A Choice Drop OF HONEY From The ROCK CHRIST. OR, A Short Word of Advice to all Christians, of what Persuasion soever, in order to a thorough Reformation.  
By T.W. late Preacher of the Gospel.  
The Fifth Edition.  Deut. 32.31. 
For their Rock is not as our Rock, even our Enemies themselves being Judges.  
LONDON, Printed and Sold by B. Harris, at the Golden-Boar's-head against the Cross-Keys Inn in Grace-church-street, and at the corner of Grace-church-street, next Cornhill. 1699   

A Short Word of Advice to all Christians, etc.  
A Word of Advice to my own Heart and thine; thou professeth Baptism, Church-fellowship; thou dost well, they are glorious Ordinances; But if thou hast not the Blood of Christ at the Root of thy Profession, it will whither and prove but painted Pageantry to go to Hell in.  
If thou retain Gild, Self-righteousness under it, those Vipers will eat out all the Vitals of it at length. Try and examine with greatest strictness every day, what bottom thy Profession and Hope of Glory is built upon, whether it was laid by the hand of Christ; if not, it will never be able to endure the storm that must come against it. Satan will throw it all down and great shall be the fall thereof, Mat. 7.27.  
Glorious Professor, thou shalt be winnowed: Every vein of thy Profession will be tried to purpose: Terrible, to have it all come tumbling down, and to find nothing but it to bottom upon.  
Soaring Professor, see to thy waxed Wings betimes, which will melt with the heat of Temptations. What a misery to Trade much and break at length, and have no Stock, no Foundation laid for Eternity, in thy Soul?  
Gifted Professor, look there be not a worm at the root that will spoil all thy sine Gored, and make it die about thee in a day of Scorching. Look over thy Soul daily, and ask, where is the Blood of Christ to be seen upon my Soul? what Righteousness is it that I stand upon to be saved by? Have I got off all my Self-righteousness? Many eminent Professors, have come at length to cry out, in the sights of the ruin of all their duties, Undone, Undone to all Eternity.  
The greatest sins may be hid under the greatest duties, and the greatest terrors: See the wound that sin hath made in thy soul, be perfectly cured by the blood of Christ, not skinned over with duties, humblings, enlargements, etc. Apply what thou wilt besides the blood of Christ it will poison the sore. Thou wilt find that sin was never mortified truly; that thou hast not seen Christ bearing for thee upon the Cross: Nothing can kill it but the behold of Christ's Righteousness.  
Nature can afford no balsam fir for soul-cure. Healing from duty, and not from Christ is the most desperate disease. Poor ragged nature, with all its highest improvements, can never spin a garment fine enough (without spot) large enough (without patches) to cover the soul's nakedness. Nothing can fit the soul for that use but Christ's perfect Righteousness. Whatsoever is of nature's spinning must be all unravelled before the Righteousness of Christ can be put on. Whatsoever is of nature's putting on, satan will come and plunder every rag away, and leave the soul naked and open to the wrath of God. All that nature can do will never make up the least dram of Grace that can mortify sin, or look Christ ●n the face one day.  
Thou art a Professor, art baptised, goes on hearing, and praying, and receiving, yet miserable master thou be. Look about thee, didst thou ever yet see Christ to this day in distinction from all other excellencies and righteousness 〈◊〉 the world, and all of them falling before his Majesty and Grace, Isa. 2.17.  
If thou hast seen Christ truly, thou hast seen pure Grace, pure Righteousness in him, every way infinite, far exceeding all sin and misery. If thou hast seen Christ thou canst trample upon all the righteousness of men and angels, so as to bring thee into acceptation with God. If thou hast seen Christ, thou wouldst not do a duty without him for ten thousand worlds, 1 Cor. 2.2. If ever thou didst see Christ, thou didst see him a Rock higher than self righteousness, satan, sin, Psal. 61.2. and that Rock doth follow thee, 1 Cor. 10.4. And there will be continual drops of Honey and Grace out of that Rock to satisfy thee, Psal. 81.16. Examine if ever thou beheld Christ as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, Joh. 1.14.16.17. Be sure thou art come thou art come, to Christ, that thou stand upon the Rock of ages, hast answered his call to thy soul, hast closed with him for Justification.  
Men talk bravely of believing, (whilst whole and found) few know it. Christ is the mystery of the scripture; Grace the mystery of Christ. Believing is the most wonderful thing in the world. Put any thing of thine own to it, and thou spoilest it; Christ will not so much as look at it for believing. When thou believest, and comes to Christ, thou must leave behind thee thy own righteousness, and bring nothing but thy sin, O that is hard, leave behind all thy holiness, Sanctifications, duties, humblings, etc. and bring nothing but thy wants and miseries, else Christ is not t for thee, nor thou for Christ. Christ will be a pure Redeemer and Mediator. and thou must be a pure sinner, or Christ and thou wilt never agree: It's the hardest thing in the world to take Christ alone for righteousness; that is to acknowledge him Christ, Join any thing to him of thy own and thou Un-Christ's him.  
Whatever comes in when thou goest to God for acceptation, (besides Christ) call it Antichrist, bid it be gone; make only Christ's righteousness triumphant; all besides that is Babylon, which must fall, if Christ stand, and thou shalt rejoice in the day of the fall thereof, Isa. 1.10.11.12. Christ alone did tread the wine-press, and there was none with him, Isa. 63.3. If thou join to any thing but Christ, Christ will trample upon it in sury and anger, and slain his raiment with the blood thereof. Thou thinkest it easy to believe; was ever thy faith tried with an hour of temptations, and a thorough sight of sin? was it ever put to grapple with Satan, and the wrath of God lying upon the Conscience: when thou wast in the mouth of hell and the grave, then did God show thee Christ a ransom, a righteousness, etc. Then couldst thou say, O I see grace enough in Christ; thou mayst say that which is the biggest word in the world Thou believest. Untried faith is uncertain faith.  
To believing there must be a clear conviction of sin, and of the merits of the blood of Christ, and of Christ's willingness to save upon this consideration merely, that thou art a sinner; things all harder than to make a world. All the power in nature cannot get up so high in a storm of sin and guilt as really to believe there is any grace, any willingness in Christ to save. When satan chargeth sin upon the conscience, than the soul to charge it upon Christ, that is Gospel-like, that is to make him Christ, he serves for that use. To accept Christ's righteousness alone his blood alone for Salvation. That is the sum of the Gospel, when the soul in all duties and distresses can say, Nothing but Christ, Christ alone for righteousness, justification, Sanctification, Redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. Not humblings, not duties, not Graces, etc. That Soul hath got above the reach of the billows.  
For all temptations, satan's advantages, our complain are laid in self-righteousness, and self-excellency, God pursueth these, by setting satan upon thee, as Laban did Jacob for his Images which Rachel hide, Gen. 31. these must be torn from thee, be as willing as thou wilt, these hinder Christ from coming in, and till Christ come in, guilt will not go out, and where guilt is, there is hardness of heart, and therefore much guilt argues little, if any thing of Christ's blood, that will tend to hardening. Make Christ thy Peace, Eph. 2.14. not thy duties, thy tears, etc. Christ thy righteousness, not thy graces, etc. Thou mayst destroy Christ by duties, as well as by sins. Look at Christ, and do as much as thou wilt. Stand with all thy weight upon Christ's righteousness; take heed of having one foot on thy own righteousness, another on Christ's. Till Christ come and fit on high upon a throne of grace, in the conscience, there is nothing but guilt, terrors, secret suspicions, the soul hanging between hope and fear, which is an un-gospel like State.  
He that fears to see sin's utmost vileness, the utmost hell of his own heart, he suspects the merits of Christ. Be thou never such a great sinner, 1 John, 2.1. try Christ to make him thy advocate, and thou shalt find him Jesus Christ the Righteous: In all doubtings, fears, storms of conscience, look at Christ continually. Do not argue it with satan, (he desires no better) bid him go to Christ, and he will answer him, it is his office as he is our Advocate, 1 John. 2.1 his office to answer law, as our surety, Heb. 7.22. his office to answer justice, as our Mediator, Gal. 3.20. 1 Tim. 2.5. and he sworn to that office, Heb. 7.20.21. Put Christ upon it; if thou wilt do any thing thyself, as to satisfaction for sin, thou renounceth Christ the righteous, who was made sin for thee, 2 Cor 2.21.  
Satan may allege, and corrupt scripture, but he cannot answer scripture. It's Christ's Word of mighty authority, Christ foiled Satan with it, Mat. 4. In all the scripture there is not an ill word against a poor sinner stripped of self-righteousness; nay, it plentifully points out this man to be the subject of the grace of the Gospel, and none else. Believe but Christ's willingness, and that will make thee willing. If thou findest thou canst not believe, remember its Christ's work to make thee believe; put him upon it, he works to will and do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2.13. Mourn for thy unbelief, which is a setting up guilt in the conscience above Christ, an undervaluing the merits of Christ, accounting his blood an unholy, a common, and unsatisfying thing.  
Thou complainest much of thyself; doth thy sin make thee look more at Christ, less at self? That's right, else complaining is but hypocrisy. To be looking at duties, graces, enlargements, when thou shouldst be looking at Christ; that's pitiful: Looking at them will but make thee proud, looking at Christ's grace will make thee humble. By grace you are saved Eph. 2.5. In all thy temptations be not discouraged, Jam. 1.2. those Surges may not be to break thee, but to heave thee off thyself on to the Rock Christ.  
Thou mayst be brought low, even to the brink of hell, ready to tumble in; thou canst not be brought lower than to the belly of Hell, many Saints have been there, even dowced in hell, yet there mayst thou cry, there mayst thou look towards the holy Temple, Jonah, 24. Into that Temple none might enter but purified ones, and with an offering too, Acts, 21.26. But now Christ is our Temple, Sacrifice, Altar, Highpriest, to whom none must come but sinners, and that without any offering, but his own blood once offered, Heb. 7.27. Remember all the patterns of grace that are in heaven. Thou thinkest, O what a monument of grace wouldst thou be: there are many thousands as rich monuments as thou be. The greatest sinner did never oppose the grace of Christ, do not despair: Hope still, when the clouds at blackest, even then look towards Christ, the standing Pillar of the Father's love and grace, set up in heaven, for all finners to gaze upon continually. Whatsoever satan or conscience says, do not conclude against thyself. Christ shall have the last word, he is the Judge of quick and dead, and must pronounce the final sentence, his blood speaks reconciliation, Col. 1.20. cleansing, 1 John, 1.7. purchase, Acts, 20.28. redemption, 1 Pet. 1.19. purging, Heb. 9.13.14. remission, v. 20. liberty, Heb. 10.10. justification, Rom. 5.9. nighness to God, Eph. 2.13. Not a drop of this blood shall be lost. Stand and hearken what God will say; for he will speak peace to his people, that they return no more to folly, Psal. 85.8. He speak; grace, mercy and peace, 2 Tim. 1.2. That's the language of the father and of Christ. Wait for Christ's appearing, as the morning star, Rev. 22.19. He shall come as certainly as the morning, as refreshingly as the rain, Hos. 6.3.  
The sun may as well be hindered from rising as Christ the sun of righteousness, Mal. 4.2. Look not a moment off Christ. Look not upon sin; but look upon Christ first: When thou mournest for sin, if thou dost not see Christ, away with it, Zach. 12.10 In every duty, look at Christ before duty, to pardon. In duty, to assist. After duty, to accept; without this it is but carnal, careless duty. Do not legalize the gospel, as if part did remain to thee to do and suffer, and Christ were but an half Mediator; and thou must bear part of thy own sin; make part satisfaction. Let sin break thy heart, but not hope in the Gospel.  
Look more at justification than sanctification. In the highest commands consider Christ, not as an exactor to require, but a debtor, an undertaker, to work. If thou hast looked at workings, duties, qualifications, and such like, more than at the merits of Christ, it will cost the● dear; no wonder thou goest complaining. Grace's may be evidences, the merits of Christ, (only without them) must be the foundation of thy hope to bottom on. Christ only can be the hope of glory, Col. 1.27.  
When we come to God, we must bring nothing but Christ with us. Any ingredients of our own qualifications, will poison and corrupt faith; he that builds upon duties, graces, and the like, knows not the merits of Christ. This makes believing so hard, so far above nature; if thou believest thou must renounce (as dung and dross, Phil. 3.7.8.) thy privileges, thy obedience, thy Baptism, thy Sanctification, thy Duties, thy Graces, thy Tears, Melt, thy Humbling, and nothing but Christ must be held ●p: Every day thy workings, thyself sufficiency, must be destroyed. Thou must take all out of God's hand, Christ he is the gift of God, Joh. ●. 10 Faith the gift of God, Ephes. 3.8 Pardon 〈◊〉 free gift, Rom. 5.16. Ah how Nature storms, ●ret's rageth at this, that all is of gift and it can purchase nothing with its actings and Tears, and ●ears, and duties, that all its workings are excluded, and of no value in Heaven.  
If nature had been to contrive the way of Salvation, it would rather have put it into the ●ands of saints or Angels to sell it, than of Christ (who gives freely) whom therefore it suspects; ●t would have set up a way to purchase by doing; therefore it obminates the merits of Christ as the most destructive thing to it, would do any thing to be saved, rather than go to Christ, or close with Christ. Christ will have nothing, the soul will force some what of his own upon Christ. here is the great controverse. Consider, didst thou ever see the merits of Christ, and the infinite satisfaction made by his death? did thou see this in a time when the burden of sin, and the wrath of God lay heavy upon thy Conscience. That is grace. The greatness of Christ's Merits is not known, but to a poor soul at the greatest loss. 'Slight convictions, will but have slight low prizings of Christ's Blood and merits. Despairing sinner; Thou art looking ●n thy right hand, and thy left, saying, Who will show us any good? Thou art tumbling over all thy duties and professions, to patch up a righteousness to save thee. Miserable comforters are all those to thee. Look at Christ now. Look to him, and be saved, all the ends of the earth, Isa. 45.22. There is none else. He is a Saviour, and their is none besides him, ver. 21. look any where else, and thou art undone; God will look at nothing but Christ, and thou must look at nothing else. Christ is lifted up on high (as the brazen serpent in the wilderness (that the ends of the earth, sinners at the greatest distance, may see him and look to wards him. The least sight of him will be saving, the least touch healing to thee, and God intends thou shouldst look on him for he hath set him upon a high throne of Glory, in the open view of all poor Sinners. Thou hast infinite reason to look on him, no reason at all to look off him. For he is meek and lowly of heart, Mat. 11.29. He will do that himself Which he requires of his creature, bear with infirmities, Rom. 15.1. not pleasing himself, not standing upon points of Law, ver. 2. He will restore with the spirit of meekness, Gal. 6.1. And bore thy burdens, ver. 22. He Will forgive, not only until seven times, but seventy times seven, Mat. 18.21.22. It put the Faith of the apostles to it, to believe this, Luz. 17.4.5. Because we are hard to forgive, we think Christ is hard. We see sin great, we think Christ doth so too, and measure infinite love with our line, infinite merits, with our sins, which is the greatest Pride and Blasphemy Psa. 103.11.12. Isa 40.15. Hear what he saith, I have found a ransom, Job. 33 24. In him I am well pleased, Mat. 3.17. God will have nothing else; nothing else will do thee good or satisfy conscience, but Christ who satisfied the Father, God doth all upon the account of Christ thy deserts are hell, Wrath, rejections. Christ's deserts, are life pardon, and acception. ●e will only show thee the one, but he will give ●ee the other. It's Christ's own glory and happness to pardon. Consider, whilst Christ was ●pon the earth, he was more among Publicans ●●d sinners than Scribes and pharisees, his professed adversaries; for they were righteous ●●es. It is not so as thou imaginest, that his ●ate in glory, makes him neglectful, scornful 〈◊〉 poor sinners; no he hath the same heart now 〈◊〉 Heaven, he is God, and changeth not, He is ●●e Lamb of God that taketh a way the sins of the ●orld, John 1.29. He hath gone through all thy ●emptations, dejections, sorrows, desertions. ●●jections, Mat. 4.3 to 12. Mark. 15.14. ●uke 22.44. Mat. 26.38. And hath drunk ●●e bitterest of the cup, and left thee the sweet; ●●e condemnation is out, Christ drunk up all the ●●thers wrath at one draught, and nothing but ●●lvation is left for the; thou sayest, thou canst ●ot believe, thou canst not repent, fit to re●ent, fit for Christ if thou hast nothing but ●n and misery, go to Christ with all thy impenitency, and unbelief, to get faith and repentance with, from him; that is glorious. Tell Christ, Lord, I have brought no righteousness, no ●race to be accepted in, justified by; I am come 〈◊〉 thine, and must have it. We would be bring●●g to Christ, and that must not be; not a penny 〈◊〉 nature's highest improvement will pass in heaven. Grace will not stand with works. Tit, 3.  
Rom. 11.6. That is a terrible point to na●●re; which cannot think of being stripped of all 〈◊〉 having a rag of duty, or righteousness lest 〈◊〉 look at. Self-righteousness, selfsufficiency, ●●e the darlings of nature, which she preserves as her life: That makes Christ such an ugly thing to nature, nature cannot desire him; he is just directly opposite to all nature's glorious interests. Let nature but make a gospel, and it would make it contrary to Christ. It would be to the just, the innocent, the holy, the righteous, etc. Christ hath made the gospel for thee, that is, to needy sinners, the ungodly, the unrighteous, the unjust, the accursed. Nature cannot endure to think the gospel is only for sinners, it will rather choose to despair, than to go to Christ upon such terrible terms. When nature is but put to it by guilt or wrath, it will to its old haunts of self-righteousness, self-goodness, etc. And infinite power must cast down those strong holds. None but the self Justiciary stands excluded out of the gospel; Christ will look at the most abominable sinner, before him, because to such an one Christ cannot be made justification: He is no sinner To say in compliment, I am a sinner; is easy; b●t to pray with the Publican indeed, Lord be merciful to me a sinner, is the hardest prayer in the world. It is easy to say, I believe in Christ; but to see Christ full of grace and truth, Of whose fullness thou may'st receive grace for grace. That is saving. It's easy to profess Christ with the mouth; but to confess him with the heart, as Peter, (to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, the alone Mediator) that's above flesh and blood. Many call Christ Saviour, few know him so. To see grace and salvation in Christ, is the greatest sight in the world; none can do that, but at the same time they shall see that grace to be theirs. Sights will cause applications. I may be ashamed to think, that in the midst of so much profession, yet I have known little of the blood of Christ, which is the main thing of the Gospel. A Christless, formal profession will be the blackest sight next to hell that can be. Thou mayst have many good things, and yet one thing be wanting, that may make thee go away sorrowful from Christ. Thou hast never sold all thou hast, never parted with all thine own righteousness, etc. Thou mayst be high in duty, yet a perfect enemy and adversary to Christ in every prayer, in every ordinance. Labour after sanctification to thy utmost, but make not a Christ of it to save thee; if so, it must come down one way or other. Christ's infinite satisfaction not thy sanctification, must be thy justification before God. When the Lord shall appear terrible out of his holy places, Fire shall consume all that as Hay and Stubble.  
This will be found Religion only, To bottom all upon the everlasting mountains of God's love and grace in Christ, to live continually in the fight of Christ's infinite righteousness, and merits (they are sanctifying, without them the heart is carnal) and in those sights to see the full vileness, yet littleness of Sin, and to see all pardoned; In those sights, to pray, hear, be baptised, etc. Seeing thy polluted self, and all thy weak performances continually; in those sights to trample upon allthy self-glories, righteousnesses privileges as abominable, and be sound continually in the righteousness of Christ only, rejoicing in the ruins of all thy own righteousness the spoiling of all thy own excellencies, that Christ alone, as Mediator, may be exalted in his throne, mourning over all thy duties how (glorious soever) that thou hast not performed in the sight and fence of Christ's love. Without the blood of Christ on the Consciences all are ●●●d services, Heb. 9.14. opinion of Free will so cried up, will be easily confuted as it is by the Scripture in thy heart who hath had any spiritual deal with Christ, as to the application of his merits, and subjection to his righteousness. Christ is every way too magnificent a Person for poor nature to close withal, or apprehend. Christ is so infinite holy, nature durst never look at him; so infinitely good, nature can never believe him to be such, when it lies under full sights of Sin. Christ is too high and glorious for nature so much as to touch. There must be a divine love first put into the soul to make it lay hold on him, he lays so infinitely beyond the sight or reach of nature.  
That Christ that natural  can apprehend, is but a natural Christ of man's own making, not the father's Christ, not Jesus the Son of the living God, to whom none can come without the Father's drawing, John, 6.44.46. Finally; Search the Scriptures daily, as mines of Gold, wherein the heart of Christ is laid. Watch against constitution sins, see them in their vileness, and they will never break out into act. Keep always an humble, empty, broken frame of heart; sensible of any spiritual miscarriage, observant of all inward workings, fit for the highest communications. Keep not guilt in the conscience, but apply the blood of Christ immediately. God chargeth sin and guilt upon thee to make thee look to Christ the brazen Serpent.  
Judge not Christ's love by evidences, but by promises. Bless God for shaking off false foundations, for any way whereby he keeps the soul awakened, and looking after Christ: better sickness, temptations, than security and slightness.  
A slighty spirit will turn a profane spirit, and will sin and pray too. Slightiness is the bane of Profession, if it be not Rooted out of 〈◊〉 Heart, by constant and serious deal with and beholding of Christ in Duties, it will grow more strong and more deadly, by being under Church Ordinances. Measure not thy Graces by others attainments, but by Scripture-trials. Be serious, exact in Duty, having the weight of it upon the Heart; but be as much afraid of taking comfort from duties, as from Sins-Comfort from any hand but Christ is deadly. Bemuch in Prayer, or you will never keep up much Communion with God. As you are in Closet-Prayer, so you will be in all other Ordinances.  
Reckon not duties by high Expression, but by low frames, and the behold of Christ. Tremble at duties and gifts. It was the saying of a Saint, He was more afraid of his duties, than his sins; the one often made him proud, the other always made him humble. Treasure up manifestations, they make the heart low for Christ, too high for s●n. 'Slight not the lowest, meanest evidences of Grace. God may put thee to make use of the lowest, as thou thinkest; even that 1 Job. 3.14. That may be wrath a thousand worlds to thee. Be true to truth, but not turbulent and scornful. Restore such as are fallen. Help them up a gain with all the bowels of Christ. Set the broken dis-jointed bones with the grace of the Gospel. High professors, despise not weak Saints. Thou mayst come to wish to be in the condition of the meanest of them. Be faithful to others infirmities, but sensible of thy one. Visit sick beds, and deserted Souls much; they're excellent schools of experiences. Abide in your calling, be dutiful to all relations, as to the Lord, Be content with little of the world: little willserve. Think every little of earth much, because unworthy of the least. Think much of Heaven too little, because Christ is so rich and free. Think every one better than thyself, and carry ever self-loathing about thee, as one fit to be trampled upon by all the saints. See the vanity of the world, and the consumption that is upon all things, and love nothing but Christ. Mourn to see so little of Christ in the world, so sew needing him. Trifles pleaseth them better. To a secure soul, Christ is but a Fable, the scriptures but a story. Mourn to think, how many under baptism, church-order, that are not under Grace looking much after duty, obedience, little after Christ, little versed in Grace. Prepare for the Cross, welcome it, bear it triumphantly like Christ's cross, whether scoffs, mockings, jeers, contempts, imprisonments, &c: But see it be Christ's cross, not thine own. Sin will hinder from glorying in the cross of Christ. Omitting little truths against light may breed hell in the conscience, as well as omitting the greatest Sin against light. If thou hast been taken out of the belly of hell, into Christ's bosom, and made to sit among Princes in the household of God: O how shouldst thou live as a pattern of Mercy redeemed, restored soul, what infinite sums, dost thou owe Christ? With what singular frames must thou walk in, and do every duty? Sabbaths, what praising days, singing of hallelujahs should they be to thee? churchfellowship, what a heaven, a being with Christ, and Angels, and Saints? Baptism, what a drowning the soul in eternal love, as a burial with Christ, dying to al● things besides him: Every time thou thinkest on Christ be astonished, and wonder; and whe●● thou seest sin, look at Christ's Grace, that d●● pardon it; and when thou art Proud, look 〈◊〉 Christ's Grace, that shall humble and strike the down in the dust. Remember Christ's time of love when thou wast naked, Ezek. 16.8.9. and then he chosethee. Canst thou ever have aproud thought; remember whose arms supported thee from sinking, and delivered thee from the lowest hell, (Psal. 86.13.) and shout in the ears of Angels and Men, Psal. 148. sing for ever praise Grace. Daily Repent, and Believe and Pray; and walk in the sight of grace as one that hath the anointings of grace upon thee. Remember thy Sins, Christ's pardonings; thy deserts, his Merits; thy weakness, Christ's strength, thy pride, Christ's humility; thy many infirmities Christ's restore: thy guilt, Christ's newapplications of his Blood; thy failings, Christ's raisings up; thy slightiness, Christ's sufferings thy want, Christ's fullness; thy Temptations, Christ's Tenderness; thy vileness, Christ's righteousness.  
Blessed Soul! whom God shall find not having on his own righteousness, Phil. 3.6. but having his robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7.14. Woeful, miserable Professor! that hath not the gospel within, rest not in Church-tryal, thou may'st pass that, and be a cast away in Christ's day of trial. Thou mayst come to Baptism, and never come to Jesus, and the Blood of sprinkling, Heb. 12.24. Whatever workings or attainments come not up to clear distinct apprehensions of Christ's blood, merits, righteousness, (the main object of the Gospel) falls short of the Gospel, and leaves the Soul in a condition of Doubtings and Questioning, and Doubtings (if not looked unto betimes) will turn to rightiness of Spirit, one of the most dangerous Frames. Trifle not with ordinances. Be much in Meditation and Prayer. Wait diligently on all hearing opportunities. We had need of Doctrine, Reproof, Exhortation, Consolation, as the tender Herbs and the Grass hath of the Rain, the Dew, the small Rain, and the Showers, Deut. 32.3. Do all thou dost as Soul work, as unto Christ, Zach. 7.5, 6. As immediately dealing with Christ Jesus, as if he were looking on thee, and thou on him, and fetch all thy Strength from him.  
Observe what holy Motions you find in your Soul to Duties. Prise the least motion that is from a sight of Christ the least good thought thou hast of Christ, the least good word thou speakest of them, sincerely from the Heart, is rich Mercy, O bless God from it. Observe of every day you have the Day spring from on high (with his Morning Dews of mourning for Sin) constantly visiting, Luk. 1.17. the bright Morningstar (with fresh influences of Grace and Peace) constantly arising, Rev. 22.16. And Christ sweetly greeting the Soul in all Duties. What Duty makes not more spiritual, will make more carnal, what doth not quicken and humble, will deaden and harden.  
Judas may have the Sop, the outward privilege of Baptism, Supper, Church-Fellowship, etc. But John leaned on Christ's Bosom, John 15.23. That's the Gospel-ordinance posture, in which we should pray, and hear, and perform all Duties. Nothing but lying in that Bosom, will dissolve hardness of heart, and make thee to mourn kindly for sin and cure Slightiness and Ordinariness of Spirit, (that Gangrene in Profession) that will humble indeed, and make the Soul Cordial to Christ, and Sin Vile to the Soul, yea, transform the ugliest piece of Hell, into the Glory ●f Christ. Never think thou art right as thou shouldst be, a Christian of any glorious attainment, until thou come to this, always to see ●nd feel thyself lying in the Bosom of Christ, who is in the Bosom of the Father, Job. 1. ●8. Come and move the Father for Sights of Christ, and you shall be sure to speed: You ●an come with no Request that pleaseth him ●etter. He gave him out of his own Bosom ●or that very end, to be held up before the ●yes of all Sinners, as the Everlasting Monument of his Father's Love.  
Looking at the natural Sun, weakeneth the Eye. The more you look at Christ the Sun of Righteousness, the Stronger and clearer will the Eye of Faith be. Look but at Christ, you will Love him, and Live on him. Think on him continually, keep the Eye constantly upon Christ's Blood, or every Blast of Temptation will shake you. If you will see Sin's Sinfulness, to hate it and Mourn, do not stand looking upon Sin, but look upon Christ first, as Suffering and Satisfying. If you would see your Graces, your Sanctifications, do not stand gazing upon them, but look at Christ's Righteousness in the first place (see the Sun and you see all) then look at your Graces in the second.  
When you act Faith, what you first look at, that you expect Settlement from, and make it the bottom of your Hope. Go to Christ in sights of thy sin and misery, not of thy grace and holiness. Have nothing to do with thy graces and Sanctification, they will but veil Christ, till thou hast seen Christ first. He that looks upon Christ thro' his Graces, is like one that see the Sun in Water, which wavereth and moves as the Water doth. Look upon Christ only as shining in the Firmament of the Father's Love and Grace, you will not see him but in his own glory which is unspeakable. Pride and unbelief will put you upon seeing somewhat in yourself first; but Faith will have to do with none but Christ, who is unexpressibly glorious, and must swallow up thy Sanctification, as well as thy sin; for God made him both for us, and we must make him both, 1 Cor. 1.30. 2 Cor. 5.21. He that sets up his Sanctification to look at, to comfort him, he sets up the greatest Idol which will strengthen his doubts and sears. Do but look off Christ, and presently (like Peter) you sin.  
A Christian never wants comfort, but by breaking the order and method of the Gospel, looking his own, and looking off Christ's perfect righteousness, which is to choose to live rather by candlelight, than by the light of the sun. The honey that you suck from your own righteousness, will turn into perfect gall, and the light that you take from that to walk in, will turn into black night upon the Soul. Satan is tempting thee by putting thee to plod about thy own graces, to get comfort from them, than the Father comes, and points thee to Christ's Grace, as rich and glorious, infinitely pleasing him, and bid thou Study Christ's Righteousness (and his bid are enabling) that's a blessed Motion, a sweet whispering, checking thy unbelief, follow the least hint, close with much Prayer, prise it as an unvaluable Jewel: It's an earnest of more 〈◊〉 come. Again, if you would Pray and cannot, and so are discouraged. See Christ Praying for you, using his interest with the Father for you. What can you Want? John, 14. and chap. 17. If you be troubled, see Christ your Peace, Eph 2.14. leaving you Peace, when he went up to Heaven, again and again, charging you not to be troubled, no not in the least sinfully troubled, so as to obstruct thy comfort, or thy believing, John, 14.1.27. He is now upon the throne, having spoiled upon his cross, in the lowest state of his Humiliation, all whatsoever can hurt or annoy thee. He hath born all thy Sins, sorrows, sears, disgraces, sicknesses, troubles, temptations, and is gone to prepare mansions for thee. Thou who hast seen Christ all, and thyself nothing, who makes Christ thy life, and art dead to all righteousness besides, thou art the Christian who hath sound savour with God. Favourite of Heaven, do Christ this Favour for all his Love, love his saints and churches, the meanest, the weakest, notwithstanding difference in Judgement, they are engraven on his Heart, as the Names of the children of Israe, on Aaron's Breastplate. Exod. 24.21. Let them be so on thine. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love Her, Psam. 122.6.  
FINIS.