SAINT'S Duty discoursed, from 2 Pet. 3.18. And the SAINTS Dignity handled, from Eph. chap. 1. v. 7. With Directions to both, delivered from a Chatecheticall, DIALOGUE. By him that was, and is, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 3.10. And what shall we do? 12. What shall we do? 14. And what shall we do? Mark. 13.37. What I say to you, I say to all, Watch. LONDON, Printed for William Franckling, and are to be sold at his Shop near the Sign of the George in Norwich. 1649. TO The mirror of her age, and example of her years, Mrs PHILIP HOBART, (Daughter to the Right Honourable the Lady FRANCES HOBART) the Author in all humility and sincerity wisheth the growth of grace in this life, and glory of grace in the life which is to come. Truly Virtuous, NOne that know you but know your worth is so fare above a Complemental flattery, that who harbours a thought thereto, be wraies himself a sycophantizing Parasite. None that know me, but know 〈…〉 is as fare beneath me, as a Compliment is above me: In down right fidelity, did not your ample and admired testimony of good seed, sown in good ground, discover itself, the world should never have been intelligenced thus, of your continual practice, to understand and record the principles of Religion: your attentiveness at, your delightfulness in, sacred Ordinances; a shame, as pattern to riper years: May I add, 'tis pity, but all encouragement to a further progress, should raise itself, to steel your resolution, in imitating and exceeding Honourable precedency: That the last may be the best gener●● 〈…〉 ●●mber (hopeful offspring) what advantages you have above millions of Families in the continual dropping of Gospell-Ordinances; if your measure surmount not other, you come short; if you grow not in grace, as in years, you frustrate expectation. I have over-boldened myself to present this to your eye, which was tendered to your ear, and taken by your Pen; but your gracious and noble spirit can accept the desires, and connive at the failings of them that wish you well in the Lord. I must tell the world, that among many whom God hath blessed (since your Lady mother's zealous piety 〈…〉 weekly Lecture in her private Chapel) to the rejoicing of divers precious souls, the fair hopes of your imitable grace's lustre you fare and nigh, renowned. Wisdom with an inheritance is good, spoke that wise, and rich man, and King: your inheritance is fair in respect of the nether, let your continual growth in the grace of Jesus Christ speak you still wonderful in regard of the upper springs. Proceed (gracious stem) to flourish, so as long you may continue an example and honour to your Family, an encouragement to all that fear God, a precedent to all young noble plants, and an ornament to the 〈…〉 Christ. For this purpose (pardon the presumption) I have dared to Dedicate to your worthiness, the Saints practice, with their privilege, and pathway to both; the two first discoursed in your Chapley-field Oratory, the last to my dear beloved Parish. May the Lord reap glory, you, or for your sake any, benefit; Who can express my joy or thanks? Thus bowing the knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, making continual mention of you in my prayers day and night without ceasing, that the Lord would bestow upon you length of days, with 〈…〉, perfecting the good work he hath hopefully begun in you, to his eternal glory, and your everlasting salvation by Jesus Christ, to whose intercession and acceptance I commend your soul and body: resting, Your humble Orator at the Throne of Grace, R. A. The SAINT'S duty discoursed. 2 PET. Chap. 3. ver. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. THe Penman of this Epistle is specified in the first Chapter and first verse, thus: Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ. The persons to whom this Epistle was dedicated, to such as from free grace had obtained like precious faith with them that were of the Privy Council: the Apostles, by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, verse the first, even to such contemned, condemned, poor, scattered one's, through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bythinia, as in 1 Ep. ch. v. 1. The scope, is to forewarn them of dangerous days and perilous times approaching, in which many will endeavour to pervert their life, and subvert their faith, even to the making shipwreck thereof; whereby they might prove as ignominious to themselves, so inglorious to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; he therefore in the precedent, and in this present Chapter reminds them of divers and dangerous positions and practices of men, that forewarned, forearmed; and walk as Pilgrims, and stranger's warring against whatever will endanger their precious souls, holy faith, or godly life, not knowing when the day of the Lord comes nor with what speed, nor dread; by a convincing interrogatory he winds up their faith, to an exact pitch of the power of godliness, and holy conversation, verse 11. seconded by variety of arguments, ver. 14, 15. that they may keep themselves from being plucked away with the error of the wicked; either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which to prevent, he prescribes my Text as an Antidote. As the last words usually best remembered; So, But grow. The words contain a needful direction for all Christians scattered to and fro throughout the face of the whole Earth. If any ask the question, what is required in the Text? 'tis answered, To grow; In what? In grace and knowledge; Of whom? Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; In what order? here the method, In grace and knowledge: from which might be raised these three observations: First, 'tis our duty to grow in grace. Obser. 1 Secondly, 'tis our duty to grow in Obser. 2 knowledge. Thirdly, 'tis our duty to grow in grace Obser. 3 and knowledge. I shall insist on the first only. 'Tis the duty of Christians to grow in grace. In the handling of which, Doct. 1. I shall according to my usual method, First open the terms of the Doctrine, grow and grace; Secondly, prove the point by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Scripture, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of reason; and Thirdly, make the use and application; and the strength and blessing of the Lord be in and on us all. To grow, is a metaphorical expression, and may fetch its illustration from Plant, Trees, Flowers, Corn, etc. which from small spires, sprigs, seed, augment, spread, enlarge themselves, so may be said to increase, grow; this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies: As these grow deeper, bigger, stronger, higher; so must a Christian sprout, flourish, waxing stronger and stronger in the strength of the Lord, and power of his might: Or to grow; may send forth an understanding to us of the duty, by observing of our natural or civil growth; as we desire to manifest ourselves by our long trading, to be richer, wiser, better: So by our longer continuance under the breathe of the spirit in Gospell-dispensations, show ye yourselves to have received an increase of more light, life, zeal, love, knowledge, etc. this is to grow in grace. I conceive the grace in the Text, is not that grace of graces, free and perfect, displayed upon a soul by the infinite riches of wonderful mercy, that admirable free, full grace of Justification. But by grace here, the graces of Gods holy Spirit, through the Word, with power and life, conveyed into the believers soul, by the Holy Ghost; which may therefore fitly be phrased, the fruit of the spirit, b Gal. 5.22, 23. which are thus in Apostolical account enumerated; Love, Joy, Peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. These are graces of God's Spirit, and this grace in the Text includes the graces of this kind, in which we must endeavour to grow; to which knowledge is added in the verse, even that distinct understanding of divine truths revealed in the Word, concerning the knowing of God and Christ, whom to know aright is not less than life eternal. John 17.3. The sum is, that little grace of God's Spirit in thee, thou must be sure to act, that it increase more and more: that as to men there is evident a growth in your body; so to God and men you may make it apparent there is an increase in your soul, in the gracious exercise of a conscience and conversation void of offence before God and man. This I conceive, with submission to better judgements, the sense of the term of the Text. I proceed to the point to be proved. 'Tis a Christians duty to grow in grace: which growth may have a reference to the number of graces, or to the measure of graces; in respect of both, we must grow. This Paul adviseth Corinth. d 2 Cor. 18.7. Therefore (as ye abound in every thing, in faith, utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in love to us) see that ye abound in this grace also: a bundle of beautiful excellencies are here collected. And our Apostle in the first Chapter, the fifth, sixth, and seventh verses: And besides this, give all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. An addition, increase and growth of graces in the number. Is not this intimated in the parabolical History of the Lord and his servants concerning the expected increase of the talents? in which the honouring Encomiums, speaking them good and faithful, that increased and multiplied their two to other two, their five to ten, with an euge, well done good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over much, enter thou into thy Master's joy. e Mat. 25.21. For the growth of the measure of grace; grow in it: hath not Christ given grace that we should grow to a higher measure, even to the perfecting of the Saint, and come up to the measure of the stature of Christ, the fullness of Christ f Eph. 4.13. forwhich Paul greatly rejoiced, hearing the faith of the Thessalonians grew so exceedingly, and their charity toward each other so abounded g 2 Thes. 1.3. to this Paul expects in the h 1 Thes. 4.1. that as they had received of them that were dispensers of the Gospels-mysterie, so they would walk in pleasing God, and abound therein more and more, as in the place; as man, so God, calls for more weight, more measure; to add to the number and measure of grace; grow. Christians had need to look to their growth, Non est bonus qui non vult esse melior, he that hath no care for the growth of his grace, will soon bring the truth of his grace into suspicion: by an Apostatical revolt, or Corklike levity in being removed from, or wavering in the first and best principles. Need we have to grow in grace, from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas. 1 The Lord hath more to bestow on thee than yet appears to be in thee; what ever grace thou art enriched with, God hath more yet in the granary of his goodness for a poor soul: Think not thyself more than a broken Cistern; plume not thyself to sing a Requiem to thy soul, as if thou hadst grace, holiness, righteousness, knowledge enough; be not deceived whoever thou art, endowed with an admired competency of gifts and graces, yet you need more than yet you enjoy; that great measure of knowledge is not the least of that you are ignorant of: Should I say be ye warmed and filled, and give not that which is needful for the body, it would little profit: should I preach, grow in grace, and not tell you, God hath more for you than yet appears in you, less reason, to be up and doing. But God is an inexhausted Fountain, that both can and will bestow, more upon every soul that truly desires the growth of grace: Ask thy soul if it had not need be better stocked, and more stir up itself to lay hold on God, if he will not give further supply of grace and knowledge: 'tis my happiness, I know in my need how to be furnished, it shall be my reason; Therefore I'll grow. Therefore grow in grace: The more Reas. 2 grace the more strength: The infusion of grace puts life and energy into the soul, the addition of grace renews the active faculties with greater strength: that as of the heroic Champions enroled in the eleventh Chapter of the Hebrews, of weak (by the grace of faith) they became strong, strong to an unmatchable power: So by the growth of grace, the soul that was wont to be as water, becomes to be as strong as steel itself; the Apostles witnessing the truth of this to the world. The want of saving grace hinders the want of saving knowledge, that enlightens, emboldens: when heaven afforded many an advantageous opportunity to satisfy thy darkened judgement, doubting spirit, let me appeal, if thou hast not returned home, likewise, as came out: the sad experience of our own heart, dictates want of grace proudly kept bacl, that in many things, we remain as newborn Babes, poor, weak Creatures. The truth of grace (O Christian) quickens, but the growth of grace strengthens thy soul: that panoply of God makes the Saints strong, the breathing of the spirit of grace makes a stripling more puissant than the Goliahs of the Nations. 'Tis recorded of Father Abraham, being not weak in faith, he staggered not at the promises of God, but being strong in faith, he believed in hope even against hope i Rom. 4.20, 21. Christians meet with Principalities, Powers, and the Rulers of the darkness of this world, a terrible army; how shall a poor soul encounter with this main body, when only the strength he hath is little more than a forlorn hope? let him strengthen himself with the graces of God's Spirit, and he shall find a power invincible; none more need of strength than a poor Christian: The more grace the more strength; Whether, 1. Against sin, that is not satisfied with a being in, but would domineer over a Christian: or what struggling with secret corruptions, as wrestling with too many corruptions, hard to be subdued, enforcing Paul to cry out k Rom. 7.24. Oh wretch who shall deliver me from this body of death? Oh, the sobs and groans, tears and fears of a weak Christian, when corruptions begin to discover themselves, than they in apprehension, the undone of all the world: Amaleck fights and sometime prevails, the want of strength foils the soul, the height of grace upholds the soul, the more grace the more strength against sin. 2 Against suffering, the Church and people of God meet with opposition, contradiction, persecution, who more? it was the Father's appointment, as the son's prediction l Io. 15.16. and this Apostles, the great Doctor of the Gentiles oft in sacred Writ, To pass by bad report, hunger, nakedness, prison, etc. 'tis difficult, for some, not all. When strongly grown in the grace of Christ, Paul can conquer, the Apostles with admired resolution, daunt their enemies; when formerly all left he Lord Jesus Christ, and why? they were grown in grace, and more grace, more strength against suffering. 3. Against Temptation: our Saviour would not have taught his Disciples to pray, Led us not into temptation, had not he known, the devil and an evil heart, laid snates to tempt; which of God's choicest Jewels free? Not Abraham, Job, David, not Christ himself; And canst thou expect or request to be above thy Lord? Poor weak Christian, thou must look to be buffeted, assaulted. Labour for more grace; so more able to resist: for by the grace of God you may stand, as withstand. 4. Against Desertion: The more grace the more strength. 'tis a condition God's people sometimes meet with, and complain of: A bitter expostulation, My God, my God why hast thou forsaken? Faith and fear in a double combat: Wither in reference to David, the Type, or the Son of David the Antitype, The Lord Christ: And may not your full tide ebb? Your bright moon eclipse? Your fair day cloud? and your clear Sun misten? Oh know ye that are dandled in the arms of an everlasting God may yet not be ever danced in God's everlasting arms? He may shoot bitter Arrows against you, and his everloving smile may frown itself to a momentary indignation, as bitter as death, as dreadful as hell itself; Labour therefore for more grace, so more strength to suffer all, and endure hardship, as the good soldier of Jesus Christ. So that either silently with Aaron hold your peace: or with David religiously Language, It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good. The more grace the more strength in all, against all. Ergo. The more grace the more comfort; Reas. 3 many that regard not to live conscionably, yet are desirous to spend their years in prosperity, and their days in comfortable pleasures; but as without grace little conscience, so without true grace little true comfort; the more sin in us, the more opposition, the more trouble, grief, and fearful horror, to the appaling of spirit, and deading of heart. But let a soul reflect, and in simplicity speak, an increase of humility, faith, zeal, love, knowledge, grace, more comfort questionless; not more rejoicing can a condemned Malefactor receive by the tender of a Prince's pardon, than a poor soul comfort, content, in the truth and growth of grace; were it not for the grace of God in them, of all men Christians were most miserable: in the sad apprehension of many and mighty corruptions within them, divers and great troubles upon them, and several scandalous reproaches against them: Whither shall the soul search for comfort? To whom fly for solid consolation? Can that honour that is fading, that estate that is flying, that name that is blasting, that friend that is dying afford any? Alas, miserable comforters all! nothing so much as the least spark of divine grace; and if a little will cherish, what strong consolations will the growth added to the truth of grace afford? view and review the instances of Sacred Writ, and you shall find, where most grace, there most comfort; Therefore grow in grace, Reas. 4 This comfortable evidence, the sincerity and truth of your grace, show me your faith by works, a dead faith, no life in works? The soul is barren and unfruitful: What is a body without a soul? a poor body: What is a soul without grace? a poor soul: And what is grace without the growth thereof? uncomfortable grace: What advantage to have a name to live, and want life? What profit to have a form, and void of the power of godliness? This will upon good ground witness to the world the truth of grace is in you, when they see your light shine, that they may glorify your father in heaven; and your light which was at first as the dawning of the day, appearing as the Sun heightened to the top of the Zenith, fairly discovers the truth of grace in you to men: And to conscience an evidential sign of truth, when that which flames as a fire gins to live, to a never dying worm, 'tis quenched and crashed by this: my conscience bears me witness, that I, though my beginning was small, yet am increased to a second, a fift, a tenth talon: behold oh conscience, did I make bones of Curse, Lie, Oath, Sabbath, Gospel, Ordinance, Hypocrisy, Pride, Passion, secret Impiety, or open Enormity, in times past? And do I not, dost not thou oh conscience, oh heart, hate and abhor every false way? Dost not perform and delight to do what God pleaseth, pressing hard to be found in the righteousness of Jesus Christ? Who in my Infancy hoped to be justified by duties, desires, well-meaning, etc. whence comes my love to God and his? Whence Patience, Zeal, Faith, more than in times past? Comes not my growth from my truth? oh enemy be my Judge, speak righteously. And to God also, when at the hour of Death, day of Judgement, summoned to appear, disarmed of all hopes, & helps, no more muse or burroughs to save or shelter; This will witness for thee, though thou hast been a poor comfortless one, yet a true one; behold Lord, thy Talon hath gained, multiplied, 'tis increased and grown, though little yet good evidence, the truth of grace is in thee: When as on the contrary, to man, to conscience, to God, I have no more grace now then from my Infancy and day of youth; This comes off with sin, shame, sorrow, to the blackness of despair itself: Therefore being the growth of grace evidences the truth of grace, good reason we should grow in grace, etc. According to my usual method, I proceed to the Use. Learn hence, The life of a Christian Use 1 must be a life of action; Instru. 'tis shameful impiety to practice (when once enlightened, graced from God with precious Truths, Promises, Privileges) nothing: Such a lazy devotion as brings in question the truth of grace: Grace will make us faithful husbands, wives, servants, as Christians: If man cannot endure a Lurdan Lozel, God cannot endure a loitering idle Christian, nor in reference to the things of this life, or that which is to come; I know not a Christian as a man or woman but have or might have employment, or in works of necessity or charity: And as a Christian man or woman hath to work out Salvation, a work hard enough, to so far from thinking them idle drones, that may spur them to be as busy as the Bee, and all little enough to give a good account at the last day: jacob's Ladder is usually applied here, as Angels some ascending, some descending, but none standing still, to intimate so it must be in the Church of God; Either looking up to God, or into the soul, that admire God for his Majesty, Glory, Mercy, or humble ourselves for our unworthiness, sin, and iniquity. Did not God set his Adam presently after he had made him a living soul into the Garden to dress it, so to become a labouring soul; and why? But to tell the children of Adam that they must not be without motion, action; God gives no Supersedeas for a Christian to be idle, or standing still: Nay, he checks with a Why stand you idle all the day long m Mat. 20.6. ? 'tis here in the Text required that he be doing, thriving, growing, Grow in grace; This of the first Use. Use 2, If a Christians duty be to grow in grace: Try we then, whither we have performed this duty or no. But how may I know? I answer. 1. They are grown more and better in duties: Grace is like Ezekiels waters, though little at first, discovers itself by streams to run, rivulets, rivers, to waters impassable: Or as fire, that increases in light, heat, more, greater, so grace in growth makes a Christian in his duties more frequent; whereas before he would court the Lord in a morning, so bid him good morrow, or compliment with a goodnight, he now gins to be more frequent, grace acts him to morning, evening, and when occasion serves, at midnight as high-noon: at first seldom, since he is grown more frequent. 2. They are more fervent, more zealous, if not, I could question that truth as growth of grace; Though at first grace as fire, of which comparatively we say, 'tis a cold fire; so a soul finds itself, in the duty of hearing, praying, receiving, cold devotion in all, chill, almost stiff, but by that time increased, grown, grown warm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, seething boiling hot; the affections kindled to a flame, a zeal as hot as fire. 3. More conscionable, what in times past was done in custom, formality, hypocrisy, education, self, is now steeled, from conscience he doth it, and dare not but do it, and delight to do it also: He at first saw the observing the Ordinances, and Sabbaths, of God his duty, now grown beholds them his privilege, so that as in time passed he acted them as a task, now he performs them as his delight, and joy to think of his communion with the Lord: Now he makes conscience and will not omit a duty, as not commit a sin, he makes conscience of all; so doth a Christian that is grown in grace: discover it in his duties, being more frequent at them, fervent in them, and conscionable of them: Try and enlarge the particulars in your meditations, I must hasten. 2. The growth of grace discovers itself by the death and dwinging away of sin, at first sin lives, but when grace comes sin pines, and grace's growth is sins decay; as the house of Saul weaker and weaker, and the house of David stronger and stronger: So grace and sin in the soul. As 'tis in the body with nature and the humour: If the humour prove predominant then nature decays, and soon man is gathered to his Fathers; but when nature gets the upper hand by degrees the kill humour lessens, and abates to a perfect recovery; so that the bedrid one walks strongly and comfortably. This grace, like his blood, runs through every vein, actuates in every faculty of the soul, as the soul in the whole body; Now mortifying this, now crucifying that corruption, laying the axe of zeal, revenge, care, to the root, and so cuts down root and branch, he leaves not a hoof behind, spares not the Dalila, the darling, the sweet bit under the tongue, or bosom sin in any corner of his heart, nothing in his Judgement, Understanding, Will, Memory, Affections, but shall relate to grace; The Enemy thereof shall be brought and arraigned before Jesus Christ, and cashiered for ever, his precious, gracious soul; he is grown and acts to the utmost, as fire, heat, and water moisten to the utmost, so grace, that dwinges sin to decay and die: The gallant Adonijah shall not be spared, the delicate Agag not connived at, nor the least of his sins (if sin against God can be called little) but shall be examined, traduced, and gibbited before the God of Israel: He spies the inside, he views the outside, what graceless thing is discovered, is discarded, he abstains from, and abhors secret as open wickedness: So that no sin shall have a willing being in his soul; but he is sensible, so sensible of their imperfection, as a bone in throat, or mote in eye, never quiet till removed, using all means to recover the health of the soul into the state of strength, Oh try, which dwinge and decay grace or sin. So second trial. 3. Grown Christians more boldly, manifest the grace of God in them, confidently they dare to speak and act upon the growth than they did upon the first truth of their grace; The Apostles would fly and deny Christ before they would suffer or die: But after the truth of their grace, faith, knowledge was strengthened, than they feared not the Synods, Counsels, of countermanding preaching Jesus Christ, as you that are versed in the Acts of the Apostles can attest. A soul at first is like Nicodemus, it loves and would feign be with Christ, but a great deal of fearful sin clouds the new inspired grace, secretly it dare but appear for fear of the Jews; I wave quotations for that I speak to (or I am much misinformed and mistaken) Scripture-searching Christians: But grown as Daniel, & the 3 Children, they are gloriously manifesting their zeal for God, and none but God, though controlled by Sovereignty itself: As a child that hath life in operari & esse, goeth but by this support, and that assistance, for but weak now, new going; When a few years overpast, a shame to hold by a Finger, Chair, Stool, etc. but now strength increasing he goeth confidently by himself: So a poor soul at first creeps, cannot go; but his grace strengthened, renewed, he ventures in nomine Domini, as David against Goliath and dreads not, when all Israel is struck with a misgiving doubt, if not Panic fear. A grown Christian manifests his grace by undaunted profession in the hardest of body-torturing persecution, and midst of (precious name) disgraceful slander: In a word, by what contradiction soever of men, opposition of the gates (the power and wisdom) of hell the poor Christians grace is assaulted with it discovers itself void of fears as offence, in the flames of a Sacred love to God, Christian love to the Saints of God, in a steadfast resolution to walk up to Covenant and Gospel Reformation, and in a Christian deportment of themselves, with the exercise of a good conscience before God and man: here I conceive is growth as truth of grace: Try, oh try if it be thus with thee or not. I must hasten, time bids a dispatch. 4. They can trust God with outward and inward estate also, sometime in weakness he feared one, sometime the other; Now steer over both, knowing that God hath given the Promise to godliness, of this and that life which is to come. No distrustful thoughts for things temporal; Christ hath commanded, and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warrant for a grown Christian, n Mat. 6.25. and assured for things of eternity to the truth as growth of grace, that nor faint nor fear: by which well may the soul rely on the Lord for its outward and inward estate. Abraham the Father of the Faithful sometime doubted, but after o Rom. 4. from 16. to vers. 22. Try how this reflects on thy soul, by a patiented, humble waiting, till God answer. 5. Lastly, they that are grown in grace, grow and endeavour to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ more and more in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof: truly to believe God and Christ, in God and Christ, and to acknowledge the Lord Jesus, by a separation from the goats, and communion with the sheep of Christ: Not only notionally to know and understand more of the history of Christ, but practically to do for Christ more than in times past; that we may read in conversation one sanctified and strengthened in the grace of the Lord; and experimentally, that God may have experience, and the world also, that their grace, is a grace and knowledge of and according to Jesus Christ: making them more humble p Job 42.5, 6. and more desirous to know and find more, so the truly wise and knowing Christian; not to display the radiant beams of their vainglorious understanding, but to discover the riches of Gods free and infinitely full grace to their souls, in looking upon them when blind in understanding, and unsanctified in heart; after this they press to know more of themselves, and more of Christ, to the praise of the Lord their God for bestowing as truth, so a growth in grace. Try, and by this comfortably conceive growth of grace. 3. Now after Trial the uses follow, of terror to some, comfort to others, exhortation to all. If not grown in grace, come in, come in, I have bitter things against thee, yet shall this Law condemn none before it hear him speak: Ask conscience then if grown in grace; whence bleating of sheep, lowing of oxen? whence in the soul, or Family, or Congregation, neglect of duties, or if performed, resting on duties? how many cast the word of God behind their backs? profane the Sabbath, condemn the soul-ravishing promises of the everlasting Gospel? whence is it men trust to and rest in their duties? as the hypocritical Jews, q Isa. 58.23. rising to too lofty an expostulation, in questioning the Deity itself, a nontimely answering, regarding their prayers and performances? how many as the Pharisees vainly gracing themselves r Luk. 18.11, 12. ? A soul grown in grace, would nor make it an Idol, nor a slight, yet how many of us thus guilty? 2. The falling of (too many) from their first love, like that Ephesine Church in the second of the Revelation; and is not the love and zeal of many waxed cold in this day of affliction, in the winter of our adversity? when if ever, God, Covenant, Church and Kingdom had need of champions, zealous for the glory of the one, the renown of the other, the safety and honour of all; Now, but woe, and alas, oh what cold, dead spirits, hearts, are we possessed withal? when at first zealous, since remiss, matter of humiliation and fear: 'tis neither natural, nor supernatural, for either would make the nearer the centre more life, vigour and activity: let conscience speak if thou didst not in time past better affect God's ways, Worship, Sabbaths, Ordinances, Ministers, People, than now: fear we may: guilty we are. 3. The pride of thy grace speaks the not growing of grace: and how many plume themselves in this unhappy age, with the men-admiring virtue, when they put off the God-bestowing grace? into what assemblies shall we enter? in what company shall we be? but God shall be rob of his glory, by man's boasting of his grace; Grace keeps a soul low, and exalts the Lord, knowing whatever received, received of God: the Apostle and the strong Christian, number not themselves with such as commend themselves, and measure themselves with themselves, for they are not wise s 2 Cor. 10.12. the more grace the more humility, while men advance and exalt, so as boast of zeal, grace, John-like, etc. it speaks us not grown. 4. Lastly, the seldom searching of our hearts speaks no growth of grace, if I cast not up my account, I know not whither my receipts or disbursements be most, I fear a bad reckoning, in this the Lord be merciful unto us, we know not the wind of our hearts, desperately wicked and deceitful, we try not, search not: how many (nay how few) Sermon after Sermon, Sabbath after Sabbath, month after month, common with their own hearts, to see in what this or that grace is increased since the reception of so many mercies? When a man seldom looks into his heart, I cannot conceive how it should be discovered he is grown in grace, but must pass sentence: (I speak to wise men) are they not blame-worthy? And may I not? 1. When the Lord hath graciously afforded time and space; it was a check severe; he gave her space to repent, and she repent not: t Rev. 2.21. And may not the Lord say, many a day and year have I offered free grace stretching out my hand all the day long, and ye despighted hitherto the spirit of grace? Go graceless soul into graceless society; sad sentence. 2. Yea, when in that space called and tendered all the means that infinite understanding conceived conducible to the growth of grace; no pruning, dressing, nor watering wanting; Judge I pray betwixt me and my vineyard, what could I do more? 'tis heavens gracious condescending appeal: Oh England, what shall I do unto you? Oh People, how should I entreat you? your goodness yet as a morning cloud, your grace so far from growing, as 'tis the early dew dismissed, dispelled: When a father thus by a child, or a Prince thus by a Tyrone, the doom of death must follow. A harvest is set, and at due time the axe must be laid to the root of the soul, and the tree cut down u Mat. 3.10. : What in Christ? at his Church? and Ordinance? of his profession? and not fructify, multiply, increase and grow? See w Joh. 15.2. he takes away God, and God takes away the firm influence of his spirit, from the possession of his inheritance, he takes away, and then the soul withers, and withers, till fuel for everlasting burning. Oh dismal: when man endued with such a soul as an Angel of God, should so undervalue it in the neglect of grace and sleight of God, the God of grace, such a grace, such a God vilifyed: what can be expected less than the height of calamity, and depth of misery to be inflicted, while God's justice, and Satan's tyranny shall remain? but hoping better things of you, and wishing better things to you, I wave the terror, and pass to the use of comfort. Use 4 To all such as Grow in grace, Comfort; for, 1. Thou art more than a natural man, then take comfort: wert in nature only, I could not line or letter of consolation thus, but daub with untempered mortar; but entitled to, or invested with grace, true comfort indeed. When a Parent sees a child outrun his extravagant courses, to become a man, and a man of God in the world, is it not great comfort? so for a believing husband or wife, to perceive the work of grace in each other, joy to ravishment. Nor can the Minister be silent in this, but when he beholds Jesus Christ form in his Congregation, he must rejoice with joy unspeakable, & full of glory, for his people being filled with grace; and is it not a joy for the Church of God nigh you, by you? so let it be to thy soul also: Thou art more than a natural man. 2. Art grown in grace? herein is comfort that more shall be given thee: to him, to her that hath shall be given, x Mat. 25.26. more given to you, more done for you, God himself will purge you, that ye may bring forth more fruit y Joh. 15.2. : the Lord seldom, never, meddles with a soul, but it fares the better, grows the faster: A secret influential virtue distils itself to the flourishing in grace and duty, and perfecting to every good work; this talon doubled, thy grace blessed, that more and more fruitful and abundant in the work of the Lord be comforted. 3. Ye can more boldly go to the Throne of grace, the grown righteous man as bold as a Lion: so comfortably a weak newborn babe cannot approach before the presence of a jealous God and consuming fire, as one that with resolved exercise of sanctifying grace, hath waded through the troubled waters of mortification, etc. and landed at the haven of full assurance: Jesus Christ being our Highpriest warrants it, the Apostle infers it, z Heb. 10.21, 22. for he by his one oblation for ever hath perfected them that are sanctified a Heb 10.14. : He therefore exhorts and so comforts the Saints as b Heb. 4.15, 16. , and may not that comfort? Compl. But oh, I see other that younger, more illiterate, unlearned than I, have more grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ than I; therefore I fear the truth, the growth of grace, and what can I take of comfort? Resp. And what if so? why O soul shouldst thou be disquieted? take heed of a curious eye, when the hand of providence disposes as pleases him, beware it displease not thee; lest you murmur and suffer: it was none of Joshua's virtues to exasperate Moses for the prophesying of Eldad and Medad c Num. 11.28, 29. , but Moses is for our imitation: And bless ye the Lord, that he adds to the number of his Church, and you behold others to magnify the name of Jesus Christ. A grown Christians eyes gush out with rivers of tears, when men sinne against God, and their hearts leap with joy at the conversion, salvation of others, seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ enlarged. Go ye and do likewise: ye and they shall have eternal possession, be not overwhelmed with sorrow. 2. The less ye have, the less to answer for, the Lord requires no more than he gives: if you have five talents, five more will content; if you have but two, two more will satisfy: The Lord is not severe, austere; if you have not an ox or heifer, a goat, kid or lamb, nay a turtle Pigeon; God will not extort, be but faithful, fruitful in thy little, and he will make thee ruler over much: God looks to the truth of thy graces, to the quality rather than the quantity; so that if but a mite, a cup of cold water, accepted, rewarded, be therefore comforted. 3. Thou that growest though but little and other more, thou shalt never want, thou shalt hold out; 'tis to the happiness of salvation, and why not to the heart's consolation? thy grace is God's grace, he a fountain, when thou beginnest to be dry, know God can refresh, renew: In the Prophet's phrase I end all; Thou shalt be as a Tree planted by the waters, whose root spreads out by the river: thou shalt not see when heat cometh, but thy leaf shall be green, thou shalt not be careful in the year of drought, neither shalt cease from yielding fruit d Jer. 17.8. . Take this for thy comfort, and I am now dismissing this Assembly. Suffer but a word of exhortation: Use 5 First, Grow, grow, thrive and prosper in grace and knowledge of God, let me crave leave to prescribe means, to propound motives, and I have done. 1. Exercise of grace, that little, that truth of grace you have; do we not direct, use legs and have legs, use memory and have memory? actions intent habits: Stir up and exercise that grace of God in you, and your morning, dawning, will appear bright as the Sun. 2. Unite to gracious company, join to the assemblies of the Saints, withdraw not from such as speak to edification, giving grace to the hearers; the tongues that are tipped with the language of Canaan, will advantage to enlightening, to greater heat, and further growth: sit not in the seat of the wicked, that cools; discourse furthers the Scholar's studies; good counsel helps forward to heaven: 'tis sad (because oft too late) to say, oh that I had followed good counsel, of such Ministers, friends, parents, I had never come to this place of execution: lest we repent too late, use the society of the Saints. 3. Beware of secret corruption; as fame and credit will keep a natural man from open, scandalous, transgression; let grace and piety keep a spiritual man from secret corruption; strive and pray against it, as David in the nineteenth Psalm. Dust, coals, and such trash, in secret, will overthrow the stomach, and make the wholsomest food, loathsome: so will sinne, if we harbour with delight a close iniquity under our tongue, it will nauseate all the saving truths of Jesus Christ gloriously held out in his Gospel, and hinder the growth of grace. Lastly, conscionably use the Ordinances of God, do not as many for custom, formality; but hoc age, do it in the integrity and simplicity of conscience; the Law and statutes of God e Ps. ●9. 7, 8. are beneficial, that which issues out of the Sanctuary increases f Ezek. 47.12. , when pray, read, receive, exercise yourselves conscionably, and your benefit will be profitably discovered to all. Motives. Mot. 1. The more grace, the more exalt Christ, 'tis a soul's burden, I cannot live to honour Christ for all his merit, goodness, truths, and mercies; labour then for more grace, so speak more of his name, and ye will be in life, death, to magnify Christ little lower then Angels in their praises to their Maker: grace brings you higher and higher to these Seraphical spirits; so you will chant the perpetual Hallelujahs with the Choir of Heaven, of whom Christ is to be praised: as of you to be honoured. 2. Grace makes the more eminent; grace and fame are said to be companions, as the righteous so the gracious is more excellent than his neighbour: the world clears this truth when the most debauched wretch would not but seem gracious; the strumpet, lukewarm Laodicea: all outwardly as the Pharisees: yea the Devil, else why transformed into an Angel of Light, but that with more credit to act in the children of darkness, and heirs of light also; but grace with God and Christ, a name better than of son or daughter. 3. Time may come need of more grace, these are the plundering times, and exercise the faith and patience of many a precious soul, though (blessed be God) we hear it only with our ears, and see it not with our eyes, nor feel it to our hearts; but a time may come: one grace fits not for every temptation, no more than one shoe for every foot or one garment for every back: The Apostles harness in his Panoply g Eph. 6. from 10. to 19 that complete: sometime a Christian hath need of this grace, sometime of another, we know not which God will call us to exercise; leave not a hoof behind, as in one, grow in all, and strengthen every one, fearing and feeling the time bad to be worse: be not unprovided, consider the season, and grow in grace. 4. This will keep you true and steadfast to God, to Christ, and the principles of Religion, that ye waver not in a corklike ventosity, to the hazard of faith and a good conscience: this will arm you against all delusions, errors, sins, fears; and keep you entire to Christ, till you come for ever to be with him, where is the Crown of grace, glory; with which he confirm you here, and assure you hereafter, for his own name and glory sake. Consider what I have said, and the good Lord grant you a true understanding in all things, that ye may grow in grace & knowledge of Jesus Christ. To whom be glory for ever and ever. EPHES. Chap. 1. ver. 7. In whom we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, etc. PAUL by the will of God, separated to the Gospel for the Church's sake of the Gentiles, renders the work of his Ministry faithful as to others, to this Church of Ephesus; which after his Apostolical salute in the first and second verses, doth magnify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, verse the third. Amongst which precious excellencies, this in the Text for the consolation of the faithful in Christ, is little inferior to life everlasting, this being the troublesome obstacle to a believing soul till it apprehend Jesus Christ, in whom it hath redemption, etc. Doct. The Text contains this truth, fully to redeem from sin, cost no less than the blood of Jesus Christ, or the blood of the Saviour is the redemption of the Saints. That this is so, why this is so, and what use hereof, are the three things I shall burden your memory and patience with at this time. That it is so, appears by the Text: 1. In whom, that is, in Christ, verse 3. in whom elected, ver. 4. predestinated unto adoption, ver. 5. in whom we are accepted, ver. 6. In whom redemption, as in the Text: We, the Saints, etc. faithful, ver. 1. blessed with all spiritual blessings, ver. 3. Select Paul, elect Ephesians in Christ, In whom we have redemption, freedom, full plentiful freedom, the word in the Original having a Preposition added, speaks the perfection of the redemption: To take redemption as in reference to the body or soul here, body and soul hereafter, no redemption but by Christ, in whom full redemption; Redemption is said to be fourfold. First, by Manumission, as Lords, their vassals freely discharging, so Christ by his grace freely justifying. a Rom. 3.24 Secondly, by permutation or change, as in wars; so Christ himself bore our sins in his own body on the Tree b 1 Pet. 2.24. ; the wrath of the Father went down in the Son to redeem the Saints: he suffered in his body that we might be redeemed in our souls; so a redemption. Thirdly, by violent ablation; so Abraham rcscued Lot; so Christ redeemed his, having spoiled Principalities and Powers; blotting out the handwriting of Ordinances that was against us, taking them out of the way, c Col. 2.14. and through death destroyed him that had the power of death, delivering them, who through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage. d Heb. 2.14, 15. Fourthly, by price and ransom; so slaves and captives are redeemed from the thraldom of cruel Turks, and the hands of barbarous enemies: Thus Christ redeemeth his also captived under captivity, ye are bought with a price e 1 Cor. 6.10 , not with corruptible things of silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ himself, that immaculate Lamb f 1 Pet. 1.18, 19 . In whom we have, etc. Through his blood: that is, the shedding & oblation of his blood. As in the Law the blood of bulls and goats sanctified to the purifying of the flesh: so Christ by the sacrificing of his blood obtained thorough sanctification, g Heb 9.14. and eternal redemption, verse the tenth. In whom, etc. The forgiveness of our sins: That is, Remission, or as the word signifies, retromission, or sending bacl again from the soul to the first Original the Father of all sin: A full remission from the defilement and destruction, from the guilt and curse, from the dominion and power; by his blood, from the guilt of sin; and by his spirit, from the power: In a word, from all that relates to, or attends upon the blackness and darkness of sin. The forgiveness of sins: The forgiveness, not only by the blood of Christ have we redemption h Col. 1.20. , or sanctification i Heb. 9.14. , but remission also, as in the Text; so k Col. 1.14. in whom we have redemption by his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. John in his Revelation l Rev. 1.5. confesses that Christ washed us from our sins by his blood; and to fetch the record (bearing witness to this truth) as high as heaven m Rev. 5.9. the four and twenty Elders acknowledge, Thou wert slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and Nation. Agreeing to this, is that of n 1 Joh. 1.7. , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Hath a poor soul need to be healed? Christ is a Physician to cure him; doth thy soul parch and burn within thee? Christ is a fountain to refresh thee; art thou laden with the unsupportable burden of thy sins? Christ is righteousness to ease thee; if thou fearest the stroke of death, he hath for thy poor believing soul the gift of eternal life; and if thou walk mournfully apprehending damnation for sin, he hath redemption for thee from sin, as in the Text. The Reasons follow. Christ only acceptable to God, the Reas. 1 heavens are not clean in his sight, he chargeth his Angels with folly, the choir of Heaven and Saints in earth are not wellpleasing in his sight, distinct from Christ; he is the Son of his Love, he the Son of his complacency, of his delight, in whom only he is well-pleased o Mat. 3 17. , and in the verse before my Text, he hath made us accepted in the beloved; all the oblations Legal, and offerings Ceremonial, had a redolent savour in the pure nostrils of the Almighty, as they stood in reference to Christ. Without God none could please God, saith Ambrose; whatever is presented to the Father without the Son, is said to be unprofitable, and unacceptable; as the Highpriest offered all in the time of the Law, so the Lord Jesus presents all in the time of the Gospel, without him nothing is accepted: therefore of him the Saints have all, to, and of, redemption. This is the first Reason, the second follows. Reas. 2 He only able to satisfy divine justice, thousands of Rams, ten thousands of rivers of oil unsatisfactory; to give the fruit of the body for the sin of the soul, and the firstborn for my transgression p M●c 6.6. , It will neither be pleasing to God, nor satisfactory to divine justice; the leprous person was to be cleansed by the blood of the little bird q Leu. 14.51. , and the leprous soul is to be purified and redeemed from all its sin and uncleanness by the blood of Jesus Christ, that bird of Paradise, the celestial Pelican, that sacrificed himself to death to save his to everlasting life: when sin was to be remitted, it was to be put upon another, none must expect a satisfaction in or from himself; the sins of the people were to be put upon the Scape-Goat: Thus they were delivered r Leu. 16. , to teach us under the Gospel, our sins must be put upon Christ to be the only satisfaction to Almighty justice. Two things are required of such as satisfy God's justice. First, he that satisfies must be free from all sin: if any man under Christ, saith he have no sin, he deceives himself, and the truth of God is not in him; 1 John 1.9. Christ in every thing like us, sin only excepted: his enemies being Judges he hath done all things well; so he, he only free from sin, can satisfy God's justice. Secondly, that which satisfies must be pure, only pure in the offering, and such oblations, sacrifices, poor mortals cannot tender to their God, there is iniquity in their holy things, they are unprofitable, and come short of grace now, and must of glory for ever, if the Lord be not freely gracious in accepting, as bestowing: Oh the wants and weakness in our hearing, praying, in our duties, graces, unclean, unclean, imperfect, imperfect in all, but Christ a pure and holy offering unto the Lord: hence in the Law, when the Highpriest went for an atonement, he only entered into the Sanctum Sanctorum, & in the Gospel, Christ trod the winepress of his father's wrath alone s Isa. 63.3. , and that's the second reason. Reas. 3 Thirdly, that the glory of our redemption may redound to the praise of God in Jesus Christ; whose is the work, 'tis fit theirs should be the honour: Hos feci, tulit alter honores, is injustice; rich mercy, full merit is the ground work and foundation of all our excellency. The Saints good and comfort ariseth from the free grace of the Father, and the full merit of the Son, and why to man or Angel should the glory be given? when Scriptures speak any thing of this spiritual blessing, redemption, or forgiveness of sins, there is usually annexed a doxology or blessing, as t Rev. 1.5, 6 So Rev. 5.9, 12. Col. 1.12, 14. 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. with this in the Text, as appears in the third verse; and thus of the third Reason. That the Type might correspond Reas. 4 with the Antetype; the Law and the Gospel might answer one the other: In the Law the blood was sprinkled round about the Altar, to intimate, that nothing is of worth but by the force of Christ's blood: and as without bloodshedding no remission a Heb. 9.22. , so no forgiveness of sin but by the blood of Christ: herein is a large field, but I hasten to the Uses. Instruction; Use instr. If the blood of the Saviour be the redemption of the Saint, learn we first, what an unhappy and cursed thing sin is, the forgiveness whereof cost no less than Christ's dearest hearts blood, it deludes us to defile us, it defiles us to destroy us, that our poor (yet precious) souls should perish for ever without remedy, but for Christ in whom we have, etc. Sin Dalilah-like, speaks fairly, acts friendly, for her advantage; but when opportunity serves, then shall Samson smart for it; Adam bemocks himself to a being made immortal, and dooms his self, and posterity as low as death and deep as hell, When he had fair promises to be as God, high as heaven, lofty as Eternity; by eating the forbidden fruit, fruit though pleasant in the taste, bitter in the bowels as everlasting burning; cursed sin as a leprosy and plague infects and overspreads all degrees, faculties, persons, estates, souls, bodies, ensnaring millions to the eternal, infernal tortures of devouring Tophet, as impossible to avoid, as intolerable to endure, without the blood of Jesus Christ, in whom we, etc. Oh that the Lord would enlighten our understandings to see sin in its nakedness, than we would (as purity itself) hate it with a perfect hatred: Did we consider aright that Christ is so long in sorrow as we are in sin, would we thus transgress? Unhappy Oath, curse, security, unbelief, sin of what sort or condition soever, crucifying the Lord of glory, unpardonable but by the alsufficient merit of Jesus Christ. What meant in the Law an oblation of a He-goat for a sin-offering? but to teach us that sin is of an odious sent, and an ill savour in the nostrils of the Lord: Oh cursed sin, when not all the Saints on Earth, nor all the Seraphical spirits in heaven can expiate that sin which notion called the least: Oh that the children of men, and the Sons of God would apprehend the Lord speaking to a soul, as once Leah to Jacob: I have hired thee with my son's Mandrakes, thou must come unto me. So the Lord to our souls, ye are mine, you must come unto me by faith, love, obedience; I have bought thee with my Son's teears, sufferings and blood; precious souls, set your esteem on every sin, as is the redemption, and it will speak you to remember how unhappy and cursed a thing sin is, when for the pardon thereof it cost no less than the unvaluable blood of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we, etc. Is the blood of the Saviour the redemption Use 2 of the Saints? learn hence how dear and precious in the sight of Jesus is the soul of the Saints: Oh the tender love of Christ to a poor Christian; as the relation speaks him, a friend, a brother, a Father, a Spouse, a Creator, each term speaks him engaged to love: so his love beyond measure, so dear, tender, unparalleled, to be admired, not to be expressed; greater love than this can no man show. What greater than this could God declare? his love engaged that piety be scourged, and impiety by his stripes healed; it was content wisdom itself be derided, and folly pass unscoffed; truth suffers, and falsehood triumphs; Justice is condemned, and unrighteousness escapes free away; mercy is afflicted for cruelty; life resigns itself to death, to preserve the damned from the sting thereof: In a word, God dyeth once, that man might live for ever; by right propriety, he doth redeem the poor soul as his creature, by right of propinquity, redeems man as his creature-Saint: he undertook that which would have mouldered ten thousands of men to dust to have endured, and attomed the myriads of Angels to have suffered. Oh the depth, breadth, length, height of Christ's love, speaking to the Father in a loftier expression than Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus, I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, formerly unprofitable to thee; I Paul have written it with my own hand: Holy Father I beseech thee for this my poor soul, whom by my Gospel I have begotten, to thee formerly unprofitable, unserviceable, and yet unfruitful enough, but let me obtain all his sins to be laid upon my shoulders; 'tis thy beloved Son, that Son in whom thou art well pleased, I have writ it, and sealed it, with no less than my precious blood: Behold, love, love and admire! was not, was not Rebeckah's love great to Jacob? do as I advise, the curse be on me and the blessing on thee: so Jesus Christ, Soul, follow my advice, do as I bid, and all the blessings of thy Father be upon thee, and if any curse, let it light on me, for in me thou shalt have redemption: Oh, see as to serve Christ for his love, and thy redemptions sake, dear and tender, when his life is not spared, that thy sin may be pardoned, and soul saved in the day of the Lord. You see then how dear a Saint is to Christ; thus of the first Use. Deal faithfully O ye beloved of the Lord, 2. Use is of exam. and examine whether or no you can say, in him we have redemption: David speaks of the go of God in his Sanctuary, the singers before and the minstrels follow after: O holy, O happy progress; so may I behold the soul going to, and coming with pardon of sins; try we first by what precedes and goes before, then see what follows after remission of sins, so may we apprehend terror or comfort to a remitted or unforgiven soul: This I premise, the foregoing of a pardoned soul, are not to be looked on as causes, though conditions, or as kind of qualifications that support a soul to hopeful comfort. 1. Try and examine whether or no you sense your sins deeply, I cannot instance in whom sin was pardoned comfortably, that was never sensed deeply; the experimental Christian knew once sadly, as truly, it lay a load upon his soul, and a burden upon his spirit, that nothing but a secret support kept him from resigning up infinite mercy: A load to a grief, a grief and load with a witness, and can it be less to thy soul when such a dishonour to thy God, A curse to thy Christ, a grief to thy spirit, a sadning to Angels, and a vexation to all the Saints of God? a deep sense as that reported of Queen Mary, were my heart unripped, you should find the loss of Calais there; so the soul, were my heart uncased, it would be known to men and Angels, and is known to the Lord that knows all secrets; never any sorrow like this, never any burden to my spirits as this; my unbelief, my unprofitableness, my deadness, my unworthy walking to that high calling and rich mercy, to which I am called, and which I have received, none like my sin, a burden too heavy for me to bear, If I have not a supply from my Christ, in whom I hope to have redemption: Try whether suffering or sinning most burden thy soul, 'tis that which is deeply sensed, if hopefully to be pardoned. 2. The soul before it comfortably can expect the forgiveness of sin, fears dreadfully, to this dread and fear the poor soul must needs step. When it senseth sin deeply, apprehends it rightly, dismay, terror, must appall the spirit, and affright the heart; when the soul looks on the sins many and mighty, that every sin is a crucifier of Christ, and not fear, and not be troubled, 'tis impossible: When David apprehended his sin b Psal. 38.3. There is no rest in my bones because of sin, ver. 6. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long fear and trembling make all my bones and every vein of my heart to shake: If apprehending of judgement will make the quaffing Belteshazzer shake and tremble, what must the deep apprehension of sin and judgement too? When the malefactor perceives the sentence of death passed upon him, Oh what a shaking stupid trembling falls upon him? so a poor soul receiving the sentence of death in himself; oh what fear, what amazement, and horror? unspeakable; the apprehension of sin discovers the frowns of an everliving, and ever-gracious Father, this troubleth a soul to astonishment; the promise is, God will come and save you, the Lord will come with recompense and vengeance (oh sweet) vengeance on thy sins, recompense on thy poor desires; but what goes before, to whom is this salvation engaged? to the fearful heart c Isa. 35.4. , Try, haste, dost fear sins curse, heaven's anger? hope thy Saviour is working a pardon for thee his Saint. Once more, if thy soul be pardoned, than it hath been throughly humbled, will not experience tell you, reason inform you, when a sin is deeply sensed, a soul is terribly afraid, and how can it then but be throughly humbled, how should it less? When the promises of the Lord are engaged to comfort the broken, contrite, and humble soul, and the Lord of Promises inhabiting Eternity, inthrones himself in such a soul d Isa. 57.15. , when the day of expiation was, the soul was to be afflicted e Leu. 23. , why but to hint as God was ready to show himself merciful, so the people ought to show themselves humble. A child when faulty, or servant guilty, expect no favour except they be submissive: so a poor soul, little hope of mercy till humble. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, that kingdom that affords the subduing of, and pardon for sin to a poor penitent humble soul: Try, hast been humbled for every sin, as any sin? hast sentenced thyself to hell? hast been afraid to come before God? lying low in thy eyes, worth nothing but confusion? hast aggravated thy sin against such a God, such a Father; fair hopes for a gracious pardon. Lastly, Try, hast sought, dost seek with all earnestness and intenseness of soul and spirit? making it the great request, that the Lord vouchsafe pardon and forgiveness to thy poor soul? When a man is in danger of the King's wrath, will he not endeavour a composition? and when a poor soul sees itself by sin, in danger of hell, will it not seek the Lord while he may be found? and call upon him while he is near? by and by the Lord will abundantly pardon: How earnestly will a condemned malefactor sue and cry, good my Lord, mercy, mercy my Lord I beseech you for Christ's sake: even so the soul sentenced to the gates of death, and chambers of hell, hearing the God of sinners is a merciful God, in all duties, upon all opportunities, seeks for redemption, the forgiveness of their sins, crying for Christ's sake to find grace; the soul knows well that prayer breaks down the bank of sin, and makes a sluice for the streams of divine pardon to flow amain to a praying soul. Pray if perhaps the thoughts of the heart may be forgiven, was the advice of Simon Peter to Simon Magus f Acts 8.22 ; when a soul knows it is blessed in heaven's account, if the sins be remitted g Psa. 32.1. , what can impead the soul from making out with such earnestness that neither lets itself nor the Lord be quiet till a pardon be sealed, by this time I conceive the Lord Jesus discovers himself to the soul, the one, the only one in whom it hath redemption, etc. These precedent foregoing for pardon, experience will attest sure enough, let's hear the minstrels which follow after. First, the soul accepts thankfully; who can express the gratitude? the gladdest tidings and joyfullest news that could be related to a poor drooping Christian, that all the day and night long cries out, oh my sins; oh my sins. How thankful will a poor bedrid man be to his Physician that is instrumental to his enlargement? how thankful a prisoner endungeoned for his freedom? or a condemned person at the place and minute of execution to hear and see a pardon? And what thanks unutterable to the Lord will a poor soul render? what hug, and embrace? what speakings and actings of thanks? till obtained; deep load, dreadful fear, humble dejection, and earnest seeking, now an answer of peace enjoyed, how thankful? Higgaion Selah can best express though fare beneath the thanks of a soul redeemed by the blood of Christ. Try if thy soul hath gladly accepted, joyfully received this unspeakable mercy, by the return of ineffable soul-hearty thanks; canst thou in some measure subscribe to h Rev. 1.5. , or to i Rev. 9 , or this third verse, to bless God as for other, so for this his spiritual blessing, redemption, forgiveness of sins? a comfortable sign. To proceed. Secondly, a soul pardoned will henceforth shun sin carefully; it well knows there is forgiveness with the Lord, that he may be feared; the child once flamed or gashed will fear the burning fire, and cutting knife long after; the prisoner cooped up to hardship and dungeon-straights, released, will be fearful of debts and sin again: And shall not a soul long fettered by the hellish guilt and apprehension of sin, redeemed through the only worth of Christ's all-meritorious blood, dare to meddle with sin, the way to hell as hell itself? The pardoned soul knows there is only one Physician to afford forgiveness, to attain his care and cure, a work and labour of highest difficulty: nor can the son of man, or Daughter of Jerusalem be more watchful over an unparallelled glass, than the pardoned sinner, over his soul, fearing if once broken, hard, if ever possible, to be repaired. The apprehension of this made one of the Ancients to say, Till sin hath done as much for me as God, I will have nothing to do with the stool of iniquity. Try precious soul, canst say, I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? gracious pardon hath cast off the rags of sin, what have I to do any more with Idols? shall such a one as I flee? have I shed so many tears to the dimming of my eyes, to the breaking of my heart? have I been oft hurried as low as everlasting burn to obtain a pardon for my sin? and hath infinite goodness enriched my soul in its forgiveness? and shall it be in vain? shall I again return with the Dog to the vomit, and with the Swine to wallow in wickedness? God forbidden: I'll shun sin hereafter carefully; dost thou so? desirest thou truly so? a hopeful sign. Thirdly, a pardoned soul will live honourably: if once thou gain Redemption through Christ, thou wilt live like a Saint on earth, yea a Citizen in heaven; yea thou wilt walk like the redeemed of the Lord; not as one imprisoned in a mierie Dungeon, but as one walking in a Paradise of Eden; now as the Prodigal in a new Garment, a Vesture of Righteousness; not as the Brat of Hell, but as heaven's Royal Offspring; not with the menstruous of sinful Adam, but the Candid stole of Christ's innocency, daily invested with his holiday apparel: his conversation in heaven, his vain thoughts dislodged, his frothy words checked, his idle ways refrained, the whole man Saintlike, he is bought with a price, he will glorify the Lord with body and soul, he puts to his Seal, 'tis a sin with a shame and curse to keep the Labourers hire k Deut. 24.15. . A soul that sees his Redemption in Christ, knoweth it cost his precious blood: should he live any longer to himself, to his former sins, he easily understands he detains his soul and body from Christ, the purchase of Christ, he resolves therefore henceforth to know no thing, no person unrelate to Christ, he hath obtained his pardon, his deportment shall be as Coheir with Christ, and heir to God of eternal glory, he will live honourably. Try if you so live and breath, act and affect, that your conversation may be suitable to your privilege, and all your endeavours answerable to this Princely prerogative, the forgiveness of sins: Dost thou labour to exalt the Lord, and magnify Jesus Christ above sin, creature, self? comfortable signs, if not, e contra. Fourthly, the soul pardoned walks more comfortably than ever: A man long time confined to bed, home, or prison, set free, with what inward joy, satisfactory content, his soul is comforted, experience can best express; so a poor soul formerly plunged in ghastly fears, and hellish apprehensions to dwell and live in everlasting darkness for want of pardon: Now the Lord by his Spirit sealing as full, as free remission, no stranger can intermeddle to relate his joy unspeakable and full of glory, pardon and peace; remission and consolation like Aaron and Hur, hold up Moses hands, support the pardoned soul; Go in peace, and be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven thee be frequent expressions of holy Writ. When by pardon of my sin, my soul beholds itself once a fare of, now nigh by the blood of Christ, how can I but rejoice? the fears, sorrow, trembling, horror, because my sins were unpardoned, dispelled, must needs create inward joys unspeakable, for that mine iniquities are forgiven. Try what inward joy and consolation in some measure, at some time, God's Word affords from Christ, in whom thou hast redemption. Thus for the trial. Thirdly, 3 Use for Reprehension. this serves to reprove such as cannot say, in him we have redemption; hath not pardon been tendered? free, full, long as the sin? the doom must be thine, if no redemption by Christ, thou art a Captive to the power of thy lust, and a bond slave to the curse of thy sin; to an ingenuous spirit, it is misery to be a prisoner to a superior, deep calamity to be subject to an equal, but a slave to his drudge vexation high; little comfort left for the gallantry of bravest spirits but this, they are enthralled by men, and in that little comfort too, but to be enslaved under Hell's Darling, Heaven's scorn, the souls everlasting shame and confusion, sin, makes not only the ear to tingle, heart to tremble, but dumbes, because it dooms to that Lake which burns with torturing fire and sulphurous brimstone; whether the pains of sense, or loss be sorest, needs no determination, either enough to fill a soul with the terror of black despair, well consider l Job 20.11. , The thoughts of a resurrection speaks the soul glad to return to dust again: But hoping better things of you (precious souls) I spare to reprove, and pass to the fourth Use. 4. Use of Comfort. To all you that can say in any measure, my Saviour's blood is my Redemption, let your souls rejoice, and all within you bless his name: For, First, thou art blessed, as the sweet Psalmist m Psa. 32.1. , in this happy enough, happy in God's account; what if deprived of earthly contents and enjoyments? yet thou hast remission, forgiveness, that's worth a thousand Worlds: I deny not (dear soul) but that many have more of blessings without, but thou hast that white stone, that new name n Rev. 2.17. affording such a consolation within as may fill thy soul with joy ineffable and full of glory. Secondly, by this assured of Salvation; it is the souls trouble, the uncertainty of the reward, so that it works it out with little below fear and trembling; the forgiveness of thy sins distils with a sweet influence enlightening to salvation: as by the heat I know the fire burns, by the light I know the Sun shines, by the pardon of my sin, I am confident of the salvation of my soul. o Luk. 1.77 Thirdly, in this comfort, whatsoever God sends or suffers, 'tis in mercy; no affront from beneath, no desertion from above, no affliction without, no temptation within, but proceeds from a Father as well as from a God: Jonathans' Arrows were shot for David, as at David; the tender Mother gives with a bitter Pill, closely Sugar to sweeten: so the Lord, though he sometimes answers with terrible things, yet he is the God of salvation, take comfort therefore. Fourthly, God will sanctify thee as well as justify thee, thou shalt be partaker of his Spirit as well as of his blood: I know thy soul longeth to be sanctified, it shall be, be comforted, where God pardons he purges, so runs the Covenant p Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. seconded by the Apostle John q 1 Joh. 1.9. Object. . But here a soul is ready to complain, there is nothing in me from me, that I should hope of the Lords pardon to me. Answ. To this I Answer: Hast thou not as much as God looks for? what had the Infant, the Church's Hieroglyphic r Ezek. 16. but blood in it, polluted, defiled? yet God pitied: What had the Prodigal? yet his Father freely pardoned, and joyfully entertained him. Fear not then, for Christ's sake, the Lord will do more than this, in him there is Righteousness, Grace, Perfection, Merit enough to redeem from Hell, the nethermost Hell, to save, to save to the highest Heavens: Hath not he offered himself a Sacrifice for sin for ever? and will not he for ever perfect them that are sanctified? and will the Lord remember their sins and iniquities any more s Heb. 10.12. & 17. ? Be comforted therefore, and if this will not serve, let God himself answer such an objection made t Isay 43.22, 23, 24. Exhort. . I hasten to the last Use, Labour to subscribe to this truth, you that cannot say you have redemption through his blood. Means. First, labour for a forgiving heart, and a remitting spirit; do as you would be done unto is the Royal Law u Mat. 6.14 , with that of w Mark 11.25, 26. . Secondly, labour for a truly humbled spirit, a throughly humbled soul, so that Promise sealed to thee, in the twelfth of Zacharie, the latter end and beginning of the thirteenth Chapter. Thirdly, believe in Christ, entertain him in all his Truths, his Promises, exercise thy faith in spite of opposition, and x Acts 10.43. . A fair instance y Mark 2.4, 5. . Motives. God will then be one with you; Mot. 1 the first Adam by his sin lost you, the second Adam by his merit regained you, no more a stranger from God, or the Covenant of grace, his Royal Attributes are martialled while you are in the valley of tears to do you good. Mot. 2 This will make you pass through all difficulties whatsoever with comfort; now thou fearest, and art amazed, loath to hazard this, or ventare that for God or his Gospel; and why? I have not my sins pardoned: were I sure of this, went I through a valley of tears, and shadow of death, I would fear no evil, but with Paul z Rom. 8.32 challenge all persons and things; that thus you may remain faithful, and with comfort wade through a sea of blood, labour for Redemption. Lastly, ye that can say with Paul in the Text, We have redemption, etc. Love him, live to him, and to none but him; let your Duties, Mercies, Graces, Lives, be praise to Jesus Christ, you need not question God's love; the favour of the royal breast is known by Mercy, by Remission: hath the Lord delivered me from the power of darkness, and translated me to the Kingdom of his dear Son? and shall not his free grace be magnified? Praise the Lord O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy Name for his Christ, by whose blood I have redemption, the forgiveness of my sins, and let all that wish well to my soul, for my soul, say, blessed be the Lord for ever and ever. Amen. FINIS.