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Therapeutica Sacra :
— ■ -* - -
Shewing b icfly, TI.e
METHOD
Of HE \LING t
DISEASES
OF THE
ConCcfetue
CONCERNING
REGENERATION
Written in Latine by DAVID DtCXSOM,
Profcfloref L
hurgh: And thereafter Tra: by him.
MATT H. 9. 11.
They th.it he whole need not a IhyfictaH, hut
they that arejuk.
The Second Edition.
EDINBURGH,
Printed by James Wat fen in Crargs-Clofs. on
the North-fide of the Crots. 160-.
Edinburgh March iSrA. i6$t.
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Which Corrections tho they may fecm to be bulkie, yet there
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&'cd»and that to make is the moie clear for the Roadex how to a*
en4 the faults.
Car-
• O H I I C T I O M I.
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B O O t I.
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IX O* l?c »Jlk«
lapt4rnicr.no- Refcrcrarioc. : if
oaccmnf rbetrthjtirr nt
1 O O K
| ^~\ ? cor .'obcpxeir. ipj
■
wcij. MttatoftihcLai i.'.i U i - -
OPokienco, jieanfaercd
fgciicxji Man, u
f. p julcht
:knopo«r :>, u aofw«rcd
■ cm Vis : \ is In Kg
tatkcftuco*Grar«. anfirg from \ ua^rchcodcJ dc iiaod
Iff
•rcforew. l ,
illbrt
aodPh,.-,!cr-
a!| at *Jt*r
1 v r »Cof
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rf»ub!ofhl. r •
r •■'-;■
j*»o
vat*, t>L*-
€hty 71* T~4 BLM T*gi
XIV. Wfcereia it felvod the doubt ofthe true Convert, whether he be in
the fate of Grace, becaufc fume god Jy pet foos look upon bin as an Hypo-
eiice, 44t
XV Wherein the Converts donbting of his being in the ftateof Grace, ib
oft* s ac doth not feel the fenfc of his Reconciliation v-itk God ii examined
and anfwered. 44.J
XVI. VYhcrein isfolvcd the true Converts Doubt of his Regeneration, be-
•anfe he fcemeth to himfelf not to grow in Grace by the ufe ofthe weans ap-
pointed rbf his growth. 4j 1
XVtI. Wherein is folved the Converts doubt whether he be Regenerat.be-
eaufc he feemeth to himlclf to follow Religion and Righteoufncfs fr*m 'the
common operation of Gods working by Moral fwafion, and netftetnthefpe-
rial Operation and Iropultion ot the Holy Spirit, 4JJ
XVII?. Wherein if- folvcd the true Converts doubt, whether he be Regc-
nerat ? Bceaufcbe fiadethnotfelf denyal in thcmcafuic which is Re^uifit
in Converts. 459
XIX. therein is folved the doubt of the true Convert, whether he be in-
deed Converted, arifing from this, that bcknoweth no Child ol God lb
haedtrexercifed as he is. 4*3
XX. JTherein isfolvod the Converts doubt whether he be Converted? Be*
eaufe he doth not rind in himfelf the infallible markt of Regeneration 467
XXI. Wherein is folved the donbt ofthe true Convert whether he be in-
deed Converted, beeanfe he cannot confidently apply to himfclf the pjomifea
ofthe Gofpel. 47?
XXU . wherein is folved the doubt ofthe true Cenveir concerning hit
Conversion. arifing from the Obferratien in himfelf orprcfumptinn and Secu-
xtty in his Prolperity. and of bis misbelief in adveffity, 4 g,
XXUl Pfherein is folved the doubt of a true Converts Regeneratioo,ari-
fingfrora fomc falfc Ruleapplved without Rcafon to himfelf. 4 g$
XXIV. jrhercin is folved the CoDvertsdouhtrf bis Own Conversion, be-
eanfe he hath found the deceitfulnefs of hi* or a Hca:t,and dare not truft it a-
nyanore. 4*p
X XV. ffherein it (olved the doubt ofthe True Converts Conv«fion> ariiing
from his b . racti of the Covenant of Grace as he conceiveth. 495
XXVI, herein is folved the True Converts doubt whether he be Rcgene-
**s beoaafe he flndeth himfelf notonly far from the meafuicor Holynefs
which beobfetvethro have been in the faints commended in Scripturej but
alio thortof the Mcafure which fome of bis Acquaintance have attained
XXril. herein is foWod the Trne Conceits doubt, whether he be m the
SleOed State of Grace, becaufe he Sndeth himlelftrequentlyinan evil con-
dition* 5 °*
XXml: ^herein isfolved the Doubt ofthe True Convert concerning his
laceration, beraufc he findeth the power 01 the Body of death in thepol-
loiioo ofthe JmaginatioMof his Heart, rigorous and Powexrul ,ro
XXIX. fhewinghow to quench the firy Darts of Satan, and Res<jfihniln-
lalfuegeftibas, vvherlnroflhortetenduTanceorotlongercootinuance. , ,,
, XXX, W'heicin arc feme mixedcafesfpokenol, whetenwo the True Con-
vert is fabjeft, sadfe way fall to doubt of aw Convciuon <» intereft in
•feiift. k
B9QJL
BOOK IT!
C^Ooc«Toin| Come pre» r - , . . „ . «
, . ' .ClCl« u • , . - - .
.
acoaomxijM, ao4 r
c Coartu. ttilt*| i -
.f rkh!r po.l«»ioui, aud D.ca nag tumteli tob« »• »o .11
• » rti pleai»4i£hirnf<-l: in hiilukc-wafaieoaditic
* all Bill* C§C flBf»ei
anda'eatct. < .thucond ■ Iff
i»ertiafor. o^riae ae'.udea.
ioi p «n.
» ^ontft— <H, «iJUki3| vice f»i Yen 04 ana
»
- caatof Gftckicoca, define, Tftachcsouflj nader pfa-.anc««
afiagGod,b<
o I . i
XlOtt ^tc^reia|c ibcbsiaa »>
\tta, M^uag lose «Ai or |«tffjisg '
Oftnccond c - i .
effcich be tmh licit, bct'ouadoaly to be cuhcuae Jay oi IpecalMataV ci
•c NHMHl I c c?cm.o: I men dcttfiofl * .' -
laji.ntt • «.
•fothcri h»xri been fteiblf loentT sod laaprudeot ccmci 6|«
XV. I n£ uat r..:i|it C ^viaitpeA wal
i . • II I • .'.CiUl* □••
laiogbaaa • itietn io wtcp upoa aayocci ■ «4<
i crniof. tac Conrtiuluipic: - rrtxiofl n b
; aTend«c aad inelnaf, He»«, am
lr.r':b.c » . ..^ j'.« i « af
cctniof the Coareru looking upaa tkc . M ». »' I
« *• fcj
XIX. Coo aiming hu Chanty coward othan, aaart
• i I ;»;..-«:. Lai^crCAJ-
6)f
XX Caac.-DiBg tie Coarcfti t.'U' m| k;j .andiciaa, bt.-aa- ■
joJ Lotc :o Gad auj • »?
• r, thcCaovexu difpitiag ot'bit o^acxcr.cci or ELr ■
»-•
XXa» jflr«»:at II fell **ot « *
to do the dw- -» • ■■. *. :. ■*.:: ci,:i tit tea aajta\ wiilttfcy Watt 671
ta#*»*r'iri <4|
■ CaaacnuujAc Canrac:, i»p:^dcait carfare at Wildcat :«
••^taauajc. ** ,
C**p. ThttA-MLW. Pip
XXI V. Concerning the Converts imprudent cenfiire ofhi«(elf for his felt
impuiencr in bearing leffct troubles, after his patient beating of gteatec
troubles. 6to
XX/. Concerning the Converts miftaking his cafe, for wanttfiacb a <ub«
m;.'ioai;nro GoJicxerciiingot bim> as he would hare. 6t»
XX /I. Concerning the Converts sniftaking of his condition, becaufc of
TCECptanons. US
XXVU. Concerning the Converts naiftaking his condition, when he dotli
obici/eforac degrees of Gods deferring him. 6»0
XX /lil. Concerning cafei,whcicintnc Convert is in doubt wkjftto ictez-
mineabontnisGoniiuoa. 491
F I K I S,
[ »]
■MHGK : :■•:■•:••:•■*« : ••: —:<<:^:. **..;,
To the Right Hooouj and Very Noble
T H Y
COUNTESS Dowager
GLENCAIRN
M A A M,
A I 1 r i tit Author W I »«?/!
///2r</ //.;< Irettije in Latinc, /*r /Ar
.y^ 5/ «r Theology; /;
-'f// and trc lurnt Fntr- id< %
be ivas ind ided to TranllJte it into
9*r VtJfpr Tvn ' enho un-
Jerftood not the Latir.c \ >md for - .'*^ theLx-
&e< r \ men- | * iki/Jw, were
alont the dotn^ rt ft, mut
Ai mthfg i.
% -
d the 1
mm to have A it / > r/, W/t
fAf World under your rro~
kmtfi .:*..
• rfter the*
h '- MMT, • ' •
ft I /.
4 The Epiftlc Dedicatory.
Labours to enter into his Maflers Joy)Jeafing upon
him, before he could write an Epiffle Dedicatory, it
iv as his will, that your honourable Name fhould be
prefixed unto it. In purjuance whereof, it comes
noiv, as an Orphan, to k if s your Noble Hands, ft augh-
ted with hopes of Favour and Shelter for the Pa*
s fake, and of Acceptance, as a Teftimony of
yiceritycf the Refpetts he carried to your L'ady-
Venues.
It hath the ftronger Plea for a tender Reception,
that it is the Child of his Age, being his I aft La-
bo'.tr, and being brought forth in ' his. Seventy, and
Second Pear ; and that it comes arrayed in a jute
cf Count rey-Cloth, which himfelf put upon it, being
pub lifted according to the Copy written with his own
Hand.
That it may be, as. it was defigned by him, ufeful
for the good of Souls, and that God may comfort you
under your prejent J ad Affliction, and make up the
Jofs of your Noble Husband, the late Lord High
Chancellor 0/ Scotland, is the Prayer of
MADAM,
Your Ladyihips moft humbly
Edinburgh, 13. devoted Servant, -
June. 1664.
Alexander Dickfon.
THE-
[
A UTHO R
1 N G
the
CONSCIENCE
RlXIIiNlZRATION-
C i! A r. i.
Sur purpofe is t
nr |
i
\
BOOK I. [ 6 ] CHAP. II.
the Cafes of the Confcience in general ; Thirdly,
What Regeneration is, and who is the Man re-
generate; Fourthly, Of divine Covenants, re-
lating to eyerlafting Happincfs ; And, Fifthly,
Of the orderly and prudent Application of thefe
Covenants in general, that thereafter we may
defcend to fpeak of Application thereof in par-
ticular Cafes the more clearly.
2. As to the Firft, What Confcience is,it hath
pleafed God, the foveraign Lord and Judge of
all Men, in the Creation, to put in Man's Soul
a natural Power or Faculty, whereby he might
hot only underftand the revealed Will of God,
(the only Lord of, and Law-giver to, the
Confcience) not only concerning what he Ihoulcl
believe and perform, but alfo might judge of his
own Faith and Obedience, whether performed,
or net performed ; yea, and might judge alio
of the Faith and Obedience of Others, in fo far
as Evidences may be had of their conformity un-
to, or dil-agreement from the revealed Rule of
Faith and Maners. This Power of the Soul of
Man, whether it be cpnfidered only in its natu-
ral aptitude and fitnefs to judge, (though not
as yet, or for the time, actually judging) or
whether it be looked upon as it is putting forth It
felf in qxcrcife,we call it by the Name of Confcience.
3. The Word Confcience is divers ways taken ;
for fomctime by it is meaned, the natural Power
*f the Mind, to judge both of our own and o-
fhers conformity to the Rule : And in this lar-
ger
BOOK !. { : ] ( MAP. L
gcr mbatbaCm/cm
that i ry Man, whether M
whether Old or Voung,whccbci Sleeping or W
ing. bach a Faculty, which may, and kxncfii
(hall, judge of their own and others behaviour
towards God. Sonn or that na-
tural i of the Mind, putting forth it iclf
aduaJiv in c b) judging of other* i bo
doth the Apoftle take it, i < | . /rn^faitli
tifcjl in your Confcirnccs. But
in this Treatiie, WC take Cmfciemcc more
-unethand judgethofourfeh
, it is mofl property called Con~
r Joir.t-knowledge ; partly, becauii
it i th, tha we know our Obe-
CO the R lenbed to
by Him; partly, becauieConfcicnce import .
t our know of the Rule; and. next, our
kn ir Behaviour in relation to the
Ru r comparing of thclc two together.
and - - our fc
\ I nee, as it dotl t our (elves, is
^r thing, jn , then the undcrfb;
bow Matters do
fta« I and us, ■illre-
* with our [ Cf
lc or omitted,
and | : \z thereup
tpii urt of Co
(*l Depute in us, as ii
A 4
1
BOOK r. [ 8 ] CHAP. I.
of Self-examination ; 2. The Thing we are to
examine ; 3. The Rule whereby we are to ex-
amine ; 4. The Procefs of the Confcience unto
Sentence giving ; And, 5*. The execution of the
Sentence lb 'far as the Confcience may.
-. As to 'the Firft, the duty of Examination of
ptk {elves and judging our (elves, it is required
of as, left we be judged of God and chalufedwith
dharp Rods, 1 Cor. 11. 31.32. and hereunto we
■are exorted, T [.^.Commune with your own Hearts
upon your Beds, and be flill.
6. As for the Second, the Thing which we are
to examine concerning our felves, it is one of
three,or all the thrce,iq their order; to wit either
out eft ate, whether we be in the ltate of Nature,
under Wrath, or not : or whether we be regenerate
and in the ftate of Grace through Faith in Jefus
Chrift,ornot. Cfthisfpeakeththe Apoftie, 2 Cor.
13.5- .Examine your fe 'foes whether ye be in the Faith.
Or it is our condition, whether being in the ftate
of Grace our prefent difpofition or inclination of
Heart and Affections be fuch, as becomethaMan
reconciled, or not. To this point of examination,
Chrift doth call the Angel of the Church cHEphe-
[us, Revel. 2. 5*. Remember therefore from whence
thou art fallen. Or, the thing we are to examine
is our Deeds, Words and Thoughts adruallydone
or omitted : the neglect of which examination is
reproved, fetthb 8. 6. and Bevel. 2. 19. 20.
7 . The Third Thing to be looked unto in the
Court of Confciciicq, is the Rule whereby we are
to
ROOK L [ 9 1 CH Al\ L
to examine our (elves in all, or "the
ill of
.herein «m.i d
I
;• of
Faith, and what is the Puftifl
cmv. Ami I
crnr
-
S
8. oedft
1
fou n . or not d< h Procd
inform
v
Law rhen
om-
Cone
> he
i
anJ Manners./ »<»ji:
BOOK I. [ 10 ] CHAPL
But, the holy Scripture God hath appointed to he
the only Rule of Faith and Manners.
Therefore, / mufl take heed to follow the Scrip*
ture as the only Rule.
Or more fnortly, the Lord hath commanded
to repent and turn unto him (offering Reconcili-
ation in Chrift) therefore it is my duty (b to do.
But in theProcefs of the Confcience untoCon-
vi&ion or Abfolution, fometime moe, fomctimc
fewer Reafcnings are ufed.
As f6r Example, for Conviction, the Procels
goeth thus,
that which Cod hath commanded me IJhould have
done :
But, to repent and turn to Him, He hath Com-
memded me.
Therefore ,7 'fhould have repented (§ turned to God.
Again, He that hath not oleyed the Lord, in re-
penting of his evil wayes and turning unto God, is
under great guilt inefs, and worthy of Death, by the
Sentence of the haw,
But, fuch a one am I, may every impenitent Per-
fon fay of hi mi elf;
And therefore may conclude of himfelf, I am
under great guilt inefs, and worthy of Death, ly the
Sentence of the Law.
Likewayes, in the Procefs of the Confcience,
a humble Pcrfon well imformed, may realbnthus.
That way of Re cone Unit ion which Grd hath appointr
edafelf condemned § inner to folhw, I am hound to
follow :
Bup
DOO K L [ ii ] I H A P. 1
i i way ( and IM i d app*t*ttd
:bf St*tttr t LOtrjiH,\' nd of dei'rvcd
uyiej *J*
man, aiul na
r. / am bound to fil
f k v / andetcrn.i
litnct t*
(tod, xsundci ; true Believer and
God \
but. Inch a Mfjw /,mav tlic humbL'J Sin
fled
Therefore, / m / iodundvnkc
a ttmBtticver and a Child of God.
i he may . coftreogthen
Fiichand to comfort h
:*, Vol • ftfiv
:'
never to par:
- .' :o endeavour to ghf€ net*
f to t m/:*
tromifcdB l*p» tv
;n poftcjfion at /
• Buc/nci an one am /. ma\ the humble J Sinner,
rift, lay of him
Til . / am an Heir of tiff pror
jiufs with Ila«k\ and may hope r :hcm pa
dnpifrjfm.
I 15 as tlusJcthchc Coo(ci»C
the
BOOK I. [ n] CHAPL
the regenerate Man follow when he reneweth the
A&s of his Repentance, and fentenceth himfelf
worthy of what the Law pronounceth againft his
Sin ; and when he reneweth the Adts of his Faith
in Chrift, through whom alone he is fred from
the deferved Curfe of the Law.
9. As to the Fifth Thing to be obferved in
the Court ofConfcience, which is, the execution
of the Sentence it hath pronounced ; becaufe the
Confcience is fet over the Man by God,as judge-
depute: therefore it goeth about,in the name of
God by and by to execute, as it may, the Sen-
tence juftly pronounced by it; and according to
the nature of the Sentence, of Condemnation or,
Abfolution, pronounced by it, it ftirreth up dn
vers Motions and Affe&ions in the Heart ; fome
of them fad and- forrovvful, fomeof them joyful
and comfortable. The lad and hitter Pailions that
follow upon the Sentence of Convid:ion and
Condemnation, juftly pronounced, are Shame,
Grief, Fear, Anxiety, Vexation and fuch-like ;
whereby the guilty Sinner is either fretted, as
with a Worm, or fired and tormented. Qf this
we have m example in pur firft Parent Adam,
who, being convicted in hi§ Confciencc ofSin
and defer ved Wrath, did flee from the Face of
God, all amazed and afrighted, Gen. 3. 9, 10,
The Lord calkd unto A&zm^ndfaid unto him/her e
art thou > And he faid y I heard Thy Voice in the Gar-
den, and I was afraid, becaufe I ms naked } and I
hid my fe If •
But
BOOK I. (r, ] CI! A V 1
l ■■. i i • i ' Is (braid) the
uvl to aSiolvc ihc
Motions in die r Cortv-
11 KC . \ li CL^UHDX'Bb »Vildv^'I ** C IlC 111
, r. i. i. Our - iiyctffj laith lic« cx/ti
•fry #/ oicr Cnm/cie t limplictty
ami jfl ^ ^K
/I* £/*-ff */ God, 'we k lomrcorrjcrjuttcn in
I
is wounJc.l by the
citiru: inbcfbr inal;andd
of in Ojfrrr, prclenting the M \.\ H the Bar; anJ
the part of an Accnjer % challenging the Man for
hu tranfg Recorder,
producing the Br rok of Statutes
luiKacnt ics, pro
of the Dec
•ainit d i JuJ'r- ing
ice an. 1 .
Mtrftv?
tli
oound v part oj >UTg-
I
irvl rco
iftcr] cc aid \ aith, cml
dcci
I
BOOK!. [14] CHAP. 11
deemer, it doth the pare of an honed /r/>W,carc-
fally comforting the Innocent or Penitent ; and
the part of anAdvocat, excufing and defending
the Man againft all Challenges; and the part of
Witneffcs compurgatours ; and the part of the JuJgf
abfolving ; and the part of the Rewarder. Andfo
much concerning the Nature and ufe 6f Con*
fcience, as may fuffice opr purpofe.
CHAP. If.
Of Cafes ef Confcience in general.
A Cafe of Confcience, taken in a large (enfe;
comprehends every accident which any
to ay affects or qualifieth the Confcience. And in
this fenle , the pcrfwafion and certainty, which
the Confcience may have, the foundnefs, health
and ilrength of the Confcience, may be called
Cafes, and good Gates of the Confcience,
Soalfo, any effed: which the Confcience dotl
work on the Soul ,fuch as are Peace of Confcience,
Comfort and Joy in the Heart, may be called
Cafes of the Confcience a!fo.
But the Cafes whereof we are to treat, are the
ill Cafes of the Confcience, whereby it is fallba
from the foundnefs and ftreightnefeit ihould have,
which we call by the name of Wounds, Difeafes,
and Sicknefs of the Confcience : Whereunto,
that we may defcend to fpeak more orderly, a
SfrcHfald ditterencc is to be obferyed
z. Firft,
hook i. [**] chap. ir.
B wc mu -ice becwcca t
a fick ( v Con.
inys | K>thc Role o! ;d, doth
th pel > u>
OfTuch a <
Umc*. A (o«nd Heart u the Life of | ro v.
j I hcmcanctli the Lonfc/'
Scripture is called the Heart.
And he t ic founa Conscience is the Life of
Icfll ; becaufe the Body is fomuch in bet-
ters »c the C ice DC ac Peace toward
Idling is allowed upon every
Believer mChrirt.in his orderly walking, i. Tim:
t f. Go J bath not &ive* *$ the Spirit of Fear 9
imt of Power ; of Lrue % and of a fowid Mm J. \ Con-
ifpofition needcthnot Mcdkiac,
vounihment and c l in all
Chr;
AfickCo.". .it which ci:'irr is
own I ts it is in.
ind fittcth d xurcly, aud reftcth without a
1 >r. which isjuftl] I la-
] am; or \ is
upon mifkakes an making
nflpor the true R
cjk. if pollible, by God\ a
word
Confciencc, or to rcfrclli the weary Soul, that
being recovered fr may be
iblc to focd upon rUc Bread and Water c
BOOK I. [ 16 ] CHAP. H
and work the Works of God in the ftrength oi
Chrift.
3. Secondly, we muft put difference between a
troubled Soul and a troubled Confcience ; for.
the Soul is more largely taken then the Con-
fcience. The Soul comprehendeth all the Powers
and Faculties of the Man ; but the Confcience.
as we fpeak of it, is only one Faculty of the
Mind, judging of the Mans moral ill or well-be-
ing; and fo all Cafes of the Confcience are Cafes
of theSoul: but all the Cafes of the -Soul are not
Cafes of the Confcience: For, the Soul may be
troubled while the Confcience is not troubled ai
all ; yea a Man may have a commendabk
trouble in his Soul, when he leeth God diiho-
noured, or His Church in hazard, whereby hu
Confcience is fo far from being troubled, tha
fuch a holy Trouble ftrengthens his Con£cienc<
in his Addrefs to God,as is in many places of th
Tf alms to befeen.
Again, a Mans Mind may be troubled by fun-
dry natural or civil Motives ; while the Gon>
fcience is allowably quiet, as inlolTes of Thing'
temporal, Fears, Pains or unexpected incoiv
encics occurring ; yea, there may be Paifionsan.
Perturbations of the Mind friPxaihns that attcC&i
capable for the time of the etarcife of Co
as may be feen in young Infants, and 1.
der fort in fits of Fever,Melanchoily and Pheranfie
and yet further, it is p'oflible that Paffions^ Per-
turbations and Troubles of Soul may be 1
BOOK 1 [ i- ) • | p. in.
our Loiv
>bnoxi<
new no
■
Job.
t* Ale from
mi I ma . Of the (
. but ( (infill
ifcs of *ce.
a diirJ Di ceo be ob-
■
I
Doubi <.
I
*nJ Manocn
about t )uc the
•
■
trine hcLi forth in
not b
fir as
:i.
BOOK L [ 18 ] CHAP. III.
CHAP. III.
Of Regeneration, what it is ; and theregenerat
Man, who he is.
WE fpeak not here of the Regeneration of
eled: Infants, dying in their Infancy,
God hath His own way of dealing with them ;
but of the Regeneration of thofe who are capa-
ble of being outwardly called by the Miniftry
of the Word which we may thus defcribe,
Regeneration (being one in effcdt with effectu-
al calling ) is the Work of God's invincible Power
and meer Grace, wherein, by His Spirit, accompa-
nying His Word, He quickeneth a Redeemed Perfon
lying Dead in his Sins, and reneweth him in his
MindjVili, and all the Powers of His Soul; convin*
j:ing him favingly of Sin, Righteoufnefs and Judg-
ment, and making him heartily to embrace Chrifl
and Salvation, and tv confecrat- himf elf to the Ser-
vice of God in Chrifl, all the days of his Life.
%. The main thing we muft take heed to
in this work, is to give to God intirely the Glo-
ry of His Grace and Power and Wifdom, fb that
the Glory of Mans Regeneration be neither given
to Man, nor Man made fharerof the glory with
God, but God may have the whole glory of ffij
free Grace, becaufe out of His own good- will,
not for any thing at all forefeen in Man, He lets
forth His* ipecial Love on the Redeemed in a
time acceptable; and the glory of His Almighty
Tmer, becaufe by His omnipotent and invincible
work-
*v7 , f (
BOOK t [ ro 1 CH A P. nr.
Working, He makes the I .k: fa Sins ro |
opens In I ro take up
of God, takes 2
ikes him a new Lrcaturc, to will -
H mdthc m,
who dcaleth to with His ( rcaturc as H
HOC <K .c perfect the natural
I, making i ' nrcgenerat.moft fr.
ratly ar, to embrace Quill,
and to confccracc himfclf to ( I he
rcafbn why we urge this, is, becaulc Artufc, by
corrupting the Dodnnc of Regeneration, and
pci - ig Men that they ai of them \
the common ami the natural ftrcngth ofth
fa free-will, without the fpcc.al jal
jcc of God, b ind
others alio, doth
hmdereth them from emptying anJ humbling
thcmfclves !f-
lyal, doth mar the R, :ion of them that
arc delude ) Fnor.and obfeureth what
he can, the (hining of the Glory of < ace,
co iretiion of Ml
- Praifc, proud Men let g tad
Sod tor making M crfion pcf:Iic % vet
* iiolc Glory of *3**l C "onvcrhon
to tJ winch Ci ribcth to
and Icavcth no more for Man to glo'
lnt Mil Regtn~
glory 1:1 his own iiniralGviicratiod. 7^.3.5.
B x % And
BOOK I. [ 20 ] C H A P. HI,
And the fame doth the Apoftle leach, Epfef. z.
8, 9, io. and Philip, z. i;. It is 'G^(laitlihe)
which ivorketh in you loth to iviU and to do of His
even good pleafure. And therefore it is the duty of
all ChrilVs Difciples, but chiefly their duty
who are confecrat to God, to preach up the
Glory of God's free Grace, omnipotent Power
and unfearchable Wifdom, to live in the fenfe of
their own Emptinefs, and to depend upon the
furnitour of Grace for Grace, out of Chrift's Ful-
nefs ; and zealoufly to oppofe the proud Error of
' Man's natural ability for converting himfelf, as
they love to fee, and find the effectual blefling
of the Minftery of the Gofpel, and themfelves
accepted for true Difciples at the day of
their meeting witliChrift the Judge at His fecond
coming.
3. For opening up of Regeneration thefe five
Propofitions mult be holden. The Firftis this,
the natural Man receiveth not the Things of the
Spirit of God; for, they are foolifhnefs unto him;
neither can he know them, becaufe they are fpiri-
tuallydifcerncd, 1 Cor. z. 14.
The Second is this, it is the Spirit of God
which convinceth Man of Sin, of true Righte-
oufnefs and of Judgement, Job 16.9, 10, 11. c
The Third is this, in Regeneration, Conversion
and Quickning of a Sinner, God, by His invinci-
ble Power, createtliand infufbha new Life and
Principles thereof. Pfal. no. 3. Thy People fhaU
le wiling in the day ofthypoiver, and Job 5. zt.
and 6. 63. The
• ]
&:c.
, . whcre-
ium&prcjvt ^8°
liter the igof
junto .1 - inch
who
on of ufmg the
• t the f r mft
rem:
i
I
I rod .Jell itutc of origins
ccpu cnimity with God, ben
for ail
comnton Re; •
ft ;
BOOKI, [ *t ] CHAP. m f
whereby he may confufedly knew that which
is called fpiritual Good , acceptable and plealant
unfo God, and fitto lave his Soul ; yet the Un-
derftanding of the unrenewed Man judgeth of
that Good, and of the Truth of the Evangel
wherein that Good is proponed, to be meer
Foolifbnefs, and doth reprefent the fpiritual Ob-
jed: and fets it before the Will, as a thing un-
certain or vain; and the Will of the unrenewed .
Man, after deliberation and companion made
of O^efts, fome Honed, fome Pleafant, and
fome Profitable in appearance, naturally is incli-
ned to prefer and choofe any feeming Pleafant
pr Profitable Thing, whether the Objedt be Na-
tural Qr Civil, rather then that which is truly
Honeft, and morally Good. But if it fall ouf
that a fpiritual Good be well,and in fair Colours
defcribed unto the unrenewed Man, yet he feeth
it not, but under the notion of a natural Gopd,
and as it is cloathed with the Image of fome
< natural Good, and profitable for preferving its
(landing in a natural being and welfare therein.
$o did the falfe Prophet Balaam look ypon the
felicity of the Righteous in their Death,when he
did feparate eternal Life from Faith and San&i*
fkation, and did rent afunder the Means frqm
the End appointed of God, faying, Let me dye
the death of the Righteous, and let my lafl end be
like his. Numb. 13. 10-
After this manner the Woman of Samaria ap-
prehended the Gift alid Grace of die holy Ghoft
UN
OOK I • ; ] v . in.
an to bet ( nft,
Lor J { tail me of tbst fVster,
J » t) r f and m*y not come a
to (
I
Irn ig for their . cd-
' ClMHOt
i«f«? the tfo*^* of
i, i C$r. 2.
DO
\i : for ic is not 1 aw ol
innot I into it, /
•
loMllg
of a lpir:
li anJ not fpiritual : Fa
Object, r pcrnatural Power of the
I nderilanding and Will, to ttkc II right-
ly ooncei natural \ acul-
Man lsdcftia
incual i id, that lie
(piritually.
4. 1 imoc a
Mans Rcgau the Lord, that He ir
Jbrcak I ice of the pcrfon whom
ft, flvcwcth hii by
DoArinc of the I Coven
W
powerful illumination < oly Spi:
if Ignorar.
13 Hi
BOOK 1. [ 24 ] CHAP. Ill
He flieweth him his Guiltinefs & deferved Damna
tion, wherein he is involved, &fo taketh away
all conceit and imagination of his Innocency.
Thirdly ,He doth convince him of his utter ina^-
bility to fatisfie the Law, or to deliver himfelf
from theCurfe thereof, either by way of action
and obedience, or by way of fuftering and pay-
ing of the penalty of the violat Law of God :
And fo overturneth all confidence in himfelf, or
in his own Works. Whence followeth, theeledl
Man's Defperation to be delivered by himfelf,
becanfe he feeth himfelf a Sinner, and that all
hope of Juftificationby his own Deeds or Suffer-
ings, is cut'ofE Now, that this is the work of
the holy Spirit,is p\ait\,Joh. 16 Z. When the Com-
forter, the Spirit of Truth, fhallccme, hefhall con*
wince the World of Sin, &c. And in this condition
iundry of God's dear Children, for a time are
keeped under the Bonds of the Law, under the
Spirit of Bondage and fad Conviction.
5. As for the third Propofition, the Lord af-
ter He hath laid the Sin of Hiscled: Child, wh,o
is to be converted to his charge by the Dodhinc
of the Law, firft, openeth up a Light unto him
in the Do&rine of theGolpel, and lets him fee
that his Abiblutiotr from Sin and his Salvation
is poffible, and may be had, by flying unto Chrift
the Reedemer. Secondly, the Lord drawing
near hand the humbled felf-condemned Soul,deals
with him byway of moral fwafion, fweetly in-
citing him in the preaching of the Gofpel, to
> re-
BOOK 1 [ i CH I
receive the R t JefiM
j
i
mon. he m
i ufc
the \ itli be:
iruni Power, till h ral-
ptnddcth unco mo i, crfe:l
•icth in the Soul i .
i
the will of God. T
(broctimc is called : u . ingofch
tare, fomet 'n?rjticn % \<
vkenin^
time S*vi*g Gra. the /
I WofGixl. lu Tin-
ciptc ot all Sarin)
.
IC, true it
of tl
t 1 the Lord w | i }.
reak the power of
: it Jot.
God dui i
Refinance ofthe Man in his C
BOOK I. [ %6 ] CHAP. III.
verfion fliould certainly follow, and God Ihould
be difappointed of His purpofe to convert the
Man, even when He hath put forth His almighty
Power to work Converfion;but God doth fo wife-
ly and powerfully flir up this new infufed Life
of Grace, and fetteth it fo on work, that the Un-
derftand'tng and Judgement like a Counfeilor,
and the Will like a commanding Emperor, and
the Attive Power of the new infufed Faculty as
an Officer, do all beftir themfelves to brhg
forth fupcrnatural Operations. Whence it
cometh to pafs that the new Creature be-
ginneth to look kindly on Chrift: the Redeemer,
and to defire to be united unto Him, and doth
ftretch forth it felf to embrace Him heartily
for obtaining in Him Righteoufiiefs and Salva-
tion, as He is offered in the Gofpel : And fo he
calls himfelf over on Chrift with full purpofe
never to Hied from Him, but by faith to draw
out of Him Grace for Grace till he be perfected.
And here the Man that wasmeerly pafTive, in his
Quickning and Regcneration,beginneth prefent-
ly to be adhve in his Conversion, and following
Converfation : for, God giveth to him to will
and to do of His good pleafure ; and he hav-
ing obtained by God's effectual Operation fo
Will and to do, doth formally will and do the
good which is done.
6. As to the fourth Propofition, when the
JPower of God is put forth, invincibly for the
inverting of a Soul,, jha; mviacible working
is
BOOK 1. [ i- ] CHAP, in
n dcflroymg the natural hhjrty of
dx - tecs
it right on tic right ObjetfJ I it.
nh tfa Man's
>:mg chai be doth behold tin: Wonders
La\r, when he re 1 the natural
Bli (ce
H thc( m and Power of
•> i ; which (onetime he coMfc>
he doth no ways de-
ft roy i Mans Judgement, or I ng,
COrrcd \ heal, aid I t it |
iric doth powerfully tod c
.rn the IViS of
ing Offers of Chn
Golpcl, ttid i . lnm del:
ratly choole tins b\ mon, and
to renounce all confident inhfa own, or any
>rks. He doth not deftr
WJf of the J- loth
it up from 1 -:s damnable Inclination,
and makcth it joyfully and mod
• •
(elf in its choice for t jreforc, let no
Man i ill,
prhen God (tops it;
fully, gracioully and i weedy, movct'n it to
chooic the way of !
re to take the Glory of actual t
Men, from God. and either give it f xm
their Idol of Frc:-ws!l 9 or make it barer ol the
BOOK I. [28 ] CHAP. IK
Glory of Regeneration with God, which Glory
God will not give to another, but referve whol-
ly to Himfelf : for all Men, in the point and mo-
ment of Regeneration, are like unto Lazarus id.
the Grave, to whom God by commanding,
himtoarife, gave Life and Power to arifeoui
of the Gtave where he lay dead and rotting.
7. As to the fifth Propofition, We muftaiftin-
guifli the Work of Regeneration from th~ Pre-
paration and Difpofition of the Man to be Re-
generat, whereby he is made more capable of
Regeneration to be brought in him : for, the
material Difpofition of him, fitting him for Re-
generation, is neither a part nor a degree of Re-
generation ; for, albeit the Lord be not bound
to thefe preparatory Difpofitions, yet He will
have Man bound to make ufe of thefe external
Means which may prepare him, becaufo by the
ufe of external Means (fuch as are, Hearing of
the Word,Catechifing & Conference,^.) a Man
may be brought more near unto Regeneration,
as Chrift doth teach us by His fpeech to that
Pharifee, who was inftrucled in the Law and
anfwered difcreetly unto Chrift ; Thou art not far
(faith he ) from the Kingdom of God, Mark 12. 24,
This preparatory Difpofition, in order unto Re- <x
generation^ like unto the drying Timber to make
it fooner take Fire, when it iscaften into it. For,
drynefs in the Timber, is neither a part nor a
degree of kindling or inflammation of it; but on-
ly a preparation of the Timber to receive inflam-
I [ 19 ) ttAf. IH.
1 ire ilull be fee to u, oc it 1
l long time after, hi d
S4j .vill Jc
.renewed, hadi a natural
Idd hear monpr
turc.tobe iaforme ateclufui
* iicn He plcafc: make u
Wherefore, w!
foc\ cr in 1 ig of die Gofpel, arc charg-
1 to Repent,
I lnlt, or Turn unto G mmand
1 toufcall: SAnfewbotby they
of the Duty required; an J of
:hercunto; in (be
of which is, they may meet with
fur mmon Operations and effects of Go
may be foui >, hut
tto follow chel irtory
1 for Com cr-
k1 and Ma
i guilty of of die 1 tri-
ll,
6fv ft the holy M
i.
.
ibilicy k> Ik
himfe] inhiso
Pa:
BOOK I [ 30 ] CHAP. «L
Parts, and pofiible Righteoufnefs of his own
Works, and fleeth toChrift offered in theGofpel*
that in Chrift alone he may have true Wiiclom,
Righteoufnefs, San&ification, and Redemption ;
and doth with full purpofe of Heart conlecrat
himfelf, and endeavour,. in the ft rength of Chrift,
to ferve God acceptably all the days ofhis Life.
For the ground of this Defcription, Wc have
the words of the Apoftle, Philip. 3. 3. Where
putting a difference between the true People of
God, and the counterfit, he faith, We are the
Qircumcifion who worjhip God in the Spirit ', and re*
Joyce in Jefus Chrift \ and have no confidence in the
flejh . In which Defcription of the regenerat
Man, the Apoftle firft points forth uatous three
fpecial Operations of the Spirit of Regeneration,
then three duties of the Man regenerate.
The firft Operation of the Spirit of God, the
only Circumcifer of the Heart, is the humbling
of the Man in the fenfe of his Sin by the Doc-
trine of the Law, and cutting ofFall his confi*
i^ncQ in his own Worth, Wit, Free-will and
Strength to help himfelf. So that the Man hath
no confidence in the flefh.
The fecond Operation, is the infufion of Sa-
ving Faith, making the Man humbled to cloie
With Chrift in the Covenant of Reconcliation,
and to reft upon Him asthc only and fufficient
Remedy of Sin and Mifery ,- ib that Chrift be-
cometh to him tiie ground of rejoycing and glo*
fiation*
The
BOOK L [ Ji ] CHIP, Ilf.
TWc third Operation, is the ■pftiiriflg & cnabl.
big c Chrift, >ur new
Obedience. lip God in the Spirit.
the three Duties of the Man rc^encrat,
The tirtlis, to follow the leading of the Spine
in the point of more .1
Ixrforc ( 1 the 1 his own in-
fufficieoi i efllCWing of all leaning on bii
Works, or anv
thing clfc bcfidc Chnlt ; lie mull have ** c <mji-
JetKC in tbefle
Th is to grow in t!ie ctlima-
jbteoufii . i hilnefs of all
Graces to be let' th to thelklie\ n:>ly-
and comforting himlelfin
I ift againft all Difficulties , Ti
muff R in Jr/ns (
irdDu: maniai
in the coir . ;w Ob
in ill l
fcart; he be a H'orllvper
lad Thing hold ;n forth in the Apo-
rds, which is the
z of the Man I circuma-
Tci in H 1 the conflam 1
iihcfi ...
ichoftl tnceaoot
be foood ia o«r
'Jod in
:; but, let t! ^s be made u
<?
BOOK I. [ $z ] CHAP. III.
to extinguifti and abolifh all confidence in our
own Parts and Righteoufnefs, and that our day-
ly Failings may humble us and cut us off from
all confidence in the Flefh.
But let not thefe Failings fo difcourage us, as
to hinder us to put confidence inChrift; but by
the contrair, the lefs ground of Confidence we
find in ourieives, let us railefo much higher the
eftimation ofRemiffion of Sin and imputation of
Chrift's Righteouihefs.and ftirup our felves by
Faith to draw more Strength' and Ability out of
Chriftfor enabling us to walk more HoliJy and
Righteoufly before God ; and having fled to
Chrift and comforted our felves in him let us
not turn His Grace into Wantonnefs ; but the
more we believe the Grace of Jefus Chnft, let
us flrive, in His ftrength, fo much the more to
glorifie God in new Obedience: And in the circle
of thefe three Duties, let us wind our felves up
flairs toward Heaven; for, God hath promifed^
thatfucli as wait on the Lord, Jh all renew their
ftrength they jkall mount up with wings as Eagles*
they Jhall run and not le weary, they flail walk and
not faint , Kaiah 40. 31.
In the conjun&ion of thefe three Duties, the
Evidence of Regeneration is found. If thereebe
not a fincere endeavour after all thefe three Duties,
the Evidence of Regeneration is by fo much
darkned/ and ihoit for Probation : for, it is not
fufficient to prove a Man regenenir, that he is
driven from all confidence in his cwnRightccuf-
!
BOOK f [ |j CHAP
and filled with the Icnlc of J defer-
red Wrath, b*cautc a Man that luch do I
than thu; pcrilli - »ndir
W,/j th <Jon-
hurdem l the foil 1, but did
bek Mercy and Pardon. Neither is it luffi-
cicnt to boaft or Acquaintance with ( hnft, an«i
| a Him, bo nany dd
>rJ f who neither renounce their con-
. ihip
liod »:i Spin:
11. Mrf Lirii
/brf fjf/rr tmto tlx KingAom of God. risit
icnt to id the WorQiipti Ood in
hothtuk tobejufti
their
id [ptncua
- :i the i S'°*
•J ID lll> I Wll
i >dwas cr unto him
had,
Ijikc . Go J,
am not hkc ( lJ*l-
irncdcohi!
that
Ctopr fcnrCfl
rat, to caafi v
(
attain An that profc:
i
BOOK I. [ 34 ] CHAP. DI;
fclves-Chriftians, who think ca be juftificd by *ha-
Merits of their own and other Saints Doings ani
Sufferings, anddodifdainfully IcofF and mock at
the Dadfrine of the imputed Righteoufneft of
Cbrift ; how many are they aifo,who think their
bygone Sins may be wallien a way, and be record
penced by their purpofe to amend their Life in
time to come? How many are they, who, being
willingly ignorant of the Righteoufnsfs of God,
which is of Faith in Jefus Chrift, go about to c*
ftablifh their own Righteoufhefs as the Jews did >
Rom. 10. 3.
And how few are they who follow the Example
of the Apoftle, who carefully ferved God in Spirit
andTruth,but did not lean to his own Righteoufc
nefs, but fought more and more to be found in
Chrift, not having his own Righteoufhefs, which
behoved to be made up of his imperfed: Obedi-
ence of the Law, but that Righteoufnefs which
is by Faith in Jefus Chrift ? Phil. 3. 9.
But that Man, who daily in the ienfeof his fin-
fulhcfs and poverty fleeth unto Jefus Chrift,
that he may be Juftified by His Righteoufnefs,
and endeavoureth by Faith in Him to bring forth
the Fruits of new Obedience, and doth not put
confidence in theft his Works when he hath done
them, but rcjoiceth in Jefus Chrift the Fountain
of Holinefs and Bleilednefs : That Man ( I fay)
undoubtedly is rcgenerat, and a new Creature,
for fo doeh the Apoftle defcribe hwn, Phil. 3. 3.
CHAP.
BOO K L [ Jf ] CHAP. Ilf.
C H A \\ IV.
file* ; W in f/*ci*L if the C */ Reiemf,-
fel thereof.
Bliog of the Sic! | of the
CMC co . right
rc-
icvsac ne mca know*
lcJ$ >c opened up.
i. A tUiuc Covenant vvc call, a ( \ or
rty
Cou&u
the eternal fly
fHirpurpofc) there arc'I hr(x\ 1 he I .
1$, the Covenant paft between
U Qffid I OflCU of th v.
j Scoon Covenant of Works, made
laJucJ with all rut
ftO kztj ir. (b i ll.mj ro
tbc cow
ren God and ChtJdiei
)thcC
itter, we rnufl y
ons of die
BOOK I. I 3 CHAP. IV.
time it is taken for the Contract and Agreement
of Selling and Buytng-back to eternal Saivation,
of loft Man, looked upon as in the (late of Sin
and Mifer v. In which fenfe, we are faid to be
bought by Chrift, both Souls and Bodies, i Cor.
6. 19, xo. 21? are not your own; for ye are bought
with a Price : therefore glorifie God in your Body, and
in your Spirit, which are GocTs. And this may be
called Redemption by Paclion and agreed Bargain.
2,. Sometime Redemption is taken for the paying
of the Price agreed upon.- In which fenfe, Chrift
is faid to have redeemed us, by fuffering of the
Puniiliment due to us, and ranfoming of us, Gal.
3. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the Curfe of
tie Law, being made a Curfe for us. 3 . Sometime
Redemption is taken for the begun application of
the Benefits purchafed in the Covenant by the
Price payed , Ephef. 1 . 7. In whom we have Redemp-
tion through His B/ood, even the RemiJJion of Sins,
according to the riches of His Grace. 4. Sometime
Redemption is taken for thepcrfed: and full pot
fehion of all the Benefits agreed upon between
the Father nd Chrift HisSon the Mediator. In
which feme, we are faid to befealedwith the hc-
ly Spirit of Promife, which is the earneft of our In-
heritance, until the Redemption of the purchafvd
Toffeffion. Ephef 1. 14. and EpheC 4. 30. it is faid,
Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
fe ale d unto the day of Redemption ; which is the day
of Judgement, when Chrift fliall put us in full
'• pol-
>OK I ; ]
all th<
cJu
i
and Quill
out
1 -
ok
up
■
nu-
nc the hun
and for cli
kcthc (
to J fGod,a
c Son v
BOOK I. [ 38 ] CHAR TV.
and fovcraign Power according to His own Plea-
fure to difpole of Men,looked upon as lying before
God (to Whom all Things are prefent) in Sin and
Death, drawn on by Mans own deferring, and
yet for the Glory of His Grace refolving to fave
theEledr, fo as His Juftice ihal 1 be fatisfied for
them, in and by the fecond Perfon of the Trinity,
the co-eternal and co-effential Son of the Father.
4. This Covenant of Redemption then maybe
tli 11 s d eferibad . It is a Bar gain, agreed upon between
the Father and the Son defigned a Mediator, concern-
ing the Elecl (lying with the refl of Mankind in the fl ate
hj Sin and Death, procured by their own Merit) wifely
and powerfully to be Converted, Sanclified and Saved,
for the Son of Go£ s Satisfaction and Obedience (tn our
Nature to be dffumed by Him) to be given in due
time to the Father ,even unto the Death of the Qrofi,
In this Bargain or Agreement the Scripture Im-
ported! clearly , a Selling and a Buying of the Eledt,
Acls 20. 28. Feed the Church of God, which He hath
p ur chafed by His cwn Blood, 1 Cor. 6. 20. Te are
bought with a Trice, and 1 Fet. 1.18. The Seller
of the Eled, is God; the Buyer, is God Incarnat ;
the Ferfons bought, are the Church of the Eled ;
the Trice, is the Blood of God, to wit, the Blood
6f Chrift, who is God and Man in one Perfon. ••
This Covenant of Redemption, is in effe<9: one
with the sternal Decree of Redemption, wherein
the Salvation of the Eleft, and the way how it
ftall be brought about is fixed, in thePurpofeof
God 5 Who worketh all things accordftig t6 the
Goun-
»/V ▼* ~' ^ 7 *^ If j
, S/ ^Av/V ^
BOOK ,/ J CHA*
■ < .vii u ikJ. w
,"V/. t ivu
A
,(* CO Dl'UKjlltll
C2>CT U:
crxlni hcCWcvn tiK
and prekippcxlc a formu the
Partita, buying .md v
.on* relating t<
rcmat I>ocra
die ( oroBtnr
;>rdbnt*Uw ofliii
cj«, i to as the He
^v hwreitt the I ioc
r .
■ik, ■*/'■'
BOOKI. [40] CHARIVv
fery by Blood, {hewing that no Remiffidn of Sfti
could be granted by Jtiftice, without lhediqg of
Blood, and Chrift undertook to pay the Price,
and bath payed it.
Again tlie Inheritance which the Ele<3: have
promifed unto them is called a Pure bafe, import-
ing, that the Difponcr of the inheritance to the E-
ledt, muft have a fufficient Price for it, and that
the Redeemer hath accepted the Condition and
laid down the Price craved for it, Ephef. 1. 14.
and fo bought back loft Heaven and forfeited
Bleflednefs to fo many Sinners, who otherways
for Sin, might juftly have been excluded and de-
barred therefrom for ever.
A third Expreflion is hold en forth* ^&io,
x8. wherein God Difponer and God' Redeemer,
are agreed, that the El ed: fhall gorfree for God
the Redeemers obedience unto the Death, who
hath now bought them with -His Blood-
A fourth Expreffion is in plain Terms fet down
by Paul, 1 Or. 6.20. Te are hugbtmth a Price:
God the Difponer Selleth, and God. the Redeem-
er Buyeth the Eled: to bb His Conqueft, both
Body and Spirit. And Peter more particularly ex-
preflcth the Price of Redemptio|iagreed upon to
be not Gold or Silver, but the Biopd of the Mt-
jfliator Chrift, the innocent Lamb of God,ilain in
typical Prefigurations from the beginning of the
Wprk!,and flain in real perfc^manceinthefufeefs
of time. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 26. zi. \
A fifth Expteffion is, tha£ of pUfckotd Jefus" in
' the
BOOK I { .}i ] ( H \P. IV.
chcinllicution i ncnt o: *cr,
.
1 1c \grcaaent bctvwctn the Pcilccmcr •&
tic thde w \ -
left, (hall Iuyc El *c-
-oicfs Ran I he
m, and i
the ^acrament < ;r.
lie Second i
Ti of
R I i oil
>r dchgn
jn 1 Styles a> en to (
the procuring ol a
Ktlution between *
ioctrctcx
Juilicx, in »; Reconciliation mi " j iU -o on ) for
paving a r > mpcni.itory [Vice, L'.iiii. ictit c > Utis-
\¥lt', 0^x1 ilK.ifJl.ii //;:' Mftfl ( * v / { . s.i'jC
BOOK I, [ 4 x ] CHAP. JV.
19. 24. Where He is called a Redeemer, a nete
Kinfman, who before His Incarnation had o-
bliged Himfelf to take on humane Nature, and
to pay the Price of Redemption (represented by
flain Sacrifices) for the Elect BisKinfmen.
A third Title is held out in that He is called
a Surety of a better Covenant, Heb. 7. xx. Where-
by is imported, chat God utfould not pafs a Co-
venant of Grace and Reconciliation to Mea, ex-
cept He had a good Surety who would airfwi*
for the Debt of the Party reconciled, and would
undertake to make the Reconciled (land to his Co-
venant. And Chrift' undertook the Suretyfhip,
and To hath procured and eftablifhed this Cove-
nant of Grace, much better then the Covenant of
of Works, and better then the old Covenant of
Grace with Ifrael,*$ they made ufe of k» This
neceftarily imports a Covenant between Hifeft
and the Fathers Juftice, to whom He becowicth
>%rety for us .* for, what is Suretifhip, buca vo-
luntary transferring of anothers Debt upon chfc
Surety, obliging to pay the Debt for which he
engageth as Surety?
A fourth Title given to Chrift, is, that He is
a Reconciliation by way of permutation; the Atone-
ment, Rom. 5 . 1 1 . We have by Chrift- received t^e
-Atonement, that is, that which hath paSifkdthe
Fathers Juftice and reconciled Him to us, -i&mtide
over in a Gift unco us; for, by Chrift s procure-
ment we have God made ours;& Chrift pacifying
<5od, put, as it were in Q$t Bofsmi : &>?> God
book i [ 4 h ( if u\ rv.
rig fold trs ft, by r
or ows. Htr hath co<n<: over ro tl i
.1 given ns< rhc Rccon
the AtoncmriTfro in \grce-
ment m a»uf (
for (
ivcn roChrrtl, is
I
iffcd, nd
alfo for the
I Pro-
I Jufttc*
trha
-
rcjuirv
I
i jtzA htfor:
TVJS
1 bout the
rion tc
BOOKI. { 44 ] CHAP. IV.
God were all His Works from the Beginning, Aft s 15.
18. And whatfoever God doth in time, He doth
it according to the eternal Counfcl of His own
Wi\\,Ephef. 1. 9. Now, Chrift the eternal Son of
God, being made Man, laid down His Life for
His flieep. The Son of Man goeth, as it was deter-
mined, but wo unto that Man by whom He is betray-
ed, Luke zx. 1%. And whatfoever Chrift fuffered
was by the determined counfel of God, Acts z.
.Z3. And God the Son, before He was incarnat,
declares the Decree of the Kingdom proinued
unto Him by the Father, and of the Vi&ories
which He fhouldhave over all His Enemies, and
of the Felicity & Multitude of the Subjects of His
Kingdom, that fhould believe in Him, FfaL z.j.
I will declare the Decree, faith He ; prefuppofing
therefore the Decree of God, offending His eter-
nal Son into the World, to become a Man and to
ttiffer, and thereafter to Reign for ever, we muft
alfo necefiarily prefuppofethe Content of the Son,
making Padtion with theFather & the Spirit fixing
the Decree and Agreement about the whole way
of Redemption, to be brought about in time; for
the fame Perfon, Chrift Jefus, who dwelt among
Men in the dayfc of His Humiliation, Job, 1.14,
Was with the Father from eternity ; and as</£y
Him all things were made, which were made. Job. 1.
z. 3. So without Him nothing was decreed which
was decreed, Prov. 8. %p to 31. which alfo is
manifeft in the Apoftles words, z Tim 1. cy.He
favedus, and called us with an holy Calling, not ac-
cor?
; 1 [ .j? ] CHAP. IV-
cfirdt*^ to vur Works, h' cording to Ih% #**
Pnrfojt sad i ./. ^nc* tu tn Chrt :
rid, the
I *: •
:hc price agreed ujxjti ;
u*e to be £i\en in ume to the Redeem-
ed b is givtti from Eternity unto
( hrii c. Alio, /
were eled I hnit, un:
\ition and tint ritual l>
were prcdeftmatto th rion o< v
r. 1. 18,19,10. We are Re-
deemed not with Gold or Silver, bur precious
Blood of < *howai predelltn.it higftn tie /•
"'"& rfth* World. Whereby it 1 that the
I the I at
ach and Rcliirroaion, and
alio: ings belonging to th
X.
mf.
rof the 1 ivcr
■
hoi
l#, I ft of
•
lies,
1 Co*
and the Son the R<;
B OOS I. [ 4<S J CEUp. IV>
ftifying and Siring fuch as believe^ in the Mejfiab
by an expiatory Sacrifice, to be offered intheful-
nefsof time, for the Redeemed ; fo alfo they were
Prefigurations, Predictions, Prophecies %&d Pled-
ges, of the Redeemer's paying of the promifed
Price of Redemption. And this Agreed-upon-pricc
(becaufe of the PerfeiSions of the Parties Contra-
&ers, the Father and the Son) was holden and
efteemed as good as payed, from the beginning
of the World ; and the Agreed-upoa-beiiefits pur-
chased thereby, to wit, Grace and Glory, were
cfFe&ually beftowed on the Faithful before
Chrift's Incarnation, as the Ffalmijl teftjfies. Pfal.
84. 11. The Lord, faith he, is a Sun axd ' a Shield,
the LQrd will give Grace and Glory, and m good thing
will He withhold from them that walk uprightly 5
and, Pfal. 73. 24. Thou /halt guide we with Thy
Counfel, and afterward receive me into GUry ; aact
that becaufe the promifed Price of Redemption
was of no lefs worth, to give Righteoufnefs and
Life eteraal to Believers in the Meffiah to come,
than the Price now payed is now of worth to give
for it,Righteoufnefs and Life eternal, to thefe that
believe in the Meffiah now come, Jefus Chrift in-
ra&rat And this Donation of faving Graces, as
Rcnxiilion of Sin, and carrying on to Life eternal,
\ras fealed unto Believers in the Covenant of Re-
conciliation, by the appointed Sacraments of Cir-
r ;ii<a£on and die pafchal Lamb.
He
BOOK L [ 4- ] I H AR
THe hfth L>u:cfK | Cofcnaru |*tt be-
en* Far
be mcanu ii. Chnllnovr locariM
dungs which the Father and Hiui-
and ch. ,*>-
ken in the Old Tcrtameiu. about (he talwtiou
the Eltdt, and the I Vice of : jo,
nous to be ixrrormcvi <»n cither
I »t were of new. doth repeat aiui
renew the I 10c, w
tucca die Father and Himlclf, Ix-forc Ho waft
for L*.: eaking £ and
lc was about T* r$
old. He la ;l ><r wf, r/uf / m*^ /
RwhHcis f in.. efoncs
A%c arid Surety tor Sinn rcthe
Fat. he Baptized for them wich thcBapci
Uflic^jon. and to fiilh! all Rjghreouliic
wtf agreed upon before, vafk the
* And admit the f and-
Payment, a* '. 17M : I*,
trtm M.:tflf,layn: ;!/Wyir
»
thm \r tht*t
tbst :
thac ail r 1 rhc K..
.illcr,
W«ild f thai Hcraight fvilhuha:
BOoK'l- t 48 ] CHAP. Bfa
fent Him to do and fuffer, which He calls His
Work that He was about. And more fpecially He
Jhews the Agreement part between the Father and
Him before He came into the World, concerning
His Incarnation, and the difcharge of His Media-
tory Office, and His Power to give eternal*Lifc
to thofe that believe in Him: For the Father fent
Him to be Incarnat, Verfle 37. and that He with
the Father might give eternal Life to whomfloevet
He will y and might quicken the Dead, Verfl 21. and
that He might exercife Judgement, Authority was
given to Him as the Son of Man, l r erf 27. Yea,
He fheweth, that it was agreed upon between the
Father and Him, about all the Do&rine which
He fhould teach, fvh. 8. 26. I /peak to the World
thefe Things which I have heard of Him; and He
ilaeweth that they were agreed about the Price
of Redemption of the Ele<5,and about His Relur-
rection from the Dead, and that His Death did
fully fatisfie the Father, Job. 10 ij. As the Father
knoweth /tie, even fo know like Father ■; and I lay
down MyLifefortheSbeep&nd Verfl. 17. therefore
doth the Father love Me, becaufe Hay down My
Life that I might take it again ; and Verf, iz.this
Commandment have I received cfl the Father. And, I
Luke 24. 2 y. He propones in fhort the ftim n>i"
the Covenant paft between the Father and Him-
felf, fpeaking to thetvvoDifciples going to Emails;
Fools and flow of Heart, to ielieze all that the Pro-
phets have fpoken, ought riot Qhrifl to have fluff e red
thefe Things, and to enter in His own Glory . but
mod
IOK I [ .}• CH I r
cliche whole >■'
calleth i
tmmt pail bcti I iimi
.
of.
che
! th<:
(
I
I ou t
•
I I
; :mrch c
I
Hun, an
tcrriii they
( .;nll. I
' >cath o: the (
d no mo:
-
;^<^r» die
BOOK i. [ so ] CHAP. W.
have more Certainty of their own Salvation, then
they have of the Certainty and (lability of their
own fickle Mind and Will : and fo no more Cer-
tainty of their oWn Salvation, then of their own
Perdition. The Order we fhall keep in fpeaking
of the Articles of the Covenant of Redemption,
fliall be this.
TheFirft Article, fliall be of the Pcrfons Re-
deemed.
The Second Article, fliall be of the Price of
Redemption to be payed by Chrift in the fulnefs
of time.
The Third Article, fliall be about the Gifts
and Benefits purchafed for, and to be given un-
to, the perfons Redeemed.
The Fourth Article of this Covenant of Re-
demption, pad between the Father and the Son,
fliall be of the Means and Ways whereby the
Gifts and Benefits purchafed, may be wifely, or-
derly and effectually applyed,to the Redeemed.
In ranking of thefe Articles, we do not pre-
fuppofe a priority of one of them before another
Jn order of Nature or Time; but we choofe to
fpeak of them in order of Doctrine, for our more
eafie underftanding of the Matter.
For, the Covenant of Redemption pad between
the Father and the Son, is by way of an eternal
Decree of the Trinity, comprehending all and
whatsoever belongeth to Redemption. In the de-
cerning of which Decree, there is notaFirfl: nor
aLaft, but a joint purpofe of God to bring about
and
OOK I. [ S i ) ( H.U\ IV
Qflppllfli ail the 1 Luvls an
T.
'Off.
I
who
; Lime
i chat ol
U did forekfttm
fred v —
r vAtff ! prede,:
<alled\ J*J : : fi J*JI'
jwd wkoi
and
ljpok -I rhcy ai
I that iiod hath ap-
n to a certain \ nd, to wil
Vm rhcy
GckI in
them
^g with thci
iition h icnt,
.capers of -
D
c/v
BOOK I. [ yx ] CHAP. IV.
nal Salvation. They are called Foreknown and
written in the Book of Life, in regard God hath
comprehended them in His fpecial Love, nolefs
diftituftly and unchangeably, then if He had
their Names written in a Catalogue, or Book;
And they are called given unto Chrift, in regard
the redeeming of them, and bringing them to
Life, is committed to Chrift. But by whatfocver
Name they are defigned, the Perfons Redeemed
are ftiil the fame.
z. Bat whereas the Elect, given to Chrift, are
called the Redeemed, it prefuppofeth, that they
were confidered and looked upon as now fallen
by their own fault, and lying by their own Merit
in Sin and Mifery, Enemies to God, and altogether
unable to help themfelves. For, this much doth
the notion of Redemption, or Buying back again
import: and that it is fo, is clear, becaufe the
Mercy of God, the Grace of God, the Good-will
of God, is put in Scripture for the only Motive
and impulfive Caufeof Redemption, Ephef. i. 7,
8,9. In whom we have Redemption through His
Blood, even the forgivenefs of Sins according to the
riches of His Grace, wherein he hath abounded to-
ward w in all Wifdom and Prudence, having made
known unto us the Myftery of His Will according Po
His good pie afure, which Hehadpurpofedin Himfelf.
3. The Scripture ihevveth us that there is an
innumerable Multitude of Redeemed Perfons,and
a fort of univerjality of them extended unto all
Na.
BOOK i. [ji ] r iv.
\ tad Ages and (b thac
RcAemf
( • • Blood \ .ily
N fflc of a World
J. 1 6. to be * thac Rcpr
■
the truth of ihis Mjtccr, the Redeemed do
r worllnping Chrifl
w waft j
ettiu to 6.
' a ill ha . fa\c,
;0-
aid
ftiouIJ be I : 1:1 of Whom many WCfC n
J in the many
1 \\\ (hoi
ming till l
Rcconci the numbers
I^e& (hould be
fa 00 place of S
•A, or eve
1 ■
!) 1
BOOK I. [ 54 ] CHAP. IV
Man without exception ; but by the contrary, it
is fure from Scripture, that Chrift hath merited
and procured Salvation for All them for whom He
entered Himfelf Surety, their SinsonXy were laid
on Chrift, and in Him condemned, fatisficd for,
and expiat, If a. 53. for thefe, and in their place
He offered Himfelf to fatisfie Juftice,for them He
Prayed/few only He Juftifieth andGlorifieth:for
the Sentence of the Apoftle, .2 Cor. 5:. 15-. ftand-
cth firm ; in Chrift All are Dead (to the Law) for
whom and in whofe room Chrift did die. And
therefore for thefe His People the Law is fatisficd,
from thefe the Curfe is taken away, to them Hea-
ven and all Things neceflary to Salvation arc
purchafed, and fhall infallibly in due time, yea
invincibly be applied.
Chrift hath not Sandtified, Confecrat, and Per-
fected All and Every one, Hel. 10. 14. only for
His Sheep predeftinat, He laid down His Life,
John 10.15,16,26. He did not buy withHisBlood
A{1 and Every one, but His Church called out,
and fevered from the World, Acts, 20. 28. He
faveth not All and Every Man from their Sins,
bin: His 011?* People only, to wit, whom He hath
L^Ught with His Blood to be His own, Matth. 1.
21. whom He hath ptrchafed to be His own pe-
culiar, whom He doth purifie, and kindle with a
fervent Defire to bring forth good Wovks.Tit . 2. 1 4.
Such as Chrift hath Redeemed, He loveth
them infinitly, and counted them dearer to Him
then His Life, But many fhall be found to whom
Chrift
HOOK I [ f Ci IV.
( hritl (hail fay, 1 never knew yon. to \vi:
-
They for wh« hath die
glory againftall Condemnation ; but
lli |
rill never pur,
ray
i arc given CO Him our
• n R orld will He Pra} and K.
and willruifc then rnal Luc, fob. 17.
d it from ( ,;(••.-> to
ftfand Every Mo*! that He hath d
dccrecvl torn
eernal ncccfl&f Conversion a:
\.i. Word
m: stents u
nd
At * ludgem \c no! known them,
1 for td - >urfc of biding the
of Sah
Mco in rl: k!
:h the I i>. I thank thee,
.;;;/ } indent,
amdhdf} revealed t> 'r.
i§r jo it fee me J g
t Second Article.
Anothe S of the ( tf
»n concerning the Price of 1
• . -I. ric Rfviirfcuicr
4
BOOK I. [ 56 ] CHAR IV
accomplifhing the Work of Redemption, God
would not have Silver or Gold, or any corrupti-
ble Thing, 1 Pet, 1. 1 8. Herefufeth allranfome
that can come from a meer Man, Pfal. 49. 8. But
He would have His own co-eternal and only be-
gotten Son to become a Man, to take on the Yoke
of the Law, and to do all His Will, that He
alone might Redeem theElecl:, who by Nature
are under the Curfe of the Law. He would have
Him,the Second Adam, to be obedient even to the
Death of the Crofs, that by His Obedience many
might be juftified, Rom. 5*. 19.
This is clearly confirmed by the Apoftle,£&£io,
^d^io.commenting uponthe.7 8L8Ferf.ofPf.40.
In burnt Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin Thou haft had
no pleafure, then faid Chrift coming into the World,
Lo, I come {in the volumnof the Book it is written of
Me)to do thy WillO God—by the which Will we arefau-
ilified.by the offering up oftheBloodofJefus once for all.
2. By Chrift's Obedience we underftand not
only that which fome call His Aftive Obedience,
nor that only which fbme call His Pajfive Obedi-
ence : for, His Active and Paflive Obedience, are
but two Notions of one thing; for, His Incarna-
tion, Subje<£Hcn to the Law, and the whole
Courfe of His Life was a continued Courfe of
Suffering, and in all His Suffering He was a free
and voluntary Agent, fulfilling ail which he had
undertaken unto the Father, for making out the
promiftd Price of Redemption, and accomplilh-
ing what the Father had given Him Command
to
BOOK I. [ 57 ] CH AT. IV
en to the Death of the
(
c of a Servant
Aid run on till
C end of
lich He turfcred both aixi
UoJ C the corapleai His formcr-
: noc
r us, or His only Suffering
much from
His I uonbcforcl iion and D,
the high ree of His Obedience, w\
bought deliverance unto us, from Sm
id wlicrx it unto
cy and eternal IMeilr m Heaven,
Death on the Crols complcating our
have faid. that one drop of
ficicnt to Redeem mo-.
Me, it is but an m-
nptural
badfufieredall
c time ath, it be! Him
>. Lnke : ltbeh
Hun no r more ,;c revju
Rani! j agreed
-
ement He
lis Life
ght gOn
ri sown He
BOOK I. [ 5:8: ]. CHAP. IV.
teftifie His Lave to the Eledt World, and riches
of His Grace toward them to whom He would
be merciful, by infli&ing no left Punifhment of
Sin on the Mediator, His own dear Son ( taking
upon Himfelf full fatisfadtion to Juftice for all the
Sins of all the Eled: given unto Him to Redeem)
then the Death both of His Body and Soul
for a Seafon.
And indeed it was futeablc to His holy and
fbveraign Majefty, that for the Ranfome of fo
many Thousands and Millions of damnable
Sinners, and faving of them from everlafting Tor-
ment of Body and Soul, no lefs Price fliould be
payed by the Son of God, made Man and Surety
for them, then His Sufferings both in His Body
and Soul for a Seafon, as much as fhould be equi-
valent to the due deferved Punifhment of them
whom Pie fliould Redeem ; and it became the
JulHce of the infinite Majefty offended, to be
reconciled with fo many Rebels, and to bellow
upon them Heaven and Eternal Bleiiednefs, for
no k£ Price then the Sufferings of the eternal
Son made Man. whofe Humiliation and volun-
tary Obedience, even to the Death of the Grofs,
was of infinite worth and value; and therefore He
yieldeth Himfelf to the Sufferings agreed upon
in the Covenant of Redemption both ia Body
■and Soul.
Of the $t<f-erlngs ofChrifl in His Soul.
OUr Lords Sufferings in His Body did not
fully fatisfie divine Juftice % i. Becaufe as
God
OKI. [ <9 ] CHAP. IV
Cuk\ pu on the Law and (
C vfith us all
and his Ibould ibU to Death both
(which Cove bciog
all Sinners became ol
Death both of IV die Re-
deemed behoved to be deliver.
oF b the Redeemers Totting ol h in
> much as fhould!
Redemption.
-
eft no | r power of l Soul
froc ; fo jufhec requited, that the Re
:ng uuhe roomofth nod,
lid feci dit force of tlv both in Body
»il.
can the Soul die, fcin^ it is,
i nance ol le Immortal?
Anf. The Death of the Soul is not. mail
Things Death , al-
:he ipi: :ude
immort.i not :o b
fubj. fort of Death, wl
cfcparationof it from( uuonwich (
(iich Dcgre.
t>e Death of the Sou I;
ic Soul, not only doth not
:h augment it and
r. But, til of oij-I-otH
•ever kv
BOOK I. [60] CHAP. IV.
Holinefs, wherewith it was endued in the firft
infufion of it in the Body, and could never be fe-
parated from the indiflblvable perfbnal Union
with the fecond Perfon of the God-head afluming
it, How could His Soul be fubjed: to any degrees
of Death?
Anf. Albeit the Coli-natural Holinefs of the
Soul of Chrift could not be removed, nor the
perfbnal Union of it be diflblved, no not when
the Soul was feparated from the Body, yet. it was
fubjed:, by drift's own confent, to be emptied
of Strength-natural, to be deprived for a time of
the clear nefs of vifion of its own Bleflednefs, and
©f the quiet pofleffion of the formerly felt Peace,
and of the fruition of Joy for a time, and fo iuf-
fer an Ecclipfe of Light and Confblation, other-
Wife fhining from His God-head ; and fo in thifc
fort of fpiritual Death might undergo fome de-
grees of fpiritual Death.
The Degrees of the Suffering of ChrifFs Holy Soul.
AMong the Degrees of the Death fufFered by
Chrift in His Soul, we may number, firft,
that habitual heavinefs of Spirit, which haunted
Him all the days of His Life, as was foretold by
If a. 53. 3. He was a Man of Sorrows, and acquain-
ted with Grief We hear He weeped, but never
that He laughed, and but very feldom that He
rejoiced.
x. He fuffered in fpecial, Sorrow ani Grief in
the obfervation of the Ingratitude of them, for
whom
BOOK i [ Si ] ( u \ r iv
ay down His bid
Oi : m Him ■ I : *4
\ //mmt. II
lurdncfsof V ins, and rhc n
and ttM i
Iv Contumelies and detpitcful l
Ril daily I
( rriffleJ tfMnt. II . ;.
1
and albcic in them all, never tainted
5
paring the
i nothing is nx
bid i the fici k the Devil, and i
; to Sin ; lly
ifn Id the variet) li-
hcrcuni
* Imp
I
Bcgio-
Imputai
BOOK. I. [6z] CHAP. IV.
binding Himlelf to bear their deferved Punifti-
ment.
Now when we fee that the vileft Sinners, as
Liars, Thieves, Adulterers, cannot patiently hear
themfelves called Liars or Thieves, nor bear the
ihame of the vilenefs r whereof they are really
guilty, with what fufferingof Soul? with what
clouding of the Glory of His Holinefs, think we
that our Lordiitook upon His Shoulders fuch a
Dunghil of all Vilenefs, than which, nothing
could more be unbefeeming His Holy Majefty ?
6. Unto all the former Degrees of Suffering of
His Soul, the Perplexity of His Thoughts fell
on Him, with the Admiration and Aftonilhment
of Soul, when the full Cup of Wrath was pre-
fented unto Him, in fuch a terrible way,as made
all the Powers of His Senfe and Reafon for a time
to be at a (land. Which Suffering of His Soul,
while theEvangelift is about to exprefs, he faith
He began to be fore amazed, and alfo to be very
heavy, and to exprds Himfelf in thefe Words,
My Soul is exceeding forrowful unto Death. Mark
14- 3 3> 34-
Obj. But did not this aftonifhing Amazement
of Chrift's Soul fpeak fome Imperfe&ion of the
humane Nature? <
Anf. It did no ways argus any Imperfe&ion
or Inlake of San&ity in Him, but only a fin-
lefs and kindly Infirmity, in regard of nacural
Strength, in the clays of His Fleili ; for, the
Mind of a Man, by any fudden and vehement
Com-
BOOK !. j ] IV
tion arifmg born .1 terrible OS-ci, may
wii *m
SilXcourk may -for a wli:
mxI. ind I
While: all the Cogitations ofthc Mind fleeing
together toconftilr, m i eooext
then wmn intiant, m;ir flaiui a
fit d. Job's rncmb aft oni died,
<>rd, talcm ir Natur; aru
common finlds tafirmuu >. became tike urn
in all thiols 9m. Dnar/iioft ithc
fight of an Arv.;:l. was i**r Sm, />.n
ion^
A - . clue
ftiou '.! Hioi, aid toM I
I
chinj
«:nvcd
in til id thcl igs ^rf/i
lprdBtft
i c prec$ncrt utntag Tron, b.
i
\rull in
i
• ecu Fort nip: an.' -. br
:*rd, Chn* >
BOOK I. [64] CHAR IV.
to learn experimental Obedience hy thefe things
which He fuffered, Heb. 5. 8.
7. Another Degree of the differing of our
LokTs Soul, is die Interruption, for a time, of
thefenfibleuptaking and feeling of that quiet and
peaceable Injoyment of the Felicity of the hu-
mane Nature, given ( for the point of Right) un-
to it in its perfonal Union with His God-head,
in fofar, .that in the midft of many Difciples,
Greeks and Jews looking on Him, the vehemency
of His trouble did not differ Him to hide His per-
turbation ; for, (Job. iz. 17.) ourLordcryed
out, Now is My Soul troubled, and what Jh all I fay >
and Mark. 14. 34. made Him declare His ex-
ceeding Heaviness ; My Soul is exceedingforrow-
ful unto Death. In which words he Infinuats,
that to His Senk, Death was at hand ; yea, that
inn© fmallmeafure, it had feafed on Him, and
wrapped Him up in the forrows of Death, for
the time, as in a Net of which He knew He could
not be holden ftill-
Obj. But did not this hudge heap of Miferies
take away from the humane Nature, the Feli-
city of its Union perfonally with his God-head ?
Anf. It did indeed hide it for a time, and hin-
der the fenfible feeling of it for a time, as it pas
neceflary, in His deep differing ; but it did not
take it away, nor yet ecclipfe it altogether ; for,
as a corporal Inheritance hath a threefold Con-
nexion with the Perfon owner thereof ;, foa fpi-
ritual Inheritance hath a threefold Connexion
with
ROOK I \ V. IV.
v of lawful
of die fn-
; co the 1j
Oft ft | jfc of
die I
. the
: : and llu
ad not on'
i unco \
pcrU d Union I poflcfi
;
I
tion to look
MY
8. I \d the s God,
n went on to tin
1
-oil inv
BOOK h [ 66 ] CHAP. IT.
Soul and Body, that out of all His Veins it drew
and drove forth a bloody Sweat (the like where-
of was never heard ) as when a Pot of Oyl, boy-
ling up and running over by a Fire let under it,
hath yet further the Flame increafed by the
thralling of a fiery Mafs of hot Iron into it.
Hence came fuch a wading and eating up of
all His humane Strength, and emptying of His
natural Abilities, fuch a down-throwing of His
Mind, fuch a fainting and fwounding of His Joy,
and fo heavy a Weight of Sorrow on Him, that
not only He defired that fmall Comfort of His
weak Difciples watching with Him a little, and
milled of it, but alfo flood in need of an Angel
to comfort him, Luke xx. 43.
It is without ground, that fome of the Learned
have denied the Caufeofthis Agony to be the
drinking of the Cup of Wrath, holden forth to
Him by the Father, faying, that the fight of it
only, and of the peril He faw we were into, was
the caufe of this heavy Exercifc : for, the Cup
WaSr.ot only fhown unt» 8Km, and the hud'ge
Wrath due to our Sin fee tofore Him, that He
fhould fee it, and tremb!<§ at tbe Apprehenfion of
the Danger we were in, but it was poured into
Him, and not only on Him, that He for the
Sins of His' Redeemed fliould fuffer it fenfibiy,
and as it were drink it, that the bittemefs there-
of might affect all the Powers of Soul and Body:
for, the Scripture teftities,that toot only upon the
Sight and Apprehenfion of this Wrath and Curfe
com*
.BOOK L ] CHA
coming on Him, the holy humane Nature
Holily abhor it, but ... ai He iubmiu
receive ir, UpOQthc i
Decree and A tl C COlCltf
be pa Him, ar*J thai upon
ul, and Blood)
0/'
Father's Wrath upon H
confift wid
I
Him for,
ing capital W
ment on a condemned 1
»''
n
on
tow (
fore it to bec
.
illeth forth amon.:
i unto God, arc / :.uhcr ©I His Ho-
towar
Him ;
. do always tc olciTcdt
uc from another
9. Among the Degrees of the 6
may number not on
turban
:rturbatu
E
BOOK I. [ 98 ] CHAP. IV
ly His fear ; for, His humane Nature was like
unto ours in ail things except Sin, and was indeed
feared when it Taw and felt the Wrath of God,
left it ftiould havebeen fwallowed up by it, and
of this Fear the Apoftle< He!?. 5. 7.) beareth
witnefs, faying, Who in the days of His Fleflb,
when He had offered up Prayers and Supplications ,
andflrong Crys and Tears, unto Him that was ah le
to fave Him from Death,' and was heard in that
He feared.
Now, albeit this feemetlvthe faded pafiageof
all His Sufferings, that He was feared for being
fallowed up, yet this His feat is not to be won-
cered at, noris it inconfitiant withHisHolineft;
for when Chriit affumed our Nature ( as hath
been faid ) He aflumed alfo all the common and
fmlefs Infirmities, Paffions and Perturbations of
b our Natnre : Now it is kindly that the Creature
St the fight of an angry God fliould tremble; for,
we read, that the Rocks and Mountains have
trembled before God, when He did let forth His
Terror ; and it is natural to Man, at the fight of
a terrible Objed:, at the fight of a Peril and Evil
coming upon him, but much more already come
upon him (efpecially if the Evil and Peril be a-
bcveail his natural Strength ) to tremble and
r the woril ; and this becometh holy Nature
very well to fear prcfent Death, Off-cutting, Per*
ditionand Swallowing up in the Danger, >vhen God
appeared angry ana Avas hading to be avenged
on Sinners in the perfon.of their Surety, what
could
BOOK
-;ather I
•
^/v
'
.
I
^Cll'C A
• x.
^
[
BOOK L [ 70 ] CHAP. IV.
cut in a Holy way, that which He behoved to
furfer : for, if on the one hand, Chrift had not
been weakned, & emptied of all humane Strength
inHisFlefh, He could not have been humbled
enough for us, He could not have fuffered {b
much, as Juftice did exaeffc for fatisfaftioafor us ;
and on the other hand, if He had not Hood firm
in Faith and Love toward God's Glory and our
Salvation, He could not have fa tisfied Juftice,
nor been ftill the innocent and fpotlefs Lamb of
God, nor have perfe&ed the expiatory Sacrifice
for us.
Olj. But was He not tempted to doubt by
Satan?
Anf. We grant that He was indeed tempted by
Satan to doubt, yea we iliall not {band to grant
that He was tempted to Defperatipn ; but we
altogether deny, that He was tainted with Sin
by temptation in the lead degree : for, the Scrip-
ture faith, He was tempted in all things like
unto us, but yet without Sin in Him, or yielding
in any fort to any Temptation, And feeing by
the Evangelift, Matth. 4. we underfland, that
He was tempted in the Wildernefs by the Devil,
unto the moft horrible Sins that Satan could devife ,
and yet wa^ not flamed or polluted in the lead
Degree, with the lead meafure of yielding to the
finfur Temptations ; we need notftand to grant,
that He might be tempted, or that He was tempt-
ed unto Doubting and Defperaticn ; for this was
among the topft notable and prime temptations,
where-
OOKI. , ] CI
irhcrcby Satn ulli-
God, very God ai . one
l knew
Ht I otic th Scm i'
■ I
an all the
not be
tot hn6il Nature in to, tare nuj app
and be polluted: lint the matter was not lb with
i of Glo:
our :
- in a. winch being :
foul: b
I
f*rr and pu
-ever it be troubled a:ui
;urc and frcco
But at lead, was there not a Ccr.
cur nth, and the R on
I Conflict of (
mancna ich the bur.
t andWreftling ol
. tation to doubti
ng doth DC I rguc the Inrirnv :
lgcl \vhoi>
J in God was
ot argue
the
ttrtuoai of
BQOKI. [72-] CHAR IV.
an Adverfary, who being repulfed and call down,
doth not at firft leave the field, but rifeth up a-
gain,infifts and preflethon, fo long as it pleafeth
the mod powerful party to differ the Adverfary
to make oppofitioh.
Ohj. Butyou muft grant, that in the Conflict
of Chrift's humane natural Strength, with the Af-
fliction and burden of the Punifhment laid upon
Him by the Father, He was overcome, and fuc-
cumbed and died.
Anf. Yes indeed : but we mud put a difference
between the Conflict of natural Strength with the
burden of Affiidion, &the Conflid between Faith
and a Temptation unto Sin ; in the Conflid of
holy humane Nature inChrift, with the Punifh-
ment of our Sins laid on Him, it was not a Sin
to have His natural Strength over-powered, and
to lye down under the Burden, and to lay down
His Life and die; but it was a main part of His
Obedience, it was the performance of His Promife
and Undertaking, to yield Himfelf to Juflice, and
to die for us, that we might be delivered from
Death eternal. But in the wrcftling of His Faith
with the Temptation unto Doubting, it had been
a Sin to have yielded in the lead degree, and that
which could not cpnfift with the perfed Holiness
of the Mediator, Surety for Sinners.
Ohj. But,did not the perplexity of His Thoughts
and the anxiety of His Mind ; dimini{h fomething
of the vigour and conftancy of His Faith?
Anf. It did ditfrinift nothing of the vigour and
COR
BOOK I. i)
a the he.
mc Di
■ • mo
the i
the uork
ung urn
1, or Uj>on
gtv
rca
I
i His h
BOOK I. [74] CHAP. IV
lets forth theConfeffion of His Perplexity: Pre*
fently after this, He fubjoineth, ' Father, fave Me
from this Hour ; wherein, behold ! holy Nature,
trembling and Shrinking to fall into the Wrath of
theFather/& according to the Principles of Holy
Nature, teftifying the fimple Abhorrency of His
Soul, from fiich an Evil as is the Wrath of God
His Father, which had it not been for love to
fave our Souls, He could not have yielded His
humane Nature to endure, or bear it : Therefore
He, confidering that we were but loft for ever,
if He ihould not fuffer Wrath for us, He repeats
the fum of the Covenant of Redemption agreed u-
pon, But for this Caufe came I unto this Hour. And
laft of all ft^ts up His Speech and Exercife in the
triumphing Voice of victorious and untainted
Faith, Father, glorify Thy Name; and here He reft-
eth : Wherewith the Father is fo well pleafed, as
that from Heaven He fpeaketh to the hearing of
the Multitude Handing by, / have hoth glorified
it, and will glorify it again.
10. Among the deepeft Degrees of the Suffer-
ing of Chrift in His Soul, we reckon thatDefer-
,non, .whereof Chrift on the Crofs giveth an ac-
count, crying out, My God, My God, why haft Thou
ferfakenMe? By which Speech He doth not mean,
that Mien the perfonal Union of the Natures was
jm Him diflolved, nor yet that God had withdrawn
His fuftaining Strength and Help from the hu-
mane Nature, nor that the Love of the Father was
taken off Him, nor that any point of the Perfe-
ction
BOOK I [ is ) A A P. IV
■ of Ho
trnc l l to ihw\i'.
i, an J fth
from ! ic Soul.
•
i
he looked upon
-Son of
ways well pica
room ot
vrcrcboun
us.
n. '1
•
aras 6
Hiftory o€
toexpou
where*
of tint horrible Gap, wasp >ored
I
in J Be
BOOK I. [ 76 ] CHAP. IV
therefore not without ground have Orthodox Di-
vines taken in Chrift's Sufferings in His Soul,and
the detaining of His Body in the Grave ( put in
as the clofe and laft part of Chrift's Sufferings^
as the true Meaning of that Expreffion, He de-
fended into Hell : Not only becaufe tliefe Pains
which Chrift fuffered both in Body and Soul, were
due to us in full meafure ; but alfo becaufe that
which Chrift fuffered in the point of Torment
and Vexation, was, in fome refped;, of the fame
kind with the Torment of the Damned : for in the
Punifliment of the Damned, we.muft neceflarily
diftinguifh thefe Three Things, i. The perverfe
Difpofition of the Mind of the Damned in their
Sufferings, x- The duration and perpetuity of
their Punifliment. And 3/ The Puniihment it
feif, tormenting Soul and Body. The flrft Two
are not of the eflence of Punifliment, albeit by
accident they are turned into a Puniihment, for
the Wickednefs, Vilenefs and Unworthinefs of
the Damned, who neither will nor can fubmit
themfelves to the Punifliment (and put the Cafe
they iliould fubmit, are utterly unable to make
Satisfaction for ever) do make them in a defperar,
doleful Condition for ever, though obftinat Sin-
ners do not apprehend nGr believe this, but go,pn
-tcafuringup Wrath againil themfelves, plea-
themfelves in their own Dreams,to rjieirown
Perdition. Of thefe Three, the flrft Two
hayc no place in Chrift: Not the Firft, be-
:Iq willingly offered Himfelf a Sacrifice for
out
book I. - ] R iv.
>on agreement, payed the i
S
«>lden in the So: f Death
what
i Kim ; mul H lien-
[to be of infinii
to our evcrlal: :ig.
I then remaincth, which is tlie real
Sic tor ; of Soul ami Bod
ing made a Curfc for U to feel it lb in
nee. And w!.
hellil where Pain and Torment, and the
Curfc with felt Wrath from (i
11, till Jufl
as certain, that Qui it
by th irs of Death.
rurc. that He could not be ho. rows
of Death. .
Q*efl. But what inters?!! '
in His bun both
fo lliort anvl
•
i
or. (w
D
-
"I For t tli(
#
BOOK I. [ 78 ] CHAP. IV.
only the humane Nature ; yet the principal Suk-
jed: of Sufferings, both in a PhyficaL and Moral
Senfc, is Chrift's Perfon, God and Man, from the
Dignity whereof, the Worth and Excellency of
all fort of Sufferings, the Merit and the Satisfy
£tory Su fficiency of the Price, did flow.
And let it be confidered alfo, that albeit
Chrift, as God, in his God- head could not fuf-
fer in a Phyfical Senlh ; yet, in a Moral Senle i
He might fuffer, and did fuffer ; For, in as much
as He, being in the Form of God, and without
Robbery equal to God, did demit His perfon
to afiiimc humane Nature, and empty Himfelf
fo far as to hide His Glory, and take on the
Shape of a Servant, andexpofe Himfelf willing-
ly to all the Contradi&ion of Sinners which He
was to meet with, and to all Railings, Revil-
Ings, Contempt, Defpifings and Calumnies, fhall
it feem nothing, and not enter in the count of
our Lord's Payment for our Debt?
Ohj. But, how could folow a down-throwing
of the Son of Man, or of the humane Nature
afTumed by Chrift, confift with the Majefty of
the Perfon of the Son of God >
AnJ. We mud diftinguifh m Chriftf thefe
Things, which are proper to either of the two
Natures, from thefe Things which arc afcribed
to His Perfon, in refped of either of the Na-
tures, or both the Natures ; for, Infirmity, Phy-
fical Suffering, or Mortality, are proper to the
humane Nature, The Glory of Power and Grace
and
BOOK r. [ -9 ] Cfi AP. IV.
M:rcy, and fupcrcxccllclu Majefty, mi
arc proper ro die Dcit
fenngs of the humane Nature, are lb far from
itngthe Glory of the divine >
ritey do marufcrt the lame, and nuke ic appear
morcclc For, by how much the hu
is nxjJt*tJ, deprcfled, and depifedg
fake, by ibmucli the Love of C
and Man in one Peribn, toward Man, and
i and Grace to Man
iiofethac judicioufly look
i Him.
•ut (cing C Satisfaction for Sinner |
doth nor any one pair ot His Doings
"•nngs, but in the whole a.id intire
n Pearl, and complcat Price of His whole O-
% orn His Incarmnon, even to
. how cometh ic to pa
■jre the i nation of our bin
xrd lb oft to I nd particularly
toHisBloo
A*J. cometh : . i. Ben
Certainty and Verity of H I hum
icy of differing,
f all the Lev: tccs
;ear unto
thf entire
of H
Frofion ofHrs&ooJ; F<
wT|, Wll
irchyMan. :
wtift X .i-
BOOK I. [ 80 ] CHAP. IV;
Sou], Drops of Blood fell down out of all His
Body to the Earth. 3. Becaufe His Blood-fhed-
ing and Death, was the laft A6t of compleating
the Payment of the Ranfom to the Father for us,
which Payment began in His humble Incarnation I
and went on through all His Life, and was com-
pleated in His Blood-ihed andDeath,whereofour
Lord gave intimation on the Crofs, when He
cryed as triumphantly victorious, It isfinifhed.
The t/fe of this Article of the Covenant of Reel mption^
WE have at ibme length fpokeli of the
Price of Redemption, and of Chriit's
defraying of the Debt by His Paiiion. 1. That
hereby the Merit of our Sins, may the more
clearly be feen. z. That the Sublimity anu Ex-
cellency of Divine Majefty, offended by Sin
may appear. 3. That we may behold the feverity
of God's Juftice till He have Satisfaction and Re-
paration in fome fort of the injuries done to Him.
4. That the admirable largnefs of God's Mercy
may be acknowledged and wondered at.
For in the Price of Redemption payed, aS in a
Mirror, we may fee how greatly the Lord hateth
Sihjhow great His Love' is to the World in fending:
His Son Chrifl amongft us; how heavy the
Wrath of God fhall ly upon them that flee not
to Chrifl's Satisfaction for their Dilivery : how
great the Dignity and Excellency of the Lord our
Redeemer is, for whofe caufe Reconciliation is
granted to all that take hold ef the Offer of Grace
through
BOOK!. [ 81 ] CHAP. IV
I [in ; how great tli
is ro k
greatly the Glory of all I
3oth ihmc in the Work o( Rcdcn
i. Hv tlr, ' inc. it a;
and Wicked the I
for pacifying of (
apr>
and Soul- mat..
i akeocbccAbominatio
Qpd hath not fpofcea, but fr . I the
brin^ aboil) , i :is
:n the i
aiul to ah tiic
po-
ther S i
is touch
our
i all ch<
irtorm. M in Whom
I, for fettling our I
.: purpol
War-
BOOK I. [ 8x ] CHAP. IV.
may be quieted, who Co ufe to exaggerate the
grievoufnels and the multitude of their Sins, that
they forget to put a right eftimation upon the
Satisfaction made by Chrift, for all that cortie
unto God through Him.
The Third Article.
THe Third Article of the Covenant of Re-
demption, paft between the Father and
the Son, concerneth the Benefits, Gifts and Gra-
ces to be given unto the Redeemed .- All which
Gifts and Graces, are fummarily comprehended
In that one Gift of God, fpoken of, Job. 4. 10.
which Gift is Chrift, Who is freely offered unto,
and given to, the ele<3: Believer for Righteout
*iefs and eternal Life, according to what was faid,
Ifa, 9. 6. For, unto us a Child is born, a Son is gi-
ven, on whofe Shoulders the Government is laid,
whofe Name is called Jehovah, the wonderful Coun-
fellor, theftrong God, the eternal Father and Prince
of Peace. And, 2 Pet. 1. 3. Who according to
His divine power, hath given unto us all things
which pertain to Life and Godlinefs, through the
knowledge of Him who hath called us to Vertue and
Glory.
z. The Benefits which are appointed for the
Redeemed, are fo conveyed and brought unto
them, that firft, they are Chrift's Riches which
He hath purchafed unto the Eled:,and being re-
fblved to die, that the purchafe might be made
faft to His People, Hs hath made His latter Will
and
BOOK L [ 83 ] CHAP. IV.
and Tcftament once and again, and left in Lc-
Ecy to all that believe i:i[ 1 things
longtoRighteoufnctsarv :ion; andti
Benefits, in an acceptable time, He effectually
apphcth and puts them in pon thereof. Oi
which Gifts, wc lhallnamc c I'hrcc: The
\m[\ is Regeneration, or turning of the Man to-
ward Hi miclf. The Second is theGift<
.1: The Third is Pcrlcverancc. la
ic Patrt
ee-will, d in them ly-
ure the Glory of Gods free
By glorying that without the ipccial Grace of
Goo onrcrt themfclves or n
plcafc, Jo that when God in: - Conver-
fion, and u let h ali eir Cofiverfion,
are able to re lift aliH Opera:
nnkcvoid -a , ' \
this ( int of B
Fa: l the Son, Mediator an. !
doth decide the Quel and give t
ror, m whom God Jit ft
r conform to t :
So* — **d ■
7; andwb&m He caA
fted\ and whom j He alio *
fed. Rom. 3. tS.
i 71 rr
IT is a
taliibly, and that laving Fait'
F
BO OK I. [84] CHAR IV.
on them, and that they fhall perfevere in the
obedience of Faith fo, as they fhall not totally
and finally fall away from God's Grace.
Itispromifcd to Chrift, Pfal. no. 3. That
tn the day of His Tower, His People fhall le wil-
ling. For, albeit the native Corruption of their
Will, oppofeth it felf, and refifteth the Holy Spi-
rit, when He is ufing the Means to Convert
them ; yet in an acceptable time, the invincible
power of God's free Grace toward them, fo tak-
eth away all adtual Refiftance, that the Man,
unwilling of himfelf, is made mod freely and
heartily willing to be reconciled to God : For,
God can both prefer ve the Natural Liberty of
the Will, and take from it that Grookednefs and
Frowardnels that is in it ; He can infufe and
create in the Man a right Spirit, and new Ha-
bites of Grace, and can bring forth thefeHabites
unto J£xer,cife, making the Redeemed Man not
***^y able to will,but alfo actually to Wi// and to Do
what is pleafant to Him, Phil. x. 13. and Ephef
z. 8. w r e are taught, That Faith is not of our f elves,
it is the Gift of God; not of Works, left any Man
flwuld haft. And this Gift of faving Faith ; is
beftowed only on the Eleit ; and therefore it is
calied, The Faith of the Eled, Tit. i. 1. and
only they believe in Jefus Chrift, that are or-
dained unto eternal Life, Att. 13. 48- yea, every
one cometh to Chrift, who is given to Him of
the Father, Joh.6.iy. and no Man cometh to
Chrift ; fave he whom the Father draweth, Job'.
6<
BOOK !. f S^ CM \I\ IV
but they that aic nocRcdcei
Right Job.
thChriftto
re not c
I bum /'
!
..! i.ic R
Lord to <
" ■ •
*p>. ve**h
Mo,. I not depart oh:
Seeds Si !
■
///«£ Cruen.: M tot tnrn a
from them to do them food, but I will put
jll not depart from
I
) come
lob. 10. i"8. while
' in* unto them eternal
(hd'il nei:r f ■■/ / '. neither jball 4tf) MsBf/pci :< i
out i nut, th not too
1
pUCJ
BOOK I. [ 86 ] CHAP. IV.
Ad verfaries take their pretended Arguments from
the Inftability of Mens Will, in the Matter of
Perfeverance, and from the Freedom and Power
of Mans changeable Will, in the Matter of Con-
version and Saving Faith, and from the Manner
of God's fpeaking to the mixed Multitude of
both Called and not Chofen, and to them that
are both Called and Chofen, we fliall content*
our felves, for clearing this Covenant betwixt
the Father and the Son, Mediator and Redeemer,
to make the Matter faft concerning the Eledt,
founding their Converfion, Faith, Repentance,
Perfeverance and Salvation, upon the unchange-
able Covenant of Redemption, fixed upon the
fettled Agreement between God,and God the Son
Mediator and Redeemer, as fliall be proven from
Five places of Scripture.
the Firjl Proof is from VerC 13.0/ Ma. yx. to the
end <?/"Chap. 5*3.
THe Ffrft Place is Ifa. $x.Verf.iy and for-
ward to the end of Chap. 53. where we
have, Firft, The Two Parties Contraders, God
the Father, and Chrift : For, the Father brings
forth His Confederat Son to be Incarnat by Co-
venant, His Servant, Whom He imploysin the
whole Work of Redemption, as the meritorious
Caufe and Accompliflier of it ; Behold My Ser-
vavt faith God the Father by His Spirit,fpeaking
by the Prophet, Cfap.f z.i 3. Next, Both Parties
are fure of the Event of the Padion, and of the
ac-
\vh
ROOK I CH \i\ IV
acomphlaing of the whole work glonoully M-
ill deal prudently wdprefpe-
«//>, He '. • xjlttd and cxtftllec
He cells thepn
I mil tlit pay f°r "** Rede
ling of i lu-
jc, unco the ig.. us Death*
71*/ / / rrid m
■mir.n:
Hm\ Ih
cd j»d relied #/ Mc» t a . rms
% mi**f*i*ieA ■
vmmdtJhr om> rfffitms,
m*k W**< tor S;», Ve£ IO.
treat, is
: of His
I of many Nations,
1 of the
rhc Water of His
fprinkk
ro have
htfoFA IC - //V
til Regencrat th
an <! h an.l Ice thOB
His fad
BOOK I. [ 88 ] CHAP. IV.
Sixthly ■, No meritorious nor impulfivc Caufe
is found' in the Perfons Redeemed, for which
the Puniihment due to them ftiould be transfer-
red upon the Mediator Chrift our Redeemer: for,
they fhould be found in themfelves but Defpifers
of Chrift, becaufe of His Sufferings, Chap. 5*3.
4. Surely Ht hath horn our Griefs, and carried our
Sorrows; yetwedidefteemHimflricken, fmitten
of God and afflitled.
Seventhly, No Sin nor meritorious Caufe of
Puniihment is found in Chrift the Redeemer, for
which He fhould be fmitten, Chap. 53. 5. 9. He
was wounded for our Tranfgreffions — He had don$
no violence, neither was any deceit in His Mouth.
E/ghtly f Peace and Reconciliation, and heal-
ing of our finfuland miierableSicknelles^and de-
liverance from Wrath, are purchafed by the Price
of His Blood, Chap. $"$. 5. The chajlifement of
cur Peace was upon Him, and with H% Stripes we
are healed.
Ninetbly, Thefe Sufferings Chrift did not en-
dure unwittingly, or unwillingly, .but by Con-
tent, by Covenaitt-cfeliberately, Chap. 53.7. He
was oppreffed, and He was afflicted, , yet He opened
not His Mouth ; He is brought as a Lamb to the
Slaughter, and as a Sheep before .His Shearers is
dumb, fo he opened not his Mouth.
Tenthly, The Caufe of this Covenant, where-
by the Price is called for, and yielded unto^ and
payed, is the only free Grace of God and His
good
BOOK I [ X» ] P. IV.
good PlcaUirc, ( io. It pleaUclthe L*r4
t$ m, be bafb put him to
Son, ti
^hceoulncts mi
j 3 . t i . /
A'mwUtlfc, or I iHim,
I
.
unto them all the pun!
I
r Intcrcejfum jv
(IOC
all and
vjs
*
-
BOOK I. [90 ] CHAP. IV.
ti not on Him, that the faying of the Trophei
Ifaiah might be fulfilled which he fpake, Lord, mho
hath believed our report .-> and to whom is the Arm
of the Lord revealed > therefore they could not be*
lieve, bscaufe that Ifaiah faid again, ( I(a. 6.
9, 10. ) He hath blinded their Eyes, and harde*
ned their hearts, &c.
Secondly, It foiloweth heace, that Election
and Redemption were not for the forefeen Faith
or Works of the Ele<ft Redeemed, but of the
meer Grace and Good- Will of God, and all done
for them and in them, eontrair to their Deferv-
ings: For, it is faid, Ifa. 53. 6. All we, like Sheep
have gone aft ray, and the Lord hath laid on him
the imquity of us all.
Thirdly, It folio weth hence that it was agreed
upon, that faving Grace and Converfion & Sanc-
tification, fhould infallibly and invincibly come
topafs, and be given to the Redeemed, Ifa. ^z.
13. Behold, My Servant jhall deal prudently and
profperoufly ; and, Verf. 1 5-. he (ball fprinkle
many Nations ; and Ifa. 53. 11. By his know-
ledge jhall My righteous Servant juftifie many.
Fourthly, Hence it foiloweth, that the A-
greemenrispaft for their final Perfeverance and
full Salvation : For, Ifa. 53. 5-. With his ftripes
ive are healed : Now our healing, is our full Sal-
vation from our Sin and Mifery, or our deadly
S:cknefle$. And Ifa. 53. 10. The pleafure of
the Lord jhall profper in lis hand: The pleafure
of the Lord is partly our San&ification, 1 Thef
4- 3-
BOOK I [ 91 1 CI \? TV
j. }. r*rtly**r SsIvJtion .nu/GUreficatio*. 1
9. Thu Mthtrt will mbkh kuth <<*t
tbot of jU which he bjrh ^ mm V I I
ImjuU raijc tt hv.
us purpoic jxnvc >i'\ Hi* Inter-
.rtcfrom which rhc Apoftic
-
them f hat come to God h bim t femg heeocr iiveib
to make Intercejfion for them.
The Second Proof is fro* ! 10, 1 1.
T Second Place
when I ce-
I
the Redeemer He taich.thiu I
as Redeemer.
mene between
1. arulehc Redeem ned,
for uhom. arui
grecnu.u ;
I
I J.:co'
which 1 T ark o*
., for whom
as/u?m. 11.-./ 1 f
../ted
AH:
BOOK I. [ 9 % ] CHAP.IV.
fhall be not only by Price paying, but alfo by
powerful and effectual working, as the original
imports, Rom. n. z6. and, Ifa. 59. 20. Fifthly,
the Benefits beftowed upon the Eledt, are compre-
hended under the Designation of the Redeemed;
they are to be turned from their iniquity by
effectual Convention, by granting them Faith
in Chrift, Repentance and Reconciliation.
Sixthly, it is fliewed how thefe Graces fhall be
brought to pafs, to wit, by application thereof
by the Word and Spirit of Chrift ; from which,
Saruitification, Salvation and the perpetuation
of all Graces unto Salvation, do flow and fol-
low on them ; My Spirit that is in Thee, faith
the Lord to the Redeemer incarnat, and My Word
which I have put in Thy Mouth, fhall not depart out
of Thy Mouth, nor out of the Mouth of Thy Seed, &c.
Thefe Articles of the Covenant of Redemption
make exprefly, Firft, Againft univerfal Redemp-
tion of all and every Man: Becaufe Chrift, as is
lhewed before, makes His Bargain for the Eled,
and leaves the reft in Blindnefs, and is a Re-
deemer of none but of thefe to whom He is a
Deliverer aftually, from whom He turncth away
Iniquity and Ungodlinefs ; which Benefits befal
none, but theEle<9: and the Redeemed.
Next, They make againft Election for Faith
and forefeen Works, becaufe when Chrift cometh
to call in the Jews, He finds nothing commend-,
able in them but Impiety and Tranfgreflion and
Defection, and whatfoever might provoke Him
to
OOK L [ 91 ] CHAP. IV.
re tmrnttl from Tranfgrejfiom.
2 meer pcjjiblc
and contingent ten
I or, the Word an Spin*
i dull take up a dwelling in them, and
I hoc depart from them.
twtbly. I akc agamfl the Dodruie of
die e of th
it is promitevl
trom the Heart Aouth of
rd and .Spine of Chrift lhall
d .
ThtV:irdrrc p, Joh. 6. 3-. (Sc.
X6. from. /'.
to 4>. where, Jtr(i t is let down the Par-
;• v oofea&ersin the ( ovenant of Redemption;
arc giw into the Eland
r ; All
fMe, cow.
igofchcEIcdt
. in d Con-
I aith of die Redeemed;
mttb to Me, (a
med arc oomm
(
Ufenotbi tfhonti
Fm
BOOKL [94] CHAP. IV.
Fourthly, It is agreed by what Means the
Faith of the Redeemed (hall be formed in them,
which are, the revealed fight of Chrift the Son
of God in the Word ; the powerful drawing of
the illuminat Soul unto Chrift; which powerful
Draught overcometh all oppofition & refiftence,
becaufe it is omnipotent and invincible; For,
J$oman ccmtth to Qhrifi, hut he whom the Father
draweth, V. 44. and that by making them faving-
ly,and in a lively manner fee the Son and believe
on Him, v. 40.
Hence followeth, 1. That it isfalfeDo&rine
to teach, That there is an Univerfal Redemp-
tion unto Life, of AH and Every Man; becaufe
hot All, but only Some are given, and made to
come to Chrift; the reft that are not given,come
not.
Secondly > It followeth, that EtedHon is of
meer free Grace ; becaufe Merf tome not unto
Chrift that they may be givea, but they are gi-
ven unto Chrift, that they may be brought and
come unto Him.
Thirdly, By this Agreement the powerful Con-
verfion of the Redeemed, and their powerful
Prefervation unto eternal Life; is as certain as'
the Power, and Conftancy, and Obedience of
Chrift unto the Father, is firm and certain; This
is the mil of him thatfent w, that of what he hath
given me, I fhould lofe nothing but raife ii up at
the lajl Day. Verf. ffi
m
BOOK I. [ 9S 1 CHAP. IV.
The Fourth Proof is, Joh. 10. 14.
THc Fourth Place is,. Job. 10. from H 14,
to V. 30. where we fee that the Lordje-
fus, the true Pallor of Ifrael, before He was In-
carnat, Pfd. a 3. continueth in that fame Office
now, being Incarnat, and gives His People to
underftand this, when He faith, / am the good
Sheepherd.
Secoxdly, The care and cuftody of all the Re-
deemed, both converted and unconverted, was
put upon Chrift, V. 14, 16. I know my Sheep,
and am known of mine; and other Sheep I have,
which are not of this Fold, them alfo I mufl bring
in, and they fhall hear my Voice.
thirdly, The Price of their Redemption is
clearly agreed upon, V. 1 j. As the Father knows
me, evenfe know I the Father ; and I lay down my
Life for my Sheep.
Fourthly, The Father accepts the Price, and is
atisfied and well pleafed with it, Verf 17, 18.
therefore doth my Father love me, hecaufe I lay
iown my Life, that I may take it up again, &c.
Fifthly, All the Redeemed are infallibly Con-
certed, but they that are not Redeemed are nor
Converted, V.zj. My Sheep hear my Voice, and I
-vow them, and they follow me ; %\y& V. z6. But ye he*
ieve not, hecaufe ye are not of my Sheep.
Sixthly, Albeit the Redeemed and Convci>
ed fhall not want Enemies, who fhall go about
o mar their Perfeverance andSalvati$n,yet (hall
they
BOOK I. [576] CHAP. IV
they not prevail, V. 28. I give them eternal Lift
and they fh all never perijh, neither {hall any Mai
f luck them out of my hand.
Hence followeth, Fir ft, That the Dodhrine o
Univerfal Redemption of All and Eyery Mai
unto Life is falfe ; becaufeonly the Redemptioi
of the Eled: Sheep is agreed upon> for vvhon
He layeth down His Life, V. 15*. and the ref
are not Redeemed, nor ordained to Life ; fo
thefe He fpeaks to, 15.1x6, they were not of Hi:
Sheep, but remained Unbelievers.
Secondly, It followeth that the Eledion o
Men is not for Faith or Works fore-feen, but or
the contrary, Faith is ordained to be given urin
the Redeemed, becaufe they are Eled-ed anc
given over unto Chrift, to Convert and Save
therii, V. 16. Other Sheep . I have, and them 1
mufi brin^in, and they fhallhda? my Voice.
Thirdly, it folio weth* that the Converfion ol
the Eled: doth not depend on their Will, bui
upon Chrift's Undertaking to' make them be-
lieve, and upon His Omnipotency, Verf. 16
Other Sheep I have, and them I muff bring in, and
they fhall hear my Voice.
^Fourthly, It followed^ that albeit the Redeem-
ed Believers be in themfelvcs witlefs as Sheep,
and weak, and ready to be deftroyed and com-
pared about with many Enemies as Sheep a-
mong Wolves, yet becaufe of the Omnipotence
of the Father, and of the Sony that have taker
the Care and cuftody <rf themy they {hall perfe
BOOK I. [ 9? 1 CHAP. IV.
vere. And it is impofliblc they Jhould perifli,
Or not perfevere. Joh. 10. 28, 29. I give them
eternal Life ; and they /hall never perijk, and nont
can take them out of My Fathers hand.
the Fifth? roof
T He fifth Place is, Pfal. 40. explicatbythe
Apoftle, H^.io. 5, 6, 7. where Firft,
the Spirit of God expounds the Covenant where-
of we are (peaking, and brings in the Parties,
God and Chrift:, as fpeaking one to another,
and as it were, in bur fight and audiences re-
peating the Terms thereof. The Price of Re-
demption is firft fpoken of, for expiation of Sin,
not to be forgiven without Blood, without bet-
ter Blood then the Blood of Beads. Hek 10. 4.
Secondly, All Sat fsfad: ions by Men, and what-
foever Price can be payed by meer Man, are
reje&ed ; Sacrifice and Oblation Thou wouldfl not,
Verf. <;.
thirdly. Nothing except only the Incarnation
Of the Son the Mediator, His Obedience and
Suffering to the Death, could fatisfie divine
Juftice ; But a Body haft thou prepared me, VeC 5-.
Fourthly, The Mediator Chrift offers Him-"
felf Pledge and Surety of His own accord, and
takes the Condition ; then [aid I, lo I come, to
wit, as Surety to pay the Ranfom* and to do thy
will, Heb. 10. 7.
Fifthly, Chrift the Surety, not only conde-
fcends upon the Price, but alfo upon the
Q Per-
BOOK T. [ 98 ] CHAP. IV.
Perfons ro be Redeemed, and their San&ification $
By which Will we are Sanftified* by the offer jug
of the Body ofChrifl once for all : And this Price
is now a&ually payed Heb. 10. 10.
Sixthly, The Price being payed, the Media-
tor goeth about the Application of the purchaf-
ed Benefits, by His Interceflion, Heb. 10. 12.
1 3 . This Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for
Sin for ever fat down on the Right Hand of God
ftom henceforth expelling till his Enemies be made
his foot (toot.
Hence followeth, Firjl, That there is no uni-
verfal Redemption of All ag$l Every Man unto
Life, Becaufe by one. offering he hath perfected fore-
ver, them that are Sanclifed, Heb. 10. 14. there-
fore they were never Redeemed, who are. ne-
ver Sandified : and only they are perfected, who
are Redeemed.
Secondly, It follo\veth,tha.t not for any thing in
Man, neither fore-feen Faith or Works, are Men
EFe&ed and Redeemed, becaufe all is rejected
that nicer Man can do, that the meer Grace of God
may appear in Chrift's undertaking for Men of
His own accord ; Sacrifice and Oblation thou would-
eft not, then J aid I, behold \ I come , Heb. 10. 5, 7.
Thirdly, By Chrift's Death purchafe is made
of the infallible Converfion and San&ification
of the Redeemed, and, of their Perfeverancc
unto perfe&ion. By one Offering of Chrift He
hath perfected for ever them that are Santtified,
Heb. 10. 14. And therefore the Redeemed can-
not
BOOK I. [ 99 ] CHAP. IV,
not but be Converted, cannot but be Sanctified*
cannot but Prefevcre unto Perfection, and that
forever, Heh, 10. n, 13, 14.
The ufe of this Article is, Fir/?, That all
thefe who hear the Gofpel, and have in any
fort embraced it fhould in the acknowledge-
ment of their natural Corruption and perverfe
Wickednefs, humble themfelves before God, and
pray for, and exped: Grace according to the
promifes offered in the Gofpel.
Secondly, That they who are already fenfible
of their Sins and ill Defervings, may not turn a-
way or be difcouragcd, but fo much the rather^
flee to Chrift in whom relief from Sin and Mi-
fcry is promifed to fuch.
thirdly, That they who have fixed their Eye
on the Son refolvingto cleave unto Him, fhould
acknowledge the powerful Draught of God's
almighty Hand, who hath caufed them to come
co Chrift, and Ihould upon the begun Work of
Grace, conceive lively Hope of Salvation, and
fludy to purifie their Souls in this Hope.
Fourthly, That they who find the instability
md inconftancy of their own Free-will, and have
experience of their own Htart, deceiving them
"requently, after they have engaged themfelves
3y Promifes and Vows to take better heed to
::hek ways, fhould not caft away their conft-
lencein Chrift, becauft of their own Infirmity,
Hit that they fhould lean lefs to their own
Irength, and lay hold on Chrift's Power, Fide*
Q % H*
BOOK I. [ 100] CHAP. IV.
delity and Conftancy fo much the more, for to
help the Weak at fuch a dead lift. The Apoftle,
looking to ChriiVs Engagement in the Covenant,
for ctiot.e who in any meafure of fincerity adhere
unro Him, hath faid, i Cer. i. 8, 9. Chrtfl
fhall confrm you unto the end, that ye may he blame-
lejs in the day of our Lord Jefus Chr/f. God is
faithful lyVvhom ye are called unto the Fellow fhip
of ffis Son Jefus Qhrift our Lord.
Fifthly, Let us not take the guiding of our
own Free-will, but let fo many as are fled to
Chrift, give Him the Glory of the inclining of
our Heart to His Teftimonies, and to His O-
bedience in any meafure, and know that every
fpiritua! Motion flowethfrom HisPurchafe, and
Application of what is beftowed on us. And
when we find His Hand withdrawing, and our
Heart inclining to what is not right, let us run
to Him to right it, in hope to be helped by His
Grace, to fight againft whatfoever Adverfary of
our Salvation,
The Fourth Article.
A S to the Fourth Article of the Covenant of
Jf\ Redemption, it concerneth the Means and
Manner how the Elccl: fhall be called forth from
the Perifliing World, and be effectually called
and turned unto God, fo as the World, among
whom the ElecT: do live, fhall not have cauic
of (tumbling juftly : For,- fie hath taken a mod
Wife courfe lb to execute the Degree of Election
and
I (OKI. [ ioi ] CHAR IV.
and Redemption, as He fliall be fure to bring
in His own to Himfelf, and not to open up His
Qounfel in particularto thedifcouragingofany,
as is told by the Father, If a. 52. 13. My Ser-
vant Jball deal prudently and pro/pen The chief
Mean appointed, is the Preaching of the Gofpel
to ail Nations, commanding all Men, where
the Gofpel is by God's Providence preached, to
Repeat and Believe in the Name of Jefus Chrift,
and to love one another as He hath commanded
them, Acts 1.7. 30. and', 1 Joh. 3. 23. and
they who refufe to obey are without Excufe.
Another Mean is, the bringing of fo many as
profeis their Acceptation of the Oder of Grace
by Chrift Jefus, them and their Children into
the Bond of an exprefs Solemn Covenant, that
they fliall iubmit themfelves to the Dodtrine
and Government of Chrift, and teach their
Children fo to do, as Abraham the Father of Be-
lievers did, Gen. 18. 19. Matth. 28. 19, 20.
Make Difciples of all Nations, or, make all Nations
Difciples to Me.
A Third Mean is, the fealing of the Cove-
nant by the Sacrament of Baptiim, Matth. 28.
19, 20. Make all Nations D/Jciples to Me, Bap-
tizing them in the Name of the Father, of the Sw,
and of the Holy Ghoft..
A Fourth Mean is, the gathering them into
all lawful and pofiible Communion with o-
thers His Difciples, that by their Church fellow-
fbip one with another, they may be edified
C 3 UIH
BOOK I. [ io* ] CHAP. IV.
under their Officers appointed in Chrift's Tefta-
ment to Feed, Govern and Lead them on in the
Obedience of all the Commands which Chrift
hath commanded His People in HisTeftament:
By which Means He goeth about His Work,
aod doth call effectually, San&ifie and Save,
His own Redeemed Ones, leaving all others
without Excufe r
Concerning all thefe and other Means and
Manner alfo of executing His Decree, it is a-
greed upon between the Father and His Son
Chrift, as His holy Spirit hath revealed it to
us in Scripture. All which majg be taken up in
Two Heads ; the one is, The agreement about
the Dodrrine, and Dire&ions given to His
Church ; the other is, About Anions, Oper-
ations, and all Etfe&s to be brought about for
making His Word good.
Concerning His Dodtrine, Chrift faith, Job.
12. 49, 50. I have not fpoken of My f elf > hut
the Father Who hath fent Me, He gave Me a
Commandment whatlfhouldfay, and what I Jbould
[peak, and I know, that His Commandment is Life
everlaftivg, whatfcever If peak therefore, even as
the Father faid unto Me, fo If peak.
Concerning Actions and Operations, and the
execution of the Decrees, it is agreed alfo be-
tween the Father and the Son. Joh. 8. 16. If
I judge, My Judgement is true : For, I am not a-
lone s lut land the Father that fent Me ; and verH
29. He that fent Me, is with Me, the Fatter
hath
BOOK I. [ 103 ] CHAP. IV
hath not left Vie alone : For I do always thefe things
that pleafe Him ; and Joh. 6. 38. / came dam
from Heaven, not to do My own Will (without the
Confent of the Father ) but the Will of 'Him that
fefit Me.
In a word, the Confent and Agreement of the
Father and the Son JefusChrifl our Lord, is fuch,
that the Son doth nothing by His Spirit, but
that which the Father doth work by the fame
Spirit from the beginning of the World, Joh. 5.
17. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work;
and Col. 1. 16. For by Chriftwere all things create
ed that are in Heaven and that are in Earth, vi-
fible and invifible, whether they be Thrones or Do-
minons, or Principalities, or Powers all things
were ere at <td by Him and for Him \ He is Alpha
and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the
fir ft Efficient, and the la ft End of all things. Rev.
1. 8. becaufe for the Glory of Chrift, the Cre-
ation, the Covenant of Works, and the Cove-
nant of Grace, were made, and had, and {hall
have their full execution, all for the Glory of
God in Chrift, by Whom all Things were made
and do fubfift.
CHAP. V.
Of the Covenant of Works.
W£ have fpoken of the firft Divine Co*
venant, wherein God, and God Jncar-
nat are the Parties; it followeth to
(peak of the next Divine Covenant, to wit, the
G 4 Cp ?
BOOK I. [ 104 ] CHAP. V.
Covenant of Works between God and Man, A-
dam and his Pofterity, made in Man's Integrity.
In which Covenant, God is onely the one Par-
ty of the Covenant, and Man created with all
natural Perfections, is the other Party. In this;
Covenant, Man's continuing in a happy Life, is
promifed, upon condition of perfect perfonal O-
bedience, to be done by him out of his own na-
tural ftrength bellowed upon him, as the Apoftle
teacheth us, Gal. 3. ii. the Law is not of Faith,
hut the Man who Jh a 11 do thefe things Jh all live by
them. And unto this Law or Covenant of Works,
is added a threatning of Death in cafe Man
iliould tranfgrefs ; The fenfe whereof is told by
the' Apoftle, Gal. 3. 10. Curfed is every one who
doth not abide in all things, that are written in the
$ook of the Law to do them.
'The Difference between the Law, and the Covenant
of Works.
THe word Law, is (bmetime taken for the
Matter or Subftanceof the Law of Nature,
written in the Hearts of our firfl: Parents by Crea-
tion; the work of vvhichLaw is to be found in. the
Hearts of their Pofterity unto this day. And in this
fenfe the wordLau>,is taken by theApo(tle,i?^w.x.
1 j. "The Gentiles (faith he) [hew the work of the
Law written in their Hearts, their Conference alfo
tearing wit nefs, &c. Sometime the Word is ta-
ken for the formal Covenant of Works, as Gal.
3.10. As many as are of the works of the Laiv,thzt
is
BOOKI. [ioj] CHAP.V.
is, under the Covenant of Works, are under the
Curfe: For, it is Written, Curfed is every one that
continueth not in all things that are written, in the
Book of the Law, to do them.
x. The Law as it is taken for the Covenant
of Works, differeth from the Law of Nature,
written by Creation in the Hearts of our firfl
Parems ; firfl:, becaufe the Law of Nature, writ-
ten in theHeatt of Man, in order both of Na-
ture, and Time, went before the Covenant
made for keeping that Law ; becaufe the Co-
venant for keeping that Law, was not made till
after Man's Creation, and after h(s bringing in-
to the Garden to drefs it, and to keep it, Gen.
z. 16. 17,
Secondly, God by vertue of the Law written
in Man's Heart, did not oblige Himfelf to per-
petuat Man's happy Life : For, albeit Man had
keeped that Law mod acuratly, God was free to
difpofe of him as He faw fit before He made the
Covenant with him ; but fo foon as He made
the Covenant, He obliged Himfelf to preferve
him in a happy Life, fo long as he fliould go
on in obedience to His Law and Commands, ac-
cording to the Tennor of the Covenant, Do this
and live.
thirdly, Death was the natural Wages and
Merit of Sin, albeit there had no Covenant been
madeatall: For, Sin againft God, deferveth,of
its own Nature, Death ofSoul and Body, by
the Rule of fimple Juftice, whether the Sinner
had
BOOKI. [106] CHAP. V.
had contented to the Puniftiment or not . But
Man by entering in the Covenant adtually gave
a formal voluntary Confent, that Death fhould
feife upon him, if he fhould Sin, as Evah bear-
eth witnefs in her Conferrence with the Serpent,
while fhe doth repeat the Condition put upon
the breaking of the particular Command given
by God, and accepted by Man, Gen. 3. 3.
Fourthly, When the Covenant of Works is
abolilbed fo far, as it can neither juftifie, nor
condemn the Man that is fled to Chrift, and
^ntrcd in another pofterior Covenant of Grace,
the natural Obligation of the Man ftandeth ftill,
rbr taking direction from, and giving obedience
to the Law; For, it remaineth ftill the Rule of
a Man's walking, and it is impoflible that a
meer Man fhould be exeemed from the Autho-
rity of God over him, and from fubj edition due
by Nature to his Creator : For upon this ac-
count that Man is a reafonable Creature, under-
ftanding God's Will about his Behaviour toward
God, he is always bound for ever to love God
with all his Mind, Heart and Strength, and
his Neighbour as himfelf. Neither can the na-
tural Merit of Sin be taken away, ncr Death
defervedbe efhewed but byForgivenefsofit for
Chrift's Merits.
The Covenant then was fuperadded unto the
Law in the deep Wifdom of God : For this way
of dealing with Man by a Covenant, was, of its
owq
BOOK I. [ 107 ] CHAP. V.
own Nature, amoftfit Mean uftto Man's Felici-
ty, and unto the Glory of God.
Hvwthe Covenant of God with Man was a Vie an
to Mans Felicity.
THe Covenant of God with Man, tended of
its own nature to Man's Good and Hap-
pinefs.
Firft, Becaufe a Angular Refped and Honour
was put upon Man, when he was made a Con-
federal Friend of God '• For if it be an Honour
to a mean and poor Man to be joined with a
King or Prince ina formal Bond o£iutual Friend-
fhip,how much greater Honour is it unto Man,
to be joined in a Bond of mutual Love & Friend-
{hip with God >
Secondly, Before the making of die Covenant,
Man had no Promife made to him by God, but
fo {bon as the Covenant was made, the Lord did
freely oblige Himfelf to give, and made to Man
a Right to ask, and to exped: of God, with a
Ground of Certainty, to obtain of Him fuch
Things, as without Promife pad, he could not
ask, or at leaft, he could not certainly exped!
Co have granted unto him.
Thirdly, Before the making of the Covenant,
nothing hindred the Lord, if He had pleafed, to
command Man to return to Duft whereof he was;
but after the Covenant, it pleafed God, by His
own free Promife, to oblige Himfelf to perpe-
tuate
BOOK L [ 108 ] CE[ AP. V.
tuate Mans Happinefs wherein he wa^made, fo
long as he fhould go on in Obedience.
Fourthly, By the making of the Covenant, a
Door was opened, and a fair Entry to a higher
degree of Felicity than he poffefled by his Crea-
tion : For, when a natural Life and earthly Fe-
licity was given to Adam to enjoy upon the Earth,
God, by the Covenant, made padion with him
upon condition of perfed: Obedience, to give
him a Life and Felicity fuper-natural, oppofite
unto Death bodily and fpiritual, which was
threatned unto him if he fliould tranfgrefs the
Command.
Fifthly, A Jam, by the Covenant, had a fort
of Help to make him keep the Law written in
his Heart more carefully and cautioufly, and a
Prop to make him (land more fixed : For on the
one hand, he was advertifed and forewarned of
the Danger of Sinning, that he might beware to
offend God; and on the other hand, he was en-
couraged and allowed to ferveGod more cheer-
fully, and to perform due Obedience to God
the more diligently ; For^ in the Covenant, the
greateft Reward that could be thought upon was
let before him, and promifed unto him; to wit,
eternal Life upon his Obedience, and the grea-
teft Punilhment threatned if he fliould Dif-obey;
both which ferved greatly to move him to be
conftant in his Obedience,
BOOK I. [ 109 ] CHAT?. V.
Hott> God's Covenanting with Man ferved for God's
Glory.
IN God's covenanting with Man, His Glory-
did notably fhine and fhew forth it felf to
Man. Firft, The Goodneis and Bounty of God
did manifeft it (elf therein : For, in making a
Covenant with Man, the Lord demitted Him-
felf, and in a manner humbled Himfelf to deal
with Man, for the {landing of mutual Friendlhip
between Himfelf and Man for ever: And when
we confider this, as the Pfalmid faith, Pfal. 8.4.
What is Man that Thou art mindful of him? and
the Son of Man that Thou vifitefl him ? So may we
fey, What is Man ? or the Son of Man, that
Thou fliouldeft enter in Covenant with him ?
Secondly, By covenanting with Man, God did
Ihow His wonderful Moderation : For, God is
Soveraign Monarch and Abfolute Emperor over
His own Creature, to make of it what He pleat
eth ; yet, in covenanting with Man, He did
fweetly temper His Supreamacy, feeking, as it
Were, to reign with Man's Confent. And when
becaufe of His Soveraign Authority and Abfo-
lute Right and Int@reft, he might have put upon
Man harder Commands and Conditions of the
Covenant, and thefe alfo altogether Righteous
and Juft, He choofed to ufe fuch Moderation,
that He would require nothing of Man, except
that which Man fhould and behoved in reafon
judge both a juft and aneafie Yoke, and in ac-
cept-
BOOK I. [ no ] CHAP. V
ceoting the Condition of the Covenant, acknow-
ledge it to be fuch.
Thirdly, The Lord declared His Wifdom in
covenanting with Man, becaufe when He had
made Man a reafonable Creature, He choofed
to draw forth a free and voluntary Service, moft
futeable to his reafonable Nature, and that in a
moft fweet way ; to wit, not only by giving
unto Man a moft equitable Law, but alfo by
fetting before the Man, by way of padtion, the
higheft Reward that he could be capable of, e-
ven Life everlafting.
Fourthly, In covenanting with Man, God did
moft wilely and holily have a Refpedt to the Glo-
ry of His own, both Soveraigncy and Holinefs;
becaufe after He had made Man by Nature Good
and Holy (albeit muteable and fubjecft to change,
if the Man pleafed to eflay another way ) He
took courfe to help themutablity of his Free*
will, not only by fetting a Reward of Obedience
before him, but alfo by a threatning of Fu-
niftiment, if he fliould tranfgrefs, andfbonthe
one hand and the other to hedge him in, and
guard him againit all temptation unto Sin, that
neither he Ihiuld be forced by any external
Power to Sin, nor by any Counfel or Suggeftion,
or moral Swafion ( whereunto only Man was
expofedin the trial of his Obedience,) fhould
have fo flrorg Motives to draw him to Difobe-
dience, as thepromife of God, and thethreat-
nirg fl-.cuid have force in all Reafon, to keep
him
BOOK I. [ m ] CHAP.V-
him faft to, his due and loyal Obedience. Thus
was Adam fore-warned and fore-armed againfl;
whatfoever, without himfelf, might aflault him :
For, what Reward for Difobedicnce could be
offered unto him, ib great as the Favour of God
and everlafting Life in the fellowfhip of God;
promifed to; him, if he continued faft ia Obe-
dience > and what Terror eoUld be fo great to a-
fright and skar him from Sin, as the threatning
of Death bodily and (piritual,if he tranfgrefled?
Quejl. But the profane Curiofity of Mandareth
to ask a Reafon, why God did not make Man
both good by Nature and immutably good al(b>
Anf. It is indeed proud Curiofity to enquire
for Reafons of God's holy Will, which hath its
own mod fufficient Reafon in its felf, and may
fatisfy all His Subje&s, who will not devilifhly
prefer their own Wifdom and Counfel to His :
But we fliall content our felves foberly to anfwer
the Queftion thus : To be both criminally, or by
Nature Good, and unchangeably Good alfo, be-
feemeth God Himfelfonly, as His Property and
Prerogative, which it became His Majefty to
referve to Himfelf as the Fountain of all Good-
nefs, and not to communicat this Glory either to
Man or Angel in their Creation, that the due.
diftance between God and the natural Perfections
of the Creature, fliould not only be provided
for, but made manifesto the Creature alfo. It's
true, Chrift's humane Nature was fo (an&ified
in His Conception, that there was no poflibili-
BOOK I. [ in ] CHAP. V.
ty that Sin fhould be in it ; but let us confider,
that Chrift's Perfon which did affume the humane
Nature into perfonal union with His God-head,
is not a Creature ; and to afiiime the humane
Nature into a perfonal union with His divine
Nature, is the proper Priviledge of God over
all, blefled for ever. And what the humane
Nature of Chrift hath of Holinefs, it hath it
not of it felf, but of Grace from the fecpnd
Perfon of the God-head, who did affume it.
And the Angels that Hood when the mutability
of angelical Nature was manifefted in the fall
of many of them, did (land by the Grace of
free confirmation of them in their ftation.
Fifthly, God in covenanting with Man, made
way for . the Demonftration of His moft holy
Juftice in the execution of Puniihment, which
was not only the natural Wages arid deferved
Reward of Sin, but alio by Padhoh and Cove-
nant appointed by mutual Content! 6f Parties,
if Man, fo much obliged tbGdd, fhould break
fo equitable and cafie a Command, as was gi-
ven to try him by, being fore-warned of his
Danger.
Sixthly, This way of covenanting with Man,
Was a moft holy and fit Mem to fnanifeft the
Vanity and Inftability of the moft perfect Crea-
ture, except in the cxef cife of all its' Abi titles &
Habits, it do acknowledge God; and in every
thing left and more; conftantly miploy Him,
and depend upon Hin :
m
BOOK! [ 113 3 CB-AP. V 3
Lafi of all, This was a mod holy Mean to
bring forth to light the Grace and Mercy of
God in Chrift,providing a Remedy for fallen Man
before he fell, and to open up the Decree and Co-
venant of Redemption in due time,to be brought
about by Chrift, to the Glory of God in Chrift,
by Whom, and for Whem all things were wade,
Col
Cbejl, Had this Covenant of Works no Me-
diator, no Surety engaged for Adam and all his
Pcjfterlry.?
if. No Mediator was in this Covenant ; for
the party on the one hand, was God, and on the
other hand was Adam and Evepwi common Pa-
ling upon the ground of their natu-
,, reprefentirig and coir- iing
■turalOfffpring: fliftd ring to
:he Condition oi the Covenant in their own
name,and name of their Pofterisy, promifingO-
bedjen:; receiving the- condition of Life if
thfey continued, and of Death in cafe they failed,
Gpti: . U >v}\ofe.i i H have finned, Row,
of a Mediator, did not ap-
pear in this Covenant fo long as it flood, that
aftenvacd in the making of another Covenant;
it might more timeoufly appear. Firft, becauie
Man being created; Holy according to the M
©f God, ;- was the Friend of God while he had
net (mmd ;.aitd again his Service, while he
flood m Ohedieuce, < was very plea&nt irid
fit
BOOK I. [ ir 4 ] CHAP. V.
ceptable to God, becaufe fo long freely and fm-
cercly he ferved God according to the Com-
mand and Rule written in his Heart.
Queft. After that this Covenant was broken,
was it not abolilhed altogether, feing it could
not now be any longer perfectly obeyed, nor
iave us who are Sinners ?
Anf. Albeit this Covenant, being broken on
Mans Part, did become weak and utterly un-
able to produce Juftification by Works, or eter-
nal Life to us, by our inherent Righteoufnefs ;
yet, on God's part, the Bond of this Covenant,
doth Hand firm and ftrong againft all Men by
Nature for their Condemnation, who are not
c :m riled to God : Wherefore all that are not
a and made Friends with God by another
- nit of Faith in Godincarnat ( the Seed of
- i oman, who deftroyeth the Work of the
Devil ) do lye bound under the Bond of this Co-
vciant of Works, as Chrift teftifies, Joh. 3. 18.
He that believeth on me, is not condemned ; but he
that believe th not, is condemned already ; to wit,
by the force of the Covenant of Works violated
by them, and are not delivered from the Curie
by Chrift the Son of God, till they fly to Him :
And this doth the Apoftle confefs, fpeaking of
himfelf acd other elecl: Jews before their Rege-
neration, Eph.i.^We alfowere Children of Wrath,
even as 0//w.r:for,whofoever is not reconciled to
God by Chrift, againft him doth the Sentence
of the Law, and Curfe for Violation of the Co-
ve-
BOOK I. [ u S ] tHAP.V.
venant, ftandin force .- For, finning againft the
Covenant, doth not loofe the Man from the Co-
venant,neither from the Obligation to obey it,
nor from the punifhment of breaking it.
Olj. But feing a Man is utterly unable to o-
feey the Law, or to keep that Covenant, doth
not his utter inability oxcufe him and diflblve the
Bond ? \
Anf. No ways : Becaufe that Inability is the
Fruit of our Sin, and is drawn on by our felves ;
nor doth God lofe His Right to crave the Debt
due to Him, becaufe the Bankrupt is not able
to pay what he oweth : For, even among Men,
fiicn as have mif-fpent their Patrimony, are not
abfolved of their Debt becaufe they are not able
to pay the Debt; yea, even the Children of the
Mif-fpender of his Goods, do Hand Debtors fo
long as the Debt is neither payed nor forgiven.
The Covenant of Works therefore being
broken, the Obligation ftandeth, to make us'
give obedience fo much the more in time to'
come, and becaufe of the Cur fe pronounced for
the breaking of the Covenant in time pad, the
Obligation to undet-lye the Puniihment for by-
gone Sins doth ftand ; andfo both the Obligati-
on to underly the Punifhment, and the Obliga-
tion to give Obedience, do (land together, while
a Man is not abfolved from the Covenant of
Works, by entring in a new Covenant, where-
by the Debt is payed and the Sinner abfolved.
H x Who-
BOOK f. [ 116 CHAP. "V,
Whofoever then conceive, that they may be
Sect from by-gone Sins by their own Obedi-
- in time to come, either by way of doing or-
. ;. theybiit'cleceivcthemfcives, drcaoi-
•^cy can do ImpoiTibilities ; For, the Puniih-
it to be fliffered for Sin by the Sinner, is the
"Curfe-evcrlaftingof Soul and Body, icing ameer
ature cannot for ever fatisfie for his Rebellion,
how long foever we preilippofe his duration un-
der fuffcring. And for Obedience by way of do-
perfedfcly what the Law doth crave, it is ut-
y impoinbie, becaufe we are carnal, fold un-
Mii, and cannot fatisfie the Law* ; and becaufe
:\nnot fetisfie the Law, the Law becometh
I; arid unable, to juftifie -and fave us, jR^w.8.3.
How the Covenant of Works may he called the
• Covenant of Nature.
: A Lbeit the Law written by Nature ift Mens
jTx Heart, dirlereth from the Covenant for
rmance of the Law, as hath been fhown be-
; yet, the Covenant of works made with
before he-fell,; tying him to keep that
ay be called the Covenant of Nature.
■ Frrfi, Becaufe 'the C :: of Works is
n the Law of Nature, and doth
dung of Man, fave that which God
[it require of him according to the La
:ure.
Secondly, Bec'au fe when the Covenant of works
made with Adam, it was made with all his
' .Na-
^EOOE [ 117 3 CHAP. V,
' natural Pofterity, which wastofpringefThirn by
natural Generation-; and fo tba Obligation there-
of did pals upon all his natural Pofterity, by the
Law of Nature, which niaketh the Child b.
ten to bear the Image of the Begetters.
Thirdly, That the Covenant of Works r
jiiflly be called the Covenant of Nature, ap :
:e of the Confcience being wai
fieepy Security; for, it cba
Sin according to that Covenant, and pro-
riofcneeth the Sentence of God's .Wrath ag
Sinner: For, the Confcience doth acknow-
e the Judgement of God, That they 1
ikitfgSj arewrthy of Death, Rom. 1. 32,,
Fou oecaufe the Confcience naturally
clineth aMan to leek J unification by his
ks, if it can any way find pretence for it*
as we may fee ia the Phqrifee,' who m his Speech
to God, doth judge himfeif a holy Man, becaufe
he is nor nmongli the word of Men, and hath
iy good , Works above others to reckon
forth and lay before' God, Lu&. 18. 11
Fifthly, The Inclination of Man's Heart, to
expect a Reward of every good Work he doth,
whether it be in fome part real or only apparent-
ly, fiich tellihcth fo much, *jWg. 17. 13./?//-
\pod, Viie to my P.riejl*
how bly the Confcience may be d
"ale, when Men do dote upon their
: crying, a] u in L
H ;
pOOK I. [ 118 ] GHAP. V.
Gen. 30. 18. Leah faith, God hath given m e
my hire, becaufe I have given my Maiden to my
Husband.
* Sixthly, This Point is alfo made manifeft by
the natural Ignorance of Righteoufnefs by Faith'
and affe&ation to be juftifiedby Works, which
the Appoftle finds fault-with in the Ifralites
Rom.9.3 1. 7hey fought Righteoufnefs not by Faith 9
but as it were by Works : And Rom. 10. 3. being
Ignorant of the Righteoufnefs of God, and going a*
bout to ejlablifh their own Righteoufnefs ( to wit,
Righteoufnefs by Works, according to the tenor
of the Covenant of Works) they did not fubmit
themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of God.
Seventhly, The fame Courfe followed by Pa-
fifls and other erroneous Teachers, teftifieth the
natural inclination of Men to feek Righteoufnefs
by Works, according to the tenor of the Cove-
nant of Works, and not by Faith in Chrift Jefus,
that Righteoufnefs may come by Grace only;and
lb are feme Mens Hearts glued to this Error,that
jhey do transform J unification by Faith injufti-
ification by one Work in flead of all, as if the
Work of Faith were the Man's Righteoufnefs,
and not Chrift Himfelf laid hold on by Faith •'
Notconfidering, that to the Man thatrenounc-
eth all confidence in any work of his own, and
flieth to Chrift by Faith, Chrift is made of God
unto that Man Wifdom and Righteoufnefs, 1 Cor. 1.30.
Laflofall, This natural Inclination even of the
Regenerate to feek Righteoufnefs by Works, doth
^ prove
BOOK I. [ 119 ] CHAP V.
prove the Covenant of Works to be naturally in-
graft in all Mens Hearts, as appeareth in the
Galatians, who being inftrudted in the Do&rine
of Juftification by Faith in Chrift, without the
Works of the Law, did eafily upon a Tentation
offered, lookback with liking to the way of
Juftification by Works,for which the Apoftle re-
provech them, Gal. 4. 21. Tell me (Taith he)
ye that defire to he under the Law, . or Covenant
of Works; and Ver. 9. But now after ye have
known God, or rather are known of God, how turn
ye again to weak and beggarly Elements, whereunto
you dejtre again to be in bondage ?
Obj. But, the Galatians as itfeemeth, did not
rejedt Juflification by Faith, but did join with
it Juftification by the Works of the Law, think-
ing that the fafeft way was to join both together.
Anf. The inconfifiency of rhefe two ways of
Juftification, theApoflle flieweth, Rom. 11. 6.
For, Juftification by Grace,is no more by Works,
otherwife Grace is no more Grace, and what
Juftification is by Works, is no more of Grace,
otherwife Work is no more Work. And there-
fore the Apoftle makes the joining of thefe two
ways of Juftification to be nothing elfe but a
plain feeking of Juftification by the Covenant of
of Works, which cutteth a Man off from any
benefit by Chrift, Gal. 5*. 2. and whofoever
feeketh to be juftified by the Law, or Cove-
rt of Works, is fallen from Grace, Ver. 4
H a For
BO'OJK'I. Jbfi£ ] GHAP, H.
For further clearing this Matter, we may di«
ilinguiih Two forts of the Covenant of Works:
The one is True, Genuine, and of God's Tniti-
tution, which God made with. afli M -dam,
for perfect obedience unto God's Law, out of
Man's own natural Abilities. The." other
Couhterfit,8aftard Covenant of Works,6f "Man's
own devifing, which : a Siiiner, lyifYg'inhis Sin's
(unable to do what the Law commands, or to
fuffer what the Law, being-broken^- binds'*"
him) of his own head devifeth, upon other Con-
ditions than God hath f r will have God^
to take hisdevifed Covenant inflead of perfe6fc
Obedience to the Law, th*c Co i. be Jufti-
fied. Such was the Covenant, which the carnal
Ifraelites made with God in ttie Wildernefe, and
which their Pofterity did follow, turning the
venant of Grace, whereunto God was •ealling them
intoa Covenant of Works of their own •
For, the Grace which- was- offered' to '
Chrift,under the vail of Leviticai Types, Ffjgi
andCeremonies,they turned into an - I fer-
•vice'of performance only of bare- %nd dead'Gere-
monies, and into a of theXetter and
Death: For they did not takeupChrift to be the
End of the Law, for P one
that believes in Him, but did think, that both'
the Moral-and Ceremonial La\V was given- unto
them- of God, so the i; '.hey 'flio'ald do
rfo of the Moral -.La ; r- as-
they could; and when they cranfgrefied the
BOOK I [fc« CHAP. V.
Mora lliw, they fhould "{He to the Ceremonial
and make droeri£s4bt their Fades' by {arisfy- ;
ing eir Sin xrernal Sacrifice of
feme clean Beafl o(fered to God, the
d their Glostlk" S'
novy teiays many
make w mttln th the old Pfe-
r/fey'di&(ertfe*o£t '• Law, br
exec. 3 " iiiay keen
the> : in-
2 Utl-
xhteot^Vx 7 ; i And-'
this es : to be : gui!ty
of original -fe Lfiftj andby extenuating
and d'imimfl Faftlis,< as $&« Hgh't and-
factions? fc '&£*
*ead
or )V
that (b £ •/ be ju'fl'ified by r - -rks'and
Such- air; k Covenant, who
feek ]ui : ? deeeafed Sfillts Merits; I
itagt • Absolution from Sin, an4
of Co-
venants of Mens fram I call Baftard-Co-
of Works, becaufe God will not admit
any other Covenant of Works than that which
requires, perfonal Obedience, And
die*' r.o bejnnified by
-t the Obligation "of per-
ionatOk- Mgftt pal;* of Death,
1
BOOK I. [ lia, ] CHAP. V.
and will be found not only utterly unable to do
any good Work, but alfo to be without Chrift,
and to be fallen from Grace, as the Apoftle
(Gal. 5-. 3, 4. ) doth teach us.
Obj. Seing God doth abhor thefe Baftard-
covenants of Works, and doth well know, that
Men are fo far from performance of the due o-
bediencc of the Law, that they are utterly un-
able before they be reconciled through Faith in
Chrift, to do to much as one acceptable Work
as the Ffalmift teacheth, PfaL 14. 1. 2, 3. Why
doth the Lord exadperfed Obedience unto the
Law from Sinners? why doth He prefs fo inftant-
ly the Slaves of Sin to perform the Duties requi-
red in the-true Covenant of Works ?
Anf. The Lord juftly doth abhor and rejcd
thefe Baftard-covenants, becaufe they evacuat
and make void both the Covenant of Works and
the Covenant of Grace, which is by Faith inChrift;
and He doth prefs all Men to perform perfed O-
bedience to all the Commands whereunto they
are naturally obliged, to the end that proud Men,
conceity of their own natural Abilities, may find
by experience, that they are unable to perform
the Condition of the Covenant of Works, and
may acknowledge the fame, and fo defpair of
Righteoufnefs by their Works, and be forced to
flye to Chrift, and to the Covenant of Grace
through Him, that they may be fred from that
Covenant ; and being juftifiedby Faith in Chrift,
may be enabled to begin new obedience to the law
in
BOOK I [ 123 ] CHAR V.
in the ftrength of Chrift's Furniture:For,C£/7$ is
the End of the Law for Right evufnefs to every one
that believeth, Rom. 10. 4. And the Law en-
tered, that Men might by the Law fee and ac-
knowledge that the Offence did abound, and
then might perceive, that the Riches of Grace
by Chrift, did faper-abound, Rom. 5. 20, 21.
and, 1 Tim. 1. 5. The End of the Command, is
Love out of a pure Heart, and a good Confaence,
and Faith unfained.
This was the End of the promulgation of the
Law in Mount Sinai, that a ftiff-necked People,
milling in their own Abilities, might be made
fenfible of their imperfe&ion, by the repetition
of the Law. And to this alfo God fuper-added
the external Yoke of the Ceremonial Law, which
neither they, nor their Pofterity were able to
bear, Ads 15. 10. that the People perceiving
their manifold Pollutions and Guiltinefs,where-
in they were daily involved by breaking of
God's Law, might, in the fenfe of the Burden
lying on them, and of their damnable Eftate
under it, fly to Chrift the Lamb of God that
takes away the Sins of the World, as He was
reprefented and offered to their fight in the Sa-
crifices and Burnt-offerings.
Of this End of preffing the Law upon proud
Men, we have an Example, Matth. 19. 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22. in the Conference of Chrift
with the young conceity rich Man, who in the
opinion of his own inherent Righteoufnefs, and
of
gOOK I [ 1*4 ] CHAP. V,
of his Abilities, was hudgely fwelled, as if he
had already for time by-gone fatisfied the whole
Law, and that he was ab!e and ready to do any
good Work which could be prefcribed unto him;
ior obtaining -of eternal Life; whofe pfoud Con-
ceit, that Chrift might humble and bring down,
He craveth nothing but that he would keep the
Commands: And when the young Man denied
that he had broken the Law, He proveth hini
guilty of grofs and vile Idolatry, from this, that
he put a higher eftimation on his Riches than
on Remiffion of Sin.and did love them more than
Heaven and feliowfhip with God in eternal Life*
In all this let it be confidered,that albeit Mens
confidence in their Works, doth dilpleafe 'God ;
good Works do not difpleafe Him,but they
are io far pleafant unto Him, that- there is no
moral Motive which may ferve to ftk up in His
People,an endeavour to follow after good Works,
which the Lord doth not make ule of; partly ,by
(etttng before them the Reward if they o;
partly, by fetting Puriifliments before their 1
if they obey not: "yea, and the very Obfervation
of external rnor&I Duties and Obedience 5 fuch as
may be difibharged by the unregehera't Man (al-
beit God in relation to Juftification do efteem it
polluted »and vile) yet He dothibmetimcs reward
their external Works, by giving them externa! and
oral BenefitS'for their encouragement:
zvznAba&s temporary Huniiihnon the Lord ib
>ed ; thar there ♦
- d
BOOK!. I'xxf CHAP, m
delay to take Vengeance upon him, 1 Kings 2,1,
27, x8, 2,9. Likewiie the Lord uieth to recorn-
pence the civil juftice of Pagans with a temporal
Re ward, yea and to reward the outward Diligetace
ery Man in every lawful Occupation/ with
feme anfwera tie outward Reward.
The very Pharzfees, who for the railing to
themlelves a Fame and higher Eftimation for Ho-
linefs, did take a great deal of pains, in Prayers
in the Streets and .Mcrcat-places, and other Exer=
cifes of Religion, wanted not an anfwerable Re-
ward; Verily (faith Chrift) thy have their Reward,
Matth. 6. z.
And this Courfe the Lord doth keep, that He
may entertain & fofter the civil fociety of Men
among themfelves, and that His People, looking
on this Bounty of God,may be ft irredup the more
tc» bring forth the Fruits of Faith,in hope of amei>
ciful promifed better Reward of Grace in the Life
to come, befide what they may have in this Life,
C H A P. VL
Of the Covenant of Grace.
THE Third and '.Laft Covenant concerning
Han's eternal Salvation, is the Covenant
of Grace, made between God and Man,
through CL ; Mediator.
Grace, fometiffies fimply and abfolutely taken,
is oppofed to Merit ; and in this fenfe,every good
thing,, which of God's gece .re is ordained^
BOOK I. [ 116 ] CHAP. VI,
or promifed,or actually beftowed on the Creature,
prefuppofe innocent, is called Grace: Becaufe it
is impoflible that a meer Creature, can properly
merit any good thing of God; becaufe the Crea-
ture neither hath,nor can have,that which it hath
not received, Rom. n. 35. Who hath fir ft given to
him, and it [hall he recommenced to him -again.
Sometime Grace is taken for every Gift or Good
beftowed by God upon the ill Deferver: In which
fenfe, Gifts,common to Eledt and Reprobate,are
called by the name of Grace. Rom.u>. Efhef.q.j.
Sometime Grace is taken in opposition to the
pa&ional Merit of Works,or to the Reward due
by Debt covenanted, as Rem. 4.4. To him that
worketh, the Reward is not reckoned of Grace, hut of
Deht. In Which fenfe, That which is given for
Works, is not given of Grace, Rom. 11. 16. and
in this fenfe we take Grace as it is oppofed to the
Covenant of Works: For, the Condition of the
Covenant of Works, is the giving perfed: Obe-
dience to the Law; but the Condition of the Co-
venant of Grace, is the receiving of Chrifl by
Faith unto Righteoufnefs and Life, offered in the
Gofpel, without the Works of the Law ; which
Covenantjnay thus be defcribed, The Cove-
nant of Grace is a Contrad: between God andMen,
procured by Chrifl upon thefe Terms, that who-
foeverinthe fenfe of their own finfulnefs fhall
receive Chrift Jefus offered in the Gofpel, for
Righteoufnefs and Life, fhall have Him and all
the Benefits purchafed by Him> according to the
60*-
BOOK I. [ i% 7 ] CHAP. VI.
Covenant of Redemption ; and that God will be
his God, and the God of his Children. This
Covenant of Grace is founded upon the Cove-
nant of Redemption, paft between God and Chrift,
wherein it was agreed, that all theEleit given
unto Chrift, ihall be reconciled in due time to
to God, and that to this end, this Grace Ihould
be preached to bring about the Reconciliation ;
and therefore Chrift is called the Mediator of the
new Covenant, Heb. n. zz.
Of Infants Inter eft in this Covenant.
G#C/?.T7[THat Intereft have Infants in this Co-
V V venant >
Anf. The fame which they had fince the firft
exprefs and formal making thereof with Abraham,
to whom God promifed to be his God, and the
God of his Children, whofe Children all ar$,
who are in Chrift, Gal. 3. 27, z8, 29.
For, of the Redeemed (ome come to Age,whom
God,having called by the Preaching of the Go-
fpel, doth induce and effectually move, to em-
brace folemnly the offered Fellowlhip with God
and His Saints in Chrift, and to confecrat tfiem-
felves and their Children unto theferviceofGod.
There are other Redeemed Ones,wko die in their
infancy, before they come to the ufeofReafon,
to whofe Salvation God hath exprefs refped:, in
making His Covenant with their Parents, that
He will not have them excluded from the Blet
fing, when He calls theirParcnts toHrm, but
•BOOK I. t i*8 ] CHAP. IV.
. in the common Cfier of Grace and Reconciliation
: by thrift. He - promife jointly to Ae
Parents and -the Chile; or, ino fcoittcfc,
{ £!kI -with one Breath, Ut faith, /will
le thy Gotland thy Seeds after thee^Gtw. 15. -ij
whereofthe/ippliv ufc, Ails z^q
declaring the Promife to be n^deto the Jews and
-their Children, and to the- called Gentiles znd
their Children, And upon this gound Tad and
Silas, timeoufly did offer ation to the Jai-
lour, trembling and anxious whatwayheihould
be fayed, Ails r 6, 3 1 faying,, Believe hi Chrijl
■ Jefus, andthoufhaltbefaved^thouandthy Houfh,
As for the manner how the Lorddealeth with
Infants' ail converting theni, the
- ipture doth not fpeak, for this li; S rjg the
d,> which doth not. concern 11s
fsarch after, Dent. 29. 29. kfhouU befqff;:
to us, that God in covenanting with %\i
promifeth to be the God of their .Children.
according to this Covenant the Lord complains
of their faying and offering their Children unto
Idols,c3iiingthem His. own Sons and Daughters,
Ezek. 16. zo pqn this grouty -Se-
cond Command, the Lord prornifeth to i
Mercy to the Thoufarid Generation of believing
Parents j and, 1 Con 7. 14. tl lie doth
call the Children of one of the Parents believing,
■Holy Children,- becaufe of their Confeeratiqn
to God by the believing co^fedt.
Ira
BOOK l [ 119 ] CHAP. VI,
in regard of God's Right and Iiitercft in them,
as the Children of His own Family by Covenant.
Arid Chrift out Lord upon this gtound,
doth call the Children of confederat Parents,
Burgefles of Heaven; of fuch is the Kingdom of
Heaven, Matth, 19. 13, 14. and becaufe In-
fants are dedicat to Chrift, to be taught and go-
verned by Him in His own way and order, they
are called Difciples, Atts ij. 10. astheDifpu-
ters for the Circumdfion of Chriftians Children,
as well as of their Parents after the Law ofMofes-
do make it maniftft : And in the inflicution of
Baptifm,our Lord gives the priviledge of the Co-
venant unto every Nat?on,no lefs than to the jews,
that by Covenant whole Nations might be drawn
in, and given up as Difciples to His Do&rine,
Matth. 28. 29. make all Nations Difciples by
your Do&rine, Baptizing them, &c. that the
Children with the Parents, might be Partakers
by Baptifm, of the feal of the Covenant for the
Righteoufnefs of Faith, no lefs than the Children
of Ifraelites were by Circumcifion.
Of the Means to draw on the making of this
Covenant.
OF thefe Means we have fpoken in the Fourth
Article of the Covenant of Redemption,
and need not to infift more about them than to
name them.
The Firji Mean to draw Men into this Wefled
Covenant, and to keep them in it^ is the exter-
BOOK I. [ 130 ] CHAP. VI.
nal Revelation of the Will of God, for teaching
Men how great their Sin and Mifery island how
they may be reconciled and delivered by the
Grace of our Lord jefus Chrift, and how they
may tellitie their Thankful nefs (being reconciled)
forYuchaMercy; which Grounds of Saving
Knowledge, are fully and faithfully fetdown in
Holy Scripture, and committed to His Servants
in the Miniftry, who fhould in Preaching of the
Gofpel, inform and perfwade Men to Repent and
embrace the Grace of Chrift,andput onHisfweet
Yoke of Obedience upon them.
The Second Mean is, after application of the
Lord's Word to the Hearers for convincing them
of Sin in them, and Righteoufnefs in Chrift and
Judgement to follow, to wit, of Abfolutionof the
Believer, and of Condemnation of fuch as be-
lieve not. To receive into the bond of this Co-
venant of Grace,all that appear ferioufly to con-
fecrat themfelves and their Children to the Faith
and Obedience of the Dodtrine of our Lord Je-
fus Chrift, without determiningwhether they be
Regenerat for the prefent or not.
The Third Mean, is the folemn Sealing of this
Covenant, for Righteoufnefs of Faith and Salva-
tion through Chrift, by Baptizing both the Pa-
retics that accept the Covenant, and their Children
alfo ; and by Exhortations,Promifes andCommi-
nations, and all other Arguments, which may
more and more convince them of their need of
Chrift, and duty of following Him, to fix and
ftrength-
BOOK I. [ 131 ] CHAP. VI.
ftrengthen their hearty purpole to cleave unto the
Lord.Such as are,the Lord's Command to believe
in Chrift and lore one another, \Joh 3. 23. and
His threatening, if they believe not, Job. 3. 18.
and, 1 Job. j. 10, it.
The Fourth Mean, is the gathering of thefe
that have embraced this Covenant, into all law-
ful & poflible Church-communion with other His
Difciples, and fixing them in their leveral Con-
gregations, that they may be edified under their
Offerers, appointed by Chrift in His Tefta-
ment in their moft holy Faith, and obedience
of all His Ordinances. And for further clear-
ing the way of God's bringing the vifible Church
of Chrift into this Covenant with Himfelf, let it
be confidered.
1. Albeit of thofe that are come to the u(e of
Reafon, with whom God doth formally and fo-
lemnly make this Covenant of Grace and ketitrk*
ctltation, many are externally only called, and few
m comparifon chofen, Matth. 20. 21. yet, it is
not the will of God, odierways than by Doc-
trine to feparat the Eied from the reft of them
that are externally called, or to make the Ele&s
name known to the World .♦ For, the Kirk know-
eth not, but God only knoweth who are His,
2 Tim. 2, 19. And therefore He hath ordain-
ed Means common to the Eled and Repr0b2.ce,
to bring both unto the external embracing of His
Covenant and continuing externally therein, and
He dosh bellow Gifts both to the one fore and
BOOK I. [ 131 ] CHAP. VI.
to the other, and He vvorketh in both the one
fort and the other according to His own Will :
But as for inward and effectual Calling, oivfpecial
laving Graces which do accompany Salvation, and
the fpecial Operations of the holy Spirit, Here-
ferveth to the EleM and Redeeme d only,to whom
in a time acceptable, He revealeth Himfelf, and
fealeth them for His own Service
z. By this wife and holy dealing with the
Hearers of the Gofpel, whereby the Lord fo makes
good the Covenant of Redemption,and bringeth
His Decrees to pafs, as none lhall havejuftrea-
fon to ftumble ; no wonder, that many be com-
pared within the Draught-net of the Gofpel,and
be moved to enter into this holy and blefled Co-
venant, of wljom there may be Eledt, not as yet
converted, whereupon by God's appointment,
followeth a folemn covenanting of all that con-
fent to the Condition of the Covenant, and pro-
fefs their Faith in Chrift : All whom ( with their
Children) Chrift tranflates from the Pagan World,
into His vifibic Kingdom and fellowfhip of His
Church militant, and grants unto them right to
the common Priviledges of Citizens, in the order
appointed in His Word, that keeping all lawful
and poffible communion with the Catholick vifi-
ble Chinch of Chrift, they may be edified in their
particular Congregations, and governed with o-
thers by Ecclefiaftical Difdpline.
3 . Together with thefe external Means ferving
for drawing on the Covenant and going on in it,
the
BOOK I. C 133 ) CHAP. VI
the common Operations of God do concur ; com-
mon to all the called, both Eleit and Reprobat,
and Gifts common to both, are bellowed, ilichas
Illumination, moral Perfwafion, hiilorycal, dog-
matical and temporary Faith,moral change of af-
fections, and fome fort of external amendment
of their outward Converfatioii, SavhtgGrace be-
ing the fpecial Gift of God to His own.
4. Of this manner of covenanting and tak-
ing into Church-fellowihip all the Called that
confent in a moral way to dtfi condition of the
Covenant Regenerat and Uuregenerar, we have
a patemin the Lord's covenanting with all Ifrael,
Exod. 1 9. the Covenant is offered to all the Ifrael-
ites without exception, All are invited to enter
in Covenant without exception,Arguments, Mo-
tives and moral Inducements are made ufe of,
from their experience of the Lord's Goodnefs and
Gifts given to them before ; mod ample Promifes
offpiritual Benefits, are made unto them, condi-
tionally to be bellowed on them both in this Life
and in the Life to come, Ferf.4, 5,6. the People
embrace the condition of the Covenant, V, 7, 8.
the People are ian&ified, and prepared to receive
the holy Commands and Will of.God, in the reft
of the Chapter; then, in the 20 Chapter and in
the reft of the Book, the Duties of the Covenan-
ters are propounded,which concern the.acknow-
ledgeinent of Sin and deferved Death ; and thefe
alfo .which concern obtaining of Juftincation and
San£incationby Chriil, and which concern their
" I 3 ftievx-
BOOK I. ( 134 ) CHAP. VI.
Jhewing forth their Thatikfulnefs, all the days
of their Life.
The fame Covenant, after Fourty Years is re-
peated and renewed by Mofes, a little before his
Death in the Land of Moab, Deut. z$. the Lord
commands Mofes to renew the Covenant with all t
the People, Verf 1. all the People oflfrael, are
gathered together, Regenerat and Unregenerat,
Verf z. the fum of Arguments and Motives to
enter in Covenant of new, isihortly fetdown,
Verf 3. thegreateft part of the People to be join-
ed to God in Covenant, are openly declared by
Mofes to be Unregenerat, Verf 4.
After that, Arguments areufed to move them,
in all time coming, to truft in the Lord and to
obey Him. to Verf 9. the Covenant is made with
the Heads of the Tnbes,and Elders of the People,
and their Governours, and with all the Men of
IJrael, with their little Ones, with the Women,
and with the Strangers that were in themidft of
their Camp, Verf 10, 11. the Covenant is folem-
nized with adjuration of all to keep the Condi-
tions thereof, Verf n, 13. the Covenant is ex-
tended with adjuration to the Pofterity, Verfi^.
15. neither is there any exception made, orex-
clufion of any that contented to the Covenant,
whether unregenerat Ifraelites or Strangers, but
all are admitted within this Covenant/
The fame way of covenanting did John Bap-
f//? follow, admitting to his Baptifm theSealof
this Covenant, all thofe that came from Jerufa-
iem.
BOOK I. [ 13? ] CHAP VI.
km, and out of all Judea, and from the Borders
bi Jordan, without exception; whofoever con-
fefled their Sins, or that they were Sinners, and
profefled they did receive the Offer of Grace,
made in the Name of Chriftjefus, the true Lamb
of God that takes away the Sins of the World,
Matth. 3. 5, 6. and Co far was John from waiting
for Evidences of faving Grace and Regeneration,
before he admitted them that came to his Bap-
tifm, into the Fellowfhip of the external Cove-
nant of Grace and Reconciliation,that on the con-
trair, he made publick profefflon, that the Fan
whereby the Chaff is feparated from tlfc Wheat,
and the Hypocrite difccrned from the fincere
Chriftiaft, was not in his Hand, or in any other
Man or Mens Hands, but in the hand 01 Chrift
Jefus Himfeif only. And therefore (which is
worthy to be obferved) after he had publickly
teftified his fufpicion of the Hypocrifie and old
poyfonable Difpofition in the Pharifeesznd Sadu*
ces that came to hisBaptifm, and offered to re-
ceive the Covenant of Grace and the Seal there-
of, Ferf. 7. forthwith, without enquiring into
their Regeneration and fincerity of Heart, he
Baptized them among the reft, r. 11, and left
them to be examined thereafter by Chrift Him-
feif, whether they were upright in Heart or not.
The fame way of gathering Members of the
yifible Chriftian Churches out of the W r orld,did
Chrift f s own A poftlcs follow in His own Com-
pany, Chrift Himfeif being prcfent bodily, be-
I 1 hold'
BOOK I. ( 136 ) CHAP. VI.
holding and approving their Baptizing of Mul-
titudes, who after hearing of Qirift's Sermons,
offered to receive Baptifm, and went down to
the Water Arnpn, where Chrift's Apoftles did
make and baptize moe Difciples than John, Job.
4. r. that is, they admitted Multitudes into the
holy Covenant, and fealed the fame with Bap-
tifm, taking noftrider courfe of Examination
of them than John did, but admitting all that
"craved the benefit of the Covenant and the feal
ofit,though they had no certain evidence of their
Regeneration, being (atisfied, thatChrift did not
forbid to baptize them, when He faw them go
down to the Water to be baptized, after hearing
his Sermon. Now, thereisnoqueftionHeknew
their Hearts all of them, and that many of them
would afterward fhortly make defection from
Him, and depart from Him, and from His Dif-
ciples fellowfhip, as is plain, Job. 6. 6. 66, 70
This way of receiving into external Covenant,
all thcfe who receive the Offer and the Condi-
tion of the Co venant,without enquiring into their
Election or Reprobation, their Regeneration or
Unregeneration for the time, (which may be
called a covenanting outwardly and in the letter )
in the deep and wife Counfel of God is appoint-
ed for the gathering and conftitution of the vi-
able Kirk .• For, by this Mean,/vr/?, God fo ex-
ecuted! and perfec9:eth the Decree of Ele&ion,
that in the mean time He hindereth none, of all
the Hearers of the Gofpel, from receiving the
1 ' ' - " ' ■ ■ rf ' ■ Grace
BOOK I. [ 137 ] CHAP. Vi.
Grace of Chrift offered therein. He excluded!
no Man from embracing the Covenant ; hut,
on the contrair, He opens the Door to all that
are called, to enter into( as it were ) the outer
Court of His dwelling Houfe, that they may Co
draw more near to Htm; and fo He doth not
particularly manifeft any Mans Reprobation.
Secondly, By this means alfo He hideth the E-
le&ion of theEle£t from others, and from them-
£elves,tillthey repent their Sins and flee so Chrift,
and bring forth fome Evidences of their Election,
in their obedience of Faith & begun Sanftification.
Thirdly, The Lord makes life of this outward
and common Covenanting with all Receivers of
the Offer, as a Mean to draw the confederat in
the Letter, to be confederat in the Spirit: For,the
Faith which He requires as the condition of the
Covenant, He worketh in the Ele^if nor before,
or with the external Covenanting,yet undoubted-
ly after,iiva time acceptable, and that by the or-
dinary Means, the ufe whereof is granted to all
confederat externally: Aud fo as common Illu-
mination is a Mean to that fpeciaL fpiritual and
faving Illumination ; and dogmatical or hiftori-
cal Faith, is a Mean unto faving Faith; and ex-
ternal Calling, is a Mean to effectual Calling: So
external Covenanting in the Letter, is a Mean
moll fit and accommodat, to make a Man a
Covenanter in the Spirit.
Fourthly, This external Covenanting, wheroin
God promifeth to be the Believers God,and the
God
BOOK I. [ 138 ] CHAP. VI.
God of their Children, is a Mean not only to
beget and fofter Faith in the covenanting Parents,
for their own Salvation, but alfo a Mean to com-
fort them about the Salvation of their Infants,
dying in their Infancy, whether before or after
their Baptifm ; and a Mean to give them good
hope of thofe Childrens blefled Refurre£tion,by
vertue of the Promife, becaufe in Covenanting,
the Lord doth promife to be the Believer's God,
and the God of his Children,& doth not exadt the
condition of actual Faith from their dying Infants.
From thefe Grounds, it followeth, F/rfl .'That
fome are taken externally and conditionally o
the Covenant, upon their Engagement unto t :
Righteoufnefs of Faith, and their Baptifm
of their Engagement unto it, who alfeeit they be
not as yet regenerat, yet they are to be eUeemed
Members of the Church,and ChrittianS outward-
ly ,Chriftians by Calling, and in tlie Letter, whpfe
Praife is of Men,as they were-alib in the Church
before Chrifl's coming, Jews outwardly and in
the Letter, whofe Praife was of Men, commen-
ded indeed for fo much.- But if they came not
up to lay hold upon,and follow after, Righteouf-
nefs by Faith, were not Jews in God's account,
and unto them Circumcifion was but in the Let-
ter, and the fealing of the Engagement only, and
not of the good Things covenanted. A?w.2. 2.8,29.
Secondly, It followeth, that there are fome
Covenanters outwardly and inwardly alfo, in
the Flefli and in the Spirit alfo, whofe -Praife
is
BOOK I. [ 139 ] CHAP. Vi.
4s not of Men only, but of God alfo, to wit,
fuch'as not only hare engaged to fulfil the
Condition of Living in the Faith, and fol-
lowing after the Righteoufnefs of Faith, but are
Performers really of their Engagement, anc( unto
thofe their Baptifm is not only outward and in
the Flefh, but inward alfo, in the Spirit alfo, ap-
proven of God alfo. Such as were in the vifible
Church of old, Jews inwardly, Performers of
their Engagement to live by Faith, Jews in the
Spirit, arid not in the Letter only, whole Praife
was of God, and not ofMen only. Rom. z. z8, z$>.
Thirdly, It folio wcth, that ibme are in the Co-
venant abfolutdy, or without condition requi-
red of them for their part, whom God taketh in
His own Hand abfolutely, fuch as are Elecft In-
fants, dying itl their Infancy, for whom, that
they might be delivered from original Sin, and
deferved Wrath, Chrift hath engaged and laid
down His Life, and promifed in the Covenant to
be their God ; whom therefore ere they die,He
doth immediatly quicken and fandtify, and tran£
lateth to Heav en after Death ; Offich (faith Chrift)
is the Kingdom of Heaven, Mark 10. 14.
Hew the external Difpenfat/on of the Covenant of
old, differ eth from that which noiv is under the
Gofpel
ALbeit the Covenant of Grace in it felf, be
one and the fame, from the firft preaching
of it in Paradke, unto the end of the World,be-
caufe
BOOK I. [ 140 ] CHAP. VI
caufe Chrift the Saviour of His People, is one
and the fame, Y efterday and to Pay, and; for
ever, and becaufe the Faith of theEled is of ; one
kind, and was and fliall be to the World's end •
yet, the external out-letting and difpenfation of
the Covenant differeth, as it was propounded
before Chrift's Incarnation and after it : For, in
Taradicc this Covenant was fet forth by way of
Promife, (according to the Articles of the Cove-
nant of Redemption) that Chrift ihpuld aflume
the Seed of the Woman, and fliould fuffer in the
Flefli, or humane Nature, and by His Power de-
ftroy the Works of the Devil, in favours of His
own chofen People, which fliould niilitat againft
the Devil under His Banner.
x. And left any Man fliould fancy, that the
Covenant of Grace, founded upon this Pronnfe,
was made with all the Pofterity of Adam^s the
Covenant of Works was made with Adam and
all his Pofterity, the Lord, in the uttering of
the Promife, did not direct His Speech unto A-
dam and £W;,but to the Devil by way of threat-
ning, and curfing him and his Seed, even ail the
Rebrobate, in the audience of Adam and Evah,
that our firft Parents over-hearing the Curfe of
the Serpent and his Seed, and the Promife of
Chrift's Incarnation, in laying hold upon thePro-
miferby Faith, might be juftified and faved as
private Perfons, after the fame way as other Pe-
lievers 1 after them, fliould bejuftified and faved.
This their Faith in Chrift", the lord 4id fofter
and
BOOK L [ 141 3 CHAP. Vi;
and augment by His Doftrinc taught unto them,'
and ..by the perlcr;bing typica; Sacrifices to be of-
fered in Faith to God for remiffion of Sins: And
the Lord did admit their Children into, the ex-
ternal Fellowfhip of this Covenant, without put- t
ting difference between one and another outward-
ly, as we fee in Cain and Abel: Of which two,
the one, to wit, Cain, was a Covenanter in the
Flefli outwardly, and in the Letter only; for he
was deftitute and void of faving Faith; the other,
to wit, Abel, was both outwardly and inwardly
a Covenanter, not in the Letter only, but in the
Spirit alfo, : ,indued with lively juftifying and fav-
ing Faith in Chrift to be incarnat, and to die for
His own People, as the Apoftlc teftificth,reckon-
ing him up among Believers juftified by Faith
Heb. ix. 4.
3. After the Flood, God did not make the Co-
venant with every Man, nor with any Family
byway of explicitc and formal padtion, except-
Abraham and his Family only, of whom the Mef-
fiah, God the Mediator, was to come according
to the Flefli; and with him the Lord confirmed
the Covenant, by adding unto it the Sacrament
of Qrcumcifion, as the Seal of RiglKeoufnefc
and Juftificatipn b.y Faith.
4. In the Wildernefs at Mount Sinai, that the
Lord might make evident the nece/lky of JuflLi-
ficationby Faith in Chrift jo came, He did re-
peat the Law of Works $ and , to them that did
acknowledge their Sin, lie didftc forth Chrift
rhctr'
]
BOOK I. [ t&* ] Cft A P. VL
their Deliverer, under the vail of Sacrifices and
Levitical Tipes, and the very fame is the Cove-
nant now, whereunto Chrift and His Mmifters,
laying afide the vail of the Ceremonies, did o-
penly invite their Hearers, that acknowledging
their Sins, and renouncing confidence ih then?
own power and worth, they fhtfuld cstft them-
felves into the Arms of Chrift the Saviour, that
through Him they might obtain Juftification and
Life eternal. We fee here indeed a divers manner
of difpenfing, and outward managing the mak-
ing of the Covenant with Men, but the Cove-
nant wasftill the fame, cloathed andfet forth iri
a diverfe manner, and did no other ways differ
then and now, but as one and the felf fame MM
differed! from himfelf, cloathed futably one way
in his minority,and another way in his riper Age;
5. If the Covenanters therefore be compared
among themfelves, in refpedt of divers difpen^l
fatioh^the Covenanters iiVSpif it aftef Chrift's In-
carnation, are in a better Condition, than the
Believers before Chrift's coming ; For, the Be-
lievers before Chrift incarltat under the pedagog
of the Lavv/did lye under a Servitude and Bon-
dage as to the outward Man, for then the Sons
and Heirs not come to age, -did differ nothing
from Servants, Gal. 4. 1. and in regard of the
inward Man; they faw the Miftery df Salvation,
. albeit fa vingly,yet more obfcurely 5 for through
the Vail they (aw/the Miftery of Salvation to be
had by Chrift ;' r buf after Chrift^ doming, the
fcfifdr
\ -
BOOK I. [ i 4 ? ] CHAP. VI.
Lord dealt more liberally With Believers,becaufe
by their Freedom from the levitical Ceremonies,
taking away the Vail, they may behold with o-
pen Face the Glory of the Lord, as in a Mirror,
and be transformed into the fame Image, from
Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord, z Cor. 3. 18.
6. But as for what concerns the Covenanters
in the Letter and outwardly only, they are in
worfe condition after the coming of Chrift,then
the literal Covenanters before His Incarnation .-
For, the Unregenerat under the Gofpel, are in
danger of more heavy Judgement, then the
uncircumcifed in Heart were before Chrift came,
in regard it is a greater Sin to negled: and defpife
Chrift fpeaking from Heaven, in the more clear
i Manifeftation of Himfelf in the Gofpel, than it
! was before Chrift came to contemn the darker
? Do&rine of Mofes, Heb z. 3. and 10, xo.
Concerning the Condition of the Covenant.
IN Receiving or Admiffion of Perfons,wio are
come to the ufe of Reafon into t^ Cove-
nant, thefe Three Things are to be o^erved and
diftinguifhed one from another ; fcrft the Con-
dition of the Perfon defiring to« 5e hi Covenant
with God for Reconciliation 11 ^ Grace through
Chrift ; z. The Cond^io* upon which he is en-
tered in Covenant ; 3. TAe Condition required of
him, for evidencing of his fincere Covenanting.
The
BOOK I. [ 144 3 CfiAP. Vl.
The Firfi Condition required of the Man who
defireth to enter in the Covenant of Reconciliati
6n,is the acknowledgement of his Sins ; for, ex
cept a Man confefs himfelf a Sinner and unable to
help himfelf, Chrift rejeð him^ and will have
nothing to do with him for Chrift hath faid, t
tame not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Re
penttnee Matth. 9. 13.
As for the Next, the Condition of the Cove-
nant upon which the Man is received, and where*
by the Man becometh aconfederat, itishis
confent to receive the Grace offered, even Chrift
with His Benefits, as He is holden forth in the
Gofpel : or, the condition of the Covenant is
Faith, receiving Chrift for RighteouCiefs and e-
ternal Life.
As for the Third,the Condition required of the
Man now entered in the Covenant, for evidenc-
ing the truth and fincerity of the Faith, which the
Covenanter profefleth, it is the taking on him
tha Yoke of Chrift, which He layeth on his con-
fedetit People ; or, this Condition, is the Cove-
nanters ^p.gi v ing of himfelf to Chrift's govern-
ment, ana n b ec |i enc c of His Commands: And all
thefe Three ^ r c exptefled by Chrift, Matth.
11. 28. 19.
Firfl, They th*.. labour, and are heavy laden,
are they whom ChriK calleth unto a Covenant
and Fello wflii p of His %' A -e.
Secondly, He propounds tte Condition of the
Coyenantto wit, that they believe in Chrift, or
BOOK I. [ i4jr ] CHAP. VL
come unto Him,that in Him they may find full re"
lief from Sin and Mifery, and in Him fullRigh-
teoufrtefs and Felicity.
Thirdly, He requires of them who do embrace
Him by Faith, and fb have accepted the Condition
of the Covenant, that they give evidence of their
Faith in Him,by taking on of His Yoke on them;
Take My Toke upon you, faith He.
All tliefe Three a Covenanter indie Letter ex-
ternally, will profefs to have, and to purpofe to
follow ; but the true Covenanters in Spirit,have
indeed all the Threes For true Faith in Chrift,or
the Receiving of Chrift offered in the Evangel
for Juftification and Salvation,which is the Con-
dition of the Covenant,prefuppofeth the Condition
of the Man who is called to embrace Chrift, and
draweth after it the Condition required of the
'Man covenanting ; For,he that receiveth Chrift
for Righteouftiefs and eternal Life, of rieceffity
muft- acknowledge bimlelf a Man; in himfelf Un-
righteous, and a loft Man, and that he corfteth id
Chrift tobejuftified, and Sanctified and Saved
by Him ; and fo to perfevere in this eourfe ttnro
Life eternal.
Of the Terms whereupon this Covenant is offered and
preffedin Scripture.
THe Terms of the Covenant, ar£ diverfely
propouned in Scripture, .EAW.19.5-.the Lor J
propounds it thus, If ye will obey My Voice indeed,
and keep My Covenant jhch ye fhall be a peculiar reo 1
mto Me.- &c.
book i. [ i 4 6 ] chap, vl
In thefe words, the Condition required of thole
that are already entered in Covenant is molt emi-
nent : For, this People was in Covenant from the
rime of Air .warns covenanting, and was admit-
ted to rhe Sacraments before their coming forth of
Egypt ; and therefore the Conditions previous
to their entering in Covenant, and required for
clofing the Bargain, are not fo much infilled on
at this time. This condition the People . do ac-
cept, and give anfwer to God by Mofes, Verf. 8.
All that the Lord hath jpoken lve will do.
Another Form and Expreffion isufed, Acls 16.
3 r. Paul and Silas fay to the Jaliour, now anxi-
ous how to be laved, Believe in the Lord, and thou
(bah lefaved ; thou and all thy Houfe* The Jai-
lour accepts of the Coadition,and he is Baptized
and all hisKoufe. Verf. 33.
The Condition of his Perfon taking with guil--
tinefs, and granting his loft condition is fpoken
of, Verf. 37. the Condition of the Covenant
therefore is propounded in the next room, and is
accepted, whereupon Baptifm is adminiftred un-
to him.
Tfal %7. 8. In other words the fame Condition
is propounded ; The Lord craveth Faith,feeking
Communion with God for the Condition, Seek
ye My Face ; the Ffalmift accepteth the Condition,
and anf\vereth,77^ Face, Lord, ivi/lljeek.
Ifa. 45-. 22,. Clirift requires Faith in thefe He
calieth , and upon that condition promifeth Sal-
V;Uipn, Lock unto Me, all ye Ends of the Earth, and
u
BOOK I. [ I47 ] CHAP. VI.
leyefaved: The Anfwer of the Believer is fet
down VerJ. 24. Surely (kail one fay, in the Lord
have I Righteoufnefs and Strength
Likeways the way of making this Covenant,
is fet forth by Chrift, offering himfelf a Saviour
on the one part,& the Believers receiving Chrift
on the other pzrt,Job 1.11,12,^ many as receiv-
ed Him, to them He gave power to become tht Soni
ef God, even to them that helieve on His Name.
And, 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20. upon this only Condi-
tion of confenting to Reconciliation offered, he
fummeth up mod fhortly and clearly the Cove-
nant-making, We are Ambajjadours for Chrift, as
if God did befeech you by us, iteprayyou inChrift^s
flead, be reconciled to God. There remained] no
more for making of the Covenant, but that the
Hearer do honeftly anfwer, thus, The Offer and
Condition pleafeth me well, I confent to be Reconcil-
ed. Now he who confenteth to be Reconciled, r .
Granteth his natural Enimity; 2. Accepteth Chrift
the Mediator, Redeemer, Reconciler, offered to
him by God, whofe Fulnefs is in Chrift ; And v 3.
obliegeth himfelf to entertain this Fri'endihip
all his Life after.
Lad of all, the making of the Covenant, is
fometime preffed to be received and followed un-
der the Form of a Precept 1 Jch. 3. 23. This 11 His
Command, that ye believe in the Name of His Sen
Jefiis Chrift, and love one another as He hath Con:"
manded us : In which Words, the Condition, or
Eftate of the Perfon ; who is called to believe and*
K r en-~
BOOK I. [ 148 ] CHAP. VI.
enter in Covenant, is prefuppofed : For it is
imported, that he muft acknowledge not only
that he is a miferable Sinner, and unable to re-
lieve himfelf, but alfo that he is naturally averfe
from the way of feeking Righteoufnefs by Faith
in Chrift, and hath need that the foveraign
Power of God draw him to Chrift. Secondly ,the
condition of the making of Covenant is propoun-
ded, which is to believe in Jefus Chrift In the
Third Room, the condition required of him that
is entered in Covenant,by believing in Chrift,is,
That we love one another as He hath commanded us.
This offered and commanded Condition of the
Covenant of Grace, fome by the Grace of God
do accept, and engage to perform, and do per-
form fincerely, albeit weakly; other fome, truft-
ing id their own ftrength, engage unto the obe-
dience of Faith, and with their Mouths profefe
they are Sinners, and do believe in Chrift, and
that they will fubmit themfelves to His Govern-
ment,dra\vingnear to Him withrheir Lips, when
their Hearts are far from Him; and foch Mens
Faith changeth not their old Difpofitionand way
of living, but it fuffereth them to ferve their
Belly, or Mammon, or vain Glory, and luch
other Idols ; yet becaufe the Church are not
Judges of the Secrets of the Heart, they muft re-
ceive into Church-fellowlhip, all who confefs
themfelves to be Sinners, and ptofefs they do
accept the Offer of Chrift's Grace, and promiie
Subje&ion to His Ordinances.
Oif.
BOOK I. [ 149 1 CHAP. VI.
Ohj. But how can the Church receive Men in
Church-fellowfliip, who are deftitute of lively
Faith >
AnJ. The Church is not Judge of the Heart,
or of the Secrets thereof, becaulc it cannot fee
Faith in it felf, but muft look to the Profeffion
of Faith, and to the Fruits thereof in the own
order and time ; the Church is Witnefs to their
Engagment, but not Judges of their Sincerity.
2. The Covenant of Grace doth not exclude
the moftvile Sinners, if they acknowledge their
Sinfulne(s,and dofolemnly confent unto the Con-
dition of the Covenant: Becaufe, according to this
Coveriant,nothing is bellowed on theCovenanter,
of Merit, but of Grace only, which the Church
knoweth God can give, and (bmetimes doth give
unto counterfit Confederals making them fincere
in His own time, and that by the Means of the
Ordinances, made ufe of in the vifible Church.
3. It is one thing to be a confederat Chriftian in
the Letter externally in the fight of Mcnjanother
thing to be a Covenanter in the Spirit, inwardly
in refped: of the Heart and inward Man. Bom. 2.
28. and albeit the external Covenant doth not
bring on Righteouinefs and Life, except a Man
be aifo a Covenanter inwardly in his Heart,
in the fer/e of Sin and Imperfection, making dai-
ly ufe of Chrift; yet it is certain, that outward
Covenanting is an ordinary, and blcflai Mean
unto many, to beget and toiler Faith, and help
forth the Fruits thereof.
K 3 I*
BOOK I. dso) CHAP. VI.
It may and fliould fuffice us,that God, in the
firft framing of a national Church, did admit, j
and commanded Mofes to admit all the Ifraelites
in Covenant,of whom very few were converted,
or reconciled to God in their Spirit;and this was
not hid from Mofes, or from the truely Godly
in the Camp of Ifrael, as is plainly fhewentous,
Deut. 2,8. 29, where God bears witnefs againft
the People, that their Heart was not according
to their Profeffion and Engagement : And Mofes
fpeaketh out this Truth in all the Peoples audi-
ence, while he is renewing the Covenant with
them, notwithftanding they were Unregenerat
pent. 29.
Oij. Butfome will infift and tell us, that the
vifible Church is a fociety of Saints or regenerat
Perfons, and that they who live in the vifible
Church, mud be vifible Saints, whofe Life at
lead doth not contradid: their Profeffion, and
fuch as by the Judgement of Charity we mud
efteem Regenerat.
Anf Chrift's vifible Church, is the Company
of them that are called out of the World unto Him:
the Company of them that are confecrat to God
and engaged by folemn Covenant to follow the
courfe of Holinefs : By calling they are Saints,
albeit many of them may be found polluted in
their Manners : thus doth God Himfelf teach us
to judge, PfaL 50. f. Gather unto Me My Saints
faith He,& who are thefe? Thefe who have made a
Covenant with Me iySacrificeRowflt thefe,many
"-■'■- did
BOOK I. [ i?i ] CHAP. VI.
did not worfhip God in Spirit,but placed all their
Religion in Ceremonies,and went about by their
outward Sacrifices to pacific God, and to expi-
at thpir Sins, as is plain Verf 7. 8. others of
thefe called Saints, confecrat unto God,andjoyn-
cd with Him in a vifible Covenant, were very
wicked, who noways behaved themfelves as be-
came Covenanters with God ; and who there-
fore were to be excluded from the Benefit of the
Coyenant,except they repented : For, they hat-
ed true Holine(s,and did caft; the Commands be-
hind their back, Verf. 16. were Thieves and A-
dulterers, Slanderers & Calumniators of their Bre-
thren, Verf. 18. 19. and yet for all this,the Lord
doth not exclude them out of the vifible Church,
but doth in a fatherly Manner reprove them,
that they might Repent, and notPeriili.
2. There is noqueftion, whether all in the vi-
fible Church ought to be both in open Converfa-
tion, and in Heart holy, and that they {hall cer-
tainly be damned and perifh, that are not fuch ?
but the Queflion is here, about the Duty of the
Governoursof the Church, and of the Godly in
in it, Whether they fhould exclude from Church-
membcrfhip all who are not Regenerat, at lead
fbtobe efteemed in the judgement of Charity >
or, whether all are to be holden for Church-
members and keeped within the Church,who are
in Covenant with God, and fcaled with the feal
thereof, to the intent that by Dodtrine and Cen-
furesof the Church (fofar as may b? by means)
K 4 they
BOOK I. [ 152 ] CHAR VI.
they may be Regenerat, and being Regenerate
helped on in the way of Holinefs ?
3. There is a difference to be put betwixt the
Precepts,concerning the perfonal San&ification of
every Man in himfelf, and the Precepts given for
the governing of others,and keeping holy Socie-
ty with the Called Saints, renewed or unrenewed
in the vifible Church,fo far as God's Word giveth
Light and Order .• For it is commanded to me
and thee, that we purfue Peace and Holinefs,
without which none Jhall fee the Face of God :
but it is not commanded to me or thee, that we
iliould keep no Church-fellowfhip in God's Or-
dinances, except with the Regenerat. It is not
commanded to the Governours of the Church,
that they muft examine every Perfon concerning
their Regeneration;' neither are they forbidden to
admit any into the Society of the Church, fave
thefe whom they efteern Regenerat; but they are
commanded to bring in to the Church, all that
oblige themfeives to be Chrift's Difciples, with
their Children, and by the Means appointed of
God, in Do&rine and Cenfures of the Church,
to promove their Sandtification and Salvation:
For fo many doth Chrift's Commiffion to the
Pallors of the Church import. Matth. 28. 19 20.
4. Regeneration is not (he juft meafure where-
by to fquare the Dimenfions and Extent of the
vifible Church; but, Confederation and Obfigna-
tion of the Covenant by Baptifm: For the Church
is Chrift's vifible Kingdom,\vhofe vifible Subje&s
arc
BOOK I. ( in ) CHAP. VI
are all they who folemnly are engaged to fubjedt
themfelves to His Do&rine and Government,and
therefore the Church vifible is not to be defined,
the Company of the Regenerat, but the Compa-
ny of the Confederat with God, and called unto
Holinefs : among whom, Chrift tells us, there
are few Elect,and fo fewer Regenerat; and there-
fore the Church of Chrift is compared to a
Barn-floor, whereinto is gathered both the Chaff
and the Wheat, both they that have Faith, and
that prof els Faith, out of whom Chrift doth ga-
ther his own Elect and Redeemed Ones.
Obj. But at leaft in gathering of a Church out
ofthe World, refpect mull: be had,that the con-
tenting ofthe Covenanter be ferious : and how
can the Confent be ferious, where the Heart is
not fincere, where the Perfon is not Regenerat ?
Such a Mans confent to the Covenant, as is
without laving Faith, is but Fained, Counterfit,
Hypocritical, and fuch a confent as may hinder
the Man's Regeneration, and do nothing but pro-
voke God's wrath againft the Man and the Re-
ceivers or Admitters of him alfo.
Anf. Serious is Ibmetime oppofed to Sport oc
Play, and fo a Matter may be Serious which is
in earned gone about, and is not openly Hiftrio-
nical- And fometime Serious is oppofed to the
intention of Fraud and Deceit; and fo that may
be called Serious, which is done without a pur-
pofe to deceive or beguile the Party. But when
|he Confenter to engage in Covenant, fpeaketh
BOOK I. [ i J4 ] CHAP. VI.
as he thinketh, albeit poffibly his own Heart de-
ceive him, his confent to the Condition of the
Covenant may juftly be called Serious, becaufe
he intends to deal in earneft, as in a weighty Bu-
finefs. And fuch was the Confent of the People
of Ifrael unto theCovenant made with God.£xi 9.
Likewife, Count erfit and Hypocritical, is fome-
time called fo, in oppofition to that which is
real, true and fpiritual: And (b all confent to
the Covenant of Grace, which doth not proceed
from the Spirit of Regeneration, ^s butfained Faith,
and indeed is notfaving Faith ; yet, it may be ■&-
rious and morally Honeft, like Ifraels. ExoJ. 14.
20. and Co fufficient to make a Covenant, and to
tye an Obligation on the Man to fuch Duties as
may lead to Salvation.
Again, Fained, Counterfit, Hypocritical, is cal-
led that which a Man purpofely doth fain, mak-
ing fliew of that which he knows not to be, be-
ing confcious to his own Wickednefs ; and fuch
a fained Confent, we grant, doth provoke God
againft fuch a Perfbn; but the Church is not Judge
of this, Co long as they know not of this grofs
Hypocrify.
We hold then, that there may be, and ufually
fall forth, fuch amoral Confent unto theCove-
venant of Grace without fa ving Faith,which may
be called a Serious, really honeft Confent, as ta
the Agreement of the Mind and Mouth of the
Covenanter, fuch as is found in ordinary civil
Contra&s, between one Man and another, and
muft
BOOK I. ( iff) CHAP. VI.
muft be acknowledged to be an external Church-
covenanting with God, and with the reft of the
Members of the Church : And fo the Confent
in refpeft to the making a Covenants not fained,
neither is it dilpleafmg unto God in the own kind,
albeit it be not fufficient or acceptable to God un-
to the Perfqns Salvation : For, (b much doth God
Himfelf teftify (Dettt. j.) fpeaking of the Israelites,
(who were ignorant of the Deceitfulnefs of their
own Heart,and of their Inability to perform what
they promifed) He faith, (Ver. 28, 29. ) They
have well j aid, all that t key have fpoken. There-
fore unto the tying a Man in this Bond of the Co-
venant, this moral Honefty, is fufficient, albeit
to Salvation it is notlufficient,butin order there-
to a Mean of God's appointment.
Now, that there isfuch a thing as we call mo-
ral Integrity or Honefty ,which differcth from the
true Chriftians fpiritual Honefty, or Sincerity, it
is plain from thefe Places of Scripture,\vhich fpeak
of this Integrity of Heart in fuch Perfons as were
not renewed, becaufe they intended no other
thing than they pretended. Thus Abimelech ex-
cufeth himfelf to God, when he took away Sarah,
Abrahams Wife from him, thinking Sarah had
been his Sifter and not his Wife, Gen. 20. 6. In
the Integrity of my Heart and Innocency of my Hands,
have I done this. And this the Lordfdoth acknow-
ledge to be true, Verf 1 7. So alio the Captains
that came with their Companies to David in
Ziklag, are faid to have a perfeft Heart.becaufe
they
BOOK I. [ 156 ] CHAP. VI.
they were morally Honeft, and refblved as they
profefled, uprightly to make David King, and
to help him in the War, and not betray him, 1
Chron. 12. 33, 38.
Of the fundry ways of Mens framing of the Covenant
of Grace.
AS we told there was a Covenant of Works,
one truely fo called of God's Inftitution;
and another falfe fort of Covenant of Works, of
Mans framing: So it is alfo in the matter of the
Covenant of Grace, there is one truely fo called,
& another fort falfe & counterfit of Man's fran>
ing. That which is of God's framing, is the
Covenant that God makes with the Church, for
giving Righteoufnefs and Life by Faith in Jefus
Chrift: That which we call a counterfeit Cove-
nant, is the Covenant which Men frame unto
themfelves upon any other Condition than Faith:
Such was the counterfeit Covenant of the falfe
Apoftles, who corrupted the Gofpel-covenant a-
mong the Gallatians, whereof the Apoftle Paul
complaineth, Gal. 1.6,7. challenging them that
they had forfaken God, who called them to the
Grace of Chriftand were turned over to another
GofpeI,that is,to another Covenant of Grace than
the true one, which is only one,andnot various,but
by theTroublers of the Church was changed into
another frame : For the true Covenant, was per-
verted and corrupted by thefe who went about to,
join together JuftiScation by Works, and Jufti-
fi-
BOOK I. [ 157 ] CHAP. VI.
ficationby Grace through Faith in Chrift: Which
two forts of Covenant, are inconfiftent, and do
Mutually overthrow one another : So alfo did
the Fharifee ( Luk. 18. 11, iz J corrupt and per-
vert both the Covenant of Works and the Co-
venant of Grace; he corrupted and perverted the
Covenant of Works becaufe he put up to God
fome external good Works for the perfect Obe-
dience of the Law; and he perverted the Cove-
nant of Grace, becaufe albeit he did acknow-
ledge rhe Grace of God, and gave Him Thanks
for giving him Ability and power to do good
Works, and for lnfufing Habites of Piety and
Juftice in him; yet he exalted himfelf, and
took the Thanks and Praife to himfelf, who
had made good ufe of thefe vertuous Habites.
God I thank thee, (faith he ) that I am not like 0-
ther Men, &c.
2. Like unto this fault is the Error of many,
of whom fome makes the Aft of Faith brought
forth by the power of Natural Free-will to be
the condition of thfe Covenant, contrary to the
Dodtrine of the Gofpel, which makes Faith in*
fufed to be the Gift of God renouncing its
own Righteoufnefs and the Merit of all Works
alfo: and refting on Chrift, to be the Condition:
For, the fentence of the Apoftle ftandeth firm
and immovable, Rom. 1 1. 16. If it le b\ Grace jit
isno more of Works, &c.
Other fome make this the Condition of the
Covenantjthat Chrift flieuld pay for mortal Sins
bv
BOOK I. [ r 5 8 ] CHAP. VI.
by his own temporal Sufferings, and fo take a-
wayeverlafting Punifliment, but will have the
Sinner himfelf to pay for venial Sins by tempo-
ral Sufferings, partly in this Life, and partly ifi
Purgatory.
Other fome dream of framing the Covenant of
Grace thus, If a Man do all the Good he is able,
and hath a will to ferve God better than before,
they conceive, that God muft take the Will for
the perfect Deed, andfo for good Payment.
Which counterfeit Conditions and other fucli
like Inventions of felf-pleafing Conceits, are all.
of them nothing elle but the adulterating both of
the Covenant of Works,and of the Covenant of
Grace appointed of God, by which Inventions
Men deceive themfelves to their own Perdition.
Now, that fuch perverting of the Covenant of
Works and of Grace,are rife and frequent among
Men, Experience may prove: For, before Chrift's
coming this was the way of carnal Ifraelites, Rom r
10. 3. and Rom. 9. 30. For they being ignorant of
the Riqhteoufnefs of God, went about to eft ablifh their
own inherent Righteoufnefs, and would not Jubjetl
themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of God. And oi
the Galatiansjtis fold. Chap. 5 ^.Chrifl is become
of none effed unto you, whojoever of you arejuftified
hy the Law, ye are fallen from Grace ; that is, ye
who feek Righteoufnefs or Juftification by Works,
have renounced fo far as in y6u lyeth Grace to
be had by Chrift ;& Experience dail^ ffieweth the
fame difoofition- in many profefled Chriftians.
BOOK I, [ 159 ] CHAP. VI.
Quefl. Are not then fuch Corrupters of the Co-
venant of Grace loofed from their Obligation,
wherein by their Baptifm they were tyedtofeek
Righteoufnefs by Faith only \
An], No-* For, albeit by fo doing they prove
themfelves to be Corrupters and Falfifiers of their
Covenant, to their own perdition, if they repent
not ; yet they ftand obliged ftill before God
to their Covenant fealed in Baptifm : For,the Co-
venant of God with Man, cannot bediflblved
by Mens Treachery, and without God's Confent,
not only becaufe the Covenant of God with
Men, in regard of the perpetual Equity thereof,
hath in it a perpetual Obligation, but aifo be-
caufe the foveraign Dominion of God, hath the
force of a Law to oblige them whom God hath
taken in among His People, that being once His
confederat fubje&s, they fhould remain ftill His
Subjects :For,as Circumcifion was a Seal of cove-
nanted Righteoufnefs by Faith, fo Baptifm is a
Seal of the fame covenanted Righteoufnefs by
Faith, whether the Covenanters remain conftant
unto their Covenant, or not ; as we fee in the
Ifraelites, who albeit they were polluted with I-
clolatry in E^ypt, and albeit they proved rebelli-
ous in the Wildernefs, and in the Land of pro-
mife were found often guilty of breach of Cove-
venant; yet, ftill in the Scripture they are called
God's People, and the Lord's intereit and right
in them,ftood fait, and their right alfo unto the
external Priviledgcs of the Citizens of God's
King-
B06K I. [ 160 ] CHAR VI
Kingdom, remained faft alfo, until the time that
for their open and obftinat rejecting of Chrift,
the Children of the Kingdom were caft out, and
were broken off the true Olive Tree: Soalfo,the
Obligation of the Baptized, who turn the true
Covenant of Grace in another of their own fram-
ing, doth ftill (land, tying them to perform the
condition of the true Covenant ; and their Right
to the external Priviledges of the Confederat,doth
remain ftill in fome fort, even when they are in-
ter-dited from the honourable pofleffiori thereof
by Excommunication : For, the Apoftle teach-
cth us, that the Excommunicat remain,as to their
prefent Ecclefiaftick State, (albeit not as to their
prefent Ecclefiaftick Condition) Citizens and
Members of the Church, and fubject to Jurifdi*
dtion Ecclefiaftical,and to Chrift's Difcipline; be-
caufe when they are judged, and are tinder Cen-
fure, they are faid to be within the Kirk, and not
Without it, i. Cor. 5. xx. What have I to do to
judge alfo them that are without? do not ye judge them
that are within ? And thefe that were delivered
unto Satan, as to their prefent external Condition,
remained notwithftartding, as to their external
flate, the Domefticks of God, tinder tire Dif-
cipline of God's houfe, and were prefled by the
Cenfure laid on them, to learn to ceafe from
their finful courfe, and (penally from thefe Faults
for which they were Cenfured and Corrected by
their Excommunication, 1 Tim. 1.20. Hymeneus
and Alexander were given over to Satan, that the)
fniypt
BOOK I. [ 161 ] CHAP. VI.
wight learn not toBlafpheme ; that is, that being
humbled and brought to Repentance, they might
return to the acknowledgement of the Truth, and
to a teverent fpeaking of Holy Things, and fo
the Right to be counted Brethreh and Members
of the Church ( albeit under Cenfure, Reftraint
and Dif-refpe(3: till they repented) was not
taken altogether from them, even under Excom-
munication ; nor yet were the privat Duties of
Charity, due to Brethren in that fearful
Condition, to be altogether denied unto them,
even when the pofleflion of the former Honour
of blameleis Brethren, vyas taken frdm them; for,
the Apoftle will have them,albeit Excommuni-
cato be efteemed ftillcelifured Brethren,and not
looked upon as Enemies/ z Thejf. 3. 14, 15. If
any: Man ohey not our Word by this Epiftle, note
tfefii Man ( to" wit by putting the Cenfure of Ex-
communication on him) and have no company i faith
him, that he >>. L amed\ yet count him not as' an
Enemy, but ad ' im as a Brother : and this is
lb much the more carefully 'to be obferved,
that the cdnftitutiori of the' vfhble Church
of fuch and fuel: Members, and the ufeof Ex-
communication may be the better underftcod ;
left the Excommunicato being overburdened by
the fharpnefs of the Cenfure, fliould feem to
themfelves altogether excluded fronV Church-fo-
ciety, and fodefpair of returning to the full pof
fe/Iion of their Priviledges, but might know
that the Right of Citizens of the City of God, w:
t:
BOOK I. [ i6z ] CHAP. VI.
referved unto them, and was to be reftored by
way of pofleffion after their Repentance,and that
they were not cut ofFfrom the, Chriftan Charity
of the Brethren, no not when they were lying
under the Sentence,that they might fo much the
fboner return to Repentance^d to the pofleffion
of their Ecclefiaftick Honour.
Obj But here there arifeth a greater Doubt and
Gbje&ionjiow, and upon what reafon, God doth
require the condition of Faith, which Men can-
not perform, except it be given of (jod, as the A-
poftle teftifiieth, Ephef z. 8. Ton are faved of
Grace by Faith, and that not oj your f elves , it is the
Gift of God ?
Anf The Equity of the Duty required, doth
not depend upon Mens prefent Power or Strength
of whom the condition is required, but upon this
Ground, That Ability was given to Adam, and
to \v.s pofterity in him : For,all injoined fervice,
and fo the duty of believing in Chrift, is found-
ed upon Man's natural Obligation to obey the
Moral Law ; For, by vertue of the firft Com-
mand, Adam was bound, and we in him, not on-
ly to believe the Word of God already revealed
unto him; but to believe alfo every Word of God
to be revealed, and he was bound to give unto
God the Glory of all His Attributes,notonly of
tj ie which already did ihew forth thcmfelves
in His Works,but alfo of thefe Attributes, which
as yet did not put forth themfelves in actual ex-
ercife : For as it cannot be denied.thatMan was
bound
BOOK I. f z6j ] CHAP. VI,
bound to gire God the Glory of His avenging
Juftice, upon His threatning toinflid the Puniih-
ment of Death in cafe Man ihould fin, albeit he
could not lee the execution of it before he fell,
fo alio it is manifeft,he was bound to give God
the Glory of His Goodnefs and Mercy, albeit
no object of fliewing Mercy was yet to be founds
And that partly, becaufe it was his duty to give
the Glory of all Perfe&ions unto God, whereof
Mercy is one; and partly,upon the Experience he
had of God's manifefted Goodnefs in his Crea-
tion,and God's making a Covenant with him a-
bout eternal Life, upon fo eafie and equi-
table Terms : Upon the fame ground, even after
the Fall, Adam was bound not t6 defpair, nor
flye,nor hide himfelf from God, from Whom itr
was impofllble he could efcape.
It cannot then be reafonably denied, but Matt
by the Law of Nature* is bound to give credit
to God when Hefpeaketh, and bound to truft
in God when He ofTereth Himfelf as a Friend
and a Father to him, arid when God bids him
feek His Face, he isbound to obey Him, and
feek His Face,and to follow after more and mote
near communion with Him.
It is true indeed, that Adam in his Intergrity,
could not formally and actually believe in God
as a Redeemer : partly, becaufe this Mi fiery was
not yet revealed ; partly, becaufe he not having
yet finned, had not need of a Redeemer, or of
Remiffton of Sin ; but yet the Power and Abili^ 1
h n if
BOOK I. [164] CHAP. VI.
ty of believing it>God, according as God flioulel
let forth His Will,and the Power to adhere unto
God, and reft on His Goodnefs and Good-Will,
was given to Man in his Creation; For, this Per-
fection was a part of the Image of God, where-
in Man was created, even as the habit of fhew*-
ing Mercy on theMiferable (though (uch an ob-
ject was not to be found, while Man continued
in the ftate of Innocency) was a part of that ori-
ginal Holinefsin him: And if this Ground hold
not, Sinners by their finning once, fhould make
themfelves free to fin for ever after, and exempt
themfelves from all the Duties of the Moral Law,
upon this pretence, That they were unable to
give obedience to it; which is moft unreafon-
:able. And, 2. Becaufe the Hearers of the Go-
fpel efteem themfelves able to perform the Con-
dition of the Covenant of Grace offered, and to
believe in Chrift, yea and to give credit, or not,
to what is preached unto them, as they feerea-
fon : Is it not equitable then to put all Men to
it, who judge themfelves able to perform what
is required ; to the end that after experience and
trial taken of themfelves, they fhould either ac-
knowledge their natural Inability to believe in
Chrift, and fo go feek of God the Gift of Faith,
or elfe be deftkute of all Excufe, if they fhall
not do what they conceive and profels themfelves |
able to do ?
Thirdly \ It is equitable to crave Faith from
them who are able to pron^ife morally the obe-
BOOK [ 16s ] CHAP. VI.
dience of Faith, and arc able to ufe the external
Means leading unto true Faith : For the Lord
Himfelf followed this way in His Covenanting
with the Ifraelites, Exod. 19. where the Lord
propounds the Condition of the Covenant, and
promifeth to be their God, if they fhould hear-
ken to His Voice, Ferf.$ y 6. the People did ac-
cept the Condition, and undertook to perform it,
FerJ. 7, 8. and upon thefe Terms the Covenant
was made with them morally, in an external
way, which did bind the Obligation fail upon
them.
Fourthly, By preaching of the Covenant of
Grace, God doth ordinarly bellow Grace, and
Grace for Grace, on the Redeemed in a time ac-
ceptable; and in craving theCondition,the Lord
giveth Grace to accept the Condition, and to per-
form it: And this courfe is very (ii table to God's
Soveraignty or Supremacy, futable to His Wif-
dom and His Jullice, and futable to the Freedom
of His Grace : For it becometh the abfolute Su-
premacy of God, and the Liberty of His moft
Holy Will, to fend the Gofpel only to whom He
will; it becometh His Wifciom, where ever He'
doth fend the Gofpel, to make offer of Grace in-
differently to all the Hearers, whether E'ccl or
Rcprobat, that all may be tried, whether they,
plcafe to receive the Offeror not : It becometh
His Juftice to with- hold Grace from fuch as re-
fufc the Offer of it; and it becometh His Wjf
dom, Mercy, Grace, Truth and Juftice, both to
L 3 ex-
BOOK I. [ 166 ] CHAP. VI.
exa& from the Eled:, for whom Chrift did fatif-
fy, the performance of the Condition of the Co-
venant, and in the mean time, by the Offer of
Grace, to make them favingly to believe, ufing
the Cqmmand of Believing in Chrift for a fit Mean
to beget Faith : Hence it is that faving Faith is
given only to the Eled: ; which Faith therefore
is called the Faith of the Eletl, Tit. 1.1 . Hence
it is that the Eledt are called, Heirs of the Pro-
mifes, Gal. 3. 29. and Children of the Promife,
Heb.6. 17. partly, becaufe they are the Children
promifed to be brought in to Chrift, If a. 53.10.
partly, becaufe by the Promifes they are regene-
rat to a new Life, and by believing in Chrift,they
obtain Righteoufnefs and eternal Life : For 1 Pet.
1.23. they are called, Begotten again, not of cor-
ruptible Seed, hut of the incorruptible Seed of the
ty^ord of God.
Qsejl. If it be asked, Since Faith is Co necefla-
ry, what is the Objed: of Faith ?
Anf. We anfwer, The Truth of God revealed
in Scripture, or God fpeaking in Scripture, and
promifing eternal Life, upon Conditions holden
forth in thefe Promifes : Among thefe Promifesi
feme pertain to the Covenant of Works, fuch as,
Gal. 1. 12. Do this and live, and Matth. 19. 17.
If thou wilt : enter into Life, keep the Commandments.
and fundry other particular Promifes of Bleflings
both Spiritual and Temporal, annexed unto the
Promulgation of the Law ; which Promifes do
ferve to encourage them to make good their un-
der-
BOOK L [ 167 ] CHAP. VI.
dcr taking,if tlicy be able,as they conceive they
arc, and to humble them when they fliall find
by experience, that neither Threatning nor Pro-
mifes can make them to fulfil that Law. Befide
the Promifes annexed to the Covenant of Works,
there are other Promifes which pertain to the Co-
venant of Reconciliation, and tend to the mak-
ing Men embrace the Covenant of Grace,and to
continue therein, fuch asthefc which are propoun-
ded m the Gofpel, for giving unto the Believer
all the fure Mercies of David, and the Benefits
pnrchafcd by Chrift. And of this fort,fome are
more general, feme more fpccial, feme of them
belong to this Life, fome of them to the Life to
come: For true Godlinefs, comprehending Faith
and the Fruits of it, hath the Promifes both of
this Life, and of the Life to come : Of all thefe
Promifes, the Foundation and Fountain is the Co-
venant of Redemption (whereof we have fpoken
Chap, 4.) wherein Chrift promifeth to the Father
to do His Will, and the Father promifeth to
Chrift, as Mediator and Head of the Church,
in favours of the Redeemed, that He fhall fee
His Seed and be fatisfied, and the pleafure of the
Lord fliall profper in His Hand • Upon this Co-
venant of Redemption, all the Promifes made
to the Church, do depend, whether they be ab-
lolute Promifes, whether conditional Promiics,
whether qualified Promifes, which are like unto
conditional. Abfolute Promifes we call (for Ex-
ample) fuch as do promifc abfoluteiy the taking
L 4 a\va\
POOK I. C 168 ) CHAP. VI.
away the Heart of Stone and the Converfion of
the Eled, and their Perfeverance and Salvation,
Jer. 3 1. 31, 31. &c. and i%. Verf. 40. Such are
the Promifes of Gathering, Edifying, Propagat-
ing and Perpetuating, of the Chriftian Church to
the World's End, as Matth. 16. 18. Upon this
Rock I mil build My Church, and the Gates of Hell
jfha/J not prevail againjl it. Which fort of Promi-
fes, do ferve to move Men to come and embrace
Chrift; and after Men have fled to Chrift, in
Whom all the Promifes are Yea and Amen, the
Believer may make Application and comfortable
Ufe, of all the precious Promifes of Righteouf-
nefs and eternal Life, fet forth in the Gofpel.
Conditional Promifes are fuch, as make offer of
Chrift and Reconciliation to the Hearers of the
Gofpel, upon this Condition, that in the fenfeof
Sin and fear of Wrath, they fly to Chrift as the on-
ly and fufficient Remedy of Sin and Mifory .Qua-
lified Promifes like unto Conditional, are thefe
that have in themfome qualification of the Per-
fbn who is already a Believer, and do feem to
make that qualification or defignation of the Be-
liever, to be a condition of the Blefiing promis-
ed therein : Which Promifes if they be well con-
fidered, do pre-fuppone the qualified Perfon, to
whom thePromifo is made, to be both a Believ-
er, and alio to be. evidently endued with the
named quality : As for Example, Matth. 5. Blef-
fed aretheMerciful,the Peace-maker, the Meek,
die Mourners^ the Poor, the Sufferer of Perfecu-
1 %ion
BOOK I. [169] CHAP.VI.
tion for the Gpfpcl, or for Chrift, &c. which
Vertues, if the Perfoii be not a Believer in Chrift
do as yet fignify nothing in him, nor do not in-
title the Man to this Golpel-bleflednefs ; and be-
ing the defignations of Believers, they give, the
Pcrfons endued therewith, encouragement to go
on and encreafe in that Grace, and ail other
Graces,that they may thereby more & more give
evidence of their being real Believers: Such alfo
are the Promifes which are made to the confident
Waiters on God,Rcjoiccrs in God, Lpvers and
Fearers of God, &c. In which promifes, Grace
for Grace to be derived out of the Fulnefs of
Chriftjis promifed to the Believer. Some Promiies
defign fit Perfons to enter in Covenant, and do
invite them to come to Chrift, fuch as are, Come
unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy loader,
Matth. u. 28. And Ho\ every one that thirjls,
come to theje waters, &c. If a 55.
And befides thefe Promifes which contain the
Condition of the Covenant, made to them who
embrace the Condition, and do already believe,
fuch as is t They that believe in Me, jhall not perijh,
hut fhall 'inherit eternal Life; there are alfo Pro-
mifes Conditional ,ferving tp make Men who pro-
feft Faith in Chrift to be real and ftedfaft in the
Covenant, wherein they are at leafl: outwardly,
and folemnly entered, fuch as, Joh. 15-. 7, to,
If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye
fhall ask what ye will, and it Jhall be done unto you,
and if ye [keep My Commands } ye Jhall abide in My
Love
BOOK!, [170] CHAP. Vi.
Love, &c. And Job. iz z6. If any ManferveM e *
him will My Father Honour ; and /r/\ 14. zi.He
that loveth Me y Jkallbe loved of My Fatherland J
will love him and manifefi My Self unto kirn.
Ohj. Seing it is certain, that the Condition of
the Covenant of Grace, is not the doing of one
or moe Works,but Faith receiving Chrift offered,
without refpedt to our Works, as any part of the
Condition ; and feing the Condition of the Co-
venant, is not the having, or exercifing of fuch
and fuch Vermes, but the receiving of Chrift
through Faith unto Righteoufnefs and eternal
Life, by the Man who hath renounce i all confi-
dence in his own Works ; how eemetb it to pafs,
that fuch conditional Promifes are made to them
that are endued with, and do exercife fuch Ver-
mes ?
AnfMhzit theEndeavour to work good Works
or the exercife of fuch &!uch Vermes prelcnbed
■ by Chrift cannot be the condition of theCovenant
(for then noMan could clofeCovenant withChnft
till firfthe fhall find thefe Vermes in himfelf.and
have given proof of his conftant exercife there-
of) yet fuch conditional Promifes are made ufe
of after a Man hath clofed Covenant with
Chrift by Faith, as Conditions required in a true
Believer to evidence the Sincerity of his Faith.
And that becaufe many make pretence of their
Faith inChrift,and yet do turn the Grace of God
juntoWantonnefs,ana do no ways fet themfelves
to new Obedience unto God's Law, and are no
ways
OOK I. [ 171 ] CHAR. VI.
ways careful to bring forth Fruits fuitablcto pro*
fefled Repentance, but are Indulgent to their vi-
tious and flefhly lufts,and in effed: do renounce
all Endeavour to exercife good Works in Head
of renouncing acarnal confidence in good Works.-
Therefore God doth put the Endeavour to exer-
cife Chriftan Vertues on all profeflcd Believers,
as* a condition diftinguifhing a fincere Believer
from an Hypocrite, left any Man fhould pleafe
himfelf,becaufe he is externally in the Covenant
pf Grace, while, it may be, as yet his Faith is
but a dead Faith, net working by love: Againft
which fort of pretended Believers James {Chap.
2) difputcth. Such conditional Promifcs are di-
rected toward them that are outwardly already
in Covenant,and doferve for thefe feveral Ufes,
Firft, That fuch as both pro feis Faith in Chrift,
and are endeavouring the Duties required in fuch
conditional Promiles, may acknowledge, that
they have obtained of the Lord Grace for Grace,
Grace to believe, and Grace to bring forth the
Fruits of Faith.
Secondly, That the honeft hearted may be en-
couraged to fet up thefe Duties,and may hope to
be furniftied for them, out of the rich Fountain
of Quid's Grace, John 1. 16,
Thirdly, They ferve to make fuch as believe
in Chrift, when they , feel the In-lake of any
fuch commanded Duty,or the bitter Root of any
vice in themfelves, to humble themlelves.in the
fenfe thereof,and to flye more earneftly to Chrift
the
BOOK I. [ 17% ] CHAP. VI.
the Redeemer, that firft they may be covered
with His Jlighteoufnefs, and then from Him re-
ceive the power of the Holy Ghoft, to bring
forth good Fruits, as He hath promifed, Job.
15*. 5. If ye abide in Me, ye fhall bring forth much
Fruit.
Fourthly, They ferve to make Believers in
in Chriftfubjed: themfelves to the order of the
operation of the Holy Ghoft, Who giveth Grace
for Grace, and worketh one Grace before another
in his own order, as the forefaid Promifes do
import.
Fifthly, They ferve to ftir up Believers in
Chrift,to the Love and Exercife of fuch and fuch
Vertues,in the hope of the promifed Reward.
Sixthly, They ferve to move Believers to join
one Vertue to another,for certifying themfelves
of their own Calling and Eledtion by their growth
therein, 2 Pet. 1. 3, 4, 12.
Lafl of all, They ferve to make thefe who are
destitute and void of fuch Qualifications,and are
carelefs to have them,manifeit to themfelves and
Qthers, that they are blind, and cannot fee a far off:
and that they have forgotten that they were in Eap^
tifm, ecclefiafikally purged from their old Sins,
x Pet 1. 9.
Obj. How can this Offer of Grace to all the
Hearers of the Gofpel,and the folemn making of
a Covenant with all that profefs they do accept
of the Offer,(land with the Do&rineofEle&ion
of fome^and Reprobation of others, or. with the
Do-
BOOK I. [ 173 ] CHAP. VI.
Dodtine of Chrift's redeeming of the Eledt on-
ly, and not of all and dvery Man ?
Anf The Ele&ion of fome and Reprobation
df others, was made clear of old by God's mak-
ing offer of Grace unto, atid covenanting With^
©ne Nation only, and not with any other, Pfal.
147.19, 20. He /hewed His Word unto Jacob, His
Statutes and His Judgements unto lixael ; He hath
not dealt fo with any Nation, and as for His Judge-
ments they have not known them.
z. And die 'Offer of Grace to all Hearers of
die Gofpel, and covenanting with all that pro-
fefs to accept the Offer, do corifift with the Ele-'
dtion of fome only, as well now as of old, when
God made a Covenant external and conditional
with all Ifrael, of whom the great part Were not
eledted to Life, and of whom it is faid, Albeit
they were in number as the Sand of the Sea, yet a
Remnant of them only were to be Saved, Ifa.10.22.
For by this Courfe, God was not fruftrat of His
Purpofe, and Fruit of His Covenanting with the
mixed Multitude of Ifraelites; For the ElecS by
Faith obtained Righteoufhefs and Life, but the
reft were blinded, Rom. 1 1. 7
4. This common Offer of Grace to all the
Hearers of rije-Gofpel, and the making of a Mo-
ral Covenant with all that do profefs that they
accept the Offer, may ftand with the Do&rine of
ChrilVs Redeeming the Eled only, no lefs now,
than of old,whenChrift did make offer of Grace
to them that were not His Sheep, Joh. 10. 26. and
did
BOOK I. [ i 74 ] CHAP. VI;
We fay that it isfalfeand contrair unco Scripture^
how plaufible fo ever it (eem to proud Sinners ;
yea it is a mocking of Chrift,and a hinderance
of Men's Repentance and Converfion unto God.
1. Their Do&rine is contrair to Scripture, be-
caufe contrair to the Covenant of Redemption,
wherein the Father and the Son Mediator, are a-
gteed upon the Perfons to be Redeemed, to wit,
the Eled: only, given unto the Son to be Redeem-
ed ; and agreed upon the Price of their Redemp-
tion, to wit, the Obedience of Ghtift,even to the .
Death of the Crofs ; and agreed upon the Graces
and Gifts to be given to the Eledt, to wit, all la-
ving Graces, as Faith, Repentance, Perfeverarice,
and whatfoever belongs to Righteoufnefs ande-
ternal Life; and agreed upon the Means and Way
of gathering in the Redeemed,out of all Tongues
and Kindreds and Nations, prudently and prof
peroufiy,as is proven from Scripture, Chap. 4.
and ihall be more confirmed in the next follow-
ing Chapter.
2. Their Do&rine it mocketh Chriil,becaufe-
it chargeth Chrift with Folly in His making Co-
venant fo, as neither God's Juftice nor Man's
common Wifdom,\vould allow, to lay down the
Price of His Blood, and not before who ihould
be favcd by His Blood,to pay as much for Judas
as for Peter, to Redeem All and Every Man, and
yet put the difpofingofthe Benefit of Redemp-
tion, and Fruit of His Death out of His own
Hand, into the Hand of Mens Free-will,to make.
6?
BOOK I. [ i75 ] CHAR VII.
of it fomething or nothing as they pleafed;to buy a
pofiibility umo Men to fave themfelyes actually,
without the ipecial Grace of the Holy Ghoit,
and to cut Himfelf off from hiding the Glory of
the actual Converfion of Sinners, as far as He is
from the blame of Mens remaining in Sin and In-
fidelity: For they fay, He hath purchafed alike
[>ower to all and every Man s Free-will, to br-
ieve or remain in infidelity as they pleafe;ifthey
ufe it ill, bear they the Blame;if they ufe it well
they have the Praife. They make Him to lay
down His Life for All and Every Man,and to pue-
chafe unto All and Every One, Power to believe
in Him,atKi yet never to purpofe to make offer of.
the Golpel to the Thoufand part of Men. Thefe
land many moe Blemifhes they caft by their Do-
ctrine upon theWifilom and Power, and Grace
of our Lordjefus, Who is infinitely Wife and
Holy in all His Poings:
.. 3. This Dodtrine is a great hinderance of
Men's Repentance and Coriveriion unto God,
and to the Exercife of all Holy Duties; for who-
foevcr Believeth ih\$ their Do<ib*i:ie, he cannoc
renounce nor deny his own Wit, Worth and A-
bility, that he may come humbly unto Chrift and
follow. Him, but he muft (tand to this concede
of himfelf which this Doilrine teacheth him:,
yea, fucha Man cannot fay to God, in humble
and. hearty Prayer, Open mine eyes that I may be-
hold the Wonders of Thy Law : and teach me Thy, Sta-
tutes; he cannot in earned fay with David, in-
BOOK I. [ 176 ] CHAP. VI.
dine my Heart to Thy Teftimonie$ 9 and not unto
Covet oufnefs: For, he hath ( in his conceit ) this
Power of Free-will in himfelf,by common Gift to
every Man, he cannot heartily thank God (if he
feem to himfelf to do any Good) for giving him
both to Will and to Do of His good pleafure ;
for,this he hath in his own Hand, as this deceit-
ful Doctrine perfwadeth him.
Ohj. But fome there are who mantain the De-
cree of Redemption, and Covenant between God
and Chrift (which infubftance, is one with the
Decree ) to be Abfolut@,concerning the powerful
and invincible Converfion,Perfeverance and Sal-
vation of the Elect ; but concerning the reft of
the World,they tell us of a conditional Decree
of Saving every one who flial] believe in Chrift
Jefus, which doth make fome difference from what
is faid before.
Anf. There is indeed an Offer to be made to
all the Hearers of the Gofpel, to whom God in
His Providence doth fend His Meffengers, who
are appointed to make offer of Peace and Recon-
ciliation through Chrift,upon condition of hearty
receiving it, even to fuch as the Lord knaweth
will reject the Offer altogether ; againft whom,
His fent Meffengers, are to lhake off the duft of
their feet, forawitnefs againft them, Matth. 10.
13, 14, 15. which accordingly was done by Paul
and Barnabas, Acts 13.46. 51. and our Lord made
offer of Himfelf to His covenanted People the
Jews, who did not receive Him. Job. 1. n. 12,.
and
BOOK I. [ 177 ] CHAP. VI.
and this is to be done according to one of the
Articles of the Covenant of Redemption,concern-
ing the prudent way and manner of Clirift's Ang-
ling forth His own Eledt, from the reft 6f the
World: But this doth no ways import or infer,ari
iini verfal conditional Redemption,or any conditi-
onal Decree of God.:Fo'r,there is a vaft difference
between a conditionalDecree of God,& ^Decree for
bringing aboutGodsPurpofe,by offerihgPeace un-
to Men upon a Condition. A conditionalDecree pre-
fuppofeth, that God is not refbl ved what to do a-
bout chem,to whom Hefhallmake offer of Peace
upon Condition,butthatHe doth fufpend the De*
termination of His own Will, till the Offer be
made,and the Man hath fefufed or aiccepted of
the Condition propounded unto him; which fort
of Decree cannot be in God,to \yhom are known
all His own Works, and all Mens Works front
the Beginning, Ads 15-. 18. And Who doth all
things according to the deter minai counfel of His own
Will,Ephef.i.i 1. But a Decree to offer Peace,upon
Condition of Believing in Chrift,is a wife mean
both of hiding and executing His own fecret De-
cree, and putiitg the Perfons to whom He makes
the Offer unto.Trial;that after the drawing forth
of die natural Enimity & Back-wardnefs,which is
in all Men to come unto Chrift,till they be drawn
by God,He may have Mercy on whom He will,
and take the Refufe at the Hands of Others
for the Glory of His Juftice and Grace, accord-
ing a£ Me hath determined in Himfeif. The one
M % way
BOOK I. [178] CHAP. VI.
way determined! Man, as God willeth • the o-
ther way determineth God,as Mm wi rl :ch. M Dre-
overfuch a conditional Decree concerning all tfire
reft of Mankind, befide the Eleil, is inconfiitent
with the Scriptute,and the way of God's Difpen-
fation toward the moft part of Mankind: For, it
was not God's purpofe to make the Offer of Grace.
upon condition of Believing in Chrift, to All ana
Every Man, Pfal. 147. 19. 20. He fheweth His
Word 'mto Jacob, His Statutes and His Judgements
unto Ifrael, He hath not done fo with any Nation.
And as for His Judgements they have not known them.
This fame doth Mofes infinuat Deut. 4. 7,8. And
for His Difpenfation, Experience in all Ages
flievveth,that the Grace of the Go(pel,is not offer-
ed to All and Every One, and fo they cannot be
faid to Refufe the Condition, who never have
the Offer of Grace upon Condition : For, our
Lord givethus ground fo to reafon, fpeaking
of them who fhould Refufe the Offer of the Got
pel, J oh. 1 j. 22. If I had not come &Jpoken unto them,
they had not had Sin, (to wit, the guiltinefs of re-
jecting the Offer made in the Gofyd) i>ut now they
have no cloak for their Sin. wherein alfo He giv-
eth a Reafon wherefore the Offer is made to them,
whom He knew would Refute the03er,td wit,
that they may be rendered inexcufable,& be with-
out Cloak or Precence of this Allcdgence, that if
they had gotten theOffer, then would they have
believed & repented:For.this is the Pride of Adams
Poiterity .they conceive they can Believe and O-
bey
BOOKI. [ 179 ] CHAR VI.
bey God,if He fhall be pleafed to reveal His will
to them. And this is futable to the Covenant of
Redemption ;which, becaufe it was not made for
the faving of All and Every Man therefore it was
nptGod's purpofe to reveal His Gofpel & make of-
fer of His Grace to All and Every One,but out of
all forts of Men to call effe&ually the Eledt,
fending the G )fpel where they live, or bringing
them to the Place where the Gofpel is preached,,
that the Predeftinat might be of purpofe. effec-
tually Called and Ju (lifted aud Sanftified and Sav-
ed, Rom. 8. x8. 30. and becaufe the Eledt and
Predeftinat were to live in the Civil Society of
the reft of the World, it was agreed and decre-
ed, that the Offer of the Gofpel fhould be made
to all indifferently where God fhould fend His
Mefiengers, becaufe God had determined to bring
about the Salvation of the Eled;,fo wifely & ho-
lily,as none of the Hearers of the Gofpel fhould
be (tumbled, or hindered from embracing theOffer
made to all the Hearers indifferently, without let-
ting any Man know of his Eled;ion,tiil he had re-
ceived Chrift offered to him, & other felf-condem-
ned Sinners, or declaring a'iy Man Reprobat in
particular, to whom He maketh Offer of Grace,
Ohj. But except we grant an univerfal Redemp-
tion and the Univerfal Grace (as they call it) of
the Power of Free-will to All and Every Man,
how fhall we fatisfte our {elves about God's Dif-
penfation toward them, who iivc without the
Church, Strangers and Aliens from the Com-
mon-wealth of Ijrael Anf.
BOOK I. [ 180 ] CHAR yi.
Anf As for theEledt among therji, either they
{hall be brought to the Hearing of the Gofpel
where it is preached, ot the Gofpel fhall be fent
unto them where they do live; and for the reft
the Lojrd dealeth with them on the Terms of
the Covenant of Works, the power of keeping
whereqf^lbeit they have loft in Adam, yet they
&re not loofed from the Obligatiqn and Penalty
of violating thereof,and even they have not laid
afide the proud Opinion of their Ability to fol-
low Vertue and efhew Vice as they pleafe. And
the Courfe which God folio weth concerning them
the Apoftle fheweth us, Rom. z. 12, 13, 14, 15.
As many as have finned without the written Law
(faith he) fhall perifh without the Law, &c. for,
when the Gentiles which have not the Law (to wit,
the written Law given to the Church) do by Na-
ture the Things of the Law ; thefe having not the
Law, are a Law to themj elves.
Obj. But if the Do&rine of Redemption of
the Eledt only unto Life, be mantained, and
power of Free-will to believe and obey the Got
pel, be npt given to every Man,fpecially of thefe
that have the Offer of the Gofpel,andthat with-
out any fpecial Operation of the Holy Ghoft,
how can it be faid, that God dealeth juftly in
earned and fairly, with miferable Sinners, when
He Exhorts, Requeftsand Obtefts all that hear
the Gofpel to come to Chrift,and perfevere in o-
feedience of the Faith, vyhen He knoweth that
none
BOOK I. [ 181 ] CHAP. V[.
none of them have power to Believe or Obey,
and that to many of them He hath no purpofe
ever to give Grace to Repent and Believe, that
they may be faved ?
Anf. Fir ft, what can the Patrons of the Power
ofMen's Free-will, fpeak againft thejuftice and
Goodnefsof God, when they hear His Complaint
againft Ifrael, Pfal. 81. 8, 9, 10. &c. Hear
My People \and I will teflife urtto thee Ifrael, if
thou wilt hearken unto Me, there /hall he no jlrange
god in thee, neither (halt thou worfbip tny ft range
go J; I am the Lord thy God, which broufht thee out
cf the Land of Egypt; open thy Mouth wide, and I
will Jill it; but My People would not hearken to My
Voice, and Ifrael would none of Me: So I gave them
up to their own Hearts luft,and they walked in their
own Counfels. What can they fay againft God's
Juftice and fair dealing,when He, having drawn
forth to light, by His long continued Preaching
of His Word, the obftinat Enimity of the Repro-
bat Multitude againft Him, opened up His De-
cree againft all that fort in the fad MeiTage com-
mitted to Ifaiah, Chap. 6. 9, 10. Go and tell this
People, hear ye indeed, and underfland not; Jeeye in-
deed, but perceive not : make the Heart of this
People fat, and make their Ears heavy, and/hut their
Eyes, lell they fee with their Eyes, and hear with
l heir Ears, and underfland with their Heart, and
convert and be healed, Verf. 1 3. yet there jhall be a
tenth part, the Holy Seed, (to wit, the Eled) (hall
be the fubflance thereof And of this Prophefy
M 4 ule
jSOOK I. [ i8* ] CHAP. VI.
ufe is made, when the Multitude of Misbelie-
vers was like to obfcure the Glory of Chrilt, Job.
ix. 37, 38. to 42,. they heard the Offer of Grace
preached by Chrift Himfelf, and faw His mani-
fold Wonders,yet they believed not,neither could
they belie ve,becaufe God had rejected fhem, as
John doth prove from the Prophefy of Ifaiah.
Secondly, Is it not fair Dealing,when the Lord
profeffeth, that His Word fliall be p:eached,and
His Wonders manifefted (for the Elects caufe,
albeit they were but asaTenthparO to a Curfed
and Reprobat Multitude, who ihould hear and
fee without His Bleiiing, and in His difpenfation
doth in effect as He hath profefled ? As it is a
reafonable Anfwer of a Husband-man and Gar-
dener to his Child, asking him, Why he beats
the whole Sheaf, and watereth all the Garden,
feing the Sheaf is moft part Straw and ChafF,and
the Garden full of Weeds, to fay to his Child,
that he beats the Sheaf, that he may fever the
Corn from the Straw and Chaff,and that he wa-
tereth the Ground, where Herbs and Weeds do
grow together, that he may make both to come
up above Ground, and after that, may pull out
the Weeds, and fofler the Herbs for the Mailer's
ufe? So is it a reafonable Anfwer to fuch as cavil
againft the preaching of the Gofpel, to a mixed
Multitude of Eled: and Reprobat,to fay that the
Gofpel is preached to both, for the Converfion
of the Eleft, and bringing to light the Hatred
of the Reprobat againft God,and the Offer of His
Grace, •' < ' " Third-
BOOK I. [ 183 3 CHAP. VI
Thirdly, We grant the Lord knoweth Mens
Wickednels and Inability to obey His Commands,
and their Natural Enimity againft Him; but He
knoweth alfo, that all Men by Nature are proud
and puffed up with the conceit of their own Wif-
dom and Rigbteoufnefs, and Ability, fa as they
will not acknowledge their Sinfullieis, nor be (en-
■fibie of their Mifery and danger of Perdition,
but do entertain a high Eftecm and Opinion of
themfel ves, and in (pedal this, That they love
God above all Things, and that they can do
any thing commanded, at leaft in (uch a meafure
as may reafonabiy {atis<kGod,as it is to befeen in
the Example of the Israelites undertaking, Exod.
19. therefore, God in His. Wii^oro before He
convert any Man,dcth pull down this falfe Con-
ceit, by putting his Ability to Proof by the
Preaching of the Law, to the intent, that as the
Lord knoweth what is m Man,fo Man may know
it alfo both in his own and other Mens experi-
ence: and this is brought to light yet more clear-
ly by the Preaching of the Qofpel : wherein al-
.beit God make the precious Offer of Life & Sal-
vation to every Hearer of the Gofpel, if he will
acknowledge his Sin, and betake himfejf to
Chrift; yet no Manofhimfelf will either believe
or receive the Offer, but will go on in his own
counfel and w T ays, till God by His Grace
convert him. This Sicknefs is common both to
the Eledt and Reprobat, but when the natural
Per-
BOOK I. [ 184 ] CHAP. VI.
Perverfnefs of both is manifefted, God cometh
and maketh the difference of the one from the
other out of His meer Grace,by drawing the fi-
led: powerfully to Chrift, and letting the reft go
on to their own Perdition in His Righteous
Judgment. And our Lord doth fo expound the
matter, Job. 8. 47. He .that is of God, heareth
God's Words; ye therefore hear them not, becaufe ye
qrenot of God.
Fourthly, The Lord profefieth plainly, that in
the Difpenfation of His Word and Works of Pro-
vidence,^ intendeth the trial of Men, and the
difcovery of their hearts to themfelves and to o-
thersjand what fairer dealing can there be than
this > for Exod. 16. 4. He tells them that He
will rain down Mama upon them,to prove them,
whether they will walk in His Law or nor: and,
Exod. xo. zo. He tells them, He will give tnem
His Law and Preaching of His Word to prove
them,that His fear might be before them : and,
Deut. 8. z. that the Difpenfation of His Provi-
dence toward them, all the Fourty Years in the
Wildernefs,was to humble them,& to prove them,
to. know what was in their Heart, whether they
would keep His Commands or not : and, Deut.
13. 1, 2, 3. that He would fuffer falfe Prophets
to arife among them,to prove them, and to try
whether they would love the Lord their God
with all their Heart. And to this fame intent,
we are advertifed,that Chrift fiiouldbe not only
a tried Scone, but alfo a Stone for trial, fet for
the
BOOK I. ( i8y ) CHAP. VI.
the ruine of fome, and raiftngup of other fome,
Ifa. x8. 16, 17. and, 8. 14. compared wich Luke
x. 34, 35-. for, by this manner of Difpenfation,
the Lord maketh manifeft, that both the Eledt
and Reprobat are concluded under Sin and Un-
belief of thcmfclves, and that no Man can
come to Chrill, except the Father draw him,
that He may have Mercy on whom He will
have Mercy. And this manner of probation of
Men by a common Offer of Grace unto all, is
a part of that Prudence, whereby Chrift, by
His conditional Promifes and Exhortations, and
the Preaching of the Gofpel to all Hearers, mak-
eth all thefe that are outwardly called to be with-
out Excufe,and fiftieth forth the Ele<ft out of the
Sea of Sin and Mifery, and out of the Society
ofthofe that perifh : of which Prudence Ifaiah
fpeaketh, Chap. $z. 13. Behold, My Servant Jball
deal prudently and profper, and he extolled, and
be very high.
Wherefore this Wifdom of God in Converting
the Eled, without giving caufe of Stumbling un-
to any of the reft, is rather to be Admired and
Praifed, than to be Difputed againft, as we are
taught, Rom. 11. 33,34, 3 5, 36. the depth of
the Riches, both of the Wifdom and Knowledge of
God, how unfearchable are Hts Jitdgefyents , and His
Ways p aft finding out>
Obf But for all this, the carnal Wifdom of
proud Men is fuch, as neither is it iubjed to God,
$cx indeed can be, but ftajyleth in hoftilc £*■
BOOK I. [ 186 ] CHAP. VI.
mity againft Him, and will not be quiet, but
when it heareth what is faid. Rom. 9. 18. that
God will have Mercy on whom He will have Mercy,
and whom He will He Hardeneth, will fay, as it
is, Verf. 19. Why doth Godyet find fault t for who
hath refifted His Will? this Do&rine, fay they,
doth hinder Mens Repentance altogther.
Anf We Anfwer with the Apoftle, Verf. 20.
Nay, but Man, who art theu that replieth againji
God > whether do<l thou compear Procurator for
the Reprobat and for Satan the Enemy of God,
to quarrel and difpute with God anent His righ-
teous Decrees ? If thou wilt avow this, we leave
thee and all fuch proud and prefumptuous Mis-
believers of plain Do&rine, to reckon with your
Judge. But if thou fpeak only for they felf, we
fhall let thee fee, that this Dodrine lhall not
hinder thee from Repentance. If then thoufhalt
fay, I will not difpute againft Qod, but do defire
earneftly to be fatisfied about my felf; for I be-
lieve, that many are Reprobat and few are Cho-
fen : and my fear is, that I be found of the worft
fort, and do not know how to rid my felf of
my Doubts and Fears. For, Anfwer we lhall deal
with thee in a Friendly manner; and Firft,we put
thee in Remembrance, that God hath ferved an
Inhibition on all Men, not to medle with the
fecret Counfel of God, Deut. 29. 29. Thefecret
Things belong to the Lord our God, but thefe Tbings
that are revealed belong unto lis and our Children
for ever. Therefore do not hearken to this Sug-
BOOK I. [ 187 ] CHAP. VI.
geftion, but go about thy Duty. We ask
then, Firft, art thou convinced of thy Sin and ill
Deferring ? If thou fay, J am a Sinner, and can-
not aniwer for one of a thoufand of my bygone
Sins, for which God mayjuftly, and I fear He
fhall in effed: reject me. We anfwer unto thee,
it is to good purpofe that thou art fo far convin-
ced of Sin,as to judge thy felf worthy of Death,
and utter Exterminion from His Mercy: Mean
time be comforted thus far, that thou art not of
the number of thofe who confide in their own
Righteoufnefs, nor of the number of them who
truft in their own Strength, or power of their;
Free-will.
We ask again, doth thy bygone Life difpleafe
thee? and wouldft thou have thy Sins forgiven,
and thy felf reconciled with God > doth Cnrift,
offering Himlelf in the Gofpel, pleafe thy Soul,
when thou heareft from His Word, thatHecrav-
eth nothing of thee, fave that thou welcome His
Offer, and Confecrat thy felf to Him, that fo
in Him thou mayeft have Righteoufnefs and
Sanclification and Salvation ? If thou ani\ver,that
the Searcher of Hearts knoweth thy defire to be
Reconciled to God in Chrift, to live before Him
hereafter as a reconciled Child, there is good
hope of Salvation for fueh a one as thou art.
Thirdly, We lay, feing thou haft heard the
Law convincing thee of Sin, and haft believed
God's Word fo far, why doft thou not believe
Him aifo, when in the Gofpel thou heareft His
Offer
BOOK I. [ 188 ] CHAP. VI.
Offer and Call unto all felf-condemned Sinners,
to come unto Chrifl, and reft their weary Souls
iipoh Him ? who hath excepted thee from the
embracing of Mercy offered in Jefus Chrift? look
therefore tvhat His Word faith to all Sinners fly-
ing for Refuge unto Chrift, Who is the Hope
fet before Sinners, and leave Him not, whatfoe-
ver be thy Fears : For He that hungreth and thir-
fteth for Righteoufhels through Chrift, fliall be
fatisfied.
CHAR VII.
For a further Clearing and Confirmation of the ho-
Brine alout the Three Covenants, from Jer. 31.
and Heb. 8.
THe Prophet Jeremiah giveth us a fliort
Compend of the former Do&rine anent
thefe Three Covenants, Chap. 3 i . VerJ.
3 1. &c. whereof the Apoftle giveth a cleat Com-*
mentary, Heb. 8. Verf. 6. 7. &c.
As to the Covenant of Redemption,it is here
prefupponed to be paft,as the Apoftle,expounding
this place of Jeremiah, giveth us to underftand,
while he flieweth us,that the Covenant of Grace
was no other ways purchafed than by the Media-
tion of our Lord Jefus, trarifa&ing about the
Covenant of Redemption with the Father. And
that he may give us to underftand this;
1 . Chrift is called the Mediator of a better Co-
venant ; Heb, 8.to wit, of the Covenant of Grace.
BOOK I. [ 189 ] CHAP. VII.
z The Covenant of Grace is dcfigned by the
Name of a Teftament, which giveth us to under-
ftand that Chrift the Mediator,did not obtain the
making of this Covenant on a le(s Price than the
laying down of His Life, that all the Benefits
contained inthefe better Promifes, might firft be
His Goods to difpone upon,asHe pleafed;and that
He being refolved to die,did make His Teftament f
and leave them all in Legacy to the Redeemed,
His Heirs and Affigneys,defigned from Eternity.
3. The Mediator making His Teftament, is
called Jehovah y not a meer Man,butGod to be in-
carnat, making an unchangabie Latter-will or
Teftament, whfch of neceflity required the Death
of the Teltator, that it might be ratified, Heb.
9. 1 £, 16. and the Death of a Teftator not a meer
Man, but the Son of God to be Incarnat and to
Die, W ho had Life in Himfelf, that He might
lay down His Life, and take it up again.
4. The Goods which He purchafed accord-
ing the Covenant of Redemption,and left in Le-
gacy to His Heirs, are all and every Bleffing
which do belong to Godlinefe and Life eternal,
i&Remiffion of Sin, and writting of the Law in
their Hearts, &c.
5. The Redeemed, and defigned Heirs,arenot
all and every Man,bur the Eledonly, thefethat
were to be faved only , and who were to be effectu-
ally Called, and endued with the Saving Know-
ledge of God,who from the leaft to the greateft,
were all of them to know the\L»rdi not (uch as were
the
BOOK I. [ 190 ] CHAP. VII:
the Reprobat Fathers, nor their unbelieving
Children, but the chofen Society of the Ijrael
of God, and of Chrifts Family, the Houfe of Ju-
dahy which is the Tribe of Chrift: For, the Apo-
ftle doth extend thefe Promifes unto the Cove-
nant between God and the Elecl:, to be gathered
under the Evangel unto Chrift, out of Jews and
Gentiles,
As to the Covenant of Worksat is certain,Firft,
That God made a Covenant of Grace in fubftance;
and upon the Matter with the Fathers, that were
brought out of £gy/tf,aswemay gather from the
consideration af the Parties and Articles of that
Covenant: For, albeit Gcd 'repeated the'
Covenant of Works, and declared the force
of the Law,for binding the Curfeupon all Tranf-
greflbrs thereof; yet He did prefs the Law on
them in order unto their Reconciliation, by the
Sacrifice of the Lamb of God, to be in due
time offered up,and did teach them,, that Chrift
was the End of the Law, for Righteoufnefs to
every one that believed.
2. It is certain, that in the framing of this
Covenant of Grace, between God and the vifi-
ble Church of the Fathers, God did make the
Promifes of Righteouliiefs and eternal Life and
fpiritual Bleflmgs, under the vaii of temporal:
Types, upon Conditions more hard and difficile
ill appearance, than the newCovenant doth re-
quire : For, this the Apoftle iheweth to us plain-
ly, Heb. 8, 6.
i it
BOOK I. [ 191 ] CHAR VII.
3, It is certain, that the un-belicving Fathers
did not take up,nor underftand the Covenant 6f
Grace, but turned it over in a Covenant of Works,
which is manifeft by comparing the Words of
Jeremiah, and the Commentary thereupon by the
by the Apoftle: For, Jeremiah faith, that they
did tranfgrefs the Covenant, albeit God did Ihew
Himfelf a Husband unto thefe un-believing Fa-
thersjthat is,they changed the Covenant of Grade
in a Covenant of Works of their own framing,
and tranfgrefled that Covenant alfo. And the
Apoftle faith, they did not continue in that Cove-
nant, becaufe they changed it to themfelves in
a Covenant of Wcrks,according to which Cove-
nant God did deal with them : For, in ftead of
being a Husband to them, He exa&ed of them
the Penalty of the broken Covenant of Works,
and Lorded it over them,and did not regard them 9
Heb. 8. 6. For, they fought after the Righteout
nefs of Works, and not to have Righteoufnefs by
Faith ;and therefore did Hedifpife them,and dealt
with them after the Tenor of the Covenant of
Works. And it is obfer vable, that the Words of
Jeremiah do comprehend the Apoftie's meaning 3
For, the Words may bear both ,that God was a
Husband unto them, to wit, in making a Cove-
nant of Grace with them; and that He dealt with
them as a Lord over them, by exacting of them
the*penaltyof the broken Covenant of Works,
and ^of the rejected Covenant of Grace,
BOOK I. [ i 9 z ] CHAP VII.
As to the Covenant of Grace, the Apoftle
fpeaketh of it in exprefs Terms, Fir ft, By God's
■Pr-omifing that He would make a new Covenant
with the Houfe of Ifrael and Judah.
Secondly, By His letting better Promifes before
them, than thefe were which were made to the
Fathers in the Wildernefs.
Thirdly, By His giving no other Caufe of be-
flowing fo great Bleffings on them, but His own
Good-will and Pleafure.
Fourthly, By His requiring no other Condition
of them but Faith, that they who feel in them-
felves, the want and need of the promifed Blef-
fings, and are convinced of their own Unworthi-
nels, might give credit uiito God that maketh
the Promife,and fo embrace the Promifes, and
apply them to their own u(e.
As to the external Difpenfation of the Cove-
nant, it is certain,Fir(t, that it was common to
all that were externally Called, to all the Mem-
bers of the vifible Church ; for, the Covenant
made in theWildernefs with the Eledt Fathers &
Reprobat,\vith the Believers & Unbelievers,with
thofe that rejed:ed the Covenant of Grace and
the Offer of Righteoufnefs by Faith, and with
thofe who looked through the vail a far off to.
Chrifl: coming, and were Saved, was one and
the fame.
z. Jt is certain, that the external Form of the
Covenant: of Grace, was more obfcure and vailed
over, bv the Types and Figures of the Leviticai
Cc-
BO OKI. [ 193 ] C HAP. VII.
Ceremonies before Chritt came;but after His com-
ing, it was propounded in clearer and better
Promfes.
3. A day is fet, to wit, the fulnefs of time,
whenthefe Shadows and typical Figures fhould be
aboli{hed,atld the Grace of God fliould be fet be-
fore HisPeople,to be looked upon with open Face.
4. And yet, the Grace of God was not fo hid
and obfturely propounded to the Church before
Chrift's coming, as it could not be tak#nup by
the Children of God : For in the midlt of the
Shadows and dark Typs, the Star light of gra-
cious Promifes did ihine, and the Dodtrine of
the New Covenant, was in fubftanceholden forth
by the Prophets ; and one inftance thereof doth
appear in this place of Jeremiah.
As to the internal Covenant of Grace, Firftj
tliefe Things which are promifed in that Cove-
nant^ declare in what (tare God doth find Men,
whom He doth convert and draw into Covenant*
with HimfelfrFor, when theLordtakerhin Hand,
that He will write His Law in their Heart, that
He will teach them HimfelftoKnow Him,by the
teaching of His Word and Spirited that He will
forgive their Sins,He pre-fuppofeth, that lawleis
Rebellion did reign in them, with Biindnefs of
Mind and Hardnefs of Heart;and that the Eledt,
by Nature are without Law, without God, with-
out Faith, before He reform them, according
to the Articles, or Tenor of the Covenant of
Redemption.
BOOK I. t 194 1 CHAP. VII.
2. Albeit by Nature, the Law be written In
Mens Hearts, as to the knowledge of fundry
Moral Duties, and fo far as is fufficient to make
them inexcufable, for their contraveening chefe
Sparks of Light, Row, 1. 20. and 2. 14,15'. Yet
the writting of the Law, here promifed is Spiri-
tual and Super-natural, enlightning their Minds
by the Light of God's Spirit, and renewing their
Heart ; and, in effect, the thing promifed is ac-
tual Converfion of them.
3. And feing Converfion is here promifed by
Chrift the Teftator abfolutely, He hath taken
in Hand abfolutely to effe&uat it: For, it is not
faid, /will put My Law in their Heart // they
pleafe to fnffer Me, but determinatly, / will put
My Law, I will write My Law in their Heart and
inward Tarts, that is, I will make them willing
who were averfe, and obedient to My Law who
were rebellious.
4. Chrift, the Teftator, doth in all this,
not fatisfie Himfclf by promifing the Illu-
mination of the Mind and the enclining of
the Heart, for a time ; but promifeth, alfo
to make a folid and permanent work of it, by
making them perfevere, which is imported in
the Words / will put, and / will write it; for,
to write it, is as much as to fix and engrave it,
that it may remain.
5. The chief Head of the Covenant, and
which in fubftance doth contain all I31eftings,
is fet down in thefe words, / will be their God,
BOOK I. [ 195 ] CHAP. VII.
and they [ball be My people : For, by this Promife
Right is granted unto the true Heart-convert and
Confederat, firft, unto God Himfelf, then unto
all His Benefits, whereof he hath need, in
order to Righteoufnefs and eternal Life :
For, they whofe God the Lord is, they do
live, and fiiall live for ever, as Chrift faith,
God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Liv-
ing, Matth. 22. 32. And all particular promi-
fes, what are they elfe but Explications of
this great and firft Promife, and Applications
thereof to His Childrens Cafes in particular ?
Gifts of the Spirit are promiled here, and En-
duements whereof Difciples have need, whereof
Pilgrims going Home to that Heavenly City
have need: yea,the Spirit Himfelfis promifed to
them, who is to remain with them to the end of
their Life, as a Dire&er and Leader, They fha/l
all know Me, faith the jDW,that is, as Chrift doth
interpret it, They fhall be all taught of God,
J oh. 6.45.
7. The Lord flieweth here, that He will deal
with Men, in their Regeneration and Reconcilia-
tion^ with reafonable Creatures, by preferving
and not deilroyingthetn in their fimpie Naturals,
by maintaining and not over-turning the
Liberty of their Free-will ; 1 will make a Orce-
nant,{aitaHc,with the Houfe of Judah. Now a
Covenant is a free and voluntar Contrach
8. He flic weth, that He is Lord and Over*
ruler of Mans WUl,Who can turn it about as He
pleafi
POOKL [ i 9 6 ] CHAP. VII.
pleafeth, and that He is not hindered nor imped-
ed to execute and bring to pafs, whatsoever He
hath purpofed to do,by the variable contingen-
cy or differency of Mans Will,but can work upon
the Will of Man, and by the Will of Man, what
pleafeth Him ; and by fecond caufes, whether
working freely and contingently, or by a Natural
Neceflity,can wifely ,holily and powerfully bring
about His own purpofe,in Hisfet time;The days
come, faith }Ht,whereinIwill make a Covenant with
the Houfe of Ifrael. Wherein He taketh upon
Him the effectual Work of Covenanting,promi-
fing not only for His own part, but alfo for the
Elect of Ifrael and Judatis part: For,His promife
is, that it ilia.ll come to pafs, that by enclining
their Will unto Reconciliation, they fhall wil-
lingly confent unto a Covenanting with God :
For,He faith, I will make a Covenant with them ;
He faith not, if they will, but absolutely, I will
make them clofe a Covenant with Me heartily.
9. The party to be Converted and to enter
in Covenants not all Men, nor every Society
but the Church-, God's own Family ; not every
Nation, but God's People, chofen out of all
Nations on the whole Earth, I will make a Cove-
nant with the Houfe ej Ifrael ; as it is alfo cleared,
Deut. 7. 6, 7, 8.
10. The Church of Chrifl under the Gofpel,
as the Apoflle looketh on this place, is compre-
hended under the Name of Ifrael and Judah;
partly, becaufe Ifraelhzth the priority of all o-
ther
BOOK I. [ 197 ] CHAP. VII.
thcr People in God's Covenant 3 and partly, be-
caufe all the Chritlian Church of the Jews and
Gentiles is comprehended under the Name of the
Houfe of Judab,\vh\ch is Chrift's Tribe,whereof
He came, Who is the Prince and Head of all
Believers and confedem Perfons, reconciled to
God ; and partly, becaufe the Ijraelites or Jews,
have tins Prerogative above all other People and
Nations on the Earth, that of that Race of
People, the pollcrity of Abraham, Ifaac and Ja-
cob, there fhall be in all Ages ibnie elected per-
fons; til! the great bulk of the now fcattered
People turn Chriftians, and till the End of the
World/ Rom. 11. 5.
11. No Age, old nor young, no Sex, Man nor
Woman, nor any external difference of Men that
can be put between one and another in this Life,
doth exclude any Mali from the Benefit of this
Covenant, or commend a Man to God that his
Perfbn mould be refpecledof God,but all & every
one whom God ihall externally Call, may fafe-
ly accept the Offer of Grace, and join themfelvcs
tojeius Ghrifb For, the Grace of God here, is
extended unto ail degrees and forts of Men,
from the lea (I to the greatefl.
12. In the mean time God knowcth His own,
Man.be Man,bodv great and fmail,and with the
fame Love,doth embrace them all: For,the Pro-
mife is, that all thofe Elecl:who are known to
God, ill a 1 1 know Him, from the greatefl even to
the leaJL
13 The
BOOK I. [ 198 ] CHAP. VII.
13. The great Obftacle which may be fuppo-
fed to exclude any from coming in to God
through Chrift, is here removed; to wit, the
greatnefs and multitude of by-gone Sins, call up
againft the incoming of fome when they are Cal-
led: The Mercy and Grace of Chrift,; the Te-
ftator,taketh this Doubt out of the way, faying,
I will forgive their iniquity, and their Sins I mil
no more rememler, Jer. 31. 34.
14. Thispromifed Remiflion, the Lord will
not have limited nor abridged, neither by the
number of Sins, nor grievoufnefs thereof, nor
kinds of Sins, but He purpofeth and promifeth
to toke away all Iniquity by Forgivenefs, and
to forger their by- gone Sins, Verf 34. And con-
firmeth-thisby repeating the Promifeof not call-
ing: them ofT who fhaii acknowledge Him,
Verf 37.
1 y . rrom this Promife the Apoftle (Heh. 10.)
draweth this Confequence,That under the Go£
pel, cr new Covenant, there is but one Offering
fpr Sin ; \\ hich Offering cannot be repeated, in
regard that full Remiflion thereby is purchafed :
For. ( Verf 14. ) he faith, By one Offering He
hath perfected for ever them that are Santtified-,
and this he proveth from the Words of the Co-
venant, Verf 15. 16, 17. whence he concludes,
Verf. 18. Now, where Remiffion ofthofe are, there
re Ojferinjfor Sin.
1 6 If any ihall ask for the Caufe of fb
Mercy and Grace Covenanted, he iliall find
none
BOOK I. [ 199 1 CHAP. vn.
none in Man at all. The only Caufe is fet
down here,to wit, the Will and good Plcafure of
God, I will forgive their Iniquity, faith the Lord,
and their Sins will I remember no more, that is, I
vvill have Mercy on whom I will have Mercy.
17. Becaufe the Lord our God and Mediator,
is here making His Teftament, wherein alfo He
taketh upon Him to be Executor of His own
Latter- Will, and to perform all that ispromifed,
therefore in confirmation, He fubfcribeth and
fets down His Name, ]er. 31. 35. Thus faith
the Lord; and that His Sublcription may be
of weight with all Men, He defigns Hmfeif by
His (lately Stiles or Titles,taken from His Crea-
tion and Government of the Creatures, Thus
faith the Lord, which giveth the Sun for a Light by
Day, and the Ordinances of the Moon and of the Stars
for a Light by Night, which divideth the Sea when
the Waves thereof roar ; the Lord of Ho ft s 1$ His
Name.
This He faith, led the Faith His People ihould
be fhaken, by their looking to Impediments and
Difficulties, and that they may gather Strength
and Courage to go on in the Lord's way con-
llantly, when they confider the Power of God
in the Workmanfhip and Government; of the
World.
1 8. Unto His Subfcription, He addeth, both
Witnefles and Pledges of His Promiks ,l r erf. j<$.
If thofe Ordinances depart from, before Me, faith
the Irordi then the Seedof\i\-jLQl(\vl\ich compre-
hend-
BOOK t [ 200 ] CHAP. VII.
hendeth the Seed of Abraham's Faith) /hall
c&tfe-frvm being a Nation before Me for ever
VerC 3 6.
19. Laft of all, left any Man, in the conside-
ration of the Grievoufnefs of his Sin, or of the
apparent impoilibility of performing thefe Pro-
mi fes, fhould doubt, of RemiiTion of Sins to be
granted to the Confederat, or of the Perfeverance
of the true Believer, or of the Perpetuation of
the Church, the Lord bids His People that come
in to Him, be confident and quiet, Verfn* fay-
ing, If Heaven above can be meafured. ami the
Foundations of the Earth fe arched out beneath, I will
alfo cafi off all the Seed of\{xxt\,for all that they
have done, faith the Lord. Now, both thefe are
impoflible, that we can.meafure the Heavens,or
feardi the bottom of the Earth; Therefore it is
impoffibie, that this Covenant and the Promifes
made therein, ihould fail.-
The manner of Difpenftng the New Covenant outward-
ly and inwardly.
AS to the Difpenfation of this Covenant,both
outwardly and inwardly. Firfl, ThisPro-
rnife of a New Covenant, is a challenge againit
the mif-believing Fathers, who (lighted the Of-
fer of Grace, and followed after the Covenant
of Works, feeking Righteoufnefs by Works;
which Covenant of Works, they were not able
to -perform, and it feryed unto them only for
their
BOOK I. [ 201 } CHAP. VII.
their Condemnation : This the Apoftle doth col-
led: from this place of Jeremiah, Heb. 8. 8. He
found fault with the Fathers.
Secondly, The Apoftle obfcrveth the wonder-
ful Mercy of God-, that whiieHe is findingfaulc
with the Incredulity of the Fathers, who lived
under this old Covenant, Be will avenge this
their Incredulity, Ignorance, Foolifhnefs and In-
gratitude, by telling them, that He will make a
new Covenant, and give them that were then
living a taftc of it, for recovering them, finding
fault with them, He faith, The Days come, that
I will make a new Covenant.
thirdly, This Covenant of Grace made with
the Church, is procured by Chrift, to this end,
that the Covenant o{ Redemption might be brought
unto a real accomplifhment by the Covenant of
Grace. This Obfervation is grounded upon this,
that Chrift is called the Mediator of this better
Covenant, Heb. 8. 6. For He will draw up a
clear Covenant of Grace with His People, that
the Bleftings purchafed unto them, according to
the Covenant of Redemption, may be applied
unto them by this Covenant of Grace and Recon-
ciliation.
Fourthly, The preaching of the Promife of
this new Covenant, is a moft fit mean to draw
on and dole this Covenant of Grace between
God & His People, who are the Called according
to His Purpofe : This Obfervation is gathered
frem Jeremiah's Preaching, and FauFs Preach-
es
BOOK I. [ 20i ] CHAP. Vn,
ing of this unto the Hearers of the Golpel, to this
very intent and purpofc.
Fifthly, In the Promifing and Preaching
of this Covenant of Grace, God will have
all Mens Opinions, Thoughts and Concepti-
ons about this Miftery, limited unto, and
depending upon,His Mouth alone, revealing the
fame in His WordrThis Obfervation is gathered
from theLord's invitation of all Men to take heed
whatHe is to (ay,and what He is to let forth in this
matter. Behold the Days come, faith the Lord,
wherein I will do fuch and fuch Things, which
now I fore-tell I will do.
Sixthly, Both the making and way of making
a Covenant with Man, dependeth abfolutely on
God, either to make a Covenant or not, to make
what Covenant He pleafethto make, upon what
Conditions He pleafeth, and with what Perfons
He pleafeth to make His Covenant. No Man
ever preveened God, defiring Him to make a
Covenant, but God did preveen ail Men, He
preveened Adam once before his Fall, and again
by preaching the Gofpel in his audience after
the Fall, He preveened the Fathers in the
Wildernefs, He preveened his Pofterity, that
have lived or fhall live in the latter Days,
p^pmifing to make a Covenant with thefe
vyiio were not come into the World, but were
ogme long after the Promifc.
I Seventhly, The Lord will have all Men
tpunderlland, thaf the End of His Covenants
ing
BOOK I. [ 203 ] CHAP. Vlt.
ingwith Men, both in that Old dark Form, and
in the New clear Form, is His own Glory : For,
He hath made all things for Himfelf, even
the Wicked for the Day of EviL This Obfer-
vationis gathered, partly, from this, that the
Lordbringeth forth His Soveraignty for aRea-
fon of His Reje&ing of the Mif-believing
Fathers in the Wildernefs, / defpifed them, I re-
garded them not ; / Lorded it over them, as the
Original may bear. And partly, from this,
that He bringeth forth His own Will and Plea-
fure for a Reafon of His fhewing Grace to their
Poflerity, / will forgive their Sins, &c.
8. He Iheweth alfo that in His Works He
doth not depend upon Man, but that all His
Works are known unto Him from the Beginning,
and that it is determined by Himfelf, what,
and how, and by what Means, He will do e-
very Thing. This may appear from this, that
He doth fore-tell what He is to do about the
Saving of His EledJ, Jews and Gentiles, being
no lefs certain to do what He promifed about
the Polterity to come, than He was certain of
what was paft already about their incredulous
Fathers.
9. The Lord will have us to know, that lay-
ing afide the confideration of His Decrees, it is
(imply in the power of God to punilh Sin,in whom
He will, and pardon Sin through a Mediator
to whom He will, that is, to have, Mercy on
whom
BOOK I. [ 204 ] CHAP. VII.
whom He will have Mercy, and to Pardon
whom He will Pardon. This is collected from
this, that the Fathers do fin in, the Wildernefs
and juftly Perifh, and the Pofterity do fin and
are gracioufly Pardoned.
10. In all this proceeding, no violence isufed
upon the Will of Men, whether of them that
Perifh, or of them that are Saved. The Saved
do walk freely in the way of Salvation, as
their hearty choife ; and thefe that Perifh, walk
willingly in the way of Perdition. God proceeds
with both by a voluntary Covenant, as this place
doth fhevv.
11. In them that Perifh, the meritorious and
culpable Caufe of their Perdition is in themfelves^
but in them that are Saved, no Caufe is found
at all, but the Caufe is foutid in God's Grace
ailenerly. This is collected from this, that the
Lord giveth the Reafon of the Perdition of the
mif-believing Fathers, from their Sins and trarrf-
greffion of Covenant, they tranfgrejfed My Cove-
nant, and I dejpijed them; and of the Salvation
of their Pofterity, no other caufe but this, their
Sins I will not remember any more.
12. The Lord's Juflice is cleared in the Perdi-
tion of them that perifh, becaufe He gave Pre-
cepts and Promifes, and other moral Motives
to hinder them from Sinning, and to move them
to keep His Ways, albeit He did not efFe&ually
impede their running on to Sin according to their
Inclination^ and pronenefs to follow their own
way
BOOK I. [ ^os ] CHA'P. VII,
. This is collected from this, that the Lord
faith, He made a Covenant with their Fathers
and they did break it.
1 3. It pleafeth God, not only to give His Pre-
cepts unto Men, concerning their Duty, but al-
fo to condefcend fo far unto them,as to open up
in a part His Decrees and deep Defigns about
about Men's Salvation,that they being admitted
fomewhat near to the Treafures of His
Wifdom, Goodnefs, Juftice and Mercy, might
be fo much the more wife, and the more ftir-
red up to dilcharge their Duty, and make u(e
of His Difpentanon. This we colled from His
Revealing of the Decree of Election of the Po-
fterity of IJrael, and drawing them effectually
into a Covenant of Grace with Himfelf.
14. The Lord doth reveal to the World the
Doctrine of Election unto Life, only in the ge-
neral, and doth not defcend to the nomination
of them in particular. This is collected from
this, that He doth promife to Convert and draw
into a New Covenant Grace, the Pofterity of
Ifrael and Judah, without naming particularly
thefe that were defigned for that Salvation.
15*. Albeit the Lord keepeth up the Names
of the Elecl: (except of tome few) before their
Converfion,yet,He giveth forth Marks and Evi-
dences, whereby after their Converfion, they
may be known both to themfelves and others.
This we collect from this, that He fets down in-
fallible Marts of the Eled, who are to be Gods
CO-
BOOKI. [zo6] CHAP. VII.
covenanted People or Worlhipers of God, that
they do know God, and have His Law written
in their Hearts and inward Parts.
1 6. As for the Reprobation of any Man,the Lord
hath given no certain Mark as long as they live
(except that malicious & Wilful rejecting Stoppe-
ring of known Chrift Jefus) to the intent that none
fhould dare to exclude, either themfelves or o-
thers from Repentance and hope of Mercy, fo
long as the day of God's long-fuffering & patience
doth laft. This is colle&ed from this, that God
doth not make mention of the Reprobation of
thefc mif-believilig Fathers, while they are liv-
ing, but now long after they are dead ; and this
mention making of them, is in general only, and
not by naming them particularly.
1 7. Albeit in the Difpenfation of the Covenant
of Grace, for application of Saving Mercies,the
Matter be fo wifely carried by God, that both
the Decree and Covenant of Redemption is keep-
ed clofs, as to particular Names, and yet it is
zffedtually made out in the applying of Grace
to individuaiPerfons, as the Agreement is made
between God & Chrift Mediator ; yet the Cove-
nant of Redemption is made this far clear.that it
did not pafs for die Conversion & Salvation of All
& Every Man,by this Evidence,that not fo much
as the Offer of the Covenant of Grace and Re-
conciliation fhall be made to All and Every Na-
tion, far lefs to All and Every fiilgular Perfbn:
But that the People and Nation of Ifrael and J«-
BOOK I. [ io 7 ] CHAR VIIL
Jab is chofibn out of all People and Nations in the
World, comprehending fuch others as fliould be
called unto their Society, arid the fcllowfhip of
the Olive-tree among them, asPfal. 147. 19,20.
holdeth forth. And in this place the whole Eledfc
under the Gpfpel are taken up under the Name
of this one Nation.
18, That the Decree of Eledtion offome,may
both be keeped up as to particular Nomination,
and yet have certain Execution and be preform-
ed, the Lord taketh up all His Confederate whe-
ther in the Letter or Spirit, alfo under the fame
common Name. This is gathered from this;
that the misbelieving jfraelites that perifhed in
the Defart, with whom God made a Covenant
and they did break it, are defigned under the
common Name of Fathers, and are taken up in
that Covenant under the Name oiSpotfe. Jer.31.
}x. and theEledt Poftcrity are taken up under
the common Name of the Houle of Ifrael &JuJah.
■ 19.S11CI1 as the Covenanters are,in regard of their
inward Eftate,fuch is the Covenant wherein they
really are ,or fuch is the Covenant in relation to
their perfons. Unto the Reprobat, who do change
for their part the Covenant of Grace into the
Covenant of Works, the Covenant of Grace be-
cometh in effedtthe Covenant of Works, and is
rendered void to them, as the Apoftle doth
threaten the Galatians. Gal. 5. 4. and as did
befal the Pharisaical Fathers, who are here de-
clared as Inftancesjbut the Covenant of Grace unto'
& rite
BOOK I. [ xoS ] CHAP. VII.
the Eled and trueBelievers,remainsftill the Co-
venant of Grace, from which they do not fall,
nor can fall, altogether as the companion here be-
tween the Fathers in the Wildernefs and their
Elect Pofterityinaketh evident.
20. The Lord hath wifely joined Life with the
Means and Way to Life, and Death with the
Way to Death, and will not have that fepara-
ted which He hath joined. This is colledied
from this, that the Fathers by not continuing in
the Covenant, are Defpifed and Rejected of
God, and fo Periilied ; but their Eled: Pofterity
having the Law of God in their Hearts, and
cleaving conftantly unto the Lord, are Saved.
21. The Lord will have this Do&rine taught
where His Word is preached, concerning the Ele-
ction of fome, and Reprobation of other fome ;
of God's Covenanting with feme People and
Perfons, and not offering a Covenant to other
fome ; of Covenanting with fome in the Letter,
and with other fome in the Spirit alfo, to this
end and intent, that Men, leaving the fearching
in particular of that which God hath keeped
fecret in the particular,may follow commanded
Duties,Repent their Sins ,and flee to Chrift offe-
red unto them,and take up His Yoke upon them,
and beware that they neither Defpair, nor yet
Prefume, or turn the Grace of God into Wanton-
nefs. This we gather from this, that God fen-
deth forth Jeremiah to preach theie Things, not
only to the vifible Church of die Jews going in-
to
BOOK I. [ 209 1 CHAP. VII.
to Exile and Captivity, but alfb to all who fhall
hear this Do&rine from Him, to the End of the
World. And the Apoftle, repeating this Do-
ctrine for the ufe of the Chriftian Church of
Jews and Gentiles, doth confirm this.
CHAP. VIII.
Of the prudent Application of Divine Covenants in
general
HAving fpoken of theft Three Divine Cove*
nants concerning Mens Salvation,it follows
now to fpeak of the Application thereof, Firft,
in general, and then more fpecially.
In the matter of Application, we muff, Firft,
look upon God's effectual applying and work-
ing in the Hearers of thefe Covenants, fuch Ef-
fects as He hath intended by thefe Covenants
to bring to pafs i Next, We muff look upon the
Means whereby He ordinarly doth convey and
work His intended Works in Men. And Third-
ly, We muft look upon the prudent way of ufe
making of theft Mcails, both by Paftors and
People, for Peoples good.
2. As to the Firft, the Lord's effectual Appli-
caion, is a real and adtual bellowing the good
of theft Covenants upon His own, byway of
powerful working on their Spirits. Such as are
i. The giving the Grace ofUndcrftandingofthc
Scripture: And, 2. The belief of what is under-
ftoodrAnd, 3. The Application of the Dodrine of
the Law,concerning Mens Sin and Miftry to their
O % •wn
BOOK I. [ no ] CHAP. Vltf,
own Confcicnce: And, 4.the making them judge
themfelves according to the Law: And 5. The
raifing of Sorrow in their Hearts and Fear of
Wrath; And, 6, The fetting of their Eye upon
Chrift,for Delievery from Sin and Death. And,7.
The making them perceive a poffibility and pro-
bability that they may be Saved: And, 8.Tohave
an earneft Defire after Reconciliation withGod in
Chrift : And 9. The making of His own to caft
themfelves over on Chrift,and to believe on Him:
And, 10. The making them to Confecrat them-
felves to God in Chrift,reconciling the World of
meer Grace to Himfelfyiot imputing Tranfgreflion
to the Reconciled through Chrift; And, 11. The
making them to wonder at the Riches of the
. free Grace of God,whoin a felf-condemncd Sin-
ner defirous to be reconciled with Him,requireth
no perional Dignity, no good work which may
commend him to God, but only that he would
receive and welcome Chrift offered in the Go-
fpel.as the only neceflary and fufficient Remedy
againft all Sin and Mifery requiring no other con-
dition,but that he flee from the Curfe of the Law,
and theWrath to come unto Chrift the Redeemer,
who oflferethHimfelf unto loftSinners inthe preach
ing of the Gofpel, that through Him the Belie-
ver may be Juftified,and Sanctified ,and Saved for
ever: And ,12. after wondering raifed in the Hearts
of His Children, the making them cleave clofly
to Chrift, and to ftrive againft all Temptations,
which might w 7 eaken their Faith, and to rejoyce
in
BOOK I. [ in ] CHAP. VIII.
in Bclieving,and to be zealous for the Lord's Glo-
ry, and careful to bring forth more and more
Fruits of Faith & Love, and working fuch other
gracious Works of His Spirit in His Children,
as may more and more mortifie Sin in them,and
perfed: the Image of God in His New Creature.
This Divine,Magifterial and Effectual Applica-
tion of real BleiIings,belongeth to God only,and
is the end of all ministerial Application, which
is of the external Means appointed of God.to be
made ufeof by Men, the Bleiling whereof mull
be left to God, to bellow on whom,how,and in
what meafure,and on what time it pleafeth Him,
as the Apoitle doth ihew unto us, i Cor. 3. 6.
I have planted, and Apollos hath watered y lut God
giveth the increafe.
3. The external Means, which do (erve unto
the forefaid Divine Operations,are, 1. The Do-
ctrine of Life and Salvation fet down in Scrpture,
to be heard and read by all Men,and meditat up-
on with Prayer for a Bleffing; And 2. Sent Mi-
ni fters,to whom God hath committed the word
of Reconciliation, by whofe Miniftery Difciples
may be made unto Chrift out of all Nations ;
And, 3. The Adminiftration of the Sacrament,
whereby they,with their Children,are Baptized,
and gathered together in fcveral Churches, and
put under the Government of fuch Church-offi-
cers, as His Teftament hath appointed • And,
4. Thefe Churches joined together in the
mod edifying way of mutual Communion,
O 3 and
BOOK I. [iii] CHAP. Vm.
and ftrengthening one another in true Do&rine,
pure Woriliip and Discipline, which God's Pro-
vidence doth make way for, that the Kingdom
of our Lord Jefus may continue and grow in the
World, and all His Ordinances may be exerci-
fed publickly and privatly,to the bell advantage
of the Church, for perfecting of the Saints,
for the work of the Miniftry, and for the edify-
ing of the Body ofChrift,as the Apoftle requir-
eth, Ephef. 4. 12, 13, 14.
4. In the ufe of thefe external Means, and fpe-
dally in the Application of thefe Three Cove-
nants, Prudence is required, both in Paftors
and People, to which intent and purpofe thefe
following Confiderations may ferve.
1. The Remedy of every Sicknefsof the Con-
fcience muft be grounded on the Dodxine of
Salvation fet down in Scripture ; which Doc-
trine, muft, Firft, be known and believed by
the Party difeafed, before he can receive Bene-
fit thereby; And therefore that a prudent Ap-
plication of wholfome and faving Doctrine may
be made, of neceflky the Party difeafed muft be
acquainted with the Dodhrinc to be applyed un-
to him, before he can make ufe thereof to his
advantage. For, Experience teacheth us, how
hardly grofs Ignorants can be convinced of Sin,
and how hardly fuch can be comforted, when
their Conference is wakened with the Terrors of
God, becaufe they neither know from the Word,
of God the caufe of the Terror & Anxiety where-
in
BOOK I. [ 213 1 CHAR VIII.
in they are, nor can they be capable of the Re-
medy of their Evil, except they, Firfl be Cate-
chifed in the Heads of the Saving Do&rine,
held forth in the Law and Goipel, which Inftru-
dion can hardly be given or received in a fhort
time; and howfocver a prudent Paflor mud make
ufe of time as it is offered, yet when Death is
hear to the Party to be inftru&ed, how little is
it that can be expected to be done ?
i.The order of applying Saving Dodrine,doth
not begin at the Application either of the Cove-
nant of Redemption, or atthd£ovenantof Grace,
but he that will follow a right order,muft begin
at the Law and Covenant of Works, under the
Yoke whereof we are all born by Nature, Chil-
dren of Wrath. And if a Man apply that Cove-
nant and Law to his Heart, and fubfenbe his
own Ditty anddeferved Condemnation,then may
he turn up his Soul to Chrift Jefus the Redeem-
er, aud fly to Him for Refuge, and accept the
Offer which He makes in His Gofpel of a
New Covenant of Grace, for pardoning of Sin,
and reconciling unto God in Himfelf thcPerfon
who is fled unto Him, and for Sanctifying and
Saving of him; which Covenant, when a chafed
Soul doth content unto,and layeth hold on Chrift
offered for Relief from Sin, Wrath, Death, and
Hell, then may he afcend by Faith unto the Co-
venant of Redcmptiot^and apply tahimfelf with
God's aliowancc,all the Saving Graces purchafed
by Chrift, by that Covenant, to all that fly unto
Him and believe in Him, 2. This
BOOK I. [ 214 ] CHAP. VIII
3. This order of making ufc of thefe Three
Covenants,many do not follow, but they begin
at the Covenant of Redemption, ^nd will either
be fatisfied about this, whether they be Ele&ed
or not, given to Chrift to be Redeemed, or not
(which is a Secret and not to be enquired in-
to, favein God's order, as we havefliown) or
clfe they will not enter upon the ufe-making of
thefe Means,which God hath appointed to bring
a Man to Repentance and Faith in Chrift. This
is aTentation of Satan, which if they yield un-
to, it fhalllead them either to refolute Profani-
ty with Cain, or to anxious Defperation with
Judas.
4. There are fome alfo,who make Leap-year
of the Covenant ofWorks,and do take no notice
of their own natural Sinfulnefs or Wrath due ro
them,& lying on them by Nature;but neglecting
this order do (tart a Race,and run to aprefump-
tuous avouching of their Faith in Chrift,and will
thruft inthemfelves inthe Numberofthe Eled:,
fiven before the World was, unto Chrift to be
adeemed and Saved, pretending their believing
of the Gofpel, when they have not believed the
Dodhne of the Law, and fo do turn the Grace
©f God into Lafcivioufnefe and Wantonnefs, and
go about the fatisfying and fulfilling of their
ownLufts: Wherefore it is neceflary, that e-
very Man who feeketh to be Saved, and hath
refolved to follow God's Way to attain unto Sal-
vation, do begin, Fir ft, At the Covenant of
Works,
BOOK I. [ 21? ] CHAP. VIII,
Works, and examine himfelf according to the
Rule of the Moral Law, how he hath behaved
himfelf in Obedience unto the Firft and Second
Table,and having found aDitty great enough,that
he judge himfelf and pafs Sentence on himfelf,
as guilty and worthy of everlafting Wrath for his
Sins. Secondly, When he is convinced of Sin and
deferved Wrath, and of his own utter Impotency
to deliver himfelf,then let him flee to Chri{t,and
lay hold on the Grace offered in the Gofpel, ap-
pling the fame to his burthened Confcience, ac-
cording to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace
fully revealed in the Gofpel. And Thirdly, when
he hath in earned confented unto the Covenant
of Grace and Reconciliation, and hath laid hold
on Chrift, with unfeigned Faith, fceking in Him
Remiflion of Sin, a#d Reno vation of Life,being
refolved by the Grace of Chrift.to ufethe Means
appointed of Him for that end : Now it is time,
and not till now, to look, up unto the Cove-
nant of Redemption, and there to read his own
Name, as it were, written in the Book of Life,
and to acknowledge, that the meafurc of Re-
pentance and Faith in Chrift, beftowed on him-
felf now in experience, hath flowed from that
Fountain of God's Love and free Grace through
Chrift. b
Except this Order be keeped, a Man cannot
warrantably, and with confidence and comfort,
make Application of thefe Covenants. Hence it
followeth, thgtt it is a prepofterous and perilous
courfc
BOOK I. [ zi6 ] CHAR VIIL
courfe which fome do follow,and prefs others to
follow, that prefently upon the Hearing of the
Gofpel, every Man fhould believe, that Chrift
hath died for him: For, Chrift calleth no Man,
warrandeth no Man to come to Him, except
he, firft,do acknowledge his Sins,and himfelf to
be worthy of Wrath, Condemnation and Hell,for
his Sins,and to be utterly unable to Save himfeif
by any Mean,faveby Chrift: For, (Luke y. 31.)
Chrift faith, / came not to call the Righteous, but
Sinners unto Repentance. Neither doth Chrift re-
quire of any Man, to believe himfelf to be of the
number of Chrift's Sheep for whom He laid down
His Life, except he come by Faith as a loft Sin-
ner to Him, and fubmit himfelf to His Dodrine
and Difcipline, and paftoral Care over him :
For, (Joh. 17. 9J Chrift faith, I pray not for the
World, but for the fe thou haft given Me out of the
World : And no Man ihall know, that himfelf
is given of the Father to Chrift,till firfthecome
in the order forefaid unto Chrift, and when he is
come to Chrift, refolveth to abide with Him,
then may he fay, the Father hath given me to
Chrift, and drawn me to Chrift : For, this is
the Mark which Chrift giveth, Joh. 6. 37. All
that the Father hath given unto Me.fhall come to Me.
And again, Verf 44. No Man cometb unto Me .ex-
cept the Father draw him.
3. There is an Order alfo to be obferved in
the Application of the Graces offered in the Go-
ipel;for ; in the Evange,lFirft ; Chrift Himfelf is of-
fer-
BOOK I. [ xi7 3 CHAP. VIII.
fered, as the only and fufficient Remedy againft
Sin and Mifery;and Next, unto the Perfon that
receiveth Chrift heartily, all Chrift's Benefits are
promifed to come to him by Chrift,and are to be
found in and through Chrift, fuch as are Juftifi-
cation, Adoption, the indwelling of the Holy
Ghoft,Love, Joy,Peace, Gentleneis,Bounty, Fide-
lity,Meekne(s,Temperance, and other Chriftian
Graces, Gal. 5. 22. For, no Man hath right unto
Chrift's Benefits,before he be a Believer in Chrift.
I3ut fo foon as a Man,in the forefaid order is fled
unto Chrift,and hath laid hold on Him by Faith,
ftraight way a Door and Entrefs is opened unto
him unto the rich Treafure of Grace, and Right
is given to him unto all the Benefits of Chrift ;
For,all the Promifes are Yea and Amen, not be-
fore a Man come to Chrift,notto a Man without
Chrift, but they are ail Yea and Amen in Chrift.
4. Therefore they wrong both God and their
own fel ves, who when they come unto the Throne
of Grace,do prefcribe unto God another order of
working, then He hath fet down in His Word,
craving,in the Firft place Conlblation and kn-
fible Peace in their Confdcnce,fe!i: in theirHearts;
& that God would work tome Rich Saving Graces
in cheirHeart,which the Reprobat cannot counter-
fir.which diredions,if God will take off their hali4
& befto w His Graces on them fenfibly as they pre-
fenbp unto Him, then they will ftand obliged
to continue in the Faith of Chrift; but if they
find nQt their Dire&ions obeyed,and their Peti-
tions
BOOK I. [ «8 ] CHAP. V[H.
tions in their order granted, then with grief of
Heart they begin to complain, and to pretend
that they dare not approach unto God or Chrift,
fo long as thefe Petitions are not firft granted,
and felt to be granted.
This Temptation doth invert and overturn the
order of God's Calling: For,Chrift doth not call
unto him Well-doers, or thefe that do found their
Faith upon their own good Behaviour, and lean
to their own Works, which they defire to find in
themfelves, before they fatten Faith on Chrift;
but Chrift doth call Sinners in their own fenfe
and acknowledgement, who renounce all confi-
dence in their own Works,paft,prefent, or to come;
He calleth iuch as are loft in their ownfenfe,and
do feel themfelves utterly unable To much as to
think a good Thought of themfelves, that they
may be cloathed with the imputed Righteoufnels
of Chrift, and endued with the Spirit of Sandifi-
cation by Him ; and Chrift's Willis, that they
who believe in Him,abide in Him, and fuck by
Faith out of Him(as the Branches do fuckfap out
of the Tree) Grace to bring forth Fruits more and
more aboundantly: For, this is the order which
Chrift doth prefcribe unto his Difciples, Job. 1 y,
5. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the fame
Iringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do
nothing. Whofoever therefore will not believe
in Chrift,ordo think it is not lawful to approach
unto Him,till firft they find in themfelves amend-
ment of Life, and evidenr Fruits of Saving Faith,
they
BOOK I. [ 219 ] CHAP. VIII.
they do in effed change the Condition of the
Covenant of Grace, and do fulpend their Faith
in Chrift till they find Works to build upon, when
it were their Duty, the more they feel their Bar-
rennefs,fo much the more ftraitly to lay hold on
Chrift and hold Him faltand ply Him with ear-
ned Supplications to make good His promife to
them who do abide in Him. Joh. 15-. 5.
5. It isneceflary to prete every Man,who doth
believe his Juftification by Faith,that he be care-
ful to obfervethe Moral Law or Ten Commands,
as the perpetual and unchangeable Rule of good
Works prefcribed of God : f or, Chrijl came not to
deftroy the Law, lut to fulfil it, Matth. 5. 17. He
hath indeed,unto Believers in Him, diflblved the
Covenant of the Law, not only by His Dodrine,
teaching them, that by the Works of the Law no
flefli fliallbejuftified in the fight of God,becaufe
by the Law,is the knowledge of Sin gotten, but
no Abfolution from Sin, Rom. 3. 20. Butalfo by
Abfolving every Believer in Him, that walketh
not after the Flefli, but after the Spirit, from all
Condemnation, Rom. 8. 1. Mean while He hath
not broken the Yoke of Obedience of the Law
from ofFthe Believer, as He hath b roken off
the Yoke of the Covenant* of Works; but by the
contrair, He preienbes to them who come unto
Him for RemifTion of Sin,that they take on His
Yoke upon them, and bring forth Works
of new Obedience, Matth. 11. 29. and this
is the order which the Apoftle doth pre-
(cribe
BOOK I. [ no ] CHAR VHi.
fcribe. Tit. 3.8, This is a faithful Saying, andthefe
Things T will thou affirm con/lantly, that they which
have belie-ved in God, might be careful to maintain
good Works: thefe Things are good and profitable
mto Men.
6* The moral Precepts of the Law are fo to
be preffed,that the Hearers whether un-converted
or converted,may by them, whether in fome mea-
fure obeyed or difobeyed, be driven to Chrift,
that the Law may ever,in fome fort, be a Peda-
gogue untoChrift:For,before Converfion,Sin mufl
be made manifeft by the Lav ,and the merit of Sin
committed,muft be fliown lorth,that the Man to
be converted may fee himfelf in aloft condition,
and that he mufl certainly perifli, except he flee
for Refuge to Chrift the Redeemer, that by
Him he may have RemifTion of Sin.
And after a Mans Converfion, the Believer
muft,by the Precepts of the Law, be convinced
of his Duty, and inability to perform Obedience
except by Grace,Power be communicated unto
him from Chrift, both to will and to do. And
when he hath gotten Grace to give obedience
in fome meafure,yet muft he examine his bed
Works by the Rule of the Commands, and ac-
knowledge the Imperfection of his Service, that
he may be more and more humbled in himfelf,
and glory only in the imputed Righteoufnefs
of Chrift,and withal give unto Chrift the Glo-
ry of any good thing which he hath in any
meafure done well.
7 The
BOOK I. [ 2^I ] CHAP. VIII.
7. The Threatnings alfo all of them,muft fo be
applied in general,as both Converted & tin-con-
verted may be forced to run to Chrift, Who only
can deliver the Un-converted from Guiltinefs and
Wrath, and Death eternal deferved by Sin; and
Who only c an deliver thofe who are Converted
from the deferved Puniihment of their Sins, and
from the Execution of the Sentence which the
Law pronounceth,& Who only can make them e-
ihew and hold offthe way which God hath curfed.
And it is eafy to judge how much caufe of Hu-
miliation the Godly {hall have,by daily compar-
ing their Actings with the Law, and how dear
and precious Chrift muft be to them, Who giv-
cth unto them,as many Deliverances from Death,
as they commit Sins, and do fail of their obli-
ged Obedience to God.
8. A Sinner already convi&ed of Sin aodlmpe-
nitency,and hardnefs of his own Heart,and who
is grieved for the fame, muft not be skarred nor
deterred from going unto Chrift,till he firft attain
fuch a prefcribed meafure of Contrition as he con-
ceiveth hisSins do call for; which meafure,unskil-
ful Phyficians do rigidly exad: of Sinners, who are
defirous of Repentance, pretending for their Ri-
gidity,their Fear,left if fuch Sinners fliould be fo
eafily admitted unto Chfift, the work ofRepen-
tance fliould be marred in them,and Prefumption
fhould have way and be foftered in them: This
Fear is needlefs,becaufe it belongs to Chrift alone
to give Repentance.and He came to call Sinners
(cea-
BOOK I. [ 2ii ] CHAP. VIII.
(convi&ed of Sin and deftitute of Repentance,in
their own eftimation and fenfe) unto Repentance,
that He may give them Repentance. We grant
that thereisaDanger,left a Sinner lightly touch-
ed with the Sting of the Confcience,do not well
weigh the weight of his Sin and the merit of it,
and that he go to Chrift with his Lips only, when
his Heart is far from Him ; but, on the other
Hand, there is no lefs hazard, left he who is
deftitute of Repentance in his own fenfe^ and not
permitted to go to Chrift to have it, may either
be driven to Defpair, or conceive, that by his
own Pains on his own Heart, Repentance muft
be wrought before he go to ChtiftyWhom God hath
exalted with His right Hand to he a Prince and a
Saviour y for to give Repentance unto Ifrael, and
Remiffion of Sins. A&s 5. 31.
We muft be wary therefore, left a burdened
Confidence in any meafure,being excluded from
going to Chrift till he be in fuch and fuch a mea-
i'ure humbled, fet himfelf fo upon bodily Exer-
cife of Ordinances,without daring to go to Chrift,
as that he put feme Merit in effedl,upon his bo-.
dily Exercife which he ufeth, to bring himfelf
unto Contrition, or elfe turn defperatly carelefs,
and leave off all ufing of Means.
We need not fear, that inftantly upon a Sinners
coming to Chrift, he ihall find too foon Confola-
tion, and fo not be humbled as need were : For,
Chrift is only Wife, and can prudently deal with
the Sinner coming unto Him \ He hath Eye-falve
* id
BOOK T. [ 223 1 CHAP. VIIL
to give His proud Merchant, to let him fee hi$
Biindnefs, Poverty and Mifery, as well as Gold
and Garments to the poor and naked t But if any
be Proud and Rich in their own conceit, and ap-
proach toward Him without fcnfe of Sin, He can
fufperid them from Comfort, till firfl: He rebuke
& chaften them, and" keep them off from felt ac-
cefsa while,tilltheybetruely humbled,andthirft
inearneft after Pardon & imputed Righteoufnefs.
9. A$ the narrow way to the Kingdom of
Heaven mud not be made flraiterthan God hath
made it : Co neither muft the way be made broa-
der than God hath made it; and Reignies loofed
to Mens Lulls, a$ if Believers Siris Were either
none, or but light ones : For, God is not a Fa-
vourer of Sin, and vvhofoever do turn theGrace
of God irito Wiintoiiiiefs, undoubtedly they are
ignorant both of the Law and of the Gofpel.
Wherefore the Law and the Gofpel mult be fo tem-
pered, that on the one Hand, hone who would
be at Chrift, and through Him at Mortinarcion
of their finful Nature be difcouraged ; and on
the other Hand, that no Man, feoafting of his
Profeffion of Faith be (Irengthened in his Iniquity:
For,this is the true Senfe and Intent of God, botli
in His Threatningsand Proaiilcs, that none De-
fpair, hearing Thrcaterdngs, bur Repent and
Live; and that none prefiuiiC to Sin. upon hear-
ing His Gracious Promifcs, but \Vaik in fear
bcforeHim,£^33. 10,1 r,ix.'toFio. &Chri(t
cloth blot out from the number of the Savdl all
P th£n*
BOOK I. [ 224 ] CHAP. VIII.
them who break off] and make void any of the
Precepts, and do teach Men fo to ^o.Mat.^.i^.
10. Becaufe God doth make ufe of the fame
Arguments in His Word,both for Moral Swafion,
and for effectual Operation of Saving Faith,and
bringing forth Fruits of New Obedience ; there-
fore the force of God's Arguments and Induce-
ments (as occafion is offered) mud fo be opened
up, and lharpned and prefled, that the Hearers,
being foundly convinced of the Holinefs,Equity,
Verity and Neceflity of the Lord's Commands,
may at leaft be morally perfwaded to yield unto
them. And to this end, that Hearers muft be
exhorted, that they call to Mind and weigh fuch
and fuch Arguments unto Duties, that by reafon-
ing with themfelves, they may prevail by God's
Bleffing to believe the Word of God : So did
Taul y directing his Speech to the Governor Felix,
brafh the Caftle of his Confcience with this En-
gine, that he near-by took it in, Att. 14.12,5. and
io did he deal with Agrippa,. whom he near-by
perfwaded to become a Chrifiian, Ails, x6. 28.
and this was his endeavour to perfwade all his
Hearers to believe the Truth he taught, 2 Cor.
5. 11. Knowing therefore ( faith he) the terror of
the Lord, we perfwade Men. And the fame Apo-
ftle hath taught all Chrift's Difciples to exercife
the Faculty of Reafoning,in the matter of ftrength-
ening their Faith and purpoTe of Obedience,
that having (et before them the Arguments which
the Word of God doth furnifh, they may fum
up
BOOK I. [ zz$ ] CHAP. VIIJ.
up the Truth in Conclusions drawn there-from,
and by holy Reafoning, tye themfelves to be-
lieve and obey the Word of God ,Rom.6.i i. Li lee-
ways ( faith he) by reafoning, reckon ye your /elves
to be dead unto Sin, hut alive unto God through Je-
fus Chrift our Lord. And giveth an Example of
this Reafoning, 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15. the Love of
God conjlrainethm, lee aufe we thus judge, &c.
11. Becaufe the Lord divers ways, according
to His own Wifoom, exercifeth Men, that fome-
tinie by His long-fuffering Patience He leads
them unto Repentance, fometime alio by His
Word and Rods, He doth drive them thereunto;
therefore let the ufe of all Exercifes, all Tempta-
tions and Afflictions, and the uieoi all Bene-
fits and Divine Difpenfations of Providence, be
carefully made ufe of, that Men may fo look u-
pon God's Bounty and Loag-fufFeringon the one
hand, and upon their own Sinsand Ui-defervings
on the other hand, as they may be led and con-
ftrained in love to feek after fo Gracious a God,
and to flee for Refuge unto Chrift, mourning
for their provoking of Juftice fo oft againft them-
felves; and in whatfoever condition, of Prospe-
rity or Adyerfity, to fubmit themfelves to God,
however He lhall be, pleafed to difpofe of
them.
ix. The Dodtrine of Reprobation muft not be
determinatly applyed to any particular Perfcn,
how wicked foever he fliall for the prefent appear;
neither mud the fufpicion which any Man may
P z have
BOOK I. [ zi6 ] CHAP. VIII,
have of his own Reprobation be foftered, becaufc
particular Reprobation of this or that perfoiij is
among the Secrets of the Lord, not to be medied
with, whereof a Man may not give out Sentence
before the Lord hath revealed His own Decree.
But on the contrair, all the Hearers mud be war-
ned and prefsed to be wary to entertain any ho-
ftile thought of God, or to fofter fufpicions of
Him as implacable, but rather think of Him as
their faithful Creator : Juft indeed, yet Merciful,
Long-fuffering and Bountiful, both to the kind
and the unkind, as they fhall find if they will
leek Him : For,Satan wili prefs this Temptation,
hard enough, and fofter the fufpicion which he-
bath fuggefted againft God,in the Minds of them
whom God hath afflicted, albeit he get no At
Mance by any imprudent and unjuft application
of the Lord's Word, unto this or that particular
perfon, ro conclude their Reprobation.
i j. The Scope of all Do&rine muft be this,
ikii Sinners may be humbled in the fenfe of
their Unrighteoufnefs, Indigence, Infirmity and
Unworthinefs; and being humbled, may be led
\mto Chrift, believe in Him, and be more and
more glued unto Him, and grow in the love of
Him, and reft their Souls -upon Him, as God,
one with the Father and Holy Spirit, worfhip-
ing Him in Spirit and Truth, endeavouring ac-
cording to their Vocation to advance His
Kingdom in themfelves and others. And
to ihis end, let neither on the one Hand His
lb*
BOOK I. [ 117 ] CHAP. V1IL
Incarnation, nor Humiliation in the Days of
His Flefli, wherein He was in paying the pro-
miled Price of our Redemption, derogat any
thing to the eftimation of His Perlon, vvho is
one God with the father and Holy Spirit, God
over all bletTed for ever ; Nor on the other Hand,
His Majcfty make Sinners (land oif, or be afraid
to make their Addrefs to Him : but, by thecon-
trair, that thcPerfonal Union of the Divine and
Humane Nature in Him, andHisdoathing Him-
felf with the Offices of Prophet, Prieft and King,
may allure all Sinners, who hear of Him, to
come to Him as Mediator, Who will not deal
with them who come unto Him as a Judge
againftthem, but as an Advocat, Surety, and
Interceflbr for them, and Who will firup to the ut-
termoll every one that come unto God through Hir/i,
Heb. 7. 2,5*.
14. For trial of a Man's Regeneration and
coming rightly to Ch rift, and growing in Grace,
the exercife of thefe Three Duties are ttcceffetly
required, to wit : 1. The exercife of Repentance,
or the entertaining in hicnfelf of the {enfe of his
natural Sinfulnefs and Infirmity to do good, and
of the power of inherent Corruptions, wherch" r
he may be made more and more to renounce
all confidence in himfeif, and walk liiifnbJy be-
fore God.
2. The exercife of Faith, orthedaily renew-
ed employing of Chrift for Grace, and acUial
Help in all things, as His Gate required;.
3. The
BOOK I. [ 228 ] CHAP. Vin.
3. The exercife of Love, or the endeavour
or new Obedience, flowing from love to God
and his Neighbour through Clirift.
CHAP. IX.
Of the morefpecial Application of Divine Covenants,
for removing the Impediments of Regeneration.
WE have fpokenof the prudent Applica-
tion of Divine Covenants in general,
it followeth that we fpeak of the
curing of theSickneffes of the Confcience concern-
ing Regeneration more fpecially. Some of thefe
Sicknefles, do tend to hinder Regeneration, that
it be not wrought at all, whereof we fhall fpeak
God wi i ling in the reft of this Firft Book. Other
Sicknefles do tend to obfcure the Work of Re-
generation begun, andtofofter Queftions in the
Regenerat Man, and make him doubt whether
he be Regenerat or not ? or whether he be in
the ftate of Grace or not ? and of thefe we fhall
fpeak fome-what in the Second Book. And
laft of all, fome Cafes and Sicknefles of the
Confcience, do tend toward the deceiving of
the Regenerat Man about his prefent condition,
wherein he is without calling his ftate in que-
flion at the firft.; and of thefe we fhall fpeak in
the Third Book.
2. As for the Firft fort, thefe Cafes which im-
pede and altogether marr Regeneration, cannot
eafily be numbered, becaufc of the multitude, of
De-
I3UUK I. [ 219 J ^HAR IX.
Deceits whereby the Unregcnerat are deluded ;
but it fhall fuffice for our purpofe, to name
fomeofthem only for Examples caufe; in handl-
ing whereof the way of Curing other like Cafes
may be obferved.
In handling of thefe Cafes, it is not to be ex-
pected we ihould follow any cxait Method, or
accurat diftin&ion of otae Cafe from another ;
partly becaufe many Faults may be varioufly in-
terwoven one with another ; partly, becaufe in
all thefe Cafes, the fame Faults are found after
divers ways to put forth their Poifon. We
therefore, that we may follow the eafieli courfe,
fhall divide all Unregcnerat Men, impeding
their own Regeneration, in three Ranks. The
Firft Rank [hall be of thofe who efliew,{b far as
they can, all Examination of their own Confid-
ence, left it fliould pronounce Sentence of their
ftate and difquiet them. The SecondRzrik. fhall
be of thofe who do judge themfelves indeed ac-
cording to the Law of God, but after Examina-
tion do defpair of any Remedy. The Third
Rank fhall be of thofe, who make a fl'ght Exa-
mination of themfelves, and upon fome flight
pretence give out Sentence of Abfolution of
themfelves which God will not allow.
3. As to the Firft Rank, to wit, of thofe
that efhew all Examination of their own Con-.
feicnce we fhall name only Seven Sicknefles,
or impediments, hindering their Seif-cxami na-
tion and paffing Sentence en themfelves. The
P A Fuft
BOOK I [ z]o ] CHAP. IX
Firfh is grofs Ignorance of their natural Sin and
M'ifery, and of Deliverance to be had through
Chriil, and of the Duty required of them that
arc delivered by Chrift. The Second js a falfe
Religion, or damnable Error in Judgement about
the Matters of Salvation and God's Worlhip :
In which Error, fo long as a Sinner doth ly, he
cannot be humbled for the damnable courfe he is
in, or put queftion about his way. The Third
is diffemhled Unbelief and Atheifm, covered over
with grois Hypocnfy, which under hand doth
rejedt the rule of Examination. The Fourth is
tkp&rktijb^ Stupidity of the cauterized Confcience.
The Fifth is a vain pretence of Fear to examine
themfeives, left it drive them to Deiperation.
The Sixth is a lazy Delaying of Examination
from day to day. The Seventh is immoderat
care fox Things of this Life.
4. Concerning all thefe Impediments hinder-
ing Self-examination, thefe Three Things are
obfervable in general. 1. Albeit all, or fome, of
thefe Evils may fall upon the Reprobat, yet
are they nor their proper Maladies: For, fome
of the Eiedt before their Regeneration, may ly
for a time under one or moe of thefe Evils. Where-
fore the Paftor, hoping the heft of all, becaufe
hcKnpweth not the Marks of Reprobation, muft
deal with all his Flearers to guard them againft
?ll thefe Evils ; that the Eled, whom God will
blefs with the Faith and Obedience of His Com-
ma-ids, may be Saved,
Second-
BOOK I. [ 131 ] CHAP. XL
Secondly, We mud deftinguifti between a
voluntary Examination of the Confcience, where-
unto the Godly do in their beft condition fet
themfelves daily, and a forced Examination and
wakning up of the Confcience, whether the Sin-
ner will or not. This fort of Examination, may
come either by Preaching of the Word, an Ex-
ample whereof we have in Felix the Governour,
who at the Hearing Paul's Difcourfe ofVertues
and Vices, fell a trembling, Ail. 24. 25-. Or
this wakning of the Confcience may come by
Affliction whereof we have an Example of Jo-
feph's Brethren, whofe Confciences did ly fleep-
ing fecurely under the guilt of diftrefling their
Brother Jofeph, but by affii&ion at length were
wakened, Gen. 42. 21. The Pallors part here is,
not only to exhort Men to a Voluntair Examina-
tion of themfelves, but alfo by the Sword of the
Spirit, muft labour to open the Apoftums of
proud Sinncrs,difcovering unto them as occafion
ferveth,their Wickediieis, and denouncing the
Wrath of God againft them, if poffibly the Lord
ihall give them Repentance, as He did to the
hearers o£ Peter, A(5fe 2. 37.
Thirdly, Let not a Preacher be toofollicit and
anxious about the fuccefs of his Labours, when
he hath to do with obftinat Sinners, whofe
Confciences cannot be wakened, neither by
Challenges, nor Threatnings, nor Exhortations ;
But after he hath ufed Means publickly and
privacly, let him commit^ the matter unto
God
BOOK I. [ y» ] CHAR IX.
God, Who will have Mercy on whom He will
have Mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.
It may fuffice him, that ail ChriiVs Sheep will
at length hear His Voice. Only let not the
Paftor defpair utterly of any Man, but even to-
ward thofe that areExcommunicat, let him fol-
low fuch a Courfe as may reduce them unto Re-
pentance^ the Apoftle giveth diredion,.z Theft]
3- 14- 1 S-
For removing of the firfl Impediment of Self
examination.
BUt that we may fpeak more particularly of
the Cure of thefe Sqvqh evil Difeafes, for
removing of the Firfl Impediment, to wit, grofs
Ignorance ; it is not needful to lay much of Ca-
techetick Inftru&ion : feing in all Churches it is
prefuppofed there is fome Form of a Catechife,
wherein the Rudiments of Saving Knowledge
are fet down, by way of Queftion and Anfwer,
for the ufe of Children, and of the Ruder fort
come to Years. Only, we offer to thofe that
intend the Holy Miniftery, this Overture, for
difpofing and preparing People, for a more eafy
up-taking of fome formed Catechife : Becaufe
moft part of formed Catechifes, are fomewhat
larger than they can be read at one time, or be-
ing read can be, explicat any other way than by
parcels, io many Queftions and Anfwers at one
time, and fo many at another time, which how
hardly it can be all explicat to the whole Con-
gregation, in a long time, Experience may bear
wit-
BOOK I. [ 133 3 CHAP. IX.
witnefs;therefore it may ferve to good purpofe,if
fo many of the Ruder and Ignorant fort, as may
well be gathered together into one place at one
time, the Paftor fliould profefs before them all,
that he purpofeth to hold forth unto thcm,a fhort
fum of Saving Dodtrine, in Six or Seven Heads
of Do&rine; fo that in the fpace of an Hour or
thereby, before they difiblve their Meeting,they
may, if they be attentive and willing to learn,
have fome meafure of found Light and Under-
ftanding of the Grounds of True Religion.
After which Preface ufed, let him fo fhortly
or plainly as he is able, (peak fomething, firft.
Of the Creation of the World bv God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoit, the on-
ly One True God in Three Perlbns ; and fome-
thing alfo of the Creation of Adam and Eve our
firft Parents, according to God's Image, in Wit
dom, Holinefs and Happinefs ; and fomething
of the Covenant of Works made between God
and them, including their Pofterity, the fumm
of which Covenant is this, Do this and live, but
if thou fin, thou fhalt die.
Secondly, Let him fpeak fomewhat of the
Breach of the Covenant of Works by our firft
Parents, in whofe Loins we are all made guil-
ty of Death, according to the Tenor of that Co-
venant.
Thirdly ',Let him fpeak'of the Remedy provided
nitheCounfel of God, before time, butrevea-
. led timeoufly after the Fall of our firft Parents,
to
BOOK I [ 234 ] CHAP IX.
to wit the Covenant of Redemption, between
God and God the Son defigned Mediator, Chriit
Jefas our Lord, the fum whereof is. Gen. 3, 15-.'
The Seed of the Woman /ball tread Aowyi the head
of the Serpent, &c. That is to lay, it is agreed
in the Counfel of God, that the Second Perfon
iliall be born of a Woman, and differ for the Sins
of the Ele&,and deitroy Sin and Death,the Works
of the Devil.
Fourthly y Let him fpeak of the Covenant of
Grace and Reconciliation between God and Be^
lievers in Chrift, the fum whereof is this, who-
mever do acknowledge their Sin, and fly toldus
Chrift for Relief from Sin and Wrath, fhaii not
perifli, but have eternal Life.
Fifthly, Let him fpeak of the Two Seals of
this Covenant, to wit, Baptifm and the Lord's
Supper, whereby the Covenant, with the Bene-
fits held out therein to all Believers isfealed.
Sixthly. Let him fpeak of the neceflity of A-
rnendmentof Life, and bringing forth of good
Works,for glorifying God and probation of the
Sincerity of their Faith.
Laft of all, Let him fpeak of the Day of Judg-
ment, when Chrift fhall come in the Clouds,and
perfed: to all His Eledi and Believers in Him,
all His Promifes of Righteoufiiefs and eternal
Life, and call all the Wicked and Unreconciled
into the foe of Hell. The fame courfe maybe
taken with ruder Ignorants in private, vvhofe
Confcience is wakened with Terror. After that
about
BOOK I. [ 23* ] CHAR IX.
about the fpace of an Hour the Paftor hath fpoken
co all thefe Heads fhortly, and repeated again,
and inculcat at fome other few Meetings, till the
People have fome- what underftoodthe Bufinefs;
then he may draw forth thefe Seven Heads irt
fome few Queftions, taking anfwer of the
People in their own Words as they have con-
ceived the purpofe.
Thefe Grounds being laid, the Paftor iliall
find, by God's Bl effing fome defire and appetite
raifedin the People after more knowledge of
thefe Grounds,and hope put in them to overtake
a formed Catechife, and to have it by Heart as
may be ; To which end, the People muft be en-
couraged by Promifes on the one Hand, andftir-
red up by Threatenings on the other Hand,fuch
as are, Joh. 17. 3. and, z Thejf. 1. 7. 8. and
other like places.
Now when the People or any Ignorant before,
is begun to underftand thefe Seven Grounds,
they muft be prefled to make life thereof; and
that 1. They fhould acknowledge their Sins and
deferved Judgement, according to the Cove-
nant of Works, which curfeth every Sinner for
every Sin. 2. That they fhould fly for Refuge
to Chrift according to the Covenant of Grace.
And, 3. That every one who is fled to Chrift
for Grace and Mercy, muft take on His Yoke
and endeavour new Obedience of His Holy
Commands, by His Grace and Furniture.
F$r
BOOK I. [ z 3 6 ] CHAP. IX.
For removing of the fe con d Impediment.
THe fecond Impediment of Self-examina-
tion, which is an unrenewed Mans
infection with fome deadly Error in Reli-
gion, and this is not eafily removed : for, the
Confidence that is deceived by Error, abfolveth
the Sinner from the Crime, whereof the Error
maketh him guilty, how grievous foever it be,
and therefore fo long as he lyeth in the Error,
he fecurely contemneth all Accufations and
Threatenings for his Error and erroneous Pra-
ctice, till he be convinced of his Error. And
ufually Four Caufes do concurr to obdure him
in his Error. The Firft is, the Cunningnefs
and Malice of the Devil, who when he cannot
altogether obfcure and fupprefs all the Articles
of Saving Doctrine, nor banifh the Scripture out
of the World, he ufeth by his Emiflaries ( of old
deftinat to this Damnation ) to fpread Do&rines
of Devils in the vifible Church, whereby fo far
as he can, he may detain Men in their Sins.
The Second Caufe is, the Wifdom of the
flefli, which is Enimity to God, and therefore
very bent to defend every Luft whereunto Men
are inclined, and to fight againft the Truth of
Godcontrair to their Lufts.
The Third Caufe is, the multitude ofthefe
who confent with the perverted Cohfcience, and
avouch the fame Error.
The Fourth is,the Righteous Judgment ofGod,
who upon fuch as receive not the Truth in
love
BOOK 1. [ *37 ] CHAR IX.
love, fendeth powerful Delufions, and efficacy
of Error, that they may believe a Lie, and fo
be Damned, who have not received the Truth
in love, but have pleafure in Unrighteoufiiels.
x. But becaufe the Paftor cannot know any
Man's Reprobation in particular, and therefore
muft take the beft courfe he can for every Man's
Salvation, who is under his Charge, if the erro-
neous Perfon cannot be content to fall uponChri-
ftian Conference, in private with the Paftor, it
feemeth not expedient to fall flat at the firft upon
the Error wherewith he is infe&ed, but to hold
upon agreed unto Principles, and from thefe
Grounds, lay open the Merit of thefe Sins, where-
of the erroneous Party will grant himfelf no left
guilty, than other Men will be found to be, and
labour to convince him, that for thefe common
Sins, no Ranfom can fatisfy Gods Juftice, fave
the perfect Obedience which Chrift gave to the
Father, even to the Death of the Crols,in name
of all that flee unto Him for the benefit of Re-
demption. If the erroneous Party can condefcend
to call himfelf wholly on Chrift's Mercy, offe-
red in the Gofpel for Pardon of acknowledged
Sin, then at anpther time the Conference may
be further followed, and the Danger of the Er-
ror may be laid out before the Erroneous, and
he no more urged for the time, but that he
would confider what hath been told him, and
that he would by Prayer, for Chrift's Caufe,beg
Light from God in the Point queftioned : And fo
g°
BOOK I. [ 238 ] CHAP. IX;
go on with him in all Meeknefe and evidence
of Love to his Soul, as the Lord openeth a Door
for ufing of all Means that may reclaim the Par-
ty erroneous.
3. But if the Error be likely to infed the
Flock, let the Paftor openly refute the Er-
ror or Herefy, and that not only by hinting
at fome Arguments againft it, but of fet purpofe
once at lead, folidly {hewing how contrair it is
to the Word of God, and what are the fearful
Confequences thereof, that it may become in
the fight of the Judicious, no lefs vile and odious
than grofs Tranfgreffions againft the Second
Table of the Law ; which fort of Sins is more
hated of natural reafonable Men, than Sins a-
gainft the Firft Table : For Nature's light is iliar-
per fighted in the mutual Duties of Man to Man,
than in the Matters of God and Religion, where-
in a Man hath no light at all in fpecial, fave
that which is by Revelation of Scripture. The
true Intent and Meaning whereof, if a Man be
ignorant of it, or fhall miftake it, theConfcience
runneth head-long (without the lead fecret check)
after the Error andDarknets which Men natural-
ly love more than Truth and Light.
For removing the Third Impediment,
THe Third Impediment of Self-examination,
to wit, Infidelity, diiiembled and covered
with grofs Hipocrify, whereof the Man himfelf
isconfcious, and ftudiethco hide and delighted*
al
BOOK I. 039 1 C fit A P. IX,
himfelf in his cheating of others, of all Evils is
moft hardly cured : Of this fort of Hypocrites are
they, who think they can give a Reafon of all
their ways to any Man. And becaufe they refpedr
the Laws of the Kingdom, wherein they live,
more than the Scripture, therefore they cover
over all their Avarice and Cruelty with pra&ice
of Law, that Beholders, think what they pleafe,
can fay nothing againft their following of the
Civil Law : For, fuch Men fear not God, and
and are not afraid for His Judgement. And al-
beit they largely commend the Piety of Holy
Men, before fome Auditors, to whom they con-
ceive their Speech will be plaufibie, yet under
hand,and among fuch as themfelves are, they da
but laugh and (corn all fuch Piety,as puts Men in
hazard of any worldly Inconvenience ; For in
thofe Mens Eyes the Simplicity of the Godly
is Foolifhnefs, and their Faith in God, in their
eltimation, is Madnefs, efpeciallyif for Defence
of the truth of Religion they differ Perfecution.
Thefe Hypocrites the Pfalmift calleth tmvife and
foolifh Pfal. 14. 1. The fool hath [aid in his Heart y
there is ??o God ; and verf. 6. Ton have fbamed
the com/el of the Poor, hecaufe the Lord is his Re-
fuge. Such Men as thefe, albeit they feign them-
felvcs to be holy,yet in Heart they are Haters bf
all true Saints, m whom the Sparks of G?hce
and folid Religion doth appear, for fo fakhthe
Lord of them, Pfal. 14.4. They eat up My People
as they eat Bread, and call not upon the Lord,
Q^ Thej
BOOK I. [ 240 J CHAP. IX.
They have a form of Godlinefs,but in their Deeds
they deny the Power of it ; for, they believe ne-
ver a word of what is preached of things fpiritual,
revealed in die Word of God:No wonder therefore
that they will not examine themfelves, nor receive
any Accufation from their own Conferences for
any Sin of this fort, which concerneth Godlinefs.
z. The Caufes of fuch Mens hardening of
their Heart, may be Four; theFirftis, themea-
fure of worldly Wifdorn, granted to them ando-
thers like themfelves, above common People,
with the conceit whereof they are fo puffed up,
that they care for nothing fave this prefent
World, they acknowledge no other Holinefs,but
civil obfervance of humane Laws, as if Scripture
and all Religious Exercifes were to be referred
to this only end, that Men living according to
the Laws and Cufloms received, into the Soci-
eties they live into, fhould ftudy to make the
beft they can of this prefent World. And this
worldly and carnal Wifdom, is called, PjaL 1.
The Comfel of the Ungodly, becaufe all Ungodly
Perfbns do think it fliall be more fafe to walk
in the ways of their Wifdom, then to be hemmed
in by the Laws of God.
The Second Caufe of their Obduration, is
carnal confidence in their worldly Profperity,
which they hope always to enjoy, and that by
the Principles of their Wifdom, Pfal. 10. 6. He
hath [aid in his Heart, I Jhall never he moved, I
Jh hill never be in.adverfity*
The
BOOK I. [ 141 } CHAP. IX.
The Third Caufe, is, The (tumbling Block
of the Crofs and Affliction, wherewith they per-
ceive the Godly, ufually to be exercifed. Upon
which offence they (tumble the more readily,
becaufe they judge, that the greateft part of the
Affliction of the Godly proceeds from their own
Imprudency,and do afcribe their own Profperiry
to their own Wifdom, wherein they are fo lifted
ap in their own eftimation, that they defpife all
Men in comparifon of themfelves, PfaL 10. 5^
As for his enemies, he puffeth at them.
The Fourth Caufe is, the not obferving, the
flighting and defpifing of God's Judgements,
concerning which they do not give credit unto
God when He fpeaketh, and therefore do not
make ufe of the Operation of His Hands Pfal.io.
5. Thy Judgements are far above out of his fight.
3. Albeit there be very fmall hope of the Con-
Verfioii of any fuch, becaufe they cannot abide
free dealing from any Man in private, for to give
them any Admonition, is to them a Reproach,
and they cannot endure it, and nothing can cue
them at the Heart more, then that any Man
lhould fufped: them ofHypocrify and Atheifm ;
yet becaufe no Paftor may defpair of any Man,
or judge him a Reprobate ,fo long as the long {Of-
fering patience of God invitcth him to Repen-
tance, therefore the Paftor mult deal with fucli
Men in the general in his Sorrnons, that from the
Scripture he may convince them of their Igno-
rance of God's ways and of their Atheilm.
BOOK I. [ 241 } CHAP. IX
To which end and purpofe, firft, he muft
point fuch Men forth in theit colours as the
Scripture doth defcribe them, yet To as he hold
himfelf in general in dealing with all fuch Per-
fons without particular defcription of any. Man
by particular circumftances,whereby fuch a Man
one or moe of the Auditors may appear to be
picked out and fliot at.
Secondly, He muft denounce gravely and with
Companion, the heavy Judgements of God a-
gainft them.
thirdly He muft pull the Mask of civil Ho-
nefty off their Face,and let them know the Righ-
teoufnefs of Chrift imputed to humble Sinners
flying to Him, to be the only Garment to hide
Nakednefs, if poffibly the Hearer may conceive
hope,he may be forgiven his former Hypocrify,
and be allured unto Chrift.
Fourthly, Let him often againft fuch Perfons
make ufe of the Apoftle's Admonition, i Cor.
3. 18. 19. Let no Man deceive himfelf, if any Man
among you feemeth to he wife in this World, let him
hecome a Fool that he may he wife, for the Wifdom
of this World is foolijhnefs with God for, it is written,
He taketh the Wife in their own craftinefs.
Fifthly, Let the Paftor obferve the occafion,
if at any time it {hall pleafe God to lay Calami-
ty on fuch a Man ; and then let him wifely la-
bour with all Meekjiefs and Tendernefs to a-
v/aken up his Confcience, to take notice of the
Sparks of Wrath, left he perifh in God's DiC
plea-
BOOK I. [ M3 1 CHAP. IX.
pleafure, if he do not humble himfclf before
God, and draw in to Chrift; upon which condi-
tion let him make the faircft offers of Grace and
Mercy that the Gofpel can yeild to him, if poC
fibly the Lord may give him Repentance and
Faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift.
For removing the Fourth Impediment.
THe Fourth Impediment of Sel£ : examination,
is the Stupidity and Senfelefncls of the
Confcience, pad feeling, as it were burnt, with
a hot Iron. This Difeafe may be feen in befbt-
ted Epicures, given to their Brutifi-i Lints, who
are fo carried on after their furious beaftly Affe-
<Sicn£,thatthey have ho more power overtliqm-
sthen Beafts, and fuch Monfters of Men by
frequent finning have extinguilhed all fenfe of Sin;
for, albeit by Nature there is fome remainder of
Light in fallen Man^. whereby the Work of the
Law maybe found written in their Heart, as far
as to make them inexcuiabie, when they do con-
trary to it ; and albeit there is left in the Natural
Man fome natural power of the Confcience to
vex him thatrebelleth againftit, to reftrain him
thereafter from doing the like, yet fome have
£o fold thcmlelves to the Lull and Wantonnefs of
their fieih, that they will not hear any Admo-
nition or Check of the Confcience, which might
make any remorfe, but do run madly after all
fort of Unclcannefs, corrupting- them (elves as
brute Beails.
0,3
BOOK I. f 244 ] CHAP. IX
The like Difpofition may be feen in openly
prophane Perfons, who not only in their Deeds
have denied the power of Godlinefs, but alfo re-
nounce the profeffion of all Form of Godlineft,
and fhamelefly foam forth their Ungodlinefs, as
an open rotten Grave cafts forth the ftink there-
of. Of this fort are thefewho when they do Blas-
pheme will not be reptoved.F/rt/. tz.^Our Tongues
are our own.whoishord over ml and who as Dogs
do trample under- foot all Holy Things,and rent
them who reprove them, and who infult over
the Godly in their affliction, faying with David's
Enemies, where is there God* and who openly
fcorn all Religion like thefe defperat Scoffers,
a Pet. 3.4. faying where is the Promife of his cow-
ing. Such as thefe are pradically Atheiits, and
in feme fort alfo in their Minds: For, albeitthey
have feme natural Principles of a God-head im-
printed on them, yet they {mother all knowledge
of God, and belch out their own ftiame againft
God and Religion,and all the Godly.
2. Of Men's falling untofuch a fearful Abo-
rnination; Four Caufes may be rendered. The
Firft is,the Man's violence ufed againft his Con-
fcience frequently,in committing of grievous Sins
wittingly, and from the flighting of the Admo-
nitions of the Confcience, arifing up to the con-
temptof all Accufations, which the Confcience
can lay in againft him, and at laft boldly rifmg .
up againft the Confcience, as it wpre, to be a-
vengedofit, for rebuking him, by committing
thefe
BOOK I. [ 245- ] CHAP. IX.
thefe fame Sins moft frequently, for which he
hath been oftneft reproved by his Conicience.
The Second Caufe may we reckon the Devil,
who thinketh it too Uttle to allurcMen to Sin, and
harden their Heart in it,and fpoil them of all fenfe
of their Sin,except he alfo draw them to renounce
God and bark againft Him, and become like the
Devil himfelf, fo far as he can drive them. The
Third Caufe,wc make the Holy Juftice of God,
giving over the Man who cootemneth the Light
and Checks of his Confcience, unto a reprobate
(cafe, that being deprived of common ufe of
Reafon and Judgement, he may run mad in his
Sin like the Devil : For. if God did puniili the
Heathen (b for this fort of finning, Rom. 1. 28.
what wonder He pumlh feven times more them,
who thus rebell againft the Light of Holy Scrip-
ture ? yea, thefe that do not come to this hight
are punifhed, by giving them over to ftrong De-
lufions, 2 Thejf* 2. n. The Laft, but finlefi,
Caufe, is die deep Wifdom of God, who fuf-
fering fuch Wretches to fill up fuch a mealure of
Sin,doth make manifeft to all Beholders,the power
and poyfon of in-born Sin in Man, and draweth
forth to light the natural Enimity of Man againft
God, the Seeds whereof is in all Men,and could
hardly be believed to be incident to Men, ex-
cept it were by Experience feen and found in
fome Men.
For Remedy of this Evil, it is too little that
fbch aMonfter-fliould be driven from all Church
Q^4 So-
BOOK I. [ 246 1 CHAR IX.
Society, and given over to Satan; it is the part
of the Magiftrate to bind Beafts and mad Devils,
and puniili them as it becometh the Bearer of
the Sword to do, for avenging of Evil-doers.
Bur, if the Magiftrate do not his part, yet, let
the Faftor do what in him lyeth ; for, albeit the
Scripture giveth fmall hope of the recovery of
fuch vile Monfters, becaufe of the Stupidity of
their Confcience, that cannot be wrought uport
by Man, yet feing fuch eviis have been found,
even in forne Eled,as Manajfeh and fome of the
Corinthians before their Converfion, iCor. 6. 9,
to, 11. and becaufe Experience hath often found,
that fome of this fort going to publick Execu-
tion by the Magiftrate, have been Converted
and Saved by Faith in Jefus Chrift ; a Paftor
fhould not altogether defpair of fuch vile Men,
but eftay what may be done by Conference, e-
fpecially when God fends Calamity on them, or
the Magiftrate executes Juftice on them for any
Crime, if poffiblyfuch Mifcreants, being convin-
ced of their perverfenefs, may Repent and fly to
Chrift, the Redeemer of ftch as fly unto Him.
For removing the Fifth Impediment.
1. r T 1 He Fifth Impediment of Self-examination,
X is a faife Fear of no fmall danger to their
Souls, if they fhould rip up their Confcience
for by-gones ; for; feing they feel themfelves
quiet, they think it were unprofitable, and dan-
gerous to trouble their own peace* Such per-
ions
BOOK I. [ 247 ] CHAP. IX.
fons will tell you, that their Faith is truely fet
on God, and that rhey never had any doubt or
fufpicion of God's Love to diem,- and therefore
dare not trouble themfelves with Self-examina-
tion: . Firft, becaufe all Sermons bid them
firmly truft in God. Secondly, becaufe they
know, if they fliould trouble themielvcs with
Self-examination, they might foon weaken their
Faith, as they conceive. Thirdly, becaufe they
know the fubtiiity of Satan as they fay, to whom
if a Door were opened by learch of their old
ways, they fear hefhould over-charge them with
Accufations, and drive them to Defperation as
(fay they ) it hath befallen fundry, who after
wakening their Confciences,never relied till they
put hand in themfelves, not being able to bear
the Torment of their ConCciencc,
There are ether forne, who,nill they wilt they,
are drawn before the Tribunal of God's Judg-
ment, and their Confcience begimieth tollir a-
gainft them, whibbfc loon as they do perceive,
incontinent they interrupt the Procefs. Such a one
was the Heathen Governor Felix, Act. 24. 25-.
who after hearing, for a little/ Paul's difcourfc
of Righteopfnefs, Temperance, and judgement
to come, did tremble, and therefore dcilred/W
to forbear for the time. Of this fort alfo are thev
, who do with-draw themfeives from Church-meet-
ings, and hearing of publick Sermons, left they
fliould be troubled with the ferious Speeches of
a faithful Paftor. Some are alio of this fort,
who
BOOK I, [148] CHAR IX.
who take the courfe that King Saul did take,and
call for a Minftrel, or for merry company to
fupprefs the voice of their barking Confeience,
or do by fome fuch way divert their Confeience
from entering in Judgement with them.
2,. The Caufcs of this Evil in the un-regenerat
Man, may be found thefe Four, (befides others
more particular) Firft, Ignorance of the Duty of
Self-examination prefcribed of God, Fj. 4. 4, or
a voluntar mif-kenning that fuch a Duty is requi-
red of all. The Second Caufe is a fixed purpofe
to go on (ecurely in their old Ways. The Third
Caufe is the fenfe of the fweetnefs they ima-
gine they do find and have found of a long time
in the carnal reft and fleep of their Confeience.
The FourthCaufeis a Perfwafion,that they could
tiot rid themfelvcs out of the grips of their Con-
feience, nor endure the blind blows,which Con-
feience, fet down on the Tribunal, fliould inflicSt
on them; which Sorrow and Vexation they con-
ceive they cannot otherways efhew,but by throw-
ing down their Confeience from thebench> that
he enter in no procefs againft them.
3. When the Paftor hath to do with fuch a
Man, his firft care muft be, that this blind fear
may be drawn forth to the light, by (hewing
him,that this his flying from the light and hid-
ing himfelf in darknefs,is to no purpofe, and that
there is no place for him to fly unto and hide
himfelf from God. Secondly, let him prefs
the
BOOK I. [ 249 ] CHAP. IX.
the Decree of God, that all Men muft once die,
and then come to Judgement: wherein he cannot
mifs perpetual Condemnation and endlels tor-
ment from an angry Judge; except he now judge
and condemn himfelf, and fly to Chrift the Me-
diator while it is to day, while Chrift is exercL-
fing his Mediatory-office, and is inviting all Sin-
ners to Repent, and calling all weary and heavy
loaden to come unto Him. Thirdly, let the Pa-
llor ihew to thefe fearful Perfbns, that this their
Fear is groundiefs ; For, if they mind to draw
in to God they need not fear to confefs all their
Sins and fly to His Grace, which iftheydonot,
the Sleep which they love to ly into is deadly,
becaufe God hath faid, There is no peace to the
Wicked, Ifa. 48. 21. Fourthly, let himprefs the
Precepts for Self-examination and judging our
fclves, Pf. 4. 4. and trying whether we be in
the Faith or not, 2 Ccr. 13, 5*. except they
would chufe to be judged of God without Mer-
cy. But feing here we fpeak to Pallors, or to
fijfch as aim at the holy Minillry, we need not
infill, but with the Apoftlc, 2 Tim. 2. 17, pray
the Lord to give His Servants Wifdom and Pru-
dence in all things.
For removing the Sixth Impediment.
THe Sixth Impediment is,a lazy and fluggifh
putting off of the Duty of Self-examination
from time, to time. And many are guilty of this
Siiu
B OOK I f z S o ] CHAR IX
finful Folly, who will grant, that if is a Duty
lying on them to fet their Confcience on work
for trial of their ftate or condition, but like ill
Debtors, who, promifing to pay as oft as they
meet with their Creditors, do notwithftanding
put off time, and delay the work from day to
day: Such Mens Difpofition in fpiritual Things
is well refembled in the Defcription of the Slug-
gard, Pro v. 6. 10. How long wilt thou Jleep,
Sluggard* when wilt thou arife out of thy nee p>
let a little Jleep, a little Jlumber, a little fold- -
ing of the hands to Jleep. So fliall thy poverty
tome as one that travaileth, and thy want as an ar-
med Man. And Prov. 26. 14, 15% 16. As the door
turneth upon his hinges \ Jo doth the flothful Man upon
his bed. The Slothful hideth his hand in his bofom,
■ it grieveth him to bring in again to his mouth. The
Sluggard is wifer in his own conceit , than f even Men
that can render a reafon. Such are our lazy De-
layers of Examination, of whom we fpeak,they
cannot endure to be at pains to fearch their Ways,
or commune with their Heart: But, fo long as
God iliffereth their Confcience to ileep, fo long
they put off* the. Duty of fearching themlelves,
and ly ftiil in Security, efteeming it a Torture to
have their fluggifli Sleeping any way interrupted
by any perfon.
z. Of this evil Difeafe, Fiye Caufes may be
given: TheFirft is, The abhorring of all Pains
in fpiritual Duties,how profitable foe ver Diligence
might prove. The Second Cauie is, thetcwirch-
V ing
BOOK T. [ iji ] CH AP. IX.
kig fenl'c of fweetncfs they conceive they feel in
this their idle Carriage, The Third is, The de-
ceit, of the Sluggard's Heart, ftill promifing to
follow his purpofc of Amendment of Life from
day to day, and yet, albeit deceived athoufand
times.hc doth give credit to his own falfeHcarr,
The fourth* is, A falfe Opinion which the .Slug-
gard entertains of his own fpiritual Abiiiius,a$
if he were fare be could repent at any time; and
that if aaySicknefs or appearance of Death ihould
befathim.he would chen undoubtedly make his
Reckoning with God, and crave Pardon, and fo
be Saved;and in fuch pleafant Dreams be count-
eth himfelf a much wifer Man, then many who
do put themfelves to daily toiling and vexation
by keeping their Confpiencc on the Rack-dock,
when with Ids M*fery they might follow his
fluggiili way of it. The Fiftl^buc firi left, Caufe
is,cheLords lengthening ofProfperiry reche&iug«
gard, which although it ilioukl lead him co Re-
pentance, yet he becomes hereby more and mors
drunken. & lulleth himfelf o^er in a deeper Sleep.
3. This Sickrrefe is not eafilyCure,! cxgcjm: t\\z
Lord take up a Rod and roufe the Slugard out
of his Steep,But as for- the Paftor he (hali
do well in private, if she Sluggard con reft his
Fauk, and howfoever, tofet r?n edge on thtfLaw
in publick, chat allfuch Sluggards may appre-
hend the real Danger their.Soui is into % bydelay-
ingthe:rRep,*nrancc,becaufetheendurancc orchis
brittle and frail life is raoit uncertain; for the
fool
BOOK I [iji] CHAP: IX, f
fool knoweth not whether the very next follow-
ing night after Admonition is given to him, his
.Soul fhall be taken from him. Secondly, lift
rauft know, that the longer he delay, the num-
ber of his Sirvtand the hardnefs- of his Hbart f a ft i
the wr^rh ofGod againft him, do daily grow
to d higher meafhre. Let the Sluggard then bs
convinced of his Madneis, if ho ihall delay for
ail hour by acknowledgement ofhrs Sin and fly-v
ing to Chrift to vomit up the deadly p6i(bn oi
his fweeteft Sins, and to have the hot burning
Wrath o? Grd againft him cxtinguiitiediThird-
ly.let the Deceits wherewith he baguiiech hinv
felfbelatd open and refuted, and an offer be
made unro bim f whethcrhe will chafe that Hi$
Confcience be tormented forever in the Society
of uncle&ri Devils, after a Abort while fleep in
Sin in this Lifc t rather then while he hath time
while Chrift offircth Himfelf Mediator in Hi$
Gofpel,while4i3 may have the fwect fellowfhip
of tha Saints, he will chufeto put his Confcience
to it and acknowledge his Sins, and fly ro Chrift
that he may havo peace with God, and fo be.
Saved for ever.
Far.rem*vhg the Stptnth Impediment*.
THcScventh Impediment ofSelf-examination
is the too earned: care for earthly things, &
theMans involving himfclf in the Affairs of this
Life: For there are many who do not refufe th$
Duty of trying thfir owa Spiritual flats and con-
dition
BOOK i [ in ] CHAP. IX.
dition, who notwithftanding of this conviction
of their Duty, do fpend all their time in the
Bufincfles of this World, wherein they are fo
involved and carried head-long, that they pafe
perfun<5rorioufly all Exercifes of Religion,and do
neither wait for the Direction of God's Word,or
of their own Confcience, about what they have
to do, nor call themfclves to account for what is
paft, done or not done. . Of this fort are thefe,
of whom Chrift doth fpeak, Luke 14. 18. who
being invited to a free Supper, anfwered, fome
of 'them, ■ / have bought Land, another, I have
married aWife, another, I have fought a yoke of
Oxen, &c. and fo fought to be excufed, for their
not coming to the Marriage, all pretending their
earthly Affairs, as ajuft reafon of their flipping
of the invitation given them. Of this fort of
Men fpeaketh Chrift, Matth. 13. n. He that
received Seed among the Thornes, is he that hear-
eth the Word, and the cares of this World, and
the deceit fulnejs of Riches chock the Word, and he he-
eometh unfruitful- This fort of Men are complain-
ed of, Jer. 8. 6 J hearkened and heard, but they
fpake not aright, no Man repented him of his wicked
nefs, faying, what have I done ? Every one turned
to his courfe, as a horfe rujhethinto the Battel.
z. Of this Evil,FourCaufes among others may
be given:Firft,inordmat Concupifence of earthly
Things, which eateth up all the time and travel,
which the love of Tilings fpiritual doth call for,
and, as it were, fpurreth the Man to the immo-
de-
BOOK I. [ %S4 1 CHAP. IXJ
derat purfuing of things temporal. The Second
Caufe is, The beguiling of the Confcience un-i
der the pretence of feeking what is lawful and
neceflary for a Man's well-being in this Life, asr
if a Man's fpending of His Care and Pains, and
and time in earthly buftnefs, in it feif lawful,
were fuiBcient excufe for neglecfhng Things fpi-
ritual and heavenly ; or, as if it were not re-
quired of all Men that hear the Word of God
pointing out the way of MensSa!vation,to prefer
that one thing neceflary before all Commodities
of this Earth ; For, what can it avail a Man to
gain the whole Earth, if he lofe his own Soul> The
Third Caufe is, the Deceitfulnefs of Riches,
which every Man naturally is enclined to purfue
too eagerly, and which many pragmjatick bufie
Men do attaimFor God ufeth to recompence every
Man's Diligence in a lawful Occupation with a
fort of external Reward of the fame kind with
his work : This Succefs and Rewarding of Men's
Induflry and Pains, by increaiing bufie Men's
Riches, earthly-minded Men, do interpret to be
thefpecial Bleffingof God, and an Approbation
of their immoderat purfuing after things earthly,
wherein they are ijiuch mittaken ; for God ne-
ver ordained any Man's civil Calling to be a
hinderance of the fpiritual Welfare of his Soul,
and if any Man^iegied: his Soul and purfue
worldly Riches, iflfe obtain them, what can be j
faid? but verily he hath his Reward, and cannot
look after the fruit of Pains taking in fpiritual
Mat*
BOOK I. [ ztf ] CHAP. IX.
Matters which he neglected. The Fourth Caufc
is, a light eftimation of the Word of God, and
of Matters concerning Salvation which, by Rea-
fon they fall not under fenfe and prefent pofleili-
on, but arc offered to us in Promifes, and are
not beftowed for the prefent, therefore many are
left careful for things promifed after this Life,
and do follow the more eagerly after fuch
things whereof they can take hold in this Life.
3. The way to cure this Malady, fo far as per-
taineth toaPaftor, is, that both in pubiick Ser-
mons and private Conferences, he give unto,
tilings lawful, and to the following of a Man's
civil Calling, the own room and time, and wife-
ly let Men know the fubordination of all civil.
Affairs unto the welfare of their Souls, and fo to
lay open the peril of Mens Souls when they
are following too too eagerly their civil Vo-
cation, as m the mean time lie do not condemn
Mens diligence in their Callings,butthathe give
Directions for fuch a wife Moderation of every ^
Man's care about things of this World, that
the precious Excellency of the Soul, and ihz in-
finite worth of eternal Lifebcfirfr,and above all
earthly Things provided for,aad that in the iif-,
ing or conquelhing of Riches, no prejudice do
come to his own Salvation, which is not pofii-.
b!e a Man ihall do, if he do not daily examine.
his own Conlcience carefully, and keep \t in a
tender Difpofition, reforting to Chrift upon all
occasions for pardon of daily Sin, and keeping
it Him.,
BOOK I. [ 156 ] CHAP. X.
Him, that if Riches increafe, he may not fethis
Heart thereon, but may be forth-coming to the
Duties of Charity towards others as his power
fhall be, and opportunities fhall be offered.
CHAP. X.
Concerning them that are like to Defpair.
WE have fpoken of the Firft fort of them
who do hinder their own Regenerati-
on by abhoring, declining, delaying
and fhifting off of the Examination of their Con-
fciences. The Second fort or rank of thofe
wko hinder their own Converfion, is of fuch as
after the wakening of their own Confidences,
whether voluntary or by compulfion, do Defpair
of all Remedy offered unto them in the Gofpel
of Grace in Chrift, and renouncing the Counfel
of God, do follow the Counfel of Satan, and
their own Heart.
2. We diflinguifli a voluntary Examination
of the Confcience from a compelled and enfor-
ced Examination thereof, as was hinted at in the
former Section : For, it is one thing to fay of a
Man, he hath voluntairly Examined himfelf,
and found out his Ditty, and deferved Judgment
and to fay of him, he is forced to Examine
him(clf,and in himfelf,to receive Sentence accord-
ing as his ways have been:For,there are many who
Will not judge themfelves, yet after are forced:
un-
BOOK I. [ iff ] CHAP. X;
unto it againft their will : Thefe arc faid to
judge themfclvcs voluntairly, who, by a free
A6t of their Will, do enter themfclves to be
judged of their own Confcience, and do goa-
bout the work either flightly andperfundtonoufc
ly, or ftri&ly and exactly according to their
knowledge of the Rule : But a compelled Exa-
mination is evermore exa&and ftrid:,and joined
with theCaftifement of the Sinner for neglecting,
orfKghting,or delaying of Examination, PfaL 5*0.
a 1. This Diftindtion isholden forth to us by the
Apoftle, 1 Cor. 11. 31, yi. If we would judge our
fehes, we fhould not he judged : But when we are-
judged, we are chaflenedof the Lord, that we fhould
not he condemned with the World. Both thefe forts
of Examination have a Bleffing following upon
them, when Chrift is fled unto after Examina-
tion : But if Chrift be not fled unto, then Defpe-
ration may follow upon both (light and ferious
Examination, both upon voluntary and enfor-
ced Examination.
3. We do not take Defperation here for eve-
ry Diffidence of God's performing of Promifes,'
or of God's making good of His Gracious Offers,
but for Diffidence to obtain Reconciliation with'
God, or to find Mercy through Chrift the Me-
diator. Neither do we call by the Name of
Defperation every Diffidence to obtain Mercy and
Reconciliation, caft in Man's Mind by the tern-,
pter Satan,and yeilded unto for a time under the
fenfe of God's Wrath: For at fome fits ; tlie piffi->
R % denc§
BOOK I. [ 258 } CHAP. X.
dcnce will be found in renewed Saints, as In Jo-
nah Chap. 2. 4. Heman the Ezarite, PfaL 88.
16. DaviJ Pfal 11 6, 11. who feerried to them-
felves for the time to be caft ofF,but did fwim out
of this Deep by Faith. Neither do we take De-
J per at ion for every fliort or long ©cclipfe of Hope
wherein a diftrefled Soul feems to its felf to de-
fpair, yea, aad may poliibly utter and profefs
they do defpair, and in the mean time will not
renounce the ufe of the Means, whereby they
do get or recover Hope: Such was the
Condition ot Heman the Etraite, PfaL 88. 14.
1 5% 1 6. Lord why caft s Thou off my foul > why hi deft
Thou Thy Face from mel I am afflicted and ready to
die from my Touth up, while 1 juffer Thy Terrors I
am diflraUed. He thought he was caft off, yet
for all thathe went on daily praying for thefenie
of Mercy and found it, and was directed by God
to acquaint the Church unto all Generations with
his long anil fad Exercife. But we take Defpe-
rathn for a prevalent Impreflion made by Satan u-
pon the Spirit of a Man,that God will not fhew
him Mercy, and fo fixed in him, as the Man re-
folveth not to deal with God any more for
Mercy.
4. Of this properly called Defperation, there
are two forts, one which we may call Carelefs
and Secure Defperation, another which we may
call Anxious and tormenting Defperation. Cains
Defperation in his laft Refoliition, was of the
firft fort, and Judas Defperation was of the other
fort.
BOOK I. [ i S 9 ] CHAR X.
I ore We call that a Carclefs Secure Defperation*
tfhcii-a Sinner, being convinced of his grofs and
many Sins,eirher belie vcz h notGod's Word, or con-
ceiverh God implacable and irrcconciliab!e, and
to have dcilinate him to dcilru&ion according to
die Sentence of the Law. pronounced againfl
jfuch Sinners as he knoweth hirofelf to be, and fo
doth harden and oboure himielf againft all
Threatenings, and goeth on in Iris own wa}s,
efolved to takeEale andPlealiire in the World,
To long as he livetln and not to make iumfelf
miferabie before the time : Such was ;fpe-
ration ofcarnal Ijt -aeliies, /fa. it. 13. who, hear-
ing the Threatenings of the Prophets concerning
the jufl Judgments of God to come upon them,
when they fliould have humbled therr*felvcs iti
Prayer and Falling, in Sackcloth andAfhes.and
fought Mercy from God, they did let themfei ves
to make good cheer, and to feaft one another,
faying, Let us eat and drink, for tomcrrw we {hall
die.- .Of this fort were al(b thefe in EzeheVs
time, Chap. 33. ig. Thus ye /peak, faying, If
our -fins and tranfgrej/fons he upon us, avd we pin a-
way in them, hew fhaUr we then lire ? They do not
deny that they are "leadened with Iniquity, they
doubt nothing of the Righteoufnefs of the
threatned Judgment; but, comparing thejutlice
of God's Judgment with their Sins, andjaving a-
fide all thought of a Remedy from Gods Mercy
they flatly Defpair, as if there had been no Re-
medy provided in the Word of God for them,
R 3 cr
BOOK I [ 260 { CHAP. X.
or as if the Threatenings had been pronounced
as Sentences pronounced abfolutly without ex-
ception of their Repentance,
5-. The Caufes of this Evil, are fpecially
thefe Three : The Frift, is grofs Misbelief of
God's Word, contemning all Threatenings, as
but the words of an angry Prophet ftirred up to
vent his Paffions againft People. The Second,
is the perverfenefs of corrupt Nature, (b har-
dened with the cuflom of finning, that the Con-
fcience not being terrified with God's Threaten-
ings, is nothing moved with inward Accufations,
which they know to be juft : whereupon they re-
folve neither to feek for Mercy, nor care for Re-
conciliation with God, nor to flied with their
carnal Pleafures and finful Lufts, but will go on
in their own ways, and take their hazard. The
Third.is a falfe perfwafion, that it is impoflible
they can be reconciled to God,arifing partly,from
the vilenefs of their former Life and groflhefs of
their Sins, partly, from the Ignorance of the
Gofpel, and of the Rich Grace of God offered
to the word of Sinners, who fhall forfake their
former ways and fly unto Chrift ; and partly, a-
rifing from the Ignorance of the Scope and End
of the Law, which is appointed to be a Peda-
gogue to lead and draw Men unto Chrift, after
their conviction of Sin by the Law, how grie-
vous foever their Sins, have been.
6. The Remedy of this fort of Secure Defpe-
ration is very li£rd,and in fomeincurable^namely
: . thefe
I500K I. [ z6i ] CHAP. X.
hcfc,who do not believe the Thrcatenings and
3 'o on (till in Unbelief; or, do believe the
Threatening, but are fo weded to their Lufts,
that they will not change their courfc and man-
ner of finful carriage, come what may come, but
refolve to cat and drink and be merry while they
live: Concerning whom the Prophet I fat as faith,
Chap. 22. 14. It was revealed in mine Ears by
the Lord of Hofls, furely this Iniquity fhall not be
purged from you, till ye die, faith the Lord of Ho/is.
The beft ground of Hope is of fuch,who through
Ignorance of the End of the Law and offer of the
Gofpel, have taken up afalfe Perfwafion of their
defperat Eftate. Now becaufe the Pallor hath
noWarrand to read the Decree of any Man's
Reprobation in particular, his care mud be in
private and publick, to waken the Epicures, and
all befotted in their Sins, out of their deadly
fleep;laying before them,from Scripture,the unex-
tinguiihabieFire of Hell, and the Torments of
the Damned, to be endured forever,by the Im-
penitent and Unbelieving Sinner, on the one
hand;and on the other hand, making Offer of Rc-
mifiion of Sin arid Reconciliation to all whofhalt
forfake their former vitious ways,and be content
to embrace Chtift Jefus for their Rightcoufnefs,
Sandtiflcation and Salvation. And to this end,
let him certifle all his Hearers,that Threatenings
are not intended of God to drive away any Man
to Defperation, but to lead all to Repentance,
that they may be Saved, and that the
R 4 ex-
■BOOK I. [z6z] CHAP. X.
exception of Repentance and Faith in the Re*
deemcr, is to be underftood in every Threaten-
ing,forfo the Lord hath made a plain Commen-
tary upon all His Threatenings and ail His Pro-
mifes al(b, that He be not for ever miftaken,
which is this infamm, that by His Threatenings
He doth not intend to make any Man toDefpair,
but to Pvepent and turn to God; and that by His
Promifes He doth not intend, that any Man
ihould prefume to Sin, or turn His Grace into
Wantonhefs, a$ is at large fetdown, Ezek. 33.
from Ver. 10. to Ver. zi. atidC/^/>. 18. fromK
21. to the end.
Of Anxious Tormenting Defperation.
ANxious and Tormenting Defperation is when
a Sinner, from the apprehenfion of hisguil-
tinelsof irremiUible Sins, and fear of inextricable;
woful Mifery , wherein he hath thrown himfelf,
dothcaft awayali hope of Relief to be had, and
fo is tortured and vexed within himfelf without
reft. In this fort of Defperation, the miferable
Man having wrcftled a while, doth Either turn
himfelf to a carnal temporary Confolation in this
World, and maketh choice of a carelefs and fe-
cure Defperation, .that he may be rid of prefent
Anxiety ,orelfe herefolvethto difpatch himfelf by
fome fort of Self murder counting it more eafie to
die by his own hand, then to live and endure
the tormenting Vexation of his own Mind.
^ As
BOOK I. [ *6 3 ] CHAP.X.
z. As for that fort of anxious Defperation,
which after the fore by ting of thcConfcienceonce
wakned, falleth back again in carnal Security,
it is moft perilous and givcth very fmall hope to
the Pallor, or Faithful Friends who perceive the
Man after fearful wakening of His Confciencc,
to have fallen back to his old ways, and turned
carelefs of the Means of Salvation : For, fuch a
Man, is of fet purpofe and refolvedly wicked.
Such was the Defperation of Cain, who, after a
whiles lamentation and houlirrg for the Curfa
pronounced upon him by God, plucked up his
Heart, departed from the Society of the Church,
where God givcth His prc'fencc, and goethinto
the Land of AW, or voluntary banilhment,
and giveth himfelf over to building of Ci-
ties, Gen. .4. 13. 14. Such alio was the.
Defperation ofEfau, who, when hc.faw he was
excluded from the fpintual -Bleffing of tim Birth-
right,, .laments a little, and then turned hftnfclf
toward the Earthly Blefling, and fought all his
Confolation . in it, Gen. 27. 34, 38. yet fuch
Men mud be dealt with, if God poffibly may
blefs the Means.*
3. As for v the other fort of Anxious Defpera-
tion, except it be cured. by God's Blefling of the
Means ufed, it draweth on voluntary and dc-
liberat Sclf-murther. We put a difference be-
tween Brute Selfmurther, and Voluntary or De-
liber at Self-murther : For this beaftly Brute Self-
_murther, may befal mad Perfons, furious melan-
cho-
BOOK I. [ 264 ] CHAP. X.
cholious, diftra&ed Perfons, orfuch as are befet
by fome evil Spirit, in whom the Faculty of
Reafoning is fo impeded, that without the ufe
of Rcafon or common Senfe, they are carried to
deflroy themfelves fome way. Such Perfons
ean hardly be called Voluntary and deliberat Self-
murtherers, becaufe they are neither able to ob-
ferve and difcern their own condition nor their
danger, wherein they are, nor any circumftances
which might hinder them from the Mifchicf;
and therefore it cannot properly in this Cafe be
called Defperation,becaufe the miferable Perfon
is not fo much capable of Reafon as to confider
the Grounds and Motives of Hope or Defpair.
But voluntary Self-murther, proceedeth from
properly called Defper at ion, becaufe the wretch,
after deliberation,how to efoape from Mifery ly-
ing on and coming on,when all Reafon of Hope
feemcth to fail him, he cafts away any further
inquifition after the Remedy ; and out of ap-
prehenfion, that he can be in no worfo cafe after
his Death then he prefently feeleth;& that he can
no other way be rid of his -prefent Torment than
by Death wittingly willingly putteth hand in him-
felf. In this voluntary Self-murther fometime the
fenfe of Wrath for Sin committed doth predomine
^'m Judas theTraitor his Defperation & Self-mur-
ther;fometime the apprehenfion of more worldly
Mi(ery,more bitter than Deach,doth predomine,as
in King Saul, who choofed rather to fall on his
own Sword, then fall alive into the Hands of the
fcOOK I. [ %H ] GHAP. X.
Vhiliftines, x Sam. 31. 4. and in Achitophefs
hanging himfelf, when he forefaw whatMifery
fliould come upon himfelf, when his Counfel
was pot embraced by Abfalom, z. Sam. 17. 23.
4. Tofpcak ofSclf-murther iiTgenercl,requir-
eth a Treatife larger than our purpofe doth per-
mit; it fufficeth us to fpeak a little to it, as the
Temptation thereunto, and Defperation of find-
ing God s Mercy, is a hinderance of Regenera-
tion. To this end, where any fear or fufpi-
cion of any intention toward this fearful Sin
doth appear, all Meeknefs Ihould be ufed by
all that have interefl in the Perfbn fufpe6ted,thac
may ierve to fave the vexed Party, from fuch
a Mifchief; God muft be in called and requefted
for relief unto the patient;Phyficians Ihould be cal-
led, and moe Paftors then one,if they can be had,
th^Soul in danger muft by Friends be watched
and waited on, in a prudent manner Night and
Day, that he never be alone. If the Perfon be
capable ofReafon, he muft bedealtwith free-
ly toconfefs his Temptation £nd purpofe toward
this, Sin, the Caufes moving him muft be en-
quired after;andif they be other then the fenfe of
Sin & Fear,or feeling of God's Wrath,then courfe
muft betaken to make the Party fenfible of Sin Sc
to fear God's Wrath,& to confider,that if they give
way to that Sin they are tempted unto, they do no
lefs,inefied; then caft themfelvesinHell, where the
Juftice & Wrath of God ihall ly upon them without
hope of eafe or ending of their everlaftingTormenr/
from
BOOK. I 166 ] CHAR X.
from which fearful Definition, they may be
preferved both in .Soul and Body, if they fliall
acknowledge their Sin, and fly to God in Chrift
offering Grace and Pardon of Sin, and Delivery
from Hell and Right unto Heaven, promifed to
all and everyone who fliall embrace Jefus Chrift
for their Redemption, And for thefe, whofe
Vexation is roain'y from the Conference of hei-
nous Sins,and felt Wrath of Godpuriuing them,
the Grace offered in the Gofpel muft be cleared
unto them and inculcated; if they can be moved
to giveReafons of their Fear and to propone their
Doubts, who knoweth what Blefling may fol-
low on their free-deali»g v and from faithful An-
fwers from Scripture returned unto them ? Con-
ferences of experimented Chriftians may with
profit be made ufe of in the Patient's Audi-
ence, whereby the Party may receive both
increafc of Knowledge and fbme beginnings of
Comfort. Among other Means, Godly Perfons
who have in their own Exercife had Experience
of fuck Temptations, and have gotten Victory
by flying unto Chrift, mayferve much by their
Conference to encourage'them. In fome of thofe
tempted Souls, Tokens of good hope will Ihort-
ly appear, in others it may be, none can ecn-
jed^jre what fliall be the event, till the time de-
clare it, whether Juftice or Mercy was intended
of God; for both in the Eled, who are cured of
thisDifeafe, and in the Reprobate, who perifliin
^heir Sin, the fame Symptoms may appear ; if
the
BOOK I. [ z66 } CHAP.'X.
the Anxiety and Expreflions of the one and the
other be compared: Therefore care mull be had
of every one under fuch Temptations, whatfoe-
verthe tvent may be, and the Lord's Blcffing
waited for in the ufe of the Means, Scripture
fheweth us how hard Exerciies God's dear Chil-
dren havt been under. Befide many other Saints
we fhallonly name two Witneffes, the one is
Heman the Ezraite, that precious Soul,notmuch
inferior to Solomon in Wifdom, i King. 4. 31. of
whom no Man could fay, he was a weak Brain,
and Hypochondriack, or Melancholious Perfbn,
whole fad Exercile {lands regiftrated (Pf. 8 8.) for
many Man's Comfort The other witnefs fliall
be Job, whofe Perplexities we read in hisDlfpute
with his Friends, and how he tailed of this bit-
ter Temptation aifo, Job 7. 13, 14, if. When I
fay my Be djh all comfort me, my Couch ft) all eafe my
Complaint, then thou skarreft me with Dreams, and
terrifies me with Vifions, Jo that my Soul choofeth
flrangling. Behold, there is a very fad Exercile
of the moll Holy and Righteous Man on Earth ;
there is a lore Temptation even unto Self-mur-
der, but how is this Temptation overcome? Firfl,
he doth not hide his Temptation, but openeth it
up in the worll lhape: This giveth die Tempta-
tion vent, he will not conceal it, nor be Satan's
Sccretar in this ; and this is one Mean to weaken
the Temptation. Then he prefenteth it before
God, and poureth out his Complaint unto the
Lord, and this giveth him the Vi&ory. So lee
ail
BOOKL [ 268 1 CHAP. 3&.
all Souls Tempted unto Defperation do, and
and cleave to God in Chrift, and they fhall be
vi&oriousalfb.
CHAP. XI.
Concerning them that Ahjolve them/elves without
Warrand.
T He Third Rank of thofe that impede their
ownRegeneration^erftaineth to be fpokcii
of. Of this kind are all they, who, af-
ter they have (lightly examined themfelves, and
are convinced of Sim and Deferved Death, if
they were dealt with 111 rigor of Juftice do un-
warrantably Abfolve themfelves; deceiving their
own Confcienceby a Fallacy, falfe Sylogifm, or
captious Reafoning, and from the Confcience,as
from a blinded or feduced Judge, do draw forth
a Sentence of Abfolution to themfelves which
God doth not allow. All fuch Perfons do either
lay down fome falfe Principle or Ground for Ab-
folution of Sinners; or, if they lay down a true
Ground, they make wrong Application of that
Ground to themfelves, and fo beguile them-
felves miferably.
the firft fort. ,
SOme do grant themfelves' to be Sinners,
but do peri wade themfelves^ that God is fo
Merciful as He will not d'eftro/ any Man for
Sin : which Principle being? once laid ddwn, no
Won-
BOOK I. [ 269 ] CHAP. XT
wonder fuch Men go on in their own way, and
fing a Requiem to their own Souls. Of this fort
of Men the Lord doth fpeak, Deut. 29. 18, 19.
iliewing, that He makes His Covenant with His
People, left there jkould be among you, faith
He, a root that bear eth Gall and Wormwood. And
it come to pafs, when he heareth the words of this
Curfe, that he blefs himfelfin his Heart, faying, I
Jhall have peace, though I walk in the imagination
of my own Heart, to add drunkennefs to thirft. It is
poflible, few fhall be found fo impudent, as that
they dare in exprefs terms, profefs this their
Misbelief of God's Juftice ; yet, they are not
a few who fofter this Error in their Heart, who
having, as it were made a Covenant with Death
and Hell, are far from fearing to perilh in their Sins.
In this fort are all they to be ranked, who con-
ceive, that all the Threatenings in the Scripture
are given forth, to the intent, that Men, being
bridled by Terrors, might compofe themfelves
to a more Humane and Social Life among others;
who, left they ihould fcem Atheifts in word,
do cry up God's Mercy, Bounty and Love to
Man, fo as they mate fmall reckoning of the
Lord's Truth and Juftice, even as if the Juftice
of God in punifhing Rebels,could not confift with
His Mercy to the Penitent, or as if the end of
creating Man, could not be obtained, if obflinat
Sinners be deftroyed.
2. The main Caufe of fuch Error is an obfti-
aat purpofe to walk after the Counfel and Imagina*
ti*
BOOK I. [ 270 ] CHAR XI
tion of their own Heart ; and becaufe they can-
not quiet their Confidence in following their own
ways, except in promifingto themfelves impu-
nity in their Sinning, they prcfume confidently
to go on in their own ways againftall Threaten-
ings, and fo do blow their Confciences blind.
Such profane Preemption, although it deferv-
eth to be beaten with a Rod,rather than to be rea-
fbned with, yet let the Paftor deal with the Pre-
fumer, as he ought to do with other defperat
like Sinners ; and in the firft place, lec him pro-
pose for Remedy of this Evil, what the Lord
doth fpeak againft fucha Perfon, Deut. 29. 20.
The Lsrd mil not [pare him, hut then the Anger of
the Lor d and His Jealoufjte jkall fmoake agatnll that
Man, and all theCurfes that are written in this Book
JhfJl lye upon him, . and the Lord fh all blot out his
Name from under Heaven. And as he findeth
this work upon Him, (b let him deal with him.
2. Some are near of Kindered to fuch Perfons,
who do not reject all Threatenings, yet do think
in their Heart that none are in danger except
grols flagitious and notorious Sinners ; but as
to themieives, they conceive becaufe they are
not the word of Men, they are without the reach
of Divine JuflieGv efpccialiy if their Conventi-
on be according to humane Laws,lb regulated as
they have the Reputation of honed Neighbours.
With fucli Men Chrift dealeth (Luk.i 3*1,1, y.J
when word came concerning the Galileans, whofe
blood Pilate mixed with their Sacrifices, Chrift
faltU
BOOK I. [ 271 ] CHAP. XI.
faith to them ySuppofe ye that thefe Galileans were Si-
xers above all Galileans, becaufe they Juffered thefi
things? I tell you, nay, but except ye repent you fh all
all likeways perijh. This is the Remedy prefcrib-
ed by Chrift to fuch Men.
3. Some there are who hope to be abfolved
before God, and do abfolve themfelves in their
own Confidence, by their good Works and Obe-
dience done to the Law. Of this fort was Paul
before his Converfion, who, till the time that
thefpiritual Light of the Law brake in upon his
Mind, and killed the conceit of his own inherent
Righteoufnefs, was no mean Man in his own
Eyes, Rom. 7. 9. Such was the rich young Man
in the Gofpel, whofaid to Chriil, that he had
keeped all the Commands from his Youth up,
till Chrift did prove him a covetous Idolater,who
put a higher Price on his Riches than upon Chrift
and the Kingdom of Heaven : Such were the
Pharifees y who, by their Obedience to the Law
(Tuch as it was) doubted nothing to abfolve
themfelves, and that God fhould abfolve them
alfo. But that the Met-yaird lhould be no longer
than their Cloath, or the Law of further extent
than their imagined poffible Practice, they admit-
ted no Metonymie or Figurative Speech in the
Law, vyhereby under one Branch of a Duty com-
manded, all Duties of that kind are comprehen-
ded, and all Faults contrary to the Duty arc for-
bidden. As for Example, they counted not die
Sixth Command to be violate, except the Man
S M
BO OK I. [ 27* I CHAP. XT.
did cake away his Neighbours Life, nor the Se-
venth Command broken,cxcept by grofs Adultery
and violation of the Marriage-bed; nor the Eight
Command tranfgrefsed, except another Man's
Xioods were openly or privately taken away,
whofe Mjftake Chrift doth corred, Matth. Chap.
5. and 6.
2. Such Men as thole are far from Repentance,
far from humbling themfelves before God and
feeking Remiftion of Sin through Chrift; for,
they are Ignorant of the Righteoufnefs of the
Gofpel by faith in Jefus Chrift, and of the way
of coming to Ability for doing any acceptable
Work by Faith in Chrift, and therefore they
go ahout to eftablijh their own Righteoufnefs,
Rom. 10.3. and 9. 31. 32. The falie Ground
which they do lay for their own Abfolution, is
this, they think to be Juftified by their Works;
againft which Ground, the Apoftle hath pro-
nounced condemnatory Sentence, Rem. 3. 20.
By the Deeds of the Law, /hall no Flefh be juftified,
in God's fight for, by the Law is the knowledge of Sin.
3. With this fort we may join thefe.who not on-
ly come fhort of theObedience due to theLaw,but
alfo are inConfcience convi&ed of many Tranfc
greflions of the Lord's Law; yet, they conceive
that God will not exad: of them, or of any Man
who is about to obeyHisLaw,more than the Man
can in the common infirmity of Flefli overtake,&
do perfvvade themfelves that God will be fatisfied
with all them in whom is a willingnels to obey
the
BOOK I. [ *73 1 CHAP. XI.
the Law.-Their falfe Ground which they lay,is this
that God will accept a Man's Will for the Deed
And to this purpofe they doabufe the Scriptures*
ffa.i.iyjfyoube willing & obedient, you flail eat the
goods Things of the Land, And, iCor. 8,12. If there
be fir (l a willing Mind.it is accepted \according to that
a Man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
4. But here is their Error^vhereupon they pur-
chafe from their Confcience mif-informed an un-
warrantable Abfolution; Firft,they lay down for
a Ground that they muft be juftified by Works.
2. Becaufe they know they, do come, and fhall
comefhort in Obedience,they turn the Condition
of the Covenant of Works, into other Terms
than God hath appointed, and make the will of
a Man to obey the Law fo far as he is able, to be
the Condition of the Covenant, which God dif-
ciaimcth. 3. They deceive themfelves in this,that
what is fpoken to Converted Believers in Jefus
Chrift,already Juftified by Faith,aiming at new O-
bedieuce,they do apply to themfelves,lying under
the Curfe and Covenant of Works : For,it is true
indeed, when God is dealing with thofe that are
already Juftified by Faith in Jefus, and have re-
nounced all confidence in their o\vnWorks,& fled
unto Chrift,& have taken on His Yoke 4 the Lord
doth take in good part the firft Ftuits of the new
Creature, & doth much efteem the tender Fruits
of the Spirit, as the places cited (jfa. 1. and 2
G?/\8.) do fbew.But when the Lord hath to dowith
the proud natural Man, the unrenewed Man, the
S 2
BOOK I. [ 274 ] CHAP. XI.
Man that is not humbled for violation of theCo-
venant of Works, He dealeth with him accord-
ing to the Rigor of the Law, according to the
Condition of the Covenant ot Works, pronounc-
ing His Curfe againft that Man, for every Sin,
till the Sinner be humbled and fly to Chrift.
5. With the former we may join all thefe, who
believe they may wafli away their Sins, partly
by bearing fuch Afflictions as are laid on them
by God in this Life; partly, by their Tears, Pray-
ers, Fadings, Pilgrimages, Penances,and Scourg-
ing of themfelves ; and partly, by their Almes-
deeds and other good Works, do believe they
ihall make Amends for all their Mifdeeds ; and
what they cannot perfect in this Life for the
matter of good Works, they will take Afligna-
tion to the Supererogation and Superfluity of the
Merits of Saints, made over unto them by the
Pope : And what for the matter of Suffering is
not endured in this Life,they will take upon them
to endure in an imagniary Purgatory, and place
oi Hell after this Life ; and fo (poor Souls) they
think they may Abfolve themfelves 3 at leaft from
the Sentence of everlafting Condemnation, by
fuch poor fhifts as thofe. But the truth is,
fo long as they rely upon their own Sufferings
and Satisfa&ions, they deny both the neceflity
and the worth of Chrifts Sufferings ; and fo
long a** they have confidence in their own Works,
or Works of other Men,they reje&and difclaim
, when^
BOOK I. [ 175 ] CHAP. XI.
the Covenant of Grace ; and yet, behold how
proud they prove themfelves to be, Ifa. 58. 3.
when they plead with God, faying, Wherefore
have we fa fled, and thou feefl not ? wherefore have
we afflicted our Soul, and thou takell no knowledge*
6. Laft of all, unto the former fort we join
thefe,who pleafe themfelves in the compofitions
of Righteoufnefs by Works and Righteoufnefs by
Faith, thinking to five themfelves under the
fhelter of the one Righteoufnefs or of the other,
however God ihall deal with them.Such were the
Seducers and feduced amongft the G alati am :\ or.
refuting of whofe Error, the Apoftle (as it were)
travelled in Birth till he brought them to take
up the right frame of ChriiVs way of Salvation.
7-The Caufe of all fuch Mens deceiving of them-
felves in a falfe Abfblution of their Confcience,is
their Ignorance both of the Righteoufnefs of the
Law, and of the Righteoufnefs by Faith : For,
fuch as think their Sins are fo few and light, or
their Lives,fb innocent,or their good Works they
have done fo weighty, and their Purpofe to do
yet moe good Works to be fo Holy,or their Pains
taken in Religion fo confiderable, or their Suffer-
ings refolved upon, fo great, and thereupon do
abfblve themfelves, confider not that the Law,
or Covenant of Works, doth require perfe£r,per-
fbnal Obedience to all God's Law, under the pain
of God's Curfe, growing in Items, as the Law is
oftener tranfgrefied,till they fly in to the perfect
R^nfom of Chrift's Obedience. And as for the
S 3 Righ-
BOOK I. [ 276 } CHAP. XL
Righteoufnefs of Faith in Jefus, they confider not,
that His Righteoufnefs will not be bellowed up-
on any who do not renounce all confidence in
their own or others Works,and betake themfelves
altogether to the only Grace of Chrift : they
confider not that if the worth of any Work be
relied upon, the Bargain of free Grace is fpoil-
ed, and clear marred; Tor, if it he hy Works, it is
no more of Grace; and if it be of Grace, it is no more
of Works ; for, thefe two are fo oppoftte one to
another in the matter of Man's Ele&ion and Ju-
stification, that they can no more confift toge-
ther, as Caufes procuring or moving God, then
contradictory Sentences can be both true,as Paal
teacheth, Rom. 11, 6.
3. A Third fort of Self-deceivers and unwar-
ranted Self-abfblvcrs, we reckon all Perfons poi-
fdned with deadly Herefies,who,being drawn a-
way from the Do&rine of Chrift,fet down in the
holy Scriptures,turn after fome falfe chrift &falfe
religion of Men's, or their own devifing, giving
unto their Idol,what Worfhip, what Service, what
Employment, what Power,they pleafe,and mak-
ing their own conditions of peace with God as
they think good; fbme denying the Eternity of
the God-head of the true Chriftjfome cheRealiry
of His afTumed Humane Nature; fome evacuat-
ing fo far as they can His Three Offices, and
the Fruit of His Execution thereof, all of them
prormfing to themfelves Salvation in another,than
:hetrue Chrift described to us in Scripture, who
is
BOOK I. [ 277 ] CHAR XL
is Creator,Up-holder andGovernour of alf things,
very coeternal God with the Father and Holy.
Spirit,in the fulncis of time made Man, ever- liv-
ing Prophet, Pricftand King to His Church,both
before His Incarnation and conftantly fince, the
Way, die Truth, and the Life, made of God
unto true Believers in Him, Wifdom, Righteoui-
nefs, Sanclification and Redemption^vho walks
among the Golden Candle-flicks, and fearches
the Ways and Hearts of every Man,as he holdeth
forth Himfelf in thefe Epiftles unto the (even
Churches of Afia, Rev. Chap. z. and 3. Of this
danger of miilaking of the true Chrift and em-
bracing a falfeinHis Room, He Himfelf doth
carefully fore-warn His Difciples, Matth. 24. 4.
5, 24, 25*, a 6. Take heed that no Man deceive
you ; for many /hall come in My Name, faying, I
amChri(l 9 and fh all deceive many.
The proper Remedy of this Evil, is this, Let
every one that hath an Ear, hear what the Spirit
fpeaketh to the Churches, not only in thefe fevenE-
piftlesjbut alfo in all the reft of the Hoiy Scrip-
tures, which are the Exprefiions of the Holy Spi-
rit; but if any Man receive not the Truth in love (et
down by the Lord's Spirit in the Scripture,his Pu-
nilliment isfctdownby the Apoftie, z Theff. 2.
11. and for this caufe, to wit, becaufe they receiv-
ed not the love of the Truth that they might he Saved,
God fhall fend them fir ong Delufion, that theyfhould
helieve a Lye, that they all might be damned who be liv-
ed not theTrUth but had pie afire in Unrigjneou fiefs.
S 4 1 The
BOOK I. [ 278 ] CHAP. XI.
1. The Fourth fort of AMblvers ofthemfelves
without God's Warrand, are thefe who pretend
unto true Religion, and deny the power of it; of
whom fome are convinced of theirDuty to Repent
their Sins, and to forfake their Lulls, and to en*
deavour a Reformation of their Life ; and this
they do promife to themfelves, and purpofe fe-
rioufly to do (as they think)onlythey cannot pre-
fently, and at once v break off the courfe they are
upon, but do hope by little and little to come
forward, and at length that they fliall wholly
give themfelves to religious Exercifes, and a
Holy Life; mean time they conceive, they may
come in among the true Converts and young Be-
ginners, albeit they come not up the length
which they intend, but are under the power of
fome beloved Lufts, \rhich they cannot rid them-
selves of, but do hope they fhall by time over-
come them. Such Men do miferably miftake
the Matter; Firft, in that they think their pur-
pofe of Repentance,and a new Life bred in them
by conviihon of their Duty, to be the very
Grace of Regeneration and begun San&ification.
Secondly, they conceive that the Lufts which do
reign in themfelves,are common to them and all
other Regenerat Perfons, of whom few or none
(think they) want their own grofs Faults. Third-
ly, they conceive they can repent more ferioufly
when they pleafe, and will repent after a whiles
following of their beloved Lufts, as if Repen-
tance were not a laving Grace of the Holy Spi-
rit
BOOK I. [ *7? 1 CHAP. XI.
rit, whom they do daily provoke by their Vile-
nets, but a work in the power of every Man's
Free will,being once convinced of his Sin.Fourth-
| ly they do not confider, that by the delay of
repenting and turning from all Sin unto God,
their Heart is daily more and more in God's
Judgement, hardened, and God provoked tq
punifh their voluntary Impenitence with judicial
hardnefs of Heart, that they thai I never repent.
Such Men our Lord compareth to the Difobedient
Son, who promifed to his Father he would go
work in his Vincyeard,and went not. Matth.zi.
30. Such Men are they, who know the Will of
the Lord, but do it not, and therefore worthy
of double Punifliment, Matth. 12. 47. The Re-
medy of this Evil Chrifl giveth, Luke 1 3. 24, 25-,
2,6. Strive to enter at the (Irak Gate: for marry, I
fay unto you, will jeek to enter in, and fhallnot le a-
ble. Men know not how foon God may ihutriic
Door, therefore Men had need while it u to day,
not to harden their Hearts. Ptal. 95". 8.
x. Other fome are, who being of a civil Life,
profefs and do perfwade themfelves, that they
indeed do Repent and Believe in Chrifl, and by
Faith in Him, do certainly exped Salvation free-
ly of His Grace. If you pofe any fuch Men,whe-
ther they do indeed Believe in Chrift. They thall
prefently anfwer, that they firmly do believe in
Him, and that they never doubt but He is their
fweet Saviour who died for them. If you prefs
them to fpeak in earneft from their Heart, they
fliall
BOOK I. [ 280 ] CHAP. %l
ihall prefently be*ill pleafed with the Queftion;
and ask, what Caufe of fufpe&ing the Sincerity of
their Faith and Repentance can be juftly alled-
ged?or,what Caufe hath any Man tofufpedt them
or,doubt of God's Favour toward them inChrift?
In whomfhould we believe (fey they) if not in
Chrift? Is there any other Saviour of Sinners be-
fidehim?Jf a Manpleafe to try the Truth of their
Faith by their Repentance, they ihall forthwith
affirm, that they repent Day and Night,and have
juft caufe fo to do; for in many things we fin all,
and why then fhould we not always Repent? Jf
they be asked of their Love to God and their
Neighbour, they Ihall anfwer after the fame man-
ner. Such Men arc thefe,ofwhomChriftfpeak-
eth that they will confidently come to Him, and
call Him Lord ,Lord, and yet be found no ways
careful to do the Lords Will, but Servants to
their own Lufts.
3 .Such Men do deceive themfelves,firfl,by fra-
ming to themfeives fuch carnal Notions of Faith
and Repentance, and of the Lave of God,and of
Saving Hope,& other Spiritual Graces, as in their.
Phantafie they conceive they dopra&ife, which
Conceptions are not grounded upon the Word
of God. Secondly, they efteem the aflent-of their
Mind unto the Truth, commending thefe Duties
unto Men,as good as the performance of them :
and they do take the Sentence of their Confci-
ence concerning the Equity of fuch Duties, for,
the Sentence of their Confcience bearing witnefs
of
iOOK l [ 281 ] chap. xr.
:>f their Practice and Obedience of thefe Dudes,
ihd while their Confcience faith whyjhould I do
0? they take that for as good,as if it liM* laid /
Jofo:but Saving Graces go deeper than civil car-
riage,and to commend the Duties of Repentance
and Faith in Chrift, is not enough, except they
put in practice alfo,in daily (brrow for Sin & hat-
red of it, and flying to Chrift daily to bewalhen
and more and more landtified.
4. Some there are,\vho,\vhen they have heard
that a Man is Juftified by Faith in Chrift only,
without the Works of the Law,do imagine a Faith,
which needech not to bring forth any good
Works at all; and fo they take off the Juftified
Man from all neccfiity of following good Works,
as far as they take off goodWorks from being the
Caufe of Juftification, and do open a Door to
themfelves to live after their ownWill in the Lulls
of their Flefli, conceiving, that they who believe
in Chrift are fred $ not only from the Covenant of
theLaw,but alfo from the Command of die Law,
againft whom our Lord doth fpeak, and doth cut
off liich Libertines & Turners of the Grace of God
into Wantonnefs, from the Kingdom of Heaven,.
/fo/-.^. 17. 18. 19. And the Apoftle to guard againft
thisSelf dcceit,(£feAi 2.1 ^command eth tofoliow
ft&linefs, without which no Man'jhall fee the Lord.
5. Some there are who pretending to eiteem
well of the offer ofthe Gofpel, & of the Duty of
following the means of making them partaker
^f the Marriage-ftpyer, do yet think them-
felves
BOOK I. C 't$*\Y CHAR XI.
(elves excufable, when they have much ado in
their worldly Callings, albeit they prefer the care
of theif family, and provifion for their Things
outward/ unto the main work of their entertain-
ing Communion with God ; yea they conceive,
that God will allow them in fo doing, as Chriftfe
doth infinuate in the Parable of the Ghuefts in-]j
vitedto theFeaft, anfwering the Invitation with
I pray h&vewe excufed, Luk. 14. 18, 19. This is
a rife Evil in great Perfonages, rich Perfbns,and
fuch as are much imploied in earthly Affairs ;
{uch Men deceive themfelves : Firft, in laying
down this Ground with themfelves, that theiri
earthly Affairs, the neceffity whereof doth,firft, ;
and moft fenfibly appear, muft in the firft room!
be cared for, and that the one thing neceflar may*
be followed after,as their civil and earthly Affairsf
may permit. Secondly, they reckon Gain to be
Godlinefi, 1 Tim. 6. 5. for they cannot be per-
fwaded, when Gain may be had, that God re-
quireth of any Man to flip the occafion, or to
put his wordly Goods in hazard, by defending
or following Matters of Religion. Thirdly, theyj
think themfelves fo wife,as they can well enough
fervc two Matters, God and Covetoufnefs, albeit
when it cometh to the proof, they will be found]
to ferve, not God, but their own Lufts. This
Error our Lord refuteth, and giveth warning to
beware of it, Matth. 6. 24. and Luk. %s.- 34. Takel
heed to your f elves, left at any time your Hearts he
ever-charged with Surfeiting, and Drunkennefs, and\
cares
BOOK I. [ 283 ] CHAP. XL
lares of this Life. No wonder tken, that fuch
Vlen profit not by the Word of God, but remain
iruitlefs, becaufe they arc by our Lord compa-
ed to the Ground that receiveth the Seed among
Thorns, Mat. 13 22. Heheareth the Word, but
he Cares of this World, and the Deceit falnefs of
Riches, choaks the Word, and he remaineth unfruit-
ful.
6. Some there are, who, having received a
iifficient Meafurc of Gifts, whereby they may
>romove the Kingdom of Chrift, and be profita-
)le to the Society they live in, by making ufe of
heir Gifts, do pack up all their Duties in a Se-
jueftration of themfelves from allBufmefs, con-*
eiving this way to be fitted both for God's Ser-
vice and their own Salvation. Whereupon they
>etake themfelves to a private Life in feme ob-
cure Corner, choofing rather to live as Monks
nd Eremites, than to appear in publick and make
ife of their Gifts,with the hazard of toiling ehem-
elves, and toffing of their Eftimation among Be-
idlders of them. And this their Refolution is
acked with a pretended purpofe, to fpend their
ime in Reading and Prayers, without provoking
ny Man to Hatred or Emulation againft them:
Thus they conceive they ihall provide belt for
heir ownEafe and Safety : And if withal, they
pprchend that they are not fitted with Gifts,
/hich may be profitable to others, and do think,
v'hat they have beflowed upon them by God, to
c fcarce fufficient for the carrying of themfelves
on
BOOK I. [ 284 ] CHAP. XI I
on in the courfe that tendcth toHappinefs, diet
they conceive they are well excufed, if they let
all publick Works alone, without putting forth
their Finger to help what they fee amifs. We do
not deny, but fundry Godly Perfons, in the heat
of Perfecution, have been forced to lurk in a Wil-
derriefs among wild Beads, during the time, of*
danger, of whole fellowfliip the World was not
worthy ; neither do we deny that Age and Infir-
mity of Body may make Men unfit for all pub-
lick Imployment ; but the Fault we tax is of fuel
Men, as being able, in Church or State, to d
Service to God and the Society they live in, do
for the love of their own Eafe, hide their Ta-
lent, and not make ufe thereof for the benefit o£
others ; for if a narrow fearch be made of fuel?
Mens Refolution, the fear of outward trouble
in the World, a declining to fight the Fight of.
Faith, impatience to be at any Pains, and a de-
fire to keep the edimation of their Parts from
the hazard of Mens Cenfure, and love of their
own fieflily Eafe, will be found the Fountain of!
their Refolution. But, here we deal with none
but fuch as the Apofile andChrift doth fpeak a-
gainft, to wit, fuch as in fome honed Imployi
merit, for the common Utility, refufe to be at I
Pains and Work, and therefore are not worthy
of their Bread, 2 Tkejf. 3. 10. And let us hearken;!
to Chad's Judgement of fuch Men, whom the
World admireth for mod Holy Monks, in the
Parable of the Talents, He taketh up the lazy
Lub- I
1
book i. [ 28? ] ch;ap. XL
Lubbarc, of whom we fpeak, under the reckon-
ing of a knavilh Servant, who becaufe he had
but one Talent (which amounteth to no (mall
Sum) went away and hid it in the Earth, Matth.
z$. z6. Thou wicke d and 'Jlotbful Servant , faith He,
&v. and Ver. 30, call the unprofitable Servant in-
to utter darknefs, there Jhall he weeping and gnajb-
zug of Teeth.
The Remedy is, that Men of parts and Abili-
ties do not yeild unto their lazy huipor, nor to
their difcouragemenrs which may fofter their
Temptations to Idlenefs, but itudy rather to live
in the (enfe of their Obligations to God, and to
improve all that they have received from Him,
I for His Honour and the Well-fare of His People:
i and to this end, it is fit they Ihould hearken to
the counfel of judicious Friends, rather than lean
to their ownjudgment over-fwayed with Temp-
tations, left the Lord decipher them, and lead
: them forth with the Workers of Iniquity.F/i 2 5-. 5-.
7. Some are very like, in all Externals, to the
true Converts, fo far as can be obferved by Be-
holders: For they profefs the true Religion with
others, they feem to have confecrate themfelves
untoChrift, they ailbciate themfelves unto, and
haunt the company of thefe who are in bed cfteem
and join therrifelvcs always with the reputed
Godly, they feem ready prepared to bear Chrifts
Crofs,and to go forth out ot the City after Him,
bearing His Reproach,& to be Waiters upon His
Second Coming, yet inwardly they were never
re-
BOOK I. [ 286 ] CHAP. XI.
renewed, they are not troubled with thefenfeof
Sin and Sinfulnefs, they do not in earneft, or
ferioufly feek after ChrilVs Righteoufnefs and
Remiffion of Sin through Him, nor worfliip God
in their Spirit. Thefe are deferibed to us in the
Parable of the Foolifh and Wife Virgins. Matth.
z$. the Foolifh were in company 2nd outward
fellowship of Religion with the Wife, their out-
ward Converfatibn was without Scandal, as was
the Behaviour of the Wife; they had Lamps of
Profeffion as the Wife, and were not fufpe&ed
by themfelves or others to be unfound, they
went forth in Profeffion waiting for the coming
of the Lord, as the Wile did ; and laftof all, no
other Infirmities were found in them, than fuch
as the Wife Virgins were fubjed: unto alfb, they
all fell aileep now and then, nothing could be
outwardly found to difference them from the
Wife Virgins ; which external liknefs, as it de-
ceived the Beholders of thefe Foolifh Virgins,fo
alio it deceived themfelves ; neither fhall this
perfonal difference be openly manifefted, till the
the Judge, the Searcher of Hearts, fhall come
and feparat the Goats from the Sheep, and the
Hypocrites from the unfeigned Believers. ■ The
Remedy is, that every who pretend unto Holi-
nefs externally, fearch their owiv Hearts, and
inward Sinfulnefs, /daily, and fly to Chrift in ear-
ned, that their Nakednefs may be covered, and
their Affections made fpiritual 3 feekiag after things
above, and that by Faitlr in Chrift they may be
BOOK I I 287 ] CHAP. X[.
filled with the Undtion of the Holy Spirit, for
bringing forth true Fruits of Faith.
8. Unto the former, we may join fuch, as for
their eminent Gifts above the common fort of
(pious People, and their Abilities to confer, dip-
courfednd difpute of Matters of Religion, iecm
to themfelves and to Beholders alio, eminent
Saints, cfpecially if they appear fharp Cenfurers
of others, and zealous againft every icafi degree
of Sin in others,but moft of all, if they, for their
Enduements,be fitted and called to Pray in pub-
lick,and Preach the Gofpel to others, and withal
do live without Scandal,thcy doubt nothing but
they are high in God's eftimation, as they are fee
up in Reputation among the Godly in the vifible
Church. Now that fuch gifted Men may de-
ceive themfelves, and pais Sentence in their own
favours for their own Abfolution from any Chal-
lcnge,which may condemn thcm,our Lord doth
fore-Warn us, Matth. 7. 21, 22. telling, us that
not only many private Profellbrs of the Chri-
ftian Religion,and teeming zealous Worfhipcrs,
crying, Lord, Lord, may deceive themfelves and
mils Heaven, but alfo Preachers of the Gofpel,
yea and Prophets, yea, and Men endued with
the Gift of doing Miracles, and calling out of
Devils in ChrifYs Name, not a few ihall b * di£
claimed by Chrift and condemned by Him in the
Day of Judgment. If it be asked, what can be
their Miftake,and the Caufe of Chrilt/s rejertmg
of them>\veanf\ver,Such Men deceive themfelves
X 1. Be-
BOOK I. [ 288 ] CHAP. XL
i . Becaufe both they and Beholders alfo think
them Ho!ier,than they who are inferior in Place
and Gifts unto them. 2. They compare them-
felveswiththofe they live among, and not with
the Law of God. 3. They put not due diffe-
rence between common Gifts and laving Graces.
4.They confider not,that to whom much is given,
much will be required of them; and therefore,
after trial they will be found puft up with the
cftimation of Gifts,Enduements Employments and
Succefs which they have had, as if thefc were
the undoubted Evidences of their Regeneration,
and of God's {pecial Love towards them;they will
be found Men void of Repentance and far from
bumble walking. In the fenfe of their natural,
habitual and actual Sins,they will be found void
of all fear of Wrath,which might drive them, in
the acknowledgment of their Blindnefs, Poverty
and Mi(ery,unto Chrift the Redeemer and Jufti-
/ fier of Sinners;and they will be found void of all
u care of, and endeavour after new Obedience,
conceiving.that the Exercife of their Gifts and
Succefs in their Imployments, arc fufiicient Ho-
linefs>and evidence of the Holy Ghoft's dwelling
in them and working by them; for, othervvays,
y^Chrift will never dilclaim them who have fled
' to Him in the fenfe of their Sin,and haunted Him
as their Refuge, in the fear of deferved Wrath,
and ftudied by Faith in Him to be furnilhed to
bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit,which He hath
promifed to them that abide in Him.
BOOK L t *8 9 ] CHAP. XI.
It is one thing to be Juftified before God, a-
nother thing to be reputed Righteous by Men,
and efteemed fo by a Man's own felf ; it is one
thing to be endued with the knowledge of Di-
vine Myfteries, another thing favingly to be-
lieve them,and have them written in their Heart;
it is one thing to teach others the way of Salva-
tion whereby the Hearers may be Saved, ano-
ther thing to apply Saving Doctrine to them*
felves> and make right life of it; it is one thing
to cleanfe the outer fide of the Plater, and reform
the Man's outward Carriage,another thing to be
inwardly renewed; it is one thing to teach Re-
pentance and Mortification of Lufts, another
thing by the Spirit of Chrift to mortifie in-bred
Pride ? and the Love of the World, vain Glory
and other carnal Lulls. The courfe which Paul
followed, is the only fafe way, though he was a
Man moft laborious in the work of the Lord,
yet he lived moft fenfible of his natural Corrup-
tion and the Body of Death ; he did not truft in
his Holy Life but in Jefus Chrift, Rom. 7. 24.25-.
lie fomadeufe of Faith in Chrift, as he did not
neglect the Means of Mortification of his fuiful
Nature, 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep under my Body ,and bring
it under fubjeclionjeft that ly any Means .when J have
preached to others, I my felfjhould be ,a Qajt-away.
The Fifth and laft ibrt of Self-deceivers, by
abfolving of themfelves without the Lords al-
lowance or approbation,are Temporizers, who/or
thtil'
BOOK I. [ i 9 o 1 CHAP. XI.
their temporary Believing,temporary Repenting,
temporary Motions of their Affcohons.and tem-
porary Amendment of their Manners, do ' feem
to themfelves and others alfo.true Believers.This
fort, however it be in fundry Cafes co-incident
with one or moe of the former Four Self-abfol-
vers, yet becaufe our Lord,in the [arable of the
Sower of Seed J Matth. 13, ii. and Luke 4. 17J
doth put a difference between the ftony Ground
and the other forts of Ground, we fhal! give it
a Room by it felf/ipecialiy becaufe ic may have
the own proper Confiderations.
Temporizers then, we call fuch, as upon tem-
porary Motives, from temporary Principles, for,
temporary Ends, do embrace the Word of the
Lord readily, but flightly,and do as readily and
lightly pafs from it upon temporary Motives, in
fpecial, when Persecution arifeth for the Word,
Mark. 4. 16. when they have heard the Word
immediatly they receive it with Glarlnefs^ni after-
ward when Afflidhon or Perfecution antes for
the Word's fake, immediatly they are offended.
Lightly they take up Truth delivered, and light-
ly do they pafs from it again;thcy have no root
in themfeves, or folid believing of the Truth,for
the Truth's Caufe; but what pleafeth others,pleaP
eth them, and what difpleafeth others, doth dif-
pleafe them,in the Matters of Religion ; the way
of God iet down in Scripture, when they hear if,
they can fay nothing againftit; yea, they think
it good to hear the Gofpel, and the largnefs of
Gods
BOOK I. [ 191 J CHAP. XL
God's Grace, and becaufe it fheweth unto them,
a pofliblity of their Salvation, they receive it
With a fort of natural Gladne(s,which fort of be-
living doth endure for a rime, to wit, fo long as
the way of others among whom they live and
the Laws of Country, and Profperity and good
Eftimation with others goeth along with the Pro-
feflion of the Truth received^but when the Wind
of another Dodtrine b!oweth,and doth carry with
it power to trouble and perfecute them who will
not receive it. by and by they are offended, and'
renounce the Truth controverted , becaufe it draw-
eth trouble wi tli the profeflion of it.-For.fuch Per-
fonsluppole, that Gain, Eafeand Appiaufe are
very Godlinefs. It is true, tomenme the true Be-
liever may be furprifed with afudden Tentation
to renounce the Profeflion of Trrith in fome point
for fear of Death, as Peter s Example cloth fliew
us; but true Faith recovered! tlrength,and arifeth
after a Fall, and endureth Perlecution for that
Truth, as temporary Belief doth not, but faileth
altogether: And the Temporizers Repentance
failleth alfo.becaufe it arifeth from natural Prin-
ciples,and is for natural Motives and Ends.Such
was the Repentance of Saul in weeping and jufti-
fying David for fparing his Life, 1 Sam. 2,7. 21.
Such was the Repentance of the carnal Israelites
PfaL 78. 36. and the humiliation of Ahah ; and
fuch is their Amendment of Life, all nothing but
temporary ,andwhich doth not continue as Hofea
(chap. 6. : <4.) ilicweth/ Ephraim, what (hall I
T 3 do
BOOK I. [ 291 ] CHAP. XI.
do unto thee} Judah ! what Jball I do untotheel
jor thy goodness is like the morning Cloud, and like
the early Dew that pajjeth foon away.
Neither is it any wonder,that unrenewed Men
may attain to fomething like unto Faith and Re-
pentance and outward Amendment of Manners,
if we confider that humane Writings find fo much
credit with Men as riCttobecalledinquefl:ion,but
believed to be true;for Experience tcftifieth, that
their Affections are moved fometime with De-
figpb and fometime with Indignation and Pity,
not only when they read Hiftorics,but alfo when
they read very Fables and fained Romances,
which they know to be fuch, and yet they can-
not command their AfFe&ions in reading of them:
May not then an unrenewed Man give as much
credit to Holy Scripture, and be affedted with the
Holy Hiftcry thereof, without any change made
of h:s perverfe Nature, the Wifdom whereof is
Enmity againfl: God, and cannot fubjed: it (elf
either to His Law or Gofpel? Secondly, if we
consider what the power of a natural Confcience
can work upon the Affe&ions, by jufl Accufa-
lions, or Excufations, for raifing Grief and Joy
therein, whereof not only Scripture, but alfo
Heathen Writters do bear witnefs, we need
not doubt, but the natural Confcience may
hare tfi'e lame power in a temporary Believer.
Third iy, if we con&der what the Precepts
of Moral Philcfophy lk-rh wrought upon the
Scholars of Socrates and Ariftetle, and other
Hea-
BOOK T. [ 293 ] CHAP. XI
Heathca Maflers, for the outward framing of
them unto feeming Vermes, we need notdoubt
what the Precepts of the Moral Law may work
upon a temporary Believer, for putting a luftre
on hisLife,as was to be found in fundry Thartfees
without Converfion and Renovation of the inner
Man toward God. Fourthly, if we confider what
Delight is found by Scholars in the Contempla-
tion of thefe things which Philofophy doth treat
o r , we maycafily perfwade ourfelves, that more
Delight may be had in Contemplation of what
Holy Scripture doth hold forth, without mak-
ing the Man a new Creature. But when unto
the natural Man's forefaid Teeming Perfections,
Knowledge of the Myfteries of Religion and the
Gifts of Preaching and Prophefying arefupperad-
ded, which are but movable Gifts, common
to renewed and unrenewed Men, and far
from being Saving Graces, what wonder the
natural Man and temporary Believer be puf-
fed up with a high eflimation of his own
worth and hope of being received by Chrift
the Judge, and yet be found at laft to have de-
ceived himfeif, and unwarrantably abfolved
himfelf by his own deluded Confc\ence,as Chrift
giverh warning, Matth. 7. 21.
Quejh But, what > can a temporary Believer
want coming up all the length that is now fpo-
ken of, and iuppofed to be endued with Co many
feeming good things, whereunto many Saved
Saints do not attain ?
T 4
BOOK I. [ 294 1 CHAP. XL
Anf. Every favcd Saint, is beaten out of Self-
eftimation, for any thing in himfelf, beaten out
of Confidence in any thing he doth or can do,
and is humbled in his Heart by the Law, the fpi-
ritual Perfection whereof being understood, kil-
leth his natural Pride, Rom. j. 9.
2. Every Saved Saint is chafed for Refuge to
fly to Chrift,to His Righteoufnefs and the Riches
of Grace holden forth in Him,and every Saved
i Saint is a new Creature, aiming more and more
I to follow the courfe of New Obedience,and draw-
ing Vertue from Chrift by Faith to pleafc God,
and worfhip Him in Spirit, Phil. 3. 3. So that
his purpofe and endeavour in feme meafure, is
Ijlit unto that of David, PfaL 71. 10. if, i<5»
&ying,I will hope continually, and I will praije Thee
more and more, my Mouth fhall fhew forth Thy Eigh-
teen feejs and Thy Salvation all the day; for I know
not the numhers thereof, I will walk in the Strength
of the Lord God J will make mention of Thy Right e-
oijnejs, even of Thine only. But the temporary Be-
, liever,reckoncth not for his Debt and Defervings
with the Law. he is not humbled in the fenfe of
his Sins and Sinfulnels, and Inability to fatisfie
the Law by himfelf, he hath not the root of Re-
pentance in him ; for immediatly upon the hear-
ing of the Gofpel, he receiveth the Word with
Joy,witl;ouc Godiy Sorrow for his Sins, Luk. 8.
13. The temporary Believer is ignorant of the
RtghteouhefsofGod by Faith in- Jefus Chrift,
and gocth about to eftablifh his own Righteouf-
BOOK I. [ 195 ] CHAP. XI.
nefs, upon the bottom of his own blamelefs
Convcr(ation,Privilcdges of the vifible Church,
common Gifts of the Spirit, and fuccefs with pro-
fperity; all \vhich,becaufe he is not Juftified by
Faith in Chrift, do not advance him above the
ftatc of the Workers of Iniquity, Matth. 7. 21.
22. 23.
The Symptoms and ordinary Signs of this Ma-
lady of unwarrantable Sclf-abfolution, are thele,
1. All of this lort,are well pleafed with their own
ways,they are not daily humbled in the fenfeof
fhort-comingin Duties, and chafed to Chrift's
Righteoufnefs, which may hid their nakednefs.
2. They are all fecure and fear no Wrath, buc
put the evil Day far from them. 3. They can-
not be induced to any accurat Examination of
their own Life, Ways, Condition or Eftate. If
any Man infinuat any fufpicion of Hypocrifie
inthem,or if their own Conscience begin to que-
flicn their Sincenty^hey cannot endure it. 4.AI-
beit they fay unto Chrift Lor J, Lord, yet they
make little life of His Office of Mediation, of
His Power,and Vertue for Jl!umination,Humili-
ation, Healing and Helping on to Salvation. 5-.
They look more to the feeming good things in
in themfdves for (irengthening their carnal Con-
fidence, than they take notice of the Evil of a
Body of Death inthemfelves to drive them to
Chrift, the only Deliverer from it. 6. Yea,they
all ferve fome Idol, lurking in their Heart, they
yield obedience to foni£ reigning Lull which
they
BOOK I. [ ^ 9 6 ] CHAP. XL
they will not forfake, for which caufcChrift fore-
tells, That He will declare them to be but Wor-
kers of Iniquity, Matth. 7. 23
ThcCaufes of this Evil, are, r. The Igno-
rance ofthe Law and the utter Inability, yea, A-
verfenefs of Nature to be fubjedt to it, the know-
ledge whereof might make Men live all their
days in a loathing of themfelves, and cut off
all hope of obtaining Righteoufnefs by the Law.
2.. The Ignorance of that dear bought Righte-
oufnefs of Chri(t,and of the Riches of His Grace,
offering to impute His Satisfaction to every Self-
condemned Sinner,who fhall fly toHim & accept
His Offer. 3. The Ignorance of the neceiiity
of the bringing forth the Fruits of Fa^th in Love,
and ftudy of new Obedience and San&ification,
by the Furniture of Chrift, without which no Man
fhall fee God. 4. The taking of a prefumptuous
dead Faith, in (lead of that true juilifying Faith
which layeth hold on Chrilt and worketh by
Love. The taking of a vain ground lefs Hope
for that lively Hope which purifieth both the
Heart and external Converfation alfo. 5. The
comparing of themfelves either with the worft fort
of vile Sinners, or with fuch as are like to them-
felves, or with the Saints in their groft Failings,
not judging themfelves according to the Law.
The ufe to be made of thisDo&;rine,isFirfl,to
ftir us up to take notice of that power of the Soul
called Conference, which God hath put in every
Man to obferve all the Man's Words, Deeds
and
BOOK I. [ 297 ] CHAR XI.
and Intentions, and to compare them with the
Law and Will of God, lo far as it is ihformed,
and to Accufe or Excufe, Condemn or Ablblve,
Smite or Comfort the Man as it findeth Caufe,
that we fuffcr not our own Confcience to flecp,
but fet it on work whilft it is time, that we
may know how all Matters do Hand between God
and us.
Secondly, That we inform the Confcience well
from die Scripture,not only concerning the Law
and Covenant of Works, whereby we may
know how guilty we are of manifold Sins, and
how impoffible it is for us to be juftified by our
Works, or to efcape Condemnation,butalfo con-
cerning the Gofpel and Covenant of gracious Re-
conciliation by Faith in Jefus Chrift,and concern-
ing the Covenant of Redemption, whereupon the
Covenant of Grace offered in Chrift is grounded. :
Thirdly, The we make due and orderly Ap-
plication of thefe Covenants, that the Confcience
may always be furmfhed with matter of Humi-
liation,and held on in theExercife of Repentance,
and not only keeped from Defperation, but aifo
may be furniflied with Grounds of good Hope
to be Saved, through the Grace of our Lord Je-
fus, who hath purchafed Remiflion of Sins and
Imputation of His Righteoufnefs, to every hujm-
bled Sinner flying to Him for Grace.
Fourthly , That being ingrafted in Chrift by
Faith, we, fey way of Thankfulnefs, ftudy in the
Furniture of His Spirit, to live IJolilyJuftly, and
So*
BOOK I. [ z 9 8 ] CHAP. XI.
Soberly;and that whatfocver meafure of Sancti-
fication we attain unto, wc beware to fall back
to that deadly Error of feeking Juftification
before God by our Works, whereunto we are
naturally inclined : For, upon this Rock the
flour and mod fhining Profeflbrs in Ifrael, after
the Flefli, made fhipwrak of their Salvation,/?^.
9. 32. Ifrael which followed after the Law ofR/gh-
teoufnefsjoath not attained unto the Law $f Righte-
ofnefs, wherefore becaufe they fought knot by Faith,
hut as it were hy the Works of the Law. And, Rom. 1 o.
3. For they being ignor ant of God s Right eou/nefs, and
going about to ejlablifh thetr own Righteoiifnefsjjave
not Jubmited themf elves to the Right eoufnefs of God.
Unto this Error of feeking Righteoufnds by our
Works, after entering in the way of Juitiftcatioii
by Grace,we are all naturally inclined; for, the
Covenant of Works is fo engraven in all Adam's
Children, Do this and live, that hardly can we
renounce this way of Juftification, and howfoever
it be impoffible to attain Righteoufnefs this way,
yet hardly can we fubmit our felves to the Righ-
teoufnefs by Faith in Chrift, which not only the
Experience of Ifrael after the Flefli maketh rnani-
feft,but alio the Experience of the Galatiam "lets
us fee ; for,they having once outwardly renoun-
ced Juftification by Works, and embraced the
Covenant of gracions Reconciliation by Faith
injefus.did turn about for a time,to feek Juftifi-
cation by the Works oftheLaw,and were on the
way of falling from Grace and Communion with
Chrift
BOOK I. [ 299 1 CHAP. XI.
Chrift. And the Experience of Papifts doth fhew
the fame; for, whatfoever'they profefs concern-
ing Faith m Chrift, yet they abhor Juftification
by Chrift's imputed Righteoufnefs, and do blas-
pheme that way as a meer conceit of Men, and
a pautatitious or only imaginary Righteoufc
hefe, and do feek to eftablifh their own Righ-
"teoufnefs,and to be juftified,not only before Men
but alfo before God, by the Merits of their
own and other Men's Works and Sufferings; the
Imputation whereof they can fell for Money, in
the midft of their Blafpheming the imputation of
ChriftsRighteoufnefs.Whatcan befaid for aThief
condemned to die for his Faults, and redeemed
by a potent Man,upon condition that he fhould
be the donieftick Servant of the Redemer, to
work his work all his Life- time, and live upon
his Allowance, and fo never be neceflitated to
fteal any more ? if the ranfomed Thief fhould
after fteal his Maflers Goods and make himfelf
a flock purfe whereupon he thought he might
live, & loofe himfelf from his Redeemer's Grace,
and live upon his own finding, were he not wor-
thy, upon the finding out of his Thifts and other
Faults, to be left in the Hands of Juftice, to die
according to his defervings? And what coukl
be faid for a Tenent,labouring a parcel of Ground
of his Landf-lords for a yearly Farm-duty ,by his
own mifcarriage falling to beggary, if he fhould
be taken unto the free Table of his Landf-lord,
and
BOOKT. f 300 ] CHAP. XL
and trufted with the fame parcel of Ground to
be laboured for his Mailer's ufe, if he fliould in-
terrertthe Fruits of thatGround,and being weary
of his Mafter's Bounty and Grace, fliould feck
to be frcd of his Mafter's Service, and to labour
the ground for himfelf, for payment of Rent?
if upon die finding out of his Thift, and not pay-
ment of his Rent, he fliould be caft in Prifon,
did he not defer ve tb be dealt with according to
Juflice, who would not live by Grace* So may
be faid of the Man, who fliall turn from juftifi-
cation by free Grace!, to feek Juftification by his
Works.
The Fifth and Lafl Ufe of this Do&rine is f
That to the intent we may not Abfolveour felves
without God's Allowance, we ftudy tb make
our Calling and Election fure, by endeavouring
to walk in the fenfe of our Unworthinefs and 111—
defervings, and renouncing all confidence in any
thing without Chrift, to rely on Him for Righ-
teoufnefs and Life-eterna], and by Faith in Him
draw Spirit and Life from Him, for furnifliing
us unto new Obedience : For he is the Jullified
Man, approven of God, who hath no confidence in
the Flefi?, and rejoiceth in Jefus Chrifi, and wor-
fbippeth Sod in the Spirit. Philip. 3. 3.
THE
[ 3<* I
... ■.
':
THE
SECOND BOOK
CHAP, t
OfConfideratiom to he premifed.
HITHERTO thcSicknefTes of the Con-
fcience of the Unregenerat Man are fpo-
kento, and this was needful, to the
end, that we might fhcw how Regene-
ration is either altogether kept off, or hindred
from growing where it is begun. And becaufe
many of thefe Sicknefles, which deftroy many
of the Sons of Adam, cleave to the Regenerat
Man, and though they do not reign, nor altoge-
ther prevail over him, yet do moleft and vex himj
and hinder his comfortable walking toward his
everlafting Bleflednefs. Now we come to fpeak,
Firft, in this Book, of thefe Cafes of the Confci-
ence of theManRcgenerat,whichdo brangle,and
bring in queliion his ftate in Grace,and make him
doubt whether he be a Man tranflated out of the
ftate of Nature, out of the Kingdom of Satan, or
not. And Next, of thefe Cafes that concern his
Condition in the ftate of Grace in the following
Bopk,
As
BOOK II. [ 301 V CHAP. I
As to the firft fort of Cafes, which concern
the Regenerat Man's ftate, fome Confiderations
muft be premifed, for making Particulars after-
wards more clear.
i. In the Queftion of this, or that Man's Re-
generation, or his being in the ftate of Grace, it
is all one to queftion whether he be Born again,
or be effectually Called, or endued with laving
Faith, or be a Juftified Man,or be Reconciled to
God, or be an Adopted Child? AndintheAnfwer
of this Queftion, let it be proven, that he is any
of thefe, and it is proven alfo, that he is all thefe :
For albeit thefe Denominations, in their formal
Conceptions in the abftra£t,may bediftinguihed,
yet upon the Matter in the conceit they fail upon
the fame individual Perfbn altogether, becaufe
it is impoffible to prove a Man to be Regenerat,
but he mult be proven alfo a true Believer in
Chrift, a Man Reconciled to God, a Man jufti-
fied, and an Adopted Child.
2. It is neceflary therefore, for proving a Man
tabe Regenerat, to know the right Delcription
of the Regenerat Man,whichis given by the A-
poftle, Phil. 3. 3. We are the Circumcifion, which
worjhip God in the Spirit, and re Joyce in Jefis Chrift,
and have no confidence in the Fie fh. Wherein the
Apoftle holdeth forth the truly Regenerat circum-
cifed in Heart. 1. He is not Sinlefs; but fofen-
fible of his Sinfulnefs, as he hath no confidence in
himfclf, nor any thing elfe in himfelf. 2. He is
not free of Accufations or Teneations and Doubts,
BOOK II. [ 303 ] CHAR I
but he flyeth toChrift for Righteoufnefs. 3.
He is not an idle and unfruitful Branch, but a
Worlhiper of God in Spirit and Truth. 1. He is
burdened with Sin. 2. He cometh toChrift for
Relief. 3. HeputsonChrifts Yoke, Matth. ir.
z8, 29. If a Man have thele three Properties
jointly in him, he is a Regenerat Man, and
may defend his Intereft fin the ftate of Grace)
and Right to Righteoufnefs and eternal Life
through Jefus Chrift.
3. Divine Operations and Saving Graces which
accompany Salvation, fuch as are Faith, Repen-
tance unto Life, Hope, Chriftian Love to God
and Men for God's Caufe,erfeduai Vocation Ju-
ftification, Reconciliation, Adoption go together
in time by God's Gift, but one of them goeth
before another in order of Nature ; for, effe-
ctual Calling gocth before Fa:th, and Faith go-
eth before Hope, and before Charity or Love.
Again, thele Graces which are given to the Re-
deemed Child of God jointly, in refped of time,
do not ihew themfelves in their evidence alike
* fbonin time, nor do they equally manifeft them-
felves when they do appear in time. And (b the
Evidences of Repentance may be difcerned in
not a fe\v Converts; before Faith in Chrift do
fhew it felf in them clearly. So alio Love to
God and His Saints oft-times may be difcerned
t in a Regenerat Man, before he himfeif dare af-
firm any thing of his Faith in Chrift.
t7 4. Al-
BOOK II. [ 504 ] CHAP. I
4. Albeit there be many RegeneratPerfons,w ho
for the prefent time cannot perceive in themfelvcs
any undoubted Signs of their Converfion ; yet it
is certain alio that there be many, who,to their
own unfpeakable comfort,are allured of their Re-
generation, and that they are tranflated from
Death to Life, and that they have received the
Spirit of Adoption, and Earneft of eternal Life,as
is pointed out in the Experience of the Epbefijws,
Chap. 1. 14. And this is certain alfo.that all who
are fled to Chrilt for refuge. iliould by all I /leans
labour to make their Calling and Election clear,
and certain tothemielves, 1 Pet. 1. 10. And to
this purpofe wc are commanded ta examine our
felves, and try whether we be in the Faith or
riot,whcther Chrift by His Spirit be in us or not,
2, Cor. 13. 5. For otherwife, except a Convert
know certainly the Bleilediiefs of his own State,
and that he ftandeth in Grace and Favour with
God, it is not poflible for him to give Hearty
Thanks to God for the change of his State, from
being an Enemy, to be made a reconciled Subject
and Child of God. It is not podible for him to
rejoyce in the Lord, or let chearfully himfelf to
lerveGod, or comfortably call on God, as a Fa-
ther to him in Chrift : Wherefore, all who in
the fenieof their Sins and fear ofdeferved Wrath
are fled for Refuge unco Chrift, ihould deal by
Prayer earneftly with God, that He would gra-
cioufly grant unto them His Spirit, by whole o-
perauonin them, they may kno.v the Saving
Grace*
BOOK II. [ 30H CHAR I
Graces which He hath freely beftovved upon them
of which Gift of the Holy Spirit the Apoftledoth
{peak, i Cor. z. n.
5-. The knowledge of a Man's own Regene-
ration, hath many degrees of clearnefs and af-
furance, by reafon of the variety of Conditions
wherein a Man truely Converted may be: For,
rriany Doubts may rife in the Man Regenerat,
which may darken his fight, and hinder the af-
furancc ofSaving»Grace granted unto him, where-
of fundry Caufes maybe found, and in fpecial
thefe Four among others. 1. In a Man illume
hat and renewed by the Holy Shirit,there remains
a great deal of Ignorance, much doubting mixed
with Faith, by reafon of unskilfulnefs of the Con-
vert to examine and difcern this blefled change
made in him, where through that cometh to pafs
in many young Converts, which will be {ben in
Infants, who have a Soul indeed, but do not
know or perceive that they have a Soul till they
come to fome Years of Defcretion ; yea, many
found Chriftians, are oft-times at a (land a-
bout their Regeneration, and know 7 not what
to make of their Faith or Repentance, efpe-
cially when they feel the power of the Body
of Death, the ftrength of natural Corruption
ih themfelves, and great indifpofition for any
fpiritual exercife ; they are forced with ths
Apoftle to cry, Mifer able Man that I am, who
Jhall deliver me ? Rom. 7. 24. mean time
for weaknefe of their Faith, they arc not
U x able
BOOK. IF. [ 305 1 CHAP, h
able at the firffc to wrelVea ^ainfldifcouragement,
and to come up unto the Apoftle's thanking God
through Chritt 1. By the Tentation of Satan
oft times the Perfwafion of Holy Men isdarkned,
fo as chey cannot fee the Evidences of their own
Regeneration clearly : For,£atan fets himfelf to
vex the Saints who are delivered from his king-
dom and bonds, whom albeit he know that he
cannot deftroy them; yet he will not ccafe to
trouble them, that at lead he may make them
lome way unfit for God's Service,and marr their
cheerfulnefsin His Service ; and becaufe he fear-
eth harm from them unto his kingdom, by their
dealing with the Unconverted to repent their Sins,
and to turn unto God, therefore he finds them
work at home in their own Bofom, and puts
them to defend themfelves, and to forbear to
invade hisfubje&s, till they befetled themfelves.
3. Oft-times the Lord is offended by the Sins of
the Regenerat, and fpecially by their grois Tranl-
greflions, for which His Spirit being grieved,
doth for a time ceafe from comforting them, and
doth not bear wltnefs with their Spirits that they
arc the Children of God, as He hath formerly ufed
to do. 4. Oft-times the Lord by differing Doubts
to arife in their Hearts, uleth to try and exer-
cife the Faith of His Children, and thereby to
ftir them up to the purfuiugof the Duties of
Piety and Righteoufhefs more vigorously and
fincerely, that after victory obtained over thefe
TentationSjthey may be more confirmed in their
Faith,and more diligent in His Obedience. 6 It
BOOK H. [ 307 ] CHART.
6. It may com? to pa s, that while the true
Convert doth molt doubt of his own Regenera-
tion, that the work of God's Tpecial Grace may
be obferved m him, and clearly feen by others
more experienced in the ways of God, and en-
dued with the Spirit of Difcretion. The realbn
whereof is, becaufe howfoever the weak Con-
vert, and Child of Light, walking in darknefe
of Tentation and Delation, cannot difcern his
own blefled State, yet there may appear, and be
perceived in him fuch Signs and undoubted Evi-
dences of Saving Grace, that the prudent be-
holder of him under his fad Exercife, may in
the judgment of Difcretion and Chanty, declare
his Rightcoufnefs,and him for his ftate to be in
Grace and Favour with God. In thefe two
Difci pies going loEmam, Luk. 24. Saving Faith
was not extinguiflied, albeit they were driven
to fulpedfc themfelves to have been miftaken,
when they once believed that Chrift was the
promifed Saviour ; for, in that fame time,there
appeared in them evidentTokens of their unfained
Love to ChrifbFor, while they are troubled With
fufpicion of their being miftaken about Chrift,
they are very fad and forrowful,and wercregrat-
ing the Sufferings of Chrift, and were gather-
ing what Arguments they could for fupporting
their Faith,whereby their dying Faith might be
fupported by Conference about this Matter,
laying forth their Doubts and Tentations one
to another.
U 3 The
BOOK ft [ 308 ] CHART.
7 .The precife time of begun Regeneration's not
always obferved nor known, either by the Rege-
nerat Man himfelf or by Beholders of his way,
as Experience maketh evident in many,who from
their Infancy are brought up in the Exercifes of
true Religion, in whole Converfion no notable
change can be obferved. In thofe the words of
Chrift in part are verified, The Kingdom of Hea-
ven cometh not with obfervation. Such Perfons
when they begin to examine them{elves,whether
they be Regenerat, whether they be in Chrift,
and at what timcthey were Converted,they can
neither determinatly condefceiid upon thp time
of their Converfion, nor can they confidently
fpeak of their Converfion, till after fundry Trials
and Experiences they can gather Proofs of their
Sincerity from fuch Signs, Effects and Marks,of
the Work of Saving Grace in them, as may prove
that Chriithath dwelt in them of before.
8. Aibeit Regeneration be of the fame kind,
fpece and definition, in all the Regenerat, yet iz
doth admit fundry accidental Differences, when
the Converfion of fuch and fuch Perfons is com-
pared ; For,{ome do not flay long in the ftraits of
Regeneration, or New-birth, but within a fliort
f pace of time they are both wounded and heal-
ed, are both caftendown and raifed up again, are
both flain by the Law and quickened by the Go-
(pel : Of this fort we have a pad Proof in fo.me
thcufand Converts, Jti. x. who by one Sermon
pr two were Converted to the Faith pf Chrift,
BOOK IT. [ 309 ] CHAP. I.
and FellowJhip with the Church. On the other
Hand Experience of many doth lhew,they have
been under the Spirit of Bondage along time,bc-
forethey could receive the Confolations of the
Gofpel, Heb. z. if. Some in the beginning of
their Converfion are handled very tenderly, and
afterward fall in hard Exercifes of Mind, as we
may fee in David, who in his youth, while he
was keeping hi s Fathers Sheep, did pafs the time
m holy Songs, and playing on his Harp, but
afterward he was more iharply exercifed, and
much afHi&ed frome time to time with the fenfe
of Divine Wrath. Some in forrow and much
weeping do follow Chnft, and ftudy to promove
His Kingdom : Such a one was Timothy, whom
the ApoUie exhorteth to admit a larger meafure
of Confolation allowed unto him by the Lord,
that he might be the more cheerful and coura-
gious in the Warfare vvhercunto he was called,
x Tim. 1. 4. Another of this fore was Hemanxhz
Ezratte who (Pfai. 83.) declareth that from his
youth up he was fo keeped under Terror, as
he was ready to die under difcouragment. And
in the experience of this holy Man, we have a
Proof of what was holden forth in the preceed-
ing Confideration, to wit, that Regeneration
may be begun in a Man, and weli promoved
before either himfelf or others can welidifccrn it:
For, of them who are keeped under the Law and
Spirit of Bondage, it is hard determinate to
jucge
BOOK II. [ 310 ] CHAP. i.
judge, before Faith in Chrifl begin to appear in
them, whether their Exercife be the fpecial work
of the Holy Spirit of Regeneration, or not : For
as it may come topafs.that the Spirit of Fear and
Bondage may for a time work, and go no further
than to Convid: a Man, and not go on to Con-
vert him; fo alfo it may come to pafs, that there
be fome wreftling of Faith lying under-footin
the midft of Terrors, not perceived for a while;
of which wrcftling none can well give out Sen-
tence,that it is a wrcftling of Saving Faith,before
Faith get fome vi&ory over Tentations, and
break forth in fome evident effects. In which
cafe it is very needful warily and circumfpe&ly
to apply the Do&rine of the Gofpel,fo as the af-
fiided Soul may be fupported with hopes of a
gracious:Qut-gate ; for, the work of the Law
humbling the Sinner, is a fair Call to come to
Chrift, and a Meflenger fent by Chrift to bring
him up, Gal. 3. 24.
9. Aibeicthe Regencrat Man, inrefped: of the
ftate of his Perfon, by ftaading in Grace and Fa-
vour with God,f.xeti and unmovable as the Apo-
ftle doth fliew u$,Row. 5-. i 5 i, 3. partly, becaufe
the love' of God' manifeftcd to the Believer in
Chrift is unchangeable; and partly, becaufe the
Covenant cf Grace through Chrift is an everla-
fling Covenant, Ifa. 55. 3. and partly, becaufe
the Saving Gifts and Calling of God are fuch,as
God will never repent Him to have beftowed
fhem, Rom. 11/29. yet in refpedofhis con-
di-
BOOK. II. [ 3T1 ] CHAP. i.
dicion, the Regcncrat Man is fubjcd: to many
changes in his Life and ConverfatiOn,in the Dip-
pofition of his Mind and Affcclions, and in the
excrcife of his gracious Habitcs, and in the fenfe
and obfervation of the Grace of God in him, and
Favour of God toward him : For, it may come
to pa(s,yca,and oft-times dotli come to pafs, that
Men who are Regenerated in the date of Grace,
which is a notable good {Tate, may be in a very
evil condition, in a miferable and deplorable difc
pofition of Heart, as befel the Church of Epbe-
fus, Sardis and Laodicea. And it may be alio,
that Rcgenerat Ferfons after their Confciences
are wakened, and they do perceive ths miferalxe
and finful condition of their Aifeclions and Con-
verfation, that no fmall Doubts arife in their
Hearts, whether their flate in Grace be real or not,
which Doubts will evani(h,when after the renew-
ing of their Repentance, their condition is chang-
ed to the better : For, Chrift pre-occupieth this
TentationXpeaking to the Church of Sardis and
Laodicea, counlelJing them to ftrengthen the
thing that remaincth, which was ready todye,and
not to doubt of His Love toward them, Revel,
z, and 3.
ic. Thefe Tentations whereby the Regenerat
Man is troubled,and tempted to doubt whether
he be m the (late of Grace,fhouldbediftinguifhed
and difecrned trom aftual Doubting: For, there
may be a Temptation unto Doubting without
a yielding unto the Temptation.as we fee in drift
our
BOOK II. [ 3 i* ] chap. r;j
our Lord, whom the Devil durft tempt to doubt (
whether He was the Son of God, but His Holy
Heart could not admit fueh a Temptation. And
the Apoftie ( Eph. 6. ir, 12, &c. ) doth warn
the Saints, that our Ad verfary Satan ufeth to
throw fiery Darts at th^ Children of God ;
which firy and poifonable Darts, the Regenerat
Man fhould not meddle with nor finger them,
but by the fhield of Faith, with all (peed,quench
and excinguifli them. But when a probable
Reafon is joined with the Temptation, and the
Temptation doth appear to be very reasonable,
and when there is a Fear, that the Tentation fhall
be yielded unto, except the Scruple be removed,
then let the Temptation be examined and brought
to the form of Reafon or Sylogifm, that the
flrength of it being tried to be null, it maybe
rejected; or let the Temptation be communica-
ted to a prudent Friend or Paftor, who may dis-
cover the Sophiftry of thcTemptation; for,if the
Temptation fhall be flighted and not difcufled,
albeit it lye quiet for a time, yet it will return
again and raife more trouble and vexation to the
Confcienee, then it did before.
11. lnanfwering of Doubts and Temptations
tending to weaken Faith, it is needful to obferve
and flic w an ufual Stratagem of Satan, whereby
he doth multiply and heap together a number of
Doubts ; and after he hath fuggefted on doubt,
prefently doth iuggeft on the back of that ano-
ther, aad after that, another,\ybereby he marreth
?he
BOOK I. [ 3H 1 CHAR r.
the anfwcring of the firft Doubtrwhich from the
Word of God, either immediatlv, or by tome
faithful Friend or Minifter, is offered for Solu-
tion thereof. By this Mean, Sacan endeavours tha;
the mind of the affli&ed Perfon may, at one
time, both be turned off from taking notice of
the Anfwer offered, and be taken up wholly
with the confideration of the new fugge fled Doubt,
fo that the Anfwer to the new Doubt hath no
place, becaufe the affli&ed Party doth not take
heed thereto. In this cafe, both the Party aP-
Aided, and the Party offering Confolation,muft
hold to the firft Doubt, and not fuffer any other
new Doubt to have place, till afatisfa&ory An-
fwer be given to the firft Doubt, and after that
let every Objection, moved by the Party afrli&ed,
be anfwered one after another in order.
i*. Seing ever}' Doubt, whereby the Regene-
rat Performs troubled, doth tend either to weaken
Faith in Chrift.or to hinder the bringing forth of
the Fruits of Faith, let no Anfwer to any Doubt
of this kind be efteemed fufficicnt, except it
lead the afflidted Perfon unto Chrffi, teaching
him to humble himfelf before God ; and being
brought low in his own Eyes, to lay hold by
Faith on Jefus Chrift the only Redeemer, and
Relief from Sin and Mifery ; and after laying
hold on the Phyfician, to requeft for the
Remedy of that Evil, which hath moved and
given ftrength to the Doubt ; For, Chrift
is
BOOK II. [ 3 i 4 j CHAP. I.
is the End both of the Law and of every fpirituaf
Exercifc.-For, the enjoying of fuch and Such mo-
ral Duties,whercby un-skiiful Pfrj ficians uictoo-
ver-chargedifea(edConfciences,co!nmanouig the
afflicted Party in die firfl p!ncc to go about fuch
and fuch Duties, and the gxemfe of fuch and
fuch Vertues, as may remove the Evil which
gave ground to the Doubt, can never avail the
difeafed Perfbn,exccpt he be led firfl: unto Chrift
forRemiffion of Sin andAcceptation of his Pcrfon,
that in Him Power to do thefe Duties may be
obtained, and by His Spirit moral Precepts may
be quickened: For,if thefe Precepts be prefled u-
pon the difeafed without Chrift, they can do no
more but detain the affli&ed in Self-confidence,
and make htm hope in vain, that he may,or can
by his own work over-come the Evil felt in him,
or that he can by himfelf, attain to that Good
which he conceiveth neceflar for loofing of his
Doubt;but let him go ro Chrift for Remiffion of
Sin, and then for Strength to go about the Duty.
1 3. Becauie almoft in all Coles of Confcience
which pertain to the Itate of theRcgenerat Man,
fome Grace or Chrifrian Vertue is pitched upon
3nd called in quefiion, whether it be in him or
not.heed muft be taken that E\ angelick Graces,
Vertues or Actions, be not weighted in the Bal-
lance of the Mora! Law and Covenant of Works,
wherein nothing hath weight which cometh
fhort of abfolute Perfection of perfonal Obedi-
ence; foria the ftricl judgment of God and the
Con*
SOOKII. [3*H CHART.
3onfcience,according co the law of work^no mccr
Man,nor any A&ion of Man cm ftand, Pf i^oi
2. for, there are fo many Imperfection andBle-
miflies i.i the Saints and theirbeft Works, being
compared with die perfect Rule of Righteoufncfs
by the Law, that whatfoever luftre or appear-
ance of good may be in a Work, it is blecked?
and made to hide it's Face before the Law : Bur,
let the tender Buds of new Obedience and Fruits
of Faith, be examined by the Grace of the Gofpel,
which judgeth of the begun Obedience of the
Believer in Chrift, according to the Sincerity and
Uprightnefs of the Man aiming at Conformity
to the Law, howfhort (bevcrhe come of his aim,
and of the fpiritual Perfcdion of the Law, and
it will be taken for new Obedience. It is true,
the Evangel requireth, that a Man fled to Chrift
for Juftification,and reconciled to God by Faith in
Chrift, fhould fet himfelfto work the works pre-
fcribed in the moral Law, for the Glory of God,
and fhould aim: at the exafi: Obedience of all the
Commands ; yet, the Gospel doth notrej^ft a,
good work for the Defers, Imperfefhons and
Blemiftics thereof, but accepterh and taketh in
good part the firft Fruits and Buds of new Obe-
dience, and doth fofter the tender and fmall Be-
ginnings,that they may grow and increafe. And
the reafonis, becaufe the Gofpel doth not teach
ustofcek the Juftifeanon oFour Perfons before
God by Works, but by Faith in Chdft, and then
teachethus to ieek the Judication of our Faith
be-
BOOK II. I 31(f) CHAR
before Men in our own and others Confcience,
by the fincere endeavour of new Obedience,
And therefore,
14 While we are about the cure of the Wounds
of the Confcience, and ftrengthening of Faith,
we muft on the one hand take heedjeft we fofter
preemption, and hinder either the Excrcife of
Repentance, or doing Diligence in following Du-
ties ; For,Chriftiari Graces do not impede, but
help and ftrengtheti one another, if they be real
and kindly ,becaufe they mud flow from the fame
Fountain of the Spirit of San&ification, and do
run toward the fame end, which is the Glory of
God: and on the other hand, wemuft take heed
lelt we prefs the Exercife of Repentance,as it \tere,
out of ourownStrength,or the pra&ice of Duties,
fo as we hinder the Exercife of Faith in Chrift,Who
is that exalted Prince to give Repentance,and is
the Author and Finifher of Faith. Let us focry
up the imputed Righteoufnefs of Chrift, that we
negled: not to prefs the Regenerat Man (freely
justified by Grace) to bring forth the Fruits of
faith, and to follbw hard after the growth of
Sandtification, without which no Man {hall fee
the Face of God; and let us fo extol the Cove-
nant of Grace and Freedom of the Believer from
the Covenant of W r orks, that we negledt not
to keep up the Authority of the Moral Law
and the Commands thereof, as the perpetual
Rule of new Obedience, the ufe whereof is
very profitable ; in the whole Courfe of a
Qui-
BOOK II. [ 317 1 CHAP, t;
Chriftian Life, to hold forth the Duty of De-
livers in Chrift, and to fhew unto diem by their
fliort-coming in Duties, the Poifon and Power
of Corruption remaining in the Saints, and to
make them fenfible of the neceflity of flying dai-
ly to that imputed Righteoufnefs by Faith irt
Chrift, and of drawing Strength from Chrift
to bring forth more abundant Fruits, where-
by Chrift fhall be more and more precious in
our Eyes and be acknowledged abfolutly ne-
ceflar for our Juftification, San&ification and
Salvation.
1 j. When queflion is made concerning Chri-
ftian Vermes andOperations of the holy Spirit in
us, the order of God's working held forth to
us in Scripture, is carefully to be marked by us;
which is, that fenfeof Sin fhould go before Faith
in Chrift: ; for, the Law is a Pedagogue to Chrift,
for, He came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners
to Repentance, Matth. 9. 13. And Faith in Chrift
goeth before the Fruits of Faith, and the Fruits
of Faith before the fenfible Approbation of them,
and Approbation of the Fruits by Scripture goeth
before the fenfible Sealing of the Believer, and
the quieting of the Confcicnce in its Approbation
of what the Scripture appro vcth ; for afcer we
have Believed, we come to be Sealed, Eptief.
1. 13. Now, for the not obierving this order,
many real Chriftiansdo make unto themfeivesa
very uncomfortable Life : for,albeitthey be con-
vinced of Sin,& humbled in thefenfe of their own
In-
BOOK II. [ 318 ] CHAP. I.
Inability to help themfelves, and are fled to
Chrift for Pardon and Help, and do lead a Life
b!amelefs,yet do they unhappily fufpend the ac- ,'
knowledgirgoftheWorkof Faith beftowed upon
them, and do diiquier themfelves, io as they can-
not reft on Chrift, but do quarrel the Reality of
their Faith, nil they lhall feel and perceive, with
Approbation of their Confcience, fuch and fuch
Fruits ofFaith in themfelves,& that in fuch a rrieaf-
fureasthey have fore-imagined to be the neceilar
Evidences of Faith ; yea, and they refufe to ac-
count themfelves Peribns juftiried, becaufc they
cannot perceive fuch mature Fruits in themfelves,
as they conceive muft not only be, but be ac-
knowledged a! fo to be, in the juftified Perfon,
before he can lay hold on Juftiikation. Such
Perfons do, in eife&dnvert the order which they
jhould obferve; for, when it were their part to fly
unt6 Chrift the only Mediator ,becaufe they come
fhort of new Obedience, and becaufe they ate
leaden with Sin, that in Sift they might have
God reconciled to them, and by His Spirit,
pouring in of His Grace in their Souls, to
make them more Holy, they take another and
contrary courfe, by fufpending their Faith upon
their Works, and do exacT: of themfelves Works
before Faith, and fo do weaken their own Faith,
and hinder it to bring forth fuch Fruits as they
do require. It is reafon indeed, to prove our
Faith by our Works, and it is juft, that fuch a
Faich be accounted dead, which is not accompa-
nv-
BOOK II. [ 319 ] CHAP. I.
nicd with thepurpofc & endeavour to live hoi Iv,
juttly,& fobcrly;butitisagainft all Rea(r>fi & E-
quity to condemn weak Faith accompanied with
the purpofeof a ncwLifc^s if it were noF;iich.be-
caufeic hath not as yet brought for thfo fair 8c ful-
ly" ripeFruits as the weak believer would It were
their wifdom,when they perceive fuch imporency
to do what is good, & fuchftrcngth ofthcBody of
Death in them, to fly unto thcRedeemcr (o much
the more, and inHim to feekRemiffion of Sin.and
Strength to bring forth goodFruits,and to befucfc-
ing Juice andSap out of Him, as the trueVine;For
if we come to Him & abide inHim. wc fltal b i nig
forth muchFruit J0/.M 5- 4. $. For,Faith inChrifhin
order ofNature goeth before good Works;for only
they who come to Chrift and abide in H m, do
bring forth aboundant Fruit.and notthey, who
upon the apprehenfion of their want of fruits do
loofe or flacken their grip of Faith .& »pon difcou.
ragmentarc ready to depart from the living God.
16. The like Wifdom is required in dealing
With the Conferences of Men coticcrninglhe pre-
paratory Difpofitions of fuch as may confidently
come untoChriftto bejuftified, £a*u3ified 2nd
Saved; for albeit it be true that all that come ro
Chrift, ought to come in the fenfe of riictr 5m
and acknowledgement of Wrath $nd Death de-
ferred for their S1HS5 ought to corns with Con/
trition of Heart, with godlySorrow for their Sid,
and a humble Renunciation of &\\ Corxfid^ndHnl
jfhemfelYes; yet mult not fuchperfonsas do ntii
x a
BOOKIL [ 310 ] CHAP.l
fatisfis thcmfclveainthc meafure or finccrity of
inch preparatory Difpofitions it* thcmfelves, be
kfeped bzck or debarred (torn coming toCh rift,
becaufs they not only want, as they conceive. both
thcHumiiiation & fdrrow of //cart for Sin, & fear
ofwrath required in fuch asha vc accefs urttoChrift;
but alf* do perceive in themfcl ves fuch 2?!indnefs
of Min-d& vanity thereof, fuch ftupidity ofCon-
fcience & fluhborn&fs of a proud heart as is not fit
fas they conceivejtobe received byChrift.Orfir to
be comforted by bxmjfuchPctfonS I fay arc not to
be forthwith debarred from coming torhcThronc
of Grace; for oft times Sincerity of Conviction,
Compunction, andHumiliation is to be found in
fufji as arc difpleafed with their own shortcoming
ioiuch preparatoryDifpofition$,more than in ma-
ny others who make a fairer (how and profcflSon
©f their godly Sorrow and Humiliation, and arc
well pleaujd with thcmfelves in that refper%
We mud bewary alfo while we require Sorrow
and HuraiUation,atfd other like prcparatOryDiC-
pofitioiis in them who may come unto Chtift,
left wefccrerly import find .infmuate a forr. of
Merit to be in fuch Difpofitions, fo as if he that
ck>r& net pared ye himfelf.thus qualified, could
ixpe& no good at Cbtifl's Hands, except he
have in his Hand fuch preparatory Difpofitions
as if it were a Price . of purchafing ^ddrels to
Chriil. Buries; us bold rhisfaft, that the more
poor and empty a Man be in his o wo Eyes, he
he to draw the more near unto the Riches
of
BOOK II. [ 311 ] CHAP. L
of Grace in Chrift, becaufe in Him only arc to
be found all the Treafuresof every Saving Grace
and preparatory Difpofitions for receiving there-
of ; He is that exalted Prince Who giveth Repen-
tance unto Iftael, Aft. 5. 31. He is the Author
and Finftier of Faith, unto Whom all they who in
thefenfe of their want of Repentance and Faith,
do figh m themfelves, ought arid fafcly may
comc,that they may have from Him a more am-
ple meafure of Faith and Repentance. Neither
need we in this cafe be feared, left any iuch
Perfon go, or be fent toofoon unto Chrift, and
that the Teacher of this Do<Srinc be found to
fofter Prefumption, and to offer untimous Con-
folation ; for, it is one thing to di>ed:a Man to
go to Chrift, for fupply of vvhatfoever good is
wanting in him, and another thing towarranda
f^cureSinner to lay hold on theConfolations
of the Gofpel, wliich God hath referved in
His own Hatid, to be difpenfed indue time
and order, to the truely humble Penitent.
The ' Lord knoweth how to deal with fuch
as come unto Him ; He can hold an imhum-
bled Supplicant Praying and Knocking at
Heaven's Door, without giving him a com-
fortable Anfvver until he be humbled, and (6
prepare him by Humiliation for Coiifolation
in due time.
True it is, that many draw near to Chrift with
their Lips while their Hearts are far away, and re-
X 2 main
BOOK II. [ ux ] CHAP. I.
main fenfelefsof their evil Eftate and Condition,
and are far from the earneft defire of the Reme-
dy which is to be had in Chnft : And therefore
it is, not without caafe, that Paftors in their
Sermons require the fight and fenfeofSin, and
hunger and third forRighteoufiiefs in them who
come to Chrift, and defire to profit by their
coming to Him : For, albeit it be free to God,
Without antecedent preparatory Exerciles, to fall
in upon Mans Heart fuddenly, and at one Ser-
mon both convince him of Sin, and lead him in
to Chnft, as he huh fome time dealt with a
Multitude, when Peter was preaching, A'Cl. z.
yet it is not free for Men to neglect their Duties,
when they are advertiEed that the order of GoUs
working ordinarily, is, to take a time for in-
formation of their Mind concerning their natural
Mifery, and His gracious way of Delivery, and
for a time to work on their Hearts by the Law,
before He give them the felt Fruits of the GofpeL
Mean time this muft be remembred, that no
Man, difpleafed with his Difpofition, as not fit-
ted for Mercy,and who doth regrate that he is a
itupid Sinner,and fo hard-hearted that he cannot
repent, Ihould be keeped off, and debarred from
going to Chrift, till he difcern in himfelf the
Contrition and Humiliation of Heart which he
would have : For this were as much as to fay
in efl'edt, that before a Sinner may go to Chrift,
he muft leek, not from Chrift, but out of his
own Strength apd Abilities to work up his own
Heart
BOOK II. [ 323 ] CHAP. I.
Heart to the fenfe of Sin and Humiliation of
Heart, and other tuch like D>iponcions, p.s ordi-
narly go before the ad and decerning of favirig
Faith ; for, if even Simon Magus, difcovered and
Foimdout to be in theGall ofBitterAefs and Bond
of Iniquity, was exhorted to Pray that Cud
, would forgive his Sins, and remove the Perverf-
nelsofhis Heart, and favehim from deferved
WrarJi,^#.8.2i. EIovv much more are they to be
encouraged to go to Ghrift for relief from thele
Evils which they feel and fear, in whom not on-
ly this Gall of liitrernefs doth not appear, but
aifo fome appearances may be marked, by wife
Beholders, of a begun work of Grace in them,al-
beit the Man himfeif cannot perceive fo much
for the time ?
17. Seing it is certain, that God doth preveert
by Grace every converted Man's Actions, before
the Man do a&ually turn himfeif to God, and
that the Lord ufcth to open the Eyes of the Man
whom He is converting, to fee fuch and fuch
Evils in himfeif before thefe Evils be taken away;
and feeing it is God's ufua! way by preventing,
to give fbme meafure of the good to be prayed
for, that the Man may pray foL more good upon
the receit of fome meafure of that Good already
bellowed ; therefore all they who defire to ap-
proach to Chrilt, mud be taught to make, ob-
ferve, and take notice of the lead degree of
Good bellowed upon them, of the finalleft be-
ginnings of lUufflination,of the meaneft degrees of
X -x coiv*
BOOK I. [ 3x4 1 CHAP. I.
Convi 3:ion for Sin, of the lead meafure of Efti-
rnation ofChrift and His Grace,wrought already
in themfelvcs, and ro thank the Lord for fb
much Eyc-falve as hath opened their Eyes to dif-
cern their ownBiindnefs and Mifery, and Chrift:
to be the Remedy of all the Evils they do fee;
and after they have marked what is beftowed
already on them, and haveblcfled God for the
Gift, theymuft be exhorted to requeft the Lord
to make out and perfect the begun Mercy, that
they may be fure of their own real Conversion;
for fo doth the new Convert pray, Jer. 31, 18.
Convert me, and I (hall be converted ; and the
humble Soul, Can+li. 4. Draw me after Thee, and
we will run after Thee. And this we fpeak not as
if any unconverted Man could in the fen(e of his
Sin an i Mifery fuicerely and heartily feek after
Chrift,or for more Grace from Him. But becaufe
fame that areConvcrtcd donor perceive that they
are Converted, we frame cur fpeech to their efti-
mationofthemfelves, that they may be edified
ire brought unto Chrift, by thedraughrof
effectual Calling. and have not as yet received the
Gift of the Spirit to perceive thefe things, which
are freeiy beftowed upon them, 1 Cor. 2. 12.
18. As itufeth to be in the Sicknefs of the Bo-
dy, (bit fallethoutin theSicknefies of the Confci-
, that as there are forne Sicknefles fimplc,and
io:v.o complicar,when moe Sickneiies concur
together* So in the Confcience, there are fome
e, fomc complicat ill Cafes, Sirnole and
BOOK II. [ 3x5- ] CHAP. 1.
fingle Cafes of Confcience arethefe, wherein the
difeafed Soul is troubled with one Doubt only
for the prefent : As for Example, when the Party*
affli&ed, is doubtful only of the Will of God
toward him, and not of His Power. Such was the
Cafe of the Leper, Matth. 8. 2. Thoucanft make
me clean, if Thou wilt.
Complicat and involved Cafes,are, when many
Evils concur together, and the Confcience is
troubled with many Doubts. In which Cafe
many Queftions may oficr themfelves in a throng
together, which the aiili&ed Party cannot well
diiiihguiflh, and thereupon is driven to darknefs
and confufion of Mind. In this Cafe the Pallor,
or prudent Chriftian Friend, mud obferve Como
order, beginning with the moft perilous Doubt,
that it may be firft folved; Which Doubt being
anfwered in the firft place, let him fail upon the
anfwering of the reft of the Doubts in order. As
fbrExample,ifthe Party be afflidted with Tenta-
tions unto Defperation,let him be cleared and led
by the Hand to lee and acknowledge a poflibility
of Salvation by Chrift,and then a Probability and
Appearance that it fhalibe by an Argument taken
from his prefent exercife, which putteth an Ear-
rand in his Hand,andfoaWarrand to go to Chrift,
and fo piece and piece let him be dealt with to ac-
cept the general Offer of Grace inChrift,and to be-
lieve in Him. Now that fuch may be the Exer-
ciicof theChiklofGod,appearethF/^/.4x.7. Deep
talleth unto deep>at the noije of thy Water-(?o>:ts all
X 4 thy.
BOOK II. [ 3^ 1 CHAP. I
thy Waves and Billows are gone over me. And
Pjal. 77. 7. 8. Will the Lord cafl off for ever y
and will He be favourable no more ? Is His Grace
clean gone for ever ? and will He be favourable no
wore > &c. At lafthe difcovereth his Duty to
believe iti God, ahd concludeth againfl himfelf,
that his giving fo far way to the Tentation was
his Infirmity.
19. We mud diftiriguifti worldly Sorrow, and
Hypocondrick-pafflons and Perturbations of
Mind, from Cafes of Confcience, and fpirirual
Exercife in the Wreftlings of Faith, that for a
natural Difeafe and Diftemper a pertinent Reme-
dy may be called for fromthebodily Phyficians;
and to fuch as are under a fpiritual Exercife, the
Doubts of their Confcience may be prudently lou-
fed. In fuch a Cafe, when both the bodily Di-
ftemper and fpiritual Exercife are joined,Circum-
fpecftion is neceflary,that proportionable Reme-
dies be ufed by the Phyfician, and the Paftor, or
prudent Friend, that bodily Medicineand fpiri-
tual Confoiations may be each in their own time
and order wifely made ufe of : And becaufe ituf-
eth to fall out.that exercife of Confcience and Di-
ftcmper of bodily Humors are oftentimes joined
one with another, let itbefufficient, that a word
is caften in here for Advertifement.
20. In curing Cafes of Confcience, it is not fuf-
ficient to loofe ibme one Doubt or other ,but after
{atisfa&ion given to the Parties affii&ed concer-
ning the prcfent Cafe, which hath troubled them
they
BOOK II. [ 317 ] CHAR I;
they muft learn to obferve other Caufes, which
may trouble them afterward, wherewith for the
prelent they poilibly are not troubled, and muft
be direded to acquaint themfelves withGhrift,
that in Him they may have Relief from every Sin,
& every fort of Mt(ery;and to that end & purpofe
they muft confecrat and devout themfelves to
Him,to depend upon Him in all things.and at ail
times,whatfoevcr way He iliall be pleafed to ex-
ercife them; for,whoibever do come untoChrift,
muft come of fet purpofe to abide in Him, and
never depart from Him, but to live in Him,and
draw Grace afterGrace out of HisFulnefs; Grace
tomortifieSin, Grace to renew the Ads of Faith
and Repentance daily,according as they find new
guiltinefs contracted, and weaknefs in themfelves
to do commanded Duties: For except they do fo,
theyfhall eafily Aide back from their begun San-
dhfication : and furnifh Matter to Satan for rafing
of new Doubts in their Souls, and new Tenta-
tions unto Sins, wherein they have not fallen be-
fore : Therefore muft they keep the Habits of
Faith and Repentance in aitual exercife daily.
ir. In dealing with a troubled Confcience,
let not the Comforter, whether a Pallor or a
prudent Friend, truft to his Abilities, or ar-^
rogat to himfelf above what is due to him, but
let him keep his Eye upon the Lord, and in
his Heart be praying to God to blefs the Word
in his Mouth, giving Glory to God expreily, if
he perceive the affli&ed Party laying hold on
God's
BOOK II. ( 318 ] CHAP. I
Word delivered by him. And let him alfo teach
the Affii&ed to lift his Eyes to the Lord, when
the Word of Confolation is difpenfed to him by
the Miniiler or prudent Friend, that God may
have the Glory in his Confolation, and no more
afcribed to the Inftrument then is due: For,the
Miniiler may fow the Seed and plant, and wa-
ter, but God only can give the Increafe : Men
are ready to fail in this point and mar the Blefi
ling ; for God is a jealous God and will not give
His Glory to another.
22. In cafe the expected Confolation be not
found, or the Doubt propounded be not folved fo
loon as isdefired, let the Afflicted be exhorted,
that he make not haft infeeking Comfort, but
patiently fubmit himfelf to God's Will in exer-
cifing him for a while, and humblq himfelf un-
der His mighty Hand, in Meeknefs waiting for
Clearnefs and Comfort in due time; for, Affliction
is fent to work Patience, and Patience to work
Experience, and Experience to work Hope, which
{hall not make the patient Man afhamed : And
it is far better for a Soul to ly for a time in the
Bonds of Amiction, till it be daunted and fub-
dued, than before Patience hath had the perfect
work, to feek to have its foolifh Willies granted
unto it: For if once a Soul heartily fubmit it (elf
to God, or drive to fubmit, and patiently wait
on, Confolation will be found not far off.
23. In regard the Work of the Holy Ghoft,
working the Convcrfion of a Man, may begin
be-
BOOK II. [ 319 ] CHAP. T.
before it can be marked, it is the part of him
who medleth with the afflicted Conscience, to
deal tenderly with the Affli&ed, and fo to tem-
per his Speech, as he may both furchcr Repen-
tance and Faith, pre-fuppofing the Parties exer-
cife may prove a begun Work of Grace; for, it is
better fo to judge in Charity of God's Difpenfa-
tion, than to fortcr finifter Suspicions of the Par-
ty ailh£ted, which may readily break forth in
fome unhappy Expreffions to the hutting of the
Patient, and hindering his profiting by what
may be faid beftde.
2,4. Becaufe we have to do in this Book with
the weak Believers, who, in the fenie of Sin
and defer ved Wrath, are fled or fiying unto
Chrift, with a purpofe of Amendment of Life,
but do fear they are not, or mall nor be admit-
ted into that Kingdom of our Lord jefus, for
this and that pretended Reafon : Therefore,
it will be to purpofe in comforting them, to
make ufe, as of other Scriptures, lb inipecial
ofthefe twoPaflages; the one z Cor. 5-. 19.
the other, 1 Cor. 1. 30. the one iervi.ig to
convince them, that they are already in the
(late of Grace, and of the number of Believers
in Chrift, how ftrongly fo ever they are aP>
faulted with Fears, Doubts, ana Suipicions, that
it is otherways: for,in thisPaflage, zCor. 5. 19.
theApofde fummeth up the whole Gofpel in few
words, holding forth, Firft, that die fuinefs of
God
BOOK II. [ 330 ] CHAR r.
God in Three Perfons, was in the Second Perfbn
of the God-head the Mediator Chrift Jefus, and is
upon the Work ofreconcilingthe World to Him-
felf, notimputing their Tranfgrcffions unto them
that receive the gracious OiFcr of Reconcilia-
tion, tendered through Chrift in the Gofpel.
Secondly, that God in Chrift hath committed
unto His Miniftersthe Word of Reconciliation,
that they, with Authority, may offer Reconcilia-
tion and Friend (hip with God unto the Hearers
of the Word of the Gofpel. Thirdly, that the
Apofties and Minifters of the Gofpel, are fent
focch and directed as Embaf fodors, to exhort and
requeft Men, in God's Name, and in the Name
of Chrift God Mediator manifested in the fleth,
to be reconciled unto God. Fourthly, that fo
many as do confent unto, and embrace the gra-
cious Offer of Reconciliation, are reckoned to
be Believers, even all they who do acknow-
ledge their natural Enimity and Sins againft God,
and do welcome the Meilage of Reconciliation.
(Tent by the Minifters of the Gofpel) and do en-
gage themfelves to hold faft this Covenant, aim-
ing to walk as reconciled Children and Servants
unto God, uprightly laying forth their Burdens
and Defires before Him daily : All thefe (I fay )
are Believers in Chrift, and may allure themfelves
of Reconciliation ; for there is no more in the
Apofties and Minifters Commifiion required, for
entering of the humbled Sinner into a Covenant
of Friend fliip fave this, We requeftyou in God's
Name
BOOK. II. [ 331 ] CHAP. I.
Name, and in the Name of God incarnat, Jefus
Chrift the Mediator, we befeech you be recon-
ciled to God, V. 20. Now we judge, that hum-
bled Sinners fled to Chrift, and purpofing to a-
mend their Lives by His Grace, wiiinot be found
Unwilling to accent this Offer of Reconciliation,
but will declare their hearty Content to this Of-
fer ; and to may be convinced, that a Covenant
is clofed between God and them, and th^t God
hath given unto them faving Faith, how weak
fbever it leemeth unto them; for, the consenting
unto, and accepting of,this Offer, is the Condi-
tion required for entering in Covenant,& the pro-
per acl: of Saving Faith. Fifthly, the Apoftle
holdeth forth the Ground- right ofthis Covenant,
and Reafon whereupon the Sinner fled to Chrift
maybe allured of Juftification : Becaufe in the
Covenant of Redemption paft between God in
Three Perfbns on the one hand, and the Second
Perfonof the God -head as Mediator and perfect
Redeemer by Price-paying on the other hand,
it is agreed, finally ended and decreed, that
Chrift's Satisfaction, made for the Embracer of
this offered Reconciliation, ihall as certainly
make the Believer judicially Righteous and juftify
him, as Chrift was judicially madeSm,or aSa-
crifice for the Sins of the Redeemed : For, God,
faith he, V. 21, hath made Chrift to be Sin for
us, who knew no Sin 9 t hat we might be made the Righ-
teoufnefs of God in Him. Therefore as Chrift the
only Mediator, by accepting the Covenant of
Re-
BOOK II [331] CflAP. f.
Redemption, \nd the Sins of the Redeemed
imputed unto Him, (albeit there was no Sin at
all, nor could be in Him,) and was punifhed fot
them unto rhe Death of the Crofs; fo the hum-
bled Sinner, by flying unto Chrift, and accep-
ting the offered Covenant of Recoriciliation,hath
Chuffs fatisfa&ion imputed unto Him, ( albeit
he can fee nothing in himfelf but a mafs of in-
herent Sin) and ihali not enter into Condemna-
tion, but be brought to Life- eternal through
Jefus Chrift our Lord. Both the Covenant of
Redemption made with Chrill in the Redeemer's
Name,and the Covenant of Reconciliation made
with us through Chrift, are of God's making, and
fomuft {land, and cannot bedif annuled for ever.
The other place, r. Cor. 1. 30. holdcth forth
the Right which God hath made to the Believer,
unto the unfearchabie Riches of Chrift, where-
unto the weakeft Believer, fled from Sin and
Wrath unto Chrift, as the Refuge and perfect
Remedy from both, may claim namely,Wifdon?,
Righteoufnefs.SandHfication and Redemption by
Him,and that by Covenant and Decree regiftrat iii
this, and other places of Scripture,as judicially de-
clared and adjudged unto all and every Believer
in Him; fo that they may and fhould make ufe
of Chriil, as made unto them Wifdom to direifc
them, Juftification to juftifie them, Savciification
to perfed: them piece and piece in Holineis, and
Redemption to fupport them under, and deliver
them from, ail Bonds of Miftry.
BOOK II. [ 333 ] CHAP. I.
For the better underftanding of this rich
PafTage, vvc ihall take it up in Four Sentences,
pronounced from the Holy Spirit by the Apoftle;
in every one vvhereof,thefe three things arc infi-
nuat and imported, Firft, our need of Chrift;
2,. His engaged Help and Supply; and 3. our
Duty to lay hold upon, and make ufe of Him
according to the Right and Intereft in Him,madc
unto every Believer.
The Firft Sentence is this, Chrift is made unto
us Wifdom, which importeth, Firft, that not
only we are by Nature blind and ignorant of
our Sin and Mifery, blind and ignorant of the way
of Salvation and right manner of ferving God,
butalfo after that wc are illuminat by Grace, and
made in fome meafure to know our loft Condi-
tion, and to fly unto Chrift for Delivery, we are
compafled about with much Darknefs and foggy
Mifts of Doubts 5 Errors,and Miftakes, and have
need to be in every ftep of our way dire&ed and
powerfully taught by Chrift's Word and Spirit,
to know what is that good acceptable Will of God.
Secondly, It importeth, that as Chrift is the
Treafureof all Wifdom and Knowledge, Who
hath revealed in the Scriptures the whole Coun-
fel of God concerning our Salvation; fo He is
judicially made over unto us as anointed Pro-
phet to His Church, to make known unto us
the way of Life by His Word and Spirit.
Thirdly, It imports our Duty to receive Him
as the great Gift of God^ and to give up oar
(elves
BOOK. II. [334] CHART.
felves to His Teaching, to imploy Him and de-
pend upon Him, as Prophet appointed to us,for
diredfron by His Word, what to Believe and
how to Live before God. Whereupon thewea-
kefl Believer may trull in Him for guiding them
in the uk of -the Scripture, and excrcile of the
Means appointed by Him unto Salvation; be-
came He is made of God unto us IVtfdom&nd in-
timation thereof is made by His Apoftle.
The Second Sentence is this, Chrijt is made of
Gcd unto us Right eoujnefs : Which prefupponeth,
F n ft ,that we arc by Nature deftitute d r R ighteout
neis coi,w:en r.cd as Unrighteous by the Law, and
unable to deliver our lelves from Condemnation,
and when we are fled to Chrift and delivered
from Condemnation, that we are not able to
fiand in that ilate. but by our daily Sins where-
in we fall, do deierve to be condemned as Un-
righteous.
Secondly, It imports, that Chrift is not only
Righteous in Himfelf, and able to fatisfie Divine
Juftice for our Sins, but alfo hath undertaken to
pay, and actually hath payed the Price of our
Redemption, by His Obedience unto the Father,
even to die Death of the Crofs, and hath taken
on Him the Office of High Prieft,to apply unto
us Abfolution from our Sins, make us accepted,
and to be dealt with as Righteous, and to keep
us in that blefled eftate by His Interceffion.
Thtrd/y, It imports our Duty to lay hold on
Chrift our Cautioner; by vertue of our Right
BOOK II. [ $if ] CHAP, t
and Intcreft in Him, granted and intimat unco
us, and fo to reft on Him, that whatfocver Satan,
Confcience, or Lavv violat by us, fhall (ay, we
who are fled from Sin and Wrath to Him, may
oppofe this Sentence of our Abfolutionregiftrat
here, Chrift is made unto us Right eoufnejs judi-
cially by the Decree and Decreet of God.
•• The Third Sentence is this, Chrifl is wade unto
us of God Santlification : .Which prefupponeth,
thatia thejuftified Believer there are remaining
ftill the Rcliques of Sin inherent, from which
we are not able of oiir felves to deliver our
felvcs, but have need of Divine Power to morti-
fie Sin in us, and to repair the Image of God by
increafing Holinefs in us.
Secondly, kimporteth, that Chriilthe Media-
tor, the Holy One of Ifrael, hath not only pay-
ed 'the Price of our Redemption for removing of
ourGuikinefs^nd faving usfromCondemnatioLi,
but alio hath undertaken to tha Father to write
His Law in our Heart, and aclaft to prelenc
us perfed: without Spot'or lilemiili, for .which
end, He hath taken by appointment the three-fold
Office of Prophet, Prieft and King.
Thirdly, It imports, that it is. our Duty to lay
hold upon.this rich Gift and Right, intimacunto
us judicially from God, and vvhatfoevar com-
manded Duty we. are to go about, we do it in
the Name of Chrift, fucking by Faith, Sap and
Vertue from Him to bring forth gsod Fruits, ho-
ly and acceptable to God through Him : Becaufe
Y Chrift,
BOOK H. [ 33* ] CHAP. I.
Chriftjthe Second Perfon of the God-head incar-
nat is made unto us, and judicially intimate from
God to us, our Sanilification.
The Fourth Sentence is this. Chrift is madeof God unto
lis Redewption.-Wh'ich importeth,jFir/?,That we who
have fled from Sin and Wrath unto Chrift, and
arejuftifiedby Faith, and begun to be San&ifi-
ed,are yoked in a Warfare with our finf ul Flefli, the
World and Satan,being fubjecft to many Miferics
in this Life, and to Death natural and the Grave.
In which Warefare we are not of our felves able to
Hand, nor to deliver our (elves from the Mife-
ries whereunto we are fubjed, except by Divine
Power we be fupported,brought thorow & Saved.
Secondly, It imports,that Chrift not only hath
payed a fatisfa&ory Price for our Redemption,
and is able to deliver us from all Sin and Mifery
againft rhe power of whatfoever Adverfary;but
aifo,that He hath undertaken the Work,and hath
by compact with the Father, obliged Himfclf to
deliver us powerfully from all Sin and Mifery,
and to overcome to our behoove all our Enemies
and tread them underfoot,and that He is judici-
ally eftablifhed in His kingly Office,& made over
to us for our ailli ranee by Decreet intimat to us.
Thirdly, It importeth our Duty, that byvertue
of theRight and Gift of Chrift God-man,made
over unto us by God's Decreet now intimat, we
ihould rely by Faith on Him, as the Pledge of
perfe&ing our Salvation throughly,and fight out
our Battles, againft ail adverfar Powers and all
Mi*
BOOK II. [ 337 I CHAP II.
Miferies,in His ftrength,rejoycing in His Victo-
ry over all our Enemies; for, God hath made
Him unco us Redemption.
CHAP. 1%
Wherein the Eegenerat Mans Doult of his leing in
theflate of Grace* by reafon of his felt umvorthi-
nefs, is anfwered.
THefe premifed Confiderations, may ferve
for the more eafy Solution of Doubts,and
particular Cafes, wherein the Regenerat
Man may be troubled about his being in the
ftate of Grace. For which end it is needful alio,
by way of Example, to propound fome ufual
Queftions in particular : The Anfvvering whereof
may ferve to anfwer all Queftions which do a-
iife from the like Original: For,
i. Howfoever it be certain from Scripture,that
the Regenerat {hall not pcrilh,and that their ftate in
Grace is unchangable, and that their perfeverance
in the Faith is eltablifhed by Chrift's undertaking
to make them perfevere,according to the charge
given unto Him from the Father, Job. 6. 39. 40.
yet,it istrue alfo, that every Regenerat Man is
not clear about his Regencration,and many Re-
generat Perfons have only a conje&ural Opinion
that they are Regenerat,who are not come up as
yet to an aflurance & perlw alion of their blefled E-
ftate. And the number is noe great of thele who al-
ways,or any long time together, do enjoy that
Y %
BOOK II. [ 338 ] CHAP. E
Serenity and Tranquility qf Confcicftce,thatthey
can confidently triumph, and glory with the A-
poftle, Ror/i. 5 3.4, J. becaulVof Dcfcrtioas and [;
Tentations raifing Doubts in their Confcience,
concerning their Eftatc.oft- times holyPcrfons arc
difquieted. With fuch Perfons, while they .are in
that cafe, a Pallor or a prudent Friend raud deal
fo, as he would dca! with the Infirm, and with
them who think themfelves not Converted, be-
icaufethe fame Remedies will fcrve to ftrengthen
a weak Believer, and to draw a Soul, fenfible of
Sm, and under the Pangs of the New-birth, un-
to Faith in Chrift.
2.. But let us come more particularly to exa-
mine the Doubts of fome that are Regenerated
their pretended Reafons for their doubting.
Some are fo fenfible of their own umvorthinefs*
that they queftion if thcmfclves.or any like un-
to themfelves, C2n be in the ftatp of Grace,mean
iftm their Carriage is fuch as becometh aChri-
fiian, blarnelefs: I feel in me (faith one) fuch
ftrengrh cf inward Corruption, as doth defile
every beft adioh I go about; I fee what fiolinefs
is required in thofc that approach unto God,that
I do utterly loath my felf, as unworthy to be
admitted into the Feilowfhip of God or Chrift
the Holy One of Jjrael : yea (faith another) I
thittk it no fmall preemption todrawnear un-
to Chrift, or count my feif among His Saints
and Followers.
This
BOOK II. 1 3 39 ] CHAP. If;
This for a fliort time was the cafe of Ifaiah,
when in a Vifion he (aw the Glory of Chnft in
the Temple, and heard theScraphims proclaim
Him thrice Holy, Tfa. 6. 5*. Wo is me [(kid he)
for I am undone, lecaufe I am a Man of unclean Zips,
and I dwell in the miJft of a People of unclean lips ;
for mine Ryes have fe en the King, the Lord of
Hofls. This a!(b was the cafe of Peter, who
in the fenfe of his own unworthinefs, wakened
up by the Alining of the Glory of ChrilVs God^
head in the miraculous Tack of Fifhcs, Lak. 5.8.
failing down at Chrift's Knees, he cryeth, De-
part from me, Lord, for I am a fitful Man:whi<$\
is as much as if he had faid, I am utterly un-
worthy to be admitted unto fcllowfhip with
Thy Holy Majefty. The like alfo was the cafe
of the Publican in the Parable, LuL 18. 13.
out of which cafe, after fome wreflling of Faith,
he cometh forth toward God, yet Handing a far
of£ not daring to lift up his Eyes to Heaven :
Wherein is pointed out to us the fenfe of his un-
worthinefs, hindering him to approach confi-
dently to the Throne of Grace.
3. For removing of this Doubt, Five or Six
Considerations may be reprefented to the Party
affiidtcd, with this Provifo, that the fenfe of his
Unworthinefs be not difcharged, or dirriiniilied,
but wifely entertained in him rather; for, it is
not to be prefuppofedj that any Man can e-
fteerri himfelf fo unworthy, and far from me-
riting any good at God's Hand, as lie is
X 3
BOOK II. [ 340 ] CHAP. II.
But yet his Doubt, how he dare or may draw
near untoChrift becaufe of his felt unworthinefs
may be folved. 1. If he confider the nature and
offer made of the Covenant of Grace, whereby
thefe that are fenfible of their own unworthinefs
are fo far from being debarred from the Cove-
nant of Grace that the Covenant of Grace doth
not admit any Perfbn to be received into it,but
fiich only who do renounce all confidence
in their own Works and Worthinefs, and do
fly unto the offer of the free Grace of God in
Chrift: For, our Lord hath faid, Matth. 9. 1 3.
7" came not to call the Righteous hut Sinners to Re-
pentance: And thePromifes of the Evangel, are
made to the Poor in Spirit, to the Hungry and
Thirfty for the Righteoufnefs ofChrift, which
onlycanfatisfica hungry Soul, Matth 5*. 3, 6.
yea, the fenfc of Unworthinefs is in efFed: that
Self-loathing whereof Ezek. fpeaketh C/^.36.3 1 .
which fenfe of Unworthinefs may befeeninj^,
as a fpecial ad: and evidence of His Repentance,
Joh. 41. 6.
Secondly, Let him confider ,that becaufe by rea-
fon of Sin,no worthinefs can be found in us,there-
fore God hath freely loved theWorld and provided
Grace in Chrift,that all that fly to Him,may out
of His Fulnefs receive Grace for Grace, Joh. 1 . 1 6.
thirdly, The threefold Office of a Mediator,
wherewith Chrift hath cloathed Himfelf,doth ob-
yiat and meet the Doubts of the. humbled Soul un-
der the fenfe of unworthmefs;For 5 a!beit he be ig-
BOOK. IF. [ 341 ] CHAP. IE
norant and flow to underftand and believe the
revealed Will of God,about Mens Salvation, and
his prefcribed Service ; yet, upon his flying to
Chriit, he hath Chrift offered and given to him
for his Wifdom,a Prophet able to inform him, to
open his Eyes, and perfvvade him to embrace by
lively Faith all faving Doclrine. Albeit he be ex-
ceeding finful and worthy ofCondemnation,yet
he hath Chrift as Pried made of God unto him
R'ghteoufnefs and Sanct?fical/(M 9 upon his flying to
Him for Refuge from Sin and Wrath, underta-
king alfo powerfully to fanfHfie him, by morti-
fying his Corruptions,and perfecting at laft the
Image ofGod in him. And albeit he have the
World and his own Flefn, and the power of all
Principalities and fpiritualWickednefs,with many
Miferies in this Life to wreftle with;yet, he hath
Chrift Jefus as King made of God unto him Re-
demption, upon his flying to Chrift for Refuge
againft all his Enemies ; fo that he may be fure
to be found among them whom He hath Redee-
med by Price-paying, and for whom He hath
undertaken powerfully to fuftain them in all this
War-fare, whatfoever Mifery they may be in,and
at laft to bring them out of all Sin and Mifery to
a perfect Reft in everlafting Glory. And to
what end hath our Lord taken on the Of-
fice of a Mediator and Redeemer, if not to
open the Eyes of the Blind that fly to Him
for Eye-Salve, to coyer the Naked flying
unto Him, with the precious Garment
Y 4 of
BOOK It T 34* 3 CHAR ft
of His imputed Rightcoufncfs, and to enrich the
Poor,Needy andUnworthy outof the Store-houfe
of His urtfearchable Riches of Grace? Rev. 3 .18.
Fourthly, Let him confider the conftant courfe
of Grace and pra&ical Difpenfation thereof,in all
Ages toward all the Converted. Are not all they
to whom the Gofpel cometh, in the ftate of cor-
rupt Nature, when God cometh to convert them?
For, never was there any Perfon called unto the
date of Grace, but he was found in his Sins,and
in ftate of loft Shiners by Nature: none but
Children of Wrath and Enemies by Nature are
reconciled; none but they, who, by the Law,
are condemned, are jufdhed; none but they, that
in. their own fenfe are loft, do obtain Salvation;
tor Chrift doth plainly tell us, I came to feek and
i fave them that are loft. Did he ever rejed; any
that fied unto Him, became they were unwor-
thy I No ; for it is hid, Pf 9. 10. they that
know Thy Name will trufl in Thee ; for' thou never
forfook them that fought thee. And (Joh. 6. 37. )
He faith, the fe that come unto Me J will in no cafe
cafl out, z Tim. 1. 9. Not according to our works,
hut according to His own Purpofe and Grace, hath
He called its.
Fifhiy, Let him confider the Worthinefs of
Chrift V Perfon and Merits/ Who, (becaufeHe
being Gad and Man in one Perfon, hath paid a
Price of infinite value for Redemption ofSinners
who By unto Him) is worthy, for Whofe Caufe,
the unworthy Sinner flying to the Throne of
Grace,
BOOK. IT. [ 343 ] CHAR TIL
Grace, fhould be received in favour,& made fit for
eternal Life by the San&ification of His Spirit.
Sixthly, Let him confider, that if he itand a-
back fromChrift, and do not riy unto Him, how
unworthy locver he think himfelf, lie remains
under Wrath and the condemnatory Sentence of
the Law, Job, i. 8. but iet him rather remem-
ber, that he is warranted by a Command of God
the Father, to fly to Chrift, i Jab. 3. 23. This
is His Commandment, that we [hwld believe on tbe
Name of His Son Jefus Chrifl, and love one another
as He bath commanded us. And therefore, let
him fay of his own Soul with the Centurion,
(peaking of his Servant toChrift, ( Luk. 7. 6.
7. ) I am net worthy that Thou jhould come under
my Roof; but fay the word, and my Servant fhall
he healed. The Word is faid frequently ira Scrip-
ture, let the AfRided reft himlclf on it.
CHAR HI.
Wherein the Regenerat Mans Doubts, arifing from
the multitude and weight of his Sins aga/nfj the
Law and the G of pel, and again]} the Light of his
Confcience, are anfwered. -
AS in the Pangs of die New-birth, this
Doubt hath much weight to keep a
Soul a-back from embracing Chrift,and
receiving Pardon through Him ; fo after a Man is
Regenerat and made quiet in his Confcience,whcn
through fad AjJli#ion and {oreTemptation,thefe
wounds
BOOK II, [ 344 ] CHAR HI,
Wounds ofhisConfcience begin to bleed again.his
Pardon & Peace is called in queftion.Of tins Exer-
cife there are three Degrees: the Firftis, when Sins
againft the Law are muftered 3 and led in an Hoft a-
gainft a Soul; which was the cafe of the affli&ed
Pfelmift for a time, till by Faith he over-come the
Doubt, P f aL^o. i z. Innumerable Evils have compaf-
Jed me about y mine Iniquities have taken hold on me Jo
that I am not able to look up: they are more then the
Hairs of mine Head;therefore my Heart fvleth me.
The Second Degree is, whenbefide the Man's
Sins againft the Law, his Sins alio againft theGor
fpel,againft Chrift and the Means of Sal vation,
do arifb in battel againft him, and do drive him
to cry out. with thefe not yet converted Sinners,
{Ail, 2. 37.) Men and Brethren, what fhall we dot
The Third Degree is,when the Regenerat Man,
forfbme gro(s Sins againft the Light of hisCon-
fcience,isgivenupfora time tobefcourged with
the Temptations and Accufations ofSatan,asif
he had finned againft the Holy Ghoft, and no
more Mercy were referved for him;and this was
the cafe of the Prophet Jonah % vj\\z\\ being guilty &
confeiousto his late Rebellion againft God, he is
purfued and apprehended by God, andcaftenin
the Sea, he falkth in a Fit of Delperation till trod
gave him vidtory by Faith,jfo//.i.4. Thenlfaid, I
am cafl out of Thy fight ;yet I will look again to Thy holy
7ew/>/?:Which wa$ the tryfting place of God with
Sinners in a Mediator. This was alfo the cafe of
Pavid for a time, after that his Confcience is
wafc-
DO OK. II. [ 34? ] CHAP. IB.
wakened by the Meflage of God fent unto him in
the Mouth of tfathanzhc Prophet,when he found
the Spirit of Confolation with-drawn from him,
and the Wrath of God breaking his Bones, and
confuming the Marrow thereof, /y^ 1.8,9,10,1 1.
1 x. Make me to hear joy and gUancfs that the
hones which Thou haft broken may rejoice, ike,
2. In anfvvering this Doubt, we muft proceed
futably to each degree (everally.In curing thisCafe
in the Firft Degree,let the Afflicted admit all the
juft Aggravations of his Sins againft the Law,
which theConfcience doth prefs;For,by extenua-
tion of Sin neither is Gods Juftice glorified, nor
theConfcience fatisfied;and Contblation or Hope
of Remiffionof Sin muft not arife from the tew
number or lightnefs of Sins, but from the multi-
tude and largenefs of God's Mercy: And therefore,
we muft not cut Ihort the reckoning with the
Lords Law,nor muft we deminifh the weight and
eftimation of our evil Defervings;but courfe muft
be taken, that by the fenfc of Guiltinefs, the
judgment of the afflicted Perfon be not fo con-
founded and perplexed, as if his Cafe were de-
fperat, and poftibility of Salvation were pafled ;
but rather let the Afflicted humble himfelf un-
der the Mighty Hand of God, Who alone can
deftroy and make alive,and Who ufuallybringeth
down to Death and brink of Hell, and bringeth
back again,and Who alone doth work Wonders.
This Doubt then arifing from the multitude of
Sins, may be loofed, Firft, by a frefh confidera-
BOOK. IL [ 346 ] CHAP. Iff.
tion of the infinic Excellency and Worth inefs of
Chriftjefus, God roanifefted in the Fielh, and
of the incomprchenLble Value of the Trice of
Redemption, payed by Fr.mfor all who fly unto
Him : For, the Father hath declared .Himfeif (a-
risfied by Him in beha'.f of the Redeemed, for
whom He did offer Himfeif, Matth. 3. if. fay-
ing. This is My b: loved Son, in Whom I am well
pleafed. Ana K Heb 7. 25. ) This is He, Wl.o is
able to Cave to the utfermcfl, all that cone to God,
by Him. Secondly, by confidcration of the in-
fant iargenefs of God's Bounty, Grace and Mer-
cy wherein He hath &z no bounds to Himfelf.in
pardoning and abolishing the Sins of thole that
come unto Him, how grots and grievous foever
they have been. If a. 44. 21. I have blotted out
as a thick Cloud } thy Tranjgreffions and as a Cloud thy
Sins, return unto Me,, for I have redeemed thee.
And, {I fa. 1. 18.) Come now and let us reajon to-
gether, faith the Lord, though your Sins be as Scar-
let, they fh all be as white as Snow, though they be
red asCrimfon, they Jhall be as Wool. And. {Matth.
1 r. 28.) Come unto Me, faith Chrift, all ye that
-r affd are heavy. loaden,and I will give yon reft.
Thirdly, By die confideration of the many
Examples and Experiences of the Mercy of God
roanifefted in the Pardon of hainovs Sinners,
bodi in the Old and New Teftarnenr, fet down
in Scripture, of ice purpofe to invite fuch as are
troubled with the ienfe of their manifold Sins
to- come unto Chrift the Mediator, or to God in
Chrift
BOOK II. [ 347 1 CHAP. HA
Chrift. reconciling the World to Himfclf.lv/ not
imputing Sins to them who embrace the Oiler of
G ace and Reconciliation, tendered unto them
in the Gofpel.
As to the Second. Degree, wherein the Doubt
is augmented by the addition of the Sins againfl:
the Gofpel, unto the Sins againfl the Law, by
dcfpifing or flighting the Mews of Salvation of-
fered in the Gofpel ; true it is,that the defpifmg
or flighting of the Offer of Grace in CHrift
cannot be fufficiently aggreged, becaufe the Sins
of Sodom indGGryiorah will be found ligfoterj^eing
laid in the Ballance with the contempt of the Go-
fpel, Matth. 10. 14, 1 5*. yet notwithftaiiding,
when God is entered in reckoning with a Sin-
ner, and is begun to challenge him for his
Sins againfl the Law and the Gofpel alfo,and hath
by His Terror humbled;the Man, there is Mer-
cy infinuated unto that Perfonin the bofomc of
rhc Threatening. Wherefore die Soul born down
with the fenfe of Ul-defervjng by Sins againfl:
both Law and Go{pcI,muft-be exhorted to hum-
ble himfelf before God, and fly. in unto Chrfft,
Whoof fctpurpofe that He might anfwer this
Doubt hath declared, that whefoever fpesJcetha
word againfl the Son of Man,iriha!l be forsfiven
him,towit, if he repent thislnjury donetoChrift,
Matth. 11. 31. and He ftandeth krtockin? at
the Door of luke-warm Ldodicea, with an Offer
|.qF coming in to them, and Tupping -with them,
I that fkall open to Him, nocwithftandfng they
have
BOOK II. f 348 ] CHAP. III.
have (lighted Him long in tHeir fenfeleflnefs of
Sin, Nakednefs and Mifery.
As to the Third Degree, wherein the Afflicted
doth fufpedt, that he hath finned againft the Ho-
ly Ghoft, becaufehe hath finned againft the Light
of his Confidence, and Ditcment of the Holy Spi-
rit : Let the Afflidted confider, that the finning
in a&ual grofs out- breakings againft the Light of
the Confcience, is indeed a high Provocation of
God to His Face, for which the Offender is to
be humbled all the days of his Life. Secondly,
let him learn to glorify God's Juftice, Who hath
made a proud Rebel to be fcourged with Scor-
pions, and fore bitten with the remorfc of a fligh-
ted and contemned Confcience.
Thirdly, Let thofe particular Tranfgre/Tions,
obje&ed to be done againft the Light of the Con-
fcience, be examined with their Motives and Cir-
cumftances : And out of the bitter Rod of Gods
correcting the Offender, that he fhould not pe-
rifli with the World, let the Affii&ed take up the
, Lord's Love in judging him, that he may not be
condemned. As alfo let the Paftor, or the pru-
dent Friend, who goeth about to comfort the
Affii&ed, carefully obferve if the Afflicted be
grieved for the grieving of the holy Spirit,
if he defire and long after the Confolation of
God, Whom he hath offended, if he purpofe to
walk morecircumfpedly afterward^nd eihew the
fiiare he hath been taken hito,6r what other Evi-
dence of Repentancecafl bV feen in htm.whereof
BOOK TL [ 349 ] CHAP. HI.
ufe maybe made to aflure the Affli&ed, that he
hath not finned unto Death, Bccaufe the Sin
againft the holy Ghoft,as it isdefcribed unto us
in holy Scripture, is cither a malicious refufing
and oppofing wittingly and wilfully of Chrift
Jcfus,aftcr that the Spirit of Chrift hath convin-
ced the Pcrfon.that Chrift is the Redeemer; and
this was the Sin of fome PharifeeSj defperar,
profefled, and irreconciliablc Enemies to Chrift,
Matth.1x.z4. to 33. or, it is a total Apoftacy
from Chrift,after they have known Him to be the
Redeemer, joined with a malicious oppugning
of the Chriftian Religion, as it is fet forth Hek
10. 26,27, to 32. and whofocver falleth in this
Sin he neither repents him of it,nor defires tore-
pent or be reconciled with^God.
And therefore, let the humbled and aiflifted
Penitent, longing to be reconciled unto God
through Chrift and to find the fenfe of
His Favour granted or reftored, not fufpe6t
himfelf any more guilty of this Sin, but
let him make ufc of the offer of Grace in the
Gofpel, and of the Example of Penitents menti-
oned in Scripture. Who knoweth how foon
the Lord may take the Penitent in His Father-
ly Embracements, and comfort him abundant-
ly? Mean time, till the fenfible Comfort
be given unto him, let him hold faft the
Promifes made to them that fly unto Chrift.
chap:
BOCK II. [ 3 ->o ] CHAP. IV.
CHAP. IV.
Wherein isfohed the Doubt ofthe-Re^emrat Man,
raifed by his fufpicionj,vketb(sr he be Eiefted ornot.
IT cometh to fbtfs fometimes, that a Sinner
lamenting his S\n$ % and faeking Liberation
from Sin and Milery, doth call in que-
ftion whether -he be Regeiierat,b£caufe he hatha
deep and fixed fufpicion,ehat he {foil poilibiy be
found not amorig the El&fej and by.coniequence
be found a Reprobat : of whofaif ye ask a'Rea-
fon why he faith fo, he can g$ v£ hcvfblid Arifwer,
only he will tellcyou he catr perceive no certain
Signs and Evidences of his Election ; yea, thai
he findeth nothing in himlelf, but that which
may be found in Reprobats,* 3tid thac he -is af-
fraid he be found one of that number, and that
thisfufpicion hath taken deep root in him, that
he cannot rid himfelf of this "Doubt and Fe
L. This Cafe, w*e moft eonfeis, is very dan-
gerous, except it be timoufly cured; for, here
Faith is taken as it were by the Throat, and the
ground of Hope is like to be razed. The fufoi-
cion of God'sDecree is daily foftcred and augmen-
ted, and the affii&ed Pcrfon, not only doubteth
of Gods Good-will to him, but is tempted unto
Defperation : By this Means the Command of
God to believe the Promiies and Confolations of
theGofpel, feem to Him to be offeredko him all
in
BOOK II. [ 351 ] CHAP. IV.
in vain: the hope of fucceft, or profiting in the
ufc of the Means appointed by God, is under
mined, fo long as this Sufpicion is entertained ;
yea, all the Exercifcs of Religion become, bur-
denfome, out of a fear he iliail follow the cxer-
cifc thereof to no purpofe ; and fo the Duties of
Religion, are oft-times left undone, or call off
for a time, if theTentatioh g:ovvflrong,and con-
tinue with him without cure or comfort; thus
he (landeth upon the Border and Precipice of
fomc fort of Defperation, if his Fear and Sufpi-
cion be not removed infbme meaiure.
3. For Cure of this Cafe, the Pallor or pru-
dent Friend,as in all his Conferences with the Af-
flicted, fo herein fpecial, muft ferioufly Pray to
to God that He would blcfs the Means of In-
formation and Confolation, which lie is about
to ufe for the fatisfying of the ^ffiicled.
To this end therefore,/ 7 ;///, let all the Reafons
whereby the AtinrQcd pretendcth to make his
Reprobation probable, be refumed and refuted as
frivolous, ail of them, and certainly they cannot
but be found frivoious,beciuie Go J hath not gi-
ven any certainEvidence orSign of P.eprobanon,fo
i long as aMan is alive, except that Sin unto Death
the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft, in a maiicio.u
refufing, rejecting, and hoftile oppofirg of
Jefus Chriil wittingly and willingly : For. as to
final Unbelief and Impcuitency, no Man can
pais Sentence upon any Pcrfon, that hath
heard any thing of the Gofbel, fo long as Breath
Z is
.BOOK IT. [ iji ] GHAF. IV.
isia^him ; for, God can convert a SouL to Him
ieif ill the Pang* of imminent Death, as He did
«thc Thief on the .Croft.
Ail the evil which the Aifli&ed can fay of
■himfelf, cannot prove hitn a Reprobar, the liight
which his Reckoning can rife unto,-tofortifie his
own fufpicion of himfelf, is only to give appea-
rance that he is not Regenerat ; mean time we
prefuppone the affhdred Pcrfbn under thisTenta-
tion, to labour under the fen(e of manifold Sins
Cwhich doth furnifli ftrength unto the Tentation.)
and to be hungry and thirfty for Righteoufnefs,
and to be defirous tojdraw near to God in Chrift,
if he could be delivered of his fiifpicion of God's
Purpofe and Affe&ion towards him. And there-
fore his Chriftian Friends ^re bound in Charity
to expound this his Hunger for Righteoufnefs,
and thirfiy Defire of Reconciliation through
Chrift, to be a begun work. of gracious Regene-
ration, and fo alfo a hopeful Sign that he is Elected
s Secondly, After Refutation of his pretended Rea-
ions for his Supicion and Fear,this fufpicion mufl
-be fet before him asaftrong Tentation of Satan
and aSodi-muthering lie,thro\vn as a fiery Dartai
jbim/fuchas the Apo'ftle, £/?/^/6.maketh rnentior
of) of fet purpofe' to' bea: the Shield of Faith out
of his Hand: Wherefore he muft be exhorted tore
fill the Tempter,and that fo much themore,as Sa
can out of Envy and Malice doth flander God,& th
begun work of Grace in the Man, and all to ve:
the Soul of him whom he cannot keep in his fnatf
Third
,OOK II. [ ?53 ] CHAR IV.
thirdly, The giving fo much way to this vvic-
ed Suggeftion, muft be reprefented to the Pa-
tent as an adt of Ignorance and Folly ,yca an adt
f Iniquity and Injury unto God, and to his own
oul : For, what a madnefs is it to pry in upon
he fecret Counfel of God, and to negle<3: His rc-
ealed Will fet down in Scripture? what prefurhr>
on to intrude our felves upon His fecret De-
rees,and to cafl behind our Back His open Com-
lands given to us? To refufe obedience to God's
Ordinances given to us for our Salvation, excegt
ie {hall firft: tell us what is His purpofe about us
n particular? To open our Ears to the fallcSuggc-
tions of the Devil a Liar, and Murtherer from
he Beginning, and ftop our Ears from hearing
he Voice of God fpeaking to, us in Scripture ?
Vhcrefore let the Arrh&ed under this Tempta-
ion take heed to what is laid. Dent. 2,9. 29.-
r he fecret things lelcxg unto the Lord our Cod, but
hefe things that are revealed belimg unto us and
ur Children for ever, that ne tpay do all the
-ds of this Law. Let c-hc Lord's Corr.niand
>c firft obeyed, and then the Decree of God
oncerning the Believer in Kim, fhaii be timc-
revealcd : For, His Profits are ^;reeabie
vith His Decrees, and His Promiies ireo^ered
;o us, that thereby His Decrees m$y be brqught
>n unto a jutl and gracious Execution.
, Fourthly, Let tlic.Mli&cd caii to Mind, wfi.n
benefits the Lord hath bellowed upon him fnprn
lis Infancy, and inipccisl, tharjie hath c%cd,
t 2. and
BOOK II. [ 354 ] CHAP.V.
and doth continue to offer Chnft Jefus unto
hi'm, if he will receive Him for Wifdom, Righ-
tecufneis, Sanflification and Redemption ; and
upon this ground he is bound to give unto
Go J a good conftru&ion in every fort of DHpen-
fatiori toward him, and look upon God as his
Friend and Father.
CHAP. V.
Wherein the Regenerat Mans doubting of his Rcge-
titration, becaufe hefindeth no power in himfelfto
Believe in ChrijI, u anfwered.
SOmetime it ccmeth to pafs, that the renewed
Man, after a long time ftandinginthe ftate
of Grace, falleth in doubt about the work
of Grace in himfelf, becaufe when God doth
change His Dlfbenfation toward him,and bringeth
him to trial by Trouble, wherein he is found
weaker then he expected, he begineth to fufpedi:
whether the former work of Grace hath been
found omot,and his P v eafon is\becaufe hefindeth
by Experience often repeated, that in Straits and
DilHeu!ties when he would moft exercife Faith
and Believe in Chnit, he is found lead able to
do it ; yea, he findcth it nalcfsimpoffibleto ob-
serve the whole Moral Law, then folidly to be-
lieve in Chrift : Hence arifeth Anxiety iti the
Soul of the Aiflicted, while he neither dare de-
part from Chril^nor yet is able to approach unto
Him confidently, In this caie many new Doubts |
and
BOOK II. [3**1. CHAP. V.
Temptations do arifc.which weaken his Faith
vet more, and hinder him in the o Re-
ligion and difchargc of Duties not a little.
Thac chis fometimemav Be the cale of fomc
Convctted,thc experience ofthe Saints, fee down
in Scripture maketh evident Ff. 30. 7. Lordftith
David, by Thy Favour Thou had made my Mountain
to ft.wd ftro?:?; Thou didfl hide Thy Face and I was
rr^/^.Aftdinhis Prayer// 7 / 61. z.) while. his
Maid was overwhelmed in him with perplexing
Thoughts, he findetb in himielf no Strength or
Ability to deliver himielf, or .put forth Ads of
Faith on the Mediator, as he wouid have done,
butprayeth, that while he is now exiled and
driven far off from the Tabernacle and Ark of the
Covenant, he may be raifed up to believe in Him
who was fignifiedby thefe Tipes, to wit, Chrift
the Rock of all Salvation .- which Rock of
Salvation, he pcrceiveth to be a higher My-
ftery than he can difcovcr or afcend upon,
without the Hand of divine power. And there-
fore faith, from the end of the Earth y will I
cry unto Thee when my Heart is overwhelmed,
lead me to the Rock that is higher then I. Yea,
the Gojly afHided Hebrews fell in this ficknefs,
whom the Apodle exhorteth to rake courage
unto them, Heb. n. n, 13. Wherefore lift up
'your Hands which hang down , axd the feeble Knees,
I and make Jlraight paths for your Feet.
2. For anfweringof this Doubt, the afflrdicd
Pcrfon muft be convinced of his Infirmity and
3 Ht*
BOOK If. [ 356 ] CHAP, \
fmful Diffidence, becaufe being called of Go<
to the exercife and trial of his Faith in Chrift b'
whatlocver fort of Trouble, he hath been dii
couraged and fainted, which did not become
Souldier of Chrift, and that for no other pre
tended rcafon but this, that he could nc
give fuch a proof of his Faith as he ftioul
have given and hoped to give, before he wa
.put to trial.
Secondly , He mull confider how far he ism:
en in leaning to his own tlrength, in the Exei
cue of his Faith-of which Self-confidence the mor
2 Man is emptied, the morefpeedily he fliallb
.•furni (lied, if being emptied he fly to Chrift for Sy\
ply. This was the Experience oftheApofti
z Cor. 1%. 10. who was made weak in himfe
taai the Strength of Chrift might be made pe
ft- 1: in his Weaknck; and therefore he reiolve
to make ufc p|chg 'kengm of Chrift in all his fc
vmjtics,andchat he did, with good fuccel
For when I am weak, iaich hc r then am I {Iron
Whole example we muft refoive to follow.
Thirdly After icarch, it will be found, thattl
• Per (on a-Hidted, under the notion and expreffic
of Xqamwt Iclicvch^in, in ekeih this meaning
cannot find firch a ft: II ailurauce ofFaith as 1 wou
be at; or, I cannot find fuch a ienie of the A
prbbatioii of my Faith as can fatisfie me, ar
peruva.ie me chat I do believe really in Chri
And Co it is another thing, and another Gift
£h<b Spirit lie is feeiurig, than what he prccende
BOOK ]V [ &f ] CHAP. V.
ro feck : For, the fenic and feeling of appro-
val Faith and full aJiurance of Faith is not gi-
ven to every Believer, but to him that rights
the fight of Faith, and in his Trials adhered]
clofely to Chrift and to His truth, when he
is tempted to fin, as the Clauie in the clollc of
the (even Epiftles to the Churches of Afia doth
teach us, Rev. 2. 3, To him that overcometh
I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, to eat of
that hid Manna ; /will give him that white Stone.,
and a new Name written thereon, which no Man
kmweth fave he' that receiveth it.
Fourthly, The AiiMed mull be intruded or
put in mind ' to diitinguifh between believing
in Chrift, and the knowing that he doth be-
lieve in Chrift, as may be learned from 1. Job.
5*. 13. The fe things I write to you, that believe
on the Name' of the Son of God, that you may
know 'that yen have eternal Life ; and that ye
may -believe on the Name of the Son of God. He
muft diftinguiih between true (though weak )
favntg Faith and ftrong Faith. True laving
Faith is in that Perfon, who, being purfued by
the Law, doth fly for Refuge to lay hold u-
pou Chrift the Hope fct before us. The Mail
that dwelleth in this City ofChrift, and makem
life ofChrift as the only Remedy againft Sin
and Milery,as He is offered to us in the Gofpcl,
hath right unto the ftrong and well grounded
Confolation fpoken of, Heb. 6. 17. 18. 19. True
and laving Faith is in that perfoii^whoack.^ i
Z 4
BOOK II. [ 358 ] CHAP. V.
ledging himfelf a Child of Wrath, heartily re-
ceived! the Lord Jefus Chrift, as He oftereth
Himfelf to us in the Gofpel: For, fucha Perfon
hath the Right and Priviledge of a Child of God,
and may reckon himfelf among Believers in
Chrift, Job. 1. 12. As many as received Chrift,
to them gave He power to become the Sous of Go J,
even to them that believe in HtsN&me, True and
Saving Faith is in that Perfon, who, being con-
vinced of his Entmity agiinft God, doth anfwer
thcRequcft of God in Chrift, in the Mouth of
His Miniftcrs with a hearty confenc unto the
Covenant of Grace and Reconciliation offered to
all that hear the Gofpel, % Cor. $> 19. 2,0. God
was in Chrift, reconciling the World unto Himfelf \not
imputing their Trefpqffes unto them ; and hath com-
mitted unto us the Word of Reccnciliation.Now then we
are Em b a (fa dors for Chrift, as though God did be-
feech you by us, we fray you in Chrift' s fie ad be ye
reconciled unto God: for He hath made Him ("that
is, Chrift) to be Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that
ire might /e made the Right eoufnefs of God in
ffihk Therefore let the Affii&ed anfwer thus,
I receive the Operand do content, upon thete
Terms to be reconciled to God, Lord help my
Unbelief ; for, Thou haft faid, feekye-My Face ;
and my Soul anfwereth, Thy Face Lord will I
Jeekfi'devot Thy Face from me, PC 3.7. 8. 9. He
that upon thete Terms doth fly to Chrift, and
rcfolveth to adhere untoHim,needeth not doubt
bur he is received in the ftatc of Grace : for,
Cone
BOOK II. [ 359 ] CHAP. VI
Confirmation whereof, let the Fruits of Faith
outward and inward, which may be obferved by
the Afflicted himfclf, or by his Comforter, be
called to Mind, and let hi m reft and go on in
the courfe of Obedience of the Gofpel.
CHAP. VI.
Wherein the Doubt of the Regenerat Man, concerning
his being in the ft ate of Grace, arifngfrom his ap-
prehended defeit of Humiliation and Sorrow for
Sin, is anfwercd,
SOme Regcnerat Perfons will be found, who
mourn indeed for their Sin, and do ac-
knowledge, that they deferve Death for
their Sins, do confefs they ftandinneedofChrift,
do thirft for His Righteoufnefs, do defire ear-
neftly to be united unto Him by Faith,do follow
the cxercife of Religion, and do endeavour to
keep their Coniciences undcrillcd in ail things;
and yet for all this, do not only doubt whether
they berencwed,but alfo do erteemit a prefump-
tuous Rafhnefe in them to approach untoChriit,
or to caftthemfelves over on Him by Faith,before
they be more ferioufly Humbled, before they
feel a more hearty Sorrow and Gricf,beforc they
feel the Pangs of the New- birth more fharp,before
they be more prciled with the burden of their
Sins, and do feel in thcmfelves the Spirit of Fear
wd Trembling and Bondage in a higher meafure.
From
pOOK II. [ 360 ] CHAP. " VJ.
From whom,if you ask a realbn oftheir doubt,
they fhall anfwcr, That they are not yet cal-
led to come unto Chrift/ bccabfe thefe are only'
called to come unto Chrift, who are weary and '
laden in the fuperlative degree, and are fo born
down with the weight of Sin, as they cannot be
more, and not defpair ; for fo do they interpret
that' Spying of Chrift, Matth. 11. 2,8. Chrift is
lent only to the Contrite and broken in Heart,
who fit in theDuft, under the Spirit of Bondage,
that is to fay, as they take it, to them who are
under Grief unipc.akable, as they expound, /
61. 1, 2, 3. So in their opinion, Chrift came to
Save only thofe who in their own fenfe are loft, ,
that is, who are on the brink of Dtfperationlf
Wherefore, in refped: they are not gone down
deep enough, as they think, into this Gulf an^-
Hell of An£uifh and Sorrow, they dare not. ap-
proach or look toward Chrift.
Mean time they ly daily Mourning and Weep-
ing, and will nor grant that their Grief is worthy
of the Name of Grief; which Sorrow they can-
not difieroble or hide, but do bewray it in their
Countenance, Habit,Walking and frequent Sigh-
ing, and will profefs, that they can hardly think-
they have Right td eat or drink of God's Crea-
tures, and were it not for fear of adding yet more
Sin to the former, they would not eat or drink
at all: Oft-times they chatter as Swallows, and
figh as the Turtle Dove, and oft-times their Bo-
wels found out, as if their Parents, or Children,
or
BOOK II. [ 361 ] CHAP. Vf.
or neareft Relations were dead, and yet for ail
this do not fatisfy themfelves in Sorrow, but do
complain that they are ftupid and fenfelcfs of their
finful and miferable Condition, wherein they ^o ly
bound: And though they do confefs, that fom>
times they Mourn,yet they ailedge their Mour-
ning is but like the early Devv.,or Morning Cloud,
that goeth foon away.Ail the while it is in vain
to offer to the Afflicted Confolation in Chrift,
becaufe (faith he) lam not one of the Mourners
in Sion, whom He will comfort : And in this their
.Miftake, they do confirm themfelves by another
Error,fay ing,That the meafure of Repentance and
Sorrow fhouid anfw r er unto the meafure of Sin;
my Sins,faith he,go far beyond the Sins of others.
This and the likeObje&ions they call in,where-
by they do obftrud their own way unro Chad,
and keep themfelves aback from Him, till they
be fatisfied with their own-preferibed ineafureof
Sorrow; which Cafe indeed deferveth much com-
; paifion : For who would not comrniferate their
Cafe, who, being in a very miferable con J Irion,
dare not feck relief from their own Mifery which
they do feel, and ail becaufe they are not yet
more miferable? and when they are asked, can-
not determine what mealiire of aife&ed Ha-
miliaiion they wouid (land at asluffitcienc.
2. In the Cure of this Cafe, as much muft be
yielded to the Affiled, as reafonably can be:
And Fir ft , It muft be coiifciTcd, that it is the
Duty of all who approach unto Chrift, to come
in
BOOK n. [ 362 ] CHAR vr.
iii the fenf: of Sin, and acknowledgement of their
miferable condition, and that the due deferving
of their Sin, is everlafting Death.
It mu(l be confefled alio, that the rneafure of
Compunction, Contrition and Lamentation for
Sin, may poffibly be exceeding great, as we
in the experience of Herman the Ezrute, Pj. 8d.
I / . I am affliilcA and ready to die from my Tcith
up ; while IfiJjerThy Terrors / am difiralied. And
David, Pfal. 38.
This alfo further mud be yielded unto him,
that the Operation of the Spirit of Convi&ion by
the Law, doth ordinarily,and of its own Nature,
go before the Spirit of Adoption, or the Opera-
tion of the Spirit of the Golpel, according to
the Covenant of Grace, fo that no Man can in
carneft embrace Chrift as a Phyfician, as Media-
tor and Saviour of his Soul, except he be fenfible
of his Difeafe, acknowledge his natural Enmity
against God, and his own loft Condition, being
by Nature under thcCurfe of the Law.
Secondly, When thefe Things are agreed upon,
the afliiited Perfon may be poled concerning the
mcafure of the Sorrow forSin,whetheritmuft be
the fame in every Convert, to wit, in that extre-
mity and fupcriative degree, which he doth mils
and defiderat in himlelf, and how long that Sor-
row in this eminent meafurc mu ft continue? By
this Qucftion he cannot choofe but be at a (land,
and unable to anfwer with Scripture- warrand: for
the Scripture doth indeed require fcrious Repen-
tance
BOOK II. [ 363 ] CHAP. VI.
tance, but the mcafurc of Sorrow and Sadnefs,
it dock not prefenbe: For Matth. Ch. 3. V. 1, 6.
many upon the hearing of John Baptift Preaching,
were convi&ed of their Sins,and did confefs their
Sins in the general, and forth-with were Bapti-
zed by him. And Ail. z. 37. 41. Three Thou-
fand Souls at the hearing of one Sermon of Peter,
were convinced of their Sin, pricked at the Heart,
Repented and Fled to Chrift for Gracc,were Con-
verted, Baptized and entered Members of the
Chriftian Church, all in one day. Again, the
Afflided may be pofed with another Qucftion,
(eing he defiderats fuch a mcafure offound
hearty Sorrow in himfelf before he can make
his Addrefs unto Chrift, out of what Fountain
mindeth he to draw this forrow > of himfelf he
hath it not, and from Chrift by his Grounds he
cannotfeek it: For he faith, for want of his ima-
gined meafure of Sorrow for Sin he dare not ap-
proach unto Chrift,becaufc,as he alledgeth,none
are called to come unto Chrift, except fuch only
as are inafuperlative degree weary and loaden,
and fo full of the Spirit of Heavinefs,that he muft
be at the point of Defperation near by. But
the Scripture doth teach us, that Chrift is that
exalted Prince to give Repentance unto Ifracl
in what mcafure of Sorrow He plcalcth; and
that therefore, fuch as arc convinced of, and
in any mcaftirc forrowful for offending God,
lhould run unto Chrift, that He may give them
abetter meafure of PvCpcntance.
third'
BOOK II. [ 364] CHAP. VI,
Thirdly, The Evils and Danger which accom-
pany and follow upon this practical Error, may
be reprefented unto the Afflicted : For firft, by
this his Error he giveth way to Satan's Tentation,
who when he perceiveth the fenfe of Sin begun
in the A Aided by God's Mercy, and that the
Afflided cannot now be hindered from Repen-
tance, nor be keeped in his former Snare, doth
change himfelf as if he were an Angel of Light,
and letteth all at nought the meafure of Sorrow
which the Afflided hath already, and fhews un-
to him, how unanfwerable the proportion of his
Sorrow is unto the multitude and hainoufiiefs of
his Sins.and fo fpurreth him on to Mourn more
ana tnore,that if it be poffiblc he may diftemper
and diftrad him, or make him pine away and
periih in his Sorrow,without Faith or Confoiation
inChnft: This is one Evil.
Another Evil is this, the affedation of fuch a
degree of Sorrow, fmelieth of feeking fome fort
of Expiation of Sin,and Conipenfation cf the plca-
lure taken in Sin, by fuitabie Sorrow for it :
Unro which pradical Error, we are by Nature
too too prone: For as by Nature we drive to be
juftified by Works, according to the Covenant of
Works, written in the Children of A Jam; fo when
we fee our felvescome fhortof the Righteoufnefs
of Works, we go about (as is to be iken in Pa-
pijls) to fupply the defed of Works, by fome
one fort or other of our Sufferings and Satisfa-
ctions for Sin, in fpecial, that by Sorrow and
Teats
BOOK II. [ 36s ] CHAP. VI.
Tears in abundance, we may wafh away the
Guilt and Pollution wc have contracted by Sin
And in this Courfe we run on naturally, after
wakening of the Confidence, to exadt Pennancc
and Punifhmenton our (elves, till the deluded
-Heart fay, it is enough. And then, as if all
were well, the deceived Sinner refteth himfelf:
.Which deceit of the Heart, theoftcner it hath
place and prevaileth, without-being obferved, it
•is the more dangerous.
A Third Evil, following on this practical Er-
ror, is, by it the free Grace of God and Merits
of Chrift, are greatly obfeured, and both the
Man s Confolation and Sanihhcationare marred:
The lofs that the Afflicicd fu'ftaineth on the one
hand, and tha drawing on of new Guiltinefs by
fuch a courfe on the other hand, is covered un-
der the vizard of Humiliation.
A Fourth Evil followcth this Error, which is
this,the afflicted Perfon, fo long as he continueth
in this,Miilake, he giveth way to the Testation,
and doth of fet purpofe fofter his own Misbelief,
that he may thereby fofter and augment his own
Sorrow,and afright himfelf with dreadful Imagi-
nations what Jliall become of him, that he may
augment his afti&fcd Heavinefs ofSpirit,and make
the Fountain of hjs.Tears run the more abundantly.
A Fifth Evil is, the AfHi&ed folong as he fuY-
pends his going toChrift,becaufe he hath not mom-
ned fuifiaently for Sm, he foftcrs another Fault
unawars.to \vit r a purpofe to lay down any more
for-
BOOK II. [ 366 ] CHAP. VI.
Forrowing for Sin, if once he had overtaken his
imagined meafurc of Sorrow, and had his accefs
fo made unto Chrift. This Deceit of the Heart,
is brought to light in the pra&icc of forne Anti-
vomians, who allow thcmfelves once to mourn for
Sin,that their Mourning may make way for Faith
in Chrift ; but after they apprehend they have
once Repented, and caften their Burden on Chrift,
and do number themfelves among Believers,they
fcorn to mourn any more for Sin, they harden
themfelves againft all Remorfe of Confcience,
and do reje&fecret Challenges asgroundlefs,and
make themfelves merry with their own Fancy,
and reckon all Penitents to be under the Spirit
of Bondage: Which Evils, if the afflicted Pcrfon
would perceive to follow upon his Error, which
as a Net is fpred before his Feet/ to keep him
from going to Chrift, and following the courfc
and exercif e of Repentance all the d ay s of his Life,
he would take heed better to his fteps.
4. The Afflu9:ed muft be informed, or called to
mind concerning Sorrow for Sin, that it is nor
commended from the quantity or meafure of it*
but from the quality or fincerity of it. Now fin-
cere Sorrow for Sin, is beft difcerned by the ha-
tred which the Mourner hath againft Sin, by
the Mourners humiliation of himfelf before
God, by his abhorring himfelf both for his
Sin, and for the hardnefs of his Heart under
Sin, by his purpofe to drive againft all Sin, by
his flying in unto Chrift for Pvdief from Sin, by
hit
BOOK If. [ 367 ] CHAP. VI.
his entertaining and renewing of godly Sorrow
after he hath believed in Chrift, according as he
findeth the inherent Roots of Sin to be (pringing
up in him. This is indeed fincere and godly
Sorrow; which caufeth Repentance never to bo
repented of.
5. Fifthly, and lafi of all, The Affli&ed muft
be exhorted not to linger any more but fly to
Chrift, and let him be humbled Co much the
more, as he is not (o humbled as he ihould and
would be; let him call to mind,that Chrift came
not only to comfort Mourners for Sin,but alfoto
call Sinners unto Repentance: For,Chrifthath not
put fiich a rneafure of Sorrow, whereof we are
(peaking, to be the condition of the Covenant of
Grace, He doth not fell His precious Wares, nor
His Gifts of Grace, for the Price of Men s Tears;
but let him remcmber,that whofoever is fo defti-
tutc in his own fenfe of all Good, as he finds
neither the fenfe of Sin,nor Repentance, nor Faith,
nor any other good thing in himfelf, which may
commend him to God, but by the contrair,
much Evil of all forts, and yet cometh to Chrift,
is no doubt the Poor in Spirit, whom Chrift hath
pronounced BUfled, Matth j. 3. and that the
fenfe of his Sin and Mifery, in the mieafure
which he hath of ic, is the Evidence of the
Eye-falve already beftowod upon him, to en-
courage him to buy of Chrift all the Riches
which He holdcth forth to the Poor in Spi-
rit, Revel, 3. 18.
A a CHAR
BOOK IT. [368] CHAP. VII.
C H A P. Vil.
Wherein the Chriftian's Doubt, whether he he Re-
generat, hecauje he findeth not his Right eottfnefs
exceeding the Right eoufnefs of the Scribes and
Pharifces, is anfwered.
Heie are forne Regenerat Perfons, who,
in the fenfeof their Sins, and acknow-
ledgement of cheir Uuworthinefs.and Ina-
bility to help themfelvcs,arefled unto Chrift,and
have given over themfelves to Him by Faith and
are endeavouring to bring forth Fruits futeable to
Repentance, who for all this, fall a doubting
whether they be renewed, whether their Faith
be true and faving Faith; and the reafon which
they give of their doubting, is, becaufe the Re-
formation of their Life, whereunto they havs at-
tained, appeareth unto them not to exceed the
Righteoufnefs which may be found in fome Pa-
gans, or in Scribes and Fharifees, of whom Chrift
hath (aid iii the Evangel, Mattb. 5-. 20. I fay tin-
to yoii^that except your R'nhtezufr.efs exceed the
Righteeufiefs of the Scribes and Tharifees, ye fhah
in no cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
This Doubr is followed with'Grief, Anxiety oi|
Mind. and fear Jeft all Vermes in them be founc
nothing but counterfeit; and in this cafe, except
it be fpeedily cured, cannot chufe but draw af
tcr it heavy and hard Confequences.
For curing whereof werjratt confeis, that ma
By Pagans and Infidels may be found in human'
Hi
BOOK. II. [ 369 ] CHAP. VII
Hiftories,who from the Principles of Nature and
civil Education, have led a more innocent and
plamelefs Life, than many who glory in their
ChrijlLw Profeffion, for whole conviction and
condemnation Pagans and Infidels lhall arifein the
day of)udgement,and be brought forth for a Wit-
nefs againft many called Chrfflians ,and who lhall
be beaten with fewer Stripes, than many who
are counterfeit Chri-lians, and do difgrace the
Profeffion of Omflian Religion.
But we have here to do with thefe that are
indeed Regenerat, and indued with laving
Faith, who endeavour to be Holy, and do la-
ment their Imperfections, and do not give over
the ufe of the Means, whereby they may profit
in Holinefs, albeit with Grief and Fear they go
on heavily; fufpeding they meet at laft with
difappointmeht and be excluded from the King-
dom of Heaven, for their coming fhort oiScrihes
and Pharifees in the point of Righteoufiie'fe,
% In this cafe, FJrfl, The Complaint of the
Afflicted, concerning the Imperfections of his
Life and Fruits of Faith, in as far as it is true
andjtft, muftbc admitted, granted and con*
firmed, and the Afflicted nauit be taught upon
this confideration to be ferioufiy humbled in the
prefence of God, that he may profit in Self-deni-
al, and more and more renounce all confidence
in his own Works or inherent Righteoufneis,
To which purpolejethim confider yet moreths
body of Death and original Sin, notyetttai-ghiy
ii
A a 1 mor-
BOOK ft [370} CHAP. VIL
mortified in him; let him look upon and acknow-
ledge, in his prefcnt cafe, the bitter Roots of
Infidelity and Inclination to depart away from
the lmngGod,eTen then when he is moil called,
and hath mod need to draw near and adhere un-
toHim: Upon the fight and confideration where-
of, he lhall perceive a ncceffity daily to renew
die ads of Repentance and Faith in Ghrift.
Secondly, Let the ncceffity and timeous ufe-
makingof the imputed Righteoufnefs of Chrift
be fhewed unto him : which Righteoufnefs, if
the Lord had not fct before us for a refuge, what
fhould become of us in the examination of our
Works, and felt imperfe&ion of our inherent
Righteoufnefs ? And here the AfRi&cd muft be
exhorted, in the ienfe of his own urirightiouf-
nefs, to run always toward Chrift, to have his
Nakcdnefshid by the Garment of Chtift's, im-
puted Righteoufheis, and exhorted to apply and
imbrace more and more ftraidy the Righteoufc
nefs of Chrift our Cautioner, Who is judicially
by die Father adjudged to the Believer fled unto
Him for Righteoufnefs, 1 Cor. 1. ^o.Eut of him
are ye in Chr'tfl Jefus, who ?s made unto us Wifdcm
and Righteoufnejs, and Sanclification and Redemp-
tion. And here let the Friend,Comforter of the
Afflj&ed, infift, that he may confider the value
of theranfom paid for us, andoftheRighteouf-
nefs purchaied unto us, for the cuiIy Garment
able to hide our Nakednefs.
Third-
BOOK II. [ 371 I CHAP. VII
thirdly, Let the affli&cd Perfon undcrftand,
that it is Rightcoufiiefs with God to be difplca-
fed with His Children, when they efteem little,
and make little ufc of the dear bought Rightcouf*
nefs which Chrift hath purchafbd, and in that
Wifciom and Rightcoufiiefs, Chrift doth not in-
creafe the inherent Rightecuftefe of thofe who
flight Him in the matter of His imputed Righ-
teoufnefs ; for, we are not juftified by the Per-
fection of inherent PJghteoufnefs, which in this
Life isimpofliblc;bi:t by the Perfection of Chrift's
Rigbteoufncfs imputed unto the Believer m Him.
Fourthly, When the Paftor or prudent Friend
pcrceiveth the Afflidcd new convicftcd of his
Miftakc and Error,and to be brought to acknow-
ledge that the J uftification of a Sinner doth come
by the imputation of the Righteoufbefs of Chrift
alone, without refpedt to the Works of the Law;
and that the juftified Man muftfethimfelf to bring
forth good Fruits in the gracious furniture which
Chrift hath promifed to the Believer, Now, I
lay, let him enter upon the companion of the
Rightcoufiiefs of the penitent Believer in Chrift,
with the Pvighteoufnets of the Scribes ao& Pha~
r/fees, and then it Rial! be clear to the afflidtcd
Perfon, that the RighteouGiefs of die weak Chri-
fllan fhall far exceed the Righteoufnefs, not
only of Pagans, but alio of Scrttes and Pharisees
of the higheft pitch, and that for three ReaiPns ;
The Firjt, is this, The Pharifee cutteh fhort
the Interpretation of the Law, unto the meaiure
of
BOOK II. [ 372 ] CHAP. VII.
of his own external obedience, left the Law
whereby hefeeketh Justification lliould Condemn
him : But the Chriftian acknowledgeth in all
things the Spirituality and Perfection of the Law,
and doth not reject any Duty which the Law
doth command, but finds himfclf bound to o-
bey the Law in all things, and to aim to be per-
fect as his Heavenly Father is perfect. The Se*
cend Reafon is, Becaufe the Works which the
Pharifeeox Scnhe doth, are all Counterfeit and
Corrupt,in regard they arife from the ftrength of
the natural Man, and are done for his own Glory
and carnal Ends, and not for the Glory of God;
but the Works of the Chriftian, excrcifmg Faith
in Chrift, proceed from the power of the Spirit
of Chrift in him, and are done to the Glory of
God by him. The Third Reafon is, becaufe the
Righteoufnefs of Works which the Scrihes and
Pharifeesdid a9e&at, is altogether impoffible/artti
roaketh void the Grace of God: For, if Righteous
nefsbe by Works, it is no more of Grace, it over-
turns thatHeavenly way of juftification by Faith
in Chrift : For, the Righteoufhefs of the Than-
fee by Works, cannot confift with the Righteouf-
nefs Which is by Faith of Grace; but the
Rjghteoufnefs and Juftification of the Chriftian
by Faith in Chrift, is podible and ready at hand,
to every one who renoun-ceth all confidence iti
his own worthineft, and flieth unto Chrift for
Grace: And this is a moil perfed way of Righte-
R«6ie|s, which dependcth upon the Obedience
and
BOOK II. [ 373 ] CHAP. VII.
and Satisfaction of Chrift imputed to the Believ-
er in Him. Which Righteoufnefs only canftand
in the Judgment of God as perfect, which only
doth open tl^e Fountain, whereby the power of
the Holy Ghoft runneth down upon the Man
juftified by Faith in Chrift, no enable him to
bring forth the acceptable fruits of new Obe-
dience.
By this Companion, it doth eafily appear,that
the Righteoufnefs of the weak Believer in Chrift,
doth far exceed the Righteoufnefs of thcScr/fejr
and Pbarifees; and thus may the Afflicted be fol-
ved of his Doubt, arifmg from companion of his
Righteoufnefs with the Righteoufnefs of the
Fhar/fees.
3. If thefe Grounds of Satisfaction, laid be-
fore the Aiilicted, donotfatisfy, but his Wounds
do break up and bleed a frefh, let us examine
his Reafons. O! faith he, what 1 have been
aiming at in the way of new Obedience, 1 fa-
fpect is not accepted of God, becaufel find not
thefe Fruits of the Spirit, which the Apoftlc
ipcakerh of as evidences of a new Creature, Gal.
y, zz. Love, joy, Peace, Long-iufycring, Gen-
denefs, Gocdnefs, Faith, Mcckneis and Tempe-
rance; the defect and little feeling of thefe Fruits,
doth argue, that God doth not approve my
Works.
For anfwering of this doubt, let us remember,
that it ispre-fuppofed and found by Experience,
fhat feme that are afflicted with this Doubf
A a a ■ tavi
book ii. [ 374 ] chap. vn.
ana .Wpicion, do not eeafe to follow Duties
howbeit heartlefly, do live blamelefs in an evil
World, and fo are not idle nor unfruitful: Only
this doth trouble t\iem, that they find not the
Peace of Conscience which they did expe&, they
mifsjoy in God, Confolation in their Prayers,
Patience in Affedicns, Chearfblnefs and Alacri-
ty in following their Calling; they do not find
fenfible approbation of their Work from God,
as they did promife to themfelves and did ex-
ped. Hence flow their -Tears, Lamentations
and Complaints of themfelves, and Sulpicions
of the reality and fincerity of their Faith, and all
without j'uft caufe : For, as in bodily Sickneiles,
fometime moe Maladies then one are eomplicat,
and to each of them refped: muft be had forper^
fedting the Cure; fo in this Cafe, moepradicai
Errors do concur, and eachef them muu: be de-
ciphered and removed. We fhall condefcend
upon Four; The Firft practical Error of the Af-
flicted, is the fufpending of his Faith upon a ta-
cite condition, that fuch and fuch Effe<fi$ be pro-
duced, and that Gods fenfible approbation ofhis
Diligence and Works be felt, as if there were
no warrantable act of Faith for laying hold on
Chrift, except after a certain time and trial taken
whether it (hall produce fuch or fuch Fruits or
not. And here Three Deceits do concur; The
Firft is, a Faith with a fecret Refervation
;h fruits follow , is by fuggeftion of the
Tempter, chruft in, in the place of ablblute
: * be-
BOOK II. [375] CHAP. VII.
believing without Refervation, and in effedr, is
a trying of God, in ftead of trufting in Him; for
through Temptation , the Aiih&ed tacitly crav-
eth a Condition to be performed by God, that
when God performeth the preferibed Condition,
then theMan's Faith after that may reft uponHim,
othcrways not : For when a Sinner cometh to
Chrift, he fliould fpeak to this fenfe. " O Lord
'• my God, feing it hath pleafed Thee to reveal
" Thy Self to me, a blind impotent Sinner,run-
" ning toward Hell,and haft offered Thy Self to
" niefora Saviour, in Whom I may have Wit
" dom, Righteoufnefs, Sandtification and Re-
ft demption. Behold, O Lord, I heartily receive
" the Grace offered, I imbraje Thy Word, and
" Thy Self offered to me in Thy Word,and do
" give up my felf wholly to Thy Government,
" that Thou may repair in me the loft Image of
•-■ God,and powerfully carry me on unto Saiva-
? tion. In ftead of faying thus, and clofing abfo-
lutely the Bargain with God in Chrift reconcil-
ing the World to Himfelf, the Tempter would
have the poor afflicted Man to fpeak, as it were
to this fenfe. " O Lord, the Condition whete-
' uporiThoudoft oficr to be myGod andSaviomr,
" doth pleafe me well, but becaufe I fear I may
" deceive my felf in performing that Condition, I
P require another Condition of Thee, that Thou
" wpuldeft, firft, let me fee the Fruits of Faith
' in me, which ifl fliall find within fome tiaie
[' hence, then will I count my felf a Believer,
and
BOOK n. [ 376 ] CHAP. VII.
** and will reft on Thee : But if I find not fuch
" Fruits as may evidence true Faith in me, I
" muft pronounce my Faith, either no Faith, or
** a dead Faith, which hath a name of Faith,
"' but neither Power nor Life in it. For Faith
" without Works is dead, as James faith,Ch .z.z6.
Now, what is this clfe in e2ed, then to make
a new Condition in the Covenant of Grace, and
to promife upon this Condition, to believe on
Chrift, if God fhall do as the Sinner givech Him
dire&ion ? that is, if God ilia 11 make him bring
forth the Fruits of Faith firft, when it became
him abfolutely to imbrace Chrift, that he might
both be forgiven of Sin, and enabled to bring
forth fruits of Faitly
Another Fault is here alfo, which is this, the
affad:ed Perfon doth require mature Fruits from
a weak Faith, from a Faith that is not fettled and
fixed, but fufpended Qn a Condition, which is
110 lets unreafonabic, than if a fooiifti Gardner
fhould require Fruits of a young Tree lately
planted, yea, before the Roots of it were well
fettled in the ground • yaa, and would not let it
Hand in his Garden, except it iliould firft bring
forth Fruits, whereby it might evidence it (elf
worthy of Pains caking on it.
A third Fault is this, that the Afflicted, in this
cafe, cloth pre-fuppofe, that true Faith is pofteri*
or to the Fruits of true Faith, both in Nature
j&rid Time; For, if he will nor believe in Chrift, till
after he perceive and feeiin himfeif the Fruits of
Faith,
BOOK II. [ 377 ] CHAP. VII.
Faith, upon this ground he can never Believe till
he firft find the Fruits of Faith in himfelf, which
is nothing eife in effed: than to imagine, that
the Effedi muft go before its Caule.
Unto this Threefold Self-deceit, we offer this
one Remedy in general, that the afitidted Per-
{'on in the forefaid Cafe, humble himfclf before
God in the fenfeofhis Barrennefs, and fo much
the more as he findeth fmall or no Fruits in him-
fclf, let him fly to Chrift and taften himfclf the
more on His imputed Righteouihefs, and cleave
unto Him by Faith, without delay, that he may
drawvertue and furniture from Him to bring
forth good Fruits; for, this is the only way to
make Him bring forth Fruits in abundance, as
Chnfl: doth teach us. Jnh. ij. f. He that abuleih
in Me, and I in him y the fame bringeth forth much
Fruit : for without Ale, ye can Jo nothing He,
and He only, can make a good Tree of an evil
Imp, and caufeit bring forth Fruits anfvverable
to the nature of the true Vine wherein it is In-
grafted. And icing Chrift in the Canticle, Ch. 2,.
13. doth make no fmaii account of the green
Figs and tender Grapes, let not the Auli&ed do
fpifethe day of fmall Things.
4. The Second pra&ical Error in the AfHici>
ed's foreuiid Cafe,is this, the afflidcd Perfonhath
imagined in liimfeif, that fuch and (uch Fruits
would prefently follow upon his receiving the offer
of Chrift, as that he fhauki forthwith be skiifal in
the knowledge of thcMiftcrics ofSalvaao^abie ta
pray
BOOK n. [ 378 ] CHAP. VII.
pray eloquently, made chearful in finging Songs
of Praifc unto God, ready and expedit to every
good Work, and that he fhould feel conftantly
anun-interruptedPeacc in hisConfcience,and Joy
in the Holy Ghoft; but after that by experience
he hath found, that he cannot fo much as ester
upon any good Work without a Fight with Sa-
tan and with his own corrupt Nature, and other
Impediments, and withal he doth feel the Peace
of his Conference and the Joy of the Holy Ghoft
with-drawn, hereupon he begins to fufped: the
whole Work of God's Grace in himfelf, and
that he remaincth in the (late of Nature un-
renewed.
5. For removing of this Error, let the Afflict-
ed know, that the Hopes winch he hath conceiv-
ed at the h«anng of the Gofpel, fliali not be dis-
appointed (albeit according to his Childifli Fore-
conception they come not to pafs ) for in a time
due and acceptable,God ihail perform allHisPro-
mifcs, and bring the Believer ( fled unto Him )
eaupon his way, till he put Him in full pclicf-
fion of Freedom from all Sin and Mifery. But
yet this Felicity is brought about, not all at once
but piece and piece, and not without conflict
wi:h the Enemies of our Salvation, and not with-
out uie of the Means appointed of God. Where-
fore let the AfHi&ed be exhorted to take courage
unto him, asbccomcthaSouldier of Chriit, and
let him go on in the ways of the Lord in Hope
aad Patience, b^ing allured, that whatfover
God
BOOK II [379) CHAP. VII
God hath promifed, He will furely perform, in
that manner, meafure, order and time, and by
His own appointed Means, as He hath fet down
in His Holy Scriptures.
6. The Third pra&ical Error of the Afflided
in the forcfaid Cafe, is, that he doth not judge
rightly of his own Faith, nor of the Fruits there-
of : For of his own Faith he judgeth no other-
ways than of the Faith of another Man, whileas
there isadiverfe way to judge of my own Faith
then of another Man's Faith; for becaufe I can-
not reach to the internal A&s of the Soul of ano-
ther Man, therefore I muft judge only by the
outward Effects, according to the Rule that
James giveth, Chap. 2, Ver. 10. Shew me thy
Faith without thy Works, and I will fketv the my
Faith by my Works. Yet of my own Faith I may
judge, not only by the external Effects of it
( which in the firft clofing with Chrift, are not
yet obfervabie poffibly ) but aifo by the internal
act of Faith,which the Holy Spirit, who knows
the Heart, doth reveal unto me, by making me
not only heartily to embrace Chrift offered in the
Gofpel, and love Him, but alfo can make me re-
flect and turn back mine Eye upon His own Gift
and Grace in me, according tothatofthe Apoftle
I Cor. 2. 1 2. We have received the Spirit of God \
that we might know the things freely given tons of God*
Again the AtHicted doth not judge rightly of
his own FiUics af Faith, according as the Truth
is, and as the Lord in his Word doth judgt; he
feould
BOOK II. [380} CHAP. VII.
Ihould diftingufli between the Sincerity of the
Work and the perfection of it (a work may be
done uprightly, and yet be imperfect) he Ihould
diftinguifh what is God's part in the work, from
that which is wrong and corrupt, flowing from
the remainder of Sin in him. Thefe things
he doth confound, and doth To fix his Eyes u-
pon the defeats and imperfc&ion of his Work,
that he feeth nothing but what is wrong, when
it is his Duty both to obferve what is wrong,
that he may humbled, and call away all confi-
dence in his work, and to obferve a!fo what is
good and right in his work, proceeding from the
Grace of God in him, and fo Praife and Thank
God for it in Chnft, ivho will not quench the
jmoaking Flaxi I fa. 41. 3.
7. For the remeay therefore of this Error, let
the Affli6ted,firft,look upon the acts of his Faith
both internal and external,both on the elicit Ads
of Faith and theimperat Ads (as they are cal-
led in the Schools) and let him judge of both ac-
cording to what is right and equitable,that what-
soever be the meafure of new Obedience, it may
be differenced from the mixture of lnfirmity,De-
fects, or Corruption. And let him not judge of
his work according to the Suggestions & Calum-
niesof Satan, who always condemneth fo far as
he can, what is good in God's Children:or if he
cannot condemn it,doth labour to have itabufed.
Secondly. Let the Afflicted obferve the due order
both in doing his duties and injudging thereof:
for
BOOK II. [ 3 8t ] CHAP. VII.
for of necefiky he muft, Firft, put forth an act of
Faith and Love on Chrift,before he can pafs judg-
ment on it, and let him firft do the work com-
manded to' the Believer, and then pafs Sentence,
that he may be ftrcngthened to do moe Duties,
and foto prefent them to God to be vvaihen ac-
cepted and amended in his followihg fetvice,
Thirdly, Let him carefully look unto the end
which he mould propofe to himfelf in judging
of his Acts of Faith, and Obedience; for the end
of judging our felves and our works, fhould be
to confirm our .Faith in Chrift, when we find
any thing done according to the Rule, and to
fly to Chrift for Pardon and Grace if we con-
ceive all is wrong after we have examined matters
6. The fourth practical Error, is, that the Af-
flicted fnffcreth his Faith to be wounded and
weakened by Satans Tentation, and then to be
drawn forth to the Field to give a proof of the
ftrength of his Faith in a difficile duty, before
the wound of Faith be bound up or healed; for,
it is agreat difodvantagc to enter the lifts with
Satan about thfc Fruits of Faith, whether they be
fincereor not when Faith is wounded,yea,fainteth
and is brought in q.ueftion whether it be true
faith or not. Now this isafpecial Stratagem
and Wile ofSatan, by whatfoevcr Mean he can,
to flurt the Faith of Gods Children, that he
may by that marr Communion keeping with
God, and cutoff, if he can, the conduit where-
by the power of Chrift is conveyed to the Be-
lt.
BOOK II [ 3 8x ] CHAP. VII.
liver for making him give acceptable •bedience
unto God. And certainly, it isnolefs difficile
when Faith is wrefted,andforatimeoutofjoint,
to fet about acceptable Service, then it is to make
a Man to fet upon his work when his Arms
are out of joynt.
Therefore, for Remedy of this Error, let the
Afflicted,fo foon as he findeth his Faith wounded,
incontinent let himfelf down before God hum-
bly, and acknowledge his FooUftmefe, want of
Watching, Unworthinefs and Inability, either
to know how he hath grieved God's Spirit, and
made open a Door for the Tempter to fall in
upon him, or to repent the Sins which he
knoweth might have provoked God fo to exer-
cife him; and next let him look unto God in
Chrift reconciling the World to Hirofelf,and lay
kold on the Floras of the Altar, on the Throne
of Grace for ftrengthening his Faith, that he
may find help for the prefent need, and thereaf-
ter alfo to walk more wifely : for, this is the
Counfel which Chrift doth give to the corrupt
Church of Sardis, Revel. 3. %, Strengthen
the thing which remanineth and is ready to
die. Thus may the Afflicted recover ftrength
of Faith, and Ability to refifl: Satan, and
Furniture for bringing forth unqucftionable
Fruits of Faith.
CHAR
BOOK II. [ 383 [ CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
Wherein the Regeuerat Mans Douht, whether he
he in the (late of Grace % arijwg from his unquiet nefs
of Spirit, is anfwered.
T His Cafe is incident to many dear Chil-
dren of God, and may befal Champions
in time offad Affli&ion, as we fee in the
Prophet, Pf. 42. 11. and 43. 5. Why art then
cafl down, 6 my Soul : and why art thou difquieted
within we ? But even in time of outward Profps-?
rity, or when no great Affli&ion bodiiy lyeth
oa. many, who inthe fenfe of their Siafulneis
have fled to Jefus Chrift, and have taken His
Yoke upon them, are troubled with Doubtings,
whether they be of the number of true Believers,
whether they have rightly eome unto Chrift;
whether they have been well accepted of Him;
and for their doubting they can give no other
reafon, fa ve this, I cannot be quiet, nor reft in
aflurance, That I am in the ftate Grace ; if they
be interrogat, what they think of the evident
figns of their Regeneration, which have been
and are to be fcen in their Converfation, iince
they began in earnell to feck the Face of God in
Chrift ? They will poflibly not altogether deny
God's work in them ; but yet dare not lean
weight upon thefeSigns,becaufe .they do find theie
Signs alio brought in queftion,whetherthey have
been ©r are kindly and iincere; meantime thev
B b are
BOOK II. [384] CHAP.VIIL
are about to do that which is acceptable to God
in the courfe of their Calling, albeit with more
Heavine s and lefs Alacrity than becometh Per-
fons reconciled to God in Chrift.
x. This Difeafewill be found complicat and
made up of moe Miftakes and Errors than one-:
And therefore is to be the more narrowly confide-
red,becau(e it is no finall hinderance of a comfor-
table Chrifltan Converfation,which God doth al-
low on His Children;for in the party troubled with
unquietnefe, wepreiuppone, 1. There is a fe-
rious fenfe of Sin, and purpofe to do better. 2.
An unfained embracing of die Covenant of Grace
and Reconciliation in Chrift Jefus. And 3. An
boneft though weak Endeavour to bring forth
the Fruits of new Obedience x And yet notwith-
ftanding'the Perfon is not quiet, but walketh
faeayiiy and is difcouraged, byreafbn of his
uncertainty, whether he be m the date of Grace
or hot : Yea, he is call down and difquieted,
becaufe he isdifquieted, and cannot get a rea-
sonable Anfvver from his Confcience when he
asketh of it, why art thou call dpwn and dif-
quieted within me?
3. The Miftakes and Errors, whence this Dif-
fatisfadrion and Unquietnefs dothflow,are many;
but we fhall condefcend upon Eight or Nine on-
ly. The Firft Error, and Caufe of Unquietnefs
is, or may be this, that the Party afflidted, al-
beit he have the Habits of laving Grace in him,
and doth by God's Grace put forth theft Habits
BOOK II. [ 389 ] CHAP. VIII.
in adual exercife, yet he doth not reflect upon,
nor turn his Eye to obfervc, the Operations of
God's holy Spirit in himfelf, nor the Adts of Gi-
ving Grace, which the holy Spirit hath made him
put forth, of which if he take not notice, they
are to him for the time as if they were not ;
and fo no wonder he be diiquict, while he per-
cciveth not in himfelf that which might make him
quiet:For Example, when the fenfe of Sin is raifed
up in a Man's Spirit by the holy Ghoft, if he do
not cbferve that this is one of the Operations of
die holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin, or.
if he do not tunvback his Eye on this Opera-
tion, and upon his own ad:,- flirted up thereby,
to fubferibe the Sentence of the Lawagainft him-
felf, no wonder that he doubt of hisConverfion,
till he fee the foot-fteps of God the Converter
of him, from the love and approbation of Sin,
unto the hatred of it ; and when he is fled to
Chrift the only Redeemer from Sin and Mifery,
and hath laid hold on Him according to the Co-
venant of Grace offered in Him, if he do not look
back on this Operation of God drawing him to
Chri(l,and upon his own ad of coming unto Chrift
by the Draught of Gods Spirit, what wonder he
do not reckon himfelf among Believers, albeit
he be in God's account one of that num-
ber? And when the holy Spirit hath kindled
in him not only a purpoie of new Obedience,
but alio a begun Endeavour to live Holily,
Juftlyand Soberly, if he do net obfervc and
13 b ^ ae<
BOOK II. [ 390 ] CHAP. VIII.
acknowledge thefe Operations of God's Spirit,
making him to bring forth thefe Ad's, what won-
der that this Miftake and Inconfidcration do o-
pena Door to Difquietnefs and Dcubtipg, whe-
ther he be in the ftate of Grace or not >
4. For removing this Caufe of Difquietnefs,
the affli&ed perfon muft beware that he pafs not
Sentence of Gods Difpenfation towards him, ac-
cording to the Tentations and Suggeftions of Sa-
tan, nor yet according to the Opinion which his
Paftor or Friend may have of him, judging fome
what uncharitably of him, uponfinifter fufpici-
ons ; Neither let Him ftand to the fufpiciems of
his own incredulous heart; but let him confider
what the Word of the Lord hath faid of the Per-
fon in whom thefe three Graces do concur, to
wit, 1. The fenfe of Sin and Inability to help
our felves. i.Flying unto Chrift for Relief from
Sin and Mifcry. and, 3. Some meafure oi up-
right Purpofe and Endeavour to ferve God in new
Obedience;for of fuch faith the Apoftle, TV;//.}. 3.
We are the Circurncifi&n or true Ifraelitesjvho have
no confidence in theflejh, but rejoice in Jefus Chrift,
and worjhip God in the Spirit. Let him therefore
efteem the difcovery of his finful and wretched
eftate in himfeifto be the very fruit of the Eye-
ialve and Work of the Spirit bellowed on him
by Chrift, and let hirn efteem his hearty Confenc
given w the Covenant of Grace and Reconcilia-
tion, to be the undoubted Ad of faving Faith.
For, hearty Confent to the Offer of Grace in Je-
BOOK II. [ 391 ] CHAP. VIII.
fus Chrift, prefuppones, Firft, that the Pcrfon
fees no (landing for hirn by the Law or Cove-
nant of Works, but is beaten from all con-
fidence in himfelf, and made to believe and
fubferibe the Righteous Sentence of the Law a-
gainft himfclf to the praife of God's Truth and
Juftke. Secondly, it imports the Man's belie-
ving the Teftimony which God hath given of
Chrift Jefus, to wit.that God hath made a Gift of
Life-eternal to the Soul that hungereth and third
eth for Righteoufne(s,and that thisLife is in His
Son;yea it imports the Man's receiving & embra-
cing of Chrift offered in the GofpeL Thirdly,
it importeth, that the Confenter to the Cove-
nant of Grace as he hath renounced confidence
in his own Works, fo he hath given up himfclf
to God, to live by the Grace of Jefus Chrift un-
to eternal Life. Now if the Afflicted fhall re-
fled: upon thefe two Operations of the holy
Ghoft, making him humble in the fenfc of Sin
heartily to receive Chrift Jefus for his Reiief,
and withal do obferve anunfained Purpofc and
begun Endeavour to live more holily and fruit-
fully by the Grace and Furniture of Chrift, how-
foever he labour under many Infirmities, not on-
ly is he undoubtedly a new Creature, but alfo by
obfervingtheforefaid Evidence thereof, may cori-
clude,that God hath begun a good work of Grace
in him,and{o iMll this firft Caufe ©f Difquictncis
Ire removed.
BOOK. II. [ 392 ] CHAP. VIII.
j. Another caufe of Difquietnefs is, or maybe
tbisjf the Affli&ed,afcer examination of the work
of Grace in himfelf,being convinced of his blelled
Efhte and confirmed by prefent fenfe of God's
Love flied abroad in his Heart, do not hold faft
his Efrimation of God's Work in himfelf, longer
than the fenfible comfort thereof remaineth with
him, but either doth retreat his Judgement of
of his blelled Eftate,or doth not defend his Right,
doth not refill Satan by being fteadfaft in the
Faith, no wonder his difquietnefs and deje&ion
of Courage return upon him.
6. For removing of this Caufe of Difquietnefs,
let the Afflicted confider, that fpiritualConfolati-
on,and fenfible feeling of God's Favour,is granted
to God's Children to make themftedfaft in the
Faith of God's Grace toward them, when fen-
fible Comfort is with-drawn, and when they are
put to the trial and exercife of their Faith, un-
der Trouble and Temptations. And therefore,
when the Afflic3:ed,once being made clear of his
interett ia Chrift, and of his keeping on him the
Yoke of Chrift, doth find a change in his condi-
tion, let him prefently humble himfelf before
God. in acknowlegment of the power of the body
of Sin in himfelf, and of whatfoever evil Fruit it
hath brought forth, whereby he hath procured the
change of his own comfortable condition.-and let
him renew the Acls of his Repentance and of his
Faith in Chrift, driving againll all Temptations
for the Faith once given to him, and difputing,
lor
BOOK II. [ 393 1 CHAP. VIII.
for his Right and Intereft unto God's Grace in
Chrift,that he may with patience obtain the Vi-
ctory over his Temptation, and be able, not only
with DaviJ to charge his own Soul to truft in God,
the help and health of his countenance fit.^z. and 43,
but alio to glory with the Apoflle, and to fay,
x Tim. 1. zz. I know whom I have believed .and I am
perfwadedjhat He is able to keep that which I have
committed unto Him againjl that day. And fo may
the iecond Caufe of Difquietnefs be removed.
7. A Third Caufe of Difquietnefs is, or may
be this, If a fincere Convert, finding himfelf
come fliort both of his Purpofe and Hope of ma-
king progrefsiii the courfe of new Obcdience,and
Reformation of Heart and Conversation, fhall
inftead of being more humbled, and beaten more
out ofconfidenccinhisownftrength and works,
and in ftead of laying fafter hold on the imputed
Righteoufnefs of Chrift, yeild unto difcourage-
ment,and fo open a Door for ca! ling his own Con-
verfion in qucftion.ln this Cafe, the Difquietnefs
of the true Convert is augmented ,by reatbn of the
Confcicnce of his Sincerity in his Converfion,
wherein hercnounced the Love and Service of all
Sin,renouncedall confidence in his own Worth or
Works,did fly unto the Grace offered in Chrift and
received Him heartily, andpurpofed honeftly
to fcrve God thereafter in newnefs of Life,whicli
maketh him lay in himfelf,! can never putRc-
pentaneefrom dedd Works,and Faith inChrift,and
BOOK II. [ 394 1 CHAP. VIII,
purpofe of new Obedience more fincerely in exer-
cife, than I have done : And now feing I come
fhort of my purpofe and hope of Profiting, and
can never more fincerely Repent of Sin, or Be-
lieve in Chrift, than I have done,have I not juft
caufe of doubting of my Eftate, and of Difcou-
ragement and Difquietnefs.
8. For removing this saufe of Difquietnefs,let
the Affli&ed confider, Fir ft, That there is a great
diffcreace between Purpofe and Pra&ice. A ho-
ly and finccre Purpofe oft-times cometh Ihort in
practice: For the Apoftle faith, Rom. 7.18. To
will is prefent with me, but how to performtthat which
k good, I find not. The inlake here is of Strength
to perform, and not in the fmcerity of the Will
and Purpofe.
Secondly, Let him cohfider, that there is a dif-
ference between the Confent of a well-informed
Conference to the difcharge of holy Duties, and
the pra&ical coming up of the not well- reformed
Heart, unto the a&ual diicharge of thofe Duties:
For oft-times the Heart is like a deceitful Bow,
that dilappointeth the Archer; therefore let not
the Affii&ed deny the fmcerity of his Purpofe,
but let him be humbled for the Corruption of
his Heart, which hath not anfwered his Purpofe
and Expectation.
Thirdly, Let not the Affii&ed think that he
hath fo fully renounced ail confidence in his own
Works as he conceived .* We may be clearly con-
vinced not to lean toourownRighteoufnefs^nd
fo
BOOK II. [ 39* J CHAP. VIII.
fo moreeafily in our Judgement renounce all con-
fidence in our good Behaviour ; but the dregs of
the Sin of misbelieving Jews is not cafily purged
out of us, wherein they went about to eftabhfh
their own Righteoufneft, and did not fubmit
themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of Faith, Rom.
9. and 10. 3. As he therefore who denieth,that
he leaneth his weight on his StafF,andyet falleth
to the Ground when his Staff doth flide,is found
to have leaned more weight on his Staff than he
pretended ; fo he is found to have leaned too
much weight upon his own Works, who is call
down, becaufe his Performances are not anfwe-
rable to his Purpefe and Hopes. Humbled in-
deed he ought to be, and to lament his Mifery
under the body of Death, but not be fo deje-
ded and difcouraged, as to loofe or flacken his
Grips of the Covenant of Grace ; efpecially when
he doth confider, that the Lord, by this experi-
ence of his own weaknefs, is teaching him there-
after to have a more high eftimation, and make
better u(e of Chrift's imputed Righteoufiiefs, and
to lean lefs to his own Purpofes, and Pr©mifcs,
and inherent Righteoufhefs,that fo he may draw
more Ability from Chrifi; by Faith, to bring forth
better Fruits: For without Me (faith Chrift)jp« can
Jo nothing. Joh* 15. j.
Lafl *f a/2, Let him neither fay nor think, that
he cajanot put forth any Adt of Repentance or
Faith, or purpofe ef amendment of Life, more
fincerely than he hath done; for no Man hack*
at-
BOOK II. [396] CHAP. VII.
attained fuch a meafure of Sincerity in the dis-
charge of any A6t of (aving Grace, but there is
room for him to receive a greater Meafure both
of Activity and Sincerity ina&ing, then he hath
attained already.- but rather let him examine
more narrowly, and find out the corrupt Inclina-
tion of the Heart to lean to its own inherent
Righteoufnefs, and difficulty of fubje&ing it felf
wholly to the Righteoufnefs of Faith, and San-
edification through Faith in Chrift; for, this doth
the Apoftle teach us to do, Philip. 3. 12. 13. 14.
he did not think himfelf already porfed:, but
reached himfelf forth tothofe things which were
before him, prtffing toward the Mark, for the
prize of the high Calling of God in Chrift Jefus.
And the end of the prefling of the Law is, that
Sin may be the more clearly difcovered; that as
Sin hath reigned unto Death, even fo might
Grace reign through Chrift Jefus our Lord, Rom.
5*. 20, 21-
9. The Fourth Caufc of Difquietnefs is, or
may be this, If the true Convert, being frequent-
ly convinced of the manifold Deceits of the Heart,
for this caufe lhall begin to call in queftion all
the work of Grace in himfelf . Which Inconve-
nience doth flow from his not putting difference
between the ttue Content of the Heart unto the
Covenant of Grace and Ads of Holinefs, in fo
far as the Heart is renewed on the one hand,
and the Doubting or Hefitation of the Heart,
in as far as it is noc purged from the Reliefs of
t
BOOK II. [397] CHAP. VIII.
Incredulity and BackwardnefsuntoGodlinefs 011
the other hand; orbecaufehe puts no difference
between the effects of renewing Grace, and the
effedts of in-dwelling Sin in himfelf, both of
them putting forth their power in the felf fame
A&ions: for, if this Difference fhall not be ob-
ferved, and Sentence fo given, as that which
is in the renewed Man be abfolved and commen-
ded, and that which flowes from indwelling Sin
be difallowed and condemned, without preju-
dice to any good which fhali be found in the
renewed Man, it is impoflible that the Confci-
ence can be quiet, or that any good A&ion of
the Sainrs can be approven by reafon of Sin in us;
for, the Evil which we would not, fliall be
found in us, as is clear in the A po (lie's Cenfure
of himfelf, Bom. 7. 15. to 20.
10. For removing this Fourth CaufeofDiP
quietnefs, let the Afflided learn fo to obferve the
Inlakes and finful Imperfe&ions and Pollutions
of his bed Works, as he obferve alfo that
which is good in his Adtions, that of the good
he may make thankful confefTion unto God and
pray for the increafc thereof ; and of the inlakes
and Pollutions of his Works, he may make con-
fefiion alfo, and be humbled for them, and fly
to the unfpotted Righteoafnefs of Chrift, and to
the Fountain opened up in His Houfc for Sin and
Uncleannefs, Zech. 13 1. This Wifdom is
taught us in the example of the Father of the
Child poflefled with a dumb and deaf Spirit,crying
0U€
BOOK II. [ 398 ] CHAP. VIIL
out and faying with Tears, Lord J helieve, help
Thou my Unbelief, Mark 9. 24. he maintains the
begun Work of Faith in himfelf, and confefleth
the Evil he found in himfelf,and flyethby prayer
toChrift to help him.
11. The fifth Cauft ofDifquietnefs is,or may
be this, if the true Convert fufpend the Abfolu-
tion of his own Faith, and Fruits thereof, from
being hypocritical and counterfeit, unril he find
himlclf freed from Difquietne(s,and do injoy Peace
and Tranquillity of Mind, which he deth ap-
prehend fhould always accompany found,fincerc
andunfained Faith, and on this Ground he e-
fteemeth that Faith only to be true Faith, which
hath overcome all Doubtings, and now being
victorious, bringeth Peace and Quiecnefs with
it ; and that Faith which is tolled, or troubled
with Doubtings, he thinketh may juftly befuf-
pedtedof unfoundnefs,as if Tentation to Doubt-
ing were a fufficient reafon to make a queftion of
the fincerity of Believing: Or as if it were afuffi-
cient Reafon for a Man to call his Faith in que-
ftion, whether it be true Faith or aot,becaufe Sa-
tan calleth it in queftion;For if this were afuffici-
ent Reafon to queftion a Work or Ad: of Grace in
a Man, no Work of Grace,nor no Point of true Reli-
gionjhould beholden for (bund and true,becaufe
Satan never ccafeth to calumniatand quarrel the
Truth, both of God's Word and Working, for he
was fo malicious and impudent as to queftion
If Thou he the Son of God, Match. 4. 3.
ii Fos
i
BOOK II. [ 399 ] CHAP. VIII.
12. For removing of this Caufe of Difquict-
nefs, let the Airlifted confider, Frrft, That the
Aflaults of the Enemy do neither diminiili the
Worth, nor the Eftimation of Faith ; for, Faith
fighting, is no Iels folid and found in the time of
Battle, then it is after Vidtory, Handing vi£fc>
rious. 2. Let him confider that we are called
to a Warfare, not only againft Flefli and Blood,
but alfo againft Principalities and Powers and
fpiritual WiekednefTes, Epbef 6. and that we may
not promife to our felves, freedom or exemption
from Satans throwing fiery Darts at us, fo long
as we live, as the Apoftle doth warn us, Ephef.
5. Let him confider thirdly, that Obje&ions and
Queftions, moved againft the Converts Faith,
are rather a Token of the Sincerity thereof then
a Reafon for bringing it in queftion : For the
Pirat Satan can difcern well enough between an
empty Veflel and a Ship loadened with precious
Wares,& ufeth to let upon the rich Ship,that he
may fpoil it, if he can, of that moft precious
Faith, and not trouble himfelf to moleft a fecure
prefumptuous Perfon, left he fhould waken him,
by fuch means, out of his Dream, and chafe
him unto God. But as for a Man that is already
fled from him and turned to God by Faith m
Chrift, he will not fail to follow the chafe, thai
if he cannot bring him back, yet he may vex
him and dog him at the Heels till his Entry m
Heaven. Fourthly, Let him confider, that the
Lord ufeth to iufler Satan to trouble the Belie-
ver.
BOOK II. [ 400 ] CHAP. VIII.
ver with Suggeftions to waken his Faith, of fet
purpofe to teach the Believer to fight His Battles,
and by frequent Exercifes to be purified more
and more, like Gold or Silver put oft-times m
the Furnace ; yea, and that the Wreltler may be
made valiant in Fight, Heh. ir. 34. whereupon
the Afflidted muft be exhorted not only to take
Courage, and to defpife the Malice of the Ad-
verfary, but alfo to rejoice when he doth meet
with manifold Tentations (as we are charged Jam.
1. 2.) becaufe of the Fruit following by Gods
Bleffing on fuch Exercife. And to this end, let
him put on the whole Armour of God.that when
he hath refilled and overcome one Tentation, he
may Hand and refill another, Ephef. 6.
13. The Sixth Caufe of Difquietnefs, is, or
may be this, If the true Convert do not diftin-
guiih, but confound the Peace he hath with God,
iyid die Peace he hath in his Confcience ; if he
do not diftinguiihjbut confound Peace with God
and reft from AfTau Its of the Adversary; if he
do not diftinguiili, but confound Peace of Mind,
and Peace of Confcience; if he do not diftin-
guifli and put a due difference between thefe
forts of Peace, he cannot choofe but be difquie-
ted, by fufpe&mg his Peace with God, becaufe
he hath not Reft nor Peace fromSatans Ailaults;
he cannon efhevv Difquietnefs,whcn he conceives
that his Peace with God is dilTblved , when
Trouble arifetk m his own Confcience- And
go wpnder he be difquieted when he apr
pre?
BOOK II. [ 401 ] CHAR VIII.
prehendeth every Perturbation of his Mind to
be a breach of Peace with God, or with his
own Confciencc.
14. For removing of this Caufe of Difquiet-
nefs, the Affii&ed muft confider, Firft, that
Peace with God, doth follow iramediatly upon
an humbled Sinners flying to Chrift,and embra-
cing the ofler of Reconciliation with God in
Chrift, when, in the mean time, the Confci-
ence poflibiy may be going on purfuing the
Convert with Challenges for all fort of Sin and
Guiltinefs ; for he that is fled toChriii by Faith,
isjuftiried, and being justified by Faith, he hath
Peace with God, granted, decreed, pronoun-
ced in his favours, and regiilrat intheGourt-
book of the Evangel, albeit poffibly the ab-
folved Converr, hath not drawn forth the
Extract of. the Decreet, nor confidered it,
when he hath read it, nor applied the fame
to himfeif according as the general Sentence gi-
veth him warrand.
Therefore, the humbled Sinner fled unto
Chrift, and engaged heartily to His Service,
muft take heed fo much to what is fickly,
and not clearly informed Confcience doth
fay, as to what God, Who is greater than
the Confcience, and giveth Order and Rule tQ
the Confcience, doth fay to fuch a poor SpiU
fled unto Chrift.
Secondly, Let him confider, that his Peace is
not marred with God, by Satan's warring a~
gaini\
BOOK II. [ 402 ] CHAP. VIII,
gainft him ; for Peace with God ftandeth well
with War againlt all fpiritual Enemies .• And there-
fore the lets Reft he hath from Satan's Trouble
and Moleftation, let him be the more confident
of his Peace with God, Whofe Battles he is fight-
ing againft Satan.
Thirdly , Let him confider, that Perturbation
of Mind, doth neither hinder Peace with God,
nor Peace of Conference: For the Mind and
Thoughts of a Man, for many Reafons may be
rroubled and difquieted, when Peace with God
and Peace ofConlcience are fettled andeftablifh-
ed : For when the Mind is troubled, and temp-
ted to Anxiety, the Apoftle fheweth how to re-
move the Perturbation of the Mind, and fettle
the Peace of Confcience alfo, Phil. 4. 6, 7. Be
careful (faith he, or anxious) for nothing, but in
c icry thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thankf-
giving, let your Requefls be made manifefl to God,
Mid-thePeate of God, which pa ffes all Under (landing,
jiall keep your Hearts and Minds through Chrijl
Jefi/s. And in his own experience he lets us fee
the difference of Perturbation of Mind,from Peace
with God and the Confcience alfo, 2 Cor. 7.5,6.
When we were come into Macedonia, our Flefh had
no rejly but we were troubled on every fide, without
were Fightings, within were Fears ; never the lefs 9
Gcd that comfort eth thefe that are cafl down, com-
forted us in the coming of Titus. So alfo, 2 Cor.
%. lz, 13, 14.
15. The
BOOK II. [ 403 } CHAP. VIII
15, The Seventh Caufe of Difquietncfs, is, or
may be this, if the true Convert be cither ignorant
or forgetful of the way of obtaining, maintaining
repairing and recovering th* true Peace of God in
himfelf, and of the Change of God's Difpcnfation
toward his Children which is common; through
many Tribulations God doth bring his own to
Heaven. Sometime He (hews them His Counte-
nance in a comfortable Providence, fometime He
hides His Face, but doth not change His Love
toward them, Pfal. 30. 7. Thou hi deft Thy Face,
fiaith David) and I was troubled y hxxt here was his
Wifdom,he went the ftraight way to recover his
J?Qacc f lcryedto thee ,0 Lord \and unto the Lord made
I my Supplication&nd his Mourning was turned in*
to Dancing, PfaL 30. 7, 8. to the end. But ma-
ny weak Converts are not fo wife, who by their
inconfiderat Courfes do call: themfelves in Fears*,
Jealoufies and Sufpicions, both of God's Love to
them,and of their own intereft in Him: when they
mifs felt Conizations they fall to quarrel their
Right. And if they rcfolvc to have their con-
dition helped, they prefcribe their own time,
way and meafure, and nothing can fatisfie them
rill they recover poflellion of loft ienfe with the
Spoufe, Cant. a. 5-. Stay me with Flagffns,
comfort me with Aples ( faith lhe) for I am fick of
Love. It is rrue, fometime God doth con-
defcend to their paffionat purfuit of Comfort,
but their not believing, in the mean time,
and their hailing to have their conditionalte red,
G c be-
BOOK II. [ 404 } CHAR VIII.
before Patience hath wrought the perfed: work,
is not to be commended or approven.
1 6, For removing this Caufe of Difquiernets,
let the Affli&ed confider, Fir[t, that the Lord
neither fheweth His Loving Countenance to the
weak Difciple, nor hidcth it from him, but ous
oflove ; He neither correð nor comforteth
him,but out of love;/ am thcLord and change not
(faith He) MaL$. 6.Thercfrre you Sonscf Jacob are
■not cenjumed. If He give confolation fenfibly,
it is to confirm their weak Faith, by fenfible
Experience of the Fruit of believing in Him,
and if He withdraw His Confolation, it is that
He may exercife their Faith, and train them to
believeHisWord without a fenfiblePawn for it :
And therefore,for removing this Caufe of Dil-
quietnefs, by allMeans let the Affii&ed be ware
to mi£conftru<3: die Lord's dealing, but let him
ftrive againft all Suggcflions of Satan,or his own
misbelieving Heart, and entertain friendly
Thoughts of God; for a true Friend, or Father
among Men, will take it for no fmall Injury to
<o be fufpe&ed of His friendly or fatherly Af-
fedion to His Friend or Child, yea, even Phy-
ficians and Chyrurgians, find a good Expofition
from their Patients, when they give them bitter
Potions, when they cut and carve and burn their
Flefh,full they are exponed to aim at the Patient's
Good;much more ihould every Man,whatibever
Dilpenfatioii ofGod he meet with, give a good
Conftru&ion of His working.
BOOK n. [ 40s ] CHAP. VIII.
Secondly, Let him cotifidcr,that the Lord hath
his own way and order of working; firft, He
difcoverth Sin and Mifcry and Weaknefs in the
Crdature,and after that he difcovereth his Grace,
Mercy and Power in Chrift to relieve; firft, He
humbleth and then liftcth up: firft, He woun-
deth, and then He healeth; firft He fmiteth, and
thenbindeth up; firft He bringeth down to Death,
and then rcftoreph unto Life, Hof. 6. 1. and,
Pf. 9. 3. and therefore, let the Afflided be hum-
bled under the (enfe of apprehended Caufes of
his Difquietnefs, and feek of God the reltor-
ing of w r hat is loft or wanting, and the healing
of the wound infli&ed in due order. Now
God's Order is thiSyHe will, firft, have the Law
magnified, and His Juftice acknowledged by all
affli&ed Sinners, even by them who are in the
ilateof Grace,andnot are under the Covenant oc
Curfe of the Law, to whom notwithftanding
the Law muft ftili be a Pedagogue to lead them
to Chrifl.-and when the Lord's Juftice is acknow-
ledged, and all fretting and murmuring againft
his dealing flopped, then cometh, in the next
place, the difcovery of Grace in Chrift: for, fince
the fall of Adam, God hath always been in
Chrift, going about to reconcile the World to
Himfeif, not impuring their tranfgreflions to
them, z Cor. 5. 19. And when God hath drawn
the Sinner by Faith to the Mediator Chrift,
God incarnat, then there is a matrimonial Con-
•radt made betwixt God in Chrift recon-
C c 2 •*-
BOOK II. [ 406 J CHAP. VIII;
died and rhe Believer, and an union between
Chrift and the Believer in a judicial manner ;
and fo the Believer is made to have a Right unto
Chrift's Perfon according to that of the Spoufe,
Cant. 1. 1 6. My lelcved is mine> and I am his.
And by this means alfo, the Believer is madeto J
have Right unto Chrift's Purchafe and Benefits,
and to Communion with Him and His Saints, as
the Apoftle teacheth us, Rom. 32,. He that /pared
not Hts own Son, hut delivered Him up for us alljhow
fhallHe not with Him alfo freely give us all things ?
And after Right given to the Believer, in due
time die Lord giveth and renewcth the Earneft-
penny of the Inheritance, Ephefi. 13. In whom
alfo ye were fealed with that holy Spirit ofPromife %
who really teneweth the Believer and giveth
him Peace, Joy, Confolation, Strength and other
Gifts of Grace, with an ebbing and flowing
thereof in the (enfe and feeling of the Believer, as
may befl: firve the good of the Believer, and glo-
ry of God's gracious Difpenfation: and therefore,
Thirdly, Let the afflicted Perfon, whatfoever
Crofs-difpenfation he meet with, whatfoeyer Di-
ftemper of Soul he fall into, whatfoever 'Grace
or meafure of Grace he mifleth or cometh fhort
of, feek his Relief in God's order; that is to fay,
let him juftify the Lord's Wifdom andjullicc,
humble himfelf under His mighty Hand, renew
the A&s of Repentance in Humility, turn his
Face toward Chrift by the renewed Ads of Faith
in him, lay hold on his Right unto ChrilVs Per-
foa
BOOK II. [ 407 ] CHAP. VUl.
fan and Benefits, that he may come to the
fenfible feeling of what he hath right unto by
the Covenant of Grace. And whatfocver De-
feds, Tranfgreflions, Temptations unto Difcou-
ragement and Misbelief, do branglc his Confi-
dence, let them humble himfelf indeed, but fo
as they do not drive him from that Covenant,
but be made of as Spurrs, and forcible Motives
to lay the faflcr hold on Chrift, and His infinit
Grace contracted in that Covenant.
17. The Eighr Caufe of Difquietnefs, is, or
may be this, If the true Conrert,daily lamenting
his own finfulacfs, and daily troubled with fu-
ipicion of his own bleffed eiiate,by reafon of his
felt manifold Corruptions, iliall meet either with
the/Calumnies of Men, or Comforters like Job's
Friends, whom (lead of healing his Wounds in
his Affiidion, ihall fofter'his fufpicion of his
eltate by uncharitable cenfure of the poor Man's
Complaint of himfelfan this cafe,if the Aftlidcddo
not maintain his Righteoufnefsby Faith in (Shrift
as Job did, & his upright endeavour to pi cafe God,
which is m'anifeft 'by his daily godly Grief for his
ihorc coming in his aimed-at Holinefs* no won-
der he be diiquieted.
18. For removing of this Caufe, let the Afiii*
ded confidcr and diltinguifa what is right in him,
and what is wrong, and beware to confoun-A
thefe. For example, 1. This is ' right,rhatHe; ( dbth
hot lean to theworch of his own Works, nor is
puffed up with a vaiii conceit of himfelf before
Cc 3 God
BOOK II. t 4^8 ] CHAR VII!.
God. 2. That he isfenfible of his finful Imper-
fections and Corruptions, and of the bitter Root
of original Sin in him. 3. It is right in him alfo,
that he aimeth toward Peffe&ion, forgetting
what is behind, and preffing toward the Mark
and Prize of his Calling. But this is wrong in
him, 1. That he foftereth Sufpicions unjultly
of his own Biefled' Eftate. z. That he doth not
obferve the Work of God's Grace in himfetf Co
carefully as he obferveth his Imperfecfiions and
Corruptions. 3. That he doth not fo much the
more make ufeofChrifFs imputed Righteoufnefs,
as he findeth the Imperfection of his own inhe-
rent Righteoufnefs. 4. That he meafureth God's
efdmation of him, according to the eftimation
lie hath of himfelf, when indeed God in Scrip-
ture cloth fliew no leis approbation of him in his
wreftljng, then he doth in the time of his vidtG-
ry and quiet condition. f.l That he doth net
ob&fve the difference of the way he coth Ivafk
into which is good, from the Slidings; Imper-
fections, Errors and Miftakes m particular
A&ions and Pafiages, in that way. 6. That he
doth lay more weight oft-times' upon the Judg-
ment of miilaking Spectators of his Courfe, then
he hath reafori to do, and doth not rake heed to
the Sentence of the. Lord in the Gofpel, concer-
ning pie Poor in Spint, the Contrite; the Meek
anUTdwIy Difciplc" Thcie things let the Af-
fiid'ed jcon jaer and make good uic thereof,fo: his
'c^^r'ageiTKnt in the way of lieiv obedience. •
» -^ v. .
:
le
i B O O K II. I 409 1 CHAP. Vin.
19. The Ninth Caufe of Difquictnefs 1*5, or
Jmay be this, if the true Convert be not acquaint-
ed with living by Faith; for there arc many ho-
ned and tender-hearted Converts, who, in the
fenfe of their Sins,are fled unto Chrid,refoIved
never to depart from Him, and careful to lead a
blamelefs Life, whonotwithftandiag, whenfoever
they meet with Changes of Difpenfetion, with
variety of Temptations, frefh feehfig of the power
of Sin in themfelvcs, or any Crofs bodily or fpi-
ritual, aredi{quiercd and cad in Sufpicion of
their date .* And albeit they neither will give o-
vcr to follow after Chrid, nor will God differ
them toperiili; yet they niakcthemfelvesan un-
comfortable and miferable Life, by their leaning
to prcfent Senfc and Feeling, when they fliould
remember the Saying of the Apodlc, ( z.Ccr. 5.
j We walk not by Sight but by Faith} they are cad
down, do mourn and complain, becaufe it is not
w T ith them as they would, and are mod pare
male-content with their lot, frequently regrating
unto God their Wants and Imperfections, andfei-
dom are they praifmg or thanking God for what
they have gotten of Him.
20. For removing this Caule, let the Aiflicl>
ed, fird confider what the Apodlc fpeaketh to the*
afflicted Hebrews, Ileb. 10. 36. Te have need 'of \
Patience, that when ye have clone the Will of God ye
way receive the Promife; for yet a little while, and
he that will come, (lull cwne % and will not tv,-j\lh^
the Jul} MaitjbaU live by Faith, faith he,
k
BOOK II. t 410 ] CHAP. VIII,
Secondly, Let him conftder, that to live by
Faith, doth require thefe fix Duties. 1. That we
renounce our own corrupt Reafon and Senfe, left
we count that to be our Life which may be ieen
or felt,or that which may be altered and changed,
but reckon that to be our Life,which is hid with
God in Chrift, and fhall be revealied at the glo
rious coming of our Lord. %> That the Cove-
nant of Grace, and Rich promifes of the Gofpel
be efteemed of us as our Meat and Drink,where-
by our Hearts may be fiiftainedinall Adverfity,
mid our Hope upholden in Patience through the
Comfort of the Scripture. 3. That we make ufe of
all God's Benefits beftowed upon us by vertue of
that new Right made unto us in Chrift for being
Partakers thereof. 4. That in all our Actions,
we implore and feek our ftrength from Chrift,and
give Him thanks for the meafure whatfoever
He beftoweth. So did the Apoftle live, Gal.
% 20. The Life which I new live in the fkfh % I
Jive hy the Faith of the Son of God. 5. That
we tejoyceand glory more in Chrift Jefusilithe
midft oftrouble, then we grieve for our Troubles
whatfoever, whereby as with a fliarp Pinfel, He
is thawing in us the Lineaments of His ovvn Image
and Conformity with Himfelf; fo did the Saints,
Rem. 5. 3, 4, $r. Laftofall, to live by Faith, re?
quireth that in every condition we ihould keep
Faith and a good Confciencein Chrift Jefus, and
efteem our felves blefled of the Lord, albeit we
^e rolled with Troubles immediatly fept fronx
Qq4
BOOK H. i 411 ] CHAP. V-m.
God to exercife uS;albeic wc do fall in manifold
Tentations, be affaulted with Doubtings, and
perfecuted unjuftly by Men.- For, it fhould and
may fuffice a Believer in Chrift, if he bo not
diftrefled, albeit he be troubled on every fide; h<*
muft not difpait albeit he be perplexed; he ihall
not be forfaken, albeit he be perfecuted ; he (hall
not be deftroyed, albeit he be caft down, a Cor.
4. 8, 9. Upon thefe and the like Grounds, the A-
poftle lived a comfortable Life, Th.L 4. xz. I
know hotb how: to be abafed % and I know how to a-
boundy every where and in all things I am ivJlruUfd,
both to be full, and to he hungry f both to abound and
fuffer need ; lean do all things, through Chrift who
flrengthens me. Thus mud Chriftian Souldiers live
in the midft of their toyling, itrwarfar, in wanr
of many things, in watching and runing hazard
of Life, in hope of Vidtory-and promifcd Glory,
holding up their EJearts by Faith in Chrift.
And thefe things which we have fpoken in Ex-
plication of this Cafe, arc jnqt< intended to hinder
the tender hearted Believer from pr aying,and en-
deavouring by all Means, that the Face ofxlic
Lord may lhine upon him, and that- he may be
filled with the Joy of His Spirit; for we are char-
ged to fcek His Face agd Strength continu^
ly, Pfal. ioj, 4. Butallour Speech doth drive
at this mainly, that the Affh&ed in his AiP?
couragement and unquietnefs meekly fubmit
himfelf to the Will of God howfoever he be-
exercifed, always going on in the way of Goi^
BOOK II. [ 4 oix ] CHAP. VIII.
God according to his Vocation, through Honour
and Dishonour, through good Report and evil
Report, looking unco the Promifes which are
made to him that cndureth to the end. And
what is fpoken here of living by-Faith, muft not
be abufed to fofter Neligence in well doing, or
^bringing forth Fruits of Faith in every condition
or to hinder the daily exercifeof Repentance,or
to require of a Chriftian a ftoicat Stupidity un-
der Trouble; but the thing we aim at,- is, That,
the Chriftian in ail crofs Difpenfatidns and Vexa-
tions, endeavour by Faith to be of good courage
m the Lord, and endeavour to draw Vertue from
Ch'rift to Bring forth Fruits, giving Glory to Him,
wliatfoever mcafure He Hialtbeftowmore or lefs
becaufd itiVChrift Who is made unto us Wtfdom
and Righteoufnefs/Sanclification and Redemp-
tion, and in Him alone fliall the Soul of theAf-
Aided have reft/ Matth. i r . M .
... .
CHAP. IX.
IVkereiK the Com erf s Dsuht, arijing from his un-
srtshiy aixchattime-he was converted, isfohed.
^Here are feme true Converts, who after
they have paft a good part of their Jour-
^ ncy to Heaven, begin to halt and make
flow progrefe, by doubting whether I they
be walking in the' true Converts foot- fteps,
^r ^h^thbf' they %c* converted- at all, or
net
BOOK Ii. [413] chAp. IX
not. The reafon of their doubting, arifeth
from this, that in conference with iundry of
the Saints of their acquaintance, they have : ob-
ferved, that evry one of them could defign the
time of their Convcrfion, and from that time can
reckon their Age inChrift: Or, from "this is
their Doubt ariferi, that in the Treatifeoffome
modern Writer, they have read, or from th«
Sermon of fome well cftecmed Preacher,they have
heard fome iucli dodtrine; whereupon thttrue
Convert falleth*>iir with himfclfin faying, 1 wa3
bred and brought up in a Gbdly Family, I have
followed the Exercifc of Rejigion; after hearing
the Heads and Strmm ofChriftian Religion, i
have embraced the Truth; I fe'enfed to my felf
to belies in Chrift, and entert&iri the exercife oF
Repentance, and to endCaVouf the' 1 amendment
of iny Life ; I love thefe whom J "fee to live ho*-
liiy, and! do hate the ways of the Profane, but
becaufc I cannot tell when or what Day or Year
1 was really converted, as I know fundryof the
Godly of my acquaintance can eta ; therefore I
doubt whether my Convcrfion be begun, or not,
but mean tifrfef though I will notrarn ofTthe way
I have been following, yet I'go on. halting arid
heajdefs till.! he cleared of m}^t>oub^
a.For rcmoyingthis Doubt, we Wtift yield this
ftr to the AfBicted-.that many indeed deceive them-
{eivcs,who being civilly educatecF,and from their
Bairn-age ac^ftomed with the exercife of Reli-
gion
BOQK IL , I414I CHAP. IX.
gion ; . are nothing beyond the foolifii Virgins,and
do rettfatisficd ; \vith their own and others Opinion
of themfelvcs. Iffuch Perfons be queftioned,
.when they began tq Repent, or Believe in Chrift;
it is true they, cannot, defign the time when they
were unconverted,, but have dill . been pleated
and are pleafedr, with their own eftate, and in ef>
fed: were never converted. But it is no lefs true
00. die other hand, that there are fome who in*
deed are re:ie\ve;d,in whom,peece and peece,with-
x)ut any notable change, Faith and Repentance,
and a hoiy Convocation, have grown with the
growing knowledge of the Gofpei, and Will of
jGod therein ;. of whom it may be truly faid, the
the Kingdom of Heaven cometlv not with obfer-
vation ; of whom it is faid, Mark' 4. 26, So is
Kingdom of God, : as if a Man jhould cafl Seed into
the Ground, and fh^uld flee p, and rife night and
Jaj, and J he Seed jhoufd fprin^ jwd grow up, he
fecweth net how. -
ztlpyi to iblve the Deubt, ; it matters not whettyet
t^fSO/lP^dff fifij know the day of his,Conyecr
ifefa provided he.be indeed regenerat and made
fgfiW Creature.' Wherefore the AiBi&ed.rnay be
p^jgood courage, if ' after ferious Examination
of his own Confcie;ice,he be "humbled, frequently
jipthe fenfe, not only, of his a&uai Sins and Short-
.coming of his Duty,, but alio in the fenfe of his
■gnginai and . in- dwelling Corruption or body of
jL^cath; if as he doth indeed h^Mxmklfand tQ-
jounce all confidence ia his befi: Works Jo he feri-
rioufly
BOOK II r^fl CHAP. IX
rioufly imbrace the imputed Rightcoufnefs of
Ch'ri{t,and in His Scrcngth,by Faith in Him,doth
endeavour to UveHolily,Righteoufly and Soberly,
(albeit joined with many Imperfections) he may
conclude he is Regenerat: for, if thefe three be
joyncd in him in any meafurebf honcfty, he nee-
deth not be anxious what Day, Month or Yeai
the holy Siprit began to work thefe things in him.
Only let him give all diligence to grow iti Humi-
lity Faith and new Obedience, and hold on this
way, whatlbever Doubts or Impediments he fhali
meet with ; for the Apoftle cxeemeth fuch a
Man from the number of Hypocrites and Un-
converted, FhiL 3.3.^ (faith he) are the Circunt-
cifion, (or the Chriftian Converts) who ivorfciptied
in the Spirit, and rejoite in Chrijl Jejus* an J have
no confidence in the fie fb.
CHAR X,
Wherein isfohed the Convert's Douli of his Rege-
neration, arifing from his apprehenfton } that the
beginning of the change of his Life, was not from the
fincere Love of God, but either from Terror or
Self love, which he conceivethto he hut carnal.
Omc true Converts are, who can d'eiigri
the time of the change of their way from
Sin to Chrift, and to a holy Life, where-
of they have not only the Church they
live in, but alio their own Conference Witness;
yet
BOQKH. [416} CHAP.X.
yet after a confiderable time, do fa.ll in fufpicion,
whether that time of their change was the time
of their effe&ual Calhng;fome of them bringing
no other Reafori of their Doubting (ave this,that
they were never much troubled with the Terrors
of the Law, butrrioft part allured to draw near
to God, and to eihew the way " of fuming
by the love of eternal Life. Other (ome,doubt-
ing of thefoundaefs of their Converilonjbecaufe
the Terror of God and Fear of Condemnation
and Hell prevailed more with them, for chan-
ging their courfe, then the love of God and
true Holinefs did; and both the one fort and
the other do conceive the chief rife of their
change to have been natural or'carnal^Self-Love,,
fearing Harm, and loving Life.
2. For removing of this Doubt, we grant a that
there are many, who after fome notable delivery
from Death,or fome notable Benefit received, or
after fome lharp'Rod of Chaifcfcment for their
Sin, have changed their outward way of living,
left off gro(sVices,and led a more civil & blame-
lefs outward Life^and yet have neither ferioufly
repented them of &n,nor ferioufly fled in unto the
Grace ofJefusChrift offered in the Gofpel,neither
knowing what (avingFaith i$,nor careful to know
it; but of fuch we do nor fpeak here, for wc
are fpeaking of the true Convert and renewed
Man,whoin the fenfe,of Sin is fled to Chrift,in
the fenfe of his Un.worthmels maketh theGracq
•ft
BOOK II. { 417 ] CHAP.X
offered hisRefuge,and in thefenfe of Indigence,
lookedi up toChrift and feekcth Supply of Him
in all things, and by the Holy Spirit is driving
againft Sin, endeavouring in fbme meafure of
Sincerity to bring forth the Fruits of Faith and
Repentance; and yet for all this he doubteth of
the Sincerity of his own Con ver Hon for the
Reafbns forefaid. To this Souldier and Wrcft-
kr we (ay ("as before we faid to him that doubt-
eth of his Converfion,becaufe he cannot defign
the time of his Converfion) it is not material by
what Way,or Means or Motives a Man is brought
unto Chrift, provided he doth come, and in-
deed adhere to Chrift; it is all one whether the
rife of the Man's turning ftom Sin to God, was
Love alluring, or Terror driving him, whether
a Benefit or a fliarp Rod, whether Fear or Hope
did at the firft beginning of his change, mdve
him to kek God ; provided, God mainfefted
in the Fie lb Chrift Jefus the Redeemer of Sin-
ners,be now his beloved Lord and precious in his
Eyes: for, he that is mod fweetly allured to
come to God, and without much Fear is conver-
ted, who poflibly after feriousconvidion otSin
and defcrved Death, is not keeped long ar the
Door of Mercy, but forthwith is admitted to
the Throne of Grace, aed tenderly entertained
by the Spirit of Confolation, may^fall in hard
Exercifcs afterward. This is evident in the ex-
perience of the Prophet David, m whom his lire-
thrcn^iving in the fame Family with him,did not
per*
BOOK It {418} CHAP. X
perceive any figns of a forrowful or heavy
Heart, as his Brother Elia&'s Words do fliew
I Sam. 17. 28. I know thy pride \ and the naugbti-
rejs of thy Heart. Thus did Elial judge of Da-
iid\ chearful Carriage, whereof alfo we have
fome evidence, that David was of a ruddy and
beautiful Countenance, and for fome Years of
his youth, did pals the time pleatantly, ferving
God with his Songs and Harp,while he was fee-
ding his, Sheep inthe Wildernefs : Now none can
jufily qucftion his Cabverfion all this time, or
his Sincerity in this fervice, yet afterward he
was otherways exercifed : For oft-times he felc
the Power of the Law upon his Spirit, and was
tolled with the Terror thereof, and made to
mourn and weep heavily .Suchdoth Joh's conditi-
on (eem to be m his youth, as it isdefcribed, Job
29. but afterward in the trial of his Faith, what
a Conflift with Temptation he had, the facred
Hiftorydothteftify. Therefore, there is no rea-
fbn why any, in whom theft Evidences of a true
Israelite are found in any meafure, fhould fuf-
peeft the Sincerity of his Regeneration, becaufe
he hath been gentlely handled in hisConverfion.*
For it may come to pafs, that the fame Perfon
may fall in fiery Trials and fo hard Temptations,
as he may falUn doubt of his Converfion, ia re-
gard of the fad AfHi&ions inward and outward
whereby he is exercifed. In which Cafe he will
be found to be miftaken no lefs then he was mi-
staken in the former Cafe' and Condition; for,
(omc
BOOKH. [ 419 ] CHAP. X
fomc dear Children of God may poflibly, both
in their Conversion and moft part of their Life,
be exercifed with the Terrors of the Law, and
yet retain fafl hold by Faith on Chrift's Grace in
tfiairdeepeft Afih&ions .• For inftance, we offer
that precious Soul Heman, the Ezraite, who
came near unto Solomon in the point of Wifdom,
1 King. 4, 3 1. and yet how bitter his Afflictions
of Spirit were, the 88 Pfalm beareth witnefs,
specially, V. 13, 14, ij. But unto Thee have I
cryed, Lord± and in the Morning fball my Prayer
orevent Thee. And why cafiejl Thou off my Soul ?
vhy hidefl Thou Thy Face frsm me ? / am affiiffed'
md ready to die frim my youth up- while I fuffer
Thy Terrors, 1 r am difir atled \ &c. And therefore,
:here is no juft caufe, that any, in whom the
evidences of Faith and Repentance may be
bund, fliould call the Sincerity of his own Con-
^erfion in qucftion, how hardly foever he fcem
o be handled of God : for whofoever is joined
othe Lord Jefus, and will neither fuffer hira-
elf to be driven from Him, aor yet Will endure'
Jhi to remain in himfelf uncontrolled, is certain
y a true Convert, As for theie, who for fomc
emporal caufe, are come to Chrift(as many
id come in the days of His Flcfli) that they
right be delivered from fpme temporal Evil, '
r obtain fome temporal Benefit, and for that
aufe do doubt of their Convention or Sincerity
Wreof, they need not difpute much about the
ccafons ©f »tkcir- firft feekiag after God,
P 4 pr^
ai
BOOK II [ 4 iq ) CHAP. XL
provided that; they have learned what Chrift's?
Grace is, and do leek Righteoufnefs and Salva-?|
tion in Him; for, we read in the Evangel, that C
fundry, that they might be cured of Leprofie/ 3
Pa!fie,Blindne(s, &c. came unto Chrift, who af- f
terward came and adhered to Him by Faith, as I
the only Redeemer and Saviour of their Souls.,
from Sin and Mifery. Wherefore in fuch Doub-
lings, let not the Afflidcd trouble himfelf, nor
call his Converfion inqucdion; but let him give
all dilligenceto ftrengthen his Faith and to in-
creafeinHolinefs, making hisCalling andEle&ioti
fure by well-doing; For, if he do this, he fhall
neither be found idle, nor unfruitful in the know-
ledge of our Lord Jefus, as the Apoftle promifeth,
% Pet. i. o.'
CHAP, XL
Wherein the Convert's Douht of his heing in the flute
of Grace , arifing from heavy Jffliclions and grie-
vous Tent at ions, isfolved.
«
SOme true Converts fometime fall into great
Sufpicions of their Regeneration, of their
effe&ual Calling, and, of the Love of God
unto them, and that becaufe they meet with fore
outward Afflidions, and are aflaulted alfo pof-
fibly with horrible inward Tentations which do
befal them unexpectedly, and are ready to fwat- J a|
low them up ; for whereas, after divers Con
Aids in their Converfion, and Peace of Con-. L
fcience following after thefe fad Exercifes* of ^
Mind,
JOOK II. [ 411 ] CHAP. XI.
Mind, they hoped to have enjoyed God's Peace
[Hill after, they do meet poflibiy with fad Cala-
mities which they did not forefee nor fear, and
and being yoked in conflict with more fearful
Tentations than ever before, which they find
rhemfclves unable to overcome, they fcem to
hemfelves, to have juft caufe to call in queftion
ill the former work of Grace in themfelves, and
:o doubt of their Regeneration, and of their Re-
conciliation with God. Of this fort, fome who
ived in great Wealth and outward Profperity,
lo fall in fo deep Poverty, that they are nei-
her able to fuftain themfelves nor their Fami-
ies, but arc forced to live on the privat Chari-
y of others, or openly to beg. Other fome do
all in heavy Sicknefies,yea in uncouth Difeafes,
rfhidh but rarely do befal any, which feemto be
Evidences of the Wrath of God. Other fome do
all in horrible Tentations,and arc troubled with
)lafphemous Suggeftions againft God and the
loly Scripture, and the way of the Saints, which
s fiery Darts do flick fall unto them, and dif-
[uiet them continually. Other fome are temp-
ed unto hainous Sins,and to fuch Wicked nefs a-
;ainft themfelves or others, as Nature doth ab-
or, to which adtsof Wickednefs they find them-
:lves fo powerfully folifted, as they fear God
ath decreed to give them over, and that they
lail be overcome with the Tentacions ;
)me after one way, fome after another
ay, by one fort or other of Vexation, are
Dd x toG
fcO-O Kfl. [ 4t*4 C HA P. XIx I
tofTed,fo as they fufpe<3: God-xs- purfuing thcin i
in Wrath, and dealing with them otherways.than r
with any of His Chiidrei. Whereupon ofttimes c;
they break forth infad Complaints, and m -
believing Sufpicions, faying, If God loved me C c
He would not deafth us and thus with me; if I
were a true Convert and Reconciled with God, t<
He would not thus purfue me ; my cafe is mm
the cafe of the Children of God, for any thing \\\
I know, and other fuch like Regrates and La-w
mentation are uttered by them,
i. For folvingrhis Doubt, we neither eftecraL
fuch Exercifcs, and Tentations proper to the Re- \
generat Man, or a Tokeh of Regeneration; jnciHft
rherjao we deny, that fuch Exercife$ may befall p
true Converts : For, all forts of Afflictions ancLcc
Calamities are common to the Good and Evil,y-
to the Godly and. the Wicked, fo that by thofe
Troubles and .Mifcries neither the Love orHa-£
tred of. God cari be certainly •.concluded: But itf
thus much may be laid in reafon,.if thefe Cala^fce
mitics . do befall a Man, while he is walking^
in his own finful ways, then are. they undoub-^
tedly to be interpret as Evidences, of God's Wrathjfrc
at lead fatherly. Anger againfcthe : Auiid-ed,a:-
to be efteemed as Fore warnings afniore and moot
heavy Calamities to come upon him, yea, and
final Perdition alio* if he do not Repent.
3. In which cafe the Affiidted -fliall do we
to humble himfelf before God, and givea good
Confttuttion ofGcdVpurpofe.infending on h
fuch
ROOK If. r 413 J CHAP. XT.
ufiich Calamities, in regard when He might forth-
with have deftroved the Sinner He hath fent
S forth thefe fad Afflictions to waken his Conlci-
;, .snce, and to warn him to fly from the Wrath to
* :ome leaft he pcrifh utterly.-
I .4. He fliail do well alio to confider withhim-
I felf, and. to acknowledge that ibch a bitter po-
* don was necdlary, in io .deadly and dciperat
9 like Difeafe, as his Soul was ''lying into ! For,
fcwhat fhould the Lord dountb thofe whodifpiic
:he worth of their own Souls and of eternal
flLifc, and do feck their Felicity.in vain and pe-
I rifhing Plcafurc, Profit and Honour? what fliail
I Hie do with thofe whom He will not fuffer to
J 3erifli with this evil World, but break their I-
idols in peices and put themfelves to grief, who
Ijrtex.His Holy Spirit.
Wherefore let the Afflidted read his Sin in the
£od wherewith he is beaten; if he be deprived
if temporal Goods, or earthly Comforts, which
ic hath abufed to the hazard of his own Soul,
it God have the glory of Hisjufticc and Mercy
ilfo, in that- He, by cutting- oft earthly Things
rom him,is fending him tofeek Things fpintual
uid everlafting. in Heaven, where Chriii: is at
he right Hand of the Father, -Col. 3. hi
If he be vexed wichTentationsunto Blafphc-
nies, and fuclrhorrid fearful Sins, which even
TJarure doth abhor, let him confider, that Mis-
belief of Threatemngs and Promifes are no lei's in
ffe£t,then realafierting ofBlafphcmies, and rhr.:
D d ; car
BOOK If. [ 4M 1 CHAP. XI
entertaining of finfulLufts which fight againft hii
Soul, is in effedt a defiling and destroying of hiiij-
own Sou!;by which. Affii&ions and Tentations,i|o
the Afflicted take not warning and repent, hc n;
may juftly fear thefe Calamities and tormenting h
Tentations are but the beginnings of Sorrows.
But if thefe Calamities and fearful Tentatiotfc
befal a Man walking in the ways of God, whc
is a Believer in Chrift, who hath caften his An-
chor within the Vail, and ftudietb in any mea-
fure of Uprightnefs to pleafe God,let not fuch i
Man be afraid; for, God is net purfuing him ir
wrath, as Satan his Adverfary fuggefteth, but
as a mod wife and loving Father is trying, anc w
training his Faith, and bringing forth the E-
vidence of Grace beftowed upon him. to th<
Praife of His own Name,fhaming of Satan, and (
edifying all Beholders of this Man^s Exercife
Wherefore let the Afflided comfort himfelfis
the Lord, and be (Irong in the Faith of holy j
Scripture, which is granted to the Church for up-
holding of Believers in patience and hope of the
promifed Reward ; For even Job, the holiefl
Man on Earth in his Generation, was both fud-
denly furprized with a multitude of concurring
Calamities, and alfo deprived of all Confolatior
from God and Man for a feafon ; for at once
he was fpoiied of all his Goods, deprived
of all his Children, tempted by his Wife rCf
difpair, defpifed by his Servants, judged to be i\[
Hypocrite by his moll entire godly Friends,
ftril
4
BOOK II. [ 42? ] CHAP. XI.
ftricken by Satan with an unufual Plague of
Botch-biles; and how far the Lord did hide all
:omfort for a time,the Hiftory of his Complaints
-make evident: Yea,burblefled Lord JefusChrift,
hathTan&ified in His own Perfon, the hardcft
Exercifes of this fort which HisChildren can fall
into; for a-lbeit He -could not be defiled with Sin;
yet He was tempted of Satan unto moft abomi-
iable Sins, in fpecial He was tempted to caft
Himfelf down from the Pinacle of the Temple,
which was to kill Himfelf ; He was tempted to
fall down and worfhipthe Devil, which O how
horrible Blafphemy is it ? yea, for a time power,
was given to Satan albeit not tohurtChrift, yet
:o carry His Body from one place to another, £s (
we read in Matih. 4. and therefore let this be for
Confolation to fuch of God's Children as arc
vexed with vile and blafphemous Tentations,
and Soliftations to abominable Sins, Heh.i. 18.
For in that our Lord Him/e/f hath faffered,
\being tempted, He is able to Juccour them
that are tempted.
4. But if the Afflicted infift, and fay, he is
fo put to it by Satan's Tentations to commit S'm
againft his light, and is ready to fuccumb, be-
caufe he neither hath ftrength in himfelf torefift
and (land out, nor is their appearance or hope
bf God's aiTifting him in his Conflict, becaufc
God feemeth to have not only* deferted him f
but alfo to have given him over in the hands of
an unclean Spirit to be vexed.
D d 4 Unto
BOOK II. [416 ] CfMF. XL
Unco this Testation we anfwer, Firft, that
the deareft of God's Children have been exetg
ciied after this, manner : for' even the Apoftle
Paul (2, Cor. ix. 7. ) there- was given to hima>
Thorpe in the Flcfbjhe Mejfevger of Sat a* to hiffet
him co keep him from Pride: Which Tentati<>f*
vasfc.fUong and violent, that. he could not re-
fill it by any lirength in himfelf, -but was forced
to fly unto God by Prayer, and beg ftrepgjriv
from Gitrift to bear him out againft the Tenta-
tion,and to be; delivered from the power of it.
.Secondly, Let the- Afflicted under this Exercife
put a difference between the Siw of Satan the
Tempter of him,, and his own Sin under the
Tencation ; for, the fiery Darts of Satan, and
fuggefted Blafphemies are Satan's Sins, and not-
properly the Sins of the Aifh&ed,to whomtbefe
xcd Tentations are not pieafant, but are his
greateil afflidionJtis true indeed .that Tencations
unto Sin in fome meafure draw on fomc degree
of Pollution oft-times in finfyrl Men,becaufe it is
not with us as it was with Chrift;- for when the
Prince of this World 'came p tempt him, he
had no ftuiTof. his own in Chrift to work upon;
bui: when he cometh to Sinners, lip findeth our
corrupt Nature. and Inclination toyeiidtohis
Tentations, a$ his own Materials to work u-
on, ready to be kindled by his fiery Darts ;
dyeimuil we (till diftinguifli the £in of 5a-
fuggefting and tempting, from the {liffering
Vpoor atHicted Child of God, who is vexed
with
BOOK fl. [ 417 ] CHAP .Xf.
•with the* Natation : fox if tlie Aiflided fliali
own the TeQtatioti ashi^pvvnSto, and confound
Satan's pgtfhaa4h is \ own pare in chat Excrcife,
he isin^a#gatr,^;ke ; fwalbvyed up in the ihnCt
of the' Sin wkfck i s CK> c his p^n, but Satans.
- Third l\, The Afflicted- rauft put difference be-
tween Sin and troublfoii)e;Exercife : For God is
;riic Author of Trouble, whfcreby He is about to
try,cxercifc^pd train {he Faith of his Child
to teach hifri Patience, ^nd Hope under his
Trouble ; but Satan is the Author of the Sin,
whereunto he doth tempt the Affli&ed, and
fliali be puniilied for it.
Fourthly,. Let the. Afili&sd wifely obferve Sa-
tan's drift, and wiles to drive him unto Sin one
way or other, by.thefe his horrid and bitter Tenta-
tions; forthough he prevail not with hisgrofler
Testations, to caufe the Affh&ed commit or
content unto that- Wickeq 1 ncfe which he fugge-
fl.eth by hisjiery Darts, ytx he in feme meafiirc
prevailed* ©ft-times by new Tentations follow-
ing on the back of the other; for when he hath
troubled the Soul of the affiled Child of God
with thefe terrible Tentations, then he beareth
in upon the Mind of the Afflicted, that he hack
adted or contented to thefe vileBlaiphemies,and
ibllidteth him to impatience, under this Trouble,
and to doubt of God's love to him, and of his
being in the (late of Grace, and to iiifped: he
is not one of the Elecft,. and to fear that God
Will not deliver him from thefc Evils whercun-
to
BOOK II. [428 ] CHAP. XL
to he is tempted. Now, thefe latter Tentations
oft-times prevail fo far with the Affli&ed, as he
hearkens unto them, yeildsunto them in fame
meafure, and fufpedts Satan's falfe alledgeancc
to be too true. And fo thefe ad's of Unbelief,
Impatience and Difcouragement, become indeed
the Sins of the Affli(3:ed,becaufe they are not fo
refiftedjdifclaimed^bhorrecl and forrowed for, as
the firftfort of Tentations were, which do moft
vex the Affli&ed. Thefe wiles dfSatan the Af-
flicted mud bevVare of, left he continue in, or
fofter thefe ordinary Sins, whereinto, that
Satan might caft and catch him, he did lay his
Net in thefe extraordinary Tentations.
Fifthly, Let the Affii&ed after he hath percei-
ved Satan's Wiles and Malice,and his ownFoolifh-
nefeatod Weaknefs,k>okupon the Lord's wifepur-
pofe; who by fuffering His Child fo to beexer-
cifed is calling him to a deeper acknowledgment
of his original Sin, that he may be humbled yet
more before God,and loath himfelf yet more,and
have Ghrift'sRighteoufnefs imputed to the Be-
liever in higherEftimation.Upon which confidera-
tion, let him (bprefs the removing of the trouble-
(bme Tentation, as in rhe mean time he fubmit
himfelf unto God, and patiently endure the
Trouble, and put Repentance and Faith, Hope
and Love to God in exercife, following his exter-
nal Vocation as he is able, left Satan take ad-
vantage of him if he be idle ; and withal let
him have fuch a care of his bodily Health as
he
BOOK II. [ 4*9 ] CHAP. XL
he may be fitted the better for God's Service in
his Calling : For we are not our own, but
Chrift's, Who hath bought us with a price,and
are bound to glorify God both in our Bodies and
Spirits, which are the Lords, 2, Cor. 6. 19. 20.
and therefore, whether we Eat or Drink, or
whatfoever elfe we are about,which is lawful,we
ought to do it in His Name, and fo to glorify
Him, 1 Cor. 10. 30,
CHAP. XII.
1
Wherein is folved, the Convert's Douht of his Com-
verfion arifingfrom the power of his Corruption,
manifefting it j elf more after his entry upon the
courfe of new Oledience, than it Aid lefcre he
ieganto Repent.
SOme Converts being yet but young Soul-
diers in the Chriflian Warfare, when they
find the Corruption of their Nature break-
ing forth more powerfully , than it did before they
did engage their Heart to (erve the Lord, do
readily fall in deep Difcouragement and fad Su-
fpicion, that the renewing Grace of God was ne-
ver beftowed upon them, whatfoever were
their Purpofes,Promifes,and Beginnings to mor-
tifie their jLufts and Affe&ions. And we muft
confefs that this is no fmall Tentati on .• For,
they who have renounced the Service of their
Lufts,and have confecrat their Life to God's Ser-
vice
BOOK tfc) [ 430 ] CHAP: XE
vice, when they fmd; their Lufts pre vail,and like
to'reign in them^no wonder they fufped: their
Rats M\;Gzacc;/farlz Pet Chafi.r.z.Ver. zb.) it
is told to us. If Men after they have efc aped
the Pollutions of the World, .through the knowledge
of the Lord and Savhur Jefiisj Chrift, they are a-
faifcy.int angled therein, and overcome, the latter
4tid is worje with them than the beginning: For, it
had fieen better for them, not to have kno'&h
the way of Righteoufnefs, than after they have
known it, to tifcii from the holy Commandment
delivered unto them. But it is happened unto
them, according to the true Proverb, The Dogis
turned to his own vomit again, and [the Sow that
V>as wajhed to her wallowing in the Mire.
2. This Condition indeed is perilous, when
after profeiTion of Repentance, Sin doth recover
its flrength again, and prevail over the whole
Man, and .(hew -forth its vi&ory over him in the
grofs pollution of the external Man: But moft o,f
all is it perilous,' when the overcome ancHtf-
fiaved Sinner, lyeth ftill in his Sin fenfelefs and
iecure, and doth pieafe himfeif ia iris Pollutions ;
for, whatsoever h^ may be, the holy Ghoft
points him forth among the Unregenerat as a
DogorSow.Iffuch a -Man after a time fhali Ro-
pent and bewail his Conditioned icthimfelfto
the feeking of God in Ghrift^md to draw Grace out
@f Chrili to Mortifte his- Liasfts, Ave {hall not pro-
Hounce or determine of liis former eftate, whe-
ther he was before that time Regenerat or not,but
for
BOOK IT. t 4jt ] CHARvXlL
for the prefent Cafe of his Reperiting,he i# on the
way toevidence his Regeneration more clearly
than before ; only let him take heed to Hum-
ble himfelf in earned before God, -and to Repent
more ferioufly, that fo he may confirm himfelf,
and go on in the courfe of Faith and Obedience of
the Evangel,ftrengthening*his Brethren as Titer
was commanded to do by our Lord, LuL hwi 21.
3. Bur if Corruption of Nature do not break
forth to defile the whole Man, but inwardly ftir-
reth and ftriveth to bring its oki Serrant ineo
bondage again ; unto which Tentations albeit
the Affit&ed do. not fuccumb, yet he is fhaken
and daggers in his Faith, doubting of his ftate,
and of the fineeri.ty.of his Converfion,becaufe he
findeth the power of Sin in him more vigorous,
than he had found it before the change of his
old Converfation. We do not deny, but this
cafe is readily incident unto fiich as are lately
converted from Formality in Religion, and fair
civil carriage before Men, to true Repentance
and inward Hblincfsbefeeming^G^r//?/^//. This
Cafe, becaufe it may have fundry Caufes, doth
requite alfo fundry Cures.
4. Fir II, This Cafe may^befal a young Con-
vert, who becaufe he hath not as yet gotten
tke exepcrience of his own weaknefs, isfome-
what puiIed up in the conceit of his own ftrength*
and is more confident than he hath reafon, that
the Sincerity of his Purpofe,fhall bear dswaaad
overcome all his fpiritual Enemies, fo oft as they
fliali
BOOK II. [ 43*1 CHAP. XII.
fhall oppofc his holy Refolutioh in this Cafe, what
wonder is it, that the Lord by a new proof of
the Man's weaknefs, Jet him fee, that it is not
in him that willcth, or in him that runeth,but in
God that hath mercy ? to the intent his Pride
may be broken down,: and that he being hum-
bled in himfelf, may learn not to truft anymore
to himfelf, but to God, to Chrift, who by His
Spirit maketh His Children to mortifie Sin in
themfelves, as the Apoftle teacheth us, ! Rom. 8.
13. faying, If ye mortifie the Deeds cfthe Flejh
by the Spirit ye /hall live.
Therefore the Affli&ed in this Cafe, muft be-
ware to fret or murmure, or entertain fufpicions
of God's Grace in himfelf, but racher let him
after experience of his own weaknefs, humble
himfelf and renew the Exercife of .Repentance,
and refolve in the ufe of the Means to lean to
the ftrength of Chrift, Who doth Help his Soul-
diers in their Conflict againft Sin and Satan, ei-
ther by giving them the Vi&ory quickly, or eife
fuftaining them in the Conflict by HisGrace,as
He did the Apoftle,z Cor.iz. 7. to whom Chrift
did not grant the vid:ory,till he,defpairing of his
own Ability to ftand out againft the Meilenger of
Satan,did humbly beg Deliverance from the Ten-
tation, and then He gave him afiurance, that the
affiftance of His Grace ihould prove fuflicient
to fiiitain him in the Conflict, and to deliver
him ia due time.
Secondly, This Cafe may fall out by the meer
Ma-
BOO KjH. [ "433 1 CHAP. XII.
;Malice of Satan, who doth fet hirftfelf to vex
•the young and tender Convert,latcly taken out
of his Dominion, to the intent he may make
him repent his coming out of Egypt, if it be pot
fible, and by leading out againft him anew Ar-
my of Temptations, may move him to defpair
of the vi&ory, and fo bring him back to the
Flcfli Pots, -and taking on again the yoke of
Bondage, if he can.
x.And here conilderation muft be had,of God's
wife and holy Permiflion, who fuffereth Satan to
put a young Convert to fo hard Trials,thatinthe
weaknefs of His own Child, He may make c-
vident His great power, in upholding His young
Souldier againft the foreft Aflaults of Satan; and
His VVifdom,in breaking by this mean the ftrength
of in-born Corruption, raging againft the Work
of Grace in His Child.
In this Cafe, let the Affli&ed remember he
is called to give a proof of his Faith and Since-
rity, that he may acquit himfelf manfully ; and
not be afraid of the power of Temptations but I
bear out ftoutly,refifting Satan, being confident
of the victory, and of trampling Satan under his
Feet fliortly; yea pre-fuppofe with inward Temp-
tations, external Perfecution be joined, let the
Lords Souldier follow the example of the godly
Hebrews, whom the Apoftle doth exhort to
prepare themfelves, after: >Spoliation of their
goods, to meet with grievous Affliction, under
I hope t© overcome, 'Htk to. jto 36. and u. 4.
3 This
B0OK ft [ 434 J CHAP. XII feO
>:bj.^This Cate iHa^4nll -our, notfomuch from L:
the growing power of Corruption, as from rife W
growing light of Grade, discovering Sin moftjfins,
clearly than before RegeneratiomEor he,who be^ m
fore Regeneration, was lying dead in Sin,didriofc ,t,
feel the weight bf Sin at -all, or was feofible only of L
gro(sOut-breakings 3 but when the clearer Light r> u te
of the Law doth comejOpeningup the Dens and fed
Caves of Narure's Corruption, out of which come teo
forthLcgionsoffinful Motions,and amongft thefe,
fundry Monfters of unperceived wick'ednefs, are &h
difcovcred to the young Convert, what wondeg tag
be be afraid, arid caltan many Doubts and Su* M
fpicions? For, if eventhe Apoftle Paul himfelf,
our of the fenfe of inherent Sin, and of the Bonds
thereof, where-with he did find- himfelf bound,
wis compelled with. Tears ttf ery^but, Mifera- p r
hie Man that I am 9 who /hall deGh^r-we from the
My of- this.^Deaihl Rem. 7. 24. what won-
der is it that a Novice in Religion do- tremble
when heifeethand fmelleththe Dunghil and fil-
thy Stable of his awn: unclean Heart >
. .In this Cafe, all the Comforts which the Go-
Ipel doth furniili ar,e to be miniftred to the Af-
fli&ed, Hope is to be foftered in him of Vidtory
over all thofe Evils; the Wifdom of God is to U
be fet forth before his Eyds under this Exercife, &
wherein the Lord hath brought to light die la-
tent Corruption of Nature, of ftt purpofe, tha'^p (
he might yokerHis young Soiddier in Combat
with k, and give him the Vidory by ths holy
Ghoft
0t(
k
k
id
_r
on
id:
Lc;
JOOK II. [ 435- ] CHAP. XII.
jjhoft, over not only thofe Evils which do
[rouble him for the time, but alfo all other
>ins, and fo promoveth the Mortification and A-
)olition of the whole Body of Corruption in him.
4. The fourth Caufe is, or may be this, that
le Affli&ed hath notfuch eftimation of the im-
uted Righteoufnefs of Chrift as is requifit, but
vith the flighting of ChriftsSatisfa&ion and Righ-
eoufnefs purchafed to the Believer by Chrift,
;oech about to eftablifli his own Righteoufiiefsj
vhereupon the Lord difcovereth his fhort-com-
ng in San edification, which in this Life isimper-
ed-, and fliould indeed be followed after care-
iilly,butnot berefted upon. It is indeed natural
into us, to feek to havePerfe&ion in our felvcs,
or our own Glory, and not to follow the way
>refcribed to us of God,for perfecting of us unto
he Glory of God, as may be feen in the flower
Hfrael after the Flefti, Rom. 9: and 10. Now
le Order of God is,that we fliould be firft jufti-
ed by Faith in Chrift without the works of the
.aw -that is,God will have us in the firft place to
onfefs unto Him ourSins, and renounce all con-
idcnceinour own Works before, in,and after our
Zonverfion, and to renounce all confidence in
urovvn VVorthinefs or our own ftrength, and be-
lke us to that Rightcoufnefs,which by the Obe*
ience and Satisfa&ion of Chrift is purchafed
nto us, and offered in the Gcfpel robe ac-
quitted ours of meer free Grace. In the fecond
lace, God will have us, being clcathed with
E e (Thrift's
BOOK II. [ 43$ ] CHAP. XII.
Chrift's imputed Righteoufnefs, to approach un-
to the Throne of Grace, that by Faith in Chrift,
We may receive the power of the holy Spirit in
a larger and larger meafure, for encreafing our
San&ification more and more. And in the third I
place, He will have us, as wc profit and grow in \
Holinefs,to giveThanks &Praife &Glory thereof
untoGod injefus Chrift, Who bothjuftifieth us
and fan&ifieth us by His own Spirit; and in as
Far as we come fiiortin the meafure of San&ifi-
cation which we aim at, He will have us to be
humbled in our felves, and lay fader hold on
Chrift Who juftinethus ; that He by His Spirit,
may more and more fandhfie us, and that be-
caufe Chrift is made of God unto us, not only
bur Righteoufnefs but alfo our Sanclincation, as
theApoftic tcacheth us.i C0/M.3O. Now when a-
ny Man breaks this order, and feekcth Juftifka-
tionby ChriQ; but Sandhncation by himfclf, as |
it were; and when he findeth Sanclification not
to grow as he hoped it Ihould, doth notfiy in to
the Garment of Chrift's imputed Righteoufnefs,
which alone is able to hide hisnakednefs, Revel.
3. 18. but in ftead of humbling himfelf in the Ex-
ercife of Repentance isready ro call hisjuftifica-
tion and Convcrfion in qucftion, and to caftita-
way as it were,what wonder is it, that God ,being
juftiy oilended, becaufe the Righteoufnefs o£*
Chrift is not in due eftimation and precious iri
that Man's Eyes, doth not grant unto him a be
ier meafure of San&ificatioii.cfpcciaily while h§
is
k
1 BOOK If, [ 437 ] CHAP. XII.
• is contending to have his own prefcribed mcafure
of Sandtification, with the prejudice of that di-
vine Righteoufnefs which is by Faith in Jefus
Chrift,and will not, as a humble Penitent, hold
grip ofChrift's Righteoufnefs, except he obtaia
iueh a mcafure of Snn&ification and freedom
( from wrcftling with Sin, as he hath refolvcd to
us find in him(e)f,hefore he can Hand to his iutcreft
M m Chrift for J unification? What wonder is in,
jy that God fuffcr Sin in the Afflicted ro put forth
he its power more than before, xhat He may teach
J His young Convert and Souldicr, ignorant of his
J Duty, and of God's order of proceeding with his
Children, to be more wife, and to adhere more
ciofcly under the fenfe of his finfulnefs, unto the
Righteoulhefs of Chrift, unro which he did fiy
and was forced to fly in hjs Converfton? As alio,
that He may teach His Child, That Sandb'nca-
tionmufl.be drawn out of no other fountain than
Chrift, out of Whofe Fulnels we nuift receive
Grace for Grace, and who by Faith appliethto
His redeemed Ones His imputed Righteoufnefs,
and by Faith applieth and worketh in" t hern
San<5tificatiofi,purchafed unto them in the Cove-
nant of Redemption?
5-. Wherefore, for Remedy of this Miftake,
Firft, Let the AfHi&ed, when he perceived*
and feeleth the power of Sin to be more than
conceived he Ihould have found in himfelfaf-
:er hisConverfion,lethim^lfayyforth\vith humble
E e 1 him-
BOOK II. [ 458 ] CH A P. XII.
bimfelf before God,acknowledge his natural Un-
c!eannefs,and utter Inability by his own Strength P
to refill Sin, and being humbled at the Heart let h
him blefsGod.who of His frceGrace hath prepared ^
and freely granted unto him a Righteoufnefs pur- L
chafed by Chrift, 2 Cor. 5. 21. with which be-
ing cloathed,he may (land before the Tribunal c: -
of Grace abfolved. Next, let him earneftly and'G
daily pray, that he may both hold fad Grips of P
that Righteoufnefs of Chrift by Faith and out of r
the fame Fountain of God's glorious Grace in F
Chrift, ftudy to increafe in San&ification, and
peece and peece to mortifie and abolifh the Cor- 1::
ruption of Nature, thirdly, let the Afflicted "
ufe the Ordinances and Means appointed of God W
for mortifying of Sin, and reparation of the I- ;
mage of God in him.. And Fourthly, let the Af- i
fiicled, in the ufe of appointed Means and Or-l^
dinancesof God byFaith look untoChrift,that out [
of Him he may fuck fap,and the furniture of His *
Spirit to bring forth good Fruits : For, withr
Hi wive can do nothing^ hat [five abide in Him, rre r
fhall bring forth abundant Fruits. John 15. 5.
to
CHAP. XIII.
Wherein is fohed the Convert's Doubt, whether he * 4
be in the (late vf Grace, a fifing front his comparing} 1
of hi mj elf with the Hypocrite and Unregenerat^
in ihofe Perfections they may attain unto.
SOmetime a true Convert, when he percci- J |
veth how far fpecious Hypocrites may make :
pro
r:
iOOK If- 439 ] CHAP. XIH
:>rogrefs in the way of Righteoufnefs, with
low many Vertues they may be endued, with
iow many Gifts they may be adorned,how-like
:he foolilh Virgins may be unto the wife, and
iow far temporary Faith may carry a Man,efpe-
:ially when it is busked with fpiritual common
Gifts how many glorious Profeflbrs of the true
"Chrijlian Religion have made Apoftacy, how
Jnany ways men do deceive themfelves,and may
boflibly further and further deceive themfelves,
}'of which felf deceiving s (bmewhat is fpoken
In the end of the former Book) what wonder is
t, the weak Convert ftagger, and fear left he
ilfo cl^ceivc himfelf, efpecially when he feeth
lothingin himfelf which may not be counterfeit?
2. For loufing of this Doubt, wherein many
lave been pufled, we muftyeildto the Afflicted
that there are many indeed,who do deceive and
icftroy themfelves with their vain Thoughts;
vhichbecaufe it doth very frequently come to
Dais, it ihould Air up all men to be circumfpedi
md wary left they deceive themfelves in the
natter of their Salvation, and for that intent to
examine themfelves whether they be in the
aith, zCor. 13. left they be beguiled, and (a
>eri(h. And becaufe tender Faith is eafily hurt,
1 .11 their fear muftbe turned into a holy Care-
ulnefs, to be found fincere and ferious in the
itb of the Lord's Ordinances, left Satan beguile
hem on the right hand or on the left. And for
his end, we offer Advice to the Afli&ed to dif-
Ec; corn
K
»n<
ii
;c
nil
H
BOOK II. [ 440 } CHAP. XI;
cern Things that differ, and firft to diftirigiiifl [
Gifts, commoirto Hypocrites- 'and true Con
verts, from laving Graces or ■ CfencntS accompa
nying Salvation: For, learning, and skill t(
govern great Matters, and Eloquence and Un
derftandmg of deep Myftcrics, and Revelatiot
of Things to command the Gift of working Mi-
racles, and the Gift of Preaching the Gofpel
may be granted unto the Unregenerat for thi
.Ufe and Edification of the Church: The obfer-
ving of this difference iliall teach the Affli&ec
:to efteeni well of all the Gifts of God, whicl
may icrvc for humane Soeiety, or to edifie the
Church,but not to look upon them as Evidences
of Regeneration; for they are nothing in compa-
rifon of Saving Graces; for, if he iliall ftudy tc
Humility und Repentance toward God, and Faith
toward Tefus- Chrift, and love to God and His
-Saints .and to a holy Life by the Grace of Chrift
in any meaiure, let him efteem more of them,
than of all thefe common Gifts how glorious
foever they feem.As alfo let him -put a difference
betwixt the: judgment of Charity concerning o-i
ther Men's eftate, which contents it feif with
Probabilities,and the judgment of Certainty and
real Verity, concemi jg his own eftate, which
proceeds from the operation of the holy Spirit,
bearing witnefs to our Spirits, that we are the
Children ofGod & revealing unto us whatThingS
are freely given to us ofGod,to wit,among other
gifts,giving i?nto ; iis Eye falve to make us know,
that
pO OK II: [ 441 ] CHAP, XIII.
jjhac we arc blind, poor, naked and miferable,
1 ^ 7 ith Grace leading us to by without Money or
1; Price from thrift. Gold tried in the Fire,
;cr ind Garments to hide oar Nakcdnefs, which
'As the Righteoufhefs of Chrifl: imputed un-
io us. In the judgement of Charity concer-
ning other Men's eltate, we fee nothing fave
j'whatis outward ; and cannot pierce into their
gflearts, which God only can and doth fearch;
.but concerning our own cftate, we may know
j c rrainly, if we fearch well, 1 Cor. 3. 10, tx, u.
^Yherefore tlVat the Affl&ed' may overcome this
.Doubt, let Him leave unto God the judgement
* of the Hearts of chefe Hypocrites and . Apoftats,
which were never humbled in the fenfe of Sin,'
nor fcrioufly believed in Chrift; but to farisfie
bimfelf concerning his own eflate, lcthimftudy
j to difccm the power of Sin in himfelf more
and mor?, and daily be humbled before
God in the fenfe of it. And. the more he
cliiccrn the loathibmenci's of Sin in himfelf,
let him rjid more heartily embrace Chrift.
offered in the Gofpcl, and confecrat himfelf
wholly unto Him, that in His Furniture,
drawn by Faith out of Chrift, he may
bring forth good Fruits, and add one ver-
tue to another, and fo ihall he be fure, that
he hath paficd the p-erfeftioti of the Un-
regenerct, and is a true fubjedt of the King-
donr of God ,efle£hia;ly called, and ele-
cted of God unco eternal Life, 2 Pct.i.j y 6, 7.8,
fie 4 ' CH'A P.
BOOK II. [ 44 x ] CHAR XIV.
CHAP. XIV.
Wherein is folved the Doubt of the true Convert,
whether he be in the Bate of Grace, becaufefome
godly Perfons look upon him as an Hypocrite.
SOme true Converts, do fufped: themfelves
not to be true Converts, becaufe fome of
the godly of their Acquaintance (whofe
Judgement othcrways is not to be lightly re-
jected ) not only do fufped them to be Hypo-
crites, but by words fpoken of them and be-
haviour towards them, declare their Judgement
of them.
2. This Tentation doth not a liitle afflicSt the
weak in Faith, who of themfelves are ready to
call in queftion their own Converfion, and when
they perceive their own flifpicion of themfelves,
to be as it were confirmed by the fufpicion and
Teflimony of fbme Saints, ( howfoever raflily
judging other Men's Hearts) no wonder the
Tentation of Satan, queftioning whether they be
the Children of God, grow ftrong againft them.
By this Stratagem Satan u fibril to aflault the
flrongeft in Faith, and to vex them at lead, as
we may fee in the exercife of Job, whofe Faith
was mightily aflaulted when his godly Friends
miftock his affliction, and condemned him as a
wicked Hypocrite. The like we fee in the ex-
ercife of the Prophet. Pf. 38. n. when his Friends
flood aloof from hts Plague. ..
3. For
BOOK II. [ 443 1 CHAP XIV.
3. For flxengthening the Affli&ed under this
Tentation ; Firft, let him examine himfelf fo
much the more acuratly, becaufe of the Sufpi-
cion that the Godly have of him ; After which
(examination, if he find any mcafure of forrow
for Sin in himfelf, and of Faith flying to Chrift
for Relief, andofendeavourtolive holily, righter
oufly and foberly, albeit joyned with much in-
firmity and manifold imperfections, let him not
cad away his Confidence, but rather ftrengtben
what he findeth of the Lord's gracious work in
?him, although it feem to him ready to dye.
Secondly, .Let him confider whether this Exercife
and Affii&ion be a Corre&ion from God,chaftifing
him for his ralh Judgement of others, whom pof-
jfibly he hath wounded with fuch ralh fufpicionsof
them: but whether he find this or ftot,let him not
Idefpife this Exercife,but be humbled before God in
the acknowledgement of the Reliques of Hypo-
Icrify in our corrupt Nature & fly unto Chrift ( in
WhofeMouth there was no guilejthat he may be
zloathed with His RighteoumefsHead &Feet;and
let him ftudy unto more and more Sincerity, that
le may approve himfelf toGod,& to difcreetjudg-
es of hisConverfation,& let him not alienat him-
felf altogether (b far as in him lyethfrom them,by
whole Sufpicions his Faith and good Name hath
been wounded,but inHumility &Charity towards
:hem,in the conftant following of Piety towards
3od, and RighteoufneG towards men, labour to
sommend himfelf to all Men's Confcienccs.
And
BO O K II [ 444 ] j CH A P. XIV;
And in Co doing" he necdeth not Hand for the
rafh judgement of any Man : For, by fo doing
Job was victorious over this Testation in his
Conflict with his Friends: And it is fure, that
Men may be deceived in their Judgement ofo-
ther Mcnseftate; for Fir (I, the ignorance of ano-
ther Mans Heart, maketh the Judge to judge
what he knoweth not. It is true, God hath
gtantedunto Kis Children Liberty according to
His Word,to judge ofthe Actions of other Men,
and from their ildions to judge of their con-
dition and temper in relation to thofe Adrions ;
but to judge of their State who outwardly do
what is right, doth not belong to Men, but to
God, Who hath referved toHimfelf the fearch-
ing of every Man's Heart, and only knoweth
who is the Upright and who is the Hypocrite
who is the Wife and who is the Foolifli
Virgin, the outward Conversation of bcrh
being like one to another. Again to know
another Man's Manners, Ingine, IncHnunon'
and way of his Life, doth r quire long
converting with him, comparifon of Ins Adrions
one with another, and a prudent conjunction of
all Signs of his inward Difpofition, b:fore a dii-
creet charitable judgement can be had of him.
And whofoever do judge rafhiy of other Men's
Hearts,do not well know their own Heart, or of
what Spirit they are in judging: For, many prc-
fume too much tojuftiSc their own condition and
ftate,& make themfeives to be asRulcs&Paterns'
ifnto"
BOOK II [ 445 ] CHAP. XV.
urlto others, and fo become too too rigid Cenfu-
rers and feverejudges of other Men's conditions
and ftate, except they find it like to their own.
And if there be any diflimilitude of Manners or
difcrepance of Judgement, or contention about
any Matter, then Partiality hindereth a right
Judgement one of another,and Affe&ion rparreth
Reafon many times that it cannot difcern what
is right.
Therefore let the Pcrfon affli&ed with this
Tentation,turn himfelf to God Who fearcheth
the Reins, and let him humble himfelf in His
fight, renewing the exercife of Repentance and
Faith in Chrift, and let him Apply to himfelf
what the Scripture doth pronounce of thefe who
in the fenfe of their Sin do fly to Chrift Jefus,
thatinHim they rr^iy have remidion of Sin and
amendment of theirLife: For fo did the Prophet
in the whole PfaL 17. when he had to do with
his uncharitable Friends and Kinsfolk, and fo' let
the Afflicted do.
C H A P, XV. 1
Wb erein the Convert's Jouhting of his ieing in the
J} ate of Grace Jo oft as he doth not feel ihe fenfe of
his Reconciliation with God, is examined and
anfivered.
^i Ome true Converts are, who indeed are en-
^^ dued with the faving Graces of Faith,Hope
^* and Charity,and give evident proof of the
in- dwelling of the holy Spirit in tiiem & do rejoyce
novr
BOOK II. [446] CHARXiV
now and then in God their Saviour, when His love
to them is died abroad in their Hearts, but when
a Cloud cometh over their Eyes,and they do not
feel the warm BeamsoftheSunof Righteoufnefs
Jhining in their Soul as they before havefelt,they
are aflaulted with doubting, if any faving Grace
be in thetn at all,and do entertain thefe Tenta-
tions oftimes,fo far as to fufpedt & exprefs inWords,
that there is no folid Faith in thernfelves,no live-
ly Hope, no Chriji Han Charity, no Mortification of
Sin, no Purity ofHeart, and fuch like; if when
they are thus tempted and toiled they lay hold
on Chrift, as in their firftGonverfion, and find the
fenfible comfort of the holy Spirit by the Word of
the Gofpel applied unto them,thenall is weli,their
doubting is overcome for the time, they rejoice &
praife God.-But if the Lord (hall delay,forHis own
wife Ends, to renew their leftfible Confolations,
and to renew theEarneft:- penny of theirlnheritance,
forthwith they begin to doubt again, & to hearken
toSatan's fuggeftions,& to fufped: that their former
feelings were but temporary, and not the fpecial
Operations of the holy Spirit,and at length break
furth in many fad Complaints. An4, in a word,
they do not maintain the work of faving Grace
inthemfelves longer than the Sunfliineof fpiritual
felt Confolations abideth with them. And albeit
their Exercife be no ways fo hard as was the
Prophet's, Pfal.77.yet they fall out.in the fame
Complaint which the Prophet cxprefleth, Verfe
7, 8. 9, Will the Lord ca/l off for ever ? and
win
BO OK II. [ 447 1 CHAP. XV.
will He be favour ahle no more ? is His mercy clean
gone for ever ? doeth His Promife fail for ever-
more \ hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath
He in anger font up His tender Mercies.
2. For clearing of this Cafe, two difeafes may
be perceived in the Afflicted which is here de-
feribed. The one is this, the Afflicted fetteth
himielf to live rather by fenfe than by Faith,
and doth put his Faith on work offer purpofe
that he may obtain or recover Confblations
iliortly ; but if his defire be not fhortly granted,
he maketh noc ufe of die formerly felt Confola-
tions to ftrengthen his own Faith when Confola-
tion is withdrawn. The other ficknefs is this,
the Affli&ed doth not take up the Nature of fav-
ing Graces, nor perceive the beauty thereof, ex-
cept in thefun-fhineof fenfible divine Approba-
tion thereof,he doeth not take up the Right de-
finition or defcription of faving Graces : For
Faith is to him nothing, if it be not a full Per-
fwafion ; except he can pour forth Tears always,
he thinks he doth not repent ; except he find a
joyful expectation of Chrifr coming in Glory,
he thinks his Hope not lively; andfo of Chari-
ty and Patience,Temperancc, Righteoufnefs and
Holinefs, if he do not find them in fome emi-
nent meafure as they may near by Hand before
the Law, the Afflicted of whom we are now
fpeaking, thinketh he hath nothing of faving
Grace in him. Wc grant that this Sicknefs is
i very rare, and few they are that are troubled
with
I5UUK1I. L 44 s 1 CHAP XV.
with it; yet where it appeareth, it mod be
fpeedily cured, but with great circumipe&ion
cured; for the earned defire he hath of feeling
the fvvect fenfe of the joy of the holy Ghoft,
mud not be difallowed, but commended to
him, and he taught to cry as it is faid, Cant. z.
5. Stay me pith Flaggpns, comfort me with Aples,
for I amjick of love, yet with holy Submiilion
unto Gods Will for time, manner and meafure.
2,. He is alfo to be commended, that in his
trouble he goeth to God in Chrift, not alto-
gether without Faith, which he puteth forth in
a drive exercife thereof by ConfeiTion ofSin,by Sup-
plication and otherways; but here is he to be
reproved, that while he is actually exercifing
Faith, Love, Hope, &c. he reckoneth all he
doth to be nothing, no Faith, no Hope, &c.
becaufeitis not in fuch a meafure as he would.
3. He is to be commended, that he doth aime at
the higheft Degrees of Faith, Love, Hope,
Patience, Mortification of Sin, and Practice of
Holinefs, and all commanded Vertues ; but
here he faileth, that he counteth all as nought,
when Confolation and fenfible Approbation of
what he hath is not felt; for here he defpifeth the
day of fmall things,and unthankfully Mif-regard-
eth the lower degrees of the'le faving Graces,
which notwithftanding are bought to the Re-
deemed by the fame price, wherewith the high-
eft degrees are bought, to wit, with the preci-
ous Blood of Jefqs Chrift.
3. Where-
BOOK II. [449] CHAP XV.
3. Wherefore let the.Affii&ed confider, Firfl,
that the Will of God revealed, requireth of us,
that we walk hy Faith, and under the fenfe of
our Sinfulnefs and ArHi&ions whatsoever, hold
fall the Covenant of Grace in Chrift Jcfus, and
bv adhering unto Him hold up our Heart, and
entertain fpiritual Life in us. Secondly, let him
confider, that this way of living by Faith and
dependence on the Word of Gods Grace, doth
pleafe the Lord well ; for, without Faith it is
impoflible to pleafc Him; and thus living by
Faith in Him, doth give more Glory of Truth,
Grace, Mercy and Conflancy unto God than
when we fufpend the glorifying of Him, till we
find the fenfe of Confoiation from Him: For if
we believe in God, only becaufe we find the
Co:i(olations of Hi$Spirir,ourFaith in that cafe is
weak.&leaneth more upon the pledge &fenfible
evidence of His Truth bellowed upon us, than
upon HisPromife without a Pledge: For, no Man
will refufe to give credit to a Man upon a Pawn,
but God is worthy to be credited upon His
Word without a Pawn,yca, when His Difpenfa-
tion feemeth contrary to his Promife. thirdly,
let him confider, that the Lord ufeth to give
fenfible Confolations not only to help our Faith,
in the time of Confoiation, but alfo to help our
Faith when theConfolations are withdrawn from
i;>. and we are pu: to hard excrcife.- wherein it is
our duty to glorifie our God for His Truth and
prace,whcreof we have fometimc had confirma-
ti-
BOOK II. [450] CHAP. XV.
tions by felt Confolation, and patiently to wait
till He reftore unto us the joy of His Spirit: For
if in the want of fenfible Confolation we fliall
put Afperfions upon the Lords Work and Graces
beftowed upon us,and call them inqueftion, we
fliall be found in fo doing more careful of felf-
fatisfa&ion than to do theDuties which God re-
quireth of us. Fourthly, Let the AffMed learn
fo to defcribe and define every Saving Grace of
Faith, Repentance, Hope, Love and Mortifica-
tion of Sin, as tlieDefcription, may take in the
meaneft meafure of thofe Graces; for, it is hard
to fay, that there is no found Faith where there
is not a full perfwafion; for the hungry looking
of 3 trembling Sinner untoChrift, muft not be
excluded from being an a& of Faith; it is hard
to reftrain the exercife of Repentance to the {he-
ding of Tears, for many other Signs of Repen-
tance may be found where thefe are feldom,
fuch as is the hatred of Sin driving againft all
Tentations unto it, and flying from all occafions
which may enfnare the Believer in Chrift in Tref-
pafles. Fifthly, Let the Affli&ed diftinguifh be-
tween Faith and fenfe of Joy, both are God's
Gifts, but the Grounds of Faith whereupon we
are commanded to reft our felves ihould bere-
fted on conftantly,whatfoever difpenfationof Joy
or Grief we fhall meet with: And this is ourperpe-
tua!Duty,but fenfe isatGod's freeFdifpenfation to
give and withdraw and reftore at His pleafure,
and is a movable Benefit, which, the Lord, as
His
BOOK II [ 4?i ] CHAP. XV.
His Wifdom fecth expedient for our Good, doth
give and continue, withdraw and reftore, dimi-
nifh or augment. And therefore the Afflided
is bound by duty (till to believe and rejoycein
believing: And to have the joy of lenfe alio he
may lawfully ftudy,but ought not to fufler His
Faith to be weakened by the want of it, as the
Prophet doth teach us, Pf. 42. 11. and 43. 5-,
and, 88. Laftofall, let the Afflided be pofed
upon his Confciencc if he dare condemn his
tying to Chrift inths fenfe of his Sins as no
ad: of Faith, or he if daredeny his hunger after
renewed Confolation,and beholding of God with
oy as reconciled in Chrift, to bean ad of Love
:o God, and of Communion with Him ? There-
fore let himconfefs with the Pfalmift F/77. 10:
This my doubting is my infirmity, I will remember
the years of the right hand of ike Lord.
CHAP. XVI.
Wherein is fohed the true Convert's Doubt of his,
Regeneration f becaufe he feemeth to himfelf not to
grow in Grace by the ufe of the Means appointed
for his growth.
SOme true Convert's are brought to fufped
their own Regeneration, becaufe in the
ufirig of the Means leading to Sandifica-
ion and Salvation, fundry complain and lay, t
io not perceive the Lord's Bleihng on my pains
ind diligence; I grow not in the knowledge of
F f TW U £*
BOOK It { tfz ] CHAP, XVI,
things Spiritual ; my Faith doth not grow by
Hearing nor Reading of the Word of God, noi
by Meditation of it; I dp not prevail in wrefr
jing againft my in-brcd Sin and corrupt Nature,
peither by Prayer nor Fading : and therefore,
what fhall Ijudge of my ftate, but that it is
like i am not converted and renewed ? For, if]
were indeed, converted and reconciled with God. l f
I conceive it fliould fair otherways with me than j 1
|t dotb.
%, In this Cafe the true Convert is in ha-
zard of growing flack and carelefs in the ufe of
phe Means, and to grieve the holy Spirit, by
prefcribing unto him, and limiting of him, unco
Bach a njeafure of proRur.g in the ufe of the
.Means, £nd making him know how far he
Iiad profited and advanced in thecourfe of San
<THfication. Yea there is danger, left in this cafef d
the Convert not only become cold-rife in the
cxerciies of Piety, but alfo turn loofe in his Con-
yedation, and follow the Allurements of the
World, having fo far hearkned to the Tempta
£iQn,asto think it in vain that he hath waflien his r
Hands inlnnocency, as (f/73 v befelltheProphet.
3 JFor removing of the Doubt,the Affii&ed hath^
reafon to check himfelf for hearkening fo far
unto the Temptation, as to join with Hypocrite
in his Complaint, Jfa. 5:8, 5. Wherefore have m
fefied( fay they ) and Thou Jeefi not > where fort
have we ajfliftedoitr Souls, and thou takefl no know
But
BOOK II. ( 4? 3 ) CHAP. XVI.
But becaufe nothing doth more trouble the
Afflicted than his fufpicion of his ownHypocrify,
lettheCaufes be fearched from which his fu£-
virion doth arife. One of them may be this, that
in the utethe Means, the Eyes of the Afflicted
ire more and more opened to perceive the Power
md Poyfon of his natural Corruption more
:learly than he perceived before. And this
deciphering of Sin more & morc,doth under him
o fee the growth of hisLight,& the growth of his
j hatred againft manifeftedSin joined with the over-
'urning of his own high Imaginations and native
; 3 ride.AnotherCaufe may be this, that the trueCon
r ert hachpromifed unto himfelf,in the ufe ofth®
Jvleans, more and greater Benefits fpiritual from
}od, than he doth by experience find,which be-
aufehedoth not find, he thinketh he hath not
rofited. A Third Caufe may be this, that
le Lord is about the purging of him from
radical Errors, fuch as are high eftimation of
is own diligence in the ufe of the Means, as if
lerc where iome fort of merit annexed unto the
orks perfcribed to the Convert by the Lord,
r as if the ufe of the Means had in them fome
>rce and efficacy in producing fuch effects in
im as the Convert hath expected .* or, as if the
ord had obliged Himfelf to blefs, fenfibly,
iligence in the ufe of the Means, to the diligent
lan's fatisfadHon.
4. Therefore, firft, let the Afflicted continue
his diligence,and beware of rhe forefaid practi-
F f % cal
li
BOO K II [ 454 ] CH A P. XIV.
cal Errorsdet him humble hi rafelf before Ch rift,
tha r He may draw more Vertue out of Him by
Fa\ch, and by fomuch the more as he findeth
Sin in himfelf, and not profiting in the ufe of the
Means, let him lay the fafter hold on the Cove-
nant of Grace, and on Chrift offered therein, for
giving Ri^hc.oufnefs and San&ification. Second-
ly, jet lujra let upon the exercife of every Duty
with Prayer, that he may follow the Duty in
Chrift's Name with his Eye fixed on God's Grace I
and a c rthc difeharge of the Duty ,let him look
to thrift, that from Him, he may have the Blef-
iing; For, without Chrift we can do nothing
acceptably, nor with profit. Lafl of all, let
hi n not efteem lightly of the effe^s of his
Diligence,as if he did no wayes profit; but when
he hath rightly confidered matters, if he find
tke leaft fruit following his ufing of the Means, |
let him give the Glory of it to God in Chrift
the Giver thereof, and humbly put Up his La-
mentation for his fhortcoming, in Duties un-
to God by Prayer : For, this is the way to
make progrefs in Faith and Repentance;
and Humility and Submiffion of his will un-
to God in the u(e of the Means, and let him
thank the Lord, that from day to day he is
fceepod from fsandalous out- breaking.
CHAP
ao'OKir, [ vs 1 chap.xvd,
CHAP. XVII.
h Wherein isfolved the Convert's Doubt, whether he
be Regenerate becaufehe feemeth to himfelf to fol-
low Religion and Right eoufnejs, from the common
operation of God's working by moral fwafion, and
not from the fpecial operation and impuljion of the
holy Spirit.
THere are fbmetrue Converts, who have
profited fofar in the amendment of their
Life, and conforming their Converfation
unto the Rule of God's Word, that rheyoke of
Chrift is become eafy to them, and their dehghr
is to be frequently about theExercifes ofRdigion
and Works ofRighteouf: •■..'".., and yetfome-tioie
they are troubled with fuipicion, whether the
work of Regeneration in them be folid, becaufe
any thing they do, may be done, as they conceive,
by temporary Believers, in whom no found Re-
novation of corrupt Nature will be found. I
find nothing in me ( faith one ) of the effectual
motion of the holy Spirit, but ail by way of
Moral Swafton, by Imitation of others, by Edu-
cation, as may be found in the unrenewed ,Dif-
ciples of moral Philofophy: For as they by fre-
Iquent actions do acquire Habits, wherewith be-
ing indued, they djfeharge moral Duties more,
eaiily. and with delight; fo 1 by difcharging A&s
of Religion and acquainting my fclf with
them daily,do feem to my felfto have acquired a
Ff3 Fa-
B OOK II. [ 456 ] CHAR XVII.
Facility and Delegation in religious Actions and
Works of Righteoufnefs toward my Neighbours
2. This Cafe we grant is very perilous, and
fubtilely coloured by Satan ta deceive and wea-
ken the true Convert; for, it is true, what power
hath been feen in moral Philofophy among Fa-
gans< to put a lufter on Men's civilConverfation,
muft be alfo granted to Theology among profef-
fed Chriftians, becaufe Divine Threatcnings and
Promifes, for procuring outward Reformation
of a Man's Life, are more apt to prevail with a
Man, than all moral Philofophy; and it is true
alfo, that Education by Parents, and imitation
of good Men, is of great force morally to per-
fwade a Man to the following of the outward
Duties of Religion, and to a civil Converfation.
Wherefore it is no wonder to fee a true Convert
doubt of his own Regeneration, when he com-
pared! externalDutiesdifchargedby himfelf,witli
the external Duties difcharged by others, whofc
Heart he cannot fee,but muft judge charitably of
them, and yet can neither be clear determinatly
to affirm all fuch o be true Converts, nor to af-
firm himfelfto be a true Convert, fo long as he
fufped-eth, that as fome others Reformation, fo
alfo his own Reformation, may prove no better
than from moral Swafioli, which may be found
in a Man unregenerat.
3. For loafing of this Doubt and (trengthening of
the Faith of the true Calvert, let him examine,
himlelf whether in the Confcicnce of his natura-
ral
BOOK II [ 457 ] CHAP. XV2T.
Sinfulnefs,and fenfe of his 6wn Unworthinefs and
Inability to deliver himfelf from the power of
Sin, Wrath, and Mifery, he hath fied, and from
tine to time doth fly to Chrift according to the
tenor of the Covenant of Grace, to be Juftificd
Saridrified, and Saved by Him,anddoth follow
:he Exercifes of Religion and Righteoofnefs in
DbedienCe to the Commands of God. If hisCon-
feisnee anfwer him, that fo he doth, then, Firff,
let him look upon his doubting of his ftate, as
thefjbtile Ten tation of Satan; and that he may
be ftrpng againftthis Tentation, let him renetv~
the acknowledgement of his Sins and Slnfulnefs,
cf his AVeaknefs and Unvvorthifjefs, and renew ai-
fo his Content ro the Covenant of Grace in Jcfes
Chrift, and his purpofe to obey the Corrmiand-
mentspfGod iri the ftrcngthof Chrift:For,by this
Means he ihali gain the e'mry unto his refuge
where- from Satan was drawing him,by furnilhing
;brs and weakening his Fa:rii.£faW/?,having
Safet^'hisi Anchpf witftin the vail, and (cried his
' Faith on Chrft Jefus, let [rim now mantain his
former courfe, ib far as truth will fufrer, that
his former courfe of Life, in following with
delight the exercife of Religion and Righteoufc
nefs, did proceed from the holy Spirit ; and let
hiirr confider, that it is not a lufficicnt reafon
to call in queffiori the infufed r Habits 6f
faving Grace, bccapCe fupernatiirai haftifV,
mfufed immediatlv ' bv the Spirit of Ghrift
F tjt are
BOOK II. [ 458 ] CHAP XVII
arc entertained, augmented "and confirmed by
frequent A#s and daily Exercife, no lefs than
natural or moral habits are, which are acquir-
ed by exercife : And this is clear from Scrip-
lure, wherein are many Exhortations to put
Faith,Love,Repentance,Pati encc,fi?c. in frequent
exercife, that thefe gracious Habits may grew
ftrong, as the Apoflle Teter doth fpeak % Epifl.
i. chap. ver. 5.6. &c. Thirdly, let him put a dif-
ference in judging of his own Converfation and
the Converfation of others, of whofe Principles
and Ends of outward godly carriage, he cannot
judge, as he can do of his own : For, a Man in
Nature unregenerat, or a temporary Believer,
may make Profeflion,of true Religion, and out-
wardly go on in ablamelefs Converfation, with
this opinion, that by his Works he fliall pleafc
God, and] procure Salvation to himfelf. But the
trueConvert fliall be found a Renouncer of con-
fidence in his own Works, a man fenfible of his
own Si'hfulnefs and Im perfections, who hath fled
andrefolveth flill to adhere toChriftfor Righte-
oufnefs and Salvation through Him; theiiading
whereof in any meafurc after examination, may
folve the Converts dcubt:For,.a Man in Nature
cannot fo hate Sin and follow Holinefs, as to
renounce confidence in his Holinefs, and .fly
unto Chriftfor Righteoufnefs. Fourthly, let the
sffaded- Convert confider, that the Lord's.deal-
g with His Children both by moral Motives,
' gnd by effe&ual perfwafion unto the obedience
of
BOOK II. [ 459 } ] CHAP. XVIII.
of Faith, may and doth very well concur and
.agree together, neither is the fpecial Operation
of the holy Spirit with any reafon to be fufpe-
<5ted, becaufe he fweetly leadeth on His Child,
by way of Coulifel, ("without the Child's obfer-
vation of any notable Impulfe) making him to
overcome flrpng Tentations unto Sin, whereun-
to he is naturally inclined: For the more victo-
rious Grace is over Corruption, the Efficacy of
the Lord's Grace is the more confpicuous, , and
that Obedience is moft pleafant to God, where-
in corrupt Nature makcth moft oppofition. There-
fore in this Cafe here prefuppofed, let him -ftand
to the Defence of his Faith in Chrift, and go on
cheerfully in the way of Righteou Cnefs againft
Satan's Tentation, foliciting him to Doubting
and Difcouragement ; which Counfel if he fol-
low, he fhall find by experience, that he hath
made ufe of the Shield of Faith, and gotten the
Vi&ory, not without the fpecial Operation and
Impulfe of the holy Spirit.
■"
CHAP. XVIII.
Wherein isfolveJ the true Converts Doubt, whether
he be Regenerate becaufe he. jinderh not Self-de-
ny al in the weafure which ts re jurfite in Converts.
SOmc true Converts are found, who having
for a time injoyed Peace of Confidence, have
called their Conversion in queftionby occafioti
of
book ir. [ 4 6o } char xvnr.
°f Hearing or Reading fome Sermon of feme
z ealous Preacher prefTwg the Marks of true and
fincere Converfion, and making Self-denial and
Loving of God for Himfelf, the main Marks of
Converfion, and without circiimfped: and wife
difference put by him betwixt legal Perfection
and evangelical Sincerity, prefling Self-denial
and the loving of God abftra&ly, further than
any Saint doth attain unto in this Life.Whereu-
pon fome tender Sods do fall in queftion with
themfclves, whether they be among the true and
fincere Converts, becaufe they know char bur
Lord requireth Self-denial in every Perfon who
will follow Him, and doth condemn them all
for Unbelievers who feek Glory of Men,and not
the Glory which is of God r And becaufe the
Preacher poffibiy hath mads the Loving of God
for His Benefits, to be too too mercenary, and
hath preffed without refpedt tqBenefits/that Gqd
mud be loved foe Himfelf, theref&rfc the vvda'fc
Convert beginneth to be troubled, as if he were
not a true Convert at all, faying, What fhall I
think of my felf and of my following of Chrift,
feing I feel fo little of Self-denial in me, feing I
have loved Chrift' for my own good, and many a!
time in my beft Actions 1 have Tought the
Commendation of Men in my Heart, arid 1 have
been ill pleafed when I did not obtain it>
2. For folving of this Doubt, we grant that
every Man vvh© will follow Chrift, is bound to
deny himfelf: Andti^eitis, there is- nothing
mere
B O O K II. r ( 461 ) C H A E XVIII.
more Difficile than to forfakeour own carnal Wit
dom, aad eftimation of our own Worth, Works
and Abilities, how fmall foever. Neither is there
any more dangerous evil, than in the difcharge
of Chriftkm Duties, to feek or accept our own
Glory and the Applaufe of Men-.For he that iti
this point doth fofter his natural corruption,
certainly doth not in fo far favour thefe things
which are God's, but ferveth his own Flelh.
Therefore, becaufethe Reliquesofthis and all
•therSin do remain in the Rcgelierat, the Lord
by variety of Exercifes fetteth His Children
daily to learn this leflon over and over for mor-
tifying their corrupt Lufts.lt is their duty there-
fore, when any Spark of this evil ofSelf-feek-
ingdoth appear, to call: themfelves down humb-
ly at Chrift's Feet and confefle the Sin, left fomc
fpark of Wrath break forth upon them from
the Lord. For,the end of this Exercile, yea,and
the reafonof the Lord's not removing fully in-
dwelling Sin, is to humble us, and fend us to
Chrift,left if He fliould otherways deal with us,
we fliould grow proud, and not make fuch ufe
as becometh us of God's free Grace, and drift's
Righteo'jfnefs imputed to rhe Believer ; meaa
time we muft noc ycild to Satan's Tentatioa,
coloured with pretenfe of Scripture, as if
Chrift had difcharged us to (cek any good from
Him to our felves, or to love Him for the
good which He hath purchafed to us, and
which He from time to time bcitoweth on us:
for
BOOK II. [462] CHAP,XVin
For when Chrift requireth of us to deny our
felves, He requireth indeed the reuonntiation of
our own carnal and corrupt Lufts,and confidence
in our own Wifdom, Worth and Works. But He
doth not require of us to renounce the fan&ified
love of our own well-being, or the feekingour
San#ification,Confolation and Salvation in Him
alone : For the love of God and of His Glory,
is the main end of all ourDefires ; and the feed-
ing that God would glorify His own Grace and
Truth in His Promifes to us, by fandtifying,
comforting and favingus, is a fubordinat Mean
unto God's Glory ; yea, the more we leek our
Righteoufhcfs, Confolation and Salvation in God
through Chrift,. the mote we glorify God, and
do fay in fubftance of God, that He is the Foun-
tain of all Felicity, and that. He is good and
faithful to grant all good Things to fuch as be-
lieve in Him, and do feck Grace for Grace from
Him.
3»; It is true, that we fhould love God above
all things, and love Him more than our felves,
and dove Him though He (liould flay us; but
it is.truealfo, that the more we love Him for
any<Caufe,the more we efteemof Him,the more
>Y£ magnify and glorify Him : And what is lore
tp,and leeking of God, but the acknowledgment
of our own emptinefs and HisAli-fufficiency?
And what is our feeking Communion with Hinv
bufca refounjding of our felves into the Fountain
whence we have our Beeing,' that He may be.
BOOK II. [463] CHAP. XIX.
glorified in our Beeing, and fully Well-beihg ?
And fo ouripiritual love of God forHimfelf/and
for the Goodnefs which is let forth in doing
good to us, is not mercenary Love, but is the
acknowledgement of His Perfections, and of His
Grace to us, to whom He will be our God in
Chrift, even all in all to us in Him. As for
feeking of Mens Applaufe whenfoever, whether
upon receiving of any Benefit, ordilchargeof a-
ny Duty, the corrupt luft of vain Glory doth
mix it felf, (which cannot butobfeure and hinder
the fliining of His Glory, which fliould be aim-
ed at in all things by us) incontinent upon the
firft motion of this our finful Corruption percei-
ved, let our Sin be humbly acknowledged and
confeffed unto God, the Searcher of the Heart,
and let Supph cation in our Spirit be made unto
Him, to pardon our Sin, and mortify the bitter
Root of this and all other Evils in us.
CHAP. XIX.
Wherein is folved the Doubt of the true Convert,
whether he he indeed Converted, arifing from this,
that he kuoweth no Child of God fo hardly exer-
cifed as he is.
SOme Converts are, who by the Light of the
Law of God, are brought to the acknow-
ledgement of their Sin and Mifery, and by
the Doctrine of the Gofpel are brought to feck
their
BOOK II t 4«4 ] CHAR- XIX.
Relief inChrift,and have takenonHis Yoke and
fubmitted themfelves to His DtfcipHne,&yet fall
in queftion, whether they be Converted, becaufe
they do find fuch inequality in their Converfa-
tion, and fuch chahges in their Condition, and
variety of Testations, as they can find no Ex-
ample of the like in Scripture ; and where it
pleafeth them to be free with their Paftor or con-
fident Chriftian Friend, do fallout in queftions,
if ever they have read in Scripture any like unto
them,in fuch and fuch particulars as they pleafe to
condefcend upofc; and if their Paftor or Chriftian
Friend ihali givexhemfome Example in the Scrip-
ture, of God's Children fo exercifed, they are
ready to find fuch differences between the cafe
of the Godly in Scripture, and their cafe,as they
cannot receive fatisfa&ion. And if poffibly it
be told them,that their Cafe is not fingular,but
fuch as hath befallen fundry of their Chriftian
Acquaintance in this prefent Age, yet they can-
not receive fatisfa&ion for all this, but (till do
infill, that their cafe is not like to any of the
Godly. Whereupon they fofter the fufpicion of
their not being Converted.
z. This ground of judging of MensConver-
fion by the manner ot God s exercifing of them,
£9 as other converted Saints have been exercis-
ed before them, and of judging she Man to be
Unregenerat, who is otherways exercifed then
chey know any Convert t# have teen exerciied,
jdid deceive the Friends of Job, who in JoVs
face
BOOK II. [ 46s ] CHAP. XIX.
face avowed this their error, Joh, 5. 1. Call now,
(%y they, iff here he any that will anfwer thee, and
*nto which of the Saints wilt thou turri> that is, name
any Example of any upright Man who hath
been dealt with by God as thou art > and what
Saint or holy Man can thou name, to whom
thou can compare thy felf and fay, luch a Man
hath fuffered fuch things as I do?
This Doubt doth ante from this Error and Mi-
(lake ; the AffiicSred doth without ground fup-
pofe, that exprefs Examples of every particular
cafe of the Saints is (et down in Scripture. It is
true, there are Examples,of many Cafes which
may befal the Godly ; but it is not to be expected
that we ihall find Examples of every particular
Exercife of Mind, wherein the Saints may fall:
For as theEvangelift faith, if all particulars were
written, the World could not hold or make ufc
thereof. It is fufficicnt that the Scripture hath
fet down Rules, whereunto the Saints (hould la-
feour to conform themfelves, and that it hath
opened up the Caufes and Remedies of all fpi»
ritual Difeafes, and hath given fo many Exam-
ples as may clear the Rules. It is alfo a Miftakc
to make the experience of the mod exercifed
Souldier a Rule for every Saint's Exercifes, or
to think that any Man can know the variety of
Cafes which befal the Saints : For there are ma-
ny whofe Cafes are not revealed to any, but laid
open unto God only, by Prayer, and are helped
fey Faith iaChrift.
j. Where-
BOOK M ' [ 4*4 ] CHAP. XIX
j. Wherefore the Affli&ed mud walk by
Rales fee dowii in Scripture, whether he find the
Practices thereof m Scripture, or not. Now this
is the Rule, that whacloever evil condition we
fall into, whatsoever Tentation, wharfoever Pol-
lution hath defiled cur Confciences, we muft
humble ourie'ves before God,& fly unto Chrift
for Remiiiion of theGui!tinefe,for waffling away
the Filth inefe thereof, for breaking down the
power of Corruption, and pulling out the Roots
thcreo f; withal praifing and thanking ChrifLwho
hach difcovered unto us thefe Evils, and hath
madethem ourAffii&ien, and not differed them
to break forth to the fcandal of others. And
whatfoever Calamity or temporal Mifery we
iliall fall into,the Scripture hath given order un-
to- us, humbly to fubmit our felves to God's Dif-
penfation, and to make a good conftru&ion of
God's Love and Wifdcm in exercifing us fo: For
by this Rule Job did walk, defending his Faith
in Chrift, his living and loving Redeemer,againft
Satan's Temptations, and his Friends unchari-
table wrangling Difputations, when the queftion
was about his ftate, whether hehad ever been
Converted or not, Whether he was a wicked Hy-
pocrite or not? and by fo over- came
die Temptation whereof we are new i peaking.
And let not the Afih&ed lay it for aground,
that by his hearing of the Exercife of another,
like unto his Condition, he can be curd ; be-
caufe no example of the Exercife of another can
be
<T50OKII. I 467 ] CHAP.XXT.
/ be found fo quadrant unto his Condition, as h c '
2 could thereby take Satisfadion. Forasincotrr
s paring Mens Faces one with another (fuch is the
2 incomprehenfiblc variety of the Riches of God's
* Wifdom in framing them) (bme difference and
: diffimilitude will be found betwixt Face and Face;
fo in comparing of thcCafes of theSaints,none of
them can be found m all things fo like one to
another ,bu>fomefdifTimilitude fhall be found be-
tween them. Wherefore the Affiided ihall do
well, in every condition, to draw near God, aad
pour out his Heart before Him at all times;
For God is a Refuge for us in all Cafes.
Ff 6zs 8.
CHAR XX.
Wlierein isfolvedthe Convert's Doubt, whether he
be converted, becaufe he doth not find in himfelf
the infallible Marks of Regeneration.
SOME true Converts fbmetime arc in faC-
penfe, doubting whether they be indeed
Converted, becaufe they do not difcern
in thcmfelves the unqueftionable Evidences of
their Con verfion ; and albeit they have the un-
doubted Marks of Regenerations witjrhe daily
Convidion and Acknowledgement af their Sins,
and do fly daily by Faith unto Jefus Chrift,and
arc endeavouring in fome meafure gf Sincerity to
G § fcring
BOOKIi; [460] CHAP. XX \*
bring forth the Fruits of new obedience, with]
refped to all the Commandments concerning'
Love to God,and the Brethren;yet they dare not
defend the Sincerky of rhefc evidences, becaufe
of thedcfcerned Imperfedrion thereof: For,when:
they do compare thcfe Marks of the new Crea-
ture with the Rule, they find much halting and
iliort coming therein. In fpecia!, they find their 1
Senie of Sin to be but weak, their Faith in
Chriil to be weak, and their Failings and fhort-
comings in the Love of God and their Neigh-
bours, to be many : fo that they fcarcely dare
allow thefe begun faving Graces, the name of
faving Graces. And among other Defects, they
reckon their not feeiiqg of the Spirit of Adoption,
whereof the Apoftle fpeaketh to the converted
Galatians, Gal, 4 6. Becaufe ye are Sons (faith he)
God hath fent firth the Spirit of His Son into your
Hearts y cryingAbba,Father Ax\<\Ephef\.'i\ln whom
after you believed, yewerefealed with the holy Spi-
rit of Promife. Which Spirit of Promife and of
Adoption, fealing Believers, they conceived was
Jcnown and defcerned in the Apoftles time by
every Believers feeling in himfelf.
%. For folving of this Doubt,(bmethingis fpo-
&en before concerning the irriperfed: Fruits of
Faith, the Buddings and Blofibming whereof are
#ot defpifed by Chrift, Cant. %, 13. and, 6.
11., But that this doubt may be more fully an- j
fwered, let us take up the caufes thereof, 1. One.'
Ca^ft is or may be this, tha.c the AfHi&ed, alJ
- ~ """ bcc
BOOK II. [469] CHAP. XX
?4| beit, together with the endeavour to lead a
blameleis life, he be endued with the Grace of
"°t Praycr,and looketh on God as his father; yet he
doth -not take up this work of God in him,to be
the work of the Spirit of Chrift, illuminating
his Mind about Duties, framing his Will and
Afledtions unto new obedience,ftirring him up to
'Prayer and helping him in Prayer, but in the
earned defire hcahath to find the Operations of
the Spirit in a larger meafureof evidence, he
doth not mark the prefent Operation, but
doth flight it as nothing, or doth not efteem of
it as becometh, and fo in his Advertance raifeth
and foftereth Doubts in himfelf, which do keep
his Faith in Chains ; For removing of which
Caufe let the Affli&ed obferve the Operation of
the Spirit of Chrift in the meaneft degree, for
the confirmation of his own Faith, and com-
fort and Thankfgiving unto God, as narrowly
as he doth obferve in himfelf the firft Motions
of Sin and Stirrings of Corruption, for his
own Humiliation and excrcife of Repentance ;
for wrong Judgement under pretext of Humi-
lity, doth not plcaie God. Now it is an ad: of
Injufticc not to give unto God the praife of e-
very good thing in a Man, efpecially when the
Man is found to be caft down in himfelf, and
be thirfting in his Soul for a more intimat com-
munion withChrift,as is prefuppofed in this cafe
3. The Second caufe is or may be this,thac the
Afflicted, albeit he hath had oft-times fw^t
G * and
BOOK II. t47o] CHAP. XX,
%n& fenfible Confolation, and Confirmation of
the Promifesof the Gofpcl , and hath thereby
bsca put out of doubt of his Adoption for the
time, yet when new Tentations do arife (accor»
ding to what was expedient for the exercife
of His Faith) becaufe the fame fweetnefs is not
felp bat hcavinefs for the while, 1 Pet.i. 6j. he
forgetteth the Confoiationshe hath had, orfuf-
fereth them to be called in quftiion. For remo-
ving whereof whenfbever the Afflicted is cue
fliort in the point of Senfc or fenfible Confola-
tion, let him then ftrive to abound in the work
of theLord,and notflaken.his hand intheexercife
of Religion,and of his lawful Calling,and hisen-
deavour to pleafe God in all things ; for, feeing
the Covenant of Grace imbniceci, is a firm and
folid ground for Faith to fix upon, albeit full
Perfwafion and vi&oricus Confolation were nei-
ther at all, or but very rarely felt in thisLife;
the ArH.i&ed (whom we have to fpeak to here)
hath no caufc to flumble, but reafon to blefs
God, Who hath in any meafure or at any time,
comforted him by the Gofpel •' For, that condi-
tion which the Affli&ed wifheth for, is refer-
red unto us in Heaven; and prefuppofe the Aft
fitted fnould have what he wifheth, Confola*
lions always running like a River, where were
place for trying, exercifingand training of him
in hi$ Faith ? but let him Work and Wreftle on,
and among hands he fliall Have as much peace
as may (alike- a Pilgrim.
q. The
bookh. [ 471 1 c;hap. »ij
4. The Tbird Caufe is, or may be this, thai,
the Affli&ed hath grieved the Spirit of God
cither by atcribing His gracious Operations ro
fomc other caufe than Grace, or counting this
Confoltations to be but Flafhes, and like unto
delufions; or that the Affli&cd by corrupt Com-
inunicauon, or grofs Offences, hath provoked
God to anger, as befell David Pfal. 51. For re-
moving of this Caufe, whether the Sin of the
Affli&sd hath been more or lefs provoking; iec
him with Dav:J( Pf. $1. ) renew the excrcife of
Repentance and Faith in God's Mercy, who only
can renew a right Spirit in him, or rather reftors.
him to the formerly- felt Confoiation and Joy of
his Spirit,& let him walk more warily hereafter,
that he provoke not toWrath fo merciful a Father.
5. The Fourth Caufe is, or may bethis,thafc
the AlHided, albeit he liatK consented to the
•Covenant of grace, and hath embraced Chrift
jefus offered in the Evangcl.-yethc dothjnot fet to
jHisSeal to the Truth of God without an hink,
or fear and fufpicion of his right to apply the
Grace offered; in wkichCafe fo long as he doubts*,
and dothjnot reft his fiaful Soul on the Word
of God, offering Grace to every Soul fenfible
of Sin, who lhall fly to JeVus Chrid, what wonde.c
the holy Spirit doth with-hold the icaling of tha
Man's Faith.-For thisisGodV order holden fott.lT;
Bphef.i. 1 j.that a Sinner ihould firft fix bis Faitlv
onChritt offered in theGofpe!,& after he hath be*
lieveu(not before he do believe) vvait for the fe^U
iag of the; holy^Spirit. j*r
BOOKIL [47*1 CHAP. XX,
For removing this Caufe, r. Let the Affli&ed
acknowledge that his Hefitation, Doubting and
Sufpicion, isjuftly chaftifed of God, becaufehc
hath not firmly -adhered to the Covenant embra-
ced by him, and becaufe he hath not given unto
God the Glory of His Truth with out a Pawn,
and yet doth in effecft quarrel and complain, that
he doth not find thefe Confolations which are
given, and but rarely, it may be even
to the found and ftrongin the Faith. ^. Lee
him for the Confirmation of his Faith, hereafter
confider well, how ftrong and folid a Founda-
tion Faithjhath to lean unto,evenGod's Promife &
Oath given unto all that do fly toChrift for Re-
fuge and % Relief from Sin and Mifery, Heh. 6.
17. 18. that the Afflided may with the Tjalmijl I
Tf. 56. 10. fing, in God I will praife His WordA
3. Let the Afflidted ftudy to be fo fail glewed |
unto Chrift in every condition and cafe he fin-
deth himfelf, and go about the exercife of Re-
pentance of Faith and new Obedience in his
Calling, fubmitting himfelf to the Will of God
m every Difpenfarion : which direction if he
fnall aim to follow, he (hall not want the fruic
of his Faith, and hoped endeavour to pleafe
God : For, PJaL 97. 1 r. Light is fovon for the
Mhhtuus, f.nd Joy for the upright in Heart.
CHAR
BOOK II. r 473 1 CHAP. XXt
CHAP. XXI.
Wherein is fohed the Doubt of the true Convert
whether he be indeed converter! Lecaufe he can no-
confidently apply to himfelf the Promifes ofth$
Gofpel.
THcre are fome true Converts, who albeic
for fear of the Wrath of God for their Sins,
ar^ already fled unto Chrift,and have hid them-
felves under the Wings of the Propitiatory, in the
fliadow of the Almighty Mediator, and are al*
ready begun in earncft to give new obedience to
the Law of God; yet from time ro time they
fall in fear and trembling Sufpicion, that all be
not a found work of Grace ih them ; and that
partly becaufe they cannot confidently apply to
themfelves the Promifes of the Gofpel, whether
Abfolute,fuch as are made to the Eled:, Jer, 31.
31. or Conditional, .fuch as are made to Belie-
vers in Chrift offered in the Gofpel ; or qualified
Promifes, fueh as are made to the Meek and
Merciful, Mat, 5. which qualified promifes they
look upon asConditional, excluding them(as they
conceive) who do not find in themfelves fueh
Qualifications: and partly becaufe they are not
clear about their right to receive the Offer of
the Gofpel, becaufe they want, as they conceive
fitnefs in themfelves to receive the farne.and thus
are they oft-times vexed with doubts whether
be they in the Hare oi Grace of not,
8. Fo«
BOOK II. [ 474 1 CHAP. XXf.
2. For loufing of this Doubt, fundry things
are already faid, by the way, in anfwering other
doubtful Cafes. But becaufe many do meet
with this difficulty, we fhall fpeak a little more
particularly to. the Cafe; and, Firft, it is needful,
that the Afflrded be confirmed about that which
is right in him, that the thing which remaineth
and is ready to die, may be ftrengthned J To
this intent we commend the Affli&ed, that be-
ing fenfible of Sin, and feared for- wrath, he hath
fled unto Chrift for Refuge; Next we commend
him that he hath begun to give new obedience
to God's Law, and doth purpofe to follow on
as he fhall be enabled : And thirdly, we com-
mend him, that albeit he cannot attain that near
conjunction with Chrift, which he would, yet
he neither w T ill, nor dare for fake Chrift, nor put
himfelf out of the number of weak Believersin
Chrift; for he hath faid in his Heart with Peter,
John. 6. 68- To whom jball Igo> for Chrift bat!}
the words of eternal Life. Hitherto all is right, and
the afflicted muft refolve to cleave clofs to this
Foundation, becaufe Chrift hath faid, Job. 6. 37.
Thefe that come unto Me I will in no cafe call out;
3 For his Doubt arifing from the nature of the
Promifes Abfolute, Conditional and Qualified,
looked upon by him as if they were Conditional,
we Anfwer. 1. That thefe Qualified promifes,
having fome mark in them of true believers,
are not exclufive of thefe Believers who
BOOK II. [ 475 1 CHAP. s X50t
find inthemfclves a defect of the Qualification,,
but they are indu&ivc unto all Belicrers, to
ftudy the attaining of that Qualifiation, and arc
corroborative of thefe Believers who find in any
fenfible mcafure thefeQualificatioras: For example,
Promifes made to the Merciful, to the Peace-
makers, to the Upright in Heart, do not exclude
thefe who find themfelves fhort in thefe Graces,
and yet are hungry and thirfty for Righteoufhefs;
yet are poor and indigent of all Good in them-
felves, and daily Beggersat the Throne of Grace
for what they want, Mat. 5. for, thefe Qualifi-
cations found in a weak Believer are Signs and
E3e#s of (bund Faith in them. And we muffc
grant, that of thefe Graces, fpecified in thefe.
qualified Promifes, fome of them are more emi-
nent in fome of the Saints, and other fome of
them are more eminently fcen and felt in other.
fome of the Saints. And in the fame Perfbn,one
of thefeQualifications mayfometimefhine more
dearly, and at another time by fome Tenta-
tion, or miftake, be over-clouded, and not fliine
fo clearly as before ; yet the Qualifications are
comfortable to all them who find the fame in
themfelves, and are inductive to make every
Believer to aim to excel in thefe Graces, and fo
to confirme their own Faith mors and more, as
( z Pet, 1. 4, 5, 6, 7. ) we are exhorted. Again,
thefe Qualifications are figns of a Believer al-
ready entered in the Covenant of Grace by Faith
'.tftfiktiik & n 4 begiw to bring forth good Fruits,
b
BOOK II. [ 476 ] CHAP. XXI.
but they are not the Conditions of entering into
the Covenant; for then none could enter in Co-
venant till firft thefe Qualifications in exercife
were found in them, and that were to dif-annul
the Covenant of Grace, and to fet up a fort of
Covenant of Works; for there is not another con-
dition of entering in the Covenant, but Faith in
Chrift only, whereby the humbled Sinner, re-
nouncing all confidence in any good in himfelf,
or from himfelf, doth betake himfelf wholly to
the Grace offered in Jefus Chrift, in Whom per-
fect Righteoufnefs is to be found.Now unto the
Man who fhall believe in Chrift, allthePromif-
es of the Gofpel are made upon this Condition,
that he do believe in Jefus Chrift; which condi-
tion of Faith in Chrift, when it is now perform*
ed, and by the Grace of God, the Man made a
Believer in Chrift, then the abfolute Promifes
of making a new Heart, and of writing the
Law of the Lord therein, ( Jer. 31-31. and Ezek.
11. 19 ) and all the Promifes of faving Graces
fet down in Holy Scripture, do all of them be-
long to the Believer in Chrift, in Whom all the
Promifes are Tea and Amends if His Name were
fet down.
4. As to hisDoub^arifing from his weak and in-
firm Application of the Promifes, let the Affli<3>
ed confider what God hath already wrought,and
is a working in him by way of Application: For,
Fir (i, God hath granted to him the ufe of the
Means with others in the vifible Kirk; fo that it
may
BOOK, II. r 477 1 CHAP. XXV
be faid unto him in this refpe&asit is,Efo 5. 4.
what could>be!done in outward means &Otfermak
ing of Grace which is notdonc?S<rcW/y,God hath
drawn more nearuntohim.and hath illuminat his
Mindabou this finfu 1ft ate in Nature, & about the
way of delivery by Faith in Chri£,and yet more
hath Inclined his Heart to accept of the offer of
Chrift and make Anfwer to the call,as£>aWdid:
When Thou fatdeft, fee k My Face .my Soul anfwer ed,
Thy Face Lord mil I feet Pfal.xj.g.Thus God
hath applyedChrift & thePromifes of the Gofpel
to the Afflicted, and hath made the Affii&ed to
fly unto Chrift offered in the Gofpel, and to ap-
ply him unto himfelf, that hitherto the Affli-
cted hath no reafon to complain of not applica-
tion cf Chrift and His Promifes, 011 God's parr,
not yet of begun-application on the affli&ed's
part. Where is the in-lake then > I Anfwer, the
Defed is, firft,in the Afflid;ed,who hath not due-
ly confidered the PafTages of Gods gracious ap-
proaching to him, and drawing of the Man to.
Himfelf in Chrift; another Defedt is, that the Af-
fli&ed upon groundlefs Miftakes, doth not lay
claim toChrift,and to all the Promifes ofGracefot
Righteoufiiefs and Salvation in Him,and that be-
caufe he is not fo clear of his Right unto, and
Intereft in, Chrift, as he can lay ciaim confident-
ly unto the fame.
5*. For clearing of the Affli&ed in this his
Right and Warrant, confidently to apply Chrift
and
BOOK, II. [ 478 } CHAk XXL
and all the Promifcs of the Gofpel, let him
confider, Firfl, the dreadful Sentence of the
Curfe and Condemaation of all them that do
not believe on Chrift John, 3. 18. Hethatbeli-
wth on Christ, i* not condemned ; but he that be-
lieveth not u condemned already, becaufe he hath
mt believed in the only begotten Son of God. Se-
condly, let him confider the largenefs of the Go-
fpel, wherein Grace is offered to all and every
Believer, Job. 3. 16, God fo loved the World;
that He gave His only begotten Son, that vohojoe-
wer believeth in Him jhouldnot penfb, but havee-
<verlafting Life. He feith vobofoever, without
exception, left any Man who defireth to be-
lieve inChriftjfhould doubt that hefhall be recei-
ved and made wele*me<7&ir;//y,let him meditate
upon the wonderfulMyftery of thelncarnation of
the Son of God, Who, that he might ranfom
and Redeem His People from Sin and Mifery,
hath aflumed humane Nature into the union
of Perfbn with His Divine Nature, and gi-
ven a perpetual Pawn, and Pledge of his Hear-
ty willingnefs to reconcileJuftify,San(9;ify, and
fave to tke uttermoft every one who fhall come
unto God through Him : whereunto His media-
tory Office, and cloathing Himfelf with mod
fweet Relations of Prophet, Preift and King
to all His followers , doth bear abundant wit*
nefs. Fourthly, let him hearken to the quicken*
ingand comfortable invitations which by his
Spirit, fpeaking in Scripture,he uttererh in the
BttOKH. [479] CHAP. XXU
Ears of all to whom the Gofpel cometh with a
joyful found; Ho every one that thrifteth Ifa.j^.r.
to 1 o. Come unto me all ye that labour and are
heavy loaden,Math n.zZWe are Embaffadors for
Chrift, as though God did befeech you by us, we pray
yon in Ch rifts (lead be ye reeonciled to Gsd, z Cor.
5. 20. Andwhofcevtr will, let him take the water
of Life freely. Rev. 2,2. 17. Fifthly, Let the
Afflicted confider what Anfwer he will give ttf
the cxprefs command of God, 1 Job, y z$,This
is His Commandment, that we Jhould believe in the
Name of his Son Je fits Chrift, and' love one another
as He hath commanded us$o? this Commandment
being directed to all the Hearers ofthcGo{pel f
chargeth every one without Cxceptieii.Fir^ i to ex-
amine ferioufly their Life by t. Ic of God's
Law, that thereby they may be convinced of their
damnable ftatein Nature,& madeto acknowledge
their Sin and Mifery & inability to help them-
fclves..SVcW/y,having examined & acknowledged
their natural loft Conditionally arc commanded
to fly tojefus Chrift, thatbyFaithin Him they
may be delivered. 3/y. that having tied toChrift,
theylhpuld evidence theirFaith byLove toChrift,
or God iji Chrift, and their Ncighbour^efpecially
fuch as are of the houPhoId of FaithJn whichCom-
mandment,boi:hthe order of applying Law and
Gofpel is fet dcwn,and the neceffityof Believing
in Chrift, upon the Warrant of this clear Com-
?nand;fo that whofocvoris a Hearer of theGofpcJ,
gti4 doth tiot in this ord$? fly unto Chrift
he
BOOK II. I 480 ] CHAR XXf
he is inexcufable, even the Wicked and worft o^
Men. And much lefs excufable is the affli&ed
Convert of whom we are now fpeaking, who al-
ready hath acknowledged his loft Condition
without Chrift, and knovveth that there is no
hope of Relief, except by Faith in Jefus, and
hath fled to Chrift, and dare not depart fromHim,
if this Man fliall ftand here, and not rely on
Chrift, and reft his Soul upon Him Confidently,
what excufe can he make > If he do objed, than
his Name is not written in this Command, ijoh.
3,23. it hath no force to impede his Faith; for
neither is his Name written in any of the Ten
Commands of the Moral Law, and yet he findeth
himfelf. tyed to the obedience of every one of
them; and why is he not tyed alfb to this fvveet
Command of the Gofpel of Grace, as well as to
other Commands ? this Command being given
forth as the laft Declaration of God's Will, for
relief of them who acknowledge that they by the
Law are condemned? wherefore let not the af-
fii&ed any more pretend the difficulty of apply-
ing Chrift and His Graces offered in the Gofpel,
ieingitis prefuppofed he hath fled to Chrift,and
dare neither depart from Him, nor for the pre-
tended fcruple draw confidently in unto Him;
but let him check and chide himfelf for not haunt-
ing Chrift, and converfing with Him in Heaven,
in that humility and confidence which the word
of the Lord doth allow unto him, and command-
cth him to wkc up aad hold faft,
CHAP.
BOOK II. T 481 ] CHAP. XXI I#
CHAR XXII.
Wherein is folved the douhtof the true convert con*
cerning his converfion y arijing from the ohfervati-
on in himfeif of prefumption and fecurity in his
profperity,and of his misbelief in advcrjity.
THere are fome true Converts, who albeit
they are neither Idle nor Unfruitful in the
work of the Lord, and in acknowledging of
Chrift, yet are frequently called in queftion
about their ftate in Grace ; for when their Con-
fidence is quiet, they fall in fufpicion that their
Faith is but Prefumption, and when through
Tentation in Adverfity they are put to WrefUing*
their fufpicion is, that then felt weakncfe of
Faith in wreftling is but Misbelief. And when
the frequent perturbations of their mind, do make
them indifpofed for any exercife of Religion, a
fufpicion is raifed, that the Faith which they
fecmed to have, is but dead, becaufe when there
is moft need of bringing forth Fruits they are al-
together unfit and untfble to bring forth any Fruits.
What (hall I think of my Eftate, faith the Af-
fli&ed, who when an Enemy doth not appear
am fecure, and when I mud enter the Combat
with theAdverfary, I Faint, and oft times when
1 am called to the exercife of Religion, I am con*
founded, / am ftupid and impotent to difcharge
any duty therein ?
2. That this doubt maybe (blved, the three
caufes of his doubting mull be removed. As to
the
BOOK It [ 4 8x ] CHAP. xxir.
he hrft, which is the fufpicion, that his Faith
*s Prefumption, we do not deny that carnal Con-
fidence in Profperity ufeth to aflume to it felf
the Name of true Faith, and that even true Con-
verts, do fometime deceive themfelves concern-
ing the meafure of their Faith,both on the right
hand and on the left, by judging Faith not
queftioned, to be ftrong Faith, and Faith in
wraftling to be weak or none at all. We grant
alfo, that fome mixture of Prefumption will be
found joyned with true Faith, and of Misbelief
alio. Which Evils do lurk and hide their power,
till the Man be put to fome tryal. Wherefore
the Afflicted hath need of Discretion; that he
may have a Right eftecm both of the Operation
of the Holy Spirit, and of the Power of Native
Corruption in himfelf ; For Faith muft not be
condemned for the Imperfections of it, or for the
mixture of Prefumption and Misbelief with it.
And to help his Judgment, let him obferve the
nature of prevalent prefumption, and the nature
of true Faith, which differ one from another in
thefe four refpedts, Firft, Prefumption is found-
ed upon a falfe Imagination without any warrant
of Gods Word; but Faith taketh heed to the
Scripture, that from the Word it may give a rea- i
fon of Believing, l. Prefumption is negligent and
Idle in th« difcharge of Duties, but Faith taketh j
head to the Commands of God, and is diligenc j
and ferious in the ufe of the Means. 3. Thepre-
fymptuous Maadodtnot make cjueftion of hi$ i
Eftate i
BOOK II- [ 4*3 ] CHAP. XXH.
Eftate, but blefleth himfelf, when his way is to
be hated, for he doth not examine himfelf, that
he may know certainly in what condition he is B
but he that puts his Faith in exercife,doth care*
fully examine his carriage and condition, left he
deceive himfelf. 4. The prefumptuous Man in
all his Ways and A&ions is weil pleafed with
himfelf, butthe Believer, becsufe of the finful-
nefs he findcth in all his A£tions,is ill pleafed with
himfelf in his bed A&ions many times, and re*
nounccth all confidence in his Works, that he
may wholly depend on the Grace of God.
3. Let the Affii&ed therefore who (b doth
look to the Gpfpel, as be alfb maketh ufe of
the Law, both in Profpcrity and Adverfity, ma-
keth Confdcnce of theExercife of Religion and
Duties of his Calling in foma meafure, and is
never fo well pleafed with himfeif, but he ob-
ferveth the power of Corruption in himfelf, let
him (I fay) not reckon himfeif among the Pre-
fumptuous, let him not efteem his quietnefs iti
believing to be preemption.
4. As for his fufpieioivthat his Faith is null,
becaufe it pro^eth weak in co»fli<5fc,let the Af-
fli&ed beware left he help and ftrengthen Satan's
f entations againft his Faith, albeit he find his
Faith weak iaTryotls & affoults,and notanfvVera-
ble cither to his own Hope or others expecta-
tion of him; yet fee him not quench the fmoik-
ing Flax, not. break the bruifcd reed, but lee
kirn follow Chrift, humbling himfeif before God
H h fc c .
BOOK If. { 484 ] CHAP. XXII,
caufe of hisDefe&s, and going about to (leng-
then that which is remaining, z. Aibeit in
fome fit of Tentation he flide,as Peter did, and
find that he hath prefumed too much of his
own ftrength and honeft purpofe as Peter alfo
did, yet let him not think that his Faith is
null, but let him weep with Peter, and turn
again by Repentance.and watch better over his
own Heart for time to come.
5. As for the Sufpicion he hath, that his
Faith is dead or idle, becaufe when Fruits are
chiefly called for, he finds himfelf uterly indif-
pofed, unfit and unable to difcharge any work
of Religion, as cometh to pats in the time of
Paffions, Pertrubations of Mind, and pollution
of the Confcience . For clearing whereof, we
do acknowledge, that Wrath and Contention do
hinder Prayer and other Exercifes of Religion,
ss the Apoftle doth infinuat, 1 Pet. 3. 7. where
he commandeth Husbands to carry themfelves
difcreetiy towards their Wives, left their Pra-
yers in the Family or in fecret be hindred ; and,
1 Tim. z. 8. the Apoftle commandeth Men ta
p ay every where, lifting up pure Hands with-
out Wrath or Doubting. Weacknowledge alfo,
that not only Wrath, or any other Paffion or
Action which defileth the Confcience, are able
to hinder theExercife of Religion, and difcharge
efChriilian Duties at a time, but alfo it is found
by experience, that any Preturbation of Mind
aibeit it do not defile or concern the Confci-
ence£
BOOKIL ( 485 ) CHAP. XXII.
cnce, may in fome pare hinder the difchaarge
of a religious Exercife, as may be feen when
&ny perfon is furprifed with the report of fome
notable Damnage, or is poflibly wounded by
fome Accident, or terrified by the fight of im-
minent Danger ; yet for all this, none of thefe
I things can proye Faith to be dead, but dotl>
I Ihevv the infirmity of a Man's Mind, the ufe of
! whofe Reafon may be hindered for a time by
j Perturbations and fudden Paffions; and at flij?
mod, the Prefuppofed Cafes may prove c
weaknefs of Faith, and the Interruption of it in.
the putting forth it (elf vigoroufly for the time,
but cannot prove the deadnefs or Nulity of Faith,
which after fuchPafiions are pail, dcthfec fore*
Ward to bring forth Fruits m better meafure :
wherefore let not the AlHi&ed halt in his way.
for fuch Testations, but let him make ftraight
ftcps to himfelf,lcft that which is halting be tut
Add out of the way;let him reje<5t thefe firy Darts
& Testations tending to weaken his Confidence,
let him humble himfclf in the fenfe of inherent
Corruption, and vvalli frequently his Gonfcience
at the Fountain which is opened in the Houfe
of David for purging away £in and uncleannefs
let him carry himfelt the more Circumfpeclly
in all things, becaufc of his frequent experience,
of Satan's Malice, of the power of Sin, and of
his own Infirmities
*
Hhi rGH.VP
BOOK. II. I 486 ] CHAP. XXIIL
CHAP. XXIIL
Wherein i$>fched the Doubt of a true Converts Re-
generation, arifing from fome falfe Rule apply ed
without reajon tohimfelf
SOmetrueConverts Judging theirflate by fome
falfe Rule, do not only torment themfelves*
but allbff fo far as in them lycth) by pronounc-
ing falfe Sentences of their own ftate, go about
to exdnguifh the Spunk of Piety which is in them.
The falfe Rule whereby they do judge them-
felves, is ftrengtbnei by agroundlelsPerfwafion,
that it is a true and fureRule, and ordinarily when
they think orfpeak of it, they prefix no Reafon
for it, but fome confident Afleveration, fuch as
without doubt, it is mofl certain, and I am per/wade J
of it, and fuch like, lfl were Regenerate and
truely Converted, without doubt, I ihould be in
a better difpofition than / am, I fhould love the
Lord more fervently, 1 fhould underftand the
Myfteries ofGod's Word more clearly, 1 fhould
noebe fo little affe&ed with the fenfe ofGod'sBe-
nefits beftowed on me, / lllould not go fo light-
ly under the Conviction of fo many Sins againft
God as / feel in me, / fhould be more diligent
in the Work of theLord,in my Calling/ fhould
\va!k more humbly and circumfpe&ly in all
my Converfation,and fuch like manyExpreflions.
The fame Courfe doth the Affli&cd follow in his
Examination of the Operations of the holy
£pi-
B O O K 11. [ 487 I CHAR XX111.
Spirit and of every Chriftian Vertue in himfelf*
without doubt,faith he, if this were truly as a
Chriftian Vertue in me,therc would not befuch
i a difpofition as 1 find inme,my condition fliould
be fuch and fuch as became a new Creature,
which becaufe 1 do not find in me, 1 have
ie juftreafon to call in queftion my Converfion.
^ And here is a port opened for Satan to enter at
> and to throw all his fiery Darts at the miferable
Soul of the weak Convert; whence many Com-
plaints do brake forth, and Thankfgiving for
Mercies received and for the time enjoyed, is
y broken off and ceafeth; And partly through
1 diffidencc,partly through murmuring, the Spirit
aj of the Lord is provoked to Wrath.
z. We grant that this is a dangerous Evil not
I only to the Perfonafflided, but alfo to fuch as
J are familiarly acquainted with his Condition,
1 becaufe this Difeafe readily doth infeft others,
* as it came to pafs in the Gamp of Ifracl, where
• the Murmuring of fome, fet the Body of the
Army on a Mutiny againft God : For, one that
Is weak in the Faith, when he heareth fuch
Complaints in the Mouth of one whom he
judgeth to be holier then himfelf, incontinent
t he falleth on complaining of his own ftate,
j faying that he hath more weighty reafon to
[ fufpedtthc foundnefs of his Converfion, than
the perfon hath whom he hath heard fufpe&ing
5 bis being in the ftate of Grace,
H h 3 3< Where-
feOOKII [ 4 8S ] CHARXXIir.
3. Wherefore let the Affli&ed before he (hall
vent his fufpicion of his State,examine the Rule
whereby he hath parted Sentence on himfelf,
whether he can make it ggod from the Scrip-
ture : For it is not fufficientto fay, without doubt
and I am pcrfwaded it is true, except it can be
confirmed by the infallible Warrand of God's
Word: and let his Friend who (hall hear his
Complaint , exprefly require a Reafon of his
Confidence, that fuch a rule is clear from Scrip-
ture, and that the Application thereof is made
righteoufly. Which if he cannot prove other-
ways than Satan doth enforce his Tentations,
that is either without Scripture, or. by abufing
Scripture contrary to the intent thereof, let him
acknowledge his rcadinefs coMisbelieve andDif-
obey the Word of the Lord, and to hearken to
Satans Tentatiops to the weakening ofhisowq
Faith and hindering of his cheerful obedience
to the Lord's Commands : And becaufe fuch
queftion-making ofbeing in the fete of Grace,
is ofttimes very incot^deratly uttered, even*
before them who do not allow the Complainers
Mifconflruftipn of his ftate,or if they fliould al-
low it, and fay to the Compfainer,that they be-
lieved that fufpicion of his (late were very jud,
it fliould grieve the Compiainer mcr.> than the
doubt it (cif'Thcreforc let the Afili&qd neither
hearken to the fufpicion, nor xenz it when it is
ftrongly fuggefted ; but let him humble him-
fci-f before ChriiV bejaiife of thefe Defects and
" " Wants
BOO K II [ 489 ] CHAP. XXIV:
Wants officii Evidences of faving Grace as he
would have ; and in the fenfe of thefe wants let
himclcave clofsto Chriftfor covering his naked^
nefs, and carncftly endeavour by Faith inChrift
co be made more and more conform to the ex-
amplar of Holinefs holder* forth in the Scripture,
CHAP. XXIV,
Wherein is fohed tie Convert's Doiiht of his cwn
Converfion, lecauje he hath found the Deceit fulnefs
of his own Heart > and dare not trujlit any mote,
SOme fincere Converts, who uprightly do
fcrve Chrift, and adhere unto Him by Faith,
when they confider the Dodlrine of the Dcceit-
fulnefs of the Heart of Man, and how many
are deceived by milling to the Tcftimony of
their own Heart, concerning their Regeneration
and Ju(lification,do begin to call in queftion all
the work of their own Converfion, and do fear
left they be found in the number of the finer
fort of Hypocrites,who deceive both themfelvcs
and others, having nothing in them but a Civil
Life and Form of Religion, without the power
of Godlinefs, and do fleep to Death in Securi-
ty. Of which fort our Lord Jefus forewarneth,
that not only private PerfonS, but alio many
Preachers fhall be found, Mat. 7. zz. of whom
we may fuppone, that they were not con-
fcious of open and grofs WickedneCs, but
Were of a blamelefs Carriage before the
Hb4 WorU
BO O K. 11 [ 490 ] CHAP. XXIV
World, profeffing theChriftian Faith, and teach-
ing others to believe in Chrift, and doubted
nothing but Chrift Ihould judge of them as re-
al! Saints ; to whom for all that, Chrift fliali
one day fay, depart from Me ye Workers of Ini-
quity, I never hew you. It is certain that fuch
Men have been deceived by their own Heart :
which when the Afflided doth confider, he
ftandeth aftoniflied and trembleth for Fear, fay-
ing with himfelf, what ihall 1 think of my for-
mer Opinion of my blefled ftate, 1 ft;ar my
Heart hath deceived me, as others of greater
Gifts and better Life, have been deceived by
ehcir own Heart.
z. This is a Doubt which hath need to be
folved ; but neither this nor any other Doubt
can be (blidly and efle&uaily folved by any
M^an, except the Holy Spirit give a 31e(Iing to
the Means .• For, it is terrain, that there are
many, who being religioufly Educat and free
from grofs Vices, do not repent of their Sins,
are not touched with the fenfe of their original
Sin and corrupt Lulls, but without taking any
burden on their Confciences for.thelc, dopaf$
by their time, well pleated with their owneftate.
Some alio there are, who having fallen in gro(s
£nd fcandglous Sins, do find for fome time re-
mcrfe of Confcience for thefe gcofs Sins, but for
fcheir odier Sins befide thofe, and for their in-
born Corruptions, are not careful, thinking it
foiSdenc if .cbczcafter they do not fail in fuch
grofs
BOOK. II. ( 491 ) CHAP. XXIV-
grofs Faults; The Firft fort of Men, do deceive
themfelves, thinking they have little to repent
of,in regard they are free of grofs Outbreaking*.
This laft fort deceive themfelves aifo, becaufe
they efteem their natural Sorrow for fuch Sins
as are grofs and Scandalous, to be true Repen-
tance, albeit they be not humbled for the Foun-
tain ofthefe Out-breakings 5 to wit,thcir In- Bant
Corruption of Nature and filthy Concupifcence,
and the daily Oat-breakings thereof, to the pol-
luting of their Spirits, whereof they do rake
little or no notice. Many alfo there are who de-
ceive thcrnfelves,efteeming thq outward exercifes
of Religion, and fome works ( in themfelves
commendable) to be fuffieient Fruits and Evi-
dences of rheir Faith in Chrift, and of their Re-
generation, albeit they have not as yet fled to
Chrift fincerely, neither ever put a Right Efti-
mation upon the imputedRightcoufnefs ofChrift.
Such men, when they fliouid renounce all con-
fidence in their own Works, and in the fenleof
their Sinfulnefs fly unto the Covenant of Grace
offered in Chrift, that in Him they might have
RemifTioti of Sin, and from Him by Faith draw
Strength and Ability to bring forth good Works,
they run a contrary courfe; for in the confidence
oftheit own Srreneth they go about fund ry Du-
ties toward Men, and Exercifcs of Religion to-
ward Qod, trufting in thofc Works.as if by Work?
they were to be Juftified. Therefore juftlyfliall
ChriiJ fay unto their?, depart from Me ye workers
ff
BOOKII. (49O CHAP. XXVI
of Iniquity, I never knew you. Such were many
of the Ifralites, who being ignorant cf the
RighteouinefsofGod, went about to efiablifli
their own Righteouihefs. Thefe things when
one weak in Faith doth confider, no wonder he
be troubled and be afraid, left he deceive him-
felf, and perifh, as others have done,
3. This is a dangerous Difeafe, and fo long
as it is not cured, it hinders much the tender
beginnings of the New Creature that it cannot
come up to manlyStrength./v/7? thereforejet the
Afflicted wifely examine theCourfe of his bygar e
Life,left he either Abfolve,or Condemn hitnfdf,
rafhly ; and let him beware left he eftcem the
worfe of, the Evidences of a NewCreature, and
the Fruits of Faith, becaufe thefe that look to be
Juftified by their Works, can produce the like
works.*Sfc^/y,lettheAfflided call to mind whe-
ther in the beginning ofche Reformation of his
Life, the Law as a Pedagogue did lead him unto
Chrift,and whether fince that time, the Law did
daily put him on,and force him to fly to Chrift,
and to embrace Chrifl: and His Righteoufnefs,
and hath made him to ftudy Obedience to the
Law, out of Love tp God, fo much the more
carefully, as he perceived himfelf obliged thank-
fully to acknowledge Grace granted in Chrifl; to
him ; for if any meafure of the daily Exercife;
pf Repentance, if any meafure of love to Chrifl:,
and any m eafure of endeavour of newObedience,
j?c fpund after Examination in the perform
»
BOOK If. [ 4 9i CHAP. XXIV
affli&ed, out of doubt the ground is laid
folidly of his Salvation, out of doubt he hath
an Evidence of the work of Grace by the ope-
ration of the holy Spirit in himfelf.
4. If in this Examination the Afflicted be
not clear but the doubt doch yet flick, bccaufe
of the Sufpicion he hath oF the felt Deceitfulnefs
of his ownHeart,we offer unto him thisCounfel,
that he quickly humble himfelf beforeGod, and
do ingenuoufly acknowledge the native PerverP
nefs and Deceitfulnefs of his Heart; and for thac
very reafon, let him embrace Chrift; the Redee-
mer in the Arms of Faith, offering Himfelf toe-
very condemned Sinner; and let him tnank God
who hath deciphered unto him his deceitfulnefs
of his Heart/and offiredChrul unto him for the
true Remedy of this & every other (infill Mala^
dy.And in the mean time,iet him put a difference
between himfelf and an Hypocrite,inwhom the
Deceit of the Heart is neither acknowledged
nor feen.but foftered and defended: for, a clofs
Hypocrite,afcerhearingof theDocfcrinc of thede-
fcitfulnefsoftheHeart,wiil (land to the defend-
ing of his own Sincerity, & will take it hardly if
guy Man labour to convince him of any meafure
ofHypocrify: But a true Convert or Regenerat
Perfon.will not deny but much Hypocniy may
be found in him; and albeit he beforrowful,
That this deceitfulnefs of Heart hath had lodg-
ing in him,andlyrked toQ long jet is he willing
& glad to have this Evil more & more difcovcred
unco
BOOK//, [494] CHAP.XXIV.
unto him, and heartily doth he deliver up this
Traitor to Chrift, to be mortified and abolifhed
by His Spirit.
5, But if the AfRided canhot be quiet and fa-
tisfied, flill fearing and fufpe&ing he be found
a Man unrenewed, and that for the running iflue
of this filthy Boy !,opened up to him by the Sword
of the Spirit, let him beware that he pafs not pe-
remptor Sentence againft himfelf, that he do not
conclude himfelf to be a Man altogether in the
Bond of /niquity; but let him fufpend for a time
the Difpuration, and do that which is allowed
unto every felf-condemnedMan in the beginning
of his Converfion,that is, quickly let him fly un-
to Chrift for Remiifion of Sin, let him lay hold
on that Righteoufnefe purchafed by Him; and
the more he feareth to find God a fevere Judge,
let him the more firmly lay hold onjefus Chrift
the Mediator, Who juftifieth the Ungodly by
Faith : This is the only folid way to perfevere
in Faith, to overcome Satan, to folve Doubts,
to refift Temptations, and to cure the Wound
made by Satan's fiery Darts; For unto that Man,
who in the fenfe of his Sins and ill deferving,and
inability to help himfelf, doth fly unto Chrift,
it fliall never be &id by Chrift, Depart from Me
I never hew thee,
6. Now when the Perfon afHiftcd hath of
pew laid hold on Chrift, and guarded the For-
trefs of Faith, and repulfed the Tempter,whoby
all means, and fpccially by quarreling and que-
ftio
BOOK II. [ 495 ] CHAP. XXV.
(Honing the by-paft work of Grace in him, had
laboured to weaken and overturn his Faith for
By-goncs, and for the Prefcnt alfo, leftitfcould
convalcfce and grow ftronger for time to come:
Now ( I fay> let the Afflicted after Viftory re-
turn to the Difpute, and to the Examination of
his (late in Grace, of his Faith in Chrift, and of
his Regeneration, and he fhall fee all the begun
faving Graces, which were darkned by Tempta-
tions, clearly appear, and fhali perceive the feve-
ral Steps and Degrees of God's Grace toward
him in former times, more evidently than he
could difcern them in the Hour of Darknefs and
Temptation. And fo he ihall return ftom this
Battel ftronger in Faith than he was before, and
more perfwaded of the Work of the Holy Spiric
in him, than he had before the Temptation.
CHAP. XXV.
Wherein is fohed the Doult of the true Convert 9 $
Converfion, arifing from his breach of the Cove*
want of Grace, as he conceive tb,
T Here are fome fincere Converts, who, al-
beit they do not doubt but Penitents, fly-
ing toChrift,are received in favour withGod,are
juftified fromtheirSins,and do obtain Right unto
all the Priviledges of theSaints; yet they doubt
Whether every fincere Convert ihall remain in
die Covenant of Grace, if poffibly they have
fo, far abuftd G*asc y , aa to defile themfelves
again
BO O K 11 I 496 J CHAP. XXV.
again with thePollutions which they feeriied to
repent of before. And this erroneous Opinion of
the intlability of the Covenant of Grace, they
do apply to themfelves; for, when they have
found by Experience, the power of Sin, as it
werenot only ragifig,but in appearance ringing
in them, as the Confcienceof the relaphng
in theirold Sins beareth witnefs: And when
they know their Nature fo corrupt and ready to
fin yet more, they doubt if this Condition can
ftand with being in the Covenant of Grace;
and whatfocver they have found of their being
in thisCovenant,they now fear that they be fal-
len from Grace,becaufe they have,as they con-
ceive,broken the Covenant of Grace on their part,'
therefore they apprehend alfo,that Gouiinjuftice
being provocked ofttiraes by them,hath now at
lafl diflblved the Covenant of Grace on His part:
For (fay they) it is no-reafon tliatGod fhouldbe
tyed unto them in Covenant, who fo many ways
have violated that Covenant, but as Adam, by
finning excluded himfelf from all benefit of the
Covenant of Works; fo it is reafon, that every
one who have violated the Covenant of Grace
as I have done, fhould be excluded frorp the Cc^
venant of Grace. And here the Affli&ed doth
ftand as a milerable Man, uncertain what to do.-
in which condition, horrible Temptations and
heavy Sufpicions of their (late do arife, namely,
that they are in the condition and cafe wherein
Bfan was,who when he had fold his birthright for %
Mels
BOOK II. [ 497 ] CHAR XXV.
of Pottage, found no place for Repentance, al-
beit he fought the Blefling with Tears. Now
what Torment may be in the Confcience of the
Affli&ed in this Cafe, it is eafie ( for them who
at any time have felt the Wrath of God ) to
conjecture. And this doubt doth vex the Man
moft, who is cenfeious of his often abufe of
the Grace of God : For what fhall I do, faith he>
fliall 1. defile my felf and go and waffi, and a-
gain cjefile my felf and go and wafh, and by this
Means augment my own Guiltinefs from day
to day ? what is, if this be not, to abufe the
Grace of God >
, 2. That this Evil may be removed, \£e mirfl:
confefs that there are many, who after fome
Remorfe for fome Sins raifed by a natural and
unrenewed Confcience,do weep now & then (as
SWdidfor his injuft Perfecution of David) and
do think, that by their Tears they have wafheti
away their Sin, and attained to fome fort of
quietnefs in their Confcience for a time, who
yet do not ceafe from their Wickednefs, but
remain in their natural ftate Strangers from
God andChrift. We muftalfo acknowledge, that
fome of the Regenejrat in their carnal Security
falling back in their old Sins, ordinarly are fhar-,
ply chaftifedby God; and indeed no Wonder
is,that fuchas have once attained to Peace with
God,do meet with broken Bones, after they have
abufed the Grace ofGod.in giving way to their
finful Lulfo, which was the cafe of David, Pf.$z.
5-A
BOOK II C 493 ] CHAR XXV;
3. As for thofc who fall in open grofs fcan-i
dalous Sins which defile the whole Man, Soul
and Body both, itisfafeft for them f whether i
they were before chat time Converted or nor) to
let alone long Difputation, whether they were
Regencrat or not before rheir fearful fall,and to I
flirup themfelves to a dcepfearchof thewicked- 1
nefs of their Nature, that they maybe humb- 1
led before God, and in the fenfc of their in*born j
Sin and grofs a&ual Out-breakings, fly unto
Chrill for Pardon and Grace to bring forth bet-
ter Fruits than they have done.
4.AS for thefewho havenot fallen in grievous
open Tranfgreffions, but in their wrcftling a-
gainft Sin, not obtaining the Victory they j
would, or hoped to have, dd find themfelves I
polluted in their Spirits, and put to the woife
in their Conflict againft their finfui Lufis and <
Pa/lions, and that very frequently ; and there-
upon they apprehend,that either they Were ne-
ver in the ftate of Grace, or if they were in it,
that they have abufed and broken the Cove*
nant of Grace, To thefe we anfwer, that eve-
ry TranfgrefGon of the Commands, albeit' it be
a violation of the Covenant of works, yet is
not a .Diflblation of the Covenant of Grace i
For, it is one thing to fail in a Duty, which the
covenanted party lfrould have done* another
thing tobreakordiilblve the Covenant of Grace 5
for,it is provided in the Covenant of Grace as a
fpecial Article, that God will forgive the Sin
#f
BOOK II. [ 499 1. CHAP. .XXV,
ofHis confedeiat People,whcn they confefe cheic
Faults,and fue for Pardon according to the Pro-
mife of Mercy to the Covenanted. jfc/\ 3 1.31. and
and left any humble Sinner ihould be diicourag-
ed and not receive this Solution of his doubt; lee
him cpnfider the Words of the Apbftle,GW, 6: t.
ixprefly ice down for their comfort, who, having
refolved to live tlolily, Juftly, and Temperatly,
are overtaken in an offcnce,and are not purpofed
to abufe Mercy,or turn the Grace of God unto
Lafcivioufhds;and,i Job. z. 1. The (e things I write
Mntoyou (.to wit |>alie v vet.s in Chrift,careful to liva
laolily) thai ye fin not; but if any Man Jin, we have a&
Advocat with the Father, JefusChr Hi the jtift one. And
this Article of theCovenant,for granting daily re-
•ftiiffion according to. the ricceffity of the Saints,
rn$tketh theCovenant of Grace perpetual,& to b«
daily made ufe of,asweare directed in theLords
Prayer.And in this doth the Covenant of Grace
differ from theCovenant of Works,\vhich by aiiy
pnefin is (b violates the Curfe doth follow, till
the Sinner run in to theCovenant of Grace in Je-
fus GhriftiAnd by this Do&rift® a door is not 0-
pened ijntofinmng.but the door only is doled to
keep in the trueConvettftom Uefperation.Sc run*
ning away from Chrift:& to help him out of the
ic \M\rc of Difcouragement wherein he is fatle.n>lett
be fink in it § deJpair.Neith'er is the ftudy ofHo-
fwiefs kindred by this way,or.thediligenceofthQ
ConVerf flackened in the duties of new obedi-
ence abd ple^jitig of God, but enly ierviis
I i Ffcar
BOOK. II. [ 500 ] CHAP. XXV
fear in the mariner of Serving God,is taken away
and the Obligation of Love to God ( Who i
found to be fo Merciful ) is moreftri&ly tye<
upon us : which Love (as it is Augmented daih
by new Confirmations of Faith, aad frefliExpe
riences of His Grace to us ) doth caft out fervil
Fear, as the Apoitle Teachech, 1 ]ohn 4. 18.
As for the Affli&ed Convert, his Fear tha
he be like Saul, who though he left Remorfi
and Shame, when all the Beholders in his Arm}
law himfo Confounded by Davids loyal Car
riage toward him ; yet did he net repent thii
Sin at all, nor amend his Life at all; there is ffl
ground to fufped; himfelf to be like unto him
or to Efau who was folicitous only for an earth
ly Blefling ; and when he could not have tli<
firfl: place in his Fathers Blefling, contented him
felt \yith what Portion in the Earth he couk
have beftde. Therefore let thcAffli&edLabou
to understand well the Nature of the Covenani
of Grace and the feveral Articles thereof; and
let him confider, that there is no Advantage tc
be had by excluding of himfelf from that Cove^
nant, but that if he will be Saved, in every
Condition he mud draw near toChrift; andla-y
hold on Him for Rcmiflion of Sin, and freih Fur-
niture of Grace for every Duty : For, it is gook
always to draw near to Him, becaufe He will de
firvy M ' thstn that depart far from Him^L j^'zjM
fat
yBOOK II. [ ?oi 1 CHAP. XXVI.
CHAP XXVI
'Wherein is folved the true Converts Doubt, Wfe-
J" /for he be Regenerate becaufe he fiv-deth himfe/f
not only far from the meafure of Holinefs which
he ebferveth to have been in the Saints commend-
ed in Scripture \ but alfo Jhort of the meafure
which fome of his Acquaintance have attained
unto.
Ome true Converts are, who in the time
ly_j wherein they are about to llrengthen their
iFaith by all Means, do fall in Comparifon of
K themfelves with other Converts in the matter of
their Faith, Love, Endeavour, and Attainment
of an Holy Converfation ;• and finding them-
felves very fhort of that meafure which not on*
B ly Saints Commended in Scripture have attain-
ted unto, but alfo fhort of what fundry of their
a Acquaintance have gained and given Proof of,
fuddenly are overtaken with a fad Sufpicion;
that they may be found none of the number of
true Converts: As for Example, when they read
what DavfJ foyttll of himfelf in the Pfalms, and
namely in the hundred and nineteen Pfalw,
.they iecm to themfelves fo unlike the Copy he
hath cad unto them,fo far fhort of that Affecti-
on to the Word of God, of that Faith, of that
Diligence, of that Sincerity, of that Patience,
*f that Fortitude in Afflictions, and Dcle&aticri
in God, which the practice of thisServanc ofGod
doth hold forth, that they are alhamed to af-
}£ iQ ftime
BOOK It [ 501 I CHAP: XxVf.
fume the Name of a vifible Saw, or faithful
Servant of God. And for the Fame reafon, do
forbear tinder this Exercife to appfy unto them-
felves the precious promifes made to the
faithful Servants of God in the Scripture. What f
am 1 (faith the Affii&ed) that I flioutd prefume
to intrude my felf in the number of Saints? what
am I, that I feould apply to my felf what is
promifed to true Converts and fincere Servants
of God? Were 1 fuch a one as this Perfon,or that
Perfon is,I might then,for myCohfolation,apply
Promifes made unto fuch Saints; but now /
cannot apply their Privilcdges, except for con-
viction of my Conference, that I airci juftly for
jny unlikenefs unto them, fecluded from the
Promifes made unto them, and thofe that ere
like unro them.
x. For loufing of this Doubt we mufi ac-
knowledge that the companfon ofourfelvcs
with the Rule of Perfe&ion holden forth in the
Scripture is to be aimed at by all;and the Com-
parifon of our (elves with the Eminent Servants
of God, who have attained a great meafure ol
growth in Holinefs, is very profitable if it be
prudently managed : For, the firft Comparifbn
teacheth us what we Ibou Id endeavour to attain,
and the other teacheth us \tliat may be by the
Grace of God attained unto even in this Life
Again, both thefeComparifons do ferve tc
humoii us before God, when vc perceive
eut felvei net onlyfoprt of Perfc#iQn; vehicfc
m
(
leift
the
(\ffeOOK IT. [ £b) ] CHAP.-XXVI.
Mannot be fully attained unto in this Life, but
co Jib fhort of thefe Degrees which may be at*
ained, and have been attained by others in this
ifc, we cannot choofc but think the more
datjncanly of our felv T es, and put down the Sailsof
Li^Jelf-eftimation
Tlrirdly, This fort of Com pari fon is profitable
o make us more juprightly renounce all confi-
dence in our own inherent RightcoufneiSjand fly
jjbr refuge to the Righteoulnefs of Chrifts Obe-
lience and Satisfaction imputed unto all that
3elievein Him, according as the example of the
Apoftle Paul, vyho renounced all confidence in
}is Priviledges, Performances, Sufferings and in-
rJierenc Righteoufnefs, counting them all but dung
'hat he might win Chrift and be found in Him % not
having his own Righteoufnefs which is of the Law,
ac ; hut that which is through the Faith of Chrijl; the
'he Right eoufnefi which is of God by Faith, Phil.
3* 8. 9.
flji 3: But this fort of Comparifon is dangerous
(Janet hurtful when it tendeth to Difcouragement,
Jwhen it maketh us think little of the Meafure
[jiof Gods Grace granted unto us, when it makes
Jus Heartlels in the Courfe of Obedience, a«d
^Hopclefs that we fliall attain unto the meafure
;C iWhereunto the Saints have attained.
I 4 Wherefore let the Affii&ed ftrengthen the
orbing which rcmaineth and is ready co die,/few,
c J. 2. let him beware left he quench the
^fmpakir^ Flax, Of fcrea& the bruited Reed,
where-
'
BOOK 11 [ 504 ] CHAP, XXVI
wherein he hath Chrift's Helpto look unto, IJa.
42. 3. Again, let the Affli&ed cohfidcr that there
are divers Degrees of Saving Faith, divers' Qe-i
grees ofthemeafure of Sandlification and growth;
in Grace; for, fome are old Men, fome young,
and ftrong Men, and fome Babes in Chrift, and r
that the fame Duties in the fame meafure, areic;
not to be expe&ed from the tender and weak cc
beginner, which are required oftheftrong and
experimented Souldier. 3. Let the Afflicted
remember, that nothing is given, nor promifed,
nor done unto the Saints in Scripture or in lat-
ter Ages for any merit or worthinefs in them,
but altogether of free Grace : And fo much the
more fhould this be remsmbred,as this doubt-
ing of the Affli&ed, arifing from comparifon of
his condition with the meafure of Sandtificatiori fj
in others doth prefuppone the contrary, v as if
God did deal withHis Children according to
the worthinefs of their Perfons, & merit of theit
good Works, which is a fall'e Suppofition; for,
why doth the AfHidied call down his Courage,
and weaken his Faith and Confidence in God,
but for this very caufe, that he counieth him
felf a much more unworthy Man, and of left
merit before God than thofe Saints were, Qr are
with whom he hath compared himfeif ? 4. Let
theAffli&ed by Co much as he doth perceive him-
feif more unworthy, and more fmful than thofe
Saints with whom he hath compared himfeif,
tfiruft himfeif the more into the Bofom ofrich
Grace
1
tin
fa
iot
k
bri
/JOOK II. [ ?o? ] CHAP. XXVI.
3racc; lee him (b much the more lay hold on
:he imputation of Quid's Righteoufnefs, and
ever his Nakednefs therewith, and employ
thrift by Faith fo much the more, that out of
riisFulnefs he may receive Grace for Grace,and
>e made able by His Spirit to bring forth rror
abundant Fruits, and come up nearer unto Con-
brmity with Chri(l,and theExamples of renown-
:d Saints. 5. Let the Afflidted confider that we
mift live by Rules fet down in Scripture, aiming
fincerely at obedience of holy Precepts, albeit
we have not yet come up unto the Pra&ice of
the Rule in that meafure, which others have ai#
rained unto.
CHAP. XXVII.
Wherein isfolved the true Converts Doult, whether
he he in the hlejjed ft ate if Grace, hecaufe he
findeth him/elf frequently in an evil Condition.
Experience teacheth; that fundry true Con-
verts, becaufe they, feeling themfelves oft-
times in an ill condition, do call in queftion
their being in the blefled Hate of Grace, not coa-
fidering, that the condition of a Man, whether
in the Hate of Nature unrenewed, ©r in the
Hate of Grace may be comparatively in better
or worfe Condition, and yec his flats remain
the fame. The multitude of the misbelieving
Htlrmh wcic in an evil conditio at the
en e
J30 0KIL [ $c6 } CHARXXVII.
one fide of the Red * Sea, when they repented
their coming out pf/sg)/tf,butin abetter condition
when rh^y did fmg Praifes unto God on the o-
ther fide of the Sea,and yet for their ftate,fome
were, yea t»oft part, ftill in Nature unrenewed.-
Mo[e% and Aaron were in an evilGondition when
their Paifion offended God at the fmiteing of the
Kock ; but when they did interceed' with God
for the peopled when wrath Was kindled againft
tlieHoft, they Were in a better Condition:
j^nd both in the one time and in the other they
vtere in the flrate of Grace, true Saints in God's
JJCiimatiorj. This Miftake of the weak in Faith,
hot putting difference between their prefent difc
pofition & their$tate,maketh them judge of them-
selves to be in the it ate of Grace when their
Condition is Good, and to be in theftate of Na-
ture unrenewed when they feel themielves in
in Evil Condition, when they obferve tlieir
HeaVt inlarged to run the way of Gods Com-
mandmenrsjhen they efteern themfelves truljj
Itegenerat,& when they feel thsmfelves fluggtfli
inthework of theLord^'dU in hearing theWord,
flow to believe what the Scripture fpeakcth;
when they efteem their ordinary Service to be
after a Form of Godlinefs,withoutAffe(9:ion and*
jpowor, and what fervice they do, to proceed
from' :fear of Wrath, rather then from
the new and right Principles ofaRegenerat
Ma®; A«n they queftioa all the works of -Gjracji
«OOK II | ?07 [ CHAP. XXVII.
in themfetves, What fhall 1 think, faith the Af-
fli&ed, concerning my ftate in Grace, when 1
find my condition fo frequently not only ihort
of what it fhouldbe,butalfo polluted with divers
(brts of Sins ?
2. Foranfwer, we muft grant, that the ex-
ternal Duties of Religion, may be difcharged
fromfteflily and corrupt principles; for many do
perform commanded external Duties, that they
may efhew the Reproach of Impiety, or that
they may infinuat therhfelves in the good cfti-
mation a»id favour of the Godly, or for iome
bafe earthly Ends, for which grofs Hypocrits
Jo whatfoever they do in Religion.
Like unto thefe are all felf-decdving Hypocrits
who go about to eftablifli their own Righteouf-
nefs, miskening that Righteoufnefe which is of
God by Faith,as if God could be obliged to take
their performance for a full Satisfaction for their
former Sins* and would look' upon their works
as meritorious of eternalLife;& therefore becaufe
Men may deceive themfelves, i. The Afflicted
lhall do well to examine himfclf, whether he hath
renounced all confidence in the Fle(h,or his own
works, Phil. 3. 8, 9. and fled unto Chrifl: kt
Righteoufnefs, with fome mcafure of honeft
endeavouring to Worfliip and (ervc God in his
Spirit; which if his Confcience can witnefs un-
to him to be his way wherein he is walking*
then may lie be allured that he is a true Convert
i.. ,Anci albeit it be tr,ue that the Impcrj
BOOK If. { 508 ] CHAP. XXVII,
fedions of the Regencrat Man do many times
obfcur/e hisState inGrace,yet can they not exftin-
guiih the Spo^k of Regeneration begun in him,
or prove the work of Grace in him not to be at
all. 3. We grant that the condition of a true
Convert at fometimes maybe fobad,by reafon
©f finful Diftemper and flefhly Carriage, that
many unrenewed Mejis Converfation fhall be
found far more commendable, then the prcfent
condition and carriage of the renewed Mania
his finful condition : In which cafe neither God
nor his own Conference, nor any that feareth
God can fpeak any thing but Wrath to him, tiii
he Repent & Turn to God for Mercy in Chrift;
yet the afjhdted penitent Convert, lamenting his
badConditonjs in better cafe than any unrenew-
ed Man can be into ; For the very Grief and
Perplexity which he findeth, becaufe his condi*
tion is fo oft ill and finful, proveth his good
Affection toward God, and his earneft deiire to
walk before God unto all weil-pleafingin all
things and at all times.
3. But if the Afflicted fhall infift and object,
that the Fear of God's Wrath and Judgments,
ordinarly is a main Motive which fetteth him
©n to do the Duties and Service which God re-
quired! of him, and not the Love of God,
the felt in- lake whereof, doth make him go on
halting and heavy in the ways of God. We an-
fwer, that -albeit the Fear of Gods W T rath and
lodgments looked upon alose, doth not prove
Re*
BOOK II. [ 509 ] CHAP. XXVII.
Regeneration, yet it may well confift with Re-
generation: Becaufe God "doth not for nought
joyn with His' Precepts, fearful Thrcatenings of
Judgements againft thofe who fliali tranfgrefs
His Commands;that they may be asaSpur inHis
Childrcns Sides, to prefs them to their Duties,
aind as a bridle to curb and check their vicious
Inclination unto Sin, which lodgeth in all Men
by Nature. And this Motive 1$ evident in the
experience of the Prophet, Pf. 119. 120. My
liefb trembkth for fear of Thee, and I am afraid
of Thy judgements. 2. it may be that the Af-
flicted, lately converted unto God, be not free
as ycc from the Spirit of Bondage, but be keep-
cd inlome meafure under the Bonds of fervile
Fears,God (b difpofing,for the humbling,exerci-
fmg and training of His Child lately entered in
His Holy Warfare;iu which condition his Fear is
commendable, when it arilech from the Confci-
ence pf his finful Short-coming in Gods Service
and of the prevailing of his Corruption againft
the begun work of Renovation. Wherefore,lec
the Afflicted go about the difcharge of com-
manded Duties in his Chriftian Calling,and par-
ticular ftation, wherein God hath placed him,
in whax condition foever he fliali find himfelf.
2. Let him compare his prefent Condition,\vhich
he doth count an ill Condition, with the bygone
better Condition, whereof he hath poflibly ex-
perience frequently; and when he calleth to
wind theCqmforrs he hatk had,and the lnlarge-
merrt
BOOK If. [ jio 1 CHAP. XXVII.
ment of Heart to run in the way of God's Com-
mandment, in hope of a change of his prelent
Conditon to the better, in hope of finding re-
newed Blinks of the Lords Countenance,let him
humbly wait on God in the ufe of the means
appointed, till the Day-ftar arife in his Heart;
praying with the F/i/w//?,that God would quic-
ken him according to His loving Kindnefe. 3.
Let him cleave the more clofply to the Cove-
nant of Grace and the Righteoufnefs which is
bj' Faith in Jefus Chrift, withal giving Thanks
unto God for the Grace beftowed on him, for
the giving unto him Eye-falveto fee his Blind-
nefs, N^ikednefs and Mifery, and for making
Sin odious and grievous unto him in any mea-
fure, and for drawing him to Chrift to be his
Refuge in his worft condition.
C H A P. XXV11T.
Wherem is folved the Doubt of the true Convert
concerning his Regeneration, hecaufe h$. findeth
the power of the 3ody of Death in the pollution
oj the Imaginations of Ins Heart, vigorous and
powerful.
THere are fome true Converts, who albeit
they be cleanfed from the Pollutions that
are in the World,and have their Converfation
biamelefe and without giving fcandal unto them
they live among.yet frequently are troubled with
doubting of their ftats in Grace, becaufe they
feel in themfcives fuch a power of in- bred Cor-
ruption of their Hearts, a$ can hardly confift
BOOK A r yn } CHAP. XXVlIt
(as they conceive,) with Regeneration and fav-
ing Faith; becaufe, James Chap. 3. Ver. 11.
makcth the Queftion thus, Doth a Fountain fend
forth at the fame place (weet Water and litter} &c.
unto the end of the Chapter, This Doubt the
Afflicted wreftles with, and faith with himfelf
What fhall /think of my (elf, whofe Heart is
polluted, that it cafteth forth continually Dire
and Mire? how ihall 1 reckon my felf among
the Saints ? how (hall / intrude my felf among
thejuftified, who find (b little evidence of tho
work of Sandtification in me? For Faith Ihould
purifie the Heart from this pollutidir, whereof /
do juftly complaint
i". For folving of this Doubt, many things
arc already fpoken which ferve for the curing of
this Cafe, and comforting the Afflicted in this
condition; but becaufe one and the fame Doubt
doth diverfely prefent it felf now in one fliape,
then in another, and doth vex the Affiled in
iundry Wayes, we fhall anfwer this Doubt p™-
pofed as it isfet'dowti.
Firfl therefore, let the Affli&ed examine him*
felf whether he may with fomc meafure of ho-
aefty fay vtith the Pfalmift, Pf66. 18. /do not
regard /niquity fn my Heart, /do not fo delight
m Sin, but that Sin is dill my Afflidionand my
daily Grief. Secondly, kt him examine himfelf
Whether the power of Corruption doth break
forth in Words and Deeds or not,or if it do
mm m m km wM°m &% v^ctherhb
BOOK II. [ 512, ] CHAP. XXVIII;
doth open the Slucc and give it way, or whe-
ther he lets himfeif to oppofe the out breaking
ofiSin, and is humbled for what doth break
forth. Thirdly, Let him examine, whether he
flyeth to Chrilt to wafti him, and help him a-
gainft the power of Sin, or not. If after exa-
mination he can in any meafure ofhoneftyjoyn
with the Apoftle in his Lamentation, and re-
coutfe unto Chrift: for Delivery, Rom. 7.24. %$
he may be aflured he is ki the (late of Grace :
Fox, there is a vaft difference between- a Man's
being fold unto Sin by his native Corruption
captivating him,& aMan'sfetting of himfeif unto
Sin, as a voluntary Servant of Sin: For a renew-
ed Man may be infundry Cafes a Captive to Sin,
and a Fighter : agamPt Sin: But a Man felling
himfeif to Sin,is a Slave voluntarly,fu£Fering Sin
to reign in his .Mortal Body.
Let the Affii&ed therefore comfort himfeif,
becaufe in- him there is a perpetual Conflict be-
tween the Flefliand- the Spirit, between Kis na-
tive Inclination to Siti, and the new Creature*
or Inclination to Holinefs. Neither let hirr*,ky
mifunderftood Scripture formerly cited, vex
himfeif; for, his Faith is indeed upon the work,
and. the way of purifying his Heart; Fir(l y be-
caufe he doth flv ftp the Blcod of Ch riit,
which cletfnfeth him from all Sin, in refoe<3; of
Remillion granted. Secondly^ there is a conllant
endeavour to be more and more Holy, and to
draw vertue by Faith frcm Clirift to bring forth
gooJt
B OOK II [ s r 3 1 CHAP - xxvm.
good fruits well pleafing unto God. Thirdly \
he is about to mortifie his Lufts by the Spirit of
Chrift, and ro purge out the Leaven of all Fil*
thinefs of Flefli and £pirit,albeit he cannot purge
it out all at once, or wholly in this Life. And
Fourthly, becaufc albeit his doubting of his E-
ftatc in Grace be not allowable; yet it doth
bear Witncfs that the remainder of Pollution in
him i* his Grief, Affii&ion and Vexation. S»
alfo that other Scripture, James 3. 11, which
faith, That out of the fame Fountain proceed*
eth not fait Water and fweet, is not to be un-
derftood fo, as if no Rotten Speech could pof-
fibly 1 roceed out of the Mouth of a Regenerat
Man at any time; for James doth witnels, that
in many things we Sin all, ill Thought, Word,
and Deed; But the meaning is, that he that brid-
leth not his Tongue, his Religion is vain, and
nothing but a prefumpcuous Boafting of that
which is not real and in truth, and that it is in-
confiftent with Regeneration, that out of a
Mans Mouth pretending to blefs God, Gurfing
of Men who are made after the fimilitude of
God, (hould flow forth as Waters flow forth
irorrtft running Fountain without Controlmenr,
CHAP. XXiX.
Shewing how to quench the £ery Darts ofSatan t and
reftjt his finftdSuggeftions, whether of fborter en*
durance, or longer continuance.
SOmetime tfn a fudden Satan cafteth a fiery
Jtyrt of Tarnation tjneo feme S)«,as his MeU
BOOK. If. [ 514 J ; CHAP. XXVllfc
fenger feeking to prepare the lodging for him :
which Tentation he doth fo furioufly prefs, as
if he would not be refufed, or could not be re-
filled; and poffibly may fo bear-in hisTentation
as the Convert may he afraid chat Satan fhali
prevail finding himfelf, as it were,over-powred,
and unable to bear out in fuch a cafe, as the
Apoftle had experience of,x Cor t 1 2. 7. 8, 9.
who found himfelf,as it vvere,buflfeted & abufed
by the Meflenger oF Satan, and unable of him-
felf to fefift him. The Remedy whereof is,
that the Affli&ed with the Apoftk be humb-
led in himfelf, in the fefrle of his in-born Sin*
fulnefs and Inability to overcome Tentationsl
2,. That he fly to Chrift the Captain of militant
Souldiers, ahd do pray unto Him inftantly to
Help to bear but in the Conflict, and to be
rid of the Tempter. 3. Let him holdkft the Faith
of promiied Grace,and wrcftle o'nfo long as it
fhall pleafe God to exercife himfo.
With fuch aTentation ]eh alfo was exercifed,
which fo far prevailed, as to make carnal and
corrupt Nature fpeak for it. The Tentation was
very fearful, and no iefs then Seif-murther, ]oh
7. 13. 14; r£. Whilft I fay my Couch /hall eafe
my Cow pi tint, then Thou fear reft me with Dream sf
and ter rift eft trie with Night mfions.fothatmy Saul
choofeth Strangling and Death rather than Life.
The Remedy whereof is, with Joh to fly to the
Redeemer, and fix Faith upon Him, and to pre-
gnt th? Tentatiorj untp &<o$ by grayer and
50 0KII. [ 5xs ] CHAP.X,
)ie Lamentation, driving againfl: the Suggelh
.nd never to give over relying on God,as hedidi
x. Sometime Satan when he cannot find in-
truments to charge the Convert with Hypocri-
ie,& a Curfe of Wickcdnefs as he found \t\Johs
Trial by his uncharitableFriendsJie ufeth imme-
diatly to fall aRailing againft the whole courfe
)f the Work ofGrace in the Convert,& Charge
lim falfely with DcepGuiltincfs.as Calumniators
ufe to do in their furious Fiyting & Slandering
}f fuch as they hate,hoping howFalf«& Ground-
ers fbever the Calumnies be, that yet fomething
hall prove likely and probable, and fo fatten
Tofnething upon the Innocent. In which cafe
!et the Aifli&ed life up his Mind to the Lord,
and pray Him to rebuke Satan, z. Let him
humble himfelf in the acknowledgment of his
natural Corruption, and having fled to Chrift
For Righteoufnefs, let him take the fhield of
of Faith for quenching that dact. 3 , Let him as
he is enabled, contemn thefe dcvilifh (ladders
of Satan, and fet his Mind on fomebetter em*
ploymcnt then to difpute with fo Impudent and
Reftlefs an Adverfary;for we haveother Bufinefs
to go about, then to take notice of the Dog§
barking at us; but if it pleafe God to continue
that exercife from Day to Dayjer. the Afili&ed
in patience fubmit himfelf to God, and di«
red: his fpeech and thoughts unto God only
not anfwering dire&ly fuch a Shimei at
$11. It is not fafe to dircil eur fpsech to
I
P'BOOK. II. [ 5 1 6 ] CHAP. XXIX
Satan at all, but let us fay to God, the Lord
rebuke Satan.
3. Sometime Satan falleth on with Sugge-
(lions, blafphemous againft God, and all the I
Grounds of Religion, and Fathers all thefe it,
Blafphernies on the AfHi&ed as his proper Sins, r!
In which cafe, let the Affli&ed be humbled be-Jiir
fore God, becaufe of original Sin, whereof Sa-
tsui maketh uie, as of fome thing of his own
in us. z. Let him renew the grips of Faith on
Chrift the Mediator, in Whom the fulneis of the
Godhead dwelleth, reconciling the Eledr World
toHimfelf, not imputing their Sins unto thepi.
Let not the Afflicted look upon thefe bJ^Q w,
phemiesotherways than! as Satan's Malice a- or
gainft God, for fo they arc indeed, and not tr
the Sins-fef the poor Soul vexed with fuch Sug- pi
ge'flions. 4. Let the Afnidted beware of Di£
Couragments.Misbelief or weakening of his Faith
in God, of Irhpatiency and Fretting under this
fad Exercife : For, there is more cauie of Fear
from Satan's fecond fubtile Tentations then from.
his grofs Suggeftions, whereby at the back of jd
the former grofs Blafphernies, he goeth about '37
to draw the Afflicted to the iufpicionof the for- a;
nier work of Grace in him, and of Gods love ^
Unto him. Hs wiles in this cafe a^e much more ata
dangerous then his violence in his furious lyon-vi&e
like Aflaults: For he may more eafily gtt the kit
content of the Afflicted to fome fits of .Misbe- J e;
|ief ^nd Impatience or iqgje other Sins, then | ; ;
%Q
uc ;
b
ft
ifc
a
tl
Bfr
atar
XiOOK II. r yx? 1 CHAP. XXIX:
- c 4:o admit or confent unco any of tlicfe grofs Blaf-
^hemies fuggefted.
4. Sometime when the young and tender Con-
crt, is reading or hearing an Sermon, the fad
Sentences of God agaiiift fuch and fuch Sins
ivhich* do reign in the Wicked, Satan flyetli on
lim with a falfe Application faying, thou art the
Man, and doth no: a little diCjuiet the weak in
aith. In which cafe, let the AiJlidtedconfidcr,
hat whatfoever is fpoken in or from Scripture
>f the Maledi&ions of the Law, are fpoken a-
;ainft them that are under the Curfeofthe
.aw and Covenant of Works, 1 Tim. 1.8. who
ave not repented their £ms, nor fled toChrift,
a-
o^tification;buc thefe Curfes are not fpoken a-
ainft the Righteous, that is to fay, againlt
ich as in the fenfe of their Sinfulnefs do loath
iii| lemfelves and are fled to Chrift forRefuge,and
is ave taken on His Yoke upon them,already Ju-
ified, and begun to be Sanctified.
c;n| 5. Sometime Satan doth abufe the Scripture
sof id put a wrong fenfe upon it, that thereby he
:atj:ay wound thefe that are Aveak in the Faith :
Dr Example it is written, Rom. 14, Z3. Whofo-
)er doultethis damned if he eat.Baz thou ( faith
itan to the young and weak Convert) haft
>ne many things, whereof thou didft doubt
hether they were lawful or not ; yea thou
ill eaten the Supper of the Lord with doubt-
g ; Therefore thou art Damned, iigain itis
&k 2. " writ-
BOOK ft t "718 [ CHAP. XXIX.
written, 1 Cor.w.xy.He that eateth the Sacramen-
tal Bread of the Lord,^ Drinketh of the Cup of
the Lord unworthily, eateth and drinketh his own
CondenwatioH&ut thou,faith £atan,haft eaten the
Bread and dtunken the Cup of the Lord unwor-
thily ,for thou knovveft thou art very unworthy-
Therefore thou haft eaten ^nd drunken thy own
Condemnation.^ this Cale and fuch other like,
let the affli&ed Convert enquire of the Pallor,
or fome faithful Chriftian better acquaint with
Scripture,concerning the Senfe of the words in
Seripture,which feem to make againfi: him, that
the Words being well underftood, the doubt
may be diflblved. As for Example, thefe fore r
faid abufed Scriptures do only declare the Sen-
tence of the Law againft him that doth what ho
Doubteth to be lawful, but doth not exclude
him from Mercy upon the Acknowledgement of
his Sin, and flying to the Mercy offered in
Chrift Jefus. And by Eating and Drinking un-
worthily, we mud nptunderftand that every one,
who finding himfelf unworthy, fly eth to the Grace
offered and fealed in the Supper of the Lord.eat-
€thunworthily;for,fono Man fliould eat worthi-
ly, for all worthy Commumcants,in thefenfeof
their unworthinefs,mufland do fly to free Giace
offered in Chrift;butthe meaning,is,tlut thefe do
eat and drink unworthily, who profane theSacra-
ment,and put no diffetenee betwixt this holy
Banquet of the Lord, and a common Sup-
perjysa and even this Sin of noc difcerning the
BOOK II [ 519 ] CHAP. XXIX
Lord's Body, doth not exclude the Man frotii
Mercy;for the Apoille.for Remedy of this Sin,
€*hortcth thefe who are guilty to judge them*
felves, that Co they may not be judged by God,
who pardoneth thePenitenr,i Cor. 11. 31. And
fo let theAffli&ed,for {lengthening of his FaitH
know, that every Scripture which fpcaketh a-
gainft £in,doth drive the guilty Man unto Repen-
tance and Faith in Chrift,without whofe Grace,
fought after and embraccd,there is no Salvation*
6.Sometime Satan the Adverfary of all Con-
verts doth afiault the Faith of God's Children,'
when he findeth them under fome prefent Guil-
tinefs lately contra&ed, or under Trial of thek
Faith as under Defertion and Difconfolation, 0$
fome miferable Condition, whereof he taketht
advantage to fuggeft to theChild of God,that hi$
Faith is but Phantafie, that God neither Jovetli
him nor can love the like of him.In which cafe,
let the Aifli&cd humble himfelf before God,and
fly toHim inChrift feeking Reconcliatioh,let hiin
x.refolve fully to adhere to theCdvenant ofGaacc
offered to fclkcondemnedSinhers through Chrift,
a.Lct him obferve his prefent condition to be the
day of his Vifitation,Triai& Probation whatufe
be will make ofChrift in hisDifScuhies & Straits
3. Let him in the ufe of Gods Worfiiip wait for
theDay-ftar of divine Conlolation promifed td
thofe that wait on the Lord Jfa 49.10, 11, and
H^/6,3.& 7/^40.31; And Iaftofall (left wcinfift
too long in reckoning the innUnfierable Wiles oi
l^ectafty Serpeut)la every CcnYertc^nfidef thaf
BOOK II. [ 520 ] CHAP. XXX
there is no time while we dwell in the Taberna-
cle of this Body of Death wherein we may be
fecure from Satan's Infmuations and crafty Sug-
gestions, or his more difcovered and open A(V
faults; that there is no Bufmefs we can go about,
wherein this crafty Hunter flaall not dig a Pit
or lay a Snare to inrrap us, no Affliction nor
Difficulty, wherein he ihall not ftudy. to keep
us back from making Chrift out Refuge, our
Helper and Deliverer .• And that therefore
we nitfft take heed to obey the warning of the
A^ojXlc.Ephf 6.10, n, 1 2 , 1 3 . Finally my Bre-
thren le flrong in the Let 'eland in the power of His
Might ; put cnth? s ii4)ole Armour cf God, that ye
way le ahk to ftandagainft theW.ilesof the Devil,
and fo forth to the ead of the ^Chapter*
. -
GHAP. XXX.
I
Wherein are forn^ mixed Cafes fy&kexpf> ivherewtp
' c true Gon^ri [is fuljecLandfo, may fall todou&£
■ of his Qonverfion or Inter e{l in Qhrift,
THcre are, befide the Cafes Whereof wc
have give^fome Examples and lnftances*
outer Cafes alio, which we may czll mixed Cafes,
the Caufes whereof are partly Natural, partly
Spiritual, wherein the true Convert maybe
afflicted with both Bodilyand Spiritual Diftem-
pers; melancholious Humors abounding in the
jk>c»y, .andSacaa bu|jQ cq gir bimfelf in thefe
BOOK II. r jii ] CHAR XXX:
(tempers to the weakening the Faith of the?
Convert, may take advantage* to vex the Child
of God.
2. Thefe bodily Diftempers are common both
to the unrenewed and to the Regenerat : For*
God hath not exeemed His Children from Dif-
eafes of Body; for, the Righteous and the W i/e B
& their works, are in the hand of God;no Man know*
eth either Love or Hatred hyall that is before htm;
all things come alike to ah \there is one Event /or ac«
cident which may befall,) to thjt Righteous & to the
Wicked Jo the Good & to the Clean, and to the Ur^
clean \ to him that Sacrificeth and to him that Sa-
crificeth not; as is the Good,fo is the Sinner, and
he that Sweareth as he that jear eth an Oath.ElcdcC
9.1. z. S.ud the King of Ifrael'm his melancholi-
ous fit,may (by the inftigation of an uncleanSpi-
rit, changing himtejf into an Angel of Light )
fall on Propheficing in the midlt of his Houfe,
while he is about to Murther David, 1 Sam.
1 8. 10: and Experience hath ibewed, that fome
lying in grofs Sins while they Were themfelves
and in their Wirs, were found very rude and ig-
norant inMatters of Religion and things Divine;
but fometime falling in a melancholious Extafie
and Rapture, they could reheatle a number of
Paflages of £criptuce,and feemed topray,and tc*
bring a number of Arguments in their praying,a$
if they had been wrellling vr ith God for Mercy,
of which Scriptures or Words of prayer, they
neither tfenfe fior Memory,when they came
& k 4 to
fcM
fcOOK it r i%* I CHAR XXX
to thcmfelves after the melancholiousExtafic was
over, wincli Fit iafled fcmetimesan Hour, fome-
times two or thereby ;all which time they neither
did hear nor fee the witnefles fitting by,& behold-
ing the Spectacle. On the other hand, Experience
hath llie wed how farSatan may abufe & hath abut
the Phantafie of fome holy Perfons,in the height
of fharp Fevers and Frenfies;and what fpeeches a-
p gainft God and their own Souls, by his Inftiga-
tion they have uttered. We have an Example
in Job, who in his hot Fever & painful Boils,like
a Man diftradled,cryed out, that God was turn-
ed an Enemy to hi m,that He did flioot all His
Arrows againft him; whereupon in his Diftem-
per he cryed fo: Death, and curfed the day of
his Biith mod bict^rly. Of which Expreffions
when he is challenged by his uncharitable
Friends.and judged to be nothing but a wicked
Hypocrit, he excufeth himfelf, that when he
fpoke thefe Words was hoc himfelf,but in a rov-
ing Diftemper, Joh.6. 16. Do ye imagine to re»
prove Words, and the Speeches of one that is defpe*
rat, which are as wind >
3. But our purpofe here is not to difcourfe of
Melancholy in general, nor wiiat may befall in
common to the Godly and the Wicked in me-
lancholions Firs: For this doth require a larger
Treatife,and the concurrance both of Phyficians
and Divines. We purpofe only to fpeak to what
the true Convert is obnoxious unto: And when
we ipeak of mixed Ca&Cj wherein both the Di-
ft«sa
B fiOOK n. [ f oj ] CHAP. XXX*
(temper of the Body and Brain do concur with
the Temptation of Satan, we do not take notica
of any light Diftemperof Body and Mind,which
fuddenly cometh and is foon removcd,or which
the private diligence of the Child of God,in the
ufe of the Means, may and ufeth to overcome;
Neither do we meddle with Phrenfies and Mad-
nefs; which fo beraveth the Man of the ufe of
common Reafon, that he cannot und«r-
ftand of make ufe of wholfome Advice and
Counfelfiom the Scripture, or rightly conceive
truth when it is told unto him (Tor in fuch m
Cafe the Phyficianonly is to be called to deaf
with the Difeafed, not excluding the Prayer of
the Paftor and Chriftian Friends for him) But
we are to fpeafc concerning more moderat Di-
{tempers wherein the Affiled may lay forth,
his Tentations, and propound the Reafons which
feem to ortifie hisDoubts,& to difpute of them,
and receive reafonable Anfwers to his Objecti-
ons as they are offered unto him.And in a wori
fuch a condition of the Mans Mind as maketh,
him ready to hear and follow the Advice, both.
of thePhyfician and the Paftor,as his need re*
quireth .Now it is nottour,that the Imagination
of thefe who are of this midle fort of Diftempea
doth ordinarly fain to its fclf fad and terrible
Things, and being fired with MelancholiousHu-
mours and Tentations of Satan mixed therewith,
ufeth to reprefem to its felf Gods hot difpleafure,
ft»k G?nde»n^«S *$4 H$ll # §§ !! were b^
BOOK II [ JM 1 CHAP. XXX.
fore their Eyes; fo that it is no wonder, that for
the time they doubt whether they can poflibly ,:
be in the ftate of Grace. But in fpec>al, this
feemethmoft heavy unto them, that their Con-
ference in the mean time doth write bitter things
againft them, and double upon them the deferv-
ed Sentence of Condemnation, calling up the
particular Sins (poflibly repented o£ and par-
doned ) as meriting Rrjedion from God. And
here mainly is the flick.
i In difcerning and curing fuch Gafes, there
is great need of wile Gircumfpe<5fron : For,/ry?,
Information muft be had of the Affli&ed's Con-
dition, fo far as his Friends and Familiars can
furnifh. . 2. The Cure of his Woiind mud be
tenderly gone about, as the Chirurgian ufeth to
do, wheo ne is to deal with the A pie of a Man's
Eye. 5. VVhatfoever feem at ths firft, it (hail
be fafeft for the Comforter of the Affli&ed, ■ not
to fpeak peremptorily of the Man's Statopr Con-
dition, yea, nor to judge within themfelves de-
terminatly about him. 4. But it (hall.be fafefl:
to hear the Afflided Pitiently, to layout his
own Condition rrior-e or lefs confu{edly,r in mqs
or fewer Speeches as he is able to- exprcts it. 5.
What is further to be fearched after, by pru-
dent Interrogations, l:t it be pumped up fo far
as conveniently may be. 6. So foorias his Con-
dition is clear to the Pauof, or Friend, who is
abouc
BOOK n t W 1 CHAP: XXX.
about to help him, let the Speaket unto him,re-
colledi in few Words his Condition as he con-
cciveth it, and take up his Doubt in a word a$
fhortly as may be, that the Afflidted may per-
ceive, that his Cafe is well taken up by thePaftor
or Chriftian Friend. For oft-times here is the
Cure marred, when the Affli&ed conceiveth than
his Cafe is not rightly apprehended, or what is
fpoken, is not fpoken to purpofe. 7. Whatfo-
ever his Cafe feem to be, Chriftian Companion
muft be fhewed to the Afflicted, and his Afflicti-
on eflimat no lefs than the Afflicted conceiveth
of it, but made poflible for God to cure it. For^
even our Lord in the Refurrection of Lazarus
groaned in His Spirit, in Companion toward
the mourning Friends, before He gave them the
fullConfolation. And furely, Compaffion doth
well become a Phyfician ; For, it is an Addition
to the Affliction of the Afflicted, when the Be-
holder cometh to him, to think little of his pain.
8< Whether the Afflicted feem to be a Convert
or not, let him be exhorted by his prefent Exet*
cite to humble himfelf before God^ and confefs
his original aad actual Sins to God, and fly to
the Grace of Reconciliation, and remiflion of Sins
and Confolation holden forth in the Gofpel to
every felfrcondemned Sinner, through jefus
Chrifl our Lord; For, Chrift is the End* of the
Law for Pvighreoufnefs; when the Confcience is
burdened, and the Ro^d is heavy, cIjq Curfe of
1 the
BOOK.IL [ yitf ] CHAP.XX1X.
the Law, and the Rod of Correction do drive '
the Man to fly nnto Chrift and take His Yoke t
upon him:And this Courfe is wholfome and fafe* It
whatfoevcr be the Affli&ed Mans eftate, whe-
ther he be Converted or not.
5*. And as for that fpecial Stratagem of Satan,
whereby he beareth in the Sentence of Condem-
nation on the Affli&ed, and fireth his Phantafie
with the continual Ingemination,and inculcating
of this fiery Dart, crying over and over again
blafphemous Words,charging the Affli&ed with
the Sin thereof,and pronouncing Sentence againft
him,faying,thou art Condemned,thou art a Re-
$>tfobat,& fuch like-.the AfflidtedMan muft be in-
formed, i.that fuch peremptory Sentences are not
from the Lords Spirit fpeaking in the Scripture,
but from thefalfe Accufcr of the Brethren; for,
God pronounceth not condemnation,but Remif-
rton of Sin to every one that flyeth to Chrift.
a. That he muft put difference betwixt Satans
part in the finful Suggettions, and his own pare
in reje&ing of them, abhoring them and griev-
ing for them. 3.- That he muft put a great difc
ference between his Imagination (or Phantafie)
and hisConfcience, between the voice found-
ing in his Phantafie, whether he will or not, and
the Sentence of his well informed Conference
approving, or difallowing what is offered unto
it to be chofen or refufed, confentcd unto or
dif-aflented from by the Confcience, judging ac-
cording to the g>ule of ($ods Word; fqr, a Sea-
SSBftf
«;•*
*,♦.
BOOK II. I 5%j ] CHAP. XXX
tence of words may be fuggefted to the Phanta-
fie, repeated and obtruded upon the Phantafie a
thoufand times, which the Continence may and
fliould refufe, and rejedi a thoufand times. We
know by experience, that a Sentence of Words
may by oft repeating in the Ears of a Parrec
and other Birds, take fuqh an impreffion on the
Phantafie of the Bird, that ir lhall repeat vocal*
ly the words one by one, and pronounce them
diftin&ly, as if that Sentence had been the
work of its own invention: So alfo we fee, that
by frequent repetition of any Whittle or Song,
the Phantafie of fome Birds may be fo beaten
and informed, that they fliall chant the fame
Song over ahd over again, and make it as if ic
were its own. Now Phantafie and Imaginarioa
being a thing common to Man and Beaft, it is
certain that the Phantafie of a Man may be
wrought upon, and (lamped with the like Im*
preffion.And this much as Experience teacheth us,
doth befal Men:For when a certain Song or Tune
is fung in our audience,and is often repeated,our
Phantafie before we be aware, ufeth to repeat
the fame Song or Tune, or quietly whifper the
Notes and meafureof the Song or Tune.- And af-
ter ourjudgment hath obfervedthis work of the
Imagination,we can hardly ftay our Imagination
or Phantafie,while we arc about other ferious
Thoughts from its fecrct fowthing of the mca*
fures, and Notes of the Song ; For, Phantafie
■y]U not be ruled by the Laws of Reafon, more
than
BOOK II. T pS J CHAP. XXX.
than the outward Senfe of Seeing can be hinde-
red from obfervation of what it feeth, whether
pleafantor difpleafant. What wonder is is then,
that Satan who hath great influence on Mens I-
magination, doth make fo deep impreflion on in
by continual iteration, that the Affli&ed feems
tohimfelf to own thofe Blafphemous Suggefti-
ons as ln's own Thoughts, and as the Voice of
his Confcience, and yet they are indeed nothing
but Satans Whittling, and falfe Sentences prefled
on the Man's Imagination > And put the Cafe,
that his deluded Mind fliould take them for the
juftly delerved Sentences of the Confcience,yec
are they only the voice of rheConfcience ill in-
formed, not judging of the Matter according to
the Rule of God's Word, which doth not impute
.Satans Suggeftions to the Soul afflidted by them,
and mourning for them. And fo much for
folving of the Doubts of the true Convert con-
cerning hisftate in Grace and Regeneration*
3THE
[ 549 1
THE
THIRD BOOK
CHAP. I.
Concerning fome Trem'jfes.
WE have handled fome Examples
of thofeCafes of the Confcience
of a Regenerat Man, wherein
his State whether he be con-
verted or not, is brought in queftion. Now fol-
low fome Examples of thole Cafes which con-
cern his Condition, In which Cafes, albeit the'
flate of the Convert, be not at the firit brought
in queftion, yet his Confcience may be deceive
ed, and mifcarry for a time to his Detriment,
Of which Cafes that we may fpeak the more
clearly, fome Confiderations mult be premifed
and taken along with us.
i. A Man's State and his Condition fometime
are taken in a larger Senle indifferently for the
fame thing as when we fay, that all the Regene*
W are in a blefled State or good Condition*,
and
BOOKnr, [ no ] chap, l
and that all the Unrcgenerat are in a miferablo
ftate, or in an evil condition : but when we puc
difference betwixt thefe two in a more ftridfe
Senfe, a Mans ftate is that relation of his Perfon
wherein he ftandeth either as a Child in Grace,
or as a Child oj Wrath. In which fenfe every
Convert is faid to be in the State of Grace: And
every Unregenerat Perfon is faid to be in the
ftate of Wrath, judicially declared fuchin Scrips
cure.
But the condition of a Man in his prefent
moral Difpofition in order to his exercifing of
Vertue or Vice better or worfe. In which fenfe
the Renewed Man, or true Convert, is faid to
be in a good Condition, when he is going about
the Duties of Religion andRighteoufnefs as be-
cometh a renewed Man; and is faid to be in
an ill condition when heisotherways difpo-
fed, and cxercifed for the prefent. And in this
fenfe an Unrenewed Man, is (aid to be in a better
©r worfe condition for the prefent, in comparifon
with other Unrenewed Men, or with himfelf at
another time. In which fenfe, Mark, ix. 34.
Chrift fpeaking to the Scribs who anfwered him
in all things difcrcetly, faith. Then art not far
from the Kingdom of Heaven. The condition for
the prefent of this Scribe, was better than his Fel-
lows, and better than his own at another time,
and yet his Perfon was in the ftate of Wrath,
beeaufeh^was not entered in the ftate of Grace,
f 1 ja the Kingdom of Heaven, howfoever he
800K1U 1*3* 1 CHAP V,
was not far from it In this more ftridi: fenfi
the judicial ftatc of the Mans Pcrfon is tixed
r© long as the judicial Sentence of the Judg«
^binding the unconverted to the Curfe that is
pronounced in the Law, or in the Gofpel.loofing
Irhe Converted from the curfe) doth ftand;
But the moral Difpofition,and the Conditioti
of the Man, whether in the (late of Grace or
Nature, is variable and changeable to the bet-
ter or worfe, in companion with others or him-
felfat another time. Whence it is, that on©
and the fameperfon may be in a better or worfe
Condition, his ftate remaiaing the fame, to>
wit, Good if he be renewed, and Evil if he be
ftill in Nature unrenewed.
2: But here wc are about the Condition of
the renewed Man only, which may be better
at one time, and worfe at another time, as his
Dif^ofitioii and Carriage, in order to the Duties
of ReligiQnand Righteoufoefs, falleth out tob«
better or worfe, according as his Anions and
Behaviour arc more or lets conform to the revea-
led Will of God, and as his Confcicnce doth its
Duty more or lefs commendably. Sometimes
his Confcience upon gaod Grounds fpeakctli
good to him, while he iludieth to walk before
God unto all well- pleating, and then he may
fay With the Ffolmiji, Pf. 16. ix.My \oot [land-
tth in an even place, in the Congregation will I
ilefs the Lord.
BOOK lir. t 53* J CHAP. )
To this good condition we heed not fay much* I
becaufe there is no preicnr Difeafb which calieth \
for Cure of this Cafe. Only it is for the Child
of God in this Cafe neceflary to obferve Dyet
and Exerciic tomantain his good condition, and
to watch over his Heart and ways,that he may
continue and go on therein. All that we have
to deal with, is the ill Condition of the true
Convert, when his Confcience doth deceive him,
or doth not difcharge its Duty: For in this cafe^
only Remedy and cure is*called for.
3. As that condition wherein the Convert ist
beft pleafed with himfelf, is not always the
beft; fo neither is that Condition wherewith
he is worft pleafed, alwayes the word: Bucthac
is the beft Condition, wherein the holy Spirit
doth moft bear down the power of Sin, andad-
vahce the work of .San&ification of the Man ;
and that Condition is the worft, wherein Sin
xnoft prevailed^ And as the Goodnefs of a
Man'sCondition,is not to be eftimatby any even-
tual Accident, but by its own Nature and pro--
per efie&s : So the Illnefs of a Mans Condift*
on,is not to be eftimatby any eventual Accident,
but by irs own Nature and proper Effects, as
God in the Scripture giveth Grounds of Judg-
ment of a good or ill Condition: For otherways,
by the default of the renewed Man, the beft
condition maydegenerat in a very illCondition.
As when a Man doth abufedivine Confolations.
and after receiving of the rsnewsd Earned of
BOOK. III. [ 533 ] CttAP.f:
the Inheritance from the holy Spirit,growcth car-
nally fecure and negligent in his Duties, of
when after foma gro(s pollution of hitfifelf in
tody or Soul, having grieved the holy Spirit^
le doth not humble himfelf as became him,
jut by Satans Suggeftion of wicked thoughts
againft God and His former work in him, doth
fall in fufpicion of all former gracious Operati-
ons of the Holy -Spirit in him, and miPcalleth
all thefe former experiences j and in his Tcn-
tation efteemcth and narricth them,among Satana
DelufK>ns,or elfe at lcaft fufpedtcth and fearctli
they ihall prove no better than fuch. On the
other h^nd, the worft Conditions of the renew-
ed Man, by the Wifdom, Mercy and Power of
God may be turned to advantage in order to
Gods Glory, and the renewed Man's Salvation,
as the Experience of the Pfalmtft doth fhew us,
Pfal. n£. 3. 4. &c
4. An evil Condition is fo called, either 1.
in refpeft of the Evil Which the Convert noc
only feelcch really, but laments it ferioufly; or,
In re{pe& of the Converts eftimation only,
who laments his good Condition without cauie;
or, 3. in refpedt of a real Evil, which the Con-
vert lamcnteth not at all, but lyeth under it fe-
curcly.Ofthe Fir 8 fort is the Condition, ofths
Convert when he fceth his own Blindncfs, Na-
kednefs and Mifcry, the hardnefs of his own
Heart and the Decdtfulncfs of it,- and doth fly
f$F rqpedy thereof to Chrift t\\$ true Phyfician,
I
BOOK til. 1 534 1 CHAP. %
to cover and cure all his difcafes.This Condition
is evil only in refpedt of felt Evil, but in rc-
ipe& cf the Converts making the right ufe of
che Difcovcry of thefe Evils, and flying into
Chriftfor relief therefrom; it is a good Conditi-
on, becaufc the difeafed Convert carrieth him-
felf well and wifely in this Exercifc. Of the &-
tond fort is the Converts condition, when hisjw
Faith is put to Trial by manifold Affii&ions and
Tentations,and he conceives himfelf to be in a
very evil Condition .• wherein he ought not to
nfflidi himfelf, but to judge this Condition to
be a good Condition, according to the Apoftles
Exhortation, Jam. i. 2, 3. My Brethren^ count
it all Joy, when ye fall in divers Tentations 9 know
in^that the Trial of your Faith worketh Patience.
Of the Third fort is the Condition of the Con-
vert, who when (for Example,) he feels himfelf
unapt and unable to Pray,or Praife or difcharge
any duty heartily, doth not trouble himfelf
with this his iil cafe, but cither layeth by the
doing of the Duty , or dodi the Work negli-
gently and prefuitorioufly, and pleafeth himfelf
info doing for a time. This condition is evii>
indeed, both in refpe&of his fpiritual Difeafes,
and -of hisfinfui flighting the Duty of feeking re-
lief thereof.
5. For rectifying the Judgement of the Con-
fidence in any or allof thofc Conditions, firffc
Let Difference be put between the finful Difeafe?
and Diiiemp^rsef our Spirit (which are evil
5b
1500K III. f sis 1 CHAP. !;
indeed ) and the difcovery thereof unto us,.
•vhich is a Benefit in it felf,and a Gift of Eye-
>f alve beftowed by Chrift upon us.and the right
a 7fe of that difcovery by flying untoChrift,whicIv
5 yet a greater Blefflng, even the work of God
Irawing us to th© Saviour of Souls the Remedy
)f every Evil. Secondly, Jet difference be putbe-
:wcen Tentation or Trial of Faith, and yeilding'
oTcntation under Affliction. The observation
:>f Tentation offered to make us depart from the
Truth in Trial, is a matter of joy, butyeilding
is a Sin,and matter of forrow indeed: thirdly Mz
difference be put between grief of Mind, or Hca-
xintfs iu Affliction, and Anguifh of Confzience for
Sin committed; For a Man may have a grieved
Mmd, and a quiet Conscience at one time.
Fourthly -let difference be put between our finfnl
Sicktiefs of Indifpofition to fpiritual Duties, for
which we fliould be humbled^nd Gods difpen-
fat ion for the time,partly chaftifing us with a lefs
and more fparing meaiure of Ability for thefe
Duties,and partly teaching us thereby to make
better ufe of Chrifts Offices for pardon of Sin,for
helping & healing out Infirmitios,than we have
mzdz.Fifthlyfci difference be put between Gods
part& Satan* \xkiz\Vorlds and corrupt Natures pzzt %
and the part of the new Creature. God's part is c-
vcr Wife.Holy Juft & Gracious,tcnding to bring
HisChildren unto a good and better condition ;
Satan, the Worlds and the Fiefli, or corrupt Na-
*WJS P arr ; * s t0 Procure and hold 013, and
hi 3 tnzks
BOOK ni; [ 5-3^ 1 CHAP. K t
make worte an evil Condition ; and the pare of j
the new Creature, is variable, as it falls forth i
in the Battle againft theF!efh,which lufts againft i.~
the Spirit, and it againft the Flefh ; fo that nei-
ther of iberohave rhe Victory always, rill the
WaretVe be enckd, and Grace be crowned with
Glory, for and through Jefus Chrift our Lord,
Thefe Differences being obferved, the Confci-
ence n^y dilcern bctvveen a good or. evil Con*
dition io much the better.
6. One and the lame Convert may obferve irt
fcimfclf, if not a!I,yet the vici/Titude of the mod
notable Changes of a fpiritual Condition,as may
be feen in forne, efpccially of his Miniftsrs, of
whole Exercifcs he is to make ufe for theConto-
lationof his affli&ed People; which Minifters-
may fay with the Apoftle, z Cor. i. 6. Whether
toe he Affiled, it is for your Conflation and Sal-
vation, which is effectual in the enduring of the fame
Sufferings, which we al/o fuffer ; or whether we be
comforted, it is for your Ccnfolation and Salvation.
j. Sundry Converts may be diverfejy difpo-
fed and exercifed about the fame evil or fpiritual
Diftafet For one, under the obfervation of his
evil Cafe, may wreftle againft it, and not call
his own blefled ftate in queilion; another, un-
der the fame Difeafe, may fall in queftion and
doubt, whether he who is in fuch a condi-
tion, may be a true Ccavert or not, and his
Perfon in the (tare of Giace or not ; yea one and
feme Convert* ia the beginning of his ill Con-
dition,
* BOOK in, [ 5}7 1 CHAP. f.
Edition, while he firft entcrcth in conflid with
his evil Condition, may for a time Jook upon
bimfclf as a true Convert, notwrthftanding of
lis prefent ill Condition ; but afterward when
he findeth his evil condition to remain, and oot
likely to be removed, he may fall in doubt a-
bout the fiate of his Pcrfon, whether, he be a
true Convert or nor. In which cafe let hint
make ufc as is faid in the former Book.
8 TSe variety of Changes of the Conditions
of the true Convert,arifcth from the variety of
the Caufcs thereof; As for Example, 1. fometime
in the Warefare between the flelh and the Spirit,
the new Creature prevaileth, (bmetime corrupt
Nature: and both of them prevail fometime
more fometime lefs, whence viciffitude of Chan-
ges of Condition cannot but follow.2.Sometime
£atans Temptations, fetting on in his Affaults
more or lefs furioufly,or more or lefs fubtilly,
do makediverfity of Ccnditions,as Satan is more
or lefs wifely refilled. 3.- Sometime tho Lord hi-
deth His Countenance from His Child more or
Iefc,fometime in Ad verfity Sometime in outward
Prolperity,as His Wifdom findeth it meet for
the welfare of His beloved Children.
9. Sometime the Confidence doth difcern an
evil Condition, and doth give forth a right Sen-
tence about it.In which Cafe.lct ufebe made of
the ordinar Remedy of Sin and Mifery.As 1. let
ihe Afiluftcd fearch into the Caufes which
•
L 1 4 hay*
SOCK III; [ 5-38 3 CHAP, l|
1 ave procured his evil Condition,as the Lord af-
ter Grayer fhall furnifli light. 2. Let him ao
-k .owledge his Sin and ill Dcferving, and the
1 or A '$ holy, wift and righteous Difpenfation.
3. Lee him grew in Humiliation^ Diffidence of
Ins owiWfdq^i,AbiIity ScRighteoufnefe. 4;Let
him "renew the exercife of his Faith in Chrift
for p -ron of £in,for mortifying the toots of it,
and for kiting forth His helping Handler abili*
IV to make him watch over his own Heart and
ways, and to bring forth good Fftiits.
10. When the Converts Confcience faileth iff
right judging of its own ill Condition. 1. It
cither takcth an ill condition to be good, (and
in this Cafe it is filent and faith nothing,but tyv
cth fecure and well pleafed without Caufe ) or,
z. it judgeth a good Condition to be altogether
bad, or at leaft not fo good as it is indeed ; or,
3. It doth notdiftiriguifh a good or ill conditi-
on fimply from a condition partly good and
partly evil : or, 4. It (lands in doubt what
to judge of the Mans condition being uncertain
what to pronounce of it,ti!l light difpel the Mift
and Confufion wherein it lyeth for the time,
Lef us imlance fome Cafes and Examples in d*
yery one of thefe four kinds.
CHAP.
*00K lit { y 39 ] CHAP. IL
CHAP: II.
Wherein is handled, the Cafe offuch as are fallen
- from their Firfl Love, and are well pleajed it*
this Cafe.
THefirftRank fhall be of fomc G\fes,where-
in the Confcicnce of the Convert is de-
ceived, by judging the Man's evil Condition to
be good enougf.
k cometh to pa(s fundry times, that the re-
newed Man feemeth both to himfelf and o-
thers alfo, to go on in bringing forth external'
Fruits of new Obedience, when in the mean'
time his love to Chrift is much abated and
cooled toward Him,in comparison of the ferven-
cy which in his firftConverfion he had: Whence
it com«th to pafs,that his works in his Calling
are difcharged without that Eye and Affe&ion
toward Chrift, which fometime he carried to-
ward Him ; for, in the beginning of his Con-
version, when Remiffion of Sins, Reconciliation
WtthGod,&theblefled Change made in hisftate
through Chrift, was green & frefh in his prefenc
fenfe, how dear Chrift was unto him cannot be
expreficd; but this Fervor oft-times doth cool,
when his wonted Eftimation of Chrift is not en-
tertained, as appeareth in the Galai'lAns, who ae
their Converfion were carried iuch a meafur^of
Love toward Chrift,that if it had been pofliblo
they would have plucked out their own Eyes 8$
given them totheApoftlefWfor Chrifts Caute,
6^.4.15^ and yet this Love did foon cool, both
tou
BOOK III { f 4 s J CHAP ifi
toward Chrifl: and the Apoftle. It coaieth to
paft alfo oft-times, that the renewed Man con-
tenting himielf with the &eal of the holy Spi-
rit, and the Confolation which once he felt, re-
folveth to go on in the di(charge of Chriftian
Duties in his Calling, and either doth not 6b-
ferve this cooling of his Love |c^Ch rift, or lay-
eth it not to Heart, but pleafctn himfelf in this
condition, as fufficicnt to carry a converted Man
to Heaven. And fo ufually three faults do con-
curr in this £icknefs,The Firfl is a notable Defe-
ction from aiming at the meafure felt in his firft
Love at his Convcrfioa • For we fpeak not here
of daily Diftempers which the Convert doth
mark and mourn for, and is about to have heal-
ed by bringing his Wounds unto Chrifl: to be •
cured in the excrcife of Faith and Repentance
daily. The Second is the notobferving of this de-
cay of Love,or theMans ignorance of hisDuty to
entertain Communion with Chrifl: in the fenfe
of his dailySins,Wants & vvounds;for theremov- '
jng & curing whereof, Chrifl is to be loved daf*
Jy no lefs than at the Man his firfl; Converfion*
ThcThirJis, the Mans being well pleafed with
this Condition fo long as his Convcrfation is
blarnclels, whereof vye have an inftance in the
Condition of the Epbefians, Rev. %. whofe La^
bour in the work of the Lord, zeal againfl: Hy-
pocrites,Patience in Troubles for Chrifts caufe
is commended by Chrifl* But Hereproveth
4i^^ft,b$c^ djcjr bjilrfc their firft love,
an4
&OOK III. [ Mi ]■ CHAR If.
and did not only come fiiort of the Meafure of
their firft Love, but did not lay to Heart this
Sin, did not repent it,or ukecourfe to have that
Meafure recovered; thou h(i(l left, or laid down,
thy firft love ,x\\ax is, i. thou haft remitted and
come (hort of that meafure of Love which for-
merly thou had. x. Thou haft not been dif-
pleafed with thy felf in this thy Defection. 3.
Thou haft laid afide the Care of recovering
the meafure of thy former Love. This Condi-
tion is very dangerous; asis manifeftin the ex-
perience of the Galaiians 9 w\\o falling from their
firft Love, didcaft thcmfelvcs open toSupcrfti^
tions and Errors, and in danger to fce cut off
fromChrift,by their defection from the Faith of
the Gofpcl once received. The Reafons for which
we fay this Defection in Love is Dangercus,are
three; The Firft is this, the great eft meafure of
Love toChrift and rejoycjng in Him is lefs than
HisExcellency and Merit at our hands doth de-
ferve. If therefore -we (hall Aide from our Duty
in aiming to holdup this meafure or Love to
Him,which we have once attained, and ccafe to
grow therein, (becaufe his new Mercies are dai-
ly letten forth upon us from day to day,) in ef-
fect, we judge our firft Love hath been too too
vehement, and fo Chrift is lightly efteemed of,
as if He were not ftili to be loved with a!l our
1 Mind, Heart and Strength. The Next Reafon
is this, when Love to Chrift, to His Ordinan-
ces and San&ified ones, t^egiiineth to relent and
cooi
B O OK IIT. 1*4*1 CHAP. Iti
cool, incontinent the externa! exercifes of Re*
ligion and Righteoufnefe begin to fall fliort of
this principal of Love, and to go on more and
more ilowly, and fo peece and peece to decay:
for, as when a Tree is fmitten in the Root, it
may retain for a time green Leaves, but after a
time it withers, and neither bearcth ripe Fruits
nor Leaves : So alfo in the Exercife of Piety
and Righteoufnefs, if Love toward God our
Redeemer, and Dele&ation in His Service, and
Obedience inwardly be diminifhed, it may rea-
dily come to paft, that the very outward Works,
yea and the Profefsion of Duties due to Chrift,
be taken away alfo? and this is the judgment
wherewith Chrift doth threaten Ephejus, I will
come upon thee, and remove thy Candleflick out of
his place except thou repent Rev, z. 5. The Third
Reafon is, becaufe Chrift, Who is altoge-
ther Lovely and Love it felF, the very Son
of the Fathers Love, is a jealous God, and
cannot long endure not to be met with Love
from them to whom He hath manifefted His
Love. ThereforeHe doth make haft to correct
this flighting of His Lovs, and to manifeftHis
Wrath againft thefe that ly ftill well pleafed
with themfelves under this Condition, / will
come unto thee quickly (faith He ) and remove thy
Candleflick. Rev. z. 5V
x. That the Contciencc of the true Convert,
who is lying in this Conditioner is declining
iijpm his fenge; msafujte of Love,may difcharge
it*
BOOK III. [ y 41 3 CHAP. If.
its duty morceafily and fohdly,it isneedfultliac
the Man,being convinced of his Fault, firft con-
fider how reafonablc it is that he fhould return
to his firft Lovc,or formerly felt meafure of it:
For,thc forgivenefs of his nsanifoldSins.wherein
he lay before his Converfion,for the tranflating
of him from Darknefs to the glorious Light of
Chrift's Kingdom, fhould never be forgotten;the
Proof which he hath gotten by his Converfion,
that Chrift hath loved him and given Himfelf
for him,fhould be always called to Mind with
hearty ASedion;the great need of Chrift where-
in he ftandeth for renewed pardon of Sins, for
furhilhing him with His Spirit to mortifie the
Deeds of the Flefti, and to bring forth mora
ripe and abundant Fruits of new obedience,,
fliould bind him to abide and grow in his Love r
Secondly, \zt him confidcr how ufeful and profi-
table unto us,is frefli green and growing Love
unto Him;for,love to Him makes us frequently
to think of Him,frequently with delight to fpeak
of Him,to feek after pore & more near-commu-
nion withHim,to have ourConverfation withHirn
in Hcaven,whereHe fits, at the right hand of the
Father, & to live in Heaven where our Love is 5
more then where we fojourn in thisWorld. Love
makes us love what He loveth, & hate what He
hateth;love fharpens our defires after God in
Chrift,kindlcsand inlarges our Affe&ion toward
Him,as the beginning of the 6yPfalmdo\hm%kQ
W^9k 4«4 i£ $e Lwj ft|ii feem to
at
with-
BOOK III. [ 544 ] CHAP. If;
with-draw Himfclf, Love makes the true Con-
vert follow hard after Him, Pfai 63. 8- Love
makes bold to encounter all Difficulties and
Troubles which may meet us in the courfc of
following after Him ; much Water cannot quench
Love ; in God's Service Love keeps a Man un-
wearied, fttong and (tout againft his Enemies,
in Suffering patient, inProfeffion fincere, in pur-
fuiiag Duties conftant, in all Conditions fubmit
five, and after evidencing of his AfFe&ion with
the Pfalmi/l, (Pf 116.1 2.) to fay with the Came
Pfalmi(t f What Jball I render to the Lord for all
His Benefits toward me> Pf 116. 12. Thirdly, lot
the Convert who is begun to cool in his Love
to Chrifl, call to remembrance what a Felicity
he felt when he entertained love to G1irift,whcri
the loving Kindnefs of the Lord was better to
him than his Life, and Sin was more formidable
than Death, when God's Commandments were
not grievous, but the joy of his Heart, when
God's Word feafoned and fandified his bittereft
Afflictions. Fourthly, let him confider at what
& Lofs he is of many fpiritual comforts, whereof
be hath deprived himfelf, and in how many Sins
(of omiffion at lcaft) he hath fallen, fince his
declining from his firft Love, and what Miferies
he hath drawn upon his own Spirit at lead, if
not alio temporal Ch'aftifements joined therewith:
and after comparifon of his conditio"!* when*his
Love was fervent, with hispreientCondition,fince
ty$ ftU (torn his foretime- mealier e of Love, lee
/ *OOK HL [ S4S L CHAP. IIL
Ihim humble* himfelf before Chrift,& fly in unto
ve His rich Grace, as a true Penitent, and let the
Fear of Wrath, in cafe he fct not himfelf to re-
cover what he hath loft, hold him up to his Du-
ty : For this is the Remedy which Chrift Him-
felf doth prefcribc, Rev. a. 5, 7*
chap. m.
Concerning the Converts finful conniving at, and to*
lerating of, the Errors andtranfgreffions of others.-
TH E Law of Love toward God and our
Neighbour, lay cth aTye on us to procure
and promove the Well fare and Good of all Men,
according to our place and power, and to hinder
the Piovocation of God, and Sins of our Neigh-
bour, according to our place and power. And
to this end the Lord hath (aid, Levit. 19.17 .Thou
fbalt not hate thy Brother in thine Heart, thou fh alt
in any wife rebuke thy Neighbour, and not fuffer
fin upon him. Cains Anfwer to God, faying, Am
my Brothers keeper \ doth not befecm the child
of God : And yet fomc of the Lord's renewed
children in fome cafes, do fecm to themfelves to
have done their Duty fufficiently, if they for
themfelves profefs theTruth,and do in their own.
perfonal carriage,whac they conceive to be right,
albeit they tolerat others to profefs, teach and
pra&ife what is fal(e and dangerous, and perni-
cious to themfelves and others. This fault may
^M^^y^agiftacj an4 P^ors, Parent*
BOOK.IIL f S4 6] CHAP.I^|!
and Mafters of Families, Children and Ser-
vants, but alfo be found in all and every one*
who defend or excufe fuch an ungodly and
dangerous Toleration, which may Provoke
God to wrath, and infnate many in a courfe of B
Sin, The Pretences.Excufes and Deceits, where-
by Men delude thcmfelves in this Sin, are the
fame which the Patrons of loofe and licentious;
Toleration of every Error in Religion do make
ufeof, to wit, that Mens Confciences muft be
free in the Matter of Religion, and noways be.
urged to ufc all means which may give them
right information, and reftrain their Exprefsion
and Pra<5hfe,which may infed, pervert orinfnare
others among whom they live : For,fay they*
God's People muft be a willing People,and God
only is Lord of the Confcience : and a curbing
of Mens Profelsion and Pra&ice, ferves not to
make Men Religious, but Hypocrites alfo, and
fuch like other pretences; but no Excufe of this
fort can juftly hinder any, who is in "any place
of Authority or Po\ver,or Relation tobea&ive,
or concur to extinguilh the incendiary fire which
may devour the Houfeof God, and Kingdom
wherein they live: For whofoever have power
©ver others, and do not put forth their power
to curb and reprcfs thofe who lay a {tumbling
Block before others, do not oniy not impede
the growing Contagion and Infection of the
Body wherein they live, but alfo in effect
do countenance, prot^dt, and promove the
fpread-
500K Itt f 547 1 GHAP Ilf.
jfpreadidg of the Contagion of Error and Wicked-
Jacft which they do tolerat, yea and private Per-
1 'oris who do not lament theSins of fuch as do de*
, [troy thcmfelvcs and infed: others, and do hot
nourn for the Sins of them alfo who fhould re-
acts the Contagion, do make themfclves acccf-
bry tothefc fpreading Evils. It is true, many
Sxcufes might here be ailedgcd, which we leave
o rhofc who haVe anfwered the Objections of
jngodly Toleiation But the truth is, the fear
)f worldly inconveniences oft-times doth mc*rei
prevail for giving way to lic&ntious Toleration,
hen the fear of Sin and Wrath of God dotli
>revail for difcharging of Duty.
This was the Sin of the Church of Pergamuf,
vhich did not take order with, and reprefs the
jeducers of the Lords people and their follow-
ir within their jufisdidion,/^. z.14. i<$Jhave
few things again]} tbee,becaufe thou halt there them
hat hold the Doftrine of Balaam, who taught &a-
ack to caft a tumbling block before the Qhildre4
f Ifrael, to eat things facrificed to Idols, and to\
ornmit fornication. So haji thou alfo them that hold
he Dotlrine of the Nicblaitans«$ which thing I
ate. This was the Sin which Chriftdid repre-
lend in the Church of Thyatria, Rev. z. id;
have a few things againfltkee, becaufe thou fuf-
*re(l that Woman Jefabel, which calleth her felf
Propbetefs, to tesch and f educe My Servants to
ornmit Fornkathn, and to eat things facrificed
9 Idols.
*,
BOOK HI. I ? 4 8 J CHAP. III.
a. For Remedy againft this Evil, i. Let us
vcrfe our felves well in the Law of the Lord re-
vealed in holy Scripture,that we may know well
what arc the Duties which God requireth of e-
very Man in his ftation, and what Vices He for*
bids, left we miftake Vertue for a Vice, or Vice
for a Vertue. z. Let us beware of rafli Centr-
ing and licentious Carping at Mens Infirmi-
ties, as the Apoftle James giverh Command- iL
meat ; My brethren, le not many Maflers, knowing I ll
that we (hall receive the greater Condemnation^ for ^
in many things we offend all. 3. Let us earneftly
contend for the Faith which was once delivered '"■
to the Saints, Jude, V. 3. left Seducers draw a-
way the Lord's People from the Truth of Chrift.
4. Let every oneconfider his ftation, place and
power given to him, and prudently go about
the amending of other Mens Faults,and his own
alfo : For othervvays, a good Duty may be mar-
red in a Man's Hand, by imprudent managing
thereof. 5. Let a Man rclblve to meet with
Difficulties, in curbing falfe Dodtrine and (can-
dalous Practices, and as a wife Warior to behave
himfelf fo, as he may obtain the Promifes which
Chrift hath promifed to the Victorious. Rev.z.
17. 26, 27. For it is much better to difpleafe
Man for his good and others, than to difpleafc
Chrift, and make our (elves Partakers of other
Mens Sin and Judgement, and the true Convert
will cafiiy make the choice.
CHAP.
6 OK III. { 549 1 CHAP. y.
CHAP. IV.
Concerning the Cafe of the True Convert, falling d»
jleep in carnal Security under guilt inefs offlefhly
Pollutions, and dreaming himfelf to be in no ill
Condition.
^Ometime the Flelli fo far prevailed? againft
3 die renewed work of the Spirit in Converts*
iac not only they are overtaken in a Fault {Qal
. i.) but alfo are, as it were, taken captive aind
id avfay for a time by the Lulls of the Flefh,
nd near-by recalled unto the Servitude of fome
ricked Concupifcence : In which condition, it
> potfible they ly deeping a long time, till God
/aken them out of their deadly Lethargy. And
his condition, alas ! is very oft to be found to
he Diflionour of Chriftian Profeffion, in thefe
hit have begun to live b!amelefly,and have fal-
en back to the filthy Pudle of their old Conver-
sion, whereby they draw upon thcmfelves and
heir Families. Gad's Wrath and (adjudgements:
)f this Difeafe we find there were not a few to
>c found in Corinth, z Cor. i%. ^o t 2,1.
2. The Caufes of this fearful Condition are
nanifoid, and cannot eafily be condefcended u-
>on : For many Defeats and wicked Motions of
he Heart, do ufuatly concur with the neglect
>f Duty, and comn>i(Hon of afbual Sins.a^nft
he direction of the Confciencc, at Icaft with?
>ut the Remorfeof Confcience and true Repcn-
snce ; before this fearful Condition "fix it ielf
BOOK III. { 550 ] CHAP, n*
felf on a Man; and of this finful Sicknefe, there
are fundry degrees. The Firtl is, when the
Worfliip of Gad and Obedience of His Precepts
is performed pcrfun£fc>rioufiy,as when theConfef-
fion of Sui,is without forrow forSin,or rerriorfeof
Sin in particulars; when Prayer is made without
earned defire,to obtain the requeft;when deprecati-
on of Wrath is made without fear of Danger;wher*
Intercefilon is made without Sympathy and Bro-
therly AfFe&ion; when Thanfgiving is offcrred
without Estimation of the Benefit received;when
finging of Pfalms is difcharged without Melody,
and Harmony of the Heart, when Conference
of holy Subje&s,is not entertained,or difcharged
(lightly, and without reverence; when the hear-
ing of the Word is without Attention of the
Mind; when the reading of the Scripture is fol-
lowed without Endeavour to Profit thereby,
without the Obfervation of the Will and Provi-
dence of God for Edification, when the profeffion
of Religion is without Zeal and Fruits fuitable
as occafion doth offer: whofoever doth reft well
pieafed with himfelfin this cafe,he is overtaken
by this Malady.
The Second Degree is, when this Evil goeth
further on, and doth defile the outward Man :
asvvben the Tongue is not bridled, the Man
doth not take heed what he fpeaketh, but lees i-
die Speeches, profane and rotten Communica-
tion fall out of his Mouth, which do not only
mi fers unto Edifjearion.but aifo to corrupt the
* - Hear-
'hO OK. III. [ yyi CHAP. IV.
learer.And he thar pleafes himfelf in this Ca(e>
leclares his Religion vain in fo far, Jam. i.z6
The Third Degree is, when this Evil break*
orth in grievous fcandalous Pra&ices, as in th c
>pen profeflion of fome Error,in making or fo-
nentinga Schifm, in Contention, Emulation, Err
y, Drunkennefs, Lacivioufnefs, Fornication, or
uch like: for here dead works do openly ap-
pear, and the Garment of ChriftianProfeffion is
>penly defiled.This feemeth to be the condition
^f many in the Church of Sardis, in whon be*
'idethe Profeflion of Chriftian Religion, little
piritual Life was to be found. And therefore
Chrift the Searcher of Hearts calleth them dead
or ready to die, Rev. 3. 1. z: Thou haft a Name
>hat thou art living, hut thou art dead; or i n a
deadly condition tending to Death certainly to
Follow; if it be continued in from which condi-
tion our Lord doth except fome, who had not
defiled their garments,buftfo carryed themfelvess
as their Converfation was anfwerable to their
holy Profeflion, Ver. 4.
That this deadly Sicknefs may be cured, x,
it is neceflary that the Confcicuce e>f fueh a re-
cure Sinner, be wakened both by others and by
himfelf, and that by fetting his Sins before his
Eyes, together with the Merit thereof, and
the Wrath of God kindled againft him, and
Deftrudtion at hand if he do noefpeedily repenfc
fcisi. z. Heed mull be taken ef Satan's Wiles,
Mm 3 wi
$OGK III. [ 5S z ] CHAP. IV
jhat the wakned and conyj&ed Sinner defpaii
pot ; for in t\\if Cafe there is no fmall dangei
pf it,when he who h^d given his Name to Chrifflft
#ndenh himfelf to be in Satan's Camp and Service
and wearing the Badge of Satan, in giving fc
publickSccndal to the People of God. 3, What-
loever (punk of Faith or Hope, or Repentance,
pr defirc of returning tjntoGod, and fcfting him-
felf againft all Sin hereafter, is found in fuch a
jperfon, muft be entertained and foftered, Jefl
fhap little fppnk be extipguiilied which is ready
to dye. 4. Let him call to mind the Wprd of
God, w ? hereby he wasfirft moved to turn unto
pod, and to confecrat himfelf to the Service of
Chrift, and let him compare his fometime bet-
ter Convcrfation, with his Jate Pollutions, that
jje may be alliamed, and haft himfelf in unto
nearer Fellowship with God ? from Whom he hath
fp filthily ^nd fearfully tnailq defe&ion. fc Lee
him be upon his guard & watel} over his Heart,
left he be over-taken again by the Tentati-*
ons of Satan, his own corrupt Nature, and
|he enripng Example of the World, \ ieft he
perifti in h& Tranfgreflion, if he fhail a-
^gain proToke the Lord. 6. And laft of all, let
|lip let before himfelf the ample Promifes which:
jCi^Hl hash, make to a vi&prious Wreftler of
|itt$ki|j& flev. 3. y. He th$t over cometh the fame
Jk$ljL be c\:^h«4:M white Rayment, and I -mil not
jtht M4 %?$&^ out 9j ike gQt>k of Life, &c.
i ml WM
Y&OOK III. [ sr> } CHAP. V.
CHAP. V,
Concerning the Convert's pleafing himfelf in his.
lukc'joarm condition.
I
WT cometh to pafs fometime$, that the true
J^ Convert, being as he conceiveth fure of his
3\vn Salvation, becometh negligent in the Mat-
er of his San&ification,and Worfhipping of God
n the Spirit, and turnctli himfelf about to his
\p\vn eafe, and following of what he thinketh
awful : For, becaufe he conceiveth he hath a
lire Grip of ChrilVs Grace, and of the Gifts and
f Benefits flowing from Him, To as he needs not
now to vex himfelf in the Exercifes of Religion
ij as fometime he did when he was not fure of his
o Reconciliation with God : Therefore he judgeth
[Jit fuificient, if he do follow the Exercifes of Re-,
ligion more courfely, eihew grots fcandalous
Outbreakings, do fome works of Alms and Cha-
rity, as he hath occafion, and follow the Works
of his Calling blamelefly, giving the reft of his
time to be Ipent in worldly Cares, Eafe of his
Flefh and lawful Recreations. In which condition
he pleafeth himfelf very Well,asif he had attain-
ed the way of Chriftian Felicity both in Soul
and Body : For he miffeth nothing in Matters
fpiritual and neceflary to Salvation, he is Rich
and hath need of nothing. Whereupon he troub*
Jeth not himfelf to grow in Salification, or to
fet others on work, for adding one Vcrtuc ta
M n\ 4 ano
BOOK in. [ m ! CHAP. V.
another, \fthey trouble not the Peace of the
Church, or do not difgrace Religion by a fcarv
dalous Life: If any Man in Chrifts matters, will
be more earned then his Neighbours, he doth
not find fault with it,but let him be as diligent
as he plcafeth, for he refolyeth not to oppoie a-
ny Man in ChrHt's fervice, nqrtoprcfs any Man
to mend his pace in Chrifts way: and to fay the
matter in a Word,heis aluke-warm Man, neither
a real and feckful Friend to Chrift, fo long as
he lyeth in this condition, nor yet an open Ad
verfary of Chrift or His wayes. In this Sick-
nefs readily do they fall, who after that the
pains of their New Birth,and Difficultys in their
Reconciliation arepaft, do impudently lay hold
ppon their Liberation from the Terrors of the
Law,and dream of fo fvveet reft in their Confer-
ence flowing from the Gofpel (as if now their
Enimies being all put to flight,and their Bonds
wherewith they were bound, were all loofed,
broken and laid afide ) they might compofe'
themfelves to Security and Sleep, When indeed,
they fliould ftand upon their Watch and upon
their Guard, left fome other way the Enemy 1
fliould fet upon them, and catch them in nevv
f^res and Straits, as the Apoftle doth fore-warn-
Ephef.6. 13.14. This w r as the condition where-
in fome Converts in the Church of 'Lao Jkeq,Rev.
3.i5.i9.were fallen:for albeit we do not think,
that all thefe who are charged fopLuke-warnr:
fab, were Regeneraf ; yct)ye cannot judge that
BOOK ffl. [ 555 ] CHAP. V.
all the Rcgenerat and true Converts, were
free of this fickncfe, when we fee Chrift profcf-
fing His Love to the lukewarm, and out of
love diretfing His Reprooftoward them,whcrc-
by He doth invite them to Repentance, and to
return to chat fweet Communion with Himfelf,
which they did not follow after, for the time.
And to make it appear,that true Converts might
fall in thisLuke-warmnefs,Hc giveth Warning to
d all rhac have Ears to hear,to hearken unto what
J the Spirit doth ipeak unto the Churches.
As tor Remedy of this Sicknefs, this lethar-
gy is hardly cured, except the Patient befirft
caften in a Fever (as it were) by the wakening of
I his Confciencc. To this end let the Luke- warm
confider with himfelf,how the Majefty and ex-
cellent worth ofChrifthath been lighted by this
his Lake-warmnefs, wherein he hath by his
fleflily Security made no account of the fpiritu-
al Riches of Chrift,Who hath Redeemed his own
from Sin and Wrath eyerlafting;, that they may
with full benfalof Affe&ion ferve Him. 2. Lee
him confider, how intolerable this Difpofition
ofLuke-vyarmnefs is unto Chrift, Who prefer-
reth the open Hoftility ot Aliens, to the Luke-
warm condition of thofe whoprofefsfor Him,
and hath declared He will not comport with
them, but fpew them outof His Mouth, ex-
cept they fliall fpeedily Repent. 3, Let him
confider l\ow njany and fad Plagues of Heart
lie lyeth under if He examine himfelf well;
which
BOOK HI. [ 5S 6 ] CHAP. VI.
which may certify him of the Flame of God's
Wrath ready to follow on the fmoak of begun
fpiritual Plagues. 4. Let him be fpcedily hum-
bled before the Lord for his vain gloriation of
Self- perfections, and fuppofed need of nothing,
when indeed he is Blind, Naked and Mifcrable.
5. Let him lay hold on Chrift's Love and Care
pf him in calling him to Repentance before fur-
ther Wrath ihould break forth, and take the Of-
fer of renewed and more intimate Communion
with Him, and enjoying thefe precious Prdmifes,
laid up for the vi&orious Wreftler againft this
(inful Dilpofition : For this is the proper Reme-
dy which the Great Phyfician prefcribeth for
Healing this deadly Sicknefs, Rev. 3. 17, 18.
C H A P. VI.
Concerning fuck Converts as lean unto the Props of
carnal Confidence, and pleafe themfehes in this
Condkim.' .
O Ft- times it comes to pafs, that true Con-
Tcrts, while they conceive that they truft
in Chrift only, are found to lean too much on
their own Worth and Strength, and Graces be-
llowed on them. In which condition,by fo much
as they are well pleafed with themielves, they
do in lb far difpleafeGod, and do provoke Him
*oJeaIoufie,& they who arc mod overtaken with
(his Sicknels, are mod fenfelefs of it, and are
aipft malcontent, jito? any Map ftoqdd fufpeft
them
I BOOK HI. [ fS7 ] CHAP. VI.
|hcm to be in an evil condition : Yea, and they
conceive, that no Man is ab!c to convince them
of Self confidcnce,and here they ly over tiiiGod
bring them to Trial, wherein their Millake i$
made clear unto them. Their Tria! ordinarly
cometh by fomc Affliction, by fomc powerful
Tentation, and by fome degree of felt Defer: ion:
for this Sicknefs, a-> it is contra&ed byProfpe-
riry, (b it i$ foftered and hid by Profjjerity, till
the Prop of their carnal Confidence be fhakeri
by unexpe&edAdverfity. Of which purpofe,thac
We may fpeak the more clearly ,we fhal! point forth
two forts of this carnal Confidence,& fiiali flicw
the difference of thefe two forts, by the diffe-
rence of thefe two Pillars whereupon carnal Con-
fidence is upholden. The One is the commorj
Benefits, which God doth ordinarily bellow
on Good snd Bad, Renewed and Unrenewed
Perfons. The Other is, i'ome obfervable mea-
fure of the Operations and Fruits of the holy
Spirit.
As for Confidence in the common Benefits
of God, fometimes true Converts fall too much
in love with earthly and temporal Benefits, do
feek too much after them,embrace them greedr
ly when they obtain them, rejoice too much
while they enjoy them, fear too much tq lofs
them, ana meantime do not perceive the excefs
of their Affe&ion about them : and if they be
eharged as in any meafure guilty In this cafe,
fhey will not acknowledge their Fault, but go
a-
BOOK III. [ yy8 ] CHAP. VI.
about to purge themfelvcs of this fore of failing
faying,we know our Duty,that if Riches increafe
we fhould not fct our Heart thereon, that we
fliould not love too much our own Children,
Parents, Parties, Friends and comfortable Re-
lations, that we fhould not delight too much
in profperity nor glory, in the common Gifts
and EnducmentS of the Mind, wherein ungodly
Men may excell, and go for above us; that we
fhould not affe<9: too much the favour of Men,
or efteem too much of being honoured of Men.
They will alfo readily confefs,that they are not
far from the danger of being drunk with Pro-
fperity, and falling into the fleep of carnal Secu-
rity, and leaning too much weight on this weak
Pillar of Creature-confidence ; But for time by-
pafj; they are ready to avert, they have been
very cautious,left they fliould fall in this Fault,
and for time to come that they hope to watch
againft all Snares of this f ort, -and fo they think
all is well ; but when it doth pleafe God in His
wife difpenfation co change their outward con-
dition, and to turn their external Profperity in
Adverfity; when God takes away the comforta-
ble benefits which He had bellowed on them,
& brings upon them fame fad calamity,incontinenc
they are in the dnmps, and fit down aftoni-
fhed, they begin to call Gods love in queftion
whereof they boafted before. Thus their Faith
difcovereth its weaknefs, and the mixture* of
carnal confidence with their Faith doth clearly
ap«
$00 K HI. [ SS9 ] sCHAR Yf.
pear,wkich before did lurk as drofs doth in the
Gold or Silver before it be purified, which doth
give the Mafs a greater Bulk without greater
Worth or Price. This Infirmity and Miftakc the
Pfalmift did obferre in himfelf, Pfal. 30. 6. 7.
In my Proj ferity 1 /aid, I fhall never he moved
thou didft hide thy Face and 1 was troubled. This
Infirmity of the Convert, and his Miftake, fhall
be yet more manifeft, if we fhall compare the
Confidence of the Convert in the promifes of
God for Food and Raytiient fo long as God giv-
oth Riches with their Confidence when their
Means do fail and poverty cometh on. The
Promifes of God remain the fame in the hav-
ing and wanting of Riches, but there is a great
ods between their Confidence to be furnifhed
when they have Riches, and tkeir Confidence
when Means do fail, which confidence now,
is very feeble. Whereform doth this change
come let us fee ? Certainly it cometh from the
removing of the carnal Props of their Confi-
dence^ when upon the failing of thefe Props &
Pillars, Faith in the promife doth dagger, it is
a fure evidence, that they have leaned too
much weight on the Means, who mifbelievc
when the means do fail.
3. For curing of this fott of carnal Confidence,
and leaning too much on temporal Benefits, let
theConvert thus miftaken,afcer his experience felt
that he h#h been carnally confident^ be dif-
BOOK III. [ 560 J CHAR VI.
couraged, as if his Confidence, which he feem*
ed to have placed on God,were altogether vain,
and in no degree fpintual : Bat let him firft, be
humbled bsfore God, and fubmic himfelf t;o the
Lords Rod ; let him acknowledge the Wifdom,
Juftice and Mercy of God, Who hath removed
this Prop of carnal Confidence, and reduced
him from going aftray to depend more on God
then he hath done, x, Let him ftrengtheri hiS
Faith in Chrift, according. to the Tenor of the
Covenant of Grace, and thatfo much the more,
as he finds his own Unrighteoufnefs* in fol-
lowing and Belying on Creature-comforts to
have beea great. 3. Let him fet his Affe&ions
upon things fpiritual, which are above the Earth,
and to be found in Chrift Jefus,Wh'o is at the
tight Hand of the Father, C0/.3, 1.2 3. and to loofe
hisEftimation and AfFedionfrom thefe Things
that are on the Earth. 4. Becaufe this Sicknefs
is not well obierved, except in the time of Ad-
terfity, let the afflided Perfon approve himfelf
in the point of fincerity of adherence unto God,
by histrufting in God now, when he vvantetli
Means and Creature* comforrs, as Job did, wh©
in this condition bieffed God for the giving of
the Benefits,and blefled God at the removing of
them from him, Job 1. 21. For, by fo doing,
he fliali learn both to have and want and in eve-
ry condition to be content, as the Apoftle was
taught, ThiL 4, 12. and this is for the //y? fore
0f carnal Confidence
If
K30K III. [ fa } CHAP. VI.
The Other fort of carnal Confidence, is that
which too much leaneth to fomc apparent mea-
fure of the Operation and Fruits of the holy
Spirit, obferved by the Convert in himfelf: And
[his Sicknefs may be taken up and perceived
chiefly by comparifon of the Converts ftronger
Confidence of the Love of God toward him, fa
ong as he can find evident figns of his Regene-
leration, and work of the holy Spirit in him-
elf, with his weaker confidence of the Love
)f God toward him under the cloud of Deferti-
on, or under fome powerful Temptation, when
hefe evident Signs of hisConvcrfion are darken-
d, or do not appear fo clearly unto himfelf as
hey did before. In which cafe, his confidence
s greatly weakened, and his Faith not a little
haken with doubting. In both the one and the
>ther Condition, the Covenant of Grace ftand-
th fixed,and the Promifes of the Gofpel remain
he fame, and the Convert (till adhereth to the
?oven,antand claimetb intereft in Chrift, more
>r lefs confident. Whence cometh then this dif-
ference between his former Confidence which
vas ftrong, and his weaker Confidence, now inr
he change of his cafe, being brought lovy 2
ertainly it proceedeth from the fmiting of the
3 illar whereupon his former Confidence was coo
nuch fixed ; for, whensoever the Mifl: is clear-
d up, ana he findeth the livelinefs of the work,
f Grace in himfelf, his Confidence convale-
?c[h, and returns to its former ftrength, as it
feem^
BOOK III. [ f 6*\ CHAP. VI,
fecmcth to him; and when his Graces are dark-
nfcd,hefalleth in a languifhing wcaknefs of Faith.
This Sicknefs is fo frequently incident to the
Saints,that few fiiail be found who are not again
and again overtaken in it: For,how few are they
who are not much more coafidcnt when they
find a Heart freely poured forth in pr yer,wheii
they enjoy the Peace of God in their Heart, when
the Love of God is Ihed abroad in their Heart,
when they find the Confolations of the holy Spi-
rit, when they obferve the Fruits of the Holy Spi-
rit in themfelves, when the Candle of the Lord
flitneth in their Soul, and the tokens 6f God's
Favour toward them are manifeft; and on the o-
ther hand, when they find their Spiritual con-
dition changed, whenDarknefs falleth on their
Spirit,when they find themfelves unfit for Wor-
fliip & unable todoService,but moft of all, when
they perceive tokens of Fatherly wrath againft
them fuper- added unto the forefaid/svils: in this
Cafe,who is he,that befide the inevitable perturba-
tion of mind incident to thofe who are ftrongeft in
Faith, doth not find a diminution of his former
confidence^ a conflid: with Temptations, Fears,
Doubts and Difficulties? Which diminution and
abating of his confidence in his tryals and in-
ward cxercifes, doth evidently prove, that in
his belt condition^ hath laid too much weight
ijpori the mutable difpofition of hisSoul,and bach
not fo ftucken to the Word of Geds grace
through Jefus as became hirg*
i. That
BOOK III. [ ;rf 3 J CHAP. V!.
z. That thisSicknefs may be the more eafily
deared and cured, it is expedient to anfvver (ome
Qucftions, which being difcu.Ted, may inform
md cdifie the Affiidied.
QucfllGYI I
THefirft Qusftion which the Affli#ed may
propound, is this, Seing rhe Signs of Gods
favour manifefled in the beftowing and conti-
:iuing of common Benefits and Gifts outward
ind inward, do certainly ferve to confirm a
Mans Faith in God, is it not very reafonable
:o fay, that the Signs of Gods Wrath manifeft-
id in the removing of thofeBenefits,do certainly
irve to debilitate and weaken a Mans Faith ?
Anf.i. Signs ofGods Favourand Signs of Gods
SVrath arc not inconfiftent, bscaufe God can
:arry Love and Favour to a Man, and be angry
it him alio for the prcfent ill Difpofition where-
in he is,for Love and fatherly Wrath, are not
Dppofit and inconfiftent.but Love and hatred are;
inconfiftent. z. Let be it granted,that any Signs
tfbatfoever of Gods Favour may be made ufc
af by the Convert foriftrengthening of his Faith,
pet it muft not be gcanted,that the taking away
D.f thofc Signs of Favour.fhould be madeufeof
fOr weakening of a Mans Faith-.For many things
nay encourage a Man to his Duty,which being
•Qmo&d,muft not difcourage him.or juftly hin-
icr him to do his Duty, 3. There is a great
lifiercnce between the Man, who never found
my other Sign pf God's Favour befide pro-
N n tpc-
BObK'ni. [ 564 3 CHAP, vr,
fpertty in common bcncfits,and the Man who be-
fide common Benefits, hath felt a work of Grace
upon his Spirit, bringing him unto the fenfe oj
Sin, and chafing him to Chrift, and making him
to take on His Yoke. The Fir 8 fort of Men, car
neither from the having nor wanting, or remo-
val of common Benefits, conclude he is loved or
hated; for fo are we taught, Ycclef 9, 1. 1. Ne
Man hwvveth either Lcve or Hatred by all that is
Before him % all things come alike to all, &c* But a
Man of this fort hath reafon to judge, that the
fending on him Adverfity, and wakening of him
out of a fleflily and deadly Security, doth fpeak
more of God's Favour to him, then higprofperi-
ty did. And this other fort of Men, whohav©
feit a work of fpecial Grace on their Hearts,
may make ufe both of their Profpcrity and Ad-
verfity for Confirmation of their Faith. 4. Puc
the cafe that a Convert chafed unto Chrift in the
fenfe of his S'\n 9 and refolvcd to bear Chrift's
Yoke upon him, fhall find common benefits ta-
ken back from him in fatherly Wrath; yet muft
he not yeiid to the weakening of his Faith, but
rather yet more humble himfelf in the fenfe of
his Sins which have furred up Wrath againft him;
and fly in to Chrift, and lay hold moreclofely
upon His Grace, becaufc God being offended,
U norpacifed norpleafed^ &YS only by flying
in to Jefu$ Chrift.
«g«!
t BOOK IIL £ s6s 1 CHAP, VI,
Quefi. IL
&, "D Ut what will you fay Unto thorn, whofe
J3 Confidence is weakened whether they
will or not, whensoever they apprehend God an-
gry tgainft them, and cfpecialiy when they reel
io| that God, being provoked j u ftly ,remo veth Gifts
d and Benefits comfortable from them *
Anj. It is not to be doubted, that the Confix
# dence of many true Converts is fhaken and wea*
a kened in this Cafe : but the queftion is, what
fliall be faid unto thsm? We aafwer, firfhhey
ti muft acknowledge, that they have leaned toa
much upon thefe carnal Props, the failing where*
■of makctb them to fall. x. Leathern be humb-
led yet more becaufe of fuch Sins as have provo-
ked God to change His Difpenfation toward
them. 3. Let them lean more upon the only
Rock of free Grace injefus Chrift offered in the
Gofpel,fot the comfort and relief of all thofe,whoi
in the fenfc of Sin and Unworthinefs, in the fenfe
of their ill deferving, and of any meafure of ap-
parent fatherly wratb,that hereafter however it
fare with them, they may rely upon JefusChrilli
Who is the only Foundation to build our felves
upon, and whofeG.race is fufficieat to help and
uphold them,who have their recourfb unto Him
in every condition, whether it be Ad verfity or
Prosperity.
Q&fi. III.
(L» A Lbeit common Benefits are not fufficient
i /\. Evidences of Gods Favour, yet new O*
fcOOK.fll f 566 1 CHAP, vt
bediencc of Faith &Fruics of rhcSpirit are fureSign^
ofGodsfpecial Favour bcftowe J only on the fi-
led:: Seing then, as theie Signs when they arc
prefent,ferve much for the ftrengthening of Faith
fo alfo when they are amiffing, have as great
force of reafon to debilitate Faith,yea feing Faith
without Fruits is dead, may it not be concluded
where no Fruits are, no Faith is?
A*f. If the Queftion be of the univerfal want
of all Fruits of Faith, fuch as is to be found in
all unrenewed Men, whofe Fruit cannot be good
(o long as the Tree is evil, whofe fceming Ser-
vice cannot be acceptable, fo long as they re-
main unreconciled to God through Chrift,let the
Qucftion be ycilded unto. But we are fpeaking
or the true Convert in whom there is a miffing
of the meafure of formerly felt Fruits, and thac
in the time prefent,whercin by fbme Temptati-
on or TryaLtheir Faith is lifted and winnowed.
And here indeed there is a vaft difference between
them that were never humbled in the fenfe of
their Sins,norled for relief from Sin and Mifery
unto Jefus Chrift, and the true Convert, who
hath renounced the Works of Darknefs, and
hath fled unto Chrift,and confecrated himfclf to
His Service>and who is fet upon a new courfe of
Life, hath brought forth hew Fruits ofRepentance
Faith,Love,and Hope,and hath felt Confolatioti
in this courfe;and now under Exercife of Con-
fcience, looketh upon himlelfas barren Ground
doth lament his impotency to bring forth good
Fruits
n
BO OK III. [$6 7 ] CHAP. VI.
iTuits,and while he is under this Excrcifc, Iiveth
in a fad Condition,blamelefs and free of fcandal*
giving; great ods between this man,& a Man yet
in Nature. We grant in the unrenewed Man,who
is a (hanger to the Life of Grace and true God-
linefs,the Sentence holds,N* Fruits t w Faiih\ but
but as for the Convert,who hath had comfort in
Chrift,and brought forth good Fruits in feme
mcafure, he mud not reafon from his prefent
diad Condition,felt and lamented barrennefs,to
the denying of trueFaith inChrift,or to the wea-
kening of his Faith,or marring his Confidence
further then to acknowledge,he hach leaned too
much on his formerly felt Fruits, and hath not
grounded him (elf wholly onChrifl,and the Rock
of free Grace inHim,but may and fliould mantain
his Faith in Chrift againft his Difcourageraenr,
that he may be enabled to bring forth more
ripe and aboundant Fruits.
QueA IV.
CL 13 Ut what (hall befaid to humbled Con-
J3 vercs, who looking to the holy Law of
God, and finding no Fruits, fuch as fhould be,
do pafs Sentence in the time of Tcntation, a-
pon all their Works, as unworthy of the Name
of the Fruits of the Spirit, and then do dis-
pute againft their own Faith by the Apoftle's
Words, Jam. z. zq. Faith without Works, is
Dead.
Anf. If the Confciencc do pronounce accord-
ing to the Truth as the matter is indeed^ cannot
be
BOOK III, [ 568 1 CHAP. VI.
be denicd,but Faith without works is dead, and
God is greater then the Confciencc and knoweth
all things: But when the Confcience is milled by
a Tentation powerfully prefled in by Satan, in
the time of fome fad AfRi&ion, and appearance
of God's Difpleafure,the Tcftimony of the Con-
fcience is not afufficient proof to inferfohard
aConclufion: For,it cometh to pafs oft-times,
that the Convert who liveth blamelefly,and en*
tertaineth the Love and Purpofe of Well-doing
in his Heart, followeth the Exercifes of Religi-
on conftantly,is not negligent in his Calling,and
is ready upon occafion offered to let forth the
Fruits of love to his Neighbour, for all this
fometimes waiketh in Darknefs and under De-
fertion,fceth no Light, as Ifaiah, 50 10. In this
cafe it may be,he fet all his Works at nought,as
no ways anfwerable to the Lords Law. 1 fee no-
thing (faith he) but Sin in me J fee no Fruit
of true Faith in me, I feel no Operation
of the Holy Spirit in me, fave the work
of convincing me ofSin and Unrighteoufnefs. In
this cafe we mud not give Credit to the Af-
flicted, but convince him rather of his Error,
and in fpecial of his leaning too much weight
on his Works before this fad Exercife fell upon
him;for,when a Convert maintained! his Faith in
ChrifL only fo oft,and fo long as he findeth in
himfclf the Fruits of new Obedience,but when he
feath new experience of the power of the Body of
•f Dfath,a»d findeth the eourfe of good behavi-
BO O K. III. [ 5 6 9 ] CH A P. VI
our, and bringing forth good Fruits to be inter-
rupted in himfelf, incontinent he refiles from bis
Confidence; fuch a Man certainly giveth evi*
dence, that he hath relycd too much on his for-
mer felt Righteoufnefs in himfelf: For he doth
as if he durft not for Sin approach unto Chrift,
'and fo he falleth in Peter's Cafe, who looking
on his own Sinfulnefs, and the brightnefs of
ChriiVa Godhead Ihining in a recent Miracie.cry-
eth our t Luke$.$. Depart from me % Lord J am ajtn-
ful Ma>r.For,Peter in this cafe did forget Chrift's
Mediatory Office,and that he Hood Co much the
more need of Chrifi/s drawing near to him,ashe
was a man convincedof finfulncfs. Another anf
wer we give to this que{iion,the afflided pcribn
muft not think, that he wants altogether the
Fruits of Faith, albeit he find them to be fliorc
of the perfection which the Law doth require,
albeit he find not the Fruits whenfoever he
would exad them, albeit he find them not in
that meafure as ha hath found them before .•
For as Trees are not to be cfteeiticd dead or bar-
ren, which bring forth Fruits in due feafon, al-
beit they bear not fruit in Winter, fo Faith is not
to be cftccmcd dead, which, as occafionis of-
fered, bringcth forth the fruit, at onetime, of
Mercy, at another time, of Jufiice and Equity,
aaanother time, the evidence of zeal, at ano-
ther time, of love, and other vertues, albeit
when occafion or opportunity oSereth not, it
doth not cxercifefuch and fuch Vertues;yea al-
Nn 4 be»
BOOKffl [ S7o ] CHAP. Vl't
beit (ometimes when occafion calleth for the B
videnong of fuch and fuch gracious Vertucs»
the Convert be fometime found in-laking o
fhort of doing Duty,or guilty of doing contrary
to Duty, Faith muft not be counted dead for all
thauBecaufe it may come to pafs,that Faith may k
be fo wounded,and fall fick and languilh, and I
fall in a Sound, that it cannot bring forth Frui{J
till ic be recovered of its Sicknefs,as wc may fee
in Jonah, David and Peter, whofe Faith fainted,
but failed not alcogecher.-It is true,they fufpect-
ed they were cut ofF& gone when they were in
hard Exercife,but after that they did look up to
the Mercy of God in Chrift,draw near unto Him
& did fhew themfelves alive in the Lord,and to
be in the ftate of Grace. Lafl: of all we anfwer,
that of the humbled Soul of its Barrennefs and
Short-coming of bringing forth Fruits as it
\£ould,is no imall Evidence of Life and Senfe in
the inward Man: And of fuch a Difpofition it
may be faid ask is written, Cant. z. 13. fhe
Figtree puteth forth its green Figs, and the
Vines with the tender grape give a good jmell : For
he that is fted to Chrift, and iaments hi§ Bar-
rennefs, is a Lover of doing good Works,
and of bringing forth the Fruits of the Gofpel. .
Quell. V.
g. T)Ut how can a Man mantain his Faith
j3 in Chrift, who after Examination fin-
deth no Evidence at all of his Converfion, and
that all his lotmee Life hath been fpsnt in the
un-
JBOOjKHI. [ tfi 3 CHAP. Vr
unfruitful courfe of corrupt Nature ; and the
I Matter is fo indeed,he hath lived after the courie
■ of this World, a Stranger to the life of God
and Grace >
Anf. Let fuch a Man's Examination and Sen-
tence of himfelfftand, being according to the
Truth:but this Sentence of himfelf,muft not hin-
der him from believing in Chrift or from flying
to Him for Refuge, for Remiflion of Sin, for
Rcconciliation,and Furniture of Grace to bring
forth better Fruits than he hath brought forth
before; he hath proven againft himfelf.that in
time bygone he hath notbeenaRegenerat Man,
bath not been aBeliever inChrift,but he hath not
cut off himfelf from flying to Chrift and believ-
ing in Him for time to come:For, he muft put
difference between thefe twoQueftions,*whether
I have been of the number of Ancere Believers in
Chrift heretofore?and whether I muft now fly to
Chrift for time to come,that I may be found here-
after, and henceforth a true Convert believing in
Chrift > His former want of Good Fruits alto-
gether,dqth prove him not to have been a Beli-
ver in Chrift for time by-paft, which is the firft
Queftion;& the fame want of al! good ftuitshere-
toforc,doth anfwer theothcrQueftion,for his prc-
fent Duty,& in time tocome,co vvir,that now ex-
cept he will perifli, he muft fly to Chrift andj^
lieve in Him.In proving of this Aflerrion, that I
have heretofore for fuch a fpace of time beer*
a true Convert, I muft bring forth the Evi-
dence
book nr. [ 57* 1 CHAP VI
' dence of my Faith by my Works, as ; the Apo-
ftle James appointeth, fhevv me thy Faith by thy t
Works % and I will Jhevv thee my Faith by my Works,
but iii proving this other /iHrtion,to wit,I muft >
now fly to Chrift while the offer is made to men
of Reconciliation, left I perilh; it will fufficc to D
produce,firft, my want of good Fruits, and next
the Commandment of the Gofpel, charging me
to fly to Chrift for Refuge in time, left 1 perifh ;
And fo a Man muft maintain the way of believ-
ing in Chrift Jefus for time to come, whether
he find he hath been a fertile or a barren Branch
in time by-gone or not.
Queft. VI.
0^ OEing the Apoftle (z ?et. i. io. ) com-
fcj mands us to make our Calling and E-
ledtion fure by Well-doing, how can it called
carnal Confidence which in part doth lean upon
good Works? For feeing AfTurance and Certain-
ty of our effe&ual Calling is not attained un-
to,but by reasoning from our good Works, that
we are called crTc&ually, and are elected, how
do not our works fupportthe afturance of Faith
concerning our Calling and Ele&ion, and fo
may be leaned unto.
Aw? A Man may make ufc of his good
Works for confirmation of his Faith,and yet not
lean his Confidence upon hi* Works, but upon
the Grace of God, Who hath called him of His
free Grace, and m%de him embrace the offer of
His free Grace, and giyen unto him botlua
will
UOOK III. [ 573 ) CH A p - Vf -
vill and to do of His free Grace,and made him
obc Gods W r orkmanfhip created of Gods free
3race unto Good Works, vvhereinHe hath made
lim to walk. Thus Grace is by God's Word
Hid working cleared up to the Believer to reft:
jpon, without laying too much weight upon the
Ndan's work : but if a Man lay hold on Chrift:
and His free Grace, only then, when he obfer-
ireth in himfclf fuch and fuch Fruits of Faith,
and loofeth or fiackech his Grips of Chrift
when he feels Deadnels and Indifpofition
co good Works, juftly we may call this a
carnal confidence in his Works.- For when
he ought, with Paul, Rom. 7. 24. 25". (o
much the more to fly in to Chrift and His
RighteOufnefs, as he findeth the body of Death
powerful in him, and in-born S'm ftrong to
hinder his obedience, he doth contrary ways
abate of his Confidence, languiili and de-
cay in his Faith, and look like a departer from
Chrift, we mull fay, he putteth carnal con"
fidence in his own Works.
O&fr vir.
Q± T)Ut feing it is impoffible to perfwade me
J3 °f c ^ e Truth and Sincerity offaving
FaitiV in me, except I do obferve in me, and
can bring forth my good Works to prove the
Reality of Faith in me; how is ic.poflible that I
ftiould not lean weight on my good Works
feing the proof of my Faith is by my works,
wfeicl*
BOOKffl. [574] CHAP. Vi
which proof if / have not, / am ac a (land, 1
cannot prove my felf to have been a true Belie
ver in Chrift,/ cannot perf wade my felf that |
hare been and am a ttue Believer in Chrift ?
Anf 1. The Obfervation of the bruits o
Faith in me is not the only Proof of my Believ-
ing in Chrift; for the very ad of embracing thcE'
Offer of Reconciliation made to me in the Go-
fpcl,and flying unto Chrift for a Refuge,whcn i F
am chafed by the Law, by theConfcience, and
felt Wrath purfuing me for Sin, may be clear to
me by its own Light and Scriptural Evidence,
albeit (ic being poffibly the very inftant of my
Converfion) / cannot produce any Fruits or E
vidences of my Converfion paft ; or clfe whatl^
fhall be faid of Malefactors on the Scaffold pre-|
fently to be put to Death, and poffibly not wa-
kened inConfcience before, nor fled to Chrift
before? What fhall be faid offickPerfons near un-
to Death, who being Self- condemned, do betake
themfelves in their laft Agony unto the Grace
of God in Chrift offered to Self-condemned Sin-
ners in the Gofpel?x. / muft put difference be-
tween a Reafon to prove that / have believed,
and a Rcafon why / may and muft now Believe*,
The reaibn to prove that / have Believed, is
from thceffedfc to prove the Caufe thereof to wir,
Faith to be m mc:But the Reafon why / may
iiow,and muft beiicve,is from the Caufe to infer
the EfFedi that fhould be in me. The Caufe of
Relieving in Chrift, is God's Command to Self*
JOOK III. [ $75 1 CHAP. Vt
condemned Sinners ; which Command I muft
flow obey left 1 perifli, and fo if tkfind Fruits,
I prove 1 hare Believed, becaufe I fell the Love
;>f God flied abroad in my Heart,and*that I love
3od Who hath freely loved me ; and herel rca-
on from the Effe&, to prove that the Caufe of
:his Fruit, to wit, Saving Faith, hath prcceeded
ind is gone before. Again I prove that I fhould
ielievc, becaufe the Offer of the Gofpel and of
r rce Grace inChrift, made to all (elf-condemned
berfons, renouncing Confidence in their own
Worth or Works, is made to me, with a Com-
mand to Believe in the Son of God,Chrift Jefus;
or which Caufe, I may and pught to caft my
elf upon His Grace who juftifieth the Ungod-
y,flying to Him,wichout the Works of the Law.
{. / muft put difference between my having Fruits
)f Faith in me,and my obferving & finding thefc
7 ruits in me .• For, a true Convert may havo
>oth Faith and FruitS;and for the time^being un*
ler Trial and Tcmpcation,may be fo darkened,
hat he can fee nothing in himfelf but Sin, and
ipparent Wrath purfuing him for Sin,as may be
een in Jonah ,1.4. & David, Pf 51,9,10,4. 1 muft
>ut difference between my Perfwafion, that I
*ave been and am a true Convert and a fincerc
Seliever,&my Perfwafion, that I have Right,
teafon and good Warrand to Believe in Chrift:
n my loweft Condition ; howfoever then 1 find
ayfelf emptied of all Signs of fa ving Grace ia
ic for the time* yet my Perfwafion, that
I
bookiu. Tjjtfi chap. vr.
I fliould in this fad condition fly to Chrift and
believe in Him, doth farvc to make me content
heartily unto the Offer of the Covenant of Grade
in Chrift, doth ferve to make way for my juto
fication, and loofeth all Doubts and Obje&ions
of Satan tempting me to miC believe, and to rur
away fromCbrift and the offered Mercy in Him
5. And laft ot ailj mull put difference betweef
making ufc of good Fruits brought forth by me.
far confirmation of my Faith, and my putting
confidence in, or laying weight on, thefe good
Fruits : For many true Converts do here fail,
and do not mark theMiftakes ,- for when they
find Love to God and His Saints, with Fear and
holy Reverence, and fuch other like Signs ol
Grace in their Hearts, and outward Fruits there-
of in their Life, then they do believe inChrifl
and rejoice in Him: But when at another time,
they find Hardnefs of Heart, Profanity andPer-
verfenete of a wicked Nature in themfelves.they
are like to quite their Intereft in the Covenant
of Grace,and to Sand aloof from Chrift like Stran-
gers,when they ihould mod be humbled & creep
in to Him for Rcmiftion of Stn,& hiding of tbeii
Nakedaefs by His imputed Righteoufnefs. And
what is this in effect elfe, than in the firft place
to lean on their Works and holy Difpofition.a'i
if there were Merit in them, and then after in the
next place to believe in Chrift, who hath farm-
ihed them thofe Fruits? whereas they lhou!d,
in the fenfe ©f their Sin and Unworthinefs, firft,
BOOK m. [ 577 1 CHAR V1T:
fly toChrift, and firmly adhere to Him by Faith,
that out of His Fulncfs they may receive Grace
for Grace, according as we are taught to do by
Chrift Himfclf, Job. 15. £ He that alideth inMe %
and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much Fruit ■; for
without Ale, you can Jo nothing.
CHAR VII.
Concerning the Cafe of the Convert in fome point of
Dotlrine deluded, and pleapng himfelf in this
condition.
"Y^O (peak of Dclufion and Bewitching in the
J general, requireth a large Treatife. It
[hall fufficc our purpofc to fpeak of it,as it hath
)lacc in the point of Do&rinc and Pradiice er-
oneous : Which wc defcribe thus, Delufion is a
Powerful Operation of a lying Spirit, whereby he oh-
'rudes to Men fome not fome Error in Dotlrine or Pra-
lice contrary to true Doflrine, fairded ever with
^ophifiical Deceits, and doth perfwade inconfiderate
)Ouls effectually to receive the Error for Truth ; and t
defend and fpread it in their rafh Zeal: For Ex-
plication of which Defcription, wc fay, i, Delu-
on is a powerful Operation of a lying Spirit, where--
n Satan in God's Judgement is permitted to put
Drth his power in Lying efFc&ually. Therefore
i all his efle&ual Dclufions, there is a concur-
ing righteous Judgement of God in loofmg Reins
> tire Tempter, that by Dclufion,one Sin in one
tegtze, may b* puruj^e4 by a £gljowing Sin in
2
1
BOOK III. [578) CHAP. VB.
a higher degree. No wonder therefore chat a ly-
ing Spirit do work more efle&ually when he is 1
not reftraincd by the powerful Hand of God. 2, I
We fay, thatDelufion is in fome dangerous Error
tending ro the Damage of the Church and Ha- |i
zard of Souls. And this we fay not.as if we did *
think, that any fin doth not daw with it, the I
Merit of Death (for the Wages of every Sin is f
Death) butbecaufe Satan is notfobufic,tofpred
and foment fuch Errors, as are lefs perillous, as
he is a&ivc in fuch Errors, which domofttend
to pefler the Church and divert the Profeflbrs of
Religion from the path way of Saving Do^rine.
And to this purpofe heeflays all Means, that he
may obfeure and darken the Truth, and devife
and fpread abroad the mod pernicious Errors,.
Mean time he is net idle in fowing and fpread-1
ing leflcr Errors,that he may ftir up Contention I
and jangling in the Church, whereby precious
Time, which fhould be fpent for mutual Edifi-
cation, may be idly wafted in needlefs difputes, ,
and Mens Minds may be prepared to receive;
grofler Errors. Thirdly t we put fome difference"!
between Errors in Do&rine and Errors in Pra-
&ice,albeit there cannot be one Error in Pra&ice,
whether it be in the external Worfhip or Go-
vernment of the Church,or in outward Conver-
fation, which being ftiffly maintained, hath not
fome Error of Judgment and DodJrinc joined wich
it. or clfe it iliould not be contrary to found
Do&rine ; yet there may be an Error in Do- '•
&rm$
JO OK III [ 579 ] CHAP. VI?.
trine and Judgementof the Mind^ when inthe
utward Practice the Error nr.y ly Hid ; and
4en of contrary Judgement may confent and a-
ree in the fame Pra&ice. Fourthly, weprcfup-
ofe the Errors, whereof we are fpeaking, to
e coloured and covered with fair Pretences,
nd to be found deceitful Scphiflry: for other-
7 ays a Difciple of Chriit could not be eafily
ifnared, if the Error were Teen in its own co-
rars, if it were demonftrat unto him with
jund Reafon to be contrary to found Doctrine,
nd pernicious to the Welfare of the Church,
nd tc* Mens Souls : For in this Cafe, every in-
enuous & honeft Mihd,\vo'uld keep off' from die
.rror as from a deep Pit:But Satan fettcth forth
'ieError,asif it wcrenoError,but mod confonanc
-3 wholfome Dj5lrine f and profitable for Mens
ouls and the Churches Good. And-by plau-
ble Pretenfes.fets out thcError,fo2sit rmyfeeni
Dvely and worthy to be defended, and fpread
broad by all Means. Fifthly^ this Delufiott
^e are lpcaking of, we prtfuppofe, that in the
erfon deluded there is a Periwafiorr (ftrongcr
hen any Probation which be hath) can fupport.-"
"or here the EfRcacie of Error doth fpedallr
ppear,whenthe lying Spiric.by probable Conje-
iures,appearance of advantage SrSophifticaiDiP
utation,doth perfwadcthe deludcdSotil^hat the
-rror is as fureas is if by divine Oracle it were
evaled& declared cobs a Trutb.Ho w this cinbe,
fcbew Satan workvthr this Pocwafionifi is not tcf
O • orur
BOOK in. [ 580 ] CHAP. V
our purpofe to make ^inquiry* For, lyir g Sp
rirs have their own way, unknown to u<
whereby they infinuat and fuggeft thei
Errors unto Men. It may fufircc us that tt
Scripture hath taught us, that Satan ea
form Obje&ions againft our Faith, Ephef. 6. i<E
11, 12, and throw them at us as fiery Dart
and work ft-rong Perfvvafions in unliable or ig
norant Souls* Such was the perfwafion of tt
Galatians,\\hich the Apoftle ayoucheth to ha\
been procured not by God who had called thei
Gal. j. 8, Sixthly, we prefuppofe in a powe
ful Delufion a baftrad and milled Zeal
making the deluded Man ardently to defend <
promovc thcError which he hath embraced:Fo
this is Satans main endeavour, when he hat
leavened with Error one or moe in a Churcl
to make all the ufe of them he can to leave
the Church with the lame Error.
And to the intent this Matter may be the mor
ufefully fpoken of, three Qucftions mull be arl
fwered fo briefly as may bcThcFirft Queftion it
whether fuch a powerful Delufion may befal
trueConverttWe anfwer it is poffible,and Experij
cncQ proverb it: that its poflible, we learh frofj
the Apoftle's Fear, x Cor. 1 1. }. I fear left ly :\
t/y means as the Serpent lecruiled Eve through hi
Suhtility, fo your Minds fkould he corrupted for.
the Simplicity which is in Chrifl. He was fearei
alfo for the Colofians, left they fliould be deiud
«d Col. a. 4, This I fay kjl my Man leguile yo
m
1
r
; !0 0K III [ J«* 1 CHAP. VII.
nth intifing Words. And vcr. S.Beware left any
'I Wanfpoil you through Philofophy and vain Deceit
Vfter the Traditions of Men t after the Rudiments df
* be World, and not after Qhrifl. Wherein 1c is
"lear, that this fort of Delufion may befall the
"hints. Now that it hath indeed and in expe-
dience befallen fome true Converts,it is evident
>y what Chrift faith to the Church of Thy afira,
lev. 2. zo. I have a few thing* again/} thee, le~
aufe thou fujferefl that fVomanJczabd, which caU
th her jelf a Prophetefs to teach and to f educe
yty Servants to commit Fornications and to eat things
tcrijiced to Idols. And the Apoftle flievvsthe Mat-
er evidently to have befallen the Galatians,
ral. J. I. Ofoolifh, or mad Galatians who hath
ewitched you, that you fhouldnot obey the Truth >
econdly, that ch;s Deiulion drew deep,andwaS
l ery dangerous,appears,Ga/.i. 6,/warzW that yoii
refofoon turned from Him that called you into the
trace ofChrid unto another Gofpel,And, Gal 5. %
hey were in danger to lofe all benefit ly Chrift ,and
r er.^in danger and on the way to fall from Grace.
Vtrdiy, the Galatians did err both in Do&rinfc
nd Pra<$ice;in Do&rine, becaufe they fought to'
)C Juftified by the Works of the Lzw f GaL ;,4«iai
^ra&ice they erred,<jd/,4.iQ.iiJV obftrve daji
nd Months , and T imes and Tears J am afraid if you,
?/? / have bellowed upon you labour in iwVi.Fourth-
y, their Error was fairded with the pretence
>f the Truth, which made them greedily em-
>ra& tiis Error: for, Gal. 4. % they crur/ed,
Q& z thenr*
BOOK III. [ ySi ] CHAP. V
thcmfblvcs back to MofaicalRites and Cerenv.
nies now Abo!iilicd,under the Pretenfe of fom
time commanded Duries.And ver, %\. they dc
fired to be under the Law„and fo run themfelv<
under the curfe.f//r^/y,their Error was not by
light Opinion held by them, but by a full Pc>
fwafion wrought in thern,not by Chrift, but b
a lying Sy\T\t,Gil.5%.Sixthlyxh\$hzfat& and ur
hollowed Zeal was evidenced both in the fe
ducing Teachers, and in the mifled Galatian:
Gal.<\. 17, They zealoufly affett you % but not well
yea they would exclude you that you might affel
themx\\zx. is draw you away from the Society c
Chrift and His true ApoftIes,that you might b
their affe&ionat Difciples.And as for the Galati
jw,deluded by Satan,by their means they tut
ned their ardent Affc&ion toward the Apoftl
almoft in hatred againft him, Gal 4, 15*. 16, At
I hecome your Exemy becaufe I tell you the Truth I
Hence it is clear, that true Converts are fub 1
je& to this Evil, and ready to fall in itexcep
they watch carefully, and earned ly deal wit!
God to keep them from Deceivers : For man)
young Converts are like Lambs and Sheep, ve-
ry fimple,and beinglately turned unto the courfc
of Holinefs.they are eafily taken with evety ap-
pearance of Piety, whereof if they doapprehencj
any teeming Signs in Seducers, theyfufpe<5t nc
Guile in Wolves clad with Sheeps Skins,where-
through they are overtaken unawares, and mo<
ved to fcparat from the Society of the Saint?
4
11
300K IH. [ 5S3 ] CHAP. VI!.
jjy the flcfhly Authors of divifion,who by good
V ords and fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of
ic fimple, Rom. 16. 17. 18.
Qjf.ejl. 2. As for the SVcWQueftion, what are
le Eifeds and Marks of fuch a Delufion ? VVc
pfwer, there is a Delufion adive wherein Sa-
in and his Seducing /nflruments do fct tlicm-
jlveson work to delude,and there is a paiiive
)cIufion in the party deluded by Satan and his
iflruments.The efTeds of theDcluding or Lying
pirit, and the Marks of Delufion in the party
eluded do concur; for, the Effeds of Satan's
owerfu! Delufion do appear in the party delu-
ed as Signs and Evidences of the effedual Dc-
ifion : Thcfe EfTeds and Signs albeit they be
uny, we fhall content our fclves to fpecific
>meof them.
The firftand chief EfFed and Sign of Delufi-
n is t the rejeding of a point of true Dodrine,
fld the avouching of a falfe Error contrary
lereto.This we call the firftand principal Sign^
Mark of delufion ; becaufe except this Sign
found, other Signs, albeit they point forth a
rilous condition, yet without this Effed and
ign be joined,thcy do not prove Delufion in the
rid fenfe where in we take it here.This Sign
1? Apoftlcdoth point at m x\\zGalatiav$fiaLyi.
fooli/b Galatiansl who hath 'bewitched you, that you
ould not obey the truth ? where he challenge
h them for rejeding the Truth and Obecii-
lencc unto it.
O 3 Tfee
L
BOOK. III. r 584 1 CHAP. V [
The Second effbd and mark of Delufion,^ *
baftard Perfwafion whereby the peifon delude -i
layeth hold on a moid falfe Error,as if it were „,'
tnqft(blidTruth J & without hink or doubt rcftsf j
ponit,asifit were a Divine Truth. This fort ii ^
perfwafion we call a baftard and illigitimar pe y
fwafionj i. Becaufe it is not wrought by tIL
Spirit of Chrift: For which caufe the Apodl
makes th?Grf/d/itf?/jr perfwafion not to be rig!
and legitimat, Gal. j, 8. Secondly, becaufe thi
perfwafion neither leans upon God's Wordrighl
ly underftood, nor upon any firm reafon dedu
ced reafonably from the Scripture.7i&/W/y,becaul j
this Perfwafion of the deluded that his tenet
true, is ftronger then his Perfwafion of man;
Articles of his Faith, for which he hath cleg
Scripture; and yet this Perfwafion of the delu
ded is not fo flrong, when it cometh to Trial
a$ weak Faith well grounded is, ,which wha
the force of Tentation and Pejfecution cometh
is more able to bear qut,then the deluded Man;
Perfwafion vy herein he glprieth. Upon whicfc
ground, the Apoftle doth not doubt but the G*
latiatis, being true Converts lliall renounce this
fa'fe Perfwafion, and return to the Truth whicfc
tliey had forfaken, Laftofall, we call this a
l^fiard perfwafion, becaufe it draweth its origi
Pland firength, not from clearnefsofGods re-
vealed Truth, but from the agreement which the
•Jrro^ hath with fome carnal affe&ion, where-
Wtothis Error doth fervice, for which refpeft,
car«
)tl,
k
fa
OOK III. [ 5 $5 ] CHAR VII.
Carnal and Corrupt Reafon is cafily drawn to
lantain it pertinaciously.
The Third cffed and fign of dclufion,i$, the
, aufing Divifion and Schifme in the vifiblc
Church necdlefly; and this effe# doth readily
ow on the former two: For where Error in
o&rine, and in the Rule of Pradhce, gcttctU
pthe head; it falleth out inevitably, that the
efenders of the Truth and fpreadcrs of the Er-
or, (hall fall in Contention and Divifion;
n which Cafe, the Apoftie doth exhort the Ro-
an* t howfoever they Ihould pity the milled
ultitude, yet carefully to mark the caufers of
he Divifion, Fom.i6.ij J befeechyou Brethren,
nark them which caufe Divifion and Offences contra-
ry to the Dotlrine which ye have Learned. and avoid
'hem; which prefuppofeth they deferve Excom-
munication if they be obftinat.
The Fourth Effect and Sign of Dclufion, is
Foolilhncfs or a fort of Madnefs, which appear-
sth partly in the Inconfiderat embracing of the
jError, and partly in the defending and promot-
ing of it: For if the Error in it felf be confidercd,
it is a Falihood and Deceit: or if wc look to „
the hafty receiving of it, when no found proof
Can be had of it, it is Fooiifhncfs ; or if wc
confider the Damage which followeth the de~
'fending and fpreading of it, which the party
deluded did not fore-fee and guard againft, it i5
a Madnefs, and cannot but befo: For, a falfc
Po&rine, albeit at firft it may carry the appea-
m
Kliei
ct
BOOK III. [ 5 $6) CHAP. Vrp
rhncc of Piety and Prudence,yetwhen it is com
pare d wirh Scripture and Rule of Right Reafo
lei by the Scnpture,it is found nothing but Va
rity. Fa ifliood, Cozening and Deceit, as the A
poitle doth infmuat concerning the Errors whicl
in Lis time wtrt fprouting forth in the Church
O/'i. %}, which things have a /hew indeed of Wi)
dvm in V Ui-uor [hi p and ] Humility, and neglecting o
the Body, not in any Honour to the Satisfying of tk
plefh.dut is.they are not worthy of any Eftim*
tion, For they ferye on ! y tolatisfie fleflily Cor
ruption of Nature.as he obferveth in the au-
thors of Angel-worfhiping, of whom he aver*
reth, that they intrude themf elves into thoje things
which they have not feen % vainlypuft up by their fie jb<
ly M'nu\.Co\, z. 18. And he calleth che Galatians
Foolifb, or Mad,for their embracing of the Error
CaL 3 i. and forhafty embracing of it .Gal. i.
p. / marvel that you are jofoon removed from Htm
that calleth you into the Grace of Chrtfl, unto ano-,
ther Go/pel: for there are many who after much
time fpent.and pains takcn,upon them by faith?
ful P«ftors,donor come up to the underftanding
of the Heads of the Doctrine held forth in the f
Catechife.and Woofs given thereof by Scrip-
Uire.and yet will very readily embrace an Error,
and icern to themklves fo w«Il to underftand
^t,and re be ah.e to i*-gue for defence of it;\vhofe
Folly andMsdneis muy be fcen in this,3hat they
do not ^:q nldcr the bitter fruits oftheir Error ;
\$ m*k?. a Schifin in the Chruch they think
(BOOK III. [ 587 1 CHAP. VII.
nothing of it; to rent the BodyofChrift they
care not forit:and for this very caufe.the Apo-
ftle reproveth theC0/v////;/d//j,that falling in con-
teft and contention among themfclves about the
Excellency of their Teachers, they rent the
Church the Body of Chrift,did defpife His Do-
minion and Government,and gayeHis Glory ur>
to Men,and did not regard the lamentable Con-
fequfrices oftheSchifm; no not when they were
admonifhed and rebuked by the wifer fort of
their brethren, 1 Cor. 1. 11. and z Cor. 10. z:
The Fifth Effe&and Sign of Delufion, is the
Pride of thedeluded,and vain Gloriarion intheic
Error : for the Corinthians gloried in Men,and
made it a matter of Praife to themfelves to
ihave fuch and fuchMen Heads of their Schifm,
1. Cor. 3.11. and upon this Ground did defpife
and contemn one another.And the Apoftle giv-
cththis Markfof Schifmaticks and Sectaries, z
tint 3. z. Men (faith he )Jhall he Lovers of their
own f elves, Covetous BoaJlers t proud f &c. and the
Followers of the falfe Prophetefs Jefahel f did dif-
pife theOrthodox & ignorantDolts,uncapablc of
the high Myfterics and Spiritualties of the Go-
fpel, which indeed were nothing but the deeps of
Satans Delufions, Rev. z. 14.
The Sixth Effect or Sign of Delufion, is rafh,
prepoftrous and baftard Zeal: This the Apoftle
did mark in the mifbclievingjews. Rom. 10. z.
They have a *eal of God, but not according t»
know*
.1
:
BOOK III. f 588 ] CHAP. VII.
ifowwWg^ faith he. This prepofterous and tafh
Zeal is far more fiery and hoc then true Zeal
in die Godly t For,ths Error which the delud
ed do ftrivc,is the native brood of Corrupt Na
cure, & therefore it hath corrupt Reafon,& Affe-
ction (tout for it, and no wonder that corrupt
Nature be ftrong to defend and advance its own
Birth. But true zeal is mucli more moderat;part-
ly, becaufe it is carried on with Knowledge and
Prudence, doth fear to offend God by yeilding
to PafjTions, and hath to ftrivc againft corrupt
Nature which cloggeth and hindereth every
Grace in the Convert,and this amongft the reft.
a. This propofterous and baftard Zeal, doth
render the deluded perfon too pertinacious in the
defence of theError wherewith he is overtaken,
that rather then he will quite his Error, he will
embrace another Error to mantain the former
Error for which he doth contended this com-
cth to pafs,partly by a fort of Neccffity,& partly
by corrupt wilfulnefs. Partly ofNeceflity, I fiy,
becaufe one abfurd Error being received draw-
eth after it many other jgrrors: For, it is impofc
iible to defend one Error in Religion, but by
broaching and maintaining moe £rrors. I fay
partly, by corrupt Wilfuinefs,becaufe when the
deluded Perfon findeth himfelf in difpute intang*
led;fo as he muft either renounce theEcror which
he hath embraced,or receive and maintain ano-
ther E*ror which followeththereQn, he chooftth
W
BOOK HI [ j*9] CHAP. V«.
rather to embrace the Error which followcth u-
pon hisfirft Error, wherein he was firft infhared,
3-Holy Zeal loveth every Truth,yea loveth o-
ther points of Truth,as much as it loveth that
particular Dodtrine of Truth which difcovers
the Error: neither will it fuffcr a Believer, for
the defence of any point efDodfrine, to pafs
from another Truth : but prepofterous and ba-
ftard Zeal is contrair: for if many points of
Truth come in comparrfon and competition
with the Error which the deluded Man hath
drunken in, he wilt miCrcgard them all rather
thenforfake his Error, albeit he profefs other
Truths to be more precious and neceflar then
his erroneous Tenet. A proof of this we have
in the Pharifees, who made the great things of
the Law of none effe#,for upholding of their own
Traditions,Mtf. 15.6: And the fame power of
Delufion may be feen among /Vv/?j, who will
not fo hotly purfue orpuniftifo feverely the
breach of Godscommandments,as they do pur-
fue and punifli the neglcdfc of Superftitious Ce-
remonies.4. Prepofterous and baftard Zeal, is ve-
ry bufie to fpread and propagat an Error, by all
means venting falfe Do&rine, and fu.chMcnsj
Speeches do fpread as a Gangrene Thn.z.iy^nd,
a little Leaven of this kind is ready to leaven the
whole lump: Gal. 5; 9. In which cafe Chrift air
yertifed and exhorted His Ditciples to beware
of the leaven of the Pharafees, whereby they were
about to leaven the whole Church. And this furi-
es
tc
BOOK III [ S90 ] CHAP. VII.
ousZealas Experience hath taught,doth fpare no
pains or labour to draw on moe & moe to the pro-
feflionof the Zealot's Errors,as may be obferved
in Pharafees who compalled Sea & Land to make
Profelyts. Matth.z^. ij.j.This baftardZeal of de-
luded Perfons,carrieth them to have reiped unto,
& eftimation of,them that embrace their Error,&
to feek Rcfpect and Eftimation from them who
are overtaken with their Error.This was evident
in theSchifm Qh\\zCorinthians,of whom fome did
choofe to be called fuch Mens Difciples, other
fome did choofe to be called the Difciples of a-
notherMan & all did Glory in their Leaders, i Cor.
3,5\2,i.And on the other hand,the Heads of the
Shifindid glory in the Multitude and Excellency
as they conceived of their Difciples.This the A-
poftle obferved in- the Seducers of the Galatians,
and in them that werefeduced by them, Gal. 4.
17. They zealoujly affeil you but not well, yea they
would exclude you (from communion with God
and us His Apoftles) that you might affett them.
tf.This baftard Zeal of the Deluded doth drive
them to difdain and concemn all them who op-
pugn their Error,yea and to hate them, as Ex-
perience did (hew among rhe Gorinthians\iox fo
foon as Schifmsdidarifein Corinth, Diflentions
al(bdid arife,i Or. 3. 3. and i. Qor. 12. 20. and
ofthisEvil the Apoftie doth complain, Gal. 4.
1. 6. Am I become your enemy lecauje I tell you the
Truths And this much may (erve for our purpofe
concerning the Effects and Signs of Ddufion.
Qseff.
BOOK HI [ 59* 1 CHAP. VH.
Quefl. 3. The Third Queftion is, What are the
Caufes of Delufion? For anfwer, the Caufes are
many and various ; for fome Caufes are princi-
pal Caufes, fome fubfervient, fome meritorious
Caufes, and fome promoving and helping for-
ward of this Evil : All which Caufes and Inftru-
ments, God doth fo over-rule in His Juftice,
Power, and Wifdom, that He turneth all to His
own Glory, and Welfare of His Church: This
we learn ftomthc Apoftie. 1 Tim. 4. 1, i. Now
(faith he) the Spirit fpeaketh exprefly, that in the
latter times fome Jh all depart from the Faith, giv-
ing heed t$ [educing Spirits, and Doftrines of De-
vils, fpeakingLies in Hypocrify, having their Con-
fcience feared with a hot Iron, forbidding to Marry ;
I and to abfiain from Meats which God hath created
to be received, &c. Where, firft, he foretells,thac
there (hall be a departing from the Doctrine of
the Apoftles, whereof he giveth an inftance of
that which might fecm furtheft from fufpicioti
of Delufion, to wit, a putting of a religious Rc-
ftraint upon the ufe of things la wful in themfelves
as Marriage and Meats. The Authors of this
Delufion, 1. he points forth to be lying Spirits,
and Men feduced by a lying Spirit. 4. The
way of Seduction he foretells, fhall be by lyes
fpoken in grofs Hypocrific. 3. Left any fhould
wonder how this could come to pafs, chat any
Man againft his Confciencc fhould daretofpeak
lyes, he points at the Caufe procuring, to wic,
th© Stupidity .at)4 Scnfekfsneft of the
Cite
BOOK III. [ 59 z ] CHAP. VII:
Confcicncc, they have their Confidence feared
with a hot Iron. And, 2 Cor. n. 14, 15, fpeak-
ing of deluded Seducers of the People, Such are
falfe Apoflks ( faith he ) deceitful Workers, tranj-
forming themselves inxo the Apojlles of Qhrift. And
iw marvel, for Sat an himf elf is transformed into an
Angel of Light. Where among fundry ways of
Deceiving, he points furth one of Satans Strata-
gems, to tempt Men to make a {hew of Piety
and counterfeit appearance of holy Zeal, and to
pretend the Authority of God, to delude the
Simple. By which Delufioa, wbofoever are en-
fnared they are ready to put on the fame Coat ;
for being deceived, they deceive others, pretend-
ing Scripture, that they may fight againft Scrip-
ture ; and pretending Holinefs and Piety, that-.
they may hinder in others the true Exercifeof
Holinefs.
As to<the Caufes of ready embracing of Errors,
1. there is propenfion abundant in the natural
Corruption of the Heart to lay hold on any Er-
ror offered, ]er. 17. 9. The Heart is deceitful a*
hove all things, and defperatly wicked, who can know
it ? Another Caule is pointed furth by Chriil,
Mat. 21. 29. Tou err, not knowing the Scriptures >nor\
the Power of God. A third Caufe is the want of i
Mortification ; for the Apoftle doth reckon Here- j
fies and Schemes among the Works of the Flefh;
and in particular, 1 Tm» 6 10, The love of Money:
is the root of all Evil which while \ome have covet'
ed after, they have erred from the Faith. And con-
cerning
|book III. [ 593 ] chap. vn.
cerning the inftruments of delufion and divifion
in the Church, the Sentence of the Holy Spirit
doth Rand Cure: for He knoweth the Evils of the
Heart pes fed ly, Rcm.i6.ii.They that are fuch,
fervenof our Lord JefusChrifl, hut their own Belly;
and by good Words and fair Speeches, they deceive
theHtarts of the fmfle Of fuch Men jfude fpeak-
cth, ver. 20. ?beje are Murmurers, Complainers^
walking after their own Lu/is, &c.
As for paffivc Delufion in feduced People, the
Apoftle prophefieth, a Tim. 4* 3. 4. The time
will come when they will not endure found Doctrine,
but after their cvon Lufls /hall they heap to themf elves
Teachers, having itching Ears ; and they fb all tur»
away their ears from the Truth, and fb all he turned
unto Fables. In which words he holdeth forth
the meritorious and adjuvant Caufes of paffive
Delufion^foirLtf/fr.their turning away from found
Dodfaine, their itching Ears, and defire to heat
Flatterers, who by falfeDo&rinc may fofterthem:
in their Lufts, and making choice of fuch Men
to be their Paftors. From this fort of Teachers
Chrift fore-warnethHisDifcipies to keep oflt t Mar.
17. t$. Beware offalfe Prophets which come to yon
in Sheeps eloathing, but inwardly they are ravening
Wolves, ye . /hall how them hy their Fruits. Their
outward Behavioar and Conversion will not
decipher them, for they will feem innocent and
harmlefs Lambs, bur their Dodrine which is the
Fruits of their Teaching and the proper work
ql the Mmiftcry, fljaU gad t])«n out .* But the
raert-
BOOK. III. [ 594 ) CHAP, ^li
meritorious Caufc of this giving Men over to
be deluded is plainly fct down, zThtjpz. io.n.l
Bee dufe they received not the Loveoftlx Truth \tbat^
they might be Saved, for this caufe God Jhall fend
them (Irong Delufion. This judgement,albeit % it pur-';
fues unto Death only the Reprobatjet whiles in
fome degree for a time, it may overtake rhe fi-
led and renewed Perfons, becaufe fome of theni
fomenme are found to give way to their Lufts,
and not to take heed to the Truth, which by
Gods blefling might kill thefc Lufts; therefore
God in His Juftice fuflfercth them to bo infe&ed
with a contrary Error, and to eat the bitter
bruits of their Folly, that being corre&ed they
may Repcnt,and for ever fall out with their car-
nal Lufts, and reje<ft the Error, whorcby they-
were infected. Fox God in His Wifdom and. Ju-
ftice, mod holily and powerfully, doth (b rule
the whole ZTxercifc of his Eledl, that Truth {hail
have no lofs, but be the more cleared, and no fi-
led* Soul perifli, as Chrift giveth a(Turance,fpeak-
ing of the Efficacie and Power ofDelufionby the
Dodtrine of falfe chrifts,/T£tf. 24: 24. there fhali
arife falfe Chrift s and falfe Prophets, and (hall fbeiv*
great Signs and Wonders, in fo much that ( if it were
pofible) they fh all deceive the very Elecl. This is
al(b manifeft by what the Apoftle faith, 1 Cor.
11. 18. 19. Where he declares that God hath
decreed to permit Herefies to arife,that both the
Truth oppugnedby the Herefie,and rhe true Con-
verts,may be made the more manifeft :- For by
[ S9S ] CHAR VII;
lis means, the Lufts and VVickecihcls ofibme,
brought to light, fbme arc chaftifcd,fbme Pc-
fhjuftiy.fome have their Weaknefs and Folly
jifcovered, by being tainted with Error foi a
me, and in their recovery out of the Here e,
le Grace and Power of God is made more evi-
ent:md in thefe who fhall fuffcr for refufmg or
Rifling Hercfie, God fhall make manifett ( foe
;opping the Mouth of Satan and all Calumnia-
orsj that truth is more precious to His fincer®
hlciples, then Goods or Lands, or Liberty, oi
tfe, or .whatsoever canbefal them inthismor-
il Life for adhering to Truth; and of ihismany
lartyrs are diffident proofs in all Ages.
The Remedy of this fearful Condition.
\ Lbeitthis Delufion drawcth the Rcprobai
l\. when they are over-taken with it, unto
ertain Perdition, as the Apoftle (i Theft v. 10.
i.) exprcflydoth teach; and albeit this fearful
Maguebe hardly curable.vvhenit falleth on the
riecft-.partly by rzaibn of the deep Roots of car-
al Lufts in them,which open the way unto Er-
orrpartly by reaibnof thefubtileSophiftry ofSe-
ucersAvhereby honed Souls are intangledrpardy
>y reaibnof new Tentations • fuggefted againlfc
eturning to the Truth whercfrom they are flid-
!en; and partly, by reafon of the difficulty of
oming forth from the Bonds of temporal
udicial Hardrieis of Heart, whereby god haclt
BOOK III [ 59 6 ] CHAP, ml
chaftifedHis Child for harbouring fuch Lufts irj
himfelfas made way for the Error, yec i he cur J
of Delufvon is not defperat, for the Apoftle givj
eth good hope of poflible and certain recoverj
out of it: For Gal. 5. 10. 1 have confidence inyw\
(faith he to the infnared Galatians) through tht\
herd, that you will be no otherw#ys minded, bu\
he that troubieth you /hall bear his Judgement ,ivho\
foever he be.
1. For preveemrrg and curing of this Evil,thd
ApoQle commandeth Paftors to hold forth tc|
all found Dodrine, to preach the Word and to be
inflant upon all occa(jons, in feafon and out of feafon\
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all Long-fufferM
and Doftrine, 1 Tim. 46. and 2 Tim. 4 .1. 2I
x. Let the delttded perfon be difputed with]
that by arguments drawn from Scripture he ma}j
be convinced, as the Apoftle dealt with thofii
who deny ed the Refurredion, 1 Cor. 15. ancj
with thefe who fought to be juftified by works!
among t'le Galatians.
3. Let the Deluded be exhorted to examine j
accurady his own Confcience, how he (landed
affe&ed to his own carnal Wifdom and earthljj
Lufts;for if he be proud in the conceit of hisowr
Wifdom, Power or Holinefs.or any gift he had
received or be led by the lull of rheEye,Lir. o
the Flefli or Pride of Life, and come to God b)
Prayer to lolve his Doubts, or to teach him th*
irigbt way, he (hall receive fuch an Anfwer a?
Balaam received,and iuch as the Lord threaten
ed
50 0K III f 597 ] CHAP. VIT.
th to g\ve,Ezei 14% 3,4.&c, for he hath by his
m{\s Deceived his own Conference, and made
:a Flatterer of himlelf when it ihould have
eeli a grave Counfel/or being well informed.
4. Let the deluded Peribn be exhorted to be
lumbiedforthe Sins which he granterh to be
t him(cif,and fly to Chrift for Pardon, Pity and
lelp againft hisovvn known Corruptions, mak-
ig ufcof all ChrilVs Offices in the fenfc and
cknowledgement of his (landing in need of the
benefits thereof daily ; for if he do not repent
inown Sins, but go on in them againft the light
f his Confcience, how ilia! I he exped: that God
lall give him light in his Doubts.or Errors* who
laketh nou(e,or an ill iife,ofthe Light h'ehatb?.
nd if he be in a coatfe of grieving the Spirit of
le Lord,and make no ufe of the Grace that is
ffered in Chrift, how is it poflible that he who
oth not folio w Chrift, Ihould effiew to walkirf
)arknefs ?'
5. And laft of all Jet the Party deluded con-
der how fro;n time to time, and moftcviderK-
? in this time wherein We live,God hath puni-
led the Lufts and finful Practices' of profeiTwd
"br'illians, with giving them over to their own
learts Lufts, and letting them not only walk
a their ownCounfe!s,and in the Imaginations of
leir own iil Hearts,but alfo in His Juftice,fend-
ig to them rtrong Deiufions, and falfe Teacii-
rs to authorize their Errors, and hold them oni
1 die Way to Perdition. What wonder to fee
j> p i &M
BOOK TIT. f 59S 1 CHAP. VI] 1 ^
God for the light efteeming of Baptifm beftow
ed on Men in their Infancy, and the not mak
ingufe thereof for Mortification of Lulls, anc
San&ification of Life by Fmh in Jefus Chrift
to let loofe plianatick Anahaptifts, to teach Meill
ro renounce their Baptfm ? What wonder to fe<y
Mens loofc-liring in thcService of their fenfua 1C
Lufts, puniflied with letting loofe Antichriftiar !1
Ant'tmm'tans, who turning the Grace of God it ll
Wantonnefs do avouch whatfoever they do, ii
is no Sin, and that they are not bound tc
keep the Law which Chrift profefleth He
came not to diflblve, but by the contrary toc<
ftabhlh it ? What wonder to fee Mens carnal
Confidence in their own Wit, Worth, Strength
and Ability, Works and Merits, puniflied with
letting loofe lying Spirits to harden them io
their Error ? And what wonder to fee God pu-
nifliing the Abufc of the Gofpel, and refufing
to receive the Truth in Love,with giving Men
over to the Spirit of Antichrifl and ftrong delu-f
fions. zThejf x. The Patrons and Propagators J
of fuch Errors and Delufions are called by the
Apoftle, Minifters of Satan and fa lfe Brethren,
2Cpr.n.i6.Deceivers,i7/w4.i.& Men who were
of old ordained to this Condemnation. From
whofe contagion and punifhment, let every
milled Soul pray to God to be delivered.
; • ; *
CHAP.
(
[ 599 1 CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
oncerning the Converts Qonjciencc, mi flaking Vict
for Vertue, and pie afi fig himfelf in this condition. >
His Cafe diffireth from the Cafe of Delu-
fion which wc have taken for Erring in
icTmatter of Religion.whetherDo&rinc orWor-
lip, pertaining to the firft Table of the Law ♦
ut this miftaking Conscience is in the practice
r Duties of the Teconet Table, when the Dod>
ne of the Duty is-cdnfefled.biit in pra&ife and I
ihon, Vice is practiced under the notion and J
retence of Vertue , and the Man is pleafed w T ith \
imfelf in fo doing. ; Whereof it ihail fuffice to
ivc three Inftances.
rThe Fir [I inffa*ce.
He Firft Inftance wherein 7 a Convert may
be for a. time Miftakcn, is, when a Man
leafeth himfelf in nigardly parcimony, and
arrow Scraping together of Money to the hin--
erance of fpintual Duties^ under pretence of
.rugality and Diligence in his Calling, &c.
thereby he perfwadeth himfelf, thathisPrac-
ce isfo far from Sin,as it is rather commenda-
jeand worthy to be imitat; for he conceivcth
iac according to Gods Command he i* not
t ow in the work of the Lord,buc fervent in Spl-
it fcrving the Lord, Rom.i 2.1 1. that he is work-
)g with his Hands that which is Good, Ephef
..{8. that he is providing for the n£ceffity of his
amily, for which if he ihould not provide,
P p 3 he
COOK III. [600] CHAP. Villi ''
he ihould be \yorfe than an Infidel, i7/»i.5.8.If the
Matter were found io to be alter Examination,
true it is, Frugality, Diligence' in a lawful
C - ing, %$A ProviAon for a Man's Family, arc
coron^ u! .hie;- but here is the.Deceit of t|e
U *m found, whe* Anxiety is found in (lead M
ni-.-Jcrit Carefulrcis; when halting to be RicW
is found, jn (lead cf mod erac Diligence in hiil
C-tlli-.g; vvhen.lqve.,of Money and Avaricc'W^
fo$t*& \x\ fuad of h&neft Ptovifian for a Man%f i:>
Family. We grant alfo, that-tfhis Miftake is noif w
eafily difcer^d by Beholders, but yet the Goaf r
verthimfelf, after Examination, may difcern ir, '
when he looketh upon the Eife&s. Signs, and
concomitant Evils, fuch as are felt Impediments,
and Hrnderance$ef a fpiritualDifpofition; For^
this Covctoufnefs of things earthly, whereof*!
are fpeaking, doth mar the ftudy and endeavour
for things Spiritual, and diminifheth the fear3L
Sinmng in the matter of Gain, and taketh up the *
time due for (pjrituai Exercife. in this cafe, car-'*
natjoy in the getting Gain, is a Sign and Evi^i
deqeq of a deceived Heart, and fo isalfo world-
lyGrief for want of iucce(s,or for not getting c:
peefkd & defired Gain.a proof of this Miftakin u
TheCaufes of ans Evil, are the too great fea
of Poverty, an over-high eftimation of Richc
a diffidence of Gods Providence, a doubting
Gods Promifes fo furnifhHis own with Food a
Raiment. a».>d things necefTarv tor this temp
ralUfe 1 Which. Diffidence Chrift doth expre-
fly
hooK nr. [ 601 ] chap. vm.
: Jy discharge, Mat. 6. 24, z$* But for a Reme-
iC7Jy of jJiisEvi], the pct(bn guilty cannot feck
rafter, nor embrace it, fo long as he is not con-
alinced of his fjnful condition : Wherefore, for
tjlearing a Mans Mind in this point, let him exa-
mine himfelf, whether in following Gain his
Iv-aube oft- times furfetted & overcharged with
ic Cares of this Life, and made frequently ia-
ifpoied for Prayer and religious Exercifes, whe-
ncr he be tcomuch taken with Gladnefs when
ic gaineth, and Grief when he fuffereth lois and
vorldly damage, whether he ufeth, for hope of
jain, or fear of Life, to Ly and Flatter, or dare
leal unjuflly in his Bargains, whether he findeth
imfelf flow unto Exercifes of Religion, but
ompt and ready for Secular Affairs ? Whether
ic fpend the time heavily in religious Exercifes,
md is weary of them, buc can pafs the tima
>Ieafantly in the Affairs of this Life > If he find
lirnfelf convinced by ilirewd Signs of this Evil,
et him humble himfelf in Gods fight, fly untp
Chrift for fattening his Bargain for Righteoufhefs
and eternal Life through Chrift;fhen let him not
caft off his Diligence in,& faithful Difcharge of
his lawful Calling/out by a religious Difpofiti-
pn of Mind, and obfervance of all religious Ex-
ercifes fcafonably, temper and moderat his Dili-
gence in Secular Affairs, and depend upon
God more then he hath done for the fuccefs of
his Labours.and take from God Lofs or Advan-
tage as Eg givech ir, fo asHe may be found in
P p 4 pro-
:
BOOK III [ 6ox |] chap, vimr
Profperity and Adverfity fubmiffivc untoGoct
and ready for the discharge of Charity andEquv a^
ty, as occafion fhali offer. Sjgc
Mother InftavicG.
Here is another Inftahce, wherein a Co
vert may be miftaken, to wit, when
plealcth himfelf in the profecution of pri
-Wee Revenge^ that he may p*y home to fuc
as have wronged him in the matter of his Credit
and Reputations in his Goods,or bodily Harrii
clone to him or his Friends \ For this Ungodly
Difpofition he -may pretend poflibly, a care tii J
- following retributive Juftice,wherein he may feem t
to himfelf to come fhort, except he fliould watch
for a Recompence* giving to the perfon injurious;
he may poilibly pretend a dutiful refpedt to
jvublick Peace and welfare of th& Common wealth
of the Society wherein lie liveth,wherin he may
fedfo to himfelf to come fhort if he fhould fuffer
"the Perfon injurious to him to go away unpif-
■ : ii'iih'ed;he may pretend aifo his own Safety and
Security r or time to come.whereof he may feerti
to himfelf carelefs except he makeirev!dent,rhat
vvhoioever doth hi m Wrong (hail be made fenfibte
5 of his Injury done;hc may pretend that theGlory
p L God requireth fo much, that Sinsfliouldbe pu-
■ niilied,the avenging whereof, if it fhould be dl-
kyed longer then occafion of Revenge ihoiiid
fjEprr, 91 Ciii jhe'Magiftrtt Should take -notice of
BOOK III [ 601 ] CHAP.-V1H.
jit, no punilhment fhould fall upon the injurious
tat all; and laft of all, he may pretend the
(good of the party injurcr, who by feeling the
frnart of his wrong done may be led to Repen*
tance,and made to learn by his fuffering the re-
compence of his injury done, to carry himfelf
rnorc equitably* coward his Neighbours in all
jtime coming. All thefc pretences may bear
i weight in the corrupt inclination of a Convert,
and may harden him in his Sinful courfeoffeek*
ing a private Revenge on the Perfbn who hath
injured him. And his corrupt inclination may
fae cbferved by himfelf, 1. by the furring of
liis Pafliori and Wrath agaihft the injur'er, when-
soever he doth fee the party Injurer, or call the
. Injury to Mind. x. By Diffimularion and hid-
ing from, all Men the ienfe he hath of the
Wrong received, till he find an occafion offered
tobe avenged on him. 3. Byaftop made in
{lis own prayer for Remi/Iion of Sins, by his
Conference telling him, he could not Subfcrive
theCondition put in the- Prayer for Remiflion of
J Sin by Chrift, which is forgive us our Sins, as we
alfo forgive them that Sin againft us.
The Caufes of this finful Condition are, 1.
eorruptand unmodified carnal Self-love, with a
too high eftimation of himfelf in Pride, which.
maketh the Injury feem fo much greater as he
hath a higher eftimation of himfelf. 2. A
defect in his Christian Love,Meeknefs, Long- fuf-
fering, Patience 2fnd Pity, which ilioald fe c
their
BO OK IFF. [ 604 ] CH A P. Vflf,
their Excrcife fpccially in cafes of Provocation
of our unmodified Affc&ions. 3. The ohiivioii ,
of the Commands ofGjd» an J of the manifold
Sins daily committed agiinft Hm, whereof if
there were a due efttmanon haU, the Fountain!
and courfe of carnal Revenge fhould foon be
ftoped, that private and carnal Revenge fhoulii.
not break forth.
When thefe Evils are found out and acknow- '
ledged by the Convert in himfelf, the main re-:
medy thereof is in and by Chrirt.Who hath di-
ed for us whc.fl we were His Enemies, Rom. 58.
and for whole Caufe greater Sins agamlt Go>,
arc daily forgiven to us, then are the injuries
done unto us by Men.^.In this cafe aKo the grave
Admonition of the Apoftlc fhould not be forgot
ten, Fphef. 4. 16.2,7 Xet not tht Sun £0 down upo<
your;wath;neither give place to tfa DeviliGwin^
usto underlhnd, that if Wratb^which draweth
with it the. defire of Revenge, fliall lodge all
Night with a Man., the Devil will lodge with
it alfo.ftjrru* the Man up to purfue a Revenge
Whenfoever iu iindccii opportunity.
A Third znflanc e,
A third inftaace of this poffible Miftake of
f\^ a Convert may be found, when he pleat
eth himfelf in his carriage too much for his own
carnal Satisfaction in Meat, Drink, Apparel and
Recreations, and here he may be haidened by
iundry Pretences which he may have for his
OOK flt [ 605 ] CHAP. vnr.
cfs in the ufe of things other ways lawful.
s. 1. that what he fpendeth upoii himfelf is
of his own Means. %. That his Recreations
(are lawful and allowed unco him of God. 3.
That in all this he hath a care of his Health.
4. That he doth riot fpend more upon himfelf
then his rent antf ability may well bear. y.That
God hath faid,bythc mouth of a wife King :Sac
this courfe which he doth follow in allowing oa
himfelf, is the Gift of God, Ecclef. 5-. 19. And
Jaft of all, that^he might fcem y*\\\y a Nigard,
if he did not well to himfelf when he is able fo
to do ; and here are pretences abundant. But
if a frer Examination of a Mans own felf, he (hall-
find the aboundance of£arthly things weaken-
ing his defire after things Sptritual,or (hall find
the fenfe of his in-born Corruption laid, over to
flcep in his Profperity,or (halt find his Flefli wax*
i wanton againft the Spirit, and to prevail in the
conflict: or (hall find his companion toward the
Poor & Afflicled to grow cold, & his Delight hi
things fpirirual much diminiffted, orfhali find
too great a fhareand portion of bis time beftorfv
ed upon his Body, and but little time bellowed
upon the careof his Soul, a wakened Conference,
may eafily conyince the Convert that Matters
arenotfo right with him as hefuppofed.
The Remedy of this Evil h not for a Man t&
turn unto another extremity, and to a contra-
ry Vice, as if there were no place for a wife
Moderation, orasifatfomctimes a more a li-
te
BOOK III. [ 606 ] CHA P. VIII.
beralufe of the Creature were not allowed unto
Men, or as if a fpiritual Difpofition of a Man9
Spirit,could not confift now and then with any
Banquet or Feftivity: For, it is plain from
.Scripture, that there is a time to /%aft f and a
time to Faft,atime to Labour, and a time to bo
Refre(hed,both in Body and Mind after Labour.
In which Prudence, the Apoftle had not a little
advanced, when he faith, Phil.q.iz. 13. / know
loth how to he ahafed.and I know how to abound c-
very where and in, all things I am inftruttcdi
loth to he full and to he hungry , both to abound
and fuffer need \ I can do all things through
Chrift that (Irengthens me. But hare is the Re-
medy, 1. That diftrufting our felves, and fear-
ing chs Snares which Satan layeth for us
in all things, we have pur Cpnv^rfation with
Chrift, and fet out Affections on things which \
are above, as the Apoftle giv^th direction, r
Col 3. 1. 2. Next, that we watch againft the
Lufts of the Fle(h,Je& a* any time our Hearts
be furfetted with Meat, or Drink, t or any thing
which is pleafant to^he Fleih,Z^. , ii. 34. Rom.
13. 14 For we. are not Debitors to the Flefli, to
fulfil the Lufts thereof,&?>w.8. ix, bat are bound
fo to care for our Bodies, foas our Souls
have no lo(s thereby ; for, the Lofts of the Fleih
do fight againft our Souls, 2 Pet. 2. 1 1. And to
this end, let the Admonition of the Apoftle be
wellremembred, 1. Cor. 7,29,30, 34:. This I fay.
Brethren, thttimeislhrt. it r em aineth that both
they
BOOK. in. [607] CHAP. IX.
: they who have Wives he as though they have none,
41* J they that weep as though they weep not, and they
that rejtyce as though they rejoyced not, and they
that buy as though they puffed not, and they that
fife this World as not abufing it: for the fafhion of
this World paffeth away,
Many more Jnftanccs might be given, but
thefc may fuffice our purpofe, who mind only
to givefometafte ofCafes of Confcience in tomo
Examples, which may give Light unto other
like Cafes as they fall in.
CHAP. IX.
Of the Cafe of Confcience, dealing treacheroufly
under pretence of Liberty of Confcience.
PRevarication or treacherous Dealing, is.
ftri&Iy taken;\vhen for a Bud or Bribe the
Confcience doth betray the Caufe which ic
ihould defend: And it is borrowed from the un-
faithful Advocate who for a Bribe doth (ell the
Caufe which he pretends to defend, and give o-
ver the plea of his Client, and falleth in to the
adverfe Party.Such is the Man whofe AfFe&ioa
to fome Luft and Worldly ad vantage.doth blind-
fold his Confcience and moveth it to fpeak con-
trary to its Duty, and mean time doth pretend
he is only following the light of his Confcience,
for whofe liberty he ought todifpute; the matter
may be feen in an example or Inftance one or two?
King ^/receives a Command from God to flay
hO OK II!.- [ 608 3 CH A P. IX, f
all the Amaltkits and deftroy them and their f
Beafts; when it cometh to execution, Saul co^r
ceiveth it fhall be for his Honour to fpare Agagf
and referve him for a Triumph, and that it
fhould be for his Advantage to fpare the fatteft *
of the Cactel^ whereof the People might make ?
ufe for Sacrifice; fo Advantage and Honour do (c
follicithim. The Peoples confent who followed \ %
him f helpeth on his Resolution to fpare Agagzad
the fatteft of the Cartel: Fear to offend the Peo-
ple whom he had drawn on to confent unto his
Mind,concurreth to the giving forth his Decreet;
contrary to Gods Command;and fo his Confci-
ence being bribed,faileth againft the Command
of God. In which Refolution and practice Saul '
doth pleafc himfelf. '
The like Treachery in Sdul falleth forth In
the matter of the Gibeonltes. The Giheomtes pre-
ferved from Jojhua's time, did grow in number
to the detriment of thz/fraelhes as he conceived,
the Oath of a Covenant fworn for (paring their
Lives ftandeth up on the one hand to hinder
him frorri flaying of thcrri, the Advantage which
his kindly Subjects might have by killing them
and poflc in ng their Lands and Goods,ftandcch
up to intife him to kill them, on the other
hand; Saul being taken with the Bait of Advan-
tage and Honour from the people ollJraeU for
whom he was zealous, inclineth hisC'onfcience
to mifregard the Oath of the Covenant, partly
fcecaufe it was given without God's Counfel
jjOOKm [ 609 ] CHAP. IX-
Jind Confent,yea contrary to his pofitive Com-
Jriand, discharging a Covenant with the Qanaa-
p/Vr/;parrly becaufe the Gibconitcs deceived Jo*
*hua and the Eiders.and fained thcmfelves not to
>e of the number of the Canaanitcs t hut Men of
1 far country;part!y becaufe many Years had in-
[crvcened between the day of ]ofhua i s Covenans
ivith therrf & his time,& it feemed untoSaul very
reasonable, that a rafh and unadvifed Oath
hould beftill in force from Generation to Ge-
neration;- and partly alfo becaufe the Form of
:he Civil Government was now changed, where-
by Saul conceiving himfclf not to be obiidged
is fucceflbr to the Judges, but as King ordain-
sd at GodsfpecialDircdion,asfreea Monarch as
iny in the World,and not bound by the Oath of
ithe rafh fwcaring Judges and Elders in }6jhuas
time, doth treacheroufly feducc his own Con-
ference, and falleth upon the off cutting of the
Giliomtes by the Sword. How many arc they
whoby fuch Intifements, having deceived their
own Hearts, and for Worldly Gain or Glory,
or for efhewing of Damage, doembrace Errors
in Religion, and follow thatcourfe which moft
fervcth tofatisfie their own Lulls, or is molt
applauded unto them who are in power #
From which fort ofTreacherous Dealing nothing
can divert, and draw back the Man to Repen-
tance, except the Lord partly by Difputation,
and partly by Church Cenfures and civil Pu-
nifhmenc$,(hali difcover unco them theirTreach-
crous
i
BOOK m. r 6xo ] CHAP. IX
erous Dealing in felling the Truth and betray
ing their Cohfciencc for bafeends, and io bring, 1
them to Repentance. #
In this Cafe, fuch as are pretended Maintain- fc
ers of Liberty of Confcience, but in effed Pa-fifc
trons of licentious Living after their own.Lufts* ,k
put in their Objections.
i. Qbj. It is neceiTary for me, faith one, to da n
what I do, and to think what I think; Icon-i
ceive I have Reafon for me, and am perfwadecfc'
that what I do and profefs is lawful, and that
that is not lawful whereunto Cenfures and Pu- 1
nifliments tend to draw me.
Anf. What neceffity can be pretended for a
deliberat Man's Actions and Profeffion, except
a Moral Neceffity of doing Duty, and of not
Sinning ? Natural Neceffity he cannot alledges I
for the juftifying of deliberat finful Adtions; For 1 *
if he pretend original Sin and native corrupt In-
clination to fin, it is no Excufe for Sin, but a
granting himfelf a Sinner by kind, by natural
Inclination and Cuftom ; or, if he pretend aCi-
vil Neceffity, it is either for hope of Gain, or
fear of worldly Lots, and that is but a bafe
Reafon to move a Man to do what is in it felf
fmful. If Confcience be pretended, and that he
cannot without Sin do what is againft his Con-,
{cience, he rnuft know that a Confcience mif in-
formed cannot warrant a fmful Tenet or Pra&ice*
For except a Man renounce the Error which he
bath embraced, both the Error is his Sin, and
iOOK. III. [ 611 ] CHAP. IXj
ic Profcflion and Practice according to the Er-
:>r,doth make his Sin double;if he piercnd, that
xcept he do as his Confcicnce ducth unto him,
c fmeth,becaufcthe Confcience is the rule of a
fans AdHoris.hcmuft know. that the ConfciencQ.
* not the abfolute Rule of aMansA&ions.butthe
^ord of God mutt be the Rule of his Conlucncc
nd of his adtions alfo.BccSufe if he put his ton-
:ienccin the place of Gods Word, and not in iub-
;&ion and fubordination thereto, he mufljufti-
e the Murtherers of the Martyres, of whom
thrift giveth warning,that they who kill HisSer-
ants ihall think (to Wit in their Contcience)that
ley dounto God good fervice.5W.16.xIf he pie-
:nd,that upon this ground Liberty ofConfcience
• altogether de(lroyed,if Men living tindcrCivil
nd Ecclefiaftick Govcrnment.rriuft renounce the
-ight ofthcir Confcicnce and give obedience to
lien's Commandments, hemuftknovv, that he
smiftaken.and that the trueLibcrty of theCon-
:ience ftandeth in the following Gods Word;
t\d doing Service unto God. Neither doth
Dund Dodrine ty any Man to renounce the
liberty of his Confcicnce, but to renounce the
■>ror which hath blinded him, and to re-
lounce his Lufl: which hath opened the Door
into the Error which hath milled him, led both
ic pcrifh in his Sin, and the Society wherein he
iverh beinfc&ed with the Error, and fall under
he Wrath of God. If he pretend, that neither, the
Villofa MaiyiOr his Confcience canbecompcl-
bookiit; [6iz] chap, ix:
led:For, the Nature of the Confcienceand Will*
is to determine freely what the Man fhall do:
and the Lords People muftbe a willing People,
Tf no. 3. He mud know that albeit the Will '
and Conference cannot be compelled, yet the '!
carnal Lulls which have feduced theCenfcience, ®
may be eroded and curbed by Ecclefiaftick el
Cenfures and civil Panifhments,that the Confci-
ence and Will, being better informed, after the '•'
ciifcovery of the Deceitfulnefs of their Lufts.
which did miflead them, they may freely dif-
claim the Error and their unhappy venting
tliereof.lfhe pretend that God is the only Lord
of the Confcience, and no Man may take upon
him that power to prescribe unto, and com-
mand another Man's Confciencejet him knowf
that God indeed is the only Lord of the Con
fcience,and bccauteHe is Lord, therefore hath He
appointed His MinifterstoteachMen the Truth,
and to prefs the difobedient Members of the i
viable Church with Cenfures,a*)d hath put the
Sword in Magiftratcs Hand to fee HisWill done,
and to punifh fuch asrefufe togive obedience to
His Commands, that Co obedience may be pro^
cured *o God the only Lord of the Confcience
]n w s Ht€h cafe aibeit the A&s commanded by the
Will and Confcience are curbed and retrained
yet the Will and Confcience is not compelled,
but is brought to a better Determination of its
own elide afts, that having obtained a clearet
light about itsduiy,ic may command the outward
I
II
1:
BOOK III [ 613 ] CHAP. DC-
Man to fay and do what is right. If he pretend,
that Religion is not to be propagat and pre's'd
by Abrce.but by the Word preached, and Here-
fics are to be rooted out, not by the Sword but
by the Power. of Truth holden forth totbeHc-
retick, let him know that there is a difference
between propagation of Religion among Pagans,
or People hot under the charge of the Civil
Magiftratc,or Church Judicatores,and the preser-
vation or purgation of Religion among them
that are within the vifible Church, and under
the power of the Civil Magiftrat.
For albeit the only way, to bring Religion in
irequeft among Heathen Nations and Strangers to
the Covenant of promifes, be that way which.
'1 the Apofties did foIlo\v,preaching the Gofpelto
;all, and receiving fuch as embraced the Gofpel
iinco Church-fellowfliip, yet the Magiftrat hav-
ing Civil Dominion over Heathen Idolaters,may
after information of them by the Preachers of
the Gofpel brake their Alois and abohfh them,
and reftrain them from doing contempt unto the
trueReligion,or abufing of the Sabbath, as the
•Fourth Command of the Moral Law doth give
warrant; yea, and may compel thevn to ufe the
•Means whereby they may bs inftruficJ in the
true Religion. Again, let him know there is a dif-
ference between dealing with Pagans and (han-
kers from the Commonwealth oi Ifiael, and
dealing with thefe who have given up theic
{James to Cbrift,lia? e entered in Covenant with ,
Oil * God
BOOK III [ 614 ] CHAP, foe.
Gad, and by Baptifm have confcrrat rliemfelves
and theirChildrenunto the Faith, Worftnp and O-
bedience of God,and doprc r cfs thcChriftian Re-
ligion,and yet go abouc by their Errors and PraM 1
dices to corruptand over-turn the true Religion^
and Faith of others among whom they live: Forjn
fuch may and fhould be not only inftrucled by I
Sermon. Conference and Difpute,but alfo punilh-L'
ed by the Civil Magiftrat for their deceiving of i:
the people, and troubling the Flocks of Chnft.i
Dwf.13 and Rom.i j.lf he pretend, that Church- \
cenfures&civilPuniihments canferve fornothinglr
but to make Men Diflemblers and Hypocrites ink
tht matter of Religion, which is moll odious in
the fight of God and wife Men, let him know,that
every Hypocrite lliall bear his own iniquity: Ec-
elefiaftick Centures and Civil Punifhments con-
cern the Words and Deeds of the outward Man,
that they may be ordered foas Religion and the
Peace of the Kingdom may not fuffer detriment.
If any Man fay and do that which is right inHy-
pocrify &Diffimulation,the Society wherein he IS
veth rs fafe ; but for his Hypocrifie.Iet the DifTemb-
ler anfwer Co God for it. And yet it is not to be
p-refumed.that all who bv Cenfures, and fear of
civil Punififimcnts doforfake Error and embrace
Truth,are Difiemblers and Hypocrites hi (b do-
ing,becaufe they are Means appointed of God foe
curbing and reclaiming erroneous Perfons. where-
with He givethHisBlefiing when it p'eaferhHim;
For by Cenfures and civil Puniihrnents, the Al-
BOOK IN. [ 6is J CHAR IX.
!luremcnts which have cnduced them to Error,ar£
:uc otf,fuch as are Applaufe of Men, vain Glory*
iVorldlyAdvantage,fenfual pieafure,and fuch like*
therein the Erroneous have been taken as in a;i
evil N:t,which being broken, the enfnared Cap-
tive may come freely ofT his Error, and embrace
die Truth, and take in good pa»c the Cenfures
ind civil punilliment which drew him out of the
Snare unto the right way:As we arc allured by
the Prophcfie of Zecharzah t chap 13.6. An J off e
(ball fay (to wit the converted ie&ary ) what are
*hefe wounds in thine hands ? Then he Jhall anfwer,
ihoCcw/fh which I was wounded in the houfc of my
fiends But whether by thofe means the errone-
ous be reclaimed heartily or in Diffimulation.re-
rped: muft be had to Gods Commands and His
Peoples Good, by curbing of Vice and Error,ac-
rording as God hath given power to the Church
md to the civil Msgiftrate./iW/. 13.3. 4. who is
appointed theMinif/er of God for the Peoples good.
If he fhall ohjed:, that he who chargeth him
for his Error, is no lefs fubje<3: to Error, rhen
le whom he chargeth, yea, that GovernourS
Ecclefiaftick and Civil arc no more exeemed
from the danger of Erring, than privat perfons,
fea, that the Determinations of Synods and
Councils are not lnfallible,yea,that he is perfwa-
led the Error he is charged of, is no Error, hue
jot perfwaded of the truth which the reformers
lfb,im pretend unto. Le* him know that £ke
force
BOOK III f 6x6 ] CHAP. IX.
force of this Objection doth afiert, that Truth
and Righteeufnefsis fettled upon the mif-perfwa- ''
dedSe&arics part, and that the Church and Ma-0
giftrate who findeth fault with him,hath nothing e:
to perfwade them of the Truth, which they dc# c
preis upon the Sectary, and fo cannot condemn
or punifh him ; but he mult know,that it is one^
thing to fay One may err in the latitude of a PoC^
fibihty indefinit, another to fay, One doth err \x$
fuch a particular, wherein he hath the Light of
Scripture and Rcafon clear for him. The Sectary ar
will not deny he may err, but he will maintain li
that in fuch one or other Article of his Profeifion *
be doth nor err. Shall he maintain his Plea, thaitf
he doth not err in fuch a point of Error? andc2
lhall not the Magiftrate and Church maintain^!
eheirPiea,that they do not err in punifhing fuch arj *<
obftinat erroneous Perfon ? Chrift hath commit-^
ted the Keys of Do&rine and Difcipline to His» f
Church, that private Perfons may know Gbrift'sH
Will by the Miniftry of the Church, except hit
will be holden for an Heathen or 'Publican. A/<tf :?
18. 17. He hath alfo committed the power oi
the Sword unto the Magi (Irate, who doth not
bear the Sword in vain, Rom. 13. And therefore
let rhc Church and Magiftrate do their Duty.and
let erroneous perfons ceafe to (tumble the Lords
people by their Error and Practice, and fufFei
ihernfclves to be brought if) order by fuch as
have Ccmrniffioh and Power to move them by
Cusfures and civil Puai&msK: thereunto.
BOOK Hi f 617 ] CHAP. IX;
If ftill he will infill and alledge, that by this
vfeans zCbriftian by Cenfuresand civil Puhifh-
nent, is compelled to fin agamft his Confcience,
ec him know, that a fcandaious Sectary or licen-
ious Libertine, is not compelled at all to fin,
)Ut to fay and do that which is right, and to
hearken to the word of God rather than to his
>wn erring Confcience : For the fcandalous Se-
nary, Schifmatick or Heretick, lyeth in a two-
fold Sin, the one is in his Spirit, believing and
md embracing an Error, the other in his ex-
:ernal Words and Deeds corrupting the Minds
i#d Manners of God's people. If afcer Confe-
r ence and Deputation, the Sin of his mif- led Mind
:annot be taken away, yet the correcting of him
3y Church- cenfu res and civil Punifhment may
eflrain and bind him up from troub!ing,and in-
feeling others with his Leaven and ill Example;
ind fo his finning externally is -cut off, and. he
made in fo far to ceafe from Evil : wherein he
ioth not fin in io far, becaufo Sin is not every
rrangreflion of the Ditemenc of the Confcience
Imply, but the Tranfgrcrtion of the Law, a;\d
Ditcment of the Confcience fpeaking according
o the Law.is a Sin./c is true indeed that whoib-
:ver doth judge the Ditemenc of his Confcience
:o be the Law of God, and yet doth the contra-
y,muft by interpretation of his Deed be holclen
>ui!ty of Sin,becaufe he who by Fear or Hope
:an be moved to do contrary to the Ditemenc
rfhi$ JErring Confcience,in erfe# doth p;ofcfs
BOOK III. I6i%] CHAP. X,
he may be moved by Hope or Fear to do con-
trary to the Ditement of his Confciencc well
informed. Mean time it is expedicnt,not only foi
the good of the Society of Gods People,but al-
fo for the good of the erroneous Perfon himfel'
that; he be curbed and hindered, by thcfe that
have lawful power, fromdoing yet moreharm<
and retrained from following the courfe of Sin,
iand filling up the full meafure of Sinning whic^j
lie vy as about to dp.
CHAP. X.
Offuch as do pleafe themfelves in a condition not
pleafing God bccaufe they conceive they can pray
well under any condition.
4
SUndry there are, who think theirSouls to
be* in a good cafe and Condkion,when th«y
iran PraV much, and that with freedom of
Spirit, vvheHpoflibly they do not watch ove*
their Hearts/ nor ways as becometh them.
8 This Sicknefs even Converts are fubje<9: un-
to fundry times, but it may be moft clearly
feeniri tliofe, who £>ut a fort of Worth and Me-
rit iheffc<9:,upon their Religious Exercifes.as we
iriay fee in many IjraeUjes \nJfaia,s zimc.chap.jS:
Th : v did K-ckbn themfelves among them that
did (eck God daily who delighted in His ways
and did approach unto Him, ver. z yet becauft
God did riot grant their Petitions, they fell on
f&ifiiiftjg Hiflfl> w/». 3, Wherefac bavewe faffed
BOOK III. [ 6x 9 ] CHAP. X
f(ay the*) <W Thou fee y? not} wherefore have we
affltded our Souls andThou take/f no knowledge-The
hiltory alio of Korah 9 Dathan%x\& Ahiram isnoc-
tour, wherein we fee what efteem Korah and
his Complices had of their own Holincls, and
of their accefs to God in their Frayers, that
they durfl hazard and lay their Lives in pawn,
that God ftiould make them as welcome when
they came with their Cenferes to pray before
Him, as Aaron and Mofes, yea and more wel-
come then they,
Such a fort of Deceit is that whereby fome Fa-
naricks, Enthufialts and Hereticks do fofter:
themfelvcs in their own Folly, and imagine they
arenofmall Men in God's account,becau(e they
find a fort of Eloquence in their Prayers, which
they conceive God would not give unto them,
except He were well pleafed with their Peffons,
Prayers and Ways ; and that the true Convert
alfo is fubje& to this Sicknefs, appeareth by
this, that Mofes in Charity judged many who
countenanced the Confpiracy, to be godly
Perfons otherways, and therefore exhorted
them to forfake the unhappy Society of thefe
wicked Men. And Cure it is, that fundry of
the Sons of Korah did repent and fly from the
company of the obftinat Tranfgreflbrs ; for it
is clear that all the Sons of Korah did not pe-
rifh, Numb. 26. 11, and frequent mention is
made of the Polterity oi forth ia the Chroni-
cles and ? J alms. v v"flfi2
BOOK III. [ 6^o ] CHAP. X.
But we need hot infift much here,feing Expe?
rienceteacheth, thac many go on confidently in
maintaining Schifnand Error perfwading thenv
felv.es of theG >o i kPs or nzir courfe and con-
dition, becaute their Prayers do flovy according
to their vviih fcqm day today. And many are,
who if they find freedom in Prayer, for any par-
ticular concerning themfelves or others.do allure
themfelves that it ihall cone to pafs -which
they pray for : And if their Spirits be ftraitned
in praying for fpiritual and promifedQraces.they
£ear they fhaLl not be f^tisfied in the Particular
they pray for.
For Remedy of this Self-deceit, Men muft
knpvy.that it is one thing to pray much,and ano-
ther thing to be heard and their Prayers and
Perfons accepted. The Jews are told by the Pro-
phet yyii^C^/vi. ij. that albeit they put up
many Petitions,the Lord will not hear them,be-
caule their Hands were full pfLBlood. % Carnal
Affection may evilly creep in and ftir up a Fer-
vency of Prayer j/^w.4. 3. Ton ask and obtain not,
lee a nfe you ask amifsjhat you may. bejiow what you.
fray for upon your -%ufts . jj Saints may pray earneft-
iy for that \*hic.hQod is not minded to grant unto
them, as Samuel prayed for Saul, that he might
be continued King, 1 Saw.i6.iAnd David- miy
pray for the Life of Batbjhebas Child and not pre-
vali.4 On. the other hand Prayers put up from. a
ftraitned Heart in a^ad condition, may prove no
Ic&pleafing unto Gu& then when the Supplicant
~~* " ' dprla
BOOK III: [ 611 ] CH A P. XT,
doth find mod enlargement ofSpirit,& freedom
of Prayer.How oft did thePfalmifl cry out of the
Deeps,when his Spirit was overwhelmed within
him.when Darknefs and the Cords of Death did
ftraiten him,as F^6i.i.isholden forth > And the
Apoftle (Rom. 8.) giveth us to underftand, that
thcSpirit of theConvert may be fo ftraitened by
Afflictions bodily and fpiritual,thatthey are not
able to fet their Words in order before God,yea
nor have clear notions of their Neceftities and
Defires,but in (lead of an Oration, do Sigh and
Groan unto God. Wherefore if a Man (hall iri
the fenfe of his Sins and Wants, have his daily
recourfe unto Chri(l,and be careful to bring forth
the Fruits .of the Spirit,praying for what is pro-
mifed with Submiffion to God, what meafure
and at what time He pleafeth to give, he may
befure his petfon and prayers are acceptable, as
we are taught, ljoh. 5.14, 15. Tins is the con*
frlence that we have in Him, that if we ask any
thing according to His Will, He keareth us ; an J
if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask %
we knew that we have the Petitions that we- de(t~
ted of Htm.
C H A P. XI.
Of the Converts ejieeming the Peace of 60 J to &.
but a Carnal Security.
W
E have brought forth fome Examples of
the firft fort of the Confaence Erring
BOOK IIL [ 6ii ] CHAR XT.
by efteeming an evil Condition to be a good
Condition. Now let us look upon feme Exam-
ples of aConfcience erring,by efteeming a good
Condition to be an evil Condition. Of the
which fort this (hall be one.
Sometime fome Converts do miftake the
Peace of God granted unto them after hard Ex-
crcife,and doefteem the quietnefs of their Cqn-
foence;to be nothing elfe but a carnal Security
and ihepy Difpofition of the Confcience. To
which cafe that we may fpeak the more clear-
ly ,we do not deny that many are, who indeed
•fall in a carnal Security and pleafe themfelves
thcrein,eoneeiving they have the Peace of God
and a blefled Quietnefs of Confcience. Such
Perfons have no doubt nor fufpicion but all is
well with them, for they do not examine and
compare their condition and ways with the
Word of God, but fleep fvveetly in their carnal
Security $nd Negligence of fpiritual Duties,likc
tothefe lukewarm Laodkeans.Rev. j.Offuph wa
do not fpeak here.2. Again we do not deny, that
true Converts are in danger to fuffer the Peace
whichGod hath granted unto them,to degenerat
unto a carnal Security.For eafily may a Convert
after Confolation divine fall in a Sleep, as the
Spoufe did in the Cantkk t $.i8m we are fpeak«*
jng of the cafe of a Convert, watching unto Du-
ties, who after no fmall vexation in his conflidfc
^iththe Tcntations of the Devil, with the Ter-
for of iheL&w and £cnfc of Divine Wrath hath
tfOOKHI [ 623 ] CHAP. XT*
gotten the Vi&ory by Faith in Chriit, tnd hath
obtained Peace with God gracioufly granting
his Petition, we arefpeaking here of thrle Con-
verts who after the Lord hath granted Peace
tinfothem through Faith in Chrift, dare not «n-
joy their Peace, but do fufpeft that their Peace
is not found, and at length do count and call it
carnal Security;and fo do breed themfelves new
Troubles of Mind. The Pretence and feeming
Reafon whereby they do deceive themfelves is
this When God, fay they, feemed unto us angry
with us,when wc found no Peace and were wreft-
Jing under the fenfe of Sin, and in doubt whe-
ther fuch as we fliould find Mercy, then we did
pray very earncftly, Night and Day,then we were
diligent in Hearing and Reading of the Word of
God,and were painful in the Exercife of all Du-
ties of Religion,and Obedience.But now wefind
our feives much cooled and flackned in allthcfc
Duties, whereupon we juftly fufped the Peace
which wenow do find, tobc nothing elfe but a
carnal Security of a deeping Confcience. By this
Miltake all Thankfgiving for the Peace granted
unto them is well near fuffocatand extinguifhed.
Their former condition under Doubts and Fears,
is judged to be better then their prefent condi-
tion, they wifh their former Fears may return,
rather then they fliould coniinue in this con-
ditiott, wherein their Tears are dryed up,
and their former Diligence eaten up. Hence
go they ei* to lay forth their Complaints be-
fore
BOOK III. [6z4] CHAP. XI.
fore their intimat acquatntance.conccrning God's
Difpenfation and dealing with them,becaufe the
Spirit of Fear & Reverence toward God, the Spi-
ritof Grace and Supplication is much diminiftied
and near-by qaenched in them. By which com-
plaints they do not only breed trouble tothem-
felves,but alfo make heavy the Hearts of their
Godly Friends, and do tempt them to fall into
the like complaints & ro grieve theLords Spirit.
2. This miftake doth arife, partly from the
not confidcring and efteeming of the gracious
Gifts of Peace and other Graces beftowed upon*
them,and partly from a wrong Comparifon of
their former and prefent condition. For firft the
afflided Pcrfontaketh no notice of the Evidences
of a new Creature in himfelf,he doth not confider
how great a Benefit is beftowed upon him,when
he feareth to offend God, feareth to be fhut out
from Society with Him, and earneftly defireth
to be fure of His Favour in Chrift: He hath net
a due Eftimation of having Peace with God and
War withSin in himfelf joined together;to be freed
from the Torment of the Confcience condemn-
ing himaccording to the Law, and with all a
defireand delight in the obedience of the Go-
fpel joy ned together,' z. He doth inconfiderat-
ly exad of his Confcience, that his Soulfliould
be in the fame difpoiition before Peace be
granted, and afrer that it is bellowed, or that
his Affe&ions fhould be ftirred up one and the
fame way in both-thefe Cafes ; For before
Peace
BOOK ni [ 6ij ] CHAP. XI.
Peace is given he cannot chufe but he mull:
have Sorrow, Heavinefs of He;»rt. Unquietnefs
Fear.and iuch like other fad Affldions.Bur after
that God grantcth Peacc,thcfc Perturbations are
quieted, tormenting Fear ceafeth, Lamentati-
ons are retrained, Tears are wsfhen away in a
good mcafurCp and in their place, do Thanks-
giving to, and Praifes of God (ucceed, and e-
very Duty do call for their own place in a pa-
cified Mind, fo that the Mans body be not ne-
glefted as before,but care had of keeping Health,
for enabling to do what is required of him in
his Calling toward every one with whom he
liveth : For, now his condition being changed,
why fliould not his Affedtions, and the Effects
depending on them be changed alfo? Who can
reafonably exad: the fame Duties of a Man in a
Fight, whidh he may require of him when he
hath gotten the Vi&ory ? who can expert the
fame Carriage from a Man when he is fick
and when he is in health ? Doth not the Apo-
ftlefay, Jam. y. it,. If any Man he afflitled
let him pray ? Is any merry, let him fing Pfalms.
3. For Remedy of this Evil, 1, let the Af-
flicted examine himfelf whether this Peace hath
had a conflict of Confcience, and Faith under
the fenfe of Sin and fear of the Wrath threate-
ned in the Law, going before it or not. 2.
Whethtr this Peace hath followed upon flying
to Chrift by Faith, unto whom he did cleave
in his fad exsreife 1 Whether this peace hath
fol-
BOOK Iff. [6i6] CHAP. XL
followed afcer Prayer and Supplication made to
God for it, that he might without Fear of his
Enemies ferve God all the days of his Life > 4
And laft of all, whether his Heart fiill inclineth
and endeavoureth to give obodience to the
Commands of God, and to be grieved for his
fhort-coming therein?/fthe(c Things do concur
which befeem aConvert,let him pert wade himfelf
his Peace which he hath cenfured for carnal Se-
curity, is the (olid Peace of God mtftaken by
him. And therefore,!, let him no more fufpedfc
the Gift of God, but hold faft the Word of
G©d, which Faith of the Soul chafed toChrift,
hath laid hold on, that being now juftifled by
Faith he may have Peace with God, Rom.*>. x.
For,God doth not give to His Supplicantcarnal
Security for Pcace,a (tone for Bread, and an Ad-
der for Fi flu But, 2. let him obferve the Wiles
and Malice ofSatan,who cannot endure that the
Soul fled from him to Chrift fnould haveFeace,
or in the enjoying •fir blefs G^d for His Gift
of Grace* And 3. lethimftudy tomakeufeof
this /'eac* granted to him, going on in the o-
bedience of Gods Commands chearfully, and to
be ready for new Confli&s and Aflaults from
Satan, and not be afraid of being deprived of
tlie^eaceof God, while he by Faith in Chrift
is yoked in Battle againft Sm which hefeethiri
the World and feelech mhimleif.
tBAi
BOOK III [ 6zy ] CHAP;Xil.
CHAP. XII.
Of the cafe of a Convert ; taking feme acls ofjuflifr
ing Faith to he high Prejumption in his Per-
: fon.
THis cale is like the former. Some true
Converts are, who have fled to Chrill
foi RemiiTion of Sin and Delivery from Perdi-
tion, and have applyed the Prorriifes made for
San&iflcation and Confolation,and full Salvati-
on after this Life, in fuch a meafure as dotli
fufficethem for encouragment to wreftlc with
Difficulties, wherewith they may meet in their
way to Heaven. But when the higheft and moft
excellent Pnviledgcs of the Gofpelare prefentcd
to them, and come to be made ufe of, fuch as
are, fitting together with Chrifl in heavenly places \
SpheC x. 6, icing co-heirs annexed with ]efu$
Zhrifl, Rom. 8. 17. So e/leemed of , and loved by
Chrill, that they who touch His Saints, do
touch the Apple of His Eye, fudging the World and
the damned Angels, iCor 6-3.and. iuch like other
privilcdges,they are at a ftand ? & dare not apply
thefe pnviledgcs for Fear, of high Frefumprion.
x Neither rnuft we wonder that a .Soul {houlct
fall iri this Exercife,and yet adhere to Chnit as
a Convert and true Believer: For when a Sinner
for feai of Perdition is chafed to a Saviour.and
dare not looie his Grips left hc % fall in the ¥\& x
lie mar feem to himfeif to be in good cafe if he;
gee' in to Chrift, aibeit he do not thiuft himlelf .
R r upon
BOOK III. [ 6i8 ] CHAR XTT.'l
upon fuch high Priviledgcs, and joyn himfelf
With Ah rah am and the Patriarchs and Prophets.
Like unco Mephibojheth, who judged himielfto
have found Grace enough at Davids Hind, that
his life was (pared, but trembled when he was
priviledg'd to come to the Kings Table, who in
his own Eyes, was like a dead Dog for his ui>
worthinefs, as he judged of himfdf. Or like
the Prodigal in the Gofpe!,who in his own eyes
was not worthy tobe counteJ a child of the Fa*
mily,but content to be as one of the hired Ser-
vants in his Fathe 'sBoufe.And true it is,that the
wonderful largenefs of the PtOmifes of the Go-
fpel. rnaketh the true Convert,lateIy come forth
of the flavery of Sin and Satan, to fiand fo a-
ftonillied, that he dare not take to him fo glo
rious Titles, Priviledges and Confolations as
the .Scripture doth allow him: yea, when he
Would lift up himfelf to believe the Glory pro-
mi fed, he can no more apprehend the infinite
Love and Grace of God propunded and adjud-
ged unto him, then he can meafure the Hea-
ven with his fpan, or comprife in his hand the
great Glob, and round of Heaven & Earth. From
fjch a confideration was it, that Peter did a!
fsrft utterly refufe to fuffer Chrift to Wafh his
Feet ; and that Martha, in the beginning of het
Confe-ence with Chrift, could notrhhk of fo
great a benefit, a> the Rcfcirre&ion of her Bra-
ther Lazarus before the Day of Judgment.
BOOK IIF. r 6*9 3 CHAP. XTT;
2. The Cohvcrt iruhis Cafe, doth wrong to
himfelf and to the Word of God, & to the libera-
lity and rich Grace of God;for, (b long as he fuf-
fereth himielf to be born down from embracing,
as fafely he may, the rich allowance of God u-
pona Soul reconciled to Him by Faith in Chrift,
lie not only cuts liimfelf off from that mcafure
of Joy of the holy Ghoft which he may. have,
but alfogivetli occafion and advantage to Satart
to brangle and call in queftion, whether the
Man hath indeed believed in Chrift at all, or
whether he hath laid hold on Chrift for Riglv-
teouihefs and Salvation by Faith unfaincd: For,
if it be prefumption for a feif condemned Sinner,
flying unto Chrift by Faith to lay hold upon the
Benefits which Chrift hath prepared, purchafed,
and offered unto him upon this pretended Rea-
fbn, that thefe Benefits are fo hudgely great,
ajnd the Man fo fmall and unworthy in his own
Eyes, why may not Satan, with as great tea-:
fbn, ( if there were any weight in it ) call
it Prefumption for fuch a Man to lay claim
unto Chrift, Who is greater then all His Be-
nefits, and fo beat him off from Faith and.
Confidence in Chrift the great gift of GoJ.made
of God, to poor Sinners fl^d uato Htm, Wif-
dom and Righteoufnefs, Sanitification and R.e-
ckmption >
3 Wherefore to help the Convert in this con-
dition, Met him confider.he doth well to be fear-
<$ for Prefumptigo, forjt is a fearful evil ; \hi K
R r * lec
BOOK III. [ 630 ] CHAP. Xli;
Jet him rerriember to put due difference between
Prefumpnon, and true Faith and Confidence.-
For, 1. Preemption is proud and puft up with
Self-conceit, but we prefuppofe the Convert to
be humble and kid low in his own Eyes, in this
condition we are fpeaking of.2.Prefumption is fe-
cure and negligent in the dilcharge of comman-
ded Duties; but the Convert we fpeak of, is a-
bout the ufe of the Means,and in fome meafure
.diligent in difcharging commanded Dudes in his
Calling.jPrefumprion layeth hold upon promi-
fes not made to thePrefumptueus.and troublerh
not it felf with Precepts and Threatenings *;
but the Convert in this condition we are fpeak-
ing of,regardeth both Precepts and Threaten-
ings, and is fo far from putting forth his Hand,
without a warrant,u;ito promifes, that he {lands
aloof from laying hold on moe Promifes, then
he conceiveth necefTar to fave his Soul from
Hell.4. The prefumptuous promifeth to hmfelf
Felicity,albek he walk in his own ways, and
turnech the Grace of God into Lacivioufnefs,in-
couraging himfelf to Sin becaufe God is merci-
ful;but this Convert eiheweth Sin, and follow-
ed! the way which may lead him to the
poffeffion of all Promifes. Therefore, i, let the
Convert in this condition remember,that Chrift
and all His benefits are fo joyned together in
the grant of Grace,that he may coniiJenrly fay fo
with the Apoftle, Ro?/}.8. 3z.that feeing Chrift is
giveaco the Believer Hying unto Him,it cannoc
bo
BOOK Ilk [ 631 ] GH A P. XH
be but God with Him will give all things
alio, z, Let him confidcr, that it is a dan-
gerous matter, not to give credit unto Gods
faithful Word holder) forth in one Promife, as
well as in another * For,feeing He is worthy to
be believed in the firfl Promife, of receiving in-
to Favour a Sinner flying to Chrift, why ihall
He not have the Glory of Truth and Grace in
the reft of the Promifes, which belong to the
accomplishing of the fullGlorification of thcMan
reconciled. 3:And laftofal!, let the Convert,
in this condition confider, how near he draweth
to a Popilh Error in thispraiHce; for, P apt/Is do
meafure the Gifts of God unto Men, by chc
Mans Merit and Well-deferving, and nor by
, meer Grace only , and upon this ground do reckon
lit Pretumption for any ordinar Christians to be
jafTured in this Life, that God will guide them
with His Counfel, and at their departure out of
this Life,immediatly receive them intoGlory.Foi,
if the Convert being chafed by the Law to lay
hold on Chrift (whois the End of the Law for
Righteoufhcfs unto every one that believcth )
ihallftand aback from laying hold onthc high-
eft Priviledges of Saints, & the greateft Promifes
made to juftified Souls, becaufeof his own u;>
worthineis,doth he not (ay in efTedr,if I were more
worthy and like in holinefs un:o fuch and
fuch Saints, I could be more confident to, lay
hold on thefe high promifes: which ground,
i it bw once holden, it makes the
R r 3 rev
00 OK Iff. [ 6> ] CHAP, Xllfc
Jleafon of the Man's Confidence to be his own J
Weli-defervmg, and not the meer and only
prace of God the free Promifer thereof, & fo the
Way of Salvation by Grace fhould be undermin-
ed and overturned: which is abfurd, becaufe the
Apo{{\c % 'Ephefz. 8.faith,7W by Grace we arc fa-
ved through Faith, and that not of ourf elves, it is the
Gfft of (W.Therefofe let not the humbled Con
vert think it Preemption to lay hold on Chrift
and the fulnefs of all promifed Grace in Him>
bow large foever it be.
CHAP. XIII.
hfthe condition of the Convert, fearing that the
Joy of the Holy Ghofl which he hath felt.be found
enly to be either the Joy of Speculation .common
to temporal Believers \or a meer Delufion.
F this fort alfo is this cafe, wherein r,he
Convert doth fufpedt, that, the Joy of the
Spine which he hath felt ac fome times, was ei-
ther a joy c ^Speculation or Contemplation only,
fuch as^hilofophers may find in their ftudy of
humane Learning, or elfe a Delufion of Satan
alio. ' This cafe may fall upon the true Con-
vert in the time of Afflidion and felt Defcrtion,
when not only the fenfe of Confolation is with-
drawn, but ; a!fo Sorrow and Heavinefs have
f i2 -:d on his Spirit, when the fharpnefs of af-
fection rakes up the whole Soul, and Sorrow
---*•■- » ^loch
BOOK 111 [ 6 ? 3 ] CHAP. XIII
doth fill the Heart At fuch a time the memory
of by pad joy is greatly dgrkned, and the fgpjfe
of prelent Gncfihfijmerb the whole Man For
as ic falleth forth in a Mans Body, that both
f weec and four Liquor, do * atfeft the fenfc of
/Tailing moft,when they are prefenrly felt, hut
When they arc part, the Memory of them dorh
affed the Imagination only, and that but light-
ly in companfon with prcfent fenfe. As die
knfe of a fiery Coal doth othcrways affect us
when it touches our Fleih, then the ncmory of
the pain we have felt, doth move us when the
Pain \s pad; fo it is in the Paffions of the Sou!,
for joys fpiritualfhine for a while, when they
arc lately railed up in the £ouI, but after a time
they are darkened, and in fome fort worn our,
efpccially when Grief doth aiife, then they are
fwallovved up with Sorro.v.or are well nearfor^
^gotten, or lightly cftccmed and rejedied: My
Soul refujeA comfort, faith the Pfalmift, Pf. yj.z.
Such was Davrds condition, Ffi 1 6.1 l.VVhcn he
[did in his halt all Men are Lyars: at which time,
whatsoever joy he had fclr,in believing the prQrni-
fes made to him by Samuel or other Prophcrsjic
counted all to.be but deceiving of him and De-
lufion.
This Miflake is ftrcngthened ordinary by Sa-
tans Tentation and wicked £uggcflion, watch-
ing upon all occafions to traduce and (lender all
Gods Words and Operations. The Complaint of
ffrenty favcuts Qjf this malicious Suggeilion,
R r 4 wiuciv
BOOKIII. [$34 I CHAP.XIir.
which the Prophet iayetb out before God, to be
rid of it, Jer. 20 jYbou haft deceived me\and I was
decetved.Ytz oft-times it cometh to pafs,that our
ol'J M^n and corrupt inclination taketh part
Vvtth Satari, and when occafiori doth offer, fcorn-
eth all the fpirituaf Affection's of the new Man,
z%ljhmael mocked Ifaac's devotion.
2. This EvH except n be fpeedily and folidly \}
cured, not only caftech the Convert in a miferable
toncinion, but alfb calterh in queftion hisftate,
whether at all he be Regenerat, reconciled and
in the (late of Grace; Fof, if the Joy of the ho-
ly Spirit granted to the {applicant prayingtb
God in Chuft,for confirmation of his Faith, gran-
ted to the mourner for fin, that he may be com-
forted, (hall bcefteenft'ed as the effedbf Specula-
tion only, then the comfort of the Earneft penny
andfirlt Fruycs of the Spirit is loft,the Confirma-
tion pf Faith by that Confolation is enervat and
weakened; Thankfgiving formerly offered for
the comfort fomecime felt,isrecalled,and theTe-
flimbhy of Gods Spirit, fpeak'ing according to
the word in oft- repeated Experience is laidafide.
And fothe Afflidtcd Soul (hall feem to himfelfi
in ivorfc condition then when he Was lying in.his
Sins, becaufe he ftiajl fsem tohirnielf to havi
loiVhis "labour from thetime that he renounced
his^ins.' Wherefore it is neccflary, that this
Sickricfs be fpeedily cured, left it prevail.
3 For Remedy of this evil, let theAitlidedJay
aficib'dlc difpuce fc: a time 'whether his Joys
BOOK III 1 [ 635- ] CHAP. Xiir.
and Spiritual Experiences ofthe Lords working
in frith; fiave bctn real, as rheyromecime feernedj
and lee him turn his' Eyes upon his prefene mi-
serable con fu fed condition, let him take a new:
view of hrs Sins' and unworthinefs, let him ob-
serve Sararts MnIice,Power and Wiles to weaken
Taith,& what need now he ftandeth in of Chrift
Mediator, Redeemer, Surety and Phyfician by
Office,after a new difcovery ofhisSinfu|nefs;and
let him look upon the Riches of the Grace of
God offered iri the Gofpel to every hungry and
thirfty Soul flying to Chrift for refuse, and lee
liim [ay to God, Lord there was never a time
vvherein I had rn ore need of Chrift fqr Righce-
oufnefs and Salvation, behold I fly unto Thee,
I welcome and embrace Chrift offered in the
•Gofpel, and heartily do confent unto the Co-
venant of Grace through Him, and do except
embrace & rely upon Remiflion of Sins through
Him, and the imputation of His Satisfactory
Righteoufnefs,madeover tofuchas fly untoHim,
or effe I fhould perifh utterly, and do give up
rny felfto Thee, that Thou mayeft wiite Thy
Law more powerfully on ray Heart. By this
Means the Confidence of thc-Afflifted's lntereft
in the' Covenant of Grace fhall be more fixed
and made fore to him, and Sa ra n d i fa p pointed of;
his defign to caiV the Affli&ed by His Tencadonsi
in Misbelief, and Separation from Chrift. '
^t Thus when he hath renewed the Grips of
Faith in Chrift, let him now enter the lifts, 1
«3
BOOK.E [ 6^6 1 CHAR XTIL
and difpute the Solidity of his former felt Expe-
periencesbydifculfing the objections which did
weaken his eftimatioa of the former tele Joys
ofthe Spirit. O leobje&ion agaiqtt them was,
becaufe they wereof (horc en*iuraice,and therp-
fcre feemed not folid. The Antwer may be this,
The fhort (laying of the Joy of thq Spirit is no
proof againft it, as not true Joy; for, it is fuffici-
ent earned of the prorwfoi Salvation, if,
vyhen the Wqrd of God in die Gofpel fpeaketh
Peace to the Man fled to Chrift he findeth tjip
Word believed to be confirmed to the Believer
f>y Peace 8c Joy,alheit the fenfe of it remain but
a fhort whiie; After you believed faith the Apoftle,
you were fealed with the Spirit oj prorvtfe.Epheti.
i r. As it is not fufficient to prove,thatwhoiromp
water given to a Fever Tick Perfon, is not a
w 7 I?olefome Drink, becaufe the cooling Rcfrefli-
ment by it,endureth but a fhort while;fbit is not
fufficient to prove,thatConfolation & Joy given to
a lorrowful Sinner,feeking favour through Chrifl
is not folid and true Joy, becaufe it ftayeth but
afliort while.lt is fufficient that it hath Hayed fo
long as was needfuhfor, after the Word oTPr'Of]
wife was believed, the Joy was fent to eaie the
afflided Souls prefent grief,and to givehimear-
nelt, that full and lading Joy fhould be given
in due time unto him. When the MefTenger
Iiath done his Commifsion, let him return to
his leader. As the Sheet let down in the Vi-
rion from Heaven to Peter, after it had ferved
JjOOK III. [ 657 ] CHAP. XTIL
for Peters Inftrucftion, it was taken up to Hea-
ven again, A:t. jo The Spouie in thzCanticle
knew by experience, that her fpinruil Joys
would nor lait long, and therefore chargcththe
daughters of Jemjalem that they waken not her
Beloved nil He pleated
5. Another Objection is this, If my Joy had
been fold (faith the Airlifted ) it fliouid have
brought forth better bruits than it hath done;
bur joy fpintual as I then called ic,diddegenerac
into a carnal Secut icy. & I was not the more Holy
by it. To which Objection the Anfwer may
bethis,the blame of this is not to be laid onfpiri-
tual Joy, but upon the abuieof this Mercy, by
ingratitude for this gracious blink of felt Favour,
negligence in the ufe of means to entertain
this fenfe by floepine(s of Confcience and orhcr
Sins, and namely the laying too much weight
ypon this fenfe, and not fixing the Heart by fo
much more upon the Word of Prom lie when
fvltConfolation may be withdrawal's a juftcaufa
for,fpiritual Joy is not given to any to build upon
its continuance, but to make the Convert hold
the confirmed word of promife fo much the fa-
der when for the Ex?rcife of Faith, comforta-
ble Feelings are withdrawn. The Spoufe in
the Canticle after a Feaft of 1 h s kind, falUth
afleep, and giveth flight enterraining to the
Bridegroom when called upon by His word,
for which Die is chaftifed, by his with-
drawing of His comfortable prefence, Cant. 5. 1.
BOOK Hi r <?38 ] CHAP. Xilf.
a, 3. &c. But ler us put the cafe, that the felt,
Joy of the Spirit were not abufed, yet isic not
unufual for God to withdraw Confolation, and
to fend Trouble and An'guifh,on the Soul ofHis
dear Child, to try his Faich and train him on to
hold the Word of His Grace in the hardeft Con-
dition he can be into, as He did exereife Joh 9
and Jeremie the Prophet, Jer. 20. and the
Pfalmift, Pf. 7 7. In which condition, to fufpedi
that the Confolation and Joy of the Spirit,fpeak-
ing to the Heart by His word, is nor His graci-
ous Operation, or is a Delufion, cannot but ex-
ceedingly grieve the Lord, and give Him caufe
to chaltife this fufpicion with Defertion.
6. But how may /know, faith the Afflicted,
that my Joy was folid and was indeed the graci-
ous Operation of the Holy Spirit?For anfwer, r.
If this Joy was given to him when, or after, he
was lamenting his Sins, and fearing Wrath defer-
ved,and flying unto Ch rift offered in the Gofpel,
he hath reafon to reckon that Joy to be fuch as
the Word of the Gofpel doth promife and ap-
prover. If during the time of his fweet feeling of
Peace and Joy through Chrift, he found his Faith
in God, and Love to Chrift confirmed and
ftrcngthned.if the Word of the Gofpel was in
more eftimation with him, if his Heart was
Enlarged to blefs, praife and thank God for
manifefting Himfelf in Chrift reconciled, if the
purpofc oKfolIovvng after Holinefs was renew-
ed ia hiii, he hath no reafon to fufpsft his
J°y.
BOOK lit. [ 639 1 CHAP. XIV.
Joy and Gomforc. 3. If after the removing of
this fwcet feeling he is going on in the (ludy
ofHolinefs, believing in Chnft, how heavy
in Heart foever he may be, by Affii&ion and
Tentation, he may be allured his fometime felc
Joy of the Lords Spirit was folid, and his pre-
sent (ufpicion thereof to be an evidence of his
Infirmity, and of a Tentation from Satan.
This was the way how the Pfalmift wrellled
Out of his (ad condition, P/ 77.
CHAR XIV.
Of the Converts fufpefting, that his Zeal for God
and again/} the Sins of others hath been fie ft ly
Severity and imprudent Temerity.
IT cometh to pals, that they who love God
fincerely, and cannot endure the out-break-
mgs of the wicked, do fometimestranfgrefsthe
bounds of Mod^rat Zeal, and being overtaken
in fome mifcarriage, for which being rebuked
by their Friends, or by them in power centered
or civilly chaftifed, do in ftead of Moderating
their Zeal in time coming, grow more flack and
remifle in their Zeal, fufpe&ing themfefves in-
clined to unrealbnable Severity and Raftmefs.
and ready to be efteemed Haters of Mens Per-
fons by thofe among whom they live,as in fome
bygone experience they have already felt. And
upon this occafion the Tentation of Satan failetli
on tending to excinguiih the fervency of true
£eai required in all true Converts.
And
BOO K III [ 640 ] CHA P. XVi
And here there is Danger left true 2eal grow
cold, and the Convert become luke- warm. both
in curbing Sin in others under his charge, and
in puriuing Djties in his own perfon. In
which Sicknefs he may be the better pleafed
with himfelf, by (omuch as his Friends and o-
thers do commend him for his Moderation and!
Prudence as they ihall call it.
2. As to the Remedy of this Evil. there is no
doubt, but that may befal true Zeal, which is
common to other Vertues, ot which there is -
none fo per fed, but (brhe in- lake or excefs may
be obferved in them. And therefore, as it is
without reafon to go back from purfuing Duty
in the exercife of other Vertues^ecaufe Imper-
fe<5Hons therein are remarkable from time to
time:So is it without reafon to grow lukewarm
in Zeal which may render a Man loathfome uu-
£0 Chrift,/teux 3. Wherefore iet'the Convert take
heed what the Lords word doth require of
hirn in his calling, and labour to difcharge his
Duty towards others ; (o as he may be found
bcth Zealous and prudent, rhat in the Expret-
fions of his Zeai againft Sin,Meeknefs & Love to'
the Offender may be manifeited. z To this in- N
fentJettheConvert carefully take heed ro enter-
tain thefe threePropertics of commendable Z al t !
which are, i % The Fear of God.. 2. Humility of
Heart. 3. The love of his Neighbour: For,
the Fear of God will not fuffer the Convert to
depart from His Commandments \ Humility of
f mm
UOOK m. [ «4* 1 CHAP. XV
Heart will make the Man modeft fn his Expref-
fions, and the Love of his Neighbour will make
him mix Meekncfs and Companion toward din-
ners with his Zeal againft Offences. This itf
the Right feafoning of Zeal, which the Apoftle
calkththc Zeal of God according to Knowledge.
CHAP. XV.
Of the Converts fufpeftinghis aiming at circumJpeR
walking, Jhall he found in him fcrupulofity.
SOmetime itcometh to pafs, that the Con-
vert being under hard excrcife before his
Coni'olation, doth put on the whole Armour of
of God, and (ludieth to walk circiiri'pedHy foe
a while, but after a time hebecometh fonie-
what weary of the Yoke, fufpe&ing he hatlt
given too much way unto Scrupulofity, where-
upon he becometh more femifle and flack
in his Watchfulnefs and Diligence, laying
afide the Armour of God, as David laid afide
the Armour of King Saul, wherewith he was
not accuftomed.
For Satisfying himfelf in this courfe, I pre-
fuppone he makeeh ufc of three pretended Rea-
fons,The/ 7 /r/? is, becaufe it is impoflible fora-
ny I dan to attain to fuch circumfpedfron in his
carriage as becometh him; For it is no left then
to aim at perfed: Obedience of the La w,\vhich
&e Apoftle hath declared to be impofiilMe be-
caufe
EO O K III. [ *4*3 CH A R XV
caufeofthe wcaknefs ofiheflefti, Bern. $.
The next pretended reafon is, becaufe this ben
ing of a Mans Spirit rhakcth the Confcienceun-
quiet,that aMan cannot enjoy the Peace of God
granted in the Gofpel. The third pretended Rea-
ibn is,bccaufe it doth refhain Chrifiian Liber-
ty in many things lawful), fb as' a Man t%n nei-
ther make ufe of Recreation of Body, or Mind
without fcruple; and here we'muft beware on
die one hand,lefi we give way to any degree^
of mifregarding the Law, which >S the Error of
the Antinomiansftnd on the other hand, left we
infnare the Conscience of Converts and hinder
them in the lawful ufe of what God doth allow
unto therri.
2. For Remedy of this Evil, let the Convert
know that there is aNeceffity of aiming at cir-
cumfpe<5t Walking. This Duty is indifpeniable :'
For if a Chink be opened here in the Veflel for
the lead entry of water,it may ere long fill and
fink Che whole fhip; For the command flandeth"
immoveable,//*^, u. 14 Follow Peace with alt'
Men and Holinefs, without which no Mai ? /hall fee
the Lord. Arid, 1. Pet: 1. 15*. As He that hath'
called you is Holy, fo he ye holy in all manner of
Cbnverjdtion. And, Mat j, 48, Chrift hath
laid, le ye pet feet, as your Father in Heaven
is per feci.
This ground being laid, let us examine thefe
three pretended Reafons As to the firft, a!be- .
if the attaining unto the perfect obedience of the
BOOK III [ 643 ] CHAP. XV,
-aw in this Life be impoffible, becaufe of the
nfirmity of corrupt nature ; yet, the aiming ac
he perfect obedience of God's Commands is
>oth poiliblcand profitable, and he who aim-
th at Perfection of Obedience in this Life,
hall attain it fully in the Life to come.lt is one
hing to give perfect Obedience unto the Law,
or in many things we do fin all of us: another
hing to endeavour, according to the meafure of
jrace given, to obey the Law perfe&ly. For,
jod, Who hath loofed Converts, fid to Chrift,
rom the Covenant of Works or the Covenant
>f the Law, He hath not loofed His Subjects
rom obedience to the Law- givcr.He hath not a-
>oIifhed the ten Comrmnds,He hath not loofed
he Duties of the redeemed and converted Souls,
mt by receiving them in favour throughFaith in
2hrift,He doth augment theirObligation toferve
he Lord their Redeemer,fo much more chearful-
y & carefully.as the Grace is large,in forgiving
hem their Sins,and tranflatingthem from theSla-
rery of Sin and £atari,into the Kingdom ofChriffc
Again, albeit it be true, that it is impofiible
attain perfect Obedience unto the Law, yer,
here is great advantage to be had by circum-
pecT: walking and aiming at perfect Obedience :
7 or, this, 1. doth glorifie our heavenly Faiher,
vhen we drive to be conform to His Will and
:o have refpecT: to all His Commands. x,This
mdeavour adornech the Goi'pel and profeiiioa
tf #nr moft holy Faith, whereby we lay hold on
$$ the
B[0 O K lib [ 644 ] C H A P. x^j
the Grace of free Juftifieation,that we may b
come the Servahts of Righteoufnefs indeed.
This Endeavour beareth vvicnefs of our fincei
Defire to ferve God with all our Heart, albe
we attain not to the perfection of obedience i
this Life. 4 This Endeavour giveth untousdad;
new matter of Humiliation, when inour aimin
at our Duty, we come very fhort of our Mar
we fhoot at. 5. This Endeavour and Short-con[
ing.for all we can do,maketh us defpair of feel
J unification by works before God, and to efteei
highly ,and make ufe by Faith of Chrift's Sati:
faction for us imputed to us for Righteoufnef
which is a Garment able to hide our Imperfed
ons and Nakednefs. 6. This Endeavour 1
walk circumfpe&ly, puts us to the Excrcife <
ofallChriftan Graces, and to drive with othei
and with ourfelvesto perfed: Holinefs in tt
Fear of God.
2. As for the fecond pretended Reafoh, th;
tliis endeavour,to walk circumfpe&ly, may mak
the Confcience unquiet,it*puts a foul Afperftp
on the holy Precept of the Apoftle, Ephef y.i-i
16, 17. who hath declared this to be a Mar
Wifdom,and foagood I Jean of making hisCoi
feiencequiet, and to eftablifli in itthePeace<
Ged;For,by this endeavour to walk circumfpe<£
ly,Be!ievcrs inChriftare aflured, that they at|
withourtbe reach ofCondemnatlon.becaufethe
walk not after the flefh but after the Spirit, Ro*
S« 1:- #cWA",this EndeavQur is the Evidence c
BOOK III. [o'^sl CHAP. XV,
t Good Con ciencc, which accompanietli true
; aith.and in a manner doth guard the Cotifciencc
romjuft Challenges which might trouble the
ame. Thirdly, by this Endeavoiir^he Believer is
>y a holy NecelJIry, forced to cleave clo'fs unto
hnft,to conyerfe with Him in Heaven, that the
dilution of Daily Sin may be wailien away, by
lew Application of Chrifts expiatory Sac, ilice to.
he Believer, and that Chrift may let forth more
itreng'h to Him to walk in the way ofcornmahd-
ted Duties.and fo the Convert may ftandjn. thq
Irace of God. Thus the Peace of God orfcrcJ j
nd covenanted in the Gofpel, is prefcrved in
iim Co long as this Endeavoured" walk circunr-
y, is entertained. >,.
4. As for the third pretended Reafonagainft
ireumfpeel: lYalking,asif by kChriiliatv liberty
ball becrofftd and cut iliort,it,is a falfe Prste&ceY
3r the contrair is true, that Chnftian-libercy
j not hurr.but helped and prderved by circum-.
3e& walking; For ,this is true ChrUlnvalileriyi
3 have Allowance of the ufe of the Benefits
prich God doth beftow with His Bleffmg, fo
ir as may ferve our Well-fare; feeing it is noc
point of Chriftran-liberty Hcenuoufly,by 5nt£m-
erance to abufe Gods Benefits, and turn them
d our own hurt. Wherpfore let our Heart be all.
ay in the fear of God, that we may in lawful
lanner, make ufe of lawful things neither cloth.-
le ftady, of .Hoimcfs .nvake Recreations of
! pdy aticf Mind .unlawful, but rcfttal
B:
BOOK W. [ 646 ] CHAR XVF:'
cth immoderat and unrimeous ufe of things law-
ful. All that Chriftian Liberty granteth untcfr
us, is, that whether we Ear or Drink, or wha< ,
lawful thing elfe we do, we do all for the Glofc
ry of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. that is fo as we ma
be ilrenghened and fet forward, to glorifie G
in Chrift in necedary Duties. As for the ma
ner and meafure to be kceped in the ufe 6
things lawful, Prudence muft be asked of God
Who will drect us in this as in other Chiiftiaj;
Duties.
re
CHAP. XVI.
Concerning the Converts Sufficion, that his foftnej.
of Heart is nothing hut a natural Difpojition A
weep upon any occajgon.
WHen the Lord hath taken away frotij
the Sinner a Heart of Stone, and harf t
given unto him a Heart of Flefli,fo that he dan j
not any more harden himfelfagainft the Threat fi
nings of Gods Word, but doth tremble at th<
hearing thereof, as fpeaketh ffaiab, 66 2. anc
in his Prayer doth pour forth his Heart ordi
narly with Tears, he may (as Experience hat!
taught) fall in a fufpicion of this ordinarorfrc
qucht melring ofHeart as ific were nothing elfi
but a childifli or woman-like temper of Bodjjt
and Spirit, and no evidence of Contrition fo
fpirirua! Gfufes, which the Scripture required
and comiiKaaeth in the penitent.
a. Ii
JOOKIII. [647] CHAP.XVf.
%. In this cafe there is danger on cither H:md
f the Convert be not wary and circumfped: in
his condition; for, on the one hand he is in
lazard of making light account of the Work of
3od, Who hath taken from him the Heart of
kone, and given him an Heart of Flcih. On
he other Hand, he is in hazard of laying too
nuch weight on his Tears, if once he be (atis-,
kd about the fufpicionhe hath of his own Tears
ind made clear, that they were Proofs and Evi-
dences of his Sincerity in his Prayers to God.
That there is a danger on either hand, Ex-
perience hath taught; for, fome fincerc Con-
certs, having entertained the Sufpicion, that
:heir Tears in prayer proceeded from the fofc
:emper of their natural Complexion and Diipo-
Ition of Spirit, have refilled their Inclination
:o mourn, and ftriven againft letting forth of
fears fo far, that they have beoome fo cry for
1 long time, and have prayed more perfuncSto-
ioufly than before, that when juft Caufes of
3rief and Tears were given unto them, they
#ere not able to bring forth oneTear for eafing
)f their grieved Heart. On the other Hand, Ex-
perience hath tawght,that fome,looking upon die
£xpreiTions of ths Saints in Scripture con-
:erning their Tears have laid fo much weight u-
x>n their Tears,as they have numbred inaman-
ier,all the Drops of their Eyes,and from the le(s
>r more quantity of them, made reckoning of their
)Wfi better or worte condition, and of Gods Ac-
scpt^tion of their Prayers leis or more. 5,This
BOOK lit t 648 1 CHAP. XVI,
3. This tendernefs of Heart, and eafmefs t<
be moved unto Tears, for fpiritual Motives, i
a rare Gift. Few they ate who with fenfi'T
of the Body of Death and original Sin bearing
them down,do lament their natural Sinfulnefs it
their heft condition with Paul; Rom 7. 24. Feu
iliall be found fo affe&ionat to the Glory o
God and Salvation of Peoples Souls, as to
out Tears both in fecret and openly, for p:
moving thereof, as the Apoftle did, Acts 2
19. 2t and zCor. 2. 4. Few like Timothy
whofe Heart was fo tender, that the Apoftle^
could not butobferve his Tears, and remembei lr
them, 2 Tim. 1. 4. Yet, we doubt not, thai DC:
from Age to Agefundrybe, who by the Graa ;'
of God have this conftantly melting Heart, ae-^ 1
cording to the meafure of God's free Donation D;
fomc with Tears, fome without Tears: Anil
therefore, if there be found in fuch mourners
an honeft endeavour to walk circunlfpedJIy, let
not the fufpicion, that their Tendernefs is but
natural Weaknefs of Spirit or bodily comp!exioii
be entertained. Only let the Gfver of the Grac'c
of a tender Heart b^relyed upon, andnottheit
Tearsas if they were any more than Wi tneflps
cf their honeft Affe&ion in Spiritual ExercifeS
ior H)ch prayers may prove fincere and accept^-
btt to God, both when they cannot mourn, 2nd
-alfo when their Hcari (eemeth withered, hard
and dry, : ••*' ' • '**
CHAR
10 OK III [ 649 ] CHAP. XVII-
CHAP XVII.
"jDHcermng the Converts Sufpicicn, that all hi*
Devotion is hut Lip-labour which is not joined
with a tender and melting Heart, and with God's
jenfible Approbation.
AS iome are fufpicious of their Condition,
becaufe of their ordinar Tendernefs and
4 iimg of Heart; {o other fome are fufpicious
)f their condition becaute they find not their
deart tender and Soft in their Devotion. All
Converts do agree in this, that God muft be
worshiped inspirit and in Truth, and that it is
uot acceptable Worfhip to God, if a Man draw
pear Him with his Lips,vvhen hrsHeart is far from
iHtm: whereupon every Convctt, when he is
(mindfull of his Duty, goeth about to worfhip
God with Underftanding and inward Affe<5hon
of Heart to confefs £in, deprecat Wrath, ask of
Cod Things neceflar, interceed for others, give
Thanks to God for His Benefits,and pra\fe Hina
for His Works and Working,fo as his Affe&ions
may be conform to his Expreflfions, and the Con-
science may approve both his Words &kis hear*
ty AfFe&ions y & Godmay, with His Peace & Con-
folatk>n,approvethe Worfli.ppcr. But fome Con-
verts are,who,albek in finccnty they WorfhipGod,
yet they count all their Devotion to be but Lip-
labour,exceptthey find their AfFedtions wakened,
up & their Heart tender,& fome vigour of tpiri-
fual Life in their Excrcifes,& thefcjnfcofGads ap-
pro*
BOOK. m. [ 6$o ] CHAP. XVII.
Probation of their Worfliip, by giving fenfeof
His Peace and Confolation to them in their
worlhip, Hence oft-times doth fufpicion arife,
without juft ground, that they are deferted of
God ? that He isdifpleafed with them; and' this
Sufpicion being intertained, do fend forth Com-
plaints, and bfingeth on coldrifenefs in Prayec
and Difcouragement.
2. This unjuft Sufpicion of the Grace of Pray-
cr.the Lord doth oft- times chaftife by 'withdraw!
Peace and Comfort,and Order in Prayer and of
Words alfo,that he who complained that his De*
votion was but lip labour, becaufe he found noc
fuch meafure of Affection as he would have had,
nor that Confolation which he wifhed to have,
{hall find himfelf in worfe taking after his Com-
plaining,then he was in atfirft, when he began
to fufped: his Condition. It istrue,that Confu*
fion of Mind, and want of words toexprefs the
Cafe wherein he is, raay fall on a Convert, by
reafbn of Affli&ions and manifold Temptations,
and yet he may be free from this Sufpicion of
God's AfFedhon and Acceptation of his Perfon
and Prayers;asthe Apofdedoth teach us. Rorn.8.
\6 Likeivaysjhe Spirit alfo hel pet hour Infirmities;
for we blow not what we fhoidd pray for as we eught,
hut the Spirit itfelfmaketh intercejjion for us with
<jroanings which cannot be uttered. ' But wheri
this cutting fhort of the Gift of Prayer in any
meafure, doth follow after fufpicion of Gods
jtefpedlsRcJ Good- will toward the complaining
and
BOOK III [ 651 ] CHAP. XVII
and difcouraged Convert, it is a fatherly Cha-
ftifement from God, threatening the Convert
with a greater meafure of Defcrtion and heavi-
er Temptation, except he repent his Folly ani
rerurn to God, Whom by his Sufpicion and Mi£
belief he hath offended.
3. For remedy of this Evil,thtfe Five Things
muft be diilinguifhed by the afflt&ed Convert;
1, the Labour of the Lips,or Formality in Pray-
er or Devotion;!. Prayer in Faith^. Prayer with
felt and obferved Affection in Prayer; 4. Prayer
approven of God; ?. Prayer with fenfe and Feel-
ing of Gods approbation.
As to the Firft the labour of the Lips,or For-
mality in Prayer which the Scripture doth con-
demn is when a Man prayeth with his Mouth for
things neceflar or lawful,and is about the exter-
nal work of Devotion, wherein he pleafeth him-
felf,and doth reft upon the work wrought with-
out afFe&ion of H^art or Faith, as vvc fee, If.
58. I. x, 3. and this is not the cafe of the
Convert of whom we are.fpeaking;for,becaufe
he efteems his Devotion to be but a Formality,
he is difpleafed with himfelf and is unquiet.
As to the Second, Prayer in Faith, is when the
Convert mifieth freedom of Speech,and anfwe-
rable Afte&ion to his Speech in his devotion in
Prayer, Praifes,Thankfgiving, Interceflion, &r 9
yet, becaufe the Duty is commanded, he doth
offer it up to God with hope of acceptation, and
yec is difpleafed with himfelf, and hum-
bled
BOOK III I 6 S x ] CHAP; XVttt
bled in the fbnfc of his coldrife AfFe&ions,
which is the duty of the Convert of whom wo
are fpeaking, but the not efteeming this his
Devotion through Chrifi acceptable, is hisFault.
As to the Third ; Prayer or Devotion with
felt Affe&ion in difcharging it, is when the
Conyert poureth out his heart unto God with
freedom of Speech,and yet cannot be quiet, bc-
caufe he doeth not feel any Sign of God's ap-
probation of him and hearing of his Supplica-
tion, and this was the cafe of the Pfalmtli in
fundryPfalms. But this is not the cafe of the
Convert we are fpeaking of; for he complainr
eth of the Hardnefsof his Heart and want of
Afie&ion, and dpeth weaken his own Faith,
tahich is his Fault.
As to the Fourth ; Prayer approven of God,
is when the Convert doth offer liis Devotion to
God in Sincerity, and prayeth for what is pro-
mifed, in hope to be heard and anfwered indue
time. And this Prayer or Devotion is approven
by God in Scripture, whether the Convert be
fatisfied with the meafure of anfwerabieAfFe&i*
on to his Words,or not,as the Apoftle teftifieth,
i Job. 5-, 14, 15. And this fliould be obferved
by the Convert, of whom we ate fpeaking, for
rectifying his Judgment and quieting of him,
albeit he neither find his Afledtion moved as he
would, qor find Confol^tiQo from God as he
Would.
As. to the fifth ; Prayer or Devotion, with
the
BOOK TIT. [ fc$ ] CHAP. XVTC
the fenfc and feeling of God's Approbation, is
when God not only approveth the Converts
Prayer and Devotion,by His word in the Scrip-
ture, but a!fo by His Spirit doth fcnfibly com-
[fortthe Supplicant, and fends him to hisCalling
nvithjoy. So did He deal oft-times with the
Pfalmift David, and fo did He comfort Samuel's
Mother, m t and after her Prayer, i Sam. i. This
is the thing which the Convert we fpeak of
would be at, and which would iatisfy him if
he could come to if.
4. This Condition is the faceted to the Sup-
plicant, and much to be defired, with fubraiP-
{ion to God's Difpcnfation whatfoever it be,but
it is not the only condition acceptable to God,
as we fee, ijob. 5. 14, 15. this is the confidence
which we have in God, that if we ask any thing ac-
cording to H'?s Will He heareth us, and if me know
that He heareth us, whatfoever we ask we know we
have the Petitions that we defired of Him. And
that the Matter is fo, may be perceived in Dj-
Tid's condition at fundry times; for, PfaL 119.
(hven or eight times he prayeth, Qnkken Thou
'■ me according to Thy Word. Hefindeth in hhnielf
much deadnefs of Spirit, yet he continued*
meekly praying to be quickened in the Service
of God.
. " 5\ Wherefore,fo oft as the Convert is difplea-
fed for any defect he findeth in his Devotion,let
him, i, humble himfelf in the fenfe of his Imper-
fection, and betake himfelf fo much the more:
%
BO OK III. r **£ 1 CHAP. XVII.
to rhc Interceffion of Chrift, and lay hold more
firmly upon the Satisfa&ion made by the Medi-
ator, and draw by Faith Grace for Grace out of
HisFulnefs,and let him in Faith and Sincerity
worfhip God,and liveholily in his Converfation
and not be afraid that his Devotion (hall bee-
eftemed of God to be but Lip-labour, z. To
this end, let him rightly conftruc Gods Difpenfa-
tion,and confider that His Gifts are wifely given
forth for the Good of His People:For fomecime
He giveth to will that which is Good, without
ability for the'time tocffc&uat what theConvert
willeth; He may give a willing Heart to pray
affed:ionatly,and not for the time grant ability
to pray as His Child would, Rom. 7. x 8. Some-
time He may give no more but to Sigh and
Groan, without ability to exprefs the confufed
Defires of his Heart, Rom. 8. 26. 27. Sometime
He will Suggelt Words.and make the Supplicant
in fmcerity of Faith prcfent the words put in his
Mquth,i^i4.i. 2. Sometime he will grant to
the Supplicant to bear out much Difputationin
his Prayers/without fenfible Confolation,F/T 77*
Sometime he will grant the Supplicant a loqfed
Heart in Prayer and abundance of Tcars,and yet
fecm foratimenot to regard them. Pf.6Somc-;
time Hs will grant Confidence and Confblation
to the Supplicant, as Pf. 6. and many other
ffalms. And certainly, the variety of divine DiC-
penfation to His Children cannot be told; in all
which,He requires of fts Supplicants meek Sub-
mit
BO O K HI. \ 655 ] CHAP. XVllE
miflion,and ferfcverance in Payer, with Con-
fidence to find a good Anfwer at la(T: For if His
Child do not accept well of the mcafure which
is beftowed on him, he may readily find themea-
fure he complained of, more fcant,and confufion
of Mind without Words to fall upon him, and if
yet he fhall not wifely fubmit himfclf to Gods
cxercifingofhim, he may fall in harder Trouble
and qucflioning of his ftatc in Grace, and be
tempted to reftrain Prayer till he ceafe com-
plaining, and fly for refuge to Chrift the Media-
tor, and come to a better Eftimation of the mea-
furc of prefence with Him whei he began ml
complain:
CHAP. XVIIL
Concerning the Converts looking upon the Fifht of
his Faith, as if it were thefailingof his Faith,
Sincere Faith in Chrift is the fpecial Grace
of God, given to the EIe& only; which
Grace, the more we do cxercife it, the more we
pleafe God: For without Faith it is impoffiblc
to pleafe Him, Hek t r. 6. This faring Grace
the Lord taketh pleafure to put it unto Try-
al and Exercife, that thereby He may train it
on, and fofter and increafe it,and bring it forth
to lighr, both for His own Glocy and for the
commendation of His Children, as is told u s 1
Feu. 7, In which Exercife, the true ©onvW
is
BOOK HI. [ 6$6] C H A P. XV1IT,
is oft-times much miftaken, and doth mif-coa-
(true hisCondition.The Reafbns are, i. the Faith
of young Converts is very imperfect,Kn6\vledge
is many ways darkened, and the Application of
Promifes is very Weak. z.When Satan by his
Tentations obfcuas toe Truth, which fhould
ftrengthen Faith,rhe Convert finding himielfin
the Mrft,may be at a {land. till his fight be cleared
up and he freed from the Tentation. jfthc fin-
cere Converc.in the Conference of bis own Imper-
fection and confideration of the Deceitful nefs of
the Heart.is wary and fufpicious, that he may
be eafily deceived,and take Hiftorfcal or Tem-
poral Faith for true Saving Faith, and (b doth
readily lay hold on Satan's Suggefiions againfl:
the Sincerity of his Faith. 4. tp the Conflid:,
which his Faith oft-times hath with Mif-belief,
ftrengthened by^Satans Tentationsjie finds him-
felf now and then foiled by yeildihg unto the
Suggeftion of SataniasD^Wj- Experience teach-
cth may befall both the elder and younger Soul-
diers. Pf. 116. 11. I faid in my ha(ie,all Men are
Lyars,tn£Z\\\ug San.uel and other Prophets, who
promifed to David in God's Name he fltoiild be
King. 5 .In the Fight of Faith, (ome infirmity is
always manifefted,and the Convert is forced to
acknowiedge,that his Faith is not fo ilrong as lie
fuppofed it to be before the Fight, whereupon
he is ready to (ufped: his tight inTaith to be ;
a" fainting and dec. raith.6 : the
Convert by : giving -waj (o Sin, tioih'grieve the
Hoi
BOOKm. [ 657 ] CHAP. XVIII,
holy Spirt, and provoke Him to withdraw His
comfortable Teftimony, which He gave in for-
mer time to the Convert, which bringeth him
into Suipicion of the Sincerity of hfis Faith,
which feemed to himlelf found and unfaincd
before.
2. This Cafe is both troubteforhe to the Con*
vert and dangerous; for till it be cured,it grovv-
cth like a taking Fever and fets upon the Vi-
tal Power of Jultifying Faith, and at lead hin-
dereththe Exerciie thereof not a little.
For Remedy whereof, let the affii&ed Con-
vert put difference between an Infirm Faith, and
Felt Infirmity in Faith fighting 3 For albeit the
Convert, in the Conflict of Faith againft Ten-
tations to Mil belief, do feel Infirmity, yet is
not his Faith to be accounted infirm (imply, be-
caufe whatfoever Infirmity he feels in his Fight,
yet his fighting againft Tentations proveth his
Faith to be fo much the ftronger as he refitted*
Mif belief and cleaveth clofer to Chrft.
2. Let him confider, that the Lord fuffereth
His Child to be exercifed with Tentations, of
fet purpofe to humble him, and empty him of
all Confidence in his own Wifdom, Righteouf-
neis and Strength, that he may gather Strength
in hitf fighting, by Scripture, holden up to
God in Prayer, and fo wax valiant in Fight,
as Believers have been helped before, Heh.
3, Let
B OOK m. [ 65% ] CHAP. XVIIL
3 . Let the Convert put difference between
Fanh and a fetled Perfwafion: For fctlcd and full
Per fwafion excludes all Dubitation for the time,
but faving Faith may be where Doubting is
and Unbelief is felt; as the Father of the pof-
fefled Child in his Prayer to Chrift maketh ma-
nifeft, Lord, 1 believe, faith he, help my unbelief.
4. Let him put difference between Dubitati-
on (uggefted, and Faith driving to overcome
Dubitation: for Dubitation bewrayeth infirmity
of Faith, but ftirving againft Dubitation, doth
evidence Life and Vigour in Faith to beprefent a
and is acceptable Service to God.
3. Let him put difference between the doubt-
ing of the Truth of the Promifeand the weak
griping of it; for he that doubts of the Truth of
the Promift is, (Jam. 1,6.7.) l&c a Wave of the
Sea, and can expe<5t nothing. But he that layes
hold on the promife, with a trembling Hand,
and ftriveth to hold it faft againftdoubting,may
expedito obtain.
6. Let him put difference between his Su-
fpicion of tlie failing of his Faith and the right
judging of it:For,in the mean time of his fight-
ing and fear of Failing, he goeth on in exer-
cife of Faith,fearing to fuccumb,yet refolutenot
to depart from Chnft: In the Love and Eltima-
tion of Whofe Grace, he goeth on and growcth
longing for the vidtory and for a nearer feltfel-
lowflrip with Him; which if he did obferve and
eonfider, his Judgement ihould be rectified.
ft O K HI [ 6^9 ] CHAP. XViIl.*
Laft of all, let him put difference between
ft hafty Apprehcnfion of the failing of his fjkitjai
and a fixed opinion that hisFaith is butFancy:For
a ftrong Souldier may be furprized on a tuddeni
('as D*W, Pf, jr. ax. and Ff ii6. 12. and
Jonah, i. 3, 4 doth furnilh iqftancpl ) who
fhortty after did gather their Courage and en-
tered the Lifts afreffi, and became Victorious a-
gainft their Tentations unto misbelief. ,
Therefore let the VVreftler be of good
Courage ; for nothing can prove the Sin-
cerity of his Faith more then his Wreftiing a>
gainft Diftruft, and his looking towards Chrift
through all the Clouds which hinder his fight,
and his forrowing for his Unbelief, for his weak
holding. grip of the Covenant of Grace, and for
his inability to glorifie the Truth or* the . Gofpcl;-
and Rich Grace of God offered in Chrift ; Eipe-.
cially when he confidereth, that the Spirit of
Chrift commendeth the exercife of Faith with
variety of Temptations, for a matter of great
toy, Jam. i. &. 3.
CHAP, XfX.
Zoncernin^ the Convert straitening his Charity t6-
ward others, more then he did at the fir li time of
hisGonverfion ? conceivin^ his former larger Chart*
ty, was unwarrantable Folly,
A
LI Converts rmift agree to Chrifts faying^
fib iy I5*£y this /ball all Mep know >t bat
T t p
BOOK III. [ 660 ] CHAR XlX-
ye are My'Difciples if ye have love one ^to another*
No Man doubtcth of thishisDuty in general;but t
fundry make queflion about the exercife and ex-
preilion of their Chariry : For, fooie conceive,
that their former Charity (in the matter of judg-
ing of others, and in the matter of AiTedhon to
others, and in the matter of actual Exprefliooi
of their Charity) hath been ill beftowed toward i
unworthy and ill deferring Ferfons. And this
they reckon to have been Folly; and therefore
do refolve todifpofe cf their Judgement, Aflfc-
&ion and good Deeds more prudently then they
have dene, that their charitable Eftimation,Af-
fecSion and ExprefTion actual fhall be drawn
forth toward the worthy and well-deferring Dil-
ciples of their Acquaintance, thus they condemn
for Folly what was right indeed. The main
Pretences of Reafon for their Refolution, are
Two. The Ftr/lis, becaufe they perceive ma*
ny whom they judge Wife and Godly, to ex-
clude from the number of Believers, or Difciptes
of Chrilt all in whom the evident Signs of Re-<
generation do not appear, and fo do chink they
may draw the Circle of their Charity in ftrait &
narrow bounds, and may (Buri to keep Churcb-
feliowfhip in the pure Ordinances ofChnfl witli
any, iave apprcven vifible Saints. The Other
Pretence is, becaufe they have found themselves
oft-times deceived by thofc,of whom fometime
they have entertaiaed good Thoughts, and n?
fm&ll Eilimarien.
g, A »l
book m; r 66* ] chap. xix
i. AS for the Fir(l Pretence, it belongs to
the quefiion of the Conflirution of vifiblc
Churches, whether it be founded upon vifiblc
Sandiityor Evidences of Regeneration, or upto'ri
vifible entering in the external Covenant of
Grace, and PfofefHon of Subjection to the Da-
£rine and Difcipline of Chriil. Of which Que-
ftion, there is enough written by learried and
godly Men, and in this place it doth not fail in
conveniently to be difputed.
% Concerning the Other Pretence, of being
oft-tirries deceived by fiindry, fuch a:$ were un-
worthy of refpe£;wc grant, that there are many
Hypocrites who pretend rei be Saints, and wor-
thy to be blamed in that refpedt : And it is no
wonder.that theCharityof many Wax cold, when
lb many (peak vanity, every Man to his Neigh-
bour, Pf. i i.i. for this our Lord foretold, ^/,?/- v
14. iz. Becaufe iniquity jhall ahound ', the Love of
many jball wax cold. Yet, it is not juftiftable
to cut Charity ihort, becaufe of Mens ill-defer*
Ving; Rivers of Tears, faith David, run down my
Eyes, becaufe they kept riot Thy Commands. Here
is Love to God's Glory, and pky toward pe«
riihing Souls ; fuch Mourners were fpared in the
day of God's Wrath, Ezck, 9 f.
1. Ob. But fome may fay, the fame Pfilmifl
did hate the Wicked and Prophage Anfi, But
he did fo with a perfect Hacred, not With a car-
ggj[ tfnd carrupt Hatred againft their Prions,
T c i but
BOOK 111/ [ 66% ] CHAP. XOG *
but with a rpjritual and fncere hatred, tending
to the aboiilliing. of their Vice and Safety of their y l
Pcrfons : for which end the Pfalmtfl prefcncecli ^
his AfFe&ionstobe examined of God, and teach- ^
cth Men, by his Example,topurifie their Hearts r
in bating Sinners. z,Put cafe, that God did re-
veal unto the Prophet the Rrptobation offome
Enemies of God, for whofe Perdition he pray
ed in? (andry Pfalms, tint the Juftice of Go
might be manifefted, and the Church preferved
from their Malice. This his Practice is not to
be imitat by them who know not of wh it Spi-
rit they are, and cannot juitfie before God the
Integrity of theirHearts in the particular.
2. Oh. But, put Cafe, tauh one, that lam a
civil Judge, fliall my Charity hinder Jufuce and
cutting off Malefactors, Man- flayers, or others
fuch-hke >Anf Not ; for Charity to the- Male-
factor may (land with the Love of Juftice and
Common*wealth y when the Malefactor is ad-
judged to Death. For, when Jojbua was to de- .
ftroy Achan, he exhorted him to repent and give
Glory to God, that his Soul might be faved,
]of. 7. 19. Likeways the Prophets,, when they
denounced the Deftru&ion of Cities* and Nati-
ons, had melting Hearts in eompaifion toward
them who were Condemned by God, If 16.
xi. Jer. 48. 36. and Chrift our Lord, Chanty
it felf, weeped for the Mifery o[]eruJalem y de-
ilinatjuftlycQ Dciliuotion, Math. 23. n*
eOOKUI [ 663 ] CHAP, XIX.
3 Ob But. (fauh he) a fpecial regard mud be
had toward Believers in the exercifc of Charity
GiL 6. io. Anf It is true; but the A pottle's
Words are, As we have opportunity, let us do good
unto all Men, ejpccially unto them that are of the
J/ou/btUof Faith. WhichHouihold confitleth of
all them who byProfeffion have fnbjcdred them-
felves to the Dodtrinc and Difcipline of Chrift,
aad are Members of the vifible Church.
4. Obj. But (faith he) as all that are oflfrael,
arc not the Ifrael of God, Rom. 9. 6. So ail that
are in the viiible Church, are not of the Houf-
liold of God« Anf.Who hath made thee a Judge
cither to difcern who are Eledfr,who not? or
to difcern what (hall become of this Man oc
that Man, whereby thou may abandon Charity
toward him ? God hath given to us His Spirit,
faith the Apoftle, that we may know what £a*
ving Grace he hath given to our/elves, but not
to know what he harh beftowed on others. 1 Cor.
a. ro. 11. God who only fearcheth the Secrets
of all Hearts, hath refcrved the Judgements of
Mens Hearts to Himfelf, and He alone candid
>cern who is the Hypocrite, and in whofe Heart
there is no guile.
5. O^.But (faith he) the Judgement of Cha-
rity is not blind, but fliould be according as the
the Truth is; otheAvays, 1 fhail efteem a Man
a true Convert,who is not Regenerat,and fo de-
ceive my felf. Anf. The Judgement of Chari-
ty, concerning other Mens inward Eftate and
T c x Co^
BOOK. III. I 664 3 CHAP. xix. ;
condition,is n$t orje always with the Judgement
according to Verity; for, the Rule of the Judge-
ment of Charity, is Equity and commanded Qu-
tyjrefervjng the Judgement accqrding to Verity "L
to God. For this diiiinc^ion the Apoftlc gives
ground, ThiL 1. 6. 7. in Charity judging all
the Vhihppians to be fincere Converts; he faith
his Speech and Intimation of them was according
as xoas meet for him to think-Now equity requi-
red, that lip fhould judge the belt of them all,
albeit he did not know, the Hearts of them all
as he Gpth, \Cor, 13. 7. Charity believeth all
things, hopeth all things \endureth all things. But
for the judgement of other Mens Eftate and Con-
dition in praps, according to Verity, hedoth
forbid Men to judge before the time, 1 Cor. 4. 3.$
Eow.iA.^Jam^izAnd 1 Pet.5.11. the Apoftle,
fpeaking in Charity of Sylvanus, faieh, l^e is 4
faithful Brother, as I fupppfe. %. If we fee it our
EKityto fhow Charity to our Neighbour, what*
foever he be, our Charity is not blind, hut cleat
lighted.
6. Oh. But (faith he) Mens Profanity Wick-
ednefs and Atheifn,may clearly be feen,for the
Fja/m//} faith the Tranfqreffion of theWickedfaitb
within my Heart y that there is no. Fear of God he;
fore bisEyesiPl. 36. 1. and Chrift fpeaking of
Fa ife Prophets, Mat. 7. nj. fai;h, T^fhallknop..
them h their Fruits.
^pVhatthe Prophet faith by the Spirit ? and
what Ghrift faith is true; and vye grant, that
■''" " ' ' ' Meni
BOOK III [66s] CHAP. XIX.
Mens ill Deeds and corrupt Do&rine,do bewray
their Naughty inward Difpofition : But what
fcrveth this to juftifie thy rafh Judgement of
of thy Brother, that there is no faving work of
Grace in him, becaufe they cannot perceive the
evident Signs thereof in him, in whom poflibly
thou cannot find any reigning Vice,or open out-
breaking Scandals ? What doth this ferve to
hinder Expreflions and Fruits of Charity toward
open Sinncrs,fo long as God waitcth patiently
on their Repentance? It is one thing to be wary
left we be infe&ed with the Contagion of Mens
ill Manners or corrupt Do&rinc; another thing
to cut them off from being the Obje&s of out
Charity.
7. Ok But we are forbidden (Taith he) to have
Followfliipwith Sinners who may intifeustoSin,
Pro. 1. n. and to make Friendship with an an-
gry Man. Pro. i%. zq.
Anf. This Warinefs may confift with Charity;
For, albeit we cannot be Partakers with evil
Workers, or enter in needlefs Familiarity with
thofe with whom we cannot converfe and be free
jof Damnage from them,yet we may not exclude
.them from the objedof our Charity, or carry
our fcWes fo toward them, as they can take no
good from our hand; For,fo long as we live in
the World, we muft follow Peace with all Men
and Holincfs, Heb 9 i%.i^. 1 Cor. 5. io.
8. Ohj. Albeit it be true, that we muft in com-
mon Duties of Civility and Humanity grudenc-
BOOK III. [666] CHAP. XI5&
ly behave our felves, yet we muft carry other*
ways to profe/fed Chriftians, if their Conven-
tion be grofly fcandalous; for,with luch we arc
forbidden to Eat,i Cor. 5 11.'
Attf. This place pertains totheExercife of the
Key of Difcipline,and execution of theCcnfurc
of Excommunication judicially pronounced by
the Church; as Ver. 11. following,doth declare,,
And tlis.as it doth not cut off natural Duties of
Parents, or Chiidren,or Parties married one to ano-
ther: (b it can well confift with Charity toward
the Excommunicato who, in order to his Salva-
tion Jhou'Jd be thus dealt with, that he may be
humbled & brought to Repentance; And fo doth
the Apcfllegive VVarrand^for when he-hath g ven
order toExcommunicat fuch as walk difordcrly,
k 7%e(T 3'. 1 4. 1 5 he fubjoines,for keepingCharity
to the Excoinmuriicat Perfon, faying, Count him
not as an Enemy, hut admonifk him as a Brother.
9! Oh But 1 ( faith he ) have been miftaken
and deceived qft- times when 1 efleemed Chari-
tably of Tomejeved them dearly, and beftow-
cd not fparingly on thofe who proved afterward
unworthy of iuch Refped: and Dealing.
4nf Our Lords words may fatisfie this Ob-
jection, 'promifingj whatfoevcr' is done to a
Difcip/e, in name of a Qifciple, iliali not want
a RcwardThou therefore needs not count thy
fclf deceived in this refpect. But if thou by
rafh intruding thy felf to judge belter or worfe
of the Maris inward Condition, hath deceived
BOOK III. [ 667 } CHAP. XX
thy felf,be more wife in time coming.For Reme-
dy of this Evil, 1. let not the Convert, miftakeri
in the point of Chariry, be feared to be mifta-
ken and hindered from Exercife of his Charity,
becaufe he knovvcth not the fincerity of the
Man's Profeflion : There are Relations enough
between him and the Party toward whom Cha-
rity is to be exerciled, fuch as Bonds Natural,
Civil, Ecclefiaftick and Spiritual, obliging to the
Duty. 2. Let him be fparing in judging of his
Neighbour.even within himfelf,and far more in
expreffing his Judgement of him to his preju-
dice. 3. Let him rather judge this, that he lay
ho Humbling Block before his Feet, which may
hinder him in a good, or harden him in an evil
Courfe, Rom. 14. 13, Let him not be Rigid
and Cenforions in aggrcging every finful Infir-
mity in his Neighbour.for this is forbid den, Jam.
3. i,x. In a word, let a Convert beware to alienac
any Man from making ufeofhisCharicy,whethec
by injuft Sufpicibn of him, or Inhumane
Dealing with him, or imprudent Speeches of
him,but rather let his whole Carriage toward all
in every cafe be fuch,that a patent Door may be
for mutual giving & getting good one by another
CHAP. XX.
Concerning the Converts nriftaklnghls Condition, he'
caufe of felt in- lake in his Charity and Love io t
God And Men.
k T'therto we havefpokenof Two forts of the
JL JL Converts miftaking of their Cendition,artd
have
BOOK III. [ 66% ] CHAP. XX>
have given fome Inflances of their being well
pleafed with themfelves in an evil condition ;
and fome Inflances of their being difpleafcd with
themfelves in a good Condition. It follows,
that we give fome Inflances of a Third fort of
Miflaking in the Converts complaining of his
conditions if it were altogether evil, when in-
deed his condition is partly good and partly evil;
& the Firfl (hall be of thofe who do lament their
condition, becaufe they cannot be afte&ed with
the fenfe of their Sins, nor with the fenfe of
Gods Benefits and Favours bellowed on them,
as they fhould, cannot be affe&ed with the fenfe
of threatened Judgements as is required, and can-
not be affe&ed with the fenfe of the Miferies
and Mercies difpenfed toward others,and cannot
come up to the Obedience of the Apoftles Pre-
cept, to rcjoyce with them that rcjoyce, and to
mourn with them that mourn, which doth fo af-
flict them, as they reckon this their condition
altogether evil,and are near untoDifcouragment,
becaufe of their apprehended Hardncfs of Heart.
x.For Remedy of this Evil, i.Iet the Convert
eonfider, that the Hardnefs of Heart whereof
he complains, is not that Hardnefs of Heart
which the Scripture calletli hardnefs of Heart :
For the Scriptures do not charge any Man of
this Sin who .lamenteth his Sinfulnefs, but thofe
who do not acknowledge their Sins, and go on
in them when they hear them reproved, mif-re-
garding what God fatfh,cqmmandeth, coipmen-
deth
BOOK III ['669] CHAP. XX.
or threateneth. Mean time we do not deny,but
thofein-lakes whereof the Convert doth com-
plain,are finful Defe&s of Duty, and Inclination
of corrupc Nature unto hardnefs of Heart. But
we deny, that this defect lamented, is charged
in Scripture for Hardnefs of Hcart.x.Let the Con-
vert confider the difTerence between the Evif
whereof he complaineth, and the good Gift of
God pointing out that Evil unto him, and mak-
ing him to difallow it and lament it, and he
{hall find his condition not altogether evil, but
fuch as he hath caufe to be humbled in himfelf
for it, and alfo to blefs God for difcovering this
Defed:,and making him lament it. 3. Let him
confidcr, that his lamenting his coldrife Affecti-
on to God and his fmall Companion toward
Men,is good and commendablc;for this lamen-
ting the Defect beareth witnefsof his Will and
Detire toward the Duty, and in effed: is a part
of the Exercife of Repentance, and of begun
Renovation of his Heart. 4. Let liim confider,
that there may be made good ufe of this condition
both for the Exercife of hqmility,becaufe of felt
Pefe&s of needful Graces,& alfo for the Exercife
of Faith in Chrift, by application of His impu-
ted Rightcoufnefs, which hideth the Nakedr»efs
of felt Defects, and drawing vertue from Chrift
to San&ifieand renew the Heart more and more.
5. And laft of all, let the Convert under the
fenfe of this Defect in his affection, ftudy to
bring forth the effects of thofe affections^ that
ft
B OOK HI. f 676 ] CHA P. XXI.
is to fay Jet him go about to do the work of a
Lover of God,in having refped to all Hi« Com-
niandmehts,and to do the work of a compaffio-
nat affedtion toward Men in MiferyofSou
or Body, and fo what feems to him inlaking
in his Heart fliall be found forth-coming in his
Hand and A&ions for the greater Glory Jo God
and Edification of his Neighbour.
CHAP. XXI.
Concerning the Converts defpifing of his own Exer-
cifes of Religion, lecaufe of his felt Canity of
Mind therein.
A LI true Converts do agree in this principle,
that God fhould be worfhiped in Spirit
and Truth, and that the more a Man ftrive to
befincereand upright in his Wor(hip 3 the left
can he comport with the Sin which dotti hinder
his Worfhip.When therefore a true Convert doth
perceive in himfelf fo great Levity of his
Thoughts, that in the very time of hearing Ser-
mon, praying to God, or Tinging ofPfalms, his
mind runneth out to think of naughty & profane
Things,impertinent,idle and fooliih Matters,un-
worthy of his Thoughts at any time, but moft
untirnous and finful in the time of Divine Ser-
vice, he is fo difpleafed with his condition, that
lie condemns all the Service and Devotion he is
about for the time, and cafts it away as altoge-
ther polluted ; and if he find this Sicknefs from
jftX
BO OK HI. [ $71 ] CHAP. XXT ;
day to day clciving fad unto him,hc fallcth in
Difcouragcment, and in queftion with himfclf
whether it be better to break off" at left in fe-
cret fuch ragged Worfliip, or to go on to offer;
the Sacrifice of a Fool unco God:For,fo he doth
efteem of his Devotion, thus leavened with
Vaiging and Vanity of his Mind.
In this cafe, the Convert doth not only mif-
regard what is right in his Devotion,or Divine
Service, but alfo by Freethg, Difcouragemcnc
and Mif behaviour of his Spirit.is ready toaug^
ment his finful Condition, and to provoke the
Lord to be wroth with him indeed.
x. For Remedy of this evil, let the Convert
judge wifely of his Condition, that he charge
not himfclf with guiltincfs mote then lie ought
to do, and that he may takca right courfe to
be free of Guiltinefs,and healed of thisSicknefs
where Guiltinefs is found.And to this end 1. let
him putdifference between Vaiging of Mind,
With interruption of Worfliip, and the natural
courfe of hisPhatitafjeand Under(landing,whicfi
may confift with the continued ads of Worihip^
for as the? Eyes of a Man,running to fome place,
cannot choofc but fee every vifible thing in his
way, and yet runneth on without (laying till he
come to the place he aimeth at;fo t&e Phantafie
andUnderftanding,canhot choofe but take up.and
difcern whatfoever is offered unrothemin time of
P rayer from the outward Senfes,or from the Me-
frjory,& yet ma,ke no irtferrupciqg of Praycr ; fucli
B OOK III. [ 6 7 i] C H A P. XX\
is the natural Agility of a Man's Mind;and there-
fore this natural courfe of Imagination orPhatt-
taiic,muft not be charged as Guiltinefs upon the
Worfliiper, who followeth on the work of wor-
ship notwithftanding, z. Sundry, Suggeftions
may Be caft into the Converts Mind by Satan
to marr his Worfhip, which muft be charged on
£atan chiefly ,and the Worfhipcr not alway made
guilty thereby. 3 When the worihip indeed is
interrupted, and tne Mind fallerh off from the
work of Devotion, or Divine Service,, and en-
teretli upon Difcourfes about vain, vile, or im-
pertinent Matters, let the Convert not only ac-
knowledge guiltinefs here, but alio examine,
if this his vaiging of Mind in Prayer and Divine
Service, be not alfo a Chaftifcment from God,
for his not acknowledging of God in his Affairs,
and for loofing Reins to his Mind to rpave all
the Day, which jiftly meeteth him at Night ia
his Devotioti, a:s a Rod on his back for his vo-
luntar vaiging from God in his former Walking.
3. Thefe Confiderations being premifed, and
the Sins which have drawn on this evil being
difcovered, and the power of indwelling- fin
perceived, and the power of Satans Temptations
noticed, and the Lords chaftifeing Rod juftified,
and his own Culpable infirmity acknowledged;
1. Let him humble himfclf and fly ro the rich
Grace ofGod offered in Chrift, and lay ftrdhger
hold on the fattefa&orimade by Chrift,and im-
puted tp' all Believers in Him, that Guiltinefs
BOOKtn. M43] CHAP. XXI.
may be, by free pardon removed. 2. Let him
pray for more Afliftance of the holy Spirit in
all the Excrcifes of Religion,and expect a graci-
ous granting thereof, in Gad's wifeDifpenfati-
onof the mcafurcof his Grace in the u(e ofho-
Jy Ordinances. 3. Let His Heart be in the fear
of the Lord all the day long, making him lift up
his Eyes from time to time to God in the midft
of his lawful Affairs, how mean focver. 4-Lee
him gather his Thoughts before every religi-
ous Exercifc, byway of preparation, left he take
the Name of the Lord in vain, by rafli andun-
revereut rufhing in upon divine Scrvice.j Let him
thank the Lord for granting him Grace to fee
his finfol vaigingof Mind, and to be difpleafcd
with it, and to confefsit. 6. Let him be com-
forted in the Lord Who gatberetfr the ragged
and fcattered honcft Defircs of Supplicants, and
taketh away the Iniquity of the Service of Hit
Clients,as our high Prieft,bearing,in Hisappear-
ing for us, as it were, on His Fore- head, Holt*
nefs unto the Lor J.
CHAR XXII.
Concerning the Convert's Difcouragement forfeit
want of ability to Jo the Duties commanded,
nhe+eunto bis renewed Will is very bent.
SUndry true Converts, findings Will ro do
that which \% good but nor finding power
Ijew c* perform that which \% good,d© fail in di£
quiets
BOOK III. [ 674 1 GHA P. XKi
quietnefs and difcouragement When theyflioulcl
go and feek to make good ufe of their Infirmity,,
and go to Chrift for Remeed,as the ApolHe did,
Rom. 7. 18.
The Caufe of this Evil is, the Relidte of Cor-
rupt Natural Inclination to feek to be Juftified
by Works,and to have in our hand ability to do
the Good which we would do; for, albeit the
Convert be forced to feek Rccontilation with
God by Remiffion of Sins in his Converfion,yet
in his courfe toward Heaven and Salvation, hq
defireth to have aStore-houfe and Treafure of
Strength in himfelt,tobe made ufe of as hewilr
eth. For it feemech to him, in his caraal Wif-
dom,a poor fllift to be,in every good A&ion,put:
to beg fupply fromChnli byPrayer,and to ftand
Waiting oh in adependance or* Ghrift,till Furni*
ture come frGm Heaven unto him. Which Fur-
niture of Strength , becaufe our, Lord dothfu-?
fpend to give, till His infirm and humbled Child
hold up his ; FL?Kta$ an empty VeiTel to receive
Influence from Him, according to His wife Plea-
fure, the inconfiderat Convert doth trouble him-
fclf and falletto in a D;ftemper:;>
.. 1. This cafe is not. altogether Evil, as tho
Convert doth take it; but this, much is right,
that he looks upon the Law as^Holy, Spiritual
and Good, that he defirech earneitly to obey it;
and that he loaths himieif for his felt uneonfor*
mity unc^ it;Yet,this is wrong i| hjm,that he dotli
m
BOOK III. [ 6 7 s ] CHAP. XXIL
not humble himfclf, but iscaft down and dif-
couraged,that he doth not make Chrift his £an-
rfiiflcation as well as his Riglucoulnefs,that he
doth not confider of the Furniture to be brought
unto him from Heaven by Faith in Chrift, and
that this Grace is nearer and more ready to (er vs
his turn,then i( it were in his own hand.
3. Therefore let him renounce more and more
all confidence in his own Rightcoufnefs with
the Apoftle,F£//. 3, 8, 9. let him Thank God
in Chrift, in Whom an out-gate is to be found
in all Difficluties. Row. 7. 25-. let him truft
Chrift for fupply in all Service, in Whom if a
Mian abide, he {hall bring forth much Frurt,and
without Whom he can do nothing, Job. 15. 5.
For if he depend on Chrift in his Emptinefsand
Weakncfs he {hall find by Experience, that when
he weakeft, then he is ftrongeft.
CHAP. XX11L
Concerning the Gpnvert's imprudent cenfure ofhini-
feoffor felt Ingratitude.
^Ome Converts iometime, do pafsrafli Sen-
^ tence agjunft themfelves for Ingratitude,
aamely when after receiving fome notabie Bene-
jt.for which they had made earneft fupplicatiori
:oGod,and for which,before the -receiving of the
benefit, they had obliged* thsrnfelves by Vo.w.
u«
to
BOOKltt. [676] CHAP.XXfJ
to a thankful acknowledgement of the Favour
prayed for,they find themfelves come (hort of
their purpofed,promifed % and hoped forchearful-
nefsand Alacrity in Praifing and Thanking the '
Lord;vvhereupon they notonly fall in Heavinefs, <
but alio in a fort of Indignation againft them-
Te)ves,and quarrelous complaining of their cort^
dition,and by this means,are fo far from perform*
ing their Vows, that by rheir imprudence, the/ j
do involve themfelves in no fmal! Guiltinefs i '
And for thisDiftemper of Mind and Indignation '
againft themfelves, they conceive themfelves to
have juft Reafon; partly,becaufe they find their j
Rejoycing in God,and Thankfgiving to Him, for l
the Benefit received, nothing anfwerable to their '
earned praying for it;partly becaufe the Beneficjl
received feems to them to have loft much of the
Eftimation it had before they did receive it;part*
ly,becaufe they find even that fmall meafure of
Joy, at the receiving or the Benefit after fome few
days to grow cold and likly to evanifh. Hence
doth 6'ufpicion begin to get footing in rhem,rha£
for their ingratitude the Lord is angry wittf
thcm,& hath beftowed the Benefit onf them,notirj
Mercy but in Wrath.and fothey fall in cheguit
tinefs of Ingratitude more and more.
%. For rsmovrngof this Evil, Five practical
Erra?s> muft be removed, which ordinarily cont-
our <rf this Sicknefs. The Firfl is this, the Af*
ffid d f fa his promiilng -into God to be thank-* '
fill, will oe found to have bad tQ9 much con*
fidcacd
BO OK 1ft [ 6 77 ] C HA P. XXIII.
fidence in his own Strength; trufting.that in his
*|le(olution, his Heart could not but melt in the
, fenfe of the Mercy granted. And this appearetht
by his Indignation againtl himfclf,when he fin-
deth, that in his Refolution his Heart hath de-
ceived him ; as if he had expected the Benefit
.from God, and the Thankfgiving from himieif ;
, Whereas he ihould have diib'nguifhwd thefetvvo
Benefits to wit, the Gl r t prdyed for, and the
Thankfgiving for it, and Ihould have depended
, upon God for bellowing of both: For the Grace
ofthankfulnefs for a Benefit asked and received,
is greater then the Benefit prayed for ; which if
the Affli&ed had confidered well, he fhoulcf
have humbled himfeif before God for his not;
j performance of his Duty, ratker then fallen m
| a proud quarrelling for his Inability to be thankful,
3. The fecond Error is an unequal cornpari*
fon between the defire he had to obtain the Be-
nefit, and the rejoycing in God for the Benefit
received; for, the defire to obtain the Bene*
fit,oft> times hath in it a great meafureof natural
I ami carnal Appetite, and feeking of fome part of
*Self-perfe&ion; but the rejoycing in God.whicb
;the Convert purpofed to orfcr for the Benefit, is
fpiritua'l.And we are rr.uch more inclined ro fcek
(thefe things which pertain to the Commodity of
[this Life, then to perform Spiritual Duties; fo
that it is not to be wondered at, when out De-
fires, in part natural, are not followed withe-
'Aual Affection Spiritual.
BO O K IU. [ 678 ] CHA P. xxm.
4. The third Error is,when the Convert doth
not puc difference between the Eilimation of
the Benefic,and the Joy in God for bellowing of
it, but meafureth rhem with the tame Line, not
confidering that Eftimation is the a# of the In-
tellect and Judgment. and that Joy is the ad of
the AiKxftion; and both of them in this cafecx-
errifed about divers Objects : The Eilimation
refpe&ing the Benefit itfelf. the AfFcclion of
rejoycing in God Who did bellow it.refpedhng
the Giver of the Benefit.Now the Eftimation of,
and delighting in theBenefrt may be lefs or more,
while the Eftimation of God's Goodnefs, in be-
llowing of it, remaineth the fame And therefore i
the Convert fliould not charge himfelf for lake
of Eilimation of God and His Gifts, albeit h*
feel much variety in the refpe&ivc Motions of
iiis Affe&ions*
5-. The Fourth Error is, when the Convert ;J
counts all the Efiimatioa of, and Thankfgiving
for the Benefit, temporal or fpirirm! received,
as nothing, becanfe it is not anfwerable to. t lis
worth of what is received, or to the kindnefs of
God who hath granted it: Which reafon if it
were of weight, there ihould be no acceptable «
Thankfgiving from any Saint on Eirtb, during
this pieicnt Life ; for, it is impoffible that any*
tneaiure of Thankfulnefs from Men fliould be
found anfwerable to the Caufes of their Thank-
fulnefSjWhether manifed in temporal or (pincual
Bencrke. And therefore upari ejus consideration
the
i\
BOOK in ' [ 6 79 ] CHAP. XXIII
the I'lalmift./y* n6.ir. aycth out t W/>at /baft f
render to the Lor d \f or all His Benefits toward me*
6 The Fifth Error is, when the Convert tak-
eth it for an Evidence of an unthankful Mind,
if the Fervour of praifing God % oncz kindled after
the frelh Receit of the Mercy ; fliall after fome
timedecm to coo! or decaj';which if it were true,
no room fliould be left to any holy Affection
except only to th$ expreilion of Jay for Benefits
received. But the truth is,that one Duty mud
fo be ftudied,as other Duties have their time
and place a!fo;for,we a r e commanded to rejoyce
a;id tremble alfo,to rejovee with them that re-
joyce,and to mourn with them that mourn. A*
gain we mutt acknowledge, that foma exprefli-
ons of Thankfuincfs becomerh the Convert u-
x>n the frelh receit of the Benefit, which are not
required to be always afterward continued,
we read of the impotent Criple reftored to his
LimHaby Peter, Acl. 3 8. and that for Joy he
leaped and cryed out;butno Man would require
of him that he fhould always thereafter have
danced and cryed out, and yet he might be
found among the ni ruber of thankful Receivers
of Favour from God.
7. Thcfe Errors then being removed, let the
Convert 1. with the Pfalmift, ^103. charge hi*
Soul toblefsGod at all times,and torernembtr all
"rlis Benefits, and not forget any of them, and to
wfefs his Obligation t9 God, which in
BOOK 1U r 680 3 CH A R XXI1K !
the Scripture and fpeciallyin the Pfalm, is pug
forBiefiing, Praifeing and Thanking Qod ; for
the word that fignifieth in the Original to Gwr-
fefs and Traife or Tbankfis oft- times one and the jit
fame. z. Let him beg Grace to be thankful ft
for Benefits no lefs earncftly. than he doth beg f'
the promifed Benefits themfelves. 3. Let him
put the Sacrifices of Thanks andPraife in Chrift§
Bands, by whom the Calves of our Lipsare
made acceptable unto God. 4. Let the Convert |
comfort himfelf, rhat in the Life to come, he c<
jhall be taken up with Praifeand Thankf-giving i
to God for ever and ever? i
CHAP. XXI VI 1
Concerning the Convert's imprudent c en fare cfhhv& if
[elf for bis felt impatiencyjn bearinglejfer Trou* *
lies % after his patient I taring of greater troubles* \
Undry Converts, when greater Troubles do 7
afiault them, do humble themfelves in the I
acknowledgement of their Inability, and pray un- <
to God for Patieqce and Strength to bear their
Burrhen. But when ' lefler Troubles fur prife 1
them, they 3re foyled and. overcome by their
feiffions. for example in the fmaller Pains ofl
|Jody, lofs ol Is'i Injuries done to them un-
exposed, by Word or Deed; and here they fume
and fret and break forth in fome Expreffions of
impatiency. Whereupon, when they refle#,they
BOOK III; f 68x ] CHAP. XXIV
arc fo far from humbling thcmfelves and making
right ufe thereof, that their Indignation at thcm-
felves, and their Fretting is increafed fo much
the more, as the Caule of their Impatiency was
ifbfmall, ascommorj reafon found in Heathens
hath overcome, and therefore (hou Id have been
moreeafily digefted byCbriJltafts.TUis Mif carri-
age ufeth oft- times to be paii by , without anyFrui*
further then ro acknwledge their Infirmity.
2. But the true Cure of this Evil, is in dif-
covery and removal of the Caufes thereof, which
are three, i. Carnal Confidence of the Convert
j n his own ftrength, as able to* overcome leflir
Troubles, x Neglcdt of Duty toward God in
his Rencounter with fmaller Provocations
of Paflion ; for, Men in great Troubles and
weighty Crofles, ufe to fly unto God by Pray-
er to help them to bear the fame, but when
phey meet with lefler Crofles, they oppofe their
pwn Strength unto them, and puts not up the
Matter to God, and fo their Infirmity is mani-
feftcd. 3 God's wife corre&ing His Child for
Miskening of Him in iighteft Matters.
3. Therefore let the Convert affli&ed in this
:afe, acknowledge his Failing, and be humbled
it the fight of his paiTionac Infirmity, and blefs
3od for bearing down by his Rod carnal Self-
ronfidence. z; Let him learn of David, PCi4t.
|. not to truftin his own Strength in anything,
>ut depend on God for fetting a Watch before
IS NJourh, §nd ^ce^ing the Door of his Lips,
BOOK III. I 68x ] CHAP. XXV
and mainly forkeeping his Heart from inclining
to any eyil thing. 3. Let him make imre
ufe both of Chart's open Fountain for waflrng
away Sin and Uncleannefs, and of His Affiftance
to mortifie the Deeds of corrupt Nature by His
Spirit: fqr,otherways the Convert may look
to be oftener foylcd in this kind, and oft~ner
to bz corre&ed for not watching over his Pa&
fipns.
CHAP. XXV.
Concerning the Convert's miflaking his cafe for-
want of fuch a Submijficn unto Gods exercifingof
cf him as he would have.
SOme true Converts, fometime efteem them-.
iclves guilty of Rebellion againft God, be-
rhev cannocfubmit themfelves in bodily or
joj Chaittfements unto Gods Difpenfation, -
vna!d v The pretended Reafonsof their ;
-nee againft themfelves are three, 1. be- {
\\'cy find in themfeives fretting & murmur-
* againft the Lords dealling with them.i.They
Kemfeiyes farfirom humbling themfelves
rider rhe mighty Hand of God, 3 Becaufe they*
find n; themfelves ftijl uncjuietnefs after they fee J
thcn/.ojves to fubmit; which endeavour to fub*~
niir, they conceive (liquid have brought forth
guicttieft cfMuid; if ir had bec-nrcal, and fin*
BOOK ni. [ 683 ] CHAP. XXV*
*ere SubmiiTion indeed. And thefe Thoughts,
when they have weight, make way for many
Suggestions of Satan, and do draw on more
and mow Unquietnefs and Guiltinefs with
all.
For Remedy whereof, 1. let it be confider-
ed, that in this Excrcife a difference muft be put
between God's part, the FIefl*,or corrupt Nuures
part, the new Creature's part, and Satan's
part.
As for God's part, by His Chaftifements and
exercifeing of His Child,He brings to light the
Perverfeneft of corrupt Nature in His Child, to
humble him and drive him to Chrift. The pare
of Flefli or corrupt Nature, is always to drive
againft thework ofGraceand the new Creature,
and itcannot be fubmiffive unto God.Gal.^.y.but
muft be mortified, Rom. 8. 7. the part of the
new Creature,is not to'confent to the Fretting
and murmuring of the Flefh, but to oppofe it,
to yeild unto God's Difpenfation,and to be grie-
ved for the power of corrupt nature, and
therefore not the new Creature but corrupo
Nature fliould be condemned. Satan's pari
is, (till to take advantage of every hard Ex-
ercife, and to fuggeft wrong Thoughts of Go4
and His Work, in the Child oi God.
Secondly, let a Difference be made between tho
conflict of corrupt Nature againft the Wcr^
of
B OOK III. f 6S4 ] C H A;P. XXV,
of Grace, and the Vidlory of the corrupt Na-
turc;for Corrupt Nature may fight, and not pre*
vail,butbe kecped from reigning in a Man, how
much foevcr it rage.
Thirdly, let a difference be made between the
Vidtory of corrupt Nature in foms G?*j?/#j,arid
its Vi&ory in the War; for corrupt Nature may
prevail in fundry Conflicts, and yet lofs its La-
bour in the clofe of the War, wherein Grace is
made perfectly vi&orious through Chrft,in hope
whereof, the Child of God mud renew the Com-
bat agatnft Nature and not faint.
Fourthly, let a Difference be put between Sub*'
miffion of xMind and Quietnefs in Mind. Sub-
miffion may be fincere,v? hen pain of Body ma*
keth the Convert to cry,when Afflidion maketfy
him a Man of Sorrow and Grief;yea, when cor?
rupt Nature doth fret and murmur,provided thac
the Convert control and condemn his corrupt
Naturc,and fuffer it not to break forth in word$
of Impatiency, but prayeth ro God to help him
to bear the Burthen and endure hi$ Excrcife
with Patience.
Fifthly, let a Difference be put between the
§infalnefs of corrupt Nature and the Trouble,
which doth ftir it up, and the Sorrow which
the Convert hath in the obfervation of both ;
for the Sin is the work of the Flefh and Satan,
the Trouble and Affliction is the work of God,
the Sorrow for Sin felt, is the work of Gods
gpiric alfo 5 and |he Sorrovv for Pain, Lofs*
tea
BOOK m [ 69 s 1 CHAP. XXVI.
Shame, or any fort of Trouble, is moderac and
fandtified,when the Convert offereth himfelf wil-
ling to endure it, (o long as God iTiall bepleafed
to continue it.Laft of all,lec it be confidered that
a wxeftled for SubmiiTion, pleafeth God no left,
than a vidtorious^ubm aTion doth pleafe the Con-
vert, becaufe in wrcflling againft corrupt Na-
ture, the Convert teftifieth his Will to pleafc
God, his glorifying of God's Wiidom, Juftice,
Power and Love, how ever the Lord deal with
him. After which Wrefthng, the Lord doth
give Submifljon vi&orious andQuietnefs with ir.
CHAP. XXVL
Concerning the Convert's yiiflaking of his Condition
becaufe of Tent at ions.
GOd$ Children oft times are not only hea-
vy and grieved becaufe of Tentations
(wmchrheApoftle i/V.i,6.prefuppofeth tobeor-
dinary,and in fome refpedb needful) but alfo fall
in a miftakihg of their condition, as if it were
altogether evil and difpleafant unto God becaufe
they perceive rhemfelves many wayes polluted
in their Conflid with them. Which Pollutions,
albeit they cannot be denyed to be Pollutions,
^nd ihouldnot be excufed orexcenuar,yet (hou]d
not darken or obicure the Grace of God in a
Convert ftriving againft Tentations and lament-
ing his Pollutions cpntra&ed by occafion of them,
■■ fhefe
BOOK TIT. f 6U ] CHAP. XXVI.
2. Thefe Tentations, that' they may be the
more clearly difcovered, we (hall devide them
in three forts, i fome of them aredire&ly from
God, in a wife and holy manner for tryal and
exercifeof Faith,Hope,Charity and other Graces,
and do not in any way tempt Men to Sin. z.
Some are from theFlefh and the World, alluring
or inducing Men to Sin; which two we join to-
gether, becaufe Concupifcence or the Fieih or
corrupt Nature joyncth it felf, with the World,
and theft two help one another, and therefore
are joined together by the Apoftlc f if$b.%;:i6 All
that is tn*be World hthelufl of the Eyesjhilulcf
the Flejh and the pride of Ufe.And when Men are
tempted by their own Lufts, the World doth fur-
aiih Objeds, Allurements & Inducements to Sin,
The Third fort are, the Tencattons from Satan,
who befide that he is not idle to takeadvantage
ofConcupifcence & the Worlds Inducements, (o
is he chiefly bufie to throw his fiery Darrs a-
gainft the Converr,and to folicit Men to fuchSins
3$ the Convert doth moft dereft and abhor.
As for the fir it fort of Tentacions from God,
they areordinarly by Affi.&ions bodily or fpi-
ritual, wherein oft-times the Converts do not
pbferve the Lords Purpofe and Will revealed in
Scripture.or are forgetful of the Admonitions
and Confobtions which they have heard from
Scripture, which was the cafe of the Afflicted
Saints, Heh. n. 5*. audio thev are mo/evex-
Qcffihcn they fltyuld be; and (Pf. 41. i{.) deje-
^4
BOOK Til, [ 687 ] CHAP. XXVT^ ,
d>cd and difquietcd, and dofufped char God is
angiy with them and wich the way they walk
in, Heb. ii, ii. 13.
Of this Sickncfs, there may be Three Caufes,
1. the birrernefs of Affli&ion for the preient
time wherein it is fclf. x. the fenfe of by paft
Sin which the Affii&ed doth fufped God is per-
fumg , and making him poflefs the Sins of his
Youth, 7^13, 26. The third, is theobferva-
tioi of in born corruption, difcovcred untothe
Affli^vd much more then in profperity.
4. For Remedy of this Evil, let che Afflicted
Convert peri wade himfclf frcm the Word of God
that in all the Afflictions of GodVChildron,
the Lord doth intend the tryal and exercife and
increafe of Faith, and other Graces beftowed on
them. And upon this confideation,thc Afflicted
ihould rcjoyceinthis cxQTC\te.Jam.i.z.y.Secor:tfly 9
let him remcmber,that with the tryal of Faith,
there is always a difcovery .of infirmity and Cor-
ruption of Nature in the Afflicted: As in the
purifying of Gold, both die goad Mcttal and
the Drofs are difcoveied, which as hefliodd ac-
knowledged, that he may be keeped from fret-
ting;fo muft he ftill remember, that the Lord
doth intend the rryaiof his Faith, that he may
be conftaut in believing on .-Chrift. the only
help and relief from Sin and Mifcry. Thirdly, in
whatfoever conditionhe is in Jet him endeavour to
go on in;Paticace,Experiencc & Hope, which fliaJl
I
nc-
BO OK IB. [ 688 ] CHA P. XXVt;
never make him afhamed, for this doth the Lori
teach us. Rom. j, 3. 4. indjam 1,4.
As for the Second fort of Tentations,from the
Concupifcence of the Flcfh.and from the World's
Allurements and Terror, letrhe Convert affltdi-
cd follow the fame courier which is pecicrtbeA
in the Remedy of tK- Tintations of thefirlt fort.
As for the ffritd foci of /citations, which
arc from the Devi, txsipting V1m to Achcafm,
Or BJafphemy, or Dstppic, or £c$ murder, and
fuchlike,whi.:h ev-': Nihiife dottf abhor, where-
of fomething is lpokcn.elfe where, 1. iet the af-
Aided Convert purdifferenc between tluDevil'*
Sin in tempting to vile Sins, a: ! Kis own Teem-
ing feeble refilling, wherein albeit he thinketh
himfelf polluted, yet his not yielding teftifieth
his diflenting from thofe tearful Sins whereunto
Satan dcth terriprhim. x Let him put difference
between the confent of his unmortifie<> corrupt
Nature inclinable to every Evil, from the Luft
of the Spirit which fighteth againft the Luft
of the Fleih, which hindereth the Adverfary
from getting the Vidtory; 3. Let him put diffc-
rence between the Sufficiency of God's Grace
Upholding him in the ConfH#.and the fuliVi&o
ry againft the Meffenger of Satan bufFecnhg him:
For, God ufeth to fufpend thsVictory for a time,
and yet make His Grace fuffiereritly uphold His
Souldier till the Victory be given; as Paul's Ex-
perience, z Cor. ii. tcacherl \ni indeed, ic
j| a glea&nt Spectacle to thfc fcotd to look upon
BOOK III. [6% 9 ] CHAP. xxvr.
His Weak child driving againft the FIcfh. tht
Worl d & Satan,& /?W/*g out by Faith in Chrift
againft them all. 4. Let him confider, that by
thefc /cntarions of Satan, unto vik Sins, God
can, and doth mortific Sin, and make His Child
watchful and ftrong againft both the iWul In-
clination unto thefeand all other Sins. In the
mean time, let him beware of a more (lye and
fubtile 7entation,which Satan ufeth to Aide in
at the back of thefe ugly and groflc 7cntations*
which is this, uhen he hath prefied with all
violence thefc fiery Darts and vile £uggeftions
upon the Convert,' he chargcth the afflicted
Soul with a giving confent unto them,and like*
fcolding Calumniator impudently bcarcth guild-
nefs upon him, and all to make him apprehend
his condition to be tforfc than it is, and tofu-
fpect, that God,by this Excrcife, is purfuing himr
in Wrath; and this Testation is not readily ob-
ftrved by the afflicted Convert,but yielded unto
more than to thegrofs /entation. Therefore, ia
the laft place, let the Convert guard againft thii
7entation which brangleth his Faith, and lay
the blame, with the Apoftle, on corrupt Nature
Whatsoever guikinefs is found, Rom. 7. 17. Now
then it is no more 1 that doth it, but fin that ivocU
ktb in me;A Speech befeerriing a Man free of out-
breaking & prevailing corruption,and driving a-
gainft all inward Motions of corrupt Nature.
And for Remedy of this and other evils, let him
tfnew £ht Acti ef his Faith in Chrift, laying
BOOK III [ 690 ] GHAP. XXVlt
bold upon the Covenant of Grace, that he may
mere confidently draw near unto God Reconci-
led in Chrift, and fo no more doubt of God's
good Will to him, nbtwithftaading of his hard
Exercife under Tcntations: for, thus Satan f&all
not only fly from the firft Tentation,being refi-
lled, but alfo be difappointed of the luccefs he
expe&ed in queftioning the Converts condition
and Weakening of his Faith.
CHAP. XXVII.
Concerning tfa Convert's rnt/laking his condition
when he doth ohfervefome Degrees of Gods de-
fer ting of him.
TO fpeak of the forts and degrees of God's
Deterring a Soul, requireth a large Trea-
tiie,& the Cafe andCure thereof is already pub-
lickly fet forth by a Learned & GodlyPreachcr of
the Gofpel; ft ihall fuffice, for our purpofe, to
fpeak of it only fo far as it concerneth the Con-
vertsMiftakinghisCondition when lie apprehen-
deth himfelf Deferted, whether the Defertion
be real or apparent only, &nd falleth into fufpi-
cion of Gods Love to him, or that God is dil-
pleafed with him, became he findeth not well
lively Influence of Gods Spirit as he hath found
and'fuch aififhnce of His Gracious prefence as
Tie did expect m Sifcharge of Religious Duties,
er Exercilcs wherein Diviu£ 'Providence fratu
r " yokeJt
BOOK III [ 6 9 i ] CHAP. XXVII,
yoked him. The Scripture and daily Experience
do Furnilh inftances of fad Complaints of the
Lord's hiding His Face and withdrawing or with-
holding of Light, or Peace, or Conloiation, or
Strength and Ability for. fpiritual Dutics,©V.
i. For Remedy whereof, i. let the Convert
remember, that God doth not leave a Believer
fled to Chrift for relief from Sin and Mifery, al-
ways and for ever,butfora (hort time, andthnc
Hekeepeth Love to them conftantly,aibeit He
do hide the Tokensof His Lovcfometime, and
difpofe of the A&s of His Love, as tie feetli
fit for the Advantage of the work of Grace in
them. Let him put difference between Deferti-
on and the Gift of Difcerning of the Defcrtion:
For albeit Defertion be of itfelfa fad Vifitatt-
on, yet the fight and ohtervation of it, teftifi-
eth God's prcfence with His Child, giving Eye*
falve and Light; and thereby doth not only
teach that Wound to be curable, but alfo that
the Phyfician is begun the cure of it, by pancing
& lancing the wound. 3 Let him not count it a
Defertion, when God in any fervice whereunto
Be puts His Child, emptieth him of all conceit
:>f his own ability, that he may open his Mouth
wide and be filled: For this emptying of the
"onvert, is the very fitting of him for freflifup-
>ly from Chrift to go about the Service in
Dhrifts Strength and Furniture, which the Apo-
Ue felt by experience, 2 Cor. n, 10. When
J am makfi&i\\ he, then I am ftrong. Poverty of
X x ' Spi-
bock m. [ 6 9 z ] Chap. xxVfc E '
Spiritanu Hurigerand Third for ffighteoufrteft,
are not to be counted Defertions. 4. Lee hint L
obferve the Degrees of God V prefence, no le(S
than the ' degrees of His Abfence; as the TfaU
mifl did when recolle&ed himfelf,P/ 73. 23. af- |
ter the Tentation which troubled him was over-
come. Neverthelefs I am continually with Thee.
Thou holdefi me by Thy right hand, and ver z6\
my Flejh and my Heart faileth, but God is the
Strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever. 5,-
Let him put a right conltru&ion upon Gads
Difpenfation, believing always, that God doth
what He doth for good to His Affli&ed fubjed:;
whether He draw forth, by His Defertion,
the Latent-corruption of the Heart, as He did
to Ezekiah, 2 Chron. 22, 31. or whether to pre- [
vent out- breaking of Corruption, as He did t& \
the Apoftle. z Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9. or whether to
exercile his Faith, Love and Patience, aid to
fnarpen his Prayer, as he did to the Pfalmi/t fre-
quently. And therefore, let him, in theobferva-'
tion of whatfoever degree of Defertion, hum-
ble himfelf before God, fly in more clofely unto
Chrift, and patiently wait upon the change of his
condition, in the ufe of the Means, and follow-*!
ing the Duties of bis Calling as the Lord ihalM
enable him : For, this is the Counfel of the Lord,-'
J fa. 50. 10, Who is he among you that feareth tHM
Lord, that ohtyeth the voice of His Servant, that
voalketb in darknefs and hath no light? let him ti
in the Name of the Lord, and (lay upon his God.
And
I
BOOK III. [693] CHAP. XXVil
And this much fufficcth for Infhnces of the
third fort of the Converts miftaking hisConditioa
CHAP. XXVIII.
Concerning Cafes, therein the Convert is in
doult what to determine alottf his condition.
-.
T rcfteth, that we fpeak of the Fourth fort
of Cafes of the Conference of the Convert,
y» herein he is at a (land, and in doubt what to
determine of his prefent condition.
i.lh thefe doubtful Cafes, the Convert is not
properly deceived, as in the former Ranks of
Cafes it isprefuppofed of him ; becanfe in this
fort of Cafes, the Convert doth not pofitivety
determine the Queftion wherein hcis failenjbuc
fiandeth in doubt what to refolve upon.
3. Cafes of this fort pertain to the Mind and
Judgement of the Convert, and if his Judgement
be cleared by loofing of the Queftion, inconti-
nent he is farisfied and quiet.
4. It is neceflar for the Convert's clearing,,
that he form the Queftion rightly ; and to this
end, 1. Let him conftder his cafe and condition
in himfeif, fo accuratly as he can. 2. Let him
ingenuoufly lay forth the Queftion or Doubt he
hath, before his Paftor or Chriftian Friend, ac-
quainted with Cafes o\. Conference, and asK
their Judgement what to think of,or what to do
in fuch a Cafe. ' The Reafoiz why he mufl exa-
X x a inine
BOOK III. [ 694 1 CHAP. XXVH1, 9
mine narrowly his own condition, before he | c
fpeakofit to another, is partly becaufe other--: i
ways his Doubt or Queftion may prove Frivo-
lous and unworthy of an Anfwer;partly becaufe
the Convert after examination of his Cafe and
Prayer unto God, may find fatisfadlion to |iis
Doubt; and partly, becaufe,if his Doubt remain,
the Queftion may be the more clearly propoun-
ded, and fo receive the more clear and fpeedy
Anfvver for his Satisfaction.
5:. Of this fort of Queftions, we fliall pro*
pound fome Examples and giveforne Refolution
unto them,whereof ufe may be made when fuch
like Queftions fliall occur.
The Fir (i Queftion jhall be concerning Confufion of
Mind.
IT cometh to pafs fometime, when a Convert
is upon Examination of his own Eftate 6t
Condition,that fuch a mift and darknefs falleth
on his Mind, and fuch a croud and throng of
Thoughts within him,rhat he candifcern nothing
but Mift, multitude of Thoughts, and Darknels
and Confufion. The Queftion is, what ihall he
think or do, for removing of this Confufion of
Thoughts and darknefs of Mind?
^ Anf. This Cafe befalleth Converts frequently
and therefore had need to be the more carefully
cured:Which Cure.that it may the better goon
let the AfHidJed renew the Examination of his
former Behaviour, and fee it he can find out the
nicriiprious Caufe thereof in himfelf ; for, this
cafe
..
OOK III [ 6 9S ] CHAP. XXVill.
qsfic oft- times is the caftigation of theAfHicted,
or his former negligence & omiflion of Dunes,or
light discharge of religious Worihip: yea, it may
?e found poihbiy, that the Afflidfed hath been
fo carelefs in keeping his Heart in the Fear of
JGod, that he ham involved himfelf too far in
earthly and thorny Affairs, or hath exceeded in
the u(e of things lawful, or by fome corrupt
Communication, hath grieved the- Lords Spirit,
and fo hath drawn on fome D#fertipn and with-
drawing of Illumination from hirp,
2. This cafe may a'fo fall our, from fome pre-
fent Perturbation of Mind ^nd Paflibn, whereby
his Reafon is fo taken up for the time, that ic
icannot difcharge its duty.-As cometh to pafs usu-
ally in Anger or Fcar,or Grief or fome fuch like
iPalfion.asmay be feen, when a Man is injuied
by his Neighbour, or doth meet with ibmc
I)amnage,or is put in fear of fome imminent E-
vil coming on him, or findeth lharp Painsofrio^
dy, or tome fuch like Caufc perplexing him.The
Queftion is,vvhtt (hall he think of this Condition?
Anf. If the AfHi&ed fhall examine how he is
fallen in this cafe, and fhall, in consideration of
his VVeaknefs ? be humbled before God byPrayer
he fliall not wantcleamefs of Mind.and Dire&U
ons from God what to do, and how to behave
himfelfjin ordering of his Converfation arighc,P/I
50. 23. for, the Lord gives Wifdom liberally,
to all that ask it of Him in Faithjjw.i,^ and this
hisprefent condition giveth him an Errand to
God. Xx;
BOOK III { 6 9 6) CHA P. XXVffl, ,
The Second Queflion is concerning the Convert > •
who mofl part walketh heavily.
~"*Here arcfome true Converts, who after ,
• j[/ Examination of themfeives.cannot deny. \
titft their Hbart is towards the ways of.j
God in their* Calling, and that as they find the
Imperfections of thsir Service, To they are for- !
cedro renounce all confidence in their ownRigh- .
teoufnefs, and to fly to the RightcoufnefsofChrift
as the only true Garment able to hide their^ •
Nakednefs; -yet, they arc for the mod part j
heavy in their Spirit, feldom they rejoyce,but
many times they weep; and howfoever they
maintain confidence in Chrift for the (late they'
ftand into; yet, when they confider their ordi-
narHeavinefs of Heart,chey doubt what to think
of this their fad condition.
Anf. This co:idttion,if well confidcred,ts very
Ufefal,a!beic not always comfortable; for, the
Lord's Difpenfation towards fuch a Perfon thus
exercifed, is well tempered and wifely mixed :
Fbr, He neither fuffercth the heavy in Heart
to caft tway his Confidence in Chrift, nor to b«
idle and unfruitful in his Vocation, nor to glory
in his own Works, or put confidence in thtm,
fe&t fo kc-cpeth him up to the Duty of more and
more efteeming of Chrift's RighteouGiefs, and
drawing of Strength from Him by Faith, that
h&goeth on ih.his courfe uprightly, albeit not
fed as he would b^ by the confoiations of the
holyGhoft. *.',?o?
BOOK III. [ 697 ] CHA P. XXVIII.
. z, For Remedy whereof, Jet him quiet hi s
(Mind; for, after Examination qf his own natura 1
Inclinations, he ijhaii find the Reafon of the
Lord's DifpenUcon toward him, fparingly
giving unto him fuch mcafure 0/ Confolation as
he would have, to be this, left hefhould abate
the fame; and lean more to the fcnfiblc feeling
thereof then to the Word of Faith: and therefore
however he find Heavinefs,of Heart through
manifold Testations , let hiiji hold on his way
in the obedience of Faith, he fliallaftera. whiles
Patience and Wreftling.mect with as much Peace
and Confolation as may fuffice a Pilgrim, walk-
ing fromStrength toStrength till he appear before
God in Heaven, where all Tears, iljall be Wiped
away from his Eyes. Meantime, let this (/round
beholden faft,{hat;. God mixeih the Cup- of His
own Children as He findech it fit for their Edi-
fication.
The Third Quefthn is, concerning the Convert, vch*
jor not looking on their Or/ginalSin and the out-.
, breakings thereof, are in doubt what to think of
their former condition.
SOme Converts arc, who after a quiet Pof-
fciiion of Peace injoyed in a blamelefsCon-
veriation among Men,and itvthcExercifejof Re-
ligion uprightly before God, after Examination
:>f their condition more narrowly ,do find, that
Jic Confcicnce for a longtime hath been filent
Uid hath not changed for the Motions of
Xx 4 oxi-
BOOK m. f?98 1 CHAP. XXVllf;
original Sin, but fuffered them to go on feclir c
ly under the guiicinefs of the daily fprouting
forth thereof. Jn this cafe, as they dare not caft
away their confidence in Chrift, nor their ho-
ly purpofe of walking uprightly before God'; fo
they cannot justify the filcnce of their Con ci-
ence, which hath (uiiered the Motions of Sin (al-
though not confemed unto) to go away with-
out Challenge or Reckoning made tor them.and
here they are in ftrairs, and doubt wh*c to
judge of their own Condition.
Anj. In this cafe.the Silence of the Confcicncc
is not to be excufcd:And the Peace of the Con-
vert albeit it may be found Jn order to the Con-
vert's fiate in Grace, yet the condition where-
in he is, is not good, but mixed with much Se-
curity ; for to make the condition of a Convert
to be -good.it isnot only required that hisCon-
fcience be Kcepcd free from grofs Pollutions,but
alfo that he be daily aiming at mortifying of
Sin, and that to this end, he daily give an ac*
count unto God of his Wandering and Vanity,
and of the obferved Out-fproutings of the bit-
ter Root of original Sin, that he may, after his
beft Behaviour, perceive a neceffity of that Pra-
yer, taught us by our Lord for daily Remiflion
of Sins, and fo may daily have the Anfwer of
God from the Evangel, faying, Son, be of good
cheer, thy Shs are forgiven unto thee: For there
is a twofold Abfoiurion of the Convert, one
is in order to his Perfoa, which Chrift calletlv
COOK HI. r 699 ] CHAP. XXVT1L
the wafting of the whole Ma*; the other is in or-
der to his daily Impcrfctfioirs and Blemifhcsof
his Converfation, which Chrift doth call the
wafting of the Feet. By vertue of the firft fore
of Absolution, the Child of God, flying to Chrift,
is judicially declared free from Condemnation;
by the other, thfc Believer making ufe of the
Fountain opened up in Chrift, is excemed from
his acknowledged' Uncleannefs. This is* clear
from Chrift 4 s Words, Job. 13. 10. Meantime
we confels, that the motions of Sin in our mor-
tal Bodies arc lb innumerable, that no Man can
overtake them, yet muft they be counted foe
an heap at lead, as David doth teach us } Pfic).
ii Who kn$weth the Errors of his Lifelcleanfe me
from my fecret Sins, And this fame Leilbn do:h
she Apoftle teach us, Rom. 7. 24 Wretched Man
that lam, faith he, who ft all deliver me from the
bodyofthh Deaths 1 thank God through Jefus Chrift.
Wherefore, let the Convert go on in his formic
Godly and Righteous Behaviour and Converfa-
tion, not mif-regarding the Sproutingsof origi-
nal Sin, but giving account thereof unto Chrift,
as faid is, that he may glorify that Righteouf-
nefs of Chrift by Faith, and enjoy Peace with
God, not only in order to his State, butalfoiti
order t# his Condition daily.
The Fourth Qjie/lion is, how the Convert may
know and he certain of his purification.
X Ji 7Hen the true Convert hearcth the diffet
V V * cnC Opinions of Theologucs con-
cur-
BOOK lit. [ 700 ] CHAP. XXVlir.
ceming th$ A& of Justification of a 3ehever,fome
faying that it is an A(3 of God immanent, where-
by He Avilleth the abfoluciorj of the Believer ;
fome faying, that it-is- an A<5t of God emanent
'<\x\&tranfient from God upon the Spirit of the
Believe fome faying it is the. Sentence of the
Judge^ ablolving the-bclieving Sinner from the
Ciirfe of the Law. The Believer here poffibly
isat a; ftand, and krioweth not hotf to anfwer
tiiQ:Qaeftion till his Doubt be,k>ofed,
•ifer the Satisfaction of the Convert, Fir/I, yt#
may fofely fay, that it is not-.puter.i^l \vhether
the Convert be able^to take up the Quiddky &
forronl.Norion. of the Ai2: of jiiQificanon; provi-
ded he be a Believer in Chrift and- know, ihat
die Believer irxChrift, is : Juftified before God f
and tltebeing Juftified by Faith, he hath peac§
with God,and c^n apply thefe Truths unto him-
felun the Exercife of Repentance.and nevvQfc^r
itencei But if poifibly, the Convert, cannot bpfa-
tis'ficd till his doubt be anfwered,lel jlim confidcr,
t^gr heniuftdiftinguiih between J-uftificationac r
Ciftedy taken as it proceeded! from God, & Jufl>
feca<tion paHively taken as it is terminat on the
JfaftfiedMar.; as it is taken actively, thefe. Four
riiiiigg.are to be diftinguiflied, 1. Gods erernal
Will and Dccree v to abfblvefrom Sin and Wrath,
everyBeliever in Chrift. z.Gods actual reveal-
in time, this His Gta^icrus pleafure in the Gofpel.
3, Gods judicial application of this general'Sen-
ccrxe to the -fielieYC*: in the point of his ; Cab*
•3rt> SQX*
!
BOOKin. [ 701 ] CHARXXVlll-
verfion, whether the Believer, perceive his' Ab-
solution or net for the time. 4. There isa fenfi*
b\6 Ihrimation of this Sentcncpmico th« Belie-
ver, joyned with Peace and joy, v >:hich the Apo-
{tle calleth the fhedding abroad of the Love- of
Go<i in the Heart, Rom. 5. 5. and the kiting
of the holy <jhoft,ftamping the Heart with Ho -
Vinck.Ephef.i.i J. The firft Three. makes. the At*
folution of the Believer certain, whether ck
Believer thinks foot not,but the Fourth, which
is the fenfible Intimation of this Sentence, doth
make the Believer both fure and joyful.
As Juflificatipn is taken paflivcly, Four thioga
may be diftinguifhed in the Believer juftfiod.The
Firfl is his a'&ual receiving of Chnft offerod^to
the Gofpel for a perfed: Remedy ofSin and.Mn
fery. The Second is,the Lords judicial ifelwg of
the general Sentence of Absolution ijpea the
Believer, as if He had fpoken to him
by Name, as He did to the Apoftles, Jvb.if.
yNow are ye dean , through the Word I havAfpoic*
unto you, that is,youare clean from the guilt of
Sin by My abfolving of you. The Third is, the
Believers obfervingin a reflect ac3: of his Cpfl-
(cience that he hath fled to Chrift forabfoluti-
on.and thereforejuftified indeed. The Fourth 'is,
the feeling and obferving of the Taft^mony. of
the holy Ghoft bearing wirnefs 'with his Spirit
that he is a Child of God abfolved from Sin
and Wrath. The firft two ofthefc, to wit, the
3$
BOOK IT!. [ 7 o* ] ? CHAP.XXV1L
ad of Faith, receiving of Chr id and of the right
made by Chrift to the believer in Him of Uis
Abfoliition, may be in,and on the Believer with-
out the 6ther two,to wit,his Obfervation of the
Ad of Faith, and the felt Intimation of this
work 4>f Grace by the holy Spirit.
- i. For folving of the Doubt then;as Juftifica-
fi6his adivefy takan, as proceeding from the
immanent Ad of Gods eternal Purpofe and De-
cree tojuftify the Believer,it is no more the a-
dttal J<ificatioh' in this Life, of which wc are
fpeakingythan the immanent ad of Gods eternal
purpofe to raifethe Bodies of Believers in Chrift,
& to glorifie them in Soul & Body .can be called
the adualRcfurredion of their Bodies and Glo-
rification of both Soul and Body in this Life.
But the tranfient Ad of Juftification in a judi-
cial way, which is the Lord's ' judicial Sentence
af iAbfaiution of the Believer, declared by His
Word fet down now in holy Scripture, it is in-
deed and formally the Believers Juftification,and
isjudicially termi^tupon every Believer in the
ad: of his Converfion,vrhethet the Believer doth
clearly perceive his own Converfion,or be in fu-
fpicion of his being Reconciled and Juftified.
And this may be made to appear, if we com-
pare the Condemnation of the Unbeliever with
theAbfolution of the-Believer fled to Chrift,^,
3,18. As he that believeth not iq Chrift is con-
demned already, becaufe the Curfc of the Law
and Condemnation pronounced in the Scripture
by
BOOK HI. j [ 703 1 C H A P. XXVIII.*
by God the foveraign Judge, ftands againft him
lo long as he doth not believe in the only be-
gotten Son of God : And this Sentence ftandcth
fait, whether the Unbeliever take notice of this
Sentence or noc, whether hedo apply ittohim-
fcif or not, do find Grief for it or not; So the
Believer in Chfift is relaxed from Condemna-
tion and abfolved, and hath right unco eternal
Life and begun "' poflcflion of it, aibeit'for the
time of his Infancy, Testation, Trembling and
Fear, it be not fo, albeit he doth not pdrceive
the bkflcd change of his ftate; nor doth lay to
Heart as he might, the words of Chrift judici-
ally pronouncing the Sentence comprehending
him as certainly as if his Name were exprefled
J oh. 3 18. He thdt believeth on Hint, is not
condemned ,and *ver* 36. He that lelieveth on the
Son hath everlafling L/fV,and Joh 6. from ver. 3 7.
to 4i.Hence we conclude,rhat the formal a<Sf q£
Juftification of a Man fled to Chrift, is to be
found in the written Sentence of the Judge ab-
folving every Believer and the Manw T e fpeakof.
There is another tranfient A& of God, in ah
adtual Revelation of Juftificarion, wherein the
holy Ghoft openetli the Eyes of the Believer
to behold and perceive the Crift of faith alrea-
dy beftovved on him; Of this fpeaks the Apoftte,
1 Cor. z. ix. And after tkat the holy Ghoft
hath pointed out His own Grace, be do wed on
the Believer, He followeth His Work, by giv-
ing remarkable peace and joy is Earnelt of
Life
BOOK III.- [ 704 ] CHAP.XXVlli;
Life everlafting, whereof the ApoftleTpeaketb;
Ephef. i. i^ In whom ye aljo trujfedjfterye beard
the word of Truth jhe G of pel ' cf you/ \Salv\atton : in
whom aljo, after ye had believed \je were fealed
with the Spirit of jrcmife which is the Earned of
$ur Inheritance.TftcvdoreMethat dcfireth to have
the Intimation ofhisJuftification,afcer flying for
Refuge untoChrift for relief of felt Sin and fear-
ed' Wrath,muft read his Abfolution in the Gofpcl,
as well as he hath read, before that,, his Con*
demnation in the Law. Unto which Sentence of
Abfolution, let him hold faft in his, daily Endea*
vour after San&ification.
The' Fifth Queflion is, howtofatisfietbe Convert
who findeth him f elf purfued for his Sins after Re~
mifiion believed t and is brought in queflion what
M' dge of his cafe.
Any Converts have fallen in Jobs Cafe,and
feemed to themfelvcs to poflefs the Sins
of their youth, Job, 13. z6, For, after Conver-
sion and felt Reconciliation* they find the Sins
tbey did repent o£and did believe to be forgiven
through Chrift, obje&cd to them afreih, pur-
fued with lharp Areufations, and Signs of wrath
joy ned therewith. Their Reconciliation .and
Righteoufnefe through Chrift, -they purpofe to
hold faft; their old Guikincfs, and Sentence of
their Confcience writing bitter things againfi
them,they cannot deny.-the pinch is here, ei-
ther the Remiflionth'ey did believe is null, or
she
BOOK III [ 70s } CHAP. XXV ni
the Challenge is unjuft, do thev reafbn with
themfelvcs; the Nulhty of their Rtmiffiojnhey
dare not admit, and the juft ground of Challenge
they cam not deny, and the doubt what to think
ofrhis cafe they C4janot fliun, not teeing, h
thefc things can confift and Rand together.
x For anfwer to this doubr.thefe four Things
mud be di(lingui(hed,and how they may all con-
flit one with another mud be timcoufly conjjder-
cd.The four things to be diftinguilhedare i.The
Reconciliation of a Convert ttith God., a. The
Rcmitfion of the Reconciled Mans Sim freely
gifted unto him by God. 3. A renewed bitter
Accufation raifed by Satan againfl the reconciled
Convert. 4. The holy and wife Difpenfarion of
God,pcrmittingand ordering theft renewed Ac-
ieufations of His Child by £atan, for the itfi\
and exercifc of his Faith and growth of hisRc-
pentance, and other good finds
Now for the confidence of thefcFov;
not doubt, but rhe Accufcr of the fererjirea
cad up to us forgiven Sins.and bear upon us -
they arc not forgiven. Neither ineed we -de
but God in Wiidom and Love to His C/j\\..
may fuiTer Satan to renew Accufoti
them, and (border that matter, 35 aeirivv
flu 11 prevail, nor His Child fufiir Daraoage
the Means* For, there is a great di_. be-
tween Satans renewing of Accufarions fei
forgiven,and Gods making null the Rem:
granted, the Lord can fui*$r the* one to bo
fiut
*
BO OK III. [ 706} CHAP. XXVltt*
But the ether he will never fuffer to be;
For when a true Convert growcth negligent, &
fallcttif in fuch Sins,afte'r Conversion as he livfll
ip before Conversion, no wonder Satan be per*
mitred to call his fprmerConverfionin qucftion;
yea thcLord may judly caft up toHis Child hi$
former faults to humble him and fhame himfrom
go;ng on albeit he doth not difanul the formerly
granted Rcmiffion.
3 When 1 hankfgiving forRemiflion of Sin grants
ed for. ChnflsCaufc, beginneth to cool in the
Heart of a Convert, what wonder the Lord not
only CufFcr, but alio prefent the vilenefs of by-
p:ift vSins to make rhe Convert fenfible of theRc-
million, & tocaufchim renew the a&s of Repen-
tance & godly Sorrow for his Sins by*paft, as
E*ek. 1 663 & 36, 3 2, Then /hall you remember your
civ?i evil ways& your doings which were not good, and
(kail I oath\ our [elves for your Iniquity $ & abominations
When the Convert growath. remits* in Watch-
ing over his own heart and ways, 6k is in danger
of falling back into thefe .Sins which he had rc-
penced of before, what wonder the Lord by re.*
merobring him of his natural /nclination and
net \va;v s 5 tio warn him of his danger to make
him prcveen his fall.
4 7rhcre r ore, let the Convert mantain the
Solidity of former Rcmiiiion of Sins, and make
good u(c of his former Sins which went before
h»s Convcrfion.and let him follow the example
of lad, Who cid not fuftcr his former Sins to
r<
BOOK IIL [ ?o 7 ] CHAP. XXVIIT.
I go our of h\<s Mind, but did renew the Con-
i feflion of them upon all occafions for his own
daily Humiliation, for the Edification ofochers.
and for Magnifying rhe Glory cf the Grace of
God;and yet for all th'S.did not fufpcA theRe-
miflion of Sins received : For by this Means the
Convert lhall preveen Accufations, and ftopSa-
tans Mouth, a>id make his Accuiations have
no force.By thi* Means tke Convert ihall pof-
fefs firm and liable Confidence of God 4 s un-
changeable Grace and Mercy, and of the Sta*
biiity of the Remiffion of Sin granted.
The fixth Quefticx is, of a Convert caflen, not only
in un uncertainty for the time oj his Conver/ton,
lut alfoin a Doubt whether he be elecied or not)
and knows not how to Jo in this cafe.
SOme Converts fall in Hem an the Ezraite his
Exercife, wherttof we read, Pf 83. efpe-
cialiy, ver. 14. 15-. Wliile IfujferThy Terr en I
am rl/ffrafled, faith he. Counfel hach been of-
fered by fome to the Abided, to follow the
Pra&ice and Experience of fome eminent Theo-
logues, who being brought to fuch Straits wit!i
good luccefs,have fubmitted themfelves to God
co fave them or deftroythemas Heplcafed; af-
ter which fubmillion, they have felt the mar-
rcious fvvcet Embracemcnts ofGods loving K;n J-
Y y nsft
,>
BOOK III. r 70S ] CHAP XXVIlt.
nefs making thcmfure both of their Co^verfion
and Ele&ion. Whetherto follow rhis Example
and Experience of tome notable Saints, is chc
Doubt, wherein the Convert is not clear, and
knoweth not how to carry himfolf toward God
in this cafe.
x, For anfwer to this Queftiovi : it is free for
God to comfort a Soul calien down, when, and
how, He pleafeth ; it is free for God 10 pais by
the Infirmity and Error of a terrified £oul,com-
ing to him not in the wifeft way prefenbedto
to him, and to look to the neccflity of the Man's
Confolanon.and not to his way of feeking of it.
But hovvfoever it pleafeth God to comfort fomc
..iraordinarly, yet this is not the Duty of the
iUxii&ed to come with fuch an unrequired Sub*
million unto God: For, it limittth the Lord, in
a manner either to comfort the Man fpeediiy,or
fi'ffcrhim upon apparent rafufal for the time, to
difpa^:For Gods ordei is to bring the Sinner un-
der the ferle of Sin and acknowledgement of
ccferved Wrath for S\i^ and then to charge him
to believe in the Name of His Son Jefus Chrift,
and niter believing in Chrift, to feal the Belie-
ver with the Stamp of Holinefc and the Earned
penny of the Inheritance, Which is Peace with.
God, and Joy in the holy Ghoil fhed abroad
in his Heart,
3. Wherefore as for theConverfion of a Man
irraitned in the Pains of the new Birth and Fear
of iveilalling Wrath, and tempted to iuipeft
that
BOOK III. [ 709 1 C H A P. XXVni
that he i$ not Elected : \t is a more fafc way to
lay afide all Difputarion about Gods Decree (be-
caufe fecret things belong ro the Lord,) and to
look to the Lords Command, and to his own
Duty of flying untoChrifh So for the recovery
of a Convert fallen in Jonah's cafe, and made to
fufpect that he is a Rcprobat caft off of God,
it is a more lafe way not to difputefor the time,
cither his EledHon or Converfion whatfoever
tf^ggeftioifc may be caO: in by Satan, than to
offer unro G)J an abfoiute 5abmiffion tobefa-
ved ordeftroyed as Fie p!eafeth,&then to iy iri
£orrovv fill Jodgiv • ) inftVer of Confolation:
For, God doth .jot require fttcfa a Sktbnpiifici i,
but cullcth for an A& of Faith anJ Obedienc. ;
for, God hath declared in His Word, chat H^
delightethnot inthe Death of a Sinnef.'btft that
he (hould Repent and Tuni to G >d and be fa-
yed. *SeconJly % in this SubmuTion the Heart will
be found deceitful which neither will nor cam
fubmit to be deftroyed. Th/rMy, this Offer of
fuch a Submiifion as this is, I Lord I knov not
whether thou haft cfiofen me or rejected me in
Thy Decree, but I fubmit my felf to The abfo-
luteiy. If thou wilt deftroy me, Thou fhalt
be found to be juft, anJ I do confefs lh much
lintoThee: butif thou wilt lave me, I iliali p:o-
clameThy Grace] iuch a fubmiliion, i fay, i*
but ineiled, a tempting of God fpeedily tore-
real His fecret Counfel, eichcr by Confolittaoj
if the Submitter be art elect, of utufai of Con-
BOOK III. [ 7 > o ] CHA P. XXVIH
foianon if he be a Reprobat The only iafe way
in che forfaid cafe, isco be tumbled before God
ani fly to Clirilt by Prayer v as Hem. in d\J,Pf 88.
and as Jonah did. who choofed to look again to!
H;s hoiv Temple where the Mediator (at upon
the Mercy Scat between the Cherubims)
and not fufFer fuch a Thought as Repro- 1
barion. Thus did Heman, Pf 83. i 3.14. But un- |:
to Thee have I cryed, LorJ t and in the Morning
(ball my prayer prevent Thee. Lord why c aft eft Thou \
off my Souljvby hide/I Thou Thy Face from me. Lee •'
the Command of God to every (elf condemned
firmer to Believe in Chrift:, prevail againft all
Temptations to the contain 1 Job. 3. 23. This
is His Commandment jhat ive Jhould believe on the
Name of His Son J ejus Chrift.
The Seventh Qjjeflicn isfow te fat isfie the Convert* \
doubting whether it be better to forbear or go oh ,
in theourward exercife of Religion, (at lead in I
private) when he fmds an indifpofttion of Mind i
unto it.
SUndry Converts, when they perceive the
unfitnefs of their Spines tooffer immediac
\\ orfhip to God in Prayer, Praifes or Thank£
giving, especially in private, do fall in doubt
with themfeives, whether it be better to delay
the offer of their Worflup, till they find them-
fdvesweli difpofed for it, or to go on as they i
may, a;beit rjiey apprehend their jjps polluted c;
and
'BOOK HI. [ 711 1 CHAP. XXVIII.
and their Hearts far away from God. Their fear
on the one hmd is, left they Ihouid pollute
the Worflup and take Gods Name in vain ; on
the ochcr hand, they fear left they fall in the-guit-
tinefs of omitting a prescribed Duty. The Que-
ll on ihall he, what the doubting Convert
fliould determine and do>
2. For Anfvver,thisCafe is fpoken unto before,
2 Book t C/jjp t i-/,m as far as the Convert determi-
ned! norland doth not what is right, but goetfi
wrong and pleafeth hrmlelf in his bad conditi-
on. But here we fpeak to this cafe, as the Con-
vert is in doubt on'y,&defireth to be keepedfrom
ving rurrifelf.ln which cafe weiay,that as ic
is the Converts Doubc,fo we muft confefs, that
this cafe of Indifpofition and Unfitnefs for fpiri-
tual Exercifes is very frequent, and is ordinarly
and oft times a Chaftiiement of us, drawn on
by our (elves, becauie we do not watch unto'
Prayer,we do not ftudy to keep our Hearts in
the Fear of the Lord all the day long, we do not
foftcr that tendernefs of Conscience which might
furnifh us matter of Humiliation, and of Thanks-
giving to God upon o ? )fervation of our Faults
againlt God, and of Gods Favours dailv and
hourly remarkably running toward us. Hence
it is when our ordinar time of fecret Wor-
fliip doth come, we find our vaiging Minds
hardly called Home from their wander-
ing, our Confcieence challenging us for
our loofe and uncircumfpeft Walking, our
Y y 3 At-
BOOK HI [ 7 r * ] CHAP. XXJ\\\
AltlccivMiS dull and and dead,and all the powers
of our $q#1$ taken as with a palfie,that wo can-
iv-. .... c &i (elves in Worihipas weihouldand
would. 7 h: efore.in this cafe lee the Convert be
humblei,a;iJ confefs h'S Fault, and take with
this C nsntand fly unto Chril}:,whobcar-
eth aid t^.k:rh &wzy the Iniquity of our pollu-
tion f-J v . uig$| and let him not defer his
h.i V»o,:mp till another occafion, but wre-
ftie againil: all Impediments and follow out
the Woik in hand.blefiing God for His pointing
put unto him his Wants and Weaknefs, his
Wandering and Vanity of Mind, i?i$ Slip-
ping %nd Sliding in his Ways, and for opening
unto him a Fountain in Chrift, for wafliing his
Pollutions and healing his Wounds. And that
the Convert may be. encouraged to aim at, and
follow on, this way, Jet him confider, that the
Converts Worfhip may be pleafarjt and accep-
tqfelc to God, when the Convert is much diijnea?
fed with himfclf in the difcharge of it: For,
tfeere is a Worihiping of God in Faith without
Seme and Feeling of the Hearts In)argement;and
there is a Wor duping of God with felt Enlarge-
ment of Heart The worfhiping of God in Faith
is plea fa nt unco God, albeit the Worlhiper ia
perplexitv and wredling with Temptations an4
Coirbi.'jr-isbc much difpkafed with himffiif.
The \\ pcftSj pitig o< God vrith lalargement oi
Heart is [ ilc •■:'.; it^bpth anto God and to the Wqrr
t^^^&lhh jy)0Wf gives us to
, BOOK TTI. [ 7H 3 CHA P. XXV 11
derfiand. / will run the way ofth\ Commandments,
faith he, when Thou /halt enlarge my Heart. But
when this mlargement, by (enable Afsiflance ot
the holy Ghoft is not perceived, the PJalmifl is
but a dead Man in his own eftimation; yet he
doth not forbear or delay to worihip God as
well in Bonds as in Freedom; Quicken me, faich
he, according toTby loving kindnejs. Therefore,
let the Convert in this cafe, 1, follow the Exam-
ple of the Pfalm/JI.vtho ( Pf. 5. 3 ) refolveth to
call on God with his Voice,that is to follow the
Work of Prayer externally, prefuppofe his fpiri-
tual Powers were bound up, and he unable to
back his Petitions with futable Affections ; My
Voice > faith he, fhaltThouhearin the Morning,
Lord, in the Morning will I dire tl my Prayer unto
Thee, and will look up. And.f/ 27. 7. Hear me
when I cry with my Voice have Mercy alfo upon me
and Anjwer me. x.For his encouragement in this
cafe to go on in his Worihip, let him confefs
unto God the Truth, as it is prefented unto htm
by his Confcience, and fay, O Lord my God,
thefe are my Sins which I ought to acknow-
ledge before Thee with Tcars,\vhich for the pre-
sent are dryed up &c. Thefe are thy favours and
benifits wherewith / am loadened , which /
jhould acknowiedge with joy and Scnco , of
Thy Goodncfs,S>r. But Thou Lord delights in
Tcurh in the inward Parts, Pf 51. 8. This
will be found our reafonable fervice which the
Apoltiecalledifor, Rm. iVfc *•
Tke
#»
book m. [ 714 3 chap, xxtin:
The E'zjjt Q^ejfion is how to fatisfie the Convert
Jbabtbtg what is the Sin which God pArjueth if
long lajiing Affliction.
IT fallcth forth oft-times-,when a trueConvert,
being a long time prdfcd under fome lading
dots or Caiamiry,doth enquire after the fpecial
Caufcs 01 his Affl*&ion;and when he cannot be
clear what to determine, doth doubt vvifat CO
think of his Condition: For hfc acknowtedgith
his SitiSjCommon to him and other Converts,
to be innumerable ; but appfehendeth that it is
fom? fpecial ^Sin purfued by God, which is the
Caufe of his Affli&ion.which becaufe he cannot
condefceftd upon, he is at a frand,and doubtetli
what to think or do.
2. For anuver we fay, i.fuch a cafe is more
troublefome than dangerous;for fo long as he is
cbferving Ivs Sins, common to him & other Con-
verts and in the Exercife of Repentance is daily
humbled before God for his known Sins,hemuft:
not be ar xicus albeit he know not ihe parMcular
Sin purfued, as he apprehendeth : For, albeit
the Lord aiHid: no Man bat fuch as have Sin in
them, yet He doth not always, in affli&ing of.
KhsChildren, purfue unknown Sin in them For
fometime He affiidkth His Child to Jprevccn
his Winning, hedging up his way with Thornes,
leit he fhould follow after beloved Lufts. Some*
rime He doth afflift him to try his Faith to,
BOOK nii t in? 1 CHAP. XXVIII
teach him Parience/Vktkncfs, Temperance and
other Virtues, i'uch as are Dyingto the World,
Seeking after Things fpiritual.Gw^^w* toward
others in Affli&ion. x.When the Aifltdred hath
compofed his Mind to reverence God's Difpcn-
fation, wlaatfoever it is or fhall be,thcn let him
yet again look- upon his Affli&ion, and it may
be he fhall read in the Rod what is the Lord's
Quarrel. 3. Whether he fhall find the fpecial
Caufeof his Affliction or not,let him turn all his
Indignation, Zeal and Hatred againft the Body
of Death the bitter Pvoot and bulk of aftualSins,
and watch diligently over . theMotions oi r origi-
nal Sin or Goncupitcence u\ himfe'i*. 4 And
let his Whole Exercife ftirhim up to havd-Chrift
in greater eftimation, to make ulb of Chrifts
Righteoufnefs imputed to ..Bc!icvcrs,aad ro invo-
cat His holy Name for the right uic- making o|
his Affliction.
The Ninth Q^ejtion is, how Remiffion of Sin may
be [aid to be granted in refpeft of Sins to come.
IT is commonly faid, that the Converrjn his
Juflification, hath the RemifTion of Sins by-
gone and Sins to come: whereupon the Quefti-
on is moved, how this can (land with daily re-
newed Remifiion of daily Sins; on the one hand,
daily renewed Rcmiffion feemeth not necefTary,
Firft becaufe we believe that Remiflion of all
Sin
BOOH TIL- [ 7 1 6 ] CHAP. XXVIILJ
Sin, tsrhe priviledge of all Believers in Chrift,
and me abndegement of the fp^ciai Articles of
Faith ice down in the Apofties Creed, as it iscai-
led.holdeth this forth. iBecaufe k. is certain,
that Chrift,in His Death,did compleat the pay-
ment of the Price of Redemption from all Sin,
as i Job. i. j. The Blood of Jefus thrift cleanfeth us
from all Sifts. 3 We arefaid to be not under the
Law but under Grace,and fofred from theCurfe
of the Law. 4. Becaufe if daily Remiflionof Sin
be neceflar to be granted, then it prefuppones,
that both Originaf Sin, and every A&ual Sin
flowing forth iromitdaily, mull be taken notice
©f, reckoned for,and repented of daily,which is
impoflible. On the other hand, the Convert
Teeth, that every tranfgrellion of, and difcon-
formity to the Law is£in; and the Apoftle.i.M.
j. 8. (peaking of himfelf and other Converts,
faith, If we fay we have no Sin, we deceive $ur
felves, and the Truth is mt inns. And Chrift:
hath taught us, as oft as we pray for our daily
bread, to pray alfo for the Rcmifiion of Sins.-
The queftion is, how the doubt of the Con-
yerf vnay be cleared }
% For anfvver: We mud grant to the Convert,
{that Original Sin remaineth m the Believer,and
is not only an exceeding Sin,as the Apoftle cal-
lethit, Rom 7. 13. but alfo is the Fountain of
alt A&ual Sins which doth pollute the Contci-
ence, and fometinws alio the outward Man. %.
.We muft grant alfo, that there cannot be ait
COOKIIT. [ 717 ] chap xxva
a&ual& properly calledRemiflion of Stna which
are not yec commited:Fot,no Man is guilty of
that fault wherewith he cannot be charged ; FQr
fuch a Rcmiffion were a Difpenfation & License
to Sin.fuch as the Pope grantcth to his fla/estc*
gratifie thcm,in allowing their vile Lufts foriti-
riching himfclf with the price of that Iniquity.
3. /f fuch an actual Remiffion of Sins were gv
ven irijuftification.theoncejuftified perfon coul4
never become a daily Debtor by his daily tranf-
greffions contrary to the Declaration of Chx>f|
in one of the Articles of the Lords Prayer
3. For folving the Doubt then we muft di*
ftinguiih the Significations andaccepiions of /te-
miffion of Shi: For,* it is taken for Rcmifiion pur*
chafed by Chrift, by virtue of the Covenant of
Redemption,^ favours ofthcEie<3\ butnatap^
plied unto the Eled before the Mans Convert
flon.Heb. 10. n, 1 ]. 14. Bat this Man after he
had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever, fat doves
en the Right Hand of God: from henceforth expect-
ing till his His Enemies be made His FcotfhoL
For by one Offering He hath perfected for ever tbetq
that are Sanctified, i./c is taken for RemhTio^
prcwi/edby Chrift to all that ihali believe in him
to be bellowed on them ib ibon as they {hall
tumto H\m, A :Lz6 ,iZ .Thirdly it is taken forthc
Sentence of Ab joint 1 or judiciailv apply cd & adjud-
ged to the a&ual Bcltever. Eph. l.j.In whomwe
have Redemption through His Blood, the Forgive-
%ejs of Sifts accorfin^ to the Riches of fits Grace.
BOOK TIT. T 7^8 1 CHAP.XXVfl
4, For the atlual Remifw* of a] J Sins pad be-
fore his converfian,. Rom. 3. xj, whom God
bath fet forth to he a P ropit 1 at /ov? ^through F^th in
FftsBlood to declare fits High eo^Jnefs for the remtf-
fion:ofSins that are fad, through the forbearance of
God. 5*. For a condant right to daily remiision
of Sin. and accefs to the Fountain opened up in
theHoufeof David, fthat is to all the Children,
of thehoufhold of Fairh in Chrift) Zech. 13. t
In that day there fhall : he a Fountain opened to the
Houje of David, and to the inhabitants of Jcru fa-
lcm, for Sin and for Uncle annefs %
4. So then the Convert hach, firft the atlual
Remijfion of all Sins preceeding his converfion,
and with all his State, changed from being a
fehild of Satan, to be a Child of God. Second-
ty, he hath Right unto daily remiflion of Sins,
fcs "they fall out after converfion : for, Chrift,
fpeaking of the Remiflion had in the time of
tonverfion,calleth it a Wafting of the whole Man,
Tbh. 13. 10, He that is waften .needeth not to waft,
five his Feet) but is wholly clean, to wit, for the
State of his perfon accepted in Chrift, and for
the application of his Right unto daily Remit
•fion. Chrift tracheth all His Difciples daily to
>piay for it, which Chrift calleth the wafting of
the Believer's Feet.]o\\ t 13, 10.
5*. For anfwer to the Objections, made a-
gainft the neceility of daily renewed Remiflion
of Sin, let it be remembred, that the Article of
©urCiccd 15 fo far from making dail) RcmilCon
of
BOOK III ,[ 719 1 CHAP. XXV:
of Sin not neceflar, that of Necefsity it muft be
extended, not only to the Rcmifsion of Sins
part before Converfion, but alfo to the Right
made unto us,for daily Remifsion of the Sins
which run daily from the reli&s of corrupt Na-
ture not fully mortified; for otherways, the
Believer could not have quiet Confolation in
the daily Excrcife of renewed Repentance and
Faith in Jefus Chrift.i.As tothe Second Obje&i-
on concerning the pcrfeft purchafe made by
Chrift of Remifsion by-paftand to come;lt doth
prove indced,that there is no other Sacrifice for
Sm, nor Price o* Redemption from Sin,fave that
which wascompleated on theCroft ,bur it doth
not prove,that we muft only once make Applica-
tion of this Purchafe; for.Chrifikecpcth the full
Purchafe in His own Hand, and doth let forth the
Application thcreofas we (land in need in His
own order and by degrees, till He perfect
us in San&ification and Glorification alfo.
6. As for the Third Objs&ion, we mud not
think, that when we are ioofedfrom the Law
as a Covenant of Works, we are loofed alfo from
the Commands of the Law:For,the Covenant of
Works prefcribed in the Law, is pofterior both
in order of Nature and Time to the natural
Writing of the Law in Mans Heart, Rom^ %\ 15-.
And therefore when the Covenant of the Law*
of Works is taken ofF,the Authority of the Law to
direct and corpraan4 all Mqral Duties doth re-
main
BOOK 111 [ ;io ] CHAP. XXVlIi;
r.am,and can no irjore be Ji(Ib[ved,thcn the Ob-
ligation of the Rcafonable Creatu;e to be Obe*
dicnt to the Creator,can b: abohlhcd:and there-
fore^vhen theBeJiever falieth in a Tranigrelsion
he meriteth Death and Defiru&ion as the Wa-
ges of Sin, but Chrift our Advocat, Who liveth
for ever to make /.itercefsion for us, holds o^
the Execution of deferved Wrath, and givsth to
the Believer the Grace of renewed Repentance
and Faith in Him,and fo faveth the Believer, i
Job. i. 9. and, 2. 1.
7. As for the laft Objection, taken from the
impofsibility of knowing,taking notice of,or Con*
fcfiifig every Sin, wherewith we are daily pollu-
ted.or r rom the lmpoflibility of putting Repen-
tance anu Faith in exercife about every particu-
lar Sin;wc s'Ave^firft.that the Children of God i
notwichftancing of this impoflibility acknowled-
ged by then^have fought and obtained renewed
Rcmii'lion of their innumerable Sins,P/, 40. ix.
and pf. 19 ii 13.
8. Secondly > fuch asarejuftified by Faith upori
eortfefsion of fuch Sins asthey know and do re-
member arc accepted c r Goi,asif they bad con-
fefled all their Sins p:;ticuiarly, becaufe he Chat
hath no Mind to deny c excufc any Sin in htni*
felf.but is billing ro open up his Heart to God
fdfincerity t ,aad ro confefs '&reiy particular if he
were abie,heljath prefented a contrite Heart h$*
fore God. which ua lacrifice Acceptable ro God,
tjL $1. 8. 9.F/3&1* and tbft much uSo Chnil
do*a
B 00 K III. [ j% i ] CHAP: XXVlTT.
doth teach us, fpeaking of the Vullhan who
made a fliort and general ConfcfTion of his Sins
infinccncy, and Went homejuftifiid, Luk. 18.
13. 14:
Thirdly, It is not impofliblc for a watchful
Conicicnce to obferve daily, as many particular
Sproucings from the root of in-born Sin, as may
humble him daily.and bear down all Confidence
in his own Righteoufnefs, and furnifh to him
matter for cxcrcife of Repentance and Faith in
Chrift.And this LefTon the Lord did teach His
People under the Law, by the twice offering Sa-
crifice every Day, Morning and Evening,thatHis
People observing daily the running lllue of cor-
rupt Nature, might daily have their recourfe by
Faith unto the Lamb of God, that takes away
die Sins of His own People and hitherto we arc
directed to look, #45. zi. and, 1 Job. 2.. i.
Mean time, on the one hand, let us beware to
lay any tort of Merit upon our daily Exercife
of Faith and Sorrow for Sin in our Repentance^
otherways wefhouldbe found Offerers unto God
of fatisfection from us, and not Suiters of Remit
fion of Sins from God ; and on the other band,
let usbewareto be difcouraged,albeit wedonoc
fiad daily the renewed Intimation and feni'eof
Rernifsioo, But as we apply the Law to our
felves in the Exercife of Repentance; fo kc us
apply the Sentence of Abfolurion pronounced
in the Gofpel in favours of every PeniteneSoui
that flyeth to Chrift for Refuge,,
tbt
B O O K m [ 711 ] CHAP. XXVIII,
The Tenth QjAeflhn Jhdflie; concerning Spiritual
JDifpqfitions' cf Mind and Qualifications, whch way
he joined with, or feparat from, the jptcial Work of
true Converfion andjaving Grace.
THe Apoftle, Heh 6 4. j. 6 9. io.tells us rif
fundry Qualifications which may be found
in unconverted Men, and alfo he tells us of let-
ter things which do accompany Salvation, and are
fure evidences of Regeneration. Of the firft forr,
there are, anlong others, thefe five. 1. A legal
Convidtion of the vilenefs of Sin and Vanity of
the World. 2 A renouncing of ualawful Plea-
lures, joyned with a refraining even from law-
ful and allowed wordly Delights. 3. A natural
defire of Salvation and of San&ification, that
they may may be faved. 4. A purpofe to live
RighteouflyJHolily and Soberly in this prcfent
World. 5-. An outward change of Manners and
Converfairon, fo far as they may be b!armlefs
before Men. Thefe and fuch like Qualifications
may make a fair fhovv in the Flefli, and yet may-
be found to be not only in true Con verts,but alfo
in fuch as are Strangers from the Life of God:
iSuch WnstheApotttePW beforeConvcrfion;fuch
was Ifrael, Rom 9. 31. Which followed after the
Law of Right eon 'fnefs, and did not at tun to the
Law of Right eoufnefs Who being ignorant of Gods
Righteoufnefs t and going about to efiablifh their own
Rightioafnefs, did not fubmit themjelves to the
Rigfj-
.■' J.
BOOK III. f 7*3 1 CHAP. XXVIU
Rightcoufnefs of God, Rom 10. 3. Of this (ore arc
u ch of the Papifts, who go about to be ju (lifted
by chcir own Works, and do but mock at the
Imputation of Chrift's R;ghteoufnc(s, calling ic
Blafphcmoufly, a putatitious or conceited Righ-
ceoufnefs ; not confidering, that the Pope and
his Servants do reckon the /mputation of the
Rightcoufnefs and Merits ot Men, and of the
Superfluity of the Saints Righteoufnefs, by real-
Ton of their Works of Supererogation, to be
worth a great Sum of Money, as they find their
Merchants.
Concerning ihefe five Qualifications, fome
Converts, efpecially fuch as defire to fee the
Evidences of SavingGrace in thofe with whom
they will joyn in the fociety of Church- mem-
ber lhip, may. make queftion what to think,
whether they be Saving Graces, or common
Operations of the Spirit.
2. For anfwer we rauft diftinguifli between a
Man's judging of thofe Qualifications in him-
felf, and bis judging of another, in whom thefe
Qualifications appear to be; for, a Man judg-
ing of himielf, may attain to a clear and certain
jdilccrning ofSavingGrace in himfelf,asthe Apo-
ftlegivech us to understand, 1 Cor, 1. 11. 12. In
which cafe of our judging of our (elvcs,thismuch
maybe (aid ;that if a Man find in himfelf,thofe
Qualifications joyned with Faith in Chrift foe
jliglneoufnsft and eternal life,and is feeking fur-
Z z niturc
TOOK Hi [ ZH I CHAP. XXV1IL
riture from Chrift cVhjring forth Fruits of his
Faith in new obedience he may be quiet ami
be one of doubt of faving Grace inhimfelf. For,
unto fucha perfon, the Difcript?o<i of a true
* Convert may fafely be applyed, Vhil 3, 3. Wt
are the Qircumctfion, &c And pre-lbppofe he
liath obferved thefe Qualifications in himfclfy
before he obierved his clofmg wkhChrilt.or his
application ofthcOrF:r orReconciliation through
Him 8 he neither needeth norfhould trouble him*
feifor others with qucftioning.whethcrfuch anJ
fuch Qualifications in him, before his fixing on I
Chrift, were the common or fpecialOperarions of
the Holy Ghoft For,feing the Kingdom of Hea- jl
ven comcth not with obfervations always, it is j
hard to determine of the ftrft Beginnings of the
working of Saving Grace by the holy Spirit,
becaufe faving Faith hath in it the fubftancc of
Hiftorical, Dogmatical and Temporary Faith,'
And theretore, when both Saving Faith, and
Hiftorical, D^gmtical aid Temporary Faith^
may produce Belief of the Law, and convince
the Man of Sin, and Wrath due for Sin, and pro-
duce the Belief of the Gofpel alfo without Ap-;
plication of the Offer of Reconciliation, how
fliali a Man determine whether thefe EiTeds
were produced by venue of Dogmatical and
Temporary Faith, or by vertue of Saving Faith,?
urtil the time that the humbledSinner fly in un-
•oChfif^and feck todrawFurniturefron^Him for
new obedience of the Law of Love coward
God
bOOKITI. [71s] CHAP.XXVlJf.
God and Man, and (b put difference betwixt
Saving Faith, and that faith which maybe in an
Unrtv:nerat and Unreconciled Man ?But, when
the Man is come up to apply Chrifi, and cleave
tinio Him for Righteoufncis and Lire, and Fur-
ftiture to carry him on the way unto Salvation,
it is no$ his Wifdpm to difpute uhcrher tl
five (Salifications were common Operations of
the Spirit, or EfFcdJs of Saving faith, not as
yet manifeftcd to be fuch, before the peri'on did
clofe Covenant with God inChrift, for not im-
puting his Sins unto him, and making folid Re-
conciliation With him.
3. As forjudging of others, when we obferve
ihefe QiKilrfica^ions, all or fome of them, we
muft not determine pofitivcly what fort of Ope*
ration the holy Ghoft hath in hand; but our
part is,accordtngto ourPlaceandCalling, to help
pndie lead preparatory Qualifications, which
may fervcto be inductive and fcrviceable to be-
get and fofler Saving /aith in them, even when
the fcnCc of Sin and Unworthinefs is like to
drive them from Chrift, as it did Peter, when
fie cryed out unto Chrift, Depart -from me \0 Lord,
for I am c Sinful ftlan. For.God "hath not made
as Judges of the Operations of the holy Ghoft
in this or that perfon, but to be their helpers
unto Faith when we perceive any good Qualifi-
cation in them, and helpers of their Repentance
when we perceive any Out-breaking Evil in
them.
£zi the
^ >
BOOK 111 [ 7z6] .CHAP.XXVIil.
The Eleventh Q^elJion foil fo % of the Convert's
floubtim vbhai to chink of his Condition, when he
finds more freedom of Prayer in the prejence and
audience of others .then when he prayeth in Jecret
alone,
IT is not a cafe unufual, that fome Converts
do find a great deal of freedom of Prayer in
iae audience ofothers, more then alone ; for,
they have experience.that when they pray inthe
audience oforhers in their Family , or occafionai-
ly eife where,their Prayer is more copious theti
when they are alone,their Stile of Speech more
polilhed, their words in better order, theirExpreC-
fions more fignificant,their notions more fubhme,
more fervent, more zealous then when they arc
in iecret in their Cioiet; which difference, when
they confider, they doubt what the Matter
doth mean.
z. For anfwer,/ 7 //-/?, there is a difference to be
put between folitaryPrayer in ftcret,andPrayeir
in Society with otherS:for,in fecrer oft-times the
Convcrt'sWorihip is carried on in the ftrnfc of his.
£infulnefs,Unworthincfs and /ndifpofition, pre-
fenced to God through Chrifr, with Sighs and
confufed Groans without Words; fcr he fludieth
molt for Affcdhon, and not for Words, having
no E'ir to care for but the Ear of the Searcher fi
of Hearts, Who knowerh his Weaki.cfs, Fears, <
Tcnrations and wreftling with Doubts. But in
company he ttudieth molt to make uie of know-
ledge,
BOOK III. [7*7] f H A P. XXVIH.
4edge,and to cxprefs himfclf fb.ashc may carry
along the company vyich whom he prayech with
confent.that he may Ed i fie himfclf and them in
vvorfhip; and in this cafe, he may find greater
freedom podibly then hefindeth alone in iccccr.
it is oft-times found, that God (for
His own Glory, and the mutual Edification of
Two or Three gathered together in HiS Name,)
doth inlarge the freedom of Speech in the
Speaker,
Upon which 4 Confederations, the doubting
Convert may fnisfre himfeif; only let him bc-
vvarx y,n Glory,- or it u dyin^ to have the
applaufeo^" tuch-.as hear i\ir^ r pfay, do ndcbSovv
Wind in his Sails; and in a? far as after Exami-
nation he nbqech lumfelf guilty ,lec hi m, when ;
hein is fecrct aloqe,*. be humbled before God
for it, and crave g^4qn thro j^h Chrtlt feeking
Help and f^e^Rg of this wicked Inclination.
7l:e Twelfth Qutftion /hall he ef the Doubt which
the Convert may have in a cafe contrary to the
-former.
SOme Converts do find themfelvcs mo.-e en-
larged in fecret Prayer and alone, then in
the company of one or moe. In company, faith
he, /cannot utter my own private Condition
without a neeJlcfe and inconvenient difco-
veryofmy prefenc cafe to others, and / can
hardly conjecture what may be their Necefiity
Z z 3 with
BOOK III ? 4 718 ] CHAP. XXVII! j
with whom / pray,or condcfcend upon Petitions [
and Thankigiving fit for us in common. / am tl
tgken up alfo with Thoughts of what Eftima*
tion my Hearers may have of me. &c. But irj
fecret Prayer I am freed of that care, I am not
feared that God ilnll 'mif conftrue my W6rd$,.
or Thoughts. I may in fecret imke a loi^Paule,
in my Pennons, arid fall in Meditation upon
fame Paflage of Scripture and- after a while di-
red my fpeech unco the Lord : 1 , m^y cxprefle
my Affe&ions by Voice and Gefture, is they
fail our, anJ pour foi-th my Heart to God with
Tears, without fear of being efteemed an Hypo-
crite, &c Meafi tsQie / doubt what mylndif-
poLtion to pray in company doth import, when
Dpty calleth for it.
2. For Anfwer, we grant^tHt God, to fomc
of His dcar£aint$,wh6fe Pr-a^brs in fecret He
Will accept and reward 6peiity,oHWh L not givc-i
ability to edifie others by way of praying in their
tudiznee ; to others in regard of Age or Sex, to
whomModefty and Silence is moft fuitable, He
hath not given confidence to pray in name 6f
6ther$* whether moe or fewer, as th<*ir Mouth.
But 3$ for theie, to whorft God hath given
Ability find a Calling, by reafbn of aGharge fa
thtf Family, or forne occafional Exigence, to
pt#y ?n the audiet3ce of 1 others, and yet notwith-
handing rhcy do-iofter their natural Aveifnefs
horn fucha Dury, tht?y had need to examine
diesnfelm, whether they be hindered by Fear
B 00 K m. [ 7 z9 ] CHA P. XXVJIf.
r o Lofs fome of their Eflimation at the Hands of
the Hearers, if poflibly all things fljould not be
found fo well digefted and exprcflcd in the
Piaycr, as they would.
TbetbirteettbQjjeffion Jhall he oftheConvert'i ehufo-
ing what to think, when he com par -etb his Dtjpo-
fit ion to prayer , and God s Dijpenjation toward
hint in Prayer.
SUndry Converts, when they compare their
own divers Difpofitions to Prayer, with
the divers difpenfations of God toward them in
Prayer, they are at a Hand whac to think. Some-
time ( faith one) abcitlbc very hardly drawn
to pray at all, yet when after wreftling, thcCon-
fcience of the Duty doth fee me on work, my
Prayer gocth on as / could Willi, Light is fur-
niihed to me what to confefs, what to thank
for, what to feck both for my fclfand others;
whereby I gather/or the time,that the Lord is
pleafed with my perfon in Chrift, and hath ac-
cepted my Prayer. Sometime it fareth othcrways
with me: For, when Time, Place, and Leifure
for Prayer concur, and lam now about to make
ufe of opportunity, and do fall down before the
t.ord to fpeak, on a fudden, I have nothing to
to fay; Matter, Words and Light do fail me,
Darknefs and Confufion falleth on my> Mind,
and my Prayer fundry times is Hopped, and clo^-
•fcr.li with a Sigh or Groan ; which Difpofitions
Z. i 4. of
• '
B OOK 111 [ 730 ] CHAP. XXVltl
of myHcart and Difpenfations of the Lord when
/ compare,/ am in doubt what to think.
z. For anfwer, in the firft cafe, concerning
the Lord's Biefling of the aiming at duty, the
matter is clear and fpeaks for it ielf ; for, God
will have us to aim at aright frame of Spirit
when we are about the difcharge of any
part of his Worfhip, but not forbear to do the
Duty, if we cannot reach that fitnefs of Spirit
which we defire; let us ftrive againft all /impedi-
ments, and God will help us to fight, will give
thcVi(9ory,andReward it for our encouragment
to fet upon our duty.
As for the other cafe of fitting on the Duty,
and milling of Furniture to discharge it, let us
confider, that God inthisDifpenfation is teach-
ing us, that both the difcharge of any Duty,
and the Sucrels thereof, do not depend upon
him that willeth, or on him that runneth, but
upon God that fheweth Mercy; yea Heteach-
eth us by experience,that to Will and to Do are
two difiind: Gifts, the one whereof, fometime
He will give and not the other, and fometime
He will give both, that we may learn not to
limit the Lord in any ca(l\ but really acknow-
ledge that every good Gift is from Him, that
we may aim at our Duty, and depend on Him
for the Bietfing,
Tk
BOOK Ul. [ 731 ] CHAP. XXVIII
The Fourteenth Quedion is, how tofave the Doult
of the Convert in another like Qomparijon of his
Difpofition and God's Difpenfation.
SOme Converts, out of their own Experi-
ence, may fay, / being in a fad condition
of Heart, have fundry tirrnes diligently ufed all
Means to be comforted; and have wondred
within my felf, that my Pains have produced no
hoped-for efTed, but the Heart hath lyen dead,
like the Child of the Shmamit, when Gehaji hid,
the Staff of Rlifha upon him. At anotherume 7
have Been furprized unexpt&edly with lnlarge-
ment of Heart, with liberty of Speech in Prayer,
with Peace and Joy in the holy Ghoft, to the
no fmall confirmation of my Faith, and what to
think of this divers Difpenfation, I cannot tell.
c. For anfwer, the Doubt may befati$fied,by
Obfervation of the Lord's Grace and W idiom
toward His Child ; in the firft cafe, He giveth
Grace to ufe the Means, and fufpendeth the
fenfiblc Fruits thereof, to teach us, 1. that He
hath indeed tyed us to the ufe of all appointed
Means, but left Eiimfelf free to give the Fruits
thereof, in what time, and in what meafurc He
p!eafeth.2.He teacheth us that whatfoevcrBene-
fitHe doth beftow upon us in the ufe of theMeans,
He doth beftow them, not for the ufing of the
Means,but Ij the ufingof theMeans.3.He teacheth
us
BOOI1. III.- { 73* 1 CHA P. XXVIII.
us, that there is no inherent Vertue, nor ef-
fectual Power in theMcans.but that the Mean $
are the wavwhercin we mud walk, that we may
find theBieffing from God in ufing the Means,
and not put confidence in them 4 He teachcth us
whatfocver Mean or Inflrument is made u(e of,
we fliould withfW planting and Apollo watering,
give the glory of the Increafe,Fruit and Succefs
unto God alone,
3. As to the other Cafe, ' wherein the Lord
doth prevent His Childs ufing of Means, and
givethan Anfwer ere he call, thereby He teach-
eth us the fame Lcflbn, to wit, that whatBlef-
fing God dorh give, He doth it freely of Grace
and not for Works. 2, He teacheth us, that
what Bleflhg vvc expedi in the ufe of the
Means He will giveit,not when we would, nor
in what meafure we would,but as He fees it fit-
ted for our Good and His own Glory, that {©
wcfhould neither be fruftrat of the Fruit of the
Means ufing, nor yet conceive the Fruit thereof
as a deferved Reward of Works, but 4s a Gift
of mcer Grace.
The Fifteenth Queflion, /hall he ahout the Meafure
of Mortification or SantJification^ whether it le
growing or decaying.
Ft-times true Converts fall in this Doubt,
not indeed when they arc in a fenfible
and
BOOKFI. [ 735 ] CHAP. XXVltt-
and corner, able cond-rion, for then they Teem
ro the/hie!ves to he gKDtf'iftg in Ho'incis;ncithcr
fa/1 cViey in this D»»uSc when their Conoli{io,i is
frnfibly TaiI, as Then the power of in-born Sin
cither breaketh fimth in.aclioricYrerirvilly.or de-
filerh their Spint ar lt«ft; fa rtttftltfte? teem to
themf^esto be defying >i ir th»OojV* arifeth
When they ae gfcifl . rtwfct ord'^.a y vayof
a bUmelds Con venation, without any obferva-
vable change of char {p '.ritual corivti » oft to the
better or co the wocfe. Ihen i$ it, that they
teem to thcmfcl ve$ m a ^u&ou* condition, and
cannot fay,whether Mc*ftlificarfott>6f corrupt Na-
ture, or SarK3iftcat&»* be on the growing hand,
or nor.
x. For anfwer to this Doubt abdut the Mea-
fore of Holittcfs, i.it is not fafe curioufly to in-
quire, what itteafureofBolme&a Mati hath at-
tained : ; For, as k is not gv&d to eat much Honey \
So fdfi Attn tofearcb out tf>eir own Glory, it is not
glory, PrOV. z$* ij.
Secondly, it is hard to determine the Quefti-
on: for, God ufeth to hide from His Children,
especially the younger fort, thefe Operations^
of Hire holy 'Spirit wh'teh may in air; fort weaken
their endeavour in Rety,o> finfew Pride in them,
butHc difcovers unto them their Sinfulness anj
the Imfftf fifttdns of rheir ObeJience, that fie
may fct forward their Repentance and laying
holdqnChrifts Rightcoufiiefs.
... Thirdly,
BOOK III [ 734 ] CHAP. XXVIII.
Thirdly, there is fiich an inftabilicy of any good
condition wherein any Convert ma) $be,fo great
variety ofTentations, (uch a viciiiicude ofVidto-
ry of the Fefh and of the Spirit in their daily
Conflict, that hardly can any Man fatisfie him-
feif in the folution of this Queftion : For. he
who thought himfeif dead to the Lulls of th.3
Flelh, and to Riches and Honour, may fhortly
find himfeif overtaken in the Net, and fall foul-
ly in the Mire, and be found carnal.
Therefore, let him that (lands take heed lcaft
he fall, let him yvatch v and pray led he be over-
come in Tcntation, te&him tiudy to obfervc
the Wickednefs of Nature,and Imperfections
of his beft Works, that the Righteoufnefs of
Chrift may be irt greaterEftimation in our Eyes,
and we may grow in Faith and Love toward God,
drawing Vertuefrom Chrift,airi furniture to e-
\ ery good Work. This is the W T ay to grow
in Holinefs indeed, and not to be proud for ar
ny thing in us, or done by us; and this, is the
way wherein the Apoftle did conilantly walk,
Tl^iL 3. 14, 15-, 16.
Tpe Sixteenth Que ft ion /& what th^Ccnveri \ff$fo
think or Jo in hard Afflictions.
WHcn theConvert doth fall inlong-fome
bodily Difeafes and' fad Afflidions.
by unexpected and long laftipg Adyerfi-
BOOK III. [735-1 CHAP. XXV1I/.
ty, when Satan is permitted to vex him with
fore Tentations when God doth hide His Face
for a long time from him, when He cxpofeth
him unto the cruel perfecution of worldly Men,
he cannot choofc but fall in many Doubts and
Perplexities; For, when God doth immediatly
afflicl him, he readily lufpeð that God is
angry at him; if He loufe Reins unto Satan to
fife him and vex him, if He anfwer nothisSup-
plications,comfort him not readily, what wonder
multitude of Thoughts arife in his Heart? The
queftion is, in this cafe,vv hat lliall the Convert
think or do >
2. For anfwer./t is true, the Lord ufeth oft-
times in His deep Wifdom and unchangeable
Love to His Children, to exercife them, as is
faid, and Satan will not fail to whifper in their
Ear, that God doth not love them ; in which
cafe, if the Con vet t do not (land faft,in the Faith
of the Love of God through Chnft, in all His
Tentations he cannot ftand out in the
Conflict.
Thereforc,thar he may guard and ftrcngthen
his Faith,/ 7 //*/?, let him feek Wifdom from God,
to expound the Lords Difpcnfations toward
himfclf, by the Word and Working of God
in His Children, fct down in the holy Scrip-
ture; in exercifing of whom by Affliction,
He hath difcovercd the Corruption of
their
BQ'OrilT. f 736 ] GHAP.XXV1H.
their Nature, the bitter Fruits of Siri,anclpromo-
ved the work of Mortification of finful Lufts
that are ir> the World, ro wit.the Luft of the
Eye,tbe Luft of the Flelh and Pride of Life,and
taught them Humiliry,Meekncfs,Patience,Tern-
perancc and Compafiion toward others in Af-
fliction. Secondly, let him fee his Affeftions on
Tbmgs {piritual;and on our blefied Redeemer
JefusChrift.Who is at the right Hand of the Fa-
ther making Interceflion for all them that call
upon Him, that they mav be fa ved, a! ways re-
membering that as rbe Law is a Pedagogue to;
lead usand draw us unto Chrift; Co rufUdion
is a Pedagogue to icj&j us to 'the Law, and to;
ChrifttheEnd of the li'a\V te^ Rvghreoufne(san4
and Life. fkiraly^ct him iearn,ih examination
of his own condition, accuracy to diftingu iffi
the Lords part exerciieing him with trouble^
for Tryal and training him on in the Obedience
of Faith, as for his own Glory ,(b for the good of
His AfflicSed- Child; and Satans part in Cruelty,
Craftinefs and Malice, tempting and vexing
him;and his own part, who hath delerved much
more AffiicSton then is come upon him: which
Confederations may keep him from fretting and
murmuring in his Trouble, how heavy foever
it be^ Fourthh\kt him put difference between
finning and fuffering of trouble, that he may
• choofe to endure Affiic2:ioiT,rather then by Sin-
ning draw on much more trouble.
i. But
BOOK III. [ 737 ] CH AP. XXV1I1.
3. But if the afflicccd Convert feem to him-
felfdefertcd of God, in refpect of the fpccial
Operations of the holy Ghoft,lethim bo of good
courage he is not altogether dcfcited who can
obiervc the decaying of Saving Graces from the
mcafure he hath found before; he is not alto-
gether deferted, who loveth Communion with
God, and longeth after it, and can go to God
and rcgratc his Defertion as a fad Affliction;
for, if our loving Lord Jefus Chrift hath with-
drawnHimtelfout of the fight of His Afflicted
Chile?, yet hath He prefumed His own Foot*
fteps with the Unction of His own Spirit, that
He may quicken and kindle His Childs Love
and De fire toward Him.This regratcd Defertion
is but in part,not altogetheriyea it is not a real
but a feeming Defertion. The Lord rcftctlt
it. His Love, albeit He hide the Effe<5ts of
HisLove for a time; He preferveth the lubits of
Saving Grace as His own feed in the Affli&ei
Heart,albcit He do not always draw them forth
unto A&ion: If He withdraw the fight of Sav-
ing Grace, yet He augment* the Eftimation of
them, and langour to find the Lord working in
him. If the Afflicted obfervc well, he (hall fee
the Hand of the Lord in fome part of his Works,
(o that in his hardeft condition he may fay,
with the Plalmifl; Pf. 75, tfevertbeleft J am
continually with Thee, Thw hoUejl nts wth Thy
right Hand.
4- If
BOOK 111 r 738 } CHAR XXVI11.
4. /fit fliall plea(e God,with immediat Af-
flictions from Himfelf,to fuffer not only Satan
t© fight againft the Faith ahd Confolation of
His Child, but ai(o to fuper-add a fiery Trial
of his Faith by cruel perfecutionfor Righteoul-
nefs, lcthitn ftill, for all this, be of good cou-
rage, becaufe in all fuch Battels the Lord of
Hoftes fliall be with him, Who will not fuffer
His Souldiers to be tempted above their itrength
but with the Tentation, will give an iflue, that
they may efcape, and will furnifli ftrengch, to
them, that they fliall overcome; for, He hath
laid up a Grown of Righteoufnels for all them
that keep the Fairh, and at laft will give
it to all that love the coming of our Lord
Jefus. Wherefore, let the Affli&ed Convert
humble himfelf under one or all thefe Ex-
ercifes, and not Doubt of his condition, feing
it is agreeable to the Scripture and lot of the
Sants.
5. It is true, that all Affli&ion to the Flefli,
for the prefent, is a bitter potion, but yet teach*
ed forth to the Fatient by the Hand of "our
Fhyfitian and heavenly Father. Itisa fire, but
Will potconfumetheburningBufli;itis aFurnacc,
but will not deftroy anf Mettle but Drofs only ;
it is a Labour,but fliall in due time bring forth
the quiet Fruits of RighteouCnefs ; it is a rough
Fyle, but the more Sharp it be it fliall fomuch
looner rub away the ruftof the Veilel of Grace,
make the Soul of the Penitent more bright, and,
by
BOO KTII. [ 739 ] CHAP. XXVlIf
by the Blcflingof God, render him more hum-
ble in his thoughts, more fervent in Prayer,
more conftant in the faith* more (hong to bear
fvhatfocver buahen ilial! belaid on him, more
dcfirous to grow in all Vertue, more careful to
I*eepCommunion With Godjiv.ore innocent in Iv's
Conversion, more ciean in hii Conference, arm
atlaft more Blefled. Let not then the Afflicted
Convert regard th^ Labour he is put to, but lock
to the Fruit, reckon the worth of Healing, and
not thebicternifs of his Potion; let him not
look to die pain of the AfTlidHon, but to the
fatherly Love of GodchafUfung him, Whoex-
preflely hath told us, that He chaftenetU all
tYhom He loveth,lefttliey perifh with the World*
let him not fliift the Battel, but fet his Eyes
on the Crown, and go on in the way of God;
how many foever his Tribulations llia.ll be : For,
ds the outward Man by trouble doth decay ,» lo
the inward Man is renewed daily : For, the
Apoflle, Who was moft acquaint with fuchExer-
*;(e, harh for incouragementof all who are uri*
der the Crofs, faid, Our light Affliction, which is
lut for a Moment, worketb for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight ef Glory, while we look not at the
things which arefeen, lut at the' things which are
not Je?u\ for the things which are ]een,a>e temporal,
lut the thhigs which are mtfeen are tftrnaL z Cor;
4. 17. i&.
B O OK II. III.- [ 740 ] CHAP. XXV11I.
the S evert eeth an d laft Queft ion y flail he about the
Relics of Sin in the Saints in this Life*
THe Remainder ofSin doth oftentime$yrivc
true Converts to many Doubts ; for,
When carnal Lufts and finful PalTions fcem to
be (ubc'ued. and in a good mcafure mortified,
incontinent, upon the lead occafion ( as dying
.Afbes when fulphureous Pouder is caft upon
them ) they kindle and are inflamed : And
when their Spirit is mod willing and ready to
do good, corrupt Nature ftandeth upandmak-
eth opposition, fo that the Convert cannot do
the good he, would; yea, fuch is the power
thereof, that oft -times it forceth him to the ill
he would npt. In which warfare, being oft orer#
come, he is fo weary, that he fallethout, with
the Apcftic in hisLamentatian, Bom. 7, 24, cry-
ing, mijerahle Man that I am t who flail deliver
we from the hod) of this Death } and while he
fearcheth how it cometh to pafs that fuch a
body of Death lodgeth in the Children of
Cod, and fo powerful Relidts of Sin remain in
thejuftified Man, he cannot fatisfic himfelf,con-
fidering thatGod doth hate Sin, andmaketh the
hew Creature hate it alfo ; which God could
eafily take away in a Moment, in the day of the
Convert^ Reconciliation and Juitificajion.
me
,ai "
BOOK III. [ 741 ] CH AP. XXVIIL
1. For anfwcr to this Queftion; if a Reafbn
of God's pormiflion of the Reliefs of Sin, to re-
main in the Saints ail the days of theirLife,' be
asked after; a reafbn Superior to the mod Holy
Will of God to permit it, can none be given. nor
ftiould it be fought after.But to quiet our
in this cafe, thefe following Considerations may
fuffice, 1, Itis the will of che Lord our God,
our wife and loving Phyfifciah, to renew and
rtftore His Image in His Children piece and
piece, till it be brought to perfe&ion in all the.
Lineamcnts,Parts and Degrees thereof, and to
heal our finfulSick nefs and /nfirmitics, net in
an inflant, but by little and little^s He fceth fit*
this way of bringing His Work to perfe&ion
by degrecs,He keeped in the Creation of the
W r orld, which He did not perfect in a Moment,
but in fix Days: So alfo, the Seed that is caften
in theGround every Year.Ke doth not bring forth
to maturity, for Mens ufe, in Jefle time then
fbme Months. He dorh not form Thfants in the
Womb and bring thtm up to their appointed
ftature and flrer^rhj'n lefle tin.e .than anumber
©f Years. And for ilieRsjiiis of S\q, hotf odious
and loathfome foever they are in themfclvW,
yctHe can, in His deep Wtfiom, make ufe
thereof in a mod Holy way for the good of
penitent Converts : For, as it was fitting, that a
difference fhouid be put between the Militant
Church on Earth, and the triumphant j in w Hea-
A a a 2 ?en.
BOOK III. [ 74* 1 CHAP. XXVITF.
ven ; So it is the Lords wife Will to exercifc Hi9
Militant Children, in Confli&ing againft Sin
and Mifery in this Life^that the next Life and
Triumph over Sin, Death and Hell, may be
the iVeecer when it cometh, and more defired
till it come.
2. Secondly, as the Lord, after fubduingof
the Canaanites did not forth with caft them al-
together out of the holy Land, but fuffereda
multitude oftjiern to live.for theExercife of the
Ifraelites with warfare,and for teaching His Peo-
ple by their own Experience, that the Vi&ory
which they had obtained over the Canaanitts
was not purchased by their 5word or Bow, but
was given unto them from the Lord of Hofts,
who led forth their Armies andprofpered them:
So doth He not abolifh the RclidJs of Sin in His
Saints in tins Life, after their Converfion, that
they msy know that the Victory which they
have received,over theDevil.the World and the
Ficih, in their Converfion, is not to bealcribed
to the power of their own Free- Will, but unto
God only. For, if the renewed Convert cannot
come the Relicts of the broken forces of
his iSpimual Adverfaries within him, which his
1, ■■■■->: wed V\ ill would mofl carncftiy Expell, how
can he g^e the Glory of his Vi<5rory over the
Devil and the World in his Converfion, unto
the power of his Corrupt and Unrenewed Free-
Wiil.
ttirfy,
%
\
1
f
U
BOOK HI [ 743 1 CHAP - XXVlil.
3. Thirdly \x. is required of all char come un-
to Chrill, that they deny themielvcs. u»ke up
their Crofs daily and follow Him;and to make
them fo do,flrong Motives are daily furnifhed
from the feeling of the Rclidts of Sin in our
felves: for how can a renewed Convert looku-
pon his own Ignorance, Errors,Folly and Vanity
of his Mind, Pervcrfenefs of his Will./mpocency
to Good, and Propenfion unto all Sin, and not
loath himfelf, and fo be forced to fly to Chritt
the Redeemer for Relief I
4. The remainder of Sin being an Adverfa-
ry to all Vertues,doth furnifli work to all the
Habits infufed by God for the daily Exercife
thereof, according as inborn Sin doth put forth
it felf to the hinderance of Faith, Love,Hope,Pa-
tience,Tempcrance,&c. But in fpcciai itlerves
to bear down Pride and to loflcr Humility. For
this doth the Experience of the Apoftle fliew,
x Cor. 1 x.y.Lcfl I jhould be exalted alove me afar e
through the abundance efthe Revelation, there was
given to me a Thorn in the ¥le/h.
5. Nothing doth more manifefl the /hfirmity
of the ftrongeft Souldicrs of Chrift, than the
power of inborn Sin,brought forth in thcConfli&
againft the new Creature : No fharper Spur
to Prayer and imploring of Gods Help, than
the felt Power of the remainder of Sin: This al-
fo doth tho Experience of the Apoftle teach us,
% Cor. iv 2. for, this thing I befotigbt the Lent
j thrice 1 that it might depart from we
6, How
BO K Tit. [ 744 1 CHAP. XXVlu.
6. How much the endurance of this Confli&
with the remainder of Sin, ciorh ferve tomani-
fcft the greatnefsof the Lord'sPower and large*
nefs of His Grace towards His weak .Souldi-
ers, whom He upholdetb and comforteth in this
ConfluSt* the Anfwer which the Lord givcth
to die Ape file's Prayer, maketh manifeft, xCor.
ii. 9. Aod h 1 ef aid unto me, My Grace is fuffici-
ent for thee ; for My Strength is made perfeft in
IVeafaefs.
7. Weare flow to Believe, dull to Apprehend
2nd learn that which the Word of God tells us
-of the uglincfs of the Body of Sin, the perverfc
Wickednefs of corrupt Nature, the Filthinefs of
the FieOi, the Wiles and D^ceitfutaefs of the
old Man. and the Emnity of ourCorruptNature
againil Gc^Thcrcfore, m f and by the frequent
end renewed ConSidts,no\v with one Lull, then
with another, we arc forced by Experience to learn
the LcfTon more and more folidiy, and beiieve
the Truth of the Lords Word fpeaking of£in
that is in us, and to engage cur felves to pr%
fecute the Mortification of Sin unto the Death.
8. The renewed Experience of the power of
Sn in our Fklh, fliould make us fo much
the more vigilant againft it, and daily
to put on the whole ardour of God :
Becaufe we mud fight not only with the Fteft,
but alfo with Principalities, Powers, and
fpiritualWickedtfefs, which u,ke advantage of
the
p o o k m; f 7 4s 3 chap, xxvm
the Sin that naturally dw$Ueth in us. Epef. 6.
II, IX. Put en the whole Armour of God, for u>C
Mettle not with Fief? and Blood, to wit, on I v.
9. The Confcieiice of the remainder of Sin
dwelling in us, ferverh to move us to pity, and
to have companion on the Children of Adam,
and meekly to reftore our weak Brechrcn> who
arc overtaken in any ofTcnce, as the ApofUc
doth teach us, Tit 3. z. Shewing all Meeknejs to
all Men, For we our [elves alfo were f me time Fool '/ft,
Difoledient, Deceived, &c. Gal 6. 1. Brethren
ij a Man he overtaken in a Fault, ye which arefpi-
ritual re/fore fuch an one in the Spirit ofMeeknefs,
confide ring thy [elf left thou alfo he tempted.
10. Lad of all,theperminion of the Rcliques
of Sin, to remain in true Converts all the days
of tlu-ir Ijfe.doth ferve to decide the great Con-
troverfy between God and Men, concerning the
way ofjuflification : For, bv Nature we cannot
admit the Riglueoufheft of God, which is by Faith
in Jeius Chrift, flying to His Satisfaction of Ju-
flice for us, and Righreeufncfs imputed to us
thereby: For, by Nature, with mif-beJievirg
Jfrael.wQ acknowledge no Juflification, (ayes/,
on for Works, albeit it be impoffrblc, /fan. 10.3.
And as they heing ignorant of Gods P.ighUchifnejs,
and going about to e/iahlijh their own Ixighteoajnefs,
have not fuhmitted themjelves unto tie Rightecnf
nejs ojGod.So \ve,even after Converficn and after
embracing of Juflification by Faith, in our Con-
yet-
BOOK III. [ 74S 1 CHAP. XXVIIL J B
{ion do give oft tinus evidence of our natural
Inclination to feck after the Righteoufnefs of
Works ; tor after Examination of ourfelvcs, wt
fhall find that oar confidence doth flow and ebb
as we are pleated or difplcafed with our own
carriage;and vhea we have mod need to make
life oj the Righteoufnefs by Faith in Chrift, we
forget it or flight it.do not fly to it,do not adhere
to ic.do not comfort and flrengihenour felves in
conflicts by it as,(hath oft-times been obferved
by us) what then would we do, if our going a-
bo.it to eftablifh our own Righteoufnefs did
profper? or if the power of in-born Sin did not
let up it felf againft us,and force us by the Law
either to difpair or fly to Chrift? And this our
natural inc!ination,evcn after Convcrfion, to re-
turn and feck after the Righteoufnefs of the Law,
may be feenin xXwGalatiausjk ho having begun in
the fpjritual way of Juftification by Fait!.,
fought to be perfe&ed by the flefhly way of Ju-
ftification by works, and did fall in dan?
failing from Grace and excluding t!v
from the bJeffing of the promife through SJi
Wherefore, our infinitly wife Phyf-ian Jcfus
Chrift taketh courfe, as we have laid, for
His own Glory and our good, not to re-
pair at onee the Irmgeof God in us, nor to heal
our ikiiful difeales all at once. But peice and
peice, by Degrees, that His Righteoufnefs, be-
llowed on thofe that fly unto Him for Ref^rg^
may be in higher and higher Eftimation dai-
ly
[ 747 1 CHAP.XXVIU.
]y,thar the Fountain opened up intern, for remov.
ir\gofS\n and uncleanncfs nuy daily be made
ulc of. and the Bcncfircof Juftification may daily
be looked upon as a New Gift, that vertuc may
daily be fucked out of him for bcarirg of Good
ts, and out of His Fulncfs wc may receive
daily Grace for Grace, and may render thanks
unto our God daily ,and Bids Htm fot His Grace
gi\ n unto us, as did thcProphct # P/, 103. V 3.
Blejs ike Lord, my Seal, who forgive th all thine
Intatnttes, who heaieth M thy Imfit miti \s ; And
grow in the Loveol God, for the Rcmiflioii of fo
many Sins as efcape us daily.as did the Woman
Luh> 7, 47. who loved much becaufe many Sins were
forgiven htr. And grow in //olinefs, without
putting Con6Jence in our Works, as the PfaU
mift did, Ff 71. iy. 16. My Mouth fkdl fhew
forth Thy Rightcoujttefs »~lwill go in the (irength of
the Lord God } and will make mention of thy R/^hte;
cuf»efs,even oj Thine only. And the Apoftlc givetli
1 s example. PhiL 389, 12. 13. 14.
before, let the doubeing Convert make
.: Confiderations, and. long for tha
.ag of Chrift, who (hall abolifh Sin and
Mife r akv pettier. To whom with the Farher
aad holy Spiri| be Glory for ever, Amen.
■
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