A DISCOURSE OF Spiritual Blessings: Or a Discovery 

I. That every Christian is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ. In four Sermons.  
II. That God hath a high account of the least Grace in the Saints. In three Sermons.    
By Mr. John Cromwell, late Pastor of a Church of Christ in the City of Norwich.  Col. 3.11.— But Christ is all and in all. 
LONDON, Printed by T. S. for Edward Giles, Bookseller in Norwich, near the Marketplace. 1685.   

TO THE Christian Reader.  
IT is the unspeakable unhappiness of all the Children of Men whilst in a natural condition, that they are favoured only with Temporal Blessings; and as an aggravation of their misery, their Spirit standeth primarily and chief towards those Earthly Enjoyments, they are minding Earthly things, Phil. 3.19. their highest pursuits are after these, they estimate and value themselves according to the measures of these which they have enrichment with, they are carnally minded, which is death, Rom. 8.6. They are dead to the things of God, which are of highest concernment to their Souls.  
On the other hand, all, even the lowest Christians, are Privileged not only with some, but with all Spiritual Blessings, Eph. 1.3. So as they are rightly denominated Spiritual Men, 1 Cor. 2.15. Gal. 6.1. They are so in their principles. Indeed, by a non-improvement thereof, although the standing frame of their heart is to Spiritual things, yet many, if not most, come exceedingly short in point of practice, that it may be said to them, as 1 Cor. 3.1. Are ye not carnal, and walk as men? They are apt to Divisions, and so are Carnal. v. 3. To build hay and stubble, (that which will not abide the fire, and is of little value) upon the true foundation, and so are carnal; too worldly, and do not exercise Grace in its due height upon all occasions, and so are carnal.  
To reduce or advance Christians unto their proper frame and temper of spirituality, this eminent and judicious Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. John Cromwell (the Author of the ensuing Sermons) hath discovered what Spiritual Blessings they are entrusted with.  
It is a matter of lamentation that such a labourer in the Lord's Vineyard should so early be transplanted to eternity, and that when so many other eminent Ministers have lately been removed from that place by death.  
These Sermons were taken from his mouth by the Pen of a ready Writer; they would have come forth in a better dress, and with much more advantage if they had been polished with his own hand; but as they are here presented to view they may be exceedingly useful to those whose Citizenship is in heaven, their affections in Heaven, their conversations in Heaven whilst they are on Earth.  
Indeed they evidence that he himself had arrived at a more than ordinary strain of Spirituality, which is a great excellency, because Spiritual Blessings are most excellent, the best of Blessings.  
They have the best Original, they have the best Father, even him who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. 1.3. They come from the best place, not from Earth, but Heaven [in heavenly places] from God's Throne, thence he giveth forth all these of the best nature; it may be rendered [in heavenlies] i.e. Not only in heavenly places, but in heavenly things.  
Yea Spiritual Blessings have a tendency to the imbellishing, and adorning the noblest part, the immortal Soul; a man may be enriched with temporal Blessings, and his Spirit may be the worse for these, but ever is the better for these Spiritual Blessings.  
They furnish for the best operations and actings; Earthly things may indispose for the highest Services and most glorious employments, they may be clogs and heavy weights pressing down, which must be cast off in running the Christian race, Heb. 12.1. But Spiritual Blessings capacitate for the choicest actings; they give the best discerning of matters which are of highest concernment and greatest moment, 1 Cor. 2.15. The Spiritual man judgeth all things, i. e. Spiritual men are enabled to pass right Judgement upon Divine matters, and what concern themselves, their own conditions, their own Salvation and what is conducible to it, and this far beyond what a natural man, one in a natural condition by the greatest parts can attain unto.  
They capacitate to be Spiritually helpful unto others who are fallen by temptation, Gal. 6.1. If a man be overtaken with a fault, ye which are Spiritual restore such a one, put him in joint again. They help to descry the ways and methods of Satan in tempting, and of Jesus Christ in succouring. They qualify to encounter and conflict with Spiritual enemies, and resist Spiritual evils, which there is the greatest difficulty in the withstanding of, Eph. 6.12. The grace of humility helpeth to expel Spiritual pride, and the grace of love helpeth against self-love. Spiritual Blessings will enable to make improvement of all occurrences towards the highest advantage, he that is carnal maketh an ill use of all that is before him, he turneth all to sin, to himself, he setteth corruption or sin on work by all Enjoyments, Riches, Pleasures, Relations, yea even by the gracious actings of the Saints, but he that is Spiritual maketh use not only of enjoyments, but even of the worst befalments, as Trials and afflictions, towards Raising, heightening and mounting, his Soul more towards God, he by a Spiritual Chemistry can extract good out of the worst that betideth him. Spiritual Blessings will advance to a choosing the highest and best ends; When others have inferior, base and low ends of their actings, such as are privileged with these will make God their ultimate and chiefest end, they have a frame for doing all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. Yea Spiritual Blessings are discriminating, differencing of Christians from others, 1 Cor. 2. v. 14, 15. And so they are evidences of the special favour and love of God, v. 10. Whereas a man may have other enjoyments and yet be an object of the highest wrath and indignation of the Almighty.  
And once more, Spiritual blessings they are eternal Blessings; other things are of no continuance, a man may soon be stripped and dispossessed of them, but Spiritual Blessings will never be lost, they will abide for ever, all which sufficiently argue that they have a transcendent excellency far above other things.  
And all these are dispensed out in Jesus Christ, Eph. 1.3. They may have a large measure of temporal things, and yet be out of Christ, but these are all vouchsafed in him, they are the fruit of his purchase, obtained by a union with him. He is the great repository, the store house where all Spiritual Blessings are treasured up, Col. 1.19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, that we might have recourse to him for all supplies evermore. Those in a Christless condition are destitute thereof, whatever their attainments be, and the great reason why Christians are no more replenished therewith, is because they repair no more to him, that they may have supplies.  
None are to content themselves with any lower degree; but yet those who have the smallest portion may be supported and comforted by the second Subject, viz. That where there is grace but as a grain of Corn, the lowest measure, yet the Lord hath a high estimation of it. And that all grace may be multiplied shall be the Prayer of him who is  
A Servant of Christ in the Gospel, SAM. PETTO. Octob. 13. 1684.   


SERMON I.  Ephesians 1.3. 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings, in Heavenly places in Christ.  
IT is the Interest of Christians, in all the Circumstances of their lives, to inquire after and make sure of something that is Spiritual. There is nothing that Satan designs more, then either to obstruct their Right, or to Cloud their Right, to those Blessings that are Spiritual and Eternal. Of all lives, a Life of Faith, conversant in things that are not seen, is the most hateful Life to the Devil, and the most unknown Life to the World, but the properest Life that a Christian can live, in and under all the variety of his Condition here below; Christians, you understand the design of the Devil, and of the World, upon your temporals; how far it will please the Majesty of Heaven, to give them leave to prosper in their design, I cannot determine, but that you and I may have something to bear up our Spirits withal, whatever liberty or allowance they have from Heaven: That we may have something to rejoice our hearts withal; I have therefore proposed to speak something to you from these words, which are a discovery of the unseen blessedness of a Christian, in and under all the Circumstances of his Condition in this Life.  
If you should ask me what a Christian is, I would tell you as to his state that he is a Spiritual man, Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings, by the God and Father of Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ. This is a Christian, and this is a Christians state: And surely the Apostle saw great reason to rejoice, upon his view and apprehension of this; no sooner did it begin to bubble in his Spirit, but so soon as ever it began to work in his heart, he breaks forth into Blessings of the author of it, Blessed, says he, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ.  
I shall only take notice of these 3 things, that are principally comprised in the words.  
1. And the first is the true Gospel Relative and personal state of a Christian; he is a Blessed man. If there be any personally Blessed, it is he, if there be any that have any reserve of personal Blessings, it is he; if there be any that have any Relative Blessings, it is he; all Blessings, all sorts of Blessings he is Blessed with.  
2. The Second thing that I would observe out of the words is this: The security and certainty of these Blessings, It is a work not to be done, but a work that is already done; Blessings not lodged in deceitful hearts, but in faithful hands; Blessings not betrusted with one that may miscarry, but with one whom God knows cannot miscarry; and therefore you may observe the Apostle here tells us, that the business is done, that the Blessings are given, Blessed be the God and Father, etc. Who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Surely our Natural Blessings, the Blessings of our Creation were very great Blessings, our Moral Blessings were very great Blessings, but not to be compared to these Spiritual Blessings, neither were they so insured.  
For God Blessed all the Posterity of Adam, with all Natural Blessings in Adam, but you know what became of them, but the Blessings of the New Covenant, they are Spiritual Blessings, no more to be trusted in the hands of any, but of one whom God dare venture to trust withal; therefore says he, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ.  
The third thing that is remarkable in the words is this, the Author, or the great Blesser: Whose Glory the Apostle here doth exemplify and illustrate by his Relation unto the Lord Jesus Christ; and that seems to be represented to us under this double consideration.  
First he is the God of the Lord Jesus, that died that he might purchase these Spiritual Blessings for us. And  
Secondly, He is not only the God of the purchasing Jesus, but he is also his Father. If there be any security or advantage arising to Christians, that God is Christ's God, the advantage lies here, and is improvable in this Case. It is h● that Blesseth us. If there be any advantage that results from the Relation that God has to Christ as a Father, that was never dishonoured by him, a Father that was never displeased nor grieved with him, this redounds also unto Christians, to illustrate the Glory of their Blessedness, and to evidence the truth and certainty of their Eternal enjoyment of him; he is not a God that is a God of distance in concern, but he is a God concerned, and not only concerned in the Relations of the Gospel to us, but in all the Relations of the Gospel unto Christ, who is related unto Christians: So that a Christian may say, the God and Father of my Lord, of my head, has Blessed me with all Spiritual Blessings, in my Lord, my head, The God and Father of my Husband has Blessed me with all Spiritual Blessings in my Husband; The God and Father of my Mediator has Blessed me with all Spiritual Blessings in my Mediator: So that, my Friends, you may look upon God not Blessing us as a God at large, but as a God engaged in Relation to Christ. It is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same God that Blessed Adam; but now God appearing as a Blessing God in another Relation, and clothing himself with another Glory; he Blessed him as the Creator, ay but he is now Blessing Christians, as the God and Father of Christ Jesus. And thus now I have opened the words to you.  
The Propositions that lie in the words are many, but intending this only as an occasional discourse, I shall therefore confine myself to these two or three.  
Doct. 1 That the Blessings that properly belong unto Christians, and are given to Christians, they are all Spiritual Blessings.  
Grace could never content its self, infinite grace could never bound its self, all the blessings a sinner stands in need of to make him a Saint, and all the Blessings a Saint stands in need of, to make him an Eternally Blessed Saint, these are the Blessings, that are the proper portion of Christians. Let God dispose of temporal Blessings at his pleasure; these are below the grace of God, to make them the children's Portion. Let God give them to whom he please: So he do but reserve to you these that are of a better Nature, and these you see are Blessings without Limitation, all Spiritual Blessings are bestowed upon Christians. Surely then Christians may cry out, and have reason to cry out. O! What a God have we? O what a Father have we? O! What Fatherly grace works in the heart of our Father, who has Blessed us not with some few, but with all, Spiritual Blessings, there is not a Blessing wanting, no one shall want his Blessing.  
Doct. 2 That all the Blessings that God has bestowed upon Christians, are all secured to and for Christians in Christ Jesus.  
Christians with all the advantage of all their possible grace, on this side Glory, are not fit to be trusted, that is, to be made the sole trusties of any one Blessing, that is wrapped up in any one promise whatsoever: They are not fit to be solely trusted with their pardon, not fit to be solely trusted with their peace. Grace hath found out a better way, Grace hath chosen a better method, and hath assured all, and betrusted all for Christians in the hand of Christ. Who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus, says the Apostle.  
Doct. 3 That the God and Father, as the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath thus Blessed, and thus betrusted Christians Blessings in the hands of Jesus.  
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. You may observe in other Scriptures, a like Introduction of the Apostles Epistles, with this, in 2 Cor. 1.3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us, etc. Has any Christian any comfort, why it is the God and Father of Jesus, that gives them comfort, has any Christian any grace given him, Grace be to you, and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not only our Father, but he is the Father of our Lord Jesus, and as he is the Father of Jesus, he is the Father and Fountain of all our mercies.  
These are the three principal Propositions that lie in the words. It is only the first of these that I design (if the Lord please) to make the Subject of this days discourses, and my design in discoursing upon it is this, that I may (if it be the Lords pleasure) raise up your minds, and fix your Hearts, upon what is Spiritual and unseen. God never estimated a Christian by any visible Blessings he gave him here, they are not always the best Christians, that are the richest or honourablest, but he estimates a Christian in the balance of the Sanctuary: he is weighed with all his Spiritual Blessings; if thou be'st never so accomplished, if thou be'st never so Blessed with temporals, yet let me tell thee, thou mayst be found light, and thou mayst be found too light too, when God comes to weigh thee. But God estimates and weighs a Christian by what is Spiritual in him, by what is unseen in him.  
And therefore Christians, I pray attend unto the opening of this inquiry.  
Qu. What are those Spiritual Blessings, wherewith God doth bless Christians in Christ Jesus?  
In the opening of this, I shall not exceed, the bounds of the discoveries, that the Holy-Ghost has made in this Chapter; here are Spiritual Blessings enough, comprised in this Chapter, to take up our minds, and to raise our hearts, and therefore I shall confine my discourse to what I find herein discovered.  
But before I enter into the particular resolve of it, I shall only premise this in general, that whatsoever I mention, you must take it as the Lord intends it, that is, with all the advantages that are here discovered; who hath Blessed us with all; here is an Allness, an Universality upon every Spiritual Blessing.  
But you will say, what are these Spiritual Blessings?  
Ans. I shall give you account of this in these six or seven Observations grounded upon so many several passages in this Chapter. And  
The first is this, by Spiritual Blessings I understand Eternal Election. And Eternal Election is called Spiritual, not because the Spirit is principal in giving being to it, but because the Spirit is principal in the manage of it, and in the application of it; it is the Father that chooses us, but it is the Spirit that manages the choice. It is the Father that elects us, before the Foundations of the World, ay but it is the Spirit that is principally concerned in the insuring, or in the accomplishing of this Election, upon this or that Elect Person: This Blessing the Apostle speaks of, in verse 4. According says he, as he hath chosen us in him, before the Foundation of the World, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.  
I pray do but observe, it is an Election unto grace, it is a choice, that God has made from all Eternity, A choice of grace, and that unto the practice of grace. Christians do but consider with yourselves, you are not only chosen to have your hearts sanctified, but to have all the graces of the Spirit in your hearts exercised. It is not only a personal, but a practical holiness, that the grace of God did eye in the Eternal choice that he made of you; you (it may be) are under divers Temptations, under divers fears of heart, sometimes you can see something in your hearts, and you bless God for that, but you look into your lives, and there is but little grace there, and you look into you duties, and it may be there is as little discoverable there; but here is the Blessedness that I have stated, ye are chosen that your Conversations should be filled with all practical Holiness and Godliness. The Apostle clears it in that passage, in the 4 verse. That we should be holy, and without blame before him. Taking us in our whole complex consideration, taking Person and Conversation, God hath chosen us, that we should pray without blame, that we should praise him without blame, that we should love him without blame, and that we should be without blame before him, in our whole Conversation, and I pray do but observe, how our Lord Jesus is concerned in the manage of this, in the fifth Chapter of this same Epistle, where the Apostle (or rather the Holy-Ghost by the Apostle) proposeth the Spiritual Husband as a pattern unto Christian temporal Husbands, says he, Husbands love your Wives, even as Christ loved the Church, verse 25. But wherein doth the excellency or eminency of Christ's Love, appear unto his Spouse? You shall find it in the 27. verse, He loved them, and he goes on to Love, and Love and Love; he Loves them, and he dies for them, he Loves them, & he intercedes for them; he Loves them, and he rules them, he Loves them, and he enlightens them, he Loves them, and he strengthens them; ay but what is the great manifestation of his Love? Why, says he, that he might present it a Glorious Church to himself, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. God chose us that we might be holy, and without blame, and Jesus Christ has such a Love to us, even as the Father has, that we should be holy and without blame; and, my Friends, the Spirit is all one with the Father, and the Son: Does the Father choose us, and does the Son give himself for us, that we might be so, then comes the Spirit, and resolves that he will make us so; and therefore you shall find the Apostle, in his Epistle to the Galatians, giving us an account of the fruits of the Spirit, in the fifth Chapter at the 18 verse, if so be ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. And then as to the energy, the workings of the Spirit, why, says he, in the 17 verse, The Spirit lusteth against the flesh. The fleshly part in us is an unbelieving part, that is against living out of ourselves upon Christ, ay but the Spirit that works contrary, unto these natural lustings, and natural workings of the flesh, for says the Apostle, v. 22. The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, etc. By comparing these passages together, you may raise this observation, that even as the Father and the Son are concerned for our practical as well as personal holiness, so also is the Spirit, he lusts, and he works, and he strives, and he never leaves lusting and striving, and working against the flesh, until he have brought forth these fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, and Long-suffering, and Gentleness, and goodness, and Faith, etc. So that this is the first particular, God has chosen us unto personal and practical holiness, and if you do observe it, this Spiritual Blessing is also insured unto us in Christ, with all the contents of it, and with all the proper effects of it. May a Poor Creature say; But how shall I come to attain to this? And what security can I have of it? Why, says he, according as he hath chosen us in him; he hath Blessed us in him, according as he hath chosen us in him; and now, says he, he hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in him. But then,  
2. The Second Blessing that the Apostle takes notice of is the great Spiritual Blessing of Adoption, which doth not only discover a Relation to God, but also a suitable frame, and a suitable becoming sense of the Relation, a sense of it, and a frame comporting and complying with it: This you have an account of, in the 5 verse, Having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children to himself, etc. I pray do but observe, what the Apostle here doth discover, concerning the Nature of this, it is the Adoption of Children to himself. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus hath insured our Adoption, with all the Privileges, with all the Blessed consequents of it unto us, in Christ Jesus: 'Tis the God and Father of Christ Jesus, and he that is so, is in Christ Jesus, a God adopting us unto himself by Jesus Christ. This you shall find the Scripture frequently making mention of; says the Apostle to the Romans, We have not received the Spirit of Bondage, but the Spirit of Adoption, the Spirit of Sons, and what is the proper work of the Spirit of Adoption? You shall find what it is, Rom. 8.15. Ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father. Says the Apostle, ye are Sons, ay but the Sonship is managed by the Spirit; ye are not only Sons, but the Spirit witnesseth with your Spirits, that ye are so, and that is his proper work; and what is the issue of that? Why, says he, ye cry, Abba Father; you may go to God in your distresses, and you may go to God under your Temptations, and you may go to God, as the God and Father of Jesus Christ, under all your straits and troubles, and under all your Spiritual wants, and you may say unto him, Father hear, and Father help. Says the Apostle, ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear. Indeed under the Law, when they were under the Power of the Spirit of Bondage, they stood at a distance from God, they were under fear; but now, says the Apostle, ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby ye cry, Abba Father. It is as natural a Privilege to a Child of God, and it is as Natural Language to gracious hearts to cry, Abba Father, as it is for a Child to cry to his Father, Father or Mother; ye have received the Spirit of Adoption says he; and the same thing you have the Apostle giving us an account of, Gal. 4. v. 4, 5. God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law. Why, what then? That we might receive the Adoption of Sons, and because ye are Sons, says he, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. I would only observe this to you, which it may be is not so obvious to every apprehension: Compare but these two Scriptures together, and you shall find that in the one he is the Spirit of Adoption, as he is the Father's Spirit, and in the other he is the Spirit of Adoption, as he is the Spirit of the Son, for saith he, he has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus, the same Spirit that influenced the Humane Nature, and in which Jesus Christ always prayed to God as a Father, and always walked with God, under all variety of providences, as with a Father, the same Spirit he hath sent forth, and this same Spirit that cried Abba Father in Christ, cries Abba Father also in Christians.  
3. The third Spiritual Blessing that the Apostle makes mention of in this Chapter is, an universal acceptance of Christians in all cases, notwithstanding all disobligements; one would wonder that a child should sin, and though the sin be rejected, yet the child stand still in a state of acceptation, though the Father scourge the Child, yet he doth not unchild the Child. This you have an account of, verse 6. to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. I pray do but observe it: There is nothing that a Christian can propose to himself, there is no case that the Devil, and the world can expose a Christian to but the Christian is still accepted in Christ Jesus, and that notwithstanding all his fears, and under all his Jealousies, and in the face of all his conscience accusations, and his own self-condemnations, yet the Child is accepted, the Christian is accepted, who hath made us (says he) accepted in the beloved; my friends this is a great Spiritual Blessing indeed. There are many that have their hearts greatly concerned, and their Spirit wonderfully disquieted about their acceptance; O that I did but know that God did accept me! O that I did but know that I were accepted in Christ Jesus! Why truly, Christians, this is one of your proper Spiritual Blessings, a Blessing which the Spirit is principally concerned in the manage of; He hath made us, says he, accepted. Though there be never so little grace in the heart, yet it is accepted; two Mites that the poor Widow cast into the Treasury, you know what acceptation it found with the Lord Jesus Christ; Verily, says he, I say unto you she hath cast in more than they all they of their abundance have cast into the Treasury, but she hath cast in even all that she hath. O Sirs, if you have never so little grace, cast it into your prayers, and cast it into your Sermons, and cast it into & employ it in your conversations: Verily will Christ say, this man hath done more than such a one, he had but a few gifts and he employed them all, he hath but a little grace, and behold I see this little i● every duty; Verily he hath done more like a Christian, than others that have a great deal, and yet not half so much (considering their proportion) to be found in their duties. The hand of th● Lord hath been open, and hath fille many of your understandings, with a great deal of Gopel light, but alas there is but little of it seen in your lives and in your hearts; it may be you are filled with grace, ay but there is but little of this grace to be seen in your duties: There comes a poor humble Christian with his Mite to pray, and with his Mite to hear, and behold he casts all in, and the Lord sees that all the grace that is in his heart he puts forth in every duty, and he exerciseth in every Ordinance; Verily, says Christ, I say unto you, she hath done more than they all: Therefore, my friends, let me tell you, the God & Father of Jesus Christ (for still we must consider him under that notion) I say the God and father of Jesus Christ hath made us accepted in the beloved, if there be any thing that is unacceptable in thee, if there be nothing to be seen in thee but what is disobliging, yet the Lord hath made you that are Christians accepted in the beloved, not accepted in your own graces, not accepted in yourselves, not accepted for this or that or the other, but all your acceptance is still in Christ, who hath made us accepted in the beloved. Now my friends, that the Spirit of the Lord doth manage this, this also is evident, if we do but consider what it is wherein our personal acceptation lies; doth it lie in our gracious qualifications which we receive from Jesus Christ? why those we receive by the Spirit; doth the Lord accept us upon the account of the exercise of any grace in any duty? why truly all this is also from the same Spirit. There are, says the Apostle, diversity of gifts, and diversity of operations, ay but still there is one and the same Spirit: It is the same Spirit. It may be there is a great deal of humility in thy duty, or in thy heart, and thou art accepted in Jesus Christ, but how camest thou by this humility? how camest thou by this meekness? why the Spirit of the Lord hath rested upon thee in the form of a Dove, as the Spirit of meekness, and as the Spirit of lowliness, and as the Spirit of selfdenial: The same spirit that rested upon Christ, the same Spirit also hath rested upon thee: So that you see also in this third great Spiritual Blessing how far the Spirit, and how much the son is also concerned, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: O my friends, that there should be such a mystery as this, and all the Privileges & advantages of it should be insured to all the seed in Jesus Christ! It is God that makes us, and not we ourselves, accepted in the Beloved, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. I will break off with this one short Reflection, upon what I have already delivered.  
USE. You see my Brethren, in the worst of times here is the Best of Blessings insured, in the worst of circumstances here are the gloriousest privileges in safe hands for you; what can you desire more than all Spiritual Blessings of the God and Father of Jesus Christ? what can You desire more? It may be he hath Blessed such a one with temporal Blessings, such a one he hath Blessed with wisdom, and such a one with strength, and such a one with riches and honour, and the like, ay but my Friends, he hath not blessed every one with all Temporal Blessings; says Esau to his Brother Jacob, I have enough my Brother: ay but it was only Jacob, It was only Israel that had prevailed with God, that could say, I have all My Brother; I have all things, what did he mean? I have God for my exceeding great reward, and I have all things in the Covenant; I have all things in the blessing, I have all things in the promise. Now Christians, take an occasion from hence to make an estimate of the vast difference that there is between a Christian indeed, and one that is but a Christian in show, one that lay under great worldly disadvantages; and yet a Christian, and one that lay under, or that is advanced up to the top of all secular advantages and blessings, and preferments, even by God himself. Would you know Christians where the difference lay? why it lies here; the one hath all, and that for ever, and the other hath but what he hath in part, and that not secured neither; worldlings they have not their greatness in Christ, they have not their honour given them in Christ, they have not their Relations given them in Christ; No, no, my Friends, but now the meanest Christian, hath not only all things, but all things insured him in Christ; he is not only a better man than the greatest worldling is, upon the account of the extent; but also upon the account of the Method and Manner wherein all is give him, and secured to him. There is not a person in the world that can say, or ever could say, I have all things; Nabuchadnezzar in all his glory could not say, I have all things: But a poor Christian, a poor persecuted Paul could cry out, I have all things, and I can do all things; even then when he had nothing at all in comparison, says he, I have all things and abound.  
Now Christians, I pray you rejoice in your condition. And I beseech you sinners, become all Christians; for whilst you are as you are, you have but some things, and what you have is all out of Christ; but do but become Christians, do but give up your heads and hearts to the Lord, and then you may say, Blessed be the God and father of the Lord Jesus, who hath blessed me with all Spiritual blessings in Christ.   

SERMON II.  Ephesians 1.3. 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings, in Heavenly places in Christ.  
THE design of the Apostle in these words seems to be to set the Crown upon the head of Christ; and to discover that it is the intendment of the Father in all his blessings that he bestows upon his Children to do so too; the Father receives nothing from Christians, but he receives it from them in Christ; and the Father gives nothing to Christians, but he gives it to them in Christ; God was always in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and he will be always in Christ a God and a Father to those that he hath chosen out of the world, and reconciled: Though he be the God and Father of our Lord, yet he doth not look upon it as an act below his grace to bless those that he hath given to Christ; 'Tis not below him to avouch the relation to them also, as he is the Father of our Lord Jesus, he blesses all that are in Jesus, with all Spiritual blessings in Jesus.  
That Proposition which we insisted upon was this.  
Doct. That God hath blessed every Christian in Christ with all Spiritual blessings.  
Christians have more than the world is worth in possession, but the reversions of a Christian are not to be compared, they are not to be estimated with any thing that God can give in this present world: It is not temporal blessings, the blessings of the land of Canaan, but it is Spiritual blessings, the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven, that the God and Father of Jesus Christ hath stated upon all his Children in Christ Jesus. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ. Because I intent this discourse only as occasional, I shall therefore confine the resolve and the dispatch of the doctrinal part at present to this one inquiry.  
Quest. What are those Spiritual Blessings with which it hath pleased the Father to bless his people in Christ?  
Ans. In the opening of this I premised this in general, that there is an universality annexed to every particular Spiritual blessing: It is not only annexed to the sorts of blessings, but to every blessing of every sort. I could mention but Three.  
The last that we mentioned was this, an universal acceptation with the Father in all cases notwithstanding all disobligements. O, says a Poor Christian, if I were but satisfied that God would accept me, with all the disobliging notwithstanding of my heart and life, and of my Duties, how happy should I be! and indeed so thou wouldst be, if God would accept thee notwithstanding all thy unprofitableness, notwithstanding all the treachery of thy heart, notwithstanding all thy opposition to, & grievings of his blessed Spirit, notwithstanding all the dishonour that thou hast done unto himself, his Son, and his blessed Spirit, if the Lord would but accept thee, thou wouldst be happy indeed; why Christian, here is thy spiritual blessedness, at the 6th verse to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Lord (may every poor Christian say) what am I? I accepted in the beloved? I accepted in the beloved Son? In the beloved Saviour? In the beloved high Priest? Lord what manner of grace is this! This is not the kindness of man: Christians let me tell you, it is God's work of grace to make you accepted, and it is your Privilege in grace to be accepted; he hath made us to be accepted in the beloved, if there be any thing of unworthiness in you there is the blood of the beloved to balance it, if there be any thing of emptiness or Barrenness, there is the fullness of the beloved to counterpoise that, if there be any unworthiness discovered in any of your Relations or carriages to God, there is the full import of all his Relations to God to make all even. Though you do not always carry it as Children, yet this Son of God always did, and though you do not always live like Servants, yet this Son of God did to a point, and though you do not always carry it like friends to God, and like the people of God, yet behold the head of all, he carries it like such a one. God may have abundance ('tis like) to charge against you; But this is not your business whether you have much grace or little grace or whether you exercise more or less. The acceptance must be in the beloved. Thus far we have proceeded.  
4. Another spiritual blessing wherewith God hath blessed Christians in Christ, is the revelation of his secrets. God may reveal the secrets of his Providence to others (as I might instance in divers) but his saving secrets those are made manifest only in Christ Jesus to Christians; many have a dogmatical, discursive knowledge which God hath given them, but here is the eclipse of the glory of all their knowledge. It is not given them in Christ, here is a poor Christian that is but broken, and now and then hath a little glimmerings of the light of God, and a little insight into the secrets of his grace: Now my friends, this little light, and these little glimmerings that he hath into the mysteries of the will of God, these are all given him in Christ Jesus, he sees sin in Christ, and he sees the beauty of grace and holiness in Christ. The revelation of God's Gospel will about sin and holiness: The beauty of holiness and the exceeding sinfulness of sin is made manifest to him in Christ Jesus. I pray do but observe how the Apostle expresses himself in the 9th verse, Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself. The Apostle in the 18th verse makes it his particular supplication to God for these Christian Ephesians, that, says he, the Eyes of your understandings being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of your calling. There is the mystery of his will manifested in particular in the hope of your calling. You are called off from sin, there is hope in that calling, and you are called unto duty, and there is hope in that calling, and you are called off from all your Relations unto the world, as you stand in the World, and there is hope in that calling; now, says the Apostle, I pray for you that your eyes may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of your calling; and my Friends, you will find that the Apostle doth wrap up them together with himself in the 9th verse, and tells us there that he hath made known unto us the mystery of his will, and yet for all that he prays that the eyes of their understandings may be enlightened that they may know what is the hope of their calling, and what is the Riches of his inheritance in the Saints. Now I shall show you that all this is vouchsafed to Christians in Christ; you shall find the Apostle, Col. 2. v. 3. telling us, that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Why what wisdom and knowledge? Why that wisdom, and that knowledge, that the eternal grace of God did design for Christians, so that we are blessed with this wisdom and knowledge in Christ. Look into your understandings and hearts, alas there is but little there, there is no treasures there, but look into the Lord Jesus, and there are all treasures, even for foolish Christians, hid and lodged there; in him is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And that the Spirit of the Lord is alike concerned in this you shall observe if you do but consult the Apostles experience in 1 Cor. 2.9. Where he speaks of things that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor ever entered into the heart of man to conceive: But says he at the 10th verse, God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. The revelation of the secrets of the heart of God is made manifest, or is made known unto Christians by the Spirit of God. The Apostle prosecutes & illustrates this mystery by that which is commonly observed amongst men in v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of man which is in him? I do not know the grace that is in another man's heart, I do not know the secret purposes and devices that are in your hearts, but your own Spirits are privy to them, even so says the Apostle the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Christians, let me tell you, there is no saving secret in the heart of God the Father, there is no saving secret in the heart of Christ the Son, but the Lord hath blessed us with the knowledge and the Revelation of that in Christ, for so the Apostle says in the 16 verse. For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ Why Blessed Paul, how camest thou a persecutor to know the mind of Christ? An injurious, and Blasphemous wretch, how camest thou to be so intimate with that Jesus whom thou persecutedst even unto death in his members? Why the Apostle tells you plainly, not by any natural advantage of learning, though he was a learned man, not by any advantage of his parts, though he was a man of clear natural understanding and apprehension, but, says he, we have the mind of Christ, and that by the Spirit of God, by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. So that you see here is another great Spiritual blessing, a revelation of saving secrets.  
5. Another spiritual blessing that I shall superadd is this, An Universal heading under Christ, or incorporation with Jesus Christ. One would think it a wonder that ever such a man, that was a limb of the Devil should be made a member of the Body of Jesus: A Notorious, Drunkard, a Notorious Blasphemer, and a dreadful and implacable persecutor of Christ and his ways, that ever such a one should be incorporated into and made a member of the Lord Jesus is not this a spiritual blessing indeed? A blessing wherein the Spirit of God is principally concerned; in the manage of this the Apostle takes notice of verse 10. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. And more plainly, Ephes. 4.12. Where he doth expressly give us an account of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ; and he tells us there that all the gifts that were given by Christ, were for the edifying of his body.  
Do but reflect upon a passage in the 2. Chapter, and there you shall see the state of sinners discovered to be as desperate and as vile as you can possibly suppose a sinner's state to be, Dead in trespasses and sins, Children of disobedience in whom the Prince of the power of the Air, the Spirit of Hell. did effectually work. Why Lord, shall ever those be incorporated; shall ever those be made members of so blessed a body as the Body of Jesus? Nay this is not all, but, says he, Ye were Children of wrath. The Wrath of God smoked against you, and all the threaten and denunciations of God's wrath against sinners, belonged to you just as an inheritance belongs to a proper and right Heir; and that is not all neither, but verse 12. Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the World. Lord shall such as these be made members of such a blessed Body as the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ is? Ay my Friends, here is the great blessing that God hath Blessed us with in Christ Jesus, that notwithstanding all this misery, and notwithstanding the desperateness that doth attend this miserable Estate yet they are to be gathered together, and headed all under one Jesus; I pray take notice of one expression in the conclusion of this Chapter, where he calls them all complexively considered his Body, and his fullness, verse 23. Which is his Body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Now my Friends, this is another Spiritual blessing that God hath blessed us withal, and that is heading of us under, or an incorporating us into the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that there can be no Blessing, no privilege belong to the Head, but of necessity it falls naturally down upon the Body. So the head anointed the Garments shall be drenched, not only Aaron's Beard, but the very Skirts of his Garments shall be drenched throughout. Is the Head advanced into glory. I tell you the Head in glory will never rest till the members of his Body that are in a vile, deplorable, forlorn condition here, be made like unto him; Father, says he, I will, John 17.24. that those also whom thou hast given me be with me, etc. One would wonder that God should cast off the seed of Abraham, and implant Gentiles in their Room, and yet you see in Rom. 11. the Lord does thus, and the Apostle concludes with this, verse 33. O the depth of the Riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. That the natural branches should be cut off, and Idolatours that had no promises, Idolatours that had no Relations at all but only of Creatures to God, and who had done more to violate their Relations, and forfeit all the Privileges of their Relations, than the very Beasts of the Field, and the most venomous, and poisonous Toad ever did, yet says the Apostle, The natural branches were cut off that you might be graffed in. O the depth of the riches of God's grace. Surely Christians, this is a great Spiritual Blessing that the Lord is pleased to vouchsafe to us to head us under Christ. We are blessed with this in Christ Jesus.  
6. Another Spiritual Blessing is this; A reserved Inheritance of all full, and Spiritual, and comprehensive blessednesses. My friends here we have (to allude to the people of Israel in the wilderness) it may be, some few Cottages or Tabernacles that are transitory, as those People had some moving resting-places. Here is a little grace planted, a little faith and a little love, and this grows up pretty likelily and pretty promisingly, but what is this to the inheritance, where that which is in part shall be done way, where there is no such thing as grace in part, no such thing as love in part, no such thing as joy in part, no such thing as communion in part; for that which is in part shall be done away. I think the Apostle speaks fully to our purpose where he tells us of an inheritance reserved, 1 Pet. 1.3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see the Apostle mentions the same Relations that are here in the Text; why what is the matter, Blessed Peter? Why says he, the matter is this; The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, verse 4. Why friends what is this inheritance? Why there I shall inherit the Covenant in its fullness; I shall not say that either I want any Law in my heart or in my Head, in my inward or in my outward man, I shall have no reason to complain that I want the least blessing of the least promise. Why Christians, this is your inheritance, and are not here Spiritual Blessings that are the proper matter of this Inheritance? Now the Apostle tells us that he hath blessed us with this in Christ, verse 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to ●he purpose of him that worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will. How far Christ is concerned in this Spiritual blessing ●ou may easily observe, if so be that you ●ither consider the type or the antitype; as ●o the type which was Joshua or Jesus, Mo●●s must not bring the people into their Inheritance; indeed in Moses' Time they might have some Bunches of the Grapes of the good land, but Moses must not bring them in, it must be Joshua that must bring them in. So I say my Friends, it is not this, or that, or the other, but the Lord Jesus alone that must bring his people into the possession of this reserved inheritance; here is indeed a Cluster of Spiritual Blessings infinitely exceeding all the capacities of the Sons and Daughters of men, though most of all enlightened by the Spirit to comprehend, in whom, says he, we have obtained an Inheritance; who is this whom? It is the Lord Jesus Christ; to gather together in one all things in Christ, in whom we have obtained an Inheritance. As much as if the Apostle had said, as the Apostle doth in Christ's own case, we see not yet all things put under him: So I may say, you have no● yet obtained the Inheritance, no more had Paul, no more had these Ephesians, but ye● he speaks as one having full assurance, in whom we have obtained; answerable to that of our Lord, in Joh. 14.2. I go to prepare a place for you. And the Apostle take● it up, and otherwise phrases it, Heb. 6. 2● Wither the forerunner is for us entered; speaking of the Inheritance that is above, whither cur forerunner is for us entered; so that this another Spiritual Blessing wherewith we are blessed in Christ Jesus.  
7. But another spiritual blessing wherewith we are blessed in Christ Jesus is this: The Seal and Earnest of what is to come, and the very Spirit is made the very matter of this Blessing wherewith he hath blessed us in Christ Jesus. I pray do but cast your eyes upon verse 13. In whom ye also trusted; still he continues his discourse, and fixes Christ at the bottom of all; in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation, in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise, verse 14. which is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory. Here is a comprehensive spiritual blessing indeed, which is the Seal of the eternal Inheritance, and the Earnest of it, as if the Lord should say when he sends forth his Spirit, go my holy Spirit, go and seize upon such a heart, and seal up such a Soul for the eternal Inheritance; and as if he should say to his Son, Lo my Son, I have given my Spirit to such a one whom thou hast shed thy blood for, and lo I send him as the Earnest of the Inheritance that thou hast purchased, as the Earnest of my eternal love to thee, as the Earnest of my eternal Communion with thee, as the earnest of my answering of thy prayer, and the import of all thy blood: Lo I have sent him, and lo, he is to them an Earnest. Now Sirs, this is a great blessing, a very glorious blessing indeed, God might have designed, and kept the design in his own breast, or he might have divulged it, & yet have given us no earnest or pledge of it; what needed all that between God and us? Christ might have taken his word, and we had good reason to rest upon any report that the Lord Christ makes of his confidence in the Father, but the Lord Christ and the Father did concur together in this, that we should have the Blessing, notwithstanding all notwithstanding, and that it should be sure to all the seed. Yet, for our further satisfaction, says the Lord, behold I give my promise, and I give the promised Spirit, and that Spirit shall be my Seal upon their hearts, and my seal upon their understandings; so that look into your hearts, and into your understandings, and upon this inquiry, whose are you? Do but make a reflection whose Seal, whose Image, whose Superscription is this? You shall find that the Spirit of the Lord is as it were Gods assuring Seal. Ay but it may be you will say, this is a great while to come. It may be Ten, or Twenty, or Thirty, or Forty, years to come. Well, if those do not satisfy you that you are sealed, the Spirit also shall be an Earnest of the Inheritance, an Earnest of the future personal blessedness and glory which God hath blessed you with in Christ. It is not only Heaven, but the personal condition and state of Saints in Heaven that is the glory of their Inheritance, and this is another thing.  
8. But then in the 8th place, another Spiritual blessing wherewith the God and Father of Jesus Christ does bless Christians, is this: Practical experiences of the power of God's grace in every providence, and such as lay open to every Ordinance. I say, practical experiences of the power of God's grace. O what can the grace of God do? Nay Christians what is it that the grace of God cannot do? That grace that could send Christ out of his eternal mansion in the bosom of his Father, what cannot that grace do for thee? That grace that can empty (as it were) the Second person of the Trinity of his glory, dost thou think that this grace cannot empty thy heart of sin? That grace that can fill the Covenant with such a fullness of Blessings, Poor worm, dost thou think that this grace cannot fill thy heart with Blessings? I pray Christians, do but consider what the Apostle saith in the 19, and 20 verses of this Chap. And what is, says he, the exceeding greatness of his power, to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. If thy heart be hard, and be fixed within thee, so that thou dost oppose the work of Faith, he will work this work of faith with power; if it be exceeding hard, there is exceeding power, that the grace of God has the command of; if thou be'st exceeding weak, there is exceeding grace that hath the dispose of exceeding power; ay, if thou be'st exceeding unworthy, there is exceeding grace that can exceedingly overlook all thy unworthiness. Now Christians, practical experiences of the power of grace under the ministration of the Gospel, is a great Spiritual Blessing. We have heard much of the grace of God, of the respective persons of the blessed Trinity, what has this grace done for thy Soul? Art thou able to set to thy Seal that there is an exceeding power in the grace of the Father? and an exceeding power in the grace of the Son? if thou hast not as yet experienced it, truly if there be but some beginnings of the power of God, and the finger of God hath but been upon thy heart, though in lesser power, if there be exceeding power wanting, that exceeding power shall not always be suspended; Practical experiences of the exceeding mighty power of God, is that which is a great Spiritual Blessing, which we are blessed with in Christ Jesus, and for the illustration of this, do but compare this power, if thou needest as much exceeding power, to raise up thy Soul from any Spiritual Death or Deadness, as Jesus Christ stood in need of to raise him from the dead, that shall be at the dispose of grace, that shall be employed by grace, and therefore he adds in the next verse, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead. That power that raised the Son of man from the dead, and that power that set the Son of man at his own right hand in Heavenly places, thou, Christian, shalt have experience of it; and this is the Spiritual Blessing wherewith thou art blessed in Christ Jesus. Blessed be the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ; that is, he hath Blessed us with a Right to an universal and unbounded experience of the power of his grace in all cases.  
9 But the last that I shall mention is this: He hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings, that is, an universal subjection of all our Spiritual Enemies under us. And I think this may be looked upon as a great Spiritual Blessing. It is true indeed, (my friends) all things are put under the feet of Jesus Christ, but all things are not yet put under our feet: But that you may see the reason of this great privilege, how grace hath laid it in Christ, do but observe those passages that you have in v. 21, 22, 23. of this Chapter; at the 20 verse, and hath set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, both in this World, and also in that which is to come. And (as if these two words could not comprehend all) the Apostle adds in general, and hath put all things under his feet. All things that are enemies to our Spiritual Interest, all things that are Enemies unto our purification, unto our sanctification, unto our enlightening and strengthening, and unto any or all of our Spiritual blessings: He hath put all things under his feet.  
Obj. Ay but what is all this to us, you will say?  
Ans. Therefore I pray observe what he says further; He hath put all things under his feet with a direct subserviency unto his Church, Verse 22. and hath put all things under his feet, and hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church, head over all principalities, over all the powers of darkness, over all our Enemies in hell, and over all our Spiritual Enemies here on Earth, and that unto his Church and People, which he calls his Body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Now, my friends, this is a great Spiritual blessing, and that the Spirit is concerned in this is evident. I pray do but observe a passage of the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans, chap. 8. verse● 11. compared with Verse 2. at the 11th verse, If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. I apprehend that this hath not relation primarily or principally to the last Resurrection of the Body, but even to a Spiritual deliverance and freedom of the Body from the remains of the law of sin & death, which yet abide in it; says the Apostle, If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in your mortal bodies, than you shall be quickened, your mortal bodies shall be disposed and influenced so by that Spirit, that they shall be readier than now they are, to serve the graces of your Souls according to the dictates of the Spirit of Jesus Christ; and my reason for this Interpretation is this, the Apostle in the conclusion of the former Chapter had been crying out, verse 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? which he had confessed had too long lodged in his members, in the former part of the Chapter. Now in verse 2. of this Chap. he says, But the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death; where is the law of sin? It is in my body says the Apostle, but, says he, the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free; upon this Hypothesis the Apostle doth conclude in verse 11. That if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in us, then shall our mortal bodies be quickened, and disposed also unto Spiritual service; and if you do but observe it, the Apostle in the Conclusion of this discourse gives such an exhortation tending to this purpose, that they would not yield up their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto Sin; why so? because the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwells in your mortal bodies, and therefore says he, don't yield your members don't yield your hands, and done't yield your tongues, and done't yield your ears, nor done't yield any of your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto Sin, because the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in your mortal bodies; and thus now I have taken notice of these divers Spiritual blessings, which the Apostle doth here instance in by way of illustration of this great Gospel mystery of grace, and that is, that God hath blessed every Christian with all Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, I will wave the reasons, and I will also wave the resolve of other inquiries that might be made, and wrap up all in these three or four inferences.  
USE 1 First, Is it so my friends, that Christians are blessed with all Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus? Then Christians should be always Spiritual in Christ Jesus. Show me your blessings Sirs, let it appear that your blessings are not like the blessings of the men of this world: Nay nor only confined to the blessings that the hypocrites of this world have received from God; don't show me your gifts in prayer, but let your graces be discovered in your praying. Christians, you should be Spiritual in all manner of conversation; why? because God hath blessed you in Christ Jesus with all Spiritual blessings, for a man that pretends to this blessedness, for such a one to be carnal, for such a one to be earthly minded, for such a one to be proud, for such a one to be debauched in his Spirit, and Principles, and Practices, how unbecoming is this to so great a pretence as you all make? If I should come to you one by one, and say to you, friend, don't you hope that God hath blessed you with all Spiritual blessings in Christ? what means then this formality in duty? this is not to be Spiritual. What means this anger & passion upon every provocation? this does not argue that you are blessed with a Spirit of meekness; why my friends, if you be blessed with all Spiritual blessings, than I pray let all your Spiritual blessings appear more or less in your whole conversation; for a professor that pretends to be so blessed, for him to be formal in his Prayer, and for him to be dead and dull in Duty, & for him to be light, and vain, and frothy in his Conversation, this is not like one that is blessed with all Spiritual blessings. Christians the inference is natural, if you be blessed with all Spiritual blessings, then show forth all your Spiritual blessings in all your duties, be Spiritual in every thing. The Apostle has a parallel expression to this, wherein he gives us an account of his conversation in the 3 Phil. 20. For our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ; that is the first inference.  
USE 2 The 2d is this; Has God blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ? Then let those that pretend to a being thus blessed by the God and Father of Jesus Christ, glorify the God & Father of Jesus Christ with all their blessings. Glorify him not only with what you have received, but also upon the whole of the blessings that are to be received; Christians, you may rejoice in what is in the hand of Christ for you as well as in what is in your own hearts; I am persuaded that Adam was as perfect as God can make a creature out of Christ, and yet you see no sooner doth the Woman come and tell him that the fruit is pleasant and fair, but he takes it & eats, and so destroys all; surely Christians, you may rejoice in that little you have, but you may more rejoice in that great deal that Christ hath for you, you have received a little from and by Christ; ay but Christ hath received a great deal more for you, and therefore balance all your secular wants and secular troubles with this, that you are blessed with unseen blessings. It was Christ's advice to his disciples to lay up treasure in Heaven, it is the practice of the grace of God; the grace of God hath done that which Jesus Christ advised his disciples and hearers to do. What has he done? Why he hath laid up treasure where neither moth can corrupt, nor Thiefs break through and steal. And therefore rejoice & glorify God for and in the view, & under the sense and apprehension of what you are blessed with in Christ, I will freely say this one thing, if I would choose of the two what to rejoice in, I had rather rejoice in what I am blessed with in Christ Jesus, then in all the gifts and graces that I have in my own heart, and I think 'tis safest to do so. But then,  
USE 3 Thirdly, Has God blessed you with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus? Then never confine and limit your expectations from God or from Jesus Christ. This naturally follows, for why should a Christian that hath liberty to expect all, content himself with less? Christian's should say upon every receipt, Lord here is not all, and be at him for more, wait still upon Christ for more. Cry still unto Christ for more, and say Lord here is not all: This is not all of the Spiritual Blessings, that the Father have blessed me withal in thyself. This is not all, and therefore under your fullest receipts still Christians wait for more; has the grace of God been so abundant as to bless you with all, and will you show so little grace as to be contented with a little? I do not like (neither I am persuaded does God like) the tempers of most Professors which is a modest, (I call it a modest because 'tis so generally apprehended) but it is a sinful modest contentedness with a little; if God give you any thing, bless God for a little, but never be satisfied with a little, but ever and anon come to the Throne of grace, and say, Father here is not all in my heart that thou hast blessed me withal in Christ: Come to the Lord Christ, and say, Lord here is not all the Father trusted thee withal for my Soul, here is not all the faith, all the love; all the meekness, etc. But I am blessed with all Spiritual Blessings. I say, Christians having received a little be still pressing after more. But then,  
USE 4 Fourthly and lastly, Hath God blessed you with all Spiritual blessings in Christ? Than Christians, in the midst of all your wants; and in the midst of all your straits, be you still pressing after a more true and genuine improvement of all your Spiritual blessings. If God hath blessed you with all Spiritual blessings, in Christ, then labour you under Christ to be Spiritual blessings unto others; have you not Neighbours, have you not Children, have you not Husbands or Wives? Though they be Christian, yet I appeal to you all, may not you also be a greater Spiritual blessing unto them than you are? May you not be a greater Spiritual blessing to your servants, or to your Children, than you are? Great are the designs of many to lay up great things for their Children; alas! these parents are but temporal or temporary blessings to their Children, whilst their hearts are set upon the world for them, and truly it may be said of most Masters, that they are but temporal blessings unto their servants they are but Family blessings to them. O Sirs, that we could make it more our business to be Spiritual blessings unto others; hath God blessed you with all Spiritual blessings in Christ? How do you know but he hath blessed your Children with some Spiritual blessing in you? and blessed your Servants with some Spiritual blessing in you? Withhold not that from your Children which is their right, or at least for ought you know may be their right; if you will not give it forth, I tell you God hath other ways, but you shall lose the glory and honour of it. Let me tell you this, when we say that God hath blessed such a child with a good Father; we mean that he hath blessed that Father with Spiritual blessings for the good of the child; and such a one is happy and blessed in such a Husband, what do we mean but this? that God hath blessed him with Spiritual blessings for the good of his Wife? and so in all other relations what ever. O blessed are that Church, and that people, and that family, in whom there is a great Emulation who shall be the greatest Spiritual blessing each to other; and this seems also to be a very natural inference: If God hath blessed us in Christ Jesus with all Spiritual blessings, then surely God may bless others in us with some Spiritual blessing; and if God hath blessed others in us with some Spiritual blessings, then why should we withhold from them that which ●s their own? God hath given them the ●ight, God hath given them the blessing, why should we withhold the blessing from them? Would you be so dealt withal by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? I row not; therefore Christians by the love you have to Christ, by the hopes you have ●o receive out of the hands of Christ, what ●s lodged there by the grace of the heart of God, what ever grace God hath lodged in our hearts, what ever Spiritual gifts God ●ath lodged in your heads, improve it as a spiritual blessing to others, even to those ●or whom you are concerned: and then ●y friends, you may more comfortably ex●ect the fulfilment & the accomplishment, ●nd the sealing up of this word every day more and more, and the experience of it that you may come by frequent renewed experience to say; and would it not be well with you if every day you could say and every evening you could say, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed me with all Spiritual blessings in Christ?   

SERMON III.  Ephesians 1.3. 
Blessed be the God and Father of o●● Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blesse● us with all Spiritual Blessings, Heavenly places, in Christ.  
WHat the present state of the Christian Ephesians were at th● time of the writing of this Epistle, see● to be uncertain: It is probable it was a st●●● of affliction, and the probability of it, y●● may found upon divers passages in 〈◊〉 Scripture which I shall now wave. It see●● most likely, what ever their secular est … was, that their Spiritual Estate was atten … with more than ordinary enjoyments, and beautified with more than ordinary privileges. But Christians, however it was with them, you know how it is with us; under secular, and temporal discouragements, it is the Christians wisdom to seek out for some Spiritual encouragements, when there seems to be a confederacy on Earth to encroach upon the remains of our temporal blessings, 'tis the interest of Christians to look above, and to consider what is the combination of Heaven, and the concurrence of the blessed Trinity about their Spiritual blessings. Christians I do not know all your Estates, but this in general I may propose, if you be Christians indeed, however it is with you here below, you are blessed with all, beyond all possibility of reverse above, for says the Apostle here, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings, in Heavenly places, in Christ. Three things lie wrapped up in the words.  
The first is a discovery of the Saints state, his Scripture, Gospel state. It is an unalterable and universal state of Blessedness. It is not some singular, or some single, petty blessing that is annexed and affixed, by an Irrevocable act of grace upon him, but it is all blessings, all Spiritual blessings.  
2. Secondly, You have the security of this their blessed state discovered. It is not a blessedness lodged upon, or lodged in their own persons, such was Adam's blessedness; and you know what little safety and security there was in that. It is not a blessedness that is fixed here below: but it is a blessedness, that as to the principal Concerns of it is fixed above, in Heavenly places in Christ, not in Christians, in an earthly Paradise, but in Heavenly places in Christ.  
3. Thirdly. You have in these words the author of all this blessedness; and that is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been discovering what those Spiritual blessings are wherewith the God and Father of Jesus Christ hath blessed every Christian; my business at this time will lie in the resolve of this inquiry.  
Qu. Why, or whence is it that we are blessed with all Spiritual blessings in Christ?  
An. With all plainness and brevity I shall endeavour to resolve this inquiry, and improve it; and in the resolve of it I shall not exceed not only the bounds of this Chapter, but of the words that I have read unto you: It is matter of wonder in Heaven, that a poor Christian that hath an empty heart on Earth: That a poor Christian, whose conversation, and whose duties are mostly empty of Spiritual service, should be blessed with all Spiritual blessings. Certainly Sirs, the Angels in Heaven that are privy to this transaction of grace, are filled with admiration, that we that are senseless of that grace, should yet notwithstanding be so blessed. Those glorious Spirits that never offended, that they should have but their measures proportioned to their practices, and that we should have our measures pressed down, and running over given unto us, notwithstanding our general principles and practices are against the designs of Heaven. It is matter of wonder to a serious Christian, a Christian that makes it his business to inquire and examine his own frame, both by Gospel promises and by Gospel privileges; what, Lord! I that do so little, blessed with all? What, Lord! I that have so little in my own heart and spirit, yet I blessed with all? Will nothing satisfy the grace of God but all blessings, and all Spiritual blessings too? My Friends, I hope it is in your hearts thus to admire; but I will give you the reasons: And there seem to be these five lodged in the words. I shall take notice of them as they lie before us.  
1. Don't wonder Sirs, that you Christians are blessed with all Spiritual Blessings. For,  
First, God is the God of Christ; he is the God of our Lord, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ. This is a great reason, yea this is God's Reason why he does bless Christians; I am the God of that Lord that is their Lord, and my Friends, I pray consider it; This relation that God stands in unto Christ has a general aspect upon all the Relations that are here mentioned of Christ. All Christ's principal Relations are here taken notice of by the Apostle, and expressed; as now he is the God of Jesus, he is the God of our Lord Jesus, he is the God of the Lord of the Gospel, he is the God of the Jesus of the Gospel, and the God of the Christ that is the anointed of the Gospel; so the Apostle in his other Epistles, as if he seemed to take great pleasure and delight in this general Relation that he here mentions, he also seems to express it in his Preface to his other Epistles. I think the Epistle that he writ to the Colossians comes nearest to this Epistle that he writ to the Ephesians, for its Gospel import and nature. And in the verse 3 of the 1 Col. you find the Apostle thus delivering himself; We give thanks to God, and (or even) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ; I pray Consider it, I would illustrate this in these two Branches.  
The First is this, That all the advantages of Gods being a God to any, is summed up in his being a God to Christ. I say all the advantages of the covenant, all the blessednesses that are discovered as essential to Gods being a God to any in either Testaments, is summed up in this relation of his unto Jesus Christ, and therefore you shall find that he promises so much to him, and that with reference to the discharge of all or of every particular office of his. I have not time to instance in them, I shall only remind you of one passage, and that is, when Christ came to die, to give an account to God of himself, he considers himself in and under all his Gospel Relations: The Lord employed him as his God, to preach Salvation unto sinners: The Lord as his God employed him as his servant, to rule and govern Saints: The Lord employed him as he was his God to reconcile his enemies to himself, by offering up his Soul and his Body a propitiation for them; and therefore with respect to all these relations, I pray consider what stress he laid upon this, for there seems to be something particular, and I think the Jews in the heat of their rage mistook the Emphasis of their own language, in Mark 15.34. And at the ninth hour: Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying Eloi, Eloi, that is, my God, my God: The Jews mistake Eloi here, say they verse 35. behold he calleth Elias, verse 36. let alone, let us see whether Elias will come to take him down, which was a thing quite of another Import and Nature. The proper interpretation is given there by the holy Ghost, my God, my God, says he. My God, my God, you see my friends the Lord owned his Relation to him as his God, now at this time, when he was to come to give an account to him of the discharge of all his Offices and Relations, Eloi, Eloi, my God, my God, I have preached thy will; My God, my God, I have governed according to thy will; My God, my God, I have made propitiation according to thy will; this seem to be the meaning of it, and upon this account he grounds his petition, why hast thou forsaken me, or why wilt thou or dost thou forsake me? As if he should appeal to God, My God thou knowest I have preached all thy heart; and my God, thou knowest I have governed according to the secrets of thy heart; and my God, thou knowest I have been tender both of Saints and sinners, according to the Command I received from thee; and my God, there is nothing that I have refused or avoided to do to please thee; my God, thou knowest all this. Now Sirs, here is great reason why we should be Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings, he is the Lords God in whom we are blessed.  
The Second thing that I would urge as an illustration of the former particular, is this: That the Lord Jesus Christ stands in no Relations to God but the blessedness of the Relation redounds to Christians. We will suppose the Lord Christ pleasing his God in the discharge of all his Offices, and Relations, we will suppose him, I say, in fullness of communion with his God in the execution of all his Relations. Now Sirs, I pray do but observe the Apostle in that peculiar appropriating word; he doth not say, The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the God and Father of our Lord; as if the Apostle should say, ye Christian Ephesians (and so I may say, ye Christians of differing apprehensions) you that are Christians indeed, all the blessednesses and advantages of God's Relation to Christ, as his God, redound to you, for he is your Lord; and I will only confirm what I have now observed to you, by an observation grounded upon this, and upon another Scripture, if you reflect upon the 2 verse of this Chap. you shall find that before the Apostle mentions God's Relation to Christ, he mentions his Relation to us; says he, Grace be unto you from God our Father. From God our Father, as if the Apostle would have us to understand, that whatsoever he is to Christ he is that to Christians in Christ. And there is the first reason why God doth bless us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ, because he is Christ's God, and hath approved himself, and carried himself towards Christ as his God, in all the circumstances wherein Christ was or is.  
2. Secondly. He is not only the God of Christ, and therefore blesses us, but he is the Father of Christ, and therefore doth bless us. Which seems to be a Relation which our Lord doth most glory in in both Testaments. I tell you, Christians, God glories more in the Relation of a Father to Christ, than he doth in the Relation of a Creator to the whole World; I will open this also in these two Branches.  
1. And the first is this, That Christ Jesus' Relation to God, or God's Relation to Christ as a Father, in which he doth so glory, is a Relation that he bears to the Humane Nature. It is not his Relation to Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity that is the glory of God in the Gospel, but his Relation to Christ as God-man, or as man. That is the great Relation that God glories in in both Testaments. The Relation that God stands in unto Christ as the second Person of the Trinity is natural. It is a natural Relation. But the Relation in which he stands to Christ as man, this is the glory of God in the dispensation of the Gospel. The Lord by his Spirit open it unto you. I will endeavour to open it by opening of two Scriptures. The first shall be a passage in the Old Testament in the 2 Psal. After the Psalmist had given us an account of the monstrous rage of the Heathen, and the Confederacy of the people with the Heathen in their Rage, at the 1 verse. Wherefore do the Heathen Rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? After he had stated the result of all their Counsels against him which is applied to him as man by the Apostle in the 4 Acts 25 verse and so on. The Psalmist brings in the Lord glorying in this, verse 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion; and Christ solacing himself peculiarly in this Relation that he stands in to him as the Son of man, verse 7. The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. That this has Relation to the Incarnation of Christ and to him as man, I pray consider a passage there in Heb. 1.5. To which of the Angels said he at any time. To which of the Angels said he? No, there is no reason why he should say so to them, if we consider him as God, as very God. But if we consider him as the Son of man, there is great reason that the Apostle should bring this in, unto which of the Angels hath he said, that he should pass by all the Angels in Heaven and never say unto them or any of them, thou art my Son? But upon the appearance of the Son of Mary, the reputed Son of Joseph, the Carpenter's Son, when he brings him into the World, he saith in a way of glory, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. To which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son? But to the only begotten Son this he saith; that is the first illustration.  
2. The Second illustration of it is this; That the God and Father of Jesus Christ considers himself as his Father for our sakes. I pray observe it. God had never been a Father to the man Jesus, had it not been for our sakes. I mean there had never been such a Relation in being, had not Christians eternal blessedness lain at the bottom of it. So that I may truly say, Christians, it was our Spiritual concern that gave being to this glorious mutual Relation between the Father and the Son of man; what need he ever to have made him man, had it not been for the Sons, and Daughters, of men, whom he had an eternal and an everlasting kindness for? I have sometimes with pleasure reviewed the passage that passed between the Angel and the Virgin Mary about the birth of Christ, give me leave to observe one or two things out of it in Luke 1.28, 29. verses. Marry she wonders at the salutation of the Angel, and well she might; a poor Woman fit for nothing but to make a Carpenter's Wife of; a poor Virgin espoused to Joseph, who was of the house of David; and that no meaner an Angel than Gabriel, must be sent to her, to declare the tidings; and what were the tidings? the tidings were that out of her Body, and in her Womb should be begotten one that should be called the Son of God, in the 35 verse. And the Angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  
I pray what was the business of this holy thing, and what was the Fundamental reason of this great and wonderful transaction and condescension of Christ? The Fundamental reason was this; God had an Eternal kindness for such sinners as you and I are, and a design to make us Children of adoption, when we had violated our Childship by nature: When we had transgressed the Law of our Creation Childhood, he was resolved to make us Children of Adoption, and therefore it was that the Holy Ghost must come upon her, and the power of the highest must overshadow her. Christ as the Son of God became the Son of man was made the Son of man merely and principally with a design of grace upon the Sons and Daughters of men, and therefore Sirs, if so, no great wonder that God should bless us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ.  
3. The third Reason is this; He in whom we are blessed, is our stated Lord, he is our absolute, our Sovereign, our certain and our stated Lord: and therefore you shall find the Apostle here expressing it, blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord, who hath blessed us, Our Lord, that is, God hath given him to be our Lord, an universal Lord unto Christians in all their Christian concerns, and therefore when the Apostle preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his Friends, at their Christian Conventicle (as I may so call it) at their Christian meeting in Cornelius' house, do but observe how he expresses himself, and introduces his discourse, Acts. 10. vers● 36. The word which God sent unto the Children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he 〈◊〉 Lord of all, here is the word which God sent unto Israel; what is it? It is a word of peace; what is at the bottom of it? Jesus Christ is Lord of all, that is, he is Lord of all that grace, that concerns our peace; he is Lord of all the pardons that concern our peace; he is Lord of all the wisdom, that concerns and relates to our peace, he is Lord of all the relations, which are relations of our peace, and he is Lord of all things, and of the blessings of all things, in those Gospel relations, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. Now Christians, I pray do but Consider, what is the Spiritual blessing that you stand in need of? God hath made Christ the Lord of that blessing; you want peace, and you want comfort, and you want Joy, and you want this, and that, and the other, God hath made Christ Lord of all, and if he be Lord of all, than my Friends no wonder, that God hath blessed us with all in him.  
But I will open this likewise in these two Branches.  
1. and the First is this, God had a peculiar relation to Christ's Lordship unto and over our persons, when he did intrust him with all our blessings; our Lord bears testimony of this in general in many places, but especially in the shutting up of his ministry, and of his life here below, in Matth. 28. Go ye therefore, says he, and teach all nations, go ye therefore. Wherefore? At the 18 verse All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth; if he had had only power given him in Heaven he could not have Blessed sinners on Earth, if he had had power given him only on Earth he could not have commanded the Blessings of Heaven. But, says he, all power, all authority is given to me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations. Lord to what end (might the disciples say) must we go? Well says Christ, I am the Lord of all the Blessings, I have an absolute power to dispose of all the Blessings of Heaven, and to manage all the heavenly Blessings upon Earth. Therefore says he, Go preach, go teach all nations: Go tell sinners that I am ready to bless them, I have a heart that is willing to bless them, I have a treasure to supply them fully, according to all their necessities, and according to all their straits. Go preach the Gospel to every creature, to every Saint and to every sinner; I am Lord of all; and therefore if you do observe it, the commission that Christ gives to his disciples, to his Ministers, has a peculiar reference unto the Authority that he hath received, all the authority that he hath received hath a peculiar reference to them, and therefore it must needs discover, that whatsoever he received as Sovereign he received for us; and therefore no wonder that God blesses us with all in him, because he hath made him Lord of all. Christians, want you peace? Christ is Lord of it. Want you grace? Christ is the Anointed Lord of grace; he hath made him Lord of all.  
2. Secondly, The Lordship that Jesus Christ hath in and over us that are to be Blessed, and in and over all the blessings that are to be conferred upon us, he doth manage and execute in a way accommodated to the general and particular cases of every Christian. As now suppose that I or any of you were made Lord of the treasures that are lodged up for the poor, It may be there is one that cannot stir out of doors, and there is another that it may be can stir, but cannot come at the time, and to the place appointed, others may, it may be, some cannot because of natural infirmities; now the Lord, he that is the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Disposer of all those blessings he can accommodate himself to the conditions of every one, he can go from house to house to see how many poor there are, and what it is that you want; do you want Bread, or do you want Drink? or do you want clothes? what is it that you want? I see you cannot come abroad, and I am come to see your wants: truly so my Friends our Lord Christ can accommodate himself to every one's condition, he sees that poor creatures cannot make out unto him, one is blind, and another is lame, and another is dead-hearted and discouraged, and another is tempted and fettered, and cannot go out unto the Lord, ay but the Lord can come to them, he can come to your cottages, to your houses, and the Lord can accommodate himself to you, & say to you, Children, what want you? Children, what ails you? God hath made me Lord of all Spiritual blessings for you, what want you? want you wisdom? and want you strength; and want you peace; and want you grace? what is it that you want? I see you cannot come to me, because you want strength, and you want a heart to come, but I can come to you, and I am come to you. Thus the Lord of all can accommodate himself. It was a great offence that the Scribes, those devout & superstitious Pharisees took against Christ that he could accommodate himself to the Publicans and Harlots, and sinners of the day, that could not come out to him, but he must go to them, and feast with them, and this was an offence to them. O says Christ, I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; the sheep do not seek the shepherd, but the shepherd is to seek the sheep: a poor creature, it may be, cannot come to the Lord Jesus, yet he, notwithstanding all his Lordship, and all his grandeur, and all his greatness, I tell you Sirs, he is such a Lord as can accommodate himself to the conditions of every one, and therefore no wonder that the God of all grace hath entrusted him with all, and hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in him, that is the Lord and Master of so much grace.  
Fourthly, The 4th reason is this, we are blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in him, Because he is the Jesus of the New Testament: When the Angel by a special commission was sent from God to name the Child, he gives him this name, Matt. 1.21. Joseph, it seems, was an honest, a sober and a good man, and upon that he had a mind to put away Mary privily that was betrothed to him, but the Angel appeared to Joseph, verse 20. and said unto him, Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take to thee Marry thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now my Friends, if you do but observe how the Justice of God hath stated the Method of this Salvation, you will see reason enough why God should bless us with all the Blessings of our Salvation in him, I will open this also in these two Branches.  
1. The Justice of God hath stated the Method of our Salvaton to be in a way of suffering, and in a way of purchase: That we should have no pardons but what should be the price of blood, that we should have no peace but what should be the price of blood, that we should have no communion, but what blood is at the bottom of, that we should have no manner of fellowship with God, here or hereafter, but what is laid and founded in the blood of the Son of God; this was the way and method that the Justice of God had stated. Says Christ, Heb. 10.5, 6, 7. Sacrifice and Offerings thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared me; in  Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure, than said I, Lo I come to do thy will, O God: As if he had said, Lord is there any peace to be purchased for transgressors? here is my blood: Is there any grace to be bought for sinners? Lord here is my blood for it: Is there any reconciliation to be wrought? I am willing to offer myself to be a propitiation, for thy Enemies; Lo here I am, Lord is there any Spiritual Blessing to be obtained by suffering? Lo I come to do thy will, though it be to be made a curse. Now Christians, if the case be so? is there not great reason then that the Blessings that we have, we should be blessed with them in Christ? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us in him.  
2. But then the Second Illustration of it is this; Jesus as a Saviour must not only be a sufferer, but a Surety. He must be one that must undertake to respond to God for all, and to satisfy the justice of God for all. Now Sirs, what are the Blessings that we receive by his Suretyship? Why truly upon the account of that we receive all Spiritual Blessings. Christ is Surety, that I should live like a Child of Adoption, for the substance and main, that my heart should be in a frame becoming those that are the Lords Adopted ones. O but where is he that hath undertaken it? why it is Jesus, and therefore you shall find the Apostle fix it upon this very title Heb. 7.22. by so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament; by so much was Jesus: You see here is the very Title that is given him in the Text: Jesus the Saviour, and Jesus the Surety for all that are saved; and therefore good reason that we should be Blessed with all Spiritual blessings in him. And then,  
5. Lastly, The 5th reason that is in the words is this; he hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in him, because he is the Christ: I pray do but observe it, he is the Christ: And therefore good reason that all our Blessings should be lodged in him. There is not another Christ in Heaven, there was none of all the Angels of Heaven that were fit to make a Christ of, all the Sons, and Daughters of men, put them all together, were not fit to make a Christ of, vain are the suppositions and presumptions of the Papists. There is none but this Jesus that is fit to make a public Christ of, and this Jesus was anointed with all Spiritual Blessings to this end, he was anointed with them in the fountain, in the principle. I will but turn you to one Scripture for the confirmamation of this, that Jesus was anointed with all Spiritual blessings for this purpose; I pray do but observe that passage there, Isaiah 61.1. verse. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me. I pray consider it Sirs, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for or wherewith he hath anointed me. And this is the Oil of gladness wherewith he was anointed above all his fellows. Because the Lord hath anointed me, To preach good tidings to the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the Captives, and the opening the Prison to them that are Bound, etc. I pray do but consider how he brings in the thing to my present purpose, all Spiritual Blessings. Thou art a poor creature, a weak creature, not worthy of the least crumb of Bread, and yet my Friends, all things are given in the Lord Christ, because he was anointed with all for us, therefore is it that we are blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ.   

SERMON IU.  Ephesians 1.3. 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings, in Heavenly places, in Christ.  
THe state and Condition of this Church of Christ at Ephesus we have in some measure opened. The suitableness of this passage of the Apostle to that their state we have also discovered. To be deprived of Temporal Blessings and exposed to Temporal Troubles and Trials, as well as Spiritual Temptations, is easily balanced with the discovery the Apostle here makes of being Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings.  
This universal word is not only applied to the kinds, but also to the degrees of every kind of these Spiritual Blessings. It is all for the kind, and all also of every kind; not only faith, or only love, but both; not only pardon, or only peace, but both; and not only so, but all of all; who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings. Though you have but little in hand, or, as I may rather say, little in your own hearts, yet you have all Spiritual Blessings in the hand of Christ.  
A Third inquiry is this.  
Quest. 3 Who is it that doth bless us with all Spiritual Blessings, or under what consideration are we to look upon this great Blesser?  
Ans. And I pray mind it, It is not God at large, neither is it God as the Creator of all, but here he is discovered as clothed with his principal Gospel relations and that not to us so much as to his Son our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not said our God, and Father in Jesus Christ the Lord; but the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath blessed us. Before I enter upon the particular resolve of this, I will only premise this in general, that both these Relations or Titles that are here attributed to God, have an equal respect unto all the Relations under which Jesus Christ is here considered. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that the resolve of this upon this hypothes●s will Issue itself in this general proposition or assertion, viz.  
Doct. That God as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ doth bless Christians in Christ with all Spiritual Blessings.  
I would speak these mysteries with all plainness. But my Friends, there is none of you, those that have the greatest advantage of parts and gifts, that can understand practically what I shall say without the Spirit of the Lord lead you into the truth, which I shall discover to you (I hope) in the Spirit. In the prosecution therefore of it, I will only deliver my sense in these Four, or Five, Generals, and then make improvement.  
1. The first is this, when we say that God, as the God and Father of Jesus Christ, blesses us, this seems to be employed in it, That all the advantages that any of the people of God in either Testament have by Gods being their God, or that hangeth upon this relation, they are all summed up in this, that he, as the God of our Lord Jesus, blesses his people with all Spiritual blessings: If so be that you reflect upon the Old Testament, you shall find Abraham greatly glorying in this, and the Lord laying it as a foundation of Abraham's glory, Gen. 17.1. says he, I am God all sufficient, walk before me and be thou perfect; and Chap 15. verse 1. you have another appearance of God to Abraham: Says he, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward: Now Sirs, I pray Consider, The man Jesus, the Lord Jesus, as betrusted with all our Spiritual blessings, lies under the advantage of this relation to God, if so be that God be the God of Abraham, much more will he be an all sufficient God in the manage of the concerns of Abraham's seed, as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ he hath blessed us, as an all sufficient God, as a God that is the exceeding great reward of those to whom he is God, able to do what he will, and able to give what he pleases, he is Christ's God that hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ.  
2. Secondly, This also doth discover a full assurance of an abiding engagement of all the attributes of God to carry on the interest and the concerns of Christ, as it is stated among Christians; I say it implies an engagement of all the attributes of God to see to the blessings; I pray Christians don't look upon the man Jesus only as concerned in the manage, either in the securing or disposing of the blessings, but look upon the blessings insured, secured and to be disposed or managed in their disposal by him that is the God of the man Jesus; you know the passage there in the Old Testament, where the Lord doth Covenant with Christ's Type, that is, with David, and with Solomon, but principally with the Lord Jesus himself, Psalm 89.26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my Salvation. David glories in the Relation himself, and he speaks this by way of prophecy, to give assurance unto all the people of God, that David's Son shall have liberty and a heart to cry unto him in all his straits: My God, he shall cry unto me, My Father, thou art My Father, and my God. Now I pray do but observe the Context, and you shall find, that the great concerns of the people of God, their great Blessings are here devolved upon him to manage, verse 19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one Chosen out of the people. A mighty one indeed there is none to be compared to him, exalted indeed above all, he hath a name given him which is above every name, and says God, I have laid help upon him. As if the Lord should say, I will betrust him with all their persons and I will betrust him with all their Blessings. I know he is mighty, he is able to save, ay but lest he should be discouraged or lest any looking upon him as the Son of David should judge him insufficient for this employ, I pray do but observe what he says in the 24 verse. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the Sea and his right hand in the the Rivers, and he shall cry unto me, thou art my God. By way of acknowledgement for what hath been done, thou art My God: O this is my God that hath done all this. It is he in whose name my Horn is exalted. It is he that shall beat down my foes before my face, and plague them that hate me; & therefore good reason he should acknowledge him; he shall cry unto me, my God, and if there be any thing of difficulty to be done, if there be sin to be removed; if the consequence of sin had seized, and that to be dismissed, says God to him, he shall cry unto me, My God; and I pray, friends, do but observe how correspondent to this prophecy, or to this promise, was the carriage of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all his straits, in reference to the general dispensation under which he was, which was a dispensation full enough of straits, how the Apostle speaks of him, or rather brings him in, as fixing upon himself, in the 2 Heb. 13. And again, says he, I will put my trust in him; and again, behold I and the Children which God hath given me. The concerns of the Children are here upon the heart of Christ, and says Christ, I will put my trust in him; in whom? in my God, that hath given me these Children, in my God that hath given Blessings to me for them. I will put my trust in him, says he; and again behold I and the Children that God hath given me. And when he was in the greatest strait of all, when God seemed to withdraw from him, and he under the guilt of all the sins of the whole election of grace, and Justice executing vengeance, or the Curse, according to the tenor of the Covenant upon him, God frowning upon him, than he had recourse to this, to the power of God, to the faithfulness of God, to the attributes of God; My God, My God, says he, why hast thou forsaken me? Nay my Friends, let me tell you this as an additional illustration of it; That the Lord Jesus Christ hath full liberty and privilege to demand the universal assistance of all the attributes of the Divine nature in the manage of this work of Mediation as he is Man.  
Thirdly, The Third General is this; What ever Relation God as God is discovered under in either Testaments, the encouragements, and all the blessednesses of that Relation, meet in this his Relation to Christ. He is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, and as so, he hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in him. There are divers Relations that God is pleased to cloth himself withal, and to represent himself under unto his people, in the Old and New Testament; Now whatsoever those Relations are, The advantage, & the blessedness that result from them, meet here in this, & that in this particular case, as he is a God blessing Christians in Christ; I would illustrate this to you in these 2 particulars.  
1. God hath discovered himself under the notion of a Creator, as God the Creator of all flesh, the Creator of all things, so he hath declared himself to be; And yet, my Friends, the advantages that are wrapped up in this Relation, are all summed up in this, that he is the God and Father of our Lord, blessing Christians with all Spiritual blessings. May a poor Creature say, O my heart will never yield to these Spiritual Blessings, they are so Spiritual, and I am so carnal; ay but God the Creator of thy heart hath blessed thee with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ. O, says a poor Creature, I shall never be able to understand, nor to receive these Spiritual Mysteries, which wrap up as it were these Spiritual blessings, I am so full of Spiritual blindness, darkness, and Ignorance; ay but God that created thy understanding, and created thy understanding in light, as an understanding resembling his own, this God hath blessed thee with these Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; ay but I am so weak, & I am so unable to manage them, Well notwithstanding all, God that created thee; It is he that hath blessed thee with all Spiritual blessings in Christ, & that as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and as he is considered the Creator of all by Christ, so he hath blessed thee with all Spiritual blessings, The Apostle in his Epistle to the Colossians, Chap. 1. seems to argue from this principle, and encourage (from this mystery) poor Creatures to wait for the Blessing, verse 19 for it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; ay but how shall I come to be made partaker of that fullness that dwells in Christ? my heart hath been shut so many years, who will open it? my heart hath been growing in hardness so many years who can soften it? Now observe, before the discovery of this the pleasure of his grace, he brings in the discovery of this Relation of a Creator, verse 16. For by him were all things Created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth, &c, by him were all things Created, and it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, and therefore he can Create thy heart, that is hard, he can Create it soft, and in thy heart, that is so shut up, he can Create an open passage for the Gospel, and the Blessings of the Gospel, out of the hands of Christ, into thy heart, he can create this; Now, my friends, this is a great advantage, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Creator hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus.  
Secondly. Another Relation that God hath discovered himself in, as God, unto us in Scripture, it is a Relation of Supportation, importing a governing of all things that are. A God whose eyes run to and fro throughout the Earth observing both the evil and the good; Therefore you shall find that when the great concerns of the Church were before him; he appeared thus as an Universal Sovereign Lord and Governor of all things, of all powers and all interests whatsoever; you have it in the 1 of Zach. There were some grand objections that lay in the way of that mercy, that God had betrusted in the hand of Christ, to manage for and on the behalf of his poor despised & afflicted people; You have the management of it discovered to be betrusted with him in the 8 verse. I saw by night, and behold A man riding upon a Red Horse; and he stood among the Myrtle Trees that were in the bottom, and behind him were there Red Horses speckled and White. Here was the case and concerns of the Church, and the design was a design of mercy, that these Myrtles should be transplanted out of the bottom, and that these Myrtles should be secured, and caused to grow in the bottom; and therefore in the midst of the Myrtles he doth appear riding upon a Red Horse. Now my friends here was a great work that did lie upon him, and he hath his Servants, those that were behind him upon Red Horses speckled and White. What are these? says the Prophet to the Lord; And the Angel answered, These are they that the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth. This Angel is the man that stood among the Myrtles, this is the man that in verse 8 was riding upon a Red Horse, and in verse 9 the Prophet calls him his Lord; O my Lord, says he, what are these? Then, verse 11, you have an account given unto this angel, unto this man that stood among the Myrtle Trees of the Transactions in the World, and the account is this: We have walked to and fro through the Earth, and behold all the Earth sitteth still, and is at rest. You may at your leisure consult the Context, and you shall find that there was a great work here to do, great Blessings, to bestow upon a poor despised, contemned people, and the manage of it was cast upon the man that stood among the Myrtle Trees, and this man had the advantage of the encouragement of the Lords Relation, as he is the Supreme and Sovereign Lord of all; so that I say, my friends, if so be that the Sovereignty of the great Jehovah, as he is the Supreme Governor of all, and as he is Lord of all, can be of any advantage unto us, here lies the advantage of it, that the God of our Lord Jesus is not only the great creating God, but the great governing God that hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings. O, says a poor trembling Soul, I can never secure my Blessings from the Devil, my heart is so treacherous and deceitful, and Satan so subtle and powerful, I can never secure them. Well, my friends, but who is he that hath Blessed you? Even God, the God of Christ Jesus the Lord, who is the Absolute, Sovereign Governor of all the whole Creation; He it is that hath Blessed you with all Spiritual Blessings.  
I will but only observe this one thing to you: Though the Devil and the powers of the World have cast off Gods Moral government, yet God hath no way at all, by all their sin, lessened his natural Government; As he was so he is, he is as much the Sovereign Lord and Governor of all things; now the Devils have sinned and man has sinned; and both man and Devils have cast off his moral government; he is as much Lord and absolute Sovereign as he was, and would have been if they had not sinned.  
Fourthly, God, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, blesses us; that is He stands under engagement, as Christ's God and Father, to secure what he hath given to us in Christ. As I observed to you before it is not only our God and Father in Christ, but it is the God and Father of Christ, that hath blessed us in Christ, and if so, than he stands engaged unto Christ, in whom he hath lodged these Blessings for us, or in whom he hath blessed us with these Blessings to secure them unto us; The more immediate engagement lay between God and Christ Jesus. It is a more remote relation and so by consequence, an engagement at a greater distance, or an engagement upon a remove that he stands in unto us that are Christians. I would fain have you to understand this, I say he is the God of Christ that hath blessed us, and therefore as he i● the God of Christ he stands engaged unto Christ Jesus; there lay the first and the principal engagement? 'Tis true as he is ou● God he is not to be questioned. I am God says he, I change not and therefore, ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed, Mal. 3.6. But, my friends, he is not only the God of the Sons of Jacob, and therefore they are not consumed, but he is the God of the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore they cannot be consumed. Why? Because as he is Christ's God he hath blessed us, and so he stands engaged unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I pray observe but these two things;  
1. The first is this, There was never any thing of offence that ever passed between this God, and this Christ. The Father was never offended by the Son, and the Son was never offended by the Father, these always kept a good, a perfect, a full correspondency each with other; indeed sometimes a Christian hath reason to fear; My God I have provoked, and my God I have dishonoured, and my God I have forsaken, and my God I have slighted. Ay, Christian, thou mayest say so, but it is Blasphemy for thee to say or think, that ever Christ could say so; in truth he never provoked his God, he never dishonoured his God, he never did any thing that might disoblige his God, Christ never did; He in whom thou art blessed: it is God, as the God of Christ, that hath blessed thee, and therefore, Christian, great encouragement there is unto thy Soul.  
Secondly, As he is Christ's God, all the promises were not only summed up in him that were made to Christians, but the Blessedness of all the promises have a primary respect and relation unto him. My meaning plainly is this, God hath promised thee peace, Ay but this peace hath reference unto the honouring and glorifying of the man Jesus, Whose God hath Blessed thee with this peace in him. Jesus hath the glory of all, and God eyes the glory of Jesus in all the promises he makes to us; and so, my friends, all the promises were not only designedly given for the advancement of him, but all the promises were summed up in him. When God made the promise of a seed to Abraham, Abraham had enough, he was under some discontent before, but now, says God, I will not only give thee a Child, one to be thine Heir, but I will give thee a Son, and that Son that I will give thee, shall be my Heir; One in whom all the Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed. Now Abraham had enough; you never find Abraham seeking any more Children at the hands of God; no, having an Isaac, a seed in whom all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed, Now Abraham is satisfied, and therefore the Lord in the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah, doth thus explain himself, when he promiseth the Lord Jesus Christ, Isa. 55.4. Behold I have given him for a witness (or a Covenant) to the people. I will give him. Who? I will give my Son Jesus for a Covenant to the people; That is as much as if God should say, I will give him for All, he is as it were the Sums and Substance of all, say but Christ, and you say All. When God gives Christ to a poor Creature he gives all the Promises, all the Covenants, and all the Blessings of Earth, and all the Blessings of Heaven, all the Blessings of providence, and all the Blessings that are reserved in the everlasting Mansions. And thus now you see in these respects upon what account it is, that the Apostle seems to lay the Emphasis upon this word: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings, etc.  
I shall give you but 3 or 4 inferences.  
USE. 1 Is it so, my friends, that God as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath Blessed Christians with all Spiritual Blessings? Then,  
In the first place, Vain are the attempts of any of the enemies of Christians to interpose between them and their Blessings. Though they may sometimes interpose between them and some of the means of their Blessings, yet I say, vain are the attempts of their enemies against their Blessings; Why? Because that God, as the God and Father of Jesus Christ, hath blessed them with all Blessings.  
Now you may observe that the Devil hath been all along at it, and he makes it his design & business, from time to time, & from age to age, and from dispensation to dispensation to interpose between the Lord's people and their Blessings, but still in vain; and therefore the Psalmist eyeing the Lord Jesus, and eyeing by faith, this blessedness, wherewith the God of the man Jesus should bless Christians, he cries out in the 2 Psal. 1. Why do the heathen Rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Their great design was to keep the people of God from those Blessings that God had designed by promise to give to them, There they were imagining and consulting, and there they were designing well; but observe it that very thing, that they thought would be the compleatment of all their designs, tending to this purpose, was the greatest inlet to all these Blessings. Certainly they were in great Joy, and had much satisfaction upon their Spirits, when they got Christ nailed upon the Cross, but their very nailing and crucifying of him, made way for all these Blessings; It opened as it were all the treasures of grace, it opened all the Relations that were discovered; and the Blessings upon the death of the Lord Jesus Christ came flowing out of the promises, and flowing out of Relations, and the World was filled with these Blessings: So that I say whatsoever devices the World hath, to interpose between Christians and their Blessings, they will be in vain, if they take up one conduit; God will lay many more; And if they give an obstruction one way, he will proceed other ways and manage it. It is the God of Jesus Christ that hath blessed Christians, and therefore Christians have their Blessings sure.  
USE. 2 Secondly. Then methinks, Christians, you should look unto God, as the God and Father of Christ, under all the discouragements, that arise upon your own Spirits, from your own violations of the obligations of his Relation to you. My meaning is this, when you cannot comfortably go to God, as your God, for a blessing, you may comfortably go to God, as Christ's God, for any Blessing. Why, my friends, here lay the case, O, says thy conscience, thou never comest to the word of God but thou despisest the God of the word, and thy heart is shut against the word, even from thy Childhood, and in thy Childhood, the Devil shuts up thy heart and the World shuts up thy heart, and thy corruptions shut up thy heart; but whatsoever it is that shuts up thy heart, or whatsoever it is that gives being to any disobligement thou art guilty of, be not discouraged, though thou canst not go to him for a Blessing, as thy God, because thy conscience tell thee that thou hast sinned against thy God, yet thou mayst go to him at that time as Christ's God; for God, as the God of Christ Jesus, hath Blessed thee with all Spiritual Blessings. Therefore, Christians, under all your discouragements, that arise from the sense of your own unworthiness, let this be your way, to look upon God as the God of Christ, and go to God for Blessings, as the God of Christ.  
USE. 3 Doth God bless us with all Spiritual Blessings as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Then, my friends, you may here take occasion to magnify the Mystery of the Gospel. And you may see great reason why you should glorify these persons, that are principally concerned in the mysteries of the Gospel. No wonder the Apostle breaks out, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus-Christ, And can your hearts hold from breaking out in the praises of God? O Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings! Sirs, you may see here is reason enough why we should glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, because between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, as related one to another, are all Spiritual Blessings laid. There is your great security and safety; therefore, Sirs, let him be blessed by you, as the God of Christ, and let the Lord Jesus Christ be admired, and glorified, and believed on by you.  
USE. 4, The 4th and last inference is this; Is it so that God as the God of Christ hath Blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ: Then surely the natural tendency of all those Spiritual Blessings is to make us conformable and like unto him. By this you may understand Blessings, or distinguish between those that are pretended to be Spiritual blessings and those that are really so, many pretend to great parts and gifts, and O their light is Spiritual! & O their zeal is Spiritual zeal! and their inlargements are Spiritual inlargements! and I pray God they may be all such, & O that all had always such! But let me tell you, Sirs, a great many things of this nature, if they be brought to the Test, will not be found to be Spiritual Blessings; Why? Because the tendency of these Blessings is not to conform you to the God of Christ Jesus? Do you find your hearts engaged to the God of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you find the tendency of that, which you call a Spiritual Blessing, is to make you more like to the Lord Jesus Christ. If so, then there is something in it, than it is one of the Blessings of the God and Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherewith he hath Blessed you in Christ. But if the tendency of that which you call a Spiritual Blessing be not to make you like to the God and Father of Jesus Christ, do not miscall it and honour it with the name of a Spiritual Blessing; for it is none of these Spiritual Blessings, with which the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath blessed Christians.    


SERMON IU.  Amos 9 Verse 9 
For Lo I will Command and I will sift the House of Israel among all Nations, as Corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall to the Earth.  
I Have made it my business of late to open the mystery of the grace of the Blessed Trinity, and to discover the accommodation of that grace unto Christians under greatest discouragements and Christians of the meanest size and rank. I am still in the pursuit of the same design, and therefore have I fixed upon these words; which do discover the Sovereignty of God in the management of all the sufferings of his own people. I pray do but observe; Though God doth employ the Nations yet he keeps the Nations in his own hand. The Nations are but the sieve in his hand. He keeps their power, and he keeps their interest, he keeps all the instruments that he uses still in his own hand: Assyria, the Rod of my Anger; But yet the Rod of his Anger in his own hand. So here the Nations the sieve of his wrath. But yet the sieve of his wrath in his own hand. He keeps it; Lo, says he, I will command and I will sift the House of Israel. Jesus tells his disciple Peter, that Satan would fain have been fingering at this work, he would fain have had him in his own hand, he would have had Christ to have left him to him; Simon, Simon, says he, Satan has desired to have you, that he might sift you. But Christ would not part with Peter so; he was more concerned in his disciples then to betrust them in the Devil's hand. So God is more concerned for his people then to give an Absolute, Sovereign, Uncontrouble Power to his Enemies over and about their concerns, I, says God, will sift the House of Israel among all nations.  
2. And then Secondly, you have a gracious reserve, or a reserve of grace appropriated unto a few that the Lord is more than ordinarily concerned for. Why, says he, yet for all this, the least grain shall not fall to the ground; Though God turn his people, as it were, from sieve to sieve, yet he will not suffer the least grain under all these sifting dispensations to fall to the ground. Not only the most promising, likely and flourishing Grace, he will not only look after the most weighty but the least grace, and the lightest grain; Yet, says, he, shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth. There are divers observations that lie in the words: I shall take notice of them, and then fix upon those which most subserve my design.  
Obs. 1 That all the evils that befall the Israel of God, though managed by the enemies of God, yet are the Issues of God's Command.  
The Command not of his word, but a Providential Command, when God speaks threatening Language and Terror to his people Israel in other Prophecies, he tells them that he will hiss for the fly, and he will call the Rod of his anger, the Assiyrian the Rod of his anger: He will call them and employ them. So here, says he, Lo I will Command, etc.  
Obs. 2 That God will have the managing of all his adversaries malice and the ordering and bounding of all his adversaries power. I will order the Sifting, says he, For Lo, I will Commands and I will Sift the House of Israel.  
Obs. 3 That both the Commission given and the restriction or limitation of the Commission reserved, is matter of a Christians observation, of Israel's observation.  
It is the duty of God's Israel to observe both the one and the other; to observe that God commands such a Nation to afflict such a people; for lo, says he, I will Command and lo I will sift. Surely this if rightly managed would be of very great Use to Christians in a suffering day; Nay let me tell you more, if God will make use of the Devil in this work, yet observe the restraint, observe the limitation. Who will go for us? says God, I, says the Devil, will go. And if the Lord doth suffer him to try us and sift us with temptation upon temptation; Yet do but observe the restraint, how often was the Devil forced to come for the enlarging of his Commission against Job?  
Obs. 4 That notwithstanding all the sufferings of the Lords people, yet the Lord will take care to secure the meanest of his people.  
It is the least grain that is the proper matter of this promise, It is not thos-that are highest, the biggest, and the largest wheat, but even the least grain though there be abundance of chaff, & abundance of mixture yet the least grain shall not fall to the ground: One would wonder to observe that the Lord in his greatest promises should fix upon the meanest and most unlikely professors. It may be you think there is no grace in your heart, no seed, no grain there; that you are not a grain, but are rather tares: well but the Lord doth not proceed according to the observation that you make of yours selves, but according to the observation that he makes of you. If God can spy a little grace in any heart, God will look after that heart; It is the least grain that God observes that is the matter of this promise; Yet, says he, shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth.  
In the opening of this observation I shall only give you some few reasons of it, and then make some improvement.  
Quest. You will say to me then, Why or whence is it that such special care is taken of such inconsiderable Christians? One whom ministers it may be make nothing of, one whom private Christian's disregard; yet God spies a little grace in him: We it may be are ready to think it would be no great matter to lose such a little grain as this; no great matter if the Devil should hurry such a one into such sins; no great matter if that afflictions sweep away and such a Professor, from the Ordinances and from communion & fellowship with God in his own appointments. But, my Friends, here is the Case; The Lord he observeth what there is within, and the Lord doth not act nor carry it either under general or particular judgements, according to our observation or sense, but according to his own observation and the truth of the thing: If there be grace, though it be in the least degree; if there be grace though under very great disadvantages and under great discouragements, yet an all-searching Eye can espy a grain of Corn in a heap of Chaff. It may be there is a great deal of Chaff, a great deal of vanity, a great deal of earthliness, which do not commend thee before men, but rather discommend thee before God and man, but little grace in thy life, little in thy prayers, little in thy heart, little in thy understanding; Ay, But if God espy a little grace under all this Rubbish, a little grain, a grain of the least size under all this Heap of Chaff and Rubbish. The Lord will take care of this. Yet, says he, shall not the least grain fall to the ground.  
But whence is all this kindness?  
Ans. I shall give you an account of this in these following Propositions.  
Reas. 1 A little grace, though never so little, is distinguishing grace as well as the greatest, though never so much: When the Lord did at first work the work of grace upon thy heart, than he made a personal difference between thee and others; and it is not the muchness of thy grace that gives the essential distinction, but it is the truth of thy grace that distinguisheth thee from others. I will open this in these 2 Branches.  
1. First. The least degree, or the least grain, of grace is the Issue of God's eternal distinguishing kindness. God from all eternity, before the foundations of the world were laid, did elect and choose thee to receive such a measure of grace in such a little proportion, as well as another in a large measure and in a greater proportion; ye are chosen in him, says the Apostle. 1. Eph. 4. before the Foundation of the World was laid, that ye should be Holy. God did not only choose those that were enriched with more than ordinary Grace, those that are full of the Holy-Ghost, were not the only Persons that were in the Eye & upon the Heart of God from all Eternity, but those that have received, though but their measures by scantling. These are the Persons that God did from all Eternity design, by this little grace, to make a personal difference between them and others; Let me tell you all the moralists in the World, and all the great ones of the World, have not so much as this little grace amounts to; Thousands and ten thousands of hearts, will appear before the Throne, and not a grain of grace in them, & therefore, my Friends if so then, this must needs be clear, that either God must look after this little grace or must lose the resolve of his Eternal Love.  
2. That this little hath the nature of the whole, Jesus Christ compares the Kingdom of Heaven in hearts unto a grain of must and Seed, which is the least of all grains. Why though it be so little, yet there is a prolific, or a seminal virtue and power, in that little. The least grain of Corn is wheat it hath the Nature of wheat, as well as the fullest, so the least Christian, he that hath the least grace, hath the whole nature of Christianity, as well as he that hath most who despiseth the day of small things? Though you do, yet God will not; it may be you take little notice, and say, it is but a little, but yet in this little is the nature of the whole: If there be true faith, though it be little, yet here is all the truth of faith in a little faith, and there is all the Truth of love, the whole nature of love, in a little love; and there is the whole nature of humility, though it be shut up as it were in a little compass; & if it be so then this little must be and is the care of God, because the least grain hath the nature of the whole, and so here is the whole nature of grace even in the least grace. Therefore, says God, the house of Israel, this perverse, this rebellivos house, this is a frothy and chaffy house of Israel; yet I will not lose the least grain, yet not the least grain shall fall upon the Earth.  
3. That the least grace is under designments of grace as well as the greatest: Nay let me tell you, Sirs, There are many Christians that have most at first considering the proportion, & there are, on the other hand, many Christians who have least at first, and yet afterwards do attain to a great deal more than those that had most at first. God doth not always do as we do, or as man doth. Many times to him that hath most at first there is many times most given afterwards; but God doth not always do so but he gives sometimes the greatest increase an increase like the increases of God, even unto those in whom at first he did Create but little. One could hardly perceive the flax smoking the other day, and now it is all on a flame; and take another Christian, & as soon as ever the fire is put into the flax, the flax fell all into a smoke. There was a great appearance, a great heat at first, but take him three, or four, or five, years after, & behold a damp again; the man had great incomes at first, but afterwards there was as great an abatement, & he that had least now hath most so that I say, considering the greatness of the designment, the unlimited designment, that relate to those that have little, may give a reason why the Lord will look after the least grace, why special grace will be charged with the preservation & security of the least. Satan may suggest, why what is this, a poor thing that can hardly crawl towards Christ in a duty; so weak, there is little or nothing to be seen of the Image of God in his heart, because there is so little. Ay but, Christians, you do not know under what designment this little is, what great things the Lord hath to manage by this little grace, Daniel, when the Lord shown him the great revolutions that were to be in the world, he shown him a Mountain, a mighty mountain; And he shown him also a little Stone, that was cut out of the Mountain without hands, and this stone should be bigger than the Mountain. The Mountain, if you take it to be the Roman Empire, that was as a Mountain that filled a great part of the Earth; ay but the little Stone, that is cut out of the Mountain without hands, that shall cover all the face of the Earth in its time. So I say do but you make it your business to discover grace, and never prescribe any limits as to that grace; A little grace may be under a great design; little David did more than the mighty man Saul that was taller than all the Israelites, he was under a greater designment; I pray consider this with me under these two branches.  
1. The least grace may be under a designment for greatest service for the time to come: Christ is Prophesied of, as a root that should grow out of a dry ground, so Christ is compared, he promised but little, there was but a very slender appearance of Jesus at the first, that ever he should be the man in whom all the Promises and Prophecies should centre. A Carpenter's Son, this is but the Son of a Carpenter, say they, an unlikely thing, that all the Promises and Prophecies of the Messiah should centre in him, and have their accomplishment in him: Even so it may be with Christians, little beginnings many times do work and boil up, and improve unto greatest undertakements. If you nakedly consider how the Lord dealt with his own Disciples, one would wonder that they should be his hearers, three years and and an half, and, when all came to all, had not so much Faith, as to believe that this was really he; that they should not have grace enough to bear them out in one brush of trial, that they met with, in the apprehending of our Lord, but they must all forsake him, when he was upon the Cross. That indeed was something a great trial, but to forsake him as soon as ever he was apprehended, and for Peter to deny him as soon as ever he was challenged, this does not discover greatness of grace. Truly these men, as I may say, were men of little stature, and the Kingdom of Heaven in them, during that time they lived with Christ and heard the Lord Christ, was but as a grain of Mustard Seed; and yet these were the men that must do the great work of God in the World. So it may be there is but a little grace in thy Child's Heart, or in thine own Heart, but that little grace may be under a great designment for great service, and therefore it is that the Lord will look after a little, because he knows what it is that you are designed for, and that every one is designed for.  
2. The least grace may be under a designment for the greatest enjoyments; that is, God may design a Person for the greatest enjoyments, that hath now but the least grace, Many times Children, that are weakest, have most of the manifestations of the tender affections of the Mother. Truly so I may say the Lord doth lead those many times by the hand, that he hath given but little grace to, when others are as it were turned to go of themselves; the Lambs are carried in the Bosom of the Shepherd. Isa. 40.11. the Lord promiseth that he will raise up a Shepherd, that shall gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his Bosom. Christians, though you be but little, yet I Pray consider, you may be under a designment of great enjoyments; the Lord doth many times give you, as it were, the sweet of the Gospel, whilst he feeds others with courser and harsher fare. The Lord giveth you the dainties of the Covenant, and of the Promises, when he doth treat with others with more course or more common Providences. Christians, I pray consider not only for the present but for the time to come, you may be under the greatest designments, for the greatest enjoyments; and therefore it is that God will not lose the least grain: what sieve soever he makes use of, to be sure his Eye and his Hand will be upon the least grain in the sieve, because of their designment.  
3. The Lord will take care of those that have the least grace, because those that have the least grace have a full right. I pray do but observe, there is no gradual difference in Gospel right; if I have a right to an Estate wrapped up in a scroul of paper, it is as much as the right that another hath to his Estate that is written or enlarged upon in a sheet: truly so it is with Christians, little grace gives a full right, and therefore the Lord will look after it; or else he must suffer his own right to be lost, the right that he hath given to be void, if he doth not look after the least grace. I will open this in these two Branches.  
1. The greatest promises are made to the least of graces: I pray turn to that passage of our Lord in the first Sermon that ever he preached upon the Mount, in Mat. 5. Blessed, say he, are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. What can you have more than the Kingdom, not the Kingdoms of the Earth, but the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom without limitation: Theirs is the throne of the Kingdom, and their is the Crown of the Kingdom, & theirs is the Blessedness & the glory of the Kingdom; and who are these to whom this Kingdom in all its glory is thus annexed by promise? It is those who are poor in Spirit, that have but a little grace, and yet are sensible of their little. Christians, there is no gradual variation in right, though there are always gradual variations in the comfort of your right; you shall scarce meet with two Christians that have in all points an equal balance of comfortable enjoyment of their Right; and yet their Right is the same, thy promise is my promise, and the Blessing that is a Christians by Covenant, that hath attained to the greatest measures of grace, these very Blessings, and this very Covenant, may with all its Blessings belong to him that hath least grace. May a man that is well thriven in grace, say all this is mine, as God said to Abraham, when he led him forth, come, says he, look towards the East, and the West, and the North and the South, Behold all this Land will I give thee. So I may say to a Christian, Christian, come look from the one end of the Scripture to the other, look upwards, look downwards, look on this hand, and look on the other hand from the East to the West, from the North to the South, Behold all this God hath given thee. Ay but I am poor, says the Christian; it is no matter, thy poverty doth not destroy thy right? thy Poverty makes no alteration in thy right: do not say in thy Heart, this is for those that are tall Cedars, this is for those that are fruitful, but as for me, alas I am not, well if there be but a little, though never so little, thy right is the same; a little grace you see doth give right to the greatest blessings, and the greatest blessings are established upon the least grace; Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. There is nothing in the Kingdom, but what is theirs that are poor in Spirit, that have but little, and are sensible that they have but a little: though they have but a little, yet blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.  
2. The same grace that gives the right makes the difference, the gradual difference: Though there be a gradual difference in the receipt, yet it is the same grace: It may be the Lord hath given thee five Talents, it may be to another he hath given but two, and it may be he hath given to another but one Talon; well but yet I say it is the same grace that gives all those Talents, and that gives a like right with those various or disproportioned gifts, it is the same grace, all issue from the same Fountain, and therefore it is, that the least grace will be looked after: He that gave thee a right to five Talents, gave thy Brother as good and as equal a right to one, he that gave thy Neighbour a Possession of a great measure of grace, and thereby, it may be, his right is more manifested, it was the same grace that gave thee the Possession of a little grace; and yet thy right is as substantial and true, because the grace, that giveth grace, differenceth in its giving, and yet gives the same right under these different gifts.  
4. The least grace discovers an interest in the greatest relations, as well, as the highest degree of grace does. Where there is a great deal of grace, you say, surely this is a Child of God. Ay, and there is one that hath but a grain of grace, that is as surely the Child of God, as he that hath more, he is as surely born of God, as he that hath the greatest degree of grace, here is one that, it may be, can fill a Prayer with grace, and here is another that hath hardly grace enough to stock a few Petitions, or it may be he hath grace to stock a Confession or two, and he puts forth that little grace, that he hath in his Confession or Petitions, what then; I tell you, God will take care of the one as well as of the other, the least grain shall not fall to the ground, because the least grain gives a discovery of an interest in the greatest relations; thou sayest surely this is a Man of God, why? O he hath a great deal of grace, and I say as surely, that poor man is a Man of God, why? because he hath a little grace. A Member of Jesus Christ is that man whose grace is flourishing, Ay, and that man is also a Member of Jesus Christ, whose grace lies under the ashes, there are no Flaming forth as yet, Ay but, my Friends, there is a spark under the Embers: I shall likewise open this in these two Branches.  
1. The first is this, Greatest relations do not depend upon the proportions of the graces of the relations, nay let me tell you, that those relations, that do discover the greatest intimacy, and bring a Man within the greatest Blessedness, these do not depend or hang upon the proportion of the graces of those relations. O, says the Spouse in the Conclusion of the Book of Canticles, O that thou wert as my Brother, that sucked the Breasts of my Mother. 8. Cant. v. 1. So I may say, it is many times with the Lords People, they cry out, O that Jesus Christ would reveal himself to me, O he discovers himself to such and such, O that he were as my Brother! I dare not call him my Brother, Ay, but though thou darest not call him thy Brother, thou canst humbly hope that thou art his Servant, though thou canst not with that Freedom and fullness of assurance, call him thy Brother; O that he were as my Brother as one that sucked the Breasts of my Mother! O that I were but in full communion with him! Well it may be thou art not yet in that fullness of Freedom of Spirit, that thou canst not as yet call him thy Brother, yet thou mayst do so, though thou hast but little grace: Relations do not bear proportions according to the proportion of the graces of the related, and therefore it is, that God will look after the least grain of grace, because the least is his. It is my little grain of Corn, this is my little grace, this is my little Faith, and my little Love, and this is my little meekness; the least degree of grace doth discover an interest in the greatest relations, and greatness of relation, doth not bear proportion to greatness of enjoyment.  
2 Secondly, That those relations that a Christian stands in unto God, immediately up-his entering into the relation, all the blessings of the relation lie before him: Now the least degree of grace doth admit to the Relation; and now being admitted, all the blessedness, all the glory, all the sweetness, all the comfort, all the happiness of the Relation, lie before this man, as well as before him that hath the greatest degree of grace. You will say, what is the glory of the Relation? Nay what glory is there that is not in any relation that belongs to the Gospel? In every Gospel Relation there is a fullness of glory, and a fullness of Blessedness. Now, no sooner is a poor creature admitted into the Relation, but all the blessedness of the Relation ly's open before him; And the least degree of grace admits into the Relation. The Lord doth not deal with his people that are related to him as we do, first bring him into one Relation, and then into another Relation, and then into a higher Relation, and then into a nearer Relation. As now many times men bring one first into their Family, take him up it may be by the high way, or a neighbour's Child, and make him a poor and mean Servant in the Family, it may be, a Scullion, or the like; and then take him up to a higher place, after that to a higher place, till at length he come to make him his Child, and not only his Child, but his heir: But now I pray friends consider, God, doth not deal so with his people, but he takes them into all Relations at one and the same time. A Christian, that hath the least degree of grace, stands in the highest Relations to God: God doth not make him first a Servant, and then a Steward, and afterwards adopt him, and afterward state all his Glory and Kingdom upon him; but at one and the same time, when grace is first wrought, than all the Relations of the Gospel lie open together to the least degree of grace: If a Son then an Heir. The Apostle concludes that, and that is right Gospel arguing, and that upon the least degree of grace; if a Servant, than a Friend; if a Friend then a Son; and if a Son, than an Heir, a joint Heir with Jesus Christ. Gospel Relations bear not proportion to the graces of the Relation, they are not more or less as grace in us is more or less; No but one manat the same time, that hath theleast degree of grace, all the Relations of the Gospel lie open before him. Though you have not as much grace as others, yet there are as many Relations, and as great Relations between God and you, as others, yea as there are between God and the best Christian in the world; and, let me tell you, the meanest Christian in our days hath all the Relations of the Gospel, lying open to him, as well as the best Disciples that ever Jesus Christ had either in or after his days; and if so, my friends, than no wonder why God is so concerned about a little grace, Yet, says he, shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth.  
5. The least degree of grace bears an essential likeness to Christ, as well as the greatest degree of grace doth. I say there is an essential resemblance in the least degree of grace unto Christ as well as in the greatest; every spark of fire is true fire as well as the greatest fire in your Chimney. I tell you, Christians, the least grace is Christ within you, there is the whole Image of Christ, there is the love of Christ, and there is the holiness of Christ, and there is the meekness of Christ, and there is the lowliness of Christ; there is in that little an Essential Resemblance of Christ, therefore no wonder that God takes so much care for and about a little grace  
Appl. Is it so, That for these reasons God doth look after the least grace in the least Christian, Then O do you make much of a little duty; God makes a great account of a little grace, do you make a great account of a little duty. If you have but little breathe of heart after God and Christ, Jesus in your heart, do not deny it, do not say, It is not likely that these should be regarded; why? because they are but some weak faint breathe: You see that God looks after a little grace in your hearts and maketh a great account of it; Therefore, I beseech you, having received a little from God make you great account of that little. I will but urge this with these two considerations.  
1. Seeing God makes a great account of that little that thou hast, Let me only ask you this Question, Whether it be not better for you to follow the example of God, than to follow the Devil's example? The devil would have you to make nothing of a little, God and Jesus Christ would have you to make great account of a little; Satan's design is, when he cannot hinder the work, to eclipse the glory of the work that is wrought, and to abate and allay the beauty of the work that is wrought, that is Satan's business and design. I pray, friends, consider, you hear it is God's way to make much of a little, Now, whether will you fall in with God or with Satan? He would make little of a great deal of grace, yea he would make nothing of it; but God he makes a great deal of a little grace. O, Sirs, do you therefore in imitation of God & Christ Jesus, do you also make much of it; you see God hath made so much of it that he hath made it the peculiar, special matter of a distinguishing promise; well, says he, though I will command and sift the House of Israel, and I will turn them out of one sieve into another, yet, says he, shall not the least grain fall to the earth. I will not lose the least grain, no not for all the Assyrians, for all the Babylonians, no not for all the Devils in Hell, I will not lose the least grain. God hath other manner of thoughts of the least work of grace thou hast, than I am persuaded most Christians have of the greatest works of grace.  
2. Truly you do not know how soon this little may grow up to a great deal. It is the hypothesis of our Lords arguing, says he, since thou hast not been faithful in a little, who will trust thee with more? So I say, on the other hand, if thou be'st faithful with a little, if thou admire the condescension of the grace of God, to work a little grace in thy heart, how dost thou know but God may the next Sermon work a great deal more? Jesus Christ may come the next opportunity with a full hand, and empty his hand into thy heart; thou dost not know how soon this little may be made a great deal. If you be faithful in the improvement of a little, if you be thankful for a little, if you do make great account, as God doth, of a little, than grace will soon add more, You know not how suddenly you may be surprised with more. I am verily persuaded, that one great reason why men grow no more in grace, is, because they despise their little so much: One great reason why God gives no more grace is, because they despise their little grace so much. Christians, I beseech you, if you have but a little, O make great account of that little, if there be but a grain; It is one of God's grains cast in by Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Jesus Christ, into thy heart, make much of it, because thou dost not know how soon more may come, Says Christ, Take the Talon from him that did not use it; & give it to him that had five even so the Lord may come and say, here is a poor creature, his heart leapt within him for Joy because I have given him a little grace, this Soul is always blessing me for a little, I will give him more. Truly, Christians, a high esteem of a little grace is much becoming the best Christians; if God hath given you but a little, I am sure that little is more than you deserve; the smallest things of the Gospel, should be spent with a crying grace, grace. Therefore my friends in observance of God, and in imitation of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray set your eye and your heart upon that little, let there be a great value and esteem put upon your little grace, because you see here the Lord doth make it the matter of a special promise: Under all shake, when great storms are up, and when wrath hath hold of the the Sieve & shakes it in the hand of the malicious Assyrian, or of the malicious Babylonian, when the wrath of God shakes the Sieve, than the heart of God is upon the least grain, and the hand of God will never suffer the least grain to fall. For Lo, says he, I will command and sift the house of Israel in the sieve of the Nations, as Corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least Grain fall upon the Earth.   

SERMON VI.  Amos 9 Verse 9 
For Lo, I will command, and I will sift the House of Israel among all Nations, like as Corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth.  
THE dependence of this Subject upon my former Discourses, and the concurrence of it in the same general design, I cleared in the morning. As an Introduction to this Evenings Discourse, I would only observe these two things from the Context to you; and the first is, That it is a gracious Promise, succeeding the dreadfulest threaten; Israel had offended, and the Lord of Israel takes to the offence; and therefore in a more than ordinary manner, the whole concern of the threatening is ushered in by the Prophet, in verse 1. I saw (says he) the Lord standing upon the Altar, and he says, Smite the Lintel, smite the Lintel of the door, that the posts may shake; a concussion, a shaking of the Institutions, and the Ordinances of the Temple, seems to usher in this Prophecy; and what the smiting of the Lintel of the door that the Prophet observes is, you may see in the succeeding verses; and the Lord's resolve is, to take them, however they did attempt to secure themselves from him; though they dig into Hell, thence shall my hand take them; though they climb up to Heaven, I will bring them down. Sirs, There's no escaping of the hand of God, when once the Lord stands upon the Altar, and commands the Lintel of the door to be smitten; he gives the reason and the account of that in the next verses; I shall not intermeddle with them; but yet, notwithstanding all that he had threatened against his People, he comes in with this promise; Yet (says he) shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth. I the Lord (says he) will command, and I will sift the house of Israel, and it shall be with the Sieve of the Nations that hate the house of Israel. Lord (might Israel say) here's nothing but desolation; yea, (says God) look to it; yet of all the Tribes of Israel, while the Nations are sifting the House of Israel: I will look after the grain; there shall not one grain fall to the ground, no not the least.  
Another thing I would observe, That this seems to have an aspect upon Gospel-times: Lo, (says he) I will command, and yet shall not the least grain fall to the ground. Waving other considerations, I will only observe this one thing, That it is at that time, when God will raise up the Tabernacle of David; God throws his People by shovel-fulls as it were, into the Sieve of the Nations: It is not the Chaff, but the Corn that the Nations envy: It is not those that are formal and superstitious Professors, but the serious practical Christians that are the hated; yet (says God) as to them, there shall not a grain fall to the Earth; and I ground this Observation upon a passage in the 11th verse. In that day (says he) will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen. When will God show this distinguishing kindness? and when will God glorify himself in fulfilling the Promise? in that day when God will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches; in that day. I pray you turn to Acts 15. v. 16. and there you shall see, James he is there vindicating some practices of Peter, in going to, and also in communicating with the Gentiles; Simon (says he) hath declared, how that God did at first visit the Gentiles: And to this agree the words of the Prophet; Afterward I will return, and build the Tabernacle of David that is fallen: So that here is an Old-Testament Promise fulfilled, not only upon the Jews, but upon the Gentiles. I have not time to open the mystery that is comprised in that, only I think it is the Gospel-Government of Christ; and at that time will the Lord take especial care of the least grain, that it shall not fall upon the Earth: Though he commands, and though he sifts the house of Israel according to the Spirit in the Sieve of the Nations, yet then shall not the least grain fall to the Earth.  
This seems to me to be the true import of the Context; and I hope these Observations will make way for the Application of what I have delivered, and what I shall deliver to be the Cases of Christians, and the Case of the Church of Christ in all their circumstances.  
That which I laid as the foundation of the whole Discourse was this, That even in the worst of times, God will take especial care of the least of Christians. The meanest Christians are the especial care, and the charge of God, and Christ, when the generality of Christians are exposed to the greatest danger: Says God, I will command, and I will sift, Why, yet shall not the least grain fall to the Earth.  
Divers Reasons I gave you, the fifth was this;  
V That the Lord will take special care of the meanest Christians in the hazardousest times, because, the meanest Christian hath the perfect Image of Christ upon him; there is not indeed the perfection of degrees, yet there is a perfect Image; they are not come to their pitch of Christianity, yet they have all attained unto their essential being of their Christianity; every little Grace is a full representative of Christ; the least grain of Wheat is truly Wheat, as well as the fullest, and the most pregnant grain is; there is the nature of Christ, and the nature of a Christian, in the meanest Christian that breathes upon the face of the Earth, (as he was in the form of a Servant) and I pray observe, that the express Image of his Father's glory (as you have it) Heb. 1. The brightness of his Glory, and the express Image of his Person was upon him; Who is this? why the Man Jesus, he that was the Lord's Servant, and the Servant to Rulers, and that took upon him the form of a Servant; he at that time was the express Image of his Person, the brightness of his Glory; truly, my Friends, so I may say, take a poor Christian under the greatest disadvantages, suppose driven into the Wilderness, tempted of the Devil, you may look on him and say, There goes one that is the express Image of Jesus Christ, and another that hath divers temptations and afflictions surrounding him, you may say, there lies one upon his Bed, there sits another in his Corner, that is the express Image of Jesus; Ay but he hath but a little grace; well, the whole Image of Christ is in that little. Those that are well instructed in drawing and limning, they can as well in a little compass draw the perfect Effigies, as they can in a great compass. Truly my Friends, though your limbs be not so big (as I may say) though your countenances be not so big, your graces be not so big, yet here's a true representation of Christ; where's the least grace there's a full and express Image of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ; and therefore the Lord will take care, because of the Image. Says Christ, when they brought him by an ensnaring question, to give them a resolve, why show me the penny, whose is the Image? So my Friends, if you bring your own hearts to the Lord, the Lord will ask the question, Whose Image, whose Superscription is it? and will answer himself, it is my own; it is my own Superscription and Image, though it be in so small a compass. Christians, I would have you consider, that God and Christ have great tenderness for things without proportion; though you have not so much Faith, nor so much Love, nor so much Humility, yet if you have true Faith, true Love, true Humility, God and Christ will know his own; God will know his own Image, though drawn in the least compass. I will open this in these two branches. that I might make manifest the rationality of this proceed of the Lord; and the first is this;  
1. That there is no part of the Image of Christ in any heart, but that does discover the whole Image to be really and indeed in the heart. And my reason is, because God creates nothing imperfectly neither in the New, nor in the Old Creation, nothing imperfectly; he takes Adam's Rib out of his side, and he makes a perfect Image, and representation of that; and he takes up Clay or Red Earth, and he makes a perfect man of that. Truly Christians, let me tell you, that all monstruous conceptions are the issues (either on the one hand or the other) of the degeneracy, and not the products of the Creation. So here, where God hath created the likeness of Christ, in love there is (you may conclude) the likeness of Christ in all other Excellencies; the Lord does not use to turn the new Creatures out of his hand by piecemeal, or by parts, now a little, and then a little, but the whole is where there is an essential part; You shall find all along, our Lord Jesus Christ owning these principles in his carriage towards his Disciples, and towards them with whom he did converse; you can hardly discover, in his own disciples, so much (while he lived) as to make up a distinct entire Christian as to parts in equal proportion, and yet notwithstanding though Christ observed it, yet you shall find he owned them as his own, and called them his own, Joh. 13. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. What think you? Was Peter like Christ? And did he express any thing of the Image of Christ? when he knew that his Lord could have commanded Angels for his security, yet he truckles at the accusation of a silly Girl.  
2. That little grace that is in us, does discover a whole right to all Christ, and to all the Consequences of every thing, that in any Capacity Jesus Christ did or suffered. God does not stand with Christians (as I may say) upon such punctilios as one Christian stands with another upon; God is wise, and knows that any thing of his Son, is a Gospel-evidence of full right; And therefore it is because of his evidence, that the Lord will look after and concern himself in the least grain. And that is the fifth reason.  
I will but add one more, for I would not prevent myself in the Application, and that is this.  
VI The least grain of grace is as really and as truly, new-covenant grace, as the greatest degree of grace is, or can be supposed to be. Or if you will, the least Christian that hath but true grace, is as really a New-Covenant Christian, as he that hath most grace, and therefore God will look after him; When he is sifting Israel in the sieve of the Nations, he will look after the grain.  
I pray do but observe these two things for the clearing of this;  
1. When the Lord Covenants to write his Laws, he does not covenant to write them all in the same proportion, in all hearts in the same proportion; But this is the Covenant, I will write my Laws; and the proportion that is to be written, in the hearts of the Sons, and Daughters of men, is left to his pleasure to be done. Many are ready to question that little they have, because they have not so much as another; pray, when did God engage himself to proportion thy grace to thy Brothers? yet though it be in a lesser proportion, it is as truly New-Covenant writing, as the writing of a greater. Do but turn if you please to that passage in the New Testament, Heb. 8. ver. 8. Behold the days come that I will make a New Covenant, with the House of Israel, and the House of Judah; not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers. etc. But ver. 10. I will put my Laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts. Hath every one the same proportion of Gospel-knowledge in their head? No, they have not, yet every one hath a saving proportion. So as to grace in the heart, you shall find there is a difference in the proportion, though not in the nature of the thing that is proportioned; I will write my Laws in their hearts. Here's enough. And when a New-Covenant promise hath taken place in the heart, the dreadfullest Old-Covenant threatening hath nothing to do there. It may be he hath written but some rough Character in thy heart, at the present, why that is enough to exempt thee from all the Old Covenant proceeds, and to give thee right to all the New-Covenant Blessings; and if you cannot see it so well, God I am sure can.  
2. But the least grace that God hath created in the heart, hath the most Substantial promises made to it. I pray Christians, is it not a more Substantial promise, that you shall be eternally filled with joy in the house of your Father in the Kingdom of glory, than to be filled with joy while you live here at the footstool? for my part I think if I should never have comfortable day while I live, it would be a great happiness, to have secret assurance that I shall have an eternal day of Blessedness; it may be my condition may be laid open to temptation, and it may be thine, and thou mayest be yet tried with a Trial that is nearer a fiery Trial, than any yet thou hast been laid under; but what then? (Says the Apostle) (that I think had his share in Sufferings,) These light afflictions work for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory. Now upon this account it is, that God looks after the least grain. I shall pass to the improvement, and deliver my sense as to the improveableness of it, in these five or six practical Conclusions.  
Use. 1 And the first is this; Will God in the sift of Israel take care that the least grain do not fall to the Earth? Then let every one look upon themselves as greatly concerned to be made Gods grains. My meaning is, to get grace though it be never so little. Satan hath two designs by way of dilemma upon you; if you escape the one, a thousand to one, but you fall into the other, and what are these designs of Satan? truly the design lies here; What, shouldest thou be content with so little, when others that have been more sinful have more? despise and slight the little, because it is not likely thou shouldest ever attain to much: and how does he manage it? Thou art old (he says to one) and therefore it is not likely thou shouldest live long, and therefore canst not expect to grow; if thou hadst begun betimes, it had been something like. And to those that are young; all in good time yet: See but such a one, that lived a long time in the enjoyment of his pleasure, and God looked upon him, and see how he grew up to a great deal of grace in a little time; here's the dilemma now, between the one and the other. My friends, I beseech you therefore fix upon a little grace. I will open this in two Branches.  
1. In the midst of his severest dispensations God will find out a little grace. It may be you will say, will God look upon me? If I were as David (may the poor Soul say) and (may another say) if I were as the Angel of the Lord, the Lord would find me out; nay, stay proud Soul; it is enough if thou be'st but weak, & let grace take it's own time to make thee as David, the weak shall be as David and David as the Angel of the Lord. Friends, I would beg of you, that you would not live without a little grace, and that you would live cheerfully with a little grace until God give more.  
2. The Second is this. That a little in being is as much as all in reversion. Art thou but a small grain? Pray who made thee a small grain? Hath not he also the residue of the Spirit? Cannot he make the dry Tree to grow out of the dry ground? Cannot he make a little one a Nation? Surely he hath the residue of the Spirit. Let me tell you, God never gins with great things, in the most remarkable proceeds of grace that are by past, and that are to come; but he always gins with a little, and so glorifies both his grace, and his power in making that little greater than all. Therefore pray Sirs, let me persuade you, you that are young, and you that are old, if you canhope for a great deal, give God no rest, till he give you a little; till he make you a little Christian; give him no rest. Oh bring your Children, and cry, Lord, a little grace for this Child; Oh bring your Servants, & cry, Lord, a little grace for this Servant; Oh cast your hearts at the Footstool of the Throne, and say, Lord a little grace for this graceless heart, if it be but a little, Lord. As thy Soul liveth (says the Woman to the Prophet) I have but a little meal in the barrel, and a little oil in the cruse; What then (says the Prophet) come & make me a Cake. So I say my friends, as the Lord liveth, if he hath created a little grace, he will create more; and therefore my Friends, bless God for a little, and be not contented without a little.  
Use 2 Will not the Lord suffer the least grain to fall to the Earth in all the sift? Then you may see the vast differences that are between the righteous and the wicked, and that in God's providential proceed. I will throw (says he) the Tribes of Israel into the Sieve of the Nations; and what then? let the Chaff go; let the Chaff go; let the heads that have not grain in them fall to the Earth; Oh (says he) but the least grain shall not fall to the Earth; you have God's Word for it. The great difference that God makes in his general Judgements between the righteous and the wicked.  
I will open this in two Branches.  
1. There is more that God likes, in the least grain, than there is in heaps of the Chaff of the wicked; there is more that God likes, in the heart of the poorest Christian, than God can discover in a whole Nation of Hypocrites put together: No, there is not so much as a poor Christian hath, that hath but a little grace; cast them into the balance, and they are altogether lighter than vanity. When it came to the pinch indeed, (says God,) I gave Ethiopia for thee, and Seba for thee; So I tell you my Friends, that God makes no account of the chaff, though it be never so bulky; but he makes much of a little grain; the least grain shall not fall to the Earth, let the chaff go whither it will; burn it with unquenchable fire (says the Lord) the least grain shall not fall away, but the bulky chaff shall be burnt with unquenchable fire.  
2. That little that a Christian hath, can do more with God, and for God, than all that others have can do. It may be such a one hath great parts, well, and what does he do for God? and another, he hath a great bulk of gifts, what can he do for God? What can he do? Truly all he can do is only this, to dissemble with God, and to dishonour God. The times have been, wherein gifts have been magnified above grace; and not long since, by many, but what is come of it? See the providences of God, how they are wheeled about? And now grace is the only thing that will stand us instead in our day; and all the gifts that all the professors of England had, cannot do so much as a little grace: it may be you have a name to live, and profess much; but where is your grace? One says, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo's, and what then? Where's the Image of Christ? you may be of Paul while you live, and go to Hell when you die; You may be of Apollo's, when you are in the Body, and when you die (for aught I know) you may be haled to judgement by the Devils in Hell. Such a one, (you say) he prays, he is a mighty man in Prayer; Sirs, I tell you, I value no more my own Prayers, that are Prayers of gifts, and there is no more in them; and God is no more glorified in them, than an empty sound. But a few sighs, and groans, sent up to Heaven, in a way of grace; I tell you this does more for God, and with God, than a thousand gifts can do. And if so, pray consider what difference God makes, between the wicked, and the seed; observe the difference.  
Use 3 Is it so that God will not suffer the least grain to fall to the Earth? In these, and in such times as these? Then I pray Sirs, Do not trust yourselves but God. There are many that trust their own graces too much, and the grace of God too little; they think they have grace to keep them. I am sure it is little sign of grace, when that grace doth put you off from betrusting the grace of God. Christians, trust God more, and yourselves less: alas, what can a little do Christians? I pray lay the stress of your security, upon what God hath promised. Yet (says God) there shall not the least grain fall to the Earth. Here is a promise of free grace, and there cannot be any thing at all in the grain, to ensue, or to merit this security: alas Sirs, what is there in our hearts, that hath most, that we should talk of securing ourselves? Let him that stands (says the Apostle) take heed lest he fall. So I may tell you Sirs, our Zeal is no security, our Faith in itself is no sufficient security: but it is the grace of God that made the promise, that gives the Christian security in such a time. Such a man was tempted a while ago, to turn his back upon Jesus Christ; and he hath bidden farewell to Jesus Christ, and is gone; I pray what security have you, that you may not be the next? is it your graces that keep you? No, no, it is the grace of God that secures you, and the grace of God that keeps you; and therefore I pray lay more stress upon that, though you lay less stress upon your own.  
I will open this in two Branches.  
1. Grace that is in you is but a Stream, from the Fountain of Grace that is in God; And it is but as the drop of a Bucket unto the fullness of Grace and Holiness that is in Christ. Who made me (says Cain) my Brother's keeper? when God asked him where his Brother Abel was: Truly I may say to you, God never made your own Graces, the sole keepers of your own Souls: Who made them? God did not I am sure; because our own Graces, without the Grace of God, can never keep our Souls from the temptations we meet withal; and therefore Sirs, I pray trust a little more to this God that hath promised, yet shall not the least grain fall to the Earth; not because it is a grain, but because God hath promised, that the least grain shall not fall.  
But then, the second thing that I would say is this.  
2. Your own Graces, that you have in your own hearts, are easily balanced, by the wickedness that is in the hearts of your Enemies. And I am sure, they have more policy, and more power to manage their wickedness against your Grace, than you have wisdom, or power to manage your Grace against their wickedness. The Devil hath more wickedness in his nature, than you have grace in your nature; it is topful of wickedness; I am sure your nature is not topful of grace. We wrestle not (says the Apostle) with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers. Alas, you are neither principality, nor power in your own grace. Do but balance your security, and you will easily see the need of trusting to God, and not to your own grace.  
Use 4 Is it so, that God hath said, that the least grain shall not fall to the Earth? Oh then, How does it concern every one to know, whether they have a grain of grace or no. Truly my Friends, I do think it is a matter of very great concernment, that you should be, and we should be all fully satisfied in this. The least grain shall not fall, ay but an Ear that hath no grain in it may fall; the least grain shall not fall, ay but the Chaff God casts away; he will throughly purge his floor, and the Chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Now my Friends, I am not enquiring after your profession of grace, but the grace that is the matter of your profession; neither am I going about to discover a great deal of grace, full and florid grace, but my business is to inquire after the least grace, and to discover unto you whether you have attained unto that blessedness, to be one of God's grains, the grain that is here in the Promise; though it be one of the least of the grains? I would only say this one thing before I descend to particulars: Do not say you have grace enough, and therefore you are not concerned in the enquiry; I am sure it is no sign of a great deal of grace, to be  of the discovery of a little grace; and a great deal of grace may be hid, when God chooses the discovery by a little.  
But you will say, Oh that I were but one of the least of these grains of God Oh that I were but one of those that God hath sanctified, though I were the least of all his Saints that he hath sanctified! Well my Friends, give me leave and I will open this to you in these two particulars. Would you know whether you be in the compass of the least of these grains?  
1. Then in the first place, I pray inquire, how stands your hearts affected? how stand your hearts affected to more? and to those in whom there is more? Those that have a natural life, they naturally incline to manifest their love, and their natural kindness to those that are allied: The Child is naturally inclined to those that are allied; Nature's dictates determine the heart in that case; so does New Nature incline to the same. How stands your hearts affected to those that have a great deal of grace? How stand you affected to him that hath the Treasures of all grace? He that hath a little, loves Jesus Christ; he loves Christ as the Treasury of more, though Christ at present suspends the giving of more; though he sees but little in his own heart, yet he cannot but love Jesus Christ, that hath the dispose of all. It is one sign of true grace, that it is always inclined to have more. Now Sirs, open your hearts for this word; How stand they affected to Christ? How stand they affected to such Ordinances, where God does most ordinarily work grace? Says God to Ezekiel, Thou art to this people as a lovely Song; O poor people! There are many more pleased with the gifts of the Minister, than the grace of the Minister. Sirs, I pray consider, How stand your hearts affected to grace? He that hath a little, would not lose a little: A Child tends naturally to have life continued, and to have more: So I say, How stand your hearts affected to living Ordinances? a living Mediator? a Mediator that hath all grace? Let me tell you; if you do not love Christ as the Treasury of grace, I suspect your grace; if you do love Jesus Christ, because it hath pleased the Father that in him all fullness of grace should dwell; I do not question your grace; for it is grace to love Christ as the Lord Treasurer of all grace.  
2. Would you know whether you be one of these grains that God takes such special care about? Then I pray do but inquire, and consider with yourselves, what thing it is that your hearts, and that your affections and minds are mostly working towards? My meaning is plainly this; and I will illustrate it by this expression; He that hath no grace, can be contented to be what he is, so his Conscience will be quiet; but he that hath a little grace, cannot be content with a silent Conscience, without more grace: Many there are that are greatly concerned about the Peace of their Conscience; O they do not know what to do! Conscience accuses, the Devil seems to be let lose, the Law comes in, Threaten come in, alas, they know not what to do; rise up, they have no peace; lie down, they have no peace, under Job's circumstances, his very Bed was a trouble to him. Now my Friends, my business is not to inquire, what Conscience says, but what your hearts naturally incline to: Do your hearts naturally incline to more grace? Some there are, can easily be satisfied, if they do but apprehend they have grace to save them; but a heart that hath true grace, though it be never so little, though it doth know it hath enough to save it, cannot be satisfied without it hath more: Now Christians, look to yourselves; God help you that you may all of you know, whether you be indeed of these grains that God hath said shall not fall to the Earth.  
Use 5 Is it so, That not one grain shall fall to the Earth in all these shake? Then I pray carry and demean yourselves as if you were in the hands of God, as persons that are now under the Lord's Hand, under the Lord's Eye, and under the Lord's Promise. The Devil hath given (as I may say) many a thump at the Sieve, and yet you are in the Sieve still; you are not on the ground still; and the powers of the World have given many a shake, and yet you are in the enjoyment of your Privileges, and Covenant-Relations still, notwithstanding all the blasts the Devil hath raised while God hath been sifting his People in the Sieve of the Nations.  
1. Now, would you carry it as you should, that the least grain should not fall; Then, let me tell you, that it becomes you to eye God, & to glorify God for all your keeping hitherto. I know (says the Apostle) whom I have trusted. I pray Sirs, do but acknowledge him, and eye him, who for your sakes, would trust no body but himself; no, would not trust the Nations, would not trust any but himself, because he knew his own power. Now Sirs, have you been kept in an hour of temptation? cry, Grace, grace: Have you been kept in an hour when the Powers of Darkness have been tossing you about? Is there any fire in your hearts still, though the Devil hath been heaping of Ashes upon you? O admire the riches of God's grace and tenderness to you! Says God, Not one grain shall fall. Can you find that Love in your hearts, that was some years ago? Can you discover that Faith, that you had some while since in the Lord Jesus still abiding? O Sirs! Admire the Lord who hath said, Not one grain shall fall. I will tell you one thing (which I think is the design of the day) that God is taking his People off from trusting to their own grace, that they might trust more to, and acknowledge his grace. Alas, what help is in one poor, little, light grain? The Nations they are the Sieves, and there is many a terrible shake given; what is the reason you are still in the Sieve? O Christians! magnify grace that your hearts are kept upon God: Magnify grace that it is not with you, as it is with others.  
2. I pray friends, if you have but a little; be always before the Throne of God for the increase of the little. You have but little grace, and it may be if examined, the least of God's grains: Blessed be God you have a little grace. But I tell you, if God hath kept you all this while, it is for some good; Sure it is for some good intent; Some good purpose: I pray Christians do but consider with yourselves; Be not satisfied with what you have, but be always crying to God, that he would increase your little. Come (says the Prophet) let me see the Meal in the Barrel, & pour out the Oil; O, my friends, be you always pouring out your little Oil; Alas, it is but a little grace in the bottom of your hearts. But be exercising it for more. Come make me a Cake (says the Prophet.) Come Sirs, do you do something with that little for God, and do you improve that little, while you are waiting upon God for more. This should be your carriage. Now Sirs, what say your hearts? will they, or will they not? What answer must I give to God? He tells you, he will keep the least grain, what return shall be made to God? Are you willing to return this, that you will not improve the little? Shall the Lord receive this return from your hearts at this time? I tell you that Jesus Christ is expecting the answers of your hearts; and what is the answer of your hearts. You say to me in your heart, I hope, O what shall we do? How shall we carry it as becomes those that are kept as the smallest of God's grains? Now I tell you, you that are the least, it becomes you to cry mightily to God that you may be more, and that this grain may be increased with the increase of God, even to an hundred fold; in a little time, the Lord can (if he please) make it increase so; why is that heart of thine so backward?  
Use 6 The sixth, and last improvement that I shall make of it is this; Is it so my friends, that God will not suffer the least grain to fall to the Earth? Why then in these times, in sifting times, in winnowing times, and when the Nations are the sieve in the Lord's hand: Why then Christians, you that are the Lords grains under the care of God's Eye, under the protection of God's hand, and within the reach of the influence of God's gracious heart; Do you Keep your hearts always free and open. Do not think my friends, that sifting times, are always separating times; Keep as near to God as you can. When God throws you (as it were) from him, to be sure he will recover you again to him; and therefore Christians I pray you now, that you would do this; that you would keep near to God; that is your privilege, and it is also your duty. Keep but in God's hands, and you are well enough. Do not you, by reason of your own Corruptions, start out of God's way. God hath the sieve in his own hand; The Nation is but a sieve (as I may say) pray, while God would have you there, keep there, don't step out of the Lords way till the Lord hath done all his work.  
I pray observe one thing for the opening of it, and that is this; Live by this principle, let the Lord take his own course with you, to finish his own work upon you. The Lord he is offended at Israel, and he takes the Rod of his anger into his hand, and he breaks them, and bruises them: Ay, but there were some in Israel that did keep in the Lord's way; and what then? When the Lord hath accomplished his work upon Mount Zion, why then he will break the Rod. My friends, do but look upon temptations, and afflictions, you meet withal as means, and methods, that he purge you with; Is there no chaff hangs upon the Corn? I believe there is too much; it may be God hath a mind to shake thee out of thy profession, that is, out of confidence in, or lurking under thy profession for security. Here's a little chaff hangs, and God hath a mind it shall be burnt, and it sticks very close, and God he will give it another shake in the Sieve. Why Sirs, let the Lord alone in his own way; He is sifting; Ay but he will look after the Wheat, while he is sifting; pray Christians, let God alone. It may be God is trying you this way, it may be God is trying another, another way; trying a Servant by a Mistress; trying a Parent by a Child, trying a Child by a Parent, trying a Mistress by a Servant. Why, what is the meaning of all? Why yet there is a little sticks to the grain. O Sirs, I tell you, God would I have you all clean, and let God alone in the way of his own proceeds with you; he will look after the grain, and it's no matte●●f the chaff be burnt.  
And now I pray Sirs, having thus stretched forth my hand to you, what is the return I shall make, to him that sent me? Are you willing to abide in God's way? And let God alone in his own way? Christian's should be willing that God should sift, till the grain be clean. You do not take the chaff and the grain, to make yourselves bread of; it is not fit for your use till it be sisted. Well Sirs, I tell you, there may be a little grain, but God hath a mind to sift you a little more: he will make you fit for his use, before he hath done with you. And therefore let him alone in his way; Does God afflict you? I pray keep in God's way, though it be in a way of affliction, though it be in a way of Trial, do not you leap, or step out of the way of God; No, no, It is a dangerous thing for a Christian, to be found wandering alone in an evil time. All that I shall say as the close of the whole is this; You see my Friends, that God commands the Sieve. Behold (says God) I will command, what will God command? Why I will command the Assyrian into the use of a sieve, and I will command the Babylonian into the use of a sieve, and I will command Edom into the use of a sieve; I will command this Nation, and the other Nation; you see my Friends, what ever instruments God makes use of, he hath a peculiar regard unto the least grace, and the least Christian; I will command them and I will sift. Christian, the worst of thy condition is still in the Lord's hand: And therefore I pray Christians upon the review of the whole; considering God hath said, that he will do the business; if God says, I will sift such a one, in the Sieve of Temptation, I will try him this way; I will sift another with afflictions, I will try him that way; I pray let God alone. Keep your hearts always open to him; keep in the way of God, and then you will be found inheriting of the blessing of these Sermons, and it will be said, Lo, though the Lord hath sifted them, yet not one grain is lost. And you may say, Lo, though the Lord is sifting me in the sieve of the Nations, yet I shall not lose one grain. For this is his word; I will Command, and I will sift them, in the sieve of the Nations: As Corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall to the Earth.   

SERMON VII.  Amos 9 Verse 9 
For Lo, I will Command and I will sift the House of Israel among all Nations, as Corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth.  
THe words are a reserve of grace, this and the preceding verse are a mixture of wrath and mercy. The greatest discovery of wrath that ordinarily we meet withal, and yet the greatest reserve of grace and mercy that ordinarily we meet withal in the Scripture. The discoveries of wrath I shall only desire a little to descant upon, says the Prophet in the 8. v. The Eyes of the Lord are upon a sinful Kingdom; and what then? I will destroy it, says he, from off the face of the Earth; and at the 9 v. says he, Lo I will command & I will sift the House of Israel among all Nations. Nations of all Tempers, and Nations of all Spirits, be they of an Egypttian or of a Babylonian Spirit, be they of an Edomitish Spirit, or of any Spirit whatsoever, says God, I will sift them among all Nations. It is as much as if God should say, I will let lose all sorts of Spirits, that are evil, and afflictive, upon the sinful Kingdom, the House of Israel; behold, says God, the Eyes of the Lord are upon a sinful Kingdom. I pray observe;  
Obs. That your presence with, or your relation, to a Religious People, cannot secure you from the dreadful threaten that are denounced against the Irreligious, by a Holy God. Lo, says he, I will command, etc. And I do not remember a like passage, upon the like occasion, in the Scripture; I will command, says he, and I will sift the House of Israel, and the Eyes of the Lord are upon a sinful Kingdom. Sirs, it is not enough to be with Christians, and to walk with Christians, except you yourselves be Christians; it is not your being with, or walking with, the Lords People, that can secure you from the Lords threaten. But yet notwithstanding the dreadfulness of the threatening, here is a double reserve of grace; in the 8. v. he concludes with a reserve of grace, and indeed it is the manner of God, in the Old Testament, to wind up his dreadful threaten in the most encouraging promises of absolute grace, saving, that I will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob, saith the Lord. I will only observe this one thing to you, that whenever you meet with the word Jacob in Scripture, you may conclude that the Holy Ghost doth intent a discovery both of the Politic, and of the Spiritual weakness of that People, and when you meet with the word Israel, than it hath relation to that name which the Angel of the Lord gave to Jacob upon his wrestling with him, and it doth import the strength of the People; saving, says he, that I will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob, though they be never so contemptible, though never so weak, yet, says he, for all my anger, and for all my threaten, for all my Justice and Holiness; as if he had said, yet I will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob. The like reserve of grace you have in the words of the Text, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth; though the Lord seems to cast them out of his hand and out of his care, yet his Heart works towards them; if there be but, among a heap of Tares, a grain of Wheat, though it be never so little, if there be but the Seed of God, there is Seminal Virtue in it, yet, says God, shall not the least grain fall upon the Earth: And the reason of God's kindness in general is this, the enmity of the Nations is against the grains, and the kindness and grace of God doth extend unto the least grain; and therefore notwithstanding the enmity of Hell, and of those that are spirited by Hell, yet God hath said, Lo, I will command and I will sift, he will command and he will secure, he will secure the least grain, that it falls not to the Earth. Brethren, you that have attained to greater measures of grace, think not yourselves unconcerned in this word, the time may come you may see little enough, and those that have most grace, are many times least sensible.  
The observation was this,  
Doct. That in the most desolating general Common Calamity of professing Nations, God will look after the least of those that are sincere professors.  
It is the least grace in the heart, and the least Christian in the company, that God's Eye is upon, and the Lords heart is towards, and the Lords Arm is about; yet, says he, shall not the least grain fall to the Earth.  
I shall proceed to what remains, and that is yet to give you a further account of the Lords kindness, and of the Lords gracious care of his little ones, in the most perilous and dangerous times: Temptations are high, persecutions are high, corruptions are high, yet if there be but the least grace, thy Soul shall not miscarry. In the further prosecution of this Subject, I shall only commend to your serious consideration, these four Scripture observations.  
1. And the first is this. Therefore the least Christian, that hath the least grace, shall not eternally miscarry and fall to the Earth, when the Chaff and Tares do: Because that the Lord, in the manage of the dispensations of his providence, will so deal with Christians, as he dealt with Christ, and let me tell you that Christ and the Spirit of Christ, are also consenting to, and concerned in, this resolve. What a poor thing was it, that all the Roman Empire, and all the state of the People of Israel, the Jews, should be concerned against a Carpenter's Son, and yet they could not carry it he, singles out only a few Fishermen for his Companions, and yet they were not able, with all their interest, and with all their learning, to bring any thing to any period against their attempts. The Prophet Isaiah, in the 53 Chap. of his prophecy, gives us an account of the first sense of the People of Israel, which was the grand practical principle of theirs, and the Romans resolve against him the 2 verse: For he shall grow up as a tender plant, as a root out of a dry ground, he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him Is this the Messiah (as if they should say) which is the matter of all the promises and prophecies, of the Old Testament? No this is not he; is not this, say they (when he did appear) the Carpenter's Son, the poor Child of the contemptible Carpenter, whose Father and Mother is with us? We know him well enough, and yet notwithstanding all the meanness of his descent and the unlikelyness of his producing his designed success in the World, yet he carries on all before him; whilst he was living the Pharisees themselves and the Scribes were afraid of him: If we let this man alone, say they, the World will run after him, and the Romans will come, and take away our Nation from us. Such a secret sense they had of the success, and a secret power that did begin to appear, and would further appear in the management of his ministry. Now, my friends, we grow up all as roots out of dry ground. Take a willow, and plant it upon the top of a mountain, which is a dry sandy ground, it is not like to grow there; so take a Christian that hath but a little light, and but a little grace, plant him in a wicked family, amongst a company of wicked Neighbours, you will think he is not likely to make any thing of his Christianity there: Father is against him, Mother against him, Brethren against him, every man's hand is against the new Professor, and yet he grows. And this Root that is growing out of a dry ground hath many a pluck, Satan gives a pluck at it, and the World gives a pluck at it, and yet the root continues in the ground, and this root that is thus planted in this dry ground, an unlikely place to produce any thing to any Spiritual or eternal purpose, goes on its way; why surely, my friends, this must needs discover a great reason why Christians that are unlikely to be secured, unlikely to live, why they should both live and be secured in their life; why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ was so dealt withal. I shall give you two illustrations of this.  
1. And the first is this: It is the general design of the Gospel, that all things should be so carried on, and managed, that it might be to the advancement of free grace: To cut off, as the Apostle says, all occasion of boasting in ourselves, for if we do consider what we have to boast of, alas, you that are strong you were as weak as others, you that have your Hearts, as you apprehend now, full of grace, they were once as empty as others, and you that are now, as it were, in full communion and fellow ship with God, you once stood at an equal distance with others, what have you to boast of? When the Lord would cut off all occasion of boasting from the People of Israel, says he, thy Father was an Ammorite, and thy Mother an Hitite, and thy Birth and Nativity were of the Land of Canaan, here I pray consider in the sequel of this discourse of his, in the 16 of Ezekiel, the general State of every professor from first to last, I found thee in thy Blood, says he, cast out to the loathing of thy Person. What could be presaged or presumed upon as to this but only death, nothing but misery and ruin could attend thee, I found thee in thy Blood, as a Child new born, cast out into the open Field, exposed unto the varieties of Wether, says God, so I found thee. Thy Father was an Ammorite and thy Mother an Hitite; well what then? see the design of God v. 8, when I passed by thee and looked upon thee, behold thy time was a time of love: As if the Lord should say, and would have us to understand, that all his deal with us should be acknowledged by us to be the Issues of his free grace, afterwards you shall find how the Lord decked her with Ornaments, and clothed her with broidered work, and shod her with badgers Skins, and girded her about with fine linen from the 10 verse, and so on. He goes on to discover her beauty and yet she was found in her blood cast out to the loathing of her person, and yet the Lord made her so beautiful and so comely that there was none to be compared to her, and the same of her beauty went forth throughout all the Earth. Truly, Christians, the Lord hath discovered the same thing to be his design in the new Testament, as the Apostle says in his Epistle to the Romans, he concludes them all under sin; all Children of wrath, all in their blood, all polluted and what is the design? that no flesh, says he, may glory in his sight. So that you see here, Christians, that the Lords design is to make us conformable to Christ and he will take care of us & about us in our low condition, and this is his design that neither those that are weak Christians, nor those that are strong Christians, should ascribe any thing to themselves but that we should cry, grace, grace, to every little work of grace and to the smallest gifts of grace.  
2. The Lord will take care of the meanest grace, because he will deal by them as he dealt by his own Son that so their hearts may be more united unto Christ, That their hearts may be more encouraged under all their Spiritual discouragements to fall in with Christ. Why thou sayest alas, I am a dry Tree, and it may be thou hast been so these many years, and thou criest out, O this wilderness heart of mine! O this barren heart of mine; I can see nothing at all in it, but every temptation runs me down, every body tramples upon me. Why it was so with Christ, as to his worldly Adversaries, though not so as to his Spiritual Adversaries; but, my friends, here lay the design of God concerning you, that you also may be encouraged to come to Christ who was looked upon as the least grain in all Gods. Sieve, He grew, as I observed, as a root out of a dry ground, he was despised of the nations, and he was abhorred of the people, that is, as he was considered under the notion of a Messiah or Mediator: so I say the Lord Christ was despised. Well it may be so are you despised and discouraged, and the Lord hath a good end in permissive providences, and in present positive providences about your littleness, and about your despisedness; the Lord hath a good end in it, and what is the end of the Lord but to bring you nearer unto the Lord Jesus Christ? Why, Christians, let me tell you, the meanest of you may say in some sense, Lord, thou wert even as we are the despised of the nations, thou wast abhorred of the people even as we are, thou wert tempted as we are. And I will but only add one thing more, that God exposed his Son to greater servitude than ever he did, or will, or can, expose any Christian to, than what Christ himself was exposed to; There is not a meaner service, though honourable in its self, there is not a meaner condition that any Christian can be exposed to: So that you may observe from hence the meaning of that expression that he learned obedience, that is, he learned a Gospel carriage by the things that he suffered, as you have it in the 5 Heb. 8. A Gospel carriage, how, and to whom? truly, friends, a Gospel carriage to the meanest and poorest of Gospel Christians. This is the advantage of all that I have said in the opening of this, that the meanest Christian may look upon Christ as once in a meaner condition than himself; and yet he may look upon Christ, notwithstanding the meanness of his condition as to externals, as under a present sense and an overruleing engagement to look after and also to receive them that are so mean.  
2. The second reason why the Lord will not suffer the least grain, or the Christian that hath the least grace, to miscarry, notwithstanding all its shake and sift, though in the sieve of the Nations, is, because the Lord hath taken, under both Testaments, a peculiar and primary cognizance of those that are least in grace: there is none that lie nearer the Heart and Bosom of God and Christ, than those that are new born. I shall open it in general, and then illustrate it in two particulars. In general, I will only turn you to one passage in the Prophecy of Isaiah, in the 40. Chap. 11. v. There you have the Lord declaring his sense, and Prophesying what should be his Son's carriage to his People, he shall feed his flock like a Shepherd. Ay, but there are Lambs, and those that are new fallen Lambs, that are weak, that cannot go, that want cherishing, that they are fall'n in a stormy day, that is, as I conceive, Christians begotten under Persecution for Christianity's sake, young ones not in respect of their natural but their Spiritual Birth, what shall become of them. The flocks are better able to bear the bustle of the wind and weather and storms, but what shall become of the lambs? Why, says he, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his Bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young, you shall find the like care expressed by our Lord after his resurrection, John 21.15. v. and when they had dined Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon Son of Ionas lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee, he doth not say if thou lovest me, then go and die for me, then go and renounce thy forswearing of me, he doth not say if thou lovest me go and expose thyself to all hazards for my name's sake, but the first thing that he fixeth upon as the manifestation of his love to him is, the feeding of his lambs: As if the meanest and the weakest were more the care of Christ, and nearer the heart of Christ, than the sheep, which afterwards he is commanded to feed; if thou lovest me, feed my lambs. O Christians, the great care and the great provision that is made in both Testaments, and the great injunctions that are laid upon those that are concerned in the administration of both Testaments, is, to look after the meanest Christians, which must needs discover this great truth, that the meanest Christian, that is a Christian indeed, shall not miscarry, but I shall open this further to you in two branches  
1. That the least grace in the least Christian is the product of the greatest grace that works in the Blessed Trinity. There is nothing in the least Christian, but the great and infinite grace of the Blessed Trinity concurred to the producing of it. This I would only illustrate to you by a passage of our Lord in Matth. 13. v. 31. where he compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mustard seed, why what is the Kingdom of Heaven but the Administration of the Gospel, according to the Eternal Counsels of God, that are passed in Heaven? Now, says he, The Kingdom of Heaven is as a grain of mustard seed. Why but Lord, might they say, here is a grain that hath brought forth and spread abundantly, this is like the Kingdom of Heaven indeed; ay but says he, the little grain though it be the least of all grains, is a fit similitude and comparison for the Kingdom of Heaven; To what shall I liken the Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven, says he, is like a grain of mustardseed, which a man took and sowed in his field: So that there is the whole resemblance of the Kingdom of Heaven, even in a little grain, as soon as ever it is sown, as much as when it is in its greatest flourish, after its full growth, there is a real and a comprehensive resemblance of it in the least seed of grace, that is sown in thy heart, there is the Grace of the Kingdom manifested in thee; the Righteousness of the Kingdom is manifested in thee; The offices of all persons concerned in the Kingdom, they are all manifested in thee, Jesus Christ's mediation, and the Spirits Sanctification, and the Father's Justification, these are all manifested upon the least work of grace that is wrought in thee: I tell you, there is a substantial manifestation of all the blessednesses of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the least work of grace that is wrought upon any Heart.  
2. The least work of grace, upon the Heart of the least Christian, is a manifestation, not only of the Kingdom of Heaven, but a real demonstration of the Kingdom of Glory. A demonstration á priori, as they call it, a demonstration of that which is antecedent, or anantecedent demonstration, of the Kingdom of Glory, as well as the greatest flourishes of grace. I pray, Christians, consider, you that are young in grace, you have a demonstration in you, an antecedent demonstration of the Kingdom of Glory, I pray what is the Kingdom of Glory, but the flourish of that love, that I have now wrought in me, in the Kingdom of grace? It is the increase of my likeness to God, and to Jesus Christ in Heaven, that is now begun in me, this is the Kingdom of Glory. Now this little work of grace is an antecedent demonstration of an incomprehensible weight of Glory that is to be put upon the People of God, when they come in Heaven, and this you may see evidenced in the parable, that I last mentioned, and in the other parables, that our Lord Jesus Christ doth make use of.  
3. A Third Proposition is this, That the greatest and dreadfullest threaten are denounced against discouraging carriages towards those that have least grace, as well as towards those that have greatest: Nay let me also tell you this, that although they themselves be under the tokens of God's displeasure, yet their Relation to God doth heightenthem, as aggravations of their enemy's carriage towards them. I find not a greater threatening ever came out of the mouth of Christ Jesus, when he was on Earth, than this, It were better, says he, for that man that he had a Millstone hanged about his neck, and he cast into the midst of the Sea, than he should offend one of these little ones that believeth on me, he speaks not of little ones as to nature, but of little ones as to grace. The design of the Jews was to lay stumbling blocks before the little ones, that is, those that had a little love to Christ, those that had a little Faith on Christ, those whose hearts were engaged by that little fire of grace that was in them, to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Says Christ, If any man doth offend one of these little ones, it were better for him that a Millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the midst of the Sea. But I shall open this likewise in these two branches.  
1. God's severest execution of threaten takes its rise from the adversaries carriage towards the least of those that belong to him: As for instance, you know God threatened that he would have perpetual War with Amaleck, and why with Ameleck more than with Moab, or with Edom, or the other Nations that gave disturbance to his People? you shall find the reason to be, because they watched their opportunity, and smote the hindmost of the People; they did not march upon the front of the People, but they watched their advantage, and they smote the hindmost, and feeblest of the People, therefore, says God, I will have perpetual War with Amaleck: and this lay as it were reserved in the Bosom of God, till the first King that ever appeared upon the Throne of Israel. Saul was not commanded to rally his Forces and go against Egypt, that Old Enemy, that Old Oppressor, nor against Moab, and those that inveigled them, and enticed them in the matter of Baal Peor, but go, says God to Saul, and utterly destroy Amalek, 1 Sam. 15. from off the face of the Earth. And Saul he did spare none but poor King Agag, and God was so incensed against him, that he sent Samuel his Prophet to him, to tell him, that God had rend the Kingdom of Israel from him, at the 28. v. because he did not execute the fierceness of his wrath against Amalek, for smiting the hindmost of the People, and those that were feeble amongst them, as they came out of Egypt. And truly, Friends, this is the design, and hath been all along the design of your spiritual adversaries, they seldom march upon the Front, but in the Spirit of Amalek, they wait for their advantage upon those that are weak and feeble: And for my part I do think, that this will be one of the greatest aggravations of the sin of the Devils, that they have Tempted the little ones that have followed Jesus Christ. I pray take notice of another passage, concerning the poor and weak condition, the people of Israel were in, the time of Obadiah; you shall find in that Prophecy that the Assyrians came upon them, and makes a squander among the People, and here were two or three, and there was another two or three, or it may be more in a company, that skulkt away, from his force and cruelty, into by ways and by places, endeavouring to shift for themselves, and save their lives. I pray do but observe now how the Lord comes upon Edom, that was the Offspring of Esau, jacob's Brother, in the 10. v. of that prophecy, for thy violence against thy Brother Jacob, shame hath covered thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. Lord, might Edom say, didst not thou say, thou wouldst utterly destroy this People from the Earth? and I will hiss for the Assyrian, and, Lord, hast thou not said that Assyria is the rod of thine anger in thy hand? well, my Friends, notwithstanding all that could be objected in a way of reason, see how God treats with Edom, v. 1.4. neither shouldst thou have stood in the cross way, to cut off those of his that did escape, etc. This I only produce to discover to you the severity of Gods threatening against those, that offer disturbance and discouragement to his People in their weakest capacities and conditions: The like you may observe in the Revelations, and in the other passages of the New Testament, but I will not any further proceed upon that, so that you see I have opened a further reason of the Lords special care, and tender regard, that he hath over his own People.  
4. The greatest promises lay hold upon those that are in the meanest condition, upon those that are in the poorest, weakest, unlikeliest condition: Be not discouraged, Christian, at the unlikeliness that is upon thy Soul, as to the growth of grace, though your grace be little, and your discouragements great, yet let me tell you, there are greater promises in the word, proportionally considered, made to you, than to others. I pray observe what the Psalmist says, in the 72. Psa. 16. v. There shall be a handful of Corn in the Earth, upon the top of the Mountain, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon, and they of the City shall flourish like the Grass of the Earth, They are, in a prosperous condition, shall flourish like the Grass of the Earth; those that prosper in seculars or in temporals, they shall not lose their blessing, but shall flourish like the Grass of the Earth, but, says he, there shall be at that time, when these things shall be, there shall be a People that shall be cast into the World, as a handful of Corn that is cast upon the top of the Mountain; alas, what can you expect from a handful of Corn, that is cast upon the top of a mountain, but that it should be withered and dried up? why? because there want Earth and Soil to nourish it, and the spirit of the Earth to maintain it; therefore it cannot be expected, that it should come to any maturity. Yet, says the Lord, when they of the City shall flourish like the Grass, than the handful of Corn that is upon the top of the Mountain, (that is exposed to wind and weather) the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon, they shall grow like the Cedars in Lebanon; so that you see, my Friends, those that are unlikely, those that are meanest, that are but as a handful of Corn cast upon the Mountains, yet I tell you, you are under as great a promise, as any under their greatest external flourishing, they of the City shall flourish, as the Grass of the Earth, but those that are cast upon the Mountain shall shake like Lebanon.  
Appl. And there are three Inferences, that I shall desire to manage, and so conclude; the first shall be in relation to those that are the least Christians, the second, shall have relation to those of a bigger size, and the third Inference shall have relation to those that are neither great nor little Christians, but no Christians at all.  
USE. 1 to those that are least, they are grains, but they are the least grain; my meaning plainly is this, and I think it is the meaning of the Holy Ghost; those that have least grace, and those that have least gifts, & those that have done least for God, and those that have enjoyed least of God, those that have observed least of God's go in his Sanctuary, that have experienced least of God's workings upon their Spirits; my design, Christians, is principally upon you and therefore I shall say three or four things particularly to you, and the first is this, be not discouraged at your littleness of grace, if there be but truth of grace: There were many when the second Temple was built, and they saw it did not amount to the glory of the first Temple, they fell a weeping, and were greatly discouraged, and God was fain to raise them up a Prophet on purpose to bear up their spirits. O there was not that Gold, there was not that outward Glory and Splendour, that there was upon the first Temple that was destroyed! and God raised them up a Prophet, and what says the Prophet to them, says he, You saw the Glory of the former Temple, and I tell you, says he, that the Glory of the latter Temple shall be greater than the Glory of the former: They were discouraged at the plainness, and meanness of the building, and of the furniture, and adorning of the Temple; nay, says God, if that be the thing, do not trouble yourselves about it. So I say, my Friends, you may take an estimate of others Hearts, and compare others Hearts with yours, and you fall a murmuring, and discouragement seizes upon you, nay but let me say to you, in the name of the Lord, if there be but a little grace, be not discouraged at the littleness of it; you have reason to be humbled, that it is no more, that is very true, but yet you have no reason to be discouraged, because there is a little, and the Lord hath commanded me to tell you, that it lay in his power, and within the reach of his grace, to make the glory of that little grace, that is in your Heart, far exceed the Glory of that great deal, that you observe to break forth in the Hearts of others, and therefore be not discouraged. I shall urge this under these two considerations.  
1. Thou seest it may be what is in thy heart, but thou dost not know what is in Christ's hand for thy heart. Thou seest what comes out of Christ's hand to thy heart, but thou dost not see what remains in Christ's hand for thee, therefore be not discouraged because it is little. I pray do but observe a passage in Zach. 12.8. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: And he that is feeble among them (That is he that hath little Courage, little spirit, little strength; the word signifies he that is so feeble that he is fallen amongst them fallen among the Crowd, by reason of his feebleness, he that is feeble among them,) At that day, shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them. Now, Christian, I pray what is the discouragement that lieth upon thee? thou sayest thou art feeble and thou art weak and thou art poor & thou art empty, thy heart is empty, & thy head empty, and thy affections empty, thy prayers are empty, & thy conversation empty; all this is true & God knows it is true & whence comes all this? O thou art fallen in the streets by reason of the feebleness of thy grace, and the weakness that doth attend thy duties, thou canst hardly set a step but thou fallest, thou goest stumbling and stambling on to Heaven, and thou hast not strength enough scarce to go through any discouragement: Well, friend, though it be thus with thee, yet consider here is the word of the Lord for thy encouragement, The feeble amongst them shall be as David. And I pray in whose hand is the custody or keeping of the Blessing that is wrapped up in this promise? Is it not in the hand of Christ? All this courage and all this strength and all these parts and all this grace that must make thee like David, A man after Gods own heart to fulfil actually all his will, all this is in the hands of Christ: And the feeble shall be as David. And therefore I pray, Sirs, though you see but little in your own hearts, yet be not discouraged, you do not see all that is in the heart and hand of Christ for you. That is the first.  
2. You complain of your feebleness and littleness; alas, you are as Corn that is dwindled up, as we say: the least of grains. Ay but consider, there is the seminal virtue of more in you: That little grace that is in you hath a seminal virtue in it, God knoweth, saith the Apostle, who are his: Those that are born of God, that have the seed of God in them God knows them. So that though thou dost not know, by reason of thy littleness, what thou art, yet God knows notwithstanding thy littleness what thou art; he knows that there is a seed of grace in thee, and therefore I say be not discouraged.  
2. Secondly, Is it so that the Lord Jesus Christ will look after his little ones and will not suffer the least grain to fall upon the Earth. Then be you putting forth a little though it be but a little. Thou complainest thou art but little; truly I am afraid that many men's complaints are attended with as much formality as ever the Scribes and Pharisees Religion was. Now I say if it be but a little, thou hast reason the more to be putting forth that little: And let me tell you Jesus Christ doth expect that you should be putting forth your little, that it may appear that you are wheat indeed, that you are Christians indeed, And though you cannot do so much as another doth, yet I beseech you consider, if you be but a grain you may do more than others, that are behind you, that have not the least grain of grace wrought in them, you may do more than they do. I will urge this with two considerations.  
1. The first is this. A little improvement made by us goeth a great way with God; A little Gospel improvement made of a little on Earth goes a great way in Heaven: And let me tell you this also further, that there are no bounds that can possibly be supposed to be prescribed to the acceptance, and to the reward, of the  of a little grace. You know not, my friends, but a weak one may become a Nation, and a feeble one may be multiplied, by the Blessing of God; into many Nations; you know not how God may bless a little improvement. Therefore my exhortation to you is, to stir up yourselves to be putting forth something; if you have but a little faith let it appear that you have a little; and if you have but a little love to the Lord Jesus Christ, to his person and Offices, let that little appear, Sirs: and though it do appear but little on earth yet, let me tell you, it will go a great way in Heaven. You may observe this, by that poor Woman that had but one poor mite to cast into the treasury; and Jesus Christ sat at the door observing how rich men came, and cast into the treasury of the House of the Lord a great deal, and this poor Woman comes, that had but one mite, & she cast in all that she had. I pray observe how far this goes with Christ; Christ could not forbear but calls his disciples to him & saith, Verily I say unto you this Woman hath cast in more than they all. Why, my friends, if you have but a mite, cast it in, though you can but sigh or groan, though you can do but little, yet do a little for the Lord Jesus Christ, do a little for him in your hearts, do a little for him in your families amongst yours Children and Servants: It may be you have but little to be doing withal, I pray be doing something with your little: It is for the Lord Christ, you know not how far in Heaven a little that is done on Earth may go.  
2. Hath the Lord taken such cae to preserve his little ones, though they be the least grains, and that, in all the Commontions and Revolutions of affairs, when God is sifting his people in the sieve of the Nations, that he knows do hate them wh … perfect hatred? then methinks, This should speak encouragement unto the little ones not only to put forth a little for Christ, but this also should lay an engagement upon them to be willing to suffer any thing, rather than to part with the care and protection of God and Christ. You have a little, Sirs, well here stands the case; will you part with and for go that God and that Christ, that have the care and the charge of your little grace, or will you stick to him? Methings you should be willing to suffer a little for Christ, rather than to part with that great security that is betrusted with Christ for you. The apostle had but little of the world, yet he met with great sufferings; it may be you have but little grace in the world, and God calls you to little sufferings, in comparison with those thut are truly and formally great sufferings; Why now, Sirs, I pray be willing to part with something for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, suffer the loss of something. I do not speak as to temporals, but I speak as to those things that your hearts are most addicted too suffer the loss of something: You see a little grace hath a deal of care; taken about it. I pray, Christians, if there be any thing in you that is sinful do you part with it, do not only suffer the loss of a little, but suffer the loss of your All that is offensive to the Lord Jesus Christ; because the Lord Jesus Christ hath said that, notwithstanding all your sufferings, he will look after that little grace that is in you.  
USE. 2 There are some that are grains of a bigger, that are of a greater size in Christianity, I pray do not you despise those that are less, but encourage their growth to a greater degree; do not despise them, because they are little: This is a great evil amongst Christians, and I tell you of it in the name of the Lord, it is an evil, and a very great evil, even amongst old professors, that they are apt and ready to despise those that are young. And men of great attainments, that think their heads are full, and I could wish their Hearts were fuller than their heads, there are many that have full heads, but God knows have very empty Hearts, but I say, Christians, I beseech you in the Lord, and by the Lord, that you would carry it as becomes you, towards those that are little, those that have but a little grace, do what in you ly's to increase that little, to cherish that little. I should urge this with divers considerations, I will only say this, Christians, the increase of their little will be also your increase, their blessing will be your blessing, as you are members of the whole; It may be you have a great deal of grace, but let me tell you, suppose you have, God may make them very useful to you, and more useful than those that have more grace were ever made to you: It may be there are two Christians come together, men that do pretend to a great deal of grace, they fall into discourse together, and what is the subject of their discourse? alas it may be, it is nothing that doth concern the mutual advance of grace in each other; but there comes a poor Christian, that hath but little, and he falls of enquiring, O how shall I get more grace? and discovers an earnestness and zeal of spirit after more grace; and many other things of this nature might be urged, I will but only add this: I pray, Christians, you that have a great deal of grace, how came you by that great deal? was it not all by grace? did not other Christians help you? did they discourage you? did they cast stumbling blocks of iniquity before your face? did they receive you to doubtful disputations? No, no, they were ready to cherish and encourage you, and so God gave the increase. But this is that that I would have you to take along with you, that their little may be better than your great deal, if they improve their little, better than you do your great deal, and it may be true in this sense, that they that have least may have most, and they that are last may come to be first: and therefore, Christians, you that think you have a great deal, see that you carry it as becomes you, to those that have but little.  
USE, 3 I would speak something to those that are neither great nor little Christians, those that have no grace at all, neither more nor less, I have three words to say to you, 1. Suppose, that the Lord should now begin this sifting work among you, I pray what promise have you to secure you? For aught I know, you may be sifted out of the sieve, the Tempest may come, and blow you with the Chaff into unquencheable fire: therefore, I beseech you, consider, there are ten thousand times ten thousand that have been baptised in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, that are damned in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, and for aught I know this may be your case ere long, if you do not look after a little grace, to get it in due time. I pray, Sirs, consider with yourselves, what security you have, in case there should be such a dispensation, as is here threatened? that God should sift you, and it may be Satan may have liberty to raise the wind, whilst God is sifting in the sieve of the Nations, what will become of the Chaff? Christ tells you, that he will come, ay, he will come, but it is in another sense to you, he will come, and will throughly purge his floor with his Fannio, and the Wheat he will gather into his garner, but the Chaff shall be burned with unquencheable fire. I pray, Sirs, do but consider this one thing, is it not better for you to have a promise of security now, than to defer it, upon hopes, that you may have it hereafter? the promise reaches to the least of the grains, and no further; and I have no commission to say any further to you, by way of security. But then,  
2. Is it so that there is such a promise made to the least grain, why, let me tell you, the promise of security, lay's open to you: though for the present, as you are sinners, and while you are so, I cannot say that the promise doth reach you. Yet notwithstanding you are so, I may tell you the promise is open to you, and let me further tell you, that the Heart of the Trinity, doth concur with the promise, and doth stand open to receive you: What think you of this, sinners? the promises of Sanctification are open, the promises of Salvation by grace are open to you. Though I cannot say, that to day thou art within the reach of the promises, yet if I could say that, before to morrow, thou hast received grace, though but as a grain of mustard seed; to morrow I could say, and say it in the name of the Lord, come what will come, God and Christ will look after this Soul. Is it not better for you then to day, whilst it is called to day, to open your Hearts for Christ, and for the Spirit of Christ, and to get a little grace, though never so little, to day whilst it is called to day; O Sinners! get a little grace, and be content to begin with a little: It is a little grace that will bring you within the reach of the promise. Do not say within yourselves, than belike you think, we have no grace at all; why truly, if you be sinners, I say you have not grace, not so much as a grain of mustard seed, and I say, you are not yet within the reach of the promise; but I say if you get but a little grace, though never so little, that you may but be truly called a grain, than I may see, though it be never so little, yet the greatest promises of protection are made to you, and you are the Persons, that are concerned in this promise.  
3. The third thing that I would say to you that are no Grains, that have no grace at all, is this, I pray do but consider with yourselves when God, and Christ, and the Spirit come to pass judgement and to give in evidence against you, what will you be able to answer? What will you say that grace was never offered to you? I must be forced to appear, and all the Ministers that ever you have heard, and that have tendered the grace of Jesus Christ, and Christ with all his fullness to you; all our Sermons and we, shall be brought in as evidences against you. Can you bear this? You that have heard us with delight, and have seemed to take pleasure in what we have spoken and preached to you; what think you now to have us; one after another with all the Sermons that have been preached in your hearing, to be brought in as an evidence against you? And not only so but for God to come in against you, and say I offered you grace; and for Christ to say I offered you my blood; and the Spirit to say I strove with you to work a work o● grace in you; I beseech you, sirs, consider▪ 〈◊〉 do not speak these things to spend time, bu● this is that my Soul longs after that I might persuade every sinner to become a saint, & thatevery one that hath gotten a littlegrace, might make it his business to get more grace; For, sinners, you can never have grace too soon, and, Saints, you can never have grace too much. I shall only urge all that I have said with these 2 things.  
First. If, sinners, you will now come in and close with Christ to day, while it is called to day, (Be you young or old I value it not, be you what you will be, whatsoever your condition be,) As soon as ever you come in, and get the least grace, all the Trinity that is concerned in the promise will, according to their respective Relations, pursue the design and intendment of the promise upon you and for you, in all the succeeding circumstances of your lives. Why is not this a thing that is desirable? It may be a wicked man may make a promise to thee, thou art his Child and he a wicked Father, if thou wilt not do so and so, he will not do this and that for thee: Why I pray now, is it not better for you to have the promise of one God for good, and to be in the reach of one of the promises of the blessed Trinity, than to be encompassed and environed with all the promises of them that are enemies to God, and also to you for God's sake. Here now is a promise, yet shall not the least Grain fall to the Earth when God sifts, the Nations; I pray balance this with all the promises of the Word when God comes a sifting either by Temptation or Persecution or afflictions; when God comes a sifting, I pray who can keep you in the Sieve? Who can keep you out of Hell? can all your rich friends and great friends, can all the powers of the World, keep you out of everlasting burn? No, It is only God can do it, yet shall not the least Grain fall upon the Earth. For my part I think that one promise made by the Blessed God is better than to have a thousand promises (though they were in a capacity to fulfil them) made by the greatest Powers in the the World.  
2. The last thing that I shall leave upon you is this, That the sooner you close with Christ the sooner you will be safe; The sooner you get grace the sooner you will have the security of grace. Great are the distractions of the minds of men under various apprehensions of approaching dangers; and, my friends; in a time and hour wherein the Lord says come, Christ says come and the Spirit says come and the Gospel says come, and Ministers say come, why do not you come? Sirs, to day, while it is called to day. For my part, I think it is never too soon for a Soul to be safe for ever from everlasting burn, and therefore if you do believe the things that I have delivered, you that are Saints of a little attainment, carry it as becomes you; You that are Saints of a greater attainment carry it as becomes you; and you that have attained no grace at all carry it as becomes you. And this is that that becomes you, To come unto Jesus Christ, and be restless till the Lord make you one of his grains though never so little.    

A Catalogue of Books printed for, and are to be sold by, Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich, near the Market Place.  

SEveral Discourses concerning Actual Providence.  
A Word in Season.  
Defensive Armour against four of Satan's most Fiery Darts.  
Sermon upon the whole first and second Chapters of the Canticles.  
13 Sermons upon several useful Subjects, all published by John Collings, D. D.  
The way of the Spirit, in bringing Souls to Christ:  
The Glory of Christ set forth with the necessity of Faith, in several Sermons, both by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a Church at Norwich.  
enoch's walk with God and Christ, a Christians gain by Mr. Timothy Armitage late Minister in Norwich,  
A Discourse of the preciousness of Precious promise●s, the portion of overcomers:  
Faith, and of the preciousness of Christ, both by Mr. John Lougher Minister in Norfolk.  
The Saints Ebenezer by Mr. Francis English late Minister in Norwich.  
Directions to spell English right.  
The History of the Protestant Reformation, as it was begun by Luther.  
The Dead Saint speaking, being a Sermon Preached upon the Death of Mr. Newcome.  
The English Presbyterian.  
The ordinary matter of prayers, drawn into Questions and Answers.  
Two Treatises: The first of rejoicing in the Lord Jesus in all cases and Conditions; The second of a Christians hope in Heaven, and Freedom from Condemnation by Christ, both by Mr. Robert Asty late Minister of Jesus Christ in Norwich.  
Obedience to Magistrates, recommended by Jonathan Clapham, Rector of Wramplingham Norfolk.  
A Present for youth, and Example for the Aged.   
FINIS.