ,lord is pleased to dispense thus with his people4 #c4 ,shew how ,christ is life to the soul in this case4 #d4 ,shew the believer's duty for a recovery2 and1 #e4 ,add a word or two of caution4 ,as to the first1 ,there may be those parts of1 or ingredients in this distemper3 #a4 ,god presenting their sins unto their view1 so as they shall cry out1 ,our sin is ever before us1 ,psal4 li4 #c1 and say1 as it is1 ,psal4 xc4 #h4 ,thou hast set our iniquities before thee1 our secret sins in the light of thy countenance2 and so cause them see the ,lord contending for sin1 as the church did1 ,isa4 lix4 ,we roar all like bears1 and mourn sore like doves4 ,we look for judgment but there is none1 for salvation but it is far off from us2 for our transgressions are multiplied before thee1 and our sins testify against us2 for our transgressions are with us2 and as for our iniquities1 we know them1 c4 #b4 ,yea1 ,god may bring upon them the iniquities of their youth1 as ,job speaketh1 chap4 xiii4 #bf1 and so bring upon them1 or suffer conscience to charge them1 with their old sins formerly repented of and pardoned4 ,and this is more terrible3 ,david is made to remember his original sin1 ,psal4 li4 #c4 ,and1 as ,job speaketh1 chap4 xv4 #ag1 ,god may seem to be sealing up all their sins in a bag1 that none of them may be lost or fall by1 without being taken notice of2 and1 as it were1 be gathering them together in a heap4 #d4 ,he may pursue sore with signs of wrath and displeasure1 because of those sins1 as we see in ,david1 ,psal4 iv42 xxxviii4 #ea1 and in several others of his people1 chastened of the ,lord because of their transgressions2 whereof there are many instances in ,scripture4 #e4 ,yea1 and that for a considerable time together1 and cause them cry out1 with ,david1 ,psal4 iv4 #c1 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 how long6 #f4 ,and that not only with outward1 but also with inward plagues and strokes1 as ,david's case cleareth1 in the fore-cited ,psalms4 #g4 ,yea1 and not even themselves1 but even their posterity2 as ,david's child was smitten with death1 and the posterity of ,manasses1 who found mercy himself1 #b ,chron4 xxxiii4 #ac1 was carried into captivity for his sin1 #b ,kings xxiii4 #bf1 #bg4 #h4 ,further1 the ,lord may deprive them of all their former joy and comfort1 which made ,david cry out1 ,psalm li4 #ab1 ,restore unto me the joy of thy salvation1 and grant me thy free ,spirit4 #i4 ,and1 which is yet more terrible1 write their sin upon their judgment1 as when he caused the sword and whoredom follow ,david's house4 #aj4 ,and1 finally1 he may cause them fear utter off-casting1 as ,psalm li4 #ab1 cast me not away1 said he1 from thy presence4 ,and this the ,lord thinketh good to do 7that we may speak a word to the second particular7 for those1 and the like reasons3 #a4 ,to discover to them1 and to all the world1 how just1 holy1 and righteous a ,god he is1 that cannot approve of1 or bear with sin1 even in his own children4 #b4 ,to make all fear and tremble before this great and holy ,god1 who is terrible in his judgments1 even when they come from a ,father's hand that is not pursuing in pure anger and wrath1 but chastening in love4 ,sure all must think that his dispensations with the wicked will be much more fearful and horrible1 seeing they are not yet reconciled to him through the blood of ,jesus4 #c4 ,to press believers more earnestly into ,christ1 that they may get a new extract of their pardon1 and their souls washed in the blood of ,jesus4 #d4 ,to teach them to walk more circumspectly afterwards1 and to guard more watchfully against ,satan's temptations1 and to employ ,christ more as their strength1 light1 and guide4 #e4 ,to cause them see their great obligation to ,jesus ,christ1 for delivering them from that state of wrath1 wherein they were by nature1 as well as others1 and would have lain in to all eternity1 had he not redeemed them4 #f4 ,to exercise their faith1 patience1 and hope2 to see if in hope they will believe against hope1 and lay hold on the strength of the ,lord1 that they make peace with him1 ,isaiah xxvii4 #e4 #g4 ,to give a fresh proof of his wonderful mercy1 grace1 love1 and compassion1 upholding the soul in the mean time1 and at length pardoning them1 and speaking peace to their souls through the blood of ,jesus4 ,but as to the third particular1 we may look on ,christ as the ,life to the soul in this case1 upon those accounts1 #a4 ,he hath satisfied justice1 and so hath borne the pure wrath of ,god due for their sins4 ,he hath trodden the wine press alone1 ,isaiah lxiii4 #e4 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 and bruised for our sins1 ,isaiah liii4 #e1 #aj2 and therefore they drink not of this cup which would make them drunk1 and to stagger1 and fall1 and never rise again4 #b4 ,yea1 he hath procured that mercy and love shall accompany all those sharp dispensations1 and that they shall flow from mercy2 yea1 and that they shall be as a covenanted blessing promised in the covenant1 ,psalm lxxxix4 #cj1 c4 #c4 ,and sometimes he is pleased to let them see this clear difference betwixt the strokes they lie under1 and the judgments of pure wrath which attend the wicked2 and this supporteth the soul2 for then he seeth that those dispensations1 how sharp soever they be1 shall work together for good to him1 and come from the hand of a gracious loving ,father1 reconciled in the blood of ,christ4 #d4 ,he is a ,prince1 exalted to give repentance and remission of sins to ,israel1 ,acts v4 #ca4 ,yea1 he hath procured such a clause in the covenant1 which is well ordered in all things and sure1 that upon their renewing of faith and repentance1 their after sins shall be pardoned2 and besides the promises of faith and repentance in the covenant1 his being a ,prince exalted to give both1 giveth assurance of their receiving of both4 #e4 ,he cleareth to them their interest in the covenant1 and their right to the promises of the covenant2 and through their closing with ,christ by faith1 he raiseth up their heart in hope1 and causeth them to expect an outgate1 even remission of their sins1 and turning away the displeasure in due time through him4 ,and this is a great part of their life4 #f4 ,being the author and finisher of faith1 and a prince to give repentance1 he1 by his ,spirit1 worketh up the soul to a renewing of its grips of himself by faith1 and to a running to the death and blood of ,christ for pardon and washing1 and worketh godly sorrow in the heart1 whereupon followeth pardon1 according to the gospel constitution1 though the believer as yet perceiveth it not2 and sin being pardoned before ,god1 conform to the tenor of the covenant of grace1 the man is a living man1 whatever fears of death he may be kept under for a time4 #g4 ,he helpeth also to a justifying of ,god1 and to a holy1 submissive frame of spirit under that dispensation2 so that they are willing to bear the indignation of the ,lord1 because they have sinned against him1 ,micah vii4 #i2 and to wait for an outgate in ,god's own time1 and to kiss the rod1 and to accept of the punishment of their sin4 #h4 ,when he seeth it fit for his own glory1 and their advantage1 he speaketh peace at length to the soul1 and saith1 son 7or daughter7 be of good cheer1 thy sins are forgiven thee2 and then is the soul restored to life4 ,as to the fourth particular4 ,the soul that is wrestling with an angry ,god for sin1 and would make use of ,christ as the ,life1 should do these things3 #a4 ,he should look to ,christ as standing under ,god's curse in our room1 and as satisfying justice for all the elect1 and for all their sins4 #b4 ,he should eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised1 upon the renewing of faith and repentance4 #c4 ,he should eye ,christ as the great ,lord dispensator of both faith and repentance1 and hang on him for both1 and thus believe1 that he may believe and repent1 or lay his soul open to him1 that he may work in him both repentance and faith4 #d4 ,he should flee to the blood of sprinkling1 that speaks better things than the blood of ,abel1 that he may be washed1 and sprinkled with hyssop1 as ,david did1 ,psalm li4 #g4 #e4 ,he should eye ,christ as a prince to give pardon and remission of sins1 and as exalted for this end1 and should fix his eye upon him1 as now exalted in glory for this end4 #f4 ,he should close with ,christ of new1 as his only all-sufficient ,mediator2 and having done this1 and repented of his sins1 whereby ,god hath been provoked1 he should conclude through faith1 that a pardon is passed in the court of heaven1 conform to the tenor of the gospel1 and wait on ,christ until the intimation come4 ,as for the cautions which ,i promised to speak to1 in the last place1 take those few3 #a4 ,do not conclude there is no pardon1 because there is no intimation thereof made to thy soul as yet4 ,according to the dispensation of grace condescended upon in the gospel1 pardon is had immediately upon a soul's believing and repenting2 but the intimation1 sense1 and feeling of pardon1 is a distinct thing1 and may1 for several ends1 be long kept up from the soul4 ,sure they go not always together4 #b4 ,do not conclude there is no pardon1 because the rod that was inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off4 ,god pardoned ,david's sin1 and did intimate the same to him by ,nathan1 and yet the sword did not depart from his house till he died4 ,god can forgive1 and yet take vengeance on their inventions1 ,psalm xcix4 #h4 #c4 ,do not upon this ground question ,god's faithfulness1 or conclude that ,god's covenant doth not stand fast4 ,he is the same1 and the covenant abideth fast and firm2 but the change is in thee4 #d4 ,do not think that because thou hast once received ,christ1 that therefore1 without any new act of faith on him1 or of repentance towards ,god1 thou should immediately be pardoned of thy sins1 as soon as they are committed2 for the gospel method must be followed1 and it should satisfy us4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,no ,,man ,,cometh ,,to ,,the ,,father ,,but ,,by ,,me4 ,this being added for further confirmation of what was formerly said1 will point out unto us several necessary truths1 as1 ,i4 ,that it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this fundamental point of coming to ,god only in and through ,christ4 ,for1 #a4 ,it is the whole marrow of the gospel4 #b4 ,it is the hinge of our salvation1 ,christ is the chief corner stone1 ,isa4 xxxviii4 #af4 #a ,pet4 i4 #e1 #f2 and1 #c4 ,the only ground of all our solid and true peace and comfort4 #d ,an error or a mistake here1 is most dangerous1 hazarding1 if not ruining all4 #e4 ,satan endeavours mainly against this1 raiseth up heresies1 errors1 and false opinions1 and prompteth some to vent perplexing doubts and objections1 and all to darken this cardinal point4 ,so doth he muster up all his temptations for this end1 at length to keep poor souls from acquaintance with this way1 and from making use of it1 or entering into it4 #f4 ,our corrupt hearts are most averse from it1 and will close with any way1 how troublesome1 how expensive and costly soever it may seem to be1 rather than with this4 #g4 ,there are a multitude of false ways1 as we did shew above4 ,all which do clear up this necessity1 and should teach us to be very diligent to win to acquaintance with it1 and to make sure that we are in it1 and to hold it fast1 and to keep it pure in our practice1 without mixing any thing with it1 or corrupting of it4 ,,ii4 ,that it is no small difficulty to get this truth believed and practised1 that through ,christ alone we come to the ,father4 ,therefore is the same thing asserted and inculcated again upon the same matter2 for1 #a4 ,nature will not teach this way2 it is far above nature4 #b4 ,yea1 our natural inclinations are much against it1 opposing it1 and fighting against it4 #c4 ,this way is altogether contrary to that high esteem which naturally all of us have of ourselves4 #d4 ,and is opposite to that pride of heart which naturally we are subject to4 #e4 ,yea1 there is nothing in us by nature that will willingly comply with this way2 but1 on the contrary1 all is opposite thereunto4 #f4 ,and therefore it is the ,christian's first lesson to deny himself4 ,the consideration of which should humble us1 and make us very jealous of our own hearts and inclinations1 and of all those courses which they are inclinable to and bent upon4 ,and it should put us to try if ever we have overcome this difficulty2 and have now all our hopes and comforts founded on him1 and on nothing else2 and are up and down in our peace and joy according as we win in to him1 or are shut out from him2 and in all our approaches to ,god1 upon whatsoever account1 are leaning to him and resting upon him alone1 expecting access1 acceptance1 and a hearing1 only in him2 and are quieted under all our fears and temptations1 with this1--that ,christ is our way to the ,father4 ,,iii4 ,that even believers have need to have this truth inculcated often3 ,for1 #a4 ,satan is busy pulling them off this ground by all the wiles and temptations he can4 #b4 ,their own corruption within1 and the evil heart of unbelief1 is always opposing this way1 and drawing them off it4 #c4 ,through the sleight of ,satan and the power of corruption1 they are oftentimes declining from this pure gospel way4 #d4 ,the experience of believers can tell1 that when they are at their best1 it is a great work and exercise to them to keep their hearts right in this matter4 #e4 ,is it not too often seen1 that they are the spiritual plague of formality1 which stealeth them off their feet here8 #f4 ,and is it not found oftentimes that they are too ready to lean to something beside ,christ8 ,how ought all to be convinced of this1 and humbled under the sense of it6 ,and see also how necessary it is to be often preaching on this subject1 and to be often thinking upon and studying this fundamental truth4 ,,iv4 ,it should be a strong motive and incitement to us to make use of ,christ as the way to the ,father1 that no man cometh to the ,father but by him2 for this may be looked upon as an argument enforcing their use-making of him as the way4 ,v4 ,it discovereth the ground of that truth1 that there are but few that are saved1 for none cometh to the ,father but by him2 few1 in respect of the whole world1 once hear of him2 and of such as hear of him1 few have the true way of employing and applying him1 as the way to the ,father cleareth up unto them4 ,and again1 of such as have the truth1 as it is in ,jesus1 preached unto them1 ,o how few go to him and make use of him according to the truth1 and believe and practise the truth6 ,,vi4 ,that in and through ,christ alone we must come1 #a4 ,to the knowledge of the ,father2 for no man knoweth the ,father but the ,son2 and he alone1 who came out of the bosom of the ,father1 revealeth him4 #b4 ,to the favour and friendship of the ,father2 for he alone is our peace1 and in him alone is the ,father well pleased4 #c4 ,to the kingdom of the ,father here2 for here only is the door1 ,john x42 and by his ,spirit are we effectually called4 #d4 ,to the kingdom of the ,father above2 for he alone hath opened that door1 and is entered into the holiest of all1 as our forerunner1 and is gone to prepare a place for us4 #e4 ,through him alone must we address ourselves to the ,father in our supplications1 ,john xvi4 #bc4 ,rev4 viii4 #c2 in our thanksgiving1 ,rom4 i4 #h4 ,col4 iii4 #ag2 and praise1 ,heb4 xiii4 #ae4 ,eph4 iii4 #ba4 #f4 ,through him alone have we access and an open door to the ,father1 ,eph4 ii4 #ah2 iii4 #ba4 ,heb4 iv4 #af4 ,i shall only speak to one case here1 viz4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,how ,,should ,,we ,,make ,,use ,,of ,,christ1 ,,in ,,going ,,to ,,the ,,father1 ,,in ,,prayer1 ,,and ,,other ,,acts ,,of ,,worship8 ,in short1 for answering of this question1 ,i shall lay down those particulars3 #a4 ,there should be a lively sense of the infinite distance that is between the great ,god and us finite creatures1 and yet more betwixt the ,holy ,ghost and us sinful wretches4 #b4 ,there should be an eyeing of ,christ as the great peacemaker1 through his death and merits having satisfied justice and reconciled sinners unto ,god2 that so we may look on ,god now no more as an enemy1 but as reconciled in ,jesus4 #c4 ,there should be1 sometimes at least1 a more formal and explicit actual closing with ,christ as ours1 when we are going about such duties1 and always an implicit and virtual embracing of him as our ,mediator1 or an habitual hanging upon him and leaning to him as our ,mediator and peacemaker4 #d4 ,there should be an eyeing of him as our great ,high ,priest now living for ever to make intercession for us1 and to keep the door of heaven open to us3 upon which account the apostle presseth the ,hebrews to come boldly to the throne of grace1 ,heb4 iv4 #ad1af4 ,see also ,heb4 v4 #bd1be4 #e4 ,there should be a gripping to him even in reference to that particular act of worship1 and a laying hold upon him1 to speak so1 as our master-usher to bring us by the hand in to the ,father1 conscious of our own unworthiness4 #f4 ,there should be a confident leaning to him in our approaching1 and so we should approach him without fear and diffidence2 and that notwithstanding that we find not our souls in such a good frame as we would ,wish1 yea1 and guilt looking us in the face4 #g4 ,thus should we roll all the difficulties that come in our way1 and all the discouragements which we meet with1 on him1 that he may take away the one and the other1 and help us over the one and the other4 #h4 ,as we should take an answer to all objections from him alone1 and put him to remove all scruples and difficulties1 and strengthen ourselves against all impediments and discouragements alone1 in and through him1 so there should be the bringing of all our positive encouragements from him alone1 and all our hopes of coming speed with the ,father should be grounded upon him4 #i4 ,we should expect all our welcome and acceptance with the ,father only in and through ,christ1 and expect nothing for any thing in ourselves1 nor for our graces1 good frame1 preparation1 or any thing of that kind4 ,so we should not found our acceptance nor our peace and satisfaction on ourselves1 nor on any thing we have or do2 nor should we conclude our exclusion or want of acceptance1 because we do not apprehend our frame so good as it ought to be2 so we should not found our acceptance on our right performance of duties1 for that is not ,christ4 #aj4 ,we should quiet ourselves on him alone in all our approaches1 whatever liveliness we find or miss in duty4 ,we are too much tickled and fain when duties go well with us1 and troubled on the other hand when it is not so2 and the ground of all this is1 because we lean too much to our own duties1 and do not quiet ourselves on him alone4 ,and hence it is1 that we are often quieted when we get the duty done and put by1 though we have not met with him there1 nor gotten use made of him as was necessary4 ,all our comfort1 peace1 and quiet should be founded on him alone4 #aa4 ,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 worship1 to put us back1 or cause us to advance slowly and faintingly2 and casting them all on him1 go forward in our duty4 #ab4 ,we should look for all our returns and answers only in and through him1 and lay all the weight of our hopes and expectations of a good answer only on him1 #a ,john v4 #ac1 #ad1 #ae4 ,for caution ,i would add a word or two3 #a4 ,i do not think that the believer can explicitly and distinctly act all these things whenever he is going to ,god1 or can distinctly perceive all these several acts2 nor have ,i specified and particularly mentioned them thus1 for this end1 but to shew at some length1 how ,christ is to be employed in those acts of worship which we are called to perform2 and that because we oftentimes think the simple naming of him1 and asking of things for his sake1 is sufficient1 though our hearts lean more to some other thing than to him2 and the conscientious ,christian will find his soul1 when he is rightly going about the duties of worship1 looking towards ,christ thus1 sometimes more distinctly and explicitly as to one particular1 and sometimes more as to another4 #b4 ,though the believer cannot distinctly act faith on ,christ all these ways1 when he is going about commanded duties of worship1 yet he should be sure to have his heart going out after ,christ1 as the only ground of his approaching to and acceptance with and of being heard by the ,father2 and to have his heart in such an habitual frame of resting on ,christ1 that really there may be a relying upon him all these ways1 though not distinctly discerned4 #c4 ,sometimes the believer will be called to be more distinct and explicit in looking to and resting upon ,christ1 as to one particular1 and sometimes more as to another4 ,when ,satan is dissuading him to go to ,god because he is an infinitely holy ,one1 and he himself is but a sinner1 then he is called to act faith on ,christ as the ,mediator making reconciliation between ,god and sinners2 and when ,satan is dissuading from approaching to ,god1 because of their want of an interest in ,god1 then should they act faith on ,christ1 and embrace him according to the gospel1 and rest there1 and so approach4 ,and when ,satan casts up his unworthiness and former sins1 to keep him a-back or to discourage him1 then he is called to lay hold on ,christ as the great ,high ,priest and ,advocate1 and casting that discouragement on him1 to go forward4 ,so likewise1 when ,satan is discouraging him in his duty1 by bringing before him his sins1 he should take this course2 and when1 because of his sinful way of worshipping ,god1 and calling upon him1 and other things1 he is made to fear that all is in vain1 and that neither ,god regardeth him nor his services1 and that he shall not come speed1 then should he cast all the burden of his acceptance1 and of obtaining what he asketh and desireth1 on ,christ1 and quiet himself there2 and so as to the rest4 ,and hence appeareth the usefulness of our branching out of this matter4 #d4 ,in all this1 there must be an acting in the strength of ,jesus2 a looking to ,christ and resting upon ,christ1 according to the present case and necessity1 in ,christ2 that is1 by his strength and grace communicated to us by his ,spirit2 then do we worship ,god in the ,spirit1 and in the newness of the ,spirit1 when all is done1 in the matter of worship1 in and through ,jesus4 ,,the ,,end4