In that he ſaith, Be yee reconciled to God, you may obſerve,

Obſ. 1.That the beſt eſtate of men by nature is an eſtate of enmitie againſt God, who is the chiefeſt good; for if theſe need any reconciliation, how much more enemies? Rom. 5. 10.

For he hath made him to be ſin for us.

Obſ. 2.God hath in his wiſdome and love found out a way to ſave loſt man, and hath ſent the Lord Jeſus to effect it, Zach. 9. 10, 11. and manifeſt it, and hath ſent Ambaſſadors, and given us his word to declare his great grace, Joh. 1. 17. infinite love, Joh. 3. 16. and the unſearchable riches of Chriſt.

Be yee reconciled to God, for he hath made him to be ſin for us.

Obſ. 3.That there needs ſtrong reaſons and earneſt intreaties, yea the arme of the Lord muſt be revealed in them, to reconcile a ſinfull ſoule to God, Iſa. 53. 1.

As though God did beſeech you.

Obſ. 4.God is more willing to pardon a ſinner, yea the chiefe of ſinners, then any ſoule is or can be willing to be pardoned. This appeares in that God ſeeks to us to be reconciled; man ſeeks it not: I was found of them that ſought me not, Iſa. 65. 1, 2, 3. And in that God beſeecheth a loſt ſinner to be reconciled to God; and when we prodigals turne to God, being turned by God, we doe but goe, and that ſoftly; but God who is that Father, runneth to receive us, as Luk. 15. 18. 20. And as running expreſſeth much more willingneſſe, then an eaſie going, ſo it is here.

God beſeecheth you by us, wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead.

Obſ. 5.It appeares that all the doubts and feares the ſoule or Satan can frame, as if God were unwilling to pardon a loſt ſinner, (Luk. 19. 10.) are all groundleſſe and falſe; for he prayeth and beſeeches to be reconciled, as if he ſhould ſay, goe tell ſuch a ſoule from me, I will have him to be reconciled to me, I am not angry with him, he need not doubt of my love, which is infinite, without time or meaſure, I am all-ſufficient, I can and I will paſſe by all his wickedneſſe againſt me.

Be yee reconciled; we pray you.

Obſ. 6.That even ſuch ſinners as God ſends after, and will ſave, they have many hard thoughts of God, they are ſo fooliſh and ſo deceived by ſin, that they are contented to be as they are, and ſtand in need to be prayed and intreated to be reconciled to God.

As though God did beſeech you by us.

Obſ. 7.That all thoſe into whom God hath put this word of reconciliation, when it is declared unto us by them, or in his Word, we ought to receive it, and beleeve it, as if God did immediately ſpeak unto us, for they ſpeake in his ſtead: So alſo it is the duty of the Ambaſſadors of Chriſt to declare nothing but the meſſage they receive from Chriſt, according to the word of Chriſt.

We pray you, be yee reconciled to God; for he hath made him to be ſin for us.

Obſ. 8.The way God takes to reconcile a ſinner unto himſelfe, is the diſcovery of his free grace and love of God done to man through Chriſt.

The diſcovery of this to the ſoule, expels ignorance, and ſlayeth the ſoules enmity againſt God; and by his love he draweth the ſoule to God in love again; Gods way of ſaving man is onely in a way of love; therefore he ſaith, Behold, I will allure her, and ſpeake comfortably unto her, Hoſ. 2. 14. His love is free, full, and eternall; I will love them freely, Hoſ. 14. 4. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, Hoſ. 11. 4.

Be reconciled; for he hath made him to be ſin for us.

Obſ. 9.It appeares that the ſenſe and guilt of ſin, doth hinder the ſoule from being reconciled; ſin cauſeth the ſoule to deſire to be at a further diſtance from God, as Luk. 5. 8.

Ob. 10 That before a ſinner can be reconciled unto God, he muſt underſtand and know the cauſe, way, and meanes of his ſalvation, (I ſay not before God loves him) therefore as it is declared; that all have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God, &c. Rom. 3. So he declares that Jeſus Chriſt is made ſin for us, and that wee are juſtified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jeſus, whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud, to declare his righteouſneſſe for the remiſſion of ſinnes, that he might be juſt, and the juſtifier of him that beleeves in Jeſus, Rom. 3. 23, 24, 25, 26. ſee Rom. 5. 10, 11. 13. 19. Rom. 6. 23. Titus 3. 5.

He hath made him.

Obſer. 11.God the Father hath ſet apart the Lord Jeſus to ſave man, Heb. 9. 14. 22. Rev. 13. 8. There is no other name whereby we may be ſaved, but by the name of Jeſus, Act. 4. 12.

Which knew no ſinne.

Obſer. 12.Chriſt knew no ſin in himſelfe perſonally, Luk. 1. 35. nor inherently, Heb. 14. 5. nor experimentally, Joh. 8. 40.

Obſer. 13.And ſeeing Chriſt is ſo holy a perſon and ſo qualified as he is, Col. 2. 3. none ought to doubt of the ſufficiency, meritoriouſneſſe, and effectualneſſe of whatſoever he hath undertaken to doe: for by once offering the ſacrifice of himſelfe, he hath for ever perfected them that are ſanctified; that is, ſet apart, Heb. 10. 10. 14.

Obſer. 14.So that the ſinfull ſoule ought to caſt away all diſcouragements, and to reſt ſatisfied in this full, perfect, and infinite ſatisfaction, and not ſuffer their fooliſh hearts to ſeeke after, or deſire any other, for as there is none to be found elſwhere, ſo there needs none; for be thy ſinnes never ſo great, or many, this one ſatisfaction of the Lord Jeſus is ſufficient.

Made him to be ſinne.

Obſer. 15.God hath imputed our ſinnes unto Chriſt, and ſo laid them upon him, Eſa. 53. 5. that they are not ours no more but Chriſts, who hath freed us from them, who will diſanull them, and ſo free himſelfe of them, ſo that he ſhall appeare without ſin, Heb. 9. 28.

Obſer. 16.The way and meanes God hath choſen to free a ſinner from ſin, is onely by Jeſus Chriſt, that he might undergoe the penalty of ſin, or elſe no man could be ſaved, as theſe Scriptures declare, Joh. 1. 1. 7. Joh. 1. 29. Rom. 8. 2. Epheſ. 2. 14, 15. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 9. 22. Col. 1. 20. Zach. 9. 11. For ſin muſt be charged upon Chriſt, or the ſinner, and our happineſſe lyeth in this, that our ſinnes are not imputed unto us, Pſal. 32. 1, 2. Rom. 4. 8. Our ſins coſt Chriſt deare, that they might caſt us nothing, Rom. 5. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.

For us.

Ob. 17The word, us, and wee, in this verſe, muſt be underſtood for them in the 19. verſe, to whom God doth not impute their treſpaſſes: So that they are bleſſed, Pſal. 32. 1, 2. Rom. 4. 7. for they ſhall not miſſe of glory, becauſe they have redemption by his bloud, and remiſſion of ſinnes, as Col. 1. 14. Rom. 5. 10. Therefore by the words, us, and wee, cannot truly be underſtood every ſon and daughter of Adam.

For ſo large as the purpoſe of God is of ſaving men, ſo large is the meanes of this ſalvation, ſo large is the declaration to be, ſo large is the particular application of ſalvation to be, & ſo large is the effect of ſalvation it ſelfe; none of theſe are any larger then the other.

If any reply that Chriſt in the declaration is offered to all, therefore the particular application of ſalvation is to be to all.

I anſwer, That Chriſt is not offered to all, nor to none at all: true, it is the Goſpel is to be preached to every creature, and that all perſons whoſoever will are called to come to Chriſt to drinke, &c. But what Scripture ſaith, Chriſt is offered to any perſon, much leſſe to all the world? God ſo loved the world, that whoſoever beleeves in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. This is a declaration of what perſons God will ſave: the word of God is a declaration of the will of God; now for to declare a thing, and to offer it, is not one thing; for one may declare to another, the riches that he or another hath, and yet not offer any of them, nor it may be cannot; and ſo a man may give that to another, which he never offered him.

It's ſafeſt to keep to the language of the Scriptures (which forme of words are ſound) eſpecially in this age, in which men catch up expreſſions, and by them abuſe God, and his truth, and themſelves; for if one affirme, that God offereth Chriſt to all; men reply, doth not God meane as he ſaith? and if God offers Chriſt, and man hath not a ſufficient power to receive him; they are mocked, and God is unjuſt, &c. and that men have free-will, and ſuch like ſtuffe, ſo that yee may ſee how one error draweth many after it, and it's oft grounded upon an unſound expreſſion.

Made ſin: made the righteouſneſſe of God.

Obſer. 18.After what manner Chriſt became a ſinner, after the ſame manner wee are made juſt; but he became a ſinner not by any infuſion of our corrupt qualities, but by imputation onely: Therefore wee are juſt before God, not by infuſion of any habituall grace into our corrupt natures, but by imputation of his righteouſneſſe; God imputeth righteouſneſſe without works, Rom. 4. 6. If this were well minded, it might anſwer and remove ſome temptations, which are occaſioned by apprehending the contrary.

The righteouſneſſe of God.

Obſer. 19.Chriſts righteouſneſſe is the righteouſneſſe of God. That righteouſneſſe which freeth a ſinner from the curſe of the Law is a perfect righteouſneſſe, Heb. 1. 8. Rom. 9. 5. Mat. 6. 33. Rom. 4. 6. Therefore prize it highly.

Obſer. 20.Mans righteouſneſſe is imperfect, and could not juſtifie him before God; Enter not into judgement with thy ſervant, for in thy ſight ſhall no man living be juſtified, Pſal. 143. 2. Dan. 9. 18. Tit. 3. 5. 7. All our righteouſneſſes are as filthy rags, &c. Iſai. 64. 4. 6. God reveales to a ſoule Chriſts righteouſneſſe, and the ſoules intereſt unto it, Joh. 16. 14. To comfort the ſoule, and cauſe the ſoule to love God againe, he doth not comfort us in the ſight of our own righteouſneſſe, before he declares and comforts the ſoule in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt.

Righteouſneſſe in him.

Obſer. 21.That righteouſneſſe which juſtifieth us before God, as it is not ours, ſo it is not in us, but as it is Chriſts righteouſneſſe, ſo it is in him: In the Lord have I righteouſneſſe and ſtrength: in me you ſhall have righteouſneſſe and ſtrength, Iſa. 45. 23, 24, 25.

Obſer. 22.The cauſe or forme of our juſtification, is by a reciprocall tranſlation of our ſin unto Chriſt, and his righteouſneſſe unto us: both which is done by God for us.

That we might be made.

Obſer. 23.Whatſoever Jeſus Chriſt hath done and ſuffered, was for thoſe whoſe ſinnes were laid upon him, who are ſtated in him, Epheſ. 1. 4. and are fully pardoned by him, Rev. 1. 5. By the obedience of one man (viz. Chriſt) many are made righteous, Rom. 5. 19. By his ſtripes we are healed, Iſa. 53. 5. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin, 1 Joh. 1. 7.

In him.

Obſer. 24.God conſiders his to be in Chriſt, before they had a beeing in themſelves, Epheſ. 1. 4. and he never lookes upon his children out of him, for they are never out of him: They dwell in Chriſt, Joh. 6. 56. and ſhall ever live, Joh. 9. 25. and be found in him, Phil. 3. 8.

Obſer. 25.Chriſt and all true beleevers are ſo united together, that they are but one; one body, one ſpirit, bone of his bone: oh what union is like to this, that is ſo reall, full, and intire, wonderfull, glorious, ſpirituall, eternall, and infinite! 1 Cor. 6. 17. Gal. 5. 30. &c. Joh. 15. 5. Joh. 17. 22, 23. If our faith in Chriſt were as ſtrong as our union with Chriſt, wee ſhould ingroſſe and poſſeſſe all that is in heaven, and nothing in the earth could trouble us.

Obſer. 26.The ſtate of a beleever in Chriſt, as conſidered in him, is an eſtate of perfection; We are complete in him, Col. 2. 9, 10. 13. As Chriſt is, ſo am I; as I am, ſo is Chriſt, Joh. 1. 17. What is Chriſts is mine; what is mine is his; Chriſts righteouſneſſe is mine: I am all righteous, I need no more, nor no other righteouſneſſe; as I am in Chriſt, I am as righteous and as acceptable as Chriſt; God ſeeth no ſin in me, becauſe there is none; for, I am all faire, there is no ſpot in me, Song 4. 7. Song 2. 10. Epheſ. 5. 25, 26, 27. For as he is, even ſo are we in this world, 1 Joh. 4. 17. Thou haſt caſt all my ſinnes behinde thy backe, Iſa. 38. 17. As far as the Eaſt in from the Weſt, ſo far hath he removed our tranſgreſſions from us, Pſal. 103. 12. Seventy weeks are determined upon the people, and upon the holy Citie, to finiſh the tranſgreſſions, and to make an end of ſinnes, and to make reconviliation for iniquitie, and to bring in an everlaſting righteouſneſſe, to ſeale up the viſion, and prophecy, and to anoynt the moſt Holy, Dan. 9. 24. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoule ſhall be joyfull in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 61. 10. All Saints are alike clothed with Chriſts righteouſneſſe: the meaneſt, the weakeſt, as the beſt, and is as acceptable by it as the beſt: oh they are all alike perfect, righteous, and glorious, as they are in Chriſt! oh, here is ſtrong conſolation for thy fainting heart, to refreſh it ſelfe withall! Drinke, O friends, and make yee merry, O welbeloved; yea drink, drink abundantly in this fountaine that is bottomleſſe, and therefore can never be drawne dry, Song 5. 1.

In the moſt perfect Saints, as they are in themſelves, there is much ſin, 1 Joh. 1. 10. and God doth ſee it; yet God cannot condemne them to wrath for it, no more then God can condemne Chriſt for it, who ſhall appeare without ſin, Heb. 9. 28. They being in him who hath ſuffered for it; and Juſtice neither will nor can exact the payment of a debt twice: now it's juſtice in God to juſtifie, Rom. 3. 25. yea, God is as juſt in pardoning a ſinner by the bloud of Chriſt, as he is juſt in condemning any; and now thou haſt a full pardon by juſtice as well as mercy, therefore drinke freely, Song 5. 1.

For us.

Obſer. 27.That which is ſpoken in generall to beleevers, every beleever is to apply it to himſelfe in particular; ſo Paul, he loved me, and gave himſelfe for me, Gal. 2. 20.

For us, for me.

Obſer. 28.The word and promiſe of God, that it is for me, is that which my ſoule ſhould fix its eye upon, and by faith for ever relie upon, and be a full ſatisfaction to my ſoule; knowing that the word and promiſe of God is the onely ground of my faith, and is ſecuritie ſufficient for my ſalvation.

Obſer. 29.As ſoone as the ſoule is convinced, that Jeſus Chriſt is made ſin for me, and that I am made the righteouſneſſe of God in him, all the ſoules doubts, feares, objections vaniſh, and Chriſt is beleeved in, and lived upon, with thankfulneſſe and joy.

Obſer. 30.Jeſus Chriſt being made ſin for me, is as good for me, yea better for me, then if I had never ſinned; as much better as a ſpirituall body is better then a naturall, as much better as the image of the heavenly is better then the image of the earthly; yea, as much better as ſtrength is better then weakneſſe, and as heaven is better then earth, 1 Cor. 15. 43, 44. to 55.

But,Obj. 1. ſaith a diſcouraged ſoule, I cannot beleeve the Lord Jeſus was made ſin for me.

Why not for thee?Anſ.

Becauſe my ſins are greater then others be;Obj. 2. for my ſins have all the aggravations upon them that can be.

For mine are many.Ag. 1.

So were theirs in the ſecond and third Chapter of Jeremiah, Anſ. yet notwithſtanding God pardoned them all, as appeares, Jer. 3. 21. to 25.

But my ſins are great and hainous.Ag. 2.

So were theirs,Anſ. and ſo were Manaſſehs, as appeares, 2 King. 21. 4. 9. 11. 16. and ſo was the womans, Luk. 7. 47. and ſo was Pauls, 1 Tim. 1. 15. yet God pardoned them all, as he hath done others.

But my ſins are againſt the Goſpel.Ag. 3.

So was Pauls, Anſ. he perſecuted them that profeſſed the Goſpel, and made havock of the Church, entring into every houſe, haling men and women, and committed them to priſon, Act. 8. 3. And Chriſt died for them that ſlew him, Act. 2. 23. 38.

But mine are af • er many mercies.Ag. 4.

So was Solomons, Anſw. who ſinned againſt God after the Lord appeared unto him twice, 1 King. 11. 9.

But I have ſinned againſt Gods intreaties to returne.Aggr. 5.

So did they; Anſw. I ſaid after ſhee had done all theſe things; Turn thou unto me, but ſhee returned not, Jer. 3. 7.

But I have ſinned againſt Gods Reproofes.Aggr. 6.

So did they; Anſw. Thou haſt a whores forehead, that refuſeſt to be aſhamed, Jer. 3. 3. 8.

But I have ſinned againſt Gods corrections in not being reformed by them.Aggr. 7.

So did they; Anſw. In vaine have I ſmitten your children, they have received no correction, Jer. 2. 30.

But I have committed one ſin often.Ag. 8.

So did they; Anſw. Thou haſt played the harlot with many lovers, Jer. 3. 1. 6.

But I have continued ſinning for a long continuance of time.Ag. 9.

So did they; Anſw. We have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord from our youth unto this day, Jer. 3. 25. & 2. 22.

But my ſinnes are againſt knowledge and Conſcience.Aggr. 10.

So was Davids ſin concerning Bathſhebah, Anſw. and putting to death Vriah. And ſo did Peter ſin when he ſaid and ſwore he knew not Chriſt, and that he was not with him, Mat. 26. 69. to 75.

But I am fallen back from what I have been.Aggr. 11.

So did they;Anſw. Returne thou backſliding Iſrael, Jer. 3. 6. 12.

But I have willingly and reſolvedly forſaken God.Aggr. 12.

So did they;Anſw. ſaying, We are Lords, wee will come no more at him, Jer. 3. 31, 32.

But I have willingly choſen ſin.Ag. 13.

So did they; ſaying, Anſw. I have loved ſtrangers, and after them will I goe, Jer. 2. 25.

But I have ſeduced others,Aggr. 14. and cauſed them to ſin.

So did they; Anſw. Thou haſt alſo taught the wicked ones thy wayes, Jer. 2. 33. And Manaſſeh ſeduced them to doe more evill then did the Nations whom the Lord deſtroyed; and made Judah alſo to ſin, 2 King. 21. 9. 11. 16. And Paul compeld men to blaſpheme, Act. 26. 11. 16. Manaſſeh a great ſinner obtained mercy, 2 Chron. 33. 18, 19. And a leſſer ſinner periſheth in his ſin; that men may know, the Lord will have mercy on whom he will, Rom. 9. 15.

But I have committed as much ſin as I could.Aggr. 15.

So did they; Anſw. Behold thou haſt ſpoken and done as evill things as thou couldſt, Jer. 3. 5.

But my ſins are after vowes and Covenants.Aggr. 16.

So were theirs; Anſw. Thou ſaidſt, I will not tranſgreſſe, when upon every high hill, and under every greene tree thou wandereſt, playing the harlot, Jer. 2. 25.

But I have juſtified my ſelfe in all my ſinnes.Aggr. 17.

So did they; Anſw. Becauſe thou ſaidſt, I have not ſinned, I will plead with thee, Jer. 2. 35.

But I deſpaire,Aggr. 18. and have no hope of mercy.

This is worſt of all; Anſw. yet ſo did they; Thou ſaidſt there is no hope, Jer. 2. 25. And when I cry, he ſhutteth out my prayer, and I ſaid, My ſtrength, and my hope is periſhed with the Lord, ſaid Jeremiah, Lam. 3. 8. 18. And Job ſaid, My hope hath he removed like a tree, Job 19. 10. My dayes are ſpent without hope, Job 7. 6. 13, 14, 15, 16. David in his haſt, ſaid, I am out off before thine eyes, Pſal. 31. 22. Abraham beleeved againſt hope, Rom. 4. 18. Yee were ſometimes afar off, without God, and without hope, Epheſ. 2. 12. yet at laſt they were made nigh by the bloud of Chriſt, Eph. 2. 13. Behold, all theſe were once like unto thee, and the Lord hath had mercy upon them, and ſo he may have mercy upon thee alſo, therefore poore ſoule, be not out of hope, mind what David ſaid, I was brought low, and he helped me, Pſal. 116. 6. God is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7. 25. Conſider what the name of the Lord is, Exod. 34. 5, 6, 7. Oh the unſearchable riches of his grace! all that know his Name will truſt in him, Pſal. 9. 10.

And becauſe the greatneſſe of ſin is one of the greateſt diſcouragements to a ſoule under the ſenſe of ſin; Conſider theſe things which are incouragements of hope unto thee.

1. Incouragement to hope.1. Incoura.

The multitude or greatneſſe of ſinne, ought not to be a diſcouragement unto thee, becauſe the fewneſſe or ſmalneſſe of thy ſinnes are not to be any ground, or cauſe of thy confidence in God for pardon; but in the promiſe of God of pardon, in which promiſe the truth and faithfulneſſe is.

2. Incouragement to hope.2. Incoura.

Becauſe the word of God doth no where ſay, that great ſinners ſhall not be ſaved, therefore to conceive ſo is folly, and no leſſe then a deluſion of Satan.

3. Incouragement to hope.3. In coura.

Becauſe the word of God ſaith the contrary, that Jeſus Chriſt came to ſave ſinners, yea and the chiefe ſinners, and this is a ſaying worthy of all acceptation, 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. Come now let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord, though your ſinnes were as crimſon, they ſhall be made white as ſnow, though they were red like ſcarlet, they ſhall be made as wooll, Iſaiah 1. 18. The word of God declares many great and ſweet promiſes to great ſinners, as Jer. 3. Isa. 55. 7, 8, 9. & 43. 24, 25. There be many examples of great ſinners received to mercy, as Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33. 18, 19. Paul, and one who was a ſinner with a witnes, Luk. 7. 37. 47. And many others, yea the rebellious alſo, Pſal. 68. 18.

4. Incouragement to hope.4. Incoura.

Becauſe there is a fountaine ſet open for ſin and for uncleanneſſe, Zach. 13. 1. And Chriſt is mightie to ſave, Iſa. 62. 1. He will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55. 7. And his compaſſions faile not, Lam. 3. 22.

5. Incouragement to hope.5. Incoura.

Becauſe great ſinners that are heavie laden with ſinne, are called to come to Chriſt, Mat. 11. 28. If any man thirſt, let him came to me and drinke, Joh. 7. 37. Every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, Iſa. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17.

6. Incouragement to hope.6. In coura.

The Saints have made their greatneſſe of ſinne an incouragement to beleeve; Lord, pardon my ſinnes, for they are great, Pſal. 25. 11. How great is his goodneſſe? much greater then thy ſinnes, Zach. 9. 17. Iſa. 43. The greater our ſinnes are, the greater our faith ſhould be. Loe here is great conſolation.

7. Incouragement to hope.7. Incoura.

Becauſe God doth not ſell Chriſt or grace, but he gives Chriſt, and all that is his freely; Yee that have no ſilver, come buy and eate, come buy without money, Iſa. 55. 1. And the Spirit, and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth ſay, come, and let him that is athirſt, come, and let whoſoever will take of the water of life freely, Rev. 22. 17. Jeſus ſtood, crying, ſaying, If any man thirſt, let him come to me and drinke, Joh. 7. 37.

8. Incouragement.8. Incoura.

Becauſe ſuch as Jeſus Chriſt ſaves, are unworthy, ungodly, and without works, Rom. 4. 5, 6. The moſt perfect Saint that ever hath been, did ſtand in need of mercy, and was unworthy. Behold, he found no ſtedfaſtneſſe in his ſervants, and chargeth his Angels of folly, how much more in them that dwell in houſes of clay? Job 4. 18, 19. And all thoſe whom God hath revealed his Sonne unto, they ſee an exceeding tranſcendent beautie in him; and he is precious unto them, 1 Pet. 2. 7. They loth and abhor themſelves, Job 42. 6. Becauſe they ſee in themſelves nothing elſe but vileneſſe, filthineſſe, and unworthineſſe, Ezek. 16. 63. and it ſets out the mercy of God the more, that it is freely given unto the unworthy, Ezek. 16.

9. Incoura.9. Incouragement.

It makes moſt for the glory of God to give great things, and is it not a diſparagement for a King to doe otherwiſe? The Lord is a great King, a mightie God, Iſa. 9. 6. He doth great things paſt finding out, and wonders without number, Job 9. 10. Feare not, the Lord will do great things, Joel 2. 21. For with God nothing ſhall be impoſſible, Luk. 1. 37. Meaſure not the Lord by thy ſelfe: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your wayes my wayes, ſaith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher then the earth, ſo are my wayes higher then your wayes, and my thoughts then your thoughts, Iſa. 55. 8, 9. And thoſe who are made wiſe by God, looke not ſo much to their baſeneſſe as unto his greatneſſe, Zach. 9. 17.

10. Incoura.10. Incouragement.

That which moves God to ſhew mercy, is onely in himſelfe, nothing in the creature, Ezek. 16. 3. to 9. Nor any thing the creature can doe, cannot move God to ſhew mercy; I will doe away thy ſinnes for my Names ſake, Iſa. 43. 25. God ſhews mercy, becauſe he will, Micah 7. 18, 19.

11. Incouragement.11. Incoura.

The greater our ſinnes are, and our ſenſibleneſſe of unworthineſſe, the more we ſhall love God when we know that our ſinnes are pardoned, Luk. 7. 41, 42, 43, 47.

12. Incouragement.12. Incoura.

The mercy of God is infinite, it hath no part or forme, therefore it is not capable of any addition or defect: therefore infinite, ſhouldſt thou need thouſands of Seas of mercy to pardon thy ſinnes. God hath not the leſſe, notwithſtanding he hath given ſo much. If I had all the ſins upon me, that can be committed, or but one ſinfull thought, this conſideration makes it all one. Oh, I, worlds of ſin in this Ocean vaniſh and come to nothing, Rom. 11. 33. Oh the depth of the unſearchable riches of Chriſt! Epheſ. 3. 8.

13. Incouragement.13. Incoura.

The Name of God it's infinite alſo: The Father of mercies, 2 Cor. 1. 3. Yea it's the nature of God. The Lord is very pitifull, and of tender mercies, Jam. 5. 11. All mercy and pitie is from him, and all that is, or hath been, is but a drop to that Ocean of that pitie and mercy that is in him. We are ready to ſin, but God is much more ready to forgive; mercy pleaſeth him, it's his delight, Micah 7. 18. He is plenteous in mercy, Pſal. 86. 5. Thou art a God ready to forgive.

14. Incouragement.14. Incoura.

The price that is for the ſinnes of ſuch as beleeve, is infinite alſo; count all thy ſins, and ſtill they are the acts of a finite creature; and is not Chriſt ſatisfaction above them? he is God, 1 Joh. 5. 20. His righteouſneſſe is farre greater then thy ſinnes: therefore be they great or ſmall, he is able to diſanull them all.

15. Incouragement.15. Incoura.

The Covenant of grace, is not made with us, nor can it be broken by us, but with Chriſt: If they break my ſtatutes, and keep not my Commandements; nevertheleſſe, my loving kindneſſe will I not take from him, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſſe to faile; my Covenant will I not breake, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, Pſal. 89. 31. 33, 34. My Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt with him, verſ. 28. So then the Covenant is made with Chriſt, and that it was not made for our good workes, nor can we diſanull it by our ſinnes; for it's ſure, perpetuall, and everlaſting, Heb. 13. 20. It's not founded upon a rotten and ſandy foundation, as thy ſelfe and duties are. Oh wonder at Gods wiſdome and love, that it is not made with us, nor is it in our keeping, loe it's founded upon the word & promiſe of an eternall God, and what ever is in God is God, God is unchangeable, Micah 3. 6. therefore the Covenant ſtands ſure for ever, Heb. 13. 20.

But the diſcouraged ſoule ſtill replieth;

I am perſwaded I have committed the ſin againſt the holy Spirit,3. Ob. and that is unpardonable, Heb. 6. 4.

Thoſe who have committed this ſin,Anſw. tread under foot the Sonne of God, and count the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing, and doe hate God and Chriſt, Joh. 15. 24. In that thou art afraid thou haſt committed this ſin, it is certain thou haſt not committed it, becauſe ſuch as have ſo ſinned are paſt feare or feeling, being given up to a reprobate ſenſe, Epheſ. 4. 19.

I am afraid the day of grace is paſt to me,4. Ob. and ſo nothing can doe me good.

You muſt not give way to ſuch a thought;Anſ. 1. who knows but the Lord may returne? Jonah 3. 19.

Is this the way thinkeſt thou to enjoy the aſſurance of his love,2. to nouriſh jealouſies againſt his love? Surely this is not the way. Shouldſt thou not rather ſay as David did, How precious are thy thoughts to me, O God? great is the ſumme of them, if I ſhould count them, they are more then the ſands, Pſal. 139. 17, 18. The number of the ſands are many, yet Gods thoughts of love exceeds them; Be not afraid, onely beleeve, Mark. 5. 36. Chriſt received ſinners, Luk. 15. 1, 2.

If thou thinkeſt the day of grace is paſt,3. becauſe thy ſinnes are great, &c. this will not prove it: minde what God ſaith; I have ſpred out my hand all the day to a rebellious people, that provoke me to anger continually to my face, Iſa. 65. 2, 3.

If thou deſireſt to returne to God,4. thy day of grace is not paſt, Rev. 2. 20.

If we confeſſe our ſinnes,5. he is faithfull and juſt to forgive us our ſinnes, &c. 1 Joh. 4. 9.

I doe not beleeve I am elected,5. Ob. &c. ſo nothing can doe me good.

This is a ſecret,Anſ. 1 and you muſt not meddle with Gods ſecrets; Secret things belong to God, and revealed things to us, Deut. 29. 29.

It's one of Satans deceits to tell a ſoule that God hath no mercy for him,2. when the ſoule hath obtained mercy, or when it is not farre from him.

It is certaine,3. theſe thoughts come from Satan, becauſe they are contrary to God in his word, as Gen. 3. 2, 3, 4.

It's the nature of unbeliefe,4. to be inquiſitive and curious to find out any pretence, that it may ſeeme to doe well in not harkening to what God ſaith in his word, Heb. 10.

We muſt not hearken unto Satan,5. nor yeeld to him, but reſiſt him; meddle not with election, fix thy eye upon Chriſt, as a ſutable good for thee, who is able to ſave thee, and wait upon him in the uſe of his meanes, till he ſhall give thee faith, that by it thou mayſt know thy ſelfe to be elected, Act. 13. 48.

But I have uſed the meanes,6. Ob. and yet I am no better, but worſer, therefore God will never doe me good.

Are you ſure you have uſed all Gods meanes,Anſ. 1. doeſt thou know the number of them? and have your ends been all good & right placed, and have you uſed them in a right manner, meaſure, time, in ſinceritie, humilitie, which I queſtion; and have you not reſted in the uſe of means? have you ſet God above his meanes, and expected his bleſſing upon them, without which they could doe no good? If thou haſt not uſed them all in faith, ſay not, thou haſt uſed the meanes; what are all meanes without faith? they are as a ſhadow without the ſubſtance, Heb. 11. 1. The word they heard profited them not, for want of faith, Heb. 4. 2.

It is no good reaſon to ſay,2. becauſe God hath not anſwered me, and ſupplied me, therefore he never will conſider, Iſa. 64. 4. Iſa. 8. 17. They which had not obtained mercy did, 1 Pet. 2. 10. They ſhall not be aſhamed that wait for me, Iſa. 49. 23.

There be many that doe ſatisfie themſelves with the meanes,3. and their frequenting them, and in what they doe: that it is juſt with God, yea a mercy to blaſt all, to ſhew their emptineſſe, that we might look and long for Chriſt, to bleſſe the meanes, and be all in all unto us.

Men beleeve not that faith is the gift of God,4. and the Spirits work, Phil. 1. 29. ſo that they goe not to God in his promiſe for faith, but endeavour to make a faith of their own to carry to God.

If thou haſt a will that onely Chriſt ſhould ſave thee,5. God hath begun his work in thee, and he will finiſh it, Heb. 12. 2. and one day thou ſhalt know thy ſelfe to be pardoned, and all thy ſins ſhall be ſubdued.

Conſider God may have mercy for thee,6. though thou knoweſt it not; for mens ſinnes are firſt forgiven, before they are to beleeve it, or can be aſſured of it; for if men ſhould beleeve, that their ſins are forgiven before they be forgiven, they ſhould beleeve that which is falſe; neither can any mans beleeving make that to be, wch had not a being before: faith declares to us our pardon; but our beleeving neither pardons nor procures the pardon of any ſin; if it could, what need was there of the death of Chriſt?

I have waited a long time,Obj. 7. and many have received mercy ſince, but not I.

Even the Lords ſervants have waited a long time for God,Anſ. 1. or at leaſt they thought the time long; David ſaid, I am weary of my crying, my throat is dryed, mine eyes faile, while I waite for my God, Pſal. 69. 3.

If God have given thee a heart to wait upon him,2. thou art bleſſed; Bleſſed are all they that wait for him, Iſa. 30. 18. Waiting implies perſeverance, patience, longſuffering, in holding out, notwithſtanding the tediouſneſſe of the time deferred, courage in breaking through all difficulties that ſtand between waiting, and to continue waiting, though all things ſeem contrary, till we enjoy what we waited for; I wait for my God, Pſal. 69. 3.

I am now old in yeares,Obj. 8. and if God had intended to have done my ſoule good, ſurely he would have done it before this time, and now death is ready to take me away.

Yea,Anſ. 1. though it be thus with thee, yet mercy may be thy portion at laſt, if mercy come at laſt, it will be ſweet, and it may come at laſt. The thiefe was ſaved upon the Croſſe, Mat. 20. Luk. 23. Oh how neere was he unto his end before mercy came unto him!

You may not ſet a time to God,2. in which he ſhall ſhew mercy, for he giveth what he will, and when he will, and will not be tyed to thy time; it's an exceeding great grace for God to ſhew mercy, though it be at the laſt, as he did to the thiefe upon the Croſſe.

God hath all houres in the day to work,3. the laſt houre God uſeth to call ſome, as well as the third; ſee Mat. 20. 1. to 10. for there is nothing too hard for God.

If I were filled with qualifications,Obj. 9. as humbleneſſe, and brokenneſſe of heart, and tooke delight to heare and pray, as others, I could have hope, but now I cannot.

Alas, poore ſoule, thou art greatly deluded,Anſ. 1. for theſe things can no way fit the ſoule for mercy. Why doeſt thou ſeek the living among the dead? Luk. 24. 5. Why doeſt thou look at, and reſt in, ſuch things as theſe? for haddeſt thou theſe in the greateſt meaſure, they could not procure thy happineſſe, nor ſtand thee in any ſtead; oh nothing but Chriſt can doe thy ſoule any good, and truly comfort thee.

Conſider,2. what qualifications had they in Ezekiel 16. 3. to 9. of whom God was found? Surely they had none, except ſinfull ones. What, ſaith God; I was found of them that ſought me not, Iſa. 65. 1, 2, 3. Tell me, what qualifications had they who were enemies? yet Chriſt died for them, Rom. 5. 9, 10. All that are ſaved are ſaved by grace, without any cauſe or condition in man, 2 Tim. 1. 9.

Under colour of devotion,3. yee overthrow Chriſt; can your duties, &c. procure Chriſt, or what uſe is there of Chriſt, if yee can have what yee need without him? yee would have power, abilitie, and inlargements before yee dare believe in Chriſt; Oh the greatneſſe of thy pride and folly! doth not Chriſt ſay true, that without me yee can doe nothing? Joh. 15. 5.

As in nature none can worke before they have life;4. ſo none can doe any thing that is ſpirituall, before they live ſpiritually. Chriſt muſt be in thee before thou canſt beleeve: the ſoule muſt beleeve before it can finde any ſanctification, or workes at all in it ſelfe, yea without any regard to workes in any meaſure whatſoever, for there is nothing to be done by man to be a preparation to his ſanctification; ſee Rom. 4. 5. & 5. 8. 10.

Thou hungereſt and thirſteſt after a righteouſneſſe of thine own,5. and wouldſt eſtabliſh it, but it muſt be renounced. I confeſſe, this ſelf-deniall is very hard; oh, how hard is it for the ſoule to be taken off its own bottom of workes, and of ſelf-concurrence! ſtrip them of all that is their own, and yee take away their lives; they muſt and will have ſomething, ſome humbleneſſe, and brokenneſſe of heart, ſome teares, ſome good workes, or abilities, or a good heart; ſomething they muſt have, for they think it cannot be, that they ſhould be accepted, pardoned, and ſaved, and they to doe nothing at all themſelves for it: therefore as ſoone as they begin to eſpie a flaw in what they doe, for who can ſay his heart is cleane? Job 25. 4. they betake themſelves to breake their hearts, to make God amends for all, and thinke if they can but attaine unto ſuch a deep meaſure of humiliation and ſorrow for ſin, then they think they have an evidence for heaven: but alas, this is no evidence, ſave onely of great ignorance, in that they ſee not death in their beſt duties: the Lord may ſay to you who worke ſo hard for life, Thou haſt found the life of thy hand, therefore thou waſt not grieved, Iſa. 57. 10. Thou comforteſt thy ſelfe in thine own ſparkes, but (ſorrow is all the comfort ſuch comfort can produce) yee ſhall lie downe in ſorrow, Iſa. 50. 11. When we ſay our good works are not the way to life, men eſteeme it a grievous error, yet Chriſt ſaith, I am the way, Joh. 14. 6. Are thy works Chriſt or no? if no, then they are not the way, for Chriſt ſaith true, and if Jeſus Chriſt is to be unto us all in all, Col. 3. 11. Our beſt workes are to be unto us nothing at all, our workes make us not the better before God, nor to be more beloved of God, but declare us to be what wee are made by God: the Papiſts doe good works to be ſaved, but we abhorre it, becauſe it is condemned by God, therefore all thoſe who expect and hope for mercy, becauſe they leave their ſinnes, as they ſay, and do many good works; conſider what I ſay unto thee, Alas, poore ſoule, thou art ſtill in the ſtate of nature, in the gall of bitterneſſe, thou art not quite plucked up off of thine own ſtocke of ſelf-workes, and ſelf-concurrence with Chriſt, and therefore art not planted into Chriſt, thou art ignorant of the righteouſneſs of God, which is the cauſe why thou goeſt about to eſtabliſh thine own righteouſneſſe, and ſo long as thou doeſt ſo, thou canſt not ſubmit to the righteouſneſſe of God, Rom. 10. 13. But diddeſt thou know what a righteouſneſſe Chriſt is, thou couldſt not but have preferred it before thine own righteouſneſſe, yea it would be eſteemed by thee but droſſe and dung to his, as Phil. 3. 8, 9. And unleſſe the Lord Jeſus open thine eyes, and reveale his righteouſneſſe unto thee, thy righteouſneſſe (which thou joyneſt with Chriſts for ſalvation) will of a certaine worke thy deſtruction unto all eternity. Publicans and harlots are neerer ſalvation then thee, when you who worke for life are Phariſees, and if you dye in this eſtate, you muſt periſh, Mat. 21. 31, 32. Luk. 7. 29, 30.

I know many will cavill, and ſay, if Chriſt muſt doe all, and man nothing, then men need not care what they doe, but live as they liſt.

Anſw. As it is our dutie, ſo it is our deſire to doe whatſoever the word of God requires, but we are not commanded to doe any thing to procure the pardon of our ſinnes, but in reference to ſervice and dutie, I count my ſelfe to be never the neerer Heaven for my beſt workes, then if I had done nothing elſe but blaſpheme God. But what ſaith the Scriptures, Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt, but to him that worketh not, but beleeveth on him that juſtifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſſe, Rom. 4. 2, 3, 4, 5. Wee are ſaved, not according to our workes, but according to his own purpoſe and grace, 2. Tim. 1. 9. When wee were enemies, wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne, Rom. 5. 10. I will doe away thy offences for my Names ſake, Iſa. 43. 25. A new heart alſo will I give thee, Ezek. 36. 26, 27. 31. I have ſeene his wayes, and will heale him, Iſa. 57. 17. I have blotted out thy ſinnes, returne unto me, &c. Iſa. 44. 22. When thou wert polluted in thy own bloud, I ſaid unto thee, Live. When thou wert in thy bloud, thy time was the time of love, and I covered thy nakedneſſe, &c. Ezek. 16. 6. 8. All unto whom the myſtery of Gods love and free grace is revealed, they cry grace, grace, Chriſt, Chriſt; Chriſt is all in all, nothing but Chriſt, their prayers, teares, duties, devotions, and all of theirs, is nothing to them in reſpect of acceptation, or juſtification, or ſalvation, they are now dead to working, they doe no workes in the world to attaine any of theſe, all theirs is vaniſhed, and is quite drowned in the infinite Ocean of Gods free grace. It is ſo that God might have all the glory, Eph. 1. 6. Jer. 9. 24. and that man might not boaſt, Rom. 3. 9. but obey God freely, Luk. 1. 74.

But I have no worke of grace wrought in me.Obje. 10.

The Spirit ſhall convince the world of ſin,Anſw. and of righteouſneſſe, Joh. 16. 7, 8, 9, 10. God hath begun his worke in thee, if he hath convinced thee of ſinne, and of righteouſneſſe.

To be convinced of ſin implies;

Such a diſcovery of ſinne which cauſeth the ſoule to ſee her ſelfe guiltie and utterly loſt and undone,1. by reaſon of ſin, they confeſſe themſelves are vile, and they abhorre themſelves, Job 42. 6. They loath themſelves for their deeds, Ezek. 20. 43. Eſte • ming themſelves as beaſts, Pſal. 73. 22.

The ſoule is convinced,2. ſo as to have no hope, Jer. 2. in any thing it can doe to helpe it ſelfe out of that miſerable ſtate of ſin, he is undone in nature, he cannot doe any thing from whence he may expect ſalvation, or have any hope of it; for a man cannot expect life and ſalvation from Chriſt alone, untill the ſoule be taken off of all other things in reſpect of life. This viſion of God cauſeth the ſoule to ſee themſelves, and ſay, There remaineth no ſtrength in me, my comelineſſe is turned in me into corruption, Dan. 10. 8. That is, my beſt workes, my righteouſneſſe is defiled, and is ſinne; now ſinfull ſelfe, and righteous ſelfe are alike (if there be any difference, the laſt is the worſt, now the creature hath nothing to procure Chriſt, nor no ſtrength to beleeve in him) the holy Spirit diſcovers to the ſoule, that there is nothing but darkneſſe and death in our beſt duties.

He is ſo convinced of ſinne,3. that he juſtifieth the juſtice of God, if he periſh in his ſin, as Pſal. 51. 4. Gen. 44. 16. See Leviticus 26. 41, 42. Micah 7. 9. 2. Sam. 15. 26. Lam. 3. 28, 29. It is from grace to be taken ſo off of nature, and he that is ſo taken off of nature, hath grace, is begotten and borne of God. For when the ſoule is taken off his own bottom, it muſt have another to reſt upon, or elſe it ſinkes, therefore when God takes away the ſoules falſe ſoundation, which was her falſe hope, God gives the ſoule a better in himſelfe.

The teaching and drawing of the Father, Joh. 6. is this, that all men have ſinned, and are in an eſtate of death, and that in Chriſt there is a ranſome, in which is life and all happineſſe, and that this Jeſus and all that he hath done is for him. When the ſoule hath heard and learned this, there is a power goeth with this teaching, which carrieth the ſoule by faith to Chriſt beleeving in him; for the teaching of the Father and faith goeth together; every one that hath heard and learnt of the Father commeth unto me, Joh. 6. So that to convince the ſoule of righteouſneſſe, is to be convinced of Chriſt, to reveale Jeſus Chriſt to the ſoule, that in him onely is helpe, and in his righteouſneſſe is deliverance; I have laid help upon one that is mightie, Pſal. 89. 19. Iſa. 63. 1. So fix and ſettle the eye of the ſoule upon Chriſts righteouſneſſe onely, at leaſt putting the ſoule under the hope of it; for as ſoone as God hath ſtripped the ſoule of all hope in and from it ſelfe, he turnes the ſoule to Chriſt, and puts it under hope, Ezek. 16. 5, 6. when the ſoule ſeeth nothing but death, God ſaith, Live, Ezek. 16. 6. and when the ſoule is a going downe into the pit, God ſaith, ſtay, hearken, I have found a ranſome for thee, Job 34. 23, 24. Chriſt calls, Come to me, and be ſaved, and the power of God goeth along with this call, workes faith, carrieth the ſoule to Chriſt as his own, having poſſeſſion of him. When this is manifeſted to the ſoul, faith acts in the love of God in pardoning his ſinne, greatly wondering at the greatneſſe of his goodneſſe, or aſtoniſhed with the glory of his preſent condition, the heart being taken up, as Luk. 1. 41. 43. though for the meaſure of it, it is not in all alike. For the firſt, to be convinced of ſinne then is more then a bare notion that it hath ſinned, for this may be in one that reſts in themſelves, and in ſomething elſe beſides Chriſt, and periſh in this condition; for by the letter of the Law, and the light of reaſon, men may ſee and ſay they have ſinned; as Saul and Judas did: but thoſe the Spirit convinces of ſinne, they are convinced to purpoſe, becauſe it is thorowly; The Spirit ſhall convince the world of ſin, Joh. 16. 8. The Spirit diſcovers to the ſoule that ſhe hath choſen ſomething elſe beſides Chriſt, upon which the ſoule reſteth, and ſatiſfieth her ſelfe withall, and expects mercy and comfort from by reaſon of them, and that they are her beſt ſervices, and other lying vanities, as groundles hopes, peace, joy, comfort &c. telling the ſoule that there is nothing but death and darkneſſe in them, and that if the ſoule reſt in any of them, there is nothing but death and deſtruction for them; and there is a ſecret power of God which goeth along with this teaching, which turneth the ſoule from darkneſſe, viz. ſelfe, Satan, and all lying vanities, to light, to Chriſt, where life is, the Spirit reveales to the ſoule a ſufficiency of life in Chriſt, and it needs ſeek life in nothing elſe; alſo the Spirit of God perſwades a ſoule that this life is for him, therefore he is to look to Chriſt for it, and wait upon him for pardon and life, and that the ſoule ſhall not loſe her waiting, and ſo be deceived, but ſhall certainly have it at laſt, Iſa. 57. 13. Theſe things muſt be wrought in truth, and in a meaſure in every ſoule that hath grace, though for the meaſure of this, it is not in all alike; for in ſome it is in a ſmall meaſure, as it was in thoſe who are named to be carnall, and not ſpirituall, yet then they were babes in Chriſt, therefore their ſtate was happy, & ſafe, 1 Cor. 3. 1. 3. But when this is wrought in any meaſure, in the ſame time faith is wrought, and as the meaſure of this worke is wrought in the ſoule, more or leſſe, in the ſame meaſure faith is wrought in the ſoule, and as it appeares to the ſoule, ſo accordingly faith appeares to the ſoule: and when the ſoule ſeeth it ſelfe to be loſt by reaſon of ſin, and ſeeth all to be in Chriſt for life, and is taken off from reſting upō any thing elſe beſides Chriſt, and to expect all from Chriſt, reſting upon Chriſt, though this be but in the ſmalleſt meaſure wrought in the ſoule, now this inſtant time faith is wrought, Jeſus Chriſt is formed in the ſoule, and the ſoule is converted; for this teaching of the Father and faith are inſeparable, Joh. 6. 45. 47.

I cannot beleeve.11 Ob.

It is not in the power of the creatureAnſw. to beleeve in Chriſt, Phil. 1. 29. therefore look not upon faith as a worke of thine own, nor is faith any condition of the Covenant required on thy part; for as the Covenant of grace is not made with man, but with Chriſt, as appeares, Pſal. 89. 27, 28, 29, 30. nor is there any condition in the Covenant of grace required on mans part, neither is there any thing to be done by man to cauſe him to have an intereſt in the Covenant of grace, or to partake of it, for the Covenant of grace and life by Chriſt is every way free and unconditionall on mans part, elſe how doth it differ from a Covenant of works, if there were any thing to be done by us to have intereſt in it? and if faith were a condition required on our part to partake of the Covenant, or elſe not, I ſee not but we are now in as bad a condition as to be under the Covenant of works, it being as hard and impoſſible for man of himſelfe to beleeve in Chriſt, as it is to keep the whole Law, as the Scripture declares. How hard it is to beleeve, the experience of many can teſtifie, to beleeve is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. We muſt be in Chriſt, before wee can beare fruit, Joh. 15. 4. therefore we muſt be in Chriſt, before wee can beleeve; he that hath the Spirit of Chriſt hath Chriſt, wee have the Spirit of Chriſt before wee beleeve, therefore we have Chriſt before we beleeve, Rom. 8. 9, 10, 11. Men are ordained unto eternall life before they beleeve, Acts 13. 48. Faith is a grace of the Covenant on Gods part to be given to thoſe who are given to Chriſt; faith is given to ſome, that by it they may know their intereſt in Chriſt, and by it live upon him: faith is no condition of the Covenant, therefore they miſtake who conceive faith to be a condition of the Covenant, either required on mans part to partake of the Covenant of grace, or given to men, and then required of them as a condition; although the Scripture expreſſeth, that he that beleeves ſhall be ſaved, yet is not faith any condition of ſalvation; but ſuch expreſſions are to be conſidered as a declaration to us what perſons ſhall be ſaved, viz. ſuch as beleeve: it is an information to ſuch as know not who ſhall be ſaved, and if any deſire to know who ſhall be ſaved; the anſwer is, he that beleeves ſhall be ſaved, Joh. 3. 16. If faith did give us intereſt in Chriſt, when faith did not appeare to act, it would appeare to us, that we had no intereſt in Chriſt, and that wee were not juſtified by him.

I know not whether I am bidden to beleeve or no,12. Ob. for ſome ſhall not be ſaved, and if I be one of them, if I ſhould beleeve I ſhould be ſaved by Chriſt, I ſhould beleeve a lye▪

The Goſpel declares that whoſoever beleeves in Chriſt ſhall be ſaved, Anſw. Joh. 3. 16. therefore thoſe who beleeve, cannot be any of them that ſhall periſh; and the Word ſaith, be that beleeveth not, is condemned already, Joh. 3. 18. and ſhall not ſee life. What God ſaith is truth, and truth ought to be beleeved, and whatſoever is contrary to truth, no man is bound to beleeve, therefore no unregenerate man is commanded to beleeve the forgiveneſſe of his ſinnes in any other way then Gods word holds forth forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, which is, he that beleeves ſhall be ſaved, and have everlaſting life. Men are commanded to beleeve they ſhall have benefit by Chriſt, life and ſalvation by Chriſt, if they beleeve, Joh. 3. 16. And no man is commanded to beleeve he ſhall be ſaved by Chriſt, whether he beleeves or no; for this is contrary to the Word which ſaith, He that beleeves not, is condemned already, Joh. 3. 18. No man is to beleeve that which is not true, yet this hinders not, but all that ſee an abſolute neceſſitie of Chriſt, ſhall enjoy him, & they ought not to diſtruſt in him, but to caſt away all their doubts and feares, and beleeve in him, and reſt upon him for ever, as Simon Peter ſaid to Chriſt, Maſter to whom ſhall we goe? thou haſt the words of eternall life, Joh. 6. 67, 68.

But I have no love to Chriſt,13. Ob. I am an enemie to Chriſt, I am not fit for Chriſt.

The reaſon thou doeſt not love Chriſt,Anſ. 1. is becauſe thou ſeeſt not thy ſinnes to be pardoned by Chriſt, didſt thou know he loves thee, thou wouldſt love him, the love of Chriſt would conſtraine thee to love him, 2 Cor. 5. 14. We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us, 1 Joh. 4. 19.

Doeſt thou apprehend thy ſelfe to be an enemy to God?2. ſo were all thoſe once that ever did beleeve, Epheſ. 2. 12, 13. While we were enemies, wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne, Rom. 5. 8. 10. Enemies cannot diſcerne Chriſt, yet God gives Chriſt to ſuch.

Thou canſt not fit thy ſelfe for Chriſt,3. & if thou ſeeſt ſuch a neceſſity of Chriſt, as without him thou art undone; thou deſireſt Chriſt, and goeſt to Chriſt; He that commeth to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out, Joh. 6. 37. hearken what Chriſt ſaith, you ſhall ſpeed, you have the promiſe of Chriſt, which is ſecurity ſufficient to ſatisfie thy ſoule; for Chriſt is in you, and no man can hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, viz. Chriſt, but ſuch as are bleſſed, Mat. 5. 6. and the Spirit of God dwels in you, and Chriſt is in you, and they that are led by the Spirit of God out of themſelves to Chriſt, for light, and life, and ſtrength, are the children of God, Rom. 8. 9, 10, 11, 14.

Indeed,14. Ob. there are many ſweet promiſes in the Word, but they are all for beleevers, but I am none.

I grant none may apply a promiſe of life,Anſw. but onely ſuch as beleeve, yet the promiſes are for all the elect, thou knoweſt not but thou art one of them, & when God ſhall pleaſe to give thee faith, thou ſhalt know thy intereſt in them, Act. 13. 48. In the meane time, ſtay thy ſelfe with this, that the Lord Jeſus gave himſelfe for enemies, and juſtifieth the ungodly, Rom. 4. 5. Whileſt wee were yet ſinners, Chriſt dyed for us: While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne, Rom. 5. 8. 10. Therefore be not diſcouraged, God may ſave thee alſo. The Lord ſaith, I will have mercy upon her that hath not obtained mercy, and I will ſay to them which were not my people, Thou art my people, and they ſhall ſay, Thou art my God, Hoſ. 2. 23. Oh ſweet place! therefore by no meanes yeeld not to thy feares, nouriſh no jealouſies againſt God, but reſolve in Chriſts ſtrength to cleave to his Word, as Pſal. 119. 49. And here hold, ſaying, My beloved is mine, and I am his, Song 2. 16.

I would gladly beleeve,15. Ob. but I dare not.

Thou ſhouldſt not admit nor give way to any diſcouragement to hinder thy going to Chriſt, Anſ. 1. ſeeing Chriſt cryed, ſaying, If any man thirſt, let him come to mee and drinke, Joh. 7. 37. The Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, and whoſoever will, let him come, Rev. 22. 17. The Lord takes pleaſure in them that feare him, and in them that hope in his mercy, Pſal. 147. 11. He will not quench the ſmoaking flax, Mat. 12. 20.

From whence is thy feare,2. ſure it is occaſioned or much increaſed by them who bid perſons beleeve, & forbid them againe by their ſaying, Take heed what you doe, you may be deceived? it is not ſo eaſie a matter to beleeve, you muſt firſt be ſo ſenſible of ſin, and ſo humbled for it, &c. before you may beleeve. Now they conceit, they are not ſo and ſo qualified, therefore they dare not beleeve: alſo they are ſcared with the many things hypocrites may doe, how farre they may goe, and ſo ſet them ſhort of hypocrites; which muſt needs diſcourage them, yet the word of God requires no ſuch teaching, for men to learne before they may beleeve; for when the ſoule ſeeth it ſelfe loſt by reaſon of ſinne, and is at a ſtand, not knowing what to doe, the firſt thing they are to doe, is to beleeve in Jeſus Chriſt, as appeares, Acts 16. 31. The word requires nothing of them before they may beleeve, therefore wee may not, for none may preſume above what is written.

If thou deſireſt to beleeve,3. thy will is in part regenerated, and thou doeſt in ſome meaſure beleeve, though weakly, as he did that ſaid, Lord, I beleeve, help my unbeliefe, Mark. 9. 24. Gods ſervants are deſcribed by a deſire to feare his Name, Nehe. 1. 11. Pſal. 145. 19. Pſal. 147. 11. There can be no deſires without faith, 1 Pet. 2. 2, 3. a man cannot deſire that which he beleeves not to be; ſo Heb. 11. 6. Many give God their hearts, and doe not know it, and ſo are troubled, becauſe they do not know what is meant by the heart, nor where it is ſeated. I ſpeak not of the heart of fleſh, Rom. 8. 5, 6, 7. there is a carnall minde and a ſpirituall minde in men, I ſpeake of the heart myſtically and ſpiritually, which is principally ſeated in the will, ſo that what it wills or deſires, there is the heart, and to that which the will moſt wills or deſires, to that is the bent of the heart unto. Now if the ſoule were to have its choice of every thing, that one thing that the ſoule ſhould chuſe, would any queſtion whether they loved it, and that their hearts were not unto it? for as no ſoule can be ſenſible of the want of Chriſt, untill the ſoule be poſſeſſed of him, Rom. 8. 10, 11. ſo no ſoule can deſire Chriſt above all things in the world, if they might have their choice, unleſſe Chriſt have their hearts, and they dearly love him, and beleeve in him; for Chriſt is precious to them that beleeve, 1 Pet. 2. 7. and to none elſe. So the ſeat of faith is in the heart, which is in the underſtanding, and will, but more principally in the will, ſo that if our wills be renewed, our hearts are renewed, Rom. 8. 5, 6. Paul ſaith, To will is preſent with me; good I would doe; ſo then with my minde I ſerve the Law of God, Rom. 7. 18, 19. with 21. 25. it appeares that the will is one with the minde, and the heart is one with them, theſe three are one, and alwayes goe together, and are alike ſpirituall. Chriſt ſaith, Where your treaſure is, there will your heart be alſo, Mat. 6. 21. that is, the mind and affections: and by affections in Eph. 3. 2. is meant the heart, for the heart and affections are one thing. There be them that beleeve, and yet they know not whether they beleeve or no: ſo that it is poſſible for them to call their faith unbeliefe, as the blind man did, Mark. 9. 24. Lord help my unbeliefe; which muſt not be underſtood of unbeliefe, for it is not a lawfull requeſt to pray that ſin may be increaſed, for unbeliefe is a ſin, and the ground or cauſe of the ſoules departing from God, as Heb. 3. 12. Many miſtake faith, ſome have thought, comfort, joy, or raviſhments of ſoule with God, to be faith, and ſo have concluded, becauſe they had not them, they had no faith. It is not mens beleeving, but the object of faith, that gives faith its denomination, or name, for there be divers kinds of faith; there is a naturall faith, as Luk. 8. 13. and a divine faith, or the faith of Gods Elect, Titus 1. 1. Faith and its object is not to be ſeparated, becauſe faith and its object is one and the ſame, it is too ſtrict therefore to give a diſtinction or definition of faith without its object.

He that beleeveth that Jeſus Chriſt is the Sonne of God ſhall be ſaved. All is included in this, he that beleeves this, muſt

1. Know Chriſt to be the anointed, Luk. 23. the Saviour of his people from their ſinnes, Mat. 1. 21.

2. To beleeve in Chriſt, to reſt upon him, to live or ſtay upon the Lord, Pro. 3. 5. To beleeve in him, Rom. 10. 9. 11. Pſal. 17. 6. To cleave to God, Deut. 30. 20. Joh. 23. 6. Acts 11. 23. Pſal. 119. 30, 31. to hope in him, Pſal. 147. 11.

3. To own and confeſſe Chriſt; Simon ſaid, Thou art the Chriſt, the Sonne of the living God, Mat. 16. 16. Rom. 10. 9.

Any man may ſay,Obje. that Jeſus Chriſt is the Sonne of God, yea the Devils confeſſe this; I know thee who thou art, Jeſus Chriſt the Sonne of God, therefore this cannot be the faith of Gods Elect, and ſo not the faith of the Goſpel.

1. There are three things to be conſidered in the nature of faith; firſt, illumination; ſecondly, for the ſoule to truſt in Chriſt for pardon and life; and the third is the application of him.

The firſt, is when a man conſents to the Word, that it is true, and this is called faith, and this the Devill doth; Thou beleeveſt there is one God, thou doeſt well, the Devill doth ſo, James 2. Mark. 5. 8. Acts 16. 17.

The ſecond, is to beleeve that Jeſus is the Chriſt; which implies a ſeeing and knowing all to be in Chriſt for life and ſalvation, and ſo to reſt upon him for it; he that thus beleeves in Chriſt, is brought by Chriſt over to Chriſt, and ſo centred upon him, that he will never goe from him, Joh. 6. 58. My ſoule wait thou on God, for my expectation is from him, Pſal. 62. 5. and this no Devill never did.

The third, is to beleeve with an application of Chriſt as their own in particular, therefore to beleeve in Chriſt, is more then an illumination, or a ſaying ſo, or reformation; for where faith comes, old things are done away, and they are new creatures, there is a light ſet up in that ſoule, now they know all is by Chriſt, and that there is no way or meanes of life, but by Chriſt, and cloſe with Chriſt, and reſt upon him.

Secondly, the Scriptures cleerly prove that to beleeve that Jeſus Chriſt is the Sonne of God, is the faith of the Goſpel, for the Word of God is the ground of faith, and the ſoules ſalvation depends upon the truth of what God ſaith, and faith looks onely to what God ſaith, and reſts upon it▪ and ſets to its ſeale that God is true. And that ſo to beleeve that Jeſus Chriſt is the Sonne of God, is the faith of the Goſpel, I prove by theſe Reaſons.

1. Becauſe this is the faith which the Apoſtles preached and witneſſed unto, and the faith which is recorded unto us in the Scriptures, Acts 18. 28. 1 Joh. 2. 22.

2. Becauſe none can ſay (knowingly) that Jeſus is the Lord, but by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 12. 3.

3. Becauſe upon the profeſſion of this faith, Chriſt builds his Church, Mat. 16. 16. 18.

4. Upon the profeſſion of this faith the Baptiſme of Chriſt is diſpenſed, as Act. 8. 37.

5. They who have this faith dwell in God, and God in them, 1 Joh. 4. 15.

6. This faith fleſh and bloud cannot reveale, but God reveales it to the ſoule, Mat. 16. 16, 17.

7. Such are borne of God; whoſoever beleeves that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is borne of God, 1 Joh. 5. 1.

8. This is the faith that overcommeth the world, 1 Joh. 5. 4, 5.

9. Becauſe ſuch as have this faith are pronounced bleſſed, Mat. 16. 17. and ſhall never dye, Joh. 11. 25, 26.

10. Becauſe he that hath this faith ſhall be ſaved; If thou ſhalt confeſſe with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt beleeve in thy heart, that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved, Rom. 10. 9. Jeſus ſaid, I am the reſurrection, and the life, & whoſoever beleeveth in me, ſhall never dye; beleeveſt thou this? ſhee ſaid unto him, yea Lord, I beleeve that thou art the Chriſt the Sonne of God, &c. Joh. 11. 25, 26, 27. To beleeve this Record, implies an aſſent that it is truth, with a reſting or hoping to have intereſt in it, to be made one with it, is faith, though it be a leſſer degree, (then a full and certain aſſurance of life by him for himſelfe in particular) ſee Iſa. 45. 21, 22. Thoſe in Mat. 5. 3, 4, 5. who mourne, and hunger, and thirſt after Chriſt are bleſſed, and ſhall be ſatisfied, though they want the application of Chriſt; therefore beſides the illumination which wicked men and Devils may have as well as a beleever, there is a two-fold act of faith, the firſt is a direct act to beleeve Chriſt is, in whom is life, &c. this is to beleeve the Record God hath given concerning his Sonne, and that he came into the world to ſave ſinners, 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Look unto me and be ſaved, Iſai. 45. 22. and ſo truſt in Chriſt for life from a hope of mercy, but this hope is without a certainty; theſe are bleſſed, as appeares Mat. 16. 17. Turne ye to the ſtrong hold ye priſoners of hope, Zach. 9. 12. Secondly, the reflect act of faith, which is (to beleeve Chriſt came to ſave them from their ſinnes, as Mat. 1. 23.) to know I beleeve; he that hath this meaſure or degree of faith, truſts in Chriſt from a knowledge of an intereſt in him, we beleeve and are ſure, Joh. 6. 69. He that hath this act of faith, hath the former, but there be ſome which have the firſt act of faith, but have not attained the ſecond, yet their hearts are turned unto Chriſt, and fixed upon him, and they long for him, hope in him, and reſt upon him alone for life and ſalvation, theſe have faith, which cauſeth them to depend on Chriſt, which none can doe but ſuch as are poſſeſſed with Chriſt, though at preſent they may not know it, yet are they bleſſed, Mat. 5. 6. and in his Name they doe truſt, Mat. 12. 21. The Apoſtle ſaith, Theſe things have I written unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God, that yee may know that yee have eternall life, and that yee may beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God, 1 Joh. 5. 13. So that theſe words declare they did but weakly beleeve, and that they did not know that they were poſſeſſed with eternall life, (yet they were) therefore they had not that particular knowledge, or aſſurance of the love of God, yet did beleeve in Chriſt.

Some conceive they have no grace,1. Diſcoura. becauſe they never had ſo deep a meaſure of ſorrow for ſin as ſome others have, &c.

The word of God declares that thoſe that beleeved had not one and the ſame meaſure of ſorrow;Anſ. 1. the Scripture declares no ſorrow in Lydia receiving the Word, Act. 16. 14. but it is ſaid that the Jaylor trembled, being in feare, Act. 16. 29. The word of God is to be our Rule, Iſa. 8. 20. and not mens conceits.

The greateſt meaſure of ſorrow, griefe,2. feare, terror for ſinne, that ever any had, made them not to be loved of God, nor to obtain mercy from God; nor did ſenſibleneſſe of ſin ever drive the ſoule to Chriſt, but ever from Chriſt: as Peters ſenſibleneſſe of his ſin, cauſed him to bid Chriſt to depart from him, Lord depart from me, for I am a ſinfull man, Luk. 5. 8. therefore a deep ſenſibleneſſe of ſin hinders the ſoule in beleeving of Chriſt, and drives it further from Chriſt.

Thou haſt no cauſe to complain,3. if God deales more gently with thee, then he doth with ſome others; it's a great miſtake to thinke that God delights in ſlaviſh feares or teares.

What is the greateſt ſenſibleneſſe of ſin worth that proceeds not from faith,4. and floweth not from the apprehenſion of pardon & love, in ſo evill requiting God, look not to ſenſibleneſſe of ſinne, but to Chriſt, thy very ſenſibleneſſe of ſin is not free from ſin, and it deſerves nothing but death, but in Chriſt is life.

If thou wert ever fatherleſſe,5. which is for the ſoule to be ſtripped of all, that none of thy workes, nor means, nor men, nor Angels, nor nothing beſides Jeſus Chriſt can ſtand thee in any ſtead, nor ſatisfie thee, being reſolved to wait upon Chriſt, untill he pleaſe to manifeſt his free love in pardoning thy ſinnes; this is the worke of God in thee, yea this is a great and ſweet work of the Goſpel, and ſuch a work as never was in any, but ſuch as ſhall be ſaved. If thou renounceſt all thy own ſufficiency, ſo as thy beſt duties cannot ſatisfie thee, certain it is there is a better ſufficiency come in place.

I feare my faith is not the faith of Gods Elect,2. Diſcoura. becauſe it is attended with ſo many doubtings.

Feares and doubtings are no fruits of faith,Anſw. but of unbeliefe, and as feares and doubts increaſe, the ſtronger is unbeliefe in the ſoule; ſo the ſoule is ready to judge that where ſo great unbeliefe is, there is no faith: yet the Scriptures declare that in thoſe who had true faith, the faith of Gods Elect, yet at the ſame time have had much unbeliefe alſo in them, ſo as they have been filled with doubts and feares, Joh. 13. 1. And from hence it was that he in Mark. 9. 24. called his faith unbeliefe, becauſe he was ſenſible of his great unbeliefe: and was not unbeliefe ſtrong in Thomas, when he ſaid, he would not beleeve? Joh. 20. 24, 25. And ſeeing that a child of God may have true faith, notwithſtanding they may alſo have many feares and doubtings, thou knoweſt not but the cauſe may be ſo with thee, therefore take heed that yee deny not your ſelves to have faith, leſt yee call weak faith, no faith, and light, darkneſſe, and grace, ſin; for to doe ſo is very evill; Woe unto them that call evill good, and good evill, that put darkneſſe for light, and light for darkneſſe, that put bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter, Iſa. 5. 20. thoſe that put faith for unbeliefe doe ſo; pray to God to ſtrengthen thy faith, as he did, Mark. 9. 24. and uſe meanes to remove ſuch things as ſtrengthen unbeliefe, and hinder the ſight of thy faith; as ignorance is one cauſe of doubting, alſo an over-ſenſibleneſſe of infirmities, ſleighting Gods meanes, neglect of duty, or a formall performance, or nouriſhing ſinne more or leſſe, proneneſſe to ſin, harkening to Satan, to ſenſe, to carnall reaſonings, nouriſhing feare and unbeliefe, &c. Alſo endeavour to doe that which is a means to ſtrengthen thy faith, know the perfection of the ſtate of a beleever in Chriſt, in which the weakeſt and moſt imperfect beleever, is as perfect, as much juſtified, accepted, and as happy as the beſt, live upon Chriſt alone, make choice of and mind the ſutableſt promiſes for thee to feed and ſtrengthen thy faith, walk with God, pray in faith, aske his Spirit, and thou ſhalt have it, Luk. 11. 23. this Spirit will revive, and fill thy ſoule with joy and peace in beleeving, and make thee ſo wiſe and ſtrong (in his time) that thou ſhalt not caſt away thy confidence any more, Heb. 10. 34. And as Gods love (which is perfect, full, free,) is diſcovered to thy ſoule in the ſame meaſure thy doubts and feares are caſt out; for perfect love caſts out feare. And although you are to uſe meanes, yet meanes are but means, not cauſes of increaſe of grace, it's the operation of the Spirit of God in the ſoule, which is as God pleaſeth, therefore looke up to God for faith.

I feare my faith is but preſumption.3. Diſcoura.

I feare the ground of this is thy not knowing,Anſw. or not minding what faith is, and what preſumption is. What faith is, ſee objection 15. and concerning preſumption, this word may be underſtood in a twofold conſideration; firſt, for ſuch a confidence as is without a ground; or ſecondly, againſt a ground.

For the firſt, he that preſumes he hath a confidence of pardon, but it is without any ground, he hath no word of God for his confidence, and it may be he can give no reaſon at all for his confidence, much leſſe a good reaſon: that this diſcouragement may be anſwered, and removed, conſider wherein faith and preſumption differs. He that preſumes, he hath no ground, no word of God for his confidence, here confidence is fetched from their own conceits, they ſeek no life in Chriſt, his word, and promiſe.

1. But he that truly beleeves in Chriſt, his confidence is from the Word; Wee through the Scriptures have hope, Rom. 15. 4. In his word doe I hope, Pſal. 130. 5. But I hope in thy word, Pſal. 119. 81.

2. He that truly beleeves in Chriſt, doth not receive any promiſe of life, but in and through Chriſt in the riches of his grace. But he that preſumes if he receives a promiſe he receives it upon his qualifications, without reſpect to Chriſt, and he gathers concluſions of life from what they are and can doe, their own righteouſneſſe was never to them as droſſe and dung, as Phil. 3. 8. So they depend upon their faith, and not upon Chriſt by faith: the ground of their confidence is, becauſe they are ſo good, or not ſo bad as others, as the proud Phariſee, but he was never fatherleſſe, Hoſ. 14. 3. nor did they ever receive the ſentence of death in themſelves, 2 Cor. 1. 9. So they were ever confident, and it was ever very eaſie for them to beleeve.

3. He that beleeves, his hope and truſt is onely in God, and they hope in his mercy; The eyes of the Lord are upon them that hope in his mercy, Pſal. 33. 18. 21. 22. And this is the work of God to perſwade the heart to reſt upon the free mercy of God in Chriſt, Pſal. 13. 5. Pſal. 33. 18. I truſt in the mercy of God for ever and ever, Pſal. 52. 8. With the Lord there is mercy, Pſal. 130. 7. God is rich in mercy, Eph. 2. 4. Preſumption cannot doe ſo, Joh. 12. 37. 1 Pet. 19. 20. Joh. 6. 28, 29.

For the ſecond, ſo the confidence of the preſumer is contrary to the word of God, the word approves of no ſuch confidence, but proteſts againſt them and their confidence, as appeares, Jer. 7. 9. 15. So their preſumption hardens them, and makes them bold to venture upon ſinful practiſes, as lying, ſtealing, drunkenneſſe, uncleanneſſe, cheating, and the like, as theirs was, Jer. 7. 9. &c.

4. He that truly beleeves, abhorres that which is evill, and cleaves to that which is good, Rom. 12. 9. Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himſelfe as he is pure, 1 • oh. 3. 3. Purifying their hearts by faith, Acts 15. 9. The grace of God teacheth us to deny ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, Tit. 2. 11, 12. Chriſt is precious to them that beleeve, 1 Pet. 2. 7. They count all things but loſſe for Chriſt, and for him they will ſuffer the loſſe of all things, as Phil. 3. 8. Yet many there be who ſay they are confident, &c. and yet they dare not ſpeak for Jeſus Chriſt, his truth, his ſervants, &c. theſe are far from ſuffering the loſſe of all things for him: So others can hold Arminianiſme, and free-will, ſetting themſelves and their endeavours above God, and his grace, in affirming that notwithſtanding all the grace God affords to any man, yet unleſſe man ſhall pleaſe to will and improve it well, (for as they ſay he may chooſe whether he will or no) it ſhall never be effectuall to him; if it be ſo, they may thank God for his grace, without which they can doe nothing, but much more themſelves, for ſaving themſelves; for others had as much grace as they (as they ſay Judas had) ſhall be damned, and they had been damned alſo, if they had not willed well, &c. and it was in their power and choice, whether they would will well or no: which is ſo contrary to the Scriptures; ſo then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that ſheweth mercy, Rom. 9. 16. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to thinke any thing of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God, 2 Cor. 3. 5. Surely all thoſe who have taſted of Gods free grace, cannot but admire it, and be thankfull for it, and loath with the greateſt indignation whatſoever ſhall intrench upon it, although it were but in the leaſt degree.

I have no grace,4. Diſcoura. becauſe I grow not in grace, my life is not holy, nor am I like unto others who are the Lords.

Doeſt thou know thy age or degree in grace?Anſw. what, art thou a child, or a yong man, or a father? 1 Joh. 2. 12, 13. there is a great difference between a childe and a man in nature, ſo great is the difference between a babe in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3. 1. and a man in Chriſt, 1 Joh. 2. 13. Alſo confider if thou canſt, whether if thou beeſt a babe in the wombe, or borne, Heb. 5. 13. He is a babe, as a childe is begotten and alive while it is in the wombe, before it be borne; ſo thou maiſt be begotten from above, and alive, before thou canſt be borne. Chriſt muſt firſt be formed in us, before we can be new borne babes, Gal. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. And when thou art delivered out of the ſtate of bondage, which is a place of darkneſſe, of feares concerning thy ſoule, thou art not borne and brought forth; and as the wombe is a place of bondage, ſo here; and therefore canſt not doe that ſervice others doe: if thou beeſt but new borne, there cannot that be expected from thee, as there is from a man in Chriſt; as there is a difference between a childe and a man in nature, ſo there is here; learne to diſtinguiſh between the grace it ſelfe, and the exerciſe of it; it's not the having of grace, but the exerciſe of it, which attaines to a holy converſation, by the operation of the Spirit; and when a ſoule is delivered from its enemies, as Satan, terrors, wrath, curſe, it's borne, being delivered we ſerve, Luk. 1. 47. Deliverance is before working: the time of doubting is a barren time, men cannot fight and worke at the ſame time. Regeneration conſiſts in being begotten to the Lord, to have union with him, Joh. 17. 22. 23. 19. And for God to convey his power into the ſoule, by wch it is made conformable to the will of Chriſt, and lives by faith in the Sonne of God, Gal. 2. 20. is another thing in ſome of the Lords: the firſt is, where the latter is not, at leaſt in the degrees of it; beleevers are of ſeverall growths and ſtates; as, firſt, babes, children; ſecondly, young men; thirdly, fathers, 1 Joh. 2. 12, 13. Can babes work? and yet if they die in that eſtate, they ſhall not miſſe of glory. 1 Job. 2. 12. It is one thing to be juſtified, and another to be ſanctified, ſo it is one thing to live, another to be borne, and to worke is diſtinct from both: there is as much difference between ſome of the Lords, as there is betwixt willing and doing; ſome are termed carnall, 1 Cor. 3. 1. others ſpirituall. Thou maiſt be begotten, but not borne, (if in bondage) and then it is not the ſeaſon of growing, as another ſeaſon is. If thou beeſt ignorant, or in temptation, thy underſtanding is clouded, and thy heart being diſtempered with feare, ſo as Job 23. 8, 9. and thou art not fit to judge of thy growth; is a new borne babe, 1 Pet. 2. 2. fit to judge of its growth? Alſo conſider, it may be, thou art in Gods way, and ſo thou doeſt not uſe his meanes, or not rightly; conſider Pſal. 1. 3. with Song 4. 12. there thou ſhalt grow.

I am much tempted by Satan,5. Diſcoura. that I have no grace.

Satan tempts Chriſts babes to caſt away their confidence,Anſ. 1. which is forbidden, Heb. 10. 35. therefore if Satan tell yee, that yee have no faith, thou maiſt reply, if I have it not in the act to my knowledge, I may have it in the grace it ſelfe; if he ſay that he knows, and you know you have no grace at all. Reply, the Devill knows not, and if I ſhould thinke ſo I may be deceived; as fire raked up in aſhes appeares not, and gives neither light nor heat, ſo corruption doth hide and obſcure grace, 1 Cor. 3. 1.

And if I have no grace, why let yee me not alone,2. as yee doe others, and as yee did me when I tooke my fill of ſin? then ye told me I had faith, when I had none, I have found yee a lyer, therefore I will not hearken unto you, and I am the more confident I have grace, becauſe ye tell me I have none, He is a lyer, and the father of it, Joh. 8. 44.

But ſuppoſe I have no grace,3. there is no reaſon why I ſhould deſpaire, becauſe every one of the Lords were once without grace in the eſtate of nature; At that time yee were without Chriſt, being aliens from the common-wealth of Iſrael, ſtrangers, &c. having no hope, and withou • God in the world, but now in Chriſt Jeſus yee who ſometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the bloud of Chriſt, Eph. 2. 12, 13. which in time paſt were not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy, 1 Pet. 2. 10. Many are ordained unto eternall life, which did not actually beleeve, nor had any grace at all; I nor any doe not know, but I may be one of them alſo, therefore I know no reaſon to deſpaire, nor will deſpaire doe me any good, it is better to uſe the means, wait upon God, truſt him with my ſoule, if mercy come I ſhall be happy, and ſhall have cauſe to praiſe him.

There is nothing too hard for God,4. Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt make me cleane, Jer. 32. 17. Mat. 8. 2.

I cannot pray,6. Diſcoura. nor doe any thing to purpoſe, therefore I have no grace.

Unbeliefe deads the heart,Anſ. 1. and hinders thy living upon Chriſts ſtrength.

It is ſo with thee,2. that thou mightſt ſee a need of Chriſt, Joh. 15. 5. and live upon him, who hath promiſed to be a full ſupply to his.

If God hath given thee a deſire to obey him,3. ſay not it is nothing, becauſe God ſaith it's ſomething, 2 Cor. 8. to 11. he gives this, and if this be all thou haſt, it is accepted, verſ. 12. and he will grant thy deſire; He will fulfill the deſire of them that feare him, he alſo will heare their cry, and will ſave them, Pſal. 119. 19. Chriſt will not quench the ſmoaking fl • x, Iſai. 42. When we ſee no fire, we know there is fire by the ſmoake; holy deſires cannot be in a ſoule that hath no grace, Pſal. 145. 19. Deſire after grace is an act of ſpirituall life; an act is from a faculty, a faculty is from life and being, a dead man cannot deſire, none can deſire that which they beleeve not to be, nor that they doe not love; deſires if ſpirituall they flow from faith & love, and are a part of what it deſires. A will to obey, may be all that a beleever can find in himſelfe at ſome time; To will is preſent with me, but how to performe that which is good I find not; for the good I would I doe not, but the evill I would not, that I doe, Rom. 7. 18, 19, 20, 21. Preſſe after obedience to God, yet know our greateſt holineſſe cannot juſtifie us before God; For by grace are yee ſaved through faith, and that not of your ſelves, &c. Not of workes, leſt any man ſhould boaſt, Epheſ. 2. 8, 9. Even the ſtrongeſt of the Lords, are but weake creatures, and the higheſt perfection they can attaine unto in this life, is a fight of our imperfections, and a deſire and endeavour to obey, and to live upon Chriſt by faith; ſee Phil. 2. 12, 13. And was not Paul one of the moſt ſtrongeſt beleevers? ſee Rom. 8. 37, 38, 39. yet what ſaith he of himſelfe, and his words are the word of God; That which I doe I allow not, for what I would, that I doe not, but what I ha • e, that doe I: To will is preſent with me, &c. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. He had no power to doe what he would, yet he lived by faith in the Sonne of God, Gal. 2. 20.

I find no willingneſſe to duties,7. Diſcoura. I find no reliſh in them, ſo that I often omit them.

Unwillingneſſe to duties,Anſ. 1. argueth much corruption, from whence omiſſions often flow.

God may have begun his work in thee,2. although it be thus with thee, it may ariſe from divers cauſes, as from unbeliefe, doubting of acceptance of perſon and dutie; and it's no wonder, if ſuch have little liſt to obey; alſo eying infirmities, and not Chriſt alſo with them, and not exerciſing grace, eſpecially faith; little love to Chriſt, loving temporall things, deads the heart, and makes it carnall, weakneſſe of grace, or from Gods not affording preſent ſtrength, ſloath and eaſe that ſlayeth the ſoule, undiſcreet doing duties out of their ſeaſon, ignorance of the nature of duties, and what God requires in ſome cauſes, ignorance of the ſweetneſſe of ſpirituall duties. So the ſoules ſickneſſe, which hinders the ſoules reliſh of ſpirituall things: alſo weakneſſe of body is a great enemy to action; My fleſh and my heart fayles, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever, Pſal. 73. 26. he never fayles.

Surely,8. Diſcoura. I am deceived, I have no grace, becauſe I am not able to ſubdue my paſſions.

This declares rather weakneſſe of grace,Anſw. then otherwiſe, and it's certain, it is not from a want of truth of grace, if thou doeſt that which thou wouldſt not, as Rom. 7. 14. to 25. in our ſelves we are imperfect at the beſt, Gal. 6. 1. The ſtrongeſt is not able to ſtand alone; alſo ſome of the Lords partake more of naturall choler, which increaſeth naturally, and as that choler is, we are more or leſſe haſty and paſſionate. A wicked man may be naturally patient, and a childe of God may be ſinfully paſſionate, Jam. 5. 17. Thou ſhouldſt not meaſure Gods love to thee, nor the truth of his grace in thee by thy mortification of ſin, conſider Rom. 7. God may for ends beſt knowne unto himſelfe, ſuffer corruption to be too ſtrong for thee, it may be, to abaſe thee more, as Paul, Rom. 7. that thou maiſt ſee what need thou haſt of a Lord Jeſus to pardon and heale thee; who knoweth but God may leave thy perſonall ſanctification the more imperfect, that we may minde and behold Jeſus Chriſt, and our righteouſneſſe in him, and ſo live the more in him, and our joy the more in our juſtification by him? Rom. 4. 6, 7. It's one thing to have thy ſinnes forgiven, or not imputed, Pſal. 32. 1, 2. and another thing to be clenſed from it; live in the apprehenſion of the love of God, and down goeth ſin, and all diſcouragements, ſo live in diſcouragements, and ſinne prevailes, as Pſal. 77. 2. 7, 8, 9, 10. Wee ought not to fetch our comfort from our ſubduing of ſinne, but in Chriſt, in whom we want no righteouſneſſe, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Chriſt is ours, and we are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods. When we are at the beſt, we may not live in our ſelves, nor by ſight, but by faith, and when we are at the worſt, we are to live upon Chriſt by ſaith, and comfort our ſelves in him, and in him onely: many when they want ſtrength or comfort, they ſeek what they want from their duties, and comfort themſelves in their abſtainings from ſin, but for Chriſt he is not in all their thoughts, Pſal. 10. 4.

What I once felt is now decayed.9. Diſcoura.

The ground of our faith is God in his Word,Anſ. 1. and not our ſight and feeling, that is ſenſuall, 2 Cor. 5. 7. We live not by ſight (and feeling) but by faith.

Whilſt thou maintaineſt feares and jealouſies of Gods love to thee,2. it is no wonder it is ſo with thee: call to minde the dayes of old; as Pſal. 77.

It's certain, 3. if ever God manifeſted his love unto thee, he is ſtill and ever will be the ſame unto thee, having loved his owne, he loved them unto the end, Joh. 13. 1. With him there is no variableneſſe or ſhadow of turning, Jam. 1. 17.

A child of God may decay in parts,4. ſight, feelings, and exerciſe of grace for a time, as Phil. 4. 10. theſe are ſometimes more and ſometimes leſſe, but alwayes as God ſeeth beſt, that wee might reſt and relie upon nothing but Chriſt. I ſee and feele nothing in my ſelfe, or all is as nothing to me, ſave onely Jeſus Chriſt, who is all in all to me.

We ought to beleeve that we neither ſee nor feele; faith is the evidence of things not ſeene, Heb. 11. 1. To live by faith, is to walke after the Spirit, and to live by ſight and feeling, is to live after the fleſh, Rom. 8. 1.

I am diſcouraged,10. Diſco. becauſe nothing is made good to me, I doe not poſſeſſe it.

If thou beeſt included,Anſ. 1 and art under the promiſe of it, and under the hope of it, thou ſhalt poſſeſſe it.

It may be made good unto thee,2. without thy poſſeſſion of it, for wee muſt not ground faith in the poſſeſſion of what it beleeves, poſſeſſion is ſutable to ſenſe, and there is neither faith nor hope in what we poſſeſſe. To have right in it, and to poſſeſſe it, are two things, they died in faith, and yet they did not poſſeſſe what they beleeved, Heb. 11. 17, 18. The poſſeſſiō of things gives no being unto faith, nor is eſſentiall unto it, no otherwiſe then as faith gives being unto it. Abraham beleeved he ſhould have a ſonne; here was his faith, Rom. 4. 3. 17. 18. yet he did not poſſeſſe his ſonne, his ſonne had no being but in the promiſe of God, therefore to place enjoyment to be eſſentiall to faith, is a very great miſtake.

As a man muſt firſt beleeve God is,3. before he can goe to God, Heb. 11. 6. ſo a man muſt firſt beleeve in Chriſt, to have remiſſion of ſinnes by him, and after receive remiſſion of ſinnes, as appeares, Acts 10. 43.

It thou haſt power to cloſe with God in the truth of his Word,4. as Sarah did, that ſhee ſhould have a ſonne, not onely before ſhee had him, but againſt reaſon ſhee beleeved ſhee ſhould have him, thou haſt faith.

But I am not aſſured that I ſhall be ſaved,11. Diſco. therefore I have no faith.

Faith and aſſurance,Anſ. 1 is not one thing, but are differing and diſtinct; aſſurance cannot be without faith, but faith may be without aſſurance; for aſſurance is not the proper act of faith; aſſurance is an effect of faith, and a higher meaſure then that is, and the greater our feeling of aſſurance is, the leſſer our faith is.

Faith in the act is an aſſenting or cleaving to the truth and faithfulneſſe of God in his promiſe,2. not from any thing ſhee feeles in her ſelfe▪ but from ſomething it apprehends in God, in his word, Rom. 4. 20, 21, 22. The act of faith is ſometimes attended with much ſtrife and ſtrugling, for Satan ſaith to the ſoule, it's in vaine for thee to looke to Chriſt, to beleeve in Chriſt, Chriſt ſaith, Come unto me, beleeve I will eaſe thee. Now for the ſoule to reſt upon the fidelitie and abilitie of Chriſt in his promiſe, is no ſmall meaſure of faith: aſſurance is not from the habit of grace, nor from the direct act of faith, but from the reflect act of faith, which is for a man to ſee and know that he beleeves; which aſſurance is from the immediate teſtimony of the Spirit of God in the conſcience of one who is already a beleever, cauſing the ſoule to know it beleeves. The Spirit it ſelfe beareth witneſſe with our Spirits, that we are the children of God, Rom. 8. 16.

Now abideth faith, 3. 1 Cor. 13. 13. therefore faith doth at all times one way or other, ſufficiently evidence the truth of our eſtates, if we did at all times truly diſcerne the teſtimony or true act of faith; and the reaſon why we diſcerne it not, is for want of a full meaſure of faith, to withſtand all that is oppoſit to faith; for ſome there be, who have faith, yet by reaſon of their ignorance, and unskilfulneſſe, as Heb. 5. 14, 15. & 10. 15. forgetfulneſſe: babes are unskilfull, and have not experience of Gods dealings with his, both for order and manner; ſo that when faith doth not ſo lively act, and when Chriſt doth not clearly appeare in the ſoule, he begins to doubt whether he be not deceived; and when the Lord appeares againe, the doubt is diſſolved, and the ſoule is ſatisfied, and he is armed with experience againſt ſuch a time appeares againe, if he be able to judge, and neglect not to marke well, but where uſe and exerciſe is wanting, there is not ſo cleare a diſcerning, Heb. 5. 11, 12.

I feare the oppoſition that is in me,12. Diſco. is not between Chriſt and Satan, or the Spirit againſt the fleſh, but from my corrupt will, & my inlightened conſcience.

I grant all the combates in men are not right,Anſw. and many are deceived herein; yet the difference may eaſily be diſcerned; underſtand it thus;

1. The naturall conſcience (although it be inlightened) acts onely in a naturall way, at the moſt it is but morall, as not to lye, ſweare, ſteale, and ſuch groſſe acts.

2. It ſtirres not, unleſſe it be forced, and onely unto that it is forced unto.

3. It ſets one faculty againſt another, as the will and affections againſt the underſtanding, but the Spirit of Chriſt cauſeth an oppoſition in the ſame faculty, as in the will, &c.

4. Conſcience inlightened without grace, it ſtrikes onely at the branches of ſin, but not in the roote.

1. Whereas the Spirit of God makes a free, full, conſtant, impartiall reſiſtance againſt all ſin.

2. And diſcovers unto the ſoule her ſecret corruptions in their colours, and the Spirit over-powers the ſoule, ſo as it cauſeth the ſoule to hate ſin, and leave it.

3. The Spirit cauſeth the ſoule to be more glad when ſin is more diſcovered.

4. The Spirit of God teacheth the ſoule effectually to oppoſe all ſinne (even the appearance of evill) equally, proportionably and orderly.

I am ſo troubled with hideous temptations,13. Diſco. as I beleeve no childe of God is.

Chriſt was tempted,Anſw. Mat. 4. and I know no kind of temptation that God in his Word hath promiſed that his child ſhall not be tempted unto; There hath no temptation taken you, but ſuch as is common to man, therefore beleeve and take comfort in the wiſdome and faithfulneſſe of God, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that yee are able, but will with the temptation alſo make a way of eſcape, that yee may be able to beare it, 1 Cor. 10. 3. If they be burthenſome and hatefull unto you, and you cry out to God for help againſt them, they ſhall not be laid unto thy charge; for as it was with the damſell in Deut. 22. 25, 26. even ſo is this matter.

I feare that when perſecution comes,14. Diſco. I ſhall not ſuffer, nor hold out unto the end, but diſhonour God, betray his truth, ſhame and grieve his people.

Caſt all theſe cares and feares upon the Lord,Anſw. as Phil. 4. 10. In nothing be carefull, he will care for thee; I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee, Heb. 15. 5. God will take care for his glory, truth, and ſervants, his wiſdome and power and faithfulneſſe ſhall order all.

Others are diſcouraged,15. Diſco. becauſe they are not filled with joy and comfort, &c.

Faith may be ſtrong,Anſw. when joy is abſent; David had faith when he had no joy; Reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation, Pſal. 51. 12. He refuſed comfort, and he wanted it, Pſal. 77. 2. Such as judge their condition to be good, becauſe they are filled with joy, they are miſtaken, and build upon a wrong foundation, in that they are not founded upon Jeſus Chriſt alone, ſo as to look to him, and live upon him onely. If ſome perſons had joy, they would make it a Chriſt to them, and live upon it, and ſo abuſe Chriſt, and themſelves, and their joy: and it's a mercy for ſuch to want joy, till they can better uſe it.

Others are diſcouraged,16. Diſco. becauſe their ſoules are filled with terrors, ſaith one, Oh, I feel the wrath of God in my ſoule, I have a hell in me, and ſo have been for a long time.

This is a ſad condition, Anſ. 1 yet thus it may be with one who is the Lords; for thus it was with Heman, who ſaid, Lord, why caſteſt thou off my ſoule, why hideſt thou thy face from me? I am ready to dye whilſt I ſuffer thy terrors, I am diſtracted, thy fierce wrath goeth over me, thy terrors have cut me off, Pſal. 88. 15, 16. And Job cryed, He hath kindled his wrath againſt me, and counts me unto him as one of his enemies, ſee Job 19. 10, 11. & 7. 6. 13, 14, 15, 16. And David in temptation judging himſelfe according unto the Law, to ſenſe, and feeling, ſaid, I am caſt out of his ſight, Pſal. 31. 22. Horror hath overwhelmed me, Pſal. 55. 5. & 77. 8, 9. And Jeremiah ſaid, He hath led me into darkneſſe, but not into light, he hath broken my bones, and compaſſed me with gall, he hath made my chaines heavy, he hath filled me with bitterneſſe, thou haſt removed my ſoule far off from peace, and I ſaid my ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord, Lam. 3. 2. to 19.

The Lord hath his way in the whirlewind, 2. and in the ſtorme, Nahum 1. 3. Some conceive that if God loved them, there ſhould be no ſuch tempeſts in their ſoules, but ſhould injoy a ſweet calme, in ſtead of wrath and terrors, ſweet peace and joy: indeed it is ſo with many, but it's not ſo with all that are the Lords, as appeares; Job ſaith to God, Why doeſt thou not pardon my tranſgreſſions, &c. Thou haſt ſet me as a mark againſt thee, ſo that I am a burden unto my ſelfe, ſee Job 7. 18, 19, 20, 21. 13, 14.

Becauſe it was ſo with Gideon as it was,3. he could not be perſwaded that God was with him; the Angel ſaid, God was with him, Judg. 6. 12, 13. therefore he was miſtaken, and ſo maiſt thou be, if thou judgeſt thy ſelfe not to be the Lords, becauſe thou art filled with terrors, &c. Comfort depends not upon any freedome from terrors, but upon the Spirits revelation of truth, and application of it unto the ſoule.

The greateſt peace any Saint doth poſſeſſe,4. is not to be either a ground or an incouragement for their beleeving, ſo alſo there is no terrors any can poſſeſſe, ought to be any diſcouragement in beleeving, for our happineſſe is not from any thing we feele or apprehend in our ſelves, but in that we are knowne of God, who loves us and comprehends us in himſelfe, and his not imputing our treſpaſſes unto us, Pſal. 32. 1, 2.

A ſoule being in ſuch a ſad condition,5. ſhould conſider what the Lord ſaith in Iſa. 8. 20. and to caſt all their feares of hell upon God in a promiſe, to truſt in the Lord; for in Jehovah is ſtrength for evermore, Iſa. 26. 3, 4: When thou art in the flames of this fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt; With God nothing is impoſſible, Luk. 1. 73. O troubled ſoule, the tender mercies of our God hath viſited us, and ſo it may viſit thee alſo, and give light to thee that ſitteſt in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death, to guide thy feet in the way of peace, Luk. 1. 78, 79. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſts in thee, Iſa. 26. 3, 4.

What was that which brought thee ſo low,6. but poring ſo much upon thy ſins, untill thou wert filled with deſpaire, and thy omiſſions and commiſſions againſt conſcience increaſed thy horror? do the contrary, and firſt beleeve, then repent, and ſee that yee daube not your ſelves over with your duties; and know that which is a great cauſe of mourning, is no cauſe of deſpaire, therefore caſt not away your confidence, Heb. 10. 35. for yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry, Heb. 10. 37, 38. Therefore ſay as the Prophet ſaid, When I ſit in darkneſſe, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me, he will bring me forth into the light, and I ſhall behold his righteouſneſſe, Micah 7. 8, 9.

I am in great miſery and want outwardly,17. Diſco. by reaſon of poverty, if God did love me, I ſhould not be ſo much neglected as I am.

Thou ſhouldſt not reaſon ſo;Anſ. 1. what thinkeſt thou of the condition of thoſe who wandred about in ſheep-skins, goatskins, in deſerts, mountaines, dens and caves of the earth? I feare they were more deſtitute of outward comfort then thee, and ſuffered more hunger, cold, and nakedneſſe then thee; haſt thou not a houſe, not a bed to lie on, the places where they wandred afforded not theſe things unto them; art thou deſtitute, afflicted, and forſaken? ſo were they whom God loved, and eſteemed the world not worthy of, Heb. 11. 37, 38.

Poverty and want hath attended and2. kept company with many a deare childe of God; Job was poore—yea the Churches of Jeſus Chriſt have been poore; the Church of Corinth was poore, 2 Cor. 8. 14. The Church of Smyrna was poore, Rev. 2. 9. The Church of Macedonia was in deep poverty, 2 Cor. 8. 1, 2. And our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was poore, 2 Cor. 8. 9. And thou maiſt be very poore, and yet God may love thee, as he loves Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 17. 26. The poore receive the Goſpel, and the profeſſion of the Goſpel of Chriſt, have made the rich poore, in that for Chriſt they have ſuffered the loſſe of all things, Phil. 7. 8. In thy greateſt want be content to be like Chriſt in poverty, as well as in glory, Joh. 17. 24. for the time will quickly come, in which you ſhall feele no want, nor ſuffer no hunger, cold, or nakedneſſe.

There is no ſtate and condition under the Sun that is free from Satanst ēptations,3. thoſe who have more abundance of outward things, he ſuggeſts & inſinuates unto them, that theſe things are all they are like to have, & that ſeeing they have a heaven here of outward contents, they muſt not expect another hereafter. And to thoſe who have greater gifts and parts, he ſaith, they are not given to them in love, but onely for the benefit of others, and is ready to diſcourage them; Satan is ready to get an advantage of us, wee are not ignorant of his deviſes, 2 Cor. 2. 11. The Lord teach his to know the depths of Satan, Rev. 2. 24. to know his ſtratagems and to reſiſt him. And as there is no ſtate under the Sunne free from trouble, ſo it is a ſweet comfort unto all that are the Lords, that there is no ſtate and condition, but as God can, ſo he will ſupport his in, and under it, and make it ſweet and comfortable unto them, yea the beſt for them; for all things ſhall work for good to them that love God, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? Shall tribulation, or diſtreſſe, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſſe, or perill, or ſword? I am perſwaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, Rom. 8. 35. 38, 39.

I cannot ſee God,18. Diſco. ſurely God hath forſaken me.

Sometimes God hides himſelfe from his, Anſ. 1 as the Scripture declares; Verily thou art a God that hideſt thy ſelfe, Iſa. 45. 15. I opened to my beloved, and he had withdrawne himſelfe, Song 5. 6. Behold, I goe forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himſelfe on the right hand, that I cannot ſee him, Job 23. 8, 9.

Our carnall reaſon,2. and corrupt heart, and Satan with his ſuggeſtions, are ſo neere us, before our eyes, that we cannot ſee God, and wee hearken ſo much to what they ſay, that we minde not the voyce of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 16.

It is one thing to know, 3. and another thing to know that wee know: Chriſt ſaid, they knew; they ſaid, they knew not; Chriſt ſaid, Whither I goe yee know, and the way yee know; Thomas ſaid unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goeſt, how then can we know the way? Chriſt ſpake true, and they knew not that they knew, Joh. 14. 3, 4, 5. So ſhee ſaw Jeſus ſtanding, and knew not that it was Jeſus. When their eyes were opened, they knew him, Luk. 24. 31. Paul prayed that they might know the hope of their calling, Epheſ. 1. 18, 19.

When God hideth his face, 4. we are to wait upon him, and look for him, Iſa. 8. 17. for he will returne againe; but Sion ſaid, The Lord hath forſaken me, & my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her ſucking childe, &c? Yea ſhee may, yet will not I forget thee, Iſa. 49. 14. For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee, Iſa. 45. 7, 8. When God abſents himſelfe from his, his love and care is the ſame unto them, as it is when he moſt manifeſts himſelfe to them.

Another is diſcouraged,19. Diſco. ſaying, I thought I had true faith, but ſince I fell into a great ſin, I am perſwaded if I had been the Lords, I ſhould not have been ſo left of God, as I was to ſin ſo as I did.

Say not ſo,Anſ. 1 but conſider that even ſome of the children of God, he hath ſuffered to fall, if not into the ſame ſinnes, yet as great; David ſinned in adultery and murder; how greatly did Solomon ſin after he obtained mercy, 1 King. 11. 9. And Peter denied Chriſt with an oath, yet his faith was not voyd or nought, Chriſts prayer was heard; I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not, Luk. 22. 32. therefore his faith never fayled him. Theſe examples are recorded in Scripture, to ſet forth the glory of the riches of Gods free grace, Eph. 2. 4. That men may know what God can doe, and that great ſinners might not deſpaire or faint under their ſin, therefore Chriſt ſaith, All ſinnes ſhall be forgiven unto the ſonnes of men, and blaſphemies, Mark. 3. 28. If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, 1 Joh. 2. 1. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt makes us cleane from all ſin, 1 Joh. 1. 7.

To deſpaire of the mercy of God,2. becauſe our ſinnes are great, were to limit God in his mercy, which is a greater ſin, and an adding ſin to ſin, therefore for the greateſt ſinne a beleever can commit, he ought not to moane without hope; for no ſin he can commit, can never put him into a ſtate of condemnation, or under the curſe, Rom. 8. 1, 2, 3. And whilſt we live in this world, God healeth not our ſinfull natures wholly, nor takes it away quite; the fleſh luſteth, Rom. 7. yet God ever eſteemes his as they are in Chriſt, (and not ſimply as they are in themſelves) Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Paul ſaith, I my ſelfe keep the law of God, but with my fleſh the law of ſin. Sin doth the evill that beleevers doe ſee, Rom. 7. 15. 17. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Conſider Nehe. 9. 16, 17, &c. He knoweth our frame, and remembreth that wee are but duſt, Pſal. 103. 14.

God is never an enemy to his,3. though they greatly ſinne againſt him, Pſal. 51. We are not beloved for our own ſakes, nor any thing in our ſelves, but for Chriſt in whom God is well pleaſed, Mat. 3. 17. Therefore nothing in us, or that we doe, can make us to be loved more or leſſe. God may well ſay of himſelfe; I am the Lord, I change not, Mal. 3. 6. His love is as himſelfe, ever the ſame; and Chriſt in whom we are beloved ever the ſame, Heb. 13. 8. therefore a beleevers hope, joy, and cōfidence, is to be ever the ſame in Chriſt, Pſ. 23. 1. So we are commanded to Rejoyce alwayes, Pſal. 5. 11. & 32. 11. Let them exceedingly rejoyce, Pſal. 40. 16. Pſal. 68. 3. and to rejoyce evermore; Againe I ſay rejoyce, 1 Theſ. 1. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4. The joy of the Lord is our ſtrength, Neh. 8. 16.

Oh there is enough in the Lord Jeſus to ſatisfie thee at all times, 4. he is an unchangeable object of true joy, in him onely is all our hope and happineſſe, whoſe bloud hath payd all the debt of all thy ſinnes; It's Chriſt that died, who now ſhall condemn? ſurely none, Rom. 8. 33. Therefore let not thy fall cauſe thee to queſtion the love of God, ſeeing thy ſalvation depends not upon thy repentance or holineſſe, but from Gods free grace, Rom. 9. 15, 16. Iſa. 43. 24, 25. & 57. 17. Ezek. 16. 1. to 9. My little children, theſe things I write unto you, that yee ſin not, 1 Joh. 2. 1. And for any to turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe, that is, the ſweet mercy and conſolations of God, to incourage them in their ſinning, they are led by the Spirit of the Devill, he is their father, and his works they do, Joh. 8. I ſpeak to you that regard iniquitie, Pſal. 66. 18. that love ſin, and delight in it, and are bold and venturous upon it, and can drinke downe iniquitie like water, Job 15. 16. You at preſent are in the gall of bitterneſſe, and whiles it is ſo with them, here is no conſolation for them, th •• e may not be numbred with them who through weakneſſe and temptation, or want of watchfulneſſe, are overtaken, and fall into ſinne, which they hate, by not ſhunning the occaſions of ſinne, &c. Surely all the Lords have need to pray, as David did to God, Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footſteps ſlip not, Pſal. 17. 5. Howſoever it be, be not out of hope, although thou didſt perſecute the truth, as Paul did, and them that profeſſed it, Act. 9. 1, 2. yet afterwards he preached the faith, Gal. 1. 23. thou knoweſt not but God may convert thee alſo. The ſervant of God having fallen into ſinne, is to riſe by faith; for, ſhall a man fall, and not riſe? Jer. 8. 4. When I fall, I ſhall ariſe, Micah 7. 7. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth the iniquitie, and paſſeth by the tranſgreſſions of the Remnant of his people? Micah 7. 18, 19, 20. God ſubdues the corruption that is in his, not all at once, but by degrees; therefore he ſaith, I will be mercifull to their unrighteouſneſſe, and their ſinnes will I remember no more, Heb. 8. 12. God hath nothing againſt thoſe who are in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Chriſt.

20. Diſco. But alas, I feele my heart is hardened.

Anſ. 1 There is much hardneſſe of heart in a childe of God, and they feele it, and complaine of it, and mourne under it, which is from the new heart in them.

To feele hardneſſe is from ſoftneſſe,2. and the condition of an experienced childe of God: O Lord, why haſt thou made us to erre from thy wayes, and hardened our hearts from thy feare? doubtleſſe, thou art our father: thou, O Lord, art our father, Iſa. 63. 16, 17. Their hearts were hardened, yet they were the children of God.

Motives or incouragements to beleeve.

NOtwithſtanding faith is the gift of God, Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. it floweth from the Spirits operation in the heart, therefore our beleeving is ſaid to be the worke of God, Joh. 6. 28. the operation of God, Col. 2. 12. the Spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13. The Spirit inlighteneth our underſtandings, and boweth our hearts to beleeve. So that without the Spirit of Chriſt, we can doe nothing, Joh. 15. 5. Epheſ. 1. 19. It is through grace that men beleeve, Act. 18. 27. yet men are to uſe the meanes; for when in the preaching of the Word, we bid perſons to doe ſo and ſo, we expect the holy Spirit of God to put power to the words ſpoken, to make them effectuall to enable the creature to obey; as, He ſaid unto me, Sonne of man, ſtand up upon thy feet: and the Spirit entred into me when he had ſpoken unto me, and ſet me upon my feet, Ezek. 2. 1, 2. And the dead ſhall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God, and they that heare ſhall live, Joh. 5. 25. Elſe it were in vaine to ſpeak to dead men, 1 Pet. 4. 6. To beleeve, &c. is a ſpirituall worke, and all men by nature are ſpiritually dead, Eph. 2. 1. & 5. 14. onely they beleeve whoſe hearts God opens, as Acts 16. 14. None can beleeve but they to whom it is given, Phil. 1. 29. Therefore ſuch words as theſe, Beleeve in the Lord Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, Act. 16. 30, 31. in this ſenſe are to be underſtood; for it is not in him that willeth, and him that runneth, &c. Rom. 9. 16. it is God that worketh both to will and to doe.

Incouragements to beleeve.

1. Becauſe the Goſpel is to be preached to every creature; he that beleeves ſhall be ſaved, Act. 16. 16. There is no precept or command for any to doubt, none are exempted or forbidden to beleeve, ſee Act. 16. 30, 31. 1 Joh. 3. 23. but men are commanded the contrary, and to follow after faith, and to lay hold on eternall life, 1 Tim. 6. 11.

2. By beleeving we come to know our intereſt in Chriſt, and of our ſalvation by him; Whoſoever beleeves in him ſhall not periſh but have everlaſting life, Joh. 3. 15, 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne, hath everlaſting life, verſ. 36. ſee Joh. 6. 40.

3. By beleeving, we honour God, He that receives his teſtimony, hath ſet to his ſeale, that God is true, Joh. 3. 33. & Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too ſoone, or too confidently, or too conſtantly.

4. If yee beleeve not, ſurely yee ſhall not be eſtabliſhed, Iſa. 7. 9. There is no true quietneſſe and ſettlement of ſoule, without beleeving; alſo thou ſtandſt by faith; thou falleſt into ſinne by unbeliefe, Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached (is precious and powerfull, yet it) profited them not, becauſe it was not mixed with faith, Heb. 4. 2.

5. It's faith that rids the ſoule of all its diſtempers, doubts, feares, diſcouragements, Rom. 5. 1. (we may not ſeparate the Spirit from faith, nor faith from the Spirit.)

6. By faith in Chriſt, thou ſhalt be kept in perfect peace, it will ſweetly, tranſcendently refreſh thy ſoule, Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace, becauſe he truſts in thee, Iſa. 26. 3, 4. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God, Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Chriſt our juſtification, the fruit of which is joy and peace.

7. By unbeliefe, we adde ſin to ſin in the higheſt nature, if we beleeve not what God ſaith, our act of unbeliefe accuſeth God to ſpeake falſly, He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer, 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impoſſible for God to lye. The ſtrength of Iſrael cannot lye, 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any diſhonour to God, nor hurt to thy ſelfe, to hope in his mercy, and to beleeve in him; therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe, ſet before thee the evill of unbeliefe.

8. As bad as thou canſt be, have been received to mercy; Jeſus Chriſt came to ſave ſinners; This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. When thou layſt in thy bloud, behold it was a time of love, Ezek. 16. 8. He juſtifieth the ungodly, Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet ſinners, Chriſt dyed for us, Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope. Feare not, but beleeve, Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindneſſe in the day time, and in the night, Pſal. 42. 8. Hope thou in God, verſ. 5. Be not afraid, onely beleeve, Mark. 5. 36.

9. Unbeliefe ſtraitens thy heart, and ſtoppeth thy mouth, hinders thy thankfulneſſe▪ and praiſing of God; thou ſhalt be dumb, becauſe thou beleeveſt not, Luk. 1. 20.

10. Unleſſe we beleeve, we can never glorifie God; He ſtaggered not at the promiſe of God through unbeliefe, but was ſtrong in faith, giving God the glory, Rom. 4. 20.

Queſt. From whence is it that many of the Lords children have ſo many doubts and feares.

Anſw. It ariſeth from many ſeverall cauſes; as, 1. From ignorance of the fulneſſe and freeneſſe of the promiſe, Iſa. 55. 2. or mindleſneſſe and heedleſneſſe of the promiſe, Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart, oppoſing grace, Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies diſtemper with melancholy, 5. or from the conſcience (being inlightened) which ſides with the Law againſt it ſelfe, Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulneſſe in the Word of righteouſneſſe, Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe, which takes the Law and applies it to it ſelfe, which occaſioneth feares, and feares doubts. 8. And from looſe walking with God. 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the ſoule; the Spirit when it acts, ſpeakes peace, and cauſeth faith to act more ſtrongly, Rom. 8. 16.

Meanes to quiet and ſettle a troubled ſoule in aſſurance of the love of God; God gives peace to his by meanes, as appeares 2 Theſ. 3. 16.

Commune with thy heart, and make diligent ſearch to find out what it is that troubleth thee, Pſal. 77. 6. Aske a reaſon of thy ſoule, why it is diſquieted, why it is caſt downe, Pſal. 42. 11. Why art thou caſt downe, O my ſoule? why art thou diſquieted? Pſal. 42. 5, 6.

Examine from whence all thy diſcouragements come, they come not from God, for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people, he hath declared himſelfe to be mercifull, and gracious, and ſlow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; He hath not dealt with us after our ſinnes, nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities, Pſa. 103. 3, 4. 8. 10. &c. His voyce is comfort, Comfort yee my people, ſpeak yee comfortably to Jeruſalem, cry unto her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, that her iniquitie is pardoned, Iſa. 4. 1, 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you, ſaith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evill, Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Chriſt, he doth not trouble nor diſcourage any; He binds up the brokenhearted; he proclaimes peace, liberty, he comforts all that mourne, he gives beautie for aſhes, the oyle of joy for mourning, and garments of praiſe, for the Spirit of heavineſſe, &c. Iſa. 61. 1, 2, 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and piti • ull, He will not quench the ſmoaking flax, nor breake the bruiſed reed, Iſai. 42. 3. His voyce is full of love & tenderneſſe, all his words are ſweet words; as, Let not your hearts be troubled, Joh. 13. 1. Feare not, it is your Fathers pleaſure, to give you a kingdome, Luk. 12. 32. Caſt you • care upon me, I will care for you, Phil. 4. 6. Chriſts voyce is open to me; My ſiſter, my love, my dove, my undefiled, Song 5. 2. On ſweet words of Chriſt to his! Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God, he is the greateſt and moſt ſweeteſt comforter, he cauſeth no diſcouragements, but removes them all, by revealing and applying to the ſoule the love of God, and carrieth the ſoule by faith from all diſcouragements to God, who is love & peace, where the ſoule is to reſt, Pſal. 116. 7. and to be filled with his ſweet peace. Therefore all our diſcouragements do proceed,

1. From the Devill, who is an enemy to faith; He taketh the word out of mens hearts, leſt they ſhould beleeve, Luk. 8. 12. 1 Theſ. 3. 5.

2. Our own hearts; Take heed, brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evill heart, in departing from the living God, Heb. 3. 12.

3. Or the lying vanities we have choſen: but they that harken unto lying vanities, forſake their own mercy, Jonah 2. 8.

Give no way to any diſcouragement at all, though it doe ſeeme never ſo juſt and reaſonable, &c. This was Davids ſin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to diſcourage him; ſaying, Will the Lord caſt off for ever? doth his promiſe fayle for evermore? I ſaid this is my infirmitie, Pſal. 77. 7, 8, 9, 10. As ſoone as he ſaw his infirmitie, he had other thoughts of God, ſaying, Who is ſo great a God as our God? thou art a God that doeſt wonders; and his footſteps are not knowne, verſ. 14. 19. If God in his greatneſſe were knowne, and the wonders he doth knowne, and his footſteps, the way he goeth knowne, men would admire him, and rejoyce at that for which they now mourne. When thou art tempted to unbeliefe, ſet before thee the evill of this ſinne in it ſelfe, and the effects of it.

Learne to know and diſtinguiſh between the voyce of Chriſt, and all other voyces, that thou maiſt ſay, It is the voyce of my beloved that knocketh, and hearken unto it, Song 5. 2. Chriſts voyce is peace to his, Luk. 24. 26. Thy ſinnes are forgiven, Luk. 7. 48. I will remember them no more, Heb. 10. 17. Therefore that voyce that tends to hinder the peace of the Saints, ſuits with Satan, and is not the voyce of Chriſt: I will heare what the Lord will ſpeake; for he will ſpeake peace to his people, Pſal. 85. 8. Satan alſo ſpeaks in the ſoule, ſaying, Is not this a deluſion? is it likely to be from God? haſt thou a heart fit for Chriſt? and becauſe this laſt voyce is more ſutable to reaſon, the ſoule is ready to cloſe with it, and to conclude againſt God, and his own ſoule, that the voyce was not from God, but a deluſion of Satan, miſtaking Chriſts voyce to be the voyce of Satan, and Satans voyce to be the voyce of Chriſt, which is a miſerable miſtake. Therefore learne to know the ſeverall colours, ſounds, and voyces, which are for God, and which are for Satan, 1 Cor. 14. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Or elſe you will miſtake and come unprepared to the battell, 2 Cor. 7. 5.

Learne to know and diſtinguiſh between the voyce of the Goſpel, and the voyce of the Law; the Law ſaith, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Law to doe them, Gal. 3. 10, 11. When there is any worke required to be done upon paine of puniſhment, or upon promiſe of eternall life, it is the voyce of the Law; the Law requires a doing of ſomething for life. M • ſes deſcribes the righteouſneſſe of the Law, that the man that doth theſe things, ſhall live by them, Rom. 10. 5. But the voyce of the Goſpel is otherwiſe, that Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe for us, Gal. 3. 13. And to him that worketh not, but beleeveth on him that juſtifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſſe, Rom. 10. 5. ſee 9. verſe to 13. and that his mercy is above what we can aske or thinke, Eph. 3. 20. So the promiſes of li • e, they are free without condition, and the Goſpel declares what God workes in us, and freely gives unto us, I will love them freely, Hoſ. 14. 4. If ſome perſons did liſten more to the promiſe, which is the voyce of the Goſpel, and not unto the voyce of the Law, or the voyce of corruption, they ſhould enjoy more peace, and leſſe trouble.

Meddle not with the threatnings in the Word, ſo as to apply them to thy ſelfe, becauſe they belong not unto thee, they are no part of thy portion, they have nothing to doe with a beleever, nor he hath nothing to doe with them; the threatnings are for them that are under the Law, but wee are not under the Law, but under grace, Rom. 6. 14. A beleever having ſinned, through weakneſſe, applieth the threatnings againſt that ſinne to himſelfe, not conſidering that Chriſt hath ſatisfied for the ſinnes they commit; Chriſt being made a curſe for us, Gal. 3. 13.

Be ſure yee judge not your ſtate by falſe principles; as, to be bad for the want of that, which if thou haddeſt it, would not prove thy ſtate good, as knowledge, memory, P •• ls ſenſibleneſſe of ſin, &c. Nor judge thy ſtate bad for the having of that which if thou wert freed from, would not prove thy eſtate good, as paſſion, temptations, diſcontentedneſſe, &c. If this Rule were obſerved, ſome ſhould not be ſo troubled as now they are.

Take heed you be not overwhelmed with ſin, therefore eye not ſo much thy infirmities: Beware of ſuch a minding of ſin, and ſuch a complaining of it, either to Gods, or man, as may diſcourage, oppreſſe, and trouble thy ſoule, for this is ſinfull. Davids experience might teach him this; I complained, and my ſpirit was overwhelmed; I am ſo troubled that I cannot ſpeake, Pſal. 77. 3, 4. 8. Therefore hearken not to thy faylings, corruptions, doubts, feares, for as they are all againſt God, ſo they are all againſt thy ſoule. There is no grace, no mercy from them, therefore what thou ſeeſt and feeleſt, ſee not, conſi • er not, forget, and what thy ſenſe ſees not, ſee. Faith is the evidence of things not ſeene, Heb. 11. 1. Walke by faith, not by ſight, 2 Cor. 5. 7.

Eye Chriſt onely, mind him, meditate upon him, and his rich and free grace, fetch all thy comforts from him, who is made to thee, Wiſdome, Righteouſneſſe, Sanctification, and Redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30. If thou attendeſt only to God in his promiſe, thou ſhalt finde Reſt, Pſal. 116. 7. O beleever, eye not ſo much thy ſelfe, or thy ſinnes, as Chriſts full and perfect ſatisfaction, which was offered and accepted for all thy ſinnes, Heb. 10. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Oh therefore live, and reſt thy ſoule upon thy ſweet Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone, & place all thy confidence in him. Doeſt thou not heare God ſay to thee, Caſt away all thy feares, and come to me, I will ſettle thee, comfort, quicken, uphold thee, and be better to thee then thy ſelfe can be; I will be all in all unto thee?

Know the happineſſe and perfection of the ſtate of a beleever in Chriſt, he is cleane from all ſin by the bloud of Chriſt, 1 Joh. 1. 7. They are removed from us, Pſal. 103. 12. A beleever in Chriſt is accepted of God in him, as perfect, righteous, and comely, as Chriſt is; for Chriſt ſaith to his; Thou art all faire my love, there is no ſpot in thee. There is not any ſin a beleever can commit, can be a ground ſufficient to queſtion the love of God, nor ought they to caſt away their confidence in God, for any thing they doe, or can befall them, nor ought they to cauſe any unquietneſſe of ſpirit in them, Heb. 10. 19, 20. 22. 25. For now there is none that can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect, as Rom. 8. 1. Oh meditate on this truth, until thy heart be over powered with it, and thou injoy the ſweetneſſe of it, and ever mind it ſeriouſly, thy full freedome and ſweet libertie thou haſt in Chriſt, Gal. 5. 13.

Learne to diſtinguiſh between thy Juſtification and thy perſonall Sanctification; the firſt is perfect and compleat in Chriſt; the latter is in our ſelves, and is weake, and imperfect, and uncertaine, as appeares, Rom. 7. Let us looke off our ſinnes, and looke upon Gods ſweet promiſe, who ſaith, Their ſinnes and iniquities will I remember no more, Heb. 10. 17. So that now wee may draw neere with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, for he is faithfull that promiſed, verſ. 22, 23.

Let not thy comfort depend upon thy perſonall Sanctification, becauſe from it there can no ſure ſelected conſtant comfort flow. To ſeek comfort from Sanctification, and not from their Juſtification in Chriſt, is a cauſe of much trouble in many a weake beleever; for Sanctification hath nothing to doe with Juſtification, nor ſalvation, as any cauſe of it. Alſo Sanctification admits of degrees, but Juſtification admits of neither rules nor degrees, and is more glorious then Sanctification: our Juſtification depends not upon our apprehending of it, nor in our receiving of it, but upon the effectualneſſe and merit of what our ſweet Lord Jeſus hath done for us, Heb. 10. 14. 18, 19. So that now wee may well have boldneſſe to enter into the Holieſt by the bloud of Jeſus, verſ. 20. Juſtification is apprehended by faith, Heb. 11. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Faith doth evidence to us our juſtification; for the Scripture ſaith, all that beleeve are juſtified, Act. 13. 39. It is poſſible to have a full aſſurance of faith, Heb. 10. 22. therefore faith is an unqueſtionable evidence: and when faith is hidden and doubtfull, Juſtification is not apprehended; and when faith is hidden and doubtfull, Sanctification is not evident but doubtfull, and ſo cannot evidence to us our Juſtification: the effects of Sanctification cauſe men to queſtion their Juſtification, therefore no effect of Sanctification can evidence to the ſoule its Juſtification; and that ſoule that by Faith apprehends his Juſtification by Chriſt, not onely knoweth it, but may live upon it, injoying the ſweet fruit of it, peace, joy, ſtrength, without any conſidering the effects of Sanctification in himſelfe. And ſeeing Chriſt is made Sanctification to a beleever, 1 Cor. 1. 30. why may not a beleever live upon his own, and ſay, I have Sanctification in Chriſt, which is perfect, my actuall righteouſneſſe doth often faile me, but Chriſts righteouſneſſe indures for ever, Pſal. 111. 3. therefore I will fetch all my comfort from Chriſt, and my Juſtification by him; and as wee are not to conclude our Juſtification from any effect of Sanctification, ſo wee are not to conclude that apprehenſion of Juſtification to be from God, as ſhall take men off the meanes and rules of Sanctification, becauſe it is to the diſhonour of God for men not to walke holily, according to the word of God, Tit. 2. 14. Prize and preſerve the peace of thy conſcience.

Be ſure yee allow your ſelves in no ſinne, but in the power and ſtrength of Chriſt, to hate and abhorre with the greateſt indignation all ſinne, and the appearance of evill; it is better to dye then to ſinne: there is that which accompanieth ſinne, which ſtrikes at a beleevers peace and comfort, and will damp, ſtraiten and oppreſſe their comfort, joy, and peace in God, unleſſe God doth wonderfully ſtrengthen their faith in him. And ſuch as live by faith, and injoy ſweet peace in him, have found ſin to be an enemy, and a let to their faith and comfort, it having often unſetled, and diſquieted, and clouded their ſoules peace, though indeed it ought not ſo to doe, for we are to remember that ſweet place, Heb. 10. 17. Their ſinnes and iniquities will I remember no more. This alone is able to ſettle a ſoule, it being full of ſweetneſſe and life.

Doe not trouble thy ſelfe with any thing that may befall thee; in caſe thou wert certaine great troubles ſhall befall thee, be not troubled at any trouble, much leſſe for future trouble, nor thinke not to incounter with & ſupply a future trouble, with a preſent ſtrength; if many and great troubles come, God is alſufficient, and will remove them, or give ſtrength to beare them when they come, 1 Cor. 10. 13.

Mind ſeriouſly thoſe promiſes of God that are ſutable to thy condition, ſeparate thy ſelfe to meditate upon them, as Prov. 18. 2. hide them in thy heart, as Mat. 13. 44. There is ſtrength and ſweetneſſe in the promiſe, thou maiſt venture thy ſoule upon God in his promiſe, and live upon it, thou knoweſt not but God may reveale his promiſe to thee, and ſettle it ſweetly and fully upon thy ſoule by his almightie power, as Epheſ. 1. 19, 20. Therefore let not Gods promiſes be ſtrange to thee, but feed upon them, eat them; Eate O friends, drinke abundantly O beloved, Song 5. 1. Leave not the promiſe, untill thou beeſt refreſhed, revived, raiſed, raviſhed with Gods rich grace and infinite free love, and thy heart inlarged with thankfulneſſe and obedience unto God againe for the exceeding riches of his mercy, Eph. 2. 9. His plenteous Redemption, Pſal. 130. 7.

Treaſure up experiences of Gods goodneſſe unto thy ſoule, but who among you will give eare to this? who will hearken and heare for the time to come? Iſa. 42. 23. Remember the dayes of old, I have conſidered the dayes of old, and the yeares of ancient time, Pſal. 77. 5. Thou haſt been my helpe, Pſal. 63. 7. I was brought low, and he helped me, ſee 2 Tim. 4. 17, 18. Pſal. 89. 49.

Keepe thy heart calme and quiet from all paſſions, as feare, griefe, &c. The ſtill ſoule can beſt heare and know Chriſts voice, his ſtill voyce; but where feare, vexation, and diſtempers dwell, they are not aware of Chriſt, nor themſelves, and commonly they that feare moſt have leaſt cauſe, as they had the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord ſhone round about them, and they were ſore afraid; and the Angel ſaid unto them, Feare not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Luk. 2. 9, 10. When the ſoule is troubled with any paſſion, it is not at the command of faith, Luk. 24. 41. the violence of their joy hindred their faith, Let not your hearts be troubled, Joh. 13. 1. Quietneſſe is the ſtay of the ſoule to doe or receive.

Be contented with thy preſent eſtate, and fill not thy head, heart, or hand, with any more buſineſſe then thou muſt needs. Conſider Heb. 13. 5. Take heed of the cares of this life, Luk. 21. 34. 15. Trouble not thy ſelfe with needleſſe ſuppoſed feares, if thou doeſt, thou draweſt upon thy ſelfe reall ſorrow, and unneceſſary diſcontent; there be many that are poſſeſſed with bitter ſorrows from ſuppoſed ſufferings.

Order thy converſation aright, To him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God, Pſal. 50. 23. Want of wiſdome to diſpoſe of, of diligence to diſpatch, what neceſſitie requires to be done in the right time and place, hath produced ſuch inconveniences, as hath unavoydably cauſed trouble, a diſquieted and an unſetled ſpirit.

Walke with God in his wayes, ordinances, they are for thy comfort, ſtrength, joy and peace in him; there is no quiet to thoſe that worſhip the beaſt, Rev. 14. 10, 11. Uſe Gods means, but live not upon ordinances, but upon God in them, for meanes alone are not ſufficient to doe us any good, 1 Cor. 1. 21.

Doe not ſleight nor refuſe Gods conſolations, let them not ſeeme ſmall unto thee; are the conſolations of God ſmall with thee, Job 15. 11. O ſoule own that comfort God gives thee, if it ſeeme ſmall to thee, its thy own, own it, leſt yee live to complaine, ſaying, as David did; My ſoule refuſed to be comforted, Pſal. 77. 2. and to wiſh yee had that yee deſpiſed; be thankfull to God for what thou haſt received, and hold that faſt, and let nothing goe that may tend to thy peace; reſt ſatisfied in Chriſts righteouſneſſe, and adde nothing unto it; I will make mention of thy righteouſneſſe, even of thine onely, Pſal. 71. 15, 16. 19. 24. Thy righteouſneſſe is an everlaſting righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 119. 142. ſee Pſal. 22. 31. & 35. 28. & 50. 6. & 51. 14. Jer. 33. 16. The perfection of Chriſts righteouſneſſe is held forth unto us, and doth alwayes lie before us for us, that we might ever be comforted with it, and rejoyce in it, with thankfulneſſe for it, ſeeing it ſo perfect, and full of divine conſolation. Oh here is enough to refreſh and ſatisfie all the Lords to all eternitie, ſo that we have enough, we need no other, nor no more righteouſneſſe.

Meditate on Gods goodneſſe unto thee, let his loving kindneſſe be ever before thy eyes; Wee have thought of thy loving kindneſſe, O God, Pſal. 48. 9.

Beleeve in God, I, in Chriſt, want of faith, or want in faith, is the cauſe of trouble in the ſoule; Yee beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me; and let not your hearts be troubled, Joh. 13. 1. Faith in Chriſt quiets and ſettles a troubled ſoule. Thou canſt not be too confident in reſting upon Chriſt in his free grace, Pſal. 30. 5. therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, Heb. 4. 16. Thoſe who know God, will truſt him with their bodies and ſoules, and that upon his word; All that know thy Name, will truſt in thee, Pſal. 9. 9, 10. but a foole neither will, nor can doe ſo; O foole, and ſlow of heart to beleeve, Luk. 24. 25. But thoſe who are made wiſe by God, will truſt in the word of the Lord, Iſa. 26. 3, 4. and ſay, in his word doe I hope, Pſal. 130. 5. When the Lord pleaſes to ſettle a ſoule in the aſſurance of his love, he cauſeth the ſoule to truſt in his word; Remember thy word unto thy ſervant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, Pſal. 119. 49. God by his word conveys that to the ſoule, which is ſutable to its wants, and by his power and authoritie ſettles it upon the ſoule. Above all, take the ſhield of faith, Eph. 6. 16. Feare not, beleeve, Luk. 8. 50. Yea, cleave to God in his promiſe, even then when thou art in thy greateſt feares, and moſt ſenſible of thy unworthineſſe; truſt in him at all times, God is a refuge for us, Selah, Pſal. 62. 8. If at all times, then at the worſt times alſo; yea even then beleeve, and heare nothing againſt thy beleeving God in his promiſe. Abraham beleeved againſt hope, Rom. 4. 18. So ſhould wee doe; oh beleeve God intends thy good; Chriſt came to ſeeke and to ſave the loſt, Luk. 19. 10. Loſt, viz. in the ſight and ſenſe of thy own ſin and miſery, and in thy own ſufficiency.

Improve thy doubts, feares, temptations againſt beleeving, to incourage thee in beleeving; for haſt thou not by experience found, that it is but in vaine to hearken unto any of them? Conſider often and well theſe places, Rom. 16. 20. Heb. 10. 35, 36, 37. Rev. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 4. 19. & 5. 7. And ſearch the Scriptures. Reading helpeth mens judgements, memories, affections, confirmes our faith, and fits us to anſwer the temptations of Satan.

Renounce all lying vanities, hearken unto none of them.

Firſt, hearken not to the voyce of thy heart, it is a lying vanitie, it will deceive thee, Pro. 3. 5, 6, 7. Iſa. 44. 20.

Secondly, hearken not to Satan.

Thirdly, hearken not to ſenſe; Thomas ſaid, he would not beleeve, unleſſe he might ſee and thruſt his hand into his ſide, Joh. 20. 24, 25. But this ſenſuall practiſe is to be abhorred by us; for this is to conſult with fleſh and bloud, which cannot diſcerne ſpirituall things, 1 Cor. 2. 14. and is condemned by God, Gal. 1. 16. So ſome perſons will ſee ſuch a holy frame of ſpirit in themſelves, and feele ſuch a ſin ſubdued, &c. before they will beleeve, yet faith looks not to ſuch things as theſe, but onely to God in his word; therefore wee muſt not live by ſight, but by faith, 2 Cor. 5. 7. and bleſſed are they that have not ſeene, yet have beleeved, Joh. 20. 29.

Fourthly, hearken not to carnall reaſon, if it be hearkened unto, thou canſt not beleeve, nor ſubmit to God, nor be ſetled; for doth not reaſon ſay, that a Virgin cannot bring forth a childe, and a woman of ninetie yeares is paſt conceiving a childe, therefore reaſon ſaith it cannot be, and ſo contradicteth God himſelfe? Gen. 17. 16, 17. Mat. 1. Alſo can reaſon beleeve, that by faith the walls of Jericho fell downe, and that the Saints ſtopped the mouths of Lyons, and quenched the violence of fire by faith, yet faith did it, Heb. 11. 30. 33, 34. Or is it likely or poſſible to reaſon for a man to walke upon the Sea as Pe • er did? Mat. 14. 29. And did not Chriſts command ſeeme vaine to Peters reaſon, that he ſhould caſt in his net into the Sea, ſeeing he had caſt it in ſo often, and fiſhed all night, and catched nothing? Luk. 5. 8. Can reaſon conceive how the dead, who are eaten with beaſts, or fiſhes, or turned into duſt, can be raiſed to life? or that the Sea can be divided, the Sunne goe backward, or the Rockes yeeld water in abundance; ſurely there cannot be any reaſon given for them. And ſeeing ſenſe and corrupt reaſon is ſo contrary to God in his word, why ſhould we hearken unto them, when they ſay the ſoule hath no grace, becauſe ſenſe ſeeth none, and that God will not pardon their ſinnes, becauſe there is no reaſon to reaſon why he ſhould, nor no way to reaſon which way it can be, yet it may be, for with God all things are poſſible, Mat. 19. 26. They that hearken unto lying vanities, forſake their own mercies, Jonah 2. 8.

5. Live not upon duties; 6. nor upon good report; 7. nor upon groundleſſe hopes; 8. nor upon peace; 9. comfort; 10. joy; 11. raptures; 12. raviſhments: though they all be true or falſe, live upon God alone, and upon nothing elſe beſides God in Chriſt; if thou doeſt live upon any thing elſe, as thy foundation is unſound, ſo it will deceive thee; and whatſoever their ſparkes may be, they muſt and ſhall lye downe in ſorrow, Iſa. 50. 10.

Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or diſpenſation to the inward or outward man, if thou doeſt, thou canſt not be ſetled, for they are oft changeable and cōtrary one to another; one day thou maiſt have peace, joy, ſtrength, another none of theſe; to day God may ſhew himſelfe to thee, and in a moment of time he may hide himſelfe; to day rich and injoy many friends with health, to morrow ſicke, and poore, and friends all gone, &c. Gods acting in us, and upon us, is not alwayes as he is unto his: as God is in himſelfe unchangeable, ever the ſame, ſo he is to his ever the ſame, however he may ſeeme to be, Heb. 13. 8. Iſa. 45. 7, 8. 15. with Song 5. 6. Iſa. 8. 17. Therefore make a good conſtruction of all that God doth do to thee, his actings in us, or upon us, is the accompliſhing of his will, for his glory, and the good of his; that which I thinke worſt for me, may be beſt for me, however it be, God is good, and good to me, Pſal. 73. 1. This I ſee and ſay, and injoy in both.

Pray to God, that he may give unto thee the Spirit of wiſdome and revelation in the knowledge of him, that yee may know what is the hope of your calling, Eph. 1. 17, 18, 19. Say unto my ſoule, I am thy ſalvation, Pſal. 35. 3. I beſeech thee ſhew me thy glory, Exod. 33. 18. Cauſe thy face to ſhine upon me, Pſal. 80. 3. Eſtabliſh, O God, that which thou haſt wrought in us, Pſal. 68. 22.

Avoyd ſadneſſe of ſpirit, and rejoyce evermore, 1 Theſ. 5. 16. Sadneſſe of ſpirit hinders us in thankfulneſſe to God, alſo it breeds uncomfortableneſſe and unſetledneſſe in us, an unchearfull ſpirit is unfit for duty, for what wee goe about unchearfully, we are ſoone weary in it, if not of it. When our ſpirits are calme, united, and chearfull, then we act more comfortably; and ſuch a frame of ſpirit is fitteſt to praiſe God, ſadneſſe of ſpirit fitteth us to yeeld to diſcouragements, if we be ſad, wee injoy not the comfort of any thing; chearfulneſſe is as it were the life of our ſpirits, chearfulneſſe inlargeth our ſpirits, and fits us to receive happineſſe, and to expreſſe it.

Frequent and wiſely improve thoſe whom God hath ſetled, who are able to direct thee, and informe thee in the knowledge of the grace that is revealed, in which is fulneſſe of joy, 1 Job. 1. 4.

Mind and remember that which makes for your peace and joy; if yee forget your reſting place, as Jer. 50. 6. it is no wonder if yee be troubled; Yee have forgotten the exhortation that ſpeaketh unto you as unto children, Heb. 12. 5. Wee have no preſent actuall comfort further then we have remembrance. Know, no meanes of themſelves are ſufficient to quiet and ſettle thy ſoul, it's the work of the Spirit to anſwer all diſcouragements, it is God alone that creates the fruit of the lips peace; peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is neere, ſaith the Lord, and I will heale him, Iſa. 57. 19. It's God which ſtabliſheth us, 1 Cor. 1. 21. Theſe things I write unto you, that your faith and hope may be in God, 1 Pet. 1. 21. Now the God of peace, give you peace alwayes by all meanes, 2 Theſ. 3. 16.

Vſe of Exhortation to all that beleeve.

1. To admire the greatneſſe and ſweetneſſe of Gods love in his free grace to thee, it is a mercy to heare of it, how much more to have intereſt in it, and to injoy it, being poſſeſſed of it, Iſa. 61.

2. Take thy own portion and treaſures provided for thee, Col. 2. 3. and ever live in the eternall love of God in Chriſt to thee, this object is ſweet, ſ • ll, durable, ſufficient to ſatisfie thee at all times, reſt ſatisfied in Chriſt.

3. Dedicate thy ſelfe, and all thou haſt freely to him, who gave himſelfe fully and freely for thee, who ſuffered, yea dyed ſo freely for thee. Oh how ſhould this love ingage our hearts to walke with God, to be holy as he is holy, &c. yea doe all, and ſuffer for him! for the wayes of the Lord are right, and the juſt ſhall walke in them, Hoſea 14. 9.

4. Declare to others Gods goodneſſe unto thy ſoule, uſe meanes that others may injoy the ſame mercy with thee; Be yee mercifull, as he is mercifull, forgive and give unto others ſoules or bodies freely: for ſo thou haſt received.

5. Be content with thy eſtate, inward or outward, though many croſſes and miſeries attend thee; for if God be enough (as he is) thou haſt enough; oh let not many nor great troubles, inward or outward, diſmay thee, 1 Cor. 10. 13. for though they may ſeeme long, yet they cannot laſt long: The God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet ſhortly, Rom. 16. 20. Loe I come quickly, Rev. 22. 20.

6. As Chriſt is all thy happineſſe, ſo let him be all thy comfort, and the ſupply of all thy wants, expect all you need and can deſire, yea that God can give, that is for thy good, it is certaine thou ſhalt have all thou needeſt, Pſal. 34. 10. Seeing he hath freely given us his Sonne, how ſhall he not with him give us all things freely? Rom. 8. 32.

7. Watch and pray, leſt yee (fall into temptation, and) abuſe this favour, and turne this grace into wantonneſſe.

8. Stand faſt in this libertie of Chriſt, in which he hath made you free, as Gal. 5. 1.

9. Rejoyce alwayes, evermore, and let thy joy be full in God thy portion; They ſhall rejoyce in their portion, Iſa. 61. 7.

10. Be wonderfully thankfull to God for all his exceeding grace and mercy unto thee, in that he hath given thee beautie for aſhes, and everlaſting joy ſhall be to thee, Iſa. 61. 3. 7.

2. Vſe of Comfort and Conſolation to all that beleeve.2. Vſe.

Oh deare, yea moſt deare and precious ſouls, who can expreſſe your happineſſe & glory? for the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, Pſal. 126. 3. Oh now the great work of your Redemption is finiſhed to your hands by him whoſe works are all perfect, Heb. 10. 14. So that there is nothing of this work left for thee to doe. Now thou maiſt come unto the throne of grace boldly, now all is payd, it's God that juſtifieth, who ſhall condemne? ſurely none, Rom. 8. 38, 39. It's not ſin, nor Satan, nor any thing elſe ſhall hinder thy intereſt in Chriſt, or injoyment of him, for thy union with the Lord Jeſus ſhall never be diſſolved, Chriſt lives for ever, Heb. 7. 25. and ſeeing Chriſt lives yee ſhall live alſo, Joh. 14. 19. Therefore thou art not onely happy now, but thou ſhalt be ſo for ever, thou ſhalt receive the end of thy faith, the ſalvation of thy ſoule, 1 Pet. 1. 9. Joh. 5. 24. Chriſt is enough to comfort us in the ſight of all our ſinnes, and to make us happy in all our miſeries. There is a day a coming, which will make amends for all; in the meane time, make mention of the loving kindneſſe of the Lord, and the praiſes of the Lord, according to all the Lord hath beſtowed on us, &c. according to the multitude of his loving kindneſſes, Pſa. 63. 7. Who is wiſe, and be ſhall underſtand theſe things, prudent, and be ſhall know them, Hoſea 14. 9.